Steelers/Packers “Game for the Ages?”

(article is a celebrity submission by Aaron Zirkle)

Being a spectator at the December 20th offensive death match between the Packers and the Steelers, or should I say Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, one thing can be concluded; “This was the game of the year.” Not only did this game have a quarterback surpass 500 passing yards (Big Ben 503) for the first time in the NFL this year, and only the 3rd time this decade, but the game combined for 868 passing yards. The most by two quarterbacks in any single NFL game this year.

Having these two heroic performances seasaw back and forth for victory was really something special. Based on both single game performances by one quarterback, and the combined performance by both quarterbacks this is something rarely seen. The overall statistics can help actually appreciate how good this game was. In the 15 weeks of this year’s NFL season, there have only been 4 performances by a quarterback that exceeded 400 passing yards: Big Ben (417), Rivers (436), McNabb (450), and Stafford (422). Only five games had quarterbacks combined for 700 plus passing yards, the highest being 786 by Campbell (367) and Brees (419) in week 13.

If you’re a lover of quarterbacks and team’s winning games by throwing the ball, my heart goes out to you if you missed this game. It truly was a game for the ages. Along with the statistics, the lead changed four times in the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter, including a touchdown as time expired. Despite the heartbreak of being a Green Bay Packer fan watching this game unfold as it did, I am able to take a step back and truly appreciate the year’s best NFL game to date.

NFL All-Decade 1st Team Defense

Peter King put out his All-2000's team on sportsillustrated.com this week. King is a great writer, and I usually respect his work, but I have to disagree on a number of his selections. He tried to make a case for Mike Vrabel to be 1 of the 2 best OLBs in the NFL in the 2000's. Little to much Patriot love for me. It seems he focused too much on recent performance, and not a much on the entire decade. It was almost as if he though about it long enough for his Hot Pocket to heat up.

If you are wondering how I came up with my selections, I decided more on personal statistics then team success. I know present the REAL All-Decade team.

DE
Jason Taylor

10 Seasons
579 Tackles
110 Sacks
7 INTs
38 Fumbles Forced
3 Touchdowns

Taylor, a native of the Pittsburgh area, had more sacks than any other player during the 2000's. He was NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. His athleticism transformed what the prototype D-end is now.



DT
Warren Sapp
8 Seasons
349 Tackles
54.5 Sacks
3 INTs
9 Forced Fumbles

Sapp really came into his own starting in 2000 when he recorded 16.5 sacks, an insane number for a defensive tackles. Much like Taylor, his athleticism at his position was something rarely seen before. Sapp would have made an All-Decade trash talk team too.

DT
La'roi Glover
9 Seasons
385 Tackles
58.5 Sacks
2 INTs
11 Forced Fumbles

Glover manged to 1-up Sapp and actually had 17 sacks in 2000. A journey man through the decade, he continued to put up solid numbers year in and year out. A true pass rushing defensive tackle.


DE
Michael Strahan
8 Seasons
485 Tackles
89 Sacks
14 Forced Fumbles

Strahan played like Hall of Fame DE Reggie End. A strong side, run stopping end that was great a rushing the passer. (a rare thing to see) In route to averaging 11 sacks a season, he broke the single season sack record in 2001 with 22.5. Helped shut down the 18-0 New England Patriots in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets ever.


OLB
Derrick Brooks
9 Seasons
1035 Tackles
9 Sacks
17 INTs
16 Forced Fumbles
6 Touchdowns

Brooks never was a blitzer averaging only 1 sack per year. He was however, the most versitile linebacker the league may have ever seen. Recorded over 1,000 in 9 years as an outside linebacker. Was elected Defensive POY in 2002 and went to to lead the leagues best defense to a dominant performance in the Super Bowl.

ILB
Ray Lewis
10 Seasons
1146 Tackels
22.5 Sacks
21 INTs
12 Forced Fumbles
2 TDs

Lewis has a nose for the ball and loves to make the big hit when needed. A motivational leader has been cirticized for his warm up antics, but manages to always be making the play. Defensive POY in 2000 and Super MVP later that year.

ILB
London Fletcher
10 Seasons
1343 Tackles
15 INTs
12 Forced Fumbles
2 TDs

The undersized Fletcher has 200 more tackles than any other player this decade, and leads the NFL yet again so far this year. He has been consistent year in and year out and always ends up around the football.


OLB
Joey Porter
10 Seasons
576 Tackles
88 Sacks
12 INTs
22 Forced Fumbles
1 TD

THE blitzing linebacker of the 2000's. He was a force playing in the Pittsburgh 3-4 defensive skeem. After being shown the door, Porter went to Miami and still can be a nightmare for QBs.

CB
Champ Bailey
10 Seasons
799 Tackles
39 INTs
146 Passes Defended
1 Sack
3 Touchdowns

Helped create the term "shut-down corner" which is now WAAAAY overused to describe a good cover corner. As good in couverage as Deon Sanders, but is more than willing to get in there and make a hit. Lead all CBs in INTs, and would have had more but teams stopped throwing his way.

CB
Ronde Barber
10 Seasons
813 Tackles
34 INTs
160 Passes Defended
21 Sacks
7 Touchdowns

Barber became the quintisential blitzing corner in the Tampa 2 skeem. Had an obscene 21 sacks as a corner to go with 160 passes defended.

S
Ed Reed
8 Seasons
454 Tackles
46 INTs
97 Passes Defended
5 Sack
6 Touchdowns

An instant impact player since being drafted out of the "U" in 2002. Loves to make big returns out INTs, fumbles and missed field goals. The 2nd best ball-hawking player this decade.


S
Darren Sharper
10 Seasons

657 Tackles
57 INTs
114 Passes Defended
6.5 Sacks
9 TDs


Definitely the best safety of this decade and my choice for the Defensive Player of the Decade. Has 11 more INTs than any other player over the last 10 years. Has been booted from teams twice, but continues to excel. Is now helping revive the Saints defense down on the bayou.

NFL All-Decade 1st Team Offense

Peter King put out his All-2000's team on sportsillustrated.com this week. King is a great writer, and I usually respect his work, but I have to disagree on a number of his selections. He tried to make a case for Mike Vrabel to be 1 of the 2 best OLBs in the NFL in the 2000's. Little to much Patriot love for me. It seems he focused too much on recent performance, and not a much on the entire decade. It was almost as if he though about it long enough for his Hot Pocket to heat up.

If you are wondering how I came up with my selections, I decided more on personal statistics then team success. I know present the REAL All-Decade team.

QB
Peyton Manning
10 Seasons
3,5o4 completions
41,439 yards
306 TDs
133 INTs
The most prolific passer of the decade. Has more than 11,000 passing yards more than Brady and almost 100 more touchdowns. 3 MVPs and is currently making a strong case for # 4.



RB
Ladanian Tomlinson
10 Seasons
12,321 rush yards
135 TDs
521 Receptions
3867 receiving yards
15 Touchdowns

Ladanian Tomlinson did to the 2000's what Barry Sanders did to the 1990's. Broke the single season record for touchdowns, won league MVP and is the fastest player ever to 150 career touchdowns.

FB
Lorenzo Neal
10 Seasons

Blocked for Corey Dillon in the early part of the decade, Tomlinson till 2008, now blocks for Ray Rice in Baltimore. Needless to say, some of their success can be attributed to his hard work.

WR
Randy Moss
10 Seasons
762 Receptions
11803 Yards
116 Touchdowns

Other than when he gave up on playing during his time in Oakland, Moss has been virtually unstoppable. Broke the single season record for receiving TDs in 2007. Has more TD receptions than anyone else during the 2000's.


WR
Torry Holt
10 Seasons
861 Receptions

12462 Yards
68 Touchdowns

Because of how bad St. Louis has been over the past few years, people forget how amazing Holt has been. Has more receptions and yards than any other receiver in the 10 years span (70 more catches than Harrison, 569 more yards than Moss).

WR
Terrell Owens
10 Seasons
772 Receptions
10305 Yards
112 Touchdowns

He might be annoying, but Owens has been a physical phenom for the last 10 years. A strong physical receiver with break away speed. He is 2nd only to Moss in TDs, and that is by just 4.

TE
Tony Gonzalez
10 Seasons

817 Catches
9840 Yards
66 Touchdowns

This was the easiest pick of all the positions. No one comes close to Gonzalez in production.


OT
Walter Jones
10 Seasons

8 time Pro Bowl selection

One of the 2 biggest reasons that Shaun Alexander was able to have so much success in Seattle. Open holes big enough to drive an 18-wheeler through. Helped take Seattle to Super Bowl in 2006.


OG
Steve Hutchinson
9 Seasons
6 time Pro Bowl selection

The other reason Alexander was so great in the northwest. It was close between him and Will Shields, but I have Hutch the nod. He will get another Pro Bowl selection this year to tie Shields with 7. Plus Steve now blocks for an even better running back in Minnesota, Adrian Peterson.


C
Kevin Mawae
10 Seasons
6 time Pro Bowl selection

Has the same number of Pro Bowls as Matt Birk, but Kevin Mawae was much more dominant. He reinvented the Center position. Before him, you never saw centers pulling. Now they all have to be athletic enough to do it. This year, he is blocking for the speed demon Chris Johnson.

OG
Alan Faneca
10 Seasons
8 time Pro Bowl selection

Spent most of the 2000's with the Steelers. Won a Super Bowl ring and cleared the way for Jerome Bettis to run into the record books. Now is still dominating next to Nick Mangold for the #1 rushing ranked New York Jets


OT
Jonathan Ogden
10 Seasons
8 time Pro Bowl Selection

Like Jones, has been to 8 Pro Bowls out of 9. Completely consumed the left side of the line of scrimmage. Helped Jamal Lewis get over 2000 yrds in a season.



K
Matt Stover
10 Seasons

FGs: 269/309 (87%)
XPs: 303/303
Points: 1110

The most accurate kicker in NFL history (at least to me) made an obscene 87% of his field goals during the 2000's and NEVER missed an extra point.

NFL All-Decade 2nd team

Peter King put out his All-2000's team on sportsillustrated.com this week. I do respect him a writer, but I disagree with some of his choices. I have decided to present the 1st and 2nd All-Decade team. (Statistics up through week 13 of 2009 season)

2nd team (# of seasons play in 2000's)
Offense

QB- Tom Brady (10) : 2602 completions; 30084 yards; 219 TDs; 96 INTs
RB- Shaun Alexander (9): 9453 rush yrds; 100 TDs; 1520 rec yards; 12 TDs
FB - Tony Richardson (10): Blocked for both Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson in KC
WR- Marvin Harrison (9): 791 rec; 10166 yrds; 95 TDs
WR- Hines Ward (10): 796 rec; 9818 yrds; 71 TDs
TE- Antiono Gates (7): 467 rec; 6060 yrds; 55 TDs
OT- Orlando Pace (10): 6 Pro Bowls
OG- Will Shields (7): 7 Pro Bowls
C- Matt Birk (10): 6 Pro Bowls
OG- Larry Allen (7): 6 Pro Bowls
OT- William Roaf (6): 5 Pro Bowls

Defense:

DE- Julius Peppers (8): 375 tackles; 79 sacks; 5 INTs; 30 Forced Fumbles; 2 TDs
DT- Richard Seymour (9)- 392 tackles; 43 sacks; 2 INTs; 4 FFs
DT- Kevin Williams (7)- 322 tackles; 48.5 sacks; 4 INTs; 4 FFs; 2 TDs
DE- Patrick Kearney (10) - 435 tackles; 80 sacks; 3 INTs; 20 FFs
LB- Keith Brooking (10)- 1092 tackles; 18 sacks; 11 INTs; 6 FFs
ILB- Brian Urlacher (10)- 1058 tackles; 37.5 sacks; 17 INTs; 8 FFs; 1 TD
ILB- James Farrior (10)- 1068 tackles; 24 sacks; 10 INTs; 15 FFs; 1 TD
OLB- Julian Peterson (10)- 700 tackles; 50.5 sacks; 8 INTs; 20 FFs
CB- Charles Woodson (10)- 578 tackles; 37 INTs; 105 Pass Defended; 11.5 sacks; 6 TDs
CB- Ty Law (10)- 525 tackles; 32 INTs; 98 DEF; 3 sacks; 4 TDs
S- Brian Dawkins (10)- 702 tackles; 22 INTs; 111 DEF; 17.5 sacks
S- Troy Polamalu (7)- 453 tackles; 20 INTs; 70 DEF; 7 sacks; 1 TD

K- David Akers (10)- 253/306 FG (83%); 382/387 XP ; 1141 points