Over the past nine seasons the AFC East has belonged to the New England Patriots. The Patriots absolutely dominated the division winning seven of nine division championships since 2001, with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins each winning one championship during that time. With the Patriots looking more vulnerable than ever, the Dolphins and Jets will clash for the top spot in the division in the best game this weekend.
Sanchez Finds His Swagger
The Jets figure to bring their suddenly potent offense to this game, led by a resurgent quarterback in Mark Sanchez. After struggling to get anything going offensively in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens the Jets righted the ship last week against long time division rival, the New England Patriots. Out of nowhere, New York’s sophomore signal caller went from completing just ten passes for 74 yards and no scores in week one to setting career highs in completions (21) and touchdowns (3) just six days later against the Pats. While one good outing does not make the Jets a lock for the Super Bowl, it does show that Sanchez and the Jets’ offense are improving.
It also appeared as if the Jets answered questions about one of their perceived weaknesses – a lack of elite receiving options. Sanchez connected with Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller for touchdowns. Now if LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene – neither of which has scored or eclipsed 100 yards in a game – can somehow jump start Gang Green’s running attack, the Jets could boast one of the most threatening offenses in the league. And the Jets will need it as they take on the stout defense of the Dolphins.
New Team to Beat
For all the praise and accolades that Jets are accumulating, the 2-0 Dolphins are still the team to beat in the AFC East, becoming an offensive and defensive force. Chad Henne is starting to develop rapport with his new number one receiver Brandon Marshall (12 grabs for 124 yards through two games) and the ground game has proven even more formidable. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have racked up 237 yards thus far, and already look like the league’s premier one-two punch. And, of course, the Dolphins can always be counted on for some solid defense.
Miami’s off-season pickup of Brandon Marshall is one of the main difference makers for the new-look Dolphins. Marshall’s mere presence figures to stretch the field and keep opposing defenses honest when attempting to cover the run. It looks like Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie will be asked to cover Marshall, and by all appearances that looks like a matchup that Marshall can win. He is a strong, physical receiver that can mix it up with the contact averse Cromartie all game long. Each player called out of position to support Cromartie in coverage makes the Jets that much more vulnerable.
Tale of the Tape
Both of these teams have playoff contender written all over them, but they will have to get past each other first to truly earn that title. It all starts with this Sunday’s matchup.
For the Jets to win they will need another solid performance from Sanchez. The Dolphins will no doubt be sending pressure in the form of talented young linebacker Cameron Wake. If Sanchez can stay vertical and make accurate passes for scores he will put his team in a good position to win. For the Fins to retain first place in the division they will need to rely on what got the team to where it is in the first place, a gritty run game. Computer projections suggest that if the Miami ground game can surpass the 100 yard mark, then the game is pretty much a lock win for Miami. No matter who wins Sunday, the outcome should reshape the future of the AFC East.
Georgia Bulldog fans, settle in for a long, long season if the team is unable to get past the twelfth Arkansas Razorbacks at home Saturday at noon.
It has already been a long year for the Bulldogs after opening SEC play with a loss to division rival South Carolina. The stakes are high again this weekend. While Georgia is rebuilding to a large degree this season expectations were still high because, well, it’s Georgia. Georgia fans are notorious for letting expectations far outpace reality, and this season was no exception. With the team down a game already in the SEC – within its own division – another loss is downright impossible to recover from if a trip to the SEC title game is still in the offing in 2010.
Arkansas is poised to finally be a legitimate player in the SEC. After several seasons of close calls and big time talent at the running back position, Arkansas finally has a balanced offense led by a fringe Heisman candidate in quarterback Ryan Mallet. Though the team has only played two games against far inferior opponents – Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Monroe – the Razorbacks DID win by a combined 75-10. Mallet, through just two games, is already over 1,000 yards passing with 1,101, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. He even has a touchdown toss of 85 yards and has completed passes to ten different receivers.
While it is clear that Mallet is the real deal, it remains to be seen whether his team is or not. Georgia, though the team struggled mightily on offense last week, does have a strong defense full of opportunism and big time playmakers. Mallet is prone to trust his arm, nearly to a fault. But even if Arkansas gets behind, the team has the offense to catch up quickly. On defense Georgia has to play a mistake free game, which is highly unlikely with so many youngsters.
Speaking of mistake free, Georgia likely will not be able to do that on offense either, especially with a red shirt freshman at quarterback. The good news for Georgia is that the offense is last in the SEC in penalty yards with 55. Quarterback Aaron Murray has only thrown on interception through two games this season, and he has only thrown one pass to the other team. But he also does not take enough risks yet to make enough plays. Arkansas will prove a very big test for the youngster, though he is at home. He must prove that he does not make mistakes, of course, but he must also prove that he can make the plays to win a game instead of just avoiding mistakes to prevent a loss.
Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino does have more experience with Georgia from his days at Auburn. He understands how to gameplan for Georgia’s style under Mark Richt, and he is a good coach for a road team. Arkansas is favored in this game, and for good reason. After all, the Razorbacks are a better team than the Bulldogs.
But, Georgia has passion and inspiration on its side. While every game between the hedges is the biggest game of the season, this may very well be the biggest game of Mark Richt’s coaching career. Those pesky expectations – the ones that routinely outpace reality – will not give Richt a pass indefinitely. Ever this humble little blog received a hit from the following search query: “fire Mark Richt hire Kirby Smart.” Georgia fans are desperate, and the team must be as well. A win over Arkansas is a must this weekend, buying Mark Richt one more week of sleep. Still, humbling a Heisman Trophy candidate and beating a top 12 team in the nation will do a lot to quiet critics. Losing just is not an option if Richt, and Georgia, are going to survive.
It is only week two of the NFL season and we already have a matchup between two backup quarterbacks.
Unfortunately, that is only the start of the issues facing the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions on Sunday. Both teams find are in the extremely rare situation of entering the second game with MORE questions than were faced on opening weekend.
Let’s start with the Eagles.
For the last decade the Eagles have been led on the field by quarterback Donovan McNabb. In the off-season, though, the team made a strategic decision to look toward the future by trading McNabb to the division rivals Washington Redskins. The young and highly anticipated prospect, Kevin Kolb, was given the keys to the kingdom.
Replacing Kolb, Michael Vick (yeah, THAT Michael Vick) finally got his opportunity to once more lead an NFL offense as THE quarterback, and he never looked back. Even though the Eagles lost the game, Vick looked spectacular playing like he hasn’t missed any time at all since his pre-prison Pro Bowl days. During his time on the field Vick was 16-24 for 175 yards with one touchdown, and he added another 103 rushing yards to the mix… just for some variety.
And with Kolb not passing his concussion test until yesterday (he failed his first try on Wednesday), it looks like Vick will get another shot to prove that he deserves more than just a supporting role in the NFL.
Then, the Lions.
If ever there was a rock bottom in the NFL, the Detroit Lions found it. The Lions went a pathetic 2-30 over the last two seasons and were coming into 2010 with no place to go but up. The team was entering 2010 with some very real expectations for genuine improvement, with Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson coming back to lead the offense along with explosive rookie running back, Jahvid Best.
And to the delight of the fans, the Lions showed signs of improvement during the week one matchup with the Chicago Bears. But a controversial call at the end of the game cost the team victory. Like Kolb, Stafford was knocked out of the game, only Stafford’s injury was in his shoulder.
If the news of Stafford’s injury wasn’t bad enough for Lions fans, the name of his doctor surely must be –Dr. James Andrews (although Dr. Andrews stated that Stafford would not need surgery, which had to ease the blow at least a little bit).
So now it is up to Shaun Hill to try and continue leading the development of the Lions’ offense.
Neither of these teams want to start the season off at 0-2, but with so many questions sitting unanswered right now, it is virtually impossible to try and predict a winner.
Will there be a new quarterback controversy in Philadelphia?!
Is Matt Stafford REALLY that valuable to an NFL franchise, and are the Lions REALLY improving?!
Did Calvin Johnson go back and study the fundamentals of completing a reception?!
Will Rocky and Bullwinkle find the missing ingredient for the rocket fuel formula?!
Be with us Sunday for “Eagles Come, Eagles Go,” or “The Goal Lion Stand!”
The battle of the border is back in a big way. There has never been any love lost between the New England Patriots and New York Jets, but here lately the rivalry has intensified. Over the past several season, from Spygate to Tom Brady’s public profession of “hate” for Gang Green, it seems the Patriots and Jets are doing their best Red Sox-Yankees routine. So when the Pats make their first trip to the New Meadowlands Stadium, likely with hopes of extending a run of road dominance over a plucky Jets team, it’s immediately a top contender for game of the week.
Teams with Something to Prove
Before the season started there were several questions swirling around Foxboro that figured to undermine the Patriots effectiveness this season. Like, could the Patriots function despite the distraction of the looming contract situations of Tom Brady and Randy Moss? Would the young Patriots defense make the necessary growth to be serious playoff contenders? And, would Wes Welker be able to contribute before season’s end? Well, with week one in the books it appears those answers are yes, yes, and yes. Now a lethal Patriots team, which has won eight out of nine road games against the Jets, looks to march into the Empire State and prove they are the team to beat in the AFC East.
The Jets, however, have different plans. New York started the season with a tough loss on Monday Night Football to the Baltimore Ravens. It was a game in which sophomore quarterback Mark Sanchez completed just ten passes for 74 yards and zero touchdowns, and the Jets ground game appeared equally pedestrian. But everyone knows that Gang Green’s claim to fame has been solid defense, and with the return of shutdown corner Darrelle Revis from a holdout hiatus, New York looks ready to mix it up with Tom Brady and company. This Sunday may mark the first home win in the team’s new stadium, potentially ushering in the beginning of a new era in the New England-New York rivalry.
Marquee Matchup: Moss versus Revis
One of the most interesting storylines leading into this game is the matchup of elite wide receiver Randy Moss and shutdown corner Revis. During last week’s matchup against the Bengals, Moss was quiet, posting a respectable, but not mind-blowing, five catches for 59 yards and no TDs. While one unexplosive week from Moss is not necessarily cause for alarm, it should be viewed in the greater context – the aging of the Patriots. At 3, Moss is not getting any younger, and a slight reduction in productivity at his age is not unimaginable. Add to that the fact that Moss is unhappily entering the final year of his current contract with no deal from the Patriotss in sight, and this could be the first signs of a potential problem for Patriots’ passing game. This Sunday’s game will give Moss a chance to prove he’s still got it by taking on one of the greatest defenders in the game.
Moss will certainly be motivated for the showdown. What remains to be seen, however, is whether he will get the opportunity to showcase his skills against A) Darrelle Revis, one of the league’s best defensive backs or B) Darrelle Revis, unprepared cornerback suffering from holdout hangover. Now that Revis is back from his 36 day holdout, he appears to be ailing from some hamstring tightness that has limited him in practice. In the week two clash between the Patriots and Jets last season, Revis limited Moss to just four catches for 24 yards, and statements by Rex Ryan have indicated that if Revis is ready on game day he will get his chance at a repeat performance and be asked to cover Moss all day. Revis even added fuel to the fire by dubbing Moss a “slouch” for his underachieving performance last season. This has certainly hyped up the showdown and figures to add drama to an already great rivalry.
War of Words
Even more hype has been added to the Patriots-Jets rivalry as of late because of public statements made by members of both teams. It all started when Tom Brady was asked if he watched the HBO series “Hard Knocks,” a series that followed the Jets throughout training camp. His answer, “I hate the Jets, so I refuse to support that show” didn’t sit well with many of the Meadowlands faithful. Jets head coach Rex Ryan even retorted, “Hell, he knows we hate the Patriots so what’s the difference… join the club.”
There’s a lot at stake for each team. The Jets look to shake a rough start and prove they are Super Bowl bound, while the Patriots look to put upstart rivals back in their place. It figures to be a very physical football game with plenty of aggression on both sides of the ball. In other words, it’s the type of game that reminds guys why they like football in the first place.
While ESPN will likely be spending its time this Saturday morning touting Florida State’s Visit to Norman, Oklahoma as a title fight rematch from 2000, the reality of this game – this upcoming weekend’s best, by the way – is in the seemingly divergent paths these programs are on… in stark contrast to their predecessors a decade ago.
The Oklahoma Sooners have some questions surrounding their presumed dominance of the college football landscape. The Sooners have had many 10+ win seasons in the past decade, but the program has had blemishes, too, and is also coming off of an 8-5 season it would just as soon forget. After struggling with Utah State unexpectedly in the first game of this season, it is fair to the Sooners have a great deal to prove to fans and pundits alike.
Ten years ago, it was the Seminoles that were the dominant program teetering on the edge of regression. While the Sooners have filled those shoes thus far in 2010, the Seminoles have quietly stepped into the underdog role Oklahoma relished in 2000.
Sure, the Florida State Seminoles were picked to win their ACC division and even the conference title in some circles. But expectations are still, amazingly, low for this team in its first season without Bobby Bowden and Mickey Andrews at defensive coordinator. Christian Ponder is widely regarded as one of the better quarterbacks currently in the game (much like former Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel was in 2000). The team seems to have found some athletes and speed threats like it had in past seasons when the team was dominant. It has only been one week, but this Florida State team just SEEMS different. The players are walking with more confidence and swagger. They seem to believe they can win anywhere at any time. It is exactly the kind of contagious mentality the Sooners used in 2000 to knock the kings of college football of their mountain in the BCS national championships game.
So here we are with the underdog Seminoles hoping to knock off the established power program and reassert itself as a major player in college football. Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher has rightly stated that this Saturday’s game is an indicator of where his team’s building process is. He is right. But if the team wins, Florida State automatically gets launched into the conversation as a great team again. They will skyrocket up the polls, and Bobby Bowden’s new book will take a nose-dive in sales on Amazon.com. Losing, in this case, is almost easier than winning. A win brings back all of the old, unreasonable expectations. Fisher must be mentally prepared to handle that.
A not completely irrelevant subplot to a game that is full of intrigue before the teams even hit the field is the awkward reuniting of the Stoops’s brothers, Bob – Oklahoma head coach – and his brother Mark, his former defensive coordinator – now in the same position at Florida State. The two playfully discuss in the media what it was like to grow up as competitive people and the all of the interesting and disposable throwaway stories that are written before big game. Friendly and awkward rivalry or not – both men want to win. There is no competition like that which exists within the confines of a family. This is no rivalry game, but both men will prepare for it thoroughly… probably a bit more in depth than Utah State and Samford.
Oklahoma should win this game. The Sooners are ranked higher, have higher expectations, and a host of outstanding, blue chip professional prospects. The Seminoles are fighters again, clawing their way back to national respect. In many ways, this game will decide the status of each program. Are the Seminoles really on the rise? Are the Sooners really in decline? This game is more than just a non-conference matchup, it is a serious benchmark for the health and prominence of these two programs. I can’t wait to find out what happens.
While there are a lot of interesting games this weekend, I’ve chosen one slightly off the beaten path. Well, as off the beaten path as an SEC game between two top-25 ranked opponents on national TV can be. Saturday at noon, Georgia rolls into Dead Cockroach Stadium (look at a picture, I’m not kidding…) to take on the newly-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks. Sure, history is in the Bulldogs’ favor, but let’s dig deeper into what makes this ESPN2 game a compelling matchup.
There was a lot of off-season chatter about how this was “the year” for South Carolina to make some noise in the SEC East. Fans and pundits alike have been waiting for Spurrier’s genius to show itself in the Midlands of South Carolina. While South Carolina has many of the resources necessary for competing in the cutthroat SEC, they are perpetually trying to get over the hump in the SEC East. Part of the reason for that is that Spurrier has not had the quarterbacks at South Carolina enjoyed at Florida. Blake Mitchell was no Danny Wuerrfel, my friends. However, coach Spurrier and the Gamecock faithful have high hopes for Stephen Garcia, and Garcia’s time at the controls of the Gamecock offense this season has come. While Garcia has shown flashes of physical talent on the field and flashes of smiles in mug shots off the field, this may be the year that he puts it all together and leads the Gamecocks to the SEC championship game in Atlanta.
Beyond Garcia, the Gamecocks have a pair of freshman phenoms who will spend some time in the backfield this season. Freshman quarterback Connor Shaw and freshman running back Marcus Lattimore supplement seventeen returning starters for the Gamecocks, and make them a popular sleeper pick to win the SEC East. Despite the fact that tight end Weslye Saunders is likely to miss another game due to the NCAA investigation, the Gamecocks appear to be a formidable foe for the Bulldogs.
South Carolina’s optimism runs smack into UGA VIII and his team of angry canines led by Mark Richt.
While Georgia may not have garnered the right kind of headlines in the off-season, Mark Richt will absolutely have the Bulldogs ready to play in a very hostile environment in Columbia, South Carolina. Keep in mind that Georgia is 8-1 in its last nine games against South Carolina, and they have faced this combination of optimism and hostility from Gamecock fans and teams in the past. The Georgia offense, despite missing A.J. Green, put up 55 points last week, signaling they are ready for a conference clash.
I don’t want to turn this post into a statistical rundown of the two opponents. But there are two data points that make this game really interesting. First, UGA and South Carolina really do not like each other, and that will come through on the field and in the stands (hopefully more on the field than in the stands).
Second, and perhaps most importantly, Florida looked decidedly vulnerable against Miami of Ohio last weekend, and the Gamecocks and Bulldogs both believe they’re playing for the driver’s seat in the SEC East. We all know much of the greatness of college football is tied up in the desperation shown by teams on a week-in, week-out basis (especially in conference play).
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This game seems like an entertaining, eminently watchable week two matchup. At the very least, it’s the best excuse you have on Saturday to crack a cold one at noon Eastern!
I’m well aware that this Saturday is a huge day for us football geeks. I’m sure you are also. Believe me, I’ve got an extra set of AAA batteries in the drawer just in case the batteries on the remote decide to kick the bucket. But this weekend also is the beginning of the NFL season (it actually kicked off with a fairly entertaining game last night), and boy I am excited. There are some good games on the docket on Sunday, but one game sticks out on Monday and I’m not referring to the Chargers and Chiefs late night (on the East) matchup in San Diego.
The Jets and Ravens do battle on Monday night at the New Meadowlands Stadium. These two teams are two of the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl next February. And both teams, while not necessarily flashy on offense, definitely bring the heat on defense and off the field.
Much of the Jets off-season has been occupied by the hoopla surrounding Darrelle Revis, who finally returned from his lengthy holdout after signing a new deal. Jets head coach Rex Ryan has certainly fanned the flames by constantly hyping his team any time a camera was within eyesight. If you don’t believe that, then maybe you should catch an episode of Hard Knocks on HBO. Even behind all the off-the-field drama, the Jets fully believe it is possible to take a step further than last season’s team, which lost in the AFC championship game to the Colts. Critics, such as Bleacher Fan, have publicly expressed doubts about the Jets. This game could kick start the season for the J-E-T-S!
The Ravens, meanwhile, also believe a run to the AFC championship is possible. This is quarterback Joe Flacco’s third season as a professional, and Ravens’ management has surrounded him some offensive talent. In addition to the high profile acquisition of Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin, the Ravens quickly signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh earlier this week. And of course, everyone knows about the Ravens defense. It’s a little older than the Ravens defense of yesteryear, but it was still third in the league last season in points allowed.
Things heated up for this game yesterday with a war of words between Ray Lewis and his former defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan. As if this game needed any more spice! Lewis basically called into question Mark Sanchez’s abilities as a quarterback, and you can bet that his comments caught the attention of some of the Jets players.
The game is going to be intense already because it takes place on Monday Night Football and it features some highly intense players. But recent events, like yesterday’s “trash talking,” have made the matchup between the Jets and Ravens the “must-see” game of the week.
Sunday’s matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers was already going to be very exciting. It is a late-season matchup between two of the best teams in the AFC, featuring the probable division champions in the AFC North and AFC West. It is likely a playoff preview, with the winner assuming control of the remaining AFC bye during the first round of the playoffs (Indianapolis has already claimed one of them).
Yesterday, though, the buildup to the game took an entirely different direction after Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died as a result of injuries suffered in an accident earlier this week. Although Henry had not been active on the Bengals roster since suffering a broken arm in early November, he was nonetheless a member of the Bengals family, and his tragic death will certainly impact the teams as it plays out the remainder of the 2009 season.
This is the second time that death has cast a pall over the Bengals during a season that should be full of celebration and excitement. When defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s wife suddenly passed away earlier in the year, the Bengals showed their support by rallying around Zimmer (who returned to coach the Bengals in a game only three days after her death), and played to a very inspiring win over the division rivals Baltimore Ravens.
Once more, the Bengals will take the field on Sunday in honor of a lost member of the family. Whether this loss will serve as motivation or a distraction for the Bengals has yet to be seen, but the importance of this game cannot be overlooked. If the Bengals succeed in defeating San Diego, they will clinch the AFC North and hold the tiebreak over San Diego, securing control of the second AFC bye.
As sorry as San Diego may be for the passing of Chris Henry, though, the team is not about to just hand the Bengals the game with a sympathy card attached. There is just as much at stake this weekend for the San Diego Super-Chargers, a team that is trying to lock up a bid for the postseason in front of the hometown fans on Sunday afternoon.
If you were paying very close attention last weekend, you may have heard this obscure fact: Did you know that Philip Rivers is undefeated as a starter when playing games in the month of December?! I didn’t know that until Terry Bradshaw, Jimmie Johnson, Howie Long, Boomer Esiason, Dan Marino, Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Keith Olberman, Chris Berman, and just about every other NFL analyst harped incessantly on the fact as if they had just uncovered some ground-breaking discovery… but, I digress. The point is that Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers are playing some of the best football in the league right now, and have won each of the last eight games.
San Diego, a team that had been overshadowed by Denver’s surprise start this season, has assumed control of the AFC West, as most preseason projections indicated. Like Cincinnati, the Chargers can clinch the division with a win and would tighten the grip on the second seed in the AFC playoffs (or possibly clinch it with a little extra help from around the league).
This Sunday, while our hearts are with the Cincinnati Bengals, our eyes will be on Qualcomm Stadium for this game between two of the AFC’s best!
The past few years the NFL has scheduled a Saturday night game on its own network, the NFL Network, during week 15. This year, we are fortunate enough to have a great Saturday night week 15 matchup when the reeling Dallas Cowboys travel to the Bayou to take on the undefeated New Orleans Saints. The undefeated Indianapolis Colts survived a road trip to Jacksonville with a thrilling come from behind victory last night. Can the Saints survive unscathed as it awaits America’s team in a huge game for the Cowboys?
We all know the Saints’ story. It has been well-documented. Quarterback Drew Brees has had a monster season, and, with each passing week it seems he has a stronger grip on that NFL MVP trophy… though I’m guessing he would tell you that at the end of the season he would much rather have that Lombardi Trophy. While the Saints have not lost yet, they have definitely had some close calls, including a come from behind overtime victory two weeks ago in Washington, and a 26-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons last week. Looking at the Saints’ schedule it is clear the team has thoroughly dominated some teams, much more than the Colts. The bad news for the rest of the league is that Reggie Bush, who has underachieved as a pro, may be on the right track, finally. He scored two touchdowns last week. It is already tough enough stopping Sean Payton’s high-flying offense… imagine the nightmare for opposing defenses if Reggie Bush shows the elusiveness he showed in college.
Meanwhile, over in Dallas, things are not as rosy. The good feelings presented by the 8-3 start have subsided due to losses the past two weeks to the Giants and the Chargers. Now, instead of being in excellent shape to win the NFC East, the Cowboys are struggling to stay in contention for the wild card. At this point, with a tiebreaker over the Cowboys, I am giving Green Bay that first wild card spot. That leaves the Cowboys competing with the Giants and other teams for the second wild card spot. Keep in mind that the Giants, while currently 7-6, also hold the tiebreak over the ‘Boys. I would not necessarily call Saturday night’s game a must-win for the Cowboys, but it’s darn close. Lose Saturday, and Dallas loses the ability to control its own playoff destiny. Lose Saturday, and Wade Phillips’ seat, which is already warm (which I addressed back in July), becomes smoking hot!!! What a disaster it would be for Jerry Jones to sit and watch the playoffs from the comfort of his million-dollar mansion (which really isn’t so bad) when he spent over a billion dollars on the new stadium. However, a win Saturday eases the tension in Dallas and would be a huge momentum boost.
Many of you do not have NFL Network. Fortunately, Loyal Homer does and has made plans to invite people over to watch the game. You should make plans to watch the game, too!
Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer about which will be the best game of THIS weekend.
They say that you will never understand a person until you walk a mile in their shoes. Well, today I am going to try that approach by taking a page out of Loyal Homer’s book. Hopefully, this will help me understand all you Loyal Homers out there a little bit better…
Because the ACTUAL best game of the weekend has already taken place, with the Browns ending the Steelers hopes (HA!!!) for a repeat run at the Super Bowl, I have decided to shift my focus elsewhere for this weekend’s excitement.
The best game that will be taking place this weekend is not just one single match, but actually a series of three matches that will begin tonight and end Sunday afternoon, culminating in the crowning of a national champion. The event is the 2009 College Cup, which will feature the Final Four in NCAA Division I Soccer.
The Loyal Homer in me will be watching because my alma mater, The University of Akron Zips, are entering tonight’s semi-final matchup against the Tar Heels of North Carolina as the favorites not only to win the game, but to actually win the Cup, and they could make NCAA history in the process (more on that in a moment). As a fan of the Zips, it is not very often that I get to celebrate my school’s athletic prowess, but there can be no denying the domination that the Zips have displayed on the pitch this season. The Loyal Homer in me is just busting at the seams to see the Zips as they strive claim the first National Championship for a MAC program since 1965!
The Zips have played as a team of destiny this season. Consider the following statistics:
Akron has outscored opponents in 2009 by a combined score of 58-7
Akron has allowed an average of only 0.30 goals against (the fourth best result in NCAA history)
Akron has outshot opponents 4:1
Akron has not given up a single goal in the NCAA Tournament to this point
Akron has already tied an NCAA record by winning 23 consecutive games within the same season, and, if they finish off the championship run, will become the most successful team in the 51-year history of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship
Akron’s head coach, Caleb Porter, is no stranger to this situation, though. As captain of the Indiana Hoosiers soccer team in 1997, Porter actually led the Hoosiers on to set the 23 consecutive game win streak that the Zips have tied this season. It was at this point in the 1997 tournament, however, that Porter’s Hoosiers were upset by UCLA in their semi-final match, and Porter is determined not to let his 2009 team repeat.
His path to the championship will not be an easy one. With very little happening in the way of upsets during the 2009 tournament, the Final Four truly is a collection of the best teams from the season! The three teams that round out the Final Four, each from Division I’s most dominant soccer conference, the ACC, will pose some of the toughest opposition that the Zips have faced all season.
Akron’s first test will be against the fifth-seeded UNC Tar Heels, a team that will essentially be playing in front of a home crowd in Cary, North Carolina. As last season’s tournament runner-up, the Tar Heels are on a quest of their own to take that final step they fell just short of in 2008. The winner of that match will be set to square off against the winner of the other semi-final match between the second-seeded Virginia Cavaliers and the third-seeded Demon Deacons from Wake Forest.
With competition like that, the team which ultimately emerges as the 2009 National Champions will have undoubtedly proven they truly are the best of the best! Putting all personal bias aside (GO ZIPS!!!), the 2009 College Cup will feature competition from the best programs in college soccer, complete with all of the emotion, drama, and intensity that is found in any national championship tournament.
Posted by Babe Ruthless 
