See the previous absurdly premature playoff picture here.
AFC First-Round Byes:
Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals
Other AFC Divisional Champions:
San Diego Chargers
New England Patriots
AFC Wild Cards:
Denver Broncos
Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC First-Round Byes:
New Orleans Saints
Minnesota Vikings
Other NFC Divisional Champions:
Dallas Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals
NFC Wild Cards:
Green Bay Packers
Atlanta Falcons
• The Bengals and Chargers are both 8-3, tied for the second-best record in the AFC, but it took about .4 seconds to decide to give the Bengals the nod for the second first-round bye spot. The Chargers, bless their hearts, feel a tad flimsy to me. The Bengals have a stronger ground game, and they're better at stopping the run. They're built on a sturdier foundation. Fortunately, if the issue is still between these two teams on Dec. 20, they'll get to decide things on the field.
• I gave New England a brief moment of consideration for the two-spot as well, since the Patriots are just one game out, and I can forgive a team for laying an egg in the Superdome. It happens, especially if you don't play there often. Teams get in there, and they play like they're high. I don't know why. What I'm saying here is that the Patriots aren't as bad as they looked on Monday night, and I still see them as a major factor in the AFC. That said, I didn't feel like the rest of their schedule was soft enough to give them the benefit of the doubt for the two-spot.
• Denver, on the hand, has a remaining schedule softer than Ben Roethlisberger(notes). (Sorry, Hines Ward(notes) wrote that last sentence.) It still has two against Kansas City and it gets Oakland at home, so the Broncos should be looking at 10 wins, regardless. The other two are against Indy and Philadelphia.
• And yes, I have Pittsburgh over Baltimore, despite the results of Sunday night's contest. They're both 6-5 right now, both have two gimmes left on the schedule (Baltimore with Detroit and Oakland, Pittsburgh with Oakland and Cleveland), and let's not kid ourselves about that rematch in Pittsburgh. You don't think home-field advantage and Ben Roethlisberger's presence tilt the rematch in favor of Pittsburgh? When the Steelers played into overtime without either of those advantages?
• I feel like I should mention Jacksonville because it's also 6-5, but the Jaguars' next four are a little rough: Houston and Miami are both tough opponents, and they're followed by Indianapolis and a game in New England.
• A handful of 5-6 teams are still alive in the AFC, but they'll probably have to run the table if they want in. If any team's going to do that, it almost has to be Tennessee, doesn't it?
• The only NFC division where the champion isn't clear-cut at this point is the East, and I'd say Dallas is on the brink of that. It felt like the Giants checked out on the season for good on Thursday night, and Philadelphia feels like the most beatable 7-4 team in NFL history. Not that things can't change, because the Cowboys' cupcake schedule is behind them and the rest of their schedule turns into a cupcake made by this thing. GIANT, CAKE-SIZED CUPCAKES.
• About Philadelphia, I think I might be overly angry with the Eagles because their narrow win over Washington was ... well, we'll just say it was better for my bookie than it was for me. But really, when's the last time the Eagles were impressive? It wasn't in wins against Washington or Chicago, and it wasn't in losses to Dallas or San Diego. That takes us back to Week 8.
• That brings us to Atlanta, which I also don't feel good about, but Chris Redman(notes) at least deserves a chance. If Matt Ryan(notes) is done for the year, obviously, Atlanta's chances take a nosedive. He's definitely out for this weekend, which is unfortunate, because Atlanta plays Philadelphia and there's an NFC wild-card spot ON THE LINE.
Versus, cable home to the National Hockey League, continues to try and develop buzz-worthy original programming. Although, let's face it: At this point, a guy being placed in an unfamiliar job, and the culture clash that follows, is about as original a television concept as a drama set inside a city hospital.
So the success or failure of "Sports Jobs" on Versus likely comes down to three factors: The quality of the production, the quirkiness of the jobs and the appeal of host Junior Seau.
If you're watching the NHL on Versus, then you've seen the ads pimping this new show, which features the 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots taking on a variety of different "Sports Jobs." On tonight's season premiere (10 p.m. EST), Seau takes us inside the construction of the new stadium for the Jets and Giants; in an additional episode, he plays ball boy for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Next Wednesday is the episode featuring Seau as an equipment manager for the Washington Capitals. He spoke with us recently about working that sports job, gauging the toughness of hockey players and the impression Alex Ovechkin(notes) made on him. That, along with talk about his three days as a reporter for Sports Illustrated, concussions in the NFL and NHL and attempting to be a TV star after football. Oh, and a strange moment involving man-on-man tickling. Enjoy.
Q. Who do you think is going to have a bigger beef with you after this show airs: The guy who does "Dirty Jobs" or Shaq for that show on ABC?
SEAU: Well, I don't think either one of them will. When you look at our show, it's basically promoting the people that are unsung. With "Dirty Jobs," they're promoting the jobs. With Shaq, he's promoting celebrities that are making billions of dollars. We're totally the opposite of that.
So let's talk about "Sports Jobs." How do you go about developing a personality for TV? Were you inspired by anyone, or do you do your own thing?
Being inspired by others' work on TV wasn't something I was going to try and assimilate. I knew going into this that it was either going to have to be me or be nothing.
The great thing about Versus is that they allow the personality to be mine. The format the show has was obviously delivered by Versus, and it's something I believe in: Promoting people behind the scenes in sports that don't get any kind of love. And there are so many groups of people out there in every different sport. Hopefully our show can go into a second season and people can be educated about what they do and how they go about their daily lives.
You were an equipment manager for the Washington Capitals for the show. What did you know about that gig going into it?
Sorry, but can you repeat that? I have a guy here that was tickling me.
(Ed. Note: At this point we feet it important to acknowledge that in the short history of Puck Daddy interviews, this is/was the first time this phrase had ever been uttered by an interviewee. It has appeared at least a dozen times from an interviewer, however.)
Sure. As far as being an equipment manager, did you have a sense for what that was going to be like, based on what you saw in the NFL?
Going into that show, it was something I was familiar with. After 20 years in the National Football League, I eventually had a relationship with all of my trainers and equipment managers and field crews that have been part of my life.
When I went with the Capitals, it was like I was at home: Picking up jerseys, doing laundry -- which I haven't done in, like, 15 years -- it was a great experience but it was also a learning experience about how much passion these men have at what they do.
On a player to player basis, who has more equipment: Football or hockey?
Oh, definitely a hockey player. There's so much more going on. They wear leotards underneath those pads.
What's that one stud's name?
Ovechkin?
Yeah, Alex. Watching him, you'd think that he would be a prima donna. That guy is a jokester. He lightens it up. The reason why the Capitals are doing so well is basically because the guy puts it in perspective. He's not bigger than anybody on that team, and he cares for the players in that locker room, which I got to see firsthand.
What's your hockey history? Are you a fan, or did you go into this thing sort of blind?
I learned how to ice skate during the show. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It doesn't snow in San Diego. I'm pretty sure if it was a cold climate and we had ice rinks, I definitely would have been on the ice.
Hockey players have this reputation for being blue-collar guys, low key. Was this your first interaction with players like this, and how did you find them?
I found them as cordial, laidback and tough. All in one. You see a hockey player, you'd never know he's a professional athlete. But you put the skates on him, and he becomes a beast. That was something I recognized from the start. You better watch out if you're ever walking into a bar; never judge a book by its cover.
They definitely have a linebacker mentality. But these guys are crazy. They're nuts. They really enjoy their sport. And because they have so many games, they really can't treat it, as far as intensity or total focus, like we do [in football]. Ten games for them is one game for us.
Both hockey and football have something in common recently, which is a lot of attention on concussion prevention. Do you think enough is done to curb them? Are they simply going to be part of the game?
When I first started playing football, a headache was called a "headache." And now it's called "a concussion."
It's amazing how time has changed things. A twisted ankle back then was an ankle injury; now, it's a high- or a mid-[ankle injury]. That brings up a lot of awareness about what we need to do as far as educating players and coaches about what we put our players through and what they should expect.
So you think it's an issue? Because we've got some old-school hockey guys that still say a headache should be a "headache."
We're going to say that because we're dealing with the now. The League needs to protect the players for the future, or there's going to be more problems.
As writers, we wanted to ask you about the show in which you played a sports reporter. Did that give you a new appreciation for what the media goes through?
After that show, I basically came to the conclusion that I treated reporters really poorly.
Being a reporter and chasing down as assignment isn't an easy thing to do, especially when you're dealing with athletes that are so focused and trying to get their little game plan together to perform under adverse conditions ... it's tough. Trying to get that assignment done in a matter of time, and getting it back to Sports Illustrated to see what they can do with it ... there's so much going on behind the scenes.
So it's safe to say that a lot of athletes don't have an appreciation for deadlines?
No. "Deadlines" is basically "get the running back or the quarterback on the ground."
Former
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie
Weis was recently fired as head football coach at the University of Notre Dame.
If you're a Shutdown Corner reader and you're not terribly familiar with college
football, think of Notre Dame like the Oakland Raiders: They're not very good
right now, but they still want everyone to pat them on the back because they used
to be.
It makes sense to wonder if Weis, who was very well-regarded as an NFL offensive coordinator, might end up back with the Patriots. What's Bill Belichick say? Not right now, but in the offseason, one never knows.
"I’m disappointed for Charlie, and his family, and all the people they took out there with them," Belichick said. "Of course, I go back a long way with Charlie and we have a good friendship. I talk to him on a pretty regular basis, so I’m disappointed for him on that level.
"But right now my focus is on the Miami Dolphins, and getting ready to go down there and play a tough division game on the road. That’s where I’m at right now.
"It’s not anything that is on the front burner at all," said Belichick.
Yeah, it wouldn't make much sense for the Patriots or anyone else to make an addition like that, midseason. That didn't stop the Redskins, but maybe that's one of the reasons that the Redskins are the Redskins and the Patriots are the Patriots.
It's not like the Patriots offense is struggling, either. They're still averaging 27.9 points and 411.5 yards a game. They recovered just fine when Weis left the first time, and they recovered just fine when Josh McDaniels left for Denver. You never know if Belichick might be looking for someone to lighten his load next year, though.
Shutdown Corner presents the weekly quarterback power rankings. They're just as arbitrarily decided as normal power rankings, except they rank quarterbacks, not whole teams. Rankings are based on play this year alone and meant to represent who is playing the best football at the current moment.
| 1. Drew Brees(notes), New Orleans Saints | ||
 |  | So that was a pretty solid performance last night, yes? Still, Brees laughed in Suzy Kolber's face last night when she suggested it was a nearly perfect performance. What's this guy want? He had a perfect quarterback rating, exactly five incompletions, and his team beat the hell out of the Patriots. What else was he supposed to do, rebuild the Ninth Ward at halftime, and capture Bin Laden during one of the 843,238 commercial breaks? Take it easy on yourself, Drew. |
| 2. Brett Favre(notes), Minnesota Vikings | ||
 | | I know a lot of you think I'm a Favre Hater, but -- well, actually, yeah, I might be. I promise you, though, before Drew Brees put on that show last night, I had my mind made up to bump Favre up the number one spot this week. It felt like a touchdown was a real possibility every time he dropped back against the Bears. He made every throw a quarterback could be asked to make. They were helpless against him. I'm almost certain that he'll end up at number one here at some point over the next few weeks. |
| 3. Peyton Manning(notes), Indianapolis Colts | ||
 | | Statistically, Peyton's effort against the Texans wasn't his finest, but one interception was a "hit as he was throwing" job, and the other was an inconsequential pick just before halftime. Regardless, the second half turned into "This is why I'm Peyton Manning, and that is why you're Matt Schaub(notes)" time. Peyton rose to the occasion, Schaub didn't, and that was the difference. |
| 4. Philip Rivers(notes), San Diego Chargers | ||
 |  | I'm hesitant to move Rivers up, because he's been playing so well while in the number seven spot in this list, but it's time. His quarterback rating has been over 100 for three consecutive weeks now, and two of those were over 130. The accuracy he puts on his deep balls is stunning, and he trusts his tall receivers to go up and get it over smaller corners. His yards per completion numbers are second only to Brees. |
| 5. Aaron Rodgers(notes), Green Bay Packers | ||
 | | Rodgers just keeps putting up the numbers and -- hold the phone -- he's only been sacked three times over the last two weeks. He's got a big game coming up on Monday night against a Baltimore team with a secondary that can be beaten. Rodgers has to be huge in that game. |
| 6. Ben Roethlisberger(notes), Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
 | | Roethlisberger stays in the same spot he occupied before he was sidelined by a concussion. Judging from the prognosis given by noted neurologists Hines Ward(notes) and Santonio Holmes(notes), I'd expect him to be back this week, but at the same time, there's probably no harm in resting him a bit longer with the Raiders and Browns up next on the schedule. |
| 7. Tom Brady(notes), New England Patriots | ||
 |  | I didn't want to drop Brady this far, but he was just juxtaposed with Drew Brees, and it wasn't pretty for Tom. Both interceptions he threw were "What the hell was that?" moments, and he produced no touchdowns to offset them. Brian Hoyer(notes) actually finished the game with a higher quarterback rating. |
| 8. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans | ||
 | | I promise I'll stop pounding on Schaub after this. I guess I was just disappointed. I really felt like the Texans could've won either game they played against the Colts this season, and they just let them both slip away. Schaub is still third in the league in yards and fifth in touchdowns, so I don't want to get too caught up in what he's not doing. |
| 9. Vince Young(notes), Tennessee Titans | ||
 | | It didn't make sense to hold him out any longer. Even if his sample size is smaller, his season stats are right in line with those of guys like Flacco, Romo, Orton and Palmer, the rest of the guys hovering around the fringes of the top ten, and Young is coming off an incredible performance. I still have trouble wrapping my head around the idea that Vince Young is a good pocket passer. I wonder if one of those, "Uh oh, now teams have film on me, and they'll take away my tendencies" streaks is coming. I know, film of him existed before, but the VY of today is essentially a brand new quarterback. |
| 10. Joe Flacco(notes), Baltimore Ravens | ||
 | | Flacco had a pretty solid game against Pittsburgh; solid enough that I'm willing to no longer hold that Week 9 performance against Cincinnati against him. For Ravens fans, it's not like there's any such thing as an "ugly" win over Pittsburgh anyway. |
Noses pressed against the glass: Tony Romo(notes), Dallas Cowboys | ||
Who Dat? Dat Be the best football team in the NFL in 2009 the New Orleans Saints; the team that showed the New England Patriots Monday night the reason they are now 11-0 and 6-0 at the “Superdome.” The Saints were just an unstoppable force as they just battered the Patriots without mercy winning in a total rout 38-17. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees was pretty close to perfect as he completed 18/23 passes for a total of 371 yards and 5 touchdowns.
On the other side of the field New England QB Tom Brady certainly did not look terrific as he could complete just 21/36 pass attempts for 237 yards with 0 touchdowns and two interceptions. The loss for the Patriots put them at 7-4 still atop a mediocre AFC East Division. The Saints join the Indianapolis Colts as the only two teams without a loss this season at 11-0.
On Sunday November 15, the Patriots lost a game they should have won against the Colts. A porous New England defense and the biggest coaching blunder of Bill Belichick’s career in the NFL would cost them that game. The Patriots did not give up this game on Monday night to New Orleans. The Saints were on a mission from the beginning of this contest. There was no “Battle of New Orleans” on this night; just a good old fashioned butt-kicking.
New England fans had little to celebrate after the completion of the first quarter. Although the Saints would score first as John Carney kicked a field goal from 30 yards out with 11:18 left in the first the Patriots would hold the lead at the end of the period as running back Laurence Maroney sprinted 4 yards into the end zone with 3:39 left to play. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski got the extra point and New England held a 7-3 lead at the end of the quarter.
That would be where the Patriots highlight reel would stop and the massacre started by the team from the “Big Easy.” The Saints would take the lead for good with 13:04 left in the second as Brees connected with Pierre Thomas for an 18 yard touchdown. Carney kicked the extra point and New Orleans lead 10-7. Just a little over 3:00 later Brees would hoist a 75 yard pass to Devery Henderson for another touchdown. Carney once again kicked the extra point and with 10:02 left in the half the rout was on as the Saints now led 17-7.
When the smoke cleared at the end of the first half the Patriots were trailing 24-10 and never came close to being any sort of threat in the final 30 minutes of play. There will be no second guessing after this loss; the New Orleans Saints showed a machine like efficiency in the way they just dominated this game from the second quarter onward. This was just a simple case of a truly great team beating a pretty good team; to state it any other way would be doing an injustice to both clubs.
New Orleans improves to a perfect 11-0 for the campaign and will travel to the Nation’s Capital next Sunday as they face off against the ‘Skins who are 3-8. The Patriots are now 7-4 and will play next Sunday in Miami as they take on the Dolphins who are 5-6.
© Copyright 2009 thesackattack
Time is running short on the last year of the '00s, so it's time to dive into the daunting task of ranking the NFL's best of the decade. Best what? Best everything. We're going with a series of top 10 lists, and if something miraculous happens between now and Dec. 31, well, we'll just have to catch it at the end of 2019.
10. 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Record: 12-4. Eventual fate: Beat Raiders in Super Bowl.
This year saw the best in a string of great Tampa Bay defenses, giving up just 12.2 points per game. The offense wasn't terribly dynamic, but it was efficient, with Brad Johnson(notes) completing 62 percent of his passes, with 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions. The defensive roster read like an All-Star team: Derrick Brooks(notes), Warren Sapp(notes), Simeon Rice(notes), Ronde Barber(notes) and John Lynch(notes).
9. 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers.
Record: 15-1. Eventual fate: Lost to Patriots in AFC championship game.
The two teams that played in the Super Bowl in 2004 were both busted up by the Steelers in the regular season (though the Patriots avenged the loss in the playoffs). Ben Roethlisberger(notes) went 13-0 in his rookie year, propped up by a mean running game (Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley(notes) combined for 1,771 rushing yards) and a stifling defense.
8. 2005 Seattle Seahawks.
Record: 13-3. Eventual fate: Lost to Steelers in Super Bowl.
All anyone remembers is the ugly Super Bowl and the bitterness that followed, but this was an outstanding team. The Seahawks averaged 28.2 points per game on the season, which led the league, and Shaun Alexander(notes) had one of the great years any running back has ever had. Seattle started that season 2-2, and didn't lose again until Week 17. The Seahawks lost again to the Steelers in the Super Bowl, but many Seahawks fans still don't quite see it that way.
7. 2004 Philadelphia Eagles.
Record: 13-3. Eventual fate: Lost to Patriots in Super Bowl.
Amazing things can happen when Terrell Owens(notes) is in his prime and feeling cooperative. The Eagles' regular-season record of 13-3 doesn't indicate the quality of this team, as two of those losses came in the last two weeks of the season, when starters were resting. Statistically, it was the best year of Donovan McNabb's(notes) career, as he finished with a rating of 104.7. They lost a close one to the Patriots in the Super Bowl, Terrell Owens went to the dark side and the next season was a mess.
6. 2003 New England Patriots.
Record: 14-2. Eventual fate: Beat Panthers in Super Bowl.
Rodney Harrison(notes) joined the Patriots family this year, boosting the defense to the league's best, allowing 14.9 points per game. They needed it, too, because the offense in this particular season was all Tom Brady(notes), all the time. The Patriots started the season 2-2, and then didn't lose again.
5. 2001 St. Louis Rams.
Record: 14-2. Eventual fate: Lost to Patriots in Super Bowl.
Kurt Warner(notes) collected his second MVP award in 2001, and it was also the last year that Marshall Faulk(notes) would crack the 1,000-yard rushing barrier. In fact, Faulk went over 2,000 yards from scrimmage when you factor in his 83 catches and 765 receiving yards. The Rams outgained the Patriots 427-267 in the Super Bowl, but turned the ball over three times and let the Patriots shock the world and start a dynasty.
4. 2005 Indianapolis Colts.
Record: 14-2. Eventual fate: Lost to Steelers in divisional round.
They lost in the playoffs in one of the all-time craziest finishes in NFL history, but this was probably the best and most balanced Colts team of the decade. Edgerrin James(notes) had one of the best years of his career, Marvin Harrison(notes) and Reggie Wayne(notes) were both over 1,000 yards for the season, and the defense actually finished second in the league in points allowed.
3. 2004 New England Patriots.
Record: 14-2. Eventual fate: Beat Eagles in Super Bowl
Corey Dillon(notes) was added to the Patriots' mix in 2004, finally giving the Patriots a running game that deserved to share locker room space with their passing game. Dillon pounded out 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns. Receiver Troy Brown(notes) earned the respect of everyone when he stepped in to play defensive back after a rash of injuries. This team was mauled in the regular season by the Steelers, but avenged that loss in the playoffs before going on to beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
2. 2001 Pittsburgh Steelers.
Record: 13-3. Eventual fate: Lost to Patriots in AFC championship game.
How good was this team? It made a Pro Bowler out of Kordell Stewart. This was arguably the best "we're going to run the ball and you're not" team of the decade, with the Steelers running for 2,774 yards on the season and allowing opponents only 1,195 ground yards. The Steelers had four different players with eight or more sacks, too: Aaron Smith(notes), Joey Porter(notes), Kendrell Bell(notes) and Jason Gildon. Their season ended with that crazy game where Drew Bledsoe(notes) came off the bench and played brilliantly for the Patriots, who also got a couple of special teams touchdowns.
1. 2007 New England Patriots.
Record: 16-0. Eventual fate: Lost to Giants in Super Bowl.
No, they didn't get the big shiny ring at the end, and everyone outside of New England thought "18-1" was pretty funny. Let's not kid ourselves, though. No one saw a better team in the '00s. They went 16-0 in the regular season, and only four of those wins were of the single-digit variety. They annihilated teams. Randy Moss(notes) set a record with 23 touchdown receptions, Tom Brady set a record with a mind-blowing 50 touchdown passes and Brady also got 49 of 50 MVP votes.
Comments, criticisms, omissions, and your own top ten lists are encouraged in the comments below.