It happened again. Just like last year we had a final week in which playoff seeding was confirmed instead of upended. All 14 teams that were in playoff position before this week’s games remained in playoff position after the week. Bad news for Charlotte, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and Seattle, but good news for Philadelphia, Houston, and Ohio. Despite this stability in the playoff field, there was one huge shift, as Boston’s win over Baltimore vaulted them not only from third to first in the Northeast, but gave the Cannons the overall #1 seed, making Drew Bledsoe’s decision to return for one more go around seem like a very good decision indeed. Rather than picking one game as our Game of the Week, we will run through the schedule as it happened, with all the scoreboard watching and scenario shifting results.
SATURDAY NOON KICKOFFS
BALTIMORE 20 BOSTON 28
This was the big one, the game that created the biggest shift. With a three-way tie atop the NE Division, any one of the three clubs could have ended up as not only the division champion but also the #1 seed. Both QB’s played well in this one, with Big Ben going 23 of 35 for 273 yards and 2 scores while Bledsoe went 18 of 32 for 278 and 2 of his own. The key to the game was Boston’s hot start to the 2nd half. Down 14-9 to the Blitz at the half, the Cannons came out and scored 17 unanswered points to build up a 26-14 lead that would hold in the end. They got TDs from rookie WR Percy Harvin and Chad Johnson as they dominated the 3rd quarter. Baltimore would crawl back with 2 field goals in the 4th, but when Ben Roethlisberger was tackled in the endzone for a safety with only 2 minutes left, it meant Boston would get the ball back, and they burnt off 1:45 of the 2 minutes, leaving the Blitz with no time for a miracle TD drive. Boston would move to the top of the Northeast and claim the overall #1 seed in the conference.
NEW JERSEY 10 PHILADELPHIA 43
The Stars needed a win to ensure a playoff spot, and they left no doubt that they were going to get it. Two early Steve Smith TD receptions helped build up a 24-0 halftime lead, and the Stars never looked back. The defense held New Jersey to only 23 yards rushing as Ryan Fitzpatrick was forced to go one dimensional early. Both Owens and Smith finished the game with 2 TDs each and the Stars cruised their way into the playoffs.
ST. LOUIS 9 WASHINGTON 30
The Feds spent most of this game scoreboard watching, hoping for a rare tie between the Cannons and Blitz so they could steal the division. It did not come, but neither did much challenge from the 1-12 Skyhawks. TD runs from both McCallister and Stewart helped the Federals pull away and finish the year at 10-4.
SATURDAY 4PM KICKOFFS
LAS VEGAS 21 LOS ANGELES 24
Las Vegas needed a win, plus help from Texas and Pittsburgh on Sunday. But, they could not get their part done, even playing against LA third stringer Brodie Croyle, who was given the start. Coryle threw for 2 scores and the combo of Jones-Drew and Maurice Morris combined for 123 yards, while an inspired LA defense held Marshawn Lynch to 86 yards. Las Vegas dropped to 6-8 on the year and out of contention. And you know that did not go over well with ownership, who spent a lot of collateral to bring Jake Plummer to town.
OAKLAND 44 PORTLAND 3
Portland was hoping for a statement game against the Pacific Division Champion, and man, did they get one. Oakland made a statement that was unmistakable, scoring the first 30 points in the game before Portland meekly kicked a field goal to get on the board. By midway through the third it was Ingle Martin at QB for the Invaders, giving Harrington a breather. TDs from Williams, Norwood, Jennings, Deshaun Jackson, and Jeb Putzier made sure that the #1 seed in the West would go to the Invaders.
SEATTLE 20 TAMPA BAY 10
The Dragons had slim hopes of making the playoffs, needing help, just as Las Vegas did, from both the Maulers and Outlaws. They did their part, traveling across the country to defeat the Bandits. Byron Leftwich threw for 258 and 2 scores and the defense did its job against backup Rhett Bomar, who got the start for the Bandits. Bomar threw two picks and completed only 17 of 35 passing as Seattle got the W they would need if they would have any hope of a playoff spot at 7-7.
SUNDAY NOON KICKOFF
ATLANTA 17 CHARLOTTE 19
The Philadelphia win on Saturday took the air out of this game. Rather than fighting for a Wild Card spot, the Fire and Monarchs would only be battling to finish 7-7. In a game that saw neither team try anything too daring, and a lot of player rotation, Charlotte got the win to finish the year at .500, a hollow victory for a club that started the year so well.
JACKSONVILLE 10 ORLANDO 17
As promised, Calais Campbell played in the game, but was removed at the half with 2 sacks already in hand. Drew Brees did not, but Matt Cassel did enough to defeat the 2-12 Bulls, who also started their backup, Josh McCown, in the game. Knowshon Moreno had a strong day with 105 yards and a score as he tries to make his case to be the Rookie of the Year with a late season surge.
MEMPHIS 30 BIRMINGHAM 16
The traditional rivalry game between the Boats and the Stallions lacked a lot of the luster of past years. Only 18,202 were in attendance on a muggy afternoon in Alabama. Memphis did start Brett Favre, but he played only a few series before being subbed out. It was enough to get him 2 TDs and that was enough for Memphis to take the win. Both clubs finish the year a disappointing 4-10.
NEW ORLEANS 24 NASHVILLE 30
The game everyone was watching in the 12pm timeslot had a battle for the Southern Division title. It was a game that lived up to the hype, with Nashville building a 13-0 lead in the first, New Orleans battling back in the 2nd, and both teams trading blows throughout. It was actually special teams which gave Nashville the boost it needed to capture the game and the division title. The play came on the 2nd half kickoff, when All-USFL return man Ahmad Merritt busted open the 16-10 game by returning the opening kick 101 yards for a Nashville TD, giving the knights a 13-point lead and all the momentum, they would need. New Orleans dominated the 4th quarter, but it was too little too late as Nashville held on and claimed the crown in front of a rowdy home town crowd.
SUNDAY 4PM KICKOFF
MICHIGAN 27 CHICAGO 12
Brady Quinn was clearly not 100% in this game, and many questioned why Coach Mornhinweg played him at all. With Brian Griese having an MVP day with 4 TDs the contrast was clear. Chicago hung tough for a while, getting an early score from TE Aaron Shea, but Michigan pulled away in the second half with Griese connecting with 4 different receivers on scoring tosses. With Oakland winning on Saturday, Michigan could not move up to #1 in the West, so they settled for a 2nd seed and a home game against the #7 club next week.
PITTSBURGH 7 OHIO 21
Win and you are in was basically the situation for both the Maulers and the Glory. And in this game, it was the experience and confidence of Ohio that won out over Pittsburgh’s moxie. Kerry Collins threw for 305 yards and 3 scores against a Mauler D that sacked him 5 times but never rattled him. Cody Pickett had a bad day, after facing a challenge to start the game with rookie Pat White getting a lot of snaps in practice this week. The lack of prep was not good for Pickett, as he threw 2 picks and looked off all game long. With the win, Ohio locked up a playoff spot, and now will face a division rival in the first round.
DENVER 10 ARIZONA 17
Dereck Anderson got the start as Denver rested many of their star players. Arizona was game and built up a 17-0 lead with a 3rd quarter Carr to Fitzgerald TD. Denver would come back late, but was clearly not heavily invested in a game that would have no impact on their standing as the #3 seed. They got what they wanted, even with the loss, a game that produced no key injuries as they head into a home game in the Wild Card round.
TEXAS 3 HOUSTON 17
Houston’s game was key not just for the Gamblers, but for Seattle as well. A loss here would allow the Dragons to escape their 1-6 start and miraculously qualify for the playoffs. But, Houston also had a vested interest in winning, because the spot Seattle would take would be theirs. They fell behind 3-0 in the first, but then put the clamps down, throttling backup QB Dan Orlovsky, who would complete only 14 passes in 38 attempts. The Houston D held T. J. Duckett to 60 yards, while Tatum Bell exploited a tired and flat Texas defense for 102 yards and a TD to spark Houston to the win, and a spot in the Wild Card round next week. The Gamblers had held their spot, and Seattle’s attempted miracle comeback for the season was not to be.
So here we are, primed for the playoffs, and we have some really interesting matchups in our expanded 6-game Wild Card round. In the six games we have 4 that feature divisional matchups, including one that is a direct replay of this week’s final game of the regular season. New Orleans might as well not even go back to Louisiana because they will be right back in Nashville as the #7 seed facing the #2 seed Knights. The game this week was intense, and now we get a 2nd chance to see these two go head to head.
Another great matchup in the East features two bitter rivals facing off for a 3rd time this year. Baltimore will travel down the road to Washington to face the Feds as it is #5 vs. #4 in a NE Division clash. The Blitz and Feds split their series this year, with both road teams winning, so is that good news for the traveling Blitz?
Finally, the third Eastern Conference clash features the Stars, who needed a Week 14 win to qualify, up against the Orlando Renegades, who will be sure to have Drew Brees back on the field, though we expect that the player keeping Coach Harbaugh from getting any sleep is DE Calais Campbell. Kurt Warner is probably also not resting well ahead of this one.
In the West, we have divisional rivalry games between the #3 seed Gold and the #6 seed Gamblers as the two SW division foes clash at Invesco Field. The two have not met since Week 6, splitting their series with both games in the season’s first half. That means that both teams are not as familiar with each other as you might expect of division foes. Should make for a really interesting game as both will try to rely on their defenses and a pretty controlled and methodical offense.
The other big divisional clash in the Western Conference has Ohio headed up the road to face the Michigan Panthers in a game that could rival the Buckeye-Wolverine games that define the relationship between these two states. The Panthers swept the series with their border rivals, winning 33-28 in Week 6 and then taking the home game against Ohio 26-6 only 3 weeks ago. The Glory will have to find an answer for Brian Griese and that Michigan receiving corps, but Michigan is well aware of what Collins, Galloway, Moss, and George can do. We feel a bit bad for the defensive coordinators in both of these games.
Finally, our last Western Conference clash sees Portland traveling to Chicago to face the Machine. Chicago had the upper hand in their clash with the Stags back in Week 5, beating Portland 28-16, but the boys from the Rose City have been on a tear lately, winning 5 of 6 before a bad defeat in Oakland last week. Expect Chicago to try to imitate the success of the Invaders against Portland’s D, but a lot will depend on how healthy Brady Quinn is after struggling this week.
Oakland and Boston sit back, heal, rest, and watch this week, relishing their hard-earned bye week and prepping to face the lowest seed who survives this first week of playoff action.
League Leaders for 2009
The end of the regular season means we have also reached the final week of stats and the league leaders are locked in. And what did we see this year? Well, the number that jumps off the page is no surprise, Calais Campbell’s ludicrous 34 sacks in 14 games. That is an insane number no matter how you look at it. Anthony Weaver had a very strong season, his best to date, with 22 sacks and he was a solid dozen behind Campbell. If this does not win the Orlando DE an MVP award, then no defender ever is going to win that thing.
Looking at the offense, three names shine above the others. We have Chad (Don’t call him 85 anymore) Johnson with 1,759 yards on only 68 catches, a stunning 25.9 YPC average, and one of the highest receiving yard totals we have seen in a while. And if there is any doubt that Drew Bledsoe has bounced back from his injury last year, just note that not only is Johnson #1 in yardage, but teammate Joe Jurevicius is not too shabby at #6 with over 1,100 yards as well.
In the run game, Deuce McCallister took over the lead before midseason and never relinquished it. His 4.9 YPC is the highest we have seen for a league leader in total yards in a long time, and he did it with only 267 carries, no 300+ workhorse. We did have those though, with Michael Turner leading the pack with 323 carries, but joined by Frank Gore (314), Jonathan Stewart (303), and DeShaun Foster (301).
Among passers, you had a career season for Brian Griese, a likely frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year, with 35 TD passes and over 4,200 yards passing, but others were right there. There will be a lot of sentiment for Bledsoe, who returned from a devastating injury last year to lead Boston to the #1 seed and along the way threw for 4,400 yards and 30 touchdowns as well. Matt Leinart did not have the biggest totals, but his 69.5% completion rate was the best in the league and helped Denver win the SW Division.
On the other end of the spectrum, Pittsburgh has to be second guessing the decision to stick with Cody Pickett all season. He looked good early but a real bad run down the stretch left him leading the league in two categories you do not want, interceptions (he threw 17) and fumbles (11). Those 28 turnovers tell a lot of the story of how the Maulers fell from playoff position to a 7-7 finish.
Finally, we need to hand it to the Nashville Knights for prioritizing the third phase of the game, special teams. Not only was Shayne Graham a Top 5 kicker, hitting on 29 of 33 field goal attempts, but punter Steve Koch led the league with a 48.0 yard average and kick returner Ahmad Merrit finished the year with a 30.9 yard kick return average, along with the big 101-yarder this week that put an exclamation point on Nashville’s season.
And one unheralded star we should have given more attention to. New Jersey wideout Mark Clayton, playing on a pretty bad team, with a QB just beginning to find his sea legs, still managed to lead the league with 98 receptions. Not too bad at all. We are not in the age of 150 receptions in a year like the old Eric Truvillion days, but anyone who gets that close to 100 receptions in a 14-week season on a team as bad as the Generals was is doing something right.
Looking ahead to the Wild Card playoffs, injuries are a key factor that could sway a game one way or another, so how do the 12 teams in the upcoming games look health-wise? Here is our breakdown.
CHICAGO: DT Ellis Wyms (OUT), QB Brady Quinn (PROB)
PORTLAND: DE Ebenezer Ekuban (IR), G Anthony Oakley (IR), WR Roddy White (OUT), C Brad Meester (OUT)
For Chicago the big question is Brady Quinn. He has been able to go, but this week vs. Michigan it was clear that Quinn was not at 100%, and if he is not at his best against Portland, the Stags could exploit that and edge the Machine. For Portland, protection for A. J. Feeley will be key, as they have to shuffle some linemen to account for the absence of Oakley and Meester up front. That could be a big problem when facing an aggressive D like Chicago’s.
DENVER: OT Chris Terry (DOU), DT Montae Reager (QUE), CB David Terrell (PROB)
HOUSTON: LB Keith Brooking (IR), HB Shaun Alexander (IR), WR Mike Sims-Walker (DOU), B Justin Knox (QUE)
The injury to Chris Terry is Denver’s biggest concern, as Michigan is known for blitzes on the outside, which will put pressure on Matt Leinart. Houston has not really had much of a run game since Alexander went out, though Tatum Bell has had some moments, so the key here is to use short passes, particularly to Kevin Faulk to force the Denver D to keep only 7 men in the box.
MICHIGAN: DT Leonard Renfro (OUT), WR Mario Manningham (PROB)
OHIO: OT Winston Justice (IR), HB Kevin Smith (OUT), CB Jason Webster (QUE)
Going into this game without Leonard Renfro in the game means that Michigan’s linebackers will not have some of the protection they are used to, forcing them to deal with more on their way to the ball. That could be an issue, particularly if Ohio can get Eddie George going early.
NEW ORLEANS: OT Mark Tauscher (IR), TE Chris Cooley (OUT), OT Nat Dorsey (OUT), G Paul Zakauskas (QUE)
NASHVILLE: G Jeb Terry (IR), CB Chidi Iwoma (IR), C Kory Lichtensteiger (OUT), WR Derrick Mason (OUT)
Concerns for New Orleans’s O-line, as they have 3 players out. That means they are going to have to find a way to enhance protection, perhaps by keeping backs or tight ends in to block. For Nashville, losing Mason is big and puts a lot of pressure on Robert Meachem to step up and take on the best corner for the Breakers.
ORLANDO: SS Atari Bigby (IR), LB Will Overstreet (OUT), DT Marcus Thomas (OUT), OT Wade Smith (DOU)
PHILADELPHIA: G Damien Woody (PROB), CB Antonio Cromartie (PROB)
Philadelphia looks to have its full regimen of players, while Olando is missing a few key pieces, including their RT and starting strong safety. Inside runs will quickly determine if the absences on Orlando’s defesne are going to be a big problem or one the Renegades can handle. Watch for the Stars to test that defense with Slaton and Michael Robinson.
WASHINGTON: WR Eddie Kennison (OUT), C Austin King (OUT), CB Brandon Flowers (QUE), LB Antonio Pierce (PROB)
BALTIMORE: OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson (IR), WR Tory Holt (Out), QB Ben Roethlisberger (QUE), FS Shaunard Harris (Prob)
Both teams go into this game with a key weapon out of commission. While Eddie Kennison’s absence is an issue for Washington, the loss this week of both Tory Holt and D’Brickashaw Ferguson is a huge concern for the Blitz. Expect Roethlisberger to go, despite the questionable designation, but Holt is definitely out, which means the Blitz are without their big play specialist and will have to hope to grind out yards with the run game. That could be a lot to ask of Ron Dayne against the Feds’ defense.
Black Monday Hits hard in 2009
It was a Black Monday to remember, or perhaps one to forget as five different head coaches were relieved of their duties one day after the conclusion of the regular season. And while we can hardly say we are surprised by any one firing, the impact of having 5 coaches dumped on the same day is a big one. But, before we get to the five newly opened position, let’s talk for a moment about the anticipated sacking that did not happen, that of Pittsburgh Head Coach Ron Rivera.
Rivera was very much considered to be on the chopping block after a 7-2 start to the year turned into a 7-7 final record. Rivera was considered a possible Coach of the Year candidate at midseason as he had his Maulers atop the Central Division, far ahead of most predictions, but when reality hit, it hit hard, and the Maulers collapsed in the second half of the season. That collapse was thought by many to be the nail in Rivera’s coffin, but it appears that ownership is giving him one more chance to put the pieces together for a full season.
The key decision Rivera will have to justify and perhaps remedy in 2010 is the quarterback position. Just like the team as a whole, Cody Pickett started the season well, but was disastrous down the stretch as the club and their leader seemingly lost all confidence in themselves. Pickett was responsible for 28 turnovers this year, including 17 picks and 11 fumbles. He struggled to make use of a solid run game and a strong defense, having difficulty even with advantageous play action plays, and that hurt Pittsburgh time and again. With highly touted rookie Pat White confined to the bench, there were questions throughout the year about why Rivera would not turn to their big offseason signing. Those questions will now linger well into the offseason as Rivera tries to win back the faith that seemed so prevalent early in the year, but which turned to questioning and near revolt among Mauler fans as the club let what seemed like a solid playoff position slip away.
As rough as Ron Rivera’s year was, that of Brad Childress in Jacksonville was worse. After 11 seasons in Jacksonville, Childress was let go Monday. A 2-12 season will do that, particularly as a nadir in what appears to be a steady decline since winning 10 games in 2006. Childress had a good run with the Bulls, but a total record of 81-68 and a playoff record of 4-5 were not enough to withstand a drop from 10 wins to 8, to 7, and now only 2. A change was needed, and for Childress that meant an end to a decade-long tenure with the Bulls.
In Las Vegas the issues were twofold. Not only was it a failure to meet expectations, but Coach Jerry Glanville’s sideline antics were also a major distraction and embarrassment for the Thunder. Ownership expected more from the team after a build from 2 wins in 2005, to 6, 7, and 9 wins last year. They spent a lot of capital to bring Jake Plummer in only for the former MVP to be handcuffed by a retrograde offensive scheme and a coach who simply does not have a track record for creative offense. Glanville might have survived a 6-8 record this year had it not been for his issues with sideline antics and actual physical confrontation with his players. That was too much and the veteran coach was let go on Monday. Expect the Thunder to look for an offensive-minded coach, as that has been the weakness of the Thunder for years now.
For the LA Express, the question was one of diminishing returns. Hue Jackson had a strong first season, leading the Express to the Summer Bowl in his first season with the team, but after that magical first run, the club went 8-6 in 2007, 6-10 in 2008 and only 5-9 in 2009. That is not the direction that the club wants or expects and with a young QB in tow, they felt they needed to go another direction to try to right the ship before they found themselves sitting at 1 or 2 wins. The Express have a lot of talent, but Jackson was not able to get results with his talented roster, which is why he was let go on Monday.
Finally, we have the case of St. Louis, which has just gotten worse and worse since entering the league in 2006. While Atlanta, Charlotte, and Portland have all been competitive since joining the league, the Skyhawks have been mired in the basement of the Central Division since day one. A 1-win season is not what the Skyhawks expected four seasons into their existence. Unlike the other expansion clubs, which quickly got to at least a competitive level, St. Louis has been going from bad to horrible. A lot of that is on the GM, but Coach Williams did not show any growth for the club from his first year to his second, and the team was barely able to show anything this year that looked like it had promise, so after only 2 years Williams is done and the Skyhawks will go into their 5th season with a 3rd head coach.
Seattle reveals 2010 uniforms
The third design this year and the last of Reebok’s contract with the USFL was revealed this week, when the Seattle Dragons unveiled their new look for 2010. Falling short of a playoff run this year, Seattle is retooling for the future and that includes reimagining everything from their logo to their uniforms.
This week Seattle and Reebok unveiled a new dragon for a new era in the Emerald City. The new Dragons logo is more of a mix of European and Asian dragon genotypes, while still bringing enough of the club’s former identity along with it to be easily seen as an evolution and not a revolution. The green, gold, red, and black dragon still breaths fire, but now twists into a curved posture that highlights the red dorsal fins and gold belly armor. It is accompanied by a new feature, a monogram logo with an S that both evokes the image of the dragon and yet also seems right at home with Seattle’s hard rock and grunge musical past. A stylized “S” complete with its own ridges, fins, and an ominous red glowing eye, the new monogram is a key feature of the new look.
The team helmets are updated as well, with the new logo forming not a wrap-around, like we see with the NFL Seahawks, but more of a wrap-down, similar to that of the Michigan Panthers, with the dragon logo taking over most of both sides of the green shell. The facemask reverts back to green after several years in red, and, as always, there is no center striping.
The Uniform features a move away from side panels and curved piping and now features offset color sleeves and thin angular stripes at the shoulder. The most prominent feature of the jerseys is a new number font, a block design with pointed tops that evoke medieval gothic windows. Both on the white jersey and the dark green jersey, these numbers are outlined in red and have a gold/yellow drop shadow, more prominent on the green jersey, but present in both. The pants feature two thick stripes (blending into the pants on the green set, but prominent on the white) which surround a red stripe that transitions to golden yellow at the hip, forming a “scale” effect with a singular curve.
The new look will first be seen in the preseason next year as Seattle did not qualify for a Wild Card game, and it is the last set Reebok will produce, with all 2011 designs created by Adidas as part of their new contract with the league to produce field, sideline, and fan gear.
Best of the USFL—Quarterback
We arrive at our last entry in our series on the best players in the league at each position, and we have saved perhaps the most controversial position for last. Debates over quarterback play can be endless. We certainly know they felt that way in our bullpen as we tried to pull together our list. Discussion over past performance vs. current results, potential vs. proven track record, physical athleticism vs. decision making and the cerebral part of the game, even leadership vs. arm talent, were seemingly endless. So, as we present our list of the top 5 quarterbacks in the game, we fully expect this to be a list that produces a ton of feedback and a ton of debate. So have at it.
Kerry Collins (OHI): While many will say that Collins is not the same QB as he was in the 2-year run of titles in 2002-2003, there is no doubt that he ranks among the most prolific quarterbacks in league history. Yes, he is surrounded by a great roster of talented players, but it is Collins who is managing that roster and producing the big plays to Galloway, Moss, and others. You cannot argue with the results, or with numbers like his: 407 touchdowns to only 112 picks, over 49,000 yards, and a lifetime QB rating of 112.6 do not lie.
Kordell Stewart (WSH): He is not the most orthodox QB, and he had a couple of rough years, largely due to injury, but his comeback season in 2008 showed that he still had it. With Stewart you have to ignore the career QB Rating of 89.3 and realize that his ability to run the ball as well as throw it adds a dimension to his game that most defenses just cannot gameplan against. In addition to his 36,780 yards in the air, he has over 2,000 yards rushing with 43 rushing TDs to show off. Not a classic pocket passer to be sure, but his leadership and grit are undeniable.
Ben Roethlisberger (BAL): The general consensus is that Big Ben is just beginning to show us his full potential, which is a scary thing to say. With over 17,000 yards passing in his first 3 years, along with 117 touchdowns, Roethlisberger is quickly becoming one of the premier stars of the league, famed already for his ability to withstand pressure and extend plays until he can find an open receiver.
Drew Brees (ORL): After struggling a bit in Michigan, Brees’s three seasons in Orlando have shown us what he can do. He is deadly accurate, has outstanding pocket presence, and a knack for finding open receivers when under pressure. He is not the classic 6’4” pocket passer, but he is undoubtedly among the most deadly snipers in the league.
Brett Favre (MEM): Yes, Favre missed a huge chunk of 2009 with injury, and yes, he is clearly in the final stages of his career (possibly retiring after this year, though it has not been announced yet), but when he is on the field, there is no denying that Favre is magic. All you have to do is look at what he did with Memphis upon returning to the league in 2007. He led the Showboats, who had been mired in mediocrity for several years, to two straight Summer Bowls and a league title. He continues to be have one of the strongest arms in football and one of the most infectious personalities. We simply could not leave him off this list.
We can hear it already. Where is Bledsoe? What about Warner? How could you leave off Plummer? From Culpepper fans to those touting the steadfast leadership of a Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Delhomme, we will hear it from all quarters. Yes, the league has a lot of very good quarterbacks, but we could only pick five and we will stick with our list. Feel free to make your own and to put Bledsoe, Culpepper, Warner, Plummer, or anyone else you like on it. You will get just as much debate as we expect to get for our list.
Here we go, playoff football, a little later in the year than usual, but after a firework-filled Independence Day Weekend, we kick off some more fireworks with the Wild Card games, all six of them, this week. Here is our guide to the key factors to watch for in each of the league’s playoff matchups.
Saturday, July 11 @ 12pm ET
Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, FL
This one comes down to one man and how the opposition deals with him. It’s all about Calais Campbell. If Philadelphia can chip, double, or somehow slow down the league sack recordholder, they have the offensive talent to win this game. If they cannot, and Kurt Warner is constantly having to keep track of Campbell’s whereabouts, then this could be a long day for Stars fans. They have been inconsistent this year, but this is not the time to put out anything less than their best. We think Orlando will struggle to score against the linebacker group of the Stars, so for us it all comes down to whether or not Philadelphia can protect Warner and outpace the Renegades.
Saturday, July 11 @ 4pm ET
Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
If Brady Quinn is healthy and ready to roll, then we think Chicago is the prohibitive favorite here. Their defense can take it to anyone, and they have the experience to know how to pull out a playoff game when needed. Having home field is huge for them in this game. Portland’s best shot is to take the crowd out of the game early with some immediate offensive success. That will likely be up to A. J. Feeley, who has looked good down the stretch for the Stags, but this is the club’s first playoff appearance, while it is absolutely not the first go around for Urlacher and his defense.
Saturday, July 11 @ 8pm ET
Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, CO
I love when the playoffs give us a third game between bitter divisional rivals. It is like a midsummer Christmas present. These two teams know each other so well, and that familiarity breeds contempt and dislike. I expect a tough defensive matchup as both teams take away the top weapons of the opposition. That, in my mind, has to favor the Gold, because Houston is already a bit one dimensional after losing Shaun Alexander to injury. If Matt Leinart can play his game, the Gold look to use their huge home field advantage and that rowdy Gold Rush defense to take this one.
Sunday, July 12 @ 12pm ET
RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
Another great battle between rivals. How lucky can we get in one weekend of football? There will be no surprises in this one as these two teams know each other so well. The loss of Tory Holt could be the difference, as it puts a lot of pressure on the Blitz run game to keep drives going. We just don’t see the big play potential for Baltimore without Holt on the field. We see this as McCallister vs. Dayne. If one of them can have a big day, and we mean 150 yards big, that team will be the clear victor.
Sunday, July 12 @ 4pm ET
Adelphia Stadium, Nashville, TN
The Breaker-Knight rivalry may not have the luster of Memphis-Birmingham or even Memphis-Nashville, but these are still two division foes who know each other well. The fact that they just had a head to head battle last week to decide the division and determine who hosted this game is enough to make us say that this will be a nasty game. These two will have to find new strategies because both clubs are aware of what worked and what did not last week and as they face off again, this time in a single elimination format, they will have to find a new wrinkle to throw the other off their game.
Sunday, July 12 @ 8pm ET
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Are you kidding me? Sunday is loaded. First we have two NE Division rivals, then two Southern rivals, and we finish up with one of the best rivalries in the Central? This is nuts! Michigan has been the better team this year, no denying that, but this is Ohio. Collins, George, Galloway, Moss. This is a team that has been here and done this before. That is huge in the playoffs. Can they do it again? Can they upend the Panthers at home? This could be a pure shootout in Ford Field. Don’t be surprised if it takes 40 points to win this one, or if the team that has the ball last is the one that moves on. Cannot wait for this game.
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