Season Recap - 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Final Record: 10-6

Finished: 3rd Place in the NFC South

2011 Draft Position: 20^th

Preseason Ranking:   31
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

2009 couldn’t have gone much worse for the Bucs. Had it been 1989, nobody would have thought twice about their continued ineptness, but just a handful of years removed from the dominate defenses of Tony Dungy and the Super Bowl championship under the lead of Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay’s fall from grace is surprising. A team chock full of youth and talent, with little veteran support in key roles, Tampa Bay doesn’t look to end their tailspin of futility anytime soon.

Inexperience and youth lead the team at the quarterback position. No quarterback on the roster has more than three years of experience and all of them combined have only started 13 games in the NFL. Growing pains will be the expected norm for the offense. Not only is experience lacking at quarterback, but the receiving corps is also a hotbed of raw, inexperienced talent. The running game, keyed by Cadillac Williams, shows some signs of life, but will not be much of a factor as Tampa Bay will spend most of the season trying to come back from large deficits.

Realistically, nobody expects any kind of breakout year for Tampa Bay. They might improve on their three wins from a year ago, but six wins seems to be the upper limit of what this team can accomplish unless their opponents completely fall apart and make the mental mistakes the Buccaneers of yesteryear were famous for making. Tampa Bay is playing this year to determine what additional steps will need to be made during the offseason to end their tailspin in 2011.

Week 1: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 17-14

Ranked – 20

This ranking probably won't last once you square off against teams better than Cleveland, but for one week enjoy being listed among the Remarkably Average. You've earned it.

Week 2: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 20-7

Ranked – 11

Getting fat off the bottom feeders in the league may not help you once you face off against New Orleans and Atlanta, but with those matchups still a few weeks away, you'll have to face the Steel Curtain this week. Get to 3-0 against that defense and we'll know you are for real.

Week 3: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 38-13

Ranked – 20

In a battle of unbeatens you were clearly beaten. Pittsburgh destroyed you in all aspects of the game and showed you how much more difficult it is to beat Creative Elite teams than those counted among Forked Few.

Week 4: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 12

It's not that the Bucs are good, it's just so many teams lost so badly over the weekend, how can they be penalized for being idle.

Week 5: Defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-21

Ranked – 12

It's always difficult to win on the road, even against bad teams. Tampa Bay is still playing better than most people expected.

Week 6: Lost to New Orleans Saints, 31-6

Ranked – 18

The Saints demonstrated just how much farther this young team has to go before they are done rebuilding.

Week 7: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 18-17

Ranked – 12

Even though it was against the Rams, rallying from 14 down late to win is always good.

Week 8: Defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 38-35

Ranked – 12

The wins say a lot, but only a victory in Atlanta this weekend will shatter the myth that this team's record is nothing but smoke and mirrors.

Week 9: Lost at Atlanta Falcons, 27-21

Ranked – 15

Another valiant effort falls just short. Better than they have been, the Bucs still need to improve to truly challenge Atlanta and New Orleans for supremacy in the South. 

Week 10: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-16

Ranked – 12

Carolina is little better than a bye week, but any division win is a good one.

Week 11: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 21-0

Ranked – 12

Doubts still plague the Bucs' 7-3 record, but the next two weeks (at Baltimore, vs Atlanta) will go a long way to proving whether or not Tampa Bay is for real.

Week 12: Lost at Baltimore Ravens, 17-10

Ranked – 12

The Bucs haven't beaten a single team above .500 yet this season - but a 10-6 finish with all 10 wins against sub-.500 teams is still quite possible.

Week 13: Lost to Atlanta Falcons, 28-24

Ranked – 12 (ROCKY WEEK!)

Whatever losing team we play, we destroy!

Week 14: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 17-16

Ranked – 11

10-6, with all 10 wins against losing teams, is not out of the question. The Bucs can truly say they are the best of the worst and the lousiest of the best.

Week 15: Lost to Detroit Lions, 23-20

Ranked – 17

The Buccaneers ruined their chance at a perfect, 10-0 season against teams with losing records. I guess they'll just have to focus on trying to win a Wild Card spot now.

Week 16: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 38-15

Ranked – 13

Tampa Bay still has a chance if they can knock off the defending champions and get help from the Bears and Redskins. Yes, it's a long shot, but if things go right, the Bucs could be in. Can you imagine both Seattle and Tampa Bay in the playoffs?

Week 17: Defeated the New Orleans Saints, 23-13

Final Rank - 14

Tomorrow, recaps of the playoff teams begin with the 2010 Kansas City Chiefs…

Season Recap - 2010 New York Giants

Final Record: 10-6

Finished: 2^nd Place in the NFC East

2011 Draft Position: 19^th

Preseason Ranking:   20
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

Didn’t you guys, like, just two years ago, ruin the perfect season of the Patriots? What’s happened since then? Tell me, what?

You became the Super Bowl champions in 2007 by defeating one of the greatest teams in NFL history and have been in a tailspin ever since. In 2008, your record actually improved over your Super Bowl season, but you let the Eagles come to your house and embarrass you in the Divisional playoffs. One-and-done is never good, especially when you have the bye week to prepare and home field advantage. And against the Eagles, no less!

Last season the spiral continued and you fell to an 8-8 record. Not good enough to be good, not bad enough to get better, just kind of blah. Where’s the pride, New York? Where’s the sense of power? You’re not even the best team in New Jersey anymore. You're still better than the Knicks, though, so you have that going for you.

While the younger Manning has matured and is becoming a true NFL quarterback, the rest of your team has aged anything but gracefully. The power running game, a staple of Giants teams of the past, became virtually non-existent in 2009. Injuries and poor play kept you from having a 1,000 yard rusher last year. In 2008 you had two! The last time you failed to get a running back over the 1,000 yard plateau was in 2001, when neither Ron Dayne nor Tiki Barber cracked the 900 yard mark.

As a Cowboys fan, I am all for your struggles, but come on. When you combine the mess in Washington with the quarterback situation in Philadelphia and your own difficulties, the NFC East can no longer be viewed as the powerhouse division in the league.

Stand up, mend your broken bones, and run people over like you’ve done in the past – that was beautiful! But don’t lay down like you did last season… unless Dallas is on the opposite sideline.

Week 1: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-18

Ranked – 9

Manning flicks the ball to Nicks for the hat-trick. In a battle of Steve Smiths, Hakeem steals the show.

Week 2: Lost at Indianapolis Colts, 38-14

Ranked – 22

Eli Manning wasn't the problem on Sunday Night. The problem was everything else. At least the entire NFC East looks to be filled with hit-or-miss teams this year. The Giants still aren't out of it.

Week 3: Lost to Tennessee Titans, 29-10

Ranked – 24

I am no quarterbacking expert, but I gotta believe trying a left-handed shovel pass into triple coverage while being tackled may not have been the best choice in that situation, Eli. Would Peyton have done that? I don't think so.

Week 4: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 17-3

Ranked – 18

Last week's feature, This Day in Football History, highlighted how the Giants defense sacked McNabb 12 times en route to a decisive 16-3 victory over the Eagles. Inspired by history and a porous offensive line, the Giants nearly duplicated this feat when they crushed the Chicago quarterbacks on Monday Night 10 times in a similarly decisive 17-3 victory.

Week 5: Defeated the Houston Texans, 34-10

Ranked – 13

The defense is winning games for them and now suddenly the offense wants to get in on the action. Scary.

Week 6: Defeated the Detroit Lions, 28-20

Ranked – 10

Another solid win elevates the Giants, down and out a few weeks ago, back into the class of the NFC.

Week 7: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 41-35

Ranked – 6

The Giants placed the Cowboys on life-support and probably ruined their season by putting Romo down. However, five turnovers and 35 points allowed should give Coughlin something to chew on during the bye week.

Week 8: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 10

Both Washington and Dallas have faltered. The division is theirs for the taking.

Week 9: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 41-7

Ranked – 2

In a weak conference, The Giants stand out as the team to beat. Next week's contest against Dallas will do nothing but make them more confident in their abilities.

Week 10: Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 33-20

Ranked – 10

I must admit I enjoyed watching Dallas destroy the Giants on Sunday, but I doubt Coughlin will let the Giants stumble too far before they right the ship.

Week 11: Lost at Philadelphia Eagles, 27-17

Ranked – 13

Two weeks ago the Giants were the toast of the league, but an embarrassing loss to the Cowboys and another sloppy loss against the Eagles has New York caught in a dead spin heading out to sea. They still have a chance to escape disaster, but suddenly the playoffs are no longer a sure thing and at least one wild card, if not two, will come out of the NFC South.

Week 12: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-20

Ranked – 10

How much of Jacksonville's last-second magic did the Giants manage to steal last week? Against the Redskins, they shouldn't need to use any of it.

Week 13: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 31-7

Ranked – 10 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[After a lot of blitzing by the Vikings early in their contest, Coughlin talks over the scoreboard situation with Eli Manning.]

Coach Coughlin:  Alright, Eli, did the blitzing bother ya?

Eli Manning: Nothing bothered me, Coach. Nothing bothered me. 

            Coach Coughlin: Well then, you should've had them! Now don't let up on this team. This team is dangerous. This team is DANGEROUS! 

Eli Manning: This team is dangerous? I'm dangerous! I'm dangerous!

Week 14: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 21-3

Ranked – 5

The Giants have finally established their two-headed rushing monster and with Jacobs and Bradshaw devastating opponents, Eli Manning can fall back into a game manager role where he thrives without the weight of the offense on his back.

Week 15: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 38-31

Ranked – 8

The epic collapse on Sunday will be forgotten if the Giants can win in Green Bay this weekend. If not, watch this team spin out of control, miss the playoffs and be in the market for a new coach soon after the season ends.

Week 16: Lost at Green Bay Packers, 45-17

Ranked – 12

The total collapse against the Eagles followed by the second-half explosion of the Packers has all but killed the Giants. Now, if they could ever just get back to New York...

Week 17: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 17-14

Final Rank - 13

Tomorrow, the 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers…

Season Recap - 2010 San Diego Chargers

Final Record: 9-7

Finished: 2^nd Place in the AFC West

2011 Draft Position: 18^th

Preseason Ranking:   1
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

The cream of the crop in the AFC West, the schedule sets up nicely for San Diego to once again compete for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. With six games against weaker division opponents and four against the mediocre NFC West, San Diego just needs to hold serve against their less-talented opponents and stand strong against the three elite AFC teams they have to face (Cincinnati, New England and Indianapolis) in order to repeat as division champions.

Tomlinson is gone, but since he’s lost a step the last few seasons, his departure will not adversely affect the running game. Rivers has returned with one more year of experience under his belt and will continue to be among the upper echelon of quarterbacks. Antonio Gates signed a record deal for a tight end and the receiving corps should be more than up to the task of helping return the Chargers to their “Air Coryell” days of yesteryear.

The Chargers look primed to win their fifth consecutive division title due to a weaker schedule and the return of almost all offensive starters, minus Tomlinson, from last season. Even the holdout of Shawne Merriman and some early defensive injuries should not put a damper on the Chargers. In their first nine games of the season, only New England stands out as solid competition and the Patriots have to travel to San Diego.

If San Diego goes into their week 10 bye with anything less than a 7-2 record, they will truly have faltered in their quest for a deep run into the playoffs.

Week 1: Lost at Kansas City Chiefs, 21-14

Ranked – 21

Once mighty, a plummet through the Misfortune ranks might just be the wake up call you need. At least you're not the only team to dominate their opponent this week only to lose the game on mental mistakes and miscues.

Week 2: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 38-13

Ranked – 6

After the way the Chargers struggled in week 1, they better play well the rest of the year to secure home field in the playoffs. San Diego won't do well in the bitter cold of New England, New York, Baltimore or Pittsburgh come January. 

Week 3: Lost at Seattle Seahawks, 27-20

Ranked – 17

Like Rocky, you "yo, yo" through the power rankings. We're good, we're not so good. We're good, we're not so good. Wouldn't that be something if you stumbled through the regular season and then went on a tear through the playoffs? Man that would confuse some people.

Week 4: Defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 41-10

Ranked – 8

Too bad all San Diego's games can't be played in sunny Southern California.

Week 5: Lost at Oakland Raiders, 35-27

Ranked – 24

It's not even January yet and already the Chargers are choking away victories. In a game lost by only 8 points, the 16 points given up by the special teams and the offense made all the difference.

Week 6: Lost at St. Louis Rams, 20-17

Ranked – 26

The Chargers should be 6-0, not 2-4. Terrible, terrible job of coaching so far this season for a team stacked at all positions. 

Week 7: Lost to New England Patriots, 23-20

Ranked – 21

Another week of mistake-filled football for the Chargers. Can they rally to make the playoffs?

Week 8: Defeated the Tennessee Titans, 33-25

Ranked – 21

It wasn't a "must-win" game for the Chargers last weekend, but it was one they desperately needed. If they can beat the Texans in Houston next week before they head into their bye, their season might be salvaged.

Week 9: Defeated the Houston Texans, 29-23

Ranked – 21

Beating Houston at home is nothing special. Charge out of the bye week with two straight wins over Denver and Indianapolis and then the Chargers might be considered for real.

Week 10: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 15

Things were looking better before the bye week, now they look downright great.

Week 11: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 35-14

Ranked – 14

The Chargers are back to .500. I already have them penciled in for a disappointing home playoff loss in January.

Week 12: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 36-14

Ranked – 13

December's the perfect month for the Chargers to make their final attack run on the standings... if only December could be extended a few more weeks, they might actually make it to the Super Bowl.

Week 13: Lost to Oakland Raiders, 28-13

Ranked – 16 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[During practice leading up to this week's game, Philip Rivers is in another world, haunted by the first Kansas City game; The scout defense crosses up the offense with some practice blitzes] 

            Coach Turner: They're blitzing. They're blitzing. THEY'RE BLITZING! Damn, Philip, Come on! What's the matter with you? 

Philip Rivers: Tomorrow. Let's pick up the blitz practice tomorrow. 

Coach Turner: THERE IS NO TOMORROW! THERE IS NO TOMORROW!

Week 14: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-0

Ranked – 13

Finally, a winning record for the first time all season.

Week 15: Defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 34-7

Ranked – 10

If the Chargers can't win out against Cincinnati and Denver, they have no business being in the playoffs anyway.

Week 16: Lost at Cincinnati Bengals, 34-20

Ranked - 17

            Their early season losses finally sunk the Chargers.

Week 17: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 33-28

Final Rank - 15

The season recaps continue next week, starting with the 2010 New York Giants, Creative Misfortune’s “If Real Football Used Fantasy Scoring…” champions.

Season Recap - 2010 Oakland Raiders

Final Record: 8-8

Finished: 3^rd Place in the AFC West

2011 Draft Position: 17^th

Preseason Ranking:   27
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

Disappointed? You should be if you’re an Oakland Raiders fan. Besides cheering for a team that has been the laughingstock of the league since their last Super Bowl appearance following the 2002 season, the first full-contact day of training camp went by without a single fight between players. The horror.

How can a team with Oakland’s history manage a fight-free practice?

Don’t worry. Coach Cable, known to throw an occasional punch on his own (or at least flip people out of their chairs), has assured the local media that fights will happen once players “get a little hotter, a little more tired, a little more ornery."

For those of you unwilling to take Coach Cable at his word and let the fisticuffs happen naturally, you can take this list of “Most Likely Scufflers” with you to the open practice sessions and incite the players of your choice to carry out their preferred method of UFC-style violence on the practice field.

While you sit back and wait for the much-anticipated fights to take place, don’t forget there has been some good news during the offseason. JaMarcus Russell is no longer with the team. Jason Campbell will be an improvement at quarterback, based on work ethic alone. Five-time Pro Bowl player Richard Seymour re-signed early, despite being tagged as a franchise player, and even reported with the rookies to training camp. The addition of John Henderson and the rookies Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston should help Oakland improve their woeful run defense from a year ago.

But who cares about all that football garbage? It’s hot out. We’re tired and cranky. Get on with it.

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

Week 1: Lost at Tennessee Titans, 38-13

Ranked – 30

Don't sleep too long, oh lauded Sleeper pick, otherwise you will never wake up. Do you really want to be like Al Davis incarnate?

Week 2: Defeated the St. Louis Rams, 16-14

Ranked – 27

Campbell benched. Gradkowski in. Raiders rally for their first victory of the season. It sure would have been impressive had it been anybody other than St. Louis on the opposite sideline.

Week 3: Lost at Arizona Cardinals, 24-23

Ranked – 26

Janikowski, the problem child. In a game lost by one point, a few missed field goals certainly could have made a difference. On the bright side, Gradkowski, the other -owski on the team, played solid again. The Raiders aren't back, but they are definitely improved from a year ago.

Week 4: Lost to Houston Texans, 31-24

Ranked – 30

Oakland had the Texans in their grasp until Arian Foster entered the game and broke off a demoralizing, 74-yard touchdown run early in the second half. The wheels came off at that point and now the schedule doesn't get any easier with San Diego coming to town, eager to put the Raiders out of their misery.

Week 5: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 35-27

Ranked – 23

Special teams, defense and a dash of offense end up being the recipe needed for victory over bitter division rivals. The Chargers streak of 13 straight wins over the Raiders is snapped in dramatic fashion. 

Week 6: Lost at San Francisco 49ers, 17-9

Ranked – 27

The 0-5 49ers were just too much for the Raiders. It's never good to be overwhelmed by an underwhelming team.

Week 7: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 59-14

Ranked – 20

59 POINTS! 59! If I had to sum up my reaction to this score in one word that word would be - I COULDN'T FREAKIN' BELIEVE IT!

Week 8: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 33-3

Ranked – 16

92 points in two weeks! Can you believe the week 9 tilt with Kansas City will determine first-place in the AFC West?

Week 9: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-20

Ranked – 14

Impressive. Most impressive.

Week 10: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 13

How loose can the Raiders remain once they realize they suddenly have something to play for?

Week 11: Lost at Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-3

Ranked – 18

Footloose and fancy-free teams don't lose their cool and get rocked 35-3.

Week 12: Lost to Miami Dolphins, 33-17

Ranked – 19

I think Pittsburgh might have hurt the Raiders permanent.

Week 13: Defeated the San Diego Chargers, 28-13

Ranked – 15 (ROCKY WEEK!)

Coach Cable: Why do you have to wear that stinkin' leisure suit? 

          

Al Davis: It brings us luck, you know? 

          

Coach Cable: Brings us luck! I'll tell you what it brings, it brings flies! 

          

Al Davis: Now here's what I want you to have the team do... I want them to chase this little chicken.

          

Coach Cable: Hey, Coach, what do we got to chase a chicken for? 

          

Al Davis: First, because I said so. And second, is because chicken-chasing is how we used to train back in the old days. If your players can catch this thing, they can catch greased lighting. 

          

Coach Cable: Well, we'll do it if you say so, but it ain't very mature. 

Al Davis: Yeah, well neither are you very mature!

Week 14: Lost at Jacksonville Jaguars, 38-31

Ranked – 18

The Raiders are undefeated in the division and 2-7 outside it. Their one remaining non-division game against Indianapolis could really mess up their slim playoff hopes. 

Week 15: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-23

Ranked – 14

The Colts and Chiefs stand in the way of Oakland's first winning season since they last went to the Super Bowl.

Week 16: Lost to Indianapolis Colts, 31-26

Ranked – 18

A tough loss to the Colts means the Raiders will have to win in Kansas City in order to finish at .500 for the first time since their last Super Bowl appearance.

Week 17: Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-10

Final Rank - 17

Tomorrow, the 2010 San Diego Chargers…

Season Recap - 2010 Jacksonville Jaguars

Final Record: 8-8

Finished: 2^nd Place in the AFC South

2011 Draft Position: 16^th

Preseason Ranking:   25
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

If you are the defending Super Bowl champions, like New Orleans, having NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stop by for a preseason visit is cause for celebration. If you are the Jacksonville Jaguars, however, a team coming off two consecutive losing seasons and one struggling to connect in a meaningful way with their fan base, the commissioner may as well arrive at camp wearing a black robe and toting a scythe.

With talks of relocating an NFL team to Los Angeles, or even London, Jacksonville needs to get their fans interested quickly. The Jaguars had to black-out almost all of their home games last season. Never a good sign, especially in a warm-weather city like Jacksonville where extreme cold and snow are never an issue. Of course, where fans are dedicated to the team, like Green Bay, Chicago and Buffalo, such weather extremes are embraced. This extreme passion demonstrated by fans from other cities makes Jacksonville’s inability to sell-out games even less acceptable.

Commissioner Goodell challenged the Jaguar’s organization and the local community during his visit “to demonstrate their passion for this team and their passion for football.” Not a good sign with so much relocation talk going around. In Minnesota, LA has been bandied around as a possible option if a new stadium deal is not reached soon in the legislature. But unlike in Jacksonville, there is a dedicated fan base in Minnesota and a franchise with an established, if not necessarily distinguished, history. No such history exists in Jacksonville and a new stadium is not part of the equation.

I personally have no desire to see an NFL team in Los Angeles, unless the Raiders move back there, but I wouldn’t wish that on any city.

Jacksonville, the Commissioner has served notice to you. You can try all the tricks in the world to increase fan interest in your games, but there is only one sure-fire cure for their apathy – win early, win big, win often.

Week 1: Defeated the Denver Broncos, 24-17

Ranked – 12

The Jaguars are 1-0 in games delayed by lightning this season. I don't know what that means, but it definitely bodes well for the rest of the season.

Week 2: Lost at San Diego Chargers, 38-13

Ranked – 25

No lightning storm. No magic. No nothing. The wheels are coming off quick.

Week 3: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 28-3

Ranked – 25

Not good, Jacksonville. Nobody should lose at home 28-3. Do you even care anymore? At 1-2 you are clearly the worst team in the AFC South and only a win streak of epic proportions will get you a sniff of the playoffs.

Week 4: Defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-28

Ranked – 24

Scobee's kick still hasn't come back to earth. Jaguars are on a roll and face the hapless Bills next. Knocking off the Colts might just be the confidence builder they needed to finally get some positive momentum going their way.

Week 5: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 36-26

Ranked – 17

The worst of the four teams tied for first in the AFC South.

Week 6: Lost to Tennessee Titans, 30-3

Ranked – 20

A horrible home loss to a division rival on Monday night before a near partial-capacity crowd. The Jaguars fall out of a tie for first in the AFC South and clearly look to be the worst team in the division.

Week 7: Lost at Kansas City Chiefs, 42-20

Ranked – 25

It seems like forever since the Jaguars were tied for first place in the AFC South.

Week 8: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 35-17

Ranked – 20

Solid victories over Dallas these days sound better than they really are. 

Week 9: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 20

The division is stacked and the Jaguars can't play the Dallas Cowboys every week.

Week 10: Defeated the Houston Texans, 31-24

Ranked – 19

Following the epic fails of the Texans and Titans, Jacksonville doesn't seem so out of it at 5-4.

Week 11: Defeated the Cleveland Browns, 24-20

Ranked – 15

The Jaguars- best team in the AFC South by virtue of early tie-breakers. If Tampa Bay wasn't playing so well, they'd be the surprise team of the NFL, but as it is, they aren't even the surprise team in Florida... especially when you consider the Heat's pathetic 8-6 start. Shouldn't they be 14-0? 

Week 12: Lost at New York Giants, 24-20

Ranked – 16

The last-second magic is gone, but with the magic missing in Indy as well, the Jags still have something going for them.

Week 13: Defeated the Tennessee Titans, 17-6

Ranked – 13 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[MJD addresses the Jacksonville crowd that has started showing up back to games since the team has been winning]

                   

Maurice Jones-Drew: During this season, I've seen a lot of changing, in the way you feel about us, and in the way we feel about you. Down here on the field there were two teams killing each other, but I guess that's better in front of a hundred thousand fans than twenty thousand. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if we can change, and you can change, everybody can change!

Week 14: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 38-31

Ranked – 14

The game against Indianapolis on Sunday is an absolute must-win for the Jaguars if they want to prove they truly deserve the AFC South crown.

Week 15: Lost at Indianapolis Colts, 34-24

Ranked – 15

One minute, the Jags are on top of the world. The next, they are considered all but dead and buried. With two games left, the division title is still quite possible.

Week 16: Lost to Washington Redskins, 20-17

Ranked – 16

There is still hope. If Tennessee decides to play and Houston doesn't, Jacksonville could sneak back into the playoff picture when it matters the most.

Week 17: Lost at Houston Texans, 34-17

Final Rank – 16

Tomorrow, the 2010 Oakland Raiders…

Season Recap - 2010 Miami Dolphins

Final Record: 7-9

Finished: 3^rd Place in the AFC East

2011 Draft Position: 15^th

Preseason Ranking:   18
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

Wildcat! What happened to the magic last year? In 2008 all anybody could talk about was the emergence of the wildcat offense unveiled to devastating effect against the New England Patriots the third week of the season. Spurred on by the new offense, Miami stole victories with their energetic, deceptive style of play. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams gave the wildcat offense a devastating 1-2 punch that left the rest of the league in its wake. After surprising the rest of the AFC East and stealing the division, the wildcat run came to a sudden, tragic end against Baltimore during the wild card game.

With such great success in 2008, 2009 should have been your year. But you faltered. Injuries hurt you badly. Defenses figured out how to slow the wildcat and your own defense broke down and allowed offenses to run all over them.

To succeed against the likes of New England and New York in 2010 you will have to reassert your dominance in the running game, with or without the wildcat antics. The maturation of Chad Henne and the addition of Brandon Marshall will only help improve your average passing game. But all the offensive firepower will not matter if the defense continues to work like a sieve and allow opposing teams to move up and down the field at will.

With three of your first four games against the likes of New England, Minnesota and the New York Jets, you will have to hit the ground snarling like a rabid wildcat. Anything less and you’ll be swimming in circles the rest of the season, trying to catch up to the rest of the division.

Week 1: Defeated the Buffalo Bills, 15-10

Ranked – 10

Traveling to Minnesota while the Vikings are still injured and rusty may help the Dolphins start 2-0 on the road. 

Week 2: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 14-10

Ranked – 10

Impressive win against an underachieving team on the road. The offense may not have been there enough to move up in the rankings, but the defense played well enough to keep you in the top 10.

Week 3: Lost to New York Jets, 31-23

Ranked – 19

So close to taking solid possession of the AFC East and now so far away. In a three-way fight, you needed every advantage you can get.

Week 4: Lost to New England Patriots, 41-14

Ranked – 26

After nearly a century of games, it's not easy to make history in the NFL, but the Dolphins did so... and not in a good way. Now Miami has an extra week to chew on the five unique touchdowns New England scored against them.

Week 5: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 20

Idle and improving.

Week 6: Defeated the Green Bay Packers, 23-20

Ranked – 17

Even if it takes five quarters, it's always difficult to defeat the Packers at Lambeau.

Week 7: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-22

Ranked – 17

The refs were right about the replay, but should have been more proactive determining who had the ball at the bottom of the pile before the replays were viewed.

Week 8: Defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 22-14

Ranked – 15

I have an idea - why don't the Dolphins try and win one at home.

Week 9: Lost at Buffalo Bills, 26-10

Ranked – 17

The road winning streak has ended and with it hope for an AFC wild card birth has been placed in serious jeopardy.  

Week 10: Defeated the Tennessee Titans, 29-17

Ranked – 16

It's still a two-team race in the AFC East, but the Dolphins are not going quietly into the night. They will not vanish without a fight.

Week 11: Lost to Chicago Bears, 16-0

Ranked – 19

Any hopes for a late season playoff push were all but crushed by the Bears last Thursday Night. It's never good to be shut out at home.

Week 12: Defeated the Oakland Raiders, 33-17

Ranked – 15

If only all games could be played on the road. Too bad the Dolphins have to return to South Florida, the home of underachieving talent.

Week 13: Lost to Cleveland Browns, 13-10

Ranked – 18 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[Miami fans, deeply concerned, walk towards the Dolphins on the beach] 

                   

Suntanned Fans: Can we talk to you? We wanna ask you something important, and we want you to tell us the truth. 

          

Miami Dolphins: What?

          

Suntanned Fans: Why'd you come here? 

          

Miami Dolphins: I just can't win in South Florida no more.

          

Suntanned Fans: If it's over because you want it to be over, I'm glad.

          

Miami Dolphins: We do. 

          

Suntanned Fans: It's just... you never quit anything since we've known you.

          

Miami Dolphins: We don't know what you want us to say. I mean, what happened? How did everything that was so good on the road get so bad at home? 

           

Suntanned Fans: What's so bad? Tell us, what? 

Miami Dolphins: We wrecked everything by not winning at home. I mean, why couldn't Parcells tell us where we really were right from the start? He didn't have to carry us and lie to us and make us think we were better than we really were when we weren't.

Week 14: Defeated the New York Jets, 10-6

Ranked – 16

It's difficult enough to play in a tough division without other team's taking cheap shots at your players.

Week 15: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 17-14

Ranked – 18

The Heat have figured out how to win in South Florida. Why can't the Dolphins?

Week 16: Lost to Detroit Lions, 34-27

Ranked – 19

A trip out of the state to finish the season is exactly what the Dolphins need. Sure, the game will be in frigid New England against the best team in the league, but at least it won't be in the nightmarish confines of South Florida.

Week 17: Lost at New England Patriots, 38-7

Final Rank - 18

Tomorrow, the 2010 Jacksonville Jaguars…