Turkey Day Preview!

Your Guide to the NFL Games this Thanksgiving

(fangsbites.com)

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time to be thankful of many things: family, food, football, and the fact that forced family gatherings only happen a few times a year. Table conversation can get awkward, especially if you are answering questions about your goals in life for your distant relatives-- by the time you see them next, you might have already reached them! Don't get caught sounding unsure. This Thanksgiving, prove that you know what you are talking about by familiarizing yourself with the top story lines heading into Thursday's three games.

First Course: 

Green Bay at Detroit - 9:30 AM (PST)

(Packers.com)

Since losing QB Aaron Rodgers to a broken collarbone, the Green Bay Packers have had little to be thankful for. They lost three games in a row before tying the lowly Vikings last week, and therefore have yet to record a win without the former MVP at the helm. Early in the season they enjoyed a sure grip on first place, but with a rotating QB cast that has included Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzein, and Matt Flynn, the Packers have seen their course shift dramatically. Incredibly, they remain just one game back in the win column (and are burdened with an awkward 5-5-1 record), but can increase their odds greatly with a win in Detroit on Thursday.

Three teams are currently vying for the NFC North crown, and the record within the division is the second-highest tiebreaker in the event of a draw, behind head-to-head record. The Lions have swept their series against the Bears, and own the tiebreaker there, but need a win against Green Bay to earn the series split. They have seen two winnable games slip through their fingers in the past two weeks, and have done little to take advantage of Aaron Rodgers' absence from their division rivals. They wasted a record-setting first-half performance from their QB and WR against Pittsburgh, then followed that debacle by losing to a team that started the season 0-8, at home against the Buccaneers.

I might also remind you that this is the team that lost eight straight games to close last year's season and miss the playoffs. The Lions desperately need a win to get back on track and prevent a nauseating sense of deja vu from permeating their fan base.

QB Matt Flynn will be starting the game for Green Bay, the same Matt Flynn who has already been cut by two teams this season alone. He will need help from the ground game to relieve some of the pressure, but will be going up against the 4th ranked rush defense in the league. However, the matchup through the air does favor him, as the Lions defense is 28th of 32 against the pass.

One can only assume that, because these stats are publicly broadcasted by ESPN, the Lions surely will take measures to force Green Bay to try to run on them. But then, Jim Schwartz is hardly conventional, as he has proven time and again-- most recently in the loss against Pittsburgh when he attempted an ill-advised fake FG, that ended in a fumble and a turnover instead of three points and inked a glaring ZERO under the category of "second half points".

(Rebecca Cook / Reuters)

Also, it could not be Thanksgiving without recalling the matchup of these same teams two years ago, in which Ndamukong Suh blatantly stomped on a Green Bay offensive lineman. This of course launched Suh into the discussion for the NFL's dirtiest player, hardly a desirable award to be nominated for.

He won, by the way.


To spice things up in advance of their Thanksgiving rematch, Green Bay OL Josh Sitton took to the media to announce his opinion of the Detroit Lions:


"I don't think there's any question about that... Their entire defense takes cheap shots all the time. That's what they do. That's who they are. They're a bunch of dirtbags or scumbags. That's how they play, and that's how they're coached... It starts with the head coach, Schwartz. He's a d---, too. I wouldn't want to play for him... They're all just scumbags, and so are the D-line."

His remarks certainly add a little spice to the match-up, and I am looking forward to their response as much as the Turkey itself. I'm not sure Matt Flynn is of the same mind, though.


Second Course:

Oakland at Dallas - 1:30 PM (PST)

(sfxoak.com)

After the beat-down that Drew Brees and the Saints put on the Cowboys three weeks ago, many have expected the inevitable collapse to come early this season for Dallas. Their victory over the surging Giants last week proved many doubters wrong, but still the pervading feeling is that it is only a matter of time. 

Statistics tell us that Tony Romo and the Cowboys usually do not collapse until AFTER Thanksgiving. His career record in November is 25-6, while he sinks to a paltry 13-17 in the month that follows (and a glaring 1-2 in January). Since the holiday comes late this year, Raiders fans are hoping the tradition arrives a bit ahead of schedule. 

Problems in the passing game have lead to heated exchanges between star WR Dez Bryant and his teammates and coaches. The return of (former?) star Miles Austin should help to lighten the load. So too should a matchup against the 25th ranked Oakland secondary. However, the Raiders have ridden rollercoasters with Romo all season long, and it is really anyone's guess as to which team will show up ready to play. (Point and case, I personally have missed each and every Raiders prediction I have attempted this year.) 

Meanwhile, the Raiders look to get back on track after suffering yet another loss at home. Their road record has been abysmal for two consecutive seasons, and they lost their last matchup against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving in 2009 (Justin Fargas, Bruce Gradkowski, anyone?). 

QB Matt McGloin has performed well in his first two career starts, splitting one win and one loss, but dissenters are already calling for Terrelle Pryor to reclaim the starting job once healthy. The ailing QB is getting closer each week, and may even be featured in select packages on Thursday. In any case, McGloin's margin for error is growing thin, and he needs a strong performance in Dallas to solidify his hold on the starting job. 

(jason farmer / times-shamrock)

Speaking of former-starters desperately hoping for a chance to prove their worth to the franchise, RB Darren McFadden is healthy (lol) enough to play this week. The delicate former Heisman contender has really only contributed a handful of respectable outings in his injury-plagued professional career. In his stead, RB Rashad Jennings has played very well, despite being hampered by the same battered offensive line that DMC struggled behind. Dennis Allen has said he will feature both backs in the game on Thursday, and with McFadden as healthy as he may ever be, fans and coaches alike may be able to see the competition for the next season's starting job unfolding before their very eyes. 

Dessert: 

Pittsburgh at Baltimore - 5:30 PM (PST)

Another chapter in the hardest-hitting rivalry in football will be written as many Americans slip into food comas across the nation. The teams have split their last 10 match-ups, and 8 of those games have been decided by 3 points or less.

This year, the stakes are at an all-time low, as both teams are mired by disappointing 5-6 records, two games behind the division-leading Bengals. However, a hope for a wildcard berth is still alive, and neither team can afford to lose many more games. Despite the lackluster circumstances, this heated rivalry should shape up to be as entertaining as always.

After winning the Super Bowl last season, the Ravens have been emphatically average, and have dropped 4 of their last 6 games. The vaunted defense, once ranked the best in the league, is not in the top ten in either passing- or rush-defense, but their offense is the cause of even more concern.

(Don Wright/AP)

"Elite" QB Joe Flacco is currently ranked 29th in passer rating and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns-- 14. Lately, he has even voiced his disgust with his offensive coordinator, publicly announcing his disdain for the "wildcat" system and comparing his team to a "high-school offense". As Tony Kornheiser pointed out, if Flacco would actually make plays with his arm, they likely would not be running it. But the team is not running the ball effectively either, and is averaging a meager 81.7 rushing yards per game.

On the other side, Ben Roethlisberger has been enjoying a renaissance over the past few weeks. The Steelers have won three straight games, and over that span Big Ben has passed for 7 touchdowns, compared to 1 interception. Antonio Brown has been on the receiving end of many of them, and the Ravens will need to stifle the WR if they hope to contain the Pittsburgh attack. The Steelers are the third-worst rushing team in the league, so Baltimore will most likely take away the pass and force Le'Veon Bell to make plays on the ground, increasing the already likely odds that you will see some hard-hitting plays made on both sides of the ball.

Good Food and Good Football... What a holiday!

Lastly, the Faded Raider would like to wish all his readers a Happy Thanksgiving. May your food be blessed and your bellies full, and remember to be thankful for what you have in life, especially those little things that are so often overlooked. 

Raiders Recap-- Week 12: Titans

After another home loss to a beatable team, plenty of blame is left to pass around.

Janikowski is as dumbfounded as the rest of Raider Nation

What is going on with SeaBass?

That is the first question Oakland fans are left to ask after watching their team blow a late lead to the visiting Titans. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski missed two field goals on the day-- a 32- and a 48-yarder-- and the Raiders lost by 4 after allowing a late-TD pass with 10 seconds to go.

The loss is especially frustrating for a number of reasons. By the time the game started, most of the early games had ended, and the Raiders were well aware of the implications of the outcome of their game: the winner would move into 6th place-- via tiebreaker-- and seize the last remaining AFC playoff spot.

Tennessee knew it as well as Oakland did, and when the cards were down, one team simply wanted it more.

"That would have been a big, big loss for us in terms of what the rest of the season was going to look like," Titans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said. The second-stringer was starting in just his second game for Tennessee, but was able to deliver the victory on his 31st birthday.

Fitzpatrick found his team down by 3 with 80 yards to go and 6 minutes on the clock. "We knew this was a 'gotta-have-it' drive at the end of the game and the guys really stepped up," he said. He found WR Kendall Wright on a 3rd and goal from the 10 for the go-ahead score with only 10 seconds left in the ballgame.

The loss dropped the Raiders to a meager 3-3 at home, but was their third home-loss to a team with a losing record. Previously they lost by 10 to an 0-3 Washington team, and of course there was the blowout to the New Slim Shady and the 3-5 Eagles. The loss to the 4-6 Titans team continued the disturbing trend.

Oakland has also dropped away games to losing teams this season. However, for a team that has been abysmal on the road (2-11 under Coach Dennis Allen in his two seasons; Hue Jackson went 5-3) home games provide a much-needed opportunity to win. Thus far, the Raiders have failed to take advantage of it.

(larrybrownsports.com)

QB Matt McGloin, also in his second start, threw for 260 yards, a touchdown, and a pic, but was unable to convert on crucial possessions throughout the game. The Raiders were 3-10 on 3rd down, and though they punted only twice on the day, they saw many drives stall and were forced to settle for field goal attempts. For the first time in a long time, these attempts are no longer "gimmes", further magnifying the importance of 3rd down conversions and of putting the ball in the endzone.

McGloin did lead a touchdown drive on what would be team's only real possession of the fourth quarter (the other came with under 10 seconds to go). The rookie completed 4 of 4 passes for 74 of the drive's 75 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown strike to Marcel Reece, and put his team up 3 points with 6 minutes to go. But the defense was unable to get the stop to secure the game for Oakland.

For the fourth time this season, the Raiders defense failed to force a single turnover. Of late, the offense has been highly dependent on the defense to create scoring opportunities, and over a quarter of Oakland's total points have come off turnovers. However, the loss was less about an inability to intercept the surgical Peyton Manning Ryan Fitzpatrick and more about the inability to get stops when they were needed, by any means necessary.

Oakland's defense surrendered 10 of 18 3rd down conversions and allowed the Titans to convert all three attempts on the game's final drive. Tennessee was able to sustain three separate drives of over 6 minutes, and held the ball for a whopping 12:08 of the game's final 15 minutes, while Oakland's longest drive took 4:44 off the clock and resulted in a missed FG. And on the first drive of the third quarter, a critical opportunity to gain momentum and dictate the final half of football, the Raiders blew a coverage and surrendered a 54-yard TD pass.

Torched by a QB that was cut from the Bills (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

So at the end of the day, many fans were left fuming, and for good reason.

Despite the season's miscues, the Raiders found themselves in a position to take command of a wildcard spot, but it seems like the whispers of "playoffs" function only as a curse, and they fell from potentially 6th to 12th in the AFC with the loss.

The defense continues to be plagued by big plays and by an inability to get much-needed stops. Somehow they pulled it off last week in Houston, but I'm not convinced. If Andre Johnson did not stop on his route, and was in position to even contend for the game-winning catch with Usama Young, well, you tell me who you think comes down with that ball.

The once reliable kicker is suffering the worst stretch of his storied career, and has missed more FGs this year than the past 2 combined.

Lastly, an inability to extend drives, coupled with an over-reliance on the kicking game, is not a formula for success, especially when that kicking game becomes inexplicably erratic. You cannot beat good teams without scoring touchdowns.

But the most frustrating part is that, this season, they cannot beat the bad teams, either.

Week Twelve Pick-Em

The 2nd best corner in football (Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Last week: 10-4.

Pittsburgh at CLEVELAND

The Steelers have won two in a row and rallied into the AFC wildcard race,  thanks to a resurgent Big Ben and a top-ten passing game. Unfortunately, they will face Joe Hayden and a Browns defense that has held opponents to 207.5 yards-per-game-- 4th in the league. I expect the Browns to grind out a win at home in a game where points come at a premium.

Tampa Bay at DETROIT

After an embarrassing collapse last week, I expect the Lions to rebound against a the Bucs, despite the fact that the former winless team has won two straight. Expect much action through the air as both teams target their go-to receivers: Detroit's Calvin Johnson and Tampa's Vincent Jackson. Both teams also feature solid rushing attacks, which should open up the passing game anymore. The bombs will fall in this game, but when the dust settles, I'm picking the Lions to emerge as the victors.

Minnesota at GREEN BAY

The combined factors of an unhealthy AP and a Green Bay team absolutely desperate for a win push me toward the Packers to win this one. Tolzein threw the ball well last week, and Minnesota, despite the presence of Jared Allen, is only mediocre against the run, so Green Bay should have no trouble moving the ball down the field. On the flip side, AP and his injured groin will hamper an offense that has been lackluster all season anyway.

SAN DIEGO at Kansas City

This week's upset special! If you know the Chargers like I do, you know they are just as likely to beat the top-seed as they are to lose to the most dysfunctional franchise in football (Miami), which they did last week. By that logic, or lack thereof,  I am choosing them to go into KC and beat the Chiefs in their own territory. Last week's loss against Denver didn't expose as much as reemphasize the lack of offensive firepower of Alex Smith and the Chiefs, and I foresee a San Diego defense that rises to the challenge on Sunday.

Despite all common sense, I'm betting on Phillip Rivers (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

CHICAGO at St. Louis

I'm conducting the Josh McCown train myself, and I'm expecting the Bears to win on the road this week to maintain possession of first place in the NFC North. (They won't start to blow it until Cutler returns.) St. Louis has played surprisingly well from time to time, but I still have no faith in their ability to play consistent, and therefore I am going with the hot hand from the Windy City.

CAROLINA at Miami

I love the Panthers, and I love that they beat my most hated teams in back-to-back weeks. I almost picked them to get upset this week, as I think the attention they have gotten this week might be too much for a young, inexperienced team. However, I'm still taking them to win because of one thing: defense. Their defense has simply been playing too well to go against, especially against a Miami offense that has struggled to find an identity all season long. It doesn't matter how well Cam plays, Carolina will leave Florida with its 7th straight win.

NEW YORK JETS at Baltimore

The logic here: The Jets got destroyed last week, so the pattern dictates that they rebound this week. It's as easy as that. Also, I do not know what is going on in Baltimore, but I do not think they know either. This game also earns the nomination for "least interesting game of the week", despite the fact that the Jets, with a loss, would lose their grip on the AFC wildcard spot and open it up to about 8 different teams. Somehow, someway, I see Rex Ryan's team earning the W.

Jacksonville at HOUSTON

C'mon Houston. You cannot possibly lose 9 straight games, can you? Kubiak learned from his (inexplicable) mistake last week and will stick with Keenum in this game to earn the W against the league's worst team. Sidenote: the Texans actually have the league's best pass defense-- not that it matters against a team starting Chad Henne at QB.

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tennessee at OAKLAND

I expect Matt McGloin to look sharp from the pocket again, though I am tapering my expectations a little, as last week he was nearly flawless, statistically speaking. I also think that Oakland's running game, led by future RB Rashad Jennings, and an increasingly healthy O-Line, will look sharp against a team with a rush defense ranked in the bottom half of the league. Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick will struggle against a Raiders' defense invigorated by the Black Hole and motivated to redeem themselves after a most embarrassing outing in the last home game against the New Slim Shady and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Indianapolis at ARIZONA

You might call this an upset, but I see it as an underrated team beating an overrated team at home. Consider this: Trent Richardson has not rushed for over 60 yards once this season, and is also questionable for the match. Meanwhile, Arizona has the 2nd ranked rush defense in the league. Expect Andrew Luck to put the ball up many times this game. With Hilton covered, that leaves only the shaky hands of Darrius Heyward-Bey on the receiving end... and a host of Arizona defenders.

Dallas at NEW YORK GIANTS

How can you realistically pick Dallas anymore? They have let first place slip through their fingers yet again. The Giants (formerly 0-6) have won 4 straight and are starting to play well at the right time, while Dallas looks headed in the other direction. I'm predicting at least one Dez Bryant tantrum and several shots of an exasperated Jerry Jones in the booth to go with the Dallas loss.

Denver at NEW ENGLAND

*Sunday Night*

Peyton Manning's ankle, and the large concern with it, has shifted to the background after the Broncos beat the Chiefs. I have no idea why, as he looked noticeably incapable during the game and only stands to injure it worse as he continues to play on it. And we all know that Brady and Belichick are furious after being robbed of a chance to win last week. I'm anticipating a shootout in which Brady gets the best of Manning yet again.

SAN FRANCISCO at Washington

*Monday Night*

The rebound theory applies here as well, although the 49ers should not need any extra motivation to beat the lowly Washington team. RG3 and Kaepernick, despite their dazzling outbreaks last season, have both played poorly at times this season. San Francisco enjoys the benefit of one of the league's best defenses-- one that RG3 will become acquainted with multiple times on Monday night-- and will enjoy their long flight home from the east coast after winning this game.

The worst is yet to come (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

On the Bye:

Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Seattle

Am I crazy to pick San Diego? Will RG3 out-duel Kaepernick? Does ANYONE have faith in the Cowboys? Comment below!

About That No-Call

By now we've all seen it.

I'm talking, of course, about the final play of Monday's game between the Panthers and Patriots.

With only seconds remaining, Tom Brady had worked the ball down to the Panthers' 18 yard line. Down just 4 points, he needed to throw a touchdown and only had time for one final play. He took the snap, scrambled for a moment, then set up and unleashed toward his favorite target, TE Rob Gronkowski, only to see the pass intercepted in the end zone by Robert Lester.

The crowd went nuts! The Carolina Panthers, a team that started the season ranked 23 of 32, had just upset the New England Patriots, and just a week after upsetting the 49ers in San Francisco. They had defeated legitimate contenders in back-to-back weeks, and had won 6 consecutive games. There could be no question that, for the first time in a long time, the Carolina Panthers were for real.

Then they saw the flag.

From the back of the endzone an official had witnessed an infraction of some sort. Everyone in the stadium knew the consequence: the game could not end on a penalty on the defense. The offense would be allowed one extra play, and a penalty in the endzone meant the ball would be placed on the one yard line.

Tom Brady would have one more chance.

The crowd held its collective breath as the officials gathered to discuss the call. The decision would be HUGE. The game would come down to this. Even Mike Tirico paused his league-sponsored blather as he awaited the announcement from the official. An image came to mind of Jon Gruden staring at him across the booth with a look that said "STFU for a minute and let me hear the call!"

It seemed inevitable that the Patriots, if given a second chance, would punch the ball in for the game-winning score. A defensive stop was out of the question, even for the hometown fans. Across the nation, Raiders fans, Jets fans, Ravens fans-- really all fans of any other team-- were momentarily thinking to themselves "I can't believe it's going to happen again."

Then the announcement came. There was no penalty on the play. The game was over. The Panthers had won.

(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Chaos erupted in Bedlam Carolina. In the stands, the people jumped up and down; hats were thrown; beverages were tossed; hugs and kisses and high-fives; and friendly punches fell harder than intended. But no pain was felt, for the Panthers had pulled off the greatest win in recent memory.

On the field, the Panthers rejoiced. Helmets were thrown, gatorade was dumped, and somewhere Steve Smith was yelling joyous obscenities into the midnight air. Cam Newton, with his iconic towel draped over his head, put on a face that he had practiced many times before. As the quarterback and captain, he had to show that he was unfazed, that he had expected to win all along. I think that's unfair-- no one else expected it.

Tom Brady was furious, and immediately chased the referee off the field for an explanation. Millions of people across America heard the "Golden Boy" scream a word that I'm too classy to print here, directed unequivocally at an official-- an offense for which he was not fined.

Bill Belichick, off camera, was no doubt crossing sleeveless arms across his chest and thinking what the rest of the world had been thinking just moments before: "I can't believe it happened again", while his tight-end, Rob Gronkowski (not the murderer) was still in the endzone, merely shrugging.

And that was the strangest part.

In the wake of the call, many sought an explanation for why the penalty was rescinded. The referee had merely announced the result of the play, without any sort of elaboration on the reasoning behind the decision, and had immediately sprinted off the field, leaving millions of baffled Americans to their best guesses.

Former referee Gerry Austin was in the booth with Gruden and Tirico and defended the official, claiming the ball was deemed "uncatchable" and that the right call had been made. Next to him, Jon Gruden struggled to contain himself and bear-hugged/threatened Austin during his enactment of the infraction, concluding, once again, that he would simply never understand the rules surrounding "pass interference" calls.

Patience wearing thin (Ben Koo)

After the game, the MNF crew-- Stuart Scott, Trent Dilfer, Steve Young, and Ray Lewis-- provided perhaps the most entertaining interpretation. They too reenacted the play, demonstrating it down on the field, and still failed to arrive at a reasonable defense for how the game had ended. Dilfer and Young, offensive geniuses in their day (well, one of them was) blasted the call and lambasted the official for waving the penalty off, while Ray Lewis, the eternal defender, could summon no enthusiasm in defense. Instead, he mumbled something vaguely resembling an admission that he did not even know the rules.

It seemed clear as day. Luke Kuechly has his hands wrapped around Gronk well before the ball was intercepted. His head was not turned, and he made no attempt to play the ball. If it wasn't pass interference or holding, it certainly qualified as face-guarding. Yet the penalty had been waived off, and the game declared over. It was a scam, a travesty, and it would be the majority of the talking points on ESPN for days to come.

As I looked on in glee (for I had clinched a fantasy victory on that very play)... (oh yeah, and I hate the Patriots) I tried to explain the call to my roommate. If the ball was tipped, pass interference was invalid, but it seemed no defender touched the pass until Lester made the interception, and by that point, Kuechly and Gronk had already been flamenco dancing for 7-8 yards. Contact began well before the ball was touched. Try as I might, even I failed to justify the no-call.

"If Gronk had sold it better, he would have gotten the call," my roommate concluded, and I agreed.

Then the question hit me: why hadn't he?

(ESPN/NFL)

It was so simple! There was so much immediate talk of conspiracy and controversy; of Newton's game-winning drive, and of Brady's drive that nearly replaced it; that the simplest, most logical explanation eluded even the most astute observers.

Steve Young criticized the call for being subjective: how could an official accurately asses what 6' 6", 265-pound Gronk was capable of? Never before had the league seen a receiver as large and dynamic as Gronk-- in a single season he broke the NFL record for receiving TDs and yardage by a TE. No one could rightly establish that pass as uncatchable, as long as it was within yards of Gronk's seven-foot wingspan. Many would go on to echo his sentiment the next day.

But no one else pointed out the obvious: Gronk never even tried. He simply didn't care.

The position would be unfair if unfounded, as it is an assault on Gronk's attitude, work-ethic, and dedication to his team. But it is actually very founded, and supported by numerous examples from throughout his career.

This season alone, his own teammates even questioned his dedication when he delayed his return from injury earlier this year. And just this past week he was blasted by the media for making racially insensitive remarks during a Q&A session with his own fans!

To me, it seems very feasible that Gronk would have got the call if he had reacted differently. He has 3 inches and 30 pounds on the linebacker that"carried him out of the endzone", and when you watch the replay, you see him make little to no effort to go back toward the ball.

"It's over," he seems to be saying to himself. "Oh well."

It seems like he has better things to do.

Gronk poses with adult film star, Bibi Jones (everywhere)

And, come to think of it, maybe he does.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the sequence: Gronk's Greatest Gaffes. Coming Soon! 

Week Eleven Recap

As we inch closer to the playoffs, skies darken for some teams, while others pray for a break in the clouds.

Severe thunderstorms delayed the game in Chicago almost 2 hours (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Baltimore 20, Chicago 23 (OT)

Black skies turned sunny in Chicago when the Bears were able to outlast the Ravens in overtime. The game was delayed almost 2 hours by a passing storm system that saw over 50 tornadoes touch down across the Midwest, so technically speaking, the skies were actually still dark when the winning FG was kicked-- by then, it was night. 

Josh McCown again led the Bears to victory in the absence of Jay Cutler, and is making a very strong case to supplant Cutler as the starter. Consider these stats: McCown is completing 60% of his passes, has thrown 5 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and has won both of the games in which he has started. 

After escaping with a win last week in OT, the Ravens were unable to rally for the win in Chicago. They were able to drive the field and kick the game-tying FG as time expired, and their past playoff experience has given them the wherewithal to mount last-minute scoring drives when the game is on the line.  However, their concern should be the other 59 minutes of football; at 4-6, the defending Super Bowl champs are about to miss the playoffs entirely. 

New York Jets 14, Buffalo 37

The Geno Coaster continued to roll this weekend, and this week the drop was rather severe. The rookie fumbled twice and threw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, before being replaced by backup Matt Simms in the fourth quarter.

More surprising was the fact that the Jets were coming off their bye week, and it looked like they would have preferred another week away from work. Instead, they were routed by the Bills in Buffalo and are tied for the last remaining wildcard spot, but performances like these (note: plural)  make you wonder how they are in such a position at all.

Cleveland 20, Cincinnati 41

After dropping two straight games, Cincinnati got a much needed victory over a division foe on Sunday, though in the beginning it looked like things were headed in the other direction. In their first five possessions, the Bengals went three-and-out 3 times and Andy Dalton threw 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The hideous first quarter placed the Bengals in a 13 point hole and had their home fans booing raucously, but apparently that was what the team needed. They went on to score a franchise record 31 points in the second quarter alone and raced past the Browns on their way to their victory. 

Cleveland wasted an outstanding performance by CB Joe Haden, who held WR AJ Green to 7 yards on 2 catches, and returned an interception for a score in the first quarter. Jason Campbell had a rough day, throwing 3 interceptions of his own, completing less than half of his passes, and tallying twenty-nine incompletions-- especially troubling considering the team attempted only 19 running plays. But at 4-6, Cleveland still finds itself on the outskirts of the AFC wildcard picture. 

Washington 16, Philadelphia 24

The Eagles saw a 24 point lead evaporate almost entirely in the fourth quarter, as Washington scored two touchdowns and hit both two-point conversions to come within one score of a tie. They worked the ball down to the 18-yard line before RG3 threw a terrible interception in the end zone with just 24 seconds remaining, and the Eagles were able to hold on for their first home victory in their last 11 games. 

Detroit 27, Pittsburgh 37

Matt Stafford threw for 327 yards and Calvin Johnson came down with both touchdowns and 179 yards receiving of his own. Then the first half ended.

A Tale of Two Halves (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Yes, both players were on pace for a record-shattering day in Pittsburgh, but when the third quarter started, it seemed a completely different team took the field. The Lions were shut out in the second half and allowed Ben Roethlisberger to throw 2 fourth quarter touchdowns and complete the comeback for the Steelers. Matt Stafford threw for only 35 yards in the second half, and Calvin Johnson was held without a catch for the rest of the game. 

A tremendous opportunity was blown by Detroit; they now sit in a tie with the Chicago Bears for first in the NFC North, while Pittsburgh, at 4-6, moves into the AFC wildcard hunt.

Atlanta 28, Tampa Bay 41

We knew they were bad, but not certainly not that bad. Or are they? 

I'm talking about the Atlanta Falcons, who found themselves down by 28 points in the fourth quarter to a team that, nine days ago, still had not won a single game. Now the two teams are tied for last in the NFC South, just one win above the absolute bottom of the league. 

It has certainly been a disappointing season for the Buccaneers, who traded away their mercurial QB, Josh Freeman, early in the season and lost both first- and second-string running backs to season-ending injuries. But Atlanta was a team that many expected to contend for a Super Bowl this year-- they were in the NFC Championship just a year ago! Instead, their collapse will go down as the most complete I have ever witnessed-- and I'm a Raiders fan! 

Arizona 27, Jacksonville 14

Don't look now, but Arizona has won 5 of its last 7 and is sitting at 6-4, tied for the last NFC wildcard spot. They have flown under the radar all season long, and while a victory over the Jags is certainly nothing to brag about, the NFL pays no mind to strength of schedule. A win is a win, and the Cardinals now have enough to be tied for ninth-most in the league (out of 32). 

The Good News: Arizona's strong run-defense is ranked #2 in the league. On Sunday they held Maurice Jones drew to 23 yards on 14 carries-- an average of 1.9 yards per carry. Discount the one run of 9 yards, and that stat shrinks to 14 yards on 13 carries. 

The Bad News: their last two games of the season come at home against San Francisco and on the road in Seattle. 

Oakland 28, Houston 23

Undrafted rookie QB Matt McGloin threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions in his first NFL start and led the Raiders to their first road victory of the year. A fantastic defensive effort solidified the victory for Oakland, as the final Houston drive was stopped short on the 2-yard line. 

Houston has now lost 8 straight games and was so incapable that Coach Gary Kubiak pulled Case Keenum for former starter Matt Schaub. The puzzling maneuver did not provide the spark he had hoped, and only ignited the Houston teammates against one another. 

Rashad Jennings added 150 yards and a TD (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

San Diego 16,  Miami 20

A last-minute drive was too little, too late to bail out Phillip Rivers and the Chargers, who ran out of time on Miami's 25-yard line. A sloppy game featured interceptions by both QBs in the first quarter (and came on consecutive drives) and, when combined, the teams went a dismal 6-21 on third down conversions (29%). 

San Diego drops to 4-6 but remains alive one game back of the wildcard spot, while 5-5 Miami moves into a tie for that very spot with the New York Jets. 

San Francisco 20, New Orleans 23

The NFC showdown in New Orleans suddenly turned into a defensive showcase. The 49ers vaunted defense had a tall task in stopping Drew Brees, but New Orleans' defense played extremely well also, limiting Kaepernick to 127 yards through the air and holding Frank Gore to just 45 yards rushing. Brees managed only 1 touchdown on the day and threw an uncharacteristically poor interception. New Orleans was held without a touchdown in the second half, but 3 fourth quarter field goals, including one as time expired, were enough to lift the Saints to victory.

"Illegal Contact to the Head of the QB" (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

A controversial "roughing the passer" call overturned what would have been a game-winning fumble recovery by the 49ers, but San Francisco had other opportunities, and miscues had a large impact on the outcome as well. Most notably, the 49ers were penalized for tackling the defenseless punt-returner, after he had signaled fair catch, on what ended up being the game-winning drive.

Still, the game was well-played by both teams and may have been a potential playoff preview. However, if these two teams meet head-to-head in the postseason, it will likely be in New Orleans again, as the loss gives the Saints the tiebreaker over the 6-4 49ers. 

Green Bay 13, New York Giants 27

The suddenly-slumping Packers certainly miss Aaron Rodgers. Instead, QB Scott Tolzein got his first NFL start and threw for 339 yards on the day-- it was the three interceptions that doomed him. The Packers were able to move the ball at will, and even out-gained the Giants in total yards. However, they left the Meadowlands with a third consecutive loss, and at 5-5, now find themselves behind both Detroit and Chicago in their own division. 

Meanwhile, the Giants have rallied for 4 straight victories, and at 4-6, are very much alive in their own division race. After a horrendous start that many said they would never overcome, they seem desperate to prove their doubters wrong. If there is one thing we know about the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning combination, its that 9-7 is sometimes good enough to win the Super Bowl. Don't give up on Big Blue just yet.

Minnesotta 20, Seattle 41

The train keeps on rolling in Seattle, and it may not stop until February. The NFL's most complete team let the Vikings hang around for three quarters before scoring 17 unanswered points in the 4th to put the game away. QB Russell Wilson continues to make incredibly athletic plays, and Marshawn Lynch, who is second in rushing yards and tied for first in touchdowns, is simply and truly in Beast Mode. 

The Seahawks enter their bye at 10-1, best in the NFL, and will need the week to prepare-- they host the Saints next and then will travel to San Francisco for a highly-anticipated divisional rematch.  

Kansas City 17, Denver 27

*Sunday Night*

Perfection came to an end in the Mile High city on Sunday Night Football as the Chiefs were dropped by Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

They say "slow and steady wins the race", but it does not win the NFL football game, and nowhere was a lack of urgency more apparent than on the KC offensive side of the ball. QB Alex Smith, eternal game-manager, is so programmed to not make costly mistakes that he refuses to take risks when plays need to be made. He took very few shots downfield when his team was down 17 in the fourth quarter, and instead stuck to a conservative style of mistake-free football.

His biggest mistake: losing the game!

Denver got the win but it was not pretty. In fact, they were held to their lowest point total of the season, and one wonders how Peyton Manning's ankle injury will affect his ability to make plays. His deep ball is already compromised by his infamous neck surgeries, and without a back foot to plant off, he threw wobblers all game long. In the end though, those wobblers fell into the hands of his lethal receiving core, and the NFL's best offense was able to get the best of the NFL's best defense.

New England 20, Carolina 24

*Monday Night*

Whoever decided to schedule a late-season monday night matchup between the Panthers and Patriots needs to immediately purchase a lottery ticket. I do not know at what point in the offseason this was decided, and I certainly do not know how the NFL was convinced to approve the match. All I know is that I am happy as hell they did!

The season's biggest surprise team won its sixth consecutive victory, and second consecutive over a legitimate contender, by upsetting the Patriots in Carolina. Much attention was given to a controversial "no-call" in the end zone on the last play of the game, but that attention rightfully belongs to Cam Newton, who played what may be his best game as a pro in a nationally televised game.

Finding himself down 4 points after Brady executed a vintage late scoring drive to put his team ahead, Cam Newton answered the call and led his team on an 83-yard touchdown drive to regain the lead with under a minute to go. The third-year pro made plays with his arm and his legs and one-upped Brady by earning 7 instead of settling on the field goal, and found WR Ted Ginn for what would be the game-clinching score.

Greatest Press Conference Ever (Mad Producer Productions)

Indianapolis 30, Tennessee 27

*Thursday Night*

The Colts squeaked out another iffy victory over a weak team. It took a halftime speech by Andrew Luck, as well as 24 second half points, but Indianapolis was able to survive the scare against the Titans. Trent Richardson was held to 22 yards, lowering his yards-per-carry as a member of the Colts to 2.83. The Colts improved to 7-3 and look to be running away with their division-- the NFC South-- thanks in part to the epic collapse of the Texans and the eternally hapless Jaguars.

Raiders Recap-- Week 11: Texans

Surprise!!

(Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Well, I sure didn't see that coming.

Yesterday's win over the Texans featured some surprising events, but it also featured many of the tendencies typical of this year's Raiders team.

Let me explain.

Yesterday in Houston the Raiders went up big to start the game. They scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the fifth time this season, tying them with Denver for most in the NFL (Elias). Then they went on to give up 17 unanswered points and fell behind heading into the half.

Once again, the Raiders relied on their defense to produce scoring opportunities. The offense inherited two red-zone opportunities in the first quarter: a fumble and a Nick Roach interception gave the Raiders the ball on Houston's 16-yard line twice, and all of the Raiders' 14 first-half points came off turnovers generated by their defense.

On the day, the offense mustered just one respectable scoring-drive-- a 73-yard sequence that took only 2:21 of time off the clock-- and went a dismal 5-18 on third-down conversions, including 7 three-and-outs. They punted the ball eleven times, and had 8 drives that failed to travel over 5 yards. One punt was returned for a touchdown.

And yet, after a narrow victory over a team that has now lost 8 straight games, I'm here to tell you that the Raiders played one of their best games of the season and have much to build on going forward.

I know, it shocked me too.

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

One of the biggest surprises on the day was the performance of undrafted rookie QB Matt McGloin. The Penn State product threw for three touchdowns and led the team to its first road victory of the season. He took advantage of the short field provided by the defense and threw strikes of 16, 5, and 26 yards for scores, and did not turn the ball over once.

He threw accurately, he utilized a quick release, and most impressively, he demonstrated excellent pocket presence, a concept so foreign of late that I hardly remember how to spell it.

McGloin started in place of injured QB Terrelle Pryor, who remained in Oakland to nurse a sprained knee and an unspecified "illness". That sickly feeling likely moved from his head to his stomach as Pryor watched his replacement flourish where he has faltered, giving rise to an interesting QB controversy in the East Bay.

Coach Dennis Allen refused to immediately comment on the starter moving forward. “Listen, here’s what I’m going to do – I’m going to enjoy this win," he said in the post-game conference. "We’re going to go back and we’ll evaluate, but (McGloin) definitely did a very good job today."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Houston was starting an undrafted QB of its own, Case Keenum. The hometown rookie had played well in his previous three starts and entered the game against Oakland having thrown 7 TDs and 0 interceptions. The Texans lost each of those games, but after losing RB Arian Foster, LB Brian Cushing, and Head Coach Gary Kubiak, you can hardly blame the quarterback for the team's inability to win games. Houston had already lost 4 straight before Keenum took over in Week Seven.

However, the biggest surprise of the day came when Coach Gary Kubiak decided to pull the rookie in favor of former starter Matt Schaub.

(AP Photo/Patric Schneider)

The embattled QB has struggled this season, setting an NFL record by throwing interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in 4 straight games before injuring his ankle at home against the Rams. The Houston fans cheered when he was knocked out of the game, only to see his replacement, TJ Yates, continue the notorious streak by throwing an interception on the 2-yard line that was returned 98 yards for a score.

The move puzzled many, as Keenum has brought the most life to the offense of all three Houston quarterbacks. He had thrown for 170 yards and a touchdown before being benched in the third quarter after three consecutive three-and-outs. Schaub entered the game and led the Texans to the red zone three times, each time stalling inside the 15 and resulting in zero touchdowns for Houston.

Matt Schaub finished the game with 155 yards, 0 TDs, and a whole lot of quackers. He completed less than half of his passes on the day, and when he had the Texans two yards from victory, failed again to score and nearly threw an interception in the end zone. The incompletion resulted in a turnover on downs anyway, but that was no consolation to WR Andre Johnson, who expressed his discontent to the veteran QB after the drive was over, and walked off the field with about a minute to go in the game.

On the season, Schaub has thrown more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (8), while his rookie replacement has 8 TDs and just 1 interception, which was not even returned for a score. After an unbelievably disappointing season, I would believe that some big changes are in store for Houston.

(Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

The Raiders defense played exceptionally well against the Texans and did everything they could to contribute to Houston's frustrations. Aside from the 2 turnovers in the first quarter, Oakland's defense forced 9 punts, 7 of which followed three-and-outs. Twelve Houston drives lasted 5 plays or less, and in the second half the Texans managed just six points on two field goals.

The Raiders also stopped Matt Schaub and the Texans when it counted most. Desperate for a comeback, Houston mounted three fourth-quarter drives that reached the red zone, only to be stopped at the  8-, the 12-, and the 2-yard line by a resilient Raiders defense.

Charles Woodson aka "Old Man Raider" was a fundamental contributor to the resounding defensive effort. The 37-year-old stripped TE Garrett Graham in the first quarter and stonewalled RB Ben Tate on the 2-yard-line on what would have been the game-wining drive. The blow was so forceful it jarred the ball loose and left Woodson dazed on the ground, but on the whole was less surprising than it was nostalgic; the 16-year veteran has led by example all season long and provided the figurative spark for his team on many occasions.

Woodson's hit prevented the go-ahead TD (George Bridges)

With the win, the Raiders have moved within one game of the final AFC wild-card spot. None of their next three opponents have winning records, and the Raiders will host the Titans next week with a lot of momentum on their side.

At 4-6, Oakland cannot afford many more losses if they hope to make the playoffs. Two of their last three games come against Kansas City and Denver, but both are to be played in Oakland.

So, after an impressive outing in Houston, the Oakland Raiders still have many questions unanswered.

Can the Raiders sustain their success and reach the playoffs for the first time since their 2002 Super Bowl campaign? After another strong performance, should Jennings supplant McFadden when (or rather, IF) he gets healthy again? Will a healthy offensive line transform an inconsistent offense?

And, oh yeah, about that starting quarterback...

Don't worry, Raiders fans, the answers are in store for us shortly. So too, I would guess, are a few more surprises.

Week Eleven Pick-Em

(Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)

Picks in CAPS. Revisited comments in Italics.

Baltimore at CHICAGO
Jay Cutler will miss the game with an ankle injury suffered last week, and that is exactly why I am picking the Bears. Chicago has looked better with backup QB Josh McCown at the helm, and I expect them to continue playing well together against a mediocre Baltimore team.

McCown statline: 216, 1 TD, 0 INT. Bears win. 1-0! 

NEW YORK JETS at Buffalo
Geno and the Jets will break their roller-coaster pattern and win their second game in a row in Buffalo. EJ Manuel will play in his second game back from injury, but will be missing his number one and two receivers, Steve Johnson and Robert Woods. The Bills will limp into their bye next week with a loss.

Damn you, Geno Coaster! Jets lose big 37-14. 1-1. 

Cleveland at CINCINNATI
This has the potential to be the quietest great game of the season, as the Browns seem to be clicking with Jason Campbell at QB. Their defense is making a case to be regarded as one of the best in the league, and AJ Green will have his hands full all day with CB Joe Haden. However, the division-leading Bengals will bounce back from back-to-back OT losses with a win at home against the Browns.

AJ Green held to SEVEN yards, but Cinci still won. 2-1! 

Washington at PHILADELPHIA
Chip Kelley's offense finally looks to be clicking. Nick Foles has thrown for 10 TDs and 0 INTs in his last two games alone, and the Eagles have moved into a tie for first place with Dallas in the NFC East. Although Philadelphia has lost 10 straight home games, I have them shocking their fans with a win on Sunday over Washington and its 26th ranked passing defense.

Foles throws for 298, but no TDs, and still not INTs. 3-1! 

DETROIT at Pittsburgh
All aboard the bandwagon! I'm taking Matty Stafford and Megatron to take down the underachieving Steelers. Detroit is playing like a hungry team, and after missing the playoffs last year with an 8-game losing streak, they have their eyes set on a return to the playoffs. They'll improve their chances of winning the division with win on Sunday.

Never bet on Jim Schwartz. 3-2. 

Atlanta at TAMPA BAY
The Bucs are no longer winless, and if they beat the Falcons on Sunday, they will have the same exact record. That is how poor the Falcons have played this season. QB Mike Glennon has looked decent, but has been aided by a sneaky good running-game (which is now down to third-string RB Bobby Rainey) and a surprisingly solid Bucs defense. I expect Atlanta to be thwarted yet again when the travel to Tampa to face the Bucs.

Wowzers the Falcons are terrible. 41-28, and the score doesn't do it justice. 4-2! 

ARIZONA at Jacksonville
The Cardinals' quest for a wild-card berth will be aided with a win against the Jags. Fans of Arizona are no doubt hoping for a 49ers loss in New Orleans, as they would move into a tie for second with San Francisco and increase their odds of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Jags got a win last week; I hope they had enough time to savor it.

Jacksonville is terrible, but still it was hard to pick the Cardinals. Paid off this time. 5-2! 

Oakland at HOUSTON
Terrelle Pryor will miss the game with a sprained knee, Darren McFadden will miss the game with whatever his injury is this time, and the Raiders will miss both of them as their offense struggles against the Texans. Houston will see its head coach, Gary Kubiak, return after collapsing during the game against the Colts. QB Case Keenum has played well in all of his two starts, losing by three points in each game, but will get his first victory as a starter today at home.

I only picked them to lose so they would win... 5-3. 

Afternoon Games

San Diego at MIAMI
After an embarrassing nationally-televised loss to the winless teams, I expect the Dolphins to rebound at home against the Chargers. San Diego has a history of losing on the east coast and losing crucial games toward the end of the season that cost them the playoffs, and I have gotten so used to the trend that I expect nothing less. Keep your eye on Phillip Rivers, because I think he is in for a long day, and there are bound to be some entertaining temper tantrums on the sidelines.

Hahahahahahaha Chargers. I love it. 6-3! 

San Francisco at NEW ORLEANS
Drew Brees will be slowed by a strong San Francisco defense, but not impeded enough to suffer the loss at home. Kaepernick and the 49ers look to get back on track against a mediocre Saints defense, and will have much success in the running game, but will be unable to keep pace with Drew Brees, and the Saints will escape with a narrow victory.

Narrow victory indeed. Hartley kicked the winning FG as time expired. 7-3! 

GREEN BAY at New York Giants
Run the ball! That's all the Packers have to do to leave the Meadowlands with the win on Sunday. That formula eluded them last week, but by now, hopefully someone has relayed the message to third-string QB Scott Tolzein, who will start the first game of his career on Sunday. The Giants have played well for the past three games, but obviously didn't play well for their first 6, as they are currently 3-6. I expect them to lay another egg on Sunday and miss a chance to beat an injury-plagued Packers team.

GB tallied 55 rushing yards and a loss. 7-4. 

Minnesotta at SEATTLE
The Vikings are fresh off a win and I hope they enjoyed it while it lasted. They travel to one of the loudest stadiums to face one of the best teams, and stand little chance of winning. WR Percy Harvin will play his first game for the Seahawks, and it will come against his former team. Look for his number to be called all afternoon, as Seattle will look to take advantage of yet another explosive weapon on offense.

Easy pick. 8-4!

Kansas City at DENVER
*Sunday Night*
The Broncos will finally bring the Chiefs down to earth. The KC offense will struggle for most of the game, while Peyton Manning will move the team up and down at will, and the Chiefs will drop their first game of the season. The teams face each other again in two weeks, in Kansas City, and the division winner will likely be decided by the outcome of those two crucial games.

Closer than I thought it would be, and I'm definitely taking KC in the next meeting. 9-4! 


NEW ENGLAND at Carolina
*Monday Night*
Carolina's great run will come to an end against the Pats. The Patriots are finally getting healthy and will need to start clicking before the playoffs arrive. A quality win against a quality team will help them get their act together just in time.

New England at CAROLINA!
When I wrote this earlier I thought NE was at home. The Pats are off the bye, but I can't NOT root for the Panthers, especially because I need them to stop Gronk or I will lose my fantasy match-up.

Caaaaaam! Won the game, won my fantasy game, and ended 10-4 this week! 

Harbaugh's Headache

(Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Now I know what you are thinking.

Of course, here is another Raiders fan bashing the 49ers for no reason other than the fact that he has nothing better to do. Just bitter and jealous. How many Super Bowls do you guys have again? 

Innate acrimony aside, please realize I am being objective here. As much as it pleases me to ridicule the 49ers for their futility, I am not writing for that purpose alone. It is just that there are some glaring issues with this San Francisco team, and I want to discuss the causes and the impact on their chances of re-appearing in the Super Bowl this year. Right now that dream seems beyond reach.

Kaep threw the ball well... in warmups
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Many of these concerns were brought to light by their most recent performance against the Carolina Panthers. Colin Kaepernick was, in a word, terrible. He went 11 for 22 with 91 yards passing and an interception. He was held to just 16 yards rushing, and was sacked a season-high 6 times for a net loss of 45 yards-- nearly half his passing total. For the second time this year, the 49ers offense failed to score a touchdown.

With the loss, the 49ers (who had won their previous 5 games) drop to 6-3 and now hold a very tentative grip on the last remaining playoff spot.

What seems to be universally accepted is that the success of the 49ers is inextricably tied to the health of Vernon Davis. Statistically, Vernon Davis has had the single greatest impact on the ability of the 49ers to score points and win games. In their six wins the 49ers have averaged 34.6 points per game, and Davis has been a star contributor on the offensive side of the ball, tallying 498 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns-- the third most of all tight-ends.

Can the 49ers win without Vernon Davis?
(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

But all three of San Francisco's losses were games that Davis either missed or was knocked out of, and in those games the 49ers averaged just 6.3 points per game.

The starting tight-end was forced out of the Carolina game in the second quarter with a concussion, and the 49ers were shut out in the second half.

In Week 2, against Seattle, Davis injured his hamstring and was unable to complete the game. He departed with 20 receiving yards and Kaepernick finished the game with only 127 yards passing to go with 3 interceptions. The 49ers lost 29-3.

Davis sat out the following week against Indianapolis. In that game, Kaepernick completed less than half of his passes, threw another interception, and was handed his first home-loss as a starter by a decisive score of 27-7.

In games with Vernon Davis, Kaepernick, has thrown 9 touchdowns and only 1 pic. However, without his favorite downfield target, he has thrown 5 pics and has not passed for-- or rushed for-- a single touchdown.

Many have been quick to dismiss these troubling statistics and point to the return of Michael Crabtree as the boost the 49ers need to overcome these woes and propel them into (and through) the playoffs. Without Crabtree, I'm told, Colin Kaepernick simply does not have the weapons around him to succeed, especially if Davis is out too.

Needless to say, I have my doubts.

Michael Crabtree may have not yet played in a game this year, but I know of another top-notch receiver on the roster that has not missed a snap all season long. His name is Anquan Boldin.

Remember me? (Harry How/Getty Images)

He has five 1,000 yard receiving seasons under his belt, and over the last ten years has averaged 1,016.5 yards per season. He has a Super Bowl ring (the one that could have been San Francisco's) and appeared in another with the Cardinals. Futhermore, he was a Billy Cundiff 32 yard field-goal away from his third Super Bowl in five years.

His history of success led many to believe he was the missing piece that the 49ers needed to secure a Super Bowl victory this year. Instead, he has seemed largely irrelevant thus far, and his numbers are the lowest since his second season in Arizona.

Meanwhile, in four years Crabtree has only surpassed the 1,000 yard marker once-- last season.

Is Crabtree really the answer? (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

It is not a lack of weapons that troubles the 49ers. It is their inability to utilize them.

63 Career TDs on the sideline
(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Last year the 49ers added two playmakers from the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants team. At the time of his signing, Brandon Jacobs already had a ring for each hand and had played a major role in those Super Bowl seasons. However, Jim Harbaugh envisioned a different role for Jacobs, and I still haven't figured out exactly what that role was. Jacobs tallied just 7 yards on 5 carries on the year before being released in December after venting his frustration on Twitter.

The 49ers also added WR Mario Manningham to their roster the year after he made one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history. His receiving stats in his first year in SF were the lowest since his rookie year, during which he recorded only 4 receptions in 7 appearances. He was injured toward the end of last season and appeared in his first game last week in the loss to the Panthers. One would think that the 49ers would be thrilled to have such a weapon back on the field. But after spending last season on the sideline, one also wonders what difference it will make.

Next on the list of underutilized offensive firestorms is former Oregon standout LaMichael James. The 2012 second-round pick has appeared in only 7 regular-season games for San Francisco, but was used in all three of their post-season games last year. Although he has been given opportunities as a kick-returner, he too has vented frustration about a lack of playing time. "I don't work at State Farm," he tweeted. "I'm not trying to be insurance."

5,082 yards and 58 TDs in 3 years at Oregon
(uwire.com)

Add his name to the growing list of offensive weapons that sit idly on the sidelines with pained expressions on their faces.

The 49ers have been able to run the ball all season long. They average 157.7 yards per game and are 4th in the league. Even in their defeats, the 49ers have managed over 100 yards on the ground against the top defenses in the league. If you can run the ball, you can dictate the tempo and control the game, especially with a defense as strong as San Francisco's. Contribution from a strong running game also takes pressure off the passing game and opens up the play-action pass.

Gore already has 700 yards and 7 TDs this season
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

They should not have to rely on Kaepernick's arm to win games for them.

And yet, the 49ers are heading into the Superdome to face Drew Brees and the Saints up only one game up in the wildcard race. That's about as tough a matchup as you can draw in this league, especially with such a small margin for error. 

Apart from Carolina, who heads into New England to face Tom Brady, the other wild-card chasers face very winnable situations: the 6-3 Lions host the 3-6 Steelers; the 5-4 Bears host the 4-5 Ravens; 5-4 Green Bay visits the 3-6 Giants; and 5-4 Arizona travels to face the 1-8 Jags. 

Vernon Davis is currently questionable for Sunday's showdown on the Bayou. However, the 49ers cannot rely on his presence to be the difference in the game, and will need to find a way to win if they hope to keeps their hopes for a title alive. 

San Francisco travels to New Orleans for the first time since last year's Super Bowl, and will no doubt have to deal with the tough memories of the loss. But if they do not figure out ways to utilize all of the weapons on their roster, their dreams of reaching the Super Bowl this year will be reduced to memories as well.

Praying for another chance (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Is Crabtree the answer? Will the 49ers find themselves playing in February? Is Harbaugh an idiot? Let me know what you think! Comment below...