subject: Nfl Tickets - Week 15 Observations [print this page] Here are some things that stood out to me in Week 15 of the 2009 NFL season.
Peyton Manning has successfully transformed himself from a guy that was considered somewhat of a choker in crunch time to a guy that excels when it matters most. For much of the early portion of Manning's career, the Indianapolis quarterback was labeled as a guy who crumbled under the pressure of the NFL's biggest moments. If winning the Super Bowl didn't erase that stigma, then this season surely has done the job. Manning has led the Colts to fourth quarter comeback after fourth quarter comeback this season, and to a 14-0 record. There's nobody I'd rather get NFL tickets to see lead a potential game-winning drive than Manning.
Don't count out the Cowboys. Dallas handed New Orleans their first loss of the 2009 season in Week 15, but the most impressive part about the win was that it took place in the Big Easy. Tony Romo had a fantastic game, and is actually becoming an underrated quarterback as people continue to focus on the negative things about him. The Cowboys have a well-rounded team that can definitely make some noise if they can reach the postseason. The passing game is dangerous, the running game has multiple elements that can be effective and the defense is a solid unit capable of holding good offenses down.
Would anyone be giving the Cardinals a chance in the playoffs if not for last season? Last week Arizona lost to division rival San Francisco without putting up much of a fight and barely squeaked by the Detroit Lions this past week. They're again backing into the playoffs, but this is exactly what they did last season. The Cardinals proved last year that they can turn things on at a moment's notice, so nobody is ready to count them out of the running in the NFC this time around.
Even though they're a long shot to make the playoffs this season, the Tennessee Titans have to feel pretty good about the future of their franchise. The Titans defense has really stepped things up in the second half of the season and is looking more like the dominant unit that carried the team in 2008, but it's the offense that has people excited in the Music City. Chris Johnson is arguably the best running back in the entire NFL and is still very young. Vince Young has had a resurgent season and looks like a legitimate franchise quarterback. Throw in some talented, young receivers, such as Kenny Britt, and things are really looking good for Tennessee going forward.
Jamaal Charles can be a starting running back in this league. Charles' performance against Cleveland was overshadowed by Jerome Harrison's huge day, but he gashed the Browns. There have been a lot of doubts about whether Charles is big enough to be a lead back for the long term in the NFL, but he's certainly making a strong case for himself. The Chiefs might want to draft a bigger back to complement Charles next season, but it looks like Charles is capable of being a number one guy, and an effective one at that. His speed, elusiveness and versatility make him a real threat.
