Week 6 Showdown in Dallas

October 13th, 2007 10:13 pm
by NFL Freak

It’s a huge week in football as the undefeated New England Patriots prepare to meet the undefeated Dallas Cowboys in a showdown that’s bigger than Texas.

Pro Set offers his NFL Week 6 Best Bets.

Pro Set’s preview of the Patriots @ Dallas gives you his final verdict on why the Patriots will win.
Meanwhile Big Dog claims that if the Cowboys play smart, New England can’t win. He’s already copping some heat in the comments for that notion.

Pro Set has also detailed a preview of the Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals game.

The guys once again face off with their NFL Game Selections for the week.
There’s also the Love ‘em and Leave ‘em list for Fantasy Football fans.
Don’t forget to check out the NFL on TV page to catch what games are showing in your part of the world.

Finally here’s an update on the AFC so far.

Posted in Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL on television, Game, Carolina Panthers, NFL | No Comments »

NFL Week 6 Featured Preview: Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals

October 12th, 2007 8:01 pm
by Pro Set

Carolina (3-2) @ Arizona (3-2) 4:05pm ET on FOX

Carolina is undefeated on the road and winless at home. Arizona was a road favourite last week and won. Truth is stranger than fiction.

Arizona

The Cardinals have lost QB Matt Leinart for the season. RB Edgerrin James must continue to improve the running game. Backup QB Kurt Warner has a poor history of fumbling when pressured. This means that the running game cannot be an afterthought. Unless James can get positive yardage on first down, the Panthers will only need to defend the pass.

When the Cardinals throw, the interior offensive line will need to block DT Kris Jenkins. If Jenkins gets pressure up the middle, as he will in obvious passing situations, Warner does not have the speed to break containment and leave the pocket. DE Julius Peppers and DE Mike Rucker will cause havoc in his scenario. If ARZ can protect Warner, WR Larry Fitzgerald could have a big day. WR Anquan Boldin may not play. Expect the Cardinals to throw on first down with no hesitation if they cannot establish the run early.

Carolina

When Carolina has the ball, QB David Carr is questionable. The Panthers may start free agent signing QB Vinny Testaverde. RB DeShaun Foster ran well last Sunday at New Orleans. If C Justin Hartwig can handle DT Darnell Dockett, the panthers should attack the Cardinals straight up the middle. They also look good running right, where RT Jordan Gross has been playing well.

In the passing game, the real issue is whether WR Steve Smith can break the big plays. Last week, Carr struggled to get the ball to Smith on time. When Carr did find Smith on a quick out, Smith broke a tackle and scored. Expect some end around plays and maybe even a reverse in order to get Smith touches. CB Eric Green must be aware of short passes and focus on fundamental tackling skills. If CAR does play a quick pass game, the ARZ pass rush must not get frustrated.

Conclusion

This game looks like a close one. Carolina looks like the more solid football team, and showed great heart last week to win. Arizona needs these home conference wins. With Kurt Warner in better shape than the entire Panthers QB corps, the bottom line here is simple. If Warner stays upright, and thereby avoids turnovers, the Cardinals get the win. It’s time for Russ Grimm to earn his cash.

Prediction: Arizona

Posted in NFL on FOX, NFL Game Previews, DeShaun Foster, Arizona Cardinals, NFL Coaches, Game, Carolina Panthers, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL | No Comments »

NFL Week 5 Analysis: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

October 10th, 2007 8:05 am
by Pro Set

Carolina 16-13 New Orleans

Rarely does a game have such a seminal drive. New Orleans, spanning the third and fourth quarters, drove for over 20 plays and 10 minutes. The drive yielded nothing. A great tackle on RB Reggie Bush set up fourth down inside the CAR 10 yard line. The energy and desire that DE Julius Peppers showed to muscle through the line and block the K Olindo Mare field goal attempt was peerless. This was the single best example of heart that I have seen this 2007 NFL season.

Duly buoyed by the offense, the final CAR drive was highlighted by good running from RB DeShaun Foster. The reward for this effort was an opportunity for K Jon Kasay to win the game. From 50+ yards, the kick was good and Carolina moved to 3-2, leaving New Orleans winless.

For Carolina, this was the perfect reposte to a terrible home loss. The Panthers must find offensive consistency. WR Keary Colbert has to take some of the load of WR Steve Smith in the passing game. QB Jake Delhomme is sorely missed, with backup QB David Carr still too slow to release the ball.

For New Orleans, the performance was close, but still not complete. The defense was much improved at pressuring the passer. The Saints managed to record their first sack of the season. The mega drive that yielded 0 points broke the building belief in the Superdome. The Saints now travel to Seattle, and a loss next Sunday night ends their season.

Posted in Steve Smith, Week 5 Instant Analysis, Jake Delhomme, DeShaun Foster, David Carr, Reggie Bush, Analysis, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Game | No Comments »

NFL Week 5 Featured Preview: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

October 6th, 2007 10:32 pm
by Pro Set

Carolina (2-2) @ New Orleans (0-3) 1pm ET on FOX

This divisional game will be an opportunity for two disappointing teams to get back on track. One of them, however, will fall into a deep abyss.

New Orleans

When the Saints have the ball, RB Reggie Bush needs to be decisive against a supposedly dominant defensive front. With RB Deuce McAllister out (knee), Bush will be doing most of the running. I would like to see New Orleans run Bush from the true I formation. From what I have seen of the Saints this season, running from singleback has not been working. Bush needs to be disciplined and hit the right holes. Good lead blocking will reduce the amount of decisions he needs to make, and allow him to let his talent take over.

In the passing game, some actual catching of the ball would assist QB Drew Brees. WR Marques Colston has to be able to beat CAR CB Chris Gamble or drive back to the ball. Brees has been throwing into coverage and serving up turnovers. To reduce the giveaways (7 INT so far this season) the Saints must block DT Kris Jenkins and DE Julius Peppers. When the Panthers made the Superbowl in the 2003 season, their NFC title game win was highlighted by front four pressure and excellent cover corner play.

Carolina

When Carolina has the ball, QB David Carr is likely to be the leader. QB Jake Delhomme likely won’t start against his former employer. With potential uncertainty in the passing attack, RB DeShaun Foster will be expected to be the showpiece of the offense. Foster is a solid back, but has not progressed sufficiently since taking over from Stephen Davis. Look him to favour right side runs behind road-grader RT Jordan Gross.

Clearly, when Carolina throws, all attention will be upon game-breaker WR Steve Smith. Frustrations were evident last Sunday, in the home loss to Tampa Bay. Carr will need to take advantage of any matchup where Smith is one-on-one. I think that New Orleans has little option but to use CB Mike McKenzie to shadow Smith wherever he lines up. McKenzie, remember, was part of the famous “Stop Moss” draft campaign where the Packers selected whatever defensive backs they could to combat Randy Moss.

Conclusion

This game is hard to read. Carolina looks like the more solid football team. New Orleans, however, has a proven quarterback and an angry team that is coming off a bye week. This game has the feel of a tight contest between clubs with much to lose.

Prediction: New Orleans

Posted in David Carr, Deuce McAllister, Jordan Gross, Kris Jenkins, Steve Smith, Reggie Bush, NFL Game Previews, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Players, Drew Brees, NFL | No Comments »

NFL Fantasy Football Week 3

September 21st, 2007 9:57 am
by Big Dog

One of the most intriguing matchups of the week is San Diego at Green Bay. The Chargers have a lot to prove, if they want to live up to the incredibly high expectations that their 14-2 record established last season, they need to win their next 14 straight.

As you may know, that’s not the kind of crazy talk prediction I’m willing to participate in. That said, San Diego have to make something happen this week to have any realistic chance of salvaging their season.

At the same time Brett Favre and the Packers have won their last six games. It’s easy to forget last season, and usually I’d be telling you that form last season doesn’t provide a solid basis for this season. Even so, everyone knows that last year the Packers were working with a very young side that lacked experience at the NFL level. By the end of last season we were seeing this team start to come good.

This late season form has carried into this year with the Packers putting up strong performances in the first two weeks. Last week Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the New England Offensive Line demonstrated that San Diego are vulnerable in the air. The Chargers’ secondary leaves a lot to be desired and it won’t take much separation for the passing game to open up. I’d be expecting good numbers this week from Brett Favre and his main receiving options, Donald Driver and James Jones.

Interestingly, I also think that this matchup will be important for LaDainian Tomlinson. Last week LT was held to only 43 yards from 18 attempts. It’s possible to argue that he hasn’t really lit up the field so far this season. If San Diego is to have a chance, they need their league MVP to do his thing. Expect an extra effort from Tomlinson this week.

Denver Broncos kicker, Jason Elam, has been the deciding factor in the last two weeks for the Broncos. It could well come down to field position and kicking again as the Jacksonville Jaguars come to play in Denver.

Atlanta play host to the Carolina Panthers this week. Panthers DE Julius Peppers will be looking to build on his fearsome reputation as a Quarterback’s nightmare. The Falcons have already given up 13 sacks this season and you can bet Peppers will be looking to push that total ever higher.

Good luck with week 3.

Posted in LaDainian Tomlinson, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Donald Driver, Julius Peppers, Jason Elam, James Jones, Randy Moss, Tom Brady, NFL Franchises/Teams, Carolina Panthers, Game, NFL Players, Brett Favre, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, NFL | No Comments »

Byron Leftwich signs with Atlanta Falcons

September 20th, 2007 8:12 am
by Pro Set

Well the news is out that QB Byron Leftwich has inked a 2 yr ($7m) contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Leftwich was cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars on the eve of the season proper. The current Falcons starting QB is Joey Harrington.

The only issue here is whether this was a good move. Personally I think that Falcons coach Bobby Petrino is going to have a tough season in the Georgia Dome. Backup Atlanta QB Chris Redman has a history of back problems and was hardly a dominant starting QB when playing at the Baltimore Ravens. Leftwich has won NFL games as a starter (24-20) but did have a fairly useful defense upon which he could rely in games like this.

All things considered, I will say that I like the move. Mostly because Leftwich is not Joey Harrington (23-45 as a starter). For many casual viewers of the NFL, the name “Joey Harrington” conjures up the smell and taste of turkey, because the only time he was seen on national TV was during the annual Thanksgiving Day roastings hosted and suffered by Detroit. Remember, there is an exception to every rule.

If you think that you had your Turkey Day ruined, remember that fans within the primary and secondary markets of the Lions franchise suffered weekly, due to NFL television rules. Harrington will never be a consistent winning QB in the NFL. If the Carolina Panthers win at Atlanta this Sunday (4:15pm ET pm FOX) the speculation over Leftwich will soon end because we’ll be seeing him under center.

Posted in Byron Leftwich, Bobby Petrino, Chris Redman, Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL Thanksgiving Day Football, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Players, NFL Coaches, NFL | No Comments »

NFL Rookies

September 5th, 2007 10:39 am
by Big Dog

I just caught this season’s ESPN show “Hey Rookie. Welcome to the NFL”. To be honest, I hadn’t been sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the show.

It followed rookies from the Dolphins, the Texans, the Vikings and the Panthers as they went through training camps and into preseason games. It did a great job of highlighting not only how difficult it is to make it into an NFL team roster, but then how much more work it takes to secure and keep a starting spot.

Even better the show gave real insight into the kind of technical detail that goes into each position and role in a team. Everything from the position of a player’s heels at the snap to the timing of the run and pass. If you didn’t already love this game, then at the very least this show should give you a healthy respect for it.

Posted in Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Game, ESPN, NFL | No Comments »