Dec 20th 2008 11:45PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, Ravens, AFC East, AFC North, NFL Playoffs
New England’s playoff chances just got a little longer on Saturday night when Baltimore went on the road and beat the Cowboys. If Baltimore beats the Jaguars next week, which should be easier than beating Dallas in a must-win game for both teams, New England has no chance at a wild card spot as Baltimore would own the conference record tiebreaker.
The Ravens’ win makes today’s Bills-Patriots game a must-win, since a loss would eliminate any chance of the Patriots winning the division unless the Jets and Dolphins tie next week. Even if Miami and New York both lose this week, a 9-6 Patriots’ team would be guaranteed of losing a tiebreaker to whichever team won next week’s Dolphins-Jets game.
If there is any good news for the Patriots, it’s that everything is simplified now. New England can treat their final two games as the beginning of the playoffs. If they lose either game, they are likely finished, so they know that there is no margin for error.
Dec 18th 2008 3:45PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots
I admit, I’ve never been a huge fan of Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker. I mean, sure, he seems like a nice enough guy, solid player, but I always felt that any reasonably talented NFL wide receiver could do his job, which is to basically haul in swing passes from Tom Brady. Turns out, I may have been wrong. Actually, I think I am.
With two games to play in the regular season, Welker has already hauled in 100 passes for the second straight season, and is going to his very first Pro Bowl.
My criticism, if you want to call it that, with Welker over the years has been the fact he never, ever catches anything down field. Ever. On a given pass play his typical route usually ends within four or five yards of the line of scrimmage, if not behind it. It’s the definition of dink-and-dunk. Yet, while that may be true, I was still wrong about his ability to be a game-breaker.Continue Reading
Dec 16th 2008 1:43PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jets, Giants, Panthers, Patriots, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Playoffs
The playoff scenarios get a little bit clearer, but what’s remarkable with two weeks to play is how a 10-6 record may mean very little this year. Usually 10-6 is enough to wrap up a playoff spot, and it is this year if you play in a weak division. But if you’re aiming for a wild-card spot, 10-6 might leave you sitting at home.
But while scenarios are clearer this week than last week, it’s still pretty complicated, especially in the wild-card races, where four 9-5 AFC teams and three 9-5 wild-card contenders in the NFC ensure that there are plenty of tiebreakers to check out.
Probably the most surprising thing that jumped out when running through this week’s scenarios is how the Giants could go from a sure-fire No. 1 seed to playing next week to stay out of the first week of the postseason if they lose this week. And Minnesota has gone from a likely January vacation to a shot at a first-round bye.
Continue Reading
Dec 14th 2008 9:20PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, Raiders, AFC East
Early on, it looked as if the New England Patriots were capable of scoring 100 points on the Raiders, but, then again, a 21-point deficit for Oakland might as well be a 100-point deficit. The Patriots used a dominant first quarter, and a strong performance from Matt Cassel to blast Oakland, 49-26.
Cassel, playing with a heavy heart, completed 18-of-30 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns. He threw a pair of scores in the first quarter — one to Kevin Faulk, the other to Randy Moss — while also connecting with Wes Welker in the second, and once again hitting Moss for a nine-yard strike in the third quarter.
Moss, by the way, making his return to Oakland after two less-than-stellar years there, hauled in five passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. But, hey, Oakland has John Bowie to show for that draft-day trade. Oops.
The most exciting moment of the game was a 20-second stretch in the second quarter that saw both teams combine for three touchdowns, two of which came on kickoff returns.Continue Reading
Dec 13th 2008 10:45AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, AFC East, NFL Fans, NFL Referees
And it continues: the NFL’s assault on the scourge that has become end zone celebrations. Earlier this year it was the post-touchdown shimmy that drew the league’s ire, and then team mascots and rednecks masquerading as EMTs were targeted.
And now, Commissar Goodell, who, coincidentally, goes by Herod*, has decided that children should not be honored. That’s right, little people have been put on notice, which should make Darren Sproles very nervous.
Last Sunday against the Seahawks, Patriots tight end Ben Watson scored a touchdown, and to celebrate the arrival of a soon-to-be-born baby Watson, he stuck the ball under his jersey and pretended to be pregnant. That’ll be 10 grand, please.
Yep, as Gretz reasoned at the time, the league fined Watson 10 large, which, incidentally, is what it cost the Giants’ Brandon Jacobs two years ago when he pulled the original’ “hey, look, I’m preggers!” routine after scoring a touchdown. Upside for Watson: no inflation.
This latest punishment does nothing to dispel the notion that the NFL arbitrarily sanctions its players (or as they’re called at league headquarters, “evil doers”), and it also sheds some light on why Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who clearly tried to maimed Wes Welker (little person), wasn’t slapped with a hefty fine, or better yet, suspended for life*. A travesty, indeed.
*
Dec 13th 2008 12:30PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, Raiders, NFL Coaching
Perhaps the most interesting individual matchup in Sunday’s Patriots-Raiders game will be New England wide receiver Randy Moss taking on Oakland cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. In theory, anyway. Asomugha has quietly — because he plays for Oakland — become one of the league’s best corners, while Moss continues to be, well, Randy Moss. Granted, he’s not going to haul in 20+ touchdowns this season, but he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the passing game.
One would think that since Asomugha is the best in the business at shutting down opposing receivers, and because Moss is still one of the NFL’s best big-play threats — even without Tom Brady — the Raiders would use their franchise player to shadow Moss everywhere he goes. But, since they’re the Raiders, they won’t.
Earlier this week, Asomugha told the media in Oakland that he won’t be used as a shadow on Moss, and instead, will be chasing around Wes Welker.
File this under: this is why you’re 3-10.Continue Reading
Dec 13th 2008 1:00PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, Raiders
I don’t know how many fans will be in the stands on Sunday when the Raiders take on New England, but one person who be in attendance is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who earlier this week accepted an invite from the team to take in some Oakland Raiders football.
According to Jerry McDonald of the , it’s the first time an NFL commissioner has attended a game in Oakland since the team returned to the bay area prior to the 1995 season. I’m guessing they’ve stayed away because owner Al Davis has tried to sue the league multiple times, and is, generally, crazy. It’s a love-hate relationship, mostly hate.
Of course, as McDonald points out, it wasn’t Davis who extended the invite, it was actually Amy Trask, who is the Raiders’ CEO. So, there you go.
Regardless, Goodell will get to see what has become — for this week, anyway — the NFL’s second-most dysfunctional franchise in person. I’m sure he’s excited.
Oh, and Ben Watson, try not to take part in any playful celebrations this week because the boss is in the house, and he might just come out of his private box to fine you on the field. Everyone, please, be on your best behavior. That includes you, Mr. Davis.
Dec 10th 2008 12:45PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, NFL Referees
During New England’s 24-21 come-from-behind win in Seattle this past Sunday, the Patriots were charged with only one penalty the entire game. If nothing else, they made the flag worth it, when tight end Ben Watson shoved the football under his jersey and gave a salute to his pregnant wife.
Bill Belichick, obviously, wasn’t exactly thrilled with Watson’s celebration because it resulted in a 15-yard penalty assessed on the ensuing kickoff. Of course, there’s an entirely different debate in there as to whether or not using a football to make yourself look like your pregnant wife is worthy of a 15-yard penalty (or a fine!), but, we’re not really addressing that here. And, for the record, my opinion is, no, this should not be worthy of a penalty or a fine.
Anyway, had Watson not performed his celebration, New England would have played a perfect game on Sunday, at least as far as yellow flags are concerned. And this isn’t really something that’s new to the Patriots this season.Continue Reading
Dec 11th 2008 4:30PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, AFC East
A day after leaving the team to be with his family following the death of his father, Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel has returned to practice on Thursday, as reported by Christopher L. Gasper of the . He took part in the team’s workout at the San Diego State University campus, and may be in the lineup on Sunday when the Patriots take on Oakland. From Gasper:
He was seen getting off the team bus this morning at San Jose State, where the Patriots are preparing for Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders, and he was on the field for practice this afternoon, which began at 12:40 PST.If Cassel doesn’t play, the start would go to either rookie quarterback Kevin O’Connell, a third-round pick from San Diego State, or second-year player Matt Gutierrez.
The funeral for Cassel’s father, Greg, is scheduled for Monday.
In his 12 starts this season for the Patriots, Cassel has completed 283 passes for 3,052 yards and 14 touchdowns, while the team has posted a 7-5 record.
Dec 10th 2008 12:45PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots, NFL RefereesDuring New England’s 24-21 come-from-behind win in Seattle this past Sunday, the Patriots were charged with only one penalty the entire game. If nothing else, they made the flag worth it, when tight end Ben Watson shoved the football under his jersey and gave a salute to his pregnant wife.
Bill Belichick, obviously, wasn’t exactly thrilled with Watson’s celebration because it resulted in a 15-yard penalty assessed on the ensuing kickoff. Of course, there’s an entirely different debate in there as to whether or not using a football to make yourself look like your pregnant wife is worthy of a 15-yard penalty (or a fine!), but, we’re not really addressing that here. And, for the record, my opinion is, no, this should not be worthy of a penalty or a fine.
Anyway, had Watson not performed his celebration, New England would have played a perfect game on Sunday, at least as far as yellow flags are concerned. And this isn’t really something that’s new to the Patriots this season.Continue Reading
