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The Pittsburgh Steelers will try and get back on track when they take on the Tennessee Titans on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” The Steelers (6-4) had won three in a row before losing to the Jets last week, while the Titans (2-7) have dropped their past three games.
Pittsburgh is in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt, thanks to the NFL’s fourth-ranked offense, but the Steelers can ill afford to lose to a team they are expected to beat. Tennessee is playing more for pride and draft position than anything, but first-year head coach Ken Whisenhunt would no doubt love to see improvement and signs of growth, especially from rookies like quarterback Zach Mettenberger and running back Bishop Sankey.
The Titans have won two in a row against the Steelers, including last season’s 16-9 victory in Pittsburgh in the season opener. That game was dominated by both defenses, as Jake Locker and Ben Roethlisberger combined for just 316 yards passing and were sacked six times. Besides starting out 0-1, this game also was costly for the Steelers in that they lost starting center Maurkice Pouncey and linebacker Larry Foote to season-ending injuries. Pittsburgh would go on to finish 8-8, missing the playoffs for the second straight season while the Titans would win just six more games, resulting in the firing of head coach Mike Munchak.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ESPN
Spread: Pittsburgh -6.5
|Pittsburgh 2014 Schedule|
|10/5||@ JAC||W 17 - 9||Recap|
|10/12||@ CLE||L 10 - 31||Recap|
|10/20||vs HOU||W 30 - 23||Recap|
|10/26||vs IND||W 51 - 34||Recap|
|11/2||vs BAL||W 43 - 23||Recap|
|11/9||@ NYJ||L 13 - 20||Recap|
|11/17||@ TEN||W 27 - 24||Recap|
|11/30||vs NO||L 32 - 35||Recap|
Pittsburgh’s Key to Victory: Don’t Play Down to the Competition
The Steelers are 6-4, including wins over AFC South division leader Indianapolis and AFC North foes Baltimore and Cleveland. Pittsburgh’s four losses have come against the aforementioned Browns and Ravens, the Buccaneers at home and the Jets on the road. There’s no shame in losing divisional games, especially in the AFC North, the only division in the NFL that has four teams with winning records. Tampa Bay and New York on the other hand are a combined 4-16. Besides the Steelers, the only teams the Buccaneers and Jets have defeated this season are the winless (0-10) Raiders and a 3-7 Redskins squad. That’s not exactly the resume of a playoff team is it? Fortunately for Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin, his team’s postseason hopes are very much alive, but the Steelers need to treat every game from here out as a must win. To be fair, it’s not like Pittsburgh was blown out by either Tampa Bay or New York. The Bucs won on a last-second touchdown pass while the Jets took full advantage of four Steeler turnovers, but a loss is still a loss and either could end up costing Pittsburgh a playoff berth. If there’s anything that stands out, statistically speaking, in the four losses it is turnovers (minus-seven) and a lack of a running game (89.5 rushing ypg compared to 125 in the six wins). However, it also should be pointed out that for whatever reason, the Steelers have had a tendency under Tomlin to not show up against what is perceived to be lesser competition. This pattern needs to end tonight, especially if Pittsburgh wants any chance of ending its longest playoff drought since the late ‘90s.
|Tennessee 2014 Schedule|
|10/5||vs CLE||L 28 - 29||Recap|
|10/12||vs JAC||W 16 - 14||Recap|
|10/19||@ WAS||L 17 - 19||Recap|
|10/26||vs HOU||L 16 - 30||Recap|
|11/9||@ BAL||L 7 - 21||Recap|
|11/17||vs PIT||L 24 - 27||Recap|
|11/23||@ PHI||L 24 - 43||Recap|
|11/30||@ HOU||L 21 - 45||Recap|
Tennessee’s Key to Victory: Embrace the Spotlight
The Titans have just one win since beating the Chiefs in Kansas City in their season opener. And that was of the two-point variety against 1-9 Jacksonville. There have been some close calls for Ken Whisenhunt’s bunch, namely a one-point loss at home to AFC North leader Cleveland and a two-point loss in Washington. But the reason Tennessee lost to the Browns was because the Titans coughed up a 15-point fourth-quarter lead while also allowing the Redskins to go 76 yards in the final 3:14 to set up the game-winning, chip shot field goal. There also have been some blowout losses (33-7 vs. CIN, 41-17 vs. IND), which should be expected from a team that entered Week 11 ranked second to last in the NFL in both total (308.7 ypg) and scoring (16.0 ppg) offense and 26th in point differential (-8.8 ppg). Other than draft position, the only thing the Titans really have to play for at this point is pride. Tonight is the first of two primetime games for Tennessee (at JAC for the Thursday night game in Week 16), something not typically afforded teams who are already out of the playoff picture. So why not embrace the national spotlight and the chance to play spoiler? Honestly, what do the Titans have to lose at this point?
On paper, this is a complete mismatch. Pittsburgh has one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses while Tennessee has struggled to score any points of its own as well as slow down the opposition. However, the Steelers have been in this situation before, including twice this season, and have come out on the losing end. That said, there’s also some history between these two teams, and while it’s been nearly six years since the Terrible Towel stomp in Nashville, there are still a few players who were standing on Pittsburgh’s sideline when said incident occurred. One of those was Ben Roethlisberger and whether he will admit it or not, I expect Big Ben to make a statement or two of his own in the Music City tonight.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 31, Tennessee 20
ATLANTA — To the outside, Ron Hunter shouldn’t feel queasy when he sees the leading figures of his Georgia State basketball team.
On a team that went 17-1 in the Sun Belt last season, Hunter has a five-star, top-20 recruit at point guard. He has guard who played on a national championship team. He has an NBA Draft prospect at shooting guard.
For a program that’s had two winning seasons in the last decade and one NCAA Tournament berth since 2001, Georgia State should like its odds with that lot.
A team that rolled through its conference last year should do so again with that kind of team. At the same time, the foundation of that team knows nothing is certain, nothing is easy.
Another way to describe those three is the following: A washout who was the point guard of the worst Kentucky team the last five years, a guard recovering from the most publicly horrific college basketball injury in recent memory and, not least of which, the coach’s son.
Georgia State has talent and experience in Ryan Harrow, Kevin Ware and R.J. Hunter but also a group that’s taken the long road to find a spot it can thrive.
“My first year here, I wasn’t stressed,” Hunter told Athlon Sports. “I’m stressed now. I saw Ryan Harrow, R.J. and Kevin Ware on campus the other day, and my stomach started turning. I can’t mess this thing up.”
Georgia State is not only one of the best mid-majors in the country but also one of the most compelling teams of the 351 playing Division I basketball.
The Panthers start their season tonight at Iowa State, a program known in recent years for its open doors for wayward souls. The Cyclones have nothing on this group.
Let’s start with the newest arrival.
When Kevin Ware returned to Atlanta, he and Hunter didn’t talk much about why he landed at Georgia State after coming off the bench as a sophomore for an eventual national champion at Louisville.
This is a new Kevin Ware, his coach told him. Not the Kevin Ware from Louisville. Not the Kevin Ware whose worst moment was broadcast on television on the largest stage.
Then Paul George happened.
In an August Team USA exhibition, the Indiana Pacers wing chased down James Harden in transition, his right leg landing in the wrong spot in the support beneath the basket. On camera, a break was evident. A hinge where there shouldn’t be one. Bone touching air.
Anyone with a passing knowledge of college basketball could summon two words — Kevin Ware.
Too fresh in our minds was Ware in the 2013 Elite Eight against Duke. Taking a jump shot, Ware landed in a way that produced the same injury, also on national television.
Ware tweeted support for George, but at the same time, he was reliving his own injury. With all the public weight of his injury at Louisville behind him, Ware progressed in his first two months at Georgia State after a year in limbo.
Ware rushed back to play for Louisville the following season, but getting kicked in the leg against Missouri State essentially ended his comeback season. He played 53 minutes in nine games before shutting down and transferring to Georgia State. The parting with Louisville was easy, Ware said.
Louisville regrouped around Ware in 2013 and won a national championship. He’s still close with many of the players on this year’s team, but continuing at Louisville and Rick Pitino in 2013-14 was impossible.
“It was hard for him to coach,” Ware told Athlon Sports. “I honestly felt he couldn’t coach me at that point because he was so concerned about my leg.”
So was the media. Ware not only watched George sustain a similarly gruesome injury, Ware felt an obligation to take media requests to share his own recovery.
Between his injury and the George incident, Ware had connected on Twitter and Instagram with many younger basketball players suffering traumatic injuries since his own, but never this public and never in such a similar situation.
Reliving his experience came at the expense of his own progress.
Georgia State was in a practice period at the same time as George’s injury. Ware, described by his high school friend Harrow as fearless, suddenly was playing free throw line to free throw line.
Ware was in the same frame of mind when Georgia State took an eight-day trip to Costa Rica for four exhibition games.
In the third possession of the first game, Ware had his leg clipped by a Costa Rican player. He fell into a wall. Ron Hunter held back a trainer. The game was still in live play, and Ware sprung back onto the court. From there, Ware was back.
Now, Ron Hunter says Ware is a better athlete than he was in high school at Rockdale County southeast of Atlanta.
“It seemed like he wasn’t thinking; he was just reacting,” teammate R.J. Hunter told Athlon Sports. “I’m sure that dude had 40 steals in those games. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Ware wouldn’t have landed at Georgia State if not for his Atlanta AAU buddy, Ryan Harrow.
That’s a statement in itself. When Harrow landed at NC State as a top-20 recruit for coach Sidney Lowe in 2010, he couldn’t imagine being at his third school. Other point guards in his class included No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving at Duke and NBA Draft lottery picks Kendall Marshall at North Carolina and Brandon Knight at Kentucky.
“I didn’t think I’d be in college this long,” Harrow told Athlon Sports.
After Lowe was fired at NC State, Harrow transferred to Kentucky where he sat out for a season due to NCAA rules. The Wildcats won the 2012 national championship with Harrow on the bench.
When Harrow took over at point guard, Calipari was enjoying an unbroken record of standout point guards from Derrick Rose to Tyreke Evans to John Wall to Brandon Knight to Marquis Teague.
Harrow may have had trouble filling those shoes under ideal circumstances, but outside factors made it impossible. In Georgia, Harrow’s father, Mark Harrow, suffered a stroke in the June before the point guard’s lone season at Kentucky.
The mental toll of his father’s ill health and his struggles on the court were only magnified by the scope of attention at Kentucky. He went scoreless in February home games against Florida and Tennessee. He shot 2-of-14 in a loss to Vanderbilt in an SEC tournament loss that banished Kentucky to the NIT. He scored five points in a loss to Robert Morris.
A season that started in the top three of the AP poll ended with a one-and-done in the NIT against a team from the Northeast Conference.
“It wasn’t as if Ryan came in here and it just worked,” Ron Hunter said. “When you get a kid who was at Kentucky and comes to Georgia State, you’ve got a lot you’ve got work through.
“What Ryan Harrow went through wasn’t injury, but he was beat down at Kentucky. I don’t know if you can be beat down any more.”
Beyond repairing his confidence, Harrow also began to encounter his father’s recovery head on. The stress of being helpless to aid his father was replaced by watching his father’s day-to-day challenges.
Harrow was eligible immediately to play at Georgia State last season, but he wasn’t ready to play at a high level. The Panthers started 3-6, only one win over a Division I team.
Eventually, Harrow returned to the form that was familiar to Ware, his teammate with the Atlanta Celtics. Georgia State won 22 of 23 games, and Harrow averaged 17.8 points per game and earned All-Sun Belt honors.
“When he came home, he came back to life,” Ware said. “I’m not used to seeing the Ryan that was at NC State or at UK. That wasn’t Ryan at all. When he came to Georgia State, coach let him play.”
The toughest challenge for Hunter, though, hasn’t been working to repair the confidence of Harrow and Ware.
“The hardest part of this has been as a father,” Hunter said. “I hope when this is all said and done, I don’t say, ‘Man, what happened with my son?’ That’s what I’m trying to balance a little better.”
With National Player of the Year Doug McDermott gone from his father’s program at Creighton, the Hunters are the most notable father-son duo in college basketball.
Of Georgia State’s top three players this season, R.J. Hunter was the first to arrive in Atlanta. R.J. was a three-star recruit with offers from a handful of mid-tier major conference programs, but he elected to follow his father to Georgia State where he was the Sun Belt player of the year last season.
Ron Hunter never coached his son in a game until Georgia State’s 2012-13 opener at Duke. Growing up, Ron always gave R.J. a choice of getting “coach” or getting “dad.” Most of the time, R.J. chose “dad.” Now, he doesn’t get a say in the matter.
Neither party, though, could say they were unprepared for the father-son/coach-player experience.
Ray McCallum, who coached his son a Detroit, is R.J. Hunter’s godfather. R.J. also spent time talking to Bryce Drew, who played for his father at Valparaiso.
“At one AAU tournament, he pulled me aside and said, ‘look, it’s going to be tough, but it was the best four years of my life playing for my dad,’” R.J. Hunter said. “‘If you can make it work, you can make magic.’”
Magic at Georgia State will take work, though.
Georgia State enjoyed a banner season a year ago before losing to UL Lafayette in the Sun Belt tournament. The Panthers lost their NIT opener to Clemson. The margin of error for a Sun Belt team is slim.
The Panthers are replacing two starters who averaged double figures last season. One new starter, forward Curtis Washington, is a transfer from USC, who also came as a project with “two bad shoulders.” A freshman may end up taking the final spot in the starting lineup.
And Hunter isn’t ruling out another round of Ware reliving his trauma from Louisville as more attention comes to Ware’s season.
The pieces, they hope, are in place — a lights out shooter in Hunter, a floor general in Harrow, a defensive game-changer in Ware.
“I feel like we’ve got the best 1-2-3 punch in the country,” Ware said. “We all have a different game but we all complement each other so well.”
Images courtesy of Georgia State athletics
Few players around college football have grown up as quickly and confidently as Ohio State starting quarterback J.T. Barrett this season. The Buckeyes are fortunate the maturing process has followed an accelerated path. Whatever College Football Playoff hopes may be on the table will be in the hands of the performance of Barrett.
For a moment, take a look back at the beginning of the season. Ohio State went into the season not really knowing just how things would gel after losing Braxton Miller just weeks before the start of the season. Barrett was chosen by head coach Urban Meyer to take control of the offense. It was Meyer’s best possible decision at the time, but one that left many questions to be answered. Ohio State suddenly went form playoff contender to potential Big Ten spoiler without a single game being played. It took time for things to work out. An early home loss to Virginia Tech was a difficult spot for Barrett. Virginia Tech was considered one of the best defensive teams in the ACC, and the Hokies took advantage of a young quarterback making his first big time start in front of a national audience. Since then, however, Barrett has grown up and blossomed to become one of the best players in the Big Ten.
Barrett is now coming off impressive back-to-back road performance in which he passed for 500 yards, six touchdowns and 275 rushing yards and three more rushing touchdowns. He piled up these numbers against teams ranked in the top 25 in cold conditions as well. Against Michigan State a week ago, Barrett had his best game throwing the football. There was never a doubt about whether or not the Buckeyes would go to Minnesota on a hangover. There is too much on the line this season, and Barrett lacks the experience to understand the concept of a letdown at this level. This is not a criticism, just an observation that Barrett is bringing some youthful energy to the offense and is still looking to prove something to any who watch.
Against Minnesota a week later, Barrett had his best day running the football. He did so against a Minnesota defense that has held four opponents under 100 rushing yards and was coming off a dominating performance against Iowa (84 rushing yards allowed to the Hawkeyes). Doing so in the snow is also no small feat.
Barrett’s emergence has coincided with the rise of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the playoff race, and this is not a coincidence. The play of the Ohio State quarterback has not gone unnoticed, and some are even jumping so far as to suggest he should be in the running for the Heisman Trophy. Regardless of where you fall on that debate, there is no denying Ohio State now has a quarterback more than capable of filling in for the injured Miller and Barrett keeps Ohio State one of the legitimate contenders for the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State’s next two games are at home against Indiana (10th in the Big Ten against the run) and rival Michigan (3rd against the run). Barrett and Ohio State look to be on cruise control to the Big Ten championship game, and Barrett is a huge reason why this is even possible this season.
By Kevin McGuire (@KevinonCFB)
In his first game back from a four-game suspension, Georgia running back Todd Gurley suffered a torn ACL against Auburn and will miss the remainder of the 2014 season
Gurley rushed for 138 yards against the Tigers and helped to keep the Bulldogs’ East Division title hopes alive in a 34-7 win over the Tigers.
Prior to his suspension, Gurley was one of the leading candidates for the Heisman.
With Gurley sidelined for the rest of the year, true freshman Nick Chubb will carry the workload for Georgia’s offense. Chubb will also have help from Sony Michel and Keith Marshall at running back.
Gurley is expected to enter the NFL Draft this offseason. Despite the injury, the junior should be one of the first running backs off the board in the 2015 draft.
It seems as though the ACC Coastal has been up for grabs for a few seasons now, so it should be little surprise to see Georgia Tech once again looking to grab hold of the division coming down the stretch. It should also be no surprise how Georgia Tech has been put into this situation. Everybody knows what Georgia Tech will do on offense with Paul Johnson’s triple option schemes, but the defense is coming off another impressive performance in a win over Clemson. It could not have come at a better time.
Georgia Tech may not be typically known for its defense, but helped set the tone Saturday against Clemson. The Tigers lost their quarterback, which certainly had an impact on the outcome of the game, but credit Georgia Tech for seizing the opportunity to take advantage. Georgia Tech’s defense was relentless in holding Clemson to just 190 yards of total offense. It was the first time this season Georgia Tech held an opponent under 283 yards. Once Clemson had to go with Cole Stoudt under center, Georgia Tech pounced in a big way.
Jamal Golden gave Georgia Tech a lead late in the first half when he picked off a pass from Stoudt and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. Later in the third quarter, Chris Milton picked off another pass from Stoudt. This one was returned 62 yards for a score as well as Georgia Tech padded its lead to 25-6 late in the third quarter.
Once Georgia Tech’s defense gets its hands on a pass, anything can happen. The Yellow Jackets now lead the nation in interceptions returned for a touchdown with five, and five different players (Jamal Golden, D.J. White, Quayshawn Nealy, Chris Milton, Paul Davis) have contributed to that total. Georgia Tech has the luxury of knowing any one player on the field can score at any time, on offense or defense. Only one team in the ACC has picked off more passes (Louisville). Any team facing Georgia Tech has to be careful protecting the football. Just ask any team that has played Georgia Tech over last month. In the last four games, Georgia Tech has forced 14 turnovers. In that same span, Georgia Tech’s offense has six turnovers. Turnover margin is significant, especially in a tight division race. Georgia Tech has had a plus turnover margin in all but four games this season.
Georgia Tech’s defense also got off the field often. Clemson only managed to convert three of 13 third-down plays for first downs. There have been a number of games this season when that was not the case. The only time this season when Georgia Tech’s defense performed better on third downs was in a win against Miami, when the Hurricanes converted just one of five third-down plays.
By Kevin McGuire (@KevinonCFB)
The feeling for Florida State’s defense was familiar on Saturday night in Sun Life Stadium. The Seminoles trailed 23-10, and the defense did not force a punt through the first two quarters. The Hurricanes were rolling on offense in the first half, averaging 7.8 yards per play and entered the intermission with 319 total yards.
But once again, Florida State and coordinator Charles Kelly found the right answers at halftime.
The Seminoles held Miami to just 4.5 yards per play in the second half and limited the Hurricanes to just three points.
The strong defensive effort in the second half was enough for Florida State to extend its overall winning streak to 26 games and five in a row in the series against its in-state rival.
Safety Jalen Ramsey was the best player on the field Saturday night, as he recorded three tackles (one for a loss), one forced fumble, four pass breakups and the game-clinching interception.
The strong play of the defense in the second half against Miami wasn’t a surprise to anyone who has watched Florida State play this year.
The Seminoles allowed 24 points in the first half against NC State and trailed 24-21 at halftime. However, the defense limited the Wolfpack to just 17 second-half points, which allowed quarterback Jameis Winston and the offense to score 35 points over the final two quarters in a 56-41 victory.
Against Notre Dame, Florida State allowed the Irish to score on a seven-play, 83-yard drive in the third quarter. But after that drive, the Seminoles held the Fighting Irish to just three points over their final four drives, including a late goal-line stand to clinch the victory.
And on a Thursday night in Louisville, Florida State’s defense allowed only one drive of more than 27 yards in the second half and forced four second-half punts by the Cardinals. That was more than enough to lift the Seminoles to a 42-31 victory.
Sure, Florida State’s defense isn’t as dominant as it was last year. The Seminoles are holding ACC opponents to 5.4 yards per play (an increase from 4.0 last year) and are giving up 22.8 points per game (a 10-point increase from a 12.1 mark in 2013).
Injuries, inexperience and the coordinator change have all factored into the drop-off on defense for coach Jimbo Fisher. And let’s also not overlook the fact the Seminoles’ offense has surrendered 22 turnovers this year, which has placed the defense in a few difficult situations.
However, this group has stepped up with the game on the line. College football is all about surviving and advancing each week. Wins aren’t necessarily a beauty contest, and the Seminoles continue to find ways to stay unbeaten.
Florida State’s defense won’t become dominant overnight, but Kelly and Fisher have to be encouraged this unit has stepped up when called upon in the second half.
And as long as the Seminoles keep winning, the team’s youth will have more time to develop, especially with a month to prepare before the first playoff game.
It’s pretty clear Florida State won’t be as dominant this year on defense as they were in 2013. But this unit is still capable of getting stops when it matters in 2014, which is more than enough for the Seminoles to have a shot at a repeat title appearance in January.
To say Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon had an historic afternoon Saturday against Nebraska would be an understatement. Gordon’s 408 rushing yards against the Huskers clearly created some breathing room in his favor when discussing the top Big Ten running backs (Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah being the other candidate). It also threw Gordon to the top of the Heisman Trophy race along with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. Gordon’s day was something incredible to watch unfold, but it almost took away from the bigger picture being painted by Wisconsin here. The Badgers are now a very dangerous team that could stand in the way of Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and perhaps spoil any potential thought of the Buckeyes playing in the College Football Playoff.
With a win against Nebraska, Wisconsin now sits in a favorable position to return to the Big Ten Championship Game for the third time in four seasons. Still with games against Iowa and Minnesota to play, there is still some work to be done by the Badgers. However, Wisconsin looks like the heavy favorite to come out of this Big Ten West race en route to Indianapolis. Having a healthy running game appears to be the fuel Wisconsin needs to finish strong in 2014. Having Gordon healthy certainly helps, but so does having a supporting cast of a talented, yet often overlooked defense.
The Badgers lead the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing just 15.3 points per game. Want to run against the Badgers? Good luck. Wisconsin is second in the Big Ten against the run, allowing just 96.7 yards per game. Even Nebraska’s Abdullah could only manage to run for 69 yards on 18 attempts. The Badgers also allow the fewest passing yards per game in the Big Ten. When a team has a solid defense and a powerful running game, they can be difficult to beat.
And this is why Wisconsin may be generating enough steam at the right time to challenge Ohio State for the Big Ten title. The Buckeyes have emerged in recent weeks and have started to turn narrative in their favor as a result of recent success on the road. At the same time though, Wisconsin has begun to hit its stride and there may not be anything standing in the way of a collision course between the Badgers and Buckeyes.
Wisconsin has everything it would need to beat Ohio State, except for a steadily reliable quarterback. Joel Stave has done enough to keep things going in the right direction lately, but the Badgers may need just a little bit more at some point. If they can get that out of Stave, then watch out for these Badgers. A shot at the College Football Playoff may be out of reach at this point, but a third Big Ten title in four years certainly is not.
By Kevin McGuire (@KevinonCFB)
It is hardly a secret to anyone watching Big Ten football that Penn State is getting by this season on the strength of the defense. With an offense struggling to find a rhythm behind a shaky offensive line, Penn State’s defense has had to carry the team to hard-fought victories. On Saturday it was the defense that once again led the way, this time guiding Penn State to its sixth win of the season to clinch bowl eligibility.
Early in the season, Penn State had the final two years of a postseason ban lifted by the NCAA. When the ban was lifted, James Franklin cautioned fans and his team there was still plenty of work to be done in order to be making bowl plans. Fortunately for Franklin, he has one of the top defenses in the country at his disposal.
Penn State was receiving plenty of fight from upset-minded Temple, with the Owls looking for a rare win over Penn State to clinch their own bowl eligibility. Penn State’s offense was once again off to a rough start, but the defense, led by players like linebacker Mike Hull, and defensive linemen Deion Barnes and Anthony Zettel up front, provided all the sparks needed in the second half. Penn State forced five turnovers to squash any upset plans Temple had in mind. This time it was the secondary that came up with the big plays with four interceptions being hauled in by Adrian Amos, Jesse Della Valle and freshmen Grant Haley and Christian Campbell. Through mid-November, Penn State now has the nation’s top passing defense efficiency rating with 15 interceptions and just six touchdowns allowed.
The turnovers turned a tight game into a bit of a blowout in favor of a celebratory Penn State. Not only did the Penn State defense keep a game within reach, it was the defense that helped deliver the knockout blows.
Penn State has allowed just 16.2 points per game, and they have had to play at that level. Penn State’s offense has been a constant work-in-progress with a shaky offensive line leading to quarterback Christian Hackenberg feel pressure to make plays which lead to bad decisions. The running game has had a tough time getting on track as well. Penn State’s defense has been put in some difficult situations all season long, but they have always managed to keep games within reach, with the exception of the Northwestern game.
Penn State’s defense has had moments where it has to resort to a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy, but more often than not that seems to work. This defense also finds ways to get off the field. On 155 third-down situations this season, opponents have converted just 45. Only five schools have a better defensive success rate on third down. Penn State has also limited touchdowns inside the red zone. Opponents have reached Penn State’s 20-yard line 29 times this season, but have scored just 13 touchdowns. They have had to settle for nine field goals as well, leaving seven red zone trips with zero points produced against Penn State’s defense.
By Kevin McGuire (@KevinonCFB)
The month of October belonged to the schools from Mississippi — first Ole Miss following its epic win over Alabama and then Mississippi State with its ascension to the No. 1 ranking.
It’s now November, however, and it’s Alabama’s time to shine. The Crimson Tide seized control of the SEC West race with a 25–20 win over top-ranked Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon. Alabama, at 6–1 in the league, is the only team in the division that controls its own destiny: A victory over Auburn in Tuscaloosa will send the Tide to Atlanta.
Alabama is in this desirable position thanks to an impressive effort from its defense — even on a night it which the Crimson Tide allowed a season-high 428 yards. Mississippi State, statistically the top offense in the SEC, was limited to a season-low 4.86 yards per play and only scored one touchdown in the first 59 minutes of the game. The Bulldogs advanced the ball into the red zone six times but only managed two touchdowns (one with 15 seconds remaining) and two field goals. Alabama forced three turnovers, all on Dak Prescott interceptions.
“This is a really good football team that we played today — they’re really hard to stop,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban, who is now 7–1 against Mississippi State since taking over in Tuscaloosa. “I think our defense did a fantastic job holding them to what we did.”
Alabama’s offense wasn’t at its best, picking up only 335 yards (on a 5.3-yard average) against an MSU defense that had given up at least 400 yards in its first five SEC games. But the Tide made the plays when it mattered, most notably on a crucial 15-play, 76-yard drive in the fourth quarter that extended the lead to 25–13. Saban was impressed: “That was probably one of the greatest drives in Alabama history to go down there and make it a two-score game in the fourth quarter.”
That drive, along with the aforementioned defensive effort, has put Alabama in position to move into the top four — possibly even the top spot — when the CFB selection committee releases its rankings on Tuesday night.
You can argue that Georgia is responsible for two of the most impressive performances by an SEC team this season. No team has looked better than the Bulldogs did on Oct. 11, when they shut out Missouri 34–0 in Columbia. Or last Saturday, when they rolled to a surprisingly easy 34–7 victory over Auburn.
That’s what makes this team’s overall record of 8–2 so maddening. The same team that held Missouri and Auburn to a combined seven points — and also beat Clemson (at full strength) by 24 points and scored 63 points at Kentucky — lost head-scratching games to South Carolina and Florida.
Georgia is clearly good enough to beat any team in the nation but has been unable to play with a sense of urgency on a week-in and week-out basis. There are a lot of teams with the talent to play well against the elite teams on their schedule, but it takes a certain type of mental toughness to handle the weekly grind of an SEC schedule. And it’s not like the Bulldogs are in the SEC West, where you might play three or four top-10 teams in a span of four or five weeks. Georgia’s schedule has been relatively kind — yet Mark Richt’s team still has managed to stub its toe on more than one occasion.
Despite these puzzling setbacks, Georgia is not completely out of the CFB picture. The win over Auburn could vault the Bulldogs — ranked No. 15 last week — back into the top-10. A win over surging Georgia Tech (which has won the ACC Coastal) would add another quality win to the Bulldogs’ résumé. If Missouri loses one of its final two games — at Tennessee and vs. Arkansas — Georgia will find itself back in the SEC Championship Game for the third time in four years. And SEC Champion, even with two losses, will be an attractive candidate for the selection committee.
That all sounds good, but Georgia has yet to show enough consistency to give us reason to believe it can string together two more wins against quality opponents.
Florida announced coach Will Muschamp would not return in 2015 after Saturday’s loss to South Carolina, which dropped the Gators to 5-4 with two games remaining in 2014. Muschamp will stay on the sidelines for the remainder of the regular season. Athletic director Jeremy Foley hired Muschamp after a stint as an assistant at Texas in 2011. Muschamp went 7-6 in his first year at Florida and finished 11-2 in 2012. However, the Gators stumbled to a 4-8 mark last season and needs a win over Eastern Kentucky or Florida State to play in a bowl this year.
Listen to the Florida coaching search podcast:
13 Candidates to Replace Will Muschamp at Florida
Justin Fuente, Head Coach, Memphis
Fuente inherited a roster and program in need of significant repair. Three years later, Memphis is one of the front-runners to win the American Athletic Conference. The Tigers went 3-21 in the two seasons prior to Fuente’s arrival but improved to 4-8 in his first year and 3-9 in 2013. In his third year, Fuente already has Memphis bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008, and the Tigers could claim a share of the conference title if they win their final two regular season games. Considering how far the program has progressed in three seasons, Fuente should be a hot commodity for Power 5 openings this offseason. And Fuente’s background on offense certainly has to intrigue Foley after Florida’s struggles on that side of the ball under Muschamp.
Hugh Freeze, Head Coach, Ole Miss
Before we dive into Freeze’s background, it’s important to note Freeze has a good job and is an Oxford native. Considering his ties to Oxford and background in Mississippi, Freeze won’t be too eager to leave Ole Miss. However, Florida is a bigger job and certainly has more resources. Freeze has been a winner at each of his stops, including one year at Arkansas State (10-2), two seasons at Lambuth (20-5) and now three years with Ole Miss (23-13). Freeze’s background on offense certainly has to be intriguing to Florida. Again, a longshot Freeze takes the job, but he’s quickly emerging as one of the top coaches in the SEC.
Mike Gundy, Head Coach, Oklahoma State
Gundy is in a good spot at his alma mater and is 82-43 since taking over as Oklahoma State’s head coach in 2005. The Cowboys have played in eight consecutive bowl games and finished No. 3 nationally in 2011. However, Gundy has showed interest in other jobs in previous years, and reports have indicated there could be some friction with athletic director Mike Holder. Combine Gundy’s background on offense, consistent winning in Stillwater and perhaps some uncertainty in the athletic department, and it’s easy to see why the former Oklahoma State quarterback could be interested in other high-profile jobs.
Jim Harbaugh, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers
Whether it’s a college or NFL job, Harbaugh’s name is expected to be a popular one in coaching searches this offseason. Harbaugh is probably more of an option at Michigan than Florida, but the former NFL quarterback should draw plenty of interest after he transformed Stanford into a top-five team in just four years (2007-10). And prior to his stint at Stanford, Harbaugh went 29-6 at San Diego (2004-06). Harbaugh is 41-15 in four seasons with the 49ers, but there is plenty of uncertainty regarding his future after this season in San Francisco.
Mark Hudspeth, UL Lafayette
Hudspeth is ready for a promotion after a successful four-year stint at UL Lafayette. The former Mississippi State assistant is 34-15 in four years with the Ragin’ Cajuns and has the program on track to earn their fourth consecutive bowl appearance. Prior to his current stint at UL Lafayette and two years at Mississippi State, Hudspeth went 66-21 from 2002-08 at North Alabama. Hudspeth signed a six-year contract extension in June, but his track record of success, energetic personality and ability to recruit will no doubt be attractive to any Power 5 program with an opening.
Jim McElwain, Head Coach, Colorado State
McElwain is a former Nick Saban assistant, but even if that works against him in this coaching search, he’s still a proven head coach with a background on offense. Under McElwain’s watch, Colorado State is 21-15 overall and is 9-1 with a chance to win the Mountain West in 2014. Prior to the last three years with the Rams, McElwain worked as the offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008-11, had a one-year stint at Fresno State (2007) and a short stop with the Raiders in 2006. McElwain is a rising star in the coaching ranks but has a hefty $7.5 million buyout.
Chad Morris, Offensive Coordinator, Clemson
Foley went the coordinator route with Muschamp and it backfired. Will that factor into Morris being considered a candidate? Morris is one of the nation’s highest-paid assistants and is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in college football. The Texas native has never been a head coach on the FBS level, but his offenses at Clemson were among the best in the ACC and averaged 40.2 points per game in 2013. Morris would be a splashy hire for a program looking to upgrade its offense. However, the lack of head coaching experience may steer Florida in a different direction.
Dan Mullen, Head Coach, Mississippi State
Many reports have indicated Mullen won’t be a candidate due to a questionable relationship with athletic director Jeremy Foley. However, Mullen has elevated Mississippi State during his six seasons in Starkville, which culminated in Mississippi State owning the No. 1 spot in college football’s playoff rankings for the first three weeks. Mullen is 45-29 since taking over the Bulldogs’ head coaching position in 2009 and has guided the program to four consecutive bowl games. Mullen worked under former Florida coach Urban Meyer from 2005-08 and has previous stops as an assistant at Utah, Bowling Green and Notre Dame.
Pat Narduzzi, Defensive Coordinator, Michigan State
As evidenced by passing on the UConn job last offseason, Narduzzi’s is in no hurry to leave East Lansing. But if Florida calls, Narduzzi’s interest level would figure to be significantly higher. The Ohio native is regarded as one of - if not No. 1 - top assistant coaches in college football. Narduzzi joined coach Mark Dantonio’s staff in 2007 and has developed an elite defense during his tenure in East Lansing. Michigan State led the nation by limiting opponents to just 4.0 yards per play last season, and the Spartans ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring defense from 2012-13. Prior to taking over the controls for Michigan State’s defense, Narduzzi worked on Dantonio’s staff at Cincinnati (2004-06) and had stints as an assistant at Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois and Rhode Island.
Dan Quinn, Defensive Coordinator, Seattle Seahawks
Quinn is regarded as a rising star in the assistant ranks and has a previous stop at Florida on his resume from 2011-12. The New Jersey native has worked with Pete Carroll in Seattle in 2010 and from 2013-14. Quinn does not have head coaching experience and has only spent two years coaching at a FBS program.
Rich Rodriguez, Head Coach, Arizona
Rodriguez was a bad fit at Michigan, but he’s been a proven winner at every previous coaching stop. And Rodriguez is a name garnering plenty of interest in the rumor mill already, as he has Arizona at 8-2 and alive in the Pac-12 South title mix this year. Prior to the last three seasons with the Wildcats, Rodriguez went 15-22 at Michigan but was 60-26 at West Virginia. In addition to his proven track record, here’s something else that should make Foley very interested: Rodriguez is considered one of the nation’s top offensive minds.
Steve Spurrier, Head Coach, South Carolina
Spurrier has already said he plans to return to South Carolina in 2015, but if his alma mater called, he would have to at least listen. Spurrier is 82-44 with the Gamecocks and went 122-27-1 at Florida from 1990-2001. Spurrier would be a short-term solution as he will be 70 by the start of the 2015 season.
Bob Stoops, Head Coach, Oklahoma
Stoops already has a great job and would have to face his brother (Mark) once a year if he bolted Oklahoma for Florida. Most believe Stoops won't bolt Oklahoma for Gainesville, but he’s a former Florida assistant and has spent 16 years with the Sooners – is it time for change? Stoops has been a model of consistency with Oklahoma, but the program has slipped some in recent years. Again, Stoops is a longshot, but he’s a name to watch during this coaching search. Even if Stoops is going to say no, Foley would be wise to at least place a call to Norman.
Other Names to Watch
Tom Herman, Offensive Coordinator, Ohio State
Despite losing quarterback Braxton Miller to a shoulder injury in fall practice, Ohio State’s offense hasn’t missed a beat this year. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett has emerged as the Big Ten’s top quarterback under Herman’s direction, and the Buckeyes are averaging 6.9 yards per play in conference games. The Ohio native has worked under coach Urban Meyer since 2012 and called the plays at Texas State (2005-06), Rice (2007-08) and Iowa State (2009-11). Herman also is a member of Mensa International. A rising star, but Herman is probably more likely to land a Group of 5 school as a head coach than Florida.
Doc Holliday, Head Coach, Marshall
Regarded as an excellent recruiter and has ties to the state of Florida. Holliday is 37-24 at Marshall but was only 27-24 prior to the start of 2014.
Ruffin McNeill, Head Coach, East Carolina
McNeill is 35-25 in five seasons at East Carolina – his alma mater. Even though McNeill has done a good job in Greenville, he’s an unlikely fit in Gainesville.
Greg Schiano, former Rutgers and NFL coach
Schiano was fired in Tampa Bay after two seasons but had a successful tenure at Rutgers. The defensive-minded coach is a longshot for Florida. However, he could land at another FBS program for the 2015 season.
Mike Shanahan, former NFL coach
Shanahan is probably a realistic candidate for open NFL jobs this offseason, but his name has popped up in some reports for college vacancies. Shanahan worked at Florida from 1980-83. However, he hasn’t worked on the collegiate level since that four-year stint. A longshot to take the job in Gainesville.
Kirby Smart, Defensive Coordinator, Alabama
After striking out with a former Nick Saban assistant (Muschamp), it’s unlikely Foley goes in that direction again.
Charlie Strong, Head Coach, Texas
Strong already has a great job – maybe the best in college football. He’s not leaving Austin after one season.
Matt Wells, Head Coach, Utah State
Wells has continued to build off former coach Gary Andersen’s success at Utah State. Despite dealing with significant injuries at the quarterback position the last two years, the Aggies are 17-8 under Wells’ direction.
Why do boxers swish and spit out water instead of drinking it? — Jim Brigman, Jacksonville, Fla.
We posed this question to a guy who’s done a lot of swishing and spitting over the years, 49-year-old boxing legend Bernard Hopkins. Here’s what he told us: “Because our mouths can become dry in the ring, and a lot of times you just want to get your mouth moist enough to be able to continue to the next round. We do swallow some water, though, and spit the rest.”
Are there any outdoor games planned for the NHL season? — Joe Rush, St. Paul, Minn.
The NHL Winter Classic — an outdoor hockey game played at an iconic stadium on New Year’s Day — has become one of the highlights of the sports calendar. The 2015 Classic is set for New Year’s Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., and will feature the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals. In addition, the NHL is launching a proposed “Stadium Series” with a game at San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 21, 2015, featuring the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
Florida has announced coach Will Muschamp won't return to Gainesville in 2015. The move comes after the Gators lost to South Carolina 23-20 in overtime in Week 12. Muschamp is expected to coach the last two games of the regular season for Florida.
Muschamp went 27-20 in four years at Florida but missed out on a bowl appearance last season with a 4-8 mark.
The Gators were just 17-15 in SEC play under Muschamp and struggled to find answers on offense over the last four years.
Muschamp Out at End of Regular Season; Foley to Begin Search for Next Gators Head Coach http://t.co/ymTl3WbOBn— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) November 16, 2014
Full statement from athletics director Jeremy Foley: pic.twitter.com/hYVmorQQMK— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) November 16, 2014
Full statement from Will Muschamp: pic.twitter.com/PyafZHRC9j— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) November 16, 2014
The sport’s bid at returned relevance has become laser-focused on the instant highlight, every week, during every race. It’s tried to embed the best parts of its most TV-friendly races — restrictor plate races at Daytona and Talladega — into the season’s every moment and tried to scrub itself of cumulative, long-developing events like a season-long championship or a too-long green flag run.
Those restrictor plate races are sold on the premise that tight racing with no ability for faster cars or better drivers to separate from the field produces surprising results. It can be wildly exciting due to the tight confines and constant potential for on-track disaster. The nature of the races even gives the sport’s back-running teams a chance to win. They often produce the random.
NASCAR has bet that imposing more randomness in its other races, and the season as a whole, is the best way to stir instant interest from both its die-hard fan base and the casual one that has largely averted its gaze in the last decade. It’s a bet — and perhaps something of an impossible last grasp — that today’s sports fan wants to see something noteworthy any and every time they see a NASCAR event.
But the price may be the sport’s authenticity.
Look no farther than the championship model culminating Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. For the first time, the sport has reset its point standings at four scheduled times during the last 10 races of the 36-race schedule. The manual adjustments have drawn championship-hopeful drivers closer and also excluded ones who didn’t perform at the prescribed times — typically with little regard of prior performance.
The changes are creating more do-or-die theatrics at more points late in the season than ever before. There have been fights. There has been foolish on-track behavior. And there has certainly been hard-nosed, good racing. It’s been a lot of instant gratification for fans hoping for drama. But the system is flawed, and it’s rewarding less those who challenge weekly for wins and more those who have either raced more conservatively or are just not as fast. Those who stood out in 2014 — drivers like Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. among others who tallied 71 percent of the season’s wins — have already been excluded from the championship.
Meanwhile Ryan Newman, winless in 2014 and credited with just four top-5 finishes in 35 tries, is one good finish from walking away with the season championship, as are Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick.
Harvick and Logano are by far the most worthy of the candidates for the title — Hamlin has only a win to his name this year and the series’ 10th-best average finish — but only Logano had a small semblance of comfort in last week’s final championship-qualifying race at Phoenix. Harvick faced a must-win situation despite having four wins to his name and the fourth-most top-5 finishes.
Making it worse is that Newman secured spot with a dirty move in the season’s penultimate race that knocked Kyle Larson into the wall on the final lap and secured Newman an 11th-place finish. Any other credible racing series would have penalized Newman for the blatant take-out move — it’s specious to argue Newman was even close to racing Larson for the spot at the time — but NASCAR celebrated it. If we’re drawing stick-and-ball equivalents, the move was akin to a basketball team winning a game with a last-second open layup after committing an obvious, yet uncalled foul to take possession and then watching as NBA executives herald the move as true-to-the-roots basketball.
As much as NASCAR is about contact and close racing, it can’t be expected to remain sustainable if even basic tenets of competitive automobile racing are ignored.
More damaging than the championship process, however, may be how the officiating has grown across the board to reflect the interests of marketing the sport instead of fair and authentic regulation. The most visible part of that is the influx of questionable application of caution flags during race events. Andrew Maness, author of the blog RacingNomics, noted recently that cautions for on-track debris are happening at a rate in the last decade typically double and occasionally triple of the previous decade.
Is this era of NASCAR with better car quality control than ever really putting more dangerous pieces on the track? Or are officials using the vague explanation to continually tighten racing and produce more restarts?
It’s hard to see how it’s not that latter.
The result is races that are artificially close and results that are more random. It’s a cheap thrill, a clickbait-type finish.
In recent weeks, the formula has seemingly worked. Ratings for NASCAR’s third- and second-to-last Chase races posted four-year highs and the total viewer count appears to be the highest since 2011.
But clickbait on the Internet — those links posted on social media and other places with eye-grabbing headlines that often link to articles without substance — often draws those cheap clicks before users learn that what they’re reading isn’t what they expected. After a while, a reader starts to tune out that particular source.
Will viewers eventually sour on NASCAR because of its preference for the now, and not the real? When every race finishes with a late restart, and every championship battle is built around a flawed system of identifying the best in favor the random, won’t that expectation of the wild start to feel like the normal? What happens when artificially tight racing becomes uninspiring and expected?
Sports need to be grounded in moments that naturally and organically produce dramatic and memorable moments. In its embrace of the instant, NASCAR is walking a path far from those roots.
Follow @GeoffreyMiller on Twitter.
Photo by Action Sports, Inc.
Sunday’s slate of action will end with a rematch of last year’s AFC Divisional Playoff matchup when the New England Patriots face the Indianapolis Colts on NBC. The Patriots (7-2) easily defeated the Colts (6-3) 43-22 in last season’s meeting, as Tom Brady is riding a four-game winning streak over Indianapolis. Two of those victories have come against Andrew Luck (twice), while the others were with Dan Orlovsky and Peyton Manning at quarterback. But all four of those games were played at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Brady is 0–1 on the road at Lucas Oil Stadium, which opened in 2008, and has a 3–2 career record in Indianapolis. Overall, Brady is 11–4 against the Colts — who shared the AFC East division with the Patriots until realignment in 2002.
New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: NBC
Spread: Indianapolis -2.5
Three Things to Watch
|New England 2014 Schedule|
|10/5||vs CIN||W 43 - 17||Recap|
|10/12||@ BUF||W 37 - 22||Recap|
|10/16||vs NYJ||W 27 - 25||Recap|
|10/26||vs CHI||W 51 - 23||Recap|
|11/2||vs DEN||W 43 - 21||Recap|
|11/16||@ IND||W 42 - 20||Recap|
|11/23||vs DET||W 34 - 9||Recap|
|11/30||@ GB||L 21 - 26||Recap|
1. Measuring Stick for Luck
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck can take an important step in his development by playing well against a team that has proved to be his nemesis thus far in his career. In an admittedly small sample size, Luck has had a lowly 51.6 completion percentage with seven interceptions in two games against New England with a passer rating of 58.2 — Luck's worst rating against any team he's faced more than once. In last season's 43–22 playoff loss to New England, Luck completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes and threw four crippling interceptions. Like his predecessor in Indy, Luck's ultimate reputation will be based in part on how he performs against the Patriots, and early returns indicate that any coronation of Luck as the clear successor to Brady/Manning is a bit premature. "This team is going as far as Andrew goes," said Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton. The jury's still out on just how far that will be.
|Indianapolis 2014 Schedule|
|10/5||vs BAL||W 20 - 13||Recap|
|10/9||@ HOU||W 33 - 28||Recap|
|10/19||vs CIN||W 27 - 0||Recap|
|10/26||@ PIT||L 34 - 51||Recap|
|11/3||@ NYG||W 40 - 24||Recap|
|11/16||vs NE||L 20 - 42||Recap|
|11/23||vs JAC||W 23 - 3||Recap|
|11/30||vs WAS||W 49 - 27||Recap|
2. Pressuring Brady
The Colts' ability to plant Tom Brady on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf will be a key indicator of success in this matchup. Indy has 24 sacks on the season and will need to muss Brady's hair a bit to disrupt what has become a well-oiled offensive machine. If they don't, it will be a long day for the Indianapolis defense, which has surrendered 31 passing plays of at least 20 yards and ranks 27th with an average of 263.6 passing yards allowed. "They blitz quite a bit more than most of the teams that we've played, which is going to be, I would say, a very critical factor in the game, our ability to handle that," New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. If the Colts can't get to Brady, it could be a big-play fest for the Patriots.
3. P-men on a Roll
The Patriots have had many impressive runs during the Brady-Belichick era, but their current five-game winning streak ranks among the best stretches of football in recent Patriots history. New England is averaging 40.2 points over those five games, handily winning the turnover battle (10-1) during that stretch. Superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski has helped spearhead the run with 36 catches for 516 yards and five scores in that span. Brady's touchdown-to-interception ratio for the last five games? A tidy 18-to-1. He has a staggering 63 completions in his last two outings alone. The Patriots have to be licking their chops in anticipation of facing an Indianapolis defense that is susceptible to big plays. Defensively, the Patriots have 18 takeaways, while Indy has turned it over 15 times. The Colts simply can't help the Patriots in any way with turnovers or penalties if they want to keep it close.
The Patriots are overdue for a bad performance, but a high-profile Sunday night game coming off of a bye week is not a likely spot for a letdown. Andrew Luck and the Colts offense will move the football, but look for an ill-timed turnover or two to turn the game in New England's favor. The Patriots' roll continues.
Prediction: New England 31, Indianapolis 28
Points could be plentiful at Lambeau Field when the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers get together this afternoon on FOX. The Eagles (7-2) are fourth in the league in scoring at 31 points per game with the Packers (6-3) just a tick behind (30.8). Last week alone they outscored their opponents 100-65.
Philadelphia is percentage points ahead of Dallas (on bye this week) for the top spot in the NFC East while Green Bay trails NFC North leader Detroit by one game. The Eagles are coming off of a season-high 45 points in their Monday night win against Carolina, which also was Mark Sanchez’ first start in place of an injured Nick Foles.
The Packers are a perfect 4-0 at home following a dominating 55-14 victory over the archrival Bears. Aaron Rodgers threw six touchdown passes in the first half against a helpless Chicago defense. Green Bay’s offense has been clicking lately, averaging 419 yards and 36 points over the past four games.
From a coaching standpoint, Chip Kelly is 1-0 against Mike McCarthy courtesy of a 27-13 victory at Lambeau last season. Foles tossed three touchdown passes in the win, but this game is more remembered because it was the first one Aaron Rodgers missed after breaking his collarbone the previous week. Seneca Wallace started in place of Rodgers, but he left after just one series with a groin injury, giving way to Scott Tolzien. In his first NFL action, Tolzien finished with 280 yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers
Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET
TV Channel: FOX
Spread: Green Bay -6.5
|Philadelphia 2014 Schedule|
|10/5||vs STL||W 34 - 28||Recap|
|10/12||vs NYG||W 27 - 0||Recap|
|10/26||@ ARI||L 20 - 24||Recap|
|11/2||@ HOU||W 31 - 21||Recap|
|11/10||vs CAR||W 45 - 21||Recap|
|11/16||@ GB||L 20 - 53||Recap|
|11/23||vs TEN||W 43 - 24||Recap|
|11/27||@ DAL||W 33 - 10||Recap|
Philadelphia’s Key to Victory: Offensive Balance
On Monday night against the Panthers, Mark Sanchez completed just one of his first eight pass attempts, but eventually got it going. He finished with 332 yards passing and two touchdowns in the easy 45-21 victory. The 45 points were a season high, despite the fact that Philadelphia had just 37 yards rushing. While Sanchez’ final line looked impressive, he struggled with his accuracy (20-of-38 passing), mishandled two shotgun snaps and got a lot of help from both the defense (5 takeaways, 9 sacks, INT returned for a TD) and special teams (punt return TD).
One of the reasons why Chip Kelly’s offense has worked so well his first two seasons in the NFL is that it’s fueled by tempo and play-calling more than who is under center. The Eagles are fourth in the league in scoring and tied for seventh in offensive plays per game (71) even though they are second to last in time of possession (26:55). Kelly uses a diverse and creative running game to keep defenses off balance, and it is imperative Philadelphia runs the ball against Green Bay for several reasons. First and foremost, the more production the Eagles get on the ground from LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles and Chris Polk, the better for Sanchez. From the offensive line to the tight ends, this is by far the best supporting cast Sanchez has had around him as a pro, so why not put it to use? Second, even though Philadelphia isn’t known for time-consuming drives, success running the ball should translate into more scoring opportunities, which would then put more pressure on Green Bay’s offense to respond. It also, to a degree, would reduce the amount of time Aaron Rodgers and company would be able to possess the ball. Lastly, the Eagles need to stay committed to the run because the Packers have done a poor job stopping it this season. Green Bay enters this game 30th in the league in rushing defense and this is after holding Chicago to 55 yards last Sunday. Prior to that game the Packers yielded 193 on the ground to New Orleans and have already given up 200-plus twice (Seattle and the Bears in their first meeting). Sanchez did just fine in his first start, but there’s no reason for Philadelphia’s offense to, well, run solely through him.
|Green Bay 2014 Schedule|
|10/2||vs MIN||W 42 - 10||Recap|
|10/12||@ MIA||W 27 - 24||Recap|
|10/19||vs CAR||W 38 - 17||Recap|
|10/26||@ NO||L 23 - 44||Recap|
|11/9||vs CHI||W 55 - 14||Recap|
|11/16||vs PHI||W 53 - 20||Recap|
|11/23||@ MIN||W 24 - 21||Recap|
|11/30||vs NE||W 26 - 21||Recap|
Green Bay’s Key to Victory: Protect the Franchise
While Philadelphia managed its transition from Nick Foles to Mark Sanchez (at least for one game) under center seamlessly, there’s no question that the most important player on Green Bay’s roster, let alone the offense, is its No. 1 quarterback. Aaron Rodgers has been the MVP of both the regular season (2011) and the Super Bowl (XLV) and he is the career leader in passer rating (106.2). He’s 64-32 as a starter (39-11 at home) and if there was ever any doubt as to how much Rodgers means to the success of this team, look no further than last season. In 2013, the Packers got off to a 5-2 start and entered its Week 9 Monday night home date with the Bears on a four-game winning streak. But Chicago linebacker Shea McClellin sacked Rodgers in the first series, causing him to leave the game. Green Bay lost 27-20, but the real damage had already been done, as Rodgers was diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Beginning with the Monday night loss to the Bears, the Packers went 2-5-1 during Rodgers’ absence. He returned for the regular-season finale against the Bears and threw the game-winning touchdown pass with 46 seconds left to give Green Bay its third straight division title. With Rodgers under center, the Packers are a legitimate NFC and Super Bowl contender, regardless of how poorly the defense is playing or how little support he gets from the running game. Rodgers is a mobile quarterback capable of extending plays in the pocket and picking up yards on the ground when called upon, but he still needs his offensive line to give him time to find a receiver down field and to keep him upright. He has been sacked 20 times in nine games, but nine of those have come in the team’s losses to the Seahawks, Lions and Saints. Philadelphia has made a living putting pressure on the quarterback this season, ranking second in the NFL in sacks with 32. The Eagles sacked Cam Newton nine times on Monday night and have forced 16 (9 fumbles, 7 INTs) takeaways. Kelly’s Chip Kelly’s defense has been very opportunistic with those turnovers (six defensive touchdowns), but this unit also has given up a fair amount of big plays too. For Green Bay’s offense, it all starts under center, which is the one spot on the field Packer fans don’t want to see Matt Flynn. Unless of course their team is up 45-7 in the third quarter.
Unless the weather takes a drastic change for the worse (expected to be cold, but no precipitation or significant wind), this should be a fairly high-scoring affair. Yes, Chip Kelly is employing a backup quarterback, but Mark Sanchez is just part of the equation when it comes to Philadelphia’s up-tempo, creative offense. On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers is the engine that makes Mike McCarthy’s system hum and it’s hard to see this Eagles defense keep the Packers in check all game long. Defense will still play a part, especially if one unit is able to create some turnovers and chip in a big play or two of its own, but in the end this game could come down to which team has to settle for field goals instead of six points. The Lambeau Field tundra may not be frozen just yet, but the Packers are 32-3 in their last 35 regular-season games that Rodgers has started. The Eagles will put up a fight, but R-E-L-A-X Packer fans, your QB’s got this.
Prediction: Green Bay 34, Philadelphia 26
The NFC’s best record will be on the line this afternoon when the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals face off on FOX. Entering this season, few if any would have predicted Jim Caldwell’s Lions (7-2) would be in first place in the NFC North this far into the schedule or that Bruce Arians’ Cardinals (8-1) would not only have a two-game lead in the NFC West, but also boast the NFL’s best record.
Leading surprising first-place teams is not the only thing Caldwell and Arians have in common either. Both have won Super Bowls as offensive coordinators (Caldwell with Baltimore in the 2012 season, Arians with Pittsburgh in ‘08) and are former Indianapolis head coaches as well. Caldwell took over for Tony Dungy in 2009 and went 26-22 in three seasons, including an appearance in Super Bowl XLIV in his first season. Caldwell was fired after the 2011 season and replaced by Chuck Pagano, who brought in Arians as his offensive coordinator. In 2012, Arians served as interim head coach while Pagano battled cancer, leading the Colts to a 9-3 record and earning AP Coach of the Year honors in the process. Despite their shared history, this will be the first meeting between Caldwell and Arians as head coaches.
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET
TV Channel: FOX
Spread: Arizona -1
Three Things to Watch
|Detroit 2014 Schedule|
|10/5||vs BUF||L 14 - 17||Recap|
|10/12||@ MIN||W 17 - 3||Recap|
|10/19||vs NO||W 24 - 23||Recap|
|10/26||@ ATL||W 22 - 21||Recap|
|11/9||vs MIA||W 20 - 16||Recap|
|11/16||@ ARI||L 6 - 14||Recap|
|11/23||@ NE||L 9 - 34||Recap|
|11/27||vs CHI||W 34 - 17||Recap|
1. Drew Stanton’s Second Starting Stint
Arizona’s come-from-behind divisional win over St. Louis last week was somewhat bittersweet. At the start of the fourth quarter, Carson Palmer’s left knee appeared to give way when he dropped back to pass. He was eventually carted off the field and later diagnosed with a torn ACL. Drew Stanton replaced Palmer and promptly threw a go-ahead, 48-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Brown in the Cardinals’ next series. With Palmer on injured reserve and done for the season, this is now Stanton’s team. The pressure is on the seven-year pro to finish what Palmer started – win the NFC West and take this team deep into the playoffs. Stanton has started seven games in his career, but three of those came earlier this year when Palmer was sidelined by a nerve issue in his throwing shoulder. Stanton went 2-1 in those games, beating the Giants and 49ers before losing big to the Broncos in Denver. For the season, Stanton is completing less than half of his passes (46 of 93) for 614 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Stanton hasn’t been asked by Arians to do too much in the pocket, but he’s made plays when he’s needed to and, more importantly, he’s taken care of the football (no turnovers). Arizona has a very good defense and a productive running game powered by Andre Ellington, but much of its success moving forward also will depend on the quality of play it gets from Stanton. And to that end, he better be at the top of his game this afternoon against a Detroit defense that’s ranked No. 1 in the league in both yards and points allowed.
|Arizona 2014 Schedule|
|10/5||@ DEN||L 20 - 41||Recap|
|10/12||vs WAS||W 30 - 20||Recap|
|10/19||@ OAK||W 24 - 13||Recap|
|10/26||vs PHI||W 24 - 20||Recap|
|11/2||@ DAL||W 28 - 17||Recap|
|11/9||vs STL||W 31 - 14||Recap|
|11/16||vs DET||W 14 - 6||Recap|
|11/23||@ SEA||L 3 - 19||Recap|
2. Ground to Gain?
Besides the aforementioned coaching ties, another thing Detroit and Arizona have in common is what has transpired on the ground. The Lions are No. 2 in the NFL in rushing defense (71.3 ypg) with the Cardinals close behind (78.6). Both teams have allowed just one opponent to rush for more than 100 yards and the most either has given up to a running back is 84. On the flip side, both teams also have had trouble establishing their own running games. Detroit is second to last in the league (77.8 ypg) in rushing offense with Arizona not faring much better at 29th (83.6). In summary, neither team has given much ground this season nor have they gained much. Will either side of this coin flip this afternoon or it will be more of the status quo?
3. Saving the Best for Last
A big reason why Detroit and Arizona are a combined 15-3 entering Week 11 is that both have excelled in late-game situations. The Lions have won four games in a row, with the last three by a combined six points courtesy of fourth-quarter comebacks. The Cardinals have orchestrated three fourth-quarter comebacks of their own, two of which featured the game-winning points within the final three minutes. Detroit did yield an eight-point, fourth-quarter lead at home in its 17-14 Week 5 loss to Buffalo, but the Lions haven’t lost since. In Week 6, two touchdowns in the final 3:38 served as the final points in a 24-23 win over New Orleans at home. Next was a 12-point fourth quarter capped off by a 48-yard field goal with no time left to edge Atlanta 22-21 in London. Then last week, an 11-yard Matthew Stafford-to-Theo Riddick touchdown pass with 29 seconds remaining produced a 20-16 win over Miami. The Lions have worked their late-game magic both at home and on the road, while Arizona’s three comebacks have all been at University of Phoenix Stadium. Both teams are certainly no stranger when it comes to late-game heroics, so it will be interesting to see which one gains the upper hand should this afternoon’s proceedings develop into a nip-and-tuck affair through three quarters. And considering just 1.5 points separate these teams when it comes to overall point differential, that’s an entirely plausible scenario.
Detroit hasn’t enjoyed this much success since 1954, while Arizona has seized control of what many perceive to be the NFL’s toughest division, despite having to deal with a rash of injuries. Both the Lions and Cardinals have relied heavily on their defenses, so don’t be surprised if this is a low-scoring affair. Arizona has to carry on without Carson Palmer, but Drew Stanton more than held his own during a three-game starting stint earlier this season. Detroit may seem to have the advantage offensively because of the quarterback situation, but the Cardinals are undefeated at home and Bruce Arians has been pushing the right buttons all season. I don’t expect that to change this afternoon, even with a backup quarterback going up against the league’s No. 1-ranked defense.
Prediction: Arizona 20, Detroit 17
Saturday’s game between Wisconsin and Nebraska was billed as one of the best head-to-head running back matchups of the season. However, the highly anticipated duel between two Heisman candidates was a one-sided blowout in favor of Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon.
Gordon earned Athlon Sports Week 12 Player of the Week honors by gashing the Cornhuskers for an FBS single-game rushing record of 408 yards. The junior’s performance led Wisconsin to a critical 59-24 victory over Nebraska and placed the Badgers in command of the Big Ten West Division.
Gordon needed only 25 carries to rush for 408 yards and did not record a touch in the fourth quarter. He also averaged a healthy 16.3 yards per carry and recorded four plays of 40 rushing yards or more.
In 10 games this year, Gordon has 1,909 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. He also has 11 receptions for 83 yards and two scores.
Gordon was on the radar in the Heisman race throughout the season, but the junior should firmly rank among the nation’s top three candidates after a monster performance in a key win over Nebraska.
Defensive Player of the Week: Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State
With an unbeaten season and 25-game winning streak hanging in the balance, Ramsey and the Florida State defense stepped up with another strong second-half performance. The sophomore safety was dominant in the 30-26 victory over Miami, finishing with three tackles (one for a loss), one forced fumble, one interception, four pass breakups and a blocked extra point. Ramsey’s interception sealed the victory against the Hurricanes, elevating Florida State to its 26th consecutive victory and its fifth win in a row over Miami. The sophomore also had an impact beyond the box score, as he pressured Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya throughout the fourth quarter and disrupted a handful of plays. Ramsey was already regarded as one of the top safeties in college football heading into this season, but the sophomore is elevating his performance to an even higher level as Florida State looks to earn a spot in college football’s four-team playoff.
Coordinator of the Week: Jeremy Pruitt, Georgia
The performance of Georgia’s defense in Saturday night’s 34-7 is exactly why coach Mark Richt brought Pruitt to Athens after one year at Florida State. In last year’s loss to the Tigers, the Bulldogs allowed 43 points and 566 yards. But under Pruitt’s direction, Georgia’s defense put the clamps on one of the nation’s top offenses. Auburn entered Week 12 averaging 37.3 points in SEC games and averaged seven yards per play this year. The Bulldogs allowed a score on the Tigers’ first drive of the game, but Pruitt’s group pitched a shutout the rest of the way and held one of the nation’s most explosive offenses to just 292 total yards. Auburn had 93 yards on its first two drives but managed just 68 on its next seven. The win over the Tigers was critical to keeping Georgia’s SEC East title hopes alive, and Pruitt’s defense delivered against one of the nation’s top offenses.
Freshman of the Week: J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
Barrett ensured Ohio State avoided a letdown one week after a huge road win at Michigan State. The redshirt freshman guided the Buckeyes to a 31-24 victory over Minnesota in frigid conditions at TCF Bank Stadium. Barrett completed 15 of 25 passes for 200 yards and three scores and added 189 rushing yards and one touchdown. He opened Ohio State’s scoring by reaching the endzone on a 86-yard run, which was the longest rush by a quarterback in school history. Barrett has accounted for 38 total touchdowns this year, breaking a record set by Braxton Miller (36) last season.
Houston will be without its workhorse for Week 11, but Seattle’s bruising back is fully expected to play. Here are some other key backfield injuries to know about before finalizing your lineup.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs
Questionable – Calf/Rib
Lynch didn’t practice at all until Friday, but head coach Pete Carroll said that’s because his workhorse is “just banged-up.” This is understandable considering Lynch punished the Giants for 140 yards rushing and four touchdowns last week. Lynch is listed as Questionable, but there’s no reason to be concerned here. The Seahawks need every yard they can get from their big back against a pretty tough Kansas City defense at home. Lynch is a must-start RB1 firmly entrenched among the top 5 this week and perhaps the rest of the season.
Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Probable – Ankle
The Redskins are coming off of their bye, so it’s possible that Griffin is as healthy as he’s been this season. He was a full go at practice every day and is listed as Probable. He not only will get the start, but RG3 also is a borderline QB1 this week against a Bucs defense that’s giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing signal-callers. If you have stuck with RG3 this long, this may be the week that patience pays off.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Probable – Back
McKinnon was the Vikings’ third-round pick in May and all the rookie has done is lead the team in rushing since Adrian Peterson was placed on the exempt list. McKinnon apparently tweaked some sort of lower back injury on Wednesday, but after being limited on Thursday he was a full practice participant on Friday. He is listed as Probable so there’s no reason to not expect him to play. McKinnon should probably be started if he’s on your roster as the Vikings are facing a reeling Bears defense, but just remember that Matt Asiata has been filling the role of the goal-line back (i.e. touchdown vulture), which could impact McKinnon’s potential.
Josh McCown, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Redskins
Probable – Back
McCown suffered a thumb injury in Week 3 and was replaced by Mike Glennon as the Bucs’ starter. After going just 1-4 with Glennon under center, head coach Lovie Smith named McCown the starter prior to last week’s game. Tampa Bay lost again, but McCown posted by far his best numbers (301-2-2) of the season. McCown appears on the injury report with a back issue, but he was a full practice participant and is listed as Probable. The Bucs are a bad team, but this isn’t a bad matchup for McCown, who is worthy of QB2 consideration this week.
Already Ruled Out:
Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans – Foster injured his groin two weeks ago, but Houston was on bye last week so the expectation was that he would be ready in Week 11. Well Foster didn’t practice at all and even though he was listed as Questionable on Friday, the Texans downgraded Foster to Out on Saturday. With Foster inactive, sixth-round pick Alfred Blue will get the start. Blue filled in for an injured Foster earlier this season, rushing for 78 yards on 13 carries (6.0 ypc) vs. the Giants. Blue may not be Foster, but his workload as the Texans’ starter is enough to view him as a RB2, especially against a Cleveland defense that has struggled against the run.
Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Martin returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday and Friday, but the team has already ruled him Out for Week 11. This will be the third straight game Martin has missed with an ankle injury, but it’s also safe to say that the team has decided to move on with Bobby Rainey and Charles Sims. Rainey got the start last week, but he wasn’t able to get much going (14 yds. rushing, 41 receiving). Sims, the Bucs’ third-round pick in May, made his much-awaited NFL debut and wound up with a team-high eight carries, but only 23 yards rushing and he also lost a fumble. Rainey may have missed an opportunity to seize the starting job, as it appears the coaching staff wants to see what Sims can do. Both should get touches, but it may take another game or two to figure out how the workload is going to be split. For now, it’s wisest to view Rainey and Sims as risky RB2s and a little safer flex options.
The Giants will finally have their No. 1 RB back in the starting lineup for Week 11, but that’s not the case for the Bengals. Meanwhile, New Orleans’ and San Francisco’s top rushers are banged up, but both are fully expected to play today.
Rashad Jennings, RB, New York Giants vs. San Francisco 49ers
Probable – Knee
Jennings practiced, albeit on a limited basis, every day this week and is listed as Probable. So barring a setback leading up to kickoff (1 p.m. ET), Jennings should be back after missing the past four games with a MCL sprain. Jennings’ return pushes rookie Andre Williams to a complementary role, but it doesn’t make him irrelevant. Head coach Tom Coughlin already has said that he doesn’t intend for Jennings to handle a full workload in his first game back, so Williams should get some carries. Still, Jennings is more established and needs to be in your starting lineup. Williams remains flex-worthy, especially with Peyton Hillis going on injured reserve due to a concussion he suffered last week.
Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas, RBs, New Orleans Saints vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Probable – Shoulder; Out – Arm; Out – Rib/Shoulder
Despite all the injuries in the Saints’ backfield, the situation is pretty straightforward. Robinson and Thomas will miss yet another game, while Ingram, who is still dealing with a lingering shoulder injury, is listed as Probable and is a pretty safe bet for at least 20-25 carries today. Ingram has posted three straight 100-yard rushing games, pretty much cementing his status as a must-start RB1. With Robinson and Thomas out, Travaris Cadet figures to get some touches, making him a flex option, particularly in PPR leagues.
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants
Probable – Hip
Gore was limited in practice on Wednesday, but was a full go on Thursday and Friday. The veteran is dealing with a hip injury, but he’s listed as Probable and should be fairly busy today against the Giants. Gore is coming off of one of his stronger efforts (81 yds., TD), and has now gotten at least 14 carries in six of the past seven games. The Giants coughed up 140 yards rushing and four touchdowns last week to Marshawn Lynch, so it’s no surprise that they are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing RBs. Gore’s production has left something to be desired this season, but he’s a borderline top-10 RB this week because of his plum matchup. Backup Carlos Hyde also should see some carries, but his touches and production have been so inconsistent it’s probably best to not have to rely on him, even as a flex.
Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, RBs, Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons
Probable – Ankle; Probable – Foot
It has been a rough season for the Panthers’ backfield, as every running back that has been on the roster has been hurt at one point or another. Stewart was limited in practice this week by an ankle injury, while Williams missed the first two days with a foot injury. However, both were full participants on Friday, are listed as Probable and expected to play. This duo combined for 67 yards rushing on 24 carries on Monday night against Philadelphia, and has scored a total of two touchdowns this season (both belonging to Stewart). There’s no clear-cut workhorse here and it’s really hard to endorse either as a flex option because of the lack of production. If you’re desperate, I would lean towards Stewart over Williams, but you’re probably better off steering clear from this situation.
Already Ruled Out:
Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals – Bernard has yet to return to practice while dealing with multiple injuries, so it’s no surprise that the Bengals ruled him out on Friday. Bernard will miss his third straight game, leaving Jeremy Hill and Cedric Peerman to carry the load. Hill disappointed (12 att., 55 yds.) last week against Cleveland, but the rookie from LSU remains a solid RB2 option today versus New Orleans. Peerman is listed on the injury report with a knee issue, but he’s Probable and expected to play. Peerman could be flyer-worthy as a flex option, but only in deeper leagues.
San Diego and Denver will welcome back a couple of rushers in Week 11, but Detroit may be down one of its ball carriers today. Here are some key injuries to pay attention to involving the later games.
Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson, RBs, Denver Broncos at St. Louis Rams
Probable – Groin; Out – Foot; Probable – Knee
The Broncos’ backfield has been in motion recently and it’s set to take another turn today. Hillman has not only been ruled out for today’s game because of a foot sprain, but he’s also expected to miss at least one more. In the meantime, Ball (right) appears a safe bet to return after missing the past five games with a groin strain. But Ball is not the Denver back getting all of the attention this week. No that honor belongs to C.J. Anderson, who worked his way back up the depth chart and came up big (163 total yards, TD) last week. Anderson is the hot hand and the healthiest of the Bronco backs, but that is not a guarantee he will get the bulk of the carries. Ball was the starter entering the season and is a second-round draft pick. Anderson will probably get the majority of the carries today, but it’s best to err on the side of the caution and treat him as a RB2. Ball meanwhile is probably more of a flex flyer because of the time he missed and the uncertainty surrounding his workload. That leaves Thompson, who could end up being the one most affected by this RB roulette, especially if Anderson or Ball gets the goal-line work. For this week, Anderson carries the most upside, Ball the most intrigue and Thompson is probably odd man out.
Ryan Mathews, RBs, San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders
Probable – Knee
Mathews was a full participant every day of practice and is listed as Probable. He is expected to play for the first time since Week 2 and will get the start. Mathews’ return leaves Donald Brown and Branden Oliver to fight for the leftovers. I expect the Chargers to use Oliver similar to how they used Danny Woodhead (on IR) last season, primarily as a receiver out of the backfield. This could make Oliver an intriguing flex option in PPR leagues. Mathews immediately goes back to RB2 status, especially based on his matchup this afternoon against the winless Raiders. I don’t think Brown will see enough touches to merit any fantasy consideration.
Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona Cardinals vs. Detroit Lions
Probable – Foot
The coaching staff is wisely limiting Ellington’s practice time, as the Cardinals need their workhorse to stay healthy, especially with Drew Stanton taking over at quarterback for an injured Carson Palmer. Ellington is Probable, so he will be out there today. And even though the Lions are the No. 1 defense in the NFL, Ellington has earned his RB1 status.
Reggie Bush, RB, Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Questionable – Ankle
Bush left last week’s game early after re-aggravating a bothersome ankle injury and didn’t practice at all this week. Even though he’s looking (highly) doubtful, the Lions have yet to rule him out officially, listing him as Questionable. If he plays, he will not be anywhere near 100 percent, so that alone is enough reason to leave Bush on your bench. Joique Bell will continue to carry the load for the Lions, while Theo Riddick has more or less taken over Bush’s role. It’s a very tough matchup against a strong Cardinals defense, but Bell remains a low-end RB2 while Riddick is a decent flex candidate.
Already Ruled Out:
Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles – Foles is out for several more weeks with a broken collarbone. Mark Sanchez will make his second start and is coming off of a solid showing (322-2-0) in the Monday night win over the Panthers. Sanchez is certainly QB2-worthy today in what could end up being a shootout against Green Bay, and depending on your options, he could even be QB1 material.
Week 11’s NFC North tilt between Minnesota and Chicago features a trio of pass-catchers who show up on the injury report. Will the Vikings and Bears have all of their weapons today?
Martellus Bennett, TE, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Probable – Ribs
Bennett played last week despite being listed as Questionable, so the mere fact he’s Probable pretty much means he’ll be out there again today. He didn’t practice on Wednesday, but was a full participant on Friday, which is another strong signal he will play. Bennett clearly didn’t look like himself against the Packers last week, but he’s still an integral part of an offense that really needs a strong showing. He may not be 100 percent, but Bennett needs to stay in your lineup because he’s been a pretty safe TE1 this entire season.
Brandon Marshall, WR, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Probable – Ankle
Among the many things that did not go right for the Bears last week against the Packers, was when Marshall re-aggravated his ankle injury. He didn’t practice on Wednesday, but he was out there some both Thursday and Friday. He’s listed as Probable and has yet to miss a game because of this bothersome ankle, so there’s no reason to expect that to change, especially with the Bears desperately needing a win. The Vikings’ defense has been solid this season against the pass, but as long as he plays, you’ve got to start Marshall.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Probable – Abdomen/Groin
Rudolph underwent surgery for a sports hernia on Sept. 23, but after taking part in practice in some capacity every day this week it looks like he’s finally ready to return. Rudolph hasn’t played since Week 3 and didn’t have the greatest stats (10-96-1) prior to his injury, but this is a guy who was viewed as a top-10 fantasy TE entering this season. He should definitely be owned, but don’t be surprised if the Vikings decide to ease him back into action. It’s probably best to leave Rudolph on your bench one more week and see how he fares today.
Already Ruled Out:
Jordan Cameron, Cleveland Browns – Cameron suffered a concussion in Week 8 and is still working his way back. He didn’t practice at all this week and has been ruled out for a third straight game. I would still hold on to Cameron at least until something more definitive comes out regarding his status.
Tennessee may not have their tight end on Monday night, but Detroit is expected to get three big targets back for its Week 11 showdown against Arizona. Oh and Calvin Johnson will play too.
Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Mon.)
Questionable – Concussion
Walker left last week’s game against Baltimore with a concussion after taking a big hit following a catch. He didn’t practice at all Wednesday or Thursday, but did get a limited session in on Friday. He’s listed as Questionable and reports are Walker still has to pass one more test to be cleared to play. Walker is the Titans’ most productive pass-catcher and a top-10 fantasy TE, but the combination of him not being completely cleared just yet and playing on a Monday night is more than enough reason to at least have a Plan B ready.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Probable - Ankle
Johnson returned from his three-game absence by catching seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown last Sunday. He didn’t practice on Wednesday, but that was more a precaution, as he was back at it on Thursday and Friday. He’s Probable and there’s no doubt that he will be out there today. This is an intriguing matchup against a talented, athletic and physical Cardinals secondary, but he’s still a must-start WR1, as evidenced by our ranking him No. 4 this week.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks
Probable – Ribs
Kelce’s still on the injury report, but he once again was a full go at practice and is listed as Probable. He didn’t do much of anything (2 rec., 19 yds.) last week, but could be in line for even more snaps today because Anthony Fasano is Questionable with a bruised knee. Even if Fasano ends up on the field, Kelce is the Chiefs target you want, especially considering the Seahawks have given up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season. A top-10 fantasy TE with a top-10 matchup. What more could you ask for?
Eric Ebron, Joseph Fauria and Brandon Pettigrew, TEs, Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Probable – Hamstring; Probable – Ankle; Probable – Foot
From no healthy tight ends to too many? That appears to be the case for the Lions, as Ebron, Fauria and Pettigrew, who have missed a combined 11 games this season, all practiced to some degree and are listed as Probable. If there’s a leader among this group, it’s probably Ebron, the team’s first-round pick, but his production has been inconsistent to the say the least. Fauria is a legitimate red-zone threat, but that’s also pretty much the only area of the field where the Lions use him, while Pettigrew is basically a blocking TE who catches the occasional pass. Ebron carries the most upside and potential, but probably still needs to show a little more before he becomes starting material, unless you want to take a chance on him as a TE2. I wouldn’t bother with Fauria or Pettigrew.
Minnesota’s Dan Lehman went viral during Saturday’s game against Ohio State. Lehman is a sideline staffer for coach Jerry Kill, and Lehman decided to eat an ice cream bar at the start of the second half.
Eating an ice cream bar is totally fine, but Lehman was enjoying the dessert in a game played in the snow and with temperatures around 20 degrees.
This is definitely a peak moment in Big Ten history.
Here's a Minnesota assistant coach enjoying an ice cream treat in 20-degree weather pic.twitter.com/P0x1cxBUQk— Andy Reid (@misterAndyReid) November 15, 2014


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Kibbled maize is simply whole maize that has been put through a kibbling machine to crack it. This process produces pieces of maize which are more easily digested by wild birds.
Your kibbled maize should be stored somewhere cool and dry. We recommend using it within 5 months of purchase - just to make sure it stays fresh and nutritious for your garden birds.

domain: agronomy


text: Hello everyone! Im looking for quite a few different breeds - hens or pullets only - standard sized. I would prefer some around 5 months or older, but full grown hens are alright too. No chicks please - Im not allowed to have anymore chicks for awhile . Im only looking for one, or two at most of each breed. I only want calm and non-aggressive birds, that are healthy. I may trade a Blue Cochin pullet, 5 moths old. Breeds I am looking for - Polish (buff laced, tollbunt) Appenzeller Spitzhauben Cochin (silver laced, possibly others) Brahma (buff) Wyandotte (BLR) Araucana (any) Ameraucana (any) Easter Egger (blue or green eggs ONLY) Houdan (mottled) Barnevelder Delaware Buckeye Dorking (any) Marans (NO cuckoo/gold) Orpington (Any except buff) Plymouth Rock (Not barred or white) Sussex (Not speckled) If you dont have these breeds, but know someone who does, I would highly appreciate it if you could steer me in their direction!

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November 27, 2014
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September 19, 2014

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It can sometimes be difficult to decide whether an item is a genuine news story or should be relegated to an Odd Spot, where readers can chuckle over the folly of others. When I read that the Chinese government had taken exception to the publication of air-quality data performed by US consulates in some of China’s major cities I started to chuckle, but then I wondered if there was something more to this story.
The story took on the appearance of an international incident when, on June 5, the Vice Minister of Environmental Protection, Wu Xiaoqing, told the press that foreign embassies (no names mentioned) who posted information about China’s air quality were violating both Chinese law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. “Diplomats are obligated to respect and abide by the laws and regulations in the receiving states. In addition, they cannot interfere with the domestic issues of receiving states,” Wu said. “We wish those embassies and consulates will respect China’s laws and stop publishing air quality data which is not representative.”
For anyone who has been to China, it is hard to believe that even its paranoid government considers the condition of the air and cities a state secret or something that should not be discussed in polite company. You don’t need sophisticated instruments to know that China’s cities are polluted. Just look out the window and try to see the horizon. On most days, nearby buildings disappear into a grey-brown mist of chemicals and particles.
The US provoked this diplomatic storm when it started tracking and releasing air-quality data in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai from monitoring stations located on the grounds of their consulates. In daily reports, data were released on PM2.5 concentrations, a technical term for microscopic particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter that can lodge deep in the lungs and cause a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
In response, a deputy State Department spokesperson said, “We provide the American community, both our Embassy and consulate personnel, as well as the American community writ large, information it can use to make better daily decisions regarding the safety of outdoor activities.” He went on to say that the US would continue to release this data, which it does through hourly posts on Twitter to its 19,000 followers.
This was a rather lame reply, as the Chinese government already publishes air quality data for Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, and does so in a more scientific manner than the unrepresentative single readings produced by the US. In fact, in the US, no government agency would be allowed to publish single-point data and claim it represents the air quality of a whole urban area.
What is the real agenda here? For the US, it is an opportunity to prick the authority of the government, which reserves the right to be the sole source of information to its citizens. While the US claims that it only circulates the data to its 19,000 Twitter followers, most of whom are American citizens, it has been quite pleased to see that these reports were picked up by Weibo, a popular Chinese micro-blogging service similar to Twitter, which opens up these reports to millions of people in China.