PiPA NFL Reg. Season Review

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Best Moment: Week 9, National TV audience. What do you do? Blow the other team out of the water. 5 TD's for Big Ben, over 100yds for Santonio Holmes, and a monster block for Hines Ward.

Worst Moment: Losing to the New York Jets. That's all that needs to be said.

MVP: Mike Tomlin. He brought the 8-8 team that was a huge letdown after SB XL, up two wins and a Division Championship. Not bad for a rookie.

Next Year (Better or Worse?): I say, they'll stay around 10-6. Tomlin will know what to expect, Holmes will be improved. The only downside is their competition. If the Ravens return to form, along with the surprisingly good Browns, this could be a tough division.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
Best Moment: Beating the Cowboys in their own house in week 15.

Worst Moment: Roy Williams horse collar tackle on Donovan McNabb. Everyone was having flashbacks of T.O. getting injured the same way.

MVP: Brian Westbrook. He runs. He catches. He is the most important player on this team.

Next Year (Better or Worse?): I'm gonna go out on a limb and say worse. McNabb is not getting younger, the receivers are not getting better, and fans are not getting any happier.

Miami Dolphins (1-15)
Best Moment: Cleo Lemon's walk-off TD pass in week 15 against the Ravens, giving the Dolphins its first win of the season.

Worst Moment: The other horrendous 15 games. Or Ronnie Brown getting injured.

MVP: The fans. It takes alot of guts to go watch a team who hasn't won a a game in a couple of months. Congrats few Fin fans, there is always next year.

Next Year (Better or Worse?) Better. I mean they can't get any worse. Right? Cause they have draft picks and Ricky Williams will be with them for a full season.... Why don't I feel very confidant in this team?


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Best Moment: Tie. Michael Spurlock's Kickoff return for a TD. The first in Tampa History.
Ronde Barber Intercepts Jason Campbell in a key situation, that puts him number one in Buccaneer Franchise INT's.

Worst Moment: Losing the season opener against Seatle, which later cost them the tie-breaker against the Seahawks.

MVP: Ernest Graham. Started the season as the 3rd string RB, behind Carnell Williams and Michael Pittman. After both were hurt, he was not brilliant, but effective. After Pittman came back, and the Bucs got Michael Bennett from the Cheifs, Ernest was still the starter.

Next Year (Better or Worse): I want to say better (2 games were lost most likely because of sitting players for the playoffs). But I can't say that, so I'll go with no change.

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5)
Best Moment: David Garrard's Season. Everyone condemned the Jags for letting Byron Leftwich go. Garrard came, won, and conquered the Steelers.

Worst Moment: Fred Taylor not getting a Pro Bowl position. Never been to a Pro Bowl before. The announcement comes, and he's still not there.

MVP: This is too tough to give it too one guy. Fred Taylor and David Garrard. Taylor had the stats, Garrard didn't make mistakes.

Next Year (Better or Worse?): Better. The Super Bowl's the limit for this team.

Week 15: PA vs. FLA

Buccaneers:
Michael Spurlock did something Karl "The Truth" Williams, Aaron Stecker (now with the Saints), and countless other Kick returners could never do; return one for a touchdown. 1,865th time is the charm.
Tampa Bay also clinched the NFC South. Last year was horrendous with a 4-12 record, and an 0-6 division record. This season, for some inexplicable reason, they are playing decent football. They still have not lost in the division (Last game of the season is against the Carolina Panthers).

Dolphins:
A day for first in Florida. Tampa gets their first kick return and Miami wins. Once again the Dolphins were about to get their 7th loss by 3 points, when god must have felt sorry. Ravens miss the field goal; Cleo Lemon works his magic (anyone think that sentence would be uttered before this year?)
On the other side of the ball, what is happening to the Ravens? Two weeks removed from a near win against the undefeated Patriots, with the defense clicking, they get blown out by Indy and then become the answer to prayer against the Miami Dolphins.

Eagles:
This was it, if the Eagles were to only win one more game the whole year, this would be the game to win Philly fans would say. The Cowboys also had something to play for, or should I say Cowboy. Tony Romo's latest blonde was in attendance, and all was set for a Big D Blowout. Funny thing: that never got started, even funnier: Philadelphia came away with the W. Across the North East, workers in their cubicles will never hear the end of how Donovan McNabb stole one from Romo in his own house.
Another incredible thing also happened during the game: A player gave up a touchdown for the teams benefit! In an era where basketball player would shoot at their own basket to get that final rebound for a triple double, Brian Westbrook laid down at the one yard line to kill the clock and seal the victory. Could you see Terrell Owens do that, "And miss a chance to celebrate? No Way!". So I thank Brian Westbrook, thank you for thinking about the game, instead of you choreography.


Steelers and Jaguars:
Was that really the Pittsburgh Defense out there on Sunday? Or did the Oakland Raiders just put on some Steeler jerseys and go into the game for them? Seriously, if the Jags can do this to Pittsburgh, watch out. After seeing Fred Taylors performance, I was shocked to read that he has never been to a Pro Bowl. He has had 7 1,000yd seasons, including a 1,500 yd performance in '03.
These teams seem to be taking different routes to the playoffs: Pittsburgh is limping, while the Jags, with their two-headed monster of Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, are surging.

Standings
1.) Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
2.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)
3.) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5)
4.) Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)
5.) Miami Dolphins (1-13)

Florida is pulling away. Every team in the sunshine state won this week, including the Fins!

NFL WEEK 2

The NFL Opening Weekend has come and passed. My Buccaneers lost to the Seahawks, then beat division rivals Saints, while the hometown Eagles lost to both Green Bay and Washington. All the while the other state teams, Pittsburgh (2-0), Jacksonville (1-1), and Miami (0-2) had mixed reviews.

For my beloved Bucs, I still dont know if they're good, or if the Saints just aren't living up to last years amazing run. Jeff Garcia (an ex-Eagle) has proven that last year for him wasnt a fluke. While the defense is still middle of the pack (18th in points) They have taken steps to get younger, drafting Gaines Adams and getting rid of Simeon Rice. As much as I love the old time bucs of Alstott, Dunn, and Nickerson, they need to keep improving during the offseason.

The Eagles however, have a long season ahead of them. They will play the surprising 2-0 Lions (Will Jon Kitna actually be right?!), and a strong defensive team in the Bears within the next five weeks. Lets hope the upcoming bye week will be beneficial to them.

Palms in PA Standings

1.) Pittsburgh (2-0)-The Throwback unis wont even hold back Big Ben

2.) Tampa Bay (1-1)- The win against the Saints is getting the fans pumped (myself included)

3.) Jacksonville (1-1)- Atlanta helps improve this top 5 defensive teams.

4.) Philadelphia (0-2)- Where is A.J. Feeley??

5.) Miami (0-2)- Good luck trying to win this division with the invincible Patriots with a two game lead.

The Verdict:

Pennsylvania: The Steelers alone are enough to get them past FLA.