Struggling on the Pond The Anaheim Ducks really hope their second month as defending Stanley Cup champions goes better than their first. The Ducks (4-7-2) will try to snap a four-game skid and avenge a shutout loss earlier this season to Columbus when they meet the streaking Blue Jackets (7-3-1) on Thursday night at the Honda Center.
Author: Anthony Rome
Salt Lake City Woes The Houston Rockets’ inability to make it out of the first round of the playoffs during their four years under Jeff Van Gundy led to a coaching change in the offseason. On Friday, Houston and new coach Rick Adelman visit the Utah Jazz, the team that ousted the Rockets from the playoffs last year.
Battle of the Unbeaten One game can’t determine if Tom Brady or Peyton Manning is the better quarterback. It will decide which of their teams is the best in the NFL. One of the most highly anticipated non-playoff games in recent memory takes place on Sunday when the New England Patriots visit the Indianapolis Colts in the league’s first matchup of teams who are unbeaten this far into a season.
Tough Battle in Cleveland It’s not at all surprising that the Seattle Seahawks sit atop the mediocre NFC West. That the Cleveland Browns have the same record and are in contention in the powerful AFC North is a more shocking development. The teams meet in Cleveland on Sunday as both look to finish the first half of the season with a winning record.
Winning Ways Quarterback Philip Rivers is not getting to throw the ball as much, and the San Diego Chargers are winning a lot more. Now more conservative in the passing game, Rivers and the Chargers go for their fourth straight victory when they visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Are the Bills for Real? Injuries, an unsettled quarterback situation and a slow start appeared to make this a lost season for the Bills. Although some of those problems remain, Buffalo has played itself back into contention. J.P. Losman will be back as the Bills’ starting quarterback Sunday as they try to continue their dominance over the visiting Cincinnati Bengals.
Lions Out to Shock Again The Detroit Lions have spent this decade being one of the worst teams in the NFL. This season, they will enter the halfway point as playoff contenders. The Lions will be trying to build on their latest surprise win on Sunday when they host the Denver Broncos.
Turning Things Around The New Orleans Saints’ recent surge has turned their season around and may have revived the lofty expectations that preceded it. The Saints, though, will be in for a challenge as they try for their fourth straight victory Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dashed Hopes A pair of struggling teams hoping to turn their seasons around meet Sunday when the San Francisco 49ers visit the last-place Atlanta Falcons. The 49ers (2-5) entered 2007 hoping to challenge for their first playoff appearance in five years. Instead, they are looking to avoid their first six-game losing streak since a seven-game slide from Nov. 6-Dec. 18, 2005, quarterback Alex Smith’s rookie season.
Where’s the Offense? The Tennessee Titans have been winning this season. It just hasn’t been very a pretty process lately. The Titans look to improve their anemic offense and keep rolling Sunday when they host the Carolina Panthers.