Bleacher Report - Tony Romo

Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks

Eric Stashin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:05:57 -0500

Will Brett Favre fade in 2009? He certainly hasn’t shown any indications as he may be playing the best football of his career (which says a lot). Let’s take a look at where he falls in the rankings, as well as all the other QBs, for Week 13:

Peyton Manning - Indianapolis Colts - vs. Tennessee
Matt Schaub - Houston Texans - at Jacksonville
Tom Brady - New England Patriots - at Miami
Brett Favre - Minnesota Vikings - at Arizona
Philip Rivers - San Diego Chargers - at Cleveland
Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers - vs. Baltimore
Donovan McNabb - Philadelphia Eagles - at Atlanta
Tony Romo - Dallas Cowboys - at New York Giants
Carson Palmer - Cincinnati Bengals - vs. Detroit
Kurt Warner - Arizona Cardinals - vs. Minnesota
Jay Cutler - Chicago Bears - vs. St. Louis
Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints - at Washington
Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers - vs. Oakland
Kyle Orton - Denver Broncos - at Kansas City
David Garrard - Jacksonville Jaguars - vs. Houston
Matt Hasselbeck - Seattle Seahawks - vs. San Francisco
Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons - vs. Philadelphia
Joe Flacco - Baltimore Ravens - at Green Bay
Vince Young - Tennessee Titans - at Indianapolis
Eli Manning - New York Giants - vs. Dallas
Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions - at Cincinnati
Alex Smith - San Francisco 49ers - at Seattle
Ryan Fitzpatrick - Buffalo Bills - vs. New York Jets
Brady Quinn - Cleveland Browns - vs. San Diego
Matt Cassel - Kansas City Chiefs - vs. Denver

Thoughts:

Peyton Manning versus a team who has allowed over 25 passing TDs on the season? Could there possibly be a better scenario?

Tough matchup or not, how can you not like Aaron Rodgers this week? He’s already surpassed 3,000 yards passing, while throwing for 22 TDs. His three rushing TDs don’t hurt either.

With as bad as the Giants passing defense has been recently, how big of a game could Tony Romo have this week?

Facing the Redskins passing defense certainly knocks Drew Brees down, a lot, as no quarterback had thrown for over 200 yards since Matthew Stafford in Week Three before Donovan McNabb this past Sunday. That includes facing Donovan McNabb (in their first matchup), Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, and Kyle Orton. He’s still usable, but you have to downgrade him a bit.

Will Ben Roethlisberger or Kurt Warner be healthy enough to play? That’s the biggest question surrounding them after missing Week 12. Monitor the news.

Matthew Stafford has been your typical up-and-down rookie quarterback. In Week 11 he throws for five touchdown passes, only to follow it up with four interceptions in Week 12. While you don’t necessarily know what you are going to get, he has a positive matchup against the Bengals, so he’s worth taking your chances against in two-quarterback formats.

What are your thoughts? Who was left off the list? Who should be higher? Who should be lower?

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football

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Who You Will See In the NFL Playoffs! Early Edition

thomas moreland — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:36:54 -0500

You will see Tony Romo attempt to win a playof game this season. What fun! The Cowboys are 8-3 now and should challenge to at least clinch a wild card soon.

The Packers are at 7-4 and will challenge for a playoff spot, but may fall short. Let's check everyone else out, and see where the Packers may slip in.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a clear path to the AFC North division. The pesky Steelers may have to settle for a wild card path through the playoffs.

New Orleans is in, Minnesota is in, and New England is in.

Two NFC spots left and three AFC.

Arizona gets in winning that division, most likely.

Indianapolis is in.

San Diego wins that division.

The Steelers bang out a wild card, and in the NFC the last team that makes it is the...Giants.

The last AFC team to squeak in will be the Houston Texans.

Yes, Packer fans, you barely beat out Philly and Atlanta and you make the playoffs.

Next stop, the Purgatory of Brett Favre never leaving you alone.

Thomas[ NFL Mikee ]Moreland.

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Thanksgiving Special: Fantasy Football Week 12 Player Breakdowns

kevin roberts — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:13:04 -0500

If you haven't had the chance, be sure to check out this week's Start/Sit column, as well as our player rankings. For quick match-up analysis, read on for Week 12's player breakdowns:

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

QB Aaron Rodgers: Just look what Brady Quinn did last week. Enough said. *****

RB Ryan Gant: Has been running hard and has a great match-up. *****

WR Greg Jennings: Broke-out last week and should kill on Thursday. *****

WR Donald Driver: Tasty match-up, so great play. ****

WR James Jones: Could get some looks underneath. **

WR Jordy Nelson: Scored last week, so should be involved. **

TE Jermichael Finley: Has a decent role and nice match-up helps. ***

QB Matthew Stafford: Is a game-time decision and not a great match-up. **

QB Daunte Culpepper: Likely the starter, but not a good play at all. *

RB Kevin Smith: Won't go very far against solid run defense. **

WR Calvin Johnson: An iffy play, but could do some damage if he's a go. ***

WR Bryant Johnson: Should see solid targets if CJ can't go. **

TE Brandon Pettigrew: Doesn't do much, and Green Bay stuff tight ends. *

Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys

QB Bruce Gradkowski: Looked decent, but was horrible last time he played on Thanksgiving. **

RB Michael Bush: In a big RBBC, but running is Oakland's only chance. **

RB Darren McFadden: Best potential out of group, and his role is growing. ***

RB Justin Fargas: Had most carries last week, but role is uncertain. **

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: He nor no other Oakland receivers are worthy owning. *

TE Zach Miller: Value rises with Gradkowski, but ceiling still limited. ***

QB Tony Romo: Not a great threat against very stingy secondary. **

RB Marion Barber: Should pound the rock against horrible run defense. ****

RB Felix Jones: Could be active, but Barbers is getting the ball more. **

RB Tashard Choice: Ditto. **

WR Miles Austin: Has been quiet, but there's hope for a big play or two. ***

WR Roy Williams: Could see some looks, but doesn't offer a ton of optimism. **

TE Jason Witten: Might not even play, and match-up stinks. **

New York Giants at Denver Broncos

QB Eli Manning: Has looked very good the past two weeks, and Broncos are reeling. ****

RB Brandon Jacobs: Should be all by himself and Denver hasn't been stopping the run. ****

RB Ahmad Bradshaw: Out.

RB Danny Ware: Should see increased role, but how much? *

WR Steve Smith: Is a solid WR2 and could see solid production this week. ****

WR Hakeem Nicks: Very inconsistent lately, but WR3 potential is always there. **

WR Mario Manningham: Has been very involved lately, so a decent play. ***

TE Kevin Boss: Has scored four times in last three games, so worth a shot. ***

QB Kyle Orton: Giants leaky secondary could be his cure for awful stretch. ***

RB Knowshon Moreno: Giants can be run on, and he's looked solid. ***

RB Correll Buckhalter: Inconsistent role, but is facing beatable defense. **

WR Brandon Marshall: Was terrible last week, but should get back on track. ****

WR Eddie Royal: Too inconsistent to rely on. **

WR Jabar Gaffney: Ditto. *

Stay tuned for the rest of Week 12's Player Breakdowns later this week, and head over to NFLSoup.com for all of your other breaking news and fantasy needs.

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Liver's NFL Week 12 Thanksgiving Picks

Adnan Tezer — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:17:56 -0500

Thanksgiving Day games are notoriously tough to pick because of the short week. Plus, none of these games looks very interesting on paper. Still, what else are you going to do on Thanksgiving besides drink, eat, and watch football? Sex, anyone?

Here’s to an Aggie slaughter at the hands of the Liver’s beloved Longhorns today. Then, it’s the Big 12 title game against Nebraska, and a national championship matchup in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7 against the winner of the SEC Championship game. At least one of my football teams is a championship contender.

Happy Thanksgiving all; drink, eat, and love your neighbor 'til it hurts. Excuse me while I go watch Casino right now.

Of course, it goes without saying that the following picks against the spread are for recreational use only . Only Rick Pitino, LeGarrette Blount, Donte’ Stallworth, Braylon Edwards, Bob Griese, Miguel Cabrera, Tila Tequila, Bill Belichick, Steve Phillips, Travis Henry, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Tony Romo, Elizabeth Lambert, Richard Heene (a.k.a. Balloon Boy’s father), the Liver’s biological father (a.k.a. The Most Interesting Man in the World), and all Somali Pirates would be drunk enough to question the Esteemed Liver's picks.

Last week’s record: 9-7

2009 record against the spread: 100-59-1 (.625)

Thursday, Nov. 26

Green Bay at Detroit (+10½)

Green Bay has gotten back into the mix for the NFC Wild Card the last two weeks, and shouldn’t get tripped up here. The Lions enjoyed a rare win in a wild finish to their game with the Browns but, in true Lions fashion, even in a win they lose. Stafford is highly unlikely to play after suffering the dislocated left shoulder at the end of the game, and Calvin Johnson is also banged up.

Stafford's injury means Daunte Culpepper will likely be taking the snaps for Detroit. Anyone that actually watches this game as opposed to just having it on in the background as they cook, drink, and socialize has to be either a Green Bay or Detroit fan, or a gambling junkie like the Liver.

Then again, maybe you just don’t like your relatives and in-laws, so you revert to give-up mode, eat and drink heavily while pretending you care about this pointless game as a means of avoiding them.

Did I mention that I had degrees in psychology and sociology? Think Roger Goodell wishes the Lions would forfeit their Thanksgiving Day spot?

Pick: Green Bay

Oakland at Dallas (-13½)

Looks like a slightly different Raiders team with Bruce Gradkowski in at QB. Then again, anyone is an upgrade over JaMarcus Russell.

It was ugly to be sure, but the Cowboys got the win against the Redskins with just one good offensive drive. The Dallas offense is having serious issues right now while the defense has been the only constant with the team since early in the season.

I thought running the ball might be the answer for the Cowboys, but even that couldn’t generate points. It just seems like several key offensive players—Tony Romo, Marion Barber, and Felix Jones—are banged up and not playing anywhere near what they should be.

This is typically where the Dallas Cowboys of the past few years have peaked, unfortunately, and this is another game that could go either way.

The Cowboys could blow the Raiders away, or the Raiders, who have some confidence right now, could make this a game. Then again, maybe the Raiders are so satisfied at winning against Cincinnati that they just mail it in Thursday after having to travel on a short week.

Sooner or later, the Cowboys offense is going to get back to scoring points right? And it’s the F-ing Raiders! How the hell is it possible that the Cowboys are favored by nearly the exact number of points that the offense has scored the last two weeks combined ? And, why the hell am I laying it? Only God can protect my TV, my remote, and my sliding glass door if Dallas blows this.

Pick: Dallas

NY Giants at Denver (+7)

Denver is in free-fall right now. Either its offense is turning the ball over, or its defense is getting gashed against the run. It's difficult to play on a short week, especially for the road team, but this Broncos team is imploding right before our eyes.

Of course, the Giants had to go to overtime to beat a lackluster Falcons team, and had to travel to Denver. Never underestimate the wear and tear for the road teams in these Thanksgiving games.

This Broncos team has to show some heart at home doesn’t it? As long as Chris Simms is nowhere near that field…

Pick: Denver

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Give Thanks For Early Football

Brandon Land — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:26:08 -0500

With the NFL regular season now over halfway in the books, Week 12 is upon us. It's time to give thanks for early football this week as three games on Thanksgiving Day are sure to keep you eating on your couch instead of getting the Christmas tree out of the attic, that is, unless you’re a fan of the Lions, in which you may need to put off your feast until the stomach pains subside next season (or the season after that, if necessary). What should you be watching for this week? I’ll get you started with the Thanksgiving Day action.

The Detroit Lions Cannot and Will Not Upset the Packers

Look, I understand the Lions at least looked somewhat like an NFL team this past Sunday, but many people forget they were playing the Browns. Points scored against the Browns this season might as well be points scored against your 10 year old son’s football team. The Browns are a mess, and let’s face it: the fact that they put up 37 points after putting up only 78 in the previous nine games combined.

The Lions kept the Browns from having the worst scoring average in the league. Although, not by much. Also not to be forgotten is that Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson are questionable for the game. I wouldn’t expect the team to risk their long-term future to win a (virtually) meaningless game if these guys aren’t ready to go.

The Packers, on the other hand, are a team that, for most of the season, has been dismissed due to a record that made them look worse than they really are. I fully expect them to come out and dominate the Lions.

The Thanksgiving Night Game Is Make or Break For Both Teams

The Giants and Broncos share identical 6-4 records and almost shared a 4-game losing streak (New York’s started and ended one week earlier). Each could virtually eliminate themselves from their divisional races with a loss in this one.

Denver needs to get their defense back on track and possibly score a few more points. The Chargers took the division lead from the Broncos this past Sunday, and it’s awfully tough to imagine them losing to the Chiefs this week. Denver needs a win to stay in the chase because it isn’t likely they can make the postseason without a division title.

New York ended their losing streak last weekend against the Atlanta Falcons with a big game from Eli Manning. Manning set a career high in passing yards and they’ll need much of the same again this week.

With Brandon Jacobs being injury-prone and Bradshaw already ruled out with a foot injury, the pressure falls straight on Manning and the Giants’ young corps of receivers to carry the load. A loss would drop the Giants to 6-5 and while it wouldn’t cripple them with a game left against division-rival Dallas, it sure would make the playoffs a tougher goal to reach.

The Cowboys Need to Rediscover the Middle of the Field

I’m not referring to the running game. Before the season, many were calling for the Cowboys to run the ball more. I wasn’t among the fans of this tactic for a few reasons.

First, I believe Tony Romo throws two or three bad balls a game whether he throws 15 times or 40. Turning him loose minimizes the impact of those mistakes and helps the Cowboys score points. That being said, I’m not asking for Romo to fling the ball downfield for a big play each time.

While listening to Colin Cowherd this afternoon, he brought up a great point that I’ve felt for awhile, but never really pulled any numbers to back it up. Colin pointed out that quarterbacks in the league with the highest passer rating on passes of 10 yards or less have their teams in position for the postseason. Examples of such quarterbacks were Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and a few others.

Romo didn’t even crack the top 12 in this category.

With Jason Witten looking slower and slower this season (and now hampered by an ankle injury), the middle of the field which was almost exclusively his in previous years is non-existent. While the team has been able to pound the ball up the middle, most of the yardage hasn’t resulted in points.

We’ve often heard how explosive Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett would be in the passing game, but to this point, no proof has been rendered. The Cowboys don’t often send their receivers into quick slant routes, and to me, Jason Garrett has forgotten about these types of plays altogether.

Running the ball is nice, but the best teams have to be able to go pass-heavy at times as well. Don’t believe me? Take a look at most of the division leaders. I’d be willing to bet most of them are able to rely on the passing game just as much, if not more, than the running game.

The defense, while it has played admirably as of late, uses Wade Phillips’ bend-but-don’t-break style that relies on the offense scoring some points to be effective. The premise is that if a team is playing from behind, you can basically give them what yardage you feel like and eventually they run out of time to come back. The problem is that it doesn’t work if your offense doesn’t score points.

So which is easier? Throwing in a few extra plays on offense, or changing entire defensive schemes?

All things considered, I just can’t see the Cowboys losing to the Raiders on Thursday. Although they’ve proven anything is reasonably possible, I don’t think the Raiders have anything in the tank to score and play defense in an effective manner.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore Could Be a Playoff Game

It isn’t even December yet, but a lot rides on the game between the Steelers and Ravens. Only a game separates the two, and Baltimore lost their games in very close fashion. Pittsburgh faces the dilemma of playing Ben Roethlisberger after a concussion.

Oh, and did I mention they lost to the Chiefs? It’s only one game, but Troy Polamalu means the world to that Pittsburgh defense. Besides Polamalu, the unit is banged up anyway, and Joe Flacco could make them look pretty pedestrian without, arguably, the league’s top safety roaming the defensive backfield.

The Ravens will look to pressure Roethlisberger all game, but the key will be bringing him down. Ben has proven he can evade pressure, but if the Ravens can bring him down during this game, they’ll be right back into the playoff picture, and really, it isn’t too outrageous since they’re possibly the best 5-5 team the NFL has seen in some time.

The Saints Will Be Tested Against the Patriots

The Patriots still have Tom Brady, and you can bet he wants to do everything in his power to keep his 2007 Patriots as the only 16-0 regular season team in history. With the way he’s found Wes Welker as of late, every connection with Randy Moss is just an added bonus.

While the play of the Saints defense this season has been admirable thus far, I think this could finally be the week they go down. I can guarantee one thing: if the game is in the balance late, don’t expect Bill Belichick to go for it on 4th-and-2.

Brandon Land is the founder and lead columnist of View from the Bench Sports, which can be found at www.viewfromthebench.com.

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NFL Predictions: Week Twelve

Doug Rush — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:59:41 -0500

It's Week Twelve of the NFL season, and it's also Thanksgiving week.

In the past years, there has always been two games on this holiday, which usually were just the Lions at home against their opponent and the Cowboys and their opponent, which is fine because it is tradition, but lately, those games haven't been as great, so the league added a third game at night on the NFL Network, which generally has been a better game of the day.

So if you are at your family's house and you don't like your relatives, or if you do and are looking for something to do aside from eating turkey and turkey sandwiches, there is football all Thanksgiving day long.

Last week in Week Eleven, I had a great week going 14-2 with the only losses coming from the Steelers and Bengals. Overall in the 2009 season, I am 114-45 and looking to continue the good record.

Thursday Thanksgiving Football: Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

These two teams have met in the past on Thanksgiving, two years ago in fact. Brett Favre and Jon Kitna were the respective quarterbacks for those teams.

Now it's Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford starting for their teams and looking to continue the tradition.

However, Stafford got hurt last week and his status for the game is unknown, so Daunte Culpepper or Drew Stanton might be playing on this night.

But it doesn't matter, because the Packers are on a roll and possibly could be a playoff team. Rodgers has the Packers headed in the right direction with multiple 300-plus yard games.

With a banged up team, the Lions might not be able to stand up to the Packers and this one could be over quickly.

Final Score: Packers 37, Lions 20

Thursday Thanksgiving Football: Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys

Be careful with this game, because it might not be as lopsided as it looks.

The Raiders finally benched JaMarcus Russell for Bruce Gradkowski and they won their last game and will look to make it two in a row with a quarterback that seems to care about playing and winning, something Russell never showed.

The Cowboys are coming in this game extremely banged up. Tony Romo's got a bad back and Jason Witten has a bad foot and both are listed as questionable, although most expect Romo to play, but not so much with Witten.

Over their last two games, Dallas has only scored a total of 14 points and nearly lost their last game. If they only score seven points again, they might not get away with another win.

Dallas usually plays well on Turkey Day and they should be able to pull a win off.

Final Score: Cowboys 24, Raiders 14

Thursday Thanksgiving Football: New York Giants @ Denver Broncos

This one will be on the NFL Network, but for most in the New York/New Jersey area like I am, if you don't have that channel, it will be played on WPIX-11, so it will be on TV locally.

The Broncos have lost four in a row and are sliding bad. They are also fighting among each other and Brandon Marshall seems to be going back to his selfish and destructive ways, fighting with teammates and blaming others for losing when he isn't getting the ball.

The Giants ended their losing streak with a huge win last week and are looking to get back into the playoff race. Denver is having trouble stopping everyone, so this may be a game where Brandon Jacobs can run over players and with Ahmad Bradshaw likely out, Danny Ware will get some playing time.

This will also be Eli Manning's first game on Thanksgiving. Manning should have no problems getting the Giants to win on the road despite the short week.

Final Score: Giants 30, Broncos 13

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets

It seems so long ago when the Jets were 3-0 and Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez were living large.

Now at 4-6, it's not the case anymore. Ryan's been humbled some in his rookie season as head coach, but Sanchez has not, he still thinks he's the USC god back in California. If he keeps throwing all those interceptions, he might find himself on the bench real soon.

The Panthers have been up and down all 2009 season.

They get so close to getting to .500 and then they will lose a game and stay under .500, which must be frustrating for John Fox.

You would think the Jets would have the advantage being at home against a losing team, but they lost games to the Jaguars, Bills and Dolphins at home, so the Jets aren't guaranteed to win.

This one I think will come down to a late field goal, and I don't trust the Jets anymore.

Final Score: Panthers 24, Jets 21

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

If you're a betting person, never, ever bet against Peyton Manning, because he finds ways to win.

Just like last week when the Colts somehow managed to win and get to 10-0 in another close game.

But the tough games on the road don't stop for the Colts, as they take on an opponent from the AFC South division.

The Texans lost their last home game on Monday night with a missed field goal and was devastating to take. Houston will be looking to get over that loss and come out strong against their division foes.

Houston always plays the Colts well, as they did earlier in the season. But like I said before, never pick against the Colts, and neither will I again this week.

Final Score: Colts 28, Texans 20

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles

The Redskins are trying everything they can to win games, and came close against the Cowboys, but fell short.

Washington has a good defense, which has kept them in a lot of games, but their offense is dreadful. With Clinton Portis out again and with Chris Cooley done for the season, it gets worse for Washington in 2009.

The Eagles snapped their two game losing streak and got back on track. DeSean Jackson is becoming a dangerous weapon downfield for the Eagles and it almost seems like he is un-coverable because of his speed.

Most shouldn't count on Brian Westbrook playing in this game due to his severe concussions. Some don't even expect Westbrook back in 2009, which would be a shame.

Washington has yet to win a game on the road, and nobody expects them to win this week either.

Final Score: Eagles 27, Redskins 9

Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams

I'm not going to lie to you guys, this game is not exactly a great one. Both teams stink.

The only problem is, Seattle isn't supposed to be this bad. They have Matt Hasselbeck healthy, but even he can only do so much.

The running game isn't great. The passing game is mediocre. The defense has been bad.

But, they are playing a 1-9 team who is even worse.

St. Louis will be without Marc Bulger, who has several injuries. But even with him Bulger has been awful in 2009.

If you're not a diehard fan of either team, I wouldn't suggest watching. But Seattle is a little better and should be able to win this game.

Final Score: Seahawks 20, Rams 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons

This is a battle between NFC South rivals, but it won't have the same intensity like it has in the past.

Tampa is 1-9 and they keep on trying to get better. They think they found their quarterback in rookie Josh Freeman, but he's taking his rookie pains in a tough season.

The Falcons suffered a tough loss last week and dropped to 5-5 in the NFC playoff race, despite sending the game into overtime.

Atlanta is a better team at home and needs to get back on track with a win. With or without Michael Turner, the Falcons still have weapons to use.

This one might be on Matt Ryan, and he should be able to win against Tampa this week.

Final Score: Falcons 31, Buccaneers 13

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals

This is the second meeting of the Ohio battle.

Cleveland came so close to their second win, but because they are the Browns, found a way to lose another game despite scoring over 30 points.

Brady Quinn played much better last week, so maybe he's not a total bust.

The Bengals lost to the Raiders last week. Not good. They need this division matchup to win all six games of the AFC North division match games.

Cedric Benson was out last week and is listed as questionable, but Bernard Scott has done a great job in Benson's place.

Cleveland sucks and Cincinnati is possibly playoff bound. Guess who wins here?

Final Score: Bengals 30, Browns 10

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

Whoever said the Dolphins were dead in 2009 might be wrong, because at 5-5, they have a shot to make something of their season.

They lost Ronnie Brown for the season, but Ricky Williams is showing he's got plenty left for Miami.

Chad Henne is improving each week and showing everyone he deserves to be the starter. However, with Miami's Wildcat formation, expect Pat White to play because of Brown's injury.

Buffalo finally got the ball to Terrell Owens last week, as he almost had 200 yards receiving, and yet, the Bills lost.

Buffalo is not the team they once were that dominated the AFC 10-15 years ago. Even Bill Cowher turned down an offer to interview for their coaching vacancy.

Final Score: Dolphins 24, Bills 16

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers

This game means a lot more for the Jaguars than it does for the 49ers, because a win for Jacksonville and they find themselves right in the mix for the AFC playoff race.

After an up and down season, the Jaguars are winning, and they've put their faith solely in Maurice Jones-Drew, who has carried this team in 2009.

Jones-Drew has been nothing short of MVP-like in 2009 and has been the reason why the Jaguars are winning and at 6-4 right now.

The 49ers are still trying to find an identity, but they are at least making their games competitive, especially with Michael Crabtree active and playing very well.

With Crabtree, it has given Alex Smith a second chance to be the leader of this team, along with another target to throw to aside from Vernon Davis.

But, Jacksonville needs this game more and are riding a three game winning streak to continue their chase for postseason football.

Final Score: Jaguars 28, 49ers 21

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs somehow managed to knock off the defending champion Steelers at home in overtime, which is a huge accomplishment for a team that hasn't been great in 2009.

But that was at home, and they're back on the road, where they aren't a great football team.

Even worse, they are playing the Chargers, who are on a five game winning streak and are getting back to playing solid football.

LaDanian Tomlinson has become a big part of the offense again and showing the league that he isn't washed up, and since the Chiefs can't stop the run, LT might have another decent game.

The Chargers have control of the AFC West and are at home. San Diego should have no problems winning this game.

Final Score: Chargers 34, Chiefs 17

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans

Because of the Titans playing better football, it makes this game a decent contest to watch.

Arizona is starting to become a more complete team after being only known as a passing team in 2008.

They are running the football more with Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower and the defense is stepping up and playing much better.

So with those two factors added in with the powerful offense of Arizona, that makes them scary to stop. The only question is, does Kurt Warner play with the concussion or does Matt Leinart get a start?

Tennessee has won four in a row and they can thank that on the magnificent play of Chris Johnson, who is leading the league in rushing yards.

Vince Young is playing well too and deserving of a second chance as a starter.

As much as Tennessee has played well, Arizona's offense might be too much for the Titans defense to stop.

Final Score: Cardinals 38, Titans 24

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings

So, Jay Cutler was supposed to be the savior for the Bears in 2009, right?

Only problem is Cutler is throwing way too many interceptions in games and costing them chances to win.

On the other side, the Vikings have been one of the best teams in 2009 and one of the most complete teams.

Their offense lead by Brett Favre has been solid, but their defense lead by Jared Allen is the best in the NFL.

Lately, Cutler's confidence has been lacking each week. With a defense like Minnesota that swarms the quarterback, Cutler will be in for a long day in the Metrodome.

Minnesota is so much better than Chicago and should have no problems going to 10-1.

Final Score: Vikings 34, Bears 16

Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

This is a re-match of the AFC Championship game and another meeting of the AFC North rivals.

In 2008, the Steelers won both regular season games and the AFC Title game on their road to winning the Super Bowl.

The Steelers have been very banged up. Troy Polamalu is questionable with an injured knee. Pittsburgh's defense needs Polamalu back if they want to end their two game slide. Ben Roethlisberger also suffered a concussion last week, but is expected to play.

The Ravens once started out 3-0, but are 2-5 over their last several games and don't look like the same AFC powerhouse on defense that used to scare teams because they have lost too many games in 2009.

With Roethlisberger, the Steelers should be able to pull off a victory in Baltimore, but it won't be easy and could come down to a late score.

Final Score: Steelers 27, Ravens 24

Monday Night Football: New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints

This very well may be the best game on the schedule. If you like offensive games with a lot of points, this game is for you. If you like defense, don't expect it here, because this one will light up the boards.

The Patriots have been playing much better football and have gotten the passing game going with Tom Brady. With Wes Welker healthy and combine him with Randy Moss, Brady is back to being his old self.

The Saints are 10-0 and steam-rolling through the NFC. They have blown out teams and they have also shown they can come back from being down in games, a good quality of a playoff team.

Drew Brees has done a great job in making his wide receivers have tremendous seasons in 2009, especially Marques Colston, maybe the most underrated top receiver in the NFL.

In the past, the Patriots defense could stop New Orleans. Not anymore. They give up too many points, which in the end favors Brees and company. But this one will be worth watching and enjoying.

Final Score: Saints 42, Patriots 35

That does it for the schedule and picks for Week Twelve of the NFL season.

Everyone, from my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your holiday and time with your family and loved ones. Also, for those who do Black Friday shopping, be safe over the weekend and during that crazy time.

See you back this weekend for more exciting NFL football games that start on the holiday.

Read more Tony Romo news on BleacherReport.com

Dallas Cowboys: Injury Report Nov. 23

Derek Major — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:35:11 -0500

The Cowboys came out of yesterday's game healthy, but have a short week before Thursday's Thanksgiving day matchup against the Oakland Raiders.

Quarterback Tony Romo has been diagnosed with a bruised hip from when he tackled DeAngelo Hall after Hall picked up a fumble by Marion Barber. Romo didn't miss a snap and finished the game. He said after the game that he will start on Thursday and the injury isn't significant.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins got his bell rung on the Redskins' last drive of the game, but said after the game he was fine but, "I was out of it for a few minutes." He played through the bicep bruise he suffered against the Packers and will do so again on Thursday.

Jenkins was held out of practice on Monday however as Coach Wade Phillips said he wanted to be cautious with injured players. Linebacker Keith Brooking (foot) was limited in practice and Tight end Jason Witten (ankle) was held out of practice on Monday.

DeMarcus Ware (foot), Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), David Buehler (toe), and Marion Barber (thumb) all played through their injuries with no problem and are expected to do the same this week.

Tackle Marc Colombo (fibula) and Safety Ken Hamlin (ankle) are expected to miss this week's game.

Kickoff returner Allen Rossum has been released and corner Cletis Gordon was signed to the team to take Rossum's spot.

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Dallas Cowboys: Still a Long Way To Go, But Offense Takes Baby Steps

Chad Hensley — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:04:23 -0500

In the week leading up to the 7-6 win over the Washington Redskins Sunday, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett got an earful from fans, media, and even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

The message? Run the ball .

And that is exactly what Garrett did, to the tune of 149 rushing yards on 31 called running plays—a 4.8 yards-per-rush average.

There are probably some media and fans who are going to point to what matters most—points—and say it didn't make much difference from the game against the Green Bay Packers when they scored seven points.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

Stats that don't lie

One stat that helps debunk that ridiculous assumption is how many times the Cowboys found themselves in "manageable" second downs (2nd-and-6 or less).

In the game against the Packers the Cowboys had 22 1st-and-10s.*

Of the 22, they ran the ball six times, gaining a "manageable" second down 66 percent of the time.

When the Cowboys passed the ball on first down, they only had a "manageable" second down 31 percent of time.

The trend continued in this Sunday's game against the Redskins.

When the Cowboys ran against the Redskins defense on first down (12 times), they had a "manageable" second down 75 percent of the time, averaging 5.75 yards-per-play.

When the Cowboys passed against the Redskins defense on first down (10 times), they had a "manageable" second down 30 percent of the time, averaging 2.8 yards-per-play. That average was helped immensely by the 11- and 12-yard passes at the end.

You might say that the average yards-per-play is distorted because of that final drive in which they passed on every down, but the Cowboys only ran the ball one time on first down in the second half.

That is despite averaging 5.75 yards when running the ball on first for the entire game.

Think about that.

Why are "manageable" second downs important?

The reason this stat is important is because it creates more options for the team on second down when you have success.

If you are facing 2nd-and-7 or more, your options become limited. Without looking back through two years of game logs, I can guarantee Garrett almost always calls for a pass on 2nd-and-long.

The problem with that is that there are three things that can happen when passing the ball—and two of them are bad.

An incomplete puts you in the dreaded 3rd-and-long, and an interception is the worst, but both are drive-killers.

Another stat that everyone seems to forget is time of possession.

In the Packers game, the Cowboys had the ball for 24 minutes.

In the Redskins game, the Cowboys had the ball for 33 minutes.

That is nine more minutes that the Cowboys' defense got to rest for the end of the game against the Redskins than they did against the Packers.

And, if you didn't notice, the Redskins got little to no pass-rush on quarterback Tony Romo in that final touchdown drive.

You think those Redskins defensive linemen were gassed at the end of the game?

You bet.

And guess which defense looked fresh? That's right, the Cowboys.

Then how come the Cowboys still couldn't put it together on offense?

The lack of points on the board came down to poor play-calling in the passing game and execution by the players.

Romo was inaccurate for most of the game, and I believe a lot of that had to do with the shot he took from DeAngelo Hall after the Marion Barber fumble.

But Garrett didn't do anything to help Romo out.

Every passing play took three to four seconds to develop, and Romo just didn't have that kind of time against the Redskins' front. The Redskins only sacked Romo once, but the Cowboys quarterback didn't ever really look comfortable.

Garrett needs to establish a short passing game—quick slants and hitches with short drops—that will build much-needed confidence in Romo with his offensive line and wide receivers early in the game.

During the Cowboys' Dynasty in the 1990s, quarterback Troy Aikman always had running back Emmitt Smith as an outlet, whether in the flat or right past the line of scrimmage in the middle of the field.

Why doesn't this Cowboys team do something similar?

Another thing that I noticed is that Romo didn't take advantage of the incredible running game he has.

The play-action fake that Romo gives is very nonchalant. If you watch Peyton Manning do it, he really sells the fact that it is a run.

I think Romo could do better in this area, possibly giving his receivers a little more separation as the linebackers and secondary bite on the fake.

And then you have Mr. Roy "That idiot gave a first, third, and sixth rounder for me" Williams. I haven't been on Roy's case about the drops, but it is now becoming inexcusable.

It might be time for Kevin Ogletree to get his shot.

Forecast?

The Cowboys are going to come around—as long as Garrett sticks to the run. The Cowboys have to be able to pass to win, but it is a lot easier with a running game that defenses respect.

In the end, the running game looked great, just like Jerry knew it would.

Now, let's see Garrett tweak the passing game.

But it's baby steps—one small step at time.

Table 1.

Packer's Game

First Down	Run/Pass	Result
1	P	2nd & 7
2	R	1st
3	P	2nd & 10
4	R	2nd & 5
5	R	2nd & 11
6	R	2nd & 8
7	P	2nd & 4
8	P	1st - Fumble by Roy
9	P	2nd & 13
10	R	2nd & 11
11	P	2nd & 10
12	P	2nd & 13
13	P	1st
14	R	2nd & 6
15	P	2nd & 15
16	P	2nd & 8
17	P	2nd & 10
18	P	2nd & 6
19	P	2nd & 4
20	P	1st
21	P	2nd & 10
22	p	2nd & 10

Table 2

Redskins Game

First Down	Run/Pass	Result
1	R	2nd & 5
2	R	2nd & 1
3	R	2nd & 2
4	R	2nd & 2
5	R	2nd & 5
6	R	2nd & 3
7	P	2nd & 10
8	R	2nd & 8
9	R	1st
10	R	2nd & 6
11	R	2nd & 8
12	R	2nd & 4
13	P	2nd & 2
14	R	2nd & 9
15	P	2nd & 10
16	P	2nd & 10
17	P	2nd & 16
18	P	2nd & 10
19	P	2nd & 10
20	P	2nd & 7
21	P	1st
22	P	1st

*I only calculate first downs in which it was 1st-and-10, as it wouldn't be accurate to include 1st-and-20 because the defense knows teams are more likely to pass.

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