Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
Getty Images
|
Each week John Madden answers readers questions. To ask Coach a question, e-mail him at:
Which quarterback has impressed you the most this season?
Ben in Atlanta
Madden: Peyton Manning, Ben. I like some of the young quarterbacks like Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Plus, look at what Matt Cassel is doing in New England, and Eli Manning, Brett Favre, Drew Brees and Kurt Warner. But I still say if I had to pick one to play for me right now, it is Peyton Manning.
Coach, obviously something has clicked for the Jets in recent weeks. Is it mostly Brett Favre?
Nico in Long Island
Madden: I don't think so, Nico, I think it is the whole team. It would be easy to say it's Brett Favre. You watch them and the offensive line is good. They picked up Alan Faneca in the offseason and they run the ball very well. Their defense is playing well and while Brett Favre is playing a big part in it, saying it is all him wouldn't be fair because so many other guys on that team have been playing well.
Which AFC team would you least like to face in the playoffs?
Scott in New Mexico
Madden: There is still five weeks to go, Scott, so it is probably going to be determined in these next five weeks, but the teams that look tough to me … Pittsburgh's defense looks awfully good to me and if you were an offensive team that didn't have a real strong defense you wouldn't want to face Pittsburgh. Tennessee has a team thing going, the Jets look like they have things going and look like they have become a playoff team.
With all the pressure that goes along with going undefeated, do you think the Titans loss in Week 12 could actually help them in the long run?
Hark from Nashville
Madden: Hark, I have been one to believe that a loss never helps you. There is no such thing as a good loss and there is no such thing as a loss helping. I think anytime you lose you lose a little confidence, you lose a little of your swagger and it takes something out of you for a while.
How important was it for Dallas' future success to get Terrell Owens more involved in the offense?
Chris in Long Branch, NJ
Madden: Chris, when you have a star, a big-play maker, you want to get the ball into his hands. That is true of anyone, whether it is T.O., Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss or whomever. But having said that, you don't want to make that your whole offense. You don’t want to become one-dimensional and you don't want to force anything. Part of it is play calling and part of it is the guy getting open. Then is protection. All those things have to go and you would love to have him catch 10 passes and score four touchdowns but the defenses have something to say about that and trying to get those 10 catches or touchdowns you don't want to have turnovers because you are forcing the ball.
Silva: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for NFC teams.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
Madden's Mailbag |
Send your questions to John Madden |
Sunday Night Football |
 |
 | Slideshow |
 | Super Bowl XLVI shots See the best moments before, during and after the Giants' win over the Patriots more photos |
Latest from ProFootballTalk |
 | Video: Football from NBC Sports |
 Getty Images |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
NBC Sports TV and livestream listings
