SB Nation - Asante Samuel

Larry Fitzgerald, Adrian Wilson and Ben Graham Likely Pro Bowl Bound

Hawkwind — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:20:35 -0000

by Matt York - AP

Larry Fitzgerald looks to snag his fourth overall and third consecutive Pro Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt York)

The fan voting portion of the Pro Bowl concluded yesterday and if the fan voting is any indication of how the coaches and players will vote (the remaining 2/3 of the process), the Arizona Cardinals should be well represented. Last year the Cardinals had five representatives, the largest number since 1977, and there is still a chance that they could approach, or exceed, that number this season. Players and coaches will vote today and the team will be announced on the NFL Network next Tuesday (the 29th). Here are the final results from the fan voting:

Larry Fitzgerald: Only four players in the entire league (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Adrian Wilson) received more votes that Fitz and he is certainly headed to his fourth Pro Bowl (2005, 2007 & 2008).

Adrian Wilson: Wilson led all NFC strong safeties with over 305,000 votes and A-dub should be selected to his third Pro Bowl (2006 & 2008).

Ben Graham: Perhaps the surprise performance of this season will be capped off with Ben Graham's first ever Pro Bowl appearance. Graham surged through the final weeks of fan voting and finished the process leading all NFC punters with just over 103,000 votes.

Antrel Rolle: Rolle finished third among NFC free safeties behind Darren Sharper and Madeau Williams. Rolle shouldn't overtake Sharper in the remaining coaches and players votes but it'll be interesting to see how he fares against Williams. Rolle has more tackles (68 vs 63), sacks (1.5 vs 0), forced fumbles (1 vs 0), passed defended (8 vs 4) and interceptions (4 vs 0).

Kurt Warner: Warner finished fourth among NFC QB's behind Brees, Favre and Aaron Rodgers. The gap between Brees, Favre and Warner is likely to much to overcome and Rodgers' numbers are better than Warner's at the moment so it's unlikely that he'll be able to move up.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: DRC finished fourth among NFC corners behind Charles Woodson, Asante Samuel, Antoine Winfield. Woodson and Samuel seem like a good bet to remain ahead of DRC but Winfield hasn't really had a great year statistically and currently looks like the beneficiary of a great voter turnout among Vikings fans. Winfield has missed six games (of 14) and as a result DRC has better numbers across the board despite playing with a mild case of turf toe.

Darnell Dockett: Dockett stayed at fourth overall among NFC defensive tackles for basically the entire process despite having the better numbers than any of the four players ahead of him, Pat Williams, Kevin Williams and Albert Haynesworth. The coaches and players vote will be an interesting process to see whether name recognition or actual peformance on the field is more important.

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That's it for Cardinals' players who finished in the top five at thier position. Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby could still gain some ground but they've got quite a ways to go and slipping through as an alternate might be the best case scenario for them. How many Cardinals will make the final Pro Bowl roster?

Week 15 Statistical Matchup: 49ers @ Eagles

Florida Danny — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:35:38 -0000

AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you missed my Formula for Success post, you can read it here.

I have to admit. When I sat down to analyze the statistical matchups for today's game, I figured that it would be a really depressing next few hours. I totally thought that this game was going to be overrun by PHI strengths matched up against SF weaknesses. I thought the stats would tell me this game is going to be the Niners' proverbial east-coast blowout. Thankfully for my psyche, I was pleasantly surprised. It turns out that the Eagles game isn't a lost cause after all. That's not to say the matchups are in favor of the Niners. It just means that we might not have to sit through another 42-3 vomit-fest. First good sign: Mother Nature.

There's a bevy of key matchups today, so no sense in wasting any more time...

TEAM MATCHUP #1: EAGLES OFFENSIVE TREND

This one might surprise you a little bit. I know it sure surprised me. Here's a chart showing the game performances for one Eagles team unit thus far this season:

Given that the Eagles are known as a team that passes the ball a lot more than is typical for the NFL, I never thought that it would be their rush OFF that seems to dictate wins and losses. From the chart, the trend is clear. When the Eagles have an above-average Rush OFF DVOA for the game, they're 9-0; when it's below average, they're 0-4. Since I've been putting these charts together, this is the most clear-cut trend I've found for any 49er opponent. So, as this Eagles trend relates to what the 49ers need to do to win the game, one important place to start is obviously stopping LeSean McCoy and company in the running game.

What makes this matchup, shall we say, veeeeeeery interesting is that, as you all know by now, the 49ers' DEF is one of the best in the NFL. It turns out that, in several rush-related stats, this key matchup is another example of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object. Specifically, whereas the Eagles Rush OFF DVOA is ranked 7th in the league (13.1%), the 49ers' Rush DEF DVOA is ranked 5th (-15.3%). Furthermore, PHI has the #8 OL ALY in the NFL (4.25 OL ypc), but SF's defensive front 7 (DF7) also has the 8th-best ALY (3.73). And when you consider that PHI is a left-side running team (7th-highest % of RB carries to the left side), the matchup is again strength vs. strength (PHI OL LT ALY = 5.21 ypc, 4th; SF DF7 LT ALY = 3.14, 3rd). Taken together, these stats suggest that Eagles need to run the ball efficiently to win, but this plays right into the 49ers' stout run-stopping hands. Throw in the freezing temperature at game time, and we might just have a game that's a lot closer than people expect.

After the jump, more stats showing the 49ers' recipe for an unexpected stay-in-the-playoff-hunt victory against PHI...

TEAM MATCHUP #2: OFFENSIVE TRENCHES

The Eagles aren't the only ones who will have to win a battle of the trenches in order to win the game; the Niners will too. However, for SF's OFF, it'll be an uphill battle. That's because PHI's DF7 has a nearly across-the-board statistical advantage against SF's much-maligned OL. Here are the relevant stats:

Overall ALY - SF's OL is ranked #31 at 3.42 ypc; PHI's DF7 is ranked #6 at 3.58 ypc.
C/G ALY - Where the Niners like to run most frequently, SF's OL is ranked 30th at 3.44 ypc; PHI's DF7 is ranked #8 at 3.59 ypc.
Stuffed Rate - SF's OL is ranked #30, with 23.0% of their RB carries resulting in zero or negative yardage; PHI's DF7 is ranked #5 at 23.9%.
ASR - Although definitely improving, SF's OL is still ranked 25th at 8.1%; PHI's DF7 is ranked 9th at 7.2%.

So, all in all, SF's OL needs to outperform this matchup - just like they did against the Cardinals - in order for the 49ers to come out of Philly with a win. Well, more accurately, winning the game necessitates either the OL winning in the trenches or Frank Gore overcoming an OL loss in the trenches.

TEAM MATCHUP #3: 1ST DOWN OFFENSE

This matchup represents another episode of When 2nd-Down Pass Defenses Attack! Specifically, the 49ers' pass OFF has a ridiculously bad matchup in 2nd-down passing situations, so the key for SF is to perform efficiently on 1st down, and thereby avoid being prey to PHI's predator. The bone-crushing, flesh-eating details are as follows:

Overall 2nd-Down DVOA - SF's OFF is #31 at -25.5%; PHI's DEF is #1 at -30.1%.
2nd-Down Pass DVOA - SF's OFF is dead-last in the NFL at -34.3%; PHI's DEF is again #1 at -48.4%.
2nd & Long DVOA - SF's OFF is #31 at -36.0%; PHI's DEF is again #1 at -56.2%.

The picture painted by these stats is that PHI's pass DEF is the best in the league on 2nd down, and, because their opponents tend to be in passing situations on 2nd & Long, their DEF is the best in the NFL on 2nd down overall. The converse is true for the 49ers' OFF. They're often in 2nd & Long - thank you "Gore up-the-middle for no gain" - and therefore pass the ball a lot on 2nd down, with this specific inefficiency adversely affecting their overall 2nd-down performance stats. So, if the 49ers are going to win this game, a key contribution must be made by their 1st-down OFF: Don't put yourselves in 2nd & Long!

TEAM MATCHUP #4: RED ZONE OFFENSE

Think back to the Niners' last road game, which was against the Seahawks. What do you remember from the early part of that game? I seem to recall that they had an unfortunate - albeit officiating-induced - 0-point trip into SEA's red zone. Well, against PHI, this simply cannot happen if the 49ers are going to win. That's because PHI has somewhat of a counterintuitive "break but don't bend" DEF. Specifically, whereas their DEF is very stingy between the 20s, they are horrible if/when their opponent reaches the red zone.

To boot, it's not just a matter of being bad vs. the pass or the run in the red zone: SF has a favorable matchup in both. Namely, whereas the Niners' pass OFF is ranked 10th in Red Zone DVOA (34.6%), the Eagles' pass DEF is ranked 26th (35.6%). Similarly, whereas the Niners' run OFF is ranked 9th in Red Zone DVOA (23.5%), the Eagles' run DEF is ranked 23rd (7.5%). Put these together, and the 49ers' OFF has a clear strength vs. weakness matchup against the Eagles' DEF: SF's OFF is ranked 5th in Overall Red Zone DVOA (21.4%), whereas PHI's DEF is ranked 28th (21.3%). In other words, the Niners simply cannot afford to come away from their (likely rare) trips to the red zone empty-handed.

TEAM MATCHUP #5: PUNT COVERAGE

This marks the first time I've ever brought up ST in the matchup post. The reason for it finally emerging this week is pretty clear given the show DeSean Jackson put on against the New York Giants last week. Also, don't forget that Andy Lee and company are the #2 punt coverage unit in the NFL according to DVOA, having gained 13.7 total points worth of field position for the team this season. So, what we have here is the #2 punt coverage unit going against the #1 punt return unit. To ignore this as a key matchup would have been a disservice, especially given the weather conditions that are likely during the game. If this one's going to be a field position struggle, the Niners' punt coverage unit will play a non-trivial role in the outcome of that struggle.

PLAYER MATCHUP # 1: VERNON DAVIS VS. PHI PASS DEF

The past few games, the 49ers' pass OFF has revolved around Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, i.e., they've received the bulk of the targets. Well, the Tainted Twosome is probably going to have go their separate ways today, with VD being the Simon to Crabs' Garfunkel. That's because, as if you didn't already know that Asante Samuel is pretty good, the Eagles' DEF is ranked #3 in DVOA against #1 WRs (-37.7%). So, with Crabs being quarantined, VD will have to infect PHI's defense instead. The good news here is that PHI's DEF is ranked 24th in Yards Allowed Per TE Target (7.6 Y/T). Unfortunately, PHI's DEF is also a just-below-elite 11th in DVOA vs. TE. Therefore, what this means is that, although VD's targets are unlikely to be very efficient overall, he must make a handful of them count in a big way.

PLAYER MATCHUP # 2: LEONARD WEAVER VS. SF PASS DEF

Never thought you'd be seeing this matchup described as "key," eh? Well, this is what I consider to be one of those "attention to detail" kinds of things that I talked about in my Formula for Success post this week. It's clearly not obvious that Weaver is an integral part of the Eagles' pass OFF. After all, except for when Tom Rathman was playing for the 49ers, FBs don't tend to be integral to any pass OFF! However, Weaver has shown flashes of effectiveness in recent games, and, most of all, he absolutely killed the Niners in their home game against the Seahawks last season; seemingly out of nowhere. Don't think for one second that Andy Reid ignored the film from that game when coming up with his plan for this one. And don't think Weaver sat quietly in team meetings without mentioning his exploits against the Niners last season. In other words, "The Weaver Advantage" is one detail I'm almost positive PHI has paid attention to in their preparation for today's game. I really hope the 49ers' pass DEF, with their #26 DVOA vs. RBs (23.1%), paid just as much attention. I'll be watching this one closely.

MISCELLANEOUS MATCHUPS

SF 1st-Quarter OFF (and DEF) vs. PHI 1st-Quarter DEF (and OFF)...If you read my posts regularly, you know how much I preach about playing efficiently in the 1st quarter, especially on the road. This game is definitely going to test the theory because, whereas PHI (on both sides of the ball) are ridiculously good in the 1st quarter, the 49ers (as we all know by now) are, shall we say, not good. Specifically, when the Niners have the ball in the 1st quarter against PHI, it will be a weakness vs. strength matchup between the #29 1st-quarter OFF (-32.3%) and the #3 1st-quarter DEF (-19.6%). When the Eagles have the ball in the 1st quarter against SF, it will be a strength vs. strength matchup between the #7 1st-quarter OFF (26.0%) and the #8 1st-quarter DEF (-11.7%). These stats suggest that, if this game is going to remain within reach for the Niners, it's up to their OFF to overcome a disadvantageous matchup, and it's up to their DEF to perform up to one of its strengths.

SF Shotgun OFF vs. PHI Shotgun DEF...This week, it's déjà vu all over again. Just like in the Cardinals game, the Niners' OFF faces an opposing DEF that's (a) really good at stopping shotgun and (b) faced a lot of shotgun this season. In fact, PHI's DEF is probably an even worse shotgun matchup for the Niners than ARI's DEF was. Specifically, 40.3% of PHI's defensive snaps have come against OFF's lined up in shotgun formation, and their DEF DVOA on such plays is a 5th-ranked -15.6%. Furthermore, remember that, against the Cardinals, the Niners' shotgun OFF was pedestrian at best. Therefore, I don't foresee a ton of efficiency coming out of SF when they line up in shotgun. And, given the weather, I wouldn't be shocked if they went back to their Shaun Hill days of a 70/30 under-the-center vs. shotgun split.

BOTTOM LINE

Based on the statistical matchups, here are the keys to a 49er victory on Sunday:

Remain immovable in rush DEF.
Outperform their matchup in the offensive trenches.
Be efficient in 1st-down OFF.
Maximize red zone opportunities on OFF.
Win the battle to end all battles in punt coverage.
Emphasize production over efficiency in VD targets.
Be prepared for Leonard Weaver.
Come out scoring in the 1st quarter.
Run more plays from under center, or at least outperform their matchup when they are in shotgun.

*DVOA, ALY, and ASR statistics used to produce this article were obtained from Football Outsiders.

Poll

Which of the following key matchups will have THE BIGGEST IMPACT on a 49er victory against the Eagles today?

Who would you take from the Philadelphia Eagles?

Fooch — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:27:33 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

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I got this idea from Andrew over at Revenge of the Birds. We have plenty of discussion about who we like on the 49ers, and who we fear on the opposing team. However, this post allows us to go off into fantasy-land a bit and decide who we might like from an opposing team. In doing this, you can approach it from a variety of angles. You can take a player just because you like that player, no matter what the 49ers current situation is at that position. You can consider who the 49ers might lose in the offseason or positions they need to improve. If you want to take into account the player's contract and look for "realistic" additions, you're free to do that. You can be as realistic or as fantastical (if that's even a word) as you'd like. For this week, here are some of the guys I'd enjoy having on the 49ers...

DeSean Jackson, WR: I'm guessing this selection won't shock anybody. I won't argue the 49ers should have drafted him because most every team had questions about him, thus his fall in the draft. Hindsight is 20/20 and it's too easy to argue they should have drafted him. However, given his development at the NFL level, he would like mighty fine in a 49ers uniform. The obvious is that he's a home run hitter as a punt returner. While he's not taking every punt to the house, he's put together some impressive numbers this year, leading the league in punt return average. The 49ers punt return game has been abysmal and he would rectify that right away.

Then you throw in his receiving abilities, which I think have improved since entering the NFL. Imagine a young trio of Jackson, Crabtree and Morgan? Add in Vernon Davis and you've got one of the best group of receivers/tight ends in the league, with some of the highest upside as well. Obviously an offensive line has to give Alex Smith time to pass, but this is definitely a nice first step towards a dominant passing game.

After the jump I look at a few more Eagles I'd take, and one that I'd pass on...

Asante Samuel, CB: The 49ers cornerbacks have shown some signs of developing and given their youth (Shawntae Spencer is 27 and Tarell Brown is 24), I'd like to think the best is yet to come. However, Asante Samuel is the type of shutdown corner this team could use. He's got 7 interceptions on the year, and at only 28 years of age, he's one of the money corners in the league. Seeing as Dre Bly is under a 1-year deal and the team has to look long term, Samuel makes sense. He signed a 6-year deal in 2008 and has not sloughed off in spite of the big money. Nate Clements has been solid for the 49ers, especially in the run defense, but Asante Samuel is the long-term shutdown guy the team could use.

Trent Cole, DE: Cole might actually be undersized as a 3-4 defensive end. Is it possible his pass rushing skills could translate over to outside linebacker? At this point the 49ers are actually looking much better in the pass rush from their outside linebackers, so I suppose Cole might not be a necessary addition. Nonetheless he has been fairly consistent as a pass rusher since his second season with sack totals of 8.0, 12.5, 9.0 and 9.5 thus far this season. The 49ers still don't know if they have consistency from anybody in the sack department at this point.

Stacy Andrews, G: The Arizona Cardinals didn't have any offensive linemen worth grabbing, but Philly has some intriguing options. Stacy Andrews can play guard and tackle, but has had some issues this season after coming off ACL surgery. The 49ers will likely send David Baas packing after this season so having Andrews around would certainly be a plus. Of course, McCloughan is a guy who doesn't spend a ton of money on guards, so this particularly guy would actually probably never see the light of day as a 49er.

One guy I didn't include was Donovan McNabb. McNabb has had quite a career in Philly and is having a solid year this season. However, given his age, and the 49ers own offensive line issues I'm not sure how much I'd want him. For a one and done type of deal I can see the value. But if I want to look long term, is he a guy you'd grab?

I also didn't include LeSean McCoy. He went in the second round and has moved into the starting lineup with Brian Westbrook's injury issues. He seems like a guy who could have provided more than Glen Coffee, but given Frank Gore's role (sometimes) in the 49ers offense and how much of the workload he carries, would McCoy be of enough value?

49ers-Eagles: Q&A with Bleeding Green Nation

Fooch — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:30 -0000

We're back this week with a few questions and answers with JasonB and the fine folks at Bleeding Green Nation. The 49ers face off against an Eagles team that has put up quite the mix of impressive performances, followed up by stinkers as seen in their rather ugly loss at Oakland earlier this season. Personally I'm not expecting a stinker from Philly, but let's hope for the best (or the worst if you will).

NN: The Eagles have struggled the last couple weeks with McCoy and Weaver leading the rushing attack, but the Eagles continue to win. Is the team simply beefing up the passing attack to cover for the rushing and can it be effective the rest of the season and into the playoffs?

BGN: Well, they ran well against Washington and they ran petty well against the Falcons. The Giants game ended up being a shootout, but they ran well at the end of that game when they needed to. I guess I don't really feel like they've been struggling. They've run when they needed to, whether it be with McCoy or Weaver or even Mike Vick. It's no secret that this is a pass first offense, but in that context I think they've done well enough. It could always be nice to see more though.

I guess to answer you question, the Eagles ability to win from here on out is and was always going to be predicated on their ability to throw the ball.

We continue with a few more questions after the jump...

NN: The 49ers have gone pass-heavy lately, which would seem to play into the hands of a solid Eagles pass defense. Asante Samuel remains the big name in that secondary, but what else will Alex Smith and the 49ers receivers have to account for on Sunday?

BGN: I would expect that they're going to come after him pretty often. When the Eagles have played young or inexperienced QBs this year, they've amped up the blitz. In fact, against the Bucs I swear they blitzed almost every down. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried a similar thing this weekend. The guy to watch on the Eagles D in that department is definitely Trent Cole. I'd say all around the best player on defense and clearly the best pass rusher.

The secondary has been up and down. The safety positions have been iffy, but the corners are both having fantastic seasons. Asante Samuel has 7 picks and Sheldon Brown has 5 (and a couple of TDs). They both like to jump routes and can be susceptible to the double move at times.

NN: Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb often face a steady stream of criticism, and yet the keep on winning. How do Eagles fans currently view the two of them?

BGN: The amount of criticism they face is always overblown. It's generally a vocal minority that you hear complaining. For the most part, people are behind McNabb and Reid... but mostly all Eagles fans have some level of frustration with the lack of a superbowl this past decade. With how good this team has been and how many times they've been in the playoffs, you'd think they'd would have got one by now.

NN: One of the 49ers problems has been in pass protection. It's improved since moving to more of a shotgun offense, but is still something they'll be battling. Can you tell us a bit about the Eagles pass rush?

BGN: I guess that answer to #2 is the same here.

NN: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Eagles offensive line?

BGN: They're generally a very good pass blocking line and an inconsistent run block line. Running off the left side where Jason Peters and Todd Herremans are is usually where they're most effective. The line is probably weakest trying to get a push straight up the middle in the short yardage.

The Linc - No suspension likely for Cole

JasonB — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:46:40 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

17 days ago: Philadelphia Eagles' Trent Cole, left, reacts after sacking Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Redman in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Cole should expect a fine from league - NFC East Blog - ESPN
The fight that broke out near the end of Sunday's Giants-Eagles game remains under review in the league office. A spokesman with the office told the Daily News that fines are expected to be assessed, but no suspensions are in the plans. That's good news for Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, who threw at least two punches during the scrum.

Nearly 21 Million Watch Eagles-Giants Shootout - Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' 45-38 win over the New York Giants was witnessed on NBC by 20.9 million, which put the game in a tie for the 10th-largest audience in the history of Sunday Night Football. The Eagles have now been involved in three of the top ten most-watched games on Sunday night.

Asante, the Vikings and the Pro Bowl | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/16/2009
As the online fan balloting for the Pro Bowl heads into its final week, we know two things: Asante Samuel is the only Eagle leading at his position, and people in Minnesota spend a lot of time on their computers.

Paul Domowitch: Eagles' offensive line overcomes adversity | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/16/2009
Last Sunday, Reid's revamped line turned in its finest performance of the season in the Eagles' 45-38 win over the Giants. It allowed just one sack, gave quarterback Donovan McNabb the time to complete 17 of 26 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns, and came up huge on a clock-eating 12-play, 91-yard fourth-quarter scoring drive.

More after the jump

NFC East Power Rankings: Birds on Top
There’s a new team atop the NFC East Power Rankings: the Philadelphia Eagles. For the first time this season, the Eagles take the top spot.

Ashley Fox: DeSean lacking only a nickname | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/16/2009
DeSean Jackson needs a nickname. Apparently, D-Jax isn't enough. Too easy. Too lazy. Not creative enough. The people want a real nickname. Like the Answer.

Saints chase perfection; Colts plan to rest starters; more NFL - Peter King - SI.com
Remember how I said last week no one's going to want to play the Chargers in January? Still true. But add one more team to that list: the Eagles. They've changed before our very eyes. Did you see on TV last night when Andy Reid got airborne -- OK, he did a little hop -- to body-bump DeSean Jackson after Jackson scored a touchdown? I'm going out on a limb here, but I believe right here, right now, is the best offensive variety Reid has had with the Eagles in his 11 years as coach.

Shallow Thoughts & Nearsighted Observations

Ted Bartlett — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:03:21 -0000

More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

27 days ago: Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno (27) has his hand examined during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. Denver won 26-6. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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Happy Wednesday, and welcome to a day-late, dollar-short version of ST&NO. First of all, big up TJ for working hard to bring in his outstanding The Dude Abides... Stats That Don't Lie in a day early. I am a bit healthier on Tuesday as I write this, and I am going to see what I can get cranked out in one day, with moderate sneezing, and a heavy Day 1 of close workload in that pesky day job. I didn't take notes, and I didn't remember to record the Broncos game, so I am without a lot of detail this week, and will need to speak more generally than usual. No time to waste, so let's not waste any time. Ready..... BEGIN!!!

1. So I mentioned that I would be in the Constitution State, and that I'd be playing in a football game with my friend Tony, a diehard Giants fan. The morning game was fun, but I ended up pretty sore, for those who asked. It's tough playing once a year at the most.

As for the night game, well, my mom is not what you'd call a high-tech person. Every time I visit, without fail, there's some junk Coby brand DVD player she wants me to plug into some junk/old TV set without RCA inputs. (You have to drop like $40 on an RF modulator to run through coax, which is about 2.5 times the price of the DVD player.) The "how" of plugging in a DVD player is too daunting for my mom to even give it a try for herself. In her main TV-watching area, she has a 21ish-inch Symphonic brand LCD flat screen that I am sure came from Wal-Mart. Her equipment is garbage, but it works for her I guess. Law & Order SVU looks fine on it. (I don't mean to make fun of my mother; she just doesn't share my priorities, or general attitude toward spending a few extra bucks for quality gear.) It turned out to be moot anyway, because NFL Network is on a premium tier she doesn't subscribe to.

So, what to do? Well, Tony was still around. I asked if he wanted to go to a bar for the game, but he ended up inviting me to his parents' house to watch, which was cool. His dad, also Tony, is also a big Giants fan. I usually watch football alone, because I don't consider it to be a social activity. It's really kind of become my job, and I do best when I can take notes, and pause and rewind, and focus on being analytical. I will talk to my brother Chris sometimes during games, but that's annoying, because my DirecTV feed is always 2-3 seconds behind his, so he knows what happened before I do.

Last Thursday, I sat in the living room with Tony and Tony. Tony Version 2.0's mother, and his girlfriend Ana, were there for most of the first half. I like them both very much, but having women around for a Broncos game was a whole other level of different for me. Like, I don't think it has happened since I was married, and that ended Halloween 2007.

But I digest. (I just had a sandwich from Tomayydo Tomahhdo for lunch. It was excellent, as always.) Back to the lecture at hand. I'm watching this game with two Giants fans and their women, and I got it in my mind that I was going to be really respectful of the Giants one way or the other. It turned out I had to do so in the one way, and not the other, which made me happy. For me, it's easier to be gracious in victory than in defeat.

The Broncos dominated the Giants, and in my opinion, played their best all-around game of the season. Kyle Orton threw one bad ball that he'd like to have back. The Giants got one receiver wide open on a well-conceived rub play where Alphonso Smith and Andre' Goodman ran into each other. The line had those 3 stupid scoring-area false starts, and gave up one sack, on the opening play of the game, and it came from the free rusher on a blitz (which puts it on coverage and Orton). Other than those few plays, and a sense that Correll Buckhalter went down a little too easily a couple of times, I wouldn't change much of anything.

McGeorge asked after the San Diego game if I still stood by my 11-5 prediction. I wanted to see how the Broncos did against New York, but after that, I sure do. The Giants game showed the exact formula that the Broncos can use to beat just about anybody. On defense, it was coverage, pressure, and gap control. On offense, it was sharp routes, great catches and good throws, combined with hard running and excellent run blocking. If the Broncos play like that, they will crush the Raiders and Chiefs, and end up with a minimum of 10 wins. They match up pretty well with both the Colts and the Eagles, too, and I think they can win 1 out of those 2 games. Here is my rationale for saying they match up well.

Indianapolis - The Colts are not a complete team, but nobody really is in the salary cap era. What the Colts are is a team which is constructed around the idea that their QB is going to give them leads, and that their defense will therefore need to protect leads. What does that mean? Well, they value zone coverage and pressure from their DEs. If you make them defend both the pass and the run on any given snap, you can score on them without a lot of trouble. Because the Colts can't stop even an average running game with 7 men, their SS Melvin Bullitt runs down into the box very frequently, and the Colts are therefore susceptible to being beaten over the top on play action, if you can run against them. It was no accident how the Texans got out to a big lead Sunday. They ran and threw, and had the Colts defense off balance early. The Colts rookie CBs couldn't handle Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter, and I'm here to tell you, they have nothing for Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal either. The Texans can't handle Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and the Broncos can, assuming Ryan Harris is fully back by then. The Broncos can block the Colts DEs, beat their CBs, and move their front seven in the running game.

Remember this point. Just because the Colts are 3^rd in scoring defense (just behind Cincinnati and Dallas, and just ahead of Denver) doesn't mean they have a good defense. They really don't. They have a defense which is equipped to take care of leads by making teams gain yards in smallish chunks, and by sacking QBs with edge pressure. That, combined with Peyton Manning's constant use of the whole play clock leads to low-scoring days by opposing offenses

The trick, of course, is defending the Colts, and that's where the Broncos have historically struggled. This Broncos team, however, is better equipped than any in recent memory to have some success. The Colts do best when they can run the ball, and I like the Broncos' chances to stop their running game with 7 ½ men (meaning Brian Dawkins is starting in a cover-2 shell, but keying run first). By stopping the Colts run, you take away their play action stuff, which makes Peyton Manning beat you with perfect throws, and his receivers beat you with perfect routes. Which, of course, they can do, but it's a harder go than the other way. I like the secondary matchups pretty well for the Broncos, from Champ Bailey against Reggie Wayne, Andre' Goodman against Pierre Garcon, Ty Law or Alphonso Smith against Austin Collie, and either Law or Josh Barrett against Dallas Clark. The Clark matchup is key against the Colts, and I like Law and Barrett, depending on down and distance, better than anybody else's sub-package guys in the NFL for covering a big-time TE.

I'm not saying the game will be a runaway Broncos win, just that I can easily make a case for them TO win, and that I think they CAN win. What do you think?

Philadelphia - This is a game the Broncos SHOULD win. The Eagles are a lot like the Giants, from both schematic and personnel perspectives. From the angle of attacking Philly's defense, you can outside zone them to death, like the Broncos did so well against the Giants. That's because their LBs tend to be bigger, slower guys who struggle a bit to cover the lateral width of the field. Will Witherspoon is an exception to that archetype, but Chris Gocong, Joe Mays, and Moise Fokou are vertical players.

You have to block the Eagles' blitz packages, and it really helps to stay on schedule against them. That's a bit easier than it is against a Baltimore or Pittsburgh, because you can run the ball. (They're currently ranked 8^th against the run, but trust me, you can gash them if you try a little.) In the passing game, you'd like to exploit Asante Samuel, who bites on a ton of double moves. Yes, he's a ball-hawk, but he doesn't shut anybody down. He can catch extremely well, and he's an excellent tackler, but he's just an okay coverage player. Sheldon Brown is kind of the opposite; better in coverage, but lesser as a ball-hawk and tackler. Where you can kill the Eagles is from the slot, and with TEs, especially if you block their blitz packages.

Offensively, the Eagles are a big-play offense, and the Broncos have been as good as anybody in the NFL at limiting big plays. Brent Celek got paid Tuesday, and he deserved it. He's a very good receiving TE. The Eagles don't have a big, physical #1 type WR, but they have two speedsters outside with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. The guy I think is dangerous is Jason Avant, who is much stronger and more physical than the average slot receiver, and he's a tough matchup for the average thin/quick nickel CB. Of course, Alphonso Smith and Ty Law are both thicker/stronger players, so it's less of an issue. I don't fear the Eagles running game, because if you stop it early, they quit going to it.

This game can go either way, obviously, but the Broncos are well-equipped to get a good road win in Philadelphia. I feel pretty good about both games, actually. So, yeah. I still like the 11-5 prediction.

2. Information From My Eyes - Other Games:

a. Richard Seymour is still playing at a high level in Oakland, despite his fairly modest statistics this season. I watched him defeat the left side of the Cowboys offensive line several times on Thanksgiving Day. Seymour's contract is up after this season, and you have to think he'd rather not re-up with the Raiders. Of course, given the price Al Davis paid, he probably gets franchised. If he somehow isn't, I'd sure like to see him in Denver. Forget all this nonsense about building exclusively through the draft; as we've all hopefully realized this season, a team should take any approach available to it, in order to acquire the most good players possible.

b. Anthony Spencer had the best game I have ever seen him have for the Cowboys. Some Dallas fans took exception with my calling Spencer "just a guy" in Week 3, and if he keeps playing like he did last Thursday, I'll have to rethink my evaluation.

c. I have been a fan of the Cowboys' passing scheme for several years now, going back to the end of the Parcells regime. In 2007, when I started to make it my business to watch teams other than the Broncos closely, Jason Garrett was the young, hot name as the Offensive Coordinator, and Jerry Jones paid him a lot of money not to leave for jobs in Baltimore and Atlanta after the 2007 season.

When Tony Sparano left to become the Dolphins Head Coach last season, it came to light that Garrett hadn't been the primary playcaller in 2007, and that he'd be doing it for the first time in 2008 with Sparano's departure. The Cowboys took a noticeable step back last season, and some of the bloom came off the Garrett rose, even as he interviewed for Head Coaching jobs with the Broncos, Lions, and Rams, and seemed to initially be the favorite for the Rams job. There was speculation that Jones would love to be out from under Garrett's $3-million contract.

Well, the point of the history lesson is that the scheme and execution look much better in Dallas lately than they have since Sparano left. I don't know if this makes Garrett a Head Coach, but it makes him a guy who appears to have grown into his job. The Cowboys' passing scheme is very vertical, and it does a good job of getting the ball in the hands of its playmakers. Some will say they don't get Roy Williams involved enough, but those people believe more in Williams than I do. I think he is what he looks like; a lazy player, who has below average hands, lacks quickness out of his breaks, and rounds off his routes. If there's no salary cap for the Cowboys to take a prorated hit against, I guarantee that he gets released in the offseason, and has to beg for a 1 year, $1-million contract to compete for a backup role somewhere.

d. Charles Woodson is playing the best football of his career right now, which I have mentioned several times this season. He had a big stat game Thursday on national TV, and now everybody is on the bandwagon with me. I actually thought it may have only been the 3rd- or 4th-best game I have seen him play this season. To me, he's the no-question Defensive Player of the Year so far.

e. The Packers defense has really gotten their act together lately, and are a big key to the push they seem to be making. I am pretty comfortable projecting that the Packers will be in the postseason as a Wild Card at this point.

f. Jim Leonhard of the Jets is a tremendously underrated player, and I left him out of my Good AFC Safeties list last week, kind of by accident. He is always around the football, and I've been a big fan of his game going all the way back to his days at Wisconsin. The Broncos offered him more money than the Jets this offseason, but he chose to follow Rex Ryan. It seems like it was a good decision for him, anyway.

g. I watched the Short Cut of the Jets-Panthers game, and I agree with Doug Lee that Mark Sanchez's 13-of-17 stat line was very misleading. He had happy feet, and he looked really confused a lot of the time.

h. I've seen a few people starting to use the line which goes "If Alex Smith plays like he did Sunday, the Niners might not replace him in the draft." Really, he has played pretty well for six games, better than ever before in his career. I think the decision would already be made, if it was up to me. You have a guy who is proving he can play, and he's improving even as teams get some film on him. That rollout and throw to Frank Gore for the second TD was a thing of beauty, as Smith waited till the last possible second, and threw the ball to the only spot he could put it. I'd be looking to improve the offensive line, and counting on having a Top-10 offense next season, with Smith, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Josh Morgan, and Vernon Davis. Joe Staley is a solid LT when he's healthy, but General Manager Scot McCloughan really would do well to replace the other 4 starters up front. Sunday's game was the first time in 18 games that the 49ers didn't give up a single sack.

i. I tend to like a lot of University of Florida guys, but Ray McDonald is really coming into his own in a specialist role for the 49ers. He looked unblockable at times Sunday. McDonald usually plays in passing situations at DE. According to ESPN, he didn't record a tackle, but he did recover a fumble. I'm telling you, though, he was defeating some blocks Sunday, and bringing a lot of pressure.

3. There are two kinds of name-droppers, and I am the second kind. It's not like I am extremely famous (yet) with my writing for this site, but when you think about it, I'm known by more people than probably 98% of the population. I'm definitely more famous than any of my friends and family, and in the course of telling my stories, I find it adds rhetorical flourish to mention them sometimes, and it's also fun to share my little bit of light with them. I tell people, if they want to make ST&NO, they should do something interesting with me.

The first kind of name-dropper is the one who tries to stand in other people's light. Our dear friend Jay Glazer is the quintessential example of this kind. Check this douchebaggery, from Tuesday night:

First of all, it's Too $hort, not two-short. And, you know what? That's all I have on that topic. I like making fun of Glazer, but whatever, you know? Fish in a barrel.

I am now going to name-drop a person who is as famous as I am. I met Doug Lee for lunch in Manhattan on Saturday. Yes, THE Doug Lee. Friggin Horse Tracks Doug Lee, people! Doug is a cool guy, and he suggested a great burger spot on the Upper East Side.

The lunch conversation was very interesting, the food was terrific, and it was great to meet Doug, but the hijinks ensued when I left to get back on the road back to Cleveland. I had parked on E 71st Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue (for 14 bucks for 2 1/2 hours.) I came out heading south on 2nd Ave, thinking my GPS would send me back to the FDR, and the Triboro bridge, back up to catch the George Washington Bridge.

Well, it took about 2 minutes for my boy Tom Tom to reacquire a signal, and by then I had gone south 10-15 blocks on 2nd. Tom Tom then wanted me to go to the Lincoln Tunnel, the entrance for which is in the 30s, off 9th Avenue, so significantly south and west of where I started out. It's an unquestionably stupid way to go, driving over the river and through the woods in Manhattan, even on a Saturday afternoon, especially considering the Lincoln Tunnel spits you out on the New Jersey Turnpike, heading toward the world-renowned hell-hole of Newark.. (Home of wred-mann.)

Where's the payoff pitch? Here it goes. I was sitting at a traffic light at E 43rd St and 2nd Avenue, and this Puerto Rican guy (with a flag on his shirt, incidentally), knocked on my window. I looked at him like, WTF? But I lowered the window, and he told my right rear tire area looked like it was on fire, and was smoking like crazy. A woman walking behind him told me the same thing, so I pulled over on 43rd and troubleshot it with my dad on the phone for awhile, before deducing that the emergency brake had probably stayed clamped to the rotor, and was causing sparks and smoke. I watched it, with my mirror pointed down, but eventually I was comfortable enough to go through the tunnel, and eventually through Newark, and back to I-80. The moral of the story is if somebody knocks on your window, he may be trying to be helpful, so you shouldn't look cross-eyed at him, as a matter of instinct. Also, sometimes, Tom Tom messing up is a blessing in disguise. If I had gone FDR to the Triboro, to the GW, It would have been all highway, with nobody walking down the sidewalk to knock.

4. One of the hazards of relying on "insiders" for information is that it comes with agendas and spin. Pro Football Weekly is a (Bill Williamson Memorial) decent site, but they rely tremendously on anonymous insider commentary. They've been talking to somebody who seems incentivized to cast Raheem Morris as woefully inept. Check this out:

Talk of the Buccaneers giving head coach Raheem Morris another offseason to turn the team around is fading fast, as his latest bold decision was another admission of failure in a season marked with disappointment. Morris seized defensive coordinator duties from Jim Bates on Nov. 24 and demoted Bates to what is being described as an advisory role, although it's not clear just what kind of involvement or authority, if any, Bates will have for the rest of his time with the organization.

Morris made a couple of mistakes in hiring his staff, but they were the kind of mistakes a first-timer can make, especially one who gets a Head Coaching job a month after most of the movement was over. There's this persistent meme that relieving Jeff Jagodzinski and Jim Bates of their duties somehow shows Morris to be weak. I say it's the other way around. He realized that he had made mistakes, and he let sunk costs be sunk costs, and made the moves that he felt gave his team the best chance to win.

Morris's team is 1-10, but the Bucs have improved as the season has gone on, and it would be asinine to fire him after a season which was a declared rebuilding year, where a coach who they knew was probably hired a year too early learned the ropes.

There are a lot of haters in the world, and I relate pretty closely to Morris. I have always been an overachiever, who has consistently beaten out older, more experienced professional competition for promotions and recognition. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I have a pretty good deal of talent, and a strong work ethic. The majority of my critics have only been moderately talented people, with medium work ethics. Let's face it, there are a lot of people in the center of the bell curve. I am in the center of the bell curve in certain ways, and so is everybody. I am not, though, as an accountant, and Raheem Morris is not as a football coach.

So, some 25-year career assistant who has been hired and fired 15 times is jealous of Morris and his early success. He spouts off to Dan Parr at PFW, and Parr writes that article above. The same thing was going on with Josh McDaniels, with the questioning of his ability, and Josh only got clear of it by winning. Morris will, too.

Even a guy like Marshall Faulk was hating on Morris on Sunday morning, intimating that all the young coach knew how to call was Tampa-2. Well, for 7 end-of-game goal-to-go plays, he called press man-to-man, and his guys covered well. On 4th down, Roddy White made a great play, and won the game for the Falcons. Really, if Connor Barth had hit the 51-yard field goal he attempted, they would have only been playing for a tie. I saw somewhere Morris was criticized for kicking the field goal rather than punting. Really? The point is don't listen to these idiots. I'd be very surprised if the Glazer family is.

5. I have a couple of quick college thoughts.

a. The Head Coaching job at Notre Dame is not a good one. I could usually take or leave SI.com's Stewart Mandel, but he has it exactly right. The expectations there are entirely unreasonable, given the constraints they face. If I were Cincinnati's Brian Kelly, there is no way in hell I'd take that job. At Cincinnati, he has a program whose credibility is on the rise, and who will soon be taken more seriously in the National Championship picture. At Notre Dame, there's just faded mystique.

b. I am a Florida fan, and I think it is unlikely that Tim Tebow wins the Heisman Trophy. I am actually pretty excited for the prospect of the lesser Colt McCoy winning, because history will be repeating itself. I am projecting a win against Alabama, and a Texas win against Nebraska, neither of which is a foregone conclusion, but let's say it happens like that. Tebow will lead Florida into a National Championship game against a guy he lost the Heisman to. I would be really bullish for Florida's 3rd title in 4 years, even more than I already am.

c. Speaking of the Heisman, I think it's ridiculous how it's turned into nothing more than a tool for media conjecture. Frankly, it follows along the same line of thinking that dominates professional football writing, that all of the best players are QBs and RBs, joined by the occasional WR. It's a total farce.

That's all I have this week. I will be back next Tuesday for more of a full-figured ST&NO. Have a great week, and Go Broncos!

The Linc - The soothsaying Eagles equipment manager

JasonB — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:00:20 -0000

by Mel Evans - AP

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Celek Should Play vs. Falcons, Jackson a Maybe
The Eagles should have tight end Brent Celek next Sunday against Atlanta. Whether receiver DeSean Jackson or linebacker Akeem Jordan will be able to play is uncertain.

Eagles' Samuel knew he'd get two interceptions vs. Redskins | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/30/2009
Ed Miller told Asante Samuel that Samuel would have a big day against the Redskins. Two interceptions, Miller predicted. Miller is an equipment assistant for the Eagles. A slim fellow, quick to smile, he is unwavering in his support for the players. And uncanny in his prognostications, it seems.

Buckley's breakthrough comes when needed most | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/30/2009
"It meant a lot," Buckley said. "If the coaches believe in you enough to keep you down in on the goal line . . . I had to look up and help them out and get it in there."

Eagles' stretch run is easier than Cowboys' - NFC East Blog - ESPN
The Cowboys (8-3) and Eagles (7-4) both have tough schedules the rest of the way, but it looks like Dallas' path is a little rockier. The Cowboys' final five opponents have a combined record of 34-20, while the Eagles' opponents are 32-23.

Much more after the jump

Vick gives anti-dogfighting message at old school | Philly | 11/30/2009
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick advised students at his old middle school Monday to avoid the kind of bad decisions that landed him in federal prison for dogfighting.

Jackson update; Westbrook to be re-checked | Philadelphia Daily News | 11/30/2009
"We’ll just see how he does over the next few days," Reid said, adding that the Eagles will do everything that the league wants them to do in terms of concussion treatment or diagnosis. "I know a lot is being said about concussions," Reid said. "We are as conscious as they come with concussions. We are going to do everything within our power to get [Jackson] the proper treatment and diagnosis. To compare to Brian’s, are we going to be more cautious? No. We’re always cautious. We’re going to do what we do." "That hit was more of the shoulder," Reid said. "It really wasn’t on the head."

Advanced NFL Stats: Andy Reid: Hero
Reid was my goat of the year for 2008 for the season's single worst 4th down decision, but today he's my hero of the day (or at least for the 1st quarter of the 1 pm games).

Breaking news: Eli has 'stress reaction' in foot - Big Blue View
Compensating for the plantar fasciitis he battled for much of this season, New York quarterback Eli Manning has developed a stress reaction in his right foot that could be even more problematic for the Giants, according to sources close to the situation.

D.C. Sports Bog - Marshall Faulk calls out Albert Haynesworth
"The thing is, any time that you're the Washington Redskins and you come in as a free agent, and guess what, you miss the Dallas game and now you're about to miss the Philadelphia Eagles game?" Faulk began. "You can't miss games in the NFC East when they pay you $100 million. You've got to tape it up. You've got to tape it up and go, my friend. You have to tape it up and go. These are the games that they signed you for, and it just surprises me that whatever the injury is, you have to at least try to go. Unless, like we said, it's a head injury, and we know it's not a head injury."

Eagles beat Redskins with second straight 4th quarter comeback

JasonB — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:46:07 -0000

More photos » by Michael Perez - AP

24 days ago: Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson, from left, and Jason Avant celebrate after Jackson's touchdown as Washington Redskins' Kareem Moore walks off the field in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

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Much like last week it wasn't the prettiest game from start to end, but it was another win that showed a ton of character for the Eagles. For the second straight week, Donovan McNabb led a 4th quarter comeback and the Eagles defense tightened up as the team continues to try to shed the notion that it can't win close games.

While it's certainly fair to say that Eagles still aren't "firing on all cylinders" it is still a fact in this league that you are what your record says you are. Right now the Eagles are 7-4, just a game back in the NFC East, and in control of at least a wildcard spot in the playoffs. Under Andy Reid, this team has historically started to play its best football in December. If that holds true again this year, the Eagles are well position heading into the final month of 2009.

Headlines are after the jump

Fantastic Fourth from McNabb

A week after he welcomed his 4th child into the world and led a 4th quarter comeback against the Bears, Donovan McNabb once again saved his best for the 4th quarter. It didn't start off well as McNabb's arm was hit and he threw his only pick of the day, but it was only up from there. Down 24-16 McNabb led drives of 90 and 66 yards totaling about 8 minutes to seal a 27-24 win.

Lesean McCoy continues to mature

In past years, the loss of Brian Westbrook would have sealed this team's fate. The Eagles recognized this and sought to correct that weakness by taking LeSean McCoy in the second round of the 2009 draft, so far Shady McCoy has made them look pretty smart. He ran the ball 17 times for 76 yards while his backfield mate Leonard Weaver added 6 carries for 44 yards to combine for a very efficient and effective running game. McCoy also caught 4 passes for 25 yards to bring his total to just over a 100 yards from scrimmage on the day.

He's certainly not Brian Westbrook yet, but he's been impressive nonetheless.

What happened to Brent Celek?

You could certainly make a case that Brent Celek has been the Eagles' most reliable and consistent producer all year, but today the guy absolutely laid an egg. Not only did he drop three passes later in the game which hit him in the hands, but he also committed a needless pass interference play in the first quarter which caused a TD pass to Desean Jackson to be called back. I'm sure he can bounce back, but today was an absolutely brutal day from the young TE.

Avant's breakout season continues

Jason Avant just had a fantastic day again. He makes tough catches, he breaks tackles, he runs great routes. The guy has really blossomed this year into more than just a third down, over the middle specialist. He's becoming a guy the defense has to worry about on every play.

While we're praising WRs, how about another strong game from the rookie Maclin? His great catch on the TD drive ended up being one of the most pivotal moments of the game. He ended the day with 5 grabs for 63 yards.

Asante Samuel, Redskins killer

Some guys just have the number of certain teams. That certainly seems to be the case with Asante Samuel, who now has 6 INTs in his last 8 games against the Redskins. There's no doubt his tackling leaves much to be desired, but his 2 picks today were huge in stopping the bleeding by an Eagles defense that seemed to be on the ropes in the second and third quarters. That's what playmakers are for.

Comcast NFL Red Zone stat of the week - Sheldon & Asante

JasonB — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:00:15 -0000

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The Eagles "stat of the week" is brought to you by Comcast and the new NFL Red Zone channel

The stat of the week comes directly from the NFL's PR department, who sent out a press release about the importance of good cover corners. In that release, they listed the players with the most passes defensed since 2000.

Number one was Asante Samuel with 101. Who was number 2? Sheldon Brown with 88. There were a number of players tied for 3rd with 80.

An impressive stat and certainly one that lends credence to the notion that the Eagles have the best set of corners in the league. The good news is that both guys should be healthy enough to go this Sunday

Do you want to see every touchdown from every NFL game as it happens as well as live look-ins to all of Sunday's games in key situations? Then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone. In fact, the great Bill Conlin dedicated an entire column to the greatness of NFL Red Zone. Check out this gushing...

I am writing this column at the same time I am watching the greatest invention since the wheel...
NFL Red Zone, an out-of-body, all-encompassing, died-and-woke-up-in-football-heaven experience.
Nine 1 o'clock games have just kicked off. Comcast SportsNet alum Scott Hanson is at the studio controls of a breathless, no-commercial, every-scoring-play - most of them live - roller-coaster ride that careens inside the 20s until the final whistle of the last 4 o'clock game.

Did I say no commercials?

Where the Arizona Cardinals Stand in the NFC Pro Bowl Balloting

Hawkwind — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:23:28 -0000

More photos » by Tim Larsen - AP

Only four players in the entire league have received more votes for the Pro Bowl than Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the only question that remains is how many of his teammates will accompany him? (AP Photo/Tim Larsen)

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The NFL has released it's first update on the fan voting for the Pro Bowl and the Arizona Cardinals have quite a few guys in the top five at their respective positions. As we all know the fans don't get the final say but it's nice way to judge the popularity and/or of players on a national level. We've started a segment here campaigning for some deserving Cardinals (check out Dockett's, Warner's and Fitz's story) and we've got more to come but for now we all need to go vote, early and often.

Larry Fitzgerald: Only four players in the entire league have received more votes than Fitz (Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson and Brett Favre) and it's a safe bet he'll be a starter again this year.
Adrian Wilson: Wilson is the leading vote getter among NFC strong safeties and has almost twice as many votes as the next best, Roman Harper. Again, I think it's safe to assume he'll be starting his second consecutive PB.

Antrel Rolle: Rolle, who's been getting better and better as the season progresses, is actually second among NFC free safeties, but the leading FS (Darren Sharper) has nearly six times as many votes. Still though if Rolle can hang in there and earn his first trip to the Pro Bowl, it would help his case for a new contract a great deal.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: DRC is currenty fourth among NFC cornerbacks but he's going up against some household names in Asante Samuel, Antoine Winfield and Charles Woodson. It would take a really impressive run by DRC to move up the ladder but if he stays in the top five he'll have a chance to go once guys start dropping out for injuries and/or personal reasons.

Darnell Dockett: Nine-0 is also fourth among defensive tackles behind the Williams-Wall (Kevin Williams and Pat Williams) and Albert Haynesworth. Those are some big names to replace but only Kevin Williams stats are noticably better than Dockett's and DD has been getting stronger as the season wears on.

Of the guys who don't rank in the top five at the respective position but should still recieve some consideration are Kurt Warner, Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin and Ben Graham. If Warner can stay hot he should be able to jump guys like Matt Ryan, Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers (all of whom are in the top five) and it would help if the Cardinals keep winning as well. Dansby, even though he's having another good year hasn't had as many big plays as he had last year and he won't make it in without making some game-changing plays. He needs to rack up some sacks and picks in the second half to even receive consideration, but he has that ability. Boldin's case is pretty simple, if he can stay healthy and on the field he'll get into the mix, but he desperately needs to add to his TD total (which currently stands at one). Graham is more than deserving but he's really got no chance.