Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:52:52 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Aaron Schatz :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/authors/Aaron+Schatz istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/just-17-weeks-left-before-the-playoffs/84896/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST As we enter the 2008 NFL regular season, one question is on everyone's minds: Does the NFL regular season even mean anything anymore? For three straight years, a team has emerged as Super Bowl champion despite not owning one of the best records in the league. In two of those years, the team that won it all began the playoffs as the last seed in the conference. The Giants barely made the playoffs and had a regular-season turnover margin of minus-9, but went on to beat a Patriots team that many... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/duel-in-the-desert/70606/ Fri, 1 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Just one month ago, the Giants stood between the New England Patriots and history. The Giants played their best game of the season, but the Patriots came back from a 10-point deficit, won the game 38–35, and became the first team in NFL history to finish the regular season 16–0. The Giants took the momentum from that game and rode it on an improbable run through the postseason. In Super Bowl XLII, they get a second chance. A Giants win won't just stop New England from making history as the... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/rested-take-on-the-red-hot/69384/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST Four teams dominated the NFL over the first half of the season. Each of those teams declined somewhat in the second half, but each one won enough games to get the first weekend of the postseason off. Now each must defeat a challenger that has come on strong over the past few weeks. SEAHAWKS (11–6) at PACKERS (13–3) Saturday, 4:30 p.m., FOX Seattle and Green Bay are two teams that know each other very well and share a number of similarities. Both teams run Bill Walsh-influenced offenses, which... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/winningest-wild-card-weekend/68960/ Fri, 4 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST Not a single team in the AFC South or NFC East finished the 2007 regular season with a losing record, and those divisions provided all four of this year's wild card playoff teams. Jacksonville is the hot wild card team nobody wants to play, while Washington and Tennessee want to prove they didn't "sneak in" to the playoffs in order to quickly disappear. REDSKINS (9–7) AT SEAHAWKS (10–6) SATURDAY, 4:30 P.M. The first game of the weekend is all about feeling: Washington is riding an emotional... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/key-interconference-battles-highlight-week-5/64045/ Fri, 5 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EST NFL teams are rarely familiar with interconference opponents, since they usually play them just once every four years. This Sunday's NFL action, however, is highlighted by two interconference battles where teams share a bit of a history. SEAHAWKS (3–1) at STEELERS (3–1) Sunday, 1 p.m. Two years ago, Pittsburgh beat Seattle in Super Bowl XL thanks to a combination of big plays by the Pittsburgh offense, big lapses by the Seattle defense, and controversial calls by the officials. Both teams... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/denver-gets-another-shot-at-team-it-can-never-beat/63579/ Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST If you've been waiting for the right weekend to hit your favorite sports bar, wait no longer. NFL fans will want to be near multiple television sets to watch Sunday's best games, all scheduled for the late afternoon. BUCCANEERS (2–1) at PANTHERS (2–1) Sunday, 4:05pm The NFC South has been the most volatile division in football over the past few seasons, and this year is no exception. The big story is the collapse of the New Orleans Saints, but the resurgence of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is just... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/two-talented-young-defenses-draw-tough-assignments/63168/ Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST Green Bay and Houston are two of the more surprising of the NFL's early undefeated teams, and both teams are winning with young defensive talent. The Packers combine young players such as linebacker A.J. Hawk and safety Atari Bigby with talented players just entering their primes, such as linebacker Nick Barnett and defensive end Aaron Kampman. The Texans are building around four young stars chosen early in recent drafts: cornerback Dunta Robinson, linebacker DeMeco Ryans, defensive tackle... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/which-of-the-10-teams-are-for-real/62670/ Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST Sunday's NFL schedule features four games between undefeated teams, but in Week 2, not all undefeated teams are created equal. Certainly, very few fans are expecting defending champion Indianapolis to lose to Tennessee, even on the road. The other three games are a bit harder to call. TEXANS (1–0) at PANTHERS (1–0) Sunday, 1 p.m. Houston and Carolina each present a good example of why fans must avoid jumping to conclusions after the first week of the season. Since every team is 0–0, fans don't... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/bears-vs-chargers-highlights-week-1/62097/ Fri, 7 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST Now that the NFL has stretched out its first weekend with a game on Thursday and a doubleheader on Monday night, it can be hard to find opening games between two serious Super Bowl contenders. Sunday's best games feature three of last year's top teams, and a fourth team that threatens to return to the upper echelon in 2007. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at GREEN BAY PACKERS Sunday, 1 p.m. Except for the 2005 season, which drowned in locker room turmoil and a flood of injuries, the Eagles have... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/history-suggests-alexander-wont-return-to-mvp/62001/ Thu, 6 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST Last season was a nightmare for Seattle running back Shaun Alexander. The 2005 MVP broke a bone in his foot during the third game of the year and had to sit out for six weeks. He returned for the second half of the season, but despite a 201-yard game against Green Bay in Week 12, he clearly was not the same player he had been in previous years. When all was said and done, Alexander had dropped to 3.6 yards per carry and just seven touchdowns in 2006 from 5.1 yards per carry and a... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/all-roads-lead-to-arizona/61699/ Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EST In some ways, the story of the 2007 NFL season is the same as that of the 2006 season. Most of the NFL's truly good teams will fight for six playoff spots in the AFC, while a handful of mediocre NFC teams will sneak into the postseason. There was much movement in last year's standings, as teams like New Orleans and the Jets came out of nowhere to make the playoffs. That probably means there will be significant movement in this year's standings as well. Many teams — but not all — will rebound or... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-face-roster-holes-and-rumors-of-turmoil/49761/ Mon, 5 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST The NFL free agency period started on Friday, and all weekend the signings came fast and furious. San Francisco made Nate Clements the highest-paid defensive player in league history. The Patriots filled their hole at outside linebacker with highly regarded Adalius Thomas. The Jaguars filled their hole at right tackle with underrated Tony Pashos. Meanwhile, the Giants, a team with a multitude of holes, did nothing. The Giants went into the off-season needing help on the offensive line, depth in... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/big-play-potential-may-be-key-to-bears-victory/47911/ Fri, 2 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST There aren't a lot of hidden stories in Super Bowl XLI. The Bears have a strong defense and a weak offense. The Colts have a strong offense and a weak defense. The two head coaches are best friends, and they run the same defensive scheme. Peyton Manning is looking for his legacy, and Rex Grossman is looking for respect. The real hidden story is that the game itself is much more of a toss-up than most people realize. Each team has significant flaws, and whoever wins will rank among the least... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/bears-look-to-wreck-saints-storybook-season/47024/ Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST The first half of the 2006 season belonged to the Chicago Bears. The offense was powerful, the defense flawless. Even when the offense had an off night, as it did during a Monday night near upset by Arizona, the Bears could not be beat. That Arizona game was not an off night, however; it was a preview of what was to come. As quarterback Rex Grossman went from inconsistent to just plain awful, the Chicago offense imploded. In December, even the defense began to lapse. The Bears won their first... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/balanced-teams-make-for-great-matchup/46571/ Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST It's hard to imagine a better football matchup than New England and San Diego. Both teams are balanced: strong on offense, defense, and special teams. The Patriots were a slightly better team over the second half of the season, but the Chargers were more consistent over the whole year and have the home-field advantage. WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL If the Patriots beat the Chargers on Sunday, they can thank the Jets. The reason has to do with New York's midseason upset, not New England's... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/struggling-quarterback-in-spotlight/46576/ Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST Chicago stomped Seattle 37–6 on October 1, and on paper, it looks like the sequel should end in similar fashion. Football Outsiders' Defense-adjusted Value Over Average ratings (DVOA) — which break down each play of the season and compare it to the NFL average based on situation and opponent — ranked Seattle 25th overall, while the Bears were fourth. But the Bears haven't been the fourth-best team in the NFL in recent weeks, or even a top 10 team. That vaunted Chicago defense declined in... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/top-defense-encounters-top-offense/46592/ Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST It is the ultimate meeting of opposites: the best defense in the league, Baltimore, against the best offense in the league, Indianapolis. But not every matchup between these teams is so equal. The Baltimore offense is much improved over the second half of the year, and one strong game against Kansas City doesn't mean the Colts' defensive problems are gone. WHEN THE COLTS HAVE THE BALL Manning picked the Ravens apart when these teams played in the first week of the 2005 season, but the 2006... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/saints-week-off-may-be-the-difference/46594/ Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST Like Seattle-Chicago, this game is a rematch of a regular season game. But that game was not a blowout; it was a hard-fought, well-played battle, won 27–24 by New Orleans on a last-second field goal. The Saints and Eagles are as evenly matched now as they were then. WHEN THE EAGLES HAVE THE BALL Both teams rank among the five best offenses in the league this year, but they are not equal on defense. Philadelphia ranked 11th in DVOA, New Orleans 19th. But the Saints were also one of the least... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/expect-lots-of-offense-on-display-saturday/46170/ Fri, 5 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST Offense drives television ratings, and NBC could not have asked for a better wild card doubleheader than the one they're getting on Saturday: four teams with dynamic offensive stars and crumbling defenses. *** NFL broadcasts are promoted with simple, easy-to-hype storylines. Most of the time, these storylines focus on meaningless personality issues and dumb down the complicated strategic battle on the field. This is not one of those times. The Colts have the best offense in the league, but the... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/importance-of-week-17-in-the-nfl/45879/ Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST Week 17 in the NFL exists in a strange netherworld between preseason and postseason. Each year, more and more playoff teams rest their starters and render the final, regularseason game meaningless. Other teams are still fighting for the last few postseason spots with one eye on the scoreboard, hoping for the special combination of wins and losses that makes them victorious in the NFL's Rube Goldberg-designed tiebreaker system. Many of the complicated AFC scenarios depend upon Jacksonville at... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/titans-draft-picks-are-key-to-rebound/45814/ Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST Fans always expected that the Tennessee Titans would have something on the line when they hosted New England in the last week of the regular season. But when the Titans were 2–7, most people thought they would spend the final week playing for the no. 1 overall draft pick — not a playoff spot. Six straight wins later, the Titans are still a long shot to make the playoffs. Even if they beat New England, they also need Pittsburgh to beat Cincinnati, Kansas City to beat Jacksonville, and San... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/garcia-owens-meet-in-key-nfc-east-tilt/45634/ Fri, 22 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST Around the NFL Christmas Eve has plenty of games that are important to the NFL playoff picture: Bengals-Broncos, Giants-Saints, Jaguars-Patriots. But the biggest gift for NFL fans comes on Christmas Day with a nationally televised game that combines playoff implications with personality conflicts. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-6) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (9-5) (Monday, 5 p.m., NBC) When the Eagles sacked Drew Bledsoe seven times in a 38–24 October win, it was hard to imagine that this week's Eagles-Cowboys... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/defensive-standouts-who-wont-be-going-to-honolulu/45531/ Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST Every year, the NFL announces the Pro Bowl rosters in mid-December. And every year, the next day, reporters across the country write about which players were snubbed. But the Pro Bowl rosters are limited to a certain size. Not every player left off the Pro Bowl roster was "snubbed," but those lesser names having strong seasons still deserve attention. Here are five players who won't be at the Pro Bowl, but are excellent nonetheless, and rarely get attention from the national press. A quick note... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/in-afc-spotty-play-is-shifting-fortunes/45290/ Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST Around the NFL NFL seasons flow in different ways, as this weekend's biggest AFC games demonstrate. Tennessee is a team on the way up. Kansas City is a team on the way down. San Diego has been great all year, while Jacksonville has been great whenever biorhythms and astrology dictate it. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (8-5) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (6-7) (Sunday, 1 p.m.) It's been an up-and-down season for these two AFC South rivals, but in very different ways. Jacksonville's ups and downs have been mixed... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/several-wide-receivers-are-quietly-making-a-big/45162/ Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, Randy Moss — the NFL has no shortage of wide receivers making headlines. But some of the most effective wide receivers operate under the radar. Some are possession receivers who earn the tough first downs that keep the chains moving. Others are slot receivers who make a team's three-wide sets far more dangerous. Here's a look at some unheralded wide receivers having excellent seasons in 2006: PATRICK CRAYTON, DALLAS Like rookie sensation Marques Colston of the... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/new-faces-under-center-are-making-difference/44885/ Fri, 8 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST Around the NFL This weekend's two best games feature four teams with different quarterbacks than they had a year ago. Three of these quarterbacks are leading their teams to division titles. The other is hanging on as his team falls into a ditch. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-4) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (8-4) (Sunday, 8:15 p.m.) Both New Orleans and Dallas are surprise division leaders, and both have the same record. But the Cowboys are a well-rounded team, and the Saints are not. Football Outsiders'... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/afc-wild-card-race-is-for-the-taking/44437/ Fri, 1 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST The AFC division titles seem wrapped up, but the Wild Card spots are very much up for grabs. Will those places go to last year's playoff teams, Jacksonville and Denver, or a suddenly hot team like the Miami Dolphins? JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (6-5) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (5–6) (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. CBS) The Jaguars and Dolphins have been both good and bad this year. The difference is that the Dolphins were bad to start the season, and good over the past month. The Jaguars have looked dominant in some weeks... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/coming-up-empty-in-search-for-the-next-tom-brady/44392/ Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST This Sunday, Denver quarterback Jay Cutler will start his first NFL game. He is the last of this year's firstround quarterbacks to enter the starting lineup, and like Matt Leinart and Vince Young, NFL fans have been talking about him since before the season began. First-round quarterbacks get special attention long past their rookie seasons, as evidenced by all of the articles about the successful season of Philip Rivers, or the troubles of Eli Manning. But not every "quarterback of the future"... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/as-bears-roll-into-foxboro-rest-of-nfc-fights/44046/ Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST For the second straight year, the NFC playoff race features one team miles ahead and a group of competitors battling for spots two through six. Three games ahead of everybody else, Chicago can spend the last six weeks trying to fix its flaws before the postseason arrives, while the 12 teams with 4–6 wins fight for a chance to expose those flaws come January NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (5-5) (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Nine weeks ago, Atlanta pulled the short end of the NFL stick and had to... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/offensive-line-injuries-source-of-many-teams-woes/43942/ Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST Until two weeks ago, St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger was enjoying perhaps the finest season of his career. Through the first eight and a half games, Bulger completed 65% of his passes and averaged 7.9 yards a pass attempt, both among the top figures in the league. He had 13 touchdowns and had thrown just one interception all year. Then, in the second quarter against Seattle, Rams left tackle Orlando Pace tore a triceps muscle and was forced out of the game. The Rams went on to lose that game... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/cowboys-have-required-tools-to-upset-the-colts/43747/ Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST For the second straight year, the Indianapolis Colts have made it past the season's halfway point without a loss. Only three teams with winning records remain on their schedule, but Dallas may be the biggest obstacle between the Colts and a perfect season. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-0) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (5-4) (Sunday, 4:15 p.m.) By wins and losses, the Colts are far superior to the Cowboys, but a closer look shows two teams that aren't that far apart. Football Outsiders' Defense-adjusted Value Over... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/reggie-who-many-rookie-standouts-were-selected/43561/ Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST The entire football world was stunned the night before the 2006 NFL draft, when the Houston Texans announced they would pass on USC running back Reggie Bush to use the first overall pick on defensive end Mario Williams. Instantly, one of the biggest debates of the off-season became, "How much will Houston regret its decision?" Even those who expected Williams to become the more valuable player down the road admitted that Bush would have the better rookie season — after all, running backs... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/bolts-leading-the-way-in-afcs-most-competitive/43256/ Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST NFL MIDSEASON REPORTS - AFC WEST Before the season began, Football Outsiders projected that the AFC West would feature three of the five best teams in the NFL. The division hasn't been quite that good, but it still might send three teams into the playoffs. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6–2) According to play-by-play breakdown, San Diego, not Indianapolis, is the AFC's best team so far. The Chargers rank first in points scored and sixth in points allowed, and both of their losses were close games decided... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/peyton-reigns-supreme-but-colt-defense-shows/43191/ Thu, 9 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST NFL MIDSEASON REPORTS AFC South The rest of the NFL is known for rapid change, but the AFC South seems to be a surprise-free zone. One Houston win separates these four teams from the exact same records they had after eight games of 2005. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8–0) Close victories on the road in both Denver and New England have NFL analysts once again talking about a possible undefeated season for the Colts. But a closer look shows that while the record is the same, the Colts are nowhere near as... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/ravens-taking-advantage-of-steeler-and-bengal-woes/43155/ Wed, 8 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST The AFC North looked dangerous before the season began. The Pittsburgh Steelers were a threat to repeat as Super Bowl champions, the Cincinnati Bengals were poised to continue their rise as one of the NFL's top young teams, and the Baltimore Ravens were supposed to enjoy a defensive resurgence. Well, one out of three ain't bad. BALTIMORE RAVENS (6–2) Since 1999, the Ravens have never finished a season ranked lower than sixth in our defensive DVOA ratings. They have also never finished a season... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/new-england-and-the-three-dwarfs/43044/ Tue, 7 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST NFL MIDSEASON REPORTS - AFC EAST Many NFL analysts saw 2006 as the year the New England Patriots would finally stumble, passed atop their division by Daunte Culpepper-led Miami Dolphins. But Culpepper lost his job, the Dolphins collapsed, and the AFC East is once again New England and the Three Dwarves. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6–2) Last year at midseason, the Patriots were struggling at 5–3, with possibly the league's worst defense against the pass. But an easy schedule and the lack of real... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/manning-brady-collide-in-afc-grudge-match/42863/ Fri, 3 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST There are two big rivalry games on the NFL slate this Sunday, but the rivalries could not be more different. One is a geographical rivalry that matters more to fans than to players; the teams face each other every preseason but only once every four years in the regular season. The other rivalry is bitter both for the players involved and for two fan bases that despise each other. Two great quarterbacks lead teams with two opposing personalities that have met in both the regular season and the... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/for-chargers-a-gamble-at-quarterback-pays-off/42667/ Wed, 1 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST This past off-season, the Chargers had a dilemma. Would they re-sign Drew Brees, who had developed into one of the league's top passers and become the team's locker room leader? Or would they allow him to leave, handing their championship-quality team over to Philip Rivers, an unproven firstround prospect who had been taking up space on both the bench and salary cap for two years. General manager A.J. Smith's decision was made somewhat easier when Brees suffered a shoulder injury in the final... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/playoff-nemeses-battle-for-afc-supremacy/42413/ Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST The Indianapolis Colts offense is as potent as always. The Denver Broncos have allowed just 7.3 points a game, the lowest in the league. The winner of this battle of strengths will move into the driver's seat in the AFC playoff race. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-0) AT DENVER BRONCOS (5-1) (Sunday, 4:15 p.m.) The Broncos are 1–4 against Indianapolis since 2001; watch this game, and you'll hear a lot about the Colts eliminating the Broncos from the playoffs in both 2003 and 2004. When the Colts exposed... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/for-seahawks-super-bowl-losers-curse-is-alive/42209/ Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST It's well known among NFL fans that the last five teams to lose the Super Bowl have not even made the playoffs the following year. When Seattle began the year with three straight wins, it looked as if the Seahawks might break this infamous curse. But in the past few weeks, things have turned sour for the Seahawks. Seattle lost reigning MVP Shaun Alexander to a broken foot and was dominated in losses to both Chicago and Minnesota. To add injury to insult, the Seahawks lost quarterback Matt... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/steelers-skins-face-early-must-wins/41956/ Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST In the 2006 NFL preseason, only two teams were winless: Pittsburgh and Washington. It was a bit of a surprise since both were considered top Super Bowl contenders, but most observers wrote it off — after all, preseason doesn't count. Six weeks into the regular season, however, both teams are disappointments with more losses and wins.Tampa Bay is the only other 2005 playoff team with a losing record in 2006. If the Steelers and Redskins can't head out on the road and win Sunday, they won't be... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/bears-shouldnt-relax-after-dramatic-victory/41739/ Wed, 18 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST In the history of the National Football League, there have been few halftime scores as shocking as the 20–0 lead Arizona held on unbeaten Chicago two nights ago. And in the history of the National Football League, there have been few collapses as shocking as the one Arizona had in the fourth quarter, losing 24–23 to a Bears team that scored no offensive touchdowns and turned the ball over six times. Fans can continue to relive this wild game on sports radio and the Internet all week, but the... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/two-matchups-should-define-the-nfc-brass/41511/ Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST Sure, Chicago is undefeated, but what about the rest of the NFC? We'll learn more when four of the conference's one-loss teams play each other on Sunday. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-1) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-1) (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Not only are both of these teams 4–1, but each loss came by a single score. Nonetheless, play-by-play breakdown shows that the Eagles have been the superior team this year in every phase of the game except for field goals and punt returns. The biggest difference is on... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/mosss-chances-of-turning-things-around-look-bleak/41318/ Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST Two years ago, the acquisition of Randy Moss was supposed to herald a return to the high-flying, pass-heavy offenses of the Oakland Raiders' glory days. But it didn't quite work out that way.The 0–4 Raiders are now the NFL's worst team, their struggles exemplified by Moss's actions off the field and inaction on the field. After four games, Moss has just 12 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Although he never gained fewer than 1,200 yards in his first six seasons, he struggled with... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/to-circus-headlines-week-of-big-returns/41029/ Fri, 6 Oct 2006 00:00:00 EST This week's top NFL games are all about returns. Terrell Owens finally returns to Philadelphia after months of hype. San Diego returns home, hoping to bounce back from a disappointing loss in Baltimore. And Pittsburgh returns from the bye week hoping a week of rest can cure whatever is ailing their star quarterback. DALLAS COWBOYS (2-1) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-1) (Sunday, 4:15 p.m.) The problem in Philadelphia this week is not the absence of Terrell Owens from the lineup.The problem is the... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/four-unbeatens-look-to-stay-that-way/40621/ Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST The two biggest games of NFL Week 4 each match up two of the seven remaining unbeaten teams. They will be played on the first day of October, but these games may have major implications for playoff seeding in January. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (2-0) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-0) (Sunday, 1 p.m.) For the first two weeks of the season, these were the two most dominant teams in the NFL. San Diego won its first two games by a combined score of 67–7; Baltimore won its first two by a combined 55–6. But it's... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/division-rivals-all-20-set-to-face-off/40178/ Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST With so many marquee NFL games this week, the league may need to buy a bigger marquee. Two of the biggest feature undefeated division rivals. In both cases, a defending division champion faces the 2005 second-place team trying to unseat It. CHICAGO BEARS (2-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-0) (Sunday, 1 p.m.) The Bears and Vikings are both undefeated, but they are far from equal.The Bears were the better team last year, they had more positive indicators going into this season, and they've destroyed... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/several-unexpected-teams-are-20-but-are-they/40002/ Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST The early NFL standings are topped by the usual suspects: The Patriots, Colts, Bears, and Seahawks are all 2-0. But so is Atlanta, which collapsed in the second half of 2005. Baltimore is undefeated after a dismal 6–10 record last year.The biggest early surprise is undefeated New Orleans, coming off a 3-13 season It's easy to find cautionary tales where 2–0 starts turned out to be meaningless. The 2004 Lions won their first two games, but finished the year 6–10. So did the 2003 Bills, even... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/four-contenders-in-need-of-week-2-win/39714/ Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST Every year, the first week of the NFL season brings us some results that nobody expected. It's important not to jump to conclusions based on one game that a team could shake off as a random loss if it took place in November. But while one loss is easy to ignore, two losses are not.Over the past five seasons, only four out of the 40 teams that lost their first two games ended up making the playoffs. That fact brings extra urgency to two of Sunday's best games. Each one matches two teams that... AARON SCHATZ http://www.nysun.com/sports/fiscal-discipline-cost-pats-branch-and-possibly/39457/ Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST The ongoing dispute between the New England Patriots and wide receiver Deion Branch ended yesterday, as the Patriots dealt the disgruntled receiver to the Seattle Seahawks for their first-round selection in the 2007 draft. The trade ends one of the more ugly holdouts in recent memory. Branch was supposed to make $1.045 million on the final year of his original rookie contract, far below what he's truly worth as New England's top wide receiver.The Patriots were happy to offer a contract...