(6-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17
(4-4) Baltimore Ravens 7

So the Bengals are 4-0 in their division. Who saw that coming? Joe Flacco was less than his usual efficient self while Carson Palmer aired it out enough to win. The real difference maker was the running game. Baltimore’s Ray Rice only carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards while Cedric Benson garnered 117 yards on 34 carries. Benson definitely grinded it out, but he’s had two 100+ yard rushing days against the Ravens defense. That can’t be ignored. Also hard to miss is that Bengals defense. Yikes.

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 9"

(6-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17
(4-4) Baltimore Ravens 7

So the Bengals are 4-0 in their division. Who saw that coming? Joe Flacco was less than his usual efficient self while Carson Palmer aired it out enough to win. The real difference maker was the running game. Baltimore’s Ray Rice only carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards while Cedric Benson garnered 117 yards on 34 carries. Benson definitely grinded it out, but he’s had two 100+ yard rushing days against the Ravens defense. That can’t be ignored. Also hard to miss is that Bengals defense. Yikes.

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 9"

A slew of division match-ups are highlighted in this week’s NFL schedule. First place is up for grabs in the NFC East and one team hopes to avoid falling further behind the Colts in the AFC South. What games should you be watching? Find out in the Opening Drive of week nine!

(4-3) Baltimore Ravens at (5-2) Cincinnati Bengals

With the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers all making a case for their place atop the AFC North, this game will go a long way in deciding the final two. If Baltimore is swept by Cincinnati, they’ll drop back to .500 while the Bengals and Steelers fight it out. The Ravens dominated Denver in the second half of last week’s game, thanks to Joe Flacco’s efficiency with the football. He’ll need a repeat performance if he’s going to keep up with Carson Palmer, who is playing on a Pro Bowl level. Both offenses have depending on a balanced attack, so look for each defense to shut down the run.

Continue reading "Joes Opening Drive Week 9"

"It's just not even close," Williams said of his on-field rapport with the quarterback. "It's not even funny. Not even close."

Roy then goes on to insinuate that when Tony Romo throws the ball to the other receivers on the team the passes are on target, but when they are thrown his way they are not where they should be.  That’s just a shade away from claiming that Romo is drawing up plays in the sand with all of his other receivers and freezing him out.  Then he had this to say about Miles Austin’s recent success:

Continue reading "The Roy Williams Rant Are you serious"

So what should we expect in this game?  Well, contrary to many of the “experts” I do not expect this to be a shootout.  I think that both defenses will come to play and both offenses will kind of feel around for a bit.  The two teams will slug it out initially but there will definitely be big plays to be had.  The question is which team will make those big plays when they count?  I think this will be a hard fought, hard-hitting game where both teams end up scoring in the mid to low 20s.  I am too superstitious to actually pick a winner, but here are the keys to victory for the Cowboys.

Continue reading "Mid-Season NFC Championship Game"

Austin, 25, an undrafted free-agent from Monmouth University in New Jersey, had eight receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys improved their record to 4-2. 

The previous week, Miles established the Cowboys franchise record for receiving yards in game with 250 in a 26-20 overtime win versus the Chiefs in Kansas City and he now has caught 21 passes for 502 yards and five touchdowns to date in this 2009 season. 

Austin was a standout athlete at Garfield High School in the "Garden State" where he lettered in football, basketball and track and field. 

Continue reading "Miles Austin Daddy Warbucks Shonn Greene Danny Woodhead Golota Andy Pettitte Joe Calzaghe Klitschko"

Austin, 25, an undrafted free-agent from Monmouth University in New Jersey, had eight receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys improved their record to 4-2.

The previous week, Miles established the Cowboys franchise record for receiving yards in game with 250 in a 26-20 overtime win versus the Chiefs in Kansas City and he now has caught 21 passes for 502 yards and five touchdowns to date in this 2009 season.

Austin was a standout athlete at Garfield High School in the "Garden State" where he lettered in football, basketball and track and field.

Despite being honored as a high school senior on the gridiron with All-Bergen County and All-State honors, Austin did not garner much interest from major college football programs.

Continue reading "Cowboys Receiver Miles Austin and Daddy Warbucks"

(5-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 27
(6-1) Minnesota Vikings 17 

It’s about time I see Brett Favre being Brett Favre. That fourth quarter fumble and tipped pass/interception cost the Vikings another comeback win and an undefeated season. For shame. You should probably run Adrian Peterson more and stop 40-year old Favre from passing 51 times. Just a thought. Without Antoine Winfield, the Vikings’ secondary and run support is nowhere near as intimidating. Ben Ben and the Steelers are back in the division running after troubles the first weeks of the season. Troy Polamalu is all the difference in the Pittsburgh D.

Continue reading "Joes Final Drive Week 7"

Um… I struggled to find six games with real significant drama. Bob Sanders will return to the Colts, but it’s against the lowly Rams! The Packers face the bumbling Browns, New England faces winless Tampa Bay in London, and Buffalo takes on Carolina. *shudder* Here’s the best of week seven in my Opening Drive! 

(6-0) Minnesota Vikings at (4-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 

So in spite of their early problems while without Troy Polamalu, the Steelers have emerged 4-2, trailing a half game behind the Bengals for the division lead. They welcome in the still streaking Vikings, who are making the rounds on the Brett Favre victory tour. Polamalu practiced this week and is expected to play, which should healthily improve the Steelers’ run and pass defense. Against Favre and Adrian Peterson, they’ll need Troy at his best. With Ben Roethlisberger coming off a 400-yard passing game of his own and Vikings Pro Bowl corner Antoine Winfield doubtful with a foot injury, this has potential to turn into a shoot-out. 

Continue reading "Joes Opening Drive Week 7"

In 2007 the Cowboys were 13-3 and hosting the New York Giants in a divisional playoff game.  Although the Cowboys had already beaten the Giants twice in the regular season, everyone knew this would be a tough game (except for maybe the Cowboys).  On the first drive of the game, not only did Demarcus Ware get called for a bogus offsides penalty to give the Giants a first down, but Amani Toomer (who was way past his prime) managed to shake several Cowboys’ defenders on the next play for a 52 yard touchdown.  The rest was history as the Cowboys would lose to the eventual Super Bowl Champions 21-17.

Continue reading "History Repeating The Lost Inches"