Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys / Image: Zuma Press

After yesterday’s 31-24 loss to the N.Y. Giants, Tony didn’t want to talk about another December slump:

“We don’t care about December talk. The season will be written when it’s over with, no matter what happens in December. I know that’s part of it until we win in December, but I just think this team needs to win.”

Uh, yeah. But with streaking San Diego (seven straight wins) and New Orleans (12 straight wins) still on the Cowboys’ remaining four game schedule, Dallas will once again be very lucky to simply make the playoffs. In fact, I’ll predict the Cowboys will not only lose those two games but also their December 27 game against the cursed hopeful Washington Redskins. And if they fail to make the playoffs (again) this season, there could be a substantial housecleaning in order in Dallas.

Source: SportingNews.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cowboys Beginning Another December Drought?

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts / Image: Zuma Press

Not surprisingly, quarterback Peyton Manning kept things in perspective:

“We certainly do not take it for granted. It’s obviously fun to win. It does build momentum, but we have taken it one week it at a time. We enjoy it when we’re allowed to enjoy it, but we have to work next week for the next opponent.”

Of course, by wrapping things up so quickly—as the Colts have done in the past—it brings about an interesting discussion on whether the team should rest its starters, thus avoiding any unnecessary injuries to key players. If the starters take too much time off (remember, they will also get a first round bye in the playoffs), they could lose the momentum they worked so hard to achieve. But if they play and a starter is injured in an otherwise meaningless game, the questioning of an unnecessary injury comes into play.

Sure, the Colts are fortunate to have put themselves in a position to make these types of decisions. But they are difficult decisions. I would treat the remaining games as preseason games, allowing the starters to play roughly two quarters and the reserves to get some valuable playing time against first-team opponents. That way you reduce the risk of injury to your best players but you also allow them to maintain the rhythm and tempo that enabled them to obtain an undefeated record in the first place. With that being said, over the course of the final few games, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell would gladly trade a couple meaningless losses en route to Miami and a Super Bowl XLIV victory.

Source: Colts.com

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Colts Tie NFL Record, Stay Unbeaten

Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings / Photo: Newscom

Brett broke former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall’s record of 282 consecutive games played. But in the process, he threw two interceptions and looked confused and uncomfortable by Arizona’s defense all night. Up until this game, Brett seemed nearly invincible. But despite this loss, at 40-years-old, he is still having the best season of his legendary, someday-to-be Hall of Fame career.

Source: NFL.com

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Brett Favre Breaks Consecutive Game Record

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers / Photo: Newscom

The Chargers are a team to watch in the AFC right now. They’ve won seven straight games and even though LT isn’t the threat he used to be (nor as popular—LT currently ranks fifth among running backs in the AFC Pro Bowl voting), he is surrounded by a lot of talent and even in a more limited role, he can still be a very effective player.

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LaDainian Tomlinson Fastest to 150 TDs

Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins / Photo: Newscom

There were key turnovers—three in all. Late in the first half, with a touchdown lead—after an interception of Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Kareem Moore fumbled into the waiting arms of Saints receiver Robert Meachem who returned it for a touchdown. Deflating. That tied the game at halftime. In the second half and overtime, two costly turnovers (a careless interception by Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell and a fumble after a reception by Mike Sellers) gave the Saints golden chances to put the game away. As they eventually would.

What really turned the tide in this game, though, was a missed field goal. It started with 6:52 to play in regulation. The Skins methodically moved the ball from their own 41 to the New Orleans four-yard-line. In the NFL, you have to assume your kicker (in this case Shaun Suisham) can make a 23-yard field goal to give you a two score lead with less than two minutes to play. It was elementary and it would virtually lock the game. So the Skins played the percentages by running the ball into traffic and burning the clock, forcing the Saints to use the remainder of their timeouts. And I don’t fault Redskins head coach Jim Zorn for that, even though running their regular offense probably would’ve resulted in a two touchdown lead. But Suisham missed the chip-shot field goal attempt and five plays later, the Saints tied the game.

There are a few things you simply can’t get away with (interceptions and missing easy field goals) and still expect to win at this level, especially against a team as good as the New Orleans Saints. The Redskins did all those things today. And in most cases, that’s what separates the good teams (like the Saints) from the bad teams (like the Redskins).

Source: NFL.com

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Redskins Help Saints Stay Undefeated

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Win a Watch Sports the Right Way FiOS Pack

I’m in Row 1, Seat 31 in the football Media section—which puts me exactly at the 40-yard-line (there’s also a baseball media section in the end zone). One thing I like about this Press Box is the open air. At Ralph Wilson Stadium—as nice as that Press Box is—you are behind glass so you lose a lot of the crowd noise. Of course that’s an outdoor stadium, so it just makes sense. But I like this setup. I don’t know if tonight’s crowd will be anywhere close to a Ralph Wilson Stadium crowd in terms of noise, but I like to hear and feel that noise when I’m at a game.

The Bills Toronto Series is an extension of the franchise’s overall regionalization strategy that was developed more than 10 seasons ago with the formation of the Verizon Wireless Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, NY. Between the two ventures, the Bills have set the standard in the NFL for the regionalization of their franchise. More than 100,000 fans attended the first two Bills Toronto Series games at Rogers Centre last season. Approximately 15% of Bills fans travel from Ontario to Ralph Wilson Stadium on Buffalo Bills game days. And approximately 11% of Bills fans are based in Rochester, NY.

Once both teams completed their warmups, the Hudson (Ohio) High School marching band performed on the field. The U.S. National Anthem was performed by Canada’s own Barenaked Ladies while the Canadian anthem was performed by beautiful contest winner Laura Cavacece. A few more pregame notes: the Budweiser Official Buffalo Bills Tailgate party has been going on outside for the past five hours. And a Bills rally towel is being given to all fans in attendance tonight.

I was watching quarterback Trent Edwards during warmups. He has to be feeling disgruntled with the fact he is not starting. His image was instrumental in the marketing of this game and as the season has progressed (or regressed in his case), he has faded to a backup role behind Ryan Fitzpatrick. Ryan is 5-2 in his last seven starts and seems to give the Bills a better chance of winning. But I don’t think either player is the quarterback of the future for the Bills. There are going to be a lot of changes around this organization in the offseason.

This game was officially announced as a sellout three days ago. But twenty minutes before game time, Rogers Centre is only about half full.

POSTGAME: The Bills Toronto Series hasn’t been kind to Buffalo thus far. In tonight’s second regular season game to be played at Rogers Centre here in Toronto, the Bills were beaten by the N.Y. Jets 19-13 in front of a sellout crowd. Yes, the stadium did fill up nicely with only a smattering of empty seats visible. So, the Bills have lost to the Steelers (preseason last year), the Dolphins (regular season last year) and now the Jets.

The statistics that really jumped out at me in this game were those of Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick—he was just 9-of-23 passing for 98 yards and one interception. The Bills offense, seemingly revitalized when interim head coach Perry Fewell took over for Dick Jauron, took a step backwards tonight. And on an evening when Bills receiver Terrell Owens was supposed to put on a show for Toronto, he was held to a meager three catches for 31 yards by the National Football League’s best cover corner, Darrelle Revis. NFL Network’s Deion Sanders called Owens vs. Revis “a matchup of all matchups.” But Darrelle clearly had the better of T.O. this season, holding him to four catches in two games. The Bills offense managed just 194 total yards tonight.

Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez continues to improve and impress. When he left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury, the Jets offense stalled. Mark was 7-of-15 passing for 104 yards and a touchdown. His stats would’ve been padded considerably had receiver Braylon Edwards been able to hang on to what surely would’ve been an 80+ yard touchdown pass. It seems as though Braylon has trouble with the throws that are on target. Then he turns around and makes the difficult catches. It’s got to be some kind of mental block. But he carries the title of receiver. Therefore, he needs to receive.

With the loss, the Bills fall to 4-8 and are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this season. As far as the Jets are concerned, this was a must-win. And with their record now at 6-6, they are still in the thick of the AFC Wild Card playoff race.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bills Toronto Series vs. N.Y. Jets

Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills / Image: Zuma Press

In some instances, this game was marketed as T.O. in TO. And that’s just fine with Terrell:

“For me, it’s gonna be all eyes on me. No matter what I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go up there and showcase my skills and obviously the Bills as an organization and as a team. I think overall, this team is looking forward to the opportunity ….. It feels good. I’m looking forward to the game and all of the Canadians out here in Toronto—you all come out and support the game tomorrow, it’s going to be a good one.”

T.O. doesn’t need to offer any convincing words of salesmanship. I don’t know if he’s aware of it or not, but the game has already been announced as a sellout. So with the local blackout lifted, the entire city of Toronto—and the millions watching on NFL Network—are ready to see a revitalized Buffalo Bills team and a re-energized Terrell Owens. Since defensive coordinator Perry Fewell took over the head coaching duties when Dick Jauron was fired a couple weeks ago, T.O. has been a much bigger factor in the team’s offensive game plan. After a terrible nine-game start (26 catches for 366 yards and one touchdown), Terrell has added 14 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games under coach Fewell. If this trend continues, T.O. in TO will be remembered as more than a marketing phrase.

Source: BuffaloBills.com, BuffaloBills.com

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T.O. in TO: Terrell Owens Enjoys Spotlight

When this regionalization plan went into effect last season, many Bills fans felt it was merely the first step at permanently moving the team to Toronto. I, too, was somewhat skeptical at the motive behind the idea of sacrificing a regular season home game in Orchard Park, NY for the larger market in Canada. But Bills owner Ralph Wilson assured fans the plan was part of a bigger picture to introduce the team to a wider audience, not move the team. NFL Chief Marketing Officer Mark Waller concurred, saying the goal was to “grow the NFL, not move the franchise.”

The Bills Toronto Series has been described as a way to strengthen the organization by expanding its fan base, similar to when the team moved its training camp to Rochester, NY back in 2000. But, I wonder. If the venture is deemed a success when all is said and done, is it just the beginning of the end for the Bills in Buffalo?

One thing’s for sure, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell already considers the Toronto Series a success:

“The two games up at Toronto (last) year were tremendously successful for us. We said that the objective was to regionalize the Buffalo Bills, and it achieved those objectives. We were able to increase our season ticket sales in the Toronto area significantly—over 40 percent. And I think from that standpoint, we achieved what our initial goal was. The other issue is that it’s a building process. When we first got in, we wanted to make sure it was a good experience for the two teams, that they were successful and that they could do it without any negative competitive consequences, and we achieved that objective ….. I’m very confident that (this) year’s game is going to be bigger and better. I think we’ll evaluate every aspect of the game, including pricing, and I think they’ll do a terrific job and it’ll be a great game.”

It’s yet to be seen whether the game will be great. Neither the Bills nor Jets are serious playoff contenders. But there will be plenty of fans there to see it. Monday, the game was officially announced as a sellout, further confirming that introducing the National Football League to Canada was a good idea.

Sources: NFL Media, NYTimes.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Buffalo Bills Toronto Series Continues

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints / Image: Zuma Press

The Saints amassed just under 500 yards of total offense in scoring 38 points—even without slasher back Reggie Bush. Drew Brees was as close to perfect as a quarterback can be in this league. And the defense forced two Tom Brady interceptions and held the Pats to just 17 points—without starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. That’s impressive.

Of their five remaining games, only the Dallas Cowboys appear to pose a serious threat to an undefeated New Orleans Saints season. And that particular game is in the Superdome. So I’m going to go ahead and give the Saints a perfect 16-0 record with home field advantage heading into the playoffs. As far as the road to Super Bowl XLIV is concerned, I’ve got to say—advantage Saints.

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Will the New Orleans Saints Go Undefeated?