SportsNation Blog Archives
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Vote: Pick winners | Vs. spread | Colts-Ravens | Chargers-Broncos
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Coaches
- Blogger chats: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- More guests: HOF OT Anthony Munoz | Cowboys DL Igor Olshansky | Len Pasquarelli
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
Brad Childress gets Brett Favre and quickly ends up with a hefty contract extension. Lovie Smith gets Jay Cutler and finds people wondering if he'll soon be unemployed. Some guys have all the luck. Nevertheless, the Bears enter Sunday's showdown against the Eagles just one game off the wild-card pace, despite losing their past two. And Cutler's old team in Denver has lost three in a row and may be without Kyle Orton against the Chargers this week. One SportsNation blogger thinks Cutler is still the right guy for the Bears, but does his new team or his old team need a win more this week?
- "Cutler has the ability to win games for his team; an ability that was overly praised when Brett Favre was in Green Bay but is now largely overlooked in evaluating today's quarterbacks (for some reason, people have fallen in love with "guys who just know how to win," forgetting that those guys have either rock solid defenses or unstoppable running games). But don't ask me, ask any of the many quarterback-starved teams in the league if they would give up exactly what the Bears gave up to get Cutler to begin with right now." Read afjumpfan23's full post.
- Vote: Pick 'Em | Vs. spread | Bengals-Steelers | Patriots-Colts
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
- AFC blogger chats: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Irv Cross | Drew Bennett | Lomas Brown
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
SportsNation would rather have Peyton Manning than Tom Brady dating their sister, but the roles are reversed if a wingman is called for. Maybe it's time to have the quarterback beauty contest settled on the field.
In the other big rivalry game of the week (no, not Chiefs-Raiders), Chad Ochocinco is winning the PR war (and food fight) for the Bengals, but fans favor the Steelers.
- Midseason Votes: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | More awards | Division picks
- More Votes: Colts or Saints? | Brady or Manning? | Patriots at Colts | All Week 10 games
The NFL regular season is already at the halfway point, but if you expected the first half to offer enough clues to give away the ending, you've been spending too much time reading Dan Brown novels. Even when it comes to the Saints, undefeated and scoring at will, SportsNation can't decide if their late bursts are evidence of a great closer or a vulnerable starter. A pair of bloggers took opposite sides in discussing their Power Rankings.
- "Survived yet another scare on Sunday against Carolina. I told you that game would be close. Three straight games now they have trailed and had some amazing [resurgence] in the 4th quarter. The amount they outscore teams in the 4th is huge. This team didn't trail at all prior to three weeks ago. The team is changing, and if victories are pulled off like this, your team is going to start believing they are unbeatable." -- Read Feldman9000's full post.
- "In terms of their chances to go 16-0, I rank the Saints 2nd because eventually they are going to spot a 17-0 lead that they can't recover from. And well, I guess I'm not as much a believer in this team over the long haul, though they will be a tough out if/when they get home field throughout the NFC Playoffs." Read JoeRevs300's full post.
And you can see how SportsNation's Power Rankings have shifted from the start of the season through the quarter mark and now the halfway mark.
Scott (Reno, NV)
Saints or Colts. Who is the better better team right now?
Gary Horton
I think the Saints are, not by a lot. I think they're solid on both sides of the ball. They can throw the ball and win. They can run the ball and win. They can play solid defense. Even when they don't have their A game, they're good enough to win and they're almost impossible to beat at home. The thing about the Colts is that even though they've played respectable defense, especially in the secondary, that they just don't have a big margin for error. I just worry about them wearing down and good offenses exploiting them at the end of the season. For them to win, Peyton Manning has to be perfect. Over the long haul over the second half of the season, I worry about the depth of Indy, especially at the end of the season. Full transcript
It's been nearly two months, and if you listen closely, you can still hear Gus Johnson's call lingering in the air. Brandon Stokley's miracle catch and touchdown run handed the Broncos a Week 1 win against the Bengals. At the time, it seemed like it might be the last we heard from either team. Instead, it's the play that continues shaping the AFC race behind the unbeaten Colts.
But after the Broncos tumbled to a second consecutive defeat against one of the Bengals' AFC North rivals, this time the Steelers on Monday Night Football, there are four conference teams at 6-2. Are the recipients of that opening week miracle the weakest of the bunch?
Here's how SportsNation has called the AFC West race at various points this season.
- Your Power Rankings: Where do you rank the Bengals, Broncos, Patriots and Steelers?
- Chat: AFC North blogger James Walker, 4 ET | NFC chats: NFC East | NFC North
“What surprised me so much last night was how TIRED the Broncos defense looked by the end of the third quarter. At that elevation, wasn't Pitt's D supposed to be tired. Any way, I think against really physical defenses you just have to be able to throw the ball deep once in a while. Once the Steeler D realized Orton wasn't going to go down field, LeBeau just started dialing up blitzes.
” -- SteelerStylee
“Denver is 6-2 not 2-6, every team faces adversity it's how you respond. I am not a Bronco's fan but you people need a little faith. Your team lost to the roughest playing teams in the NFL. All is not lost, hang in there
” -- SonnyDrysdale
- Vote: Pick winners | Vs. spread | Cowboys-Eagles | Ravens-Bengals | Steelers-Broncos
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Quarterbacks | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
- AFC blogger chats: AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Jets LB Bart Scott | "First Take" analyst Drew Bennett | Len Pasquarelli
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
What does Tony Romo have to do to catch a break? Wait, poor choice of words. Romo should be breathing easy these days. Criticized heavily during the Cowboys' slow start -- he had slipped all the way to No. 17 in SportsNation's quarterback rankings as recently as Oct. 12 -- Romo bounced back with three great games in a row. By Monday, he was back up to the cusp of the top 10 at the position in SportsNation's eyes. Enter Roy Williams, who managed the seemingly impossible feat of handing a popularity contest to Terrell Owens.
SportsNation says Romo isn't a leader, but one blogger is ready to follow him to a win against the Eagles.
- "I will believe, for now, that 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the last 3 games is not coincidence or a streak. I will believe that the stench of the T.O. signing and leaving has finally left us. Romo is reaching more receivers -- to include the backs. Romo is tucking and running more than I've probably ever seen him do, and I'll take that & Just don't get hurt & Because our back-up QB is [Jon] Kitna. Why is all of this happening? Because T.O. is not crying for the ball. Because the show that is T.O. is not the looming and ominous cloud hanging over Romo anymore." Read MoAz2213's full post.
- Vote: Pick winners | Against spread | Vikings-Packers | Broncos-Ravens | Vince Young
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Quarterback class of 2005 | Coaches
- NFC blogger chats: NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
- AFC blogger chats: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
- Weekly chatters: Chris Mortensen | Matt Williamson | Jeremy Green | KC Joyner
- Special guests: Former Packers FB William Henderson | ESPN Boston's Tedy Bruschi
- Local team chats: ESPN Boston | ESPN Chicago | ESPN Dallas
Hidden beneath the layers of Shakespearean drama involved in Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field to face the boos and settle scores with Ted Thompson, there's a reasonably important division game on tap Sunday in Green Bay. With the Bears skidding and the Lions, well, still the Lions, the Vikings could put the kind of distance normally reserved for month-old Limburger between themselves and the Cheeseheads. SportsNation is picking the visitors to get it done, and one blogger thinks this could be the beginning of the end.
- "The Packers are above average on both sides of the ball. They are a solid team. The defense is giving up only 16 PPG, and only 96 total this season. They're in the top ten in most offensive and defensive categories. Their only losses? Cincinnati and Minnesota. Sounds legit right? Unfortunately not. 3 of 4 wins have come against bottom tier opponents and based on the look of the rest of the schedule, which consists of Minnesota again this week, Dallas, San Francisco, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, another trip to Chicago, and Arizona, doesn't look good. Final Prediction: 7-9 Verdict: Pretender " Read Feldman9000's full post.
It only took a couple of wins for fans like MSJC36 to accept Josh McDaniels. The other fan bloggers (if you ignore the Broncos' true rivals) are grudgingly coming around, too.
On the spectrum opposite the undefeated, 0-5 despair translated to draft dreams.
Rush Limbaugh's role in a bid for the Rams drew spirited response (click through below if you think there's still something to add to this debate), Terrell Owens trade rumors involved multiple teams and the UFL even got a cursory look from fans.
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to win-starved fans or a post about your favorite team.
Week 6 predictions: Jbreaux2 | Feldman9000
“Break up the Broncos. Who would have thought that Josh McDaniels would have the Denver Broncos with a 5-0 record? With all the offseason and preseason drama, it seemed at first that McDaniels was doing a good job at alienating his team.
” -- Goldbrick4
“Don't come in here with your 'we're 5-0, WHHEEEEE, WHHHHOOOOO" record trying to impress. You're 5-0. Good job. The season is still early.
” -- Jack London220
“I understand that Tennessee is 0-5, but putting in Vince Young at this point is more than just hitting the panic button; it's the equivalent of initiating a self-destruct sequence.
” -- afjumpman23
“Of all the undefeated teams, if the Bears were forced to play one of them, I'd hate for them to play the Colts right now. That team is almost impossible to stop.
” -- The Mini Ditkas
Thanks to longhorncutie07 for a little perspective during Red River Rivalry week. If you can't hang out with the fans of your least favorite opponent, you might have a problem.
These are our favorite photos uploaded this week. If any of the images makes you want to tell jokes about the intelligence of your biggest rival's fans, click them to view a larger picture and to comment. If you have a great picture or saw one you think the world should see, leave a brief description and a link in the Conversation section below.
Despite the quarterback mystery, quarterback changes, wide receiver moves and lack of wins, there are still Browns fans. GoBrowns29 and our bloggers provide the evidence.
Like fans of the Chiefs, Titans, Panthers, Rams and Buccaneers, they're not happy, but they still love their team (just not the coach, players, GM, owner or other scapegoat).
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to win-starved fans or a post about your favorite team.
Week 5 predictions: Venture99 | phyhtheaux | brijay103099
Week 17 predictions: AniD89
“And both axles just broke off of Derek Anderson's bandwagon because the population on it increased by 800 percent.
” -- flight23_14
“At this point I can't help but wonder if there are any of the teams left on the schedule that the Buccaneers can actually beat.
” -- BucsgirlDK
“Then it hit me, like the Jerry Jones scoreboard crashing down on top of me. We (the Chiefs) have become the Raiders.
” -- Sports Page Network
“The Browns have scored 49 points and they have ONLY been outscored by 69 points, while the Rams have been outscored by, a humiliating, 84 points. Wow.
” -- Godlike_82
These are the best NFL fan blogs posted on ESPN.com this week. Click through to respond to a post about your favorite team.
Week 4 predictions: phyhtheaux | Feldman9000 | JayBird 67 | codywin25
“Anyone looking to join the purple bandwagon, sorry no vacancies. The Ravens are for real this year and will not be a THIRD PLACE finisher.
” -- brijay103099
“If you combined the best players of the Browns, Rams, Chiefs and Bucs, you still may not have a team that can contend with the Giants or Ravens. What a sorry mess those 0-3 teams are in.
” -- JDye_espn
“Before too long, and assuming his coach doesn't accidentally eat him, the Mark Sanchez Smoldering Dreaminess is going to overtake the Tom Brady Dimple Dreamtime in national appeal.
” -- Necessary Roghness
"SportsNation" on ESPN2!
WE'RE OFF UNTIL MONDAY, NOV. 30! BUT KEEP SENDING US WEIRD WEB CLIPS!
SPORTSNATION GRIDIRON CENTRAL
-
- NFL Coach Ratings
- Week 11: Wade Phillips at 29 percent after win
-
- NFL Pick 'Em Week 12 (Tue.)
- SN last week: 9-6
SN this season: 99-45
-
- NFL Power Rankings (Tue.)
- Colts return to No. 1
Jets down to No. 21
-
- NFL MVP Watch (Wed.)
- Last week's notables
No. 1 Drew Brees
No. 7 Ben Roethlisberger
-
- College Football Fan Top 25
- TCU holds at No. 4
LSU drops to No. 16
-
- College Football Pick' Em
- SN last week: 17-3
SN this season: 204-41
-
- Heisman Watch (Tue.)
- Last week's notables
No. 2: Toby Gerhart
No. 4: C.J. Spiller
Send us weird Web clips, vote on the best of the month and visit the archive.
FEATURED FAN
FEATURED GROUPS
FEATURED PHOTOS
GREATEST HITS ALBUM
-
- Friday, November 13
- LeBron says the No. 23 should be off-limits. What should his new number be?
-
- Thursday, November 12
- Does the Nintendo Game Boy deserve a spot in the toy Hall of Fame?
-
- Wednesday, November 11
- SportsNation salutes our Veterans with pictures posted by fans in uniform.
-
- Wednesday, November 11
- Do Gold Gloves matter? Jeter might want to put on earmuffs for this answer.