Marvelous McNabb throws for a mile…. The Eagles quarterback played very well on Sunday, but no matter how often he threw (55 times) or who he threw the ball to (seven different receivers) it wasn’t enough. While the Eagles fell McNabb’s numbers rose with 35 completions for 450 yards in the air and two touchdowns in a week 10 loss to the Chargers.

Action Jackson will not be stopped…. If you drafted running back Steven Jackson, but had second thoughts because the Rams offense is just bad pat yourself on the back for sticking with the stud. The St. Louis Rams may be 1-7, but that is not stopping “Action” Jackson from having a big season. On Sunday Jackson turned in his third straight 100-yard rushing game with 176 total yards against the Saints. Only twice has Jackson totaled less than 100 yards and for the season he has 1,146 yards of total offense ranking second behind Chris Johnson.
 
Worst of the Worst

When it comes to the Raiders-Chiefs rivalry, the Silver and Black know very little about home-field advantage. Thanks primarily to an inept offense that converted just 12 percent (2/16) of third downs, completed just 13 of 32 passes, and turned the ball over twice, the Raiders lost for the seventh straight time at home against the Chiefs. The Raiders are now 2-7; how did they win two games?

Jury is still Out

Has the Broncos offense finally turned the corner? Well after a fast start on Sunday against the Redskins, it certainly appeared that McDaniels had made the necessary adjustments and the offense was finally right. This was all until disaster struck. After watching Orton complete 11 of 18 for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, the Broncos offense completely disappeared with backup Chris Simms in the game for the injured Orton. With a big matchup with San Diego in week 11 and Simms the likely starter, the offense might regress some before taking any more forward steps. The Jury is going to remain out on Denver’s “Patriot’s West” offense, at least until a healthy Orton returns.

10 Things I Remember From Sunday

(Week 10)

1. The Panthers used their two-headed monster out of the back-field to take down the Falcons; Stewart and Williams combined for 174 yards and two touchdowns.

2. One of my “Four Horsemen” Sidney Rice puts up 201 receiving yards against the Lions secondary.

3. The Titan’s running back Chris Johnson plays like a stud in a league of his own totaling 232 yards and scoring two touchdowns against the Bills.

4. The Redskins offensive line just blew holes into the Broncos defense all day to the tune of 174 yards on the ground.

5. Despite their recent struggles through the air, the Broncos and quarterback Kyle Orton came out gun-slinging in week 10; Orton passed for 193 yards in the first half before leaving with an injury.

6. The “Old man” in Arizona Kurt Warner took a while to get started, but once he did he was unstoppable completing 29 of 38 passes for over 300-yards and two touchdowns.

7. The Bengals defense showed up on Sunday against Big Ben and the Steelers recording four sacks and a forced fumble in their 18-12 win.

8. Steven Jackson is a one man wrecking crew in St. Louis rushing for 131 yards and catching nine balls for another 45 yards.

9. Who is Brandon Gibson, likely the next Waiver wire darling after catching seven passes for 93 yards.

10. Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning; Sunday night against the Patriots he passed for 327 yards with four touchdowns.

Remember to check back for more “Monday Morning Huddle!”

LSU @ Georgia

This is a tough game to predict.  On one hand, #4 LSU is definitely not the fourth best team in the country, at least in my opinion.  On the other hand, Georgia isn’t really that great either.  They needed a last second field goal to beat Arizona State, a team that will probably finish in the bottom half of the Pac-10, and their defense hasn’t looked good in their other games.  However, I do like the Bulldogs in this one, for two reasons.  First is their home field advantage, and secondly, their offense has been pretty impressive.  This could involve into a mini shoot out, and that’s why I like Georgia: their receivers are better (especially since they have AJ Green) and QB Joe Cox has been solid.

Georgia 42, LSU 31

Oklahoma @ Miami

Will Sam Bradford be back?  That’s the big question going into this battle of elite programs.  Miami’s comeback took a hit last week when they got drubbed by Virginia Tech, but at least they get to host the Sooners in this one.  However, Sam Bradford or no Sam Bradford, Oklahoma is a really good team.  Their defense has only allowed 14 points all season, and that includes games against two really good offenses in BYU and Tulsa.  Miami is still on the upswing, but Oklahoma is simply the better team, and since Landry Jones has been playing well in place of Sam Bradford, I’m thinking the Sooners can win this one either way.

Oklahoma 24, Miami 14

USC @ Cal

This game would be way bigger if Cal had won last week.  If so, this game would have been an opportunity for Cal to be a great position to win the Pac-10.  However, last week Oregon cleared something up: Cal won’t be winning the Pac-10.  Cal got beat in every way, and after being completely exposed, they get to face the Pac-10’s best team.  Now, for USC, they simply don’t lose these types of games.  They will lose to Oregon State or Washington, but not a Pac-10 power.  It doesn’t matter if the game is on the road.  USC is USC, and USC this game.  Plus, Matt Barkley is supposed to be back, just adding fuel to the USC bandwagon (to win this game, at least).

USC 35, Cal 20

Auburn @ Tennessee

Auburn isn’t ranked in the top 25, but they haven’t looked like an unranked team.  The firing of Tommy Tuberville (and subsequent hiring of Gene Chizik) was highly criticized, but things are looking great at Auburn, especially on offense.  Tennessee is their toughest test so far this season, but the Volunteers haven’t looked particularly strong this season, with wins against miniscule programs and a loss against UCLA.  Tennessee looks like they will improve in the future under Lane Kiffin, and they have some good players for the future like RB Bryce Brown, but Auburn’s lowest point total this season is 37 points, and they should score a good amount against Tennessee as well.

Auburn 38, Tennessee 30

Arkansas @ Texas A&M

This game was selected on default.  Really, any of the five other games to watch could have been picked for this (well, maybe not the military academy one), but both of these programs are improving, and games at neutral locations are always fun, especially when it’s at a stadium with the biggest TV screen in the world (okay, well that’s bad logic, but the neutral site should give this game a unique atmosphere.)  As for who is going to win, Arkansas looks like they are emerging faster than the Aggies.  Their offense looks great, and QB Ryan Mallett is just going to get better with every game, so I’ll go with the Razorbacks.  Bobby Petrino’s offense certainly looks a lot better this year than it did a year ago.

Arkansas 34, Texas A&M 20

Five other games to watch: Wisconsin @ Minnesota, Michigan @ Michigan State, Florida State @ Boston College, UCLA @ Stanford, Air Force @ Navy

Last week: 3-2

Season to date: 8-2

Pitcher A. J. Burnett attempted to get his the 100^th win of his career at Yankee Stadium Tuesday evening, but the Kansas City Royals with a two-run seventh inning, helped by a throwing error from reliever Phil Coke, put the Royals ahead.  The Yankees would eventually win 4-3 on their 15^th walk off win of the season in the ninth.

The rookie, Juan Miranda this time was the hero. Miranda, who replaced first baseman Mark Teixiera in the eighth inning, lined a pitch off the leg of former Yankees relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth that scored Eric Hinske with the winning run giving the Yankees their Major League leading 102^nd win and 50^th come from behind victory that also leads baseball.

Sunday, in the Bronx, the Yankees won their 16^th American League east title since divisional play began in 1969.  The work started since spring training returning to the post season was accomplished, and the Yankees can relax a bit having secured the best record in Major League Baseball and home field advantage in the playoffs.

However manager Joe Girardi has made it known the remaining games are there to win, also keeping the regulars sharp for the upcoming post season next week   Another seven game winning streak and more milestones make this ending significant. Still to come is a Friday evening start for CC Sabathia, who goes for his 20^th win of the season at Tampa Bay.

“Think you’re evaluating players and trying to keep them sharp and strong,” said Girardi in his post game comments. “But you are trying to win the game and we’ll continue to try and win series and games,” he said.

Still to be determined is who the Yankees will face in the first round of the American League Divisional series. It will be either Detroit or Minnesota who are still battling for first place in the Al central division. So the final games this week in the Bronx against the Royals, and down in Tampa Florida against the Rays, will be time for Girardi to also assess his roster plans and pitching rotation for the first round of October baseball.

Sabathia is slated to pitch game one of the ALDS, and then it could be Burnett or Andy Petttite in game two.  Burnett has held opponents to two earned runs in his last three starts and may have pitched his way to be the number two starter striking out eight, walking three on three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Explaining his recent success, this after struggling after the all-star break Burnett said “If I am going to pitch in the postseason I definitely have to go one pitch at a time. That’s just me. A little bit of the streakiness was due to mechanics but we looked at some videos and straightened out some kings,”   Burnett also stated that most of his mechanic flaws may have been mental mistakes.

So Girardi will use his roster accordingly in the next few days. Some of the rookies will get playing time, including the newest hero Miranda who became the ninth different Yankee to record a walk off hit this season and the second rookie to do it, the other Francisco Cervelli at the stadium against Toronto earlier this month.

And as the Yankees play out the string and prepare for their quest of a 27^th world championship they also honor their players. Prior to the game Melky Cabrera got a ring for hitting a cycle, Mariano Rivera got the rubber from the mound at Citi Field for recording his 500^th career save and Derek Jeter received numerous items from the old stadium,.

Perhaps the only anticipation remaining besides the milestones is Burnett getting a chance to put a whipped crèam pie in the face of two important players who have yet to have a walk off hit for a win. Jeter and Teixeira are on guard.

“These are the two guys left on the list, Tex and Jeet,” said Burnett with a smile.  And the Yankees hope to continue that smiling, so does Burnett when it gets more interesting in the Bronx next week.

In the game New York continued their drive to home run prominence. Mark Teixeira hit his 39^th home run in the bottom of the sixth that got the Yankees closer and Nick Swisher hit his 28^th in the bottom of the seventh that made it 3-2 Kansas City. The Yankees lead baseball with 239 home runs and are four shy of tying their franchise record of 242 set in the 2004 season

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

“It’s nice to get back and we are ready and need 11 more,” said Johnny Damon as the Yankees christened their new clubhouse with what they hope is the first of three more celebrations and a 27^th world championships.”   Last year the Yankees missed their first post season in 13 years under manager Joe Girardi who also wears number 27 on the back of his uniform.

In the middle of the champagne celebration was Nick Swisher, a key acquisition that General Manger Brian Cashman made during the off-season, “It’s nice to come here and do what we were capable of doing,” said Swisher who was mobbed by his teammates, including pitcher Mariano Rivera who got the last out and recorded his 44^th save in the Yankees 4-2 clincher over the Red Sox.

The Yankees, who took control over first place the Al East On July 21^st, have also secured home field advantage in the playoffs. They may also see Boston again in the American League Championship Series. If Detroit does not lose their slim division lead to Minnesota, New York would open the first round of the ALDS against the Tigers.

The Red Sox, on the verge of clinching the AL wild card will open their series against the impending Al west champion Angels, so the Yankees could see Boston again, or even the Angels who eliminated the Yankees in five games in the ALDS in 2005 and in four games in 2002.  There years ago it was Detroit eliminating the Yankees in four games in the ALDS

“Everything is clicking now,” said winning pitcher Andy Pettitte (14-7) who will probably get the ball and follow 19-game winner CC Sabathia as the third pitcher in the opening round playoff series. “When you miss out it makes you a little more hungry to get back there,” he said referring to the Yankees missing the playoffs last season.

As the Yankees celebrated, with what they hope is the first of three more, they realize there is much more work to be done.  The stigma of losing in the opening round of their last playoff appearance to Cleveland in 2007 remains, so they very well know that the playoffs are a different season.

“This is a fun group and exciting group,” commented Girardi who makes his first appearance as a playoff manager after being a part of the Yankees championship teams under former manager Joe Torre. “The way last year ended left a bad taste in our mouth and we worked to get here since spring training,” he said.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

“We’re going to take this,” Manon said after picking up the win in the Ducks 15-5 victory in Game 4 that tied the first-round series at 2-2. “There ain’t pressure on us. They got the pressure. They won two games in a row and thought it was over.”

Manon’s words were more tongue-in-cheek than a bravado-infused guarantee. But the right-hander did his part to help the Ducks stave off elimination for a second straight day. Manon allowed just five hits and four runs (three earned) in six innings at Citibank Park.

The Ducks will now send staff ace Troy Cate to face Southern Maryland’s John Halama in Game 5. Halama out-dueled Cate in a 1-0 Blue Crabs’ Game 1 victory. After losing a pair of one-run games to open the postseason in Southern Maryland, the Ducks have won two straight at home and can clinch the series in front of its home fans with another victory.

“With the series tied, we obviously have home-field advantage,” manager Gary Carter said. “John Halama was tough against us in Game 1 and he’s been tough against us all year.

“All I can say is we have to keep battling and hopefully Troy Cate will be on like he was in Game 1 as well.”

The Ducks’ offense took pressure of Manon by exploding for five first-inning runs and posting a five-run fourth inning to stymie any chance of a Southern Maryland comeback attempt. Brooklyn native Johnny Hernandez keyed the offensive explosion, going 2-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored as the Ducks recorded 20 hits.

Blue Crabs’ starter Ryan Bicondoa allowed the first five Ducks to reach base and score. Following a walk and two singles, George Lombard lined a RBI single to open the scoring. Hernandez followed with a key two-run single to center that was even more devastating for the Blue Crabs when Jeremy Owens misplayed the ball, allowing Lombard to score all the way from first on the error. John Pachot then added the first of his two sacrifice flies to hand Manon a 5-0 lead after one inning.

“That was a big-time relief right there,” said Manon.

Former major leaguer Michael Tucker put the Blue Crabs back in the game with his one-out RBI single in the fourth inning. Tucker’s hit also put two runners on base for Cesar Nicolas, who drilled Manon’s pitch deep to left for a three-run home run that cut the Ducks’ edge to 5-4.

But the Ducks responded in the bottom of the inning by putting up another five-spot. The club sent 10 men to the plate in batting around for the second time in just four innings. Bicondoa (0-1) gave up three straight singles before Mike James entered in relief. James didn’t fare better, also allowing three straight base hits.

“If we kept a one-run lead, it would have been tough,” Manon said about the additional run support. “It would have been more pressure [on] the hitters and the pitchers.”

Hernandez took advantage of another bases-loaded chance, nearly missing a grand slam when his booming shot hit off the centerfield wall for a two-run double. Estee Harris followed with a run-scoring double and Pachot’s sacrifice fly capped the scoring to extend the lead to 10-4.

“I would imagine it took the wind out of their sails,” Carter said. “All of a sudden they were thinking they were right back in it but then when we come back and score another five…”

Every Duck except Pachot, who tallied two RBIs, logged one base hit by the fourth inning.  Pachot added an eighth-inning single while Alex Prieto contributed two hits off the bench.

“Whenever you can jump on top early,” Hernandez said, “that’s exactly what you want to do and we did it.”

The Bombers had made the postseason 12 consecutive years under the tutelage of Joe Torre and staying home in October just isn’t acceptable. Joe Girardi was the successor of the throne and was given a pass in a way, Bronx style. The manager knew that if he didn’t produce a playoff berth now he would have been looking for a new job this fall.

Taking no chances, the front office went out during the winter and basically put together a fantasy team. Adding to an already talented roster, bringing in the likes of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixiera basically cemented the division.

On Wednesday, the Yankees became the first team in the league to clinch a playoff berth, albeit it as a result of a Texas Rangers loss. It was a moot point as the Yanks went out that same night and won their game in Anaheim.

“It’s good to be in,” third baseman Alex Rodriguez said to reporters. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. There’s no question the intensity level was very high.”

Girardi echoed a similar emotion. “That’s the expectation here every year, and that’s obviously very pleasing,” the skipper told reporters. ”We’re going to be playing in October, but there are still some things we want to accomplish before the season ends.”

Just making the playoffs is not suffice in Yankee land. That may be okay for the Rays or Tigers, but winning their 27^th World Series title is the only barometer of a productive season. Owning a league-best 96-55 seems to be something to build on towards reaching the ultimate goal. They are six games up on the Angels for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.

By wrapping up a spot this early, the members of the Yankees can’t help but look ahead to possible opponents, regardless if they admit it or toe the company line. If the season ended today, the Yankees would face the winner of the AL Central. “You hope you play them – that means we’re there,” Derek Jeter commented to reporters. “But it’s still too early to think about match-ups. It’s important for us to play well against good teams.”

And that is exactly what is going to happen in the ‘second season.’ Since the Red Sox appear to be the clear-cut wild card entrant, the Yankees will face off against the winner of the AL Central in the Division Series. At press time, the Detroit Tigers were leading the Minnesota Twins by two and a half games.

That means that Anaheim and Boston will face one another in the other series and the survivors will square off in the American League Championship Series. Does the road to the World Series go through Yankee Stadium? (The AL has home field advantage in the Fall Classic thanks to a win in the All-Star Game.) Anything less and the season will be considered a failure.

Such is life when perfection is not only expected, but also demanded.

Wednesday evening at Yankee Stadium it was baseball again. Yankees manager Joe Girardi had little evidence of the brawl left that left him n with a black eye and cut. The end result of an ugly brawl was Bob Watson, the Major League Baseball Vice President of On-Field Operations handing out the expected suspensions.

Yankees Catcher Jorge Posada and Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Carlson have been suspended for three games. Shelley Duncan, the reserve gets a three-game suspension, Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long and pitcher Edwar Ramirez were handed undisclosed fines. All warranted of course because Posada, a family man with morals should have known better.

Posada took his own action, thought about putting an elbow at Carlson when he rounded the bases Tuesday evening before coming home. He will accept the repercussions, because at this of year, when the only significance left was Yankees home field advantage in the playoffs, there was no need for retaliation about a close pitch Carlson threw in the top of the eighth inning.

All was calm in the Yankees clubhouse before they took the field and won a 5-4 bottom of the ninth walk-off win over the Blue Jays, their 14^th such win of the season and Major League leading 48^th comeback win. “There were no warnings issued from the umpires before the game,” commented Girardi.  “They obviously thought it was over.”

And thankfully it is over and that the Yankees and Blue Jays don’t meet again until next June up in Toronto.  Now the Yankees embark on a late season west coast swing that takes them to Seattle, and then three with the Angels out in Los Angeles, a possible post season opponent.

“We have put it behind us,” said Yankees pitcher Mark Melancon who drilled Toronto’s Aaron Hill in the top of the inning Tuesday evening, a pitch that was not intentional.  Then Carlson in the bottom of the inning threw a pitch behind Posada that may have been retaliation.

But we should not be talking about brawls on the field this time of year. Instead it should be about pennant races. Both teams on the field, and this time it is 35 men with expanded rosters. Not even the best boxing judge could score this one, a reason why Watson handed out the appropriate suspensions and fines.

“I was there to be a good teammate,” said Ramirez who grabbed the chest protector of Toronto catcher Rod Barajas who was on the bottom of a pile of players at home plate looking to avoid injury.

So the Yankees will adjust without Posada the next few days. Girardi seems fine with using Jose Molina and Franciso Cervelli. “It’s nice to win a game and feel like you can put what happened behind us,” said the Yankees manager.  Cervelli put all of the fireworks of the night before to bed with the walk-off single win through the hole at short that scored the speedy Brett Gardner who got on base and stole second.

Some will say the Yankees are the bad guys.  Posada certainly left that impression with his actions in a game that was meaningless in the standings.  Oh, one more point of interest. The rival Boston Red Sox come to the Bronx next week.

And if Boston continues to win ballgames, like they are doing now, and if the Yankees hit a tailspin on this late season west coast swing, well there could be a late season pennant race but hopefully not another “base-brawl” at Yankee Stadium.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com .

The organization wanted a ballpark that played large. Historically Shea Stadium was a pitchers park and there was no reason to make any changes as the team moved next door.

So they designed Citi Field to be a pitchers park. And it’s a good one – even better than Shea. Balls that would have been out in the newly minted parking lot, are either off the wall in the young edifice or caught on the warning track.

Look at the doubles by Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran yesterday. Both would have been out of Shea, yet bounded off the Citi Field walls.

What it’s doing is giving the Mets and their young staff a tremendous home field advantage. The starters are now willing to take chances, knowing they won’t get burned by too many mistakes.

“I tell all my pitchers, just throw strikes,” said pitching coach Dan Warthen. “You have such a large field and a gold glove center fielder out there.”

With Beltran catching almost everything hit to him, the Met pichers have gotten aggressive in the zone, not willing to dabble on the corners, which makes them much, much more effective.

“We have to use the ballpark to our advantage,” said yesterday’s winner Livan Hernandez. “We’ve got to help [Johan] Santana. He can’t do it all by himself.”

Hernandez said he is trying to help John Maine and Mike Pelfrey in order to get them to throw strikes. And it already has helped the youngster Jon Niese, who pitched very well at Citi Field on Friday.

“He threw strike one, That’s the biggest thing,” said Warthen.

Of course there has been an adjustment period with a lot of fly balls getting dropped on the corners. In left, that’s just the inexperience of impressive hitter Dan Murphy, but in right, there may be a blind spot due to the shadows as the sun goes down and also the light towers on the third base side.

Beltran denied this, but there just have been a number of catchable balls that seem to have been lost in the lights.

Yet, that’s another advantage for the Mets, since both teams have to play the same right field. The Mets will eventually learn the blind spots, but other teams may have trouble.

All of this means the Mets will have a tremendous chance to dominate at home. With the ability to take advantage of the home field, the team could become world beaters in Queens, while do well on the road as well, since the starters will continue with their smart pitching.

“I think the ballpark is giving our pitchers more confidence to throw strikes and pitch to contact,” said Mets manager Jerry Manuel.

Also as an added benefit, the new park will attract solid free agent pitchers, a rare commodity, while the Mets can fill the lineup with line drive hitters to take advantage of the gaps.

So much for the three-run home run, the Mets will be a small ball team, because they did this park right.