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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 6th December, 2007 - 9:12 am
 Now, I don?t know if I should blame Donovan McNabb?s health problems or A.J. Feeley?s seven interceptions in the Eagles? last two games, but Philadelphia (5-7) is now a long shot to make the playoffs after falling to Seattle 28-24 on Sunday.
Feeley threw for 220 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions against the Seahawks. If he throws just one fewer interception the Eagles are probably victorious and still in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race. The Eagles got solid play from Brian Westbrook and the defense, which came onto the field in their own territory multiple times after Feeley turnovers, but they couldn?t overcome A.J.?s inconsistency.
Philadelphia had several opportunities to win the game, limiting the Seahawks to just a touchdown in the second half, but that was all the Eagles could muster themselves.
After turning the ball over on downs, the Eagles used their timeouts and stout run defense to force one final Seahawks' punt and yet another shot at stealing a win. Westbrook returned the punt 64 yards into the red zone, but like clockwork Feeley tossed the ball to Seattle?s Lofa Tatupu, ending the game.
What makes the loss even harder to swallow is that the Eagles could very easily be 9-3 heading into the final month of the season. If they don?t muff that punt in Week One against Green Bay they win, if they don?t allow a Madden-like 90-yard drive in the final ten seconds to Chicago they win, if they don?t get called for a penalty on fourth down with the Patriots punting they win and if Feeley is a little more careful against the Seahawks they earn a victory in Week Thirteen?
I know, I know. Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
The Downs
The First Down?Miami Defeated
The Miami Dolphins are still winless after getting thumped by the New York Jets at home on Sunday. I really felt as though this game was the Dolphins? best chance to record a victory this season. Miami will play Buffalo, Baltimore, New England and Cincinnati in the season?s final four weeks. The Dolphins have the league?s third-best pass defense but struggle mightily on the other side of the ball (Miami has the NFL?s 27th ranked offense). This team could very easily finish the 2007 season winless.
The Second Down?Indy Paces
The Indianapolis Colts proved that they are still the team to beat in the AFC South after disposing of the Jacksonville Jaguars 28-25 at the RCA Dome in Week Thirteen. Peyton Manning threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns as Indianapolis took a 21-7 lead into halftime. David Garrard threw his first interception of the season, costing Jacksonville a valuable possession against their divisional rival. With four weeks remaining, the Colts have a comfortable two-game lead over the Jaguars and seem like a lock to take home yet another division title.
The Third Down?Redskins Honor Taylor
I couldn?t believe my eyes midway through the first quarter of the Bills-Redskins' game when the Washington defense took the field for the first time since the death of safety Sean Taylor. Ten defenders marched out onto the field, as the Redskins left replacement safety Reed Doughty on the sidelines on first down. It was the ultimate tribute to Taylor, especially in today?s NFL when every play carries a tremendous amount of weight. Buffalo ended up coming from behind to win on a Rian Lindell field goal in the final seconds, but the Redskins were victorious in honoring Taylor on Sunday.
The Fourth Down?Yo, Adrian
Vikings' running back Adrian Peterson returned to the field after a two-game absence on Sunday and led Minnesota to an impressive victory over the Detroit Lions. Peterson carried the ball just fifteen times but tallied 116 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings. The victory propelled Minnesota (6-6) into the NFC Wild Card picture, with a very-winnable game against San Francisco coming this weekend. Peterson now has 1,197 yards on the season and still leads the NFL despite playing in just ten games.
The ?Who The Heck? Statline of the Week?
Titans? receiver Roydell Williams: 5 catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
My Keyboard Prediction for Week Thirteen
San Diego at Tennessee, Sunday 1:00PM EST
This game means a tremendous amount to the AFC playoff picture with the Chargers clinging to a two-game lead over the Broncos in the AFC West, and the Titans (7-5) tied with the Browns for the final Wild Card spot. Right now the game means more to the Titans, who trail both the Jaguars and Colts in the AFC South. Tennessee?s Albert Haynesworth could make things very difficult for Philip Rivers on Sunday.
The Keyboard Prediction: Titans 24, Chargers 17
My Fantasy Diary?
Okay, I?m officially in panic mode.
After winning seven of my first nine games, The Drew Crew has lost four straight to fall all the way down to 7-6. I?ve struggled to score points so drastically during the four-game slide that only two teams in the East Coast Pigskin League have scored fewer points than The Crew this season.
During my month-long slump I?m averaging just 72 points per week, a dreadful score when you consider that I was putting up an average of 97 points during the first nine weeks of the season.
Joseph Addai, who many would have picked as the best fantasy running back during the first half of the season, has cooled off considerably. In his last four games he?s averaging less than 60 rushing yards per game and has reached the end zone just twice.
Eli Manning hasn?t looked the same since his Week One explosion against the Cowboys. He looked so bad in Week Twelve that I benched him in favor of Jon Kitna this past weekend. In the end it was a good decision, but neither option looks too good as the playoffs inch closer.
My wide receivers have crumbled. Javon Walker and Anquan Boldin have each spent significant time on the sideline, and Dwayne Bowe isn?t consistent enough to rely on week-in and week-out. I?m ranked eleventh of out twelve teams in terms of receiving this season.
Due to injury and the dreaded ?Bill Belichick Effect? Benjamin Watson, my star tight end, has come back down to earth. He scored five touchdowns in his first five games this season but has missed two games since Week Six and has only reached the end zone once over his last eight games.
I?m scared for my fantasy well-being, as I?ve taken to rocking back-and-forth like Leo Mazzone in front of my laptop every Sunday afternoon. Thanks to victories by my two closest competitors in the Bronze Division, I now need to win this week to qualify for the postseason. If you told me heading into Week Ten, with a 7-2 record, that I?d have to win in Week Fourteen to make the playoffs, I?d have questioned your sanity. Now I?m questioning my own.
And of course, I?ll face the Springfield Isotopes. It would have been easier had I faced any other team in the league. The Isotopes are a mediocre 6-6 but are chasing me for the final playoff spot in our division.
I?ll be facing the likes of Derek Anderson, Travis Henry, Rudi Johnson, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Jeremy Shockey with my livelihood on the line. Lord, please hear my prayers.
My Fantasy Football Record for the 2007 Season:
Week Thirteen: 3-9
Week Twelve: 5-7
Week Eleven: 6-6
Week Ten: 4-8
Week Nine: 5-7
Week Eight: 6-6
Week Seven: 6-6
Week Six: 10-2
Week Five: 5-7
Week Four: 9-3
Week Three: 7-5
Week Two: 6?6
Week One: 8?4
Overall: 80 wins and 76 losses
Predictions, Fantasy Stories, or Rambles? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
