It’s amazing how time flies. We’re already beginning the 2nd half of our beloved NFL season,  So of course, it’s time to see how your favorite team fared midway through the 2011 season. Only, instead of giving actual grades, I’m breaking them up in categories. Same analysis as ESPN, but better because it’s not so formal. So without further ado…. the midseason report cards.

F*ck It, I’m On One!: Green Bay Packers

The Packers deserve a column of their own. As far as NFL class goes, there’s the Packers and then there’s everyone else. No one is touching them right now and to be honest, I don’t know who will. Aaron Rodgers is playing like he’s possessed right about now. I like Green Bay but the little hater in me says they need to sit their bragging asses down somewhere. No reason why I feel that way, I’m just a little green and tired of seeing them win.

They Are Who We Thought They Were:  Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots

The Steelers started out old and slow, but they’ve finally got the ball rolling. They’ve been on fire the past few weeks, and have picked up from last season, thanks to the emergence of guys like Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders. The Patriots make this list because they’re still a team of concern if they’re on your schedule, but they can’t stop a nose bleed (Bart Scott voice) so unless they figure out to stop good teams, they may be in trouble….

Well I’ll Be John Brown (c/o @DragonflyJonez): Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills

I dedicate this category to my Twitter buddy, who always uses this term at the right time and better than anybody I know. Most of us looked at contenders for 2011 and didn’t think about any of these teams, for a lot of reasons. New players, lockout hangover, inconsistent or not good in years past…. for whatever reason, unless you were a fan of these teams, they simply weren’t on your radar. Well I’ll be John Brown if they aren’t now. The Bengals are 5-2 with a Top 5 defense and have shown success with Andy Dalton and AJ Green. The 49ers changed their coaching staff and brought in Jim Harbaugh and have only lost one game so far, even giving Alex Smith some life. And the Bills, who had every bounce against them in 2010 despite playing hard, are finally getting the ball in their court. The Lions are probably the least bit shocking, since they finished 2010 strong. But it’s the Lions…. you still haven’t forgotten about 0-16 and Matt Stafford gets hurt if you blow on him hard enough. Alas, no bad karma and all teams are doing big things

They’re Good, BUT……..: Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons 

These teams have a winning record so they’re good based on record but we really have no idea what to expect for the 2nd half of the season. The Ravens have beaten quality opponents in Pittsburgh, Houston and the Jets, but have crapped the pot against teams they should have beaten in Tennessee and Jacksonville…… The Giants are decent, but their schedule the next 6 weeks is beyond brutal and one has to wonder will the injuries they have finally start to catch up….. The Chargers are actually starting out with a winning record for once, but QB Philip Rivers (my boo!) hasn’t looked like the Rivers of old, and fumbled control of the AFC West away last Monday night……. The Texans are good, but losing Mario Williams for the year and Andre Johnson for some time may hurt them in the long run…..The Jets have seemed to regress a little on defense, and Mark Sanchez not getting much help from his run game is an issue…..The Saints WERE in my “They are who we thought they were” column, but they lost to the Rams, The WINLESS ST. LOUIS RAMS, WITHOUT SAM BRADFORD! Yeah, they go down a notch after that one….. The Bucs have youth on their side, but their lopsided loss to San Francisco puts them in this category….. Atlanta always leaves me scratching my head at the end of their games. With all of the offensive weapons they have, I don’t see how they don’t put up 30 points easily, each week. They have some inexperience on defense that holds them to this category.

Ehhhhh……………..: Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans

It’s not that I don’t think these teams are good or can’t be good… it’s just that I couldn’t add them in the “They’re good but” category because they’ve done something not worthy of that category. The Bears’ offensive line blocks like Cutler stole their girl……The Eagles started out slow, and with the “Dream Team” talk prior to the season, expectations were above normal so their 3-4 record is underachieving at best… The Cowboys need a TV time out with the way they’ve played football lately. I thought they’d be better than this at this point. I haven;t totally written them off, tho. They have talent….. The Chiefs started off rough (remember Matt Cassel’s blow up with HC Todd Haley on the sidelines??), but they’ve rebounded well. It’s the AFC West so it’s hard to be impressed just yet…..The Raiders looked like they were gonna have a good season before Jason Campbell went down. Oakland traded their 2012 #1 pick and a conditional pick to Cincy for Carson Palmer, but all Palmer did was stink it up in his debut. He’s not the same QB he was before 2005 and quite frankly, I wonder if Al Davis came back from the dead to make one last WTF personnel decision… Despite Carolina’s record, I’m gonna put them in this column because I seriously believe they try hard each and every week, yet fall short. This team reminds me a lot of Buffalo’s team last season. They hang in there, but can’t get the “W” in the end. I can’t be mad at that. They should be added in my next group but I love their resilience. The Titans are here by default, because they have a good record. But Chris Johnson got paid and told the Titans, “Fcuk your couch”. He’s still holding out but we didn’t know until now. With Kenny Britt going down, that hurt big time for Tennessee. Good thing is, the AFC South could be a 2-man race, and they’re still in it.

“Insert Comment Here”: Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins

Face it- these teams’ style of play are boring and uninspiring more times than not (minus the Vikings the past 2 weeks. But that’s because Ponder now has the keys). Put yourself in my shoes…. What could you possibly say about any of these teams individually that doesn’t sound like the others in this group? Can’t figure it out? Me neither. So feel free to insert your own comment here.

Bad…. Real Bad Michael Jackson: Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos

I guess this group could be called the “Suck For Luck” lottery, but that’s unoriginal and overused at this point. These 4 teams stink and I’d bet my money on LSU or Alabama if they played any of these teams at this point. Probably the worst team of them all is Indy. Never have I seen a franchise fall so fast from one key player going down. That’s a direct reflection of the GM and ownership and it’s inexcusable. The Rams have some good pieces and aren’t AS bad as Indy (not saying much), but their defense isn’t that good, particularly their secondary (although they did hold NO to one offensive TD in Sunday’s win) and there isn’t a true #1 WR on the team. The Dolphins need a new makeover, period. Not only did you celebrate the FLORIDA GATORS championship in MIAMI HURRICANES-land, you let Tim Tebow beat you in the Final 5 minutes of the same game. Yeah, you suck, Miami…….. Speaking of Tebow, he is getting KILT in the media (yeah, I said it… not killed, but KILT!) on what most of us already knew: Great college player, lots of heart and passion, not going to translate into the NFL. It’s been a while since I’ve seen so much attention lay on one guy like this. Denver officially came into the Top 5 pick race as of Sunday.

Yesterday’s game was overwhelming for me for so many reasons. We recognized the 10th anniversary of September 11th which was extremely patriotic, as the fans chanted, “USA” often. It was opening day from a LOOOOOOOOONG offseason full of lockout talk and off-the-field drama. And it was against the Ravens most bitter rival in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Going into this game, I admit I had my doubts. The offensive line hadn’t played fully this preseason and the defense was pretty slow in that same span. But the Ravens were tired of all of the trash talk and mental edge the Steelers had over them, and it showed. Not only did the Ravens come out to play, they came out with a plan to show them how serious they were on the disrespect. All of the offseason changes they made paid off, at least for Week 1. They beat the Steelers like they stole something. Final score Ravens 35, Steelers 7.

The best part about yesterday’s game was how happy my son was. He was celebrating a milestone birthday (don’t ask!) And going to the game was a birthday gift. When he said that he had the best birthday ever, I knew yesterday was special. That’s what football does, especially after a win like that. His happiness means the world to me, and we have the Ravens to thank.

OT: I’ve said this over and over like a broken record, but I’ll say it one last time. Joe Flacco is a GOOD quarterback. Is he a great one? Nope. He still has some things he can change to better his game. But he’s efficient.. efficient enough to win football games for the Baltimore Ravens.

I don’t think there’s a question on who’s better between Flacco and Roethlisberger. Big Ben is a 2-time Super Bowl winning QB who knows how to make plays when he needs to. But yesterday, Joe Cool was the better guy. And while he’ll have struggles this season, he’s growing and maturing. I like it and I believe this is the start of finally getting the respect he’s long overdue for.

Double OT: “God can have his soul, but his ass belongs to me”- Terrell Suggs on Ben Roethlisberger after his 3-sack performance. Best quote I’ve ever heard!

The Colts are bad… real bad, Michael Jackson (hell, add the rest of the Jacksons too!). We knew the Colts would struggle without Peyton Manning, but if yesterday is what’s to come for the Colts without Pey-Pey, this is gonna get ugly QUICK! It kind of amazes me how the franchise had put so much stock into one guy with no insurance policy. The Irsays should learn from this.

On Saturday, I was on a local TV show talking football and one of the topics we discussed were injuries. I predicted that this season we would see an abundance of injuries, mainly due to the lockout. And so far that looks to be true. The Rams were plagued with injuries by key players yesterday, Bengals QB Andy Dalton went down, Charger RB Mike Tolbert got banged up..and the list goes on and on from yesterday’s games. Its alarming, especially when you have skill players taking the hit. As a fan, its a huge concern, but I’m sure as a player/coach that concern is 10x worse.

Isn’t it funny how we witnessed a near-perfect QB play in the Green Bay-New Orleans game last Thursday, only to see a Romo/Sanchez slop fest last night? The Cowboys-Jets game was the exact opposite of Thursday’s show down, but the excitement was all the same. Mistakes clouded last night’s game big time, but those very same mistakes kept the game interesting. Down 24-10 in the 4th quarter, the Jets found a way to not screw it up when it counted to beat the Cowboys, 27-24. That’s the beauty of football. You can see a squeaky clean game and then see a sloppy, mistake laden game but the awesome levels are still the same. One of the reasons why football is so great.

OT: Tony Romo can’t catch a break.. mainly from the fans and the media. I’m not saying its not warranted, he’s given folks plenty of reason to criticize him. But the QB is always a position that gets held at a higher regard than any other position. The fact that he plays for the Cowboys makes it worse because his stage is much bigger than other teams. It’s recipe for disaster. As long as he continues to make critical mistakes, how good he is will be debated. Its the nature of the beast, whether you like it or not.

Donovan McNabb, SMH………… My, how the mighty have fallen.

Someone posted this on Twitter yesterday. In less than 140 characters it was quite simple yet the truest tweet of the day. In a sentence, it said, “The Harbaugh’s>>>>>> The Manning’s”. And as of right now, that’s exactly right.

I’m not a Bills fan, but I empathize with what they’ve been through the past few years, mainly because of my football sister Pigskin Loving Lady. I was happy for them in yesterday’s 41-7 shellacking over the Chiefs. Maybe my empathy is more so pity, because the Bills should have won at LEAST 2 more games last year (Ravens, Steelers). I’m not picking them to go to the playoffs or anything, but I do believe they’ll be better than we expect.

OT: this is only Week 1 but I’m gonna say it. Kansas City is overrated. Not that they can’t be good, they have a core group of youth on their team. But they continue to show me that they aren’t ready to take over the drivers seat in the AFC West. You have to dethrone the Chargers, who are a penciled in pick every year as long as my boo (Philip Rivers) is running the team. The Chiefs are young, so the experience will come. I just don’t see them repeating as AFC West champs.

Until the Falcons win a playoff game, they’ll always be regular season champs to me. Outside of Michael Turner, they didn’t show me much yesterday. I realize they’re a very good team on paper. People LOOOOOOOVE Matty Ice, so I get it. But until they can show me they are consistent and able to win playoff games (which they have yet to do since Ryan was drafted), they gets no love from me…. sorry.

Cam Newton looks like the real deal. Even in a losing effort, he did the damn thing, passing for 422 yards in his NFL debut. His confidence and poise is impecable, and that is the key to how far Carolina can go this season. I used to think Newton was a bit cocky, especially after seeing his smirks and facial responses at the draft this past April. Now I see it’s a bit deeper than that. He believes in himself and what he can do for his football team. And I can’t be mad at that!

And last but not least, the Redskins beat the New York Giants yesterday… the DC/MD/VA area is about to explode with Super Bowl talk….. pray for me!

Hey ladies and gents. I hope you’ve all enjoyed your holiday weekend as much as I did. I took the time to go tweetless this weekend (Shameless plug: Follow me on Twitter @theNFLchick). But in doing so, my brain was working non-stop with random thoughts about everything, from football to music to movies. While I could have tweeted my thoughts, I decided to collect them altogether and create a blog post, similar to Peter King’s 10 Things I Think I Think from his MMQB column. Hopefully it’s not TOO all over the place and you can enjoy (and understand) my thoughts.

Happy Birthday Al Davis!

How ironic is it that the Oakland Raiders owner shares the same birthday as America’s Declaration of Independence. While Al’s birth certificate says he turned 82, he looks as old as the 235 year-old document of our freedom from the British Empire. Al’s still here with us, and still running things in Oakland. Happy 235- excuse me-82nd birthday, Mr. Davis. Something tells me Skeletor will see a few more birthdays form now.

I’m On To You, SWV!

As I get older, I translate a lot of music that I listened to growing up, in a way that my immaturity didn’t allow me to before. This weekend, I learned that one of my favorite 90′s groups SWV (or Sisters With Voices) were great singers, but their biggest hits were always about chasing someone else’s man or was on some freaky ish to try and grab/keep one. Think about it…. “So Into You” and “You’re The One” were about men that were unavailable but they wanted to get with them anyway. “Downtown” was about freaky things you had to do to get some of their, “love”, while “Anything” explained that they would do just about anything to keep that [unavailable] man around. I had no idea how naive I was back then, but I’ve seen the light in 2011. I’m piecing the puzzle together. I’m on to you Coco, Taj and Le Le… I’m on to you……….

Transformers Was Great, But…………….

I love summer blockbusters. It’s part of the 19732836826 reasons why summer is one of the best seasons of all. Vacations, sundresses, cookouts and blockbuster movies all play a role into how awesome the summer season is. So when I went to see the 3rd installment of Transformers movie this holiday weekend, I wasn’t let down. It was excellent and definitely worth the $14.50 that was spent ( since when did movie tickets get so high before 6pm? 3-D my a$$!!). There’s just one problem: I’m an analytical maniac when it comes to movies and songs (see above for SWV analysis).

I usually pick out how parts of a movie make ZERO sense if it were a real life scenario. Now I know Transformers is from the old school cartoon (which, I’m proud to say I was an avid fan of the original back in the day. And don’t you dare judge my age), so of course logic goes out the door and this fictional tale is all about action. Aside from the fact that Shia LeBeouf should have died, I dunno…. 2 movies ago, I notice other things that just don’t quiet make sense.

For instance, Rosie Huntington- Whiteley (who portrays Carly, the girlfriend of LeBeouf in the movie) is beautiful without any question. But can someone tell me why was she beautiful the WHOLE DAMN MOVIE? Transformers was extremely messy.. lots of fire and destruction took place, yet Carly’s hair looked as good in the end as it did in the first scene she appeared in, early in the movie. While LeBeouf gets pretty dirty as the movie goes on, she’s still near perfect in the same duration. Her clothes looked clean, her hair was still in tact and oh… she was running full speed in Christian Louboutins for a good part of the movie. Now, I know what those shoes feel like. Man-made shoes are HARD on women’s feet. So you mean to tell me, she felt no need to kick her shoes off at any time once she knew she had to run for her everlasting life? Other than some dust on her cheek, she was almost flawless the entire movie. I know what you’re thinking.. it’s just a movie and you’re doing WAY too much right now… but this is how my brain operates. Pray for me, especially 10+ years down the road……..

The Awesomeness Of The 4th of July

Every year for the 4th, I go to my friend’s house for their annual cookout. At the end of the night, her family gets together and light up the fireworks for their own personal show. It’s become a tradition of sorts. So much, that the neighboring street now does fireworks of their own and the 2 streets have a “Fireworks battle”, going back and forth with who has the best fireworks display.

It’s pretty awesome (and illegal, since MD doesn’t sell most of the fireworks they had, but that’s not here nor there..), and it makes me appreciate my city a little bit more. If I had one day a year to love living in the city, this is the day. You don’t have to go downtown to see the big show, folks all around the area do their own shows. And in the process of doing that, friends come together, neighbors come together and communities come together. I know I sound preachy and you may not even buy what I’m saying but it’s true. Neighbors who barely speak to each other come out and talk about the fireworks beef and judge on who had the better display (which, by-the-way, my friend’s street lost BAD! The other street must’ve gotten their fireworks straight from the factory because I thought I was at Disney World). It’s a great chance to open lines of communication and getting to know the people you live by. And since going out on the 4th is becoming more and more dangerous, I look forward to kicking it around the neighborhood with my friends each and every year.

Reed vs Polamalu Debate

The NFL Network finally showed their final 10 players for their Top 100 NFL Players of 2011. Ed Reed went ahead of Troy Polamalu by 1 slot, going 5th overall. The ranking opened up a new Reed vs Polamalu debate that we’ve seen over the years. But this is where the debate should stop.

I’ve stated publicly that I’m not a big fan of the list. I believe that some players were ranked too high or too low or shouldn’t have been ranked at all. But one thing I think we need to realize is this: This list was ranked by their colleagues, other NFL players. Fans, analysts and coaches may think they have an idea, but none of us line up against these guys on Sundays. These guys see the players on the field, whether it be through tape or live action. Who better to rank our favorite NFL players than their peers?

I’ve said over and over, the Reed vs Polamalu debate is beyond stupid, mainly because they don’t play the same position and they both do different things for their respected squads. But let me say this: Just because one is more versatile or appears to physically do more than the other, doesn’t mean he’s better. I’ve seen a lot of debate about Troy being better because he does more, which is true. He lines up as a LB or in the defensive backfield. He always seems to be all over the field. But that in no way means that he’s more valuable or better than than Ed Reed. Reed changes the entire gameplan of a QB before he even steps on the field. Throws that QBs would make against other defenses,  now have to be thought about 3 times or more when the Ravens are the opponent with Ed Reed in the lineup. A lot of Reed’s game changing ability starts in the film room, with players try to find ways to play around him. That within itself is just as big as what he actually does on-the-field.

In the end, you could probably flip a coin either way on who should be ranked higher, but both are great players in their own right. Why debate about 2 guys who’s skills are so different they could actually coexist on the same team, if need be? Would you have a debate about a DT vs LB? If not, then the Reed/Polamalu debate is moot. Let it go. I’m talking to YOU, Ravens and Steelers fans!

Manning vs Brady

Final thought, and I’ll make it quick. Brady’s SB wins gets him the #1 spot hands down. He’s worthy of it because he’s pretty good in the QB dept…. damn good actually…. but I’ve seen Belichick win games without Tom Brady.. 10 of them in 2008 to be exact. I’d bet 3 years of my salary that that would NOT happen if Peyton Manning went down with a season ending injury. Manning on the Colts is irreplaceable. I can’t say the same for Brady. But rings talk and SB losses walk, so………………..

This tornado season has been an awful one. The tornadoes in Tuscaloosa last month, followed by the tornado that struck Joplin, MO on Sunday night which became one of the most destructive tornadoes in decades. Three NFL teams decided to come together and help those who are in desparate need right now.

The Kansas City Chiefs are collecting bottled water and contributing $35,000 to assist victims of devastating tornadoes in Reading, Kan., and Joplin, Mo. They also are teaming with the Salvation Army to collect financial donations for Heart-to-Heart International.

If anyone in the area would like to donate, they are accepting bottled-water donations at Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The St. Louis Rams are helping victims in St. Louis Co (MO) that were affected by tornadoes last month by assisting in cleanup efforts for the county.

The Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Products and the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis also are involved. The team asked fans to donate bottled water, disposable diapers or money.

While the lockout is the major news of the NFL, it’s great to see organizations getting together to help these victims. All help is needed, so if you would like to donate please contact the American Red Cross by clicking here.

Former Ohio State standout and NFL quarterback (bust) Art Schlichter is back in the news. This time for bribing an elderly woman for over $1 million dollars.

According to Indystar.com, Schlichter, 50, was charged in Franklin County Municipal Court with one count of theft alleging he stole more than $1 million from the woman in suburban Dublin by deceiving her about the reason he took the money. He took the money in cash, checks and credit card charges, according to the charge, which could also involve higher penalties because the woman is considered elderly under Ohio law (Sugar mama, maybe?!). More charges are also likely against Schlichter, probably in federal court, his attorney said Monday without offering details.

Schlichter was currently on probation for a similar charge in Indiana, and remains in jail at this time.

Schlichter has a history of trouble with the law. Known to be a compulsive gambler, he was found to have made NFL bets while being the quarterback for the Baltimore Colts. He was eventually banned from the NFL due to his gambling habits.

In 2009, Schlichter then went on ESPN’s Outside The Lines to talk about his new book about his trials and tribulations with gambling, while telling Bob Ley he was on the straight path with his past troubles.

Looks like this leopard hasn’t changed his spots one bit.

That’s what word on the street is. If you can remember, not long ago I wrote a blog post being a little upset about why VS Pink NFL collection didn’t offer undergarments for the Packers, Colts or even my beloved Ravens. Apparently I wasn’t the only person who felt slighted that her team wasn’t available for sale. Folks contacted VS and complained. Well, it looks like VS has possibly answered our outcry. In an email response that was lurking in my inbox, here’s a reply to the request:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding our  Victoria’s Secret PINK NFL Collection. We are pleased to assist you with your inquiry.

The Victoria’s Secret PINK NFL Collection was introduced earlier this year with a variety of products featuring 13 teams as a result of our exclusive assortment of officially licensed merchandise with the National Football League.

We are enthusiastic about the program which continues to be a work in progress. We are excited to announce that in the Fall of 2011 we will begin to offer all 32 teams in the National Football League.

Victoria’s Secret values you as a customer, and it is our hope that you will grant us the opportunity to serve you again. Thank you for contacting Victoria’s Secret.

Sincerely,

Steffanie J.

Victoria’s Secret Customer Relations

It’s about damn time! We are not to be ignored! Hopefully, they aren’t pulling our chains when it comes to the addition of the other teams. I can’t wait to get me a pair of Ravens skivvies to wear on Sundays. Hell, I may even offer my services to do a photo shoot…… okay, I’m lying on that one. But I, for one, am happy that maybe Victoria’s Secret got it right this time around!

I dunno about you, but I’m as excited as a fat kid with birthday cake on their plate. Wild Card Weekend is here and I cannot wait to see the games. Everytime I think of the NFL Playoffs, extra hard fist pumping comes to mind!

Eagles, Ravens and Colts… OH MY! So much going on. 8 teams, 4 games, but only 4 teams advance to the divisionals. Who will live to see another week? It’s time to pick the Wild Card Weekend games.

Saints (-11) at Seahawks: This started out as one of the most lopsided games on paper earlier in the week. The Saints are 11-5 headed to Seattle who ended the season with  a dismal 7-9 record. I’m blown at the fact that the Seahawks, or any NFC West team for that matter, is taking up good playoff space. But that’s another story for another day. It just became really real this week in the Big Easy, however, when RBs Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas were put on IR. This means the Saints have pretty much NO running game coming into this weekend’s match up (please don’t insult my intelligence and remind me that Reggie Bush is on the roster…. he’s done very little at Tailback). To add insult to injury, New Orleans is 0-3 in road playoff games and Seattle is known to have one of the league’s loudest stadiums. Seahawks QB Matt Hasslebeck gets the nod this week as the starter, and the Seahawks have every reason to believe they can come out with a win with him at the helm. He’s had recent success against New Orleans. That being said… I’m too petty to pick Seattle. They shouldn’t even be in the dance if you ask me. I’m taking New Orleans because they’ve earned the right to be there, and will find a way to prevail over the obstacles they are facing.

Winner: 

Jets at Colts (-3): Despite the Colts finding a way to make the playoffs after losing so many key players this season, the Jets have reason to worry. They lost to Indy in the AFC Championship game last season and a Rex Ryan-led defense has had no luck in beating Manning and Co in recent memory. Ryan said earlier this week that, “it’s personal”, regarding this weekend’s match up. And it should be. Mark Sanchez has been hot and cold this season, but the Jets are a run-heavy offense that can attack the Colts’ depleted D. Manning will always be Manning, he can make wine out of water. And he’s done just that with the castoff of players he’s had this season. But one has to wonder if the injuries are too much to handle, now that it’s playoff time. Beating the Titans was cool, because the Titans weren’t really that good this year anyway. But the Jets are better than the Titans. And they have more skills players that are healthy than the Colts, including Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and LaDainian Tomlinson. Rex and that sweater vest finally gets the monkey off his back this weekend.

Winner:

Ravens (-3) at Chiefs: Of course, I hold a real interest to this game, because I’m a Ravens fan. Dan Kolko from MASN Sports broke down the rankings between the Ravens and Chiefs on paper and they seem to be very neck and neck (except overall offense.. my Ravens really tanked in that dept). But if you lookpast the stats, it’s not that simple. Case-in-point: In addition to playing the Steelers twice a year, the Ravens also played the Jets, Patriots, Falcons, Saints and Bucs, while finishing their division with a 4-2 record. The Chiefs played the NFC West (and y’all KNOW how I feel about that division) while playing the likes of Houston, Tennessee and Buffalo. They finished 2-4 in their own division, and was blown out at least once by the Broncos, Chargers and Raiders. Not to discredit what KC has done this season…. they took helm of a division previously OWNED by San Diego. But it’s hard to ignore the schedule and division differences. Baltimore knows how to play on the road and win, and KC may be prematurely playing with the big boys. I think KC is a strong team, and they will find some success running the ball against the Ravens. But I think Baltimore is better built for the playoffs while having experience on their side.

Winner:

Packers at Eagles (-3): This one will be a good one. Both of these teams are built for post season football. There is no real advantage for this game. The Packers have a losing road record, and the Eagles are 4-4 at home this season. But there are 2 key elements that may make a difference in this game- health and momentum, both of those in Green Bay’s favor. Aaron Rodgers has played well since going down with a concussion last month. He had a great game in the 45-17 routing of the Giants, and did just enough to beat the division rival Bears last weekend. The Eagles, however, haven’t been so lucky. They ended the season on a 2-game losing streak and have seen some key players go down with injury, including Vick who was hurt during the Vikings game. Vick will start this weekend and of course Philly has the likes of DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek and LeSean McCoy to take the pressure off of #7,  but the Eagles offensive line isn’t that good. Packers LB Clay Matthews may have a field day this weekend if Andy Reid doesn’t find a way to protect his QB. I expect Matthews to get into Vick’s face often this weekend. As good as the Eagles have been, Green Bay was the one team I didn’t like them to be matched up with so soon. Well, they are. With health and momentum on their side, I expect us to wave goodbye to Vick’s great season, a tad bit premature than expected.

Winner:

There you have it. Let me know your thoughts. Agree, disagree? If so why? Feel free to chime in your thoughts. In the meantime, have a wonderful Wild Card Weekend and if your team is playing (like mine), I hope you get the outcome you wanted!

Happy New Year, boys and girls!!! And then there were 12.  The regular season is over but the playoffs are just beginning. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to see the best of the best (minus the Seahawks) get ready to slug it out to see who’s gonna hold the Lombardi trophy this February. It’s a melancholy feeling, because it’s only about 4 weeks of football left, which immediately makes me sad. But then I have to remind myself that my team is in the dance.

So back to Happy Happy Joy Joy Land I go! It’s also Black Monday and by the looks of the head coaches fired in-season (4 of them, to be exact), I expect a big turnover and flip flopping of coaches to take place this week. So coaches on the chopping block, you better hide your kids, hide your wives and hide your bank accounts.. cause they firing everybody out here!

As a Ravens fan, I’m glad we’re 12-4 and in the playoffs. But I’d be lying if I told you I was confident going into Wild Card Weekend. The football gods gave us a pass and re-routed us to KC instead of Indy, who the Ravens haven’t beaten in a LOOOOOOONG time. But this team scares me. They’ve looked lost at times this season and have played along with their opponent. They took New England all the way to OT but they also did the same with the Buffalo Bills. I have no idea what team will show up come Sunday. But if it’s the team that played yesterday against the Bengals, then my squad is in trouble!!!

Brett Favre says he’s finally done with his career…. I say…..

The Raiders have become the ONLY team since the 1970 merger to sweep their division and NOT make the playoffs. On one side, you know that Oakland has something to build on for 2011 and beyond. On the other side, how can you be so awesome against your own division, but be 2-8 against everybody else? Oakland is on the rise… but they have a ways to go to get there.

Shout out to the Detroit Lions for going into the offseason with a 4-game winning streak. 6-10 is a hell of a lot better than 0-16. Baby steps, Detroit… baby steps.

S/O to the NFC West for the highway robbery of a playoff spot. Your whole division sucks, and your 7-9 NFC West champs in the Seahawks get to host a playoff game. I hope New Orleans beats you into Mortal Kombat submission as a reminder to why the NFL needs to tweak the current playoff system.

S/O to Kerry Collins for passing Johnny Unitas for passing yards all-time (11th). No, I’m serious… He did!

As for your fumble late in the 4th quarter that would’ve given you the win against Indy…..

S/O to my boo, Philip Rivers.. for just being YOU! You always have a fan in me. I’m just glad we don’t have to play you in the postseason.

If you’re Tampa Bay or the New York Giants and their fans, you’re sick as hell right now…. But at least you ended on a good note, right?!?! I’m not helping am I??? Okay, I’ll shut up now……………

Twitter really shows us that rich people and famous people are regular people, like the rest of us. Whether they show signs of bitchassness their sensitive side, how corny funny they are or simply how random they can be. Well, Colts owner Jim Irsay is…… colorful. And that’s putting it nicely.

Reading his timeline can be informative if you’re a Colts fan, giving updates of players. But then it can also turn into one big head scratcher. Let’s take a look at the things he’s tweeted.

Irsay talks about foot fetishes (a Rex Ryan jab, if you will):

Irsay also thinks he’s a poet at times:

And then… sometimes he tweets some WTF stuff, like so:

Irsay also tweets about his love for ABBA, has random outbursts and adds song verses at any given time. As an owner he can do what he pleases. But I wonder what Roger Goodell thinks about his random thoughts. It’s no secret that Irsay dances to the beat of his own drum. He’s dealt with his dad’s alcohol abuse as well as gone through his own addiction. But maybe that’s what makes his tweets so human.

Last night, my Ravens give the game away lost to the Steelers in a bloody, hard hitting battle. It was what everyone expected it would be and more. Great division matchup against two teams built so much alike, from the bottom up. And a great rivalry that doesn’t come with style points, but they come hard fought. Players on both sides found themselves on the sidelines instead of being on the field, but the game must go on. Ben Roethlisberger played with a broken nose, and although he didn’t have a stellar night, he played when it mattered, throwing the TD pass to Isaac Redman with 2:51 remaining in the 4th quarter to give Pittsburgh the go-ahead score. The play came moments after S Troy Polamalu strips Joe Flacco of the ball, untouched. The Ravens had controlled the tempo of the entire game up until that point. It was a game changer and ultimately, a heart breaker for the Ravens in their 13-10loss. If there were any a time that the Denny Green speech was a great way to describe my feelings… now is the time!

I wasn’t mad about it last night, but this morning I woke up and felt sick about it. Sick about the way the game played out… sick about things that could have, should have went different. But alas…… Pittsburgh won, has sole possession of 1st place in the AFC North, and life must go on. But I have to say, it’s a damn hard pill to swallow.

OT: I’ve said this all year long… my Ravens lack killer instinct. Running the ball in the 4th qtr against the #1 rushing defense with a 4 point lead is NOT how you finish teams. Anquan Boldin was brought here to be the answer to the Steelers, and he showed why in the beginning of the game. Feed him the ball, and regularly. The play calling is very questionable. And while I love Cam Cameron, I have to wonder if he’s over-thinking his play calling. Something’s gotta give, though. Championship teams put teams away when they have the chance and right now the Ravens aren’t it.

Can someone find the horse shoe that’s stuck up the Atlanta Falcons organization’s butt? They continue to find ways to win at the end of games. They are lucky as hell… but they are also damn good. Good teams find ways to win and the Falcons have done just that this season.

Could the Rams really win the NFC West? I think so. The 49ers are hot and cold, the Seahawks don’t have an identity and the Cardinals suck (FREE LARRY FITZGERALD!). Out of all the teams in that division, the Rams have been the most consistent and have every opportunity to win the NFC West. It’s a great story considering the Rams have won a total of 6 games the previous 3 years and they’ve already matched that win total this year alone. It’s also a testament of how awful the NFC West is.

The Colts are struggling this year. They just lost their 3rd straight game yesterday, after losing to the Cowboys 38-35 in OT. Peyton Manning has thrown 4 TD and 11 INTs in the last 6 games, which is very un-Manning-like. But the problem is simple- Manning is overcompensating. Overcompensating for all of the weapons his team has lost on both sides of the ball this season. Manning is trying to put his team on his shoulders, but they are so depleted that it’s not working this time around. These aren’t just your regular backups, these guys were working at Walmart the week before they came to Indy. They were never as banged up as they are this season. Manning is still a great QB but he’s not in the position to do what he’s done in years past. Time to look forward to next year, when all are healthy. 2010 isn’t your year, Colts fans.

SMH at you, San Diego……

You’ve NEVER lost in December since my boo Philip Rivers has taken over the team. You were 1 game behind the Chiefs for the AFC West, and you failed to show up and continue your normal December run against the Raiders. The window is slowly closing on your playoff chances.

On the another side…. I have no idea what Raiders team will show up, week after week. Last Sunday, they had 16 rushing yards. Yesterday, they had 251 rushing yards. Who the hell are you guys???? Please let us know what team to look forward to in advance, please and thanks.

The Bengals are nominated for making the year’s dumbest move for the 2010 season. With 34 seconds left, the Bengals were ahead of the Saints, 30-27. On 4th and 2 at the Bengals 7-yard line, the Saints opted to look as if they are going for it. I thought it was pretty textbook for what New Orleans was trying to do, have Drew Brees go to the line, and do a hard count to try and get the defender to go offsides. If none else fails, they call a timeout, kick a FG and put the game into overtime. But lookie here, a Bengals defender didn’t get the memo. Offsides was called, new set of downs given, and the Saints score the go-ahead TD to give the Saints the win, 34-30. This is why the Bengals are bad. It’s not the big things, it’s the little things that have the Bengals playing like the Bungles of old.

Memo To Drew Stanton: You need to ask someone to teach you how to Dougie… No I’m serious… your dougie sucks!

On a similar note: What is up with athletes wanting to Dougie? What about doing the Kid N Play, the Roger Rabbit or even the Chicken Noodle Soup?? Okay, scratch the Chicken Noodle Soup part, but you get my point. If you wanna celebrate, do something different or a little more creative.

Brandon Jacobs, welcome back!

I would comment on the 49ers, Broncos, Bills and Redskins… But, why????????????????