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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 19th December, 2006 - 8:29 pm
 The NFL playoffs may be just two weeks away, but not much has been decided in football?s playoff picture. The NFC is still very much undecided, with the East in question. The Eagles could end up winning the division, despite losing Donovan McNabb to injury several weeks ago. The NFC East, which could end up sending three teams to the playoffs, has lived up to it?s preseason expectations.
Believe it or not, I had my best fantasy week of the 2006 season last weekend. Both of my two remaining teams advanced into the championship round of their respective leagues, but I?ll leave more of that commentary for my fantasy diary.
Week Fifteen Highs
Eagles in Position to Win East?
The Philadelphia Eagles have the out-right lead in the NFC wild-card race after beating the rival Giants 36-22 on Sunday afternoon. Despite the loss by the Giants, both Philly and New York still hold wild-card spots. The Eagles put the nail in the coffin on a 19-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter. After a tight three quarters Philly took the lead for good on a 19-yard Jeff Garcia pass to Reggie Brown.
Jets Keep Hopes Alive
The New York Jets kept their AFC playoff hopes alive with a 26-13 drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings. Chad Pennington threw for a career-high 339 yards and one touchdown against the weak Viking secondary. The Jets (8-6) are now tied with Jacksonville, Denver, and Cincinnati for the AFC?s two wild-card spots. Pennington hooked up with Laveranues Coles twelve times on Sunday for 144 yards and a score.
Cutler Gets Broncos a Win
For the first time in four attempts rookie quarterback Jay Cutler led the Denver Broncos to victory. Cutler completed 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. It was the Broncos first win in over a month and kept their playoff heart beating. If Denver?s once heralded defense can regain its form, the orange and blue may ride their rookie signal-caller to the postseason.
Week Fifteen Lows
The Chiefs Playoff Hopes Dying
The Chiefs? 20-9 loss to the LaDainian Tomlinson-led Chargers has nearly ended Kansas City?s playoff hopes. There are four teams standing at 7-7 in the AFC, all just on the cusp of the playoff picture. The Chiefs? only managed three field goals on the impressive San Diego defense, and were single-handedly beaten by Tomlinson who scored two touchdowns (15, 85) to extend his NFL record.
Jags Fading With Injuries
Last week Jacksonville ran all over the Colts en route to an impressive spanking of the AFC powerhouse. This week the Jaguars slipped up 24-17 against the surging Titans, who are now 7-7. The Jags playoff hopes are being ruined by both injuries and unexplainable losses. At 8-6 Jacksonville is still in the playoff hunt, but now has to deal with injuries to Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Meanwhile, Tennessee has surged to 7-7 on the arm of Vince Young and the wheels of their three-touchdown defense.
Panthers No Longer Contenders
Before the season the Carolina Panthers were a popular pick to land in Miami and win the Super Bowl this season. Now, after fifteen weeks of the regular season, the Panthers are 6-8 and all but out of the playoff race. With Chris Weinke starting for the second straight week, they struggled against the reigning Super Bowl champions. The loss was Carolina?s fourth straight.
Andrew?s Believe it or Not
New Orleans? Drew Brees leads the NFL in passing yards with 4,240 yards, and only has one thousand yard receiver, Marques Colston (1,001).
The Eagles? Donovan McNabb is the fourth ranked quarterback in the NFL, and hasn?t played in over a month.
San Diego?s LaDainian Tomlinson has more than twice the number of total touchdowns than the second place player (Larry Johnson) does.
The Colts? Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Joseph Addai have combined for twenty-six touchdowns this season. That?s five less than Tomlinson.
Marques Colston has more receiving yards than Larry Fitzgerald, Hines Ward, Joey Galloway, Plaxico Burress, Darrell Jackson, and Isaac Bruce.
Arizona?s Edgerrin James has just seventy-one more yards than Joseph Addai, who shares the replacement duties with Dominic Rhodes. Addai has two more touchdowns than James.
Tony Romo and Damon Huard rank among the top four quarterbacks in passer rating.
Week Fifteen Viewer?s Guide
Vikings-Packers, Thursday 8:00PM EST
Brett Favre and the Packers are on the outside looking in of the NFC playoff race. If they want to keep their slim hopes alive they will have to win both of their remaining games. It starts Thursday night against Minnesota in a match that will mathematically eliminate the loser from the playoff race.
Chiefs-Raiders, Saturday 8:00PM EST
If Kansas City doesn?t win this game, they can forget about making the 2006 postseason. The legs of Larry Johnson have carried the Chiefs to seven wins, but LJ cannot do it on his own. Oakland will be looking to pick up a win in order to shed the title of the NFL?s worst team.
Saints-Giants, Sunday 1:00PM EST
This game means more to the Giants than the NFC South champion Saints, but it?ll be a barn-burner nonetheless. New Orleans was embarrassed by the Redskins last week, and will look to rebound against a playoff-caliber team. The Giants will need to win in order to remain in the NFC wild-card picture.
Bengals-Broncos, Sunday 4:15PM EST
This game has playoff implications all over it. The Broncos will need to win in order to improve their chances at grabbing an AFC wild-card spot, as will the Cincinnati Bengals. The winner of this battle might solidify their playoff hopes, while the loser might end up playing golf in January.
Eagles-Cowboys, Monday 5:00PM EST
Merry Christmas football fans! When Donovan McNabb went down with a season-ending injury a few weeks back it seemed as though the Eagles? season was over. Philadelphia lost consecutive games with McNabb went out, but has surged to an 8-6 record and could tie the Cowboys for the NFC East led with a win on Christmas Day. And oh yeah, Terrell Owens gets another crack at his old team.
Jets-Dolphins, Monday 8:30PM EST
If Chad Pennington and the Jets want to keep themselves in the AFC playoff race they?ll have to dispatch of the Dolphins, who have a 1-4 division record. New York will know just how they stand in the AFC wild-card race when the kickoff takes place on Christmas night. I don?t know why, but for some reason I?m rooting for these likeable New York Jets.
My Fantasy Diary?
In week fifteen I had just two teams left in contention for a league title. My season began with nine hope-filled squads, and in what seemed like the blink of an eye I was down to only a pair. In the days leading up to my week fifteen fantasy playoff battles I labored over who to start, and what advantages I could leverage against my tough opponents. And for the first time all season I enjoyed great success.
Both of my remaining playoff contenders won, earning me entry into two league championship battles. A few weeks back when my fantasy football season was at it?s bleakest I set a goal of winning one league title. If things go well this weekend, I could end up taking home two.
In the FOX Sports Public League I participated in my team, That Just Happened, is squaring off against Unified, a team that squeaked into the playoffs with a 7-6 record. The early FOX projections have given me a 76 to 55 victory, but as most of you know ? anything can happen in both the NFL and fantasy football. However, I?m feeling confident about my chances this weekend. Here are the starting match-ups (with my opponents listed first):
Peyton Manning vs. Tony Romo
Ryan Moats vs. Frank Gore
Samkon Gado vs. Shaun Alexander
Terry Glenn vs. Larry Fitzgerald
T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. Lee Evans
Todd Heap vs. Heath Miller
Shayne Graham vs. Robbie Gould
Chicago DEF vs. Miami DEF
The other league I?ll be focused on this weekend is an ESPN league entitled ?The Indy Colts.? It comprised of Indiana sports fans, and my team name is the Riverside Pacers. The Pacers being an obvious tribute to my favorite NBA team and Riverside paying homage to my all-time favorite athlete, Reggie Miller (he?s from Riverside, CA). This league?s championship round lasts for two weeks so the suspense will carry over into the New Year!
I?m not nearly as confident about this match-up as I am about the FOX one. My opponent, the Portland Buddies, fields a very impressive roster. Here are the match-ups, again with my opponents listed first:
Peyton Manning vs. Carson Palmer
Rudi Johnson vs. LaDainian Tomlinson
Jamal Lewis vs. Frank Gore
Anquan Boldin vs. Larry Fitzgerald
Braylon Edwards vs. Reggie Wayne
Antonio Gates vs. Alge Crumpler
Nate Kaeding vs. Josh Scobee
Baltimore DEF vs. Carolina DEF
It?s going to be a much tougher road to success in the ESPN league than in the FOX one. But it does lend itself to much suspense with Boldin and Fitzgerald sharing a football in Arizona and the two-week length of the match-up.
Wish me luck, cause if I don?t take at least one of these league titles I may lose it.
Have any fantasy playoff tips?Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com
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