Besides the matchup of the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.  There was a controversy that arose from that game.  Not between the teams, but from a hit.  Ravens S Ed Reed earlier this week was suspended for one game, without pay for his hit on Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders.  Contact was made with the helmet and Reed was penalized during the game.  Did Ed Reed deserve to be suspended?  In my opinion no.  The NFL pointed to a history of hits that Reed had committed as far back as 2010.  All in all they only had three examples.  The league is trying to implement suspensions based on what they call ‘repeat offenders’. My only problem with this is that there are many other players that I would deem ‘repeat offenders’ and the hits they laid out were far worse than Reed’s.  I again have to point out the identity crisis going on in the league.  They are being sued by former players and are trying to show that they’ve always cared about the players safety.  Yet, they were selling the game on its big hits for so many decades.  I understand what they’re trying to do, but they are going about this in the wrong fashion in this situation.

Update: Ed Reed won his appeal and was fined $50,000 rather than be suspended.

I don’t think any other team has been more snake biten this season than the Carolina Panthers.  They’ve had leads in a few games this season, especially late.  Yet, they can’t seem to hold on to them. Their QB Cam Newton hasn’t handled his press conferences in the best way, but I get that he is frustrated with losing.  There are many problems with this team and many areas where the fingers will be pointed at.  Already they have fired their general manger Marty Hurney.  It looks like if this trend continues their head coach, Ron Rivera will be next.  Things looked so promising after last season.  I didn’t have them as a playoff team, but certainly not at the bottom of the conference.  When you can’t win games that you have the lead in, there’s bound to be some changes coming.

The defense can only do so much.  They can’t bail out a terrible offense and they can’t protect the quarterback either.  If the Bears offense can’t score enough points to take the pressure off their defense, then it will be a lost season.  It has become apparent in the last two games.  Chicago’s offense is suffering without QB Jay Cutler, but I’m sure he was happy he didn’t play in the Monday night game against San Francisco.  The Bears backup QB Jason Campbell had no time at all.  They were dominated on almost every possession and the Bears defense looked lost with the 49ers play action attack.  This can be fixed, but with the history of the Bears and their lackluster offenses it won’t be easy.  If they can’t find the right personnel both on the coaching staff and on the offensive line, Chicago will be watching the Green Bay Packers go past them to a division title.  Leaving the Bears to fight for one of only two Wild Card spots.