NFC North Blog: Season Recap

by Bill Young

The NFC North presented a season that mirrored the NFL as a whole--wild and unpredictable. The Vikings entered and ended the season in the spotlight. Unfortunately, the end of the season was for bad reasons. Injuries and poor decisions like the Randy Moss trade led to the departure of coach Brad Childress. However, there is hope for the Vikings. Interim coach Leslie Frazier showed good leadership as the team defeated the Redskins, a team that the Packers and Bears managed to lose to. At quarterback, the situation is a mess. Joe Webb and Tarvaris Jackson are not NFL QBs. The Vikings need to draft one. To make matters worse, the defense is getting old. Specifically, the corners are awful. When the Williams wall slows down, this team has nothing defensively to scare offenses.

The Detroit Lions could have had a remarkably different season had they beaten the Bears in week 1. That "catch" made by Calvin Johnson was a pivotal ruling. While it was another losing season, there has been great improvement. The Lions have won four games so far with two games versus the struggling Dolphins and Vikings remaining. The defense and DT Ndamukong Suh have improved a great deal this season. The Lions will make the next step by improving their offensive line so that QB Matthew Stafford will not have to be put on IR next season. Odds are that the Lions would have had more than four wins this year had the team not had to trot out 2nd and 3rd string QBs at all times.

The Green Bay Packers started the season as a Super Bowl contending team. Expectations have changed after the Packers have sustained a myriad of injuries to important players. QB Aaron Rodgers has had two concussions this year. Jermichael Finley, one of the top tight ends in the NFL, was lost for the season early on. In addition, the injury to RB Ryan Grant has limited th Packers to a pass-happy offense. Expectations for the Packers if and when they make the playoffs are low, but the defense under Dom Capers has been impressive as former Heisman winner and Michigan great Charles Woodson has made plays all over the field. If the Packers manage to beat the Giants this weekend, a playoff run won't be that surprising given the added significance of defense in the playoffs.

The Chicago Bears have been the surprise of the NFL this year. They came out of nowhere to lockup the NFC North. Still, few believe they can do any real damage in the playoffs due to the poor decision making of QB Jay Cutler and the below average offense the Bears send onto the field. The Bears defense, however, has been excellent other than the notable lapse against the Patriots. Concerns of poor play are valid because this team lost to the Redskins as Cutler threw for four interceptions--all to Deangelo Hall. If Cutler can improve his play, this team has the ability with its superior special teams and defense to make it to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, given Cutler's history, this seems unlikely at best.

NFC East Blog: A Failure of Giant Proportions

by Bill Young

The New York Giants suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles last week. If not for Jets coach Rex Ryan, Giants coach Tom Coughlin would be getting all the headlines this week for running on the field to lecture his punter after the punter failed to kick the ball out of bounds and away from DeSean Jackson. In fairness to the punter, the Giants blew this game long ago and seemed likely to lose it in overtime.

The offense lost its composure and QB Eli Manning was unable to stop the bleeding in the fourth quarter. Defensively, the Giants got tired and the blitzes that were so effective for the first three quarters of the game were no longer getting to QB Michael Vick. This fatigue was most evident in the rushing lanes that pass rushers took. Because the defensive players lost their discipline and did not coordinate their pass rushing lanes, Michael Vick was able to use his immense athletic talent to elude all of the rushers and escape multiple times for long gains.

In the fourth quarter, at the end of the season, it is expected for the defense to be a little tired. The strain of facing the Eagles explosive offense did not help matters. The real issue was the successful onside kick in the middle of the fourth quarter. How does Coughlin not have the Giants prepared for an onside kick after the Eagles scored to make it 31-17? That was the Eagles only hope. What else were they going to do?

Ultimately, this loss will most likely send the Giants out of the playoffs as the Packers look like a formidable team coming off their surprisingly close contest with the Patriots. While one loss should not define a coach's legacy with a team, it will certainly sting, making it easier for ownership to fire Coughlin in the offseason. Then, a new start could enable the Giants to regain the glory of a few years ago.

AFC South: Same song different verse

by Bill Young

The Jacksonville Jaguars missed a golden opportunity to seize control of the AFC South division when they lost by 10 to the Indianapolis Colts. Not only that RB Maurice Jones-Drew is doubtful against the Redskins this week. The Redskins, while in the midst of a controversy-ridden and disappointing season, have played hard every week. The Jaguars are so dependent on Jones-Drew that even the Redskins defense will have an opportunity to stop them. To make matters worse, RB Ryan Torain is having a great season, potentially earning a starting job for next season. The Jaguars defense has been shaky all season. This might be another heartbreaking loss the Jaguars are accustomed to each December.

Worse news for the Jaguars is that the Colts get RB Joseph Addai back in the lineup. He gives the Colts a RB who can pass protect and run the ball more effectively. The Colts have missed him a lot and will see a significant offensive improvement this weekend. This year's Colts are the opposite of earlier teams. Usually, the Colts are in good form early but fade by the playoffs. This year the Colts have endured many injuries. With the return of Addai, the Colts will only get better as the season ends and the playoffs begin.

NFC South Blog: Are the Saints underrated?

by Bill Young

The Atlanta Falcons surprising dominance until this point has taken the league by storm. Michael Turner, Matt Ryan, and Roddy White have each improved and taken the offense to new heights. It doesn't hurt to finally have chemistry with future hall of fame TE Tony Gonzalez.

The horrific QB situation in Carolina has been on display all season. The best example of this occurred when stay at home dad Brian St. Pierre had to start one week.

Even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made a run. While the Buccaneers have only beaten teams under .500 and lost to all teams above .500, they are 8-5 and in contention for a playoff spot behind amazing fourth quarter performances led by 2nd year quarterback Josh Freeman.

Noticeably absent from the discussion so far is the defending champs, the New Orleans Saints. This may be the first defending super bowl champion team to fly under the radar at 10-3. After a difficult game with the 49ers this year where RB Reggie Bush broke his leg, the Saints offense has suffered. However, despite this injury and less turnovers generated by the defense, the Saints have held on and won the games they have needed to win. Now Reggie Bush is able to play once again and the Saints are ready to make another push in the playoffs. Whether the Saints win the division or not is irrelevant, merely getting into the tournament should be enough for a team with this much confidence and ability.

AFC South Blog: Jags v Colts--a big game?

by Bill Young

While the Jaguars and Colts games have been close every year, most of the country has ignored them mostly because the Jaguars never seem to win the games or the division. This year however the Jaguars have a realistic chance to sweep the Colts and win the division. The question is whether the Jaguars will perform at the level they are capable of and successfully implement a winning gameplan.

For many years, coach Jack Del Rio has enabled the Jaguars to overachieve despite a wide receiving corps that ranks in the bottom half of the league. Against the Colts this weakness is not as evident due to the brilliance of the Jaguars running attack (ranked 2nd in the NFL). The real question in this game is whether Jacksonville's defense will show up.

Last week the Jaguars gave up a whopping 31 points to the Raiders at home at one pm when the Raiders were still feeling the effects of jetlag. The "sluggish" Raiders offense piled up over 450 yards of total offense. To make matters worse, Jason Campbell looked like an elite quarterback out there--throwing for over 300 yards.

While the Raiders can run the ball far better than the Colts can at this point in the season, Peyton Manning should have a field day in the passing game. In addition, Austin Collie and Joseph Addai could return for this game which could greatly boost the suddenly turnover prone Indianapolis offense. Most importantly, Manning would not have to force passes in or not have continuity with such no-name receivers as Blair White constantly being shuffled on and off the field.

If Jacksonville does win this Sunday, it will be an upset because it has always been that team that can never get past the last obstacle to make the playoffs. If the Jaguars are ever gonna make it back to the playoffs, they have to make this opportunity count. Who knows if the Colts will ever be this injured or be struggling this much in the next 5 to 10 years? If they fail, the defense will have to be improved. If they succeed, they build on a good foundation. This is a key game for Jacksonville for the future not just the present playoff implications.

NFC East Blog: Season Breakdown

by Bill Young

In case this has not been said enough this year, QB Michael Vick is leading the Philadelphia Eagles to winning the NFC East division. While the Giants are currently tied for the lead, it has been clear that the Giants do not possess the offensive weapons necessary to match the offense of the Eagles.

In addition, even when the Giants' defense shows up, the offense leads the league in turning the ball over. This is due to poor decisions by Eli Manning and fumbling by running backs. For all the accolades that Manning has gotten for winning a super bowl over the patriots, at some point, the Giants need to think about finding an alternative at QB. While there are other factors to blame like an inconsistent offensive line and decimated wide receiving corps, Eli Manning has been for the most part ineffective throughout his career other than that one magical playoff performance. Even a game manager like former QB and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer was in his prime would do better than Manning at this point.

Meanwhile, the other teams, the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins keep inventing new controversies every week. Perhaps its the only thing that will get fans to the games. However, after a certain point, can't these organizations just control their players and stay out of the headlines for one week. Maybe it's too much to ask. Ultimately, the blame lies in the personnel brought to each organization. For instance, Albert Haynesworth was known to be undisciplinned and only in it for the money from the beginning. In Dallas, Terell Owens and others were able to remain Cowboys for years longer than they should have because the owner loved them.

These organizations need to start over. At least the Redskins are winning in this category--they seem to start over after every season.

NFC East Blog: Redskins bound for last place?

by Bill Young

The Washington Redskins have looked absolutely awful the last few weeks. Even the victory over Tennessee looked like one of the worst games ever played. The defense is the league's worst. Now, to make matters worse, the one hundred million dollar man, Albert Haynesworth has been suspended for the remainder of the season.

The Redskins were already thin at nose tackle as it was. This move effectively ends their season since Maake Kemoatu has been ineffective at best, getting zero penetration into the backfield. This coupled with the achilles injury to emerging star safety Laron Landry makes the secondary limited as well. Clearly, the Redskins can't hope to do well with Reed Doughty constantly getting run over and eluded by Brandon Jacobs. Granted, that performance was one game, but similar plays have been occurring all season.

While the Redskins do not give up a lot of points, the defense typically fails in the fourth quarter due to lack of depth. When a stop is really needed, the defense is too gassed and gives up a ton of yardage.

The offense hasn't been outstanding. However, TE Chris Cooley and WR Anthony Armstrong have been bright spots in an otherwise dull season.

The Redskins better get it together or the Cowboys, 3-1 under Jason Garrett, will pass them for 3rd in the division. Perhaps the Redskins want to be this bad. Tanking might be best for a team that has far less talent than its division rivals. Unfortunately, the Redskins typically don't have the draft picks available to take advantage of their dismal seasons.

AFC South Blog: Can the Jags hold on to win the division?

by Bill Young

The Jacksonville Jaguars grabbed the division lead after defeating the Tennessee Titans 17-6. The question is whether they can maintain their lead. This team has a lot of momentum having beaten each division rival. In addition, they seem to be a team of destiny after beating the Texans on that last-second Hail Mary pass.

How could this possibly go wrong? Unfortunately for the Jaguars, a lot can go wrong. The offense relies heavily on the ability of All-Pro running back Maurice Jones-Drew who has quietly made himself into the offensive threat that can dominate any game. Without him, the Jaguars have a very limited offense because he catches a lot of short passes and is a dynamic runner. Quarterback David Garrard hasn't exactly impressed people most seasons. Some still wonder if getting rid of Byron Leftwich was the right move. Until the quarterback play improves, the offense won't be good enough to do damage in the playoffs even if Jones-Drew stays healthy. If Jones-Drew gets injured next week, their playoff hopes look grim.

Another issue for the Jaguars is the defense. The win over Tennessee is not indicative of the defenses capability because even the Redskins and their league worst defense held Tennessee to 16 points. Stopping the run has been an issue at times. Also, while Rashean Mathis has had a decent year, the secondary other than Mathis has been suspect.

Finally, the Colts always have a chance of putting a winning streak together. Peyton Manning will not continue to play as badly as he has the last few weeks. The Colts just got LB Gary Bracket back from injury and should be able to stop the run more often now. That may be all the Colts need to win their remaining games.