Random thoughts from this week's games: The Packers and Lions were challenged by their opponents on Sunday and then both teams put it into overdrive with solid offensive performances in the second half. Thursday's Thanksgiving game between the two division rivals figures to be a feast for passing enthusiasts with a shootout between quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford highly likely. Last week, Stafford threw for 335 yards and five touchdowns against the Panthers while Rodgers continued his MVP-caliber season with 299 yards and three TDs against the Bucs. It's obviously hard to bet against the undefeated Packers but this will be a statement game for the Lions. Usually Thanksgiving doormats on their home field, Jim Schwartz's team has a chance to jolt the Packers and the rest of the NFL with a win on national TV. If Stafford can duplicate the success Philip Rivers … [Read more...]

Random thoughts from this week's games: Quarterback injuries are beginning to multiply throughout the league and could have a significant impact on the playoff picture as we get deeper into the latter half of the season. Perhaps most significant is the foot injury to Texans' quarterback Matt Schaub. The team is saying it's holding out hope Schaub can return for the playoffs but a source told ESPN the Lisfranc injury—a fracture of the foot in which one or all of the metatarsals are displaced from the tarsus—will end his season. The previously underachieving Matt Leinart takes over in Houston. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger confirmed Tuesday he broke the thumb on his throwing hand in Sunday's win over the Bengals. The Steelers are on a bye this week so Big Ben will have extra time to recuperate. He is steadfast about playing Nov. 27 against the Chiefs but if he can't go, … [Read more...]

Random thoughts from this week's games: The Giants' come-from-behind 24-20 win over the Patriots was impressive on many levels and puts the New Yorkers (for now) solidly in the driver's seat in the NFC East. Playing without offensive starters Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks, quarterback Eli Manning continued his solid season by turning to capable weapons like Mario Manningham, Victor Cruz, Brandon Jacobs and Jake Ballard to keep pace with the high-flying Patriot offense and bring the Giants back from the brink of a late defeat. There's no overstating how immense this win was for New York. The three-game pad the team currently enjoys in its division will be hard to maintain with such a brutal schedule ahead. With the Patriots behind them, the Giants must go on the road to take on the red-hot 7-1 49ers, the surprise team of the NFL that's poised to clinch its first playoff … [Read more...]

Random thoughts from this week's games: If the Chargers don't win the AFC West (or make the playoffs) they will look back at Monday night's game against the Chiefs as a turning point. Philip Rivers' fumble on the Kansas City 15-yard-line with under a minute remaining in regulation cost San Diego the chance to run out the clock and kick a game-winning field goal. Gone with one bad center exchange was a win on the road against a division rival they had already beaten once this season. The Chargers haven't looked good for most of the year. With offensive stalwarts like Antonio Gates, Ryan Mathews, Vincent Jackson and Mike Tolbert all having missed considerable game and practice time, the team has been out of sync and now finds itself stuck in a three-way tie atop the division. They need to get it together in a hurry, otherwise it could be another lost season for Norv Turner's … [Read more...]

Random thoughts from this week's games: There was some ugly primetime football this week, first with the Saints running up 62 points Sunday on the bewildered Colts and the Jaguars eeking out an ugly 12-7 win over the lifeless Ravens the following night. The Ravens have reason to be concerned. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been too inconsistent for a team that fancies itself as a Super Bowl contender. He's thrown for less than 200 yards in two of his last three games and has been picked at least once in each. Meanwhile, Ray Rice was a non-factor with just 28 yards on eight carries. Baltimore needs to play much better on the road and Flacco's performances need to stop fluctuating between very good and very bad. How head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron make this happen is going to go a long way towards determining how far the Ravens can go this season. Right … [Read more...]

Random thoughts about this week's games and Tuesday's trade deadline: Al Davis would have been proud. The Raiders put all their chips into the pot when they acquired holdout quarterback Carson Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals. Trading a 2012 first-round pick and a conditional second-rounder in 2013 that can become another first if Oakland makes it to the AFC title game in either of the next two years is the equivalent of an all-in bet. Head coach Hue Jackson knows Palmer as well as anyone, having recruited him at USC and coached him with the Bengals. Palmer is an upgrade over Jason Campbell, but he's not an elite quarterback—at least based on his performance the past couple of years in Cincinnati. Jackson was noncommital about who is starter will be Sunday against the Chiefs, but we're betting it's Kyle Boller. Palmer will take the reins after the Week 8 bye and while we … [Read more...]

Random thoughts from this week's games: Chicago's Jay Cutler threw for only 249 yards and his team lost to the Lions on Monday 24-13, but the quarterback played one of the best games of his career. One of these days he's going to have a line in front of him and stay upright long enough to show his true talent. If the Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe played in a more prolific offense he'd be a top-five NFL receiver. Kansas City's offense has been better of late—albeit against questionable competition—and the emergence of Steve Breaston and Jackie Battle this week against the Colts is promising if not quite comforting. Their schedule is brutal. The Cowboys and Redskins were on byes Sunday but neither the Giants nor the Eagles could gain ground in the NFC East. Eli Manning and Michael Vick threw for a combined 735 yards but it's the seven interceptions between them that overshadowed all … [Read more...]