Today’s halfdog nominee is Andre Caldwell.  On Sunday, after the Oakland Raiders tied the game with less than a minute left, Caldwell fumbled the following kickoff to give the Raiders and Sebastian Janikowski the winning field goal.  I would say that is a good way to get yourself nominated for the halfdog of the week.

Posted: November 18, 2009

Week 10 running back injuries have created some opportunities for some not-so-household-names to get their shot, and this week’s Sleepers reflect as much.  Here are the Sleepers for Week 11:

QUARTERBACK

Vince Young (Tennessee) @ Houston – Projection: 15-23, 165 yards, 6-26 rushing, 1 rushing TD
The Texans are at the middle of pack versus both the pass and rush (17th and 14th, respectively), which could bode well for Young.  Don’t expect a huge day, but multiple scores are a possibility.

Matthew Stafford (Detroit) vs. Cleveland – Projection: 22-38, 245 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int
The Lions have been chucking the ball, mostly because they’re always playing catch-up.  They may not need to throw as much against the lowly Browns — expect a heavy dose of Kevin Smith — but Stafford should still put up a respectable line.

RUNNING BACK

Jason Snelling (Atlanta) @ New York Giants – Projection: 16-64 rushing, 1-9 receiving, 1 TD
With Michael Turner’s availability in question (potentially for an extended period of time), Snelling becomes the RB1 by default.  His backfield competition, Jerious Norwood, hasn’t practiced in a month, but could see 8-12 touches… if he plays.

Bernard Scott (Cincinnati) @ Oakland – Projection: 16-59 rushing, 1 TD
2009 fantasy football MVP candidate Cedric Benson has not been ruled out for Sunday, but his prospects don’t look good.  Scott ran hard and returned a kick for 6 against Pittsburgh last week, and should be Cinci’s RB1 if Benson is out, despite the addition of Larry Johnson.

Justin Forsett (Seattle) @ Minnesota – Projection: 15-57 rushing, 4-26 receiving
Forsett is a great add for all fantasy leagues, but temper expectations for Week 11 at Minnesota.  The Vikings defense ranks 6th in the NFL versus the rush (94.6 ypg) and has surrendered the fewest rushing scores to opposing backs (2).

WIDE RECEIVER

Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) @ Kansas City – Projection: 4-65 receiving, 1 TD
Wallace was on the Sleeper list last week, but with modest projections.  This week, against a 24th ranked Chiefs’ pass defense that has surrendered 14 TD, expect the rook to rebound with what could potentially be a career day.

Laveranues Coles (Cincinnati) @ Oakland – Projecion: 5-61 receiving, 1 TD
While Raiders’ corner Nnamdi Asomugha is taking Chad Ochocinco out of the game, the field will open up for Coles and Andre Caldwell.  Coles has 11 catches on 18 targets in the last 2 games.

Mohamed Massaquoi (Cleveland) @ Detroit – Projection: 4-71 receiving
The Lions are downright horrific against the pass (last in yards allowed per game (271.7) and 31st in TDs surrendered (20)).  That said, Brady Quinn and the Browns’ passing attack is as bad or worse.  Massaquoi will be the lone beneficiary.

TIGHT END

Jermichael Finley (Green Bay) vs. San Francisco – Projection: 5-58 receiving
Finley practiced on Wednesday for the first time since a Week 7 knee injury.  If he’s able to go for Green Bay on Sunday, he’s a good play against the vulnerable 49ers’ safeties.

KICKER

Jeff Reed (Pittsburgh) @ Kansas City – Projection: 2 FG, 4 PAT
The Steelers’ defense will overwhelm Kansas City’s offense in their first week without Dwayne Bowe, thus creating good field position and giving Reed ample opportunities.

DEFENSE

Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns – Projection: 16 points allowed, 1 sack, 1 Int, 1 fumble recovery
It’s not that the Lions will shut down Cleveland’s attack, it’s that Cleveland’s attack looks like a bad high school team.  The Browns have been held to 6 or fewer points 6 times this year, and could be without Josh Cribbs, their most dynamic player.

Posted: November 17, 2009

Week 10 was just a ho-hum week on the Sleeper front.  The QB’s came close, and a couple of the RB’s exceeded expectations, but most of the pack yielded meager returns.  Here are the Sleeper results for Week 10 (and scroll to the bottom of the post for the Week 10 “Name Your Sleepers Matchup” results):

QUARTERBACK (0 for 1, 1 push)

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) – Almost dead on with attempts/completions and yards, but off on TD and Int.
Projected: 17-31, 210 yards, 2 TD
Actual: 16-30, 212 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int

Chad Henne (Miami) – One more TD and he would have been exactly on point (fantasy points-wise).
Projected: 16-26, 195 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int
Actual: 17-31, 175 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int

RUNNING BACK (2 for 3)

Jamaal Charles (Kansas City) – Got 22 touches, and made them count.
Projected: 12-62 rushing, 4-22 receiving, 1 TD
Actual:18-103 rushing, 4-14 receiving, 1 TD

Mike Bell (New Orleans) – The Saints didn’t get out in front as expected, and Bell never really got an opportunity.
Projected: 12-52 rushing, 1 TD
Actual: 8-30 rushing

Ladell Betts (Washington) – Betts took advantage of 27 touches, and carried the Redskins to victory.
Projected: 17-59 rushing, 2-19 receiving
Actual: 26-114 rushing, 1-6 receiving, 1 TD

WIDE RECEIVER (0 for 2, 1 push)

Earl Bennett (Chicago) – Bennett had a 40 yard reception called back, and was otherwise quiet.
Projected: 4-56 receiving, 1 TD
Actual: 3-27 receiving

Andre Caldwell (Cincinnati) – Got the expected receptions, but offensive scores were nil in this one.
Projected: 4-45 receiving, 1 TD
Actual: 4-23 receiving

Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) – Wasn’t really a fantasy factor.
Projected: 3-55 receiving
Actual: 1-16 receiving

TIGHT END (0 for 1)

Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit) – Pettigrew didn’t get the dump-off looks we expected to see.
Projected: 6-72 receiving
Actual: 2-23 receiving

KICKER (push)

Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland) – Some things you never learn — like never count on an Oakland Raider!
Projected: 2 FG, 2 PAT (1 FG 40+)
Actual: 1 FG, 1 PAT (1 FG 50+)

DEFENSE (1 for 1)

Tennessee Titans – The Titans were nearly exact on projections, and returned 2 interceptions for scores.
Projected: 17 points allowed, 3 sacks, 2 Int
Actual: 17 points allowed, 2 sacks, 2 Int, 2 TD

Scorecard for Week 10: 3 for 8, 3 push
Overall Scorecard for 2009 Season: 37 for 102, 8 pushes (36%)

NAME YOUR SLEEPERS MATCHUP: WEEK 10

Paul from peoplespigskin (4-5-2) – Fantasy Sports Shack (3-5-3)

Using the key where coming within 2 projected fantasy points equals a correct pick, and within 4 equals a push, the inaugural week of the Fantasy Sports Shack “Name Your Sleepers Matchup” ended in a victory by the visitor.  The FSS results are above, and you can see Paul’s work below. Well played, Paul!

(For future competitors, remember: A Sleeper is owned in less than a majority of leagues.)

QB
Matt Cassel (Kansas City) – Projected 14, Actual 7
Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle) – Projected 14, Actual 14

RB
Fred Jackson (Buffalo) – Projected 15, Actual 11
Jamal Lewis (Cleveland) – Projected 12, Actual 3
Knowshon Moreno (Denver) – Projected 11, Actual 9

WR
Derrick Mason (Baltimore) – Projected 13, Actual 7
Sidney Rice (Minnesota) – Projected 12, Actual 20
Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) – Projected 9, Actual 1

TE
Dustin Keller (New York Jets) – Projected 8, Actual 5

K
Rob Bironas (Tennessee) – Projected 10, Actual 11

D/ST
Atlanta Falcons – Projected 9, Actual -1

Overall Name Your Sleepers Matchup Records: Fantasy Sports Shack 0-1, Visitors 1-0

Posted: November 14, 2009

In the Week 10 “Name Your Sleepers” matchup, Paul from peoplespigskin will test his skill against the Fantasy Sports Shack.  Paul, some of your Sleepers are owned in better than 80 percent of leagues, but we’ll let if fly this week.  Thanks for playing, and good luck!

PAUL’S PICKS

QB
Matt Cassel (Kansas City) – 14 points
Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle) – 14 points

RB
Fred Jackson (Buffalo) – 15 points
Jamal Lewis (Cleveland) – 12 points
Knowshon Moreno (Denver) – 11 points

WR
Derrick Mason (Baltimore) – 13 points
Sidney Rice (Minnesota) – 12 points
Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) – 9 points

TE
Dustin Keller (New York Jets) – 8 points

K
Rob Bironas (Tennessee) – 10 points

D/ST
Atlanta Falcons – 9 points

FANTASY SPORTS SHACK PICKS

QB
Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) – 16 points
Chad Henne (Miami) – 13 points

RB
Jamaal Charles (Kansas City) – 14 points
Mike Bell (New Orleans) – 11 points
Ladell Betts (Washington) – 7 points

WR
Earl Bennett (Chicago) – 11 points
Andre Caldwell (Cincinnati) – 10 points
Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) – 5 points+

TE
Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit) – 7 points

K
Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland) – 8 points

D/ST
Tennessee Titans – 9 points

For more detail on Paul’s picks, check out his comments.  And click here to read the insight on the Fantasy Sports Shack Sleepers for Week 10.

Posted: November 12, 2009

Week 10.  The final bye week of the 2009 season.  Next week starts the stretch run toward the fantasy football playoffs.  Here are the Sleepers for Week 10 who could help keep you in contention:

QUARTERBACK

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) vs. Jacksonville – Projection: 17-31, 210 yards, 2 TD
I’ve spotlighted Sanchez in the past, and he’s tended to let me down, but this week, against a 26th ranked Jags’ pass D, I have a hunch Mr. GQ is due.  He won’t singlehandedly win you the week, but he’s a viable fill-in for Schaub or Eli Manning.

Chad Henne (Miami) vs. Tampa Bay – Projection: 16-26, 195 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int
Henne has a good match-up against a Bucs‘ defense that has given up the 3rd most touchdowns in the league to opposing passers (18), but have also snatched 11 picks.

RUNNING BACK

Jamaal Charles (Kansas City) @ Oakland – Projection: 12-62 rushing, 4-22 receiving, 1 TD
The Raiders‘ 27th ranked Swiss cheese defense surrenders 161 ypg to opposing rushers, and has given up a league high 13 rushing touchdowns.  Charles could explode on any play, and should have a big day, despite sharing touches with Kolby Smith.

Mike Bell (New Orleans) @ St. Louis – Projection: 12-52 rushing, 1 TD
The Saints‘ RB1 is Pierre Thomas, and he’s a top-notch RB2 in the fantasy world.  It’s the match-up that dictates this pick, as the Saints will likely be up big early, and in second half garbage time, Bell could come in for clean-up duty.

Ladell Betts (Washington) vs. Denver – Projection: 17-59 rushing, 2-19 receiving
For the record, I hate this pick.  Betts is old, has a mild ankle sprain, averages 3.5 ypc over the past 3 years, has scored 1 TD in each of those seasons and already has his 1 for ‘09.  Still, he could see 20 touches against a tough Broncos defense.

WIDE RECEIVER

Earl Bennett (Chicago) @ San Francisco – Projection: 4-56 receiving, 1 TD
Coming off his best game of the year (11 targets, 7 catches, 93 yards), Bennett is finally showing signs of why he was considered a preseason sleeper darling.  He’s still looking for his first score, and I’m betting it’s in this week’s Thursday night special.

Andre Caldwell (Cincinnati) @ Pittsburgh – Projection: 4-45 receiving, 1 TD
With Chris Henry’s season-ending injury, Caldwell’s targets should increase slightly, and his reception totals should go up accordingly.  He has 3 scores on the season; 2 against Baltimore, the other against the Steelers.

Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) vs. Cincinnati – Projection: 3-55 receiving
I don’t know why Wallace is owned in less than 50% of Yahoo! Public Leagues and fewer than 20% of ESPN leagues, especially after his Monday night performance.  He’s a lock for at least 50 yards, and could score for the 3rd straight week.

TIGHT END

Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit) @ Minnesota – Projection: 6-72 receiving
The Vikings will be hanging all over whichever Lions QB starts (Matthew Stafford or Daunte Culpepper), and Pettigrew is sure to see several dump-offs.  One of those could result in a TD, if the Lions get that deep into Viking territory.

KICKER

Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland) vs. Kansas City – Projection: 2 FG, 2 PAT (1 FG 40+)
This is a battle of two terrible defenses and two lowly offenses.  The winner?  Both teams’ kickers, who could put up very similar lines.  I’ll take my chances on Janikowski (for leagues that give bonuses for long distance kicks).

DEFENSE

Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo – Projection: 17 points allowed, 3 sacks, 2 Int
The entire Tennessee team has newfound life since their bye and the insertion of Vince Young into the starting lineup.  Their defense isn’t as bad as the rankings would suggest (32nd pass, 18th rush), and Buffalo’s offense is plain dismal.

FIRST QUARTER
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)James Jones for TD
- Falcons (QB)Matt Ryan passes to (TE)Tony Gonzalez for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (WR)Larry Fitzgerald for TD
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Andre Caldwell for TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Freeman passes to (RB)Derrick Ward for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (TE)Greg Olsen for TD
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (RB)Joseph Addai for TD
- Jaguars (RB)Rashad Jennings rushes for TD
- Patriots (RB)Laurence Maroney rushes for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (TE)Ben Patrick for TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Freeman passes to (WR)Sammie Stroughter for a TD
- Falcons(D/ST) Falcons (CB)Tye Hill 62 Yard Interception Return for TD
- Packers (RB)Ryan Grant rushes for TD
- Bengals (RB)Cedric Benson rushes for TD

SECOND QUARTER
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (WR)Larry Fitzgerald for TD
- Buccaneers(D/ST) Buccaneers (CB)Ronde Barber 31 Yard Blocked Punt Return for TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)Donald Driver for TD
- Falcons (RB)Michael Turner rushes for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (TE)Anthony Becht for TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for a TD
- Jaguars (QB)David Garrard passes to (WR)Mike Sims-Walker for TD

THIRD QUARTER
- Redskins (RB)Ladell Betts rushes for TD
- Texans (QB)Matt Schaub passes to (RB)Ryan Moats for TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ronnie Brown passes to (TE)Joey Haynos for TD
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (WR)Randy Moss for TD
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (WR)Randy Moss for 2 Point Conversion

FOURTH QUARTER
- Redskins (QB)Jason Campbell passes to (TE)Todd Yoder for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (TE)Greg Olsen for TD
- Texans (RB)Steve Slaton rushes for TD
- Falcons (RB)Michael Turner rushes for TD
- Ravens (RB)Ray Rice rushes for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (TE)Greg Olsen for TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers rushes for a TD
- Jaguars (RB)Maurice Jones-Drew rushes for TD
- Buccaneers (QB)Josh Freeman passes to (TE)Kellen Winslow for TD
- Colts (RB)Joseph Addai rushes for TD
- Cardinals (QB)Kurt Warner passes to (WR)Steve Breaston for TD
- Chiefs (QB)Matt Cassel passes to (WR)Chris Chambers for a TD
- Chiefs (QB)Matt Cassel passes to (WR)Chris Chambers for a TD
- Buccaneers(D/ST) Buccaneers (S)Tanard Jackson 35 Yard Interception Return for TD

Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer about which games they believe are the best of THIS weekend.

As Loyal Homer points out, one such matchup takes place between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. This should be an outstanding game in the NFC East! I, however, am much more interested in the battle at the top of the AFC North between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens are coming off an outstanding performance against Denver where they handed the Broncos the first loss of the season with an impressive final score of 30-7. Last Sunday marked the fifth time in seven games that the Ravens offense was able to put up at least 30 points, and this time it managed to do it against the Denver Broncos’ top-ranked defense.

Behind the strength of two very impressive second-year players – quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice – the Ravens have been able to score almost at will all season long. The Ravens have played outstanding football in 2009 with the only losses coming against teams at the top of their respective divisions, the New England Patriots (5-2), Minnesota Vikings (7-1), and the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2). Even in defeat, however, the Ravens have been extremely competitive and may have achieved a 6-1 record if not for a couple of unlucky breaks.

The Ravens had an opportunity to defeat the Vikings as time ran out, but missed a field goal in the closing seconds of the game and lost by only two points. During the matchup against the Bengals one week earlier the Ravens actually held a four-point lead in the final minute of the game. If not for a 20-yard Carson Palmer touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Caldwell with only 0:22 seconds remaining the Ravens would have won that game, as well.

This Sunday the Ravens have an opportunity for revenge against the Bengals, a team that is one of the NFL’s surprise success stories this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals, a team that had to scrape out wins against the Cleveland Browns – Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Redskins during their final three matchups of 2008 just to reach a pathetic record of 4-11-1 on the season (did YOU know that teams in the NFL could tie?!) – have started off the 2009 season by winning five of the first seven games. What makes the 5-2 record so impressive is the caliber of opponent that defeated. With wins at Green Bay and in Baltimore, as well as being able to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Cincinnati, the Bengals are proving to be just as good this season as any other Super Bowl contender in the league. And, like the Ravens, Cincinnati has also been very competitive even in defeat. If not for a miracle 87-yard TIPPED touchdown catch by Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley with only seconds left in the game, the Bengals would be 6-1.

The Bengals offense, which has shown the ability to put big numbers up on the scoreboard, seems to be rejuvenated behind the arm of Carson Palmer. With receivers Chad Ochocinco, Lavaraneus Coles, and Andre Caldwell, Palmer has found the end zone 13 times so far this season. Meanwhile, on the ground, running back Cedric Benson is one of only two players in the NFL currently averaging at least 100-yards per game (Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans is the other, and he needed a 220 yard game last week to bump his average up that high).

Playing in the same division as the reigning Super Bowl Champions normally would be considered a disadvantage. That is not the case in the AFC North this season. Granted, the Pittsburgh Steelers have played very well this season and have kept pace with Baltimore and Cincinnati, but the Ravens and Bengals have not let that get in the way. The matchup between these two teams could very well become the difference in whether or not one of these teams gets to play football in mid-January. I expect a very hard-fought, competitive rematch, and am very excited to see how this one turns out!

Game Info:

Kickoff: 1 p.m. (EDT)

Site: Paul Brown Stadium (65,515) · Cincinnati, OH

TV: CBS

Announcers: Dick Enberg (play-by-play), Dan Fouts (color)

Previous Meeting:

In the teams’ last meeting on Oct. 11, the Bengals drove 80 yards and scored the game-winning TD with 22 seconds remaining, stunning the Ravens. It was the third straight win for the Bengals, and each of those victories came after trailing in the fourth quarter. Carson Palmer’s 20-yard pass to Andre Caldwell in the endzone sealed the victory for the Cincinnati. Cedric Benson rushed for 120 yards on 27 carries, becoming the first back in 40 games to gain 100 or more yards against the Ravens’ defense.

Keep Your Eye On:

CIN RB Cedric Benson. The fifth year back out of Texas has had resurgence in 2009, averaging 4.4 yards per carry (a career high) and scoring four TD’s (one shy of tying his career best of five). After 4 mediocre seasons in Chicago and another one last year in CIncy, Benson finally looks like the back everyone thought he would be when the Bears chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft. The Bengals are 3-0 this year when he gains 100 or more yards

BAL RB Ray Rice. This guy can do everything. He is explosive and remarkably powerful for his size. He is averaging 124.9 total yards from scrimmage per game this season, 2nd most in the NFL. In Rice’s last two games, he has averaged 11.2 yards per reception.

Carson Palmer vs. Ravens Defense: Back on Oct 11, Ed Reed intercepted Palmer in the first quarter and returned it for a TD. The rest of the game, Palmer was held in check. But on the Bengals final drive; he looked calm and collected while the Ravens’ defense looked slopy undisciplined. Chris Carr was called for an illegal contact penalty; Palmer completed four passes and ran six yards for a first down on 4^th and 1. Linebacker Ray Lewis was called for a personal foul when he delivered a hard hit Chad Ochocinco coming across the middle. And the final blow came on the 20-yard TD pass to Andre Caldwell right over the middle of the field. Getting pressure on Palmer early

Prediction: The Ravens showed last week that they despite their three consecutive losses, they are still capable of beating some of the best teams in the league. When this team doesn’t shoot themselves in the foot, they are a tough bunch to beat. The Bengals, however, are having a great season. They knocked off the Super Bowl champs, and came into Baltimore with confidence and walked out with a win. When their offensive machine is rolling, it is very difficult to stop. The difference in this one will be that Baltimore is more hungry for a win here than Cincinnati. RAVENS 34-21.

Over the next several weeks, we’re going to look at several different positions (I can’t yet promise all) to identify the best players wearing each jersey number at each position. If this goes as planned, we’ll then compile a list of the best player wearing each jersey number in the league.

If you have quibbles, or want to add someone I forgot, leave a comment and we’ll update this post. And please have patience – this is a big job.

We’ll start in this post with the best wide receivers at each jersey number. In general, wideouts are allowed to wear numbers between 10 and 19 as well as between 80 and 89.

10 – Santonio Holmes, Steelers – We’ll go with Holmes, the defending Super Bowl MVP, in this category, but it’s a close decision over DeSean Jackson of the Eagles. Both are significant starters for their teams and emerging stars in the league. Other notable 10: Jabar Gaffney, Broncos

11 – Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals – Fitzgerald is one of the very best receivers in the league, and so he gets the nod as the premier wideout wearing No. 11. He became a superstar in last year’s playoffs, doing what he had done in relative obscurity earlier in his career in Arizona. Fitzgerald is the real deal. Other notable 11s: Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars; Mohammed Massaquoi, Browns; Roy Williams, Cowboys; Laveranues Coles, Bengals; Julian Edelman, Patriots; Legedu Naanee, Chargers; Roscoe Parrish, Bills; Stefan Logan, Steelers

12 – Marques Colston, Saints – Colston is the premier receiver on the league’s most potent offense, and now that he’s healthy he’s showing incredible skills for his size. That gives him the nod over Steve Smith of the Giants as the best No. 12 wideout in the league. Both Colston and Smith may have to move over for Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin at some point in the future. Other notable 12s: Michael Jenkins, Falcons; Justin Gage, Titans; Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders; Quan Cosby, Bengals

13 – Johnny Knox, Bears – Knox is the only notable receiver wearing No. 13 this year. The rookie out of Abilene Christian has had a nice freshman season in the NFL with three receiving TDs and a return for a score. Maybe he’ll make 13 a trendier, if not luckier, number for wideouts.

14 – Brandon Stokley, Broncos – Like 13, 14 isn’t a popular number for receivers. Stokley, who had good seasons with the Colts and the most memorable touchdown of the season off a tip in the opener against the Bengals, is the best of the bunch over St. Louis prospect Keenan Burton. Other notable 14: Eric Weems, Falcons

15 – Brandon Marshall, Broncos – Marshall’s numbers aren’t quite as good this season as fellow 15 Steve Breaston of Arizona, but Marshall is the more dynamic and more important player than Arizona’s talented third receiver. Marshall has the talent to be one of the league’s top-5 overall receivers. Other notable 15s: Kelley Washington, Ravens; Chris Henry, Bengals; Davone Bess, Dolphins; Michael Crabtree, 49ers; Courtney Roby, Saints

16 – Josh Cribbs, Browns - Lance Moore of the Saints is the only notable pure wide receiver wearing No. 16 right now, but Cribbs, Cleveland’s do-everything guy, plays enough receiver and has a receiver number, so he counts here. Cribbs catches the ball, returns kicks, and plays under center in the wildcat. He may be the league’s best return man, and he’s growing as an offensive force. Moore had a strong season as New Orleans’ slot receiver last year, but injuries have hampered his production this year. Other notable 16: Danny Amendola, Rams

17 – Braylon Edwards, Jets – Edwards had fallen out of favor in Cleveland last year and this season, and his numbers reflected that diminished importance, but he’s now in New York and gaining steam. So we’ll list him as the top 17 over rookies Mike Wallace of Pittsburgh and Austin Collie of Indianapolis. Other notable 17s: Donnie Avery, Rams; Robert Meachem, Saints

18 – Sidney Rice, Vikings – Rice is emerging as the Vikings’ most reliable receiver, and he has become one of Brett Favre’s favorite targets. His good size and exceptional ball skills and leaping ability are finally starting to shine through now that he’s in his third season. He beats a crop of rookies to earn the honor as the best receiver wearing 18. Other notable 18s: Kenny Britt, Titans; Jeremy Maclin, Eagles; Louis Murphy, Raiders; Sammie Stroughter, Buccaneers

19 - Miles Austin, Cowboys – Austin has come out of nowhere over the past three games to establish himself as an explosive threat and the Cowboys’ best receiver. Even with the return heroics of Miami’s Ted Ginn Jr. and Denver’s Eddie Royal this year, Austin is the best 19. Other notable 19: Devery Henderson, Saints

23 – Devin Hester, Bears – Because Hester came into the NFL as a defensive back, he’s been allowed to keep his old DB number of 23 even though he’s now a wide receiver. The fact that he’s Chicago’s No. 1 outside target makes this a legitimate listing for a bit of a funky number for a receiver.

80 – Andre Johnson, Texans – If you made me pick one receiver as the best in the league, this is the guy. He has freakish size, incredible speed, and great production throughout his career. The only pockmark on his resume is the fact that he’s been dinged up from time to time. So he gets an easy decision here over Donald Driver of Green Bay as the best receiver wearing 80. Other notable 80s: Earl Bennett, Bears; Malcom Floyd, Chargers; Bryant Johnson, Lions; Bobby Wade, Chiefs; Marty Booker, Falcons; Mike Thomas, Jaguars

81 – Randy Moss, Patriots – Moss is already an all-time great, and he’s still performing at a premium level for the Pats. This is an easy call, even though  current great Anquan Boldin of Arizona, past greats Torry Holt of the Jaguars and Terrell Owens of the Bills, and future great Calvin Johnson of Detroit also wear 81. This number has great depth of talent. Other notable 81: Nate Burleson, Seahawks

82 – Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs – As deep as 81 is in talent, 82 is thin. We’ll give the nod to Bowe over the Giants’ Mario Manningham because Bowe has had more good seasons, even though Manningham has been more impactful this year. Other notable 82s: Antwaan Randle El, Redskins; Brian Hartline, Dolphins

83 – Wes Welker, Patriots – Welker, who piles up gobs of catches as the jitterbug/security blanket of the Patriots offense, narrowly gets this nod over Vincent Jackson of San Diego, who has joined the list of the league’s 10 best receivers. Lee Evans of Buffalo doesn’t have equivalent numbers because his quarterbacks have stunk for years, but he’s no slouch either. Other notable 83s: Kevin Walter, Texans; Deion Branch, Seahawks; Sinorice Moss, Giants

84 – Roddy White, Falcons – White has emerged as one of the top receivers in the league over the past three years, and he looks like he’ll team with Matt Ryan for a long time as Atlanta’s dynamic duo. We’ll take the ascending White over the descending T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who has had a great career in Cincinnati but is starting to show signs of slippage in his first season in Seattle. Other notable 84s: Patrick Crayton, Cowboys; Josh Morgan, 49ers; Bobby Engram, Chiefs; Javon Walker, Raiders

85 – Chad Ochocinco, Bengals – We have to give this jersey-number to Ochocinco, since he changed his name to be his jersey number in Spanish (kind of). But Ochocinco deserves it given the renaissance year he is having with the Bengals. Derrick Mason of the Ravens contended for the honor based on his long career, while Greg Jennings of the Packers could claim this honor in the future. Other notable 85s: Pierre Garcon, Colts; Jerheme Urban, Cardinals

86 - Hines Ward, Steelers – There aren’t a lot of great receivers wearing 86, but there is one – Ward. The former Super Bowl MVP isn’t just great at catching the ball; he’s a vicious blocker downfield as well. He’s a borderline Hall of Famer who is still building his resume. Other notable 86s: Dennis Northcutt, Lions; Brian Finneran, Falcons

87 – Reggie Wayne, Colts – Wayne has seamlessly taken over for Marvin Harrison as Peyton Manning’s premier target in Indy, and now Wayne is building his own case for the Hall of Fame. There aren’t five receivers in the league who are better or more explosive than Wayne. Other notable 87s: Bernard Berrian, Vikings; Andre Caldwell, Bengals; Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers; Mike Furrey, Browns; David Clowney, Jets; Jordy Nelson, Packers; Domenik Hixon, Giants

88 – Isaac Bruce, 49ers – Bruce is no longer the dynamic force he was for years in St. Louis, but he’s good enough to claim this number as his lifetime achievement award. Rookie Hakeem Nicks of the Giants is the only other significant 88 as a receiver, but he looks as though he will be a good one. Other notable 88: Chansi Stuckey, Browns

89 – Steve Smith, Panthers – Smith hasn’t had the season this year that he’s had in the past, and he’s even felt at times that he wasn’t an asset to his team, but those problems have more to do with the struggles of Carolina QB Jake Delhomme than with Smith’s own shortcomings. Smith is just 5-foot-9, but he’s lightning quick, built like a brick house, tough to bring down, and shockingly good on jump balls. He’s still an elite receiver. Other notable 89s: Santana Moss, Redskins; Jerricho Cotchery, Jets; Mark Clayton, Ravens; Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers; James Jones, Packers

Posted: October 14, 2009

Ah, Costa Del Sol.  The South of Spain…  Not a bad life.  And 5-10 with a push in a week where I was on a European vacation ain’t too shabby, either.  I’m now in London, where my computer access is slightly better, though my ability to catch even one episode of NFL Live is nil.  Still, the show must go on, so here are the Sleeper results for Week 5:

QUARTERBACK (1 for 2)

Matt Cassel – Got it going, as expected, despite falling a TD shy of the projection.
Projected: 19-32, 265 yards, 3 TD, 20 rushing yards
Actual: 23-41, 253 yards, 2 TD, 28 rushing yards

Mark Sanchez – Sanchez wasn’t efficient (50% completion percentage), and fell well short of expectations.
Projected: 18-28, 215 yards, 2 TD
Actual: 12-24, 172 yards, 1 TD

RUNNING BACK (1 for 3)

Jerome Harrison – Jamal Lewis took back the workload, and Harrison got bottled up when he got his touches.
Projected: 13-60 rushing, 4-22 receiving, 1 TD
Actual: 8-21 rushing, 0 TD

Jonathan Stewart – Projection had him at 12.9 points, came in at 10.5.  Not quite, but useful.
Projected: 12-55 rushing, 2-14 receiving, 1 TD
Actual: 10-39 rushing, 1-6 receiving, 1 TD

Beanie Wells – It always seems like next week’s the week with this guy.  Now his coach is even saying so.
Projected: 8-50 rushing, 1-8 receiving, 1 TD
Actual: 7-24 rushing, 0 TD

WIDE RECEIVER (1 for 2, 1 push)

Andre Caldwell – Fell a few yards shy of projection, but still found paydirt.  Push.
Projected: 6-65, 1 TD
Actual: 2-33, 1 TD

Bobby Wade – Cassel spread the ball too much for any of his receivers, sans Bowe, to be a fantasy factor.
Projected: 5-60, 1 TD
Actual: 4-42, 0 TD

Austin Collie – Like I said, Garcon got the love, but Collie is getting the job done.
Projected: 5-55, 1 TD
Actual: 8-97, 2 TD

TIGHT END (0 for 1)

Sean Ryan – See Bobby Wade.
Projected: 4-42, 1 TD
Actual: 2-27, 0 TD

KICKER (1 for 1)

Olindo Mare – Same amount of points as projected, just in a different manner.
Projected: 3-3 FG, 2 PAT (1 FG 40+)
Actual: 2-2 FG, 5 PAT (1 FG 40+)

DEFENSE (1 for 1)

Carolina Panthers – Though Clinton Portis scored twice, the Panthers shut the Redskins down most of the day.
Projected: 13 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 Int, 2 fumble recoveries
Actual: 17 points allowed, 5 sacks, 0 Int, 1 fumble recovery

Scorecard for Week 5: 5 for 10, 1 push
Overall Scorecard for 2009 Season: 23 for 52, 3 pushes (44%)

I was right . . . again! The Bengals are 4-1 and first in the AFC North.  Cincinnati beat the odds by three with a score of 17-14 against the Ravens.  Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, the defense, Chad Ochocinco, Andre Caldwell and Chris Henry were all game changers.

Palmer played a lot better this week.  He had 18 completions for 31 passes with 271 yards and a touchdown in the last 20 seconds of the game.  Palmer and the coaches need to work on watching the play clock.  He had too many delay of game calls and hurt the offense with a 5 yard penalty each time.

Benson has had an amazing year.  He had 120 yards against the Raven’s defense.  It has been 39 games since Baltimore’s defense has let a running back have 100 yards in a game.  Benson has really stepped up his game this year.

Cincinnati has an alive, quick, mean defense.  The Bengal’s defense held the Ravens, who were rated #3 in the NFL, to only 14 points.  One of those touchdowns was actually scored by Baltimore’s defense.  Cincinnati’s defense really stuck it out and played with heart.  The Bengals won the game for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer because his wife died last week.

Caldwell, Ochocinco and Henry  are doing great things on the field.  Caldwell has been catching clutch passes.  He caught the game winning ball against the Steelers and the Ravens.  #85 got his hands back in Baltimore and actually caught the ball even when contact was made.  Henry should have the ball thrown to him way more often.  He is a fast receiver who catches almost everything.  He had 3 catches for 92 yards in this one game.

What is with Ray Lewis actually trying to hurt Ochocinco?  The announcers said Ochocinco and Lewis pray together every Sunday on the phone.  Lewis’s hit was stupid and caused a 15 yard penalty that hurt his team badly on the last drive.

The Bengals are beating the odds. They are 4-1 after a 3-12-1 season last year.  It’s a great year to be a Bengal’s fan.  Go Bengals!  WHO DEY!

Seriously. I really can’t hate them, and I’m not sure why.

It was easy for me to become a closet Cleveland Browns fan because I already hated the Steelers, Ravens, and Bengals. I just always hated them, and their fans, and the fact that their teams would always beat me in Madden in Franchise Mode and ruin my good season. They were faceless assholes to me. Tommy Maddox? Who the fuck is that? Fuck Ray Lewis. I hate Carson Palmer.

Now, however, I’ve matured a little bit, and so have they.

Just as a note: I still hate the Steelers and Ravens. My hate for them will never change. I actually hate all teams from Pennsylvania. Fuck the Phillies, Eagles, Pirates, 76ers, Steelers, and any other team, including you, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, for having the name Yankees and being in that stupid state. I don’t even think I’ve been to Pennsylvania, but I just have such a bad impression from anything I hear about the fans or people there that I have developed a judgment of them already.

Back to my original point. I used to loathe the Bengals. Their fucking stupid uniforms, the way they used to suck, but would always still decimate their poor intrastate rivals.. it all bothered me. I used to fucking hate Chad Johnson, and how cocky he was. Irrational, uninformed hate is the easiest kind of hate.

They’ve changed all that shit around, and it might sound stupid, but I think it partially has to do with Chad Johnson changing his last name to Ochocinco, and also joining Twitter. He gave this team a face, an identity. I might be reading into this too much, and I really wish I had the ability to ask Chad Ochocinco a few questions, but when he changed his name, he dedicated himself to his team. It could be perceived as a very foolish idea to transform your life around a number, as Stephon Marbury did by tattooing the number 3 on his head, but it shows dedication.

Everyone always ragged on the Bengals picking up wayward players who had gotten a DUI or some sort of assault charge and expecting consistency out of them. I probably wasn’t alone in thinking that it felt like Burt Reynolds was coaching the team against the prison guards, and Cincinnati used to play like the womens’ prison. This year, Cedric Benson is in the high tier of fantasy and actual running backs, being the first 100-yard rusher in a long time against the Baltimore Ravens’ praised run defense. This is the guy who was arrested for being allegedly drunk while driving a boat, and then arrested again a month later for driving a car while intoxicated. He was the butt of all jokes, and considered to be absolutely useless. Why would Marvin Lewis use him? Kenny Watson wasn’t an every-down back and DeDe Dorsey was hurt, and not really that effective. If you have Benson on your fantasy team right now, however, whether you actually picked him or got “stuck” with him because of autodraft, you’re very happy right now if you’ve used him. He’s rebooting his career, and hopefully will keep producing the whole year and stay out of trouble.

It’s very easy to see when a football team has given up on the season, and the Bengals did it very frequently. You can tell, after 4 or 5 games and only one or two wins, when the players are just there to get paid and don’t care about records anymore. It seemed very likely that this would happen after the first-week upset in the final minute to the Denver Broncos, with that ridiculous tipped catch by Brandon Stokley to win the game after the Bengals had a one-point lead. Cincinnati would have a 4- or 5-win season, get some lineman in the draft, and keep struggling along, probably with a Marvin Lewis firing.

Earlier last week, Mike Zimmer, the defensive coordinator for the Bengals, probably had football as the last thing on his mind when he found out that his wife had unexpectedly passed away. He still decided to be on the sideline and call plays for his team, not leaving them on their own. ESPN, CBS and FOX showed in the locker room, after the Bengals had won in the final minute with a touchdown from Carson Palmer to Andre Caldwell, and Zimmer thanking the players in the locker room, telling them that his wife would be proud of them whether they won or lost.

I am a Patriots fan, but I also am a football fan. I love the sport, although I have never actually played it. It captivates me for some reason. I love teams that rejuvenate themselves from the basement of the league and become the great new surprise. I love players that return to their prime level of play. Everyone hates them, but I love Ochocinco, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens. They add character to the NFL. I will not root for the Bengals, but I won’t hate them anymore. I can’t.

Ravens : (QB)Joe Flacco passes to (RB)Ray Rice for a TD
Rams : (QB)Marc Bulger passes to (WR)Donnie Avery for a TD
Lions : (QB)Daunte Culpepper passes to (WR)Dennis Northcutt for a TD
Panthers : (RB)Jonathan Stewart rushes for a TD
Vikings : (RB)Chester Taylor rushes for a TD
Buccaneers : (QB)Josh Johnson passes to (TE)Kellen Winslow
Cowboys : (QB)Tony Romo passes to (WR)Miles Austin for a TD
Bengals : (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Andre Caldwell for a TD
Eagles : Eagles(D/ST) (DE)Darren Howard gets a Safety
Chiefs : (QB)Matt Cassel passes to (WR)Dwayne Bowe for a TD

Posted: October 9, 2009

I’m sitting on the coast of Spain, gazing out over the Mediterranean on a clear, gorgeous afternoon.  I can see the Rock of Gibraltar and the distant shore of Africa.  It’s serene.  I have no internet access, yet back home, it’s football season, and I still need to get my Sleepers in, so I’m working on Microsoft Word, and later I’ll find a little café that has wireless and go to work.  Forgive me for the lack of links this week.  I’m on vacation!  Here are the picks for Week 5:

QUARTERBACK

Matt Cassel vs. Dallas – Projection: 19-32, 265 yards, 3 TD, 20 rushing yards
The Chiefs average just 246 ypg of total offense, but the Cowboys give up 256 ypg through the air.  If the O-line can stop the thus far mediocre Cowboys’ pass rush (6 sacks), Cassel could return to the form that got him his big contract.

Mark Sanchez @ Miami – Projection 18-28, 215 yards, 2 TD
The Dolphins give up on 61 ypg on the ground, so the Jets will be forced to throw at a Dophins defense that ranks 24th in the league against the pass (239 ypg).

RUNNING BACK

Jerome Harrison @ Buffalo – Projection: 13-60 rushing, 4-22 receiving, 1 TD
It appears Jamal Lewis will play, but Harrison should split time (50/50 or even 60/40), and should find wiggle room against a defense that allows 150 rushing ypg.  If Lewis doesn’t play, Harrison’s output will go up significantly.

Jonathan Stewart vs. Washington – Projection: 12-55 rushing, 2-14 receiving, 1 TD
Coming off the bye week, Carolina is going to go back to what they do best: run the football.  Both Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will see plenty of action in this one.

Beanie Wells vs. Houston – Projection: 8-50 rushing, 1-8 receiving, 1 TD
We’re still waiting for his coming out party, and so is he, as he’s been quoted of saying this week.  Against a horrible Texans’ run D (165 ypg), it may not be a party, but he could be worth a flex start, even in a shootout.

WIDE RECEIVER

Andre Caldwell @ Baltimore – Projection: 6-65, 1 TD
The Ravens give up 232 passing ypg, so Carson Palmer could do some damage.  Caldwell, second most catches on his team (16), is starting to make his name known.

Bobby Wade vs. Dallas – Projection: 5-60, 1 TD
If Cassel is going to awaken, so must his receivers.  Most likely, Dwayne Bowe is the guy who benefits most, but this could be a big week for the #2 receiver on the Chiefs’ depth chart.

Austin Collie @ Tennessee – Projection: 5-55, 1 TD
The talk has been about Pierre Garcon, and there’s no doubt about his abilities, but Collie is coming off a 6 reception game against Seattle, has more catches (12) than Garcon (10), and the Colts are up against one of the worst pass D’s in football.

TIGHT END

Sean Ryan vs. Dallas – Projection: 4-42, 1 TD
Ryan had a good week last week, and may be building a rapport with his quarterback; a good thing for a young guy on a team who just spent $63 million on a slinger.

KICKER

Olindo Mare vs. Jacksonville – Projection: 3-3 FG, 2 PAT (1 FG 40+)
As mentioned last week, the Seahawks offense is weak without Matt Hasselbeck – which makes me a bit of a hypocrite for picking Wallace – but they could pass their way to field goal range a few times.

DEFENSE

Carolina Panthers vs. Washington – Projection: 13 points allowed, 2 sacks, 1 Int, 2 fumble recoveries
The Redskins average 14 ppg, and managed just 2 touchdowns against Detroit and 3 field goals against St. Louis.  The Panthers give up a league-worst 182 yards rushing, but if their offense controls the clock, they should run away with this one.

My parent’s friend, Buzz, found this video of the last minute of the Bengals/ Steelers game on YouTube.  (Click to see the video.) It’s AWESOME!!!  WHO DEY!

Here is a cool picture from training camp of #87 Andre Caldwell, the player who caught the game winning touchdown.

That’s me sitting on the sidelines in the white hat.

I told you so!

Read my game recap at mvn.com!!

Each week, the NFL schedule provides intriguing story lines.  This week is no different.  Here are a five things I’ll be watching this week.

1.  Pick me! No, pick me! Interception prone Jake Delhomme faces off against interception happy Tony Romo in INT Bowl 2009.  Defenders on both teams have to be salivating.  There is no telling if Delhomme will show up as the guy who throws for 270+ yards every time he plays the Atlanta Falcons (308 last week) or the guy enamored with the men in other uniforms.  Dallas’ Tony Romo needs to bounce back from his undressing at the hands of the depleted New York Giants.  Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall are going to sleep like babies this week.

It’s not like they’ll be up worried about Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin.

2. The Bungle in the Jungle. The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have trouble in the red zone until one of two things happens.  Either Bruce Arians relents and incorporates a fullback into the offense more than he’d like.  The Steelers are not alone in having red zone troubles.  The Patriots, without a powerful lead runner, have also struggled.  Add the Chargers to that list.  The Steelers do not have an accomplished FB on the roster.  They have a very athletic, large running back (Frank Summers, rookie, UNLV) who has missed several blocks while leading for a runner who has failed to properly read blocks because he’d rather run outside than between the tackles (Willie Parker) — where the yards are.

The Bengals will probably seek to gain a measure of redress of LB Keith Rivers.  In watching the NFL package last week, I was surprised at how often Hines Ward’s jawbreaker was shown in games that didn’t feature the Bengals or Steelers.  The Bengals should be warned, though, that if they try to hard to get some payback, the result could be the loss of another defender or two at the hands of Ward.  The Ravens know all too well that this is a fool’s errand.  (Exhibit A: Ed Reed; Exhibit B: Jarret Johnson; Exhibit C: Frank Johnson; Exhbiit D: Willis McGahee).  Cincinnati can’t afford to play this “game.”  They should stick to spreading the field and using the speed of guys like Chris Henry and Andre Caldwell to expose the Steeler secondary.

NOTE: No need to mention Chad Ochocinco here.  I love him as a player, but he hasn’t had a killer game vs. the Steelers since Daddy Bush was contemplating war in Iraq.  Ike Taylor is renting space in Chad’s head.

3. A Kevin Faulk Sighting. The aforementioned New England Patriots have had considerable trouble running the ball.  They’ve utilized the Running Back by Committee (RBC) Approach with little success.  Last week, the Falcons allowed 144 yards on the ground to the Panthers.  The Falcons will be coming to town without one of their starting defensive tackles.  Will the Patriots exploit this by sticking with their passing formations, but deploying Kevin Faulk on draws and screens.  That’s the method they used in 2008 vs. the Steelers.  Faulk had a great day, but it didn’t alter the outcome.  Faulk may be the key on Sunday.  I look for him to get about 10 carries and pull in 6 to 10 passes.

4. A Good Stiff Brees. During last week’s win over the Buccaneers, upstate New York native and childhood fan of the Buffalo Bills Darryl “Moose” Johnson lamented the unenthusiastic and lackadaisical play of the Bills during the 2nd half.  The game began with a surprising intensity for teams that have no history and little familiarity.  Scuffles broke out in the early going, but that was soon replaced by a malaise that crept over the game.  Johnson repeated criticized the Bills lack of urgency during the 2nd half.  After Trent Edwards fired an interception to the Bucs, Johnson noted the Bills receivers had little interest in tackling the defenders.

Not all of the Bills were trapped in this funk.  Former Hurricane speedster Roscoe Parrish ran the length of the field to tackle one defender following a Bill turnover.  With all this talk of hurricanes and intensity, the Bills ar set to face the New Orleans Saints and “Hurricane Drew” Brees (I made that up.)  This son of Katrina will come to town with an elite arsenal that is all set to embarrass the Bills.  The Philadelphia Eagles, stocked with defenders like Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Sheldon Brown and others were blasted out of their own building last week.  The same thing could happen in Buffalo.

It’s not clear to me who the leaders are on this team, but they will be tested this week.  Dick Jauron has had sufficient time to carve out an identity for this team.  The Bills have enough talent to win this game.  The question is whether or not they have enough pride to avoid getting embarrassed.

5.  Is There a Doctor in the House? The 49ers and Vikings are set to do battle on Sunday.  In the games that I’ve watched to date, the 49ers defense has been the most impressive.  They hit with more naked aggression and intensity than most teams I’ve seen.  The Niners were clearly ready for the start of the season.  They have a “Take No Prisoners” mentality and seem intent on leaving carcasses across the national landscape.  The Vikings, for all their accolades, are led by two stars susceptible to injury.  Favre never misses a game, but he will play hurt — and hurt his team.  Just as pride kept Cal Ripken on the field for 7 entire seasons when he hit under .270 (How the hell did that guy into Cooperstown?), Favre has played through thick and thicker without reaping the benefits.

Leslie Frazier, former ‘85 Chicago Bear and architect of the Vikings defense, has a crew of head bangers at his disposal.  This is going to be a very physical game.  The toughest team will win.  Watch the turnover battle.  I suspect that Favre will be challenged to maintain his conservative ways against a stacked box for A.P. and a heavy dose of Takeo Spikes up the gut.

Mike Singletary’s “Far West Chicago Bears”

Should be a great weekend.