QB Joe Flacco is playing as well as any QB is in the playoffs.
Flacco torched the highly-ranked Denver defense for big play after big play last week and has yet to toss an interception this postseason. New England may defend the deep ball better, but ... read more
This team appears to have reached ‘dynamic’ proportions on both sides of the ball.
Colin Kaepernick stunned the Packers last week, rushing for a QB-record 181 yards and throwing for another 263, combining for 4 TDs. Add to the mix Frank Gore, who qui ... read more
No team is playing better on both sides of the ball than the Seahawks.
No offense is playing better. Russell Wilson has emerged as not only the top rookie QB in the league, but one of the top players. His ability to minimize his mistakes has shown a confidence beyon ... read more
Houston’s two best players have something to prove.
In their first meeting this year, a Pats 42-14 pasting, All-Pro DE JJ Watt was held without a sack, batted pass, or tackle for loss; the only game this season in which that occurred. He led the league in all th ... read more
Emotion can win key football games, especially when it is a sure-bet Hall of Famer’s last dance and revenge is a factor.
The Ravens were missing four key players when the lost to Denver four weeks ago, and all four are healthy and starting again. Ray Lewis, Marshal Yan ... read more
It took a few years, but the Seahawks finally proved that they can play well, even win, on the road. Their five road losses were by an average of less than 5 points and they had a quality win OTR at Chicago late in the season.
For all of the talk on how hot the Redskins and Seahawks are coming into the playoffs, there isn’t much chatter about the Bengals. People need to remember that if it wasn’t for a one-point loss to a Dallas team playing in memory of its deceased teammate, Cincy would be riding into Houston on ... read more
Adrian Peterson has shredded the Packers defense for 409 yards in the two meetings this year, and the Packers actually looked afraid to tackle him last week. Expect as heavy a dose as he can take, upwards of 30 carries, as the ... read more
Dolphins on Offense/Bengals on Defense: While the Dolphins average nearly 400 YPG, they’re only averaging 21 points, a figure they need to improve upon in order to win consistently in today’s high-powered NFL. Ryan Tann ... read more
Key Additions: Brandon Jacobs (RB), Mario Manningham (WR), Randy Moss (WR)
Key Losses: Adam Snyder (C), Shawntae Spencer (CB)
Three points; that’s all that kept the Niners from making their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994. Nobody saw that coming. First year head coac ... read more
Key Additions: Michael Floyd (WR), William Gay (CB), James Sanders (S)
Key Losses: Richard Marshall (CB), Rex Hadnot (G)
Much greater things were expected from the desert in 2011. They acquired their QB of the future in Kevin Kolb; he and All World wide-out Larry Fitzgerald were suppo ... read more
Key Additions: Barrett Ruud (LB), Jason Jones (DT), Matt Flynn (QB)
Key Losses: David Hawthorne (LB), John Carlson (TE)
Well, it wasn’t a completely wasted season in the Pacific Northwest. The defense had a really good year, finishing ninth overall. Their young secondary perfo ... read more
Key Additions: Michael Brockers (DT), Brian Quick (WR), Cortland Finnegan (CB)
Key Losses: Brandon Lloyd (WR), Ron Bartell (CB)
That ‘thud’ heard throughout St. Louis was all of the 2010 promise shown crashing to the ground. One has to feel for RB Steven Jackson. He ... read more
Key Additions: Mark Barron (S), Doug Martin (RB), Vincent Jackson (WR)
Key Losses: Earnest Graham (RB), Tanard Jackson (S)
Amongst all the disappointments that arose last year, the Bucs topped the list. What had begun as a season filled with promise ended in a smoldering ... read more
Key Additions: Luke Kuechly (LB), Mike Tolbert (RB)
Key Losses: Jeremy Shockey (TE), Dan Connor (LB)
This was supposed to have been a rebuilding year for Carolina. They had a rookie QB coming in, a new coaching staff – expectations were low and with good reason. But a funny ... read more
Key Additions: Asante Samuel (CB), Lofa Tatupu (LB)
Key Losses: Curtis Lofton (LB), Peter Konz (OL)
2011 was supposed to be the year. The Falcons traded a gaggle of picks so they could draft WR Julio Jones to complement Roddy White. RB Michael Turner and QB Matt Ryan had establ ... read more
The team doctor may have been the Chiefs MVP last year: he was certainly the busiest person on the team. In a two-week span, the team lost s ... read more
Key Losses: Tim Tebow (QB), Eddie Royal (WR), Broderick Bunkley (DT)
OK, we’ll get his name out of the way early: Yes, Tebow brought excitement to an organization in desperate need of it. Yes, Tebow led this te ... read more
Jerry Jones has done a ton for the Cowboys organization. He built them an amazing, albeit over-the-top, stadium; he freely spends time and money trying ... read more
Key Additions: David Wilson (RB), Shaun Rogers (DT), Rueben Randle (WR)
Key Losses: Mario Manningham (WR), Brandon Jacobs (RB)
The Giants shocked everyone last year by defeating the heavily favored Patriots again and winning another Super Bowl. How they did it was mystifying; ... read more
All the talk of the ‘Dream Team’ and the expectations of greatness were quickly washed away by a dismal 1-4 start. They had no chance to recover and misse ... read more
Key Additions: Michael Bush (RB), Brandon Marshall (WR), Shea McClellin (DE/LB)
Key Losses: Marion Barber (RB), Anthony Adams (DT)
If there was ever a tale of two seasons in one, it was the Bears’ 2011 story. They began the year 7-3 and beat some very good squads (Atlanta and Detr ... read more
Nobody expected what happened in Motown last year. Even the Lions organization had to be surprised with the drastic turnaround they experienced. Matthew Stafford finally stayed healthy for a full season and was ... read more
Key Additions: Nick Perry (DE). Jerel Worthy (DT), Jeff Saturday (C)
Key Losses: Matt Flynn (QB), Ryan Grant (RB), Scott Wells (C)
The loss in the divisional round exposed weaknesses that the arm of Aaron Rodgers was previously able to overcome; poor pass protection, no running game, and a non-existent pass defense. Yes, the won 15 games in 20 ... read more
Key Additions: Matt Kalil (OT), Harrison Smith (S), John Carlson (TE)
Key Losses: EJ Henderson (LB),Ryan Longwell (K)
As if things weren’t challenging enough in Minnesota, a torn ACL & MCL on perennial All Pro tailback Adrian Peterson got thrown into the mix. Rookie ... read more
Key Additions: Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal (WR), La’Ron McClain (FB)
Key Losses: Vincent Jackson (WR), Kris Dielman (OG), Mike Tolbert (RB)
Another year, another disappointment for Norv Turner’s Chargers. Despite QB Phillip Rivers’ best efforts, the team slogged its way to very no ... read more
Key Additions: Matt Leinart (QB), Mike Goodson (RB)
Key Losses: Jason Campbell (QB), Kamerion Wimbley (LB), Michael Bush (RB)
The Raiders, at first glance, appeared to take a nice step forward in 2011. The finally reached the .500 mark for the first time in years, and were competitive ... read more
Key Additions: David DeCastro (OG), Mike Adams (OT)
Key Losses: James Farrior (LB), Aaron Smith (DE), Hines Ward (WR)
The Steelers had another outstanding season, only to be cut short by a fluke play from a far less-talented Broncos team in the Wild Card round of the playo ... read more
Cincinnati may have been the surprise of the NFL last year. The offense was being led by a rookie QB, throwing to a rookie WR, with an embat ... read more
Key Additions: Courtney Upshaw (DE), Jacoby Jones (WR)
Key Losses: Derrick Mason (WR), Ricky Williams (RB)
The Ravens had a nice year in 2011. Made it to the Conference title game, and almost beat the Pats to make it to the Super Bowl. The problem i ... read more
Key Additions: Justin Blackmon (WR), Chad Henne (QB), Laurent Robinson (WR)
Key Losses: David Garrard (QB), Luke McCown (QB)
So the Blaine Gabbert experiment didn’t work out too well. It’s too bad the passing game was such an abomination because the other facets of the t ... read more
Key Additions: Kamerion Wimbley (LB), Kendall Wright (WR), Mike Martin (DT)
Key Losses: Cortland Finnegan (CB), Jason Jones (DT)
Considering that Chris Johnson rushed for just over 1,000 yards last year, a 9-7 record wasn’t too bad for the Titans. Matt Hasselbeck came over from ... read more
