Patriots are not an elite team

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Tell me what team just played against the undefeated New Orleans Saints?

That wasn't the New England Patriots. No way, no how.

The Pats were just plain awful and there's plenty of blame to go around ...everywhere.

I'm not going to take anything away from the Saints, they are legit and it's hard to argue that fact. That offense is virtually unstoppable ...the Pats sure couldn't stop them. And New Orleans' defense, despite a lack of depth in the secondary, absolutely baffled Tom Brady.

How can Randy Moss and Wes Welker be non-factors in the entire game? That is totally unacceptable.

The Pats, not the Saints, played scared. I thought the Saints would crumble under the pressure of being undefeated and playing the Pats, but they weren't shaking one bit. This team has championship talent and a tough-as-nails approach that produce on offense and defense.

The Pats didn't tonight.

Back to the lack of execution for New England.

How could the Saints get heat on Brady on just about every play with only rushing three guys and dropping eight into coverage? Easy, the offensive line was terrible ...shame on them.

And when the Saints did blitz, Brady couldn't get the ball to Moss and Welker because they were blanketed by some very good coverage.

Like I said, there's plenty of blame to go around for the Patriots.

A lack of execution -- and some real bad play calling (I'm tired of this team running the ball and then hurting themselves with second- and third-and-long situations because of small pickups on those running plays) really ticks me off.

But the Saints no doubt had a lot to do with that.

What I learned tonight is that the Pats have no shot, yes I said NO SHOT at winning the Super Bowl.

With a defense that can't stop the pass -- the Colts shredded them and now Brees and Co. picked them apart -- or get any kind of pressure on the quarterback, there's no way the Pats can beat the elite teams in the NFL. The defense just isn't up to snuff (now you see why Bill Belichick went for it on fourth down against the Colts) Plus, the Pats can't win on the road.

The Pats are a better-than-average team, but they are not in the elite class. And that pains me to say that!

The Saints are elite and the Colts are elite. The Pats are not, and don't fool yourself.

I'm not giving up the Patriots, but numbers don't lie. You don't lose four games already and be considered Super Bowl contenders.

But if they get hot from this point on, the Pats couldn't give us a lot more to cheer about and make a nice run in the playoffs.

It's not all doom and gloom, but now is the time to man up.

What we learned this week in college football: Week 13

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Oklahoma is still a pretty good football team
It's been a pretty heartbreaking season for Sooner fans, but if there is a consolation, they destroyed Oklahoma State and ran off with the Cowboys' dignity. The Sooners' strength won them this game as they frustrated Zac Robinson, allowing him to complete just nine passes in 21 attempts. Ohlahoma picked up just 109 yards of total offense and was shut out for the first time since Dec. 10, 2005. Despite the 7-5 record, this game should propel OU into a somewhat decent bowl.

Pitt needs solid quarterback play if it wants to beat Cincinnati
Bill Stull has been a pretty effective quarterback this year after throwing more interceptions than touchdowns last season. But Stull's game in the Panthers' 19-16 loss to West Virginia was by far his worst of the season. It was the first game this season where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, completed just 53 percent of his passes and averaged just six yards per pass. Cincinnati does give up yardage through the air, but they do have their share of ball hawks, nabbing 14 interceptions on the year. They also do a good job of getting to the quarterback, so Stull will have to make sure he stays composed and makes good decisions.

Max Hall is a pretty good quarterback
This isn't something that's new to anyone who truly pays attention to college football, but if you weren't paying attention before, perhaps you did after the BYU's 26-23 overtime win. Hall did not have a great game at all against the Utes, but came through with a clutch touchdown between two defenders in the middle of the field when it mattered most. Hall has flown under the radar all season, but his 30 touchdowns, including the game-winner against Utah, is good for fourth in the nation. He has 14 picks, which is taking him out of any rell consideration for any postseason awatds, but he's also in the top-10 in total yards, yards per game, completion percentage.

Notre Dame was the team just good enough to come close
A lot has been made about the fact that their six losses came by a combined 28 points. And while it's true that that meant they were that close to an undefeated season, a great team would have been able to turn a few of those into W's, or even better, not have been in a close game at all. Let's also not forget that Notre Dame is very lucky not to be 5-7, as Michigan State just missed an open receiver in the end zone and ended up throwing it away to Kyle McCarthy. The game against Stanford was eerily similar to the 2008 season, blowing a double-digit lead and losing the game in crushing fashion.

Week 12 Recap: Another Wild Week In The NFL

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

A couple of near upsets, and two games decided on the final play highlighted a wild week 12 in the NFL.

Colts 35 (11-0) Texans 27 (5-6)

Just when it looks like the Colts luck will run out, Peyton Manning rallies his team for another late comeback win. After Manning hit Dallas Clark with a 6 yard TD pass to put the Colts ahead in the 4th quarter, the defense put the game away, as Clint Session returned an int for a TD, helping the Colts remain perfect. It was another devastating loss for the Texans, who may now be all but out of the playoff picture. The win clinches a playoff spot for the Colts.

Titans 20 (5-6) Cardinals 17 (7-4)

It looks like the Vince Young era has finally arrived. On the final play of the game, Young hit Kenny Brit for a 10 yard TD, lifting the Titans to the win. The TD capped off a 99 yard drive in the final 2:37. The miracle win makes it five straight for the Titans, keeping Tennessee alive for a shot at the playoffs.

Falcons 20 (6-5) Buccaneers 17 (1-10)

Chris Redman, in for an injured Matt Ryan, may have saved the Falcons season. On 4th and goal at the Bucs five yard line, Redman hit Roddy White with the game winning TD, helping to avoid the upset, and keep the Falcons season alive.

Eagles 27 (7-4) Redskins 24 (3-8)

In another game that came down to the wire, the Eagles needed a David Akers field goal with just under 2 minutes left to avoid the upset. The Eagles trailed most of the day, before the offense came to life and scored 11 points in the final seven minutes.

Bills 31 (4-7) Dolphins 14 (5-6)

The Dolphins let a great opportunity to get in the wild card race slip away in Buffalo. Leading most of the day, the Dolphins saw the Bills erupt for 24 points in the 4th quarter, highlighted by a 51 yard TD catch by Terrell Owens. With the loss, the Dolphins are all but eliminated from the post season.

Bengals 16 (8-3) Browns 7 (1-10)

It wasn't pretty, but the Bengals did enough to get by the hapless Browns in Cincinnati. The story of this one was Larry Johnson. Just 2 weeks after signing with the Bengals, Johnson carried the ball 22 times for 107 yards to lead his team to the win.

Chargers 43 (8-3) Chiefs 14 (3-8)

So much for the Chiefs building off the win over the Steelers last week. The Chargers dominated on both sides of the ball, as Phillip Rivers threw for over 300 yards and a pair of scores, and the defense added four take aways in an easy win in San Diego.

Vikings 36 (10-1)Bears 10 (4-7)

Bret Favre continues to make his case for MVP, throwing for 392 yards and 3TDs in a blow win at the Metrodome. Jay Cutler threw 2 more picks for the Bears, giving him 20 on the season.

49ers 20 (5-6) Jaguars 3 (6-5)

This was just a solid win by a team that desperately needed it to keep its season alive. The 49er defense held Maurice Jones-Drew in check, and kept the 49ers slim playoff hopes alive in the process.

Jets 17 (5-6) Panthers 6 (4-7)

Darrelle Revis made sure that Rex Ryan would not cry on this day. Revis' 67 yard int return for TD set the tone, as the Jets picked off Jake Delhomme 4 times in the win.

Seahawks 27 (4-7) Rams 17 (1-10)

For the first time this season, the Seahawks won on the road. Justin Forsett carried the load for Seattle, rushing for 130 yards on 22 carries. Forsett also added a pair of TDs in the win.

Ravens 20 (6-5) Steelers 17 (6-5)

It took overtime, but the Ravens were finally able to force a mistake by Steelers 3rd string QB Dennis Dixon. Dixon's interception set up the game winning field goal in OT, giving the Ravens a big win a home. The defending champs have not lost three straight.

Week 12 Predictions: Pats Get It Done This Time

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Week 12 is all about the Patriots and Saints. Are there really any other games this week? Here are the picks for this week.

Patriots 31 Saints 27

We all know what happened the last time the Patriots took on an undefeated team, so there is no reason to relive the past. The Patriots will make the Colts game feel like a distant memory, as they will get the job done in New Orleans. The Patriots will control the clock - look for Wes Welker to come up big once again - and hand the Saints their first loss of the year.

Ravens 20 Steelers 14

No Big Ben means no win for the Steelers. With Roethlisberger likely out, and back up Charlie Batch banged up with a broken wrist, the Steelers turn to Dennis Dixon at QB. Dennis Dixon? Good luck. Make it three loses in a row for for Pittsburgh. Of course things could change if Roethlisberger decides to give it a go, but that does not seem likely.

Vikings 28 Bears 10

It is Jay Cutler who is throwing a ton of interceptions, not Brett Favre. Cutler will continue to struggle, and add to his league leading 18 interceptions.

Cardinals 34 Titans 23

After staring 0-6, who would have thought that the Titans would still be alive for a playoff spot at this point? That will all come to an end this week. With Kurt Warner expected to play, the Cardinals will keep their perfect record on the road alive, and knock the Titans out of any chance at the post season.

49ers 23 Jaguars 13

The Jags have been playing better the past few weeks, but things will change this time out. The cross country trip will hurt the Jags - they were killed by Seattle last time they were out on the west coast - and the 49ers will take advantage, getting a potential season saving win.

Chargers 40 Chiefs 13

Make it six wins in a row for San Diego. Last week the Chiefs stunned the Steelers. The Chargers will be ready, and dominate from the opening gun.

Texans 34 Colts 30

The Colts have been dodging bullets the last few weeks, getting victories in the final minutes. Expect their luck to finally run out. There will be no more perfect teams in the NFL after week 12.

Eagles 24 Redskins 7

The Redskins just cannot score. The Eagle can score, as they have plenty of weapons. The Eagles remain alive for the NFC East crown with an easy win at home against the Redskins.

Panthers 21 Jets 13

The Panthers may be banged up on defense, but Mark Sanchez will make them look healthy. Sanchez is coming off one of his worst games, and things do not figure to get better this week. Will Rex Ryan cry after this one? He is talking much anymore is he?

Rams 13 Seahawks 6

In a battle of two teams going nowhere, it all comes down to home field advantage. The Seahawks have been horrible on the road, and the Rams have played well at times at home, almost beating the Saints a few games back, and playing the Cardinals tough last Sunday. The Rams pick up just their second win of the year.

Bengals 34 Browns 3

There will be no let down by the Bengals this time. The Bengals blew it against the Raiders, fumbling away what should have been an easy win. It will not happen again.

Dolphins 27 Bills 6

Even with Ronnie Brown out for the year, the Dolphins will not miss a beat, thanks to the play of Ricky Williams. The Dolphins defense will also come up big, but most defenses have looked great against the Bills anyway.

Falcons 31 Buccaneers 17

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons get just what the doctor order - a cupcake of a game. Ryan will finally look like the QB will all expected to see, as he keeps the Falcons alive in the wild card race in the NFC.

Undefeated Saints are going down

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

This is what we've all been waiting for.

This is a football fan's dream week -- high school and NFL Thanksgiving football, college football yesterday and today and Sunday's NFL football.

And then the motherload: Patriots vs. Saints on Monday Night Football.

Yes, I'm ready for some football. And I bet you are, too.

Something's got to give when these two elite teams meet at the Superdome in New Orleans.

The Saints are 10-0 and the fancy off the league with a high-powered offense and a ball-hawking defense. The Patriots (7-3), well, they are that typical Patriots team of a great offense that is hard to stop and an opportunistic defense that makes the big plays they need to.

So this game should be a dandy.

As far as I'm concerned, it should rank right up there with the Colts game two weeks ago.

Let's hope the Patriots win this game, though.

What's there not to like about the Saints' offense? Led by Drew Brees, this team has the ability to put up points every time they touch the ball on offense. Brees is just like Tom Brady -- they both are accurate, smart and love to air it out.

Brees makes this offense go, and he utilizes every offensive weapon he has. And Brees has plenty of talented targets to throw to -- wide receiver Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, tight end Jeremy Shockey and running backs Reggie Bush (he missed last week's game with a knee injury so his status is unknown) and Pierre Thomas.

The Saints hit defenses with so many formations that it's hard to exactly predict what they're going to do. But make no mistake, the Saints are a pass-first team but have the ability to hit big plays with the run with Bush, Thomas and power back Mike Bell.

Just like the Patriots, it's pick your poison.

New England's secondary -- Leigh Bodden, Terrence Wheatley, Shawn Springs, Darius Butler, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders Pat Chung, Brandon McGowan (whoever sees the field basically) is going to be tested in this one, but they held up fairly well against the Colts' talented weapons until the final quarter.

New England coach Bill Belichick likes to take away the other team's biggest weapon, and I'm betting Colston will be targeted in this one. The Pats will have to play a lot of nickel and dime packages to protect against the pass, but still must get pressure on Brees. If they don't, Brees is going to sit in the pocket and pick apart the Pats.

Actually, that's exactly what the Saints' defense needs to do, too. They must put heat on Brady and when they do, they must also get good coverage on Brady's best checkdown target, Wes Welker.

But the Saints' secondary -- a unit hit hard by injuries -- led by safety Darren Sharper (7 INTs), will also be challenged to fend off Randy Moss, Welker and Co.

It's all about defense in this one. Which defense can make the most plays and get turnovers? Whoever does, that's who's going to win the game.

Chad's Take: We're going to see quite a few points in this one. In hostile territory -- the Superdome is perhaps the loudest place to play in the league -- the Pats should be able to move the ball with relative ease, but they must score TDs and not settle for field goals. Kicking field goals is the easiest way to lose a game vs. the Saints.

The Saints, having already showed signs of feeling the pressure of being undefeated, are primed to lose their first game of the year. New Orleans had problems with Tampa Bay last week in the first half but won going away, 38-7, and they couldn't stop Steven Jackson running the football vs. the Rams (28-23 win) two weeks ago.

While the Saints have the ability to score and score fast, they've also sputtered at times and Brees does tend to turn the pigskin over (he's got 9 INTs this year).

The fan in me wants to see a track meet with Brady and Brees marching up and down the field, but some sort of balance (pass and run) will be huge. What running game will find success? The Pats have shown to be a tad more patient with running the ball, so Laurence Maroney should find some lanes to operate. Plus, the Saints have struggled lately with stopping the run. If the Pats want to keep the Saints' offense off the field, they may elect to give the Saints' defense a heavy dose of Maroney, and then hit the end zone through the air.

The Saints know the Pats might be the only team left on their schedule that have a shot at the knocking them from the unbeaten, so you can bet they'll get a little tense if the Pats have a lead in the fourth quarter.

New England is the underdog and it likes it that way. Don't ever bet against Brady when the spotlight is on. He's going to put on a passing clinic, and Moss and Welker might each catch 10 balls and go over 125 yards.

This is going to be a great game, but the Superdome is going to be real quiet after this one.

Prediction: Patriots 38, Saints 34

Fantasy Football Friday: Thanksgiving Thursday Edition

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I have to say that Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. Do you know why? The two most important reasons why are: 1) No presents. You don't have to fight the mall and buy presents for anyone. 2) The wonderful gift of 3 NFL games! Yes, don't forget there is a 3rd game played on Thursday night!

Thanksgiving Day Match Ups:

1. Green Bay @ Detroit - There are some easy options for this game. Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver & Greg Jennings. I really like both tight ends in this game, as you'll read below. I also love Megatron and like Kevin Smith as well. The Packers defense is really banged up.

2. Oakland @ Dallas - With the exception of Zach Miller, who Gradkowski seems to love, there isn't a fantasy worthy Raider in my opinion. One would think this is a good opportunity for the Cowboys to get the offense back on track, but Oakland's defense is pretty decent. I like Marion Barber, but after that I'm not thrilled with the Cowboys passing prospects this week.

3. NY Giants @ Denver - This is a very intriguing game to me on Thursday night. Denver has been pretty awful the past month, and I don't really see how they can turns things around this week. Don't go near Kyle Orton, but Brandon Marshall is still a must start. I have never been a fan of Eli Manning, and he goes up against a pretty good pass defense.

Put em' in the lineup:

QB - Matt Hasselback, Ben Roethlisburger, Jake Delhomme

It's time for the most inconsistent fantasy quarterback to have a good game. Of course it helps the Seahawks are playing the Rams. Despite the Big Ben's concussion I look for him to play big in this heated division game. Jake the snake has been playing much better of late. I like him against the Jets as long as he goes away from Steve Smith and Darelle Revis.

RB - Steve Slaton, Justin Forsett, Jason Snelling, Rock Cartwright

If you play in a PPR league, than go ahead and start Slaton. He had 5 receptions on Monday night. Forsett is now the man in Seattle, and he takes on the Rams this weekend. I don't think Turner plays this weekend so that means another start for Snelling. Rock Cartwright gets his first start of his NFL career. He looked good in limited time last week, so use him if you really need a 2nd running back.

WR - Terrel Owens, Nate Burleson, Kevin Walter

Last week was not all that much of a fluke. Fitzpatrick will make sure he targets TO again this week. After a dismal game the week before, Nate Burelson had a very good receiving game this past week. I am a sucker for Kevin Walter. I also think the Texans will pass all over the Colts on their way to ending the Colts perfect season.

TE - Jermichael Finley, Brandon Pettigrew, Zach Miller

Finley is finally healthy again and quickly returned as one of Aaron Rodgers favorite targets. Look for much of the same on Thanksgiving against the Lions. Pettigrew, the impressive rookie, caught the game winning TD against the Browns. I am a big fan of his and think he'll just get better as the season goes on. Zach Miller was by far Bruce Gradkowski's favorite target last week, and he will be getting the start again at quarterback.

DEF - Cowboys, Bengals, Eagles

This one is easy. The Cowboys take on the Raiders, the Bengals play the Browns and The Eagles play the Redskins. Enough Said!

Make em' ride the bench:

QB - Kyle Orton, Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell

Man, what happened to Kyle Orton? I was so high on him before the season, and he made me look like a genius earlier this season. Let's just say you couldn't pay me to have Jay Cutler on my fantasy team anymore. It's not that I think Campbell is a terrible QB, but he's just not that good and he plays the Eagles.

RB - Michael Turner, Jamaal Charles, Brandon Jacobs

It looks like Turner will not play this week. I know he wants to, but really he needs to get healthy. The Chargers defense completely shut down the Broncos last week. I see much of the same this week for the Chiefs. I am severely disappointed in Brandon Jacobs. I will not play him myself until he shows me he can get more than 40 yards rushing in a game.

WR - Steve Smith (CAR), Lee Evans

Darelle Revis pretty much shut down Randy Moss again last weekend. The last time I checked, Steve Smith is no Randy Moss. With Fitzpatrick targeting Owens so much, it's only obvious Lee Evans takes a step back.

TE - John Carlson, Todd Heap, Kevin Boss

0 points? 0 points? John Carlson is the tight end bust of the season. Todd Heap takes on the Steelers defense. No thank you. I like Kevin Boss, but he's been so inconsistent this season. He had a very good week with 2 TD's in Week 11, so you can expect him not to do much this week.

DEF - Colts, Patriots, Saints, Bears

I really think the Colts are going to get scored on a ton and lose to the Texans. The Pats and Saints take each other on in what should be a Browns/Lions type of game. Did I really just say that? The Bears are the most frauds and take on the high flying Vikings. Enough of Adrian Peterson, can anyone stop Brett Favre?

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Enjoy a six-pack on Thanksgiving, undefeated football style

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Seeing as Thanksgiving is this week, I'm doing the college football thing a day early. This week features six teams still undefeated and all of which have a chance to remain that way. Let's take a look at all six games, ordered by BCS ranking. I know none of these teams are actually playing on Thanksgiving, but you get the point.

Florida vs. Florida State
We all know about Florida. How could you not with all the media that surrounds them? Florida State's struggles were well documented earlier in the season and Bobby Bowden was in the midst of a coach's nightmare with trustees calling for his job. But the Seminoles rebounded, winning their next two, giving them an outside shot of winning the ACC Atlantic division if they won out and Christian Ponder was garnering a little bit of Heisman attention. They lost to Clemson the following week with Ponder throwing four interceptions as he tried to play through an injury and sustained another one. Behind backup EJ Manuel, they have won their next two. But it hasn't been Florida State's offense that has been in need of help. The offense is 26th overall. The defense, however, is 95th in scoring defense and 104th in total defense. Say what you will about Tim Tebow and I'd probably agree with you if you were telling me he was overrated, but the offense as a unit is pretty spectacular, scoring 50 touchdowns in 11 games, good for 12th in the nation.
Prediction: Florida 38, Florida State 24

Alabama at Auburn
The Iron Bowl might be the most intriguing matchup this week, even though Alabama is clearly the better team. Auburn has a dynamic offense that has scored over 30 points in six of its 11 games. They are 6-0 in those games. But Auburn's weakness plays right into Alabama's strength. Mark Ingram faces the 89th ranked rushing defense this year and if the Tide's offense can keep the ball away from Auburn's balanced attack, they will win. If Auburn can come up with some turnovers they may have a shot. But the offense will have to flow through the passing game maybe more than they'd like. Ben Tate is one of the most underrated running backs in the country, but Alabama has one of the best run stopping defenses in the nation.
Prediction: Alabama 26, Auburn 13

Texas at Texas A&M
As much as ESPN wants to make this game a possible upset, especially since the Aggies beat Colt McCoy at home two years ago, but the teams just don't match up. Texas has dispatched much better teams than the Aggies. Nine of their 11 wins have come by more than three touchdowns, including Oklahoma State. A&M, with one of the worst pass defenses, is getting McCoy at exactly the wrong time. His play left something to be desired earlier in the season, but in Novemeber, he's thrown eight touchdowns and just one interception.
Prediction: Texas 45, Texas A&M 20

TCU vs. New Mexico
One of the best defenses in terms in stats and possibly the best in terms of ability takes on a pretty terrible offense this week. You can pretty much do the math. With all the attention the Horned Frogs' defense has gotten this season, it should be noted the team has put up 38 points or more in each of its last five games and seven of their 11 games overall. They don't have any standout players on offense, but Andy Dalton has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football. In fact, his passer rating is just .42 lower than Jimmy Clausen. He doesn't throw for many yards, but when the defense is giving you great field position, you don't really need to. His 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions speak for itself.
Prediction: TCU 56, New Mexico 9

Cincinnati vs. Illinois
This could be a tough one for the Bearcats. Illinois is 3-7, but has been playing some of its best football. While not a spectacular number, the Illini have averaged about a touchdown more per game offensively in November and have gone 2-1 in their last three games. The two wins came with Juice Williams under center and they scored 38 and 35 points in those games as he put up QB ratings of 196.66 and 255.04, respectively. With him injured against Northwestern, they scored 16. But Williams is expected to start this weekend. But Cincinnati is getting their quarterback back. Sure, Tony Pike did come back against West Virginia, completing two passes, both for touchdowns. But this is the first game he will start since the once Heisman candidate was injured. Not that Zach Collaros did badly.
Prediction: Cincinnati 33, Illinois 21

Boise State vs. Nevada
Not only has Boise State dominated Nevada in the past, but the Broncos have not lost on the blue turf since the MPC Computers Bowl (now the Humanitarian Bowl) in 2005. Still, Nevada has been resurgent since starting the year 0-3, including getting shut out by a Notre Dame unit that has proven to be a pretty awful unit. This is the only game this week with any championship implications, as the Nevada sits at 7-0 in the league, while Boise sitas at 6-0 in the WAC. Should Nevada win, they will win the league, but the WAC would lose any BCS clout. If this game ends up being a close loss for the Wolfpack, it could be extremely scrutinized. But that probably won't happen.
Predition: Boise State 45, Nevada 27

Giving Thanks for High School Football

By Rick Eggleston
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Two days from now the annual tradition that is Thanksgiving Day high school football in New England kicks off in all of its glory. Yes, there’s just something inherently special and enchanting about playing high school football games on Thanksgiving that to this day remains almost exclusively a regional phenomenon.

Sure, you’ve got the NFL’s Lions and Cowboys facing their respective foes every Turkey Day, but that’s the pros. The schoolboy gridiron is what truly embodies what it is to play on Thanksgiving, the ultimate family holiday when generations gather around the same table to give thanks, eat and reminisce.

But before they dive into the butterball it’s all about the football. Fathers, sons, brothers, grandfathers and uncles are taken back to their Thanksgiving Day game when they faced their school’s rival for the final time. Moms, grandmas, daughters and aunts, too, are reminded of their days cheering or playing in the band for arguably the biggest game of the year.

Of course, Thanksgiving is when the biggest game of the season always takes place, as oftentimes it pits two rival schools against one another for the umpteenth time. Fitchburg–Leominster, Barnstable–Falmouth, Boston English–Boston Latin to name a few, are some of the oldest Turkey Day rivalries in the country.

What makes Thanksgiving Day high school football unique is the fact each individual team’s record means nothing heading in. One team could be unbeaten and the other winless, and both will claw, scrap and fight on every down as if it’s their last. And for many of the seniors who buckle their chinstrap on Thanksgiving morning at 10 o’clock sharp, it will be their final game.

Fortunately, they’ll have next Thanksgiving to look forward to, and a story to tell of the greatest game they ever played.

Fantasy Football Friday

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hello all you fantasy football players out there. I wanted to reach out and let everyone know that the weekly fantasy article will be posted on Thanksgiving morning instead of the usual Friday morning. With three games on Thursday, I have to dispense all of my spot on fantasy knowledge to the legions of fans who can't possibly set his/her lineups until they read the brilliant words that have been spit from my keyboard. Just kidding!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

What we learned this week in college football: Week 12

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Apologies for the brief lapse in college football coverage by yours truly, but never fear. I have returned.

The Weis era is unofficially over.
In reality, it was over after they lost to Navy twice at Notre Dame Stadium. After that, the snowball got rolling. Weis did a very nice job as far as recruiting is concerned, at least on the offensive side of the ball. Jimmy Clausen said he wouldn't be in South Bend if not for Notre Dame. Stud receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd as well as standout tight end Kyle Rudolph are all his. While we haven't see much of him, Dayne Crist was the top QB recruit a couple of years ago and is now the heir apparent to Clausen. Linebacker Mani Te'o has already developed into a marquee defensive talent. The class coming in next year, assuming they hold to their commitments, is 11th in the nation. But when it came to coaching, Weis came up short. This season, which is sure to be his last, the Irish were tabbed as having a vaunted offense. What the media should say is they have a vaunted passing game and that alone is easy to figure out. Ever since Darius Walker left, the Irish have struggled to have a running game, thanks to a combination of ineffective backs and a poor offensive line. So by the second half of the season, teams had figured out how to beat the vanilla Notre Dame offense. Boston College actually wrote the blueprints on how to contain the Irish, employing a cover-two or Tampa Two defense, which took away the big play downfield and forced the Irish to make short passes and try to beat them with the run. The result is a ton of yardage and a high completion percentage for Clausen, but a lack of explosiveness that keyed the offense earlier in the season. Since the Boston College game, every team Notre Dame has faced has run some variation of that offense and as a result, the Irish have not scored more than 22 points in regulation. They have lost all three of those games and a huge reason for that is the lack of any defense whatsoever. Jon Tenuta was supposed to come in and shore up the unit, but it's become clear that it's not the scheme, but Weis' inability to recruit enough defensive playmakers. There are several good athletes on that defensive unit, but other than Te'o and perhaps Kyle McCarthy, whose 5 interceptions are 11th nationally, the team lacks real difference makers. Weis will lose to Stanford, then go to a mediocre bowl, then will probably find a job as an NFL offensive coordinator, which is where he belongs. All this said, the team's decision to walk out with arms linked with Charlie Weis speaks to how much he's meant to the Irish players. But sentimentality does not overshadow the fact that this team has now underachieved for two straight seasons. At least they finally beat Boston College (Note the sarcasm).

Some things don't change.
Let's face it, this week was kind of a yawner when it came to the top teams and the week upcoming week looks to be no different. This week saw no change among the top 7 BCS teams and none really look to stand a chance of dropping or gaining in the coming week. The only team with somewhat of a challenge is Boise State, going up against red-hot Nevada. After starting the season 0-3 against Notre Dame, Colorado State and Missouri, the Wolfpack have rattled off eight straight wins, the last seven all being league games. Nevada has a vaunted running attack, averaging 373.2 yards per game, but that plays right into Boise State's hands. The Broncos have a top-30 run defense. Should Nevada win, it would be a huge blow to the WAC, who assuredly would lose any BCS legitimacy.

The Pac-10 championship is still in doubt.
The Ducks stayed on top with a 44-41 thriller over former Pac-10 darling Arizona, but don't look now. Here comes another darkhorse. Oregon State is playing its best football at this point, winning four straight. Granted, those teams are a combined 18-25. Still, the final game of the regular season is a huge one for the state of Oregon and either way, one team from that state will walk away with it. If Oregon wins, obviously, they walk away with the prize with an 8-1 Pac-10 record. If Oregon State wins, both teams will sit at 7-2, but with the Beavers holding the tiebreaker, they will win.

Week 11 Recap: Pats Back on Track

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Pats got back on track, and a couple of underdogs pulled off upsets to headline week 11 in the NFL.

Patriots 31 (7-3) Jets 14 (4-6)

The Patriots were expected to dominate, and for the most part they did. The defense bounced back nicely, picking off Mark Sanchez four times. The win gets the Patriots back in position to have a shot at a number 2 seed in the AFC.

Chiefs 27 (3-7) Steelers 24 (6-4)

Who saw this one coming? Chris Chambers 61 yard reception in overtime set up the game winning field goal, as the Chief stunned the defending champs at Arrowhead. Special teams continue to haunt the Steelers, as they gave up yet another kick return for a TD.

Raiders 20 (3-7) Bengals 17 (7-3)

The Chiefs were not the only team to pull off a big upset on Sunday. Andre Caldwell's fumble on a kick return, set up a Sebastian Janikowski 33 yard game winning field goal, as the Raiders shocked the Bengals in Oakland. The Bengals scored 10 points in the final 33 seconds to get the win. Turnovers haunted Cincinnati , as the Bengals turned the ball over 3 times, including once inside the Raiders 15 yard line.

Giants 34 (6-4) Falcons 31 (5-5)

The Giants needed overtime, but they were finally able to end their four game losing streak with a win over the Falcons. Matt Ryan rallied the Falcons from a 14 point hole in the 4th quarter, but Eli Manning took over in overtime, and led a drive to set up the game winning field goal by Lawrence Tynes from 39 yards out. The win keeps the Giants playoff hopes alive.

Colts 17 (10-0) Ravens 15 (5-5)

For the fourth straight week, the Colts dodged a bullet, this time against Baltimore, and remained perfect on the season. Peyton Manning looked human, throwing a pair of interceptions, but the story of this game was the Indy defense. Indy kept the Ravens out of the end zone, and picked off Joe Flacco at the Indy 13 yard line with just over 2 minutes left, sealing the win.

Lions 38 (2-8) Browns 37 (1-9)

What looked like on of the worst games of the season on paper, actually turned out to be one of the more entertaining games of the year. A pass interference call in the end zone gave the Lions one more play with no time on the clock. Matthew Stafford took advantage of the free play, hitting Brandon Pettigrew for the game winning touchdown. Stafford had a huge day, throwing for over 400 yards and 5 TDs. Brady Quinn also had a nice game for the Browns, throwing for 300 yards and 4 TDs in the loss.

Cowboys 7 (7-3) Redskins 6 (3-7)

So much for the Redskins offense showing signs of life. The Redskins were dreadful on offense, struggling to move the ball all game. The Cowboys were not much better on offense, but Tony Romo's 4th quarter TD pass to Patrick Crayton was all the offense Dallas needed. Romo and the Cowboys were booed by their home fans most of the game before pulling out the win.

Packers 30 (6-4) 49ers 24 (4-6)

The Packers held off a late comeback attempt by the 49ers, remaining in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers had a big day, throwing for 344 yards and 2TDs in the win.

Vikings 35 (9-1) Seahawks 9 (3-7)

Brett Favre continues to deny father time. Favre is still playing like a young man, as he threw for 4 TDs at home in an easy win against the Seahawks.

Saints 39 (10-0) Buccaneers 7 (1-9)

The Saints were never really challenged in this one. Drew Brees threw for 3 TDs, and the Saints defense made life miserable for rookie QB Josh Freeman. Freeman struggled mightily, throwing 3 picks and fumbling once.

Jaguars 18 (6-4) Bills 15 (3-7)

TO finally had a big game, catching 9 passes for 197 yards and a score, but it was still not enough to get by the Jags. David Garrard hit Mike-Sims Walker with the go ahead TD with less than one minute to play, preventing the Bills from pulling off the upset in Jacksonville.

Cardinals 21 (7-3) Rams 13 (1-9)

Kurt Warner helped build a 21-3 lead before leaving with a concussion, and the Cardinals held on for the road win in St. Louis. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined for 16 catches and almost 200 yards in the win.

Chargers 32 (7-3) Broncos 3 (6-4)

The Broncos look like they may be done. The Chargers made it five wins in a row, blowing out the hapless Broncos. Josh McDaniels benched Chris Simms in the 1st quarter and turned to injured QB Kyle Orten, but it didn't matter. The Chargers dominated and took control of the AFC West.

Eagles 24 (6-4) Bears 20 (4-6)

The Eagles remain alive, and the Bears' season is all but over. LeSean McCoy's 10 yard TD run put the Eagles ahead in the 4th quarter, and then the defense picked off Jay Cutler with under a minute to play, sealing the victory.

Monday Night Football: Rare Big Game for Texans

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 2002, the terms "big game" and "Houston Texans" have rarely gone together. Times are changing however, as the Texans head into Monday night's game against the Tennessee Titans. This is arguably the biggest game in the franchise's short existence.

At 5-4, the Texans are in position to compete for a wild card playoff spot. This is the latest in a season that the Texans have been over 500 in team history. A win over the Titans would go a long way in proving that the Houston is for real.

A trendy pick to make the playoffs before the season began, Houston struggled early in the year, but has come on strong winning 3 of 4 heading into Monday night. The quick reaction is to give credit to the offense for the team's recent success. With players like Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, you have to give the offense their due respect, but the defense has also been impressive.

Prior to their bye week last Sunday, the Texans came close to upsetting Colts in Indy. The defense limited the Colts to 20 points, and if not for a missed 42 yard field goal by Kris Brown as time expired, the game would have gone to overtime. With a recent injury that has sidelined tight end Owen Daniels for the year, and with Steve Slaton's turnover issues, the defense may have to continue its strong play if the Texans hope to make the postseason.

Things will not get much easier for the Texans this week, as they get to face arguably the best running back in the NFL in Chris Johnson. After staring the season 0-6, the Titans have caught fire, and have now won three straight. The team may be undefeated since Vince Young took over for an ineffective Kerry Collins, but the real reason for the turnaround is Johnson. During the last 3 weeks, Johnson has rushed for almost 500 yards, and added over a 100 receiving yards during that span. If not for the Titans poor overall record, you could argue that Johnson has been the league MVP.

There is no doubt that if Houston is going to win, it all comes down to stopping Johnson. If they do not, then it may be the same old Texans we have seen the past few years - a team loaded with potential, but always seems to fall short of a winning season. It is time for Houston to start living up to its preseason hype.

Look for the Texans to limit Chris Johnson and get the win behind their defense. This is almost like a playoff game for Houston. Win a few more wins, the Texans may be able to take part in a playoff game for real.

Prediction: Texans 28 Titans 24

Week 11 Predictions: TIme for Patriots to Move On

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Patriots and Colts last week was like one of those games on John Madden Football where you would have hit the reset button on your PS3, started over, and acted like the first game never happened. It is time to erase the debacle that was last week and move on. It never happened. It was all just a bad dream. I feel better already.

Here are this weeks picks.

Patriots 28 Jets 13

The Patriots are a much better team than the one the Jets saw back in week 2. The Jets are not the same team either. After looking great the first 3 games, the Jets have come crashing back down to earth. Rex Ryan will be crying again this week.

Giants 23 Falcons 17

This is huge game for both teams. The winner will stay alive in the NFC playoff race, and the loser could be done. The Giants are coming off a bye, and the Falcons are without Michael Turner. It all adds up to another tough day for Matt Ryan.

Chargers 34 Broncos 17

What a difference a month makes. After starting 6-0, the Broncos are really struggling. The Chargers started slow, but are now playing their best ball of the year. Add in the fact that the Broncos may have Chris Simms under center, and things could go from bad to worse for Josh McDaniels. Make it four straight losses for Denver.

Redskins 27 Cowboys 20

This has been the time of year that the Cowboys start to struggle. Last week they put up a stinker against Green Bay. This time they will be getting booed at home. The Redskins looked good with Ladell Betts carrying the load against the Broncos a week ago. The past 2 games Washington has shown signs of life. It will continue this week as the Redskins pull off another upset.

Lions 10 Browns 6

I thought that last Sunday's game between Oakland and KC was the worst match up of the year. I was wrong. This game is worse. The Lions will get the job done at home.

Packers 16 49ers 14

The 49ers defense looked great against the Bears, and were solid against the Colts a few games back. The problem is on offense. Frank Gore cannot do it alone. The Pack will keep Aaron Rodgers from getting sacked just enough for him to get Green Bay the win.

Steelers 35 Chiefs 10

The Steelers potent offense was kept out of the end zone against the Bengals last game. They will have no such problems against the Chiefs. Steelers dominate from start to finish.

Vikings 31 Seahawks 16

The Seahawks have struggled on the road, and the Vikings are playing as well as anybody right now. Vikings get an easy win.

Saints 33 Buccaneers 21

The Rams nearly pulled off a big upset against the Saints last game. The Saints learned their lesson. They will eliminate the mistakes and turnovers that almost cost them the game against the Rams. The Bucs have looked better since Josh Freeman took over the starting QB spot, but the Saints will do enough to stay unbeaten.

Colts 27 Ravens 7

Speaking of unbeaten teams, the Colts will continue to roll in Baltimore. Peyton Manning will not need any last minute heroics this time around, as he keeps Indy perfect.

Jaguars 21 Bills 7

The Bills have a new coach, but they will have the same results. The Jags have been playing much better the last 3 weeks, and will find themselves in the middle of the race for a wild card spot after beating Buffalo.

Cardinal 38 Rams 13

Kurt Warner will come back to haunt his old team. Cardinals remain undefeated on the road this season, and in firm control of the NFC West.

Bengal 20 Raiders 3

Cedric Benson may be out, but it will not matter. The Raiders cannot stop the run no matter who they are playing. Bernard Scott will do fine filling in for the injured Benson.

Eagles 24 Bears 14

With Brian Westbrook likely done for the year, look for the Eagles to air it out. Jay Cutler continues to struggle for the Bears, and look for him to throw at least 2 picks this time out. Eagles get back in position to win the NFC East.

Texans 28 Titans 24

The Texans have a chance to creep closer to a playoff spot for the first time in team history. If they are going to get the win, they have to do something no other team has been able to do - stop Chris Johnson. This is one of the bigger games in Houston Texans history. Expect them to step and get the win.

A must-win for the Patriots

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's been a long week in New England.

The pain of losing to the Colts last week hasn't completely worn off, but it's no doubt time to turn the page because the hated New York Jets and bigmouth head coach Rex Ryan are coming to Foxboro and are looking to start another street fight.

Yes, you can say this is a must-win for the Patriots. I know they're 6-3 and lead the AFC East, but they desperately need a win to get that bad taste out of their mouth from last week and to shut up the Jets and get their swagger back.

The last time the Pats and Jets met was in Week 2. Both teams have gotten better, just like everyone else, but the Pats have been a lot more consistent considering the Jets enter with a sub-.500 record at 4-5.

In the first meeting, the Jets won, 16-9, in a frustrating game for the Pats and quarterback Tom Brady. It's was only Brady's second game back from his knee injury and looking back on his play now, boy was he rusty.

Brady was 23 of 47 for 216 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT and was harassed all day long by the Jets' blitzing defense. But remember one thing, the Pats were without WR Wes Welker and the Jets were able to neutralize Randy Moss with star cornerback Darrelle Revis and safety help over the top.

If the Jets want to double Moss (4 catches for 24 yards) again -- and don't buy the lip service from Revis that he locked Moss down one-on-one the entire game because it's simply not true -- they will pay dearly.

With Moss and Welker on the same field, it's pick your poison for the Jets. Obviously they're going to pay extra attention to Moss, so if that's the case expect Welker to play a big role considering the Jets will blitz Brady again and the QB will have to look to get rid of the ball quick (and his favorite target when teams blitz are either short to Welker or fade routes to Moss deep).

But the Pats must show they can run the ball with Laurence Maroney (does everyone love bashing him or what?) and Kevin Faulk, who looked good last week vs. the Colts.

That brings us to the other side of the ball -- the defense. I know they felt like coach Bill Belichick didn't have confidence in them last week when he left the offense on the field and went for it on fourth-and-2 in their own territory late, so here's their shot to gain confidence back by being able to shut down the Jets.

New York's offense all starts with the running game, led by tough tailback Thomas Jones. While the Pats did a great job in holding him down in the first meeting (Jones had only 54 yards on 14 carries), Leon Washington had 58 yards but he is now on injured reserve.

So it's important to shut the running game right down and make rookie QB Mark Sanchez beat them. Sanchez, who scuffled in the first half vs. the Pats in Week 2, did exactly that the last time by throwing for 163 yards on 14-of-22 passing with a third-quarter TD pass to Dustin Keller. The most important stat for the rookie was zero interceptions.

The Pats must confuse Sanchez with several different coverage looks. There's no reason they shouldn't be able to, considering they had Peyton Manning shaking his head in the first half last week.

But it's not going to matter one bit unless they can get some kind of pressure on Sanchez. If he's allowed to sit back and survey the field, his receivers will get open and the rookie out of Southern California will find his targets.

Chad's Take: I can't believe many of these football gurus think this is going to be a blowout with the Pats winning. These division rivals know each other inside and out, and I think it's going to be a pretty close game. I think the Jets will find some running room with Jones exploiting the middle and that will allow Sanchez to set up play-action with some effectiveness. But I also think the Pats will have a few defensive wrinkles that the rookie hasn't seen, and the defense is a major reason why they come out on top.

I think the Patriots' offense will struggle at times because they really can't run the football with any type of consistency, not to mention they don't stick with it long enough to really be effective. So it again falls on the passing game to put together lengthy drives because the Jets will not allow the Pats to strike fast with Moss outrunning the secondary. The Pats will have to take what the Jets give and that's going to be short to intermediate passes because of the Jets' constant pressure schemes.

But in the end, Brady and Co. will do just enough to pull out a closer-than-expected victory.

Prediction: 23-20

Fantasy Football Friday: Week 11

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Yes, it's finally here. What's that you say? We are finally into the part of the NFL schedule where there are no more bye weeks. It must feel nice to have your full compliment of players. If you're a Patriots fan, it's also time to forget about last week and move on, just as we move on to the breakdown for this week.

Week 11 Best Match Ups:

1. Steelers @ Chiefs - Guys to play: Big Ben, Mendenhall, Mike Wallace, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Steelers Defense, Chris Chambers

2. Saints @ Buccaneers - Guys to play: Brees, Bush, Thomas, Colston (finally come back this week), Shockey.

3. Cardinals @ Rams - Guys to play: Warner, Hightower, Boldin, Fitzgerald, Cardinals defense, Steven Jackson.

Put em' in the Lineup:

QB - Ben Roethlisburger, Brett Favre, Eli Manning

Big Ben will have a bounce back game against The Chiefs this weekend. Watch out for another 300+ yard game against the struggling secondary of the Seahawks. I really think the Giants rebound against a suspect Falcons D.

RB - Brandon Jacobs, Jason Snelling, Ladell Betts

This is a good match up for all the Giants, especially Jacobs. Despite Norwood getting the start, Snelling will get the bulk of carries. Every time I think Betts will not produce, he does. Therefore I would start him

WR - Chris Chambers, Roy Williams, Kevin Walter

Chambers is now the #1 wideout for the Chiefs. He's also the only fantasy worthy player for them this week. Look for another good game as Roy Williams has finally got things going. This is a make it or break it week for me with Kevin Walter. He will get 5 grabs in my opinion and isn't a bad start for #3.

TE - Dustin Keller, Brandon Pettigrew

Dustin Keller kills the Patriots, and I like Pettigrew against Browns.

DEF - Patriots, Lions, Jaguars

I am a firm believer the Pats defense has something to prove. They will show everyone the type of defense they can be this weekend. The Lions are playing the Browns. The Browns are the worst offensive team in the NFL. The Jags take on the Bills in the first week of an interim manager.

Make em' Ride the Bench:

QB - Kyle Orton, Matt Casell, Jay Cutler

Kyle Orton will not even play this weekend, so I wanted to make sure you realized it. I hate the match up for Cassel. I hate Jay Cutler.

RB - Justin Forsett, Jaamal Charles, Larry Johnson

While I think Forsett will be a good back, I don't like him against the Vikings. Wait until next week to start him. Same situation for Charles against the Steelers. Is LJ even playing this weekend? Even if he does, don't go near him yet.

WR - Lee Evans, Malcolm Floyd, Johnny Knox

Evans will not match the output from last week, he's just too inconsistent. Is Floyd the #2? It looks to me like my man Legedu is. After scoring 4 TD's in the first four weeks, Knox has done nothing.

TE - Sean Ryan, Fred Davis, Zach Miller

Ryan is a Chief. Plain and simple. Until Davis can show me some consistency I will find someone else to play. Despite the QB play probably getting better this week, I don't like him.

DEF - Jets, Bears, Broncos

The Pats are coming. The Pats are coming. In case you haven't noticed, the Bears defense is highly overrated. Can anyone stop the Chargers right now?

Bruins about to get their Savy back

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Fans saw the best sight they had seen in a while this week when they saw reports from Bruins practice of Marc Savard on skates.

Now, they have another reason to have hope.

Marc Savard got on the plane headed for Atlanta as the Bruins head on the road for two big road games against the Thrashers and Sabers.

Savard has not actually practiced with the team, so it's not likely he'll play in either of these games, but the fact that he's making the trip, presumably to skate with the team and get caught up, is a more than encouraging sign.

Savard is one of the most underrated playmakers in the National Hockey League and was the team leader in assists, points and power play points. The Bruins have been absolutely punchless since the injuries to Savard and fellow top liner Milan Lucic. In the month of November thus far, the Bruins have a 2-6 record, posting a paltry 1.75 goals per game average. They were shut out for back-to-back games and three times this month.

Probably the worst part of the Bruins' game has been the power play. They rank dead last in the league in goals on the man advantage, despite being in the top 5 in the league in shots taken on the power play. At no time was did the unit look more disfunctional than when it failed to convert a 5-on-3 advantage that they held for almost a full two minutes against the Islanders on Monday.

Savard has been the quarterback of that unit and his uncanny abilities on the man advantage helped lead the Bruins to the fourth-best power play in the league, which makes the struggles this year look that much worse.

To have the biggest catalyst the team has return later this month will be a huge boost. But it's not all roses for the Bruins. Lucic was actually expected to return from his finger injury and play either Thursday or Friday, but he didn't even make the trip.

The loss of Lucic put a major hurting on the Bruins' style of hockey, which is to put a hurting on it's opponents. His return is also vital to the success of the Bruins, but not to the same extent that Savard's is. He's skating, he's traveling, he's probably going to practice. So when exactly can we expect to see Savard playing savior? Hopefully soon.

Time to lower standards? No way

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's been said many times over the past few years.

"Notre Dame should lower its expectations."

It's a notion that has gained steam and has reached its pinnacle given the recent struggles of the Irish. We could go through all of the trials and tribulations over the last couple of decades, but they have been pretty well documented. In a nutshell, Notre Dame is 91-66 since Lou Holtz retired. The Irish had lost nine-straight bowl games before winning the Hawaii Bowl after last year's 6-6 regular-season finish. 2007 was the worst year in Notre Dame football history. Etc, etc, etc.

Now another chapter in the story of Notre Dame football appears to be very close to the end. Going into the 2009 season, a veteran team with a vaunted offense and a reasonable schedule was expected by many Irish fans and outsiders alike to be a major part of the BCS conversation. In fact, the general consensus was that nothing short of a BCS berth would save Charlie Weis' job. And even after a heart-wrenching loss to USC, Notre Dame still looked pretty good in that regard. But after getting out-played in back-to-back weeks by Navy and Pittsburgh, it looks as if the ride only has three more stops before Weis gets off.l

After a third-straight disappointing season, the echoes that once seemed to have been awoken have been drowned out by that chant once again: "Notre Dame should lower its standards."

The basic premise of the argument is that the landscape of college football and the sociology of America itself has changed in such a way that Notre Dame can never regain the prominence and dominance it once had over the sport and that based on this, the university and its fans should not expect so much out of its program.

The argument used to be that Notre Dame should lower its academic standards in order to attract a larger number of top-notch prospects. Now the argument has turned to Notre Dame should just give up on being a premier program.

There's only one way to describe this line of thinking, whether you are a fan or the biggest Notre Dame hater on the planet. That kind of talk is excrement from a bovine that happens to be male. Forget politics, forget sociology, forget the landscape of modern college football. Any program, regardless of size, success (both recent and historical), or affluence is striving towards the same goal - excellence. If you are in charge of a sports team and you are not, you don't deserve to keep your job.

You can hate the attention that the Fighting Irish get from the press. You can hate their exclusive contract with NBC. You can hate Lou Holtz and his senile, lisp-ridden ramblings. You can hate the (false) perception that Notre Dame gets preferential treatment by the BCS. You can hate the fact that they remain an independent. Don't hate Notre Dame for continuing to want to be the best and don't blame them for continuing to try. That's the business they are in.

Billy No Goat

By Rick Eggleston
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It seems the only thing that can redeem Bill Belichick for Sunday night’s supposed gaffe is a fourth Super Bowl title three months from now in Miami.

Get another shot at the Colts in the AFC Championship game in Indy and win, and temporary amnesia will set in. Go on to win the Big Game two weeks later, and all will be forgotten and forgiven — Sunday’s heartbreaking, mind-numbing, earth-shattering fourth-and-2 decision and impending defeat never happened.

Win it all in February, and Belichick, the Patriots and their faction of fickle fans will finally be able to get a decent night’s sleep. Until then, the tossing, turning and living nightmare that is Peyton Manning and Colts getting the last laugh despite trailing by 13 points with a measly 4:12 left to play continues.

All this, due to one man’s decision to go for it on fourth down deep in his team’s end. Fortunately, it was a regular-season contest. Belichick and the Pats indeed live to play another day, 4:15 p.m. this Sunday in Foxboro against the struggling Jets to be exact.

And it’s a good thing, too. Imagine the hand wringing, grab-the-pitchforks and fire him mentality that would’ve ensued had Belichick’s gutsy decision ended the team’s season? It very well could’ve spelled the end of his coaching career in New England.

Fortunately, that is not and will not be the case, unless of course, the same thing happens again and costs the Pats another game. Chances are pretty good it won’t, but then I wouldn’t put anything past the Great One. After all, he shocked much of the NFL world with Sunday’s decision to go for it.

But not me.

If Kevin Faulk converts the first down — I think the ref blew the call and Faulk made it: (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8143b069/Colts-4th-down-stop) — the Pats win and Belichick maintains his genius status. Instead, the unthinkable happens and Belichick is crucified.

I liked the decision. In fact, I turned to the person with whom I was watching the game and said they should go for it. “Not way,” he said. “Yes,” I said, “they’ll get it.”

So what if they punted it instead? Manning and company would’ve promptly marched downfield and scored anyway. Either way, it was in the cards for the Colts to win the game. Either way, Belichick would’ve been roundly criticized. A punt followed by 60-, 70- or 80-yard strike by the Colts would’ve had the same nitwits calling for Belichick’s committal today, saying he should’ve went for it.

You can’t have it both ways, people. Nobody understands that better than Belichick. You know, the guy with three Super Bowl rings this decade to your zero.

Matty Ice or Matty Light?

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's time for people to realize that Matt Ryan is not a superstar quarterback. He never has been.

With the Falcons' 28-19 loss at the hands of the Panthers, Atlanta dropped to 5-4 after going 11-5 and making the playoffs a year ago. Matt Ryan was credited with turning the program around, even though he ranked 16th in the league in touchdowns behind Chad Pennington, Tyler Thigpen and Kyle Orton, 13th in yards behind big names like David Garrard and 17th in completion percentage while the passing offense was a mediocre 14th in the league. But I suppose when Joey Harrington, Chris Redman and Byron Leftwich were your quarterbacks the year before, Matt Ryan would look like a savior.

This season, Ryan has taken a step back from mediocrity. Ryan is completing less than 60 percent of his passes (59.8 percent, good for 20th in the league), for 2,008 yards (good for 17th), Ryan is tied for 10th in touchdown passes, but has already thrown more interceptions in nine games this year than he did in 16 games last season. Ryan has thrown at least one interception in his last six games, has thrown multiple interceptions in four of those games. In those multi-INT games, he's thrown as many or more INT's than TD's.

Ryan has not done anything to deserve superstar status in the NFL and really did little to deserve as much credit as he did in college. In his college career, Ryan had 56 touchdowns, but 37 interceptions. In his senior season, he did throw 31 touchdowns, good for 10th in the nation and tops all-time for a BC quarterback (but come on, Doug Flutie was No. 1 before him. Not saying a lot), but he tossed 17 interceptions, which was the second most by a college quarterback that year. His passer rating was 61st in the nation. The fact that he never should have been considered for the Heisman never became more clear than when he choked in back-to-back weeks against Florida State and Maryland, then was further confirmed in the ACC championship against a team he had already beaten, throwing two picks, one that killed a potential scoring drive and the other a pick-six, and no touchdowns.

Now he's taken his mediocre show to the professional ranks.

It's time for the media to get off Matt Ryan's junk until he actually does something to deserve it.

If you don't trust Bill Belichick now, then go cheer for another team

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Well, well, well.

It looks like all the know-it-alls are coming out of the woodwork today to blast Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who decided to go for the win last night on fourth-and-2 from the Pats' own 28-yard-line late in the fourth quarter.

Sorry, he's not conservative, so the Pats went for it and they got burned (well, say what you want, but Kevin Faulk bobbled the catch but appeared to still have enough for the first down before the refs spotted the ball where he fell and landed which was obviously a very poor spot).

But now all the haters are coming out and blasting Belichick for going for it, including some Fan Fanatic Sports staff.

I can see fans getting upset for now beating the Colts -- remember they had a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and you should never blow that big of a lead -- but to only focus on one play is downright wrong.

The Pats went for the win, is that a bad thing?

As far as I'm concerned, they had the play they wanted and went for it. Actually, the DID get the first and you can debate that all you want.

The conservative crew inside Patriots Nation wanted to see a punt. They think a tired and worn down defense would have stopped the Colts and Peyton Manning? No way. As much as you want to hang your hat on that, you know deep down it wasn't going to happen. They couldn't stop the Colts from scoring the go-ahead TD when the Pats turned the ball over, so why do you think they would have done it from say 50-70 yards out with about 2 minutes left?

What really burns me is that if the Pats did make the first down to seal the win, everyone would have loved the call to seal the win. They would have cited how gusty Belichick was for going for it and that the Pats' defense wouldn't have stopped them if they punted the ball back, but it's real easy to second-guess a coach when the result has already happened.

I loved the call, personally. They went for the win and there's nothing wrong with that. I'd rather that than being conservative and punting the ball away because I know the Colts would have easily marched down the field and scored.

Look at it this way: Belichick showed confidence in his offense to pick up the first down and his defense to stop the Colts if the offense didn't make the first down. Unfortunately neither group executed with the game on the line. And when you don't execute in the NFL, you don't win.

Don't pin this loss on Belichick, there's plenty of blame to go around.

But the Pats win and lose as a team. You'll never read me blasting Uncle Bill for being aggressive and trying to win.

There's no doubt I still Trust in Bill. If you don't, then trade in your Patriots gear for another team. We don't want you cheering for Pats. Find a conservative-coached team and start rooting for them. How about Cleveland? You can question everything Eric Mangini does!

In Bill We Trust? Not Anymore

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Last night marked a water shed event for me as a Patriots and Bill Belichick fan. Belichick's decision to go for it on 4th and 2 on their own 28 yard line was the WORST coaching decision I have ever seen. There isn't an argument you can make to convince me they should have gone for it. Punt the ball. That's what you need to do. Punt the ball! I don't care if the defense was gassed last night. I would feel much better giving Peyton Manning the ball with 65+ yards to go for a touchdown than 30. Belichick also should have instructed his defense to let Joseph Addai score when they got down to the 1 yard line. If they did, the Pats would have had another thirty seconds on the clock to get into position for a field goal.

Ever since the Pats won their first Super Bowl I've been a devoted follower in the philosophy of "In Bill We Trust". I accepted when he released Lawyer Milloy just prior to the first game of the season. I accepted trading Deion Branch to the Seahawks and going with the likes of Reche Caldwell and Doug Gabriel in 2006. No more. They should have resigned Asante Samuel prior to last year and not allow their defense to be so terrible in 2008. They should do the right thing and pay Vince Wilfork now so he won't cost more when he hits free agency.

BB is not infallible, and it's time that Patriots fans realize it. I listen to sports talk radio on the ride into work every morning. It disgusts me how ridiculous some of the excuses Pats fans are using to justify Belichick's decision. Kevin Faulk didn't have the yardage for the first down. He bobbled the ball and was pushed back. Wake up people. Bill Belichick made a critical mistake with the game on the line. He didn't make that decision to go for the win. He made that decision not to lose the game. Of course, that wasn't the only mistake that lead to the loss last night. I'll let someone else break down the rest of the game.

Week 10 Recap: What A Choke

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Cough! Cough! Gag! Sorry, I was just doing my impression of the New England Patriots.

Colts 35 (9-0) Patriots 34 (6-3)

It's time to face facts. The Patriots are the chokers, and the Colts are clutch. The Patriots have not won anything in over 5 years now, and not only that, you can absolutely count on them to blow it when all the chips are on the table. Just add this one to their most recent history of gag jobs. The 2007 AFC Championship, the Super Bowl against the Giants, and now this one. And it is time to stop giving Bilicheck a free pass. Any other coach would be fired for doing something like that. He cost the Patriots the game, and likely a chance at the Super Bowl. How do you recover from that kind of loss? This is the kind of loss that can destroy a season. Now the Patriots will have to go on the road in the playoffs - if they can still get there.

Saints 28 (9-0) Rams 23 (1-7)

The Saints remained perfect, but it was much harder than expected. The Rams played well, but Reggie Bush had his best game of the season. Bush found the end zone twice, helping the Saints overcome 3 turnovers and remain unbeaten.

Bengals 18 (7-2) Steelers 12 (6-3)

The AFC North is now the Bengals' for the taking. The Bengals defense stole the show, keeping the Steelers out of the end zone. Usually the Bengals are done for the year by this point. Now they look like they will be playing for a first round bye.

Redskins 27 (3-6) Broncos 17 (6-3)

Miracles do happen. Ladell Betts had 114 yards and a touchdown, and the special teams added a touchdown on a fake punt, leading the Redskins to the upset win. The Broncos have now lost 3 in a row, and they also saw Kyle Orten go down with an injury. Time to press the panic button in Denver.

Dolphins 25 (4-5) Buccaneers 23 (1-8)

Chad Henne was the story in this one, going from goat to hero in the final minutes. After throwing a huge interception with under 2 minutes left that set up the go ahead TD by the Bucs, Henne was able to redeem himself. With 1:14 left, Henne directed a 77 yard drive, setting up the game winning field goal with 10 seconds remaining. The win keeps the Dolphins slim playoff chances alive.

Panthers 28 (4-5) Falcons 19 (5-4)

What is wrong with the Falcons? Matt Ryan struggled again, and the Falcons have now dropped 3 of 4. The Falcons may be the most disappointing team in the league. There is too much talent on this team to only be 5-4.

Titans 41 (3-6) Bills 17 (3-6)

Chris Johnson stole the show, going over 100 yards rushing and receiving, and adding a pair of TDs to lead the Titans to the win. The Titans have now won three straight games after starting the season 0-6.

Vikings 27 (8-1) Lions 10 (1-8)

Brett Favre and Sidney Rice are starting to become a lethal combo. Rice caught 7 passes for 201 yards, leading the Vikings to an easy win. Adrian Peterson was he usual self, gaining over 130 yards on the ground and adding a pair of scores.

Jaguars 24 (5-4) Jets 22 (4-5)

The annual free fall of the New York Jets has begun. Maurice Jones-Drew's heads up play, taking a knee at the one yard line rather than score, helped run down the clock and set up a last second field goal by Josh Scobee. Rex Ryan sure isn't talking much these days, as the Jets have now lost 5 of 6.

Chiefs 16 (2-7) Raiders 10 (2-7)

Who needs Larry Johnson? Jamaal Charles stepped in and rushed for 100 yards plus a score, as the Chiefs won for only the second time this year.

Packers 17 (5-4) Cowboys 7 (6-3)

Just when you think that maybe Tony Romo is turning things around, and that the Cowboys may avoid a late season meltdown, they have the kind of game they had in Green Bay. The Cowboys offense struggled, and Tony Romo threw a late int at the Packers goal line to seal the win for Green Bay. It was a nice bounce back victory for the Pack, after dropping a tough decision to the Bucs one week ago.

Cardinal 31 (6-3) Seahawks 20 (3-6)

It's now how you start, but how you finish. After falling behind 14-0, Kurt Warner and the Cardinals rallied, as Warner threw for 340 yards and 2 TDs. It was only the Cardinals second home win of the season.

Chargers 31 (6-3) Eagles 23 (5-4)

Three weeks ago, it looked like there was no way the Chargers could catch the Broncos in the AFC West. Now it looks like it is the Chargers division to lose. Behind two TDs from LT, the Chargers have now won four straight to get to the top spot in the AFC West. The Eagles may have lost more than the game. Brian Westbrook suffered another concussion and may be done for the year.

The Big East Conspiracy

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Two bad calls in two days, both of which conveniently help the two top teams in the Big East. Hmmm...Interesting.

Ok, here it comes. Yes, another conspiracy theory by yours truly. And for the record, this one is not simply sour grapes because one of the calls in question happened to be against Notre Dame. Notre Dame was vastly outplayed for most of the game by Pitt and only had three points over the first three quarters. You don't deserve to win the game if you do that.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Before we tackle the Pittsburgh win over the Irish, let's examine a terrible call that had a huge impact on the outcome of Cincinnati's game against West Virginia. On first and goal, Isaiah Pead jumped over the pile and stretched the ball out towards the goal line. Not only did he not reach the line, but he fumbled the ball, which was recovered by West Virginia. That held the score at 14-7 with 5:15 remaining in the half. If you can see the indisputable video evidence that shows the ball crossed the line and that he maintained control as the ball crossed the plane, then you are a better man than I.

But wait. The replay gods saw fit to intervene and lo-and-behold, the call was overturned, making it a tie ballgame. Sure, there was a lot more football left to play in that game. However, the fact remains the Bearcats won by three points and the gift touchdown was the difference.

Fast forward to Saturday night, late in the Notre Dame - Pitt game. Notre Dame is faced with a third and 16 situation. Jimmy Clausen felt pressure as he did almost all game long and as he was going down, attempted a pass to Golden Tate, and while his arm was hit by Greg Romeus, it appeared to be an incomplete forward pass. The play was blown dead, but Pitt's Myles Caragein picked the ball up and attempted to run with it before realizing it had been called an incomplete pass.

Now here's where the mess begins.

Notre Dame let about 30 seconds run off the play clock before burning a timeout while trying to figure what to do on fourth and long. Seconds later, the Big East decided that would be a good time to review the play. Not before Notre Dame took its second timeout, so essentially, if the call has stood, the Big East would have essentially taken a time out away from the Irish. Upon review, the replay officials somehow saw that indisputable evidence that no one else, whether it be Notre Dame fans, Pitt fans or media outlets, saw. So it's a fumble. What happens now? Well, according to the officials, it's a fumble recovery by Caragein, despite the fact that the play was blown dead, giving Pittsburgh the ball and the win.

Sure, a fourth and 16 situation is likely going to be a turnover on downs anyway, but the fact of the matter is the officials upstairs made a bad call that took any chance away from Notre Dame. And let's remember that Jimmy Clausen is the quarterback with 63 passes of 15 or more yards and 22 completions of 25 or more (7th and 17th in the nation, respectively) with two of the best wide receivers in football.

So why did this happen? You can't think that it's a huge coincidence that the two top teams in the Big East were the benefactors of game-changing overturns.

The Big East is desperate to matter in college football again. The Big East since its formation has halways been a basketball conference first and since Miami and Virginia Tech bailed, the conference has been an afterthought in college football. Even as a BCS conference, in recent years they have gotten less national attention than the WAC and the MWC. Now they have an opportunity to be relevant.

Cincinnati played its toughest game of the season thus far on Friday after beating up mediocre to downright terrible opponents on its way to the No. 5 ranking in the BCS. Pitt has been one of the better defenses in the nation and the offense has found its way with LeSean McCoy gone, which most thought was a death sentence for the Panthers. With their win over Notre Dame, the Panthers moved to ninth in the BCS rankings.

Heading into this week, the Big East bigwigs had to be drooling at the idea of an undefeated Cincinnati facing a one-loss Pittsburgh for the conference title. Think about it. If Cincinnati loses to West Virginia, they no longer hold any major clout in the BCS. Even if Pittsburgh heads into the final week undefeated in this scenario, the odds of it meaning as much in terms of the BCS would be a lot lower than if Cincinnati were undefeated. And if Pittsburgh were to lose another game, Cincinnati would have the title locked up before the final week, making the matchup between the two teams irrelevant and one that people outside of the Northeast unlikely to watch. In all of these scenarios, the Big East stands to lose a lot. But most of all, it stands to lose a lot of money.

Monday Night Football: No Instant Classic Here

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Say one thing for Monday Night's game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns - it will not be a game that will be replayed on ESPN Classic anytime soon.

The Cleveland Browns represent the worst that the NFL has to offer. You have to think that if ESPN had its way, it would not have schedule the Browns to be on prime time.

It has been kind of comical to seen ESPN try to hype this game. Other than fantasy football, is there any reason to really want to watch this train wreck of a game? There is no question that Baltimore will dominate from start to finish. The Ravens will look unbeatable on offense and defense, but that will have to do more with Cleveland's inept team than anything to do with Baltimore. Don't get to excited Ravens fans. Your team will look like the Super Bowl contender everyone thought they would be, but every team looks great against the Browns.

Brady Quinn takes over the offense form Derek Anderson, which is a step in the right direction. Anderson has been horrid this season, posting a QB rating of 36.2. Quinn cannot possibly do any worse, but it is unreasonable to think that Quinn will be anymore successful. The Browns simply do not have the weapons to put many points on the board. If the Ravens jump out to an early lead, and Cleveland has to throw the ball, then this one could get ugly real fast.

To make matters worse, things could remain ugly in Cleveland for awhile. Dating back to last year with the Jets, Mangini is just 2 and 11 in his last thirteen games as a head coach, but don't expect Eric Mangini to be fired anytime soon. Mangini is in year one of a four year contract. It's hard to imagine that the Browns would just eat the final years of Mangini's contract. Maybe this is one of the reasons that Jamal Lewis decided to retire at the end of the season. Things look bleak for the Browns for the foreseeable future.

Now it appears that many of Lewis' teammates agree with him. According to a report from the Associated Press, after Lewis ripped Mangini in an interview last week, Lewis was greeted as a hero in the locker room by many of his teammates.

If true, then Mangini has totally lost this team and it is highly unlikely that he will win them back. Mangini may have lost the team, but unfortunately for Browns fans, he may still not lose his job. Sorry Cleveland, your NFL team has hit rock bottom, and it appears that you will be there for awhile.

Prediction: Ravens 27 Browns 0

Week 10 Predictions: Colts Will Remain Undefeated

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

There is really only one game in the NFL this week that has our undivided attention. That is of course the Patriots taking on the unbeaten Colts in Indy on Sunday Night Football. With that in mind, lets get to the picks.

Colts 31 Patriots 28

I hope I am wrong, but I just see Peyton Manning leading the Colts on a last minute drive to give the Colts the win. Plus I like the Indy defense just a little more than the Patriots defense. The Colts look like they have the ability to pressure Brady and disrupt his timing. Also the Colts dodged a huge bullet last week at home against the Texans, so I expect them to look better this week.

Steelers 24 Bengals 17

Last time these teams met, the Bengals came away with a last second comeback win. This time the game is in Pittsburgh, and expect no such heroics from the Carson Palmer and company. The Steelers will regain the top spot in the AFC North.

Cowboys 30 Packers 20

Look for the recent trends with these teams to continue. Tony Romo will be solid again, and the Packers will have a difficult time keeping Aaron Rodgers upright. Rodgers was sacked 6 times against the Bucs last game. The Cowboys should at least equal that number.

Eagles 27 Chargers 24

Both of these teams have been tough to figure out. One game they will look great, the next game they will look terrible. The Chargers have struggled at times to stop the run. With Brian Westbrook back from injury, and LeSean McCoy playing well, the Eagles have just the running backs to give the Chargers fits.

Redskins 20 Broncos 17

The Broncos offense has struggled the past two games, and the Redskins actually managed to move the ball at times against the Falcons last time out. The Redskins have to score at least 20 points once this year right? The Redskins defense will force a few turnovers, give the offense a short field, and for once the Redskins will take advantage. It is time for Denver to panic.

Titans 28 Bills 7

The Titans have started to look more like the team everyone expected to see at the start of the season. It's the Titans all the way in this one.

Saints 44 Rams 7

The Saints will have no problem staying unbeaten. The Saints will score at least 40 points. The Rams may not score 40 points the rest of the season.

Dolphins 21 Buccaneers 3

Last week the Bus shocked the Packers to get their first win of the season. Don't expect it to happen again. The wildcat will keep the Dolphins offense on the field, and the Dolphin defense will make Josh Freeman struggle.

Vikings 31 Lions 10

Brett Favre has another big day, and Matthew Stafford will continue to struggle. Stafford threw 5 ints last week. He has only 5 TD passes on the season. Yikes.

Jets 23 Jaguars 16

The once confident Jets have looked rather ordinary the past month. The Jags have been bad on the road. The home field makes a big difference, and the Jets will get a little of their swagger back - at least for this week.

Falcons 28 Panthers 13

It is time for the Falcons to get on a roll. Matt Ryan has far too many weapons to look as average as he has for most of the season. He will get it together this week.

Chiefs 6 Raiders 3

The NFL is looking at the possibility of having Tom Cable undergo therapy to deal with some of his personal issues. I will need therapy if I have to watch this game. These are arguably the two worst teams in the league. Maybe this game should be blacked out and spare us all from having to watch.

Cardinals 38 Seahawks 14

Strangely enough, the Cardinals have look bad at home this year. That trend will come to an end. The Seahawks have not played well on the road, and have been out of sync on offense the entire season. Cards win big.

Ravens 27 Browns 0

Why are the Browns on MNF? The Ravens will look great in this one, but doesn't everyone look like a Super Bowl contender when playing the Browns.