Wednesday, December 08, 2010

NFL 2010 Week 13 Wrap Up

Should be another good week, the Eagles started us off with a win, so let's see what else happened.

Philadelphia @ Houston - Wrap up hereInquisitive Mind 1 - 0 for the week

New Orleans @ Cincinnati - And for a second I thought that the Bengals were going to upset the Saints.  The Bengals used some timely running by Cedric Benson (19 carries for 49 yards, 2 TDs) to pull ahead of the Saints, but just like that Drew Brees (24 of 29 for 313 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) led his team down the field to a win in the last minute.  This has been a microcosm of the Bengals season, just good enough to not win.  At least they can say that most of the team showed up, but the dynamite is already set around the foundation of this team.  Only 4 more weeks till they detonate.  Impressive game by Chris Ivory (15 carries for 117 yards, 2 TDs) for the Saints who now look more dangerous than ever.  Inquisitive Mind 2 - 0 for the week. 

Chicago @ Detroit - Again?  The Lions got jobbed again by a questionable call.  I will say this again, the Bears are THE luckiest team in the league this year.  They put together a good enough game, excuse me, great game by Jay Cutler (21 of 26 for 234 yards, 1 TD, more importantly only 1 turnover) and the defense was able stop Drew Stanton (a 3rd string QB).  I am just not sold on the Bears, don't know what it is, but they keep winning.  Inquisitive Mind 3 - 0 for the week. 

San Francisco @ Green Bay - Aaron Rodgers (21 of 30 for 298 yards, 3 TDs) once again turned into Superman and put the Packers on his back.  James Starks was able to gain 73 yards on the ground to give the Packers a semblance of a running game.  No running game for the 49ers spelled doom and not only for the season but for Mike Singletary's job.  Inquisitive Mind 4 - 0 for the week. 

Jacksonville @ Tennessee - MJD (31 carries for 186 yards) had a monster game where he almost out gained the entire Titans offense (190 yards vs. 220 yards).  Nuff said.  The Jaguars are leading their division and looking good going down the stretch.  Inquisitive Mind 5 - 0 for the week. 

Denver @ Kansas City - Matt Cassel (17 of 31 for 196 yards, 1 TD) and Jamaal Charles (21 carries for 116 yards) led a balanced Chiefs attach while Kyle Orton (9 of 28 for 117 yards) reverted to some of his worst Bears games and the Chiefs escaped with this ugly win. The Chiefs can make this very interesting in the AFC if they win their division.  They have shown the ability to put points on the board or win knock'em out drag'em out games like this.  They have a good running game with Charles and Jones and a decent QB when Cassel shows up.  Inquisitive Mind 6 - 0 for the week. 

Cleveland @ Miami - Cleveland found a way to win when Peyton Hillis (18 carries for 57 yards) was stopped most of the game and Delhomme (24 of 34 217 yards, 1 TD) for  was their go to guy.  It really helped matters that Chade Henne threw 3 picks, but the Browns found a way to close out the Dolphins with a Phil Dawson field goal as time expired.  If this Browns team actually had a QB, they might be dangerous.  Still the city of Cleveland is 0-2 against Miami this fall.  Inquisitive Mind 7 - 0 for the week. 

Buffalo @ Minnesota - Favre got hurt and Tavaris Jackson finally got some meaningful reps in a game.  Jackson (15 of 22 for 187 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) had a decent game, but the Vikings depended on the running game behind Peterson (16 carries for 107 yards, 3 TDs) and Gerhart (12 carries for 54 yards) for the win against the Bills.  This is the way they should have been playing all year long, making the run a priority and then passing when they needed to.  Mathematically the Vikings aren't out of the playoffs, so there is some hope.  Inquisitive Mind 8 - 0 for the week. 

Washington @ New York Giants - The Giants scored so quickly and often I thought this was a misprint as the score came across the ticker.  The Giants got great games from Ahmad Bradshaw (25 carries for 97 yards, 2 TDs) and Brandon Jacobs (8 carries for 103 yards, 2 TDs) and I could have played QB for the Giants and we still would have won this game.  I will again say this, Eli Manning is an average QB, albeit one with a Superbowl ring, but average none the less.  Great Giants defense in this game too.  If they get on a roll, the NFC is going to be exciting in the playoffs.  Inquisitive Mind 9 - 0 for the week. 

Oakland @ San Diego - Jason Campbell (10 of 16 for 117 yards, 1 TD) didn't have a great game, but he did what he had to do to manage this Raiders team to a win.  Again, great ground game by Bush (23 carries for 95 yards, 1 TD) and McFadden (19 carries for 97 yards, 1 TD) to go along with a good Raiders defensive game.  The Chargers came into this game smelling themselves (they always start late and then start winning games in December to make the playoffs) but they didn't have that magic that they normally do.  This could be the end of the Norv Turner years in San Diego.  Ron Rivera, you may have just gotten your chance to be a head coach.  Inquisitive Mind 10 - 0 for the week. 

Carolina @ Seattle - Two bad teams.  One had to win, sorry Panthers.  John Fox you deserve better.  When you look at the stats, you really can't tell which team won.  Now that's bad football. Inquisitive Mind 11 - 0 for the week. 

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay - GREAT game.  The Bucs are hungry and they played tough but one bad throw by Freeman ended this game.  The Bucs gave the Falcons all they could handle, but in the end the resilient Falcons notched another 'W'.  Freeman (19 of 38 for 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and Ryan (18 of 36 for 205 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) and Blount (20 carries for 103 yards, 1 TD) and Turner (24 carries for 88 yards, 1 TD) had very similar games, so it really came down to field position and that late INT for Freeman.  I wouldn't want to play this Bucs team in the playoffs.  They have learned how to win in a short time and they have a pretty damn good young QB.  Inquisitive Mind 12 - 0 for the week. 

St. Louis @ Arizona - Well, the Cardinals used all 3 of their QBs and it still didn't matter.  The Rams were led by Steven Jackson (28 carries for 102 yards, 1 TD) and they are now 6-6 and they are leading their division.  That says a lot about that division, but the Rams are going to the playoffs.  Think about that for a few minutes.  Inquisitive Mind 13 - 0 for the week. 

Dallas @ Indianapolis - You've got to be kidding me.  The Cowboys won this game?  As I sat there and watched it I was amazed that Manning was not able to take advantage of that Cowboys secondary.  They were down to practice players (not really, but close) at one point.  You can tell that Manning is pressing and making bad decisions when you take a look at his 4 INT game.  He needs those receivers that he has to be healthy and right now, their health and the lack, well non existent running game is putting way to much pressure on 'The Machine'.  It's over for the Colts, no playoffs this year.  Inquisitive Mind 13 - 1 for the week. 


Pittsburgh @ Baltimore - This was more of a sloppy game than I thought it would be.  The Ravens offense had several opportunities but they just didn't look good last night.  For some reason when they are on offense I sit there and say, 'they aren't going to move the ball', just not inspired by their offense.  Even with the game on the line, they should have at least tied that game last night but Flacco wafted a pass that fell short to a wide open receiver.  The Ravens have got to be smarting from this game.  Inquisitive Mind 13 - 2 for the week. 


New York Jets @ New England - That was an old fashioned a$$ whuppin.  Tom Brady (21 of 29 for 326 yards, 4 TDs) looked like the NFL MVP in this game with his stellar performance and the Patriots put themselves at the top of the discussion about who will be representing the AFC in the Superbowl.  What happened to the brash New York Jets?  Inquisitive Mind 14 - 2 for the week. 


Great week on the picks with only the Ravens and Cowboys letting me down.  I'm 114 - 77 for the year and gaining some ground as the season pushes toward a close. 

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