HB Steven Jackson - Torn pectoral - 11 weeks- Distressing -This is the first in a long list of injuries that crippled the NFC this week.
The Eagles have eight games left to play this season, and five of them are with division opponents. This division will probably have the most interesting finish this season. Three teams sitting at 4-4 and all matching up with each other repeatedly to end the year. Some would argue that Steven Jackson isn't an integral part of this offense this year and is not why the Eagles are winning games. I can see that point of view, but I'm going to argue that Jackson has 'helped' them win three of their four games, and all four wins were to weak opponents. The Eagles can't afford 'any' loss to their team to remain competitive.
However, that would only matter if another NFC East has done what the Eagles have not and that's win against a tough opponent. Looking through all three schedules, I only see one example of this happening and that's the Cowboys victory against the Packers.
Trying to pick a favorite in the NFC East is like trying to find the shiniest turd. I have no idea who is going to win this division and who is the favorite but I do know that the 4-4 Eagles are going to be a worse team because of this loss, and unless they can break away from the rest of the division then this division may just become a coin flip.
However, at just 484 yards on the season at just 3.97 YPC, Jackson can't be labelled too high just because he 'has' the potential to be a game changer. I'm going to go with a Distressing on this one because the NFC East is a brawl and even a minor injury can make all the difference here.
CB Champ Bailey - Torn shoulder - 9 weeks- Intense - This analysis is going to be shorter because I already laid out the scenario of this team in the section above. At 4-4 and in the same division as the Eagles, the Redskins have had about the same schedule and the same strength of victories as the Eagles.
The Redskins did not take this injury lying down. Champ Bailey was such a large part of this defense that GM Bryan made multiple moves to try to reinforce their defense from this loss. The first was trading away CB Herndon and a fourth round pick for the experienced yet slow Jason Sehorn from the Gaints. The other move was signing CB Doug Evans out of Free Agency. It's unfortunate that these were the only guys that the Redskins could pick up because they are both Corners that you'd match-up against larger slower receivers, while Champ Bailey had the speed to cover anybody.
However, these pickups for sure help the Redskins recover from what I was originally going to call an Excruciating injury. The Redskins shouldn't need the best of the best to win this division, they just need to get their shit together and start winning games.
The Redskins spent a fourth round pick on a very old CB that may not be very useful next season. That along with the fact that the Redskins have been struggling on defense as of late is going to put this injury as an Intense for me.
Also, I lied. The analysis wasn't a shorter one.
QB Kurt Warner - Strained back - 9 weeks- Excruciating -I argued that the Marshall Faulk injury was a season killer a few weeks ago. The Rams have gone 0-2 since then(though they've had two tough opponents). The rest of their schedule is no picnic and now I'll never know if my original speculation was correct because I'm officially calling the Rams time of death with this one. If the Rams had a better scenario in their division or schedule, I'd still give them a chance with Bulger, unfortunately they are in a tough spot.
With the Cardinals coming from a tough win against the Dolphins, and the 49ers surging, I no longer think the Rams have a chance at the playoffs this year. I'm sure Justin Walstead will do whatever he can to prove me wrong. If he succeeds, I think a GM award nomination could be in his future.
Excruciating on this because I feel like this was the killing shot on a desperate season for the Rams.
MLB Gary Brackett - Broken wrist - 7 weeks- Uncomfortable - The Colts had a tough loss to the Vikings this week. With the Texans nipping at their heels, the Colts can't afford to lose those kind of games.
The Colts Linebacker depth is probably the worst I've seen doing these articles. Gary Brackett is their best Linebacker by far, and GM Ian Coyle has taken a speed over awareness approach to the rest of his starters. The Colts have been able to outscore their opponents and have an excellent pass defense, but their lack of awareness at linebacker is showing in team stats where they rank 28th against the run.
It's an interesting strategy for sure. Force your opponent to run the ball, and then use your superior passing offense to simply outscore your opponent. So far, it has been working for them. However, They've lost or should have lost many of their top match-ups this season. On the other hand, the Texans have the toughest part of their schedule coming up.
I think even with this injury the Colts will have no problems finding themselves in the playoffs this post-season, but I do think this injury could lose them the division depending on how the Texans do against some tougher opponents.
Gary Brackett will be back for the post-season, and that alone has to stop this injury from becoming too severe. Even if the Colts lose the division, they'll still have him back for the playoffs, and that's far more important.
Going with Uncomfortable on this one because I do not think the Colts game-plan needs him to be there to succeed. Also, GM Ian Coyle doesn't seem to have any problems working with fast, less progressed Linebackers.
SS Will Demps - Back spasms - 3 weeks- Trivial - At 3-5, the Ravens are technically still in the race, but with their upcoming schedule, I feel confident enough to call their realistic chances to be dead. Will Demps' loss of progression may hurt, but with a three week injury, I can't say it's going to be much of a factor long term.
Trivial.
FB Dominic Rhodes - Mild concussion - 2 weeks- Trivial - Another Colts injury, but this one is pretty minor. Dominic Rhodes is a mediocre player with a two week injury at a position of minor importance. I think the Colts will be just fine.
Trivial.
CB Ty Law - Broken ribs - 1 week- Trivial - How could I possibly survive without the best corner in the entire league for a week? Excruciating without a doubt. If I don't make it to the playoffs, then we will all know exactly why.
Kidding.
If this injury lingers, it could prove to have more impact, but I try not to take that into account or I'd have to have two ratings for each player.
We face the 1-7 Bills next week. If we manage to find a way to lose, then I don't think anyone can blame Ty Law absence for it. Trivial.
FS Ed Reed - Dislocated elbow - 1 week- Trivial - Read Will Demps section for more info.
WR Steve Smith - Sprained elbow - 1 week- Mild - The Panthers tried to trade Steve Smith for a fortune this past off-season, but his production for a starting receiver has been pretty lackluster. At only 436 yards, he's ranked 43th in the league. However, in comparison with the rest of his team, he's only slightly behind Andre' Davis' 451 Yards. I'm not sure exactly how the Panthers are running this offense, but they've been able to spread the stats out pretty evenly among their players. It's actually a little baffling to me.
Perhaps the Panthers are all about the individual match-ups and have no true starters? I don't know, but I'm interested in following the Panthers strategy moving forward.
As for the injury, I think the Panthers own team stats prove that no single player is irreplaceable on this offense except for Mark Brunell. I think the Panthers are going to lose against the 49ers this week without Steve Smith, but I also think that they would have lost anyway.
I'll put this at Mild because it seems harsh putting this injury on the same level as injuries that literally don't matter. I'm sure GM Darryl Breckheimer wishes that Steve Smith will be suited up against one of their toughest opponents this year.
