Home add your blog Archives Search Forum Contact RSS FEED

This site is an rss/xml news reader containing our favorite feeds. All articles are the copyrighted material of the blogs that wrote them.

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars preview

post from Buffalo Bills on 20 November 2009 09:57:11 PM. © Buffalo Bills

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is the interim head coach for the Buffalo Bills (3-6) this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4), as Dick Jauron got the axe earlier this week. Fewell has decided to start Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback this week as Trent Edwards has struggled all season and has a 74.1 QB rating. Fitzpatrick [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.billslocker.com/2009/11/20/buffalo-bills-at-jacksonville-jaguars-previ
ew/

Digg this

Are the Bengals Super Bowl Contenders

post from Cincy Jungle on 20 November 2009 09:00:00 PM. © Cincy Jungle

Now hang on before you completely beat me to a bloody pulp questioning what kind of moron am I. I know and understand that it is week 10 of the season with 7 more games to go against some formidable opponents. Anything can happen, from a sudden rash of injuries to complacency. But there is aura in the air for us Bengals fans that can be as contagious as the Swine Flu. My wife, who knows football so well half of the men in her office won't hesitate to talk the game with her, proclaimed that if the Bengals beat the Steelers, "they are going to the Super Bowl!" Yes, that is a direct quote.

Now I don't want to start any unnecessary Super Bowl hype for the Bengals, but having swept the teams considered contenders for the division title, a certain level of expectation may be placed on this accomplishment. My wife and I both know that there are still seven games yet to be played and anything can happen to include a meltdown that might leave them out of the playoffs. Given past history of ineptitude, why should anyone even consider the Bengals a contender when they play in the same conference as the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, who are considered the class of the league? But let's take last season for instance. Perennial NFL laughing stock Arizona Cardinals, a franchise considered by many the worst in Pro Sports history, not only won their division for the first time since forever, showed that even perennial losers can have a streak of good luck and get to the Super Bowl. As a team, there may have been areas of concern, they still made the title game and nearly won it.

Each year, the prognosticators and supposed experts say defense wins championships. And every year this theory is proven as the team playing good defense during the season goes on to play in the Super Bowl. And there is no reason to expect the same from this season's Super Bowl participants. This year's Bengals defense is probably the best that has been fielded since the Marvin Lewis era began. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, carrying a heavy heart with the sudden passing of his wife a few weeks ago, has the defense playing the best we have seen in a number of years as it is currently ranked 10^th in total defense. More importantly, the defense is second in scoring defense allowing 16.3 points per game. The Bengals rushing defense is also ranked 2^nd giving up 83.4 yards per game, making opposing offenses one dimensional giving the defense the ability pin their ears back and go after the quarterback. This has led to 25 sacks so far this season, placing them 4^th overall. Last season, the defense finished the season with a total of 17 sacks placing them near the bottom of the pack. Some may say the defense has rallied around Zim's tragedy; I say that is true and they are responding to just plain good coaching.

A number of nay sayers will point to the offensive struggles at scoring. The 2000 Baltimore Ravens had a five game streak which the offense failed to score a touchdown but went on to win their only Super Bowl appearance. The Bengals currently has one. In each of this seasons win, a different part of the Bengals team contributed with either an interception return for a touchdown or a kickoff return to help propel them to victory. Both of these instances occurred in a game against the defending Super Bowl Champion. Jonathon Joseph's 30 yard INT return help provide a spark to the Bengals by cutting the deficit from 13-3 to 13-9. The kickoff return for touchdown by Bernard Scott in the rematch helped provide the Bengals with the six point difference of the game. Without these touchdowns, an argument can be made that the Bengals would not be 7-2. One can say that the entire team is contributing and doing what it takes to win.

Seeding can also play a factor as to whether a team lands in the Super Bowl. If both the Colts and Bengals continue their winning ways, the Bengals would grab the second seed behind the Colts, securing a bye week at the start of the playoffs and hosting at least one playoff game. Peyton Manning has a reputation of struggling in the playoffs with only one Super Bowl appearance (and victory) in his 9 playoff appearances. His record is less then stellar at 7-8 with an 84.6 passer rating. So the possibility exists that the Colts could get eliminated early possibly setting up the AFC Championship in Cincy. But the other part of this equation is the New England Patriots. They have a reputation of rallying behind Bill Belichick when things get rough and making stunning run through the playoffs. They have a quarterback in Tom Brady that set a record of 12 straight playoff wins at the start of career and is 14-2 in his playoff career. If they clinch the 3 seed, this could be the team they could face in the first playoff game.

It is obvious that the remaining schedule looks favorable for the Bengals to finish with their best record in franchise history. There are only two teams with winning records remaining on their schedule in the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers, and both are on the road. With the Bengals victory at Pittsburgh last week, they set a team record 5 straight road victories dating back to last season. The games against the Vikes and Bolts may not look good on paper, but the Bengals have done nothing short of surprising those who have doubted them all season.

Marvin Lewis has called this team a group of misfits and outcasts and it seems they are using this as a battle cry. He has them believing in themselves and thinking that they can achieve goals being placed in front of them. Although many people think what the Bengals are doing is a nice story, we believe that it can only get better when they contend for an appearance in the Super Bowl.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/11/20/1167362/are-the-bengals-super-bowl

Digg this

The Buffalo Bills lose Keith Ellison for the
season

post from Buffalo Bills on 20 November 2009 07:11:31 PM. © Buffalo Bills

The Bills have lost starting OLB Keith Ellison for the rest of the year due to a quadriceps injury. Ellison played in 8 games for the Bills this season and he made 68 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and he has defensed 2 passes. This is a big loss for the Bills as Ellison [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.billslocker.com/2009/11/20/the-buffalo-bills-lose-keith-ellison-for-th
e-season/

Digg this

A Look At The Falcons Red Zone Performance: Week
10

post from The Falcoholic on 20 November 2009 05:18:00 PM. © The Falcoholic

This post is sponsored by Comcast and their NFL RedZone channel. If you're looking to check out red zone action as it happens, then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone. Comcast....where dreams come true!

We're back with this week's edition of Why-Does-This-Team-Not-Win-When-They-Do-So-Awesome-In-The-Red-Zone. This previous week, against the Panthers, we managed to convert four of five chances, though two were for field goals, and then Jason Elam whiffed on another kick. That's still nothing to sneeze at, and it continues the Falcons' preposterously good streak inside the 20. That should mean success for us, but lately it hasn't.

Why, you ask? Because on our other drives we do absolutely nothing. Against the Panthers, Ryan threw two costly, drive-killing interceptions. On another, we got to the Carolina 39, just out side of reasonable field goal range, and promptly threw two short passes (both incomplete and to Tony Gonzalez) and Jason Snelling mustered a two yard run. Boom! Punt. On yet another, the Falcons actually went for it with three straight deep passes right before the half, only to see all of them fall incomplete.

In essence, we're an inconsistent team, something that was expected of us on defense but certainly not with this weapons-grade offense. Matt Ryan's slow decline over the last few games has had a lot to do with it, but certainly the loss of Harry Douglas seems to be hurting more than ever before. In the red zone, we have big targets with good hands who can make things happen by out-muscling everyone else. When the field's a little more open, no such luck.

Thoughts?

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2009/11/20/1167081/a-look-at-the-falcons-red-zone

Digg this

49ers-Packers Final Injury Report

post from Niners Nation on 20 November 2009 05:08:00 PM. © Niners Nation

We're two days away from a monstrous game for the 49ers and we've got our final injury report of the week. A whole lot of probable players, but not much beyond that. Barrows thinks we'll see Matt Wilhelm starting at the Ted linebacker spot over Takeo Spikes, who remains "day-to-day." Wilhelm was solid last Thursday as a mid-game replacement for Spikes, so let's hope it carries over to Sunday.

49ers
Out
CB Nate Clements (shoulder)
OT Joe Staley (knee)

Questionable
LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder)

Probable
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle)
RB Glen Coffee (concussion)
S Michael Lewis (quadricep)
RB Michael Robinson (stinger)
WR Michael Crabtree (knee)
DT Demetric Evans (shoulder)
S Mark Roman (knee)
DE Justin Smith (back)
OT Adam Snyder (shoulder)

Packers
Doubtful
OT Allen Barbre (ankle)

Questionable
G Evan Dietrich-Smith (ankle)
RB Ahman Green (groin)

Probable
LB Desmond Bishop (ankle)
LB Brandon Chillar (hand)
TE Jermichael Finley (knee)
DE Cullen Jenkins (ankle)
DE Johnny Jolly (back)
LB Brad Jones (concussion)
LB Aaron Kampman (concussion)
RB John Kuhn (hand)
LB Clay Matthews (jaw)
LB Brady Poppinga (quadricep)
T Mark Tauscher (knee)
C Scott Wells (concussion)
CB Charles Woodson (hip)

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ninersnation.com/2009/11/20/1167129/49ers-packers-final-injury-report

Digg this

Week 11 Colts-Ravens Friday Injury Report

post from Stampede Blue on 20 November 2009 05:07:00 PM. © Stampede Blue

Colts

OUT: Kelvin Hayden, Anthony Gonzaelz, Adam Vinatieri, Aaron Francisco, Dan Federkeil,

Questionable (days of pratice): Dwight Freeney (1), Antoine Bethea (1/2), Eric Foster (1), Pierre Garcon (2), Gijon Robinson (0), Jim Sorgi (0),

Probable: Hank Baskett, Justin Snow

Colts.com

Ravens

OUT: DE/OLB Terrell Suggs, RB Matt Lawrence

Questionable: TE Todd Heap (no practice), DT Haloti Ngata (limited all week)

Probable: C Matt Birk, LB Tavares (T-Good) Gooden, QB Joe Flacco, LB Jarrett Johnson

BaltimoreRavens.com

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2009/11/20/1167118/week-11-colts-ravens-friday-injury

Digg this

Colts v. Ravens- Friday injury report

post from Stampede Blue on 20 November 2009 04:39:00 PM. © Stampede Blue

Colts v. Ravens- Friday injury report

Did not participate ? OT Dan Federkeil (concussion, out), DB Aaron Francisco (ankle, out); WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee, out), CB Kelvin Hayden (knee, out), TE Gijon Robinson (concussion, questionable), QB Jim Sorgi (right shoulder, questionable), OT Tony Ugoh (not injury related-rested), K Adam Vinatieri (right knee, out).

Looks like Dwight Freeney and Antoine Bethea will play.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2009/11/20/1167090/colts-v-ravens-friday-injury-repor
t

Digg this

NFL Network's RedZone Colts stat of the week:
Week Eleven

More photos » by AJ Mast - AP

4 days ago: Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett (58) celebrates his fumble recovery during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Browse more photos »

This post is sponsored by Comcast and their NFL RedZone channel, a new NFL Network channel. Want to see every touchdown from every NFL game as it happens as well as live look-ins to all of Sunday's games in key situations? Then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone.

From Football Outsider's Mike Tanier (via 18to88):

The Colts have the best goal-to-go defense in the NFL according to DVOA.

Even though Indy's pass defense dropped from 9th in yards to 16th in yards following the War of 1812, they've still only allowed 7 TDs. Factor in that the Colts have intercepted 10 balls and forced 10 fumbles, the old tried-and-true Tampa-2 method of forcing teams into mistakes and making them work for TDs continues to work.

Also, for the first time in I don't know how long, Indy's run defense (ranked 14th) is better than the pass defense (16th) in terms of yardage. This means teams have stopped trying to "control the clock" by running the ball, because they know the Colts are good at shutting that down. Also, factor in that New England's passing attack did much of their damage in the first half. After a strong halftime adjustment, the Colts did much better containing Brady and the passing game, forcing them into two turnovers (one an INT in the endzone, another a rather famous turnover-on-downs).

Considering they are doing all this without Kelvin Haden, and I'd say the pass defense is just fine, thank you.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.stampedeblue.com/2009/11/20/1167014/nfl-networks-redzone-colts-stat-of

Digg this

STOP

STOP
STOP!
STOP IT!
Refrain from saying anything that starts with z or UN- to refer to Our New Orleans Saints.
We are a NINE win team.
PERIOD.
Do not say 9 and anything.
Coach needs to fine any player who says the word UN-D9999TED.
$50 each instance.
Stop!

STOP!

Read The Full Article:
http://blackandgoldpatrol.blogspot.com/2009/11/stop.html

Digg this

Panthers Watch 2009: Wildcat always trumps a
Panther!

More photos » by Nell Redmond - AP

Browse more photos »

Praise be to the Miami Dolphins for taking care of business last night against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers came into the game as 3 point favorites and almost pulled off an impressive comeback. The Dolphins jumped on top 14-3, before the Panthers crept to within a field goal. However, Ricky Williams was simply too much for the Panthers. Williams finished the game with 119 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown.

Chad Henne was solid enough to get past a rather ugly performance from our man Jake Delhomme. Delhomme finished the game 19/42 for 227 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Panthers rushing attack was solid yet again, but it was just not enough to overcome a solid performance from the Dolphins. Delhomme and the Panthers had a shot to tie it up at the end of the game, but Delhomme couldn't complete a 26 yard hail mary at the end of the game.

Week 12 - @ NY Jets
This is a very intriguing matchup for the Panthers. After a hot start, the Jets are struggling with two straight losses, but the Panthers haven't exactly wowed folks. The Jets head into Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots on Sunday so we might get a better idea of where they're at. I've felt the Jets were overrated all season long, but I'm certainly hoping they step up in ten days when they host the Panthers. The good news for 49ers fans, aside from the draft pick perk is the fact that the Panthers were tied with the 49ers in the wildcard race, so every Panthers loss remains an additional plus in that battle.