NFL's Power Five:Repressed Edition
Glad to see that a "Line of Fire" column didn't end in disaster for once. At least not yet. Sexy Rexy was back (but was Vexy Rexy just in hiding?). It is easy to feel good after a game like last night's. It put a another game between the Bears and their next conference runner-up for home field throughout the playoffs. It showed that hey, maybe Cedric Benson can run after all. Also, Grossman ran...for twenty-two yards! In one play! Still, there are questions to be asked, if any are brave enough to ask them. For instance: If the Bears do, as expected, clinch homefield, will a dome be built to replicate the conditions in St. Louis? Or: Why couldn't Grossman do better against a terrible pass defense (the Vikings), at home? Or: Why did it take so long to get Grossman back to throwing sane passes? Quick slants, dump offs to the running backs (hello Jason McKie) worked great at moving the ball. The BIG ONE: Can Grossman maintain this (which he hasn't all year) all the way to a SuperBowl win?
Now, on to the countdown.
1)San Diego Chargers
MVP probable runningback, more consistent rookie quarterback, good defense, and Antonio Gates. Only a spectacular collapse prevents this team from being the AFC SuperBowl entrant. That also translates as the early favorite in the big game.
2)Chicago Bears
11-2 in the weak sister conference. Hester is the greyhound, and he is hunting for endzone rabbits. Tommie Harris is out for the year, including any post-season. The frontline is already not stopping the run...or getting much pressure on the quarterback. The offense is carrying the defense. Still, is there another team in the NFC that looks any better?
3)Baltimore Ravens
Guessing that this defense might have had something to say about everyone but Jacksonville's craftservice people rushing for a 10+ yards per attempt clip. Everything being equal between the Ravens and the next team, except: The Ravens "D" should do okay against that Colts' "O". One has to believe Steve McNair and Jamal Lewis would fair well against that ever so stout Indy defense.
4)Indianapolis Colts
The defense was exposed in every sense versus the Jaguars. Stokley is gone for the year. Ricky Proehl Sighting! As long as Peyton doesn't become as inconsistent as his brother "I'll only play in New York" Eli, and Harrison and Wayne still have feet, you never can count the Colt's out. Of course, as long as the starting and the backup runningback both rack up over a hundred yards, you can't really count them to far in, either.
5)New Orleans Saints
Why not the Patriots? Because they were shut-out by a team they really shouldn't have lost to at all. Meanwhile, Dem' Saints went into Dallas (let the implosion begin) and beat the new "hot" team. With a three game win streak , they continue to disprove everyone who says they can't win. Probable MVP runner-up keeps staking the claim as best free agent signing of recent years.
It's put up or sit down time. Now is the time of the season when offensive coordinators pull out the trick plays just to keep their defensive counterparts up a few extra hours a week scheming against the fullback flea flicker in case it might be used in a playoff game.
Have a fun week of watching, happy ChristmaHannaKwanzadan, and, as always, be good.
Now, on to the countdown.
1)San Diego Chargers
MVP probable runningback, more consistent rookie quarterback, good defense, and Antonio Gates. Only a spectacular collapse prevents this team from being the AFC SuperBowl entrant. That also translates as the early favorite in the big game.
2)Chicago Bears
11-2 in the weak sister conference. Hester is the greyhound, and he is hunting for endzone rabbits. Tommie Harris is out for the year, including any post-season. The frontline is already not stopping the run...or getting much pressure on the quarterback. The offense is carrying the defense. Still, is there another team in the NFC that looks any better?
3)Baltimore Ravens
Guessing that this defense might have had something to say about everyone but Jacksonville's craftservice people rushing for a 10+ yards per attempt clip. Everything being equal between the Ravens and the next team, except: The Ravens "D" should do okay against that Colts' "O". One has to believe Steve McNair and Jamal Lewis would fair well against that ever so stout Indy defense.
4)Indianapolis Colts
The defense was exposed in every sense versus the Jaguars. Stokley is gone for the year. Ricky Proehl Sighting! As long as Peyton doesn't become as inconsistent as his brother "I'll only play in New York" Eli, and Harrison and Wayne still have feet, you never can count the Colt's out. Of course, as long as the starting and the backup runningback both rack up over a hundred yards, you can't really count them to far in, either.
5)New Orleans Saints
Why not the Patriots? Because they were shut-out by a team they really shouldn't have lost to at all. Meanwhile, Dem' Saints went into Dallas (let the implosion begin) and beat the new "hot" team. With a three game win streak , they continue to disprove everyone who says they can't win. Probable MVP runner-up keeps staking the claim as best free agent signing of recent years.
It's put up or sit down time. Now is the time of the season when offensive coordinators pull out the trick plays just to keep their defensive counterparts up a few extra hours a week scheming against the fullback flea flicker in case it might be used in a playoff game.
Have a fun week of watching, happy ChristmaHannaKwanzadan, and, as always, be good.
posted by Soxually Repressed at 11:34 AM
4 Comments:
Thank you, SR, for keeping the homefires burning during my couple day sabbatical, and nicely done on the Top Five. Yours pretty much matches up with mine exactly.
No, your pretty much matches up to mine exactly. (Imagine if I was territorial...)
Actually, I got up a little early so I could post the Top Five this morning before I went to work, and I couldn't tell you how happy I was to be able to crawl back under the covers for the extra 30 minutes.
That is sooo unlike you.
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