You were on a bye. No win, no lose. No injuries. How good could it be?

You are now on a bye, feeling awful, and reeling after four straight losses. And slapped in the face by your own fall back down to mediocrity. As I so eloquently put it: "Even if a fat kid absolutely loves cupcakes and eats them everyday, he'll eventually get a tummyache. And then, when his mother finds out what a pig he was, he'll get a spanking, and then a subsequent healthy dose of beans and sprouts." Eat it.

Two weeks in a row that the Packers have lost a game, mostly due to bad coaching. I'm done with Mike McCarthy. He's done nothing to fix the weaknesses, his play-calling is suspect, and his game-planning is awful.

Fire 'em!

Everybody else in the NFC North lost, giving the vikings a three game lead.

58 minutes of feeling good and competitive, then the final two minutes came crashing down, and I'm feeling awful after heartbreaking final drive losses.
[My teams were the road (red) teams.]

Was @ Phi
4th Qtr
1:48 PHI FG David Akers kicked a 32-yard field goal -- 24 - 27
FINAL

TB @ Atl
4th Qtr
0:23 ATL TD Chris Redman passed to Roddy White to the left for 5 yard gain (Jason Elam made PAT) -- 17 - 20
FINAL

Ari @ Ten
4th Qtr
0:00 TEN TD Vince Young passed to Kenny Britt down the middle for 10 yard gain (Rob Bironas made PAT) -- 17 - 20
FINAL

Worst loss of the season. Just mindboggling to dominate fr 57 minutes of the game, and not be able to capitalize on the upset of the season with a chip-shot field goal to ice the game. I can't believe it, but yeah, that one anonymous guy was right: the 'Skins do excel in mediocrity.


On a more positive note, the season is in the most crucial spot of the year, and I'd like to hear about who were (and still could become) the top standout rookies of the year. Any thoughts, recommendations? I'll be doing a league-wide look, and I'll make nominations in each division, if not every team.

I think that it's pretty much Percy Harvin's to lose. I honestly have a hard time imagining any other rookie even being close. For sure he's the best one in the NFC North (with cudo's to Stafford in Detroit for being a distant second and probably the better player longterm) and I don't see anyone else even in the NFC that would be close if the season ended today.

As a Patriots fan, I hate to say this, but I'd say Darrelle Revis of the Jets. He has nullified the best wide receiver from every team he plays against.

Yeah, I've known about him for a while. If I'm not mistaken, he made the Pro-Bowl last year as a top cover corner, (that was his rookie season, I think) and should easily make a return trip. He has certainly capitalized on the success he built on from last season, in a big way. He might be a rarity now in the NFL: a true "shutdown corner", not just content to cover one side of the field like most others, he insists to be placed against the opposing team's top receiver, and Rex Ryan complies with him. His track-record allows it to be this way.

Ah, I guess I just didn't notice him last year.

But, as a Patriots' fan, I don't mean to mention it to you this way, but one of my recommendations for standout rookie in the AFC East, specifically that of the Miami Dolphins, would be rookie cornerback Vontae Davis. He still might be raw, but he does make some incredible plays, most recently that of last week which allowed the Dolphins to rally back to comeback victory.

(Oh, it didn't merge.)

---------- Post added at 11:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 AM ----------

Well, I agree with you in some ways, yet can still find arguments for others.

For sure, I think that Percy Harvin is top-3 in ballot votes at this time for 'Offensive Rookie of the Year'.

But, I still am gonna name some other lesser-known rookie contributors that have absolutely transformed how its team's offense or defense operates.

I am hearing a fair amount of 'experts' saying how DE pass-rushers are all but dead in the NFL, but that's just an anomaly for this one year. It is partially due to the spectacular play of quarterbacks this year, where there are at least 10 or 11 superbly-playing QBs in the league, so much so that they should arguably be in the conversation for MVP along with Peyton, Favre, and Brees. Rodgers is having a lights-out season, despite having been sacked 35+ times in the first half of the season; Rivers has helped his team rattle off a win streak of 6+, and a little-known fact about Philip Rivers is that he is 15-0 all-time as a starter in the month of December. Warner, Schaub, Roethlisberger, Palmer, etc. they are all getting rid of the ball quickly and somewhat making the argument for the decline of pass-rushers.

But, as you may have witnessed on Monday Night, rookie defensive lineman, Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers, is having an absolutely great rookie season. He, along with Washington Redskins rookie LB/DE Brian Orakpo are two of the league's top ten in terms of sacks and QB pressures, and to reiterate, they are both only first-year players.

I'll finalize my rookie overview sometime this afternoon.

Vontae Davis is a great mention. He's got a long way to go but he could become the next Asante Samuel.

Clay Matthews is going to be a monster. Kid is just now learning how to play in a 3-4.. sky is the limit for him.. and he has awesome genes with his Granddad, Dad and Uncle all playing in the NFL for like 19 years each (except Grandpa)

Just wait till that Suh kid from Nebraska gets to the NFL next year.. he's going to be insane.

on second thought, I should have gone "name, position, team"
 

I got really lucky find this link listing: Dirty Dozen: Rookie(s) of the Year -- NFL FanHouse and it was published just yesterday. Good timing on my part.

I was already 3/4 of the way through with my own little compendium, but this article helped my realize some other noteworthy mentions (and how to spell certain players' names).

NFL Rookie Class - 2009
(based on my observations
-- also to note, I try to list them in order of impact in their respective divisions, so of course a QB is more important in most instances when compared to a second-string RB, or a linebacker.
Subjective listing, feel free to add any commentary)

AFC

East
New York Jets - Mark Sanchez, QB
Miami Dolphins - Vontae Davis, CB
Buffalo Bills - Jairus Byrd, Safety/CB
New England Patriots - Sebastian Vollmer, OT

West
Denver Broncos - Knowshown Moreno, RB
Kansas City Chiefs - Ryan Succop, K
Oakland Raiders - Louis Murphy, WR
San Diego Chargers - Louis Vasquez, OG

North
Baltimore Ravens - Michael Oher, OT
Cincinnati Bengals - Rey Maualuga, LB (notable mention, Bernard Scott, RB)
Cleveland Browns - Mohamed Massaquoi, WR
Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike Wallace, WR

South
Houston Texans - Brian Cushing, LB
Indianapolis Colts - Jerraud Powers, CB (notable mentions, A. Collie, WR & J. Lacey, CB... the Colts had a great crop)
Tennessee Titans - Kenny Britt, WR
Jacksonville Jaguars - Terrance Knighton, DT

NFC

East
Washington Redskins - Brian Orakpo, LB/DE
New York Giants - Hakeem Nicks, WR
Philadelphia Eagles - Jeremy Maclin, WR (notable mention, LeSean McCoy, RB -- it's really a toss-up between the two)
Dallas Cowboys - no notable instances

West
Arizona Cardinals - Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB
San Francisco 49ers - Michael Crabtree, WR
St. Louis Rams - James Laurinaitis, MLB
Seattle Seahawks - Aaron Curry, OLB

North
Minnesota Vikings - Percy Harvin, WR/KR (notable mention, Phil Loadholt, OT)
Detriot Lions - Louis Delmas, FS (notable mention, Matthew Stafford, QB)
Green Bay Packers - Clay Mathews, LB
Chicago Bears - Johnny Knox, WR/KR

South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Freeman, QB (notable mention, Sammie Stroughter, WR/KR)
Carolina Panthers - Sherrod Martin, CB
Atlanta Falcons - no notable instances
New Orleans Saints - no notable instances


I wanted to add summaries and year-to-date statistics to help make the case for each, but that would be way more time-consuming than I had originally intended.

Another ridiculous instance of superbly lucky timing. Just as I was about to submit this post, I found another topical article that features the best rookies of this year. This article has what I wanted to post alongside, (like that Jarius Byrd is tied for league-lead in INT, with veteran pro, Darren Sharper ... or that Brian Cushing has held the league-lead in tackles for weeks now, plus three interceptions and 1 1/2 sacks.)

For the Patriots, may I suggest Sebastian Vollmer? He made the O line much better when he was in. He's supposed to be back this week.

nice find Jetee - that is an excellent article and I have to say you have a deep knowledge of the NFL!

Alright. I'll add him to the list. Offensive linemen are among the hardest to gauge true talent when in game setting, and how they improve upon their technique throughout a season, at least to a casual fan (not their coaches). Thanks for participating.

I still need some names for the Falcons and Saints and Jaguars (yet I don't really want them to be the rookie CBs; each of them might have had a one good game when a starter was injured and they filled in, but the rookies need to make lasting contributions to the team.)

I started to almost feel a little dirty last night, rooting so hard for the Browns :lol:

Dear Josh McDumbass,

I just wanted to let you know that you have a battering ram named Peyton Hillis on your roster that can get those tough short yardage touchdowns and first downs that Knowshon Moreno can't. If you would ever play him you would realize this and the Broncos would be in good shape to make the playoffs, instead of hanging on by a hope and a prayer.

You know? Screw the analysts that said week 15 was a 'weak week' for marquee matchups.

This Sunday (+ Thurs. Sat.) was phenomenal! Best slate of games I can remember in the past month-and-a-half. Not on paper, certainly, but everyone came to play. With the exception of the Jets/Falcons tilt, I was highly-tuned into every other game's in-game happenings. Man, lot of great finishes as well: JaMarcus, Roethlisberger, Cribbs + Harrison, Warner, Peyton, Freeman, etc. Just greatness abound (if only for just 10 minutes, or 10 seconds, for some of the above).

(sigh)

I found another article that builds upon my previous charting of standout NFL rookies for the 2009 season. It's really quite a read, and although the offensive rookie of the year may already be pre-determined, the real heated contentions are being debated at this moment for defensive rookie of the year honors.

I'd also like to make it known that while Detriot's Matthew Stafford has had his flashes of brilliance, I think I now have to replace his status as Detriot's best rookie with Safety Louis Delmas . Sure, the Lions' defense is still terrible, but one man can only do so much, and Stafford has played well only very minimally, and it seems as though he's sat out nearly half of his games due to reckless injuries he brought on himself. If you don't know of Delmas yet, this one little paragraph from last Sunday's game explains it all:

Louis Delmas, S, Detroit Lions -- He's been an under-the-radar story on a defense struggling to do much right, but the Western Michigan rookie has excelled and impressed. His 100-yard interception return against Kurt Warner and the Cardinals made him the first player in NFL history to return an interception for a touchdown, return a fumble for a touchdown and make a tackle in the end zone for a safety in his rookie season. All-Rookie now, All-Pro later. Book it.


Please, if anyone has more to add, it will be welcomed. Discussion here needs to be pulled out like teeth, it seems. This past weekend's games (with the exception of the New York teams' tilts, along with a certain 40-year-old passer's falling out, most all other games were absolute thrillers) should provide enough discussion points for anyone to be received quickly with a response.


I'll also be busy making some year-end top-ten lists of matches, players, stories, I don't know what else. Hopefully it will garner enough attention to make me compile it thoroughly enough and with pivotal details as to why 'such-and-such' was so incrediblely entertaining to watch.

Whats everyones thoughts on the Colts yesterday? I didn't see the game but it sounds like the Colts rolled over and played dead for the Jets. Should they have been more aggressive in defending their perfect season? I was somewhat surprised since the Colts were still in the game and were so close to the perfect regular season.

As a Broncos fan I personally am frustrated since the Jets win puts them ahead of the Broncos in the playoff race going into next week. Of course the Broncos should have beat the Raiders and the Eagles game was there for the taking, but they can still make the playoffs with a lot of help. Most of the scenarios involve a Broncos win and two or more other teams losing, although if either the Jets or Baltimore lose and Houston wins the Broncos are in. So next week I'm cheering for the Bengals, Raiders, and Dolphins.

Alright, the final week of the regular season is just a half-day away from commencing, and with that, also, just one full day from the league settling to a clearer picture of how teams will ultimately finish.

All of the toil, aches, sacrifice, and hardships have led to this saving grace of a final regular season game for every single team here on Sunday, yet still, we have questions, no, near-guarantees, about whether or not teams will be treating this week as exhibition games and will be playing without a third of their starting players? What a disheartening notion.

Playoff pictures for teams, (which I contemplated way back in August as a barometer of "acumen/luck") are already set in the NFC, but as to the particular seeds, well, only New Orleans is locked into one, and will be guaranteed a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the SuperDome throughout the playoffs, as due regard toward them being the overall #1 team in the NFC. All other seeds, however, are up in the air, and will only become clearer with the pivotal matchups between Minn. and NYG, and the matchup that will determine the winner of the NFC East, being a clash between Dal. and Phi. once again for rights to hosting a playoff game (and possibly securing a bye alongside NO).
The AZ and GB game, however, is looking to be a schizophrenic kind of duel. On the one hand, if the Vikes lose in the early slate of games, then the Cards will most certainly want to go full-force to have a chance at becoming the #2 seed with a win (and an Eagles loss). But, if Minn. should prevail, then there's not much difference for the Redbirds to play for if they're only juggling between a 3rd or 4th seed; so that will mean resting a majority of the skill positions and very conservative playcalling on the docket, because there is a good likelihood that Arizona might have to be facing this same Green Bay team all over again next week (same goes for Dallas and Philadelphia). With the exception of the Giants, all teams mentioned above will be the NFC representatives in the playoffs.


Looking toward the AFC, it's even more convoluted, but not because of seeding issues; the #1-4 seeds are virtually locked into place, (Colts-1, Chargers-2, Patriots-3, Bengals-4) but that is where ther assurances stop. Wildcards #5 and #6 are still up for grabs, and an astounding 7 teams are battling out for the right to continue their season's efforts past tonight. Bal. and NYJ. are in the best positions to claim it: a win on Sunday against their opponents and they earn themselves a wildcard. But if either of them should lose, they will be opening the door for other such teams like Den., Mia, Pitt., Hou., and even Jac. to usurp their playoff spot.


This is for all the marbles now; what will you be watching today, and what are you looking forward to happening in a best-case scenario for any team of your choosing?

Of the ten scenarios for the Broncos to make the playoffs the most realistic one seems to be Houston beating New England while Belichick rests his starters, and then Mark Sanchez throwing 5 picks to the Cincy secondary to help the Bengals beat the Jets. Of course there is the little matter of the Broncos beating Kansas City which is no gimme. Three years ago the Broncos went into their final game, a home game against the 49ers, facing a "win and your in, lose and your out" situation. Unfortunately they lost in the last minutes against a weak 49ers team and missed the playoffs.

I don't think Belichick will rest his starters at all this week, and from what I've seen portrayed of Marvin Lewis, I don't see him just laying down and pulling his starters against the Jets.

That works just fine because I don't like any New York teams, especially the Jets, who are trying to backdoor their way into the playoffs. I'd really hate to hear how Rex Yyan is the best new coach of the decade in that he led rookie Joe Flacco, (while he was defensive coordinator with the Ravens, and let's be honest, Flacco had as much success as he did with Baltimore's top-3 defense last year, not because of he dynamics he brought to his position) and now, he is making strides with rookie Mark Sanchez, what with New York this season having a top-3 defense. I don't hate, but I am so sick of the hype the New yYork Jets have been getting the past two seasons aound the final 4 games of the season; they're not any good, and they will not finish that way either.

So, I hope the Bengals (who play up and down to their opponents, which is frustrating) try to make this another game that they prepare for in order to secure a win, not just to preserve starters. I also have a feeling that Belichick will perhaps try to go blazing early and maybe think about pulling Brady out in the final 20 minutes, but Houston is no slouch either. They'll keep up. So, it figures to be a shootout, at least in my mind. I also hope that Houston edges out with a win late, 'cause I've felt sorry for that franchise, and I think that if they get their first winning season this year, it'd be a marked improvement, and they may want higher goals going into next season.

And about the Broncos: i don't like them, at all. San Diego is my team in that conference, and while I have no ill-will toward the Chiefs, I will be rooting for them to win on Sunday. I think newly-installed RB Jamaal Charles is a playmaker, and I love how he is an all-around team dynamo, as he catches passes, he plows through tackles, he cuts back and swifts to the outside, and he even returns kickoffs/punts. Since their bye, Charles is their hardest working skill player, and he still keeps producing big-time. I love watching the kid. I think the Chris Johnson comparison is apt, as he is nearly as quick, and he even shares many of the same size attributes.

In my opinion, the five most exciting running backs to watch right now are, in order: Chris Johnson, Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, Maurice Jones-Drew, and finally, Adrian Peterson.


So to summarize:
I think Bengals/Jets will be competitive, and I want the Bengals to effectively shut the door on the Jets chances to squeak into the playoffs.
I also think that the Patriots/Texans affair will provide plenty of scoring opportunities, and before you know it, it may become the highest scoring game of Sunday's slate. Somehow, someway, I'd like Houston to pull off a victory (but knowing them, they won't, because Kubiak will try, ignorantly, to place the game in the hands of his inexperienced RBs, or even his kicker, and they'll lose because of it).
Ravens/Raiders - I obviously think the ravens want it more, and if they don't overlook their opponent, I'm sure they can win handily and clinch a playoff berth.

So, that leaves only one spot open, what with my prediction that the Jets will fall, and my hope that Kansas City comes to play and upsets the Broncos all over again.

My thought is that it's the Texans, Dolphins, and Steelers that still have a realistic shot to enter the postseason dance, so long as they play all out and win. I doubt that my scenarios above play out exactly as I've detailed, but if everyone else loses but the Ravens, then a Jacksonville win garners them the last spot. That'd be unreal.

It's just as well the Broncos missed the playoffs. As bad as they have been playing they would have just been humiliated in the Wild Card round. Any team that gets blown out by KC at home, loses to Oakland at home and loses to the Redskins in the same season has no business being in the playoffs. Hopefully Houston makes it in. I'll be pissed if Cincy rolls over for the Jets and the Jets get in on the strength of two lay-down wins at the end of the season.

---------- Post added at 06:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------

It is funny though on some of the news and Broncos fan sites reading all the bitching between the fans. Everyone claiming to be a true Bronco fan and the only way to be a true Bronco fan is to agree with their line of thinking, otherwise you are a Bronco hater. Kinda like the "you're with us or against us" mentality of the Bushies a few years ago. Some of the "true" fans think the sole problem is Kyle Orton, and that we never should have traded Jay Cutler. Some other "true" fans think McDaniels is the sole problem and that we never should have fired Shanahan. Others think the defense is the sole problem. Others blame the collapse on Brandon Marshall, or Knowshon Moreno. Others think it is ridiculous to complain about the 2-8 finish to the season when in July everyone thought the Broncos were going to be in rebuilding mode anyways. I don't know what the true problem was, I just know the collapse was ugly.

i predict Raiders will prove to be a unexpected and fatal blow to several teams this season (within final minutes of game),upsetting rank position in both divisions; making fools of these pre-season analysts and their predictions! hahaha

Yep, I was wrong about the Raiders. Mea culpa.

Wes Welker down for the remainder. Fuck.

At least I don't have to watch the Steelers in the playoffs this season.

Fuckin' 'Phins..

they didn't do bad considering the injuries, they should be good to go next season if they can finally get a real #1 receiver.

Sweet! Ravens Win!!!! Now it's time to take down Indy. :)

I guess you can't always get what you want: wanted the Bengals to shove off on the undeserving, New York Jets (the new darlings of the playoffs), but they couldn't even muster an offense outside of Cedric Benson. Also hoped that the Eagles would rebound against the Cowboys and push them to be first team to ever lose seven consecutive playoff games; didn't happen. And then, while I did want the Patriots to advance (because they'd be able to rematch with the Chargers in the playoffs, avenging that 2007 run), Baltimore was dominant from the get-go.

This Packers-Cardinals game is turning out to be a great little back-and-forth tussle, now in the second half, after the Cardinals looked to have already won early in the first half.

I have to admit that I enjoy watching those games where there is no semblance of defense on either side. I was a bit surprised that of the three rematches this weekend that only Arizona was able to win after losing the regular season finale. It seems in the past when a similar Wild Card rematch occurs the team that won the week before either used up or showed all its stuff, and the other team was able to adjust. Not this time though. I don't know who to cheer for next week, I can't stand the Jets or the Chargers.

Hell yeah! If they continue to play like they did against the Pats they WILL win the Super Bowl. Absolutely awe inspiring performance.

Being a Packers fan, I'm still baffled at how that game ended. I think the last two playoff games GB has been in have been lost due to turnovers in OT.

If I weren't a GB fan, I'd have to say that was a hell of a game though. I actually did something to my voice from yelling with the rest of the bar throughout the whole game. Never done that before...

Edit: Spelling

I'd disagree, but then I'd be lying (somewhat).

I do prefer seeing a huge defensive play (like an incredibly-acrobatic interception play, or a 'blow-up-your-spot' tackle that results in a turning of the offense to the opponent) but too much defense can seem like a snoozer to most.

Take for example the first game of this past 2009 season: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh. That was a great affair between two stout defenses carrying over from the season prior, yet there was enough action on both sides of the ball to warrant it as a real gripper of a game. The only thing the match didn't have much of was points scored, as the Steelers won that game in overtime by a margin of only 3 points, 16-13.

To be honest, this "Greatest NFL games of the 2009 Season" listing in which I'm compiling doesn't have what may seem as many defensive clashes: those don't nearly bring as much intensity to the spectacle and our emotions as an 'edge-of-your-seat' shootout between two highly-contested combatants.

Almost all of my tentative matches are really high-scoring, and it gets to be a little unfair that while I do love the thrill of an amazing defensive stop, it doesn't really carry over into an epic match that is 'must-see material'. Both teams need to be in the thick of it, and usually on a day when a team is pulling out all the stops on defense, then their opponent is not really pushing back in terms of scoring, and therefore, us, as fans, garnering our investure.

There have been grumblings in Philly for the past few years for Andy Reid's and/or Donovan McNabb's head. I used to think these people were morons but I am starting to agree with them.

Sigh... life as an Eagle's fan. Year after year they are just never quite good enough to win anything.

Philadelphia fans are crazy, through and through. Sure, they have a voice to announce their displeasures with the Eagles, but look at what both Reid and McNabb have accomplished in just a decade together: 8 playoff appearances, 5 NFC championships, 1 Super Bowl appearance, and the third 'winningest' record in the entire NFL (behind both the Colts and Patriots, being only one game behind New England).

But, I do agree that there have been strings of bad luck in that Philly could never capitalize on their fortunes, on their superior ball-hawking defense, their better offenses, and so on.. it's a very weird and scary thing to be a fanatic in Philly. One of a kind, really, between tolerance and malevolent ire towards the second walrus (Andy Reid) and the horse he handpicked (McNabb).

Ah, a second contention about the yearly mob-media bashing of Donovan McNabb, localized only within the greater Philadelphia city limits. It's really quite a phenomenon.

Is it time for the Eagles to rid themselves of Donovan McNabb? - Shutdown Corner

enclosed quote summation:
"I don't believe so, but you know what it is time for? Large groups of fans in Philadelphia to lose their minds, blame every Eagles failing on Donovan McNabb, and call for him to be replaced, banished and run out of town.

It feels a little different this year, because all of the discussion is moot -- head coach Andy Reid will be back, and he's already said that he wants McNabb back with him. It's a done deal. Of course, none of this stops all the discussing, shouting and complaining.

It feels like I say it every year, but my opinion on the staying or going of Donovan McNabb is this: When you have a better option, Eagles, then maybe you should think about it. Until that moment comes, however, you should probably be happy with the quarterback you have, who is better than the starting quarterbacks on most other NFL teams." ...

I think you forgot to tell the Ravens that they were supposed to win... ;)

Bears DE Gaines Adams, dead at 26 due to an enlarged heart. RIP Gaines.

this scares the crap out of me, because this is what my wife has and if a strong healthy athlete can die all of a sudden like this, where do I stand?