Top 10 New England Patriots Moments of the Decade

The New England Patriots are the team that got amazing Boston sports’ decade started. They were the NFL dynasty of the past 10 years—with three Super Bowl championships and a perfect regular season, there isn’t much more that the region could ask of the franchise. Yes, that fourth Super Bowl win against the Giants would’ve been incredible, but it still was an absolutely magical decade for the Patriots.

So without further ado, here are the top 10 Patriot moments of the decade.

10. 59-0:  

Games in the snow are always memorable. This season, against the Tennessee Titans in week six, the Patriots won by a margin of victory not even seen in their dominant 2007 perfect regular season (they also had not shut anyone out that season). Tom Brady took advantage of an already bad pass defense that was weakened even further due to a few injuries in the Titans’ secondary and threw for six touchdowns—five of which were in the second quarter, setting an NFL record. Six different Patriots scored and the defense didn’t allow leading rusher Chris Johnson into the end zone. It was a dominating all-around performance from the Patriots and a message to the league that the Patriots were still a force to be reckoned with.

9. Brady Returns:  

Following the perfect regular season (with one Giant loss in the Super Bowl) the Patriots were poised for revenge. That idea was thwarted in week one when Tom Brady was hit by Kansas City’s Bernard Pollard in the knee and suffered a torn ACL and MCL. While Matt Cassell performed admirably in his place, the Patriots missed the playoffs so seeing Brady return to the field in a week one Monday night contest against division rival Buffalo brought joy to every Patriots fan.

Brady didn’t disappoint as he threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:06 of the game to lead the Patriots to victory, 25-24. It hasn’t been Brady’s best season, but he is back and the Patriots are AFC East champions and back in the playoffs.

8. Pats keep Colts out of end zone: 

The Patriots and Indianapolis Colts have enjoyed a strong rivalry in the past decade and when the two teams meet up, it usually results in an instant classic.

One of the more astonishing finishes from this rivalry came thanks to the Patriots’ defense on Nov. 30, 2003. In a characteristically offensive-fueled game, the Patriots were winning 38-34. With under a minute left, the Colts had the ball on New England’s two-yard line. Two Edgerrin James rushes resulted in one yard gained and on third down, Peyton Manning threw an incomplete pass. Then on fourth down, Willie McGinest broke through the offensive line and tackled James in the backfield, sealing the win for the Patriots and stopping one of the best offenses of the decade from getting into the end zone while only two yards out.

7. Super Bowl XXXIX:  

You know you’ve had a great 10 years when a Super Bowl win is only the seventh best moment.  The last Super Bowl the Patriots won this decade was a tight 24-21 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles and a remarkably recovered Terrell Owens, who had missed the past four games with a broken leg.

Another Vinatieri field goal proved to be the game winner, but this time it wasn’t in the dying moments of the game. No, this time it was to give the Pats a 10-point lead which they would have to hold onto for nearly nine more minutes. The Eagles scored a touchdown to bring the margin to three points with just under two minutes left. However, when the Eagles ultimately got the ball back, Rodney Harrison intercepted a Donovan McNabb pass with nine seconds left to seal the victory. This win cemented the Patriots’ dynasty.

6. Tuck rule:  

Oakland Raiders fans still cry foul about this call. In a blizzard in 2002, the Patriots and Raiders were dueling in the divisional round of the playoffs. Down by three, Tom Brady dropped back to pass but was tackled by Charles Woodson and lost the ball, which was recovered by the Raiders. However, after a review of the play, the officials ruled that Brady’s arm was coming forward when he lost the ball, thus making it an incomplete pass.

Given new life, the Patriots marched down the field and Adam Vinatieri kicked a dramatic, line drive 45-yard field goal through the driving snow to tie the game. In overtime, the Patriots would win the toss, drive down the field, convert on a fourth down, and Vinatieri would win the game with a 23-yard field goal.

5. Super Bowl XXXVIII:  

The Patriots victory over the Carolina Panthers is widely considered one of the best played Super Bowls of all-time. Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri exhibited once again how clutch they were, as Brady calmly led the Patriots into field goal territory and Vinatieri won the game with a 41-yard field goal with four seconds left. The championship was New England’s second in two years.

4. Dec. 29, 2007: 

Week 17 of the 2007 regular season was a memorable night. That night the Patriots beat the Giants at Giants Stadium 38-35 in a very well played game by both teams. The win pushed the Patriots’ record to 16-0, the first—and only—team to finish a regular season 16-0. (The Dolphins did it with 14-0 in 1972 and went on to win the Super Bowl.)

It was an individual record-breaking night as well. Tom Brady broke the single season record for touchdown passes (50), previously held by none other than Peyton Manning and Randy Moss broke the single season record for touchdown receptions (23). The team also set the record for most points scored in a single season (589). Through all the records and the perfect regular season, the Patriots were sitting on top of the world.

3. Hiring Belichick:  

Many consider Bill Belichick the best coach in the game today. He has been a huge reason for the Patriots’ success this entire decade. What made his hiring in 2000 even sweeter for the Pats was that they stole him from division rival, the New York Jets. It cost them a first round draft pick, which the Jets used to trade up and select DE Shaun Ellis—a fine choice—but Belichick has led the team to a 112-47 record, 14-3 in the playoffs, seven AFC East championships, and three Super Bowl wins in four appearances. He also has won two AP NFL Coach of the Year awards. For the entire decade Belichick has turned this franchise around into what they are today: perennial winners.

2. Drafting Tom Brady: 

Who would have guessed that the sixth round pick in the 2000 draft would have become a Boston sports icon? Brady was drafted with the 199th overall pick and began his career as a fourth-string quarterback. He climbed up the depth charts his rookie season to backup and when starter Drew Bledsoe was injured in 2001, Brady took over.

Improbable as his story already was, what happened after he took over was just unreal: three Super Bowl championships, two Super Bowl MVP’s, five Pro Bowls, one NFL MVP, and one AP Male Athlete of the Year. While getting Belichick to coach was important to put a winning structure in place, you need players to execute, and no one has shined brighter this decade than Tom Brady.

1. Super Bowl XXXVI Champions:  

The beginning of a dynasty. In 2000, the Patriots finished 5-11, last in the AFC East, but in 2001 they turned things around going 11-5 and winning the AFC East. An incredible run of eight straight wins, including the playoffs, landed the Patriots in the Super Bowl against heavily favored St. Louis Rams, “The Greatest Show on Turf”. Everyone remembers the New England Patriots being introduced as an entire team rather than individuals.

The game was an exciting one. The Patriots blew a 14-point lead, but with seven seconds left in a tie game, Adam Vinatieri kicked a 48-yard game-winning field goal. It was the Patriots first Super Bowl win ever.

 

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NFL Week 16 Picks

Merry Christmas!

Santa has brought us all a great Christmas day game between the Chargers and Titans, two of the hottest teams in football.

Also, a lot of teams in the AFC are squaring off for playoff position. Those games are Dolphins-Texans, Steelers-Ravens, and Patriots-Jaguars, not to mention that the Jets, right in the thick of things, also will try to be the first team to knock off the Colts.

Who will win this weekend? Will the Colts remain undefeated? What teams will get into the playoffs?

Enjoy these picks and your holiday.

Last week: 8-8

Season: 127-65

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NFL Picks: Week 15

Our two undefeated teams have a couple good challenges in front of them as both team take on playoff contenders: Colts-Jaguars and Saints-Cowboys.

One big question, at least for the Colts: When should they start sitting starters?

Some other questions this week: How will the Bengals respond to the Chris Henry death? Will the Steelers stop their five game skid? How will Randy Moss respond to the criticism Carolina sent his way after last Sunday’s game?

Feel free to comment answer to these questions and who you think will win this weekend.

Last week: 11-5

Season: 119-57

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NFL Week 14 Picks

Two undefeated teams left. Will they both come out unscathed again after this weekend?

Some huge matchups with playoff implications this week, including Dolphins-Jaguars, Giants-Eagles, and Chargers-Cowboys. Bengals-Vikings is also bound to be a great game.

Who do you think will win this week? Which on the bubble teams do you think has a good chance at making the playoffs?

Last week: 9-7

Season: 108-52

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New England Patriots Fail to Close Another Game

Another week, another opportunity for the Patriots to emphasize their weaknesses.

Poor execution, missed opportunities, the inability to win away from home, and the lack of a killer instinct once again doomed New England, as they fell to the Miami Dolphins 22-21.

New England took a 21-10 lead at the 12:02 mark in the third quarter. Suddenly the offense couldn’t punch the ball in the end zone and the defense couldn’t stop the Dolphins. Miami scored the final 12 points of the game to stun the Patriots and complete the upset.

The loss leaves the Patriots 1-5 on the road, however that one victory actually came in London against the Buccaneers, so it’s not like they thrived in a hostile environment. At the rate they’re going if, and that is a big “if” now,  the Patriots make the playoffs, they will at best host just a Wild Card round game. The rest of the road to the Super Bowl will have to be won away from the comforts of Gillete Stadium, which is something the Patriots have yet to prove they can do.

For the third time on the road this season the Patriots lost the game after holding the lead in the fourth quarter. Both the offense and the defense were guilty for lacking the guile to finish off the ‘Phins.

With 4:10 remaining in the game the Patriots held a tenuous two-point lead but were sitting on Miami’s six-yard line with a first down and looking to put the game away. However, Tom Brady’s pass to Randy Moss was intercepted in the end zone by Vontae Davis, preventing the Patriots from sealing Miami’s fate. It was also the second time in the game that New England had failed to score while inside the Miami 10, turning the ball over on downs from the six-yard line in the second quarter.

On the other side of the ball, on Miami’s last scoring possession, New England had gotten them into a fourth-down situation with six yards to go for a first down. Stop them and the Patriots would be able to run out the clock. However, Chad Henne completed a 13 yard pass to Greg Camarillo to extend the drive and set up the game-winning field goal.

Need more cause for alarm?

It was the first time the Patriots have lost back-to-back games since Weeks Nine and 10 of the 2006 season.

Brady threw his second fourth-quarter interception with 35 seconds remaining, sealing Miami’s victory. It was the first time Brady had thrown two interceptions in consecutive games since Weeks 12 and 13 of the 2003 season.

The Patriots are well-known for their strong passing attack, with future Hall of Fame quarterback Brady and his targets Moss and Wes Welker. They were also going up against a relatively weak pass defense. They passed for a total of 13 first downs.

Miami, a team that relies heavily on the rush and has a first-year starter at quarterback threw for 21 first downs.

The Patriots lost both the turnover battle (2:1) and the penalty battle (6-82:2-10).

Something is clearly wrong in Patriot-land.

Now with Sunday’s result and with the Jets victory over the Bills Thursday night, the Patriots sit only one game in first place in the division. The Patriots split the season series with both teams. The second tie-breaker is record against the division. The Patrtiots have a 3-2 record, with a game against Buffalo left; the Jets are 2-4; Miami currently holds this tiebreaker of New England, with a record of 4-2.

The Patriots are still in first place though, and they still control their own destiny.

However, good teams don’t lose the turnover and penalty battles. Good teams can win games away from home. Good teams close out games they are winning in the fourth quarter.

New England is showing that it may not be a good team after all. While winning the division was once a certainty, now if they continue down the path they’re on and don’t straighten themselves out, they’re going to have to fight to even be a potential wild card team.

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Who Will Win in NFL’s Week 13?

It’s the beginning of the last month of the season and teams are jockeying for playoff position.

Some games with big playoff implications include Philadelphia-Atlanta, Houston-Jacksonville, Dallas-New York Giants, Minnesota-Arizona, and Baltimore-Green Bay.

Here are my picks for week 13. Comment and tell me who you think will come out victorious and who you think is in good position to be playing in the playoffs.

NY Jets (5-6) at Buffalo (4-7)

They were able to pull out a sizable victory last week against all odds, overcoming an injury decimated front-line against a good pass rush and Ricky William’s 115 yards rushing. Still, there just isn’t much reason to buy much stock.

Buffalo’s porous run defense faces another top rusher this week in the Jet’s Thomas Jones.

Terrell Owens has been more effective the past couple of weeks, but he will face Darrelle Revis, who has been one of the top shutdown cornerbacks all season.

I’ll take the Jets to win this weekend.

Philadelphia (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5)

Atlanta’s pass defense is not very good, but they will catch a break this week. Not only is running back Brian Westbrook out because of injury, but it looks like Philadelphia’s top receiver, DeSean Jackson, will also miss the game because of the concussion he received last week.

Philadelphia has not looked very sharp the past four weeks, even though they have won two games in a row (against Washington and Chicago).

The Falcons are also 5-0 at home this season.

I’ll take Atlanta to win this game.

St. Louis (1-10) at Chicago (4-7)

The Bears are reeling, having lost four games in a row and six out of their last seven.

Jay Cutler leads the NFL in interceptions (20), but is tied for 12th in touchdowns (16).

St. Louis, however, is tied for 23rd in the league in interceptions (8), and they do not rush the quarterback very well, ranking 29th in the NFL in sacks (18). Also, only ten teams have given up more yards passing then they have (2,482). Add those facts to their ranked fifth worst rushing defense, and this should be a game where Chicago can make up for their mistakes and get back into the win column.

Bears win.

Detroit (2-9) at Cincinnati (8-3)

Detroit is 0-5 on the road and has given up the most points in the league (335), while only scoring more points than seven other teams in the league (193, 38 of which came against the Cleveland Browns).

Bengals will win.

Oakland (3-8) at Pittsburgh (6-5)

The Steelers are a better team when Ben Roethlisberger plays. But Dennis Dixon did a decent job in first first NFL start, minus the interception he threw in overtime. Dixon went 12-25 for 145 yards and a touchdown, and rushed three times for 27 yards and a touchdown before that crucial late-game interception. Still, not a terrible outing; there is some optimism there.

Pittsburgh has the benefit of playing this game at home, where they are 4-1. Also, since 2000, the Steelers are 28-11 in December.

A game against Oakland is the perfect opportunity for them to get back to their winning ways and make a last-second postseason push.

Pittsburgh wins.

Tennessee (5-6) at Indianapolis (11-0)

Vince Young has won five games in a row since being inserted as the starting quarterback, which really must have Tennessee fans puzzled over why Jeff Fisher stuck with Kerry Collins for so long.

Chris Johnson is the league’s top running back right now. If Young can really use this season as a launching pad for the rest of his career, Tennessee has a very good core on offense to build around with Young, Johnson, and rookie receiver Kenny Britt.

If the Titans were home here, I would strongly consider them to be the first team to knock off the Colts. However, the game is in Indy, and the Colts have just been too strong all season.

The Colts have scored 80 more points and given up 105 fewer points than the Titans.
The Titans also only have two road wins in six games.

It should be an entertaining game, but I’m going to go with the team that has been great all year over the team that has been the flavor of the month.

I’ll pick the Colts to win.

Denver (7-4) at Kansas City (3-8)

Big win for the Broncos last week against the Giants.

Denver is also 2-1 in the division and 5-3 in the conference. Kansas City has losing records at home (1-4), in the division (1-3), and against the conference (2-5).

Broncos win.

New England (7-4) at Miami (5-6)

The Patriots are vulnerable and have only one road victory this season (even then, that win came against Tampa Bay in London, so it’s not like the Buccaneers had home-field advantage really).

However, New England has not lost back-to-back games this season.

They also have two of the top five in receiving yards and the second most passing yards in the league, going up against one of the bottom-10 passing defenses.

Patriots win.

New Orleans (11-0) at Washington (3-8)

This could be a trap game. New Orleans’ victory over the Patriots was huge, and they could let their guard down against a weak Redskins team.

What Washington does have is a good pass defense that could potentially keep leading passer Drew Brees in check.

However, their run defense is ranked 25th in the league, while the Saints have a top five rush offense and have scored the most rushing touchdowns (18) out of any team in the league.

Also, while the Saints have scored a league-high 407 points, the Redskins have only managed to score 170 points.

Washington will not be able to keep pace with New Orleans ground attack.

The Saints will win.

Tampa Bay (1-10) at Carolina (4-7)

Believe it or not, Tampa’s pass defense is in the top half of the league, and Jake Delhomme is tied for second in the NFL in interceptions thrown.

Their rush defense is nothing to brag about at all, and DeAngelo Williams is one of the best in the league.

Even so, Tampa’s offense has put up only 18 fewer points over the season and they actually have more passing yards than Carolina.

I will take the Buccaneers in an upset.

Houston (5-6) at Jacksonville (6-5)

Jacksonville was embarrassed last week against San Francisco. Yet Houston has lost three games in a row (although in fairness, two of those losses came to Indianapolis).

The Jaguars do get the job done at home however, with a 4-1 record in Jacksonville, and against the conference, with a 5-2 record against the AFC.

Houston, meanwhile, is a paltry 1-4 against the AFC South. Their rushing defense also ranks in the bottom half of the league and will be put to the test against Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the top rushers in the league this season.

Jacksonville wins.

San Diego (8-3) at Cleveland (1-10)

The Chargers have won six games in a row. The Browns have lost six games in a row.
The Chargers are 4-1 on the road. The Browns are 0-4 at home.

The Chargers are third in points scored in the NFL. The Browns are second worst in points scored in the NFL. Cleveland is also fifth in most point allowed in the league.

These two teams are like night and day.

Chargers win.

Dallas (8-3) at NY Giants (6-5)

Eli Manning is 10th in the NFL in interceptions thrown and there is continuous debate over the health of his foot.

The Cowboys meanwhile have won six of their last seven games, and will come after Manning hard. Dallas is tied for seventh in sacks (28). Hurrying an injured and turnover prone quarterback will really hinder the Giants ability to get anything going.

Tony Romo hasn’t fared much better this season, however his team has pulled away from games victorious, while the Giants have been unable to make up for their quarterback’s mistakes and have lost five of their last six games.

I’ll take Dallas to win.

San Francisco (5-6) at Seattle (4-7)

While San Francisco has struggled at times this season, especially on offense, one arena where they dominate is against the NFC West. In the division the 49’ers are 3-0 and have outscored their opponents 78-26, including a 23-10 victory over Seattle in the two teams’ first meeting.

Seattle’s only two victories in the division have come against the Rams. In three meetings against the 49’ers and Cardinals, the Seahawks have lost by double digits.

San Francisco wins.

Minnesota (10-1) at Arizona (7-4)

Minnesota has been rolling this year. They are 8-0 against the NFC, and have scored more points than and given up fewer points than Arizona.

They are firing on all cylinders as Adrian Peterson is third in the chase for the rushing title, Sidney Rice is third in the league in reception yards, Jared Allen is second in the league in sacks, and Brett Favre has made himself an MVP candidate.

Arizona has gotten inconsistent performances from their running game, receivers Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston have been banged up since Week 1, and starting quarterback Kurt Warner is still questionable after suffering a concussion in Week 11.

Vikings win.

Baltimore (6-5) at Green Bay (7-4)

Aaron Rodgers has been a star this season. He’s third in quarterback rating, fourth in touchdown passes thrown, eight in completion percentage, and fourth in passing yards. He has also thrown only five interceptions all season.

The Packers are also 4-2 at home, while the Ravens are 2-3 on the road.

What really benefits the Packers here is that their rush defense is extremely stingy. They have allowed only three rushing touchdowns all season and are fourth in rushing yards allowed.

Running back Ray Rice has been what makes the Ravens offense go, but he will have his hands full against such a strong rush defense.

I’ll take Green Bay to win.

Last week: 11-5

Season: 99-45

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Crown Chad Ochocinco King Of All Athletes Using Social Media

Chad Ochocinco, wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, was being portrayed a certain way in the traditional media.

His touchdown celebrations , name change, and trade requests got him characterized as self-absorbed, an ego-maniac, and, occasionally, a clown.

So Ochocinco took went to social media to really show what he’s all about, and it has worked beautifully.

He has accounts on Facebook and UStream , but is most famous for his use of Twitter .

Ochocinco has used these outlets to display his true personality and to really connect with his fans.

“It gives me a voice, the ability to reach people directly, and for people to see who I am without the filter of the media, the critics or whomever,” he said in an interview with USA Today .

Ochocinco has been able to change much of the public’s perception of him from a guy who was only interested in himself to a man who is just enjoying his life and is trying to share the fun he’s having with others.

He invites people to the movies or dinner with him (“If you’re coming to Davids just tell the hostess you’re here for lunch with Chad, its on 17th n meridian, lunch on me the blessing is on GOD” from 11/30/09) and challenges them to play him in video games (“Getting on call of duty people Estaban 85, let’s play” from 11/30/09).

“I try to interact with every fan,” Ochocinco says. “I try to respond to everybody.”
While showing what a fun loving guy he is, the public has responded favorably.

Through his social media endeavors, he has also become an extremely marketable celebrity.

Ochocinco has come out with his own book , he became the first NFL player to get his own iPhone application , has appeared on late night talk shows , and is apparently even coming out with his own brand of condoms .

What’s making him even more successful is that he is also back to being a productive player on the field (773 yards receiving and five touchdowns in 11 games), and his team is in first place in the AFC North. He’s an athlete first and foremost, and his success on the field makes him a credible figure.

Chad Ochocinco is a fantastic example of how to best utilize social media and the good that it can do someone.

He connects with people across the globe, giving them a vantage point into his life that they wouldn’t have had previously, and he gives back to the community. He also has used it to create a brand name or himself. Most importantly, he changed people’s perceptions of him, getting everyone to see him how he wants them to, not as how the media depicts him.

Ochocinco gets it and he’s letting the rest of us in on the fun he’s having.

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Who Will Win in NFL’s Week 11?

Week 11 has already started out well for me as I picked the Dolphins to beat the Panthers on Thursday night.

Colts-Ravens should be a good one, as should Giants-Falcons, and Patriots-Jets. Redskins-Cowboys is also a heated rivalry that gets another chapter added to the books this weekend.

Here are my picks. Tell me who you like in the comments section.

Miami (24)-Carolina (17). Picked Miami. See bottom of “Wild No More”.

Washington (3-6) at Dallas (6-3)

Washington actually looked like they knew how to play football last week. With an impressive win against the Denver Broncos. Don’t get too excited though Redskins fans, this team is not out of the woods yet.

Yes, the Cowboys looked pretty bad last week, especially—again—Tony Romo, but they are still 6-3 and in first place in the division. The game is also in Dallas. So let’s not overreact to both teams’ results in Week 10.

Dallas wins.

Cleveland (1-8) at Detroit (1-8)

The NFL could not have paired together two teams worse than Detroit and Cleveland.

The city of Detroit, possibly the city hit the hardest by the economic recession, not only has to suffer with a 1-8 football team, but now, because nobody in their right mind is going to the games because they cannot afford the tickets for such a sorry team, the game will be blacked out locally. For shame, that it had to come against an equally embarrassing team like the Browns, where they have a chance of winning, instead of against a better team like Green Bay, who they host next week.

The Lions do have more offensive weapons than the Browns, so I predict a Detroit victory.

San Francisco (4-5) at Green Bay (5-4)

Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives. Both teams came away with victories last week. Still, the 49’ers were only able to put up 10 points, and really were lucky to benefit from five Jay Cutler interceptions, including one in the end zone as time expired.

Green Bay’s win wasn’t that much more glamorous of a game, but they soundly beat a better opponent in the Dallas Cowboys.

At Lambeau Field, I predict the Packers to win.

Pittsburgh (6-3) at Kansas City (2-7)

The loss at home last week against Cincinnati was a tough blow for Pittsburgh to swallow. Good thing for them they get a poor team like Kansas City to rebound off of this week.

Steelers win big.

Atlanta (5-4) at NY Giants (5-4)

Eli Manning in the Giants first five wins (against Washington, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and Oakland; a combined record of 14-31): 1,212 yards passing, 10 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Eli Manning during the Giants four game losing streak (against New Orleans, Arizona, Philadelphia, and San Diego; a combined 26-10): 858 yards passing, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. See any correlation there? As Eli goes and the competition gets better, the giants struggle.

Atlanta is an average team right now after losing to Carolina last week. Their passing defense is one of the worst in the league. Michael Turner, one of the top rushers in the NFL, is listed as doubtful.

The Giants are at home and have had an extra week off to straighten themselves out. As little faith I have in them right now, too much of this adds up to this being the week they get back on track. If they lose this week though, I really don’t know if I’ll ever pick them again.

Giants win.

New Orleans (9-0) at Tampa Bay (1-8)

Possibly the saddest story of the week is the passing of Drew Brees’ mother, ruled a suicide. Even sadder is to learn that Brees had a strained relationship with her, even saying in ’06 that the relationship was “nonexistent”. It will be interesting to see how Brees reacts to the news on the field: Will he muster up an incredible performance to honor the life of his mother, much like Brett Favre did when his father died in ’03, or will he, understandably so, be distracted?

The Saints will also be without Reggie Bush and Sedrick Ellis because of knee injuries.

Still, while it hasn’t always been pretty, the Saints are undefeated and, although they’ve been playing better with the insertion of Josh Freeman at QB, the Buccaneers aren’t good enough to stop New Orleans’ roll.

Saints win.

Buffalo (3-6) at Jacksonville (5-4)

It’s the same story for the Bills. Buffalo still has the worst rush defense in the league. DT Marcus Stroud and LB Keith Ellison will both miss the game.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew has the fifth most rushing yards in the NFL.

The coaching and quarterback changes will mean nothing.

Jaguars win.

Indianapolis (9-0) at Baltimore (5-4)

A lot of people, myself included, have chastised Bill Belichick for his decision to go for it on fourth down last week against the Colts, and rightfully so, I believe. However, Peyton Manning threw for 327 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. There is no saying that had the Patriots punted that Peyton wouldn’t have taken the Colts on an even more spectacular drive and still led the Colts to victory. He’s just that good.

Baltimore went into halftime with the lowly Browns tied at zero. They got their act together in the second half, but ever since this team lost to the same Patriots in week four, they have gone 2-4 in their last six games and have been unable to get in a groove.

Indy has done a good job in the fourth quarter this year, either coming from behind or closing games out. I like them to beat Baltimore and stay undefeated.

Seattle (3-6) at Minnesota (8-1)

Minnesota is 4-0 at home and 2-0 against the NFC West. I see no reason as to why Seattle will blemish either of these records.

Vikings win.

Arizona (6-3) at St. Louis (1-8)

The only thing going for the Rams is Steven Jackson, the NFL’s fourth leading rusher. Arizona’s seventh ranked rushing defense will neutralize him.

Cardinals win.

NY Jets (4-5) at New England (6-3)

The Jets are 1-5 in their last six games, and that one victory was against Oakland. They did beat New England in Week Two, but that was at home, and before Tom Brady had his legs (literally) underneath him.

Bill Belichick seriously goofed last week with his botched fourth down call against the Colts, but you know he is salivating at showing the world that he still is the best coach in the NFL at the expense of the Jets, the team he hates the most.

Patriots win.

Cincinnati (7-2) at Oakland (2-7)

This matchup is a bit of a mismatch. Another huge win for the Bengals last week who continue to prove themselves as a legitimate contender. Meanwhile Oakland lost to Kansas City in a truly ugly contest. Not much to say here.

Bengals win.

San Diego (6-3) at Denver (6-3)

Things aren’t looking so hot in Denver. They have lost three games in a row, they are now tied with San Diego for the division lead (although coming into today’s game they do hold the tiebreaker), and starting quarterback Kyle Orton is a game-time decision because of an ankle injury. Backup QB Chris Simms hasn’t started a game since 2006 when he suffered a life threatening spleen injury.

Denver also has to be thinking about last season when they stormed out to take the division lead only to see it evaporate, and San Diego take over in the last week and make the playoffs while Denver watched from home.

San Diego’s last away game was also impressive, in which they came from behind and beat the Giants in a gutsy performance.

I will take San Diego to win today.

Philadelphia (5-4) at Chicago (4-5)

Neither team looked good last week. Chicago looked worse.

All they could muster up was six points and five Jay Cutler interceptions.

Jay Cutler, I’d like you to meet Asante Samuel, tied for third in the NFL in interceptions with five, and Sheldon Brown, tied for sixth in the NFL in interceptions with four.

The Eagles also have a Top-10 passing defense (ranked No. 9) and are tied for second in the league with 29 sacks. Cutler will be pressured, and when he decides to try and make a throw he really can’t, the Eagles secondary will make him pay.

Philadelphia wins.

Tennessee (3-6) at Houston (5-4)

Think Jeff Fisher waited too long to make a quarterback switch? Kerry Collins: 0-6. Vince Young: 3-0. It seemed to make sense when the Titans were 0-3 as well. Young is the younger of the two and it was apparent that Collins would not be getting the Titans back to the playoffs, so why not throw Young in and see if he still is the quarterback of the future.

Tennessee’s offense is rolling, scoring over 30 points in each of their last three wins.

Houston is tied for fifth in most rushing touchdowns allowed (12). Titans running back Chris Johnson is tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns scored (8), and six of those touchdowns (along with 495 yards rushing) have come in Tennessee’s last three victories.

Houston’s D isn’t strong enough to really handle Johnson and the Titans are streaking.

I’ll ride the Vince Young train another game and predict a Tennessee win.

This Week: 1-0

Last Week: 8-7

Season: 74-38

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Ronnie Brown Goes Down: Will The Wildcat and Brown Remain in Miami?

The Wildcat just got tamed.

The Miami Dolphins placed running back Ronnie Brown on injured reserve yesterday with a right ankle and foot injury, shelving him for the rest of the season.

Brown’s injury is a huge blow to the remainder of Miami’s season.

Part of a fourth ranked rushing attack, Brown had 648 yard rushing and eight touchdowns, leading the Dolphins in both categories. What makes him more irreplaceable to Miami though is how well he ran the Wildcat offense .

Miami’s offense, minus the ‘cat, is pretty bland. Ranked 30th in passing offense, Davone Bess is the team’s leading receiver with only 334 yards through nine games and only one tight end or receiver, Joey Haynos, has caught two touchdown passes.
The Dolphins rely heavily on the rush, but what gives them flexibility and makes them unpredictable in order to keep defenses honest is their ability to run the Wildcat.

Brown was the triggerman for the unorthodox formation. First things first, he is able to cleanly catch the direct snap. Although basic, running backs aren’t familiar with taking snaps from the center, and dropping the snap easily botches the entire play. Also, he was able to make clean handoffs to Ricky Williams. Again, while they get the handoff, actually passing the ball on to someone is not something they do very often and would ruin the play.

Everyone is aware of the ability Brown has as a runner but what made him so effective in the Wildcat was his ability as a passer.

During his career, Brown has completed four of 10 passes for 63 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, and has a 101.2 passer rating. His ability to roll out and throw a left handed pass to a receiver in the end zone keeps defenses off-balance.

While Ricky Williams, the 2002 NFL rushing champion, is having a fine season himself—compiling 558 yards on the ground with six touchdowns, with an additional 193 receiving yards (fourth-best on the team) and one receiving touchdown—and is a more than capable backup running back, replacing Brown in the Wildcat will not be something easily done.

How well will Williams throw the ball? The possibility of a pass, even without a quarterback, keeps teams guessing. If Williams is a lousy passer, then the formation will not be effective.

And who will take Williams’ role in the formation? With Brown taking snaps, Williams has been the key motion man, and without him, the play becomes even less effective.

Without Brown, Miami fans could see more of the Pistol formation, where backup quarterback Pat White enters the game. White has completed zero passes on three attempts, but the threat is there. He does have 48 rushing yards on 11 carries and is a dangerous ball carrier.

Another question that begs to be answered is with Brown accumulating another injury is his career as a Dolphin in jeopardy?

In five NFL seasons, only once has Brown played in all 16 games and this will be the second time in three years that he plays in less than 10 games due to an injury on his right leg.

While he is a very talented player and plays a critical role on the team, durability is a big issue, especially with Bill Parcells and his crew running the team. If Brown is not healthy and cannot perform on the field, what sense is there in keeping him around?

Brown is in the last year of his rookie contract and will turn 28 years old next month. With questions of his durability coupled with his advanced age, will Miami be willing to bring him back or will they start to look in a new direction?

This latest injury to Brown creates a new question the Dolphins will have to answer: How much longer will both the Wildcat and Brown be around in Miami?

NFL Week 11 picks:

Another Thursday night game this week. Miami (4-5) faces off against Carolina (4-5).
The Panthers had a big win last week against Atlanta, while Miami just squeezed by Tampa Bay.

The biggest factor here, as stated above, is how Miami’s offense responds without Ronnie Brown in the lineup.

Will they still run the Wildcat?

Can Ricky Williams shoulder a larger load?

Can the Dolphins be successful in a more conventional style of offense?

On the other side of the ball it will be Miami’s pass rush against Jake Delhomme.
While Miami’s pass defense is not very good, their pass rush has generated 25 sacks, good for fourth best in the NFL. They also get the return of Joey Porter, who has not been as effective as he was last season, but still has enough talent and bravado to provide some extra punch.

Delhomme is second in the NFL in interceptions thrown with 13 (Jay Cutler, 17, is first). However, he hasn’t thrown an interception in his last three games, two of which were Carolina wins.

On Tuesday, Carolina placed left tackle Jordan Gross on injured reserve with a broken ankle. Gross has been one of the league’s best left tackles and Delhomme, in his rockiest moments, has depended on the 6’4”, 305 pound man to protect his blindside.

The Gross injury will have a greater effect in the game than the Brown injury because Miami will take its aggressive pass rush and attack Delhomme, coming after him and forcing him to make plays and causing turnovers.

Miami wins.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Week Ten Picks

Week 10 features some very exciting matchups. There is a battle between the Steelers and Bengals for first place in the AFC North. Green Bay and Philadelphia will try to bounce back from tough losses against two teams, Dallas and San Diego respectively, who came away with big wins the previous week.

The biggest matchup is the ever-classic Patriots-Colts game, Peyton vs. Brady in primetime.

Week 10 also features a Thursday night game between Chicago and San Francisco, so the picks are in a little early this week. After a 7-6 week last week, my worst yet, I’ll also look to bounce back.

Tell me who you like in the comments section.

Byes: Houston, NY Giants

Last week: 7-6

Season: 66-31

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