BrewHa tops JerzShore, Ties for Second in Black Division
In a five-point tilt, BrewHa topped JerzShore, tying them for second place in the Black Division and what they can hope is an eventual playoff spot.
Despite benching Jeremy Maclin and Ricky Williams, the monster effort out of Over the Dwayne Bowe was enough to squeak by with a win in Week 12. And although Peyton Manning had a rare off-night, he still contributed 17, and helped the opposing defense score 19.
The fact that Anquan Boldin has hit a minor bump in the road should not be discerning; expect a rebound as the Ravens face off against Pittsburgh this week when they will need to rely on their premiere playmaker if they want to earn the victory. It was also encouraging to see Antonio Gates return to the field; if this team is to make a push for the playoffs, he’ll play a significant role.
JerzShore made all the right moves though – Tom Terrific scored an outstanding 33 points as he and five other players reached double-digit point totals. The team could use a boost from Malcolm Floyd, who is a superior option to Robert Meachem, who is an all-or-nothing play, and James Jones in an offense where everyone gets a chance.
Richter 107, Runners 85 in Crucial Game
With a win over the top-seeded Richter, Blade Runners could have really reentered the playoff race, earning a tie for second place in the Black Division. Instead, a loss dropped them to .500, and will need quite a bit of luck to stay alive.
Big Ben was stifled by the Buffalo Bills’ defense, while Bills wide-out Speedy Stevey Johnson was stifled by his hands. Blade Runners simply could not catch a break. The Bills? Really? But what was more disappointing was the benching of Michael Vick, who still put together an impressive outing despite the Eagles faltering in Chicago. Vick is a must-start ever week; he is matchup-proof.
On the other side, Richter put together the third-highest point total in the league Week 12, led by three 20-plus-point efforts from Aaron Rodgers, and the surprising Fred Jackson and Deon Branch. While we expected A-Rodge to put together those sorts of numbers, we did not for the latter. We all waited for F-Jax to break loose after the trade of Marshawn Lynch; I bet the Steelers were not the team you expected it to be against. For Branch, who had been quiet since his re-debut with the Pats, it is an encouraging sign that you have receiver depth until Hakeem the Dream returns to the lineup.
Suspects Try to Stay Alive Against Top Seed
Despite being in a tie for third place in the Red Division, a win Sunday against the division’s top-seeded team would give an ounce of hope for their playoff life, and it is absolutely not out of the realm of possibility.
The Usual Suspects at 6-6 has more talent than the record states, but it of course is a matter of consistency. The Kyle Orton-Kansas City matchup favors the Broncos quarterback, as despite his team’s woes, he is still producing elite numbers. Reggie Wayne will feast on the Dallas secondary, while Nate Burleson is a sneaky play against Da Bears.
What concerns me is actually using Peyton “Running Down” Hillis, who has appeared to be matchup proof, but has thinking this might not be his best week. He will face a hungry Miami team at home, and with Jake Delhomme at the helm of the offense they are going to force him to beat them – trust me, he likely can’t.
Also, do not become to enamored with Joel Dressen. Although the Texans tight end found the end-zone last week, Vernon Davis is by far the superior option. Despite slowing down with Troy Smith throwing to him, he is still a must-start.
For the league-best Mudmonkies, Drew Brees should have his way with the Cincy defense, which is practically starting just about anybody off of the street in their secondary. I am not loving but not hating the Knowshon Moreno and Cedric Benson matchups either. If their coaches decide to actually persist with utilizing the running game, they could have surprisingly good games.
Receiver-wise, I love it. Marques Colston is re-emerging as Brees’ partner-in-crime; Derrick Mason will have to come up big if the Ravens want to contend with the Steelers and Gonzo is a must-start each and every week. I did get the feeling T.O. was bound to slow down, but there is the possibility of a good game against New Orleans.
My prediction: The Mudmonkies are 10-2 for a reason. Too many weapons and too many favorable matchups this week. This is a do-or-die game for the Suspects, and it likely will eliminate them from contention. The difference here is going to be the Brees-to-Colston combination – it cannot and will not be stopped Sunday.
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