2015 Fantasy Football Preview: Quarterbacks

            We finish our fantasy football preview with a look at quarterbacks.

Tier-1 = Expensive Investments

 

A.Rodgers, GB

A.Luck, IND

            Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck are really good at quarterbacking in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. We enjoy watching them play. However, the cost to own them in standard drafts or auction is too rich for our blood. Using a second round pick on them means your passing up the chance for a stud runningback or receiver. The only chance I end up with one of these two on any of my rosters on draft day is if they are available in the third round.

Tier-2 = It’s the Water

 

R.Wilson, SEA

B.Roethlisberger, PIT

            Neither Wilson or Roethlisberger got enough credit last year for how productive they were last year for fantasy owners, but they are finally getting the respect the deserve with their current average draft price ending up in the fourth round (third round in 12 team leagues or larger). I’m not likely to choose either of them, unless I’ve already filled my starting RB slots within my first three picks.

Tier-3 = Priced to Sell

 

C.Newton, CAR

M.Ryan, ATL

T.Romo, DAL

            This is the tier I want my QB to come from on draft day. Cam Newton is one of the few quarterbacks who is “receiver proof”, meaning he could lose virtually any piece of his receiving core and still maintain the same value. The loss of Kelvin Benjamin doesn’t scare us at all, and if it means he ends up with 800 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the ground, it could boost his fantasy value. Matt Ryan should benefit from an improved offensive line, and should be in the running to lead the league in passing yardage. Tony Romo will have more opportunities to throw with DeMarco Murray in Philly, which isn’t a bad thing considering the talent on the Cowboys offensive line.

Tier-4 = Old Farts

P.Manning, DEN

D.Brees, NO

            Both of these guys are going before the guys in the previous tier in Yahoo drafts, but that doesn’t mean we have to rate them higher here. Both are entering the twilights of their career, and we’d rather bail out a year early than a year late. Brees might have the fewest pass attempts he’s ever had since joining New Orleans in 2006, and his upside is limited even more with Jimmy Graham out of town. Manning still has tons of weapons at his disposal, but Denver also will shift to a more run heavy approach to ensure Peyton is healthy for the playoffs.

Tier-5 = High-End Platoon Partners

E.Manning, NYG

R.Tannehill, MIA

P.Rivers, SD

            By our ranks, these three guys will be starting quarterbacks in 12-team leagues. That’s okay for us, but we’d probably use another pick on a back up to avoid unfavorable match-ups.

Tier-6 = Deflator!

T.Brady, NE

            It’s two weeks before opening night, and incredibly we still don’t have any idea what Brady’s final punishment will be (good job by you Goodell!). Even if Brady were to start Week 1, there are reasons to downgrade him in fantasy leagues. We’ll use snazzy bullet points.

-         Ryan Tannehill scored more fantasy points last year than Tom Brady.

-         Seriously, Ryan Tannehill, the guy that couldn’t even complete 25% of his passes that traveled more than 20 yards in the air last year.

-         With apologies to Julian Edelman, there still isn’t an elite wide receiver on the Patriots roster.

-         We covered it during our Tight End preview, but it bears repeating…do you like Rob Gronkowski’s chances of staying healthy for a second straight season?

-         LeGarrette Blount is in the fold early this year, which means the Pats could pound the ball on the ground even more this season.

For all those reasons, we’ll probably not have Brady on any of our fantasy rosters this year, unless we’ve filled up our starting QB-RB-WR slots and he’s available in the seventh round.

Tier-7 = Low-End (With Upside) Platoon Partners

C.Kaepernick, SF

J.Flacco, BAL

T.Bridgewater, MIN

M.Stafford, DET

            If you’re a crazy person who plays in a league that starts two QBs every week, these guys are the ones I want as my second quarterbacks. We still have a soft spot for Kaepernick, who is a strong bounce back candidate this year. The 49ers defense won’t be nearly as stout as it has been the past few years, meaning Kaepernick will have more opportunities to deliver. In real life we’re not sure Joe Flacco is a great fit for Marc Trestman’s style of offense, but the volume should translate to fantasy stats (it worked for Jay Cutler and Josh McCown!). Teddy Bridgewater is our favorite quarterback out of this group. The Vikings have weapons all over the place, and Bridgewater’s efficiency could deliver a Russell Wilson-esque stat line.

Tier-8 = Bye Week Waiver Wire Dudes

S.Bradford, PHI

N.Foles, STL

R.Griffin III, WAS

C.Palmer, ARI

J.Cutler, CHI

A.Dalton, CIN

            None of these guys should be drafted in standard leagues with 12 teams or less, but this will likely be the best options you have when your starting QB is on a bye. Sam Bradford has the highest ceiling of this tier, but we need to see him get through at least one month of regular season play before we endorse him.

Tier-9 = Young Guns

J.Winson, TB

D.Carr, OAK

B.Bortles, JAC

M.Mariotta, TEN

            Here are our favorite options for those of you playing in keeper or dynasty leagues. We expect all four to have their moments (even Bortles, we like the Jags receiving core), but they will not be start-able on a weekly basis.

Tier-10 = We Only Included Them So We Could Rank 30 QBs

A.Smith, KC

B.Hoyer, HOU

R.Fitzpatrick, NYJ

            If one of these three are starting at any point during your fantasy season, something went terribly wrong.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (9/5-9/7)

10. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic Both Go Down in Semi-Finals of US Open

            Upsets are cool, until the two guys that pulled off the upsets face off in a Final no one cares about.

9. Brad Keselowski Secures Top Seed in The Chase

            A race billed as a last chance, no holds barred attempt to make the playoffs turned into a snooze-fest thanks to a dominant run by the 2012 champion.

8. Home Loss For Ohio State Caps Miserable Day For Big 10
            Following Michigan getting shut out at Notre Dame and Michigan State surrendering 28 unanswered points at Oregon, the Buckeyes looking mediocre at home was the last thing the conference needed.

7. Miami Dominates New England After Halftime, Wins 33-20

            If it wasn’t for some sloppy ball handling in the first half, the Dolphins could’ve won this game by four touchdowns.

6. Nelson Cruz Goes Bonkers Against Tampa Bay

            After missing the end of the 2013 season due to a steroid suspension, Cruz used the extra time off to figure out new ways to use performance-enhancing drugs without getting caught how to naturally improve at his craft.

5. Andrew Luck Leads Improbable Back Door Cover Against Broncos

            Indianapolis should’ve been a lot closer in this game, as they left at least 11 points on the table in the second half. There is a chance that they are better than we think.

4. Cincinnati Weathers Late Push From Ravens, Wins 23-16

            Steve Smith hit the way-back button with his go ahead touchdown, but then was quickly one-upped by superstar A.J. Green. This was a huge win for the Bengals, as it should silence some critics of The Red Rifle.

           

3. Steelers Nearly Implode, Survive Late Scare Against Cleveland

            After falling behind 27-3, at least Cleveland can take heart in the fact that they covered the point spread.

           

2. Buffalo Bills Pull Off a Shocking Overtime Win in Chicago

            There’s always one game a year in our Week 1 picks column that we don’t follow our preseason predictions closely enough and end up missing. At least it only happened once this year.

1. Matt Ryan Carries Falcons Past New Orleans

            For our money, Matt Ryan was by far the most impressive player in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE on Sunday. In other words, he was the opposite of Tony Romo. 

2014 AFC South Preview

4. Jacksonville Jaguars
2013 Record = 4-12, Third in AFC South, Missed Playoffs
2014 Schedule = @ Eagles, @ Redskins, Colts, @ Chargers, Steelers, @ Titans, Browns, Dolphins, @ Bengals, Cowboys (London), BYE, @ Colts, Giants, Texans, @ Ravens, Titans, @ Texans

Blue Chippers = None

High Quality Players = None
Solid Contributors = WR Cecil Shorts, DE Red Bryant, DE Chris Clemons, CB Alan Ball, CB Will Blackmon
Impact Rookies = QB Blake Bortles (1-3, UCF), WR Marqise Lee (2-39, USC)

Good News = Jacksonville mercifully put an end to the Blaine Gabbert era.

Bad News = They are the Philadelphia 76ers of the NFL.

Outlook = The bar has been set so low over the past few years that merely being competitive in 75% of their games should be a reasonable goal in 2014. Jacksonville did finish 4-4 to finish 2013, so there is some reason for optimism. Barring injury, Blake Bortles should not see the field until midseason, which leaves the offense in the hands of Chad “Garbage Time Yards” Henne. New weapons were brought in which should make life easier for whoever is under center. Toby Gerhart comes to down for his first crack at being a full-time starter, and it’s possible he leads the league in total carries. Rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson should provide support to Cecil Shorts, and eventually develop into a solid duo for Bortles. The play of the offensive line largely hinges on the development of second year pro Luke Joeckel. Joeckel was abysmal at right tackle before breaking his leg last year, and is now making the transition to the left side.

            Defensively, Coach Gus Bradley is in the infant stages of building a defensive unit similar to what he had in Seattle. Red Bryant and Chris Clemons are former Seahawks who will provide leadership on the defensive line. There weren’t many personal moves to bolster the back seven, but with development from their younger players, it’s reasonable to expect some improvement.  
Prediction = They aren’t going to be that good, but I don’t think Jacksonville is worried about that for another year. 4-12





3. Tennessee Titans

2013 Record = 7-9, Second in AFC South, Missed Playoffs
2014 Schedule = @ Chiefs, Cowboys, @ Bengals, @ Colts, Browns, Jaguars, @ Redskins, Texans, BYE, @ Ravens, Steelers, @ Eagles, @ Texans, Giants, Jets, @ Jaguars, Colts

Blue Chippers = None

High Quality Players = WR Kendall Wright, LT Michael Roos, DT Jurrell Casey
Solid Contributors = WR Nate Washington, TE Delanie Walker, LG Andy Levitre, DT Sammie Hill, DE/OLB Derrick Morgan, CB Jason McCourty, SS Bernard “Patriot Killer” Pollard
Impact Rookies = RT Taylor Lewan (1-11, Michigan), HB Bishop Sankey (2-54, Washington)

Good News = Tennessee has some sneaky young talent that is ready to blossom.

Bad News = The Madden version of my son can’t play quarterback for them in real life.

Outlook = Tennessee has assembled an exciting group of skill players, but we’re not sure Jake Locker is the guy to take advantage of it. Kendall Wright was a PPR monster, racking up 94 receptions in 2013. He’s not explosive (only two touchdowns), but he moves the chains. Justin Hunter has the skills to bring big plays to the Titans’ passing game, and is a popular choice to breakout this season. Nate Washington is also still around to provide some veteran leadership. The offensive line showed some improvement after major changes last season, as this year that unit should pay major dividends. A jump in production by sophomore Chance Warmack coupled with rookie Taylor Lewan should stabilize the right side of the line. This will go a long way in helping an offense that will not have the services of Chris Johnson. Rookie Bishop Sankey is first in line for carries. Sankey is a good enough receiver to be a three-down back. All of this adds up to the best supporting cast Jake Locker has had in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. He still has first round talent, but needs to stay on the field.

            Other than Locker, the other issue that will hold Tennessee back is their defense switching to a 3-4. Much like Philadelphia last year, the Titans don’t have the ideal players to make this switch. Derrick Morgan, who is a solid 4-3 end, is virtually useless, and it would be wise management to try to trade him before the season. The loss of CB Alterraun Verner is a huge issue, as there will be a massive drop in talent in the secondary.   
Prediction = We’re not buying into the Titans anymore (we learned our lesson last year) until we can see Jake Locker play at least 12 games. 6-10 

2. Houston Texans

2013 Record = 2-14, Last in AFC South, Missed Playoffs
2014 Schedule = Redskins, @ Raiders, @ Giants, Bills, @ Cowboys, Colts, @ Steelers, @ Titans, Eagles, BYE, @ Browns, Bengals, Titans, @ Jaguars, @ Colts, Ravens, Jaguars

Blue Chippers = WR Andre Johnson, DE J.J. Watt

High Quality Players = None
Solid Contributors = HB Arian Foster, LT Duane Brown, C Chris Myers, RG Brandon Brooks, MLB Brian Cushing, CB Johnathan Joseph, SS Chris Clemons
Impact Rookies = DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney (1-1, South Carolina), Xavier Su’a-Filo (2-33, UCLA), Louis Nix III (3-83, Notre Dame)

Good News = They can’t be any worse than they were last year.

Bad News = Houston is still a quarterback away from a full reboot.

Outlook = After putting up 22 wins and two AFC South titles in two years, Houston followed that up by starting 2013 2-0, and then promptly losing their final 14 games. Awful quarterback play led to an offense that consistently turned the ball over, and despite finishing seventh in total yards allowed, Houston’s defense generated the fewest turnovers in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. There’s reason for optimism defensively, as the duo of J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney could quickly establish them as a deadly pass rush combination. Third round pick Louis Nix III should also pay immediate dividends as a Vince Wilfork-like run stuffer. Their pass defense was stingy, so with an improved pass rush it’s realistic to think Houston can generate the amount of turnovers they did during their division title years.

            Schaub has been sent packing, but the best Houston could do to replace him was bring in journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has been a turnover machine his entire NFL career, so hopefully for Houston’s sake Arian Foster is healthy. The less Fitzpatrick has to throw the ball, the better. 
Prediction = They will definitely not be the worst team in football again, but the lack of a franchise quarterback keeps Houston from returning to the playoffs. 8-8

1. Indianapolis Colts

2013 Record = 11-5, AFC South Champions, Lost AFC Divisional Game
2014 Schedule = @ Broncos, Eagles, @ Jaguars, Titans, Ravens, @ Texans, Bengals, @ Steelers, @ Giants, BYE, Patriots, Jaguars, Redskins, @ Browns, Texans, @ Cowboys, @ Titans

Blue Chippers = DE/OLB Robert Mathis

High Quality Players = WR Reggie Wayne, WR T.Y. Hilton, TE Dwayne Allen
Solid Contributors = QB Andrew Luck, WR Hakeem Nicks, LT Anthony Castonzo, RT Gosder Cherilius, DT Arthur Jones, DT Ricky Jean Francois, CB Vontae Davis
Impact Rookies = None

Good News = Trent Richardson can’t play any worse, right?

Bad News = A first place schedule earns them dates with Denver and New England. 

Outlook = You could make a case that no team did more harm to itself over the past 18 months than the Colts did with wild free agency signings and even more ridiculous trades, but Andrew Luck has been able to overcome it. If the Colts can get the pieces in place around him, this will be the team to beat in the AFC for the next decade. Trent Richardson was comically awful after his mid-season arrival last year, but a year ago at this time he was a first round pick in your fantasy draft. The receiving core should be deeper with the signing of Hakeem Nicks (on a one year prove it deal) and the return of Reggie Wayne (tore his ACL last October). Dwayne Allen had his sophomore campaign wiped out by injury, and is also a welcome addition to the passing game. Barring injury, Luck will have the best core of receivers he’s had in his short pro career.

            The Colts employed a “bend-don’t-break” defense last year, ranking in the bottom third in the league in total yards allowed, but in the top third in points against. You could argue that there isn’t a defense in the league that plays as differently depending on whether they are ahead or behind. The first four games will be tough, as star player Robert Mathis will miss the first four weeks due to a drug related suspension.
Prediction = Not being as lucky as they were last year in close games will be balanced out by playing 14 of their games against teams from the three weakest divisions in football. They aren’t elite yet, but another second round playoff appearance is possible. 11-5

Click here to read about the AFC East

Click here to read about the NFC East
Click here to read about the NFC South
Click here to read about the AFC North
Click here to read about the NFC North
Click here to read about the AFC West

2014 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings

            The tier system worked so well for my fantasy teams last year that we are breaking it out again for our 2014 Fantasy Football preview. As the off-season progresses these rankings will be updated on this page as necessary (quarterback should be the least volatile position, barring a catastrophic injury). We start at quarterback.

 

Tier 1 – The Sure Things

A.Rodgers, GB

P.Manning, DEN

D.Brees, NO

            Not a whole lot to say about these guys, other than barring injury, they are the surest bets on the board. We’ll rank Rodgers first because he’s the youngest, and provides some decent rushing stats that you won’t get out of Brees and Manning. I won’t get any of these quarterbacks in my re-draft leagues, but certainly wouldn’t mind acquiring one in an auction. If you do pay the price, don’t bother drafting a back up.

Tier 2 – The Next Best Things

C.Newton, CAR

A.Luck, IND

M.Ryan, ATL

M.Stafford, DET

            Cam Newton was in Tier-1 last season, but without Steve Smith his receiving pool is as shallow as it has ever been. That hasn’t bothered Newton before, but the uncertainty drops him from the third round a year ago to the fourth or fifth this year. This is probably the last year that Andrew Luck is not ranked in the top group for the next decade, while Stafford and Ryan are the best bets for piling up high volume passing totals. I’ll sign off on not having a back up on your initial roster if you end up with a player from this group, as that gives you the best combination of loading up on elite skill players early, and rolling the dice on late-round lottery tickets late.

 

Tier 3 – High Ceilings, Low Floors

C.Kaepernick, SF

P.Rivers, SD

N.Foles, PHI

T.Romo, DAL

R.Wilson, SEA

R.Griffin III, WAS

B.Roethlisberger, PIT

J.Cutler, CHI

T.Brady, NE

            Last year, our quarterbacks ranked seven through sixteen were split into three tiers, but this year they are all lumped in together. You could make a compelling case that any of these QBs could finish the year as a top-5 fantasy quarterback, and then immediately follow that with a strong argument that they could finish outside the top-20. Kaepernick is our favorite of this group, as he will have a vastly improved receiving core to work with than he did for the majority of last year. Robert Griffin III probably deserves his own tier as the biggest boom or bust quarterback of the year. In a perfect world, you’ll be able to draft two of these guys on your roster and work a platoon.

Tier 4 – Qualified Bye Week Subs

A.Dalton, CIN

E.Manning, NYG

R.Tannehill, MIA

A.Smith, KC

C.Palmer, ARI

J.McCown, TB

J.Flacco, BAL

            None of these guys should be drafted as your franchise fantasy quarterback (unless you enjoy losing), but these will be your best options to cover your starters bye if you choose to utilize the waiver wire to cover your starting QBs off week. Tannehill is still the most intriguing long-term value in this group, but he’s burning daylight in terms of delivering on his potential. 

Tier 5 – Unqualified Bye Week Subs

S.Bradford, STL

J.Manziel, CLE

E.Manuel, BUF

T.Bridgewater, MIN

M.Vick, NYJ

M.Schaub, OAK

J.Locker, TEN

G.Smith, NYJ

R.Fitzpatrick, HOU

            One could also rename this group “Dynasty League Prospects and Washed Up Dudes. At gunpoint, Bridgewater is my pick to deliver the most fantasy value this season, but you shouldn’t waste a draft pick on any of these guys unless you are playing in 16-team league where you have to play two quarterbacks every week.

Conclusion = Quarterback is still the deepest position in fantasy (unless you’re playing in a 2-QB league, but that puts you in the minority), so even if I was playing in a 16 team league, I plan on being one of the last people to draft a quarterback. An early round pick is just too valuable to waste on a quarterback when you factor in the diminishing value of every other position as you get deeper into a draft. If I lockdown my two starting runningbacks, taking Aaron Rodgers early in the third is the only way I end up with a Tier-1 QB on my team. The same theory applies here for auctions, as I plan on spending my money elsewhere and grabbing a quarterback after the initial rush.

Top-16 Value Based Ranks – Based on the current average draft position based on Yahoo drafts, these is my wish lists for quarterbacks I plan on targeting for my teams.

C.Kaepernick, SF, 89.4

C.Newton, CAR, 51.9

M.Ryan, ATL, 57.8

A.Rodgers, GB, 21.1

A.Luck, IND, 48.6

M.Stafford, DET, 46.2

P.Rivers, SD 93.5

R.Wilson, SEA, 89.0

T.Romo, DAL, 89.0

B.Roethlisberger, PIT, 118.9

J.Cutler, CHI, 106.8

D.Brees, NO, 18.3

N.Foles, PHI, 69.2

R.Griffin III, WAS, 60.7

P.Manning, DEN, 11.4

T.Brady, NE, 58.0

 

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (1/3-1/6)

10. ESPN Reports Ridiculous Carmelo Anthony-Blake Griffin Story
            What happens when it’s a slow sports news weekend? ESPN floats a rumor about a trade that wasn’t even proposed by either team mentioned. Good work Chris Broussard.

9. Finland Wins World Junior Hockey Championships

            I have nothing bad to say about Finland, so good for them.

8. Kevin Durant Goes Bonkers, Leads Thunder Over Timberwolves

            Lebron is always the favorite for league MVP, and Paul George has taken a major leap this season, but there has not been enough love for Kevin Durant this season. Durant scored 23 of his 48 points in the fourth quarter to out-duel fellow All-Star Kevin Love.

7. #6 Oklahoma States Loses to Kansas State
6. Notre Dame Stuns #5 Duke
           Future top-5 picks in next year’s draft, unranked teams bottled up Jabari Parker and Marcus Smart. Parker looked human for the first time all year, only scoring seven points on 2-10 from the field.

5. Chargers Capitalize on Inept Andy Dalton, Top Bengals
            One of the more underreported stories in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE has been the return to elite status by Philip Rivers. On the other side, Cincinnati has to be asking major questions about going forward with Andy Dalton as their starting quarterback.

4. Saints End Road Woes, Beat Philadelphia

            Nick Foles looked like a guy who was too scared to take a chance, as he took numerous sacks that derailed the Eagles offense. The Saints reward for there first ever road playoff win is a death sentence trip to Seattle.

3. 49ers Beat Packers and Bitter Cold

            Colin Kaepernick morphs into a right handed Steve Young whenever he faces the Packers.
         
2. Chiefs Implode, Andrew Luck Rallies Colts to Improbable Victory
            Andrew Luck virtually showed every learning curve of a young QB in this game, and in the second half showed why he could be the quarterback of the ‘10s when it’s all said and done. Meanwhile, Kansas City added to their misery with the second worst blown lead in playoff history.

1. Florida State Has the Ball Last, Wins Final BCS Title Over Auburn

            Down 21-3 and looking completely lifeless, a fake punt was all Florida State needed to kick-start their team. The comeback ended with Jameis Winston (who looked nothing like a Heisman Trophy winner for the first three and a half quarters of the game) leading a dramatic march down the field. Even more importantly, the SEC’s incredible run of consecutive national titles ends at seven. All in all, this should end up as the most memorable college football game of the decade.

NFL Wildcard Saturday Picks

#5 Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) @ #4 Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
            The point spread for this game has already moved a half-point in favor of the Chiefs, but No Credentials is going to put a ton of stock into the Week 16 meeting where Indianapolis went into Arrowhead and thoroughly dominated Kansas City. This victory is all the more impressive when you consider that the Chiefs still had a shot at the #1 seed in the AFC at the time. If the Colts keep Jamaal Charles in check, they’ll move on to Round 2.

COLTS (-2) over Chiefs

#6 New Orleans Saints (11-5) @ #3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)

            For our money, this is the hardest game of the weekend to figure out. New Orleans has the superior roster, but despite being undefeated at home, they couldn’t wrap up the NFC South due to a dreadful 3-5 mark on the road. The Saints’ troubles on the road are diminished by Philadelphia’s lack of dominance at home, as they were only a .500 team in there own building. Ultimately, we’ll settle on the fact that the NFC East was the second worst division in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, and pick the Saints superior roster to come through in a wild Saturday night game.
 
Saints (+2.5) over EAGLES

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (10/18-10/20)

10. A Bunch of People I Didn’t Know Croak on “The Walking Dead”
            But who cares, there was the usual amount of gratuitous violence.

9. Auburn Batters Johnny Manziel, Pulls Off Upset at Texas A&M

            You can kiss any chance of a second straight Heisman for Johnny Football.

8. Grambling Football Players Refuse to Play

            Good for them, as it has been reported that there is mold in their practice facility, their weight training room is outdated even by high school standards, and the school forces the team to travel a ridiculous amount of miles on buses the night before road games.

7. Cardinals Spank Dodgers, Earn World Series Berth
            I’m trying to figure out if it’s fairer to compare the Cardinals to Jason Voorhees or the San Antonio Spurs. In the spirit of Halloween, I’ll vote for Jason.

6. Late Caution Seals Jamie McMurray Win at Talladega

            My wife really enjoys it when McMurray starts bawling in victory lane, so it was good to see McMurray snap his 3-year losing streak. Even more important was The Chase being reduced to a two-man show. Jimmie Johnson leads Matt Kenseth by four points with four races to go.

5. Florida State Demolishes Clemson
            College football blowouts don’t normally make it into this space, but when it involves the #5 team in the country destroy the third ranked team, we pay attention. It’s been a long time since Florida St. has been relevant, but they’ve debuted at #2 in the initial BCS rankings. 

4. Redskins Win Wild 45-41 Thriller Over Chicago

            Chicago losing Jay Cutler in the second quarter had a lot to do with Washington being able to steal this one. If Cutler is out for an extended period of time, you can write the Bears off the list of NFC playoff teams.

3. Brand New, Little Known Rule Gives Jets Upset Over New England

            Everyone will focus on the penalty that gave Nick Folk a second chance at winning the game in overtime, but the bottom line is the Jets outplayed the Patriots Sunday and deserved to win.

2. Colts Thank Peyton Manning, Then Beat Him

            It’s important not to overreact to a regular season game, but this did feel like a coming of age moment for Andrew Luck. Unfortunately, it came at a very high price, as future Hall of Famer Reggie Wayne is done for the year.

1. Shane Victorino Grand Slam Lifts Red Sox Into World Series

            Not since the $14 million grand slam hit by J.D. Drew in the 2007 ALCS has a less likely home run been hit for the Red Sox. Drew’s was still the most improbable moment (for those that don’t remember, he was atrocious during the 2007 season), but Victorino’s was the go-ahead slam to put the Red Sox into their third world series in 10 seasons.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (10/4-10/6)

10. President Obama Chimes in on Redskins Controversy
            I’d normally have no issue with Commander in Chief gave his two sense on a sports issue, but the last time I checked we are still in the middle of a government shutdown.

9. Dario Franchitti is Alive, No Fans Seriously Harmed in Scary Indy Car Crash

            Oddly enough, the reason Dario Franchitti moved to NASCAR many years ago was for the safety of the cars, but he returned to Indycar after experiencing very little Cup success. He escaped this wreck with a concussion, a fractured spine, and a broken ankle.



8. Georgia Saves Season, Knocks Off Tennessee in Overtime

            Aaron Murray delivered a fantastic performance, cobbling together a season-saving touchdown drive to send Saturday’s game into overtime. 

7. Athletics Win Pitchers Duel Against Justin Verlander
            We often mock no-hitters in this space, but a thrilling pitching duel is one of our more enjoyable baseball scenarios. The way Saturday night played out would certainly eat up a few minutes in a “Moneyball” sequel. After another win Monday, Oakland is one game away from earning the right to get slaughtered by the Red Sox in the ALCS.

6. Saints Move to 5-0

            The most under reported story of the 2013 season so far is how Rob Ryan has miraculously turned the Saints into a competent defensive team. 

5. Kevin Harvick Wins Another Crash Fest at Kansas
            Even more important than Harvick earning another victory in his final races with Richard Childress was Kyle Busch likely dropping out of championship contention. It’s going to take Talladega shakeup to get the 2013 title to anyone other than Matt Kenseth or Jimmie Johnson.

4. Pirates Take 2-1 NLDS Lead

            No Credentials nominates Pittsburgh as the current wearer of the “America’s Team” title. Unless you’re a die-hard Cardinals fan, there’s no way you can cheer against the Pirates.

3. Red Sox Demolish Rays, Take 2-0 ALDS Lead

            I’ll concede that two games isn’t much of a sample size in baseball, but there hasn’t been a more impressive team in the postseason than the Boston Red Sox.

2. Andrew Luck Leads Wild Colts Win Over Seattle

            In a game statistically dominated by the Seahawks, Andrew Luck went out and found another way to win. It’s time to recalibrate our AFC South rankings and put the Colts at the top of the list.

1. Denver Outguns Dallas 51-48   

            Fortunately for me, I was at work during this one, because if I watched it live my head would’ve exploded. We’ll find out next week if this was an encouraging or discouraging loss for the Cowboys, who are still tied for first in the pathetic NFC East.