It's football time again...

[elSicomoro]

Great game today...unless you are Jimbo or a Cowboys fan. Good defensive battle to start, Eagles pulled away in the end, McNabb was solid, Carter just couldn't get the ball to his WRs. Cowboys will probably need to win their final 3 games to get into the playoffs.

Now the Eagles have to worry about the Rams. If the Rams win tomorrow night (and they should), they will be in the playoffs as well. I'm not sure of how the tiebreaker would work in the case of home-field advantage, but here's what we would have:

Eagles
--10-3
--4-1 in the NFC East
--8-2 against the NFC

Rams (assuming they win tomorrow)
--10-3
--3-2 in the NFC West
--7-3 against the NFC

The Eagles have a tough game against the Dolphins, followed by San Francisco here in Philadelphia and then they finish up in Washington.

The Rams have Seattle in St. Louis next week, followed by Cincinnati at home then they finish in Detroit.

Advantage: Rams

Will the Chiefs be the first 15-1 team since the '98 Vikings? And will they make the Super Bowl unlike that Vikings team? Could this be an I-70 Bowl deep in the heart of Texas?

The one Super Bowl combination that I don't want to see happen: Baltimore vs. St. Louis

[Elspode]

I'm still traumatized by the Chiefs' complete collapse against The Donkeys on Sunday. Unfortunately (and Syc, you're gonna love me saying this after first saying they were chokers and then backing down as their record improved), I fear that the team that we saw get drilled in Denver is the team that the Chiefs are, and have been, all season. Lucky breaks used up, with a defense that is absolutely powerless to stop the run, and a big play offense that only made big plays for half the game, this team, if something doesn't pull together, will indeed go down in the first round of the playoffs.

Gods help me. I can't bear it.

[wolf]

Campbells is running a promotion that donates cans of soup to various shelter programs and foodbanks that has a football tie in ... click for your favorite team to have a can of soup donated.

[elSicomoro]

Season's not over yet, Ep...hang in there.

On to this week...

Seattle vs. St. Louis: As I've said on several occasions, the Seahawks are overrated. And they are 1-5 on the road. Rams by at least 2 touchdowns.

Incidentally, only 3 teams in the NFC have a winning record on the road: St. Louis, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.

For that matter, only 5 teams in the AFC have a winning record on the road: New England, Miami, Indianapolis, Tennessee and Kansas City.

Philadelphia vs. Miami: This game would be much more to the Iggles' advantage if it were here...but having said that, they shouldn't have too hard of a time with the Dolphins...Eagles by 2 touchdowns.

Baltimore vs. Oakland: Oakland...pffft! Ravens...by 20.

Cool link, wolf...Packers fans are kicking ass, with Chiefs fans not too far behind.

[elSicomoro]

The only reason the Rams won today is because of stupid Seahawks penalties and a back judge that tripped over himself. A win's a win though.

[lumberjim]

NFC probowl selections...comments?


WR Randy Moss Vikings 99 rec., 1,465 yds., 14 TDs
WR Torry Holt Rams 102 rec., 1,518 yds., 11 TDs
WR Terrell Owens 49ers 79 rec., 1,082 yds, 9 TDs
WR Anquan Boldin Cardinals 86 recs, 1,228 yds, 7 TDs
OT Orlando Pace Rams 5th Pro Bowl selection
OT Flozell Adams Cowboys 1st Pro Bowl selection
OT Walter Jones Seahawks 4th Pro Bowl selection
OG Larry Allen Cowboys 8th Pro Bowl selection
OG LeCharles Bentley Saints 1st Pro Bowl selection
OG Marco Rivera Packers 2nd Pro Bowl selection
C Olin Kreutz Bears 3rdd Pro Bowl selection
C Matt Birk Vikings 3rd Pro Bowl selection
TE Alge Crumpler Falcons 40 recs, 519 yds, 2 TDs
TE Jeremy Shockey Giants 48 recs, 535 yds, 2 TDs
QB Daunte Culpepper Vikings 257-397, 3,022 yds, 21 TDs
QB Donovan McNabb Eagles 235-419, 2,736 yds, 12 TDs
QB Brett Favre Packers 274-420, 2,846 yds, 27 TDs
RB Deuce McAllister Saints 309 att., 1,542 yds, 8 TDs
RB Ahman Green Packers 311 att., 1,538 yds., 12 TDs
RB Stephen Davis Panthers 307 carries, 1,387, 8 TDs
FB Fred Beasley 49ers 1st Pro Bowl selection

Defense
Pos. Player Team Stats
DE Michael Strahan Giants 14 sacks, 5 pass breakups
DE Leonard Little Rams 12 sacks, 1 INT
DE Simeon Rice Bucs 15 sacks, 2 INTs
DT Kris Jenkins Panthers 5 sacks, 9½ tkls for loss
DT La'Roi Glover Cowboys 3 sacks, 5½ tkls for loss
DT Warren Sapp Bucs 34 tkls, 5 sacks
OLB Derrick Brooks Bucs 91 tkls, 2 INTs
OLB Julian Peterson 49ers 5½ sacks, 2 INTs
OLB LaVar Arrington Redskins 5 sacks, 11 pass breakups
ILB Brian Urlacher Bears 100 tkls, 4 pass breakups
ILB Keith Brooking Falcons 117 tkls, 2 pass breakups
CB Dre' Bly Lions 6 INTs, 14 pass breakups
CB Troy Vincent Eagles 3 INTs, 8 pass breakups
CB Champ Bailey Redskins 2 INTs, 8 pass breakups
SS Corey Chavous Vikings 8 INTs, 12 pass breakups
FS Aeneas Williams Rams 4 INTs, 8 pass breakups
FS Roy Williams Cowboys 2 sacks, 2 INTs

Specialist
Pos. Player Team Stats
Punter Todd Sauerbrun Panthers 41.2 net avg., 9 touchbacks
Kicker Jeff Wilkins Rams 35-38 FGs, 41-41 PATs
Returner Jerry Azumah Bears 32 kick rets, 971 yds, 2 TDs
Special teamer Alex Bannister Seahawks 1st Pro Bowl selection

[lumberjim]

comments?

WR Marvin Harrison Colts 86 rec., 1,153 yds., 10 TDs
WR Chad Johnson Bengals 79 rec., 1,211 yds., 10 TDs
WR Hines Ward Steelers 87 recs, 1,058 yds, 9 TDs
WR Derrick Mason Titans 85 rec, 1,169 yds, 6 TDs
OT Jonathan Ogden Ravens 7th Pro Bowl selection
OT Willie Anderson Bengals 3rd Pro Bowl selection
OT Willie Roaf Chiefs 9th Pro Bowl selection
OG Alan Faneca Steelers 3rd Pro Bowl selection
OG Will Shields Chiefs 9th Pro Bowl selection
OG Ruben Brown Bills 8th Pro Bowl selection
C Kevin Mawae Jets 5th Pro Bowl selection
C Tom Nalen Broncos 5th Pro Bowl selection
TE Tony Gonzalez Chiefs 60 rec., 797, 10 TDs
TE Todd Heap Ravens 55 rec., 678 yds., 3 TDs
QB Peyton Manning Colts 341-505, 3,901 yds, 28 TDs
QB Steve McNair Titans 233-364, 2,947 yds, 22 TDs
QB Trent Green Chiefs 293-458, 3,653 yds, 23 TDs
RB Priest Holmes Chiefs 282 att., 1,315 yds., 22 TDs
RB Jamal Lewis Ravens 338 att., 1,747 yds., 11 TDs
RB Clinton Portis Broncos 290 att., 1,591 yds, 14 TDs
FB Tony Richardson Chiefs 1st Pro Bowl selection

Defense
Pos. Player Team Stats
DE Adewale Ogunleye Dolphins 13 sacks, 4½ tkls for loss
DE Dwight Freeney Colts 11 sacks, 2 tkls for loss
DE Shaun Ellis Jets 62 tkls, 11½ sacks
DT Richard Seymour Patriots 52 tkls, 7½ sacks
DT Marcus Stroud Jags 59 tkls, 4½ sacks
DT Casey Hampton Steelers 35 tkls, 1 sack
OLB Keith Bulluck Titans 121 tkls, 3 sacks
OLB Peter Boulware Ravens 57 tkls, 7½ sacks
OLB Takeo Spikes Bills 108 tkls, 2 sacks
ILB Ray Lewis Ravens 147 tkls, 5 INTs
ILB Zach Thomas Dolphins 132 tkls, 3 INTs
CB Chris McAlister Ravens 11 breakups, 2 INTs
CB Ty Law Patriots 62 tkls, 5 INTs
CB Patrick Surtain Dolphins 7 INTs, 13 pass breakups
SS Ed Reed Ravens 65 tkls, 6 INTs
FS Brock Marion Dolphins 72 tkls, 3 INTs
FS Jerome Woods Chiefs 68 tkls, 3 INTs

Specialist
Pos. Player Team Stats
Punter Craig Hentrich Titans 39.1 avg., 6 touchbacks
Kicker Mike Vanderjagt Colts 34-34 FGs, 42-42 PATs
Returner Dante Hall Chiefs 1,753 total ret. yds, 4 total ret. TDs
Special teamer Adalius Thomas Ravens 1st Pro Bowl selection

[Undertoad]

Kicker Jeff Wilkins Rams 35-38 FGs, 41-41 PATs

A terrible injustice has been done.

[lumberjim]

what happened to akers?

the hit he put on that cowboy a couple sundays ago during the kick return should have gotten him in.

[Bob R]

My eyes focused on the AFC, and here:

QB Peyton Manning Colts 341-505, 3,901 yds, 28 TDs
QB Steve McNair Titans 233-364, 2,947 yds, 22 TDs
QB Trent Green Chiefs 293-458, 3,653 yds, 23 TDs

I’d love to see Tom Brady of the Pat’s get a nod, but the above numbers are better than:

281-470, 3,728 yds, 17 TD’s

Perhaps I’ll have to settle, for the Super Bowl MVP?

ps: ESPN.com said 3,278 yds, but ESPN just said 3,738. So, being a “Homer”, I took the bigger number.

Bob

[elSicomoro]

Wilkins: 35-38 FGs, 41-41 PATs
Akers: 23-26 FGs, 34-34 PATs

And the injustice is?

No Faulk or Bruce...a shame. That's alright though...both are headed for Canton.

As a whole, it seems like a well-rounded group.

The Ravens have 8 going?! Shit...

[Gwennie!]

And for Steelers fans, now it's looking at how high in the draft they will be...

 1 .....Arizona 3 11
 2 ...San Diego 3 11
 3 .....Atlanta 3 11
 4 .....Oakland 4 10
 5 ...NY Giants 4 10
 6 .....Detroit 4 10
 7 ...Cleveland 4 10
 8 Jacksonville 4 10
 9 ..Pittsburgh 5  9
10 ..Washington 5  9
11 .....Houston 5  9

We should be able to draft an OT that can start if we pick in the top 10. It'll be hard to lose to SD at home, but hopefully we will fall to the Ravens to bottom out the season.

[jinx]

Originally posted by sycamore
Wilkins: 35-38 FGs, 41-41 PATs
Akers: 23-26 FGs, 34-34 PATs

And the injustice is?

wilkins kicks in a dome at least 8 games a year

[elSicomoro]

So, you're trading the wind for noise level/concentration and artificial turf. Some would say that's an even trade. The guy's having a good year...the only kicker that's probably having a better year than him is Vanderjagt in Indianapolis.

[lumberjim]

a little noise is hardly the same thing as the varied and often unfavorable turf /wind qualities. I take nothing away from wilkins, he's a nice kicker. must have been a close vote.....believe me when i say I'm no Eagles fan, but I would take Akers over Wilkins any day. I mean, did you see the hit I mentioned,,,,from a kicker! that was a nice hit for a safety. and he's a regular dude.

obviously, though, the pros felt differently, and they know more than I do, so go figure. he should have gotten miss congeniality at least.

and yet, I see Larry Allen made the squad for the 8th year in a row, and from what I've been able to watch this year, I don;t think he really deserves it. I think Flozell does, but Larry takes plays off now. Ir's a bit of habit, a bit of stats, and a bit popularity....I think Madden has a lot to do with it.....seems like when he gets locked on a guy and starts with the typical verbal blowjob for the remainder of the game, that guy makes the allpro team. Remember how he loved Nate Newton?