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October 30, 2007

by Adam Schein
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7388280
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Complete article:

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A+

** New England **

Bill Belichick's team is just drubbing the
opposition. It's almost unfair how amazing
they are.

Tom Brady is enjoying a season for the ages
and clearly the leader for league MVP.

The dominance of the passing attack, includ-
ing the magic of Randy Moss, the skill of
Wes Welker, the speed of Donte' Stallworth,
and the power and cohesiveness of the offen-
sive line, was on display against Cleveland,
Dallas, Miami and especially Washington
in the second quarter of the season.

Oh yeah - if you have a problem with the
Patriots scoring so much in the fourth quarter,
why don't you play some defense?

** Indianapolis **

Center Jeff Saturday summed it up best when
he told us, "We are more complete than at any
point during the Super Bowl run."

Peyton Manning's accuracy and decision mak-
ing is pinpoint.

Bob Sanders is the leading candidate for defen-
sive player of the year.

And how about the role players? Dallas Clark
is a touchdown machine. Kenton Keith has
emerged as a legit No. 2 back. Undrafted rookie
Ed Johnson changed the Week 7 statement win
in Jacksonville when he sacked David Garrard.
Marlin Jackson has become an impact corner.

Tony Dungy's bunch won at Tennessee, Houston
and Jacksonville in the first half after losing
every game on the road in the division last year.
And the Colts still face all three teams in Indy.
This is highly impressive.

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A

** Dallas **

A sign of great teams is winning when you don't
play your best. This was certainly the case for
6-1 Dallas on Monday Night Football against
the Bills in the game of the year so far.

The Cowboys hung with New England for three
quarters in their only loss. Dallas, propelled by
Tony Romo, Terrell Owens and Jason Witten,
is clearly the best team in the NFC in this first
half of the season. The Cowboys also secured
their future by giving Romo a hefty extension.

** Packers **

Is there a better way to end a first half? Brett
Favre throws a game-winning bomb to Greg
Jennings on the first play from scrimmage in
overtime to beat the Broncos in majestic fash-
ion. It was simply classic. Mike McCarthy's
Packers are a highly impressive 6-1, fueled
by great play from the defense all season long.

** Tennessee **

Jeff Fisher's Titans are so supremely coached
and poised. It's why they survived sweaty
games against the Texans in Week 7 and
Raiders in Week 8.

Tennessee is simply dominant up front on both
offense and defense, fueled by Kevin Mawae
and the underrated offensive line, while Albert
Haynesworth leads a reborn defensive line.
Behind Mawae and Co., and with an improved
work ethic, LenDale White has strung together
back-to-back 100 yard rushing games in domin-
ant fashion.

** New York Giants **

Tom Coughlin's outfit is enjoying a six-game
win streak. They have been extraordinary in
the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Osi Umenyiora has been one of the best players
in the league. Please don't over analyze the
strength of schedule for New York. In the past,
the Giants would've lost some of the games
against Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Francisco
and Miami. A perfect second quarter is a per-
fect quarter.

** Detroit **

The Lions are 5-2. Rod Marinelli's opportun-
istic bunch made game-changing defensive
plays in statement wins against the Bucs at
home and in Chicago. End Dewayne White is
thriving.

Mike Martz has made the proper adjustments
by using Kevin Jones to pound the rock. Jon
Kitna is the classic leader who keeps it all
together. Who knows? Maybe we shouldn't
have laughed at Kitna's 10 win prediction! So
far the joke is on the critics, like your's truly.

** Pittsburgh **

Just like I didn't fault Pittsburgh for losing in
Arizona in the first quarter of the season, I
won't criticize Mike Tomlin's 5-2 Steelers
for dropping a road game in Denver by three
points in Week 7. Pittsburgh, propelled by
Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker and Hines
Ward, bounced back nicely with a huge divi-
sion road win in Cincy in Week 8.

** Jacksonville **

They bounced back from the Week 7 disaster
on national TV against the Colts to go on the
road and beat the Bucs with Quinn Gray,
starting for an injured Dave Garrard.

Jack Del Rio's defense frustrated Jeff Garcia,
forcing the quarterback into his only picks of
the season. It was a classic Jaguar effort.
Second quarter wins in Kansas City and the
pounding of rival Houston were impressive.
Rashean Mathis, Paul Spicer, and Mike
Peterson are big reasons why this team is
5-2.

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A-

** Cleveland **

Here's the beauty of this unpredictable 4-3
start; you now expect consistent excellent
play from Rob Chudzinski's offense. Derek
Anderson is enjoying success behind Joe
Thomas, Eric Steinbach and this vastly
improved offensive line. As a result of all
of the above, Kellen Winslow and Braylon
Edwards have become difference makers.

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B+

** Kansas City **

The 4-3 Chiefs are one of the true pleasant
surprises of the first half. Whenever you can
register division road wins in both San Diego
and Oakland, that's impressive. A different
defensive hero continuously emerges for
Herm Edwards' outfit.

And despite their offensive inconsistencies,
Damon Huard, Larry Johnson, Tony Gonzalez
and rookie Dwayne Bowe have done just
enough in the wins against the Chargers,
Raiders, Bengals and Vikings.

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B

** San Diego **

This team has rebounded brilliantly from its
1-3 start to sweep the competition in the
second quarter. And San Diego won all three
games this quarter by double digits.

The Chargers' shellacking of the Broncos in
Denver in Week 5 before the bye week was
the biggest win of the season. Previously
maligned Norv Turner deserves credit for
keeping this 4-3 ball club together after the
1-3 start.

** Carolina **

The Panthers have dealt with adversity well,
losing Jake Delhomme for the season. John
Fox's 4-3 team won games in the second
quarter it had no business winning in New
Orleans and Arizona.

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C+

** Tampa Bay **

Sure, Jon Gruden's team has awful luck with
injuries at the running back position. But the
last two weeks were blown opportunities to
take the next step in should-win spots in
Detroit and at home against Quinn Gray and
the Jaguars.

The Bucs left a lot of plays on the field in
both games. The 4-4 record might ok for the
Bucs if you base it on preseason expecta-
tions, but not good enough during the ebb
and flow of the season.

** Washington **

Trust me. This grade isn't a reaction to 52-7
against the Pats. It's a reaction to 52-7 after
looking bad against Green Bay in a game
Santana Moss threw away. It's a reaction
to 52-7, the Packers debacle and Washington
nearly squandering a game at home against
the Cardinals.

The run game and the defense have been flat
out bad in the second quarter of the season.
Washington, at 4-3, just hasn't looked the
part the last 3 weeks.

** New Orleans **

The Saints lost their first four, followed imme-
diately by a three- game win streak. And at no
point did you see or hear dissention or criti-
cism from anyone on Sean Payton's ball club.

Reggie Bush and Scott Fujita have both cited
that as a major reason for the turnaround. In
blowout road wins against Seattle and San
Francisco, we've seen the Saints team we
expected all season. The comeback in the
second quarter has been pronounced.

Drew Brees is finally getting pass protection
and was phenomenal against the Niners in
Week 8.

** Seattle **

How do you figure out the Seahawks? They
got totally smoked in Pittsburgh in Week 5
and bombed by a then-winless Saints team
at home in Week 6 on national television.

They salvaged the second quarter with a
win against the Rams to improve to 4-3.
Shaun Alexander has been stuck in the mud
and totally ineffective. The defense was
much better in the first quarter. Matt Has-
selbeck misses Deion Branch.

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C

** Buffalo **

Dick Jauron consistently gets his team to
play hard. And with all of the bad luck,
injuries and blowing the Dallas game,
somehow Buffalo is 3-4.

The wins against the Ravens and Jets were
gutsy, sparked by clutch play from the de-
fense. Marshawn Lynch is enjoying a very
productive rookie season.

And Jauron handled the Trent Edwards
appointment to the starting quarterback job
with aplomb, keeping the team together.
And credit Losman for not giving up as he
stepped in late for an injured Edwards and
threw a game-sealing bomb to Lee Evans
against the Jets in Week 8.

** Baltimore **

The 4-3 Ravens have yet to look the part.
The offense, ravaged by injuries at quarter-
back, tight end, and all over the offensive
line, has been a major disappointment.

The defense has been good, but not domin-
ant. Matt Stover is arguably the team MVP.
The Week 7 loss to the Bills, where Brian
Billick's play selection was horrible and
the team committed 11 penalties, was an
eye sore and can come back to haunt Bal-
timore.

** Arizona **

Injuries to both Matt Leinart, who's out for
the year, and Kurt Warner have been a fac-
tor for Ken Whisenhunt's 3-4 squad. Tim
Rattay was wretched replacing Warner
and it resulted in a Week 6 loss for the
Panthers in Arizona.

But my Whisenhunt didn't help himself
with the Anquan Boldin two-point con-
version try to tie the game in the loss to
Washington in Week 7. Darnell Dockett
and Adrian Wilson are playing brilliant
ball for the vastly improved Cards D.

** Broncos **

Denver's second quarter highlight was a
win on Sunday Night Football against the
Steelers. But Mike Shanahan's 3-4 team
couldn't follow it up with a win against
Green Bay, with the two outstanding
corners getting beat for long touchdowns.

The second quarter of the season was
marred by a lopsided home loss to the
Chargers.

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C-

** Philadelphia **

It's been a roller coaster first half for Andy
Reid's 3-4 Eagles in every possible way,
from false reports Reid was going to quit,
to foolish newspaper columns telling him
to take a hike, to the laundry list of injuries,
to Donovan McNabb recovering on the fly
from major knee surgery.

Look at the last 2 weeks. The quarterback
looks rusty and club gives up a game-win-
ning drive in the two-minute drill to Brian
Griese in Week 7. Then this weekend,
McNabb looked healthy and more effec-
tive in Week 8 win against the Vikings.
Every week is a grab bag.

** Oakland **

The Raiders didn't win a game in the second
quarter of the season. While the defense
showed improvement in losses against Kan-
sas City and Tennessee, Lane Kiffin's 2-5
squad can't seem to put together a complete
game.

** Houston **

Sure, Andre Johnson is hurt. But that's no
excuse to fall behind 32-7 in a loss to the
Titans. That's no excuse to miss possible
plays in a road loss to Jags. That's no ex-
cuse to let the coin toss prove to be the
turning point in San Diego. Gary Kubiak's
Texans are 3-5 and should be at least 4-4,
if not 5-3.

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D

** Minnesota **

The 2-5 Vikings are a tough watch. They can-
not complete the forward pass. They cannot
stop the forward pass. These are problems.

** San Francisco **

Nothing is working for Mike Nolan. Or more
specifically, offensive coordinator Jim Host-
ler. His play selection has been peculiar.
Holding for a long Joe Nedney field goal
and not throwing the ball killed the Niners
in a Week 5 loss to the Ravens.

And if you don't believe me, ask Frank Gore,
who's been vocal. Trent Dilfer didn't help
matters filling in for an injured Alex Smith.
The Niners just got humiliated the last two
weeks against the Giants and the Saints.

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F

** Chicago **

The Bears are 3-5. Losing at home to the
Lions in Week 8 after beating the Eagles in
Week 7 is totally unacceptable, and yet typi-
fies the 2007 season. Losing at home to the
Vikings is unacceptable.

There is no consistency for this team in any
phase (other than the brilliance of Devin
Hester). Cedric Benson has been a bust.
The passing attack is spotty. The defense,
stunningly, is ordinary and beatable. Just
ask the Lions, who swept the season series.

** Cincinnati **

Marvin Lewis doesn't go for a 4th-and-1
against the Steelers down 14-3 in the second
quarter? This team has lost its bite.

It's always something. And right now, from
the state of the linebackers, to Levi Jones
getting abused by Jared Allen in Week 6, to
Chad Johnson telling us it is fishy that the
organization leaked stories to reporters he
might be traded, it all stinks in Cincy for
the 2-5 Bengals.

** St. Louis **

Just for good measure, to end an atrocious
first half, the winless Rams blew a double-
digit lead to the Browns. And they did it at
home. Just when you thought you couldn't
find anything worse on TV than "Cavemen,"
you sit through a Rams game. Start working
on a short list to replace Scott Linehan.

** New York Jets **

"The Mangenius" has rapidly shifted from
nickname to punchline. The Jets should've
put in Kellen Clemens after the first Buffalo
loss. Thomas Jones rarely gets the appro-
priate number of carries.

I expected a fall off from 10 wins last year,
but not a plummet to this horrible 1-7 start.
Eric Mangini is very lucky the Yanks need
a new manager and A-Rod opted out or
else he would be getting blistered on the
back pages of the New York tabloids.

** Miami **

Ronnie Brown is out for the year. He was
the lone bright spot for Cam Cameron's
outmatched, winless wreck. The Chris
Chambers trade makes it official that the
Dolphins are playing for 2008.

** Atlanta **

The starting quarterback was pulled. The
No. 2 had surgery. The club cut a produc-
tive defensive tackle for no reason. The
star cornerback and star tight end have
called out the coach.

The offensive line is beat up. The receivers
can't catch with consistency. The defense
is weak. Other than that it has been a good
first half of 2007 for Bob Petrino and the
Falcons.

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