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Wednesday 26th July 2006
Pro Football Teams With Something to Prove
Pro Football Teams With Something to Prove
by Jim Feist
Frustration and failure can prove excellent motivating factors in sports. We see quality teams get beaten badly all the time, then bounce back the next game with a terrific performance with an easy win (and cover). This can also take place with teams that are off disappointing seasons. It may seem hard to believe now, but back in 2004 the Jaguars suffered a late season loss to the Texans, 21-0 (at home), that ruined any playoff hopes. Last season, Jacksonville was a very motivated team, going 12-4 and making the postseason. They didn’t want to repeat the late season disappointment of 2004.
A year ago in this column I pointed out that the Carolina Panthers had gone from NFC Champions to a sputtering 7-9 2004 season and might be primed for a focused, bounce-back effort. Jon Fox’s Panthers proved plenty last fall, returning to the NFC Championship game despite many injuries. When channeled properly, frustration can be focused into positive energy. Here are some NFL teams that may have something to prove in 2006.
Cowboys: Bill Parcells has a history of bouncing back after a bad season. After a 3-12-1 campaign in his first season as head coach with the Giants in 1983, his team was in the playoffs the next year, upsetting the Rams as a +5 dog. After a 6-10 season in 1995 in New England, Parcells’ Patriots were in the Super Bowl the next year. Dallas has a balanced team for 2006, one with an interesting blend of veterans and kids.
Parcells rebuilt the defense a year ago and Dallas ranked 10th in total defense. Offensive tackle Jason Fabini was a key free agent prize this offseason, providing help for veteran QB Drew Blesoe, WR Terry Glenn, young TE Jason Witten and RB Julius Jones. Oh, and Dallas brings in (gulp)….WR Terrell Owens! Owens is usually happy for one season before he implodes in a sea of self-importance, which bodes well for 2006. It will be fun watching Parcells, a master physchologist, deal with the childish Owens.
Colts: If any team could feel terrible after a 14-3 season, it's the Colts. They finally got home field advantage for the playoffs, and still choked in a stunning 21-18 home loss to the eventual champion Steelers (even after Jerome Bettis’ fumble tried to hand the game to Indy). Mike Vanderjagt’s FG attempt that was 500-yards wide right only added to the misery.
Dumping Vanderjagt was a good move and Indy was delighted to scoop up free agent kicker Adam Vinatieri and his 3-Super Bowl rings. RB Edgerrin James is gone, so they hope rookie RB Joseph Addai (LSU) can provide some backfield punch. With Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dwight Freeney, this is still a talented team capable of beating anyone. Indy was 7-1 SU, 6-1-1 ATS on the road last fall.
Broncos: You don’t often see the heat on a two-time Super Bowl winning coach, but that’s the case in Denver with Mike Shanahan. They needed a shut-down corner after getting wiped out by the Colts (41-10) in the 2004 playoffs – they got one, trading star RB Clinton Portis for CB Champ Bailey. Despite great stats, Denver then bumbled its way in a 10-6 2004 regular season only to get wiped out by the Colts again in the playoffs, 49-24.
Last year, more of the same: Great stats, hosting the AFC Championship game, only to watch jittery Jake Plummer fall apart in a sea of turnovers against the Steelers high pressure defense. Over the last five seasons the Broncos are 6-13 straight up and 8-10-1 against the number as an underdog.
Dolphins: What two teams come into the new season on the best winning streaks? The Super Bowl champion Steelers (7 straight wins) and Dolphins (6). Miami ended last season on a 6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS run. It was a fascinating offseason, too. The big story was the trade (or steal) for Vikings star QB Daunte Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler with Minnesota.
Culpepper had a terrible 2005 season with a season-ending knee injury, but this guy is 29-years old and in 2004 had 4,717 yards passing, 39 TDs and 11 INTs! RB Ricky “Up in Smoke” Williams is off to the CFL, so young workhorse Ronnie Brown anchors the backfield, while the defense allowed 3.7 yards per carry (7th best in the NFL).
Packers: Last round-up for the old man? QB Brett Favre will turn 37 before the second half of the season gets underway. Favre threw for 3,881 yards in 2005, though he was erratic with 20 TDs and a whopping 29 INTs. It was an injury-plagued season for Green Bay, though they finished 7th in total defense.
New coach Mike McCarthy takes over. He was the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator last season, and the 49ers were last in total offense, a fact that might make Cheeseheads say, 'We hired who?' He was also the Packers' QBs coach in 1999. Favre struggled in his only year with McCarthy, throwing 23 interceptions to 22 TDs. Sports bettors take note: The Packers have been overvalued in Lambeau Field at 7-10 SU and 4-12-1 ATS the last two seasons!
Source:OnlineCasinoNews
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