Bleacher Report - Articles by Aces Casino

Cutler Traded to Bears: Chin Up, Denver Fans: It Ain't That Bad

Aces Casino — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:54:00 -0400

I'll make this short and sweet, my Bronco Brethren, "You'll come out of this smelling like a ROSE!"

Let me see...A fifth-round draft pick and Jay Cutler (he of the pouty face and 17-20 overall regular-season record) for, get this...

The Bears' 2009 first-round draft pick.

The Bears' 2009 third-round draft pick.

The Bears' 2010 first-round draft pick.

And ALSO QB Kyle Orton, who won't immediately bring back memories of John Elway, but he won't remind the Orange Mane of Norris Weese, either.

HUGE sound of laughter coming from the Broncos' War Room.

You have GOT to be kidding me. This might turn out to be the Herschel Walker deal all over again. Orton's definitely serviceable, which will allow Denver to totally re-structure it's defense with all those draft picks the team now owns over the next two years.

What an incredible day for the Broncos. They've rid themselves of the biggest enigma since Ryan Leaf and Jeff George, and have been paid handsomely for the privilege. Funny thing is, as of this writing, Da Bears' Jerry Angelo is being hailed as a savior for bringing in the "Emperor Of Colorado."

Wait until the Bears' fans find out the emperor has no clothes...

Save some champagne for me, Bronc-Honks. I'll be there in a second to help you celebrate.

Who Said the Denver Broncos' Offseason Would Be Boring?

Aces Casino — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:38:46 -0500

It's Monday, March 2, 2009, and as I write this, I'm looking over my shoulder for rocks, bottles, and other foreign objects coming my way.

Reason? The Broncos, and their tumultuous offseason.

Now, if you're looking for a story about Jay Cutler, Josh McDaniels, and that QB trade-mess that "supposedly" happened, you're in the wrong place. We'll need a little more time for all the "half-truths and falsehoods" to weed themselves out. That'll happen, in due time.

Frankly, I'm here just to quickly discuss the Broncos' offseason FA acquisitions, specifically the three biggest ones—Brian Dawkins, Jabar Gaffney, and Correll Buckhalter.

My two cents? EXCELLENT moves by Josh McDaniels and his brain-trust, and here's why...RESPECT.

I love all three of these signings, especially Dawkins. Yeah, yeah, he's 58-years-old (actually, he's 35), and signed a five-year deal. Forget about that right now. He's here for two years, so Denver can buy a little time, add a quality safety to their roster, and, above all, a quality CHARACTER guy.

All three of these individuals come from character-building franchises (PHIL and NE), and, after what transpired with the Broncos after that monumental 2008 end-of-season collapse, something needed to be done, and Denver did it.

IN SPADES.

Sure, you might argue that Buckhalter can't stay healthy, that Dawkins is almost as ancient as Rodney Harrison, that Gaffney's not Randy Moss.

This all may be true.

But there's something else that, at this point in time, you can't measure...YET.

Their effect on the clubhouse, the attitude they bring to the locker room.

These three guys, and all the other players that have recently inked deals with Denver, are going to bring a winning attitude to a locker room that sorely needs it.

These signings give "Mac" a little more stability on a roster in flux, and can offer the Broncos the ability to now pursue the best athletes available in the 2009 NFL draft, to further bolster a fairly nice roster.

Bottom line? Nice job so far, Denver. Now, if you can also address that simmering "Cutler explosion" that's coming when his next meeting with the GM happens, and also smooth over the latest Brandon Marshall garbage (yeah, I saw the charges were dropped. Where there's smoke, there's fire), there may be more kudos to come.

Chargers-Steelers: Inside The Mind Of The Two Teams

Aces Casino — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:39:24 -0500

I'm wondering if my next statement is good news, or bad news.

I've got a long and storied history in the world of NFL handicapping...

Translation—Either the man making the bogus claim is trying to say he's really good, or really old. Most likely, both. Maybe that's why I always fell asleep in history class at school. I always got so bored with history.

Funny how times change. But I digress...

Yes sir, I've enjoyed the NFL and the sport of handicapping the NFL for quite some time now. The most interesting thing I've learned in all those years of tryin' to pick winners?

Leave your affiliation with your favorite teams at home when you're handicapping games.

Case in point—unfortunately, I've made a few enemies among my Charger brethren by wagering against the San Diego Chargers in certain spots. In my own defense, I offer this lil' tidbit of drivel: Who would know best about when the team's going to get their A$$ kicked?

You got it.

Now, for history's sake, when it comes to the 2008 San Diego Chargers, I've not made one play with OR against the team this season. Just for reference, I'm not suggesting in any way, shape, or form, that this upcoming Steelers-Chargers game is a betable football game. Quite the opposite.

I'll have no play on this game, a game that currently sits at Steelers -6, O/U 38.0, with the Steelers -260/+220 on the moneyline, courtesy of Oddsmaker.com.

Also, as far as my history of selections through Bleacher Report is concerned, I have only suggested one pick (because I've only been here one week), shown in this link (the selection being Baltimore -2 vs. Miami.)

So why, you ask, would any of this drivel be of any importance? Simple. Thoroughly handicapping a game is the best way to get an idea of how the game will look, once that 1:45pm PST kickoff takes place.

For my money, the best way to analyze this upcoming Steelers-Chargers game, or any football game, for that matter, is to get into the minds of the two teams.

How do they think?

What do they like to do?

What have they looked like?

What have they done all season, especially against each other?

With that in mind, let's break down Steelers-Chargers.........

When the Steelers Have the Ball

Right away, we find out the one reason this game is at -6, and may even go to -6.5, by game time: The Steelers' offensive philosophy, and how it compares to what they'll try to get done against the Chargers' defense.

Right up front, neither one of these two teams has a ton of surprises for the other. We ain't talkin' Boise State here.

These teams already know what the other is going to try. Pittsburgh, especially, isn't one of those teams that relies on a lot of tom-foolery and Wildcat-like stuff when they have the ball.

They'll bring their lunch pail on Sunday. You know what they're going to do, and they know what they're going to do, too. They're going to try to control the game. Off-tackle plays, swing passes, and the Ward / Miller combo. Hell, this shouldn't surprise anyone.

What Mike Tomlin and company want to do in this game is control the ball, work the clock, maintain a positive time-of-possession advantage. They know the Chargers are 31st in the NFL defending against the pass (with only the University of Notre Dame being worse), but that doesn't matter to the Steelers.

Oh, yeah, they'll throw the ball when they want to, sometimes when they have to, but they're going to make their mark on this football game on the ground. With Willie Parker, Mewelde Moore and Gary Russell, they've got the horses to do just that—control the clock.

All Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers want to do on Sunday is win. They're not going to care how (although they'd prefer that their defense totally dismantles the Chargers), they just want to win. The best way for Pittsburgh to do just that is to attack San Diego on the ground.

The San Diego defense has taken many shots over the bow when it comes to their pass defense, but their run defense would be where I would be most concerned. Statistically, they're currently ranked 11th against the run, allowing an average of just over 100 yards per game. That's not too terribly bad.

The rush defense, however, has shown some cracks lately. Unfortunately for their last two opponents (the Broncos and the Colts), their OC's got away from the run, and tried to beat San Diego through the air. Both teams forgot their success earlier in those games, especially Denver, who scored both of their first-half TDs on long running plays by Tatum Bell.

You can best believe that this fact is not lost on the Steelers, especially when playing in big games. Tomlin's a smart guy, he knows what would be best for his franchise. He's gonna run at you, San Diego.

With that in mind, if the Chargers want a fair shot at beating Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon/evening, they'll have to hold the Steeler ground game to under 120 total yards on the day.

Simply stated, it'll be up to Charger DC Ron Rivera to come up with the defensive schemes to keep that Steeler ground game under control, while limiting the effectiveness of Pitt QB Ben Roethlisberger and his wideouts, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.

Oh, don't forget about Heath Miller. Unfortunately, the last Charger DC always forgot about the opponent's tight ends. That's why he's where he is now, and Rivera's doing what he's doing, and doing it well.

Consequently, the Steelers are hoping to have a big day from Parker, Moore, and Russell. If they control the game on the ground, they'll be able to do whatever they wish on offense, both pass AND run.

This will make it easier to crack the Chargers' red-zone defense later, in what will be some key drives of the football game, at some point.

Personally, if I thought the Chargers could severely hinder Pittsburgh's attempt at running the ball, I'd play San Diego +6.

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening.

I think that the Steeler ground game will be key, it'll get those key yards, and will force the Chargers to do something they'd probably rather not attempt: Score on that 2008 "Steel Curtain," and do it often enough to beat the "Stellars."

Which brings us to...

When the Chargers Have the Football

This is the sexy aspect of this football game: Philip Rivers and his high-scoring Chargers' offensive attack, vs. the number 1 defense in all of football, the Steelers' defense.

Any good handicapper that has access to an earlier contest played between the two teams in question would love to analyze that previous game, to try to ascertain what might take place in this contest.

One problem.

Both teams, especially the Chargers, are quite different today than they were in mid-November.

This is another reason why, for my money, this game isn't very attractive from a betting standpoint.

Darren Sproles had one carry in the 11-16-08 Bolts-Stellars game, because Tomlinson was the man at that time. Also, Philip Rivers and his receiving corps, including Sproles, are much improved.

Then again, it's the Steelers. They could make Montana look like Tarvaris Jackson.

Big key here: Can the Chargers move the ball with a little more consistency than the last time that these two teams got together?

For what it's worth, Rivers didn't exactly light the Colts' pants on fire through the air last weekend. They beat Indy on the ground with their 5'6" lightning bug, Darren Sproles. The ex-Kansas State star looks to be the same triple-threat coming into this game for the Chargers as he was against Indy.

I'm really not too concerned about Antonio Gates' high-ankle sprain, or the off-the-field troubles of wideout Vincent Jackson. Rivers has one of Peyton Manning's finest qualities: He'll throw the ball to anyone that's open, no matter who.

Their offense appears basically intact, and ready to go in this one.

Rivers is gonna have to come through in a big way through the air in this game against a quality defensive opponent if the Chargers are going to survive their vacation in Pennsylvania, something that Steeler DC Dick LeBeau is hoping will not occur.

LeBeau has really done a fantastic job of preparing the Steelers for each and every opponent, and this game will be no exception. He knows that the Chargers have gone on this five-game winning streak as a result of their rushing attack.

His job will be to get players like Keisel, Harrison, Polamalu, Woodley, and the rest of that stellar defense in the right position to make all the plays they've been making all year. Don't think that he won't.

Bottom line?

It's going to be up to Norv Turner and his Chargers' offense to figure out ways to move the ball through the air, keep from going three-and-out, and get that same yardage on the ground in this game that they've been used to getting against lesser run defenses, like Denver and Indy.

How the Game Will Play Out

I hope you like the type of grind-it-out game that this contest is going to turn into. Tomlin and Turner aren't about to ruin a good thing by throwing a bunch of Harry-High-School stuff at their opponent, hope that it worked out OK, but ultimately watch it blow up in their faces.

The Steelers aren't Montana's 49ers. They rely on their defense to make the big plays, to give superior field position to Ben Roethlisberger and his RB/WR corps. They allow a few too many sacks, and won't make you forget about the '99 Rams, The Greatest Show on Turf. They just do what's needed to win.

If defense really does win championships, the Pittsburgh Steelers had better clear a space out in their trophy case, because this LeBeau-led 11-man force gets the job done with physicality, speed, and purpose.

If the Chargers plan on moving on to the AFC Championship game next weekend, Norv Turner and his Charger offense will have to do whatever they can to try to put up about 23-27 points in the game, and hope that Big Ben and the Steeler offense don't beat that act.

It doesn't look like a high-scoring affair at all to this jaded reporter. Remember, this game will also take place in the early evening, Pittsburgh time, with temps in the 20's, and scattered snow showers, which I don't believe will hinder either team too terribly much, the way they both like to operate.

It's more likely that we'll have a 20-13 game over a 26-23 final. The Steelers' approach to the game, combined with their lack of offensive prowess overall, tends to cause me to lean towards making an "under 38" play on the game, but I'll eventually leave this game alone.

The reason?

It'll be much more fun to watch, then it would be to bet.

Enjoy the game...comments?

Why Are the San Diego Chargers Gaining So Many Haters?

Aces Casino — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:51:47 -0500

You know, I'm probably one of the main reasons that the economy of the United States of America is in the crapper—Instead of being productive while I sit here at work and making money that can be taxed like crazy for Uncle Sam, I'm sitting here going over some of the many interesting and informative periodicals that are available to NFL nuts like me, magazines and blogs that deal with my one true passion: The National Football League. (Insert NFL Films music or the theme from Monday Night Football here.)

Yep, it's true. And what's ALSO true is that, like you, I'm a big fan of one of the 32 franchises in the NFL, a season-ticket holder and resident wise-cracking 'know-it-all,' when it comes to "that team."

(Gasp) That's right, I'm a fan of the San Diego Chargers.

OK, OK, put down the eggs and the rotten fruit, this won't be a long speech. See? Already, all the haters are grabbing for their torches and pitchforks, and, for the most part, if you knew me, i'd probably deserve to be tarred and feathered more than a few times, when it comes to my passion.

Then, after reading yet another blurb about the 2008 NFL season on-line, it finally hits me...

EVERYBODY seems to HATE the San Diego Chargers.

I mean, it's EVERYWHERE! Teams, fans, scribes, you name it. So, I've made a decision—Instead of writing about the upcoming Chargers/Steelers game on Sunday (already did THAT), I'd chronicle the life of a Charger fan, as he muddles through the muck and mire of the 'web, NFL-style...

First off, we have to go back to when the team was 4-8, seemingly the last time the Chargers were well-liked by the NFL Brethren at large. Probably because, at THAT time, they weren't a threat to anyone, except maybe their own fans, who thought the "tar-and-feather" idea might be a proper treatment for Norv Turner and his players at the time.

At 4-8, the Chargers were gearing up for an appearance on NFL Network's Thursday Night Football in a home game against the Oakland RaiDUHs (notice the 'DUH' is accentuated, for obvious reasons), the poster children for poor drafts, questionable personnel and coaching moves, and the team that has, without question, the stupidest fans in the NFL.

Oh, not to mention the fact that I think the RaiDUHs came into the game with a record of 0-12, or something pretty close. (Sorry, as a rule, I don't usually look at the RaiDUHs very close, frankly because I don't feel they've even been a member of the NFL for some five years, now. What, they were 3-9 coming in? Thanks for helping, that's SO much better.)

Anyway, In come the RaiDUHs to Qualcomm, and, and expected, the game's a sham. 34-7 Bolts, with the 'Duhs only score coming on a kickoff return. Maybe the Arena League has it right -- Have two divisions in your league. Maybe the RaiDUHs can start the "NFL-2" division -- the 'Duhs, 14 other arena teams, and USC.

So, after a 34-7 loss, the 'Duh fans do what they do best; they go back to their tailgates, and partake in what I call their "four major food groups:" Beer, cigarettes, pizza, and Jack Daniels.

In-between shots of Jack, they're muttering to themselves about the Chargers, "the team that they can NEVER beat." (By the way, there's a list that's growing exponentially.)

So, RaiDUH fans get the "hate" ball rolling, they're pissed at the San Diego Chargers. Then again, they're also pissed at late welfare checks, tattoo parlors that aren't open 24/7, and Wal-Marts that don't carry Star Wars helmets any longer. But I digress.

Next up, Kansas City, in Arrowhead. Now, by this time, the Chiefs' faithful aren't in a hating mood, since they're battling the 'Duhs for "Draft Board Supremacy," each of these two teams fighting it out for better position in the 2009 college player selection process.

But, with players like Tyler Thigpen giving fantasy folks nightmares, they look like they haven't given up the ship, as of yet. They're still out there fighting, it'll be a tough game for the Chargers.

Right off the bat, it's vintage Chiefs at home, and more so, VINTAGE San Diego Chargers. It's 21-3 Chiefs in the third quarter, and the Chargers are doing their best sleepwalking impersonation once again, in the '08 season.

Then, suddenly, IT happened.

It's like someone on the Chargers' bench yelled out, "Hey, guys! I can't get any good tee times at the golf courses, and Honolulu's booked up through February!"

BOOM!

The Chargers suddenly come alive, scoring one TD in the third quarter, and TWO more TDs in the fourth, including one with just over a minute left, after recovering an on-sides kick.

In typical fashion, the Bolts let the chiefs drive down for a potential game-winning 50-yard FG, that's wide left. Game over, they're now 6-8 and still mathematically alive in the AFCW, even though it looks to most like 'fuzzy math.' The Broncos are gonna win the division, ask anyone.

Now is when the REAL hatin' starts. Cue the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Two weeks ago, Tampa Bay looked to be a shoo-in for the postseason at 9-3, but now they've lost two straight, have fallen to 9-5, and need this win to get back in the playoff talk.

***BUZZZZZ***

Oh, I'm so sorry, that's incorrect. The Bucs show up for the game thinking that they're gonna ROLL the Chargers, because of all the negative press the team's been getting. SURPRISE! Still no tee times or Hawaii reservations available for San Diego, it appears—41-27, Bolts, and it wasn't that close. (Ed. note: You're right, it WASN'T that close. The final score was actually 41-24, Bolts.)

Buccaneer fans are now looking at the CHARGERS as the team that knocked them from the NFC playoffs. They HATE San Diego for this miscarriage of justice...There's Hater No. 2, Tampa Bay.

Sorry, Bucs fans. you ain't seen NUTHIN', yet.

After the Bolts surprise the Bucs, the Chargers get an even BIGGER surprise—The Broncos end up losing at home in Invesco to the feeble Bills. That means that the last game of the regular season is now for all the AFCW marbles—San Diego v. Denver.

Let the hating begin.

Oh, and it's not only Denver that's hatin'. Suddenly, it's coming from all angles. More on that in a moment.

So, the Broncos head out to Qualcomm, to play for the AFCW division title. Well, actually, that statement is in question. The Broncos DID come to San Diego, but by then, they knew they were cooked.

Scribes all over Colorado kept asking the Broncos "were they gonna choke, are you going to be the first team to lose a three-game division lead with three games to play, and miss the playoffs?" You know, loaded questions like THAT.

I think we all knew the answer to that question, even before the game started.

The Broncos proceeded to lay the biggest dinosaur egg we've seen since "Jurassic Park" right at the 50-yard line, and lost to the now three-time AFCW champion Chargers, 52-21.

The collapse of the Broncos now complete, the rocky mountain scribes descended on the Bronco players like vultures, making a bad scene even worse. The Chargers had just made all of their lives unbearable.

Add the Broncos to the list, Hater No. 3.

But suddenly, the list started growing much more rapidly. Hater No. 4 showed their face...

The New England Patriots.

That's right, the same New England Patriots that Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Video fame had to SUE Bill Belichick and the Patriots, because Huizenga was concerned that all those bootleg tapes that Belichick and the Pats were making over the years might create an even bigger empire of video rentals than Huizenga's, should those tapes become available.

Immediately, a deal was brokered by the NFL, and the tapes were destroyed, saving the Blockbuster empire from financial ruin.

(So says the biased, twisted Charger honk. It's what I believe. Sue me, Bill. Grin.)

Yes, the Pats amped up the level of hatred for the Chargers ten-fold.

"What were the Chargers, at 8-8, doing in the PLAYOFFS," asked the players, the head coach, and the suddenly sober Robert Kraft. "The playoff format MUST be fixed immediately! The Chargers don't deserve to be in the NFL playoffs!"

AHHH, sit down, hater No. 4. If you don't like it, BEAT the Chargers next time. You lost in San Diego, you didn't win your division, quit yer cryin', video-gater. Man, the tears in New England really get you, right here...(I won't show you where i'm pointing.)

But by now, the damage by the Pats had been done. Scribes all over the USA were now beginning to hate San Diego, as well, each of them holding on to their twisted thinking that an 8-8 team doesn't belong.

The inimitable Peter King comes to mind, he of Sports Illustrated, among other periodicals, and creator of his famed "Fine Fifteen" list.

He makes out his most recent list, and in it, he cements himself as Hater No. 5.

He's got the Patriots AHEAD of the Chargers, on his list. Now, I know that Pete's got a thing for Tom Brady and all, but come ON, you latte' lover! They're not even in the PLAYOFFS, and you've got NEW ENGLAND ahead of the CHARGERS? Total hater.

From where I'm sitting, the only way that the Chargers can crack Pete's top five in his fine 15 list is if the team wins the Super Bowl. He'd HAD to elevate them to No. 4, THEN, wouldn't you THINK? You're a hater, Pete. Get over yourself.

(Yeah, he'd never put San Diego ahead of the Pats, the Giants, or the Colts.)

Ooooh, did I mention the COLTS, AKA "Hater No. 6?"

Now, THESE guys have a valid argument, IMHO. You go 12-4 on the season, and not only do you NOT get a first-round bye, you have to go on the ROAD for your first game, in round one. (Hey, next time, sweep the Titans. That'd fix it.)

Now, if you go back to LAST year, these are the same Chargers that eliminated Indianapolis from the 2007 post-season, so this trip to San Diego looks ominous, at best.

But, thanks to the national media, this game looks like a stepping stone for the Colts, and their newly-crowned MVP, Peyton Manning. EVERYONE like the Colts in this one, because all you hear from the media masses is the fact that San Diego hadn't beaten a playoff team all season, surely the Chargers won't ruin the party by upsetting the Colts, and eliminating one of Peter King's top two NFL teams.

How's that Latte' taste NOW, Pete?

The Colts tried everything they could, including a play that you only see on Madden '09, the Colts scoring on a 72-yard TD by Reggie Wayne when Manning talked the officials into spotting the ball rather quickly.

Close, but no cigar, Colts' fans. Manning has a chance to ice the Chargers for good, needing to convert on third-and-two from his own nine-yard-line.

Another run by Addai, who gained the first eight yards of this 'drive?' Nope. The Manning ego kicks in, he tries to throw for it, gets sacked, they punt, Chargers tie the game, Colts call heads, game over.

Hey, That's what Jamal Williams told me, right after the coin toss. YOU tell him you don't believe him, and watch what happens.

Well, by NOW, hater No. 6 is in full regalia. "12-4, no bye, no home playoff game, and that overtime rule, you GOTTA fix that, it isn't fair."

Boy, the Chargers are making HISTORY, this season. They're single-handedly tearing apart the NFL.

They get Shanahan fired by taking Denver out on the last day of the regular season.

They cause Bill Simmons and all other Pats' fans undue stress by reminding them that they went 11-5 and were out of the playoffs, while the 8-8 Chargers were in.

They force the NFL to look at not only re-tooling the way the playoffs in the NFL are structured, but ALSO how the current overtime system might need re-vamping as well, so this travesty of NFL justice is never repeated.

They've become public enemy No. 1 to the RaiDUHS, the Chiefs, the Bucs, the Broncos, the Patriots, the Colts, Peter King, Roger Goodell, every travel agent that lost money booking Bostonians and Indy fans on playoffs charters, and probably three or four world leaders that like everyone but San Diego.

Funny thing is, I like the Steelers and their fans. I think they know the game, and they know their history.

Sunday night, we'll find out if they studied the '94 playoffs.

Don't be a hater, Pittsburgh. I'm running out of numbers.

Chargers-Steelers: Forget That Week 11 Game...It's Playoff Time!

Aces Casino — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:13:17 -0500

OK, San Diego Chargers' fans: Before you read one more word of this so-called "Playoff Preview," do me a favor...

Take that paper, sitting in front of you that has the stats and play charts from that Week 11, 11-10 football game, between the Bolts and the Stellars, and crumple it up and throw it away.

That game don't mean jack!

I'm serious. Ask yourself this: Are the Chargers a different team than that bunch of dopes that played at Heinz Field on Nov. 16?

You're damn right they are!

Oh, here's another question: Are the Steelers the same team that played in that same game?

You gotta be kiddin' me. Not a chance.

For those of us who are partial to the Chargers, well, there's good news and bad news.

The good news is your team did something they hadn't done in the 2008 season—beat a playoff team. And not just any playoff team, the playoff team—MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Now, the bad news: If you're going to Pittsburgh to witness this divisional playoff battle on Sunday, bring your lunch pail.

Hey, I like Indy as much as the next guy, but in the Steelers, you're getting a football team—plain and simple.

These guys hit hard on every down, every play, offense, defense, and special teams. They're not flashy. They don't have to be. They're the "Stellars."

If you go to Wikipedia and look up the word, "football," I'd guess that James Harrison's picture would show up above the fold; Keisel, Harrison, Polamalu, Woodley, Farrior, et cetera.

Mike Tomlin doesn't need a membership card to Bill Belichick's "video tape of the week" club to prepare his team for this Sunday's contest. The Steelers are already a fine tuned football machine. Sure, it isn't pretty, but for my money, it sure is effective.

Ben Roethlisberger might still be "hearing the birdies" after getting blasted by the Cleveland Browns' pass rush, but you don't hear the Pittsburgh faithful even batting an eye.

Why?

They know what the deal is. It's blocking, tackling, execution, preparedness—all the things that make the Steelers a very difficult "nut to crack."

This isn't "Indianapolis, Part Deux" coming at you, Chargers' honks.

It's like trading in your marshmallow for a brick. It's going to be time to play football.

Yes, that's all bad news...or is it?

Not all the news is bad from my side of the fence.

These Chargers are not quite Dan Fouts' old Chargers either—a team that would fold up into a nice little ball once the weather hit 30 degrees and the game got rough. And this more recent Chargers' bunch has been in some blood baths as of late, courtesy of a few games against not only Pittsburgh, but the Tennessee Titans as well.

It certainly was a pleasant surprise when the Chargers responded so well in that 2007 game at LP Field in Nashville, when the Titans teed off on San Diego and started physically pounding on the Chargers, play after play.

After taking that abuse for about a quarter, the Chargers fired back and then some. I'm telling you, it was scary to see how much force San Diego came at the Titans with, as the game wore on.

Things worked out pretty well that day. The Chargers literally wore out the Titans with their own brand of physicality and pushed them aside in OT to grab a big road win.

Then, San Diego verified their dominance over the Titans in round one of the playoffs a few weeks later at home, beating the Titans yet again in similar fashion.

Now, did you throw out that Week 11 PITT—SD stat sheet like I told you?

Go on, throw it out. It's ok. Here's why you can now get rid of it...

1) Darren Sproles

In the Week 11 game between these two, Sproles carried the ball once. (laugh) Umm, well, I kind of think that he may just exceed that total on Sunday.

2) No Tomlinson on Sunday

Hey, he may come out and surprise the Charger faithful by starting again, even after the team announcement that he probably would NOT play.

3) Ron Rivera

He's had about a half-season to get his defensive side of the ball functioning properly, and by jove, he has.

The Chargers' ability to shift in and out of formations against Peyton Manning and change all those looks at the los with a purpose and not just for show, is big! Chargers' fans can trust Rivera to have his side of the ball ready to go come Sunday.

4) The Charger Offense

Pittsburgh made them look sad in that first matchup, and they may just pull that off again, but it won't be for lack of commitment or lack of preparation.

IMHO, the torch has been passed from LT to Philip Rivers.

This is his offense now. He may not put up Manning-like-numbers against the 2008 version of the "Curtain," but he'll be there to compete and do what's needed to win.

Wait, where have I heard a phrase like that before?

Oh yeah...from the Steelers.

I swear...that style of football must be tattooed on each and every player on the Pittsburgh roster. Forget about any problems with Ben Roethlisberger. He's playing.

Hell, he took a nastier hit from that motorcycle accident a while back than he did in that Browns' game.

Notice that the Steeler faithful don't even give the concussion in Week 17 any play. They know what the deal is...Ben's playing...end of problem.

So, with that "Big Ben" question aside, the rest of the "Stellars" are looking like they're in pretty good shape, ready to play.

OK, without further adieu, here's the real analysis of the upcoming Steelers—Chargers tiff, this Sunday...

**Cliché Alert**

60 minutes of hard-nosed football.

Turnovers, execution, and ball control. The team that controls the clock by being able to dominate the game on the ground will be the team in control of their own destiny.

The team that does that, makes the fewest mistakes, and also takes advantage of the big plays that come along will win this thing, plain and simple.

Smashmouth football and two QBs that know how to win. It's going be fun.

Oh, one last shout-out to the Chargers' brethren...

Don't get discouraged if the Chargers have their troubles moving the ball in the early going.

The Steelers do that to everyone. Patience.

Want to learn patience? Watch how Pittsburgh goes about getting the job done.

No panic, just 60 minutes of all-out football—just the way Philip Rivers likes it.

Yes, it's going to be fun.

Comments?

Colts-Chargers Playoff Rewind: Random Thoughts and Observations

Aces Casino — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:37:16 -0500

Time to close the books on the 2008 Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs with some not-so-keen observations from Aces' "peanut gallery."

After personally witnessing that incredible Colts-Chargers playoff game last Saturday...

1) For MY money, Peyton Manning earned his 2008 MVP award right about the time he caught the entire Chargers' defense napping early in the third quarter, and zinged a 72-yard lightning bolt (pardon the pun) to Reggie Wayne, giving the Colts the lead in the game.

I'm sitting in the stands (if you actually SIT in the 'stands,' shouldn't they be called 'sits?' OK, sorry, that's a question for another time), watching Manning hustle the Colts offense to the line of scrimmage like he always does. Then, I look over at the Chargers' defensive formation for the third-down play, only to find Ron Rivera has instituted a newer version of the "3-4" defense, one i'd like to call the "0-11" formation.

Snap-whap-cha-CHING! Quick pass to Reggie Wayne, and it's 17-14, Colts.

I'm sorry, but that older Manning is really a great QB, and MVP-worthy. Somewhere Sam Wyche, the '80's "King of the quickie-tricky-snap," HAD to be smiling.

If Peyton Manning had never been exposed to professional football by his father, Archie, he would have made a GREAT purse-snatcher. I can just see it now; Peyton hanging around on some street-corner in Louisiana, waiting for some dopey tourist to not be paying attention to his wallet, Manning swoops in, and WHAM! It's another 72-yard pick-pocket job.

Hats off to Peyton Manning. You deserve the accolades, my friend.

You ARE the league's MVP.

2) First play after the opening kickoff by the Colts, it's Chargers' ball, first-down. The give is to LaDainian Tomlinson, who runs through a hole that a daisy-cutter would admire. 13-yard gain for L.T.; first down, San Diego.

Just one problem—Tomlinson's "running style" on that play mirrors just what I look like when I try to run, right after my eight-year-old kicks me in the shins just for laughs. (Oh, and kudos to the movie "Bedtime Stories," for reminding my son that it's really funny when you kick dear ol' dad in the shins. I REALLY appreciate THAT, Sandler.)

Bottom line? Tomlinson's HURTIN', folks.

Which brings us to what people that are MUCH more intelligent than I would call "an interesting conundrum...."

LaDainian Tomlinson—In his current state, do you let him dress, or sit him down?

It looks like the Chargers' faithful are split on this topic. On the one hand, you have the fans that watch the 53-man roster like it's the Wall Street ticker—They'd tell you that, in his current condition, LaDainian Tomlinson's no good to the team, that he can't help the team when he's so obviously injured, and should make room for an extra body on the active roster for special teams, or the like.

Me? I'm on the other side of the fence.

I've watched LaDainian Tomlinson toil for the Chargers for years and I've watched him give it his all. He wants a title REALLY bad.

He probably sees what a lot of other team members, certain media, and some fans have already noticed—That this team looks to be coming together at just the right time, and he wants to be a part of it.

If you know LT, he wouldn't be happy with just "getting that ring." He wants to EARN it. He wants to contribute to the cause, and help his team GET that title.

If it was ME making the final decision on LT's playing status, I'd be right behind him on this. "Get out there, bud. Give until you can't give anymore."

There are some in the media that seem to think that LT is some sort of quitter, a whiner, can't handle injuries, and didn't play in 2007 when he should have been out there.

I'm not one of them. If there has EVER been a man, and I mean a MAN, that gives everything he has for his football team, it's LaDainian Tomlinson. He has EARNED the right to make the call here, in my humble opinion.

If he thinks he can contribute, he's PLAYING.

When he can't go any more in a certain game, well, it's a good thing that the team has Darren Sproles, Jacob Hester, and the newest acquisition, Michael Bennett.

The team has enough coverage at the RB position to make this happen, and I think they'll go with whatever L.T. tells them.

Oh, and it's funny how the NFL works, some times. Do a little research on Micheal Bennett and how he came to be a San Diego Charger in the first place, and you'll find something interesting.

Back when the Broncos had suffered yet ANOTHER catastrophic injury to their already-depleted RB platoon (specifically, the hammy injury to Peyton Hillis), then-coach and GM of the Broncos, Mike Shanahan, was scouring the waiver wire to find another suitable replacement to his corps of running backs.

The Broncos appeared to have their eye on one Micheal Bennett, but unfortunately for Denver, the CHARGERS had first priority in the waiver wire pick-up process, as a result of the Chargers having the worst record between them at the Broncos at the time.

To keep Denver from obtaining Michael Bennett in the waiver draft, and using him against San Diego later on down the road in what would turn out to be a critical matchup between the two teams in Week 17, the Chargers picked up the option on Bennett, and placed him on "the 53."

Gee, funny how things work out, isn't it?

Oh, and just to finish the thought on Tomlinson—I'm with him, whatever he decides.

Just keep away from my eight-year-old, LT—He kicks REALLY hard.

San Diego Chargers: "Playoffs? How'd They Do THAT?"

Aces Casino — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:14:41 -0500

When discussing the NFL team that A.J. Smith built, Marty Schottenheimer finely-tuned, and Norv Turner luckily fell into we must borrow the immortal line from Jim Mora...

"Playoffs? PLAYOFFS? You talkin' about PLAYOFFS?"

Surprisingly enough, Jimbo, when it comes to the AFC Western Division champion San Diego Chargers, yep, we're a-talkin' playoffs, my friend.

Hey—I'm as surprised as YOU were, Mr. Mora. I remember walking out of Qualcomm Stadium about a month ago, after watching the Chargers struggle early and often in what became a six-point loss to a pretty darned good Atlanta Falcons team; My first thought was, "Well, that's just about it. The team looks half-dead, can't make any big plays, and the Broncos look like they're about to close the deal."

I guess the AFC West must have fallen out of escrow.

Now fast-forward to late December—San Diego takes advantage of their weak December schedule and racks up four consecutive wins to finish 8-8. The Broncos ended up pulling a "Jennifer Wilbanks," and ran away from the AFC West playoff picture faster than the much-maligned "Runaway Bride" hot-footed it away from that creepy ex-fiance of hers.

Denver closed out their '08 season looking like they were operating out of the same playbook that the Arizona Cardinals used in snowy New England earlier this month.

When you add all of these ugly puzzle pieces together, you find the Chargers have been forced (at gunpoint) to join the other five AFC teams in the annual post-season tournament.

Now, I ask ya—is this a GOOD thing, or a BAD thing for San Diego?

You know, Charger fans are funny. I spotted some footage on YouTube today showing a group of Chargers' fans celebrating in National City after the win over the Broncos. You'd swear from the response of the fans they just found out they all had a share in a winning lottery ticket.

All I hear from NFL players who take part in post-season play is, "Hey. you can't win it if you ain't IN it." OK, I'll buy that, and, those that know me KNOW I'm the "eternal Chargers' optimist." I SHOULD be happy about this, and, in a way, I am.

But...(grin)

Agh...It's just tough to get the first 13 WEEKS out of my mind. Wow, the Chargers look GREAT in home wins over the once-high-flyin' Jets and the hated Patriots, but other times, they look like they're hung over from the night before, in lackluster games against (insert your name here).

Heck, just watch the first three quarters of the Chargers / Chiefs game at Arrowhead—THAT game's a microcosm of the entire season, for San Diego...

Chiefs up, 21-3, Chargers doing their best imitation of the Oakland Raiders. Then, suddenly, it's like someone went over to the Chargers' bench and yelled, "I can't get any good tee times, or any flights to Honolulu."

BOOM!!!

Philip Rivers throws two TD passes in the last 73 seconds of the game. Sandwiched around an on-sides kick recovery and the Bolts actually WIN the game, 22-21.

From there, the Chargers beat a fading Bucs' team by 14. Then find out the Denver Broncos have re-defined the word, "fading," by literally lying down on the Qualcomm stadium turf, and letting San Diego run (literally) all over them.

Darren Sproles had 115 yards rushing and a touchdown, LaDainian Tomlinson had 96 yards on the ground and THREE TD's and Jacob Hester put up 37 more yards on the ground and another rushing TD. Oh, well, that's OK—"Orange Curtain" just doesn't have as good a ring to it, anyway.

So, out goes Denver (thank goodness—they really WERE atrocious) and in go the Chargers.

First up in round one of the Wild Card Playoffs—Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, a team that's probably still asking the question, "we went 12-4 this season, and we have to go WHERE?" Sorry, Peyton, that's a story for another day. But, let's go back out to National City, and ask the fans what THEY think...

"Super Bowl, BABY!"

I TOLD you Chargers fans are funny. But, here's something ELSE funny—a big-time oddsmaker who shall remain nameless (but take it from me, he's well-respected in his industry) is telling me HE believes that the AFC's Super-Bowl representative is going to be the team that wins THIS game (I guess he doesn't like Tennessee or Pittsburgh much, either).

Well, if the Chargers are going to have ANY chance of defeating the Manning-led Indianapolis Colts, they should follow my sure-fire system...

1) PLEASE try to cover Dallas Clark at least a little bit. In 2008, the Chargers' defense has covered the opposing tight end like he reeked of garlic. No Italian food for Dallas Clark thru room service, OK?

2) Tighten up that run defense. Unless I heard wrong, Tatum Bell was selling cell phones in some Costco six weeks ago until Mike Shanahan gave him a call from the ER at Invesco. Bell promptly packed Rudi Johnson's bag, flew to Denver, and looked like Barry Sanders against the Chargers "vaunted" run-defense last Sunday. It ain't Bell's fault that Shanahan forgot to use him more often. Frankly put, Joseph Addai can make Tatum Bell look like Tony Ugoh. If Addai had a 110+ night on the ground, and makes himself a major factor in the Colts' offensive game plan, you can try for those tee times again.

3) Keep the ultimate no-huddle tactician at QB guessing. If DC Ron Rivera can make the adjustments here and there to keep Peyton Manning at least a LITTLE off-balance, it sure will help. Manning's a stud, no doubt. He'll get his yards, and make his plays. He has no problem throwing the rock to anyone that's open. Hell, he made Tom Santi look like he was headed to Hawaii, before he got hurt. Just slow him down a little bit here and there, and keep the time of possession even between the two teams, around 30-30 each way, and the Chargers should be in the hunt.

I said should be in the hunt. Again, I remember the first 13 weeks. But, all it'll take for me to forget the first three months of the season is to go out and play with the same intensity and drive that the Chargers showed in those two games against Tampa Bay and Denver (decidedly lesser-caliber opponents than the current playoff opponent).

If they do, anything's possible. We shall see. Comments?:

The 2008 NFL Playoffs: Will the AFC "Bye" Teams Be Saying "Buh-Bye" This Year?

Aces Casino — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:37:02 -0500

I'll be honest, right up front—I've never been one to put too much emphasis on the imminent results of the first round of the annual NFL "Rite Of Passage," also known as the National Football League's "Wild Card" Playoff round.

It's the round of games that excludes "the four best teams in the NFL," the quartet of franchises that have earned that oh-so-valuable first-round bye, as a result of their superior regular-season records.

"Surely," you ask, "won't two of these four teams end up facing each other in Super Bowl XIXXVCMXX (or XLIII, one of those) ??"

Uhh, not necessarily, and don't call me Shirley.

Year in and year out, teams receiving the first-round byes in the NFL were without QUESTION the odds-on faves going in, head-and-shoulders above the rest of the playoff teams, the franchises that have very few weaknesses, and usually ended up tearing their first-round NFL "Wild-Card" game-winning opponents to shreds when they finally got the chance to take the field come January.

Friends, I'm here to tell ya, don't be surprised if NONE of the four teams receiving first-round passes make it to Super Bowl, ESPECIALLY in the AFC.

Let's take a lil' peek at the two "bye" teams from the AFC and do a little "Miss Cleo" tea-leaf reading to see if this reporter's hoky headline just MIGHT come true...Oh, and, for the record, the following possible playoff scenarios don't include the Miami Dolphins, because, quite honestly, I don't see Sparano's team surviving a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

It's the only NFL game I'm playing this weekend. I got the Ravens -2 against the 'Phins and consider the game a mortal, bona-fide 10-star LOCK. Nice season, Chad. Cute "Wildcat" formation. Ten-win improvement from '07 to '08. That's quite an accomplishment, something to hang your hat on. However...I'ts BALTIMORE. See ya in '09...

AFC -- Tennessee Titans, 13-3

A perfect example. Now, I have to admit, I LOOOVE teams that grind the ball, run it right at you, control the clock, play hard-hitting defense. The Titans are all that AND a bag of chips—SUFFOCATING defense, with Albert Haynesworth, Keith Bulluck, Kyle Van Den Bosch, Cortland Finnegan, blah-blah-blah.

They only gave up 234 points all YEAR. Hell, the Denver BRONCOS' defense can give that up in two weeks. Pretty nice defense. Nasty crowd in Tennessee, too. Good home-field advantage.

Here's my problem with Tennessee. While I like LenDale White, he looks to almost be out of gas, to me. Chris Johnson, rookie RB extraordinaire, was MONEY in the first three-fourths of the season, but he IS a first-year player and that proverbial "wall" awaits HIM.

Kerry Collins?

The SAME Kerry Collins that the Baltimore Ravens totally annihilated a few years back, in the Super Bowl? Puh-LEEEASE. This entire offense is just BEGGING to be totally shut down, and the Titans suddenly look to me to be a team that's HIGHLY beatable, if and when the right team goes up against them.

Whether it's Baltimore (who'd likely shut out the Titans, IMHO), San Diego (a team that's had a lot of success against Tennessee recently, even in their own stadium), or Indianapolis (Peyton Manning, and his MVP-like season, the type of offense that gives the Titans fits), quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised in ANY of these three gave the titans a second-round ticket out of the playoffs.

AFC -- Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-4

Two words here—Byron Leftwich. Yeah, I know, Mike Tomlin got Oscar Goldman on the phone and asked him if he could possibly be available to re-assemble the Steelers' "Six Million Dollar Man," Ben Roethlisberger.

Call me a dope, but when I watch the paramedics strap a guy down to a gurney, that's not the guy I'm usually expecting to go out and play football, let ALONE NFL football, some 14 days later. And, I'm not a Leftwich-hater. He looks to be healthy for the first time in years. But...BUT...He ain't no "Big Ben."

OK, OK, you terrible-towel-wavers, I hear you, "what about our defense?" Hey, ya got me there. LIGHTS-OUT defense. MUCH better than Tenessee's, IMHO. LOVE Polamalu, Harrison, the cast of thousands. These guys come AFTER you.

What lingers in my mind was that game a month or so ago, when the San Diego Chargers, a struggling team at the time, to say the least—the San Diego CHARGERS, of all teams, went INTO Heinz and gave the "STELLARS" all they could handle before ultimately imploding and handing the game to Pittsburgh on a silver platter, with the first 11-10 result in NFL history.

Quite frankly, I'll take either the Colts OR the Chargers, the possible second-round opponents for the Steelers, in a January game without Roethlisberger. Just being honest. Not a Steeler hater, and I DO love that suffocating defense. Sorry, your offense REEKS, and Leftwich ain't Frank Reich.

OK, there you have it. Blast away. But be CAREFUL, Dolphin fans—This acerbic reporter might fire back, come Jan. 5....Good luck to all of the 12 remaining NFL playoff teams, and we'll be back later, this time with a cautious eye on the NFC "bye" teams. YOU GUYS ain't out of the woods, either...