Play-To-Host: A New System For Selecting Super Bowl Host Cities

In a few weeks, thousands of fans and countless media will pack their bags and make their way to Miami for Super Bowl XLIV. Undoubtedly, these fans and media will bring with them excitement and national attention, however, they also bring something much more beneficial to the City of Miami, especially in this economy, money. Yes, we all know that hosting a Super Bowl brings an economic boon for the host city, but in times like these two questions, at least in my mind, arise:

(1) Just how much money will hosting a Super Bowl bring to the host town? ; and (2) How is it fair that although 32 cities across America are home to teams, only a handful routinely get the economic benefit that comes with hosting the Super Bowl?

To answer the first question, according to a 2003 study by Craig A. Depken II and Dennis P. Wilson, the net real impact of hosting a Super Bowl is between $220 million and $350 million. This seems pretty accurate considering that USA Today reported that hosting the Super Bowl XL provided an economic boost of $273.9 million to Detroit. With this in mind, the answer to the second question is that it’s not fair.

Since the inception of the Super Bowl in 1967, the list of hosting cities and frequency is as follows:
Total By City: LA 2; Miami 10 (including 2010); New Orleans 9; Houston 2; Pasadena 5; Pontiac, MI 1; Tampa 4; Stanford, CA 1; San Diego 3; Minneapolis 1; Tempe 1; Atlanta 2; Jacksonville 1; Detroit 1; Glendale, AZ 1.

Total By State: California 11, Florida 15, Louisiana 9, Texas 2, Michigan 2, Minnesota 1, Arizona 2, Georgia 2.

What’s striking about this list is that the cities which have hosted the most frequently are also those cities which annually draw in some of the highest amounts of tourism revenue, even in non-hosting years (Ok, so maybe it’s not so striking, I’m pretty sure we were all aware of this). So, in essence, by awarding hosting duties to these cities, the NFL is making some of the most tourism rich cities richer, while the remaining NFL cities get diddly squat when it comes to the big game. This is particularly upsetting considering the current economic situation ( let’s face it, all cities could use some money) and the fact that even pre-2008 some NFL cities such as Cleveland and St. Louis were severely depressed.

So what’s the solution, well to me it’s obvious: spread the wealth. More specifically, I propose that the NFL adopt a rule that the winner of the Super Bowl gets the option to host the Super Bowl 5 years (or whatever period of time the NFL deems is sufficient to give cities time to prepare) later. If that winner’s home city rejects the offer, then the loser of the Super Bowl gets next dibs, if they reject then the option follows in this order: Super Bowl winner, Super Bowl loser, Team which lost to Super Bowl Champion in Conference Championship game, Team which lost to Super Bowl loser in Conference Championship game, Team which lost to the Super Bowl Champion in divisional round prior to Conference Championship, and so forth if it so necessary.

While I devised this new system with the intent of allowing all NFL cities access to the economic wealth associated with hosting a Super Bowl, I believe that this play-to-host system would also bring other benefits:

Good for Fans
The spreading out of the Super Bowl will be better fans because it could make attending a Super Bowl more of a possibility for many people. Unfortunately, the reality of life is that not everyone can afford the already high costs of traveling and staying in California, Florida or Louisiana (which are inflated even more when a Super Bowl is tossed in). However, it may be more affordable for someone who resides in say Philadelphia to attend a Super Bowl hosted in Pittsburgh, New York or Baltimore.

Good for the NFL
In additional to being better for existing fans, the spreading out of Super Bowls will be good for the NFL in either creating new fans or making casual fans more invested in the team. Think about it, when your team is playing for the right to host one of the most economically rewarding games a lot more people in the host city are going to become emotionally invested in the team. The theory of it being better for the NFL and its teams is especially true if the salary cap is busted. Then, I predict cities would be more willing to contribute extra money to payrolls or provide tax break incentives to teams in order to secure a better chance of bringing the Super Bowl to their town.

Now I know what some of you are thinking, you’re thinking that holding the Super Bowl in an outdoor stadium in February in a northern state is a terrible idea for a couple reasons: (1) who would want to attend a Super Bowl in the freezing cold, (2) cold and/or snow would impact the game. However, I don’t completely buy these as reasons sufficient enough to prevent a northern, open stadium Super Bowl from happening.

To begin, in regards to (1), a lot of people would want to attend a Super Bowl regardless of the cold. How do I know this, well, the cold doesn’t stop thousands of individuals from filling AFC and NFC Championship games and playoffs held just weeks before the Super Bowl takes place.

With respect to (2), to use the argument that we wouldn’t want adverse weather to determine the outcome of the Super Bowl is a bit ridiculous considering we have no problem with allowing the same adverse weather conditions t0 effect who will be playing in the Super Bowl during the playoffs and conference championship games. Until at the playoff are held a neutral locations with controlled temperatures, (2) isn’t a strong enough argument.

Defensive Corner: Playoffs Edition (Week 16)

First and foremost, Happy Holidays everyone, I hope you had a wonderful day/8 days/ time period associated with a holiday I’m unfamiliar with. I, for one, celebrated with my family in typical Griswold fashion, but that is a story neither relevant nor suitable for this time and place. Let’s just say it involved several trips to the emergency vet and a desperate search for an open gas station.

Ok, on to football. 99.9% of us are into playoffs (and yes, that’s a figure I just made up) so while at least half of us have had our dreams dashed, those of us with still viable hopes of attaining the ultimate prize of a year’s worth of bragging rights (and or cash/trophies/etc.) are entering into competition with our leagues fiercest competitors. So what does this mean? Well, when competition gets this rough 1 point can come between you and a championship, i.e. now, more than ever, the extra points scored by defenses are crucial to success.

Start
Bengals: The Bengals know how to take advantage of a bad offensive line and boy is Kansas City’s offensive line awful. The Bengals should have no problem getting to Cassel during this home game resulting in point earning sacks, fumbles and interceptions.

Saints: Although they haven’t scored over 5 points in the past three weeks, the Saints have already demonstrated just five weeks ago that they can sufficiently handle the weak Tampa Bay offense, who are on their 3rd quarterback this year and are 2-12 on the season.

49’s: Why should you start the 49’s, well they’re playing the Lions this week. Not enough? Ok, well not only is San Francisco playing the Lions, but they’re playing them at home, and the 49’s play tough at home; in the past three home games the 49’s scored 17, 17, and 24 points with the 24 points coming against the potent offense of the Cardinals.


Mehs (Start if No Better Option)
Cowboys: The Cowboys haven’t been the greatest this season, but they have already played the Redskins which gives us a good indicator of what we should expect this week. Given their past success against the Redskins, the fact that they are in contention for a playoff berth while the Redskins are surely out and that Albert Haynesworth was sent home early from practice for disciplinary problems on top of already being questionable for knee issues, the Cowboys should do well this week.


Sit:
Steelers: As a Steelers fan it pains me to say that the Steelers Defense has been an incredible disappointment this season. What’s even worse is that their collapse is seemingly due to the absence of a certain Samoan. Anyway, the Steelers’ Defense has been far too inconsistent to warrant a start during the playoffs, especially when playing the Ravens.

Jets: While strong, the Jets defense suffers at the hand of their offense. So far, Sanchez has 20 interceptions on the season, 3 occurring last week alone, one of which was returned 99 yards for a touchdown. This, paired with the fact that the Jets are facing Peyton Manning and the Colts does not bode well for the Jets Defense.

Can the NBA and NFL Place Teams in Europe? Exploring the EC Antitrust and 'Free Movement' Risk

With talk of the NFL hosting a Super Bowl in London, some sports fans are beginning to wonder if we will soon see U.S. sports leagues place teams in Europe.

In a recent law review article, Brian Doyle and I argue that before either the NBA or NFL could expand into Europe, these leagues would need to first abandon their age/education requirements and alter their reserve rules.

While the NBA and NFL age/education requirements might be legal in the United States, these requirements are much more likely illegal under Article 81 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community (the EC's counterpart to Section 1 of the Sherman Act).

The NBA and NFL age/education requirements likely violate Article 81 of the EC Treaty, even though the EC recognizes a non-statutory labor exemption to antitrust law, because the European Court of Justice defines its non-statutory labor exemption more narrowly than the Second Circuit did in Clarett v. National Football League, 369 F.3d 124 (2004).

In addition, the NBA and NFL reserve rules may violate Article 39 of the EC Treaty by preventing "free movement" of European nationals between teams located in EC member states.

To learn more about the antitrust risks of U.S. sports leagues expanding into Europe, please visit Marc Edelman & Brian Doyle, Antitrust and 'Free Movement' Risks of Expanding U.S. Professional Sports Leagues into Europe, 29 N.W. J. of In'tl L. & Bus. 403 (2009).


(Cross-Posted on Sports Law Blog)

Patriots' New Insurance Policy

As expected, on Thursday, the Patriots placed the franchise tag on Matt Cassel. If Cassel chooses to sign the offer sheet, he will be guaranteed about 14 million dollars next season. Cassel faces quite the conundrum, he could sign the offer sheet, be set financially, but be a backup or he could refuse and test the free agent waters in hopes of starting. Cassel has said he wants to start but also has claimed to be happy with backing up Tom Brady. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on him going elsewhere.

Cassel is not one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, but he could fetch a deal with a signing bonus of about ten to 15 million. Roethlisberger got 25 million last season, half that seems reasonable. In essence, Cassel would be getting his gauranteed money, plus a long term deal and the opportunity to start. Even if it may be for the Lions.

What I find most interesting is the Patriots' concern for Brady's knee injury. We have all heard about the various issues he had up to this point and this offer cements the notion that the Patriots remain concerned. Sinking 14 million cap dollars into a possible backup quarterback is beyond questionable, unless Brady isn't progressing as well as the Patriots would like. The deal also limits their ability to move Cassel, another team could match the franchise tag amount but would then have to pay Cassel and give up two first round picks.

While the Patriots are in a tough situation, they made the right move. More than anything, they bought themselves time. The Patriots can still trade Cassel's rights without him signing the offer sheet, thus allowing Cassel to sign a new deal and start elsewhere without making a team give up their future to do so. At this point the Patriots can sit back, evaluate Brady's progress and make educated decisions concerning the future. This will be one of the main off season stories to keep an eye on.

We're Talking Playoffs!

Where did the NFL Season go? It is that time of the year when the best football is played both in college and pro. No more dealing with the likes of Lions, Bengals, and Bears. The Wild Card round starts on Saturday and all four road teams opened up as favorites in the sports books. Unheard of, but since then, the spreads have given way to two home teams. So what does that mean for you? Take a gander at what to expect this weekend and adjust teams accordingly.

Falcons at Cardinals

I'll start my preview of this game with a bit of trivia. Did you know that Atlanta is one of only 5 capital cities (and surrounding towns) with all four major sports teams? Can you name the other four? Boston, St. Paul, Phoenix, and Denver. All of those metropolitan areas have seen a championship since 1995, the last time the Atlanta had a parade (Atlanta Braves).

The Cardinals play a few miles outside of Phoenix but Phoenix was blessed with an amazing Diamondbacks World Series in 2001. The Cardinals can't even sell out their stadium this weekend for their first home playoff game in Arizona. Talk abut economic problems.

The Falcons are 2-6 in the playoffs when the score 20 or fewer points and 4-2 when scoring 21+. This year the Falcons averaged over 24 ppg while scoring less than 21 points five times (1-4). Meanwhile the Cardinals give up near 27 ppg and hope that their offense can keep up.

There is a good reason why the Falcons are favored in this game. Not only is Matt Ryan looking like a veteran but Michael Turner has been the best free agent pick up of the year. The Cardinals limped into the playoffs, losing 2 of their last 3 games while giving up over 34 ppg. Without a strong home atmosphere there should be no problem for the Birds from the East.

Expect Michael Turner to have a great game. Edgerin James is the starter for the Cardinals and he is a shell of his former self. That means more 3 and outs for Arizona and expect Atlanta to eat up the clock and keep Kurt Warner's possibilities limited.

As for the game, the road teams will start 1-1 this weekend as the Falcons take care of business winning 27-17.

Colts at Chargers

I am exasperated at the fact that the Colts are not favored. They have won 9 games in a row and Peyton Manning was just named MVP. The Chargers made it in an 8-8 team thanks to the Broncos collapse. 8-8 teams are just 2-7 in the first round of the playoffs. So what am I missing here? The Colts have Bob Sanders back to help solidify the defense and the Chargers will most likely be without Antonio Gates.

Sure the Chargers beat the Colts last year in the playoffs but the Colts won earlier this year in San Diego 23-20. In that win, Peyton Manning threw the ball 44 times, completing 32 of them. Expect the same thing this game as Peyton Manning will have a superb outing. 300+ yards in the air is almost a guarantee.

I don't see this game being much of a contest on Saturday night. Colts will likely score on their first few possessions putting it away early and winning 37-23.

Ravens at Dolphins

I've gone back and forth on this game. Joe Flacco and the Ravens' Defense or Chad Pennington and the Wildcat Offense? The Ravens are favored on this game but what can you expect from either team? There are questions on both sides of the ball. Do you trust the rookie quarterback or do you go with the two-time comeback player of the year? Is the Wildcat offense still legit or are the Ravens good enough to stop it?

Earlier this year these two teams met up with Baltimore winning 27-13. Willis McGahee had over 100 yards rushing for the second consecutive game against the Dolphins. Chad Pennington threw for his third highest yardage total for the entire season against the Ravens' Defense. The Dolphins' rushing game was held down as the Ravens were coming off a 31-3 thrashing from the Colts and on the brink of going 2-4 to start the year.

So maybe there was some extra motivation for the Ravens who are now 1-5 in Miami their last six visits, but is that Motivation still there after an easy 27-7 victory last week versus the Jaguars.

Not many people give the Dolphins' Defense enough credit though. The Dolphins allowed just over 100 yards rushing per game this season while allowing less than 20 ppg while in comparison the Ravens allow just over 80 yards rushing and a bit over 15 ppg.

The X-factor will be the wide receivers. A sunny day in Miami with the temperature hitting near 80 degrees means that Pennington will air it out, away from Ed Reed. I think that there will be a lot of short screen passes to balance out the Wildcat offense. The Ravens shut down the offense last time so the Dolphins will switch their plans. But the same applies to Joe Flacco on the other side. I think the Ravens have better receivers to work with and ultimately win because of it. It'll be close but the Ravens win 21-20.

Eagles at Vikings
The Eagles come in winning 4 of their last 5 including an ravishing victory versus Dallas last week. McNabb and Westbrook are getting equal opportunities keeping the opposing defense on their toes.

The Vikings meanwhile have had a back n forth season within their own house. First it was Tavaris Jackson then Gus Ferotte, now it is Jackson again at quarterback and he is looking good, completing 64% of his passes since being reinstated while throwing for eight touchdowns and just one interception. The Vikings also have the NFL's leading rusher in Adrian Peterson.

So when you look at this game closer you can see why the Eagles are barely favored. The Vikings have a solid run defense giving up less than 77 ypg. And before you crown Adrian Peterson as the best running back in this game, note that he is nursing a sore ankle and has meat hooks instead of hands, fumbling 9 times this year.

So who is going to have a great game? How about Kevin Curtis? In games in which the Eagles don't lose Curtis catches close to five balls a game, in comparison to just two balls in losses. McNabb has nine TDs and just one INT his last five games. Curtis will go under the radar for most of the game until he catches his first touchdown. I think this game will be more exciting than people are expecting but the Eagles win 30-29 giving the road teams the clean sweep.

In Between the Tackles: Deck the Halls (and Darby's)

In this holiday season, it's not uncommon to see news clips about strangers handing out unexpected gifts from the kindness of their heart. In case you haven't seen the clip yet, NFL referee Garth DeFelice is a perfect example of the generous souls living among us. On Sunday, without warning, he hand-delivered a nicely wrapped forearm shiver to St. Louis Rams RB Kenneth Darby...basically the Rams season in a nutshell. In these days of the new NFL, expect DeFelice to be heavily fined for leaving his feet to make the tackle. Actually, maybe it would be best if Wade Phillips brought in DeFelice to help Ken Hamlin and friends learn to bring down a running back in the open field. Let's head in between the tackles and check out some of the other big stories in the NFL as we approach the 17th and final week of the regular season...

Week 17

Week 17 is notorious for frustrating fantasy owners as coaches juggle lineups without much warning. Teams that have locked up a playoff spot would like to rest their starters, but don't want to risk losing momentum. Teams out of the playoffs are basically holding informal tryouts at this point to see who they still want around for next season. It's a mess, but here's the most up-to-date information I could find for you as of press time:

~ Steelers coach Mike Tomlin continues to indicate to the media he plans to play his starters, but the odds of that actually happening might be slim. Pittsburgh had an early bye week and had endured the toughest schedule in the NFL and the players need a rest. Expect most starters to last only a few drives or a half at most against the Browns. The Steelers were beat soundly on Sunday, but the situation looked very similar to a few seasons ago. The Steelers executed a very vanilla game plan in the regular season against the Colts and were stomped, only to upset Indy on the road in the playoffs a few weeks later on the way to the Super Bowl...something to think about heading into January.

~ Expect Tennessee to approach this week in a similar fashion. If for some reason Kerry Collins is your fantasy QB, don't be shocked if Vince Young starts in his place. The Titans need to decide where and if Young fits into the puzzle for next year and this is a perfect opportunity to give the elderly Collins a rest. By the way, what was Lendale White thinking stomping on the Terrible Towel?? C'mon man.

~ Tom Coughlin seems likely to play most of his starters in Week 17 in an attempt to build momentum heading into the playoffs after sputtering along the last few weeks. Look for banged up players like Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs to find their way to the bench early, but this might open the door for another big week from Derrick Ward, who is still playing for that big contract this summer.

~ One would think Arizona would have no reason to push the aerial dynamo of Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin onto the field in a meaningless game against Seattle, but the Cardinals have been struggling and for a team with very little playoff experience, confidence is extremely important. Unfortunately, this team is built for the domes and sunny afternoons of October, not the January snow and cold like we saw last week against the Patriots. The Cardinals will likely be one and done.

~ Another team that relies heavily upon the passing game is Peyton Manning and the Colts. Week 17 is historically the Jim Sorgi week for Indy, and expect this week to be much of the same. Dungy claims he won't pull his star players, but I won't go against history. Expect a series or two out of Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Marvin Harrison before they hit the showers. While this team seems to be similar to the Cardinals on paper, I have a weird feeling if they can get Joseph Addai healthy they could make a serious run. The Colts have quietly won eight games in a row and are flying under the radar in an up-for-grabs AFC.

Side Notes

~ The Atlanta Falcons are getting all the press for such an amazing one-year turnaround, but what about the Miami Dolphins? Nothing against the Falcons, but the Dolphins were in the same situation the Lions are this year. They were lucky to squeak out a 1-15 season last year and now with a win on Sunday can find themselves in the playoffs. They marched into Kansas City last week where the conditions were less than ideal for a team from South Florida (well below 0 wind chill and big winds) and left with a much needed win. Plus, how did Brett Favre make the Pro Bowl over Chad Pennington (or Philip Rivers for that matter)?

~ Drew Brees needs just over 400 yards against Carolina on Sunday to break Dan Marino's all-time single season passing record. The Saints claim they won't alter their gameplan, but why would they? For most of the season, their "running" game has involved Brees throwing short passes to players who then proceed to run with the ball. I think Brees has a chance to get it done this week. It's just a shame that the Saints are so bad on the other side of the ball or he would be a lock for MVP.

Extra Points: Week 16 Fantasy Studs

Bengals at Browns
The Bengals somehow found a way to pick apart the Redskins last week. I played the Redskins' Defense thinking that the opposite would be true. This week I am playing the Browns D/ST though. The Bengals can't do this two weeks in a row. Granted the Browns are 1-6 at home but the Bengals are 0-7 on the road. I don't like either offense in this game. In an exciting match up that puts Dorsey versus Fitzpatrick I will take the defense.

Saints at Lions
Who has been the most talked about running back of late? That would be Pierre Thomas. Ironically I drafted him at the beginning of the year but dropped him by week 2. I am regretting that choice but he is still available in some leagues. This is simple, the Lions are atrocious and are on their way to 0-16. The Saints could easily put up 50 points this week. Make sure Pierre Thomas is in.

Steelers at Titans
The game of the week is right here, a possible AFC Championship preview. You may have forgotten about this man lately, but Willie Parker is due for a game. The Titans are without Albert Haynesworth and that will leave a large hole up the middle. Parker has been injured and hasn't scored since week 9. I can see a touchdown for him, and no replay controversy.

Dolphins at Chiefs
It is simple for the Dolphins, win out and they are in. The Dolphins will stick with what has worked, and that is the running game. So who do you pick between Ricky Williams or Ronnie Brown? I'll take Ronnie Brown to bust open a few big gains and a score or two. The Dolphins are on the road and can't afford to fall to a weaker team, so Brown will pick up after two down weeks and just two scores in his last seven games.
49ers at Rams
This is a tough one and will require you to wait until game time to decide, but take Frank Gore/DeShaun Foster. If Gore is able to play, he is a no-brainer for a big day. Saint Louis is miserable against the run so even Foster is a safe play should Gore not be able to go. Keep an eye on the injury report Sunday and you may be able to snag Foster just in time.

Cardinals at Patriots
A common theme this season has been the effect of travel on teams from coast to coast. The Cardinals don't do so well when traveling out to the East so look for the Patriots offense to have the upper hand. For starters, Arizona has a weak secondary so expect Randy Moss to have a field day. Moss will be able to burn by the secondary and help the Pats secure victory. The only hesitation would be whether or not Matt Cassel can accurately air it out.

Chargers at Buccaneers
One of the most productive wide receivers aside from Andre Johnson has been Antonio Bryant. Bryant has 60 fantasy points his last three weeks and is definitely worth the start this week. The Chargers don't have nearly the same pass defense that they had last year and whether or not Jeff Garcia plays or not should not have a factor on Bryant's performance.

Jets at Seahawks
Here is that whole East Coast West Coast thing again. The Jets are 0-3 this year on the West coast, all three horrible losses to the Chargers, Raiders, and 49ers. The Jets have allowed almost 30 points a game in those three contests so who do you pick on Seattle this week? To be honest I don't know, so I'll take the kicker Olindo Mare. 30 points allowed means the kicker will have at least 10 points, unless Seattle scores 4 touchdowns and gets a safety.

Texans at Raiders
I am a big fan of Matt Schuab this week. Although Oakland is second to last against the run this year, Slaton has been a work horse lately and although his numbers show otherwise I feel that he might be slowing up. Meanwhile Schuab has two best friends with Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter. I predicted a few weeks ago that the Texans would beat the Titans and now I'll go ahead and say that Schuab has a better fantasy day than Slaton.

Bills at Broncos
Do you remember Lee Evans? Well most of you have forgotten about him since his last touchdown in week 7. I don't know if Evans has been a disappointment this season but he still has time to make up for it. The Broncos don't do so well against the offense this year, period. Evans is bound to get lucky, no matter who is throwing at him. He can easily double his production of the past two weeks, 45 yards.

Eagles at Redskins
The past three weeks have been some of the best weeks for the Eagles. No more drama and an equal balance of running and passing. The only question for you is, which player will have more points, McNabb or Westbrook? I'll say this week it is Donovan McNabb, especially with the focus on Westbrook lately. At the beginning of the year, these two teams met and McNabb was rendered useless, but a lot has changed since then. McNabb has been the best QB lately and he will continue to flourish this week.

Falcons at Vikings
If you have been reading my weekly columns you would know that I talk a lot about Matt Ryan and usually don't play him on the road. Exception here though against the run-stuffing Vikings defense. We will see what this rookie quarterback has to offer in this big game. Which is a better story, the Falcons or Dolphins? We'll see which team goes further, but for now count on Matt Ryan.

Panthers at Giants
Can the Giants lose three in a row? For the Giants sake, hopefully not. They will have to trust their running game, regardless if it is Jacobs or Derrick Ward. Carolina doesn't have a great run defense so even if Jacobs is healthy enough to split time with Ward there should be plenty of opportunities for the both of them. It is a risk that could end up winning you your league Championship.

Extra Points: Week 16 Fantasy Studs

Saturday.. Saturday... Saturday Night's alright for... the NFL. Don't forget to set your roster. Most of you are in your championship game week so every play is important. This week you aren't playing any push over, its the second best team in the league, aside from yourself. Let's get the ball rolling with tonight's game.

Ravens at Cowboys
You'd expect a defensive battle tonight with the Ravens allowing the second fewest points in the league, allowing a hair over 15 points per game, but I don't see that happening on a short week in Dallas, the last home game at this stadium. (I've been by the new stadium and it is an amazing edifice) Both teams need the win, but I think that Dallas needs it more. When Dallas wins the drama remains low. Expect the Ravens to bring the pressure with Marion Barber still out and thus Tony Romo will look to his next best target, Jason Witten. Witten has 20 receptions his last 3 games compared to just 4 receptions his prior 4 games. The feud is over between Witten and Owens. Sure Owens will get his looks, but can you really trust him to hall them in, especially with Ed Reed looming? Linebacker blitzes provide great opportunities for a TE to cut over the middle.

In Between the Tackles: Honestly, Who Throws a Shoe?

The biggest news from Sunday wasn't Andre Johnson torching Cortland Finnegan and the Titans for 207 yards. It wasn't Steve Smith reeling in 165 yards, or Tavaris Jackson coming off the bench to toss four touchdowns. To me, it was the moment I was lounging on my couch on Sunday and I caught my first glimpse of one of the best arms I have seen in years. His name: Muntadar al-Zaidi.

I hate to recommend players only based on one play but once you see the video you'll agree this guy is at least worth a flier. Okay, I know it's no replacement for the buttery-smooth throwing motion of Tom Brady...in fact it might be as ugly as Tony Romo's three-quarter delivery when he came into the league a few years ago; but take a look at the situation in the picture above. Pocket collapsing around him. Two hands grabbing his jersey. Grey suit with a hand in his face. All of this while trying to hit Bush in the numbers who just happens to be facing tight coverage by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. I won't pretend to understand the politics behind this, but if this doesn't win an ESPY I'll be shocked.

Official Review

Before we get into fantasy football news, let's take a look at the Steelers-Ravens touchdown call that we featured on Sunday night. Check out the video if you haven't had a chance. After days of back and forth, the NFL finally decided on Tuesday to stand behind referee Walt Coleman's decision to rule Santonio Holmes' catch a touchdown. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a league spokesmen said "Walt Coleman determined via high-def video review that the receiver had possession and two feet down with the ball in the goal line, meaning it broke the plane." What seems odd to me is the continued emphasis on both feet being down in the end zone. As far as I could gather from research (which was confirmed in the Post-Gazette article), having possession of the ball while breaking the plane of the end zone seems to be the necessary action. His feet did not need to be on the ground at this point, but at some point had to in order to finish or "complete the play." Without the referenced 'high-def video' at our disposal, we can only work with CBS' high-def view from the side near the goal line. At that angle (which I have heard announcers mention is not 100% on the goal line), it's hard to see how there was indisputable evidence to overturn the call on the field. I also wonder, if there are additional replays available to the NFL, why not release them to the public along with yesterday's backing of Coleman's call? I know the NFL can't go around justifying every call referee's make with video evidence but in situations like this it would help put Ravens fans at ease. Maybe this is the cynic in me created by the Spygate fiasco (and destruction of evidence), but I wonder if this alternate replay angle even exists. Enough speculation, let's move on to fantasy football.

Quick Hits

~ With only two weeks left in the regular season, expect a number of players to be placed on Injured Reserve in the coming days to free up roster spots to sign replacements or give bench players a chance to prove their worth. This can be one of the most challenging times of the year as a fantasy owner. With teams beginning to rest players for the playoffs, you need to stay on top of the news if you want to win your league.

~ Don't be surprised if the Saints shut down Reggie Bush for the remainder of the season. After falling out of the playoff picture, there's no reason for New Orleans to risk the long-term health of their premiere player, especially with Pierre Thomas' performance in the starter's role. It would make much more sense for New Orleans to see what they have with Thomas and whether they can rely on him as a long-term complement to Bush.

~ For all the drama that surrounded this season's substance-abuse suspensions (or lack-thereof), Minnesota Pro Bowl defensive lineman Pat Williams will now miss at least the rest of the regular season anyway. Williams broke his right scapula on Sunday against the Cardinals and now with DE Jared Allen playing with a sprained MCL, this leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Minnesota run defense. Upgrade Michael Turner's matchup dramatically, especially after he put up over 180 yards on the suddenly soft Buccaneers last weekend.

Extra Points: Week 15 Studs MNF

You need that one last guy to put you into the Championship Game in your fantasy league, so look no further and make sure you have L.J Smith playing tonight. Sure the Eagles will rely on the legs of Brian Westbrook but don't you think that if I know this fact that the Browns know this fact? So with that said, the play-action will be in full force tonight. L.J Smith will be a great target in the redzone and is likely to get at least one score. This could be good news for those of you playing against Westbrook tonight. I don't see a 30 point game in his future, maybe 15.

Official Review: Did They Steel a Win?

Sunday's AFC North defensive battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens ended with an interesting and questionable call by the referees.  On third down, trailing 9-6 with 50 seconds remaining, Ben Roethlisberger scrambled and found Santonio Holmes with his feet in the end zone.  This is where things get interesting.  Originally, referees spotted the ball a few inches from the end zone...but upon further replay review, reversed the call and ruled it a touchdown. The Steelers took the lead, won the game, clinched a first round playoff bye, and continued a season of odd game endings.

Referee Walt Coleman's explanation for overturning the call: "After reviewing the play, the receiver had two feet down in the end zone with possession of the ball, we have a touchdown."

Here's a quick rundown of the rules.  Check out the video below and make your call in the comments section.  Then stop back for "In Between the Tackles" on Wednesday when SportsJudge will make their call.

From various media outlets:

~A touchdown occurs when any part of the ball, legally in possession of a player in bounds, breaks the plane of the opponent's goal line, provided it is not a touchback.

~A receiver is deemed to be in possession of a catch when both feet touch down in bounds while the receiver demonstrates control of the football.  Should a receiver make a legal catch of the ball with both feet in bounds in the end zone, a touchdown shall be awarded even if no part of the ball was deemed to break the plane of the goal line while in possession of the receiving player.

You make the call....

Extra Points: Week 15 Studs

Buccaneers at Falcons
Who wants it more? Can the Bucs lose two in a row this late in the year? Yes, and Matt Ryan will be the reason why. The Falcons are at home and I love them in the Dome. Last week the Bucs held the Panthers to just 173 yards passing but they were more focused on running the ball. Matt Ryan made is second start versus the Bucs and had two interceptions, since that game he has had just five interceptions and is riding a nine game double-digit scoring streak.

Redskins at Bengals
Lets patch things up in Washington between coach Jim Zorn and running back Clinton Portis. I know how we can do this. We give the ball to Portis every other play. If it isn't obvious that Portis will get 25 carries this week and he is up against the Bengals, I don't know why you wouldn't play him. He could easily see the end zone multiple times.

Seahawks at Rams
I could put up 15 fantasy points versus the Rams this year. If you can get Maurice Morris, go ahead and get him and play him. He will improve on his 39 yards rushing last week with close to 100 and a score.

49ers at Dolphins
I told you a few weeks ago about Shaun Hill and he has been performing pretty well as of late, so how about another quarterback in this game, Chad Pennington. Chad has gotten the Dolphins this far and the word 'playoffs' still swirls around this team. It is amazing and it helps to have a veteran quarterback. Chad will do what he can to get this team a win, even if it includes catching a touchdown in this wildcat offense.

Bills at Jets
Brett Favre has come out and said that he thinks the Jets will make the playoffs. Not much of a guarantee but enough to get people's attention. Well Mr. Favre, here is your chance to back up your wavering prediction. The Bills have fallen down since their hot start and Brett Favre is coming off a tough game last week versus the 49ers. Look for a big bounce back game for Favre and a run away victory for the Jets.

Lions at Colts
Can I pick Peyton Manning two weeks in a row?" Well I won't but go ahead and play Reggie Wayne. Manning had a big week last week and is catching fire with another mediocre opponent. Yes, I said mediocre, not horrible. Reggie Wayne is Peyton's favorite target and I couldn't even name one cornerback for the Lions without looking it up.

Chargers at Chiefs
The Chargers have a soft pass defense and Mark Bradley could be out on Sunday. Look to the other side of the passing game, Dwyane Bowe. Bowe has six or more receptions in half of the Chiefs games this year. The numbers just make sense for Bowe this week. Not many people know of him, so you might be able to pick him up.

Packers at Jaguars
I am going with a sleeper pick in this game that I made earlier this year. Marcedes Lewis, tight end for the Jaguars will have a great game this week. He hasn't had a touchdown since I last mentioned him in week 6 and that was his only double-digit fantasy game, until this week. Matt Jones is out, Jerry Porter is out, Fred Taylor is out. 2+2+2 = 6, as in week 6 sleeper pick and 6 points for a touchdown reception.

Titans at Texans
Last week I went with LenDale White so this week I'll go with Chris Johnson. My only real reason is that no one can stop him lately. Whether it is running or catching, Johnson is a threat out of the backfield. Back to Back 100+ yard rushing games after amassing just over 118 yards rushing his prior three games. I expect another 100 yards and a score easily.

Vikings at Cardinals
Did Adrian Peterson let you down last week. I had a feeling he wouldn't live up to the hype of playing against the Lions. Well this week should be different for him. I would like to go with Visante Shiancoe though, for comedic reasons this week, but I am pretty sure that Peterson will have a better week.

Broncos at Panthers
The Broncos are looking for a running back this week. If interested send your resume to Denver if interested. They aren't looking for a quarterback though, and that is because Jay Cutler has been a fantasy stud this year. If you had any doubts about Denver going up against the Panthers Defense, don't worry about it. Cutler will have another 20 point game this week because of the absence of a running game.

Steelers at Ravens
Looking at this game it appears as if no one jumps out at you, but look again and you might notice Hines Ward standing in the endzone waving to the Ravens fans after scoring a touchdown. The Steelers are better and their offense won't be as miserable as they were last week. Ward hasn't had a stand out game yet this year so this might as well be as good of a time as any. History is against him but don't let that deter you.

Patriots at Raiders
It is a tough week for the Patriots with the loss of Matt Cassel's father. Regardless I was going back with the Raiders D/ST. They have a solid pass defense and the Patriots have been stagnant at times, including last week. This could get ugly folks, a lot like the Jets/Raiders game earlier this year.

Giants at Cowboys
If you are seriously going to doubt the Cowboys at this point in the season then guess again. Last week's loss, albeit embarrassing, was also a wake up call. Tony Romo will air it out. The Giants can be beaten. Terrell Owens has been scoring lately and Jason Witten is back and healthy. Suddenly the Giants don't look like Super Bowl favorites after Romo picks them a part.

Browns at Eagles
On Monday Night the Browns shine. I'm going with Braylon Edwards in this match up. I don't care who is quarterbacking this Browns team. I don't see Brian Westbrook getting 30 points this week. The Browns are trying to save face on a disappointing season and Edwards will stand up to the challenge and make the catches.

Extra Points: Week 15 Studs

Here is a Thursday Night match up for you. If you have made it this far in the playoffs, congratulations. If you are in your consolation bracket, keep playing because some keeper leagues base next year's draft on who wins the consolation bracket.

Saints at Bears
Who has six touchdowns in his last six games with 30 catches and over 400 yards receiving? That would be Lance Moore. He didn't get a touchdown last week for the Saints, but I'd venture to guess that he gets one tonight. It's simple, actually. Drew Brees loves to throw the ball and Lance Moore will be there to get the touchdowns. I'll even go ahead and say that he TRIPLES his yardage from last week. For those who are counting that is 105 total yards.

In Between the Tackles: Get Down and Dirty

It's amazing how much can change in the course of a few weeks in the NFL. Two weeks ago, fans of the New York Jets were surfing the web trying to find deals on flights to Tampa Bay for Super Bowl XLIII. After back to back losses to the Broncos and 49ers, now I can't help but wonder what happened to the team that knocked off the Patriots and Titans in a matter of 7 days. Speaking of Tampa Bay, what happened to that always-solid Monte Kiffin defense? Carolina made them look silly on Monday night by rushing for over 300 yards, with most coming in the second half when the game was on the line. With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, let's head "In Between the Tackles" and try to make sense of it all.

Quarterbacks

Hopefully if you're still alive in your fantasy football league, you have a solid starting quarterback, so I won't spend much time on this position. For teams looking for last minute replacements and owners who need to start two QB's each week, I will suggest Shaun Hill or Seneca Wallace as possible pickups.

I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm for Hill given the fact that JT O'Sullivan looked like the next big thing in San Francisco and ended up flopping. I can't argue with Hill's production as of late though. With a few starts under his belt, WR Josh Morgan returning to health, and matchups against Miami and St. Louis the next two weeks, I think Hill is a viable fill-in.

A more risky play is Seneca Wallace. I never thought I would be recommending him in this column, but after watching highlights of his recent performance, I think he might be able to put up above average numbers this week against the Rams. He claims his calf injury has affected him all season and seems to finally be healthy and playing with loads of confidence. With no risk of bad weather in the dome of St. Louis, you can do worse than Wallace this week.

Running Backs

If you own Colts RB Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes is still available in your league, you need to pick him up immediately. Don't read any further until you do. Coach Tony Dungy claims Addai is "Okay" for this week's amazing matchup against the winless Lions, but Addai owners have heard this before. Dungy said Addai was "Okay" following his leg injury earlier this year prior to him playing no more than a few plays for a month and a half. Don't buy into it. Want more proof Dungy might be playing games again? The Colts signed former Steelers RB Najeh Davenport today. I have a bad feeling even if Addai does start this Sunday, he won't last more than a few drives before the Colts are up big and Rhodes mops up the yardage in garbage time. Normally I'd say stay away from this mess, but the matchup is just too juicy to avoid.

If you were able to watch Monday Night's performance by Carolina running backs DeAngelo Wiliams and Jonathan Stewart you know how powerful this 1-2 punch has become. Early in the season, I mentioned the fact that their slow start might be a result of the absence of solid offensive linemen Ryan Kalil and Jeff Otah. With both now fully healthy, this makes the RB tandem one of the best in the league. This week they face Denver. If they can put up over 300 yards on Tampa, the sky is the limit this week. Start both of them on Sunday.

It looks as if Jaguars RB Fred Taylor will be placed on Injured Reserve this week with a thumb injury. With FB Greg Jones hopefully set to return soon, Maurice Jones-Drew becomes a very solid play the next couple of weeks against Green Bay and Indianapolis. He might win your league for you.

I'm going to speculate on backup Dallas RB Tashard Choice just because his 166 yards against Pittsburgh's #1 rated defense is too hard to ignore. Choice showed good speed and quick moves, but I'm hesitant to think there's any chance Marion Barber won't be back this week. Their division matchup against the Giants is much more important than last weeks game against the Steelers of the AFC. They hoped to get away with resting Barber and escaping with a win, but it didn't work. Barber will be back this week for the unfavorable fantasy matchup.

Wide Receivers

Last week in this space I told you that Domenik Hixon was a capable replacement for Plaxico Burress and I failed you. Thanks to his pathetic drop of what would've been an 85-yard TD, Hixon put up only 30 yards on 3 catches. Even worse, while it didn't show up in the box score, he came close to muffing a punt in the first quarter...but I watched the game and while a case of the 'drops' scares me in a young receiver, I'm going to suggest you stick with him. Eli Manning struggled to find his receivers the entire day amidst the Eagles' defensive pressure and he actually targeted Hixon 9 times (18 the past two weeks). Eli should have much more success this week against a banged up Dallas secondary and Hixon should be the primary beneficiary.

Three weeks ago, Miami WR Greg Camarillo signed a new contract with the Dolphins only to tear up his meniscus and ACL a few days later. It will take Camarillo quite a while to return from this injury and he may never regain his '08 form, but Dolphins fans can be excited about the production of undrafted rookie WR Davone Bess since Camarillo's injury. For those Hawaii fans out there who stayed up late last year watching Colt Brennan light up the scoreboard, you might remember Bess was his favorite target. Bess only stands at 5'10" but one only needs to look at the success of smallish receivers such as Steve Smith and Wes Welker to understand that heart can make up for lack of size in the NFL. Bess has caught 15 passes over the last two weeks and has upcoming matchups against the weak secondaries of San Francisco, Kansas City and the NY Jets. If you're in a bind, take a gamble on Bess.

Tight Ends

Jaguars WR Matt Jones was finally suspended by the league this week for his lingering cocaine charge. With Jerry Porter also on the shelf with an injury, I tried to think of who would be the fantasy beneficiary from this situation. Aside from Maurice Jones-Drew as I noted above, I think TE Marcedes Lewis might put up production worthy of a fantasy playoff start. Eventually having FB Greg Jones back in the lineup is only more reason to relieve Lewis of some of his blocking duties that have prevented him registering no more than four catches in a game all season. I wouldn't scramble to grab Lewis by any means, but I like his situation with Green Bay and Indianapolis on tap.

You or another owner in your league may have cast off Bears TE Greg Olsen in disgust after he put up a goose egg against St. Louis a few weeks back. After 52 yards receiving and a TD last week, I think he'll be a good option going forward with Kyle Orton back to full health. The Bears face New Orleans, Green Bay, and Houston the next three weeks and I think Olsen is back to being a reliable starting fantasy TE.

Hail Mary

Last Week: LT rushed for 95 yards and 1 TD...short of the 150 yards and 2 TDs I predicted so I will count that Hail Mary as incomplete. What stood out in this game though was Darren Sproles totaled 64 yards and 2 TDs on only 12 touches once San Diego got up big. While I made the mistake of not anticipating such a lopsided win last week, isn't it possible we see Sproles put up big numbers again on the worst run defense in the league, Kansas City?

This Week: I tried to mention most of my fearless predictions in the commentary above, so I will attempt to make up for my Hixon prediction last week. I think he will pull in 7 catches for 120 yards and take advantage of a Dallas secondary without Pacman Jones and Ken Hamlin.

Extra Points: Week 14 Studs Cont.

After one game I already find myself down 20-0 in my playoffs after Vincent Jackson went crazy on Thursday night. Sort that game under, "Didn't see that one coming". So now I am here to offer you some more help if you are already down going into Sunday's games or if you just want to run up that score. Everyone is in play this week.

Jaguars at Bears
The Jags are pathetic this year. They allowed Steve Slaton to run all over them on Monday night in front of a national audience and there's no denying that Forte can do the same. I'm not taking Forte though, instead I'm playing Kyle Orton. The Jaguars allow over 13 fantasy points per game (fppg) to opposing quarterbacks. Orton has been mediocre the past three games but they were all on the road. Expect Orton to do big things returning at home this week as the play-action will open it up.

Vikings at Lions
I am not sold on the Vikings doing anything this week. I don't care what you say about the Lions, this could actually be the week that they get their first win. I'm easily playing Calvin Johnson, with or without the suspensions to the two Williams' on the Vikings D-line. Johnson has scored in six of his last eight games and had 14 fantasy points against the Vikings earlier this season. Johnson is the best thing going for the Lions and if he has a great game the Lions might get their first win.

Texans at Packers
The other thing we saw Monday night was in a blowout, the Texans allowed almost 300 yards passing to Daivd Garrard. The Texans are in the bottom 10, allowing 14 fppg to opposing quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are not out of contention but after losing two in a row, they need a win. Rodgers has 63 fantasy points his past three games and that includes throwing five interceptions. Another 20+ point game is probable.

Browns at Titans
So you are going to play everyone on the Titans this week, but who is going to have he most points? Go with the running game, and specifically LenDale White because the Titans will be in the redzone often and short carries will go to White. Not to say that Chris Johnson won't have a good game I just feel that White will have a multiple scoring game, so get him in.

Bengals at Colts
Last week was a fluke for Peyton Manning. I don't even have to look at the numbers or history to tell you to play Manning this week. But just incase you need the stats, the last time that Peyton failed to throw a touchdown in a game this season, he came back the next week with a 20 point performance... against the Titans. (Titans >>>> Bengals)

Falcons at Saints
Falcons on the road, thus I'm taking the Saints. Although the Falcons have been great lately, I just feel that the against the Saints it is going to be a close game. Deuce McAllister will be around but I like Pierre Thomas this week. Plenty of opportunities will arise for the Saints offense and with more focus on the passing game the Falcons will be susceptible to the run.

Eagles at Giants
No Plax, no problem. Eli can throw the ball still and Brandon Jacobs can still run. It was just a few weeks ago that Jacobs put up 120 yards and 2 TDs against the Eagles. Simply put, the Eagles haven't gotten any better on defense in this short time and the Giants might actually rely a bit more on the run now. Jacobs is healthy and ready to go.

Chiefs at Broncos
I am going to give Tyler Thigpen a chance. It is playoff time and I have faith in the kid. He had five straight 20 fantasy point games and last week the Raiders showed up and kept him down. Fortunately it is the Broncos this week and Thigpen is ready to rebound with another 20 point game.

Dolphins at Bills
Marshawn Lynch has been rejuvenated lately and fortunately for the Bills. Buffalo has quarterback issues but Lynch is a certainty and that is all the Bills need. This game is up in Toronto so expect a large crowd and although it is almost winter time, the game won't be susceptible to winter conditions in the retractable stadium. The Bills won't embarrass themselves to their friends just north of the border so expect a big showing by Lynch.

Jets at 49ers
Speaking of Lynch, last week he went off for 134 yards against the 49ers, so Thomas Jones seems like an obvious play. The 49ers allow 20 fppg to opposing running backs and although the Jets are heading West for their third time this year (0-2) they have to catch a break once, right? Jones put up 159 rushing yards last time out West so go ahead and play him this week as the Jets need this win to keep ahead of the Pats.

Patriots at Seahawks
Oh the Patriots. Is everyone off the Matt Cassel bandwagon yet? Well, get back on this week. You really thought that Matt Cassel would do anything good versus the Steelers? It is the Seahawks and they have been abysmal this year, possible worse than the Lions. 400 yards is not out of the realm this week. Who's the last quarterback to throw for 400 yards in 3 out of 4 games? I don't know, but if Cassel throws for 400 this week we will know the answer.

Rams at Cardinals
Have the Cardinals clinched yet? It seems like it has been a five week struggle for Arizona to do solidify their spot. I'm going with Tim Hightower this week. It is simple. He has stunk ever since he last played St. Louis, five weeks ago. He put up 107 yards rushing in that game and has had just 85 yards total since then. Hightower is a definite play this week.

Cowboys at Steelers
What'd I tell you about the Steelers defense, don't play any opposing quarterback. Oh, the Cowboys are also without Marion Barber. So stick with the Steelers D/ST in this game. The Cowboys are in desperation mode as time is running out, especailly if the Falcons win, but the Steelers are just too good.
Redskins at Ravens
I don't see this as being an exciting game but I feel that there will be plenty of opportunities for scores. Every fantasy team needs a good kicker so play Matt Stover. When every single point matters, a kicker who scores 0 points will hurt your team and cost you a chance at moving on.

(Chris Carmona is a weekly contributor and can be read daily on SortsofSports.com)

Extra Points: Week 14 Studs

PLAYOFFS! Are you kidding me? Playoffs? Yes, it is time for fantasy owners to make the most of their team and take home the trophy and relish in the glory. I'm going all out, you need points and I'm telling you who to play regardless if I have mentioned the player's name before. You need the most points, even if they are on your bench because most leagues break ties with bench points.

Raiders at Chargers
I need to open the playoff with a star. And I like the Raiders actually. I don't get it, but they have a good defense. A good defense leads to a good offense. Since the Raiders have no deep threats I will take Tight End Zach Miller. It just so happens that Miller had his best fantasy day of the year versus these same Chargers back in week four. In fact, it was his only game with a touchdown this year. Miller is averaging close to 60 ypg his last four games. I like him a lot better than I like Antonio Gates come Thursday Night.

In Between the Tackles: Playoffs?!?

Welcome back to "In Between the Tackles" where each week we take a look at some of the current hot topics around the NFL and discuss how they might affect your fantasy season. Hopefully you had a chance to read Joe Romano's interesting take on the Wes Welker hit this weekend and feel free to weigh in with your comments. Aside from the hit, we've got a lot to talk about including bullets, steroids, and most importantly fantasy playoffs.

Shotgun Formation

In a situation that seems to change by the minute, Plaxico Burress has been suspended four games for conduct detrimental to the team and is now on the non-football injury list, effectively ending his season. You can expect the Players Association to have an issue with this decision, but don't expect to see Burress in a Giants jersey this season, or ever again for that matter. My biggest problem with the situation was New York Mayor Bloomberg going on TV and yelping about mandatory jail time for Burress' role in the incident. I understand treating celebrities just as you would any other citizen, but applying the "guilty until proven innocent" rule in front of a few dozen TV cameras seems a little outrageous and unnecessary.

If you owned Burress on your fantasy team this year, you're probably fed up with his antics and glad that now you don't have to worry about him registering one catch in your playoff game when you need him to come through. You still need to replace him though. The wide receiver position is one of the toughest to predict in fantasy sports for obvious reasons, but I think fellow Giants Domenik Hixon and even Amani Toomer can be relied upon to fill the void. Both were targeted nine times on Sunday and if Eli Manning can find his late-season form of last year, both players could be solid pickups for the next few weeks.

Playoff Push

A number of other incidents occurred over the last few days that could create interesting situations for the next few weeks:

~ If you watched Sunday night's game in Minnesota you couldn't help but notice the dominance of the Vikings defensive line in their impressive win over Chicago. You might not get a chance to see that same Vikings team for a while. As I hinted last week, the league suspended defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for the remainder of the regular season. With Minnesota already without Pro Bowl linebacker EJ Henderson, they could be in trouble with upcoming games against Detroit, Arizona, Atlanta, and NY Giants. There are rumors a temporary restraining order may keep the Williams' active at least for this week against the Lions, so Kevin Smith owners need to keep a watchful eye on this situation over the next few days.
~ The gavel also struck hard on the New Orleans Saints as RB Deuce McAllister and DE Will Smith were also suspended. Coming off multiple knee surgeries in recent years, McAllister may have played his last game in a Saints uniform, as well as the NFL for that matter. The loss of Smith only adds to a laundry list of inactive Saints defensive players that will eventually lead to one of the league's most exciting offenses sitting on the sidelines during this season's playoffs. Fantasy owners with offensive players on Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Carolina should be even more excited with their fantasy playoff matchups now. With the Saints soon out of playoff contention, expect them to play it safe with stud Reggie Bush who is coming off surgery to repair a torn meniscus. With massive FB Mike Karney due back this week, Pierre Thomas could be the sleeper RB that wins you a championship this year.
~ Arkansas Razorback rookie of the year: Darren McFadden? Nope. Felix Jones? Nope. Peyton Hillis?? Yes, I think it's true. Hillis roughed up the vaunted Jets run defense for 129 yards and a TD in Week 13. He won't make guys miss, but he packs a punch, has surprisingly good hands (for a former FB), blocks well, and gets goal-line carries. What more could you want this holiday season?
~ Need a TE replacement for this week? Look no further than Oakland's Zach Miller. The lone consistent bright spot in a bleak Raiders offense, Miller faces the league's worst tight-end defense in San Diego on Thursday night. Throw in the fact that top receivers Ashley Lelie and Ronald Curry are questionable and I think Miller accounts for just about all of the Raiders typical 100 yards of offense this week.
~ Isn't December Todd Collins month? I don't have the guts to make this my Hail Mary pick of the week, but with Redskins QB Jason Campbell playing average at best, don't be surprised if Collins makes his season debut down the stretch.
~ Brady Quinn: done. Derek Anderson: done. Kellen Winslow: done. Romeo Crennel: (almost) done. Who's more disappointed...a Cleveland Browns 'fan' or a Braylon Edwards fantasy owner? I can't decide.
~ One last thought in regards to important games in your fantasy season. Be smart, but if it comes down to a toss-up, go with the big name player. You drafted them in the early rounds for a reason. A friend of mine called me in the days leading up to this weekends games with the dilemma of starting a hobbled Brian Westbrook or Matt Forte. As much as I feared Westbrook's seemingly permanent questionable tag, I told him if he needed to get a win, he had to go with the proven stud over the rookie. He agreed, Westbrook followed up with four TD's, and we all live to play another week.

Hail Mary

Just gonna throw this up and see what happens...

Last Week: I went with Carolina to go on the road and upset the Packers and their banged up defense at Lambeau. DeAngelo Williams (O'Malley's #1 stud) came through with four touchdowns and Carolina came away with the win in one of the more exciting back-and-forth games of the year.

This Week: You're probably telling yourself LT is washed up, right? 14 rushes, 24 yards, against the Falcons?! One 100-yard game in his last eight?! Don't even think about sitting him this week, as much as you might want to. Go with the big name players, remember? He'll reward you with 150+ total yards, a pair of TD's and most importantly a much needed fantasy win.

Looking for other fantasy picks for Week 14? Check back early and often for Chris Carmona's rock-solid "Extra Points" on each and every game right here at SportsJudge.

Extra Points: MNF

An ugly rainy Sunday left a lot of people scrambling for offensive points. If you are still in a bind and need that big play guy to put you over, look no further.

Jaguars at Texans
Steve Slaton or Maurice Jones-Drew tonight? Well I'm going with Jones-Drew based on the fact that Houston has the 7th worst run defense in the league. They allow almost 130 rypg and have allowed 15 touchdowns to running backs. Both teams are 4-7 yet the Jaguars are of the disappointing 4-7. No need to worry about messy weather conditions tonight. One thing I will go out on a limb for Jones-Drew is that he could get a receiving touchdown. It has been two years since his last one and although he has 11 rushing scores this year, I can sense a big third down play in the works. Houston shut down this running game earlier in the year, but I don't see it happening again.

Extra Points: Week 13 Studs

How about that trifecta for your Thanksgiving Feast? I am going to go ahead and give you the last minute big play makers for Sunday's action in order to help you clinch that playoff spot.

49ers at Bills
How about this stat for you. In the past three weeks, Vernon Davis has had 3 catches and 17 fantasy points. In the first eight games he had 16 catches and 16 fantasy points. I like Vernon's chances of having more than three catches and his first double-digit fantasy game.

Ravens at Bengals
There's no word exactly on who will be the starting running back for the Ravens, but it really shouldn't matter. Le'Ron McClain had a big game last week versus the Eagles and should get a good amount of touches this week versus a weak Bengals team. Even if McClain doesn't get the yards he will get the score.

Colts at Browns
Think about this one. The Browns told Derek Anderson he's not coming back, yet now they are forced to play him. The Colts are near the bottom in run defense. Well, in hopes to win the game and keep Anderson from throwing interceptions expect the Browns to run the ball with Jamal Lewis. Just hope he doesn't fumble every time he touches the ball.

Panthers at Packers
The Panthers are very good in defending the long ball and Aaron Rodgers is a throw happy quarterback so expect shorter passes to move the ball down the field. A pleasant surprise this season has been Donald Lee. All three of Lee's scores have come at home this season so you can probably figure a fourth touchdown.

Dolphins at Rams
I am bound to figure out the Dolphins before the season ends. I'll play this one safe and take the kicker for the Dolphins, Dan Carpenter. I don't see much for defense in this game and that always favors a kicker. When the small things matter most, your kicker can be a valuable asset to your team. Carpenter gets a copious amount of kicks against the Rams.

Saints at Buccaneers
Drew Brees is on pace for about 30,314,091 yards this season alone give or take 25,000,000. If you were for some reason considering playing another quarterback in the hopes of a down week for Brees, think again. He tore apart the Packers last week, the Bucs aren't any better.

Giants at Redskins
If you have seen the movie, Eight Mile, you will know that Cheddar Bomb does not play for the Giants, but Plaxico Burress does and he too shot himself in the leg. I would have loved to see that. I digress but this makes a simple pick to play Amani Toomer. He is a redzone target like none else. Last year he lead the league in balls thrown at in the red zone. Toomer has 15 fantasy points in two games when Plaxico is not in the line up.

Falcons at Chargers
My rule this season has been that when the Falcons are home play their guys. Not the case this week as I'll look to the Chargers and play Chris Chambers. He has nine catches his last two weeks but hasn't scored since week 5. Things are going to change. Phillip Rivers has been very good at home this year and chances are that he will throw for at least three scores this week. Chambers should get at least one of those.

Steelers at Patriots
I am impressed at what Matt Cassel has done lately. The past two games I have picked the defense that has gone against Cassel and he has torched them for over 800 yards passing. This week I'll go with the Patriots and that's why you should play Wes Welker. The Steelers have a strong defense and short passes are in the works. Look at Welker lately too- Three straight 100-yard games and I couldn't tell you the last time he caught fewer than six balls in a game.

Broncos at Jets
Did the Raiders just beat the Broncos? And now the Broncos are flying East for a game against arguably the best team in the AFC? That is why I am playing Jerricho Cotchery this week. He will get plenty of looks in this offense and with the Broncos focus on Coles it will leave more opportunities for Cotchery.

Chiefs at Raiders
Oh, Man! I have to pick someone in this game, a guy I haven't talked about already this season? I would tell you to play Tyler Thigpen but there is something about the Raiders defense that limits opposing quarterbacks. So we will go with the Raiders run game and Darren McFadden to have a career day against the weak Chiefs defense. In week 2 McFadden ran for 164 yards against this same defense. He has ran for about the same amount since that game. Breakout week!

Bears at Vikings
Greg Olsen has become more of a target in this Bears offense. The last time the Bears went up against the Vikings Olsen had 74 yards and a touchdown. Playing at home this time around can only help his cause, especially if Desmond Clark is out.

Extra Points: Thanksgiving Day Picks

Tomorrow might be the best holiday of the year. First of all, it was 23 years ago that I was born on this holiday and second, you get to eat a lot of good food and watch some good football with family and friends. This is the last week of most fantasy regular seasons, so if you need some confidence boosters, go with these guys. I don't know what my record is anymore in picking these guys, but I did a fair job telling you about Sage Rosenfels, Shaun Hill, and Lance Moore to name a few. Not so well with Cedric Benson, Bobby Wade, and the Dolphins D/ST.

Here are some picks to be thankful for.

Titans at Lions
I had it all lined up to pick a Lions player this week. I thought it would be a good sentimental to pick Daunte Culpepper but then the Titans lost last week and I don't see the Lions putting up more than 10 points, and 7 of them might come on defense. We will see how real the Titans are, and this is a no-brainer going with the Titans D/ST this week.

Seahawks at Cowboys
I am on the Cowboys bandwagon again, maybe it just took one good week to prove that they are still a very good team and maybe I'll jump off again if they have an ugly loss in front of a national audience. Fortunately, I don't see that happening but I do see another big offensive game. Tony Romo has five 3-touchdown games in the eight he has played in. Last week the big receiver was Terrell Owens and he could very well have 3 scores this week. Get your stuffing reading for this show.

Cardinals at Eagles
This will probably be the most exciting game of the day, it is just too bad that hardly any of us will be able to see it. NFL Network will try and broadcast a better game than the Colts demolition of the Falcons last year. The Cardinals are a very good team, mostly because of Kurt Warner, but they are traveling East on a short week. Throw the stats out on this one because I don't see McNabb shinning in the spotlight. Last time he was on the national stage with this much attention he literally 'left it all out on the field'. I'll take Larry Fitzgerald to have a massive game and I will parlay that with a McNabb 'injury'.

(Chris Carmona is a weekly contributor and can be read daily on www.sortsofsports.com)