Why does Jets’ Darrelle Revis deserve to be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year? He is the major reason the Jets are ranked #1 in passing defense against and #1 in total defense. His ability to take on opposing teams’ best wide receivers, man-to-man, week after week, allows the Jets defense to play 8-up-front to stop the run. His ability to cover wide receivers while the Jets blitz makes them dominant, confident and successful.

And if that isn’t enough … Jets coach Rex Ryan insists CB Darrelle Revis has made a bigger impact this season than Ray Lewis ever did in Ryan’s time with the Ravens. Ryan pointed to Revis’ ability to change the way the whole defense plays by erasing No. 1 receivers. “I was going to be subtle about this, but if he’s not the NFL defensive player of the year, something is wrong with the system,” Ryan said.

His 2009 regular season stats include 47 tackles, 7 assists, 6 interceptions with 1 returned for a TD. In post-season play he had 1 interception wihile shutting down the Bengals star WR Chad Ochocinco (or is it Johnson).

Darrelle’s durability is also one of his best assets. He has played in every Jets game over the last three NFL seasons - that’s 48 regular season games and 1 NFL playoff game.

In the NFL 2009 season, Revis has completely outplayed opposing wide receivers like Andre Johnson, Marques Colston, Randy Moss (twice), Terrell Owens (twice), Steve Smith, Roddy White and Chad Ochocinco (twice). In each of these matchups he has not given up more than 5 receptions or more than 35 yards. The opposition has only scored once against him.

Here is Darrelle Revis’s one-on-one matchup statistics:

Week	Wide Receiver	Team	Catches	Yards	TDs
1	Andre Johnson	Texans	4	35	0
2	Randy Moss	Patriots	4	29	0
4	Marques Colston	Saints	2	33	0
6	Terrell Owens	Bills	3	13	0
11	Randy Moss	Patriots	5	34	1
12	Steve Smith	Panthers	1	4	0
13	Terrell Owens	Bills	3	31	0
15	Roddy White	Falcons	4	33	0
16	Reggie Wayne	Colts	3	33	0
17	Chad Ochocinco	Bengals	0	0	0
WC	Chad Ochocinco	Bengals	2	28	0

And if his statistics don’t impress, his character will …

When asked his reaction to coach Rex’s praise, Darrelle responded, “That’s crazy for him to say that,” “I just look at it as simple: I’m just trying to do my job. He believes in my talent, I believe in my talent and I just go and play, man.”

Defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman, a former Pro Bowl cornerback, remembers joining Ryan’s coaching staff and meeting Revis for the first time.

“One of the first things he said to me was, ‘Coach me,”‘ Thurman said. “He wants to be recognized as the best corner, not one of the best. He’s still learning how to study the game and he’s willing to work at it, and that’s refreshing.”

Combine Revis’ athletic ability, impressive statistics, modesty, respect and outstanding work ethic and you have a player the NFL, and the New York Jets family, can be proud, and deserving of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year!

sources: nfl.com, yahoo sports, espn.com

The Philadelphia Eagles are destined to join their baseball counterparts, the Philadelphia Phillies, and add another championship to the city of brother love. On Sunday, January 18, 2009, the Eagles will dominate the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game and head to the Super Bowl XLIII. 

The Eagles convincingly defeated their NFC rival, New York Giants, last week to advance the NFC Championship. 

Tomorrow, expect the Eagles defense to be in the face of the Cardinals QB, Kurt Warner and hold one of the most explosive passing games in the NFL to single digit points.  The Eagles QB, Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook will do enough to take them to the Super Bowl.

GAME INFO

Date: Sunday, January 18, 2009 3:00 PM EST
Location: U of Phoenix, Glendale, AZ    TV: FOX

THE SPREAD
The Eagles are the favorite by 4 points. Over/Under is 49 1/2 points.

GAME PREVIEW AND TRENDS
In the last meeting between the two teams, the Eagles dominated on Thanksgiving Day 48-20.That victory provided a spark for the Eagles, as they won four of their last five regular season games, outscoring opponents by an average of 23.0 points in those wins.

Philadelphia still needed help in Week 17 to make the playoffs, and it has taken full advantage of its opportunity.

The Eagles trounced Dallas 44-6 in their regular-season finale to clinch the No. 6 seed, then beat Minnesota 26-14 in a wild-card game before defeating the New York Giants 23-11 in last Sunday’s divisional game.

While that Thanksgiving win got Philadelphia’s season back on track, Arizona’s loss led to an awful late-season finish for what is historically one of the league’s worst franchises.

The Cardinals dropped four of their last six regular season games. Their only wins in that span came against St. Louis and Seattle - teams which combined for a 6-26 record - and they were outscored by an average of 24.3 points in those losses.

Although it won the weak NFC West and had won only two playoff games in their history prior to this season, the Cardinals have been at their best in this postseason and now become the first No. 4 seed to host a conference championship game.

They had been the only NFC team not to play in one since the 1970 merger before pulling off a win few saw coming. Arizona traveled to Carolina for last Sunday’s divisional game as a 10-point underdog, but raced to a 27-7 halftime lead en route to a 33-13 win over the Panthers, the league’s only unbeaten team at home in the regular season.

“Not many people had very nice things to say about us and didn’t give us a chance,” Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We believe in ourselves. I like being the underdog, and we’re going to continue to be the underdog.”

Arizona will be the underdog again, as oddsmakers made the Eagles as 4 point favorites.

The Cardinals are 7-2 at home this season, including a 30-24 win over Atlanta in the wild-card round, but Philadelphia is not going to be intimidated.

After winning just three road games during the regular season, the Eagles have had no trouble playing away from Philadelphia in the postseason. They’ve already won at the Metrodome, where the Vikings were 6-2 during the regular season, and at Giants Stadium, where New York was 7-1.

Philadelphia had success at Minnesota and against the Giants thanks to a swarming, suffocating defense.

The Eagles have forced five turnovers and allowed 322 passing yards in the postseason. Philadelphia had the league’s third-ranked defense during the regular season (274.3 yards per game), and has allowed just four TDs in the past six games.

“We’re going to be close in every game because we aren’t going to give up those type of big plays and hopefully that gives the offense confidence to make whatever call they want whenever they want to call it because they trust us not to give up a lot of points,” Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins said.

Shutting down Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald may not be as easy.

The Cardinals thrive on big plays behind Kurt Warner and Fitzgerald. They hooked up for a 42-yard touchdown in Arizona’s wild-card win and a 29-yard TD last week.

The Eagles, though, did a solid job of slowing down Warner and Fitzgerald in their Thanksgiving meeting. Warner threw for three touchdowns but also had three interceptions, while Fitzgerald was held to five catches for 65 yards, though he did score twice.

Last week, Fitzgerald set a team playoff record with 166 yards receiving even though Warner was missing one of his deep threats in wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Boldin, nursing a strained left hamstring, returned to practice this week and said he will play Sunday.

While Arizona relies on its high-scoring offense, the Cardinals defense has surprisingly stepped up in the playoffs. Arizona was 19th in total defense during the regular season (331.5 ypg), but has limited its two playoff opponents to an average of 259.5 yards.

The Cardinals held Atlanta’s Michael Turner, the No. 2 rusher in the regular season, to 42 yards and Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams, the league’s No. 3 rusher, to 63 yards. Arizona also intercepted Jake Delhomme five times last week, and has forced nine turnovers in the playoffs.

“We feel like we’re a solid defense,” Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry said. “We have some guys out here who can make plays. It’s just a matter of putting it all together for 60 minutes on Sunday. If we can do that, the sky’s the limit.”

Arizona had no answer for Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook on Thanksgiving, though, as the versatile running back rushed for 110 yards on 22 carries and scored a career-high four touchdowns - two rushing and two receiving.

Westbrook hasn’t been much of a factor on the ground in the playoffs, as he has rushed for just 74 yards on 38 carries. He did come up with a big play in the fourth quarter of the wild-card win, though, scoring a 71-yard touchdown off a screen pass.

GAME PREDICTION
Philadelphia Eagles 21  Arizona Cardinals 3

sources: nfl.com, espn.com, thespread.com, fox.com

We’re getting down to end of the season and Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Titans should be one of the best games of the season.  This is a highly anticipated game and the weather conditions are looking perfect.  Below are the game particulars and our prediction. We are 8-0-1 in our last 9 predictions.

                                                           GAME INFO

Date: Sunday, Dec 21, 2008
Kickoff:  1:00 PM ET
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) vs Tennessee Titans (12-2) 
Location: LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee

THE LINE (subject to change)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the Underdog (+2).  The Under/Over is 34

THE MATCHUP
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already clinched the AFC North Crown.  They are 11-3 overall and 6-1 on the road.  They have scored 302 points in 14 games while giving up only 192 - that leads all of the NFL.

The Tennessee Titans also have clinched their division - the AFC South.  The are 12-2 overall and 6-1 at home.  They have scored 344 points while giving up only 197 in the 14 regular season games this year

AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)
The Steelers are 8-6 ATS overall, 5-2 ATS away, 5-1 ATS as the underdog and 5-1 ATS as an away underdog

The Titans are 11-2 ATS overall, 5-1 ATS at home,8-2 ATS as the favorite and 4-1 ATS as a home favorite

PREVIEW
Kerry Collins is just a mediocre QB with a rating in the mid-60s. He doesn’t throw many interceptions but he doesn’t throw many TDS either.  The Titans will have a key part of their defense  out on Sunday.  Their Pro Bowl bound Defensive End Albert Haynesworth is out.  The Steelers are averaging over 100 yards on the ground and that number should increase with Haynesworth out. 
 
PREDICTION (ATS)
Pittsburgh Steelers 17  Tennessee Titans 14.
Although the Titans are playing at home and are 8-1 ATS as a favorite, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense will be the difference in the game.  The Steelers also have the edge at the QB position - Ben Roethlisberger over Kerry Collins.
Another key factor is the Titans Pro Bowl bound defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is out.  This will give the Steelers running attack the ability to grind the ball on the ground. It will result in the Titans over committing to the run. Roethlisberger will take advantage and sneak in some deep passes.