Pats have so much to prove vs. Panthers

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

It's gut-check time Patriots.

Do you guys have the stones to fight to the bitter end, or are you just happy to be collecting a paycheck?

No one is happy with the New England Patriots right now --players, coaches and especially the fans.

For a team that had Super Bowl aspirations to begin the season, it feels like the season is going down the toilet -- sort of like Charlie Weis' head job did at Notre Dame.

But the Patriots desperately need a victory, and the Carolina Panthers are coming to town and should be able to help out the wounded Pats.

Yes, I said should, but that doesn't mean it will happen.

See, every time you think the Pats should win, they let you down. Here's reality fans: The Pats haven't beaten a real good team (they have wins vs. Buffalo, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Miami and N.Y. Jets), so they're feasting on the weak.

Well, the Panthers are the weak, especially with Matt Moore at quarterback.

Who? Matt Moore?

Yup, the backup to starter Jake Delhomme, whose nursing a broken finger and will be out of action on Sunday.

There's now way Moore can pick apart the Pats' secondary, can he? Well, I thought that last week against Miami, and Chad Henne (over 300 yards passing) looked like Joe Montana.

So Moore can expose the Pats, but don't bet on it.

Carolina coach John Fox is captain conservative so don't expect to see Moore air it out like Henne did. But when they do throw, WR Steve Smith better be double-covered on every play. He's too explosive to be covered by any sub-par corner from the Pats, so expect to see a safety over the top of him to prevent big plays down the field. They better focus on taking Smith away or he'll burn them and burn them bad.

What the Panthers do well -- and better than most teams in the league -- is run the football. You would figure DeAngelo Williams should be back from an ankle injury that kept him out last week's Tampa Bay game, and the other part of the two-headed monster is Jonathan Stewart. They both can pound between the tackles and break away from defenders on the outside.

The Pats better stop the run or they're in big, big trouble. They not only will get gashed by the run, but then Moore might actually have success throwing the ball, even to Smith.

Offensively, the Pats need to put the pedal to the medal from the first quarter all the way until the final whistle in the fourth quarter. They always leave way too many points on the field.

This unit also needs that killer instinct. That goes for everyone, from Tom Brady to Wes Welker to Randy Moss. And those three better get the job done, even though Carolina's best strength is against the pass. The Panthers, led by ball-hawking cornerbacks Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall, have 17 INTs on the year, but Moss and Welker are extremely tough matchups.

But the Pats need to commit a bit more to the run with Laurence Maroney, who has done a very good job in my book, Sammy Morris and third-down specialist Kevin Faulk. But committing and being productive are two different things. If you run on two straight plays for 2-3 yards, the advantage is on the defense as far as down and distance on third down and they know you're going to throw.

So they need to produce both with the run and pass, but the biggest thing is moving the chains and putting points on the board.

The play-calling needs to improve, too. It's frustrating watching the Pats be too predictable. They throw and throw and throw to get a lead, and when they do they take the air out of the football and run on first and second down, and then have to throw on third-and-long and the defense is prepared for it. How about a screen pass? Remember when that was a staple in the playbook? Open up the playbook coaches, now is the time to be creative because the same old plays are getting stale -- long to Moss and short to Welker, with a few runs sprinkled in.

Chad's Take: The Patriots have so much to prove this week. I think we're going to see what kind of team they really are. Are they fighters with a passion to win, or are they pretenders that might sneak into the playoffs and then get hammered in the first round?

I think this is still a playoff team, but one that has so many issues, offensively and defensively, along with chemistry concerns between the players and coaching staff.

Carolina will give the Pats fits. Williams and Stewart will pound away at the Pats' run defense, chew up the clock and keep the Pats' offense on the sidelines. The Pats will be frustrated by the Panthers, but they have too much power on offense to be completely held down. Not to mention the Panthers struggle throwing the ball so they won't light up the scoreboard.

The Pats get it done, but still leave their fans wondering if they'll ever play a complete game.

Prediction: Patriots, 23-14

Granderson gives Yankees big boost

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The 2009 World Series champs just got a lot stronger.

Welcome to New York, Curtis Granderson.

The Yankees didn't sit back after winning the title. Instead, they shot the first bullet at the Red Sox by landing a premier center fielder.

Yes, the Yankees did give up one of their top prospects, 22-year-old outfielder Austin Jackson, and pitcher Ian Kennedy (a back-of-the-rotation arm) and lefty reliever Phil Coke (he had an up- and-down season), but with a chance to get Granderson in his prime, it was a no-brainer.

I'm not saying that Granderson is a superstar, but he's a very good player --an all-star player -- both offensively and defensively.

He can run like the wind in center, tracking balls down in the gap that many outfielders can't reach. That's exactly what the Yankees needed, better outfield defense.

He's also got some real pop in his bat. Granderson hit 30 homers with 71 RBIs and 20 steals for the Detroit Tigers last year.

Those are the good numbers, but he does need some work (.249 BA, .327 OBP, 141 Ks).

Granderson's average has dropped the last three season from .302 to .280 to .249, so that is concerning. But he's proven that even if he whiffs 141 times (he did that in 2007) he can still hit for average (he hit .302 with 185 hits in 2007).

Granderson is currently a four-tool player (he doesn't hit for average right now) and a player the Yanks coveted.

The Yankees can now move Melky Cabrera to a corner outfield spot (figuring left field and Nick Swisher in right), or they can still re-sign Johnny Damon and play him in left and at DH.

They have flexibility now with Granderson in place.

He's a guy that should fit nicely into that lineup --either in the 2-hole or lower in the order when he faces lefties (he hit just .183 vs. southpaws).

But Yankee fans should expect sensational defense in center, 30-plus HR power, especially with that short right-field porch in Yankee Stadium, 20-30 steals (or more) and a .270 batting average (hitting coach Kevin Long will improve his plate coverage and patience).

If you're scoring at home: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0

Patriots have no heart

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

OK, I'm sick and tired of sticking up for the Patriots. After today's gross performance, I've completely had it.

Yes, I'm still a huge fan, but I also call it as I see it.

This team has a lot of weaknesses, but I thought I'd never say a Bill Belichick-coached team doesn't have heart.

There, I said it.

Who wants to step up and be that go-to player that is a playmaker and one that everyone feeds off of? I call that heart, and no one -- and I mean no one -- has shown to be able to do that, at least consistently.

Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Corey Dillon, Asante Samuel, Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy and Adam Vinatieri aren't walking through the door people.

Those are some of the former Patriots that always made plays, including when the game was on the line.

Tom Brady has done that in the past, but not enough this year. He's still outstanding, but he's not carrying this team. How about Randy Moss and Wes Welker? Do they want the ball with the game on the line? Of course they do, so they need to elevate their game in crunch time and start making more plays.

Actually, you can call out everyone on this team, including the coaching staff.

And how about that defense?

They are a pitiful bunch of nobody's. I'd start building a defense around Jerod Mayo, Brandon Meriweather and Vince Wilfork, but there's just not enough talent on that team.

And the secondary is downright sad. Miami's Chad Henne picked them apart for over 300 yards today. And those were all easy yards. Come on, Chad Henne? Really?

Soft coverage, sometimes no coverage and a lack of tackling is just not acceptable.

Everyone is to blame. How about a pass rush, too? Those down linemen don't get any heat on opposing QBs. They allow them to sit back, survey the field and, of course, find the open man.

It's like taking candy from a baby.

How about a little more fight in the trenches? Play like you're playing for your next contract.

Again, where's the heart?

Who's the inspirational leader on this team that makes big plays in big situations?

This franchise has taken a major step back (tears as I type). And in a hurry.

Until these players start playing with more heart and start making a lot more plays, especially in the fourth quarter, this team in nothing more than a Wild Card team (maybe not even a playoff team unless they win the AFC East) that will get bounced in a hurry because we all know they can't win on the road.

Patriots, where's the heart?

Week 13 Recap: Dolphins Shock Patriots

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanaitc Sports Staff

The Patriots, Steelers, and Redskins were all on the wrong end of some surprising results, highlighting week 13 in the NFL.

Dolphins 22 (6-6) Patriots 21 (7-5)

Where to begin? A lack of pass rush by the Patriots helped make Chad Henne look like an all pro. Henne led a last minute drive to set up a game winning field goal by Dan Carpenter, and Channing Crowder picked off Tom Brady to ice it, as the Dolphins stunned the Patriots in Miami. The offense must also share some of the blame, as there definately were some points left out on the field. Never mind getting the second seed in the AFC, the Pats must now do some work just to make the playoffs.

Saints 33 (12-0) Redskins 30 (3-9)

Just when the Redskins looked poised to pull off the biggest upset of the season, the Saints find a way to pull out a miracle win. With a chance to ice the win, Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham missed a 23 yard field goal. Minutes later Brees and company took full advantage, tying the game on a 53 yard TD reception by Robert Meacham. New kicker Garret Hartley then won it in overtime, as the Saints remained unbeaten.

Raiders 27 (4-8) Steelers 24 (6-6)

Don't worry Patriots fans - things could be worse. After all you could be the Steelers. The Steelers dropped their fourth straight, this time in stunning fashion to the lowly Raiders. Bruce Gradkowski hit Louis Murphy from 11 yards out with just 9 seconds left to hand the Steelers a last second loss at Heinze Field. The defending champs may be all but done for year.

Colts 27 (12-0) Titans 17 (5-7)

There was no drama this week for the Colts. Peyton Manning helped put 24 points on the board in the first half, and the Colts cruised to an easy win from there. Vince Young suffered his first loss after taken over for Kerry Collins at QB.

Eagles 34 (8-4) Falcons 7 (6-6)

Michael Vick managed to get a measure of revenge against his former team. Vick found the end zone twice, once by air and once by ground, to highlight a big win by the Eagles. Chris Redman, in for an injured Matt Ryan, had a tough day, throwing 2 ints, one which was returned 83 yards for a TD by Sheldon Brown.

Bears 17 (5-7) Rams 9 (1-11)

Can you believe it? Jay Cutler went a whole game without throwing a interception. Cutler wasn't great, but he didn't have to be. The Bears jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, and the defense took over from the there. The win keeps the Bears slim hopes at the post season alive.

Bengals 23 (9-3) Lions 13 (2-10)

Cedric Benson was the show for the Bengals, rushing for 110 yards on 36 carries, as the Bengals are now on the verge of clinching a spot in the playoffs. The win gives the Bengals at least a 2 game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North.

Broncos 44 (8-4) Chiefs 13 (3-9)

A few weeks back, it looked like the Broncos were going let their season slip away after losing four straight. Now it looks like the Broncos are back among the AFC's best. Denver ran all over Kansas City, gaining over 240 yards rushing in a rout of the Chiefs. Matt Cassel had a QB rating of 14.6 for the game. Who knew it was possible to be that bad?

Panthers 16 (5-7) Buccaneers 6 (1-11)

Josh Freeman moved the Tampa Bay offense fairly well most the game, but the problem was interceptions. Freeman threw 5 picks, and Carolina was able to pull out the win at home.

Jaguars 23 (7-5) Texans 18 (5-7)

The Jags continue to do just enough to stay in the playoff chase. Behind David Garrad's 2 TD passes, the Jags won for the fourth time in the last five games, and remained in the middle of the race for a wild card playoff spot.

Chargers 30 (9-3) Browns 23 (1-11)

This one was not as close as the final indicates. San Diego led 27-7 in the fourth quarter, before the Browns added a pair of late scores to make the score look closer than it really was. Phillip Rivers was huge, passing for 373 yards and 2 touchdowns, as San Diego won for the seventh straight time.

Giants 31 (7-5) Cowboys 24 (8-4)

Domenik Hixon's 79 yard punt return for a TD helped put the game away for the Giants, and put the New York right back in the race for the top spot in the NFC East. Romo was not to blame this time around, as the QB was solid, throwing for 392 yard and 3 TDs in the loss.

Seahawks 20 (5-7) 49ers 17 (5-7)

The 49ers may have seen their chances at a post season appearance come to and end in Seattle. Olindo Mare kicked a 30 yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Seahawks to a win at home. The loss spoiled a great day by Alex Smith who threw for 310 yards and a pair of scores.

Cardinals 30 (8-4) Vikings 17 (10-2)

Kurt Warner had a big night, throwing for three scores, as the Cardinals handed the Vikings just their second defeat of the season. Brett Favre threw 2 ints, marking the first time he has throw an int since week 7 against the Steelers.

Monday Night Football: Packers Look Playoff Bound

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Perhaps the biggest story of the NFL season has been the play of the ageless Brett Favre. What's not to like? Favre has been outstanding, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 26 TDs. He should be the league MVP, leading the Vikings to a 10-2 record thus far.

Overlooked in the Brett Favre saga however, has been the story of the man who replaced Favre at QB in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers has had a career year himself, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 22 TDs in leading the Pack to a 7-4 record.

There is no doubt that Rodgers is the new face of the Packers organization, but Favre's shadow is still cast over Green Bay. As good as Rodgers has been, he will not get the credit he deserves until he can beat Favre and the Vikings. The only way this will happen is if the Packers can get into the playoffs as a wild card. A win over the Ravens at Lambeau will go a long way to securing the Packers a spot in the post season, and perhaps getting the Packers one more shot at Favre and the Vikings.

Think of Rodgers as a the NFL's version of Luke Skywalker. Luke was not able to become a Jedi until he beat Darth Vader. Favre is Aaron Rodgers' version of Darth Vader. Rodgers must beat Favre to truly cement his place as the leader of the Pack. With a win on MNF over the Ravens, Rodgers may well be on his way to seeing Favre once again this year. If you thought the regular season match ups against the Vikings were huge, imagine the hype if these teams meet in the playoffs.

The Packers appear to be playing their best ball of the year, and are peaking at the right time. A win over the Ravens on Monday night will be four straight wins for Green Bay. You want to be playing your best football late in the year, and the Pack have been doing that the past few weeks.

If the Packers are playing their best, then the Ravens have been inconsistent at best. The defense has started to turn things around, allowing just 12 points per game over the past five contests, but the real problem for the Ravens has been on offense.

Ray Rice has been a stud at running back for the Ravens, but QB Joe Flacco has come back down to earth a bit. After a hot start to the year, Flacco has thrown just one TD over the past four games. The Ravens have not been able to put back to back wins together since September. If current patterns hold, the Ravens will have an off week.

Even thought both teams have a lot on the line, the Packers have just been a better, more consistent team all year. Throw in a Monday night crowd at Lambeau, a potential rematch against Farve and the Vikings looming in the playoffs, and Green Bay gets the nod for a win on MNF.

Prediction: Packers 23 Ravens 17

Don't bet against New England

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Will the real New England Patriots please stand up?

It's getting to be in the critical stages of the season for every NFL team, including the Pats. Will the Pats fizzle down the stretch and lose their grasp on the AFC East and fail to make the playoffs?

It might seem a little extreme, but that's why Sunday's division game against the Miami Dolphins, currently two games behind the Pats, is so important.

Wouldn't it be nice to see the Patriots finally play a complete game?

Let's hope it happens this week because the losses to the Colts and Saints are still leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

Against the Dolphins, it all starts with stopping the running game. The Wildcat, now directed by Ricky Williams since Ronnie Brown is out for the season, has been tough for the Pats to stop in the past and it's something Miami needs to do successfully in order to win.

Pats fans are calling out the front seven to get the job done. Stop the run and put the game into quarterback Chad Henne's hands.

If that's the case, then the New England secondary needs to get the job done. There's no way Miami should pick apart the Pats in the air, but if they don't get any pressure on Henne, look out.

And that leads to New England's offense. In the first meeting vs. Miami, Tom Brady threw for 332 yards with one TD and one INT.

Randy Moss, who has vanished in the last two weeks, had 6 catches for 147 yards and a TD. Wes Welker caught 9 passes for 84 yards.

We should expect more of the same from Moss and Welker, who go up against Miami's rookie cornerbacks again. Moss and Welker are veterans and they should always win these matchups.

Chad's take: Tom Brady and the passing game struggled on Monday Night vs. the Saints, don't think that'll happen again, even if the Pats are in Miami where they've struggled at times (although the Pats have won 3 of last 4 in Miami). Without Brown running the Wildcat for Miami, that formation isn't nearly as effective (although they'll gash the Pats a few times) with Williams leading the attack.

It's gut-check times for the Pats, and I expect them to play a very good football game. They know the division is far from being wrapped up and this week is as big as it gets.

The Pats will be focused and watch Brady air it out.

The real Patriots better stand up!

Prediction: Patriots, 27-13

Week 13 Predictions: Pats Finally Get Road Win

By Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

The Patriots have no time to feel bad for themselves, as they head to Miami to take on the Dolphins in an important AFC East match up. Win, and the Pats all but lock up the division. Lose, and suddenly the division is in question.

Here are the picks for week 13 in the NFL.

Patriots 21 Dolphins 17

Forget about beating an elite team, I just hope the Patriots can get any kind of win on the road. The Patriots will struggle, but do just enough in the end to pull off the win - and keep their slim chances for a first round bye alive.

Colts 31 Titans 28

It will be more of the same for the Colts. Indy will play in yet another close game, but Peyton Manning will still lead his team to a win. Vince Young suffers his first loss as a starting QB this season, but Indy will remain perfect.

Giants 24 Cowboys 16

The Cowboys are in first place in the NFC East and have a golden opportunity to put the division out of reach. We all know what this means. Tony Romo will continue his tradition of late season mistakes, throw a few picks, and the Giants will get a huge win a home.

Eagles 27 Falcons 14

Micheal Vick makes his return to Atlanta, but will likely not be in for more than a few plays. Can Chris Redman do it again? No way. The Eagles defense shuts down Atlanta, and pulls the Eagles into a first place tie with the Cowboys in the NFC East.

Bears 20 Rams 7

Jay Cutler will finally do something right, and go a whole game without throwing a pick. The Bears get the win, but it does not really matter as both these teams are just playing out the remaining games on their schedules.

Bengals 23 Lions 13

Can things get any easier for the Bengals? After facing the Browns last Sunday, now Cincy gets the Lions. No wonder they are 8-3.

Chargers 40 Browns 3

Speaking of easy schedules, a week after facing the Chiefs, the red hot Chargers get to face the NFL's worst team in the Cleveland Browns. Like he did against K.C, Phillip Rivers will light it up, leading the San Diego to a seventh straight win.

Broncos 28 Chiefs 16

After looking shaky for a few weeks, the Denver defense was solid on Thanksgiving against the Giants. Expect more of the same against the Chiefs, as Denver gets an easy win and stays one game back of the Chargers in the NFC West.

Steelers 34 Raiders 6

There has been a lot of finger pointing going on in Pittsburgh, especially with Hines Ward calling out Big Ben for sitting out last week. Winning cures all, and that is what the Steelers will do this week.

Saints 38 Redskins 13

Will there be a let down for the Saints after last Monday's big win over New England? Absolutely not. The Saints will have no problem with Redskins, and continue to look like the best team in the NFL.

Buccaneers 17 Panthers 16

Matt Moore takes over for injured Jake Delhomme, but it will not matter. The Bucs pick up just their second win of the year, and end any hopes for the Panthers getting to the post season.

Jaguars 23 Texans 20

The Jags always seemed to do just enough to sneak into the playoffs, and the Texans always seem to fail in the clutch. The is no reason to expect anything different, as the Jags will deal the Texans another tough loss.

49ers 21 Seahawks 14

The 49ers continue to hang around in the NFC West, getting a road win in Seattle. The win will get the 49ers back to the .500 mark for the year.

Vikings 38 Cardinals 37

The magical season of Bret Favre and the Vikings continues in the desert, as Favre will have a huge day, and out duel Kurt Warner. The Cardinals lead in the NFC will dwindle to a single game.

Packers 23 Ravens 17

Aaron Rodgers will get the Pack one step closer to the playoffs with a win over the Ravens on MNF. The Ravens have been much better on defense the past few games, but Joe Flacco has been inconsistent, and it will cost the Ravens on Monday night.