Tuesdays with Romo: Steelers edge Ravens in OT

Another Monday night, another crazy game has come and left us. This was a battle that came down to a Jeff Reed 46-yard field goal in overtime made the difference as the Steelers defeated the Ravens 23-20.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco showed promise in his Monday Night Football debut, passing for 192 yards and one touchdown.

The game saw starting running backs for both sides get knocked out of the game. Ravens running back Le'Ron McClain led all rushers with 63 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown.

The Ravens did an excellent job staying with the Steelers, but Pittsburgh pulled through when they needed to.

The Steelers were down 13-3 with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter when a Ben Roethlisberger pass to Santonio Holmes went for a touchdown. Fifteen seconds later, LaMarr Woodley recovered a fumble and returned it seven yards for a touchdown.

Roethlisberger threw for one touchdown and 192 yards.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Week 4 in Pictures

We like to give credit where credit is due here at Oh No Romo. We like pictures and so do you. Some pictures don't make it on the sports page, or you don't pay enough attention to go find some pics. So we want to bring you some photos from around the league. The photo credit is located below the picture.

Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Cleveland Plains Dealer

Photo Credit: The Charlotte Observer

Photo Credit: The Tennessean

Photo Credit: KC Star

Photo Credit: San Francisco Chronicle

Photo Credit: New York Daily News

Photo Credit: The Times-Picayune

The Mondays: Emotional day for Bryant

Week four saw many great moments. Some were good, some very emotional, some even surprising.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30 - Green Bay Packers 21- This day belonged to Bucs kicker Matt Bryant, who lost his infant son unexpectedly earlier last week. Bryant kicked three key field goals, including a 24-yard go-ahead in the fourth quarter to help the Bucs win. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Bryant. He goes out on Sunday and plays. Should he have stayed home? I don't know because it is not up to me. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bryant and his wife during these tough times.

Buffalo Bills 31 - St. Louis Rams 14- The Rams are falling apart. Even the Rams know that they are unraveling. The Rams actually led this game at halftime, but they were shut out in the second half. Meanwhile, the Bills are in good shape, despite two straight scares against the Raiders and the Rams. However, a win against Arizona next week will put the Bills at 5-0 for the season, going into the bye week.

San Diego 28 - Oakland Raiders 18- So...Is Lane Kiffen going to be fired now? I give the Raiders credit, they stuck with the Chargers. This team has a lot of potential, but we'll see what happens now. I don't think Al Davis will fire him. I could be senile with that thought.

Romo Alert: Washington Redskins 26 - Dallas Cowboys 24- Okay, even I admit that I never saw this coming. The big story has to be the defense on the Cowboys side. They couldn't stop Jason Campbell in the air and they couldn't stop Clinton Portis on the ground. Are teams starting to figure out the Cowboys defense?

Sunday Night Recap: Bears defeat Eagles- I never saw this coming either. This was a defensive battle, but the offenses weren't that bad. Kyle Orton threw three touchdown passes on Sunday night, which only happens once in a blue moon. The Bears are now tied for first in the North with the win.

Monday Night Prediction: Pittsburgh over Baltimore

Photo Credit: AFP

Your Oh No Romo Church Sign of the Week

We here at Oh No Romo aren't typically religious, but we respect those who seek religion. Therefore, we hope you enjoy these signs that we'll post weekly. (NOTE: We're not an actual church.)

College Football Update: Florida tired of being in top five

Just a couple of days after top ranked USC loses, Florida decides that they want to be as cool as the kids in LA and lose a tough game to a conference opponent.

The Gators lost to Ole Miss, 31-30, after a Jonathan Phillips extra point was blocked with less than a minute to go in the game.

The Rebels were down 17-7 at halftime, but managed to outscore the Gators in the second half 24-13.

Jevan Snead had two touchdown passes and 185 yards in the air for the Rebels. Snead threw a 86-yard touchdown pass to Shay Hodge in the fourth quarter to put the Rebels ahead for good.

Gators quarterback Tim Tebow had 319 yards passing with only one touchdown pass.

The loss will hurt the Gators in the SEC and could knock them out of the top 10 when the polls come out next week.

Photo Courtesy: Associated Press

Friday Briefs: NFL Picks- Week 4

It was another great week for yours truly. I went 4-1 for the week. After three weeks, I am 11-4. Things are looking up for me. Hopefully, I can keep things going.

Tennessee over Minnesota- It makes perfect sense.

Denver over KC- Like KC has a chance?

Carolina over Atlanta- I like that the Falcons are 2-1, but the Panthers are a tough team.

Jacksonville over Houston- The Jags are back on track.

UPSET: San Francisco over New Orleans

Enjoy the weekend.

Hump Day: The Losers Rankings- September 24, 2008

Week three has officially come and gone. It's safe to say that we are well underway in this the 2008 regular season.

1. Detroit Lions- If there had to be one team that would knock off the St. Louis Rams, it would have to be the team from Detroit. The Lions are just flat out awful. Now, all eyes are on Matt Millen and the others in management. By the way, check out this interesting find from the Detroit Free Press. It's a top 10 list on the players Millen passed on.

2. St. Louis Rams- Guess who is the lowest scoring team in the NFL? That's right! The Rams have the worst offense in the NFL, scoring just 29 points in three games. The Rams are benching Marc Bulger and going with Trent Green.

3. Kansas City Chiefs- The teams from Missouri aren't doing very good. Is it time to panic? This blogger says...yes. Now it seems as though the Chiefs are going back to Damon Huard. Maybe KC will look into getting Tim Tebow.

4. Cincinnati Bengals- The Bengals are still doing bad. Things could get worse.

5. Cleveland Browns- So we have a team that almost made the playoffs in the top five of our list. Cleveland's biggest issue is the running game, or lack thereof. Jamal Lewis has carried the ball 44 times in three games for only 156 yards and zero touchdowns.

Tuesdays with Romo: Chargers get win number one

The San Diego Chargers picked up their first win of the season, after losing their first two games by a combined three points. The Chargers took care of the Jets, winning the game 48-29.

Phillip Rivers had another fine performance for the Chargers. Rivers had three touchdown passes and 250 yards on the night. Rivers counterpart for the night, this quarterback named Brett Favre, threw for 271 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Favre completed 30 of 42 on the night.

LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Mondays: Patriots lose, I'm out of a survival game on Yahoo

Greetings all, another exciting Sunday has come and gone.

Miami Dolphins 38 – New England Patriots 13- Go figure, the one time I take Ronnie Brown out of the line up, he scores five touchdowns, one of them via passing. This is a huge win for the Dolphins. I swear, I never saw it coming. Does this mean trouble for the Patriots? It seems highly unlikely at this point, but if the losing becomes a trend, then Foxboro should prepare for a full-fledged panic attack.

Jacksonville Jaguars 23 - Indianapolis Colts 21- For some strange reason, the Colts and Jags are 1-2. The bigger surprise is the Colts. Wait, the Jags beating the Colts on the road is the bigger surprise. The Colts are now 0-2 in their new stadium. If I'm a Colts fan, I'm slightly concerned.

Buffalo Bills 24 - Oakland Raiders 23- The Raiders surprised me on Sunday. They had a strong chance of walking into Buffalo and knocking off one of the rising AFC teams. Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch came through when needed. Rian Lindell made it count and won the game on a field goal as time expired. What becomes of Raiders coach Lane Kiffin? Foxsports.com is reporting that sources have said Lane Kiffin could be fired as early as Monday. The Raiders are falling apart and it is a sad story.

Atlanta Falcons 38 - Kansas City Chiefs 14- Seriously, who saw the Falcons starting the season 2-1? I know it's not much right now, but it's a good start. Matt Ryan is showing some promise. The rookie quarterback threw one touchdown pass on the day, no interceptions. Michael Turner had a good day for the Falcons. The former San Diego Charger rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns on the day.

SUNDAY NIGHT RECAP/ROMO ALERT: Dallas Cowboys 27 - Green Bay Packers 16- It was pretty much all Cowboys for most of the game. Tony Romo threw for 260 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Aaron Rodgers threw for 290 yards, but no touchdowns.

Monday Night Predictions: New York (Jets) over San Diego

Enjoy your Monday!

Photo Credit: NFL.com/Getty Images

NFL Picks- Week 3

Last week was a great week for me. I went 4-1 and nailed the upset pick. I'm 7-3 to start the regular season. Here are my five picks for this week:

Tennessee over Houston- Kerry Collins might have a fun day today.

Denver over New Orleans- New Orleans on the road to Denver, not a good game for the Saints.

Baltimore over Cleveland- The Browns could be going to Brady Quinn, sooner rather than later.

New York (Giants) over Cincy- The Giants have looked great thus far. Eli Manning has a big day.

UPSET PICK: Arizona over Washington

That's all folks

College Football Update: The gravy train derails for East Carolina

Just like that, the undefeated season ends for East Carolina. The Pirates were knocked off this afternoon by the NC State Wolfpack in overtime. NC State won the game 30-24.

Andre Brown scored the game winning touchdown in the first overtime when he ran a touchdown in from 10 yards. Brown had 75 yards rushing on the day.

Russell Wilson had a strong day for the Wolfpack. He completed 21-of-31 for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

This game will no doubt hurt East Carolina's chances at making a BCS bowl game. It is by far a huge dent to their plans.

Balls, Balls and more Balls: An Oh No Romo Book Club Exclusive with Drew Magary

This is our second edition of the Oh No Romo book club. You might remember when we had our first edition of the book club last month. This month, we have a treat for you folks. Kissing Suzy Kolber writer and Deadspin Editor-at-Large, Drew Magary (a.k.a Big Daddy Drew), is here to promote his new book, Men with Balls. His book is being released October 27. Enjoy the interview.

How did the idea of "Men with Balls" come to be?

An editor emailed everyone at KSK and asked if we had any book ideas. I had none, except for my futuristic novel where babies are given breast implants at birth and dinosaurs run the senate. So I got together with an agent and brainstormed ideas, and we eventually found one that grew into something bigger.

What is "MwB" about?

It's a handbook for professional athletes. And if there's anyone on earth who knows what it's like to be a pro athlete, it's me. I've spent over 30 years imagining myself as one.

Why the title?

I liked the subtlety of it. It really takes a solid hour or two for that double entendre to sink in, and then you're all like WHOA MY MIND IS BLOWN!

Why should we read this book?

Obviously, I wrote it. So it's hollow for me to tell you it's funny and what not. All I can tell you is that everyone who's read it has really enjoyed it, or at least has been too polite to tell me the hard truth. I think if you like KSK and Deadspin, it's pretty much right up your alley.

You proclaim this book to be the "very last book you'll ever read." How is this so? Are you trying to destroy my dreams of writing a Thin Lizzy biography?

As I said, once you read the book, you will know how to be a pro athlete. After that, you'll be spending far too much time doing blow and f***ing in airplanes to care about reading, which is for nerds.

Describe your own personal touchdown dance. Why the mime crap?

Mine would be very erotic. I'd use the goal post as a stripper pole. Then I'd crank a Candlebox record and really let those tits fly.

Why a buffet for sports writers? Can't I just hire a caterer?

Who do you PROVIDES the buffet, Mr. Smart Aleck? (My new name, apparently)

Seriously, what's with your picture? Don't you have anything better?

I do, but I gave people a middling one on purpose. I don't want the white hot intensity of my Adonis-like features to burn a hole through your loins.

For the record, you are not Joe Buck. Correct?

No. That is a disgusting question. (Imagine that)


How weird was it when Buzz (Bissinger) called you "Big Daddy Balls?" Did you ever expect Buzz would discuss your work during the 'Costas Now' segment?

I was pissed when he called me that, because he got my name wrong. I had no idea he was gonna mention me, and then he did, and then he got my name wrong, so I had to convince people that I was the asshole he was talking about. DAMN HIM!

Which site do you enjoy to write for more: Kissing Suzy Kolber or Deadspin?

KSK, because the site belongs to us.

Is this the start of the Drew Magary media empire? If so, will Ruffles be apart of the Magary media empire?

That's the goal. I hope to become a full-fledged dick joke mogul. Ruffles may or may not be involved.

What are your favorite sports blogs? Top 5 (Not including KSK and Deadspin)

The terrible truth is the sports blogs I read are those two, EDSBS, and With Leather. If they link elsewhere, I follow the links. But I don't stray far from those four. I'm bad like that.

Least favorite sports book? Why?

Is there a book about the Packers? That one. (Not even the book on Lombardi?)

Least favorite athlete? Why?

Favre. If I have to tell you why, you must be Peter King. (No we're not King, but we do have some pamphlets from the One World, One Brett Favre Ministry)

Least favorite sports movie? Why?

I saw Mr. Baseball once. That was pretty sh*tty. (Yeah, but did you like the Selleck mustache at least?)

Least favorite football announcer? Why?

Berman. He's a f***ing front-runner who tells old jokes and doesn't give a sh*t about the audience.

Any final words before I release you back into the wild?

Always wipe front to back.

Losers Rankings: September 16, 2008

Week two has officially past and we are now 1/8 of the way through the 2008 regular season. Yes, I am keeping track. I should be on the loser's rankings. However, I'm not an NFL team. Here are your top five losers for the week.

1. St. Louis Rams- Once again, the Rams were blown apart by an NFC East team and it wasn't a very fun game for them. They're 0-2 and it looks like the Rams won't win a game for a while. One columnist seems to suggest that the Rams bring Dick Vermeil back, except in an executive position.
   
   
2. Detroit Lions- They got blown away by the Packers. Do people still believe that the Lions can win the division? Let me rephrase, did anybody think the Lions would win the division? Anybody? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?
   
   
3. Miami Dolphins- What is there to say? They won't win next week against the Patriots. Maybe, just maybe they'll move up the charts.
   
   
4. Cincinnati Bengals- Cincy once again winds up in the fourth position. Chris Johnson of the Titans ran over the Cincy defense. The Bengals defense has given up an average of 200 yards rushing in two games. The Bengals offense, once a force to be reckoned with, has scored 17 points in two games. They have the Giants on Sunday and we could be seeing the Bengals start 0-3.
   
   
5. Kansas City Chiefs- The Chiefs have a lot of talent, but it seems as though the walls are crumbling. When you see headlines like these, you can't help but wonder what is wrong with the Chiefs. Plus, what about LJ? At this point, who knows. We don't even know who is starting at quarterback on Sunday.

Photo Courtesy: NFL.com

Tuesdays with Romo: The Romos win

Week two ended with plenty of excitement on Monday night. The Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles battled it out in a classic.

The Cowboys won the shootout over the Eagles 41-37. A Marion Barber 1-yard run made the difference in the game for the Cowboys.

Both teams combined for more than 700 total yards and 39 first downs.

ROMO ALERT: Romo completed 21 passes out of 30 for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

Great game all in all.

The Mondays: Happy Jeff Pearlman Book Release Day

Ahh yes, it is another Monday. I'd like to send a friendly reminder to all of you bookworms out there that the new Jeff Pearlman book, Boys Will Be Boys, is being released (UPDATED, depends where I guess) tomorrow. Make sure you pick up your copy today, or tomorrow, or next week. Eventually I guess. Enough with the awkwardness, let's talk football!

Denver Broncos 39 - San Diego Chargers 38- Have you ever wanted to go for two points to win the game? Mike Shanahan did! The Broncos two pointer late in the game made the difference as they defeated the Chargers. Jay Cutler is starting to grow into a very good quarterback. He threw for 350 yards on Sunday, with four touchdowns. Phillip Rivers had a good game for the Chargers, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns.

Indianapolis Colts 18 - Minnesota Vikings 15- One of these two teams was going to finish Sunday with an 0-2 record. Peyton Manning wasn't about to allow that to happen. The Colts scored 18 unanswered points to beat the Vikings. Adam Vinatieri kicked a 47-yarder in the final seconds to clinch the game for the Colts. The Vikings did a good job shutting down the running game, giving up only 25 yards rushing. The Vikings could very well have won this game, but they didn't score any touchdowns, which hurt them in the long run. You can't win games only scoring field goals, especially against the Colts.

Oakland Raiders 23 - Kansas City Chiefs 8- In what could be Lane Kiffen's last game, the Raiders had their finest showing yet in the young coach's second season. Darren McFadden had 164 rushing yards on the day. He had one touchdown.

Sunday Night Recap: Pittsburgh Steelers 10 - Cleveland Browns 6- To be fair, it was very windy. Neither side was going to get the job done passing, even though Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass. Willie Parker was able to run the ball better than Jamal Lewis did. Lewis has not been able to turn on the jets. He has only 62 yards rushing in two games this season.

Monday Night Prediction: Dallas edges out Philly 24-20

College Football Update: Kansas and South Florida battle it out in a classic

Considering this was suppose to be another boring Friday night, this game turned out to be very entertaining. Kansas and South Florida battled it out for all four quarters. In the end, it was a 43 yard field goal as time expired made the difference in the game as USF upset Kansas 37-34.

This is a huge win for the no.-19 ranked Bulls. They were down to the Jayhawks 20-10 at halftime. The Bulls came out in the third quarter and scored 17 points, adding another 7 in the fourth quarter.

The Jayhawks found themselves down 34-20 in the fourth, but they would score two touchdowns to tie up the game. Todd Reesing threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. He threw three in the game.

Maikon Bonani hit the game winning field goal for the Bulls as time expired.

Reesing along with three touchdown passes had 383 yards with one interception. Matt Groethe completed 32-of-45 for 333 yards and two touchdowns.

Who knows what upsets we'll see later on Saturday. Stay tuned!

Friday Briefs: NFL Picks- Week 2

Last week was a rough way to start the 2008 season. My picks didn't pan out the way I thought they would. Never fear, this week should be much better.

Green Bay over Detroit- Detroit could very well start 0-2.

Indianapolis over Minnesota- Indy gets back on track.

Carolina over Chicago- I could see this game being close.

Seattle over San Francisco- Hey, least they're not traveling across the country.

UPSET PICK: Oakland over KC

Enjoy the weekend

Hump Day: Losers Power Rankings: September 10, 2008

It's like what we did last year. For those who don't know, we choose the worst teams in football, instead of the best. Here is your top five for this week

1. St. Louis Rams- They just got blown away against Philly. Steven Jackson might as well have been non-existent. The Rams need to get things on track or else they will stay at number one for a long while.
   
   
2. Detroit Lions- They lost to the Atlanta Falcons, need I say more? Okay sure Jon Kitna had a good game, but it's not enough. They lost to a team that started a rookie at the quarterback.
   
   
3. Oakland Raiders- They were awful on Monday night against the Broncos. The reason they are at number three is because of JaMarcus Russell's strong showing. The second year quarterback from LSU threw two touchdown passes in the losing effort. If the Raiders defense puts up more showings like that, they will hit number one in no time at all.
   
   
4. Cincinnati Bengals- They have no defense and now it looks like they have no offense. Quarterback Carson Palmer was 10-of-25 for 99 yards and one interception. The Bengals had only eight first downs on Sunday.
   
   
5. Minnesota Vikings- I don't know how long they'll be on this list for, but if they keep playing like they did on Monday night, they'll be there for a while.

I know this is a young list, but it should develop even more as the weeks progress.

Tuesdays with Romo: Rodgers wins, Jackson not so much

Okay Green Bay fans, how happy were you at your new quarterbacks performance? I'd be feeling pretty good, but then again I'm not a Packers fan.

Rodgers completed 18-of-22 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown pass. I know it's not Brett Favre numbers. I really didn't think it was that big of an issue though. Rodgers didn't make a lot of mistakes. He had a far better night than Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

Jackson completed 16 out of 35 for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson managed to run for 103 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. Ryan Grant ran for 92 yards on 12 carries.

The Mondays: Bye-Bye Brady?

Happy week 1 of the NFL season. I am proud to bring back the greatest spectacle here at Oh No Romo, the Mondays.

New England Patriots 17 - Kansas City Chiefs 10- The Pats held on to win their 17th straight regular season game, but it came at a strong price. Reports are out that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is out for the season after tearing his ACL.

This is a disastrous injury no matter which team you play for. Brady has been the face of this franchise for seven years now. The Patriots will be playing without him for the first time in a long time. The pressure is now on Matt Cassel.

He goes from being back up to #1 on the depth chart. Cassel played well Sunday in his time off the bench. Cassel completed 13-of-18 for 152 yards and one touchdown. Cassel managed the game well and showed a lot of composure despite getting hit hard a couple of times. It will be interesting to see how Cassel does in the next couple of weeks. It will also be interesting to see if the Patriots add another quarterback

Atlanta Falcons 34 - Detroit Lions 21- A big congratulations goes out to Matt Ryan for winning his first game as an NFL quarterback. The big story of the day goes to running back Michael Turner. The former San Diego running back had over 200 yards today with two touchdowns. Matt Ryan also threw his first career touchdown pass when he completed a 62-yarder to Michael Jenkins. The Falcons could be 2-0 if they go through Tampa next week.

Buffalo Bills 34 - Seattle Seahawks 10- I raise my hand because yes, I admit, I saw this loss for the Seahawks coming. I'm not saying the Seahawks are bad, that's only on the road and when they travel across the country. No matter, this is a big win for the Bills. Roscoe Parrish rocked Buffalo when he returned a punt for 63 yards in the second quarter to score a touchdown.

Baltimore Ravens 17 - Cincinnati Bengals 10- How about that Joe Flacco kid? The rookie from Delaware ran for a 38 yard touchdown.

I Believe in Kenny Watson Watch: Watson ran for 13 yards on two carries.

Oh No Romo Alert: Despite a little sweet chin music, Romo threw for 320 yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys won.

Sunday Night Recap: Chicago Bears 29 - Indianapolis Colts 13- It was the Matt Forte show that came on air at Lucas Oil Stadium. Forte ran for 123 yards and one touchdown. Peyton Manning in his return to the field threw for one touchdown and 257 yards. The running game for the Colts never took off. The Colts ran for a combined 53 yards.

Monday Night Predictions: Minnesota Vikings over Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos over Oakland Raiders

Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

NFL Picks: Week 1

The 2008 NFL season starts today (at 1 p.m. ET to be exact). We've missed it and we're ready for more football action. Without further ado, time for my picks for week 1.

1. Philadelphia over St. Louis- The Eagles should be ready to go. Sure they don't have Kevin Curtis, but I can't see St. Louis winning on the road.
   
   
2. Jacksonville over Tennessee- Great division game to start the season. I know the Titans have done well against the Jags, but I think things should be different this time around.
   
   
3. New Orleans over Tampa Bay- This seems like a no-brainer to me because the Saints are a much better team than the Bucs. The Saints will be back in the saddle again, to quote Aerosmith.
   
   
4. New York (Jets) over Miami- Miami is coming off of a 1-15 season, need I say more?
   
   
5. Upset Pick: Houston over Pittsburgh- The Texans showed a lot of promise last season. This year could very well be their breakout year and it all starts in Pittsburgh.

Enjoy the games

College Football Update: Who is this East Carolina team and why are they beating ranked teams?

In case you haven't heard, East Carolina knocked off another top 25 team for a second straight week. This week, it was West Virginia that felt the wrath of Skip Holtz and his band of mega awesome Pirates.

The Pirates made light work of the no.-8 ranked Mountaineers, giving up only three points. While the Mountaineers dominated the running game, their passing game was non-existent. Pat White had five touchdowns a week ago. This week he had zero.

Last week, the Pirates knocked off Virginia Tech, then no.-17 ranked. The Mountaineers are the last ranked team that the Pirates will face this season. That could change, but come on, do you really think NC State will get into the top 25?

For those of you who don't know where East Carolina, or ECU is. So I took the time to look up the site on Wikipedia. This public university is located in Greenville, N.C. ECU has almost 26,000 students enrolled. The university ranks among the best in the country, receiving acclamations from the Princeton Review and the US News and World Report.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard attended East Carolina. Other notable alumni include actress Sandra Bullock, WWE chairman Vince McMahon and actress Emily Procter.

I hope you learned a lot about the university. Go to this link if you're interested in the college.

Photo Credit for Football pic: Sara D. Davis/AP

College Football Update: Ohio State survives early scare

Just when you thought the Ohio State Buckeyes were going to fall flat on their face early in this season, they strike back late and survive to prepare for a trip to sunny California.

Ohio State struggled in their game with Ohio. They were down to Ohio 7-6 at the half and were down 14-6 about midway through the third quarter. OSU had to go on without their star running back, Beanie Wells.

OSU scored 20 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarter, including a 69-yard punt return by Ray Small, to win the game over Ohio 26-14.

Todd Boeckman struggled in the game, completing 16-of-26 for 111 yards and no touchdowns and interceptions. Daniel Herron rushed the ball 12 times for 60 yards for OSU.

OSU travels to Los Angeles next week to face the USC Trojans. The Buckeyes hope to have Wells back in time, because they will certainly need him against that tough Trojans defense.

NFL Preview Show Extravaganza Double Feature: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers

Today is our last day of the month and a half long look at the preview of all 32 teams. This is saddening because I've had so much fun with these previews. I did what I could and did it gosh darn it! Hey, it was a fun ride and I hope you enjoyed these previews. They've certainly kept me busy since mid-July. Don't worry, I have every intention of keeping the previews going next year. So don't shed a tear, I have this day for you guys. Today enjoy this combo. Sorry if it seems mashed together.

What do the Bucs and Packers have in common? If you said they don't have Brett Favre then you're right on the money. However, that's not what I'm talking about. Both teams won their respective divisions last season and both teams lost to the New York Giants in the playoffs.

Only the Packers have a better team all around. The Bucs are a team that played well in 2007, but decided to slow up for the playoffs once the division was clinched. This ultimately led to the Bucs being trounced at home to the Giants on Wild Card weekend.

The Packers took a 13-3 record in the regular season all the way to the NFC title game. In sub zero temperatures, the Packers stood toe-to-toe with the Giants. Ultimately, the Giants had their way and the Packers lost the game.

Believe it or not, the Packers and the Bucs will face each other this season, which is probably why Brett Favre isn't in Tampa. The Packers play Indy, Dallas and New Orleans. The Bucs play KC, Dallas and San Diego.

Once more for these previews in 2008, it's time for those burnin' questions (yearbook style):

• Better season: Rodgers or Garcia: Rodgers
  
  
• Passing yards for each: Rodgers- 2900 and Garcia 2800
  
  
• Better rusher, Grant or Graham: Ryan Grant- 1013 yards
  
  
• Better receiver: I have no clue
  
  
• Better defense: Packers only because they are younger
  
  
• Who lasts longer, McCarthy or Gruden: McCarthy
  
  
• Coolest names on both teams (Top 4): Jovan Haye (TB), Jeremy Trueblood (TB), Atari Bigby (GB) and Mason Crosby (GB)
  
  
• 80s song to best describe both teams: (I've Had) The Time of My Life- Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (AND I OWE IT ALL TO YOUUUU!!!!)
  
  
• For the last time this year, both teams will: Miss the playoffs

That's all I have. I will have a recap of the first week's action on Monday, so I'll see you then.

NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: San Diego Chargers

We're down to our final team in the AFC. We'll do a doubleheader of the Packers and Bucs on Friday. For now though, we wrap up the AFC West and the AFC with the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers were the one team that really proved me wrong last year. I was waiting to see this team fall flat on their face and they never got around to it. Instead, the Chargers won the AFC West (easily) and knocked off Tennessee and Indianapolis to get all the way to the AFC Championship.

By far though, the Chargers win over the Colts was impressive in itself because they did it without LaDainian Tomlinson and Phillip Rivers. This team flat out refused to quit and it showed in the playoffs. In fact, the Chargers stuck with the Patriots up until the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game. Can the 2008 Chargers have the same amount of success as the Chargers from 2007 and 2006?

One man who will be out on the field this Sunday when the Chargers play is linebacker Shawne Merriman. The Pro Bowl linebacker has two ligament tears. Merriman has sought several opinions and all recommend surgery. Why Merriman isn't opting for the surgery is a mystery. Your guess is just as good as mine at this point and time.

Merriman and the Chargers open up the 2008 season at home when they face the Carolina Panthers. At home, the Chargers will face New England, New York (Jets) and Atlanta. On the road, the Chargers will face Miami, Buffalo and New Orleans.

Time for those burnin' questions (yearbook style):

• Phillip Rivers gets injured how many times this season: 3 times
  
  
• Passing yards for Rivers: 2700
  
  
• Touchdowns for Rivers: 21
  
  
• Interceptions: 16
  
  
• Rushing yards for LT: 1200
  
  
• Rushing touchdowns for LT: 11
  
  
• Number of Vizio commercials for LT: 2
  
  
• Leading receiver: Vincent Jackson
  
  
• Shawne Merriman "Lights Out" dances: He better avoid it for safety knee reasons
  
  
• Seasons Norv Turner has left as coach: 3
  
  
• San Diego Chargers Fun Fact: Paul Lowe is second all-time on the Chargers rushing list with 4972 (LT is first as I'm sure you knew)
  
  
• Coolest names (Top 3): Mike Scifres, Jacob Hester, Cletis Gordon
  
  
• 80s song to best describe team: Paradise City- GNR
  
  
• In 2008, the Chargers will: Go 8-8
  

NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: Denver Broncos

Today, our look at the AFC West continues as we profile the Denver Broncos.

It's been more than 10 years since the Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls. Despite all the changes, one thing has remained a constant and that would be head coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan has no doubt been there for the Broncos in their victories and defeats. He's been there in their triumps and their tragedies.

Shanahan has seen many different quarterbacks start since John Elway retired, which includes Brian Griese, Jake Plummer and current quarterback Jay Cutler.

Many running backs have come and gone through after Terrell Davis; These backs include Mike Anderson, Tatum Bell, Clinton Portis, Reuben Droughns and many, many more.

No matter, Shanahan has remained the constant. He's entering his 14th season as the Broncos head coach. Only Jeff Fisher has had a longer tenure as a head coach than Shanahan.

Shanahan has done a lot for the city of Denver. He gave the city two Super Bowl rings. Shanahan has 208 wins as a head coach in Denver (228 total).

He has a win percentage of .625 as Broncos head coach, which is better than Dan Reeves' mark. Shanahan has led the Broncos to the playoffs seven times in 13 seasons. He's 8-5 in the playoffs. Shanahan is definitely a coach who should be considered for the Hall of Fame.

The Broncos face their division rivals, the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football to open up the regular season. At home, the Broncos will face Tampa, Jacksonville and Buffalo. On the road, the Broncos will face New York (Jets), Carolina and New England.

Now it's time for those burnin' questions (yearbook style):

• Jay Cutler will: Throw for 3200 yards
  
  
• Cutler touchdowns: 23
  
  
• Cutler interceptions: 15
  
  
• True or False, Cutler wins Strongman Award: False, you're thinking of the bodybuilder
  
  
• Name that running back: Selvin....No.....Andre....No....Okay, your guess is as good as mine
  
  
• Leading receiver is: Brandon Marshall- 1023 yards
  
  
• How long does Shanahan stay in Denver: Until he decides to retire
  
  
• Coolest names (Top 3): Elvis Dumervil, Ceci Sapp and Ebenezer Ekuban
  
  
• 80s song to best describe team: Don't Worry, Be Happy- Bobby McFerrin
  
  
• In 2008, the Broncos will: Go 9-7
  

NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: Oakland Raiders

Today, we continue our profile of the AFC West with a look at the Oakland Raiders.

Remember the days when the Raiders were a team that everybody hated to play. The Raiders were a team with players like Kenny Stabler, Matt Millen, Marcus Allen, Art Shell, the late great Gene Upshaw, Lester Hayes, Jack Tatum, Fred Biletnikoff, Dave Casper, Ted Hendricks, Ray Guy, Lyle Alzado, Howie Long and so many more.

This franchise has a proud history of winning and have always been a relevant force in the AFC West.

The days of the great Raiders teams are now in the past. The Raiders don't have the same talent that they had back in the day. I'm not sure what happened. Maybe it's owner Al Davis and maybe it's not (All signs point to Davis). If the Raiders wants to win, Al Davis will need to change his controlling ways.

This team has a proud (well they'd call it that) history. It would be nice to see the Raiders start winning again, but we'll have to wait and see.

The Raiders open up the 2008 season at home on Monday night against their division foes, the Denver Broncos. At home, the Raiders will face New England, Carolina and Houston. On the road, the Raiders will face New Orleans, Tampa and Baltimore.

Time for those burnin' questions (yearbook style):

• Passing yards for JaMarcus Russell: 2500
  
  
• Touchdowns: 16
  
  
• Interceptions: 20
  
  
• Leading rusher: Darren McFadden- 987 yards
  
  
• Rushing touchdown leaders: Justin Fargas- 10
  
  
• Leading wide receiver: Does it really matter?
  
  
• Oakland Raiders Fun Fact: Former head coach Tom Flores was once a quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. In fact he went to the Pro Bowl in 1966.
  
  
• Coolest names (Top 3): Justin Fargas, Joe Condo and Stanford Routt
  
  
• 80s song to best describe team: Screw the 80s song. Give me the Oakland Raiders theme any day of the week!
  
  
• In 2008, the Raiders will: Finish the season 6-10

Enjoy the song!

NFL Preview Show Extravaganza: Kansas City Chiefs

We're now in the final division of our look at the 32 teams of the NFL. This week, our attention is turned towards the AFC West. Today, we take a look at the farthest eastern team in the West, the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs are a team with a lot of talent all-around. They have an excellent defense. However, their offense held back the team in 2007.

The choices at quarterback for the Chiefs were Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard. Unfortunately, neither one stepped it up. Huard had the best of the two, throwing for 2200 yards and 11 touchdowns. Croyle did not win any of the games he started in 2007.

Another issue for the Chiefs was the running game. In 2006, Larry Johnson had his best season ever as a running back. In 2007, well it wasn't his year. Johnson played eight games in 2007. He ran for 559 yards and three touchdowns.

Johnson averaged 3.5 yards per carry, worst output in his career. Many attribute this slowdown to the fact that Johnson carried the ball 416 times in the NFL in 2006. If Johnson stays healthy, he should have a good season.

One pleasant surprise for the Chiefs was the rise of rookie wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Bowe caught 70 balls for almost 1000 yards. Bowe gives the Chiefs another weapon to turn to, taking pressure off of tight end Tony Gonzalez.

The Chiefs open up the 2008 regular season at home when they take on the defending AFC champions, the New England Patriots. At home, the Chiefs will face Tennessee, Tampa and Miami. On the road, the Chiefs will face Carolina, Atlanta and New York (Jets).

Time for those burnin' questions (yearbook style):

• Brodie Croyle: Yeah he should be much better
  
  
• Passing yards for Croyle: 2300 yards
  
  
• Touchdown passes: 17
  
  
• Interceptions: 15
  
  
• Larry Johnson will: Probably get hurt
  
  
• Yards for Johnson: 1100
  
  
• The defense will: Finish in the top ten
  
  
• Dwayne Bowe will: Miss out on 1000 yards again (As will Tony Gonzalez)
  
  
• Chiefs fun fact: Tony Gonzalez needs only 18 yards to pass the 10,000 yard plateau
  
  
• Coolest names (Top 3): Rudy Niswanger, Dustin Colquitt, Devard Darling
  
  
• 80s song to best describe team: Save a Prayer- Duran Duran
  
  
• In 2008, the Chiefs will: Go 7-9