Pro Football Teams with Something to Prove

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Jim Feist - 7/26/2010 1:13 PM

Frustration and failure can prove excellent motivating factors in sports. We see quality teams get beaten badly all the time, then bounce back the next game with a terrific performance with an easy win. This can also take place with teams that are off disappointing seasons.
It may seem a distant memory now, but the Bears ended the 2005 season with a blowout loss at the Vikings (34-10) then a home loss to the Panthers in the playoffs, 29-21. The next season, the Bears were a very motivated team, going 15-3 while winning the NFC. They were on a mission all year.
Three years ago in this column I pointed out, "The spotlight is on NY Giants coach Tom Coughlin. He was a cinch to be fired after the team went 2-7 SU, 3-5-1 ATS in 2006. They were sloppy, undisciplined and fractured after a 6-2 start. There are plenty of big-names with something to prove." They proved it, all right, rolling to a surprising Super Bowl title. When channeled properly, frustration can be focused into positive energy. Here are some NFL teams that may have something to prove in 2010.

Ravens: An up and down 9-7 regular season, followed by a 20-3 wipeout loss in the playoffs to the Colts. Even a Wild Card win over New England (33-14) couldn't erase how uneven this team was, despite a defense ranked third overall and an offense ranked 13th.
The great defense adds rookies LB Sergio Kindle (Texas) and NT Terrance Cody (Alabama) while the offense made a big splash trading for WR Anquan Boldin and taking a chance on speedy WR Donte' Stallworth. Note that Baltimore is 49-10 SU/36-21-2 ATS as a home favorite since 2003.

Eagles: The Eagles have had a great ten-year run under Andy Reid and come off another fine regular season at 11-5 SU, 9-7 ATS. However, it ended ugly, with consecutive losses (24-0, 34-14) to the rival Cowboys, the latter a playoff game. Then star QB Donovan McNabb was surprisingly shipped out to division rival Washington.
So Reid is putting all his chips on 25-year old QB Kevin Kolb. Kolb started in Weeks 2 and 3 last year and became the first quarterback to exceed 300 yards passing in his first two starts. On the other hand, he had 4 TDs, 3 picks and has 4 TDs, 7 picks in his young career. With all the focus on QB, the Eagles placed an emphasis on defense in the draft, grabbing nine defensive players. The secondary has been shuffled, with the trade of Sheldon Brown.

Giants: The stats suggest the 2009 Giants were a strong team, ranked 13th in total defense, 8th in offense and starting 5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS. Yet, they flopped, not even making the playoffs, finishing 3-8 SU, 2-9 ATS. The loss of DC Steve Spagnuolo seemed to cause havoc, as the secondary was torched often.
QB Eli Manning (27 TDs, 14 INTs, 4,021 yards) could have had bigger numbers if his receivers didn't keep dropping passes. The Giants let everyone know where their emphasis was in the offseason, grabbing defensive players with their first four draft picks. DE Jason Pierre-Paul (South Florida) is an interesting talent, though many thought it was a first round reach.

Vikings: It's not often you find teams that reach the NFC Championship game with something to prove the next year. Minnesota ranked 5th in total offense with exceptional balance and 6th in total defense.
Yet, the lasting memory is off a team that blew a Super Bowl appearance and very likely a championship. The numbers are still mind boggling: they dominated the Saints in the NFC title game, with an edge in yards 475-257, including 165 yards rushing. 6 fumbles (3 lost) and five turnovers overall resulted in a horrifying 31-28 overtime loss. It must have been painful to watch the Saints two weeks later beat the Colts in the Super Bowl.

Chargers: San Diego had a dominant regular season, going 13-3 with the 10th ranked offense and 16th in total defense. They came into the playoffs on a 12-0 SU, 7-4-1 ATS run, but no one remembers that after another playoff gag job, this time 17-14 at home to the upstart Jets as a 9-point favorite.
There were a lot of offseason changes. The defense dealt CB Antonio Cromartie, added three time Pro Bowl left tackle Tra Thomas, while the offense hopes rookie RB Ryan Matthews (Fresno State) can replace LaDainian Tomlinson. San Diego is on a 9-3 SU, 8-4 ATS run on the road.

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