The Mondays: It's Playoff Time

Happy New Years Eve

It is time to see who is playing on Wild Card weekend

Saturday:

#6 Washington Redskins at #3 Seattle Seahawks-- 4:30 PM ET on NBC- Just seeing the Redskins in the playoffs is huge considering all that they have been through this season. It will be hard for them going on the road to play a tough Seahawks team.

#5 Jacksonville Jaguars at #4 Pittsburgh Steelers-- 8 PM ET on NBC- The Jags have already beaten the Steelers at Heinz Field this year. Can they do it again?

Sunday:

#5 New York Giants at #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers-- 1 PM ET on Fox- This game could go the Giants way, it all depends on which Eli Manning we see.

#6 Tennessee Titans at #3 San Diego Chargers-- 4:30 PM ET on CBS- A lot depends on the status of Vince Young. Obviously we will know soon enough, but for now I'm picking the Chargers.

Ehh, that's all folks

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Friday Briefs: Week 17 Has Finally Arrived

Well it is finally here, the final week of the 2007 NFL regular season. There have been some happy moments and some sad ones. Tomorrow night though, the biggest moment of the regular season will occur when the New England Patriots take the field in the Meadowlands as they take on the New York Giants.

The Patriots will try to do what no other team in the NFL has done before, go 16-0 in the regular season. Ironically enough, the Pats opened the regular season AT the Meadowlands when they played the New York Jets. Week after week, teams would line up against Pats trying to knock them off the mountain. Each time, the Pats came out on top.

Tomorrow night, another chapter will be completed in the 2007 NFL season.

Next week will start the playoffs. I plan on doing a full recap of my picks over the regular season and I will be making playoff picks. Now, I will make my picks for week 17:

New England Patriots over New York Giants- I want to see what this team can do in the playoffs.

Cleveland Browns over San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts over Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins over Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos over Minnesota Vikings

Kansas City Chiefs over New York Jets

Have a happy New Year guys

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Friday Briefs: Making the Picks

I know you are probably wondering why I haven't been posting on the site as of lately. Well, I'm at home, where the dial up grows and my impatience wears on me. That being said, I will be heading down to Chicago on Sunday and will not be around to make my usual 'Mondays' post. You won't be seeing me do a recap for week 16. Don't worry, I have plenty of stuff planned for when I get back (or so I think).

Time for some picks.

• Carolina Panthers over Dallas Cowboys
  
• Jacksonville Jaguars over Oakland Raiders
  
• Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears (Sorry guys)
  
• Seattle Seahawks over Baltimore Ravens
  
• Buffalo Bills over New York Giants

In case I don't see you. Have a happy holidays.

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A Conversation with Washington Post Blogger Jason LaCanfora

This is the first of what I hope to be many more interviews with bloggers and beat writers at many newspapers. Jason LaCanfora has been in the journalism business for more than 10 years. He' graduated Magna Cum Laude at Syracuse University. He would start out at the Syracuse Post-Standard in 1995. Then, LaCanfora would be a back-up beat writer for the Baltimore Orioles for the Baltimore Sun. From 1997-1999, LaCanfora would work for the Detroit Free Press as the Red Wings beat writer, covering their back-to-back Stanley Cup Victories and the 1998 Nagano Olympics. You can now find Jason working at the Washington Post, where he now writes for the Redskins Insider. He has references that can get him hired anywhere and he was kind enough for an interview with ONR.

You're blogging for the Washington Post, what's that like?

It's a lot of fun, but also probably a little unusual in that I can't really go off and as the beat writer for the team as well there is definitely a line there that I cannot cross, whereas the guys at Profootballtalk.com or something can kinda go off. Also, the fact I am covering the team on a highly competitive beat also limits the time I have to purely blog, riff, and all that good stuff.

What do you think of the bloggers at the Washington Post, I've heard some good things, but what do you think?

I think when it comes to internet coverage in general we were way ahead of the curve and remain at the vanguard of the movement. We have a lot of people on staff both writers and editors who get and understand new media

What does the future hold for bloggers in your opinion?

That's kinda vague. I think in general it is imperative that newspapers adapt and embrace the intimacy and fluidity of covering news on-line, and become as interactive with readers as possible in any forums that make sense (blogs, web chats, keggers in the beat guys basement).

You did an excellent job covering the Sean Taylor homicide. What was your initial reaction when you walked into the office that Monday morning and found out that Taylor was shot?

Thanks. Actually, though, my office is in Redskins Park (I go to the Post office once a month to turn in expensive and let my daughter run around and become equal parts scared and intoxicated by the moving stuffed moose we have on the wall seriously). I was actually on my drive to Ashburn when I got a call from someone on the team telling me they heard Sean was shot in Miami, and the next 12 days are a blur. But my initial reaction was truly, Holy (bleep), I hope its not too serious.

What did you think of how some folks in the media reacted to Taylor's death?

I think that with the need/pressure/demand nowadays to provide real time news/analysis, there are going to be problems, especially in delicate and unchartered territory such as this. I can understand why some people leapt to the conclusions that they did, but likewise I am eternally grateful that I did not and I followed my instincts and tried to be as sensitive to the situation as possible.

What have your thoughts and feelings been on the 2007 Redskins season? Do they have any hopes of making the playoffs?

I think it's not very realistic to expect them to finish 4-0 (Interview done last week) and get it. They have only one decent winning streak to speak of since Gibbs returned 5-0 or we don't go in 2005 and given the state of this team I don't see that happened again.

Is Joe Gibbs done after this season?

I don't think so. Barring a change in his health or a setback in his grandson's recovery from cancer, I think he will be back.

What have you thought about the dominance of the Cowboys this season?

I think you have to respect any team that can start the season 12-1 (yes, even in the NFC circa 2007). They have the second best offense in the NFL, a defense that?s good enough to be dangerous and with the ability to rush the passer. The secondary is still a mess sometimes but they have a bunch of guys who have been straight-up playmakers this season (Romo, TO, Barber, Witten, Ware) and have found a way to win. Clearly the best team in the NFC this season, but that?s not to say they can?t easily slip up in the playoffs.

The Mondays: You've Been Pre-Accepted For a New Credit Card

Happy Monday to all you wild and crazy football hooligans out there in happy land. It's now only a week until Christmas and all the shopping stores are wild and out of control (until I show up). Week 15 certainly had some crazy moments, I can definitely guarantee that.

• Cleveland Browns defeat Buffalo Bills, 8-0- What a crazy weather game. There was snow as far as I could see. At 9-5, the Browns are a serious threat to make the playoffs. The Browns go to Cincinnati next week and have a home finale against the San Francisco 49ers. They're in the sixth spot in the Wild Card, but the Browns do have a chance to overthrow the Steelers and win the Division crown.
  
  
• Jacksonville Jaguars defeat Pittsburgh Steelers, 29-22- The Jags have it together. They have a reliable quarterback in David Garrard, an excellent running back combination and a great defense. Jack Del Rio has this team working on all cylinders. The Jags have the fifth seed wrapped up.
  
  As for the Steelers, things don't look good. They lost at home to a warm weather team. The Steelers couldn't stop Fred Taylor yesterday. The Steelers hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Browns, however one loss could spoil hopes of a division crown.
  
  
• ROMO ALERT: Dallas Cowboys lose to Philadelphia Eagles, 10-6- Jim Johnson is a freakin genius. His defense figured out a way to shut down Tony Romo and the rest of the Cowboys offense. Plus, did anybody NOT notice Jessica Simpson at Cowboys Stadium yesterday, it seemed like they showed her every time in between plays. If you didn't see her, get your eyes checked. If the Cowboys win out against the Carolina Panthers and the Washington Redskins, they'll have homefield advantage.
  
  
• Miami Dolphins pick up first win of the season- First of all, I knew the Dolphins wouldn't go 0-16. I said they would go 2-14 and now they are half way there to making my prediction accurate. Now they have a chance to not get easily embarrassed against the New England Patriots next week. You might call me stupid, but I'm not counting out the Pats losing this Sunday. We'll see.
  
  
• SUNDAY NIGHT RECAP: Washington Redskins defeat New York Giants, 22-10- This is a huge win for the Redskins because they are still alive in the NFC Wild Card hunt. At 7-7, wins over the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys would be huge for this team. As for the Giants, what the hell!?!?! The Giants have all the sudden fallen off the wagon taking them into the playoffs. Losing Jeremy Shockey doesn't help. The Bills and the Pats are their final two games. Just one win and they are in.
  

Week 16 will surely be a blast.

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Making the NFL Picks Early

I'm making my picks early since I'm headed home soon for break.

• Denver Broncos over Houston Texans
  
• Kansas City Chiefs over Tennessee Titans
  
• Cleveland Browns over Buffalo Bills
  
• Dallas Cowboys over Philadelphia Eagles
  
• New Orleans Saints over Arizona Cardinals

I'll try to update when I can. I'll talk to ya soon.

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The Mondays: This Is How We Do It

Happy Monday to everybody in the world of.....Mondays. It's time for me to do what I do best, and that is make a fool out of myself. After all, nobody does it better than the master of disaster himself.

• Green Bay Packers defeat Oakland Raiders, Clinch NFC North- Good for the Pack Attack. This is a big moment for this young team to make the playoffs. If you ask me, I think Brett Favre has one more playoff run in him before he hangs up the cleats on his illustrious career. This is the best way for Favre to call it a career.
  
• ROMO ALERT: Dallas Cowboys clinch NFC East, beat Detroit Lions in final seconds- Is there anything that the Cowboys can't do? More importantly, what happened to Jon Kitna's guarantee of 10 wins? The best the Lions can do now is finish the season 9-7. They're not out yet, but another loss might be the weld in the pick up truck.
  
• New York Giants defeat Philadelphia Eagles, 16-13- A big win for the Giants, they are now one step closer to solidifying their spot in the NFC playoffs.
  
• San Diego Chargers defeat Tennessee Titans, 23-170 The Titans are all the sudden one game out of last place. The Titans couldn't beat a junior high football team at this point.
  
• Buffalo Bills defeat Miami Dolphins, 38-17- This is a big victory for the Bills because they are still in the hunt for the Wild Card. Coe College star Fred Jackson ran for 115 yards for 15 carries and one touchdown. Coe is in Cedar Rapids and is in the same conference as my school. Usually I'd say Coe sucks, but hey it's the Iowa Conference.
  
• Cleveland Browns defeat New York Jets, 24-18- GAME OF THE WEEK NEXT WEEK: Browns vs. Bills. Winner takes high road to the sixth seed.
  
• SUNDAY NIGHT RECAP: The Indianapolis Colts defeat Baltimore Ravens, 44-20- Yeah, that was a boring game. We did catch a glimpse of rookie quarterback Troy Smith and he ran for a touchdown on his first drive. I hope he starts next week.

SEE YA

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