By Bryan Douglass
November 7, 2009 12:35pm CST

The Fanball Sports Network, currently the home to more than 100 sports blogs covering the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL, features some of the internet's best and most thought-provoking team writers in the industry. This is a weekly series profiling the recent Fanball Sports Network NFL blog posts and news, as well as how this news and analysis impacts the games ahead.


EaglesHaveLanded.com ~ Eagles/Cowboys Fantasy Preview

Joe Burt has been serving the hardcore fans in Philly with some of the best coverage in the business. And as the town comes out of the baseball haze to check on the NFL offerings in the City of Brotherly Love, they find a crew that has tons of potential it has yet to achieve.

Coming off an extremely solid performance last week against the Giants, McNabb looks to continue to roll against the division rival Cowboys. Dallas has the league's 22nd ranked pass defense, allowing 237.1 yards per game. They have question marks in the defensive backfield, with only Terence Newman currently playing consistent football. If McNabb gets time to throw, and I believe he will, he should put together another solid game for fantasy owners. Prediction: 275 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

IMPACT: This is one of the best matchups of the week for fantasy owners to ponder, touting rosters bloated with options you'll find starting in most leagues this week. The entire affair reeks of the OVER and Burt agrees… the folks on the Philly side of the coin bring too much allure to ignore. The same can be said of Burt, so make sure you bookmark the Landing and make regular visits to keep up with the latest.


SteelersMill.com ~ Ward Labeled "Dirtiest" Player in NFL

Matt Loede continues to keep you up on the latest in the Steel City, a town where a title like "Dirtiest Player in the NFL" can be worn with a badge of honor.

Everyone knows that Hines Ward is one heck of a competitor, and out there on the field he's not afraid to put his body on the line. Good or bad, that has earned Ward the label of a "dirty" player, and today SI pointed out that Ward was given the title of "Dirtiest Player in the NFL."
IMPACT: Ward is known by the fantasy community as a proven commodity you covet in leagues rewarding a point per reception and many of those counted as casual fans would express gratitude for his love of the block (the reason he's been deemed "dirty"). Regardless, if you want to follow his work and the work of those around him you need to follow Loede at the Mill. One of our award-winning correspondents, Loede provides all of the insights and reports you need to evaluate the scene in Pittsburgh so hit up the Mill today.


ChargingBolts.com ~ Pre-game Hype - Giants and Chargers

Anthony Blake has been a revelation for the fans on the left coast and he continues to bring some of the best insights on the Bolts you can find on the net. This week he's taking aim one of the most exciting matchups on the Week 9 board and he's wondering if both teams will use this stage to rediscover their offensive prowess.

The Chargers aren't taking the Giants lightly at all even though they have struggled over the last few weeks as LaDainian Tomlinson said: "I think it's a measuring stick because of where we are. I think it's a good measuring stick. This is a team that's been good for a long time so we're going to see where we stand. It's going to tell us a lot about ourselves." That is a very true statement considering that the Giants have been to the playoffs the last four years in a row including their Super Bowl victory in 2007.

IMPACT: The losses have piled for the gents of the Big Apple but the Bolts aren't playing so hot either, and one or the other is likely to use this game as a reversal of fortunes. Blake is giving his side of the yard an objective review and thinks there is potential to go either way for his team, and he thinks it's going to be fun to watch regardless. Make sure you check out his work at Charging today. You'll be happy you did.


FootBaltimore.com ~ Ngata Hopes to Start Sunday

Kevin Hanson is tasked with the responsibilities of covering one of the few teams in the Washington DC area worthy of following, coming off a tremendous win over Denver with a few injury concerns suffered for their efforts.

Although Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata did not practice for a third consecutive day on Friday, Ngata, who is listed as questionable on the Ravens' injury report, hopes to play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. "It feels great. Actually, it feels pretty good," [Ngata] said (of his ankle). "There's not much swelling or anything. Just stiffness and soreness. So hopefully, we can get it full to go, and I'll go for it."

IMPACT: The impact Ngata has on this and every game can't be measured in the box score. His ability to plug rushing lanes while freeing Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis to improvise on the ball astounds and could be the key to pushing continued progress on the defensive side of the football. His presence will be key to the effort again this week and Hanson is keeping a watchful eye on his health, so return the emotion Kevin's way and keep up with the latest on the Ravens at the Foot.


PaintItRedskins.com ~ Getting Down in the Dirty Dirty

Ryan John is one of the recent additions on the Network and he has wasted no time in giving the Redskin faithful some reason for hope this season… you may not enjoy your team but you can certainly enjoy the coverage provided in the Paint.

During the bye week the Redskins had much to think about. They were able to look back to their lousy performance on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles. They were able to witness the Dallas Cowboys surge back into the fold with two impressive wins. They were able to watch the New York Giants implode over a span of three straight games, and most recently against the Eagles. The Skins got to take a break, and they got another week under the tutelage of Sherm Lewis. They also got to see owner Dan Snyder finally break his silence, and watch Greg Blache come to his aide amidst the vocal onslaughts of John Riggins.

IMPACT: This team is in desperate need of stability and some semblance of hope on offense. The tools to do the job are on hand but the hampered offensive line, a questionable commodity behind center, and a concerning list of underachieving receivers has us wondering if this team is capable of rebound. John is trying to remain positive… but it is hard. Check out the sands in the hour glass in the Paint today and watch it all unfold.


WhoDatBlog.com ~ Who's #1 - WHO DAT!!!

Mark Hooper rounds us out, one of the feature writers from the Fanball mother ship serving as one of the great IDP (individual defensive player) minds in the industry. We are blessed to have his services working on behalf of the best team in the league as well, and he unleashed with a tall glass of optimism this week as the Saints look to keep that ball rolling.

So let me go on record and say this will be a rough game. The Panthers had Kurt Warner shelled and shocked all day, sacking him twice and forcing five interceptions. Brees isn't Warner, but I am worried. The laughable Panthers have now won three of their last four games, and in the last five games nobody has scored more than 21 points. And that did include the high-powered Cowboys and Cardinals. They are playing better football, and it's too easy for the Saints to overlook these guys, rival or not.

IMPACT: Hooper believes the best is yet to come and that's a tall statement considering the offensive firepower on this squad. The defense isn't playing too shabby either and that has folks in each and every league working with one of the commodities being covered by Hoops, and thus we would expect each and every one of you would find WhoDat to be of tremendous interest and intrigue. Make sure you check in and get the latest from Hoops today.