NFL Power Rankings: Week 9 (It’s Not Unusual to Have the Saints at #1…)

Another great week of NFL action: the Colts won (but looked human), the Saints continue to roll, and the Giants continue to spiral out of control.

It seems like every week brings more drama to the stage during what has been a very exciting season thus far that we are now halfway through.

One thing is for sure….THE REDSKINS DIDN’T LOSE THIS WEEK! (But the Browns did!)

[Editor's Note: There you go dick Myles. Keep rubbing salt in the wound jackass buddy. Keep kicking Browns fans when they're down you no talent ass clown my friend.

I can't wait until Peyton Manning retires and your one-man franchise returns to sucking and all of its fair-weather fans go away.  Go ahead, shake your head. But you know it's true.]

Now, onto this week’s Power Rankings.

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NFL Power Rankings: Week 8

With a another very interesting week of NFL Football in the books, the Power Rankings have decided to be like Elvis for Halloween this week….they’re “All Shook Up”.

O.K., that was terrible, but on a more serious note, it was a very interesting week with a lot of changes in the rankings. Take a look and comment; tell me what YOU think!

[Editor's note: I'll tell you what I think right now. How in the hell can you drop the Saints below the Colts after NO showed the heart of a champion on the road this past Sunday? Oh wait, that's right...I forgot that you live in Indianapolis. Never mind. Makes perfect sense. "All shook up" indeed...]

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Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

This week, we have our first ever tie in the Power Rankings. I had a real tough decision choosing who would be first and who would be second so there is a tie for first place.

T-1. New York Giants (Last 6 [+5])

Ok, so Archie Manning must be sitting at home smiling at both of his boys who will tie for 1^st in Big MB’s Power Rankings for Week 5.

Obviously, the Giants don’t miss Plaxico Burress one bit. The G-men’s destruction of Kansas City only showcased Manning and his receivers. Smith and Manningham continue to impress and Brandon Jacobs is the beast of the NFC East. Next week is a HUGE NFC power game as the Saints come to town.

[Editor's Note: it's Big MB writing this column...any guess who the other 4-0 team is that he has tied for first? It shouldn't take more than one...]

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Big MB’s NFL Power Rankings, Week 4

[Editor's note: Today we introduce a new weekly feature here at MSF, courtesy of Big MB, our soon-to-be renowned NFL expert and already renowned teller of "this".

Every week around this time, Big MB will be checking in with his NFL Power Rankings. He goes 1-15 and gives you the low down on the NFL's best teams.

Bold prediction: the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins will not be making it into Big MB's first list.

Find out after the jump.]

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NFL Week 4 Key Match-Up Previews: Jets-Saints and Ravens-Patriots

[Editor's Note: There are plenty of intriguing and meaningful matchups on the NFL Week 4 schedule. Two of the most important games to be played on Sunday -- before Favre-Packers madness on Monday night -- are the Jets at the Saints and the Ravens at the Patriots.

Matt Noonan, one of MSF's NFL writers, previews and predicts these two pivotal early season matchups.]

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Browns Limp Into Baltimore as 2-TD Underdog, Looking to Avoid Deadly Attack

First off, my apologies for the delay in posting this week’s Browns preview. I could blame it on a lack of time from the recent site redesign, or the fact that I’ve been a little under weather this week, or that there were other more interesting stories to write about; but, the real reason why I’m not writing and posting this until just a few hours before kickoff is that I’ve specifically wanted to avoid writing about today’s Browns-Ravens game.

Because, regardless, I am going to the Browns Backers with my parents to watch the game, and I have pretty much no hope whatsoever that the Browns have even a prayer to win today.

That lack of hope was made even more severe yesterday when it was announced that Jamal Lewis and Phil Dawson will not play in today’s game.

Quickly, here is the pertinent viewing info for this afternoon from the Week 3 TV schedule and point spreads guide:

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Jamal Lewis, Phil Dawson Injury Update: Both Out Sunday v Ravens

With the Cleveland Browns reeling at 0-2, and entering tomorrow’s clash with Baltimore as prohibitive underdogs (13.5 points), Browns fans have been expecting a long and perhaps demoralizing game Sunday afternoon.

Now that two of the franchise’s most productive players this decade are not playing, the Browns chances of pulling off a shocking road upset look even more bleak.

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NFL Play of the Day Video: Ray Lewis Stuffs Darren Sproles and Jerry Jones Picks His Nose

Last week, there were two nominees for the NFL Play of the Day from Sunday: Adrian Peterson’s stiff-arm romp against the Browns and Brandon Stokley’s improbable TD catch to lead Denver to victory over Cincinnati.

This week, I think it’s safe to say that there is only one.

While there were certainly plenty of highlights yesterday, as there always are on Sundays, no play was more impressive or important than Ray Lewis’ amazing 4th and 2 stop of Darren Sproles.

The stop sealed the road win for Baltimore over San Diego, which moved Baltimore to 2-0 on the season, and proved that Ray Lewis still has at least a little bit of gas left in the tank.

Something tells me that this was not the look on Philip Rivers’ face as Ray Lewis stuffed the Chargers’ chances of winning.

Follow the link to StubHub for great deals on all 2009 NFL tickets.

The video is below.

Video: Ray Lewis Stuffs Darren Sproles on 4th and 2

Coming in a close second for Play of the Day has to be Jerry Jones, who dug hard but probably did not go deep enough to get what he was looking for (booger or victory, you decide).

Honestly, this video is not really all that big of a deal, and wouldn’t even merit a mention if it weren’t for Jerry Jones. For a guy who is so obsessively consumed with his own image, and that of the Cowboys, I can’t imagine he’ll be happy to see this video floating around.

Add in the fact that it came on perhaps his most important night as an owner — the opening of his immaculate shrine to himself (where the Cowboys will also play their home games) — and the irony makes it funny.

Hat tip to MoonDog for his video:

Video: Jerry Jones Picks His Nose as Cowboys Lose to Giants

Willis McGahee Involved in Another Nasty Hit in a Big Game

(Update: Willis McGahee was able to leave the hospital yesterday and fly back to Baltimore. He said his neck “hurt like hell,” but he is expected to make a full recovery and suffer no lasting effects of the hit he received from Ryan Clark in the AFC Championship game.)

Last night, Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee was involved in yet another nasty and cringe-inducing hit in a big game on a national stage.

During the 4th quarter of the Steelers-Ravens AFC Championship game, which ended with the Steelers advancing to the Super Bowl after a 23-14 victory, Willis McGahee and Ryan Clark were involved in a vicious collision that left both men laying temporarily motionless on the ground. Medical staff, coaches, and players all immediately ran onto field — in greater mass and quicker than I ever remember seeing — and McGahee was ultimately taken off the field on a stretcher. Ryan Clark was able to get up and walk off the field, though he certainly had the dazed look of a heavyweight who had just taken an uppercut to the face.

If you have not seen the collision, here is video of the Ryan Clark hit on Willis McGahee, courtesy of Robert over at Black Sports Online:

As you can see in the video, Willis McGahee fumbles the ball after the hit, which sealed the deal for the Steelers. The latest update on McGahee is that he has a concussion, but is “okay.”

As many of football fans remember, Willis McGahee was involved in a hit that looked even worse than the one last night. Back in the NCAA championship game between Ohio State and Miami, Willis McGahee took a shot to his knee that absolutely shattered it. Here is the video of that hit on McGahee. 99% of you probably know what is coming, so you can decide for yourself if your eyes can handle it. If you somehow haven’t seen this hit, you may want to think twice before viewing it. It is that nasty.

But back to last night. There are a couple of things that were running through my head while watching McGahee lay on the ground, with some many of his Ravens teammates and the Steelers looking on with obvious concern — knowing it just as easily could be them laying there.

First, what the hell is wrong with the Steelers PA people? Did you hear the music? CCR and Santana were playing while McGahee was laying there. I’ve already seen a couple of other websites discussing this, so I know I wasn’t the only one thinking it. The music just did not capture the mood of the moment at all, and actually seemed quite disrespectful to the reality on the field. Do NFL stadiums really have to be entertaining fans every single second? How about some silence while the medical professionals attended to McGahee? I don’t know, maybe this didn’t rub others the wrong way like it did me. I just thought the music was completely unnecessary.

Second, I oscillated back and forth on whether or not Ryan Clark should be fined/suspended. From one angle, it looked like he led with his helmet. From another, it looked like he led more with his shoulder but because of McGahee’s body lead their heads collided. Last night’s game was just a tough, physical game; and Clark’s hit certainly was not alone in being vicious. WR Limas Sweed had a vicious block on Baltimore’s Corey Ivey as well:

My apologies if that video gets taken down later. The NFL was removing video of the McGahee hit last night, so who knows if they’ll take down the Sweed block too (the McGahee hit is shown at the end). I think if Clark is fined/suspended then Sweed probably should be too. Sweed definitely lowers his head into Ivey.

Personally, I bet Ryan Clark will have to pay a fine, but won’t be suspended for next week’s Super Bowl.

I’ll update McGahee’s injury if any other news becomes available. There is no question he is going to have one massive headache, and that could be the type of hit that he feels for the rest of his life. After that hit last night, and what he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, how Willis McGahee could get back on a football field and subject himself to more potential punishment I will never know. But that’s part of the American obsession with football: watching men who play fearlessly and risk their bodies for victory. It is truly incredible.

Ravens-Steelers Square off in AFC Championship Nightmare for Browns Fans

Let’s list off a few things that your typical Cleveland Browns fans would rather do than be forced to live in a world in which Baltimore and Pittsburgh are playing in the AFC Championship game:

1 – Skydive without a parachute.

2 – Get into a sidewalk scuffle with Ray Lewis and his friends on Super Bowl weekend.

3 – Ride on the back of a motorcycle with Kellen Winslow or Ben Roethlisberger.

4 – Be an airborne football, thrown over a pit of boiling lava, heading towards the outstretched hands of Braylon Edwards, certain to melt in less than a second if you are dropped. 5 Hour Energy! Yeah! (Side note: How about 4 Quarter Concentration? Can someone make sure that Braylon gets signed up for that endorsement deal when it comes along?)

5 – Be strapped to a chair and forced to watch The Drive over and over again for 24 straight hours.

Okay, with the exception of that last one, I don’t think there would be much of a debate for any Browns fan. But unfortunately, our nightmare has come true and the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers are in fact playing this weekend for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

Please excuse me while I locate some Pepto Bismol so I can finish this post.

Before we delve into a brief and nauseating analysis of the Steelers-Ravens AFC Championship game, here are the particulars you need to know:

AFC Championship Game

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

• Sunday, January 18, 2009
• TV: 6:30 ET on CBS
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Season Series: Pittsburgh Steelers 2 | Baltimore Ravens 0
• Point Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -6 1/2 (Courtey, Sports Betting Champ Review, as of Tuesday night. Follow the link for advice and current spreads if you are so inclined.)
• Over-Under: 34

Here are the key injuries to keep an eye on as the week goes along:

Baltimore Ravens Injuries (Updated 1/15):

• Terrell Suggs hurt his shoulder in the Tennessee game last weekend and missed the entire second half. He also missed practice on Wednesday — this coming on the heels of John Harbaugh sounding less than optimistic after MRI results were revealed Monday.  Suggs will most likely be a game-time decision for Sunday.
• Samari Rolle limped off the field late in the 4th quarter and did not return.  He did not practice Wednesday either
• Tood Heap, Ed Reed, Matt Stover, and Derrick Mason were all listed as questionable last week but played against Tennessee.  These guys all missed practice Wednesday or practiced on a limited basis but are expected to play.

Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries (Updated 1/15):

• Ben Roethlisberger was the only person on the injury report before last week’s game, and he looked okay. So, despite being both a drama queen and a girl, unless Big Ben goes joyriding on his motorcycle, he’ll be good to go again this weekend.
• Troy Polamalu has been hindered by a calf injury he suffered last weekend.  He will play this weekend, but could be less than 100%.
• Center Justin Hartwig missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury.
• The Steelers rested a handful of starters Wednesday to give them an extra day of rest leading up to this weekend’s bloodbath.

And now, three reasons why each team will win this weekend’s AFC Championship Game and move onto the Super Bowl:

Three Reasons Why the Pittsburgh Steelers Will Win:

1 – They have the better quarterback.

Ben Roethlisberger is battle tested, he has won a Super Bowl, and has proven that he put his team on his back to win a game when necessary. For all of his promise, and his obviously strong arm, Joe Flacco is still just a rookie playing in his first playoffs. I know that Flacco has beaten veterans like Chad Pennington and Kerry Collins thus far in the playoffs, but neither of them is as good in big games and bad weather as Ben Roethlisberger. Big edge here for the Steelers that should not be understated.

2 – They have the better defense.

For all the talk about how great the Baltimore Ravens defense is — and it is great — the Steelers, at least statistically, had the best defense in the NFL this season. The Steelers finished 1st in scoring defense, as well as total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards allowed. Baltimore wins games with their defense, but what happens when they face a better defense? Considering they are 0-2 against Pittsburgh this year, I guess we know the answer.

3 – Willie Parker looked like Fast Willie Parker again last week.

Baltimore’s defense is outstanding and intimidating, and Ben Roethlisberger will have to keep the ball away from the weekly game-changer Ed Reed, but the Ravens are susceptible to speed. Chris Johnson showed it last week in the first half, and the Ravens may just be watching from home this weekend had Johnson not gotten hurt. If Willie Parker brings the speed and quickness he showed last week against San Diego after suffering through nagging injuries all year, the Steelers will have a solid answer for the Ravens D.

Three Reasons Why the Baltimore Ravens Will Win:

1 – They may be “destiny’s darling”.

It seems like we see it every year in the NFL: an unsung team gets hot late in the season, carries momentum into the playoffs, and the combines great play with fortunate bounces all the way to the Super Bowl. The Ravens could not have been more fortunate last week with Johnson getting hurt and the Titans turning the ball over multiple times in the red zone. In a game that will be hotly contested and probably very close, a bounce here or there could decide it. The Ravens seem to be getting the bounces right now.

2 – The Ravens big players make big plays in big games.

Maybe it’s a “U” thing, as we invoke the immortal words of Santana Moss. We know about all of the big plays made by former Miami Hurricane Ed Reed. And we know about the passion and intensity that Ray Lewis leads with in big moments. And don’t forget about Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain in the backfield. They iced away the Ravens’ late season win over the Cowboys with two 70+ yard TD runs. And McClain had a long TD run late against Miami. Even Joe Flacco came up with a few key big plays against the Titans.

3 – The Steelers have already beaten the Ravens twice.

It is an age-old sports cliche that it is incredibly difficult to beat a team, especially a good team, three times in a row. Ben Roethlisberger even said as much yesterday when asked about this weekend’s game. The Ravens are an intense team led by their defense and opportunistic play-makers. Are the Steelers really that much better than the Ravens that they could go 3-0 against them this season?

I say yes they are.

And the first reason is because Reason #3 directly above is bunk. Doug at Pro-Football-Reference provides a great breakdown of the myth that it is “impossible” to beat a team three times in one season:

Since the merger, there have been 17 instances of a team trying to beat another team thrice in a season. In 11 of those cases, the team succeeded.

Doug’s analysis was done in January of last year, so it does not take into account whatever happened in last year’s playoffs. Still, the numbers don’t lie. An 11-6 record for teams looking to complete a three-game sweep in the playoffs, and that record improved to 9-3 at home. The Steelers are at home, which is even more reason why the conventional wisdom and cliches do not apply.

Plus, Reason #1 cited above why the Ravens will win is not all that compelling. The Ravens were lucky to get out of Tennessee with the victory. Sure, maybe they will get lucky again. Against a team as solid as the Steelers though, with the #1 defense in the NFL, I would not feel too confident relying on being “destiny’s darling.”

So, as much as it pains to say this, I think that the Steelers will wi–

Screw that. I don’t feel like actually making the affirmative statement. Let’s just say that the Ravens will lose, take some solace in the fact that Ray Lewis and the boys will go home crying, and try not to think about the Steelers fans waving their damn towels in joy.

Steelers-Ravens Prediction:

Pittsburgh Steelers 16 | Baltimore Ravens 12

What do you think?

Who will win the AFC Championship game between Pittsburgh and Baltimore?

• Ravens
• Steelers

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NFL Playoffs: AFC and NFC Championship Games: TV Schedule, Announcers, Spreads

What a weekend, huh?

Had Pittsburgh not held off San Diego earlier tonight, all four road teams would have won the Divisional Round playoff games. As it was, three of the teams that earned byes during the regular season earned themselves a seat on the couch for next weekend’s AFC and NFC Championship games.

I have to say, I am ecstatic for next weekend. No, neither the Browns nor Dolphins are still playing. But at least the Dolphins got into the playoffs to give me a little bit of excitement. And I am disappointed that Darren Sproles and the Chargers are not moving forward, but he and the team made a valiant charge from 4-8 all the way to the Divisional Round. But look at the matchups!

In the AFC, we get this season’s most heated rivalry: the Steelers and the Ravens. The Steelers took both of the first two meetings, but that only adds to the intrigue. Baltimore is on fire right now, and we all know how difficult it is to beat a good team three times in a row — at home, or otherwise. Plus, you have the whole subplot of the alleged bounty that the Ravens players placed on Hines Ward. Mix in some typical AFC North physical play, some bad weather, Ray Lewis, Big Ben, Mike Tomlin, Ed Reed…look, I’m a Browns fan so I hate both of these teams, but I can’t wait to watch them engage in a knock down, drag out fight to get to the Super Bowl.

The question is, will either team have enough left for the Super Bowl when all is said and done? Luckily for the winner, they’ll have two weeks to recover.

In the NFC, who would have thought that the Philadelphia and Arizona would be playing? Both teams won just 9 games in the regular season, meaning that a 9-win team will be playing in the Super Bowl for the first time in a non-strike shortened season since 1979. Philly spanked Arizona in their one meeting this year, but Arizona is a different team right now. They played well against Atlanta, took it to Carolina in the Panthers’ house, and might have Anquan Boldin back.

It is going to be a fun weekend. Here is a quick look at the schedule for next Sunday, complete with the early point spreads and announcer lineups. (As we do with the majority of the sports odds we bring here at MSF, they are courtesy are DocSports.)

AFC Championship Game

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

• Sunday, January 18, 2009
• TV: 6:30 ET on CBS
• Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Season Series: Pittsburgh Steelers 2 | Baltimore Ravens 0
• Point Spread: Pittsburgh Steelers -6 1/2 (updated 1/13)
• Over-Under: 34
• Official Midwest Sports Fans Ravens-Steelers Preview and Prediction

NFC Championship Game

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

• Sunday, January 18, 2009
• TV: 3:00 ET on FOX
• Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
• Season Series: Philadelphia Eagles 1 | Arizona Cardinals 0
• Point Spread: Philadelphia Eagles -3 1/2 (updated 1/13)
• Over-Under: 47
• Official Midwest Sports Fans Eagles-Cardinals Preview and Prediction

A wild and crazy NFL season has come down to just two games to determine the Super Bowl participants. I don’t know who could have possibly predicted that these would be the two games we would get, but that’s what makes the NFL such a great, crazy, unpredictable sport.

We’ll have further analysis of each game later in the week.

Cleveland Browns Suffer Crushing Loss at Home to Baltimore Ravens – Lose 37-27

–Being run over from behind by an 18-wheeler.

–Watching John Kruk perform a pommel horse routine — and slip with his legs open.

–Contracting a staph infection.

–Being a Bengals fan.

Other than that last one, I’m fairly certain that all of the first three would be more pleasant experiences than watching today’s Browns-Ravens game. Much like in the first meeting of the season, the Browns played well and hung tough early — hell, we even had a 27-13 second half lead today — only to see the Ravens grab the momentum and never give it back. The end result was a 37-27 home, divisional loss for the Browns. They are now 3-5, need a telescope to see the top of the AFC North standings, and are grasping by the thinnest of threads to any hope of making the playoffs.

Before we go into any more analysis of today’s game, let’s gauge the feeling of the Midwest Sports Fans community as to what the Browns playoff chances are as we sit right now:

After the crushing loss to Baltimore, how would you rate the Browns playoff chances? (with a little help from Jim Mora and Jim Fassel...)

• I'm upping the ante. You want in, get in. You want out, get out. This team is going to the playoffs.
• It's going to be tough, but don't count the Browns out just yet.
• What's that? Uh--Playoffs? Don't talk about--playoffs? You kiddin' me? Playoffs?

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Okay, time to assess the carnage. I wish I had one of those airline sickness bags next to me right now, just in case I get sick while reliving that debacle of a second half.

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Cleveland Browns-Baltimore Ravens | Preview and Prediction | Sunday 11-2-08

Sunday at 1:00 on CBS the old Browns and the new Browns take the field together for the second time this year. The first matchup was a certified disaster for the Browns, as the Ravens’ defense stole the momentum in the 3rd quarter and ran away with a 28-10 lead. Remember, Cleveland led this game 10-7 at the half. Then Derek Anderson decided to start throwing interceptions (3 on the day) and the offense dug a hole that it could not get out of.

After that game, the Baltimore Ravens were sitting pretty at 2-0. The Cleveland Browns were wallowing in the depressing depths of 0-3. They looked like two teams going in drastically opposite directions from what all the preseason prognosticators had predicted. It looked like the Ravens would be surprisingly competitive in the AFC North while the Browns would join the Bengals in the AFC North cellar for all of 2008.

But the tide has turned.

Since that Baltimore game, the Cleveland Browns are 3-1. No opponent has scored more than 17 points on the Browns since the Ravens threw up their 28-spot. And what many people may not realize is that Derek Anderson has not thrown an interception since the first drive of the second half against Cincinnati, the game after the first Baltimore contest. Take away Anderson’s horrid interceptions in Browns territory against the Ravens and it is a completely different ballgame.

On the flip side, the Ravens are 2-3 since the first Browns meeting. Their four wins this year have come against the Bengals, Dolphins, Raiders, and a Browns team that was playing as bad as any team in the NFL at the time. The Ravens losses have come against the Steelers, Titans, and Colts.

So here is the big question the Browns must answer, and will answer, this weekend: Which group of teams are they closer to: the Steelers-Titans-Colts group that is competing for AFC supremacy; or the Dolphins-Raiders-Bengals group that comprises the bottom portion of the AFC standings? The result of Sunday’s game will tell us a lot about where the Browns fit into the AFC hierarchy.

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Fire and Ice Fantasy Sports Forum | Fantasy Football Week 8 | Browns – Colts

Welcome back all to yet another edition of the Fire and Ice Fantasy Sports Forum.

For those of you new to the weekly column, which began last week, I will post several players each week and rate them as being on fire or on ice. My fellow writers at Midwest Sports Fans, and our loyal readers as well, will then chime in with their own thoughts on the selected players. Keep in mind this is evaluated from a fantasy football perspective.

So, who is on fire or on ice for Week 8?

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Cleveland Browns – Still Alive For AFC North After Bye Week

Whats next? Thats what you are probably thinking if you are a Browns fan. There are a few positives that loom in light of all of the apparent negatives involving what was supposed to be a runaway season for the Brownies.

First, no AFC North team has clearly run away with the division. Yes, the Ravens can play defense, they always could. But how many games can the Ravens win scoring less that 20 points per game? The Steelers appear to be a mess offensively with Big Ben Roethlisberger dealing with injuries, along with Rashard Mendenhall out for the year and Willie Parker no where near 100 percent. Their backfield is now featuring Mewelde Moore and Najeh Davenport, which if they were any good, Pittsburgh would not have drafted a running back in the first round, right? That leads us to the Bungles, or Bengals, which ever you prefer. They again have no defense, and offensively, they have turned to former-Texas-standout-now-running-back-bust Cedric Benson. This compiled with an injured Carson Palmer gives me hope as a Browns fan.

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