The Pittsburgh-Baltimore game turned out to be even better than its hype, providing a little Thanksgiving televisual bliss. The Steelers' final drive at the Ravens' goal line -- the hit on Le'Veon Bell that sent his helmet flying and killed the play on the half-yard line; Roethlisberger's TD pass to Jerricho Cotchery; then the failed two-point conversion to Emmanuel Sanders to tie the game -- made for some riveting holiday passivity. At 5-7 and one wild card spot already spoken for by either Kansas City or Denver, Pittsburgh's hopes of making the playoffs are remote. If Baltimore finds a running game, the Ravens could be a team to watch.
Sunday, a number of games have playoff implications. Arizona travels to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. The Cardinals are hot at 7-4 having won four in a row while the Eagles have not played their best football at home this season. It is hard to believe that the Cardinals are locked in a battle for second place in the NFC West with the 49ers. I'm not a believer in Carson Palmer. But in a match-up between Bruce Arians and Chip Kelly, I'm taking Arians. The early betting line had the Cardinals by 4 points but then the money moved in the Eagles' direction. Ignore the money. Pick Arizona.
The afternoon game has the impressive Rams, winners of two in a row, traveling to Candlestick to take on San Francisco. St. Louis always plays tough against the 49ers and the Seahawks. The line has the 49ers as anywhere from a eight to nine-and-a-half point favorites. I don't know if San Francisco covers the spread, but I think the 49ers win the game. Take San Francisco.
The Monday night game is a potential NFC Championship preview: New Orleans at Seattle. Last year the Seahawks were flat coming off the bye week. But that involved cross-country travel to Miami. Monday they'll be at home in front of loud, adoring fans with a hunger for the Super Bowl. Drew Brees is masterful in his home dome, but more common playing in cool, rainy weather against a speedy pass rush. The line has the Seahawks by five. Take Seattle in a romp.
Showing posts with label Chip Kelly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chip Kelly. Show all posts
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
NFL Week 4: "I Got a Feeling . . ."
That Seattle is going to the Super Bowl. The overtime win in Houston last Sunday was huge. It is the kind of win a team needs in a Super Bowl run. On the road, down by a large margin in the second half, nothing going your way, yet you hang tough, stay focused, get a few breaks, make a few big plays and take home the win.
The negatives. For the first three quarters Matt Schaub looked like Tom Brady. The Texans QB was able to find and connect with Andre Johnson and his tight ends whenever he wanted. The Seahawks were not able to generate a significant pass rush. Also, Seattle's run defense was shredded as Arian Foster and Ben Tate piled up yardage. Seattle does not have a good record of stopping the run on the road. Week 1 in Charlotte DeAngelo Williams had a good game (except for his fumble which led to the Seahawk comeback); now, Arian Foster.
The overwhelming positives were Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman. In those two guys you have the 21st Century Seahawks equivalents of Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott -- the insatiable appetite for victory. Shut down for most of the game, Russell Wilson jump-started the offense in the fourth quarter by his scrambles. He ended up accumulating 77 yards on the ground. Combined with Marshawn Lynch's 98 yards, Seattle had an impressive day rushing the ball. The game itself was actually salvaged by Richard Sherman's interception return for a touchdown of Schaub's ill-advised pass.
Based on net points the Broncos are the best of the five remaining unbeaten teams -- Denver, Seattle, Kansas City, New Orleans and New England -- after Week 4.
I watched the afternoon game between the Broncos and Philadelphia. Denver set a team record for points scored in a game by blowing out of the new Chip Kelly Eagles, who look just as lousy as last year's Andy Reid team. The Philadelphia offense is talented with Mike Vick at QB, LeSean McCoy at tailback and DeSean Jackson at wideout. But there is the same chronic lack of focus that plagued the club last year. At some point the conclusion has to be reached that Mike Vick is not a winner. The truth though is that it is the defense that is to blame for the Eagles' woes. At 138 points allowed in four games only the winless Giants are worse in the NFL.
The negatives. For the first three quarters Matt Schaub looked like Tom Brady. The Texans QB was able to find and connect with Andre Johnson and his tight ends whenever he wanted. The Seahawks were not able to generate a significant pass rush. Also, Seattle's run defense was shredded as Arian Foster and Ben Tate piled up yardage. Seattle does not have a good record of stopping the run on the road. Week 1 in Charlotte DeAngelo Williams had a good game (except for his fumble which led to the Seahawk comeback); now, Arian Foster.
The overwhelming positives were Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman. In those two guys you have the 21st Century Seahawks equivalents of Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott -- the insatiable appetite for victory. Shut down for most of the game, Russell Wilson jump-started the offense in the fourth quarter by his scrambles. He ended up accumulating 77 yards on the ground. Combined with Marshawn Lynch's 98 yards, Seattle had an impressive day rushing the ball. The game itself was actually salvaged by Richard Sherman's interception return for a touchdown of Schaub's ill-advised pass.
Based on net points the Broncos are the best of the five remaining unbeaten teams -- Denver, Seattle, Kansas City, New Orleans and New England -- after Week 4.
I watched the afternoon game between the Broncos and Philadelphia. Denver set a team record for points scored in a game by blowing out of the new Chip Kelly Eagles, who look just as lousy as last year's Andy Reid team. The Philadelphia offense is talented with Mike Vick at QB, LeSean McCoy at tailback and DeSean Jackson at wideout. But there is the same chronic lack of focus that plagued the club last year. At some point the conclusion has to be reached that Mike Vick is not a winner. The truth though is that it is the defense that is to blame for the Eagles' woes. At 138 points allowed in four games only the winless Giants are worse in the NFL.
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