The Best 2009 Bowl Season Debate – Four Straight Titles For the SEC… Need I Say More?

January 11, 2010

Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan about which conference had the best bowl season in 2009.



It saddens me to write this argument today because it means that college football is over. My Saturdays will have a sense of emptiness, as it always takes me awhile to adjust. But, before we officially close the book on the season, The Sports Debates is taking a look back at the bowl season to decide which conference had the best bowl season. Sports Geek will fight for the little guy with the feel good story of the Mountain West Conference while Bleacher Fan will stick to his roots and arguing that the Big Ten had the best bowl season. I am also sticking to my roots and arguing that the MIGHTY SEC had the best bowl season, once again.

Now, on paper, the SEC’s bowl record of 6-4 pales in comparison to that of, say, the Mountain West (4-1). I will grant that the SEC could have had the ugliest loss that I saw all bowl season with South Carolina’s dreadful performance against UConn. But the conference also had some impressive.

To me, the most impressive win was from the Florida Gators. The Gators, with all of the controversy surrounding head coach Urban Meyer, were able to put all of that aside for one night. They absolutely destroyed the previously unbeaten Cincinnati Bearcats, though it is obvious that the Bearcats had distractions with the absence of Brian Kelly. The difference is the Gators were able to use their distraction as a rallying point. Many fans are Tim Tebow lovers and many are Tim Tebow haters. I fall somewhere in between. But his performance in the Sugar Bowl was nothing short of sensational. He was 31-35 for a Sugar Bowl record 482 yards. Time will tell how far Tebow advances at the next level, but there is one thing that cannot be argued: Tebow has left an everlasting mark on college football.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. There has been much debate in the past few days regarding the national champions. Behind the scenes here at TSD headquarters we have loudly discussed whether or not Alabama would have won if Colt McCoy had not gotten hurt. But that’s water under the bridge now. The Tide joined the Gators in defeating a previously undefeated team. Their victory also makes it four consecutive years that the national champion has come out of the SEC, following Florida, LSU, and again Florida.

In addition to these two teams, Georgia and Ole Miss posted impressive wins over Big XII teams, while Auburn and Arkansas were able to win their games in overtime.

Year in and year out, the SEC sits at the top of the college football conference. The conference takes the best shot of its competitors and has not yet been supplanted as the nation’s best conference. Having successful bowl seasons like this one in 2009 – where it boasted two dominant teams at the top – makes
the SEC second to none!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Most Impressive BCS Team Debate – Iowa Caps a Magical Big Ten Bowl Season

January 8, 2010

Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Babe Ruthless about which BCS teams they believe were the most impressive from this BCS bowl season.



When I flipped on the BCS National Championship on last night (a little late thanks to recording it on my DVR since Mrs. Sports Geek and I were finishing up watching an old episode of House… also on the DVR) I was expecting to see a great game, and wondering if I would regret selecting Iowa for the focus of my “Most Impressive BCS Team” argument today. (Note to Longhorn quarterback of the future, Garrett Gilbert: situations like the one you found yourself in last night are why backup quarterbacks study hard and remain vigilant. Hit the film room before next season starts, kid.) Needless to say, I’m glad I stuck with my first instinct that no team would deliver a more impressive performance in a BCS bowl game than the Iowa Hawkeyes did with a win over the vaunted triple option running attack of Georgia Tech.

I will not touch on all of the various parts of the Big Ten’s impressive performance during the 2009-2010 bowl season (I will leave that to Bleacher Fan next week, actually). However, Iowa’s performance in a BCS bowl game was significant because it capped their league’s bowl season with an emphatic victory, and showcased the toughness and grit that Big Ten football is all about (in a good way, this time).

Part of the reason Iowa’s performance was great is that expectations coming in were low. Georgia Tech had the gadget, intimidating offense while Iowa had the error prone quarterback, and the reliance on luck that was sure to run out sooner or later. Iowa defied many critics and the odds to win a big game for the school and the conference.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi’s triumphant return to the field made this game, and Iowa’s performance, even better. While the master of the pick six did fulfill his contractual obligation to throw a touchdown to the OTHER team, he is also a seasoned leader who showed poise and smarts in the fourth quarter to orchestrate the touchdown drive that ultimately put Tech away. After suffering an ankle injury that required surgery and prematurely ended his regular season, Stanzi showed grit and toughness to work hard during his rehab and be prepared to play well in a big time BCS matchup. No, he did not play a perfect game. But his steady performance and clock management was exactly what the Hawkeyes needed to win.

Iowa showed off the moxie it developed this season by winning in spite of its usual mistakes. Stanzi’s pick six, zero for two on fourth down attempts, four stupid penalties, and a key fumble lost are not exactly the blueprint for a win – unless the team in question is Iowa. Iowa routinely overcame a host of mistakes and close calls to win 11 games in 2009 and will finish as a top ten team.

Iowa also proved the importance of defense in late season games. Beating a multi-faceted, complex option running attack like the one featured at Georgia Tech is no small task. It requires very athletic players along the defensive line and very disciplined defenders all the way around. The quarterback reads what the defense ends do in order to decide how to execute the play. The defensive cannot crash down on the quarterback or dive play too quickly, and cannot swing too widely and allow the quarterback to cut the play up on the inside. Iowa’s defensive ends were up the challenge, and the entire team defense played well against Tech’s offense, which was one of the top running offenses in all of college football.

Perhaps expectations for Iowa’s performance were too low, or Georgia Tech’s prowess was overblown, or the Big Ten isn’t really terrible and college football really IS cyclical. Maybe one or all of those reasons explain why Iowa’s performance was the best by any TEAM in the BCS this college football postseason.

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Posted by Sports Geek

The Most Impressive BCS Team Debate – The Gators Have the BCS Competition in a Death Roll

January 8, 2010

Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Sports Geek about which BCS teams they believe were the most impressive from this BCS bowl season.



Unlike most red-blooded American males, I actually prefer the NFL to college football. Before the stoning commences, let me explain myself. I went to a college without a football team. Yes, they actually have those. Because there was no football team to pull for, I turned all my gridiron loyalty to the NFL. In recent years I have actually started to follow college football a little more. What caught my attention, you ask? The University of Florida Gators. In the past four years the Gators have had two 13 win seasons, set a school record for consecutive wins (22), and won two national championships. (Their Congressional praise following the 2008 national championship is one of the best viral videos of the year.) The Gators are a modern dynasty and Babe Ruthless loves dynasties. The team boasts the coach with the greatest winning percentage (among active coaches with at least five years experience), and one of the most exciting players in all of college football history, Tim Tebow – who by the way broke Herschel Walker’s SEC record for rushing touchdowns this season. The Florida Gators are the most impressive BCS team of 2009. For further proof look at the team’s bowl game against fourth ranked Cincinnati.

Exhibit A: the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Florida Gators all out owned the Cincinnati Bearcats, winning 51-24. The fact the Florida straight up owned the game, and demolished Cincinnati by more than three scores, should come as no major surprise. But what does come as a shock, even to Gator fans, is that Tim Tebow saved his best for last. Tebow’s amazing performance broke record after record. Tebow’s completions and touchdown totals not only set or matched the high marks for Sugar Bowl history, but he now holds the BCS bowl game records for passing yards, completion percentage, and total offense. His mind blowing stats for the game read as follows: 533 yards of total offense (482 passing yards and 55 rushing yards); four scores (three passing and one rushing); and a completion percentage of 88.6 percent (31-36). This otherworldly level of play would make a fan out of nearly anyone.

Besides the superb quality of football the Gators displayed at the Sugar Bowl, the game also featured the drama surrounding Urban Meyer. On December 26, 2009, Meyer announced that he would resign following the Sugar Bowl (a statement which he has already rescinded). This came as a shock to many throughout the sports world because Meyer was experiencing so much success. There was so much speculation about the cause for his departure from coaching, especially since he was so successful and appeared to be at the top of his game. Although he cited health concerns, he publically detailed no specific ailment that impelled this move. Whether his resignation really was a proactive health measure, an effort to spend more time with his family, or a response to the debilitating separation anxiety that was sure to result following Tebow’s departure for the NFL, his decision was shocking and captivated the attention of the nation. Even non-football fans were asking “who is this Irving Myers and why is he quitting?” With all eyes watching Meyer and Tebow, the team pulled possibly the greatest George Costanza impression ever in college football – they left on a high note.

The Meyer and Tebow era Florida team is the type of team that inspires movies. They achieved at the highest level possible, made fans of the entire nation, and actually exceeded the hype.

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The Most Impressive BCS Team Debate – Tide Rolls to The SEC’s Fourth Consecutive Championship

January 8, 2010

Read the arguments from Babe Ruthless and Sports Geek about which BCS teams they believe were the most impressive from this BCS bowl season.



Another college football season is in the books after the completion of the BCS national championship game. Looking back at the five BCS games, no game stands out to me. I really thought last night’s game would stand out. Truthfully, it does stand out, but only because Colt McCoy suffered an injury on the first drive. I hate that for him. That is tough for him personally, for the team, and all of the fans. Who knows if it would have been a different game. Texas fans will be contemplating that for a long time. I am still looking at the opponent of the Longhorns, though, and asserting that the Alabama Crimson Tide was the most impressive of the BCS teams.

The Crimson Tide got off to a horrific start. Absolutely horrendous. I am still trying to figure out what the Tide was doing when trying to throw for a first down on a fake punt on fourth and 23 on the first drive! The guys watching the game at my place all threw up their hands collectively and wondered, “What are you thinking Nick Saban?” That led to a Texas field goal. Two other special teams gaffes were unacceptable. But after the rough start it was a strong overall performance.

Oddly enough, I came away more impressed with Heisman winner Mark Ingram. How often do we hear about the Heisman curse and how Heisman winners struggle in the championship game? Well, Ingram ran right over that jinx, much like he has run over defenders all season long. Despite missing much of the third quarter with leg cramps, he still finished with 22 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

Obviously, Texas freshman quarterback Garrett Gilbert was thrown to the wolves with McCoy’s injury. The wolves, in this case, were Rolando McClain, Terrance Cody, and the rest of the Crimson Tide defense. Gilbert was only sacked one time, and that one time forced a fumble late that essentially wrapped up the game. But for much of the game, he had balls batted down at the line or was pressured into making a bad throw. In his defense, Gilbert played about as well as could have been expected and actually gave his team a chance to win. He was not helped out by his receivers at times, who dropped a handful of passes. The Tide defense, led by defensive coordinator and upcoming hot coaching commodity Kirby Smart, still forced five turnovers, including four interceptions. By the way, did you happen to notice that Alabama’s Javier ARENAS intercepted a pass by GILBERT?

Do I wish the Tide had put the hammer down in the third quarter? Yes, definitely. The team became a little conservative and did not allow quarterback Greg McElroy to make any plays (he only threw the ball 11 times). But the Tide won the game the same way it has won all season – a strong defense and a ball-control offense.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Blood Testing in Non-Unioned Sports Debate – No Valid Reason Not To Eliminate the Doubt

January 8, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Bleacher Fan and Babe Ruthless.



The reason The Sports Debates decided to have this debate is because we felt it was relevant due to the ongoing saga between prolific boxers Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. It has become a war of words between each other’s respective camps, with Mayweather firing off the latest barbs. However, the issue at hand supersedes this specific example, and I give credit on that front to both Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan. Both arguments effectively presented the sides by showcasing non-unionized sports in general, not just boxing.

Babe Ruthless, being true to his persona, made an interesting case that society, at times, greatly exaggerates the steroid issue. Babe proclaims that boxing needs the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, and I agree. Babe also states that if steroids meant so much to society there would be a zero tolerance stance against those who test positive for steroids or any performance enhancing drugs. Instead, athletes are given second chances time after time and all the hoopla around the guilty admissions eventually is swept under the rug. Babe Ruthless suggests that it would be fascinating to see sporting events with athletes filled with ‘roid rage also!

Bleacher Fan, on the other hand, wrote that athletes can no longer be trusted and that society cannot take them at their word and assume they are on the up and up. Accomplishments by baseball players like Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodridguez have the dreaded asterisk beside their names in the mind of many because of the use of performance-enhancing drugs. In the interest of a level playing field, Bleacher Fan suggests the governing bodies should fulfill their responsibilities by making blood testing mandatory. Another point brought up is the differences between blood testing and urine testing, a point I had not considered all that much in this case. It is, after all, harder to hide discrepancies, shenanigans, transgressions – or whatever appropriate noun used – with a blood test.

In the interest of fairness, I side with Bleacher Fan on this issue. Without a shadow of doubt, it should be mandatory to have one’s blood tested. The public is fed up with cheating. Yes, many are given second chances if they apologize publicly. Everyone is able to eventually move on, though not saying anything in public about the situation (Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, etc.) seems to make matters worse. Why not eliminate any doubt whatsoever and have the blood test done? As Bleacher Fan writes, in refusing any type of test, the appearance is that a person has something to hide. That is not necessarily fair, but that is just the way the world is today.

Taking performance-enhancing drugs provides an advantage (hence “performance-enhancing”) and it would not be fair, especially in a boxing match, if one fighter was using PED’s and the other was not. It is the responsibility of the governing institutions to make blood testing mandatory. MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Blood Testing in Non-Unioned Sports Debate – Should Blood Testing Be Mandatory?

January 7, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Bleacher Fan and Babe Ruthless.



Many years ago, blood testing was a non-issue in athletics of any kind. Steroid use was not even a blip on the radar yet, and performance-enhancing drugs were not in the spotlight. Those were the days of good sportsmanship and the “honor system.” That was another time. This is a brand new era.

Somewhat hidden by the other events taking place in the sports world is the circus surrounding the proposed fight between accomplished boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The bizarre circumstances surrounding the proposed fight provide an excellent backdrop and example for today’s debate.

Mayweather and Pacquiao have been negotiating for a heavyweight fight at the MGM Grand for some time now. After some tense negotiations, it was agreed that the fight would take place in March. Most of the terms had been agreed upon, including the amount of money to be received by both Mayweather and Pacquiao. The fight was all set to be a monster Pay-Per-View event. The only thing that had not been settled on is the drug testing protocol leading up to the fight.

However, it is the drug testing protocol that is apparently going to indefinitely postpone this fight, as several news outlets reported late yesterday that the highly-anticipated fight is not going to happen mainly because the two camps are unable to agree on the time frame of blood testing. Mayweather wanted random testing all the way up to the fight on March 13, while Pacquiao, who originally balked at any type of testing, relented some, but refused to subject himself to random testing for fear that getting blood drawn too close to the fight may weaken him.

For today’s debate, The Sports Debates will not focus SOLELY on the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and the sport of boxing. It is a good example of the contentious nature of blood testing, however. The question posed also excludes any sport that currently has a players’ union, as the presence of a player’s union complicates blood testing.

Should non-union sports, such as boxing, make it mandatory for its participants to subject themselves to blood testing at any time?

Bleacher Fan, who is probably the biggest boxing fan out of the four writers here at TSD, will argue that non-union sports should mandate blood testing. Babe Ruthless will argue that non-union sports should NOT mandate blood testing.

LLLLLLET’S get ready to ruuuuuuummmmmmmmmmbbbbblllllleeeee! The verdict will be declared by TKO… but will be subject to testing afterward!!!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Blood Testing in Non-Unioned Sports Debate – Blood Rivalry

January 7, 2010

Read the debate intro and the opposing argument from Bleacher Fan.



Around the year 490 B.C., an Athenian named Pheidippides ran from Marathon Greece to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated. As legend has it, Pheidippides collapsed dead on the spot from exhaustion. He supposedly ran over 150 miles in two days before taking off on his final jaunt of 25 miles to announce the victory. He was celebrated as a hero in ancient Greece. I say, if Pheidippides was around today we probably would have tested his corpse for performance enhancing drugs before the body was cold.

Modern society has a growing preoccupation with performance enhancing drugs. Fear and accusation of alleged use of steroids and human growth hormones (HGH) in sports has become the Red Scare of the modern sports era. In response, public cries for drug testing have gained momentum and even elicited government intervention in some instances (i.e. the government’s probe into steroid use in baseball). Blood-testing in sports has come to the forefront of public attention as of late thanks in no small part to the refusal of boxer Manny Pacquiao to submit to testing preceding his marquee fight with Floyd Mayweather. This dream fight is in jeopardy of never coming to fruition because Pacquiao refuses to surrender blood samples during the month preceding the fight. His reasoning? Superstition. Pacquiao cannot be forced to submit to testing because boxing is not a unionized sport. To me an important question is raised: Should sports even be able to mandate blood testing? I say Oh negative! (Get it, like the blood type? Tough crowd…)

While I personally do not condone drug use in any manner whatsoever, I think society is greatly exaggerating the steroid issue. The solution is simple. If an athlete refuses to submit to blood testing, then do not let them compete. Manny Pacquiao does not have to fight Floyd Mayweather. If Pacquiao is willing to turn down the money, exposure, and fame that could come from the fight because he does not want to submit to a blood-test, then let him.

Aye, but there’s the rub! Boxing is, in my opinion, a sport on the wane. Boxing needs this fight. The sport is being forced to compete with mixed martial arts – like UFC, Strikeforce, and Pride – that are seeking to corner the market on TV and Pay-Per-View events. The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could be the great hope that renews America’s interest in boxing and passes the love for the sweet science on to a new generation of fans. So it is not that Pacquiao cannot turn down the fight over the issue of blood testing. Rather, it is that boxing does not want that to happen.

If blood-testing really meant that much to society, we would demand testing and take a zero tolerance stance against those that test positive for performance enhancing drugs. Instead we offer second, third, and even fourth chances to those that test positive. If Americans do not wish to be hypocritical about testing, then there are only two choices. One, mandate testing in every sport and institute a lifetime ban for first time offenders. Or two, indulge in the spectacle that steroid users create in separate “anything goes” leagues.

I have always wanted to see how far a human being can hit a homerun. With “anything goes” leagues I would finally find out. Imagine the possibilities. We would have to add a super-mega-heavy weight division in boxing and ultimate fighting. We would finally see what happens when the unstoppable force (a two ton defensive line) collides with the immovable object (a three ton offensive line). And even the least intimidating of Olympic sports – like figure skating, curling, and the ribbon twirling of a gymnastic floor routine – would take on a whole new extreme feel what with all the ‘roid-rage and whatnot.

As a child of the 1980s I learned a lot from (allegedly) ‘roided up monsters. Sylvester Stallone taught me that no amount of communist rhetoric and illegal doping can protect you from the hammering lefts of a guy in red, white, and blue trunks. Hulk Hogan taught me to train, say my prayers, eat my vitamins, be true to myself, and be true to my country (do yourself a favor and click on the sweetest montage of Hogan-Americana I’ve ever seen). The point is, while I firmly stand behind the fact that performance enhancing drugs are deplorable, Americans still find entertainment value in those who use them. Until these mixed messages are cleared up, we cannot try to assume some moral high ground in mandating blood-tests of athletes. It’s hypocritical and un-American… Brother!

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The Blood Testing in Non-Unioned Sports Debate – What Are You Hiding?

January 7, 2010

Read the debate intro and the opposing argument from Babe Ruthless that blood testing should not be required in non-union sports.



Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Rodney Harrison, Marion Jones, Ben Johnson, Bill Romanowski, Shawne Merriman, Tyler Perry?! Well, you get the picture.

The illusions of fair play, good sportsmanship, and honest athletes have been completely shattered. No more is the innocence of “the boys of summer” or “America’s pastime” preserved. Instead, innocence has been replaced by “Show me the money,” contract athletes, the win-at-all cost mentality, and athletes who are more concerned about off-the-field celebrity status than on-the-field performance.

Being a sentimental sports fan, it pains me to face that harsh reality, but it is a reality nonetheless. Athletes can no longer be taken at their word for being honest and hard working. History has shown us that the billion dollar industry of athletic competition creates too much temptation for athletes who want to make “the big bucks.” Athletes today have proven that they are willing to shortcut and cheat the system to gain a competitive edge over opponents, even at the expense of their own physical well-being.

Since the participants can no longer be trusted to train honestly and ethically, it then becomes the responsibility of larger governing bodies to enforce the ideals of pure competition. In order to ensure that sports remain a matchup of people competing based solely on talent (as opposed to a comparison of who got the better injections), it is vital that ALL sports take on a more proactive approach to drug screening. Mandatory blood testing is the most effective method today.

Just because athletes in boxing, cycling, or track and field (for example) are not bound to the governing rules of a player’s union does not mean they should have the right to decline blood testing.

The problem is that athletes who refuse to test give the appearance that they have something to hide. Consider boxer Manny Pacquiao, who has refused to submit to the increased blood testing that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has requested. He claims that his reason is a dislike for the process of having blood drawn. So let me get this straight – Manny Pacquiao has no problem at all with standing in front of another man and getting beaten senseless (or beating him senseless, which is more often the case). He will exchange punches to the head, face, and body, resulting in cuts, tears, and blood. But he cannot stomach a little needle and pin prick to help verify that he is not cheating? I don’t buy it!

It is precisely for that reason that athletes such as Lance Armstrong and Michael Phelps already voluntarily submit to a greater number of tests than is currently required. They understand that the feats they have accomplished seem so extraordinary that many will question whether they have legitimately accomplished them, or if they instead have cheated in some way.

Just imagine the backlash if Michael Phelps had not volunteered for the extra testing after winning his eight gold medals in Beijing. It would cast doubt on his accomplishments, because people would think he has something to hide. Consequently, that doubt would radiate into speculation about the sanctioning bodies in which Phelps competes. Just as Major League Baseball has been accused of allowing its players to use steroids, the International Olympic Committee would be challenged and their legitimacy would be diminished.

Why blood testing, though? Simply put, it is harder to “fool” a blood test than it is a urine test. Blood testing seems to bring with it the confidence necessary to ensure fairness and quell speculation, which are the purposes of drug testing. Athletes, and the sanctioning organizations they compete under, should be clamoring to ensure their reputations remain unquestioned and untarnished, and the best way to do that is through mandatory blood testing.

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The Best 2009 NFL Wild Card Game Debate – Time to Get Wild in the Desert

January 6, 2010

Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Babe Ruthless about which NFL Wild Card game they believe is the best of this postseason.



It is rematch city this week for the NFL Wild Card weekend. In a bizarre twist of something that definitely is NOT luck, the NFL slate of playoff games features three rematches from week 17. With plenty of gamesmanship on display last weekend as teams did their level best to withhold game plans and star players, all the cards are on the table this weekend (get it… cards?). The best Wild Card game of this 2009 NFL postseason, therefore, is a rematch. Since Dallas and Philadelphia were actually playing hard (supposedly) last weekend, and the Bengals have played poorly down the stretch, the best game is the rematch between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals in the desert.

Fresh off a lopsided Packers victory last weekend, where Arizona took the established step of benching important starters, the two teams meet again on the same field. Though the Packers handled the Cardinals reserves, and the Cardinals are scrambling to replace injured receiver Anquan Boldin in the lineup this week, do not dismiss these Cardinals.

It only SEEMS as though the Cardinals are easy to dismiss. Remember last season’s playoffs? The Cardinals were dismissed all the way to the Super Bowl, where the team barely lost thanks to last minute heroics from Pittsburgh. This Arizona team again seems underrated, and it is improved over last season’s team.

In 2008 the Cardinals were poor, at best, when it came to running the football. In fact, the Cardinals were dead last in the NFL in 2008 with a scant 73.6 yards per game earned on the ground. The team drafted Ohio State beast of a running back Chris Wells, and has now made dramatic improvements to the running game to balance out an already stellar passing game. The Cardinals certainly did not lead the NFL in rushing, but the team improved the yards per game by 20 yards – TWENTY YARDS. That is no small task, and the running attack will take pressure off of Kurt Warner AND help the team in goal line situations.

Since I mentioned Warner, it is only fair to fully outline why he is so vital to the team’s success. He throws for over 250 yards per game and has two 1,000 yard receivers. He has thrown for 100 touchdown passes with two different teams (Rams and Cardinals). He is a two time NFL MVP award winner, and has a Super Bowl MVP to his credit, too (he probably would have added a second if the Cardinals defense could have stopped Pittsburgh in last season’s Super Bowl). He is a great player, and a likely future hall of famer. And, Warner gets better as the running game improves. The Packers will need every bit of effort its defense can muster this weekend to limit, not stop, the Cardinals offense.

The Packers, on the other side of this Wild Card coin, are hot with a record of 7-1 in the last eight games. A big reason the team is hot is the play from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Sure, the Packers have a better record than their playoff foe (more on that in a moment), but Rodgers must be thanking his lucky stars to be out of the frozen tundra and landing in the desert for this game. The aerial assault the Packers offense has become synonymous with will thrive in the desert. No, the Packers did not have the season’s best passing attack (remember that Peyton Manning fella?), but the offense was formidable, especially considering some unfavorable weather conditions the team plays in every season. Thirty touchdowns against just eight interceptions are impressive statistics for Rodgers, who has reliable receivers all over the field. Rodgers took many sacks early this season, but limited them late. Rodgers’ improvement in this area is important as the Cardinals are sixth in the NFL with 43 sacks in 2009.

While it is easy to focus on the quarterbacks alone in this game, what makes this matchup so fascinating is Charles Woodson, hands down the best defensive players in the league right now. Without Anquan Boldin, Woodson can blanket star receiver Larry Fitzgerald and force Warner to throw to less reliable receivers. Consider the “Charles Woodson Factor” another reason to watch this game.

This game is also interesting because it is one of the countless matchups in the NFL playoffs over the years where a Wild Card team actually has a better record than the division winner that lays claim to home field advantage. I hope that the league reviews this policy in the coming years and reseeds once playoff teams are determined. The Packers have a considerable home field advantage it seems the team should have earned, since it has a better record than its opponent and even owns the head-to-head tiebreak. The league could kill two birds with one stone by not only rewarding the team with the better record, but forcing teams to not rest starters and compete in each game of the season. Having the best record matters, and should matter. But, earning the third best record should also matter… at least it should matter more than winning a lousy division.

For this game, however, the Packers seem to have the momentum even though Arizona has surprised in the playoffs in recent seasons and postseasons, especially in 2008. With Boldin down, a new receiver can step up and help carry the Cardinals into the second round of the playoffs. The Packers and Cardinals both have a lot to prove. One thing is for certain – this is the best Wild Card matchup on the NFL 2009-2010 postseason.

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Posted by Sports Geek

The Best 2009 NFL Wild Card Game Debate – B-B-B-Bengals and the Jets

January 6, 2010

Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer about which NFL Wild Card game they believe is the best of this postseason.



In general, I am not a fan of Wild Card scenarios in professional sports. Giving a team a Wild Card berth in the playoffs is like giving a failing business a bailout. Sure, the team may have tried really hard, but does it really deserve anything? No. Granting a team that did not legitimately earn a spot in the playoffs a second chance is not my idea of competition at its highest level. But, I must say that this year’s NFL Wild Card matchups are shaping up to be interesting. These playoff matchups mix the desperation of a school dance with the scrappiness of bum fights, and that is an interesting combination. Plus, three of the four Wild Card matchups are rematches of week 17 games, setting the stage for some quality grudge match entertainment. The game that has caught my attention the most is the clash between the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Jets have something to prove to the rest of the NFL. Despite boasting the superlatives of best pass defense, best overall defense, and best rushing attack in the NFL, critics are still plentiful. Many detractors have criticized the Jets for an inflated record due to a soft schedule at the end of the season. It isn’t that the Jets are playing pushover teams, rather a scheduling aberration allowed the Jets to finish the regular season against two teams – the Colts and the Bengals – that clinched playoff berths early. These teams chose to sit their key players in order to protect them for their playoff run allowing the Jets to benefit from these teams’ apparent apathy for respecting the sanctity of competition. Heck, the Colts allowed the upstart Jets to not only beat them, but end their bid at a perfect season. Add this criticism to the fact that rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and first year coach Rex Ryan are being touted as the Achilles heal of the team’s playoff potential, and it is easy to see why the Jets want to prove serious contenders in the playoffs. Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch attempted to send the Bengals a message in the 37-0 victory last week over Cincinnati – the Jets are not going to lay down for anyone.

The Bengals cannot be counted out, either. Although the Bengals were on the losing end of last week’s blowout, wily head coach Marvin Lewis still has a few tricks of his sleeve. The Bengals rested their stud running back Cedric Benson and limited Carson Palmer to 11 passes, ensuring the Jets did not see their best stuff. Although probably not by design, Chad Ochocinco also received some rest last week. This ensured that the Jets shutdown corner, Daryl Revis, did not see all the tricks in Chad’s bag. In fact Ochocinco maintains that the Bengals treated the contest with all the concern of a preseason game. With the playoff lights flashing and the nations attention focused on the Queen City, you can bet that if Ochocinco is able to play he will treat us to something special.

Probably the most motivating factor in either locker room is the Bengals drive to honor deceased wide receiver Chris Henry. It is clear from interviews with players and friends like Chad Ochocinco that Henry was very much on their minds and still part of the team. I feel certain that Lewis will have the Bengals playing their hearts out for Henry, not in a gimmicky way that cheapens his passing, but in a way that honors his memory and contribution to the team.

These teams are sure to stage an epic clash this Sunday, a game where reputations, pride, and much more are at stake. With both teams possessing superior defenses and excellent rushing games, this matchup is sure to be extremely physical, and a lot of fun to watch. While neither team may actually belong in the hunt for a championship, watching two teams with nothing left to loose fight to the finish seems like a decent afternoon to me.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

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