Peyton's still the man and the Cowboys are having a nightmare of a season. Now, time to look at what we can expect from Week 9 in the NFL.
The Titans are on their bye week so that will give Jeff Fisher and his coaching staff more time to get Randy Moss acclimated to the offence.
The Titans surprised a few people when they picked Moss off waivers on Wednesday.
I can tell you this much from my one-time meeting Jeff Fisher, Moss would be wise not to mess with him. And if Moss ever pulls a stunt like he is alleged to have done in Minnesota when he was verbally abusing the caterers at a team meal, he shouldn't worry about being released, he should worry about Fisher laying a beating on him. Fisher is one of the few coaches in the NFL that can both contain and motivate Moss at the same time.
I spoke to an AFC scout this week who pointed out that if you look at Moss strictly for his on-field skills, he still can be an effective player: "His talent is still respected in terms of what he forces opposing defences to game plan for."
The Titans can run the ball, they can throw the underneath passes and now they have a receiver who can catch the deep ball.
Now, time to look at what we can expect from Week 9 in the NFL.
The Lights-Out Game: Bears-Bills at Rogers Centre in Toronto
Bills GM Buddy Nix made a move that was equally surprising to Jeff Fisher's when he picked up linebacker Shawne Merriman off of waivers. When he's healthy, I still think Merriman can be an effective defensive player. However, keeping Merriman healthy is a full-time job. In his first three seasons in San Diego, Merriman had 39 and half sacks; then came all the injuries. In his last three seasons, Merriman has only been able to play 18 games and has four sacks in that time. It is no secret that the Bills are desperate for a pass rush. The big question is when exactly Merriman can begin to make an impact on the Bills' defence? Chan Gailey has already declared the Merriman will not be in the lineup for Sunday's game in Toronto. That is too bad because the Bills could have used Merriman this week.
The Bears have allowed a whopping 31 sacks already and Jay Cutler is taking a royal beating. I think Mike Martz should be ashamed of himself for how few times he's given the ball to Matt Forte. Forte is too talented of a running back to only have 90 carries at this point in the season. It is no secret that running the ball is the most effective way to help out an offensive line who is struggling in their pass blocking. So why doesn't Martz run the ball more? The Bills have the worst run defence in the NFL, so if there ever was a game to feed the ball to Forte and take some of the pressure of Cutler, this is it. I like the fact that Bears defensive end and Manitoba-native Israel Idonije has four and a half sacks, twice as many as his mutli-million dollar team mate, Julius Peppers.
The Sean Connery vs. Alex Trebek Game: Patriots-Browns in Cleveland
Every time I see Bill Belichick go head-to-head with his former assistant Eric Mangini, I can't help but think of the amazing Sean Connery vs. Alex Trebek skit on SNL. Just when you think they are going to make peace, Connery drops the hammer on Trebek, much like what Belichick does to Mangini.
Mangini and Belichick have gone head-to-head seven times and the teacher has beaten the student in five of those seven games. There is no question that the teacher, Belichick, has a much better team to work with this year than the student, Mangini. But what the Browns lack in talent, they can more than make up for in grit and toughness. The Browns will feed the Patriots defence a steady diet of their 250-pound running back, Peyton Hillis. Mangini will be leaning heavily on Hillis to keep the Browns offence out of third and long situations. Third and long against the Patriots will be a disaster for the Browns. A big reason for that is the play of their rookie cornerback, Devin McCourty. The kid out of Rutgers has two interceptions and seven passes defended.
What is amazing about the Patriots 6-1 record is that Tom Brady is playing good, but not great. Despite that, the Patriots have the best offence in the NFL, averaging 29.3 points per game. That means Rob Ryan's Browns defence will have to play their most technically sound and disciplined game of the year.
The Motor City Madman Game: Jets-Lions in Detroit
I have to admit, when I was in junior high school in Burbank, California, I was a big fan of the original Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent. There is a new Motor City Madman in Detroit right now and his name is Ndomakung Suh. The rookie out of Nebraska doesn't wear a raccoon tail on the back of his pants like the Nuge, but he is just as scary. Suh is among the league leaders with six and half sacks, more than any other defensive tackle in the NFL. In 2009, the Lions had 26 sacks for the entire season. Led by Suh, the Lions already have 23 sacks and have served notice they have a defensive line that can get after the quarterback.
After getting shutout at home by the Packers, the Jets will go into Ford Field with the worry about how to keep Suh out of the face of Mark Sanchez. Rex Ryan knows a thing or two about defence and he is in awe of the Lions' young defensive lineman. "The kid does it all. Pass rush, athletic, he's tough. He can play the double. He plays with his hands." This means that Nick Mangold and the interior of the Jets offensive line will have to be at the top of their game to contain Suh.
Then there is the match-up between Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and the Lions' outstanding receiver Calvin Johnson (aka Megatron). After two mistake-filled games where he threw a combined four interceptions, the pressure is on Mark Sanchez to get the ball downfield into the hands of playmakers without any stupid mental errors. There is another underlying storyline in this game: the Jets need to win to keep pace with the Patriots.
The Game With No Name Game: Dolphins-Ravens in Baltimore
Think Clint Eastwood blazing away with his Colt .45 in an old spaghetti western. Neither one of these teams has catchy nicknames for their defence because both the Dolphins and Ravens just strap it up and go out and play the game.
Coming off their bye week, the Ravens will try to rebound from a game where they allowed the Bills to score 34 points. Not only are the Dolphins a better team than the Bills, they have a receiver by the name of Brandon Marshall. Ray Lewis and the Ravens defence have a lot pride so look for them to be on a mission to avoid a repeat of what happened against the Bills.
The Ravens are expecting a lot out of Joe Flacco this year and after a rough start, he's bounced back with two strong games. In his last two games, Flacco has thrown five touchdowns and has zero interceptions. Flacco will need to keep that pace up to make sure the Ravens have a chance to come out of the very strong AFC. Flacco will receive a big boost Sunday with the return of receiver Donte Stallworth. Out since August with a broken foot, Stallworth practised this week and barring a setback will be good to go. I watched the lightning-fast Stallworth in action at Ravens training camp and he adds a whole new dimension to their offence.
At the same time, Tony Sporano and the Dolphins need Chad Henne to step up his game if they are going to have a chance to compete in the AFC East. Now, even though the Ravens have a nasty defence, they don't have a player that can get after the quarterback like Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake. Wake and the Dolphins "D" not only have to worry about getting after Flacco, they will have to worry about Stallworth and running back Ray Rice.
The Great Fantasy Football Game: Chargers-Texans in Houston
As a devoted fantasy football player, I am well aware just how popular it has become all throughout North America. Both the Chargers and Texans are teams with flaws, but both have players that are considered fantasy football gods. While neither team will be able to overcome their flaws to be true Super Bowl contenders, both teams feature some of the best players for fantasy football.
The Texans boast Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub. The Chargers boast Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates and Malcolm Floyd. Too bad success in fantasy football doesn't always translate to success in the real world. The Texans' 4-3 record and the Chargers' 3-5 record are both good examples of that.
The Chargers have bee plagued with atrocious special teams this year. The Texans can score points; but it is their defence that is letting them down. Only four other teams in the NFL have allowed more points than the Texans. To break it down even further: the Texans have the best red zone offence in the NFL, but they also have the second-worst red zone defence in the NFL allowing 18 touchdowns. Unless the Texans defence can tighten up and find a way to stop some teams, it will be very difficult for Gary Kubiak to get his team into the post-season.
The Vikings Really Love The Team Buffet Game: Cardinals-Vikings in Minnesota
In Medieval times, knights who were injured were carried off of the battle field on their shield. In the NFL, injured players are taken off on a modified golf cart. There was nothing noble about seeing Brett Favre carted out of Gillette Stadium with his face all sliced up.
Randy Moss might be gone, but the major problems plaguing the Vikings still exist. The biggest of these problems is the growing disconnect between coach Brad Childress and his players. Veteran coaches will tell you that they don't care if their players like them or not but you can never "lose" the locker room in the NFL or you're dead meat. If there ever was a team that Favre and the Vikings are capable of beating, it is the Cardinals. If the Vikings can't beat Max Hall and the Cardinals on their own turf, Childress should just put his house on the market and leave town.
Mired in a horrible slump, Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will be on a mission to get his second sack of the year. Darnell Dockett and the Cardinals defence will have their hands full trying to stop Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson not only leads the entire NFL with 776 yards rushing, he has yet to fumble the ball once this year.
The Peyton Manning Is Still The Man Game: Colts-Eagles in Philly
Once again, Peyton Manning served notice that he is one of the great quarterbacks of our generation with Monday's win over the Texans. Manning went into the game without Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai and Austin Collie because of various injuries. Yet Manning still threw for 268 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. This is what the Eagles defence will have to contend with for Sunday's game. Manning is part southern gentleman, part quarterbacking Cyborg. No matter how many supporting cast members are hurting, as long as Manning is healthy, the Colts always have a shot to win.
The Eagles offence will have most of its main pieces back in place for this game. Michael Vick has recovered from his rib injury and he will get the start against the Colts. The Eagles' best receiver, DeSean Jackson, has recovered from his concussion and he is due back as well. Much will be made this week about the match-up between two contrasting quarterbacks, the classic passer in Manning versus the athletic freak in Vick, but it is not the Eagles offence that has Andy Reid staying up at night preparing for this game -- it is his defence. Somehow, the Eagles defence has to find a way to contain Manning and get the ball back in the hands of Vick. Eagles defensive end Trent Cole has six sacks and is quietly putting together an impressive season. Reid will need Cole to get into Manning's face and try to get him out of his Cyborg-like rhythm.
The Silver & Black Are Coming Back Game: Chiefs-Raiders in Oakland
Back in the 1960s, the Chiefs versus the Raiders often turned out to be the game of the week in the old AFL. Instead of Hank Stram and Len Dawson, the Chiefs are led by Todd Haley and Matt Cassel. Instead of John Madden and Daryle Lamonica, the Raiders are lead by Todd Cable and Jason Campbell. The last time both the Chiefs and Raiders were both really good at the same time was back in 1993. Now both teams feel they are on the verge of being contenders in the AFC West again.
The Raiders have won their last two games by a combined score of 92-17. A big reason for that is the fact that Darren McFadden (aka Run DMC) has run for 276 yards in those two games. Led by McFadden, the Raiders are averaging 168.5 yards a game on the ground, second in the NFL.
The No. 1 rushing team in the NFL is the Chiefs, with an incredible average of 190.4 yards a game. Needless to say, stopping the run will be a big priority for both defences. A big reason the Chiefs running game has been so lethal all year has been the emergence of their dynamic back Jamaal Charles. While Thomas Jones is the wily old veteran in the Chiefs' back-field, Charles is the home-run hitter averaging 6.5 yards a carry.
The Raiders will once again turn to Jason Campbell to lead the offence. While the Raiders like to run the ball as much as the Chiefs, Campbell has been a more effective passer than KC's Matt Cassel the last two weeks. The fact this showdown between two old rivals is being played at the "Black Hole" just adds to the appeal of this game.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Game: Falcons-Buccaneers in the ATL
I am sorry, but my buddy Greg Brady at the Fan 590 (@gregbrady71 on Twitter) is way off base by not loving Lynyrd Skynyrd the way I do. Were they a bunch of redneck rockers from the south? Hell yeah they were! But Skynyrd never got the respect they deserved. Then again, the NFC South gets no respect either.
Sunday's game between the Falcons and Bucs is a good example why more NFL fans should start paying a little respect to good old boys from the south. The NFC South is the only division in the NFL with three teams with at least five wins. The fact the Falcons have five wins isn't a huge surprise. To see the Bucs with five wins is a major shocker considering they went 3-13 in 2009. The Bucs are a perfect 3-0 on the road this year and quarterback Josh Freeman is a big reason why. That's why I don't understand the Vegas line pegging the Falcons as eight and half point favourites in this one.
Bucs coach Raheem Morris has declared that his team is the best in the NFC. The Bucs are good, but they are not the best team in the NFC, yet. The Bucs do have a lot of very good young players. From Josh Freeman, Mike Williams, Geno Hayes and now running back LeGarrette Blount, the Bucs have some great young building blocks to work with. The Bucs' game plan will revolve around trying to contain the Falcons' Big 3 on offence -- Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Michael Turner.
The Cowboys Wish This Season Was A Bad Dream Game: Cowboys-Packers in Green Bay
In a perfect world, Jerry Jones will wake up one day and realize that this whole nightmare of a season was just a bad dream. Unfortunately, this is not some cheesy episode of "Dallas" from the 1980s; it is as real as a bad Victoria Principal infomercial. Unless the Cowboys reel off nine straight wins with John Kitna at quarterback, their season is all but over.
The Green Bay Packers' season is very much alive, especially after their shutout victory over the Jets last week. What made the win special for Mike McCarthy and the Packers is they did so despite a staggering amount of injuries. I did like how Aaron Rodgers went on Jim Rome this week and explained that the Packers like to refer to linebacker Clay Matthews as "Hollywood." Even with his flowing locks and his "Hollywood" nickname, Matthews still leads the NFL with nine and a half sacks and has been a defensive force all year.
Rounding out Week 9: the Giants are in Seattle, the Saints are in Carolina and the Steelers are in Cincinnati for the Monday Night game. The Giants are on the verge of becoming the undisputed elite team in the NFC. To attain that status, Osi Umenyiora and the Giants will have to keep kicking ass and taking names. Coming off their biggest win of the year, the Saints will be in Carolina to take on one of the weakest teams in the entire league, the Panthers. The team the Saints beat last week, the Steelers, will be facing one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL, the Bengals.
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