411's NFL Round Up 12.23.08: Week 16 Breakdown

Posted by Emmett Wilks on 12.23.2008

Matt Cassel leads the Patriots to victory and a possible playoff spot, while the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers put on the game of the week! Who is in the playoffs and who is out with one week to go? Check out the full column for all the details!

Greetings to everyone, and welcome to the week 16 edition of NFL Round Up. I am happy to say I have been done all of the Christmas shopping for a solid week now, which is a very good thing. It made football watching this weekend a totally uninterupted occassion. And call me crazy, but it feels like this NFL season has just flown by. We are in week 16 already! It really feels like opening week kickoff was just a few weeks ago. But, here we are, having just enjoyed one of the best weekends of pro football in recent memory. Divisions and playoff spots remain up in the air, and countless players had terriffic games for their teams. Now, onto the Round Up!

QUICK NOTES

The growing chorus calling for the firing of Jets coach Eric Mangini is a bit nauseating. Many in the traditionally brutal New York-area media are calling for his head, barring a major playoff run (if they even qualify). Again and again, the stain of instant gratificaiton and bloated expectations is rearing its ugly head. Yes, Mangini was in favor of bring in Brett Favre, but he was not the one who throw those interceptions, and he was not on the defensive line that did not pressure Seahawks QB Senneca Wallace all day on Sunday. Mangini inherited an aging team from Herm Edwards, and took them to the playoffs in 2006. Last year's 4-12 debacle was an obvious disastor. But I cannot understand people who beleive that the only way to call this season an improvment is to win the Lombardi Trophy! Really, improving by 5-6 wins in one season is not good enough anymore. In his third season as the Jets coach, Mangini has orchestrated many positive signs. Yes, there has been a collapse that may cost them the playoffs after a major free agency spending spree. But if I am not mistaken, the other New York coach, the Giants Tom Coughlin, went through similar late season collapses in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In that 2006 season, they starter 6-2, only to go 2-6 down the stretch and sneak into the playoffs due to a weak NFC. The Giants reaction was not to dump the coach and start over. The result was a well-coached, system knowledgable team that won a Super Bowl last year. Mangini has made mistakes, but has also demonstrated progress and improvement with the Jets. Do people really beleive that bring in a new coach, even a success one like Bill Cowher, would magically launch the Jets into the upper echelon of the AFC. Dumping him know will be three steps backwards, with any steps forwards being a long time away.


The firing of Mangini would be a foolish reaction

Just a disgraceful offensive performance by the Eagles on Sunday. With the very real possibility for the playoffs still alive, the offense dropped 7 passes (one for a sure TD in the 4th), rushed for a paltry 62 yards, and was 3-of-14 on third down. While some credit must be given to the Redskins defense (especially the defensive line and safety LaRon Landry), the Eagles were faced with a must win game and could not muster anything better than that kind of an effort. Very disappointing, and the murmers of a Donovan McNabb and/or coach Andy Reid departure will be in full swing if this squad fails to make the playoffs.

Detroit News columnist Rob Parker made a rightful jackass of himself when after the Lions 15th defeat of the season. In a postgame interview, Parker asked obviously dejected and angry Lions coach Rod Marinelli, whose daughter is married to Lions defensive coordinator Joe Barry, if Marinelli wished his daughter married a better coordinator. The whole fiasco was a poor attempt at humor, but went wrong on so many levels. Firstly, after a coach loses his 15th game, best not to say anything remotely having to do with his family. Heck, that is something that should be practiced ALL the time. Secondly, son-in-law or not, Barry is part of Marinelli's staff, and it was very classy of him not to throw anyone, even a coordinator who has not got the job done, under the bus. This season has been an unequivical embarrassment for the Lions, and no amount of humor is going to bring them back. Best for Mr. Parker to just leave that one alone. Parker did apologies about the situation on Monday though.

I am going to go on a limb and say that the 2008 Giants team may be the most dominant rushing unit the NFL has seen in years. This is based not just on numbers of attempts, yards, and averages, but on the impact they have to the game. Teams like the '06 Falcons have a better rushing averages than the Giants (5.47 yards to 5.05), but they were a 6-10 team. Same with other teams like the '97 Lions. When they rushed, it did not translate into wins. The Giants use the rushing game not just to kill clock and secure wins, to also make those wins happen in the first place. Statistics rarely tell the whole story of a team and a player, and with the Giants, I feel comfortable in saying no other rushing attack has been more effective and lethal than the one I am watching now. The three headed assualt of Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and potential star in the making Derrick Ward, along with a brilliant offensive line had already made a very real impact on my memory of all time great rushing teams. No matter what happens in January.


GAME OF THE WEEK


New York Giants- 34

Carolina Panthers- 28

There are literally 8 games that I considered for different reasons to put on this spot. You had the meltdown of the Eagles, Jets, and Broncos; the newfound domination of the Pats; but I leaned towards the tight, back and forth contests. And there were plenty of them as well. Dolphins-Chiefs, Jags-Colts, Broncos-Bills, heck, even the Niners-Rams game was a good football game. But the Sunday evening game took the top prize. Perhaps the best football game played all season, the Giants and Panthers may very well have played round 1 of a potential NFC Conference Championship match-up. The ebb and flow of the game was nothing short of extraordinary. And in the end, a reinvigorated Giants rushing attack won the day. But not before the Panthers attempted to stake their claim as the NFC's best. Behind running back DeAngelo Williams' four touchdown day, the Panthers grabbed a 21-13 halftime lead and lead 28-20 in the fourth. That's when the running game really got started for the Giants, who had been regulated to pedestrian games the last two weeks by the Cowboys and Eagles. The second half was again a back and forth affair, with both offenses making plays. The watershed moment came with 3:21 remaining in the game, as running back Brandon Jacobs plunged for a 1-yard TD to put the Giants within 2. On the ensuing two-point play, Giants QB Eli Manning play faked to Jacobs, and found Domenik Hixon for the tie. In overtime, after trading possessions, the Giants ripped down to field to end the game. On first-and-10 from the 13, Derrick Ward dashed 51 yards to Carolina 36. Three plays later on third-and-7, he went 14 yards to the 19 and followed that with a 17-yarder to the 2. Jacobs scored on the next play to end the game and keep the NFC playoffs in the Meadowlands.


Outlook-


The new stat to remind everyone about has been the fact that just one number 1 seed for the playoffs this decade (2003 Patriots) has won the Super Bowl. But, ask any coach or player if they would prefer home field advantage, you'd be hard pressed to find a team wanting to go on the road. The Panthers probably wanted this game more than the Giants. They are 8-0 at home this season, and 3-4 on the road. Home field potentially could mean everything to this team. The Giants however have already proven that the road is no enemy of theirs, having won three games on the road and then the Super Bowl last season. The NFC remains an unknown still. The NFC North has yet to be decided, and the last wild card berth remains to be claimed. These two teams however did nothing to change the perception that they are indeed the class teams of the NFC this season. Both teams still have weaknesses. The Panthers have a problem against good rushing teams. In their four losses, the Panthers have given up 173 yards on the ground. While certainly skewed due to the Giants game, when people can run, the Panthers lose. Plain and simple. The Giants meanwhile are still trying to come to terms with finding a playmaker in the passing game. While tight end Kevin Boss (5 catches, 73 yards and a TD) and Domenik Hixon (4 catches, 71 yards) have played well, QB Eli Manning does not possess any real "go to" target in the passing game, as fact that could prove to be a problem if the running game ever stumbles. The Panthers, already secure in a playoff birth, could still lose the division to the Falcons with a lose next week against the Saints and a Falcons win over the Rams, both strong possibilites. The Giants meanwhile can rest up, secure with homefield advantage and the division. A Vikings team that may be in a must win game next week is not something the starters should have to contend with, so I would not be shocked to see them benched. For my money though, after the game on Sunday night, this will be your NFC championship game.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK


Offensive


Cannot recall a week where there were so many guys deserving of the award. But it has to go to the two signal callers who have been instrumental in bringing their teams back into contention.

Philip Rivers- Against the leagues third ranked pass defense, Rivers completed 21-of-31 for 287 yards and 4 TD (no turnovers) to lead the Chargers to a 41-24 win over the Buccaneers. Left for dead a few weeks ago, the Chargers are now in a position to win the AFC West and a playoff birth against the Broncos next week. For the season, Rivers has been sensational. He has thrown 3,802 yards, 32 TD's (just 11 picks) and has become the Bolts biggest offensive weapon.


Rivers has pulled a near miracle and brough the Chargers back into contention

-tie-

Peyton Manning- The MVP race ended for me on Thursday night, as Manning engineered yet another come from behind win for the Colts for their eighth straight win. Manning went 29-of-34 (86%), 364 yards and three TD's against a fiesty Jaguars defense. His first 17 passes were all completions. The Colts also entered the game without receiver Marvin Harrison (hamstring), running back Joseph Addai (shoulder) and linebacker Gary Brackett (leg). The Colts faced 14-0 and 24-14 holes during the game, and Manning brought them back both times. Right now, a healthy Colts team may very well be the NFL's most dangerous squad. And to think, this was suppose to be the year that they slowed down.

Runners Up-

Matt Cassel- The MVP debate may be over for me, but Cassel deserves a great deal of recognition for this season. Against an NFC "playoff" team, Cassel throw for 345 yards on 20-of-36 passing and three TD is very unfavorable weather conditions.

JaMarcuss Russell- In a game that few noticed, Russell had his best day as a pro against a defense who shut down Tennessee last week. For the day, Russell went 18-of-25 for 236 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders 27-16 win over Houston.

Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs- The two were simply phenomenal against the solid Panthers defense. With the help of the great offense line, the two stormed out to 302 yards rushing (215 for Ward, 87 for Jacobs with three TD's). Their overtime runs very well may have set the tone for the NFC playoffs; here we are, now try and stop us. A scary thought.

Defensive

Leon Hall-


Hall picked off three passes (one for six points) in the Bengals great defensive performance

Cincy-Clevland, Week 16. A game that begs the question "if two teams played a football game and no one cared, did it really happen?" Well, it did, and Hall accomplished a very hard task by picking off three passes, taking one in for a TD. Cincy has been able to demonstrate some flashes of a decent team this season, and while they did play the journeyman Ken Dorsey Browns, it was still a shut out. Never an easy task in the NFL. Sure, your season has been a total bust, but that was quite a performance Mr. Hall.

-tie-

Jason Jones-

Rookie defensive lineman played the game of his life, notching 3.5 sacks, and forcing 3 fumbles as the Titans reclaimed their swagger in a 41-24 win over the Steelers. Jones, who had seldom playing time before the game, saw greater action with the injuries to starters Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch. The Titans must be thrilled to have had this performance, not just from Jones, but the entire defensive unit, who made big play after big play for the first time in a few weeks.

Runners Up-

Brandon Merriweather- A team award if anything, Merriweather gets the nod in the Pats 47-7 destruction of the Cardinals. His cause s blitz up the middle sack that was a loss of 12 yards epitomized the whole day for the Pats defense; well prepared and well executed. The Pats defense took one of the NFL's best offenses and not only grounded them, but disassembled the plane and sold it for parts. The Cardinals mustered just 186 yards of offense, and MVP candidate Kurt Warner throw for just 30 yards in over 2 quarters of play.

LaRon Landry- Roamed the middle of the field like a wild animal, defected two Eagles passes that would have been big plays and devlieved the hit to keep out Reggie Brown from the end zone as time expired. Is nicely developing into a big-play safety for the Skins.

Josh Wilson- Picked off Brett Favre twice, notched a sack, broke up three other passes, AND wrestled 5 ball carries to the ground as the Seahawks corner lead a shutdown performance against the Jets, 13-3.


BUST OF THE WEEK

Brett Favre-

I really wanted to put Eagles rookie wide receiver DeShaun Jackson at this spot for two critical dropped 4th quarter passes (one for a TD) that would have tied the ball game. But Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame QB, and this performance was just pathetic. Throwing across his body into double coverage. Under and overthrows to open receivers, and generally awful play that has nothing to do with a body falling apart, which it also is by the way. Poor decision making, plain and simple, and the Jets paid for the mistakes. With their playoff hopes dangling by a thread, Favre cannot blame anyone but himself for many of the problems that the Jets encountered this weekend. His defense played well enough to hold the Seahawks to just 13 points (the total lack of a pass rush not withstanding), and the offense was able to muster 115 rushing yards on 25 attempts. At some point, big plays have to come from the air, and Favre, whom I will love and admire forever, just could not provide them.


BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE WEEK

Pity the 2007 Dolphins, Fear the 2008 Dolphins-

The 2007 Miami Dolphins were a very, very bad football team. While not a legendarily awful team in the '76 Bucs or soon to be 2008 Lions, thier 1-15 record was indicative of a team that could not get the job done. Flash forward to 2008, and the Dolphins are a potential playoff contender. I just don't think I could really believe until now, but this team is in fact quite good. The jump has been staggaring. In 2007, the offense ranked 26th in points per game with 16.7. In 2008, they are ranked 21st, but have jumped to 21.7 points per game, nearly a touchdown better. The defense has been even better, ranked 11th this season in allowing 20 points per game, a marked improvment from their 27.3 points per game in '07. But as with everything in football, the numbers can reveal only so much. These Dolphins play with a swagger that was totally absent from the consistanly deflated group that manned the field last season. If the Fins can win in New York Sunday and get some help from the Pats losing, they will make the playoffs, making this one of the best turnaround seasons ever in the NFL. Credit is being rightly shared throughout the organization, as it should be. Owner Wayne Huizenga brought in Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells to help the hapless Dolphins just over one year ago. That hire, along with GM Jeff Ireland and coach Tony Sparano put a new face, and more importantly, and new attitude on the Dolphins organization. Their moves, with the acquastion of quarterback Chad Pennington the most notable, have been nearly flawless. Proper respect must be given when it is so rightly earned, and the Dolphins have definatly earned it.

LEAST SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT

Divisions are coming down to the last week.

The AFC East, AFC West, NFC South and NFC North (as of Monday afternoon) may all be determined next week. This has been one of the most entertaining years of football parity I have seen in quite a while. Teams have the ability like never before to reload and rebuild, even after difficult seasons. For the AFC East, the injury of one player, Patriots QB Tom Brady changed almost everything. But as for the other divisions, the competition has been exceptional. The AFC West, while an inarguablly bad division, has still seen ultra competive contests from its teams against one another. Two of Oaklands 4 wins came agaisnt rivial Denver this year, which is a big reason Denver will have to play San Diego next week for the division crown and a playoff birth. The NFL established the 8 division setup to get better games, and the success has been easily apparant. Even an excellent team like Carolina at 11-4 has not clinched their division, with upstart Atlanta still in the mix. In terms of the divisional races, the NFL could not be happier, excluding the awful NFC West. But even the bottom feeders of that division, San Fran, Seattle, and St. Louis are all fixable teams that could be back in contention soon. Is the divisional set up the only reason for the great football? Of course not. But the structure the NFL has now is working perfectly, and it shows with meaningful games coming down to the wire in week 17.