Merry Christmas from Coach StuBucksman and the Arizona Cardinals

RUTS Midseason Report

After a rather lengthy delay, the RUTS blog is back with a new post. We enter Week 8 of the second RUTS2 season, and as expected, every RUTS team leads their respective division.

Heading into week 8, the standings in the AFC and NFC are:
AFC

1. Titans (6-0)

1. Patriots (6-0)

3. Chargers (5-1)

4. Raiders (4-1)

5. Steelers (3-2)

6. Dolphins (3-2)

NFC

1. Cowboys (6-0)

2. Cardinals (5-1)

2. Vikings (5-1)

4. Panthers (3-2)

5. Saints (3-2)

6. Redskins (3-3)

Week 8 features a huge match up between the 6-0 Titans and the 6-0 Patriots. The two teams met twice last season, with Tennessee winning both games, including one in the AFC title game. This year's Pats team has a much different look though, as RB Frank Gore and rookie skat-back D. Sanders give the Patriots a much needed punch in the running game. Tom Brady continues to hit WRs Randy Moss, rookie Brandon Trammel, and slot man Joe 'Tequila Sunrise' Walsh to give the passing game its usual potency.

The Titans, behind comeback player of the year candidate Vince Young and NFL MVP candidate Chris Johnson, continue to rely on their running game. However, Vince Young's ability to get the ball down field with the passing game has been much improved and he gives the Titans a viable passing threat at the Qb spot. Teams will continue to be on guard against Young's scrambling ability, which gives the Titans an extra source of weaponry in their offensive arsenal.

This game, which kicks off tonight at 7:30 pm ET, reunites two of Madden '10's biggest surprises...Titans RB Shagg Makino and Patriots WR Joe Walsh. These two players were picked up in free agency before season 1 and have given both teams a lot of productivity. Look for both Walsh and Makino to be difference makers in tonight's game.

The winner of this game is the definite front runner to be the AFC's #1 seed and get home field advantage in the playoffs. However, the losing team will still have a lot to build upon in the final 1/2 of the season. We like New England's chances in this one, especially given their recent resurgance in the running game. The Swami Sez...New England 34, Tennessee 32 in another classic game between Coach UTVOL54 and Coach cjohnchavis. In their RUTS head-to-head games dating back to RUTS1, coach UTVOL54's teams have never lost to Coach cjohnchavis's teams, despite every game seemingly coming down to the wire. We look for that to change tonight, and New England gets a leg up on locking in the AFC's top spot.

In other RUTS news:

- Due to some PS3 malfunctioning, Coach Rob-A-Dob was unable to coach his Chargers in week 7. The team has a BYE in week 8, but play the defending Super Bowl Champion Arizona Cardinals in week 9. Will Coach Rob-A-Dob be back with his team by then? We can't imagine the thought of him missing that game, against co-worker, friend, and Bingo-partner Coach StuBucksman, but only time will tell.

- The Vikings lost a hard fought battle against the Cowboys in week 7. QB Tim Tribow cried...a lot..which runied his eye-black.

- Michael Vick looks to have taken over at Qb full time for the Cardinals. In week 6, Vick "barked" his way to 315 passing yards in Arizona's 31-10 victory over the Rams.

- Coach cjohnchavis and Randy Moss have expressed remorse over their recent spat over Moss's beard. Coach cjohnchavis has stated that he will allow the WR to grow out his beard until the nesting bird's eggs hatch.

Season 2 Kicks Off

RUTS2, Season 2 kicked off over the weekend. Week 1 is highlighted by a big head-to-head matchup between two of the AFC's best teams, as Coach cjohnchavis leads the Patriots up against Coach Rob-A-Dob's Chargers.

With some recent trades, a few RUTS teams have some different players. Here are some of the recent trades, which were made before week 1. Don't forget....the trade deadline (for trades with cpu teams) is Week 3, and all trades must be emailed to me and be approved by the RUTS competition committee.

- Cardinals trade RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR Eddie Royal, Super Bowl MVP MLB Gerald Hayes to New Orleans for a rookie QB, Reggie Bush, and LB Jonathan Vilma.

- The Patriots made a 4-player trade with San Francisco. The trade was highlighted by WR Wes Welker heading out west and RB Frank Gore heading to New England. Coach cjohnchavis also obtained 2 former Vols in the trade.

- The Titans sent backup RB Lendale White and Qb Kerry Collins to Chicago for the Bears' rookie Qb Dane Morrow and backup FS Danieal Manning.

NFL Draft Order

Here is the draft order for tonight:

Chiefs
49ers
Browns
Bengals
Jets
Buccaneers
Redskins
Seahawks
Jaguars
Dolphins
Raiders
Broncos
Lions
Giants
Falcons
Rams
Bills
Texans
Bears
Panthers
Ravens
Saints
Colts
Packers
Vikings
Chargers
Steelers
Cowboys
Eagles
Patriots
Titans
Cardinals

In addition, here some notable players who announced their retirement from the NFL:
Brett Favre, Marvin Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, Warrick Dunn.

Super Cards! Arizona Wins Super Bowl XLIV With Last Second Interception

Arizona MLB Gerald Hayes makes a leaping interception with one second remaining.

The Arizona Cardinals pulled off a thrilling last second victory in Super Bowl XLIV last night, winning 21-17 over the Tennessee Titans. In a game that went back and forth from the get-go, the Cardinals were able to come away with the victory thanks to some last second heroics by MLB Gerald Hayes.

This game is already being called one of the best RUTS games in history.

After Tennessee capitalized on a quick scoring drive to take a 17-14 lead with just over 9 minutes remaining in the game, the Cardinals got the ball, determined to run the clock and move the chains. Arizona dominated the time of possession in this game, and after a drive that saw them convert several key 3rd and 4th downs, Arizona's Beanie Wells lunged into the end zone on a short run with 1:49 remaining in the game. Arizona led 21-17, and with only 1 timeout remaining, the Titans were in dire straights.

After QB Vince Young, who played most of the game at QB for the Titans, was sacked on 1st down, all hope looked lost for Tennessee. But, a huge 4th down and 20 conversion kept the drive alive. All of a sudden the Titans were able to attack the deep middle of the field and drove the ball inside the Arizona 15 yard line. With 8 seconds remaining in the game, Tennessee still had its final timeout and had the Cardinals defense on its heels.

But, the Titans went to the well one time too often. Vince Young tried to loft a post pattern pass in the back of the end zone, but Gerald Hayes' mad hops wouldn't allow it. Hayes picked off the pass, and ran it out of the end zone before being tackled with 1 second remaining. Hayes was named Super Bowl MVP and promised to take Coach Stu to Disney World with him later this week.

It was a thrilling finish to a classic game.

RUTS2, Season 1 is in the books. Congratulations to the Arizona Cardinals and Coach StuBucksman on winning the coveted Lombardi trophy.

The NFL draft is tonight, and coaches can go online or on the game to see their current players ratings changes, the retiring players, and a list of the draft board.

Super Bowl Media Day

Super Bowl Media Day is always a circus, and the RUTS2 Super Bowl XLIV is no different. Coaches and players donned their uniforms and answered all kinds of insightful questions, such as "Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?" and even a "Top that fart" contest, where Titans kicker Rob Bironas cleared the stadium with a potent stench that could only be labled as "life changing."

Cardinals players chest bump and ESPN Deportes Reporter


Only the very best of sports media turned out at Dolphins Stadium


Arizona Coach StuBucksman poses with QB Kurt Warner and WR Larry Fitzgerald before they enter the Super Bowl costume party


As usual, Titans Qb Kerry Collins looks like a deer in the headlights as he answers reporter's questions

RUTS2 Super Bowl Preview Block Party Extravaganza

Our ol' pals Dexter Poindexter and Simon Mantooth are back for an in-depth look at next week's Super Bowl....

click this link or watch below...

2009 RUTS2 NFL MVP

Tom Brady, Patriots QB
6,200+ passing yards - new NFL record

51 TD passes- new NFL record

"I'd like to give all the credit to my coach, cjohnchavis, for always being by my side," said Brady. "Our weekly picnics in the park outside of Gillette Stadium really drew us closer. Not only can he take over a game with his offensive play-calling, but he taught me everything I know about wearing a cowboy hat."

AFC/NFC Championship Matchups Provide Sleepless Nights, Irritable Bowel Syndrome for RUTS Coaches

On the eve of the AFC and NFC Championship Games, 3 RUTS teams find themselves 4 quarters away from a possible Super Bowl birth.

The AFC title game features the Tennessee Titans (16-1) hosting the visiting New England Patriots (15-2). The two teams faced off in Week 6 in Foxboro, with the Titans coming away with a 41-21 victory. In that game, 2 Tom Brady INTs were huge, along with the Titans dominating the time of possession 27 mins to 13 mins. The Pats have revenge on their minds!

Since that game, the Pats have been on a tear, winning 11 games in a row behind the arm of Brady. Throw in a revamped running game behind rookie RB Ian Johnson, and the Patriots enter this game with confidence that they can win the with the run or the pass. The Pats enter the game as a 3.5 point underdog, but Coach cjohnchavis strongly believes that his team is the most feared team in football right now.

"Everyone knows that defending Tom, when he's on, is almost impossible," said cjohnchavis. "We can beat you deep, short, horizontal, or vertical. I feel good about our chances."

Coach cjohnchavis growls at the paparazzi as his team arrives in Nashville.

On the other hand, Titans coach UTVOL54 says that the Patriots versatility has kept him up watching film at all hours of the night. "We're locking in on this game, and have found a new defensive package that the Pats have not seen this season," said UTVOL54. "We're taking a page out of the NY Giants defensive playbook from Super Tecmo Bowl and will be bringing pressure from every conceivable angle, including from under the field."

The Patriots have become more balanced offensively in the past 2 games, since rookie Ian Johnson took over the starting spot at RB, but will rely heavily on the pass to defeat the Titans. The home crowd will surely give the Titans a big lift, as owner Bud Adams has instituted a "wear your blue or else..." night at LP Field.

Chris Johnson will be back in the starting lineup for Tennessee (after missing 3 games with an upper arm fracture), and will undoubtedly be the focal point of Jerod Mayo and the New England defense. The tandem of Kerry Collins and Vince Young have provided a spark in the Titans passing game the past few weeks, but coach cjohnchavis said that his defense will be pinning their ears back to stop #28. "We can't give up big runs early," he said. "We're coming out ready to shut him down."

While Coach UTVOL54 expects to be up all night tonight watching film and first, second, and third-guessing his play call on his first offensive snap tomorrow, coach cjohnchavis is going to take in a little Nashville night life. "I'm headed to Tootsies tonight for a little honkey-tonkin and rebel rousin," he said. "From there, it's anybody's guess."


This game should be a barnburner between two teams who are playing good football. The Titans have played more user vs. user games than anyone in RUTS this season, and that will benefit them. But the Pats were able to rest some starters last week in their rout of Pittsburgh. As with every game, turnovers will be big, and defensive stops will be at a premium. The Titans need to pressure Brady and somehow force a few punts to slow down the NE scoring machine. The Titans can't afford to get into a track meet with the Pats, but if they're able to control the ball and the clock, this game could be one for the ages.
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The NFC race was thrown for a loop last week when Philadelphia and the refs stunned undefeated Dallas to advance to this week's NFC title game against defending NFC Champs, the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona is a 12 point favorite heading into the game, but the Eagles are determined to not let their improbable run come to an end just yet.

Arizona brings a versatile offense and a stingy defense into this one, with an array of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Kurt Warner, Mike Vick, Beanie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald, Eddie Royal, and even the cagey-veteran Warrick Dunn have made it difficult for teams to beat the Cards.

However, word out of Phoenix is that head coach StuBucksman is suffering from a "gurgly" battle of Irritable Bowel Syndrome after a late night binge at Arby's and isn't sure if he'll be able to coach the game from the sidelines.

"It's very touch and go," said Coach Stu from the comfort of his home toilet. "And by go, I mean GO! I think I'll be able to be with my team on the sidelines, but my main priority is making sure I don't poop my pants on national TV, and I may have to stay in the coaches box, ala Joe Paterno. Either way, no more Arby's for me for at least 2 days."

"We are not afraid of Philly," Stu said. "We will come out, play our game, and I promise you...we will be in the Super Bowl...Irritable Bowel Syndrome be damned!"

The RUTS league office and its competition committee will be keeping a close eye on this one, to make sure in a fit of rage Coach Stu doesn't reset the game and start over if things aren't going his way. "We will be watching Coach Stu like the eye of Mordor," said an unnamed head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

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Now for the predictions....

THE SWAMI SAYS....

....Patriots 42, Titans 31

....Cardinals 35, Eagles 20

***Breaking News*** Eagles Shock Cowboys, Jerry Jones Is Mad

In the end, all he could do was sigh. As Dallas Head Coach utvol27 sat in his 5,200 sq. ft. coaches office after the game in Cowboys Stadium, he knew he'd have to answer the question..."how, after an undefeated, (16-0), regular season, could his team somehow defy the odds and find a way to lose yet another playoff game?"

"The referees were out to get the Cowboys tonight," said Coach utvol27 as Jerry Jones sttod nearby, glaring at the head coach. "We had this game in hand, and the Eagles and the Refs just made plays and calls to snatch it from us."

The Cowboys have not won a playoff game since December 28, 1996. Coach utvol27 was brought in this past off-season (after an unprecedented run coaching the Clemson Tigers for 5 seasons) to reverse the fortunes of a franchise that always seemed to find ways to lose come playoff time. Yet, the young ball coach came up short, and owner Jerry Jones is forced to live another off-season wondering what can be done to win a playoff game in Big D.

"We'll go back to the drawing board," said coach utvol27. "This is the toughest loss I've had to deal with since my last defeat (season 5 of RUTS to brother UTVOL54's LSU team). We'll be back next season, have a great draft, and take the league by storm yet again."

On this night however, all the young coach could do is sit alone in his plush office, with only his thoughts and an ice cold Zima to keep him company.

NFL Playoffs: Round 2

The 1st round of the Playoffs flew by, and every RUTS team survived to see another day. Round 2 begins tonight, and as one drunk fan was quoted as saying as he left San Diego's Qualcomm Field after the Chargers dominating win over Indy, "thhhisssss is where we seperate the mens from the boys! San Deeee-Aaaaa-Goooo Suuuuuper Chargerrrrsssss!"

Here is a look at the playoff brackets entering week 2:
Chargers @ Titans
Eagles @ Cowboys
Steelers @ Patriots
Vikings @ Cardinals

Teams will be pulling out all the stops this week, in hopes of advancing to the AFC or NFC title games. Let's take a look at each matchup and offer some (not so) expert analysis.

CHARGERS @ TITANS

In a rematch of their week 16 slugfest (which Tenn won 34-28), the Chargers return to the Music City with redemption on their minds. After a dominating victory over Peyton Manning and the Colts, Coach Rob-A-Dob is convinced his team's confidence has never been higher.

"Not since City Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold has there been a sequel more anticipated than this game," said Coach Rob-A-Dob. "We will be ready to play, and our goal is not just to win the game, but make them bleed and cry."

Leading up to the game, the Chargers announced via text message to the RUTS league office that QB Phillip Rivers had suffered an injury in the Colts game and was lost for the season, prompting Titans coach UTVOL54 to pronounce "Billy Volek shall not make it out of LP Field alive!"

However, when the Chargers released their weekly injury report, Rivers was not listed. "This is gamemanship at the lowest level," said UTVOL54. "We're not scared of Rivers, but we were really, really wanting to take aim at that middle school looking Billy Volek."

Will Rivers play? That remains to be seen. Coach Rob-A-Dob issued a written statement this morning:

"Rivers took a bad hit in Sundays game. He is showing signs of improvement, however, it is yet to be determined if Rivers will be taking any snaps. It obviously hurts to lose a player of Rivers capability, but in any circumstance, we will be ready for the game."

The Titans will be without star RB Chris Johnson (fractured upper arm) for the 3rd straight game and will rely on a RB by committee - consisting of rookie speed burner Shagg Makino, Lendale White, and Javon Ringer - which was enough to oust the Chargers in week 16. Johnson looks like he'll be able to return next week, should the Titans win tonight.

The winner of this game is going to have to control the line of scrimmage. Both teams will need to rely on their ground games. Brandon Jacobs has been at his best late in the season, and speedy Darren Sproles offers a quick strike threat either catching or running. The Titans have instituted a VY package over the past few weeks and Coach UTVOL54 admittedly thought about starting Vince Young at QB tonight.

"Vince has played really, really well this season when we've needed him," said UT VOL54. "Kerry is our starter, but Vince is more than capable of leading this team."

This game should come down to the wire, and we think that the team with the fewest turnovers will come out on top.

__________________________

Eagles @ Cowboys

We'll keep this one short and sweet. Coach utvol27's undefeated regular season record is handsomely rewarded with this week's game - the only RUTS game against the computer. The Cowboys should cruise past the 'Iggles and land back at home next week against the winner of the Cardinals/Vikings matchup. In regards to this week's game, Coach utvol27 only uttered two words, "Jon Kitna!"

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Steelers @ Patriots

This one could turn out to be the game of the week. The Steelers earned the AFC's #3 seed by winning games in miraculous fashion down the stretch. The defending Super Bowl Champs don't want to relinquish their title easily, and some have called Coach zeejaydee's team a "team of destiny."

However, traveling into the windy and hostile environment of Gillette Stadium will be tough. The Patriots are dominating teams right now behind a passing attack that the sport hasn't seen since Coach cjohnchavis's days at Florida State in RUTS1. Tom Brady and Randy Moss are a modern day Siegfried & Roy, with their uncanny bond and connection, and ability to tame lions and tigers. But can they tame the Steelers?

"Big Ben is ready for this game," said Coach zeejaydee. "He will be pump faking all game, waiting for just the right time to slice through the Patsy defense."

The Steelers are also rumored to be wearing their yellow helmets for tonight's game, a move that Coach cjohnchavis called "ghey!"

The Patriots, expected to don their classic AFL "Minutemen Red" uniforms, said that any such move by Pittsburgh would only be an attempt to steal the home team's fashion thunder, and wouldn't be very nice.

New England is the clear favorite in this one, and it will be tough for the Steelers defense to contain Brady, Moss, and Ian Johnson, who may earn his 1st start tonight at RB. However, the football bounces in funny directions, and we're not counting the Steelers out of this one.

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Vikings @ Cardinals

In a rematch from their week 13 game, the Vikings head west to the desert to take on the Cardinals. For the Vikings to win this game, they have to be able to run the football.

Adrian Peterson smashed the NFL single season rushing record this season, and is a leading candidate to win NFL MVP honors, but in their week 13 game, the Cardinals defense, led by Adam Nunley's 13 tackles (inside joke), held Peterson to a mere 73 rushing yards.

The Vikings' passing game has been surprisingly paltry this season, leading many to speculate if this could be Brett Favre's final game in an NFL uniform. Coach ChrisHicks is optimistic that he has a trick or treat or two up his sleeve against StuBucksman's blitzing defense. "We've been practicing the 8 TE set to add maximum blockers. This will really spark our running game against them."

Coach Stu, who is growing his playoff beard and has promised to wear his Ghostbusters Halloween costume on the sidelines scoffed at the notion that his defense couldn't defend an 8-TE set. "We're going to control the clock so much on offense, we won't have to worry about playing much defense," he said. Stu, who attended the Lane Kiffin Trash Talking Academy last season said he plans on putting his certificate to good use in the coming weeks. "We are going to pass, run, and Vick-o-nize the Vikings up and down the field...we cannot be stopped...we won't be stopped...and in the words of Bill Murray in Ghostbusters, http://movie-sounds.net/film/Ghostbusters/234/!...BOO-YEH!"

Here at RUTS, we think this game could be closer than Coach Stu predicts, but the Vikings are going to have to show a reliable passing game to back Arizona's safeties off the line. The winner of this game will likely head to Dallas next week (no word yet on whether or not, if Arizona wins, Coach utvol27 and Coach Stu will team-up "for the cure" again), but getting out of this hard-nosed game will be tough. This one will be won where it's supposed to...in the trenches.

Now for the Swam's predictions...

Swami Sez....Titans 31, Chargers 27

Swami Sez....Cowboys 42, Eagles 21

Swami Sez....Patriots 45, Steelers 35

Swami Sez....Cardinals 27, Vikings 21

Titans, Cowboys Clinch Home Field Advantage In Playoffs

After scoring victories in their week 16 games, both the Tennessee Titans (14-1) and the Dallas Cowboys (15-0) secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

For the Titans though, week 16's hard fought victory over visiting San Diego came with a steep price. Chris Johnson went down with an injury on his 2nd carry of the game and never returned. X-rays revealed that Johnson, who many considered the leader for the NFL MVP race, had suffered an "upper arm fracture"and would be out 4 weeks. Backup RBs Lendale White and undrafted rookie Shagg Makino stepped in nicely for Johnson, but losing their star player left Coach UTVOL54 upset after the loss.

'We'd only planned on playing Chris, Kerry, and a few other offensive starters in the 1st half, to try to prevent injury," Coach UTVOL54 said after the game. "He got injured on his 2nd carry, just a routine toss sweep. It was a freak injury."

A freak injury that could reshape the entire playoff picture in the AFC.

In other news, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson now becomes the odds-on favorite to win this year's rushing title. Both Johnson and Peterson sailed past the previous record of 2,105, which was set by Eric Dickerson (1984, LA Rams). Heading into week 17, Peterson needs around 75 yards to pass the injured Johnson.

The Steelers all but locked up the #3 seed in the AFC with last night's overtime victory against Baltimore. Coach zeejaydee's team has flown under the radar all season, but as the playoffs approach, they could be a surprising team that could make a run in the playoffs behind Big Ben and their potent passing attack.

Updated Playoff Picture:
AFC -
1. Tennessee Titans (14-1) *home field adv. & 1st rd. bye
2. New England Patriots (12-2) * 1st rd. bye
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3)
4. San Diego Chargers (11-4)
5. Indianapolis Colts (9-5)
6. Houston Texans (8-6) or Baltimore Ravens (8-7)
NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys (15-0)*home field adv. & 1st rd. bye
2. Arizona Cardnals (13-2)* 1st rd. bye
3. Minnesota Vikings (11-4)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)
5. New Orleans Saints (9-5)
6. Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers or Carolina Panthers (all are 8-6)

Playoff Scenarios

With 2 weeks left in the regular season, the playoffs are right around the corner. Entering week 16, here are the current projected playoff seedings in each conference.

NFC
1. Dallas Cowboys (14-0) - clinched home field advantage & 1st rd. bye
2. Arizona Cardinals (12-2) - clinched 1st rd. bye
3. Minnesota Vikings (10-4) - clinched playoffs
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. New Orleans Saints (9-5)
6. Green Bay Packers or Carolina Panthers (8-6)

AFC
1. Tennessee Titans (13-1) - need 1 more win to clinch home field advantage & 1st rd. bye
2. New England Patriots (12-2) - will clinch 1st rd. bye with 2 more wins
3. San Diego Chargers (11-3) - have clinched home game in 1st rd. of playoffs
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) - have clinched home game in 1st rd. of playoffs
5. Baltimore Ravens or
6. Indianapolis Colts or Houston Texans

NFL MVP Candidates
Chris Johnson - RB, Titans
Adrian Peterson - RB, Vikings
Tom Brady - QB, Patriots
Larry Fitzgerald - WR, Cardinals
Cortland Finnegan - CB, Titans
Randy Moss - WR, Patriots

Cardinals Beat Tennessee On the Road, Hand Titans 1st Loss of Season

Nashville, Tenn. - In a game that lived up to the hype, the Arizona Cardinals went into LP Field yesterday and upset the undefeated Tennessee Titans 38-35. In one of the video game universe's biggest rivalries, Coach StuBucksman continued his recent dominance over friend/arch nemesis Coach UTVol54 by handing him his first loss as an NFL head coach.

In a game highlighted by big plays, the Cardinals passing attack and dominance of the clock was too much to overcome for Tennessee. Arizona raced ahead to a 21-7 lead after 1 quarter, but Tennessee used some opportunistic plays, like a Shagg Makino kickoff return TD and a pick 6 by FS Michael Griffin, to keep the game close. And as the Titans defense deflected a pass in the end zone as the 1st half ended, they trailed 28-21 and would get the ball 1st to open the 2nd half.

Tennessee tied the game 28-28 early in the 2nd half, as Nate Washington took a pass 56 yards to paydirt, but Arizona quickly resumed control, by converting several key third downs behind clutch veteran QB Kurt Warner, who was nearly unstoppable on this day.

A Neil Rackers FG early inthe 4th quarter gave Arizona a 38-28 lead, but the Titans, behind a no-huddle attack quickly marched down the field. A Kenny Britt TD reception cut the lead to 38-35 with just over 4 minutes remaining.

On the ensuing possesion, the Cardinals gambled and attempted to convert a 4th down and 2. WR Eddie Royal caught a screen pass, but was tackled, right at the first down line. A measurement (and subsequent coaches challenge) both determined he'd been stopped short, and with just over 2 minutes remaining, the Titans had a chance to tie or take the lead.

But, Arizona's defense, who became the 1st team this season to hold Titans RB Chris Johnson to under 100 yards rushing (he had 93 yards rushing on the day), stoned up, and held the Titans on 4 downs, icing the victory in the game's final minute.

"It was one of the best games I've ever been involved in," said Coach Stu. "We did exactly what we wanted to do, but the Titans kept making big play after big play, just when we thought we'd given ourselves some cushion, they'd score. This win will give us some much needed momentum as we make a push toward the playoffs."

Larry Fitzgerald (7 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD) earned game MVP honors in the win.

Contenders and Pretenders

As week 11 begins, the RUTS league office is taking a look at this season's "Contenders & Pretenders..."



AFC East - The New England Patriots stand at 7-2 and are 4 games ahead of each of the other three teams in the division. Behind Tom Brady's gaudy passing stats, we don't foresee anyone threatening the Pats for the division title. Coach cjohnchavis's running game however has been a disappointment and the veteran group of Edgerrin James, Fred Taylor, and Sammy Morris need to pick up their game if the Patriots want to make a serious push for another Super Bowl title. With no user games left, the Patriots should cruise into the playoffs with a 14-2 record and depending on how the Titans and Chargers finish the season, could be vying for home field advantage in the playoffs.



AFC North - At 6-3, the Pittsburgh Steelers are tied atop the division with the Baltimore Ravens. The two teams have yet to play this season, and the winner of the 2 games they play will likely determine the winner of the division. The Steelers' passing attack has been steady this season, and so has the play of surprising WR Shaun McDonald, who leads the team in receptions and yardage. Coach zeejaydee got a monumental win in week 7, when his team defeated another user team (the vikings) for the first time since RUTS started in August 2008. We look for the Steel City to get behind this team as they march toward the playoffs. Once they get there, anything can happen for the defending Super Bowl champs.



AFC South - The Tennessee Titans have started the season off at 10-0 for the 2nd straight season, and are putting together a case for being the best team in the NFL right now. Behind all-star RB Chris Johnson, who leads the NFL in rushing and TDs and is the leading candidate for NFL MVP this season, the Titans offense has been almost unstoppable through the first 11 weeks of the season. Kerry Collins, 3 stellar TEs and a serviceable group of WRs have provided enough punch in the passing game to keep opponents honest, but it's Johnson's speed and elusiveness that have given other teams fits through the first 11 weeks. The Titans schedule is the toughest in RUTS, highlighted by 4 user games, and with two user games still remaining (week 12 vs. the Cardinals, week 16 vs. the Chargers), they haven't locked up anything yet. The Titans defense has been one of the stingiest in the league and have used a unique blitzing scheme to shatter the NFL records for sacks.



AFC West - The San Diego Chargers, at 8-1, are running away with this division, which is the worst in the league. Behind a balanced offensive attack the Chargers have steadily knocked out all opponents in their way. Their lone loss came at the hands of the Dolphins in week 3. RB Brandon Jacobs, acquired in a trade with New York at the beginning of the season, has been a workhorse, and he will need to continue to pound the rock. The Chargers home stretch is a tough one, with road games still remaining against undefeated Dallas and undefeated Tennessee. Rookie coach Rob-A-Dob's team will have their chance to make a strong statement to the NFL if he can fire them up to win those two games.



NFC East - The Dallas Cowboys have dominated their first 9 opponents this season, and with only 1 user game to play all season (week 14 vs. the Chargers), it's very likely that home field advantage in the NFC will come down to Dallas or Arizona. Dallas boasts the best defense in the league and the 2nd highest scoring offense. Tony Romo has utilized TE Jason Witten to the max, and RBs Marion Barber and Felix Jones have provided the 'Boys with a thunder/lightning combo at RB. The Cowboys will make the playoffs, likely at 15-1 or even 16-0, but with their relatively weak regular season schedule, Jerry Jones may be faced with another long off season of tough decision making if Dallas can't make the Super Bowl.

NFC North - The Minnesota Vikings have been steady over the course of their 7-2 start. With several close games behind them, the Vikings are tested and have withstood several tests in their tough division. While veteran Brett Favre hasn't been outstanding, the team has relied on All-Pro Adrian Peterson, who has run over, through, and around the opposition all season. The Vikings have been overshadowed in the NFC by undefeated Dallas and 1-loss Arizona, but look for Minnesota to make some noise as the season pushes toward the playoffs. If they're able to get into the playoffs healthy, this is a team with the talent and veteran leadership to make some serious noise, even if they do have purple uniforms.

NFC West - After starting the season with a shocking Week 1 loss against San Francisco, the Arizona Cardinals have turned things around and have won 9 straight, due in large part to Coach StuBucksman's ability to know "when to say when" at Chick Fil-A. Behind a lethal passing attack, a sneaky dual-threat QB package, and a running game that is coming on strong, the Cards lead the NFL in scoring offense. Week 11 however saw Arizona suffer a major setback, when RB Maurice Jones-Drew suffered a torn rotator cuff and was declared out for the season by Coach StuBucksman. Coach Stu, after learning the news from team doctors, was distraught and cried for hours, before coming to his senses and declaring that the Super Bowl title will still be heading to Phoenix! It's a lofty goal, but with an offense that can score this quickly, Arizona may be the team to beat in the NFC.

Week 7 Scoreboard

Pats Rebound Against Struggling Bucs
Brady Continues Record Setting yardage pace
Player of the Game: T. Brady (QB) - 22/37, 351 yards, 4 TDs

Big Ben Gets Coach ZeeJayDee A Monumental Win

Coach's First RUTS User Win "Tear Jerking"

Player of the Game: B. Roethlisburger (QB) - 21/30, 357 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs

Jones-Drew's Break Out Game Dominates Giants
RB Finally Earns Season High Rushing Yards as Cardinals Roll

Player of the Game: M. Jones-Drew (RB) - 23 carries, 165 yards, 3 TDs


Swine Flu Contains, But Doesn't Stop Cowboy Victory Train
Dallas Remains Undefeated
Player of the Game: M. Barber (RB ) - 2 rushing TDs

Chargers Cruise Past Kansas City

Stingy Defense, Efficient Rivers Lead the Charge

Player of the Game: P. Rivers (QB) - 20/28, 214 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs

RUTS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Maurice Jones-Drew (Cardinals, RB) - 23 carries, 165 yards, 3 TDs

Week 6 Scorebaord

Titans Stay Undefeated with Big Win at New England
Efficient Collins and Speedy Johnson Control Clock in Big Win

Player of the Game: K. Collins (QB) - 14/19 passing, 216 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
Fight to the Finish

Cards Come From Behind To Nip Division Rival Seattle

Player of the Game: M. Vick (QB) - 4/5 passing, 88 yards, 2 TDs; 1 rushing TD Super Chargers Pound Denver
Jacobs Dominates Broncos' Defense

Player of the Game: B. Jacobs (RB) - 21 car, 74 yds, 1 TD; 9 rec, 115 yds, 1 TD rec

Winless Cleveland Shocks Steelers
Steelers Have No Answer to Browns Stingy Defense

Vikings Continue To Grind Out Tough Wins
Team Feels Confident Heading Into Week 7 Game Against Steelers

RUTS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Brandon Jacobs (Chargers, RB) - 21 car, 74 yds, 1 TD; 9 rec, 115 yds, 1 TD rec

This Has Nothing To Do With RUTS or Football...

but it's too hilarious not to pass along...we DVR'd the "Ellen" show yesterday b/c DMB was performing live on the show. At the beginning of the show they featured this new workout "contraption"...you just can't make this stuff up!

Week 5 Scoreboard

Steelers Inch Past Stafford and the Lions

Passing Game Continues to Lift Steel City

Player of the Game: S. McDonald (WR) - 3 rec., 43 yds, 1 TD, 1 KO return TD

Patriots Rout Denver

Set Sights on Week 6 Showdown Against Titans

Player of the Game: T. Brady (QB) - 26/43, 401 yds, 4 TDs

Titans Defense Makes Stand Against Peyton

Defense Hasn't Allowed a TD in 9 consecutive Quarters

Player of the Game: C. Johnson (RB) - 13 carries, 132 yards, 1 rush TD, 1 TD reception

Cowboys Continue To Run It Up Against AFC

Defense and Offense Hitting Stride

Player of the Game: M. Barber (RB) - 30 carries, 103 yds, 2 TDs; 4 rec. 56 yds

Cardinals Offense Takes Flight Against Texans

Cards Getting Comfy With Two QB System

Player of the Game: L. Fitzgerald (WR) - 6 receptions, 192 yds, 2 TDS

Vikings Survive and Advance

Close Wins Will Benefit Team Come Playoff Time, Says Coach

Player of the Game: B. Favre (QB) - 18/30 passing, 224 yds, 3 TDs

RUTS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Tom Brady (Patriots, QB) - 26/43, 401 yds, 4 TDs

Week 4 Scoreboard

Chargers Deny Steelers' Late Comback Attempt

Player of the Game: A. Gates (TE) - 7 rec, 152 yds, 1 TD

Cowboys Smash Previously Unbeaten Broncos

Player of the Game: T. Romo (QB) - 22/27, 344 yds, 5 TDs, 0 INTs

Brady Remains On Fire in Patriots' Route

Player of the Game: T. Brady (QB) - 24/34, 350 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs

Record Setting Day For Finnegan, Titans Defense
Player of the Game: C. Finnegan (CB) - 9 tackles, 8 sacks (NFL record), 1 INT
Titans Defense Sets New NFL Record with 13 sacks in 1 game

Favre Sticks It To Packers in OT, Big Day for AP and Percy
Player of the Game: A. Peterson (RB) - 20 carries, 202 yards, 1 TD

RUTS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Antonio Gates (TE) - 7 rec, 152 yds, 1 TD

AFL Legacy Downloadable Content

Read the full article here - Madden '10 AFL Legacy Pack

On September 24, Madden 10 will release downloadable content (for $6.99 in the game's "Madden Store") where we can access the AFL uniforms and other throwback content. This might be a really cool feature, even though it sucks to have to pay for it! RUTS teams like the Patriots, Titans, and Chargers would get access to the throwback AFL uniforms that those teams will be wearing for a few games this season. I'm not for sure if I will buy it yet, but I think it might be a really cool addition to the game.

Week 3 Scoreboard

4th Qtr Surge Leads Cards Past Peyton and the Colts

Warner and Vick Each Have Impressive Passing Performances

Player of the Game: S. Breaston (WR) - 6 receptions, 176 yards, 1 TD

Patriots Dominate Helpless Falcons

Brady's Knee Getting Better Each Week

Player of the Game: T. Brady (QB) - 28/36 passing, 378 yds, 4 TDs, O INTs

Vikings Comeback to Sprint Past Niners

Despite Struggling Passing Game, Peterson Pounds the Rock

Player of the Game: A. Peterson (RB) - 17 carries, 193 yards, 3 TDs

Chargers Lose Overtime Heartbreaker to Miami

Trip to Pittsburgh Looming Next Week

Chargers Player of the Game: P. Rivers (QB) - 16/27 passing, 234 yards, 2 TDs

Cowboys Charge Past Panthers

Player of the Game: T. Romo (QB) - 23/30 passing, 269 yards, 2 TDs, O INTs

Steelers' Passing Attack Slices Cincy's Secondary

Steelers Build Confidence for Next Week's Battle With Chargers

Player of the Game: B. Roethlisberger (QB) - 16/30, 323 yards, 4 TDs


Titans Offense Continues To Lead Team In Meadowlands Victory
Player of the Game: C. Johnson (RB) - 21 carries, 135 yards, 3 TDs; 71 receiving yards, 1 TD

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Adrian Peterson (Vikings, RB) - 17 carries, 193 yards, 3 TDs

Week 2 Scoreboard

Cardinals Top Jags for 1st Win of 2009 Season

Coach Stu's 1st week of mandated Chick Fil-A ban goes well

Player of the Game: M. Jones-Drew (RB) 5 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD rec.,

Titans Dominate 4th Qtr To Earn Comeback Win

RB Johnson falls 25 yards short of NFL single game rushing record

Player of the Game: C. Johnson (RB) 21 carries, 271 yards, 4 rushing TDs; 1 TD reception

Despite Turnovers, Chargers Hold Off Pesky Ravens

Jacobs Getting More Cozy In New Offense

Player of the Game: B. Jacobs (RB) - 23 carries, 62 yds., 1 TD; 5 receptions, 74 yds

Dallas Gets Huge Win In New Stadium's Debut

"Them Poor Fools Didn't Stand A Chance" says Coach utvol27
Player of the Game: J. Witten (TE) 8 receptions, 131 yds. , 1 TD

Steelers Bounce Back With Clutch Windy City Win

Slot man McDonald Earning Respect and Accolades From Teammates

Player of the Game: S. McDonald (WR) - 5 receptions, 120 yds.


Rookie Stafford Outplays Favre as Lions Shock Minnesota

Favre's 4 INTs Create A New "Schism" in Vikings' Locker Room

Vikings Player of the Game: A. Peterson (RB) - 13 carries, 131 yds., 1 TD

New England's New Season

Coach CJohnChavis Fires Up Defense In Victory Over The Jets

Player of the Game: T. Brady (QB) - 24/41 passing, 315 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs

RUTS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Chris Johnson (Titans, RB) - 21 carries, 271 yards, 5 total TDs