February 10, 2010 by
Law Murray |
2009 review,
Asante Samuel,
Baltimore Ravens,
Indianapolis Colts,
New England Patriots,
New Orleans Saints,
New York Jets,
Pittsburgh Steelers,
power rankings,
Randy Moss,
Super Bowl 44,
Team of the Decade,
Vince Wilfork,
Y2K Decade
Hello, everyone. It's been awhile since I've gotten to say that, so I guess there are some good things about Snowpacalypse 2010! Now that the 2010 NFL season is officially over (now do you appreciate the Pro Bowl being over and done with before the big game?!), I'd like to reintroduce an article that I wrote a long time, way back in the last decade ("1999 A.D., New England Patriots B.B.", December 26, 2009):
With a week left in the Y2K decade, there have been many who wish to ponder which team should stand as the representative of the NFL team of the 2000s. I honestly don’t feel like writing that article right now, at least not until this season ends. What I will say now is that unless the [...]
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January 24, 2010 by
Josh Dhani |
Austin Collie,
brad smith,
Braylon Edwards,
Dallas Clark,
Dustin Keller,
Dwight Freeney,
Indianapolis Colts,
Jay Feely,
Jerricho Cotchery,
Joe Namath,
Kelvin Hayden,
Mark Sanchez,
Marlin Jackson,
Matt Stover,
New England Patriots,
New York Jets,
NFL,
NFL playoffs,
Peyton Manning,
Pierre Garcon,
Super Bowl
Oh man, oh man, what a game this was! Heading into this game were the underdog New York Jets, who looked to surprise the Colts again like they did 40 years ago when Joe Namath and the Jets shocked the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. It looked like from the first half. In the first quarter, both teams were punished by the strong defenses. There were punts flying left and right. This also included a field goal miss by Jay Feely, who is among the many kickers who have been struggling this postseason.
The first score came when the Colts failed to deliver a touchdown in the red zone. That meant they had to settle for a field goal. Matt Stover put it up right, and in. 3-0. But everything changed after that. Here came Mark Sanchez, with a powerful run fake and pump fake to trick Dwight [...]
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January 24, 2010 by
Law Murray |
2010 NFL free agency,
AFC championship,
Indianapolis Colts,
Minnesota Vikings,
New England Patriots,
New Orleans Saints,
New York Jets,
NFC championship,
playoff predictions,
Pro Bowl,
Rule of Clutch
I've been away from the game for a while, ever since I predicted that the Baltimore Ravens would end the New England Patriots' season two weeks ago. Since then, a lot of things have gone down in the league, some of them related to the Patriots:
*QB Tom Brady and WR Randy Moss pulling out of the Pro Bowl due to injury. Which pretty much confirmed what we already knew, that the Patriots just didn't have much left at the end of the season...
*Questions surrounding the future of Patriots RBs Kevin Faulk and Fred Taylor. Both are over 30, and with the shaky production of RB Laurence Maroney after four seasons, there will be some shake-up. There is no way the Patriots are bringing back the same five running backs.
*Starting RG Stephen Neal is contemplating retirement. The [...]
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January 12, 2010 by
Josh Dhani |
Baltimore Ravens,
Curtis Painter,
Indianapolis Colts,
Miami Dolphins,
New England Patriots,
New York Jets,
NFL,
NFL playoffs,
Peyton Manning,
San Diego Chargers,
Super Bowl
A lot of people have been saying a lot of crap about the Indianapolis Colts. They say the Colts are going to lose another playoff game just like every other time they are one-or-two-seeded team. Well, listen here: it’s not going to happen this time.
Yeah, the Baltimore Ravens shocked the New England Patriots, but I don’t see them beating a team like Indy.
Also, a lot of guys have been saying the Colts care about individual stats more than they want to go 19-0. Okay, seriously, who cares about going 19-0, okay? Really? Yeah, I was rooting for them to go for it, but it won’t matter really. So what if you go 16-0? What if you lose in the playoffs, huh? The Colts will then most likely have too much confidence and think every team is easy.
Just ask [...]
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Being a kicker in the NFL is one of the most pressure-filled jobs in sports. Much like a closer on a baseball team, you must have ice in your veins and a very short memory. To be successful, you need be able to balance your emotions after every performance, good and bad.
In today's world of news on demand, the media and fans want to hear from players. I don't think players have to speak to the media, but I think they should. The worst situation happens when a player only chooses to talk after a good performance.
Shayne Graham missed two field goals on Saturday in the Jets' 24-14 victory over the Bengals. Both were kicks that he should have made. However, I can accept the fact that he tried to perform his job and failed. It isn't the first time that an athlete has [...]
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Throughout the 2009 season, I watched the Cincinnati Bengals battle adversity on and off the field. They seemed to take on these challenges and, more often than not, succeeded in winning football games. A strong defense, good rushing attack and a quarterback capable of leading his team with the game on the line resulted in an AFC North championship. On Saturday evening, it all came to an end.
Offense
I don't recall ever seeing a running back go as hard as Cedric Benson did in this game. He broke tackle after tackle and finished with 169 yards on the ground, a franchise record for a playoff game. Benson accounted for the Bengals' second touchdown with a 47-yard run to the end zone in the fourth quarter.
After connecting with Laveranues Coles on an 11-yard [...]
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During one of the breaks near the end of the game, the television broadcast played a clip from I Hate Myself for Loving You by Joan Jett. It was a rather symbolic song considering what was happening on the field. I was watching my beloved Bengals' season come to an end.
The effort and intensity that the Bengals lacked last week was there. I don't know if I have ever seen a running back go as hard and get second-effort yards like Cedric Benson did. The team fought hard, but it wasn't enough.
You cannot win football games when you turn the ball over, have the receivers drop passes and miss two field goals. Bottom line.
The sick feeling a fan gets when they see their team go down is one all too familiar for Bengals fans. The last time the Bengals won a playoff game [...]
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I love the holidays. The time between Thanksgiving and New Years is great. Family, football, television specials and the kids' faces on Christmas morning are moments that always bring a smile to my face.
After the college bowl games and end of the NFL regular season, I am pretty bored until spring training. However, this year is different. After a solid regular season that resulted in an AFC North title, the Bengals are set to host the New York Jets on Saturday in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
I am excited and curious about this weekend. The excitement, of course, comes with the team making just its second playoff appearance in 19 years. The curiosity looms with the makeup and resiliency of this team.
It is no secret that this team has dealt with tragedy. If the [...]
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The Bengals were absolutely demolished by the Jets on Sunday night in what was one of the worst performances I have ever seen. After clinching the AFC North title last week, the Bengals really did not have much to play for in terms of playoff seeding. Most people wondered how much Marvin Lewis would play his starters, if at all. How much of a gameplan he and his players would show the Jets was also a question, with the possibility of a rematch in the first round of the playoffs.
What they showed the Jets and a national television audience was a disaster from start to finish. It was a pathetic display.
Offense
Carson Palmer completed one of eleven passes for zero yards. He threw one interception, resulting in a quarterback rating of 1.7. Chad Ochocinco was [...]
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What can I say?
The Cincinnati Bengals were screwed, booed, tattooed and barbecued by the New York Jets last night in the regular season finale. It was a complete destruction as the Jets dominated in every facet of the game and rolled to a 37-0 victory.
With the victory, the Jets earned a spot in the playoffs and a rematch with the Bengals on Saturday. The Bengals had already clinched a playoff birth by winning the AFC North.
Were the Bengals playing to win? I sure hope [...]
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