They started the season with 5 straight wins cementing them as a top NFC power, then lost their next 4 games and looking like a self destructing team. Finally the New York Giants reached back into the win column in Week 11 after defeating the Atlanta Falcons. The win didn’t come without an accelerated heart rate for the Giants fans though as they game went into the proverbial overtime.

The Giants/Falcons game as I wrote it in my Week 11 preview blog was going to be a very important game for both teams when it comes playing in January. The Falcons (5-5) have all but sealed up their fate for the season as they will more then likely miss the playoffs…at best they will be a Wild Card team if they start to catch fire now. It’s sad to see as the Falcons were a team that I truly believe would be a favorite in the NFC.

4. Steelers & Bengals lose shocking games:

When it came to picking games in Week 11 I only missed two games. The two games I missed were Steelers/Chiefs & Bengals/Raiders. THOSE WERE THE TWO GAMES THAT SEEMED LIKE LOCKS! Who would have ever thought that the two AFC North powerhouses would lose in Week 11 to teams that are fighting for the #1 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft!

Both of these teams gave the wins away as the Steelers let Chris Chambers catch a ball and basically walk to the end zone, it was pathetic the way the once supreme Steelers defense allowed a player who’s more concerned with his love life set up a score. It wasn’t as pathetic as the way the Bengals gave the game to the Raiders by returning a ball out of the end zone and letting a Raiders defender just slap the ball out of their hands. I’m pretty sure who ever caused the fumble for the Raiders was playing for the UFL last week, that or he was calling bingo. It was one of the two at least.

3. New England gets a revenge win against the Jets:

In the “who didn’t see that coming” column of this week’s blog the New England Patriots welcomed the New York Jets to New England by reminding them that they were the New England Patriots. You know that team you BEAT in Week 2? Or that team that made a mistake in Week 10 against Indy that caused one of the best comebacks in primetime since Whitney Houston at the AMA awards? (Well Whitney’s comeback wasn’t the impressive but I couldn’t think of anything else)

The New England Patriots started to get the plastic wrapping and champagne bottles ready for the celebration of another AFC East Division crown as they continue to pull further away from the once competitive division. All that is truly left standing is the Miami Dolphins and no telling if the defending divisional champs can make another run at the crown. What people are forgetting right now is that this Patriots teams is pissed, they aren’t the top dog in the NFL right now and are going to do everything from here on out who “runs the NFL.” Watch out folks.

2. Welcome back Ricky Williams to the NFL:

People have fallen in love lately with the comeback story of Vince Young the last four weeks and how couldn’t you after the way VY has played week after week since getting the starting role back. Well we may be on the verge of another amazing comeback story as Ricky Williams had an absolute huge game against the Carolina Panthers on a game not many watched because they didn’t have Direct TV. Either way Ricky Williams reminded us (especially Mike Ditka) of what could have been when he first entered the NFL.

I don’t know if Tony Soprano offered Ricky some of the stickiest of ickiest if he could take this Dolphins team back to the playoffs now that Ronnie Brown is on the IR. But Ricky was heavily motivated scoring two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. He was “smoking” the Carolina Panthers after Thursday’s game was all said and done! (Enter wacky morning zoo effects here) Either way welcome back Ricky Williams, please keep it going…you’re on my fantasy football team.

1. Lions vs. Browns = best game in Week 11:

In the most prolific game in the 2009-2010 NFL Season that wasn’t shown on TV the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions played for the opportunity to have the #1 draft pick in April. It was a loser takes all battle. A game that without questions was the best game in the entire Week 11, not because of who was playing (seriously what did you think I was smoking?) but because of the way both teams played.

It’s no question that both of these teams are desperate for a win. You would be two if you hadn’t seen a win since the last meteor shower but that’s what it is like when it comes to be a Brown or Lion player and now it’s even safer to say that the Cleveland Browns are by far the worst franchise in all of football right now. The reason being is their lack of head coach in Eric Mangini who comes from the very lackluster Bill Belichick’s School of Hard Knocks. It looks like Eric will eventually join the list of “students” dismissed from their jobs (again in Eric’s case) just like Romeo Crennel and soon to be Charlie Weis.

The most positive thing that came out of this win was that the stars must have been aligned as Brady Quinn played like most people thought he would in the NFL and Matt Stafford became an iconic hero in Detroit as he won the game on an actual separated left shoulder. I think it would have been cooler if it was on his throwing arm but that’s me. Either way Browns/Lions was the best game in the NFL in Week 11 and the Lions won. It was nice to see for once.

Join Bower & “The Sweet Nasty” Chris Cause LIVE tonight @ 8pm ET/5pm PT! On tonight’s edition of The Wheelhouse it’s the day BEFORE Thanksgiving and what a way to spend it by celebrating it WTF!? Wednesday style. It’s YOUR show, you drive it…literally. YOUR topics, YOUR questions, YOUR show! Call 347-237-5203 during the LIVE show! Be there LIVE @ 8pm ET/5pm PT by CLICKING HERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thewheelhouse/2009/11/26/the-wheelhouse 

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Both of these are slipping fast in the NFC power rankings and are looking at potential wild card playoff berths at best. Michael Turner is questionable right now heading into Week 11 while on the other side of the running game Brandon Jacobs looks like he’s been questionable throughout the entire season. Both of these teams need this win, but the Giants need it more then the Falcons as the NFC East is proving to be close yet again.

Speaking of survival of fittest games in the NFC we look at the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers who survived yet another week with victories over the Cowboys & Bears respectively. This was at once a huge rivalry game in the 90s when you have Steve Young and Brett Favre lining up on center. Now you have Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith behind center for both teams.

Over time I believe these two teams will re-ignite their once great rivalry in the next decade as these two teams are looking to be future NFC powerhouses if they continue to keep building their franchises the way they have. For the time being this game is important for both. The 49ers have a better chance of winning their division then the Packers do which means this is leaning more towards the Green Bay Packers when it comes to being a must win game. Either way this should be a great game to watch on Sunday as both of these young teams look to stay alive in the NFC.

The Indianapolis Colts continue their undefeated streak this season as they take on the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens thus far have been one of the most disappointing teams in the AFC after they started out 3-0. A lot of people thoughts the Ravens could repeat as a team destined for the AFC Championship game but it looks like they will struggle making the playoffs.

As for the Colts I look for them to continue to be undefeated and improve to 10-0 on the season after Sunday. The Ravens are just too much of an up and down team this season to give the Colts the run that the Patriots did last Sunday. This team is really good and still isn’t getting the respect I think they truly deserve. That can be a good thing for the Colts.

The Patriots look to bounce back from a heartbreaking Week 10 loss on Sunday Night as they take on divisional rival the New York Jets in Week 11. This game I believe won’t even be close as the Patriots will be out for blood against the Jets who embarrassed them in Week 2.

New England is going to come into this game “guns a blazing” as they will look to avenge their horrible game on Sunday night in front of a national audience. The Patriots will win this game and come one step closer to capturing another AFC East Division title. Anyone who wrote off the Patriots and think they would struggle after their Week 10 loss is an idiot.

Finally a very important game for the AFC West in Week 11 as the San Diego Chargers takes on the Denver Broncos. Division supremacy is on the line in the game as the Broncos come into it reeling with three straight losses after starting 5-0 and a question mark at the Quarterback position with Kyle Orton hurt. I’m putting my money on Chris Simms starting in Week 11 for the Broncos.

The AFC West belongs to the Chargers. I do not see the Broncos really giving San Diego much of a run for the division title in the 2^nd half of the season. The Chargers have been on fire lately and should continue this stretch in Week 11 by taking over the AFC West. Once they win back the lead of the AFC West they should be able to hold on to it for the rest of the season.

Join Bower & “The Sweet Nasty” Chris Cause LIVE tonight @ 8pm ET/5pm PT! On tonight’s edition of The Wheelhouse we will talk about everything going on in the SPORTS and POP CULTURE worlds “around the water cooler.” Then do you have the BALLS to challenge The Fairy of Football COPERNICUS in the WEEK 11 edition of STUMP THE SALLY? Well CALL IN Thursday night by dialing 347-237-5203 and lay the challenge DOWN! Be there LIVE @ 8pm ET/5pm PT by CLICKING HERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thewheelhouse/2009/11/20/the-wheelhouse

It appears that in WEEK 11, Larry Johnson will be suiting up next to the likes of CARSON PALMER & CHAD OCHO CINCO in Cincy!

The hip injury to BENGALS runningback CEDRIC BENSON appears to be worse then initally expected.

Is this GOOD move or BAD move for the BENGALS? Tell us YOUR thoughts now by sending an e-mail to wheelhouseradio@gmail.com! 

For more info on this story click here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4660283

Join Bower & “The Sweet Nasty” Chris Cause LIVE tonight @ 8pm ET/5pm PT! On tonight’s edition of The Wheelhouse we will look back at the SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL game between the PATRIOTS and the COLTS. Recap everything from UFC 105, Bower & “The Champ” will go toe-to-toe in another edition of HEY! NICE TWITS and find out who won the WEEK 10 edition of STUMP THE SALLY! Be there LIVE @ 8pm ET/5pm PT by clicking HERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thewheelhouse/2009/11/17/The-Wheelhouse