One way or another:- Charlton bound for Wembley?

As a Charlton Athletic supporter, the last five years or so have been an emotional roller-coaster. From top flight Football to League one in just a matter of seasons to then win League one and get a top half finish in our return to second tier Football at the end of last year. But this year, once again is a very different story.
             
The Addicks have had what can only be described as an dreadful season in the Championship so far. Sitting third from bottom with the lowest amount of goals scored by any team is not where many fans expected their team to be when the season kicked off. Scoring just one goal in their last five league games (which came from a 92nd minute corner), Charlton simply have to improve if they are to remain in the Championship next year. They have bought in several new faces in the January transfer window but also sold a few, including French fan favourite Yann Kemorgant who netted a hat-trick for his new club Bournemouth this past weekend. So many fans expected the reds to travel to Wembley this year. But as scary as the end of the season may seem, their dreams are still within reach.

Church sends Charlton through to the Quarter Final

The team are fighting for a spot at Wembley in a very diffe
rent way. A way in which no one could have imagined. The FA Cup. A trophy which year after year brings us shocks, incredible plot twists and fascinating Football. The Quarter finals will take place this weekend and the under-dogs are in perhaps the most enviable position of any team as they take on League One team Sheffield United. It sounds like a god-send for Charlton after beating one half of the Steel City but they may have their work cut out. The blades have now won 8 matches in a row since the start of February including a 1-0 over Premier League team Fulham in the FA Cup.

Sheffield will go into this match with a lot of momentum, there is no doubt about it. It will be up to the Addicks to halt that momentum from the word go and ideally get themselves an early lead. They have the talent to do it. Simon Church has become a crucial part of the offence in recent weeks and new signings Nego and Reza Ghoochannejhad will be eager to prove to the clubs new owner exactly what they can do.

Iranian international Reza Ghoochannejhad
will be keen to net his first goal
for his new club this weekend.

IF Charlton get past Sheffield Wednesday, they would be just 90 minutes of Football away from a game at Wembley. This is the furthest Chris Powell's men have ever gone in a Cup Run and they certainly will not want it to end any time soon. But, standing in their way are going to be three of the potentially most dominating teams imaginable. The other three games this weekend are as follows.

Arsenal vs Everton
Hull vs Sunderland
Manchester City vs Wigan

This means that no matter what the outcome, Charlton will have to face a top flight Premier League side in both the Semi Final and the Final. Current cup holders Wigan are in a rematch of their final last year as they take on runners-up Manchester City. Wigan have beaten the blues before and are well equipped to do it again. But City will be determined to play as well as they are in the league and stop Wigan from retaining the decorated trophy. So either way, Charlton IF matched up against either of these, are going to have an almighty task on their hands.

Current holders Wigan could potentially retain their title.

With the other four teams perhaps poising to be just as much of a threat, all Charlton can do is their best. Miracles do happen, and if the Addicks can make their way into the final even in the flukiest of ways. It will restore both hope and faith. Two emotions that possibly had been lost months ago for fans across the country. The squad morale would be through the roof and if they could carry that into their remaining league fixtures, including the two they have in hand over the teams around them, then maybe...just maybe..they could avoid relegation and bring home the team's first ever F.A Cup.

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"Center" of attention:- Philly ink Jason Kelce and Riley Cooper to new extensions

The off-season always beings a mixture of emotion for fans no matter what team you root for. Reflection on what has transpired the year before, excitement over the prospects in the up coming Draft and perhaps a little anxiety as some of your favourite players could end up as free agents.
   
 For a lot of Philadelphia fans, that was certainly the case as Wide Receiver's Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin joined Center Jason Kelce in free agency. Two of those players have been signed to an extension, ending the endless comments on various forms of social media begging for the stars to be penned back to Philly...well, they still won't stop entirely until Maclin signs an extension!

Riley Cooper was originally going to
start last season as the Birds number 3 receiver behind Maclin and DeSean Jackson, but his destiny took a swift detour as Maclin suffered from a torn ACL back in July. This opened the door for the University of Florida Star. And boy did he ever rock that door so hard it fell off its hinges by having his greatest season to date. His season truly picked up pace when Nick Foles took control of the offence.
 
Cooper was a consistent Big play target and he delivered more often than not. Averaging 18 yards per catch and ending the season with 835 total yards and eight touchdowns. In his previous seasons, he had never topped 23 catches or 315 yards so this was a very promising sign for Coach Chip Kelly  to see how much the 26 year old has improved.
   
The former fifth round pick made it clear from the start that he wanted to stay in the city of brotherly love and those intentions were met with a 5 year deal worth $25M today! Most fans assumed that the team would keep one or the other, letting the unsigned receiver go into Free Agency but General Manager Howie Roseman didn't say no to the possibility of keeping both receivers.

However, it wasn't Maclin who was also signed today like many fans hoped it would be but a rather different prospect, Center Jason Kelce. The 6 year deal worth $37.5M was embraced with open arms by fans after the former sixth round pick had a fantastic season, adapting to the new Chip Kelly offence brilliantly and showing the new Coach why he is the perfect athletic Center for the new system. The man who has exploded onto the scene since his rookie debut in 2011 now has a deal that lands him within the top-5 centers in the NFL on an average per year basis. 

 So what next for the birds? Many fans are still hoping for the re-signing of Maclin before Free Agency begins on March 11th but according to numerous sources, both parties have not reached a deal that is within reach.

If there is one thing we can take from this, it's that with the Offensive line nearly complete, it leaves a lot of focus to be turned onto the other side of the Football. The Defensive side of things started to look up towards the end of last seasons campaign, but there is still a long way to go. With an Offence as strong as it already is and re-signing two top players to long term deals, it makes Coach Kelly's intentions for the 2014 draft seem very clear.

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The game that could change it all- New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles preview

Having already played once this season at the Meadowlands, the Giants face their division rivals under a very different circumstance. One team is fighting for a win to make sure they have a chance at clenching the division. The other is fighting for a win to avoid total embarrassment after the worst start to a season since 1993.

History
Record since 2000
Eagles wins against the Giants- 18
Giants wins against the Eagles- 12

The Eagles vs Giants rivalry has been nothing short of extraordinary when you think of the amount of moments the teams have shared. The oldest rivalry in the NFC East will always be known as one of Footballs greatest rivalries. The Miracle in the Meadowlands has echoed through the ages and was repeated back in 2010 where DeSean Jackson made a memorable punt return, securing the Eagles a win as the clock hit 0. But this week, the game is played at Lincoln Financial Field, a venue in which the home team has not won since September 30th 2012. Ironically, that victory was
against the very team they face this Sunday, the New York Giants.

Eagles
With Michael Vick expected to start on Sunday after a two week hiatus suffering a hamstring injury, the Eagles offence is almost back to full force. Nick Foles took the reigns whilst Vick watched from the sideline in two and a half games, sending the Eagles to a further two wins and a loss. The loss came against the Cowboys where Nick looked like a shadow of the man that had played just a week previously.
  A wobbly 3-4 start to the season sees the Birds looking to turn their record into a .500 one once again. But as this is the first season under new head coach Chip Kelly, the record is respectable to say the least.

Key Players
LeSean McCoy-
There is no doubting that Shady is one of the best Running backs in the NFL this season and is the game changer in this years Eagles Offence. McCoy is well on par to break  2000 yards this season averaging close to 100 yards per game and almost 5 yards per carry. It's not his sheer speed or agility that makes him so threatening, but his ability to shed tackles. He cuts in and out of Defenders so easily it almost resembles something you would see in Madden!
   So what happens when you take the Defense who are ranked 31st in the NFL and add one of the most explosive running backs in the game. The answer, potentially his best game of the season so far. The Giants did well to hold LeSean to just 46 yards at the Meadowlands, but never underestimate how mu
ch of an impact McCoy can have.

DeSean Jackson-
Arguably the biggest weapon in this Philadelphia Offense, Jackson has had one of his best ever seasons so far and in my opinion, a season better than his two Pro Bowl seasons in 2009 and 2010. With Jeremy Maclin on the sidelines, Jackson had to step up this year and he has outperformed everyone's expectations. He has the capability to make huge plays out of nothing. When there is a gain of 3-5 yards on a quick pass, Jackson will turn it into a 13-25 yard gain. Not forgetting that it was Jackson who sealed that fateful win back in 2010. It would only be fitting that the first home victory in over a year would come from the last team the Eagles beat at home, scored by the man who made that final play in one of the greatest comebacks in history.


Michael Vick-
If Vick doesn't start this Saturday then the Eagles may be in trouble. The number 7 said that he doesn't want to start until he can run the 100 yard sprint despite taking all the reps for the team in practice. Nick Foles has been confirmed as out for this game and the team will count on rookie Matt Barkley as a backup. If Vick is back to his best then we could see another huge scoring game for the Birds. Whilst Foles can run an offense and has proven that he can stand tall in the pocket to make throws and even run through a hole, he lacks the mobility and unpredictability that Vick has. If no player is open, the pride of Virginia Tech can still outrun a lot of the players in the NFL despite his age. 1,185 yards, 5 touchdowns and
2 interceptions in the first 5 games of the season saw Vick make a statement. He is not ready to leave Philadelphia just yet, and he will be looking to further prove why Kelly should keep him this weekend.


Giants-
After finally picking up their first win last week against a struggling Minnesota Vikings side, the Giants look to make it two in a row at Lincoln Financial Field against an Eagles side coming fresh off of losing to division leaders Dallas. The Giants, now 1-6 need to win this week if they have any chance whatsoever of catching Washington and saving what has been an abysmal start to the season. The win over the Vikings was by no means a convincing one, and the Big Blue will need to pull off a Big performance to halt this fast paced offence.

Key Players-

Eli Manning- Seven games, fifteen interceptions. No that's not some sort of dodgy online movie but the statistic which haunts Superbowl MVP Eli Manning going into week 8. But the 10 year veteran is coming off of his first interception free game of the year which may slide momentum just slightly in his favor. It's very easy to see that Manning has not been performing to the standard he should be, not by a long shot. A two time Superbowl Champion who has taken the Giants through so many heroic moments should not have a 54% completion rate and a 66 passer rating. But on the flip side, it just takes one game, one play, one big pass which could re-ignite his form. If this happens, The Eagles may have a tough game on their hands.



Justin Tuck-  Jason Pierre-Paul has not been the same player since his surgery,and Kiwanuka has not made the impact he should be making on the opposing offense. But over the last few games the defensive line has been solid, mainly because of a reformed Justin Tuck. The veteran defensive end has 5.5 sacks in his last seven contests against the Eagles. In a rivalry where miracles happen on a regular basis, a player with this reputation against your opponent will be one to watch out for.

Rueben Randle - Randle has been anything but consistent this season,when he's good he's great and when he's bad he's really bad! But the 22 year old has four touchdown catches in his last three games which coincidentally is the same number of Touchdowns he has in his last two games against the Eagles. With so many targets who can make big plays, the attention tends to lean towards the big names such as Nicks and Victor Cruz, leaving the second year pro wide open to make a game changing catch.

Prediction-

Eagles 32-21 Giants

A similar game as to what we saw at the Meadowlands a few weeks ago will take place. The Giants will give the Eagles a torrid time there is no doubt about it, but in this rivalry with the Giants as inconsistent as they are I can only see this ending one way. One big play from the Eagles to break the will of the Defense and like before, the rest comes easy. The thing is with a rivalry like this, I could be totally wrong and the Giants could do to us what the Cowboys did to us. As a Philly fan, I have a feeling that Vick can guide the City of Brotherly love to a big win and re-ignite our charge for a Championship.

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NFL The Power Players:- Week 6

A week of surprises as underdogs fall short of greatness, gladiators tumble and unbeaten records come to an end. Week 6 was nothing short of excellent and it's time to take a look at who the best players and teams were along with who's leading the charge to get into the top 10 in the chase for the LJS player of the year.

Quarterback-                        Rank last week           Touchdowns           Yards           

1. Joe Flacco                                N/A                                   2                          342

2. Andy Dalton                             N/A                                    3                          337

3. Peyton Manning                        2                                     2                          295

4. Nick Foles                                N/A                                   3                          296

5. Aaron Rodgers                         N/A                                  1                          315

Joe Flacco and the Ravens faced a formidable Green Bay side this past Sunday and unfortunately for them it resulted in a loss. It was yet another slow start, but that didn't stop the Superbowl MVP from demonstrating exactly why he earned that title and delivering arguably the best game of his season so far. Two touchdowns, no interceptions and throwing for more than 300 yards for the third time this season. The same can't be said for the rest of the offense as it took 3 quarters before Flacco threw into the Endzone. It was a frustrating game to say the least as they battled all the way until the end but ultimately fell short. It was too little, too late and they now sit tied for 2nd in their division, a single win behind the Bengals.

Running Back-                  Rank last week           Touchdowns                Rushing Yards

1. Arian Foster                           5                                      0                                      141

2. Brandon Jacobs                   N/A                                  2                                       106

3. Eddie Lacy                               3                                    0                                        120

4. Stevan Ridley                         N/A                                2                                           96
5. LeSean McCoy                     N/A                                  0                                          11 

With Matt Schaub having his own fans cheer when he limped off the field injured, it was a clear sign if it wasn't evident before that yet again he was struggling. The Texans were at a 25 point deficit when he left the game after throwing for 186 yards.To make up for this the Texans had to establish a decent running game and they did just that. Arian Foster rushed for nearly 150 yards and gave a glimmer of hope to a very agitated Texans fanbase. With many picking Houston for the win and expecting Schaub to vastly improve on his poor form, the game was a disappointment but there are positives to be taken. Arian Foster proved that there is an alternate option and that's to try and increase the amount of times the team run the ball per game. Foster ripped apart the Rams Defense despite not scoring a touchdown and as a result, he has not only been in the top 5 for three weeks in a row, but leads the category this week.

Wide Receiver-                Rank last week                 Touchdowns                  Receiving Yards

 1. Justin Blackmon                  N/A                                    0                                        190

 2. Riley Cooper                        N/A                                   1                                        120

 3. Vincent Jackson                  N/A                                   2                                        114

 4. Jordy Nelson                        N/A                                   1                                       113

 5. Larry Fitzgerald                   N/A                                    1                                       117

Justin Blackmon has stood out to me these past few weeks in what can only be described as a train wreck of a Jaguars team. But something happened on Sunday, it so easily could have been the Underdog story of the decade as the Jags traveled to Mile High stadium to face an unbeaten Devner Broncos team. With millions of fans anticipating an absolute hammering, they were all left shocked when at half time the score was 14-12. Forcing Manning into an interception sent the crowd wild. Blackmon received for almost 200 yards against the Broncos and played a vital role in the game. Chad Henne has started to find his footing in the offense and you could see the chemistry between the two building the more receptions Blackmon caught. Making several big plays you could see the team slowly start to pick up speed. Right now it's the equivalent of buying a really nice car that is missing a few parts. They are still giving up big plays, turning the ball over too often and making silly calls costing them penalties and valuable yards. But come on, an unbeaten Broncos team going into the second half looked wobbly. They found their form later on but for a short moment the Jaguars had everyone's attention. They sent a message to everyone that day, and that is not to under estimate them. To receive for 190 yards against any team is good, to do it against an unbeaten team when you're part of a winless squad is simply staggering.

Tight End-                      Rank last week                  Touchdowns                 Receiving Yards

1.Vernon Davis                      N/A                                      2                                    180

2. Kyle Rudolph                      N/A                                     1                                     97
3. Heath Miller                       N/A                                     0                                     84

4. Dallas Clark                       N/A                                     1                                     81  

5. Timothy Wright                   N/A                                     0                                    91

After three weeks at the top spot, Saints Tight End Jimmy Graham doesn't even make the top 5 after being shut down completely by Green Bay. This opened the door for one man in particular to put in an exceptional performance, and that man is Vernon Davis. Two touchdowns and 180 receiving yards saw Davis propel the 49ers to a victory over the Cardinals.He already has one more touchdown than he did throughout the entire 2012 season and has shown the world that he just needs a chance to turn a short gain into a big play and he will probably succeed. He really has been a crucial weapon this season for Colin Kaepernick and without him you have to wonder, would San Francisco have won the percentage of games they have this season?

Linebacker-                   Rank last week            Tackles                Sacks             

1. A.J Hawk                            N/A                           10                           3

2. Thomas Davis                    N/A                           8                           2

3.  Derrick Johnson                N/A                           8                            2

4. Tamba Hali                         N/A                           4                           3.5
5. Elvis Dumervil                      N/A                           3                           2

One word describes A.J Hawk's performance this past weekend. Unstoppable. 10 tackles and 3 sacks on Joe Flacco helped the Green bay Defense shut the Ravens down for the first half of the game. In fact, it took three whole quarters before Flacco threw a touchdown and a lot of that was down to the pressure that Hawk put on the Offense. Not to mention the impressive goal line stand which stopped the Ravens progress.With Clay Matthews out at the moment, the Packers need more than a placeholder and seemingly looked to A.J Hawk. He stepped up to the plate and exceeded everyone's expectations. In his 8th season for Green Bay, Hawk really showed why he was the fifth overall pick.

Defensive End-         Rank last week                 Tackles                              Sacks

1. Chandler Jones             N/A                                    3                                       1

2. Malik Jackson               N/A                                     7                                        2

3. Carlos Dunlap               N/A                                    5                                        1

4. Darnell Docket             N/A                                     4                                        1
5. Wallace Gillberry          N/A                                    5                                        1

Chandler Jones helped ignite the Patriots comeback against the previously unbeaten Saints by recording seven tackles (including assists) and sacking elite Quarterback Drew Brees. Now one sack on the surface doesn't sound like it was game changing but this one was pretty special. The Saints had the ball on 3rd down with 2 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Patriots having used all three of their timeouts. All New Orleans had to do was get a first down and run down the clock to maintain their unbeaten streak. But Chandler Jones got to Drew Brees for a five yard loss giving New England one more shot, one more chance at getting a touchdown. Tom Brady got the touchdown and made fans around the world sit in shock after a clash of titans ended so spectacularly. A lot of the focus will be on Brady this week for his emphatic finish, but Defensive End Chandler Jones deserves to have his name on the front page alongside him.


So with the new points system in place to determine the top 10 players in the NFL, let's see how they look going into week 7. With Jimmy Graham not scoring it sends Manning into a 5 point lead at the top of the table and with only a few other notable gains inside the top 20 including Eddie Lacy entering and Arian Foster securing his spot it was a week of new entrants picking up points. Making the race for the top 10 hotter than ever.

Peyton Manning           20
Jimmy Graham            15
Jordan Cameron         12
Marshawn Lynch         11
Antonio Gates              10
Carlos Dunlap               9
Drew Brees                    9
Jamaal Charles            9
 LeSean McCoy             9
Robert Mathis                8
Phillip Rivers                 8 
DeSean Jackson          7
Julius Thomas              7
Tony Gonzalez              7
Arian Foster                  7
Adrian Peterson           6
Frank Gore                     6
Eddie Lacy                     6
Chad Greenway            5
Antonio Brown               5

Power Rankings-

Broncos (6-0)

Last Week- 1

This Week- 1                                                      

Chiefs (6-0)

Last Week-4

This Week-2

Seahawks (5-1)

Last Week- 5

This Week- 3

        Saints (5-0)
        Last Week- 2
        This Week- 4

Patriots (5-1)
Last Week-7
This Week- 5

 Colts (4-2)
Last Week-3
This Week-6

49'ers (4-2)
Last Week-6
This Week- 7

Packers (3-2)
Last Week- 10
This Week- 8

Bengals (4-2)
Last Week-8
This Week-9

Bears (4-2)
Last Week- N/A
This Week-10

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A small win with "Giant" effect- The Eagles soar at the Meadowlands

The Eagles flew to a 36-21 victory against a now 0-5 Giants on their home turf this past Sunday, and whilst you can't judge a team on its ability to beat a team who concedes an average of 36 points per game, the win itself meant that the Eagles are now tied at the top of their division along with the Dallas Cowboys after they faced a heartbreaking loss against the Broncos. In comparison, both the Raiders and the Chargers are on 2-3 and they are tied for bottom in the AFC West. In that sense, this win was crucial.


But with every silver lining there is a cloud, and this could well be a thunder storm waiting to rip Philly apart or it could be the cloud needed to fire the team up and rebuild after the storm passes. An MRI Monday morning revealed that Vick suffered a pulled hamstring in the second quarter, Kelly said. It didn't look overly serious as he was seen walking up and down the sideline trying to see if he could return to the game but the decision to keep him off the field could well mean he starts against Tampa Bay in week 6 if he is fit.
     

It was Nick Foles who took over the Quarterback spot and did an impressive job, scoring two touchdowns and completing 16 passes out of 25 attempts. He may not have the scrambling ability or the read option threat that Vick possesses but a solid arm on Sunday from the 24 year old showed the world that if Vick does get injured seriously at some point in the future, then there is a man ready to lead this Eagles offense.

The game itself was again plagued with penalties and turnovers, but this time not from the Eagles. Manning completed 24 of 52 for 334 yards and two touchdowns, but three penalties for intentional grounding along with his three straight interceptions in the fourth quarter. One turnover came from Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, who managed to fumble in the second quarter without even being hit, the ball simply slipped from his grasp, very much so like the victory the team were chasing so desperately.


On the Eagles side of the ball, Foles led the Eagles to 17 second-half points with five field goals overall from kicker Alex Henery. As mentioned earlier, it is very difficult to judge how well a team is playing against the Giants because the majority of the attention is being based on how many issues there are surrounding the team. The Eagles came away with a win and have a right to feel happy about it. The defense picked up 3 interceptions but is that due to poor offence or has the Eagles Defensive unit found some good form? Nick Foles was able to score two touchdowns and for a second string QB that is a very respectable feat. Was this down to his accuracy or down to the poor defensive effort from New York?


With Vick still doubtful to start week 6, there are mixed emotions going into the Tampa Bay matchup. Can Foles carry on his current from and bring the Eagles to a 3-3 record? Has our defense improved or was it simply New York giving the unit too many easy opportunities making interceptions as easy as taking candy from a baby?

All will be answered in week 6 but for now, Philadelphia fans can hold their head high. If being Tied first for the division and facing an 0-4 Tampa Bay next week doesn't give fans a slight reason to smile after a slightly troubled start to the Chip Kelly era then they need to realize that at least they are playing better than the Jaguars!

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NFL The Power Players:- Week 4

The first quarter of the NFL is over and what an opening it's been. From the demise of the NFC East to games being won in the final 15 seconds, it has lived up to all of the hype. So with Week 5 of the NFL on the horizon, it's once again time to review the top players and teams of the week. Is Peyton Manning for the fourth week in a row still at the top of the Quarterbacks and will the Broncos fall from that top spot after an impressive run? Let's find out.

Quarterback-                        Rank last week           Touchdowns           Yards           

1. Drew Brees                                    4                               4                        413

2. Phillip Rivers                                N/A                             3                        401

3. Peyton Manning                            1                                4                        327

4. Matt Ryan                                     N/A                              2                        421

5. Tom Brady                                    N/A                              2                      316

Only two constants remain in our top 5 quarterbacks where finally someone has beaten Peyton Manning to the top spot. This wasn't to say Peyton had a bad game, in fact he had another fantastic game against the Eagles but Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers both hit 400 yards and Brees simply gets better and better every week. He lead New Orleans to a 38-17 victory over Miami, keeping their unbeaten streak alive as they head into week 5. Over the past 5 years Brees has established such a big reputation, and yet week in, week out he still exceeds it and now sits atop our top 5 Quarterbacks list for week 4.

Running Back-                  Rank last week           Touchdowns                Rushing Yards

1. Adrian Peterson                        N/A                              2                                   153

2. Frank Gore                                N/A                               1                                   140

3. Reggie Bush                             N/A                              1                                    139

4. Marshawn Lynch                      N/A                              0                                     98

5. Arian Foster                              N/A                              0                                    102

Five new entries to the Running Back this week topped by none other than Adrian Peterson. As the Vikings traveled across the pond to face the Steelers at Wembley, the Vikings had to come out with a win after an unfortunate spree of bad luck. They did just that and Peterson ran for 153 yards scoring two touchdowns and a whopping 60 yard touchdown run. The 28 year old still shows no sign of holding up and again proving why he is one of if not the best running back in the NFL at this stage

Wide Receiver-                Rank last week                 Touchdowns                  Receiving Yards

 1. Tony Gonzalez                      N/A                                    2                                       149

 2. Torrey Smith                          N/A                                   1                                       166

 3. Kembrell Thompkins            N/A                                   1                                        127

 4. Jerome Simpson                   N/A                                   0                                       124

 5. Victor Cruz                              N/A                                   1                                       164

Another fresh five as we look at the Wide Receiver category. The most impressive game of the week came from Falcons Receiver Tony Gonzalez, his two touchdowns and 149 yards weren't enough to give the Falcons a win over the patriots. But with 14 of the 23 points coming from this man alone, and having received the ball 12 times, it's easy to see how much of an impact Gonzalez had. Other notable performances came from Victor Cruz as he proves to be the silver lining in the Giants storm Cloud and Torrey Smith as he had the most receiving yards in the NFL.

Tight End-                      Rank last week                  Touchdowns                 Receiving Yards

1. Jimmy Graham                     1                                       2                                    100

2. Antonio Gates                       4                                       1                                    136
3. Jordan Cameron                  2                                     1                                       91

4. Martellus Bennett               N/A                                   0                                      90

5. Julius Thomas                      3                                    0                                       43

For the second week in a row it's Saints Tight End Jimmy Graham who to
ps the list with another brilliant game against Miami. 100 yards and 2 touchdowns saw Graham and fellow Saints List topper Drew Brees rocket to victory over a previously unbeaten Dolphins side. The partnership between Brees and Graham has looked dangerous all season long but these last two weeks it has become an unstoppable threat. As they face the Bears in week 5, we may just see how powerful this offence truly is.

Linebacker-                   Rank last week            Tackles                Sacks             

1.Chad Greenway                    N/A                         10                          1

2. Whitney Mercilus                 N/A                          6                          2.5

3.  NaVorro Bowman              N/A                          5                            2

4. Robert Mathis                     N/A                           4                            3
5. Whitney Mercilus                N/A                           6                          2.5

So two Saints players and two Vikings players lead the categories so far, Chad Greenway was simply outstanding at Wembley Stadium this past Sunday, making 10 tackles and sacking Ben Roethlisberger. Coming off of his first interception of the season against the Browns, Greenway got his first sack of the year and another double figure tackling statistic. The veteran in his 8th season with the Viking
s recorded 98 tackles last season and is currently at 28 in his first four games this year. He is well on his way to beat his personal record of 109 if he keeps up this level of play.

Defensive End-         Rank last week                 Tackles                              Sacks

1. Jared Allen                    N/A                                     4                                        2.5

2. Carlos Dunlap               N/A                                    4                                        1.5

3. Robert Ayers                N/A                                      6                                         0.5

4. Allan Bailey                   N/A                                      3                                          1

5. Ropati Pitoitua              N/A                                      3                                        2

Out of the 6 positions we have, 3 of them are lead by players of the Minnesota Vikings which just goes to show how impressive they were against the Steelers. Jared Allen is one of those power players who you expect to have a big game when it matters and he passed with flying colors. In his sixth season for the Vikings, the number 69 recorded 2.5 sacks against Big Ben and 4 tackles sending him to the second spot overall in sacks for week 4 with the most coming from Robert Mathis who sits at number 4 in the Linebacker position. The Vikings now have to face a fresh Panthers team as they sat out week 4 with a "Bye". This means that the team that had just crushed the Giants 38-0 are in perfect condition to face a fired up Vikings team, it will be a game you won't want to miss!

So after the first four weeks have been and gone, let's see who the top 10 teams in the NFL are at the moment

Broncos (4-0)

Last Week 2

This Week 1

Seahawks (4-0)
Last Week 1

This Week 2

               Saints (4-0)
             Last Week 3
             This Week 3

Patriots (4-0)
Last Week 4
This Week 4

Chiefs (4-0)

Last Week-9

This Week-5

Lions (3-1)

Last Week- N/A

This Week- 6

Colts (3-1)

Last Week- 8

This Week-7

49ers (2-2)

Last Week-N/A

This Week- 8

Titans(3-1)

Last Week-N/A

This Week 9

Bills(2-2)
Last Week-N/A

This Week- 10

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NFL The Power Players:- Week 3

Week 3 of the NFL was arguably the most exciting yet. It featured a game which was turned on its head in the final 15 seconds, another dominant win by the Broncos and Seahawks, a Giants game where they did not score a single point and a fumble which ended in a game winning touchdown. But with all this excitement who stood out in the week 3 power rankings? 

Quarterback-                        Rank last week           Touchdowns           Yards           

1. Peyton Manning                              1                             3                    374

2. Matthew Stafford                         N/A                            2                    385

3. Ben Roethlisberger                       N/A                            2                    406

4. Drew Brees                                 N/A                             3                    342 

5. Terelle Pryor                               N/A                             1                    281

For the third week running, it's Peyton Manning who tops the Quarterback power rankings. It's not so much that every quarterback in the league right now is struggling to match his yardage or touchdowns, because many are. But with a passer rating of 135.8 and not dropping below a rating of 100 this season, Peyton has been relentless when it comes to throwing the football. A stylish 61 yard pass to Decker and yet more touchdowns with ex patriot Wes Welker see Manning and the charasmatic offense dance to a 3-0 record as they host the Philadelphia Eagles in week 4. With the Eagles explosive offense and possibly the most intelligent QB at the moment in Peyton manning, the matchup should certainly have some fireworks. But can Peyton keep his record of 100+ passer ratings in all of his games along with the record of 0 interceptions so far. Only time will tell but for week 3, he is our number one quarterback. Oh, that and these numbers.

Manning-

1st in Comp % (73) 1st in Pass YPG (381) 1st in Pass TDs (12) 1st in Total QBR (90)

Running Back-                  Rank last week           Touchdowns                Rushing Yards

1. DeMarco Murray                      N/A                              1                                   175

2. LeSean McCoy                           2                                1                                   158

3. Bilal Powell                             N/A                              0                                    149

4. DeAngelo Williams                  N/A                              0                                    120

5. Jamaal Charles                          3                               1                                     92

A surprise at number one this week as DeMarco Murray had his best game of the season so far for the Dallas Cowboys. Running for almost 175 yards, the 25 year old played a vital role in the victory over St Louis. Considering he only rushed for 25 yards last week,this was a massive improvement and sent him straight to the top of the rushing leaderboard ahead of LeSean McCoy who despite taking a loss against Kansas still managed to rush for over 150 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't just the fact that he ran well which has sent him soaring to the top of the power rankings, but the fact he was able to lift some pressure from Tony Romo who attempted 91 passes in the opening two games and suffered a minor injury at Kansas. When your Quarterback isn't playing at his best you need a strong running game. That is exactly what DeMarco did this weekend. Can he stay on top going in to week 4 as the Cowboys pick up steam? Only time will tell.

    

Wide Receiver-                Rank last week                 Touchdowns                  Receiving Yards

 1. Antonio Brown                       N/A                                 2                                      196

 2. Josh Gordon                          N/A                                 1                                      146

 3. Santonio Holmes                    N/A                                1                                      154

 4. Eric Decker                           N/A                                 1                                      133

 5. Cecil Shorts                           N/A                                0                                      143

"Steeling"- Brown shocks with impressive one handed catch

Although he didn't come away with the win, Antonio Brown had over three times the amount of yardage he received for in week two! He had a superb game and is the second Steeler to make the power rankings this week after Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 400 yards, almost half of which were to this guy! Brown also made a ridiculous touchdown catch (as pictured) with just one hand! Bringing the ball in for a vital seven points with just as many style points.

The game ended in a 43-20 loss as the Steelers suffered on both sides of the ball but in the second half they found some rythm and began to look like they did last year. Surprisingly, the inhabitants of Heinz Field are still looking for their maiden win this year, but if Antonio Brown gets another nine receptions and runs like he did on Sunday then it may be sooner than we think as they fly over the pond to face Minnesota in the first of the two games held at Wembley Stadium. 

Tight End-                      Rank last week                  Touchdowns                 Receiving Yards

1. Jimmy Graham                   N/A                                   2                                  134

2. Jordan Cameron                   1                                     3                                    64

3. Julius Thomas                      4                                     1                                    37

4. Antonio Gates                      2                                     1                                    55

5. Greg Olsen                           5                                     0                                    54

The only newcomer to this list ran away with first place by a country mile. Jimmy Graham was unstoppable against Arizona. Two touchdowns and the most yards out of any Tight End in the NFL sends him careering to the top as the Saints improve to a 3-0 record. He was even 6th in the entire NFL for receiving yards, beating Wide Receivers such as Nate Washington, Eric Decker and Julio Jones. Graham played fantastically and as New Orleans face another 3-0 team in the Miami Dolphins, it wouldn't surprise me if he has another big game. If I could offer Miami one piece of advice, it would be to always be aware of what Jimmy can do and where he is on the field. It's easy to maintain focus on Marques Colston or Lance Moore, but whilst the Defense are busy doing that Tight End Jimmy Graham is marching his way down the field for what could potentially be a touchdown.

Linebacker-                   Rank last week            Tackles                Sacks             

1. Justin Houston                  N/A                          7                          4.5

2. Manny Lawson                   N/A                         14                         0

3. Karlos Dansby                    N/A                         12                         0

4. Vontaze Burfict                  N/A                         11                         0
5. Erin Henderson                  N/A                          8                          2

Five new names to the list this week with five sets of big numbers. Manny, Karlos and Vontaze may not have gotten to the quarterback but having over ten tackles each is a sign of an excellent defensive game. But our number one pick for this week Justin Houston, got to Michael Vick 4.5 times. With his additional three tackles he was the league leader for sacks this week and was a force to be reckoned with on the Kansas defense. Kansas took the win over the Eagles and shut down the high tempo offense. Vick was able to put a few big runs together but Kansas seemed to wary of the read option for the plays to pay off big time. That and the amount of turnovers the defense forced meant that Kansas go into week four 3-0. Let's see if Justin can have the same impact as they face the 0-3 New York Giants.

Defensive End-         Rank last week                 Tackles                              Sacks

1. Greg Hardy                    N/A                                   8                                          3

2. Carlos Dunlap                 N/A                                   7                                          1

3. DeMarcus Ware               4                                      6                                          2

4. Ezekiel Ansah                 N/A                                   7                                          2

5. Darnell Dockett               N/A                                   3                                          3

In the 38-0 shutout against the New York Giants, the Panthers were playing at their very best on both sides of the football. Greg Hardy recorded three of the seven sacks on Eli Manning and had eight tackles to his name. Nearly half of the sacks to the 2x Superbowl MVP came from Hardy and the offensive line just could not stop him. It was relentless and like watching a grizzly bear attack a wounded fox. Greg had the best game of his season so far and will look to expand on that as they face Arizona after the Bye. In his own words in a post match interview, Hardy said 

“You don’t even understand how awesome it is to have a middle

 that can just push the pocket, 

and the quarterback is just right there once you beat your man.”

After praising rookie Lotulelei, Hardy seemed positive going into the break and who can blame him? The Panthers defense looked the best they have in a long time, and if they keep this up we may just see Greg's name pop up a few more times.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/23/4337643/panthers-star-lotulelei-needs.html#.UkIu5Ya1HPA#storylink=cpy

Now we have seen who the weeks top performers are, let's take a look at the top 10 teams in the NFL during week 3.

Seahawks (3-0)
Last Week 3

This Week 1

Broncos (3-0)

Last Week 1

This Week 2

                Saints (3-0)
             Last Week 5
             This Week 3

Patriots (3-0)
Last Week N/A
This Week 4

Dolphins (3-0)
Last Week 2
This Week 5

Bears (3-0)
Last Week 8
This Week 6

Bengals (2-1)
Last Week 9
This Week 7

Colts (2-1)
Last Week N/A
This Week 8

Chiefs (3-0)
Last Week 6
This Week 9

Cowboys (2-1)
Last Week N/A
This Week 10

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