Wyche's Word
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM ETSteve Wyche
29 comments
NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche is back to chat with NFL Nation on Monday, November 2 at 1:30 p.m. ET, discussing the last buzz from around the league. Submit a question now, and also check out Steve's blog for more.
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Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Folks, Sorry I am late. I just got to N'Awlins from Green Bay and man, there is a reason why this is my favorite city in the country. People are already tailgating for tonight's Saints-Falcons game and they're partying like it's Mardi Gras. I like to say this because, for the most part it's true: The only folks working outside of the SuperDome when there's Monday Night Football in N'Awlins are the bartenders... All I need is some Re-Birth Brass Band to truly set this thing off. On that note, let's party... -
sam, worcester
1:40 PM ET
hey steve, so the titans got their first win with vince, is their still a qb controversy?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Sam, Way to get things rolling. No QB controversy at all. Jeff Fisher said last week when he made the move to VY that he wouldn't be playing musical chairs with his QBs. Now that Vince and the Titans got the win -- how bad is Jacksonville's tackling by the way -- No. 10 is even more firmly entrenched. -
Josh, Wellington FL
1:42 PM ET
WHAT IS UP STEVE?! THANKS FOR THE TWEET, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GIANTS?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Josh, No doubt my man. And for everyone else, hit me up at Wyche89 on the Twitter deal. I'm not a Tweet-a-holic, but I sample the goods from time to time. What has happened to the Giants is Eli has lost his accuracy -- I think his foot might be bugging him more than he's letting on. They also can't run the ball. Brandon Jacobs has no room to roll and when he does, he doesn't seem to be moving like he used to. New York also isn't getting the pass pressure it used to. I think the problems in the secondary are allowing QBs to get the ball out quicker and that's negating the Tuck-Umenyiora effect. -
Josh G., Tampa, FL
1:44 PM ET
how bad are the packers?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Josh G., You're hitting me up from Tampa asking me how bad another team is? Just playing. The Packers aren't terrible by any means and they have plenty of talent. Their offensive line is not good, though. Aaron Rodgers could be the toughest guy in the NFL because he's not jsut getting sacked; he's getting way-laid. Some of it is his fault. He hangs on to the ball way too long instead of letting it rip and trusting his receivers. Defensively, players are not happy -- Cullen Jenkins really fired off some criticism -- with the effect of the 3-4. He hates that not only him, but that Aaron Kampman's effectiveness as a pass rusher has been so diminished, as has the overall ability to administer pressure. Packers could end up being a middle of the pack team unless they figure things out up front on the O-line. -
Pat, Rochester
1:49 PM ET
Many of us here in western new york are hoping Jauron gets fired/resigns before Buffalo goes down to Tennessee week 10. Do you see this happening, and if so, who is a realistic replacement?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Pat, Jauron is not getting fired during the season because there is no one there to replace him. And if there were, they'd be coaching the same banged up, injured, ill-equipped players Jauron is. Jauron is hardly the only issue in Buffalo. He's be on the open market come the offseason, but there are a lot of holes to be plugged with that team. -
Kyle, San Diego
1:50 PM ET
Steve, do you see the cowboys defense getting better as the year goes on?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Kyle, It seems that way. They are starting to get some really aggressive interior push that is upsetting the run game and flushing the QB to the pass rushers on the edge. You also have to like the way S Gerald Sensabaugh is starting to fill in after being out with the thumb injury. The Boys are playing ball. -
Mike Singletary, SF
1:53 PM ET
Hey Steve, K, Keep this on the down low BUT I'm beginning to feel a little worried about my promise of a post season birth for the boys. We look very good on paper now with Alex @ the helm, Crabs making 5 + catches in his first two games, VD is blazing hot & Gore's still running for 6 between the tackles with 8 in the box!!... BUT can we win the 6 most likely 7 games it will take to make it to the PLAYOFFS this year? CAN WE LEARN TO FINISH GAMES??? How'd ya like my decision to start #11 for the rest of the season??
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Samurai Mike, Don't like the grim outlook after you just stayed closer with Indianapolis than just about any other team in the NFL has. I know there are no moral victories but last I checked, no one is running away with the NFC West. Heck, even St. Louis is in play the way things are going. Don't get your dobber down fella. You have a very tough team that is going to be in the hunt until the final day. -
CODY, SD
1:56 PM ET
WHO IS THE BEST TEAM IN FOOTBALL?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
We'll see after tonight's game but I'd have to say the Saints and then the Colts. -
Mike , Wyoming
1:59 PM ET
What are the Bears' chances of coming away with the NFC North title? Can they beat the Vikings?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
They might beat the Vikings - once - but Chicago doesn't seem to be on the overall tier that the Vikings are. The Bears O-line is a soft spot. However, they are still a good team. Don't know about winning the NFC North but I can see them possibly challenging for a wild card. -
Zach, Eagan, MN
2:01 PM ET
Steve, if I remember correctly, you were one of the very few experts on NFL.com that picked the Vikings. Feel like a genius?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Zach, I wish there was revisionist history but I was feeling the Pack before the season. Not feeling them so much anymore...Can I have a do over? In that case, I like the Purple People Eaters Part II. -
Brandon, Ny
2:02 PM ET
What is next for the ever disappointing Cleveland Browns organization
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Brandon, If you are a fan, my sympathies. This is only getting worse. J-Lewis saying he'd rather retire than go through another season of this -- I've had players from other teams tell me they'd retire before going there in a trade. Owner Randy Lerner saying that the leadership of this team is rudderless is not good. This franchise is a hot mess. Dr. Phil, Merlin the Magician and Simon Cowell might not have the answers to turn this around any time soon. -
Brett Favre, Minneapolis, MN
2:06 PM ET
Be honest Steve, does an ol' man have a shot at MVP??
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
B.F. No doubt about that, but if you keep getting the ball in Percy Harvin's hands and if Jared Allen keeps doing his thing, you might have some company on your own team. -
Jared, Chicago
2:08 PM ET
Hey Steve please let us know how many questions are sent in
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Jared, A couple hundred and counting..... -
Dan, Bloomington, IN
2:08 PM ET
Hey Steve, thanks for your time! Do you see the Ravens posing more problems in the AFC North with this recent win over Denver? Or is the title still primarily between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati??
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Dan, It was way too early to count out the Ravens after their three close losses. They will be in the mix. The game at Cincy this week just got a lot more interesting didn't it??? -
Will, nc
2:10 PM ET
whats wrong with the Seahawks offense? I think play calling has something to do with it.
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Will, The Seahawks run a fairly predictable system but they have the players to make it work. They just have a wounded O-line and no running game at all. And, as bad as it sounds, I don't see No. 8 making through the rest of the season with the beating he's taking. Once he goes down, things will actually get worse. I never think I'm smart enough to judge play calling unless it's something like repeated dive plays on third and 16. If players execute, the play calling won't always look so bad. -
Josh, Dunedin
2:12 PM ET
Steve, If you were Mark Murphy what direction would you go to keep a barely floating ship floating in Green bay?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Josh, Put Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton back in at tackles and let Aaron Kampmann get after the quarterback. -
mike, CA
2:13 PM ET
Is Harvin the front runner right now for ROY after seeing Sanchez fall these past weeks?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Mike, That's a yes, but the Byrd-man in Buffalo and Jeremy Maclin are starting to surge. -
Chris, Woodbridge, VA
2:14 PM ET
Hey Steve, it took a miracle Bret Farve throw to beat the 49ers, and now it took a trick play from the Colts to snatch their win. The Texans game could've been theirs with a better final drive. So despite the loss to the Falcons, the 49ers seem to be a good team that has a shot for the playoffs. Do you agree?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Chris, I defintely agree but the 49ers are still on the come-up. There is an old saying (I think, if not, I'm coining this one): Good teams find a way to win the close games, or they at least create enough breaks to give themselves the chance to. That said (quite eloquently don't you think) the 49ers will be in the playoff hunt. -
chris, MT
2:16 PM ET
Steve my man! What do you think of the packer fans booing favre every time he took the field ? I think it was uncalled for considering what he did for GB and GB left him not the other way around.
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Chris, they booed him because he plays for the Vikings. Had he come back for Tampa Bay, Kansas City or even Detroit, they would have loved him up. The fact that he is with Minnesota (and the same thing would have happened had it been Chicago) Favre is now viewed as going to the Dark Side. When this is all said and done, he will be cheered, loved and enshrined on Green Bay's Ring of Honor and all that good stuff. For now, though, he's playing for a rival and rivals get booed. -
Chris , California
2:18 PM ET
The season is nearly half over, so who do you like as your mid-season MVP?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Chris, Three-way tie: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Jared Allen. My sleeper is DeSean Jackson. Doesn't he do something ridiculous every week? -
Kevin, Seattle
2:20 PM ET
Hey Steve, how are the shrimp po boys today? And can the Falcons rebound from the clubbing they took last week?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Kevin, My man. No Poy boys yet. That will come post-game when I'm across the street at Lucy's one of the most fun places in NOLA. Thanks for askin. The Falcons can definitely rebound. They just can't turn the ball over and they need to score touchdowns instead of kick field goals. They'll also need to nab at least two turnovers and convert them... That's the science. -
Joel, Ca
2:23 PM ET
Steve! Please name your top 10 DE's in the NFL, and please tell me Trent Cole deserves mention.
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Don't know if I'll get to all 10 but Trent Cole is definitely among the gang. I will include soem OLBs Jared Allen, Trent Cole, Elvis Dumerville, James Harrison, Mario Williams, Joey Porter, Mathis and Freeney, Justin Tuck, John Abraham and J. Pep. I'm sure I'm missing some but those are some excellent players I got to in a hurry so I can get to some more questions. -
Tripp, Camp Lejeune NC
2:27 PM ET
Are the panthers set to turn the season around or was it arizonas poor performance that made the panthers look good?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Tripp, I think it was a combination because Arizona didn't come to play, but Carolina finally decided to run the ball. It's the Panthers' formula to success and as long as they stick to it, they have the type of team to be competitive. They could get back into the mix a little bit if they string together a few more wins. -
Jared , Nashville TN
2:29 PM ET
Hey Steve. I am a big Saints fan and have been disappointed with the production that Bush has brought to the team. Is it time for the Saints to let him go this offseason or continue to try and develop him.
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Jared, Ok, your team is undefeated. It boasts the most ridiculous offense in the NFL and you're disappointed in Reggie Bush? Granted, he might not be Adrian Peterson but the only single dominating offensive figure on that team is Drew Brees. The philosophy of the Saints is to spread the ball around and last I checked, when Reggie touches the ball, he's making things happen. Reggie is not a 20-touch-a-game guy. Heck, he might not even be Darren Sproles. But he's a perfect fit in this system. -
Mark, Springfield, VA
2:31 PM ET
Is the NFC East still the best division although the Skins arent all that good?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Mark, It looks that way to me, although the AFC North is pretty stacked as well. NFC North and AFC South are distant seconds. -
Luc, Saskatoon
2:33 PM ET
What do you think of the Broncos after the way they played against the Ravens?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Luc, I still like them a lot. They ran into a buzz saw in Baltimore. I also think the bye week interrupted a good flow. Denver will get it back together. No time to panic. -
Ben Garza, West Columbia, TX
2:34 PM ET
Steve, you're not including D.Ware in your top OLBs?
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Ben, I said I'm sure I missed some because I'm rushing but thanks for checking that. D.Ware for sure... -
Matt, Nor Cal
2:35 PM ET
Ted Ginn's performance was awsome! He set a record for 2 100-yd returns and 2 in a quarter. But actually I want to give credit where it is due. Jason Taylor is one behind Jim Marshall(28) for career fumble recoveries and is now first for fumble recoveries for a score(6). I'm so glad the Phins took him back cause if not he may have fadded away and retired, he wasn't impressive in D.C.
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Matt, Love the props to J.T. He is very well deserving and he's still a highly effective player.
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Matt, Love the props to J.T. He is very well deserving and he's still a highly effective player. -
Steve Wyche, NFL.com
Sorry to have to do this folks but I gotta make like Tootsie and Roll. My time is up but it's been real. Check me out tonight on NFL Network's Total Access, where I'll be doing live reports from New Orleans. Hit me up on my Blog posts on NFL.com and also, this week on NFL.com (I believe on Wednesday), we plan to introduce an insiders view of the league featuring myself, Jason LaCanfora and Mike Lombardi. We're giving you more reasons to come to the best website for NFL info, NFL.com. No, be like the World's Most Interesting Man and go have an awkward moment, just to see what it feels like. Peace
