JC's Take: NFL Week 10 Review

JC's Take: NFL Week 10 Review

Hello everyone! Welcome back for my review of this weeks action from the NFL!

Team of the Week: Philadelphia Eagles

-I was all ready to give this spot to the Dallas Cowboys for their great effort in New York against the Giants. Then the Eagles just absolutely whooped the Redskins last night. 28 points in the first quarter? Over 200 yards of total offense in the first quarter? That's dominating. I know hindsight is 20/20, but I'm sure there are plenty of teams regretting passing on Michael Vick two years ago. I wanted him on the Bills because I knew the type of player he could be. Everyone deserves a second chance and Vick is playing better than ever. It was almost like a game of Madden out there. The Eagles now have a big game against the Giants next Sunday night. 

Game of the Week: Jacksonville 31  Houston 24

-Lots of back and forth in this one. But enough can't be said about the ending. Anytime a game ends on a Hail Mary pass, you know it was entertaining. Defenders are taught to knock those passes down, but sometimes I think it's better just to catch them. Or knock it backwards out of the endzone. The game would have been in overtime had any of those two things happened. Instead, the Texans slide continues, and Jacksonville inserted themselves back into the AFC playoff race. Oh, and the fact that the call was made by Gus Johnson made it that much better. Someone said that a "Gus Johnson Rule" should be made. Whatever game he is calling, the finish will be something crazy. 

Dog of the Week: Washington Redskins

-Come on. You can't get absolutley destroyed at home on Monday Night Football and not expect to be here. They just didn't show up. That might be the worst football performance I've seen in sometime. And before the game, the Redskins gave QB Donovan McNabb a 5 year, $78 million extension with $40 million guaranteed. What exactly has McNabb prooved in these first 10 weeks that makes him worthy of that money? I know Redskins owner Daniel Snyder likes to overpay for players, but this just seems like a bad deal. Add to the fact that McNabb already has problems with coach Mike Shanahan, it just seems like a receipe for disaster. I hope Redskins fans enjoy mediocrity for the next five years.

Other Week 10 Notes:

-The Thursday night game was a great second half game, but some of the luster was taken away by that horribly blown no-call at the end. How any of the refs didn't think Roddy White pushed off to get open for the game winning TD was beyond me. But it wasn't called, and now the Falcons have the best record in the NFC. If they get home field in the playoffs, they may be headed to the Super Bowl. The Falcons may be the best home team in the NFL. They play much better there than on the road. As for the Ravens, my AFC Super Bowl pick, they have some major problems in the secondary that they need to figure out ASAP.

-Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf says he is sticking with Brad Childress as his head coach. Why is beyond me. The Vikings, at 3-6, are all but done. And you know the Packers have to be licking their chops knowing they're playing a hurt Brett Favre next week. If the Packers come out next week and just put a beatdown on the Vikings, and the home Minnesota crowd starts another "Fire Childress" chant, I don't see justification for keeping him around any longer. 

-You have to keep giving credit to the Browns. They hung with the Jets the whole game and had their chances to beat them, but they couldn't finish the job this time. Colt McCoy looks like the future in Cleveland, and if that defense keeps up their stellar play and gets improvement from the secondary, they could be a playoff team next year. The Jets meanwhile continue to find ways to make games closer than they should be. Maybe they will be a playoff team, but they shouldn't be in games this close with the talent they have.

-I thought the Titans and Dolphins were going to have to bring fans in from the stands to finish their game. The Dolphins lost Chad Pennington for the year, and his career is more than likely done after another shoulder injury. Chad Henne hurt his knee, and with the Dolphins playing on Thursday this week, he's not expected to play. The Titans started with Kerry Collins and were forced to go to a less than 100% Vince Young. It was a big win for the Dolphins as it keeps them alive in the AFC Playoff Race. And Randy Moss? A non-factor in his Titans debut. Moss is defintiely on the downside of his career. He may not get signed next year until late, very much like T.O. this year.

-So Todd Haley wasn't happy about the Broncos continuing to throw on them when they were up. Instead of not shaking Broncos coach Josh McDaniels had, how about you man up and admit your team just got owned. It's a pros league, if you don't like the Broncos passing on you, tell your defense to stop them. 

-That's the Cowboys team everyone expected to see this year. Did they really just give-up on Wade Phillips? It sure looked that way. I don't think it's time to panic for the Giants, but you have to be concerned that they don't fall into another late funk like they can be prone to do. 

POWER RANKINGS!!!!

1. Atlanta Falcons (7-2, #4 last week)- They continue to win at home. If they keep doing it they won't have to leave Atlanta in January.

2. New England Patriots (7-2, #5)- You never want to play the Patriots after a bad loss. Justin Bieb, uh I mean Tom Brady, continues to own the Steelers.

3. NY Jets (7-2, #7)- A win is a win. They need to start dominating teams, and the offense still needs to play better.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (6-3, #9)- They very well could be the best team in the NFC. They've beaten the Falcons, and now get the Giants on Sunday night. Mike Vick is playing out of his mind.

5. Baltimore Ravens (6-3, #3)- They probably should have won in Atlanta. They needed to play for 60 minutes, but they only really showed up for 30. The secondary has issues.

6. Green Bay Packers (6-3, #6)- A well-rested Packers team going up against a wounded Brett Favre? I think I like the Packers chances.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3, #2)- That offensive line could be a problem down the stretch. The defense also got torched by Tom Brady. 

8. New Orleans Saints (6-3, #8)- The bye weeks gets them Reggie Bush back. That makes the entire offense better.

9. Indianapolis Colts (6-3, #10)- Peyton Manning finds ways to win. That's all he does.

10. NY Giants (6-3, #1)- You have to drop ten spots after getting whooped at home by a 1-7 team. They better hope the season doesn't go downhill because of it.

11. Oakland Raiders (5-4, #12)- They didn't do anything this week, but are now in first plce in the AFC West. Now they have to keep up their stellar play down the stretch.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3, #14)- They continue to beat the lesser teams. That's what they have to do to still be in it come late December.

13. Chicago Bears (6-3, #15)- They have a huge game in Miami on Thursday night. They won't be out of it if they lose, but their schedule is brutal down the stretch.

14. Miami Dolphins (5-4, #16)- Their QB problems could be what keeps them out of the post-season. But then again, Tyler Thigpen can play, so maybe they'll be ok.

15. Tennessee Titans (5-4, #11)- A win in Miami would have been nice, but now they fall a game back in the AFC South race. They need to get more out of Moss.

16. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4, #13)- Maybe they aren't as good as they thought. Good teams don't get man-handled like that on the road.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4, #21)- That Hail Mary keeps their season alive. They need better play from their defense though to have a chance in December.

18. Seattle Seahawks (5-4, #24)- They're now a full game up in the NFC West. Now they need to stay consistent and maintain it.

19. San Diego Chargers (4-5, #20)- Don't count them out. They have an easy schedule late, and Phillip Rivers is paying like a man on a mission right now.

20. St. Louis Rams (4-5, #17)- Another heart-breaking road loss. They're young and still learning to win, someday they'll get a break.

21. Houston Texans (4-5, #18)- That could be the worst way to lose. It also could be looked back on as the loss that cost Gary Kubiak his job.

22. Clevleland Browns (3-6, #22)- They're fighting, and that's all you can ask for. They'll be dangerous in the future.

23. Washington Redskins (4-5, #19)- I'm sure that's not how Donovan McNabb wanted to celebrate hsi new contract.

24. San Francisco 49ers (3-6, #28)- They're only 2 games back in the NFC West, and are a better team with Troy Smith at QB. Maybe they still can make the playoffs after all.

25. Denver Broncos (3-6, #29)- It may not save their season, but that win showed that the Broncos just won't lay down the rest of the year.

26. Minnesota Vikings (3-6, 23)- If Childress actually cared about his job, he would start Tavaris Jackson over Favre, he gives them a better chance to win.

27. Dallas Cowboys (2-7, #31)- Maybe they did just quit on Wade Phillips. They probably won't make the playoffs still , but they could win 3 or 4 more games.

28. Arizona Cardinals (3-6, #26)- They need a QB bad.

29. Detroit Lions (2-7, #25)- They cost themselves the game in Buffalo. If they had Stafford, they probably would have won it.

30. Cincinnati Bengals (2-7, #27)- T.O. doesn't get McNabb's contract extension. I don't get how a team with the Bengals talent is 2-7 T.O. Any answers for that?

31. Buffalo Bills (1-8, #32)- It always feels nice to finally get a win. They deserve it.

32. Carolina Panthers (1-8, #30)- This is a team with no direction. Simple as that.

Coaches on the Hot Seat POWER RANKINGS!!!!

-No changes here

1. Brad Childress, Minnesota

2. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati

3. John Fox, Carolina

4. Gary Kubiak, Houston

5. Josh McDaniels, Denver

-Playoff Picture

AFC

1. NY Jets (7-2)

2. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

3. Indianapolis Colts (6-3)

4. Oakland Raiders (5-4)

5. New England Patriots (7-2)

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

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7. Miami Dolphins (5-4)

8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)

9. Tennessee Titans (5-4)

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)

NFC

1. Atlanta Falcons (7-2)

2. NY Giants (6-3)

3. Chicago Bears (6-3)

4. Seattle Seahawks (5-4)

5. New Orleans Saints (6-3)

6. Green Bay Packers (6-3)

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7. Philadelphia Eagles (6-3)

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

Three Games I'd Like to See Next Week

Oakland Raiders vs Pittsburgh Steelers- If the Raiders win this one they're defintely for real

Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots- These two teams always put on an entertaining show

New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles- Winner has the edge in the NFC East

That's all for today. Survivor Series preview tomorrow, NFL Picks Thursday.

Until next time,

Justin C