Sep 26 2008
Week 4
The NFL is humming right along, hitting week 4, and teams are starting to get their bye weeks. Before we get into the picks, I’ve got a few thoughts.
- Vince Young - Something about the past two years with Vince is bothering me. He just seems like he’s really stressed about something off the field. Almost like he’s just not comfortable in the spotlight and being who he is. Put his recent behavior, together with the infamous drunk dancing with shirtless guys and you start wondering what is really going on. And I won’t even bring up the fact he sells sausage. I’m not saying anything else.
- Trouble in Pittsburgh - I was a bit surprised the Philadelphia Eagles beat on the Pittsburgh Steelers the way they did. They out physicalled and pushed around a usually bully like team. Not to mention, they came out of the game with more injuries to Ben Roethlisberger who was beat silly, and Willie Parker may miss two weeks. So who do they get this week? The kings of nasty, Baltimore Ravens. Not a good thing, considering nothing kills a season faster than injuries.
- What’s up with Cincinnati - Particularly, Carson Palmer. Seriously, I wonder what is going on there. There is no reason for Palmer to have 1 TD, 63.3 rating and 57% completion rate. I know Chad Ocho Cinco (stupid nickname by the way, and even dumber last name) has been hurt, and they did play 3 brutal defenses to start the season. However, those numbers are pathetic. I think they will rebound offensively, and thankfully they get Cleveland this week, but anything short of 28 points in a breakout offensive performance is a disappointment.
- Speaking of QB performance - Am I to understand correctly the decision by the Rams, that Marc Bulger was so disappointing he needed to be benched. Smells of desperation. When the Vikings turned to Gus Ferrotte over Tarvaris Jackson, I thought it was a good move. Jackson was truly holding the team back. The situation here isn’t remotely the same. Bulger has struggled, but so has the team around him. Steven Jackson hasn’t come out ready to play yet, after his long holdout, and the defense is all-time bad at this point. So the first significant change you make is at the QB position, and you turn it over to of all people, Mr. Concussion Trent Green. How is this possibly going to end well? When you’ve given up more yards and points then Detriot, you can’t possibly blame the QB. Scott Linehan, you’re fired.
- Speaking of Detriot and firings - Matt Millen deserved better and more time. He clearly had not sabotaged Detriot to the extent he intended. He needs a bit more time to draft another wide receiver and continue to field the worst possible franchise. Why did it take this long? Imagine if a black GM had managed to put together a team that was 31-84. Just mull over that for a minute, a .270 winning percentage. You have to try to be that bad.
- Indianapolis will miss the playoffs - I’m becoming more convinced by the day, they just won’t make it this year. They are in a tough division, with Tennessee looking very strong, and Jacksonville while decimated by injuries still dangerous. Throw in Bob Sanders being hurt, yet again, and I can see this team struggling all year to get and stay above .500.
- Raiders screwing up their future - That’s not really a surprise, but when you realize that even with all the turmoil surrounding his status, Lane Kiffin shows up to work, does his job, and is keeping this team together, it underscores the fact he’s got a great future as a coach. I’m thinking if this was a well run franchise, with confidence in their coach, I’d be picking them to make the playoffs. Jamarcus Russell is progressing; Darren McFadden looks every bit the stud he was projected to be and their defense isn’t all that bad. In a conference like the AFC, where so many expected powers are struggling, there will be several teams fighting for the wildcard slot, and the Raiders could be one. I beg you Al Davis, fire Kiffin. He’d look really good in Syracuse Orange.
The Picks:
Last week: Antonio, 5-1. Kali, 3-3. Overall, Antonio 8-4, Kali, 6-6.
Cleveland at Cincinnati
Kali: I like what the Bengals showed at the Giants last week. I haven’t seen that kind of heart or effort from Cleveland yet. Might be looking at the start of the Brady Quinn era. Pick: Cincinnati
San Francisco at New Orleans
Antonio: New Orleans is struggling with injuries, as Marcus Colston and Jeremy Shockey are both out for weeks to come. But I don’t think they’ll miss a beat offensively, at least not at home. Reggie Bush may never be the runner that Adrian Peterson is, but I think the negative talk surrounding his running ability overshadows the fact, that he’s still having a big effect on the Saints offense. He’s nearly the receiver out of the backfield that Brian Westbrook is. Pick: New Orleans
San Diego at Oakland
Kali: Al Davis needs to fire Lane Kiffin or not, you can’t have that hanging over your team. The Raiders are showing improvement, but Phillip Rivers is playing QB like he is gunning for that #1 spot that has been vacated by the injuries to Brady and Manning. Pick: San Diego
Green Bay at Tampa Bay
Antonio: Growing pains in Green Bay for Aaron Rodgers. He’ll be fine as the season wears on, but I don’t like him or the Packers in this one. Pick: Bucs
Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Kali: How the Ravens are undefeated with a rookie QB, I can only credit the defense. Pittsburgh got beat up real bad by Philly last week. I think both defenses will dominate and I’m going with Big Ben. Pick: Pittsburgh
Antonio: The Eagles tossed around Rothelisberger next week, and now he gets to face the Ravens. Thanks to an ill advised text message from rookie Rashard Mendehall, the Ravens will be fired up. They shouldn’t need a text message to fire them up seeing as it is a Monday night, division rival game. Nonetheless, I think they will be blitzing hard, and I’d be worried with Rothelisberger already hurt. Pick: Bodymore
Philadelphia at Chicago
Antonio: I doubted my team against the Steelers, and they surprised me. This week, I have no doubts about them. They are focused, especially on defense. And when they were at their best a few years back, it really all started with a defense that was fast and put a hurting on opposing QBs. Throw in the fact that Chicago was terrible against a west coast passing offense last week, and I suspect the Eagles will pull away in this one. Don’t be shocked if the Eagles go up big early on the Bears. Pick: Eagles
Kali: It worries me that both McNabb and Westbrook are hurt. But Chicago’s offense against the Philly defense will be the difference. Pick: Philly (Note: to all of you who know Kali, he’s a big Redskins fan, and he’s been gushing over my Eagles.)
Washington at Dallas
Kali: The Redskins have always done a good job against Marion Barber and Romo. But even a good job against them still means you probably got to score 28 to beat them. Skins not quite there. Pick: Dallas
Antonio: Not a good spot for the Redskins. They are still getting to know their new coach, the new systems and each other. Conversely, this Cowboys team has been together for a few seasons. Dallas fans should thank the NFL for the schedule they have early. They did have to go to Green Bay, but they have a lot of home games to start, and I think I’ll be picking them to win each game until possibly week 9 at New York. They are just going to outclass each of their upcoming opponents. Pick: Dallas
