Under Center w/Maly Mal

Well, we’re at the halfway mark of the 2008 NFL season. It’s a time where we begin to separate the men from the boys. The Tennessee Titans certainly showed their manhood in their Monday night showdown with the Indianapolis Colts. However, I couldn’t help but wonder, did the game show how good the Titans are, or how far the Colts have fallen? In my opinion it’s the former. I’ve praised the Titans defense all year long, and Monday night confirmed my opinion. To score 25 unanswered points against the Colts speaks volumes. The Titans are the best team in football, right now… Hands down!

The second best team, the New York Giants, bounced back in a BIG way this weekend. I’m still asking myself, ‘How did Pittsburgh lose this game?’ Who would’ve ever thought a long snapper would/could make a difference? Better yet, how does a long snapper get injured? Nonetheless, at a time in the game when you could feel Pittsburgh just wanted to run out the clock (with too much ‘clock’ to just run out), volunteer long snapper/starting linebacker (don’t quit your day job) James Harrison snapped the ball over punter Mitch Berger’s head, out of the end zone. The result of the play was a game-tying safety. The Steelers were dominating the Giants, up to that point. But, as champions do, the Giants seized the moment and drove down the field for the winning touchdown.

The NFC East had a nice bounce back this weekend, with all four teams winning. The Philadelphia Eagles are now 11-0 after a bye week, under head coach Andy Reid. They eventually shook off the rust and dismantled the Falcons, with relentless pressure and a lot of Brian Westbrook. The Redskins toyed with the Lions, until Santana Moss (who’s having a career season) returned a punt for a touchdown to seal the deal. And, the Cowboys, in the underdog role for the first time this season, defeated the Bucs. The irony was the defense is who won the game for them. The ‘Happy Feet’ was in full swing, as Jeff Garcia had zero time to throw the ball. I’ve always stated, if Jeff Garcia’s unable to set his feet, he’s ineffective. Take the previous three weeks for example… Jeff Garcia completed 75% of his passes, with a touchdown in each. Against Dallas it dropped to 62%, zero touchdowns. Thanks for the blueprint, Cowboys!

Here are the rankings:

1. Tennessee Titans – 25 unanswered points? WOW!
2. New York Giants – Did what champions do… Just win, baby! Big divisional match-up against Dallas looms!
3. Carolina Panthers – Impressive win against the Cardinals. With the schedule lightening up, they could be the top team soon.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers – The loss against the Giants hurt. But, they’re still the second best team in a conference that seems to get weaker as the weeks go by.
5. Washington Redskins – The Redskins are anxious to prove they’re serious contenders, when they play the Steelers on Monday night.
6. Dallas Cowboys – Now the Cowboys know they not only can win with Brad Johnson, but, beat a good team. That’ll do wonders for their confidence.
7. Philadelphia Eagles – Seattle is a team the Eagles should beat, but, the kind of game they usually lose.
8. New England Patriots – In a conference that’s wide open, I refuse to count this team out.
9. Buffalo Bills – It was the Bills of old last week. Which team will show up this week?
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – If the Bucs want to be taken seriously, they need a big win. Dallas was the perfect opportunity wasted!