Joe Haden choked! Tricked off the dope. He cost himself millions of dollars! He’s no longer the top CB in this year’s draft class.
Okay? Are you done? Chill out people. Yeah, Joe Haden’s 4.57 and 4.60 40s at the combine earlier this week are far from top flight cornerback. But it’s not the end of the world for Mr. Haden. He’s still going to get drafted in the first round, and he’s still going to be the first CB selected and get selected very high. Haden showed he had the courage to even run at the combine, he did well after his disappointing 40, and he has a chance to redeem himself.
Urban Meyer, Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap and a hundred others have taken Florida from equality in the Florida football landscape to Silver-back Gorilla as of late. Florida has won 2 championships in the last 4 years, firmly establishing the Gainesville school as the premier football power in the state. However, there will be a changing of the guard in the Sunshine State and it begins and ends with Florida State. Defense wins championships and the pedigree being established in Tallahassee the last 6 months is based on this and only this. Florida State has begun what I believe based on recruiting and coaching changes will lead to the upstaging of the mighty Gators.
Is Tim Tebow the greatest player to ever play college football? Who knows? Some would say yes, some would say no. The more important question is can Tim Tebow be Tim Tebow in the NFL? The league is another beast compared to college. Faster, stronger, and smarter players. Defenses are more sophisticated, and they spend HOURS at a time dissecting offenses whereas in college where they can only practice a few hours a day compared to all day in the NFL.
Tebow is a winner
One thing you can’t say is that the kid does not win. He’s done it at every level. You can’t deny that, you can’t say it was the system, or he was lucky etc. No! He’s balled out, you don’t win for seven years in a row without being outstanding.
Listen to the legend that is Tebow. Two-time Florida Mr. Football (Florida high school Player of the Year), Parade All-American, he once finished a game in high school with a broken leg, state championship as a senior, Lebron James like high school coverage from ESPN and Sports Illustrated, labeled “The Chosen One” before he ever chose which college he’d attend.
In college, he scored on his first play ever, he helped his team win a national championship as a freshman, he won the Heisman trophy in his first year as a starting quarterback, won a second national championship in his second year as a full-time starter, had a plaque of a his famous speech after the Ole Miss loss placed outside the stadium….WHILE HE WAS STILL IN SCHOOL….and he broke the SEC touchdown record that was formerly held by Herschel Walker. A lot of people have accolades, but few know how to be great and win, Tebow has this figured out.
Tebow under the microscope
Another thing you can’t call Tebow is a punk. He doesn’t back down from challenges. Most people in Tebow’s position wouldn’t have played in the Senior Bowl. Tebow played in the Senior Bowl this past weekend. He was scrutinized along with the other top seniors this year who chose to play.
I tried to find a better word for scrutinize, but I couldn’t. Either way, scrutinize isn’t the word for what’s being done to Tebow. He’s being evaluated as if he’s a black quarterback in the 60’s that no one secretly wants to succeed. Now, I know everyone is evaluated harshly, because these players are six and seven figure investments. These scouts and GMs are essentially financial advisers for the owners, fans, taxpayers, etc. If you are wasting and losing peoples money as a scout or GM, then you can be sure you’ll lose your job if you don’t make good investments. So it’s understandable the level at which they scrutinize these kids, and it’s also understandable why you evaluate someone as a mid-round talent compared to an early round talent. The later you are drafted the less money you are paid, the less money you are paid, the more money for the company you have saved.
These scouts and GMs are essentially “well-paid skeptics” so they have to error on the side of caution. I mean, people have families to feed, why risk picking someone like Wes Welker in the third round when he’s clearly not even going to cut it in the league? Right? Yeah, every three years after a draft you can easily pick out the busts, the booms, and those 10k gold elephants in the room that went unnoticed.
I say all that to say this. Tebow is going to be scrutinized, because he’s going to cost a ball club a lot of money, and it’s a toss up right now of whether or not he’ll be worth that money or not. He didn’t play great this past weekend, 8 for 12 for 57 yards and two lost fumbles. They say his release is too long, his footwork sucks, his mechanics are off, and he is not accurate at all. Duh, I could have told you that a long time ago. My personal opinion is that Tebow is gamer not a tester. He will pass the eye ball test, but when it comes to the quarterback and the speed test he will fail those. He’s not prototypical, because he wasn’t taught to be prototypical at Florida or Nease. He’s not fast, nope, no Michael Vick burners in Tebow’s calves, sorry. Quick? eh, jury is still out, I’d say no. Is he a winner? Absolutely!
BOOM OR BUST
I think Tebow will succeed in the NFL. Note, that I didn’t say as a QB. I’m not sold on Tebow as a QB to be honest with you. I want to say he’ll win, if given the chance, but I just don’t know. I mean hell, you’d like to think that Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen are sure things in the NFL, but no one really knows. Ben Roethlisberger was drafted after Eli Manning and Philip Rivers and Ben has two Super Bowl rings and is the better QB right now at this point in their careers. You could error on the side of caution with Tebow and make him an H-back. He’s sure to succeed right? No one freaking knows? If it ain’t broke don’t fix it right? Let Tebow see what he can do as a quarterback for three years, because it’s going to take at least that much time for him to get accustomed to the NFL game. Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers sat for a while and look how good they turned out. If the three year experiment doesn’t work, then have Tebow switch to a new position. Another thing people need to realize Tebow is going to bust his ass to succeed. He’s not just going to go out there and expect a starting job be given to him. I mean, damn near anyone that works hard enough in this country and puts their mind to something can achieve it if they have the proper tools to do so. Tebow has the tools: size, good arm strength, played QB for the past six years, and NFL coaching.
The one thing that surprises me is that how good and coach-able a player Tebow is referred as he’s not been openly willing to accept a position change. I’d figure Tebow would be saying, I’ll play any position that I can play to continue playing the sport I love. His pride seems to be a little Eric Crouch-ish. Scott Frost had no problem switching to play safety for the Jets, he just couldn’t cut it. Crouch just quit once he couldn’t get his way. Antwan Randle El had not problem going from full-time QB to WR. I just hope Tebow’s pride doesn’t get in the way of furthering his career and helping the team that drafts him. He doesn’t seem like a quitter or sore loser, but I don’t know, I didn’t think Crouch would retire.
I still think black QBs are scrutinized unfairly, whether it’s done consciously or subconsciously. It still happens and if you don’t believe me, I’d more than happy to argue you down until I make you feel like your six years old. I do find it odd that Tebow is receiving the same scrutiny as if he was a Michael Vick or a Vince Young. It just goes to show that GMs and scouts may see color in the background, but all they really see is an owner, fans, dollars and job security in the foreground.
I’ll stand by my statement that Tebow will succeed in the NFL. Success, defined as last longer than the four year average NFL career. Anytime you can make 350k plus for four or more years doing something you love is always going to be considered a success in my book. Slow release, inconsistent accuracy, bad footwork, wins football games, and more importantly wins championships. Yep, sounds like bad tester but a great gamer to me.
Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Here are my quick cuts and jukes from the holiday weekend…..
College
Yes, Colt McCoy did ball out against Texas A&M. Was that his “Heisman” game? No, it wasn’t. His tackle after his interception in the OU game was his “Heisman” moment if he wins the Heisman Trophy. I hope he doesn’t, I think Toby Gerhart or CJ Spiller is more deserving of the award.
Why can’t Texas A&M play every game like they did against Texas? It makes no sense, and don’t give me that rivalry game excuse bullshit. Rivalry games are based on pride, but isn’t every game? No excuses.
Auburn gave Bama everything they had. The better team won in the end, it also got exposed just in time for Florida to take notes going into this weekends SEC championship game. Also it helps that Florida virtually had a bye week this past weekend and Bama had to fight for their lives. Hope those bruises heal up quick for the Tide.
If Tony Pike doesn’t get hurt this season he wins the Heisman. 6TDs on Senior day. Anyone catch that one handed grab in the back of the end zone by Mardy Gilyard? Sick! On the other hand, I’ve never seen anyone fall harder than Juice Williams. What happened? No really, what happened with Juice over the past two seasons?
Nevada and Colin Kaepernick gave Boise St. all they could, but Boise St. is just the better team overall.
Backyard Brawl was a great game. Both Pitt and WVU played great, but as with all the rivalry games this weekend, the underdog prevailed. Noel Devine and Dion Lewis put on a freaking show!
Tim Tebow’s final home game. I didn’t tear up like the rest of the world, but I could feel the emotional moment. He never lost against FSU. Those new Nike Pro Combat uniforms were nice too (pics below).
I hope FSU doesn’t push out Bobby Bowden. The man has changed college football and has earned the right to leave on his own terms. Florida State! He helped make you who you are, you push him out and might very well face the curse of the Bowdeno. 62 years of losing ain’t cool.
I can’t wait to see TCU and Bama in the consolation championship game. Hope Bama learned their lesson from last year, those Mountain West conference teams come to play!
Rivalry weekend casualty #4, Georgia Bulldogs 30 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 24. I”m lost on these teams playing their hearts out for rivalry games. I mean, you should play like that every weekend!
unranked OU Sooners defeates #12 ranked OSU Cowboys. How? “rivalry weekend” (crock of shit? i wholeheartedly agree). It must also be known they shut out the Cowboys 27-0. BOOMER SOONER BABY!
Rivalry weekend was full fledged in the Carolinas. South Carolina upset Clemson and NC State upset UNC. Damn rivalry weekend. I don’t believe in it, but they make for good ass games especially during the holiday weekend.
The Holy War was just that. BYU’s, Max Hall, didn’t play a great game but when you toss the game winning touchdown in OT, nothing else really matters but the win. BYU 26 Utah 23.
The Battle for Los Angeles was normal. USC putting a beat down on UCLA. The funny and hypocritical thing was Pete Carroll calling a deep ball to Damien Williams after UCLA called a timeout when USC was trying to go into the victory formation. Pete was upset when Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh was running up the score on him, but he was doing the same thing to UCLA.
Oh Jevan Snead, Oh Jevan Snead. You made me look like an idiot. And to think I picked you for my dark horse Heisman candidate. Last year everyone wondered what would have happened if Snead stayed at Texas. Well buddy your making Mack Brown look like a genius for sticking with Colt. Ole Miss loses to Mississippi State in another rivalry game upset this weekend 41-27.
Bayou Bucket….Houston 73 to Rice’s 14 points. Ouch, Rice musta said something about somebody’s mama.
Best game of the college weekend was Notre Dame and Stanford. These two teams went back and forth. Michael Floyd who? It’s all about Golden Tate baby, that kid is a monster. Toby Gerhart needs to be in NYC for the Heisman. Oh well, at least Charlie Weis‘ last game was a thriller.
Here was the last installment of the Nike Pro Combat uniforms this weekend
Florida – “Finish the Mission”
Miami – “The U Knows”
LSU – “Cochon De Lait”
Texas – “Texas Fight/It Only Takes Eleven”
NFL
NFL Thanksgiving Day football….errr boring.
Charles Woodson, not Darren Sharper is the defensive player of the year. Hands down.
Of course the Cowboys looked good against the Raiders.
Darius Heyward-Bey caught his first touchdown pass of the year. I am not sure if we should be calling him out or calling out the Raiders quarterback play on Bey’s disappointing rookie season.
What has happened to the Giants….gahh lee.
Mattey Ice was ice cold at the end of the game yesterday to Roddy White to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Only in the NFL can a bottom cellar dweller of a team defeat a playoff team, i.e. Dolphins vs. Bills this weekend.
The Carolina Panthers want a quarterback for Christmas. Hell, I want one for them.
The Texans got on top of the Colts 17-0 yesterday. Why did the let off the gas. The started playing not to lose in the 2nd quarter, WTF! Well, you know what happens when you pussy foot with Peyton Manning, he wins, every single time leading his team to 28 unanswered points to win, 35-27. Colts are 10-0 and don’t look they are letting up anytime soon.
Brett Favre has 24 TDs and 3 Ints. Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.
Colin Cowherd isn’t buying any Vince Young stock, but I am. Matter of fact, I never sold any of my original stock, but I am buying some more. I”ve bought a little more each week and after that 99 yard drive, I’m stocking up for the winter so it can keep me warm.
Not sure what Hines Ward is talking about. Sure Ben Roethlisberger practiced all week long, because his injury heals overtime not overnight. So a smart team/coach/player will prepare for the best, which is for the doctors to deem Benny Roe good enough to play before the game. The doc didn’t do that so the Steelers rolled with Dennis Dixon. Hines might be tough, but if he keeps on being tough and plays with concussions he’ll be soft like the rest of the former NFL vegetable players. Hines Ward pulled a true T.O. He needs to go to his quarterback and apologize, point blank.
Nike, Nike, Nike, you all have done it again. This is not a paid advertisment for Nike nor is it a shameless ploy to have Nike advertise or sponsor the site. This is truth from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my stomach. I love Nike. Reason number infinity is their alliance with several college team to develop the Nike Pro Combat uniforms. Oklahoma, Miami, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Texas, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Missour, and TCU will all don the new uniforms in the up coming weeks.
Visit the Nike Pro Combat Uniform website. When I say these things are dope, I mean it in every sense of the word, and they come with their own slogans as well.
Two teams have already debuted their uniforms last weekend, TCU when they played Utah and Virginia Tech when they played Maryland.
TCU Horned Frogs- “Don’t Back Down”
Virginia Tech Hokies – “Good Guys Wear White (UT Prosim – Latin for That I may serve)”
Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Florida State will unveil their Nike Pro Combat uniforms this Saturday November 21.
Oklahoma Sooners – “Stake Our Claim”
Ohio State Buckeyes – “Earned”
Florida State Seminoles – “Fear the Spear”
Miami, Mizzouri, LSU, Texas, and Florida will all unveil their new uniforms during the last week of the regular season.
Miami Hurricanes – “The U Knows”
Missouri Tigers – “Beast Mode”
LSU Tigers – “Cochon De Lait” (insert quick history lesson – literally translates from French to English as “pig in milk”, or it is called a “suckling pig”. A Cochon de Lait is basically a cajun pig roast of a whole young pig. The pig is slow roasted for 6 to 12 hours. That is what makes a Cochon de Lait an event rather than just cooking a meal. It’s an extended “male bonding”, “story telling”, “bull shooting”, “beverage of your choice drinking”, “fire tending” event.)
Texas Longhorns - “It Only Takes Eleven/Texas Fight”
(true story, the Texas video isn’t up on YouTube yet. No, I’m not just being a Sooner not posting their video. It’s really not up. When it is I”ll be sure to post it.)
Florida Gators – “Finish the Mission”
Here’s a cool video on the new Nike technology
I can’t wait for the uniforms to come out. We’ll update the article once all ten teams have rocked their new joints.
Yo yo, what’s good. Ricky Writer here. These are my quick cuts and jukes over this past weekend of football.
In the newly storied rivalry that is Rutgers and USF, USF got their asses hand to em one time each quarter. You all wanted to annoint USF Frosh QB, B.J. Daniels as the next best thing, and yes, he is good, but he is still a Freshman. If Matt Barkley is struggling in So Cal you can bet Mr. Daniels is as well. The Frosh QB we should be talking about is Rutgers QB, Tom Savage. They boy has 10 tds and 2 picks on the whole year.
If you look at the score of the Cincinnati vs. West Virginia game, you’d say uh-oh Cincy is gonna go down real soon. They barely got by WVU. But it was an off game for the Bearcats who made uncharacteristic mistakes and still found a way to win. Tony Pike will lead the Bearcats the rest of the way. He stepped in and threw 4 passes to knock the rust off and tossed 2 tds. After watching this game, I think Cincy stays undefeated through the regular season.
This is where it gets painful. is it bad if the three brand name undefeated teams bore me and I’m only excited by the off-brand three undefeated teams?
Florida struggled up until the 4th quarter to be South Carolina. Yes the Gamecocks have a great defense, but these are the Florida Gators. Just signs of how much this college football season sucks, but we have to give the Gators some love, that’s 20 victories in a row. I wonder if Steve Spurrier ever regrets leaving Florida? He’d never admit it but I think he does. He could be sitting pretty like A-Rod, and setting himself up to overthrow Joe Paterno with the most victories.
It’s not what’s on the outside that counts, it’s what’s on the inside. Mississippi State wore some cool new black uniforms in hopes of defeating #2 Alabama. No bueno! 31-3 rout at home, not a good look.
Do I really have to talk about Texas drilling Baylor? I mean Robert Griffin is not playing so you know how the game was going to turn out.
Now I get excited…
The TCU vs. Utah game was supposed to be a mini-bowl game for all the MWC marbles. TCU took Utah’s marbles and cookies. LIke I’ve said before no one wants to see that TCU 4-2-5 defense or offense. TCU QB, Andy Dalton, is lighting up the scoreboard. I”ll be honest, I don’t think Cincy or Boise St. can really hang with the big boys this year, but TCU is foreal.
Yes the Idaho vs. Boise State is actually a rivalry although it hasnt been with the rise of the Broncos and fall of the Vandals. But the coming in the Vandals were 7-3 and bowl eligible. But Boise St. let them know who runs that state in a 63-25 rout to remain undefeated but still on the outside looking in as far as the BCS title game is concerned.
GA Tech puts a smile on my face. Their option attack is unparalleled and it takes me back to the old school Wishbone, Triple Option, Wing-T days when I was a young lad in the 90s. They clinched a spot in the ACC title game by defeating the newly respectable Duke Blue Devils 49-10. GA Tech will likely face Clemson. It should be a good one. Congrats Yellow Jackets.
LSU is not LSU anymore. Yes they have injuries but it’s evident they aren’t as dominant as no one has been in this weak ass college football season. They barely beat LA Tech 24-16.
USC got beat by Stanford. Am I surprised, no. I am surprised that they got drilled at home though, 55-21. Standford coach, Jim Harbaugh, is a serious ball coach, and I expect Michigan to buy out Rich Rodriguez’s contract and bring the ex-Wolverine Harbaugh back to Ann Arbor. The biggest mistake Pete Carroll made was not being able to convince Mark Sanchez to stay but replacing Steve Sarkisian with Jeremy Bates who hasn’t done much in his career other than latch onto Mike Shanahan.
Ohio State is going to the BCS after their victory over Iowa. It’s not that impressive to do anymore when you are the dominant team in the Big Ten. Let’s give them props, and my boy Terrelle Pryor is coming into his own now they they are opening up the playbook to him, as he went 14/17 against the Hawkeyes.
I’m a little confused by the rankings, which has Iowa being dropped two spots to #15 which is fine seeing as to how they lost. But Penn State, which Iowa beat on the road jumped five spots from #17 to #12 and is three spots ahead of a team they lost too?!?! Not to mention another team in which Iowa beat, the Wisconsin Badgers are #14, one slot ahead of the Hawkeyes. This is the stupidity that I find with the polls. I don’t think these writers watch to games to be honest.
Dion Lewis, Heisman? Anyone agree? He has carried the offense on his back to be honest. Notre Dame’s fall as predicted by 6Magazine’s Claude Clayborne is happening before our eyes. Michael Floyd has been back two weeks now for the Irish but I can’t tell because Golden Tate is playing like he’s the number #1 receiver.
Pardon me while I’ve just realized I haven’t been giving you quick cuts and jukes. It’s been more like methodical four and five yard gains down the field. I just passed the 50 yard line, so I’ma get my Barry Sanders on again if you don’t mind.
I don’t know why people continue to hate on Oregon’s uniforms, they are tight every week.
Miami Hurricanes met their maker, Butch Davis this past weekend.
The Houston Cougars are slowly starting to hurt my feelings.
Because of Penn St. and Wisconsin robbing Iowa of ranking spots, I will not mention or bold them in this week’s Monday Morning Cornerback.
C.J. Spiller is the nation’s most exciting and valuable player, therefore he should win the Heisman trophy.
NFL
Maybe Josh McDaniels was right about Jay Cutler…..
Matt Ryan meet the sophomore slump. She’s a cruel daughter of a bitch. Why is Carolina WR, Steve Smith, complaining about offensive involvement when he caught 4 balls for 34 yards and 2tds?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Bengals, Colts, and Patriots but does anyone really want to play the Dolphins in the playoffs? Yes, they are 4-5, but they will be in the playoffs, watch!
Duh, Lions vs. Vikings you know who won, but did you see this. WTH!
Mark Sanchez meet the Rookie Ridicule. It happens, you’re gonna suck in your rookie season unless you’re Ben Roethlisberger or Dan Marino. You’ll bounce back the last half of the season we promise. The Jags are flying under the radar this year, but their defense has been amazing.
Not sure what it is, but the Bengals have the Steelers number and they better not face them in the Wildcard game if they know what is good for them.
I keep saying it. The Saints don’t have a run defense. I don’t care if people were injured or not, when those guys are healthy they still had the same problems. Look at the stats on the Carolina and St. Louis games. But 9-0 is 9-0.
T.O.’s mid-season melt down came right on cue. ESPN AFC East blogger, Tim Graham, now actually have valid reasons to provoke T.O. Chris Johnson doesn’t have much of an o-line and leads the league in rushing. So why are we giving Adrian Peterson all the MVP considerations?
The Redskins won? Ge the fuck outta here! Man…saying anything would be ruining the moment.
Do I really have to talk about Kansas City vs. Oakland?
Bad Kurt Warner stayed home and Good Kurt Warner came to play. My fantasy team thanks him.
Charles Woodson beat the Dallas Cowboys all by himself.
I think Andy Reid’s welcome in slowly fading.
When you kick Bill Belichick in the balls you normally brake your foot and have to have two or three toes amputated and he will not apologize or pay your medical bills.
My case is proven. If Miami played Virginia Tech on a dry field the Canes would only have one loss on their record this season. Did anyone see the Tar Heels defense? Why haven’t they been playing like this all year.
West Virginia is due to win one of their big games. Cincy or Pitt which one will it be?
As skeptical as I’ve been of B.J. Daniels, this Frosh is the real deal and is officially 6Magazine approved!
The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party was a great party for the 2000s. It’s was freaking party for Florida fans to watch Georgia get beat 8 times out of 10. Hopefully the 20-teens will serve better for the Dawgs.
I find it odd that OSU didn’t get any calls at home. I also feel sorry for Zac Robinson dropped balls left and right and no Dez Bryant. Texas defense is good and OSU probably wouldn’t have pulled out the victory anyway. Earl Thomas gets my vote for the Thorpe award. The kid is like Ed Reed all over again.
Indiana got jobbed. As will Iowa when the BCS results come out in a couple of weeks and they are undefeated on the outside looking in. Tell them to thank the Big Ten commissioner who voted against the playoff or plus one system.
Celebrate now Oregon. USC is in a rebuilding year. We all know that. LaMichael James or Dion Lewis, who is your favorite Frosh RB?
TCU is #6 in the country, but no one goes to their home games. Maybe if this was Maine, Vermont, Indiana, states where football is not king, but in Texas?
Boise St. is smooth sailing into a BCS game and if they keep it up a championship game next year. Preseason polls suck because they pigeon hole teams before they ever set foot on the field. If we are going to keep this stupid BCS let’s not vote on who’s the best team until week 7 and start the BCS calculations until Week 9. Capice?
Cincy. Word to the wise BearCats. (why do we call it “word to the wise” if they are so wise then why do they need our advice?) Texas will stumble this year. Learn from their mistake they committed last year.
LSU is getting by on a mediocre season and schedule. Funny how when the SEC seems to have an off year the rest of the country does as well.
Utah is one Terrance Cain interception away from being in Oregon’s shoes right now. Don’t sleep on the Utes this bowl season. Ask ‘08 Alabama.
Do I really have to talk about Ohio State beating New Mexio State 45-0?
If Houston had a lick of defense they’d be undefeated. Like it or not Case Keenum needs to be in NYC for the Heisman presentation. If Colt Brennan can go from the WAC Case can go from C-USA.
With a win over Duke and another conference loss for GA Tech, The U could be in the ACC championship game.
OU has the best cornerback tandem in the nation. Brandon Banks is the best wide receiver you’ve never heard about.
I was diggin’ the black Tennesse unis and the Georgia change up as well.
Golden Tate is making me forget about Michael Floyd.
Jevan Snead has solidified me as an idiot. (I picked him as a 1st team All-American)
When I heard UCONN lost, I felt bad for them. They’ve gone 0-2 since losing starting CB, Jasper Howard, to a stab wound two weeks ago. But when I heard the player that scored the winnig touchdown for Rutgers was Howard’s best friend, Tim Brown who also doubles as a WR for Rutgers, I didn’t feel so bad.
I don’t know what you heard, but FSU vs. NC State was the game of the week. The highlights below won’t show it, but Russell Wilson balled his ass off. Passing 20/30 for 349 yards and 5 tds. It’ll be interesting to see how the careers of Wilson, Terrelle Pryor, and Robert Griffin all turn out.
Ron Zook finally won a game. Rich Rodriguez’s Michigan Wolverines continued their losing streak. Ron Zook beat Michigan! Rich Rodriguez lost to Ron Zook and the Fighting Illini.
NFL
The Raven’s defense finally played like the Ravens defense. Kyle Orton mistook his Broncos uniform for a Bear’s uniform.
T.O., T.O., T.O., I feel for you man. I really do. Now you know how Randy Moss felt in Oakland. They say Trent Edwards is coming back.
Ted Ginn Jr. keep up the good work. Lobby to return some punts. Take more kicks back, play your role as the slot receiver, and you might work your way back into the starting lineup. You’ve been playing ball all your life, don’t make it hard than what it needs to be.
Giants? What’s going on? 40 points?
I am being completely honest. JaMarcus Russell is playing better.
Vince Young starts. Vince Young wins. I love it when people say he can’t win with his style but he won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and led his team to the playoffs and that same team bailed on him yet he continues to win when they need him.
I can’t decide who is more fickle. Kurt Warner or Brett Favre. At least Favre’s fickleness isn’t on the football field. Warner’s right arm has schizophrenia.
Last but not least. Mr. Favre. You beat Green Bay twice. I mean since you didn’t come back for revenge there’s no need to make a big hoopla about it. On the next one buddy.
Neither Florida nor Georgia has forgotten the controversies from their last two meetings that have further flamed the rivalry.
The top-ranked Gators, though, have more important things to focus on as they prepare to take on the Bulldogs in Jacksonville, Fla. on Saturday.
In what has been a one-sided rivalry in recent years with Florida (7-0, 5-0 SEC) winning 16 of the last 19 matchups, the last two meetings have been memorable for reasons other than the result of the games.
In 2007, urged on by coach Mark Richt, the entire Georgia team stormed the field to celebrate its opening touchdown en route to a rare Bulldogs victory. Last year, in what many viewed as retaliation, Florida coach Urban Meyer called two timeouts in the final 44 seconds of the Gators’ 49-10 pounding of the Bulldogs.
Meyer denied calling the timeouts was about revenge, but Georgia players have a different take. A photo of Meyer with his hands raised in a T hangs all over the team’s training facility, providing a bitter reminder of what happened.
“Of course, that’s going to be a very big motivating factor for us,” Georgia safety Bryan Evans said. “Every time we see his hands in the timeout position, it reminds us of what happened last year.”
While Georgia players are using last season’s tense finish as extra motivation for the latest installment of the rivalry, Florida needs little incentive as it chases a second straight national championship.
The Gators, who also hold the top spot in the BCS poll, are coming off a 29-19 win at Mississippi State last Saturday. Mississippi State tied the game in the third quarter, but Florida ran off 16 straight points, capped by an interception returned for a touchdown. Replays show it may have been fumbled before crossing the goal line, but an officials review upheld the score.
The Gators weren’t interested this week in debating that call, however, as they have bigger concerns given the recent inconsistency of Tim Tebow, who was 12 for 22 for 127 yards Saturday and failed to throw a touchdown for the second time this season. He threw a season-high two interceptions, giving him four for the season.
After throwing six touchdowns and one interception in the first four games, Tebow has passed for two scores and three picks in the last three contests.
“I don’t think it’s getting to me,” Tebow said. “Do I put pressure on me? Yeah. I put a lot more pressure than y’all could possibly put on me, so I don’t think that’s getting to me. I think just wanting to excel, wanting everything to be right.”
Not all of Tebow’s problems are solely in his control, however. He’s been sacked 15 times this season, equaling his total from 14 games last season.
“Tim’s not trying to be a hero,” Meyer said. “But we might be asking him to do too much.”
Tebow has six rushing touchdowns this season and 49 for his career, one shy of breaking former Georgia standout Herschel Walker’s SEC record.
While Tebow breaking Walker’s record may be inevitable, Georgia (4-3, 3-2) will try its best to prevent him from doing it this weekend.
The Bulldogs are hoping that an upset of the Gators could push them back into the SEC East race. They rebounded from back-to-back losses against LSU and Tennessee with a 34-10 victory at Vanderbilt on Oct. 17 and are coming off a bye.
Georgia had one of its best games of the season the last time out. Joe Cox threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns while the team rushed for a season-high 173 yards. The Bulldogs are last in the SEC in rushing yards per game at 108.0.
“(The running game) didn’t do a lot at first but if you keep driving the ball, it opens up play-action and then you’ll start getting big runs and that’s how you put teams away,” said Cox, who is third in the conference with 1,581 passing yards this season. “It wasn’t our best day running the ball, but it was effective when we needed it to be.”
The much-maligned defense also came up big. Ranked 100th nationally in scoring defense entering the game, Georgia came up with three sacks and had an interception that set up a touchdown.
This is the fourth time the Bulldogs are playing the nation’s No. 1 team. Two of the previous three were against Florida — in 1985 and 1996.
“The hatred is already there with the fans, the coaches, everyone,” Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran said of the rivalry. “There’s no other way to put it: We just don’t like each other.”
Texas-Oklahoma St. Preview
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Texas star Colt McCoy is the reigning Big 12 offensive player of the week and the nation’s second-most accurate passer. Oklahoma State knows all too well about how difficult it is to defend against the Heisman Trophy candidate.
The lone remaining teams with perfect Big 12 records meet with first place in the South Division on the line when McCoy and the third-ranked Longhorns try to extend their 11-game winning streak over the 13th-ranked Cowboys on Saturday night in Stillwater.
Texas (7-0, 4-0) hasn’t lost to Oklahoma State (6-1, 3-0) since a 42-16 defeat Oct. 4, 1997, and leads the all-time series 21-2. The 1997 game was the last time the Longhorns entered this matchup as an unranked team while the Cowboys have been ranked just three times during the 11-game slide.
The Cowboys believe this is their best chance to end that run of futility, having won five straight since a 45-35 loss to Houston on Sept. 12.
“I haven’t beat them since I’ve been here, same for the guys in there,” senior quarterback Zac Robinson said. “It’s a little extra motivation obviously with what’s on the line and both teams playing well right now. Having them at our place will be a lot of fun.”
Oklahoma State will have to do a better job of slowing down McCoy, whose 71.7 completion percentage is second in the country to Arizona’s Nick Foles (72.3). McCoy has been even better against the Cowboys, completing 79.4 percent for 1,019 yards to go 3-0.
In his lone visit to Boone-Pickens Stadium on Nov. 3, 2007, McCoy was 20 of 28 for 282 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He helped engineer a comeback from a 21-point deficit entering the fourth quarter in a 38-35 victory.
“You can’t really see how good they really are on film because they are going to play like a different team when we are there,” McCoy said about the Cowboys’ defense. “Their intensity is going to rise. We are playing at their place at night, and it’s a conference game, so you can’t really see that side of it when you watch film.”
McCoy passed for 391 yards — his highest total in a Big 12 game — and two touchdowns while the Longhorns used two big defensive stands in the fourth quarter for a 28-24 win over the Cowboys last season in Austin.
Last week, McCoy threw for 269 yards and three scores while completing 26 of 31 passes in a 41-7 rout at Missouri, earning conference offensive player of the week honors and extending his school-record streak of consecutive games with a TD pass to 24.
The Longhorns also are trying to move up in the BCS standings as they currently trail Florida and Alabama.
“You can feel pressure or you can go in and say, ‘We are Texas,’” coach Mack Brown said. “We’ve earned the right to be good here so let’s go ahead and act like you’re good and walk into the stadium like you’re going to win the game.”
Although Texas lost three defensive starters in the first three rounds of the NFL draft in April, its current defense is ranked second in the nation. Three of the last four Texas opponents have managed fewer than 175 yards of offense, and the last five have averaged 0.8 yards per carry.
“They’re very athletic. They can run and they are physical,” Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said of the Longhorns’ defense. “They’ve been that way for a number of years and I think they’re very well-coached.
Robinson has thrown for 629 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in two career matchups with the Longhorns. He was sacked five times in last season’s loss.
The quarterback is 218 yards away from breaking Gundy’s school record for career passing yards (7,997). Robinson was 23 of 27 for 250 yards and a season-high three touchdowns in last Saturday’s 34-7 win at Baylor.
“He’s playing with more confidence. He’s managed the game very well,” Gundy said. “In my opinion, being a good quarterback is being able to manage the game in understanding what your strengths are and where their weaknesses are and try to attack those areas using what your strengths are as an offense. I think he’s done a pretty good job of that over the last few weeks.”
Cowboys running back Kendall Hunter, an all-Big 12 selection as the league’s leading rusher a season ago, has missed the last five games with a sprained ankle and is expected to have a limited role if he plays Saturday. Hunter ran for 161 yards on 18 carries at Texas last year.
Keith Toston has replaced Hunter the last five games, averaging 97.0 yards on the ground.
Oklahoma State learned Tuesday that the NCAA has upheld the suspension of All-American wide receiver Dez Bryant for the remainder of the 2009 season. The university announced on Oct. 7 Bryant was declared ineligible for lying about his relationship with former NFL star Deion Sanders.
Bryant, a junior, will be eligible to play in 2010. He caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns last season while also scoring twice on punt returns. This season, Bryant led the team with 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns through OSU’s first three games.
Southern Cal-Oregon Preview
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While the Pac-10 champion won’t be crowned in Saturday’s top-10 matchup at Oregon, Southern California’s conference title hopes would all but end with a loss.
The fourth-ranked Trojans look to stay in the hunt for an eighth consecutive league title and shore up some defensive breakdowns when they visit the 10th-ranked Ducks and their prolific offense.
In less than two months, Oregon (6-1, 4-0) has made a season that could have become defined by an embarrassing loss at Boise State — and LeGarrette Blount’s infamous punch — into one with a chance to win its first Pac-10 title since 2001.
Riding a six-game winning streak, the Ducks, off to their best conference start since opening the 2000 season with seven straight league wins, stand alone atop the Pac-10.
Their lead is hardly safe.
USC (6-1, 3-1) and Arizona are tied for second, and either team could take the conference crown by winning out.
“Our conference is as tough right now, as I’m seeing it, as I’ve ever seen,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “The team that makes it through it on top is going to be really good.”
The Trojans have owned at least a share of the Pac-10 title each season since Oregon last won it, but they’ll likely be out of the running should they lose this weekend.
To avoid that fate, USC’s defense will likely need to improve upon its performance from last Saturday’s 42-36 win over Oregon State.
The Trojans allowed the Beavers to roll up 482 yards of total offense, the most yielded by USC since giving up 556 yards to Texas in a 41-38 Rose Bowl loss following the 2005 season.
It was also the second straight shaky defensive effort for USC, which gave up 367 total yards in a 34-27 defeat at then-No. 25 Notre Dame on Oct. 17. The Trojans allowed an average of 8.6 points and 238.6 yards in their first five games.
Despite the disconcerting trend, defensive tackle Armond Armstead isn’t worried.
“It wasn’t like they were constantly moving down the field and scoring on us,” Armstead said. “The mistakes that were made can definitely be corrected. We know we have a good defense here, and we just need to play 60 minutes.”
Proving it for 60 minutes against a high-powered Oregon offense led by a healthy quarterback Jeremiah Masoli should be quite a challenge.
Masoli missed the Ducks’ 24-10 win over UCLA on Oct. 10 with a knee injury, and the offense never got in sync. He returned to the lineup last Saturday and didn’t seem to miss a beat, passing for 157 yards and a touchdown and running for 54 yards and two scores in a 43-19 victory over Washington.
The versatile quarterback is the key to Oregon’s offense, with the team averaging 45.7 points and 484.7 yards in the last three games he has played.
Masoli isn’t the only playmaker the Trojans need to contain.
LaMichael James, Oregon’s workhorse since Blount’s suspension, has rushed for 657 yards and six touchdowns in his last five games. The redshirt freshman running back totaled 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Huskies, and has had at least one run of at least 26 yards in each of his last six games.
“He’s got great vision and toughness,” Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. “He’s a hard player to knock down because of his size. He’s pretty solid and I think he’s just gotten better each week and it will be exciting to see him match up with this team that USC has on defense.”
While Masoli and James lead the offense, the Ducks’ defense has been just as impressive.
Oregon limited Washington to three points through three quarters last week, and has held three of its last four opponents to 211 yards or fewer.
The Ducks’ 19 takeaways are tied for the Pac-10 lead — posing a tough challenge for mistake-prone Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley.
The freshman has thrown at least one interception in each of his last three games, including two last week. Barkley has thrown for 1,540 yards with seven TDs and five interceptions in six games this season.
USC may need its steady ground attack featuring Joe McKnight and Allen Bradford to take the pressure off Barkley.
McKnight was limited last week because of sore hands and finished with 65 rushing yards on 11 carries, but Bradford ran for a career-high 147 yards and two scores.
“This is a great task for us and we are going to have to put together a terrific plan on both sides of the ball and on special teams to matchup,” Carroll said.
The Trojans defeated Oregon 44-10 last season but lost 24-17 loss to the then-No. 5 Ducks in their last trip to Autzen Stadium in 2007. That was USC’s only defeat in the last five meetings.
NFL
Dolphins-Jets Preview
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The New York Jets’ three-game losing streak is over thanks to last week’s blowout victory, but it would mean a lot more if they can get some revenge against the archrival Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Giants Stadium.
It’s the same venue where the Dolphins secured the AFC East title with a 24-17 victory over the Jets to close the 2008 regular season. New York didn’t fare better in the rematch Oct. 12, losing 31-27.
However, it’s the Dolphins (2-4) who are at the bottom of the division while New York (4-3) is on first-place New England’s heels after a much-needed victory last Sunday.
That 38-0 win in Oakland let the Jets not only snap their skid but regain some confidence. Their defense forced four turnovers and blanked an opponent for the first time in nearly six years despite playing its first game without nose tackle Kris Jenkins, who was lost for the season to a torn ACL the previous week against Buffalo.
“It makes it so easy on the offense when your defense is playing like that,” rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez said. “Hats off to them, they had a heck of a game to shut that team out. I don’t care who we’re playing, that’s a big-time accomplishment for our team.”
Sanchez, who had thrown five interceptions in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Bills, was just 9 of 15 for 143 yards and a touchdown last Sunday while embattled receiver Braylon Edwards was held to one catch for 14 yards. Edwards was charged with misdemeanor assault this week stemming from an altercation in Cleveland before he was traded to the Jets.
But the passing game had the pressure relieved as the Jets rolled up more than 300 yards on the ground for the second straight week — the first team to do that since Buffalo in 1975. New York achieved the feat even though running back Leon Washington suffered a season-ending broken leg early in the game.
While starter Thomas Jones had 26 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, perhaps the more impressive performance came from rookie Shonn Greene, who racked up 144 yards and two TDs on 19 carries in his first extended action.
“I just look forward to more opportunities,” Greene said. “I’m not going to fill Leon’s shoes, but I’m going to do the best I can.”
New York has the league’s best rushing offense, averaging 184.9 yards per game, but the Dolphins hold second place in that category (170.3).
Miami had 151 rushing yards in its Week 5 win over the Jets, with Ronnie Brown’s two-yard touchdown out of the wildcat formation providing the winning score with six seconds to play.
“I used to see all those gimmicks when I was coaching back in college,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said of the tactic, blaming his own team’s defense. “I’ve been a part of some bad performances before on defense, just not this bad.”
Even though Miami’s wildcat struggled against New Orleans on Sunday, totaling 30 yards in 14 plays, the Dolphins still had a chance to knock off the unbeaten Saints. Miami was up 21 in the first half and 10 early in the fourth quarter only to allow the final 22 points in a 46-34 loss.
After throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions in his first two NFL starts, Chad Henne had two picks returned for scores, including the decisive blow with two minutes to play.
Wide receiver Ted Ginn also struggled, dropping three passes and tipping one of the interceptions.
“We have to have good timing with the wideouts, have to run good routes, and I have to put the ball where it needs to be,” Henne said. “There were some miscues there with me and the wide receivers.”
Henne played much better against the Jets three weeks ago, going 20 for 26 for 241 yards and two touchdowns — one a 53-yarder to Ginn, the No. 9 overall draft pick in 2007.
“We made (Henne) look like Dan Marino,” Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said. “They did what they want, and they did it at will.”
The Dolphins are trying to avoid a fifth loss, which would equal their total from the entire 2008 regular season. Coach Tony Sparano said his team isn’t thinking about its already dimming hopes of returning to the playoffs.
“When you put yourself in the hole that we put ourselves into, we can’t have those thoughts,” Sparano said. “We just have to think about our next week, and I think right now we have to worry about the Jets and winning a ballgame on the road, and another division game.”
The Dolphins are 2-0 in AFC East games, but they’ll have to move on without starting cornerback Will Allen, who tore his ACL against New Orleans and will miss the rest of the season.
Giants-Eagles Preview
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Although the cities of New York and Philadelphia will no doubt be focusing on the World Series matchup of the Yankees and Phillies this weekend, it will be difficult for fans not to turn their attention to the meeting between the Giants and Eagles.
Making the game between the NFC East rivals all the more enticing is the fact that the Eagles ruined the Giants’ hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champions last season.
A busy Sunday of sports in Philadelphia starts at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles look to hand the suddenly vulnerable Giants a third straight loss and gain at least a share of first place in the division.
Before the Yankees and Phillies play Game 4 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park, one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries will continue across the street.
“We love it, we love it,” Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said. “Everyone can tune into our game first and go to the bathroom and refresh your popcorn and drinks and then go out and watch the excellent baseball game.”
The Giants (5-2) lead Philadelphia (4-2) and Dallas in the division, with the Eagles set to host the Cowboys next weekend.
“It is a divisional game; we have a half-a-game lead on the Philadelphia Eagles,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “The game is in Philadelphia. I don’t know that it gets any more exciting.”
New York will likely have the bitter end to last season on its mind. The Giants went 12-4 to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC but fell 23-11 to the Eagles in a divisional playoff game — one of two home losses to Philadelphia that season.
“We have a big game vs. Philly at Philly, it’s a huge game,” Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. “We know it’s going to be a tough battle, but we have to go out there, play well and eliminate the mistakes.”
Manning, 4-0 as a starter in the regular season at Philadelphia, knows he has to cut down on his miscues after the last two games. He had 10 touchdowns and two interceptions during the Giants’ 5-0 start but threw for two scores and four interceptions in the losses.
Manning was 19 of 37 for 243 yards with one touchdown and three INTs in last Sunday’s 24-17 home loss to Arizona. He was sacked three times, matching his total in that category over the first six games.
McNabb, meanwhile, proved to be very difficult to bring down for the Giants last season. New York sacked him 15 times in two wins during its Super Bowl season two years ago, but didn’t register any last season in three games with Osi Umenyiora missing the year due to knee surgery.
Umenyiora set a Giants record with six sacks of McNabb in a 16-3 win Oct. 5, 2007, as he took advantage of then-rookie left tackle Winston Justice. Now the Eagles’ right tackle, Justice will go up against Umenyiora or Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck — the cornerstones of New York’s top-ranked defense.
“We all know what type of player Osi is — he is an All-Pro guy; one that people focus in on,” McNabb said. “So I don’t think it is a change.
“The defense that they had — you always start off by saying Michael Strahan and Osi. Now you say Osi and Tuck. So there are two guys that you truly focus in on no matter if they are on the right side or left side. You just always know where they are.”
The Eagles bounced back from a 13-9 loss at lowly Oakland two weeks ago with a 27-17 road win over Washington on Monday night. DeSean Jackson scored on a 67-yard run and a 57-yard reception in the first half as Philadelphia built a 20-point lead and cruised.
The bad news for Philadelphia was the loss of running back Brian Westbrook in the first quarter with a concussion. His status for this week is uncertain.
“We’ll see what kind of improvement he makes,” coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. “He is doing the tests that the guys do throughout the week here. We’ll see how he does by the time we get to game time.”
New York receiver Steve Smith is second in the league with 45 catches and third with 594 yards through the air, but has failed to reach the end zone in his last three games. Rookie receiver Hakeem Nicks, though, had 194 yards in the last two games and scored a TD in each of the last four contests.
Manning believes the Giants should be able to correct their problems.
“We are 5-2, we’re not in a bad spot,” he said. “We are going to get back to playing better football.”
Vikings-Packers Preview
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For 16 seasons, Brett Favre was the face of the Green Bay Packers.
He enjoyed legendary status in Title Town, becoming the NFL’s all-time leading passer while winning three MVP awards and a Super Bowl. He was often cheered loudly at Lambeau Field, but this time he’ll be playing for the rival Minnesota Vikings, and likely won’t receive the same warm reception.
A mix of both cheers and boos is what Favre should expect as he takes the field for the first time as a visitor in Green Bay on Sunday as he tries to help the Vikings bounce back from their first loss and take a commanding lead in the NFC North.
A second-round pick by Atlanta in 1991, Favre was traded to Green Bay in 1992. He made his Packers debut later that year and eventually led the club to seven division titles, 11 playoff appearances and 13 winning seasons while starting 255 straight games. He set NFL records with 61,655 passing yards and 442 touchdowns and will one day be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Favre contemplated retirement for most of this decade, finally doing so shortly after Green Bay’s 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC championship game on Jan. 20, 2008.
A few months after Favre’s tearful goodbye news conference in March of that year, the Packers traded him to the New York Jets when he tried to come back, only to learn Green Bay was committed to Aaron Rodgers. Favre started strong in New York, but the team lost four of its final five games to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs, leading to his second retirement.
The Jets released Favre after the draft and he spent the summer working out before signing with Minnesota (6-1) in August.
Joining perhaps the Packers’ most bitter rival has not gone over well in Green Bay and despite just one losing season in his tenure with the club, Favre could receive an unruly greeting from the faithful who once adored him.
“I don’t think it’ll be as bad,” Favre said, “but I don’t know that.
“If you’re a true fan, you’re a true fan. The people that have jumped ship or whatever completely, what can I do? … There was always Brett Favre haters out there, and that will never change.”
Favre is downplaying any anxiety about returning to Lambeau, and insists he’s more concerned about the division race.
Favre is excelling with the first-place Vikings — passing for 1,681 yards, 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions — yet another reason Packers fans are a little irked.
The 40-year-old led Minnesota to six straight wins, including a 30-23 home victory over Green Bay (4-2) on Oct. 5. He was unable to extend that streak as the Vikings fell 27-17 at Pittsburgh last Sunday.
Minnesota outgained the Steelers 386-259 and held the ball for nearly 37 minutes yet still lost thanks to 11 penalties, two turnovers in the red zone that went for touchdowns and an inability to put the ball in the end zone from 1 yard out in the third quarter.
“We left a lot of plays out there. We had many opportunities to win,” cornerback Karl Paymah said. “We’ve just got to learn from it and just keep pushing.”
Favre was forced to attempt 50 passes as the Vikings struggled to get the ground game going with Adrian Peterson rushing for 69 yards on 18 carries.
Minnesota will have to be much sharper against a Packers defense that is starting to come together under new coordinator Dom Capers and his 3-4 scheme.
Favre completed 24 of 31 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns against Green Bay in Week 4, but the Packers have yielded just 288 total yards and three points in winning two games since.
After defeating Detroit 26-0 on Oct. 18, Green Bay — which ranks third in total defense (284.8 yards per game) and fifth in scoring defense (16.0 points per game) — outgained Cleveland 460-139 in a 31-3 win last Sunday.
Although those victories have come against teams with a combined 2-11 record, they’ve helped boost the Packers’ confidence.
“It’s good to have two big wins,” linebacker Aaron Kampman said. “We haven’t done that back to back. Dominant performances on the defensive side of the ball. Obviously it’s going to help us going into a very large game, large stage again at Lambeau Field.”
While fans at Lambeau might have mixed feelings for Favre, they are all rallying behind Rodgers.
He threw for 246 yards and a season-high three touchdowns against the Browns, is second in the league with a 110.8 rating and has passed for 1,702 yards with 11 TDs and only two picks.
“He deserves everything that he accomplishes,” Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. “He’s just doing a really good job of running the offense and I can’t say enough about that.”
Rodgers finally had some time in the pocket last week as the offensive line didn’t allow a sack after giving up a league-worst 25 through the first five games.
He likely won’t have the same protection this week, though.
The Vikings lead the league with 24 sacks and sacked Rodgers eight times with Jared Allen accumulating 4 1/2, a forced fumble and a safety in the first meeting.
“We’re playing a much better opponent this week,” cornerback Charles Woodson said. “We can’t rest on the last two weeks.”
The Packers, 2-1 at home this season, have won three straight and 12 of 15 over the Vikings in Green Bay.
