411's NFL Round Up 12.10.08: Week 14 Edition

Posted by Emmett Wilks on 12.10.2008

The NFL is coming down to a wild finish and it is time to look at the happenings of week 14. The players of the week are announced and we have a wardrobe malfunction on FOX! All this and more in the latest edition of 411's NFL Round Up!

Hello to everyone, and welcome once again to this week's edition of NFL Round Up! My apologies for missing last week, but moving can be a totally hassle, and this experience proved that. If there is one thing that I truly hate, and I mean hate in this world, it is moving. The boxing, the lifting, setting everything up, all of it, is just really irriating. But I digress. I am most upset for having missed what was an event filled week in the NFL with the shooting of Plaxico Burress in the leg by his own handgun. Now, while I am fully aware of the very serious nature of the matter, I must be honest with my readers that a small chuckle in the vain of "Dick Cheney shot a man" did overcome me when I found out that 1.) it was not life-threatening and 2.) it was self inflicted. Is that a good thing to say? Certainly not. But man, it couldn't have happened to a more obvious person right now. I'll have more on the incidents impact pertaining to the Giants later, but I do want to say good luck to Mr. Burress in his recovery. I have had the pleasure of talking to him on more than one occassion, and say what you will about his "persona," Burress was always a very polite and cordial person on the rare occassions I spoke with him. Now, onto the Round Up!

QUICK NOTES

The FOX network is apologizing for the on-air nudity that occured during their coverage of the Vikings postgame celebration. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe was only paritally covered by a towel when the cameras went live inside the locker room. While everyone is now ranting and raving about this nonsense and what the reaction will be, a la Janet Jackson "Wardrobe malfunction, I do want to remind everyone why the camera was there in the first place. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf (a name I will never tire of) was presenting a gameball to head coach Brad Childress. The reason, Childress' son is a Marine,and is going to be deployed shortly overseas. So, I would like to cut through the BS over the thought of *gasp*, the natrual human form, and focus instead on commending Wilf, coach Childress, and especially his son for his service to our nation.

Yes, the Cardinals are playoff frauds who will most certainly be getting a first round exit, but my goodness, I do believe that a major congratulaitons is due to coach Ken Whisenhunt and company for bring the first division title to the organizaiton in 33 years. The Cardinals have had some spurts of success in the past, but no other team, not even the Lions, has been as thorough and complete in futility as the Cardinals. With the resurgent Kurt Warner, the best wide receiver combo in football Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin), and a collection of drafted players manning the defense, I do beleive it appropriate to stand back and congragulate the Desert Birds for finally being competetive this generation.

Currently reeling from a Sunday Night beatdown at the hands of the Ravens, the Washington Redskins were dealt more bad news with the loss of left tackle Chris Samuels for the season due to a torn tricep. The 5-time Pro Bowl player has been having one of his best seasons ever as a pro, helping the Redskins be among the better rushing teams in the leauge this year. Make no mistake, this is a major blow. With Clinton Portis still not feeling fully healthy (or benched, depending on who is saying what), the Skins have looked pedestrian the last six weeks, going 1-4 (with bye week). That lone win came agaisnt the a weak Seahawks team, and even that came off a fourth quarter field goal. A Redskins playoff berth seems a bit far fetched now with the deep NFC South and now surging Eagles. Samuels is not the final, but still very large nail in the coffin. If there is one thing that football teaches us, it is make every moment count. Nothing could be more approriate than that to describe the game changer that wasn't in the Eagles-Giants game this weekend. On the first offensive play of the 2nd quarter, Giants QB Eli Manning tossed a perfect pass with the wind of Giant Stadium to an open Domenick Hixon, who promptly dropped the ball as it slid right through his arms and body. This would have given the Giants a 7-3 lead over the Eagles and a HUGE momentum boost. But, they were not able to capitalize, and the offense failed to score until the fourth quarter. THhe play was emblematic of the day for the G-Men, who were seemingly one small mistake during the game to make a big play. You have to make every, play, count. Sticking with that game, I cannot remember an NFL game with three blocked kicks. Two field goals by the Eagles were blocked, and one from the Giants. Seriously, it is so rare to even see one in an NFL game, but three, that's pretty crazy stuff right there.


After a slow start, Dungy and the Colts are nearing another double digit win season

While there are many great canidates for coach of the year in 2008; Jeff Fisher, Tony Sparano, Jon Gruden, Mike Tomlin, even Ken Whisenhunt. But for some baffling reason, no one is mentioning who I believe is the best choice; Tony Dungy. The Colts are about to embark on yet another double digit win season, after startin 3-3, in a tough division, with many of their key stars limping with injury. Yet, the calm, cool, and collected approach of Dungy, along with the MVP level play of Peyton Manning, has nearly punched the Colts yet another ticket to the post season. If anything, Dungy should deserve the award as a "career" distiction, similar to the Oscar that Denzel Washington (who said it himself) got for Training Day. I whole heartly put Dungy right next to Bill Belichick as the great coaches of this generation.


WEEK 13 BREAKDOWN

Game of the Week

New Orleans Saints 29 Atlanta Falcons 25


The NFC South has unexpectedly become the most competetive, and many say best, division in the NFL. On Sunday, the Saints and Falcons battled for their playoff lives. The Falcons entered the game sitting 3rd and the Saints 4th in the division, behind the 9-3 Bucs and Panthers who will battle of Monday night. The game was nothing short of fantastic. Seven lead changes, great offensive play from both teams, and unexpected heros emerging. The Saints, who have been riding the shoulders of QB Drew Brees' arm all season, were able to capaitalize off a solid ground game. The Saints ripped off 184 yards on the ground, 80 from all-purpose back Reggie Bush, and 102 yards and two TD's from Pierre Thomas, the second year running back out of Illinos. A week after running just 18 times last week against the Bucs, Saints coach Sean Payton put together a solid, balanced gameplan that has kept the very good Falcons defense guessing. Falcons QB Matt Ryan is still looking impressive. He and receiver Roddy White are quickly developing a great relationship, and could potentially be a dangerous combo in the years to come. White grabbed 10 catches for 168 yards on the day.

Outlook

The South is likely to come down right to the wire. With the NFC East is a sudden and pronoucned funk, the South may be well represented in the playoffs. The Saints path to close the season is not very easy. After tangling with the Bears next week, they host the Lions. While most are saying that is a gimme game, don't be so sure. The sheer fact that the Lions will be attempting to avoid the NFL's first 0-16 season should will provide them with a huge amount of motivation entering that game, so Saints beware. And to make matters worse, the Saints get to close the year with the current NFC South co-leader Panthers, who have been the NFL's best under the radar team this year. The first two games are on the road, a fact that does not seem to work for these Saints. They are currently just 1-5 this season in road games. And a trip to Solider Field in December with another team still in the playoff hunt is not an ideal situation. As much of a Drew Brees fan as I am, I just don't feel that they can pull these last three wins out to make the playoffs. For the Falcons, this was a tough, but certainly not crippling lose. The offense is seemingly getting better each week, and while the running game was kept relativly in check this week, rookie QB Matt Ryan continues his remarkable 2008 campaign. As far as I am concerned, the Rookie of the Year batlle between Ryan and Joe Flacco is one of the best storylines of 2008. As a team, the Falcons, like the Saints, face a tough road to end the year. Next week they will take on the division leading Bucs, followed by the still alive (barely) Vikings, and then get to close out against the lowly Rams. Two good teams, and a "fighting for pride" game to close the season is a dangerous cocktail. But I am more confident in the Falcons than the Saints, based both upon schedule and performance. I cannot help but think that the Saints may be just a little too late in their efforts. The NFC South is sending multiple teams to the post-season.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Offensive

Brian Westbrook-

Kind of an obvious choice this week, but the guy deserves all the accolades right now. His 39 touches, 204 yards, 2 touchdown performace was remarkable. With a fiesty offensive line (RG Nick Cole and Jon Runyan playing exceptional), Westbrook had one of the best games of his career, all while scoring his 14th TD this season, breaking a previous career high of 13. While his two TD plays were both great (one on a 30 yard run, the other on a 40 yard reception), it was the grind out yardage plays that made the difference. In a rare occassion for the season, the Eagles tailbacks, mostly Westbrook, were falling forward, not backward. In getting those tough yards, the Eagles made sure to 1.) keep possession (nearly a 10minute advantage), and 2.) make the weather work for them, as they kept

Eli Manning and company on the sidelines for all but two 3rd quarter series that would have had the wind at their back. The old saying goes, the best defense is a great offense, and on Sunday, with the wind playing fool to both QB's, Westbrook WAS the Eagles offense.

Runners Up-

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart- Just a remarkable performance on Monday night. The two are the best running back combo in football. 299 combined yards against a 9-3 club. Extraordniary.

LenDale White and Chris Johnson- The Thunder and Lighting combo rushed for 235 yards in the Titans 28-9 win over the Browns. The duo have been nearly unstoppable in recent weeks, and the Titans rushing attack may soon rival that of the Giants.

Matt Schaub- Once again showed the potential he has. Tossed for 414 yards and three TD's on 28-of-42 in the Texans last second win over the Packers, 24-21.

Matt Cassel- In a game and season ending stretch that leaves no room for error, Cassel again played another solid game; tossing 26-of-44 for 268 yards and 1 TD, with no turnovers in the Pats tough fought 24-21 win over the Seahawks.

DEFENSIVE

Troy Polamalu

Steelers safety was all over the field on Sunday, harrassing the Cowboys wide receivers and punishing ball carriers. The Steelers defense, who is now inarguablly the best in football, did not give one inch to the up and down Cowboys. For the day, Polamalu posted 7 tackles, deflected a pass, and incerepted another in the Steelers 20-13 victory.


Polamalu and the Steelers defense have been remarkable the last few weeks

Runner Ups

Ray Lewis- In what is perhaps Lewis' best season since his Defensive Player of the Year 2003, the Redskins proved no match. Lewis finsihed the game with 10 tackles (3 for a loss), and a 13 yard sack on QB Jason Campbell. Stewart Bradly- Is very quietly turning into one of the better run stuffing linebackers in the leauge. The Eagles third year man finished with 9 tackles as the Eagles defense held the Giants to just 7 points.

BUST OF THE WEEK

NY Jets team

More of a two week culmination here. After beating two of the better teams in football (Patriots and Titans) and managing a five game winning streak, the Jets have lost two weeks in a row to subpar competition. Last week was a major 34-14 letdown to the Brocos, and this week, a 24-14 loss to the 49er's. The AFC East would have been theirs for the taking with wins, but now they are in a three-way tie with New England and Miami in the seasons last three weeks. A total missed opportunity for a suddenly stagnet offense and a defense that is suddenly letting up long drives. The Niners touchdown drives consisted of 10, 16, and 10 plays. This is not the Jets stout defense we are used to seeing.

BIGGEST SUPRISE OF THE WEEK

The Giants did in fact struggle without Plaxico Burress
This was very much a suprising development. But putting all the "distraciton" of the situation aside, the Giants did in fact have a great deal of trouble making big plays without Burress. Seriously folks, would Burress have dropped that ball that Domenick Hixon did in the 2nd quarter that would have given the G-Men the lead. I really don't think so. The steadfast Giants team, under the stern eye of coach Tom Coughlin, never seemed to be fazed by Plax when he was active but ineffective. Other players simply stepped up and made plays. That wasn't able to happen Sunday, and Eli Manning, continuing his solid season, had very little support when the weather proved too much and the running game was slowed. Sure, one could say that Plax, even when not catching passes was at least a "presence" on the field, but the Giants did looked like a team without a home run hitter.


LEAST SUPRSING THING OF THE WEEK

Mother Nature is unforgiving to the quarterback

Perhaps the best defender of this weekend was the weather. Several games, including Eagles-Giants, Cowboys-Steelers, Dolphins-Bills all had offensive play altered due to the weather. And don't worry folks, I am a purist who knows its part of the game and they need to get used to it, but man, it the Eagles-Giants game espeically, both Donovan McNabb and Eli Manning were struggling mightly to be able to throw the ball down field during some of those 25 MPH wind burst. The cold weather of Heinz Field was also a problem for the Cowboys offense, who slipped and watched passes sail all night. Their is no telling what late December and January will have in store for teams this year, but this weekend was the first indication that the weather does indeed have quite the impact.


That's going to do it for this week. Have a good one everyone.