Tuesday Morning Overreactions: Making a Playoff Push

The Playoff Push

After 12 games played by each team it's a good time to actually start looking at playoff possibilites. So far this year there are two teams that clinched. The 12-0 Indianapolis Colts became the first team of the year to clinch a playoff berth, but only because their victory over Tennessee ended before the Rams loss against the Redskins. However the Colts are not the first team to clinch their division this year. That honor belongs to the Seattle Seahawks. However the Colts can clinch Homefield advantage first this year, simply by winning this next week.

Speaking of the Seahawks, do you realize that as of right now the Seahawks would be the only returning playoff team in the NFC. They currently have the #1 seed in the NFC. The next five seeds are all filled with teams that were home last January. Currently Seattle would be joined by the Bears, Panthers, Giants, Bucs and Cowboys. Meanwhile the AFC would be returning four from last year with the Colts, Patriots, Chargers, and Broncos, with newbies Jaguars, and the Cincinnati Bengals (No the world is not ending.... I think).

MVP

Every year the MVP race brings up a debate over exactly what MVP means. Usually every year it goes to the player with the best numbers. Occasionally it goes to the player that meant more to their team than any other player in the league.

This year it's a 5 man race. The Candidates are Steve Smith, LaDanian Tomlinson, Edgerrin James, Shaun Alexander and of Course 2 time defending MVP Peyton Manning.

As good of a season as Smith is having he's a WR. And somebody who relies so heavily on another player as WR's do, just can't be an MVP. But Smith should at least be in a two-man race for Comeback Player of the Year.

LaDanian Tomlinson, was probably helped my by the first two weeks of the season than anybody. During the first two weeks the Chargers gave Tomlinson limited touches in losses. After those two weeks they've made sure to give Tomlinson touches and the Chargers have gone 8-2. Tomlinson even has a few TD passes. Unfortunately Tomlinson suffers from the A-Rod syndrome, where it's old hat for Tomlinson to be that good, people expect it from him, and so he never really gets true recognition come MVP time. Good news for LDT is that A-Rod eventually got his.

Early in the season when the offense wasn't clicking on full cylinders, Edge carried the load. When the offense finally got rolling later on in the year, it still all relied heavily on Edge's ability to run. As great a QB as Manning is, Edge is a big key to that offense. Much like last year when Edge was forgotten in the hype of Manning's record breaking year, despite being 4th in the league in yardage, Edge is once again being overlooked despite being second in the league in yardage, first in the conference.

The leader in rushing is none other than Shaun Alexander, who missed out on that honor last year by 1 yard. (Pop Quiz: Without looking who beat him?). Not only that but Alexander is tearing up defenses with 22 TD's so far this year. Tomlinson is second with 5 less TD's. When Seattle's WR's got injured, they turned to Alexander. Last year the Seahawks lost heartbreaking games that they are winning this year. The difference is they are trusting Alexander with the ball in key situations and he's responding. Alexander has meant more to his team, than any player in the league means to their respective team. Alexander is the MVP this year.

But the award will go to Peyton Manning. Why? QB is the glamour position in the NFL. The Colts are currently the glamour team in the NFL, and are on a magic ride this season. Manning's numbers are definitely MVP worthy, but it can be argued that he isn't the MVP to his team. Manning is a great player, one of the best in the league. But the question that should be asked is does the MVP Go to the best player? A Player on the Best Team? Or the Player who meant more to his team than any other.

Crawl before you can walk

All good teams have to learn to be good teams. They have to learn how to win the close tough games. Even when it seems that a team makes a turnaround in a single season, you can look back and find where a team learned to win. It's the tough losses against really good teams that teach a team how to win.

The Bengals learned their lesson well. In week 5 they had their great start stopped by the Jaguars in a 23-20 loss. In week 7 they got trounced by Jerome Bettis and division rival Pittsburgh.

But their biggest growing experience came two weeks ago when playing Indianapolis. The Bengals got down early, fought back, and ended up losing a heartbreaker when they couldn't convert the onside kick at the end of the game.

As tough as those losses all were, they all payed off this past weekend when Cincinnati took a strangle-hold on their division by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. The win not only gave them a two game lead in their division (With all tiebreakers leading their way), but it clinched their first winning season since 1990.

The Conference Watch

Two weeks ago their were 8 games between the two conferences. The games were split down the middle with each winning 4. This past week no inter-conference games were played so that leaves the current record at 23-22 in favor of the AFC.

The Over/Under

Overrated: Ball Carriers leaving their feet in the open field. Sure once in a while you get a great play where the ball carrier leaps a defender in the open field. But more often than not the ball carrier simply gets leveled.

Underrated:Ryan Fitzpatric. 7th round draft pick from Harvard became the first QB from Harvard to throw a pass, (He's the second player Harvard to throw a pass, as a Punter from Harvard once threw a pass during a fake). But he was instrumental in the Rams coming from behind against the Texans, and played solidly during a loss against Washington this past week.

Overrated: GM's taking fans signs. Two weeks ago a fan in Buffalo who had a sign saying “Donahoe must Go” (Referring to GM Tom Donahoe), had his sign confiscated by Security. When the fan asked why because the sign didn't have any profanity or anything of the sort, the Security Guard told him he was ordered to take it. This past weekend a fan with a sign deriding Matt Millen, and suggesting he should be gone as well, had his sign removed by Security. What's the matter Matt and Tom? Feeling the heat, or just can't handle the pressure?

Underrated: Redskins Running game this week. Two players each with a 100 yards rushing.

Overrated: Calling the Jets offense Anemic. That's being way too nice, Non-existant works better.

Underrated: Larry Johnson. After taking over since Priest Holmes season ended Johnson has rushed for 709 yards over 5 games, and snapped Denver Streak of games without a 100 yard rusher.

Overrated: Diving at a ball carrier. How many times do you see a defender dive at the ball carrier's feet, just to see the ball carrier step to the side and break a big run. Man up, hit the ball carrier and wrap up. Don't Deion Tackle.

Underrated: Chicago Bears. They've answered critics the last couple weeks by beating the Panthers, Buccaneers, and snapping an 11 game losing streak to Green Bay in Soldier Field.

Overrated: Kerry Collins. Now carrying the clipboard as backup for Marquis Tuiasosopo

Underrated: Minnesota Vikings. It's hard to believe that they not only have a shot at the playoffs, but it's possible for them to take their division.

Game of the Week

Well my losing streak finally came to an end, as I finally picked one right two weeks ago. My record is now 4-8. This week the pick is the St. Louis Rams to end the Vikings streak.

The Top 14

1 (1) Indianapolis Colts – 12-0 Next Week: @ Jacksonville Comments: The first of 3 final tests for the Colts team this week.

2 (2) Denver Broncos – 9-3 Next Week: vs. Denver Comments: Can't fault the Broncos for being another December victim at Arrowhead, where most teams not named the Chiefs lose.

3 (3) Seattle Seahawks – 10-2 Next Week: vs. San Francisco Comments: First NFC team to 9 wins in the conference, Seahawks are current favorites for home field advantage.

4 (4) San Diego Chargers – 8-4 Next Week: vs. Miami Comments: Now have legitimate shot at winning division, not bad considering bad start for team.

5 (8) Cincinnati Bengals – 9-3 Next Week: vs. Cleveland Comments: Too bad Chad Johnson didn't score, would have liked to see his celebration last week.

6 (5) New England Patriots – 7-5 Next Week: @ Buffalo Comments: Don't look now but the Patriots are getting healthy.

7 (9) Chicago Bears – 9-3 Next Week: @ Pittsburgh Comments: So what happens come playoff time and Kyle Orton has to win a game for the Bears?

8 (7) Carolina Panthers – 9-3Next Week: vs. Tampa Bay Comments: Crowded NFC South picture should start to come into focus this week.

9 (11) Jacksonville Jaguars – 9-3Next Week: vs. Indianapolis Comments: Jacksonville can't afford to give Indy a lead like they did to Cleveland this past week.

10 (6) Pittsburgh Steelers – 7-5 Next Week: vs. Chicago Comments: Steelers in danger of missing out on playoffs altogether.

11 (12) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8-4 Next Week: @ Carolina Comments: A loss this week could make them the odd man out in the South.

12 (13) New York Giants – 8-4 Next Week: @ Philadelphia Comments: Elisha is starting to play like Big Ben did down the stretch last year. Could be dangerous against a wounded Eagles team.

13 (13) Dallas Cowboys – 7-5 Next Week: vs. Kansas City Comments: Lost an important divisional game against New York.

14 (14) Atlanta Falcons – 7-5 Next Week: vs. New Orleans Comments: 4-4 divisional record could lead Atl out in the cold come January.

The Cellar Watch

30 (NR) San Francisco 49ers – 2-10 Next Week: @ Seattle Comments: Despite loss it was nice to see them open the offense up, even if it was just ever so slightly.

31 (31) Green Bay Packers – 2-10 Next Week: vs. Detroit Comments: In case there was any doubt, last weekend's loss to Chicago at Soldier Field proved Brett has no more magic left in him.

32 (32) Houston Texans – 1-11 Next Week: @ Tennessee Comments: Decided to go for heartbreaking losses to make everyone pity them.