The Age of Sanchez is over, and the age of Tebow is not going to begin. It seems an unknown named McElroy has won the heart and mind of Coach Ryan, and the storied Jets march towards irrelevance with their heads slung low. I know how they feel in a limited sense. My only college season was an 0-10-1 debacle, and my latest Fantasy Football efforts led me to a 2-11 record. I’ve even fallen out of contention with the boys in Bristol. Still, I ain’t no Sancheeze.
I’m ending the wire’s business as usual, because I lost touch with football a bit this season. I missed it the entire off season and then came back and stunk up the joint in fantasy. The fact is, I didn’t do my research. I’m correcting that over the next few weeks with an intense game by game breakdown. I’ll limit the intensity and number to what I can safely cram inside of ten minutes. This week I want to look at the only playoff race that matter (to me). I’ll start with the Giants (after which my 8-9 FB team is named) and their foes the Ravens.
Giants over Ravens
I call it like I want it and like I see it. What I see is a depleted Ravens Linebacker corps that already had trouble stopping the run. With another LB out for the season and a rested Ahmed Bradshaw likely to play, I like the Giants chances to control the ball on the ground. I also like their chances to eliminate the passing offense now that Torrey Smith is ruled out. Flacco is not elite, and that truth will enable the Giants to put another man in the box while leaving Boley isolated on Pitta (resurgent over the last few weeks). That situation will help the G-men slow down a big time rushing attack and early scoring may force Flacco to take it to the air, where he has been inept as of late. The win puts the G-men halfway to the wildcard and completely at the mercy of the other two legit threats in the division. One of those threats has a tough match up ahead.
NO over Cowboys
Dallas has the secondary to slow down a legit Brees offense. Is the NO attack legit? Sometimes. I believe they do not like the Cowboys and especially do not like the idea that they are irrelevant and expected by many to get beat up. This is not going to happen now and not again for the rest of the season. The Saints have a great deal to prove to themselves and the proof starts now. This is going to be a spread offense attack. NO is going to test the corners and with them spread out, they are going to strike hard on the inside with the two brilliant tight ends at their disposal. Expect to see a two wide two tight formation on occasion and a lot of 4 wide with a TE as a 5th receiver. It is going to be a little too much for the hurting ‘Boys late in the game.