motife
12-26-2007, 08:18 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/notebook?page=lastcall07/week16
Week 16 NFL wrapup :
Len Pasquarelli's game balls
Bradshaw
• Offense: In a game the fading New York Giants desperately needed, and in which quarterback Eli Manning threw only 15 times against the Buffalo Bills, tailbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 41 carries, 296 yards and three touchdowns. For their efforts in the 38-21 win that clinched a wild-card berth, they split the offensive game ball. Manning tossed a pair of interceptions and lost two of five fumbles, and after a tough first half, the New York offensive coaching staff went heavily to the ground game.
Jacobs carried 24 times for 145 yards and two scores, also catching one pass for 6 yards. Bradshaw, who entered the game with only six carries for 39 yards, ran for 151 yards on just 17 attempts. He cemented the outcome with an 88-yard scoring burst, breaking the line of scrimmage against a stacked front and easily outrunning the Buffalo secondary.
• Defense: Out of playoff contention, the Cincinnati Bengals instead wanted to play the role of spoilers against their intrastate rivals, and rookie strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe helped ensure they did. In the Bengals' 19-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns, the former Notre Dame standout notched nine tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed. The defeat eliminated Cleveland from the race for the AFC North title and severely dented the Browns' playoff hopes.
A seventh-round pick in this year's draft, Ndukwe got the first start of his career because of injuries to Dexter Jackson (calf) and Madieu Williams (thigh). Ndukwe's first interception, which he returned 44 yards, set up a score, with T.J. Houshmandzadeh catching a 5-yard touchdown pass one play later for a 13-0 Cincinnati lead. His second interception came in the end zone, on a pass intended for tight end Kellen Winslow, and killed off a scoring chance.
• Special teams: Return ace Devin Hester was held to minus-1 yard by the Green Bay kickoff and punt teams, but the Chicago special-teams units still dominated in a 35-7 victory over the Packers, earning a collective game ball for their standout performance. The Bears blocked two punts, one each by Darrell McClover and Charles Tillman, and rookie defensive back Corey Graham scooped up the second block and scampered 7 yards for a touchdown. The Packers had gone 12 seasons and 929 punts before McClover's block in the second quarter.
Chicago's coverage units also were exceptional, limiting Green Bay to just 59 return yards for the afternoon. Former Pro Bowl kickoff return specialist Koren Robinson was held in check by the Bears, and he finished with only 42 yards on four runbacks.
Other notes from Week 16 :
One playoff berth remains unclaimed in each conference heading into the final week of the 2007 regular season.
It's as simple as that, but Cleveland (9-6) and Minnesota (8-7) could have made it simpler. Their losses in Week 16 kept hope alive for others.
The top five seeds in the NFC are set. The sixth seed will visit third-seeded Seattle (10-5) in the wild-card round. The fifth-seeded New York Giants (10-5), big winners in Buffalo, will visit fourth-seeded Tampa Bay, which rested its starters in a loss to San Francisco.
In the AFC, fifth-seeded Jacksonville will visit Pittsburgh or San Diego in the wild-card round. Tennessee or Cleveland will visit the Chargers or Steelers in the other AFC wild-card game.
Tennessee (9-6) can claim the AFC's final berth by beating Indianapolis in Week 17. The Colts have nothing to gain -- unless they consider eliminating Tennessee to be a priority. Washington (8-7) improbably controls its destiny in the NFC after knocking off Minnesota (8-7) in the Metrodome, 32-21. The Vikings and Saints (7-8) can slip past the Redskins, but not without help.
If the Titans lose to the second-seeded Colts and the Browns (9-6) beat the 49ers, Cleveland will be playoff-bound for the first time since 2002. If the Browns and Titans finish 9-7, Cleveland emerges with the AFC's sixth seed on a tiebreaker (stronger conference record).
Washington can reach the playoffs simply by winning at home against top-seeded Dallas (13-2) in Week 17. The Redskins could even get there if they lose, but only if the Vikings also lost and the Saints lost or tied. New Orleans hurt its chances with a home loss to Philadelphia, but can secure the NFC's sixth seed with a victory at Chicago and losses by Washington (vs. Dallas) and Minnesota (at Denver).
Ten observations from Week 16:
1. Giants run away with it
Critics said the Giants abandoned the run prematurely in a disheartening loss to the Skins in Week 15. Coach Tom Coughlin resisted the suggestion all week, and he might have needed additional convincing in the early stages of a 38-21 victory in Buffalo.
New York carried 47 times for 291 yards and three touchdowns despite falling behind by two touchdowns in the first quarter. That is committing to the run. But the Giants dropped back to pass four times in a six-play drive immediately after the Bills jumped to a 14-0 lead, throwing both times on first down. One pass on the drive produced a 39-yard gain, but the final one led to a sack and a fumble.
Eli Manning fumbled five times. Direct snaps to the running back, anyone?
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has plenty left in the tank. Just ask the Saints.
2. The Eagles have their QB
Donovan McNabb returned from a severe knee injury before he was at full strength, but his 40-yard scramble in New Orleans proved he is getting there. When McNabb is healthy, he remains a Pro Bowl-caliber passer and easily the Eagles' best option at the position despite rumblings about his future with the team.
The Saints can attest to that. With a possible playoff spot on the line, New Orleans had no answer for McNabb, who completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-23 victory in the Superdome. The game was technically meaningless for the Eagles, who had long been eliminated from playoff contention. But every game is important to McNabb as he re-establishes his career.
McNabb has relatively high miles for a 30-year-old quarterback, so there is risk in counting on him. His numbers this season -- 18 touchdowns, six interceptions and an 89.5 rating in 13 games -- suggest he can still get it done.
For more observations, click here.
Heard in the press box (in Foxborough, Mass.)
By Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
• Even though second-year veteran Kellen Clemens hasn't done anything to solidify himself as the Jets' starting quarterback for 2008, there is almost no way Chad Pennington will be back with the team as a safety net. His salary is too high, and Pennington sincerely believes he can still be a starter in the league. One team that will be interested in Pennington if he is released or put on the trade market is Kansas City, which desperately needs a veteran presence. Chiefs coach Herm Edwards worked with Pennington in New York, and the two men have a mutual respect. Another veteran who might not be back in New York in 2008 is Laveranues Coles, arguably the toughest guy on the team but starting to break down physically. Coles was placed on injured reserve Saturday afternoon.
• After fixing his quarterback depth chart, the next priority for Edwards should be addressing the offensive line. Once a strength of the Chiefs, and a model of stability in a league in which offensive line continuity has been affected so negatively by free agency, the Kansas City line didn't have a single blocker chosen for the Pro Bowl for the first time since the 1994 season.
• Given Tony Sparano's lack of experience as a head coach, it's doubtful Bill Parcells could hire him as the Dolphins' new boss. But it won't be surprising if Sparano, the offensive line coach in Dallas and an assistant Parcells likes a lot, ends up on the Miami staff in 2008, perhaps as offensive coordinator. Sparano basically functioned as the coordinator for Parcells in 2006. It's believed there has been some dialogue between Parcells and former Washington and Houston general manager Charley Casserly about the general manager position.
• Pittsburgh likely will consider signing free agent Verron Haynes this week to bolster a tailback position thinned by the season-ending injury to starter Willie Parker. But it's not a slam dunk the Steelers will bring back Haynes, who was a one-time third-down specialist for the team but was released at the end of training camp. Pittsburgh worked out Haynes a couple of weeks ago -- when it looked as though Najeh Davenport might have a problem with a foot injury -- but then passed on re-signing him. The Steelers are debating whether to simply take their chances with some of the youngsters currently on the roster as the backups to Davenport, who moves into the starting role.
• The injury to Parker means Jacksonville tailback Fred Taylor, one of the most glaring oversights in the Pro Bowl balloting and the first alternate at the position, finally will get his first berth on the AFC all-star team. And few guys are more deserving. Taylor, who is 18th in the league in all-time rushing yards, is the only player in the top 49 who has never played in a Pro Bowl contest.
• Baltimore coach Brian Billick was complimentary of rookie quarterback Troy Smith, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, in the days preceding Sunday's game at Seattle. But there was a pretty good spat between Billick and Smith in the Week 15 game at Miami. Smith, who made his first start versus the Seahawks, was angry that Billick called for a tying field goal near the end of regulation rather than going for the winning touchdown. The Ravens subsequently lost to Miami in overtime.
• There is a belief in some league circles that for Seattle to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, and actually mount a threat to Dallas and Green Bay in the NFC, the team has to feature Maurice Morris at tailback more than Shaun Alexander. Seattle will need to be more two-dimensional offensively in the postseason, and Morris is simply a better back than Alexander right now. Also, the whispers persist that coach Mike Holmgren might step aside after this season to pursue some of the outside interests he has spoken of in the past. If that is the case, assistant head coach Jim Mora probably would have a decent shot at succeeding him.
• Marty Schottenheimer's name might be on Atlanta's radar screen, but Falcons owner Arthur Blank has not made contact with him about the franchise's coaching vacancy. After getting jilted by Bill Parcells, Blank is expected to slow the process a bit in his search for a general manager and head coach.
• Teams elevated a dozen players from their practice squads to the active roster this past week, and they will make even more such moves in the final week of the season. By doing so, clubs retain "exclusive rights" to the players rather than having them become free agents the day after the season ends, which is what occurs when a player finishes the year on the practice squad. So look for more players to go on injured reserve this week, with their roster spots being taken by youngsters signed from practice squads.
• With the issue deemed a priority by commissioner Roger Goodell, teams have done a much better job of assessing and managing concussions this season. But there have still been some inconsistencies the league is looking into, and the NFL office is still seeking more uniformity.
• The Week 15 victory over Seattle and a strong effort in the Saturday night loss to Dallas have quieted any talk that Carolina owner Jerry Richardson will clean house and dump coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney. Both men appear to be safe, but probably are going to have to get the Panthers to the playoffs in 2008 to retain their positions beyond next season.
• Despite a dismal season, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis is safe. The same can't be said for some of his assistant coaches, however. The defensive staff, in particular, could be in for a shakeup, and it could include coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, who entered the season under some scrutiny. Lewis also wants to upgrade the personnel department. The puzzling thing in that regard is that Lewis has more control over the roster than people realize and several of the team's personnel problems are of his making.
Week 16 NFL wrapup :
Len Pasquarelli's game balls
Bradshaw
• Offense: In a game the fading New York Giants desperately needed, and in which quarterback Eli Manning threw only 15 times against the Buffalo Bills, tailbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 41 carries, 296 yards and three touchdowns. For their efforts in the 38-21 win that clinched a wild-card berth, they split the offensive game ball. Manning tossed a pair of interceptions and lost two of five fumbles, and after a tough first half, the New York offensive coaching staff went heavily to the ground game.
Jacobs carried 24 times for 145 yards and two scores, also catching one pass for 6 yards. Bradshaw, who entered the game with only six carries for 39 yards, ran for 151 yards on just 17 attempts. He cemented the outcome with an 88-yard scoring burst, breaking the line of scrimmage against a stacked front and easily outrunning the Buffalo secondary.
• Defense: Out of playoff contention, the Cincinnati Bengals instead wanted to play the role of spoilers against their intrastate rivals, and rookie strong safety Chinedum Ndukwe helped ensure they did. In the Bengals' 19-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns, the former Notre Dame standout notched nine tackles, two interceptions and two passes defensed. The defeat eliminated Cleveland from the race for the AFC North title and severely dented the Browns' playoff hopes.
A seventh-round pick in this year's draft, Ndukwe got the first start of his career because of injuries to Dexter Jackson (calf) and Madieu Williams (thigh). Ndukwe's first interception, which he returned 44 yards, set up a score, with T.J. Houshmandzadeh catching a 5-yard touchdown pass one play later for a 13-0 Cincinnati lead. His second interception came in the end zone, on a pass intended for tight end Kellen Winslow, and killed off a scoring chance.
• Special teams: Return ace Devin Hester was held to minus-1 yard by the Green Bay kickoff and punt teams, but the Chicago special-teams units still dominated in a 35-7 victory over the Packers, earning a collective game ball for their standout performance. The Bears blocked two punts, one each by Darrell McClover and Charles Tillman, and rookie defensive back Corey Graham scooped up the second block and scampered 7 yards for a touchdown. The Packers had gone 12 seasons and 929 punts before McClover's block in the second quarter.
Chicago's coverage units also were exceptional, limiting Green Bay to just 59 return yards for the afternoon. Former Pro Bowl kickoff return specialist Koren Robinson was held in check by the Bears, and he finished with only 42 yards on four runbacks.
Other notes from Week 16 :
One playoff berth remains unclaimed in each conference heading into the final week of the 2007 regular season.
It's as simple as that, but Cleveland (9-6) and Minnesota (8-7) could have made it simpler. Their losses in Week 16 kept hope alive for others.
The top five seeds in the NFC are set. The sixth seed will visit third-seeded Seattle (10-5) in the wild-card round. The fifth-seeded New York Giants (10-5), big winners in Buffalo, will visit fourth-seeded Tampa Bay, which rested its starters in a loss to San Francisco.
In the AFC, fifth-seeded Jacksonville will visit Pittsburgh or San Diego in the wild-card round. Tennessee or Cleveland will visit the Chargers or Steelers in the other AFC wild-card game.
Tennessee (9-6) can claim the AFC's final berth by beating Indianapolis in Week 17. The Colts have nothing to gain -- unless they consider eliminating Tennessee to be a priority. Washington (8-7) improbably controls its destiny in the NFC after knocking off Minnesota (8-7) in the Metrodome, 32-21. The Vikings and Saints (7-8) can slip past the Redskins, but not without help.
If the Titans lose to the second-seeded Colts and the Browns (9-6) beat the 49ers, Cleveland will be playoff-bound for the first time since 2002. If the Browns and Titans finish 9-7, Cleveland emerges with the AFC's sixth seed on a tiebreaker (stronger conference record).
Washington can reach the playoffs simply by winning at home against top-seeded Dallas (13-2) in Week 17. The Redskins could even get there if they lose, but only if the Vikings also lost and the Saints lost or tied. New Orleans hurt its chances with a home loss to Philadelphia, but can secure the NFC's sixth seed with a victory at Chicago and losses by Washington (vs. Dallas) and Minnesota (at Denver).
Ten observations from Week 16:
1. Giants run away with it
Critics said the Giants abandoned the run prematurely in a disheartening loss to the Skins in Week 15. Coach Tom Coughlin resisted the suggestion all week, and he might have needed additional convincing in the early stages of a 38-21 victory in Buffalo.
New York carried 47 times for 291 yards and three touchdowns despite falling behind by two touchdowns in the first quarter. That is committing to the run. But the Giants dropped back to pass four times in a six-play drive immediately after the Bills jumped to a 14-0 lead, throwing both times on first down. One pass on the drive produced a 39-yard gain, but the final one led to a sack and a fumble.
Eli Manning fumbled five times. Direct snaps to the running back, anyone?
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has plenty left in the tank. Just ask the Saints.
2. The Eagles have their QB
Donovan McNabb returned from a severe knee injury before he was at full strength, but his 40-yard scramble in New Orleans proved he is getting there. When McNabb is healthy, he remains a Pro Bowl-caliber passer and easily the Eagles' best option at the position despite rumblings about his future with the team.
The Saints can attest to that. With a possible playoff spot on the line, New Orleans had no answer for McNabb, who completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-23 victory in the Superdome. The game was technically meaningless for the Eagles, who had long been eliminated from playoff contention. But every game is important to McNabb as he re-establishes his career.
McNabb has relatively high miles for a 30-year-old quarterback, so there is risk in counting on him. His numbers this season -- 18 touchdowns, six interceptions and an 89.5 rating in 13 games -- suggest he can still get it done.
For more observations, click here.
Heard in the press box (in Foxborough, Mass.)
By Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
• Even though second-year veteran Kellen Clemens hasn't done anything to solidify himself as the Jets' starting quarterback for 2008, there is almost no way Chad Pennington will be back with the team as a safety net. His salary is too high, and Pennington sincerely believes he can still be a starter in the league. One team that will be interested in Pennington if he is released or put on the trade market is Kansas City, which desperately needs a veteran presence. Chiefs coach Herm Edwards worked with Pennington in New York, and the two men have a mutual respect. Another veteran who might not be back in New York in 2008 is Laveranues Coles, arguably the toughest guy on the team but starting to break down physically. Coles was placed on injured reserve Saturday afternoon.
• After fixing his quarterback depth chart, the next priority for Edwards should be addressing the offensive line. Once a strength of the Chiefs, and a model of stability in a league in which offensive line continuity has been affected so negatively by free agency, the Kansas City line didn't have a single blocker chosen for the Pro Bowl for the first time since the 1994 season.
• Given Tony Sparano's lack of experience as a head coach, it's doubtful Bill Parcells could hire him as the Dolphins' new boss. But it won't be surprising if Sparano, the offensive line coach in Dallas and an assistant Parcells likes a lot, ends up on the Miami staff in 2008, perhaps as offensive coordinator. Sparano basically functioned as the coordinator for Parcells in 2006. It's believed there has been some dialogue between Parcells and former Washington and Houston general manager Charley Casserly about the general manager position.
• Pittsburgh likely will consider signing free agent Verron Haynes this week to bolster a tailback position thinned by the season-ending injury to starter Willie Parker. But it's not a slam dunk the Steelers will bring back Haynes, who was a one-time third-down specialist for the team but was released at the end of training camp. Pittsburgh worked out Haynes a couple of weeks ago -- when it looked as though Najeh Davenport might have a problem with a foot injury -- but then passed on re-signing him. The Steelers are debating whether to simply take their chances with some of the youngsters currently on the roster as the backups to Davenport, who moves into the starting role.
• The injury to Parker means Jacksonville tailback Fred Taylor, one of the most glaring oversights in the Pro Bowl balloting and the first alternate at the position, finally will get his first berth on the AFC all-star team. And few guys are more deserving. Taylor, who is 18th in the league in all-time rushing yards, is the only player in the top 49 who has never played in a Pro Bowl contest.
• Baltimore coach Brian Billick was complimentary of rookie quarterback Troy Smith, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, in the days preceding Sunday's game at Seattle. But there was a pretty good spat between Billick and Smith in the Week 15 game at Miami. Smith, who made his first start versus the Seahawks, was angry that Billick called for a tying field goal near the end of regulation rather than going for the winning touchdown. The Ravens subsequently lost to Miami in overtime.
• There is a belief in some league circles that for Seattle to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, and actually mount a threat to Dallas and Green Bay in the NFC, the team has to feature Maurice Morris at tailback more than Shaun Alexander. Seattle will need to be more two-dimensional offensively in the postseason, and Morris is simply a better back than Alexander right now. Also, the whispers persist that coach Mike Holmgren might step aside after this season to pursue some of the outside interests he has spoken of in the past. If that is the case, assistant head coach Jim Mora probably would have a decent shot at succeeding him.
• Marty Schottenheimer's name might be on Atlanta's radar screen, but Falcons owner Arthur Blank has not made contact with him about the franchise's coaching vacancy. After getting jilted by Bill Parcells, Blank is expected to slow the process a bit in his search for a general manager and head coach.
• Teams elevated a dozen players from their practice squads to the active roster this past week, and they will make even more such moves in the final week of the season. By doing so, clubs retain "exclusive rights" to the players rather than having them become free agents the day after the season ends, which is what occurs when a player finishes the year on the practice squad. So look for more players to go on injured reserve this week, with their roster spots being taken by youngsters signed from practice squads.
• With the issue deemed a priority by commissioner Roger Goodell, teams have done a much better job of assessing and managing concussions this season. But there have still been some inconsistencies the league is looking into, and the NFL office is still seeking more uniformity.
• The Week 15 victory over Seattle and a strong effort in the Saturday night loss to Dallas have quieted any talk that Carolina owner Jerry Richardson will clean house and dump coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney. Both men appear to be safe, but probably are going to have to get the Panthers to the playoffs in 2008 to retain their positions beyond next season.
• Despite a dismal season, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis is safe. The same can't be said for some of his assistant coaches, however. The defensive staff, in particular, could be in for a shakeup, and it could include coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, who entered the season under some scrutiny. Lewis also wants to upgrade the personnel department. The puzzling thing in that regard is that Lewis has more control over the roster than people realize and several of the team's personnel problems are of his making.