MLB Championship Series Weekend

A year after reaching the World Series, both the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies were facing a 3-1 hole entering Game 5 of their respective championship series’.  The Texas Rangers, who have never gone to the World Series and the San Francisco Giants who haven’t been there since 2002, look poised to rebound after tough Game 5 losses.  Heading to Game 6 up 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, the Ranges and Giants will look to avoid a decisive Game 7 and stamp their ticket to the biggest stage in baseball.

Colby Lewis will take the mound for the Rangers tonight as he aims for a repeat performance of his effort in Game 2 as Phil Hughes will try to regain his All-star form and force a Game 7 pitching duel between stud muffin Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte.  The Yankees will be without All-star first baseman Mark Tiexiera for the remainder of the postseason due to a strained hamstring suffered in Game 4.  The first pitch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. tonight on TBS.

The Rangers are currently riding their pitching and potent offense as the Yankees continue to look feeble compared to their regular season.  Josh Hamilton already has 4 home runs and 7 RBI, batting 6-19 in the series while Colby Lewis struck out six in 5 2/3 of work while yielding just two runs in a Game 2 victory.  The Yankees hope to get production out of Lance Berkman, who will start in place of Tiexiera once again, and Robinson Cano, who continues to impress in the playoffs after a stellar MVP-like season.

The Giants will send Jonathan Sanchez to the helm in Philadelphia on Saturday to oppose Roy Oswalt in an attempt to close out the series and head back home to San Francisco.  Sanchez was on the losing end of Game 2 as Oswalt dominated the Giants lineup from top to bottom, however in his relief appearance in Game 4, Oswalt gave up 3 hits in 2/3 of an inning and took the loss as Juan Uribe hit a walk-off sacrifice fly for a 6-5 victory.  The start time is 3:55 Saturday on FOX.

The Giants hope to get rookie sensation Buster Posey back on track after a sub-par effort in Game 5 following a superb Game 4 where he went 4-5 with 2 RBI and had a crucial hit off of Roy Oswalt in the 9^th inning.  The Phillies hope to finally get some run production from their cleanup hitter Ryan Howard who has yet to record a RBI in the NLCS.  The only time in MLB history a team won a series sans run production from their cleanup hitter was the ’62 Yankees in the World Series.

Will there be a pair of Game 7’s this weekend? Or will the Rangers and Giants square off in the World Series 2010?  Tune in this weekend for what is primed to be an outstanding, nerve-racking pair of championship series coming down to the wire.

For tickets to these games or travel packages to see your favorite team, be sure to visit Premier Global Sports. Click here for more information.

League Championship Series Set To Begin

October baseball is starting to heat up as both League Championship Series are beginning this weekend. The ALCS starts Friday night as the defending World Series Champion New York Yankees travel to Texas to take on the Rangers. In this best of seven series, the first two games will take place in Arlington, Texas and then shift to the Bronx, New York. The NLCS starts Saturday night as the San Francisco Giants go into Philadelphia to take on the Phillies. The first two games are in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before shifting to San Francisco, California.

In the ALCS, Game 1 will start Friday night with the Yankees CC Sabathia going up against the Rangers C.J. Wilson. Sabathia went 21-7 with a 3.18 ERA for the Yankees this year while Wilson went 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA for the Rangers.

Game 2 Saturday night, will feature a rising star in Phil Hughes pitching for the Yankees going up against the Rangers Colby Lewis. Hughes had an impressive season for the Yankees going 18-8 with a 4.19 ERA while Lewis went 12-13 with a 3.72 ERA for the Rangers.

Game 3 in the Bronx on Monday, will be one to watch as two of the games toughest lefties will compete. Texas has Cliff Lee going for them as the Yankees counter with veteran Andy Pettitte. Lee is the Rangers number one starter but, can not start until Game 3 because he just beat the Tampa Rays in Game 5 of the ALDS Tuesday night. With Tuesday night’s win Lee improved to 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA in the postseason. Pettitte is the all-time postseason leader in wins with 19 to go along with a 3.87 ERA.

This should be a fantastic series as the Yankees look to capture their 28^th championship of all time while the Rangers are striving for their 1^st ever championship.

In the NLCS, Game 1 will start Saturday night with the Giants Tim Lincecum going up against the Phillies Roy Halladay. This should be the pitching match-up of the year as Lincecum is coming off a complete game shutout with 14 strikeouts in the NLDS and Halladay coming off a no-hitter in the NLDS. Don’t miss this game!

In Game 2 Sunday night, the Giants will turn to Jonathan Sanchez with the Phillies countering with Cole Hamels. Sanchez is part of the Giants young pitching core on the rise and Hamels was the World Series MVP two seasons ago for the Phillies.

Game 3 on Tuesday will feature the Phillies Roy Oswalt competing against the Giants Matt Cain. Oswalt was a trade deadline pick up by the Phillies that has greatly benefited them. Since July 31^st, the Phillies are 30-5 in games started by Halladay, Oswalt or Cole Hamels. This series is all about pitching as both teams have a top of the line staff. This is shaping up to be one of the best pitching match-ups we’ve seen in a long time.

Who will we see in the World Series?

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New Yorks Knicks Preview

With preseason upon us I feel it’s time to talk some basketball once again.  The New York Knicks this year are poised for a bounce back season after the acquisitions of Amar’e Stoudemire, and Raymond Felton through free agency and Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike through trade with the Golden State Warriors.

These weapons, paired with the impeccable outside shooting of Danilo Gallinari as well as secondary players such as newly acquired big man Timofey Mozgov from Russia, Wilson Chandler, and rookies Landry Fields, and Andy Rautins have the Knicks set for a playoff push.

Still stewing in the minds of a lot of Knicks fans is the whole ‘The Decision’ fiasco with LeBron James choosing to “take his talents to South Beach.”  After the end of the 2009-2010 season, Knicks management as well every Knick fan believed that arguably the best basketball player in the league at the moment was going to be seen in the orange and blue.

But that all came to a screeching halt on July 8, 2010 when he decided to play for the conference rival and sometimes hated Miami Heat.  Though many fans saw this as a loss of an off season, this gave GM and President of the Knicks Donnie Walsh new energy to shake things up on the Knicks as a team.  The signing of Amar’e Stoudemire and the blockbuster trade that sent fan favorite and beloved Knicks forward David Lee to the Golden State Warriors for Randolph, Turiaf, and Azubuike.  Add in the international signing of Timofey Mozgov, 24, 7’1 center out of Russia whose raw talent, defensive prowess, and nose for the ball could lead to a solid front court for the Knicks this year and in the future as well.

I’d like to take a second and break down the Knicks overall.

Raymond Felton who came out of the University of North Carolina is a ball hawk who is in on just about every play and has the ability to carry out Coach D’Antoni’s offense very well. Wilson Chandler is just 23 years old and is versatile in that he is 6’8 and can dribble, shoot and even guard bigger players, and he stands to see some time when Azubuike comes back who is as flexible as Chandler.

Danilo Gallinari averaged over 15 points per game last year and this year being fully healthy he is headed towards an important year for his career and the Knicks organization.  He was taken in the top 10 a few years ago and people questioned whether the Italian player could play NBA ball.  I think after last year’s performance, this year this kid is bound for glory.

The forward position is an interesting one because the Knicks haven’t yet found their true center.  Who knows if Mozgov, who is young in both experience and age, can pull it together? I think that all signs point to Mozgov being able to adjust.  Obviously Amar’e Stoudemire or STAT as he goes by, is ready to prove he is worth the hype and the money he got paid.  And boy do I think he is.  He can shoot, rebound, block shots, and find his teammates like not many other players in the league.  Couple that point with Anthony Randolph, who was taken by the Warriors after one year of college and with a lot of projected potential, he is figured to bring much length to the defense at a stellar 6’10, and blessed with lights out shooting ability the sky is the limit.

As Mozgov grows into his position, the acquisition of Ronny Turiaf is important I think.  After overcoming heart issues, he has grown into a scrappy player who is always willing to go the extra mile for the team.  I like to compare him to Jerome Williams who was a fan favorite and always was willing to sacrifice his body for the team.

As most Knick fans know, this is a pivotal year for not only the team but management and coach D’Antoni.  I feel as if the Knicks have a legitimate shot at the Playoffs this year.  Though they have gotten better, so too have the Miami as they are now the ‘Dark Side’ of the NBA, with their big three of Bosh, James, and Wade.  Only time will tell what will happen with the Knicks this season but in my eyes, I feel as if fans should have faith because this may be the turning point.

For information on New York Knicks tickets, NBA games, or any other events please visit Premier Global Sports.

NLDS Game 2′s

A pair of crucial game two’s on the menu for Friday night playoff baseball.  The first of two incredible matchups will feature the Philadelphia Phillies looking to build off of Roy Halladay’s no-hitter in game one by sending three-time all star Roy Oswalt to the helm.  Countering Oswalt will be postseason veteran Bronson Arroyo, who won 17 games this season.  While Oswalt in his half-season with Philadelphia posted a 7-1 record with a 1.74 ERA,  Arroyo enters this game with crucial postseason experience, pitching for the Red Sox in the epic 2004 ALCS against the Yankees where Boston, down 3-0, reeled off four consecutive victories for the AL crown.

“I expect a very Yankee Stadium-esque environment, especially warming up in the bullpen,” Arroyo said. “But I’ve always enjoyed it. I loved playing in the stadiums when guys are screaming obscenities about my mother.”

The Reds offense will attempt to wipe off the dust from their brutal game one performance and get back to what got them to the postseason for the first time in ten years.  They led the NL in batting average (.278), home runs (188), and runs (790) this season but came up empty against Halladay.  NL MVP candidate, Joey Votto will look to anchor this offense as they try to even the series heading back to Cincinnati.

On the other side, Oswalt expects to feed off of Halladay’s historic start in game one. He has never lost a game in Philly’s Citizen Bank Park going 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 10 starts. He’s 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in six home starts with the Phillies.  “Watching Halladay and Cole (Hamels), they remind me a lot of (Roger) Clemens and (Andy) Pettitte. They were on top of their game there then (2005 with the Houston Astros) and these guys are here, too. So, it helps our starting staff out a lot when you start watching each other pitch and kind of feed off each other,” Oswalt said.

The second game will feature the San Francisco Giants who have a 1-0 series lead, hosting the Atlanta Braves.  To follow Tim Lincecum’s complete game, 14-strikeout, shutout victory in game one, the Giants will send Matt Cain to the mound who led the Nation League with 25 quality starts on the season.  The Braves will counter with rookie Tommy Hanson, who has pitched well down the stretch for Atlanta posting a 1.81 ERA since the beginning of September.

Both of these pitchers have been subject to lack of run support.  Cain, who has a career ERA of 3.45, is in the bottom three of the league in terms of runs scored by his team in his starts.  Hanson is the first Braves pitcher since the team moved to Atlanta to have an ERA under 3.50 in at least 30 starts and still post a losing record (10-11).

While both teams will struggle to find their offensive swagger, one can expect another great pitchers duel down by the bay this evening.  As the Giants are trying to maintain home-field advantage and advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2002, the Braves will be swinging for the fences, hoping to get to Cain early and often.

Will we see Philly falter or a Giant collapse? Heading into Game 2 with a 1-0 series lead is a dangerous place to be.  Complacency is a manager’s worst fear, but you can be sure Charlie Manuel (PHI) and Bruce Bochy (SF) will have their teams prepared for battle.

For tickets to these games or travel packages to see your favorite team, be sure to visit Premier Global Sports. Click here for more information.

New Jersey Devils 2010-2011 Preview

The 2010-2011 NHL season is steadily approaching, and with that comes many goals and expectations for all teams and fans around the world.  I’d like to take a look at the New Jersey Devils and what is and isn’t expected of them this year.

As most avid hockey fans know, the New Jersey Devils have been arguably one of the most winningest franchises in NHL history over 15 years.  With Lou Lamoriello, who has been the GM since 1987 the Devils are perennial post-season participants just about every season.  And it is believed to be more of the same on the horizon as the devils take the ice this October for the new season.

The Devils have added new and old faces to the organization, by re-acquiring Jason Arnott (who was with the team during their famous 2001 Stanley Cup winning year), and the acquisitions of Henrik Tallinder, Anton Volchenkov, and the new coach of the Devils former player John Maclean.  Though the losses of Paul Martin and Rob Niedermayer hurt the team, I think they are a solid team over all.

Don’t think I’m forgetting the biggest signing of the off season, a man by the name of Ilya Kovalchuck.  One of the most prolific scorers in the NHL today re-joins the Devils after a strange and arduous negotiation period, that took months and many let downs to orchestrate.  On July 19, Kovalchuck signed a 17 year,  102 million dollar contract which was later rejected by the NHL, and for awhile seemed as if there was no deal immanent, but eventually after much coercion from the NHL Players Association and the New Jersey Devils, the Devils and Kovalchuck agreed on a contract of 15 years and 100 million dollars, which was accepted by the NHL but did lead to a 3 million dollar fine to the Devils and the loss of 2 draft picks in the 2010-2011 entry-draft.

Nevertheless, The New Jersey Devils seemed poised for another big season and hopefully a playoff push that will take them further than the 1^st round.   I predict a top 3 finish in the Eastern Conference as well as a great season from Kovalchuk and of course the staid force in Martin Brodeur.  With an influx of young players and a strong base of talented veterans it seems as if the Devils will make the Prudential Center shake with excitement.  For information about tickets to New Jersey Devil games, or any other NHL team, visit Premiere Global Sports today.

UFC 119: Frank Mir’s Knee of Victory

In front of a sold out crown at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Frank Mir proved once again why he is still a force to be reckoned with in the octagon.

Frank Mir defeated Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic with a devastating knee to the head late in the third round of their heavyweight main event fight. After being booed for the majority of the fight, Mir finally gave the crowd what they wanted with just under a minute left in the match. Cro Cop went in, and Mir put him right back down. Grabbing the back of Cro Cop’s head and forcing a vicious thrust to the head with his right knee, Mir sent him straight to the canvas.

Don’t hit a man while he’s down is not a rule to live by in the MMA. Frank Mir quickly jumped on Cro Cop and finished him off with a quick left-right to the chin before the match was ended by referee Herb Dean.

Mir entered the bout 13 lbs lighter, and in far better shape, then in his most recent fights. After losing 2 of his last 3 fights to opponents who out-sized him, Mir took a different approach at UFC 119. It looks like he learned his lesson after being pummeled by the likes of beastly Brock Lesnar in UFC 100 and Shane Carwin in UFC 111. A vegetarian diet and rigorous endurance exercising proved to be the right formula to top one of the world’s elite, but aging, martial artist in Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic.

On the other hand, let’s show some remorse for Cro Cop. Once haled as the best fighter in all of Russia, as well as all of Pride Fighting Championship, age and injury has become a factor. Not to mention the fact that he agreed to the fight less than 6 weeks prior, as a replacement for injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Getting thrown into a fight with such little time to train may not have been the best idea for the 36 year old.

After the fight, Cro Cop was very apologetic to all of his fans for his lack-luster performance. “I’m sorry like a dog! I could eat myself alive! I can only congratulate Mir, he really caught me with that knee,” Cro Cop said to Croatian site Index.hr. This likely spells then end for one of the most decorated fighters in this sport.

As for Mir, what does the future hold for the 31 year old trying to KO his way back to the top? He clearly did not show what it takes to be a UFC champion in this victory over Cro Cop. I know it, every fan watching in attendance or at home knows it, and without a doubt UFC President Dana White knows it. “I have no clue about Frank,” said White, in a post-fight interview. “To talk the stuff he does and then fight like he fought that’s a little frustrating.

In my opinion, if Frank Mir has the determination to continue his rigorous training regimens, he will get his chances to get back to the top. This however will not be an easy road, nor will it be a short one. Fighting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was the fight Mir needed to re-establish himself. But that’s not what he got. Instead, he fought an end of the line fighter in Mirko Cro Cop, and barely kept the crowd awake (except for that devastating knee KO, of course).

Perhaps once Nogueira is done recuperating from injury, fight fans will get the match they wanted. Until then, only the future will tell what’s in store for Frank Mir.

For tickets and travel packages to Live UFC events, all over the country and around the world, be sure to visit Premiere Global Sports. Click here for more information.

The Hunt for Baseball’s Most Coveted Prize

October is fast approaching and every MLB fan realizes the significance of the upcoming stretch run; that is, the final week of the regular season.  In the American League, the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers have all but wrapped up their respective divisions while in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds have done so as well.

The American League East division crown is now up for grabs as the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays are separated by a mere .5 game.

In the National League West, the San Francisco Giants hold a slim .5 game margin over the San Diego Padres while the Colorado Rockies are lurking in the distance at 3.5 games behind S.F.

The Atlanta Braves maintain the N.L. Wild Card lead for now, but the Padres and Rockies are within striking distance, fighting for their postseason lives.

(Note: The San Francisco Giants visit the Colorado Rockies this weekend for a HUGE 3-game series.)

Now, if the postseason were to begin today, the American League matchups would look like this:

Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Minnesota Twins

While the National League divisional series’ would shape up as follows:

San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds

The Yankees and Rangers split the season series at four games apiece; however the Rangers have some question marks entering this matchup.  Josh Hamilton, the team’s leader in batting average (.361) and home runs (31), is in the process of rehabbing a pair of broken ribs and it is unclear when or IF he will be available, though he will get the next 7-10 days to continue to rehab and rest for the postseason.

On the other side, the Yankees have some injury issues of their own as Mark Teixeira is nursing a broken toe and a sore right palm while continuing to play down the stretch.  On a more positive note, the Yanks will welcome back Any Pettitte from a long stint on the disabled list after he began the season 11-2 with a 2.81 ERA.

Tampa Bay will end the season against less than stellar competition and may steal the division from the Yankees, however, as it stands today, the Rays would travel to Minnesota to take on the Twins.

The season series gives a slight edge to the Rays at five games to three, nevertheless the Twins have the leagues best record and will continue to ride Jim Thome’s bat into the divisional round (Thome averages a homerun every 10.8 at-bats).  The Rays have depended upon a dominant rotation all season long and AL Cy Young candidate David Price (18-6, 2.84 ERA) will look to build upon his regular season success and previous postseason performance.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the hottest team in baseball, having won 10 in a row and have gone 44-15 since July 21 when they trailed Atlanta in the division by 7 games.  The acquisition of Roy Oswalt has paid dividends as he has gone 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts with the team.

In a rotation that already features Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, the Phillies appear poised for a deep run in October.  The San Francisco Giants will try to neutralize a potent Phillies offense with a superb pitching rotation of their own, which holds the leagues best ERA (3.39).

Two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum heads a pitching staff that has held opponents to three runs or less in their last 17 games, a MLB record since 1920.  The Giants haven’t been to the postseason since 2003 but they may become a legitimate threat in the National League if their offense can ride rookie sensation Buster Posey and keep pace with the teams dominant pitching.

This will be Bobby Cox’s final year as the manager of the Atlanta Braves, ending an illustrious managerial career, and the Braves would like nothing more than to send their beloved manager off with a diamond-studded ring.

Like the Giants, the Braves depend on their fourth-ranked pitching staff (3.57 ERA) to keep the team afloat while a mediocre offense may or may not show up.  The Reds are just the opposite.  Riding NL MVP candidate Joey Votto (.323 batting average, 35 HR’s, 106 RBI), the leagues fourth ranked offense looks to take manager Dusty Baker to the Promised Land.  In the postseason for the first time since 2000, the Reds will not waste this rare opportunity.

For tickets to these games or travel packages to see your favorite team, be sure to visit Premier Global Sports. Click here for more information.

NY Rangers 2010-2011 Season Preview

With training camp well underway, let’s take a look at a team gearing up for another season and a return to playoff contention.

After a disappointing end to the 2009-2010 campaign, the New York Rangers look to bounce back from a heartbreaking, playoff eliminating loss in the final game of the season and continue to push forward to claim a top eight spot in the Eastern Conference.

As the core of last season’s team remains intact, the Rangers and Coach John Tortorella believe the key additions they have made in the off-season will give them the support they need to stake their claim in the Atlantic Division. With several of the Eastern Conference teams making solid improvements this summer, the Rangers will have to keep focused on out-working and out-playing the opposition.

One man who can’t wait for October is franchise goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist. After another upsetting end to the season, Lundqvist remains optimistic about the season to come as he puts his reputation on the line in a recent interview. “Absolutely. We will (be in the playoffs). I promise, we will bounce back”, Lundqvist said in an interview with WFAN last week.

One thing all Rangers fans can be sure of is that King Henrik will have more rest this season. With management bringing in veteran goaltender Martin Biron this off-season, Coach Tortorella finally has a solid backup he can rely on. With nothing more than experimental backups last season, Lundqvist started 72 exhibition games, second only to Martin Brodeur’s 76. Without a trustworthy backup to take the load off, for at least 20 games throughout the season, there’s only so much one man can do before fatigue kicks in and performance staggers.

Moving to the offensive side, All-star forward Marian Gaborik looks to pick up where he left off with his team-leading 42 goals last season (20% of the teams’ goals scored all season). The question remains: who else will escalate their game and put goals up on the board? Last season that question went unanswered as the team relied heavily on Gaborik’s dominating shot throughout. This summer saw some new faces arrive at the Garden. Bringing in forwards Alexander Frolov from the L.A. Kings, grinder Todd White from Atlanta, and Norwegian sniper Mats Zuccarello-Aasen, seems to be the answer for the upcoming season, or at least that’s what they hope. The burden still falls on the underachieving likes of Captain Chris Drury, Sean Avery, and Brandon Dubinsky to pick up the slack. If only every player would play up to their potential and undeserving salaries…

Another concern for another consecutive season is the Rangers dismal, undisciplined defense, which remains young and learning. With the summer resigning of both Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, both look to get back on the ice with fellow youngsters Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy. The youth on the Rangers defense has put a huge chip on every one of their shoulders. Staal and Girardi must grow into their new contracts and make their names known as a premier defensive pairing in the NHL. The potential is sky high for 20 year old Michael Del Zotto as he gets ready for his sophomore year and Matt Gilroy will be looking to secure his spot as an every game player this year.

Only time will tell what the future holds for the Broadway Blueshirts. I know I’m ready for another exciting year of hockey as opening night at Madison Square Garden inches closer and close.

For tickets to the game or travel packages to see your favorite team, be sure to visit Premier Global Sports. Click here for more information.

Week 2 in the NFL; check your pulse

Week one in the NFL conditioned even the weak fans to salivate. This
weekend features match-ups across the board where playoff teams from a year ago look to avoid a 0-2 start, the ageless wonder looks to regain his pro
bowl form, and the NFL’s best running back continues to chase history.

The game dominating the headlines is the much anticipated “Manning Bowl,”
where older brother Peyton will welcome Eli and his Giants to Indianapolis
on Sunday Night Football. This will mark the second time the brothers have
met with Eli attempting to even the series with his brother after Peyton and
the Colts took the first game back in 2006. You can be sure that the Colts
defense will look to rebound from a week one embarrassment, surrendering
over 250 rushing yards to the Texans in a loss. The Colts have not started
a season 0-2 since 1998 and with a very tough schedule and division; this
game may determine their season.

After mulling retirement once again this off-season, Brett Favre looks to
rebound from his disappointing week one performance against the Saints as
they look to avoid a 0-2 hole against the Miami Dolphins. Favre and his
teammates were not on the same page as he overthrew receivers and looked
every bit his age. On the other side, Miami enjoyed a week one victory in
Buffalo and look to get off to their best start since 2002. If Favre can’t
get it done, look for an explosive effort out of Adrian Peterson, vying to
reclaim his title as the NFL’s best running back-

Speaking of talented running backs, Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans
picked up right where he left off last season with another stellar
performance in the Titans week one victory over the Raiders. Johnson
extended his streak of 100+ yards rushing to 12 games (leaving him two shy
of Barry Sanders‘ record of 14) and will look to continue that success
against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has allowed only three 100-yard
rushers since 2006, an NFL best. As both teams come into this match-up 1-0,
the Steelers will once again lean on Dennis Dixon in place of the suspended
Ben Roethlisberger while the Titans hope to get off to a 2-0 start after
beginning last season with six straight losses.

Perhaps the most anticipated game of his career, Michael Vick will start
under center for the Philadelphia Eagles as Kevin Kolb will watch from
the sidelines after suffering a concussion in the Eagles week one loss.
This will mark the first time Vick has started a game since 2006 and after
coming up short in an exciting second half against Green Bay, Vick looks to
keep the adrenaline pumping as he attempts to keep the Eagles relevant in a
tough NFC East and avoid a 0-2 start against the Detroit Lions. However, the
Lions look to rebound from a controversial loss to the Bears in week one
where it appeared Calvin Johnson caught the winning touchdown with under a minute remaining, only to find out mid-celebration he failed to maintain
possession throughout the catch.

After an entertaining pre-season on HBO’s “Hard Knocks”, the NY Jets failed
to live up to their own expectations in an ugly loss to the Ravens on Monday
Night Football. This week will be the Jets shot at redemption, playing in
front of their home crowd once again, welcoming their most bitter rival in
the New England Patriots. Tom Brady enjoyed a terrific week one win against
the Bengals, throwing for 258 yards and three touchdowns; two to Wes Welker.  While the Jets will most certainly be fighting for their division lives, the Patriots young secondary will hope to continue to make things difficult in
the passing game for Mark Sanchez, who struggled mightily in week one,
throwing for just 74 yards.

If these games don’t get you fired up, check your pulse because every living
human being will be glued firmly to their couch this Sunday, expecting
another entertaining afternoon of football.