I can understand injuries since that is one of the unfortunate side effects of playing professional football. But, the effectiveness factor can be puzzling because it can be linked to the talent evaluators on the team, and that's never a good thing if you're a diehard fan of that team. It's not right if you cringe everytime the NFL commissioner walks up to the podium to announce the selection.
All in all, it appears that there is a serious shortage of NFL quarterbacks that you can hang your hat on these days.
Miami, Minnesota, Carolina, and Arizona have (or will have) been through three after Sunday which is Week 11. Atlanta can't make up their mind who to go with week after week. The NY Jets and KC (along with Miami) have made QB switches that appear to be them ushering in a new era but doing it in mid-season sometimes can backfire on you.
To summerize, it's very safe and fair to say that San Francisco, Miami, Minnesota, Baltimore, KC, Chicago, Atlanta, and Carolina aren't quite sure if their franchise quarterback is on their roster right now.
Other teams such as Jacksonville, Houston, Arizona, St. Louis, and Buffalo just have not been able to find chemistry and consistency from the QB position due to injury.
Denver, Tennessee, San Diego, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and New Orleans have quarterbacks that are simply not playing to their potential for a variety of reasons.
Now, let's look at those teams that have "Sherman Tank" QB's. New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Dallas, and Green Bay are a combined 39-6 and leading their respective divisions.
Ironically, all AFC division leaders have quarterbacks that were drafted by that team and have grown up in that house since Draft Day and have come into their own over time. That's the key. These teams have GM's and owners who have learned patience and home-grown their leaders.
All NFC division leaders have QB's that were either not drafted period or came from another team. It's mind-boggling that Tony Romo was not drafted by the Cowboys, but rather he was signed as an undrafted rookie. Brett Favre was drafted by Atlanta in 1991 and played two games (this just about doesn't count.) Tampa Bay is led by Jeff Garcia who is playing for his fifth team, and Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck was drafted by Green Bay in 1999 and was traded to the Seahawks in 2001.
Isn't it also interesting that the AFC has won 8 of the past 10 Super Bowls?
I guess it goes to show that patience and not being trigger-happy pays off in the end and that's hard to do in today's NFL. It also helps to have a staff of men who know talent when they see it.
I wonder if we'll see someone step up this week and take over as field general for years to come.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4) at Atlanta Falcons (3-6): FOX, 1pm EST - Both teams struggle in stopping the run, but Tampa's overall defense is ranked 6th in the league and should have no trouble vs. this tepid Atlanta offense led this week by Byron Leftwich. EDDIE'S PICK - TAMPA BAY
- NY Giants (6-3) at Detroit Lions (6-3): FOX, 1pm EST - These are two very similar squads each needing a win to stay within striking range of their division leader. Detroit's dangerous passing attack and their passion for creating turnovers mixed with the home-field crowd will probably be too much for Eli and Co. EDDIE'S PICK - DETROIT
- Arizona Cardinals (4-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-6): FOX, 1pm EST - If Cincy has a prayer for making any noise in their division, it has to start with a huge victory over an Arizona team that is struggling on the road or the Bengals just might flat line. EDDIE'S PICK - CINCINNATI
- Carolina Panthers (4-5) at Green Bay Packers (8-1): FOX, 1pm EST - Vinny Testaverde, 44, and Brett Favre, 38, combine this Sunday to become the oldest starting QB tandem in history at 82 years, 44 days. When Vinny made his NFL debut, the Cold War was still going on much like Carolina's icy passing attack these days. I expect the youngster to have another big day at home. EDDIE'S PICK - GREEN BAY
- New Orleans Saints (4-5) at Houston Texans (4-5): FOX, 1pm EST - In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans took DE Mario Williams for the #1 pick instead of Reggie Bush who next went to the Saints. This Sunday, they meet for the first time, and I expect Reggie wants to make a statement in front of the Houston crowd. However, the Texans get WR Andre Johnson back to face this porous Saints secondary. EDDIE'S PICK - HOUSTON
- Cleveland Browns (5-4) at Baltimore Ravens (4-5): CBS, 1pm EST - Much like Cincy, these two teams face a must-win situation if they want to have any hope of staying close to Pittsburgh and at least nab a wild-card slot. Kyle Boller is back as starting QB, and this will be Browns RB Jamal Lewis' first trip back to Baltimore since leaving via free agency last year. EDDIE'S PICK - CLEVELAND
- Miami Dolphins (0-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-5): CBS, 1pm EST - As the Man in Black would say, "I fell in to a burning ring of fire. I went down, down, down and the flames went higher. And it burns, burns, burns, the ring of fire... EDDIE'S PICK - PHILADELPHIA
- Oakland Raiders (2-7) at Minnesota Vikings (3-6): CBS, 1pm EST - You could hear worms crawl in Minneapolis when Adrian Peterson went down with a knee injury in Green Bay last week. This will be Daunte Culpepper's first time to play in Minnesota vs. his old team wearing another team's jersey. Something tells me that the Vikings faithful will not have a "prodigal son" welcome for him. EDDIE'S PICK - MINNESOTA
- San Diego Chargers (5-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3): CBS, 1pm EST - Both teams beat AFC South opponents last week, and those contests held the same amount of importance as this battle does. Thanks to the Chargers, J-town is nipping at Indy's heels along with Tennessee, and San Diego is now on top of the very weak AFC West. These two teams also each exhibit formidable defenses and strong running games while also having inconsistencies at QB. This will be a fun one to watch! EDDIE'S PICK - JACKSONVILLE
- Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) at Indianapolis Colts (7-2): CBS, 1pm EST - Watching Peyton Manning last Sunday night was like watching Old Yeller over and over. You can't help but love Manning and watch his football precocity as he directs his men in playing the game into which he pours his heart and love. Each interception, in his bids to stay in the game, was like a shotgun to the head of each drive. I feel a redemption game coming and this KC 21st-ranked secondary just might be the cure. EDDIE'S PICK - INDIANAPOLIS
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) at the NY Jets (1-8): CBS, 4:05pm EST - Jets QB Kellen Clemens said recently, "There's no questioning the heart or the desire or the work ethic of this team. We're just falling short." If the word "short" means scoring 159 points and giving up 228 this year, then I'd have to agree. EDDIE'S PICK - PITTSBURGH
- Chicago Bears (4-5) at Seattle Seahawks (5-4): FOX, 4:15pm EST - RB Maurice Morris gets the start for Seattle after coach Mike Holmgren told the gimpy and lame Shaun Alexander that he wasn't going to see any action on Sundays until he can practice for an entire week. This is probably good news for Seattle as they face a Bears defense that ranks 26th in stopping the run. Seattle was kicked out of the 2006 playoffs in the divisional round after Chicago's Robbie Gould kicked a 49-yarder to win it in OT. EDDIE'S PICK - SEATTLE
- St. Louis Rams (1-8) at San Francisco 49ers (2-7): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Two living nightmares collide by The Bay....sounds like a storyline for a Freddy Krueger vs. Jason movie. EDDIE'S PICK - ST. LOUIS
- Washington Redskins (5-4) at Dallas Cowboys (8-1): FOX, 4:15pm EST - This is probably the most storied and heated rivalry in professional sports, but it's lost a little bit of its luster and meaning as both squads have struggled in recent years. A Washington win vs. a powerhouse Dallas squad in Texas Stadium would definitely bring guts and glory back into this encounter. Dallas has won 10 of the las 11 contests at home. EDDIE'S PICK - DALLAS
- New England Patriots (9-0) at Buffalo Bills (5-4): NBC, 8:15pm EST - No one is talking about Buffalo, but they've won four straight since that riduculous loss to Dallas six weeks ago at home. Tonight, reality picks them up and body-slams them to the turf. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ENGLAND
- Tennessee Titans (6-3) at Denver Broncos (4-5): ESPN, 8:30pm EST, MNF - The MVP for each team just might be their kickers as Rob Bironas and Jason Elam have been instrumental in bringing their respective teams to where they are right now. Tennessee has won their last two road MNF games, and Mike Shanahan is 10-4 at home on Monday nights. EDDIE'S PICK - DENVER
STANDINGS
Bob Costas: 8-6, 95-49
Cris Collinsworth: 6-8, 94-50
Eddie Chinn: 6-8, 93-51
Cris Carter: 7-7, 91-51
Dan Marino: 5-9, 88-56
Sean Salisbury: 7-7, 87-57
Chris Mortensen: 7-7, 87-57
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