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Houston Texans
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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.
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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.
- Vote: Pick winners | Vs. spread | Cowboys-Eagles | Ravens-Bengals | Steelers-Broncos
- Your rankings: Power Rankings | MVP Watch | Quarterbacks | Coaches
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- 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
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- 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
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
Bengals fans are not extinct! We're even hearing whispers of mild confidence out of Cincinnati.
In Washington, the mood is ugly and would only grow worse if the Washington Redskins end the Detroit Lions' losing skid. In Tennessee, there's desperation (Vince Young?) as the Titanss stare at 0-3. And in New England, the equanimity of multiple playoff runs is tipping toward concern for the Patriots.
Week 3 begins the separation of pretenders and contenders. Check out what NFL fans had to say this week in their blogs.
Falcons-Patriots: "Expect Tom Brady to have a big game to make up for last week's horrible play. Atlanta is good, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone as good as Brady when he wants it." -- Jbreaux2
Redskins-Lions: "The Redskins need to find a way to put points on the board. ... The Lions come into this game playing much better in their first two games this year than they did at any point last season. ... I'm saying it right now that the Lions WILL win this game. Lions 23, Redskins 20." -- Brostie60184
Steelers-Bengals: "If the Cincy team that beat Green Bay shows up, this could be a great game. ... Ben Roethlisburger will feel he has something to prove, the D will be lights out. Pittsburgh 20, Cincinnati 16."
-- Feldman9000
Titans-Jets: "The music coming out of the land of the Titan is a tune of lost identity, confusion and disarray. ... Chris Johnson is a beacon of hope for them, but I don't know if playing the Jets is what can cure their blues. I'm sticking with Mr. Sanchez and Co. by a very brutal and defensive tune of 19-16."
-- TheWisdomCube
Week 3 predictions: TheWisdomCube | Feldman9000 | Jbreaux2 | Brostie60184 | JayBird 67 | codywin25 | Goldbrick4
Ravens fans breathed a sigh of relief after escaping Kansas City last week, but this week they face the cream of the AFC West.
Among Minnesota fans, the mood was generally lighter after a win eased the burden of defending the team's offseason quarterbacking soap opera. In Chicago, the fans felt added angst after celebrating the one-sided QB deal with Denver much of August.
Week 2 opens with plenty of hot air emanating from New York and several good matchups. Check out the fan blogs and predictions posted on ESPN.com this week.
Patriots-Jets: "Kerry, I know you want to embarrass the *Patriots. So would I. So would the majority of the Jets nation. I bet the entire NFL would love to embarrass the *Patriots, but unfortunately that isn't realistic." -- Goldbrick4
Saints-Eagles: "No Donovan McNabb. Philly's D is bothersome, but Drew Brees is the best in the league. New Orleans is five deep with starter quality receivers and three backs that could all start." -- Jbreaux2
Giants-Cowboys: "Giants have a much better running game and defense."
-- ryanvcu
Week 2 predictions: uclabruin094 | Brostie60184 | codywin25 | phyhtheaux
| dslake84Teams: dcrabill10 (Bears) | Mohktal (Bears) | AniD89 (Cowboys) | cplrolph (Dolphins) | cplrolph (Eagles) | JoeRevs300 (Jaguars) | ESPN_RobertFlores (Jets) | jlkendzior (Lions) | lwillis2010 (Panthers) | D.J. Ludington (Panthers) | azorean milli (Patriots) | nepatsfan523 (Patriots) | aronyohann (Raiders) | engneer1 (Raiders) | TC of 39th Ave Music (Rams) | AwHeck52 (Saints) | Brostie60184 (Vikings) | Brostie60184 (Vikings)
More: staleys (Haynesworth game) | txtechjmacattack (Michael Crabtree) | SeattleSportsFan1972 (Michael Vick) | NastyNick21 (predictions) | JayBird 67 (rivalries) | D.J. Ludington (season length)
Week 1 reaction: orionben666 | MorningGlory85 | TheWisdomCube | NYJ111sbp | synaZaur | IndySportsAnalystJC | afjumpman23 | Cavalierman007
272 yards and a touchdown from rookie QB Mark Sanchez on his debut? Jets fans will take it! In one of the most anticipated starts of the season, Sanchez held his own and led his team to a big-time victory over the Houston Texans.
Where does this performance put Sanchez on your fantasy football radar? Is he now a viable starter for your team? Or was his Week 1 success more due to the Texans' struggles? It's time for you, SportsNation, to decide. Vote below!
- Vote: Tackle Week 1's hottest topics »
- Discuss: Talk about the Jets, or any other team on the NFL team talk page! »
“Sanchez is money on 3rd downs. I'm a huge USC homer, but I didn't think he would play this good.
” -- tjroundup
“Sanchez looks pretty good so far. I wonder what Pete Carroll was worried about? Kinda makes ya wonder...if ole Pete was trying to " secure " another title. Its obvious Mark is NFL ready. Im not crowning him the next Joe Namath ... but i would take Sanchez > Leinhart anyday.
” -- Bleedzorange1977
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