the Jeremy Lin story

Sometimes we hear great underdog stories of great players that just need a chance to show what they can do. Usually these are in a movie and fictitious. Then there is Linsanity that took the world by storm. I did a little research and here is the background.

- Jeremy Lin went to Palo Alto High School, where he was named Northern California Division II Player of the Year, and as a captain he led the basketball team to a 32–1 record and upset nationally ranked Mater Dei for the California Division II state championship. But it seems like no one noticed him.

- Lin applied to Stanford (right where he grew up) and UCLA, but they only invited him to try the team as a walk on. Harvard and Brown were the only teams that guaranteed him a spot on the basketball team, but Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships. At first, Harvard said the team wasn't interested in him, but a few weeks later changed their mind. So he went to Harvard.

- At Harvard he was a unanimous selection for the Ivy League First Team. He led the 2010 team to a school record for wins and non-conference wins, and finished his college career as the first Ivy League player to compile and 1,450 points, 450 rebounds, 400 assists, and 200 steals. Still, it seems like no one noticed him.

- Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft. The Dallas Mavericks were the only team that invited Lin to play in the Summer League. A few teams offered him a contract and he signed with his hometown Golden State Warriors. He made the opening day roster but was placed on the inactive list. He played in 29 games, mostly on Asian Heritage Night for whatever arena the team was playing in. He went to the D-League 3 times that season, but played so well that he was recalled up each time. Lin was cut by the Warriors on the first day back after the NBA lockout.

- A few days later he was claimed/picked up by the Houston Rockets. He was cut by the team on Christmas Eve, right before the season started.

- The Knicks claimed him a few days later when Iman Shumpert got injured to be a backup behind Toney Douglas and Mike Bibby. A week later he got sent to the D-League again. A couple days later he had a triple double (28 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists) in a win. A few days later he was recalled. By Feb 3, he had played in just 6 games for the Knicks and scored 32 total points, while the Knicks were sitting at a record of 8-15.

And then the rest of the story

- On Feb 4 against the New Jersey Nets, Lin came off the bench to score 25 points and electrify the crowd as the Knicks won.

- Lin started the next game against the Jazz. All Star Amar'e Stoudemire was injured and did not play. Carmelo Anthony was injured in the first quarter and didn't return. Lin played 44 minutes, scored 28 points, and the Knicks won again.

- The Knicks were without both All Stars against the Wizards. Lin scored 23 and the Knicks won again.

- On Feb 10 against the Lakers, Jeremy Lin scored 38 points, outplayed Kobe Bryant, and the Knicks beat the Lakers. The 38 was the most points by a Knicks player this year.

- In the next game, Super Lintendo hit some last second free throws to beat the Timberwolves. He finished the game with 20 points.

The point is

Here is a guy that has succeeded at every level he has played at but fails to get noticed. He was not offered a college scholarship. He was undrafted. He was waived by two NBA teams. Two weeks ago he was in the D-League. A week ago no one knew who he was.

And now, Lin has led the 8-15 Knicks to five wins in a row despite being without their (other) two best and most important players. In those 5 games he has averaged nearly 27 points (near Kobe's NBA season-best 29), 8 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. If that's not impressive enough for you, remember that these were the first NBA games he has started in his career, and a week ago you never heard of him.

How did nearly every university miss this? How did every NBA team blow the opportunity to get him? How has everyone in authority overlooked this guy's skills and abilities so long? Give him a chance and look what happens.

This isn't one of those cases like the 1984 Miracle on Ice where some underdog surprises the world and plays better than their ability. This isn't Tim Tebow, a terrible quarterback with a world famous resume who leads a bad to the playoffs. This is a situation where a player with insane skills has emerged out of practically nowhere, completely whiffed by everyone, and takes a league by storm. Given a chance to play for an underachieving team with no other great players, he leads the team to 5 straight wins including one where he outplayed one of the best players in NBA history. If that isn't enough for you, please tell me one other undrafted player in the NBA who has made an impact on the court. Especially in the NBA, that never happens.

Linsanity, Lincredible, AmazLin, whatever you want to call it, it's a story for the ages. And it has just begun.

it's Super Bowl Time!

Anyone who knows me on Facebook will know that I love the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. This is the Miles Miller Super Bowl, as one of my west coast friends put it, and a repeat of (in my opinion) the greatest Super Bowl ever from a few years ago.

Some people find it hard to believe or understand why I could be a Giants fan (NYC) and a Patriots fan (Boston). This really is not an issue. It is not like Yankees vs. Red Sox, two hated rivals from the same division that play 20 times a season, vying for the same playoff position and whose new coach declares "I hate the Yankees." These are teams from different conferences that meet once every four years during the regular season and only beyond that in the Super Bowl.

- I grew up listening to the Giants on the radio. I waited through the Dan Reeves and terrible Dave Brown years, cheered for the Jim Fassel, Kerry Collins and Tiki Barber team, and now root for the Eli and Coughlin team.
- I have not always been a Patriots fan, but I love Tom Brady. He has been my favorite player for the last 10 years. If you have a problem with me rooting for my favorite player's team then you need to get a life.
-Along with that, the Patriots and Giants are both the biggest rivals of the New York Jets, the football team I detest the most. That's another reason why I'm happy to see them succeed.

This game has so many of my favorite players: Brady and Eli Manning are my favorite QBs, Rob Gronkowski is an advancement in evolution, and Jason Pierre-Paul has emerged as one of the most exciting and explosive defensive players in the league.

What My Heart Says
A lot rides on this game for Tom Brady, Belichek and the Patriots. If Tom Brady wants to justify his claim as the greatest quarterback of all time he needs to win this game. And if he does win, there isn't much critics can argue about. But Bill and Brady haven't won the big game since like 2004, and frankly I don't think they will get another chance after this.

As for the Giants, they have already exceeded expectations this year. All I cared about was that they beat the Cowboys in Week 14 and the Jets in Week 16 and I was happy. They were picked to be 3rd in the division, but they split with the Eagles and swept the Cowboys to grab the playoff spot, then dominated the Falcons and the 15-1 Packers and squeaked past the 49ers, which is more than even Giants fans could expect. Eli has already won a Super Bowl MVP, and he will get more opportunities to repeat over the next decade.

What My Brain Says

The Patriots have Brady, Gronkowski, and Wes Welker, and are slight favorites, but the GMen are clearly the better team. They have beaten the Patriots twice in a row and have the recipe to do it again: an elite pass rush. They have better receivers, a better ground game, better defense. Brady and Belichek are possibly the best QB/coach combo in history, but at this point Eli and Coughlin are just as good. (Coming from someone who hated Eli a year ago, that is saying something!) 49er Alex Smith is probably the most improved offensive player in the NFL but Eli is the runner up.

Who is going to guard Victor Cruz? What about Hakeem Nicks? And if the Patriots manage to do that, what about Mario Manningham, last game's hero? The Pats can't put pressure on Manning and they won't be able to guard all those playmakers. Especially with how the GMen have been playing the last 6 weeks, the Giants will put a lot of points on the board.

Rob Gronkowski is the X-factor. He has a bad ankle right now and while it is highly unlikely that he won't play, his effectiveness is questionable. However, Gronk is the most unguardable player we've seen since, well... ever. If he's on he can score a couple touchdowns and be the difference. Brady will have to have an incredible game for the Patriots to win. Again, that is not outside the realm of possibility, he is Tom Brady. But four reasons for him to be worried: Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, and Mathis Kiwanuka.

The Giants were 9-7 and the Patriots 13-3, but the Giants are the best and most complete team in the NFL right now and that's why they made it through the NFC. And since the Saints were eliminated already and they don't have to play the Redskins again...

I am only looking for a well-played, entertaining game, and I will be happy with either team winning.

Prediction

Giants 35, Patriots 27

Week 10 Power Report

I started working two jobs (actually it’s 3) a month ago so I haven’t had any time to blog. Recently I’ve been a little critical of a friend’s power ranking so I thought I’d better post mine up.
This NFL season has gone similar to most college seasons: we started with a Top 10, then Top 8, Top 7, Top 5, and now after the Ravens and Lions had bad losses we are down to a clear Top 2.
This was a funny week as most of the worst teams (Rams, Cardinals, Seahawks, Dolphins, Broncos, and Jaguars) all won.
I also find a little commentary pretty important so there’s a note for each team.

At the Top
1. Packers. Brett who?
2. 49ers. This is what we were expecting prior to last season, but this is the surprise team of the year, no question. It was nice to finally get to see Patrick Willis on TV, he is stinkin’ fast. 49ers defense is solid. And the offense doesn’t give up the ball. 5-game division lead.

Looking Mostly Good
3. Steelers. Lost a tough game against the Ravens last week but finally get a division win on the road in Cincinnati.
4. Saints. 2-game lead over the Falcons after the road win in Atlanta.
5. Ravens. Trapped again for the 3rd time: losses against inferior teams followed both big wins over the Steelers and the win over the Texans make me really question the Ravens’ emotional fortitude. Why did Ray Rice, their best offensive player, only have 5 carries?
6. Texans. I had them at 4 until I saw the news that Matt Schaub is done for the year and Coach Kubiak is handing the reigns to Matt Leinhart. At least they have a bye week to prepare. No Andre Johnson, no problem: Texans win their 4th in a row outscoring their opponent 132-42. A healthy Arian Foster is picking up from last year, and Ben Tate and even Derrick Ward are also joining the fun. The opposition hasn’t been great, and after a bye they get another softie against the Jaguars.
7. Bears. Emphatically avenge an earlier loss to the Lions with a total beat down. Devin Hester does it again. Here’s a stat for you: Bears are 5-0 this year when Jay Cutler is sacked two times or less.
8. Giants. They lost but I’m not sure the 49ers were the better team; the GMen just made too many mistakes. There was some very questionable coaching, including bad challenges and poor play calling on the final drive: why do they run so many handoff plays when they are playing the league’s stiffest run defense and Eli and the receivers are clicking? Despite the loss, the Giants are solid contenders in the NFC.
9. Lions. Sunshine seems to have passed after their 3rd loss in 4 games following their 5-0 start. Along with that, they have become the dirtiest and most unclassy team in the league, from their coach to their quarterback to their star lineman. The remaining schedule is tough, including two matchups with the Packers and trips to Oakland and New Orleans.
10. Patriots. For the second time this season, the maligned Patriots defense outplayed the vaunted Jets defense. Tom Brady finally got back on track. Rob Gronkowski has become one of the best and most unguardable tight ends in the NFL. There’s not a lot of talent outside of Brady, but the Patriots can still beat any other team on any given week. The schedule is ridiculously favorable the rest of the way.

The Merry Middle of the Pack
11. Bengals. Record is impressive and the defense is strong, but the Bengals still haven’t beaten anybody good.
12. Cowboys. Romo had a practically perfect first half against the Bills.
13. Raiders. A statement win without their star running back.
14. Jets. Fell back to earth with a thud. Revis is the league’s best defensive player. I’ve said it before, but the (rest of the) defense is not scary, the running game is below average, the offensive line is bad, and Sanchez is a mediocre quarterback. The Jets are an overrated team and they have been dreadful in their 4 losses.
15. Falcons. I don’t have a big problem with going for it on 4th and inches, but trying to run up the gut when the Saints have ALL ELEVEN defensive players surrounding the Falcons’ center was a terrible call. A little play-action toss away from the middle could have been a 70 yard run to the endzone.
16. Bills. One of the most potent offenses in the NFL for the first month has compiled 18 points over their last 2 games and looks awful. The defense can’t stop anybody. 2-4 over their last 6 games.
17. Titans. There has been a Chris Johnson sighting. Titans defense became the first unit to completely shut down the Kid Wonder Cam Newton.
18. Chargers. Their record in September was indeed misleading: a 4-1 but unimpressive start has totally crashed after their 4th straight loss. Philip Rivers is supposed to be an elite quarterback, not the leader in interceptions. His 21 turnovers match his career high and they’ve still got 7 games left.
19. Buccaneers. I was expecting a step forward this season for Josh Freeman, LeGarrette Blount and the Bucs, but they have taken a serious fall backward. Freeman now has 13 interceptions, more than double last year’s total of 6.
20. Eagles. Finding new ways to lose every game. It’s true that the Eagles are capable of beating any team in any given week, but they are also capable of losing to the Cardinals. Some of the blame can go to the absence of DeSean Jackson and injury to Jeremy Maclin. And now Michael Vick has broken ribs. Yikes!
21. Broncos. No question that the stat of the week is 55:2 = ratio of Broncos carries to passes in a WIN on the road. Despite being down their two lead halfbacks, Denver still ran the ball down the Chiefs’ throats for 244 yards. John Fox has done a great job coaching and the Broncos are now tied for 2nd only one game behind.

Bad at the Bottom
22. Vikings. Simply no match for the Green Bay Aaron Rodgers as the Vikings drop to 0-4 in the division.
23. Seahawks. The 12th man strikes again.
24. Chiefs. You can only remove so many parts to a car before the engine falls out. Starting quarterback, superstar running back, Pro Bowl safety, starting tight end… those bodies are not easy to replace.
25. Cardinals. Love the catch by Larry Fitzgerald. Too bad the Cardinals gave up so much for Kevin Kolb and are paying him so much because his replacement looks light-years better.
26. Dolphins. Matt Moore has looked great, Reggie Bush is finally being productive, Brandon Marshall and Anthony Fasano are catching balls thrown to them, and the defense is playing well.
27. Rams. With home games against the Seahawks and Cardinals coming up, those 0-6 Rams can be 4-7 pretty soon.
28. Browns. One touchdown in their last 4 games.
29. Panthers. Ranked here as they have wins over the Jags and Redskins.
30. Jaguars. It is amazing how productive Maurice Jones-Drew continues to be despite having zero other teammates to take away defensive attention.
31. Redskins. Remember when they were first place 3-1? No one needs Andrew Luck more than the Redskins.
32. Colts. It is more likely that Indy goes 0-16 than 1-15.

Week 6 Power Report

The end of the Lions/49ers game was probably the most dramatic handshake in history. The highlight of the week has got to be the Lions’ coach taking exception to the ignorant “good game, best of luck next week” from Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was excited for his team to get a big win, and he is a pretty animated, excitable guy, no doubt. But come on, he slapped Jim Schwartz pretty hard, pushed him aside, and yelled out a "woo!" (along with what the Lions' coach thought was an obscenity). Harbaugh has to have a little more respect and act like he’s won before. Schwartz' overreaction was inappropriate, but I do like his "take no crap" attitude.

Stats o' the Week
-2: How's this statistical anomoly? The Patriots, Ravens and 49ers were all -2 in turnovers and each won. The 49ers also committed 15 penalties for 120 yards.

3: Rams points. The Rams gained 424 yards of offense, only gave away one turnover (as did their opponent), and managed to score only 3 points?

6: Patriots & Cowboys turnovers, compared to a combined 3 touchdowns.

17: Career kick return touchdowns for Devin Hester

25: Seems to be the magic number. Of the six teams with 1 or fewer losses (Packers, Patriots, Chargers, Lions, 49ers, Ravens), five have given up 25 points only once (Lions twice).

178: Dolphins' 1st quarter yards on offense (Jets had 10).

It looks like the league's passing frenzy has started to ease up. This week saw 6 quarterbacks throw for 300+ yards (none over 383), and there were 8 running backs who hit 100 yards rushing. In Week 5 there were eleven 100 yard rushers and just six 300 yard passers.

Power Report


1. Packers. Aaron Rodgers is on fire: 17 touchdowns (plus 2 more rushing), 3 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 124.1. And his team is 6-0.
2. Patriots. I’m sick of hearing about the terrible Patriots’ defense. That “terrible” unit has allowed only 18 points a game over their last 3 contests.
3. Ravens. NFL’s best defense get the terrible Jaguars and Cardinals next.
4. 49ers. Speaking of defense, 49ers are the first team to keep Calvin Johnson out of the endzone. Rare win in the eastern time zone.
5. Lions. I’m glad Jim Schwartz has only lost 1 game this year. The last four Lions' possessions: 4 plays, punt. 3 plays, punt. 4 and out, 4 and out.
6. Saints. Defense gave up 420 yards and the offense turned the ball over 4 times. You’re not going to win doing that.
7. Chargers.
8. Raiders. I have mixed feelings about their trade. Carson Palmer may be the best QB on the market, but is he in shape? He hasn't played in forever. And he hasn't been too good the last couple years. And the Raiders have done a pretty bad job lately drafting in the first round, but losing 2 first round picks for Palmer? If he's decent then the Raiders ought to make the playoffs, but is that enough for what they gave up?
9. Steelers. Jags made it close in the end, but Steelers really dominated for a second easy win a row. And they play the Cardinals next.
10. Giants. Defense has more holes in the middle than swiss cheese. GMen receivers drop or tip waaaaay too many passes. But Eli and the defense step up when they need to and they rebounded from last week’s embarrassment with a nice win. Big Blue is alone in first.
11. Cowboys. Conservative play calling at the end, but can you blame Garrett for taking the ball out of Tony Romo the Goat’s hands?
12. Bears. Prettiest pass of the week belongs to Jay Cutler. Jay looks really good when there is no pressure and the Vikings defense did nothing.
13. Buccaneers. Josh Freeman has his best game of the year at the right time as the Bucs bounce back and beat the Saints to take first place. But this is one team that we need to see more if we want a good evaluation.
14. Titans. Texans, Jags, and Colts all lose. The bye week couldn’t have been better.
15. Texans. Back-to-back losses knock them out of first place and up next is a road game in Tennessee.
16. Bills. Offense is pretty good but while the defense has been opportunistic, they can’t stop anybody.
17. Jets. Over three games, the Jets offense had a string of 18 three-and-outs (3 plays and punt) in 25 possessions. That's 72% of their "drives" don't even get a first down.
18. Eagles. After a win and Cowboys/Redskins loss there is life again. Eagles have significantly outgained their opponent in all 6 games. In the last 4 games the Eagles have been outscored 23-56 in the second half, which maintains cause for concern.
19. Bengals. Only team that has not given up 25 points in a game.
20. Falcons. Falcons do pretty well when Matt Ryan doesn’t throw the ball very often. In 3 losses Ryan averages 42 pass attempts. In 3 wins he has averaged just 30.
21. Redskins. There has been a John Beck sighting. Before that you wondered how this team ever won 3 games. The defense has done a pretty good job keeping them in games.
22. Seahawks.
23. Chiefs.
24. Browns. It's official: Peyton Hillis is a victim of the Madden Curse.
25. Panthers. Had a lead after the 3rd quarter and put up some pretty good numbers, but 3 Cam Newton turnovers bury the Panthers again.
26. Vikings. McNabb looked ready to sign retirement papers in the game against the Bears. I know McNabb had a good career in Philadelphia, but at this point in his career, he is a terrible quarterback. When watching the Vikings play that is painfully obvious. Christian Ponder didn’t put up any impressive numbers coming in relief, but he made some plays and looked pretty good.
27. Broncos
28. Cardinals
29. Jaguars. You would think in a game where they were down 17-3 at halftime that Gabbert would pass for more than 109 yards.
30. Dolphins. It seems the Dolphin receivers don’t want anything to stop them from getting Andrew Luck. Matt Moore got no help at all against the Jets.
31. Colts. Made it interesting near the end, but it makes you wonder if they will ever win a game.
32. Rams. On the bright side, they shut out the Packers in the second half and gained more yards in the game. But they still lost by 3 touchdowns and are 0-5.

observations from the NFL weekend

a. You probably cannot dispute that Peyton Manning has the biggest influence of any player in a game, especially seeing what is happening on the Colts without him this year. But with those players that are actually on the field, nobody makes a bigger influence in a game than Devin Hester. His kickoff and punt returns are electric and can put instant points on the board. Even if he doesn’t score he often gets way down the field. Often kickers shank the ball out of bounds just to keep it away from him, giving Jay Cutler and the Bears incredibly generous field position to begin nearly every drive. As we saw in the opening of the Bears/Vikings game, his speed can make a huge influence on the offense, especially teamed with Jay Cutler’s incredible arm. After the Vikings had a great touchdown drive that looked like it may carry some momentum just after halftime, Hester returned the kickoff the distance and the Vikings didn’t show up after that. Devin Hester’s name is on the short list of NFL superstars.

b. Because kickoffs moved up, nearly every kickoff is going into the endzone. Contrary to the primary objective of the rule's principle, more and more players are returning the kick from the endzone. If you are Devin Hester, Ted Ginn, Percy Harvin, Darren Sproles, Joshua Cribbs or Percy Harvin then yes, I have no issue with that. But see Giants’ Daniel Thomas taking a kick out of the endzone, gets tackled around the 17, and there is a penalty that pulls the ball back to the 8 yard line. Instead of the 20, Eli has to start at the 8. Same thing in the Cowboys/Patriots game. In the second quarter the Cowboys return man took it out of the endzone, made it only to the 19, and an illegal block penalty gives Romo the ball at the 7 instead of 20. It happened for the Dolphins, and it happens for pretty much every team. Why? You have a better chance of 1) getting tackled before the 20, 2) the receiving team getting a penalty, and 3) someone getting hurt than breaking off a big run. Coaches need to tell their return men to quit being heroes.

c. I don’t like to blame the referees, but they really blew it early in the Monday Night Jets/Dolphins game and it completely changed the game. On a 3rd down play Matt Moore threw to Marshall, who was clearly hit, grabbed, and interfered by Darelle Revis. It should have been first and goal Dolphins from the 1, Fins ready to go up 10-0. Instead there was no flag, Revis ran all the way back, and the Dolphins didn’t score a touchdown the rest of the game. The way the pathetic Jets offense was moving, that could have been the difference. The refs blew another game a few weeks ago at the end of the Bears/Packers game.

d. Speaking of the Dolphins, receiver Brandon Marshall made headlines last week with his knucklehead comments that I referenced in my blog. No, he didn't start a fight, kick a ball, or get ejected. Ran out of bounds on a clear touchdown (they settled for a field goal), drops a ball in the endzone (0:30), misses another ball in the endzone (1:45) (they settled for a field goal), and he got outplayed by Revis in the endzone that went the other way (see above). He sure didn't play like a monster on the field, but he certainly gave coach Sparano a monster headache. All that talk about playing physical and with heart and that was the performance from him? What a joke.

Week 6 Preview

This is the most interesting collection on games I can ever remember for one week of the NFL. There are great story lines involved in nearly every game. This could be called Surprise Sunday. Everyone is on Upset Alert.

First, the strangest news of the week involves both the Jets and Dolphins, who both play each other on Monday night.

- Jets traded receiver Derrick Mason to the Texans for (likely) a 7th round draft pick.
Mason has over 12,000 receiving yards in his career. He seems healthy, but the Jets aren’t even getting him on the field. He only has 13 receptions and hardly played the last two games (by the way, both losses).
Some history: Last offseason the J-E-T-S cut ties with Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Brad Smith and replaced them with 37 year old Mason and Plaxico who had been in prison the previous two years.
The year before, they gave up RB Thomas Jones right after a 1400 yard, 14 TD campaign (his fifth straight year topping 1100 yards) to give full reigns to Shonn Greene, who since then has not reached 1000 yards combined and reached the endzone only 4 times.

Whoever is in charge of this team is a terrible judge of talent, and a terrible game planner.

- And along with this, the Jets are imploding on the inside. One reason Mason may have been traded away was for his critical comments about the team’s offense. Hello, can you blame him? Santonio Holmes, a team captain, also made comments this week about how the offensive line was letting the team down. Anybody who has watched the Jets, especially the last three weeks, would agree. And now guard Brandon Moore is fighting back and ripping Holmes for his lack of leadership. Meanwhile, the Jets are in a must-win game on Monday Night against a Dolphins team who gets a long rest and preparation time for the game.

- On the other side of the ball, the biggest knucklehead of the week has to be Dolphins’ star receiver Brandon Marshall. Here’s a direct quote from a press interview this week:
“I don’t care if I have penalties, it doesn’t matter, I’m gonna let it all out. I don’t care what you guys write, …I’m just gonna play football. So I don’t know if it’s throwing a football 15 yards in the bleachers and getting a 15-yarder, or punting the ball and getting thrown out of the game, something’s gonna happen. I’ll probably get kicked out after the second quarter. They want to fine me, I don’t know, it’ll probably be a $50,000 fine, but that quarter and a half that I’m out there I’m gonna play like a monster. And I might get in a fight with Bart Scott, Cromartie…, so we’ll see. I consider myself a monster now. If you see a beast you should run because a beast is really scary. I don’t want to be that, I want to be a monster. A monster is like a little nightmare. You should run, you should be scared… hopefully I get kicked out in the second quarter.”

Right Brandon, because throwing or kicking the ball into the stands, fighting, collecting fines, earning 15-yard penalties and getting kicked out of the game in the first half will help your team win a game. Especially with a quarterback making his first start of the season. On the other hand, with Marshall playing the whole game the Fins are 0-4 so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to have him in the locker room for the second half. Don’t forget, a beast is not as scary as a monster. What a moron.

- Another interesting note: ESPN has established a new quarterback stat called Total Quarterback Rating, which is the most perfect stat rating of all time, blah blah blah. Last week, in a game where Tim Tebow played only the second half, completed only 4 of 10 passes in a Broncos loss, his TQR was higher than Aaron Rodgers, who completed 26 or 39 passes for 396 yards and 2 touchdowns in a win. Explain that.

The Games

- Lions vs. 49ers: Oddly enough, this pairing of two of the league’s worst teams over the last ten years is probably the best matchup of the week. 49ers defense has been really good and Alex Smith has surprisingly been a good quarterback, despite dealing with many injuries in his receivers. The Lions are 5-0 and have a great offense and defense, but they have to lose sometime and this looks like a potential letdown. The difference will probably be a defensive or special teams touchdown. My pick: 49ers.

- Patriots vs. Cowboys. Patriots have the league’s best offense and worst defense, despite their beat down of the Jets in Week 5. They have also given up the most plays of 20+ yards. Tony Romo will have Miles Austin and Dez Bryant in this one, along with a healthier Felix Jones. But don’t forget, the Cowboys secondary is just as bad and the Tom Brady will have a big day. I’m tempted to follow the hype and pick against the Patriots, but they are at home and Tom Brady doesn’t lose at home. My pick: Patriots.

- Redskins vs. Eagles: Things are going from bad to worse in Philly. Here’s a stat for you: the Eagles have outgained their opponent in every game and are 1-4. How does that happen? Turnovers, penalties, and mistakes, and no one has made more than the Eagles. Redskins are coming off a bye and have had a lot of time to prepare. The Eagles are definitely desperate, and another loss would put them at 1-5, and the Redskins at 5-1. My pick: Redskins.

- Falcons vs. Panthers: In this offense-happy league the Falcons were supposed to field one of the top offenses in the league but they have been in the bottom half of the league, as well as their defense. The “improved” defense has been disappointing and can’t get pressure on any quarterback. Enter Cam Newton. This is a home game for the Falcons, and Matt Ryan has a great record at home, and the Panthers certainly aren’t the Packers, but there is definitely upset potential in this game, especially with Julio Jones not playing. My pick: Panthers

- Giants vs. Bills: Giants are the only team that plays better on the road than at home (and this is a home game). They are coming off the biggest disappointment of the season. They are starting to get some injured players back but several more are pulling out. The Bills have beaten the Patriots, Raiders, and Eagles this season, Fred Jackson has been incredible in the backfield, and the Giants have been run on a lot this year. I hate picking against my team, and they win every time I do so here goes. My pick: Bills.

- Ravens vs. Texans. Joe Flacco has been disappointing but as long as he can hand the ball off to Ray Rice or dump it off to him this ought to be a blowout. Schaub is hurting and Andre Johnson is out, and the Ravens defense is coming off a bye week to rest up. My pick: Ravens.

-Buccaneers vs. Saints. Like my Giants and Titans, the Bucs have looked good in 3 games and very disappointing in the other two. We all know what the Saints have on offense, so can Josh Freeman bounce back? Not likely without LeGarrette Blount. My pick: Saints.

- Bengals vs. Colts. Who needs Carson Palmer? Bungles look like they are for real this year, even with rookie starting quarterback and wide receiver. That receiver A.J. Green is a stud. The defense is one of the league’s best, and with the crappy Colts in town that shouldn’t change. My pick: Bengals

- Packers vs. Rams: Green Bay is 15 point favorites in this game but that still seems too low. The Rams have no one to stop Jennings, Finley or Nelson and no one on offense to keep up. This has the looks of a major blowout. My pick: Packers.

- Steelers vs. Jags. Big Ben hobbled into last week’s game and threw 5 touchdowns. The Jags are terrible. This game may be close but there is no way the Jags win. My pick: Steelers.

- Raiders vs. Browns. First home game for Oakland since the passing of Al Davis, for what that is worth. The Raiders are the better team. My pick: Raiders.

- Bears vs. Vikings: Bears have been the most generous defense against the run (5.7 yards per carry) and the Vikings finally discovered that if they give All Day Adrian Peterson the ball they can win. The Bears defense certainly has the capability of creating big turnovers and scoring, and with Donovan McNabb that is definitely a possibility, but I like Jared Allen to increase his league-leading sacks total against a very susceptible Bears o-line and create havoc for Jake Cutler. My pick: Vikings.

- Jets vs. Dolphins: Like I said earlier, the Jets are self-destructing amid a 3-game losing streak, and they Dolphins are coming off a bye. But with Marshall potentially sabotaging the Dolphins and Matt Moore making his first start of the year, it’s too hard to pick against Gang Green. My pick: Jets.

Week 5 Power Report

Week 5 is Statement Sunday, and it was a rough week for "surprise" 3-1 teams that could have made a statement. Bucs get blown out, Giants give a game away at home, Texans lost to the Raiders, and Titans get pounded by an injured Steelers team.

No Stats o' the Week. Let me know if you have one.

There were a lot of crazy awesome catches though. Here's a video.
Here's a great article that should make you laugh out loud.

Power Report

1. Packers. Gave up two long drives to start the game and then shut down the Falcons the rest of the game.
2. Patriots. Nothing like a game against the Jets to get the defense and ground game back on track.
3. Saints. Offense is firing on all cylinders.
4. Lions. Can’t wait for Thanksgiving, when the Lions meet the Packers. A lot can happen before then. Lions offense and defense is Top 10.
5. Ravens
6. 49ers. Another dominating performance by the defense. Alex Smith’s QB rating is 104.
7. Chargers. 4-1, racking up lots of unimpressive wins. Too many turnovers.
8. Raiders. McFadden held to 3.2 ypc, Jason Campbell completed less than 50% of his passes, offense outgained by 200, and they still come up with the emotional win to honor Al Davis.
9. Bills. Fred Jackson has become an MVP candidate.
10. Texans. Coach Kubiak, about the season-ending injury to star player Mario Williams: “I feel so bad for Mario, because he’s such a heck of a player.” He also feels so bad because without Big Mario, Kubiak will lose his job.
11. Steelers. Just when I leave them for dead, Big Ben throws 5 touchdowns and the Steelers blow out the Titans.
12. Cowboys
13. Giants. GMen take the first major upset of the season. Is Big Blue the worst good team in the NFL or the best bad team?
14. Redskins. Good week for them as they gain a game on the Giants and Eagles without playing.
15. Titans. Major letdown in a statement game. A week off to think about it, then a big division showdown against the Texans.
16. Bears. Matt Forte had another big day, but Jay Cutler has nobody to throw to. This is the least talented group of receivers in the NFL.
17. Buccaneers. It’s a long flight back from San Francisco. And after giving up 48 points to Alex Smith and the 49ers, have fun with Drew Brees next week.
18. Jets. 7 of 11 offensive possessions were 3 and out (3 plays and punt), and this was against the #32 ranked defense. Allowed BenJarvus Green-Ellis a career high in rushing. A Rex Ryan defense allowed a 300 yard passer and 100 yard runner in a game for first time since 1995. Other than a terrible offense and average defense…?
19. Falcons. After the first two drives of the game the Falcons mustered 111 yards the rest of the game, getting outscored 25-0 at home.
20. Seahawks. Heading into their bye the ‘Hawks are a missed long field goal away from a 3-game winning streak.
21. Eagles. The offensive line, defense, and coaching blunders have buried them.
22. Bengals. Already at more wins than anyone could have guessed.
23. Chiefs. Nice comeback win against a Colts team that was supposed to have a decent defense. Matt Cassell hads 7 TD/1 INT in the last 3 games.
24. Browns
25. Vikings. McNabb 21 passes : Adrian Peterson 29 carries = a Vikings win.
26. Panthers. New game, same story: Cam looks good and the Panthers lose their 4th game by 7 or less.
27. Broncos. With Orton the Broncos are completely lifeless. Tim Tebow adds a little spark, at least. Kyle Orton is a better quarterback but Tim Tebow is a playmaker, the only one on the Broncos, and he gives them the best chance to win.
28. Cardinals. Since their Opening Day win over the Panthers they have lost 4 straight to the Redskins, Seahawks, Giants, and Vikings, and Kevin Kolb looks terrible.
29. Dolphins
30. Jaguars. Their last play
31. Rams. Bring on the Packers.
32. Colts. When you have a 17 point lead against a bad team, you have to average better than 2.9 yards a carry.

Week 5 Preview

I missed last week and this is coming out late again, but here goes:

Last week the Chiefs left the ranks of the winless. The Vikings and Colts are in position now as the 0-4 Dolphins and Rams get a week off. The Lions and Packers are the only remaining teams without a loss and both face good tests against Chicago and in Atlanta.

As we are now 1/4 of the way through the season, here are my updated predictions for the playoffs.
NFC:
Packers, Saints, Cowboys, 49ers, Lions, Buccaneers
AFC:
Patriots, Ravens, Chargers, Texans, Titans, Raiders

Key Matchups
1. Patriots vs. Jets: so yeah, this is a big rivalry. If the Jets lose and go to 2-3 it will be hard to make the playoffs.
2. Falcons vs. Packers: Rematch of the playoff game last year where the top seed 13-3 Falcons got blown out at home.
3. Bills vs. Eagles: Philly is desperate at 1-3, Bills are trying to prove they are for real at 3-1.
4. Lions vs. Bears (Monday Night Football): looks to be a great game.
5. 49ers vs. Buccaneers. Bucs may be a better team but they are traveling 3000 miles west in this matchup of two 3-1 teams.

Upset Alert
Broncos over Chargers
Raiders over Texans

Stone Cold Picks (last time 2-2, to date 6-6)
- Titans over Steelers. Steelers are really banged up and old and the Titans look pretty sharp. I like this matchup for the Titans to show that they are a contender in the AFC.
- Patriots over Jets. Time for Gang Green to panic.
- Bengals over Jaguars. Strange pick, but I really don't like the Jaguars.
- Colts over Chiefs. Indy finally gets their first win of the season.

The Rest of the Games (last week 13-3, to date 36-15)
- Eagles over Bills
- Bucs over 49ers
- Giants over Seahawks (Eliminator lock)
- Vikings over Cardinals
- Saints over Packers
- Texans over Raiders
- Chargers over Broncos
- Packers over Falcons
- Lions over Bears