Monday Morning Quarterback

Another Monday Mroning Quarterback, as the regular season has ended and the playoff bracket is set for next week. It should be a lot of fun, I will have my NFL postseason awards and playoff predictions tomorrow. For now, here's my reaction on the week's games.


Buffalo 30 Indianapolis 7
Thumbs up to NFL games in the snow!!! Thumbs down to this being a meaningless game though, more thumbs down to Terrell Owens not doing a snow angel in the end zone, and even more thumbs down for the Colts not showing up again this week. I don't want to hear the "we've clinched" crap, Peyton Manning played a solid half and they were losing 24-7 at halftime. A sign of things to come? We shall see.


Carolina 23 New Orleans 10
Speaking of underachieving #1 seeds, the Saints lose their third straight game. At least they treated us to sightings by Mark Brunell (remember him??), Lynell Hamilton, and Darnell Dickens sightings. Interesting point of topic, will there be a QB controversy in Carolina next year. Matt Moore looks just as good as Jake Delhomme at this point.


Cleveland 23 Jacksonville 17
Thumbs up to NFL games played in snow!! Thumbs down to the Jaguars not showing up, and in the process proving that they aren't a playoff team. Meanwhile, for next year, look out for a new budding running back in Jerome Harrison, he should be the center of Cleveland's offense next year.


Chicago 37 Detroit 23
Congrats to Jay Cutler, he finally started playing the way he should. Unfortunatly, he did it with the Bears' season already over. But hats off to him and Chicago for showing up for a rivalry game that they could have easily blew off. I know I like to make fun of the Bears, but they will be a better team next year. As for the Lions, well at least they won two games this year, right?


Houston 34 New England 27
Great effort from the Texans in not giving up, but they fall just short of the postseason and deservedly so, they blew too many winnable games. And now, for people who like the "rest your starters" motto, they will use this serious knee injury to Wes Welker as ammunition. It appears Welker has torn his ACL and MCL, at least that is what ESPN just reported on SportsCenter. Yes, I know, it's an unfortunate injury and it's a big hit to New England heading into the playoffs. But you know, as far as I'm concerned, these injuries are bad luck and the best teams are able to overcome adversity. Let's see how the PAtriots do next week.


Pittsburgh 30 Miami 24
Wow, how about the Dolphins using three quarterbacks and NEARLY winning the game? The Steelers got lucky yet again, fortunatly they didn't make the playoffs. Neither of these teams deserve playoff berths and they didn't get them. Thumbs up to both coaches though, for their "this is unacceptable" speeches after the game. Thumbs down, to Mr. Roger Goodell, who stopped in the broadcast booth during the game and talked to Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf about "incentives" for teams for nto resting starters down the stretch. Incentives?? Really?? PLEASE tell me how this will work. What another stupid idea by a lousy comissoner.


Minnesota 44 NY Giants 7
Can I just say, Coughlin must go???? What a joke of a performance the Giants put on today as they appear to have suffered from Cowboysdecemberitis this year. Let's face it, the Giants are NOT this bad. But when a team plays so poorly down the stretch and finishes 8-8, you have to point the finger somewhere. I point at Coughlin for not motviating this squad.


San Francisco 28 St. Louis 6
This is probably the last time we'll get to see a Keith Null sighting, mercifully for Rams fans, the season has ended. Their defense actually kept it close against a 49er team that sleptwalked, and won the game. And, now, for the next three and a half months, the St. Louis Rams, finishing at 1-15, are on the clock.


Atlanta 20 Tampa Bay 10
I will say this much about the Atlanta Falcons, if it wasn't for untimely injuries in late November, we might be seeing them in the playoffs rather than the Eagles or Packers. I give Mike Smith credit for getting Atlanta up to play the last three weeks in meaningless games and winning out for a 9-7 team. That is a sure sign for a rebound team and maybe, a 2010 NFC South champion? You heard it here first.


Dallas 24 Philadelphia 0
Ah yes, my favorite game of the week. HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!! Ok, seriously, congrats to Dallas on winning the NFC East and I will be proud to go and buy and division championship T-Shirt this week. But in all seriousness, what happened to the Eagles? They simply did not get up for this game and even though there will be claims that they didn't "need" the game, I see last week's Giants in them, I see a fear. On the flip side, I see a fire in the eyes of Dallas, a fire that didn't exist in seasons before, or even earlier this year. This is the very fire, that could drive Dallas for a deep playoff run. For only the second time ever (first was in 2007), I actually believe in this team headed into the playoffs. I'm hoping for the best and can not WAIT for Saturday.


Green Bay 33 Arizona 7
Well, the Cardinals actually didn't show up this week, this is the result you expect when the biggest bust Matt Leinart is your quarterback. In any case, it was interesting to see the Packers play to win, while the Cardinals took a semi-safe route. I say that because Dominique Rogers-Cromartie AND Anquan Boldin were injured in the game. In any case, expect more next week when the Pack return to the desert.


Kansas City 44 Denver 24
Wow, did that happen. It thrilled me to watch Josh McDaniels look absolutly stunned as the Broncos AGAIN choked. This one was huge, a 6-0 start and you can't make the playoffs? I don't know why, but McDaniels is showing shads of Mr. Eric Mangini in regards to clutch, close to playoff situations. Hats off to the Chiefs for playing hard in a meaningless game that acutally cost them a higher draft position. Thumbs down to the Broncos, biggest choke in the league, even more than the Giants.


Baltimore 21 Oakland 13
Leave it to Jamarcus Russell to help a team into the playoffs. Seriously, the Raiders were in this game with Charlie Frye at quarterback, but once he fell to injury and Russell came in, you could kiss the upset chances good bye. OK, he only threw one interception, but the Raiders MUST figure out their quarterback position and offense as a whole. Oh and thumbs up to Willis McGahee for carrying the offense, three touchdowns!! If the Ravens beat the Patriots, it will be on the ground.


San Diego 23 Washington 20
Billy Volek got his chance to shine and he took advantage wit ha game-winning drive for the Chargers. As expected, San Diego's backups defeated the Redskins starters and finally put the Redskins and their fans out of their misery.


Tennessee 17 Seattle 13
Wow, how about Chris Johnson. Single-season scrimmage record and 2,000 yards rushing in a season, he carried the Tennessee offense and had one of the greatest seasons I have ever personally seen. And thumbs up to the Titans for turning a disasterous starts into an 8-8 season. Just imagine, if Tennesse beats the Jets in week 3, they are heading to the playoff next week and not New York. That's why every game counts.


NY Jets 37 Cincinnati 0
And as I just said, the Jets are playoff bound with an outstanding performance against the Bengals. I will say, this team intrigues me more than any other playoff team. Are they the best, absolutly not. But you don't need to be the best, any team can get hot and win four straight. This team reminds me of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens for some reason, and they are a team to watch for.