Dion Phaneuf and J.S. Giguere Traded to Toronto

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Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke shook up the NHL today with two major trades. Unhappy being the cellar-dweller of the East (and 29th in the entire league), Burke shipped off six players from his underachieving team. In exchange, he received a kaleidoscopic mix of NHL standouts and prospects, most notably Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf and goaltender J.S. Giguere of the Anaheim Ducks. These two have combined for three All-Star appearances in their careers.

Phaneuf, taken 9th overall by Calgary in the 2003 draft, has been a disappointment so far in 2009, mainly due to the treatment he received from first-year coach Brent Sutter. Phaneuf's ice-time has taken a hit along with his stats. Well past the halfway point in the season, the 24 year-old has just 22 points. The lowest single season output of his career thus far: 47. While his goal pace remains constant, his number of assists has plummeted. After 55 games, he has tallied only 12 helpers, a huge dropoff even from his previous career low of 29, set in his rookie season. This can be blamed on his supporting cast. The Flames' power play is clicking at just 16.7%, ranked 23rd in the NHL, down from 18.2% in both 2005-06 (12th) and 2006-07 (11th). In both of those seasons, Phaneuf accounted for over 30 points with the man-advantage. Only Jarome Iginla and undrafted free agent Rene Borque have recorded more than 11 goals for the Flames, meaning the teammates Phaneuf is passing to are incapable of scoring. Few would have expected this to be said about a team with Olli Jokinen, who scored at least 26 goals in each of the last six seasons, including four campaigns with over 30 twine-ticklers. Phaneuf's physical style and willingness to fight perfectly fit the mold Burke is searching for.

In Burke's second trade of the day, he acquired Conn Smythe Trophy winner J.S. Giguere. Jiggy, who has started less than one-third of Anaheim's games thus far, is in the midst of a disheartening season as well. His 3.14 GAA and .900 SV% are the worst of his career since 1998-99, when he started just 14 games for the Flames. Forced into a backup role by the up-and-coming Swiss Jonas Hiller, who will represent his country in the Olympics, Giguere was in need of a change in scenery. Enter Brian Burke, GM of Anaheim during their Stanley Cup season of 2006-07. Mistrusting of his goaltenders' inexperience, Burke opted to deal netminder Vesa Toskala for Giguere, who has played in twelve Stanley Cup Finals games.

The Maple Leafs may have their hands tied financially for the next few seasons as a result of this trade. Phaneuf is set to make $25.5 million in salary alone over the next four seasons. Giguere will earn $7 million next year before becoming an unrestricted free agent. Toronto's salary cap woes likely forced Toskala ($4 million), Jason Blake ($4.5 million), and Niklas Hagman ($3 million) to be included amongst the players exiting the home of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The change of scenery will be pleasant for both players. Phaneuf had spent his entire career playing for Calgary, rivals of his hometown Edmonton Oilers. A trip across Canada wlll present a welcomed opportunity to escape the doghouse of Coach Sutter. Giguere has been looking for an escape of his own. Leaving Hiller's shadow and receiving a chance to compete for a starting role will be a fantastic situation for the Cup winner. Even better, he will be reunited with his old goalie coach, Francois Allaire. Brian Burke has managed to help his team with two blockbuster trades to kick off the month of February.

Special thanks to NHLnumbers.com (link located in the sidebar on the right) for the salary information.

Fantasy Hockey: 50 Game Checkup

The time has come. Much too soon for hockey fans, every team in the NHL has played 50 games. The guru is here to offer his take on the season from a fantasy perspective and gauge the value of players as we lead up to the Olympics.

Speaking of the Games, they have a profound effect on the world of fantasy. As we all know, the NHL's schedule is ridiculously hectic due to the interruption in Vancouver. While the rest of the league has an opportunity to rest and heal, Olympians will be playing intense, emotional hockey against the best the world has to offer. On the other side of the bubble, prime time players who feel as though they were snubbed (Mike Green and Martin St. Louis, for example), have an extra incentive to prove their haters (pronounced hāt-uhz ) wrong in the upcoming weeks, while those representing their country will be overlooking regular season NHL games. If possible, try selling players headed to Vancouver this February while their value is still high. When they return they will be drained of all energy and/or competitive spirit, unless they'll be playing on subpar Olympic teams, such as Germany or Latvia. Those squads won't be busy in Vancouver. Owners of Marcel Goc and Karlis Skrastins can breathe a sigh of relief.

For those of you who predicted the Henrik Sedin explosion, congratulations. The twin known for his play making abilities, the West's "King Henrik" of assists, as I like to call him, has suddenly turned into a goal scorer, potting 24 in just 52 games this season. His previous career high was 22, which took him 82 games to accrue. This change came about as twin brother and lifetime linemate Daniel went down with for a month and a half with a broken foot. With a comfortable lead for the Art Ross Trophy, Henrik is easily exceeding his Yahoo! ADP of 82.7. Vancouver fans will be able to watch a few extra games involving the Sedin twins, except they'll be wearing Team Sweden jerseys.

Ryan Miller's reemergence came as a surprise to the general fantasy community. Everyone remembers the 40-16-6 President's Trophy season back in 2006-07, but only for the wins. His 2.73 GAA that season was the worst of his career, while his SV% was only .911. The next season, he won four less games in 14 more starts, and his SV% dipped to .906. Starting nearly 20 less games in 2008-09, Miller saw a spike in every statistical category, despite Buffalo's failure to make the playoffs. This season he has come on strong, as discussed in the NHL Midseason Report post. He'll be sporting the red, white, and blue this February.

Marian Gaborik is rewarding owners who invested an early pick in him (Yahoo! ADP 19.7). Many owners were scared off by his injury-proneness, but he has appeared in 52 games thus far after missing 104 over the past three seasons. His 61 points put him 5th in the NHL in scoring, #1 at right wing. However, it should be noted that he has gone four games without a point since scrapping (and losing) with cheapshot-artist Daniel Carcillo (who, of course, plays for the Flyers). Gaborik went on a six game scoring drought immediately following his only other career fight, a 2008 bout with Ian Laperriere (Also a current member of Philly's squad. I'm starting to notice a pattern).

Give And Go:

Maxime Afinogenov's hot start was nice ride for owners who scooped him off waivers, but he has just 4 points in his last 12 games...Daniel Alfredsson has 5 goals and 6 assists since his return from injury seven games ago. Ottawa is unbeaten in that stretch...A December hat trick was followed by an 11 game goal drought from Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin. He broke the curse in Vanvouver and now has six goals in as many games...Jaroslav Halak has started seven of the last ten games for Montreal. He has surrendered only 11 goals in that stretch, which includes shutouts of Florida and the Rangers...Now is the time to acquire Ilya Kovalchuk. The Thrashers are talking about dealing him, odds are to a contender. This will likely lead to a line featuring a playmaking center, fueling the fire for a scoring explosion. The same goes for division rival Ray Whitney...Blackhawk fans are smiling because they have Marian Hossa locked up until 2021. If Chicago falls short of winning the Cup, he won't be able to ditch town and head to a rival like he did to Pittsburgh and Detroit, despite the promises, supposed willingness to take less money, and the requests of fans.

That's all for now. The guru wishes you good luck in managing your fantasy squads. Heed his advice, and thou will be rewarded.

Apology From the Guru

Getty

Allow me to start by saying I am terribly sorry that seven long days passed without me endowing you with the guru's infinite wisdom. I understand that you, my devoted followers (Click the link on the sidebar to follow me!), have difficulty getting through the day without the guru’s frequent insight. In the event that the guru is ever unable to bestow his knowledge upon you, I encourage you to click the newest link on the sidebar "Guru Withdrawal Hotline." This will take you to a place where people will help you deal with your content abatement. Hopefully this extended withdrawal will not occur again. Let me assure you that the guru has been occupied with urgent matters, the likes of which would blow your mind.

But he has a special gift to offer in hopes of softening the devastation his absence has caused. Fully aware that he is jeopardizing his Man Card, the guru has composed a song to the rhythm of Taylor Swift's recent hit, "Love Story." Please enjoy the prelude leading up to the song.

Announced earlier this month, Romeo Crennel has been hired as the defensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. Crennel has spent the last year enjoying the millions of dollars he's earning by not coaching the Cleveland Browns since his termination in 2008.

Picture the following scene to receive the full sensation of the parody. Crennel arrives at home to his wife, Rosemary, after a long day scavenging the streets of Cleveland for all-you-can-eat buffets. She is talking on the phone and lights up when she sees Crennel enter the house.

Romeo, hurry, Bill Pioli's on the phone

I can't believe it, but he's hiring you

You'll coach the D

And he'll be the GM

It's a miracle, baby, just say yessss.

Romeo, right now, put down the ice cream cone

Weis has got plenty, ask real nice, he'll have to share

Pats reunion

Without Belichick

It's a miracle, baby, just say yessss.

NFC Championship

The guru is issuing a warning to all citizens of New Orleans: Watch out for shrapnel from the inevitable explosion of the Superdome. Sunday's NFC Championship may become of the most exciting games in recent memory. The offenses are high-powered. The defenses are electric. The storyline is incomparable. Do not miss this game.

Minnesota's skill players will have trouble hearing Favre's audibles as the crazed fans of Louisiana will raise the decibel level inside the enclosed stadium. If this forces the Vikings to simplify their playcalling, they will have no hesitation to put the ball in the hands of Pro Bowl RB Adrian Peterson. While his 5th place finish in rushing yards was disappointing, much of the blame can be put on the offensive line, who were continually overpowered by opposing defenses. Peterson's ability to stay on his feet after contact and plow ahead for additional yards will pay dividends against a New Orleans defense starting defensive tackles Sedrick Ellis and Remi Ayodele, both weighing in at over 300 pounds. After unleashing Peterson on the Saints, who allow 4.5 YPC, Favre should see some open passing lanes to exploit. The ageless wonder may be missing his most explosive receiver, rookie Percy Harvin, who is listed on the Injury Report (link in the sidebar to the right) as questionable. Should Harvin be unable to play, the Vikings can still hurt the Saints with Sidney Rice and receiving tight end Vishante Shiancoe.

Drew Brees is at the helm of the NFL's most powerful offense. In 2008, Brees became the 2nd quarterback in NFL history to pass for over 5,000 yards in a season. A more balanced attack this year has caused a decline in yardage, but the potential remains. New Orleans is fully capable of picking apart Minnesota's 19th ranked pass defense. Defensive end Jared Allen creates problems for an offense that doesn't run with regularity. Minnesota finished the season with one of the league's most impressive run defenses. But linebacker E.J. Henderson was lost to a gruesome leg injury in early December.

Points will be plentiful. There will be turnovers. Harvin and Reggie Bush are ridiculously explosive. Both teams have Pro Bowlers in the secondary.

Prediction: NO 34 MIN 27

AFC Championship

Sunday's game between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts will be contested by two completely contrasting teams. The Colts, coming off of a near-undefeated season, rely on the arm of Peyton Manning to outscore opponents. The Jets, who limped into the playoffs at 9-7, prefer to pound the ball up the middle and play shutdown defense. The AFC Championship will tell if Manning's air-it-out style can move the chains against Darrelle Revis and Co.

The Colts' offense is engineered for one purpose, letting Manning drop back and throw. Their running game is virtually nonexistent, averaging an unheard of 1.7 YPC against Baltimore. Against an aggressive Rex Ryan defense, the Colts' inability to run will resurface. Should Revis neutralize the dynamic Reggie Wayne, Manning will have to look at the rest of his deep receiving corps. More than likely, he will like what he sees. Between Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon (Mt. Union grad, more on that in the upcoming weeks), and Austin Collie, the Colts have the depth, despite being without the reliable Anthony Gonzalez, to challenge New York's top-ranked pass defense.

Mark Sanchez has matured at an astounding rate for a rookie QB, a pattern that must continue for the Jets' hopes to stay alive. Without a doubt, the backfield combination of Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones will pound through Indianapolis' undersized defense, but the Jets cannot afford to be one-dimensional. Sanchez will need to prove that he can hurt a defense through the air in order for Greene and Jones to see open running lanes. Part of Sanchez' success will rely on the hands of Braylon Edwards, who has shown inconsistency when it comes to catching a football. Look for tight end Dustin Keller to play a major role in New York's offensive gameplan.

The stats don't favor New York, but they seem to play with a grudge due to being continually counted out. The key stat lies in the Jets' inability to outscore Manning. They have only eclipsed the 30 point mark twice this season, once against the dysfunctional Raiders and another time in a meaningless Week 17 matchup with Cincinnati. Meanwhile, the Colts have reached that plateau seven times thus far.

Will the football gods punish Indianapolis for ignoring a perfect season and granting New York free access to the postseason? Or will the Peyton Manning have a chance to become the first MVP to take home the Lombardi Trophy since Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXIII? The guru predicts an Indianapolis victory. But it should be noted that, despite a 4-0 record on Saturdays, the guru has yet to accurately predict a winner on Sunday.

Prediction: IND 27 NYJ 17

NFC Divisional Round

Last week's NFC Wild Card Round included a game played by two of the most bitter rivals in the league, Dallas and Philadelphia. Their history is filled with a strong hatred of each other, and last Saturday marked the second time the teams had met in as many weeks. However, that matchup is now completely overshadowed, a strange feeling for America's Team, by the epic quarterback duel between future Hall-of-Famer Kurt Warner's Cardinals and the Green Bay Packers' Brett, excuse me, Aaron Rodgers. The teams combined for 96 points and 801 passing yards, while only one interception was tossed. Last week featured a game for the ages; will history repeat itself this week as Arizona takes on the high-octane New Orleans Saints?

Saturday, New Orleans hosts the Cards at the Superdome, a perfect venue for more passing records to be set. It sure is hard to doubt a team that put up 51 points against the NFL's #2 defense, but the guru does not believe a second straight NFC Championship game is in the Cards. (Get it?)

As previously mentioned, Warner torched the Packers' secondary, ranked 5th in the league, for 379 yards and 5 touchdowns. He completed 29 of 33 passes for a rating of 154.1, 2nd best in postseason history. He was sacked just once and didn't throw a single pick. He got some help from the Cardinals' suddenly lively backfield, who contributed 156 yards on the ground. These ridiculous stats came without star wide receiver Anquan Boldin, against a Green Bay defense ranked 2nd in total D, 5th in passing defense, and 1st in the rushing game. The Packers recorded 37 regular season sacks and picked off 30 passes, the most in the NFL. So yeah, the Cardinals offense is pretty good. But they have another formidable adversary to face, the Saints defense. New Orleans has 35 sacks and 26 interceptions of their own, against just 15 passing touchdowns. They should offer some resistance to Warner's crew, especially if Boldin does not play. (A link to the official NFL Injury Report can be found in the sidebar on the right, along with some other interesting websites.)

New Orleans' offense is among the most potent in league history, averaging over 40o yards per game. They are led by super-accurate passer (Click on that link.) Drew Brees, whose 18,298 passing yards over the past four seasons, including 5,069 in 2008, rank second to none. This aerial barrage is even more daunting than that of the Pack, who put up 422 passing yards of their own last week. New Orleans also earned the league's #6 rushing offense, averaging 4.5 YPC. The Cardinals rank 17th in the running game, yielding 112.8 yards per game and 4.5 YPC. With three members of the secondary listed on the Injury Report, Arizona is going to have a tough challenge slowing down the Saints' march.

The Saints started the season 13-0, but lost the final three games, causing many analysts to believe they aren't at the top of their game. You can be sure the players have heard this and that they want to silence the critics. Remember Brees is only the second QB, behind only Dan Marino, to pass for over 5,000 yards in a single season. Arizona let Green Bay throw for 422 yards and four touchdowns only a week ago. Since then the Cardinals have been roughed up, while the Saints have had extra time to rest and heal.

Prediction: NO 37 ARI 34

On Sunday, the NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys will pay a visit to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. The media is excessively critical of the Cowboys' ability to win in December and January, but their recent play has seemed to silence the critics. Something you haven't heard, however, is that Minnesota has not won a home playoff game since the 2000 season. But the Vikings never had a leader quite like Brett Favre playing quarterback.

Dallas' passing offense is ranked 6th in the league, averaging 267.9 yards per game. They have thrown for 26 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions. Minnesota has recorded 48 sacks this year, tops in the NFL. Their pass rush is led by DE Jared Allen, whose 14.5 sacks put him just shy of Elvis Dumervil for the league lead. Surprisingly, this heavy pressure has not led to many turnovers. The Vikings have only tallied 11 interceptions, one of the lowest totals in the league. They conceded the 19th most yards this season (3,494) and allowed the eighth highest completion percentage (63.7). Dallas' three-pronged rushing attack is one of the NFL's most dominant, accumulating the seventh most yards (2,103) and the third highest YPC (4.8). The Vikings' run defense is one of the game's most fearsome, conceding just 87.1 yards per game, finishing behind only division rival Green Bay. They allow just 3.9 YPC, tying them with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati for 5th in the league. Their five touchdowns against ties them with the Packers for the NFL's lowest total.

Brett Favre has revitalized the passing attack in Minnesota, leading the Vikings to 259.8 yards per game through the air, up from 184.8 in 2008. Wide receiver Sidney Rice has broken out to become one of the game's elite. He caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards, fourth most in the league. Dallas' pass defense ranks one spot behind Minnesota at #20. They have recorded 42 sacks this season, including 11 from OLB DeMarcus Ware. They have forced the same 11 interceptions as the Vikings, but have yielded seven less aerial touchdowns. Minnesota relies on Pro Bowl RB Adrian Peterson, whose 18 rushing TD's were the most in the league. He ran for over 1,300 yards and averaged 4.4 YPC. He is what makes this offense go. Dallas has been stout against the run this season, allowing only 90.5 yards per game, fourth in the NFL. Opposing teams average just 4.0 YPC against the Cowboys and have only scored 7 rushing TD's.

These two teams look a lot alike. Both have playoff trouble and mediocre pass defenses. Both excel at rushing the passer and stopping the run. Both can get it done in the air or on the ground. Both have explosive offensive weapons in Minnesota's Percy Harvin and Dallas' Felix Jones. The guru gives the edge to Dallas for their recent success. They seemed to have peaked at the right time, for once.

Prediction: DAL 27 MIN 20

Ovechkin-Downie Incident

A lot of controversy has been raised over the incident involving Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin and Steve Downie. As any true hockey fan will tell you, this should not be. It was an ideal example, executed perfectly by all three members, of what to do when a scrapper gets in the face of a superstar.

Unfortunately for the game, our nation's greatest medium of sports, ESPN, seems to have a personal vendetta against the NHL. Discussing the sport only when cast in a negative light, ESPN allowed Pardon The Interruption's Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon to unjustly ridicule everyone involved, doing so only from the safety of their studio. In what is undeniably a divine intervention, the video is viewable only to ESPN Insiders, causing the anti-NHL brainwashing of Americans to be limited. Kornheiser and Wilbon show their complete ignorance not only by their fallacious opinions, but also by their questioning of why Ovechkin and Downie removed their helmets, proving that they totally missed or ignored the heated, yearlong debate raging over fighting in hockey. They accused Ovechkin of "hiding behind his goon," oblivious to the facts that Ovechkin and Downie had just exited the penalty box for going at it already and that Alex the Great had removed his bucket and dropped the gloves. AO8 (Ovechkin) was ready and willing to fight, like he has been in the past. Kornheiser and Wilbon continued to portray the incident in a negative fashion, completely ignorant of the unwritten code surrounding hockey fights.

As this video clearly shows, Ovechkin lays a perfectly clean hit on Downie. Downie took offense from the hit, and proceeded to engage AO8 in a shoving match. The Great Eight consented and both players dropped the gloves. All eight skaters came to the aid of their teammates and the bout was quickly broken up. The pair earned coincidental roughing minors and exited the sin bin at the conclusion of their penalties. They immediately engaged, beginning with trash talk, before both players dropped their gloves and removed their lids, clear indications that a fight was to occur. Ovechkin (6'2" 220 lbs) possessed the size advantage over Downie (5'11" 200 lbs). This is not to suggest that Ovechkin was picking on a pipsqueak; Downie has earned his share of fighting majors over the years. (Of course, he played for the Flyers. More on that in the upcoming weeks.) As the opponents sized each other up, renowned scrapper Matt Bradley left the Capitals' bench in WHAT WAS A LEGAL LINE CHANGE! (I couldn't find the video, but another Capital entered the bench as Bradley hopped the boards.) Bradley made a beeline for Downie and fought in Ovechkin's stead, proving that the newly appointed captain has truly earned the respect of his teammates.

No player can be found at fault for what occurred. Ovechkin, who is not afraid to play physically (You may have noticed his gap-toothed smile.), contrary to the aspersions cast by PTI's deriders, defended himself honorably and was undoubtedly ready and willing to fight Downie. Bradley made a legal line change and rushed to the aid of his captain and superstar. Nobody in the Capitals' organization is the least bit critical of Bradley's actions. Downie did not instigate a fight or target Ovechkin. AO8 made the first contact and stood by waiting for Downie to get up and engage him.

If you watch the entire clip, (Nothing of importance happens in the final two minutes.) you will hear the commentators discussing the need to "play angry," and attributing poor performance to a lack of such anger. You will see #1 overall draft pick Steven Stamkos, who, alongside #2 overall pick Victor Hedman and All-Star Martin St. Louis, immediately came to the aid of Downie, talking with Ryan Malone, the hero of the Stanley Cup Finals who, while playing with a broken nose sustained earlier in the series, took a 90+ mph slap shot directly to his unprotected face and remained in the game. You will hear the Rocky theme song being played over the arena's speakers, validating that hockey is a game where fighting is accepted and prepared for.

It's the way the game is played. Always has been. Always should be. Hockey players settle their disputes on the ice, not with guns in the locker rooms. Take note here, Kornheiser and Wilbon. If you are unfamiliar with the unwritten code of the game, your opinion is not requested nor valued.

Special thanks to HockeyFights.com for their terrific records of every fight of every player in the NHL and many junior leagues. Their link can be found in the sidebar along with several other interesting websites.

AFC Divisional Round

This past weekend, we watched both AFC Wild Card teams advance from the opening round of the playoffs. As I predicted in the AFC Wild Card Round post, the Jets overtook the AFC North champion Bengals. However, unforeseen by the guru, the AFC East champion Patriots were trounced at home by Baltimore. More division champions await the victors, as the Chargers and Colts play host to the Wild Card teams this week.

This Sunday, the Jets travel to San Diego to face the red hot Chargers, who have won eleven consecutive games. These two teams have not met since 2008, when the Chargers walked all over the New York Bretts. This week's matchup should look entirely different, given New York's additions of Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez, and others. Sanchez returns to So Cal for the second time since he left USC to enter the NFL. In his other appearance, albeit against the Raiders, Sanchez posted a passer rating of 114 and rushed for a touchdown.

Offensively, the Jets should have little trouble running against the Chargers' 20th ranked rush defense, who let up 4.5 YPC. They have allowed over 100 yards on the ground to six of their last seven opponents, the lone exception being the incompetent Redskins. San Diego's secondary is statistically mediocre, however they should have no problem defending the Jets passing attack. While Sanchez certainly showed great poise last week against Cincinnati, his stats were heavily padded by terrific runs after the catch by his receivers. His supposed top target, Braylon Edwards, will be in court this week facing assault charges. Edwards, who was acquired from Cleveland midway through the season, has already eclipsed Dick Clark as the Big Apple's biggest ball dropper.

San Diego has the most explosive offense New York has seen in quite some time. (No, the Curtis Painter led Colts don't count.) Philip Rivers garnered some MVP buzz this season, as he owned the NFL's 3rd best passer rating behind only Drew Brees and Brett Favre. He led the Chargers to the NFL's 5th best passing offense, tossing only nine picks in 486 attempts. While Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis has been spectacular this season, he will be challenged by the size of receiver Vincent Jackson (6'5" 230 lbs), who tied for ninth in the league with 1,167 receiving yards. Tight end Antonio Gates finished right behind Jackson with 1,157 yards of his own. He combines his size (6'4" 260 lbs) with tremendous athletic ability, making him a matchup nightmare in the redzone. The running game took a massive step backwards this season finishing 31st in yards with the league's worst 3.3 YPC. However, if the Jets blitz Rivers, he's more than content to dump it off to RB Darren Sproles, affectionately nicknamed the Pocket Rocket for his elusiveness.

The Jets had the NFL's best pass defense in the regular season, but Rivers averaged 333 yards per game against the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers, ranked 3rd-5th in the league, respectively. (The AFC North is tougher than people seem to think.) Keep in mind that New York's stats were padded by playing eight games in the harsh climate of East Rutherford, NJ. Sunday's game will be played in sunny California. I believe the Chargers will be too much for the Jets to handle.

Prediction: SD 27 NYJ 20

Playing in the post-college football Saturday time slot, the Ravens pay a visit to Indianapolis to face Peyton & Co. We all know the story. Indy had a shot at the record books by going undefeated, but decided that Manning's health (and 100 catches for Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark) was more important. On the contrary, Baltimore squeaked into the playoffs by winning a complex set of tiebreakers with Pittsburgh and Houston, although it sure didn't look that way Sunday in Foxborough.

For the Colts, they live and die by the play of Manning. Their rushing attack is basically nonexistent, averaging a diminutive 80.9 yards per game and 3.5 YPC. Of course, Manning's name is near the top of the list in almost every passing category. He completed 68.8% of his passes (2nd), has a 99.9 passer rating (6th), 33 touchdowns (T-2nd), and 4,500 yards (2nd) despite sitting in the final few games. He has been sacked just 10 times in 581 dropbacks, an absolutely ridiculous ratio. However, he has thrown 16 interceptions, which ties him with Matt Cassel for seventh most in the league. The Ravens recorded a mediocre 32 sacks this season, but tallied 22 picks, tying them with Carolina for the fifth most in the NFL. However, they have yielded 3,419 yards through the air, placing them in 18th, far off from last year's 2,875 yards and 52.3% completion rate.

Offensively, it's no secret what the Ravens plan to do. They like to pound the rock. This season, they ran the ball 468 times, compared to just 510 pass attempts, a balanced ratio in today's pass-happy league. This formula has led to 4.7 YPC (4th) and 22 TD's (T-1st). Indianapolis will be forced to stack the box, daring sophomore Joe Flacco to air it out. Teams have ran with relative success against Indianapolis, averaging 4.3 YPC. This will be the key to Sunday's battle. If Indy can restrict Baltimore's rushing game, then they should have no trouble stopping Flacco. And if the offense stalls, Baltimore will be in a tough spot trying to play from behind. If they are forced to drop back and throw, Flacco will be at the mercy of the pass rushing duo of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who combined for 23 sacks this year. The pressure caused by these two has led to a TD:INT ratio of 19:16, which is pretty good to say the least.

Baltimore's defense is not at the level its name is associated with. If their 2008 defense was playing, I would give them the edge. But, Indy is just too strong offensively. The Ravens will put points on the board with their running game. However, the NFL's MVP will be able to outperform his rival Tom Brady, despite the comparisons made between them. The Colts win thanks to their high-flying offense, if, and only if, Manning stays healthy.

Prediction: IND 27 BAL 17

Image of the Week

This week's image depicts Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco wearing a sombrero and a Mexican poncho on the sideline during a game against the Detroit Lions. Ochocinco, widely considered the NFL's prima donna, has a history of bringing attention to himself, but this shenanigan takes the cake.

Mexicans are preparing for their next holiday, the Feast of San Antonio Abad, which takes place this Sunday. Now that the Bengals have been eliminated from the playoffs, Ochocinco should be free to go.

2009 Pittsburgh Steelers: R.I.P.

From the euphoria of the 2008 Super Bowl win to the dejection of a playoff-free 2009 season, the Steelers now look to the future; and it’s tough. A major overhaul is looming, a portion of which has already been played out. Offensive line coach Larry Zierlein and special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky have been relieved of their duties. Termination rumors surround offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, now quietly writing his memoirs.

For the Steelers, it looks as though they moved away from their historic game plan based on power running and went on a lark. Shifting to a passing game with admittedly talented receivers, they gave up the big blocking back for more air strike candidates. While yielding impressive passing numbers, the increased dropbacks led to 50 ugly sacks. With the team, and the fans, already reeling from the injuries to star strong safety Troy Polamalu, concerns remain that even the rugged Ben Roethlisberger will eventually meet the same fate if he is not provided with more protection. Without Big Ben the Steelers future would indeed bleed bad luck.

If losing steam this year reflected the Steelers efforts, then look no further than the defense. These former champions of the “D”, are now aging by NFL standards. James Harrison, 31, James Farrior, 34, and Aaron Smith, 33, are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning. This translates into a lost step or two within a game that demands speed. Even the famed Polamalu will turn 29 this April. Relatively young William Gay, who turned 25 on New Years Day, will most likely get burned for the garter jump this Saturday at a wedding reception.

Will new assistant coaches, a larger than life blocking back, a reinvigorated defense, strong 4^th quarter play, and capable special teams represent an important part of the formula for turning around the hardship? Time will tell, but remember the Steelers, the NFL's classiest franchise, didn’t make the playoffs the year following their 2006 Super Bowl victory and we now savor the results of 2008. Let’s hope the fruits of the 2009 disappointments repeat the sweetness of 2008, since easy seasons make not champions.

Written by cog

Edited by Fantasy Guru 37

NHL Midseason Report

I'm shocked to report that the NHL regular season is halfway over. As fantasy football has ended (except for you crazy playoff managers) and bowl season is dwindling, I have started devoting my my attention to hockey (about time). For the most part, I found most things as I expected them to be. But, as always, there were some shocks as I scanned what had played out in the first 41 games.

The Sabres, who finished 2008-09 in 18th place, are sitting comfortably atop the Northeast Division and have the 4th most points in the league. Thanks to the Vezina-quality play of goaltender Ryan Miller, Buffalo is allowing just 2.22 goals per game, good enough for 3rd in the NHL. Miller, who appeared in just 59 games last year due to injury, is dominating statistically. He is tied for the league lead in both Save % (.934) and shutouts (5), and is 2nd in Goals Against Average (2.02) and wins (23) as of Wednesday. Buffalo has also been benefiting from the health of scoring leader Tim Connolly, who has appeared in every game so far this season (knock on wood). Connolly had only played 98 games in the previous three seasons. It's worth mentioning that the Sabres won seven of their ten final games in 2008-09.

Heading south, the Carolina Hurricanes have experienced a dramatic fall from Eastern Conference Finalists to owners of the league's worst record. They have 29 points in 41 games (.354), primarily due to three wins in 20 road games. They have been outscored 146-102 thus far, easily the worst differential in the league. The only player anywhere near a point-per-game pace is center Eric Staal, who has 8 goals and 19 assists in 31 games. Staal has scored 327 points over the past four seasons, including a 100 point campaign in 2005-06. There is not a single player on the roster with a positive +/- record. Tom Kostopoulus and Pat Dwyer are the only players with even +/- to appear in at least 10 games. Carolina is only converting on 15.6 % of their power plays (26th) and killing 77.8% of their own penalties (25th), down from 18.7% and 80.4% last season. They're a mess.

The Western Conference has had a major shakeup as well. The bottom three teams from last year (Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Colorado) would all be in the playoffs, were the season to end today. Detroit, Western Conference champions each of the last two years, currently sits five points out of the playoffs with only one game in hand.

Colorado owes their success largely in part to the surprising play of rookie centers Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly, who have combined for 55 points thus far. Between the pipes, free-agent acquisition Craig Anderson and Peter Budaj have combined for .918 Save %, tied for 7th in the NHL. An offseason trade brought them defenseman Kyle Quincey, who has helped jumpstart the power play, up from 15.7% in 08-09 to 18.2% this season.

In return for Quincey, a minor league prospect, and a late draft pick, the Kings received right wing Ryan Smyth, who has 26 points in 28 games. Drew Doughty, the #2 overall pick in 2008, has developed into a franchise-caliber defenseman, second on the team with 32 points, 19 of those coming on the PP. Anze Kopitar was tearing it up at the start of the season, scoring 30 points in his first 19 games. He has returned to Earth since the injury of Smyth, but still has 42 points in 43 games thus far.

Phoenix is making hay from Ilya Bryzgalov's 4th ranked Save % (.926) and #3 GAA (2.08). He has guided the Coyotes to a 23-11-4 record in his 38 starts, including five shutouts. While no individuals have stood out offensively, the team is playing great D in front of Bryzgalov, allowing the 10th lowest shots per game in the league.

As for Detroit, they have been ravaged by injuries. Only four players have appeared in every game this season. Forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary are both expected to return to the lineup Thursday against LA. They have been on the shelf with separated shoulders. Coach Mike Babcock has started leaning on youngster Jimmy Howard, who spent the last few years in Grand Rapids of the AHL, only seeing NHL action when injuries befell either Chris Osgood or Dominik Hasek. Howard has started 24 games this year, including 12 of the Wings' last 15.

Teams will be busy in January, playing hectic schedules before the Olympics begin. For those players who get to stay home (though they wish they weren't), the break will be relaxing. But for us fans, the viewing will get even more involved as we follow all the action in Vancouver. If you like plenty of hockey, you'll be in paradise for the next month and a half.

AFC Wild Card Round

Going into Week 17, seven teams were in contention for the two AFC Wild Card spots. Analysts were in heaven, simulating every scenario and obsessing over the complex tiebreaking procedures. Entering Sunday with a "win and you're in" situation, both the Ravens and Jets emerged from the rubble to claim playoff berths. The AFC division leaders can take a deep sigh of relief as the Steelers, clearly the most dangerous team in contention, have been eliminated, despite Jeff Reed's two fourth quarter field goals. Warning to all Pittsburgh area convenience stores: Fill your paper towel dispensers! And to answer your question, that's a picture of Reed, not a random, burnt out, middle-aged beach bum.

The AFC Wild Card features another rematch from Week 17 as the Bengals host the Jets. In what was a meaningless game for Cincinnati, the Jets cruised (lame joke) to a 37-0 victory. Sunday's game marked the first time that the Bengals have been shut out since 2001, when the Super Bowl champion Ravens held them scoreless.

The key matchup will be New York's league leading rushing offense against a tough Cincinnati defense allowing 3.9 YPC. The Jets will likely limit QB Mark Sanchez to game manager mode. He has only attempted more than 20 passes once in his last five starts.

Offensively, the Bengals rely on the play of resurgent running back Cedric Benson, who sat out last week's matchup to rest for the playoffs. He is eighth in the league with 1,251 rushing yards, despite only playing in 13 games. Carson Palmer's performance (or lack there of) was disastrous in the harsh climate of East Rutherford, NJ. He completed 1 of 11 passes for 0 (not a typo) yards with one interception. That earned him a comically low QB rating of 1.7. Number 1 receiver Chad Ochocinco was completely shut down by Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, but as usual Ochocinco had no trouble making excuses, attributing his poor performance to a knee injury. “Whether I had one leg or not, Darrelle did a great job.” Revis has shut down elite receivers all season, leading a Jets secondary allowing a league low 153.7 yards per game.

New York has allowed just 3.8 YPC this season, good enough for #4 in the NFL. They should have no problems containing Benson once the secondary shuts down the Bengals' struggling passing attack. With Ochocinco blanketed by Revis, Palmer will rely on former Jet Laveranues Coles, who has disappointed so far this season. When Sanchez and the offense take the field, Cincinnati will be able to stack the box. However, the Jets deeper backfield will outlast Benson, who will receive nearly all of the Bengals' carries. New York will win the impending battle of attrition.

Prediction: NJY 17 CIN 10

The AFC East champion New England Patriots will host Baltimore this weekend. These two teams met on October 4th in Foxborough, where Tom Brady led the Pats to a 27-21 victory. For those of you who value the complete history, the Ravens have lost all five meetings between these clubs, none of which occurred in the playoffs.

This week's matchup will feature the Patriots' 3rd ranked offense against Baltimore's 3rd ranked defense. Tom Brady will be without Wes Welker, who leads the NFL with 123 receptions. Baltimore will be able to roll coverage towards Randy Moss, who is tied for the league lead with 13 receiving touchdowns. New England's underrated rushing attack will have to step up against the Raven's D, who are allowing a league low 3.4 YPC.

Baltimore has the league's 5th ranked rushing attack, averaging over 130 yards per game and 4.7 YPC. New England can be run on, allowing 4.4 YPC, including a 6.8 YPC showing in the regular season contest between these two clubs. Joe Flacco has only eclipsed 200 passing yards nine times this season, and only five times in his last ten games.

This game will likely come down to the ability of Patriot receivers Julian Edelman and Sam Aiken to fill the void left by Welker. Expect Brady to target tight end Benjamin Watson early and often. In Weeks 12-16, New England rushed for 715 yards, a terrific 143 yards per game.

The key for the Ravens is for Flacco and the receiving corps to connect early, forcing the Pats to respect the pass. Otherwise, New England will stack the box and shut down Baltimore's dynamic backfield.

Prediction: NE 20 BAL 13

Image of the Week

On Friday, Tim Tebow played his final game in a Florida Gators uniform, ending one of the best careers in the history of collegiate athletics. His accomplishments are many, but the following list highlights the most significant ones.

• All-time SEC leader in rushing touchdowns
• First sophomore to win the Heisman since its inception in 1935
• First three-time Heisman Finalist
• Only NCAA player to pass and rush for at least 20 touchdowns in season
• Two-time National Champion

Tebow's legacy will live forever in Gainesville, where he spent four years not only in the Swamp, but in the community as well. Timmy, as he is called by his father, contributed more to the Gators as a motivator than as a player. Whenever adversity set in, it was Tebow that fired up the Gators, as this image shows.

NFC Wild Card Round

With the NFL's Week 17 behind us, the playoff seedings have been determined. Strangely, both NFC Wild Card games are rematches of Week 17. On Sunday, the Cardinals hosted the Packers and the Eagles paid a visit to Cowboys Stadium to face Dallas. The same will occur next weekend.

Green Bay, winners of six of their last seven, came to Glendale clicking on all cylinders and scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. By halftime, the Packers had jumped to 26-0 lead, thanks to a safety early in the second quarter. In Arizona's defense, they removed some of their key players early on while Packers coach Mike McCarthy decided to let his starters play the majority of the game. Both teams lost Pro Bowl cornerbacks as Charles Woodson and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie left the game in the first half. Both are expected to be in the lineup next week. Anquan Boldin and Calais Campbell also sustained injuries of unknown severity.

Although the Packers walked all over Arizona, outgaining them 345-187, this game should NOT be any indication of next week's showdown. The only stat worth mentioning from today's action would be in the interception column. Cardinals backup Matt Leinart threw two interceptions and had an additional one negated by the second quarter safety. Brian St. Pierre also saw action for Arizona, completing two of his four passes with a pick. Green Bay backup Matt Flynn threw an interception on one of his three attempts to finish with a QB rating of 2.8. Should anything happen to either starter, the fallout would dramatic, especially if the Cards are without Boldin.

The Packers bring the NFL's fifth-ranked offense to Glendale next week to face Arizona's defense, ranked 20th. Green Bay, owners of the #2 defense, should be back to full strength with Woodson in the lineup. Aaron Rodgers and Co. will be too much for Ken Whisenhunt's Cardinals to handle.

Prediction: GB 24 ARI 17

The media has long been critical of the Cowboys' late-season play, particularly that of QB Tony Romo. After back-to-back losses in early December, it seemed as though they were entering their annual recession. A victory against the then undefeated New Orleans Saints was followed by two consecutive defensive shutouts, a franchise first. Sunday's win marked the first time the Cowboys have had a post-December winning record since 1996, the year of their last playoff victory.

Playing the majority of the game against the Eagles' starters, Romo completed 70% of his passes and threw for over 300 yards. Marion Barber III and Felix Jones each received over a dozen carries and averaged 6.5 and 6.1 yards per carry, respectively. The defense gave the famed Cowboys cheerleaders plenty to cheer about, sacking Donovan McNabb four times and forcing two fumbles.

Although the Eagles had won six straight coming into Sunday's game, Dallas is the hot team. Strong showings on both sides of the ball led to this 24-0 blowout, the only time Philly has scored less than nine points this season. Playing in Cowboys Stadium, where over 100,000 fans attended Sunday's game, should give Dallas the edge.

Prediction: DAL 20 PHI 13