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KQ: Week Ten Review
Authored by Andrew Perna - 13th November, 2007 - 8:28 am
While there isn't a real marquee matchup, Ravens vs. Colts, Panthers vs. Bucs, Bears vs. Falcons, and Chargers vs. Patriots are all pivotal games in the standings.
With John Herrera standing to his right dressed in black and appearing not unlike an undertaker, Lane Kiffin sat down at the podium for Sunday's postgame news conference.
Baltimore wants Flacco to be their QB of the future. But the Ravens feel they have no choice but to start him now because Boller and Smith are unavailable. Wrong!
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For now, the season remains alive for the Philadelphia Eagles. Trailing for a majority of the game, the Eagles marched back with 20 fourth-quarter points en route to a 33-25 victory over the Washington Redskins.
After being intensely criticized for the Eagles’ loss to the Cowboys in Week Nine, Donovan McNabb exploded for 251 yards and four touchdowns to keep Philadelphia’s playoff hopes alive. Brian Westbrook tallied 183 total yards and managed to enter the end zone three times against Washington’s respectable defense.
It was great to see Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb share an embrace during the final moments of the Eagles’ victory. Both have endured a tough 2007 season but for different reasons. Reid has had both his play calling and parenting skills questioned in recent months, and McNabb has taken more shots (from the media) than a college student on his twenty-first birthday.
If Philadelphia can beat the winless Miami Dolphins this week, they’ll have clawed their way back to .500 (at 5-5). A loss to Miami would not only likely end their playoff hopes but would also provide plenty of embarrassment. With St. Louis having won their first game of the season in Week Ten, Miami stands “tall” as the only team in the league without a victory.
The Downs The First Down…St. Louis Blues The blues are over for the St. Louis Rams. After nine tough weeks, the Rams finally earned their first victory of the 2007 season on Sunday against the Saints. They did it all during their 37-29 win over New Orleans. Marc Bulger threw for 302 yards and two scores while Steven Jackson ran for 76 yards and a touchdown (he also threw a two-yard touchdown pass). New Orleans scored 21 fourth-quarter points, but it was too little too late. The Rams will try to add to their winning streak against the 49ers this weekend.
The Second Down…Pittsburgh Takes Control The Steelers took control of the AFC North with a win over the Browns on Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger rallied Pittsburgh back with a late fourth-quarter touchdown using of all things, his legs. Roethlisberger scrambled for a 30-yard score to start the fourth quarter and then propelled the Steelers to victory with a 2-yard strike to Heath Miller to put the finishing touches on the win. Cleveland (5-4) lost out on the opportunity to tie Pittsburgh for the division lead and has now fallen two games behind the Steelers (7-2). Chances are Pittsburgh will hold onto their lead with games against the New York Jets and Miami in the next two weeks.
The Third Down…Dallas Stars The Dallas Cowboys showed the New York Giants who truly rules the NFC East. Having won six straight games, the Giants looked to move into a tie for first-place with a victory over the Cowboys on Sunday. Tony Romo and Terrell Owens had other ideas. Romo threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns, including six connections with Owens for 125 yards and two scores. Eli Manning struggled just enough to allow Dallas to pull away, throwing for 236 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The Cowboys swept the Giants on the season, but with seven games left New York still has plenty of time to catch “America’s team.”
The Fourth Down…Peyton Breaks Down The Colts’ loss to the Patriots last week may have had a lasting effect on Peyton Manning. Indianapolis lost their second-straight game on Sunday night to San Diego, falling to 7-2 on the season. Peyton threw six interceptions into the Chargers’ secondary, a career-high for the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Manning very nearly led the Colts to a comeback victory, but Adam Vinatieri missed a 29-yard field goal with less than two minutes left that would have given Indianapolis a 24-23 victory (the conditions were rough). Remember when Adam was Mr. Clutch? I didn’t take the time to check the numbers, but his accuracy has to have fallen twenty percent since leaving New England. Anyone think Belichick had cameras in place for Vinatieri as well?
The ‘Who The Heck’ Statline of the Week… Packers’ running back Ryan Grant: 25 rushes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
My Keyboard Prediction for Week Eleven Cleveland at Baltimore, Sunday 1:00PM EST With the Steelers looking as though they’ll soon be 9-2, this game means a lot for the Browns and Ravens in regards to the AFC playoff picture. The Browns will be victorious in Baltimore because the Ravens have looked horrible on both offense and defense recently. If the Bengals’ offense wasn’t so inconsistent, they would have scored touchdowns on a few of their seven field goal-ending drives. Cincinnati easily could have wrung up 40, or 50 points on the Ravens. Cleveland won’t be so kind.
My Fantasy Diary… I knew it. All week I was preparing myself for a loss at the hands of My Little Ponies. The team’s name may not strike fear throughout the league, but with LaDainian Tomlinson and Tony Romo in their lineup The Ponies are always dangerous.
Through the first round of games The Drew Crew and Ponies were neck-and-neck. My bye-week tight end, Randy McMichael, had his best game of the season with 41-yards and a touchdown. Reggie Brown added 55 yards and a score, and Willie Parker contributed his typical 105-yard, touchdown-less performance.
Meanwhile, the Ponies enjoyed 46-yards and a score from Kellen Winslow, 124 yards from Torry Holt and a lethargic performance from Jamal Lewis (43 total yards and a fumble).
Despite all the negative forecasting, a win was still in my sights.
That was until the Tony Romo-Eli Manning matchup began, and my dreams went down the toilet. Romo threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns, good enough for 35 points. On the other sideline, Manning contributed just 236 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions (worth a measly 14 points).
I was toast.
The Drew Crew would lose just their third game of the season, falling to 7-3.
Worst of all. my division rival The Kings were victorious over the Big Bulls. The win moved them into a tie with The Crew for first place in our division. I was still the de facto leader because of my incredible record within the division but felt uncomfortable, nonetheless.
Week Ten was easily my worst fantasy performance of the 2007 season. In addition to the fall of The Drew Crew, I compiled my worst overall record of the year. It’s all coming at the wrong time with the postseason just a few short weeks away.
Next week The Crew will take on the Kazakhstan Borats. It’s a game that I shouldn’t have a huge problem winning, on paper. The Borats will march out Drew Brees, Cedric Benson, Willis McGahee, Donte’ Stallworth, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Dallas Clark, Ryan Longwell and the Patriots' defense.
Joseph Addai, Willie Parker and company will have to bring their ‘A’ game, though, because anything is possible.
And at times the Borats have looked Verrry Niiice!
My Fantasy Football Record for the 2007 Season: Week Ten: 3-9
Week Nine: 5-7
Week Eight: 6-6
Week Seven: 6-6
Week Six: 10-2
Week Five: 5-7
Week Four: 9-3
Week Three: 7-5
Week Two: 6–6
Week One: 8–4
Overall: 66 wins and 55 losses
