Let the second half begin

Every team in the NFL has now played eight or nine games, meaning the league has officially reached the midway point of the regular season. I was going to create a power rankings, but that’s kind of boring, considering there’s at least seventy-five different NFL rankings that come out from week to week. So instead I’ll list the five biggest questions going forward the rest of the year. This aren’t the top topics from the first half, meaning there won’t be any discussion of Adrian Peterson’s remarkable game last Saturday (though that was insane). It’s what to look for the rest of the way in the form of the five W’s.

5- What’s going to be the must-see game of the second half?
There are three candidates in my opinion for this answer. The first actually takes place this Sunday, when the Cowboys visit New York to face the Giants. Since their week one battle, the two teams have each played great. I had doubts about both quarterbacks, Eli Manning and Tony Romo, before the season, but to their credit, they’ve both played fantastic. Expect a real close game, since both defenses can put pressure on the QB while each teams offense can put up points.

Game two, and it kills me to write this, will be a Thanksgiving Day clash between the Packers and Lions for the NFC North lead. While Detroit still doesn’t have a defense, there offense has been tremendous. And Green Bay has been real good despite having no defense. This will be the best Thanksgiving game in a long time, and if it doesn’t determine a division favorite, the week seventeen rematch at Lambeau will.

The third game on my list will take place on December 9, when the Pittsburgh Steelers head north to face off against the New England Patriots. These are two of the three best teams in the league, and it will be fun to see Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger face off. And these two defenses, which both play the 3-4, hit real hard. If this game is in the snow, which it should be considering it’s a December in Boston, it will be must-see TV.

4- Who are these Cleveland Browns and why are they in second place?
In case you don’t follow the AFC, especially the AFC other than New England or Indianapolis, the Cleveland Browns are 5-3 and in second place in the AFC North. Yes, these are the same Browns who had two first round draft picks this April and went 3-13 a year ago. Their quarterback is a man by the name of Derek Anderson, a third year guy out of Oregon State who started the season as the backup for Charlie Frye. Now he’s got to be considered for the Pro Bowl, throwing for over 2,100 yards thus far with 17 touchdowns. He leads one of the leagues best offenses and throws to two of the NFL’s best young receivers, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. I’m not sure if the Browns can make it to the playoffs, but it will be fun to watch them try.

3- Will somebody in the NFC please stand up?
It’s kind of unfair to compare the best in the NFC to the best in the AFC, since one features Manning and Brady while the other has Kitna and Garcia. But some team from the NFC has to play in Super Bowl XLII, and its becoming more and more obvious that it wont be my beloved Bears. So who is the favorite? As I said in question one, I really like both the Cowboys and Giants. But really, the team that’s looking the best right now are the New Orleans Saints. After starting 0-4, Drew Brees and Co. are now 4-4 and the Saints only one playoff contender (week 13 vs Tampa Bay) the remainder of the year. They will be the team to beat in the NFC come January.

2- When will the Rams or Dolphins win a game?
Since St. Louis and Miami- both 0-8 - don’t play each other, there is no guarantee that either squad will end up with a win in 2007. But looking at each teams schedule, and there are a few games where each team, if they play their very best, could come out with a victory. The Rams’ best shot to get a win will be week 11 at San Francisco and December 2 when they play the Falcons. Miami’s road is a bit more difficult, with their easiest games coming week 13 vs the Jets and the regular season finale against the very disappointing Bengals. Still, I don’t expect either team to be favorites in any game they play.

1-Where can I buy my Patriots Super Bowl gear?
OK, so it looks like New England is far and away the best team in the league. They are 9-0 after coming back to beat the Colts and now people are claiming that coach Bill Bellicheck will try to go for 19-0. And I wouldn’t put it past him. But I don’t think they’ll get it. Not because they aren’t good enough, considering they should have like 15 Pro Bowlers. Its because it is almost impossible to get psyched up for every game while the opponent has circled this matchup as their entire season. Look for them to fall either week 14 vs. Pittsburgh or week 17 at the Giants, when all the starters should be sitting out since everything will be wrapped up.


Here are the week ten games with my picks in bold.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

Minnesota at Green Bay

Philadelphia at Washington

Jacksonville at Tennessee

Atlanta at Carolina

Denver at Kansas City

Buffalo at Miami

St. Louis at New Orleans

Cincinnati at Baltimore

Chicago at Oakland

Dallas at New York Giants

Detroit at Arizona

Indianapolis at San Diego

San Francisco at Seattle


Last Week: 7-7
Season to Date: 78-52 (60%)