My name is Seth Laurence.
I am a 28-year old radio broadcaster in Illinois.
I enjoy writing about sports and will post about a variety of topics.
Follow me on Twitter @Seth_SportsTalk
Thanks for reading.
Chief editor: Isaac Blue
As we've reached the World Series, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm about sick of seeing the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants playing in the late October series... But that's another topic for another day.
Normally, the World Series rolls around and I'm a fan of the Mets, so naturally I'd like to see the NL win, but when it's the St. Louis Cardinals, no way. I'm an AL guy then. But not this year, and there's one reason I'll be hoping the Cardinals win, and that's Carlos Beltran.
After this team clinched their spot, you heard the next day all about how this team wanted to get Carlos Beltran that championship he deserves. And he does. He absolutely does.
Carlos Beltran is one of my all-time favorite players. He's by far one of the best Mets to wear the uniform, second to Darryl Strawberry of course. When he signed that big contract, every Mets game I went to, I couldn't wait to see Carlos Beltran in the middle of that lineup behind Jose Reyes, next to David Wright because he was a lot of fun to watch. The funny thing about it is he's still got about 60% of Mets fans who can't get over that one, wicked as all hell, curveball from an unknown commodity in Adam Wainwright in 2006.
The fact is, Beltran was tremendous in New York. He gets a bad rap for the injuries and the struggle in the first year of that huge contract, compiled with the horrible collision in the outfield with Mike Cameron. But when you set aside those things, his Mets numbers are up there with all-time Mets. And yet Carlos Beltran can't get past that one pitch he took for strike three.
The man is championship caliber player. He makes every team he plays on better. And a championship for him, would emphasize that more. Now Mets fans probably don't want to see him get it with the Cardinals, and to be fair, it certainly would add insult to injury. I can't hide it, it kills me seeing him helping that team, but at the same time, I'm rooting for Carlos Beltran because of the player that meant so much to the Mets, and also for Carlos Beltran the man, humanitarian, and teammate.
I'm rooting for Carlos Beltran for a lot of reasons. Like I said, he's always been one of my favorite players, with the Mets, away from the Mets, wherever. When he went to St. Louis, I knew he would be healthy, he would be successful, and I knew the Cards were signing a champion in the making. But he was so close to getting the Mets to the promised land, it's bittersweet to see him getting this opportunity.
It's funny, the arrogance of Cardinals fans sometimes cracks me up. I like to think I'm a pretty humble person, and I can think straight and somewhat unbiased, but living in Cardinal nation, it's difficult because all I heard in 2012 was about Carlos Beltran being the outcast of the Mets... I bet you (being me, of course) hate seeing him in St. Louis... We got the Mets old garbage... He's better off with us.... bla bla bla. And all I could think was, yea, you wish I hated Carlos Beltran because you won't have half the player we had.
Here's the deal. The Cardinals are getting a half complete Carlos Beltran. The Mets, Astros and Royals had the best years of this man's baseball life. The Cardinals are just coming in for sloppy seconds. (Still, pretty high standard for sloppy seconds you know)
How can you say that? His batting average is the same... He'd be on pace to match his stolen bases in New York... He's already played more games in his first two years here than he did in his first two in New York... again, bla bla bla bla... Arrogant Cardinal fans.
Carlos Beltran hit .280 in his Mets career. He is probably the last true five tool player the game has seen, and he spent about half his prime in New York. He hit almost 150 homers in seven seasons. His worst batting average was .255 in 2010, when he only played in 64 games, that's a third of the season.
Carlos Beltran in his first World Series appearance, is 36 years old. Think about that for minute. If you think a 36-year old athlete, who is breaking down by the year could duplicate what he did in his late 20s and early 30s, you are delusional.
But we don't have to worry about that, because it's almost a guarantee Carlos Beltran will leave "Baseball Heaven" after the World Series is over, likely get another $30-million dollar, two or three year contract offer, and finish out his playing career somewhere.
On a side note, how fitting would it be if he did that with the franchise that originally drafted him and carried them to a World Series.
But what's lost in all this discussion, is yes you have the half seasons towards the end of what is now a very favorable contract but at the time it was a crazy contact, 7 years for $119 million. And yes you have the strike out in game seven of the NLCS in '06, and yes you have two years of collapses in the final week to miss the playoffs in '07 and '08, but look at his numbers and tell me, if the Mets didn't have him, they woulda been better off. The fact Mets fans still think this guy was a horrible signing shows just how off this fan base really is.
Here are how the top three seasons for Beltran in New York shake out (per Baseball Reference)
Yea, Carlos Beltran was just a bust and did nothing for this franchise. The numbers speak for themselves, but I just can't get over that argument. He also had a couple huge hits in the final day of the season in 2008 when the Mets lost on their hold for the Wild Card and missed the playoffs.
But again, the Mets should have never signed Beltran.
Take that and sell it somewhere else. Beltran was one of the greatest Mets to wear the uniform and grace the field. He's half the player he was, but he can still play, and he's getting it done in St. Louis.
Now for his off the field stuff. Not only is he a great baseball player, he's a tremendous person off the field.
In every community he's played in, Beltran has always gone out of his way to give back to sick children, less fortunate families in run-down neighborhoods, and in 2011 he opened his Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy.
A quote from a June 11, Danny Knobler article on CBSSports.com says "the idea for the academy is similar to the one John Young had when he started baseball's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program: use baseball to get kids to value education, and along the way help develop young players".
In a USA Today article from May, Beltran is quoted as saying "I believe in education so much, wanting kids to understand how important it is in their lives. If you can play sports and make a living out of it, great. But it still doesn't replace education. That's in my heart. It will always be in my heart. Your baseball skills go away. Your education will stay with you forever."
That's awesome! And that's just the start of all the things this guy does.
It's unbelievable to me that the man has yet to be recognized with the Roberto Clemente Award. It's the award given to the player that stands out off the field with the work they do for others. But I have to say, some very deserving people have won the award, including Clayton Kershaw.
Side note again, Kershaw is doing incredibly things for kids in Africa with his wife. If you have time, I recommend you find some reading material on that. Kershaw is a great guy, and his off the field stuff is a big reason he's one of my favorite players.
So as the World Series opens in Boston on Wednesday night, I will be loathing the fact the Cardinals are again in the World Series, and the Mayor of Boston thinks these teams are playing for the "World Series Cup", I will be rooting on a man I modeled my hitting (comments not accepted from my friends I played baseball with), fielding, and playing baseball after. I'll be rooting on a guy that knows his platform is an opportunity to help others rather than glorify himself.
It's funny. Yankee stadium was "The House that Ruth Built". Lucas Oil is "The House Peyton Built". But the way the Mets were going when they started designing and building Citi Field, you could almost make the case, "It's the House Carlos Built"... only to see them deal him that summer.
At any rate, I'll be rooting for a Carlos Beltran more than the Cardinals. But because his success is reliant on their success, I guess that equals I'll be rooting for the Cardinals the next week to ten days.
Mets and Cardinals fans alike will enjoy this exchange of two guys in New York I listen to talk about the Cardinals and Carlos Beltran.
Another week is in the NFL books as we saw teams pick up much needed wins, we saw some unexpected upsets, and we saw some teams go on the road and play very well. We'll get after it here on this Tuesday morning.
SEAvsARI - I know this was the Thursday game, my only take away from this is the Seahawks are playing well, both on the road and at home. They seem to be the favorite in the NFC right now because of that. Also of interest, they could be close to getting Percy Harvin, and how dangerous will they be then? You add that to Mershawn Lynch and Russell Wilson who are playing stellar right now. That really adds a new dimension to the team.
TBvsATL - I know Atlanta is beat up, but at home against an absolutely awful Tampa Bay team, this game should not have been this close. A win is a win is a w in, but the Falcons are completely desecrated by injury. And what a big loss for Tampa losing Doug Martin. A lot of concern going forward for both these clubs.
CINvsDET - What a quality football this was. An old fashion shootout and Andy Dalton did enough late to get them to a win. It's never easy containing Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson at the same time, so I give the Bengals a pass on defense. But the offense is coming around. Some very winnable games going forward into their week 12 bye, the Bengals could create some separation in the AFC North.
NEvsNYJ - I feel zero for the sympathy for the Pats being screwed by a terrible rule. It was the right call in that situation. Yes it probably was not the place to first call it, but apparently the Pats were warned about doing that and still did. The Pats are just fine going forward, but the Jets, my goodness, the up and down season continues, and I still like this defense. The offense is going to continue to be the question mark this season.
DALvsPHI - The Cowboys did themselves a huge favor going on the road in the NFC North and pulling out the win. The Cowboys right now are the favorite in the division that is incredibly weak. Romo looked good again. Unless the Eagles can get Vick back into vintage form, they are going to struggle on offense, while they can continue to struggle on defense.
HOUvsKC - The Chiefs just squeeked out a win this week, but the Texans actually looked good. Brian Cushing is a huge, huge loss for an already struggling defense. But the Chiefs continue to roll and their pass rush is unbelievable, and they're doing it with mostly their front four. I expect them to give the Broncos a great game in a few weeks. Case Keenum I thought played well. He made some plays. I like him going forward.
BALvsPIT - This was one of the ugliest games you'll ever see. Most people want to call it an old fashioned defensive battle, OK. That's fine. But I think it was just incompetence for both offenses. The Steelers seem to be bouncing back, but I still don't buy them. They are completely depleted up front. The Ravens are struggling in a big way right now and desparately need a win. The upcoming schedule is pretty tough for them, but they are definitely winnable games.
DENvsIND - This game lived up to the hype. When Indianapolis is at home, they are tough. With the struggles of the rest of the division, they can absolutely win a playoff game, if they don't get a bye, which as this point, they are a contender for one of those. I don't worry about Denver. Like I said, Indy is so tough at home. The Broncos are going to be so dangerous if they can get Von Miller back to his old form. We'll see how Indy responds to a big injury loss in Reggie Wayne.
Big Winners from Sunday:
Cincinnati Bengals - The defense is playing well. And now the offense is gettig back into form. They got a great road win and are very much a contender for a first round bye, and have to be the front runner for this division. I really like the Bengals going forward.
Washington Redskins - RGIII looked very good against the Bears, who are very beat up and continue to slide after a very good start. If the Skins can figure out their defensive woes, I can't say they are out of it in the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys went on the road and got a great win. Any road win is a good win. The Eagles struggles at home are remarkable, but still, the Cowboys didn't play their best and were able to win. Says a lot about them.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Maybe a week of rest was what this team needed. The Steelers are now 2-0 out of their bye, and have some very winnable games coming up. I don't buy the Steelers yet, but a few wins on the road in the next month might change my mind. We'll see.
Indianapolis Colts - A lot of people felt the Colts could win this game, but I think were quietly reserved about it being Peyton's return to Indy. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Chuck Pagano doesn't have the most talent, but man he can game plan with the best of them and really get the most out of what he has.
Biggest Losers:
New England Patriots - The Pats played well enough to win this game, but they are beat up and they are definitely exposed if they let the Jets move the ball all over the field on them. The Pats are vulnerable and don't have a lot of options.
Baltimore Ravens - Yes this is always a dog fight, but the Ravens let a winnable game slip. They are really struggling and have to find somewhere to get a win somewhere with a couple tough road games in the next few weeks.
Chicago Bears - The injuries continue to mount for the Bears as they try to turn things around under first year head coach Mark Trestman. Obviously injuries are hard to overcome, but after a great start, things continue to turn south for the Monsters of the Midway.
St. Louis Rams - Yes they were on the road, but Sam Bradford's ACL tear is huge loss. I have to say, he was having a quietly good year, but things look like they may have hit the fan for him now. I hate to say it, but I think Tim Tebow could be a very good influence there and I would think he could give them a chance to win games going forward. With how bad they've been in some games, believe it or not, the Rams are just one game under .500.
Denver Broncos - The Broncos have been exposed. If you have any sort of a four man rush and you can get to Peyton Manning, you can beat the Broncos. The biggest problem is, right now, the front four in Kansas City are playing as good as anyone in football. That's worrysome if you're a Broncos fan or coach.
That's a wrap, I'll be back with the power rankings next week.
Look for a brief World Series preview between now and tomorrow morning.
The Orange & Blue game was Thursday at the Assembly Hall (I'm sorry, State Farm Center) in Champaign, and exhibitions games are set to get underway this week. The 2013-14 Illinois Fighting Illini are going to have a drastically different look after a surprising 2012-13 campaign.
My view of the Indiana upset
The 2012-13 Illini featured four seniors that were the heart and soul of the team that made the 2nd round (technically, it was the 3rd round) of the NCAA tournament and pulled off several big upsets along the way. Ohio State and Indiana certainly stand out to everybody.
Because of the loss of excellent guard play by left behind by DJ Richardson and Brandon Paul, along with the big, versatile bodies of Tyler Griffey and Sam McLaurin, this year's edition of the Illinois Fighting Illini have a lot of voids, holes, leadership, you name it, they most likely have to find a replacement for it.
This year's squad features two key juniors that move into the upper-classman ranks and will be heavily relied upon as the leaders of this unit, both on and off the court. Highly touted recruits from the Chicago area dating back to the Bruce Weber era, Tracy Abrams and Nnanna Egwu now become go to guys for the Illini. One of just two seniors on this team, Jo Bertrand will have to undoubtedly step up and shoulder a lot of the load as well.
Did I mention seven, count em, seven, new faces Coach John Groce will try to flawlessly implement into his system.
(It's actually ten if you include transfers Darius Paul, Brandon Paul's younger brother, who transferred from Western Michigan, Ahmad Starks, a Chicago native who had a hardship waiver denied by the NCAA to be allowed to play right away after transferring from Oregon State, and Aaron Cosby, a transfer from Seton Hall, all of whom have to sit out for a year because of NCAA transfer guidelines)
So all that said, like I pointed out at the top, this is going to be a very different looking Fighting Illini group.
What I like about this team is the underwhelming amount of experience. That can be taken two different ways, but the direction I'll turn is to the experience they return. Joseph Bertrand, Nnanna Egwu, and Tracy Abrams are hands down the most experienced players this team has. But I like each and every one of these kids and I without a doubt think they could keep Illinois in the upper tier of the Big Ten Conference.
If you've picked up on anything about John Groce to this point in his time at Illinois, one thing that to me stands out the most is he is an unbelievably positive person. You would be hard pressed to find a quote from him where he doesn't put a positive spin on things, be it a loss, injury, bad bounce of luck, anything.
Listening to him talk about the progress off Abrams and Egwu should give Illini fans a ton of hope as we head into what looks to be a very uncertain 2013-14 campaign. Give a listen from his press conference at media day for Illinois recently.
I'll get to why I think this team will be successful because of the coach in a little bit, but Nnanna Egwu isn't the only player that has made strides. As I mentioned, Tracy Abrams is another guy Groce speaks very highly of when it comes to his leadership. As the point guard of the team, he's basically the general on the floor, always having to know the situation, what he's going to do with the ball each time he gets, and directing the players around him and putting them in positions to be successful. Because of that, a point guard must have the trust and respect of his teammates, and I don't think Abrams never had the trust and respect of his peers, but Coach Groce talks about him going above and beyond to better connect with them off the floor, which makes his connection on the floor with them stronger. Have a listen.
This next guy I think is the key to the Illini's success this year. When you think about good Illinois teams, you think about a guy that can put the team on his back. You saw it last year in at Gonzaga, Brandon Paul put the team on his shoulders. The Indiana game, DJ Richardson carried the team down the stretch with big time plays offensively and defensively. I think Joseph Bertrand is the guy that is going to have to step up and put the team on his shoulders. Listening to Groce talk about Bertrand, he's the seasoned veteran of the group. To me, he's primed for a big time senior season.
One guy I think Illini fans will be pleasantly surprised by will be Rayvonte Rice. Rice is a transfer from Drake of the Missouri Valley Conference, and is a Champaign native. Rice was already a very versatile player upon his transfer, but of all the players Coach Groce talks about, this guy he sings the highest praises for. Groce says Rice can be a four position player on both offense and defense. There are not many athletes like that at any level. John Groce is really setting the bar high for this kid, I'm very excited and curious to see if he can live up to it.
I mentioned there will be a lot of uncertainty to this upcoming year, and that's where the second part of the underwhelming amount of experience comes in. Freshman Malcolm Hill, Kendrick Nunn, Jaylon Tate, Maverick Morgan, and Austin Colbert are the freshman newcomers. Add to that Jon Ekey, a graduate transfer (same situation as McLaurin last year) from Illinois State. The experience of this team is very limited, which means its likely Groce will have to maintain at least one or two of his experienced veterans on the floor at the same time, which may not give them a lot of rest.
When you talk about depth, the Illini like last year lack depth with their big men. Egwu gaining 30 pounds is great, but I very much wonder if his body can handle playing better than 25 or 30 minutes a night, especially when you're talking about a grueling Big Ten schedule. This is where Ekey is going to have step up big.
Jon Ekey For ISU
When I first read Ekey was headed over to Champaign from Bloomington/Normal, I was pretty stoked. Ekey was a straight stud at ISU last year. It really helped him he played next to the Missouri Valley's top big man in Jackie Carmichael. Well at the U of I, Ekey is going to have an even better big man playing alongside him in Egwu. And that is taking absolutely nothing away from Carmichael, because he was a tremendous player and rightfully making his way through the NBA circuit at this point. I look for Ekey to have a sneaky good year. A good comparison I think for Ekey is Tyler Griffey with maybe a little less versatility.
Now for the freshman: Kendrick Nunn comes with plenty of hype, and for good reason. The lefty played alongside one of the nation's top basketball prospects in Jabarri Parker and the two led Chicago Simeon to four straight IHSA Class 4A State Titles.
Jaylon Tate At Simeon
Not to mention, the final two years of Simeon's dominance, they were regarded as one of the top high school basketball teams in the entire country. The kid knows how to play on the big stage. His teammate Jaylon Tate was also a part of those four teams, and while he comes with far fewer accolades, I expect Tate to learn quickly from the seasoned veteran Abrams and really make big strides in the Illini system.
With Coach Groce signing some very intriguing players for his 2014 class, I really think this '13 class is not getting enough credit. They are a very green group, but the raw talent is there for them to meet, if not exceed, their expectation. One guy that is the epitome of this is Malcolm Hill.
Malcolm Hill
He's a 6-6 lanky guard out of the St. Louis area. Coach Groce says he's a very versatile player, but he needs some seasoning. Just like almost every freshman coming in this year. What I like is Hill, along with Nunn and Tate should get to see plenty of floor time in their rookie campaigns.
Another guy that really fits that mold is Maverick Morgan. At 6-10, lanky and long, I am going to really make some Illini fans queasy with this comparison, but I think it's accurate: Mike Tisdale. I know, I know, there's a lot disdained towards Tisdale, but deserved or not, it's about what Morgan looks like right now.
Maverick Morgan
I say right now because I think John Groce can make him into a post player that has the ability, but is not reliant, to step back and knock down perimeter jumpers. Before he's ready to bang with the Cody Zellers or Jared Sullingers, he's going to need experience and to get bigger and stronger. I could be dead wrong, but I don't know that he's going to have that great of a year. I do think, as he gets experience, he will get a lot better.
Austin Colbert
One last guy I think could be sneaky good, again like Morgan and Hill, will be Austin Colbert. At 6-9, and just like Mike Davis, he profiles to be a very athletic kid who needs to learn to put all his skills together. I don't think Davis ever did, but I think Coach Groce is going to be able to get nothing short of Colbert's very best, in terms of effort and ability.
So that is a brief synopsis of what this year's Fighting Illini team looks like personnel wise. As much as I want this group to be a surprise 20+ win team, I just don't see. The Big Ten is going to be as good as it's ever been. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan State are all going to be tough as nails. Iowa is going to be a sleeper. Minnesota is always tough. Northwestern is going to be very solid. The conference really doesn't have a "weakest link". Each team is going to be very good. Of course while I forgot to mention them, that always seems to be what happens, Wisconsin gets left out, and then they scrap n claw their way into the top 25 and manage to play their best basketball in February and March. So really, you look at the Big Ten, and while I don't think they will, Illinois could easily slide into the lower third of the Conference standings.
Now that said, let's talk about John Groce, because it was after the Bruce Weber firing, the rejections from Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens, were well documented and really put Illini fans in the dumps. Then all of a sudden, they hire this tall, bald guy from Ohio. He's got energy, he doesn't have a lot of name power, but everything you hear about him is positive. OK, so let's wait and see.
Chicago Prospect Cliff Alexander #2 High School Sr In America
Meanwhile, John Groce is killing it everywhere he goes. First thing he does, he makes a B-Line to Chicago and sits down with some of the nation’s top Jr. and Sr. talent. He's real with them. They like him, and immediately Illinois shoots towards the top of their lists.
He talks to the guys that were already committed, Jaylon Tate, Kendrick Nunn, and Malcolm Hill. He managed to keep those guys, who I'm sure, had plenty of vultures trying to nab them after Bruce left. So he gets a late start, but he's getting it done on the recruiting trail.
Meanwhile, he's changing the atmosphere with the guys he's got. He's high energy. He's positive. He has them believing they can compete with the Big Ten's best. He has them working on their game in the summer.
Brandon Paul at Gonzaga
I think the turning point when everybody started believing in this guy was when they went to Maui, Hawaii, and blasted Butler in the championship game of that tournament. Still, and rightfully so, there were a few doubters. Then around Christmas time, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Illinois does their annual thing with Gonzaga. And the Illini go to the opposite side of the country and blast Gonzaga. Everybody loved Gonzaga and didn't give the Illini a shot, and they killed Gonzaga. We saw Brandon Paul become the player we all knew he could be. That was when John Groce won over all of Illini nation. We all know what happened then. They went into the Big Ten schedule no longer under the radar. They did well, losing some tough games, winning some improbable games. Ohio State and Indiana certainly stick out to us all.
Now, Groce has a very similar situation. I believe Illinois was picked 7th in the conference. I think, certainly a fair ranking, but, Coach Groce is definitely going to sell the "no respect" line. A lot of people say Illinois doesn't have as much talent as last. While fair, I don't think it's quite accurate. I think Illinois is talented in a different way. Last year, Illinois had a lot of developed talent that was ready to explode, and they did. I look at the Abrams, Egwu, and Bertrand combination as being your key three, and Groce is going to have to find those role players that can have an impact on the game. As easily as I could see Illinois falling into the lower tier of the conference standings by the end of the year, I could easily see them surprising people and finishing in the area of fifth to seventh with maybe another 8-10 or 10-8 Big Ten record.
All that said, I really don't know what to expect because it really comes down to what are the experienced guys going to do? Are they going to step up and lead the charge both from a leadership standpoint and statistical standpoint? Are they going to be more role players and hope the other guys fill in the gap?
Coach Groce with his son after Illini upset of Indiana
Like I said in the outset, this season, to me, really the success of this team relies on Joseph Bertrand. Coach Groce says it will take everybody, and that's certainly true, but Bertrand needs to be last year's Brandon Paul, where the team would need someone to step up, and he'd get the ball, and make the big shot. Bertrand has the ability to be that guy for the Illini. Another question: Will he do it?
Like I said, Groce is setting up Rayvonte Rice for big things. I hope he's not putting too much on him. If Rice can be that guy that can play four positions and guard four positions, Illinois has a great chance to be a good team because he can fill in a hole while someone gets a breather. If he can be a 12-15 points, maybe 5-7 boards a game guy, Groce will have really found something there.
Final thought as you gear up for what should be a stellar year of college basketball....
I would say it was as wild of a weekend as we've seen this year, but it wasn't, still, it was almost as interesting as we've seen. Let's dive in and get to it.
NOvsNE - The Saints playing from behind is always interesting because you hear a lot this is a defense that is not a play from behind defense. Well they played rather well in the 2nd half, as they were behind most of it. But when it counted, and they were ahead late in the game, they couldn't stop the Tom Brady no huddlle, 2-minute offense. This was going to be a good game, and it lived up to the billing. You can no longer say the Pats aren't legit because Tom Brady doesn't have any good targets. Not the worst loss for the Saints, as they split a pair of tough road games.
DETvsCLE - The Lions were fortunately able to bounce back from a weak 2nd quarter and pull this thing out. I know the 2nd half wasn't great, and the Browns were exposed in the passing game, but good grief, I am impressed with the effort the Browns are giving right now when everyone is throwing their season in the garbage. It was a good, much needed win for the Lions. Tough loss for the Browns. The Lions are an interesting sleeper headed towards the meat of their schedule.
PITvsNYJ - Just when I'm buying into the Jets and their offensive play calling, despite lacking play makers, and I'm thinking Geno Smith isn't playing so bad as a rookie, they go and have a terrible, absolutely terrible performance like this. Even though Pittsburgh was off a bye, this was a Steelers team the Jets should have dominated. The weak offensive line should have give Big Ben problems all day, but it didn't . The Jets secondary, though beat up, was just torched. I'm not ready to say the Steelers have figured out their flaws, and I'm not ready to bury the hatch on the Jets, but this was a game I was very confident calling Friday.
GBvsBAL - Another game I was stunned by Sunday. I thought the Ravens would be able to get things going on the ground with Clay Matthews out. I thought Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers might meet up in a shoot out. It was the exact opposite. There's something about Aaron Rodgers that just doesn't look right, right now. I can't decide if he's uncomfortable in the pocket, maybe he's losing faith in his receivers. I don't know, but he is not his usual self, and he really needs to find it. On the flip side, this is a bad loss for Baltimore. They needed a win at home, and you can't afford to lose games like these. Not saying they're in trouble, but they are not in a good spot right now.
STLvsHOU - Well the Rams defense finally turned in the performance I gave up on them giving. As much flack as the Texans are catching, and for good reason, this is a really good Rams defense. Up front, the front 7 are very good and the secondary is very underrated. Now for the Texans. The problem is the offensive line. This was a unit I felt really confident in at the beginning of the year, but they do not look good at all right now. Obviously the problems are beyond JUST Matt Schaub. And a quick note, you Texans fans that are cheering an injury, to any player but YOUR own player for that matter are classless clowns. Way to make your franchise it's intelligent fan base look like idiots. Well done. At any rate, the Texans are absolutely in trouble and are letting this division slip farther and farther away by the minute.
CINvsBUF - For as bad as Andy Dalton and company looked last week against the Pats, they looked much better. However, big plays the defense gave up and penalties in bad spots kept Buffalo in the game. Stats and everything shows the Bengals dominated this game. And when you can go on the road, and not play well and still win the game, you have to feel good about it. The schedule is tough ahead for Cincinnati, as three of the next four are on the road before their week 12 bye.
Other quick notes from Sunday...
OAKvsKC - Turnovers and penalties were killer for Oakland in this game. If they eliminate those, this game is a little more uncomfortable for Kansas City. Still, the Chiefs took advantage of the mishaps and downed Oakland to remain unbeaten. A very favorable schedule is ahead for Kansas City, as they could go into their bye undefeated before a week 11 matchup at Denver. The drama is building in Kansas City.
PHIvsTB - Nick Foles looked terrific. The Bucs offense was horrible. The Eagles offense appears to be rolling once again. At 3-3, if the Eagles win Sunday vs Dallas, they are in 1st place in the NFC East... It's hard to believe.
TENvsSEA - I really felt a Seattle victory Sunday would be on the shoulders of a big Russell Wilson day, and he was accurate, he wasn't all that impressive. The Seahawks defense really played conservative I thought. Ryan Fitzpatrick didn't help out the defense, who played well enough for the Titans to pull off the upset on the road. I wasn't overly impressed with Seattle after a tough loss last week, but again, when you don't play your best football and you win, you have to feel good, as a fan that is.
JAXvsDEN - The Broncos started strong, but the Jaguars didn't lay down and play dead for once. But after the half, it was all Denver. Not much more to say about this one.
CARvsMIN - Matt Cassell is terrible. Just terrible. I didn't like the move to him over Christian Ponder. I didn't necessarily dislike pulling Ponder, but why go to Cassell. The Vikings, and the NFL, already know what he is. Find a young QB to invest in. They did in Freeman. Freeman has to start Monday vs the Giants. He has to. I also am curious if the Vikings were overtaken by the Adrian Peterson family tragedy. I don't know. I'm sure if that is the case, they wouldn't admit it.
Five biggest winners from Sunday...
1. Detroit Lions - The Lions could have easily had a letdown and the Browns could have continued to stun the NFL, but the Lions went on the road, and played well. I'm a sucker for road victors.
2. Cincinnati Bengals - With Baltimore and Cleveland losing, the Bengals won a very ugly game for them on the road and remain in the hunt for an AFC North crown. Like I said though, the Bengals schedule is tough, but favorable.
3. New England Patriots - The Pats would probably be #1 on this list if they would have won on the road. But the Pats are so tough at home, and a very solid victory for Brady and company. Brady clearly sent the message, it doesn't matter who he has to throw the ball to, if they can catch it, he's going to win. Very good win for the Pats.
4. Philadelphia Eagles - I really thought the Bucs would end their self implosion and finally get a victory, but the Eagles offense was just too much. The Eagles looked very good as every aspect of the offense was stellar. Despite struggles in the early season, the Eagles are in good shape to compete in the division.
5. Green Bay Packers - Another road team with a solid victory. Even though they didn't play their best, the Packers were winners Sunday and remain in the hunt for the NFC North title. The schedule is very favorable for the Packers to get back on track.
Biggest losers from Week 5...
1. Houston Texans - The struggles continue in Houston. There are a lot of problems and I'm not sure where the free fall ends. The division, and even a wild card birth, are looking more and more bleek by the week.
2. Baltimore Ravens - Another winnable game slips through the grips for the Ravens. At 3-3, a run at the playoffs isn't out of the question, but you have win your home games, especially against teams like Green Bay.
3. Indianapolis Colts - While I didn't think they'd go on the road and win, the Colts had a very good opportunity to win this game, and just flat out dropped it. 4-2 is better than a lot of people thought they'd be, and while this loss doesn't set them back a whole lot, they could have used a road victory like this.
4. New York Jets - After a signature performance in Atlanta last week, the Jets should have dominated this game. Should have. But a roller-coaster like season took another dip into a valley. We'll see if the Jets can bounce back as they host New England Sunday.
5. Seattle Seahawks - This was a tough one, but I have a few reasons for picking the 'Hawks. Yes they won, but after a road loss last week, I would have thought they would be in line for a better performance at home, against a Titans team that is not to the level of the Seahawks and simply should not have been in this game. I also think the Seahawks looked very timid to try and make a big play. A dent put in the armor last week by Indy I don't think went away this week. Seattle may be vulnerable to a couple bad losses in the coming weeks, as they play three of the next four on the road.
Power rankings
1. Denver Broncos
2. New England Patriots
3. New Orleans Saints
4. Seattle Seahawks
5. Kansas City Chiefs
That's a wrap for another week in the NFL. Enjoy the week!
It's another Football Friday, and it's a busy one for me, so I'm going to fly through this thing and get you ready for Week 6 of the NFL, which, when you sit back and look at it, there are some really entertaining ball games this week.... That said .... Let's dive in!
NYGvsCHI - I'm starting with the Thursday night game because basically I didn't get a chance to do an exclusive preview Wednesday, but in a nutshell, this was the perfect team for the Bears to face to get back on track. Eli turns the ball over at an alarming rate. The Bears have led the NFL since probably the early 2000's in forced turnovers. Jay Cutler was bound to get back on track as the Giants pass rush is non-existent. He has now three legit weapons that are big targets. I have to say, other than the first quarter, Eli actually looked comfortable and competent. Then one bad throw completely ruined what was looking like a game winning TD drive. I've heard eternal optimists say the Giants could get back into this with three wins to close out their first half. I say no, they will be 0-9. The Bears have a great chance to be 5-2 headed into their bye.
CINvsBUF - Another trap game here for the Bengals. On paper this is a winnable game, but if you watched the Bengals offense last week, you know they looked lost. Andy Dalton looks like he's staring at ghosts when he's in the pocket. The Buffalo pass rush is finally coming together, and if theycan get to Dalton early, they have a great chance to keep the Bengals offense quiet. The loss of Manuel and the possibility of Stevie Johnson not playing though concerns me a great deal. I don't want to but I'm going to take the road team in this AFC clash. CIN 31 BUF 17
DETvsCLE - What can you say about the Browns other than they are really playing inspired football. They will have their hands full Sunday afternoon though, as the Lions are playing pretty good football themselves. I know the Browns have pulled out a few improbable wins the last few weeks, but I just don't see them having the answer to Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush. I think it might just be safe to say this is a closer than expected matchup. I'm taking another road team. Detroit 24 Cleveland 13
OAKvsKC - Oakland has been playing very good football, and while I think they deserve some credit here, Arrowhead is such a tough place to play. I think the Chiefs keep this early season roll going and may play a very good bounce back game after a couple games where they struggled on the road. If I was in a knock out pool, I might just take the Chiefs if you've already used Denver. Kansas City 30 Oakland 17
CARvsMIN - Carolina looked awful on the road last week. It sounds like things are not going well within the team itself in Carolina. I like the Vikings at home off the bye. I will note though, if Matt Cassell doesn't get the job done early and struggles, I look for them to try and implement Josh Freeman before bringing back Christian Ponder. I like AP running all over the place in this one. Minnesota 31 Carolina 10
PITvsNYJ - This is an interesting matchup. The Steelers are off a bye, but a lot of futility inside the Steelers locker room may continue to keep them reeling. The Jets are flying high right now. Their front 4 are playing terrific, and the front five of Pittsburg is terrible. I think the game is won there for the Jets. Jets 27 Steelers 13
PHIvsTB - Tampa did themselves a favor getting rid of Freeman, but the downside to that move, they don't have a legit back up QB. Off the bye though, working with their QB, I think they make some adjustments to the offense and find a way to stop Philadelphia. I think Tampa gets a much needed win. Tampa 24 Philadelphia 23
GBvsBAL - This is a very intriguing matchup I think. The Packers just aren't playing as good of football as we're accustom to. The Ravens got back to the run last week. In a match up like this, while I think it will be close, it is hard for me to take the road team. I like the Ravens. Baltimore 23 Green Bay 21
STLvsHOU - This is the Texans opportunity to get back on track. But if they aren't careful, it could easily be a trap game. I like the Rams defense though, as their secondary is very good and if Schaub isn't careful, he could throw yet another pick six. I like the Texans though to bounce back, not necessarily in a big way. Texans 27 Rams 17
JAXvsDEN - Do I really need to say anything? I guess the only question is, how will the Broncos decide who gets that late 2nd or 3rd quarter TD? Rolling dice? Draw straws? What number am I thinking? Really the only question I have in this game, is how many points are the Broncos going to rack up? I'd say more than 50 but less than 75. Denver 55 Jacksonville 17
TENvsSEA - Tennessee has played good football in the early going this year, but it is so tough to play in Seattle. Not to mention the 'Hawks are coming off a loss in Indy last weekend. I look for Seattle to bounce back and limit the mistakes. Seattle 34 Tennessee 9
ARIvSF - Arizona's offense looks awful. They can't get anything going. The Niners seem to be back on track. I think the Cardinals could make this a close game but I think San Francisco is ultimately too much. Niners 35 Arizona 13
NOvsNE - The Saints completely outplayed the Bears in Chicago Sunday and showed exactly why at this point they might just be the NFC favorite for the NFC. Yes Brady is 4-1, but I really think New England will be tested here. It's hard for me to not pick the Pats at home because I question the Saints being able to duplicate back-to-back road wins. I just can't pick against the Saints right now, they're playing too good. This is going to be a good game. Saints 20 Pats 16
WASvsDAL - Off a rough loss last weekend, I think the Cowboys have a great opportunity to give themselves some separation in the NFC East. That said, do they actually take advantage of it? I like to think they will, but I can't argue if you don't. The Skins defense is just awful, and I think Romo and company take it to them early and often in the Jerry Dome. I see the Cowboys rolling. Cowboys 41 Redskins 17
INDvSD - Indianapolis heading west is going to be tough, but they did it once already, and that was a Niners team that was a lot better than San Diego. I think Phillip Rivers though makes this a better game than San Fran did just a few weeks ago. I don't want to, but I'm taking the Bolts in a shoot out, with a defense that is getting healthier. San Diego 38, Indy 34
That's a wrap for this week, I have a feeling I took too many road teams once again. I have a feeling we're going to see a lot of road teams come out victorious this week, question is, did I get them right?
