Mike Roy on Week 15 in the NFL

NYG vs. Dallas: All week we heard about the soap opera that is the Dallas Cowboys. It seemed all the reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants did this week was watch ESPN like the rest of us fixated on the ongoing dispute between Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Terrel Owens. This showed on Sunday because the Giants did little preparation offensively which showed through the 8, yeah that's right 8, sacks that Eli Manning suffered. Now that the Giants have dropped two straight against divisional foes the questions about the champs missing Brandon Jacobs and Plaxico Burress are circulating. Instead about hearing from ESPN about the distractions these teams are having like Plaxico shooting himself, and Romo liking Witten more than T.O. why don't they focus on what really happened, the Cowboys handled the Giants on the football field. The Cowboys did so without their big name back Marion Barber hardly contributing. Tashard Choice? why aren't you talking about him? or Patrick Crayton of that fullback Anderson? right who? They were catching touchdowns. Not Witten. Not T.O.

Fantasy Minute: If you started anyone on the Giants then you obviously did not put up many points. Tony Romo put up a solid week (244yds, 2td, 0ints). If you play in a deep league and needed a third back Tashard Choice was a risky but lucky play (91yds rush, 1td, 52yds rec), but I would not recommend playing him next week against Baltimore who held Willie Parker in check (47yds on 14att).


Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore: Get over the call to finish the game, anyone who is officiating in the NFL knows the game better than anyone who is talking about it the day after. It was a touchdown Santonio Holmes caught the ball it crossed the plane of the goaline that makes it a touchdown, end of discussion. You know what makes this so annoying of a story is, it neglects the plays Ben Roethlisberger made during that last drive because all that is getting talked about is that call. Big Ben made great throw after throw all the way down the field to Ward, Washington, and Holmes.

Fanatsy Minute: Playing against defenses like this you can not expect much but thanks Hines Ward (107yds rec). And if you are this deep in your fantasy playoffs and started Joe Flacco (115yds, 0tds, 2ints) hopefully you got what you deserved a Loss. Don't play rookie QBs in fantasy football ask Matt Ryan owners how they faired yesterday (206yds, 0tds, 2ints)


Denver vs. Carolina: Carolina O-line the new best line in football. I know it was Denver this week = garbage run D any legitimate RB will have a big day against them, but they laid 300yds on Tampa Bay last week that = legit. and with who? Jonathan Stewart and Deangelo Williams, not exactly Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew or AP and Chester Taylor. Give that O-line credit 450 yds on the ground in two weeks.

Fantasy Minute: So mad Steve Smith was suspended to start the season or I would have drafted him (165yds, 1td). Most underrated WR in the league Steve Smith = gamebreaker.


Minnesota vs. Arizona: Hey AZ hungover from the first time you won anything? Well get ready you are about to win one game in the playoffs, if you are lucky, and then get poked when you have to go to the Meadowlands or to Carolina. Letting Tarvaris Jackson, yeah the same QB who was benched for Gus Frerotte, he threw four TDs in 11 completions. Tarvaris Jackson (supposed to) = garbage, Tarvaris Jackson vs. AZ defense = All Pro. AZ people get enough disappointment with the Suns, try and show up next week.

Fantasy Minute: AP did what AP does (165yds). Warner not so Warneresque this week but not bad (270yds, 1td, 1int). AZ RBs don't play them = disappointment.


New England vs. Oakland: Enough said it's New England vs. Oakland. Big-ups to Matt Cassel following fathers death great game.


Fantasy Minute: You know whats sad is the right play this week would have been to play Sammy Morris over LT, yeah painful to say bench LT against KC that would have been my optimal lineup this week, brutal. Matt Cassel (218yds, 4tds, 1int) awesome don't expect it next week, oh wait they play AZ remember what Tarvaris did, ok expect it. If you start anyone on the Raiders you are not a smart fantasy player but you got lucky this week with McFadden (114 total yds, 1td) or Higgins (66yds, 1td) unsmart but lucky plays. If you are a Randy Moss owner hes practically impossible to bench because on Sunday he showed you what Randy Moss can do (67yds, 2tds).


Buffalo vs. NYJ: Brett Favre did what Brett Favre sometimes does, big-ups to the hall of famer but sometimes he works against your team just as bad as the other team, hard to say one of my top 5 QBs of all time but thats how it went Sunday. Luckily brilliant play calling from Buffalo gave the NYJ the game with 2 min to go. If Dick Jauron is not put on the C'mon Man segment of Monday Night Countdown then they should remove that segment because I can not think of anyone more deserving following Sundays games. Do not put the ball in JP Losmans hands, Marshawn Lynch already has 120yds rushing, hand him the freakin' ball.
Dick Jauron = worst call of the day.

Fantasy Minute: Thomas Jones solid not stellar (78yds, 1td) we expected a little more against Buffalo. Marshawn Lynch score a td and you would make my RB of the week (127yds).


Tampa Bay vs. Atlanta: Tampa Bay you do not deserve the playoffs after your performance the past two weeks, blown out of the water by Carolina and beaten closely by a young up and coming Atlanta team. Enjoy January on your couch at home.

Fantasy Minute: Michael Turner did what we are getting used to Michael Turner doing (153yds, 1td). Antonio Bryant fantasy owners in the playoffs are lucky to have him (300yds, 3tds) in the past two games.


San Diego vs. KC: 21-3 KC, to 22-21 SD, brutal KC you made Philip Rivers look good. We'll see what happens in that division SD or Denver, who cares whoever wins it is gonna lose to Indy first round of the playoffs. AFC west = does not deserve a playoff spot.

Fanatsy Minute: Get this I have 5 RBs on my fantasy roster LT, Jones-Drew, Pierre Thomas, Sammy Morris, Chester Taylor, would any expert ever guess LT against KC would be my least productive back this week, absolutley not. c'mon LT me along with every other person with the first pick in their fantasy league is hurting. It is the championship of my fantasy league next week to play, or not to play? Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers, Malcom Floyd, you are all the exact same player, Rivers goes eeny meeny miny mo let this guy go off this week, good luck if you have any of them, this week Jackson good game (89yds, 1td).


Miami vs. SF: Give credit to Singletary he's got the 49ers who have nothing to play for looking like they are playing for something, but unfortunately for them they were playing the Dolphins who are deadlocked atop the AFC east and they played like it. Big-ups to Chad Pennington who got run out of New York and has put up a better season then the hall of famer who replaced him, one of my top 3 MVP candidates this season. Big-ups to Joey Porter making the sack that put the game out of reach for SF, Porter my top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year (but keep your helmet on).

Fantasy Minute: Sorry to Ronnie Brown owners, you should have gotten a better performance from him against SF (67yds, 0tds).


Seattle vs. St. Louis: Battle of 2-11s who do you bet on? ummm...yea that hard to decide sorry anyone who knows me knows how big a Ram fan I am but at this point I am thinking about draft position, so thanks Seattle.

Fantasy Minute: Only two players in this game worth starting Jackson and Holt both solid games in a losing effort (91yds, 1td & 67yds, 1td).


Wash vs. Cincinnati: Congrats 'Skins you have successfully ended your season against one the worst teams in the league. Portis don't talk bad about Jim Zorn get back to running the way you were the first half of the year, remember you were in the MVP talk then, you have fallen of the map, c'mon man, run like you're from the U.

Fantasy Minute: Only person worth mentioning Ryan Fitzpatrick, yeah Ryan Fitzpatrick (209yds pass, 1td, 29yds rush, 1td).


Detroit vs. Indy: Enough said Daniel Orlovsky vs. Peyton Manning. Detroit nice try but it's just another loss.

Fantasy Minute: Congrats to Dallas Clark owners he may have won you a playoff game this week (142yds, 1td). Peyton Manning being THE MANning (318yds, 1td) sorry Eli :(


Green Bay vs. Jax: I feel sorry for Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers particularly. Yup, Favre in the hunt, GB out, well Favre is only in the hunt because of the dreadful play calling by the Buffalo Bills because Favre did not do anything on Sunday to help the NYJ in their win.

Fantasy Minute: Jones-Drew you have nothing to play for but man you are doing work, Thanks I started you and will never sit you no matter who you play Jones-Drew = game changer (48yds rush, 1td, 22yds rec, 1td) By the way he leads all RBs in receiving 5'7 but plays like he is 6'7.


Tennessee vs. Houston: Houston is playing awesome, they physically beat a more physical team. At 11-0 Tennessee hands down looked like the best team in the league, just a few weeks later they look like the third best team in the conference maybe not even top 5 in the league. Jeff Fisher good call not kicking it with Bironas, if it's out of his range then it's out of his range you have been a good coach in this league for too long then to let Skip Bayless second guess you, unfortuantely Kerry Collins didn't move the chains. But, you better get your team ready for Pittsburgh and Indy if you play the way you did this week you will lose by a lot more.

Fantasy Minute: I may start Matt Schaub over Kurt Warner next week in my fantasy championship, thats how good the Texans are playing. Plus they have arguably the best WR in the league Andre Johnson. Sorry if you were expecting big things from the Titans White - Johnson combination but "Smash and Dash" only put up 91yds combined and 0tds. Texans Johnson (207yds, 1td) WR of the week.


Chicago vs. New Orleans: Sorry Brees, individually you have had a great season one of the best yardage seasons the NFL has ever seen, but Sean Payton should reevaluate this because all of those yards have not translated to victories. Records are great and all but when they translate to victories Marino threw for 5,084 yards in one season, he also took his team to a Super Bowl that year, go watch some tape on Don Shula coaching a high-flying winning offense, that may help your situation come playoff time next season.

Fantasy Minute: Reggie Bush c'mon man (46yds combined rush & rec). Drew Brees so so (232 yds, 2tds, 2ints). Big-ups Pierre Thomas (87yds rush, 1td, 59yds rec, 1td), great late season pick-up if he is still available in your league swoop him up. Colston (84yds, 1td) it's about time you showed up, sorry you were injured but thanks you did what you were supposed to.


Cleveland vs. Philadelphia: Congrats Cleveland you scored your first touchdown in almost four games, thank Kevin Kolb for throwing you that pick 6 in mop up time or you would have lost 30-3. Still no offensive tds, c'mon Dorsey weren't you from the U, get in the end zone.

Fantasy Minute: Edwards solid (102yds) too bad your team never scores. Avant solid (101yds).
Andy Reid you made fantasy owners who have McNabb and Westbrook cry this week, leave them in let them run it up, Kevin Kolb won't mind. McNabb solid (290yds, 2tds, 0ints). Westbrook dismall (67yds combined rush & rec).