2009 NFL Season – Week 9 Preview by Lloyd Vance

All eyes will be on Lincoln Financial Field in Philly in Week 9 as QB Tony Romo lead the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles on NBC Sunday Night Football

The second half of the 2009 NFL Season is here and now the “real” fun begins as teams confirm their status as a “Contender” or “Pretender”.  Many people around the NFL, including yours truly, are excited about the second half of the season kicking off as almost all bye weeks are over (Week 9 — Buffalo, Cleveland, Oakland, St. Louis, Minnesota, NY Jets and Week 10 — NY Giants, Houston).  And the games each week have a heightened level of significance in terms of teams jockeying for division titles and the league’s coveted 12 playoff berths.  Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said of starting the second half of the 2009 season, “It’s a new season, we have a nine-game schedule and we open with Baltimore.”

The NFL as usual is parity-laden this time of the year as there are 15 teams above .500 and 12 teams below the .500 mark.  But there is still a lot of sorting out left to do with the group of 12 teams currently residing in the league’s “Any Given Sunday” middle with records ranging from 5-3 to 3-4 (Texans (5-3), Giants (5-3), Jets (4-4), Ravens (4-3), Chargers (4-3), Falcons (4-3), Bears (4-3), Cardinals (4-3), Niners (3-4), Dolphins (3-4),  Panthers (3-4), and Jaguars (3-4).  In the coming weeks, the Stuck in the Middle” teams will either join the playoff hunt or fall back which always is the fun part of the third quarter of the NFL season.  But nothing in the NFL is predictable and there is a lot most football to be played.  Since 1990, when the current 12-team playoff format was adopted, 47 teams (20.6 percent of the 228 playoff clubs) have advanced to the postseason after starting the season with a .500 or worse record after eight games. 

Even the NFL’s two undefeated teams, the New Orleans Saints (7-0) and Indianapolis Colts (7-0), know that nothing is guaranteed in today’s NFL and that they better put away any thoughts of catching the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins and concentrate on their opponents for this week – both have tough divisional battles Saints-Panthers and Colts-Texans.  The Colts are 7-0 for the fourth time in the past five seasons, but they begin a stretch that will see them play teams that are a combined 19-11 (.633) over the next four games.  Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said of his team’s record and where they currently stand, “We know that 7-0 guarantees us nothing, we’ve gotten farther than this in the past and came out with nothing.  We just want to stay dialed in and continue to win games.”

The factor that everyone hopes will lead to being in the playoff hunt come late December is “adjustments”.  The NFL is a copycat league where teams can catch-up quickly and adjustments are the only way to stay ahead of the pack and combat falling behind.  With only eight more weeks of action after this week, it is time for the “good” coaches to make the adjustments necessary to get their teams back on track or keeping them at the top.  Remember early season results are important (don’t want to get too far behind), but good coaches realize that they want their team peaking in the championship months of November and December. 

The halfway point of the season also seems like a good time to start talking about the NFL’s 8 divisional races.  Entering Week 9, seven teams that did not win their division in 2008 either were at the top or tied for first place in their division.  If this pattern holds true, the 2009 season will break the NFL record for new division winners since realignment in 2002 (Six new division winners in 2003 and 2008).

Here’s the current division breakdown:

NFC East — 2008 Champion was the NY Giants and this season the Eagles and Cowboys have a ½ game lead over the Giants.

NFC West– 2008 Champion was the Arizona Cardinals and this season the Cardinals have a 1-game lead over the Giants.

NFC South– 2008 Champion was the Carolina Panthers and this season the New Orleans Saints have a 3-game lead over the Falcons.

NFC North– 2008 Champion was the Minnesota Vikings and this season the Vikings have a 2 ½ game lead over the Packers and Bears

AFC East– 2008 Champion was the Miami Dolphins and this season the New England Patriots have a 1 ½ game lead over the New Jets.

AFC West– 2008 Champion was the San Diego Chargers and this season the Denver Broncos have a 2-game lead over the Chargers.

AFC South– 2008 Champion was the Tennessee Titans and this season the Indianapolis Colts have a 1 ½ game lead over the Houston Texans.

AFC North– 2008 Champion was the Pittsburgh Steelers and this season the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers have a 1-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens.

Some of the more compelling storylines that we will be following in the NFL’s second half include:

• Can either the New Orleans Saints or Indianapolis Colts go undefeated for the entire 2009 season
• Can the Vikings and veteran quarterback Brett Favre  continue their magic carpet ride into the playoffs
• Are the Patriots and Steelers truly back after producing winning streaks going into their recent bye weeks?
• Could it be possible that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not win a game in 2009 and match the 2008 Detroit Lions (0-16)
• Which coach currently on the hot seat (Browns Eric Mangini, Redskins Jim Zorn, Raiders Tom Cable, Bills Dick Jauron, Panthers John Fox and others) will be the first one issued their pink slip

After so many weeks containing five or more blowouts, let’s hope that Week 9’s many great match-ups live up to their hype.

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals – The Ravens (4-3) will visit the Bengals (4-3) in a matchup between two fighting to be near the top of the AFC North.  The Ravens are looking for revenge from a Week 5 home loss to the Bengals so don’t expect many pleasantries.  To make matters worse, Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco sent the Ravens secondary and linebackers some gift baskets of deodorant sticks in anticipation of this week’s game (i.e. No. 85 is saying the Ravens’ D stinks).  Ochocinco better be careful as the Ravens showed last week against the Broncos (30-7 victory) that they mean business after a much-needed bye. 

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – In what looks like a primo AFC South battle, the Texans –- have won three games in a row — will look to get to a 6-3 record for the first time their franchise’s history and get some respect around the NFL.  Quite frankly, this game could make or break the Texans’ season as they try to make the jump from a perennial 8-8 squad to being a playoff contender.  However the task of beating the Colts is daunting one as Indianapolis has now won 16 consecutive regular season games and can tie the 1933-34 Chicago Bears for the third-longest streak in NFL history with a win this Sunday.  Of this Sunday’s matchup Colts QB Peyton Manning said, “We’re heading into the teeth of our schedule”.  Manning will also be shooting for two decade milestones and NFL firsts in the game — 19 passing yards from 40,000 passing yards and 4 TDs from 300 touchdown passes.  Also watch for Colts DE Dwight Freeney who has recorded a sack in 7 consecutive games this season — needs one sack on to tie teammate Robert Mathis’ start of season record (8) from 2005.

San Diego Chargers at New York Giants – Remember the 2004 NFL Draft…well I know the Chargers and Giants do.  In April of 2004, the Giants and Chargers swapped quarterbacks Eli Manning (foot) and Philip Rivers in a trade that will forever link the two young passers.  Rivers and the Chargers are looking to continue their recent found winning ways.  While Manning’s team is trying to end an ugly 3-game losing streak that has saw them slip from 5-0 start to second place in the NFL East.  I am sure the Chargers will attack a beleaguered Giants’ secondary that allowed four plays over 40 yards or more last week against the Eagles. The will need to get pressure from their D-line (when DE Justin Tuck records a sack, the Giants are 15-3) and hope for the healthy return of DL Chris Canty, CB Aaron Ross and LB Michael Boley or could be a long day.  The G-Men will need to keep an eye on Chargers TE Antonio Gates who has an NFL leading 53 TDs since 2002.  The Giants have won five straight vs. the AFC — including Super Bowl XLII – but this is a tough assignment.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos – In the AFC’s marquee match-up of the week, the defending champion Steelers, coming off a bye, will look to extend their winning streak to five consecutive games against the upstart Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.  The entire country will be watching as these two division leaders clash at INVESCO Field.  One thing is for certain, expect some serious defense in this game as the Broncos are rated No.1 in the NFL in terms of yardage allowed (266.7) and have allowed an average of just 13.7 points per game.  The Steelers are not far behind with an average of 291 yards allowed and only 23.8 points per game.  Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said of his unit, “I think we have the potential to be a very, very good defense.”  The Broncos will try to protect quarterback Kyle Orton by running their backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter.  While the Steelers may allow QB Ben Roethlisberger to go no-huddle which gave the Broncos fits in their first loss of the season last week in Baltimore.  Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels said of the match-up after losing first time last week, “You can find out just as much about your team through the adversity of a loss as you can through six wins, now we’ve got to get ready to play against a really good team in Pittsburgh.”

Lloyd’s Leftovers for Week 9

Riggo has a mouthful for the Redskins front office — John Riggins, a hall of fame and former Super Bowl MVP for Washington Redskins, took his battle with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to the big stage.  Appearing on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL”, the talkative former NFL workhorse back let Snyder have it with both guns blazing.  Getting quite personal, Riggins said of the Redskins management, “I’ve been asked this question a lot, when they say do you have an ax to grind…Maybe that’s the case. But truthfully I do have an ax to grind and I just realized I have been a little bit disingenuous. But this is a bad guy that owns this team. I’ll just tell you that upfront. Bad Guy! And if the commissioner is worried about potential new owners and saying some of these guys shouldn’t apply, he might want to police his own inside guys.”  Somehow I don’t see this little tiff going away anytime soon.

Titans’ running back pulls out his crystal ball – Titans RB Chris Johnson feeling real good about his team’s first victory last week over the Jacksonville Jaguars predicted that the Titans (1-6) could run the table to end the season.  Johnson said, “We really believe like we can, like we started off 10-0 last year”.  Fresh off a franchise record 228-yard game against the Jags, Johnson added “Before we played Jacksonville, we sat down and was like we really feel like we can go 10-0 in these last 10 games”.  I will let you decide about Tennessee’s chances and here is the rest of the Titans’ schedule: at 49ers, vs. Bills, at Texans, vs. Cardinals, at Colts, vs. Rams, vs. Dolphins, vs. Chargers, at Seahawks.

The Wildcat returns to it’s NFL birthplace – I know the Patriots haven’t forgotten, but it was in Week 3 of the 2008 season that the Dolphins unleashed the much-talked about ‘Wildcat’ formation on the NFL.  Heady Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning and his quarterbacks coach David Lee surprised the Patriots and the entire NFL by running a form of single-wing in a 38-13 road upset in Foxborough.  The ‘Phins churned out 216 rushing yards and RB Ronnie Brown (17 rushes for 117 yards and 4 TD’s) was spectacular to say the least as a part-time quarterback.  The former Auburn star set a Dolphins franchise record by running for four touchdowns and even threw a perfect left-handed 19-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Fassano.  The win stopped the Patriots’ 21-game regular season consecutive win streak and the NFL has never been the same with almost every team in league looking to run a version of the “Wildcat”.  In Week 9, look for the Patriots to load the box with their safeties (Brandon Merriweather and Brandon McGowan) in an attempt to stop the Dolphins vaunted running game (153.4 yards per game) and of course the Wildcat formation.

Sustained Success — The 2008 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers have 99 wins since the start of the 2000 season.  With a victory in Denver on Monday night, the Steelers can become the third team this decade with 100 regular-season wins, joining the Indianapolis Colts (108) and New England Patriots (107).  The Philadelphia Eagles are not far behind from the 100-win mark for this decade as they have 97 wins.  The Colts and Patriots also are within striking distance of the all-time win mark for a decade held by the San Francisco 49ers of the 1990s (113).

Colts hit hard by the injury bug — If the Indianapolis Colts are going to improve upon their current 16-game winning streak and undefeated start (7-0), they will need to find some gems on their depth chart.  This season injuries have ravaged the Colts and this week was no different as CB Kelvin Hayden (knee – 4 weeks), CB Marlin Jackson (ACL – season), and safety Bob Sanders (elbow – season) were lost for significant amounts of time.  Some bigger names listed as either “Out” or “Questionable” are Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin (ankle), Falcons WR Roddy White (knee), Chargers C Nick Hardwick (ankle), Lions WR Calvin Johnson (knee), Donald Driver (stinger), Eagles LB Chris Gocong (quad, hamstring), Patriots RB Sammy Morris (knee), Bears WR Devin Hester (ankle), Ravens DT Haloti Ngata (ankle), Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammed (knee), Eagles WR Kevin Curtis (knee), Bucs WR Antonio Bryant (knee), Colts K Adam Vinatieri (right knee), Patriots DE Jarvis Green (knee), Dolphins LB Channing Crowder (shoulder) and Redskins P Hunter Smith (right groin).

Big Plays are prevalent in the NFL this season — There have been 81 touchdowns of at least 50 yards scored this season.  That is the most through the first eight weeks of a season since 1970.  The previous high was 80 touchdowns of 50+ yards scored in 1998.

Veteran is a good luck charm — New England has won 24 consecutive regular season games with recently re-signed veteran LB Junior Seau on their roster.

NFL Week 9 – Featured Game

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-2), 8:00 PM ET (NBC)

 Broadcast Team: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, and Andrea Kremer (Field reporter)

NBC’s Sunday Night Football will be alive as one of the biggest rivalries in the NFL will be showcased this week.  To die-hard Eagles fans there are only really two games a year that really matter and both of them are against the hated Dallas Cowboys. To make things even more interesting, this year’s first battle between these two bitter rivals is for first place in the NFC East. NBC football analyst Tony Dungy said of the match-up, “Philadelphia and Dallas are playing great in all three phases it’s setting up a big showdown game – with first place in the NFC East on the line – on Sunday night.”  Both the Cowboys enter the game riding win streaks — Cowboys have won three consecutive games and the Eagles have a two game winning streak themselves.   The last time these two teams met in Week 17 of the 2008 season, the Eagles trounced the Cowboys 44-6 at Lincoln Financial Field to knock Dallas from the playoff race.

Expect there to be plenty of offensive fireworks as both teams have several big play threats – Cowboys ranked 2nd in NFL with an average of 411.1 yards per game and the Eagles are not far behind averaging 344.4 yards.  The Cowboys have been led by quarterback Tony Romo (won 12 consecutive November starts) and emerging receiver Miles Austin (26 catches for 563 yards, 21.7 ypc average and 6 TDs) have scored 101 points (33.7 per game) throughout the 2009 season, but especially during their recent 3-game winning streak.  Romo surely will be looking to hit his favorite target TE Jason Witten (37 receptions for 348 yards, and 1 TD) over the middle as tight ends from the Bucs’ Kellen Winslow to the Raiders’ Zach Miller have torched the Eagles in coverage.  It will be up new Eagles MLB Will Witherspoon and FS Sean Jones to keep Witten in check or it maybe a long day for Sean McDermott’s defense.  Also watch for the Cowboys to run the football with their three-headed backfield (Tashard Choice, Felix Jones, and Marion Barber) to slowdown the Eagles blitz-happy defense (23 sacks).  Conversely the Eagles have gone from a methodical team that moved the chain with short secure passes to a unit that is a quick strike big play team –four touchdowns of 40 yards or more in Week 8 win over the Giants. 

Last week, the Eagles scored 40 points in a 23-point victory over the New York Giants, which was the team’s largest margin of victory over the Giants since 1996.  In Philadelphia’s five wins this season, the team has averaged 34.4 points per game.  The Eagles offense will look for returning RB Brian Westbrook (concussion) to help quarterback Donovan McNabb (80-133, 1008 yards, 9 TDs, 1 INT, and a 103.2 rating) and emerging young players RB LeSean McCoy, WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Brent Celek.  However any offensive talk for the Eagles will start and end with number one threat WR/PR DeSean Jackson (will be shadowed by Cowboys former Pro Bowl corner Terrence Newman).  The former 2nd rounder from Cal has scored six touchdowns of at least 50 yards this year, becoming just the second player in NFL history – Pro Football Hall of Famer Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch (1951) – to score six 50-yard touchdowns in the first seven games of a season. Jackson said of his feat, “I’ve just been put in some great positions to score long touchdowns”.  The charismatic and borderline cocky playmaker added, “Whatever we need to do to make it work, that’s what we’re going to do.  I want to keep winning, keep making plays and hopefully make it to the Super Bowl.”

On defense, the Eagles are ranked 10th against the pass and 12th against the run, but they are always looking for the turnover.  The Eagles are third in the NFL with 14 INTs plus they currently sport a +12 turnover ratio (2nd in the NFL).   Pressure from the Eagles’ D-line led by former Pro Bowl pass rusher Trent Cole (6.5 sacks) has led to Pro Bowl corner Asante Samuel (5 INTs) making big plays.  The Cowboys defense also is predicated on pressure (LB DeMarcus Ware – 5 sacks in ’09) which has helped them stop the run (ranked 13th in the NFL), but also has left Dallas susceptible to big plays in their secondary.  Other than Newman, the other members in Dallas’ secondary have had a lot of problems in coverage, especially safeties Gerald Sensabaugh and Ken Hamlin. 

As always injuries will be a big part of this game as the Cowboys’ injury list includes: CB Allen Rossum (hamstring – out), RB Marion Barber (thumb), DT Jay Ratliff (knee), S Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), and LB DeMarcus Ware (foot).  Conversely the Eagles will be missing WR Kevin Curtis (knee) and most likely LB Chris Gocong (quadricep, hamstring) with other players on their injury list like DE Victor Abiamiri (knee), DT Brodrick Bunkley (knee), DE Chris Clemons (shoulder, elbow), G Nick Cole (knee), S Macho Harris (ankle), DE Darren Howard (ankle), and CB Dimitri Patterson (quadricep, hand).

LV’s Pick: – Watch for special teams in this game as Cowboys returnman Patrick Crayton  has been playing very well of late — had an 82-yard punt return touchdown last week to become the 2nd Cowboy with punt return for a touchdown in consecutive games (“Bullet” Bob Hayes in 1968).  And Eagles kicker David Akers’ leg is looking stronger than ever (61 points – 3rd in NFC and 13-16 FGs).  In picking this game there are some trends to keep in mind. Since 2004, each team has won four games in this series.  But lately the Eagles have been on top, winning four of the past six meetings and 14 of the last 20 games in this series. Even though the Cowboys ead the overall series, (55-44 including the playoffs), expect the Eagles and McNabb (won 11 of last 16 starts against Dallas) to rise to the occasion of playing on National TV – Eagles 31, Cowboys 28

NFL Week 9  

SUN, November 8 

Washington at Atlanta 1:00 PM (FOX)

Arizona at Chicago 1:00 PM (FOX)  

Baltimore at Cincinnati 1:00 PM (CBS)  

Houston at Indianapolis 1:00 PM (CBS)  

Miami at New England 1:00 PM (CBS)  

Green Bay at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM (FOX)  

Kansas City at Jacksonville 1:00 PM (CBS)

Detroit at Seattle 4:05 PM (FOX) 

Carolina at New Orleans 4:05 PM (FOX) 

San Diego at NY Giants 4:15 PM (CBS)  

Tennessee at San Francisco 4:15 PM (CBS)  

Dallas at Philadelphia 8:20 PM (NBC)

MON, November 9 

Pittsburgh at Denver 8:30 PM (ESPN)

Bye: Buffalo, Cleveland, Oakland, St. Louis, Minnesota, NY Jets 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

2009 NFL Season – Week 8 Preview by Lloyd Vance

The return of former Packers legend and current Vikings QB Brett Favre to Lambeau Field is probably the most anticipated event of Week 8 of the 2009 NFL Season

I am dubbing Week 8 of the 2009 NFL Season, “Homecoming Week”.  Every fall at high schools and colleges around the country, homecoming is a special time in autumn for old friends/family to bond while sharing good memories, enjoying some great football action and of course eating.  Make no bones about it… people love gathering around to watch the NFL.  In fact, according to the latest Nielsen ratings, last week’s FOX doubleheader game (mostly Falcons-Cowboys) was the most-watched sporting event since Super Bowl XLIII with 28.4 million viewers –- beat the Angels-Yankees series-clinching ALCS Game 6) by 12.9 million viewers.

Halloween this weekend will bring its usual bags of candy, ghosts and goblins.  But everyone around the NFL is talking about some “Back to the Future” games where old stars are returning to places of past glories, past playoff match-ups will be replayed and rivalries will be renewed around the league.  If you can believe it, Green Bay, Wisconsin will be the epicenter of the NFL universe this week.  Without a need to say, the league’s biggest homecoming will occur Sunday at Lambeau Field as former Packers great QB Brett Favre will return for the first time ever in another team’s uniform.  This is Brett’s homecoming, let’s be real about it,” says Green Bay safety Atari Bigby.  “It’s going to be special.  Everybody wants to see this.  Everybody’s going to tune in to this game.”  How big is Favre’s return??  Both Fox Sports and the NFL Network have been promoting one-on-one sit-downs with No. 4 on Sunday morning.  Plus Fox, who is broadcasting the game, will have a camera dedicated to shooting every move Favre makes during his return to Lambeau Field on Sunday.  The camera will be set up at the 50-yard line and its video will stream live on NFL.com and FoxSports.com    

Amidst a nasty battle between Favre and Packers GM Ted Thompson, the 19-year veteran quarterback left Green Bay in a huff after 16 magical years to play for the NY Jets and the starting job was handed to Aaron Rodgers (currently ranks second in the NFL with a 110.8 passer rating), right before the start of the 2008 season.  As everyone probably knows – most likely from ESPN’s Monday Night Football Favre-fest – back in Week 4, Favre already re-acquainted himself and his new team to his old team as the Vikings defeated the Packers 30-23 in Minnesota -– No. 4 had 271 yards and three touchdown passes in the win. However this Sunday will be something real special as Favre – holder of numerous Packers records including most games (255), wins (160), attempts (8,754), completions (5,377), yards (61,655), touchdowns (442) and passer rating (85.8) – will return to the frozen tundra as the starting quarterback of the hated Vikings.  Favre fans loyalties will be stretched farther than Vikings and Packers No. 4 jerseys on some plus sized cheesehead’s back.  It will be real interesting to see if cheeseheads will cheer, boo, hold-up signs of encouragement or discouragement for their departed folk hero, who put Green Bay back on the football map in the 1990’s then broke their hearts in the summer of 2009 by signing  with the Vikings. 

Earlier this season, Favre said this of the 2009 Minnesota Vikings, “Physically, and from a talent level, this is the best team I’ve ever been on.” Well…Brett a few members of your Super Bowl winning Packers squad from 1996 have begged to differ.  Former Packers TE Mark Chmura, a member of the ’96 team, said “It all starts with Brett — Brett’s not as good as he was”.  Chmura added, “I mean, you’re talking about the No. 1 defense in the league at that time, maybe one of the best defenses ever to play the game.  Don’t get me wrong. Favre is still a good quarterback, but he was unbelievable in the day. When we played back then, teams feared us. I don’t know if teams fear the Minnesota Vikings today. We knew no one could beat us at home, absolutely nobody.”  In planning for Favre’s return several restaurants are only serving “Waffle” fries in honor of the NFL’s biggest waffler and Green Bay’s mayor decreed that Friday in the town would be called “Flip-Flop Friday” (year after year the legend said that he was going to retire then inexplicably came back near training camp).

Favre said of his return to Wisconsin, “My career with Green Bay speaks for itself, that won’t change.  For three hours, I’ll be on the other side.  Do I know what that feels like? I have no idea”.  It will be interesting to see if the man that was one of the originators of the Lambeau Leap will venture into the stands after being part of a Vikings’ touchdown…probably not.  But most Packers fans I have talked to will always remember Favre winning games for their team in the snow of Lambeau Field. One puzzled fan recently told Yahoo Sports, “I have a real problem with that. It was hard enough to see him with the Jets. But to see him in purple! I still believe he belongs to us.” With a win, Favre (89 wins at Lambeau) can become the second quarterback to win 90 games at a stadium since 1970 – Broncos QB John Elway won 95 games at Mile High Stadium.

The great thing as we move closer to the midpoint of the 2009 season is that self separation has begun and teams in the next couple of weeks will either legitimize their “Contender” or “Pretender” status.  The NFL has turned into the land of the Have’s (15 teams over .500 including 3 undefeated teams) and the Have Not’s (12 teams under. 500 including 3 winless teams) with only five teams  stuck at .500 in the league’s ever shrinking middle.   There are currently three undefeated teams through the first seven weeks –– Denver Broncos (6-0), Indianapolis Colts (6-0) and New Orleans Saints (6-0) –- which is the first time since the 1970 merger.  You have to wonder how much longer each of these squads can keep chasing the ghosts of the perfect 1972 Miami Dolphins, but each team is showing weekly that they are special. 

The Saints last week overcame a 24-3 deficit to defeat the Miami Dolphins 46-34 in one of the league’s best games so far this season. The Colts led by rookie head coach Jim Caldwell and 3-time MVP QB Peyton Manning have won 15^th straight games.  With a win against San Francisco in Week 8, the Colts can tie four other teams with the fourth-longest regular season winning streak in NFL history (Patriots hold the record at 21 games from 2006-08). Plus Colts QB Peyton Manning with five completions against the 49ers can become the fourth player in NFL history with 4,000 career completions.  And the Denver Broncos led by energetic rookie head coach Josh McDaniels have turned the NFL on its ear with a defense that leads the AFC in yards allowed (262.5 yards per game).  All three unbeatens will be tested this week as none of them face a team under .500 and know you teams always get up to face the “bully”. 

The Broncos will travel east to visit the Baltimore Ravens (3-3), who are fighting mad over some bad officiating – so their defense says – and three consecutive losses.  The Colts will probably get their toughest test of this season as the upstart San Francisco 49ers (3-3) come to town.  The Niners have also hit a little skid after being one of the hottest teams in the NFL during the first few weeks of the season, but tough head coach Mike Singletary and returning former starter QB Alex Smith will try to fire up their team to face the NFL’s closest thing to cyborg-winning robots.  Caldwell recently said of his winning team, “This team is going to get better as time goes on.  The effort and execution are both improving every single week.  The thing I’m really pleased about, overall, is that we just keep getting better every week.  Any time you get a win in this league, it’s big.”  The undefeated Saints probably have the toughest assignment of three unblemished teams as the Atlanta Falcons (4-2) will travel to the Louisiana Superdome for an NFC South Monday Football showdown. 

Favre-a-palooza is not the only interesting storyline going into Week 8, so here are some Lloyd’s Leftovers for this week.

Former high draft picks returning to starting quarterback roles – Tennessee Titans QB Vince Young (playing against Jaguars) and San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith (playing against Colts) will look to not only reinvigorate their teams, but also their own once-promising careers in their first starts in a while.  Young (18-11 as a starter) got his job back this week as Titans owner Bud Adams lobbied with hesitant head coach Jeff Fisher for him to start after the Titans remained winless under veteran Kerry Collins (5 TDs and 8 INTs  in ’09).  Smith, formerly the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, has been re-inserted back in the starting lineup by Iron Mike II after he threw 3 TDs in relieving former starter Shaun Hill in the second half of a close 24-21 loss to the Houston Texans last week.  The former Utah star will have his work cut-out for him as the Colts boast one of the NFL’s best pass defenses.

Rematches from last year’s NFC Divisional Playoffs – I wonder if the Carolina Panthers remember the way the upstart Arizona Cardinals rolled into Bank America Stadium and easily disposed of their hosts by a score of 33-13.  You know Panthers QB Jake Delhomme — probably on the NFL’s shortest leash right now due to throwing an NFL-high 13 INTs — will be trying to erase his 6 turnover performance in the playoffs that many are calling a career-ender.  The Cardinals (4-2) fueled by a 3-game winning and a surprisingly strong defense — seven interceptions, have forced eight fumbles and have 16 sacks already this year — will look to push the Panthers (2-4) almost out the door of the playoff picture. Also looking to exact revenge  are  the New York Giants (5-2), who  will visit the Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) in a key NFC East divisional matchup.  The big game on Philly Sports Sunday (World Series at 8 PM) will also be a  return battle of two teams from last year’s playoffs (Eagles 23, Giants 11).

Don’t forget about the Toilet Bowl – Every week we talk about the NFL’s best match-up.  But this week I wanted to give some “love” to possibly the NFL’s worst pairing since the Cleveland Browns’ 6-3 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. The St. Louis Rams (0-7) will travel to Motown to face the Detroit Lions (1-5) in a match-up of two teams that have 1 game between them this season.  The game will be a battle pitting the only team to ever go 0-16 in NFL history (Lions in ’08) against a team that is threatening to equal that mark.  Collectively these two lower level teams have won just five wins in their past 39 games. The poor Rams have lost 17 straight games going back to 2007 and each week not even Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson (635 rushing yards – 2^nd in NFC) can save them from defeat.  The Rams hold a lead in the all-time series record (41-37-1), but the Lions have won 4 of their last 6 meetings. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your outlook, the ‘Toilet Bowl’ did not sell out by Thursday’s deadline and will be blacked-out on local TV.  At least fans can bring signs to the game unlike at FedEx Field where the dysfunctional Washington Redskins play.

NFL is a Passing League First – Whatever to the power running game throughout the NFL?? Hard to believe that in 1967, New York Jets QB Joe Namath (4,007 yards) became the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season.  Well Namath’s feat did not go in vain as seven passers reached the 4,000-yard mark in 2007, which is the most in any NFL season.  However the record for most 4,000-yard passers in a season has a good chance of being broken as through seven weeks, 10 quarterbacks led by yardage leader Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub (2,074 yards) are on pace to throw for 4,000 yards. 

Six Divisional Games – Even though there are six teams on a bye this week including quality teams the Bengals (5-2), Patriots (5-2), and Steelers (5-2), don’t fret as there are still some good divisional rivalry games to sink your teeth into.  Nothing means more to teams and fans than beating familiar foes that they will face twice a year.  Division games usually are the most compelling and heated.  This week’s games include the following division rivalry match-ups:  Dolphins (2-4) at Jets (4-3); Giants (5-2) at Eagles (4-2) ; Jaguars (3-3) at Titans (0-6); Raiders (2-5) at Chargers (3-3); Vikings (6-1) at Packers (4-2) and Falcons (4-2) at Saints (6-0) on MNF.

McNabb reaching some serious milestones – With almost every Philadelphia Eagles passing record already on his mantle, we already knew that current Eagles starting quarterback Donovan McNabb was the greatest quarterback to ever play for the Birds – Sorry Jaws.  But now McNabb after achieving some major milestones in the Eagles’ 27-17 win over the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football, some are debating over whether he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his career is completed.  McNabb became one of just four players in NFL history to have at least 30,000 passing yards (30,088), 200 touchdowns passes, 3,000 rushing yards (3,169) and 20 rushing touchdowns (27).  With those stats, McNabb joined an exclusive club of quarterbacks with those milestones including NFL legends and Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Fran Tarkenton, and Steve Young.

Ochocinco’s Top 10 – One of the funnier moments of this week was the appearance of Bengals talkative receiver on the “David Letterman Show”.  No. 85 used his bye week to promote his new book including reading his “Top Ten Revelations in Chad Ochocinco’s Autobiography” on the popular late night show.  It was hilarious to watch live, but it is almost as good in print.  So without further adieu here is the list

Number 10: This book is all about my life as a hockey mom from Alaska.

Number 9: I was once put on the disabled list when they found an ocho in my cinco.

Number 8: During the season my QB Carson Palmer and I sleep in bunk beds.

Number 7: I’m going to ask Tom Hanks to play me in the movie.

Number 6: There’s nothing like winding down after a big game with a Red Bull and a DVR of “Tyra.”

Number 5: I like tacos.

Number 4: Brett Favre is so old, his Social Security Number is 1.

Number 3: Terrell Owens doesn’t like it when you criticize his teammate.

Number 2: I’m planning a special touchdown celebration that involves pulling a dancing raccoon out of my pants.

Number 1: I thank the Lord every day that I don’t play for the Lions.

Remember there is no Sunday Night Football game on NBC this week as everyone will have their eyes on my Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series against the New York Yankees. 

Also make sure that you cast your Pro Bowl ballot for your favorite players.

Featured Game

NEW YORK GIANTS (5-2) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-2), 1PM EST on FOX

Broadcast Team: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa (Field reporter)

Though some national media outlets will tell you that Green Bay, Wisconsin will be the place to be on Sunday, November 1^st  for Brett Favre’s return to Lambeau.  Most sports fans will agree with legendary actor W.C Fields who used to always say, “I’d rather be in Philadelphia”.  The reason for sports fans flocking to South Philadelphia will be for a sports extravaganza featuring the Philadelphia vs. New York City.  With pleasant expected conditions of only a 30% chance of precipitation and temperatures in the 60s, Philadelphia fans maybe looking at one of the best sports days in the city’s history.  The Philadelphia Eagles will take on the New York Giants in an NFC East grudge match at 1:00 PM EST at Lincoln Financial Field then sports fans can return to their tailgates to recharge for World Series Game 4 featuring the New York Yankees vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. 

Eagles-Giants games are almost always close physical games and I don’t expect Sunday to be any different.  This week’s meeting will be the first time these two teams have played each other since the Eagles surprised the home team Giants in the divisional round of the 2009 playoffs by a score of 23-11.  The game also will take on significance as the Eagles are only one-half a game behind the Giants in the current standings and a win will vault them back to the top of the NFC East.  In recent weeks both teams have had to fight through some hard times, but you know Sunday that they will be bringing their “A” effort.  The G-Men have lost two straight games (Saints and Cardinal) after fattening up on a string of early season cupcakes.  And the Eagles also are looking for consistency as they have looked like a potential playoff team in wins over the Panthers, Chiefs, and Buccaneers.  But in a win over the Washington Redskins last week and a horrific loss to the putrid Oakland Raiders in Week 6, the Birds’ lackluster play made everyone watch even more Phillies baseball. 

In breaking down the game, the Philadelphia Eagles offensively will follow the lead of their head coach Andy Reid (over 100 career regular season wins).  The Giants are known to play the run well (Top 5 in the NFL), so to the surprise of no one expect the Eagles’ pass-first offense (rank 7^th in the NFL in throws per game) to continue.  The Birds probably will be without RB Brian Westbrook (concussion), so look for rookie RB LeSean McCoy to get several touches on screens and for them to go after a Giants defense that has struggled in pass coverage.  Especially safety C.C Brown, who has had difficulty in coverage since safety Kenny Phillips went on injured reserve (knee) and cornerback Aaron Ross has been missing with a lingering hamstring injury.  It will be very important that Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (63-110, 768 yards, 6 TDs, and 1 INT) starts faster than he did in recent erratic performances against the Raiders and Redskins. 

The Giants are susceptible to three and four-receiver formations as they are known to sit back in coverage, so expect to see a lot of receivers DeSean Jackson, rookie Jeremy Maclin, and Jason Avant.  Without Westbrook, the Eagles surely will look to get the ball in the hands of their main playmaker Jackson, who has 5 touchdowns this season (3 receiving, 1 punt return, and 1 rushing) all 50+ yards.  Plus tight end Brent Celek, who leads NFC TEs with 386 receiving yards.  Of course any big plays from McNabb, Celek, Jackson and the rest of the Birds’ offense will start with solid offensive line play.  I believe the O-line is one of the biggest keys of this game as the Giants defensive line is fast and relentless and loves getting after the passer.  With a rotation that features Pro Bowl players Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck (3.5 sacks in ’09) along with many other fresh players including DE Mathias Kiwanuka, the Giants thrive on pressuring the quarterback.  However even though new Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan’s unit is ranked #1 in the NFL in terms of yardage (262.0), in recent weeks when his D-line has not gotten pressure, opposing quarterbacks had big games.  Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 369 yards and 4 TDs in a dominating 48-27 win and he was not sacked once in that game.

On defense, Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will be concentrating on getting pressure on Giants quarterback Eli Manning (120-203, 1633 yards, 12 TDs, and 6 INTs), because as Eli goes so go the Giants.  The last time these two teams met in the divisional round of the 2009 playoffs, Manning was inconsistent, completing 15 of 29 passes — and only six to the outside receivers –- while the Giants had the ball five times inside the Eagles’ 20, and came away with just three field goals to show for it. Manning is getting a very good relationship with Plaxico Burress replacement receivers Steve Smith (NFC leading 45 receptions for 594 yards and 4 TDs), Mario Manningham (watch for drops), and rookie Hakeem Nicks (1st Giants receiver with a touchdown reception in four consecutive games since 1948).  Even though the Eagles’ top-ten pass defense rarely gives up big plays – 4th in the NFL in allowing gains of 20+ yards through the air -– it will be imperative that the Eagles pressure Manning. So the Eagles will look to DE Trent “The Hunter” Cole (6.5 sacks, 2nd in the NFC) and newcomer MLB Will Witherspoon (8 TKLs, 1 INT for a TD, 1 sack and 1 FF in win over Redskins) to supply most of the heat on Peyton’s little brother.  The Eagles are currently ranked first in the NFL in turnover ratio (+11) so any pressure usually leads to big defensive plays especially in the secondary led by Pro Bowl cover corner Asante Samuel (4 INTs, tied for 3rd in NFL).

To take that pressure off Eli, who surprisingly has had success against the Eagles in Philly (has won 4 starts in row), the Giants will look to re-establish a dominating run game that has recently taken a couple of weeks off.  The Giants have a new Thunder-n-Lighting combination their backfield with workhorse Brandon Jacobs (120 rushes for 464 yards, and 3.9-2 ypr plus has an average of 5.45 ypr since Week 5) and Ahmad Bradshaw.  It will be interesting to see if Bradshaw is even close to 100% after a cracked metatarsal in his foot was found this week.  Despite the injury, Bradshaw says he will play against the Birds so you know all eyes will be on him and the Giants veteran O-line.  Speaking of the Giants offensive line, against the Cardinals this group’s 38-game consecutive start streak was ended as OT Kareem McKenzie (groin) had to be replaced by rookie William Beatty who struggled at times blocking one-on-one and penalties. 

LV’s Pick: Though the Giants lead the all-time series against the Eagles by a count of 79-67-2 and the G-Men have won three of the four last regular season meetings, there is something special in the air around Philadelphia this week.  There is nothing better to a Philadelphia Sports fan than “sticking it” to an NYC team, whether it is the Mets, Knicks, or Rangers.  I expect the home crowd to be amp’d from pre-game introductions on and McNabb (won 9 of past 13 starts vs. NYG (incl. playoffs) is going to rise to the occasion of playing in the national spotlight for the second week in a row.  It will be a typically close NFC East slugfest, but the Birds win – Eagles 20, Giants 17.

2009 NFL Week 8 Games

Sunday, November 1

49ers (3-3) at Colts (6-0)

Broncos (6-0) at Ravens (3-3)

Browns (1-6) at Bears (3-3)

Dolphins (2-4) at Jets (4-3)

Giants (5-2) at Eagles (4-2)

Jaguars (3-3) at Titans (0-6)

Panthers (2-4) at Cardinals (4-2)

Raiders (2-5) at Chargers (3-3)

Rams (0-7) at Lions (1-5)

Seahawks (2-4) at Cowboys (4-2)

Texans (4-3) at Bills (3-4)

Vikings (6-1) at Packers (4-2)

Monday, November 2

Falcons (4-2) at Saints (6-0)

Byes: Bengals (5-2), Buccaneers (0-7), Chiefs (1-6), Patriots (5-2), Redskins (2-5), Steelers (5-2)

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award -winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

2009 NFL Week 1 Preview by Lloyd Vance

In his regular season return to a Miami Dolphins uniform, former Pro Bowl OLB/DE Jason Taylor and his mates travel to Atlanta in NFL Week 1 action

The 90th NFL season titled: “Own the Moment” is finally here.  And you can count me among the millions of NFL fans around the world who are singing “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, The NFL is back”.

The 2009 NFL season began on Thursday night with the league’s annual hype filled kickoff show/game entitled this year, “NFL Opening Kickoff 2009 presented by EA SPORTS”.   The defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers needed overtime to finally put away the tough Tennessee Titans by a score of 13-10.  The game may have not been an “Instant Classic” as each team’s defense were landing body blow after body blow in a physical battle.  But the one thing that I really took away from the NFL’s opener was that the Pittsburgh Steelers are all about getting “W’s” this time of year.  The defending champs somehow scratched their way to a win despite a number of obstacles, mainly the hungry Titans.  Despite losing Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu (sprained MCL) right before halftime, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and Super Bowl hero Santonio Holmes picked right back up where they left off in February and were huge contributors in the Steelers’ win — more on the kickoff opener in my Week 1 review.

The game marked the official kickoff of America’s favorite sport including a concert by Grammy Winners and fireworks.  All the hoopla signaled a new beginning for the sport that everyone is watching — according to Nielsen Media Research, 225 million Americans watched NFL regular-season games in 2008.  That’s nearly 100 million more than the record number of Americans who voted in the 2008 presidential election (131.2 million).  Week 1 in the NFL season is almost at the holiday level as football fans everywhere finally quench their thirst for “real” NFL game action. Though the NFL is now a year round league with Training Camp, Pre-season Games, OTAs, the NFL Draft, Owner Meetings, and so many other activities on the NFL Calendar  – this page it too small to list them all – nothing gets fans going to the point of delirium like Week 1 of the NFL season.

I am not sure if it is the quick five month schedule where the games come and go before we know it, the long arduous 7 month wait for real games after the Super Bowl, the once a week high, the “every game counts” subplots, the talented players that always amaze you with their toughness and ability to perform under mental and physical stress, the autumn weather, team allegiance, trash-talking, the dreaded g-word (gambling), fantasy football, or any other thing.  But we all know that the NFL is everyone’s sports obsession like none other.  Football brings people together from all walks of life and gives commonality where almost everyone has a team and a rooting interest from the guy working at the local convenience store to President Barack Obama — supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The NFL has even infiltrated sometimes stuffy Corporate America as Fridays are now, “Wear your NFL team’s colors to work day”.  Co-workers during lunch or coffee breaks will be talking fantasy football line-ups, poking fun at each other’s team, and comparing the best venues to watch the game each weekend until February brings the curtain down on the season.

Though there is so much more football to be played between now and Super Bowl XLIV (February 7, 2010 in Miami), Week 1 is definitely important as it sets the tone for the entire season.  Since 1978, when the NFL adopted the 16-game schedule — excluding the abbreviated season of 1982 — teams that were victorious in Week 1 of the NFL season were more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers.  Of the 442 teams which won openers — 233 went to the playoffs (136 won division titles).  Of the 442 teams which lost openers — 105 went to the playoffs (58 won division titles).  In 2008, eight of the 12 playoff teams – Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, New York Giants, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tennessee – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend. In 2008, eight of the 12 playoff teams – Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, New York Giants, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tennessee – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend. 

The main thing with a new NFL season dawning is hope has sprung eternal all around the parity-filled league in places like San Diego, Minnesota, and Detroit.  Yes, I said Detroit as even the formerly winless Lions (0-16 in 2008), who have never been to a Super Bowl have visions of dancing in the streets of Miami, FL with the Lombardi Trophy in their hands. In 2008, change was definitely in the air around the NFL as for the 12th consecutive season, five or more teams qualified for the playoffs that were not in the postseason the year before (Arizona, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Minnesota, Miami and Carolina).  Also there were seven new division winners (Tennessee, NY Giants, Minnesota, Chargers, Miami, Carolina, and Arizona) setting a new record since realignment in 2002, topping the six new division winners of 2003.

New England Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden — went from the NFL’s outhouse (Detroit) to the penthouse (New England) this season — said of the start of the 2009 NFL season, “Everybody is excited. We’re definitely excited just to go out there”.  Every team and fan has a clean slate going into Week 1 and remember unpredictability and parity rule in the NFL.  Almost half the games (46.1 percent) were decided by one score (eight points or less) and for the 13th consecutive year five teams made the playoffs after missing out the year before, so don’t even think about getting up from your television. Everyone’s goal is Super Bowl XLIV so it is now time for teams to fulfill their promise or fall behind the pack.

Here are some news/notes/trends that everyone needs to keep an eye out for this week.

Where’s Richard Seymour?? — The former five-time Pro Bowl selection has declined to report to the Raiders for the last week since the Patriots announced they had traded the  for a 2011 first-round pick.  Reportedly the Raiders want Seymour to come in and have sent him a letter notifying him that he has 5 days to report or he will be placed on the “Did not report list”, which would mean he would be out for the season and would not get an accrued year toward free agency. By sending the letter, the Raiders are basically saying that Seymour will either be on their team or out of football in 2009.  Seymour is in the final year of his contract and is scheduled to become a free agent after this season.

The NFL to celebrate former rival league — Though the “true” 50-year anniversary doesn’t really occur until 2010, the NFL will be celebrating the birth of the American Football League (AFL) during the 2009 season.  This year, the NFL will celebrate the 50th season of the American Football League (AFL) in a number of ways.  During one home and one road game, the eight original AFL franchises – Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs (played as the Dallas Texans), New England Patriots (played as the Boston Patriots), New York Jets (played as the Titans of New York), Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers (played as the Los Angeles Chargers) and Tennessee Titans (played as the Houston Oilers) – will meet head-to-head in “Legacy Games” while wearing an historic uniforms.  The Monday-night doubleheader on Kickoff Weekend will serve as the start of these head-to -head games as New England hosts Buffalo (ESPN, 7:00 PM ET) and San Diego visits Oakland (ESPN, 10:15 PM ET).  NFL Films and Showtime have almost teamed up to produce an insightful NFL five-part documentary entitled Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League. The documentary will premier on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Showtime.

No Tweeting – With Cincinnati Bengals receiver and league pain in the butt Chad Ochocinco threatening to “tweet” within the lockerroom.  The NFL brought down the hammer on players, coaches, team personnel, and media using social networking site Twitter during games. Reportedly the folks mentioned above must stop tweeting 90 minutes prior to a game and cannot resume until post-game interviews are complete. These limitations are supposed to protect “[longstanding] policies prohibiting play-by-play descriptions of NFL games in progress,” according to a statement from NFL officials. And don’t think the NFL is only anti-Twitter, the rules apply to other social networking sites like Facebook, too.

The ‘Wildcat’ is back — In 2008, the Miami Dolphins showed the world it’s version of the Single Wing formation called the “Wildcat”.  After the Dolphins had success against the Patriots in Week 4 (38-13 win where they churned out 216 rushing yards), pretty soon almost the entire National Football League (NFL) jumped in on the “Wildcat” craze.  The Dolphins eventually ran 12 percent their entire offensive plays in 2008 out of the formation.  This training camp it seem every team was looking for ways to incorporate the Wildcat in their playbook.  For example, the Philadelphia Eagles ran eight times out of formation with receiver DeSean Jackson.  In 2009, everyone better watch out for the Wildcat when Eagles backup quarterback Michael Vick and starter Donovan McNabb on the field at the same time.  And to think the  Dolphins only tried the Wildcat formation after their quarterbacks coach David Lee (coached the formation at the University of Arkansas under the name the “WildHog”) got inventive trying to find a way to utilize running backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown on the field at the same time.

Two-headed monster in the backfield – Around the NFL there is a growing trend of having at least two quality running backs playing in games to keep defensive coordinators guessing.   Last year several teams including the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, and NY Giants (Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward both over 1,000 yards in 2008) utilized two backs keeping constant pressure on defenses with fresh legs in the backfield at all times.  Who could blame them as today’s NFL usually necessitates having two running backs because the position is so demanding (inside power runs, match-ups, mismatches, hands, blitz pickup, etc).

Patriots are stacked — This offseason, the New England Patriots signed free agents Joey Galloway, who has totaled 10,710 career receiving yards, and Fred Taylor, who has 11,271 career rush yards.  With Galloway, Taylor, Tom Brady and Randy Moss on the same team, the Patriots will become only the fourth team in NFL history to start the season with a 25,000-yard passer, 10,000-yard rusher and a 10,000-yard receiver.  New England will also become the first team in NFL history to start a season with two 10,000-yard receivers (Galloway and Moss) and one 25,000-yard passer and a 10,000-yard rusher.

Passing, Passing, and more Passing – I am a smash-mouth run the football kinda guy, but NFL teams are looking to chuck it more than ever. Last season six quarterbacks threw for more than 4,000 yards.

Scoring way up – Around the NFL last year scoring was at a 43-year high as games averaged 44.1 points, the most since 1965 (46.1)

Kickers More Accurate — My favorite players, kickers, made 84.5% of overall field goal attempts in ‘08

This week features seven divisional match-ups right off the bat.  The marquee divisional battle will be on Monday Night in Foxborough, Massachusetts.  The Buffalo Bills will come to town led by VH1 reality star and Pro Bowl receiver Terrell Owens to face the New England Patriots with Pro Bowl quarterback Tom Brady returning from a devastating knee injury that ravaged his 2008 season.

Well the wait is finally over and here’s wishing that everyone’s NFL dreams for 2009 come true. But my advice is to you, is to just enjoy the splendor of the NFL every weekend as February ’10 will be here before we all know it.

Week 1 Featured Game

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT CAROLINA PANTHERS @ 1:00 PM EST on FOX

Broadcast Team: Dick Stockton, Charles Davis, Laura Okmin (Field reporter). 

The regular season is finally here and these two  teams that are usually playoff contenders will meet in one of Sunday afternoon’s better games.  Both squads have a bone to pick with the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals (knocked both out of the playoffs), but that is a conversation for another day.  The 2008 NFC South Champion Panthers (12-4) are looking to wash away a disappointing end to their 2008 season where they were embarrassed at home by the Cardinals by a score of 33-13.  And the Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) want to justify the high expectations that many “experts’ are predicting for them – some national publications have installed the Eagles as an odds on favorite to win the NFC.

The Birds are coming back after a rollercoaster type 2008 season where many fans and media left them for dead ( 5-5-1 start), but eventually they had a good playoff run (losing in the NFC Championship to the Cardinals 32-25).  The Eagles handed out further optimism to their fan base after an offseason that many, including Eagles President Joe Banner, called one of the best in the NFL.  The Eagles drafted RB LeSean McCoy, S Victor “Macho” Harris, WR Jeremy Maclin, and others plus brought in solid veterans OL Stacie Andrews, OT Jason Peters, and FB Leonard Weaver to go with existing Pro Bowl players RB Brian Westbrook, QB Donovan McNabb, and DB Asante Samuel.  However between the start of training camp and Week 1 of the regular season, the Eagles already have had some adversity to overcome.  There was the unfortunate passing of venerable former defensive coordinator Jim Johnson and season ending injuries to starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley and promising rookie tight end Cornelius Ingram.

But don’t expect Eagles head coach Andy Reid or his squad to be crying as they are excited for the start of the 2009 NFL Regular Season and the opportunity to play the Panthers -– record of 8-0 at home in 2008.  New Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott recently said, “ I’ll be a little anxious. But, I think that comes with the territory and it comes with the first game of the season every year. No matter how long you’ve been in this game, regardless of whether you’re a player or a coach, there are some butterflies the first opener of every year.”  The Eagles know that the time is now to get back to their first Super Bowl since 2004 or there maybe some changes in the offing after the 2009 season.

Conversely the Panthers and their head coach John Fox are trying to get off owner Jerry Richardson’s hot seat – Richardson is so tough, his own sons Mark (former team president) and Jon (former president of the team’s stadium) left in early September rather than dealing with him.  The interesting thing is, many Panthers’ fans and media have said a lot of the same things about Jake Delhomme and Fox that Eagles’ fans have said for years about Reid and McNabb.  Fox and his quarterback Delhomme were once on the accession after leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003, but after 7 seasons without a championship, many people in Carolina maybe ready for a change.

The Panthers plain and simple want to pound the rock on offense and who could blame them with an O-line led by Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jordan Gross and former first round draft pick Jeff Otah blasting holes for the NFL’s best 1-2 backfield, in my opinion.  Carolina’s combination of running backs DeAngelo Williams (1,515 yards, 5.5 ypc, and a league leading 18 TDs in 2008) and rookie Jonathan Stewart (836 yards with rookie leading 10 TDs) are probably the NFL’s scariest tandem.  Even if Stewart does not play due to a nagging Achilles injury, the Eagles defense (ranked first in the NFC in ’08) led by SS Quintin Mikell and DE Trent Cole will need to play downhill.  If the Eagles defense does find a way to stop Williams and Stewart, then they will have to deal with Delhomme and his favorite target Steve Smith through the air.  The diminutive Smith (78 receptions for 1,421 yards and 6 TDs) maybe one of the NFL’s smaller receivers at 5’9, but he is one of my favorites due to his toughness, leadership, and uncanny ability to catch Delhomme’s rainbows in traffic. Plus don’t forget about veteran number two Muhsin Muhammad, who is great at moving the chains and in the red zone.  

Conversely the Eagles as everyone knows preach that they want balance on offense, but make no bones about it, they are a passing team first.  I am sure offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and Reid will look for McNabb (345-571, career-high 3916 yards, 23 TDs, and 11 INTs) many times while trying to spread the ball around — to throw to Westbrook on screens, on the outside to DeSean Jackson, and TE Brent Celek over the middle. McNabb, who recently had his contract restructured, said of the upcoming game, “Everything falls on my shoulders, so that’s nothing different. It’s very important that I make sure I’m prepared going into games like this, to make sure that those other guys have the utmost confidence that I’m going to get them into the right position and we’ll be able to execute”.

We will see if the Eagles will keep true to their goal of achieving balance on offense, but most importantly they cannot forget to establish the run –- have a huge mauling offensive line — against a smaller Panthers attacking defense led by Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers (14.5 sack for 3rd in the NFC), DT Damione Lewis and tackling-machine MLB Jon Beason. Week 1 will be the first time that the Eagles unveil Westbrook (233 rushes for 936 yards, 4.0 ypr, and 9 TDs) this season after he missed most of training camp following offseason knee and ankle surgeries.  B-West truly is the key for the Eagles as he sets the tone for the entire team, so the Birds cannot be afraid to get B-West his touches early and often.  If the Eagles can establish Westbrook, look for McNabb to try and go deep to Jackson (62 catches for 912 yards, 14.7 ypc, and 2 TDs), who looks like one of the NFL’s breakout players.

On Defense, the Eagles will look to take a page from the 2007 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants by rotating guys on their defensive line (Darren Howard – Team leading 10 sacks in ’08, Trent Cole – 9 sacks, DE Juqua Parker – 5 sacks, DT Mike Patterson, DT Broderick Bunkley, DE Victor Abiameri, DE Chris Clemons, and DE Jason Babin) plus getting linebackers Chris Gocong and Omar Gaither involved in pressuring Delhomme.  Any pressure that the front seven can cause should help to neutralize the Panthers running tandem and rattle Delhomme into turning over the ball (six turnovers in loss to Cardinals including 5 INT’s).  The Eagles main ball hawk to watch for is Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel (4 INTs plus two in the postseason), who looks better than ever. 

LV’s Pick:  Though the Eagles usually have been notoriously slow starters under Reid (record of 4-6 on NFL opening weeks), I still believe they will find a way to win. The Eagles lead the regular season series 4-1 and the Panthers have never had back-to-to-back winning seasons in their history.  The keys will be the Eagles defense’s ability to stop the run while getting after Delhomme, McNabb hitting Westbrook and Jackson for big plays, and OT Jason Peters rising to the challenge of playing against Peppers.  Eagles win in a nail-biter 21-20

NFL 2009 Week 1 Schedule

THU, SEP 10

Tennessee at Pittsburgh 8:30 PM (NBC) — Steelers 13, Titans 10 in OT

SUN, SEP 13 

Miami at Atlanta 1:00 PM (CBS) 

Denver at Cincinnati 1:00 PM (CBS)  

Minnesota at Cleveland 1:00 PM (FOX) 

Jacksonville at Indianapolis 1:00 PM (CBS) 

Detroit at New Orleans 1:00 PM (FOX) 

Dallas at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM (FOX)

Philadelphia at Carolina 1:00 PM (FOX) 

Kansas City at Baltimore 1:00 PM (CBS) 

NY Jets at Houston 1:00 PM (CBS) 

Washington at NY Giants 4:15 PM (FOX)

San Francisco at Arizona 4:15 PM (FOX)

St. Louis at Seattle 4:15 PM (FOX)

Chicago at Green Bay 8:20 PM (NBC) 

MON, SEP 14 

Buffalo at New England 7:00 PM (ESPN)

San Diego at Oakland 10:15 PM (ESPN)

 

Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and an award -winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)