SportzNutz NFL - 5 Things - Week 12

1. The Saints and Colts are just intimidating people. The Saints showed off their impressive firepower with a 38-17 victory over the New England Patriots. The Saints are playing the best overall football of any team in the league, they are winning the battles on offense, defense, and special teams, playing the definition of "complete games". Meanwhile, the Colts fall behind by 17 and come back seemingly at will. They have come back in five straight fourth quarters now. Impressive, and scary as well. No team can just turn it on like that... can they? The Colts have yet to play a "complete" game, yet they are undefeated. What happens if they play what Peyton Manning calls a "complete game" Manning talked about the come back victory and issued this scary quote. "We talk about playing that complete game. I don't think we've done that this year."

2. Vince Young is a good NFL Quarterback. We have been as quick as any to point out his problems, but we have to also give credit where it is due. On one drive against the Cardinals he grew into a NFL quarterback. He did it the old fashioned way, passing for 94 of 99 yards on a game winning drive and most importantly, he did not panic, did not look lost, and kept his poise. If the Titans can pull a miracle next week and beat the Colts, they just might run the table.
   
3. We also have to take back everything we ever said bad about Brett Favre. His 24 touchdown to 3 interception ratio is a 35-4 ratio if he keeps it up, that is quite simply amazing, especially for a 64 year old, and his consistent game changing ability is still there. The Vikings are three games better in season with him than they would be without him easily. He is going to give Manning a chase for MVP deservedly so.
   
4. If the Panthers keep playing Jake Delhomme through this unbelievable season of hot potato he is playing with the football, John Fox is going to lose his job. Delhomme has a 59.4 passer rating this year and 18 interceptions. People will say that Stafford and Cutler who have as many or more interceptions should be benched, but they have those in more attempts and each has double the touchdowns or better than Delhomme. Stafford is also a rookie learning his way while Cutler is a gunslinger in a new system. Panthers fans want a team that plays conservative mistake free football which Delhomme has provided in the past. He has somehow lost his way, there is no speed on his balls anymore. Delhomme is making it easy to figure out who the Panthers will pick in the first round this year. Oh yes, the Panthers have no first round pick this year. You got to feel sorry for Panthers fans. They are really stuck at quarterback unless they can land a free agent star at quarterback. Oh yes, that's up in the air with the CBA. Assuming the CBA gets done, there are only Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell, Chad Pennington, Tarvaris Jackson, Kellen Clemens, and the like available. Sorry Carolina fans. It's going to be a long couple of years.
   
5. Speaking of the aforementioned Matt Stafford. He is going to be one for the ages. Yes the Lions still suck, but give them time and you will see a Lions team that will be up there with the top teams of the NFL in a couple of years. It all starts with the quarterback and the Lions have their quarterback. A legend was born last week, take a look at the NFL Films video on NFL.com  and just watch Matthew Stafford  bring the Lions back. It was amazing watching him finish it off after absorbing a punishing blow that separated his shoulder and forcing his way back onto the field for the final deciding play. This is the stuff where legends are born and we can all say we were there thanks to the amazing work of NFL films.

Random Thoughts and Links?

What is it with the Titans and miracles?

Chris Redman to the rescue? Falcons fans better hope he can be magic again next week as Ryan is already ruled out with turf toe.

Brady Quinn is a lot better than he gets credit for. In the right system with some talent around him he will do just fine. He may be the best hope for a team like the Panthers if they can pry him from Cleveland.

For all his greatness, I never realized that in almost half of his games, Adrian Peterson coughs up the ball. 19 fumbles in 41 career games is a lot of fumbling. 

This concussion thing is getting out of hand. Are there any solutions to the NFL's concussion problem? Maybe the Chiefs and Patriots have the answer, and its not what you might think. http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/1552026.html 

The fantastic 5

1. New Orleans
2. Indianapolis
3. Minnesota
4. New England
5. San Diego

The fallacious 5

28. Tampa
29. Oakland
30. Detroit
31. St. Louis
32. Cleveland

Coaches Hot Seat:

Gary Kubiak: Houston owner looked ready to fire someone at the end of that game this week. Kubiak has not had a winning season in 4 years, have lost 3 in a row, and just blew a must win game at home after leading 17-0

Jim Zorn: Zorn is sitting on the hot seat of all hot seats after being relieved of his play calling duties in Week 4, not that it has done any good as the anemic offense has not exactly gotten better.

Eric Mangini: First year coaches are rarely fired, but Mangini has lost the team faster than he did the Jets, and when general manager George Kokinis was fired, it set the stage for an early exit.

John Fox: In five words - Jake Delhomme will cost him

Tom Cable: The Raiders just have a steallar record of standing behind thier coaches, so I have no idea why he is on the hot seat /sarcasm

Lovie Smith: We hate to include Lovie here, because he is a good coach having a bad year. The Bears are way behind the NFC North-leading Vikings and are coming off poor performances by quarterback Jay Cutler in losses to Philadelphia and Minnesota. Cutler may end up costing Lovie his job though.