NFC Division Gone South

With five weeks remaining in the NFL regular season, the NFC South has 13 wins. There have been twelve weeks played, and the division averages a win per week. Let me repeat that: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – four NFL teams composing an entire division – have a total of 13 wins.

THE SYSTEM…THANK GOODNESS FOR THE SYSTEM

What do you call the guy who graduated last in his medical school class? A doctor! The ultimate goal of every NFL team at the beginning of each season is to win the Super Bowl. To win the Super Bowl, a team must first reach the playoffs. The most favorable way to get into the playoffs is to win one’s division as it results in the first playoff game being at home for that team.
So what do you call the team with the worst record among the four conference division winners? A playoff host….

THE POSSIBILITES

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The Bucs are two games out of first place. However, they don’t do anything particularly well and are surrounded by inexperienced players with potential and veteran journeymen. As much as this division continues to go up for grabs every week, the Buccaneers have almost no chance of winning the South with the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers on their schedule.

Carolina Panthers – This team has found new and creative ways to shoot itself in the foot. Poised to run away with this mediocre division earlier this year, the Panthers went on a six game winless streak. Their last win came on October 5th. It’s unclear where this team’s next win will come from.

Quarterback Cam Newton has not been healthy this season and compounding that problem, he’s getting inadequate pass protection.  The defense is made up of talented individual parts that never seem to be in sync enough to help deliver a win. However, three of its remaining games are against division opponents. I think the odds of them winning two or more of those games are about 50/50. That may be all it takes for the defending NFC South champions to retain their crown.

Atlanta Falcons – By virtue of winning the tiebreaker from their Week 1 win over the Saints, if the season ended today, the 4-7 Falcons would be the NFC South winners. This team has lost some very close games in some very unusual manners and could easily have a winning record if a few balls had bounced differently for them. The offense under quarterback Matt Ryan can keep up in a shootout with the best NFL offenses. Their defense can’t stop a runny nose.

Notwithstanding that, the Falcons finish the season with two division games – at the Saints and hosting the Panthers. It is not inconceivable that the Falcons could still control their own playoff destiny at 4-10 heading into Week 16.

New Orleans Saints – This team is the favorite to win the division. I use the term “favorite” very loosely. However, the Saints do have some tangible advantages over the comically mediocre field. The Saints travel to Pittsburgh next Sunday to play the Steelers. That is the last regular season game the Saints have against a team that currently have a losing record. The Saints are 3-1 against losers this season.

In addition, the other teams in the division either have no exceptional facets of their game or are one dimensional. The Saints offense is spectacular and the defense, while mediocre, is good enough for the offense to have a chance to win every week. Of the Saints’ seven losses, five were by a touchdown or  less, four were on field goals either in the final seconds or as time expired, and two of those were in overtime. Yes, I’m a Saints fan. Yes, I’m biased. But I would still put my money on this team winning this pitiful division.

IRONY

Should New Orleans win the division as a losing team, Saints fans will have a chance to witness delicious irony. In 2010, the then-defending Super Bowl champion Saints finished 11-5, but were two games out of first place in the NFC South and entered the playoffs as a Wild Card. The Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record, meaning the Seahawks would host their Wild Card opponent, the Saints.
In a game in which defense was thrown out of the window, the teams engaged in a shootout. Seattle put the game out of reach with one of the most spectacular plays in NFL postseason history. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch went “Beast Mode” on a 67-yard touchdown run during which nine Saints players made contact with Lynch but none brought him down. The play included six broken tackles and a stiff armed Saints defender as the Seahawks eliminated the defending champs, 41-36.

Fast forward to 2014. The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks will likely need to enter the playoffs as a Wild Card team, two games out of first place with only five games remaining. Should they have the better record of the two Wild Card teams, they would have to travel to play to play the NFC South winner, possibly the Saints who would likely not have a winning record, yet have not lost an NFC game at home during regulation play in four years. Revenge, in any form, can be sweet.

Retweet of the Day - November 12, 2013

If there were any question whether or not the spillover from the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin bullying scandal would show on the field, the question was answered last night. The Dolphins lost to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers last night, 22-19, on Monday Night Football. The Dolphins fell behind 15-0 in the first half. they ran for a total of two yards. They blew a late lead in the fourth quarter after rebounding from the uninspired start.

Simply from a football standpoint, not having guard Richie Incognito or tackle Jonathan Martin, two fifths of their starting offensive line, probably crippled the running game. The distractions from the racially charged bullying case, in spite of denials by Dolphins players, were obvious. Now way would the Dolphins, who had a healthy pulse before the details of this story broke, have looked so hapless against an equally hapless and dysfunctional Buccaneers team.

Today's retweet is from Not Bill Walton (‏@NotBillWalton):

"Dolphins are really getting bullied right now by the Bucs. Now they know how it feels."

Image from www.cagle.com

 

Retweet of the Day - September 17, 2013

There have been an unusual number of weather related delays in the NFL this year. The 2013 Kickoff Game between the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos was delayed by lightning, delaying the official start of the regular season. The New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers contest in Tampa was delayed by over an hour due to lightning, ending after the kickoff of Sunday Night Football.

Sunday Night Football featured the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers at the Seattle Seahawks. Naturally, there was a delay cause by lightning. What a surprise!

There are some fans who may have been happy to have football past midnight. Some may have been annoyed. But most people's livelihoods weren't affected. Today's retweet is from John Shifflett (@John_Shifflett), Sports Editor at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, Virginia:

"Thanks to weather delays in different cities, it is halftime of an NFL game and 80 laps to go in a NASCAR race at 11 pm. #DeadlineProblems"

The show must go on!

Image from www.wtsp.com

Stop! Who Dat Time!

The Daily Hat Trick covers all manner of sports but is Louisiana based. with a 2-0 start, with both wins against NFC South opponents, this is as good a time as any to serve up some home cookin' to the Who Dat Nation. So far..so good, but Saints fans shouldn't rest too easily yet.

THE GOOD

The good is plentiful and obvious. The Saints are 2-0. Teams that start the season 2-0 have, more times than not, gone to the playoffs in the last quarter-century. Both wins were over division rivals, with one coming on the road. There are only three 2-0 teams in the NFC. The Saints could not have asked for a better start to their 2013 season, especially considering their disastrous 0-4 start last season.

The defense looks good. In fact, they look like the '85 Bears after having the worst total defense in the 94 season history of the National Football League. After holding the defending NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons to 17 points, including a goal line stand in the final seconds to seal a victory, the Saints' encore was a smothering performance that limited the Buccaneers to seven offensive points and only 113 passing yards.

Saints tight end Jimmy Graham: during the offseason I would have a free lunch if I had a quarter for every time I read or heard he is, "considered by some to be, arguably, the best tight end in the league". That argument is winning, especially in light of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's injury problems, former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez's legal problems, and Father Time gaining some ground on Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers and Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys. Graham has 224 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in the first two weeks of the season.

Finally, there's Drew Brees. He has been far from perfect this season (which will be discussed shortly), but he's been pretty damn good. Brees is in position to record a third consecutive 5,000 yard passing season. He led the Saints from a 10-0 deficit to take the lead against the Falcons in Week 1 and led the Saints down the field in the final minute, with no timeouts remaining at the beginning of the drive, to set up a game winning field goal against the Bucs. The Saints have a chance to win any game with Brees under center.

Jimmy Graham is on a tear out of the gate in 2013. 2

THE BAD   

Drew Brees needs to take better care of the football. Saints fans hate hearing me say this and I probably sound like a broken record (for those of you old enough to have used a record player): among elite quarterbacks (i.e. Brees, Rodgers, the Manning brothers, and Brady), Brees is often the worst at taking care of the ball. To an extent, he is victimized by his own ability.

Brees is the most accurate passer I have ever seen. That isn't hyperbole. I think he is the most accurate passer in NFL history. Because he is so accurate, he is willing to take bigger risks by trying to put the ball into smaller holes and he usually succeeds. However, trying to thread the needle often raises the risk of picks. Brees threw two touchdown passes on Sunday, one was to Buccaneers linebacker Mason Foster to give the Bucs a lead in the second half. At the moment, Brees' touchdown to interception ratio is 3 to 3 and that has to improve if he plans to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.

There's a chance of seeing a touchdown every time Brees throws the ball.

THE UGLY

The Saints have failed to crack 80 team rushing yards for the second consecutive week. As passing heavy as today's NFL is, that is still not good enough for a serious championship contender. Other than Pierre Thomas, no Saints running back is averaging 4.0 yards per carry or more. That isn't good enough and it needs to be turned around.

While the next NFL game I coach will be my first, I don't see how running backs can rush the ball effectively if they cannot build a rhythm over the course of a game. The Saints' Running Back by Committee scheme has resulted in back-to-back weeks in which no player has eclipsed 10 rushing attempts in a game. Sean Payton has won a Super Bowl and I never will, but the fact of the matter is that the running game is inept and no one player has gotten enough carries to get on a roll.

Saints running game: ugly. the weather yesterday: ugly. This dedicated entertainer: not ugly! The game must go on, rain or no rain. 4

WHO DAT

All of that said, 2-0 is 2-0. A win is a win and wins in the division carry the most weight come playoff time. I have not observed anything that the Saints cannot correct and get turned around. The Who Dat Nation has a lot of cause for guarded optimism about where this season is going.

A win is a win! 3

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls! 

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info. 

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/. 

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NFL Logo Mojo

On Monday, the Carolina Panthers announced their first, ever logo change. The old logo, in place since the franchise was established in 1993 (first season: 1995), does not look very different from the new one. The new logo is slightly sleeker with some touch ups, but, for the most part, incorporates the same basic design principles as the original logo.

Pick out three differences in three seconds. Go for it! 1

Not all logo changes are so subtle and not all of them are improvements. All logos are in chronological order.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers



The old Bucco Bruce reminds me of Antonio Banderas...and Puss in Boots. 2


Washington Redskins

From moderately offensive to almost tolerable to borderline minstrel. WOW! 3

New York Jets

Plane, ball, plane, ball...the Jets are not just indecisive on the field. 4

Buffalo Bills

The buffalo is sleeker. It is still beef, too. And it's what's for dinner! Not very different from the football team, itself.... 5

New England Patriots

The Patriots did not start winning Super Bowls until the minuteman was no longer bent over. Coincidence? 6

Cincinnati Bengals




Just because it is a “change” does not mean it is “progress”. 7


Jacksonville Jaguars

The original Jags logo (left) had to be changed to the current Jag (right) because the Jaguar automaker claimed it resembled the car logo too closely. Would anyone REALLY confuse this athletic logo with that of an American-acquired British automaker? 8 

Some changes are for the better. A few are for the worse. I think we can all agree that the logo is little more than decoration unless your team looks like this:

The old Memphis Tams unis...GROSS! 9

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.


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Must See Sports – Third Weekend of October 2011

October has it all in sports. Unfortunately, we will not have the NBA preseason, leading up to the start of the regular season because the preseason and the first two weeks of the NBA regular season have been cancelled. Enough dwelling on the negative, here are this weeks must see sports events.

NBA Commissioner David Stern is clearly losing sleep over the lockout. 1

Thursday, October 13

MLB

(Note: all MLB stats are as of the morning of Wednesday, October 12, 2011)

American League Championship Series – Game 5
Texas Rangers at Detroit Tigers
C.J. Wilson (16-7, 2.94 ERA) – Rangers vs Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.40 ERA) – Tigers

Wilson has had one good start and been torched once in the postseason, with an ERA of 7.45 in October. Fortunately, the good start was the most recent one, ending in a Rangers victory in Game 1 of this series.

Justin Verlander was so dominant in the regular season that he was considered a threat to throw a no hitter every time he took the mound. In October, however, he has had a sub-par 5.54 ERA through 3 starts.

The momentum in this series appears to have shifted, with the venue, to Detroit. Verlander will be at home with his team’s back against the wall in a pivotal, if not decisive, Game 5. I think the Tigers have the edge.

Advantages – Game: Tigers, Series: Tigers

It's now or never for Verlander to pull a rabbit out of his hat. 2

National League Championship Series – Game 4
Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals
Randy Wolfe (13-10, 3.69 ERA) – Brewers vs Kyle Lohse (14-8, 3.39 ERA) – Cardinals

Both pitchers were absolutely pummeled in their last starts and need to have short memories. These are two similar pitchers in similar situations. I expect the bats to be the difference in this game.

The hitting advantage is with the Brewers. While the Cards have gotten some pop, at times, from different parts of their batting order during the postseason, their only true staple of consistent productivity in the lineup has been Albert Pujols. Phat Albert is batting .414 with a homerun and 6 RBIs in October. His teammate Lance Berkman could provide Pujols and the entire batting order a boost if he can break out of his mini slump, hitting only .231 in the postseason (.301, 31 HR, 94 RBI in the regular season).

Milwaukee, on the other hand has had their big guns firing away. Ryan Braun, as of Wednesday morning, is batting .500 with 2 homeruns and 8 RBIs in the postseason. The powerful Prince Fielder has 3 postseason homeruns, including homers in Games 1 and 2 against the Cardinals.

Advantages – Game: Brewers, Series: Brewers

Cards fans can only hope those fingers aren't the number of games left for Albert in St. Louis. 3

Friday, October 14

National League Championship Series – Game 5
Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals
Zack Greinke (16-6, 3.83 ERA) – Brewers vs Jaime Garcia (13-7, 3.56 ERA) – Cardinals

A former Cy Young winner, Greinke has looked like anything but in October, with an ERA north of 8.00 in two October starts. Jaime Garcia was lit up like a Jack-O-Lantern on Halloween, giving up 2 homers and 6 earned runs in Game 1, last Sunday.

Loose pitching favors the better hitting team and Milwaukee hits as well as any team in the National League.

Advantages – Game: Brewers, Series: Brewers


Saturday, October 15

American League Championship Series – Game 6 (if necessary)
Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers
Max Scherzer (15-9, 4.43 ERA) – Tigers vs Derek Holland (16-5, 3.95 ERA) – Rangers

If necessary, I like Derek Holland at home in the pitching matchup and therefore this game.

Advantages – Game: Rangers, Series: Tigers


NCAA Football

#11 Michigan Wolverines at #23 Michigan State Spartans

If you haven’t seen Denard “Shoelace” Robinson (1130 passing yards, 10 TD, 9 INT, 57% comp.; 720 rushing yards 8 TD, 7.1 avg.), you should tune in to this one. Robinson has been a one man show for the Wolverines, unbeaten through their first six games. Robinson’s contribution in combination with a defense giving up less than 13 points per game has the Wolverines peering in to the top 10 rankings.

The Michigan State Spartans will provide the Wolverines with their first ranked competition of the season. MSU is coming off of a narrow win over Ohio State, but did, in fact, lose to an unranked and inconsistent Notre Dame team last month. Even though the Spartans are at home, the Wolverines have a powerful weapon in Robinson and have been somewhat more consistent than their cross-state rivals.

Advantage: Michigan

The Shoelace craze is catching on! 4

Sunday, October 16

National League Championship Series – Game 6 (if necessary)
St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers
Edwin Jackson (12-9, 3.79 ERA) – Cardinals vs Shaun Marcum (13-7, 3.54 ERA) – Brewers

If this series reaches a sixth game, I like the chances of Marcum and the Brew Crew in the close out game.

Advantages – Game: Brewers, Series: Brewers


American League Championship Series – Game 7 (if necessary)
Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers
Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83 ERA) – Tigers vs Colby Lewis (14-10, 4.40 ERA) – Rangers

In spite of the home field advantage, and in spite of Lewis recording 6 strikeouts in each of his first two October starts, I like what I have seen from Fister in high pressure situations in the post season. His nerves of steel were on full display in Fister’s in his 7.1 inning, 2 earned run performance in a must win situation, Tuesday night, in Game 3, with the Tigers down 0-2. I am also a bigger believer in the Tigers’ bats than those of the Rangers.


NFL

San Francisco 49ers (4-1) at Detroit Lions (5-0)

This is not a game I had circled on my football watching calendar in preseason. Nonetheless, this is a key, mid season, NFC matchup. The Lions are off to their best start in over a half-century. Solid defense, particularly with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh’s (16 tak., 2 sacks) outright intimidation and dominance at the line of scrimmage, a healthy tandem of Matt Stafford (1436 yds., 13 TD, 4 INT) and Calvin “Megatron” Johnson (29 rec., 451 yds., 9 TD), and a no-quit attitude have the Lions as the buzz of the Motor City.

The 49ers, frankly, have me scratching my head. The only thing I can say is that their Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh, is earning every nickel of his lucrative (some have implied, “inflated”) contract. Quarterback Alex Smith (965 yds., 7 TD, 1 INT, 66% comp.) has still yet to demonstrate a grand awakening for an extended period, but he is not losing games and he’s been very efficient in 2011. The Niners are doing it the old fashioned way: running people over, particularly with running back Frank Gore (400 yds., 3 TD, 4.3 avg.) and taking the run away, 4th in the league, allowing a paltry 76 yards per game.

Because Smith has yet to step up and rise as a leader (as opposed to not losing the games for his team), I am still not buying the 49ers stock. On the other hand, I bought Detroit’s stock in the preseason and now, I am ready to corner the market!

Advantage: Lions

The Lions' last NFL Championship was in 1957, over the Cleveland Browns, 57-14. 5

New Orleans Saints (4-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)

The Saints are never out of a game when quarterback Drew Brees (1,769 yds., 12 TD, 5 INT) is in the game. Brees had engineered 4th quarter comebacks against the Houston Texans in week 3 and last week against the quickly improving Carolina Panthers. Brees also brought the Saints within 1 yard of tying the Green Bay Packers in Opening Night Kickoff Game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have positioned themselves to be in the playoff race this season. There is nothing flashy about this team, but they are young, disciplined, and well coached. Josh Freeman (1,156 yds., 3 TD, 6 INT) is a quickly improving, emerging future star who possesses a running threat (2 rushing TDs) if needed. However, running back LeGarrette Blount (328 yds., 3 TD, 4.3 avg.) is questionable for the game with a knee injury.

This is a critical game, as the winner will hold sole possession of first place (after tiebreakers) in the NFC South. I expect the Buccaneers to play tough at home and the Saints will have to bring their “A game” to win. I also think that as long as the Saints take care of the football that they simply have too much firepower for the Bucs.

Advantage: Saints

Maybe the Bucs should break out the retro uniforms, with Bucco Bruce on the white helmet. 6

Monday, October 17

National League Championship Series – Game 7 (if necessary)
St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers
Chris Carpenter (11-9, 3.45 ERA) – Cardinals vs Yovani Gallardo (17-10, 3.52 ERA) – Brewers

Should the series require a deciding seventh game, the matchup of ace pitchers has all of the makings of an all time playoff classic in the history of Major League Baseball. Both pitchers have had ice in their veins. The Brewers’ Gallardo has a 1.29 ERA in two post season starts. The Cardinals’ Carpenter may have single-handedly saved his team’s season.

Chris Carpenter spun a gem, which will go down in Cardinals lore should the Cards continue to advance, a complete game shutout on the road in a deciding, 1-0, Game 5 win in the National League Divisional series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Many, myself included, had the Phillies penciled in the World Series and, without that masterpiece by Carpenter, I think the Phillies would have been there.

From my vantage point, a Game 7, with this pitching matchup, would merit 50/50 odds at a neutral site. The Brewers, however, are at home and I think they will have the slightest advantage in this game.

Advantage: Brewers

The 1-2 punch of Braun (left) and Fielder (right) has to come through for the Brewers to advance to the World Series. 7

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

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Clashes of the Titans!

Week 12 of the 2010 National Football League season is already underway, thanks to the time honored and glorious tradition of Thanksgiving Day football. With each completed game, the contenders and pretenders in the NFL playoff race become clearer. With six weekends of games remaining, The Daily Hat Trick looks into the week 12 matchups that will most decide the landscape of the playoffs of the 2010 season.

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons - The teams with the two best records in the NFC, heading into week 12, cross swords in a matchup that could potentially impact home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Falcons are at home and on fire. The Packers are hindered with some injuries to key players, and have had some touch and go moments with their offensive line. The Falcons are on fire and Matty "Ice" Ryan can do no wrong, as of late.

Matt Ryan 1

Advantage: Falcons

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears - Two first place teams touch gloves in the not-so-friendly confines of historic Soldier Field. The Daily Hat Trick has a running fan poll asking who is most likely to win the NFC North and, as of this morning, 100% of the votes are against the Bears.

Their offense, led by their franchise quarterback, Jay Cutler, is woefully underachieving. Cutler does not look as sharp as he did in Denver and may be owed a profound "thank you," from Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall when bonuses and incentives are awarded, but with the Bears offensive line having allowed their quarterback to visit the Eat Grass Club more times than any other team in the league, yielding 37 sacks, I am willing to spread the blame around to people other than Cutler.

Mad scientist offensive coordinator Mike Martz has had tremendous success with his schemes in the past. These schemes depend of sharp play on the offensive line, allowing the QB to make effective split-second decisions. Most of us, in life, adjust when our plans are not producing the desired result. Not Mike Martz...! He's a MAN'S MAN! Stay the course, baby! With an offense ranked in the 30s, Jay Cutler has become the most consistent witness of America's Greatest Show...from the turf.

Mike Vick 2

The Philadelphia Eagles have all of their pieces falling into the right places and a castaway turned Superman at quarterback in Mike Vick. The Bears' pass rush is ferocious, but so is Vick's ability to escape. When Vick is not escaping, he can carve up secondaries. The Eagles appear to have developed and plan and the Bears appear to be going through the motions of a lighter schedule than most teams in playoff contention (and a little luck).

Advantage: Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Baltimore Ravens - The Buccaneers were in second place in the highly competitive NFC South and have to travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens, tied for first place with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. On paper many aspects of this matchup may appear even. Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman has been ascending to the ranks of the better NFL quarterbacks with each passing week. Ravens signal caller Joe Flacco appears to be on the cusp of ascending to the ranks of the NFL's elite passers within the next few years.

Ray Lewis 3

The reputation of invincibility of the Baltimore defense may be more grand than the actual performance of the defense, particularly in the secondary, but not much more grand. The Ravens are still among the top 10 defenses in the league and Ravens future Hall of Fame middle linebacker Ray Lewis frightens me in high definition, let alone in person. The Buccaneers are a young, warm weather team, venturing into what will likely be cold and unpleasant conditions against a home team full of seasoned veterans who are experience in winning with their eyes on the Lombardi Trophy.

Advantage: Ravens

San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts -  Philip Rivers vs Peyton Manning? NBC Sunday Night Football. Two teams with much to gain by winning and more to lose by losing? This may be the most entertaining matchup of week 12.

One fact that cannot be ignored is that the Colts always have a chance to win with Peyton Manning at quarterback. This was illustrated glowingly in the near comeback from a 17 point deficit in Foxboro against the New England Patriots. However, "close" only counts in Horse Shoes and hand grenades. Peyton Manning is practically playing with the practice squad. Dallas Clark (out for the season), Austin Collie, and Joe Addai are out. Reggie Wayne is playing with a tender knee. On defense, of course, Bob Sanders is out for the season. Peyton Manning is among the best of all time, but there are 11 men on the field at one time and you cannot throw the ball and catch it yourself.

Philip Rivers 4

San Diego, on the other hand, appears to be executing their annual ritual of dominating the second half of their schedule. Philip Rivers appears to be bulletproof lately and while the injury bug bit wide receiver Patrick Crayton, injuring his wrist during a scoring play and needing surgery, upper echelon receiver Vincent Jackson is expected to make his debut with the Charges for the first time in 2010, after a long contract holdout and suspension.

Advantage: Chargers


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NFC South Notes - Week 6 - High Stakes in New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Matchup

1

While not facing probable exclusion from postseason play, like the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints and 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at a potential crossroad in the first half of the season. The Saints are in danger of not having a winning record for the first time since the 2008 season. While the Saints appear to have much more talent, on paper, than the upstart Buccaneers and are favored headed into Sunday's game in Tampa, the Buccaneers and Saints have been playing opposite brands of football in 2010.

The Buccaneers have exceeded expectations, winning three of their first four games and off to their best start under head coach Raheem Morris. The Bucs have an opportunity to possibly take sole possession of first place in the NFC South with a win on Sunday, depending on the outcome of the Atlanta Falcons road game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints have played below expectations, committing a gross excess, by their 2009 standard, of turnovers, penalties, and special teams mistakes, including inexcusable short distance field goal misses.

Being in Louisiana, I have much more exposure to in depth media coverage of the Saints than I do that of the Buccaneers. Listening to the coach's shows and talk radio hosts, the Saints do not appear to be in panic mode. Based on the level of preparation that Sean Payton's Saints teams have demonstrated, my best guess is that the team understands the position it is in and is very focused and "down to business".

The problem, for the Saints, is that they are not flying under the radar of the Buccaneers, or any other NFL team. Buccaneers second year quarterback appears to be grown as confident as his hair is growing long with each passing week. Road wins, even against bad teams, are never easy in the NFL. The proverb, "throw the records out of the window" in division games has always applied to the Saints' division rivals. During the Saints Super Bowl run in 2009, the Buccaneers came into the Superdome with a 2-12 record and beat the Saints, forcing the Saints to rely on help from another team to secure home field advantage before the final week of the regular season in the NFC Playoffs. 

The Buccaneers have already matched their win total from last season. They have, at least, a chance to compete for a playoff spot in 2010. The Saints are not going to come into Raymond James Stadium and walk over the Buccaneers. They may win big, but it will not be easy. Realistically, the Saints will probably win comfortably is they do the cliche "things they are supposed to do" on both sides of the ball along with eliminating the costly (and often preventable) mistakes. Of course, if it were easy to not make mistakes, the Saints would not have and would be unbeaten through five games. THAT'S why they PLAY the GAMES!

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