J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!

Just when we thought we could write off the Jets and Brett Favre's brilliance following last weeks horrible performance against the Chargers, Favre complete a feat he had never accomplished before - throw six touchdown passes. (photo from cbsnews.com).

Although this is something nobody has seen out of Favre before, nobody should be surprised. He has a history of being very streaky, albeit he is predominantly streaky in a favorable way, he is still streaky. So following his performance against the Chargers, it wasn't fair for anybody to completely call the Jets' season a bust.

After all, the Jets were only 4-12 last season, and going into the season most experts said that this season would be a success if they improved their record. With that in mind, I don't think everybody's expectations should been raised following their week 1 win against the Dolphins.

Again with that said, everybody should still sit tight and not expect too much out of the Jets and Favre following this weeks win against the Cardinals. As impressed as we are with their performance, everybody should remember that this team is probably not a playoff team, so anything over 4-12 will be a success.

Iowa Football and the Chicago Bears

I really wanted to write about how comparable the Iowa Hawkeyes were to the Chicago Bears, but unfortunately, and fortunately, I shouldn't because of their moderately impressive win last night. However, I couldn't refuse. Despite the Bears' victory, both teams are eerily similar.

(images from stuckiniowa.com and canyouseethesunset.com).

Lets start with the Coaching Staff:

Both the Bears and Iowa have very unpersonable, generic and for the most part boring head coaches.

-We can always expect them to say the right thing but it's never what anybody really wants to hear.

-They both speak in a very monotonistic manner and don't really show any personality.

-You pretty much know what each is going to say prior to their press conferences. I'm willing to bet that reporters that have been around both for a while could answer the questions for both of them with close to 100% accuracy.

-Neither could make a decision on a quarterback for the longest time, and neither was really willing to talk about it.

-This is an old one, but doesn't Ken O'Keefe and his play calling remind anybody of John Schoop? I mean both coaches would call for a three-yard slant when it's 3 and 13.

Defense

-Both defenses are supposed to be the trademark for each team, but when it matters most, they seem to be non-existent.(except in last night's game for the Bears).

-Both teams have blown leads in the second half in two games this year, which accounted for each teams two losses.

Offense

-The obvious, each team had quarterback controversies with nothing close to that great of quarterbacks.

-I don't trust either team to score when you need them too.

-Both teams have running backs that have potential.

-Both teams have a bunch of no name receivers, yet fans of each team will tell you, to steal a line from Tony the Tiger, "They're GREAT!!!"

-They both manage to score quickly yet are non-existent late in the games.

-Neither offense knows how to run the two minute offense.

-They look really good sometimes, and for the most part you're left wondering what they were thinking.

-Despite winning a few games, you wouldn't be surprised if they don't accomplish much more from here on out.

Feel free to add anything else that I may have forgotten...

Fantasy pick up of the week

Ray Rice: RB Baltimore (photo from the washingtonpost.com).



1) With the current status of Willis McGahee and how seriously he has been effected by the gouging of his eyes in last weeks game against Cleveland, it's not completely sure what type of role McGahee will play. He has been hampered with vision problems throughout the week of practice and if they continue will limit his touches and productivity in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh. This should increase Rice's touches throughout the game and increase his yardage.



2) Le'ron McClain, the starting FB for the Ravens, has not participated in practice all week. He is the leading rusher for Baltimore and has the most TD's with two. With his status and production also unknown, the goal line offense where he is a feature back will need to call on somebody else. With the goal line back out, Rice will become the feature goal line back.



3) The Ravens play against the Steelers, who although look good, are not that solid on defense. They rank in the lower half statistically in every defensive category including rushing. Poor defense=more yards.

Weekly Post

For all you fantasy buffs out there...I'll give you a surprise guy each week that I think is going to explode. I'll do this every Friday, and unlike the sportscenter advice they give you to sit Peyton Manning for Donovan McNabb, (because who actually owns both), I'll give you guys that will more then likely be on the free agents list that you might want to consider picking up.

Its time to step up Aaron

Although he hasn't thrown a pick on the year, and only committed one turnover, a la a fumble, I'm calling for Aaron Rogers to start performing. After watching the Packer loss to the Cowboys, 27-16, I started to realize how unintimidating Rogers is. At no point during the game was I, depending on how you were watching the game, scared or confident, that he was going to get it done.

His numbers weren't bad, 22-39 for 290 yards with one rushing touchdown. But his inability to get the ball into the endzone is what cost Green Bay the game. They had three red zone drives stalled and came away with only nine points. Its been a trend on the year as he's only thrown four TD passes, with three coming against the lowly lions.

Mason Crosby, the field goal kicker for the cheeseheads, is 6-7 on field goals for the year, with his longest coming off of a 42 yard strike. Meaning that Rogers has gotten the ball within the 25 yard line at least six times this year and failed to come away with more then three points. (picture below from greenbaypackersticket.net)

Now I know he's replaced a legend, and nobody expects him to turn into Brett Favre over night, but at some point the team is going to need him to do more than just run the offense. When he first stepped in, all he was asked to do was run the offense and not lose the game. While doing that, most people agreed that the rest of the team would pick up the slack and lead the Packers to an 11-5 or 12-4 record. To which I still think it can be done, but they clearly will not get more then that.

And based off of tonights game, all they'll be is an above average team. Because they clearly showed that when they compete against the upper echelon of teams, they just can't pull it through. So in order for the Packers to be a real contender in the league, they need Aaron Rogers to completely embrace the role that the Packers need to win, and not the role that is comfortable for him right now.

The One Man Show

Although it might not seem like it, I really don't particularly enjoy writing about the Patriots, I'm more indifferent then anything. However since the majority of my posts are on the Patriots, I apologize in advance for those of you who really don't enjoy following the Patriots regardless if it's negative.

Despite having proclaimed this already as a Patriots post, it's probably more proper to claim it as a Ronnie Brown fan zone then anything else. For those of you where under a rock and didn't realize what happened, the Dolphins beat the Patriots. Let me say that again, the Dolphins beat the Patriots, no joke, 38-13.

Brown, the main catalyst in the Dolphins upset had five total touchdowns, four of the rushing variety and one passing. They weren't just your boring punch it in from the goal line kind either, four of the five touchdowns were direct snaps. The play calling and the execution had the Pats looking like Ohio State last week against USC. (picture from espn.com)

But as far as Brown is concerned, this is hands down the biggest game of his career. Coming into the game he had only one game in which he scored more then two touchdowns, last year against the Jets. Now obviously this type of production won't happen every game, but hopefully for Brown he can use this as a stepping stone for his marginal career thus far.

Now although I was never too high on the Patriots, so-called analysts diagnosed that the only supposed problem with the Patriots was their offense. Without Tom Brady it's an obvious problem. But what about the defense? Prior the game, the same analysts have been using the word "experienced" to describe the Patriots defense, but now it's official, that "experience" word was just a cover up for old and aged. But thanks to Brown and his heroics, he exploited what they really are, old.

Top 10 Sports Moments

10) 2008 Summer Olympics - Usain Bolt: The fastest man ever showboating his way to the triple crown of sprints (100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100 meter).(Photo from http://www.thesun.co.uk/)

9) 2003 Illinois High School Girls Basketball Sectional Final - Naperville Central vs. Neuqua Valley: En route to her first of two state championships, Candice Parker and her Naperville Central team escapes a controversial victory over Neuqua Valley.

A last second shot that was called off prevents Neuqua Valley from handing Central what would have been their first and only lose of the season.



8) 2007 Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs. Oklahoma: The "hook and ladder" followed by the "statue of liberty" make up college footballs greatest game. (photo from http://www.usatoday.com/).

7) 1999 Women's World Cup - U.S.A. vs. China: 0-0 after regulation and overtime, Brandi Chastain knocks home the game winning penalty kick. (photo from http://www.enquirer.com/).

6) 2005 Illinois High School Girls Soccer State Championship - Neuqua Valley vs. New Trier: Neuqua Valley upset New Trier 6-3 after trailing 3-0 in the first half. New Trier, the heavy won two consecutive state championships and had not lost a game in three seasons prior to their state championship loss.

5) 2007 Super Bowl - Colts vs. Bears: The first time ever any African-American made it to the Super Bowl as well as the first victory for an African-American in the Super Bowl. Colts win easily after Bears start strong.

4) 2000 Slam Dunk Contest - Vince Carter: For the first time in a long time the Slam Dunk Contest was more then just an over hyped comedy act, thanks to Vincanity!(photo from http://www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/).

3)2008 Men's Wimbledon Final - Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer: The greatest tennis match of all-time, No. 2 Nadal defeats No. 1 Federer and 5-time defending Wimbledon Champion in five sets.

2) 2005 World Series - Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros: The White Sox Sweep the Astros in four games and end an 88 year World Series drought. (photo from http://www.bestsportsphotos.com/).

1) 2008 NBA Draft Lottery: The Chicago Bulls earn the rights to the Number 1 pick in the NBA draft. The Bulls had a 1.7 percent chance of landing the pick. (photo from http://www.theonion.com/).