Jaguars face unthinkable task

The Jaguars are one of six franchises never to participate in a Super Bowl, a fact that doesn’t appear likely to change next Saturday night. Not that the Jaguars lack the talent or moxie to make it to Arizona; it’s just that they have the unenviable task of trying to knock off the unbeaten Patriots in Foxboro in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

The unknown, gritty squad from the Sun Belt will assume the role of America’s team on Saturday as those outside of Boston (plus a few bandwagoners that we could all do without) will be pulling for Jack Del Rio’s club.

The Jaguars will have to pound Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew on the ground, which is a distinct possibility considering the one vulnerable spot on the Patriots defense appears to be their run defense. But ultimately it will come down to David Garrard, because Bill Belichick will try and take away what the Jags do best: run the ball. That said, Garrard’s legacy can grow in massive proportions if he can pull the upset of the year.

As much as I would love to see the Jags knock off the smarmy Pats, the prediction stands as follows: Patriots, 27-13.

It’s not that I don’t believe the Jags can’t win. But divine intervention won’t let the Patriots’ record-setting season take such an ugly turn. Maybe the Colts or Cowboys or Packers will knock them off down the road, which I (and would imagine most others) would be just fine with. But wouldn’t it be nice if Jacksonville took a step closer to removing itself from that dubious non-Super Bowl list?

Strong 'pens written with youthful exuberance

In this day and age in baseball, when the complete game is almost non-existent, the teams built to last are the ones with strong bullpens. Generally, that entails steady middle relief, complemented by a 1-2 punch of a setup man and closer to finish out games. A prime example for the 2007 season would be the Boston Red Sox, who knew they had a strength in their middle relief and in closer Jonathan Papelbon but truly hit the jackpot by lucking out on Japanese-import-turned-setup man Hideki Okajima. Okajima is 31 but technically a Major League rookie, while Papelbon is 26. In looking back at recent successful teams, the key seems to have been a strong yet young bullpen. Last year's World Series featured a pair of teams carried by tremendous bullpens. The Tigers were sparked by flame-throwing then-21-year-old Joel Zumaya, while the Cardinals found a gem in interim closer Adam Wainwright, 25. This year's Yankees seemed to have taken a similar path, promoting youngsters Joba Chamberlain (21) and Edwar Ramirez (26) to set up games for aging closer Mariano Rivera. Chamberlain has taken fans aback with his 98-mph heater and devastating slider, and the Yankees suddenly have a much stronger bullpen to help bolster their postseason hopes.
This is in no way to say that veteran relievers are out of style. But the last several years have been an indicator that it never hurts to have fresh young arms in your bullpen to take some of the heat off of the older guys during the stretch run. Francisco Rodriguez, a.k.a. "K-Rod" started something of a trend by taking the league by storm after a September call-up by the Angels in 2002. Rodriguez became Troy Percival's primary setup man as the Angels won their first ever World Series title. He has since emerged into one of the game's premier closers. Dating back even further, it is a similar path the Yankees went down with Rivera, who started out as a 26-year old setup man for John Wetteland during the Yankees' 1996 championship season. When Wettleland departed for Texas as a free agent in 1997, Rivera took over as the closer, and has evolved into a Hall Of Fame-caliber pitcher.
It may not be out with the old, but it's certainly in with the new.

Orioles improved, but not quite ready yet

Not to diminish an 11-9 start for a franchise that has endured 9 consecutive losing seasons, but if you watched the Orioles brief two-game set against perennial playoff contender Oakland, you probably were able to pick up a few things, things that lead you to believe that while the Orioles are much improved from a 70-92 2006 campaign, they are not quite at a playoff level just yet.
Start with Monday night's 6-5 loss. After falling behind 5-0 against A's ace Dan Haren, the O's battled back to within 5-4 after 8 innings, getting a huge lift from Aubrey Huff's 3-run homer. But the ninth inning was an indicator that they are not there yet. Nick Swisher hit a crucial homerun to give the A's a 2-run cushion in the top of the 9th before young closer Huston Street came on in the bottom half to close it out. Jay Payton's walk was followed by a Corey Patterson double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. With a golden opportunity presenting itself, the Orioles crumbled when it mattered most. Chris Gomez took a called third strike for the first out. Then, Brian Roberts lined a single into center field that should've tied the game. Instead, Corey Patterson inexplicably broke back towards second base and failed to score the tying run. Still, the O's had runners at the corners with just one out trailing by just a run. Then, in an even more befuddling turn of events, Melvin Mora dropped a bunt down that failed to score Patterson, as Mora was retired and Roberts advanced to second. After an intentional walk to Nick Markakis, Miguel Tejada swung at the first pitch and hit a harmless grounder to second to end the game and thwart what was an almost improbable comeback against one of the league's best teams.
Sadly, more proof would follow in the following afternoon's game that the Orioles are still a cut below the top-tier teams in baseball.
The Orioles got a strong outing in the first career start for Jeremy Guthrie, yet trailed 2-1 after 5 innings against Dallas Braden, the A's starter also making his first start. In the top half of the 6th, John Parrish came on to relieve Guthrie, and promptly retired Eric Chavez to start the inning. But a hit and two walks later, the A's had loaded the bases with 2 outs for the pesky Jason Kendall. After getting ahead 0-2 on Kendall, Parrish induced what looked to be a harmless ground ball to second baseman Brian Roberts. But Roberts went for the force at second, only to have Miguel Tejada fail to cover the bag, allowing Mark Ellis to reach safely at second. Kendall reached on the fielder's choice, and a run scored to make it 3-1. Parrish then compounded matters by walking No. 9 hitter Danny Putnam, and when the inning finally ended it was a 4-1 game. The hole was too deep for the Orioles against a strong Athletics bullpen, and they suffered a 4-2 loss and a 2-game sweep to Oakland.
After winning 8 of 9, the Orioles have been brought back to reality somewhat, and now host the first-place Boston Red Sox for two games before heading to Cleveland. These two games will be yet another daunting task, as the Orioles get to face Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett. The A's series taught us something, and now it's up to the O's to dispel these notions against the Red Sox. We'll see.

Ring was nice, but it didn't validate Manning's career

Charles Barkley called it the S**t List. Call it what you want. You know, the list of professional sports greats never to win a championship. Barkley knows about it. So do Dan Marino and Alex Rodriguez. But Peyton Manning no longer has to worry. He’s off of it following the Colts’ 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
Some out there may believe this is the game that finally elevates Manning to elite status, that it validated his Hall of Fame credentials. But that is a foolish notion. The man who has started all 157 games of his career (including postseason) already holds the NFL record for most seasons with 4,000-plus yards (7), consecutive seasons with 25-plus TD passes (9), and most TD passes in a single season (49, breaking Dan Marino’s coveted record of 48 set in 1984). Throw in a 92-52 record and five division titles, and Manning’s pedigree sans Super Bowl speaks for itself.
Granted, Manning already was a 99.9% sure bet for Canton and he is now a lock. But not even his six previous playoff failures were enough to have kept him from NFL immortality. Given that he likely has at least eight more years, his final numbers could be downright scary. But Manning will tell you all those records just became a lot more meaningful now that he has joined an even more elite club: Super Bowl champion quarterbacks. Number 18 is number 26 on that list, one that doesn’t include Marino, Frank Tarkenton, or Dan Fouts.
In making final reflections upon the 2006 season, Manning probably couldn’t have scripted it any better. Unlike in previous years, where expectations were high for the Colts, they entered the playoffs as one of the biggest question marks thanks in part to their 32-ranked rush defense and a No. 3 seed in the playoffs. And perhaps in the best scenario possible, Manning was able to orchestrate the biggest comeback in conference championship game history, leading his team back from a 21-3 deficit to beat his tormentors from years past, the New England Patriots. That was the game some labeled as the real Super Bowl, but the win over the Bears helped Manning accomplish something that even Tom Brady has yet to do, win four games in a single postseason.
Super Bowl or no Super Bowl, though, Manning is a Hall of Famer.

General comparison: baseball's economics are poor

Without getting too deep into legal jargon, most casual fans would find it hard to disagree that football is, and will continue to be, a more popular sport than baseball. There may be a million and one different reasons why, but perhaps the most prominent is the salary cap. In baseball's case, the lack thereof. Think about preseason football versus spring training for baseball. There are 32 NFL teams and 30 MLB teams. Each year, about 75% of NFL teams go into the season with legitimate hope of making the playoffs. Baseball? Try about half -- if that. Now I don't want to turn this piece into a complete Yankees/Red Sox-bashing, as fun as that might be. But with combined payrolls topping $300 million dollars, how can one not? Consider this disturbing fact -- four Yankees are currently making more than the ENTIRE Florida Marlins team. Need a double-check? This is not a misprint. It's cold, hard, sad fact. Then consider this: Alex Rodriguez, making roughly $25 million a year, could tear his ACL tomorrow and be lost for the season, yet continue to earn that money. Conversely, Peyton Manning does not earn paychecks for games that he misses (save for signing bonus money, the only guaranteed money in the NFL). There is always talk about the big market clubs versus the "small-market" clubs. In football, league officialls generally consider the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, owned by Ralph Wilson and Mike Brown, respectively, to be the two lowest-revenue teams in football. But the difference in football is poor seasons result in a couple of things: high draft position and an "easier" schedule the next season. The former "Bungles", a one-time laughingstock, were 2-14 in 2002 and earned the first pick in the '03 draft. They used it on Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. Two years later, they were back in the playoffs for the first time since 1990. The Bills, though scuffling of late, made four straight Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990's and have continued to field competitive teams over the years despite geographic anonymity and a crummy stadium.
Okay, I think you see where I'm going with this. But let me just pad this article with a few more keys that make football more competitively balanced that Bud Selig's MLB. 16 games versus 162. Hence, more significance in each game. More than half-full stadiums (try consistent sellouts), as opposed to MLB, where you'd be hard pressed to find any stadium (save for perhaps New York and Boston) more than two-thirds full. In many cities (i.e. Tampa, Kansas City), more than 2/3 of the stadium comes disguised as empty seats. And what, prietel, could that be attributed to? It couldn't be because those teams have no chance in you-know-what of competing on a yearly basis, could it? Hmm...
I'm going to hold off on telling you that in football, scheming, coaching, and gameplanning actually matter, as opposed to oversized, juiced players like Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds hovering over home plate scaring the Bejesus out of the pitchers, who in turn are too afraid to throw a strike. Did we mention baseball had a faulty drug-testing system? Oh, well, maybe another time. Anyways, that's all she wrote for now. Meanwhile, you baseball fans (sadly, I remain one of them) sit back and watch the Yankees and Red Sox square off for the 76th time in the ALCS, then the winner goes on to buy (excuse me, win) another championship. Or, just let these three-hour yawners tide you over until September 7, when the 2006 NFL season finally kicks off -- at long last.

Jags' Smith leaves game, mark on franchise

It wasn't always a smooth ride for Jimmy Smith, but the leading receiver in Jacksonville Jaguars history was a class act throughout. Smith, 37, announced his retirement Thursday following a 13-year career spent primarily in Jacksonville, where he made his mark as one of the game's all-time great receivers. Smith ends his tenure 7th on the all-time receptions list with 862 and 11th with 12,287 yards. But what Smith may be remembered for best was his quiet leadership on a team that garners very little fanfare.
Smith began his career in Dallas, where he played just seven games in three years, when the Cowboys won two Super Bowls. But in 1995, he caught on with the then-expansion Jaguars and began his legacy. In 1999, Smith led the NFL with 116 receptions for a career-high 1,636 yards while helping lead Jacksonville to its second AFC title game in four seasons. In 2001, Smith caught 112 balls for 1,373 yards and tied a career-best with 8 touchdowns while starting all 16 games for the sixth time in seven seasons. He was the only remaining member from the inaugral '95 team.
Smith, though, encountered his fair share of rough spots along the way. In November 2001, Smith was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, when tests later reveal Smith had cocaine in his system. Smith denied ever using the drug. Then, Smith was suspended for the first four games of the 2003 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, when he admitted that he had previously spent time in rehab for a drug addiction. And early in his career he was derailed by leg and stomach injuries, when it was thought he may not even play again. But Smith overcame the odds, and became of the all-time greats, all the while keeping a professional attitude.
(The Associated Press contributed to this article)

Titans should start '06 with Volek, not Young

Think back a few years to when the Bengals made Carson Palmer the first overall pick in the draft. The Bengals entered 2003 coming off the worst season in franchise history, not to mention 12 straight non-playoff seasons, and the assumption was that the Heisman Trophy winner would start right off the bat. But Marvin Lewis resisted the temptation to throw the rookie to the wolves, instead allowing veteran Jon Kitna to play the entire season. Kitna responded with a Pro Bowl year, but the Bengals failed yet again not he make the playoffs. Palmer finally earned the starting job in 2004 and struggled through the first half of the year before turning the corner, leading the Bengals to a second-straight 8-8 record. In 2005, the move paid dividends as Palmer led the Bengals to an 11-5 record and a division title while Cincinnati has finally re-established themselves as legitimate playoff contenders.
In 2006, the Tennessee Titans will be facing a similar dilemma. With Steve McNair likely on his way out, the Titans selected Texas quarterback Vince Young with the number 3 overall pick in this year's draft. Young is undoubtedly the most talented quarterback in the rookie class, but that talent is mostly raw at this point. The Titans, meanwhile, are coming off two seasons in which they have a combined record of 9-23. So the big question is, when does the Vince Young era officially begin the Music City?
The logical choice for the Titans would be to start the season not with young, but with sixth-year backup Billy Volek. Volek joined the Titans in 2001 as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State, where he backed up current Houston Texans starter David Carr. Although he has only started 10 games in his NFL career, he has posted impressive numbers. In ten games, including eight starts, in 2004, Volek completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. That season included a two-game span in which Volek threw for a combined 918 yards, both Titans losses.
Volek may not be the future in Nashville despite his relatively young age (30), but he gives the Titans stability and veteran leadership while the Titans groom Young. Odds are that Vince-anity (sorry for the corny label) will begin some time around mid-season in Tennessee, barring injury to Volek of course. But don't be surprised if the Titans offense shines under Volek, as the team has brought in several reinforcements to an already solid offensive unit. The worse-case scenario for the Titans would in fact be a Volek injury, but if he is healthy, there is no need to throw Young into the ring of fire and salvage the 2006 season.

Browns already making a splash in free agency

Free agency for the upcoming 2006 NFL season is finally underway, and the Cleveland Browns are wasting no time trying to build on a disappointing-yet-progressive 6-10 season. The Browns entered free agency with approximately $27.1 million to spare under the salary cap, and immediately went to work, signing LeCharles Bentley, arguably the best offensive lineman on the market, right off the bat. They also added four others, including two with Super Bowl experience. WR Joe Jurevicius, who has participated in three of the past six Super Bowls, returns to his hometown, while the Browns also acquired mammoth DT Ted Washington, who was a member of the Patriots' second world championship team in 2003. Also in the mix are punter Dave Zastudil and offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer.
For the Browns, there should be a sense of renewed optimism heading into '06. In 2005, they found their quarterback of the future in Charlie Frye, and got their first 1,000-yard rusher since 1985 in Reuben Droughsns. Add in a pair of potent receivers in wideout Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow, even though both have serious injury concerns, and the Browns may be able to make a move in a rock-solid AFC North that includes the Super Bowl-champion Steelers. It certainly is too early for predictions, but the beleaguered Browns now appear headed in the right direction -- finally. Credit Romeo Crennel, architect of the Patriots' fierce defense during their Super Bowl, with getting things turned around so quickly for an organization that has had more than their fair share of disappointment and heartbreak.

Super Bowl quick hits

Super Bowl XL is now only a day away, as the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers get set to square off in Detroit. While some feel this game lacks the intrigue of games past, it figures to be a hard-hitting, physical affair. Some fast facts about this year's game: Both of these teams lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the regular season, meaning this year will mark the first time a team has lost to the Jaguars and gone on to win the Super Bowl. Only the Buccaneers, Panthers, Texans, and Ravens have yet to beat an eventual Super Bowl champion -- but the Ravens could come off that list if Pittsburgh wins tomorrow ... Ben Roethlisberger looks to become the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, supplanting nemesis Tom Brady, who did it in 2001 ... Despite success in recent years, Pittsburgh has only one player with previous Super Bowl experience: former Seahawks' CB Willie Williams, who went to the Super Bowl in 1995 in his first stint with Pittsburgh. The Seahawks have five active players with previous Super Bowl experience: WR Joe Jurevicius (2000 NYG, 2002 TB), DE Grant Wistrom (1999, 2001 STL), Chuck Darby (2002 TB), John Howell (2002 TB), and P Tom Rouen (1997, 1998 DEN). LB Jamie Sharper, who is on IR, won a ring in 2000 with Baltimore ... 2005 marked the ninth consecutive season that at least one of the two road teams has won on Championship Weekend ... Only six teams (Arizona, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, and New Orleans) have failed to reach a Super Bowl, but five of them (all except Cleveland) have at least hosted Super Bowls in their cities ... Opinion: the "dark week" needs to go. Having two weeks between the championship games and the Super Bowl is too much; the media overhypes the game, and I personally get antsy waiting an extra week for the season's premier game.

Emerging from under the radar, 'Hawks finally going Bowling

Mike Holmgren has done this before. It was just nine seasons ago that Holmgren and Brett Favre helped lead the Packers to a world championship. One year later, the Packers captured their second straight NFC title. But after a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1998 NFC playoffs, Holmgren parted ways with Green Bay and headed to the pacific northwest to coach the Seattle Seahawks, 15 years removed from their last playoff win. But after a division title in his first year, the Seahawks went three straight years without a postseason berth, then suffered through two more disappointing playoff losses in 2003 and 2004. After a home playoff loss to the Rams last January, many people began to question whether Holmgren was still the man to lead Seattle. 12 months later, no one is questioning Holmgren or his coaching abilities. The Seahawks' 34-14 win over Carolina in Sunday's NFC championship game helped propel the 'Hawks to the first Super Bowl berth in franchise history. Yet despite a 13-3 season (including an 8-0 home mark) and sporting the league's MVP in running back Shaun Alexander, who set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns, the Seahawks have still toiled in relative anonymity playing in the state of Washington. While Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck have become household names, the Seahawks have also gotten major contributions from the likes of savvy veteran receiver joe Jurevicius, who has played in two Super Bowls in the past five six years with New York and Tampa Bay, defensive end Grant Wistrom (who also has been a part of two NFC title teams in St. Louis), and one of the most unheralded offensive lines in football. Prior to the 2004 season, the 'Hawks were the chic pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, only to go 9-7 and yet again fail to even with a playoff game. But heading into 2005, the expectations seemed to be somewhat mellowed, as many experts predicted Arizona to contend for the division crown. After a less-than-stellar 2-2 start, Seattle reeled off a franchise-record 11-game winning streak to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, then followed with two more playoff wins to finally reach the Big Game. Now, the Seahawks will finally get the attention that has been lacking for many years in the Pacific Northwest. And although they may not have quite the following that the Steelers do in terms of fanbase, the Seahawks have thrived at home in large part because of their own fans, something they will count on two weeks from now in Detroit.

Colts, like others prior, waste terrific season

It was a lock. Finally, at long last, Peyton Manning would take his Colts to the Super Bowl. After all, they established themselves as the NFL's most dominant team in 2005, winning a league-best 14 games. And with New England out of the picture, nothing would stop the Colts from finally reaching the Big Game. But apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers never got the message. Yes, the same Pittsburgh Steelers team that Indy thrashed, 26-7, on a Monday night in Week 12. But perhaps the Steelers can sympathize in one sense with the team they beat, 21-18, in Sunday's Divisional round game at the RCA Dome. Last season, the Steelers won an AFC-record 15 games, including 14 straight after a Week 2 loss. But when the smoke cleared after the AFC Championship Game, the Steelers were left scratching their heads as New England celebrated a 41-27 romp at Heinz Field. But both teams are classic examples of how it isn't always the best team that wins the Super Bowl, but rather the team that simply plays its best football down the stretch.
Just ask the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who also went 15-1 in the regular season, not to mention scored a league-record 556 points. Like the '04 Steelers, the Vikings made it 16 wins with a victory in the Divisional round, only to fall short on their home field in the championship game. The heavily favored Vikings lost, 30-27, in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons, coming up one game short of Super Bowl XXXIII.
This year's Colts team looked like it was the real deal. After flirting with perfection through the first 13 games, Indianapolis had clinched home-field advantage was well-rested with the Steelers coming to town. Yet they were rusty, falling in a 21-3 hole that proved to be too much to overcome. And now, at 30 years old, the pressure is mounting on Manning to finally reach the Super Bowl after almost unparallel regular-season success over the past three years.

Bucs, Jags fly under radar in Sunshine State

If you talk AFC playoffs, it’s all about the Colts and they’re flirtation with history. Then it’s the Broncos and no-mistake-Jake and the always-resurgent run game. And of course the Chargers and Chiefs and their high-powered offenses, and the constant attraction that is the Patriots.
If you talk NFC playoffs, it’s all about the Seahawks and the "is this the year they finally get there" question. Then it’s the Bears and the talk about how this new group is as good as the history-making ‘85 Bears. And then it’s the Falcons and Michael Vick.
So where does this leave the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Jacksonville is 9-3 but yet finds themselves three games out of first in the AFC South because they are paired with the Colts. And the 8-4 Buccaneers have seemingly become an afterthought to chic-Super Bowl-pick Carolina and the popular Falcons. Yet both are in serious playoff contention despite their doubters.
The Jaguars have been counted out now that Byron Leftwich is done for the regular season with a broken ankle. Stepping in is fourth-year man out of East Carolina David Garrard. But it’s the defense that gets the job done for the Jaguars, who have quietly built a solid resume, beating Seattle, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh. The Jags face the Colts next Sunday with a chance to be the first team to hand Indy a loss (they lost 10-3 in their previous meeting at the RCA Dome).
The Buccaneers were 5-1 when they lost Brian Griese for the year to a torn ACL, leaving the team with third-year pro Chris Simms (exit Griese, enter Simms, how’s that for history?) After two ugly losses, the Bucs at 5-3 were officially done. The offense scored three touchdowns in losses to lowly San Francisco and division rival Carolina and were about to start a tailspin. But then came Simms’ late-game heroics against Washington, followed by a road win against Atlanta. Suddenly, the Bucs are 3-3 with the lefty at the helm and just a game behind Carolina for first place in the NFC North (they face Carolina in Charlotte next Sunday).
Jacksonville is relatively inexperienced when it comes to postseason play, seeing as how they have not been there since 1999. But lest we forget that Tampa Bay won it all in 2002 behind one of the greatest defenses of all time, and a good chunk of that defensive core is still donning pewter and black, while the offense has gotten a spark from rookie running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.
It is fair to say these teams from Florida are longshots to be playing in Detroit in February, but their success through 12 games in 2005 should not be overlooked. Both teams are have hard-nosed, physical defenses, competent quarterback play, and strong coaching. More importantly, both teams have a number of solid young players who will continue to flourish in years to come.

Monday Morning Musings -- Week 12 in the NFL

So how much more damage can Adrian Wilson inflict on opposing quarterbacks? The same guy who broke Donovan McNabb's ankle three years ago knocked Marc Bulger out last week and yesterday dealt Jacksonville's playoff hopes a major blow by essentially ending Byron Leftwich's season. To be fair, Wilson has emerged as one of the league's best safeties despite toiling in anonymity in the desert ... Consider Week 12 a reunion weekend of sorts. Three head coaches went up against former employers, and all three of them won. Jim Mora beat former 49ers boss Steve Mariucci, Marvin Lewis beat old friend Brian Billick, and Marty Schottenheimer won in his first visit to Washington since being fired by Daniel Synder following the 2001 season ... Why does it seem like the Giants are always done in by special teams? Forgetting their 2002 playoff debacle against the 49ers, two of their four losses this season have come as a result of faulty special teams. They allowed punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in a loss to Minnesota in Week 10, then watched as Jay Feely missed three potential game-winning field goal attempts in yesterday's loss to Seattle ... The Colts are getting all the headlines, but perhaps the Chargers could be undefeated too. Just consider that they have held fourth-quarter leads in all four of their losses ... The Broncos' two losses were to the Dolphins and Giants, the same two teams they lost to in 1998 when the went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. Furthermore, if Denver goes on to win the AFC championship, it will mark the seventh time in eight years that the eventual AFC champion has lost to Miami during the regular season, with all of those games taking place in Miami ... If you want to assess the jobs that 2005's three new head coaches are doing, just look at their records relative to last season. Neither San Francisco's Mike Nolan, Miami's Nick Saban, nor Cleveland's Romeo Crennel will be coaching in the playoffs this year, but through 12 weeks, all three have already won the same total number of games their predecesseors won in 2004. Albeit 2-9 this year, the 49ers were 2-14 last year, while the Dolphins and Browns, both 4-7 this year, finished 4-12 last year. It appears as if all three coaches have brought stability to organizations that so sorely lacked it last year ... Despite a 2-9 record of their own, the Packers have still managed outscore their opponents, 232-223, thanks in large part to a 52-3 hurting they put on the Saints in Week 5 ... So much for the Packers being well-received on the road. Seems like fans this year and making an extra effort to disrupt the Packers' rhythm -- literally. In a Week 8 visit to Cincinnati, a fan sprinted onto the field during a last-minute drive and took the ball away from Brett Favre. Then last week in Philadelphia, a fan ran onto the field to spread his mother's ashes before he, too, was taken into custody.

No QB controversy, but Johnson brings professionalism to Vikes

He doesn’t have Daunte Culpepper’s arm, his size, or his speed. At 37-years-old, he isn’t considered mobile. And he likely will not be putting up the numbers that Culpepper did in 2004, when he set a franchise record by throwing for 4,717 yards. But he’s 3-0 since replacing the injured Culpepper, and he still has one thing on his plate that #11 doesn’t – a Super Bowl ring. And in three games, he has delivered Minnesota two road wins (they had none in four tries under Culpepper) and also a professional attitude so sorely missed with Culpepper at the helm.
He is humble and smart. He makes sound decisions. And you will never see him involved in a sideline blowup with teammates. Not to say that Culpepper isn’t bright, but he seems to lack the other afore-mentioned qualities. While incredibly gifted physically, Culpepper has yet to fully mature to the point where he can keep his cool when things get rough. And his teammates seem to feed off this, which might help explain their 2-5 start, not to mention being outscored by at least 20 points in all of their first four road games.
Enter Brad Johnson. When Culpepper tore three knee ligaments against Carolina, Johnson came in for mop-up duty and it looked like the Vikings season was now officially over. Not so. Johnson, who battled critics throughout his tenures in Washington and Tampa Bay, led the Buccaneers to a world championship in 2002, yet was still given only enough respect to be benched by the season finale of 2003 and ultimately shown the door following the 2004 season. Now back to where he started his career, Johnson has found a home in Minnesota, as well as his old touch.
The difference between the two is that when Johnson throws an interception, he simply goes over to the sideline, looks at aerial photos, and makes the necessary adjustment for the next series while not changing his mind set or expression one bit. When Culpepper throws a pick, he visibly shows his frustration, either by yelling or stomping his feet in anger. He is easily rattled and he lets one mistake affect his play the rest of the game. When Culpepper does throw a touchdown, he starts rolling his arms (a la a referee calling a false start), then swings his fist in celebration. What does Johnson do? He pats his teammates on the helmet and heads over to the sideline and gears up for the next possession.
Sure, the offensive production has dropped off since Daunte went down. But the other players have stepped up, and Johnson has done his part just to keep his team in the ballgame. Result: the Vikings are back in the race at 5-5.

Talk about exciting -- 6-4 Chargers as good as it gets

Never before has it been seen, or at least in recent memory. A 6-4 team that has looked so gosh-darn good throughout their first 10 games, yet only with six wins to show for it. The Chargers very easily could be sitting atop the undefeated perch with the Colts after 10 games considering that they’ve held fourth-quarter leads in all four of their losses, which have come by a combined 12 points. A late goal-line stand by Dallas. Last-second field goals by Denver and Pittsburgh. A blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Philadelphia. In their wins, they’ve looked downright awesome. They blew out the Giants and Patriots in consecutive weeks to the tune of 86-40, easily handled the Raiders, got three touchdowns by Antonio Gates against Kansas City, used a goal-line stand of their own against the Jets, then trashed Buffalo, 48-10. Whew. Certainly, with all the tough teams they’ve faced already, their schedule must get easier, right? Eh...not really. Their remaining road games send them to Washington, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. They also get a Week 17 visit from Denver. If San Diego can reach 10-6, it’d be nothing short of amazing.
We all know about the offense. It’s the defense that must stay poised. San Diego has been stout against the run this year, something they will need to continue against a fierce schedule. Meanwhile, come playoffs, assuming the Chargers are there, they are dangerous. New England? No problem. Chargers manhandled them 41-17. Denver? Tough. But the Chargers certainly outplayed them in their first meeting in Week 2, a 20-17 last-second Denver win. The Steelers? Also tough, and the Chargers took them to the wire in Week 5, only to fall, 24-22. The Colts? We’ll see. They meet in Week 15 at the RCA Dome. All in all, the Chargers mean business, something we haven’t really been able to say since the mid-90's. But Marty-ball is back, and so is a level excitement in Southern California for the Bolts.

Colts over Pats hump; can they retain perfection?

At long last. The nightmare is over. The Colts, who hadn’t won in Foxboro since Jim Harbaugh was their quarterback, finally got a monkey off their back. Make that a gorilla. Peyton Manning’s precision finally came full circle against the Patriots, and the Colts reborn defense made it stand up as the Colts walloped the Pats, 40-21, in front of a national television audience. For now, the media will ease up on Peyton and Co. The Colts have finally won in New England and have clearly established themselves as the class of the AFC this year. But now the press can put their sole focus on the Colts into their perfect 8-0 start, and whether it will reach 16-0. As of now, the ‘72 Dolphins aren’t sweating. But considering Indianapolis has five of its final eight games at home, maybe they should start loosening their collars.
The Colts face the AFC’s worst team, the Houston Texans, next week, at the RCA Dome. The Texans are 1-7 but they were actually tied with the Colts at halftime in their week 7 meeting before Indy eventually won, 38-20. But the Texans are extremely overmatched and do not figure to give the Colts a legitimate challenge.
The real challenge for the Colts will come in the two following games, when they take on the top two teams in the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2). After the Houston game, the Colts travel to Cincinnati to take on a Bengals team in perhaps a familiar stop. Two years ago the Chiefs came to Paul Brown Stadium 9-0 only to have their perfect season ruined, 24-19. The Bengals, who will be coming off a bye, will try and make history repeat itself. Then the Colts return home and return to Monday Night Football, where they will face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger figures to be healthy by then and if he defeats Baltimore, will enter the game with his perfect career road record intact.
If the Colts get past the Steelers game unscathed, the ‘72 Dolphins will need to start wiping down with a beach towel. The lowly and rebuilding Titans visit in Week 13, followed by a trip to Jacksonville, who did give the Colts a scare in week 2 but fell by a touchdown. The Jaguars and Colts have split their past four games, with the last four meetings being within a touchdown. After the Jaguars, the San Diego Chargers come to town. Last season, the Chargers came to Indianapolis riding an eight-game winning streak. They took a 31-16 lead before the Colts came back to win in overtime, 34-31. The Chargers figure to be the Colts defense’s toughest remaining challenge, although Cincinnati is no patsy.
Indianapolis finishes with two games against the NFC West, first a trip to Seattle and then a visit from Arizona. The Seahawks and Colts do not have much history against each other, and not many teams have been able to go up to the Pacific Northwest and win recently. But if somehow, someway, Manning can lead Indy to 15-0, they should have no problem sealing the deal against the Cardinals in the season finale.
So, can they do it? History (save for Miami) says no. Conventional wisdom says no. But the Colts seem to have what it would take to complete this unthinkable task: a dynamic-yet-consistent offense, a stingy defense, and the game’s best quarterback. They have a tremendous home-field advantage at the RCA Dome, where they have lost just once in their past 13 games (including playoffs). Yet the prediction here is still no. The Colts could very well go 15-1, but the mounting media pressure and the undoubted target on their backs will become a burden, and the Colts ultimately will fall. If I had to pick a game for them to do it, it would be against the Bengals.

Is Prevent Defense Preventing Wins?

It’s a rather common cliche in the NFL, that prevent defense prevents from winning a game. Is it a believable theory? Certainly. And if you’re not sold, maybe you need look no farther than the Denver Broncos’ last three games. Granted, yes, they are 2-1 in those games, but if you are a Denver fan you know that those two wins should have been blowouts, not nail-biters (not that their 49-21 win over Philly was close, but at the start of the 4th quarter it was anyone’s game). In case you missed it, a 28-3 lead over the Patriots shrunk to eight points before a late defensive stand helped Denver preserve the win in week 6. The following game, the Broncos saw a 23-10 lead turn into a 24-23 Giants win in the closing seconds. And this past Sunday, a 28-0 advantage over the Eagles became 28-21 at the end of the 3rd quarter before the Broncos pulled away). Add to this the fact that three other teams have blown leads of 17 points of more in 2005, and a red flag should be raised. Surely, if you can build a lead that big, why can’t you hold it?
It would appear to shape up this way: teams will employ their defensive gameplan up to the point of building a huge lead, but once that lead is built, they will sit back and only rush four defensive lineman for fear of giving up a momentum-shifting big-yardage play. Worse yet for those teams, offenses can sense that and are not afraid to spread the defense out, or even take shots downfield. By switching to a prevent defense, a team is playing scared and straying away from what was successful for them early in the game. If a defense is wreaking havoc on an opposing quarterback early on, it can rattle his confidence. A good defensive football team will continue to attack, but strangely there is a trend of teams giving quarterbacks time to develop a rhythm.
This is not to say that the prevent defense is a bad thing, but for many teams it is in fact sending a message that "we are playing not to lose rather than playing to win". But then again there are some teams for whom the prevent defense may work, teams that can consistently generate pressure with their front four, thus not having to blitz to pressure the quarterback. But that is a select list, with only teams such as Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, and Carolina having the personnel to do so. So for the rest of the league, the message ought to be clear: play to win the game.

More than refreshing to see these Sox win it all

Alas, the Sox are world champions in 2005... the White Sox, that is. Yes that's right, the Chicago White Sox, who hadn't tasted a title since World War I, 1917 to be exact. Sure it was a four-game sweep, but this was still a very exciting World Series. The Astros and White Sox have similar styles of play, which is why all four games were decided by two runs or less, including a 14-inning classic in Game 4. So the ChiSox are second to none now, not even the beloved Cubs, who will have to now take a back seat to their partners on the South Side.
And how refreshing the 2005 MLB season has been. When the LCS rolled around, no Yankees and no Red Sox. Quite frankly, you couldn't ask for much more. No big egos. No massive payroll. No egotistical owner. Just a group of hard-working, blue-collar type players that played fundamentally sound baseball on a consistent basis. The old-fashioned way, if you will. Sure, the series didn't feature Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, or David Ortiz, but so what? This was old school baseball, and the White Sox earned it, and after they heard it all throughout the season: they're going to choke; they play in a soft division; they can't compete with the Yankees and Red Sox. And yet they persevered, winning an American League-best 99 games and their first division title in five years. And in case anyone doubted them entering October, they won 11 of their 12 postseason games just for good measure. And now classy owner Jerry Reinsdorf can enjoy this title as he did the six that his Chicago Bulls won in the 1990s. And best yet, another season has passed without George Steinbrenner putting another ring on his finger, while A-Rod and Giambi are still searching for their first. Oh, and Red Sox Nation? Shut up. You can just get back on the Patriots bandwagon, but even that isn't a lock in 2005.
But we're here to congratulate the Chicago White Sox, not bash the hated Red Sox and Yankees. To congratulate Frank Thomas, who has battled recent injuries after being one of the most dominant players in the 90s and now finally has reached the top. And to congratulate GM Ken Williams, whose savvy and smarts have provided the Sox a core group of players that could keep them in contention for years to come. And who could overlook the job that second-year manager Ozzie Guillen did? He was as fiery on the bench this year as he was in his playing days, when he became a fan favorite on the South Side. In all, it was a magical ride for the White Sox in 2005, and how refreshing it is to see the city of Chicago boast a World Series championship, even if it isn't the lovable Cubbies.

Eagles looking to buck SBH trend

Not sure what SBH stands for? Just ask the St. Louis Rams. Or better yet, the Oakland Raiders. It stands for Super Bowl Hangover, and it's a serious syndrome experienced by many a team who've seen their championship dreams crushed in the Big Game. The Atlanta Falcons were the first to suffer from it, following a 34-19 loss in Super Bowl XXXIII to Denver with a dismal, injury-riddled 5-11 campaign in 1999. Two years later, the Giants failed to crack .500 a year after falling to the Ravens in Super XXXV. And since then, the Rams, Raiders, and Panthers have all had losing seasons following a Super Bowl loss.
So here are the 2005 Eagles, who came into training camp with a 24-21 loss to the Patriots in February still fresh on their minds (not to mention numerous distractions from loudmouth receiver Terrell Owens and whining by scatback Brian Westbrook). Through six games, Philly is 4-2 but lucky to be so, relying almost solely on the passing game to generate points. After dominating the NFC a year ago, few realistically thought the Eagles would crumble as teams before them have. They may not go 13-3, or even with the competitive NFC East, but they almost assuredly will have a sixth straight winning season. This should come as a relief to obnoxious Eagles fans, who won't be witnessing a downfall like the Raiders have since suffering a 48-21 blugeoning to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.
To say Oakland has hit the skids since the end of the 2002 season is an understatement. Once an AFC powerhouse, the Raiders are simply overmatching in the talented AFC West, and winning in the notorious Black Hole no longer seems like a daunting task. Entering last Sunday's contest against Buffalo, the Raiders were 10-27 since the start of 2003, including just two wins away from home. In 2003, players lost complete respect for head coach Bill Callahan, constantly ripping him in the media, eventually leading to Callahan's dismissal after a horrid 4-12 season. Norv Turner, the former Redskins coach, has not fared much better, as his team won just 5 games in his first year last season. And at 2-4 (including the win yesterday against the Bills), the Raiders have virtually no chance at competing for the playoffs. Injuries and malcontention have added up to a disastrous recipe, something that almost would have inevitably been different had the Raiders beaten the Bucs in the Super Bowl.
And the Raiders aren't alone. The Rams have one just one playoff game in the past three seasons since being shocked by 14-point-underdog New England in Super Bowl XXXVI, while the Giants have won none. The Panthers appear back on track, but first had to see a chunk of its roster land on Injured Reserve last year as the team got off to 1-7 start before a strong finish nearly landed them back in the playoffs.
So what is the cause of SBH? I for one will go with the mental strain that comes from dealing with a loss in the Super Bowl and knowing you came so close to ultimate glory. It becomes that much harder knowing you worked that hard to get to that point and telling yourself, well if we can get there, then certainly we can get back and win it. But contributing factors such as injuries and player movement simply make it hard to get back to the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs. Hearing about the Eagles and Patriots is like listening to a broken record, but the bottom line is they have been staples in the playoffs while other teams have been rather inconsistent over the past few years. I'd love more than anyone to see both of these teams miss out on the postseason in 2005, but that simply isn't reality. The Eagles are a safe bet to buck the SBH trend, but only time will tell.

Browns vs. Texans -- the first 4 years

The honeymoon is officially over for the Houston Texans. At 0-4, they are staring at the rest of the NFL as the only remaning winless team. It wasn't supposed to go this way. The Texans progressed slowly but steadily through their first three seasons, increasing their win total from 4 to 5 to 7, narrowly missing a .500 finish last year with a week 17 loss to Cleveland. So naturally, year four equals playoffs, right? Apparently not. David Carr, the first overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, has already been sacked 27 times this season as the Texans have the lowest-ranked offense in the league. The defense has given up far too many plays. And the team has already fired its offensive coordinator, giving Chris Palmer the boot after just two games.
Oddly enough, it was Palmer who was the first head coach in the new era of the Cleveland Browns. He lasted just two years, posting a 5-27 record. And while Dom Capers has far more credibility in the coaching ranks than Butch Davis ever did, it is the Browns who earned a playoff berth in their fourth season back, not the Texans, it would appear. Like Houston, Cleveland improved its win total in its first three years, also reaching 7-9 by year three. But unlike Cleveland, Houston does not appear poised to go 9-7 and reach the postseason, as the Browns did in 2002. Granted, Cleveland played in a much weaker AFC that year, but Houston is miles away from the playoffs at this point. The offensive line is porous, a trend that started when the team made All-Pro tackle Tony Boselli the first pick in the expansion draft, only to have Boselli retire because of injuries before ever playing a snap for the Texans.
Now, the coach, quarterback, and even general manager Charlie Casserly are in hot water. Casserly must share some of the blame after jettisoning some of the Texans most productive defensive players in its first three seasons. Jamie Sharper was a salary cap casualty, Aaron Glenn and injury liability, and Jay Foreman was simply not needed was the apaprent logic behind these moves. Yet the youthful exuberance supposed to be displayed by the Texans of defense has yet to be seen, and the biggest defensive acquisition, cornerback Phillip Buchanon from the Raiders, has been a complete bust, so much so that he was benched after week 2. So far, not so good.
The Texans remaining schedule is no walk in the park, either, as they head to Seattle and host undefeated Indianapolis in the next two weeks before getting a visit from -- guess wh0 -- Cleveland, against whom they are 0-2 lifetime. As of now, it looks like the Texans are regressing, not progressing.