For one night, the Saints running back from Chicago outshined the Bears running back from Louisiana. Thursday was Pierre Thomas' night, final score notwithstanding. It was the night the world could see how much better the Saints offense runs with Thomas as the primary back, and Reggie Bush as backup complementary player. The undrafted player is a better pro than the Golden Boy from USC. This seemed to dawn on Bush as he slumped further in his winter coat while nursing his knee injury for most of the second half.

It was hard not to think back to Week 17 of last season, when my man crush for Mr. Thomas began. He racked up over 200 total yards in a depressing loss in Chicago, showing power running and receiving ability. His arsenal was on display again Thursday. He scored twice, making eight TDs in five games. He rushed for 87 yards, and caught seven passes for 59 yards for a cool 33 points in PPR leagues. His game isn't flashy, but it's complete and effective. Much like Matt Forte. You start to wonder how Reggie Bush fits in behind Thomas moving forward, not the other way around. And you start to wonder how Bush will handle it all.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 12:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (24)

That was a big drive for Kyle Orton at the end of regulation Thursday night to send the game to overtime. If he doesn't drive Chicago 60 yards at the end of regulation, then draw a PI on Devin Hester in OT, it's an uncomfortable ten days in Chicago. The playoffs would look unlikely and perhaps so would Orton's future. He nearly threw that game away.

Now we won't remember the 40 attempts for 172 yards and two picks, the second of which was inexcusable in the fourth quarter. We'll forget that Orton's best plays were poor throws to Hester on long penalties. Instead, we'll remember the composed finish and the classic empty-handed spike. Winning ugly: Just Orton being Orton.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 12:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Peyton Hillis' amazing run as Denver's starter came to an abrupt halt earlier this week. Perhaps the most useful random waiver pickup of the season was no more. So does Hillis have the staying power of Earnest Graham and Ryan Grant from last season?

Continue reading "The future of Peyton Hillis" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

A few weeks ago, Andy Reid was mocked and pilloried from coast to coast for benching Donovan McNabb. I even got into the act in my day job as a wanna-be talking head on three and out. (Whatever Woody Paige has must be contagious through a TV screen, because I remember thinking I sounded like a jackass after the McNabb debate. I promised myself not to yell so much again.)

I'd like to apologize to Mr. Reid because the move worked. You could argue that McNabb's results don't have anything to do with his benching, but this is a results oriented business. You can't argue with the results. McNabb has played two smart games in a row, and the Eagles were not going to come from behind at Baltimore anyway.

I would guess the move got McNabb's attention and has helped. Both Ron Jaworski and Trent Dilfer thought McNabb would play looser after experiencing the low of getting pulled. They said this before the Arizona game, and have been proven correct. Whatever the reason is, Reid's benching may have helped turn Philly's season around. I think they are going to win out and get the last Wild Card spot. That is a team no one would want to play in January.

While I'm admittedly getting ahead of things, the Eagles are back in the Super Bowl hunt. Reid's decision looks pretty smart now.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Very exciting to get a good Thursday night game after the Raiders-Chargers debacle last week. The winner of the game still has legitimate playoff hopes, especially if Chicago wins. Below is video confirmation of my thoughts on the Bears-Saints. Watching it now, I have to admit that calling Lance Moore a WR3 wasn't quite accurate. Despite my misgivings, he's ranked in the top-20 in my initial rankings, which weren't complete at the time of taping the show.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I own Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward in my dynasty league. My wish for this weekend is that Jacobs doesn't even get on the team flight to Dallas. Tom Coughlin said Wednesday, after holding Jacobs out of practice, that the team will: "Do the smart thing," this week. "The thing which is medically recommended."

Giants fans don't want to hear it, but this is not a big game for them. Next week's game against Carolina looms much larger for home field advantage and the Giants are focused on January, not December. (Carolina would have to win two impressive road games to end the season and they haven't stayed within one score against a winning team on the road all year.)

Tom Coughlin also knows they don't lose that much going to Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw for a game. They can win with that backfield. Fantasy owners in PPR leagues should actually get a boost if they own Ward. Jacobs doesn't figure to get his normal workload if he plays. It's just a gut feeling, but the Giants have a lot to gain by playing it cautious with Jacobs. Mike Lombardi has the same gut feeling and his gut is smarter than mine.

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As Lance Moore owners like myself debate whether to start him at Chicago despite his recent downturn, keep this in mind: Chicago's pass defense isn't as bad you think.

Yes, it's "ranked" 28th in pass defense. But that's quite misleading. It's faced the most attempts in the league, and is actually ninth in net yards-per-attempt allowed. It has intercepted 19 passes, which is second in the league. Add it all up, and the Bears are a slightly tougher than average allowing fantasy points.

Continue reading "Bears pass defense isn't that bad" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)

So Clinton Portis isn't a huge fan of Jim Zorn right now:

"That's some BS to go out and say I don't know what's going on. When have I missed a meeting? Let me start missing meetings. Let me not come out and practice, let me sit my [butt] in the training room if I don't know what's going on. What am I standing outside for?"

Continue reading "Clinton Portis: No longer a Jim Zorn fan" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 05:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Since Chris Wesseling has all your waiver needs covered, Tiffany and I get an early start looking at some individual matchups for Week 15.

100K video is after the jump. Thank you all for your continued disdain.

Continue reading "The one where Tatum Bell returns" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Every week, I send some sneaky plays for the needy to NBC's PR department for part of a press release touting Sunday Night Football. When I remember, I post them here ... (If you made it this far, you probably aren't that needy. But the show must go on.)

Sammy Morris vs. Raiders: New England will try to control the clock to keep their injured and ancient defense off the field. It looks like a Sammy Morris game, rather than a Kevin Faulk one.

Dominic Rhodes vs. Lions: With Joseph Addai at less than 100%, Rhodes could finish off a convincing victory ala LenDale White in Tennessee.

Continue reading "Sneaky Week 15 Plays" »

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal at 01:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)