New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins Monday Night Football Week 5 Preview

October 12th, 2009 8:38 am
by Big Dog

The Jets picked up their first loss of the season last week and the Dolphins finally proved that they could win. Who will gain the upper hand in week 5? Let’s take a closer look at the teams and find out.

New York Jets

Coach Rex Ryan and his 4th ranked defense played a great game last week, but in the end it was some vital errors from rookie QB Mark Sanchez that proved decisive. What will really prove Sanchez’s status will be if he can bounce back this week with a performance that makes a statement. His coach certainly believes that it’s a possibility. The other interesting element will be the addition of Braylon Edwards to the team. The Jets have paid heftily to secure the trade, but if Sanchez and Edwards connect then this could be the final piece of the puzzle that makes the Jets into a real contender. Of course the Jets defense will need to continue dominating at the line, and will definitely need to contain the Dolphins’ wild run if they want to bounce back from last week. Expect the return of Calvin Pace to make bring a real boost to the intensity of this defense.

Miami Dolphins

Despite my initial doubts, it appears that the wildcat is working for the Dolphins. At least if you measure success in terms of yards gained. The team’s averaging 180+ yards on the ground per game, but have still only managed to win one of their first four outings. Chad Pennington is now out for the season and while the Fins’ one win came with Chad Henne behind centre, he was hardly an inspirational quarterback. And to be fair, you have to expect that it will take the guy a little time to settle into the starting position. The big question for the Dolphins is if they can turn their yardage on the ground into points on the board. That will be a tough ask against a newly reinforced Baltimore Jets defense. Right now there are big questions over the Dolphins and a shortage of clear answers.

Prediction

It’s clear that the battle for dominance on the ground will be decisive in this matchup and based on form so far this season it also seems equally clear that the Jets defense is in a more dominant position than the Dolphins offense. The Dolphins have struggled to convert where it counts, on the scoreboard. I’m predicting a strong Sanchez comeback and a Jets win 27 – 14

Posted in Analysis, Chad Pennington, Game, Miami Dolphins, Monday Night Football, NFL, NFL Coaches, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Game Previews, NFL Players, NFL on television, NFL schedule, New York Jets, Week 5 Instant Analysis | No Comments »

NFL Week 5 Analysis: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

October 10th, 2007 8:40 am
by Pro Set

Chicago 27-20 Green Bay

Green Bay fell from the ranks of the undefeated in a terrible home loss to Chicago. Giving up a halftime lead of 17-7, and a third quarter lead of 20-10, the Packers conceded 17 unanswered points and lost their chance to eliminate, effectively, the Bears from the NFC North race.

As was correctly identified by Al Michaels and John Madden on NBC, the key play was the third quarter INT thrown by QB Brett Favre. Chicago scored on the next play to move within a FG and never gave up the momentum. 

For the Packers, 5 turnovers and a dozen penalties were too much to overcome. The standout penalty in the first half kept a Bears drive alive when the Packers were deemed to have lined up over the centre on a CHI FG attempt. In the second half, however, penalties on early downs killed GB drives. Even when GB seemed to have recovered impetus with the tipped 4th quarter INT off an underthrown QB Brian Griese pass, a penalty contributed to a 3 & out. A truly amateurish final drive made a joke of the 2 minute drill and never gave the Packers a chance. 

For the Bears, they executed the classic NFL road strategy of hanging around until the home team ran out of steam. It also helped that the Packers gave up two fumbles on long drives early in the game. RB Cedric Benson had a serviceable game, despite his low YPC figure. I also thought that the Bears did well in picking up GB blitzes. Griese was always looking for the unmarked swing pass and this prevented him from locking on downfield and giving his reads away. 

One moment, in a game splattered with huge plays, was the TE Greg Olsen TD rec off the MLB Brian Urlacher INT. the TD was awarded under the “force-out” judgment of one official. In my opinion, the “force-out” provision is a terrible rule that places an impossible burden on the field judge, side judge, line judge and head linesman. 

It is simply not right that an official is required to judge whether a player would have come down in bounds with two feet unless contacted. It seems to me as if the slightest contact now justifies a force out ruling when the receiver simply did not get two feet in bounds. The rule is a clear and unwarranted artifice to increase scoring. Subjective judgments from officials should not decide games. 

If a receiver cannot catch a pass and get two feet in bounds, why does he deserve a touchdown? What is so wrong about a defender preventing a receiver from landing in bounds? How much contact is required? Does the receiver have to make a “best effort” to get his feet in? In the even world of the NFL, it’s time to let the players decide the outcomes of games. 

Roger Goodell should stop focusing on players’ private lives and continue to address his primary concern: the games themselves.   

Posted in Al Michaels, Analysis, Game, John Madden, NFL on NBC, Week 5 Instant Analysis | 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 Analysis, Carolina Panthers, David Carr, DeShaun Foster, Game, Jake Delhomme, New Orleans Saints, Reggie Bush, Steve Smith, Week 5 Instant Analysis | No Comments »