Despite Calvin Johnson making his 300th career catch on Sunday night, in the middle of a stellar season, the 49ers-Lions game was not Megatron’s night to shine. No, that was left to 49ers’ running back Frank Gore who ran for 47 yards at one point to score a touchdown, this despite knees that have known the touch of a surgeon’s scalpel more than once in his career. At the end of the night not even Gore’s performance would be remembered, as the main thing covered by the sports broadcasts was the minor tussle between the two head coaches. Still it was a hopeful win for 49er fans who are looking forward to what is proving to be a decent team this year.

The game
The game was a matchup between a supposedly unstoppable offense led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and his favorite target, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, and the league’s best red zone defense in the 49ers. Basically, two teams that were not very good last season and

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Whether the East is the so called “best” division in the AFC is up to debate (the Central with Pittsburgh and Baltimore may have taken that title), but you can never call the AFC East a boring division. Heck, any division that has Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick in the same division, it’s anything but boring. On one hand you have Rex Ryan and the Jets who are outspoken, brash and while they may have never run away with anything in the regular season, they have made it to the Conference Finals the last few years. The Patriots, on the other hand, have the reigning MVP in Tom Brady (who had arguably his best season last year), and a team that led the league in win’s last year, only to take another tumble in the first round. You can be sure that if there is a season in 2011, some great storyline will come out of the AFC East Conference.

So what will 2011 bring for the AFC East? Probably a lot more of the same. The Patriots and the Jets both look strong again, which means that you can find the Patriots winning and Rex Ryan shooting his mouth off again. For the Patriots, there is no reason to think that Brady will have an off year, and while he once again was photographed in the off season with a boot on his foot, Patriot fans are used to that by now. As for the Jets, look for another great performance by their smothering defensive unit which makes a whole lot

Where to start with the Carolina Panthers? This is a hard question to answer considering they placed last in total offense, passing, scoring and in the bottom five offensive line. Carolina’s defense was not great either but offense should be their primary focus for this off season.

With the departure of six year starting quarterback Jake Delhomme, the Panthers have since been looking for an answer at this position since last season. Although their current starter Jimmy Clausen was a talented college quarterback in a pro style system, he has developed slowly in the pros only managing to throw three touchdowns while starting 13 games. Clausen lacks the composure and consistency to start in the NFL and Carolina needs go in a different direction at the Quarterback position.

To establish a sense of stability for their franchise, the Panthers need a franchise player at the quarterback position. Although he lacks the raw athleticism of prospects like Newton and Locker, Blaine Gabbert is a protypical NFL Quarterback at 6’4 234 and possesses sufficient athleticism running a 4.6 forty at the combine. Gabbert can make all the throws and has a high football IQ that will allow him to put his arm to good use. The panthers however, should also pick up a veteran quarterback such as Matt Hasselbeck in free

I have to tell you I feel sorry for Maurkice Pouncey.

First he gets on to the Super Bowl team, and he is still only a rookie. Then he has a chance to play in the Super Bowl game, I believe that dream that any college football player shares. But then the tragedy strikes. He sprains his ankle while playing with the New York Jets in December. And just as quite often such injuries are not problematic and usually go away really quickly, in his case it prolongs and stays for longer. Even worse, it starts to threatening his performance in the Super Bowl Game on the 6th of February this year.

Now that they have hired John Fox to be their head coach, the Denver Broncos are now able to turn their full attention onto the players on the field, where there is a lot of work to be done to get the Broncos back in the playoffs after their horrendous 4-12 season.

Usually the quarterback position is one of emphasis and the most important thing to be certain of heading into the following year, but even though there is bound to be some instability between Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow heading into next year, the Broncos have bigger fish to fry. For starters, their running game ranked among the worst in the league

During the 2010-2011 National Football League (NFL) the Carolina Panthers did a tremendous job in the efforts that had been meant for them to make it into the playoffs. However, the Carolina Panthers lacked a few important factors that they could stand to gain next year.

Next year the Carolina Panthers could stand do draft a few new positions that may help them make it into the playoffs during the 2011-2012 seasons. The Panthers could use a backup quarterback and running back as DeAngelo Williams numbers were down this past season. These are important positions

The Detroit Lions finished 6-10 this year and showed a fair amount improvement over last year. Some of the bright spots on the team included Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Ndamakong Suh. However, in order to make the playoffs in the 2011-2012 season, the Lions can’t afford to stay the same. There are a few areas that need improvement if they are to have a real hope at getting into the playoffs. Here are some thoughts on ways to get the Lions to the next level.

Improve the offensive line

The Lions running attack was woeful this year, and Matthew Stafford could always use better protection. They could desperately use just one Pro-Bowl-quality lineman that they can direct a

The Washington Redskins had high expectations going into the 2010 season with accquisition of Donovan McNabb at quarterback and the addition of a revamped coaching staff that featured former Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shannahan, his son Kyle at offensive coordinator, and the former New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Haslett at defensive coordinator. The season started out pretty good for the Skins but over their last nine games went a dismal 2-9 and now sees themselves picking in the tenth spot for the 2011 NFL Draft.

When looking at who exactly is the best player on the Washington Redskins, you first have to look at any of the players who recieved any accolades over the course of the year. The only player to be named to the Pro Bowl for the year was CB DeAngelo Hall.

Technically, he is the best player on the team. Hall ended up tying his career

Donovan McNabb sees “nothing wrong” with a inflammatory comment which his agent ambushed Redskins coach Mike Shanahan & offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. However McNabb additionally attempted to separate himself from that comment Tuesday during his weekly radio appearance on ESPN980. McNabb say he was not informed that his agent has been arranging to announce the comment prior to it coming out the previous week.

McNabb have been making his most substantial statements since his argument with the Shanahans heightened when agent Fletcher Smith announced the comment the previous Thursday. The QB who’s many time dodged answering

Perhaps even Brett Favre believed the Vikings had been finished for the game, & potentially the year. Trailing fourteen having less than 5 minutes left in the game versus the Cardinals. The crowd shouting out “Fire Childress!” reverberating in the Metrodome. A Super Bowl or nothing year hanging on the edge. Abruptly, Favre delivered the type of wonder that simply has not been generally there all year, constructing one more awe inspiring 4th quarter comeback which could have not simply preserved the Vikings’ season, and yet coach Brad Childress’ career at the same time.

Favre passed for a career-high 446 yards to bring the Vikings from fourteen points behind within the last 4 & half minutes & Ryan Longwell’s 35 yard field goal in extra time elevated them to a 27-24 win vs. Arizona on Sunday. Favre delivered a 25 yard TD to Visanthe Shiancoe having 27 seconds left in on the clock in regulation, after that he delivered another to Bernard Berrian with a 22 yard throw in extra time to maneuver the Vikings into a situation for an unlikely win.

The veteran quarterback completed thirty six of forty seven throws having 2 touchdowns & 2 interceptions within very easily his greatest performance of the year. It had been his first 400 yard game since December. 5th, 1993, when he passed for 402 at Soldier Field vs the Bears as a Packer. The sixteen years, 337 days in between 400 yard games is the lengthiest gap within league history.

Percy Harvin got 9 grabs for a career-high 126 yards & Adrian Peterson tallied up 144 total yards & 2 touchdowns for the Vikings (3-5), who have been drowning with queries about Childress’ employment just about all week long.

LaRod Stephens-Howling ran back a kick 96 yards ending up in the endzone & Michael Adams walked into the endzone with a fumble recovery for 30 yards for the Cardinals (3-5), who seemed to have the victory in hand following preventing the Vikings on 4th and goal on the 1-yard line having approximately 6 minutes left & the 24-10 lead.

However Favre produced scoring drives of 40 & 77 yards in before time ran out in regulation play, rapidly converting shouts form the crowd of of “Fire Childress!” to “Let’s Go Vikings!”

It absolutely was an exciting finish to another stressful 7 days for the Vikings. That began with Childress choosing to let go of receiver Randy Moss, a calculation that not only surprised players but club administration & ownership at the same time. His untidy dealings with the scenario elevated significant concerns regarding his employment, & he additionally practically came to fisticuffs with Harvin in practice on Friday.

Childress stated he invested a quarter-hour with Harvin prior to the game to make things right. Owner Zygi Wilf declined to discuss Childress’ standing, only adding to the conjecture. They did exactly that.

Vikings receiver Greg Camarillo ran down Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes while on an interception run back within the 1st quarter, ripping the football free prior to Rhodes was ready to score in the end zone. The football popped out of the back of the end zone producing a touchback, a play of genuine effort which made an enormous role in the end result.

Harvin fumbled the starting kickoff of the 2nd half & Adams ran it in for a TD to provide the Cardinals a 21-10 lead as frustration came down from the crowd.

Derek Anderson had been 15 for 26 for 179 yards & a TD & Minneapolis local Larry Fitzgerald got 7 grabs for 107 yards for the Cardinals, who received the football 1st to begin extra time.

However the Vikings defense suffocated the Cardinals during that drive & Arizona had absolutely no solution for Peterson & Favre on the following possession.

The Cardinals arrived to the week thirtieth in the league in passing offense, without stability at quarterback the main basis for the problems. They have gone back and forth in between Max Hall & Anderson, who lastly offered them the type of professional, veteran play they have been searching for since Kurt Warner retired.

The offense simply produced 1 TD drive, which finished with a 30 yard touchdown via Anderson to Andre Roberts, making the door open up only a fracture for Favre.

Luckily for Childress, nobody, not Favre, not Harvin, not anyone threw in the towel on this game.