We at Pigskin Bloggers are preparing for this month’s NFL Draft by having team bloggers play general manager for their team. The Miami Dolphins have the first pick, and will be represented by Sportz Assassin, who writes about the team at AOL Fanhouse.
With the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins take Chris Long, DE, Virginia.
The team needs everything, so where do you start? You start with a guy with NFL skill, an outstanding pedigree and a motor that doesn’t start. Bringing in Howie’s kid means the learning curve of how to be a professional is minimal. All he has to do is worry about making plays … which he can and will do. A perfect fit in Miami’s 3-4 system.
AFC Championship Game
Bolts Blog:”You NE fans all quiet till the end…then pop. No big rips this game. Difference…bottom line. FG’s to TD’s. Charger proud.”
Agganis Lives: “You better have bought a round for the D at the postgame party, Tom. They bailed you out big on the Chargers; remaining two possessions.”
Coztanza’s Commentary: “Throughout the season, many pundits noted New England’s lack of a running game as a potential weakness. It was really all part of Bill Belichick’s master plan. A year ago, the Pats rode Lawrence Maroney too hard during the regular season, and he wore down. He was ineffective against the Colts and the Chargers in the Playoffs. This year Belichick knew that he had the talent to rely exclusively on the pass in the early going with good weather. He made sure to keep Maroney fresh almost to an extreme for bad New England weather in January. It sure paid dividends in the AFC Playoffs as Maroney had a pair of 100 yard games.”
NFC Championship Game
Big Blue Notes: “Eli Manning has taken a lot of crap from a lot of people about his play. Criticism was certainly just, but there were people who had given up on him. In the three biggest games of his life he has played his best football. He hasn’t put up his best stats, but he has played his best football. That deserves respect, something Eli Manning has never gotten from his supporters nor his detractors. I have been critical of our quarterback like many fans have. I saw physical talent, but always worried about his toughness. I won’t worry any more. Winning three playoff games on the road, the last in conditions not suited for any sport aside from ice fishing, is plenty tough.”
Agganis Lives: “Kicking a ball 47 yards in below-zero chill has to be like kicking a brick. Tynes is no Pro Bowler, but if we’re discussing a top 10 greatest clutch kicks in NFL history, he’s earned a place in that discussion. That high snap on the last-second try in regulation left him without much of a chance, and how Coughlin could woof at him after the near miss from 43…wouldn’t blame Tynes if he’d told Coughlin to talk to the hand.”
Coztanza’s Commentary: “In the NFC we saw bad Brett Favre rear his ugly head. Any observer could sense that something bad was about to occur. Green Bay could not run the ball, and the Giants were having great success moving it against the Packers defense. These conditions were tailor made for Favre to try and do too much. We saw this recklessness in recent years with overmatched Green Bay teams. Favre decides that he has to be the hero, and his fearless gunslinger mentality shines through.”
AFC Championship Game
The Belly Check posts numerous motivational videos in preparation for the matchup.
Bolts Blog has been waiting for this game forever.
Agganis Lives likes the Patriots.
NFC Championship Game
Big Blue Notes thinks the game will be decided by a turnover or special teams error.
Agganis Lives gives Eli Manning credit for his recent work, but does not think he is ready to beat Favre at Lambeau.
Pigskin Bloggers are here to preview critical Week 16 matchups.
Broncos at Chargers:
Bolts Blog is so confident that he turns his attention to his beloved Trail Blazers.
Giants at Bills:
Big Blue Notes has no clue what to expect from his team and breaks down the Pro Bowl rosters.
Falcons at Cardinals:
Arizona Cardinals Fan takes pity on the Falcons.
Packers at Bears:
Da’ Bears Blog asks their beloved team to give them a final good memory in a lost season.
Redskins at Vikings:
Vikings War Cry offers a passionate defense of Tavaris Jackson.
Ravens at Seahawks:
Baltimore Ravens hopes that Troy Smith will finally give the Birds a long-term answer at quarterback.
Agganis Lives offer his Week 16 picks.
The Pigskin Bloggers are here to offer Week 15 analysis on a pair of games.
Chargers 51 Lions 14:
Bolts Blog: “If I was DT fan, I’d just put Millen on a greased street luge down Mt. Everest.”
Dolphins 22 Ravens 16:
Baltimore Ravens: “My preview and pick of yesterday’s game in Miami was right on target, from the comments to the score, except I just got the teams mixed up. If you traded names, then I hit the proverbial nail on the head. I predicted the score would be 23-13, while it ended up 22-16 (pretty close). I thought the Ravens were bad, but the Dolphins were the worst team in football, but I had that backwards as well.”
After a brief hiatus, Pigskin Bloggers is back to preview Week 15 action.
Lions at Chargers:
Bolts Blog: “Disappointed Detroit comes to SD this Sunday to oppose a banged up Charger squad and it’s on. This game is a strange match up, and we will beat this team I feel.”
Bears at Vikings:
Da’ Bears Blog: “There are some who’ll argue that Kyle Orton’s presence at quarterback Monday night means about as much to the future of the Chicago Bears as the three-digit bet I’ve got on the game (couldn’t let the 9 ½ slide by). There are some who’ve already decreed Orton nothing more than a space-filler for these final three games; a hapless disaster who lucked his way to a 10-5 rookie record. But Orton is undeniably more in this – the most disappointing season of the Super Bowl era. He’s hope.”
Vikings War Cry: “Whether Griese or Orton is running the show, this Chicago offense isn’t anything to be afraid of. They rank 22nd in the NFL in yards per game, 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game, and 14th in the league in passing yards per game. Our defense has faced tougher offenses, and played extremely well in the process.”
Colts at Raiders:
Goldfish and Clowns: “For reasons which have been mentioned before, this game is very much a source of mixed emotions. I don’t want to see the Raiders humiliated, but I don’t want to see the Colts lose either. How about a tie? Won’t happen, but hey. And we will get to see JaMarcus Russell for a couple of series in the second quarter, although given his supporting cast which isn’t very and the opponent which is very, don’t expect much.”
Ravens at Dolphins:
Baltimore Ravens: “It’s sort of scary to be relying on Ravens QB Kyle Boller to save the Ravens from preventing Miami from meeting their destiny of a 0-16 season! However, the Ravens, as bad as they may be, are no Miami Dolphins! I’ve seen the Dolphins play and I know the Ravens, and sirs, you are no Dolphins!”
The Pigskin Bloggers are here to preview Week 13 in the NFL.
Agganis Lives makes picks on all of the games.
Patriots at Ravens:
Baltimore Ravens: “I thought they outlawed public executions a long time ago!? While the Ravens have saved their worst efforts of this miserable season for the prime time stage, the Patriots have played as well as even they could when the entire nation is watching. The combination of these two trends is scary. However, like the convict being sent to the gas chamber, I am pretty much at peace with what should probably occur between 8:30-11:30pm Monday night.” Patriots 44-10.
Chargers at Chiefs:
Bolts Blog: “We have another Charger enemy in play…COLD. But not too bad, supposedly 40 degrees. We can win in that. Our team clicked last game on both sides of the ball. LT has had some nice runs, but just can’t seem to get that game breaker. I am hoping he is in the mix big time and keeps the Chiefs honest.”
Giants at Bears:
Da’ Bears Blog: “The Giants are a team playing with very little confidence and a history of second-half collapses. Their offensive line seems to be breaking down physically, Plaxico Burress is hobbling through post patterns and Eli Manning is being crucified by the New York media. This is not a team known for responding under pressure.” Bears 30-9.
Browns at Cardinals:
Arizona Cardinals Fan: “Let’s face it. The Cardinals are saddled with deep injuries on defense, two of them to Pro Bowlers (as Cardinals, no less), so Cleveland should be scoring early and often. Meanwhile, Q is at reduced capacity as is Warner, so any betting man would be stupid to back the Cardinals. Just look for the word STUPID stenciled on my forehead Sunday.”
Lions at Vikings:
Vikings War Cry: “Do I still think Chilly should be gone after this season? Absolutely. With that said, though, he’s done a good job of being cautious with Adrian’s return to the field.”
Jets at Dolphins:
Coztanza’s Jets Commentary: “Before every season, some fans jokingly claim that they will be happy if the Jets won only two games all year, the two against Miami. 2007 is the ultimate acid test for that theory.” Jets 16-0.
After taking some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Pigskin Bloggers are back to report on Week 12 NFL action.
Bears 37 Broncos 34:
Da’ Bears Blog: “I’m not going to say much about #23 today because there isn’t much to say except that he’s simply amazing. The best return man of all time. I saw Devin Hester light up the Broncos special teams like they have never seen.”
Chargers 32 Ravens 14:
Bolts Blog: “Hey Chargerites, Bolt Heads, POWDS! We won a game convincingly. Going away. Never in doubt. Been awhile since you heard those words, eh? Let’s get these words back in describing Charger wins. Instead of, clung to, hanging on, etc.”
Baltimore Ravens: “What ticked me off about this team yesterday was a microcasm in miniature, as it has defined the problem with this team all season. Late in the third quarter, Kyle Boller threw a 13 yard swing pass to rookie fullback Le’Ron McClain, to bring the Ravens only slightly closer at 29-14. McClain dances and prances in the end zone as if he just scored the winning touchdown. Your team is down by two touchdown and is getting blitz at will and you, a worthless seldom used blocking back, are self indulging in a gratuitous “look-at-me” dance!? This was a prime example of how this “team” (I have to use the quotes, as I really don’t mean ‘team’) of players is in reality a “group” of individuals more focused on individual performance than team success.”
Vikings 41 Giants 17:
Big Blue Notes: “To see this kind of performance when we are thinking about the playoffs is unnerving. It is reminiscent of meltdowns from recent seasons. It raises questions that should have been answered already. Doubt has reared its ugly head in the Meadowlands.”
Vikings War Cry: ““Stunned” pretty much sums up how I feel about today’s game. I NEVER could have seen this coming. 41-17…not quite as sweet as a 41-0 victory would’ve been, but I’ll gladly take it. The Vikings controlled the game from start to finish, and it’s hard not to feel good about this team after such a convincing win.”
Cowboys 34 Jets 3:
Coztanza’s Jets Commentary: “This result was hardly a shocker. The Jets were going to have a tough time beating two elite teams in five days.”
Schaub Time in H-Town discusses Vince Young and his team’s addition of Darius Walker.
Here is the belated postgame report for Week 11.
Browns 33 Ravens 30:
Baltimore Ravens: “The referees got it right on the bizarre last second field goal attempt by Cleveland in their 33-30 OT win in Baltimore yesterday. It might have taken awhile, but after huddling and talking amongst themselves, the kick was indeed good. I saw it myself live at the stadium and I was right along the end zone line when I saw it hit the goalposts twice and bounce back onto the field. I was happily on my way out the stadium when I saw the replay on the Club Level TV sets and knew it would be called good. I left anyway, knowing that the OT period just had to end badly for the Ravens. So don’t blame the refs, it certainly wasn’t their fault and if the situation was reversed, you’d want the correct call.”
Cardinals 35 Bengals 27:
Arizona Cardinals Fan: “I remember watching the game. It was heaven! Even when Cincinnati got on the board first with that beautiful pass, I didn’t panic. Hey, the Cardinals haven’t broken out to early leads as a rule.”
Jets 19 Steelers 16:
Coztanza’s Jets Commentary: “This game does not mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. The season is still lost. It is a great display of the character of this team. Against such a daunting opponent and a hostile home crowd, it would have been easy for these guys to mail in a performance. This was an indication that the Jets are at least going to be competitive down the stretch.”
Vikings 29 Raiders 22:
Goldfish and Clowns: “When the other team turns the ball over five times… well, it doesn’t matter when in-between the turnovers they’re running through you like Britney Spears through a royalty check. The Raiders were completely incapable of stopping the run. Or slowing it down. Or even occasionally inconveniencing it. Chester Taylor ought to send all parties concerned a thank-you note for allowing him to showcase his ability. It should fatten his paycheck quite nicely when he leaves Minnesota as signs on with another team as their number one back, given how the Vikings have Adrian Peterson.”
Vikings War Cry: “You’ve gotta love Chester Taylor…I’ve been feeling pretty bad for the guy, since Adrian Peterson has really caused Taylor’s stats to take a significant drop, but man, Chester made a solid case for himself today.”
The Week 11 preview is up on PigskinBloggers.com.
Giants at Lions:
Big Blue Notes: “As the Giants go to Detroit they will be measured again. This week should teach us if the Giants are a solid playoff team, a second tier team. Detroit, like the Big Blue, has been surprising this year. The winner of this game will have their season vindicated, the loser may begin the second half downward spiral. Such is life in the 21st century NFL.” Giants 27-20.
Bears at Seahawks:
Da’ Bears Blog: “I’m relieved the Chicago Bears are playing a good team on the road Sunday. I’m excited that Rex Grossman will resume the starting role amidst one of the more hostile audiences in the National Football League. I feel that way because Sunday will answer THE question: are the Chicago Bears a good football team? Because a good football team – a playoff-caliber football team – a football team that has turned off Shit Street onto Save Our Season Boulevard wins Sunday in Seattle. It doesn’t matter how.” Bears 16-13.
Cardinals at Bengals:
Arizona Cardinals Fan: “It’s time for the Cards to thoroughly demoralize a team.”
Saints at Texans:
Schaub Time in H-Town: “The new look of the Texans’ secondary will receive the trial by fire treatment, drawing New Orleans right off the bat. No team in football has taken to the air more consistently than the Saints (not even Houston), and they’ll only push the pass more, now. The one positive in that is the lingering possibility that Drew Brees’ throwing arm isn’t 100%, which has been a moderately popular rumor, albeit only during or after New Orleans losses this year.” Texans 40-32.
Raiders at Vikings:
Vikings War Cry: “If you’d have asked me a few weeks ago about Chilly’s job status, I’d have told you that The ‘Stache would be packing his bags at the end of the season- but I can’t help but think that last week’s game may have changed everything. It was such an embarrassment for this organization, that I certainly have to believe that the possibility of booting Chilly midseason is weighing heavily on Wilf’s mind.”
Goldfish and Clowns: “Unless someone’s still carrying a grudge from Super Bowl XI, this coming Sunday’s Raiders-Vikings game has all the drama of a high school production of ‘Our Town.’ Or for that matter ‘High School Musical.’
Browns at Ravens:
Baltimore Ravens: “I may live in a fantasy world, but firmly believe that with Boller at QB, the Ravens not only stand a better chance of beating the Cleveland Browns this weekend, but am actually picking them to win in an upset. Yes, the Ravens are 3-point underdogs to the Cleveland Browns at home! What is this world coming to? Have we hit rock bottom? No, that would be the sound you hear after former Ravens and current Brown QB Derek Anderson burns the Ravens secondary and leads the Browns to a convincing victory in Baltimore’s home crib.” Ravens 23-13.
Steelers at Jets:
Coztanza’s Jets Commentary: “If this game was close, it would be a major surprise.” Steelers 27-6.
The Belly Check pays homage to Jeff Fisher.
Agganis Lives gives us Week 11 picks.
