Rookie Ryan Tannehill Keeps Miami Dolphins Playoffs Hopes Alive

On Sunday, the Dolphins record was 4-6 with Seattle coming into town as a force in the NFC.  Tannehill has been shaky his last 3 games throwing 5 interceptions with an 0-3 record.  This was a must win in South Florida.  It started off as a defensive battle with the score 0-0 halfway through the second quarter, but Reggie Bush came through big with a 21 yard touchdown to put the Dolphins ahead 7-0.  Soon after, the Seahawks countered with a great play by Golden Tate to put it at the 5 on a key 3rd down.  Going into halftime, the score was tied, 7-7.  In the second quarter, Ryan Tannehill became the leading rookie passer in Miami Dolphins history passing the Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino.

With the Dolphins down in the 4th quarter, 14-7, Tannehill led the 'Phins down the field with a 8 play, 82 yard drive to tie the game at 14-14.  The very next play, Leon Washington of the Seahawks returns the kickoff for 98 yard touchdown.  Tannehill then proceeds to take Miami 80 yards where he connects with Charles Clay for 29 yards for a TD.  After a big defensive stop, the Miami defense gave Ryan T. the ball with a 1:32 left in the game, needing a field goal to win.  He goes 3-3 against one of the best defensive teams in the league, and marches down giving the Phins a chance to win.  Chris Carpenter knocked it through, and BOOM! The Dolphins playoff hopes are still alive.  

Next week, the New England Patriots visit the Miami Dolphins at 1 ET, with a huge divisional battle.  Dare we must say this is another must-win? We think so...

Play Like A Champion Today.

 
After Kansas State's and Oregon's stunning Saturday night upsets rearranged the rankings, Notre Dame(11-0) emerged No. 1 in the BCS standings for the first time in school history. Notre Dame needs only to beat struggling rival USC (7-4) to secure a spot in the BCS title game for the first time since the BCS system went into effect. With USC's star quarterback Matt Barkley out from an injury suffered in their rival game against UCLA, Notre Dame should be to beat the Trojans. Notre Dame, which last won a championship in 1988, has lost nine of the last ten against Southern California, their sole victory coming in 2010 when their new coach started.

Notre Dame also has a contender in the race for the Heisman Trophy. Linebacker Manti Te'o who surprised many by choosing to go to Notre Dame instead of USC when coming out of High School in Hawaii. Te'o is one of the best defensive recruits to recently select Notre Dame, with a totaled 324 tackles, 157 solo stops, 28.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. With Manti Te'o leading the linebacker corps for Notre Dame against a second string USC quarterback, Notre Dame should be able to secure a position in the BCS title game.

Packers At Lions Week 10 "Getting Their Groove Back"

Packers quater back Aaron Rodger threw a 22 yard touchdown pass to wid receiver Randall Cobb with 1:55 left in the game to give the Packers a 24-20 lead over the divison rival Detroit Lions. The Packers went on to record their fifth consecutive victory this season. The Packers are now (7-3) and only a half game back of the Chicago Bears in the NFC North division.

"Early on, we were trying to find the identity we had last year when we had an attitude that no one could stop us coming off our Super Bowl," receiver Donald Driver said. "Now, we got our groove back and we're ready to roll."

The Packers have won 13 of the last 14 games against the Lions, and have won 9 consecutive divisional games. The Packers ended up wining the game 24-20 on a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb that put the Packers up by 4 points with 1 minute left on the clock. the Packers held on to win the game. They moved up to (8-3) and beat their division rival at their home.

Are the Denver Broncos Strong Super Bowl Contenders?

Are the Denver Broncos Strong Super Bowl Contenders?

With Sundays win against the New Orleans Saints, the Broncos now have a record of 4-3, first in the AFC west division just ahead of San Diego Chargers who are now 3-4. After a two game winning streak, the Broncos look to keep it going. With what seems to be an easier schedule from now on, it seems as if Broncos are very capable of reaching the playoffs as an elite team. Denver now ranked number 9 in the power rankings is sure to be a team to be reckoned with.

Peyton Manning is surely living up to the expectations; he is throwing more than 300 yards for the past five games. With the tough schedule they faced in the first weeks of the season D. Thomas and E. Decker did not seem to show what they were capable of doing, but now they seem to be on the same page as Manning. D. Thomas seems to be the number 1 choice of Manning and is in the making of being a dynamic duo. Against the Saints, Thomas had a total of 137 receiving yards and a touchdown so we are sure to see more passes thrown to him now that he seems to have Manning’s trust. P. Manning is still showing that he is in tiptop shape. He was explosive in the passing game and was able to read the Saints defense like a book.

Let us not forget about the Bronco secondary team that held Drew Brees to only 213 yards when he was averaging 358 yards per game. Having controlled that offense, which is ranked number one in passing yards, to only two touchdowns is no easy task.

In my opinion, Manning has led these Broncos to become strong contenders to reach the Super Bowl. We hope to see more of the great #18 and continue this winning streak against the Bengals this Sunday. 

Give it to number 24 all day!



After a disappointing 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns today, the San Diego Chargers have now dropped 3 straight games. They started the season off hot with a 3-1 record, but are now sitting at 3-4 and are desperately trying to figure out how to turn things around. They had hoped to figure things out today against the lowly Cleveland Browns who came into today’s game with a record of 1-6, but again they struggled with turnovers and suffered their fourth loss of the season. Much of the blame for the team’s recent struggles has been on Coach Norv Turner and quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers’ 9 interceptions on the season ranks third most in the league and he is ranked 18^th in quarterback rating. These numbers show that he is simply not getting the job done, and it is time for a change. In order to right the ship the Chargers need to throw the ball less and rely more on their running game.

Ryan Mathews, the Chargers starting running back, is finally healthy and starting to show his true value to the team. Mathews was selected 12^th overall in the 2010 NFL draft out of Fresno State and was expected to play a huge role in the team’s offense. His first two seasons were marred by injuries, and he never got a chance to show what he can do. With health on his side now, Mathews has gotten his chance to showcase his skills. On the season Mathews is averaging 4.5 yards per carry, and over the last 3 games he has 336 total yards. Over the past decade the Chargers were successful when they were running the ball productively with LaDainian Tomlinson, but recently they have been trying to rely too much on quarterback Philip Rivers. Putting too much of the load on Rivers has shown to be unsuccessful. They need to go back to what has worked in the past and hand the ball off to their stud running back. Not many players in the league have the size, speed, and athleticism that Mathews possesses. He stands 6 feet tall, weighs 218 pounds, and runs a 4.5 forty yard dash. Watching some of his highlights in the following video you can see that he can be one of the best running backs in the league.

Mathews, number 24, has all the talent in the world and should be getting the ball 24-7! Please visit our online store to purchase your very own Mathews “All Day” t-shirts as well as many of our other fun football products. Go BOLTS! by: Mark Saverino

 

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Da Bears

The Chicago Bears have been playing in Chicago since 1921. They are one of the original founding teams of the NFL, being a part of the NFC North. The Bears also have nine NFL championships to their name and have the most enshrines at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with 27 members. The franchise also has the most recorded victories than any other team in the league, recording their 700th win on November 18th, 2010.

The Bears long history has come along with a strong fan base that stretches across the country, with a strong Bear's presence at all away games. The current Bear's offense is lead by Jay Cutler. Cutler comes out of Vanderbilt and has 7 years experience in the NFL, playing for the Denver Broncos before starting for the Bears.

The notorious Bears defense has returned this season, led by middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. The Bear's defense have generated five touchdowns in the last three games. Making the offense's job much easier in dominating the opposition. With 4 victories and only 1 loss, the Bears lead the NFC North as they come out of their bye week. Chicago plays the Detroit Lions, a division rival, on Monday Night Football. Hopefully, with the previous week off and a rallying defense, the Bears will pull off another victory this Monday night.

Green Bay

Do you know what a cheesehead is?

A "cheesehead" is a nickname for dedicated Green Bay Packer fan, and they are all over the nation.  The Packers are one of the most popular and well-traveled group of fans in any sport.  This might be due to Green Bay being the only NFL team not owned by a single person, but instead shareholders.  They had one of the most notorious names in sports for many years; Brett Favre. But nowadays, that name is long lost in the town of Green Bay...

There is a new sheriff in town, and his name is Aaron Rodgers.  After 23 teams decided not to draft Aaron, Green Bay took the risk, and it turned out very well.  He was a very solid quarterback coming out of University of California-Berkeley, but had a few concerns that doubted experts.  He was also expected to sit behind the almighty Brett Favre, and that might have been a blessing in disguise. Rodgers quieted critics 5 years into his career, and after only starting 2 seasons, he led the Green Bay Packers to there record 13th league championship in 2010.  He then followed his Super Bowl performance by winning the 2011 NFL MVP.  He is the most elite quarterback in the league today and is as good as a teammate as they get.  He is who you want leading your team.

The Packers started the 2012 season slow after a very disappointing 2011 playoff loss to the reigning champs, the New York Football Giants, but have come around.  As of today, Green Bay is 4-3 after a much needed win in St. Louis.  Green Bay completely embarrassed the undefeated Houston Texans last week, and needed to show the league there back today, which they did.  Green Bay might be the most scary 4-3 team anyone could think of.  We will see how they unfold, and hopefully its similar to two years ago.

If you are a Green Bay Packer fan, check out some shirts coming soon athttp://www.cafepress.com/shirtsforrealfootballfans.  One in the works will be "Favre Who? It's Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood"

By: Bobby Bruns

How bout them Cowboys? Week 7 vs Carolina Panthers

Coming off a loss to the ravens in week 6, the (2-3) Dallas Cowboys are looking to get back on track as they face the (1-4) Carolina Panthers in week 7. 

For the Cowboys, this is as close to a must win game as you can get at this point in the season. With tough games coming up against the Giants, Falcons, and Eagles, the Cowboys can't afford to lost their third straight game.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones still believes the Cowboys can contend for a super bowl this year."I'm not into everybody getting better, learning for years to come," Jones said. "It's this year."

All eyes will be on 2nd year quarter back Cam Newton, and his 30th ranked offense, as they attempt to rebound from a disappointment start to the season. After a great win in week 2, they panthers have struggled to stay consistent. 

Dallas is ranked number 1 against the pass however. Thanks in much part to their revamped secondary. The Cowboys have benefited by acquiring corner backs Brandon Carr, and Morris Claiborne from free agency, and the draft. They've also benefited from releasing old defensive players Terrance Newman, Alan Ball, and Abram Elam. 

The Panthers may have an answer however. Quarterback Cam Newton isn't afraid to leave the pocket, and is the teams leading rusher with over 200 yards this season. If the Cowboys cannot keep him contained in the pocket, it will put extra pressure on the Cowboy's secondary to contain tight end Greg Olson, and 12th year wider receiver Steve Smith. Cam Newton will however have to get past Cowboys line backer Demarcus Ware who already has 6 sacks this season. 

The Cowboys offense has relied much on the pass as they rank 13th on pass offense, but only 26th in rushing. If Tony Romo commits turnovers like he did in week 4 against Chicago, then the entire offense will suffer. The Cowboys are rank only 29th in scoring, averaging only 18.8 points a game. They will have to do a better job at converting yards to points to defeat the Panthers on Sunday.



The Cowboys ended up wining 19-14 on a game winning drive by Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Romo got the Cowobys within field goal range to get their 4th win of the season.  

 

For Football's Real Fans

What is a Bronco? It is a wild free-roaming horse that is a difficult animal to tame. What could be more frightening than a wild Bronco? A herd of broncos, led by a beast named Peyton Manning. A “bronco” that is difficult to tame by any NFL defense. Denver Broncos have always been a team to be reckoned with, with their two Super Bowl Championships in 1997 and 1998, 6 conference championships, 11 division championships, and 18 playoff appearances (one last year), compared to the Oakland Raiders who have not had a play-off appearance since 2002. In the past 10 years you could consider the Broncos the best team in the AFC west division. John Elway, one of the greatest quarterbacks, led the Broncos to five Super Bowls and winning two consecutively. This was the beginning of my admiration to this team.

With last year’s accusation of Tim Tebow the team had a lot of potential but they required a more experienced quarter back. This year with Peyton Manning, Denver fans have new expectations. We now have a team that in my opinion has a good shot at the Super Bowl. Manning will give the experience that this team needs when they make it into the playoffs. With him running the show and having a great selection of receivers like Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, they have the makings of being a potentially powerful offense showing in the next couple of weeks. With the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos in the AFC west division it is sure to be an exciting race.

If you are a Denver Broncos fan follow this link to purchase great custom-made merchandise for the whole family, from long sleeve shirts to tank tops, custom water bottles and iPhone cases. Broncos are now “Manning Up”!

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By: Jorge Lopez 

Welcome to the blog for football's real fans

WELCOME!

Thank you for visiting our blog. This blogsite was created by 5 students from California State University, Fullerton who share a common interest in football. Our goal for creating this blogsite was to provide an in-depth look into our favorite football teams in the NFL, as well as showcase some products we have created for real fans of football.

My name is Mark Saverino, and I will begin this blogsite with a look at my favorite team, the San Diego Chargers. Growing up in Orange County, California the Chargers are the closest team to this region. Over the past decade the Chargers have established themselves as one of the premeire franchises in the NFL, winning an average of 60% of their games with 5 Division Titles. They have consistently stocked their teams with exciting offensive players such as Ladanian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, and Antonio Gates. Coming into this 2012 NFL season, the team is once again primed to make another run at a division title.

A player that will have a great impact on the success of the Chargers fortunes this year will be veteran tight end Antonio Gates. Gates has been a star in the league since he first came into the NFL in 2003. He has been to 8 straight Pro Bowls, which is the All Star Game for football players. Not only is he an outstanding player, he is also a fan favorite in San Diego. If you watched todays game, Gates continued his outstanding play leading the team with 59 receiving yards. He always seems to find an open spot on the field, and is continually an open target for his quarterback. The first product we made is a shirt that says, "Gates always open". The link below will take you to our online store which will soon have many more products available. ENJOY

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