Bleacher Report - Super Bowl

The Saints Go Marching In To Greatness

Kemic Smothers — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:09:25 -0500

Sitting comfortably atop the NFC South at 10-0 with a five game lead, one would think the New Orleans Saints could begin to enjoy their unanticipated streak of victories.

The Saints seem well on their way to claiming ownership of the NFC South title and a playoff berth. In fact, one more Saints victory coupled with an Atlanta Falcons loss will do just that. This season, however, there's more to accomplish than just a playoff berth and a run deep into the playoffs.

Head Coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees, and the entire Saints organization feel they have a lot more to prove than simply displaying an ability to win the NFC South. The Saints are seeking greatness .

Yes, that's right, greatness. And that greatness will be defined by their one-game-at-a-time mentality culminating in a Superbowl Championship.

During his tenure with the Saints, Sean Payton has crafted one of the NFL's most prolific offenses, ranking in the top five each season since his arrival in 2006.

So far, his offenses have consistently outscored opponents. Unfortunately, the Saints defense, among other things, was one weakness that could not be overcome.

And the Saints were always no closer than one step away.

This year, however, things are different.

With the addition of Gregg Williams as the new defensive coordinator, the Saints have given opponents more than their share of headaches. The Saints have made a complete and unprecedented turnaround on the defensive side of the ball, while improving on their offensive proficiency.

The puzzle is complete and the journey has commenced. The Saints are making history and trekking toward greatness.

The Payton/Brees tandem is always riding the fringe of the "elite" conversation. Each of them has shown exceptional skill and football acumen, but until "greatness" is achieved, they will forever be, to some, really good, but not great.

Two-thousand and nine is the year that greatness will be achieved.

Almost doesn't count, and the Saints know it. But within the Saints organization, there's a new mentality and attitude that expects to win by playing together and finishing strong.

And the new New Orleans Saints finish strong, outscoring opponents 105-24 in the fourth quarter.

The Saints have successfully taken the best shot from 10 teams so far this season and yet have emerged victorious in a multitude of ways.

They've trounced teams like the No. 1 ranked, 5-0 New York Giants 48-27 in week 6.

They've experienced a thrilling come-from-behind victory in Miami in week 7 after giving up a 21 point lead.

They barely held on to a fourth quarter lead to hold off the 1-8 St. Louis Rams in week 10.

The bottom line is this: Beginning on Monday night in the Louisiana Superdome, the Saints will be playing for greatness and their reserved seat at the "elite" table.

Tom Brady and the high flying 7-3 New England Patriots come to town.

Arguably this decade's most successful franchise, the New England Patriots are desperately clinging to their elite status. The Saints, on the other hand, are seeking to ascend to elite status. And what better way to display greatness than to beat the decade's most successful team?

I suspect the Saints want to make statement... loud and clear.

Expect a very good game. Expect a hard-fought game. Expect the Saints and Sean Payton to pull out all stops in an effort to send the Patriots back to New England with their fourth loss of the season.

With conventional wisdom out the window, expect to see plays from the deepest recesses of Payton's playbook. Expect to see dominance, execution, and an attitude never before witnessed in a New Orleans Saints team. Expect the Superdome to be rockin' and rollin' with each and every snap; the fans will be insane!

When the dust settles and the smoke clears, expect the Saints to emerge with a new-found swagger.

The Saints know they belong in the elite conversation, but the rest of the world outside the Who Dat Nation still needs convincing.

The Saints belong in the conversation because, despite what the NFL can't admit, luck doesn't get you to 10-0. Luck can't make a team lead the NFL in takeaways and defensive touchdowns.

But to be the best, you must beat the best.

And that's exactly what the Saints will do.

Finally, the NFL world will have to admit that they've slept on the Saints. At 10-0, the Saints have provided unapologetic foreshadowing of the dominance that will be displayed on Monday Night Football on November 30, 2009...the day the SAINTS go marching in to GREATNESS.

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Thanksgiving Football Equals Americana

Lloyd Vance — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:01:11 -0500

The Masters of Disaster (MOD) from a Turkey Bowl circa 1991

Football on Thanksgiving is an “Autumn Ritual” to me just like the phrase, “Can you please pass the gravy.”

The game has aligned itself beautifully with the greatest holiday ever, in my opinion, and it provides an opportunity for fellowship by friends and family around America’s Game.

“The Thanksgiving games are quite a tradition, not just in Detroit, but for America,” says NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci, a Michigan native who participated in three Thanksgiving Day games as the Lions’ head coach in 2003-05.

“I learned firsthand about the excitement in Detroit for the game. You enjoy playing in front of the home crowd. It’s special.”

Whether attending a hometown rivalry game...in my town growing up it is Abington (my alma mater) vs. friendly rival Cheltenham that goes back to 1915 (see all of the scores from this rivalry )...or playing in a “Turkey Bowl” touch football game with friends/family, or just watching the now three NFL games and other college games, Americans like myself cannot get enough Turkey Day football.

My most vivid memories of Thanksgiving are attending the hometown rivalry game in the early afternoon then going over to my paternal grandmother’s house for a celebration like none other with food like turkey, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, cranberry, candy yams and many other favorites while having good fellowship over food and, of course, football.

When I was younger my grandmother’s television was a big cabinet black/white set and I vividly remember watching the Detroit Lions (usually lost) and Dallas Cowboys (usually won) play many Thanksgiving games on that set.

The earliest Thanksgiving game that I can remember was the Chicago Bears against the Detroit Lions in the Pontiac Silverdome November. 27, 1980.

I remember this game, because Vince Evans was at quarterback for the Bears (rare to see an African-American quarterback at the time) and the great Walter Payton rushed 18 times for 123 yards, and I think he even threw a pass.

The ending was everything, as the Bears won an overtime thriller 23-17 when Bears kick returner Dave Williams returned the overtime kickoff for a touchdown, completing a Bears’ comeback from a 17-3 deficit.

My favorite Thanksgiving game of course involved the classic broadcasting team of John Madden and Pat Summerall commentating a Turkey Bowl classic on Nov. 23, 1989 in Texas Stadium.

This game dubbed “Bounty Bowl I” featured a Philadelphia Eagles 27-0 shellacking win over the hated Dallas Cowboys, which left me over-the-top giddy.

My joy came from the fact that as a one-time long-suffering Eagles follower, I finally got to stick it to the many stinking Cowboys’ fans in my family (brother and many cousins).

Funny thing about Philadelphia, there are many “never have been to Texas” Dallas Cowboys fans who year after year love to talk about Super Bowl rings to hometown Eagles fans.

However this 1989 NFC East afternoon rivalry game was something extra special for me to watch as the Birds won handily and the Cowboys turncoats in my grandmother’s suburban Philadelphia home had to eat some crow with their turkey that day.

The story of the game was Buddy Ryan’s Eagles defense knocking the stuffing of Troy Aikman, as they seemed to sack him a million times. The game ended with my favorite player Reggie White eating the ceremonial Madden Turkey Leg as the game’s MVP.

2009 NFL Thanksgiving Schedule

Green Bay Packers (6-4) at Detroit Lions (2-8), 12:30 PM (FOX)

Yes, everyone just like going to your grandmother’s house on Thanksgiving, the nation still must endure watching the usually pitiful Detroit Lions on TV on Turkey Day, even though it seems like forever.

This year, in an old-time Thanksgiving Day traditional match-up, the Packers will travel to Detroit to face the Lions who maybe without QB Matthew Stafford (shoulder) and WR Calvin “Megatron” Johnson (hand, knee).

Oakland Raiders (3-7) at Dallas Cowboys (7-3), 4:15 PM (CBS)

Naturally America’s Holiday, Thanksgiving, will feature “America’s Team” as the Cowboys take on the dangerous Oakland Raiders in Jerry Jones’ billion-dollar playpen. We will see if Turkey Day will be Cowboys QB Tony Romo’s last hurrah before his usual December swoon.

New York Giants (6-4) at Denver Broncos (6-4) , 8:20 PM (NFLN) — The G-Men continue their quest to return to the team that started 5-0 this season as they travel to the Rockies for a huge Thanksgiving night game against the Broncos.

This game will surely have playoff implications in both the AFC and NFC as both were fast starters, but have shown inconsistency of late.

Lloyd’s Leftovers

Lets talk about seating arrangements at the 2009 NFL Thanksgiving table. At the “Adult table ” for playmakers are Vikings QB Brett Favre, Titans RB Chris Johnson, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell, Colts QB Peyton Manning, Eagles WR DeSean Jackson, Bills safety Jairus Byrd, Bears WR Johnny Knox, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, Saints QB Drew Brees, and Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil. Spots at the “Kids table ” for disappointments should be seated NY Jets QB Mark Sanchez, Cowboys WR Roy Williams, Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell, Eagles O-lineman Stacy Andrews, Bears QB Jay Cutler, Giants DB C.C Brown, Texans kicker Kris Brown, the Steelers’ coverage units, Bears DT Tommie Harris, and Broncos backup QB Chris Simms.
There was a time that Thanksgiving football was defined in the African-American community by rivalry games like Lincoln vs Howard. Here is an excerpt from a piece that I wrote on the subject… “The “outside world” of major white college football may have had traditional rivalries like Harvard-Yale, Ohio State-Michigan, and Notre Dame-Army. But to most African-American football fans those contests had nothing on the annual Thanksgiving Day clash between the mighty men of Lincoln (PA) and their rival school Howard University. After their initial meeting in 1894, the annual Lincoln-Howard Thanksgiving game quickly became an autumn ritual.” Check out the rest of the piece .
I am often asked, “Why are we subjected to the stinking Detroit Lions and hated Dallas Cowboys every Thanksgiving??” The reason is “Carpe diem” as these two teams both had the vision of matching College Football on America’s Holiday and seized opportunities to host football games when everyone else was afraid the crowds would stay away. The Lions were the first in 1934 and the Cowboys followed suit in 1966. The NFL also added a rotating third game in 2006 (Chiefs winning 19-10 over the Broncos) on Turkey Day to help boost their channel NFL Network. Our friends over at Mental Floss give some great background on the subject of NFL football on Thanksgiving .
The oldest high school Turkey Day Game rivalry is in Massachusetts between Needham and Wellesley, dating back to 1882. Find out everything about Thanksgiving Football .
You can now see the results for every NFL Thanksgiving game going back to the 1920’s (courtesy of the Pro Footballl Hall of Fame )

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

Posted in 2009 Thanksgiving Games, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Thanksgiving Football, Thanksgiving Rivalries Tagged: 2009 NFL Thanksgiving Games, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Football, NFL, Sports, Thanksgiving Football

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NFL Thanksgiving Day Game Previews

Jeffrey Boswell — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:16:56 -0500

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

Green Bay at Detroit

Detroit's stunning 38-37 win over the Browns last week certainly gives the Lions a measure of momentum heading into their annual Thanksgiving Day game, this time against NFC North division rival Green Bay.

After Matthew Stafford found Brandon Pettigrew for a one-yard touchdown pass on the game's final play, pandemonium reigned in Detroit, the likes of which haven't been seen since the doors opened to festival seating at the Bob Seger concert at Cobo Hall back in 1977.

"Unlike last year," says Stafford, "there's hope for a win on Thanksgiving this year. We've got two wins under our belt, and with success, to use the term loosely, fans come to expect even more. As such, Lions fans have become so demanding that they're expecting a win on Thanksgiving by the home team ."

"As you know, I made that last play with a separated shoulder. And I suffered a dislocated knee earlier this year. So do me a favor. On Thanksgiving, after the turkey's gone and it's time to tear the wishbone in two, should that wishbone break your way, put in a wish for bones remaining in their sockets."

Aaron Rodgers' mouth must be watering at the thought of facing a Detroit defense that surrendered 304 yards passing and four touchdown passes to Brady Quinn last week. Rodgers threw for 344 against the 49ers, and suffered only two sacks, a marked improvement to the protection issues he's often faced this year.

"Those offensive line issues are behind us," said Rodgers. "We've effectively removed the 'drop' from the three-, five-, and seven-step drop. This A-Rod's 'slugging' percentage is tumbling towards the Mendoza Line. No longer do my linemen worry about 'roughing the passer.' Now it's a case of 'roughing the passé.'"

With Stafford and Johnson likely to sit, or at best, play hurt, the Lions offense will suffer. And Rodgers should have his way through the air. Rodgers throws for 278 yards and three scores, and the Packers win, 34-17 .

Oakland at Dallas

An unlikely hero emerged in Oakland as Bruce Gradkowski, starting in place of the benched JaMarcus Russell, helped the Raiders to a 20-17 upset win over Cincinnati. Gradkowski's 29-yard pass to Louis Murphy with 33 seconds left tied the game, setting the stage for Sebastian Janikowski's game-winning field goal after a Bengal fumble.

"During this time of year," says Gradkowski, "I'm thankful for many things but mostly for the fact that Al Davis prefers white meat over dark meat. I understand that I'm likely just a temporary fill-in while JaMarcus gets his head on straight and heals his bruised ribs. No, he didn't take any vicious hits; it's the result of me nudging him in the side to wake him up in meetings. JaMarcus's study habits leave a lot to be desired. Often I've tried talking 'Xs and Os' with JaMarcus. Inevitably, he always ends up asking 'Who's move is it?' Or it results in some unwanted hugs and kisses."

With a tenuous one-game lead in the NFC East, the Cowboys have a lot to play for, and can ill-afford a let down against the 3-7 Raiders. A lackluster 7-6 win over the Redskins kept the 'Boys on top of the NFC East.

"A 7-6 win?" says Tony Romo. "I guess we won in a tiebreaker, and such an unimpressive win is sure to create a 'racket' here in Dallas. And that certainly seems to be the case with the altercation between Dave Campo and Terrence Newman. Coaches and players should never become physically involved, unless that coach is an attractive, blonde model/actress/singer. Campo and Newman crossed the line, and are guilty of a 'double fault.' Usually, no good can come of such a confrontation, but there are exceptions—Newman's shove of Campo was the best 'jam' we've ever seen from Terrence in years."

Dallas will need wins over inferior opponents to maintain their division lead, and remain on track for an early playoff exit against the Giants or Eagles. Dallas is clearly the better team, but you never know which Raiders team will show up. As they proved last week against the Bengals, sometimes the stars align, as do the liver spots on Al Davis' face, and the Raiders play with inspiration.

But not Thursday. The Dallas rush harasses Gradkowski, and Romo throws two scores to Patrick Crayton, while Roy Williams proves that Thanksgiving is not only a time for turkey legs, but "alligator arms," as well.

Dallas wins, 31-13.

New York Giants at Denver Broncos

With an overtime win over the Falcons, the Giants ended a four-game losing streak, and will now face a Denver unit reeling from their own four-game skid. Collectively, the Giants and Broncos surrendered 66 points last week, and unless their respective defenses can return to early-season form, disappointment is sure to follow.

"Last week saw me 'eating crow' after the Chargers whipped us," says Josh McDaniels. "If we, in fact, 'owned' the Chargers, then they 'repossessed' themselves. So suffice it to say I won't be talking any trash to the Giants before the game. On Thanksgiving, I plan to do nothing but 'talk turkey,' and engage the Giants in a spirited discussion over what my most glaring flaw is—being overrated or being underage."

The Giants racked up 456 yards of offense against the Falcons, but that kind of yardage will be likely harder to come by in the altitude at Mile High Stadium against a Bronco defense eager to recapture early season glory.

"Hey, we're looking for our 'mojo', too," says Tom Coughlin. "As in the case of the Broncos, it's probably locked deep inside the magic of past Super Bowl wins. For us, I'm guessing a cavity search of Plaxico Burress would turn up some of that lost 'mojo.' But I'd prefer to find it somewhere else."

With some of the Broncos bickering amongst themselves, it's time for McDaniels to "take ownership" and get their minds right, because there's obviously been a failure to communicate. Or, in simpler terms, he could just tell Marshall he needs a huge game from him.

Marshall catches eight passes for 123 yards and two scores, and the Broncos win, 24-21 .

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Run Ricky, Ricky Run: NFL Week 11

Lloyd Vance — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:38:26 -0500

Just a Kicker, Being a Kicker!

For missing two potential game-icing field goals, Redskins kicker Seann Suisham is one of "Lloyd’s Lackeys" for Week 11, which typified the topsy-turvy nature of the world’s best sports league.

This week started with a great slugfest on Thursday Night Football between the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers, won 24-17 by the Dolphins (5-5) as RB Ricky Williams (see Game Balls below) proved he has plenty left in the tank.

Then the week’s remaining 15 games provided some great action all the way through the Tennessee Titans’ thrilling 20-17 Monday Night Football win over the host Houston Texans.

Some of the other headlines from this week included:

Unexpected Great Game with Thrilling Finish

What a turnaround when everyone was calling this one Week 11’s “Toilet Bowl” before the game was even played. Aided by a questionable pass-interference play in the end zone as time expired, the Lions (2-8) got one last un-timed down near the goal line.

Rookie QB Matthew Stafford (26-of-43, 422 YDS, 5 TD, 2 INT) shook off a separated left shoulder to throw the game-winning score to rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew on the "second" last play of the game and Ford Field exploded with the improbable 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns (1-9).

This game was an awesome, high-scoring affair where both quarterbacks—Stafford and the Browns’ Brady Quinn (21-of-33, 304 YDS, 4 TD)—played extremely well.

Two Overtime Home Team Winners

The Kansas City Chiefs (2-8) won a shocking 27-24 overtime game over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who did not have QB Ben Roethlisberger in the extra period due to concussion-like symptoms. Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop provided the winning points on a 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime after both Roethlisberger and his backup, Charlie Batch (wrist), left the game with injuries.

In the other overtime game, I guess the bye week after four straight losses was just what the New York Giants (6-4) needed. This overtime thriller saw the Giants jump out to an early 17-7 halftime lead over the Atlanta Falcons with things getting interesting late.

The hard-charging Falcons, led by QB Matt Ryan (26-of-46, 268 YDS, 2 TD), scored 14 unanswered points on two touchdown passes late in the fourth to force overtime. Then resurgent QB Eli Manning (25-of-39, 384 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT) hit WR Mario Manningham (six catches for 126 yards) for a 29-yard reception just after overtime began to setup Giants' kicker Lawrence Tynes 36-yard game winner.

Major Upsets

The aforementioned Chiefs' win over the Steelers and the Oakland Raiders beating the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Raiders were a heavy underdog, but led by new starter Bruce Gradkowski (17-of-34, 183 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT) and their defense, they won a hard fought 20-17 home game. The key to Oakland surprising the Bengals was the “overconfident” AFC North leader giving up 10 points in the final 33 seconds of the game.

You have to believe that the Bengals long flight back to Cincy was very quiet, especially for kickoff return man Andre Caldwell, who lost a fumble in the game’s closing moments to set up Oakland’s game-winning field goal.

Total Bore-Fest

The week’s most boring game occurred in Jerry Jones’s billion-dollar Dallas Cowboys stadium as the host Cowboys (7-3) woke-up just in time to put together one touchdown drive (QB Tony Romo’s 10-yard touchdown pass to WR Patrick Crayton with 2:41 left) to beat the Washington Redskins 7-6.

Romo (15-of-27, 158 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) hit 7-of-8 passes for 60 yards on the winning drive and kept several plays alive by eluding Washington’s pass rushers.

All I can say is, “A win, is a win,” but overall the Cowboys were lackadaisical and they should send Redskins kicker Seann Suisham some roses for missing two field goals in the second half that could have iced the game for Washington (3-7).

The good news is the Cowboys got the win and may have found their running game (153 rushing yards, including 99 yards by RB Marion Barber), but the bad news is their receiving corps was non-existent including zero catches for looking-more-like-bust-everyday WR Roy Williams. Now the Cowboys have a short week to prepare for the Raiders on Thanksgiving.

Winning Streaks Continue

The Tennessee Titans won their fourth straight game, this time over the Houston Texans (5-5) on MNF , as Titans kicker Rob Bironas booted a 53-yard field goal with less than a minute left and then Texans kicker Kris Brown shanked a potential game-winner with one second left.

However, the story of the game was Titans quarterback Vince Young (12-of-22, 116 YDS, 1 TD, 73 YDS rushing)—now 4-0 as a starter in ’09—who returned to his hometown of Houston and continued his development as a Steve McNair-type leader . VY made plays with his arm and legs, while leaning on MVP-candidate RB Chris Johnson (29 rushes for 151 YDS and 5.2 AVG).

The Titans are right back in the thick of the AFC wild-card hunt at 4-6.

Another big streak that continued was by the San Diego Chargers (7-3) who won their sixth straight and moved into first place in the AFC West with their dominating 32-3 victory over Denver.

On the other side of the field there was no winning as the Broncos lost their fourth straight game.

The last winning streak winner was the Indianapolis Colts, who continued their 19-game streak with a 17-15 win over the Ravens. The 19-game winning streak is the second longest in NFL history behind the New England Patriots' 21-game streak from 2006 to 2008. Also keeping their winning streak alive was the New Orleans Saints, who won their 10th consecutive game (over Tampa Bay) for the first time in franchise history.

Of course the headline that I did leave out was the NFL’s two unbeaten squads (New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts) staying that way for another week. By virtue of the Saints 38-7 dismantling of the Tampa Bay Bucs (scored touchdowns all five times they entered the red zone) and the Colts tough win over the Baltimore Ravens; both teams are now 10-0 this season.

The pair’s records make them a true rarity in NFL history as it's only the third time in league history that two teams are 10-0 (1934 Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, along with the 1990 New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers).

The two games were drastic contrasts of one another, but in the end, both teams are on the threshold of greatness. I am not saying that the 1972 Miami Dolphins (perfect 17-0, including a Super Bowl win) or the 2007 New England Patriots (perfect 16-0 in the regular season) need to worry just yet, but both the Saints and Colts are moving close to their neighborhood.

The offensive Saints woke up from an early Bucs’ lead of 7-0 to put up 38 unanswered points, led by QB Drew Brees’ three touchdown passes. In contrast, the Colts in their return to Baltimore, were in a real street fight as the scrappy Ravens fought to the bitter end, when a last-chance lateral attempt by Ravens safety Ed Reed on a punt return was ruled a fumble and recovered by Indianapolis.

The Ravens defense, even though they did not sack QB Peyton Manning, limited the Colts high-powered offense to only 17 points, including just three in the second half.

However, it was too many field goals (five) for Baltimore’s offense and not enough touchdowns in the red zone that spelled their doom.

Surprisingly, one of the many heroes for the Colts was former Ravens kicker Matt Stover, who booted a 25-yard field goal to give his team the win.

In a crucial game that showed the grit of the Colts, they won on a bad day. The undefeated squad lost the turnover battle (3-1) and overcame a mediocre effort by Manning (2 INTs) to keep going.

With their win in “The Charm City Grudge Match,” the Colts have now won their two toughest games in the last two weeks by three points combined : Week 10 over the Patriots by a score of 35-34 and Week 11 over the Ravens by a score of 17-15.

Though I don’t think both the Saints and Colts can do the impossible (no pair has ever reached 11-0 together) and reach the 1972 Dolphins’ perfection— too many teams getting up for a fight with the “Town Bully”— I have listed both teams remaining games below:

Saints: NE, @WAS, @ATL, DAL, TB, @CAR

Colts: @HOU, TEN, DEN, @JAC, NYJ, @BUF

With only six games left to be played, there is much more separation left to do within the league’s standings.

There are still the “Have’s” (eight teams with seven wins or more, including two undefeated teams) and the “Have Nots” (nine teams with three or less wins), but the majority of teams (15) are still playing within former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle’s parity dream section.

With records ranging from 6-4 to 4-6, including four inconsistent teams stuck right at the .500 mark (Ravens, Texans, Dolphins, and Falcons), it is time for the “Contenders” and “Pretenders” to choose their status in the league’s last few weeks.

There are 12 coveted playoff spots up for grabs and you have to expect some teams will soon be giving thanks this turkey-day for their opportunity to make the playoffs.

Here’s the current division breakdown after Week 11:

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (7-3) have a one-game lead over the Eagles (6-4) and Giants (6-4). All three teams own a 2-1 record in their NFC East games. The Giants play the Cowboys in Week 13 and the Eagles in Week 14.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals (7-3) have a three-game lead over the 49ers (4-6). The Cardinals seem to be in the driver’s seat in this division, but QB Kurt Warner’s head injury will be something that needs to be monitored.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints (10-0) have a five-game lead over the Falcons (5-5). It looks like the Saints will soon claim the NFC South title.

NFC North

Minnesota Vikings (8-1) have a four-game lead over the Packers (4-5).

AFC East

New England Patriots (7-3) have a two-game lead over the Miami Dolphins (5-5).

AFC West

By virtue of their 32-3 shellacking of the Broncos this week, the San Diego Chargers (7-3) have a one-game lead over the reeling Denver Broncos (6-4).

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts (10-0) have a four-game lead over the Houston Texans (5-4).

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals (7-3) maintained their one-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) as the entire division lost in Week 11.

Before we move onto the "Game Balls" and "Lackeys" for this week, here are some of "Lloyd’s Leftovers."

Quarterback Talk None of Your Business

After the Eagles 24-20 win over the Chicago Bears on NBC Sunday Night Football , opposing quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Jay Cutler (24-for-43, 171 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT stretching his NFL-high interception total to 18) embraced in a man-hug for some “QB Talk” for what seemed like forever...But what was said?

Unfortunately, McNabb was mum on the subject in his postgame comments. “It stays between me and Jay,” McNabb said to NBC . “That’s just kind of the fraternity that we have, the quarterbacks. Just continue to have your confidence, keep strong and keep working hard. Things will work out well.”

I truly believe McNabb, who has been through the ringer at times in Philly, told Cutler to develop some tough skin because he will need it. After being acquired in April from Denver and being named the Bears' first superstar at quarterback since Jim McMahon in the 1980s, Cutler has clearly struggled and some have let him have it.

The Chicago Sun-Times' headline after Sunday’s loss read, "Jay Cutler is a bust.”

Injuries, Injuries, and More Injuries

I say it every week, “The NFL Season is a War of Attrition” and Week 11 brought that fact to light again. The team that suffered the worst blows was possibly the Green Bay Packers, who lost veterans CB Al Harris and OLB Aaron Kampman both to knee injuries for the season in their 30-24 win over the 49ers.

The multitude of other frontline injuries included: Steelers QB Charlie Batch (wrist), Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (concussion-type symptoms), Lions S Kalvin Pearson (hamstring), Lions QB Matthew Stafford (left shoulder), Dolphins DT Jason Ferguson (quad—season), Redskins RB Ladell Betts (knee—season), Seahawks S Deon Grant (hand), Rams QB Marc Bulger (broken tibia—six weeks), Lions WR Calvin Johnson (hand, knee), Bengals DT Domata Peko (sprained MCL), Bills C/GEric Wood (broken leg—season), Bills G Seth McKinney (knee—season), and Cardinals QB Kurt Warner (concussion).

Before we go to this week’s awards, our thoughts and prayers go out to former NFL LB Chris Spielman. The former Ohio State star lost his wife Stefanie Spielman (42) after she passed away after a courageous battle with breast cancer.

“Stefanie has gone home to be with the Lord,” Chris Spielman said in a statement released after his wife’s passing. “For that, we celebrate, but with broken hearts. I want to thank everyone for their support over the last 12 years. Together, with your help, hopefully we made a difference in this fight.”

The Spielmans have raised over $6 million for breast cancer research at Ohio State University.

Game Balls

RB Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins

You thought at age 32, after his lengthy off-the-field, quirky nature (Drug use, including several NFL suspensions, playing in the CFL, studying holistic medicine, living in the Australian outback, “quitting his career”…I could go on and on) that Williams couldn’t even come close to replacing injured teammate Ronnie Brown.

Well you were wrong, as it was “Run Ricky, Ricky Run” time—in and out of the Wildcat— as the 2002 NFL rushing champ turned back the clock in the Dolphins’ Thursday night win over the Panthers. The former 1998 Heisman winner finished with 22 rushes (most carries since 2005), 119 yards, and 2 TDs. Plus he added a 14-yard touchdown catch for the Dolphins’ first score.

The Dolphins (5-5) are now back in the playoff picture after winning their fourth game out of their last six. “Our offense really clicked,” Dolphins left tackle Jake Long said. “Ricky ran great.”

Honorable Mentions

WR Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills

Speaking of turning back the clock, T.O. re-emerged, in Jacksonville of all places. Owens (9 REC, 197 YDS—the most since gaining 213 yards for Dallas in Week 11 last season—and 1 TD) was unstoppable at times in the Bills’ road loss to the Jags.

The VH1 reality star has definitely developed a great camaraderie with new quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as shown by their franchise-record 98-yard touchdown hookup. Though Owens had to endure being mocked by Jags WR Mike Sims-Walker on the Jags’ game-winner, he clearly was a lot happier than in past weeks.

T.O.’s season numbers are now a little more respectable at 35 receptions for 563 yards, 16.1 AVG, and 2 TDs.

“Well, it doesn’t mean that I am washed up,” Owens joked after the game. The petulant one now has 14,685 career receiving yards, which moved him into fourth place on the NFL’s all-time list, ahead of Marvin Harrison (14,580).

QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

What a gutsy performance as the 2009 NFL Draft’s first overall player selected led the Lions to a huge home win over the Browns, with phenomenal numbers (26-of-43, 422 YDS, 5 TD, and 2 INT).

Apparently Stafford feels no pain as he willed himself back on the field to throw the game’s winning score despite dislocating his left shoulder on the play earlier. The Lions QB’s 422 passing yards are the most by a rookie in a single game in NFL history, besting the mark set by Arizona’s Matt Leinart (405 yards, Nov. 26, 2006).

Stafford is also the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw five touchdown passes in a game, joining Ray Buivid of the Chicago Bears who had five on Dec. 5, 1937.

WR Wes Welker, New England Patriots

Wow. Is there anyone better out of the slot than Tom Brady’s security blanket? What didn’t Welker do in the Patriots’ win over the NY Jets? He finished with 15 receptions for 192 yards, and 0 TDs (who cares) with an additional 11 yards rushing.

QB Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings

America’s greatest comeback story gets better each week. Favre (22-of-25, a career-best 88 percent, 213 YDS, 4 TD) continued to turn back the clock in the Vikings’ 35-9 thrashing of the Seahawks. The 40-year old passer even looks like a strong contender for the 2009 NFL MVP Award, which would be his fourth honor.

The Vikings are now 9-1 and right on the heels of the undefeated Saints for NFC playoff home field advantage.

CB Leigh Bodden, New England Patriots

This man really had some sticky hands in the Patriots’ 31-14 win over the Jets—tying a Patriots’ franchise record—including returning an interception 53 yards for a touchdown.

Other Honorees

QB Vince Young , Tennessee Titans : Won his eighth consecutive start and led the Titans to their fourth straight win on Monday Night Football .

WR DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles : Had eight receptions for 107 yards and one TD of 48 yards, plus a 10-yard run in the Eagles’ win.

WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions: Megatron was in the house, producing seven receptions, 161 yards, and a touchdown of 75 yards in the Lions’ win.

RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers : Ran hard, producing rushing numbers of 21 rushes for 129 yards, 6.1 AVG, and one TD.

QB Eli Manning, New York Giants : Was dominant, going 25-of-39 for 384 yards, three TDs, and one INT in the Giants' overtime win.

Tackles Jared Gaither and Michael Oher, Baltimore Ravens : Held Colts defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis without a sack for the first time all season.

WR Hines Ward , Pittsburgh Steelers : This future HOF produced awesome numbers again with 10 receptions for 128 yards and one TD.

Kicker Billy Cundiff, Baltimore Ravens : The only Ravens player to score kicked five field goals, in a close loss to the Colts.

Lloyd’s Lackeys

QB Mark Sanchez, NY Jets

What happened to the kid and team that started this season 3-0?

Sanchez looked like a quarterback that only had 16 starts in college at USC as he threw for awful numbers: 136 yards, one TD, and four INTs. Sanchez now has 16 INTs this season, plus one lost fumble.

The Patriots frazzled the young passer in the pocket and his turnovers were indicative of the NFL now being prepared for his tendencies. Some have said, “Put in backup quarterback Kellen Clemens,” but I attribute much of Sanchez’s problems to just being a rookie.

Dishonorable Mention

Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos

The Broncos now have lost four straight games and lost the lead in the AFC West after a 32-3 butt kicking by the San Diego Chargers this past Sunday.

To make matters worse, McDaniels took off his coach’s hat before the game and engaged in smack-talk with the Chargers’ linebackers during warm-ups. Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper claimed after the game that McDaniels said, "We own you."

I guess the NFL’s 32-year-old wonder-kid coach was wrong.

QB Chris Simms, Denver Broncos

Making his first start since rupturing his spleen as a member of the Buccaneers more than three years ago, Phil’s boy was terrible.

In fact, Simms was so terrible (2-for-4 with 10 yards passing and a lost fumble on the game’s opening series) that the Broncos went back to ailing Kyle Orton (ankle) rather than leave him in.

Maybe the Tampa Bay was right about Simms.

WR Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos

Had only three receptions for 26 yards in the Broncos loss to the Chargers. Marshall also caused the game’s biggest commotion as he got in the face of rookie RB Knowshon Moreno on the sidelines after the youngster fumbled at the goal line.

After the game Marshall said, “Those are the plays that kind of kill drives. We’ve just got to punch it in next time.” Later, Baby T.O. added, “I don’t regret anything. This is a playoff game. If there were guys on the sideline that weren’t angry, who didn’t have a lot of emotion, they need to look themselves in the mirror. This is a game where you’ve got to have it. None of us can make any terrible plays.”

K Sean Suisham, Washington Redskins

Though a perfect 12-12 going into the Cowboys game, Suisham was awful. The ‘Skins kicker missed two big field goals: a 39-yarder at the end of the first half and a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter that could have iced the game.

For the game, Suisham finished 2-4 on FG attempts with a long of 45 yards and six points.

Special Teams Coordinator Bob Ligashesk, Pittsburgh Steelers

On Sunday in Kansas City, the Steelers gave up a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown by Jamaal Charles on the opening kickoff. Charles’ return marked the fourth time in five games an opposing kick returner has taken one to the house against the Steelers.

Ligashesky’s unit has a lot of work to do or the coordinator could be hitting the street after the season. It's hard to believe the Steelers had the NFL’s top-ranked kick-coverage unit last season.

QB Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Overthrew at least three potential touchdowns in the Bears loss to the Eagles, and, though it was a tipped-pass interception by safety Sean Jones, Cutler threw another pick giving him 18 INTs for the season.

For the game, Cutler had pedestrian numbers of 24-of-43, 171 yards, one TD, and one INT. Maybe former Bears' quarterbacks like Jim Miller and Henry Burris were not that bad after all.

RB Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

Where has the running game gone for the Bears and this former 2008 NFL Rookie of the Year candidate? Forte only produced 14 rushes for 34 yards and a poor 2.4-yard average in the Bears’ home loss to the Eagles.

QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Maybe it is possible that Flacco and Falcons QB Matt Ryan are experiencing “sophomore slumps” after their magic-carpet-ride rookie seasons. Flacco produced zero touchdowns and one interception in the Ravens’ home loss to the Colts and he now has just one passing touchdown in his last four games.

Seattle Seahawks Defense

For the fifth time in five road games, the Seahawks lost by double-digits.

NFL Week 11

THU, NOV. 19

Miami (5-5) over Carolina (4-6), 24-17

SUN, NOV. 22

Washington (3-7), Dallas (7-3), 7-6

Cleveland (1-9), Detroit (2-8), 38-37

San Francisco (4-6), Green Bay (6-4) 30-24

Pittsburgh (6-4), Kansas City (2-8), 27-24 in OT

Atlanta (5-5), NY Giants (6-4), 34-31 in OT

New Orleans (10-0), Tampa Bay (1-9), 38-7

Buffalo (3-7), Jacksonville (6-4), 18-15

Indianapolis (10-0), Baltimore (5-5), 17-15

Seattle (3-7), Minnesota (9-1), 35-9

Arizona (7-3), St. Louis (1-8), 21-13

NY Jets (4-6), New England (7-3), 31-14

Cincinnati (7-3), Oakland (3-7), 20-17

San Diego (7-3), Denver (6-4), 32-3

Philadelphia (6-4), Chicago (4-6), 24-20

MON, NOV. 23

Tennessee (4-6), Houston (5-5), 20-17

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Read more Super Bowl news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Steelers Lull AFC Into False Sense of Security

Todd Fleming — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:40:30 -0500

The abomination at Arrowhead was all part of “the plan".

So was the loss to the Bengals the week earlier.

The Steelers have set out to lull the rest of the AFC playoff field into a false sense of security. Any time now, they will spring their trap.

After all, no team can possibly give up four kickoff returns in five weeks, right?

That must have been intentional.

Maybe the special teams were just itching to set a record. Maybe they were feeling unappreciated since everyone was talking about the defense last year. Well, everyone is talking about them now.

A midseason swoon that looked like it was cooked up in the depths of hell worked so well in 2005 that it appears the Steelers have decided to pull a page out of their playbook from that season.

Actually, the loss to the Chiefs was not that surprising. There are a few things to consider before throwing in the towel on the 2009 season.

1. There are no give me games in the NFL.

Every team is loaded with elite talent, even the ones who inspire the most pity. Was it really that big of a shock that the St. Louis Rams, thought just a few weeks ago to be the worst team in the league, almost beat the New Orleans Saints, the top dog of most power rankings?

If a team doesn’t bring its “A” game, it can even lose to the Cleveland Browns.

Consider that if the Detroit Lions matched up against the Florida Gators, they would probably run them right out of the stadium…not that I wouldn’t pay to see a matchup of that kind if for no other reason than to satisfy my curiosity. It would be a heck of a lot more interesting than the Pro Bowl.

2. These Steelers have a painful tendency to play to the level of their competition.

They did the same thing last year, rarely blowing out even their worst opponents. While some Steelers' fans were celebrating what appeared to be a much easier schedule, I was not at all sure that was a good thing for that reason.

A team that is comfortable winning ugly will lose some games. The law of averages says that some years you will win a majority of the close games and some years you will lose most of them. Last year, the Steelers won most of their close games. This year, the coin has flipped.

3. This year’s defense is plenty good.

But, last year’s defense was one of the best in the history of the league. It is easier to win the close games when a defense is nearly impenetrable.

4. Every game features two teams who want to win.

Sometimes, as fans, we forget this. All wins are attributed to the glorious might of our team. All losses are attributed to the glorious incompetence of that same team who we were burying in praise the week before.

Rarely do we ever shrug and say, “Oh well. The other guys played better today.” That was the primary answer as to why the Steelers lost to the Bengals. The Bengals’ coaches were better on that Sunday, and their players were a tad better. That is usually all it takes.

The loss to the Chiefs is one of those rare games that says more about the problems the Steelers’ are struggling through than anything to do with the Chiefs. There is no question which team was more talented. That was fairly obvious. But, the more talented team does not always win.

5. Spotting a team seven free points each game is a huge burden to overcome, especially for a team built to win close games.

That is essentially what these Steelers are doing by allowing a weekly kickoff return for a “torchdown.”

Last year’s kickoff unit was one of the best in the league. Now, they are the worst in the history of the league. That is shocking. It may indeed be time to start kicking the ball out of bounce, or perhaps trying a few onside kicks.

But, for all of that, there is still plenty of reason for optimism in Steelers Nation. The glass is still half full.

Here are five reasons why:

1. There is no dominant team in the AFC ready to run away with this thing come playoff time. So the Colts are 10-0. Big deal. They do not look at all impressive. Each week features their latest escape. Are they a good team? Absolutely. You don’t run off that kind of record if you stink.

Are they scary good? Not even a little bit. They are a consistently good team. In 2005, the Colts looked truly unbeatable and nobody thought they could be had come playoff time. They murdered almost everyone they faced. They looked invincible.

And they were promptly bounced by a Steelers’ team in the divisional round of the play-offs that suffered a similar mid-season run of futility, including being blown out by that Colts' team.

2. The Steelers’ offense truly has the potential to be something special. Mike Wallace, despite a subpar game, has the potential to be a real game breaker. Rashard Mendenhall is developing into an elite runner. And the offensive line has improved dramatically from last year, although the loss of a much improved Chris Kemoeatu will hurt.

For some reason, these guys can’t quite put it together for a full 60 minutes. But, the fact that they have not peaked is encouraging. They would be in a lot more trouble if they had already peaked and were still losing. There is still time for it to come together before the playoffs with six games left.

3. The Steelers are still well positioned for a playoff run. And that counts for something. They are 6-4. I think 10-6 will probably get a team in this year based on the current records. 11-5 will definitely land a team in the playoffs.

The Patriots were sent packing at 11-5 last year, which was a glorious thing, but that is rare. After the Colts and the Patriots, there are no sure things when it comes to the playoffs on the AFC side.

The Chargers and Bengals will probably land there. But, the other two spots are wide open. And this looks like one of those years when a wildcard team can do plenty of damage.

The Steelers were bad this past weekend. That is an undeniable fact. But, so were most of their primary competitors for the last two wildcard spots.

4. Adversity sharpens a team’s desire and prepares a team for the serious tests that await come playoff time. It also conditions a team to be able to handle pressure and respond when the going gets tough.

The Steelers have faced plenty this year. The Colts and the Saints have not faced much, other than a few injuries. That is a tribute to the fact that both are very good teams.

But, I think the best thing that can happen to either of the two remaining undefeateds is to lose, and perhaps even lose badly. Not only will that give them a taste of adversity, but would remove the pressure cooker that builds with each successive win.

It was the adversity that the Steelers faced as a team in 2005 that prepared them for their playoff run. It was the adversity faced by the Giants in 2007 that gave them the confidence to knock off a juggernaut.

The Steelers of 2008 also faced plenty of adversity with a viciously tough schedule and a few humbling losses, including that to the Titans that cost them the top seed in the AFC.

5. The Steelers are indeed built to win ugly. That doesn’t always look so hot during the regular season when other teams are lighting up the scoreboard seemingly at will. But, it becomes a much bigger asset during the playoffs when you need to be able to win close games when the pressure is sky high.

If you ask me which team is more likely to blow out the Detroit Lions, the Steelers or the Coltriots, the Coltriots would win in a landslide. If you ask me which team was more likely to lose to the St. Louis Rams, the Steelers or the Coltriots, the Steelers would win in a landslide. But, if the Steelers meet the Coltriots in the playoffs, I still like the Steelers and I would feel that way even if I wasn’t a fan of the team.

There are plenty of other reasons that go unmentioned here. The biggest is that I will never count out a Ben Roethlisberger-led team once it gets to the playoffs.

The Steelers will also likely have the best defensive player in the league back to his fully disruptive self.

For all that I wrote above, the Steelers desperately need the win this week, although not quite as desperately as the Ravens need it. Will they get that win? I like their chances. And if they do get it, they can easily get right back on the tracks.

Even if they lose, the clock will not have struck midnight just yet.

Read more Super Bowl news on BleacherReport.com

Stafford and Lions, Young and Titans: What We Learned from NFL Week 11

The Sportmeisters — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:16:36 -0500

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

The home stretch is near! Who’s gunning for the playoffs, and who’s gunning for a good draft spot?

The Best Game No One Watched

It was a “family and friends” game, meaning, only family and friends would watch Cleveland face off against Detroit in the race for the No. 1 pick. Well, it became a game full of energy, comebacks, and a game-winning drive, as the Lions edged the Browns 38-37.

Cleveland took a huge 24-3 lead to start the game, showing an offensive firepower sorely missed the first 10 weeks of the season. Detroit, led by rookie QB Matt Stafford, climbed back, until Cleveland QB Brady Quinn led a scoring drive to make it 37-31 with under five minutes to go.

Enter Stafford, who got the team to midfield before launching a Hail Mary with less than 10 seconds to go, which was intercepted and ended the game.

BUT WAIT!

A pass interference call let Detroit have one final untimed play, where a now-injured Stafford found fellow rookie TE Brandon Pettigrew for the 38-37 win.

They say it takes one play in one game to turn a team around. For Detroit, that might have been the turning point, even with Stafford unlikely to play this week against Green Bay. The Browns can take some positive in the offense that showed up, but are miles away from any signs of competitiveness.

A Bucked Bronco

A month ago, the Denver Broncos, despite all their offseason turmoil, were 6-0 and kings of the AFC West. They held a 3-and-a-half game lead over the Sand Diego Chargers. Now, as we move to Week 12, the San Diego Chargers hold a one-game lead over Denver, thanks to a five-game winning streak that culminated in a 32-3 drubbing of the Broncos on Sunday.

It was just another case of two teams changing since Denver won the first matchup.

San Diego seems to be on all cylinders, with QB Philip Rivers managing the offense, and even RB LaDainian Tomlinson having a solid performance (20 carries, 73 yards, touchdown).

Denver is falling apart at the wrong time, and three turnovers and nine penalties don’t make it any easier. The Broncos have an early game this week against the NY Giants, and have to get back on track now, or risk watching the season end before their very eyes.

Remember The Titans

I usually write this on a Monday, but due to scheduling conflicts, I got to take in the Monday night game and add it to my recaps. I picked a good week to have a scheduling conflict, as behind 151 rushing yards from Chris Johnson and 189 all-purpose yards from Vince Young, the Titans squeaked out a 20-17 victory over the Houston Texans.

The Titans, who were the source of ridicule a year removed from 13-3, have now won four straight, and while they are still a ways away from any playoff talk, now seem like they are on the right track.

Using the same method that worked last year (punishing running game, dominant defense), they no longer seem in over their heads. Against Houston, they had 228 rushing yards, and the defense had four sacks, and held Houston to 57 rushing yards.

Tennessee is clawing back, slowly but surely.

Contenders and Pretenders

The playoff picture is getting clearer, so who is in the snapshot?

The New Orleans Saints, after a few weeks of questionable football, quieted the critics with a complete performance in a 38-7 drubbing of Tampa Bay. The Saints take their perfect record against New England on Monday Night Football this coming week.

What does a 4-2 record over the last six weeks get you? For the Miami Dolphins, it’s some playoff chatter, as last years AFC East Champions beat the Carolina Panthers to get back to .500. RB Ricky Williams had three touchdowns in place of injured RB Ronnie Brown.

The Indianapolis Colts are making it happen, squeaking out another close victory, this time against the Baltimore Ravens 17-15. The Colts ran their record to 10-0, their eighth straight 10-win season, and have won 19 regular season games in a row, second only to the New England Patriots (21 wins from 2006-2008).

Pretenders come in all shapes and sizes:

Bills coach Dick Jauron was given the boot, hoping to spark something in Buffalo. Despite Terrell Owens showing up for the first time all season, the Bills still lose, 18-15 to Jacksonville. The Bills are now 3-7.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are defending Super Bowl champions, but they’re not playing like it. They lost their second straight game, this time to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24 in overtime. They are fighting injuries, which is a contributing factor, but they need to get their act together if a repeat Super Bowl appearance is in the cards.

After starting 4-1, the Atlanta Falcons have taken a nosedive, with their latest, a 34-31 overtime loss to the New York Giants, running their record to 5-5.

Read more Super Bowl news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Playoff Outlook Shaken Up in Surprising Week

Paul Preibisius — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:55:11 -0500

The NFL playoff picture was not set, but felt as though it was starting to solidify after last week. Teams that had a chance to run away with a division stumbled, teams that seemed the safest wild-card bets have slipped a peg, and teams that were out of the picture two weeks ago have new life.

Originally it was assumed a team would need a 10-6 record in the current climate to grab a wild-card berth; too many teams were performing well (and too many winless and one-win teams were giving up freebies).

This not only helped shape the favorites, but took some slow-starting teams out of most people’s playoff pictures. Conventional logic will give the frontrunners the spots, but nothing is certain in the wild world of the NFL (and I might add on a bit of a tangent, that this is a good part of why it has surpassed baseball as the top dog of U.S. sports).

So, without further ado, let’s look at how some of these games tweaked the playoff race:

Eagles Defeat Bears

This one effectively takes the Bears out of playoff contention. With confidence in the team slipping they would need a major turnaround.

The Eagles maintained pace, staying a game behind Dallas, while holding onto a three-way tie with the Giants and Packers for the Wild Card.

Prediction : A more favorable schedule allows the Eagles to overtake the division, while Dallas gets in as the three or four seed (TBD based on the Kurt Warner injury).

Patriots Get Revenge Against Jets

While last week pretty much took the Jets out of the playoff race, this was the killing blow. Now they are looking for 8-8 (puts the Favre ’08 tailspin into perspective).

The Patriots maintained distance on a suddenly-closing Miami team and caught Cincinnati in a three-way tie for the second seed and its accompanying first-round bye.

Prediction : Pats, facing one of the toughest remaining schedules, grab the No. 4 seed.

Packers Top 49ers

The season’s 3-1 start and last week's big win over Chicago couldn't stand up against a 1-5 stretch, leaving the 49ers essentially out the playoff race.

The Packers have now resurrected a season that looked dead in the water after a loss to the bottom-dwelling Buccaneers put them at 4-4. Riding back-to-back wins, they now sit alongside the Eagles and Giants, tied for the lead in the wild-card race.

Prediction : I like the Patriots. They have a tough remaining schedule, and will share a 10-6 record with the Giants, who edge them out in the tie-breaking procedures.

Jaguars Defeat Bills

Buffalo no longer had playoff aspirations, not even the "ghost of a chance" variety. With a sudden octane boost from a few bottom-dwellers, the Bills could suddenly achieve top-five draft pick status.

Jacksonville, meanwhile, has overcome a 3-4 start—including a loss to the previously winless Titans—and strung together three wins in a row to step into a tie for the wild-card lead (and playing behind anyone but the Colts would be stepping into the divisional race at this point).

I did not see the pieces in place for this, but Jacksonville has positioned themselves for a great run.

Prediction : Winner of the Week 13 game against Houston grabs the No. 6 seed

Dolphins Victorious Over Panthers

The battle of AFC/NFC clones. An 0-3 start dissolved any real margin for error, but Carolina was in the midst of making a run, with a 4-2 record (including a hard-fought match against the Saints) raising some eyebrows.

With a brutal ending to the season (Pats, Vikes, Giants, Saints), this team’s faint hopes are gone.

Miami runs the same tale of an 0-3 start, perked up by a 4-2 ensuing record. As the victor of this game however, and finally reaching .500, they remain alive in the playoff hunt despite injuries to Pennington (given both QBs records, one could argue the injury has helped) and Ronny Brown.

Prediction : The Dolphins sans Ronny Brown make a good go of it, but fall a game or two short of the Wild Card.

Baltimore Falls to Indianapolis

While the game had little bearing on Indi (up by two games for the No. 1 seed, and three for the division), Baltimore was facing a match of some importance.

A win, and their 6-4 resultant record, would have moved them into a tie with the Steelers, Broncos, and Jags for the wild-card spot and garnered some much needed confidence. Now at 5-5 they go head-to-head with the defending champs next week to decide if they remain in the hunt or have fallen too far back.

Prediction : It really comes down to both head-to-heads against the Steelers, but I say Pitt takes the edge and the Ravens take an extra month of offseason.

Giants Defeat Falcons

Another game with dual-implications. The Falcons were my choice for the No. 6 seed through Sunday morning. Now, they sit behind three other teams, with two more looming a game behind them. Originally one of the preseason darlings, Atlanta is now in danger of missing the whole show.

The Giants however, have used the Falcons to stave off a seemingly sinking ship. Now 6-4, they have kept pace with the Eagles and Packers, and like Philly, remain a game behind Dallas in a close playoff race.

Prediction : The NFC East is the toughest division to predict, but I say Philly edges out Dallas who takes a Wild Card, with the Giants falling just short. I will still keep some faith in the Falcons, whose season hinges on a Week 13 match with those Eagles.

Cowboys Beat Redskins

The Cowboys needed a win to keep their thin division lead over the Eagles and Giants, who have finally started to right their respective ships. Winning 7-6 over the Redskins does not speak well to the team’s overall quality at the moment, however, and four of their six remaining opponents presently combine for a 29-11 record.

The armor has shown cracks after a four-game winning streak.

Prediction : NFC East comes down to the Week 17 head-to-head with Philly. This time the Eagles take the game and the division, pushing Dallas down to a Wild Card.

New Orleans Topples Tampa Bay

Like the Dallas game, more could be drawn from the box score than the simple win-loss result.

The Saints, undefeated as they were, looked quite beatable the last few weeks. At 10-0, a loss won't affect playoff seeding much, but it was something for their future playoff opponents to take hold of. Now, the Saints have reasserted themselves and look like the powerhouse of the early season.

Prediction : A first-round bye with either a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, which will be up to some very convoluted tie-breaking procedures (I am guessing both will have undefeated divisional records and no head-to-head matches).

Vikings Defeat Seahawks

With the Packers suddenly rejuvenated, wins mean more than keeping pace with the Saints, as a loss puts them only two games ahead of Green Bay (though three if we figure tie-breaker). Weeks 13-15 will determine the Vikes' momentum for the playoffs.

Prediction : See Saints vs. Bucs

Chargers Flatten Broncos

The Broncos were a team looking for footing after a 6-3 start. Instead, they have slipped back in the division, and with injury (and other) concerns mounting, will need a strong push just to make the playoffs.

They face three teams with winning records, as well as matches against the Raiders and Chiefs (twice) that seem a little tougher all of a sudden.

San Diego had been a team the last few years that had done enough, but suffered from a lack of "statement" wins. Now, riding a five-game winning streak, they have placed three of those in a row.

They have a one-game lead over Denver and a slightly easier remaining schedule, with all the momentum in the world.

Prediction : San Diego takes the No. 3 seed while Denver, fighting schedule and injuries, ends at 8-8.

Cardinals Win Against Rams

A win-lose game for the Cards, who basically sealed the division, but the injury to Warner could have a big impact on the playoff seeding.

Prediction : The "tooth-and-nail" fight in the NFC East will be enough to give Arizona the No. 3 seed.

Bengals Lose to Raiders

In a big, confusing game of the week, Cincinnati missed a prime chance to lock up the division for good. They also awarded the Chargers and Patriots an opportunity to fight for a No. 2 seed that had been theirs to lose.

The rest of their season depends on whether this was a speedbump or not.

Prediction : With the Pats facing a tough remaining schedule, Week 15 against San Diego is for a first-round bye, with the physicality of Cinci giving them the edge.

Chiefs Shock Steelers

Big confusing game of the week (pt. 2). Who would have predicted the dregs of the AFC taking both games against the tops of the AFC North?

The Steelers had a great opportunity to tighten the divisional race, and now need to battle for a No. 5 seed that I had initially considered them a lock for. A mounting injury toll means Pitt will suddenly need to work for their playoff berth, and hope injury concerns are not still lingering at that point.

Prediction : They maintain well enough to hang onto the No. 5 seed, but look a lot more beatable come playoff time.

Titans Edge Texans

In the case of Tennessee, it is probably too little too late, as six losses put them in a deep hole that requires a 10-game winning streak with games against the Colts, Chargers, Cardinals, and Dolphins remaining.

Houston, with much more on the line, dropped behind the Jags and Steelers in the wild-card race. It now appears that Week 13's head-to-head with Jacksonville will be a big-time playoff determinant.

Prediction : Tennessee pulls off a few more upsets, but ends up at 8-8 with optimism for next year and "bupkis" for this one. Houston will win head-to-head with Jacksonville, and in doing so, grabs that No. 6 seed.

Read more Super Bowl news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Playoff Predictions After Week 11

Magnus Johnson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:09:17 -0500

The playoff picture in the NFL has always been a wild one. With sudden upsets and rising/falling teams, no one seems to be able to zero in on who will and won't make the playoffs. With the Steelers falling rapidly in the AFC and having lots of injury troubles, the door is opening for the Jags and Texans to speed up ahead of them in the Wild Card picture. In the NFC, the race in the East looks like it will be down to the wire, but will there be a wild—card team coming out of that division? Here are my predictions for the NFL after 11 weeks of play.

*=playoff team

NFC

North

1. Minnesota Vikings: Current record 9-1, Predicted record 14—2*

2. Green Bay Packers: 6—4, 9—7

3. Chicago Bears: 4—6, 7—9

4. Detroit Lions: 2—8, 4—12

South

1. New Orleans Saints: 10—0, 15—1*

2. Atlanta Falcons: 5—5, 10—6*

3. Carolina Panthers: 4—6, 8—8

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1—9, 2—14

West

1. Arizona Cardinals: 7—3, 11—5*

2. Seattle Seahawks: 3—7, 6—10

3. San Francisco 49ers: 4—6, 6—10

4. St. Louis Rams: 1—9, 1—15

East

1. New York Giants: 6—4, 11—5*

2. Philidelphia Eagles: 6—4, 10—6*

3. Dallas Cowboys: 7—3, 9—7

4. Washington Redskins: 3—7, 5—11

AFC

North

1. Cincinnatti Bengals: 7—3, 11—5*

2. Pittsburgh Steelers: 6—4, 9—7

3. Baltimore Ravens: 5—5, 8—8

4. Cleveland Browns: 1—9, 3—13

South

1. Indianapolis Colts: 10—0, 15—1*

2. Jacksonville Jaguars: 6—4, 10—6*

3. Houston Texans: 6—4, 8—8

4. Tennessee Titans: 3—7, 6—10

West

1. San Diego Chargers: 7—3, 10—6*

2. Denver Broncos: 6—4, 10—6*

3. Oakland Raiders: 3—7, 4—12

4. Kansas City Chiefs: 3—7, 3—13

East

1. New England Patriots: 7—3, 11—5*

2. Miami Dolphins: 5—5, 9—7

3. New York Jets: 4—6, 7—9

4. Buffalo Bills: 3—7, 5—11

Playoffs

Wild Card

NFC: 3. New York Giants over 6. Atlanta Falcons—A rematch of week 11's OT showdown has the same outcome, and the G—men survive to play another round.

NFC: 5. Philadelphia Eagles over 4. Arizona Cardinals—The Eagles complete the wild card NFC EAST shut—out, getting some payback against the defending NFC Champs.

AFC: 3. Cincinnati Bengals over 6. Denver Broncos—The Broncos get it back together enough to make it to the playoffs, but they can't regroup enough to take down the mighty stripes.

AFC: 5. Jacksonville Jaguars over 4. San Diego Chargers—After stealing away the Steelers' playoff spot, MoJo and the Jags shock LT and the Chargers, jump—starting a Cinderella playoff run.

Divisional Round

NFC: 1. New Orleans Saints over 5. Philadelphia Eagles—The mighty Saints won't be taken down in their first playoff game since '06, especially not against a much less explosive Eagles offense.

NFC: 2. Minnesota Vikings over 3. New York Giants—Favre and the high-powered Viking offense take control of the weakening Giant D in the process of rolling over their first opponent with ease.

AFC: 5. Jacksonville Jaguars over 1. Indianapolis Colts—In a death match between two heated AFC SOUTH rivals, the Jags defense takes Clark, Wayne, and Addai out of the equation, leaving MoJo and Sims—Walker to put the game away, which they do in a shocking upset.

AFC: 3. Cincinnatti Bengals over 2. New England Patriots—The Bengals, although tripped up a few times in the regular season, have enough star—power to outshine the Pats in a game that Ochocinco is sure to be fined in.

Conference Championship Round

NFC: 1. New Orleans Saints over 2. Minnesota Vikings—Sure, Favre wants another title bad, but will—power has been proved to be not enough against the Saints in '09, and the Vikes just don't have enough to eek past Brees and the Saints.

AFC: 5. Jacksonville Jaguars over 3. Cincinnati Bengals—Coming out of nowhere, the Jags demolish the Bengals after two huge upsets, in a game that will be remembered by Jacksonville Fans for ages and ages to come.

Super Bowl XLIV

1. New Orleans Saints over 5. Jacksonville Jaguars —Brees is named MVP of a back—and—forth battle to the death that will leave murmurs of "That Close!" coming from the mouths of Jags fans and players.

Read more Super Bowl news on BleacherReport.com