Raiders' Blueprint For Success in 2009

Historically, it is no secret that Al Davis has been noted for his love of the bomb. Tell Cliff Branch to run as fast as he can and let Ken Stabler and Jim Plunkett throw it as far as they can and hope for the best. For years this worked but the 2009 Raiders offense will prove to be far different than from era's gone by. If he is wise, Head Coach and former offensive line coach Tom Cable will lean on a talented trio of running backs and a rebuilt offensive line to pound defenses into the ground with the running attack.

The Raiders boast a 9-23 record over the last 2 years and have a current streak of 6 straight years with 11 plus losses. However, although there has not been a whole lot to cheer about in the Black Hole recently the running game is one source of optimism. The Raiders running game has ranked in the top 10 each of the past 2 years and has real potential to become one of the NFL's elite. The Raiders possess 3 backs all of whom are capable of pounding out 100 yard games. Most teams are thankful to have 1 such ball carrier and the Raiders have 3 and that will lead to a balanced mixture of inside and outside running.

A blend of speed and power if you will much in the same way the NY Giants have built their running game the last several years with Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Derrick Ward. Former 4th overall pick Darren McFadden is the primary back who excels in the perimeter and in open space. Miss a tackle and he is gone. It is that simple. His burst is outstanding and allows him to reach the 2nd level of the defense in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, McFadden is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and some have compared his pass catching ability to Marshall Faulk. Many people have forgotten about McFadden on account of the stubborn toe injury that plagued him much of his rookie year.

The breakout campaigns of Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, and Steve Slaton also cause people to ignore McFadden but trust me he has more pure talent than any of the aforementioned runners so do not be surprised at all to see Dmac break out this year. First, the toe is not going to be an issue this year as he has had trainers place a steel toe in his shoe to prevent such an injury from happening again. Secondly, the Raiders recently signed FB Lorenzo Neal which is a HUGE variable McFadden has in his corner. Neal's blocking had such an impact on the running of Ladanian Tomlinson that when LT goes into the the HOF he should have Neal induct him.

Justin Fargas led the Raiders in rushing in 2008 with 853 yards and is a tough, wily between the tackles runner. Fargas possesses sneaky strength and power and rarely goes down from the first contact. Moreover, Fargas knows what it takes to be a real pro and his work ethic and leadership qualities will no doubt have a positive impact on McFadden. Michael Bush constitutes the last component of the Raiders 3 headed monster at running back. The Raiders literally stole Bush in the 4rd round of the 2007 draft after he suffered a broken leg during his final year at Louisville. Bush had so much potential that he was projected as a top 15 selection before his injury and that potential was on display for everyone to see during the Raiders season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he rushed for 177 yards and 2 TD's. That performance led to Bush garnering interest from several teams most notably the San Diego Chargers who ultimately offered the Raiders a trade for Bush. If Cable is smart he will utilize the talent he has which right now is the running game with the hopes of bringing the Raiders back to respectability.

What gives me the impression that Cable is smart and will implement this philosophy? Well, for starters as a I mentioned he is a former offensive line coach and most OL coaches favor the power running game. Moreover, every move the Raiders have made this off season indicates a firm commitment to the run in 2009. First, gone are several of the OL that struggled with Cable's zone blocking schemes and in their place come players that are more apt to succeed in such a system. Kwame Harris and Jake Grove struggled mightily with the zone assignments last year and are no longer with the team. Meanwhile the Raiders added center Samson Satele from the Dolphins and tackle Khalif Barnes from Jacksonville. Both players should fare better than their successors. Barnes is athletic and will team with Robert Gallery on left side to potentially give the Raiders a dominant side to their running game. Satele gives the Raiders a far more physical presence than Grove did and his ability to control the line will become paramount to the ground game.

The final piece of the equation however, lies in the acquisition of the battering ram Neal who will be paving the way for McFadden this year. I cannot overstate how critical this signing is for the Raiders and Dmac especially. Neal has blocked for various 1000 yard backs during his career including Eddie George and Tomlinson and both had their best seasons with Neal blocking for them. Look for McFadden to be no different and to make some big strides as a result of Neal being there.

The fact that the Raiders possess a jacked up running game means that hopefully we will also see marked improvements out of 3rd year QB JaMarcus Russell. Defenses will surely have to play 8 man fronts against the Raiders this year and that should open things up downfield for Russell and his cannon arm. Furthermore, the middle of the field will be more open as well and that is good news for TE Zach Miller who has shown continual improvement during his 2 years in the league. Russell's accuracy still has to be there though and it remains to be seen if Russell takes a step forward this year with all the added help and that is not even including newly drafted WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.

All in all the Raiders are still not a playoff team. Not even close. However, if Cable stays true to his guns (and I think he will) and utilizes the weapons he has at his disposal in the backfield than I really believe that 8-8 is a real possibility for this team and sad to say but us here in the Raider Nation would be pretty excited about an 8-8 season after all we have had to endure since our Super Bowl loss to the Bucs.

Chris Limburg is the fanatical purveyor of gothicfootball.com: A Oakland Raider and fantasy football blog that provides commentary on everything that is the NFL and fantasy football. Sign up for my free newsletter at: [http://www.gothicfootball.com]

Youth Football - Your Last Week of Practice - Preparing to Win and Have Fun

Many youth football teams are wrapping things up at this time of year. Most of us are in either playoff runs or at least want to make the last game a competitive one. When coaching youth football you always want your team to progress each week, which means your last game of the season should be your teams best. At the same time you want the last week of practice to be special. We all want to top off the season with some fun and hopefully wet the appetite in each of the players to come back and play the following season. How do we accomplish both goals, have fun and yet be prepared for that last big game?

At this time of year we are down to two football practices per week. Many youth football coaches either don't do anything fun that last week or they turn that last practice into some kind of circus. I'm all for making it fun for the kids, but by making the last practice all fun and games you often plant the seed in your players minds that the season is already over.

We like to do our "fun" practice on that first practice of the week. During that first 30 minutes we may do things like play Hawaiian Rules football or do a live scrimmage with running backs playing on the line and linemen playing running back. We often just do things that the kids on that specific team have taken to heart, like deer hunter or the towel game. This year our first practice of the last week got rained out, so we were in the gym, We played Dodge Ball and Capture the Flag for the first 30 minutes of practice, the kids had a blast.

During team we talked about our goals for the week and our goals for the individual members of our team. The players know that the end result won't be known for 20+ years. Hopefully by then the seeds we had planted during this season will have sprouted and matured. We let them know these are seeds of persistence, hard work, teamwork, sacrifice, accepting criticism, accepting guidance, humility, compassion, respect and reliability that will help each player be better sons, husbands, fathers and providers, While youth football isn't a cure all for all of societies ills, for many kids it is a very important part of their development. As an employer, I can always tell if a person has played competitive sports or not. The competitive sports player is often innately more competitive, they accept coaching better, they work harder, get flustered less and overcome obstacles better than their video game playing counterparts.

While that first day of the week practice may be a bit fun and reflective, we get back into "football mode" the last half of that practice. If the parents want to do something special, this is the practice they do it at. Later in the week at that very last practice we get back down to "business". In addition to our regularly scheduled individual development periods, we would be repping on-air team offense, team defense and special teams. At this point in the season you will see many youth football teams pulling out all the stops. This means you need to spend some time on aligning and alerting your team about special formations like the Swinging Gate/Lonesome Polecat or severely unbalanced sets. We also see things like wall kick returns, starburst kick returns or throwback kick returns at this time of year. Another thing we often see in this last game are "trick" plays like QB throwbacks or even illegal plays like the "wrong ball" play,

One way to prepare your youth football team for these situations is to set up your defense or special teams against a "scout" team of your coaches and remaining players. Align everyone up in positions and have everyone take a knee. Discuss the play and walk your scout team through the play as the defense observes. Then jog your scout team through each of the trick football plays you need to prepare against. Once you have demonstrated 4-5 of these football plays to your defense, go back and huddle up and run the plays live or to thud (not taking the ballcarrier to the ground). We always have the coaches at the skill positions here to give quality reps to the defense in a short amount of time.

While you may never see any of these "trick" plays or formations, it is something new for the kids. Quite often football practice is getting a little stale at this time of the year for youth football kids, it's natural. Doing things like this keeps the kids attention and gives them a new and interesting approach to learn. It can also be a difference maker come game time.

We may even have a few trick football plays of your own up our sleeve at this time of the year. But we do it primarily for the novelty of it rather than depending on the play to score. We do it to keep the kids interested and may not run the play at all or run it as an extra point play, only to be used when comfortably ahead.

Nothing is more disheartening to a youth football team than having their super secret trick play that they KNOW is going to go for a touchdown, stuffed for no gain or a big loss. What the other team is counting on when they run something like this is a lack of preparation on your part. They expect panic, poor alignment, confusion and of course success. This happened in the last game of the season for my age 10-11 team. The opponent tried the illegal "wrong ball" play. For more info on that play and even a video clip, do a word search on "wrong ball" on this blog and see it being run.

The week prior to our last game we had instructed our team on the "wrong ball" play, We had discussed it, demonstrated it and even run it against our defense. Our defense knew that no matter what the players or coaches of the other team were yelling out, that if anyone picked up the ball after being set to play, the ball was live and the person with the ball needed to be tackled.

Well the score was 14-14 in a very evenly matched youth football game, as both teams were 7-1 coming into the game. The other team had the ball, driving for what appeared to be the go ahead score. After the ball had placed down and the whistle had sounded for the ready to play, one of the players for the other team threw up his hands and started acting confused and was jogging to the sidelines, the coaches for this team in the meanwhile were telling him to come off, get off the field. In the meantime the ball was snapped to one of the remaining backs while the linemen stayed frozen in their tracks. Well, our kids weren't fooled, we had practiced this very same play in our last football practice of the season. Our most aggressive linebacker crushed the ball carrier in his tracks, he fumbled and we recovered. The shock of having that play stuffed completely really caught this team off guard. We scored in 3 plays, onside kicked and scored again right before the half to take what was a very close game and put it out of reach. Our kids gained so much confidence from stopping that one play, The kids knew they had been prepared well and seemed to just take over the game after that play. We also intercepted a QB throwback pass in this game that was run back to the 3 yard line, just like in practice. We went on to win 46-26.

The moral of the story: don't waste your valuable time practicing against every conceivable threat before your first game, But for your last game or two spend a reasonable amount of time teaching your players how to respond to some of the more "common" trick plays. It may help you in that big game and at the least kids love seeing trick plays and learning something new. Make that last week of practice special, but make sure to get the kids back into "game" mode during that last practice.

Dave Cisar

Dave is a Nike "Coach of the Year" Designate and speaks nationwide at Coaches Clinics. His book "Winning Youth Football a Step by Step Plan" was endorsed by Tom Osborne and Dave Rimington. To Sign up for his free tips and drills newsletter or to view 325 free youth football coaching tips go to: Football Plays.

Offensive Line

How a 1-A College Football Playoff Should Work

President Barack Obama has stated his desire for a playoff system in 1-A college football. I've often complained about the lack of a such a playoff myself, but I've never explained how I would like to see one conducted - until now.

This playoff would consist of eight teams. The winner of each of what is now known as the six BCS conferences would get an automatic bid. These conferences include the ACC, Big East, Southeastern, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac Ten. The other two entrants would be selected at large and could come from any 1-A conference or be an independent. The BCS rankings would be retained and used to select these two teams. The two non-automatic entrants with the highest BCS rankings at the end of the regular season would get the at-large bids. The BCS rankings would also be used to seed the eight championship contenders in a tournament format.

There is one other way in which the BCS rankings would be used. For each of the three BCS conferences - Big East, Big Ten, and Pac Ten - that does not use a title game to crown its champion, the BCS rankings would be used to determine the automatic playoff entrant in case of a tie. The team that loses the tiebreaker would still be eligible for an at-large bid.

The bowls would not have to be discarded. The Rose, Sugar, Orange, and Fiesta Bowls would be used as first-round playoff games. The other bowls would be used for teams that do not make the playoffs. That way, we could have the best of both worlds.

There is one other twist that could be employed to make the system more fair. If the champion of any of the BCS conferences finished with a BCS ranking lower than fifteen, its automatic bid would be nullified and an additional at-large team would be selected.

Terry Mitchell is the owner and operator of Foxrater - http://www.foxrater.com - the web's top free insurance quote site. It allows people to enter their zip code and compare the rates of auto, homeowners, health, and life insurance companies doing business in their area.

NBA Live 2008 Preview

When Electronic Arts set the bar fairly high with the release of Madden 2008, they knew they had to raise it even higher in NBA Live 2008. The game is slated to be on all the major consoles such as the Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and the Nintendo Wii. This year's iteration seems to hearken back to the fundamentals of basketball. One new feature in the video game is an online tournament mode. This will be a 32 team tournament style playoff that plays similar to fantasy football.

Electronic Arts has not corroborated if this mode will entail any e-mail support, but it looks promising. The online choices appears to have some variety to it. Gamers can play a versus mode and quick play to name a few. Versus is playing against other players online and quick play is using your own customizable team. If you choose to create a team with Shaq and Kobe as teammates, you can do that. The ESPN heavy presentation gives NBA Live 2008 a more authentic television experience. Players will also notice a scenario mode (ala Madden) where you can generate a bizarre situation any way you want. Last seasons modes such as the mini-games, dynasty mode, and NBA all star weekend will no doubt be making a return.

In terms gameplay, there looks like there will be more maneuvers being performed in the paint. The low post game is a point of emphasis in this years version of NBA Live 2008. Putting your back against the defender and executing fakes/shots will be strategic. A wide variety of shot selections can be used at the touch of a button. Another new feature in the game are the various cross-over dribbles and spins that can be utilized in conjunction with each other. Since the game an NBA simulation, you cannot expect to see extravagant dribbles by Tim Duncan.

You will have significantly more success if you are doing cross-overs with Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. These moves will be mapped to the right analog stick (ala NBA Live 2003). A shadow button has been included for better defensive positioning. Furthermore, expect to see players like Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce attempt fade away jump shots. Conversely, players like Dwayne Wade and Allen Iverson will drive towards the basket. The NBA Live series is always a step behind the critically acclaimed NBA 2k series. Will this year be different? We will have to wait and see when NBA Live 2008 is available in October.

http://wwwfunnyman.blogspot.com/

March Madness

March is associated with the coming of spring and rebirth after a long winter. More than anything, March means it's time for the NCAA Basketball Tournament, known better as March Madness. Players in the United States and around the world can feel the fever pitch excitement building for weeks and it won't let up until a champion is crowned in this 64 person extravaganza. During that period, multiple millions of dollars will be wagered on the outcome of the event, either on individual matches or on the outcome of the entire tournament. In fact, it has become the 2nd biggest yearly betting event for casinos.

There are a number of ways to bet the outcome of March Madness. The most common way is casual betting pools. Friends, families, and co-workers commonly participate in these (usually) small-stakes pools. Even non-fans are thrilled to get in on the action. Participation is often its own reward. Watching the rise and fall of your companions' brackets can be just as much fun as actually watching the basketball games. These are usually simple to put together and a great way to get involved with other people.

Another way is to take it to the casinos. Las Vegas casinos are expecting to earn around $85 million on bets, but it might end up being even more. Betting on sports matches inside of a casino or at any other sportsbook agency is easy. Check out the odds of winning on the game, and place your bet. In casinos in the US, it is often a money line, meaning the returns are rated in the amount of money returned on a $100 bet. For instance, +150 means a bet for this team will win $150 for every $100 bet. A -300 means this team is heavily favored and betters have to wager $300 to earn $100.

Also check out the spread. The favored team has to win by a certain amount to cover the spread, otherwise people who bet on the loser still win. The better the team, the higher the spread. The spread is the tool by which the house gains a small advantage over those making bets. However, with careful consideration and a little luck players can often take advantage of it for their own gain.

Vegas Casinos will also offer bets on the brackets, similar to the betting pools people might enjoy casually. Methods may vary depending on the services you are using, but players usually accumulate points by being correct on the winners of individual matches. Games picked correctly later in the tournament are worth more than other earlier picks. A perfect bracket will pay out huge, but it will take quite a few wins to make any significant money.

Depending on what casino you bet with, wagers can be placed in person or over the phone. Check with individual branches to see what their requirements are.

Another option for March Madness fans is to place bets at an online casinos. Sites such as SportsBook and PaddyPower offer betting on basketball games. European sites do not usually feature entire brackets, but will offer daily betting on each game. Online sportsbooks often feature improved odds over their brick and mortar counterparts, but that can depend on the company, the game being played, and what promotions are currently in effect. Depending on the region, the type of odds used might be different. For instance, UK based sports books commonly use ratios instead of moneylines. For instance, 2:1 odds on an event would pay two dollars for every dollar wagered.

Placing bets online is easy and safe, especially if the agency the bet is being placed with is well known as being professional and trustworthy. Names such as SportsBook, PaddyPower, and others are well known and your account information should be secure. Some are regionally locked, so make sure you check to see that you're allowed to use these services to place your online bets.

When making your bets on specific games, be sure to take into account a number of factors. Obviously, the team's overall performance should be noted. A consistently good team is always the favorite. If the team has been "hot"- winning a lot of games in the stretch and pulling out inspiring victories, they may have more confidence and drive coming into the game to give them that extra push over an opponent that might otherwise be the favorite. Other factors to watch include the health of the players, past performance against the team they're playing, and how the team has dealt with high pressure situations in the past. In the end, use your own best judgment and always be prepared for an upset.

Finally, always bet for fun. It's definitely possible to make a tidy profit, but no one wants to lose more than they can afford betting on basketball games. Playing for cash adds an additional thrill and can help make every game exciting, so just be sure to use your money wisely.

For more information on sports betting, gambling, casinos, and more, visit: Online Gambling
(http://www.onlinegambling.eu)

NFL Week 1 Games

The NFL season is almost here. The last week of preseason is being played and teams are getting ready to trim down their rosters. What great games will we have in week one? This is usually the week when novice football fans realize that preseason doesn't matter. All the good teams return to form and the bad teams, which were dominating in preseason, begin their horrific trip through the regular season. Here's a listing of games going down in week one in the NFL.

Thursday September 7

1. Miami Dolphins at the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Dolphins have been over hyped this off-season. Here's a great test for this Miami club right out of the gate.

Sunday September 10

2. Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

The battle for division supremacy begins right here.

3. New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns

4. Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

The Seattle Seahawks get a fairly easy game to open the season. The Lions have a new offensive coordinator.

5. Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans

6. Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs

Will Carson Palmer be ready for action? This will be a hard fought game.

7. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

The rivalry gets going in week one. The Patriots have lost a great deal this off-season. Are the Bills ready to step it up this year?

8. Denver Broncos at St. Louis Rams

9. Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. New York Jets at Tennessee Titans

How long before we hear chants calling for Vince Young?

11. San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

One of the worst games this week. The only reason to watch is to see the Cardinals news stadium and to see how Edgerrin James runs for Arizona.

12. Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Is this it for Brett Favre? Will the Bears find an offense?

13. Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars

Great opening game for two clubs looking to step it up this season. Will Owens actually play in this one?

14. Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants

Sunday night football starts out with a monstrous game. How will P. Manning do without James? Can either of the Manning brothers win a playoff game?

15. Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins

The Redskins are proving that offense is not their thing. The Vikings believe they have a shot at their division this season. This should be a good Monday night game.

16. San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

You are now up to date on week one in the NFL. It's going to be a great week.

The author is a Senior Editor at SportsGamblingReview.com, an online sportsbook directory site including over 1,000 sportsbook reviews.

Pittsburgh Steelers Rivals of All Times

The Pittsburgh Steelers is an NFL franchise who found themselves having three primary rivals with all three playing in the same division as theirs. The team's rivals are the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens. Further, the team also have other rivals in the post season games namely the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, and the Dallas Cowboys. An intrastate rivalry between the Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles also arose but they play against each other only once every four years as per scheduling regulations.

The rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and the Steelers started way back 1950 when they first played against each other. At the start of the rivalry, the Browns had the advantage over the Steelers who had a 9-31 record at that time. The Steelers continued to lose for 16 straight years. It was only recently that the Steelers took over the rivalry for the first time ever with a 17-3 record. It was during this time that the team won ten straight games. To intensify the rivalry, former head coach of the Steelers had actually coached the Browns earlier in his career.

On the other hand, the Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens have a really bitten division rivalry evidenced by countless memorable match-ups between the two teams. Both teams caused each other's first loss in the home fields. The Pittsburgh Steelers won their first game at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and three years later, the Ravens crushed the Steelers in a game at the Heinz field. The rivalry between the Ravens and the Steelers is like a seesaw winning and losing against each other and serve as a great complement by showing their fans how they can field really strong defenses against each other.

The Cincinnati Bengals dates the rivalry with the Steelers from the 1970 season when the merger was completed. The most memorable game of their rivalry happened in the 2005 AFC Wildcard playoff game when the Steelers made a come from behind win over the Bengals to compete for a Super Bowl title. This particular win was partly due to the knee injury the Bengal's quarterback experienced and thus was forced to leave the game.

Rivalry between the Steelers and the New England Patriots started when the latter upset the Steelers in 2001 at the Heinz Field. Later, in 2008, the Patriots were accused of videotaping hand signals of the opposing team's coaches which added to more controversy. The rivalry between the Oakland Raiders and Steelers was most heated during the 1970's. While that of the Cowboys started with the team's first game as a franchise in the 1960's.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Steelers will still have a lot to challenges to face, not just with their current rivals but with the new and upcoming teams of the NFL. Although the team have made their mark as one of the most competitive teams in the NFL, they still have to perform at their best to balance out every competitor they play against.

Rick Grantham is an avid NFL fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on Pittsburgh Steelers Merchandise. Many articles are related to NFL bobbleheads and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

Arizona Cardinals

All football fans have their pre-game and post-game foods, like pizza and wings with beer. A tradition at Arizona Cardinals games is for the fans to eat their teams' colors for the tailgate parties. Among the more popular dishes are the Sonoran Desert Dog - made of a spicy sausage topped with red pepper and a yellow corn relish, or a red tortilla filled with chicken and cheese. As for desert, our Cardinal fans prefer a yellow or black tortilla baked and coated with cinnamon sugar served with red-colored fruit salsa and whipped cream.

The Arizona Cardinals is the oldest active team in American Football. They began as a mere athletic club in Chicago in 1898, known as the Morgan Athletic Club. By 1913 the Racine Cardinals would turn pro and in 1920 they would become a charter member of the American Professional Football Association, which became the National Football League in 1922. The only two charter teams still in existence are the Cardinals and the Chicago Bears, who were the Decatur Staleys prior to moving to Chicago in 1921. In 1922 the Cardinals became the Chicago Cardinals after the league placed a team in Racine, WI to avoid confusion.

In 1925 the Cardinals won their first championship. In 1925 the league awarded the championship to the team with the best record instead of having a postseason. However, that championship would fall under controversy, and in the end would not be officially awarded to anyone. The 1925 Pottsville Maroons defeated the Cardinals 21-7, thus giving them the best record in the league. However, the league stripped them of the title after the Maroons played a team comprised of University of Notre Dame all-stars in Philadelphia, citing that the game violated the Frankford Yellow Jackets franchise rights since it was played on the same day the Yellow Jackets were scheduled to play. The league had threatened the Maroons prior to the game. The NFL had attempted to officially award the championship to the Cardinals but Coach Chris O'Brien felt his team didn't deserve it since they had lost fairly to the Maroons. The league recognizes the Cardinals as the champions to this day despite several attempts by teams to have the decision reversed to either share the championship or fully award it to the long disbanded Maroons.

The only other championship in Cardinals history came in 1947, while still in Chicago, in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The same two teams would play the following year with the Eagles coming out victorious. The Cardinals have never returned to a championship game and have the longest championship drought. In fact, until 2008 the Cardinals had only won two playoff games and had never been in a conference championship game since 1947. The Cardinals moved to St Louis in 1960 and Phoenix in 1988. However, the "Phoenix" Cardinals never played in Phoenix, but instead played at Arizona State University's Sun Devil stadium in Tempe, Az. In 1994 they changed their name to one more fitting; the Arizona Cardinals, and in 2006 finally had their own stadium in Glendale, Az.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching NFL on tv and attending the games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals. Check out his Arizona Cardinals Lamp or his Carolina Panthers Watch.

Is the BCS Fair Part 2

BCS Busters came to pass when in 2004 The BCS was threatened with an anti trust law suit.

The first BCS Buster was The Utah Utes, winner of this years Sugar Bowl and winner of the 2004 Fiesta Bowl.

Since that time, the BCS has set a higher standard for the mid-majors, they must nationally ranked in the top 12. Which usually means they must be undefeated.

While other teams from BCS Conferences can get in with two or more losses because they are automatic qualifiers.

This season, there were 3 mid majors ranked in the top 12 and yet only one team was taken while teams with lower rankings were included through at large berths, such as Ohio State in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.

In my mind this still violates both anti trust laws and what sports is all about, sportsmanship.

Proving the talent gap is closing between BCS teams and the non BCS teams is the current record. Mid-majors lead the series 3 to 1. Rendering moot the argument the "little guys" just can't hand with the "big boys".

Millions are at stake, as the BCS said, it is not their role to be fair, just to try and match #1 against #2. Even at this mission, it appears they fail, just ask this seasons Texas Longhorns.

Is a 16 team playoff a viable answer, probably not. Again its the money, cities make too much money from the bowls and a 16 team tournament would damage the current bowls.

What is the solution, I am not sure, but the BCS better find an equitable solution that is fair to the mid majors and football fans across the nation.

BCS greed is what fuels the current system, it is broken, they need to fix it.....before Congress does.

Are you looking for the most current football training videos and the best football training aids?

Visit ScoreTouchDowns.com at http://www.scoretouchdowns.com/

Week 3 NFL Power Rankings (From an Amateur)

And then there were five.

As week three of the 2007 NFL season comes to a close, many of the undefeated were defeated: only five teams remain unbeaten. While it is still too early for the 1972 Miami Dolphins to start breaking out in a sweat, these teams are off to a great start. As for the rest of the NFL, some teams are good, some are bad, and some are just plain hopeless.

Week Three:

1. New England Patriots (3-0) (Previous rank: 1): Buffalo often plays well against the Patriots: when the Bills had a lead early on, it looked as though Buffalo was out to make a statement. But, before they could say much of anything, the Pats shut 'em up. With New England winning 38-14 the first two weeks, and 38-7 this week, we can't help but see a pattern: two weeks from now, they will defeat their opponents 38 to 3.5.

2. Indianapolis Colts (3-0) (Previous rank: 2): It was a pretty quiet day for Peyton Manning, not throwing for his usual one thousand yards and seven touchdowns. A contest that relied on the running and kicking game helped put the Colts where they are used to being: undefeated. Still, their special teams looked anything but. This game might have been different had Houston not had so many players out with injuries.

3. Dallas Cowboys (3-0) (Previous rank: 3): Not only did the Dallas Cowboys beat the Bears on the road, but they made them look the furthest thing from ferocious. The duo of Terrell Owens and Tony Romo is going to be a hard one for defenses to stop. There isn't a better team in the NFC right now; these Cowboys aren't horsing around. They are here to win.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) (Previous rank: 4): Okay, okay. We get it: Pittsburgh is dominating their opponents. With another solid game from Willie Parker, and a stellar defensive showing, the 49ers struck steel instead of gold. Pittsburgh looks good, but let's wait until they play a real contender before we jump on their bandwagon.

5. Green Bay Packers (3-0) (Previous rank: 9): It's been a while, but people can once again be proud to be Green Bay fans. Not only have the Packers played solid football, but they have beat good teams. They are playing with emotion and heart. The Packers are the team to beat in their division: when it comes to the NFC North, the cheese stands alone.

6. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) (Previous rank: 8): Baltimore took a page from the team they were playing against: this time, the Ravens blew the big lead. Destroying the Cardinals early, Arizona came from behind to force a last minute field goal, one that Matt Stover, an excellent NFL place kicker for the past fifty or so years, nailed. It wasn't pretty, but it was a win and, in the end, that's what matters.

7. Carolina Panthers (2-1) (Previous rank: 12):: Carolina can, in part, thank DeAngelo Hall, the Atlanta Falcon's cornerback, for their victory. It was his penalties that sealed the deal. While the Panther's victory is a notch in the win column, they have to do something about their defense. Joey Harrington, yes Joey Harrington, threw for 361 yards against a Carolina defense that appeared to forget what the word "pressure" means.

8. Tennessee Titans (2-1) (Previous rank: 14): Sure, the Saints are winless, but don't take the credit away from the Titans: going into the Superdome and dominating is no easy feat. Vince Young may be more fun to watch, but this team's defense is going to get them to the playoffs. They are great at stealing momentum from the opposition.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) (Previous rank: 18): Not many teams can go into Mile High and shut down what was the NFL's leading offense. But, apparently, the Jaguars can. They shut down the run, and intercepted the pass. Their offense did what it needed to do: it kept Jay Cutler off the field. This was a huge win for this Jacksonville team.

10. Denver Broncos (2-1) (Previous rank: 5): This game is going to leave a mark. A team that has the best home winning percentage in the NFL looked a mile low at Mile High. Jacksonville showed everyone how to beat Denver: keep the offense on the sidelines. The Broncos defense didn't give up many big passes, but they didn't need to: they couldn't stop the run. Everyone on the Jaguars team, sans the water boy, ran over Denver's lineman like they weren't even there.

11. Seattle Seahawks (2-1) (Previous rank: 13): Their pass defense got eaten up by the Bengalis receiving corps, but their offense bailed them out. Still, if the Seahawks are going to survive in an improved NFC, they need to be a little more solid. They just can't give up a ton of yardage to the opposition.

12. Houston Texans (2-1) (Previous rank: 10): The Texans might not win any Super Bowls this year, and maybe not even any playoff games, but in the years to come, this team is going to be good. Despite a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Texans played well. They kept the game close and they did it with several players injured, including star receiver Andre Johnson. A loss is a bump in the road, but this team will still surprise some people.

13. San Diego (1-2) (Previous rank: 6): The Chargers already have as many losses in just three games this season as they for the entire 2006 season. LaDainian Tomlinson can't get going, and their pass defense can't stop anything. Yes, somewhere Marty Schottenheimer is smiling. On the Brightside, Phillip Rivers did have a heck of a game, even if it was in vain.

14. Chicago Bears (1-2) (Previous rank: 7): After this game, everyone will surely be quick to tar and feather Rex Grossman. But, the whole team was awful. Devin Hester couldn't get anything done on special teams, receivers dropped balls, and Chicago's pass defense looked pathetic. This was a big game between potential NFC contenders, and Dallas easily took Chicago for a ride: they looked more like "Duh Bears" instead of "Da Bears."

15. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) (Previous rank: 20): Well, well, well, look who's back. It appears as though the yellow and blue uniforms did wonders for the Eagles, it was either that, or their offense. Completely destroying the previously undefeated Detroit Lions, Philadelphia told NFL fans one thing: don't write them off just yet; it's a long season.

16. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) (Previous rank: 11): A losing record this early in the season isn't something people expected from the Bengals. While their offense didn't help by turning the ball over, it really comes down to one thing: their defense is lousy. When they play the Patriots next week, gamblers in Vegas better take the over instead of the under. Cincinnati won't hold New England to just 38 points.

17. San Francisco (2-1) (Previous rank: 15): On Saturday night, the 49ers were undefeated; on Sunday, they got a reality check. Though they didn't play the worst game ever, San Francisco has to either start putting more points on the board, or start holding their opponents at bay. Until they do, the 49ers will hover right around mediocrity.

18. Tampa Bay (2-1) (Previous rank: 24): Since losing on opening day, Tampa Bay has decimated their opponents, scoring a combined 55 points and holding their opponents to just seventeen. They have some tough road game ahead; how they perform in those will tell us what this team is made of.

19. New York Giants (1-2) (Previous rank: 25): This game belongs to New York's defense, who had a Giant of a second half. Despite some turnovers, the offense was solid. A few more wins, and New York will be right back in the swing of things.

20. Washington Redskins (2-1) (Previous rank: 16): The Redskins should really be 3-0 right now and they know it. But should of, would of, could of. Their team fell apart in the third quarter. With their schedule, they can't fall apart in any quarter.

21. Detroit Lions (2-1) (Previous rank: 17): So much for the Lions going undefeated. Not only did the Eagles beat them, but they used them as a statement. Their offense is still good, but the Lion's defense is sharing a lair with the Bengals. In other words, it's bad.

22. Arizona Cardinals (1-2) (Previous rank: 22): Well Arizona fans, the bad news is your team lost. The good news is, when things looked to be over, they battled back. If Arizona could actually start to win close games, they would be contenders. Kurt Warner proved to everyone he isn't done yet.

23. Oakland Raiders (1-2) (Previous rank: 27): There is only one thing to say about this game: Mike Shanahan is the MVP

24. New York Jets (1-2) (Previous rank: 29): With Chad Pennington back, and playing like a man who wants to win, it's possible the Jets will find themselves soaring. But, let's not get too carried away: their only victory is against the Dolphins. Even so, they put 31 points on the board and played great special teams. Well see how they do against a not-so-fishy opponent.

25. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) (Previous rank: 32): With just one victory, the Chiefs find themselves in a three way tie for second place in the AFC West. What does this mean? Anything can happen. Nonetheless, this just doesn't look like KC's year. They did okay stopping the run, but their offense can't do much of anything. LJ is playing like LT. This year, that isn't a compliment.

26. Minnesota Vikings (1-2) (Previous rank: 21): It used to be losing to Kansas City at Arrowhead was to be expected: not anymore. Minnesota nearly had to beat themselves in this contest. With the exception of the fourth quarter, the Vikings' defense played well, but their passing game isn't doing much. This team should be Green (Bay) with envy at the success of the Packers.

27. Cleveland Browns (1-2) (Previous rank: 23): Well, so much for their unreal offense. A week after an awesome offensive performance against the Bengals, the Browns found themselves back in reality. Still, they weren't awful and if it wasn't for a last second blocked field goal, they may have won. Cleveland looks better than we thought they would. But, that's not saying much.

28. New Orleans Saints (0-3) (Previous rank: 19): Oh N.O.! The Saints just can't get anything done. Despite all the hope and emotion emanating from their fans, they were anything but "super" against the Titans. They are right on the brink of falling into a hole they won't get out of.

29. Miami Dolphins (0-3) (Previous rank: 26): A lot of people got on the Ronnie Brown bandwagon before the season started and in Sunday's game he proved why. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough. Despite Brown, and a good day by Trent Green, Miami couldn't cool the Jets. This game falls on the shoulders of Miami's special teams. In close contests, specials teams will make or break victory.

30. Atlanta Falcons (0-3) (Previous rank: 28): On the bright side, Joey Harrington had his best game since being named Atlanta's starter, on the bad side, everything else. A solid effort by their quarterback was wasted when Atlanta's defense couldn't stop the run and their cornerback couldn't stop committing penalties. They were close, but no cigar...and no tally mark in the win column either.

31. St Louis Rams (0-3) (Previous rank: 30): Despite decent numbers by Steven Jackson, the St. Louis offense is just plain offensive: Marc Bulger's 3 interceptions and 116 passing yards is a good way to get him MVP...of the other team. This ball club looks 180 degrees different than they did last year at this time.

32. Buffalo Bills (0-3) (Previous rank: 31): Their offense is awful, and their defense, having to play most of the game, is just plain tired. It seems that Buffalo can't get it going. Sure, they were playing New England, one of the best teams in the league, but these Bills don't even look like they could play football better than the original Patriots. You know, the ones led by Thomas Jefferson.

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://www.milleniumlimo.com. An avid sports fan, she likes the Miami Dolphins but her heart belongs to the Denver Broncos.

New Orleans Saints

The NFL tournaments are something which whole America goes crazy for. NFL or the National Football League is the biggest and the professional American football league. This league was formed by eleven teams as American professional football association in 1920 and in 1922 the name of the league has changed to NFL. At present there are around thirty two professional teams from United States playing under this league.

There are many teams that play in NFL and the New Orleans saints is one of the most popular team among all football teams in NFL. This team is not new to the national football league history. The New Orleans saints tickets hit the market for the first time in the 1967 because The New Orleans saints team joined the NFL in the same year. This is the American professional team from New Orleans Louisiana. This team really got on a roll in the year 1990 and saints won their first division title in 1991 and challenged regularly for the playoffs throughout that decade. This team won their first playoff game in the year 2000. If you want to see sports and culture combined into one passionate environment then you should see a football game in New Orleans by using NFL tickets. The New Orleans Saints play their home games from the Louisiana superdome.

With the rise of this team, the demand for Saints tickets has also increased dramatically.

New Orleans Saints tickets will allow fans to see one of the most exciting games in the National Football League. One of the reasons why so many fans follow the New Orleans Saints game is because it's a game assured to be well fought and played hard. If the saints are known for one thing, it's for putting up an energetic fight on the field. They haven't been able to wrap up many big wins but they are known as spirited fighters and are recognized as a powerful challenger in NFL. The Saints' main rivals are the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Any face-off between these teams and them is always a treat to watch with the Saints always giving a good fight.

The Super Bowl is the annual football event that decides the champion among the teams of the NFL. The championship is always held in an American city. The winner of the American Football Conference plays against the winner of the National Football Conference. After the merger of the American Football League and the NFL, each side has won two championships each. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the reigners with six Super Bowl wins, just winning by one win over the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. The New Orleans Saints have still to make a mark in the Super Bowl. But looking at the way the team is performing, they are sure going to hit the football soon!

Eric Drouant is author of this article on Saints Tickets.

Find more information about NFL here.

Some Tips For Winning and Thriving in a Football Survivor Contest

The survivor contest has become a popular contest in football predictions. It is where you pick one team to win each week throughout the NFL season, and ignore the little details of how much a team wins by.

While the contest does not normally include the point spread, it is frequently just as difficult to pick the straight up winner each week throughout the regular season.

Predicting results in the NFL is usually all about picking that game's winner anyhow so the point spread is not that crucial. When you get into a survivor contest, the goal is to pick a single team to win each week during the season. Once a team has been used you cannot use them again, since you can only use that team one time for the season. This can make predicting winners at the end of a long season more difficult as many of the easy winning teams have already been used earlier. What things do you need to remember and how do you go about winning a survivor contest?

The first thing about a survivor contest is not to worry about saving squads for later in the season. Worry about the next week coming up and just pick the team you think will win this week. You cannot get picky if you want to survive. If you think the Colts will win at home vs Jacksonville then take them. Picking a home team when you're in a survivor contest is practically always a very good idea. Home teams win more than road squads and you cannot be guessing as to when a home team will lose.

If you cannot decide and are wondering which team to pick for a given week then remember to go with a losing team that is on the road. You may want to go against the Bills or the Lions if they are on the road. You truly do not want to be picking a match where the line is small, which is another thing to keep in mind with a survivor event. It is very difficult to decide on who will win if you have a match between Green Bay and Minnesota so just avoid that type of even match. Late in the season, if you are still alive in the survivor contest, keep in mind that playoff squads are not the ones to use. Teams that have already clinched a spot have nothing to play for, so you likely should not pick them for winning that week's game. They simply will not be as enthusiastic as a team fighting to earn their place in the playoffs, and they may even hold their best players in reserve to make sure they get enough rest before the post-season.

Keeping involved in NFL gambling throughout the season is simple and exciting with a survivor contest. See how long you are able to stay alive while you pick a single team each week to win its match-up. Keep some of these tips in mind as you look to win your survivor contest this season.

Michael runs a number of websites discussing various sports and games, from the NFL to the NBA and World Cup Soccer. You can visit his site here to read more about predictions for football games, as well as reviews of various match-ups as they are played throughout the season and playoffs: http://www.nflgamereview.com/

The Increasing Popularity of American Football

A couple decades back if you would happen to spark up a conversation with some random person who happened to be from another country about their favorite football team, most likely the first thought that would come to their mind would soccer for us Americans, also known as football around the world. Soccer is one of the world's most popular sports. No matter what distant land you may be in everyone loves and plays soccer, even countries like Iraq and Africa that seem to be constantly at war, with distant or neighboring countries or with poverty and starvation itself. But, in the past our American football has not been able to reach across these distant shores. Fortunately due to the ever increasing popularity of the sport more of our foreign friends around the world are beginning to take notice of the ever growing sport. Although the full contact sport is sometimes looked upon as brutal and barbaric from neighboring countries. The constant head to head action of the game is what can turn heads and catch the eye of said naysayers.

This is because football is like a living creature that is ever evolving into something that is faster and stronger more adapt, and slowly becoming a more efficient animal. By this I mean that with any game that deals with a lot of players all at once you are going to get many different players wall at once you are going to experience the many different emotions and attitudes of said players. This is because no matter how much you pay someone you can not change what kind of man "or woman"that person is. And after awhile of watching a game your own feelings somehow become wrapped up in the madness, the excitement, and the drama of the game. Before you know it you are wearing an NFL jersey and have thrown away your old sports bedding and replaced it with an NFL bedding set which you protect using duvet cover sets whenever company is around. That is why so many countries are beginning to support and recognize American football because of how it wraps you emotionally.

There is nothing better than coming home after a hard days work and relaxing on a beautiful bed set by le vele. Or do you just want to know more about duvet cover sets The beautiful vibrant colors mixed with the silk threading makes for a bed that welcomes you with arms wide open. So come to Multi Shop Stop to find duvet covers that will take your breath away

2009 NFL Season Win Total Predictions

With football coming on quickly, this is effective time to see what could materialize this fall on the gridiron. Future numbers are listed for each team. A year ago I focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were predicted to have 9 victories, and wrote: The Steelers had 10 wins in 2007 with the top ranked defense.

The offense was already effective (ranking third in rushing and 17th in total), with strong balance, and they gain Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall and Texas WR Limas Sweed. Mendenhall was a great pick and gives them a brute force back to go along with speedy RB Willie Parker.

They have a fantastic QB in Ben Roethlisberger, plus pass catchers Hines Ward and former Ohio State speedster Santonio Holmes. This team was superior at home at 7-2 SU, 6-3 ATS giving up just 13.8 ppg and again look like the top team in their division. Take the over nine victories. The result: This team went 12-4 on the way to yet another Super Bowl title.

For 2009 the Patriots are seeing their over/under set at 12 wins, while the New York Giants and Chargers are at ten . Various factors come into play when assessing futures, in addition to offseason moves. With that in mind, let s take a evaluate changes that took occurred with certain teams and how that might effect their status for the current futures odds.

Carolina Panthers (over/under 8.5 wins): Everyone remembers the awful playoff loss, when Jake Delhomme threw 5 interceptions in a 33-13 home loss to Arizona. What people forget is that Carolina was a dominant team, 12-4 during the year, gaining the No. 2 seed for the playoffs. They have balance on offense, with a strong offensive line and a power running back punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jon Stewart.

Plus, they gave 34-year-old Delhomme a five year contract worth more than $30 million to take his mind off any contract negotiations. When Delhomme is called upon to throw more than 30 passes, Carolina gone just 7-22, so Jon Fox knows the ground game is important. The defense is in good shape after re-signing Julius Peppers. The Panthers also re-signed cornerback Chris Gamble and offensive tackle Jordan Gross to multimillion-dollar offers before they would have become high-level free agents. Those moves are often overlooked when assessing a team s offseason transactions. Carolina looks very good once more; take Over 8.5 wins.

Chicago Bears (over/under 8 victories): All the buzz has been on new quarterback Jay Cutler, a big name who is just what the Bears have wanted for years. While QB is the most important position, he can t do it alone. And I see problems all over the roster for the Chicago Bears (including with their coaching staff).

The Bears were near the bottom in rushing a year ago, with no ground game and a weak offensive line. And who will Cutler have to catch the ball? Chicago is banking on significant production from several unproven guys at wide receiver in 2009. Earl Bennett is slotted to start with zero NFL receptions, first-year guys Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox are being counted on, leaving starter Devin Hester and veteran slot receiver Rashied Davis as the only trusted pass catchers. And Brandon Rideau could envision in the discussion, but he has almost no NFL experience.

On defense, the Bears ranked 21st overall and 30th against the pass in 2008, giving up a whopping 241 yards passing per game. DT Tommie Harris left knee makes you question what the team was thinking when they signed him to a contract extension last summer. Lovie Smith and the GM have done a awful job on personnel, the Bears didn t have a draft pick until the third round and don t have a first-rounder in the 2010 draft. The Cutler euphoria could go away quickly after a few big losses. Under 8 wins.

New Engand (over/under 12 wins): So which Patriots are going to show up? The juggernaut of 2007, or the injury-hampered group of 2008? Even without Tom Brady, they won 11 times last season, meaning they have averaged 13.5 wins the last two years in the regular season. The offense is stacked and all indications are that Brady is back at full strength.

The defense has a lot depth in the secondary, adding three 2nd and 3rd round picks, including second rounders safety Patrick Chung (Oregon) and CB Darius Butler (UConn). The Patriots were the 2nd highest scoring offense in the AFC in 2008, even without the 2007 MVP and his record 50 touchdowns. Have to think the division isn't going to be as good, as Miami won t sneak up on teams and have everything go their way, plus the Jets have a new coach and a rookie QB. The schedule is fairly easy, with the only difficult games as a visitor are at Indy and the Saints in November. Over 12 wins is more likely.

If you want to win with your football betting this season, then sign up for the football picks offered by our handicappers.

Tom Brady Brings AFC East Title to New England

With the regular season behind us now, it's time to look back at the NFL year that was. 2009 brought us many pleasant surprises, along with a couple of letdowns.

Let's take a look at the season that was to review a one of the highlights that made this a great year to be a football fan.

One of the biggest stories of the football season was the return of Tom Brady to New England. After leaving the first game of 2008 with an injury that kept him sidelined for the entire year, many wondered about the fate of the star quarterback who led his team to multiple Super Bowl wins.

The Pats were 16-0 in 2007, and with the addition of a few key players like Fred Taylor and Joey Galloway, many predicted that they'd return to form as the best team in the NFL with the return of their QB.

Brady showed signs of rust during the beginning of the year, but he quickly pulled it together and found his way. While he may not have been the wholly dominant QB that we saw in 2008 and some years past, he was still largely efficient and one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

The Patriots ended the season with a 10-6 record. While it was by no means anything that resembled their performance in 2008, it was good enough to with the AFC East division, securing a playoff berth for New England.

Where the team will go from here is anyone's guess, but one thing is for sure. Tom Brady and the Patriots seem to be playing some of their best football of the year as the season closes out.

Looking back to 2001, this is exactly how this team entered the playoffs when they surprised the football world by winning their first Super Bowl. Can history repeat itself?

Ken McCormick also writes about the granite sink and granite kitchen sinks.

With Satellite TV, Your Brain and Your Tube Can Be Friends

Most people choose to watch TV for entertainment purposes only: some movies, some sitcoms, etc., a distraction to lighten up the day. For this breed of TV-watcher, it can be perilous to engage in high doses of viewership. The results generally amount to the numbing of the brain, tired eyes, a blank facial expression, and overall lethargy. Not a pretty outcome. However, there are some people who seek to actively expand their brains by using the tube as a tool for their own benefit. It may sound odd, but it's true: there are loads of channels that offer only educational content, with some channels focusing in on specific age groups.

Satellite TV has made it easy for subscribers to use the tube as a tool, simply by putting the largest variety of educational content on the airwaves. Satellite TV providers have been collaborating with particular networks that have launched some of the most successful educational programs today, and networks that are planning to launch new programs. The response of the public-at least that which likes to learn while watching TV-has been overwhelmingly positive, and the trend seems to not only have taken root but furthermore to be expanding quite vigorously. Satellite is at the forefront of this process, and as far as I can tell, will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

Take the classic examples, like the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, the Science Channel, and Animal Planet: with these stalwarts, the vast majority of people have endless hours of learning to be had on topics that will both be familiar and completely unknown to you. Little kids and adults can both find shows that will draw them in and fascinate them with new information about interesting issues of the world around us.

But then you can get more specific, and match the viewers age to the content. Take Discovery Kids, for example, a channel that is intended for the 7-14 bracket. If you're trying to promote healthier TV-watching habits in your kids, then this is a great way to start. In fact, start right from the very beginning. The Learning Channel is directed at toddlers, and has six-hour stretches of commercial-free educational programming for the pint-sized ones every weekday, so that they get a start on life without all the bother and negative impact of advertising.

It doesn't hurt, of course, that a lot of these great educational channels are offered in HD. To be frank, there are plenty of specials which you'd be insane to miss in high definition! Like the Planet Earth special on the Discovery Channel, where, with high def, you'll really get to know the natural world in a way you didn't think possible. Or imagine the crisp detail of Hubble telescope images on a high def scree...priceless. Think of it as visually enhancing your learning experience. I think there's even pedagogical studies to back that theory up!

If you give a satellite connection a try, you'll end up learning just how incredibly much there is to learn on the TV.

Direct TV is the nation's leading provider of satellite television services. For the best in sports programming, movies, and high-definition entertainment, check out the many great Direct TV packages available right now.

BCS Football Standings Screwups - 2003 and 2004

The 2003 college football season was the first really controversial season for the Bowl Championship Series. Three teams: LSU, Oklahoma, and USC had only one loss and had every right to play in the championship game. BCS ranked USC third in the final polls despite gaining the top spot in both the AP and Coaches' polls. However, by being third in the BCS, they were left out of the final game. USC's win secured a share of the national title, but they were forced to share it with LSU automatically won the Coaches' poll by winning the BCS National Championship.

The next year, 2004, drew an even bigger dilemma. Three teams from BCS conferences all ended the season undefeated. USC won the Pac 10; Oklahoma won the Big 12, and Auburn won the SEC. Although the SEC was thought to be the toughest conference that year, Auburn was not highly rated at the beginning of the season, and never passed USC or OU in the BCS rankings. This left undefeated Auburn without a chance to play for the national title. USC then demolished OU 55-19, and the AP voted them number one, and Auburn was not even given a share of the title. Auburn ran through a gauntlet in the SEC, remained undefeated and was not even given an opportunity to play for the championship. Auburn went on to beat Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl to finish the season undefeated. Utah also went undefeated in 2004, but since they were from the smaller Mountain West Conference, they were overshadowed by the other three teams.

Auburn's biggest problem was they didn't look good enough in spring practice. Despite the BCS trying to limit preseason perceptions, USC and OU started the season number one and two, respectively, in the AP and Coaches' Polls, which count for two thirds of the BCS formula. Auburn began number 17 in the AP and 18 in the Coaches' poll. Despite winning all their games, they were never able to jump either USC or OU, and therefore shut out of the big game.

Bill Parks is a college football writer. He is the chief editor for a site which calculates BCS Rankings. For more great information on the BCS Football Standings visit http://www.whatifbcs.com

Understanding "March Madness"

Every year at this time the sports news is dominated by stories about March madness. This phenomenon occupies air waves of both radio and television as well as print space in the daily newspapers. Just what is the big deal, one may wonder?

The big deal is that March Madness is the process of elimination of the best college basketball teams in the country. It ultimately results in finding the "cinderella" team who will reign as champion of the National Colelgiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It is a wildly popular event in which people all over the country get involved by filling out the brackets for the teams they think will match-up against each other, who will win, who will lose and who the ultimate champion will be.

This event occurs during that "downtime" of the year between the end of the football season and the beginning of the baseball season. It is a lifesaver for avid sports fans who love to constantly have a team to be cheering for. March Madness becomes a fun form of recreation among family members and office employees who often wage bets on their personal selections.

The brackets are 65 slots which are to be filled in with ones' team choices. The first 30 slots are automatically given to those teams that have won their own particular conferences. Another automatic choice is the team who has won the Ivy League Division as they do not participate in any conference play. There are then 34 remaining bids which are extended to teams deemed qualified by a panel of 10 officials who select their choices based on the quality of wins, degree of difficulty of schedule and the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). The RPI is a fairly complicated formula which assesses various teams as to their winning percentages, their opponents winning percentages and their opponents' opponents average winning percentages. When these percentages are calculated, the teams with the highest RPI are the best teams.

As the weeks of March Madness progress, most of the teams lose and are eliminated resulting in the final four teams. This is the really big deal because as these teams continue in the play-offs it will result in the emergence of the winning team who is crowned as the NCAA champion. Dozens of college teams dream of this great honor and millions of enthusiastic fans delight in watching the process.

Nancy Smith is one of the owners of RobbinsSports.com, an online retailer specializing in volleyball nets and basketball backboards.

Yankees Might Be Staying Home in October

The New York Yankees are 134 games into the season and are six games behind the Boston Red Sox for a wild card spot. The Minnesota Twins are actually in second place, currently sitting three games ahead of the Yankees. This would be the first time in 13 years that the Bronx Bombers won't be on the diamond in the postseason, a fact that is a punch in the gut to Yankees fans that have grown accustomed to superstars and winning, but should put a smile on the face of most of the rest of baseball fandom.

There is also the possibility that Minnesota might overtake Boston for the wildcard spot, leaving the Red Sox out as well. The MLB playoff bracket hasn't been without the Yankees or Red Sox, which would be the first time since 1993. Boston is 21-16 since the all star break, losing Manny Ramirez in trade and J.D. Drew to injury along the way, though Jason Bay has done a nice job replacing Ramirez.

Minnesota is 22-17 since the break but have recently gotten ace Francisco Liriano back from the disabled list and he is undefeated with a .90 era in his five starts since returning.

The real story here is the Tampa Bay Rays, though. This is a team that started out hot and was expected to fade down the stretch. But, they just keep winning, thanks in large part to the great young arms of Andy Sonnanstine, Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza and Edwin Jackson.

They continue throwing well, and with Carlos Pena doing his usual thing of tearing the cover off the ball in the second half of the season, there's no reason to think the Rays won't hold on and win the American League East. Their current lead is 4 1/2 games over the Red Sox.

The rest of the American League side of the MLB playoff bracket has the Angels leading in the West by 16 games over the Rangers and the White Sox leading the Twins by a single game.

The National League side of the MLB playoff bracket shapes up like this:

The Mets lead the Phillies by 2 games in the East, the Cubs are 6 1/2 games up on the Brewers in the Central, and The Diamondbacks are ahead of the Dodgers by 3 1/2 games. In the wild card standings, the Brewers lead the Cardinals by 4 1/2 and the Phillies by 5 1/2 games.

It should be a fantastic September once again for Major League Baseball, with a number of pennant races still close and the possibility of the three most dominant teams over the last decade - the Yankees, Red Sox, and Braves - staying home in October. Baseball seems to do the least of the four major American sports to prevent parody, thanks to allowing teams to exceed the salary cap claiming profit sharing will make up the difference, but this year it may have to succumb any way.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about baseball [http://topsportsnews.info/yankees-might-be-staying-home-in-october] visit Top Sports News [http://topsportsnews.info] for current articles and discussions.

Get Your College Basketball Brackets Ready!

As March Madness approaches, college students, alumni and fans alike prepare for another year of intense match ups. 64 teams of Division 1 basketball are about to square off to determine who the #1 team in the nation is. This is the time of year when basketball becomes more abundant on ESPN and the coverage shifts from football to college basketball followed by the NBA playoffs.

I grew up in an area in North Carolina where you are surrounded by fanatics of Duke, UNC, NC State, Wake Forrest and UNC Charlotte. I recall going to my friend's house and stacking up two to three television sets beside each other in order to cram in as much basketball as possible. We would all sit around with our brackets and cheer for teams we new little about. Thanks to modern television, I can get a split screen of 4 games at one time with Mega March Madness on my Directv account. My television is a lot bigger then it was back then and splitting the screen into 4 still has great clarity.

Keeping up with the standings is important to many fanatics and it becomes increasingly hard if you move away from your local team. There is a small fee to get Mega March Madness included with your programming options but it is definitely worth it. I get ESPN Full Court which broadcast up to 30 games each week during the regular season. You would think that I would be satisfied with that but it only increases my need for the playoff match-ups. Thanks to being able to see most of the games during the season, I have an advantage over all my friends when it comes to team strength. I am also able to carry on conversations about almost anyone's team. Television as become more and more user friendly over the last few years. Thanks to satellite, we can now watch out teams even if we do not live close enough to get the direct feed. The number of HD college basketball feeds is increasing as well which ads to the excitement.

Whitney Alen is a Direct TV expert and has over 10 years experience in the satellite tv industry.

Watch NFL Games From Internet - Watch Free Football Matches Online

How do you watch NFL on your computer

The new technology of internet TV has enabled more than 5 million people in the USA alone to watch satellite TV on their PCs. I personally tried watching the internet TV after I couldn't manage to convince my family that my NFL playoffs were a matter of life and death. There is nothing as hard as convincing your kids or your wife that the family TV is better when used to watch sports like the NFL games.

Try reasoning with them and you will get to know why you get to buy the TVs but forfeit the right to watch it the minute it gets home. At home you are considered an adult and adults don't watch TV... your kid will reason out, and sorry no watching your game tonight.

National Football League on your pc

It was the beginning of last years NFL playoffs and I could not get an opportunity to watch the games from the family TV. I bought one of those satellite TV softwares and installed it in my laptop. The software has made it possible for me to watch the National Football League matches from virtually anywhere. Whenever there is a game, all I do is go to my home office, laptop in tow; connect it to the internet and use the already installed software to watch all my matches in the privacy of my home office.

Sometimes when I'm feeling abit tired, I decide to watch the playoffs from my bedroom. All I need is to extend the internet cable into my bedroom.

These online TV services are also available for you if you want to catch the NBA or NFL games without making enemies with everyone else at home. Or better still if you are traveling and want to watch favorite football games on the internet. I want to show you the service that I have been using to connect to internet TV so that you may also be able to enjoy your games in private.

Satellite TV Softwares for Watching the NFL Series

There are many online TV softwares being sold on the internet which are just BS. You see, internet TV reception is a tricky affair and most of these companies haven't really mastered how to deliver quality picture and sound. Most of them don't even care the quality of service you get after you buy their "software".

I want to assure you that there are still a few good companies that pioneered the development of satellite TV softwares. These offer good service and the quality of their programs is high. Finding the good ones can however be a challenge that may take you forever before getting the right company.

Watching the NFL games with PC 2007Elite Edition

The service that I have relied upon to watch my NFL games is the Elite Edition 2007. They have many sports channels including the NFL playoffs among the many other thousands channels. In addition, the company has also put together radio stations, which you can listen to as you work at home or in the office. The variety of sports channels include ESPN, Euro sports and other extreme sports not shown on normal TV like raw Thailand kickboxing and others.

I used this service last year to watch the super bowl and the other matches of the NFL Series without skipping a single playoff. The good thing is that I was able to record the semis and the finals into my laptop which I kept rerunning way past the end of the season.

In addition I also get to watch many other TV channels including educational, shopping, science, geographical, music videos, among many others. The software also has TV channels from over 70 other countries around the world and in different languages. There are also many soccer channels from Europe, Americas, and Africa.

All this variety in TV channels has a set up cost of $49.95 for the initial start up. The company does not charge any other monthly fees ever after the initial charge. The $49.95 is all you will ever need to pay to watch all the NFL games you want and in a way seems like a steal of a deal.

You can get the same service that I'm enjoying instantly by following the links "RIGHT HERE!" Robert is a self-confessed fan of TV and writes free TV over internet review articles. Or grab the "SATELLITE TV FOR PC 2007 ELITE EDITION"

Beat the NFL Bookies

Take a breather. The dog days of summer have come and gone.

Thermometers might disagree, but sports bettors should be notified that the best action of the summer is fast approaching.

Bettors typically grow tired of Major League Baseball's regular season monotony by the end of July. Then, like a cool sea breeze, the NFL blesses bored bettors with a breath of fresh air.

NFL training camps opened for the season on July 27. Over the following two weeks, teams begin a grueling schedule of curfews, diets, and two-a-days to get in shape for the upcoming season. In the following month, all 32 NFL teams will work toward making the playoffs.

The NFL begins its pre-season this week. This time of year is without question the best kept secret in sportsbook wagering.

Most NFL fans know that very little can be learned from pre-season games. The main purpose for the scrimmage-style contests is for coaches to make starting lineup evaluations. Last year's starters are only on the field for a few plays, mainly to avoid getting rusty for the pending season. While they see their only bench time of the season, reserve players and rookies get the majority of snaps, hoping that their performance will earn them a roster spot.

For the first (and only) time of the NFL season, line makers have no advantage. They are creating lines blindly, forced to set the spread as if the games are regular-season contests.

The reason they are in this situation is simple. No consideration can be made on their part for how reserve players and rookies play. How can bookies create an accurate line when players they haven't seen play are taking the snaps?

Example. When the St. Louis Rams play the Kansas City Chiefs on August 23, the spread and over/under will be set assuming that KC's defense (one of the five WORST in 2003) is lining up for each snap against St. Louis' high flying passing attack, which ranked third in 2003.

The spread for this contest could favor St. Louis (for this example, we'll say it does). The Rams' three-headed offensive monster (quarterback Marc Bulger; receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt) likely will not play past halftime. Also, KC's one-man offensive machine, running back Priest Holmes, should see more bench than turf. These two events make the game wide open. Your guess about the outcome is as good as the bookies.

The second half should see the field full of unproven players. Who knows where the game will go from there? Will it be a low-scoring contest, or a barnburner? No one can be totally sure. This comes as great news for bettors, and bad news for bookies.

"The NFL pre-season is easily the most unpredictable time for offshore sportsbooks," said Anthony Wayne, marketing director for EWINNER.com. "Very often, the field is full of players who have similar skills. Without big game playmakers on the field, how are line makers supposed to know who the favorite will be?"

Following below are several pre-season contests which could prove to be very beneficial to the sports bettor. Strike while the iron is hot. (All spread statistics courtesy of Gold Sheet):

New York Giants at Carolina Panthers, 8/19, 8pm on FOX: New York finished a dismal 4-12 last year, and failed to cover the spread in their final eight games However, they have reloaded by acquiring quarterback Kurt Warner as a mentor to rookie quarterback Eli Manning, and have a new coach, former Jaguars leader Tom Coughlin. Coughlin is a pre-season safe bet, with a 16-8-1 exhibition record against the spread.

With the exception of their offensive line, Carolina has maintained most of the lineup which won the NFC championship last season. The Panthers have covered the spread in their last five pre-season contests, but four of them were as the underdog. During the 2003 regular season, they went 3-9 when favored.

Bet on: Coughlin and his G-men, especially if Carolina is favored.

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens, 8/12, 8pm on ESPN: After an off-season of drastic changes, Atlanta has nothing to do but improve after finishing 2003 with the league's worst defense. New coach Jim Mora, Jr. is going to put some youth in their booth, and with Michael Vick healthy, 2004's Falcons should play more like 2002's playoff team. During Vick's first two seasons, Atlanta was 7-1 during exhibition season; last season, they went 0-4 (Vick broke his leg in Atlanta's second pre-season game).

Baltimore should be the beast of the AFC North this year, as well as a contender for the Super Bowl from week one. Quarterback Kyle Boller will be a year learned, and their top rushing offense (thanks to marathon HB Jamal Lewis), will be complimented by newly acquired wideout Kevin Johnson. This team should improve on last season's 10-6 record, as their storied defense remains one of the NFL's fiercest. Head Coach Brian Billick is 11-4 career in exhibition games against the spread, and is 6-2 as the underdog. Last year, the Ravens only went 1-3.

Bet on: Atlanta if Vick is healthy. Keep an eye on Baltimore, especially if they are the underdog.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles, 8/26, 8pm on ESPN: Pittsburgh has a lot to recover from after last season; mainly injuries. Their offense was only imposing on paper, thanks to injuries on the offensive line and a lack of carries for "The Bus" (Jerome Bettis), who only averaged 3.3 yards per touch. Head coach Bill Cowher has turned into a perennial pre-season choke artist. Last year, his team was 0-4 heading into the regular season, and they have had trouble covering the spread in past seasons as well (0-4 the last two seasons at home versus the spread).

Philadelphia is once again the favorite to go to the Super Bowl in the NFC. They addressed their two most pending needs in the off-season, adding wideout Terrell Owens and defensive end Jevon Kearse. The Eagles also have a tendency to choke. Unfortunately, the pre-season is no different. For his career, coach Andy Reid is 2-7 in exhibitions when favored at home.

Bet on: Philly. These games don't count. They're less likely to blow it.

Tennessee Titans at Dallas Cowboys, 8/30, 8pm on ABC: The Titans cut a lot of salary (and talent) in the off-season, but they will still find a way to compete for the playoffs thanks to ironman QB Steve McNair. Tennessee's 13 draft picks will see a ton of snaps before the season starts, as this team attempts to gel into a solid unit. A virtual lock in exhibitions, the Titans covered all four games last pre-season against the spread, and over the last four schedules are 7-1 in away exhibitions. As an underdog, they are more of a sure bet, a perfect 6-0.

Eddie George, a Titan as late as July, now runs for Dallas. George should carry a large chip on his shoulder after being one of Tennessee's salary cap casualties. The 2004 Cowboys will also feature wideout Keyshawn Johnson, and rookie QB/retired minor league baseball player Drew Henson. Henson is going to see quite a lot of snaps in exhibitions to get rid of his diamond rust. Dallas was 10-6 last season, which is Bill Parcell's best first season record as a head coach. However, quality opponents (teams with a winning record) went 4-2 against them last season, 3-1 against the spread.

Bet on: Titans. With their record in the pre-season, and Dallas' tendency to lose to good teams, this should be a sure win.

For more information on NFL wagering, plus links to preferred online sportsbooks, check out Bet-Online-Sports.

Jonathan Bentz graduated from West Virginia University on the four year plan. He was once a stringer and wire contributor for the AP at WVU football and basketball games; now he provides internet marketing services for a Pennsylvania-based company called ProspectMX. Some say Jay-Z bit his style, and Tom Cruise has recently been cast to star in his biopic, due next Christmas. He bleeds BLUE and GOLD, pays homage to Mike Gansey with every 3-ball he swishes, and dreams of being the first whiteboy to dunk a 720.

2008 Philadelphia Eagles Preview

A look back at the 2007 Philadelphia Eagles who finished 8-8 last season and at the bottom of the NFC East was viewed as a disappointment with a solid team all around and a playoff visit the year before. The Eagles were again plagued by the lack of a playmaker other than Brian Westbrook.

During the off-season the Philadelphia Eagles lost 4 key veterans in William James, CB; Jevon Kearse, DE; Takeo Spikes, LB; Thomas Tapeh, RB but countered by adding Rocky Boiman, LB; Lorenzo Booker, RB; Chris Clemons, DE; Dan Klecko, FB; Luke Lawton, FB; Asante Samuel, CB; Kris Wilson, TE

The Philadelphia Eagles top 4 draft picks during the 2008 NFL draft were: 2 47 Trevor Laws DT 6-1 304 Notre Dame; 2 49 DeSean Jackson WR 6-0 178 California; 3 80 Bryan Smith OLB 6-2 228 McNeese St.; 4 109 Mike McGlynn OT 6-5 318 Pittsburgh

Keys and Questions to the 2008 season for the Philadelphia Eagles:
1. Will Quaterback Donovan McNabb stay healthy?
2. Can they develop another offensive weapon other than Running Back Brian Westbrook?
3. Special teams must improve, field position is key for a great defensive team.
4. Can the cornerback tandem live up to the hype?

Odds makers have set the Philadelphia Eagles 2008 season Odds To Win NFC East at Philadelphia Eagles +400 Odds To Win Super bowl at Philadelphia Eagles +1700

Prediction for the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles is 8-8 and 3rd place in the NFC East. With the lack of offensive weapons it will be hard going for a great defensive team to stay off the field and thus wearing them down throughout the game.

Bang The Book NFl free picks forum, find daily sports betting previews, bookmaker reviews and weekly handicapping articles.

Down Year For the NFC East & End of the Year Predictions

Coming into the season, this figured to be a tough division filled with a lot of experience and fire power. The NFC East has always been viewed as a physical division and usually comes down to the final weekend to decide the division winner. The NFC East has endured great success over the last couple of years due to the Eagles dominance and the Giants Super Bowl run. However, this year all four teams have been mediocre at best.

As of today, the Cowboys sit on top of the division at 7-3, followed by the Eagles and Giants at 6-4, and the Redskins at 3-7. Let's take a closer look at each team individually and my overall predictions.

Dallas Cowboys (7-3)

The Cowboys barely pulled out a win against the lowly Redskins this past Sunday. This was an all around ugly game and neither team looked like it wanted to win. The Cowboys scored on a late Tony Romo touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton to win 7-6. This team has shown that they are very inconsistent and have scored a combined 14 points in the last two weeks. Defenses appear to have figured out Miles Austin and the three-headed monster running game has not been anything spectacular. The defense has become the Cowboys best asset this season and they will have to rely on this to make any sort of late season run.

Remaining Games: OAK, @ NYG, SD, @ NO, @ WAS, PHI

Prediction: Outside of OAK and WAS, this is a pretty tough schedule. Cowboys have struggled in December games and Romo has not won the big game in December and January. I think the Cowboys can pull off 4 victories in their final 6 games. This will put them at 10-6.

Result: Wild Card birth

Philadelphia Eagles (6-4)

This team has been night and day. One week they look as though they can compete for a Super Bowl and the next they don't even look like a playoff team. Having lost the past two weeks, the Eagles were in a "must win" situation Sunday night against the struggling Chicago Bears. They were able to handle business and squeak out a 24-20 win on Sunday night. Again, it wasn't the prettiest win, but they finally got the job done in the red zone and put together a Sunday night victory. The Eagles have the most talented offense in the division, but have been inconsistent in the red zone. Like many teams, the Eagles have been hurt with the injury bug, especially on defense. In order to make a run, this team must rely on their talent on both sides of the ball because they lack the veteran leadership they had last year.

Remaining Games: WAS, @ ATL, @ NYG, SF, DEN, @ DAL

Prediction: Although this team has been up and down all season, one thing remains: This team wins in December. Look for this trend to continue. Out of the three contenders in the division, the Birds have the easiest remaining schedule due to the recent struggles of the Broncos. I think the Eagles continue with their winning ways in December and reel off 5 wins in the final 6 games. That Dallas game at the end of the season will clinch the division for the Eagles at a record of 11-5.

Result: NFC East Champions

New York Giants (6-4)

This team started off so strong and looked poised for another Super Bowl run. These hopes quickly disappeared as the G-Men went on a 4 game losing skid. Coming off a much needed bye week, the Giants took on the Atlanta Falcons on what was considered a "must win" situation to stay in the hunt for the division. While it looked as if the Giants may lose their 5th game in row, they were able to pull out a win in overtime to improve to 6-4. Coming into the season, the Giants were thought to have the best line on both sides of the ball in the division. Their defensive line which has been the team's number one strength over the past few years has struggled somewhat this season. The offense has really improved without Plax, but the Giants need to improve their running game.

Remaining Games: @ DEN, DAL, PHI, @ WAS, CAR, @ MIN

Prediction: This team is really struggling at the wrong time. They did not look too impressive against the Falcons and I am not sure if they have enough to get to the playoffs this year. If they can beat the Broncos they should get 4 more wins and put them at 10-6. However, I think they lose to Broncos and wind up going 3-3 in the final 6 games. This would leave them at an overall record at 9-7.

Result: Out of the playoffs

Washington Redskins (3-7)

Once again Mr. Snyder made a big splash in free agency by acquiring DT Albert Haynesworth. Not sure when the spending spree will end in Washington but these acquisitions never seem to go according to plan. With the team sitting at 3-7, the 'Skins will be watching the playoffs from home again this season. Jason Campbell and the offense have struggled mightily this season. I expect big changes in the offseason for this team and it has to start with the coach, Jim Zorn. With a pretty decent QB class coming out of the draft, I look for this team to take a top quarterback. The Redskins will be playing spoiler the rest of the season. If this team wants to compete anytime soon, serious changes must be made on both sides of the ball. The defense has been decent this season but the offense has sputtered all season. This is not a good football team, and they appear to have already booked their offseason vacation plans.

Remaining Games: @ PHI, NO, @ OAK, NYG, DAL, @ SD

Prediction: Do not expect much from this team during the final 6 games. Injuries are mounting on offense and with the team knowing a coaching change is on the horizon this team will just give up. Expect them to fight but let's be honest this team is not very good. I expect 1-2 victories depending on if SD has the division locked going into the final week. I will give the 'Skins 2 more wins which finishes this miserable season at 5-11.

Result: Out of the playoffs.

How do you see the rest of the season playing out?

http://www.BirdsFan.com - A Philadelphia Eagles blog