My Fantasy team is 3-0!

But I'll probably lose this week. Here's a look at the highlights from Week 3, and key matchups for Week 4.

Vikings 27, 49ers 24

I was feeling pretty good about my upset pick until Brett Favre heaved up a miracle touchdown in the last minute. 

What we learned:

Brett Favre can still heave the long ball Yes, his every move is covered and it is annoying to the point that I kind of hate the man, but you can't deny he always threw a great long ball. And he showed last week why he's still a cut above the other options the Vikings have at QB. It would have been an entertaining play if I didn't see it 6,000 times this week.

Both the Vikings and 49ers are good teams This was a good matchup between two quality teams. They played evenly for almost the whole game, and the 49ers showed they aren't going anywhere. 

Shaun Hill is a serviceable QB Hill was poised the whole game and led the 49ers down the field on what appeared to be the game-winning TD drive. Hill showed great leadership and has been a decent quarterback all year.

Bengals 23, Steelers 20

The Bengals looked good and the Steelers looked bad in a very surprising upset.

What we learned:

The Steelers have issues

They just have not looked like the defending champs to open up the season. Jeff Reed has missed goals, the offensive line looks like a big concern once again, and the defense isn't the dominate force it was last year. No doubt this has a lot to do with Polamalu's injury. My guess is they'll right the ship, but it will be interesting the next few weeks

The Bengals are much better than expected

I'm not going to pull a Denny Green here and say "THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!!!!!" because it simply isn't true. The Bengals offense has clicked, and their defense looks okay. I still think they're a long shot to make the playoffs, but who knows?

Chargers 23, Dolphins 13

Chad Pennington went down and may be out for the year, and the Chargers controlled this one the whole way.

What we learned:

The Dolphins are in trouble Without Pennington and with a 0-3 record, the Dolphins chances of making the playoffs are very, very slim. I predicted them to be worse this year, but without their QB they will fall even further. 

The Chargers should still take down the West The Broncos may be 3-0, but the Bengals are the best team they've played and they got a miracle to win that one. The Chargers still look like the best in the West.

Week 4 Key Matchups

New York Jets @ New Orleans

New Orleans has the best offense in the league, and looks to stop the amazing early year run by the Rex Ryan-led Jets. The Jets are led by a suffocating defense and early season ROTY favorite Mark Sanchez. It seems to be good luck for the Jets when I pick against them, but I'm doing it again, because I think New Orleans' offense will be too good for them to contain. I like the Saints, 31-21

San Diego @ Pittsburgh

The Chargers looked good last week, while the Steelers did not. But can the Steelers really go to 1-3? I think they scratch and claw their way to a win out of necessity. I like the Steelers, 17-14.

Baltimore @ New England

The Ravens are 3-0, and are coming off a dominating performance in Cleveland. The Patriots still haven't looked like they should, but it may get better this week if Wes Welker comes back. I think the Pats can utilize the short passing game to offset the Ravens' blitz in this game, so I'm taking the Patriots, 21-17.

Sorry for taking so long to post, but I've been busy...

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, but I am going to recap some NFL games from Week 2, and look ahead to Week 3. I'll even throw in some predictions because I'm that nice.

Texans 34, Titans 31.

One of the most entertaining games of the day. Matt Schaub had a 4 TD day, and Chris Johnson tore it up as well.

What we learned:

When given time, Matt Schaub is really good Schaub's offensive line provided him with lots of time, and he delivered time and time again. It helps to have Andre Johnson on the field. I've always felt that Matt Schaub is a top 10 quarterback in the league when healthy, and he showed his potential Sunday.

The Titans defense is not as good as last year Whether it is losing Albert Haynesworth, coming back down to earth, or a combination of the two, the Titans haven't shown they are a dominant force on defense early in 2009. Cortland Finnegan was exposed downfield because the pass rush was not as good as last year. They cannot expect their offense to put up more than 31 points, and they need to make some adjustments quickly, or they'll find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

Steve Slaton is a concern Slaton hasn't gotten things going in his first two games, and this could be a bad sign for the Texans. They cannot solely rely on Schaub's arm. Gary Kubiak needs to find a way to get Slaton the ball in the open field in Week 3, because that's where he excels.

Bears 17, Steelers 14

The Chicago Bears, after choking away a win at Green Bay in Week 1, pulled off the upset over the Steelers. Robbie Gould connected on a field goal with under a minute left to give the Bears the win, after Jeff Reed missed 2 field goals earlier. 

What we learned:

Jay Cutler is a much better QB than he showed in Week 1

After throwing 4 interceptions in Week 1, Cutler showed why the Bears traded for him. He showed off his arm strength on his first TD pass to TE Kellen Davis, and made good decisions all day. Cutler should continue to progress all year long.

The Bears defense can survive without Brian Urlacher

It certainly isn't ideal to lose your defensive leader for the year in Week 1. But the Bears are deep at linebacker, and Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer should fill in nicely. The Bears defensive questions are in the secondary, and the Lance Briggs should lead the linebacking unit to another solid year.

What to watch for in Week 3

Tennessee at New York Jets

Will Tennessee get back on track? Is Mark Sanchez for real? These questions both may be answered in Week 3. It's almost a must-win for the Titans, and I think they'll put a lot of pressure on the rookie. I like the Titans 24-13.

Atlanta at New England

Can the Patriots rebound from a lackluster first two weeks? I think that they will, and it's too early to write them off. I like them at home, 31-17.

San Francisco at Minnesota

This is the game of the week. The 49ers have surprised the league and are 2-0. Behind Mike Singletary, the Niners have shown a potent rushing attack and a stingy defense. The Vikings have cruised the first two weeks, and are primed for a playoff run with Adrian Peterson at the helm of a formidable offense. The rushing defense will be key for both sides, and I like 49ers pulling off the road upset, 20-17.

NFL Preview Day 4: AFC West

The West is hands down the weakest division in the AFC (And the NFC for that matter). The Broncos traded away a great quarterback and now must utilize their draft picks wisely to become relevant again. The Raiders won't be good until Al Davis hands over control to someone else. The Chiefs are still the Chiefs with Matt Cassell. That leaves the Chargers, the only team with playoff potential. They should win the division easily, and they have the talent to make an Arizona Cardinalesque (Team from weak division) Super Bowl run.

San Diego: Predicted finish, 10-6, division champions

The Chargers were one of the most underachieving teams during the regular season last year. Stacked with talent, they needed a miracle run (and a Broncos choke) to make the playoffs, where they made some noise. Look for them to build off that momentum to another division title. They have a solid quarterback in Philip Rivers, who rubs a lot of people the wrong way but is a great leader. Questions remain about LaDainian Tomlinson and how much is left in his tank. He is determined to prove all doubters wrong, and he should combine with Darren Sproles to be a solid running tandem. LT may not be who he once was, but he's still a complete back, and Sproles is a speedster off the bench that makes things happen in the open field. The best receiving option is Antonio Gates, who is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. Vincent Jackson heads a questionable receiving group that has to perform well if the Chargers are to make a deep run in the playoffs. On the defensive side of the ball, the Chargers need Shawne Merriman to be healthy and distraction free. If he produces like he is capable, he heads a top tier unit. Luis Castillo is a good pass rusher that should put the heat on QBs, and Quentin Jammer needs to play his best to solidify the secondary. The division is the Chargers for the taking, so look for them to do just that.

Oakland: Predicted finish, 7-9, T-2nd in the division

Nnamdi Asomugha is the best player in the NFL most casual fans don't know about. As a cornerback, he doesn't make the headlines too often, mostly because he shuts down the receiver he is on to the point where the quarterback doesn't throw to his #1 option. Cornerbacks whose names aren't mentioned much in the game are probably doing their job. Nnamdi heads an exceptional pass defense for Oakland, but one that is not helped by the fact that they have to stack 8 in the box every play because no one can tackle on this team. Teams can run all over the Raiders, whose front 4 really need to improve for the Raiders to have any chance to make some noise. The offense is headed by JaMarcus Russell, who has steadily improved to being an average quarterback. He will never be great, but he is serviceable. The running game looks to be the strength of the offense, with Darren McFadden ready to break out. He may not have tremendous numbers since he is splitting carries with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush, but he should be productive when he is in. Another unsung hero on the Raiders is TE Zach Miller, who should build on last year's production as he gets more comfortable with Russell. In the end, the Raiders lack of runstop ability and lack of any real threat at wideout (Except for Derrius Heyward-Bey...Ok, I can't even say that as a joke) will prevent the Raiders from achieving the .500 mark. 

Kansas City: Predicted record, 7-9, T-2nd in division

Some people tend to think Matt Cassel is the next Tom Brady. And he sure did look impressive in New England. But these people tend to forget he was throwing behind one of the best offensive lines in the league to Randy Moss and Wes Welker. With Tony Gonzalez gone, the Chiefs only proven option for Cassel is Dwayne Bowe, and, although I think Mark Bradley may turn out to be a viable #2 option, that isn't the same. Cassel lines up behind a suspect time, and has to adjust to making quicker decisions. With Larry Johnson at running back, the offense will be average, and would be okay if the defense was any better. The young players on this defense need to step up their game. Kansas City will take a step in the right direction, and will have an inflated record due to their awful division, but won't be anything special.

Denver: predicted record, 6-10, last in division

One person who overrated Cassel to the point of asking his front office to give New England the kitchen sink for him was Josh McDaniels. McDaniels had a much better quarterback in Jay Cutler, but for some reason wanted Cassel. Needless to say, Cutler wasn't happy about this and eventually was traded to Chicago. With this trade, the Broncos fell from division contenders to a rebuilding team. Their offense has no outstanding running back, and this isn't going to be as easy of a problem to hide as in years past because the offensive line is not what it used to be. Brandon Marshall is a top talent at wideout, but his numbers will fall because Orton doesn't throw the deep ball that Cutler did. The defense is anemic, with the exception of stellar corner Champ Bailey. When it's all said and done, it will be a year to forget for Denver.

NFL Preview Day 3: AFC South

The south is a division of question marks. I have seen predictions of all four teams winning the division. Will Dungy leaving affect the Colts too much for them to continue their dominance? Can Tennessee repeat their strong year last year and repeat as division champs? Is the Jaguars defense fading, and can their offense hold up behind a suspect line and an unproven receiving unit? Will Houston finally put together a consistent year? Nobody knows for sure what will happen, but I'm going with the safe pick and taking the Colts. Peyton Manning is the leader every team dreams of getting, and I feel comfortable taking the only team without some sort of question mark at quarterback.

Indianapolis: Predicted finish, 12-4, Division champions

The Colts endured a lot of drama at the beginning of the preseason. Peyton Manning allegedly was not too happy with the way things were being run around camp. But I don't see Manning, a true professional, letting things like that get in the way of leading the Colts on another playoff run. Manning leads a passing game that goes through Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. Wayne should continue to develop as a premier option in this league. Clark is the sure-handed tight end that is always a viable option in the middle of the field. The biggest question in the passing game is Anthony Gonzalez. Can he continue to be a reliable replacement for Marvin Harrison? If he can, the Colts offense should have the same rhythm it has had in the past. Adding Donald Brown to be a productive runner and spell Joseph Addai only contributes to the depth of this team. The defense needs to continue progressing as runstoppers. Known as too weak to defend the run before their Super Bowl run, the question still lingers as to whether the Colts can stop a smashmouth run game in the 4th quarter, particularly the two-headed running attack of the Titans. If they can, they should be able to take the division. Their pass defense, led by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, is certainly good enough to get the job done. They get to the quarterback quickly, and that makes the job a lot easier on the secondary. Look for Anthony Gonzalez and the run defense to be the keys, and look for the Colts to reclaim the division.

Tennessee: Predicted finish, 9-7, Wild Card birth

The Titans posted the league's best record in the regular season last year, and then laid an egg against the Ravens in the playoffs. Looking to build on last season's great regular season, Chris Johnson leads an outstanding running game that is complimented by the short yardage back, LenDale White. Johnson is a dynamic runner and one of the fastes players in the league, but it is still questioned whether he can build on his tremendous last season. Although lots of running backs have dips in their second year, Johnson should be okay, in large part because he has a compliment. White is a bruiser that is relied upon in short yardage situations, and is used to keep Johnson's fast legs fresh. As long as Coach Jeff Fisher uses them properly, they should continue to develop and be successful. The pass game is led by journeyman Kerry Collins, a smart quarterback who tends to not make dumb throws. They tried to improve their weak receiving lineup by signing Nate Washington, a player with explosive potential. Nevertheless, the receiving corps remains a big question mark. The defense must make due without Albert Haynesworth, who was incredibly overpaid by the Redskins this offseason. Keith Bulluck is a tackling machine, and an underrated outside linebacker. Their defense should still be in the upper echelon of the league. In the end, I pick them to finish 9-7 not because they are worse than last year, but because last year was a bit of a fluke for them. Everything seemed to go right for the Titans during the '08 regular season, and I just don't think they are a premier team. They are, however, a team that should make the playoffs again and have a shot at avenging last year's defeat.

Houston: Predicted finish, 8-8, 3rd in division

I still don't know what to make of the Texans. They have a talented quarterback in Matt Schaub, one of the most talented players in the NFL in Andre Johnson, and an explosive running back in Steve Slaton. That should be enough offensive talent to compete, even with some question marks on their defense. And yet the Texans always seem to find a way to lose. They lost in unthinkable ways last year, and that has me uneasy about picking them to win with any regularity. I really do like Schaub if he can stay healthy. That is partially because he has Johnson to throw to, who has to be considered one of the top 3 wideouts in the league. The man has phenomenal talent, and should only get better. Slaton is more of a question mark, but I think he will have a decent season, if not equaling his great rookie campaign. The defense needs to answer some questions, and Mario Williams has to continue dominating if they are going to be successful. The Texans, who were considered unquestionably foolish for drafting Williams instead of Reggie Bush, would be lost without him on defense. In the end, the Texans still aren't mature enough to be a playoff team, but I do see them as a team to be reckoned with in the future.

Jacksonville: Predicted finish, 6-10, last in division

Some people are picking the Jaguars as the surprise division winners, presumably based on the talent of Maurice Jones-Drew and the assumption that Garrard will have a breakout year. I'm not buying them this year. The defense is aging, and not as vaunted as it once was.

The offensive line is suspect in pass protection. And I'm still not sold on Garrard as a QB, or the receivers being true threats. J-D will try and take the team on his back without Fred Taylor, but he can only do so much. In the end, it won't be a season to remember for Jacksonville. 

NFL Preview Day 2: AFC North 

I may not have time to post a blog tomorrow, so I am doing two today. Next is the AFC North, a division that holds last year's Super Bowl winner, and another team with an extended playoff run. There are a lot of question marks this year, and we still don't know who the starting quarterback is for the Browns. This division is top heavy, and it's hard to pick against last year's Super Bowl champions when they didn't lose many key players.

Pittsburgh: Predicted finish, 13-3, division champions

PIttsburgh returns from their Super Bowl victory primed for another big run. Led by Big Ben, the offense was solid last year, even with all the questions on the offensive line. The line will be the key again, and they need to do a good job of protecting Roethlisberger and an aging Willie Parker. If they can, their receivers are more than capable of doing their jobs. Hines Ward has always been a solid, well-balanced receiver, and Santonio Holmes should only get better as the burner downfield. If they can't and teams like the Ravens can expose this weakness, the Steelers could have some issues. The true strength in this team is their defense. The league's best unit last year looks to maintain its dominance. Led by reigning defensive player of the year (Do people still think he's too small?), the Steelers D is scary good. They play defense the way it was meant to be played, their physical play blended masterfully with speed and intelligence. It takes not only a great offense to beat them, but a balanced one. If an offensive game plan is one-sided, it stands no chance. With this kind of team, the Steelers seem destined for a deep run again this year, and wouldn't shock anyone if they repeat as champions.

Baltimore: Predicted finish, 10-6, Wild Card birth

In a league that is becoming a 2-back dominated one, the Ravens have three. The question is, are any of them good enough options to be the go-to-guy on an offense with several question marks? Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le'Ron McClain all have their ups and downs, and in the end are a solid group of backs. But none of them scare a defense too much, particularly when the passing game is also a question mark. Will Joe Flacco continue to flourish as the man anchoring the offense, or will teams figure him out this year? I think Flacco with have another consistent season, even with a subpar receiving group. Talking Derrick Mason out of retirement was huge, because the receiving corps would be even weaker without him. With all these questions on offense, I still feel that the unit will be serviceable. With an offense designed more to manage games than to put up 35 points, the defense will have to maintain its status as one of the premier units in the league. They should do just that. Ray Lewis, while aging, is a physical presence and an underrated leader. The only question mark on defense is whether the departure of Rex Ryan will take away from the Defensive scheme. I still expect this unit to create a bunch of turnovers, and take some pressure off of the offense. They aren't as good as Pittsburgh, but they should claim a wildcard spot.

Cleveland Browns: Predicted finish, 5-11, third in division

It's hard to do a prediction for a team when their own fans don't know who the quarterback will be. Eric Mangini feels it best to keep his starting quarterback a secret, but what he cannot hide is his team's flaws on offense and defense. Neither of his quarterbacks performed like they wanted the job this preseason, and it is difficult to see why. Derrick Anderson led an aerial assault that was a force to be reckoned with just two years ago, and seemed primed to keep flourishing. Brady Quinn was a highly touted prospect, and was supposed to be a gift that fell in the Browns' lap on draft day. Seemingly heading for a Philip Rivers-Drew Brees situation where two deserving quarterbacks were on the same roster, the Browns have to figure out if they trust either QB in battle. Braylon Edwards is the team's leading receiver, but led the league in drops last year. That being said, he has too much talent not to have a rebound year if he clicks with one of the quarterbacks. Jamal Lewis leads a questionable running game, and his best years are certainly behind him. The defense has many holes too, and Mangini needs to see more takeaways and stops for his team to successful. They should take a step in the right direction with him at the helm, but are still far from being a force like the two at the top of the division. To sum it up, it seems as if it will be a good year for Braylon Edwards, and a struggle for just about everyone else.

Cincinnati: Predicted finish, 2-14, last place in division

Marvin Lewis, what happened? Your team seemed on the cusp of clicking, especially on offense, and looked like it was heading in the right direction. Carson Palmer at the helm of the offense, with two outstanding receivers to throw to. And now, Cincy fans are left praying for mediocrity. The Bengals have taken a turn for the worst, and seem destined to be a bottomfeeder again this year. Even if Palmer comes back healthy and plays like he is capable of playing, he is still missing Houshmanzadeh and a run game. Does anyone really think Cedric Benson is the answer? Ask anyone who saw him play in Chicago; he has no vision and his work ethic isn't much better. The offensive problems pale in comparison to a defense that will be walked all over this year. They can't stop the pass or run, and should struggle from Week 1 to Week 17. Bengals fans, take solace in the fact that Pick 1 may be yours in next year's draft.

NFL Preview Day 1: AFC East

Throughout the week, I plan on predicting one division a day, leading up to kickoff for most teams Sunday. I researched each team's schedules, and did my picks week-by-week. Today, I start with the AFC, a division that is will all but be decided on the health of Tom Brady. Love him or hate him, it is indisputable that if he returns to full form, the Patriots are heavy favorites to reclaim the throne atop the division. Here's a look at the 4 teams.

New England: Predicted finish, 14-2, division champions

The Patriots are far and away the most talented team in the division. Their offensive line and Wideouts are both great, and Brady is a great leader of the offense. Adding Fred Taylor as a runner will only aid a running game that is deep, but lacks a star. Their defense is anchored by Vince Wilfork, a superb nose tackle, and is one of the top units in the league. If Brady stays healthy, the Patriots are too balanced and too strong to succumb to anyone else in this division.

Buffalo: Predicted finish, 8-8, second in division

The Bills are an interesting team, because they have some great talent at the skill positions. Lee Evans, a quality receiver who has always needed a compliment, is now a very solid #2 behind Terrell Owens. Owens, always a character question, is unquestionably one the top talents at the wideout position in sports. Since it usually takes a few years before everyone gets tired of him, I'm predicting a pretty big season for TO. When Marshawn Lynch returns from his suspension, he should provide a needed boost in the backfield, and continue to build on his impressive season last year. Trent Edwards needs to develop as a quarterback for this team to have any success. There defense needs to answer some questions as a unit, and is without a star to lead it. In the end, the Bills are a mediocre team, but a team that should entertain on offense occasionally with it's talent at wideout and running back. However, they are still a few signs away from the playoffs, and playing in a division with New England will not help their cause.

Miami: Predicted finish, 7-9, third in division

Some people might think I am underselling the Dolphins, a playoff team from a year ago who kept most of their key players. But there a few reasons why I think last year was more of a fluke than the start of a trend. First, I think the Wildcat offense, while undoubtedly entertaining, is highly overrated. At first, it was successful because it was something defensive coordinators had not seen before. Now, these guys have had a few years to digest it, and will come prepared on Sundays. I think that it is good to put in the offense to add another dimension, but should be used very sparingly. If the Dolphins run several plays from the Wildcat, it will not be to their benefit. Secondly, the Dolphins last year led the NFL in turnover difference. While a lot of this does come from taking care of the ball, without a dominating defense, some of it was just plain luck. I see the Dolphins taking a step back this year, and having to tinker with their team in the offseason to make another run at the playoffs in 2010. 

New York: Predicted finish, 5-11. last in division

Mark Sanchez is not Joe Flacco, nor is he Matt Ryan. Not all of this has to with talent (although I do think he is the least talented of the three). He is just not in a situation where a rookie quarterback is capable of thriving. His team has underwhelming talent, and he is not being asked to manage the game, but rather to win them, with a mediocre supporting cast, Thomas Jones, an admirably well-balanced back at the peak of his career, is starting to fade. There will definitely be growing pains for Sanchez this season, and many crazy New Yorkers may call for his head. However, Jets fans must accept that this is a rebuilding (Don't you absolutely hate that word being affiliated with a team of which you are a fan?) year. Sanchez may turn out to be a decent quarterback, but he will more than likely have some struggles this year. 

Ball State Football Week 1

To all Ball State football fans, tonight is an evening of mourning and pain. Rather then continuing the trend of winning left behind by the (12-2) 2008 Cardinals, Ball State decides to drop a 10 point loss on all of us against the 116th ranked team according to the Orlando Sentinel. Of course the cardinals lost many key contributors that were involved with the success of the 2008 season(Nate Davis, Darius Hill, Bryant Haines, BJ Hill and Head Coach Brady Hoke), but scoring 10 points against last years worst defense is despicable. Redshirted Freshman Kelley Page showed his worth in his first action as starting QB by going 15 for 34 for 140 and 1 INT. Indeed it is his first career start, but he was under/over throwing receivers, having trouble finding open receivers, and very uncomfortable in the pocket all night. The only glimmer of hope on the entire offense is Miquale Lewis, who had a strong, 15 carry, 103 yard, 1 touchdown evening. This brings me to my next point... why are we not running our offense through an experienced back; instead, handing the reigns over to an unproven freshman?
Along with the offense, the defense was weak. They allowed 512 total yards, 296 of which came on the ground.Enough said there. The scoreboard read 20-10 North Texas but easily could have been 33-10 due to the fact NT missed two field goals and threw an interception in the endzone. Summarizing, the team came out of training camp eager to play for a MAC Championshiop but instead laid an egg. Unless the players and coaching staff decide to make some major changes, it looks like the 2009 season will be a difficult grind with numerous failures and defeats with few victories.

-Adam Fox

Welcome!

This is a blog created by Adam and I so that we can start working on our writing and get feedback from the readers. It will predominately be about sports, but we may throw in something else from time to time. Thanks for your support!

-Donnie