Why Tom Cable Is the Right Choice for the Oakland Raiders
There's a lot of criticism in the press of last Wednesday's removal of Tom Cable's interim tag as coach of the Oakland Raiders, one writer going so far as to suggest that it's Joe Bugel redeux.
Other writers have called the hiring Al Davis' final and complete undermining of the head coach position, labeling Cable a figurehead and questioning whether he had a hand in hiring any of the assistant coaches.
Be that as it may, the press has under reported the positives of retaining Cable. Davis' relationship with coaches has severely limited his options, but Cable shouldn't be viewed as a last resort.
Not only was he the right choice, he also has the best chance to succeed of any Raider coach since the Gruden Era, and here's why.
1. Stability
While Lane Kiffin's recent foot tasting in Tennessee makes his firing by Davis suddenly seem more reasonable, it can't be denied that the over head projector business and the press conference dramas that preceded it were negative for the team.
It has fed the discontent of the veterans like Asomugha and Lechler and hampered the development of Russell. In order to have any chance at improving, a sense of normalcy has to be established.
The press encouraged Lane Kiffin somewhat because they found a kinship in his willingness to criticize Al Davis and call out players.
Say that Cable is a puppet for speaking the company line at press conferences if you like, but those press conferences are now appropriately boring and the players can shift their focus to what is happening on the field.
2. Momentum and Continuity
Q. What do the 2008 Denver Broncos have in common with the 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
A. Both teams would have made the playoffs if only they had beaten the Raiders playing at home.
Bonus points if you said both fired their coaches (who both were also ex-Raiders coaches) because they failed make the playoffs. Add to that a solid victory against a very respectable Houston Texans team and you have the best stretch of Raiders Football since 2005, maybe since the Super Bowl loss.
The fact that blowout losses to the Chargers and Patriots and the fake punt debacle also fell in that stretch is countered somewhat by the fact that it was Oakland's youngest players- Higgins, Schillens, Miller, Bush, McFadden, Russell—leading the charge in those three wins, particularly in those last two games.
In order to build off of that momentum, they needed to have a sense of continuity rather than starting over yet again; and that means bringing back Cable.
Also on that note: While each firing may have been justified in and of itself, the constant firing of coaches has been a recipe for disaster. Giving a team of young players the same coach at the beginning of 2009 that they had at the end of 2008 has to be viewed as a positive.
3. Compatibility
There would be little point in denying that most coaches who are considered to be difference makers in the NFL would never come to the Raiders without a real change in attitude from Al Davis.
Cable has an advantage over all the mediocre and inexperienced candidates who would consider coming to Alameda in that he's already been in the building. While Davis can always surprise, his hands-on management style will come as no shock to Cable.
The Oakland Raiders were Tom Cable's childhood team, he doesn't have any immediate ambitions outside of this job. Given ANY measure of success as the interim, doesn't this outlook make Cable the man for the job?
He actually wants to be the head coach of the Raiders for its own sake. How refreshing.
4. Intangibles
From a January Glenn Dickey column: [John] Madden's strength was always his ability to bond with the players. They would jokingly refer to him as "Pinky" because his face would get red when he was angry, but they played their hearts out for him. They knew he truly cared about them.
Dickey was comparing Madden to Mike Singletary, but I think that Cable fits the bill just as well. Like Singletary and Madden, Cable isn't exactly an Xs and Os guy.
(In a way, that's an advantage in coexisting with Davis, he's less likely to clash with Davis than an offensive genius with strong ideas about what the system should be.)
But he's proven himself to be a good motivator of players, an underrated quality in a head coach.
After an extremely difficult first half including the bye week firing of Kiffin, why didn't the Raiders wave the white flag for the '08 season? Why didn't they just roll over after demoralizing thrashings by rivals the Chargers and Patriots, but instead finish off with back to back wins for the first time since 2002?
We've watched this team give up by mid season for the last five seasons. Cable is the x factor. The team had nothing to play for but pride and to bring back their coach.
Another factor to consider: Cable's four wins all came against .500 or better teams- including a win in Denver, always a litmus test for a Raiders coach. He has the Raiders believing they can win against NFL elite teams. Like Madden, Cable can get 'em to "play like hell on Sundays".
Expecting a super bowl out of Cable is a bit grandiose. But Cable's promise to improve the Raiders sounds more realistic to me than those at past head coach introductions for one simple reason: He already has improved the Raiders, even if only a little bit.
And despite what the press thinks of Davis and Cable, I think with continued improvement from Russell, more touches for Bush, and a healthier McFadden, it would be foolish to think that Cable can't improve them even more.
And in this AFC West, a little improvement might be all it will take.
Copyright (c) 2009 Bleacher Report, Inc
Trying To Crack The Steel Curtain
TAMPA, Fla. -- It's football at its most basic - any sport, really - and the Cardinals were good at it this season.
Scoring points.
The Cards set a franchise record for points in a season with 427, an average of almost 27 a game. In the playoffs, the average has jumped to 31 per game. It's an electric figure. But the Steelers, whom the Cards play Sunday in Super Bowl XLIII, can counter it with stats of their own - like a defense that gave up an average of only 13.9 points a game, and a pass rush that produced 51 sacks.
In a theme so obvious yet so true, the winner of the NFL's biggest game will likely be the one that can impose its team's strength on the other.
"We haven't faced a defense like Pittsburgh," Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "This is a different monster here. It's like when you face a bully in the school yard. You've got to confront them. You can't run from them or they're gonna take your lunch money all year."
The Cardinals have had their successes against strong defenses. They scored 29 points (in a loss) against the Giants. They cracked the Cowboys, when the Cowboys were still defending well, for 30 points. And in the NFC Championship, the Cards piled 32 points on the Eagles, who had the third-ranked defense in the NFL.
But none of those teams compare to the Steelers, Cardinals right tackle Levi Brown said. Yes, the Cards faced a couple of 3-4 defensive alignments this season, the latest being in New England against the Patriots (and that didn't go well for the Arizona offense).
But no defense the Cards have seen can replicate the speed and pressure the Steelers possess with their lineup, along with the oft-changing schemes of long-time defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
"When you hear a defense is ranked number one, you get in your head (that) even when the play goes wrong, they are able to correct those mistakes," Brown said. "And they don't make many mistakes. So it does factor in."
Linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley have become pass rushing stars, and safety Troy Polomalu is perhaps the league's best with his ability to both hit and make game-changing interceptions - like his pick for a touchdown in the AFC Championship game.
Yet it can be argued the Steelers haven't seen an offense like the Cardinals, either.
Pittsburgh did take on the Colts and the Chargers (twice) this season, the teams on their schedule that would come closest to measuring to the Cards' offense. But neither opponent had the quality of receivers that the Cards have. The Cards' resurgence in the running game in the postseason also puts them on par with the San Diego and Indianapolis running games this season.
Ultimately, the plan seems to rest on Kurt Warner. If the Cardinals can protect him enough, the veteran quarterback will have time to find one of his many outlets.
"The most dangerous guy is the guy with the ball," Woodley said. "It definitely starts in the hands of Kurt Warner, and as a defense we have to go out there and put pressure on him. If we go out there and put pressure on him he can't get the ball to those guys."
The Eagles made Warner's life miserable when the Cards played in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving. In the rematch, Warner had time and shredded the Eagles for four touchdowns.
Now, the Cardinals have had two weeks to prepare for what they think might be coming.
"They're going to throw things at us we've never seen before," Warner said.
Last season - in a game both sides insist will have no bearing on the Super Bowl - the Cardinals managed just two touchdowns offensively (winning 21-14 in large part because of a punt return for a touchdown by Steve Breaston). But in that game, Warner split time with Matt Leinart at quarterback, and Anquan Boldin didn't play because of a hip injury. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, had 10 catches for 120 yards.
Fitzgerald is currently playing at as high a level as any receiver in NFL postseason history. And Boldin is 100 percent healthy.
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is also familiar with LeBeau, having battled him many times in Pittsburgh when Whisenhunt was offensive coordinator. That, Whisenhunt has said many times, will be a challenge for the Arizona coaches.
Ultimately, the Cardinals feel like they can find ways to dent the new Steel Curtain.
Said running back Edgerrin James, "We're just focusing on us."
Copyright (c)2005 Arizona Cardinals
What Is the Best Franchise in NFL History?
Super Bowl XLIII presents the matchup of one of the best franchises in NFL history, the Pittsburgh Steelers, vs. arguably the worst franchise ever in the league, the Arizona Cardinals, who have also resided in Chicago and St. Louis.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers seeking their sixth Super Bowl trophy and if they defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, they will become the first franchise to do so, the question what is the best franchise in NFL history comes into play.
By the records, the best franchise in NFL history is Green Bay. The Packers have 12 championships (three in the Super Bowl Era), the most of any team.
The Chicago Bears have around 632 victories in franchise history, the most of any franchise, according to WikiAnswers. This is a testimony to the franchise's longevity. By the way, the Packers are second with around 590 franchise wins.
In terms of the issue of franchise wins, winning percentage would be more informational and relevant to me, as opposed to a raw total of wins due to longevity in the NFL.
Lo and behold, the Pro Football Hall of Fame website provides this type of data for:
(1) Most Regular Season Wins: Bears = 672 (so WikiAnswers was not updated)
(2) Most Post-season Wins: Cowboys = 32
(3) Most Combined Wins: (Duh!) Bears = 693
(4) Highest Winning Percentage, Regular Season: Dolphins = .580
(5) Highest Winning Percentage, Post-Season: (Hooray!) Panthers = .667 (I bet this does not include the recent loss to the Cardinals and needs to be updated)
(6) Highest Winning Percentage, Overall: (Drumroll!): Cowboys = .577
Obviously, the Panthers' data needs updating, but the high percentage is primarily the result of being a young franchise who have won a majority of playoff games in their young history. A nice start, but obviously not in the best-ever discussion.
The Dolphins have been a franchise for around 42 years, with their most success in the 1970s and then in the Marino era, but still, hats off to them for winning 58% of their regular season games. I assume this stat includes their 1-15 campaign of 2007 but probably not 2008.
I find it interesting that the Packers are not on this Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Time Win-Loss Records list, but then again, I do recall a couple of 9-5 Green Bay teams winning an NFL title and the other either Super Bowl I or II.
However, 12 NFL titles clearly and loudly point to the Packers as the best franchise in NFL history. Even with three Super Bowls, however, Green Bay is not in the discussion for best franchise in the Super Bowl Era.
Another franchise not of this list are the New York Giants, with 7 titles (4 NFL Championships and 3 Super Bowls), which may be an argument for second best ever NFL franchise. And before the Super Bowl Era, the Cleveland Browns would make the discussion. But not in 2009.
While the Packers win the logical argument in terms of numbers of championships won in NFL history, another logical argument may be made for the best team in the 43-year history of the Super Bowl era.
But in my humble opinion, the latter more accurately answers a different question: what is the best franchise during the Super Bowl Era? Since the advent of the Super Bowl, both the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have five rings.
Therefore, if the Steelers earn their sixth Super Bowl title, they are clearly the best franchise in the Super Bowl Era. For data's sake, the Steelers have around 468 franchise wins (sixth place), according to WikiAnswers.
With five Super Bowl titles, Cowboys' fans may argue that Dallas has the most post season wins and the highest total winning percentage, which is not a bad argument.
However, in my mind, and in the minds of their fans, I give the Steelers the edge since they have defeated the Cowboys in two of three Super Bowl head-to-head matchups. If Pittsburgh wins number six, there is no debate.
Super Bowl XLIII offers a contrasting matchup of the best franchise of the Super Bowl Era against the worst franchise in NFL history.
In its 87 years, the worst franchise in NFL history had won only two playoff games and two titles. The Cards haven't won a crown in 60 years, the longest current drought in the NFL.
Prior to this season, the Cards had gone 43-85 in this decade and haven't won a playoff game since 1998 and haven't won a division title since 1975.
Of course, to the current players and coaches of this games, history has nothing to do with this Super Bowl and I concur: it will be about the team who performs better, or at least plays good enough to win, on Super Bowl Sunday.
P.S. While I was at WikiAnswers, I found:
Super Bowl Rings - Most by an Individual
Six: Conditioning coach Mike Woicik has the most Super Bowl rings: three with the Dallas Cowboys and three with the New England Patriots.
Five: Dan Rooney, Dick Hoak, Joe Greene, Charles Haley, Chuck Noll, and Bill Belichick each have five Super Bowl Rings. Rooney won each as an executive with the Pittsburgh Steelers, for which Hoak was running backs coach for all five championships.
Also for the Steelers, defensive tackle Greene won four as a player and one as the Steelers' special assistant for player personnel. Linebacker Haley is the only person to win all five as a player: two with the San Francisco 49ers and three with the Cowboys.
Chuck Noll acquired four of his rings as a head coach and in Super Bowl XL received one as a team consultant. Bill Belichick gained his five for coaching: two as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, and three as the head coach of the Patriots.
Four: Dozens of players have four. Twenty-two players, among them Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Rocky Bleier, Donnie Shell, and Mike Webster, each won four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers. Joe Montana, Keena Turner, Jesse Sapolu, Eric Wright, and Ronnie Lott each won four Super Bowl rings with the 49ers.
Kicker Adam Vinatieri won three with the Patriots and one with the Indianapolis Colts. Bill Romanowski won two with the 49ers and two with the Denver Broncos.
Coach Charlie Weis won one with the Giants and three with the Patriots. Matt Millen has the most rings from different teams, two with the Oakland Raiders, one with the 49ers, and one with the Washington Redskins.
Three: Among the many football figures with three are Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Michael Irvin, Tom Brady, Joe Gibbs and Jerry Rice. Ken Norton . is the only player to have won three Super Bowls in a row (1992-1994).
Copyright (c) 2009 Bleacher Report, Inc
It's Entirely Possible That We Are All Still Underrating the Cardinals' Defense
The Arizona Cardinals are famous in 2008 because Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald (currently an unstoppable force), and Anquan Boldin comprise a ridiculous aerial attack. But the truth is that the Cardinal defense deserves a lot more credit than they're getting.
Look at the score, folks: it's 24-6. That's not just because the Cards offense is good and the Eagles are struggling. Troy Aikman keeps mentioning "missed opportunities" for the Eagles offense (right before Adrian Wilson comes tearing off the corner to smother McNabb), and I distinctly remember everyone (guilty as charged) blaming the totality of the Panthers' loss on Jake Delhomme and not the Cardinals defense.
There was enough chatter -- pre- and postgame -- that it incited Darnell Dockett to run his mouth about the defense's "inability" to stop anyone (he postulated, instead, that the Panthers' offensive players couldn't find the right holes or open receivers).
And the reality is that if this game continues on the same course it's on now, you'll hear some greater mention of the Cardinals' defense, but mostly you'll hear about how Donovan McNabb is a choker. But the reality is that Arizona sports a defense that, while it got absolutely torched at times, was fourth in the NFL in takeaways (30) and second in the NFC behind the Bears.
They won't be mentioned in any Super Bowl talk; it'll be all " -- tough AFC defense against crazy Arizona offense" talk, providing they make it of course, which will only give more accurate fuel to Dockett's theory that they get no respect.
(c)2009 All Rights Reserved AOL News
Eagles End the Giants' Season
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Giants won the Super Bowl last season with a stunning run through the postseason, a four-game sweep on the road, but they fell out of the playoffs this time with a whimper at home in their first outing.
Against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Giants Stadium, they failed to score a touchdown, failed on two fourth-down runs and failed on two of five field-goal attempts as the Eagles defeated them, 23-11.
The Eagles will play the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday in the National Football Conference championship game in Glendale, Ariz., for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The Giants were seeded first in the NFC. The Eagles, a wild-card team, were seeded sixth. For the fifth time under Coach Andy Reid, the Eagles will play in the conference championship game. Only once, after the 2004 season, did they reach the Super Bowl, losing to the New England Patriots.
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb will return to the conference championship for the fifth time as well. He completed 22 of 40 passes for 217 yards, a touchdowns and two interceptions. His counterpart on the Giants, Eli Manning, the most valuable player in last season's Super Bowl, completed 15 of 29 passes for 169 yards and threw two interceptions. But he was not the only Giant who seemed out of sync.
Neither the Giants' running or passing games ever gained traction. Brandon Jacobs finished with 92 yards on 19 carries. Derrick Ward rushed 12 times for 46 yards. The Giants' leading receiver was tight end Kevin Boss, who caught 3 passes for 52 yards.
The Giants had not played in two weeks after finishing their regular season with three defeats in their final four games. During a fourth-quarter drive, their fans exhorted them to hurry up and run the next play when time ticked off the clock as they huddled.
The Giants' last chance to contest the outcome ended with 3 minutes 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Manning's long pass for Steve Smith was intercepted by Quintin Mikell of the Eagles.
Their final possession ended with a fumble when Steve Smith dropped the ball while trying to make a move after catching a pass at his 40-yard line. The Eagles recovered.
A critical scoring play came much earlier when the Eagles extended their lead to 20-11 with 14:56 remaining when McNabb completed a pass in the end zone to tight end Brent Celek on a first down with 1 yard to go.
Celek got behind James Butler deep on the left side. The Eagles increased their lead to 23-11 with 3:58 left when David Akers kicked a 20-yard field goal. Earlier, the Giants took their third lead of the game, 11-10, when John Carney kicked a 36-yard field goal with 12:33 left in the third quarter.
The scoring drive was set up when defensive tackle Fred Robbins intercepted a pass by McNabb that was deflected by linebacker Chase Blackburn and returned 17 yards.
But the Eagles responded by taking their third lead with 7:45 left in the third quarter when Akers kicked a 35-yard field goal to give Philadelphia a 13-11 lead. It could have been worse.
Earlier in the drive, Philadelphia's Kevin Curtis dropped McNabb's pass on the Giants' 30 with no one around him. Carney had a chance to give the Giants another lead with 4:20 left in the third quarter, but his 47-yard attempt was wide to the left. It was his second miss of the day.
A critical moment came early in the fourth quarter when the Giants, trailing, 20-11, had fourth-and-1 at their own 44 after losing an appeal of a spot of the ball on a third-down running play.
On fourth down, Manning tried a quarterback sneak and was stopped for no gain and the Eagles took possession. But the Giants forced the Eagles to punt.
Later, they had a similar situation with fourth-and-2 on their own 47. This, Jacobs carried the ball into the line and gained only one yard as the Eagles again took over with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter.
The Giants led twice in the first half without scoring a touchdown but trailed at intermission, 10-8. Philadelphia took the lead on the last play of the half on a 25-yard field goal by Akers.
The Giants had not played in two weeks, since losing the final game of the regular season, 20-19, in Minnesota. They enjoyed a first-round bye while the Eagles defeated the Vikings in the first round.
The Giants seemed a little stale in the first half, hurting themselves on penalties during Eagles' punt plays, the first to Kenny Phillips, the second to RW McQuarters. The Giants got two field goals from Carney, the first from 22 yards, the second from 34.
But Carney also missed a 46-yard attempt, wide right. During the regular season, Carney missed only three field goals, two of them blocked. The only one aloft that he missed in the regular season was a 48-yard attempt in his final attempt at Minnesota.
Carney was not the only placekicker in the Giants' lineup. Also dressed was Lawrence Tynes, for the first time since Nov. 16. Tynes was used on kickoffs. During the week before this game, Tynes said he would also be ready to kick long field goal attempts.
Although the 44-year-old Carney qualified for the Pro Bowl, his kickoff range has diminished throughout the season. Carney took the job just before the season after Tynes injured his left knee - his planting knee - during the exhibition season.
The Giants also got 2 points on a safety when McNabb was called for intentional grounding when he passed under pressure in the Eagles' end zone. This play was set up when Terrell Thomas of the Giants downed a punt on the Eagles' 5-yard line.
McNabb also scored a touchdown on a one-yard run to give his team a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. The two-yard scoring drive was set up when Asante Samuel intercepted Manning's pass intended for Domenik Hixon.
Samuel celebrated the moment with great shouting and chest-beating. Manning's first-half passing seemed erratic. His best receiver was Boss, who caught all of his three passes in the first half.
Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company
It's Over(time)!: Why The NFL May Reconsider Its Overtime Rules
When San Diego's Darren Sproles crossed the goal-line to win the AFC Wild Card Game against the Indianapolis Colts in overtime, it got me thinking: Should the NFL adapt college football's brand of overtime?
San Diego took the coin toss (and the ball) and drove straight down the field. Peyton Manning and the Colts never got another chance.
Now I know there are people that are completely opposed to the way it's done in the college game and would rather keep the status quo. I've even read articles where people would prefer ties and get rid of overtime period. I've also read pieces advocating that the college rules provide more excitement and keep the game going.
College football's overtime system, which begins each possession at the opposing 25-yard line, with the first team to have a lead after a pair of possessions declared the winner, is a crock, a bastardization of real football, a victory for the everybody-gets-a-trophy culture that says fans can't be satisfied with a deliciously, tantalizingly frustrating tie because they paid their money and they must be granted closure, given a winner and a loser, even if that means subverting the very integrity of the game.
Some love this idea, some loathe at it. A recent USA Today poll said that 60 percent of fans favor changing the NFL overtime rules to allow both teams a chance at the ball.
The argument for a change in overtime in the NFL comes from how it starts and, for many, how it ends: the coin toss. About one in four overtime games ends with the losing team having had no chance on offense. The team that wins the overtime toss wins the game only a little more than half the time, according to NFL figures.
The argument against the change is that the game will go too long and given the time of year the NFL is played in and given the talent level of the players, standing in the cold, rain or even snow for an extended period of time will frustrate even the most die-hard of fans. They also argue that an offensive-minded teams' gaudy statistics will become distorted.
For example, Arkansas defeated Mississippi, 58-56, in seven overtimes in 2002. Eli Manning threw five touchdown passes in overtime, even though the game was tied at 17 heading into the extra frames.
Opponents and proponents for an NFL adoption have been debating for years since college football developed its current overtime system back in 1996.
The flaw in the college overtime rules is that a team can kick a field goal without having made a first down. The flaw in the NFL's policy is that we get no clear-cut winner at the end of one overtime period during the regular season (leading to rare but recent ties in 2002 and 2008), however the policy changes in the playoffs.
We all have an input on this issue and no doubt that Jeff Fisher and the Competition Committee will take a closer look at it this offseason.
I wanna know what you guys think; should the NFL keep its overtime policy? Or, should we dump the current system and adopt the collegiate version?
Copyright (c) 2008 Bleacher Report, Inc
A fitting end to a Vikings season of fits
Something to consider today as the Vikings play for an NFC North title and a playoff berth: The date of Dec. 28 is marked with misfortune for the Purple. The memories still burn strong -- maybe too strong. Jim Souhan in Vikings VS.
Wide receiver Bobby Wade referred to it as the Minnesota way, which needed no further explanation. At least not to hardened Vikings fans who are preconditioned to heartache and seeing their team do things the hard way.
Their history is littered with evidence (See: Arizona, 2003), and this squad is no different. Presented an opportunity to clinch their first NFC North division title at home last week, the Vikings fumbled the ball seven times -- one shy of the team record -- and lost to the Atlanta Falcons.
And just when it looked as if the hated Green Bay Packers would lend them a hand, the Chicago Bears rallied from a second-half deficit, blocked a game-winning kick, had the overtime coin toss bounce off the helmet of their star linebacker and won in overtime.
So perhaps fittingly, the Vikings' season comes down to the final day with hardly any wiggle room. They aren't exactly facing a win-or-else edict today at home against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
The Vikings still can win the division with a loss, as long as the Houston Texans defeat the Bears in a game being played simultaneously.
Winning the NFC North was one of their stated goals way back in Mankato. The path to this point -- a chance to claim their first division title since 2000 -- has been anything but predictable, though.
"The games that we've had have been nailbiters throughout the season," veteran safety Darren Sharper said. "Even when we're rooting for another team, it's a nailbiter. It's like we kind of rub off on other teams when they're trying to win games for us. This whole year we've had games that are all-time see-saw games that can go either way."
In order for things to swing their way today, the Vikings must do a number of things well, or face another long winter filled with what-ifs:
1. Handle the big-game pressure
A few Vikings tried to lower the temperature earlier this week by saying the team must treat this like any other game. Jared Allen's eyes nearly popped out when asked if he considers it just another game. Then he went to practice and started smacking a blocking dummy in the head because, well, we're not exactly sure why. But suffice it to say, the Vikings realize this is not just another game.
"It's gone from saying, 'We can take care of it' to this is an urgent situation," quarterback Gus Frerotte said. "It's an urgent game, and it's a game that we have to win."
It remains to be seen how that sense of urgency will affect them, particularly Tarvaris Jackson, who has looked much more poised in his second stint as the starting quarterback.
Jackson admits that he put too much pressure on himself before getting benched after two games. He's appeared to play looser and with more confidence since replacing an injured Frerotte.
Jackson has throw seven touchdown passes and no interceptions with a stellar 126.5 pass rating the past three games, rushing for 76 yards last week.
"I'm not playing tentative at all," he said. "I'm just going out there having fun."
But will he continue to play that way today with all that is at stake? This game is undeniably different.
"You don't do anything to dissuade them from being tight," coach Brad Childress said. "It's more about encouraging them. Obviously you want their best effort. You work the whole offseason and 15 weeks to get in a position to be in the dance at the end. That's where we find ourselves here."
That message has permeated the locker room.
"You have to look at it as an opportunity," safety Madieu Williams said. "There are a lot of people who would be love to be playing their last game of the year to get in. We're fortunate enough to be in that situation."
2. Stars must step up
Six Vikings were named to the Pro Bowl, which tied for second-most in the NFL, and the team needs for its stars to play like stars.
"The playmakers are expected to make plays," said Sharper, who has four interceptions in his past two games against the Giants. "It's that old adage: Big-time players make big plays in big games. This is one of those games where you expect all your playmakers to make plays."
The Vikings could use big games from Allen, running back Adrian Peterson and wide receiver Bernard Berrian in particular. Allen, who ranks fifth in the NFL with 14 1/2 sacks, was bouncing off the walls on Wednesday, so one can only imagine his adrenaline level this morning.
Allen's relentless pass rush and in-your-grill mentality sets the tone for the entire defense, but he stressed that trying to force things just because you're a star can be counterproductive.
"You don't go in there saying, 'Oh, I have to play good, I have to do this,'" he said. "You prepare the same way. Because when you try to do more, you're actually going to do less."
Peterson always is looking to make big plays, and he perhaps has a little extra motivation today. The running back was visibly frustrated and upset after he fumbled twice (he lost one) and contributed to a botched handoff in the 24-17 loss to the Falcons.
Peterson, who has fumbled four times in the past three games, said the only thing that matters is that his team wins. Everything else, including the fact that he can become the first Viking to win an NFL rushing title, becomes secondary.
"We have to do a lot," he said when asked about the importance of his individual play. "I have to contribute and do the best I can. Other guys have to contribute and do the best they can too. I can't do it all by myself. It's a team."
3. Stop the run, make history
The Vikings have a chance to make history with their run defense today. The Giants can do the same with their running game. That will be the game within the game.
"We need to bring a lunch pail to this game and go out there and smack some people," Allen said.
That's because the Giants rank No. 1 in the NFL in rushing while the Vikings are No. 1 in run defense.
"Two bulls meeting each other right in the middle," Sharper said.
Who will give? The Giants average 158.9 yards rushing and rolled up 301 yards (the fifth-highest total in team history) against Carolina last week, which included 215 yards from backup running back Derrick Ward. If Ward rushes for 52 yards today, the Giants will become only the fourth team in NFL history to produce two 1,000-yard running backs in the same season.
"They have an appreciation for physical, hard-nosed football," Childress said. "I can't think of a time when they didn't play that way. It's the New York football Giants. That's their M.O."
The Vikings' M.O. is stopping the run. They led the league in rushing defense the past two seasons and are in position to make it a three-peat. They would become the first team to finish No. 1 in run defense three consecutive seasons since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
"We're going to have to go out there, bow our necks up and get after them," defensive lineman Brian Robison said.
The Vikings will have to do that without injured run-stuffing nose tackle Pat Williams, who is sidelined because of a broken right shoulder. It's also unclear how much the Giants' leading rusher, Brandon Jacobs, will play because of a knee injury, but the Vikings are expecting a slugfest.
"It's going to come down to a force of wills," Sharper said. "We have to have the stronger will. Like my high school coach used to say, they don't even disguise it. They sound the bugle, 'Da-da-da-da-da-da-da. Charge!'"
(c) 2008 Star Tribune
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