Super Bowl Set: Steelers-Packers

Here's another Super Bowl that I will have little interest in...Steelers vs the Packers ... two teams that I really couldn't care about less...I am thoroughly totally tired of the Steelers winning Super Bowls and the Packers...eh...the champion of the B league of the NFL, the NFC.  I will be watching the game, but won't care much about the outcome at all...

I am surprised that the early line on this game is the Packers by 2 and a half.  I think I would take that action because I think the Steelers are going to win outright.

I also have to pat myself on the back picking both Championship games correctly and also that many of the media talking heads had the Jets beating the Steelers and then they come back and literally were using the rationale that I laid out as to why the Jets lost...namely that they put too much emotional stock in the Patriots game and that was the Jets Super Bowl.  As I flipped through the radio/tv dial on Monday it was one talking head after another explaining to everyone how the Jets couldn't "get up" for the game against the Steelers, that they blew their wad against the Patriots...gee, too bad they didn't have the foresight to see that prior to picking the Jets to go to the Super Bowl...

2010 NFL Conference Championship Weekend

Well I may finally get a chance to do some predicting in the NFL playoffs...and what better time than now, when there are but 3 games left...I up the odds on making me "appear" prophetic.  This is not on purpose...I have been quite busy lately and just never had the opportunity to get my thoughts posted on the blog...

Let's start with the NFC Championship game, Bears-Packers.  A game between NFC North foes.  Prior to the playoffs starting I had stated that you could literally pick an NFC team out of a hat and make a case for them going to the Super Bowl and I think that is the same here...this game is literally a "pick'em" in my eyes.  The Packers were the fashionable pick before the playoffs started and some media folks even have them winning it all.  But when you play a rival in the playoffs I think the game is always a toss-up.  Sure, the Packers do look like they would be the better team but, to me, it looked like the Bears and the Packers each got to play a team that was greatly unprepared for their game this past weekend.  If I had to pick a team, I am going to pick the Packers ... just because they seem to be getting "hot" at just the right time, the playoffs and I would trust Rodgers over Cutler to win the game for your team if needed.

The AFC Champinship has the Jets going to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers.  The Steelers have been able to "fly under the radar" for most of this season and the playoffs.  With Rex Ryan and last weeks' Jets-Patriots game commanding almost all the headlines, the Steelers likely played a team that was tougher than either the Patriots or the Jets, the Ravens and they beat them.  I think the Steelers are going to beat the Jets and one reason is that the Jets played their "Super Bowl" last weekend against the Patriots.  The Jets put so much emotional stock in that game I don't think the Jets can get that "high" again for a game.  Whereas the Steelers, handled the Ravens and left the field with little fanfare, the Jets rejoiced loudly in their win and celebrated as if they had just won the Super Bowl.  I think the Steelers take care of the Jets and go on to win the Super Bowl.  Yes, another Steeler Championship...pick a decade, any decade and the Steelers will have more Super Bowl wins in any decade than the Chargers do combined...sad but true...

Bronco Fans: Shut Up, Elway Is Back

I am not a fan of the Denver Broncos...yes, that is true.  In fact I hate the Denver Broncos and frequently state how the Denver Broncos are "The Most Hated Team In The NFL" and that my two favorite teams are the San Diego Chargers and whoever is playing Denver.  I give Denver no credit for anything because... I hate them.

But I have never seen a team's fanbase so in love with a football player, namely John Elway, that anyone that sets foot on their football field donning Bronco colors will instantly be compared to John Elway.  In fact that is still used today by many of the major media morons who year after year state "...and the Broncos are still searching for who will be their next Elway."  The team's fan base has never gotten over it's love affair with John Elway.  There are Bronco fans who think that Elway could probably dress up and lead this team to a Super Bowl right now and all the Broncos have to do is offer him the check.

Well, Bronco fans will at least be pacified to the point that Elway has re-joined the Bronco organization as vice president of football operations.  I think this is a great move for the Broncos.

As a person who hates the Broncos and I thoroughly enjoy the Broncos being in last place in the AFC West, this move is great.  It is a sign of desperation and also appeasement.  Every Bronco home game was John Elway day anyways as they couldn't shower him with much more praise or honors, so now they give him the keys to the entire Bronco organization which, again, I think is great.  Why?  Because he will probably suck and the Broncos will continue to suck, that's why.

Let's run down the list of all the NFL team's that John Elway has coached, managed or in any way shape or form assisted an NFL team since his retirement: (sound of crickets chirping).  That's right, the great John Elway hasn't done jack-squat in the NFL since retiring...and please, don't tell me owning an arena team and getting a championship in a league that doesn't even exist anymore and the only reason it did was because Elway and Jon Bon Jovi were owners displays some positive attributes for job consideration.

The truth is, is that this is mostly a pr move.  Elway was cleverly given the title of "... vice president of..." so that his input will be considered, but not final.  Bronco fans love Elway and they will love this move...regardless of how the Broncos fare, Elway won't have to account for anything, heck he is only the vice president, the president of football operations is who has to answer the questions...Elway will just be a permanent glad-hander at all Bronco functions now...just as the Bronco fans would want it. 

2010 NFL Season Concludes, Review

The keyboard is barely cooled off from my blistering critique of the 2010 San Diego Chargers and I'm ready to start patting myself on the back...

I had two blog entries that I posted prior to the season that seemed to be prophetic, yet, against the grain from what the "mainstream" opinion was.

My quick Charger related post before the season started when I was braced for this year's demise, stating "I refuse to get my hopes up and make bold predictions...so my prediction for the 2010 Charger Team will be the same for every Charger team until further notice: I predict they will disappoint me...again. Now whether or not they disappoint me in the playoffs or not has yet to be seen...".  I guess if anything, the Chargers really didn't disappoint me...they are just becoming to predictable...predictably bad.

My other post, commenting on "mainstream" opinions of the NFL, I had stated how I thought the Cowboys were over rated when many had them as Super Bowl Contenders.  That looks to be spot on.  I also took a swipe at the Jets who seemed to have plenty on their bandwagon...they are in the playoffs so we'll have to see how that works out, but they certainly don't look as good as they did last year nor as good as many of the other teams in the AFC.  Tomlinson in New York started out with a bang and seemed to taper off as the season went on.  LT of course could shine in the playoffs...something he was unable to do as a Charger, which would prove doubters wrong.

And of course the season couldn't end without Brett Favre retiring...again.  I don't think anyone is foolish enough to think that this time he really means it because he has really meant it the last 4 times he has retired and came back to play.  This year more resembled how I thought the Vikes and Brett Favre would perform...poorly.  Last season the Vikes had an easy schedule and got some breaks.  This year they had a tougher schedule and didn't get any breaks and the results reflect that.  But just to further illustrate what a loser Brett Favre is, after yesterday's Vikings-Lions season ending game, Favre was literally sprinting off the field into the locker room...well ahead of anyone else on the team.  Shortly after the game concluded Favre came out and told everyone he was retired and I am sure he then hopped on his own private plane and flew back home...probably not even saying goodbye to his former team and in his own recliner before the rest of the Vikings even got out of Detroit.  Good or not, I have never liked Brett Favre.

Chargers 2010 Season Concludes, A Look Back

The San Diego Chargers played their last game of the 2010 season and beat the Denver Broncos in a meaningless game.  Even in the final game the Chargers displayed the characteristics that prevented them from making the playoffs and as to why the Chargers are not a good team.

Here's my analysis of the 2010 season for the Chargers...

I might as well start out with what will likely be the only bright spot of the season, that is Phillip Rivers.  I've said it more than once and will say it one more time...Phillip Rivers is a winner.  A team couldn't ask for a better quarterback in the NFL today.  He had a career season but like most quarterbacks that throw for record or near record numbers (Rivers set the Chargers single season passing record, passing Dan Fouts) it is likely because your team is behind and needing to pass.  The Chargers rarely fielded the same group of wide receivers in any 2 games of the season and Rivers was still able to pass fairly efficiently.

And to wrap up the "positives" of the 2010 Charger season, that would be Antonio Gates.  Gates was among the league leaders in many receiving categories until being injured and sidelined for most of the 2nd half of the season.  Gates, when healthy, is the premiere tight end in the NFL.  Unfortunately, Gates has had a toe injury that he seems to re-injure on an almost yearly basis that hinders his production.  It will be really unfortunate if Gates is never able to fully recover from the toe injury he suffered a couple of years ago that seems reoccur... I know Marshall Faulk and Shaun Alexander (as well as others that slip my mind at the time) that had suffered a "turf-toe" injury like Gates, all had their careers fade into oblivion after trying to make unsuccessful return attempt to play.  Gates is a warrior and has played through the pain but one would have to figure that the pain would certainly dampen his production as well as his enthusiasm to play.

And now to the "meat" of the 2010 Chargers...the negatives.  Before I begin to rip into the Chargers I want to first preface this with this, that I repeat often on my blog, that I am a fan of the Chargers and will continue to be one.  I am not a "homer" thinking that everything will be alright and things just didn't work out this last year because of the usual list of excuses which includes injuries and bad breaks.

I will begin with the blatantly obvious...the coaching.  I've pointed it out more than once, but I have never been a fan of the hiring of Norv Turner.  Norv Turner was hired after the 2006 season and the San Diego Chargers were a 14-2 regular season team.  Turner had Charger fans slowly warming to him when he took the Chargers to the AFC Championship game.  But that was Turner's best playoff performance with the Chargers.  In 2008, after beating a lowly Titan team at home, the Chargers are thoroughly outplayed by the Steelers and their playoffs ended in Pittsburgh in week 2 of the playoffs.  Last year the Chargers, going into the playoffs labeled as one of the "hottest" teams in the NFL, riding an 11 game win streak, get manhandled by the New York Jets and are one and done.  Now in 2010, the San Diego Chargers with one of the easiest schedules in the NFL fail to even make the playoffs.  Losing to bad teams all season and losing to a Bengals team that will win 4 games all season when the Charger season was in the balance is a complete embarrassment. I blame coaching and Norv Turner for the way this Charger team performs.  One week the Chargers look unbeatable against the Indianapolis Colts but then get blown out by a 4-12 Bengals team is inexcusable.

The 2010 Charger team reminded me of the Charger teams of the late 90's.  The Charger defense of the 90's was often cited as a good defense, not allowing 100 yard rushers...ever.  But if a person looks past that stat realizes that the Charger offense was completely inept and the pass defense was a complete joke.  Teams didn't even try to run because they could simply pass...the Charger defense made any opposing quarterback look like a hall of famer.  The 2010 Chargers are very much similar...the Chargers will finish #1 in overall offense and defense.  Yes, statistically speaking, the 2010 Chargers are probably the greatest team not to make the playoffs...but are they really?  No.

Special teams.  The 2010 San Diego Chargers special teams was historically the worst special teams squad ever in the NFL.  Whenever the Chargers had to kick the chance the other team would score was likely 33%.  The Chargers had multiple punts blocked and return touchdowns scored on them...in the meantime, the Chargers routinely missed field goals and fumbled kicks.  The special teams of the Chargers likely cost the Chargers 3 or 4 of their 7 losses and hindered a few of their wins.  As a Charger fan, I was perplexed as to why the Chargers didn't fire their special teams coach at the bye...instead, let him continue to do a poor coaching job for the entire season.

Defense.  Number one defense in the league, tied for 2nd in the league in sacks...but could the defense stop even a lowly opponent when needed?  No.

Offense.   Number one offense in the league and number 1 passing offense in the league.  It was feast or famine for the Chargers.  Against some teams the Chargers looked unstoppable, like the Colts, Jags and Cards.  But even against lowly teams the Charger offense often times struggled to get first downs.  Both the offense and defensive numbers have been skewed, for when the Chargers were beating a team, they were really beating a team...but when the Chargers were getting beaten, the other team really didn't have to do much to beat the Chargers.

A problem that I continue to harp on, year after year, is the fact that the Charger offensive and defensive lines are horrible.  Rivers was sacked a lot this past season against teams that had "figured" out the Chargers.  Even in the last game, the Broncos, who averaged a sack a game, had at least 4 yesterday.  As for the defensive lines, the Raiders ran all over the Chargers and other teams easily handled the Chargers defensive line.

Ryan Matthews, rookie runningback for the Chargers, was hyped to be "LT's replacement" and some Charger fans are still pretty high on him.  Me, not so much so.  Matthews essentially played one game...yesterday's game.  He fumbled a lot and was injured more.  Sure, if he improves and becomes a viable NFL player, I may grow to like him...but right now, he has done nothing to impress me.  The same goes with Malcolm Floyd, he was suppose to (I was told by Charger fans) step up and be the go to guy while Vincent Jackson was holding out...well, Floyd, Nannee, Goodman and whoever else had a chance to prove their mettle with the team seemed to get hurt faster than they could be replaced.  Even Vincent Jackson, who claimed that he was training and staying in game shape while he held out for most of the 2010 season, when he did report with the team was hurt within the first few plays of his first game and left the final game injured as well.  Clearly, he had no intention of playing hard for this team.

The Chargers are what their record shows them to be...a barely above .500 team in a bad division.  With Turner remaining as the head coach it is doubtful that the Chargers could acquire any player that will make this team a contender.  Again, looking at just the sheer numbers of the Chargers, all the Chargers should have to do is shore up their special teams...but the numbers are deceiving and the Chargers prove that being the #1 team in stats is a far cry from being the #1 team in the NFL.