ESPN NFL Images of the Decade
It seems like only yesterday that we were all worried about Y2K and some rookie named Tom Brady was a late round pick by New England who looked to never threaten Drew Bledsoe for the starting position. Since that time we have seen many highlights and some heartfelt moments like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.
ESPN takes a look back on the first decade of the century as seen through the eyes of the NFL. And the most shocking thing is that the Buffalo Bills actually had a winning season this decade.
Week 17 NFL Power Rankings
1) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-2)
New England hasn’t lost since the first week of November. Their offense also hasn’t scored fewer than 31 points since that Week 9 loss to Cleveland.
2) ATLANTA FALCONS (12-3)
Atlanta couldn’t get anything going against the Saints on Sunday. But they have one final warm-up against the lowly Carolina Panthers, talk about a confidence boost.
3) CHICAGO BEARS (11-4)
Chicago’s offense is heating up at the right time of the year. With 40 points against Minnesota and then 38 points against the New York Jets last week, they’re peaking at the right time.
4) BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-4)
Baltimore has only lost to Pittsburgh, Atlanta, New England and Cincinnati this season. It’s safe to say the Bengals game was a fluke, but those three losses say a lot: The Ravens are good, but they may not be great.
5) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11-4)
The Saints are winners of seven of their last eight games. The lone loss came against the Baltimore Ravens. New Orleans desperately needs a running game to take pressure off Drew Brees.
6) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-4)
Pittsburgh really needs a first-round bye to allow as much time as possible for Troy Polamalu to get healthy.
7) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-5)
Just when you think nobody can beat the Eagles, they lose a game. They need to stomp Dallas to finish the year and build some positive momentum entering the playoffs.
8 ) NEW YORK JETS (10-5)
Losers of three out of their last four games, the Jets are backing into the playoffs. Assuming Green Bay makes the playoffs, the Jets will have a combined 2-4 record against 2010 playoff teams.
9) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-5)
The Chiefs only loss in the last six weeks was a game in which they didn’t have their starting quarterback, Matt Cassel. Sure, they beat some cupcakes, but they’re still a dangerous team with a dynamic offense.
10) GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-6)
Aaron Rodgers returned to the starting lineup and the Packers obliterated the New York Giants. The Packers are hot and cold, but they can beat anybody in the league when they’re hot.
11) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-6)
The Colts may have stumbled in the middle of the season, but they’ve won the games they had to win. It all means nothing if they lose to Tennessee and Jacksonville wins.
12) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-6)
Raheem Morris deserves to win head coach of the year, especially if they can beat New Orleans to close the season.
13) NEW YORK GIANTS (9-6)
Sure the Packers are a good team, but getting blown out at this critical time of the year was a team-wide failure. That’s two straight losses to playoff-caliber teams.
14) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (8-7)
San Diego needs to show up the first two months of the season. The lack of urgency to start the season is the fault of the coaching staff. Norv Turner is an offensive coordinator, not a leader of men.
15) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-7)
Jacksonville needs a new coaching staff. Jack Del Rio has had enough chances; it’s time for a new direction.
16) ST. LOUIS RAMS (7-8)
St. Louis is letting rookie quarterback Sam Bradford lead them to wins and with a victory over Seattle, they’ll be in the playoffs.
17) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-9)
For those who haven’t seen new quarterback Joe Webb and really for those who have, what an athlete! This young guy makes Cam Newton look out of shape.
18) OAKLAND RAIDERS (7-8)
It’s too bad Oakland selected JaMarcus Russell in the 2007 NFL Draft. They could’ve had Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Darrelle Revis or even Ahmad Bradshaw who was selected in the seventh round as the sixth-to-last pick. With any of those guys, they might be playoff-bound.
19) MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-8)
Losing to the Lions, even if they are on a hot streak is pitiful. Miami is a quarterback away from competing for a playoff spot.
20) WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6-9)
Tennessee won their first game since October 24. By limiting Houston to only 30 rushing yards last week, it’s too little, too late for the Titans.
21) TENNESSEE TITANS (6-9)
With only one win since Halloween, does head coach Jeff Fisher have any job security left?
22) DALLAS COWBOYS (5-10)
Dallas has allowed the most points in the NFC, but they’ve scored the third most. They’re not far off if they can improve the defense in the offseason.
23) HOUSTON TEXANS (5-10)
Losing to a Tim Tebow-led Denver Broncos team is unacceptable. Houston has quit on themselves.
24) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-9)
In their nine losses, Seattle is averaging 14 points and 35 points allowed. Those are blowouts, it’s not even close.
25) DETROIT LIONS (5-10)
The last time Detroit won two straight road games goes all the way back to 2004.
26) CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-10)
Head coach Eric Mangini is as good as done now that the Browns have lost three in a row.
27) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-10)
Owner Jed York should’ve held a press conference and said “Can not play with them! Can not win with them! Can not coach with them! Can’t do it! I want WINNERS!” then walked off stage with no pants on.
28) BUFFALO BILLS (4-11)
Heading into 2011, the offense isn’t that bad but the defense is. They need to big draft of defensive playmakers.
29) ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-10)
The Cards showed up in a big way last week. What’s silly is, they’re only two games behind the division-leading St. Louis Rams.
30) CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-11)
The Bengals are officially on a win streak. T.O. little, too late.
31) DENVER BRONCOS (4-11)
Tim Tebow won his first game as a starter in Week 16 against the Texans. Has the Tebow era begun?
32) CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-13)
The Panthers are now on the clock in the 2011 NFL Draft with the No. 1 pick.
Merry Christmas From The NFL Cheerleaders [gallery]
Happy Holidays everyone….what’s left of them. We still have the big New Year’s Eve event to celebrate which means that instead of just going out and getting drunk of Friday night like I usually do, I will be going out and getting drunk and wearing funny hats. There’s a bit of a distinction. On the plus side a gallery of Christmas cheerleaders will help with the hangover
Tuesday Night Football With A Nation of Wussies and Vick Cartoon
Let’s face it. Someone up there hates the Vikings. The last three Minnesota games have been moved due to weather and nothing says you’ve pissed off the big man upstairs like 3 weeks of weather delays.
The Vikings lost their home at the Metrodome for a few weeks and ended up having to play on the frozen field at the University of Minnesota. This week they’re on the road and what could go wrong there?
Well, the weather again. A blizzard shut down Philadelphia as they were hoping to host the Vikings on Sunday Night Football. That game is moved to Tuesday for the first game on that day in decades. The weather delay prompted Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to spout off about a ‘Nation of Wussies’ and compared the situation to the prison-labor style of work found in China.
We have become a nation of wussies. The Chinese are kicking our butts in everything.
If this was in China, do you think the Chinese would have called off the game? He’s right, the people would have been marching down to the stadium, they would have walked, and they would be doing calculus on the way down. [via]
Nothing sums up the situation like comparing yourself to a communist state where civil liberties are routinely violated. Jumping in your SUV and hitting a tailgating party where there’s more food and drink than should be human consumed is exactly like living in China.
I watch “It’s Always Sunny” every week and I was always thinking that the Gang were a bunch of wussies. I mean look what goes on over there on TV. Their news is hardcore awesome.
Take a look at this animated piece from Taiwan (technically, Taiwan’s a spinoff of China like “Frasier” was of “Cheers”) on the recent news that President Obama took a moment out from his Hitler Youth Rallies to call and congratulate the Eagles owner for hiring ex-con Michael Vick.
I’m not sure why they hate on Vick so much. There are restaurants over there in China that can serve you up a plate of doggie. Yeah, I knew a guy that tried it. Said it tasted like pork. Yuck.
Broncos Tim Tebow Slips Bible Verse On Uniform
Denver Broncos rookie QB has been known for using bible verses for inspiration. The NCAA even banned his eye black that featured a bible verse. The NFL has even stricter uniform policies and each game the players are overlooked by officials dubbed the uniform police for irregularities.
With the eye black on the banned list Tebow had to figure another way to get his religious message across to fans. Enter the arm band that features the QB’s plays.
Tebow wrote a verse on his armband which has now been noticed by fans. It appears that Tebow has had the message on his armband for the last two games he has started although it’s hard to read the writing on the Oakland game armband.
The verse on the armband appears to be Luke 2: 10-11, which states: “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.’”
Clever for Tebow to find a way to spread the message but expect a little clause to appear in the offseason about uniforms to include the armband.
Detroit Lions Center Dominic Raiola Tells Miami to Suck His D***
Dominic Raiola didn’t like what fans in section 156 of Sun Life Stadium were saying and he lets out some words of wisdom. Basically, it’s what they can do to his private parts after the Detroit Lions beat the Miami Dolphins 34-27 this afternoon.
It’s safe to say that Raiola didn’t expect a camera to capture his moment for the league to review and fine him over. Offensive linemen usually don’t get public attention and with the Lions riding a 3-game winning streak (Yes, you read that right) this is not quite what anyone in the organization would like to see.
VIDEO: Tim Tebow’s Game Winning TD
All Glory to the Tim Tebow!
Denver fans have had little to root for this year as the Josh McDaniels experience fizzled away into disaster. Thankfully, the Broncos drafted Tim Tebow and in just his second start we are seeing the results.
Tebow helped the Florida Gators to multiple Championships thanks to his love of the game. Critics complain about his mechanics but downplay what I consider his most valuable assets: leadership and heart. Tebow comes to play and you can see the emotion on his sleeve.
I mean it. Seriously. Click that image to the right of Tebow running to the endzone. Tell me he’s not smiling !
Check out his game-winning TD against the Houston Texans from Sunday night. Down 23-17 with a little over 3 minutes left in the game, Tebow gets the Broncos down to the goal line of the Texans. Thanks to some great passing by Tebow, the Bronocs were able to position themselves to take the lead. Throw in an endzone pass interference call against the Texans and you have the setup for a perfect Tebow highlight!
Video: Ed Reed’s Jacket Catches Fire On Sideline
The Ravens Ed Reed learns that no matter how cold it is on the sideline you must not sit directly next to the heater. It’s not often you see Reed, who had two INT’s today, get burned during a game so enjoy the rarity of the video.
The Peyton Manning Bootleg Video Is A Sight That Must Be Seen
The Colts are up on the Oakland Raiders by 5 points with 1:30 left in the game. With a 3rd and 2 on the Oakland 32-yard line what do you do?
If you thought about a Peyton Manning bootleg to grab the first down you would probably be one of the few people to consider that play. The Raiders most definitely did not see it coming as Peyton rumbled down the sidelines before sliding on the 3-yard line.
Why he went down is either he ran out of gas, wanted to end the game by running the clock down, or just thought he was going to be tackled. Who cares. The Colts won and if they win next week (or the Jags lose) they are in the playoffs.
The best part is the video of Peyton Manning running down the field which makes me feel good that I could come close to beating him running the 40. I probably still couldn’t beat him since I’m a lazy turd but at least it’s something I can compare myself to him at. Enjoy the video and no, it’s not in slow motion.
AFC Playoff Picture: Todd Haley’s Chiefs Win West
The Chargers’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals gave Kansas City (10-5) their first AFC West title since Dick Vermeil’s 2003 Chiefs went 13-3. The fantastic turnaround of the Chiefs came with Sunday’s thumping of the lifeless Tennessee Titans 34-14 and ensures no other AFC West team will make it into the playoffs. There is only one playoff spot left and that will go to either the Indianapolis Colts or the Jacksonville Jaguars as the AFC South champions.
In the AFC East, the New England Patriots have taken the division championship and the New York Jets have secured a playoff spot as well.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens remain tied for the AFC North Division title. Both will make the playoffs but the division champ will not be decided until the last game of the season next week. That leaves the Colts and Jaguars fighting for the AFC South title. The Colts are up by one game on the Jags but will have to win next week or have the Jags lose next week to ensure a playoff spot.
Now back to the Chiefs. Their AFC West title comes on a 4-win season last year. Using the draft, the Chiefs were able to stock up their squad with talents like Dexter McCluster and Eric Berry, who returned an interception 54 yards for a TD Sunday. The Chiefs also tallied up 458 total yards against the Titans to help cap a fantastic year by the Chiefs and head coach Todd Haley.
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