411's NFL Round Up 11.25.08: Week 12 Edition

Posted by Emmett Wilks on 11.25.2008

The Long, Strange Journey of Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia. The Colts continue to surge, Matt Cassel is making people say "Tom Who?" (Not Really).

Hello to everyone, and welcome to NFL Round Up. It was just a totally whirlwind week for the league. Honestly, let's just get right into it. Onto the Round Up!


QUICK NOTES

Call me soft if you want, but the little tussle between Patriots tackle Matt Light and Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder rung more stupid in my book than exciting. After a field goal attempt, the two went into a swing match that saw Light grab Crowder's dreadlocks and pull him down, proceeding to pound the back of his head. Both players may be looking at a game suspesion for their actions, which is what they desevre. Football is an emtional, physical game, but it also requires the maturity and poise to know when you go and when you stop. Losing that composure makes the game deteriorate into a parody of itself, and I just don't like to see that happen.

Count me as the growing number of people who cannot figure out this Carolia Panthers team. Some weeks, they are sensational (30-7 win over the Saints in Week 7 among their notable highlights), some weeks they have games where they look, dare I say, second rate. By giving up 4 rushing TD's to Atlanta's Michael Turner the Panthers, though still in a tie with the Bucs for the NFC South lead, don't exactly make themselves out to be a legit contender.

Another QB benching went relatively unnoticed this week, when Brady Quinn was pulled by his coach Romeo Crennel in the Browns 16-6 loss to the Texans. The Quinn led offense mustered just 240 yards of offense for the game, and failed to convert any touchdowns. Quinn however was named the starter for next week agaisnt the Colts, and will likely remain for the rest of the season due to the Browns again disappointing 4-7 start. Quinn is still young, and having spent significant time on the bench, he should mentally be able to handle this. For his development's sake, he needs to remain in the game. Like any QB, he must take his licks early and often in order to grow. And the best growth I have always argued is done on the field, not the sidelines.

Fairly certain that the rest of the NFL is now starting to get just a little worried about the Colts, who improved to 7-4 with their 23-20 last second win over the Chargers. Nothing is scarier than a good team getting hot late, and the Colts have been short staffed for most of the year. Imagining a healthy Colts team entering the playoffs now is not something the AFC contenders want going through their minds. Peyton Manning may very well be having his most important season of his career, having engineered four comback wins for the Colts. Maybe it was my childish thinking, but I remained strangely confident in the Colts this season, and Manning has certainly not let me down. Be afraid AFC, be very afraid.


Peyton Manning has amazingly kept the Colts in contention this season

THE LONG ROAD

With the massive whirlwind once again surrounding the city of Philadelphia and its quarterback Donovan McNabb, perhaps it is a good time to look back on just how up and down the relationship between the City of Brotherly Love and its quarterback has been. On Sunday, Eagles coach Andy Reid, through his QB coach, benched McNabb for poor performance. His first half against the Baltimore Ravens was a miserable 8-18, 54 yards and three turnovers. He remained on the bench and watched his backup, and heir apparent, Kevin Kolb, met with equal frustration, en route to a humiliating 36-7 pummeling from the Ravens. But this is far from the first time McNabb has found himself at the center of controversy. For a player as polite, intelligent, and even mild mannered as McNabb, its seems so strange he has been such a lightening rod of controversy, both of his own doing and time completely out of his control.

Philadelphia , my hometown city, can be, no is absolutely, a brutal place to have to call your professional sport home. The city has a long, at times ugly history with its reputation and attitude towards just about everyone and everything. Living in New England , I have heard the sayings "You guys booed Santa" or put more simply "You guys are really assholes down there." A saying that has come up on more than one occasion. I could never even attempt to defend all Philly sports fans. Let's face it, some really are just douche bags. But do understand, they love their sports teams. They love them like any real family does. It is an unconditional love, but one that is not devoid of the ugly emotions we all possess. And above all of those teams is the Philadelphia Eagles. Others would try to disagree, but in the great Philly media market, the number one team is and forever will be the Birds. Even with the recent win of the Phillies in the World Series this year, I would not be alone when I say there are many, many fans who, while exhilarated and beyond overjoyed about seeing the championship, were actually wishing that it was the Green and Silver of the Eagles rolling down Broad Street just a little bit more. That's Philly. It's a football town. Currently, the Eagles are seemingly entering a desolate land they have experienced far too often in their existence, that of being a second rate team. The last time Philly was truly inconsequential, Bill Clinton was still President, Stone Cold Steve Austin was feuding with Vince McMahon, and Boy Bands were all the rage.

Enter the year 1998. The Eagles, under the last season of the collapsing Ray Rhodes regime had just come off a 3-13 record. The worst in the NFL that season. While the Eagles defense possessed some of a very good unit (actually leading the NFL that season in pass defense), the offense was as horrid as it was inept. The season included loses like an 38-0 opening day blanking by the Seahawks, a 41-16 spanking by defending Super Bowl champion Broncos, and, worst of all, a beyond humiliating 34-0 lose to the Dallas Cowboys. Dead last in both points and yardage per game, the Eagles had become the NFL's laughing stock. And then the new regime came, and brought its Standard Bearer from the snowy stretches of Northern New York, and Philadelphia would not be the same.

On January 11th, 1999, Eagles owner Jeffery Laurie introduced Andy Reid as the Eagles new head coach. The quarterbacks coach for the Packers knew as well as anyone that in order to rebuild the Eagles offense, and franchise for that matter, he needed a QB. While many in the press were enamored with running backs Ricky Williams and Edrigin James, quarterback was the must have position for Philadelphia . That was an easy choice among the football intelligentsia. Kentucky 's Tim Couch was seen as the best NFL prospect, followed by Oregon 's Akili Smith. Others still liked UCLA product Cade McNown, or the raw talent of Central Florida big man Daunte Culpepper. But also on that list was the Syracuse spread-option QB named Donovan McNabb. The three time Big East player of the year was, but not universally considered a top NFL prospect, despite holding every game, season, and career passing record at Syracuse . There were some analysts who ranked McNabb as low as the 5th QB prospect. It was during the interview process of the NFL Draft circuit that Reid knew he had found his man. McNabb not only came off as cool, collected, and confident, but also very intelligent, poised, and wise beyond his years. On draft day, McNabb was selected 2nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, and was always the top pick of Reid. His selection was met with boos by the Philly faithful who trekked up to New York City , clamoring for Ricky Williams.


McNabb's topsy turby time in Philadelphia hits its deepest hole this weekend

That day would be the first in a long series of difficult and trying times for McNabb in Philadelphia . His rookie season was one most would expect. He demonstrated some positive signs but also showed areas he needed development. But the attitude of the team was different, and people could see it. McNabb brought a fire and confidence to the team. His scrambling abilities were rekindling the good memories of Randall Cunningham, but he was also demonstrating a far greater competence as a pocket passer than Cunningham ever showed while in Philly. Despite a 5-11 season, Eagles fans were very excited. The 2000 season saw McNabb take the Eagles to an 11-5 record, and runner up for the MVP. An identical 2001 record firmly established McNabb as among the NFL's elites. But criticism still followed him no matter how many wins occurred. First it was the numbers. McNabb early in his career rarely broke the 60% completion and 7 yards per catch average that is the measuring stick of the so call elite QB's. Nothing he did seemed to quell all of the critics.

Then in 2002, having lead the Eagles, who were perhaps the NFL's best regular season team, to a 8-3 record. During the game against the Cardinals, McNabb has his ankle broken when tackled. Despite returning to the game, where he passed for 4 touchdowns, McNabb's injury caused him to miss the next 6 weeks of action. During that time, his backup, Koy Detmer, was also injured, leading the way for third stringer AJ Feeley to take the reins. Feeley proved successful, and engineered the Eagles to a 4-1 record down the stretch. That success would turn into a small discussion about leaving McNabb on the bench and keeping Feeley as the starter, a la Tom Brady in New England the year earlier. Such an assertion was outright dismissed by Reid, but it did mark the first time the idea of the Eagles being better off without McNabb was even mentioned, and this was 6 years ago.

The McNabb saga took its ups and downs on the field the next two seasons. They lost the NFC championship game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (perhaps the most painful loss in Philly sports history), and opened 2003 0-2. It was then that McNabb was thrust into the national media spotlight in a way he could never have imagined. ESPN's newest commentator; conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, questioned not just if McNabb and the Eagles' success had more to do with the teams excellent defense, but maybe because the media had unfairly praised him while trying to elevate a black quarterback. The statement, which seemed to go completely unnoticed by Limbaugh's co-hosts, sparked a massive national news story, and McNabb was in the middle. Suddenly, the quarterback from Philadelphia had become the new spokesman of race relations in America , a position McNabb did not want. Limbaugh's eventually resignation from ESPN did little to stop the story. And despite the absurdity and downright racist overtones to the statement, it did in fact further the belief that possibly McNabb was overrated and a system QB, with the success of AJ Feeley as evidence. What could never be understated during the whole fiasco was McNabb's unreal maturity and class. His eloquent, civil, and well thought out responses to the situation lifted him above the nonsense. After the comment, the Eagles responded by winning 9 straight games and finishing 12-4 again, losing the NFC championship for the third consecutive year. The groans about McNabb, and even coach Reid, as "choke artists" who could not win the big game.

What can never be forgotten was what McNabb was working with during this time in Philadelphia. In the 2000 campaign, McNabb's chief wide outs were Charles Johnston and Torrance Small, two players who were out of the leauge following their release in 2001. McNabb was then throwing to the combination of James Thrash and Todd Pinkston, who were certainly vast improvements from their predcessors, but still far from elite level wide outs. McNabb's favorite target during this time was tight end Chad Lewis, who was always a very competent player, but never held as one of the game's best. In many ways, McNabb was the victim of his own success. He had proven so effective that the Eagles never saw a need to aquire an elite receiver. And they still had a bad taste from the drafting of Freddy Mitchell in 2001. The UCLA receiver caused numerous headaches for the team and coaches, furthering the front offices fear of drafting receivers high.

Yet McNabb made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appereance following the disappointing loss to the Panthers, and while in Hawaii, he became very friendly with disgruntled 49er's wide out Terrell Owens. Owens soon made his intentions known that he wanted out of San Fransisco, and after some finagling following a free agency snafu, Owens was now in Philly.

The 2004 season saw each man put up career numbers. McNabb tossed for 3875 yards, 31 TD's and just 9 interceptions, the first time a player had ever throwed over-30 TD's and under-10 picks. Owens was a big factor in that season, catching 77 passes for 1,200 yards and 14 TD's. The Eagles, even without Owens, who was hurt in Week 13 agasint the Cowboys, marched into the Super Bowl agaisnt the defending champion New England Patriots. McNabb and company would again come up short in the big game, failing to capitalize on the Pats early mistakes, and eventually falling 24-21. McNabb, and the Eagles coaching staff, seemed totally confused at the end of the game, where they had a potential game winning drive with just under 2 minutes to go.

Following the loss, Owens had began to publicly critize McNabb for his performance in the game, saying that he was "tired" during the game, a knock on his leadership and conditioning. TO then became embroiled in a contract dispute that became a media circus, putting the Eagles and McNabb again in the forefront of the national spotlight for matters that weren't even on the field. Again, McNabb handled himself with dignity and class, despite the concerns from some that he needed to do a better job in mediating the situation for TO and himself, as well as TO and management. Those requests were not only inappropriate, but grossly unfair to McNabb, who should not have needed to defend himself in such a public matter from a teammate.

The controversy would lead to Owen's dismissal from the Eagles, and the team faltered the rest of the season. Though they opened the season 5-2, they would lose four straight games, and a sports hernia injury that McNabb suffered in the opening game eventually lead him to call the season. The Eagles finished a hugely disappointing 6-10, and the McNabb-Owens connection was no more. In December of that season, race again stuck its head out in McNabb's world, when Philadelphia NAACP leader J. Whyatt Mondesire insisted that McNabb was "betraying his blackness" by refusing to scramble from the pocket, yet another situation McNabb had no control of.

McNabb reentered the 2006 season with new vigor, only again to have the frustration of an up and down season. By week 11, the Eagles were a 5-4 bubble team looking to make strides in the NFC. During that weeks game against Tennessee, McNabb fell awkwardly out of bounds, and tore his ACL, again prematurely ending his season. The play is now used by McNabb's critics as proof positive that his health will always be a concern. His replacement, Jeff Garcia would lead the Eagles to a playoff birth and the NFC Divisional playoff loss agaisnt the Saints, a success that was bittersweet for McNabb, and again rang the sirens that he was perhaps "overrated" and just a "system product." Even McNabb's mother was caught in the mix, saying on her blog that she felt the whole situation was indeed bittersweet for her as well, which drew unwarranted attention and criticism from the media. But Andy Reid again was convinced McNabb was his guy.

2007 proved to be another lackluster season for the Eagles. Though teammate Brian Westbrook had proven to be among the NFL's elite backs by then, McNabb was still plauged by a lackluster wide receiver crew and a city becoming more and more anxious with his play. His confidence was further shaken when the Eagles, having traded out of the first round of the draft, made a stunning selection with the first pick in the second round, tabbing Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb. The decsion was panned by most observers, saying the Eagles had more pressing needs elsewhere. But for the first time, McNabb felt that the Eagles coaches and management may not fully be on his side.

Philly fans can be a strange, fickle bunch. They demand perfection, but can cherish effort and hustle just as much. McNabb, through everything, always maintained a laidback, relaxed demenour about himself. Such an attitude did not always sit well with the fans in Philadelphia. And as 2007 again turned into a roller coaster, many were predicting it to be McNabb's final season in Philly. But a three game winnning streak to end the season, with one win against the hated Cowboys, may have saved McNabb's future.

And now here we sit in 2008, and McNabb had once again led a frustrated and confused Eagles squad into mediocre territory. Blame has been spread everywhere among the analysts and pundits; McNabb, the coaches, mangament, and even the other players, whom are now getting older or cannot stay healthy. The Eagles are 5-5-1, with the embarrassing 36-7 loss to the Ravens just this past week. The game marked the first time McNabb had been benched for performance in his entire playing career.

On Monday, coach Reid annouced McNabb as the teams starter for their Thanksgiving game against the Cardinals. What is being universally agreed upon now is that McNabb's days in Philadelphia are soon coming to an end. And it will be unfortuate. Through this trying history of McNabb in Philly, I can think of no other player who sparks such vehament distain among fans who has done so little to provoke it. McNabb has certainly demonstrated some maddenly inconsistant play over the last few seasons, but handles everything with dignity and class. He has never been the source of any kind of embarrassment for the Eagles off the field. While these are definitely not factors that should make a football decision, I find it frankly sad that so many people are writing off McNabb as if he was nothing but some sort of a draft bust. He holds every career passing record for the Eagles, has been an MVP runner up, gone to 5 Pro Bowls, and taken a team to the Super Bowl. And still that has not been enough for the fans, city, and even the media, who maintain a facisantion about the frustrating career McNabb has been at many times forced to endure. He is far from perfect, but the Eagles do in fact have a serious decision to make. His insinuation that black QB's are more heavily scrutinized than others was just wrong. But alas, McNabb has proven again and again one thing. He is in fact a human being. Fallable and not without mistake, McNabb has still proved to be an invaluable ambassador to the NFL and all professional sports. If the Eagles believe that Kevin Kolb gives their team the best chance for victory in 2009, so be it. The NFL is played by adults who can get over it. But for those who have so disparaged Donovan McNabb as a quarterback, leader, and man, it is just competely and utterly wrong. His road has been filled with such frustration, one could wonder why he would not want to just practice his craft in another city; like San Fransico or Kansas City perhaps. But time will tell how this long, rocky journey will end for McNabb, in a story that could only be written in Philadelphia.



GAME OF THE WEEK


NY Jets 34 Tennessee Titans 13


Safe to say that the Jets have officially arrived. While there can be no debate that Brett Favre is indeed having a massive impact on the NY Jets, I would be audacious enough to suggest that the addition of guard Alan Faneca and tackle Damien Woody has been just as key. Along with former first round picks D'Brickashaw Ferguson at left tackle and Nick Mangold at center, the Jets transformed an uneven unit into one of the best in the league. In the second half of the Jets 34-13 win, the Jets rushed for 138 of their 192 rushing yards. Both Thomas Jones and big play specialist Leon Washington found huge, gapping holes up the middle of what is a very good Titans defense. No one in their right mind would suggest that without Favre this success would be possible. But Favre is now a more of a cog in the engine. Of Favre's 25 completions Sunday, 22 were passes of less than 10 yards. The Titans offense finally ran into a team that could match their physicality and execution. None of the Titans blitz packages, especially in the second half, seemed to phase the Jets offensive line. The Titans managed just 45 yards on the ground, despite a decent stat line for QB Kerry Collins, (21-of-39 for 243, 1 TD), the Titans never seemed to have a chance in this one.

OUTLOOK

The AFC picture has suddenly become much more blurred. The Jets are no doubt a contender, and the Titans demonstrated some weaknesses that had yet to be exploited. Tennessee has a promising next three weeks. Thanksgiving they tangle with Detroit , followed by Cleveland, and then Houston. They close out the year against the Steelers and Colts. To think they will finish below 12-4 or 13-3 is nearly unconscionable. The big challenge for coach Jeff Fischer in Tennessee is to make sure that his team continues on the right track. The Titans are a very good football team. That debate is over. But it is about being good, and healthy, at the right time. Keeping this team focused on the business at hand will be his top job. And judging from his 10-0 start, Fischer will handle that well.

The Jets seem to be peaking at the right time. Early in the season, it was a mystery as to what exactly this team was made of. We have learned they are balanced, physical, and talented just about everywhere. They close out the year with a see-saw schedule of contenders and pretenders. Next week sees them hosting the Broncos, which is clearly winnable, followed by the 49er's. Then comes a still mad Buffalo team, who is perhaps the best non-contending team in the league. They close the season two weeks later with the Miami Dolphins, whose massive forward progress may have been halted by the Pats, but are still very good. A 12-4 finish seems likely to go along with their AFC East Divisional title.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK

OFFENSIVE


Owens had one heck of a day for the Cowboys

Terrell Owens

Cowboys receiver has been vocal about his displeasure (A SHOCK). But let's face it folks, he can be right every now and then. When he gets the ball, typically good things happen. Owens had a season best 7 catches for 213 yards and a TD in Dallas ' 35-22 win over the 49er's. 6 of those catches were for first downs or a TD.

Runners Up

Matt Cassel- Pats QB had second consecutive 400 yard passing game, finishing 30-of-45 for 415 yards and 3 TD's in 48-28 win over the Fins


Randy Moss- Pats WR caught all three of those Cassel TD's, finishing with 145 yards on 8 grabs.

Eli Manning- Nearly flawless in his game agsint former mentor Kurt Warner, tossing 240 yards, 3 TD's on a 26-of-33 passing

***Drew Brees- Since the article publishes on Monday night, we typically cannot talk about the Monday game. But Flyboy, who wrote below, is right. Brees was sensational against the Packers, going for 323 yards, 4 TD's on a big win for the Saints.***

DEFENSIVE


Ed Reed-

His 108 yard pick 6 in the second half against the Eagles, who would have been right back in the game, was among the best highlight reel plays I have ever witnessed. He shook three would be tacklers all while running 108 yards! Was a big reason both Eagles QB's had nothing to throw to all day, finishing with 3 tackles, 2 interceptions, and two additional pass breakups.

Runners Up-


Nmadi Asomugha- Raiders corner was compeletly "shut down". Had no tackles, and only 1 pass break up, but his side of the field was off-limits on Sunday.


Tommie Harris- Bears DT notched two sacks and 4 tackles as Chicago remains alive in the NFC North.

BUST OF THE WEEK

Anything and everything attached to the Philadelphia Eagles

Perhaps I am being too harsh here, but I must believe my eyes. The Eagles are simply not that good a football team, no matter how you slice it. QB issues totally aside (but that's still a huge issue), the running game is non-existent, the pass defense has numerous holes, and the once vaunted blitz attack has been utterly ineffective. No offensive point in 60 minutes of football is just inexcusable, especially with the number of Pro Bowlers on the squad. We have already talked about McNabb, but Kevin Kolb was just as lost when facing a reved up Ravens squad. No sense beating this dead, decaying horse now. The whole affair for Philadelphia was just deplorable.

BIGGEST SUPRISE OF THE WEEK
Denver Broncos get smacked by the Raiders


The Raiders played their best game of the season against division rivial Denver this week

Almost everything about this game seemed to suprise me. First of all, both the Raiders offense and defensive units, not to mention special teams, seemed to actually be playing in sync with one another. QB JaMarcus Russell had a statistical mircale for himself, going 10-of-11 for 158 yards and 1 TD with zero interceptions. Maybe not that suprising though, becuase Russell's best game before this one was also against the Broncos, where he tossed for two TD's. But what is really amazing was the complete collapse of the entire Broncos team. QB Jay Culter saw his receivers blanketed all day, unable to to find anyone in the Raiders tight coverage. For the day, Cutler was able to manage just 16-of-37 for 204 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. Raiders rookie Darren McFadden showed a great nose for the endzone; taking two short runs in for scores, while teammate Justin Fargas went over the century mark rushing and nabbed a TD. Denver, despite its defensive woes, was supposed to be a real deal contender this season. What they have become is a very sub-par team. The real sad thing is due to San Diego's own setbacks (both self inflicted and forced on them), the Broncos will very likely be representing the horrendous AFC West this season in the playoffs. While you should never be stunned by a loss, one of this caliber agaisnt a rivial in a division game is a big suprise, and disappointment, for Denver.

LEAST SUPRISING DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEEK
The Tennessee Titans finally lose a game

Now, this development is in NO WAY an insult to Jeff Fischer and the Titans, who I still hold to be among footballs best. The fact is no one, even the Titans themselves, thought they were going to go all the way without a lose. The history they did make was significant. What may have come as a bit of a suprise was the fact they were so handled by the surging Jets squad. But that can be forgiven. The 1985 Bears, regarded by many as the finest football team ever, suffered its only loss in week 13; a 38-24 drubbing from the Miami Dolphins. Few teams have ever been able to open a season with 10 straight wins, and the Titans should be proud of that. While I am never a fan of those who say it may be a relief to have lost a game (losing is never something that should be cause for relief), the Titans remain the highest seeded team currently in the AFC. As I mentioned above, their have a remaining schedule that is more advatages than most.

That's all for this week. Have a good one. Won't be able to catch you guys next week cause of a move, but hold tight, I'll see you in two.