High Dez-inition

Some may consider the Dallas Cowboys (8-7) as super mediocre. Others may see the 'boys through cowboy-colored bifocals and look at them as the best team since the 1995 Dallas squad. The subject is definitely debatable. However, one component is not - Dez Bryant.
 The ex-Oklahoma State Cowboy-turned Dallas Cowboy has reached heights everyone knew he could achieve but weren't fully confident he would. After so many proverbial blue screens and snow-filled channels with white noise, pixels should be crystal clear across the board about the 6' 2", 220 pound native of Texas. Bryant left no doubt of his worthiness of wearing the #88 jersey Sunday during the Cowboys' 34-31 overtime defeat to New Orleans (7-8), as he hauled in 9 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns underneath the gigantic scoreboard in Arlington.
The twenty-four year-old star has recorded five 100-plus-yard games as the Cowpokes mosey into Washington (9-6) for the NFC East title and a playoff berth in the final regular season game of 2012.
Do not attempt to adjust your (mind)sets, for this is not a test.

Now, on to week seventeen - championship Sunday (for some).

 

 

 

QB
Aaron Rodgers (GB @ Min)
RB
Darren Sproles (NO vs Car)
WR
Brandon Marshall (Chi @ Det)
Wes Welker (NE vs Mia)
TE
Dallas Clark (TB @ Atl)
DEF

New England vs Mia

 

QB

Andy Dalton (Cin vs Bal)

RB

Doug Martin (TB @ Atl)

WR

Michael Crabtree (SF vs Ari)

TE

Antonio Gates (SD vs Oak)

DEF

Chicago @ Det

 



Russell Wilson is Too Small for QB

Measurables always seem to lurk when evaluating NFL talent. At some point, a memo went out to executives and scouts that the prototypical quarterback must meet a certain height requirement to be successful in the NFL. Apparently, Seattle Seahawks (9-5) rookie quarterback Russell Wilson didn't receive the memo.
At 5' 11" and barely 200 pounds, the NC State and Wisconsin grad has had to prove himself over and again to experts who have yet to figure out heart and desire can't be measured.
Is he good enough? Meaning, is he NFL ready? Ask the Buffalo Bills (5-9) about Wilson's readiness.
Wilson embarrassed the hapless Bills by rushing for 92 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for another score Sunday in Toronto, ending with a 50-17 victory. He currently has thrown 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions with two games remaining, despite not meeting the idealized height requirement.
Concluding where we began, Russell Wilson is too small to play quarterback in the NFL. Just ask the experts.

QB
Ryan Tannehill (Mia vs Buf)
Nick Foles (Phi vs Was)
Sam Bradrord (StL @ TB)
RB
Vick Ballard (Ind @ KC)
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Cin @ Pit)
DeAngelo Williams (Car vs Oak)
WR
Lance Moore (NO @ Dal)
Leonard Hankerson (Was @ Phi)
Brandon Lloyd (NE @ Jac)
TE
Dallas Clark (TB vs StL)
Greg Olsen (Car vs Oak)
Owen Daniels (Hou vs Min)
DEF

Indianapolis @ KC
New England @ Jac
Carolina vs Oak

 

QB

Andy Dalton (Cin @ Pit)

Eli Manning (NYG @ Bal)

RB

Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG @ Bal)

Chris Johnson (Ten @ GB)

WR

Larry Fitzgerald (Ari vs Chi)

A.J. Green (Cin @ Pit)

TE

Vernon Davis (SF @ Sea)

Jacob Tamme (Den vs Cle)

DEF

Seattle vs SF

Atlanta @ Det

 



Flying Low: The Playoff Run

Birds have hollow bones which enables them to soar through the air without crashing to the ground. With the help of the 12th Man, the Seattle Seahawks (8-5) soared while the Arizona Cardinals (4-9) crashed, burned and washed away, 58-0, into the Pacific Ocean in the form of ashes.
12:00 1st quarter:
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner intercepts Cardinals quarterback John Skelton's plans for a completion.
11:25 2nd quarter:
Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons sacked Skelton, forced him to fumble and recovered.
10:12 2nd quarter:
Seahawks corner back Richard Sherman picked off Cardinals quarterback John Skelton and returned it for a 19-yard touchdown.
2:33 2nd quarter:
Richard Sherman records his second interception of the game on a third down play near midfield.

At halftime, Arizona found themselves down 38-0 with their feathers starting to feel uncomfortably warm.
10:19 3rd quarter:
Bobby Wagner intercepted Skelton inside the Cards' own twenty-yard line. Skelton was yanked from the pillage and rookie Ryan Lindley was inserted.
4:49 3rd quarter:
Lindley fumbled while being sacked and Richard Sherman recovered. Has anyone lost count?

In a nest egg, some birds were only meant to fly and not attempt to play quarterback in the NFL. For Seattle, it's off to Toronto to face Buffalo (5-8). For Arizona, it is simply off.
Good luck, for anything can (and will) happen in the playoffs.

QB
Josh Freeman (TB @ NO)
Jake Locker (Ten vs NYJ)
Russell Wilson (Sea vs Buf in Toronto)
RB
DeAngelo Williams (Car @ SD)
Jonathan Dwyer (Pit @ Dal)
Reggie Bush (Mia vs Jac)
WR
Eric Decker (Den @ Bal)
Josh Gordon (Cle vs Was)
Mike Williams (TB @ NO)
TE
Coby Fleener (Ind @ Hou)
Tony Moeaki (KC @ Oak)
Brandon Pettigrew (Det @ Ari)
DEF

San Diego vs Car
Mia vs Jac
Ten vs NYJ

QB
Joe Flacco (Bal vs Den)
Mark Sanchez (NYJ @ Ten)
RB
Stevan Ridley (NE vs SF)
Beanie Wells (Ari vs Det)
WR
Julio Jones (Atl vs NYG)
Kenny Britt (Ten vs NYJ)
TE
Jermichael Finley (GB @ Chi)
Heath Miller (Pit @ Dal)
DEF
San Francisco @ NE
Pittsburgh @ Dal

WR Comparison
                                  REC     YDS    TD
Jeremy Maclin               57        719        5
Cecil Shorts                     43        824        7

Good Luck

 

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. If and when opportunity comes your way and you have failed to prepare, then you've prepared to fail. Non preparers call this bad luck. The truth is we create our own, whether good or bad.

 

Sometimes it may be better to simply be Luck. Andrew, that is. The top-drafted rookie from Stanford found himself in a  twelve-point deficit (33-21) to the Detroit Lions (4-8) with 8:41 left in the fourth quarter at Ford Field Sunday afternoon. He threw an interception during the drive. Luck then put together an eight-play, 85-yard drive for a score to cut the Lions' lead to five (33-28) with 2:39 left on the clock. Luck, as he would have it, got the ball back with only 1:07 to go with no timeouts. The 6' 4" back-to-back Heisman runner-up drove the field with an eleven-play, 75-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown pass to Donnie Avery as time expired to complete his 424 total yard and four touchdown performance. Lucky? No. Luck bows and exits stage right.

 

 

 

QB
Sam Bradford (StL @ Buf)
Brandon Weeden (Cle vs KC)
Russell Wilson (Sea vs Ari)
RB
Joique Bell (Det @ GB)
Vick Ballard (Ind vs Ten)
Shonn Greene (NYJ @ Jac)
WR
Chris Givens (StL @ Buf)
Antonio Brown (Pit vs SD)
Anquan Boldin (Bal @ Was)
TE
Kyle Rudolph (Min vs Chi)
Dustin Keller (NYJ @ Jac)
Heath Miller (Pit vs SD)
DEF

Miami @ SF
Indianapolis @ Ten
Green Bay vs Det

QB
Philip Rivers (SD @ Pit)
Colin Kaepernick (SF vs Mia)
RB
Beanie Wells (Ari @ Sea)
Reggie Bush (Mia @ SF)
WR
Stevie Johnson (Buf vs StL)
Larry Fitzgerald (Ari @ Sea)
TE
Antonio Gates (SD @ Pit)
Vernon Davis (SF vs Mia)
DEF
Baltimore @ Was
NY Giants vs NO