A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
| Tweet |  Email Post
| |||
Update:
John Clayton reported on ESPN on Sunday morning that Matt Cassel will likely be the Chiefs’ starting quarterback against the Rams today.
Fantasy Impact:
Matt Cassel is just 11 days removed from an emergency appendectomy. Although playing is still risky, he knows the importance of today’s game against the Rams. A win today puts his team just one win and a chargers loss from claiming their first division title since 2003. Expect Cassel to be behind center come game time.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
Tim Tebow will make first career start in place of injured QB Kyle Orton.
Fantasy Update:
The Broncos play a tough defense in the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders have shut teams down this year but also gave up a ton of points at other times. This game is still a toss-up regardless who is under center for the Broncos. Tebow should have a decent day but don’t expect anything crazy enough to start him in the playoffs.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
Eagles Cornerback Asante Samuel will start today against the Giants.
Fantasy Update:
As if news this week was not bad enough for Eli manning when last years top receiver, Steve Smith, went on IR. But now he learns that Samuel who missed the last three games will play against the Giants. Samuel can not miss this opportunity to play considering it means first place for his Eagles and also the chance for his league leading interception total to raise against the leagues best interception thrower. However we put it, big game this week and the stars will be ready for both sides, 100% healthy or not.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the New England Patriots because he couldn't pass his post-concussion test, a team official told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Saturday. Fantasy Update: Rodgers failed to pass his post-concussion test and will not play today against the Patriots. This is a huge loss for a team that is fighting for a playoff spot and will have to start a back-up in Matt Flynn. Flynn could not get anything started lastweek against the Lions and will likely be unable to do so again. Another blow-out in NE is on the horizon with their newest victim being Green Bay.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Editor’s Note: Griffin Gotta’s weekly MNF and Thursday Night Football coverage on MSF is sponsored for the second straight year by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.
Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.
With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.
Visit the Sadler’s Smokehouse website: Sadler’s Smokehouse
——————–
This is clearly not the game ESPN signed up for.
Actually, it has the feel of a game everyone would rather just skip, but as a fan of the team in the middle of these two in the NFC North standings, it was almost the ideal game, if there were ever going to be one, to do something crazy; it presented the rare opportunity to buck up and cheer for the purple cannibals.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not receive medical clearance after sustaining a concussion in last week’s game against the Lions and has been ruled out for Sunday night’s game in New England.
Fantasy Impact: Given the stricter process for returning to the field following a second concussion (Rodgers also suffered one in October against the Redskins), this was to be expected. Rodgers hides flaws that the Packers have, like a weak running game and leaky protection, by being the elite player that he is. Based on what Matt Flynn showed in the second half against a suspect Detroit defense and the ten points the Patriots have allowed over the past two weeks against two 9-win teams in the Jets and Bears, as well as how Tom Brady and Bill Belichick haven’t lost in Foxborough since 2006, I don’t see how Sunday night can end well for the Pack.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the “door is open” for Aaron Rodgers (concussion) to play on Sunday evening against the Patriots.
Fantasy Impact:
Rodgers went out last week against Detroit with a game ending concussion. The Packers are playing arguably the best team in the NFL this week and will likely be without their star quarterback. As it seems today, Rodgers will not be playing in one of the most crucial games of the year for the Packers.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
An Achilles injury could cost Troy Polamalu the remainder of the season, according to John Harris of the Tribune-Review.
Fantasy Update:
Polamalu has made play after play while he has been healthy this season. He had that huge sack-fumble against the Ravens and then the pick six last week. Polamalu is a huge loss for this defense but they should not have too much trouble with a struggling Jets team this week.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
According to the New York Dialy News, Steve Smith’s (knee) rehab “will be long, hard and indefinite and may not allow him to run before June.”
Fantasy Impact:
Steve Smith, a pro-bowl receiver for the Giants last year, has had a very strange season. This has been a season where he just could not get healthy. Smith’s newest injury (knee) has placed him on IR and likely done until at least June. The unrestricted free agent to be will have a gruesome recovery program in order to get healthy enough to play for someone in 2011.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
Justin Tuck says the Giants plan is to hit Michael Vick early and often in Sunday’s rematch, according to the New York Daily News.
Fantasy Update:
The Giants did a decent job against Vick last time these two teams played as they held him to 278 yards through the air and one rushing touchdown. These numbers are a bit skewed though because the Eagles receivers dropped two touchdown passes in this game that led to field goals. As of now the Eagles are the better team are should show the Giants what kind of team they are playing in NY this Sunday. Vick will have his normal MVP type game against whatever team he plays against.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
DeSean Jackson (foot) is back at practice on Friday, Adam Caplan of FOXSports.com reports.
Fantasy Update:
This is fantastic news for fantasy owners as DeSean had one of the best games in his career last week. Expect Vick to Jackson to exploit the Giants bad secondary this week as it looks like it should be a dominate game by the Eagles both offensively and defensively.
| Tweet | Email Post
| |||
Update:
DeSean Jackson (foot) is back at practice on Friday, Adam Caplan of FOXSports.com reports.
Fantasy Update:
This is fantastic news for fantasy owners as DeSean had one of the best games in his career last week. Expect Vick to Jackson to exploit the Giants bad secondary this week as it looks like it should be a dominate game by the Eagles both offensively and defensively.
