Posts tagged Drew Brees
International Series – Wembley Memories
Oct 21st
With this year’s Wembley game so close, we’re taking a look back at some of our previous Wembley memories. I’m taking a look at the shootout that was the Chargers @ Saints in 2008.
Wembley NFL Sunday… there’s really no other day quite like it, and it was just gone 10am when I set off from my house. The route to Wembley is a long one (the way I go), via Graham’s house then a lift to a suitable tube station.
Midday on matchday, it's pretty quiet
We arrived at Wembley in plenty of time and met up with Ant (Pats’ fan) and Dom (general good-time guy) before heading inside the tailgate party. This was the one disappointment of the day as the number of people in there simply meant there were queues for everything. Drinks, games, stalls, toilets, more drinks. We did manage to get a couple of beers in, but decided we’d head into the stadium before the game.
NFL 2010 Week 6 Guest Predictions
Oct 13th
Hi, I’m Chris and I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan (don’t boo!). I first started watching American Football at about 6 years old when Channel Four here in the UK used to air an early morning highlight show at the weekends. At the time the Cowboys were just putting together the roster that would go on to pick up three Super Bowl rings in four seasons. I quickly got hooked watching Emmit Smith avoiding tacklers and moving through holes in defences created by Moose Johnston while being amazed at the almost telepathic connection Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin seemed to have. I still continue to follow the Cowboys despite numerous let-downs and a constant barrage of abuse I get from all my Dallas-hating friends!
I’m taking a look at all the NFL games this week and making my predictions on each one.
Game Predictions
Miami Dolphins @ Green Bay Packers
Usually, I’d pick the Packers straight away for this one but, with doubts surrounding Clay Matthews, Jermichael Finley and Aaron Rodgers, I’m not so sure. Losing Ryan Grant has made the Packers offense one-dimensional and having the two key men in the passing game banged up will further hurt their chances, while the defense looked lost against Washington after their sack-machine Matthews departed. Miami’s main concern will be the performance of their special teams after they were destroyed by the Patriots in Week Four, but a new special teams coach and a bye-week to work on their problems could have sorted them out. Clay Matthews playing will be the key to whether Green Bay win or lose this one.
Prediction: Green Bay
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NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 6 Weeks to Go
Sep 21st
Oooh, 6 weeks!
Not long at all now until the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers run out at Wembley Stadium here in the UK as part of the NFL’s International Series. Those of you paying attention will realise that it’s less than 6 weeks by two days, but we had to wait as the 49ers were the Monday Primetime game this week.
So, it was home debuts for both teams last night with both teams 0-1 going into the weekend. Good showings from both teams, but different results…
Denver Broncos
Demaryius Thomas came in and make a big splash last night, showing the strength, speed and ability that made him a first round draft pick. Kyle Orton showed great control of the offence and the defence also turned up as the Broncos subdued the Seahawks to take the game.
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Week 1, 2010: Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints
Sep 7th
This season – as well as giving a consensus on all the matches – we’ll be taking a closer look at a few matches a week. I picked this match early on, Andrew and Graham will look at different matches later on this week.
What a way to open the new season! The Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints in a repeat of the NFC Championship match last year and a match which really was the definition of ‘epic’. It had everything… even overtime. So I think it is fair to say that as neutrals all of us at Mac are looking forward to seeing how this one plays.
You’ll have to excuse me, but it has been many months since I have written a prediction article! Let’s start by having a look at the Saints…
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First Look 2010… NFC South
Jun 10th
The run that the Saints went on took us by surprise. Indeed, from the pre- and off-season Graham and I both fancied the Panthers to be the err, big dogs of the division. As it happened, they were pussycats and the Saints went marching on and it’s now history. But enough of me murdering metaphors…
This NFC South has been particularly well balanced in recent years, with all four teams making the post season and each team has made the championship game and all but the Falcons made the Super Bowl since 2002. That could make things hard, but could make them fun too!
So let’s take a look…
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NFL Scouting Combine: Important Scouting Tool or Media Circus?
Feb 25th
The NFL combine is coming up this weekend in Indianapolis. Invited players will be measured, weighed and then run through a variety of drills and exercises, while NFL scouts and staff look on and take notes.
It’s worth noting that going into the combine, most teams already have their draft boards about 90% done. A big combine workout performance shouldn’t affect a player’s draft stock. This is a change from the past, mainly because there are a lot of workout wonders who just don’t make it in the NFL. Teams are starting to realise that if you base your draft decision on workouts that actually have little to do with playing football, you are dooming yourself to failure.
Longhorn Colt McCoy
Look at Vernon Gholston. A workout wonder at the combine, he was talked about possibly going first overall to the Miami Dolphins or second overall to the St.Louis Rams, but ended up going sixth to the NY Jets. In his first two years, Gholston has played 379 snaps and blitzed on 207 of those. Out of those 207 blitzes he has just 11 QB pressures and one QB hit, with no sacks. Effectively he is only getting pressure once every 18 or so times he rushes the QB. That’s just terrible, especially for such a high draft pick.
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Results, Week 1
Sep 15th
Thursday, 10th September
Tennesse @ Pittsburgh, 10-13
This was a tight, tight game and the Titans can walk out of Heinz Field with their heads held high. Well, maybe apart from Rob Bironas. Chris Johnson lit it up a couple of times, as did the Ben/Santonio connection. But the real stars were both defensive units, certainly against the run.
Anyway, we both called this one correctly.
Sunday, 13th September
Jacksonville @ Indiana, 12-14
Well, we thought that this would be a close game and so it proved! Jones-Drew looked good as the focal point of the Jags attack, and the Colts did enough but will need to show us more if we’re going to believe in them this year.
Detroit @ New Orleans, 27-45
Drew Brees put on another passing clinic, completing 6 TD passes to 5 receivers. Matt Stafford wasn’t quite as impressive, but did get the Lions moving when the running game was shut down. On the plus side, the Lions did put up 27 points which is more than in any game last year. There were signs, but there’s still work to do.
NFL News Round-up Monday 14th Sep
Sep 14th
A great night of football last night! It was a shame about the Gampass problems (for those that use it), lets hope they get it right for next week and give everybody some kind of compensation.
Philadelphia Eagles
Donovan McNabb suffered a broken rib during the game against Carolina. It is not yet known how long he will be out for, but Michael Vick must be getting on edge now.
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So Far In Pre-Season: Quarterbacks
Aug 18th
This is more of a digest than a full article, as the first week is out of the way and there have been a mixture of expected and interesting scores. None of which we’re particularly interested in at this point.
However, a lot of QBs from starter to third string and beyond got some playtime under their belts. Let’s see how the starters and positional battles are shaping up…
First Look… NFC South
May 8th
On paper the NFC South has the toughest schedule of any division. They’re matched against the ever-tough NFC East and the AFC East who all (well, nearly all) had really good 2008 seasons. Whilst the schedule strength is measured against last year’s performance, it’s still an indicator worth paying attention to.