The Celtics are the first team in NBA history to start 4 seasons with a record of 16-4 or better. This bodes well for the Celtics but it was just last year where they had the same record and after their Christmas day win over the Orlando Magic reverted to a .500 team. I believe the Celtics are a better team than last year especially when Kendrick Perkins returns to the lineup which should be sometime after the All-Star break. They also only had reserve guard Delonte West for a few games after he went out with a broken wrist. Jermaine O’Neil another off season pickup to help bolster the frontcourt has only played in a handful of games but is due to return shortly. Shaq and Rondo has missed a few games with nagging injuries but they don’t appear to be injuries that will keep them out of the lineup for an extended period of time. 

Game of the Day: The Jaguars and Texans had one of the best endings to a game all season so they get my nod for Game of the Week. At halftime it didn’t look like this would be a candidate with the Texans trailing 17-3. The Texans turned it on in the second half and came all the way back to tie it up at 24 with just over 4 minutes to play. The Texans had the ball around mid field as time was about to expire but fumbled and the Jags recovered. After a 5 yard pass to Mercedes Lewis that set up Jags quarterback David Garrard for the Hail Mary attempt as time expired. Mike Thomas caught the ball at the one yard line off of a deflection from a Texans defender and ran it into the end zone. The Hail Mary worked and the Jags escaped with a victory. Garrard was spectacular throwing for 342 yards and 2 touchdowns and Maurice Jones-Drew also had a very good game reaching the 100 yard rushing mark to go along with 2 touchdowns.

The college hoops season is less than a week away from starting so it’s time to preview what should be an amazing season. 

It’s been a long time since Raiders fans had anything to be excited for. But right now the Raiders sit at 4-4 and they host the top team in the AFC West the Kansas City Chiefs who sit at 5-2. The Raiders are a missed 30 yard field goal away from being 5-3 but as a long suffering Raiders fan I am happy to see them with a meaningful game past week 8 of the season. The key to the Raiders offense has been the play of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush at the running back position. When McFadden missed a few starts the Raiders offense really struggled but when he is out there they are a threat for a big play every time. McFadden has 668 yards and 4 touchdowns on 122 caries and also has 217 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. As you can see McFadden is an intrical part of the lineup and when he is in the lineup the Raiders are a much better team. Michael Bush had also filled in well for McFadden and as a change of pace running back. Bush has 307 yards and 4 touchdowns to go along with 127 receiving yards. 

The passing game has been an issue at time this year but it is a great improvement over last year. It appears that Jason Campbell is going to be the guy after he was benched earlier this season but re-emerged once Bruce Gradkowski was injured. Raider quarterbacks have thrown for a combined 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions so they need to limit the interceptions with a lot of good defensive teams coming up on the schedule. Zach Miller has been the best receiving option on the team at the Tight End position. He is a matchup nightmare for all linebackers. He leads the team in receptions, targets, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns along with 8 plays of over 20+ yards. The two second year wide receivers are the next best options for the Raiders passing attack. Louis Murphy and Darius Heyward-Bey have combined for 40 receptions and 603 yards with each scoring a touchdown. Heyward-Bey is coming off of his first career 100 yard game but a bulk of it was on a 69 yard touchdown pass. 

The Defense has been very good as of late especially against the pass. The Raiders ranks 4th in opposing passing yards allowed per game at 182.6 per game. A lot of that has to do with the presence of all everything cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Asomugha has be ability to shut off half of the field. The run defense has been a problem but is showing signs of improvement.

The Raiders host the Chiefs before their bye week and then embark on a tough part of their schedule. They have road games against the Steelers, Chargers, Jaguars, and Chiefs while hosting the Dolphins, Broncos, and Colts. I see some winnable games in the late portion of the season but it will be tough for them to make the playoffs. All I know is if they can beat the Chiefs this weekend anything is possible. 

Game of the Day: There were a few games that could have taken this honor but the Ravens/Patriots game was very entertaining from start to finish and it had to come down to a late field goal in overtime to decide the victor. The Patriots welcomed back former Super Bowl hero Deon Branch and he didn’t disappoint catching 9 balls for 98 yards and a touchdown. Tom Brady was intercepted two times but the Patriots still managed to put drives together and scored when they needed to. Steven Gostkowski hit a game tying field goal with just under two minutes to go in regulation and then hit the game winner with 1:56 left on the clock in overtime. The Ravens had two chances in overtime but failed to get themselves in position for a potential game winning field goal. The Pats were able to get their revenge after an embarrassing defeat at home to the Ravens in the playoffs last season.