Top 3 NFL Picks for Sunday September 25th

Top Play: Pittsburgh Steelers -3 over New England

I've seen a few pundits weigh in on the Patriots, saying they'll be "more focused" after losing at Carolina. I don't believe a lack of focus plays into this one that much. Patriots are a championship team that is always focused, but simply are having problems in two key facets of the game.

They couldn't run the ball, nor stop the run last week. Losing Bruschi is a factor after all, no surprise to many as he and Harrison were the heart and soul of the D last year. Problem is Harrison is a saftety, so his presence is sometimes negated.

Offensively, they haven't been able to get Corey Dillon going, and will have a hard time doing so this week against this Steeler D.

If this were a playoff game, I'd probably have to lay off this one, as Cowher has the habit on not winning the big games at home. This hasn't been a problem in the regular season, as evienced by the way they took apart the Eagles and these same Pats in 2004 regular season.

Willie Parker has done a great job stepping up for Bettis and Staley, Big Ben looks better than he did when he took over last year. Pittsburgh looks like the best team in the AFC and maybe the entire NFL after two weeks, and I believe they should win this game at home easier than most people think.

New England gets respect (as they should) for what they've accomplished the last few years. They are still the team to beat when January rolls around, But RIGHT NOW Pittsburgh is clearly the better team.

Top Play: Pittsburgh -3

Regular play: Falcons/Bills UNDER 37

Now that it appears Vick will play, this total has been set at 37. Not convinced that Vick won't run, but the only question is how much he'll be able to move around.

Bills also have a scrambling quarterback, and after last week's performance, it is even more clear that this offense runs through RB McGahee. Not afraid of either one of these QB's hurting the opposing D with their arm.

2 great defense, gonna be tough to drive the field for either offense. Both teams will need to force turnovers and give the offense a short field to be successful.

As long as Vick and Losman doesn't hurt their teams with bad decisions, should be a 13-10 or 16-13 type game.

Regular play: Bills/Falcons UNDER 37

Regular play: St. Louis Rams -6 1/2 over Tennessee

After an embarrasing loss at San Fran, the Rams showed some toughness by coming back and winning in the desert vs. Arizona. Anyone who reads my writeups knows I'm definately no Martz fan, but his stubborness will actually be an advantage this week.

Martz abandons the run too early most of the time, but against a young, inexperienced Titans secondary, they should pass the ball a bunch this week.

Titans did a nice job stuffing the Ravens running game, but may not be as fortunate against Jackson and Faulk. Both are also dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield, which will occupy the strength of the Titans D, the linebackers.

The Rams defense looked a lot better than last year, especially against the run. McNair at this pont of his career can't win games by himself, especially without the weapons he used to have on the outside.

Two of his top weapons, WR Bennet AND RB Brown were both banged up last wek and are questionable for this one. I expect both to play, but neither will be at full strength. Travis Henry will have to shoulder more of the load, and I like the way the Rams front 7 has looked thus far.

Also, getting back home on turf will help the Rams on both sides of the ball. They can really expose the Titans lack of speed.

Regular play: Rams -6 1/2

John Onan (aka Ego74) invites you to visit [http://www.bestdamngamblingforum.com/forum] for great handicapping info, sports discussion, and free money contests.

Come on over and posts your plays and talk sports

Detroit Lions 2010 NFL Draft Analysis

1st Round (#2) DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska

Key Player(s) Passed On: OT Russell Okung, DT Gerald McCoy

Analysis: Every NFL team that has a top 10 overall selection hopes to pick an impact player with terrific talent, character and work ethic. Detroit found such a player in Suh. The Lions could not stop the run or the pass last season and the former Nebraska great is a major building block for their defense. Suh has a chance to be like Albert Haynesworth (with a better work ethic and less problems off of the field) in Jim Schwartz's defense. PFDN rated Suh slightly higher than Gerald McCoy and Russell Okung. The Lions could use a young, standout left tackle to protect Matthew Stafford. However, the last Super Bowl winner that had a top 5 overall draft pick at left tackle was the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 (Jonathan Ogden). The Lions made the right choice with Ndamukong Suh.

1st Round (#30) RB Jahvid Best, Cal

Key Player(s) Passed On: DE Jerry Hughes

Analysis: Kevin Smith was a pedestrian running back last season (747 yards, 3.4 yards per carry and 4 touchdowns) before tearing his acl late in the year. There is no doubt that the Lions could use an explosive running back. Jahvid Best has terrific speed, quickness and vision, but may not be able to handle enough carries to be a lead back. He had his share of injuries (hip, elbow, foot, 2 concussions back-to-back in 2009) in college to make his durability a legitimate concern. Best has a small frame, narrow hips and fairly long legs for his size. He may have weighed 199 pounds at the scouting combine, but he does not look like he is built to carry the ball 12-15 times a game plus catch the ball out of the backfield. Detroit will find out soon enough if he can handle this because Kevin Smith's knee will likely not be ready in the early part of the season. If Best proves to be no more than a change of pace back who primarily catches passes and returns kicks then the Lions would have been better off drafting a pass rusher like Jerry Hughes. Detroit signed Kyle Vanden Bosch, but he is 31 and the team had only 26 sacks last season. Hughes is a talented pass rusher and Detroit will not return to the playoffs until their defense becomes formidable.

3rd Round (#66) CB Amari Spievey, Iowa

Key Player (s) Passed On: OG Jon Asamoah, OG/OT John Jerry

Analysis: One of the main reasons the Lions have been so bad for so long is they do not win the battle at the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball. Spievey is physical, but has average speed. He has a chance to start early in Detroit because the Lions are weak and thin in the secondary. Spievey was not a poor choice, but the Lions may have been better off shoring up their offensive line. Detroit is average at guard with Rob Sims and Stephen Peterman. Jon Asamoah and John Jerry both could have upgraded the talent of the Detroit offensive line.

4th Round (#128) OT Jason Fox, Miami

Key Player(s) Passed On: DE Ricky Sapp

Analysis: We thought this was Detroit's best value selection. Fox needs some time to gain more strength, but has the toughness, competitiveness and technique to start at left tackle in a couple of seasons. The Lions may have found their future left tackle with a 4th round selection. When a franchise hits on their high picks and finds solid starters later in the draft, good things start to happen. Detroit was wise to pass on Ricky Sapp. He may not have enough power or leverage to play defensive end in the NFL.

7th Round (#213) DE Willie Young, North Carolina State

Key Player(s) Passed On: OT Kyle Calloway

Analysis: Young was a solid selection at this point because he has some pass rush tools. He needs a lot of work defending the run and his overall technique is just average. Young may be able to help the Lions with further development as a situational pass rusher. Kyle Calloway also would have been a fine selection and is a more fundamentally sound player than Young.

7th Round (#255) WR Tim Toone, Weber State

Key Player(s) Passed On: RB Lonyae Miller

Analysis: Toone was a productive, but small slot receiver and kick returner at Weber State. What does his selection say about how disappointed the Lions are in last year's 3rd round pick, slot receiver/kick returner, Derrick Williams? Toone will battle Williams to see who makes the bigger impact on special teams. Lonyae Miller has a fine combination of size and speed. He backed up Ryan Mathews at Fresno State in 2009 and we were surprised that he was not drafted earlier. We thought Miller has a better chance of surprising to the upside than Toone does.

Bottom Line: The Lions are doing a better job in the draft and this will eventually translate into a much-improved record. Suh was a no-brainer selection with the 2nd pick in the draft, but given the Lions track record, nothing should be taken for granted. Jahvid Best is an exciting running back who hopefully is more durable and tougher than we suspect. Detroit did not select a really promising pass rusher or find enough offensive line help, in our view. Best needs to be explosive and handle 200-250 carries a season for this draft to be considered a major success.

Grade: B

The goal of ProFootballDraftNetwork.com is to cut through the clutter and identify in detail the draft's impact players, top values (where a team really succeeds on draft day) and biggest risks.

Our full-time, year-round analysis of game footage, discussions with coaches and trainers and live practice observations are the basis for our ratings and draft board. Talent evaluators must be thorough, but should always remember that this is more art than science. Good NFL player forecasting involves doing your homework and trusting your gut instincts.

For more NFL Draft Articles and NFL Draft Analysis, please visit us at http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com

It is Not The End of the World - Yet!

So everyone is worried about the effect of the uncapped year on the NFL. I am going to make a wild and crazy prediction now: No one will notice. Now that I have made my prophecy, I will just sit back, wait for those with deep pockets to notice my brilliance and cash out when the time is right... It may be a while though, so in the meantime let me explain.

Due to the uncapped year players now have to accrue 6 years of service to the franchise that drafted them instead of 4, before they become unrestricted free agents. Since most rookie contracts run 3-5 years this means that lots and lots of guys who would have been unrestricted free agents are now able to be tagged at a pretty affordable price. Thus, all the good young talent in the NFL is going to be locked down by their respective franchises for at least one more season. Not to say that there will not be a few key players available, Peppers (we already talked about this), Karlos Dansby, some other key players could move by trade, but even with an uncapped year no team will be able to just spend away and get tons of good talent because there is not tons of good talent available, there are a few guys available and lots of lower tier role players.

About now you are asking, well what if Jerry Jones with his deep pockets decided to go after ALL the big names? Well here is a little secret, the teams that finished in the top 8 in the league (participated in divisional round playoffs) can only take in an equal number of and contract values worth of free agents as they brought in. So essentially any team that won a playoff game can make lateral moves at best. Not conducive to getting over the hump. However if Daniel Snyder in Washington decided to go get all the free agents out their then...well he might actually have a playoff team.

Matthew S. Walden

Top Ten NFL Head Coaches

Here is my list of the ten most crafty, genius, and fiery, head coaches. Oh yeah and winning helps their rank too.

10. Jon Gruden: "Chucky" as he's known around the league for his hot headed temper and wild antics. Keyshawn Johnson actually thought he could chew out Gruden once, he didn't make that mistake twice. I thought Gruden was gonna kill him, literally. But despite that, Gruden knows how to craft high powered offenses with little talent. Look what he did with the Raiders the year before they won the Super Bowl. Know look what he's doing with the Buccaneers. Making Jeff Garcia look good at what he does, shockingly.

9. John Fox: Yeah I know, your like enough with the Johns, but it was just coincidence. Next John Madden right? Well for current coaches, John Fox has taken the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2003 and the NFC Championship in 2005. He lost both, but he has helped get the Panthers some well needed recognition. They are not viewed like the Houston Texans or Cleveland Browns, people actually respect them.

8. Lovie Smith: Hard to respect a football coach named Lovie. But he has probably dealt with that his whole life, and earned some respect. Bears fans love him now because he turned around their team in a short amount of time. He had them in the playoffs in 2005 and in the Super Bowl in 2006. They lost to an amazing Indianapolis Colts team with a man named Peyton Mannning, who has wanted a ring his whole career, but kept coming up short against the Patriots. Who knows how the Bears will fare this year as they are 5-3 and Kyle Orton will be out for a week or more. Coaching will make the difference during this critical second half of the football season.

7. Mike Shanahan: Hasn't won a Super Bowl in nine years, but still a great coach that gets his team to the playoffs and AFC championships quite frequently. More of a conservative coach than most, but it got him where he is today.

6. Jim Zorn: After taking over for Joe Gibbs (those are big shoes to fill) has done an admirable job fielding a good team this year. They are likely to find a playoff spot and may be a sleep pick to win it all this year.

5. Andy Reid: A very great coach that has taken his team to the Super Bowl but came up short against the New England Patriots. His Eagles have a lot of talent this year they just are capitalizing. They will be in a battle with the Cowboys for a possible third playoff spot in the NFC.

4. Tom Coughlin: Won the Super Bowl last year and has fielded an almost better team this year some have said. Hard to believe considering they lost Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora on defense.

3. Bill Belichick: As hard as it is for me to want to put him on this list, I kinda half to. Considering all his Super Bowl rings and manage to win without Tom Brady. Belichick is considered to be one of the shadier coaches thanks to the Spy Gate controversy. Now we'll see if he can win a ring without Tom Brady.

2. Tony Dungy: Yes they are 4-4 at the moment. But they have a great coach who can turn any team around and won a Super Bowl two years ago. Don't forget he's got one of the greatest quarterback and wide receiver combos to play the game.

1. Jeff Fischer: I am putting him at number one because he is undefeated right now and that is without Vince Young. Kerry Collins is winning games for him! He doesn't have a team of superstars, they all just play well as a team. It will be interesting to see if they can stay undefeated the whole year.

Clarke Baldwin is a journalist who has worked for Dallas Morning News and other publications. You can find his site at International News Blog and a related story in Sports.

Why Tom Brady is the Best NFL Player

Ever since taking over the starting Q.B. job in the beginning of the decade, Tom Brady has proven time and time again to be one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. He has set so many records that this articles would be way to long if I listed them all. Some of the records he holds include: most passing yards in a year, most passing touchdowns in a year, highest single game passer rating, and so on.

While he has a great team around him they would not be 3 time Super Bowl champs without the player with the jersey that has Brady's name on the back. The last year without him the Patriots did not even make the playoffs. Since he is healthy again this year New England is on pace to make another run toward the championship.

Brady was not a highly touted rookie out of Michigan and was not drafted until the 6th round. While he was good in college he did not open many eyes. Once he got his opportunity though he ran with it all the way toward the Super Bowl. Then he upset a heavily favored Rams team that had Kurt Warner on it.

This began the legacy of Brady and he has been improving ever since. A Tom Brady jersey is very popular in the New England area as you can see from all of his accomplishments. He should be able to get a few more rings before he retires too.

Like Tom Brady? Check out the site below for more information on great athletes. http://sportsjerseyking.com

LA Dodgers Preferred in Baseball Gambling in Freeway Series

The LA Angels and LA Dodgers continue their rivalry on Friday as the teams participate in the 1st of a 3-game baseball wagering series. With Chad Billingsley anticipated to get the start, the LA Dodgers are liked in MLB wagering in the 1st game of the freeway series.

The Angels are anticipated to give the ball to Joel Pineiro on Friday. He's 4-6 this season with a 5.26 ERA. Pineiro permitted 3 runs past time out in the 1st inning versus Seattle but permitted only one run the rest of the way. He permitted 3 walks and 9 hits while striking out 5. He's 2- with a 3.38 ERA in 3 career starts versus the LA Dodgers.

Pineiro began his career being a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, the Red Sox and the St Louis Cardinals. He joined the LA Angels of Anaheim in January of this year.

Last Saturday, he permitted 3 runs to the Braves. Billingsley has been pitching pretty well recently as he has not permitted more than 3 runs ever since early May. Billingsley still needs to progress his home ERA as it is 4.66 compared to 2.78 on the road.

Since his career started in 2006, Billingsley has been playing with the LA Dodgers. He has turned into among the National League's top pitchers.

The past 10 matches have been shared for the Angels and the Dodgers. Last June in Anaheim was the past time they met. The Dodgers won 2 of those 3 matches and 2 of the matches went over the total. The Angels took 2 of 3 matches that they last played in LA over a year ago. Considering that the teams are only miles apart, the home lineup advantage has not meant much in this series.

Pitching hasn't been an issue versus the Angels, but the Dodgers have lost 5 of their past 8 home matches versus their crosstown competitors despite a 3.40 ERA.

The Angels are beginning to look like the team that has owned the Al West in recent seasons. They still have some issues but nobody in that division looks to be that strong. The Angels have actually been almost as good on the road as at home so they're undoubtedly capable of winning in LA. The Angels are in 2nd place in the American League West, nonetheless they cooled off the last several days, sharing a four-game road series versus the Athletics.

The Dodgers have been far better at home this season than on the road. LA has received a lot of good luck with Dodgers Stadium this year. Due to the fact of their home record, the Dodgers are right back in the NL West race. The Dodgers have also improved their team ERA and Billingsley is a major part of that improvement. The Dodgers rate in the top 10 in the league in runs scored, and are still one of the greater offensive teams. Strong play throughout a 13-game homestand has shifted the LA Dodgers into 1st place in their division with the best record in the NL.

Sports-Gambling offers live sports betting odds and betting and provides opportunities to wager on sporting events, including the World Series, NFL Playoffs, and more.
http://www.sports-gambling.com/

Tennessee Titans Back in the Playoffs in 2009

The Tennessee Titans are one of those teams that people adore and love to follow. The team has only been around since 1999, but they sure have built a name and reputation for themselves. Loyal fans consistently fill stadium seating at every home game, leaving only a handful of nosebleed tickets for last minute shoppers. The Titans have fought hard to win their place in the South Division and will do whatever it takes to keep it.

The Tennessee Titans is a new name for an old team. The team was originally known as the Houston Oilers, and began playing for the AFL back in 1960. As members of the AFL, the Oilers won numerous championships, and nearly always came out on top. It was not long after they became a team that the NFL and AFL merged into one league.

After the NFL / AFL merger, the Oilers became an underdog, one of the worst teams in the division. It did not take long before the team began to bring their name back; by the end of the 70s, the team had begun to win some games and began - once again - to make an appearance in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the beginning of a new decade appeared as though the team would once again be at the bottom of the division. Until 1987 the teams records were nothing to brag about, and an appearance in the playoffs was unheard of. Over night, the team made a 180 and became one of the best AFC teams from 1987 until 1993. Profits, during this time were astounding, so much so that the owner of the Oilers - Adams - decided to put $60-million into the Astrodome.

Unfortunately, for the players, negative press and pressure surrounded franchise owners. Rumor had it that Adams was the cause of no Super Bowl championship wins, and that he didn't know how to manage a team, let alone the financial aspect of things. Now, the city no longer supported team decisions, and Tennessee had to come in and save the team at the end of the '95 season; '96 was the last year the Oilers could call Houston their hometown.

The Oilers, in 1997, had a new hometown in Memphis, Tennessee and were known - for two years - as the Tennessee Oilers. It wasn't until 1998 that the team moved to the resting place in Nashville. After a year in their new home, a new name was agreed upon and the team was now called the Tennessee Titans - a name that will be remembered for years to come. This was a new chance for the team to reclaim their territory on the field, and they were off to a good start with a record of 13-3 at the end of the '99 season.

Titan fans have seen some great games since the beginning of the Tennessee Titans; so great, in fact, there have been AFC championship wins over the past few years. The team has made it to the playoffs nearly every year since 2003. It would appear that the move, along with the new name, has given the team a bit of hope, and they are beginning to play like a team again.

There is no doubt that 2009 will be an amazing year not only for the Titans, but for those fans who moved quick enough to get tickets for Titan home games. No experience could ever match up to watching the Titans live, on the field, right in front of your nose. After a 2008 AFC South Division championship title, they can do nothing but top it in 2009.

Written by Matt Ryan, article sponsored by StubPass.com. StubPass sells Tennessee Titans Tickets, sporting event tickets, concert event tickets, theater tickets, NFL Tickets and more to your favorite events around the world.

Will the New Orleans Saints Survive the Playoffs?

With a great regular season already in the bag and a playoff spot sealed the NFC south's best team, the New Orleans Saints now have the opportunity to truly prove that they are the best football team in the NFL. If you are a Saints fan like me then you are totally anxious about seeing what Drew Brees and the rest of the Saints will do in the playoffs.

With the Saints losing their last two games their is a bit of a reason for concern. The game that the lost to the Dallas Cowboys was not so much of a heart breaking event like their loss to the Tampa Bay buccaneers was, especially considering the fact that the Buccaneers were 2-12 coming in to that game. This definitely makes one wonder if the Saints stand any chance against the stiff competition that they will face in the playoffs.

The Saints next game will be against the Carolina Panthers on January 17th. I believe that the outcome of this game will shed some light on what the fate of the team will be in the post season. If they lose this game then it will be three in a row that they have lost, which would NOT be good. Even though they will go to the playoffs either way, it won't do much good for the team's morale. I myself am a firm believer in momentum carrying a team further than they would normally go without it in the post season, and another loss for the Saints would totally kill their momentum heading into the playoffs. Hopefully that will not be the case with the Saints and they can overcome this little speed bump that they have encountered during the past few weeks. If not then everyone's hopes of seeing them face off against the Colts in the Super Bowl could be shattered, and that would truly be a travesty...

I am a college student and a huge fan of the NFL and the New Orleans Saints. If you are interested in any Saints apparel, specifically New-Orleans Saints Shirts or just want updates on the Saints then check out this site http://neworleanssaintsshirts.net

Graham Harrell Deserves to Get an NFL Opportunity

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Graham Harrell, the record-setting quarterback from Texas Tech who was passed over in the NFL Draft, was brought in for a tryout with the Cleveland Browns, and not offered a contract, though word is that he was somewhat impressive. He may yet wind up in Cleveland's training camp, but if he doesn't, will this by one of the first missteps by new coach Eric Mangini?

It would not surprise me in the least if ultimately Harrell was not only able to make the Browns' roster, but that eventually he will not be just carrying clipboard on Sundays, languished to the inactive list. That's the fate of the third-team quarterback, who can only go in the game if the starter and backup are removed for the balance of the game. Cleveland's situation under center is somewhat fuzzy, because they have not just one but two quarterbacks who they like. There's no reason for them not to still have faith in Derek Anderson, who made the Pro Bowl two years ago, in what was his first full season as a starter. Brady Quinn, of Notre Dame, represents an investment in a first-round draft choice, and someone the Browns felt obligated to give a chance to sooner or later. Well, that can sooner rather than later, as Anderson had problems with injuries and accuracy in 2008, while his receivers were dropping balls left and right.

After Quinn went out with an injury, the Browns had to turn to Ken Dorsey, who was claimed off the scrap heap, and this team started to resemble an offense that was so non-offensive that is was downright offensive. It also contributed to the ouster of coach Romeo Crennel, who must have come into the '08 campaign thinking he had the makings of an offensive juggernaut, with Anderson at the helm, Joe Thomas to protect him, a revitalized Jamal Lewis, Pro Bowl receivers in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr., and a new addition in Donte Stallworth.

Well, now we know what happened. Anderson and Quinn wound up hurt, Lewis slowed down, Edwards couldn't hold on to the ball, Winslow was in and out, and is now gone, and you are well aware that Stallworth could be in the slammer before long. With Mangini the new coaching hire, all bets could be off before all is said and done.

Don't count Harrell out as a possible part of the picture. He was not drafted, and that was in part a result of the pre-disposition on the part of scouts to discount passers from Texas Tech as "system quarterbacks." Harrell seems different, though, and I have been told the same by some scouts. He had the intelligence not only to grasp, but to master Mike Leach's offense, he makes decisions quickly, now how to get rid of the ball to beat the rush, and he's very accurate. No, he doesn't have a rocket arm, and did not work from directly under center. But in the ever-changing climate surrounding NFL offenses, those things that are not easily corrected don't always have to be a burden. Smarts at the position appear to be under-appreciated, and if you remember, Mangini went to the playoffs with a quarterback named Chad Pennington, who did not have the strongest arm in the world.

Cleveland is paying a lot of money at the position, with Anderson and Quinn, which brings up salary cap concerns. This team needs personnel in other areas, and if they find someone else who can grow into the backup role, they would have the luxury of being able to trade one of those two "incumbents." I'm not sure that Brett Ratliff, who played for Mangini in New York, fits the bill.

My bet is that you will see Harrell in an NFL uniform when the opening game of the season kicks off, and that whoever gets him will not be unhappy about it in the least.

Charles Jay, a long-time sports columnist and handicapper, enjoys helping people pick sports winners at http://totalactionextra.com If you are in need of top-quality sports information, from an insider's perspective, come and check out what's available at http://totalactionextra.com

Watch NFL Games Online - The Fast And Easy Way

If you're a big football fan you will be happy to know you can now watch NFL games online from the comfort of your home and while your busy at work or just don't have access to a TV.

I started to watch NFL games online after my work schedule changed and I no longer had Sundays and Mondays off. I would usually get someone to tape the game for me while I was at work but my tape would either record wrong or my friends or family would tell me the details of the game before I could even pop the tape in or see the highlights.

I decided after a few weeks of missed games I was going to find a solution and that was to watch NFL games online so I decided to go on my computer to the google search engine and search the phrase watch NFL games online. I found a few different programs that I could use to do this and read reviews of them all and then eventually made a decision and went for Satellite TV for pc.

This software not only allows you to watch NFL games online but it also allows you to watch any other sport you can think of and has over 3000 channels to pick from. I will let you know because this is an honest review the software I use to watch NFL games online is not free it is a one time fee of $49 dollars after that one time fee it's free for the rest of your life there is no hidden fee's or monthly billing.

I have since cancelled my cable and no longer pay those monthly bills because I have 3000 channels to watch any sport or TV show you can think of for free and lets not forget what I mainly use it for to watch NFL games online.

I am going to go watch NFL games online right now but if your interested in the program I use to watch NFL games online just Click Here

Watch NFL Games Online – Best Service On The Net Guaranteed

NFL Week Two Part Two

In part two of our NFL week two preview, we will look at four NFL games. I'll review the following games: Texans at Colts, Saints at Packers, Giants at Eagles and Raiders at Ravens. The Giants at Eagles will be the matchup of the week out of this group. Let's take a look.

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

Are Texans fans wishing they had Reggie Bush yet? The Texans offense was stifled when they played the Eagles. Ten points and no rushing attack won't get the job done in the NFL. The Colts are coming off a major win in New York against the Giants. It was the Manning Bowl. Now, they get a cupcake in Houston. For the Colts, it's time to go 9-0 against the Texans.

Pick: Colts Why? Colts are 8-0 against the Texans and beat them by an average of 15 points per game.

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers

If not for Reggie Bush, this game would have about 6 people watching it--all fans. The Packers were shutout last week and looked like one of the worst teams in the league. This is no surprise. The Saints looked improved against the Browns, but they still have work to do. Neither of these teams will be going to the playoffs this season, but it's worth watching, because Reggie Bush will get about 20 or so touches again. Last season the Packers destroyed the Saints, but this Saints team has some new key players.

Pick: Saints Why? Despite their horrible record in Green Bay, I think the addition of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush will help get the job done.

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

The New York giants are in a must win situation. They are 0-1 after their loss to the Colts and they play in what many regard as the toughest division in the NFC. If they go down 0-2, they might not be able to recover. Their schedule is brutal. The Eagles will have their first real test this week. Sure, they beat up the Texans, but who doesn't these days? The Giants have won three straight in Philly, but this game could be different.

Pick: Giants Why? I think both of these teams will be in the playoffs, but the Giants have too many weapons.

Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens

To say that the Raiders looked disgusting in their Monday night opener against the Chargers would be a grave understatement. They are one of the worst teams in the league. It's hard to imagine them putting up a good fight in Baltimore. The Ravens have their defense working again. They shut down Tampa Bay and should have no trouble marching to 2-0.

Pick: Baltimore Why? Because I'm not crazy.

The author is an online sports betting at Sports Betting Football. He also writes a daily blog on football Betting with up to the minute odds, news and NFL picks.

Giants Vs Saints Preview

The New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints have been two of the best NFL teams through the first 5 weeks of the football season. Both teams have not yet lost a game, thanks largely in part to some great quarterbacks leading the charge for their respective teams.

Eli Manning has been phenomenal as quarterback for the Giants so far, and he looks more mature and composed than ever before.

On the other side of things, Drew Brees may very well be the best quarterback in the NFL. Only Peyton Manning has arguably been more prolific on offense.

The two teams meet up for a battle in New Orleans during week 6 of the NFL season, and the game should be a great one. While the Saints are favored to win it by a few points, this is truly anyone's game and this is a game that is sure to be taken very seriously by both teams. This could very well be a preview of a playoff matchup to come later this season.

While the Giants do have a great defensive unit, it might not be enough to stop and contain the Saints in New Orleans. The Jets' defense did a respectable job covering Drew Brees a few weeks ago, but their offense didn't click. In order to beat the Saints in their own stadium, the Giants will need to be top notch both offensively and defensively.

This is the biggest game of the year so far for both teams, and you can be sure they'll come out to play.

Alex Wilhelm is a football lover, but also a lover of Vans classic slip on shoes, his favorite style of slip on sneakers.

NFL Playoffs - The Pros and Cons of the Halftime Show

The National Football League (NFL) is in its first week of the highly anticipated playoff season. With upsets, blow-outs, and recurring wild card trends, fans all over the country are rooting for their favorite teams. The best part about the NFL playoffs is if you don't have cable like me, you are guaranteed to see every game. For hardcore fans it's crucial to see every team. And if that's not enabled, to be able to see game highlights is definitely a must. That is one advantage to playoff game half-time shows. While they're necessary for both fans and the players, half-time shows can be both beneficial and a nuisance.

Why might you not like the half-time shows? Well, if you have a highly scheduled weekend, seeing every game can be a difficult task. And when there comes a time when you want to see every minute of your favorite teams play, half-time shows can get in the way. Think about it. If the game starts at noon and you have somewhere to be right at three o'clock, the half-time show actually works against you. As much as you want to see those other game highlights, this break in the game might cause you to miss the most exciting final game plays of the year. Likewise, if your job is to man the grill, your house-mates might just use it against you if you don't get your butt up and prepare the grill. If you do happen to get yourself off the couch, you will have a higher chance of missing parts of the game or getting the channel turned on you. That is the worst.

However, half-time shows in the NFL are necessary and truly advantageous. Not only do they allow you to see all those hot plays you might have missed, but you can see how all your other division teams are doing. Especially during the playoff season, it's very necessary to know what is happening in all the other games. Half-time shows are also great for busy people who want to use this break in the game to quickly throw the clothes in the dryer and cook up a quick dinner. This break is great for the NFL players to rest and regain confidence and excellent for you at home to get chores done before an anticipated second half.

The NFL playoffs is a very exciting time for football enthusiasts around the nation. While commercials can be annoying, sometimes during the big game you need a little break to use the restroom. Likewise, because you don't want to miss any second of the game, a longer break is usually necessary. A half-time show is the perfect way to finish cleaning the grill and bringing in your outdoor patio sets. If you are a huge football fan it's necessary to see how other teams are doing and to catch highlights from plays you missed. That's why the half-time show was invented, for convenience and time.

St Louis Rams Still Winless in 2009

The St. Louis Rams are looking at another dreadful season in 09'. There are one of the worst teams in the NFL - just a few short years ago the Rams were one of the most exciting teams in the history of the league. An entire overhaul of the team will need to take place - besides running back Stephen Jackson - if the Rams every expect to be playoff contenders again.

The St. Louis fans are good fans who will support a team - they don't deserve the product that is being produced on the field. The Rams have one of worst offenses in the NFL - not much is expected fort the Rams in 09'. Their defense isn't much better, the Rams rank as one of the worst defense teams in the league and opponents on offense can do whatever they please.

It is doubtful the Rams will go winless like the Detroit Lions "accomplished" in 08' - the Rams are not looking at many wins either. It's hard to find bright spots with the Rams. The only player that the Rams can be proud is RB Stephen Jackson - Jackson has carried the Rams the last few seasons - a running back alone doesn't win football games.

The NFL has had fast turn arounds before - many feel this isn't possible with the Rams. The Dolphins in 07' went 1-15, 08' the Dolphins went 11-5. Whether that was a fluke or not the turn around was accomplished. The Rams must draft well in the 10' draft if they expect to a respectable team once the 10' season comes. When a team has so many problems, one, two, or even three high draft picks won't make the difference. The Rams fans hope the front office makes very smart decisions in the upcoming years so the Rams don't turn into the Detroit Lions of the NFC West.

Visit the St. Louis Rams forum and vent your frustrations, or play some pick 'em at RootZoo.

NFL Point Spread Picks Week 12 - First Look

Well we went 3-2 ATS with our BEST BETS last week, 11-4 ATS the last three weeks and 30-21 ATS for the season. We have some good ideas of what our picks will be this week, including the all important Thanksgiving games that everyone always wants to get right. Let's take a look at our first thoughts on this week's games.

THANKSGIVING GAMES

DALLAS 14 NY Jets: This is a huge line considering the Jets just came off a great win over the Steelers due to the nice boost QB Kellen Clemens has given the club. The Cowboys however always play well on Thanksgiving and their ability to play on a short week every year has to count for something.

Green Bay 3.5 DETROIT: Lions come off a tough loss at home to the Giants and they almost always play the Pack tough at home. They also are a home underdog in a game they are used to playing in. Green Bay meanwhile is 4-1 ATS in their last four against the Lions and they are looking quite unstoppable right now. ****THIS GAME HAS THE LOOK OF A POTENTIAL BEST BET.

Indianapolis 11.5 ATLANTA FALCONS: Colts continue to give high spreads despite the fact they are ravaged by injuries. The fatc they barely beat the Chiefs at home is worrisome. The Falcons however are dogs and they are starting to look like the might be laying down for the year.

SUNDAY

ARIZONA 10.5 San Francisco: I don't remmeber the last time the Cards gave this many points to anyone but the 49ers are a joke. Cards don't handle being large favorite though as they are a bad 4-15 ATS when giving more than 7.

CHICAGO off Denver: This game is off the board due to last night's game involving Denver but figure on the Bears giving a point or so. Both come off wins so this one could go either way.

CINCINNATI off Tennessee: This game is off due to the fact Tennessee played in last night's game. Figure on the Titans giving 3 or so which makes the Bengals a live underdog. Titans play the type of tough D Cincy yields to however.

CLEVELAND 3.5 Houston: Browns have been very tough at home but the extra half point is scary after the show the Texans put on last week. Houston has WR Andre Johnson back and he changes the whole dynamic of the offense.

JACKSONVILLE 7.5 Buffalo: Jags playing tough D and running the ball well which is a great recipe for success. They go through scoring droughts though and this is a tad high of a number for them. The Bills however have been terrible on the road and they could be down in the dumps after getting destroyed by the Pats.

KANSAS CITY 5.5 Oakland: Pick the Chiefs thats all I have to say. Oakland is a joke.

NEW ENGLAND off Philadelphia: This game is off due to the uncertain status of Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. If he plays Pats will be favored by 12 or so. If Feely plays then it goes to 16.5.

New Orleans 3 CAROLINA: Both teams are in the midst of losing streaks. Carolina is a great underdog 22-7 ATS but they have no production on offense right now and things don't look to be getting any better. Saints can score which should give them the advantage here but they certainly are questioning themselves after two terrible losses so they could be ripe for another loss.

NY GIANTS 7 Minnesota: Vikings are being kept afloat now by RB Chestor Taylor but the going will be tougher this week against a stout Giant D-Line. This is the type of game the Giants routinely play down to so watch for the overlook.

SAN DIEGO 9.5 Baltimore: The Chargers continue to give points based on last year's team. This line is way too high based on their shoddy performance this year so far. Baltimore is awful offensively however and they could be ready to throw coach Brian Billick under the bus.

Seattle 3 ST. LOUIS: Interesting game as both come in on winning streaks. Rams certainly will remember the beatdown they go at the hands of Seattle weeks ago and could use that as motivation. Seattle is gunning for a high playoff seed so don't look for a drop-off in intensity.

TAMPA BAY 3 WASHINGTON: Buc's will be tough at home here but Washington should be primed for a big game after dropping a tough one to Dallas.

PITTSBURGH 16 Miami: Wow this is a big line but the Steelers should dominate here.

Cofounder of http://www.yourwinningpicks.com/ in our tenth year of supplying sports handicapping and fantasy sports information.

Tennessee Titans Are Winless After Two

What has become of the mighty Tennessee Titans. This is a team that opened up the season undefeated through the first two months of the NFL season in 2008. An amazing defensive unit, two powerful running backs in Chris Johnson and LenDale White, and a team led by the wise ways of accomplished head coach Jeff Fisher.

This was a team that coasted into the playoffs, and easily could have made the Super Bowl in the minds of many last year. Having acquired Nate Washington and a few other valuable pieces, many fans were hoping this would be enough to withstand the loss of Albert Haynesworth.

In week 1, the Titans faced a difficult challenge in visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Having to play the defending champions at their own field on opening night is a huge challenge in and of itself, but the Titans handled the challenge well, nearly coming away with a win against the Steelers.

So they were 0-1, but they were expected to lose that game, right? Surely, they'd bounce back to 1-1 after hosting the Texans at home.

While it's true that the Texans seem to play the Titans well (think back to that nail biter last season with all of those Rob Bironas field goals), the Titans looked pretty dreadful during the loss. Their running game was fine, but the defense was notably weaker than that of last season.

After two weeks of the NFL season, the Titans find themselves in the cellar of the AFC South. Quite the change from last year.

If you're looking for a great Tennessee Titans forum, look no further than RootZoo Sports for the best sports forum online.

NFC North 2006 Previews and Projections

Image : http://www.flickr.com

NFC Northern Division:

1) Chicago: da'Bears made the playoffs by breaking out with an 11-6 record last year which was their first winning season since 2001 and figure to battle a now healthy Packer team for the divisional crown this season. In truth these Bears were able to win the divisional crown last year because of the fact that the rest of the division had a very down year as evidenced by GB, Detroit, and Minny combining for a shoddy 18-30 record in 2005. Chicago had a very strong defense last season and good play on that side of the ball will be needed again this year if they want to match last years win total. The Bears have a lot of question marks on an offense that ranked a shoddy 29th overall last year and it starts with QB Rex Grossman's ability to stay off the injury list, as an insurance policy Chicago brought in Brian Griese to back up Grossman. The Bears also have disgruntled RB Thomas to deal with and a possible training camp injury to starting RB Cedric Benson. Projected record: 10-6

**Look to play AGAINST these Bears in their Monday Night game on October 16th at Arizona, the Cards are only the 2nd playoff caliber team the Bears will have faced at this point in the season. Brand new Cardinal Stadium will surely be rocking and rolling since this is the Cards first MNF appearance since 1999, its also nice to know that four of the Bears six losses from a year ago occurred when playing on the road.

2) Green Bay: Never mind the fact that QB Brett Favre finished last year ranked a very shoddy 14th out of 16 starting NFC Quarterbacks in terms of QB rating and threw an eye opening 29 interceptions against 20 TD's, they begged him to come back, instead the blame was placed solely on HC Mike Sherman. The Packer organization fired HC Mike Sherman for having a 4-12 season last year after he had posted winning seasons in each of his first five years in Packer land and had made the playoffs in each of the four seasons prior to last year. The truth of the matter is that GB suffered serious injuries to key players on both sides of the ball last year and especially on offense where virtually every starting skill position had players succumb to injury except for QB Brett Favre and WR Donald Driver. In Sherman's place the Packers hired first time HC Mike McCarthy who will look like a genius in winning 10 or 11 games this year, all because the Packers will be healthy once again and were able to pick high in the draft which allowed them to snag linebacker A.J. Hawk with the 5th overall selection, the free agent signing of CB Charles Woodson should shore up the Packer defensive secondary as well. Projected record: 10-6

**Look to play ON these Packers in their October 8th home game against the visiting Rams, St Louis will be playing on the road for the 3rd time in a 4 week span and has a divisional battle versus Seattle on deck, meanwhile, according to the ole history book GB is a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games against NFC West teams.

3) Minnesota: These Vikings are one of three teams in this division to bring in a new first time head coach to take the helm with the hiring of HC Brad Childress. The Vikes have won 9 games each of the past three seasons which is really a middle of the road kind of performance, not bad enough to garner top draft picking and not good enough to consistently make the playoffs, hence the reason for HC Mike Tice's firing (finally!!). For a second straight year the Vikings let a franchaise player get away with the loss of QB Duante Culpepper to Miami and will start 38 year old journeyman QB Brad Johnson who played very well for the Vikes during the second half of last season following Culpepper's knee injury. Minny had a terrible draft and really didn't help themselves much in free agency other than the acquisition of RB Chester Taylor and LG Steve Hutchinson to bolster the running game. The Vikes are an aging team with a new first time HC who is installing all new schemes and it adds up to a sub par season. Projected record: 6-10

**Look to play ON these Vikings when they visit Buffalo on October 1st, the Bills will be coming off three straight divisional games and thus will experience a natural let down in this situation, Minny will probably be getting a couple of points and its nice to know that Minny has covered 4 of their last 5 games ATS following a game against the hated Bears.

4) Detroit: What is up with this Lion organization, when are they going to wake up and get rid of GM Matt Millen? Millen was nothing more than a former player who had a broad casting gig with Fox Sports, he had no coaching experience at all nor did he have any front office experience. Yet Millen was hired to assume the GM Duties following the Lions 9-7 season in 2000. Since Millen's arrival in Detroit the Lions have not had a winning season nor have they won more than 6 games in any single year over the past five seasons under his guidance. Its head shaking stuff that in Millen's five years in Detroit the Lions have posted a shoddy combined mark of 21-59 and yet he is still the GM! This year the Lions will start their 3rd head coach since Millen took over, this time around they start a brand new HC that has never held the head position (Rod Marinelli). In the big picture these Lions have a brand new first time HC, they have the "mad bomber" Mike Martz installing his complicated offense, they have a new QB under center, and they have a losing mentality to overcome, add it all up and it equals yet another losing year for the Lion faithful. Projected record: 4-12

**Look to play the UNDER when Detroit visits St Louis on October 1st, both teams are in transition with new first time HC's who want to control the game's tempo by using the running game, meanwhile, the public will in all likelihood expect a high scoring affair because that is usually what they got in Ram home games.

Jim Campbell runs http://www.FootballForecastor.com which has been an internet based sports handicapping service since 1997, you will be hard pressed to find another handicapper that has had the kind of success Jim has had, over the past eight years he has maintained one of the very best winning percentages of any sports handicapping service.

Jim Campbell finished the final four weeks of the 2005 NFL regular season with a mark of 14-5-2 ATS coming down the stretch for a winning rate of 73.68% and for the season in the NFL he finished with an overall mark of 48-33-4 ATS for a winning rate of 59.26% and that includes a perfect mark of 7-0 ATS in the NFL Playoffs, Jim has posted a mark of 6-2 ATS over the past EIGHT years with his Super Bowl selecton.

NY Giants Kiss 2009 Season Goodbye

With a loss to the Carolina Panthers in week 16, it looks like the 2009 NFL season may be over for the New York Giants.

This comes as a major surprise given the team's 5-0 start to the season and the fact that they've made 4 playoffs in 5 years, but that's how it goes in the sports world sometimes.

The Giants came into week 16 with a must win situation. Facing the Carolina Panthers at home, the team entered the week with an 8-6 record, trailing both the Cowboys and the Packers by a game.

Another loss would be a crippling blow to this football club, as the Giants surely couldn't depend on Green Bay and Dallas to both lose each of their last two games.

The Giants were a 7 point favorite to win against the Panthers, leading many to believe that this would be an easy game for the team. With a new quarterback in Matt Moore, the Panthers looked to be somewhat revitalized. Still, the Giants were expected to win this game.

The results turned out to be the opposite of what was expected. The Panthers jumped out to an early lead and took control of a game that never belonged to the Giants.

With a 24-0 lead after the end of the first half, it looked as if this game was completely out of reach for New York. And that it was.

The Panthers ended up winning by a score of 41-9, with a standout performance by QB Matt Moore. The Giants lost an extremely disappointing game, and it looks as if the season is just about done in New York.

Barring a miracle, fans of the team will have to look forward to 2010 for any hopes of a playoff appearance. Needless to say, this was the last thing fans expected after the start of the season.

Scott Maloney also writes about the small bathtub at http://smallbathtubs.net.

3 Secrets of High Performance Selling

High performance. You know it when you see it. It's one of those stories you can tell a dozen times and still be excited each time.

It's captivating to watch. More of an experience than just an event or an occasion.

Remember this one?

Warren Moon and the Oilers had the 1993 NFL Playoffs in hand when, two minutes into the third quarter, the score was 35-3. A complete blow-out. With a depleted Buffalo offense (Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas were both injured), the Bills had little chance to win this game. That is, until the Bill's backup quarterback, Frank Reich, began an unthinkable series of amazing plays.

With the score 35-10, Buffalo recovered an onside kick and Reich threw a 38-yard bomb to Don Beebe to make it 35-17. It didn't stop there. Five unanswered Reich touchdowns put the Bills up, but at the last minute, the Oilers tied it up with a field goal. In overtime, Nate Odomes picked off Warren Moon to set up the most improbable of victories and the greatest NFL comeback in history.

Final score: 41-38 for the Bills.

High performance?

Most of us don't know how to describe it any other way.

Is it a comeback? an underdog story? pure passion? The truth is that it looks like a lot of things.

That's why it can be so hard to explain. Even harder to do. Which brings us back to selling - high performance selling.

What is high performance selling? And how can you do it?

Here are some observations for you about high performance selling:
* You are baking a cake not scoring a touchdown.

Not sure how to say it any other way.

This applies to anything you do. By now you probably have all the the right ingredients. You know how to build rapport. How to qualify your prospect. How to close the deal. You have a recipe that you go to for your selling process.

If you don't already have the basics of the selling process then you need to go grab a brand new book by my friend, Jill Konrath, that comes out in a few days - SNAP Selling. (And, by the way, I am in no way paid anything to heartily recommend that book to you).

Here's the key thing to remember - you are creating art. You're aren't grabbing a ball and running as fast as you can for the end zone. There are factors outside of your control that require you to adapt. You need to recognize that. And even if you ace the baking part (don't burn out), you still have to add your own icing to what you create. You have to make it your own.

Now, here are three secrets of high performance selling:

1. Failure starts to look more like success.

When you fail and it starts to look like success to your peers, you know that you are a high performance seller.

Look. Let's get real frank, real fast. Life isn't a competition with anyone other than the rock star that you were intended to be. If you think that I am advocating that you look around and compare yourself to anyone else, you are dead wrong.

You know better than that already. That's a complete waste of time.

Here is what I trying to say. High performers look at failure as a step closer to success. It's not an act. It's a way of life.

Rejection and loss are not end points. They are guideposts.

High performance selling requires the discipline to look at each opportunity and say "What could I have done differently?". Here's a reality - some times there is nothing you could have done better. (But I haven't had one of those moment's yet.) I have always found 3-4 (to a dozen) tiny mistakes that all contributed to my failure.

It was by adjusting and relaunching that I was able to turn that failure into outrageous success.

Master your failures.

2. Extreme behavior is expected activity.

You have to know going in that it's going to be rough. Rougher and tougher than anything you have ever allowed yourself to imagine before.

There is a reason that we call this the top 1%.

The air is thin at the top. And not because your nose is out of joint. Because you are pumping your knees so hard you can barely breathe.

You have to be ready to work harder than you ever imagined (and then double that).

Listen, you can lead a balanced life by working a guaranteed 35 hours a week at Target. You will have plenty to time for all your hobbies without the stress of having to change the world. But high performance requires working smarter and harder - both.

You need extreme:

* Effort - you put in more value, more passion than anyone...
* Creativity - you care more, about your prospect, about your ability to provide a solution...
* Discipline - you don't let your immediate feelings stop you from realizing your long-term goals...

In this age of tolerance and equality, it is almost heresy to suggest that you need to be different. That's the only path to high performance selling.

There is no other way.

3. It starts (and stops) in your mind.

You can only achieve what you believe. The battle for high performance is won long before you ever go through the motions of winning. It's all in your head.

Your dreams. Your fears. They are all part of what you will ever achieve. High performers think about high performance.

It's that simple. They think, they obsess, they plan for high performance selling.

* They don't fear - they act.
* They don't wonder - they discover.
* They don't doubt - they try.

It's a fundamental difference between those who envy and those who are.

It's all in your head long before it ever happens.

And because that is all that is in your head - no fears, no doubts, no questions - that is all you have time to act on. And what a powerful difference that makes.

You truly are invincible. You are a high performance seller.

Remember Frank Reich we talked about earlier?

He actually had a history of high performance.

Reich was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (57th overall) in the 1985 NFL Draft. The Bills already had drafted future Hall of Famer Jim Kelly in 1983 and when Kelly signed with the Bills in 1986, Reich's only option was as backup QB. Reich got his first start only Kelly went down with a shoulder injury in 1989 - after more than three years of only playing a supporting role.

And he took advantage of the opportunity. In front of a Rich Stadium crowd of more than 76,000 fans and a Monday Night Football audience, Reich led the Bills to two straight victories. He rallied the Bills in the fourth quarter by throwing two drives down the field for a 23-20 victory over the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Rams.

Reich returned the following season, however, when Kelly was injured again late in the season. Reich provided the Bills with another two key wins, clinching them the AFC East title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

He is now a coach for the Indianapolis Colts where he expects high performance from the quarterback he trains - Peyton Manning.

What about you? Is it time for some high performance selling?

These days, Dan is partner in a private equity technology accelerator and a former technology CEO. He is an early-early-early adopter of game-changing technology. He blogs regularly on his motivational selling blog The DEW View! He is husband to a cute gal named Sara and father to two energetic boys. He's just an ordinary dude who happens to have an outrageous vision. And he wants to change the world...

Baltimore Ravens Reach 2009 Playoffs

For most teams, their week 17 game doesn't hold much value. Ordinarily, they have already either been knocked out of contention, or have clinched a spot in the playoffs, using the last week as an opportunity to rest their ordinary stars as a means of preventing any injuries.

For the Baltimore Ravens, week 17 of the NFL season meant everything. With a win, the team would advance to the playoffs as a Wild Card seed.

With a loss, the Ravens would be knocked out of contention in all likelihood. Thus, they controlled their own destiny in their game at Oakland against the Raiders.

What would normally be considered a pretty easy opponent in Oakland suddenly wasn't the case anymore. The Raiders had come up with big wins in recent weeks versus teams like the Bengals and they were suddenly a formidable opponent, especially at home.

As for the Ravens, a team that got off to a really hot start had cooled off during the second half of the season, and needed to give everything they possibly could during the game to ensure an appearance in the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Baltimore football club got exactly what they needed, as they defeated the Raiders by a score of 21-13. Surprisingly, the biggest contribution came from the team's backup running back, Willis McGahee.

McGahee's 167 rush yards were more than star running back Ray Rice's, and many were surprised to see that it was the veteran McGahee who stepped up when it mattered most.

From here, the Raven team faces a very tough opponent in the Patriots. The game will be played at Foxboro, and you can be sure that the Pats will be ready to play.

In a twist of bad news for the Pats, star wide receiver Wes Welker was injured during the team's final regular season game and will now miss the entire playoffs. This may give Baltimore a legitimate opportunity to advance further into the playoffs.

Visit Brett Kingston's latest resource about the composite granite sink and all granite sink forms.

Sidney Rice Jerseys - The New Favorite For Minnesota Vikings Fans

Sidney Rice jerseys have been some of the bestselling authentic NFL jerseys across the league these days. That's because the freakishly talented wide receiver had a breakout 2009 NFL season, and has continued to shine in the NFL playoffs.

How does three touchdowns in one game against the Dallas Cowboys sound to you Minnesota Vikings fans? That's the kind of production that Sidney Rice provides, and that's the kind of huge threat that he is to opposing defenses. At any time in the game, Sidney Rice can make the big play that breaks it open for the Vikings.

Before this season, Sidney Rice jerseys were not particularly popular however. That's because while the player always had great potential, he had not yet lived up to it. That doesn't mean it was entirely his fault however. He was dealing with some injuries and setbacks that forced him to miss a lot of time.

However, he used that time productively to study the plays and learn the offense. Then fans wearing Minnesota Vikings merchandise all rejoiced when Brett Favre finally made it official that he was joining the team. It was a lot of back and forth drama, but at the end of the day the Vikings got Favre and Rice got a new quarterback.

Favre proved throughout the season that he was still one of the premier quarterbacks in the league. As he was doing so, Sidney Rice jerseys began to get popular as the wide receiver emerged as his favorite target. He has great size and great speed, and now he combines those attributes with a great knowledge of the game and a great connection with Favre.

He can go up and grab a ball seemingly from anywhere, and he can make plays all across the field. He has great hands and he always gets open, and Brett Favre knows just where to find him. He's a big reason why fans are still wearing their Minnesota Vikings merchandise deep into January.

So if you're a fan of the Vikings and you're looking for a few more authentic NFL jerseys for yourself and the family, then consider one of the biggest play makers in the NFL right now, Sidney Rice.

He has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in football, and the scary thing is that he's only going to get better. That's why you can be sure that Sidney Rice jerseys will be popular across Minnesota and the region for some time to come.

At the online store Discount Football Merchandise, you can find a huge selection of discount authentic NFL jerseys for yourself and your family. If you're a fan of the Vikings, you can find all of the cheap Minnesota Vikings merchandise that you need, including Sidney Rice jerseys!

Budget Wedding Planning - Wedding Dates to Avoid

Regardless of what time of year you choose to get married, you could end up competing with holidays, religious observances, as well as sporting events. Not only will trying to book facilities during these times cause your budget to spiral out of control, you could end up with problems with guests not being able to attend.

Prepare to pay a huge surcharge to a venue that is not normally open on a particular holiday or religiously important day. On top of that, your guests will likely be faced with higher travel costs as well, if they can even make arrangements in the first place.

These are key dates you'll want to avoid if at all possible:

Federal Holidays - In addition to the added expense of having your wedding on one of these dates, your most important guests may not be able to attend due to other commitments.

New Years Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - 3rd Monday in January

President's Day - 3rd Monday in February

Memorial Day - last Monday in May

Independence Day - 4th of July

Labor Day - First Monday in September

Columbus Day - The Monday closest to October 12

Veteran's Day - November 11

Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November

Christmas Day - December 25

Religious Observances

Ash Wednesday

Christmas Day

Christmas Eve

Easter Sunday

Good Friday

Hanukkah

Kwanzaa

Muharram

Orthodox Easter

Palm Sunday

Passover

Ramadan

Rosh Hashanah

Tisha B'Av

Yom Kippur

Major Sporting Events

If you are getting married in an area where there is a large sporting event on the date you want to get married, you are not only going to pay a premium, but your guests may have trouble finding accommodations. Also - having a wedding on the day of a major sporting event may not sit well with your male guests.

NFL Playoffs (January / Early February)

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (March / April)

Stanley Cup Playoffs (May / June)

NBA Championship (June)

World Series (October)

College Football Bowls (December & January)

Other Observances

These aren't holidays, but days when you can expect to either spend more or run into issues with guests who have other plans on these days.

Valentines Day

Mother's Day

Father's Day

Becky has been writing about several topics that have touched her life in the last decade. When she was engaged to be married back in 2002, both she and her fiance knew that in order to have the wedding she'd always dreamed of, they were going to have to get creative. She has taken to writing about her wedding on a budget experiences so that others can experience a first class wedding without having to pay for it the rest of their lives.

Becky also maintains a number of web sites on a wide range of topics. You can check out her latest site here: Luxury Bedding Sets featuring Luxury Duvet Covers

Watch NFL Football Games Online

There is always an option to do things differently when you have an internet connection at home or office. It is now possible to download record and watch all NFL football games Online on your PC or laptop. All one needs is a high speed internet connection, a pc or laptop and pc TV software to access all the season games including the Super Bowl.

How to Watch NFL Football Games from the Internet

Internet TV is the new fab in home and office entertainment. With the new internet TV technology on your pc or laptop, you can choose to watch your favorite sports channels in private.

Most TV networks have started an internet free to air TV service which offers internet television across the world. This has obvious advantage since it will enable you to watch your sport channels even when away on travel for work or holiday. The NFL games are good examples of sports TV programs offered by these online TV stations.

All you may need to do is find yourself a fast speed internet connection. Broadband internet service is the most suitable to access all sports TV shows online.

What do you need to watch the National Football League playoffs

In order to have uninterrupted online sports TV viewing, you will need a computer with certain specs. This should not worry you as most computers sold in the last 3-4 years are already online TV compatible.

A pc with a RAM of 520MB is ideal for streaming sports TV channels to your pc or laptop. Recommended computer speeds of 300 MHz will ensure you get continuous flow of picture and video signals.

You can watch online sports television from any type of computer monitor whether a flat screen LCD or the normal projection type. Although LCD screens are flashy and have a sharper picture, your normal computer monitor should be fine.

Now don't go getting worried about all the above computer techie mambo jambo; chances are your computer is already good to go for online TV.

Computer pc TV Software for Sports TV online

The last requirement to be able to watch online NFL games on your computer is to install a low cost pc TV software. This software is available online, but the trick is getting one that works well. There are very many such pc TV softwares but only a few meet the test of quality and cost.

Installing the software is easy and all one needs to do is check out with their card details in one of the many such vendor sites. You will immediately be directed to a site where you can download the software to your computer.

Once downloaded, you will just install it in your computer using the easy prompts just like you do any other operating software or antivirus. The actual software is actually available and ready to use within 2 minutes of completing the payment details online.

Watching the NFL,NBA and other Sports TV Shows with PC 2007 Elite

I personally use the pc 2007 elite edition to watch most of the NFL, NBA, NHL and Baseball games online from my laptop at home. This NFL season, I was away in Europe and I thought I would have to miss my favorite football games. I was wrong. I watched all matches and those that I could watch live, I just programmed the software to save the matches for me and I caught on later in my hotel room. Very convenient

You will be able to watch your American football matches at the touch of your mouse. Those that have laptops can actually watch the football games in their bedrooms as they relax in their beds and away from every one else at home. The other great thing is that you can actually be able to save the most interesting matches to your computer for later watching or reruns.

Ok then, if you want to enjoy Online NFL Football Games, you can use the same service I use to watch all games Here

Cheap NFL Jerseys Available Highlighting 2009 NFL Playoffs

With the end of the 2009 regular season, the rush to get cheap NFL jerseys in time for the postseason has begun. The good news is that you have a vast selection of discount NFL apparel and NFL team merchandise to choose from. Additionally, it's still not too late to make your purchase and bring home a few cheap NFL jerseys for the whole family before the big game.

Some of the hottest discount NFL apparel for this postseason comes from Minnesota, where Brett Favre is leading the Vikings. He has far exceeded expectations in his comeback bid, and fans have also been scooping up NFL team merchandise from Jared Allen, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice and others.

While the Vikings are one of the favorites in the NFC, one of the underdogs in the AFC has been selling a lot of discount NFL apparel as well. That would be the scrappy New York Jets, who scrambled their way into the playoffs in the final week of the year. Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez will be thrown to the wolves in the playoffs, but he'll have the help of star wide receiver Braylon Edwards and superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis.

The AFC is also filled with powerful contenders, and some of the most popular cheap NFL jerseys have been coming out of San Diego. The team is loaded with talent, and is red hot heading into the postseason schedule. With so many stars, how can you choose which NFL team merchandise to get? You have to pick between Phillip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and many, many others as well.

Back in the NFC, don't forget about the dueling NFC East playoff participants, the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. These teams have a long, grueling history between each other and the playoff game this year will be fierce. In Philadelphia, the most popular NFL team merchandise belongs to players like Donovan McNabb, DeSean Jackson, Brian Westbrook and Michael Vick. In Dallas, it's of course quarterback Tony Romo, along with standout defensive end DeMarcus Ware and bright offensive stars like Jason Witten, Marion Barber and Miles Austin.

Of course, this is just a small sampling of the discount NFL apparel that's hot for the postseason this year. Remember, it's not too late to get your hands on some. So go ahead and root for your favorite team in style, and pick up cheap NFL jerseys for the whole family.

The 2009 playoffs are here, so support your favorite team in style and pick up a few cheap NFL jerseys for yourself and your family! You can visit Discount Football Merchandise for all of the NFL team merchandise that you need and it's not too late to stock up for the end of this season, or the beginning of next year.

Tennessee Titans - Defensive Coordinator Named!

Titan's secondary coach Chuck Cecil has been promoted to the post of the defensive coordinator and Marcus Robertson to secondary coach and named Tim Hauck as the assistant secondary coach.

Beginning as a quality control coach in 2001 - 2003 Cecil has worked with the team as their coach for eight seasons not forgetting he coached the safeties and nickel backs in 2004-2006 before he became the secondary coach for the last two seasons i.e. 2007-2008. Under his leadership, titans received three invitations for its players to pro bowl and the team won 19 interceptions for the NFL where they were ranked 7th on the defense.

Cecil who replaces Jim Schwartz who joined Detroit lions as head coach has 15 years NFL experience and also as a player and coach. He is remembered for his tackling and aggressive style as a safety while with the green bay packers in 1988, Phoenix Cardinals in 1993 and Houston Oilers in 1995. Cecil has won Pro Bowl honors after the season games in 1992. Titan's head coach says this move will ensure continuity for the team's defense and Cecil has seen the team through its difficult situations.

On the other hand, Robertson has been with the titans for two seasons as the assistant secondary coach. Robertson and Cecil have been applauded for their efforts that led to the quick development of the secondary into the best league.

Before joining the titan's as director of player development, a position he served for four years Robertson was pursuing a 12 year NFL career. Robertson played at 10 seasons for the Oilers/Titans franchise and won all Pro honors during the 1993 season.

With five years coaching experience and 13 years as a NFL player Hauck joins the Titans. He was the safeties coach at UCLA the previous season and enabled the Bruins defense emerge second best in the PAC-10 defense category.

Hauck was at the University of Montana for four years where he coached the secondary in 2007 and coached the safeties for three years before joining UCLA. Montana settled for the 10th position in 2007 with 17 interceptions and eight pass touch downs.

He began his 13 year NFL career as an unsigned free agent while working with the patriots in 1990, and has ever worked with Green Bay, Denver, Seattle, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

The top priority of the titans this off season will be to sign defensive Albert Haynesworth after they have gathered more information about the player. Haynesworth has been blamed to be the cause of an accident that left a Tennessee man with a medical surgery of hip replacement; a case being reviewed by the district attorney general.

Haynesworth is due to become a free agent on February 27 and the highly paid NFL's defensive player. He is facing charges for careless driving and using an expired registration during the incident though he dismissed the claims.

Haynesworth has in the past suffered a left knee injury in Houston that made him miss out on two final games of the season.

To get the best seats and enjoy all the Tennessee Titans action make sure to visit AwesomeSeating.com THE site which brings you exclusive Tennessee Titans Tickets so you can witness History in the Making!