What The....? Through Week 10, NFL Stills Leaves Our Jaws Dropped

I have a bold prediction for the end of the season.  Let me preface this by saying that most of my predictions are horribly wrong.  For instance, I had the Jaguars and the Cowboys in the Super Bowl.  Wrong.  I had LT winning the MVP.  Wrong.  I had New Orleans winning the division.  Wrong.  I had John McCain getting tired of the phrase "my friends".  Wrong.  You see where I'm going with this? 

But I am 115.6 percent sure that this prediction will come true.  I predict that Minnesota, San Francisco, Kansas City, Detroit, and maybe Seattle and St. Louis will suffer from Matt Schaub Syndrome, otherwise known as MSS. 

MSS is a widely known disease that plagues NFL GM's.  Symptoms include wildly spending on a free agent quarterback that backed up a Pro Bowl quarterback and performed admirably enough to keep his team in the running while said quarterback was injured, debt, and eventually, hatred by hometown fans.  Of course, Matt Cassell will be the distributor of MSS this offseason to one of those six teams. 

Like Schaub, Cassell is backing up a Pro Bowl quarterback and has kept the Patriots in the thick of the AFC East race.  Like Schaub, Cassell will get a lot of money thrown at him from these teams in the offesason, eventually landing with one. 

Here's the difference:  Cassell might actually be good.  Watching him play, you just sense that he has that instinct.  Whether it be because he learned from two Heisman Trophy winners or because he learned from one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, he looks like he has the tools to be a solid quarterback.  It'll be interesting to see which team grabs him up first.  On to the Week 10 best and worst:

Five Best:

1) Kerry Collins

Where was this guy all season?  Collins hadn't thrown for more than 200 yards in a game all season, or more than one touchdown in a game all season.  Finally, in a game when his team needed him to step up and use his arm against a dominant defense, he did just that.  That's veteran leadership for you. 

The Bears completely stuffed LenDale White and Chris Johnson, and forced Kerry Collins to beat them with his age-old arm, and he did just that.  This season we are truly seeing the value of having a decent backup quarterback.  Take notes, Jerry Jones.

2) Matty Ice

I just love this guy.  I have established a new man crush.  Matty Ice is right up there with Jack Bauer and Barney Stinson.  He just looks so calm, so poised, so natural sitting back in the pocket.  The Falcons struck it big with this guy.  How lucky were they? 

After years of top five quarterbacks failing (David Carr, Joey Harrington, Alex Smith), here comes a guy, asked to lead a franchise that's been completely stripped from top to bottom.  Most would falter under that pressure.  Not Matty Ice!  He's got the Falcons right in the thick of things in the NFC.  They might as well give him the rookie of the year trophy now.

Note: Jerious Norwood is FAST.

3) Adrian Peterson

Talk about redeeming yourself.  Peterson calls for the ball on a 4th and 1, fumbles, and then rumbles for the game winning touchdown.  Brad Childress should buy Peterson whatever he wants for Christmas, because he just saved his job.  Peterson runs so well.  All that talk about how he runs upright and how it would be hurt him in the NFL is all jibberish now.  This just makes me dislike him even more for going to OU instead of UT.

4) Peyton Manning

Manning has not looked the same all season long.  Maybe it's the injury.  Maybe it's because his team isn't as good as it has been in years past.  Maybe it's because Eli is taking the spotlight and Peyton is jealous.  Whatever the case may be, Manning played what I think is his best game of the year. 

He turned two Big Ben interceptions into 10 points and may have saved the Colts' season, keeping them in the AFC race for one more week.  This was definitely a must win, and as always, Peyton delivered

Note: No matter what happens, Peyton will always be the better Manning brother.  Until Eli makes something better than the United Way skit Peyton did on SNL a few years back, Peyton is on top.

5) New York Giants

Is it just me, or are the Giants the least talked about defending champs in the history of sports?  All season long, people have been talking about everything BUT the Giants.  Brett Favre and the Jets, Matt Cassell, Drew Brees, Matty Ice, Madonna, Britney Spears, etc.  I mean seriously, what do these guys have to do to get recognized? 

They're quietly sitting atop the NFC East (which was supposed to be the toughest division in football-so much for that thought) at 8-1, comfortably looking at another first round bye.  I'm sure they don't mind the fact that no one even whispers their name. 

I'm halfway hoping that everyone jumps on the Giants bandwagon, the Giants lose their last seven games, and Tony Romo puts up 35 touchdowns in seven weeks and the Cowboys win the division.  Let's get on it people!

Five Worst

1) Buffalo Bills

What just happened to this team?  Why is MarShawn Lynch running like Cedric Benson?  Why is Trent Edwards doing his best impression of David Carr?  The Bills were in position to win the AFC East, and now have lost three games in the division and are in last place.  Maybe they really do want to move to Toronto...

2) Detroit Lions

I promised that I would always have them in the "five worst" until they show even the slightest bit of life.  Yeah, it's not looking too good.  With news that Ford Motors might run out of cash in 2010, the Lions and the city of Detroit are just in disarray.  Things can only go up from here, Lions faithful.  Have faith. 

3) Green Bay Packers

This may have been the first game that Ted Thompson might have thought "if only Brett were here...".  Only one offensive touchdown.  Aaron Rodgers throwing for only a net of 110 yards. 

Even with Gus Frerotte's three picks, the Packers still couldn't get their offensive moving.  They had a chance to go into a tie with the Bears for first place in the division, but now they sit at third place as the Vikings are on the rise.  Here's a suggestion:  Aaron Rodgers, send a text to Brett Favre.  HELP!!!!

4) St. Louis Rams

I really have nothing to say about the Rams now.  At least the hit a field goal?  At least Trent Green got to play? At least...at least...at least there's always next year.

5) Houston Texans

Another prediction gone wrong.  I had the Texans at least competing for a playoff spot.  With Matt Schaub on the sidelines and Sage Rosenfels reminding Texans' fans of David Carr, all hope is lost for this team (and maybe Gary Kubiak). 

And finally, a new piece I'd like to add.  Every week, new observations are made.  Whether they be positive or negative, they give us insight on how this NFL season is turning out to be one of the greatest in recent memory.  Here are ten of my observations:

1. When one of your leaders comes out and says your team quit on game day, you've got more problems than figuring out who your starting quarterback is.  I'm talking to you, Cleveland Browns.

2. The Jets vs. Patriots game will be the best of the week.

3. The Panthers are better than people give them credit for.

4. Ditto goes for the Dolphins.

5. Big Ben is hurting more than people think.

6. Joe Flacco is giving the Ravens their first taste of what an offense really is.

7. When all is said and done, Drew Brees will still win the MVP award.

8. Brett Favre doesn't have the emotion he displayed when he was with the Packers.

9. The following teams are in a must win situation: Green Bay (vs. Chicago), New Orleans (@ Kansas City), Pittsburgh (vs. San Diego), Dallas (@ Washington).

10. Quietly, Philip Rivers is becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the game.