Projo Pats Blog

TAMING THE WILDCAT: The Patriots were the guinea pigs for Miami's unorthodox offensive formation back in Week 3, and they were completely unable to shut it down. This time around, the Pats are focusing specifically on the Wildcat during practice, with Kevin Faulk playing the role of Ronnie Brown (Boston Globe). Of course, the Dolphins are well aware that the Patriots will be waiting for the cat this weekend, so they are apparently working on all kinds of new wrinkles to throw out on the field in South Florida on Sunday (Miami Herald). NFL.com's Pat Kirwan has some interesting insights on the formation, saying that it is more of a throwback than an innovation, and predicting that it is here -- again -- to stay.

SIMPLE MOTIVATION: Watching the game film from that awful showing in September is enough cause for nose tackle Vince Wilfork to be eager for a rematch (Boston Herald).

KEEPING THEM MOTIVATED: Safety Rodney Harrison hasn't made himself scarce in Foxboro since his season-ending injury; the Herald's Karen Guregian writes that he is coaching, criticizing and giving encouragement to the current starting safeties, James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather.

A VULNERABLE SPOT: While the Patriots have excelled on kick returns all season, covering returns has been a big problem for the Dolphins -- they've given up two punt return touchdowns and one kick return touchdown this season. Today, they claimed linebacker Erik Walden -- who had 10 special-teams tackles this season with the Chiefs -- off waivers (Miami Herald).

WHY CHAD JOHNSON WON'T BE PLAYING TONIGHT: Cincinnati's weirdo wide receiver won't be doing his usual pale imitation of his former self when the Bengals face the Steelers tonight; he's been deactivated for a violation of team rules. According to Adam Schefter of the NFL Network, Johnson "got into it last night with someone in the Cincinnati organization and left a team function." But Bengals blogger Brad Johansen says that Johnson is being disciplined because he overslept and missed a team meeting, and that Johnson understands the team's move.

THE LAST WORD: Donovan McNabb has placed an item on his personal blog expanding (somewhat) on his understanding of the league rule on ties, and it seems to indicate that 1) McNabb really didn't know that ties were in the rulebook; and 2) he doesn't feel that his lack of understanding had any impact on the game.

GOOD NEWS? NOT NECESSARILY: You would think the news that Adam "Pacman" Jones has been reinstated by the league would be a good thing for the defensively challenged Cowboys, but the Dallas Morning News' Jean-Jacques Taylor feels that it is a mistake for Jerry Jones to take Pacman back.

NO THANKS, YOU'RE STAYING: Only in pro sports does an employee beg to be fired, while the employer declines to pull the trigger. It is happening right now in Arizona with Edgerrin James (projo.com).

THIS WEEK'S PICKS: OK, OK, I'm moving this feature to Thursdays in a belated concession to the NFL Network's Thursday night special. Last week I was 13-2-1 (anyone predict the tie in Cincinnati, anyone?), which I'll take. Home teams are listed in caps.

STEELERS over Bengals: When these teams last met, in October, Pittsburgh won easily, 38-10. More recently, the Steelers have struggled for consistency, while the Bengals have not tasted defeat in three weeks. They proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are better than the Detroit Lions by upsetting Jacksonville, sat on their rear-ends during a bye week, and then tied a Philadelphia team whose quarterback is still waiting on the second overtime. OK, seriously, I'm taking Pittsburgh.

Patriots over DOLPHINS: New England continues to be an enigma to me, but I guess I have them figured out better than a lot of people, since I've correctly predicted the outcome of their last seven games. The last one I got wrong? Week 3, against Miami. Although I don't feel like looking it up, I'm sure I ridiculed the Dolphins -- and especially Joey Porter -- in smugly dismissing their chances of winning. Well, I was wrong then. And someday Bill Belichick will lose two games in a row. But if the Pats are ever going to put together a complete effort, it should be this week, with their honor and playoff hopes on the line. I think they get back at the Fish.

RAVENS over Eagles: Philadelphia thoroughly embarrassed itself last week in Cincinnati. The Ravens had a rough week, too, but they're a team that has already surpassed everyone's expectations. I expect this one to be a low-scoring affair that will come down to the wire, and my guess is that the pressure is more likely to crack Donovan McNabb than it is the rookie Joe Flacco.

BROWNS over Texans: I can't think of many matchups that hold less interest than this one. Both teams have bad defenses, and while the Texans' offensive numbers are pretty good, they are going with a quarterback (Sage Rosenfels) who gives possessions away like he's starring in some kind of inspirational Christmas movie. Brady Quinn, on the other hand, might be without security blanket Kellen Winslow. No matter, I'm going to stick with the home team.

Bucs over LIONS: Rooting for the Lions really seems like the decent thing to do, so why was I feeling so bummed out when Detroit raced out to an early 10-0 lead against Carolina last weekend? I guess because we all want to see something that no one has seen before. The express train to 0-16 won't be making any stops this week.

CHIEFS over Bills: Buffalo is such a lost team right now, and Trent Edwards is such a lost quarterback, that I can't pick them even to win in Kansas City. The Chiefs' defense, while awful, is strangely proficient at generating turnovers -- in fact it is tied for second in the NFL with 21 takeaways. That doesn't bode well for Trent Edwards.

Bears over RAMS: Chicago has to be raging mad after the way the Packers took it to them last week. Now they go to St. Louis to face the Rams. Ah, the Rams -- the Detroit Lions would beat these guys, if only they got the chance to play them. With Steven Jackson out and the offensive line depleted, Marc Bulger is going to have a long, painful afternoon.

Jets over TITANS: It's reassuring to me that two winning teams can face off in the NFL, each one with starting quarterbacks who are considerably older than myself. If 39-year-old Brett Favre and the Jets had lost in Foxboro after jumping out to that big early lead, it would have been devastating, but instead they will come to Nashville riding a wave of positive emotion. The Titans, meanwhile, led by 35-year-old Kerry Collins, have been doing just enough to stay unbeaten these last three weeks. Something's gotta give sooner or later, and I think the Jets on this week are the team to put a blemish on that Tennessee record.

Vikings over JAGUARS: Minnesota's 1-4 on the road; Jacksonville's 1-4 at home. The Vikings, though, have been playing pretty well lately, and their close loss at Tampa Bay last weekend is really no disgrace. Jacksonville, on the other hand, had a chance for a season-defining win against Tennessee last weekend, and they let it fly away along with 21 unanswered Titans points. I'll go with Adrian Peterson and the Vikes.

COWBOYS over 49ers: With their next two games at home against the 49ers and the Seahawks, Romo and the 'Boys have an excellent chance to build up a head of steam before they hit a rough season-closing stretch of games against the Steelers, Giants, Ravens and Eagles. This one should be no contest.

BRONCOS over Raiders: When Denver opened its season with a 41-14 win at Oakland, the Broncos looked like a team with a ton of potential. It looks like a lot of that potential will be unmet -- because of Denver's porous defense -- but no one should doubt that the Broncs can still put a licking on the Raiders.

FALCONS over Panthers: This should be a very interesting game that might just answer one of two pressing questions: How good is Matt Ryan right now? And how good are the Carolina Panthers? Ryan had his first disappointing game at home this season when the Broncos stacked the line of scrimmage and forced him to beat them with his arm; he didn't get it done. The Panthers, meanwhile are looking like a pretty hollow 8-2 after their last two games against the Raiders and the Lions -- foes that good teams should blow away. I'll pick the Falcons, but it's a tough call.

CARDINALS over Giants: There are two scenarios in which Arizona wins this game. The first is that they force some early turnovers, jump out to a lead on the strength of their prolific passing attack, and get the Giants out of their game. I'm not sure that will happen, but I do believe that there are some games in which talented teams really get motivated and put an even better team back on its heels. I think this might be one of those games for Arizona, which is a really talented team. If these teams meet again in January, in New Jersey, I think the Giants will win easily. But this looks like a statement game for the Cards to me.

Redskins over SEAHAWKS: It's been a frustrating stretch for the 'Skins. The offense has sputtered as Washington has lost two straight nationally televised games at home, this dropping out of the category of truly elite teams. It's a good thing they head to Seattle this weekend, because the Seahawks can't beat anyone oustide of their own sorry division.

Colts over CHARGERS: San Diego can't really fall to 4-7, can they? Yes they can, because this is a bad time for them to be facing Indianapolis in a revenge game from last season's playoffs. Since their bye week, the Bolts offense has not been producing the way it had been, while Indianapolis is beginning to look like the Colts we have gotten used to. Indy's win at Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago eliminates any thought that they can't win big games on the road.

Packers over SAINTS: A huge game for both teams, and one that is very tough to call. Both teams are coming off important wins, although the Packers were a lot more impressive. Plenty of points should be scored in this game, and I like the way the Green Bay offense is asserting itself right now. I'll pick the Pack in a game that should be real fun to watch.

 Tags  Chad Johnson Football Today Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown

---