411's NFL Round Up: Wild Card Edition 01.06.09

Posted by Emmett Wilks on 01.06.2009

The Wild Card Round certainly made for a wild weekend. See how teams will far now in the new playoff landscape. All this, plus notes and predictions for the rest of the NFL Playoffs on this edition of NFL Round Up!

Hello to everyone, and welcome to the Wild Card edition of NFL Round Up! It was a week of unexpected happenings both on and off the field. I went 2-2 in my predictions over the weekend, getting both NFC games and blowing both AFC games. Not trying to be a homeboy, I felt most confident about Philly over Minnesota. A young QB in Tavaris Jackson against a Jim Johnson defense did not bode well for the Vikings, which proved correct. Similar to the Cardinals in their win over the Falcons. Yes, the Falcons were a very good team, but a rookie QB, a rookie left tackle, and a banged up secondary, going on the road, that was just too much for Atlanta to overcome. And so I went with that thinking for the Raven-Dolphins game, but of course with a much different result. The Ravens defense more than made up for rookie QB Joe Flacco's shortcomings (9-of-23, 135 yards). Great defense can win you games, and it did for Baltimore, forcing 5 turnovers. I was most wrong in regards to the Colt-Chargers. I ranted to friends that this would be the weekend's biggest blowout in favor of the Colts, and boy was I wrong. Yes, I know that the Chargers were entering with a lot of momentum, but I did not think that a banged up LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates would be able to outscore Peyton Manning and company. Oh so very wrong I was. Great special teams and a legendary game from Chargers running back Darren Sproles helped make me look like fool. But many of the so-called experts were as well, so I took some solace in that. So, now, onto the Round Up!

AWARDS RECAP

Going back to last week, there was a vocal contingent who disagreed with my selecting of Adrian Peterson over Drew Brees for Offensive Player of the Year. Look, I love Brees, but I believe Peterson was more impressive with his offensive accomplishments that Brees, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I believe it's less difficult to be a QB carrying an offense than a running back in the NFL. As guys like Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb have shown, QB's can be very successful without great receivers around them. Peterson on the other hand had little help form his QB's, and his carrying of an offense, at running back, to a division title no less, was just a little bit more impressive in my book. Just my opinion, you don't need to get so angry folks.


Taking nothing away from Drew Brees, Peterson's season was just more impressive to me..

Just no arguing this seasons Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Mayo. That makes a linebacker taking the DROY award every year this decade save 2002, when Julius Peppers won the award. The past winners since 2000 have been; Brian Urlacher, Kendrell Bell, Peppers, Terrell Suggs (a OLB/DE to be precise), Jonathan Vilma, Shawn Merriman, DeMeco Ryans, and last years winner Patrick Willis. All were 1st or second round picks, and all but Bell and Vilma are still with the team that drafted them, making linebacker and running back as the safest draft picks to make right now in the NFL.

While certainly not a scandalous award, I was a bit surprised that Falcons coach Mike Smith took the AP Coach of the Year Award from Tony Sparano. The award went to Smith by a single vote, taking a 4-12 Atlanta team from 2007 to 11-5 and a playoff berth. Even though I gave the Round Up Award to Tony Dungy (which I would still do), I thought that the sports writers would go with Sparano just for taking 1-15 to 11-5, but the other off the field problems that faced Smith were too much to ignore for the writers to ignore. And writers are always the suckers for the better stories.

Little argument to be given about James Harrison's winning of the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker was simply brilliant this season for the NFL's best all-around defense. Yes, Baltimore's Ed Reed has been equally dominant in recent weeks. But the award is and should be one given for an entire season. With that, no one in the NFL was better than Harrison.

Even with his early post-season departure, Peyton Manning was the right choice for MVP. I think the biggest surprise came from the two nearest runners up; Miami's Chad Pennington and Atlanta's Michael Turner. Pennington got a lot of love late, especially for leading the Fins to the division title, but I really don't know how much love he would have gotten if they had stumbled at the Jets. Turner was the big surprise to me. While he had a great season in Atlanta, he did not put himself above Adrian Peterson, or even DeAngelo Williams to warrant that kind of consideration. He was aided by good QB play (unlike Peterson) and led the NFL only in carries and no other major stat. Just what I think.


QUICK NOTES


The NY Jets are putting together quite the list of candidates for their vacant head-coaching job. Joining the ranks now is Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm, the former Pro Bowl guard and long time Steelers assistant, currently with the Cardinals. Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum is also considering Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, and assistant head coach/offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Also being considered is Boston College and former Green Bay offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski. That is a good deal of talented coaches for the Jets. My money is on the Jets making the hard push for Spangnuolo, whose Giants defenses have been sensational the past two seasons. Regardless, I like the people they like, and the Jets will hopefully be getting the right coach for a good group of talent.

You could put me in the large crowd of people who were completely shocked at the firing of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. Hired in 1995 for his offensive knowledge, Shanahan led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles in his third and fourth season, and was once called by owner Pat Bowlen his "coach for life." Well, the life of Shanahan's Broncos career is in fact over. Shanahan was, and still is one of the NFL's most impressive offensive coaches. But it has been on the other side of the ball, the defense that has proven to be the teams, and ultimately Shanahan's downfall. The Broncos let up 448 points this year, third worst in the NFL. Shanahan has tried in vain to fix his defense, both via personnel and coaches. Nothing has worked. For him to go now is not something I can totally disagree with. Shanahan has stated he will sit out 2009, barring an offer he cannot refuse (whatever that means). But he won't be off the sideline for long, and will be coaching somewhere soon. The safe money is on Dallas, where he and owner Jerry Jones go way back. If Dallas falters at all next year, the Shanahan era will begin very soon.

Brilliant move by the Patriots as they intend to put the franchise tag on QB Matt Cassel, who is a free agent. Make no mistake; this is a move by the Pats to keep themselves competitive, not a ploy to keep their rivals from getting Cassel. The situation on Tom Brady remains very clouded. Cassel has proven to be a very good NFL QB (great is a distinction reserved for players who consistently play that well, which Cassel could do, but has not done yet). Keeping Cassel in house is the smartest insurance policy made in a long, long while.


The Patriots front office is making a brilliant move by franchise tagging Cassel

There is just not enough praise that can be given to Chargers punter Mike Scifres and the job he did against the Colts. He had Scifres' punts forced the Colts to have atrocious field position, having them start at their own 10, 15, 3, 5, 9, and 1, with a 52.7 yard average to boot. Just an amazing punting performance that was as important as Sproles in the Chargers win.


GAME OF THE WEEK

Baltimore Ravens- 27

Miami Dolphins- 9

The playoffs limit the number of games to choose from, but all in all we still had a pretty solid start to the playoffs this weekend. While Atlanta-Arizona was tighter, back and forth game, the Ravens domination of AFC East Champ Miami was just too impressive to ignore. 5 takeaways from a defense that is playing out of their skulls, it is not too much of a stretch to start saying that the AFC needs to start getting nervous about the Ravens. The Fins were in fact a very good offensive unit. Under Chad Pennington, they had become among the more efficient units in the NFL. Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Hatoli Ngata, and the Ed Reed can rightfully rival the amazing 2000 Ravens squad, that in fact won a Super Bowl.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

OFFENSIVE

Darren Sproles

No matter what happens to the Chargers from here, Sproles electrifying performance on Sunday will forever go down in NFL postseason lore as one of the best. With All-World teammate LaDainian Tomlinson sidelined with a groin injury, Sproles carried the load for the Chargers and made himself a little hero. 328 total yards on 8 returns (4 punts, 4 kick off returns) 22 rushes (102 yards) and 4 receptions (42 yards) allowed Sproles to overcome what was almost a back breaking fumble that cost the Chargers a TD.


Sproles took the lead for the Chargers offense when LT was sidelined

Runners Up-

Larry Fitzgerald- His first quarter TD on the flea flicker was tremendous catch over two defenders and set the tone for the Cardinals big win. Finished the game with 6 catches for 101 yards and the TD.

Peyton Manning- Forgotten amid the loss was Manning having another great but not great enough performance. Ended the 2008 season going 25-of-42 for 310 yards and a great heads up td pass to Reggie Wayne with the Chargers defense not paying attention. Football is just not as much fun without Peyton playing.

Brian Westbrook- One play can make all the difference, as his 71 yards TD reception off a Donovan McNabb screen lifted the Eagles to their 26-14 win. Total ended with 38 yards rushing and 83 receiving for 121 total yards.

DEFENSIVE

Ed Reed

The man just defies logic. His first interception on Chad Pennington came as he sprinted from the deep left coverage, running all the way toward the middle right side of the field, looking like he was in full speed when CBS showed the replay. You know you are a great defensive player, in the Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, and Deion Sanders mold great, when teams plan their entire offense around staying away from you, and you still are able to make big plays.


Ed Reed and the Ravens defense played remarkable football, forcing 5 turnovers

Runners Up-

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie- An interception to go along with 10 tackles was a big part of the Cardinals win over the Falcons. Would likely have been a Defensive Rookie of the Year in a world without Jared Mayo.

Brian Dawkins- The other great safety in the playoffs grabbed a sack and had a couple big hits to help led the Eagles defense against the Vikings.

Asante Samuels- The Eagles corner had a pick-six that proved the beginning of the end for the Vikings.

BUST OF THE WEEK

Chad Pennington

Tough to pick on such a good guy, but Pennington pooped the bed big-time against the Ravens. 4 interceptions and a lost fumble was truly what cost the Dolphins a chance to win. Thou giveth, and thou taketh away. The Fins would never have been in this position without the efforts of Pennington.

BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE WEEK

Arizona solid defensive play.

In the last three games of the season, the Cardinals allowed 34 points per game and looked plain awful. But on Saturday, the defense, especially up front against a very good running football team, played maybe their best defense of the year. Atlanta's Michael Turner was held to just 42 yards on 18 carries, and big play receiver Roddy White grabbed 11 passes but for just 84 yards. The Cardinals also picked off Offensive Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan twice and harassed him consistently during the game. Darrell Dockett and Bertrand Berry really set the tone for the whole team. Dockett especially was relentless up front, blowing up the run for key stops in the game. This was certainly a far cry from the team that allowed 47 points to the Patriots just two weeks ago.

LEAST SUPRISING DEVELOPMENT

It all starts over in the playoffs.

We all seem to forget that once the playoffs start, every stat goes right out the window. It doesn't matter where you rank in passing, rushing, or defense. It doesn't matter what you have done the previous 16 weeks. In the playoffs, it matters what you do on that day and that day only. We need to look at what a team has done during the entire season to known who is the favorite I guess. But it does not really matter in the end. Records are gone, and all that matters is that one game. That's why an 8-8 Chargers team, with injuries galore, was able to take down a 12 wins, NFL MVP led team in the Colts. That's why the left for dead Cardinals overcame a supposed superior team in the Falcons. Those teams won the one game they had to win. And everything they did before that meant nothing. That is the beauty and tragedy of the NFL playoffs. You have once chance and one chance only to make it happen.

BOLD PREDICITON OF THE WEEK

The divisional week starts Saturday. I have Tennessee forcing Joe Flacco into a big mistake, helping the Titans overcome the surging Ravens 23-20. Carolina will keep Arizona winless on the East Coast this season as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart run big, with the Panthers winning 30-13.

On Sunday, I have the Philly defense continuing to ride high from the win against the Vikings, with Eli Manning and the Giants facing relentless blitzing pressure. 20-17 Eagles. Pittsburgh will get to show its defensive guns against the Chargers This defense won't allow Darren Sproles to do what he did to the Colts, and Big Ben and Co. triumph over the Chargers, 23-9.

I'll see you all next week. Have a good one.