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Thoughts And Observations |
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Week Seven Review
It's funny how easy it is to recognize the bad teams at this juncture of the season. Finding who is tops is what's difficult.
The Bengals are the league's worst team, but it's not hard to tell the Vikings and Panthers could struggle with them. The Seahawks are going nowhere. We're pretty sure the Texans will be close to the top of the draft.
We have a ton of middle-runners, and at least three divisions are filled with them.
But who are the league's best? The Saints and Packers are at the top of the NFC Heap, while the Chargers are at the top in the AFC, all with 6-1 records. Yet, these, and many of the other top runners all appear to have their vulnerabilities. If Brett Favre misses time in Green Bay, look for them to dip. The Saints are beating all comers, but no one seems convinced. The Chargers have not been taken seriously enough.
Ironically, the Rams are starting to get it in gear, and it's true they arguably have the league's best roster, but that 0-5 start leaves them out of the running until they are back in it.
So, here we are, once again. Still not knowing. It's great, isn't it?
Game Notes
My view on who's where after five weeks.
I'm Convinced...
...the Rams could end up making serious noise the rest of the season.
...fans will stop calling for Chris Chandler to start over Jim Miller.
...Jay Fiedler may be a better quarterback than I've given him credit for.
...the Bucs just don't match up well with the Eagles.
...the Jets are much better off with Chad Pennington at the helm.
I'm Skeptical...
...Priest Holmes has replaced Marshall Faulk as the league's best back.
...the Panthers will win another game anytime soon.
...the Raiders will be able to bounce completely back from back-to-back defeats.
...the Vikings can win with the Randy-Ratio.
...I will ever turn on a game between the Cardinals and Cowboys.
Here's my list for the weekly performances:
Top Five
Eagles - No matter the gameplan, McNabb just makes the plays to win games.
Saints - They start a little slow, but they finish very strong.
Packers - What is holding this defense together? Bailing wire?
Chargers - Good teams win the close ones, and come back when down.
Rams - You know the passing, but how many freaking running plays does Martz have?
Bottom Five
Bears - They continue to sputter along with good talent through the offense.
Panthers - Defense wears out from being on the field for 55 minutes.
Chiefs Defense - They can stop noone, at no time and in no way.
Vikins - This is just a team that has fallen apart internally.
Redskins - Spurrier's offense gets further away each week.
A look around...
The Awards
Bonehead of the Week Award: Steve Mariucci - You're down by one, they score, but have too many men on the field. So what do you do? You decline and give them the score. Now, you're down eight. Make sense? Not to me. Not only do could you potentially held the opponent to a field goal, you decide you absolutely HAVE to score not only a touchdown, but get the two-point conversion. Wow! Great thinking.
Big Time Loser of the Week Award: Bears - What happened to these guys? They turn the franchise into a winner again one year, and then turn 180 degrees back in a few short weeks. Anyone who wanted Chandler in for Miller may now realize that Miller may not be the better quarterback, but he sure does more with less offensive scheme than probably anyone could.
Bottom of the Barrell Award: Panthers - Three weeks, three wins. Seven weeks, three wins. Who's better off? The Panthers, at 3-4, or the Rams, at 2-5? The Rams, because you know they're a better team, and they have momentum that is all, but gone from the Panthers. They're probably headed in the right direction, but they better start considering picking up a quarterback, and some receivers this offseason.
Cuda, Wuda, Shuda Award: Chiefs - Maybe they'll spend the rest of the season here. How can a team play so well for three quarters, only to watch it erode away and lose late in the fourth? Does the coaching staff just not work out the defense, or does it just take three quarters to figure out how to beat it? Neither, because they just suck on defense. Well, something's wrong, because they have enough decent players that they should do better than this.
Oddities
Patrick Ramsey
I want to know how this kid played so well in his first NFL start, and now looks as bad as he does. Usually, it takes longer than a week for opponents figure a way to shut down a young quarterback, but a week obviously did it. It's a little funny that many league pundits were saying Ramsey was probably better than David Carr and Joey Harrington after his first start, but you see no one saying it now. Of course, it's not all Ramsey's fault, but my point has been made.
Rams
This just looks like a different team. A few weeks ago, many pundits were also saying Isaac Bruce had lost a step. Probably the same pundits that were loving Ramsey. It appears that the only problem with Isaac Bruce was that Kurt Warner just stopped throwing to him. Maybe that's what was wrong with the offense in the early going.
Buccaneers
Obviously Warren Sapp means more to the Bucs defense than Ray Lewis means to the Ravens defense. Sapp gets poked in the eye, and the Eagles score on the first play he's out. Still, the Bucs played well enough to win defensively, it's the offense that needs help. Let's face it...the Bucs were not meant to have an offense. Change the personnel, the co-ordinator or even the head coach, and it never changes.
Back-Up Watch
Ray Lucas
Incredible. Every team in the league has taken advantage of the Bills defense...even the Texans, but Ray Lucas made the Bills defense look like one of the league's top units. This team is going to miss Jay Fiedler more than expected.
Redskins Quarterbacks
You can feel the air stirring. Another change will happen soon. What happened to Shane Matthews anyway?
Shaun King
King only took the Bucs to the NFC Championship game in his first year as a starter, but now he's burried on the bench? Chuckie needs to do something to stir up this unit, and King should get a look.
Chad Hutchinson
Just when you thought he would disappear for the season, the Cowboys stink one up against the Cards. It appears that Quincy Carter has so many plays per game he is mentally allowed to execute. The rest is happenstance. Hutchinson talk should begin brewing again quickly.
The Bandwagon
The Cardinals are suddenly in a tie for first in the NFC West. Whodathunkit? They're there without an outstanding offense or defense, but they're there. Of course, most league observers haven't noticed. Either that, or most still don't care. Opponents better start to notice.
After beating division rivals in back-to-back weeks, the Chargers look very legit. If you haven't become a fan of this gritty team yet, you should watch LaDainian Tomlinson play. Boy, is he special.
Show Me Again Next Week
Teams - Until they win the division, or clinch a playoff spot, I think we're going to be wanting to see the Cardinals do it again and again. This team better not let head coach Dave McGinnis go anywhere, because he's doing more with less talent than anyone.
Players - Chad Pennington has played two good games sandwiched between bye weeks. Let's see how he hits in the next game. He plays well, and the Jets have their starter for a long time.
I want to see James Stewart match Sunday's 172-yard outing with at least 100-yards in his next game. I cannot believe how fast the Bears defense has fallen.
MIKE LIKES
Week Eight (Bye: Green Bay, Miami, San Diego, St. Louis):
Atlanta at New Orleans, 1:00 p.m.
Pick:
Chicago at Minnesota, 1:00 p.m.
Both teams are struggling. Can they get pumped up over it being a division game? Hmmm.
Pick: Chandler's second start
Cleveland at N.Y. Jets, 1:00 p.m.
Interesting match-up will go a long way for the winner's remainder of the season.
Pick: UPS - What can Brown do to the Jets?
Detroit at Buffalo, 1:00 p.m.
You think Buffalo would smoke them, but the Lions are in every game with Harrington.
Pick: Mascot in the first name
Oakland at Kansas City, 1:00 p.m.
Chiefs will lead for three quarters, then you already know what will happen.
Pick: Gannon's cannon
Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1:00 p.m.
Something tells me this will be a good game with the Steelers off a Monday-nighter.
Pick: E.A. Poe
Seattle at Dallas, 1:00 p.m.
Dallas loses games it should win. The Seahawks lose games.
Pick: Sans Stripes
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1:00 p.m.
The Bucs defense should have it easy. The Panthers already don't have an offense. Now, about the other side.
Pick: Derrick Brooks' TDs
Tennessee at Cincinnati, 1:00 p.m.
Maybe one of these teams got it together during their bye. It probably won't matter this time.
Pick: Not the Bengals
Arizona at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
It has to be a game, right? All points lead to San Francisco, but the Cards will be there.
Pick: Giants football counterparts
Denver at New England, 4:15 p.m.
Maybe the Patriots got things in order. And maybe Clinton Portis will rush for 500.
Pick: Shanny's Hands
Houston at Jacksonville, 4:15 p.m.
It'll be a game. At least through two-and-a-half quarters. Then the lastest expansion team will faulter.
Pick: Taylor-made
Indianapolis at Washington, 8:30 p.m.
How can I call this? There's no word on a starting quarterback. Oh, that's right, Manning's the starter.
Pick: Manning
N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia, 9:00 p.m.
The Giants had a bye to prepare, and have the Eagles number. Well, they did. Not now.
Pick: National Bird
Moving on...
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THINGS I KNOW OR WONDER:
What would things be like this week if the Packers didn't have a bye?
When Emmitt Smith breaks the record, it will be the only bright spot in his season.
The Vikings miss Dennis Green, but not Cris Carter.
The rest of the NFC should be paying attention to the Saints.
Ray Lucas is not as bad of a quarterback as the game he played Sunday. He's also not as good of a quarterback that the Dolphins will be the same team.
THINGS I CAN PREDICT:
The Rams will get in the running for a playoff spot.
The Bucs will not win the division or get past the first round of the playoffs.
The Texans will start winning games real soon.
No one will win the AFC North, but the Bengals will lose it.
The Chiefs will remain strong on offense and score more than 500-points this season. They will give up 600.
Mike owns and publishes SkillPositions.Com, along with a big, expensive, and talented staff. Don't use this work without permission in writing. Mike has been known as the world's only living heart donor. He also thinks morals are paintings on walls, and scruples are money in Russia.
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