1. New England Patriots. Tom Brady is the best QB in the division and it’s the only reason why the Patriots are top in the AFC East. Their defense has slowed down, especially their secondary. Coach Bill Belichick is still undecided on player rotation. New England has not been shy when it comes to committing penalties. Against the Rams in the preseason, they committed seven penalties for 72 yards.

Wes Welker’s return is definitely going to benefit the Patriots especially if they have to outscore their opponents now. Laurence Maroney is a solid RB but in order for the Patriots to dominate ball time they’re going to need a better RB.

2. New York Jets. The Jets have worked hard in the offseason. They’ve drafted Kyle Wilson to address their deficiencies in the secondary. The pass-rush didn’t need that much improvement but coach Rex Ryan knew that after losing to the Colts last year in the playoffs their secondary was unable to slow down Peyton Manning. Signing Darrelle Revis would be the next best step for the Jets.

Mark Sanchez looks ready to play a larger role on offense. With LT present, they’ll be less pressure on him. He has played terrific thus far in training camp. The Jets will go as far as Sanchez takes them.

3. Miami Dolphins. Chad Henne is the second best QB in the division and with the signing of Brandon Marshall the Dolphins are very dangerous on offense. Their defense seems to have improved but remains inconsistent. With a tough schedule ahead, the Dolphins are not going to overtake the Jets anytime soon.

4. Buffalo Bills At best QB Trent Edwards is a serviceable back-up. Rookie RB CJ Spiller looks like a stud though.

NFL Merchandise

Check out our NFL merchandise to get into football season. Gear up with our  NFL watches and NFL jewelry.  NFL bedding is also available to transform your kids’ bedroom into their favorite teams colors. To see some great football merchandise, head on over to our NFL shop.

1. Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have been killing it on offense in the preseason. Their defense, despite its age, is still one of the most feared in the league. Led by 35-year-young linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens are allowing only 8 points a game in the preseason. Their offense has shifted from run heavy to pass happy. Joe Flacco has responded by throwing for 229 yards and two touchdowns in their recent outing against the New York Giants.

Coach John Harbaugh has implemented a quick-huddle offense and so far it’s been working great. Watch out NFL, Baltimore is beginning to look like a two way team.

2. Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals signed Antonio Bryant last March but cut him in August. They threw away $8 million in guaranteed money with nothing in return. Bryant was not lazy or uncooperative its just that the guy never recovered from his knee injury.

Despite Bryant’s loss, the Bengals still have Terrell Owens. Owens has been solid in the preseason. Carson Palmer has an opportunity to add his name to the list of elite QB’s. Cedric Benson is a workhorse and will allow defenses to back off the Bengals passing game.

Their offense may be loaded but Cincinnati’s defense still needs to find consistency.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers offense will struggle without Ben Roethlisberger but Big Ben’s meeting with NFL commish Roger Goodell is something to hope for. Big Ben’s four to six game suspension may be reduced.

The heart of Pittsburgh’s defense, Troy Polamalu, is healthy. The Steelers defense was lost last season without Polamalu. Byron Leftwich has not been looking great. The first few games of the season will be pretty testy for coach Mike Tomlin.

4. Cleveland Browns. Jake Delhomme is playing like the former Pro Bowler he once was but the Browns need 2 more seasons to be relevant. Hiring Mike Holmgren is a step in the right direction.

NFL Merchandise

Our NFL merchandise will help you get excited for this season.  NFL watches and NFL jewelry are also available to prepare you for next season.  NFL bedding for your kid’s favorite team is also available. To see some great football merchandise, head on over to our NFL shop.

1. Indianapolis Colts. The Colts were an onside kick away from winning the Super Bowl last season. Expect them to be much hungrier and determined this season. They’ve lost three preseason games so far because of their inability to stop other teams, which should be an area of concern this year. Looking at Manning’s performance this preseason the repositioning of officials on the field has not affected their no huddle play calling. Obviously, the Colts offense is not a problem but their corners are pretty thin.

2. Houston Texans. QB Matt Schaub was good last year and continues to improve. In two preseason games he has been very accurate. Defensive end Mario Williams will be very disruptive for opposing offenses this season. The Texans plan to run the ball more but there are doubts to how good Arian Foster really is. Jacoby Jones has been playing good in the preseason.

3. Tennessee Titans. With Chris Johnson developing into one of the best RBs in the league, Vince Young will have an easier time on offense. He made some strides last season but let’s hope that he doesn’t decline again just like in his sophomore year. Their recent preseason loss to the Panthers was telling though because Johnson and Young both struggled against a Julius Peppers-less defense.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars bad fortunes started after failing to draft hometown kid Tim Tebow. Now David Garrard has to one last chance to prove that he belongs in the NFL. Besides their roster shortcomings, the Jaguars are rumored to move after this season. Winning is one thing but filling the seats are another.

NFL Merchandise

We have a great selection of NFL merchandise that will help you get psyched for this season.  NFL watches and NFL jewelry are also available.  NFL bedding for your kid’s favorite team is also available. To see some great football merchandise, head on over to our NFL shop.

1. San Diego Chargers. This team is one step away from becoming the league’s top 3 teams. It will be a big blow to the team if receiver Vincent Jackson leaves but with Philip Rivers competitiveness he can still make it work. The Chargers’ first round pick Ryan Matthews has looked impressive in preseason games. If he is indeed the real deal the Chargers should find themselves in the AFC Championship game.

2. Denver Broncos. With all the Tim Tebow media attention, fans aren’t noticing how good of a preseason Kyle Orton is having. Orton has thrown accurately in recent games and his focus has never been this great. Corner Champ Bailey is still one of the elite defensive backs in the league despite being 32-years-old. If their defense holds up in the second half of the season, they’ll be a dangerous team.

3. Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are going through a RB situation with Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles battling for the no. 1 spot. The team can’t decide which player to go with. Matt Cassel needs to prove himself this year.

4. Oakland Raiders. The Raiders organization finally hit their heads hard and released DeMarcus Russell in the offseason. But that didn’t solve their problem at QB because is Jason Campbell really any better than Bruce Gradkowski?

NFL Merchandise

The NFL season is two weeks away so gear up with our selection of NFL merchandise. Don’t be shy to show your support with  NFL watches and NFL jewelry.  Check out our NFL bedding for your kid’s favorite team. To see some great football merchandise, head on over to our NFL shop.

Victor Cruz looks like a legit player. Jets linebacker Bart Scott summed up Cruz’s performance the best by saying he didn’t know who Ortiz was “but he looked like Randy Moss out there with those three touchdowns”. Cruz caught six passes for 145 yards. He scored three TD’s including a one-handed catch. Not bad for an undrafted player.

Mark Sanchez is ready to throw more. Many thought that Sanchez was accurate last season because he didn’t throw as much. In this game, he proved everyone wrong. Sanchez showed his accuracy by completing 13 of his 17 passes. He led the Jets on three scoring drives. He did throw one interception but overall he played great. Even Sanchez himself was satisfied with his performance.

LT didn’t look like he lost a step. LT looked fresh and nimble on his eight attempts. Of course it will be a different story once the season starts and he feels the wear and tear. No doubt that Rex Ryan will limit his touches to keep him fresh at the end of games.

Jets need Darrelle Revis back quickly. Revis is holding out hoping for a more lucrative contract offer. His absence was noticeable based on how Jets secondary played.

Preseason games usually mean nothing but fans need something to keep them excited for the NFL season.  Still, preseason games get starters comfortable on the field.

NFL Merchandise

It’s time to get ready for the fast approaching season with our selection of NFL merchandise. NFL watches and NFL jewelry are also available for those NFL fans who love to flaunt their support.  Check out our NFL bedding for your kid’s favorite team. To see some great football merchandise, head on over to the NFL shop.

1. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans. Johnson rushed for 2000 yards last season to lead the league.

2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings. Peterson would rank higher if not for all the fumbles. Still, he rushed for 18 TDs.

3. DeAngelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers. The Panthers struggled mightily after both Williams and Stewart missed games.

4. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones-Drew is not only a power runner but also a proven receiver.

5. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens. Rice ran for 1339 yards and also caught 78 balls.

6. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals. Benson had a rejuvenating season last year after moving from the Bears.

7. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons. Turner’s production will drop this season as the Falcons look to pass the ball more.

8. Shonn Greene & LaDainian Tomlinson, New York Jets. Greene provided offense for the Jets en route to the playoffs. Tomlinson will provide explosiveness when called upon.

9. Thomas Jones, Kansas City Chiefs. Jones was dumped by the Jets after finishing third in total yards — kudos to the Chiefs for picking him up.

10. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers. Gore will be asked to carry most of the offensive load again.

11. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos. His explosiveness will be more apparent once the Broncos hand him the ball more.

12. Steve Jackson, St. Louis Rams. Jackson was second to Johnson in total yards last season and he would’ve rated higher if he was a young buck under 25.

13. Marion Jones, Dallas Cowboys. Injuries have been holding Jones back from his potential.

14. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints. Bush showed some of his unfulfilled potential late in the playoffs last year.

15. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers. Grant should develop into a nice compliment to Aaron Rodgers passing.

16. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants. The Giants should be ranked lower than this but here’s to hoping that Brandon Jacobs returns healthy.

17. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins. Brown is likely on the downside of his career, but he’ll have a strong season this year.

18. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills. Jackson is not the running back the Bills were hoping for.

19. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears. Forte has upside but has yet to work hard to develop it.

20. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers. It a good thing the Steelers still have a great defense.

21. Laurence Maroney, England Patriots. Tom Brady will be in for a long season if the Patriots have to rely on Maroney.

22. Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals. He’ll be tasked to carry a bulk of the offense given Kurt Warner has retired.

23. Steve Slaton, Houston Texans. Slaton regressed last season and its not clear whether he will recover this season

24. Darren Sproeles, San Diego Chargers. Sproles can play but he is not a permanent replacement for LT.

25. Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts. Brown will replace Joseph Addai in the backfield. Let’s hope he does a more consistent job.

26. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders. McFadden is close to being a bust but unlike JaMarcus Russell he has a chance to improve.

27. Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions. Best is the Lions first-round pick and will be tasked to take the pressure of Matt Stafford.

28. Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams proved last season that he is merely a back-up.

29. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins. A reunion with Mike Shanahan could prove beneficial to Portis.

30. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles. All talent, no determination.

31.Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns. There’s promise but can the Browns bank on it next year?

32. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks. Jones is definitely on the downside and should be relegated to the sidelines.

NFL Merchandise

It’s never to late to check out our selection of NFL merchandise. Our NFL bedding will give you the chance to decorate your kids’ bedroom. NFL watches and NFL jewelry are also available for those NFL fans who love bling. To see some great football merchandise, head on over to the NFL shop.

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. He surpassed Manning and Brady last season.

2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts. Manning may still be the best in the game, but Brees one-upped him in the Super Bowl.

3. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers. Rivers was the best QB in the second half of the season. He led the Steelers to 11 straight wins to close out the season.

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots. Brady has lost a step and is thinking more about his knee than the routes. Is he an all-time great or just a great winner?

5. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings. When, not if, Favre comes back he will have another chance to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl. He had a strong statistical season last year.

6. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers. Who could forget the Rodgers-Kurt Warner showdown last year?

7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers. He can’t stay out of trouble off the field but is a proven winner on it.

8. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys. Romo led the Cowboys to a postseason win last year. He’s taking it step by step. Jessica Simpson’s ex played more controlled football last year.

9. Eli Manning, New York Giants. Manning had the best season of his career last year statistically. Now, if only the Giants can find some receivers he can throw to.

10. Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins. McNabb instantly makes the Redskins better. Maybe the change of pace will be good for him.

11. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals. With weapons on both sides of the field, Palmer is one of the most potent QB’s in the league.

12. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans. Schaub finally played all 16 games last season and produced some good numbers.

13. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons. Ryan had a down season last year but we’d still take him over Flacco.

14. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens. With the addition of Anquan Boldin, Flacco is set to turn Baltimore into a dangerous offensive team.

15. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears. Cutler had a dismal season in Chicago throwing 26 INTs. A player of his talent is going to recover this season.

16. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks. Hasselbeck is a solid QB but lacks the overall talent to be one of the best.

17. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans. Young led the Titans to an 8-2 record but his accuracy is still questionable.

18. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins. Henne is a developing player that can be the Dolphins’ QB of the future.

19. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets. Not turning the ball over goes well together with Rex Ryan’s tough defense. Hope he attempts more throws this year.

20. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars Garrard, at best, is a borderline starter. Too bad the Jaguars missed out on local hero Tim Tebow.

21. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers. Smith has one last chance to prove that he’s just a semi-bust.

22. Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders. Campbell can’t possibly play any worse than JaMarcus Russell can he? The expectations are low in Oakland –perfect for Campbell.

23. Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals. Let’s hope Leinart learned a thing or two from Kurt Warner before he retired.

24. Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions. Stafford had a solid rookie season last year. Now it’s time for him to show off his talent.

25. Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia Eagles How many people think that Michael Vick will be taking the snaps when Kolb falters?

26. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Freeman was thrown into the mix after the Byron Leftwich experiment didn’t work in Tampa.

27. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs. Cassel is somewhat overrated and only played well in New England because of Bill Belichick’s structured offense.

28. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos. Orton was not spectacular for the Broncos nor was he disappointing. At least he was a lot better than Jay Cutler last season.

29. AJ Feely, St. Louis Rams. Feely will fill in until Sam Bradford gets a grip of the Rams playbook.

30. Matt Moore, Carolina Panthers. The undrafted QB had a rating of 98.5. Not bad and tons better than Delhomme.

31. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills. It really doesn’t matter if Ryan Fitzpatrick is the starting QB for the Bills — they’d still be ranked second to last.

32. Jake Delhomme, Cleveland Browns. Delhomme is warming up the seat for Colt McCoy next season.

NFL Merchandise

Gear up for the upcoming season with our selection of NFL merchandise. Check out our NFL bedding for your kid’s favorite team. NFL watches and NFL jewelry are also available for those NFL fans who love bling. To see some great football merchandise, head on over to the NFL shop.

Los Angeles had to win two straight at home to capture their second straight title. It was sweet revenge for Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, who tasted defeat at the hands of the same Celtics two years ago in the Finals.

It was an ugly game for both teams. The Celtics shot 41 percent from the field while the Lakers shot 33 percent. The Lakers were down by six at halftime with Gasol and Bryant shooting a combined 6 of 26 in the first two quarters. But Los Angeles kept scrapping in the third to cut the Celtics lead to four entering the fourth.

Derek Fisher scored a game tying three with four minutes left in the fourth and Ron Artest made a momentum swinging field goal down the stretch. The Celtics were never able to recover after that. Bryant was named the Finals MVP.

Paul Pierce scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Ray Allen shot horribly from the field and finished with 13 points and Kevin Garnett had 17 points but grabbed only three rebounds. Kendrick Perkins’ absence was evident in the battle of the boards; the Lakers grabbed 53 rebounds to the Celtics 40. 23 of those 53 rebounds were offensive. Rajon Rondo’s 15 point, 10 assist and 8 rebound performance was wasted. He was by far the best Celtic on the floor.

The Lakers will be going for their third straight championship next season but it’ll be hard to do that without coach Phil Jackson. Jackson is in the final year of his contract.

With Kobe’s fifth ring, now people can talk about comparing him to Michael Jordan. Or maybe that doesn’t start until he wins his sixth?

Los Angeles Lakers Merchandise

The Lakers bested their rivals in seven games. Celebrate Los Angeles’ victory with Lakers merchandise, Lakers bedding, Lakers jewelry and Lakers watches. You’ll find a great selection of items to commemorate the victory of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Team Basketball is Key for Celtics

There will be no duels in this series because of Boston’s unwillingness to do so. The Celtics know that it was team basketball that has brought them to the Finals. They trumped Dwyane Wade in Miami, LeBron James in Cleveland and Dwight Howard in Orlando. And now they’re on the brink of taking out the biggest superstar of them all in Kobe Bryant. Watching the Celtics unselfish play makes it possible to believe that NBA all stars have no ego at all. In the three victories of the Celtics in the Finals, they were led by different players. Ray Allen exploded in Game 2, Nate Robinson and Glen “Big Baby” Davis boosted the Celtics in Game 4 and Paul Pierce trumped Ron Artest in Game 5. Every game, there’s been a different hero. How do the Lakers prepare for that? Meanwhile, Los Angeles has become very predictable. Cut off Kobe’s supporting cast and you have Kobe scoring 30 plus points in a loss.

Bryant Still Has It

Many were quick to say that Kevin Durant was a better basketball player than Kobe after the Oklahoma City Thunder gave the Los Angeles Lakers problems in the first round. But it’s been a month after that series and Durant is home eating popcorn while Bryant is in the Finals playing for his fifth ring. One thing’s for sure, Kobe is still king despite the many commercials of LeBron James Nike forces us to sit through. Bryant is still a scoring machine but he needs his supporting cast to beat the Celtics.

The 2010 Finals Are Unpredictable

Despite the Celtics moving into one game within the Larry O’Brien trophy, this year’s finals are one of the hardest to predict in recent memory. The Lakers entered as the favorite to win it all after their performance against the Suns and Jazz, but that has changed since the Celtics won Game 5. Who would’ve predicted that Doc Rivers would outcoach Phil Jackson? Or that Big Baby’s play would determine an outcome of a game?

NBA Merchandise

Continue to support your team with our Los Angeles Lakers Merchandise or Boston Celtics Merchandise. NBA watches and NBA jewelry are available for the Lakers and Celtics. Additional basketball merchandise is available at the NBA store.

Here’s a recap of how the Chicago Blackhawks earned the right to lift the Stanley Cup

Recaps of Game 1 and 2.

Game 3

The Flyers weren’t just going to roll over and give up. They came this far and wanted to make the most of it. The Finals shifted back to Philadelphia after two games in Chicago. The score was tied at 3-3 after three periods but Claude Giroux scored 5:59 into the extra period to give the Flyers the win.

There was no way the Blackhawks were gonna steal Game 3 from the Flyers. Philadelphia’s crowd was absolutely bonkers. From the time the puck dropped to Giroux’s winning score, the crowd was deafening.

Game 4

The Flyers again displayed resiliency and persistence, as they showed all throughout the playoffs, to tie the series at two apiece. Mike Richards, Matt Carle and Claude Giroux all scored a goal each in the first period that gave the Flyers an early lead. Philadelphia was up 4-1 early in the third before the Blackhawks scored two goals to get within one, but it was too little to late.

Jeff Carter scored the Flyers fifth goal on an empty netter to push the score to 5-3. Game 4 was fast paced, contrary to early predictions that the Stanley Cup Finals would be a battle of defense and physicality.

Game 5

With the series shifting back to Chicago, the Blackhawks were rejuvenated. Chicago dictated the pace early on and scored three goals in the first period to put the Flyers in a 3-0 hole. Entering the third period, the Blackhawks were up 5-2 before closing out the game with two additional goals to move one game within the Stanley Cup championship. The Flyers also managed to score two additional goals in the third. The final score was 7-4.

Game 6: Clincher

Patrick Kane barely slipped the puck past Michael Leighton in extra period that sealed the deal for the Blackhawks as Stanley Cup champions. Leighton failed to prevent Chicago from scoring two clutch goals in the waning minutes.

Philadelphia didn’t have enough comebacks left in them. They should still hold their heads up high after their courageous and historic run in the 2010 playoffs.

As for Chicago, they won their first Stanley Cup championship after 49 years. Congratulations to the Blackhawks!

Chicago Blackhawks Merchandise

Celebrate Chicago’s Stanley Cup victory with Blackhawks merchandise and Blackhawks watches. The NHL shop has a great selection of items to commemorate the victory of the Blackhawks.