Bleacher Report - Articles by Dan Parzych

Risk of Signing Larry Johnson Pays Off for Bengals in Win over Browns

Dan Parzych — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:28:37 -0500

The Cincinnati Bengals received some criticism for the signing of running back Larry Johnson after his release from the Kansas City Chiefs a few weeks ago. After Sunday's win over the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals appear to have made the right move.

With an improved offensive line, Johnson showed the Bengals why signing him for insurance he was worth the risk after his 107-yard rushing performance against the Browns in Cincinnati's 16-7 win over Cleveland.

Johnson was signed by the Bengals as insurance in case running back Cedric Benson's hip injury would keep him out longer than expected.

With another player on the roster with a history at being the No. 1 running back, head coach Marvin Lewis felt better about resting Benson for the second-straight week against the Browns.

Along with Johnson, he felt confident enough to rest Benson because of the impressive play of rookie running back Bernard Scott the last three weeks.

After rushing for 119 yards in his first career start against the Oakland Raiders last week, Scott ran for 87 yards on just 18 carries against a Browns defense ranked 29th in yards allowed per game with 159.9.

In seven games with the Chiefs this season, Johnson struggled with a weak offensive line, averaging just 2.7 yards-per-carry while rushing for just 377 yards and zero touchdowns.

In his first two games with the Bengals, he is averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry—thanks to an improved offensive line.

From 2005-06, Johnson was arguably one of the top running backs in the NFL, running for a combined 3,539 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Part of the reason why Johnson was able to find such success was because the Chiefs had one of the top offensive lines in the league.

Now that he has an improved offensive line, it should be interesting to see how the Bengals can use him as another option at running back.

It may be just one game, but the Bengals and their fans have to be excited about Johnson breaking the 100-yard mark in just his second game with his new team.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Cincy Fans Feel the Frustration This Season wIth Bengals' Shayne Graham

Dan Parzych — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:01:11 -0500

After last weekend's Cincinnati-Bengals-Examiner%7Ey2009m11d23-Bengals-17-Raiders-20-Cincy-allows-Oakland-to-score-10-points-in-final-minute-of-game" target="_blank">20-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders , Cincinnati Bengals fans have recently expressed their frustration with kicker Shayne Graham, who missed a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter.

While it's hard to blame the loss on him individually considering Bengals wide receiver Andre Caldwell fumbled the kickoff with 17 seconds left, it’s obvious how important Graham’s missed field goal was later in the game.

Not only are fans frustrated with his missed attempt from the loss to the Raiders, but they are beginning to become frustrated with his performance through the first 10 games this season—especially with everything that occurred in the offseason.

Graham seemed unhappy with the way negotiations talks worked out between him and the Bengals during the offseason. After he was placed with the franchise tag in February, he signed a one-year deal worth $2.483 million at the end of April.

After the signing, he expressed his desire was a long-term deal from the Bengals or from whichever team was willing to sign him.

With the way the ninth-year kicker has performed as a Bengal, it seemed as if Mike Brown and company would have to issue granting Graham his wish for a long-term deal. He holds five records with the franchise, including highest field goal percentage in a season (91.2), most points in a season (131), field goals in a season (31), most field goals in a game (seven), and consecutive field goals made (21).

Prior to the 2009 season, Graham was the team's all-time leader for field goal accuracy at 87.5 percent and ranked fourth on the NFL all-time list with an 85.6 percent kicking accuracy. With these types of statistics, it's hard to imagine the Bengals not offering him the long-term deal he desired.

However, the Bengals may be relieved the long-term deal was never offered in the offseason with the type of numbers Graham has put up this season.

Through 10 games, Graham is having not only his worst season as a Bengal, but his career. His 37-yard field goal attempt against the Raiders that fell wide right is only one of the five attempts he's missed on the season (12-of-17).

His field goal percentage (70.6) this season is the worst of Graham's nine-year career. Other than his first two seasons in the league with the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers, his lowest kicking percentage came in 2006 (83.3).

The loss to the Raiders was the first time Graham missed a field goal in a game the Bengals came up on the losing end for. His previous misses came in wins against the Steelers (twice), Browns, and Ravens.

Week 11 consisted of five games (Falcons-Giants, Redskins-Cowboys, Colts-Ravens, Bengals-Raiders, Titans-Texans) decided by three points or less in which a kicker on the losing team missed a field goal during the game. Each of these five games could have ended differently had certain field goals been made instead of missed.

Last week is the perfect example of how important kickers are in the NFL. If the Bengals make a deep run at this year's playoffs, how are they supposed to feel comfortable with Graham if they need to rely on him for a pressure situation?

Despite his struggles this season, all that Cincinnati fans can do is pray Graham will come through if needed for the remainder of the season. If not, it would be no surprise if the Bengals decided to part ways with him in the offseason.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Eagles-Bears: Five Positive Factors From Philadelphia's 24-20 Win Over Chicago

Dan Parzych — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:31:43 -0500

The Philadelphia Eagles avoided a three-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bears 24-20 in a game where both teams were desperate for a win.

The win helped the Eagles improve to 6-4 on the season and kept the race tight in the NFC East since both the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys came through with Week 11 wins, as well. Here are a few quick notes regarding the Eagles big win.

The Eagles Come Through In a “Must-Win”

Last week, Donovan McNabb called Sunday night's game against the Bears a "must-win">Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb called Sunday night’s game against the Bears a “must-win.” With the way the NFC East has played out the last few weeks, it’s understandable why.

Prior to Sunday night’s game, the Eagles trailed the Dallas Cowboys by one game in the NFC East standings and held the tiebreaker over the New York Giants, thanks to their head-to-head matchup. They were in sole possession of the first wild-card spot and wanted to continue to stay in shape for the playoff hunt.

With four losses at this point in the season, the Eagles need every win they can get from here on out. Considering the Cowboys and Giants both came through with wins on Sunday, the Eagles knew they would need to come through with a win over the Bears, especially with a difficult remaining schedule.

Donovan McNabb and the Eagles Came From Behind in the Fourth Quarter

Throughout his career, McNabb has been criticized for not being able to lead his team on a game-winning drive. However, his performance in the fourth quarter against the Bears was something we're not used to seeing from him—and hopefully we can see it more often.

With 11:01 left in the game and the Bears up 20-17, McNabb helped the Eagles drive 62 yards to take a 24-20 lead with just over five minutes left to play. While running back LeSean McCoy topped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, McNabb went 5-of-6 for 40 yards and was a major factor on two key third-down plays.

Prior to Sunday’s game against the Bears, the Eagles were 1-8-1 in their last 10 games decided by single digits. It must feel nice for the city of Philadelphia to come up on the winning end in a game decided by single digits this time around.

Eagles End Winless Streak on NBC Sunday Night Football

Here’s a fun fact: Sunday’s win over the Bears was the first time the Eagles had ever won on Sunday Night Football since it switched over to NBC in 2006.

In 2006, NBC picked up the rights for Sunday Night Football, which was previously shown on ESPN before they started broadcasting Monday Night Football. Ever since the switch, the Eagles have struggled each time they were scheduled to play on NBC.

Three-and-a-half years and eight games later, the Eagles have finally ended their winless streak after defeating the Bears. Instead of 0-8, they now have an all-time record of 1-7 on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Quarterback Michael Vick Breaks Loose…Finally

OK, it may have only been ONE run, but the 34-yard Wildcat run by Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick on the first drive against the Bears was a huge confidence booster for a player struggling to get anything good going this season. The smile on his face showed what a relief it was to finally make that big play he was previously known for doing on a weekly basis.

Vick’s 34-yard run was more than his combined total yards for the entire season. While he has struggled to live up to the expectations set in the offseason, his run helped the Eagles jump out to an early 3-0 lead.

Now that he finally had that explosive run everybody has been waiting to see from him all season, hopefully Vick can continue to provide the Eagles with big plays for the remainder of the schedule.

Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson and Running Back LeSean McCoy Both Make Up For Fumbles

Of the three turnovers by the Eagles in their game against the Bears, two of them were from DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy.

While the turnovers may have been costly at the time, both Jackson and McCoy made up for their mistakes by coming up with touchdowns. Jackson hauled in a 48-yard reception from McNabb in the third quarter, and McCoy found the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Along with their touchdowns, Jackson hauled in eight receptions for 107 yards, while McCoy ran for 99 yards on 20 carries. If the Eagles want to be playoff contenders, they will need major contributions from both players for the rest of the regular season.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Cincinnati Bengals' Bernard Scott Has Career Day Against Oakland Raiders

Dan Parzych — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:26:46 -0500

The Cincinnati Bengals knew they could rely on backup running back Bernard Scott">Cincinnati Bengals knew they could rely on backup running back Bernard Scott to carry the load against the Oakland Raiders if running back Cedric Benson was unable to go.

Turns out they were right.

One week after scoring the game's lone touchdown on a 96-yard kick return in an 18-12 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, Scott recorded his first career 100-yard game in his first career game as a starter for the Bengals.

Unfortunately, Scott's performance wasn't good enough as the Bengals continued their struggles in Oakland: losing to the Raiders 20-17. He finished the day with 119 yards on the ground, including a 61-yard run in the third quarter. He also hauled in three receptions from Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer for 32 yards.

Scott showed the Bengals last week he was capable of handling the load at running back when he replaced Benson in the second half against the Steelers. The fact he was able to gain 33 yards on 13 carries against the NFL's No. 1 ranked rushing defense gave the team high expectations for him against the Raiders on Sunday.

The Bengals knew this would be the perfect week to rest Benson to provide him with extra time to recover from a hip injury he re-aggravated in the first half of last week's game against the Steelers. The Raiders rushing defense ranked 29th in the NFL entering Sunday's game; allowing 155.6 yards per game on the ground.

Even with Benson on the bench, the Raiders still allowed the Bengals to run for 177 yards on the ground and average 4.1 yards-per-carry. Along with Scott's performance, running back Brian Leonard contributed by running for 35 yards on 12 carries.

Still, the fact that the Bengals were unable to leave Oakland with a win after an impressive performance from the ground game has to be heart breaking, especially since they could have been closer to claiming their first division title since 2005.

After the Steelers 27-24 loss in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bengals failed to take advantage and increase their lead in the AFC North. With upcoming home games against the 2-8 Detroit Lions and 1-9 Cleveland Browns, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has to feel more comfortable knowing he can rely on Scott should Benson need more time to rest his hip injury.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Despite Recent Win, Dallas Cowboys' Offense Still Struggling

Dan Parzych — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:10:36 -0500

A few weeks ago, Dallas Cowboys appeared to be one of the top teams in the NFL, sitting on top of the NFC East">the Dallas Cowboys appeared to be one of the top teams in the NFL, sitting on top of the NFC East with a comfortable lead over the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins.

Despite a 7-6 win over the Redskins in Week 11, the Cowboys and the city of Dallas are wondering what has happened to the offense over the last two weeks.

After a 2-2 start, the Cowboys went on to win their next four games with key wins over the Atlanta Falcons and Eagles. In those four games, the Cowboys scored a total of 121 points, averaging 30.3 points per game.

Last week, they missed an opportunity to take a commanding lead in the NFC East by losing to the Packers 17-7, Tony Romo his first loss in the month of November since 2006">giving Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo his first loss in the month of November since 2006. The Eagles lost to the Chargers 23-21 and the Giants were on a bye week, which means the Cowboys could have been sitting on top of the NFC East with a comfortable two-game lead.

Instead, they failed to take advantage of a chance to increase their lead and struggled against a Packers' squad desperate for a big win.

Despite Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams posting his first 100-yard game of the season against the Packers, his touchdown came with 38 seconds left in the game and was the only points scored by the team's offense all day.

He also had a key fumble in Packers' territory after hauling in a 42-yard reception from quarterback Tony Romo that ruined the team's chances of putting any points on the board.

Romo finished the game against the Packers 24-for-39 for 251 yards, one touchdown, and two turnovers. While he struggled to help the Cowboys passing game find the end zone all day, the ground game failed to get anything going against the league's fourth-ranked rush defense, rushing for 61 yards on 14 attempts.

Against the Redskins, it was a similar situation for the Cowboys as the offense struggled to get anything going; the only difference this time around was they were able to come through with the win.

Romo's first pass of the game to a Cowboys wide receiver came on the last play of the third quarter after Miles Austin hauled in a 23-yard reception. His only touchdown of the game came on a 10-yard pass to wide receiver Patrick Crayton with 2:41 left to play in the game.

While they still managed to come through with the win this time, it's obvious the Cowboys offense won't get lucky each week with these type of statistics.

Over the last two games, the Cowboys have managed to score just 14 points. While the offense has struggled the last two weeks, the Cowboys still find themselves in first place of the NFC East with a 7-3 record.

However, the Cowboys offense needs to figure out why they've struggled the last two weeks and get out of their funk if they want to be playoff contenders, especially with the schedule they have in December.

Dan Parzych is the founder of the new NFCEastFootball.com

Bengals-Raiders Preview: Cincy Looks to End Recent Struggles in Oakland

Dan Parzych — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:14:32 -0500

The Cincinnati-Bengals-Examiner~y2009m11d20-BengalsRaiders-preview-Cincinnati-looks-to-end-recent-struggles-in-Oakland" title="7-2 Cincinnati Bengals travel to the west coast Sunday to take on the 2-7 Oakland Raiders">7-2 Cincinnati Bengals travel to the west coast Sunday to take on the 2-7 Oakland Raiders in pursuit of their sixth-straight road win.

While the Bengals have ridden their way to the top of the AFC North standings on a three-game winning streak, the Raiders have won once in their last seven games.

However, the Raiders recent success against the Bengals should have Cincinnati extra cautious heading into Sunday's match-up.

The Raiders have defeated the Bengals four straight games in Oakland and 13 of the last 14. Still, it's difficult to imagine Cincinnati struggling against Oakland considering how well they have performed this season, especially on defense.

The Bengals defense has been nothing short of outstanding in 2009. Through nine games, they are allowing just 16.3 points per game, with only the Indianapolis Colts ahead of them when it comes to best in the league. Their 25 sacks has them ranked fourth in the NFL with three other teams and they continue to find ways to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks each week. Last week, they sacked Ben Roethlisberger four times in Pittsburgh-Steelers" target="_blank">the team's 18-12 win over the Steelers .

With the way the Raiders offense has played this season, there's every reason to expect another big day from the Bengals defense.

The Raiders have the second worst offense in the NFL, ahead of only the Cleveland Browns. Their offense is averaging just 9.8 points per game, with their highest total coming in a 24-20 loss in Week One against the San Diego Chargers.

This week, Raiders head coach made the decision to bench quarterback JaMarcus Russell and replace him with Bruce Gradkowski.

Russell has one of the worst quarterback ratings in football at 47.7 He's completed just 46.8 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,064 yards, two touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.

Whether or not Russell will receive another chance at starting quarterback this season remains to be unknown. The Raiders now turn to Gradkowski, who will be making his first start of the season against the Bengals. The fourth-year quarterback will be making his 13th career start against a defense that has been nearly flawless the last three weeks, allowing just 29 points combined against the Bears, Ravens and Steelers.

While the defense has shined over the last few weeks for the Bengals, Marvin Lewis and company know they will need a strong performance from their offense as well if they want to leave Oakland with a win. Once again, the team will rely on quarterback Carson Palmer to lead the way, just like he has all season long.

Even though he has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game, Palmer is arguably having the best season of his seven-year career and appears to be back to his dominate form from 2005. During the team's three-game winning streak, he has been nearly perfect, completing 58-of-87 passes for 635 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Part of the reason behind Palmer's success this season is because of the re-emergence of wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who is back to his old ways as one of the top wide-outs in the league.

Through nine games, he has already surpassed last season's disappointing numbers (540 yards and four touchdowns), hauling in 46 receptions for 686 yards and five touchdowns. He is on pace to finish with over 1,100 yards for the seventh time in his nine-year career and has been a major factor for the Bengals offense this season.

Along with Ochocinco, wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Andre Caldwell have stepped it up for Palmer on offense ever since Chris Henry was placed on injured reserve with a fractured arm.

After a slow start where he struggled to hold on to balls thrown his way, Coles has emerged as one of the top wide-outs the last two games for the Bengals. Against the Ravens (six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown) and Steelers (five catches for 67 yards), he led the team in both receptions and receiving yards.

While the passing game has performed well enough over the last few weeks to help the team win, the Bengals look to take advantage of a weak Raiders rushing attack that ranks 29th in the NFL, allowing 155.6 yards per game. While the team averages 122.3 yards per game on the ground, the only question that remains to be answered for the Bengals is which player Palmer will be handing the ball off to the most on Sunday.

Bengals running back Cedric Benson has rested the last two days while keeping an eye on a hip injury he re-aggravated against the Steelers in Week 10. Whether or not he will start Sunday will most likely remain a mystery until right before the start of Sunday's game.

Lucky for the Bengals, they have a few options to go with if Benson is unable to suit up against the Raiders.

If Benson rests, the Bengals can rely on backups Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard to carry the load at running back. However, Lewis may want to consider using newly-acquired Chiefs-running-back-Larry-Johnson-signs-oneyear-deal-with-Cincinnati-Bengals" target="_blank">Larry Johnson, who signed a one-year deal Tuesday as the team's No. 4 running back .

Johnson has adjusted to playing the Raiders twice each season considering they play in the AFC West with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the five career games he's played in Oakland, Johnson has never lost, rushing for 498 yards and five touchdowns. His previous success against the Raiders could provide the ground game an extra advantage if Benson is unable to play.

Benson ranks sixth among rushers in the NFL with 859 yards and six touchdowns. While his presence at running back has been a key part to the Bengals 7-2 record, this may be the one week where the team can afford to rest him and rely on Scott, Leonard, and Johnson to carry the ground game.

At the end of the day, Lewis has to consider whether starting Benson is worth the risk against the league's 29th ranked rushing defense, especially with the Bengals making a strong case to be a threat come playoff time.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Cincinnati Bengals Remember Bruce Gradkowski's Game-Winning Drive In '06

Dan Parzych — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:19:26 -0500

Despite making just 13 starts in his four-year career, Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski has had recent success against the Cincinnati Bengals.

As a rookie in 2006, Gradkowski led the Bucs on a game-winning drive as he threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Clayton with 34 seconds left in the 14-13 win over the Bengals.

At first, the play was ruled incomplete as Clayton appeared to fumble before crossing the goal line. However, the replay showed he had control of the ball while crossing the plane, sending the Bengals to their second loss of the season.

The Bengals finished that year 8-8, and were one-game short of a possible wild-card berth. While it's difficult to apply the "what if" card in the NFL, the Bengals and their fans knew how different their season could have been had Gradkowski not led that game-winning drive.

Prior to the game, the Bengals were 3-1 and just one game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. While there were a few games over the eight losses that season the team could look back and say they should have won, no loss may have been more painful than the one against the Bucs.

At the time, Tampa Bay was winless with a 0-4 record. Gradkowski, a sixth-round pick from Toledo, was making his second career start in the NFL, replacing the injured Chris Simms at quarterback. Despite being heavy favorites, the 3-1 Bengals loss to the previously winless Bucs was heartbreaking.

While the circumstances are different this time around, there are a few current members of the Bengals who were on the team in 2006 and still remember that game-winning drive by Gradkowski.

Gradkowski will be making his first start of the season against the Bengals after Raiders head coach Tom Cable decided to bench quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

At 7-2, the Bengals travel to Oakland as heavy favorites against the 2-7 Raiders. They are in control of their own destiny in the AFC North and look to continue their success on the road after winning their fifth straight game against the Steelers.

However, they know this time around to be extra cautious about Gradkowski at quarterback.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Cincinnati Bengals Should Rest Cedric Benson Against the Oakland Raiders

Dan Parzych — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:53:27 -0500

After straining his hip against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the status of running back Cedric Benson is still up in the air on whether or not he will start this week against the Oakland Raiders.

As tempted as Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis may be to start Benson, who has rushed for 859 yards and six touchdowns on the season, he might want to consider resting the league's sixth-ranked rusher against the Raiders.

Benson sat the second half Sunday against the Steelers and was replaced by rookie running back Bernard Scott, who scored the lone touchdown of the game on a 96-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.

Against the Steelers No. 1 ranked rushing defense, Scott managed to gain 33 yards on the ground on 13 carries. While these numbers may not seem spectacular, Lewis should consider the potential Scott has against the Raiders rushing attack.

The Raiders have the fourth-worst rushing defense in all of football, ranking ahead of only the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Buffalo Bills. In Week Seven, the defense allowed 316 rushing yards to the New York Jets, allowing running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene to each finish with over 100 yards on the ground.

While he may not be as effective as Benson, Scott is capable of providing the Bengals with enough production at running back to help the Bengals leave Oakland with a win. If they can beat the Steelers with just 55 yards rushing behind Scott and Benson, there's no reason why they can't do that against the Raiders.

Benson's hip strain may not be that serious of an injury. However, the last thing the team needs is to play him while the injury is minor and make things worse.

Nothing against the city of Oakland, but the Raiders are the perfect team for the Bengals to play in this type of situation. Lewis should rest Benson to avoid the chance of losing him later on in the season—especially come playoff time.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

NFC East Recap, Week 10: Redskins and Giants Come Through As Winners

Dan Parzych — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:40:18 -0500

In Week 9, the Dallas Cowboys took control of first place in the NFC East with a 20-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The team appeared to be in good shape as contenders for the division title after an impressive four-game winning streak.

One week later, it's clear the NFC East title is still up for grabs and could be won by any team at this point.

The division may not be living up to the "NFC Beast" name from a few years ago, but it's clear the winner of the division will most likely be determined in Week 16 or 17. Here's a recap of all four teams from Week 10 of the 2009 NFL regular season.

Dallas Cowboys

Prior to Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, Tony Romo previously won 13 straight games in the month of November">Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo previously won 13 straight games in the month of November. While all good things must come to an end, he can still rally his team for next week's matchup against the Washington Redskins.

The Cowboys failed to find the end zone against the Packers until there were 38 seconds remaining in the game. Even though wide receiver Roy Williams had the team's only score of the day, he had a few costly plays that could have helped the Cowboys stay in the game, including a fumble after a 42-yard reception.

Instead of taking advantage of the Eagles' loss to the Chargers, the Cowboys still remain just one game ahead in the NFC East standings.

However, give credit to the Packers, who may have needed this win more than the Cowboys. The defense stepped it up big to prevent the team from falling below .500 on the season, a place nobody expected them to be even close to in September.

Packers cornerback Charles Woodson had his best game of the season and did everything he could against the Cowboys—including a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles.

New York Giants

With a 5-4 record entering Week 10, the New York Giants could not have asked for a better time to have their bye week. Despite not even playing, the Giants may have had arguably the best week overall out of all the teams in the NFC East.

After beginning the season 5-0, the Giants have lost their last four games to the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Eagles and San Diego Chargers.

At 5-4, the Giants found themselves entering Week 10 two games behind the first-place Cowboys. With losses from the Cowboys and Eagles, the Giants now find themselves in better shape to climb back near the top of the division. Not only do they share the same record with the Eagles, but are now just one game back of the division-leading Cowboys.

Their upcoming game in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons may be seen as a playoff game by some considering how important the outcome is for the Giants to stay in the hunt.

This team has performed well in the second half of the season before. It shouldn't be a surprise if they make another late-season run for the playoffs again.

Philadelphia Eagles

No team in the NFC East is more difficult to figure out after 10 weeks than the Philadelphia Eagles.

Some weeks, they look like a team determined to be a strong playoff contender. Other weeks, they look horrendous and struggle against teams they would beat nine times out of 10—such as the Oakland Raiders.

Last week against the Chargers, the Eagles offense failed to find the end zone until the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, their two touchdowns by wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Brent Celek were "too little, too late" considering the team was already down 28-9.

The Eagles are capable of having one of the top offenses in all of football. For some reason, they struggle to perform well on a consistent basis. Last week's game against the Chargers was the perfect example. McNabb was forced to throw the ball 55 times in the losing effort.

Washington Redskins

Who would have thought the Washington Redskins were the only team in the NFC East to come away with a victory?

A few weeks ago, the Denver Broncos were considered one of the top teams in football with a 6-0 record. Now, they have to deal with losing to a Redskins' team that failed to score over 17 points until Week 10 of the regular season.

It may have taken 10 weeks, but the Redskins finally managed to score more than 17 points in a game en route to their 27-17 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

With running back Clinton Portis resting on the sidelines from his concussion, Ladell Betts stepped it up, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown.

They may be at the bottom of the NFC East standings with a 3-6 record, but the Redskins have to be satisfied that their four-game skid is finally over. With an important division game coming up against the Dallas Cowboys this week, it should be interesting to see if the Redskins can keep this "winning attitude" going.

Dan Parzych is the founder of the new NFCEastFootball.com

Former Chiefs Running Back Larry Johnson Signs WIth Bengals

Dan Parzych — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:21:21 -0500

One week after his release, former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson signed a Cincinnati-Bengals-Examiner~y2009m11d17-Former-Kansas-City-Chiefs-running-back-Larry-Johnson-signs-oneyear-deal-with-Cincinnati-Bengals" title="one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals">one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. He visited with the team on Monday and signed a one-year deal on Tuesday.

Johnson was released from the Chiefs after another run-in of trouble. This time, he recorded gay slurs and questioned head coach Todd Haley's ability to lead the team on his Twitter account. He was eventually suspended for two weeks before his release.

Despite being the go-to guy with the Chiefs, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has made it clear that Cedric Benson's starting job at running back is not in jeopardy, even with the recent hip strain.

"That's what his role would be, it would be as a fourth running back and an opportunity as a backup player on this football team doing all the things backup players do, and that's work their tails off in the kicking game and showing looks (on the scout team) and so forth that way," Lewis said. "And then he would be an insurance policy if something would happen down the line to one of our guys where he'd have a chance to be active.

"But I couldn't foresee him being active when he was initially here, if this is what happens. And that's what I've told him."

Despite his recent troubles with the Chiefs, signing Johnson is an excellent move by the Bengals front office considering the potential of another threat at running back.

In 2005, Johnson emerged as an elite running back when former running back Priest Holmes suffered an injury to his spinal cord in a game against the San Diego Chargers during Week Seven. As the new starter at running back for the remaining nine games, Johnson ran for at least 100 yards in each game.

Overall, he finished the season with 1,750 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns, earning him the starting job for the Chiefs the following season.

Since Johnson was able to rush for 1,750 yards the season before after starting just nine games, the expectations were high for him in his first full-year as a starter.

He lived up to the hype, rushing for 1,789 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Chiefs, who finished 9-7 on the year and clinched a wild-card berth for a first-round matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Despite losing 23-8 to the Colts, the Chiefs were satisfied with the type of running back Johnson was emerging into. In his first two seasons as a full-time starter, he recorded 4,292 from the line of scrimmage and 40 touchdowns.

However, most of Johnson's production may have resulted from a dominant offensive line, which consisted of two Pro-Bowl guards in 2006 with Will Shields and Brian Waters.

After emerging as one of the top running backs in the league from 2005-06, Johnson's numbers have declined each season.

In 2007, a foot injury in the second half of the season limited him to playing in just eight games, rushing for just 559 yards and three touchdowns. The following season, he played in just 12 games, finishing with 874 yards and just five touchdowns.

Many claim the reason behind Johnson's decline in production the past two seasons is because of a weak offensive line. If this is the case, he may have a chance to revamp his career behind a strong Bengals offensive line ranked sixth overall in the NFL, who have allowed just 14 sacks in nine games. They have also helped lead the way for Benson, who is averaging 95.4 yards per game on the ground and found the end zone six times.

With the Chiefs having the 31st-ranked offensive line, Johnson averaged just 2.7 yards per carry. In seven games this season, he's run for 377 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Bengals were already dangerous with one elite running back. If they can turn Johnson into the type of running back from a few years ago with a fresh start and improved offensive line, this team has the potential to become one of the top running games in the NFL.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Bernard Scott's Performance Helps Cincinnati Bengals Control The Cruise

Dan Parzych — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:06:48 -0500

Imagine being a rookie running back on the Cincinnati Bengals drafted out of Abilene Christian in the sixth round of April's NFL Draft.

Now imagine being that same rookie playing in a game against the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers and making a key play on special teams that would end up being a difference maker for the Bengals' victory.

After Sunday, Bengals rookie running back Bernard Scott is living that dream with his performance against the Steelers.

In a key game that would decide bragging rights for sole possession of first place in the AFC North, the rookie stepped up on offense and special teams to help the Bengals leave Heinz Field with an 18-12 victory, ending the Steelers' 10-game win streak at home.

With the win, the Bengals improved their record to 7-2 on the year and 5-0 against teams in the AFC North. Not only did they beat the Steelers to take a one-game lead in the division, but for the first time in franchise history, they have won five games in a row on the road.

While this was a team victory with the offense managing to get down the field and displaying a stellar performance on defense, it's hard to imagine the Bengals pulling away with the victory without the help of Scott.

After Steelers kicker Jeff Reed nailed a field goal from 28 yards with just under five minutes remaining, Scott returned the following kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, the first one of his career. He took advantage of a weak Steelers special team unit that allowed their fourth kickoff returned for a touchdown on the year. The return gave the Bengals a 6-3 lead and ended up being the lone touchdown scored by both teams.

Not only did Scott help the Bengals on special teams, but he filled in for running back Cedric Benson, who strained his hip in the first half. He finished with 33 yards on just 13 rushes and picked up key first downs for the Bengals in the fourth quarter to help run the clock down.

When the Bengals defeated the Steelers, it was the late heroics of running back Brian Leonard that helped the team seal the victory.

This time, it was the help of a rookie running back in Bernard Scott that not only helped them make a statement by defeating the Super Bowl Champions on their own turf, but inched them closer to their first playoff berth since 2005.

With a 7-2 record and a favorable remaining schedule, there's every reason to believe the Bengals will at least clinch a wild-card berth for the playoffs.

While most experts and analysts expected the AFC North to come down to a battle between the Steelers or Ravens, the Bengals are showing why they should have been at least considered all along.

Dan Parzych is the Cincinnati Bengals Examiner for Examiner.com

He is also the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Despite Loss To Chargers, Eagles' Jason Avant Has Career Day

Dan Parzych — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:32:51 -0500

There once was a wide receiver on the Philadelphia Eagles who wore No. 81 and would be unstoppable for opposing teams to defend.

While his time has come and gone in the City of Brotherly Love, the Eagles have to be satisfied with the latest performance of another wide receiver wearing the No. 81 jersey.

Before Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles WR Jason Avant had just 15 receptions for 198 yards in the eight games he's played so far during the 2009 season. In 46 games, he’s recorded 77 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns.

On Sunday, Avant had the best game of his four-year career, hauling in eight receptions for 156 yards in the Eagles 31-23 loss to the Chargers.

While the Eagles may have ended up on the losing side of Sunday’s game, they have to be satisfied with the performance of Avant against the Chargers considering he’s never been the go-to guy at wide receiver.

Throughout his career, Avant has been one of those wide receivers who always seemed to be under the radar. With the Eagles, he has always played with other wide receivers ahead of him, such as Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson. Even coming into this season, rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was expected to be ahead of Avant on the team’s depth chart.

But Avant has managed to establish a reputation as a key player to throw to on third down. Throughout his career, he’s moved the chains on 14 of 17 third-down passes thrown to him by Donovan McNabb.

With the emergence of Jackson and Maclin as No. 1 and No. 2 wideouts, the Eagles could have a solid trio of receivers if they can find a way to use Avant in the offense like they did against the Chargers.

With running back Brian Westbrook suffering his second concussion of the season, the Eagles may need all of the extra help they can get on offense.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Bengals-Steelers Week 10: Live Notes and Updates from the First Half

Dan Parzych — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:41:26 -0500

In one of the most anticipated matchups in Week 10 (along with the Peyton Manning going against Tom Brady in Sunday Night Football), the 6-2 Cincinnati Bengals and the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers both look to take control of the AFC North with a win today.

Here are live notes and updates from the first half between the Bengals and Steelers.

First Quarter

14:55—A nice opening kickoff by Bernard Scott for 21 yards to the Steelers 30. Let the battle for bragging rights in the AFC North begin.

14:44—Palmer looks for Laveranues Coles up the middle but William Gay does a great job breaking up the pass, nearly coming away with the interception.

14:37—What a play by Palmer, who finds Chad Ochocinco for 16 yards on a 3rd-and-10 to pick up the first down, the Bengals first of the day.

13:32—Palmer finds wide receiver Andre Caldwell on 2nd-and-6 for an eight-yard gain and another Bengals first down. So far, they have opened the game with five straight passes against the Steelers No. 1 ranked rushing defense.

12:23—For the second time this drive, Gay nearly comes away with an interception off Palmer as he breaks up a pass intended for Coles.

12:17—What a catch by Coles, who brings down a 12-yard pass by Palmer in double coverage and manages to get his feet down before going out of bounds. The replay shows his feet weren't down in time, but Palmer manages to get the play off before Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin can throw the red flag.

10:53—Palmer needs to be more careful with his passes as Ike Taylor knocks down the third pass of the opening drive in on a 3rd-and-14 intended for Ochocinco. Let's see if Bengals kicker Shayne Graham can capitalize on the field goal.

10:49—The kick had the distance, but hits the right upright as Graham misses a 51-yard field goal. So much for the Bengals jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. The Steelers will take over on their own 33.

10:40—Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drops a quick pass off to wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who moves down the right sideline for 11 yards and a first down. A nice opening play on offense for the Steelers.

8:52—On 3rd-and-1, Mewelde Moore breaks loose and runs for 12 yards and a Steelers first down. 1st-and-10 at the Bengals 27 yard line.

7:42—The Bengals defense gets to Roethlisberger for the first time today as Jonathan Fenene sacks him for a five-yard loss. Big third down coming up now for the Bengals

6:40—On 3rd-and-13, Roethisberger finds an opening and scrambles for a 15-yard gain to the Bengals 15 yard line. So much for the Bengals taking advantage of a 3rd-and-long situation.

4:46—Big play for the Bengals defense on 3rd-and-5 as Chinedum Ndukwe knocks down Roethlisberger's pass. The Steelers are forced to kick the field goal as Jeff Reed nails one from 28 yards to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead.

4:26—Wow! Scott takes the kickoff by Reed and returns it 96 yards for the touchdown after a couple of nice moves to find an opening down the left side of the field. The rookie from Abilene Christian records his first career touchdown to give the Bengals the lead, leaving the fans at Heinz Field stunned. Lucky for them, the field goal attempt fails after Kevin Huber bobbles the ball. Instead of leading 7-3, the Bengals settle with a 6-3 lead.

3:36—The Bengals defense gets to Roethlisberger for the second time today as Dhani Jones comes down with the sack, setting up a 3rd-and-14 for the Steelers.

2:57—Roethisberger finds Holmes down the middle and the refs appear to give him a generous spot for the first down. Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis quickly throws out the challenge flag and it pays off. After further review, the refs spot the ball at the 40 instead of the 42, leaving the Steelers with a 4th-and-2 instead of a first down. Looks like the Bengals will be getting the ball back.

2:21—The announcers on CBS just informed the audience that Troy Polamalu will be out for the remainder of the game after tweaking his knee. This could have a huge effect on the outcome of today's game considering Polamalu is arguably the best safety in the league.

1:48—Benson runs for nine yards and a first down on a 2nd-and-8, his longest run of the day so far. The Steelers defense is showing him why they're the best in the league at stopping the run.

00:26—Caldwell hauls in a six-yard reception for the first down and the final play of the first quarter. After one quarter of play, the Bengals lead the Steelers 6-3.

Second Quarter

13:29—What a play by Coles on 3rd-and-3, who uses his quickness to pick up 25 yards down the left side of the field and another Bengals first down.

12:12—On 3rd-and-14, Palmer looks for Caldwell down the middle but fails to connect as he was in double coverage. Instead of a 53-yard field goal, Lewis decides the Bengals are safer punting the ball considering Heinz Field is always a difficult place to kick the ball.

11:55—On the first play of the drive, Steelers tight end Heath Miller breaks a tackle from Jonathan Joseph and gains enough yards for a first down at the Bengals 21 yard line. On the next play, Roethlisberger finds Holmes for an 11-yard gain and another Steelers first down.

10:06—Roethlisberger appears to be sacked for the third time today, but he manages to find Hines Ward for a quick screen pass. Unfortunately, he only gets one yard out of it and the Steelers will face 3rd-and-6.

9:28—The Bengals defense comes through on third down as Roethlisberger fails to find Holmes across the middle of the field. The Steelers are forced to punt once again.

9:06—Ochocinco runs a beautiful route down the middle, but he fails to bring in the pass thrown by Palmer which would have given the Bengals a first down. A few plays later, Palmer overthrows a ball intended for Ochocinco again on third down, forcing the Bengals to punt to the Steelers.

8:05—Stefan Logan provides the Steelers with a nice 25-yard punt return to the Bengals 46 yard line. Should be interesting to see if the Steelers can take advantage of the great field position this drive.

7:41—Rashard Mendenhall opens the drive with a 10-yard run and a first down for the Steelers, helping them get closer to at least field goal range.

7:00—Roethlisberger may be one of the best quarterbacks in the league when it comes to scrambling around before throwing the ball down the field. In what appears to be a lost play, he finds Holmes for a 21-yard pass to move to the Bengals 15.

4:54—The Steelers get lucky as Roethlisberger looks for Holmes in the end zone and almost throws an interception with two Bengals defenders present. A big third down play coming up here.

4:46—Fenene comes up with his second sack of the day for the Bengals, preventing the Steelers from finding the end zone and settling for a field goal. With 4:13 left in the first half, this game has lived up to the hype so far with the Bengals and Steelers tied 6-6.

4:06—Another key injury for this game. This time, it's on the Bengals side as the announcers just told the audience that Benson is questionable to return with a hip strain.

4:02--Okay, so Benson already appears to be back in the game for the Bengals. It's obvious something is wrong with his hip and it shows in his run. If Benson is out, it will be a huge hit for the Bengals.

3:05—The Steelers defense applies the pressure to Palmer and brings him down for the 10-yard loss as James Harrison is credited with the sack. The Bengals are forced to punt again, giving the Steelers less than three minutes to move the ball down field before halftime.

1:55—Roethlisberger looks for Mike Wallace deep down the field, but the pass is incomplete. Along with the incomplete pass, Miller is called for offensive holding, pushing the Steelers back to their own 24-yard line.

1:44--The Steelers catch a huge break as Roethlisberger goes deep to Wallace and draws the pass interference on Ndukwe. The gamble by Roethlisberger results in a 46-yard penalty and puts them deep in Bengals' territory.

00:59—Roethlisberger finds Ward in the middle of the field for another first down. Now the Steelers are looking at a 1st-and-goal at the Bengals 8 yard line.

00:50—What a big play for the Bengals defense as they get to Roethlisberger for the fourth time today. Robert Geathers records his first sack of the day for the Bengals.

00:16—The Bengals catch a break as Holmes is unable to bring the ball down in the end zone on third down, forcing Reed to kick another field goal. A field goal is better than a touchdown any time on defense, and the Bengals have to be pleased that the Steelers' lead in 9-6 instead of 13-6.

00:00—The Bengals decide not to risk anything and just kneel to run the clock out. At halftime, the Bengals trail the Steelers 9-6 in a battle for first place in the AFC North.

Dan Parzych is the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Questions? Comments? Email him at djp746@gmail.com

Eagles' DeSean Jackson Using Facebook To Raise Money For Cancer Research

Dan Parzych — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:08:48 -0500

Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson is the type of player who loves to give 100 percent on the field and in the community. When the Eagles travel to the west coast to take on the San Diego Chargers this Sunday, he will be giving his all on the field and raising awareness for pancreatic cancer–at the same time.

Jackson is taking the approach most NFL players have taken this season by interacting with fans through popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter . He even has his own website DeSeanJackson10.com that is expected to launch shortly for his fans to enjoy.

Not only is Jackson using these social networking sites as a new way for him to interact with his fans, but also as a way to raise awareness for a good cause.

As part of a way to interact with his fans through Facebook, Jackson will be auctioning off his gloves from Sunday’s game against the Chargers to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Fans can bid on the gloves once the auction begins at 4:15 pm ET by visiting Jackson’s fan page on Facebook .

Last season, Jackson’s father Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while the Eagles were participating in the 2009 playoffs. After he passed away last May, Jackson decided to honor his father by dedicating the 2009 season to him. So far, he’s hauled in 26 receptions for 530 yards and six total touchdowns.

Sunday’s auction towards Pancreatic Cancer Research is just another small part of how Jackson wants to serve the memory of his father and help raise money for others who have been diagnosed. Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the pancreas and is the fourth leading cause of death in men and women.

For the average football fan, this is a great way not only to own a collector’s item of one of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL, but an opportunity to help raise money for a good cause.

If interested in participating in the auction for his game-worn gloves, be sure to check out the official DeSean Jackson fan page on Facebook once the Eagles-Chargers begins on Sunday.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Dallas Cowboys: Despite December Struggles, Tony Romo Is Mr. November

Dan Parzych — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:41:06 -0500

Throughout his career, Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo">Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Tony Romo has been criticized for the way he performs towards the end of the year. However, it may be time to award him the nickname of "Mr. November" with the type of play he's established during this month in Dallas over the last four seasons.

On November 5, 2006, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo made his second career start against the Washington Redskins. He completed 24-of-36 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-19 loss.

Why was this game so significant for the seventh-year quarterback? This was the only time in Romo's career he lost a game during the month of November.

Despite all of the heat taken for his performance when the month of December rolls around, in which he has a combined record of 5-8 over his career, Romo has established himself as a clutch-performer in the month of November for the Cowboys.

Since losing to the Redskins in 2006, he has won 13 straight games in November, including two key victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles this season. Not only has his win streak been impressive, but his numbers at quarterback have been as well.

In the 13 wins, Romo has completed 68.2 percent of the passes he's thrown. Overall, he's completed 269-of-394 passes for 3,641 yards, 35 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions.

The Cowboys have three games remaining in the month of November with a 6-2 record and a one-game lead over the Eagles for first place in the NFC East. On Sunday, they take on the 4-4 Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, who are coming off a loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If Romo can lead the Cowboys to another win in the month of November by defeating the Packers, his streak will increase to 14 games. With two home matchups against the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders before December rolls around, there's a good chance Romo's streak can stay alive for 2010 considering both teams each have two wins so far this season.

He may not have the best reputation for being a dominant quarterback once December rolls around.

However, Romo has performed well enough over the last four seasons to earn the nickname of Mr. November in the NFL.

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Eagles-Cowboys Recap: Five Factors From Philadelphia's 20-16 Loss

Dan Parzych — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:11:20 -0500

In a game that would determine who would be in first place of the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Dallas Cowboys 20-16 in a game that went down to the wire. With the win, the Cowboys improved to 6-2 on the season, while the Eagles now remain one game behind them in the standings at 5-3.

The Cowboys won this game simply because they were the better team. They out performed the Eagles on their own field, all while increasing their win streak to four games.

With the heartbreaking loss to the Cowboys, here are a few interesting thoughts and facts from the game regarding the Eagles.

The Struggles of Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb may be one of the most difficult players to figure out in the NFL.

In week six against the Oakland Raiders, he looked horrendous, finishing 22-of-46 for 269 yards and no touchdowns. His performance was similar to the game against the Baltimore Ravens from last season, only there were no interceptions.

Over the next two weeks against the Washington Redskins and New York Giants, McNabb looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the league, throwing for a combined 396 yards and four touchdowns on 32-of-48 passing.

Just when Philadelphia thought McNabb was at the top of his game again, he put on a performance against the Cowboys that showed why Eagles fans get on his case from time-to-time.

Against the Cowboys, McNabb finished just 16-of-30 for 227 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He missed wide-open receivers throughout the game, missing opportunities to make big plays by over or underthrowing his targets.

Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid and His Questionable Field Goal Decision

Sure, the decision by Eagles head coach Andy Reid to kick a field goal with under five minutes left to cut the Cowboys’ lead to 20-16 would be wise in most situations.

However, with no timeouts remaining and a defense going against a running back by the name of Marion Barber, the chances of the Eagles having enough time to get the ball back and march down the field for six, seemed a little ridiculous at the time.

On the Cowboys first play on offense with 3:33 left following a field goal by Eagles kicker David Akers, Barber ran for an easy 16 yards and a first down. Three plays later, quarterback Tony Romo found tight end Jason Witten on a third-and-three for five yards, which sealed the victory up for the boys in blue.

When looking back at the situation, the Eagles were in late in the fourth quarter, it’s obvious Reid should have made the decision to go for it on that fourth-and-11 in hopes of maybe tying the game. There’s a better chance of tying the game and winning in overtime, then kicking a field goal, forcing the Cowboys to go three-and-out, and getting the ball back with just enough time to score a touchdown and win the game–with no timeouts.

At The End of the Day, the Eagles Can Only Blame Themselves For the Famous 4th-and-inches

The players and fans can say what they want about the refs blowing the forth-and-inches call at the beginning of the fourth quarter, where McNabb appeared to have rolled over his teammates enough to reach the first down. At the end of the day, the Eagles have nobody to blame but themselves.

After wide receiver DeSean Jackson hauled in a nine yard reception from McNabb, they were looking at a second-and-one from the Cowboys 45-yard line.

Three plays later, the Eagles failed to get a first down and gave the Cowboys great field position on their own 45-yard line.

One yard; one yard is all that stood in the way of the Eagles and a first down. The fact they failed to gain one simple yard on three attempts, is nothing short of embarrassing. Even if the refs were responsible for blowing the call on McNabb’s spotting, the Eagles should never have been in the situation for a forth-and-inches in the first place.

McNabb and Romo’s Streak Ends, Austin’s Continues

Before last Sunday’s matchup, both McNabb and Romo each had an impressive streak of throwing passes without an interception. Unfortunately for both quarterbacks, both streaks came to an end last weekend.

While McNabb’s streak ended at 118 passes when he was intercepted by Cowboys safety Gerald Sensabaugh, Romo’s streak came to an end at 143 when he was picked-off by Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown in the third quarter.

Even though McNabb and Romo’s impressive streaks without an interception came to an end, Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin continued his hot-streak of scoring a touchdown, finding the end zone for the fourth game in a row. In fact, his 49-yard touchdown reception from Romo with just over eight minutes left, ended up being the difference maker in the win for the Cowboys.

All streaks must come to an end at some point, lucky for his Austin, he gets to enjoy his streak for at least another week.

Eagles Are Now 0-7 Since 2006 on NBC’s Sunday Night Football

One of the main headlines entering last Sunday’s game was that over the last 15 years, the Cowboys were 4-11 when playing in Philadelphia, each win coming during a night game.

Not only did the Cowboys claim their fifth victory in a primetime game, but they also prevented the Eagles from recording their first victory on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

With the loss to the Cowboys, the Eagles remain winless on Sunday Night Football since the program switched over from ESPN to NBC in 2006. Hopefully, the team will get its act together and end the streak this season considering they have two more Sunday night games scheduled for the season: November 22 against the Chicago Bears and December 13 against the New York Giants.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Bengals' Benson Runs His Way into the Record Books Against the Ravens

Dan Parzych — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:54:40 -0500

Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis share something in common that no other player can say they accomplished.

Benson and Bettis are the only two running backs over the last 14 years to post two 100-yard rushing games against the Baltimore Ravens in the same season.

In Sunday's 17-7 win over the Ravens, Benson ran for 117 yards and a touchdown, his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Back in Week Five, he ran for 120 yards and a touchdown, ending the Ravens 39-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher.

In 1996, Bettis rushed for 116 and 105 yards in two games against the Ravens. Since then, no player has been able to accomplish what Bettis did—until Benson did on Sunday.

It's a difficult statistic for other running backs to achieve considering the only chance a player has at playing the Ravens defense twice each season is if they play for the Bengals, Steelers, or Browns. However, it's an impressive statistic considering how great the Ravens defense has been throughout their history.

The Ravens have built a reputation as a team difficult to establish a run against. In fact, in the 216 games played in their 14 seasons as a franchise, including the eight from this season, they have allowed just 92.7 rushing yards per game. This season, they are allowing just 94.9 yards per game, which is seventh in the NFL.

With his fourth 100-yard game of the season, Benson has the second-most rushing yards in the league with 837, just 122 yards behind Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson.

The Bengals are averaging 130 yards per game on the ground, mainly because of Benson. Looks like the fourth overall pick from 2005 NFL Draft is finally living up to his potential.

Dan Parzych is the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Questions? Comments? Email him at djp746@gmail.com

Eagles-Cowboys: How One Call By Andy Reid Could Have Changed The Outcome

Dan Parzych — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:21:35 -0500

On Monday morning, it’s still hard for the fans to accept the fact the Philadelphia Eagles suffered a 20-16 loss at Lincoln Financial Field to the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s hard to point fingers in a tough loss and point out a specific person to blame. However, it’s hard to ignore the judgement on play calling by Eagles head coach Andy Reid that has left plenty of fans wondering if the team lost because of him.

With the Eagles down 20-13 with 4:33 left at the Dallas 34, Reid decided for David Akers to kick the 52-yard field goal and make it a 20-16 game. In most football situations, this seems like the logical decision to make.

In the football situation Reid was in last night, it was the complete opposite of a logical decision.

It’s easy to understand the logic behind Reid when he wants to cut the lead down and make it a four-point game, meaning the Eagles could win the game with a touchdown on their next possession. However, the Eagles had used all their time outs, losing two of them to challenge attempts that failed.

In other words, Reid was hoping the Cowboys offense would go three-and-out and allow just enough time for the Eagles to march down the field and score a touchdown, despite the fact they had no time outs.

If anything, Reid should have gone for it on 4th-and-11 from the Dallas 34 and at least gone for the touchdown to tie the game. With no time outs and a defense trying to stop running back Marion Barber, who we all knew would get the ball on the Cowboys final possession, the chances of the Eagles actually getting the ball back with enough time on the clock seemed about just as good as Paris Hilton winning an Oscar for her acting.

For the record, I’m not trying to say that the Eagles would have tied the game by this one simple adjustment in play calling. All I’m trying to say is this seemed like the more logical approach to take with the type of situation the team was in late in the fourth quarter.

At the end of the day, Reid has to take full responsibility for the way last night’s game ended for the Eagles. The Eagles may not have ended up tying the game by going for it on 4th-and-11, but it sure would have given them a much better chance of tying the game instead of hoping to win the game by getting the ball back later on.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry Likely Out for Season with Arm Injury

Dan Parzych — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:16:29 -0500

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry will likely miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his left forearm Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, according to reports from James Walker on ESPN.com.

Henry hauled in his first reception of the day early in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Ravens on a 20-yard pass from Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. As soon as he hit the ground, he grabbed his left forearm and laid on the ground for a few minutes before being carted off the field by the team's medical staff.

Before the play, Henry had an air cast placed on his forearm.

With Henry likely out for the remainder of the season, it will be up to the rest of the Bengals wide receivers to step it up on offense. This could mean an increased role for second-year wide receiver Andre Caldwell, who has emerged as a solid option for Palmer this season.

In the first seven games this season, Henry had 11 receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

He was expected to have a breakout season after an impressive offseason, when he appeared to be more focused on turning his life around and making major contributions for the Bengals.

Dan Parzych is the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Questions? Comments? Email him at djp746@gmail.com

Bengals-Ravens Week 9: Live Notes and Updates From The First Half

Dan Parzych — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:44:13 -0500

Today the 5-2 Cincinnati Bengals host the 4-3 Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. After a 17-14 win for the Bengals in Week 5, the Ravens are looking for revenge and hope to get closer to the Bengals and Steelers in the AFC North standings.

With one of the most intense matchups in Week 9, here are live notes and updates from the first half between the Bengals and Ravens.

14:53—Wide receiver Andre Caldwell starts the game off with a 16-yard return to the 27-yard line.

13:45—Brian Leonard shows us why Marvin Lewis loves to use him on 3rd down as he finds him for five yards to get the first down.

13:15—Cedric Benson gets his first big-run of the game as he breaks for 12 yards to enter Ravens territory.

11:43—Ravens cornerback was applying the pressure to Palmer, who nearly found wide receiver Laveranues Coles on the sideline. Unfortunately, he caught the ball out of bounds, ruining the Bengals chances of a 3rd-and-short situation.

11:25—Palmer finds wide receiver Ochocinco for the first time as he catches the ball about two yards shy of the first down but fights for the extra yardage to give the Bengals a 1st-and-10. He did say the reason why he sent the Ravens defenders deodarant this week was because he made them sweat.

10:00—Benson finds a huge hole up the middle and breaks for a 21-yard gain to get inside the Baltimore ten-yard line. With that run, Benson has already surpassed his total rushing yards from last season.

8:55—Palmer finds Caldwell in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown, his third touchdown of the season. The Bengals could not have asked for a better opening drive, taking over six minutes off the clock on 12 plays. Bengals lead 7-0.

8:48—Ravens cornerback Ladarius Webb returns the kickoff to the Baltimore 36 after a few spins to avoid Bengals defenders. Let's see how quarterback Joe Flacco and the rest of the Ravens offense can respond down 7-0.

8:43—On the Ravens first offensive play of the day, running back Ray Rice is stopped for a loss of two yards by defensive tackle Tank Johnson. Great start for the Bengals defense.

8:11—Flacco's streak of 14 straight completions, which is a Ravens record, comes to an end early in the game on an incomplete deep pass to wide receiver Derrick Mason.

7:16—Bengals cornerback Leon Hall nearly picks off Flacco on 3rd-and-3, but can't hold on to the ball. The Ravens have no choice but to punt the ball, giving the Bengals the ball back with a 7-0 lead.

6:47—The Ravens show us why they lead the league in penalty yards entering this game. After a 25-yard catch by Ochocinco, Dawan Landry forced a fumble that was recoverd by the Ravens. However, Landry was penalized for a pass interference call, giving the Bengals a second chance on the drive.

6:07—Once again, Palmer uses his legs to help the Bengals gain a first down on a 3rd-and-6. Unfortunately, two penalty calls that offset will cause a replay of the down.

6:00—Ochocinco makes an unbelievable grab between two Ravens defenders for a 17-yard gain and a first down at the Baltimore 47. The very next possession, he dives for another catch for an eight-yard gain, his fourth of the first quarter. This could be another big day for No. 85.

4:31—After an incomplete pass to J.P. Foschi on 3rd-and-2, the Bengals decide to go for it on fourth down. Palmer throws it deep down the right side of the field for Ochocinco, but Fabian Washington is called for the pass interference, giving the Bengals the ball at the Ravens' 15-yard line. What a huge play for the Bengals on fourth down.

3:35—The Bengals pull the reverse and hand the ball off to Coles. Instead of facing a 3rd-and-short, Coles breaks a tackle from Ed Reed and runs to the Ravens' two-yard line before getting pushed out of bounds. This Bengals offense is taking complete control of the Ravens defense in the first quarter.

2:23—Benson runs up the middle for the one-yard touchdown, his sixth of the season. On the first two drives of the game, the Bengals are able to find the end zone, increasing their lead to 14-0.

2:17—The Ravens will start from inside their own ten after a holding penalty on the kickoff. On the first posession of the drive, Flacco finds Clayton down the right side of the field for a 15-yard gain.

1:15—Flacco is forced to use the Ravens second timeout of the half on a 3rd-and-5. With the way the Bengals offense is playing, the Ravens offense needs to convert on this down more than anything to get back into this game.

1:08—Flacco finds Rice for the short pass, but he is tackled a yard shy of the first down. Once again, the Ravens are forced to punt.

0:37—The Ravens catch a huge break when Bengals linebacker Brandon Johnson is called for the offside penalty on 4th-and-1, giving them a first down and a second chance on the drive. It should be interesting to see if they can take advantage of the penalty and cut the Bengals lead down.

Second Quarter

14:54—On a 3rd-and-8, Flacco is forced to throw the ball away out of bounds. So much for taking advantage of the second chance given on the drive. Once again, the Ravens are forced to punt.

14:43—Wide receiver Chris Henry hauls in his first reception of the day for 20 yards on the Bengals first play of the drive. Unfortunately, he is slow to get up and may be injured. He was carted off the field with an air cast on his arm. Hopefully he is alright.

12:43—On a 3rd-and-10, Palmer finds Coles for a 14-yard gain and a first down. The Bengals now have converted three of five third-down conversions.

11:36—Once again, Palmer uses his feet to run for the first down as he scrambles to the Baltimore 29 for a 10-yard gain. Once again, the Bengals offense is dominating the Ravens defense.

10:03—J.P Foschi hauls in a pass from Palmer and breaks a couple of tackles for a 20-yard gain. Once again, the Bengals find themselves in the Ravens' red zone.

7:50—Coles makes a nice one handed grab on a pass from Palmer. Unfortunately, he was out of the end zone and the Bengals have to settle for a field goal from Shayne Graham, increasing their lead to 17-0.

7:30—Flacco has all of the time in the world to pass, but nobody seems to be open. Instead, he has to settle for a quick pass to Le'Ron McClain for five yards.

6:13—Once again, Flacco struggles to find a wide receiver open enough for a first down. He finds Heap on 3rd-and-5, but the Ravens are still two yards shy of the first down. Once again, they're forced to punt for the third time this game.

4:52—Foschi is wide open on the right side of the field and hauls in another pass from Palmer for a 12-yard gain. So far, he has two receptions for 32 yards.

4:17—Another solid run by Benson, who gains 15 yards for another first down. He already has 73 yards on the ground, which is not a good sign for the Ravens defense. This shows how much the Bengals offensive line is dominating the Ravens defensive line.

3:04—Here's a fun fact for Bengals fans: Before this punt, the Bengals managed to score on 10 straight drives with Palmer under center. Thank you, CBS for that.

2:52—Flacco goes deep on the Ravens first possession of the drive and is picked off by Hall, his fourth interception of the season. The Ravens were desperate for a score before halftime to at least make it a two-possession game. Instead, the Bengals receive another chance to increase their lead before the half ends.

1:59—The Bengals fail to take advantage of the Ravens turnover and are forced to punt. Lucky for them, rookie lineback Maualuga downs the ball at the Ravens 1, which means the Ravens will most likely just run the clock out for safety precautions. With this field position, they can't afford another turnover.

As the first half comes to an end, the Bengals lead the Ravens 17-0 and have been nothing short of dominant. Here are a few quick notes from the first half:

The Bengals already have 235 yards on offense, including 80 yards on the ground from running back Cedric Benson. The Ravens only have 44 yards on offense.
The Bengals had the ball for 21:34 of the 30 minutes played in the first half. They are using the time of possession to wear down the Ravens defense and it's been working.
The Ravens failed to convert a third-down conversion while the Bengals converted five of nine.

Dan Parzych is the founder of WhoDeyBengals.com

Questions? Comments? Email him at djp746@gmail.com

Bengals-Ravens: Revenge and Flacco Should Have Cincinnati Cautious

Dan Parzych — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:59:14 -0500

Sunday's matchup between the 5-2 Cincinnati Bengals and the 4-3 Baltimore Ravens has the potential to be one of the best games to watch in Week 9.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is arguably coming off one of his best performances of his career, after throwing for 233 yards and five touchdowns against the Chicago Bears. The Ravens are coming off an impressive 30-7 win against the Denver Broncos, handing them their first loss of the season and ending their three-game losing skid.

A few weeks ago, the Bengals defeated the Ravens 17-14 after for their third-straight win against a division rival, to increase their AFC North record to 3-0. This time around, the matchup should be just as intense to watch, if not better. Here are a few factors to watch for in Sunday's game.

Ravens Want Revenge, But Bengals Have Won Seven of Last 10 Games

Sure, the Ravens may have swept the Bengals last season. In fact, the Ravens outscored the Bengals 51-13 in the two games they played against each other.

However, the Bengals are in a position to sweep the Ravens for the second time in three seasons. What's even worse for the Ravens is over the last 10 matchups between the two teams, the Bengals have won seven times.

Still, the fact that the Ravens were never losing until Palmer found wide receiver Andre Caldwell in the end zone with 22 seconds left in the game has to be frustrating. With the way Week 5 finished, why wouldn't the Ravens be hungry for blood against the Bengals this time around?

Despite the tough loss, the Ravens still believe they should have finished on the winning end against the Bengals a few weeks ago. They know how important it is to win Sunday and stay in the hunt for the AFC North title.

With the way the first meeting went, there's every reason in the world to believe Sunady's matchup between the Bengals and Ravens is going to be a dogfight and come down to who performs better in the fourth quarter.

Joe Flacco's Success on the Road

All the fans and analysts who said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco would fall under the category of "sophomore slump" in his second season in the league may want to consider a second opinion.

Flacco has fallen nothing short of spectacular as the leader of the Ravens offense this season. In seven games, he's completed 66 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,849 yards and 13 touchdowns, one shy of his total from last season.

In Week 5, Flacco struggled on offense, throwing for just 186 yards and a touchdown. He also threw two interceptions to Bengals cornerbacks Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. However, his success on the road this season may be a reason why the Bengals defense needs to be extra cautious towards him Sunday.

In each of his three road games; against the San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, and Minnesota Vikings, Flacco has thrown for two touchdowns and is averaging 278.6 yards per game. The Bengals defense is allowing 253.4 yards per game, which ranks them 30th behind the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans.

Questions? Comments? Email djp746@gmail.com

Make Sure To Check Out WhoDeyBengals.com!

Philadelphia Eagles Should Keep Using Leonard Weaver in the Running Game

Dan Parzych — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:48:09 -0500

In last weekend’s 40-17 win against the New York Giants, one of the reasons the Philadelphia Eagles were able to find success was because of an effective running game.

The Eagles recorded their highest rushing total of the season against the Giants, with 180 yards on the ground. The main reason they were able to find such success was because of the contributions they got from everyone, considering running back Brian Westbrook was out due to a concussion he received a week earlier against the Washington Redskins.

Eagles rookie running back LeSean McCoy ran for 82 yards on 11 carries, including a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. However, it was the performance by fullback Leonard Weaver that made head coach Andy Reid realize another option to use in the running game.

On the third play of the game for the Eagles, Weaver broke through the Giants defense and ran 41 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Overall, he finished with 75 yards on just eight carries—both career highs.

When the Eagles signed Weaver to a one-year deal in the offseason, they knew the type of talent he was capable of bringing to a squad that had gone a few years without a solid fullback.

He can block. He can run. He can even catch the ball. What more could the team ask for at fullback?

Before last week’s game, Weaver had only been handed the ball four times all season for a total of 16 yards. Many wondered why Reid wasn’t using him as much with the running game, considering he could be used as another weapon for the Eagles rushing attack.

After last week’s performance, Reid needs to continue to get Weaver more involved with the Eagles running game. Between him, Westbrook, McCoy, and a couple of speedy wide receivers in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, the running game has the potential to make as much of an impact on a weekly basis as they did against the Giants defense last weekend.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Cincinnati Bengals: Five Factors Behind Their Impressive Start, Part One

Dan Parzych — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:18:59 -0500

Last May, I conducted an article discussing five factors for the Cincinnati Bengals to help reach the playoffs in 2009.

As we approach Week Nine of the regular season, the Bengals are in excellent shape to make a strong run at the playoffs with a 5-2 record, all while sitting at the top of the AFC North standings.

As the team gets ready for a home matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, I thought it would be fun to conduct a five-part series with five more reasons why the Bengals have been successful this season (including a few factors from the original article).

The first factor behind the Bengals early success is the return of quarterback Carson Palmer, who appears to be at full strength again and better than ever.

One of the main reasons why the Bengals finished 4-11-1 last season was because of the absence of Palmer, who was limited to playing in just four games because of a torn ligament and tendon in the elbow of his throwing arm. Without him, the Bengals struggled to get anything going on offense, finishing dead last in total yards per game (245.4) and points per game (12.2).

With a healthy Palmer back in the lineup, the offense is back where it should be. The passing game (224.7 yards per game) and running game (134.7 yards per game) both rank the Bengals in the top 10 for each category.

Palmer is arguably coming off one of the best performances of his career after finishing 20-of-24 for 233 yards and five touchdowns in a win against the Chicago Bears. For the year, he's thrown for 1,608 yards and 13 touchdowns, all while displaying the type of leadership skills the Bengals needed to get where they are now.

Three of the Bengals five wins have come from game-winning drives on the team's last offensive possession of the game, which would not have been possible without Palmer.

Not only did he manage to direct the Bengals offense through the air, but he did it on the ground with his feet.

In an overtime win against the Cleveland Browns, Palmer scrambled 15 yards on a fourth-and-11 to help set up the game-winning field goal. The following week, he found himself in a similar situation against the Baltimore Ravens.

On a fourth-and-one with less than two minutes to play and the Bengals down 14-10, Palmer scrambled up the middle for six yards to keep the team's hopes alive. Eight plays later, he threw the game-winning touchdown to wide receiver Andre Caldwell to give the Bengals a 17-14 lead and eventually, the victory.

Without a healthy Palmer, it's difficult to imagine the Bengals coming off the bye week with a 5-2 record. He's been a major factor in the team's success this season and without him, these "Cardiac Cats" would not be where heading into the second half of the regular season.

This article can also be found at the new WhoDeyBengals.com

For questions or comments, email Dan Parzych at djp746@gmail.com

Fantasy Football: NFL MVP Week Eight

Dan Parzych — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:53:39 -0500

This article was originally published at FantasyPros911.com

Each week, Dan Parzych will take a look at the top performers in the NFL with Parzych's 2009 NFL MVP, whether they are at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end.

Along with the best performers each week, be sure to check out Parzych's 2009 NFL LVP, in which he covers the Least Valuable Players each week in the NFL.

Here are the results for Week Eight of the 2009 NFL regular season:

Quarterback: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings

In case you've been living under a rock the last couple of months, Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre made his return to Lambeau field last week, the place he built his legacy in his 17 seasons playing with the Green Bay Packers.

As he ran onto the field, he received a mixed reaction of boos and cheers from the beloved fans who had cheered him on throughout his career. If Favre was nervous about going against his former team on their own turf, it sure didn't show with the type of performance he had.

To make Packers fans feel even worse about their beloved quarterback playing for their division rivals, Favre finished 17-of-28 for 244 yards and four touchdowns against his former team in a 38-26 win for the Vikings.

Not only was the win a major relief for Favre, but the Vikings improved to 7-1 and remain atop the NFC North standings. Congratulations Brett, we all know how much this win means to you.

Running Back: Ryan Moats, Houston Texans

For the record, Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson was close to earning this spot with his performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he ran for 228 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. However, Houston Texans RB Ryan Moats had a career day against the Buffalo Bills, earning him the award this week.

In Sunday's 31-10 win against the Bills, Texans RB Steve Slaton was benched early on after recording his fifth fumble of the season. As his replacement, Moats finished with 126 yards on the ground and three touchdowns—all of which came in the fourth quarter.

Whether or not Moats will start for the Texans next week against the Indianapolis Colts is still up in the air. However, he showed head coach Gary Kubiak he has what it takes to be the No. 1 starter if needed.

Wide Receiver: Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts remain as one of two undefeated teams left in the NFL, and WR Reggie Wayne is a major reason why the Colts have been successful.

Wayne's 22-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter from RB Joseph Addai ended up as the game winner for the Colts in their 18-14 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Overall, he finished with 12 receptions for 147 yards to go along with his touchdown.

Once again, Wayne stepped it up for the Colts offense while WR Anthony Gonzalez continues to nurse his injured right knee. In seven games, he's hauled in 51 receptions for 689 yards and six touchdowns. This isn't the first time he's made the MVP list, and there's a chance we'll see him on it again before the season ends.

Tight End: Kevin Boss, New York Giants

The New York Giants may have been blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles in their 40-17 loss. However, Giants TE Kevin Boss still managed to have a solid game for his team in the losing effort.

While the Giants offense struggled to get anything going against the Eagles defense, Boss lead all wide receivers, hauling in three receptions for 70 yards—including an 18-yard touchdown from QB Eli Manning.

While Boss has yet to record a 100-yard game in 2009, the Giants have to be pleased with the fact he recorded his first touchdown of the season against the Eagles. Hopefully, he can continue to find the end zone over the next couple of weeks for the Giants.

Kicker: Matt Stover, Indianapolis Colts

While the Indianapolis Colts struggled to find the end zone against the San Francisco 49ers, K Matt Stover played a major role in the team's 18-14 win.

Other than Wayne's touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Colts relied on Stover's four field goals to continue the team's unbeaten streak in 2009. He managed to hit field goals from 38, 33, 31, and 41 yards for the Colts.

It's hard to find a place kicker that stands out from the rest each week. However, it's safe to say the Colts may be sitting at 6-1 without Stover, which is the reason why he earns the MVP award this week.

Defense: Baltimore Ravens

Everyone knew the matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos would be intense. However, the question on everyone's mind was which Ravens team would show up.

The Ravens defense could not have put on a more impressive performance as they handed the Broncos their first loss of the 2009 season in a 30-7 win. They held the Broncos to a total of 218 yards on offense while recording two turnovers and two sacks.

With the win, the Ravens increased their record to 4-3 and won for the first time in three games. Next week, they look for revenge against the Cincinnati Bengals, who pulled away with a 17-14 victory in Week Five thanks to a late 20-yard touchdown reception from WR Andre Caldwell.

If their defense continues to shut down opposing offenses like they did against the Broncos, the Ravens could climb back to the top of the AFC North in no time.

Dan Parzych is an analyst at FantasyPros911.com

Philadelphia Eagles: Balanced Play Calling Has Been Key in Recent Success

Dan Parzych — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:47:51 -0500

Two weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles appeared to be a football team that struggled to balance out the play calling on offense—especially when it came to running the ball.

After Sunday’s 40-17 win over the New York Giants, the Eagles look like a completely different team, and it may have something to do with the play calling.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid has been criticized at times throughout his career for his lack of running the ball on offense. In the team’s 13-9 loss to the Raiders, many wondered why the Eagles failed to run the ball more against a weak Raiders rush defense.

While Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb found himself throwing the ball 46 times, the ground game saw just 14 rushing attempts the entire game.

Since then, Reid has done a better job with the Eagles offense by balancing out the number of passing and running plays each game.

The results? Two straight wins against division rivals to climb to the top of the NFC East standings with the Dallas Cowboys.

In a Monday night matchup against the Washington Redskins, the Eagles threw 26 passes while running the ball 27 times in a 27-17 win.

The following week against the New York Giants, the Eagles found similar results as McNabb threw the ball just 23 times while the ground game ran for 180 yards on 24 attempts in the key win.

Reid may prefer the pass over the run, but Sunday’s win against the Giants was a perfect example of how many weapons they can use with their running game.

Not only did running back LeSean McCoy contribute by rushing for 82 yards and a touchdown, but fullback Leonard Weaver managed to find 75 yards on the ground as well—including a 41-yard touchdown run for the first touchdown of the game.

Reid needs to continue this method not only against the Cowboys next Sunday night, but for the remainder of the season.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

The Marvin Lewis Hot Seat Has Cooled Down Thanks to Bengals' 5-2 Start

Dan Parzych — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:08:24 -0500

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis appeared to be on the hot seat prior to the start of the 2009 season.

As the Bengals enter the bye week in first place of the AFC North with a 5-2 record, Lewis's hot seat seems to have cooled down and he has his team in the perfect position to make a strong run at the playoffs.

Throughout his career as head coach with the Bengals, Lewis has been criticized for his lack-of-discipline towards his players. The team has built a reputation over the last couple of years for all of the trouble their players have seen with the law. Even cornerback Leon Hall was arrested last April for driving under the influence.

Ever since Lewis took the Bengals to the playoffs in 2005 for the first time in 15 years, the team's gone 19-28-1 the three seasons since. Part of the reason why the seventh-year head coach seemed to be on the hot seat so much was because of the type of talent he had on offense each season, which was similar to the same one from a few years ago.

Quarterback Carson Palmer was the leader on offense. Chad Ochocinco was the top target at wide receiver. Even T.J. Houshmandzadeh was a solid option as a No. 2 wideout.

Now, Palmer and Ochocinco are currently with the team, but Houshmandzadeh parted ways after signing with the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason. However, the Bengals wasted little time finding his replacement after signing Laveranues Coles from the New York Jets.

It may be just seven games into the 2009 season, but this Bengals offense already has the potential to be just as good, if not better, than the same offense from the 2005 season. Not to mention they have to be satisfied with the way their defense has performed thus far, allowing just 18.3 points per game this season.

At 5-2, the Bengals are in solid shape to make a strong run at the playoffs with a favorable schedule. Of their nine remaining games, they still have to play the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs, who have a combined record of 5-22.

As long as the "Cardiac Cats" can continue finding ways to win with an offense and defense both ranking in the top 10 overall in the NFL, it's safe to say Lewis' hot seat has cooled down in Cincinnati. Lewis knew how well his team was capable of performing.

After a few seasons of frustration, he's finally got his team right where he wants them and feels much better about his job security.

Be sure to go to the new WhoDeyBengals.com!

Philadelphia Eagles Have Finally Landed a Top Wideout in DeSean Jackson

Dan Parzych — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:40:19 -0400

This article can also be found at NFLTouchdown.com

Tom Brady has Randy Moss. Peyton Manning has Reggie Wayne (and had Marvin Harrison for a while). Even Steve Young had Jerry Rice to help make his life easier.

In the NFL, a team has a better chance of winning when their quarterback has a dominant wide receiver to throw the ball to. For the Philadelphia Eagles , they have managed to be successful for most of this decade despite all of the years they lacked a true No. 1 wide receiver.

Throughout Donovan McNabb’s career (other than the Terrell Owens saga), the Philadelphia Eagles have never had that true No. 1 wide receiver that sets them apart from the other 31 teams.

James Thrash. Todd Pinkson. Freddie Mitchell.

All three of these players made up the receiving corps for the Eagles during their three NFC Championship appearances from 2001-2004 (Owens was part of the team when they reached the NFC Championship in 2005).

These players may of had a decent game for the Eagles every once in a while, but neither was ever considered a true No. 1 wide receiver for McNabb to throw to. With the help of a strong defense, McNabb was able to do just enough on offense to help the Eagles post just one losing record so far this decade (6-10 in 2005).

Ever since the departure of Owens, McNabb has been looking for that dominant go-to player at wide receiver. In his 11th season with the Eagles, he may have finally found that true No. 1 wide receiver again in DeSean Jackson.

Jackson had two key plays during the first half in the Eagles 27-17 victory over the Washington Redskins Monday night. Along with a 67-yard score on a wide receiver reverse, he hauled in a 57-yard touchdown from McNabb with less than two minutes to play in the first half.

Without the heroics of Jackson, one could argue that the Eagles may have fallen to the Redskins considering they were already without running back Brian Westbrook, who left the game in the first quarter because of a concussion.

Jackson’s performance against the Redskins is only a small part of the type of impact he’s provided the Eagles with so far this season.

In Week One against the Carolina Panthers, he returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. The following week against the New Orleans Saints, he hauled in a 71-yard pass to provide quarterback Kevin Kolb his first career touchdown pass.

He also managed to record a career high in receiving yards with 145 against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week Three, including a 64-yard touchdown in which he displayed his speed by breaking through the defense.

Through six games, Jackson has hauled 21 receptions for 423 yards and three touchdowns. Without his effort on offense and special teams, the Eagles would not be sitting at 4-2 with a chance to take first place in the NFC East if they defeat the New York Giants this upcoming weekend.

Week after week, Jackson has continued to make big plays against his opponents while emerging into the star player he worked so hard to become this offseason. He wanted to show the rest of the league that his first season, where he set an Eagles record for a rookie with 912 receiving yards, was no one-year wonder.

DeSean Jackson is the real deal in Philadelphia. Ever since his first game against the St. Louis Rams last season, he has emerged into the type of No. 1 wide receiver the Eagles have spent years searching for.

The Eagles and their fans have to be excited about what the future holds for Jackson. If he’s making this much of an impact in only his second season in the league, imagine the type of player he could develop into a few years from now and how dangerous he can become.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Phillies vs. Yankees Causing Fans to Become "Frienemies" in World Series

Dan Parzych — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:38:03 -0400

After sitting through 162 games and two rounds of the playoffs, the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees will square off Wednesday night to open up the first game of the 2009 World Series.

Philadelphia vs New York.

Broad Street vs Broadway.

Liberty Bell vs Statue of Liberty.

David vs Goliath.

Whatever you want to call this series, the only thing that matters is the matchup between the Phillies and Yankees has everything baseball fans could ask for.

A pitching matchup between two former Cleveland Indians teammates in Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia. Two of the best hitters in the game in Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez. Two of the best team leaders in all of baseball in Jimmy Rollins and Derek Jeter.

Oh yeah, did I mention this series consists of two cities with one of the most intense fan bases in all of sports?

This year's World Series between the Phillies and Yankees should turn out to be quite the dogfight with the way both teams have played lately.

The Phillies look to become the first team in the National League to repeat as champions since the Cincinnati Reds did from 1975-76. The New York Yankees are hungry to win their first World Series since 2000.

Yes, you can expect an intense amount of "verbal exchanges" between both sets of Yankees and Phillies fans each game.

Most Yankees fans will hate Phillies fans by the end of the series.

Most Phillies fans will hate Yankees fans by the end of the series.

However, let's not forget about the beloved sports fans from the Phillies and Yankees side that have to make the adjustment to "frienemies" for the next week or so.

In case you are unaware, "frienemies" is a term used for friends that can also be seen as enemies.

As a die-hard Philadelphia fan, there is nothing I would love to see more than my beloved Phillies repeat as World Series Champions. However, I also have to deal with the good friends and family of mine that are Yankees fans.

One of the best parts about being a sports fan is the rivalries established amongst teams and fans. Considering how close the Phillies and Yankees are too each other, there are a handful of friends and family of mine that will be on the "frienemies" list for at least the next week.

My good friend Becky could be considered the female version of myself when it comes to being a Philadelphia Eagles fan. We have sat through all of the heartache and disappointment through their playoff runs over the years.

Even next Sunday, we will be friends through sports when the Eagles host the the Giants at the Linc. However, that friendship will be put on hold for a few hours later that night once Game Four of the World Series gets under way.

While Becky may be a beloved Eagles fan, she is also one of the biggest Yankees fans in the world. We knew there was a chance our beloved baseball teams would square off against each other in the World Series.

Now, we get to experience what it's like to go head-to-head come tomorrow night.

Becky isn't the only friend of mine to be placed on the "frienemies" list for the World Series. My former supervisor Abby at the University of Dayton Recreational Facility is a Yankees fan. My Uncle Rich is a Yankees fan. Even some friends from high school and college are die-hard Yankees fans.

What's even more interesting about the matchup between the Phillies and Yankees are the frienemies who are fans of neither team.

My cousin Danielle is one of the biggest New York Mets fans in the world. Every time the Phils and Mets square off, we know the loser of the game can expect a phone call later that night.

As much as she hates my Phillies during the regular season, she has already admitted to rooting for them in the World Series because of her hate towards the Yankees. Apparently, some Mets fans would hate to see another New York team win the World Series.

If this is the case, some Mets fans may actually find themselves rooting for the Phils to pull through against their inner-city rivals.

Then again, I'm sure there are a handful of Mets fans that would rather see the Yankees win instead of their division-rival Phillies, who are trying to defend last year's title.

I'm sure there are other fans out there, both from the Phillies and Yankees, who are in a similar situation with frienemies this year.

Whether you have frienemies this World Series or not, you can still expect an intense matchup between the Phillies and Yankees that could easily go six or seven games.

Fantasy Football: NFL MVP Week Seven

Dan Parzych — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:57:17 -0400

This article can also be found on FantasyPros911.com.

Each week, Dan Parzych will take a look at the top performers in the NFL with Parzych's 2009 NFL MVP, whether they are at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end.

Along with the best performers each week, be sure to check out Parzych's 2009 NFL LVP, in which he covers the Least Valuable Players each week in the NFL.

Here are the results for Week Seven of the 2009 NFL regular season:

Quarterback: Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals

Despite the team's early success, Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer still seemed capable of reaching a playing level that would make him one of the top quarterbacks in the league. After Sunday's victory against the Chicago Bears, it's safe to say he showed us why he should be considered a top-five quarterback in the NFL.

Not only did Palmer throw five touchdowns against a Bears defense struggling with injuries, but he completed 83 percent of his passes, finishing 20-of-24 for 233 yards. He found WR Chad Ochocinco in the end zone twice, helping him reach his second-straight 100-yard game for the first time in two years.

Palmer's performance against the Bears seemed as close to a perfect game as a quarterback can have in the NFL. If he continues to use the weapons he has on offense, there's every reason to believe the Bengals will be playoff contenders and finish at the top of the AFC North standings.

Running Back: Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones, New York Jets

For the record, it was a close call at running back after the performance Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson displayed against his former Chicago Bears teammates, rushing for a career high 189 yards and a touchdown. However, this award goes to two players who single-handedly could have defeated the Oakland Raiders on their own.

New York Jets RBs Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones easily took advantage of the NFL's 30th ranked rushing defense. Greene replaced the injured Leon Washington, who is out with a broken leg, and rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns. On top of that, Jones finished with 121 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, the Jets finished with 316 total yards on the ground and became the first team in 34 years to record 300 yards rushing in two straight games. Washington may be out for the remainder of the season, but the Jets have to feel confident with the potential of Greene and Jones sharing carries at running back.

Wide Receiver: Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys

There was once a time where many questioned whether or not Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo would survive without having WR Terrell Owens to throw the ball to. Thanks to the play of WR Miles Austin the last two weeks, it appears Romo will be just fine in Dallas.

After a stellar performance against the Kansas City Chiefs—where he hauled in 10 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns—Austin put on an encore performance this week to help the Cowboys in a 37-21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He caught 10 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns, ringing up his total to 421 yards and four touchdowns the last two games.

In just two weeks, Miles has emerged into a serious fantasy football threat at the wide receiver position. Look for Romo to continue to use him as a weapon on offense since WR Roy Williams has yet to live up to all the hype.

Tight End: Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

Ever since he was drafted out of the University of Maryland, San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis had yet to live up to his potential in the NFL. After Sunday's performance against the Houston Texans, he is finally developing into the type of threat the team has been waiting for.

Even though the Texans won, Davis put on the type of performance that could only be described as dominant. He may have only brought in seven receptions and 93 yards, but he managed to score three touchdowns from 49ers QB Alex Smith.

After Sunday's performance, Davis has already surpassed his career high in touchdowns and has six on the season. He is slowly becoming the type of tight end who can be a dangerous wide-receiving threat, similar to San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates.

If the 49ers are lucky, he may turn out to be even better and emerge as one of the top tight ends in the NFL.

Defense: Pittsburgh Steelers

Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense dominated opponents all season en route to their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history. On Sunday, they put on a performance well enough to take down the previously undefeated Minnesota Vikings.

Despite surrendering 17 points to the Vikings offense, the Steelers defense scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to help seal the 27-17 victory. Steelers OLB LaMarr Woodley returned a 77-yard fumble for a score while ILB Keyaron Fox picked off Vikings QB Brett Favre and ran it back 82 yards for the score.

Now that Steelers SS Troy Polamalu seems to be fully recovered from his knee injury, there's no reason why this defense shouldn't perform well on a weekly basis.

They were dangerous last season, and they appear to be dangerous once again. Don't be surprised if this isn't the last time the Steelers defense makes this list.

Monday Night Football: Redskins Have Recent Success Against Eagles

Dan Parzych — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:26:16 -0400

With the way the Washington Redskins have performed this season, one would think the Philadelphia Eagles should have no trouble leaving FedEx Field with a victory on Monday Night Football.

After last week’s loss to the Oakland Raiders, the Eagles realize they need to take this Redskins team serious to avoid a second straight loss—especially with the success the 'Skins have against them the last two seasons.

Monday night’s matchup consists of two teams looking to avoid ending the week at the bottom of the NFC. With the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants at the top of the standings with two losses each, both teams realize how important this win is if they want to contend in the NFC East.

On paper, the Eagles have every reason to believe they out-match the Redskins.

They have a better quarterback in Donovan McNabb . They have a better running back in Brian Westbrook. They even have a young wide receiving corps, thanks to the emergence of DeSean Jackson and tight end Brent Celek.

So why should the Eagles take extra caution against a Redskins team that’s failed to crack the 20-point mark so far this season?

Despite being the laughing stock of the NFL this season, mainly because of their losses to the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, the Redskins are still a very talented football team. The Eagles need to be extra cautious towards Monday night’s game simply because the Redskins have won three of the last four games over the last two seasons. Their most recent win came in Week 10 of the 2007 season with a 33-25 victory.

In the two games they played against each other last season, the Eagles appeared to be on the road to victory.

After the Eagles jumped out to an early 14-0 lead during the first matchup, the Redskins scored 23 straight points and shut down the Birds’ offense for the remainder of the game on their way to a 23-17 victory.

When the Eagles became one of the hottest teams at the end of the season in hopes of a playoff run, the Redskins put a hault to their three-game winning streak, defeating them 10-3 in Week 16. During their three game winning streak, prior to their game against the 'Skins, the Eagles had outscored their opponents 98-44. However, they still managed to struggle against a 'Skins team that lost five of their previous six games prior to their matchup against the Eagles.

If the Eagles can pull away with the victory tonight, it will put them in good shape in the NFC East before their showdown with the New York Giants next weekend.

If the Eagles lose against the Redskins, it may be time to hit the panic button in Philadelphia. A loss to the Redskins places them at the bottom of the NFC East, which could make a playoff run even more difficult.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com