Detroit Lions Come Back to Earth; Jim Schwartz Blows It

By Charlie Portelli

Following the Lions big win on the road at Chicago they could not have been on more of an emotional high. That was precisely the reason they could not close the door on the Pittsburgh Steelers after building a 27-20 halftime lead. In the NFL it is not about how you handle failure, it is about how you handle success. Some teams and coaches especially know how to handle success. Jim Schwartz just simply is not one of those coaches at this stage in his career. 

It comes as no secret that I am not a Jim Schwartz supporter. When it comes to coaches, their demeanor tells the story for me. I do not like Jim Schwartz' demeanor and I also think that he struggles managing games. He helped prove that point even further on Sunday. The fake FG call in the fourth quarter was absolutely idiotic. I am a fan of a more aggressive style of coaching, but being smart always has to trump being aggressive. There are times for such a move, but that was possibly one of the worst times for that kind of call. Schwartz had the Lions on the brink of a 7 point lead in the 4th quarter with a short FG but instead chose to run a fake FG with holder/punter Sam Martin on 4th and 5 at their opponents 10 yard line. With the Steelers in the shadows of their own goal line, this obviously does not give the Lions very much room to run on such a fake. More importantly, by not executing the fake, he gave the opponent, who was fueled by a very active home crowd, new life and momentum. It is hard enough to win on the road in the NFL, but Schwartz made it nearly impossible with his error in game management at a critical time. The failure on the fake FG gave the Steelers an inordinate amount of momentum and it completely took the wind out of the Lion's sails. Schwartz obviously defended his decision to fake the FG after the game, but it does not matter what he says. He helped blow the game for the Lions with that brainless call. 

While I place a great deal of blame for this loss on coach Jim Schwartz, it was certainly a collective 2nd half collapse for the Lions in this game. The Lions scored 0 points in the 2nd half after lighting the scoreboard up for 27 in the first half. Stafford only threw for 35 yards in the 2nd half. Calvin Johnson was completely shut down in the 2nd half. Stafford threw to him just 3 times in the 2nd half, but none of those throws were completed. They also dropped interceptions, missed many tackles, had an ineffective pass rush, and of course coached terribly. The Lions are not accustomed to the success that they have enjoyed so far this year. A steady head coach can help ground a team and keep them focused, unfortunately, the Lions lack that. Luckily for them their schedule and injuries to other teams in their division give the Lions hope to win the division, but it will still not be easy. 

The Lions are set up to win their first division championship since 1993. The stars are aligning for them. It is theirs for the taking. Unless their own head coach gets in their way. 

NFL Pecking Order: Week 11

By Charlie Portelli

After each week in the NFL I will do a segment called “NFL Pecking Order” breaking down what I view as the top ten teams in the NFL at that time. Unlike most other sites or blog lists ranking NFL teams on a week by week basis, I look at the big picture. Most other lists are flawed because they only look at wins and losses, more specifically on recent wins and losses. For example, if a team is 1-2 with two road losses to tough teams, it is not always correct to rank them behind a 2-1 or even a 3-0 team with less impressive wins. Like I said, I will look at the teams with a big picture perspective in mind. This should be a very interesting segment this year because the teams in the league are so close. To me, there is not an enormous gap between the teams I rank 3-5 and the teams I rank 8-10, and even the teams I leave outside the top 10. With that said, lets rank the top ten NFL teams heading into week 11 starting with number 10.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-4, AFC NORTH) Last week: 10 

The Bengals very narrowly hang on to the last spot in the Pecking Order this week after losing their second OT game in a row. They had built a two game lead over the Ravens and Browns in the division but the Ravens are a good team and it should not surprise anyone that the Ravens won Sunday to tighten up the divisional race. The Bengals are not going to run away with this division. Their talent should end up being enough to prevail when it is all said and done. Rookie RB Gio Bernard could be the difference for their offense but he still shows signs of being immature while taking big losses on broken plays. Dalton has to be the steady hand for the Bengals and with WR AJ Green at his disposal he should be just that.

9. Detroit Lions (6-3, NFC NORTH) Last week: Unranked

The Lions jump back into the top 10 after missing out last week. The Lions were able to grab a tough road win over a divisional opponent; a task that should never be taken lightly. That was the kind of win the Lions can build off of. QB Matthew Stafford is more than capable of leading this team to a division championship now that Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers is out for at least the next few weeks with a broken collarbone. I still do not trust the coaching staff in Detroit and there is certainly enough time for the Lions to screw this one up, but for now they deserve credit for where they have this team. DT Ndamukong Suh is having an incredible year and his counterpart DT Nick Fairley plays great in spurts. The Lions offense has been great, and their front 7 on defense is improving every week.

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-3, AFC SOUTH) Last week: 4

What the hell happened to the Colts on Sunday? As I have said many times before, the NFL is extremely close and any team can win on any given Sunday. With that said, the Colts came into Sunday without reminding themselves of that apparently and they were buried in their own stadium 38-8 by the Rams. While that was an embarrassing loss to say the least, the Rams are a weird team. They have looked like they could be a bottom 5 team in this league at teams, and other times, they have looked like a playoff team. Credit to the Rams for showing up and bringing the Colts back to earth. Luck looked more like a second year QB on Sunday rather than the savvy veteran he has all year. He threw 3 INT's and also lost a fumble. This loss could prove to be a positive. Every good team needs a swift kick in the ass in order to whip them into shape. Better now than later.

7. Carolina Panthers (6-3, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 8

I know what everyone is thinking while reading this. "How the hell are the Panthers at number 7 on the Pecking Order after they beat the 49ers on the road?" The answer to that question is simple. It would be a knee jerk reaction to shoot them up the Pecking Order after that win. I love this team and that win was legitimate, no question about it. They won 10-9 at tough place to play against a tough team. In a defensive struggle, they were able to get the only TD on a nice run by Deangelo Williams and that was the difference. The teams that remain in front of them in the order are better than them right now, even San Fransisco. QB Cam Newton still shows that he can sometimes get in his own way. I am in no way downplaying the Panthers win on Sunday, because it was huge for them and equally as bad for San Fran, but one big win for the Panthers does not make them a top 5 team in this league at the present time.

6. New England Patriots (7-2, AFC EAST) Last week: 7 

The Patriots are looking good at midseason. They sit at 7-2 and will win the division easily. Coming off of their bye week, they will head to Carolina for a stiff test on MNF. The Patriots have only played two games against tough opponents this year. They lost to the Bengals on the road, and the next week were able to beat the Saints at home. The game against the Panther looms large as it will serve as a measuring stick for the Patriots. The Pats will have their work cut out for them playing on the road, against a red hot team, on MNF, with a rowdy Carolina home crowd who is excited about their team. Not an easy task. The week off should help Belichick prepare for this one thought. The Pats were sitting at home watching as the Panthers poured their heart and soul into a huge win over the 49ers.

5. San Fransisco 49ers (6-3, NFC WEST) Last week: 2

The 49ers lost a huge game at home against the Panthers on Sunday. They will be directly fighting with the Panthers for a wild card spot so this was certainly a game they needed. The defense looked great, limiting QB Cam Newton's overall effectiveness all day. They only allowed 10 points on the day. The defense should only improve as All-Pro rush end Aldon Smith is worked in more and more each week. Unfortunately, QB Colin Kaepernick looks completely lost running the offense. RB Frank Gore continued his dominant season with 82 yards and a 5.1 yard per carry average, but when it came time to change the pace and throw, Kaepernick was just 11/22 for 91 yards and 0 TD's. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman have their work cut out for them to get Kaepernick back on track because this team is too good to let this season slip away.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 5

At this point, the story is well documented for the Chiefs. They have not beaten anyone. With that said, they are undefeated and have shown a capable offense in the process. The defense on the other hand is downright dominant. The Chiefs will travel to Denver to take on their division rival Broncos. Head coach Andy Reid has fit in better than anyone could have expected this early in the process.

3. New Orleans Saints (7-2, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 6

The Saints bounced back in a big way this week after a bad loss at the hands of the Jets in week 9. They absolutely dismantled the Cowboys on Sunday night. Other than the Seahawks, the Saints are probably the team with the best home field advantage. They look unbeatable at home, but on the road they are much more vulnerable. When Drew Brees has all of his weapons at his disposal they are perhaps the most potent offense in the league. Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan has done a nice job to turn around this defense but they have slowed in their last few weeks. The Seahawks and Saints should be the two teams battling for home field throughout the playoffs and that is one to keep an eye on because it will be an enormous factor.

2. Seattle Seahawks (9-1, NFC WEST) Last week: 3 

After a couple of underwhelming wins for the Seahawks the traveled to Atlanta and proceeded to blow out the Falcons. It is tough to put a lot of stock into a win over the Falcons at this stage in the game but the Seahawks continue to stockpile wins. They are 9-1 and just one game against the lowly Vikings stand between the Seahawks and their much needed bye week. The Seahawks need to get healthy on the offensive line as they prepare for a playoff run.

1. Denver Broncos (8-1, AFC WEST) Last week: 1

The Broncos were able to take down the Chargers on the road on Sunday to improve their record to 8-1. They will come back home this week and host the undefeated Chiefs. The main concern in Denver is obvious; the health of Peyton Manning. Manning is battling what seems to be a high ankle sprain and it is clearly limiting his mobility in the pocket. This is something to keep an eye on going forward here. He is going to have his hands full this Sunday with the Chiefs pass rush. They narrowly edge out the Seahawks in this weeks Pecking Order.

Detroit Lions: Win Over Bears Could Prove to be Turning Point

By Charlie Portelli

The Detroit Lions have been a popular pick among analysts over the last handful of years to make a jump into the elite group among NFC teams. They have made a habit over those years to build some hype with encouraging play through the preseason and into early season action only to have it squandered by a string of letdowns that have hardly become a surprise. The Lions visited Soldier Field on Sunday for a contest against the Chicago Bears in a 3-way tie for the division lead as they shared the same record as the Bears and Packers at 5-3. This was a prototypical spot for a typical letdown for the Lions. Only the opposite happened. They were the better team for 60 minutes and came away with a hard fought victory on the road and emerged as the division leaders at 6-3.

The Lions win on Sunday was extremely encouraging. In a year filled with steps in the right direction for the Lions, Sunday was a huge leap. Their defense was able to step up and hold Bears RB Matt Forte to his lowest rush total of the entire season (33 yards) as well as his lowest average per carry (1.9). The Lions coaching staff made it a point to stop the run and dare a hobbled Jay Cutler to beat them through the air. The Lions front four took care of that part. Defensive tackles Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh combined for 8 quarterback hits on Jay Cutler and each had a sack. Linebackers Stephen Tulloch and especially DeAndre Levy also played admirably and have helped form an impressive front seven for the defense.

On the other side of the ball, Matthew Stafford did not have the stats that might jump out at you on paper Sunday but he continues his progression as a QB that has the capability of carrying a team on his back. He makes the big throws when the pressure is at its greatest and has done so all year. WR Calvin Johnson is now healthy and there is obviously no need to over analyze his value to this team. He is the best receiver in the league and quite possibly the most lethal weapon in football on offense. The mere presence of Calvin on the field has made the signing of RB Reggie Bush pure genius. Reggie Bush and the Lions offense are the perfect marriage. He had shown flashes of excellence throughout his 8 year NFL career but it was not until this year, his first season with the Lions, that he has lived up to his sky-high potential. The Lions coaching staff has done an admirable job of late to keep him healthy by limiting his touches because lets be real, the season is only half completed and the playoffs are in their sights. It is imperative that Bush stays fresh.

Perhaps the most surprising asset for the Lions through the first half of the season has been their offensive line. Personally, I thought that the Lions would struggle in all phases of their offense due to poor offensive line play. They were inexperienced on the line but most notably at the two tackle positions. LT Riley Reiff has been incredibly steady for a player that played sparingly last year as a rookie and was rumored to be moved to an inside guard position in the offseason due to his inability to handle a tackle spot. For what very well should be a catastrophic mess for the Lions, the right tackle position has been equally steady. Most fans are probably unaware of the situation, and by all means, that is a great thing. They started the season with a first time starter in often injured Jason Fox. It did not take long before he went down with a groin injury.  Next up, Corey Hilliard. He quickly went down with a knee injury. The third man up was undrafted rookie LaAdrian Waddle and he has been excellent. He first filled in against the Bengals and impressed. That earned him a start against the Cowboys where he shined. Then on Sunday he started again and did not allow a single QB pressure and also helped open holes for RB Reggie Bush as he gashed the Chicago defense for 104 yards. He averaged a striking 7.5 yards per carry. RB Joique Bell tacked on an extra 41 yards on the ground for good measure as he continues to be the perfect complimentary back to Bush.

The Lions win on Sunday should not be downplayed; it was enormous. They completed their sweep of the Bears and put themselves in the drivers seat to win the division. They were also able to improve their record against their own division to 3-1 (which could be key in the event of a tiebreaker for the division title). Their remaining schedule also happens to be the easiest in the NFL, so all of sudden, hosting a playoff game does not seem so far-fetched.

With that said, this is the NFL. The league is extremely competitive and any team can win any game on any given Sunday. Just ask the Colts. They were blown out 38-8 in their own stadium yesterday by an inferior St. Louis Rams team. Something that was not so inspiring on Sunday was the Lions showing signs of the "same old Lions" as they committed three personal fouls late in the game. Stafford also threw an interception late that could have derailed their winning effort. Also, despite the defensive line's success on Sunday, the secondary is still a major issue as they struggle with bigger receivers. Rookie CB Darius Slay has been a disappointment thus far for a unit that could really use the help. Of course they were not going to be perfect on the road but as I said, they were the better team over the course of the entire game but still managed to give the Bears an opportunity to steal the game at the end.

For once, luck seems to be on the Lions side this year. Green Bay's star QB Aaron Rodgers is out for the foreseeable future with a broken collarbone, Chicago's QB Jay Cutler is now battling an ankle injury on top of his injured groin. For the most part, the Lions are healthy.

The Lions have not hosted a playoff game since 1991. They find themselves in a rare position heading into week 11. They control their own destiny and have a chance to win their division for the first time since 1993 and play a playoff game in front of a sold out Ford Field.

A division championship seemed inconceivable for Lions fans before the season began, but things change quickly in the NFL. Not only is it now conceivable, its expected.

NFL Pecking Order: Week 10

By Charlie Portelli

After each week in the NFL I will do a segment called “NFL Pecking Order” breaking down what I view as the top ten teams in the NFL at that time. Unlike most other sites or blog lists ranking NFL teams on a week by week basis, I look at the big picture. Most other lists are flawed because they only look at wins and losses, more specifically on recent wins and losses. For example, if a team is 1-2 with two road losses to tough teams, it is not always correct to rank them behind a 2-1 or even a 3-0 team with less impressive wins. Like I said, I will look at the teams with a big picture perspective in mind. This should be a very interesting segment this year because the teams in the league are so close. To me, there is not an enormous gap between the teams I rank 3-5 and the teams I rank 8-10, and even the teams I leave outside the top 10. With that said, lets rank the top ten NFL teams heading into week 10 starting with number 10.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-3, AFC NORTH) Last week: 9

The Bengals drop back to number 10 on this list after an overtime loss to the Dolphins on the road Thursday night on national television. The Bengals were riding a four game winning streak heading into the game and even after the loss, sit at a comfortable 6-3 atop their division. The Bengals were being predicted to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl by many after Andy Dalton's recent surge of success. Pump the brakes. Dalton is an average QB in this league. With the roster that the Bengals have, Dalton could help this team reach that goal but I do not see this team making a deep run into the playoffs with Marvin Lewis as their head coach. Lewis is a good coach and a likable one as well, but in my opinion will keep this team "stuck in the mud" if you will. His voice is growing old in Cinci. The Bengals will be a playoff team for the third year in a row but any more than that is stretching it for me.

9. Green Bay Packers (5-3, NFC NORTH) Last week: 7

The Packers drop in this weeks Pecking Order for one obvious reason; Aaron Rodgers' broken collarbone. The Packers have also dealt with several other key injuries but the injury to Rodgers has the NFC North wide open now. The Packers, Bears, and Lions are all tied with 5-3 records. The Packers are hoping for a quick recovery from Rodgers. I am thinking that their goal would be to welcome back Rodgers for their Thanksgiving shootout with the Lions. Until then, coach McCarthy should find a way to tread water behind a growing running attack with Eddie Lacy and James Starks. It is essential now more than ever to work Starks in in order to keep Lacy fresh for what promises to be a fight for the division to the finish.

8. Carolina Panthers (5-3, NFC SOUTH) Last week: Unranked

The Carolina Panthers make their debut this week in the NFL Pecking Order and steal the Lions spot.  The Lions were on bye last week but the nod goes to the Panthers as they continue to impress. They have won 4 in a row which is never an easy thing to do in this league. Those 4 wins all happened to be blowouts. The Panthers coaching staff looks to be finally figuring their team out. Cam Newton is playing selfless football for the first time in his career which has helped this team immensely. They also have a surplus of good running backs with the athletic Deangelo Williams, bruising goal line back (who can catch the ball out of the backfield as well) Mike Tolbert, and now welcome back Jonathon Stewart who will keep legs fresh in the backfield. Their front 7 is among the best in the game, first round pick  DT Star Lotulelei has been a force in the middle and backing him up is the best young linebacker in the game, Luke Kuechly. Watch him play, he is all over the field. Best thing about this is we are going to really see who this Panther team is in the second half of this season. They play at San Fransisco and then home against the Patriots over the next two weeks and also play the Saints twice. If they maintain their health like that have thus far, they have a shot at the playoffs despite their difficult remaining schedule.

7. New England Patriots (7-2, AFC EAST) Last week: 8

The Patriots looked more like the Patriots of old while putting up 55 points on the Steelers last week. Unfortunately, the Steelers are not what they used to be. The Steelers defense has been bad week in, week out but it was a great sign for the Patriots nonetheless. Brady made the best of what he had early, but now has Gronk back. He also has WR Danny Amendola back (until he gets hurt again). The running game has been the most impressive thing in New England thus far thanks to RB Stevan Ridley. They will also have RB Shane Vereen back soon as well, whom the Patriots love because of versatile style. Belichick is the greatest coach of all time because of his ability to make adjustments. He knows how to win in more than one way. He built a running attack this year in order to beat the Broncos. The recipe to beat Peyton Manning is to play man to man on defense, and to run the football on offense in order to keep Peyton off the field.

6. New Orleans Saints (6-2, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 4

The Saints suffered a loss to the Jets on the road last week and drop to 6 in the NFL Pecking Order. The Jets have a nice defense and all with one of the best front four's in the league, but the Jets have to win those kinds of games on the road. Graham is not healthy and is not on the field as much as he normally is, Colston missed the game, and Sproles exited the game in the first series with a concussion. The Saints offense is predicated on creating matchup issues and those three are their best at doing just that. The Saints should be fine but their defense is not looking as stout as before, the secret is out, teams can run on the Saints.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 6

I am putting stock into the Chiefs win last week over the Bills, even with undrafted rookie QB Jeff Tuel starting under center. The Bills are actually a competent team in the NFL and they were at home. The Bills have an extremely underrated defense, they rank 2nd in the league in QB sacks, and anytime I see that stat, I love it.  It seemed to me that the Chiefs were just begging to lose coming into this one with their bye week on the horizon but after getting down early, they stormed back to win, by 10 points no less. Their truest of test are yet to come as they still have not faced an elite opponent. Their best win is still a narrow victory over the embarrassing Cowboys. I still believe the Chiefs will win 1 of their 2 games against the Broncos this season.

4. Indianapolis Colts (6-2, AFC SOUTH) Last week: 5

The Colts had a very impressive win over the Texas on the road Sunday Night. While I do think that their efforts were aided by the fact that Texans head coach collapsed and was rushed to the hospital at halftime, it was still a great comeback. The Texans had the game won but the unfortunate incident occurred and took the life out of the team, but the Colts still had to make the plays, which they did. They were able to outscore the Texans 24-3 in the second half of the game. The Colts are minus a key player in WR Reggie Wayne down the stretch, which hurts this team badly. QB Andrew Luck has his work cut out for him.

3. Seattle Seahawks (8-1, NFC WEST) Last week: 1

The Seahawks drop back to the third slot this week after eking out a win over the lowly Buccaneers at home. This marks two weeks in a row that the Seahawks have struggled against inferior opponents. This week is more concerning considering the fact that they were at home. The Seahawks were down 21-0 at half and to their credit, they were able to come back and win this game, which says a lot about QB Russell Wilson's resiliency. I love this team going forward but they just look like a tired and unhealthy team that is desperately in need of their bye week which unfortunately for them is not until week 12 after games at Atlanta next week and then home to Minnesota.

2. San Fransisco 49ers (6-2, NFC WEST) Last week: 3

The 49ers are coming off of a bye week but are moving up to the 2 slot this week. I have been high on this team all along and since their rocky start they have righted the ship behind coach Jim Harbaugh. They have a huge game this Sunday as they welcome the streaking Panthers to town. No one has been talking about the 49ers lately and believe me, that is fine with them. While they certainly do not want to look forward, you can bet your ass they have week 14 circled on their calender for when the Seahawks visit Candlestick (49ers home field). The 49ers might not be able to win in Seattle but the story is likely different in San Fransisco.

1. Denver Broncos (7-1, AFC WEST) Last week: 2

The Broncos are also coming off of a bye week and they move up as well and claim the top spot on the Pecking Order. They have shown their deficiencies but remain an outstanding team. Their defense has become soft but they have time to get that in order because they still show tons of speed. Head Coach John Fox is not currently with the team due to some health concerns but defensive coordinator and former NFL head coach steps in on an interim basis. QB Peyton Manning needed the bye week to rest his ankles and is hungry for a Super Bowl ring in Denver.

Fantasy Football vs. Real Football

By Charlie Portelli

Every guy loves fantasy football. Hell, there are even a lot of women who are into it these days. It's spreading rapidly and extensively. Its easy to join, easy to draft, easy to manage and most anyone can grasp the concept of fantasy football overnight. It has helped the National Football League reach record profits and is also a huge factor in the NFL making all-time marks in television ratings. The problem is, people are so engulfed by their fantasy football team that they have lost sight of the true beauty of the most exciting sport to watch in the world; real, athletic, hard hitting, American Football.

In case you have been living under a rock for the past decade and are unfamiliar with what fantasy football is, it is very simple. You draft a team of real NFL players consisting of a Quarterback, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Kicker, and a team defense. Each week you are matched up with another fantasy football team in your league and you compete against each other and acquire points based on your player's accumulation of stats. You are essentially your team's general manager and begin by drafting your team. Throughout the season you can trade with other teams, add/drop players, and change up your roster.

Like the majority of guys out there, I also participate in fantasy football. Although I am always invited into several leagues each year, I limit myself to just one league with 9 other guys who happen to be my best friends. I am also the commissioner of the league. Win or lose in our league (I mostly lose), I have an absolute ball with it. It's fun to throw some money in a pot, draft with your buddies, talk some shit, and see how it all plays out. With that said, I don't let it get out of hand like too many guys out there tend to.

Everyone hates "3-fantasy football league guy" who has so many conflicts of interest he doesn't know who the hell he is rooting for in every game. He needs Matt Ryan to play decent because he owns him in one league, but he is also playing against him in another, but the first league is more important so I guess he can throw like... 2 TD passes, but no more. Oh, and he can't throw any of those TD passes to Tony Gonzalez because hes playing against him.

Dude, shut up.

How about the guy that you watch the game with that keeps his mouth running every single play? "Alright, the Patriots need to pass. Let Tom Brady pass. Why the fuck are you running the ball?!?! Pass the ball damnit!"
We are certainly all guilty of this one to some degree. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't root for a particular player to score a TD while in the red zone.

But seriously, every play? Give me a break.

Almost as bad as him is the guy that is staring at his fantasy football roster on his phone for the duration of a game. Then he tells everyone "Demarco Murray just scored a touchdown!", everyone chimes back, "We just saw it live on TV while you had your head buried in your phone".

Something else that irks me is the fact that fantasy football experts think they know it all about real football. This year they tell me that Tom Brady sucks. He isn't putting up the gaudy stats that he used to, so now he sucks.

Really, pal? I will argue the contrary. He is having a great year this year. He has helped lead his team to a 6-2 record thus far with wide receivers that are undrafted rookies. So in case you are having trouble grasping that, these are players that are in their first year in the league, who after 254 draft selections this year, were passed by. No one wanted them. So then the Patriots signed them after no one chose to draft them, and they're now Tom Brady's primary weapons on offense. Tom Brady has been incredibly resilient this year. If they understood real football and watched the games and not just glanced at box scores or their fantasy football points, they too would realize this.

Even worse than fantasy football nerds are the guys who play fantasy football and have completely lost touch with reality because of it. It has become far too common in a world where social media dominates and a football player receives death threats to him and his family based on a poor performance. The player's poor performance resulted in lost points for this fantasy owner's team, so he threatens his life. It sounds like a sick joke, but the truth of the matter is that it happens very often. Some fans are so persistent with these threats that team security has to step in. Some people forget that while these professional football players are icons and many of them make millions of dollars, they are real people too. These players don't give a shit about your fantasy football team, and I don't blame them.

All of these different types of guys have lost sight of the true beauty of the game of football that we've all fell in love with.

While I enjoy fantasy football, I do not let it tarnish real football. I grew up watching football with my grandfather (before fantasy football was popular) and fell in love with the raw human competition. Coaches drawing up plays, creating game plans and then attempting to execute them against another team on Sundays. I also witnessed my grandfather's emotional roller coaster as I saw him root so feverishly for a team that he had bet on that day. For all you nerds out there who participate in 3 fantasy football leagues every year and have all your football watching excitement bank on your wide receiver catching a deep pass, I have an idea for you. But first, you're going to have to grow a pair. After you've done that, take some of your hard earned money and do the old fashioned thing, bet on a football game. You want to talk about exciting? Throw some money on a football game with a buddy, split a 12 pack to ease the nerves and hang on for the ride. You'll be white knuckling it until the final whistle. You'll never take your eyes off that TV and you will truly appreciate the real football game. Now of course, gambling on sports is nothing to joke about. You could easily become addicted and lose all your money, that's the reality of it, as scary as it sounds. With that said, exercise some self-control and keep it fun. Don't bet your mortgage or car payment. Just some extra cash to have fun with. I am not an advocate of betting on sports, but at the same time, I think everyone should experience it at least once, especially fantasy football nerds who think they know real football.

Listen, fantasy football is great. But too many people are getting out of hand with it and losing sight of the real game that we've all fell in love with one way or another. So this Sunday put your smart phones down, sit in front of the TV, crack a beer and watch with bated breath while I hope like the hell the Baltimore Ravens cover the point spread.

NFL Pecking Order: Week 9

By Charlie Portelli

After each week in the NFL I will do a segment called “NFL Pecking Order” breaking down what I view as the top ten teams in the NFL at that time. Unlike most other sites or blog lists ranking NFL teams on a week by week basis, I look at the big picture. Most other lists are flawed because they only look at wins and losses, more specifically on recent wins and losses. For example, if a team is 1-2 with two road losses to tough teams, it isn’t always correct to rank them behind a 2-1 or even a 3-0 team with less impressive wins. Like I said, I will look at the teams with a big picture perspective in mind. This should be a very interesting segment this year because the teams in the league are so close. To me, there is not an enormous gap between the teams I rank 3-5 and the teams I rank 8-10, and even the teams I leave outside the top 10. With that said, lets rank the top ten NFL teams heading into week 9 starting with number 10.

10. Detroit Lions (5-3, NFC NORTH) Last week: Unranked

I gave the Detroit Lions the nod over the Carolina Panthers here but it was very close. The Panthers will probably be the main competitor with the Lions for what looks to be one of the final playoff spots in the NFC. Detroit is not even close to what Carolina is on the defensive side of the ball but they boast a much more potent attack on offense behind QB Matthew Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson. Although I am not a believer in Head Coach Jim Schwartz, I will also give him a slight edge over Carolina's head coach, Ron Rivera. Detroit has the easiest remaining schedule in the entire NFL so a playoff spot is their's if they want to rise up and grab it. It should also be noted that LB Deandre Levy has emerged as one of the most versatile linebackers in the game and has become one of the lone bright spots on a struggling defense for the Lions.

9. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2, AFC NORTH) Last week: 8

The Bengals look to be the class of the AFC north at the halfway point of the season. They are extremely talented and are now riding a 4 game winning streak with wins at home vs the Patriots, at Bills, at Lions, and then this past Sunday at home vs the Jets. Their offense perked up against the Jets, blowing them out 49-9. QB Andy Dalton who once looked like he was limiting the Bengals potential is coming off his third straight dominant performance. Their defense has been very steady behind defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer who will garner plenty of attention from teams looking for a head coach this coming offseason. The Ravens are sitting at 3-4 in the division but will still get two cracks at the Bengals so this one has not been decided yet.

8. New England Patriots (6-2, AFC EAST) Last week: 9

The Patriots have remained steady despite playing games without their 3 best defensive players. NT Vince Wilfork and LB Jerod Mayo are out for the remainder of the season and CB Aqib Talib has missed the last two games. The Patriots might not be as much of a threat in the AFC as they have been in years past but teams always have to be cautious of a team led by coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots have built an attack on offense based off extreme balance as they boast as many as 3 to 4 running backs week in, week out. Tom Brady has his favorite target back in TE Rob Gronkowski and the Patriots sit comfortably atop their division after they took care of the struggling division rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

7. Green Bay Packers (5-2, NFC NORTH) Last week: 7

The Packers have been dealing with a lot of key injury issues but behind QB Aaron Rodgers they have not missed a beat. In fact its seems to be an annual thing that the Packers hit their stride midseason and march towards another division championship. The Lions are nipping at their heels in the division but the Packers are far too experienced and battle tested to give the divisional crown up to the Lions. Injuries are knocking Rodgers offensive weapons off the board on a weekly basis but the next man steps up and suits Rodgers fine. They are expected to welcome WR James Jones back this week and star LB Clay Matthews shouldn't be far behind. RB Eddie Lacy has emerged and become a dependable back and has helped create a balanced attack.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (8-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 6

The Chiefs have taken care of their business, and at 8-0 there is no denying that. Yet they are sitting back at #6 on the Pecking Order because they have yet to have a true test. Their best win was week 2 over the Dallas Cowboys where they won by 1 point. Their defense is every bit as good as advertised and I have stated before I think that they actually match up quite well with the Broncos who they will be contending with for the AFC west division title. Defensive ends like Von Miller of the Broncos, Jared Allen of the Vikings, and Demarcus Ware of the Cowboys garner most of the attention in the media but DE Tamba Hali has to be one of the most disruptive rush ends I have ever watched play. They are stacked at every level in this defense. We will see if their limits on offense will restrict them going forward as their next 4 games are at Buffalo, at Denver, Chargers, and then Denver again.

5. Indianapolis Colts (5-2, AFC SOUTH) Last week: 4

The Colts are behind all three powerhouse teams that they have impressively defeated in this weeks Pecking Order because of an injury that will be extremely difficult to overcome, WR Reggie Wayne. Behind DE Robert Mathis and of course QB Andrew Luck, Wayne was the next guy that they just simply could not afford to lose. They have also sustained losses on their already suspect offensive line. This is a team that I viewed as a possible participant in the Super Bowl out of the AFC but with the loss of their veteran leader in Wayne, that picture is a little more cloudy. Anything is still possible with QB Andrew Luck who has undoubtedly emerged as a legitimate top 5 QB in the NFL. Their defense is still stout and has become a rugged, hardworking group just like their QB. CB Vontae Davis has dominated in man coverage as evidenced by his performance on SNF while taking down the vaunted Denver Broncos.

4. New Orleans Saints (6-1, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 3

The Saints have just one blemish on their record, a last second loss at the hands of the Patriots. TE Jimmy Graham is battling an injury that could nag him throughout the season and if he isn't right, neither will this team. After falling behind briefly to an underrated Bills team last week, the Saints feasted on their weak QB play and forced turnover after turnover. Brees threw 5 TD passes as they rolled. Head Coach Sean Payton is thirsty after serving his year long suspension and its going to be interesting to see who grabs that top seed in the NFC conference between the Saints, Seahawks and 49ers because home field throughout the playoffs will mean a great deal, especially for the Saints or Seahawks.

3. San Fransisco 49ers (6-2, NFC WEST) Last week: 5

Everyone seemed to forget about the 49ers after they started the season 1-2 and lost by wide margins to the Seahawks and Colts. Another thing people seemed to forget was that this is the same team led by head coach Jim Harbaugh that led his team to the Super Bowl the year before. After those two losses they have rattled off 5 wins in a row over the Rams, Texans, Cards, Titans, and Jags. The average margin of victory over those 5 wins? A whopping 22.6 points, in typical Harbaugh fashion. They got back to what they do best and that is running the football. RB Frank Gore has answered the bell and this team now leads the NFL with 153 rush yards per game.  Newsflash: The 49ers are still an elite team in the NFL and Jim Harbaugh wants a ring.

2. Denver Broncos (7-1, AFC WEST) Last week: 1

The Broncos bounced back nicely after their thrashing defeat at the hands of the Colts. They may have only ended up losing that game by 6 points, but it was indeed a thrashing, the Colts dominated in every phase and shocked the Broncos nation. For the first time this season, they looked like the lesser of the two teams on the field. They were able to bounce back and do the same against the Redskins on Sunday. The Broncos started slow, but finished fast. Peyton Manning has looked like the Peyton of old, average in big games. He has a below .500 record for his career in the playoffs. His defense will have to perk up if they want to win a Super Bowl because the Colts showed 2 weeks ago that Peyton cannot do it all by himself, he needs help. DE Von Miller returning will help a great deal. The Broncos still look like the best team in the AFC, but now they look beatable and teams aren't intimidated.

1. Seattle Seahawks (7-1, NFC WEST) Last week: 2

The Seahawks return to the top spot on the Pecking Order after a close road victory on the road. The Seahawks have some real issues on the offensive line but should welcome back LT Russell Okung back in week 11. Their defense gave up yards in bunches on the ground to the Rams but were still able to hold the Rams out of the end zone the entire game as they won 14-9 on a game ending goal line stand. The Seahawks are at their best when their defense dictates the game and RB Marshawn Lynch has a steady diet of carries. QB Russell Wilson has kept it all together by not making mistakes and making big throws off play action. When his back has been against the wall and they needed him to make plays late in order to win, hes done just that, with his arm and his legs. He is a true dual-threat, pass first quarterback. RG, take notes.

Detroit Lions: A Win Is a Win, Right?

By Charlie Portelli

The Detroit Lions pulled off an improbable comeback on Sunday over the Cowboys that has Lions fans far and wide jubilant. With their backs against the wall in front of a sold out home crowd, Stafford and the Lions drove 80 yards with less than a minute on the clock and no timeouts remaining to cap an amazing victory. The win puts the Lions in the driver seat for a playoff spot in the NFC. All's well that ends well for Lions fans, right? Proceed with caution.

The Lions were extremely fortunate to be able to come away with a win Sunday. On defense, they continued to display a strong degree of ineptitude. Their inability to generate a consistent pass rush, coupled with the fact that their secondary has been awful has developed some real concerns for this team. They were just seconds away from dropping a second consecutive game at home where they desperately need wins. The Lions defense has given up 7 passing plays 40 yards or more, tied for 3rd worst among all NFL teams. They have also given up 4 rushes over 40 yards, which is the worst in the NFL. The Lions are known around the league to have one of the best defensive lines in the game, yet they have only accumulated 13 QB sacks, good for the 5th fewest in all of football. In typical Lions fashion, they again shot themselves in the foot several times. They committed 4 turnovers (2 INT's and 2 fumbles) and after losing one of their fumbles, rookie TE Joseph Fauria committed a brainless personal foul that put the Cowboys directly into field goal range. These are all recipes for losing. A recipe that the Lions have mastered. The win tends to mask many deficiencies for some, but not for me.

The Dallas Cowboy defense is every bit as bad as the Lions defense, so lets not over-analyze this one, that's why the Lions were able to win this game. They continued to allow Calvin Johnson to burn them time and time again as he amassed 329 yards on 14 catches. When the Cowboys had to make one play to finish the game, they could not.

Of course, we have to give credit where credit is due. Stafford was incredible in this game, and all season long for that matter. In a quarterback driven league, Stafford has shown the ability to carry his team to victory. He has about as much talent throwing the football as any in the game. He and Calvin have developed the most explosive connection in the league and their rapport continues to grow. The Lions stayed the course in this one, and despite their defensive inefficiencies, their offense prevailed. Perhaps the most impressive trait through eight games for the Lions has been their ability to protect Stafford. The offensive line has only allowed 10 sacks on the season, the lowest in the NFL. Much of that credit goes to Stafford as well, as he has been brilliant at getting rid of the football quickly and not allowing the defense the time to get to him.

Many fans think that this win is the difference. The Lions were never able to win these games in the past, so winning them now proves that this team has made that jump. Although in reality, that is hardly the case. The Lions have the easiest remaining schedule in the entire NFL, but they will NOT win their division. Luckily for them, there should be one playoff spot left for the taking after the 4 division winners and 49ers claim their spots. Will the Lions do what is required and grab that last spot? Depend on wins like they had this past Sunday against the Cowboys and they can forget about that.

Detroit Lions: Playoff Bound?

By Charlie Portelli

The Detroit Lions fan base is among the hungriest in the league for success after enduring a lifetime of disappointment. The Lions have satisfied that hunger by delivering an impressive 4-2 record through the first six weeks of the regular season. That inspiring start has the entire city of Detroit buzzing. They have the look of a playoff team thus far as they sit atop the NFC North, but is this lead that the Lions have created sustainable?

Aft
er just six weeks in the young season no team has yet to punch their ticket into the postseason, just like no team can be ruled out of making the postseason this early. But as fans, we naturally look ahead and think of the possibilities. I am not fond of playing the “schedule game” by looking ahead to every game on the schedule and predicting wins and losses. However, we have a lot better idea now as to what certain teams are than we did before the season began when the schedules were first released. With that said, lets take a look specifically at the next two games on the Lions schedule beginning with this Sunday as the Cincinnati Bengals visit Ford Field and then next Sunday which also happens to be at home when the Dallas Cowboys come knocking.

These next two games are crucial for the Lions because they are against formidable opponents and also when you are playing in front of your home crowd it is imperative to win those games. These two games will be a great measuring stick for the Lions going forward as they continue their march through the season as playoff hopefuls. 

It all starts this Sunday against the Bengals who like the Lions, have also fought their way to a 4-2 record thus far. The Bengals have a legitimate top 10 defense in this league as they rank in the top 10 both in points allowed and yards allowed. They have talent at all three levels of their defense. The secondary has been getting healthier as well. The offense on the other hand has not been nearly as impressive as they have struggled to meet their potential behind mediocre QB Andy Dalton. Dalton is however coming off his best game of the year after passing for 337 yards and 3 TD's but its no secret that the Bengals are at their best when they run the ball behind their two running backs that seem to compliment each other well. Benjarvus Green-Ellis is the gritty between the tackles runner that usually starts the attack and finishes at the goal line while in between they like to mix in rookie running back Giovanni Bernard who is much quicker and athletic and also loves to catch the ball out of the backfield.

In the second half of this home stand for the Lions they will welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Ford Field for an NFC clash. The Cowboys currently stand at 3-3 on the year and are tied for the lead in the struggling NFC East division. One of the those three losses for the Cowboys came at the hands of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in a classic battle coming down to the final seconds. Tony Romo has had a remarkable year thus far and is doing all he can to lead this team to a division championship and playoff berth. Behind Romo and all his offensive weapons, the Cowboys have proven they can score points in bunches. The Cowboys have looked inconsistent on defense and are starting to battle some injuries that could prove costly as they have most recently lost star DE/LB Demarcus Ware for possibly the next four weeks. They are also without their other stud DE Anthony Spencer for the year who was not as flashy as Ware but was a reliable run stopper for the Cowboys.

Lets take a look at a stat for the Lions that may at first seem like a positive, but I will argue otherwise. The Lions are tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with 10 already through just 6 games. You may be asking yourself "...and this is a bad thing, why?" I will tell you why. When your defense is depending on turnovers, it is not a good thing. Turnovers can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing and if a team has a knack for forcing them, that of course is a valuable asset, but that is not what I am arguing. What I am arguing is that type of defensive success is not sustainable. You do not want your defensive success to be dependent upon interceptions or fumble recoveries. There is a bit of luck involved there with leading the league in interceptions. As I have stated many times before, this is a head coach and quarterback driven league. The quarterbacks that the Lions have faced off with so far this year have been Christian Ponder, Carson Palmer, Robert Griffin III, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, and Brandon Weeden. So in 6 games, they have faced just one quarterback you could even consider above average in Aaron Rodgers who is of course elite. It comes at no coincidence that he threw zero INT's vs. the Lions and the Lions of course lost that game. I would argue the rest of those QB's are average AT BEST. (Do not even get me started on RGIII, I said he was overrated last year and I was right. Talented? Without a doubt, but far from elite). My point is, to the Lions credit, they feasted on inferior QB's, but it is not something you can count on moving forward.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has done an outstanding job leading this team to where they stand now. He has proved that he is a driven winner and is an absolute gamer by doing it all with a hobbled Calvin Johnson. Over the next two weeks we'll all get a much clearer look at where the Detroit Lions stand in the NFC playoff hunt as they will be at the halfway point of the season. Win these next two home games and the Lions have put themselves in the drivers seat. Lose them and they are the same old Lions.

NFL Pecking Order : Week 6

By Charlie Portelli


NFL Pecking Order. Week 6.

After each week in the NFL I will do a segment called “NFL Pecking Order” breaking down what I view as the top ten teams in the NFL at that time. Unlike most other sites or blog lists ranking NFL teams on a week by week basis, I look at the big picture. Most other lists are flawed because they only look at wins and losses, more specifically on recent wins and losses. For example, if a team is 1-2 with two road losses to tough teams, it isn’t always correct to rank them behind a 2-1 or even a 3-0 team with less impressive teams. Like I said, I will look at the teams with a big picture perspective in mind. This should be a very interesting segment this year because the teams in the league are so close. To me, there isn’t an enormous gap between the teams I rank 3-5 and the teams I rank 8-10, and even the teams I leave outside the top 10. With that said, lets rank the top ten NFL teams heading into week 6 starting with number 10.

10. Baltimore Ravens (3-2, AFC NORTH) Last week: Unranked

            Coming off an awful loss to the Buffalo Bills on the road in week 4, the Ravens were able go down south and beat an improved Dolphins team in their own house. This team had gone through enormous changes after their Super Bowl winning team, having to replace skill players as well as the identity of their defense for the better part of a decade in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Their leader, John Harbaugh knows how to keep his team’s emotions under control. Sitting at 3-2, they are tied atop their division with the Browns and Bengals, with the Browns likely to fade, the Ravens and Bengals should have a battle to win the AFC North crown.

9. New England Patriots (4-1, AFC EAST) Last week: 7

            After last nights game on MNF, we all had a look at just how unimpressive the Falcons are this year with the lowly Jets defeating them on their own field. If the win over the Falcons is the Patriots big win, then why are we all excited about the Patriots 4-1 start? I rank the Pats at 9 this week because although they haven’t done much to impress, they are 4-1 nonetheless. Their defense does a lot of thing right, including shut down what opposing teams do well and forcing the opposing offense’s weaker hand thanks to CB Aqib Talib who is playing at an all-pro level. They shut AJ Green down last week and Julio Jones the week before that. Bill Belichick has the Pats looking about as unimpressive as a 4-1 Belichick coached team could look but the fact of the matter is he is the greatest coach in the history of the game at making adjustments and while figuring his team out on the fly, they have compiled 4 wins and should only get better as the season goes on.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2, AFC NORTH) Last week: 10

            The Bengals jump up 2 spots on this weeks pecking order following a home win over the undefeated Patriots where they broke Tom Brady’s unbelievable 52 game streak in which he has thrown at least 1 TD pass. Their defense held the Pats to just 6 points and while their offense is still sputtering they have a ton of weapons. I expect the Bengals to fade but given their talent, they should be able to squeak into the playoffs and eventually face the same fate of their last two seasons; a first round playoff loss. Then it will be up to the Bengals front office to decide to retain Marvin Lewis or not.

7. Green Bay Packers (2-2, NFC NORTH) Last week: 7

            The Packers did exactly what they needed to do last week by defeating the Lions at Lambeau. Their offense did not exactly look as efficient as it normally does behind Rodgers but I will credit the Lions defense for doing a nice job. The Packers defense stepped up and made the Lions offense one dimensional by taking away the run by winning the battle up front and clogging the running lanes. The Packers were lucky that the Lions were without the services of their best player, Calvin Johnson, which made an already unlikely victory become nearly impossible for the Lions. Eddie Lacy returned and made a nice contribution in the run game and formed a more balanced attack for the Packers offense. Unfortunately for the Packers it is looking like their star pass rushing LB Clay Matthews will be out for about a month. Next week’s matchup in Baltimore with the Ravens looms large.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 6

            The Chiefs came back last week to beat an upstart Titans team on the road which should certainly not be overlooked because if you can win games on the road in the NFL, you can probably make the playoffs. That is basically the difference in this league between teams that make the playoffs, and teams that do not. With that said, the Chiefs are 5-0 with wins over the Jaguars, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, and Titans. Those five teams combined have only five wins. Kudos to Andy Reid for turning this team around overnight, but the work is far from over. This team will probably be limited when it comes to the point where they have to push the ball down the field with Alex Smith and that is going to be the difference between the Chiefs and Broncos in this division. With all of this said, I love this team and they will be making the playoffs thanks an active franchise making the correct moves and not being afraid to make those bold moves in order to move their team in the right direction.

5. San Fransisco 49ers (3-2, NFC WEST) Last week: 4

            The 49ers move down in the pecking order this week at no fault of their own but simply because other teams have looked more impressive. They blew out the struggling Texans at home in front of a packed house at Candlestick. Although the Texans look like a bad team this year, I assure you that they are not, so you can put as much stock into that win for the 49ers as you want. The Texans have a real defense and they will make a push to make the playoffs. However, the 49ers have a lot to iron out if they want to return to the Super Bowl this year, namely their young QB, Colin Kaepernick. He is obviously supremely talented and possibly suffered from an enlarged ego when he was looking like an unsolvable puzzle for opposing defenses over his first few starts in the NFL. The 49ers need to treat him like the QB he is, one that is making one of his first 12 starts in the league and build him back up from there.

4. Indianapolis Colts (4-1, AFC SOUTH) Last week: 5

            You can mark this one down. This division is over with, the Colts at 4-1 have wrapped up the AFC South over the 3-2 Titans and the 2-3 Texans. I love this Colts team and they will go as far Andrew Luck can take them and something is telling me that could possibly the Super Bowl although that won’t be easy with the Broncos standing in their way.

3. New Orleans Saints (5-0, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 3

            The Saints had a very tough text in week 5 traveling to Chicago to take on the Bears who were coming off a loss to the Lions the week prior. I’ve said it before, winning on the road in the NFL is tough and the Saints took care of business in Chicago. The defense is vastly improved and perhaps the best thing about this Saints team thus far is that they are flying under the radar with Manning and the Broncos grabbing most of the headlines. Believe me; you want to fly under the radar in pro sports if at all possible.

2. Seattle Seahawks (4-1, NFC WEST) Last week: 1

            I don’t care that the Seahawks lost last week to the Colts. That doesn’t change how good this team is. In fact, the Seahawks played better than I thought that they would have in Indy and very nearly won that game on the road. The Seahawks are of course a different team on the road than they are at home whereas on the road, this defense is going to give up some points, at home, they do not. This team is the most well rounded squad in the league.

1. Denver Broncos (5-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 2

The Broncos move up to the top spot in the NFL Pecking order this week after an incredible game against the Cowboys that was one for the ages. Manning and Romo exchanged punches for 60 minutes and Manning was the last one standing. With all this said, I feel like I have to bring everyone back down to earth when it comes to this Broncos team. Nearly every year, there is a team that looks unbeatable, and this year it is obviously the Broncos. But watching that defense get absolutely shredded for 48 points by Tony Romo wasn’t impressive. You certainly don’t want to get into a shootout with Peyton Manning because you are probably going to come up short just as Romo did, but there are different ways to beat this Bronco team. I will go on record predicting that in one of the two Broncos vs. Chiefs games, I think the Chiefs will win one (most likely the home game for the Chiefs). I think the Chiefs match up fairly well with the Broncos and if they can eat clock and sustain long drives, they could very well pull off the upset.

Detroit Lions Preview: Lambeau Losing Streak Will Continue

By Charlie Portelli

 The Lions have opened the 2013 season in impressive fashion and will look to keep it rolling into week 5. There the problem lies; a trip to illustrious Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers who are coming off a bye week. While the Lions have looked like an NFL team capable of making the playoffs thus far, the true test for them will be this Sunday in Green Bay where they will ultimately fall short.

Every NFL team struggles at Lambeau because it is simply one of the toughest places to play for a road team in all of sports, but the Lions have taken those struggles to a whole new level losing their last 22 contests there. To make matters worse, the Packers are in desperation mode early sitting at 1-2 staring up at the Bears and Lions who are both 3-1. Also, since taking over the Packers in 2006, Mike McCarthy has led his team to a 6-1 record following a bye week.

The Lions have themselves in a nice spot to grab an early stranglehold on the division should they defeat the Packers. They are already 2-0 in the division with wins over the Vikings and Bears at home. The offensive line has been much better than expected with both tackles and the right guard as first time starters in this league. The Lions should be able to move the ball on the weak Packers defense and if Reggie Bush is running through huge holes untouched for 7-8 yards like he was last week, the road victory is plausible.

The thing is Aaron Rodgers is not going to let that happen. He is perhaps the most dangerous quarterback in the league and can make you pay in so many ways. He is also unfazed by pressure and is annually among the league leaders in passer rating against the blitz. The Packers have been chomping at the bit to get back to Lambeau field and continue their winning ways after blowing a three score lead at Cincinnati two weeks ago. They get a team in the Lions coming off of an emotional high following their win over the Bears last week, primed for a letdown.

In a quarterback and head coach driven league, the Packers have a huge edge in both.

Packers win, 34-24.

NFL Pecking Order - Week 5

By Charlie Portelli

NFL Pecking Order. Week 5.

After each week in the NFL I will do a segment called “NFL Pecking Order” breaking down what I view as the top ten teams in the NFL at that time. Unlike most other sites or blog lists ranking NFL teams on a week by week basis, I look at the big picture. Most other lists are flawed because they only look at wins and losses, more specifically on recent wins and losses. For example, if a team is 1-2 with two road losses to tough teams, it isn’t always correct to rank them behind a 2-1 or even a 3-0 team with less impressive teams. Like I said, I will look at the teams with a big picture perspective in mind. This should be a very interesting segment this year because the teams in the league are so close. To me, there is not an enormous gap between the teams I rank 3-5 and the teams I rank 8-10, and even the teams I leave outside the top 10. With that said, lets rank the top ten NFL teams heading into week 5 starting with number 10.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (2-2, AFC NORTH) Last week: 7

Some teams just can’t handle success like others can. The Bengals seem to be one of those teams because after their big comeback victory over the Packers they went on to lose to the Browns while only putting up 6 points. They were however without their best corner, Leon Hall and their best safety, Reggie Nelson, but that’s no excuse for scoring 6 points. Like I said last week, I am not sure I trust Marvin Lewis to lead this team to playoff victories but they certainly have the talent for it. Ultimately I have the Bengals hanging on to the last spot in the NFL Pecking Order because I believe in their talent. Andy Dalton is going to have to step up to lead this team otherwise they are going to be nothing but a middle of the pack team in this league.

9. Chicago Bears (3-1, NFC NORTH) Last week: 5

            After a great 3-0 start to the season the Bears finally took their first loss of the season at the hands of the Lions. It was a good road test for the Bears but the Lions dominated the game from start to finish, exposing the Bears while running through huge holes. But the Bears were bound to lose after their hot start and winning on the road is no easy task in the NFL. The Bears, Lions, and Packers will have a battle for the division title and the Lions have a nice leg up but it will be a different story when the Lions visit Soldier Field. Cutler looked more like his old self Sunday while throwing three picks. Going forward we they will have to lean on Matt Forte more if they plan on winning the division.

8. Green Bay Packers (1-2, NFC NORTH) Last week: 10

            The Packers are coming off a much needed bye week after a difficult start to their schedule with games against the 49ers, Redskins, and Bengals. They will be getting their RB back, Eddie Lacy and they will be poised to make a run and get back in the thick of things in the NFC race. Although it was just 3 games into the young season, it was the perfect time for a bye considering they started 1-2 and Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy could iron out whatever it is they had to iron out after their week 3 scuffle on the sideline.

7. New England Patriots (4-0, AFC EAST) Last week: Unranked

            The Patriots passed their first true test of the 2013 season with flying colors on Sunday night by dominating the Falcons on their own turf. Don’t be fooled by the final score with the Patriots only winning by a touchdown, they dominated the game. This was a huge win for multiple reasons. The Falcons were desperate after starting 1-2, Matt Ryan doesn’t lose at home, and it is never easy to start 4-0 in the NFL even if 3 of those victories were against bad teams. Tom Brady continues to get it done with no weapons. His wide receivers are undrafted rookies for god sake. Belichick continues to be the best coach at making adjustments and relies more on the run in order to pass now than he ever has in New England.  The Patriots are 4-0 and are due to get Gronkowski and Amendola back soon.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 8

            As I said last week, this team is the real deal. They have a top 5 defense in the league in my opinion and now have been introduced to a winning environment with the coaching staff change. This team had all the pieces to win minus a head coach and quarterback. They addressed both. They have a nice offensive line with the number 1 pick Eric Fisher playing right tackle while Branden Albert is still manning the blind side. Unfortunately, Fisher left the game with a concussion and is questionable for week 5. Jamaal Charles is having a great year while getting tons of touches on the ground and through the air. Denver sure looks like the class of this division but I cannot wait to see how this defense looks against Peyton’s vaunted passing attack.

5. Indianapolis Colts (3-1, AFC SOUTH) Last week: 6

            The Colts had a cakewalk game in Jacksonville against the Jags but hey, they took care of business. They are still trying to work Trent Richardson into the dominant runner they thought they traded for but he had only 60 yards on 20 carries against a pathetic Jags team. He did find the end zone however and it’s just taking some time for him to get comfortable in Indy while learning the offense on the fly. I think this team is a legitimate threat in the AFC behind Andrew Luck. Their defense showed up big time two weeks ago in San Fran and Robert Mathis is still showing the ability to rush the passer with 7.5 sacks already through the first 4 games of the season. The X-factor is coach Chuck Pagano. I love this guy and you can tell his team loves playing for him too. This team went 11-5 last year through inspiration behind Chuck Pagano and his fight against leukemia and this year I think they repeat that record simply because I think they are that good.

4. San Fransisco 49ers (2-2, NFC WEST) Last week: 3

            The 49ers are a bit puzzling to me as they looked so good week 1 against the Packers, bad in week 2 in Seattle, awful at home week 3 against Indy, and then pretty average early on against the Rams week 4 before turning it on eventually and blowing the Rams out. I am going to give them a pass for week 2 in Seattle because playing there is unlike any other road game. As for looking awful against Indy in week 3? I think the Colts are just that good. I rank the 49ers above the Colts still because I don’t trust them yet like I do the 49ers. Andrew Luck dreams to play behind an offensive line like Kaepernick’s. The 49ers offensive coordinator, Greg Roman is one of the best young coaches in the game and I expect him and Harbaugh to tirelessly work with their assets given to jump back to the top of the NFC.

3. New Orleans Saints (4-0, NFC SOUTH) Last week: 4

            The Saints look poised for a Super Bowl run again. After getting booted out of Dallas, Rob Ryan has the Saints defense looking the best they have in years. The Saints didn’t have a 2^nd or a 4^th round pick in the draft this year but they nailed their first round selection, safety Kenny Vaccaro. He looks like a young Troy Polamalu flying all over the field and it’s given this team’s movement to the 3-4 under Ryan seamless. Brees is using all of his weapons across the field. As I expected, they brought the Dolphins back to earth after their unlikely 3-0 start.

2. Denver Broncos (4-0, AFC WEST) Last week: 2

            The Bronco’s have looked about as good as a team can look through the first 4 weeks of the season. Peyton has had a historical start this young season but looks poised to go all year. They tore apart the Eagles defense but that is an awful defense in Philly. This team certainly has the look of a Super Bowl team but it is still very early. Let’s wait yet to crown Peyton.

1. Seattle Seahawks (4-0, NFC WEST) Last week: 1

I am keeping the Seahawks in the number 1 slot on the NFL Pecking order over the Bronco’s after winning a tough road game. Russell Wilson continues to show maturity by leading his team to a tough comeback victory on the road over a good opponent in the Texans. Wilson didn’t have his greatest game stats wise but he was under constant duress all day because he was missing 3 starting lineman. His left tackle, pro bowler Russell Okung will be out a while and also his center and right tackle also missed the game. He ended up running for 77 yards and kept drives alive late in the game with his legs including once on 4^th down. They will welcome back yet another defensive starter, Bruce Irvin this week who is one of their best pass rushers. This defense has an incredible amount of depth and an insane amount of speed all over the field with huge corners.

Jim Schwartz is Not The Right Fit for the Detroit Lions

By Charlie Portelli

Two things drive NFL teams these days, quarterbacks and head coaches. I believe the Lions have their franchise quarterback in Matthew Stafford. He can make all the throws and not only does he want to win; he wants to win in Detroit. He has embraced the city and all that comes with it and works very hard at his craft and has the competitive drive in him to lead this team to division championships and eventually a Super Bowl. Most Lions fans laugh when you mention The Detroit Lions and The Super Bowl in the same sentence. But truly, this team is not all that far off from just that.

The current problem is the head coach Jim Schwartz.

Jim Schwartz took over a historically bad football team when he got hired in as the Lions coach after the infamous 0-16 season. To give credit where credit is due, he turned that football team into a playoff team just three seasons later after going 10-6 which was no easy task, obviously. He was immediately anointed as an excellent leader and football coach and most everyone in the city of Detroit thought that they had found their “savior”. However, the following season he went on to lead the Lions to an abysmal 4-12 season and took a considerable step back to being considered among the leagues worst teams.

One of the biggest problems Schwartz dealt with even throughout his success in the 2011 season was having terrible discipline with his players which led to them being one of the most penalized teams in the league. He also dealt with multiple player arrests in the offseason in which he did not properly resolve. This all led to the downfall that was the 4-12 season for Jim Schwartz and the Detroit Lions. Another problem with Schwartz is the way he handles himself on and off the football field. Passion is great, but slamming your headset after you beat a winless Redskins team? Come on pal, act like you’ve been there before. He coached under arguably the greatest NFL coach of all time, Bill Belichick in Cleveland but he certainly did not learn how to remain cool like Belichick does and not get overly emotional. As much as Lions fans do not want to admit it, this stuff matters. It matters a lot in fact. It sets the precedent for your football team. The head coach is the leader, he should act mature.  

The Lions have the talent on their roster to win despite Schwartz and Lions management making poor draft selections year after year. This is very much a team and a job that hopeful NFL coaches would die for if the job were ever to become vacant. There aren’t many teams out there that are looking for a coach which have a franchise quarterback that has experience and is ready to win now, perhaps the best football player in the league at wide receiver, a young a ferocious defensive line and a much improved secondary. They are most definitely not a perfect team, but they have a foundation set that the right coaching would turn into a playoff contender given the chance.

I am a die hard Lions fan and I would love nothing more than to be wrong about Schwartz and have him lead us to playoff victories, but I do not see that happening. Therefore I am ready for this team to get started in a new direction. I thought that it was the wrong move to bring back Jim Schwartz and the rest of his coaching staff after the 4-12 season. How many organizations in the NFL do you know that have gone 4-12, yet their head coach and both the offensive and defensive coordinators were retained, 4 years into the regime no less? I can’t think of any. Management should have moved on instead of spinning their tires by bringing the core of the coaching staff back.

The Lions impressive victory yesterday over the Bears does not suddenly change my mind either, and it shouldn’t change yours if you were a Schwartz doubter. I am not discrediting what was a great victory for Schwartz and the Lions but lets keep it in perspective, they won a home game over a team that was bound to lose. Jay Cutler looks improved under his new system and coaching, but he is still Jay Cutler, a walking turnover machine.

The Lions are off to a great 3-1 start but it’s a long season and I do not expect it to end with Jim Schwartz keeping his job as Detroit Lions head coach.

NFL Pecking Order - Week 4

By Charlie Portelli

After each week in the NFL I will do a segment called “NFL Pecking Order” breaking down what I view as the top ten teams in the NFL at that time. Unlike most other sites or blog lists ranking NFL teams on a week by week basis, I look at the big picture instead of just wins and losses. Most other lists are flawed because they only look at wins and losses, more specifically on recent wins and losses. For example, if a team is 1-2 with two road losses to tough teams, it isn’t always correct to rank them behind a 2-1 or even a 3-0 team with less impressive teams. Like I said, I will look at the teams with a big picture perspective in mind. This should be a very interesting segment this year because the teams in the league is so close. To me, there isn’t an enormous gap between the teams I rank 3-5 and the teams I rank 8-10, and even the teams I leave outside the top 10. With that said, lets rank the top ten NFL teams heading into week 4 starting with number 10.

10. Green Bay Packers (1-2, NFC NORTH)

      The Green Bay Packers have lost two games to two teams that rank in the top 10 in my “NFL Pecking Order” but rank low on this list because of their defense. Their defense has some nice players on the roster with Clay Mathews and some good corners but the proof is in the pudding, they can’t stop anyone. This problem stems from a couple years ago and losing jack of all trades Charles Woodson is proving very difficult to overcome. They blew a huge 3 score lead to Andy Dalton and the Bengal’s week. Not a Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees led team….Andy Dalton. That’s not necessarily a knock on Andy Dalton but he’s certainly not among the leagues elite at QB. With that said, they have arguably the best overall QB in Aaron Rodgers (who by the way has more competitive nature than anyone and wants to win), and that weapon alone gives this team the ability to beat anyone in the league at any time.

9. Baltimore Ravens (2-1, AFC NORTH)

            The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a resounding win against the Houston Texans in which they were underdogs at home and faced an early deficit. Once the Ravens took the lead they did not look back and went on to win 30-9. Many people doubted the Ravens coming into this season after their Super Victory after losing huge pieces of their team including their defensive leaders in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. They also lost their best linebacker in Dannell Ellerbe and their best wideout in Anquan Boldin. However, this team knows how to win behind of one the leagues greatest coaches, John Harbaugh. They won soundly last week over the Texans despite not having their most lethal weapon in Ray Rice. This team has the best pass rushing tandem in Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil and that duo is something most teams in this league would die for. The Ravens always draft well and they replaced those aging players admirably.

8. Kansas City Chiefs (3-0, AFC WEST)

            The Kansas City Chiefs are the real deal. This team is not a fluke. Last year they had 6 pro bowl players on a team with the worst record in the league. Insert Andy Reid. Andy Reid is an excellent coach and just because he went out in losing fashion with the Eagles doesn’t change that. He has real players on defense with superior playmakers. This team has real speed on defense and that wins in the NFL. He’s also surrounded himself with good coaching. He has one of the most relentless pass rushers that I have ever seen in Tamba Hali and an elite safey, Eric Berry. This team reminds me of the San Fransisco 49er team that Jim Harbaugh took over in his first year that I believe was 6-10, and turned into a 13-3 team the next year. Coincidentally, that team was also quarterbacked by Alex Smith. Alex Smith limits this offense a bit because he does not have a great upside but they have real weapons in Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe. They had some really nice pieces that needed the correct coaching scheme and needed to be introduced to a winning environment. Andy Reid will provide that in KC and they will make the playoffs.

7. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1, AFC NORTH)

            The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the most talented rosters, top to bottom, in the NFL. There is no denying that. The real question is how far can Andy Dalton take them? He has all the weapons he needs starting with an elite WR, two good TE’s, two RB’s that complement each other and a great offensive line. I’m not sure I really trust Marvin Lewis as a head coach to lead them to playoff victories. To me, the longer a coach stays in one place, the less likely they are going to succeed. There’s evidence of that all over sports. Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, Andy Reid in Philly, just to name a couple. They were both great coaches who were successful and had their time, but before long, the franchise needs a new face, a new voice and a kick in the ass and I’m not 100% sure Marvin Lewis brings that in Cincinnati any longer. With that said, they are talented and I love their offensive and defensive coordinators in Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer. They are deep on defense but the jury is still out on this team going forward.

6. Indianapolis Colts (2-1, AFC SOUTH)

            The Indianapolis Colts just pulled off what I thought was one of the most improbable victories I’ve seen in a while. They beat an enraged 49er team who was at home coming off an embarrassing national television performance. Coming into that game Jim Harbaugh had not lost two games in a row in the NFL. I believe Andrew Luck is an elite QB in this league already. He is young but he is perhaps the most cerebral QB in the game with the exception of Peyton Manning. He has a winning pedigree instilled in him that we could all see when he was winning at Stanford in college being coached by QB guru Jim Harbaugh. No QB in the league has more 4^th quarter comebacks than Andrew Luck since the beginning of last year when he started his very first NFL game. With the addition of Trent Richardson they made in the middle of last week, the sky is the limit for this team and I see them having no problem winning the division over the Houston Texans this year.

5. Chicago Bears (3-0, NFC NORTH)

            The Chicago Bears are 3-0 and they are the most impressive 3-0 in the league in my opinion with wins over the Bengals at home, the Vikings at home, and the Steelers on the road. I know you are probably saying, “Hey two of those wins are against winless teams!” Well I will say this. The Vikings are not a bad 0-3 team. They were a playoff team last year who carry the best RB in the league and have a good defensive front. The Steelers are indeed a mess but the Bears basically routed them on national television on Sunday night sending them to 0-3 in their own stadium. Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger are among the best in the game when it comes to winning football games so I do not take that victory lightly at all. You also read what I said about the Bengals being one of the most talented rosters, so that impressed me as well. Marc Trestman might have been just the answer Jay Cutler was looking for to lead this Bears franchise back to glory. I am still very unsure of the Bears and am very anxious to see how the year will play out for them. They are unproven, sure, but nonetheless have been surprisingly impressive so far this year. They face a nice test in a road game next week versus a division foe in the Detroit Lions so we will see how that one plays out.

4. New Orleans Saints (3-0, NFC SOUTH)

            I ranked the New Orleans Saints higher than most probably would but that’s just because they have taken care of business rather quietly so far this season. They haven’t looked overly impressive but it has been a year without their coach Sean Payton and it is going to take some time to get back in the groove of things. While they have been getting back in the groove of things, they’ve managed to stockpile 3 wins already. Drew Brees is in charge and Jimmy Graham looks like the force he was two years ago. Their defense will always be this teams Achilles heel but they quietly have only given up 17, 14, and 7 points through the first 3 weeks, so they must be doing something right. They also have one of the greatest home field advantages playing in the Superdome. Just ask Matt Ryan how hard it is to win there, because he cannot seem to figure it out.

3. San Fransisco 49ers (1-2, NFC WEST)

            The 49ers have looked rather pedestrian the last two weeks after feeling like they were on top of the world after an impressive week 1 win over the Packers where Kaepernick looked simply unstoppable. Since then he has cooled, getting trounced by the Seahawks and the 12^th man and then surprisingly being handled by the Colts defense. However, I’m not jumping ship on this team. They are a complete team and Kaepernick is too talented to stay down. They have perhaps the best coach on the planet in Jim Harbaugh and he will work as hard as he needs to in order to win. I wouldn’t doubt that this man would divorce his wife in a second if it meant he could win, he is borderline insane. These recent failures will only make him work even harder and this team will be fine. Something that does concern me about this team is losing DE Aldon Smith for an indefinite period of time while he goes to rehab. He is one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the game but it is sounding like they might have to only miss his services for about a month.

2. Denver Broncos (3-0, AFC WEST)

            Peyton Manning runs this offense like a well oiled machine. This is his second year with the team and it couldn’t have started any better than it has for Manning and the Broncos. They have a surplus of offensive weapons that go unmatched. They have a possession target with great hands and size in Decker, perhaps the best slot receiver in the game in Welker, and an overall prototypical receiver who can run after the catch with all the space this offense provides in Demaryius Thomas. The concern I have with this team is their losses on the offensive line. They have lost one of the best offensive tackles in the game in Ryan Clady who gave up only one sack last year and in the preseason they lost their elite center. If there is any QB in the league who could win a Super Bowl with a garbage offensive line it would be Peyton because he has the quickest feet of any QB and gets rid of the ball fast. Their defense has looked the part so far even without Von Miller. I want to see a team that can effectively get a pass rush with 3 or 4 lineman and drop 7 or 8 in the secondary who can play physical and see how Peyton handles that because right now he looks like he is on a mission and he looks unstoppable.

1.Seattle Seahawks (3-0, NFC WEST)

             The Seahawks were hyped more than any other team in the league over the offseason and they have more than lived up to the lofty expectations. Other than maybe Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson is the most impressive young QB I have ever seen play. He does exactly what he needs to and runs this offense perfectly. He has a great back in Marshawn Lynch and when this team runs the read option, the sky is the limit. They have the greatest home field advantage of any team in the history of sports in my opinion and if they have that throughout the playoffs they will be next to impossible to beat. Their defense has been near perfect and they are just getting back two of their very best defensive players in Clemons on the defensive line and Browner at corner complementing the best corner in the game, Richard Sherman. Seattle has a Super Bowl on their mind.