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Best, Worst Include A Lions' Share

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - While the New England juggernaut continues as the most compelling NFL storyline of 2007, there are other developments worth noting as we reach the midpoint of the league's 88th season.

Here's some hardware to hand out halfway through the year while awaiting today's clash of the titans at the RCA Dome:

•Surprise team: The Packers may be 6-1, but it's their hard-driving NFC North challengers who have raised the most eyebrows. In their second year under Rod Marinelli, the Lions have bolted to a 5-2 start, including a pair of victories against Chicago. Detroit is already 3-0 in the division, and that Dec. 30 regular-season finale at Lambeau looms as a dandy.

•Biggest disappointment: Da Bears. Chicago deserves every bit of its 3-5 record, and you can't blame Rex Grossman anymore. The defense has fallen to 26th and RB Cedric Benson isn't getting the job done since Thomas Jones was peddled to the Jets.

•Best coach: Let's show a little love for brusque Tom Coughlin, who has the Giants on pace for a 12-4 mark despite the retirement of Pro Bowl RB Tiki Barber. Led by a strong pass rush and the NFL's No. 4 scoring attack, Coughlin has New York playing smart, winning football, much to the chagrin of some Big Apple columnists who can't wait for his departure.

•Best assistant: The Browns handed their offense over to 39-year-old coordinator Rob Chudzinki, and they haven't regretted the decision for a moment. Chudzinki has opened up the passing game and helped Derek Anderson develop into one of the NFL's most impressive young QBs.

•MVP: Tom Brady is the easy choice, but nobody means more to his team than Brett Favre, who has willed the Packers to several victories by his sheer exuberance. Favre has learned to take fewer chances, overcoming a weak ground game by making sound decisions and utilizing all his weapons. Bravo, Brett.

•Offensive player: On pace for 60 TD passes, Brady is at the peak of a Hall of Fame career. He asked New England's front office for better receivers, and then he backed it up by finding Randy Moss and Wes Welker for big gains every week. He's simply playing QB at a level we haven't seen before - from anyone.

•Defensive player: Free-agent addition Adalius Thomas was supposed to make most of the splash plays for New England's defense, but fellow LB Mike Vrabel is enjoying a career year at age 32. Vrabel has 42 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, in addition to adding to his reputation as a legitimate receiving threat in the red zone.

•Offensive rookie: Everyone knew Adrian Peterson was bursting with talent, but the former Oklahoma standout has been dazzling, leading all rushers with 740 yards and averaging a ridiculous 5.8 yards per carry. All this without a credible passing attack to make defensive coordinators think twice about crowding the box.

•Defensive rookie: They play in relative obscurity, but the 2-5 49ers have someone to brag about in LB Patrick Willis. The first-round pick out of Mississippi has registered 52 solo tackles and a forced fumble, displaying the aggression and instincts that mark him as a future Pro Bowl selection.

•Best game: The Oct. 21 Houston-Tennessee matchup didn't generate 36.5 hours of coverage on NFL Network, but it produced a heck of a finish. Trailing 32-7 after three quarters, the Texans struck for 29 points in the final 15 minutes behind QB Sage Rosenfels. Houston went ahead with less than a minute to go, only to fall 38-36 when Rob Bironas kicked his record-setting eighth field goal of the day, a 29-yarder as time expired.

•Impact free agent: Moss had a reputation for playing only when the mood struck him, but New England's veteran leaders helped him turn his career around. He leads all receivers with 779 yards and 11 TD catches, and he has a chance to make another statement today against the NFL's top-rated pass defense.

•Strongest quote: Carolina DT Kris Jenkins gathered reporters around him following a 20-7 loss to the Bucs in Week 4 and sacked the entire organization. "As a team collectively, we have no heart," Jenkins said after Carolina fell to 2-2. The Panthers then beat New Orleans and Arizona, improving to 4-0 on the road, and are 4-3 heading into today's matchup at Tennessee.

•Weakest quote: "My interpretation of a rule in the constitution and bylaws was incorrect." - Coach Bill Belichick, after he was fined $500,000 and the Patriots were docked what likely will be a first-round draft pick for videotaping defensive signals in the season opener against the Jets.

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