411's NFL Round Up12.16.08: Week 15 Breadown

Posted by Emmett Wilks on 12.16.2008

The Steelers and Ravens show what a defensive battle looks like, Andre Johnson is making his case as the NFL's best receiver, and the NFC playoffs may be running through Carolina! All this, plus news and notes in this weeks edition of NFL Round Up!

Hello to everyone, welcome to this edition of NFL Round Up. Tuned into the Heisman Trophy ceremony on Saturday for the first time in quite a while. This was a very strange year where you could not go wrong choosing any of the finalist players. The QB trifecta of Texas' Colt McCoy, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, and last years winner Tim Tebow all had very compelling cases for the award. If I had a vote, I likely would have gone with Tebow, Bradford, and McCoy. Of the three, McCoy is my guess to make the best NFL player. His accuracy and knowledge comes across very strongly when he plays. Tebow mechanic throwing the ball still trouble me, though there's no one in college football more committed to winning a game. And the winner Bradford, just a great season, and I believe he has the tools to be a very good NFL QB. But, this is a column for the NFL, so, onto the Round Up!

QUICK NOTES

With their win over the Broncos, 30-10, the Panthers are now 8-0 at home this season, making Carolina the most dangerous place in the NFC Playoffs. Under the radar for a good portion of the season, the Panthers are on the brink of taking the NFC's top seed from the Giants. And just two weeks ago, they were tied with the Bucs and still looking over their shoulders at the Falcons. In their wins at home, the Panthers have outscored opponents 234-111,

Leon Washington is the best big play maker in the NFL. His 47 yard run at the end of the first half in the Jets win over the Bills looked like something out of a USC-Washington game. Untouched as he ran to the endzone, Washington completed his 9th 40+ yard play from scrimmage of the season. For all the hoopla surround QB Brett Favre, and even the offensive line I cannot shut up about, Washington is unquestionably the MVP for the Jets team this season.

It was really a shame to see a nearly empty stadium in Oakland this weekend. The Raiders played host to the Patriots. As mother nature drove down the rain, as did the Patriots with points. The Pats had a 21 point lead before Oakland scored, and netted 35 by the half, all while playing in a rain storm that looked to be the worst of the season thus far. So, maybe just this once I can understand, but not condone, fans deciding to take a hike before this games final whistle sounded.

The embarrassment of losing to a sub-.500 team was not the only setback the Titans suffered on Sunday. Both defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch will both miss at least the final two weeks of the season. Haynesworth had his knee buckle under a pile against the Texans Sunday, while Vaden Bosch injuried his groin on Dec. 7 agasint Cleveland and did not play against the Texans. With the AFC's top seed still up for grabs, this is certainly a big blow. The two have been the among the brightest stars of a great defense. But coach Jeff Fisher is remaining an optimist, saying that the important thing is both guys will likely be back in time for the playoffs. Staying healthy is as mportant as execution and talent in the postseason, and this could be an ominous sign for the Titans this year.


An injured Albert Haynesworth (pictured) and Kyle Vanden Bosch are a major blow to the Titans

Staying on the injury front, Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams has a broken shoulder on Sunday against the Cardinals that may sideline him for 2-6 weeks. The best case would have him back if the Vikings make the playoffs, and the worst would see him done for the year. Williams is among the best run stopping lineman in the leauge, often times commanding double teams from offenses. His loss could not have come at a worse time, with the Vikings closing out 2008 agaisnt the best two rushing teams in the NFL, Atlanta and the New York Giants.

The Chiefs have offically announced that President/GM Carl Peterson will end his 20 year tenure with the Chiefs effective at the end of the season. Peterson was central to much of the Chief's success over the past twenty years. He hired Marty Schottenheimer, who lead the Chiefs to the 2nd most wins in the 90's, picked up a the not over-the-hill yet Joe Montana at his careers twilight. Peterson also hired Dick Vermil out from retirement, a moved that helped the Chiefs become on of the best teams in the league during the early part of this decade, as well a picking up decent young back named Priest Holmes. But all those accomplishments could not erase the nightmare the last few seasons have been for the Chiefs. Since 2006, when the Peterson helped acquire coach Herm Edwards from the Jets, the Chiefs are just 15-31. The Chiefs are currently a young team, and whomever succeeds Peterson will be left with a relatively decent group of players to work with. His departure will almost certainly spell the end of Edwards in Kansas City as well.

In a story requiring mentioning for its sheer awsomeness, Bucs defensive end Greg White has offically changed his name to Stylez G. White. For the total nerds out there, this is the name of Michael J. Fox's best friend in the 80's classic Teen Wolf. Now, I am a big fan of cool name changes, but this one so geekishly radical (intentional 80's reference) that it certainly deserves it place with Muhammad Ali, World B. Free, and Kareem Adbul-Jabaar as one of the great name changes ever. NOT!

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder should call every Washington area media outlet today and speak his confidence for first year coach Jim Zorn. The nonsense of these rumors are just absurd. Zorn, in his first season as a head coach, guided the Skins to 6-2 record to start the year. But Washington has fallend to 7-7 after a sickening loss to the Bengals on Sunday. While their collapse his concerning, to can a coach after one year for posting a .500 record is inexcusable, even if they are just rumors now. Even after the recently departed Joe Gibbs return to the sideline, the Skins have not been better than an average to above-average team in years. Zorn, like any coach, needs time to better develop his players and system. While I don't expect him to be on the chopping block, the very fact this rumor is circulating is an ugly display of the "instant success" and "win now" philosophy that NFL owners unfairly expect from teams.

WEEK 15 BREAKDOWN

Game of the Week

Pittsburgh Steelers 13

Baltimore Ravens 9

BREAKDOWN

Yet another finish to a game this season with controversy. With 40 ticks left in the game, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger found receiver Santonio Holmes in the endzone for the winning TD. Initally called a catch at the one, with Holmes' feet but not the ball in the endzone, the play was reviewed and ruled a TD. While I am still not sure if that ball crossed the plane, it was close enough that it does not fall into the "Tuck Rule" level of absurity. What is now be lost was a brutally fought defensive battle from two of the NFL's best teams. Just 513 yards of total offense from both teams, 22 points, and a lot of bruised and battered
bodies. Offensively, Big Ben continues to prove himself a winner if nothing else, making the big third down conversions when necessary and tossing the winning score off a nifty scramble in the backfield.

OUTLOOK

Be afraid AFC, be very afraid. The Steelers have clinched the AFC North crown and The Steelers defense has offically replaced the Titans and Giants as the best unit in the NFL. Yes, they have been at the top of almost every defensive stat most of the season, but stats rarely tell the whole story. Now that we have read deeper into the saga of 2008, we can now cal the Steelers defense for what it is, one of the best units in the last decade. Yes,my hyperbole is running wild, but for good reason. Mike Tomlin's crew is just that good. The Ravens offense has been admittedly inconsistent on some weeks; a forgivable result of a rookie QB and an injury plauged rushing attack. With the Titans next week, the Steelers could claim the top position in the whole AFC. They will then close the season against the Browns, in a game that could see starters rested if home field has been secured, which is becoming a strong possiblity. As for the Ravens, they are facing a tough test to make the playoffs. They will conclude their season against the still fighting Cowboys and Jaguars. Both game are certainly winnable, and an 11-5 mark would be enough to grab a playoff spot. But as good as the Raven can be, they are still too inexperienced at QB and have not proven their offense can handle the big challenges.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Offensive

Andre Johnson-

The Texans wide out has now ascended to the elite level in the league. With Houston out of playoff contention once again, the Texans manned up against the 12-1 Titans and pulled off a great win. With QB Matt Schaub healthy and playing well, Johnson managaed one the best games of the season for a wide receiver, grabbing 11 passes for 207 yards and a TD. That's just a shade under 20 yards for every catch. With two games left, the Texans are looking to close out the season on a high note, and with the way their
playmakers on offense have performed (Steve Slaton quietly rushed for 100 yards in the game), and a very good defensive nucelus, the Texans seem to be heading in the right direction.

Runners Up

Matt Cassel- Just days after the death of his father, Cassel traveled across country to lay a smackdown on the Raiders, tossing 4 TD's on 218 yards passing in a driving rainstorm.

Steve Smith- Watching Smith play is sometimes like watching Pai Mei in teach the Bride in the Kill Bill Vol. 2. His innate feel for the game is just so beyond guys who cover him that he just makesthem look silly. His 9 catch, 168 yard and a TD performance was a "man among boys" type moment.


Tavaris Jackson- As much of a "Comeback Player of the Week" than anything, Jackson posted an effienct and lethal 11-of-17 passing for just 163 yards, but also 4 TD's. But as much credit must go to...

...Adrian Peterson- Is now offically poised to take the mantra of "Best Running Back in Football" from LaDanian Tomlinson, Peterson dashed for 165 yards, pacing the NFC North leaders on offense and setting up Jackson's TD passes.

DEFENSIVE

DeMarcus Ware-

A near universal pick this week. Recorded three sacks against the vaunted (though injured) Giants offensive line, and has helped reestablish Dallas as a contender. He netted 7 other tackles (three for a loss) and also knocked out two forced fumbles. At times, he was Lawerance Taylor like in his pursit of Eli Manning. While all the headlines have surrounded the offense in Dallas, it has been and will continue to be thedefense that will take them as far as they want to go.


The Cowboys linebacker has a chance of besting Michael Strahan's single season sack record

Runners Up

Channing Crowder- An award that could be presented to a number of Miami defenders. Crowder consisently stuffed the Niners rushing game up the middle (9 total tackles) but also prowled the middle of the field in coverage as if he were a third safety, delefecting two passes.

Coy Wire- the former undrafted Stanford linebacker has become one of the key members of the resurgent Falcons team. For the day, Wire notched 13 tackles against the Bucs.

BUST OF THE WEEK

Arizona Cardinals playoff team

What a crock this is fast becoming. A week after I sung the praises of Arizona that we should in fact be congratulatory in their division title, they play a game like this one, going down 21-0 in the first quarter of play in their 35-14 loss to the Vikings. This team, while never scaring anyone, is going to fast become one of the worst playoff teams ever. I remember the Thanksgiving day game when the commentators were saying how great it is for the national audience to see some of the good defensive players who rarely get the big exspousure. Well, I'm still waiting to see them. The defense was bullied up front in the running game and totally outsmarted in the redzone by the Vikings passing game. And the offense, with an inarugably solid collection of playmakers has not provided necessary firepower when needed. This team will not
be the Cinderella of 2008.

* I did not include either JP Losman or coach Dick Jauron in this section as many other are doing so. Yes, hindsight has shown Losmans roll out fumble in the 4th quarter of their loss to the Jets to be a bad play. But I will not condem players and coaches playing to win, which is what the Bills were trying to do.

BIGGEST SUPRISE OF THE WEEK

People are forgetting the Patriots?

I don't really have the slightest clue why this is happening, but people are people forgetting that the Pats just rolled over the Raiders, had their QB toss for and are 9-5 on the season. While the tie breakers for the division belongs to the Jets, the Pats still appear to be the more complete football team. Despite the many injuries on defense, this team just seems to be totally indestrucable. An outside chance still remains to even claim the AFC East, a feat that will be nothing short of remarkable given the difficulties faced by New England this season. But the hype around the division seemed to be centered around the Jets win over Buffalo. Yes, the Jets beat a quality opponent in the Bills and the Pats took down one of the AFC's worst teams, but it is still too early to call this division for anyone.

LEAST SUPRISING THING OF THE WEEK

Pride is always on display...

If there is one thing that I truly love about the NFL more than any other profesional leauge, it is the heart
played by men and teams who are out of playoff contention. Watching the Chiefs-Chargers and Seattle-Rams game, fans were treated to very, very good football. Hardhitting, aggressive, with a huge display of effort from everyone involved. A cynic will say it is nothing more than players seeking next years pay check. But I don't subscribe to that. These men take a true pride in their performance, and none of them ever walk on the field with that fan feeling of "let's get the better draft position." They play to win each and every week, not matter what the situation. When you suit up, you do it not just for yourself, but for the 52 other guys on the sideline. It is with that pride that Steven Jackson plunged head first into piles this weekend, that Tony Gonzalez continued to make great catches, and why Seneca Wallace scrambled and hustled as if he were playing the Super Bowl. Pride is the reason a no playoffs Texans team went out firing on all cylinder agasint one of the NFL's best teams in the Titans. And won. It's pride of performance, one of the NFL's great attributes, on display this weekend.

That's it for this week. Have a good one folks.