Pac-12 still fourth in power rankings

The Big 12 has overtaken the SEC in ESPN Stats & Information's Conference Power Rankings, while the Pac-12 is again fourth.

The Pac-12, however, joined the Big 12 as the only two conferences that went up last week. The Pac-12 is behind the No. 3 Big Ten by only 6.2 points after being behind 22 points last week.

Why did the Big Ten fall?

Losses by Wisconsin and Illinois also hurt the Big Ten’s ranking. Just two weeks ago the Big Ten had three undefeated teams (Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois), which was tied for the most of any conference after six weeks. Today, no team in the Big Ten is undefeated or ranked in the top eight of the AP Poll.

The Pac-12 is ahead of the fifth-place ACC by 14.4 points. Last week, the margin was 9.2.

Why is the Big 12 higher than the SEC?

Seven of the Big 12’s 10 teams have two or fewer losses, and all seven of those schools received at least 25 points in the AP Poll.

In comparison, five of the SEC’s 12 teams have two or fewer losses and only six SEC teams received AP votes.

The computers favor the Big 12 over the SEC as the Big 12’s average computer ranking is 8.5 points higher than the average SEC ranking. Oklahoma State is the top-ranked team in the nation according to the BCS computers.

ConferenceAP RankComputers RankOverall RatingOverall RankingRt Change

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Buccaneers Still Making Tweaks After Big Victory

Coming off a 45-point setback at San Francisco, the Bucs jumped headfirst back into the NFC South race Sunday by grinding out a 26-20 win over New Orleans.

Tampa's season outlook was shaky at best a week ago thanks to inconsistent quarterback play, a defense stuck in the middle pack among its peers and key injuries to running back LeGarrette Blount and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.

Now heading into this week's trip to London for a matchup with Chicago, the Bucs are hoping the resolve they showed on both sides of the ball against the Saints will go a long way in changing the early perceptions about them.

"I got a bunch of tough guys on this football team and no matter what happens, anybody may be considered a star," Morris said. "It's always going to be the next man theory...These guys know how to move on to the next game."

Tampa entered the New Orleans game ranked just 23rd in total defense and 20th in offense, but played well above those numbers Sunday.

The improvement was particularly noticeable on defense where the Bucs forced four turnovers — including three interceptions of Saints quarterback Drew Brees — while allowing New Orleans a touchdown on just one of its four red zone opportunities.

Tampa is now plus-2 in turnover margin for the season and was the biggest takeaway from the win, Morris said, for a unit that played without McCoy, who was out with an ankle injury.

"We're streaky I guess, we're like John Starks, we come out hot some days and some days we're not," Morris said. "But we are on fire and back in, we got the hop-step we've been missing the last couple of weeks, and that's what we've got to be."

Avoiding turnovers was also key for Tampa's offense and they were turnover-free thanks to one of quarterback Josh Freeman's best efforts of the season.

He completed just 23 of 41 passes, but had two touchdown passes and 303 passing yards. His final quarterback rating for the day was a less than stellar 95.9, but well above the season average of 74.1 he entered the game with.

His leadership was needed without the services Sunday of Blount, who sat out with a knee injury. He will likely miss his second straight game this week.

Earnest Graham did play well in Blount's place, rushing for 109 yards. But at 31 years old and in his eighth season the Bucs probably can't count on that production on a weekly basis if Blount doesn't return to action quickly.

Still, Graham said he's ready to step in as long as he's needed to, but isn't focusing on having to fill that role long term.

"I never felt entitled to being the starting running back or to anything," Graham said. "When you feel that way and just handle your work and handle your career, you want to be able to step up and be ready when it's time."

Freeman said the pieces are certainly there for the Bucs to be playoff team, though there is still a lot of room for growth as they continue a challenging six-game stretch against teams with a combined record of 24-11.

"We're a young team, we're a good team, but at the same time, it comes down to preparation and execution and if we can keep that at a high level," Freeman said. "It's Week 6, nothing's decided at this point, and every win is extremely valuable."

Cornerback E.J. Biggers said it's why nobody in the Bucs' locker room thinks that all of their early season issues are completely behind them.

"We left some plays out there on the field," he said. "It's going to be like that every game. Something going to happen that you could correct and get better at. We are going to do that and get better and keep growing as a team." __

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Data Points: Brady still on pace for 7,000

Published: September 27th, 2011 | Tags: Data Points, Dan Marino, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, Tony Romo

Last week, we told you that five quarterbacks, after two weeks, were on pace to shatter Dan Marino’s single-season passing yards record. Well, now that three games are in the books, there still are five passers on pace to beat that mark.

Marino’s record of 5,084 yards was set back in1984. Patriots QB Tom Brady remains on pace to throw for a preposterous 7,077 yards. Meanwhile, the five names on this list aren’t exactly the same as last week — Tony Romo dropped off the pace while Lions QB Matt Stafford has entered the picture.

In all, there are nine QBs averaging at least 300 yards per game so far in 2011.

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DE Kampman Still Not Ready to Go; Won’t Play Sunday vs Carolina

The Jaguars will be without defensive end Aaron Kampman for at least another week.

Kampman is making progress in his return from knee surgery, but he’s still not ready to play and will miss Sunday’s game at Carolina. It will be the 17th game in which he has been sidelined during the last three seasons.

Kampman said “we’re making good ground, we’re definitely climbing” on his rehabilitation.

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Kelly: 'I still believe in this team'

A previously unthinkable 0-2 start does not have Brian Kelly ready to give up on Notre Dame two weeks into the second year of his tenure as the Fighting Irish's head coach.

Not when his team has put up 1,022 yards of total offense, production outdone only by the head-scratching mistakes that have led to 10 turnovers and 17 penalties over 120 minutes of game action.

[+] Enlarge Matt Cashore/US PresswireBrian Kelly says it's the little things that are keeping his team from reaching its potential."I think when we came out of preseason camp we felt like we had the chance to be a good team," Kelly said during a teleconference Sunday. "And so when you put that modifier in front, 'chance,' to be a good team, I can see those things in practice, I can see those things in the development of our players. But that chance to be a good team is everything you just mentioned — those turnovers, the little detail things. And until we can clean up those detail things, we can't be a good team.

"I still believe in this team, I still believe we'll be a good football team. But the chance to be a good team is all the things that we're doing right now. We're not giving ourselves a chance to be a good football team."

The challenges of getting a team over the hump may draw greater pressure at a school such as Notre Dame, the third-winningest program in FBS history and a team that had its sights set on a BCS bowl two short weeks ago.

Kelly downplayed that notion, saying he has come across challenges at each one of his three previous head-coaching stops.

"Not one school is the same," he said. "I had challenges at all the schools that I've been at in terms of getting a team over those inherent challenges, and there are inherent challenges here. But we'll get through those as well. And the product that we're putting out on the field, I understand we've gotta win and our players wanna win.

"We're not, we got a chance to be a good team. We can't be a good team until we take care of the little things that are popping up. It's pretty clear that until we get those things taken care of on Saturdays, we'll be a mediocre football team."

When asked if he felt the Irish were close or far from being a good team, Kelly pointed to the demanding early-season schedule, saying his team's mistakes were magnified because of the spotlight it was playing under.

Other schools, he said, have gotten by unscathed by the public.

"We've made so many mistakes against two pretty tough teams coming out," Kelly said. "Again, as you see the schedule, Ohio State's playing Toledo. I mean, teams are playing easy games early on in the schedule. We don't get that luxury. We gotta go play in front of 115,000, and those mistakes get, obviously, they're more glaring against opponents that are physically pretty good as well.

"I believe that we're gonna be a good football team. We won't be until we clean up the little things that keep popping up on Saturdays."

-- On personnel matters, Kelly said tight end Mike Ragone (knee) and linebacker Danny Spond (hamstring) would undergo MRIs. He also said the staff decided to move Theo Riddick from punt returns because it thought both those duties and his wide receiver duties were too much for him.

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Receiver position still a problem for Ravens

Published: January 15th, 2011 | Tags: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Anquan Boldin, Antonio Brown, David Reed, Derrick Mason, Donte' Stallworth, Emmanuel Sanders, Haloti Ngata, Jared Gaither, Marshal Yanda, Michael Oher, Mike Wallace

Ravens WRs Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh wanted more targets this season, but both suffered huge drops in the team’s loss to the Steelers. Boldin dropped a touchdown late in the fourth quarter and Houshmandzadeh dropped a game-preserving pass.

Even with these big-name acquisitions, the Ravens still need help at receiver and especially one who can stretch the field.

The Steelers big plays were the result of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders stretching the field, even when Baltimore’s defense targeted Mike Wallace and forced the Steelers to beat them with the youngsters. They did, especially Brown on a huge third-and-19 play.

The Ravens need a receiver who can do the same.

Donte’ Stallworth was supposed to be the guy to stretch the defense for the Ravens, but he was unable to catch on and never gained the team’s trust, relegated to running reverses down the stretch.

The Ravens will likely commit a high draft pick on a wideout who can stretch the field — and Stallworth and Houshmandzadeh likely won’t be back.

The Ravens also need their young tight ends to step up and David Reed, a rookie who was inactive today with a concussion, is somebody they are high on. Reed can absorb the routes now run by Houshmandzadeh and Derrick Mason. They believe he will be a player.

Some other things the Ravens need to do in the coming offseason:

The Ravens will extend the contract of DT Haloti Ngata, a top personnel priority for them. The Ravens also will extend the contract of coach John Harbaugh, the highest organizational priority.

The new collective bargaining agreement will have a lot to say if T Jared Gaither stays. Michael Oher had an up-and-down season at left tackle, and Gaither’s absence forced them to use Marshal Yanda, an excellent guard, at tackle all season.

The team also wants to add another pass rusher and corner.

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Packers QB Rodgers May Still Try and Go Sunday vs Patriots

Aaron Rodgers may be listed as doubtful to play Sunday night at New England, but today in the locker room he seemed to give indications that he would do what he could to try and take the field.

Rodgers was upbeat after practice, and asked if he might play Sunday night, the quarterback didn’t say a word but flashed a smile and shrugged his shoulders. Coach Mike McCarthy also isn’t ruling him out for the critical contest that could put a dagger in the Packers playoff chances.

“The door is open for Aaron Rodgers to play in the game,” McCarthy said. Rodgers didn’t practice this week, but McCarthy said the he is progressing in his recovery from the head injury that knocked him out of the loss at Detroit last Sunday.

“He’s working his way through the process,” McCarthy said. “There are stages that you work through. But he’s making progress, and I talked to him today. He looks good (and) would like to play.”

Although McCarthy said the team has been preparing since Monday to have Matt Flynn make his first NFL start, the coach stopped short of naming a starter for the game against the Patriots.

McCarthy is hoping to make that decision by Saturday, after he waits to see how Rodgers checks out with further mandatory post-concussion evaluations and testing administered by Packers team doctor John Gray as well as an independent neurologist.

“Number one, he has to be cleared medically, and Dr. John Gray will have the final say on that,” McCarthy said. “And if he does make it to that point, then myself will make a decision on whether he plays or not. Right now, he’s still working through the medical part.”

Rodgers suffered his first concussion in an overtime loss at Washington on Oct. 10. He was cleared to return to practice four days later and made the start in Green Bay’s next game.

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Brian Kelly still confident in Dayne Crist

Notre Dame will scrimmage on Saturday and head full bore into preparation for Miami, its opponent in the Dec. 31 Hyundai Sun Bowl, on Monday. But the question that holds the most intrigue for the Irish -- and the one I hear most from fans -- is who will be quarterbacking this team in 2011.

Dayne Crist was the unquestioned starter this year. But after he blew out his knee, true freshman Tommy Rees went 3-0 as the starter. Then there are freshmen Andrew Hendrix and Luke Massa, who have redshirted this year but could be ready to compete in the spring. Head coach Brian Kelly was asked on Friday if the quarterback situation for 2011 was murky, but he chose to look at it a different way.

"I think we have a lot of players we believe we can develop into being frontline quarterbacks," he said. "We clearly have a number of quarterbacks who will be competitive, and that's exciting for me."

Of course, Crist first needs to get healthy before he can re-enter the equation. Kelly said Crist dealt with an infection in his repaired knee that set back his rehabilitation process about a week to 10 days but that otherwise he should be fine by the time the season starts. Kelly stopped short of naming Crist the starter next year but indicated that he may be tough to beat out.

"If he comes back physically able to compete at the highest level, he's got obviously a great deal of experience," Kelly said. "There was a lot of time we spent together, a lot of information he's been able to digest in his first year as a starter. As long as he's physically able to come back -- and I believe he will; he's a tough kid, now -- he's got a great amount of experience that will serve him well."

Kelly said he thought Crist had some mental hurdles to get over last year while rehabbing another knee injury. Crist had to deal with wearing a knee brace and having confidence on it. This time around, Kelly said "there's a different look in his eye. He's like, 'Coach, I will get through this and be stronger because of it.'"

In the meantime, Rees still is the starter and will likely be under fire from Miami's athletic, aggressive defense. Kelly said it will be crucial for Rees to get rid of the ball quickly out of the shotgun, something he has done extremely well in his three starts.

Time will tell if this is the beginning of the Rees era or merely an interruption of Crist's starting career.

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Got Hillis? Chances are, you’re still in contention

Published: December 16th, 2010 | Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, Antonio Gates, Arian Foster, Ben Tate, Chris Johnson, Darren McFadden, DeAngelo Williams, frank gore, Joe Webb, Michael Vick, Peyton Hillis, Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Ray Rice, Ryan Grant

In fantasy football, having a successful draft and being active on the waiver wire are vital to fielding a competitive team that has a chance to win a league championship. Want proof? Check out the percentage of fantasy teams that are still in playoff contention heading into Week 15, based on the players those teams own.

All percentages are based on NFL.com’s standard fantasy leagues:

Peyton Hillis (69 percent): Two percent of leagues include a team that drafted Hillis. Two percent! That means he was a free agent in 98 percent of leagues! He’s been one of the single-biggest additions off the waiver wire based on our numbers. Michael Vick (64 percent): Vick’s ADP (average draft position) was Round 14, and he was a free agent in most leagues to start the season with Kevin Kolb named the starter for the Eagles. This proves how important it is to be diligent on the waiver wire throughout the season.Arian Foster (53 percent): Believe it or not, but Foster’s ADP was Round 9! Remember, rookie Ben Tate was also in the mix for the Texans before suffering an injured ankle. If you drafted Foster or added him off waivers, you made a brilliant move.Antonio Gates (52 percent): Gates was one of the best draft values of the season, at least until he suffered a foot ailment. Now his owners have to be very concerned.Aaron Rodgers (49 percent): Fantasy owners who have Rodgers could be in major trouble if he is unable to start against the Patriots in Week 15.Adrian Peterson (49 percent): The prospect of Joe Webb starting for the Vikings on Monday night is bad news for Peterson owners.Andre Johnson (43 percent): Johnson’s huge stat line in Week 14 helped countless fantasy owners move into the second round of the fantasy postseason.Darren McFadden (41 percent): McFadden has been on fire the past two weeks, and a favorable schedule down the stretch will help him lead countless owners to a title.Peyton Manning (40 percent): Despite his recent increase in interceptions thrown, Manning has still been an asset for fantasy owners overall.Ray Rice (39 percent): Rice’s ADP was 5.35, so he was a top-five pick in most NFL.com fantasy drafts. Obviously, he hasn’t lived up to that status.Chris Johnson (38 percent): Believe it or not, but 62 percent of leagues include a team that drafted C.J. but have been eliminated from the playoffs.Frank Gore (26 percent): Unfortunately, most fantasy owners who lost Gore a few weeks were not able to recover and make a championship run.Randy Moss (21 percent): Moss, who was the second wide receiver taken on average on NFL.com, has cost most fantasy owners a chance at winning a league title.DeAngelo Williams (16 percent): Williams (28.91 ADP) failed to rush for 100 yards or more in a single game before being lost for the season due to injury.Ryan Grant (15 percent): Owners who drafted Grant (32.44 ADP) obviously had a tough time overcoming his loss, as 85 percent of those teams are out of contention.

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Vincent Jackson: Chargers still an option for future

Published: December 14th, 2010 | Tags: Vincent Jackson, Fran Charles, NFL Total Access, San Diego Chargers

Chargers WR Vincent Jackson joined Fran Charles to discuss getting back on the field this season, the play of QB Philip Rivers and whether he thinks he could be back in San Diego next season.

Posted in: NFL Network  

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McNabb still starter, but booed at Wizards game

Published: December 15th, 2010 | Tags: Donovan McNabb, Mike Sellers, Mike Shanahan, Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins

It’s bad enough there were rumblings Redskins QB Donovan McNabb could lose his starting job to Rex Grossman. But now he’s getting booed at NBA games to boot? And for that matter, at a Wizards game?

That just doesn’t seem right. I wonder what type of reaction the members of the Wizards who Washingtonians actually recognize — which narrows it down to Gilbert Arenas and John Wall – would get at FedEx Field.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post had an interesting post Wednesday, noting via fan reaction on Twitter that McNabb and teammate Mike Sellers were booed when they were shown on the big screen at the Lakers vs. Wizards game at Verizon Center.

The debate is still undecided about how much booing was actually done, and by whom, but this was an apparently short honeymoon. Redskins fans, what was your favorite moment with McNabb as quarterback of your team?

As for all the will-he-or-won’t-he start drama surrounding McNabb, the speculation has been out there. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports and NFL Network first had a pregame report last week suggesting Grossman could replace McNabb, and had taken more reps with the first-team offense the previous week.

Mike Shanahan declined to discuss those reports, according to Washington Post reporter Rick Maese. Meanwhile, McNabb said during his weekly radio show Tuesday on ESPN 980 he knew of no plan to replace him with Grossman and nothing out of the ordinary took place at practice last week.

This all feels like status quo this season in Washington.

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Saints RB Thomas returns, but Ivory still the play

Published: December 8th, 2010 | Tags: Chris Ivory, New Orleans Saints, pierre thomas, Reggie Bush, Sean Payton

Saints RB Pierre Thomas is expected to return this week vs. St. Louis after practicing on Wednesday, but do not rush him into your starting lineup. Coach Sean Payton has raved about RB Chris Ivory, who is still expected to see the majority of the carries.

Though, Payton did tell NFL Network’s Kara Henderson the team was going to get RB Reggie Bush more involved last week. Yet Ivory still dominated in carries.

The Saints running back situation is not solid at all; in fact it’s nearly volatile. It’s almost like being a guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, which is  obviously not what we want with the fantasy playoffs starting either this week or next week for the majority of you. But if you have to start one of the Saints running backs, Ivory would be the choice. Use him as a low-end No. 2 back or flex starter.

And coach Payton, you had better not burn us again.

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Tolbert questionable, but still good flex option

Published: December 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Mike Tolbert, Mike Tolbert, Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers

Chargers RB Mike Tolbert (hand) was limited in practice on Friday, the first time he was able to practice at all this week. Tolbert is listed as questionable on the Chargers injury report, while rookie Ryan Mathews (ankle) is probable after practicing all week.

Tolbert is the more reliable fantasy option, though a bruised hand limits him in the passing game and the Raiders held him to only 11 rushing yards in the team’s previous meeting. Though, in fairness, the Chargers were put into a large hole in the previous meeting because of special team touchdowns.

Tolbert will be hard pressed to reach the 26 rushing attempts he had against the Colts in Week 12, and because of that, I would use Tolbert as a flex starter in most fantasy formats.

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Lions WR Johnson a risk, but still worth starting

Published: December 1st, 2010 | Tags: Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Chad Ochocinco, Detroit Lions, Drew Stanton, Johnny Knox, Mike Wallace, Shaun Hill, Stevie Johnson, Wes Welker

The Lions will start Drew Stanton at quarterback vs. the Bears, and while the former Michigan State Spartan will not draw any interest in fantasy circles, he certainly could impact one of the best receivers in fantasy football, Calvin Johnson. Megatron continued to produce big numbers with QB Shaun Hill, but can you really trust him to do the same with Stanton?

I believe that you can. Stanton has seen extensive action only once this season, at the Giants in Week 6. And the duo hooked up on a pretty nice 87-yard touchdown reception. Johnson finished that game with 146 receiving yards to go with that touchdown.

Not to say that it will be that easy against the stingy Bears defense (Johnson had only four receptions for 45 yards in the first meeting — but had a touchdown famously called back). But at least Stanton knows where his bread is buttered. And to be honest, when you get this close to the fantasy playoffs, you need to count on your fantasy superstars. Do you really want to be rolling into a must-win game, hoping that Eagles WR Jason Avant is going to take advantage of an awesome matchup? No.

Let’s say you have a team that has an embarrassment of riches at receiver, and you are starting Texans WR Andre Johnson, Steelers WR Mike Wallace and Bills WR Stevie Johnson, then you can probably risk sitting Megatron.

But if you have guys like Bears WR Johnny Knox, Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco, or Patriots WR Wes Welker, I would roll with Johnson.

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Mathews expected back, but Tolbert still an option

Published: December 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Mike Tolbert, Norv Turner, Ryan Mathews

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Ryan Mathews (ankle) put in a full practice on Wednesday and appears ready to return to work for the Chargers. That means the potential for a backfield timeshare with Mike Tolbert is now staring fantasy owners right in the face.

However, I still see Tolbert as the better option, both for coach Norv Turner and in fantasy football.

He’s clearly been the team’s most productive running back, which was evident the past two weeks. With Mathews on the sidelines, Tolbert rushed for a combined 214 yards and two touchdowns. His nine rushing scores are also tied for the third-most in the NFL.

With a matchup against the Raiders and their porous run defense next on the schedule, fantasy leaguers shouldn’t be shy about using Tolbert as a No. 2 fantasy back or flex starter. Even with Mathews back, I still expect Tolbert to see more work — and all of the goal-line carries.

As for the rookie, I wouldn’t use him unless I was desperate for a flex option in a deeper league.

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Saints still hoping that RB Bush can play on Thursday

Saints coach Sean Payton says he’s optimistic Reggie Bush will be able to finally come back from his broken right leg at Dallas on Thanksgiving.

Bush, who’s missed eight games since fracturing his right fibula, is listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis this week. Payton says it was tough to gauge whether Bush is 100 percent because the Saints did not practice at full

If the Saints decide not to play Bush, Payton says fullback Heath Evans could see more action as a ball carrier because Ladell Betts is out with a sprained neck. Chris Ivory and Julius Jones are New Orleans’ only other healthy running backs.

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Ravens Lewis still producing in year 15 for Baltimore

Ray Lewis Still On Top Of His Game

Has Baltimore’s middle linebacker lost a step?  The answer is a definite ‘No.’  Statically Ray Lewis is tied for 11th for linebackers in the NFL and 7th in the AFC. Keep in mind, the total NFL ranking includes all linebacking positions; outside and inside.

Yes, he may have lost a step in coverage, however the fact remains it’s hard for any linebacker to cover a tight end in today’s pass happy NFL.  Along with continuing to put up consistent numbers, Lewis has made the important game changing plays such as the interception in Pittsburg and the forced fumble against Buffalo.  Let’s not forget Lewis is playing his 15th year in the NFL and competing with some younger players. To continue playing at this high level for as long as he has is simply amazing!

RAY LEWIS

Ranked  T-11th NFL

Ranked 7th AFC

Combined tackles: 73 (57 total, 16 assist)

Sacks: 2

Interceptions: 1

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 4

SAMPLING OF STATS, TOP NFL LINEBACKERS:

Jerod Mayo, ILB,  New England Patriots (Age: 24)

(Ranked 1st)

Combined tackles: 105 (69 Total, 36 Assists)

Sacks: 1

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 0.0

Pass Deflections: 0.0

Chad Greenway, OLB Minn. Vikings (Age: 27)

(Ranked 2nd)

Combined tackles 92 (71  Total, 21 Assists)

Sacks: 1

Interceptions:0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 0.0

Lawrence Timmons, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Age: 24)

(Ranked 4th)

Combined tackles 85 (63  Total, 22 Assists)

Sacks: 3

Interceptions: 2

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 9

Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco 49ers (Age: 25)

(Ranked 7th)

Combined tackles 78 (54  Total, 24 Assists)

Sacks: 2

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

Dhani Jones, MLB, Cincinnati Bengals (Age: 32)

(Ranked T-11th)

Combined tackles: 73 (53 total, 20 assists)

Sacks: 0.0

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 0.0

Curtis Lofton, MLB, Atlanta Falcons (Age.: 24)

(Ranked T-11th)

Combined tackles: 73 (61 total, 12 assists)

Sacks: 2

Interceptions: 1

Forced Fumbles: 2

Pass Deflections: 3

Brian Urlacher, MLB Chicago Bears (Age: 32)

(Ranked 26)

Combined tackles 62 (49  Total, 13 Assists)

Sacks: 1.5

Interceptions: 1

Forced Fumbles: 1

Pass Deflections: 7

Bart Scott, ILB, NY Jets (Age: 30)

(Ranked 44th)

Combined tackles: 47 (30 total, 17 assists)

Sacks: 1

Interceptions: 0.0

Forced Fumbles: 1

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Eli still throwing in second half

Published: November 7th, 2010 | | Tags: Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants, Steve Smith North

Every situation is a passing situation to the Manning brothers. And as fantasy enthusiasts, you have to appreciate that.

Because honestly, everybody holding Giants WRs Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith are dreading the second half with the Giants holding a 35-point lead. But Giants QB Eli Manning was still threw the ball in the opening drives of the second half.

The Giants threw twice on the opening drive of the first half. And then he missed Nicks before going after Smith on third down after RB Brandon Jacobs got the Giants deep into Seahawks’ territory on the second drive. Both passes fell incomplete.

Hey, at least Manning was trying to get us some points there.

The interesting part was that Ahmad Bradshaw was on the field for those plays in red zone. Almost a reverse of the norm, as Jacobs broke a long run into the red zone before going to Bradshaw. Even though it should be noted that the Giants gave up on the run rather quickly.

UPDATE: Nicks just topped 100 yards for the day.

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