Checking Down:
-The difference in the GB-PHI game was that Mike McCarthy made his mismanagement in the 2nd Quarter, while Andy Reid did it in the 4th. McCarthy’s decision not to get 3 points at the half was okay because they had such a lead and momentum. But Andy Reid taking a timeout with 4 minutes left to get one of the two scores he would need anyways was so confusing it hurt my head.
-Vick looked hurt and tired in this game. As much as he has grown in reading defenses, his ability to bounce up and counteract those hits has gone down over time. PHI, be aware you are getting a 31 year old QB who has a ton of hits, sacks, carries, and 18 months in jail on his odometer if you sign him to big long term money.
-James Starks will be a big part of this team next year, even if Ryan Grant comes back healthy and new.
-Charles Woodson is not the same player he was last year. Luckily he’ll get Jenkins or Gonzalez next week, not Roddy White. That will be Tramon Williams’ privilege unless the coaching staff is stupid.
-DeSean Jackson has a Gallowaian career coming up, I see this happening like it was preordained.
-Baltimore crushed KC as I sort of expected they would. However, this was great for KC. The experience will serve them well. Despite the great year from Cassel and Bowe, I am not sold on either as their long term big play guys.
-If an announcer gives me one more line about Charlie Weis still having his focus on coaching despite knowing he is leaving I will smack him. He announced three weeks ago he was leaving. They sucked on offense, especially passing and in the red zone, ever since that day. He was distracted. They were distracted. End of sorry.
-Baltimore needs to run the ball better, or they will fall quickly. It isn’t going to help them next week at Pittsburgh.
-Hey Anquan Boldin, there you are.
-Jamaal Charles got 9 carries for 82 yards and 10 touches for 97 yards. So…….even you can figure out what there should have been more of.
-Indy still has the basic pieces. It needs health from the skills positions, and some more toughness in the Defensive Backfield. But it needs to hop on this window while it is still open. Peyton is 34.
-The Jets eeked this one out, just barely. They just cannot continue to have these errand throws and missed plays. The defense does a good job of containing, but not making turnovers or big plays. It will face an offense in NE that is probably still giving it nightmares.
-Seattle shocked us all. Any given Sunday…. I guess this teaches us not to overlook home field advantage and injuries.
-The best part is Seattle can totally beat Chicago. Chicago can fall apart, and Seattle can defend that offense. Chicago will still be highly favored and should win, but this is doable. I can’t believe I am writing this.
-3 home teams fell to visitors....the only home team to win was the Seahawks. Why do I even bother trying to predict this league?
Going Long:
For the next few weeks I will dedicate this section to future notes on the teams that are eliminated.
Kansas City: They need a permanent offensive coordinator who can continue the good parts of what Charlie Weis started. It could be Haley himself (it seemed he lost some respect and control over the team by giving up control of both the offense and defense to established coordinators). Josh McDaniels would just make my head hurt with all the associations already on this coaching staff, but hey, it would make sense. A few more playmakers at WR and on the defensive line would make this team all the more dangerous.
Indianapolis: They need health at WR, and also more depth at O-Line. Add some health in the secondary. And while Jim Caldwell has been successful in his two years, perhaps they need to examine how much of that is the set up he was handed (perhaps the best ever handed to someone), and whether he really is the best person for this going forward. Perhaps a high level DC needs to come in, not necessarily to replace Caldwell, but to provide a different side of the emotional coin and take over that aspect of the game. Oh, and someone please find whoever is holding Bob Sanders’ voodoo doll.
Philadelphia: Decide on Mike Vick’s future first of all. Please don’t give him a long term deal: franchising a 31 year old QB who relies on athleticism makes far more sense than giving him a long term deal unless you can get a good price. They need physical safety play and to somehow combine their 14 Tackles into 2 good ones. Otherwise, this is a good young dynamic team. They really should trade Kevin Kolb to get something for him. After another year or two he won’t be usable for Philly and will have no trade value. There is tape on him from this year with some decent success: get a 3rd round pick for him. Maybe even a second. I am sure SF, Minnesota, Arizona, or even Oakland might be interested.
New Orleans: Figure out that RB situation. The writing on the wall seems to be that they don’t like Pierre Thomas. Hopefully he leaves then. A healthy match of Chris Ivory and Reggie Bush on passing downs seems to make sense in a Brandon Jacobs and Ahmed Bradshaw way. But they also need more depth there. Julius Jones should never been allowed near the Super Dome again. They also need to approach an athletic but technically imperfect secondary in a new way. Roman Harper KILLED them in this game. When Brandon Stokley is blowing by you, you have issues. Getting one sturdier defensive lineman to rotate through would be nice too. But, otherwise, they just need to regroup and possibly brace for the loss of Gregg Williams (though this game probably won’t help his case).
Up this week will be a divisional round preview but also a recap for the 20 teams that did not make the playoffs, along with a special look at a pair of exciting rookies….and not the ones you think.
BLISS
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