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The Schein Nine: Broncos have a bright future
We are foaming at the mouth.
The Schein Nine Week 2 Nuggets ...
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| The Broncos have their QB in Jay Cutler and vindication for their recent draft strategy in the form of Eddie Royal. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images) |
1. Ed Hochuli made an all-time gaffe that cost the Chargers a win and maybe more.
We will rip him later, but for now we are here to praise Mike Shanahan.
Before the go-ahead drive, the future Hall of Fame coach told Jay Cutler that he would go for two after the quarterback completed the crucial scoring drive with 24 seconds remaining.
That's guts. That's beautiful. That's Shanahan.
Think about it. You have a back-and-forth game. Then a major controversy takes place. And then a head coach eschews the tie with a simple extra point and goes for broke with the two-point conversion.
Shanahan wouldn't have it any other way.
Cutler and the Broncos benefited from Hochuli's putrid call on a play even Cutler admits was a fumble. But then Cutler drilled a touchdown pass to Eddie Royal crossing in the end zone. Instantly Shanahan gave Cutler the sign to go for two. Hearts were stopped all across America.
But Shanahan knew what he was doing. In his mind, he had the Chargers right where he wanted them. Shanahan's defense was exposed in the second half. A coin flip is too much of a risk.
Most especially, the coach finally had his quarterback. Let's not overlook that. Denver isn't going for two with Jake Plummer. Shanahan had his stud quarterback, his next John Elway, in Cutler (who is bound for stardom and major growth in year 3) on the 2-yard-line. Who knew if the Broncos would get down there again in overtime? All Cutler had to do was make a play, something he did all game long. Sure, the improbable call put pressure on his young gunslinger. But it put San Diego in a collective vise.
And Shanahan has the job security, the moxie, and the respect of his players to roll the dice. Nobody makes that call! It was the perfect storm.
Cutler hit Royal again. It was sheer pandemonium in Denver. It was all due to the guts and genius of Shanahan.
It drives me bonkers every time I hear someone criticize his player moves in Denver. Where is the credit for the 2006 draft with Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall (18 catches, 166 yards), Tony Scheffler (two touchdowns) and stud defensive end Elvis Dumervil? The 2008 draft with Royal and Ryan Clady is going to go down as a fantastic one, too.
Denver is flawed. The defense needs to be tightened. But there's a reason I picked Denver to make the playoffs in the preseason.
Mike Shanahan.
2. If you counted out the Patriots, you just don't get it.
Bill Belichick simply outcoached Eric Mangini in the Pats' 19-10 win in New York. Three straight runs on first and goal? Why did you trade for Brett Favre? How about a throw on either first or second down?
And Favre didn't exactly help matters when he tossed an awful looking pick in the third quarter. It set up New England's only touchdown of the game, giving the Pats a 13-3 lead.
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| Is Trent Edwards the Bills' first long-term solution at QB since Jim Kelly? (Doug Benc / Getty Images) |
3. I've been begging you not to sleep on the Buffalo Bills. Dick Jauron's outfit, a six-point dog on the road, showed off its depth and comeback ability in a 20-16 win in Jacksonville.
Check out this sequence: Bills quarterback Trent Edwards, who was nearly perfect Sunday at 20-of-25 for 239 yards, hits Lee Evans on a third-and-6 bomb in the fourth quarter with Buffalo trailing. On the next play, Edwards calmly stepped up and hit James Hardy in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score at 17-16.
On the ensuing Jacksonville drive, the Bills defense held the Jaguars offense to a gigantic three-and-out, with Kyle Williams sacking Dave Garrard on third down.
Buffalo then once again put the special in special teams as Roscoe Parrish darted down the field for a 27-yard punt return. The Bills then gobbled up 2:57 on the clock, took advantage of their good field position, and tacked on three points to make it 20-16.
That's how you beat a talented team on the road.
That's 2008 Buffalo Bills football.
4. Vince Young isn't playing another down for the Titans this year.
Kerry Collins didn't turn it over in the win against Cincinnati. And most especially, the Titans players didn't have to worry if he wanted to be out there.
NFL Week 17
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Week 17 action
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Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box
Analysis
Video
Photos
5. Here's the deal. Minnesota has a decision to make -- and fast.
If Tarvaris Jackson is your quarterback, you use him. If not, you trade for Jeff Garcia.
Brad Childress traded up for Jackson in the draft in 2006. He made him his guy. Up 15-0, you need to throw the ball. Adrian Peterson was sensational in the first half, neutralized by a defense sans Bob Sanders late because everyone knew Minnesota wouldn't throw. The 0-2 Vikings cannot win if you cannot complete the forward pass.
6. Jonathan Stewart and the offensive line then pushed around the Bears D in the Panthers' comeback win against the Bears.
My guy Stewart gets the pub but let's not overlook the impact that fellow first-round pick Jeff Otah is making on the offensive line.
7. What an amazing Monday night shootout.
Tony Romo and the Cowboys were just able to make a few more plays than Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. The Brian Westbrook fumble ultimately cost the Eagles in a highly entertaining, 41-37 Dallas win. Say what you want about Terrell Owens, but we are watching an all-time great receiver. I think his antics often get in the way of recognizing that.
Both Dallas and the Eagles will be playoff-bound.
8. Great job by Eli Manning and the Giants, at 20-13, marching down the field after Torry Holt made a sensational diving catch for a touchdown to make it a one-possession game.
Manning hit Dominic Hixon for a big gain and followed up with a swing pass for a touchdown to Ahmad Bradshaw. Ballgame over and rout on.
Sure, the Rams represent the NFL's junior varsity and the biggest decision St. Louis has to make is when to fire Scott Linehan. But the Super Bowl champs have now won 12 straight games on the road. That's incredible stuff.
Look at the Giants' schedule -- Cincy and Seattle at home, the over-hyped Browns in Cleveland, and then the Niners. Tom Coughlin's team is going to start 6-0.
9. The fact that we are even talking about Al Davis firing Lane Kiffin is an embarrassment to football.
Kiffin needs what every other NFL coach has -- the ability to hire his own coaches and run a program. And he happens to be a great fit in Oakland as a young Jon Gruden. We should be talking about Darren McFadden's sensational Sunday, not Kiffin's job security.
If Davis fires Kiffin, the Raiders will be set back at least a decade.
Who would actually take that job?
My Guys ...
1. Peyton Manning -- On my Sirius NFL Radio show Monday, Tony Dungy couldn't say enough great things about how tough and resilient the quarterback was. Forget what Manning did for your fantasy team. That was a classic Manning game. The future Hall of Famer was getting driven into the turf often against the Vikings defense, taking advantage of an Indy offensive line playing four guys out of position. Yet Manning hung in and delivered the goods on the road in crunch time to get Indy out of a 15-0 hole.
2. Ken Whisenhunt -- The Cardinals coach wanted to win, so he picked Kurt Warner. The veteran had a perfect Sunday, throwing for 361 yards and three scores in guiding the 2-0 Cards to a strong win over Miami. That's the kind of game the old Cardinals would lose. And with Seattle 0-2 after San Francisco's upset special, Whisenhunt's team could finally make a legit playoff run.
3. Charles Woodson -- Woodson picked off Jon Kitna after the Pack took the lead back from the Lions at 27-25 with five minutes to go. It set up a dagger Brandon Jackson touchdown. Moments later, Woodson picked off Kitna again and ran it into the end zone with three minutes to go to seal the win. Oh yeah, the Green Bay corner was playing on a broken toe. That's toughness.
4. Keith Bulluck -- The pride of New City, N.Y., sealed the win for the Titans when he blocked a Cincy punt in the end zone that went for a Tennessee touchdown. It's Bulluck who is the unquestioned leader of the Titans, keeping this team together as the Young saga unfolds.
5. Chris Horton -- When I get to a training camp, I always ask team officials for a nugget. When I got to Washington, everyone told me to watch Horton. The former UCLA safety stepped up for the Skins D with two picks and a forced fumble. Credit Vinny Cerrato for plucking Horton late in the draft. Horton sparked a great win for Jim Zorn and the Skins over New Orleans.
My Goats ...
1. Ed Hochuli -- The single worst call I've ever seen. It was a fumble. San Diego had the ball and the win. You don't have to change the rule. You have to get it right. This can cost the Chargers anything from the playoffs to the division title to a home game in the postseason to a bye. I never expected this from one of the top officials in the game.
2. Denver's video system -- This is the National Football League. How does a replay not work when Hochuli goes to review it? It's an embarrassment when the viewer at home has access to replays and the refs don't. The official upstairs should have full control of replay. Maybe if the home team's equipment doesn't work, you should be able to use the video gear from the network broadcasting the game.
3. Herm Edwards -- Kansas City is a total mess that you can't stomach to watch. The Chiefs don't have a quarterback, offensive line or defense. Other than that, they are fine. They have a running back but they don't use him. (I could also make my guy Lane Feinstein at SNY my goat for getting eliminated by the Chiefs in the survivor pool he runs.)
4. Derek Anderson/Romeo Crenell -- The game management was just downright putrid at the end of the second quarter and it cost Cleveland points. Anderson didn't help matters when he tossed a pick to add insult to injury.
5. Jets special teams -- Jay Feely missed the entire stadium on an easy field goal. Ben Graham's punting was putrid. The coverage was horrendous. The Jets consistently gave New England excellent field position and it killed New York.
We'll have so many more nuggets video-style later in the week on FOXSports.com, plus your emails in the 'SCHEIN-BOX' video.
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