Week Fourteen Observations

1. The NFL Network flashed an amazing stat during Thursday’s Pittsburgh/Cleveland game. The Steelers were the first team since the 1998 Denver Broncos to play their first twelve games without ever facing a deficit of more than seven points. Yet they lost six of those games. The Steelers this season have

• beaten the Chargers, Vikings, and Broncos
• lost to the Bears, Chiefs, Raiders, and Browns
• lost seven games by a touchdown or less, including four by three points
• lost five consecutive games
• blown fourth quarter leads in five of their losses
• one of the worst special teams units in the league
• not used their timeouts efficiently
• appeared to have little relationship between clock management and play calling
• had critical assignment breakdowns on offense, defense, and special teams.
  

What does this tell us? It tells us the Steelers are one of the worst-coached teams in the NFL.

2. You know it’s gone bad when Hines Ward isn’t smiling.

3. The Denver Broncos kept beating their heads (and running backs) into a brick wall against the Colts, repeatedly running up the middle on third and fourth and short with no success.

4. I'm not impressed with Matt Moore.

5. Carolina had some bad luck on penalties against the Patriots. If not for that, the Panthers would have had a shot.

6. Seattle's third and fourth down checkdowns are sad to watch.

7. Seems like at least half of Jay Cutler's interceptions are miscommunications of some sort.

8. The Lions ran a fake QB sneak on third and short against the Ravens, looking for a big play. They didn't get the big play, but Daunte Culpepper was able to scramble outside for a first down. I continue to love Detroit's coaching. I just hope they can get some players in there. The talent level, particularly after the best ten players on the roster, is incredibly low. Watching Ray Rice and Wilis McGahee run circles around them was just kind of sad. With Kevin Smith out for the season, Matt Stafford fighting through an injury, and Louis Delmas banged up, the Lions would be wise to cash in their chips and look towards 2010. Ndamukong Suh could help turn things around.

9. Ryan Fitzpatrick made the best block I've ever seen by a quarterback this week against the Chiefs, springing Marshawn Lynch for a big gain.

10. For the first half of the 2007 season, the New England Patriots blew away everyone they faced. As the season wore on, teams figured out a few ways to limit the explosiveness of New England's offense and the gaps closed. The Patriots kept winning, but the games were closer. The New Orleans Saints crushed all comers the first half of this season, but have had a much harder time winning the last several weeks. They are still winning, but the games are coming down to the last minute. The difference between the Saints and '07 Patriots is on the other side of the ball. The Saints have suffered several key injuries to their defense, and they are having a hard time stopping people. The Saints are vulnerable in the playoffs, because their defense might have a hard time getting off the field. The New Orleans crowd will help.

Meanwhile, NO's offense is as unstoppable as it has ever been. The Saints attack the field short, medium, and long. They do everything right. I don't believe they can be stopped, not for long.

11. Reggie Bush played well against the Falcons, though that defense has been known to make a lot of players look good.

12. Tampa Bay had 18 plays for 15 yards in the first half Sunday against the Jets. They finished the game with 124 yards. This was a game where the offense did more harm than good.

13. Kellen Clemens is awful. He should be out of the league within a few years.

14. Miami's young corners are getting better.

15. As bad as Keith Null and the Rams are on offense, they might be worse on defense. Richie Incognito is an idiot and had his release coming for a long time, but cutting out cancers won't help the Rams. They are incredibly light on talent. It's hard to imagine this team competing in 2010.

16. A fake punt was the Rams best offensive play Sunday against the Titans.

17. The Titans have now lost a game by 59 and won a game by 40.

18. Not sure why Gary Russell returns kicks for the Raiders. They have plenty of burners.

19. Darren McFadden came to play Sunday. The Raiders don't need three tailbacks. They probably should have taken a 2008 offer of a San Diego second round pick for Michael Bush.

20. ***Guest Observation of the Week***
Before the season I said Jason Campbell was the third most intriguing player of the season and wrote "During or after the season, Campbell will become a superstar and sign a gargantuan contract to become one of the highest-paid players in the league, or he will become a second-stringer with a small contract and little hope of playing in meaningful games. There is little middle ground."

My friend Zaxelrod from DC wrote "Love that you have Jason Campbell at #3 - it's certainly a big issue around Washington, but I'm not sure I agree that he becomes a huge star or nothing. I do believe, however, that he proves himself as a more than serviceable starter or nothing, and if the former, then he tries to force DC to pay too much (we're good at that); deservedly so for having to put up with Dan the Man. Point being, I think the most likely outcome is that he proves to be a good, serviceable quarterback and then fights for superstar money if the Skins want to keep him from going to a better situation."

It appears Zaxelrod hit the nail on the head. The Skins are going to have a very interesting offseason.

21. As expected, Washington/Oakland was a tough, competitive battle between two underrated teams - before Bruce Gradkowski got hurt, JaMarcus Russell came in, and the Raiders returned to laughingstock territory.

22. Washington's front seven is really playing well right now.

23. I think if Devin Thomas can step it up some more next year, it will open up more opportunities for Santana Moss.

24. San Diego's Kassim Osgood is incredible on punt coverage. He looks like the best non-returner special-teams player out there right now. My 2010 Pro Bowl ballot:

Quarterbacks

AFC:
Peyton Manning
Philip Rivers
Carson Palmer

NFC:
Drew Brees
Brett Favre
Aaron Rodgers

I went Palmer over Tom Brady cause of Brady's early-season struggles. Kurt Warner was also considered.

Running Backs

AFC:
Chris Johnson
Maurice Jones-Drew
Ray Rice

NFC:
Steven Jackson
DeAngelo Williams
Adrian Peterson

Obvious choice here, didn't consider anyone else.

Wide Receivers

AFC:
Andre Johnson
Reggie Wayne
Brandon Marshall
Vincent Jackson

NFC:
Donald Driver
Larry Fitzgerald
DeSean Jackson
Steve Smith Giants

Tough category, especially in the AFC where I left out both Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Vincent Jackson is just impossible to cover on the deep ball.

Tight Ends

AFC:
Dallas Clark
Antonio Gates

NFC:
Vernon Davis
Tony Gonzalez

I'm not sure how good Vernon Davis actually is and probably should have gone with Jason Witten because of his superior blocking, but Davis does lead the NFL in TD catches.

Centers

Honestly anyone I put down here would be because of word of mouth, not anything I saw myself.

Tackles

AFC:
Michael Roos
Ryan Clady
David Stewart

NFC:
Donald Penn
Jeff Otah
Bryant McKinnie

Bad year for tackles. Few had great seasons. Two Tennessee Titans, which makes me wonder if they are making Chris Johnson look good or vice versa.

Guards

See centers.

Fullbacks

AFC:
Lousaka Polite

NFC:
Leonard Weaver

Weaver isn't actually on the field that much, but he is a terror with the ball in his hands and has done as much for Philadelphia's offense as any of their other new additions.

Strong Safeties

AFC:
Brian Dawkins

NFC:
Adrian Wilson

Two stone-cold sickos. I continue to marvel at how Adrian Wilson plays the game. If he had ball skills he would be even better than Troy Polamalu.

Cornerbacks

AFC:
Darrelle Revis
Leon Hall
Nnamdi Asomugha

NFC:
Charles Woodson
Chris Gamble
Aqib Talib

The AFC is incredibly competitive in this category this season. I had to leave Champ Bailey, Brandon Flowers, and Jonathan Joseph off.

Defensive Ends

AFC:
Dwight Freeney
Robert Mathis
Aaron Schobel

NFC:
Jared Allen
Trent Cole
Adewale Ogunleye

Tough call in the NFC, where I also considered Cullen Jenkins, Will Smith, Julius Peppers, Johny Jolly, and Calais Campbell.

Defensive Tackles

AFC:
Haloti Ngata
Vince Wilfork
Domata Peko

NFC:
Darnell Dockett
Albert Haynesworth
Pat Williams

Haynesworth was a tough call because he's banged up so much, but he's such a monster when he's in there.

Free Safeties

AFC:
Ed Reed

NFC:
Darren Sharper

It will be interesting to see if Buffalo rookie Jairus Byrd gets voted in, as he leads the league in interceptions.

Inside Linebackers

AFC:
Gary Brackett
David Harris

NFC:
Patrick Willis
Jonathan Vilma

Brackett is now an All-Pro in my book.

Outside Linebackers

AFC:
James Harrison
Tamba Hali
Clint Session

NFC:
DeMarcus Ware
Chad Greenway
Parys Haralson

Harrison is the only Pittsburgh Steeler on my ballot - just as Hali is the only Kansas City Chief. Perhaps the Steelers are not as talented as we all assume. Sack leader Elvis Dumervil is one of the most overrated players in the league - he can't defend the run and most of his sacks sprout from Denver's incredible secondary and scheme.

Kick Returners

AFC:
Ted Ginn

NFC:
Percy Harvin

I love the way Darren Sproles and Eric Weems approach kick returns. They could be the best, but Ginn and Harvin have had more big plays this season.

Kickers

AFC:
Sebastian Janikowski

NFC:
Ryan Longwell
Quietly, Longwell has only missed one field goal this season.

Punters

AFC:
Mike Scifres

NFC:
Andy Lee

Shane Lechler has the gaudy average, but his finesse game cannot match Scifres. Andy Lee is fantastic.

Special Teamers

AFC:
Kassim Osgood

NFC:
blank

25. If Larry Fitzgerald is double or triple-covered, why throw him the ball? I understand the Cardinals are trying to generate some big plays, but they’re beating a dead horse here. Throw it underneath.

26. I feel like I’ve said everything there is to say about the Arizona Cardinals. Their passing attack is very high-variance. Tim Hightower can’t run and Beanie Wells can’t block. Both fumble. Adrian Wilson is a beast. They can beat anyone or lose to anyone. But wow, that offensive line was atrocious Monday night.

Goat of the Week: Richie Incognito, St. Louis (now Buffalo)
Defensive Breakout Player of the Week: Darcel McBath, Denver
Offensive Breakout Player of the Week: Danny Woodhead, New York Jets
Defensive Coordinator of the Week: Rob Ryan, Cleveland
Offensive Coordinator of the Week: Marty Mornhinweg, Philadelphia
Defensive MVP of the Week: Gary Brackett, Indianapolis
Offensive MVP of the Week: Brandon Marshall, Denver

Power Rankings:

32. Detroit (31)
31. Tampa Bay (30)
30. St. Louis (29)
29. Kansas City (28)
28. Cleveland (32)
27. Buffalo (27)
26. Oakland (23)
25. Seattle (24)
24. Chicago (25)
23. Carolina (26)
22. New York Jets (22)
21. Jacksonville (21)
20. Atlanta (20)
19. Washington (19)
18. Houston (18)
17. San Francisco (17)
16. New York Giants (16)
15. Miami (15)
14. Tennessee (14)
13. Denver (13)
12. Baltimore (12)
11. Pittsburgh (7)
10. Arizona (10)
9. Dallas (11)
8. Cincinnati (5)
7. Philadelphia (9)
6. San Diego (8)
5. Green Bay (6)
4. New England (4)
3. Minnesota (3)
2. Indianapolis (2)
1. New Orleans (1)