Sports Blog

Halloween is over and it won’t be long before Lambeau Field is frozen. We are halfway there and it’s time to separate the impostors from the real deal. Don’t get upset if I haven’t covered your team. It’s a big league and not every team is really good or really bad. But, having said that…

Who has been a disappointment?

The mighty Pittsburgh Steelers were picked by many to at the very least win their division this season, but at 2-5, the defending Super Bowl champs have a tough road ahead, including upcoming battles with Denver and New Orleans, followed by Cleveland and Baltimore. They need more than a split to make something out of this season. Anything less and it’s over. Coach Cowher should sit Roethlisberger and hang his hopes on Charlie Batch.



The Feel Good Story…or Are They Just Really Good?

The New Orleans Saints at 5-2 are for real and illustrate perfectly how good drafting (Reggie Bush) and good trading (Drew Brees) of key players can turn a team around in one year. They are in the hunt and will make the playoffs.


Okay…But Not This Year

Cincinnati Bengals – Great potential, but if Head Coach Marvin Lewis, Offensive Coordinator Bob Bratkowski and QB Carson Palmer can’t control the antics of Chad Johnston, this promising season could unravel quickly. When you win the Super Bowl, be as big a jerk as you like – but until then, keep your mouth shut and do your job.

Philadelphia Eagles – A 4-4 team that still has a shot. Never count Donovan McNabb out, but the rest of the team doesn’t have the same drive. The Eagles will be fighting it out with New Orleans, Carolina and Dallas for a Wild Card berth. Carolina has Steve Smith. Dallas has Terrell Owens. No contest - it won’t surprise me if both NFC Wild Cards come from the NFC South.

This Will Be Close

Seattle Seahawks – it will be a struggle but if they can survive key injuries to Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck, I still think they can win their division. St. Louis has the tougher schedule, and I’m sure the Week 10 hook-up in St. Louis has been circled for some time. I’m sticking with the Seahawks.

Perennial Pretenders

Minnesota Vikings – Haven’t the fans in Minnesota suffered enough over the years? Still rebuilding, a defense that can’t stop the pass and a quarterback who is past his prime; yes, still much work to be done. No trip to the playoffs again this year. The suffering continues…

Washington Redskins – talk about an uphill battle! With divisional losses to the Giants and Cowboys already in the books and too many tough games ahead to list, I don’t think they’ll finish the season at 500.

Please Just Go Away!

Arizona Cardinals – Matt Leinart, a steal at #10 in the Draft, is the silver lining on a team having a terrible season. Edgerrin James’ success in Indianapolis hasn’t translated in Arizona - a huge disappointment for the Cardinal brass. And Dennis Green’s time is up – look for changes in the off-season.

Oakland Raiders – Randy Moss. Joey Porter. Enough said.

Miami Dolphins – at 1-6 and upcoming games against the likes of Chicago, Jacksonville and New England, Joey Harrington will be lucky to escape with all of his body parts intact.


And now, the good news…

The Class of the NFC

The Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants appear to be the early cream rising to the top in the NFC. Can’t wait for the Sunday Night game on November 12 at the Meadowlands between the Bears and the G-Men. Could be a dress rehearsal for the NFC Conference Final, but my gut says the Bears and Falcons will square off for the Super Bowl berth. Michael Vick vs. the Bears defense – nothing could be finer…


The Class of the AFC

Indianapolis Colts - Is this Peyton’s year? Is Adam Vinatieri the missing lucky charm? The Colts are Super Bowl bound.

Denver Broncos – love this team, and a great season is unfolding. However, we just never know which Jake Plummer will take the field, and, hands down, I give the edge to Peyton Manning in the AFC Conference Final.

New England Patriots – although I haven’t seen them much this year, that spanking they gave the Vikings Monday Night illustrates just how well the Pats adapt to any situation. Tom Brady had no trouble adjusting to the Viking defense and proceeded to dominate them with a stellar passing attack. Even though this team has lost some key personnel, both on the field and on the coaching staff, and though they aren’t the powerhouse of the last few years, they are going to win the AFC East. Personally, I think that’s all they’ll win this year, but it’s hard to count a Belichick team out. The Week 9 Sunday Nighter in Foxborough against Indianapolis should be a thriller. What kind of a welcome will Adam Vinatieri receive from New England fans? Probably a well-meaning but guarded applause from a crowd that knows all to well that he will be a factor in the game at some point. I’m picking the Colts to win and set the tone for the second half of the season.

Baltimore Ravens – what an interesting team. When Steve McNair went down with a concussion, in came Kyle Boller. Having 2 reliable QBs could be a key factor in the success of the Ravens this year. They’ll win their division, but don’t have the horses to overcome the likes of the Colts and Broncos.

San Diego Chargers – At 5-2, and a relatively easy schedule ahead of them, the Chargers were sitting pretty. But with the upcoming four-game suspension to Shawne Merriman for violating the NFL’s drug policy, this team’s success is up in the air. Don’t know who convinced him to drop his appeal, but hopefully this decision will enable the team to quickly weather the storm and move forward. The distraction of an appeal would have dragged on into December. The Chargers won’t win their division, but a wild card berth isn’t out of the question.

So, here we are – it’s already midseason. It’s looking like a Bears/Colts Super Bowl to me. But, there is still a lot of football left to play – and many stories still to unfold.