MLB Player Of The Decade

The last edition of the "Player Of The Decade" is here! After picking my NBA (Kobe Bryant) and NFL (Peyton Manning) players, it is now time to switch gears and turn to baseball. Without getting too much into the conversation, let's jump right into it.
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The Candidates
Baseball is a different sport, and could be exactly why I love it the most. There isn't really one position that dominates the game. It is one of the only sports that incorporates all out team play. It's true. In basketball, a player like LeBron James can dominate the whole game and score as much as he wants, and lead his team to victory.

Nonetheless, let's round down the candidates, shall we?

Let's take the game's biggest stars now. There's Tim Lincecum, but he hasn't even been around for half the decade. Cross him off the list. You could include Johan Santana, and he would probably be somewhere in the top 25, but he's not even top 5 worth. There's Roy Halladay, and he's probably the closest pitcher to it, but he hasn't been consistent enough considered.

There are two men who cross my mind. They're probably one of the 2 people that comes to your mind when the word baseball is used. They are Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols.
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The Statistics (courtesy of Sporting News)
Albert Pujols: .334 batting average, 366 home-runs, 1106 RBIs, 59 stolen bases
Alex Rodriguez: .304 batting average, 432 home-runs, 1232 RBIs, 176 stolen bases

It's obvious that Alex Rodriguez has been the better power hitter of the decade than Albert Pujols, beating him by 66 home-runs and 226 RBIs. One thing however, that his hidden in the stats, is that Albert Pujols has hit 30 home-runs, 100 RBIs, and a .300 batting average for each of the past 9 seasons. That is truly a great feat.

Albert Pujols: 2 MVPs, 1 championship title
Alex Rodriguez: 3 MVPs, 1 championship title (Sporting News did not include it because the article was written before the championship won by the Yankees)

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The Verdict
It is without question that both of these players are baseball's elite. Night in and night out, these two provide shows for audiences watching. They both play power baseball. They both have a competitive spirit. However, it isn't Players of the Decade, it is Player Of The Decade.

So, with that being said, I crown baseball's Player Of The Decade to St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman, Albert Pujols. There are a couple of reasons as to why I made this decision.

First of all, I do realize that Alex's numbers are pretty lobsided, but Alex Rodriguez hasn't hit 30 home runs, 100 RBI's, and .300 every season for the decade. Albert Pujols did. That just goes to show his all-around playing ability, which can go further than just hitting it out of the park. Secondly, and which I think is a huge reason, is that professional athletes have to control their antics outside their playing venues. Whether it be off the court, the field, or turf, they have to keep their composure. We've seen many that have fallen under the public microscope, like Allen Iverson, Plaxico Burress, Michael Vick, and the latest one, Tiger Woods. Albert Pujols, throughout his time in the majors, has always kept out of things that help athletes lose fans, interest, and sponsorships. Alex Rodriguez has been caught in a steroid scandal, and has always been under the public eye, mostly for the bad.
So, let it be known, that Albert Pujols has been the best MLB player this past decade.

NFL Player Of The Decade

Welcome to part 2 of the "Player of the Decade" series. The NBA player of the decade was selected, and was given to Los Angeles Lakers star, Kobe Bryant. Today, we recap the NFL's most prolific player that has played throughout the course of the past 10 years.
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The Candidates
Other than quarterbacks, it is almost impossible to think of anybody in any other postion that has had so much of an impact, that they can be considered as the player of the decade. No running backs have been in the league for that long, and still be great. That may be the thing. Because, you see, running backs involve a lot of grueling work, and a lot of careers fade off after the player turns around 28. That is pretty much the same deal with defensive positions. The only two positions in the league where players past 35 can still have really good success, is a quarterback and a placekicker, and a placekicker shouldn't really be considered as a player of the decade. Please.

It is almost no doubt that when thinking player of the decade, a quarterback has got to be chosen. It's the sad truth, but nonetheless, it is the truth. For the MVP, you barely don't see a quarterback chosen because of the fact that quarterbacks are given the utmost respect for their hard work and dedication. They are really the heart and sole of a lot of teams, given loads of responsibilites.

Brett Favre could be a candidate, but he hasn't really been that great of a quarterback over the past decade to be chose as the QB of the deacde.

With that being said, if you are given 2 candidates to choose for NFL player of the decade, most likely, at least 8 times out of 10, you will get Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
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The Statistics
Peyton Manning (up until the start of the '09 season) : 102 wins, 43 losses, 37 754 passing yards, 281 touchdowns, 122 interceptions, 98.4 QB rating
Tom Brady (up until the start of the '09 season) : 88 wins, 45 losses, 26 466 passing yards, 197 touchdowns, 86 interceptions, 87.2 QB rating

It is extremely clear the Manning is the better quarterback, except for when it comes to interceptions, where Brady has nearly 40 fewer INT's. However, in every other statistical category, #18 reigns. Now, I'm not making any excuses for Tom Brady, but one must note that in the 2000 season, Brady was just a rookie and didn't play a full season, playing only 1 game, and in the 2008 season, Brady went down with a season-ending injury before the full duration of the first game of the year. That is 30 games missed, which can account for a lot.

Just like the Bryant-Duncan match-up, Brady and Manning have a lot of hardware. Peyton Manning has won 3 MVPs and 1 Super Bowl. Tom Brady has won 1 MVP and 3 Super Bowls. Yet again, just like the Bryant-Duncan discussion, the difference between MVPs and Super Bowls between these two are identical (3 MVPs and 1 MVP is 2 - 3 Super Bowls and 1 Super Bowl is 2.)

How do they do for the team? Well, let's take a look. In 2006, the Colts went 13-0, before losing their first game of the year. In 2007, the Patriots went a perfect 16-0, and even went to the Super Bowl, where the fell to the heavily unfavoured New York Giants, in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history. The Colts also went undefeated this year, where they went 14-0, until they lost to the Jets this past Sunday in a questionable decision by first-year head coach Jim Caldwell to pull the starters in the 3rd quarter.

However, the Colts hold the record for consecutive regular season wins with 23, topping the previous record set by the Patriots last year, winning 21 in a row.
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The Verdict
If you were to tell me to pick a player based on my liking, I would say Tom Brady in a hurry because he is one of my most favourite players in the league. However, that would be a biased opinion. Truthfully, despite my temptations, I pick Peyton Manning as the best player the NFL has seen in the past decade. However, it is the of the slimmest hairline away that he beats out Tom Brady. Really, this one is one of the hardest sports questions to answer. He's just brought more year-to-year success, throwing for over 4000 yards for most of the decade. He is more careless with the ball, averaging over 13 INT's a year, while Brady's only averaged 9, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he is a game changer. Even given Brady's potential to change a game, which he does, Manning brings more to the table when it comes to mentality.

Manning definitely brings a more tough, mental attitude to the game and makes all his players better. A perfect example would be this year, when Marvin Harrison decided to forego a retirement, taking away Peyton Manning's favourite receiver. Also, Anthony Gonzalez, who was a up and coming receiver who came out of his shell last year, went down with a season-ending injury. Even though he had Reggie Wayne, he used receivers that weren't all that known throughout the league at all, like Pierre Garcon, and made them into fabulous receivers.

So congratulations go to Peyton Manning, who is crowned as being the decade's best athlete in the NFL.

NBA Player Of The Decade

The decade is nearing its end, and it has been 10 years of basketball excitement. Years of glorious players, teams, and plays have all come to an end as the 2000's is in the books. However, through all of these years, there have been a few elite players that have come as their own, sitting atop basketball's throne. Who is the player of the decade?
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The Candidates
When you look at today's game, the way it stands, there have been quite a few players that people would label as the game's best players. You have LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade. Those 4 are the game's biggest names. They sell jerseys, win games, and bring huge success to their teams.

As much as that is true, 3 of the 4 players (Dwight Howard, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade) weren't around for the full decade, as James and Wade were drafted in 2003, and Howard entered the league in 2004.

So, take them out of the equation. That leaves Kobe Bryant. However, not just only Kobe, but quite a few players who aren't the game's biggest names today, but sure have dominated over the course of this decade.

After rounding down candidates, I am left with two players in mind that qualify for the player of the decade: Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.
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The Numbers
Kobe Bryant - 28.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.1 assists
Tim Duncan - 21.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.3 assists

From those statistics, it's quite clear that Kobe Bryant beats Tim Duncan in the scoring category, which fits Kobe's portfolio, and Tim Duncan leads the two big time when it comes to rebounds, which makes sense as well. The assists are definitely a bit closer, but Kobe edges Tim out by about 2 dimes a game.

Those are their statistics in terms of their contributions on the court. How about the hardware?

Kobe Bryant - 4 NBA titles and 1 MVP
Tim Duncan - 3 NBA titles and 2 MVPs

Kobe is one up on Tim when it comes to the NBA championships, but Duncan has Kobe's number with 1 more MVP.
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The Verdict
This is definitely a tough question. They both brought perennial success for their teams during this decade, and both have had a spectacular decade. However, if I were to choose one, it should be Kobe Bryant. This is only because of the fact that he has had consistency over the past decade. He has always had an amazing season, for 10 straight years, while Duncan has fallen off a bit over the past couple of seasons. If Tim were to continue the consistent play that he had for about 8 years, then this would be so hard that I most likely would've given it to both. Not only that, but Kobe Bryant is somewhat of a fierce warrior. He yells at his guys to play better. He punishes himself if he has an off game. He is loud about his opinions of what's happening on the court. Tim Duncan has always been known as a quiet guy.

So, with that being said NBA's player of the decade for the 2000's is shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant.

The Year That Was In Sports - Recap of 2009

It's the last day of 2009. Unless something huge in the sports world takes place in the next couple of hours, here are my picks for the top stories of 2009.
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Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals to win NFL-leading 6th Super Bowl

• a game that featured the league's most successful franchise, against one the least successful, as the Cardinals hadn't won a Super Bowl in 62 years, the longest drought in the NFL
• James Harrison intercepted a pass, going 100 yards for the touchdown, setting a Super Bowl record, making it the longest play in SB history
  
• it was the catch that everyone tried to emulate ; Santonio Holmes applying the toe drill, catching the game-winning 6-yard touchdown pass on a slant, making sure he stayed in bounds
• 98.7 million people tuned into the game, making it the most-watched Super Bowl ever
• Santonio Holmes was named Super Bowl MVP, making him the 6th receiver and 3rd Steelers receiver to win it (Lynn Swann and Hines Ward)

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Nick Adenhart, Chris Henry, and Steve McNair latest active pro athletes dead

• Nick was killed in a hit-and-run on April 9, which was tragic news because of the fact that he was a promising rookie that had good stuff as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels; he was 22
  
• the amount of outpoor for Adenhart's death was not seen in quite a long time
• Chris Henry died December 17 after a domestic dispute in which he fell out of the back of a pickup truck driven by his fiancee
• every game during the 15th week of the NFL season, which was from December 17-21, begun with a moment of silence for the talented wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, who had a troubled outside life, but was on his way to turning it around; he was 26
• Steve McNair died on July 4, after suffering gunshot wounds from his mistress
• he was a 3-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro, Co-MVP, and is the Tennessee Titans' all-time leading passer; he was 36

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Los Angeles Lakers capture their 15th NBA championship and coach Phil Jackson wins record 10th NBA championship as a coach

• the Lakers won the series against the Orlando Magic 4-1, in their NBA-leading 30th finals, appearance, to improve their record to 15-15 in the NBA finals
• Kobe Bryant was named Finals MVP, averaging 32.4 points per game and 7.4 assists

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New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies to win their league-leading 27th MLB World Series title

• it was not only that, but the fact that Alex Rodriguez finally turned his postseason debacle of a career around, into something positive, providing the Empire State with sighs of relief
• Hideki Matsui won World Series MVP
• Johnny Damon provided the world with one of the smartest and interesting plays in MLB playoff history, when he took advantage of an open third base to complete the double steal that jump started a Yankees rally in game 4
• the latest start to a World Series (October 28) in MLB history

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Usain Bolt breaks the world record for the 100m and 200m race, with unprecedented times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds in Berlin

• it seems more and more appropriate that the world's fastest man's last name is Bolt
• largest margin of improvement in the 100 m world record since the beginning of electric timing, after Bolt shattered his previous record of 9.69 seconds
• mainly because of that performance, Bolt was named the World Athlete of the Year by the IAAF
  

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After serving 18 months in prison, one-time football sensation Michael Vick gets out and is signed by the Philadelphia Eagles

• already being one of the most hated men in professional sports, the one-time star quarterback was signed by the Eagles in a surprising move
  
• since then, he has had a steady season, being involved in quite a few Wildcat offense plays
• has stayed out of trouble, and even has been praised for some off-field involvements that he has been apart off

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Brett Favre un-retires again, and signs with the Minnesota Vikings

• signs with one of the Packers' division rivals
• very successful with his team, with a current record of 11-4 heading into their last game of the regular season

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Michael Phelps is suspended after a shocking photo of the Olympian smoking from a bong

• the legendary swimmer absolutely stunned fans all across the globe when USA swimming suspended him for 3 months after a photo was released of him smoking marijuana
• Kellogg's took away their endorsement deal with Phelps

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The New Jersey Nets make NBA history by starting off the season 0-18

• it wasn't the kind of history that you want to make, as they became the worst team to start off a season in league history
• former head coach Lawrence Frank was fired after the 17th loss
• their current record is 3-29; a record of 3-11 since their atrocious start

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Tiger Woods gets into an accident, and then admits infidelity

• after crashing into a tree while reversing his car out of his driveway, several reports surfaced that the star golfer was a victim to infidelity
• a couple of big-name companies have dropped their sponsorship with Woods, including Gillette
• this was surprising to people all over the world as Woods had a reputation before of being the perfect athlete (dominating the sport, having class, no scandals outside the playing field)
  

Leaving With Class

Roy Halladay, former pitcher of the Toronto Blue Jays, was, as reported, recently traded to the Phillies, being the first time he wore a jersey other than the Blue Jays one in more than a decade. Acknowledging the fact that he was a Blue Jay for his entire career until the trade had occurred, Roy Halladay stirred something up, a vow of gratitude, towards the faithful Jays fans.

In the December 22 issue of the Toronto Sun, the longtime Toronto ace showed his gratitude by taking out a one page ad. Stating how he thanks the Jays fans for being behind him through everything since he was picked up in 1995, it brought a smile to a lot of Jays fans, and if the Phillies were ever to face the Jays, whether it be through interleague play, or even a stretch, in the World Series, you can bet that Jays fans will give standing ovation after standing ovation, to possibly the classiest ball player in the league.

Yes, it is wonderful that someone does that for his former team. Yes, it is. However, if something must be taken out of this, it is that other players should take this route. This is something that less than a handful of athletes do for their beloved teams that have been behind them every step of the way, until the athlete's departure.

We barely see this kind of thing in sports. I mean, if you're an athlete, you don't have the time right? You're on a new team, so why care about the one you were just on? That's the thing though, that bothers me. That's the mentality that a lot of these athletes carry on, often causing a nasty breakup between the players, the teams, and of equal importance, the fans.

Furthermore, this isn't even an average player. You see a lot of gratitude from players in the league that aren't really stars. This is different because Roy is one of the game's best pitchers, if not the best. Definitely, the best pitcher in Jays history, it's something that athletes like Vince Carter could learn from.

It's the least you can do. Fans have been there for you ever since you came on the team, and have stood by you. They wear your number to mostly every game, and chant your name aloud. This is much more than you playing your hardest for the team. This is about how loyal you are to your fans, even after you have departed from them. Don't trash them, don't disrespect them, because things like that could, and will come back to haunt you.

That's why, whenever we think of the Toronto Blue Jays, we think of Roy Halladay, no matter what team he plays for. No matter if he wins a World Series title. It won't matter. He's the face of the franchise.

He's just a Canadian sports legend.

The Doc Has Left The Building

In what will go down as the biggest trade of the decade, it was officially announced today that long-time Toronto Blue Jays ace, Roy "Doc" Halladay was apart of a complicated 4-team deal, that saw the first time in league history where 2 Cy-Young award winners were traded in the same day. The Philadelphia Phillies got the 6-time all-star and $6 million from the Blue Jays, and outfielder Tyson Gillies, and pitchers Phillippe Aumont and Juan Ramirez from the Seattle Mariners, who got former Cy-Young winner, Cliff Lee from the Phillies. The Blue Jays, who were looking for prospects, got catcher Travis d'Arnaud and highly touted pitcher Kyle Drabek from the Phillies. The Phillies also gave away outfielder Michael Taylor, but the Jays sent him to the Oakland Athletics for third baseman Brent Wallace.
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Verdict

Although many Jays fans have trashed this trade because of the fact that they were unable to get J.A. Haap, who through his rookie season this year, was able to go an astounding 12-4, it is really unfair to blame GM, Alex Anthopoulos. The Phillies were obviously taking stand when they said that J.A. Haap was staying with them no matter what, and the best that he could do was get Kyle Drabek, their 2nd best prospect. If something should be applauded of Alex for people who still take their stand on how to them, the trade was bad, it's that for one, he actually had the guts to get prospects that he thought would help the team, unlike JP Ricciardi, and another was the trade that he made with the A's, to get Brent Wallace, who's a hitter, packed with quite a bit of pop and a good glove.

For the Mariners, second-year GM, Jack Zduriencik, the city of Seattle should give him a round of applause, for setting up the best one-two punch in the league. With Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, it is safe to say that the Mariners are the favourites to win the AL West. Even if the Angels did sign Hideki Matsui a couple of days ago, it's very hard to ignore the fact that John Lackey left them to sign with the Bsoton Red Sox. For a team trying to make it back to October baseball, he's doing quite an efficient job at it.

Phillies fans are exuberant for acquiring Roy Halladay, but they aren't out of their seats because they lost Cliff Lee, the same man who pitched postseason perfection in October. Not only that, but they lost one of the most highly touted prospects in the league in Kyle Drabek. However, could you imagine the mayhem that would've been created by the Phillies. To have Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, AND Roy Halladay as your top 3 starters? That's all you need for the championships. However, they still got the best pitcher in the AL, and that should be enough to make them favourites to go all the way to the World Series again.
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However, like all things, only time will tell.

Game Breakers

ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown has a segment called Game Breakers near the end of the show, where each of the analysts pick a player or group of players that they think will have a great day and will bring huge success to their team. Just like the title, here are my game breakers for week 14.
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1) Drew Brees will absolutely torch the Atlanta Falcons. Not only does he have the 3rd most passing yards in the league, but he's going up against the 4th worst pass defense in the league, giving up close to 255 yards a game through the air. Especially with his big-play receivers in Robert Meachem, Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and Jeremy Shockey, this game should be a big one for him.

2) When Ty Law was apart of the New England Patriots secondary, he was known for stifling Peyton Manning and getting the best of him whenever the Colts came to town. Now that he's apart of the Broncos, expect him to have the same success against the relatively inexperienced wide-outs like Pierre Garcon, who has played well, but not against a veteran like him. If they want to win, the Broncos need Ty Law and the rest of the crew to step it up against Peyton.

3) Adrian Peterson will not go anywhere today. With rookie sensation Percy Harvin out for this one, it doesn't come any more easier for AP, when he goes up against the best rushing defense in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals, who have given up only 81.8 rushing yards per game.

4) The Ravens pass offense will have an early Christmas present. They are going up against the worst pass defense in the league, when Detroit comes to Baltimore, to what will most likely be, a beating of the Lions.

5) Running back Chris Johnson of the Titans is coming of a sub-par game in Indianapolis last week. This week, he's going up against the 28th ranked rush defense when they face the Rams of St. Louis. His chase for Eric Dickerson's all-time record took a hit last week, but that drive to beat it, plus the Titans' push for a playoff spot should make it all the worthwhile.

6) Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson should have an outstanding game when they face the Seattle Seahawks today. They are allowing more than 240 yards per game through the air, and when you have quarterback Matt Schaub at the helm, it's not surprising that they possess the 4th best passing offense.

Week 14 Picks

Before we get into the picks, where I went only 9-6, just a few words. Congratulations go to the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, who both beat their opponents, Washington and Tennessee respectively, to go to identical 12-0 records. This marks the first time in NFL history that two NFL teams in the same year go 12-0.

Also, more recent news, congrats are in order for Alabama Crimson Tide tailback, Mark Ingram, who snatched the school's first ever Heisman Trophy. Edging out Stanford running back Toby Gerhart by 5 first-place votes and 28 points, the vote became the closest in the 75 year Heisman Award history. It is now on Ingram's shoulders to bring home a national championship, when they face Colt Mccoy and the Texas Longhorns.

Now, back to the picks.
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New Orleans (12-0) at Atlanta (6-6), 1 pm.
Pick: New Orleans, 31-21.

After I had my skipped heartbeat or two during this game, the Saints-Redskins game last week that had to be decided in overtime had me thinking how vulnerable each team can be in the NFL, and why it is so hard to get the perfect season. After a missed 23-yard-field goal by Redskins kicker, Shaun Suisham that allowed the Saints to come back in the 4th quarter, and subsequently win it, I was sold on how good of a team the Saints happen to be.
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Denver (8-4) at Indianapolis (12-0), 1 pm.
Pick: Indianapolis, 24-17.

The Colts just seem to put teams in strangle holds week after week. They limited the damage of the Titans last week and are running up against a relatively good team in Denver. Don't be surprised if the Colts lose though.
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Seattle (5-7) at Houston (5-7), 1 pm.
Pick: Houston, 28-23.

The Texans are really struggling nowadays and what looked like a promising team is now barely hanging on to playoff contention in the AFC. If they really play with an urgency, they'll win this one.
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Carolina (5-7) at New England (7-5), 1 pm.
Pick: New England, 35-26.

The Panthers are trying to hand the Patriots a rare 3rd consecutive loss, after the Dolphins came from behind to steal a win last week. However, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and the rest of the crew really need this game to hold their lead in the AFC East.
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Buffalo (4-8) at Kansas City (3-9), 1 pm.
Pick: Buffalo, 27-20.

It's no question that these two are really bad teams stuck in a hole that they can't get themselves out of. The Bills have the talent, just haven't been able to perform, especially with Trent Edwards being banged up. The Chiefs just have no talent.
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Detroit (2-10) at Baltimore (6-6), 1 pm.
Pick: Baltimore, 31-16.

There haven't really been any games so far where the underdog really has any chance. Detroit doesn't and shouldn't even stand a chance. Plus, the Ravens should be on top of things now that they are in the race for a wild card spot.
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Cincinnati (9-3) at Minnesota (10-2), 1 pm.
Pick: Cincinnati, 19-14.

Adrian Peterson seems to be in a daze after the Cardinals defense held him to 19 yards on 13 carries, and even though they're at home, the Bengals are a really good team and it seems to me as if Chad Ochocinco is putting football first before his antics. This win, however, doesn't come easy.
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NY Jets (6-6) at Tampa Bay (1-11), 1 pm.
Pick: NY Jets, 21-13.

You shouldn't really be obligated to justify yourself when you have a team with 11 losses and only 1 win playing in a game. Thomas Jones will run all over them, putting another loss in the already lowly Bucs.
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Miami (6-6) at Jacksonville (7-5), 1 pm.
Pick: Miami, 30-19.

Beating the New England Patriots last week was definitely a confidence booster for a team who has lost their star running back, but continues to find ways to win. You can expect Joey Porter and Ricky Williams to have their game faces on come game time.
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Green Bay (8-4) at Chicago (5-7), 1 pm.
Pick: Green Bay, 20-6.

After watching one of most boring Monday Night Football games of the year, I realized that Aaron Rodgers is really good; if you give him time. If you rush him into throwing, he usually does poorly, but ever since Brian Urlacher was ruled as being out for the season at the start of it, the Bears just don't seem to be the same that scared their oppositions.
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St. Louis (1-11) at Tennessee (5-7), 4:05 pm.
Pick: Tennessee, 27-14.

I'm really rooting for the Titans. Not only because they can become one of the more memorable teams in recent memory because they started out 0-6 and ever since, they have come to a 5-1 record, but also because it would be good for the franchise and the NFL if the Titans make it to the playoffs. Given the history of a then-immature Vince Young, the quarterback has now led them to new heights.
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Washington (3-9) at Oakland (4-8), 4:05 pm.
Pick: Oakland, 21-19.

The Raiders beat the Steelers last week, absolutely stunning football fans all across the globe. The Redskins are still reeling over the heart-breaking loss to the Saints. It seems to add up, even though the Redskins pass defense is in the top 5.
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San Diego (9-3) at Dallas (8-4), 4:15 pm.
Pick: San Diego, 35-24.

The "December woes" for the Dallas Cowboys will continue. They are not only facing a Chargers team primed for a playoff spot, but they are facing a consistent Philip Rivers, tremendous Antonio Gates, red-hot LaDainian Tomlinson, and a great defense. Enough said.
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Philadelphia (8-4) at NY Giants (7-5), 8:20 pm.
Pick: Philadelphia, 24-21.

Even though I would love to say the Giants, the Eagles are playing really well. Last week, when Michael Vick made his long-awaited return to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, he torched them, playing like a younger Vick that made headlines every single week. An emotional booster that will carry on to this crucial divisional game.
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MONDAY: Arizona (8-4) at San Francisco (5-7), 8:30 pm.
Pick: Arizona, 42-21.

Who makes these schedules? Yes, this is a divisional game, but the 49ers at home against the Cardinals? Bad choice.
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Week 13 Picks

After going 9-4 last week, I look to improve on my accuracy on my scoring totals, let alone the outcomes. With much hesitation, here are my picks for the upcoming week.
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St.Louis (1-10) at Chicago (4-7), 1 pm.
Pick: Chicago, 21-10.

Because it's the Bears that I'm taking, it's a risk. However, it's a risk that only makes sense for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's at home in Soldier Field, where conditions should be extremely different as opposed to playing indoors, like what the Rams do at home. Secondly, the Rams defense is plain horrible. They are third last in the league when it comes to giving up points, allowing an average of 27 points, 5th last in total yards allowed, giving up 374, and 5th last in rushing yards allowed, letting opponents get 148.5 yards per game.
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Tampa Bay (1-10) at Carolina (4-7), 1 pm.
Pick: Carolina, 31-20.

It won't be the most exciting game, but a good match-up should lie in pro-bowl receiver Steve Smith going up against pro-bowl cornerback, Ronde Barber. The Panthers should run the ball quite easily, with DeAngelo Williams rushing for a bit more than 1000 yards this season, and a Bucaneer defense that gives up a bit over 160 yards a game, good for third last in the NFL. Don't expect a really good game from Jake Delhomme, who has thrown interception after interception, but it doesn't constitute for a Panthers loss though.
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Houston (5-6) at Jacksonville (6-5), 1 pm.
Pick: Houston, 28-24.

Yes, the Jaguars are at home and they have a red-hot running back in Maurice Jones-Drew. However, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers last week in a humiliating 20-3 loss. The Texans almost knocked out the undefeated Indianapolis Colts, until the defense collapsed in the late-going. However, if the first half of that game was any indication of how they are going to play on Sunday, then it should be more than enough to plow their way past the Jaguars. If Jones-Drew gets the holes that are needed to make big-time plays, the Jaguars have a shot, as the Texans give up 120 rushing yards a game. Also, if Matt Schaub and his receivers are on top of everything, they can blow past a Jaguars defense that gives up 243 passing yards a game. Plus, the Texans have the third best passing offense. Who are they behind? The Colts and the Patriots. Pretty good, eh?
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Denver (7-4) at Kansas City (3-8), 1 pm.
Pick: Denver, 35-17.

Kansas City seems to be the team that everyone loves to beat up on. Last week, Cincinnati defeated them after losing a game against the Raiders. The Broncos have lost 4 of their last 5, and look to redeem themselves and put themselves back in the playoff picture when they face off against the Chiefs. It is no secret that the Chiefs are the absolute definition of atrocious. Their defense is crappy and their offense just plain stinks. No contest here.
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Tennessee (5-6) at Indianapolis (11-0), 1 pm.
Pick: Tennessee, 21-20.

Possibly the game of the week. Although Tennessee's record doesn't really help that argument, when you look at what they've done for the past month and a half or so, it gets prettier. After starting the year at 0-6 and being written off by analysts all over the nation as the biggest disappointment of 2009, the Titans have found new life under new starting quarterback, Vince Young. He has led them to a 5-0 record since then, and they are now back to the form that led them to the 13-3 record last season. Yes, the Colts are 11-0, at home, and are one win away from tying the NFL mark for consecutive regular season wins, at 21. However, the Colts have shaken off late-game victories to keep their unbeaten season alive. Five straight victories after going behind in the 4th quarter is impressive, however, there is a limit. I'm rooting for the Colts, but this is going to be Chris Johnson's payday. Look out.
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Philadelphia (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5), 1 pm.
Pick: Philadelphia, 20-14.

Michael Vick makes his return to the city that made him a star. After signing with the Eagles following a two-year sentence off a dog-fighting case, the quarterback makes his return in what should be a hostile, but loving crowd. Back to the game, the Eagles are missing out on running back Brian Westbrook and receiver DeSean Jackson and the Falcons are missing QB Matt Ryan. Although Donovan McNabb still has Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin as receivers, Celek is nursing a sprained thumb, which should make it harder for him to catch the ball. Yes, a possible solution would be for Michael Turner to run it for the Falcons, however the Eagles have only allowed 102 rushing yards per game. Even if his receivers are banged up, Donovan McNabb should have somewhat of a better game, because he's passing against a team giving up 253 passing yards per game. If the Eagles cut out the stupid penalties, committing 82, which is third highest in the league, they'll also play much better.
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New Orleans (11-0) at Washington (3-8), 1 pm.
Pick: New Orleans, 34-14.

11 down, 5 more to go. Next stop is against the lowly Redskins. There really should be no contest between these two. The Saints, however, don't have as easy of a task as you may think. The Redskins allow only 298 yards per game, good for 7th in the league, and only allow 170 passing yards, good for second in the league. However, the reason why they'll beat them rather easily is because of the thing that separates the Saints now from the Saints a couple years back: they have a developed running game, which is a reason why they have averaged the most amount of yards in the NFL with 426 yards.
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Oakland (3-8) at Pittsburgh (6-5), 1 pm.
Pick: Pittsburgh: 30-20.

Ben Roethlisberger is expected to be back under center. The only reason why the Raiders score 20 against one of the game's most elite defenses is because, they are missing their Pro Bowl safety, Troy Polamalu for a third straight game. Other than that, expect no other blemish.
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Detroit (2-9) at Cincinnati (8-3), 1 pm.
Pick: Cincinnati, 42-24.

The Bengals are getting back running back Cedric Benson, which should help propel them even more for a win over the Lions of Detroit, who are in for yet another losing season. Ranking 7th in the league with 133 rushing yards per game, the ground attack has been one of the main reasons why as to how the Bengals have been able to sustain a great record thus far. That, and the smart play by Chad Ochocinco, and give some credit to the defense, who has unprecedented levels of energy.
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New England (7-4) at Miami (5-6), 1 pm.
Pick: New England, 26-21.

Coming off a blowout loss coming from the hands of the New Orleans Saints in Monday night action, the Patriots are in a sticky situation and need to get out quickly. In order to have a better grip of the AFC East, they need to win against one of their divisional rivals, the Dolphins. Paired with the amazing play ability of Tom Brady to either Wes Welker, Randy Moss, Benjamin Watson, Kevin Faulk, and so on, coupled with the big-time defensive abilities of the Dolphins, expect this game to be very close. Plus, the Patriots have been in more than a handful of big game situations.
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San Diego (8-3) at Cleveland (1-10), 4:05 pm.
Pick: San Diego, 41-13.

This doesn't even need an explanation. The Chargers are red hot and Philip Rivers has performed incredibly well under the radar this year. Blowout. Cleveland's embarrasing season takes another embarrassment.
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Dallas (8-3) at New York Giants (6-5), 4:15 pm.
Pick: Dallas, 34-28.

It's good to be able to say that the Cowboys are going to beat the Giants with a lot of confidence. Tony Romo is on track with his throws, and how about Miles Austin? His stellar play is the main reason as to why this team is where they are right now. Only thing that can keep them back in this one? Their recent December woes. Still, it's going to be a great game. Good watch.
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San Francisco (5-6) at Seattle (4-7), 4:15 pm.
Pick: Seattle, 19-14.

It's definitely going to be a close game. The Seahawks and their passing game is clearly better. However, San Francisco's running game is amazing. I give it to the Seahawks just because of the fact that they are at home and the 49ers are on a 4-game road losing streak.
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Minnesota (10-1) at Arizona (7-4), 8:20 pm.
Pick: Minnesota, 33-24.

Kurt Warner is uncertain, and they're hoping that the 38-year-old can fight off the concussion symptoms he suffered a week back, which pulled him out of last week's game. The Vikings have one of the best ground attacks, and the Cards have no answer. The Cards have a wonderful passing game, but that's only if Warner comes back. The score 33-24 is when Warner plays in the game, and not the struggling Matt Leinart. If the 4-year pro makes another start for them, the score changes by a lot. If Warner doesn't play, the Vikings win 35-14.
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MONDAY: Baltimore (6-5) at Green Bay (7-4), 8:30 pm.
Pick: Green Bay, 20-19.

The Packers are actually better than you think. They have the second best defense in the league, allowing 281 yards per game, with the Jets in front of them, respectively. They've played quietly under the radar and it's understandable as the Vikings have hogged the spotlight all year long. This game should and shall be close. A battle of the defenses for sure. If Baltimore's defensive unit, led by Ray Lewis, doesn't put pressure on Aaron Rodgers, this game will definitely not be as close, as they are 6th in the league in passing.

Week 12 Recap

Week 12 is in the books, and this was probably one of the better weeks of the year. We got to see the hearts of teams and the failure of others. The rise of some, the fall of others. Here are my thoughts.
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The Top 3 Games of the Week:
1) Indianapolis at Houston.
Predicted Winner: Indianapolis, 28-27
Actual Winner: Indianapolis, 35-27

So close to the actual score, but that's besides the point. The point is that the Texans just downright embarrassed the now 11-0 Colts in the first half. After shutting the Colts down in the first quarter and scoring 14, they were beating them 20-7 heading into the break. What did Indianapolis do? Score within the first 4 minutes of second half, and after a lousy first half, throwing two interceptions, Peyton Manning terrorized the Texans. The whole team was clicking on all cylinders, and it turned out to be a great overall team effort. Now, they are one win away from tying the NFL-record for consecutive wins in regular seasons, with 20 under their belt.

2) Pittsburgh at Baltimore.
Predicted Winner: Baltimore, 12-7
Actual Winner: Baltimore, 20-17

I was pretty wrong about the score, but at least the Ravens won. It was a thrilling game just because of what happened on the field, plus off the field. The widely talked about decision of Ben Roethlisberger to sit himself out because of a concussion was the subject of wide receiver Hines Ward's comments. He told ESPN that there was frustration in the locker room because of the fact that he shared half the snaps with third-string QB, Dennis Dixon throughout the week, and didn't end up playing. Later, he try to down talk the comments, posting that he was sorry for questioning Big Ben's toughness.

Going back to the game, I was intrigued by the level of play portrayed by Dennis Dixon. Even with the extreme lack of experience, he was able to play really well (until the overtime period) against a very well-respected Ravens defense. Then again, it was only until overtime, where he threw an interception that led to the game-winning field goal.

3) New England at New Orleans.
Predicted Winner: New Orleans, 42-41
Actual Winner: New Orleans, 38-17

For this one, it didn't matter that the predicted score for the Patriots wasn't even close. It was the fact that the New Orleans Saints sent a message across the nation that they are the team to beat in the NFL. The Colts relied on a risky call by Bill Belichek to go for it on 4th down at their own 30 yard line. The Saints were able to dismantle the Patriots from start to finish, jumping out to a 24-10 start heading into the locker room. Drew Brees threw for 371 yards- on only 18 completions. That's an average of 16.1 yards per attempt which is scary good. A perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 against a Patriots team that has been near the top, if not the top of the football world for about a decade? It seems like to me that the Saints are in it to go all the way.

Here's something else to look at. Drew Brees threw his 5 touchdown passes to 5 different men. One of those men were Darnell Dinkins, who got his first reception of the year with that TD, and has only 2 yards for the season. This is how good Drew Brees has played. He's distributing the ball to guys who are open.
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I think that since their Monday night dismantling of the New England Patriots, all of the eyes have shifted towards them. Everyone is going to be watching on how well they play to: a) reach closer to the second 16-0 season of all-time and b) stay in front of the 10-1 Minnesota Vikings who are right behind them, wanting to get home-field advantage.

Their upcoming schedule?

Washington (3-8), Atlanta (6-5), Dallas (8-3), Tampa Bay (1-10), Carolina (4-7).

As for the Colts, who are starting to come away with victories in the late-going; sort of similar to the middle of the Saints season.

Tennessee (5-6), Denver (7-4), Jacksonville (6-5), NY Jets (5-6), Buffalo (4-7).
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It is pretty safe to say the the Colts have the harder schedule, facing a very tough Tennessee team that has won 5 straight since starting 0-6, a cold Denver team that can very well turn it up, a Jaguars team that has a running game, but for some reason did not produce against the 49ers on Sunday, and a Buffalo team that is starting to look like they are developing more and more team chemistry.