Detroit Lions vs. New Orleans Saints Sat., Jan. 07, 8:00 PM NBC
by brandon halsey
brandonhalsey@gettinAfterIt.com
If I made a bold prediction for this game based on statistics, my head would be spinning worse than Regan MacNeil. You can throw the numbers out the window for this game because both teams can score a trillion. Starting with the Saints. Is there any better QB than Drew Brees? Oh, wait, you people think Aaron Rodgers is right? But if I had one final drive to win the game it would be Drew Brees drunk and sleepwalking without a second thought. Brees has had nineteen 4th quarter comebacks and twenty-nine game-winning drives. And although I could easily turn this into another article about my unbridled bias for Brees, it’s about the most intriguing playoff game of the weekend.
The word ‘shootout’ gets thrown around a lot when talking about this game. And rightfuly so. Both teams can score a lots and lots of points in a variety of different ways. Once again, forbearing stats – this game is all about matchups. Line vs. line because all success in the NFL begins in the trenches and receivers vs. defensive backs will be the key factors in how this game is determined.
Of course one can make a case to question Matt Stafford’s immaturity towards the playoff environment, but experience is overrated. Ask Montana about his experience before he broke through and won. Ask Brady what he thought about ‘big boy’ football before he morphed into the best quarterback since Montana. Experience is vastly overrated. Experience is a word ‘experts’ like to throw around to make themselves sound smarter. But think about this: If experience was always the only circumstance in determining champions, it seems to me that the Packers and Chiefs would have won every single Super Bowl since 1967. If experience is such a factor, the Lakers and Celtics would have never lost since 1960.
However, if you do want to make a case for experience and maturity, look elsewhere on Detroit. How about Ndamukong Suh, who when he’s not stepping on people, is a very good player. If Suh keep his head straight, he could be special. The Lions are the most penalized team in the league. In a tough Superdome environment discipline is everything. Noise will be a factor. If Detroit gets down early, how much confidence will remain moving forward?
And to reverse it – If Detroit gets up early which they’re very capable of doing against the NFL’s 3rd worst pass defense, will they step on the gas? If Detroit can play aggressive but smart, they can leave the ‘Big Easy’ with a win. Detroit isn’t exactly a slouch. They will give the Saints everything they can handle and they will cover +10.5. If I didn’t believe the Saints had something magical going on again this year, I would pick Detroit. However, in the end, the winner will be New Orleans. Not because of Stafford’s lack of “experience” though. Stafford will play well, but Brees will play better, MVP better.
What the Brigade Predicts:
Matt Broylsie – Saints
Dustin Borgerding – Saints
Matt Mason – Saints
Gavin Angus – Saints
Quick Thoughts – NFC Playoff Picture 12/24/11
Will any questions get answered after week 16? The NFC has a few playoff positions that could be open Tuesday morning. San Diego is going to Detroit and Atlanta will see New Orleans on Monday Night. Both Atlanta and Detroit are currently holding down the Wildcard spots and both teams can easily lose. Which could give Chicago a chance if Detroit was to lose, but that’s going to be a lot to ask from the Bears. Chicago is done with the Caleb Hanie experiment, without Forte, starting 3rd stringer Josh McCown and going to Green Bay Sunday Night. It’s would be a tall task, but if Chicago were to win with a Lions loss, Da Bears will have a chance, especially considering Detroit plays Green Bay in week 17.
Then there’s the mess that is the NFC East. Philadelphia goes against Dallas, the Giants see the Jets and hypothetically, all East parties excluding the Redskins can still win the division. Philadelphia smoked Dallas 34-7 back in week 8. Dallas fans wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happened again. The Eagles might be the most dangerous team in the NFC. Dallas could be without Felix Jones who seems to be injured every other week, but Tony Romo has played almost flawless football since the Cowboys’ week 13 win over Arizona. What kind of defense will the Cowboys bring to the table? The Eagles’ speed creates difficult matchup problems for Dallas who’s weak in the secondary. The Eagles’ defense has been impressive. If only that defense was available earlier this season.
The Giants vs. Jets game is the highlight of the early games on Christmas Eve. Rex Ryan has been smack talking like he usually does. Tom Coughlin fired back in the middle of the week with the old ‘we do our talking on the field’ cliche. The whole thing is about who’s the best of New York? For years it was always the Giants who ran the city. The Jets were always just the little sister who could never make anything but Page 6 in the New York Post. The actual game is interesting. Eli vs. Sanchez, Plaxico playing his former team for the first time since shooting himself, who’s the tougher defense? Will Eli challenge ‘Revis Island?’ There are many different variables because both teams have looked great at times, and terrible at others. Let’s hope the playoff is a little clearer after this wonderful Christmas weekend. Merry Christmas folks!!!
Quick Thoughts – Marion Barber in trouble? 12/14/11
Evidently, the NFL has rules in place that requires players to talk to the media. Barber’s not a media kind of guy. In fact, MB3 would just assume take a fine from the league than answer any questions about last week’s game.
Sure Barber had a few costly mistakes in the Denver loss. But c’mon Chicago fans, let’s not put this loss solely on Barber. The defense has to stop Denver. How is it the same defense that held Denver scoreless for 57 minutes and 45 seconds into the game, let Denver score 10 points in the final 2:15? Let’s not just put this loss on Marion Barber. Barber did what he had to do throughout the game to help Hanie in every possible way. Barber went for 140 all-purpose yards in the absence of Matt Forte, Barber played well. And in the two Barber fumbles, give all the credit in the world to the Broncos opportunistic defense. Now when MB3 ran out of bounds as Chicago was trying to kill the clock, the entire city of Chicago scratched their heads, including myself. That was Barber’s mistake. Turnovers happen.
The great thing about Marion Barber is he’s never been a self-promoter. He’s never been the guy shouting for a new contract, screaming at teammates and/or slamming the media after a game, he’d just rather not talk to anyone at all. Barber likes to play football, so let him play. There’s no need to keep beating the dead horse. After all, it is ‘Tebowmania.’
Quick Thoughts – Andy Reid Defends Jackson 12/3/11
Since the Eagles Thursday Night loss in Seattle, there has been a lot of criticism directed towards DeSean Jackson. Did Andy Reid see the same game I saw? The game I watched was a terrible loss in which Jackson appeared to give about 50% heart and effort. In fact, the entire Philadelphia team looked like they quit on Reid and the 2011 season.
“You can take a camera and make it look any way you want to make it look,” Reid said at a news conference, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. “I am telling you, that kid was all in last night and wanted to win that game as much as anybody.”
This is just classic attempt at a salvage job for Reid. Reid knows the criticism is legit and now he’s trying to save something that isn’t there. DeSean Jackson was physically present Thursday Night, but his will to win wasn’t. It was clearly evident. Jackson was running routes at half speed, dropping catches he normally grabs with ease and separated himself from the team. The camera wasn’t playing tricks. The broadcast director for the NFL Network wasn’t intentionally queuing for the camera to find Jackson in a state of duress. Jackson was aggravated, had a bad attitude and it was as much a story as the game was unfolding, as the actual game.
Anytime a star player is noticeably irritated it’s a story. Anytime a team like Philadelphia, with such lofty expectations, has such a disappointing season, players will be upset. Does the blame shift towards Andy Reid? Maybe that’s the underlying reason he’s ultimately taking up for his players. It’s all about damage control now.
Quick Thoughts – The Philadelphia Eagles 11/28/11
The Eagles are officially finished. On July 30th, 2011 I poignantly said the Eagles were still not the favorite after all their off-season acquisitions. Philadelphia wasn’t going to win because of Michael Vick. No NFL franchise wins with a “mobile” quarterback and the Eagles have two of them. Both Michael Vick and Vince Young were explosive, mobile stars in college. Both played for a National Championship and Young won a National Championship with Texas. Both are never going to win a Super Bowl as a professional NFL quarterback. The only way one of them will win a Super Bowl is in a backup position in which Rodgers, Brees, Brady or Roethlisberger is the starting quartback.
Are they good? Obviously, they have that special something that gives them the keys to a starting quarterback position. Vick is an amazing athlete, Vick is going to win lots of games throughout his career just like he already has. Vick is infinitely better, and more exciting than Young. Young is a proven head-case. Vick has proven he’s not the best decision maker. Anyone that throws his shoulder pads into the stands after a tough loss with fans booing like Young did, probably can’t handle the NFL spotlight. Vick has raised middle-fingers, the dog-fighting scandal and has consistently displayed poor team leadership.
Have you ever heard the saying, “you can’t have one without the other?” Well, in Philadelphia’s case, they should’ve had one without the other. In no scenario should Vince Young ever have been the backup for Vince Young. Vick needs a Mark Brunnel, Kerry Collins or Jon Kitna as the backup. Vince Young should never be a backup to player with a similar skill set. Young might be treading the reality of the third string bench. I get that Vick is injured. Anytime someone gets two ribs broken it’s a pretty tough beat. However, there’s more than just the quarterback quagmire in Philly that’s limiting their success.
A good football team is all about the glue that holds the team together. It’s not about a bunch of mixed pieces that don’t go together. Try combining two different puzzles and putting them together into one mega picture, it’s just not going to work. That’s what the Eagles did in the 2011 off-season. In closing, here’s a revisit to the final two paragraphs of the July 30th article.
“Philly brought in the talent with Nnamdi Asomugha, Rodger-Cromartie, Cullen Jenkins and Vince Young to back up Vick which looks great on paper and gives fans in Philly more reasons to be disillusioned and berserk but you hear it here first; Philadelphia will not win the Super Bowl. Ask the Miami Heat about bringing in a bunch of talent and not winning. Then think about the idea of an African-American QB and what they actually are? Usually they’re game-changers, they sell seats and have awesome highlights everynight on the evil 4-letter word’s famous show – they don’t win the big one. I wish they would, I wish Vick and the Eagles would go 16-0 dusting the entire league and finally shut up those 72 Dolphins, but it’s simply not going to happen. Winning regular season games and finding the playoffs is nice, but it’s Super Bowl rings that are nicer.
Ask Tom Brady about how fast and versatile he is, and he’ll flash three rings in your face. Joe Montana was was slower than a snail but won 4 rings because he was a great passing QB, key word passing. Just think about it.”
Sorry Philly fans, at least your cheesesteaks are still good. Don’t forget the “Whiz.”
Quick Thoughts 11/19/11
If you look at the power rankings for the entire league you will find Green Bay at #1, San Francisco 2, and New Orleans at 4 concerning NFC teams. Obviously Green Bay is the clear #1 in the league. San Francisco is also very good and will likely get a #2 seed in the playoffs.
What about everyone else? New Orleans look solid but Atlanta isn’t far behind them. Dallas’ schedule is a cakewalk compared to the Giants. The Giants are #7 on the power rankings but that’s about to end in the next three weeks. Chicago is better than Detroit. The Lions had a cute little story but lost 3 of their last 4. If the Bears look good against San Diego I’ll be inclined to call Chicago the 3rd best team in the conference.
The beauty of the NFL is you don’t know how it’s going to shake out until all the games are played. There’s only one certainty, Green Bay is elite but they will get beat in the playoffs. Karma is a bitch. You don’t go for a 4th down twice in a game where you’re already winning 17-0. The talking heads will say it’s confidence, but let’s be honest, it’s arrogance.
