Getting close to the playoffs! Here's what I've been chewing on:
1) The Cowboys: One of the worst losses I've ever seen. Who's fault is it? Romo is certainly culpable, but did you know the Cowboys ran the ball seven times in the second half? The Cowboys' defense gave up 37 points, at home, to a backup QB! Yes, Romo made another bad play late in games, but did you see how he avoided Clay Mathews to make an off balance throw that if it had been two inches more to the right Miles Austin probably scores a TD and puts the game away? This loss is on an incompetent organization and GM that expects their main employee to cover their blunders in management. Jerry Jones doesn't know his team, he doesn't know his personnel, and he doesn't know how to fix it. Romo is not Brees, Manning, or Brady. He's appear to have the level of focus, awareness, or luck to not make big mistakes in key situations. But Romo is closer to those guys than he is any other class of QB that's ever played the game. This team would probably be the worst in the league if it wasn't for their QB; their ownership and management are just that clueless.
2) The Dolphins can play football. I'm completely surprised by how poised and effective Tannehill has played so far in his young career. The Dolphins probably don't win the game if Gronk is healthy and the Pats defense is not good, but I'm still impressed with how well Tannehill played down the stretch. The Dolphins need to improve their roster, but they've found their franchise QB.
3) The Saints suck away from home. I'm not surprised by how well the Rams played because their front seven is as good as any other team in the league. The Saints don't scare anybody outside of the Superdome, especially if you've got a young talent along the defensive line. We forget that this defense, though it's much improved, was one of the worst the league had ever seen last year. On top of that they don't have any receivers on the outside that require you to role coverage to other than Jimmy Graham. The key to stoping the Saints is shutting down their running game and disrupting Brees' timing. Three out of the four teams to beat New Orleans have young, scary defensives that make it difficult for backs and QBs to get going. Seattle is running away with the number one seed and so the Saints will have to go on the road at least once this year. Right now that's looking like a guaranteed L if they travel to the North West.
4) The Panthers and the 49ers kick too many field goals. The former team is limited by the offensive supporting cast. Cam has stepped back from the precipice of Bustville, but the skill players he has to work with are not dynamic play makers. The 49ers' QB is still learning how to play within the pocket and his supporting cast is just now getting healthy. I like these two teams going forward, but they are limited in a way I don't see in Seattle. Field goals won't win championships and unless the Panthers and 49ers pick up their offensive efficiency I don't know that they'll be able to keep up in the postseason.
5) The Chargers and Titans have found their franchise coaches. When a team that knows it's inferior and knows it probably won't make the postseason plays as hard as these two teams did this past week you know that team has quality leadership. I love seeing the early stages of positive change in an organization. Peyton and Luck's teams are superior, but also vulnerable. I'll have my eyes on these teams during the offseason.
I predict the Ravens will win tonights game in Detroit and if that happens I think it's the final nail in the Jim Swartz coffin. He has to win this game to keep up with Chicago and Green Bay. Detroit will commit too many penalties and give up one or big plays in bad spots due to lack of discipline. Harbaugh is a better coach you'll see that tonight. Enjoy!
1) The Cowboys: One of the worst losses I've ever seen. Who's fault is it? Romo is certainly culpable, but did you know the Cowboys ran the ball seven times in the second half? The Cowboys' defense gave up 37 points, at home, to a backup QB! Yes, Romo made another bad play late in games, but did you see how he avoided Clay Mathews to make an off balance throw that if it had been two inches more to the right Miles Austin probably scores a TD and puts the game away? This loss is on an incompetent organization and GM that expects their main employee to cover their blunders in management. Jerry Jones doesn't know his team, he doesn't know his personnel, and he doesn't know how to fix it. Romo is not Brees, Manning, or Brady. He's appear to have the level of focus, awareness, or luck to not make big mistakes in key situations. But Romo is closer to those guys than he is any other class of QB that's ever played the game. This team would probably be the worst in the league if it wasn't for their QB; their ownership and management are just that clueless.
2) The Dolphins can play football. I'm completely surprised by how poised and effective Tannehill has played so far in his young career. The Dolphins probably don't win the game if Gronk is healthy and the Pats defense is not good, but I'm still impressed with how well Tannehill played down the stretch. The Dolphins need to improve their roster, but they've found their franchise QB.
3) The Saints suck away from home. I'm not surprised by how well the Rams played because their front seven is as good as any other team in the league. The Saints don't scare anybody outside of the Superdome, especially if you've got a young talent along the defensive line. We forget that this defense, though it's much improved, was one of the worst the league had ever seen last year. On top of that they don't have any receivers on the outside that require you to role coverage to other than Jimmy Graham. The key to stoping the Saints is shutting down their running game and disrupting Brees' timing. Three out of the four teams to beat New Orleans have young, scary defensives that make it difficult for backs and QBs to get going. Seattle is running away with the number one seed and so the Saints will have to go on the road at least once this year. Right now that's looking like a guaranteed L if they travel to the North West.
4) The Panthers and the 49ers kick too many field goals. The former team is limited by the offensive supporting cast. Cam has stepped back from the precipice of Bustville, but the skill players he has to work with are not dynamic play makers. The 49ers' QB is still learning how to play within the pocket and his supporting cast is just now getting healthy. I like these two teams going forward, but they are limited in a way I don't see in Seattle. Field goals won't win championships and unless the Panthers and 49ers pick up their offensive efficiency I don't know that they'll be able to keep up in the postseason.
5) The Chargers and Titans have found their franchise coaches. When a team that knows it's inferior and knows it probably won't make the postseason plays as hard as these two teams did this past week you know that team has quality leadership. I love seeing the early stages of positive change in an organization. Peyton and Luck's teams are superior, but also vulnerable. I'll have my eyes on these teams during the offseason.
I predict the Ravens will win tonights game in Detroit and if that happens I think it's the final nail in the Jim Swartz coffin. He has to win this game to keep up with Chicago and Green Bay. Detroit will commit too many penalties and give up one or big plays in bad spots due to lack of discipline. Harbaugh is a better coach you'll see that tonight. Enjoy!
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