Do you believe in BenJarvus Green-Ellis?

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

I really enjoy watching running backs who run hard, have a little juke in their step and make the right reads by following their blocks and quickly racing to daylight.

I've never thought that New England running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been that type of back (although there's no questioning that he runs hard).

Green-Ellis was a pleasure to watch yesterday, however.

The young back gave the Patriots what they've been missing all season -- balance. He ran like a guy possessed, desperately trying to secure that starting running back spot.

And, at least for one game, he'g got to be the No. 1 guy in the backfield.

The Law Firm rushed for a career-high 112 yards and scored twice to lift the Pats over the Vikings.

In a game that featured Brett Favre and Randy Moss, Green-Ellis stole the show.

He grew up a lot yesterday.

Green-Ellis did look like a different running back. While he ran hard and physical, he also showed some burst by bouncing to the outside and made it hard for the secondary to run him down.

Perhaps this was his coming-out party? Could Green-Ellis be the key piece that really makes this offense go? He could be, considering the Pats are no longer a quick-strike offense without Moss taking the focus away from Wes Welker and Co.

But if Green-Ellis continues to re-charge a quiet rushing attack, this offense will be extremely hard to defend.

While it's no secret that I haven't been a big fan of Green-Ellis over the years, he really showed me a lot of positives. I'm not going to completely take the bait just yet, but it's a great start to making me be a believer.

Oregon, Auburn deserve title shot

Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Hey, I know everyone wants the BCS to go up in smoke. I subscribe to the same notion.

But at the same time, I'm not going to say that another team should get screwed in order for it to happen. People seem to have gotten so caught up in their desire to see Boise State and TCU in the BCS title game that they've forgotten that a couple of good teams in front of them just might be championship caliber, too.

Oregon now sits at No. 1 after beating USC by three touchdowns. That's two convincing wins over ranked teams within their own conference this season that have helped them achieve an 8-0 record. Sure, they've got New Mexico and Portland State on their schedule, too, but they outscored those two by a count of 141-0. Isn't that the argument that fans are always making about Boise? They don't play the strongest schedule, but they throttle the teams they do play, then beat the ranked opponents that fall on their schedule?You can't have it one way and not the other.

Throw on top of that the fact that the Ducks have the most prolific offense in football, averaging a touchdown more a game than Boise with a tougher schedule, and you have to at least consider them one of the top teams in college football.

Auburn at No. 2 isn't quite as flashy, but is still as dangerous. The Tigers have beaten three ranked teams this season and have a very diverse offense led by a quarterback that just might be this year's Heisman winner. Not that winning trophies has anything to do with winning football games, but is illustrates the amount of talent Cam Newton has. People can say the SEC is overrated and in a lot of years they would be correct. This year is not one of those years, especially in the West division, where four of the five teams are ranked. Auburn has beaten two of them and also has beaten the best team in the East. They also beat Ole Miss at home, which anyone can tell you is not an easy feat.

So, yes, in the grand scheme of things, I would like to see the BCS die just like everyone else. However, if these two teams stay perfect, I don't see how you can deny them. They're just too good.

Chris Maza is the owner of his own blog, Maza's Musings, and makes weekly contributions to Fan Fanatic Sports. Check out Maza's Musings for more sports insight and also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @Mazasmusings and 'like' him on Facebook.