Inside Out: Week 3
09.24.2007
After three weeks of the NFL season, there are 5 undefeated teams. The Colts, Patriots, Steelers, Cowboys, and Packers all stand at 3-0. I'll go ahead and say four of the five have looked unbeatable. You can decide for yourself which team I'm not including. But that doesn't matter as a win is a win. Per usual we learned some things but on the other hand we really became more confused.And I'm ConfusedCan someone explain to me the Chargers and the Rams? Of all the teams in the league they are the most befuddling at this point. A lot of people will like to blame the 1-2 Chargers on Norv Turner. I'm not against such a proposition, but honestly with such talent even poor play selection shouldn't hinder a team this bad. Sure their losses have been troubling, but oh yeah, the Patriots and Packers are both 3-0. We'll really know about the Chargers chances following their next 4 weeks. They play division foes Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders, before their bye week and if they're 3-3 at that point, then chances are they'll bounce back.And then there's the Rams. I'm going to name some names and you tell me how they are only averaging 11 points a game. Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Steven Jackson. And all they can muster is 11 points a game. Sure Orlando Pace is out and therefore hurting the run game, but not to the tune of 11 points a game. They're a team that has to score a lot of points in order even have a chance at winning. The defense is bend not break defense, so when the offense isn't even average 2 TDs a game, its going to be tough to win. And things don't get any easier. They may only have 1 win when their bye week rolls around in Week 9.The Same, But DifferentCall it poetic justice, but the Raiders loss to the Broncos doesn't seem so evil now that they turned the same deed against the Browns. I'm not saying its not bush league, but as long as its in the rules, I'd take full advantage of it. But I totall expect a rule change, now that its occurred on back to back weeks. This time around the Raiders found themselves in the lead as the Browns attempted a game winning field goal. But not so fast. Just before the ball was snapped Raiders coach, Lane Kiffin called TO. So the Phil Dawson field goal that sailed through the uprights was waived off. Following the timeout the Raiders were able to block the second attempt to win the game. With the win, the Raiders moved to 1-2. Which is the same record as the Bears.Time to Get GrieseEnough is enough. Rex Grossman has had more than enough time to prove his worth as an NFL starter. And let me tell you, that worth is slim to none. In yesterday's SNF performance Grossman tossed zero touchdowns to go along with his 3 interceptions. After three games he stat line reads, 1 TD, 6 INTs, 500 yards, and a QB rating of 45.2. Of 34 quartbacks who have posted a rating this year, he leads on Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson and the next closest QB is 15 points better. It's reached the point where it doesn't even seem as though Grossman is learning anything. And honestly, Brian Griese can't do any worse. Seriously.Buc OffSo if you didn't notice the ever aging Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sitting at 2-1. This with Jeff Garcia at quarterback. Sure they laid an egg against the Seahawks, but that was Week 1 in Seattle. Since then they have beat the Saints by 17 and the Rams by 21. We'll find out how real the Bucs are this week as they travel to Carolina to face the Panthers. Those games are followed by matchups with the Colts and Titans. In all reality they probably aren't better than 8-8, but at this point I believe they are more impressive then most people expected them to be.Quick HitsHow good is the AFC South? 3-0, 2-1, 2-1, 1-1. Both the Titans and Texans had 4th quarter chances to beat the Colts. Very competitive, very balanced, very good.Gun Slinging used to be a positive adjective to describe Brett Favre back in his glory days of the mid 90s. Then gun slinging became a negative adjective to describe the same Brett Favre. And now sitting at 3-0 and a TD pass away from setting the NFL caree record for TD passes, its once again a positive thing to call Bretty. 6 TDs, 2 INT, 861 yards, 93.4 rating.Bobby Petrino 0-3. Louisville Cardinals 2-2. Looks like he made the right move, at least his expected starting QB is about to go to jail.
Hail Mary: Week 3
09.20.2007
Week 3...make or break. Sorta. For those teams sitting at 0-2, this would be a great week to put their first win on the board. The season isn't necessarily over with a 0-3 start (especially in the NFC), but talk about an uphill battle. Two teams in particular, the Eagles and Saints, who were predicted to be near the top of the NFC, face such a reality. So we'll start with them as we look ahead to Week 3.Must Win(s)The Eagles are 0-2 after playing games where they had a chance to win late. They played terrible in both games so just a little improvement should be enough to get their first win. This week's game against the Lions is at home, and following Monday night's debacle at home, must right the ship or the fans will be calling for McNabb's head (especially following his HBO black quarterback comments). The Eagles biggest problem is at receiver. Donovan McNabb has nobody to throw to, but he's also not the same quarterback since his knee reconstruction.The Saints head back home (first home game of the season) and need to get a win, or New Orleans may never recover. Drew Brees has not looked like the Pro Bowl quarterback he is, and Reggie Bush is not improving on his rookie season. The Saint have serious problems on offense, but its doesn't stop there. The Saints defense has looked horrible in both their games. I can't imagine the Saints going home on Monday Night Football and not winning this with a huge crowd behind them. Take my word for it, both the Eagles and the Saints win their home game this weekend and get things going in the right direction to challenge in the NFC.Battle of the Undefeated(s)As the Eagles and Saints look for their first wins, two teams from undefeated matchups will taste defeat for the first time all season. The first matchup of undefeated teams pits the Colts against the Texans, and the other is the 49ers at the Steelers. The Colts are always a tough task, but things for the upstart Texans got a whole lot harder, as they will be without stud receiver (and Matt Schaubs favorite target) Andre Johnson against the Colts. So if the games a shoot out (which I expect), the Texans are going to have trouble keeping up. This is not even calling into account the Colts domination of the Texans since they joined the league. Expect Peyton to be Peyton and the rest of the offense to follow suit, as well as another confidence builder for the defense. The Texans will be improved and prove they aren't a pretender at 2-0. I'm not predicting double digit wins for the Texans, but a .500 season is theirs for the taking.The 49ers head to Steel Town with the worst offense in the league and yet a 2-0 record. Its never a good thing playing the Steelers ridiculous blitz defense, but couple that with the worst offense and things could get ugly. The Steelers really haven't been tested, but have looked very talented against inferior competition. Big Ben is back to just managing games and not forcing big plays, and with Willie Parker (probably the most underrated running back in the league), expect the Steelers offense to continue to run on all cylinders. I'm not so sure about the 49ers, but coming out of the NFC West, a 9-7 will be more than enough to win the division. In the end its another inferior NFC team who won't be able to keep up against a top tier AFC team.Quick HitsHow many points does the Bengals defense give up this week? 30, 40, 50+? It's anybody's guess, but luckily they are facing a Seahawks offense that hasn't really showed much.This is the beginning of the end of Tom Coughlin. Will he take down Eli Manning with him? Depends on when Coughlin is fired.The Patriots will get a little competition in the AFC East as the Dolphins face the Jets, and therefore somebody has to win. Well technically they can tie, but here's putting my money on a Jets win.If Green Bay can beat the Chargers and the Bears lose to the Cowboys, then chalk up the NFC North for the Packers.Give Joey Harrington one more poor performance (say this week) and Byron Leftwich will be quarterbacking the team.Game of the WeekDallas Cowboys @ Chicago Bears. Sunday Night Football (NBC). In unprecedented fashion the Bears are part of the Game of the Week, for the second time in three weeks. And since there was no Game of the Week podcast last week, technically the Bears have been involved in 100% of the Game of the Week. Don't worry that will change. Check out the Game of the Week Podcast in the top of the right column.
Week 3
Schedule
Sunday September 23rdCardinals @ RavensBills @ PatriotsLions @ EaglesColts @ TexansDolphins @ JetsVikings @ ChiefsChargers @ Packers49ers @ SteelersRams @ BuccaneersBengals @ SeahawksBrowns @ RaidersJaguars @ BroncosPanthers @ FalconsGiants @ RedskinsCowboys @ BearsMonday September 24thTitans @ Saints
Week 3
Rankings
1. Colts (3-0)2. Patriots (3-0)3. Cowboys (3-0)4. Steelers (3-0)5. Packers (3-0)6. Ravens (2-1)7. Jaguars (2-1)8. Titans (2-1)9. Broncos (2-1)10. Seahawks (2-1)11. Panthers (2-1)12. Chargers (1-2)13. 49ers (2-1)14. BUccaneers (2-1)15. Texans (2-1)16. Eagles (1-2)17. Bears (1-2)18. Redskin (2-1)19. Lions (2-1)20. Raiders (1-2)21. Bengals (1-2)22. Giants (1-2)23. Jets (1-2)24. Cardinals (1-2)25. Browns (1-2)26. Vikings (1-2)27. Saints (0-3)28. Bills (0-3)29. Rams (0-3)30. Dolphins (0-3)31. Chiefs (0-3)32. Falcons (0-3)
Gridiron Challenge
The Picks
1. Gregory Dowell 33-15 (306)2. Matthew Dowell 31-17 (280)3. Gabe Dadi 30-18 (279)4. Jeff Blackinton 30-18 (275)5. Dan Audette 29-19 (269)6. Eric Mittermann 29-19 (268)7. Rick Barritt 28-20 (249)
Links
NFL.com Features
The 14 Days of Super Bowl
