Yankees pull Cano, Cabrera from Winter Ball

The Yankees have pulled both Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera out of Winter Ball. Their decision to pull Cano was based on a calf injury that they did not want him to aggravate, according to the 25-year old second baseman. There was no reason given for Cabrera's upcoming absence from the winter league. One would assume he is being held out because he is a key piece in a potential trade for Johan Santana.

Is it possible that New York is also considering throwing Cano into the deal? I would be dead-set against this if I were a Yankee fan, but one would be led to believe that this may be the case. If the Yankees do indeed include Cano in a Santana trade along with Cabrera, I would think this would take Philip Hughes out of the equation as that would be far too much for the Bronx Bombers to give up. Maybe Cano, Cabrera, and someone like Jeff Marquez or Dellin Betances for Santana?

We'll just have to wait and see.

NBA Power Rankings, 12/27/07

1. Boston Celtics- Kevin Garnett is the leading vote-getter in the All-Star voting, and deservedly so. His typical unselfishness has led Boston to 23 wins in their first 26 contests. More importantly, Rajon Rondo is starting to become more involved in the offense in terms of scoring (14.7 PPG in the last six games).
2. Detroit Pistons- Many thought Detroit was finally on their way down after losing to Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but the Pistons have done just the opposite. They are still a title contender, and with rookie Rodney Stuckey finally back from injury, they have even more depth on an already full bench.
3. San Antonio Spurs- The Spurs have remained comfortably in front in the Southwest for the majority of the season so far, even with all of the injuries. I guess it helps that they have been shooting 39.2% from beyond the arc as a team.
4. Dallas Mavericks- Free throws, free throws, free throws. That has been the key to Dallas' success thus far, as the Mavericks are shooting 83.5% as a team from the charity stripe. Also, Dirk Nowitzki appears to be finding his groove after an inconsistent start to the season, scoring 30+ points in three straight up until Wednesday.
5. Phoenix Suns- As usual, the Suns have struggled mightily in defending other team's big men. Tim Duncan dropped 36 on them on Dec. 17th, Chris Bosh went for 42 on the 22nd, and Andrew Bynum victimized the Suns for 28 off 11-of-13 shooting on Christmas. If this trend continues, Phoenix will have the same problems they've had in the playoffs in past years.
6. New Orleans Hornets- Chris Paul's MVP-caliber season has continued, as the 22-year old dished out 15 assists in back-to-back games this week and then went off to score 40 on Wednesday. David West is also keeping up his remarkable year, averaging close to 20 and 10. The Hornets are for real.
7. Golden State Warriors- Monta Ellis has looked Iverson-esque at times this season, particularly in Wednesday's game when he scored 35 against Minnesota. He, Baron Davis, and Stephen Jackson have formed one of the most deadly trios in the league. Six Warriors are averaging double-figures in points per game. This team will be dangerous come April.
8. Denver Nuggets- Allen Iverson deserves to be in the conversation for the MVP award. The little man refuses to slow down, averaging 26.3 points and 7.2 assists per game. He has scored 30 or more points six times this month, including a 51-point performance on the 5th and then four straight 30+ point games from the 15th through the 21st.
9. Portland Trail Blazers- Can anyone stop the Blazers? The youngest squad in the league has reeled off 11 straight wins, most in convincing fashion. Everyone is contributing, and James Jones is now becoming an integral part of the offense. The rotation of Jones, Travis Outlaw, and Martell Webster has been ridiculously successful.
10. Los Angeles Lakers- Andrew Bynum has officially arrived. The 20-year old phenom is averaging a double-double and is developing into an elite center in this league. Also, the addition of Derek Fisher has really brought a veteran influence on this team that has been missing in previous seasons.
11. Orlando Magic- After looking to be in complete control of the Southeast, the Magic find themselves only a game in front of Atlanta in the loss column within a blink of an eye. Orlando is having a lot of trouble getting production out of their bench from anyone not named Keyon Dooling, and Rashard Lewis' sore neck isn't helping.
12. Utah Jazz- Their win over Dallas on Wednesday was huge and maybe a sign of things to come for this struggling Utah squad. Mehmet Okur's injury definitely hurt, but his production even before that was way down anyway. He has not been the same player ever since the playoffs last year. Matt Harpring doesn't look himself, either. That knee is clearly still irking him.
13. Atlanta Hawks- Could this be the year the Hawks finally make it over the hump and make the playoffs? It appears that way, especially with the way Marvin Williams has improved by leaps and bounds this season. Al Horford is also having a very nice rookie campaign, averaging near a double-double. Atlanta has won five straight.
14. Washington Wizards- Caron Butler continues to carry this team, recording a triple-double on Dec. 19th and coming close to one on Wednesday. You also have to appreciate the way Roger Mason is blossoming in Gilbert Arenas' absence. He has always had the talent to play in this league. He just never got the chance until now.
15. Indiana Pacers- With Ike Diogu back, the Pacers may have one of the league's better frontcourts. Mike Dunleavy continues to impress and has compensated for the down year by Jermaine O'Neal. Marquis Daniels has also had some big games in recent weeks, but he has been very inconsistent in terms of offensive production.
16. Toronto Raptors- Chris Bosh has finally shaken off his early-season struggles, but Toronto has lost three in a row and their schedule doesn't get any easier with games at San Antonio, Houston, and New Orleans and then back home at Detroit coming up.
17. Philadelphia 76ers- Quietly, Philadelphia has been one of the hotter teams in the league the past couple of weeks. A lot of that has to do with Andre Iguodala's new-found ability to take over games. It's also icing on top that Willie Green is having the best year of his career, averaging 13.1 points per game and scoring in double-digits in all but two games this month.
18. Cleveland Cavaliers- It looks like Larry Hughes is on his way out the door. He has been a bust of a free agent pick-up since signing with the Cavaliers in the summer of 2005, and it looks like second-year player Shannon Brown might be ready to take his place as an athletic spark and defender.
19. Houston Rockets- As if things couldn't get worse for the Rockets, Tracy McGrady's knee is acting up again. Houston still lacks that fiery player in the locker room to get the team going. They just don't look into it out there. Also, only two players on the club, McGrady and Yao Ming, are averaging double-figures in scoring. Yikes.
20. New Jersey Nets- And the Jason Kidd trade rumors surface for the umpteenth time. Will he stay or will he go? At this point, it would probably be best for New Jersey to trade the aging point guard, as they are not going anywhere in the near future anyway. How much other teams will be willing to give in return for the 34-year old is the question.
21. Milwaukee Bucks- With of the talent on this team, there is no reason why they should be five games under the .500 mark and falling out of the playoff picture heading into January. Charlie Villanueva is still not getting the playing time that he deserves, and Andrew Bogut continues to prove that he did not merit his number one selection in the 2005 draft.
22. Sacramento Kings- Had Kevin Martin not gotten injured, the Kings might actually be close to a playoff spot right now. Still, that's not the case, and Sacramento finds themselves 11-16 and in fourth place in the Pacific. Like Golden State, the Kings have six guys averaging double-figures in points, so there is balance and potential here. Francisco Garcia continues to improve.
23. Charlotte Bobcats- Nazr Mohammed has been a very solid acquisiton for Charlotte so far, averaging 11.3 rebounds per game in his last four. Despite his surprising production, the Bobcats' struggles have continued. Jared Dudley needs to get more playing time. He could be that final piece they have been looking for.
24. Chicago Bulls- Scott Skiles was made the scapegoat for Chicago's horrible start, but it was not his fault. This is just a poor team right now, and a lot of it has to do with John Paxson's poor moves in the draft (trading Tyrus Thomas for LaMarcus Aldridge in 2006 and taking the offensively-challenged Joakim Noah in this past draft).
25. Los Angeles Clippers- Mike Dunleavy needs to get Al Thornton some more floor time. This kid is vastly talented and could help in forming a great trio along with Elton Brand and Chris Kaman in the future. That raises the question, however, as to whether or not the Clippers should trade Brand or risk letting him walk in free agency in the off-season.
26. Seattle Supersonics- Kevin Durant is the clear-cut choice for Rookie of the Year so far, and I expect it to remain that way. Still, outside of himself, no one on the team has consistently produced enough offense for Seattle to win more than eight games through their first 28. However, Wally Szczerbiak is beginning to re-discover his stroke, averaging 19.8 PPG in his last four.
27. Memphis Grizzlies- Can someone please explain to me why Hakim Warrick is not playing more? The 25-year old averaged 12 and five in his second season last year, but he has been forgotten in Marc Iavaroni's rotation so far. Warrick could form a lethal athletic duo with Rudy Gay and could aid Memphis' ailing frontcourt.
28. New York Knicks- In an attempt to shake things up, Isiah Thomas played Eddy Curry only five minutes on Wednesday. It didn't help, as the Knicks lost by 14 to Orlando. Stephon Marbury is still M.I.A., and I have a feeling it is something more than just mourning the death of his father. Jamal Crawford, David Lee, and Zach Randolph are the three players to build around here.
29. Miami Heat- Well, one good thing for New York is that they are not the worst team in the East. Miami takes that honor without question, as Dwyane Wade's bad shoulder coupled with Shaquille O'Neal's geriatric body has led to an 8-21 record and a franchise in disarray. It's hard to believe that this a team that is only two years removed from a championship.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves- Randy Foye will now be out for at least one more month with that bad knee. Fortunately for Minnesota, Sebastian Telfair has been outstanding this season, averaging 10.3 points and 5.6 dimes per contest. And Al Jefferson is now a top 15-20 player in this league. The 22-year old has posted a double-double in each of his last eight games.

Twins back down on demands for Santana

It's becoming very clear that the New York Yankees are the team Minnesota wants to send Johan Santana to the most. Despite the Red Sox offering up Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson, the Twins keep coming back to the Bronx Bombers.

Originally, Minnesota was asking for Philip Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Ian Kennedy from New York. Now, they are trying to make a deal with the Yankees that does not include Kennedy. Instead, the Twins may ask for right-handed pitching prospect Jeff Marquez or possibly Alan Horne, but I can't see New York parting with the latter.

Boston is still refusing to include Jacoby Ellsbury or Clay Buchholz in any of their offers, so it's safe to say that they're all but out of the running for Santana's services. It looks like David Ortiz was right in saying the 29-year old superstar is not going to New England.

Blazers roll to 11th straight; Cavs, Lakers win

HEAT 82 CAVALIERS 96
MIA: Wade: 22 pts, 8 assts, 6 rebs
CLE: James: 25 pts, 12 assts Gooden: 18 pts, 9 rebs

SUNS 115 LAKERS 122
PHX: Nash: 24 pts (5-10 3PT), 14 assts Stoudemire: 19 pts, 6 rebs Marion: 15 pts, 10 rebs
LAL: Bryant: 38 pts (12-20 FG, 13-14 FT), 7 assts, 8 TO Bynum: 28 pts (11-13 FG), 12 rebs Fisher: 19 pts, 6 assts Odom: 15 pts, 14 rebs

SUPERSONICS 79 TRAIL BLAZERS 89
SEA: Durant: 23 pts, 6 rebs Szczerbiak: 19 pts Collison: 9 pts, 14 rebs
POR: Roy: 17 pts, 7 assts, 6 rebs Jack: 17 pts Przybilla: 6 pts, 16 rebs

Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

1. New England Patriots- The best part about the last few weeks for New England has been the emergence of Laurence Maroney, who rushed for 156 yards Sunday against Miami. The Giants will probably be resting some guys next week, so expect the Pats to get that undefeated record.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars- David Garrard has been darn near perfect this season. The 29-year old lifetime backup has thrown only three interceptions all year and has compiled a 102.2 quarterback rating. And it's about time Fred Taylor gets a trip to Hawaii.
3. Indianapolis Colts- Marvin Harrison who? Reggie Wayne has stepped up in a big way in Harrison's absence, going for 1,423 yards and 10 scores. Another eye-popping stat is Dallas Clark's 11 touchdown grabs. Despite the injuries, the Colts will be a tough out in the playoffs.
4. Dallas Cowboys- They haven't looked too impressive the past two weeks, losing at home to Philadelphia and almost falling to woeful Carolina. Add to the fact that Terrell Owens has a high ankle sprain, and Dallas fans everywhere must be sweating.
5. New York Giants- Had Brandon Jacobs been healthy all year, he would have made it to the Pro Bowl. Also, the emergence of rookie seventh-rounder Ahmad Bradshaw has given this team a new dimension in the running game. Plus, the defense is finally doing something it hasn't been able to do since the Giants' last Super Bowl run: getting big stops.
6. Green Bay Packers- Hopefully, the 35-7 drubbing the Bears handed them was an aberration, as that's the last thing a team needs heading into the playoffs. Still, Green Bay's offense is as explosive as its been since the late 90's, and possibly even better. Brett Favre has an unbelievable amount of targets to throw to.
7. San Diego Chargers- Quietly, the Chargers have won eight of 10 and will grab the third seed in the AFC with a win at Oakland next week. However, the inconsistency of Philip Rivers and lack of receivers he has to throw to has to be a concern. Neither Vincent Jackson nor Chris Chambers showed primary target capability this season.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers- They would be ahead of San Diego had they not lost Willie Parker for the rest of the year with a broken leg. Ben Roethlisberger is having an MVP-caliber season, throwing 32 touchdowns and hitting a variety of different receivers. Santonio Holmes is turning into a star.
9. Seattle Seahawks- Winners of six of their last seven, Seattle is heading into the postseason a hot team. Matt Hasselbeck has finally gotten back into the groove, posting a 91.5 rating and tossing 27 TDs. And how about that defense? Guys like Julian Peterson and Marcus Trufant are having unreal years.
10. Cleveland Browns- Their final game doesn't even matter. It all depends on the Titans, who get in with a win and lose out on the last playoff spot to the Browns if they don't. Either way, you have to love what Derek Anderson and the rest of this Cleveland squad has done this season. No one wants to see this team in the playoffs, either.
11. Tennessee Titans- They will be playing the Colts in the closing week of the season to determine whether or not they will be participating in January football. Considering Indy will probably be resting their key guys for most of the game, the chances of the Titans reaching the postseason are pretty high.
12. Washington Redskins- Somehow, the Redskins find themselves holding on to the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC. Todd Collins has been a breath of fresh air for this team, and the defense has really stepped it up the past three games. Because they will be playing the second-string of the Cowboys on Sunday, Washington will take care of business and get in.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- They may be ranked a little low, but I think the Buccaneers are going to be the weakest team in the postseason. Their offense has far too many question marks, and I don't know if they are tough enough to deal with the physical Giants in the first round.
14. Minnesota Vikings- Minnesota choked away a golden opportunity on Saturday, and because of that, they now need some help to make the playoffs. Tarvaris Jackson has reverted back to his old ways, throwing five picks and only one touchdown the past two games. Oh well. They had a good run.
15. Arizona Cardinals- Injuries and inconsistency down the stretch doomed this team's playoff chances, but the future is very bright for the young Cardinals. They probably have the league's best receiving corps in Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Bryant Johnson, and the defense has some good up-and-coming players like Gabe Watson and Darnell Dockett.
16. New Orleans Saints- Had they won Sunday, they would be in a "win-and-you're-in" position next weekend against Chicago, but the Saints choked big-time against the Eagles and now need a lot of assistance to make the postseason. The defense needs a lot of work for this team to even think about contending next year.
17. Buffalo Bills- They fought long and hard against the Giants but came up short. Still, this Bills' team, particularly the defense, has a lot to look forward to in the near future. It just needs to get its quarterback situation figured out (Trent Edwards is not the answer). Why Buffalo gave up on J.P. Losman so easily, I don't know.
18. Houston Texans- Houston has had a very good season, and if Ahman Green and Andre Johnson had stayed healthy, they might be in the playoff conversation right now. Also, the emergence of tight end Owen Daniels has given the Texans one of the more underrated offenses in the NFL.
19. Philadelphia Eagles- What this team will look like next season, I have no clue, but changes need to be made. The first thing they need to do is draft a wide receiver, as Kevin Curtis was Donovan McNabb's only reliable wide-out all year long. Brian Westbrook shouldn't be the team's second option in the passing game.
20. Detroit Lions- So much for Jon Kitna's 10-win guarantee. He might not even be the team's starting quarterback come next year, as he fell of a cliff in the second half of the season. Detroit also needs a halfback, as Kevin Jones just isn't getting it done. The secondary needs some help on defense.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- With the talent this team has, it's a complete mystery to me how they're only 6-9. However, Carson Palmer doesn't look like the same signal-caller we saw two years ago, and Rudi Johnson was ravaged by injuries all season, as evidenced by his paltry 2.9 yards per carry average.
22. Denver Broncos- Despite its disappointing season, Denver has quite a few things to look forward to next year, including the developing combination of Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. Plus, is halfback Selvin Young for real, or is he simply another product of Mike Shanahan's system?
23. Chicago Bears- The defense went from being the most feared in the NFL last season to a complete pushover this year, ranked 28th overall in the league. Chicago also will never be taken seriously again unless they determine who their quarterback is, and Cedric Benson appears to be a bust at the running back position.
24. Carolina Panthers- Had it not been for all of the injuries they went through this season, I'm pretty sure the Panthers would have won the NFC South. There is still an ample amount of talent on this squad, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The cornerback trio of Chris Gamble, Ken Lucas, and Richard Marshall is downright filthy, and rookie Jon Beason has been a machine at linebacker.
25. San Francisco 49ers- Will Shaun Hill take Alex Smith's job heading into next season? With the way he's played in each of his three starts (five touchdowns, one pick, and a 101.3 rating), it appears he has a very good chance of doing so. The 49ers could very well be an eight or nine-win team in 2008.
26. New York Jets- Arguably the NFL's biggest disappointment this year, the Jets have a lot to do in the off-season to get back to being a playoff contender. It starts with evaluating their quarterback situation; is Kellen Clemens really the future signal-caller of this team, or do they need to draft one? They also need a pass-rusher, as Shaun Ellis has fallen off the past couple of seasons.
27. St. Louis Rams- Their 3-12 record is very mis-leading, as the Rams were killed by injuries this year. As long as Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson stay healthy, St. Louis will contend in the NFC West next season. You can bank on that. However, that incident between Torry Holt and coach Scott Linehan looked a little troublesome. That stuff doesn't just happen.
28. Oakland Raiders- JaMarcus Russell has looked awful in the limited time he's seen so far, but he'll get a chance to redeem himself when he makes his first career start against San Diego next week. And what has happened to Oakland's defense this year? Cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington have not even come close to reaching their production from 2006.
29. Baltimore Ravens- They have lost nine in a row and are on their way to what is probably the most disastrous season in their short history. At least Troy Smith looked halfway decent in his debut. If Baltimore can just find their quarterback (is Smith it?), they will be okay for the future.
30. Kansas City Chiefs- Much like the Ravens, Kansas City's season started spinning out of control a long time ago. They have lost eight straight and, again like Baltimore, have no definite signal-caller. Plus, Larry Johnson appears to be winding down already. Yes, I understand he broke his foot, but he was averaging only 3.5 yards per carry before that, anyway.
31. Atlanta Falcons- It's gotten so bad in Atlanta that Bill Parcells passed up on a job opening there to go to the Dolphins. Yes, the 1-14 Dolphins. If that's not a kick in the face then I don't know what is. The Falcons are crossing their fingers for Brian Brohm to still be on the board when they draft in April. However, a quarterback is not all they need, as the offensive line is terrible, their running game is uncharacteristically bad, and they still have no receivers.
32. Miami Dolphins- Well, at least they got their win two weeks ago.

One week left to play: NFL playoff picture

AFC
1. New England Patriots (15-0) h
2. Indianapolis Colts (13-2) z
3. San Diego Chargers (10-5) y
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5) y
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) x
6. Cleveland Browns (8-7)
------------------------------------------------
7. Tennessee Titans (8-7)

NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys (13-2) h
2. Green Bay Packers (12-3) z
3. Seattle Seahawks (10-5) y
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) y
5. New York Giants (10-5) x
6. Washingon Redskins (8-7)
------------------------------------------------
7. Minnesota Vikings (8-7)
8. New Orleans Saints (7-8)

h = homefield advantage throughout conference playoffs
z = first-round bye
y = division winner
x = playoff berth

Scenarios:

• If Tennessee wins, they clinch the final playoff berth in the AFC. If they lose, Cleveland gets the last spot.
• If Washington wins, they clinch the final playoff berth in the NFC.
• If Minnesota wins and Washington loses, Minnesota gets the last spot.
• If New Orleans wins and Washington and Minnesota both lose, New Orleans gets in.

Playoff fate now out of Browns' grasp

The Cleveland Browns could have clinched a playoff berth by beating the woeful Bengals in Cincinnati yesterday. Had they done that, they would not have had to worry about what the Tennessee Titans did in their game last night against the Jets. The Browns could have gone into week 17 knowing they were locked into the sixth slot in the AFC playoff race which would have allowed them to give some of their key players some rest. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen.

Derek Anderson picked a bad time to have what was probably his worst game of the season, throwing four interceptions, three in the first half, which led to 14 Cincinnati points. The weather conditions weren't exactly ideal as gusting winds pounded both sides all afternoon long, but Anderson was all over the place. Twice he was picked off deep into Bengals' territory, once at the five-yard line on a pass intended for Kellen Winslow.

Because of Anderson's erratic throws, Cincinnati jumped out to an early 19-0 lead. Cleveland battled back, as Anderson was able to find Braylon Edwards in the end zone twice in the second half to cut the lead to five, 19-14, but it wasn't enough.

Now, the Browns have to rely on Tennessee to lose next week in their game at Indianapolis. It doesn't matter what Cleveland does. If both the Browns and Titans win, Tennessee is in because of tiebreakers. However, if both teams lose, Cleveland makes it because they would then own the tiebreaker. It's confusing, but that's how it works.

In the case of the Titans, they will be playing a Colts' team that has already locked up the number two spot in the AFC. Tony Dungy has already said that backup quarterback Jim Sorgi will play at least one half, and it is not known how much other regulars like Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, etc. will play. Dungy stated that he wants to win the game, but it is more important for him to go into the postseason healthy than beat a division rival.

Should Dungy remain true to his word and sit Peyton Manning for a good portion of the game, the door will be wide open for Tennessee to make it to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season and it would take a major choke-job for them not to do so. The Titans didn't look too extraordinary in their 10-6 win over the Jets on Sunday, but they did enough to win, atypical of Tennessee in all of their victories. Vince Young completed 12 of 23 passes for 166 yards and threw a pick, but it didn't cost his team the game. Now, they sit at 9-6 and one win away from playing January football.

The question remains as to how dangerous either of these two squads jockeying for the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC can be. The Titans have shown they could be a dominant squad this season with a stellar defense led by Pro Bowl tackle Albert Haynesworth and linebacker Keith Bulluck, but their offense has been extremely spotty. Young has only thrown nine touchdown passes this season compared to 17 interceptions, good for a dismal quarterback rating of 69.5

The running game has been pretty effective, with second-year back LenDale White rushing for over 1,000 yards, backup Chris Brown averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and Young going for 376 yards and three touchdowns. However, White is averaging only 3.7 yards per carry, and in the postseason where the teams involved are generally good at stop the run, that could pose a problem.

The Browns, on the other hand, can have a very explosive offense at times. It all hinges on whether or not Anderson plays mistake-free football. He has looked brilliant at times this season, throwing for 3,635 yards and 28 touchdowns. However, those 18 interceptions make you wonder whether or not he can lead Cleveland on a potential playoff run this year.

Fortunately for the Browns, their offense is not one-dimensional. Jamal Lewis has re-discovered himself in a Cleveland uniform, carrying for nearly 1,200 yards through 15 games. The Browns also have a change-of-pace back in Jason Wright who, like Tennessee's Brown, is averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. Anderson also has several weapons to throw to, and they don't only go by the names of Winslow and Edwards. Joe Jurevicius has stepped up in a big way for Cleveland this season, catching 49 balls for 602 yards.

That's where the Browns have a huge advantage over the Titans. Tennessee does not have a true number one receiver in its corps. Roydell Williams is the team's leading wide-out and he has only caught 49 passes for 660 yards this season. Jurevicius has produced just as much as Cleveland's third option. Justin Gage has been re-born since coming to the Titans, grabbing 48 for 646. However, that duo is not going to get Tennessee very far if their defense doesn't completely shut down the opposition. Considering they're going to be playing either Pittsburgh or San Diego in the first round if they reach the playoffs, that doesn't bode well for the Titans. You have to be able to score with those teams, something Tennessee can't do. The Browns, on the other hand, can.

Cleveland will end the season at home against San Francisco at 1:00 PM. The Titans will travel to Indianapolis to face the 13-2 Colts, most likely the second-string Colts. That game has been moved to the prime-time slot at 8:00. It's simple: if Tennessee wins, they're in. If they lose, the Browns get in.

Vikings no-show against Redskins

They came into the game with one simple guideline: win, and you're in. The Minnesota Vikings had won five in a row, obliterating the Giants, Lions, and 49ers and handling the Raiders and Bears. Their ground game was on a roll, with Adrian Peterson running through everything in sight and Chester Taylor doing pretty much the same behind him.

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson had been blossoming over the first four wins of Minnesota's streak, and because of that his subpar outing last week against Chicago was only considered a minor setback to a very promising end of the season for the 23-year old Jackson. The run defense was nearly impenetrable, demonstrated by its number one ranking in the NFL.

Still, all of that went by the waste-side on Sunday night against the Washington Redskins. The Vikings had the home crowd behind them. Everyone in the building knew that a playoff berth was theirs for the taking. However, Minnesota put up a sad sac of a performance, getting down by 25 early and ultimately falling 32-21.

Things went awry right from the start for the Vikings, with Jackson picking up right where he left off last weekend by throwing an interception into the arms of Fred Smoot on the second play of the game for Minnesota. Smoot returned it 47 yards to the eight-yard line, setting Washington up for a score. But, the Vikings' defense came up big as it has done many times this season, holding the Redskins down on their first three plays and, on fourth-and-goal from the one, stopped fullback Mike Sellers from getting into the end zone. It was originally ruled a touchdown, but Brad Childress challenged the play and won.

This gave Minnesota the ball at their own one, and that's where the disaster began. Jackson handed the ball off to fullback Tony Richardson who was stoned back in his own end zone for a safety. Washington would then score on the ensuing possession thanks to a 33-yard pass from 36-year old journeyman quarterback Todd Collins to tight end Chris Cooley.

After being scored on twice more to fall behind 25-0, the Vikings began to hear the boos from the hometown fans. Many in the state of Minnesota thought Christmas would come early, assuming their team would clinch a playoff spot by beating the Redskins a day before Christmas Eve. That didn't happen, and because of this the Vikings now find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoff picture.

Now, in order for Minnesota to get in, they would have to go to Denver and win next week while Washington would have to lose at home to the Cowboys, a squad that has absolutely nothing to play for as they have already locked up home-field advantage in the NFC. Not only that, but Terrell Owens certainly won't be playing as he nurses a high ankle sprain and there is also a chance that Tony Romo may sit to avoid causing further damage to a sore thumb on his throwing hand. I can see the Vikings beating the Broncos, but I cannot see the Redskins losing at home to Dallas with that much at stake.

Jackson appeared to be coming into his own for Minnesota, but back-to-back head-scratching performances are making everyone wonder once again whether or not the Vikings have truly solved their quarterback situation. In the past two contests, the second-year player has thrown five interceptions compared to one lone touchdown. It would probably help if he had some receivers to throw to, though, as the team's number one receiver is Bobby Wade. Wade has caught 49 passes for 555 yards this year. A decent number three wide-out on any other team could post those numbers without much of a problem. This is where Minnesota is lacking and will continue to lack unless they do something to rectify it in the draft and in free agency.

The Vikings had a nice run, but there was a reason they started the season with a record of 3-5. They're a solid team, but they are not good enough to contend in the playoffs like many thought they could after they reeled off those five victories in a row.

Washington, on the other hand, seems like a club on a mission. After the death of Sean Taylor, the Redskins lost a heartbreaker to Buffalo, and their season appeared to be over. However, Washington didn't give in, not even after losing their starting quarterback Jason Campbell to a leg injury in the first half the following week against Chicago. Collins stepped in and led the 'Skins to victory. Washington then went on to beat the Giants in terrible weather conditions at the Meadowlands, putting them at 7-7 and in great position to make a playoff push. Clearly, they knew what was at stake Sunday night, as they did almost everything right in blowing the doors off of Minnesota (the score doesn't tell the story as to how one-sided the game was). They now control their own destiny; win next week against the Cowboys, and they're in as the sixth seed.

Give a lot of credit to Collins, who, after not starting a game in the NFL for 10 years, came in in week 14 to spark this ball-club. He threw two touchdowns against the Bears and despite going only 8-for-25 against New York, he didn't make any costly mistakes and did enough for the Redskins to win the game. Also remember that there were 40-50 MPH winds in Giants' Stadium. Collins then had what was the best game of his career against the Vikings, completing 22 of 29 passes for 254 yards and two scores.

I expect this trend to continue next Sunday.

Somehow, the Redskins will be playing January football.

Jacobs, Bradshaw lead Giants to playoffs

In a game that featured rain, sleet, snow, and 60 MPH winds, an electrifying backfield tandem led the New York Giants to a 38-21 win over the Buffalo Bills. The victory put the Giants in the postseason for the third consecutive year.

Halfbacks Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw combined for 296 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, Jacobs running for 145 and two and Bradshaw running for 151 and one. However, things did not start out all fine and sweet for New York.

The Bills won the opening coin toss and Trent Edwards led his team 60 yards down the field for a score. The drive was featured by a 30-yard catch-and-run by Marshawn Lynch. Edwards was leveled by safety Michael Johnson right as he threw the football, but fortunately for Buffalo, Lynch was in the right spot at the right time and ran to the six-yard line. Two plays later, Edwards tossed a three-yard pass in the end zone to tight end Michael Gaines, giving the Bills a 7-0 advantage.

After forcing the Giants to go three-and-out, Buffalo took over from their own 34. The drive was very similar to the previous one, as Edwards was hit by Johnson on the fifth play of the drive but somehow found Roscoe Parrish 42 yards down the field to get the Bills down to the eight-yard line. He then threw a four-yard touchdown to Lee Evans, making it 14-0.

New York still could not get much going on their next possession despite a 39-yard completion from Eli Manning to Amani Toomer that gave the Giants great field position at the Buffalo 31. They would punt for the third consecutive time.

That's when things began to bounce New York's way. After a seven-yard drive that only gained them 19 yards, the Bills were forced to punt. However, Brian Moorman muffed the snap and, after picking the ball up, proceeded to fumble after being hit by Bradshaw. Chase Blackburn recovered at the Giants' 23-yard line. Jacobs then got New York on the board with a six-yard touchdown run. Buffalo kicked the ball away once again on their next drive, leading to a 43-yard run by Jacobs to knot the score up at 14.

The Giants' defense began to take full control of the game, and after holding the Bills to another three-and-out, they went down the field and Lawrence Tynes converted on a 42-yard field goal attempt to give New York its first lead since beating Philadelphia two weeks ago, 17-14. The Giants had an opportunity to add more points at the end of the half, but Manning had the ball knocked out of his hand at the Buffalo 26 by Aaron Schobel to end the second quarter.

Manning then started the second half on a sloppy note, throwing an interception to Keith Ellison on the first play. It took the Bills two snaps to score a touchdown, both runs by Lynch, one for 28 yards and then a three-yard rush into the end zone to give Buffalo a 21-17 edge.

No points were scored again until Kawika Mitchell intercepted Edwards and ran 20 yards for a score to start out the fourth quarter, giving New York a 24-21 lead. This followed a huge goal-line stand by the Bills, stopping the Giants on a fourth-and-one on the one-yard line after a 13-play drive.

All the momentum was now on New York's side, as the Giants' defense continued to apply pressure to Edwards and force him into bad throws. Still, Manning refused to make it easy for his squad, getting picked off by Terrence McGee with 8:10 to play. Thankfully for Manning, his defense relentlessly backed him up, forcing the Bills to punt after three plays.

That's when Bradshaw shined. On the first play of New York's next possession, the rookie seventh-round pick bursted 88 yards up the middle and then down the sideline for a touchdown, making it 31-21 Giants. It was the longest run of the season in the NFL and the third longest in Giants' history. Corey Webster then sealed the deal with an interception for a score on the ensuing drive, putting New York up 38-21.

With the win, the Giants clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive year, joining the Patriots, Colts, and Seahawks as the only teams to accomplish that feat the past three seasons.

Injury notes: Jacobs injured his ankle in the third quarter, but returned. However, to get the 270-pound back some rest, Bradshaw got the bulk of the carries from there on in.

Eagles top Cowboys; Patriots sneak by Jets

TITANS 26 CHIEFS 17
TEN: Young: 16/26, 191 yds, 2 TD White: 24 car, 93 yds Williams: 4 rec, 94 yds, 2 TD
KC: Croyle: 25/43, 217 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Smith: 18 car, 82 yds Bowe: 5 rec, 64 yds

BILLS 0 BROWNS 8
BUF: Edwards: 13/33, 124 yds Lynch: 21 car, 82 yds
CLE: Anderson: 9/24, 137 yds Lewis: 33 car, 163 yds Edwards: 4 rec, 64 yds

SEAHAWKS 10 PANTHERS 13
SEA: Hasselbeck: 27/41, 274 yds, TD Engram: 9 rec, 84 yds Branch: 8 rec, 79 yds, TD
CAR: Moore: 19/27, 208 yds Williams: 15 car, 61 yds, TD Smith: 8 rec, 72 yds

FALCONS 3 BUCCANEERS 37
ATL: Redman: 4/15, 34 yds, 2 INT Norwood: 9 car, 73 yds
TB: Garcia: 15/25, 109 yds, TD, INT Graham: 22 car, 79 yds, TD, 5 rec, 40 yds Spurlock: 90-yd kickoff return TD

PACKERS 33 RAMS 14
GB: Favre: 19/30, 227 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT; passes Dan Marino for most passing yds. all time Grant: 18 car, 55 yds, TD Driver: 5 rec, 80 yds Jennings: 4 rec, 66 yds, TD
STL: Bulger: 20/39, 219 yds, TD, 2 INT Jackson: 24 car, 143 yds, TD Bruce: 4 rec, 72 yds Bennett: 5 rec, 65 yds

JAGUARS 29 STEELERS 22
JAC: Garrard: 17/33, 197 yds, 3 TD, INT Taylor: 25 car, 147 yds, TD Jones-Drew: 12 car, 69 yds Northcutt: 4 rec, 81 yds, TD
PIT: Roethlisberger: 16/33, 146 yds, 3 TD Parker: 14 car, 100 yds

CARDINALS 24 SAINTS 31
ARI: Warner: 19/30, 233 yds, 3 TD, INT James: 16 car, 84 yds Boldin: 6 rec, 83 yds
NO: Brees: 26/30, 315 yds, 2 TD Stecker: 22 car, 95 yds, 2 TD Colston: 8 rec, 114 yds, TD Patten: 4 rec, 71 yds, TD

JETS 10 PATRIOTS 20
NYJ: Clemens: 0/1, INT; left game (ribs) Pennington: 25/38, 186 yds Washington: 4 car, 57 yds Baker: 8 rec, 66 yds
NE: Brady: 14/27, 140 yds, INT Maroney: 26 car, 104 yds, TD Moss: 5 rec, 79 yds

RAVENS 16 DOLPHINS 22 (OT)
BAL: Boller: 10/19, 159 yds, TD, INT McGahee: 29 car, 104 yds Mason: 4 rec, 45 yds, TD
MIA: Lemon: 23/39, 315 yds, TD Gado: 18 car, 43 yds, TD Camarillo: 3 rec, 109 yds, GW-TD in OT M. Booker: 8 rec, 88 yds

COLTS 21 RAIDERS 14
IND: Manning: 22/39, 276 yds, TD, INT Addai: 15 car, 44 yds Gonzalez: 7 rec, 86 yds, TD Wayne: 4 rec, 69 yds
OAK: McCown: 13/24, 94 yds, TD Fargas: 26 car, 89 yds, TD

LIONS 14 CHARGERS 51
DET: Kitna: 26/45, 302 yds, 2 TD, 5 INT Johnson: 5 rec, 102 yds Furrey: 7 rec, 80 yds
SD: Rivers: 14/21, 142 yds, TD Sproles: 25 car, 122 yds, 2 TD Tomlinson: 15 car, 116 yds, 2 TD Chambers: 4 rec, 69 yds

EAGLES 10 COWBOYS 6
PHI: McNabb: 23/41, 208 yds, TD, 9 car, 53 yds Westbrook: 18 car, 81 yds, 9 rec, 63 yds
DAL: Romo: 13/36, 214 yds, 3 INT Witten: 8 rec, 113 yds

NBA Power Rankings, 12/16/07

1. Boston Celtics- 19-2. What else is there to say?
2. San Antonio Spurs- The fact that they were able to beat Dallas and Utah without Tim Duncan says something about this squad. Still, although Duncan is back, but Tony Parker is now injured.
3. Detroit Pistons- For some reason, Detroit always flies under the radar. I really don't see how with that starting lineup, which is second best in the league only to Boston. They are the only team in the East capable of beating the Celtics in a playoff series.
4. Dallas Mavericks- It appears that they have come out of their mini slump, and Josh Howard and Devin Harris are having phenomenal seasons. Also, there is more depth here than ever. How about Brandon Bass?
5. Phoenix Suns- You still get the feeling that they won't be able to make it over that hump come playoff time. Still, the acquisition of Grant Hill has worked wonders for this squad, as he is averaging just under 16 PPG.
6. New Orleans Hornets- Chris Paul and David West is a poor man's version of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. If they stay healthy, New Orleans is going to be a factor in the West come April.
7. Orlando Magic- They seem to be coming back down to earth lately, but you can't overlook the unbelievable season Dwight Howard is having. He is a top three MVP candidate right now without a doubt.
8. Golden State Warriors- That 0-6 start is nothing but a distant memory now, as the Warriors have gone on a roll. Baron Davis and Monta Ellis may very well be the NBA's deadliest backcourt, and I now see why they let Jason Richardson go so easily (have you seen Kelenna Azubuike?).
9. Utah Jazz- Utah has been struggling, but the talent on this team should win them a top four seed without a problem. Ronnie Brewer has been a very pleasant surprise for Jerry Sloan this season, but Mehmet Okur needs to step his game up.
10. Denver Nuggets- Allen Iverson has been dropping double-doubles left and right, but it hasn't resulted in many Denver wins lately. Outside of Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets are getting no offensive production from anyone else.
11. Washington Wizards- No Gilbert Arenas, no problem. Caron Butler has developed into a premier player in this game, and guys like Andray Blatche and Nick Young are coming along very nicely. When Arenas returns, this team will be extremely dangerous.
12. Toronto Raptors- Seven players are averaging double-figures in scoring this year, demonstrating the balance this team has. Add the surprise that has been Jamario Moon into the mix, and Sam Mitchell has got to be very happy with the way things have gone so far.
13. Los Angeles Lakers- Andrew Bynum is showing why he was touted so highly coming out of high school through the first 22 games, but outside of he, Kobe Bryant, and maybe Jordan Farmar, not many others are living up to expectations (Lamar Odom has to score more than 13.5 PPG).
14. Portland Trail Blazers- Travis Outlaw has sparked the Blazers to six consecutive wins, and LaMarcus Aldridge is learning the game very fast. Martell Webster has cooled off a bit, but he can still go off in a minute's notice, and Jarrett Jack appears to have shook off his early struggles.
15. Indiana Pacers- Danny Granger is slowly turning into the star many expected him to be when the Pacers drafted him, and Mike Dunleavy has having a very solid year. Also, Shawne Williams is developing quickly. The only problem here is actually the play of Jermaine O'Neal, who is clearly not 100% healthy.
16. Houston Rockets- The Rockets are the fourth best team in the division, no questions asked. They have no depth off the bench, and only two players (Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming) are averaging double-figures. Steve Francis has been a bust of a pick-up.
17. Atlanta Hawks- Atlanta is going to have a nice team in a couple of years that may even contend in the East. Al Horford is making a case for Rookie of the Year, and Josh Smith is on his way to being a top 15-20 player in the game. Also, Marvin Williams has shed his "bust" label.
18. Milwaukee Bucks- There is talent here, but it just hasn't meshed. Andrew Bogut has been a big-time disappointment as far as I'm concerned, and Charlie Villanueva needs to get more playing time. Why Yi Jianlian is starting over him is beyond me.
19. Philadelphia 76ers- Philly has been playing very good basketball recently, and it all starts with Andre Iguodala. This kid has really turned into a nice player. Still, I'd like to see Thaddeus Young and Rodney Carney on the floor more. There is an ample amount of young talent here.
20. Chicago Bulls- It looks like they are finally turning it around, winners in six of their last nine. That still doesn't make up for Kirk Hinrich's miserable start. I really think he lost his confidence in the playoffs last year. And does anyone else think trading Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas on draft day 2006 was a bad idea?
21. Cleveland Cavaliers- They are terrible, and it's not just because of injuries. There is no chemistry here at all, and while LeBron James is getting help in the scoring department, it is not translating into wins. A move needs to be made. Getting Shannon Brown some more playing time might help, as well.
22. Los Angeles Clippers- Well, they have fared much better than I thought they would without Elton Brand. Chris Kaman has really stepped his game up and is actually putting up MVP-caliber numbers (18.6 PPG, 13.8 RPG). Where did this come from?
23. New Jersey Nets- Depth is what is really killing this team. Outside of the Big Three, New Jersey doesn't have any consistent scorers. Bostjan Nachbar and Antoine Wright are producing, but it hasn't been enough. It also looks like Nenad Krstic came back from that ACL tear too soon.
24. Sacramento Kings- Life without Kevin Martin hasn't been all that bad, but you can bet that Reggie Theus is frantically counting the days until his leading scorer returns. Beno Udrih has been a great addition (14.8 PPG), and this is a guy who was dealt from the Spurs to Minnesota for a second-round pick and then waived.
25. Memphis Grizzlies- Rudy Gay continues to prove why he should have been the number one pick of the 2006 Draft. He is averaging 19 PPG and has had several outings where he looked unstoppable this season, and Juan Carlos Navarro is showing he can play in the NBA without a problem.
26. Charlotte Bobcats- I don't get why this team has been performing so badly this year. There is plenty of talent here, from Emeka Okafor to Gerald Wallace to J-Rich. Oh, I forgot to include Raymond Felton in there. Maybe a coaching change is in order.
27. New York Knicks- Much like Charlotte, I don't get this team. They have one of the most talent-laden rosters in the league but cannot seem to win ball-games. The only consistent players have been Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford, and David Lee's production has drastically dropped since last season.
28. Seattle Supersonics- Kevin Durant is scoring, but he is not shooting the ball well (only 39.4% from the floor). And what has happened to Luke Ridnour? Many considered him a poor man's Steve Nash last year, and now he is struggling to remain in P.J. Carlesimo's rotation.
29. Miami Heat- Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Heat are simply awful, and I don't think they will be able to recover this time around. Shaquille O'Neal isn't even a shell of his former self, and Dwyane Wade doesn't look right out there. Good luck to Pat Riley.
30. Minnesota Timberwolves- Yeah, they're 3-19, but that will look very different a couple of years down the road. Al Jefferson and Craig Smith are forming a formidable duo up front, and Rashad McCants is starting to blossom. However, this whole knee injury with Randy Foye is scary.

Saturday's NBA scores

BOBCATS 84 HAWKS 93
CHA: Wallace: 24 pts, 7 rebs Okafor: 14 pts, 14 rebs
ATL: Johnson: 31 pts (12-24 FG), 6 assts M. Williams: 20 pts Smith: 19 pts, 10 rebs, 6 assts

GRIZZLES 123 MAGIC 119
MEM: Gay: 32 pts (13-21 FG), 7 rebs Navarro: 27 pts (5-11 3PT) Miller: 19 pts, 8 rebs, 8 assts
ORL: Howard: 31 pts (10-11 FG), 20 rebs Turkoglu: 24 pts Nelson: 18 pts, 8 assts

KINGS 79 WIZARDS 92
SAC: Miller: 21 pts, 9 rebs Udrih: 12 pts, 10 assts
WAS: Stevenson: 19 pts, 7 assts Haywood: 17 pts, 11 rebs

76ERS 92 CAVALIERS 86
PHI: Iguodala: 20 pts, 4 stls Miller: 20 pts Dalembert: 16 pts, 19 rebs
CLE: Gooden: 21 pts, 10 rebs James: 21 pts, 6 rebs, 6 assts

PACERS 106 HEAT 103
IND: Tinsley: 26 pts (10-27 FG), 6 assts O'Neal: 24 pts, 7 rebs
MIA: Wade: 24 pts (12-13 FT), 9 assts, 8 TO Haslem: 24 pts, 7 rebs

NETS 86 KNICKS 94
NJ: Carter: 24 pts, 7 assts Kidd: 18 pts, 7 rebs, 7 assts, 4 stls
NY: Crawford: 32 pts, 7 rebs Curry: 23 pts, 9 rebs Randolph: 20 pts, 13 rebs

SUNS 98 HORNETS 101
PHX: Hill: 17 pts, 7 rebs Bell: 17 pts
NO: Paul: 21 pts, 10 assts Peterson: 21 pts West: 15 pts, 11 rebs Chandler: 14 pts, 18 rebs

MAVERICKS 96 ROCKETS 83
DAL: Howard: 23 pts Nowitzki: 23 pts, 8 assts, 6 rebs Stackhouse: 17 pts
HOU: Yao: 28 pts, 14 rebs McGrady: 12 pts (5-18 FG)

TIMBERWOLVES 92 BUCKS 95
MIN: Smith: 30 pts (12-17 FG), 10 rebs Jefferson: 23 pts, 15 rebs
MIL: Redd: 32 pts (7-12 3PT), 9 assts, 6 rebs Yi: 22 pts Williams: 19 pts, 6 assts

NUGGETS 91 SPURS 102
DEN: Iverson: 30 pts
SA: Oberto: 21 pts (10-11 FG), 13 rebs Finley: 21 pts

SUPERSONICS 75 JAZZ 98
SEA: Szczerbiak: 24 pts
UTA: Boozer: 21 pts, 16 rebs Williams: 18 pts, 10 assts Brewer: 18 pts

D'Backs acquire Haren, send Valverde out

The Arizona Diamondbacks completed two major trades on Friday. First, they acquired right-hander Danny Haren from the Oakland Athletics for top-flight prospect Carlos Gonzalez and five other minor-leaguers, including pitcher Dana Eveland. The 27-year old Haren went 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA last season. He also struck out 192 in 222.2 innings.

Arizona then shipped closer Jose Valverde to the Houston Astros in exchange for reliever Chad Qualls, utility man Chris Burke, and right-handed prospect Juan Gutierrez. Valverde led the majors in saves last year with 47. He posted a 2.66 ERA and fanned 78 in 64.1 innings of work.

Playoff race: Dec. 9th

AFC
1. New England Patriots (13-0) yz
2. Indianapolis Colts (11-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-4)
4. San Diego Chargers (8-5)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
6. Cleveland Browns (8-5)
------------------------------------------
7. Buffalo Bills (7-6)
8. Tennessee Titans (7-6)
9. Denver Broncos (6-7)
10. Houston Texans (6-7)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) e
12. Kansas City Chiefs (4-9) e
13. Oakland Raiders (4-9) e
14. Baltimore Ravens (4-9) e
15. New York Jets (3-10) e
16. Miami Dolphins (0-13) e

NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys (12-1) y
2. Green Bay Packers (11-2) y
3. Seattle Seahawks (9-4) y
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
5. New York Giants (9-4)
6. Minnesota Vikings (7-6)
------------------------------------------
7. Washington Redskins (6-7)
8. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
9. Detroit Lions (6-7)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-7)
11. Carolina Panthers (5-8)
12. Chicago Bears (5-8)
13. Philadelphia Eagles (5-8)
14. Atlanta Falcons (3-9)
15. San Francisco 49ers (3-10) e
16. St. Louis Rams (3-10) e

z- denotes first-round bye
y- denotes division winner
x- clinched playoff berth
e- eliminated from playoff contention

Giants top Eagles, inch closer to playoff berth

It was anything but pretty, but the New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 16-13 on Sunday, completing their second season sweep of the Eagles in three years and essentially knocking them out of playoff contention.

Eli Manning picked up from where he left off in the fourth quarter against Chicago last week, completing 17-of-31 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown and playing turnover-free football for the first time in three weeks.

Philadelphia got off to a quick start in this one, scoring on their opening drive. They drove 68 yards on six plays, the touchdown coming off a dump pass from Donovan McNabb to Brian Westbrook to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

After being forced to punt on their first two drives, the Giants sustained a long 13-play drive that ate up 6:25, but could only muster a field goal after a 35-yard run by Reuben Droughns set them up at the one-yard line.

New York would add another field goal right before halftime to make the score 7-6. Brandon Jacobs, who missed the past two games with a pulled hamstring, then fumbled the ball on the Giants' first drive of the second half. Mike Patterson picked up the loose football and ran 12 yards to New York's eight-yard line. However, the Giants held their ground and forced Philadelphia to kick a field goal, which David Akers converted on to extend the Eagles' lead to 10-6.

Jacobs was not the only one with slippery hands in this game. Westbrook fumbled after being hit by Justin Tuck with 7:24 to play in the third quarter, and Sam Madison recovered, setting New York up at the Philadelphia 37. It took three plays for the Giants to get in the end zone, all passes from Manning. He started off the drive with a short three-yarder to tight end Michael Matthews, and after a false start by Jeremy Shockey brought New York back to the 39-yard line, completed a 19-yarder to Amani Toomer and then a 20-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to give the Giants their first lead of the game at 13-10. The Eagles would never recover.

After forcing Philadelphia to go three-and-out on the ensuing drive, New York took the ball 61 yards down the field on seven plays resulting in another field goal for Lawrence Tynes, this one from 23 yards out. That gave the Giants a 16-10 advantage.

The Eagles then went on a long 12-play drive to start out the fourth quarter that took up 7:22, but only came up with three points off a 39-yard boot by Akers. New York would get the ball back with 8:21 remaining. The drive featured a 31-yard pass from Manning to Burress that got the Giants to the Philadelphia 31. However, on the next play, Jacobs took the ball 21 yards up the middle to the 10-yard line but lost the football for the second time. Juqua Thomas recovered the fumble for the Eagles, putting them on their own five with 5:51 to play.

Philadelphia started out the drive well, their first four plays going for nine, 13, 13, and 12 yards. That was when New York's defense stiffened up. After a five-yard scamper by Correll Buckhalter, Westbrook was stopped at the line of scrimmage by Antonio Pierce and then behind the line of scrimmage by Madison. The Eagles went for it on fourth-and-six but could not convert, as McNabb attempted to squeeze a pass into Jason Avant but had it broken up by Pierce.

The Giants took over at their own 44-yard line with 1:57 to go. Fortunately for Philadelphia, they had all three of their timeouts, allowing them a chance to potentially get the ball back. They did. Jacobs rushed for gains of two, three, and four yards, one yard shy of picking up the first down and probably putting the game away. Jeff Feagles punted to Westbrook, who returned it five yards to his own eight-yard line.

The Eagles took possession with 53 seconds remaining and trailing by three. McNabb began the drive with a 19-yard completion to Reggie Brown and followed it up with an 18-yarder to Greg Lewis. After spiking the ball to stop the clock at the Philadelphia 48, McNabb completed a 13-yard pass to Brown, putting the ball at the New York 39 with six seconds to go.

Akers then took the field to attempt a 57-yard field goal to try and send the game into overtime. The last time he lined up to kick a field goal of this magnitude against the Giants was back in the January when he drilled a 38-yarder, pushing the Eagles past New York 23-20 and into the Divisional Round of the playoffs. However, despite being on the same turf he was 11 months ago, the 19-yard difference between the two kicks proved to be too much. Akers' kick bounced off the right upright, and the Giants improved to 9-4, all but sealing the fifth seed in the NFC, while Philadelphia dropped to 5-8 and nearly completely out of playoff contention.

Winter Meetings heating up

• Don't punch Johan Santana's ticket to Boston just yet. The Angels are reportedly making a push for the left-hander, and they may offer a package including Jered Weaver and Brandon Wood among others. Boston's offer is much less talent-laden, consisting of Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, and some minor-leaguers, namely Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson.
• The Yankees have closed the door on the Santana talks, according to a high-ranking New York official.
  
• Despite previous reports, the Marlins and Angels are still not close on a deal for Miguel Cabrera. Los Angeles is still refusing to give Florida the players it wants, and the Marlins will not budge on their demands. It's looking more and more each day like the 24-year old slugger will be a Marlin in 2008. The Angels seem to be turning their attention to Santana.
• The Dodgers are very interested in Erik Bedard and may offer up Matt Kemp and Jonathan Broxton for the lefty.
• Atlanta has offered Kansas City left-handed starter Chuck James for David DeJesus.
• The Diamondbacks are very interested in Danny Haren and would be willing to offer top prospect Carlos Gonzalez and first baseman Conor Jackson. Arizona and Oakland have had talks regarding this today.
• St. Louis is aggressively shopping young starter Anthony Reyes and have talked to several teams about him, including the Indians. Cleveland would be willing to send Cliff Lee and another player over to the Cardinals for the 26-year old.
• The Royals seem to have interest in Sammy Sosa. Why?
• Milwaukee is mulling over multiple options at third base, and it doesn't seem like such a sure thing that they will wind up with Scott Rolen anymore. They have interest in Joe Crede, Hank Blalock, Pedro Feliz, Miguel Tejada, and even the Dodgers' Andy LaRoche. I can't see Los Angeles trading him unless it's in a blockbuster deal, though.
  

More MLB news and rumors

• The Twins are not at all flustered by the Yankees' deadline and will take their time in trading Johan Santana. However, it is believed that New York has made the best offer for the 29-year old ace.
• Andy Pettitte will pitch for the Yankees in 2008.
  
• The Rangers and Cardinals are discussing a deal that would send Hank Blalock to St. Louis for Scott Rolen and Chris Duncan. However, the Cardinals have expressed their reluctance to trade Duncan.
• Houston has had discussions with Minnesota about Joe Nathan.
  
• Elijah Dukes is headed to Washington for 20-year old left-hander Glenn Gibson.
• Cincinnati has shown interest in Tim Lincecum. Still, this doesn't seem plausible as the Reds do not want to include top prospect Jay Bruce in any deal.
• Damaso Marte is drawing interest from Atlanta and the Yankees. The Yankees are also looking for a lefty reliever, namely Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt.
  
• The Mets are still trying to pry Erik Bedard away from Baltimore, but the Orioles are not biting on any of New York's offers. Their first offer, which was believed to be Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber, and Aaron Heilman, was brushed off. They'll probably have to include Fernando Martinez to even catch Baltimore's attention.
• Atlanta might put outfielder Matt Diaz and/or first baseman Scott Thorman on the market.
  

The mess that is the NFC Wild Card race

The NFC essentially has five locks for the postseason: Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and the Giants. For the Cowboys and Packers, it's a matter of who gets homefield advantage, and for the final three, and barring a major collapse by one or more of the Seahawks, Buccaneers, or G-Men, those three 8-4 teams are in. That's where things start to get interesting, as there are then eight other teams in the conference with a realistic shot at making the playoffs. Three of those teams (the Cardinals, Lions, and Vikings) are 6-6 while the other five (the Panthers, Saints, Redskins, Bears, and Eagles) are 5-7. So, which of this multitude of squads will earn that sixth and final playoff spot? Here's a breakdown of each and every team and their chances:

• Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
  
• Schedule: @ SEA, @ NO, ATL, STL
• Predicted final record: 9-7
  
• Analysis: Technically, Arizona is not even out of the picture in the NFC West yet. If they take care of business this Sunday at Seattle, that will give them the tiebreaker over the Seahawks should the two teams end up with the same record, but given Seattle's light remaining schedule, I can't see it happening. Because of this, the Cards should simply focus on winning enough games to get that final wild card berth. Had they not lost a heartbreaker to San Francisco one week ago, Arizona would be 7-5 and would have the inside track to the playoffs, but that didn't happen. However, the Cardinals responded with a huge win over Cleveland yesterday thanks to another solid performance by Kurt Warner. Arizona has a fairly easy final four games to end the year, and I can easily see them going 3-1 in that span. However, I'm not sure if that will be enough with the hard-charging Vikings right on their tails.
• Minnesota Vikings (6-6)
  
• Schedule: @ SF, CHI, WAS, @ DEN
• Predicted final record: 10-6
• Analysis: Let me say this right off the bat: no one wants to see Minnesota in the playoffs. No one. They have the perfect formula for January football: a good running game and a good run defense. Adrian Peterson has carried this team all year long, and even in the two games he sat out, the Vikings took care of business thanks to Chester Taylor. When you have two halfbacks of that talent on your roster, you know you can go places. In their past two games, Minnesota has out-scored its opponents 83-27, scoring 42 yesterday against Detroit and 41 a week ago against the Giants. It also helps that Tarvaris Jackson has been playing much better as of late, completing 78% of his passes and throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns in his past two contests. The Vikings have a very manageable schedule, and because of that and the way they have been playing recently, I can't see how this team won't make the playoffs. Take away the 34-0 drubbing Green Bay gave them four weeks ago, and the Vikings have been rolling, blowing out San Diego, New York, and the Lions and coming out with a good win over the Raiders.
• Detroit Lions (6-6)
• Schedule: DAL, @ SD, @ KC, @ GB
• Predicted final record: 6-10
• Analysis: Things were looking very promising for the Lions back in week nine when they were 6-2, but everything has just gone downhill from there. Detroit has lost four straight, and their schedule doesn't suggest they're going to start winning anytime soon, with three of their last four games coming on the road in three of the toughest places to play in the NFL. Especially now with Roy Williams out for the season, I don't see any way the Lions can somehow make a comeback and make the postseason. All of the momentum is against them, and the running game has been non-existent the past several weeks. Detroit is done.
• Carolina Panthers (5-7)
• Schedule: @ JAC, SEA, DAL, TB
• Predicted final record: 6-10
• Analysis: Carolina waited too-little-too-late to try and make their run. The Panthers find themselves with an extremely tough schedule to finish out the year, and having three home games in that span doesn't mean much as they got their first home win in their last eight games in Charlotte yesterday. Had Jake Delhomme been healthy this season, Carolina might very well have been in control of the NFC South or at least ended up a wild card spot. It doesn't do them any good that Steve Smith has been playing hurt for a good part of the year, too. The 2007-08 campaign has been a lost cause for the Panthers.
• New Orleans Saints (5-7)
• Schedule: @ ATL, ARI, PHI, @ CHI
• Predicted final record: 8-8
• Analysis: The Saints have been the biggest enigma of the season. They start out 0-4, then win four straight to climb back to .500, and then proceed to get embarrassed by the then winless Rams and have only won a single game since. They are not done, but considering that two of the three 6-6 teams in front of them have much easier schedules, it's going to take a miracle for New Orleans to get into the playoffs. Reggie Bush has done nothing to shake off his bust status this year, averaging only 3.7 yards per carry, and Drew Brees does not even resemble the Drew Brees of last season. I will say this though: Marques Colston is an elite receiver. Still, that comment is not going to earn them a postseason berth.
• Washington Redskins (5-7)
• Schedule: CHI, @ NYG, @ MIN, DAL
• Predicted final record: 7-9
• Analysis: Bottom line: they had to beat Buffalo yesterday. That will probably end up being the easiest game remaining on their schedule unless the Cowboys sit everyone in week 17 (which they may very well end up doing). Now, the Redskins have to play at the Meadowlands and at red-hot Minnesota in two of their final four games and have a not-so-easy-to-beat Bears' team next week. Clinton Portis has been very average this season, rushing for 100 yards only twice and averaging only 3.9 yards per carry overall. That and the fact that Washington has gotten virtually no production from their wide receivers leads me to believe that this team isn't playoff material.
• Chicago Bears (5-7)
• Schedule: @ WAS, @ MIN, GB, NO
• Predicted final record: 5-11
• Analysis: Much like the Redskins needed to win yesterday, Chicago had to beat the Giants. They were up 16-7 in the fourth quarter and blew it. Had they won, they would have put themselves in great position to make a run at the sixth seed, but the demoralizing loss has to have deflated their confidence, and now their upcoming schedule looks more ominous than it would have had the Bears been sitting at 6-6 at 8 PM yesterday instead of 5-7. I honestly can't see them winning another game for the rest of the year, especially with Rex Grossman at quarterback. Despite his solid numbers against New York, Grossman completed only 10 of his last 29 passes and looked terrible on Chicago's final few drives.
• Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)
• Schedule: NYG, @ DAL, @ NO, BUF
• Predicted final record: 5-11
• Analysis: I really don't want to repeat myself for a third time, but I will anyway: Philly had to win yesterday. A.J. Feeley was awful, throwing four picks, three of them to Seattle's Lofa Tatupu, in a 28-24 loss. Brian Westbrook is really Philadelphia's entire offense right now, and the defense has been below average all year. With two tough division rivals coming up over the next couple of weeks followed by games looming against two teams fighting for their playoff lives, the Eagles are in very bad shape in the playoff picture whether Donovan McNabb comes back or not. They are done.
  

Boston includes Ellsbury, but with ultimatum

The Red Sox will include Jacoby Ellsbury in a deal for Johan Santana, but not without a condition: Jon Lester would not be involved in the trade. Clay Buchholz has also been deemed untouchable, so I cannot see the deal being all that enticing to Minnesota.

Ohio State, LSU to meet in BCS Title Game

This season was probably the most befuddling in the 10-year existence of the BCS in college football. USC started the season ranked number one and ended ranked sixth. Michigan started at the two-spot, but lost their first game of the year to Appalachian State and never recovered. LSU was ranked number one at one point, then number two, began yesterday seventh, and end the season back at second. Ohio State is now number one for the second time.

As if things couldn't get any worse for the BCS, Missouri and West Virginia entered last night as the top two ranked teams in the country. All the two squads needed to do was win, and they would both virtually assure themselves spots in the National Title Game. However, the Tigers fell to ninth-ranked Oklahoma, and the Moutaineers suffered an embarrassing loss to then 4-7 Pittsburgh, throwing a monkey wrench into the entire ranking system.

In the end, it will be the Ohio State Buckeyes and LSU Tigers facing off in the BCS Championship Game. Despite the fact the Buckeyes defeated only two ranked teams, neither of whom have a spot in the final AP poll, 11-1 Ohio State did just enough to earn a spot. LSU looked dominant at times this season, but very vulnerable in other instances. They've experienced many highs and lows, ranging from beating Virginia Tech by 41 to giving up 50 in a loss to Arkansas. However, they took care of business by winning their conference, and because of that, they will have a shot at the title.

Hot Stove report

• The Yankees are really stickling about the third player in the Johan Santana deal. They have declared both Alan Horne and Austin Jackson, the two players Minnesota wants, as untouchable. They have also said they will not include pitching prospect Dellin Betances or Jose Tabata, and you can simply forget about Ian Kennedy being thrown in because New York would is already losing Philip Hughes. My thoughts? Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and maybe Alberto Gonzalez? Boston remains interested in the two-time Cy Young award winner, but they are still refusing to part with Jacoby Ellsbury and are instead insisting on Coco Crisp. The Red Sox have also kept their stance on Clay Buchholz. The one player that the Twins want that Boston is willing to trade is Jon Lester. Nonetheless, don't be surprised if Minnesota simply winds up holding on to Santana and then re-visits the whole situation near the trade deadline.
  
• If the Bronx Bombers do not come to an agreement with the Twins for Santana by today or tomorrow, expect them to turn their attention to Oakland's Danny Haren. They would probably offer the Athletics a similar package to what they are offering Minnesota for Santana, but I am almost 100% sure it would not include Hughes. It could, however, be centered around Kennedy. If Haren is too expensive, the Yankees may go for a much cheaper option from Oakland in Joe Blanton. The Mets appear determined to make a push for both pitchers as well.
  
• Cleveland is showing interest in Jason Bay. However, given Bay's miserable 2007 season, how much they would be willing to part with is in question. They have discussed sending catcher Kelly Shoppach Pittsburgh's way, and Cliff Lee is another possibility. Some feel the Indians would include pitching prospect Jeremy Sowers or third-base prospect Andy Marte in the deal, but I cannot see that happening. More likely candidates are outfielders Shin-Soo Choo and Ben Francisco. The White Sox may also make an offer to the Pirates for Bay.
• Giants' GM Nick Sabean doesn't seem too confident that the Marlins will trade Miguel Cabrera, saying: "Maybe they're not going to get something done." Many feel that Florida is now going to hold on to the 24-year old superstar until at least July where teams involved in pennant races may be more willing to give up more for the slugger. The Marlins want four major-league ready players and minor-league pitchers in return, a price that has been deemed too step for each team trying to deal for Cabrera.
• Jim Edmonds would waive his no-trade clause to play for a team in southern California. The Padres have showed some interest. However, if the Yankees trade Cabrera in a deal for Santana, don't be surprised to see them make an effort to then deal for Edmonds to take his spot in center field, as they do not feel too confident in Johnny Damon playing out there anymore.
  
• Pittsburgh is doing all they can to get rid of Xavier Nady, even if it means non-tendering the 29-year old. Jose Castillo will likely be non-tendered, as well.
• The Mets have shown interest in relievers Luis Vizcaino and Octavio Dotel.
  
• How about Scott Rolen for Chris Capuano?
• Aaron Rowand wants a five-year deal. The Phillies and White Sox are the most interested parties, but the Yankees may jump in if, again, they trade Melky. Don't count out the Dodgers and Nationals, either.
• If Santana goes, it seems very likely that Joe Nathan will be the next out the door, but the possiblity of both going in the same deal? Slim-to-none.

Santana update

The Twins want either Alan Horne or Austin Jackson, a minor-league outfielder with plenty of upside, as the third player in the deal from the Yankees. However, New York is reluctant to part with either one. Also, Boston will only include Jacoby Ellsbury in any trade for Johan Santana if they get more than the 29-year old left-hander in return, but I can't see that happening.

Yankees close to landing Santana

The Yankees are reportedly close to trading for Johan Santana. The deal will definitely include Philip Hughes and Melky Cabrera, as expected, but a third player is still being determined. The Twins want Ian Kennedy along with those two, but there is no way New York does that. Other players rumored to be the third and final piece heading to Minnesota are pitching prospect Alan Horne or minor-league shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. Jose Tabata likely isn't going anywhere.

However, before the Twins make any trade with New York, they will consult with the Red Sox to see if they changed their minds on either Jacoby Ellsbury or Clay Buchholz. Boston has a deal on the table that is most likely centered around Jon Lester with Coco Crisp and prospects being sent Minnesota's way. However, the Twins either want Ellsbury instead of Crisp or Buchholz instead of Lester, something the Red Sox have not been willing to do.

All things considered, it looks like Santana is headed to the Bronx.