Game Result
Week #5 (October 7, 2007)
Atlanta 13
Tennessee 20

Game Analysis
This is the first time I have every seen a team give the visiting team every opportunity to win the game and the Falcons still couldn’t get the “W”. It was almost like the Titans felt sorry for the Falcons and continued to give them turnovers to help them win, but the Falcons could not score in the red zone. Atlanta even blocked a punt, drove down to the Titans goal line and turned it over to lose the game. Joey once again had very little time to throw the ball. Even when he did, he had those indecisive happy feet and could not get the ball out of his hands. I am tired of watching these 2 yard dump off passes to the running backs and tight ends. I would like to see them start attacking down field a few more times during the game. But it is hard to run those long routes when you are scrambling for your life. The Falcons still cannot get the running game going and it isn’t going to get any easier now that Wayne Gandy is gone for the season. Now with two rookies on the offensive line, it is going to be a tough season for the Falcons backfield. On the brighter side, maybe it will be good to get the rookies some playing time together for the future. I totally disagree with the decision to replace Harrington with Leftwich at that time in the game. I could see if Atlanta was being blown out and they were trying to get Byron some snaps in a live game, but the Falcons still had a good chance to win this game. Byron looked good on his first pass of the game, but after that he was throwing souvenirs to the fans. He missed the rookie Laurent Robinson wide open in the end zone for a touchdown that would have tied the game. I am really impressed with Laurent and wished they would get him more involved in the passing game. Petrino says Joey will be the starter next Sunday versus the Giants. I think Petrino also needs to punt the ball more. Both field goal kickers are struggling from beyond the 45 yard line and when they miss, they are giving the opposing team good field position.
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Last Weeks Result

• Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 0
• Record: 4-1
• Standings: Sole possession of 1st in AFC North

Last Weeks Game Recap

While I expected a win against Seattle, I was not expecting a shut out against one of the better offenses in the NFL. The Steeler defense exposed some fundamental weaknesses in the Seattle offense. The Seahawks don’t seem to have much of an interior running game and Alexander was really a non-factor in this game. The wrist may have been bothering him, but to be honest Shaun has not been the same back for several years. In addition, the Steelers went with no blitzing and a cover 2 scheme that completely confused Matt Hasselbeck. From the Seahawks perspective, I am sure that they will look into adjustments to prevent them from being shut out again. However, what this shows me from the Steelers side is that they were able to successfully break down film on an opponent and come up with a game plan to put their players in a position to win. > more <

Last Weeks Result

• Arizona 21, Pittsburgh 14
• Record: 3-1
• Standings: Sole possession of 1st in AFC North

Last Weeks Game Recap

In writing about a loss, there are two tendencies I want to avoid. First of all, there is a tendency to justify or make excuses for the loss. Just to set the record straight, the Arizona Cardinals flat out beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. Arizona had injury woes, turn overs and other situations that they were able to overcome. On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Steelers were not able to do the same. The second tendency is to give a straight game report card of F for all phases of the game. In my way of thinking, both of these things disrespect the Arizona Cardinals and they deserve credit for this win.

Several things stand out about the Steelers offense in this game that are disturbing. Pittsburgh seemed to continually be in 3rd and longs. And by long, I mean 20+ yards. It is not surprising that the Steelers were only 5 of 15 on 3rd downs. Some of these 3rd and longs were created by the outstanding play of the Arizona defense, in both sacking Ben and getting penetration into the backfield on running plays. However, the miscues in handing the ball off and the continual penalties was inexcusable. I thought that Ben actually played a pretty good game. His ability to stay alive in the pocket continues to impress me. He is also putting some air under his long throws that he used to struggle with in the past. His first touchdown throw to Holmes was perfect and he just barely overthrew Nate Washington on another long ball seemingly. (In looking at the replay it looks like Nate slowed up slightly.) > more <

After ranking the divisions, I will now briefly offer up my play-off predictions.

NFC Playoff Teams 

1. Chicago Bears - wins a weak division and racks up easy wins doing it.
2. New Orleans Saints - another beneficiary of an easy division.
3. Philadelphia Eagles - Winners of a brutal challenge in the NFC East
4. St. Louis Rams - Surprise winner in the NFC West.
5. Dallas Cowboys - A very good team in a very tough division.
6. Seattle Seahawks - A good team and will be a challenge in the playoffs.

NFC Play-offs Round 1

• Eagles vs. Seahawks - Eagles take the victory in a good game
• Rams vs. Cowboys - Cowboys upset the Rams at home

NFC Play-offs Round 2

• Bear vs. Cowboys - Bears win despite Rex Grossman
• Saints vs. Eagles - The Eagles get revenge in this play-off rematch and win easily.

NFC Championship Game

•  Bears vs. Eagles - Eagles continue their impressive run through the NFC and win a trip to the Superbowl

AFC Play-off Teams

1. Indianapolis Colts - Very good team in a somewhat suspect division
2. New England Patriots - Ditto
3. San Diego Chargers - Hardened by just getting the division win.
4. Baltimore Ravens - May be a closer battle here than projected, but the Ravens just win the North.
5. Denver Broncos - A division winner if San Diego was not there.
6. Cincinnati Bengals -  This could easily be the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it doesn’t matter as neither team will win the Superbowl.

AFC Play-offs Round 1

• San Diego vs. Cincinnati - San Diego chalks up an easy victory.
• Baltimore vs. Denver - Denver gets a tough win in Baltimore.

AFC Play-offs Round 2 

• Indianapolis vs. Denver - Denver is outplayed in every aspect by the Colts
• New England vs. San Diego - In the best game of the play-offs, San Diego finds a way to win.

AFC Championship Game 

• Indianapolis vs. San Diego - Indianapolis can’t match the aggressive play of the Chargers.

SUPERBOWL

San Diego vs. Philadelphia

The Eagles make it interesting, but in the end, this will be remembered as yet another AFC domination of the NFC.

The toughest division in football is none other that the AFC West in my ranking system. It is also no coincidence that the best player in the NFL is also in this division. Three of these four teams get the challenge of facing LaDainian Tomlinson twice a year. That alone makes this one of the toughest divisions in the league. Besides that, this division has two serious super bowl contenders, a team that will be challenging, one of the best unknown defenses and perhaps the best overall team in the league.

The San Diego Chargers field one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. And they do the things well that you need to win. Namely, they run the ball and they stop the run. With Tomlinson, the Chargers have the premier running game in the league. > more <

This division is quite similar to the NFC East in that there are potentially three very good teams here as well as a team that does not appear to have much of a chance this season. Just several years ago this division was among the weaker divisions as Pittsburgh and Baltimore were up and down, while Cincinnati and Cleveland were perennial league losers. With the arrival of the Bengals as a consistently good team and the arrival of Steve McNair, this division now features three teams that have the ability to not only make the playoffs, but go deep in post season play.

For years it seems that the Baltimore Ravens have been searching for a quarterback. In fact, ever since they became the Baltimore Ravens, there has been a continuous quest to find that quarterback. > more <

I have ranked the NFC East as #3 overall in the NFL and #1 in the NFC. I tried to do everything I could to avoid ranking this division this high. The teams in this division get more coverage and media attention than any other combined group. Year in and year out, this division is ranked as the toughest in football, yet for the most part, this has been a division of mediocre teams.

This year though, they deserve a high ranking for no other reason that three of these teams could potentially finish first as easily as third. There is not a whole lot of distance between these teams and the rivalries between all of these teams is always fierce and entertaining. So why not rank them higher? Because not one of these teams is outstanding. I don’t feel that the NFC will be represented by a team out of this division. On top of that, I don’t feel that any team in the NFC will win the Superbowl. > more <

This is another division that has been pretty much dominated by a single team in recent history. The other teams have had seasons in which they have been good and even challenged for the division title at times. But no team in this division nor the entire NFL has rivaled the recent success of the Patriots.

This season doesn’t appear to be any different in the AFC East. At the top of the pecking order here (and the entire league), the New England Patriots remain firmly entrenched as the top dog. New England immediately became the Superbowl pick de jour upon acquiring Randy Moss. I don’t think it is quite that simple. New England was a good team before the acquisition and they are just as good a team after the acquisition. In my mind, nothing has changed; the Patriots will be serious contenders at the end of the season.

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Coming in at #5 on my division countdown is the NFC South. At the beginning of last year, I had the NFC South as at least the toughest division in the NFC and possibly the entire NFL. Last year, hopes were extremely high for all save one team: the division winning New Orleans Saints. Beyond the Saints, this division was actually competitive last year. Competition was fierce for which team could be the most disappointing. A year later, this division still appears to have one or maybe two contenders, but mostly some major question marks.

The New Orleans Saints gave official notice last year that they are no longer the “Aints.” Surprising everyone — I would assume themselves included – the Saints rolled up victory after victory. Eventually getting to the playoffs and loosing in the NFC Championship game, they were definitely the Cinderella story of 2006. Drew Brees came back from a shoulder injury stronger than ever last year and has to be considered a top five quarterback in the league. He didn’t single-handedly transpose the Saints from worst to first – but he sure was a big part of it. > more <

Trying to rank the divisions through the middle has proven to be somewhat more difficult. The middle of my rankings start with the most improved division in my opinion. For several years, this division has been dreadful. The Seahawks could have safely been given the division crown at the start of most recent years.

However, the times have changed and I believe that the Seahawks will have two serious challengers in this division in the Rams and the 49ers. I think ultimately the Rams represent the most serious threat to Seattle. Right after the 2003 season, the Rams descent into mediocrity began. With the continued improvement of the Seahawks as well as the eventual decay in the team personnel and the Mike Martz effect, the Rams quickly became a has-been. > more <