The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By Willie Mullen

The Playoff Picture

Here's my take on this morning's headlines:

• NFC: This Monday morning feels a whole lot different than the previous 14.  With losses by the Saints and Vikings, the gap that existed between those top two teams and the next three or four contenders in the NFC has seemingly closed.  Three weeks ago, the NFC was appeared destined for a Minnesota-New Orleans championship game but after week 15, that is no longer the case.  Sure, the Vikes and Saints will probably be the top two seeds in the playoffs.  And they are still the best teams in the NFC, for now.  But Philadelphia is on fire, having won five straight, and the Eagles offense is capable of scoring a lot of points on any defense. The Cowboys may have finally broken the curse of December and are dangerous without that monkey on their back.  Arizona, despite some recent struggles, is back in the playoffs and it was just over 12 months ago that the Cardinals stormed through the conference and came within minutes of winning the Super Bowl.  As far as the last playoff spot is concerned, the Packers are still in good position despite their last-second loss at Pittsburgh and they will be rooting hard for the Redskins to defeat the Giants tonight.  If the Giants lose, the six teams will be virtually locked in the playoffs with only some positioning to settle.  A Giants victory still leaves them hope of making a run.  Either way, after this weekend's action, the NFC is a much tighter race than it was just a few weeks ago.
• AFC: Meanwhile, the top two teams in the AFC (Indianapolis and San Diego) solidified their hold on those spots and are playing at extremely high levels.  New England was the biggest winner on Sunday as the combination of their victory and losses by Miami and the Jets have virtually locked-up the AFC East.  Cincinnati is still in good position to win the AFC North or at least make the playoffs in a worst case scenario.  The Broncos and Ravens are both 8-6 and control their own destiny.  Denver lost at home to the Raiders and have to travel to Philadelphia in week 16.  They are in a dangerous spot of surprisingly missing the playoffs after a 6-0 start.  The Ravens were also big winners as they were finally able to separate themselves from the pack.  Now at 8-6, the Ravens control their own fate but a loss in the final two weeks will open the door for one of the six 7-7 teams to make the playoffs.  It should be a great race for the last two spots in the AFC as multiple combinations involving five to six teams is possible.  In a surprising twist, week 15 actually confused the playoff picture more than it clarified the road to the Super Bowl.

The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By Willie Mullen

The Colts, Jim Caldwell & Peyton Manning

Here's my take on this morning's headlines:

• The Indianapolis Colts moved to 14-0 with a 35-31 win in Jacksonville last night.  Indy joins the '72 Dolphins and '07 Patriots as the only teams in league history to start a season 14-0.  Perhaps even more impressive, last night marked the seventh time this season the Colts have won a game in which they trailed in the fourth quarter, an NFL-record.  With games remaining against the Jets at home and Buffalo on the road, 16-0 looks like a real possibility for Indianapolis, unless they decide to rest Peyton Manning and the rest of their starters.  Perfect record aside, last night the Colts showed a full arsenal of reasons why they should be considered heavy favorites to hoist the Lombardi trophy.  Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL.  Reggie Wayne is a flawless route runner and gets enough opportunities because Dallas Clark owns the middle of the field.  The defensive line is as deep as any in the league.  The secondary, although young and inexperienced, came up with a big interception to seal the victory.  Their special teams contributed with a kick return for a touchdown.  Sure the defense allowed 31 points but you have to remember they were playing on the road against a desperate Jacksonville team playing a must-win game on a short week.  This would have been an easy game for the Colts to let slip away.  Instead, they found yet another way to win and are the best of the best in my opinion.
• First-year head coach Jim Caldwell intrigues me to the point where I felt I had to mention him.  He is off to the best start for a new head coach in the history of the NFL but here's where I question that record: are we sure Jim Caldwell does anything?  He has this look on his face for 99.9% of the game; the other .1% is when the victory is sealed and he takes off his headset and shakes hands.  Let's be honest: Caldwell is not running the offense, that's Peyton Manning's job with help from Tom Moore.  And I've never seen him open his mouth so he is probably not calling defensive plays.  There's a chance Jim Caldwell does not really do anything and is along for a historic ride.  But the better guess is Caldwell has an advanced understanding of the coaching in the modern NFL.  Coaches in today's league have to be able to trust their assistants and divide responsibilities to run an effective operation.  Look at the Washington Redskins: with head coach Jim Zorn calling plays, the Skins averaged 13.6 points per game; since Zorn hired Sherm Lewis to run the offense, the team has scored 22 points per game.  Time will tell what kind of coach Caldwell will be but the early returns have been nothing short of spectacular.
• Speaking of spectacular, Peyton Manning is quickly ascending to a place no NFL player has gone before.  Last night, the three-time MVP threw for 308 yards and four touchdowns (his lone interception was a tipped ball that should have been caught).  Through 14 games, Manning has thrown for 4,213 yards and 33 touchdowns.  And while the competition for MVP is extremely high this season, Manning appears to be on his way to a record fourth MVP award.  Peyton is having his best season in an incredible career, showing an unnatural ability to rally from deficits and lead scoring drives regardless of time or situation.  Last night, NFL Network announcers Bob Papa and Matt Millen talked about the Jaguars leaving too much time on the clock for Manning to come back - when the Jaguars were trailing by four with 1:30 left and the ball at their own 40 yard line.  That's the kind of respect Manning commands.  If Peyton leads the Colts to a Super Bowl title (not to mention a perfect record), the conversation about Manning being the greatest quarterback in NFL history should begin and rightfully so.

NFL - Week 15 Preview & Picks

By Willie Mullen

NFL Week 14 Preview & Picks

Last Week (ATS): 9-7

• Indianapolis Colts -3 (13-0) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6)
• Preview: The Colts have secured the top seed in the AFC playoffs so health will be their number one priority over the next few weeks.  Jacksonville, coming off a tough loss to the Dolphins, still controls the sixth spot in the AFC and play must-win games the rest of the season
• Fantasy: Indy's offensive stars are starts each and every week but, with nothing to play for, some starters should see reduced action.  Given the situation, Jack Del Rio would be wise to give Maurice Jones-Drew as many touches as possible.
• Window Play: I don't think Jacksonville will make the playoffs but I also think the loss that will break their season will be next week at New England.  Jags +3.
• Prediction: Jacksonville 20 - Indianapolis 17
• Dallas Cowboys (8-5) @ New Orleans Saints -7.5 (13-0)
• Preview: New Orleans looks to lock-up the top spot in the NFC in their return to the Louisiana Dome following two tough road games at Washington and Atlanta.  The Cowboys cannot afford to lose their third game in a row as their grip on the final NFC playoff spot is weak at best.
• Fantasy: Something tells Sean Peyton will be more cautious than normal with the number of drop-backs by Drew Brees and, with Mike Bell battling injuries, Pierre Thomas should get ample opportunities to put up big numbers.
• Window Play: Based on the fact most of their December losses are heart-breakers, Dallas +7.5 should be the right play.
• Prediction: New Orleans 28 - Dallas 24
• Atlanta Falcons (6-7) @ New York Jets (7-6)
• Preview: Atlanta still has an outside chance at the playoffs but need to win out and get a lot of help to play past week 17.  The Jets are one of four teams at 7-6 in the AFC and a loss in a winnable home game would be devastating.
• Fantasy: Atlanta struggles against both the run and the pass so the Jets offense could be in for a nice day.  I'll say Braylon Edwards catches a key touchdown pass in a low-scoring game.
• Window Play: No lines because of the uncertain status of Matt Ryan and Michael Turner.  The swing with or without Ryan should go from -3 to -6.  
• Prediction: New York 17 - Atlanta 10
• San Francisco 49ers (6-7) @ Philadelphia Eagles -9 (9-4)
• Preview: The 49ers were very impressive on Monday Night Football, forcing seven turnovers and holding Arizona to just nine points.  Mike Singletary's group will need more of the same if they hope to slowdown Philly's red-hot offense.
• Fantasy: Philadelphia is averaging 30 points per game over their last five games and they should come close to that number again on Sunday.  All the Eagles' receivers should have big games against a Niners secondary that has age and speed issues.
• Window Play: Nine points scares me a little bit but I just don't think San Fran matches up well with the Eagles at all.  I'll lay the points.
• Prediction: Philadelphia 27 - San Francisco 13
• Houston Texans (6-7) @ St. Louis Rams (1-12)
• Preview: Houston has not been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs but their season is over. The Rams season was over in August.
• Fantasy: Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson will connect for another huge day.  The Rams offense is horrendous so the Texans defense should be a solid play as well.
• Window Play: Again, no lines because of the Rams quarterback situation.  I can't figure out why it would matter which crappy Rams quarterback will play.
• Prediction: Houston 34 - St. Louis 13
• New England Patriots -7 (8-5) @ Buffalo Bills (5-8)
• Preview: While the division race has felt as though it was over a long time ago, the Patriots hold just a one game lead over the Dolphins and Jets in the AFC East.  The Bills almost beat New England in week 1 and could be a huge spoiler with an upset Sunday.
• Fantasy: Something about the New England offense is not clicking.  Sure, Brady and Welker will put up fine numbers but the unit does not seem to be in sync as a whole.  I'll stay away from the Patriots and go with the best running back on the field, Fred Jackson.
• Window Play: I have been wrong on the Patriots all season long so, lucky for Pats' fans, I will take the points.
• Prediction: New England 24 - Buffalo 20
• Chicago Bears (5-8) @ Baltimore Ravens -11 (7-6)
• Preview: The Bears are just going through the motions while the Ravens are battling for a playoff spot.  Baltimore got mentally healthy last weekend against the Lions and should beat up on another NFC North foe.
• Fantasy: Ray Rice and Willis McGahee have been fantasy studs all season and should have another good day against the Bears.  I also like Bears TE Greg Olsen to have a big game in an otherwise disappointing year.
• Window Play: Baltimore should handle the Bears but Chicago should keep it closer than 11.
• Prediction: Baltimore 27 - Chicago 21
• Miami Dolphins (7-6) @ Tennessee Titans (6-7)
• Preview: The Dolphins are my pick to take the sixth spot in the AFC playoffs.  Chad Henne has played fantastic, Ricky Williams found a time-capsule and they are well-coached enough to prevent Chris Johnson from single-handedly ruining their season.
• Fantasy: The running backs will shine is this matchup but I think Chad Henne will have a great game against the leagues second-worst pass defense.
• Window Play: Third game this week with no line because of a question mark at quarterback (Vince Young).
• Prediction: Miami 21 - Tennessee 20
• Cleveland Browns (2-12) @ Kansas City Chiefs -1 (3-10)
• Preview: This is a huge game...for draft position.  The Browns have to be impressed with Brady Quinn since his return to the starting lineup.  Meanwhile, the Chiefs have very little to be impressed with.
• Fantasy: Kickers Ryan Succop and Phil Dawson may be the only players to put up points.
• Window Play: Kansas City has lost three straight and Cleveland is coming off a big win against their hated rival so I'll take the point and go with the "hot" team.
• Prediction: Cleveland 12 - Kansas City 9
• Arizona Cardinals -12.5 (8-5) @ Detroit Lions (2-11)
• Preview: The schizophrenic Cardinals are a win away from winning the NFC West and they will likely face an offense led by Daunte Culpepper.  The Lions hope they can build on their winning season (two wins are better than none).
• Fantasy: Larry Fitzgerald hurt his knee against the 49ers so Anquan Boldin should be Kurt Warner's go-to target.  And with Tim Hightower's case of the fumbles, Beanie Wells will get a lot of carries against one of the league's worst run defenses.
• Window Play: It'd be easy to give-up on betting the Cardinals because you never know what to expect.  But coming off a brutal performance, it fits Arizona's style to rebound with a huge win.
• Prediction: Arizona 40 - Detroit 13
• Oakland Raiders (4-9) @ Denver Broncos -14 (8-5)
• Preview: With Bruce Gradkowski out, the Raiders turn to Charlie Frye under center.  The Broncos are in great shape to make the playoffs but cannot afford to slip-up against the lowly Raiders.
• Fantasy: The Raiders' game plan will pit Nnamdi Asomugha against Brandon Marshall so do not expect another 21-catch for the Broncos top receiver.  Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter will both find the end zone.
• Window Play: The Broncos will take a step closer towards clinching a playoff birth with a win on Sunday and I think they will cover the two touchdowns.
• Prediction: Denver 31 - Oakland 12
• Cincinnati Bengals (9-4) @ San Diego Chargers -6.5 (10-3)
• Preview: The Chargers continued their hot-streak with a win in Dallas last Sunday and look to make it nine straight wins this weekend.  Cincinnati has to regroup from a big loss at Minnesota and an even bigger loss with the tragic death of wide receiver Chris Henry.
• Fantasy: Philip Rivers and the San Diego passing game may struggle against Cincy's shutdown corners.  Chad Ochocinco will be all business playing in honor of his late friend and fellow wide receiver Slim Henry.
• Window Play: No one is a bigger believer in the Chargers than I am.  That being said, either Cincinnati will be emotionally drained come Sunday or they will rally together and put forth a great effort.  I hope for the later so 'Who Dey' +6.5 is once again my underdog of the week.
• Prediction: Cincinnati 24 - San Diego 23
• Green Bay Packers (9-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers -1 (6-7)
• Preview: The Packers are playing for playoff position at this point as it would take a huge collapse for them to miss the post season.  The Steelers saw their season end in disappointing fashion last Thursday and will be playing for pride the last three weeks.
• Fantasy: Green Bay's defense has made life miserable for opposing offense's but Pittsburgh has the weapons to pull off the upset.  Heath Miller has quietly put together a nice season and look for Big Ben to look for his TE over the middle of the field with Charles Woodson and Co. taking away the outside.
• Window Play: The Pack have won five straight and a loss at this juncture may not be the worst thing for the team.  Pittsburgh has one more good game left in them.
• Prediction: Steelers 20 - Packers 17
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-12) @ Seattle Seahawks -6.5 (5-8)
• Preview: Both of these teams are not good and this should be the dog game of the weekend.
• Fantasy: Seattle will be able to score so Matt Hasselbeck is a good play I guess.
• Window Play: Josh Freeman has been terrible lately and Seattle still has a good home field advantage, no matter how bad they are, so I'll take Seattle -6.5.
• Prediction: Seattle 24 - Tampa Bay 3
• Minnesota Vikings -9 (11-2) @ Carolina Panthers (5-8)
• Preview: The Vikings are pretty much set in the number two seed in the NFC so, like the Saints and Colts, health is the most important thing for Minnesota going forward.  John Fox has to hope his guy show up the last three weeks or he will be looking for a new job come January 4th.
• Fantasy: Brett Favre has turned Visanthe Shiancoe into a pro-bowl player and the tight end should should grab touchdown catch number ten this weekend.
• Window Play: The Vikings made a huge statement in dominating the Bengals and are back on track following the loss to Arizona.  Vikes -9.
• Prediction: Minnesota 34 - Carolina 14
• New York Giants -3 (7-6) @ Washington Redskins (4-9)
• Preview: The Giants have to win out and have Dallas lose if they want to get back to the playoffs for the fifth straight year.  The Redskins continue to play well despite their record and have to enjoy the opportunity to play spoiler for their NFC East foes.
• Fantasy: Carson Palmer, David Garrard, Kyle Orton, and Joe Flacco.  Those are some of the quarterbacks with a lower QB rating than Redskins QB Jason Campbell.  The fifth-year pro is having his best season and the Giants cannot stop any passing game right now.
• Window Play: Will the Giants stay alive for one more week or is this the final nail in the coffin?  I've seen the Redskins lose too many close games to give them the win but they will cover.
• Prediction: New York 23 - Washington 21

The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By Willie Mullen

Chris Henry & Vinny Cerrato

Here's my take on this morning's headlines:

• Tragic news in the NFL this morning as Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry has died of injuries resulting from a fall from the bed of a pickup truck.  Henry, 26, was on injured reserve with a broken arm but prior to the injury he was having a very solid year for the Bengals.  The wideout had a rough start to his career with off-the-field issues that led to him being cut in 2007.  But Henry matured and got his life back on track, making today's news even more troubling.  Now the Bengals organization has to cope with this tragedy while continuing their charge to the playoffs, a difficult situation for any NFL team.  Unfortunately, this is a situation many teams have had to face before.  Violence off-the-field seems to be more prevalent in the NFL than in other sports.  In 2007, Denver Broncos defensive back Darrent Williams was gunned-down in a drive-by shooting and, several months later, Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died after being shot during home invasion.  I was living in Washington DC at the time of Taylor's death and witnessed first-hand the impact a death has on a team, organization and community.  The Redskins rallied in honor of Taylor to make the playoffs and hopefully the Bengals can do the same.  There is no better way to remember Henry (or Slim as he's known around the league) than playing hard as a team and trying to win a championship.  
• In other NFL news, Redskins GM Vinny Cerrato has resigned.  Cerrato was hired by the team for a second time in 2002 and team posted a 52-65 record under his watch.  While Vinny was in the unenviable position of having to work for Daniel Snyder, he has been criticized for his lack of ability to identify talent and for wildly overpaying for talent in the wrong places.  Much of Cerrato's questionable signings have resulted from pressure from Snyder, who fancies himself a football man with no evidence to back-up this belief.  With Cerrato gone and head coach Jim Zorn headed out at the end of the season, the door is open for Snyder to do what he does best: throw a lot of money at a big name and hope it works out.  While the idea of being both head coach and general manager is sure to appeal to Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher, one has to question whether or not guys like that would want to work for Snyder.  After all, when Joe Gibbs retired in 2008, the Redskins were unable to find a coach and were forced to promote Jim Zorn, whom they hired as offensive coordinator.  Snyder is too hands-on and needs a "yes man" more than anything else.  Something tells me Cowher and Shanahan are not "yes men".  If money alone is not enough to lure one of the Hall-of-Fame coaches to the nation's capital, Washington is likely to find themselves in the same situation they were in during 2008.  If that is the case, several more years of mediocrity are sure to follow.

Week 15 preview and picks later today.

NFL - Week 14 Power Rankings & Awards Watch

By Willie Mullen

Week 14 Power Rankings

1. Indianapolis Colts (1) 13-0 - Another week, another win for the Colts.  It will be interesting to see how Indy handles their starters now that they have clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs
2. New Orleans Saints (2) 13-0 - What's the only thing better than two 13-0 teams in the NFL?  Both of them playing prime time games before Sunday's full-slate
3. San Diego Chargers (3) 10-3 - Eight straight wins for the Chargers and a victory Sunday over the Bengals would pretty much secure the #2 seed in AFC
4. Minnesota Vikings (4) 11-2 - As nice as it was to see Adrian Peterson rebound from a sluggish outing, the biggest news for Vikings fans in Sunday's win was the return of corner Antoine Winfield (9 tackles, saftey, forced fumble)
5. Green Bay Packers (5) 9-4 - The Packers look for their sixth straight win against the struggling Steelers on Sunday and are close to clinching a playoff birth
6. Philadelphia Eagles (8) 9-4 - The offense is really firing on all cylinders and the Eagles control the NFC East
7. Cincinnati Bengals (6) 9-4 - The Bengals were blown-out by a much stronger Vikings team and face another tough test this week at San Diego
8. New England Patriots (12) 8-5 - The Pats move-up despite a lackluster performance against Carolina; questions about the severity of Tom Brady's injured ribs are starting to surface
9. Arizona Cardinals (7) 8-5 - It was an ugly night for the Cardinals in San Francisco but fear not Arizona fans, the Lions are up this week
10. Denver Broncos (9) 8-5 - The Broncos showed some good fight coming back from 21-down in Indy as Brandon Marshall set an NFL-record for receptions in a game (21)
11. Dallas Cowboys (10) 8-5 - They played well enough to beat the Chargers on Sunday but lost and this team just cannot catch a break in December
12. Miami Dolphins (13) 7-6 - Huge win on Sunday over the Jaguars but the Dolphins have to keep on finding ways to win if they want to make the playoffs
13. Baltimore Ravens (16) 7-6 - The Ravens are locked in a tight battle with the Miami, the Jets and Jacksonville for the sixth spot in the AFC playoffs; luckily they get the Bears on Sunday
14. New York Giants (11) 7-6 - Sure injuries have hurt but the Giants defense is a shell of its former self
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (14) 7-6 - Jacksonville still controls the six seed but their playoff chances are on the line Thursday night when they host the undefeated Colts
16. New York Jets (19) 7-6 - The Jets have quietly kept themselves in the playoff picture with wins in three straight games
17. Tennessee Titans (15) 6-7 - The Titans may very well be the best team in the league that does not make the playoffs
18. San Francisco 49ers (20) 6-7 - Michael Crabtree's production through his first eight games project to a 75 catch, 945 yard, 4 TD 16-game rookie season.  Not bad at all.
19. Atlanta Falcons (18) 6-7 - Mike Smith has his team playing inspired football despite missing their two offensive leaders
20. Houston Texans (22) 6-7 - Why does this team always seem to play great football once they are out of the playoff race?
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (17) 6-7 - The story of the 2009 Steelers' was perfectly summarized in their 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night
22. Carolina Panthers (21) 5-8 - With games against the Vikings, Giants and Saints remaining, 5-11 is a real possibility for the Panthers
23. Washington Redskins (25) 4-9 - Their next two games are at home against the Giants and the Cowboys so the Skins should have a lot of influence on the NFC playoffs
24. Chicago Bears (23) 5-8 - On a team lacking play-makers, it's hard to understand why Devin Aromashodu (8 catches, 76 yards, TD) played sparingly prior to Sunday's game against Green Bay
25. Buffalo Bills (27) 5-8 - At least the Bills are not giving up on the 2009 season under interim coach Perry Fewell
26. Seattle Seahawks (24) 5-8 - Matt Hasselbeck fumbled three times and threw an interception Sunday at Houston and the Seahawks desperately need offensive line help
27. Oakland Raiders (26) 4-9 - JaMarcus Russell replaced Bruce Gradkowski and showed no ill-effects from being benched, returning to his old-form with ease (10/16, 74 yards, 1 INT)
28. Kansas City Chiefs (29) 3-10 - Jamaal Charles had a great day Sunday (181 total yards, 1 TD); Matt Cassel did not (4 INTs)
29. Cleveland Browns (31) 2-11 - Cleveland never struggles to get ready to play Pittsburgh but let's see if they can keep up the intensity against two bottom-feeders (Chiefs, Raiders)
30. Detroit Lions (28) 2-11 - The Ravens set team records for yards and rushing touchdowns and tied a team record for points Sunday against the Lions.  Yikes.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30) 1-12 - Josh Freeman (0 TDs, 8 INTs) is having some big-time rookie struggles the last two weeks
32. St. Louis Rams (32) 1-12 - I bet you cannot name the Rams starting quarterback last Sunday.  Give up?  Keith Null.

Awards Watch

MVP - Peyton Manning (Drew Brees, Chris Johnson, Philip Rivers)

Off. Player - Chris Johnson (Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, DeSean Jackson)

Def. Player - Charles Woodson (Jared Allen, Darren Sharper, Patrick Willis)

Off. Rookie - Percy Harvin (Hakeem Nicks, Michael Crabtree)

Def. Rookie - Brian Cushing (Clay Matthews, Jairus Byrd)

Coach - Marv Lewis (Josh McDaniels, Jim Caldwell, Sean Payton)

The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By Willie Mullen

Monday Night Football, Roy Halladay, The Red Sox and Tiger Woods

Here's my take on this mornings headlines:

• The Arizona Cardinals, one of the hottest teams in the league over the last five weeks, failed to realize they had a football game to play last night and got smacked by the San Francisco 49ers 24-9 on Monday Night Football.  Is there a better way to describe the Cardinals than schizophrenic?  Shame on me for expecting anything different from this team.  After all, the last two seasons for Arizona have been plagued by inconsistency.  Just when it looks as though they have rounded a corner to become serious contenders, the Cardinals go out and score nine points while committing 11 penalties and seven turnovers and do not even resemble a playoff team.  It must be difficult being a Cardinals fan as you have no idea what to expect from your team on a week-to-week basis.  Luckily for Arizona, they play the two-win Lions next week followed by the one-win Rams so they should still win the NFC West.  But consistency has to be head coach Ken Whisenhunt's message over the final three weeks if the Cards have any hope of a deep playoff run.
• The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, pending a physical.  The deal to get Halladay coincides with another trade that sends Phillies lefty Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for prospects.  The easiest way to understand the exchange is this: the Blue Jays receive prospects from Philadelphia, the Mariners get Lee and the Phillies replace Lee with Halladay and replenish their own farm system with prospects from Seattle.  Also as part of the deal, Halladay agreed to a three-year contract extension worth around $60 million guaranteed.  Let's analyze this trade team-by-team and see who got the best deal:
• Philadelphia
• Both Lee and Halladay are elite pitchers and former Cy Young winners but clearly the Phils think Halladay, who is 13 months older than Lee, is the better option for the next few seasons
• One reason is because Halladay has been the best right-handed pitcher in baseball since 2002 while Lee, prior to spectacular 2008 and 2009 campaigns, was sent to Triple-A ball in 2007
• Halladay is also baseball's best "innings-eater" and, with questions in their bullpen, the Phils believe Halladay will help cover-up the teams' biggest shortcoming
• Lee is very similar to Cole Hamels, the teams' #2 starter, so the Phils feel a Halladay-Hamels 1-2 punch is a better match-up against balanced offensive teams
• The Phillies may have received indications that they would not be able to sign Lee to a long-term contract
• Overall, Halladay is the better pitcher of the two and should feast on National League line-ups; the trade is a net-gain for Philadelphia, the question is how drastic of an improvement is Halladay over Lee
• Toronto
• Clearly the Blue Jays had to move Halladay and are now in full-scale rebuilding mode
• The Jays did not want Halladay to stay in the American League and liked the prospects Philadelphia had to offer
• The only question for Toronto is could they have received a better offer from the Phils or another team later in the offseason
• Seattle
• Adding Lee is a huge move for Seattle; I believe that anytime you can exchange big-time prospects for a big-time proven commodity, you make the trade and the Mariners did not hesitate to follow that formula
• As far as the 2010 season goes, Seattle has put themselves in a position to contend in the AL West with the divisions' best 1-2 rotation, Lee and 2009 AL Cy Young runner-up Felix Hernandez
• Hernandez is looking for a new contract so signing him to a long-term extension is priority #1; if they can find room to extend both Hernandez and Lee, the Mariners pitching staff will be in great shape for the next few seasons; if Lee wants to test free agency, it is possible he may be traded yet again during the 2010 season
• In the end, the Mariners appear to be the biggest winner in this transaction as they now have two outstanding starters and a good chance at keeping them both for the near future
• In other baseball news, the Boston Red Sox have signed two free agents, pitcher John Lackey and outfield Mike Cameron.  Lackey has been the ace of the Angels' pitching staff for the last five seasons and should benefit greatly from joining Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and the rest of Bostons' rotation.  The starting five should make up for any offensive struggles the Red Sox may have and Lackey helps close the talent-gap between the Sox and the Yankees.  Although he will turn 37 in January, Mike Cameron continues to be a productive player.  He will play great defense and hit home runs but his signing means the end of the Jason Bay era.  Does Mike Cameron, Jacoby Ellsbury and JD Drew sound like a World Series outfield to you?  I didn't think so.
• Tiger Woods announced he will take an indefinite leave from golf amidst his personal hurricane-of-unfaithful-hell and unrelenting media scrutiny.  Bad, bad news for the PGA Tour.  No Tiger means very little interest.  But let's not blow this announcement out of proportion.  Tiger Woods is chasing Jack Nicklaus' record for major victories and it would be incredibly surprising to see him sit out a major championship during his prime.  My guess is that his indefinite leave will end sometime in mid-March, allowing Tiger just enough time to get back in form for the Masters to make a run at green jacket number five.

NFL Week 14 recap and power rankings later today.

The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By Willie Mullen

Monday's Reaction to Sunday's NFL Action

Here's my take on yesterday's games:

• The Bears were officially eliminated from the playoffs with their 21-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers.  Since losing Super Bowl XLI, Lovie Smith has put together a 21-24 record with exactly zero playoff appearances and, barring a miracle, that record should get worse over the next three weeks.  Lovie and his coaching staff (particularly offensive coordinator Ron Turner) have shown no ability to best utilize the talents of a quarterback like Jay Cutler.  Sure Cutler has made some bone-head throws this season but he has been put in a position in which few quarterbacks would succeed.  The play-calling is comical, the offensive line is pathetic and Cutler has completely regressed with the Bears.  But wait, there's more.
• Jay Cutler aside, the Bears continue to play undisciplined football.  Yesterday they committed 13 penalties for 109 yards and a few of those penalties negated big plays.  Blown assignments and wrong personnel on the field have also plagued this years team.  Not to mention Lovie Smith has absolutely no idea when to challenge a ruling and how to manage timeouts and the game clock.  Still not there.
• GM Jerry Angelo, Lovie Smith and the Bears really, really struggle in assessing talent.  Coming into the season, they felt good about the safety position and balked at signing over-the-hill veterans like Darren Sharper or Brian Dawkins, both of whom are big play-makers on resurgent, playoff-bound defenses.  They have tried to mix-and-match Al Afalava, Kevin Payne, Daniel Manning, Craig Steltz, Nathan Vasher and Josh Bullocks all season with no success.  The team continued to start LT Orlando Pace despite the fact that he looked more like a stadium-entrance turnstile than a future Hall-of-Famer.  Angelo traded the Bears second round pick (their only selection in the first 64 picks) for Gaines Adams, an offseason project that leaves the team without a first or second round pick in what should be one of the deepest drafts in recent memory.  Maybe it makes sense because Angelo only drafts "busts" in the early part of the draft.  And on a team desperately in need of help at the wide receiver position, it took until Week 14 for WR Devin Aromashodu to make his first extended appearance on the field.  Aromashodu, the player Jay Cutler singled out in training camp because the two had developed great chemistry, responded with eight catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.  Sure could have used a big wideout like Aromashodu all season long.
• Fire them all.  Jerry Angelo, Lovie Smith, Ron Turner, everyone.  Except special teams coach Dave Toub.  He can stay.  But everyone else has to go.  This franchise is headed in a dangerous direction and needs a major shakeup.  Hopefully it happens before Jay Cutler gets ruined beyond repair.  Hopefully.
• Aside from the Bears, Week 14 looked like this:
• From Thursday night: In their two wins this season, the Cleveland Browns have scored a total of 19 points and completed eight passes
• Charles Woodson continued his push towards Defensive Player of the Year
• The Saints survived again, this time against a scrappy Atlanta Falcons team missing their star quarterback and running back
• Indianapolis dominated the visiting Broncos early but Denver made things interesting in the second half.  But just as when Denver cut the lead to five in the fourth quarter, Peyton Manning led a 14 play, 80-yard touchdown drive that consumed more than seven minutes to put the Broncos away for good.  Can you say MVP?
• Are we sure Fred Jackson is the #2 running back in Buffalo?
• In case the NFL didn't get the message, the Vikings loudly reinforced their position as an elite team in a dominating 30-10 win over the Bengals.  Shame on me for picking against the men in purple.
• New England had to have the win but definitely did not look like Super Bowl contenders yesterday in defeating the Carolina Panthers.  Two Carolina players said Randy Moss shut it down.  Trouble in Beantown.
• Kellen Clemens played well in place of the injured Mark Sanchez.  The Jets have quitely won three straight and are still in playoff contention
• No team helped themselves yesterday more than the Miami Dolphins  With the win, the Dolpins are in the driver's seat for the sixth spot in the AFC playoffs.  Considering the Fins are 6-0 in December under coach Tony Sparano, my money's on them to hold on to the final spot.
• It was a huge fantasy day for the Baltimore Ravens and they kept pace with the Dolphins.  It's hard to believe 54 players were selected ahead of Ray Rice in the 2008 draft.
• Mathematically the Texans are still alive in the playoff race but they need a lot of help.  Matt Schaub threw for 336 yards in the first half.
• The 2009 fantasy season will be remembered as the Year of Chris Johnson.  And from the look of things, we may be saying the same thing about the 2010-2015 fantasy seasons' as well.
• How about the Redskins offense since the arrival of Sherm Lewis?  The team is averaging 29 points per game over their last three contests.
• Philip Rivers is now 17-0 in the month of December.  Tony Romo is now 5-10 in the month of December.  Hate to see anyone leave on a stretcher, especially a player like DeMarcus Ware.  Luckily for the 'Boys...
• The Eagles and Giants put on a show to end Sunday's festivities.  Philly prevailed and pretty much locked-up a playoff birth.  It's hard to believe 48 players were selected ahead of the Eagles remarkable play-maker DeSean Jackson.  The only thing Jackson cannot do is make Andy Reid look cool.
• The Cowboys control the sixth spot in the NFC playoffs with the Giants breathing down their necks.  Both teams have tough games remaining so it should be a great race.

The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By Willie Mullen

The Steelers, Thursday Night Football, Cincinnati Bearcats and Tiger Woods

Here's my take on this morning's headlines:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers will not repeat as Super Bowl champions.  In fact, the Steelers will not even return to the playoffs following last nights 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.  Pittsburgh entered this season with hopes of another deep playoff run but things just went wrong for Mike Tomlin's crew.  When a team as talented as the Steelers has a disappointing season, it's pretty easy to pinpoint what exactly went wrong.  Here are three reasons the Steelers are 6-7 and will be watching the postseason:


• It's really, really hard to play every week as the defending champs.  When the schedule comes out, teams circle a game with the Steelers because it is their chance to prove themselves to the rest of the league.  When you are the best, you get everyone's best game and the Steelers faced "A-games" all season long.
• The biggest issue with last year's team was the offensive line and that group was not much better this season.  Sure, Ben Roethlisberger tends to hold-on to the ball a little long but he has been under pressure virtually every time he dropped back to pass.  Against the Browns, Ben was sacked eight times.  It's safe to say the Steelers will use their first round pick on an offensive lineman.
• Most importantly, injuries are the great equalizer in the NFL and the Steelers had to overcome huge losses.  Defensive end Aaron Smith was lost for the season in October and he is the best lineman on the roster.  Both Big Ben and Hines Ward have been banged up.  But the injury to Troy Polamalu is the biggest of them all.  Polamalu put on one of the season's best performances in the first half of the Steelers' opening game but hurt his knee and has played sparingly since Week 1.

              Pittsburgh will be back next season ready to make another run at championship #7.  Until then, Indianapolis and New England will battle for "Team of the Decade" honors.

• The NFL has to reconsider Thursday Night Football, Thanksgiving Day aside.  Teams are simply not ready to play four days after a game.  Some of it has to do with a lack of preparation time but the main reason is health.  How can the NFL realistically expect a running back to take a 40-carry pounding in the span of four days?  Players' bodies need more than four days to recover and the result is an average product on the field.  Thursday night has given us these dandies: 13-6, 24-17, 19-13 and 13-6.  Furthermore, teams struggle on the back-end of a Thursday game, as 10 days is too long of a lay-off.  Following the first two Thursday night games, the four teams combined to go 0-4 and just 2-5 if you include Thanksgiving Day.  Maybe this season has featured lousy teams but anyone who watches a Thursday game can tell you the quality of the game does not compare to the Sunday version.  I enjoy an early start to the NFL weekend but there has to be a better alternative.  If the NFL waited until the end of the college football season, it could have four Saturday night games and they could even do a double-header.  TV ratings in general are low on Saturday night but I'm confident plenty of NFL fans would tune-in to watch a far better product.

• It sounds as though the Cincinnati Bearcats feel betrayed by former head coach Brian Kelly.  Several team leaders sounded-off last night following the teams' awards banquet and few had kind words for the new Notre Dame coach.  "Before our big game...to have [Kelly] turn his back on us after we've come this far, the player's are disappointed," said TE Ben Guidugli.  "We were the one's out there playing every snap, [Kelly] was just calling the plays," added DL Alex Daniels.  It's easy to understand their resentment as the coach "abandoned" the team before their BCS game against the Florida Gators.  But it is unfair to blame Kelly; after all, this is how the system works.  The time between now and the end of bowl season is extremely important for recruiting purposes so Kelly did what he had to in order to put himself in the best position to succeed at Notre Dame from day one.  It's not fair to the young men who have worked so hard to be left without a coach before their biggest game but that is way college football operates in 2009.  At least Cincy star wide receiver Mardy Gilyard reminded us what college football is all about when he said, "College football is a business but Cincinnati is still Cincinnati without B.K."  You're right, Mardy.  Coaches and players come and go but the university marches on.

• My buddy Alan sent me a story about the Tiger Woods saga that is worth passing on.  Popular blog Deadspin shed some light on the lifestyle of pro athletes and, while it is not overly surprising, the "it won't happen to me" attitude of public figures never ceases to amaze me.  I'm sure you will enjoy the story...if you can get past the picture at the top of the article.  

NFL - Week 14 Preview & Picks

By Willie Mullen

NFL Week 14 Preview & Picks

Pittsburgh Steelers -10 (6-6) @ Cleveland Browns (1-11)
          Preview: The defending champs enter tonight's game on a four-game losing streak and have to get a on a serious roll if they want to make the playoffs, a difficult task minus the services of all-world safety Troy Polamalu.  The one-win Browns continue to make appearances on National TV much to the dismay of everyone, Browns fans included.
          Fantasy: With fellow wide receiver Hines Ward doubtful for tonight's game, Santonio Holmes will receive extra attention from the Browns defense, which isn't saying much.  Either way, Holmes will also get more targets from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and should find the end zone for the third straight week.
          Window Play: Cleveland has been terrible all year.  However, Brady Quinn has not thrown an interception in three games and the weather should be nasty so I'll take the Browns and the 10 points.
          Prediction: Pittsburgh 24 - Cleveland 17

New Orleans Saints -10.5 (12-0) @ Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
          Preview: The Saints are firing on all cylinders and survived a scare in Washington last week to remain perfect.  Atlanta's season has gone south with injuries to Matt Ryan and Michael Turner.
          Fantasy: No defense has scored more points this season than New Orleans and their eight return touchdowns are twice as many as the next team.  Without Ryan and Turner, the Saints defense should feast on an Atlanta offense that failed to score last week until the last play of the game.
          Window Play: It's hard to imagine Atlanta staying within 14 points of the mighty Saints so lay the points.  The under (50) also looks good. 
          Prediction: New Orleans 30 - Atlanta 10

Green Bay Packers -3 (8-4) @ Chicago Bears (5-7) 
          Preview: The Packers finish their season on the road three of four games so a win against a very beatable Chicago team will go a long way to securing a playoff birth.  You would think the Bears will bring their A-game with a chance to play spoiler for a division rival but this team has given inconsistent effort all season long.   

          Fantasy: Facing bad weather conditions and a Bears defense that will focus on slowing down Aaron Rodgers and the Packers receivers, Ryan Grant could be in for a big game.  The Bears rank 25th in the league against the run.  

          Window Play: The Bears offense is bad, the Packers have the #1 defense in the league.  The Bears defense is bad, the Packers offense is balanced and presents mismatches all over the field.  Packers -3, please.

          Prediction: Green Bay 24 - Chicago 13

New York Jets -3 (6-6) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-11)
          Preview: Kellen Clemens starts in place of the injured Mark Sanchez for the Jets as they look to keep their small playoff hopes alive.  The Bucs are looking forward to the opportunity to draft Ndamukong Suh.

          Fantasy: Tampa Bay ranks 31st in the league against the run and Jets RB Thomas Jones continues to defy his age with another impressive season.  Jones should run all over the hapless Bucs.

          Window Play: As long as Clemens doesn't turn the ball over numerous times, the Jets should easily cover the 3.

          Prediction: Jets 20 - Bucs 7

Miami Dolphins (6-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars -3 (7-5)
          Preview: The Dolphins stayed in the playoff hunt with a win over the Patriots last week and Chad Henne continues to look more and more like a quality NFL quarterback.  Jacksonville has benefited from a weak schedule and control their own destiny but will be challenged with the Dolphins, Colts and Patriots the next three weeks.

          Fantasy: Both teams will key on stopping the run so the quarterbacks should be in for a good day.  That being the case, I like David Garrard and Mike Sims-Walker over Henne and his receivers.

          Window Play: It's hard to judge the Jaguars because of the teams they've beat but the Dolphins did lose at Buffalo two weeks ago.  Still, Jacksonville has absolutely zero home-field advantage (except for Tiger Woods) and the Dolphins seem to play a close game every week.  I like the Dolphins to win outright and I'll take the 3 just for kicks.

          Prediction: Dolphins 17 - Jaguars 13

Detroit Lions (2-10) @ Baltimore Ravens 13.5 (6-6)
          Preview: The Lions travel to play a second straight AFC North opponent and this time they will start the game without QB Matthew Stafford.  The Ravens desperately need to win if they want to keep their playoff aspirations alive and Joe Flacco has to play better than he has over the last five weeks (2 TDs, 6 INTs).
          Fantasy: Baltimore figures to be in control from start to finish and that means lots of carries for running backs Ray Rice and Willis McGahee.  Rice will get the bulk of the yards but McGahee does get goal-line carries, making him a viable flex-option.
          Window Play: I like the Ravens to cover the two touchdowns but garbage-time could open the door for a late cover.
          Prediction: Ravens 28 - Lions 10

Seattle Seahawks (5-7) @ Houston Texans -6 (5-7)
          Preview: All you need to know about Seattle (from ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings): "What is the Seahawks identity? What does this team do exceptionally well besides kick FGs?"  Meanwhile, it's hard to believe the Texans have fallen so fast and head coach Gary Kubiak is a lame-duck.
          Fantasy: Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the league and, with nothing to play for, the Texans should throw the ball all over the field.  Seattle is ranked 25th in the league against the pass.  150 yards and 2 TDs for Andre sounds about right.
          Window Play: Seattle does not have the offensive firepower to stay in this game and if Kubiak has any chance of returning next year, he needs to make a statement.  Texans -6.
          Prediction: Texans 35 - Seattle 21

Denver Broncos (8-4) @ Indianapolis Colts -7 (12-0)
          Preview: With homes games against Oakland and Kansas City still on their schedule, the Broncos look to be headed toward a 10-win playoff appearance.  A win Sunday would cement their spot and make a big impression on the rest of the AFC.  The Colts continue to roll and Peyton Manning is playing better than ever.
          Fantasy: Denver's #2 ranked pass defense will be tested by Peyton Manning.  Manning is the best at taking what the defense gives him so one of the Colts pass-catchers will have a good day.  The question is which one.  My guess is Dallas Clark.
          Window Play: Denver is playing well but no one is playing better than Indy.  Still, Denver's defense should keep it close.  Take the points.
          Prediction: Colts 27 - Broncos 21

Buffalo Bills (4-8) @ Kansas City Chiefs -1 (3-9)
          Preview: The 3-9 Chiefs, fresh off a 44-13 drubbing at home against the Broncos, are one-point favorites over the Bills.  Enough said.
          Fantasy: Buffalo is surprisingly good against the pass but they are last in the league against the run.  Jamaal Charles was shaken up last week but will play so he is the best of the worst in this game.
          Window Play: Games like these go one of two ways: either the teams can't stop one another or their offenses become to inept to move the ball.  For that reason, I'd stay away from the O/U.  If I must choose, I'll take the Bills +1.  Only if I must.
          Prediction: Bills 14 - Chiefs 10

Cincinnati Bengals (9-3) @ Minnesota Vikings -6.5 (10-2)
          Preview: The two biggest stories of the season collide in this matchup as the, gulp, playoff-bound Bengals face the, double-gulp, Favre-led Vikings.  Should be a great game.
          Fantasy: If Jared Allen doesn't bring down the quarterback before he throws, the Vikings are susceptible in their secondary.  If Antoine Winfield does not play again (he's questionable as of now), Chad Ochocinco should be able to make a few plays and continue his terrific season.
          Window Play: Two teams that like to establish the run and play good defense should make for a close game.  The Vikings are coming off a big loss Sunday night in which they lost EJ Henderson for the season and saw their offensive line get banged-up all over the place.  Favre has been great at home but call me crazy: 'Who Dey?' plus 6.5 is my underdog of the week.
          Prediction: Bengals 23 - Vikings 20

Carolina Panthers (5-7) @ New England Patriots -13.5 (7-5)
          Preview: Carolina is out of the playoffs, locked-in to Jake Delhomme for 4 more seasons and do not have a first round draft pick.  Yikes.  The Patriots need to win to stay a game ahead of Miami and the Jets.
          Fantasy: Carolina is solid against the pass but few teams throw the ball as creatively and frequently as the Patriots.  Wes Welker leads the league in catches and Randy Moss leads the league in receiving yards.  Moss was sent home Wednesday for showing up late and I think he makes a statement Sunday.  Big games for Welker and Brady, but Moss is the star this week.
          Window Play: The Patriots always seem to put together a big game when they need to and Sunday is a great opportunity for them to show the rest of the league they are still serious Super Bowl contenders.  Matt Moore, subbing for the injured Jake Delhomme, will throw plenty of interceptions as well.  Weather may be the only thing that keeps Carolina within 20 points.  Patriots win big.
          Prediction: Patriots 42 - Panthers 17

Washington Redskins -1 (3-9) @ Oakland Raiders (4-8)
          Preview: It's hard to believe the Raiders have more wins than the Redskins but so goes the NFL.  Both teams have played well lately, surprising considering they were eliminated from the playoffs in Week 3.
          Fantasy: Both Tom Cable's job security and the Oakland receivers have benefited from the quarterback switch to Bruce Gradkowski.  But the Redskins defense is solid against the pass.  Still, Zach Miller will get targets and is a solid play at TE.
          Window Play: I would not touch this game with a 10-foot pole because that would mean I have to watch it.  Raiders +1.
          Prediction: Raiders 14 - Redskins 13

St. Louis Rams (1-11) @ Tennessee Titans -13 (5-7)
          Preview: It will be interesting to see how the Titans respond from last weeks loss.  They were on such a roll and believed they could make a run at the six-seed but now those dreams are lost.  Will they lay down and die?  Or will they show that same intensity and desire that carried them to five straight wins over the last four games?
          Fantasy: If you are in the playoffs and have either Steven Jackson or Chris Johnson, you have to love this match-up.  Aside from those two, Kenny Britt has thrived with Vince Young under center.
          Window Play: The Titans should cruise in this one so the spread looks like a safe play.  I'm not sure if the Kyle Boller-led Rams will score a lot so the under (41.5) could work too.
          Prediction: Titans 27 - Rams 7

San Diego Chargers (9-3) @ Dallas Cowboys -3 (8-4)
          Preview: If it weren't for Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, Philip Rivers would be the favorite to win the league's MVP award.  He has been incredible all season long and is the main reason for the Chargers current seven-game winning streak.  Romo and the 'Boys hope to break the December curse that currently haunts them but still have to feel good about their playoff chances.
          Fantasy: Both quarterbacks throw the ball a lot and love to spread it around.  The running games should find some lanes and find the endzone.  Classic shootout in Big D.  Start'em all.
          Window Play: The -3 line tells me bookmakers think this game is even.  No way I'm betting the Cowboys until they prove they can win in December.  And speaking of December, Philip Rivers is 15-0 in the last calendar month.  Chargers +3.
          Prediction: Chargers 31 - Cowboys 28

Philadelphia Eagles (8-4) @ New York Giants -1 (7-5)
          Preview: No game has higher stakes than Sunday night's Eagles-Giants match-up in the Meadowlands.  The winner gains the inside track in the race for the final playoff spot.  Philly's speed offensively will be a major test for the Giants secondary.  Was the Giants win over Dallas a sign of life or a blip on the radar?  Sunday night will provide the answer.
          Fantasy: With their playoff hopes on the line and the likelihood of bad weather, Tom Coughlin will go back to the formula that made the Giants an elite team.  Will Brandon Jacobs answer the call?  I say yes.
          Window Play: Maybe I was fooled by last weeks win but I think the Giants are still a very talented team with much to prove.  Maybe the Giants are the team that you wait for all season to get going and they never do.  I'll take my chances with the G-Men -1.
          Prediction: Giants 23 - Eagles 17

Arizona Cardinals -3.5 (8-4) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-7)
          Preview: Man, the Cardinals were impressive on Sunday night against the Vikings.  With each passing week, they look more and more like the team that came within seconds of winning the Super Bowl.  As long as Kurt Warner is healthy, Arizona is a contender.  After a promising start, San Fran has struggled to string together some wins.
          Fantasy: Kurt Warner has thrown 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last four games.  Expect much of the same from 38-year-old quarterback.
          Window Play: The only hesitation for taking Arizona would be the Monday night factor.  Teams usually are more excited to play in primetime and can sometimes swing a game based on energy and momentum.  Still, I think the Cardinals -3.5 is a good bet.
          Prediction: Cardinals 30 - 49ers 20