6B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY BABY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2007
>> FANTASY FOOTBALL
Favre shines on Thanksgiving
This week's NFL action included a few surprising outcomes and some Thanksgiving blowouts. Here are the players who shined and those who faded in this week's games.
SHINERS
QB Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers — Favre has proven to still have what it takes to win in the NFL, even after 17 years in the league. Favre led the Packers to a victory in the closest game on Thanksgiving as Green Bay outscored Detroit in an offensive shootout. Favre is having a record-breaking season, one of the reasons he was thought to have returned to the Packers. And if not for a man named Brady, he would be the best quarterback in the NFL. He will certainly be leading the Packers deep into the playoffs this year.
RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers — Gore had been sleeping for most of the season, but he woke up on Sunday. The 49ers offense had been in a malaise all season, but Gore jump started the offense with 214 total yards against the Cardinals. Gore had 21 carries for 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns and added 11 receptions for 98 receiving yards to the passing offense. Gore helped San Francisco beat a tough Arizona team that is challenging for an NFC playoff spot. If Gore keeps this production up, San Francisco might not be so miserable.
BY KELLY BRECKUNITCH
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
KBRECKUNITCH@KANSAN.COM
WR Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals — Welcome back, Chad.
Johnson had been relatively ineffective in the Bengals' passing offense since week two of the season, but he was a big part of the offense on Sunday. Johnson had 12 catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns to help the Bengals defeat a tough Titans team that is looking to make the playoffs. If Cincinnati continues to perform at the peak of their high-octane offense, they could play spoiler to a few playoff-hopeful teams.
TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers - Gates and the Chargers' pass offense was reborn on Sunday. It looked the best it had all season. Gates had six catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns as the Chargers easily dispatched the Ravens. If the San Diego offense keeps improving it will cruise to a division title in the bleak AFC West.
Cincinnati defense — The Bengals defense has looked dismal all year, but on Sunday they shut down an explosive Tennessee offense. The Bengals rank near the bottom of the league in both pass and run defense, but on Sunday they shut down Vince Young and the Titans. The Bengals allowed only 61 total rushing yards and forced two turnovers.
If the defense finishes the season like it played on Sunday,it could be a good sign heading into next season.
K Josh Scobee, Jacksonville Jaguars — Scobee helped the Jaguars blow out the Bills on Sunday. Scobee made all five field goals he attempted, including a long 46-yarder. Scobee also converted all three extra point attempts. Scobee is a solid kicker and will be a key part of the Jaguars' team, especially if they hope to challenge the Colts for the division title.
FADERS
QB David Carr, Carolina Panthers — Carr was supposed to be better off in Carolina. He would have better protection, especially since he would most likely be on the bench. An injury to Jake Delhomme, though, thrusted Carr into the starting quarterback position earlier in the season. On Sunday, he may have been at his worst. Carr finished the game completing only ten of 22 passes for 95 yards and threw two interceptions. Carr was a former No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and will need to revert to his college form for the Panthers to have any chance of competing the rest of the season.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew,
Jacksonville Jaguars — Fred
Taylor is the starting running back
in Jacksonville, but Jones-Drew
was supposed to make more of in
impact in the offense than he has
this season. On Sunday, Jones-Drew
carried the ball 10 times for a mere
10 yards. Jones-Drew was supposed to be the offensive spark in jacksonville. Jones-Drew will need to build momentum heading into the playoffs because he could be a big factor in jacksonville's success.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew,
Packers quarterback Brett Favre celebrates after throwing for a touchdown Thursday against the Lions. Favre has broken back out in his 17th season in the NFL.
WR Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Galloway may have struggled because Jeff Garcia went down with an injury early in the game. Galloway should still be able to put up big numbers, though, no matter who is at quarterback, especially with a relatively unknown running back starting in the backfield. Galloway is the biggest star on the Tampa Bay offense, but he had only two catches for 21 yards on Sunday. If Garcia is healthy on Sunday, Galloway's production should definitely increase.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TE Alge Crumpler, Atlanta Falcons — Crumpler is probably the best receiver on Atlanta's roster, even though he is a tight end. Crumpler is strong and has good hands and speed. However, the Falcons under-utilized him on Sunday against a strong Indianapolis defense. Crumpler could have been a big benefit, but ended the game with only three catches for 14 yards. If the Falcons want to win a few more games before the season is over they will have to better incorporate Crumpler in their passing offense.
New York Giants defense — The Giants lost, quite shockingly, in a blowout at the hands of the Vikings. Turnovers on offense cost the Giants the game, but the defense did not do a great job of stopping
the Minnesota offense either. The Giants allowed 251 yards of total offense, including 127 rushing yards, and were not able to force any turnovers by a mistake-prone Tarvari jackson. The Giants just didn't play up to snuff in any facet of the game on Sunday and now have to work even harder to make the playoffs.
K Matt Stover, Baltimore Ravens — Stover suffered because the Baltimore offense could not generate any momentum. Baltimore struggled the ball on offense, which lead to Stover's lack of production. Stover attempted no field goals and made the only two extra points he attempted. If the Ravens want to finish the season with a respectable record, the will need to move the ball better to set up Stover.
- Edited by Luke Morris
COMMENTARY
U.S. should make sixth-straight cup appearance in 2010
BY ANDREW WIEBIE
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
AWIEBE@KANSAN.COM
Barely eight days after the United States scrapped its way to 1-0 victory against South Africa in Johannesburg, Bob Bradley and his team learned what it would take to return.
FIFA representatives met Sunday in Durban, South Africa, to determine the makeup of the three Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Football groups that will be pared down over the course of four rounds to three automatic qualifiers. The fourth-place qualifier faces South America's fifth place qualifier in a playoff for the chance at one bid.
ning of the two-and-a-half year journey to the 2010 World Cup.
For the 35 national teams in contention for CONCACAF's possible four spots, it represented the begin-
For regional royalty like the U.S., the gap in competition and a charitable draw makes qualification straightforward. Play to its potential and qualify easily. Play to the level of its opponents and qualify slightly less easily. By virtue of superior talent and depth, the U.S. has qualified for five straight World Cups and seems sure to make it six.
It's a chance for Bob Bradley to see his players in meaningful competition and develop the lineup that will be used in 2010. Bradley has shown he isn't afraid to tinker and experiment to find the most effective lineup and 18 competitive matches should provide plenty of opportunities.
Africa.
Despite the presence of veteran incumbents like goalkeeper Tim Howard, defenders Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra, and midfielders Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Clint Dempsey, there are plenty of opportunities for young players to stake their claim to a spot in South
Left back is still up for grabs with Heath Pearce, Jonathan Bornstein, Jonathan Spector and Frank Simek competing for a spot behind Beasley. Competition in the midfield is just as stiff as Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Freddy Adu and Benny Fellhaber, among others, audition for places in the center of the park.
fan. Options seem endless and Bradley seems to be willing to explore the possibilities. In truth, he'll have to, as much of the young talent will be occupied with 2008's Olympic Games in Beijing. The good news is the talent pool assembled shouldn't even feel the strain.
It's an exciting time to be a U.S.
qualification process is the perfect avenue for U.S. players to develop the on-field partnerships that can be the difference between a run to the World Cup knockout rounds and a premature exit.
Bradley and his team should be able to focus on bigger issues -like improving on 2006's disappointing World Cup performance.The
The lineup fans will see in the summer of 2010 is anybody's guess. Competition alone will determine who earns a place in the first 11. Will the current stalwarts keep their spots? Will the generation of young
talent emerge?
U. S. fans have more than two years to find out. Bradley will have his choice of the deepest pool of players the U.S. has ever had. It remains to be seen what kind of results that will be yielded on an international stage, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism.
Edited by Rachael Gray
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