ESPN

Welcome to ESPN's NFL Suday Countdown!

With your hosts

* Chris Berman

* Steve Young

* Micheal Irvin

* T.J

First of all we'll review last weeks standout performances, followed by discussing 3 hot topics in the NFL. Finally we will tell you our game picks,

Standout Performances

Chris Berman: Last week was a huge week for some QB's and even better for some WR's. There were also some standout performances from some "big and scary" defensive players.

Steve Young: Yeah Chris your right last week was huge and very exciting. But I have to give out the top Performance awards to the QBs, without a dou..

Micheal Irvin: Typical Steve always bragging about the Quarterbacks (A little chuckle comes from Steve and T.J) but I have to give the nod to those vicious and aggresive DEFENSIVE players. I have to tell you I saw some HARD and vicious tackles last week, one inparticular was in the Seahawks vs. Packers game. Where the rushing TD record holder Shawn Alexander got crushed by #75 Grady Jackson behind the line of scrimmage.

Chris Berman: OH Nelly was that a hit..."BOOM"

T.J: Ok..lets get down to buisness here the here are the top performers of week 13!

Chris Berman: My choice was non-other than Ricky "I'll never forget my playbook again!" Williams. Who had a season high 132 rushing yards on 24 attempts. He also bounced in the endzone 3 times. After being suspended all last season by the Doplhins and after a hurtful off-season were he recieved alot of criticiscm he finally played like the Ricky we all know.

Steve Young: Yeah...well anyways (everybody shared a good strong laugh) my top performer was non-other than Jake "No Mistake" Plummer who pulled a valient effort. As he led the Broncs to there 3rd straight win going 15-25 for 363 passing yards and 5 TD's.

Micheal Irvin: Yeah, yeah, yeah...My player of the week honour goes to James Farrior who played regualr "smashmouth football". Pulling in 7 tackles 1 INT which he returned for a TD. I also saw him make some crucnh time hits.

T.J : It's been a long time since I said something eh? Well my player of the week honours go to Non-other than Rookie Quarterback Brady Quinn. The guy stepped in half-way through the season to take over for Kerry Collins and hes gonna get the Raiders into the post season. He passed for 5 TD's against a Ravens defence now thats something.

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Issues Around the NFL

Injuries making huge impact in the NFL.

Chris Berman: Injuries end seasons....they end dreams...they end careers. Well you know Football is a very physical sport and theres bound to be injuries, but what type of impact are these injuries making. Our NFL analysist Steve Young has more.

Steve Young: Thats right Chris injuries our taking a huge tole in the game of football. But to what extent...well injuries are vital and are they are absolutely destroying teams. For one example last years NFC North champions the Chicago Bears are now 3-9 last in the NFC North. Why...well because last season the Bears defence broke numerous records and was probably one of the best ever. But this season the Bars defence has allowed 4,313 yards which is 26th in the NFL and they are allowing 25.4 points per game almost 13 points more from what they let last year. WHY is there defence so bad this seson well the face of there defence Brian Urlacher got injured early in the season. Last season he had 132 tackles 6 sacks and 2 picks, not only is he injured but Charles Tillman who had 5 picks last season (career high) is on injured reserve.

Also the once powerhouse of the NFC the Philadelphia Eagles are now fighting desperatley for a playoff spot as they've fallen to a 7-5 record (tied for 2nd in the NFC East) And now there is absolutely no way they will win the NFC East for the first time in 5 years. (Dallas 10-2) Due to players getting injured in key games. Mcnabb has missed two games already which they lost both and will not play in week 14. Westbrook has missed 2 games already and might be back in week 17. Dawkins missed a key game against Atlanta which they lost and Trotter has also miseed 2 games aswell as Tra Thomas. Thats all for now...Boomer.

Terrell Owens..NOT AGAIN

Chris Berman: March 2nd 2005 Randy Moss signs with the Oakland Raiders...March 2nd 2006 Terrell Owens signs with the Atlanta Falcons. There was alot of doubts when Terrell Owens officially signed with the Atlanta Falcons and there also was alot of criticicsm. Peolpe booed..people cheered but not for long. In the first pre-season game for T.O in an Atlanta uniform he got welcomed by a crowd of boo's! He then did the unthinkable be polite and earn the respect of the Atlanta fans and there organization..temporarily. After the first 6 games of the season T.O barely caught 32 passes and barely over had 370 recieving yards, but he caught 6 TD's. Ever since week 2 everybody was waiting...waiting for Terrell to crack. He then went out to the media and...compimented the team aswell as claering issues. Everything seemed nice and clear in Atlanta for once. Then when the Falcons took on divisional rival Tampay Bay Michael Vick suprisingly had a great day..throwing 2 TD's and no picks in a win, he also ran 12 times for 88 yards. But T.O...he grabbed just a single reception for 9 yards and then finally he SNAPPED. He absolutely went crazy on next week on the bench. Where he pushed QB Michael Vick onto the bench and...told him he cant throw. Finally when Coach Mora was explaining him hwo to get open he threw away the playbook. He then got benched for the rest of the game and got suspended for 1 game. In his next game he caught a career high 6 catches 183 yards and 2 TD in an Atlanta uniform. There are still questions like...will T.O be back in Atlanta next season? and what reaction will T.O get from Atlanta in his first home game back since "the incident?"

The 05-06 Patriots

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Oakland Raiders