John Madden

Each week John Madden answers readers questions. To ask Coach a question, e-mail him at:

What's been the biggest difference in the Jets this season? Is it Favre or something else?
Matt from Long Island

Madden: No, Matt, I think they are playing good defense, they are running the ball well and maybe Favre is the spark. They thought they were going to be the same old Jets, have a nice year and not win the division and maybe not be a playoff team, and then they get Favre and they think, well jeez, maybe we can make some noise this year. And just after they got Favre, Tom Brady goes down.  I think that gave them a whole new hope and a new outlook, and they are playing that way.

Which rookie quarterback has impressed you more, Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco?
Chris from Duluth, Ga.

Madden: They both have impressed me, Chris.  Over the years there have been a lot of rookie quarterbacks in the league and usually the biggest problem that they have even if they are going to be great ones in the future is being consistent as rookies and these guys have not shown that inconsistency.  They have been pretty consistent and I just marvel that they are able to do it.  I don't know right now that I would say I like one better than the other because I just kind of put them both together and say that they are helping their teams and are both on teams that haven't had quarterbacks.  Both teams have had a good defense, a good running game, an offensive line and no quarterback.  They have not only played well but they have steadied pretty shaky situations.

Are you surprised by Miami's turnaround this season?
Jeff M. from Aventura, Fla.

Madden: Yes I am Jeff.  One thing I know is that when Bill Parcells goes some place he knows how to build a team. But you are thinking that it is going to take him 2, 3, or 4 years to get rid of the players he doesn't think can play and get ones in there he thinks can play.  I expected that there would be a turnaround and I thought you would see a little bit of it this year and more next and then a little more the year after.  I am not surprised that there is a turnaround; I am surprised that the turnaround is this big.

It seems like the Ravens are getting overlooked in the AFC. Do you agree?
Aaron from Maryland

Madden: Aaron, I do agree.  They are one of the teams with the rookie quarterback coming in and playing like he has kind of surprised everyone.  In the preseason polls and things they weren't picked to be this good.  The first half of the season you are kind of looked at as how you were last year, if that makes any sense.  Then after the first half of the season you kind of become an identity or identification or personality of this year and that is kind of what they are doing now.  I think it is the same thing with Atlanta and Tennessee, that these are teams that people didn't expect to be top teams and you don't think they are and then you don't believe they are until you get to the 10th week of the season and then you say holy cow, look at these teams.

Coach, what's more likely... Detroit winning a game or Tennessee losing one?
Thanks from Harry in Michigan

Madden: Geez, Harry, I would think and I'm not gonna pick who is going to do what, but I would think both Tennessee is going to lose a game and Detroit is going to win a game.  To answer the question I would say that Tennessee going undefeated would be the biggest surprise.

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