Vertically Challenged Teams & Other NFL S**t (1 of 2)
Midgets.
- Yup, I think that about sums up the second half that was for New York. After roaring to a 5-0 start, they went down to the Saints, Cards, Eagles and Bolts in succession. Of them all, the Philly loss was probably most disturbing. There was a trend there that I didn't catch until it was too late, both on the start and what followed. Only one win during that winning tear came against a playoff team. The four losses that followed were ALL to playoff bound teams. So the bye week comes and NY's reeling, yet still breathing.
Long story short, after nearly giving away a game to the Falcons at home, they went on the road Thanksgiving Night and lost rather soundly to the Broncos. Yet another team that roared early and went meekly late. Second verse, same as the first Denver? After the resounding defeat of the hapless Redskins, even I didn't see what came next. Nobody did. They lost 41-9 to the Panthers. Mind you, this isn't the same team that came into Giants Stadium a few years ago and blanked em' in the playoffs. This was Matt Moore and the Carolina Panthers who would've been bottom feeders in the NFC South if not for the craptitude that was the Tampa Bay Yucks. Their D coughed up 40 or more points in three of their last four games, which more than speaks as to why for the first time since Eli's rookie season, they're done before Wild Card Weekend. The irony in this year is that there was too many questions asked about the passing game, which more than exceeded previous expectations and limitations sans Cheddar Plax. Turns out we overlooked the D which was an absolute F when it mattered most. The aura of that Super Bowl run from three years ago is all but gone now. He's in Jon Gruden territory which, for those of you who forgot how that story ended...he did a lot of nothing after their Super Bowl run, had some inexcusable collapses and is now calling Monday Night Football. (In one of life's utter ironies however, if Coughlin's replaced, I'd love for Gruden to be that guy.) In any event, let us speak of more pleasant matters shall we?
Season Bullet Points...
- Predictably this morning, Jim Zorn either woke up or stayed up to finally have the axe dropped. Although if you're a head coach who's stripped of playcalling duties halfway through the year but allowed to stay on, isn't that one in the same? If it is, Zorn's the guy in the horror movie who gets killed, but his bloodied body still stumbles about until it finally drops. Either due to too much blood loss or the killer (Snyder) just putting him out of his misery once and for all. Even if Shanahan is the next in line, Snyder's got to stay out of the fucking way or else history will continue to repeat itself.
- In spite of Cleveland's finish to the season, capped by them snapping their infinite long losing streak to the Steelers, I expect Mangina to be axed.
- Brett Favre is my choice for MVP and honestly, I can't see anyone else even remotely close. I say Brett because as he said a few months back, this is the best team he has ever played on. Green Bay in 1996 was a lot like the 2004 Pistons. The collective sum was greater than the individual parts and the fact that they returned a year later only to lose to the Broncos, proved it. This Vikings team is built to win now and with Favre, they can. You put any other QB behind center this year, Green Bay takes the division. With Favre, they held off Green Bay, withstood a few late losses and have a weekend off to await their first foe. Oh and should the Saints lose, I'm really pitying the team that has to go into the Homerdome to face the Vikes.
He had his best statistical year ever and he helped make young guys like Rice and Harvin standout in ways that neither Rosenfels or Jackson could. That's an MVP, folks. I imagine Peyton could be factored into this discussion, but he made it seem too routine until Caldwell pulled the plug halfway through their game a week ago against the Jets. Drew lost steam once the Saints started losing. Brett on the other hand, was supposed to implode and throw picks like they were going out of style, but never did. 33 TDS, 7 INTs. Brett Favre, to take the title of a Ludacris song, Last of a Dying Breed.
Now, let's talk playoffs, shall we? Thanks to the who know what bes, every matchup this coming weekend will be a rematch of something we either saw yesterday (3 of the 4 are) or earlier this year (Week 4 with the Pats and Ravens). As far as other relevant awards before I cover the playoffs in another column entirely...
ROTY: Percy Harvin, Minnesota
- Percy would like to credit God for giving him the ability to perform, the Jets for running Brett Favre out on a monorail and Brett Favre for making up his mind to come to Minnesota.
Coach Of The Year: Norv Turner, San Diego
- Do it once, okay. Flukes happen. Do it twice and ya know what? Maybe you are that good after all. For the second year in a row, San Diego let Denver jump out to the West lead, only to come all the way back to seize it and a first round bye as well. Honestly looking at the AFC, San Diego may just be your favorite to march to Miami. New England's prospects are a whole lot dimmer without Welker and the many doubts on whether Moss can be what we remember him being once upon a time (like two seasons ago for starters). Indianapolis didn't have the look of a team that was as happy as it was when it won 13 in a row and San Diego's punched their ticket out of the playoffs the last two seasons since Indy won the Super Bowl.
Defensive Player Of The Year: Troy Polamalu, Blitzburgh
- What? No Charles Woodson? No Darren Sharper or Jared Allen? Allow me to explain.
Troy's absence severely weakened a D that I was suspect of even during the Super Bowl. As the Burg showed this year, they didn't win that Super Bowl so much as Arizona LOST IT. All things being equal, with a healthy Polamalu, I have very little doubt the Steelers would've gotten in as no worse than a Wild Card. But the true Defensive Player Of The Year is...
Well, we'll call it a tossup between the three men I just mentioned because they've all got valid cases. I just don't feel like going through em' all right now.
Offensive Player Of The Year: Chris Johnson, Tennessee
- Had Fisher not so stubbornly stuck with Kerry Collins, I have no doubts VY and CJ would be playoff bound. Next year, if what we saw this year with the two of them wasn't a one year deal, please believe they will be. I'm not sure if there's really any way that can explain what we saw out of Chris Johnson this year and that, unto itself, might just be the most remarkable thing of it all. Last year during their romp through the regular season, he was part of a two pronged attack with LenDale White that saw him amass 1,228 yards on 251 attempts while averaging 4.9 YPC (yards per carry). This year, for a team that was on the cusp of bouncing back from an 0-6 start, he more than tripled that. 2,006 yards on 358 touches, he averaged 5.6 YPC. Basically everytime he touched it, the Titans were either staring at 2nd & 5 or another first down. 14 TDs and 503 yards receiving while averaging 10.1 yards per CATCH.
I don't know about you, but that sure as fuck impresses me. The Colts if anything, should be glad that the Titans had to wait on Bud Adams to implore Fisher to make the switch to Vince. Titan fans need not wonder anymore about Vince, because he is ready to be all you saw at Texas and then some.
Team That Shocked Me: The Saints
- Had you told me that New Orleans would run out of the gate, basically blitzkrieging everything in sight, I'd have laughed yet paused at the thought that it COULD happen. But of course, it did and then some. New Orleans sprinted out to a lead in the South it never gave up and if not for the Vikings stumbling at the same time, the road to Miami through the NFC may have gone through Minnesota instead of the Nolia.
Team That Disappointed Me: The Giants
- Seriously. Inexplicable how they went down in the second half like a hoe going for tricks. I know coordinators merely coordinate so to speak, but something's seriously off here. Amazing how the season started with questions about the offense and end with so many about the...DEFENSE.
Predictions That I Loved: Da Bengals as my "Sleeper Team".
- Sometimes, it helps going out on a limb nobody's on. Eventually you're made to look great for choosing a team that nobody saw coming until it was too late. While I was right on everything sans Benson, the unexpected passing of Chris Henry may be what ends Cincy's playoff run. In spite of that though, this team made a total 180 from years past and look ready for a serious run in the division if this wasn't a one year thing.
They made a commitment to the defense, which probably performed better than anyone could've expected and are set for success over the long haul, with the Ravens aging and Big Ben wearing down as the sacks continue to mount. (Didn't the Steelers used to have a great offensive line once upon a time?)
Prediction That I Will Put On Hold For Next Year: Houston and Tennessee
- This team continues making steps towards the playoffs. This year, they end above 8-8 and the foundation is there for this team to do big things next season. As for the Titans, I'm sold that if CJ and VY's sudden maturation weren't fly by night deals, they will challenge the Colts for the AFC South next season.
Prediction I Wish I Was Wrong On, But Knew More Than I Cared To Admit: The Giants
- (Heavy Sigh) When you're right, you're right. I said they had to win all four, they didn't. One of their losses couldn't be to either Philly or Dallas, it came to Philly killing any division title hopes. They coasted through Washington but losing to Carolina coupled with Dallas and Green Bay taking care of business was the cement on top of the plot. There was no getting out.
Alright, enough about the season that was, because Da Season is set to begin.
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