Last week we had mixed success with team of the week. The Raiders D, for example, that we picked in our 'under the radar' section, was the second highest scoring Defensive unit, behind only the Giants. The difference? You can pick the Oakland D up on waivers in most leagues.
On the other hand, we got Greg Olsen and Joey Galloway wrong. Olsen - much to our embarrassment - fumbled twice, thus rendering him with negative points in many leagues. Similarly, Galloway was innefective and will not even play this week because of the injury sustained in week two.
So, moving onto this weekend, we'll give you two options at each position:
QB1: Aaron Rodgers, GBP vs DAL
QB2: Carson Palmer, CIN @ NYG
RB1: Frank Gore, SFO vs DET
RB2: Clinton Portis, WAS vs ARI
WR1: Steve Smith, CAR @ MIN
WR2: Calvin Johnson, DET @ SFO
TE1: Tony Gonzalez, KCC @ ATL
TE2: Kellen Winslow, CLE @ BAL
K1: Jason Elam, ATL vs KCC
K2: Joe Nedney, SFO vs DET
DEF1: Chicago, vs TBB
DEF2: New York Jets @ SDC
Saturday, 20 September 2008
Week Three Predictions
Apologies for the lack of a power rankings this weekend. We could easily knock them up quickly, but it's not fair to you lot if we don't put as much thought into them as we usually do. The good news is that next week is our own 'bye week', and therefore there'll be more midweek content than usual.
Today though, we're concentrating on predictions. Last weekend we were 11 of 15, and could have been even better had the Seahawks not lost in Overtime to San Francisco, and Ed Hochuli had his glasses on.
Anyway, here's our calls this week:
Kansas City @ Atlanta
As we said last week, the Falcons are some way from being consistently as good as their week one performance showed. On the other hand, the Chiefs look like a team struggling to gel, and last weekend's outburst from Larry Johnson - arguably the team's best offensive weapon - was indicative of the battle that Herm Edwards faces keeping veterans happy in a youthful team. Atlanta at least have that unity, and should take advantage on the ground. Are people now firmly aboard our 'Jerious Norwood Bandwagon'? They should be.
Oakland @ Buffalo
Let's not get carried away - the Bills are not contenders just yet. Two wins against teams that were heavily tipped in preseason (Seattle and Jacksonville) have flattered the Bills somewhat, but that is not to say they are a bad team. You can only beat the team that comes and plays on a Sunday, and that has left the Bills with a great stretch of winnable games, with Oakland, St, Louis, and Arizona next up before the Bye week. Oakland's ground game took a hit when Justin Fargas was lost for this game at least, and it's hard to imagine JaMarcus Russell tearing apart a relatively strong Bills Defence after his abysmal effort last week against a lacklustre Chiefs D.
Tampa Bay @ Chicago
Tipping the Bears for the first time this season has made us think about how good they really are. Are they who we thought they were? No, so we'll let them off the hook. We could do that joke every week.
In all seriousness, a beat-up Bucs team will struggle against a Defence that just oozes 'playmaker' from every pore. If it's Defensive plays you're looking for, then watch the Bears any week, as they are guaranteed to score in a relatively humorous manner. The X-factor here could be Bucs QB Brian Griese, who spent the last two years in Chicago and knows the Defence inside out.
Carolina @ Minnesota
The news that Adrian Peterson could be out on Sunday had no real bearing on this pick. The Panthers have started strongly and are playoff contenders, and that was without Steve Smith. Smith is a clutch player who regularly comes up trumps when the expectation level is high - as it is tomorrow. The Vikings will have Gus Frerrote under centre. That is all that you need to know about how much trouble this team is in.
Miami @ New England
Look, the Pats will probably win this, but get on the Dolphins to beat the spread! We got +12.5, and thinking about it, that's a bargain. Miami are nowhere near as bad as that makes out, and this could even be a relatively close game if the Pats start slowly. Dare we say the 'fins could win? Yeah, we do. This is no gimme by any stretch of the imagination, and it's only the strong Patriots defence that stops us taking Miami.
Yeah, we said that.
Cincinnati @ New York Giants
Like Miami, Cincinnati could beat the spread, but realistically, the Giants should get another win on Sunday. We've asked it before, but is Marvin Lewis serious putting that defence on the field every week? Perhaps the team would stand a better chance if he replaced the Cornerbacks and Safeties with Traffic Cones, and the D-line with some sandbags. Whatever happens, they'll struggle to tackle Brandon Jacobs, who will relish the prospect of taking on such a poor linebacking corps. It's a great pity that Carson Palmer is tied to this team, as talent-wise, he is in the upper echelon of passers in the league. Sadly, he might be remembered as the guy who had just one winning season in his career with the team.
Houston @ Tennessee
Really? Ok, we like Tennessee, but we REALLY like Houston. People can say that the team struggled in week one against Pittsburgh, but plenty of teams will do that. One thing that makes us doubt Tennessee is that Kerry Collins is not a starting Quarterback in this league anymore. That has been proved over time, and he has only ever shown flashes of his talent when called upon recently. Pressure from a strong Houston defensive line could expose him after what amounted to a flag-football contest against the Bengals last week.
Arizona @ Washington
This is a difficult matchup to predict. The Cards have started well, but against weak opposition. The 'skins have been patchy, but managed a good win against a strong team last week against the Saints. What does it mean? Probably a high scoring affair that one team will just edge. We'll plump for the home team and Jason Campbell, though Kurt Warner's early form is something to behold. The Matt Leinart era is a speck on the horizon as things stand. of course, Warner is one of those 'things' and he is not renowned for his ability to 'stand' for a 16 game season.
Do you see what we did?
New Orleans @ Denver
We were wrong about the Broncos. Nothing makes a team more likable than gutsy, maverick calls in the final seconds of a game. Going for two points last week against the Chargers exposed not just Shanahan's confidence in his players, but their confidence in themselves. Jay Cutler looked like a man who genuinely wanted the chance to win, not someone who was afraid of losing.
Unfortunately, we'll stick with the Saints, who - despite looking patchy this season - have a player who Cutler aspires to be, in Drew Brees. A big question mark for this offence is the loss of Marques Colston, but somehow this team always manages to find a big play from one of the other receivers in what is an underrated group.
St. Louis @ Seattle
This is a horror show. The Rams are far and away the worst team in the NFL, but the Seahawks have struggled to score points without their three top receivers. Can the Rams get going? Unlikely against a strong D in Seattle, and they will not relish this game after an opening to the season that sees Scott Linehan treading on thin ice. It would be no surprise to see him axed after this game. One potential situation we would love to see? Ex-Seattle Kicker Josh Brown faced with the game winner in OT. Unless the score is 0-0, that is unlikely.
Detroit @ San Francisco
This could be a shootout. Mike Martz's new offence against the team that he galvanised offensively in the previous two seasons. The 49ers have the stronger Defence, but the Lions can lay claim to having one of the best passing games in the league. It's really a question of which team cracks first. Two things we'd say are certainties are that Frank Gore should make mincemeat of the Lions Defence, and that Calvin Johnson will dominate the 49ers secondary.
Cleveland @ Baltimore
A divisional matchup that is tricky to call after the Ravens missed a week following Hurricane Ike. Joe Flacco showed promise in week one, but then so did Matt Ryan, and look how that turned out for Atlanta in his second game. Altogether, a lot of people are quick to forget that this is essentially a 'strength vs strength' matchup, as the Cleveland Offensive steam train crashes into the buffers of a Baltimore defence that proves itself week in-week out as one of the truly great units of the modern era. Did we mention we're still picking the Browns?
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
Nightmare pick. Neither team has looked strong, but the Colts edged a tight game last week, something that they needed to get truly back into the swing of things. The Jags are horrendous without their offensive line, and again, it's hard to see where the yards will come from on the ground. That same thing could be said for either team, but the Colts have an air attack that should be rejuvenated with TE Dallas Clark back in the lineup.
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
All aboard the Steelers bandwagon. I'll be honest, and say from a personal perspective, the Steelers have always been one of the teams that annoyed me. God knows what it was - probably Bill Cowher - but they were one of the teams it was always hard to like unless you were a fully paid-up terrible towel-wielding lunatic. Ben Roethisberger is an underrated player though, probably the third best Quarterback to play since the turn of the millennium. His ability to keep a seemingly dead play alive could hurt the Eagles.
To be fair to Philly, they have tried to veer away from shouldering Brian Westbrook with their entire offensive load, and it has shown in the emergence of DeSean Jackson as a major weapon. This is one of the best matchups in week three, and we expect a tight, low scoring engagement.
Dallas @ Green Bay
If we'd have completed our Power Rankings this week, the Packers would have jumped to number one, even with the Cowboys winning a difficult game against the Eagles last Monday. Put simply, the Packers have a team that is dangerous in all three phases of the game, and Aaron Rodgers proved that he has the physical and psychological toughness to pull a result out, even when momentum seems to be with his opponents. Not only that, but when the team needed a defensive stand, the team responded.
This week is a big early test of the Superbowl credentials of these two teams. Don't bet against this being the NFC conference finals matchup either, as both teams have a great chance to secure home field advantage in January. This week, we prefer the hot hand of Rodgers, but it'll be close.
New York Jets @ San Diego
Will L.T. play? It's certainly not looking good if you go by the noises coming from the Chargers camp, and even if he did play, will we see a replay of last week, when he was forced to leave the game early? As we write, he is pencilled in to start week three, but it would be a surprise if he was as effective as the L.T. we have known in recent years. All of this gives the Jets a huge psychological boost heading into Monday Night, and at the very least, if you're a betting man, get on them now to beat the 8.5pt spread. Like the Bills, the Jets have flattered to deceive lately, but that should not detract from the improvements made in the offseason. Brett Favre is a game winner, and has the balls to win any game he plays in.
Today though, we're concentrating on predictions. Last weekend we were 11 of 15, and could have been even better had the Seahawks not lost in Overtime to San Francisco, and Ed Hochuli had his glasses on.
Anyway, here's our calls this week:
Kansas City @ Atlanta
As we said last week, the Falcons are some way from being consistently as good as their week one performance showed. On the other hand, the Chiefs look like a team struggling to gel, and last weekend's outburst from Larry Johnson - arguably the team's best offensive weapon - was indicative of the battle that Herm Edwards faces keeping veterans happy in a youthful team. Atlanta at least have that unity, and should take advantage on the ground. Are people now firmly aboard our 'Jerious Norwood Bandwagon'? They should be.
Oakland @ Buffalo
Let's not get carried away - the Bills are not contenders just yet. Two wins against teams that were heavily tipped in preseason (Seattle and Jacksonville) have flattered the Bills somewhat, but that is not to say they are a bad team. You can only beat the team that comes and plays on a Sunday, and that has left the Bills with a great stretch of winnable games, with Oakland, St, Louis, and Arizona next up before the Bye week. Oakland's ground game took a hit when Justin Fargas was lost for this game at least, and it's hard to imagine JaMarcus Russell tearing apart a relatively strong Bills Defence after his abysmal effort last week against a lacklustre Chiefs D.
Tampa Bay @ Chicago
Tipping the Bears for the first time this season has made us think about how good they really are. Are they who we thought they were? No, so we'll let them off the hook. We could do that joke every week.
In all seriousness, a beat-up Bucs team will struggle against a Defence that just oozes 'playmaker' from every pore. If it's Defensive plays you're looking for, then watch the Bears any week, as they are guaranteed to score in a relatively humorous manner. The X-factor here could be Bucs QB Brian Griese, who spent the last two years in Chicago and knows the Defence inside out.
Carolina @ Minnesota
The news that Adrian Peterson could be out on Sunday had no real bearing on this pick. The Panthers have started strongly and are playoff contenders, and that was without Steve Smith. Smith is a clutch player who regularly comes up trumps when the expectation level is high - as it is tomorrow. The Vikings will have Gus Frerrote under centre. That is all that you need to know about how much trouble this team is in.
Miami @ New England
Look, the Pats will probably win this, but get on the Dolphins to beat the spread! We got +12.5, and thinking about it, that's a bargain. Miami are nowhere near as bad as that makes out, and this could even be a relatively close game if the Pats start slowly. Dare we say the 'fins could win? Yeah, we do. This is no gimme by any stretch of the imagination, and it's only the strong Patriots defence that stops us taking Miami.
Yeah, we said that.
Cincinnati @ New York Giants
Like Miami, Cincinnati could beat the spread, but realistically, the Giants should get another win on Sunday. We've asked it before, but is Marvin Lewis serious putting that defence on the field every week? Perhaps the team would stand a better chance if he replaced the Cornerbacks and Safeties with Traffic Cones, and the D-line with some sandbags. Whatever happens, they'll struggle to tackle Brandon Jacobs, who will relish the prospect of taking on such a poor linebacking corps. It's a great pity that Carson Palmer is tied to this team, as talent-wise, he is in the upper echelon of passers in the league. Sadly, he might be remembered as the guy who had just one winning season in his career with the team.
Houston @ Tennessee
Really? Ok, we like Tennessee, but we REALLY like Houston. People can say that the team struggled in week one against Pittsburgh, but plenty of teams will do that. One thing that makes us doubt Tennessee is that Kerry Collins is not a starting Quarterback in this league anymore. That has been proved over time, and he has only ever shown flashes of his talent when called upon recently. Pressure from a strong Houston defensive line could expose him after what amounted to a flag-football contest against the Bengals last week.
Arizona @ Washington
This is a difficult matchup to predict. The Cards have started well, but against weak opposition. The 'skins have been patchy, but managed a good win against a strong team last week against the Saints. What does it mean? Probably a high scoring affair that one team will just edge. We'll plump for the home team and Jason Campbell, though Kurt Warner's early form is something to behold. The Matt Leinart era is a speck on the horizon as things stand. of course, Warner is one of those 'things' and he is not renowned for his ability to 'stand' for a 16 game season.
Do you see what we did?
New Orleans @ Denver
We were wrong about the Broncos. Nothing makes a team more likable than gutsy, maverick calls in the final seconds of a game. Going for two points last week against the Chargers exposed not just Shanahan's confidence in his players, but their confidence in themselves. Jay Cutler looked like a man who genuinely wanted the chance to win, not someone who was afraid of losing.
Unfortunately, we'll stick with the Saints, who - despite looking patchy this season - have a player who Cutler aspires to be, in Drew Brees. A big question mark for this offence is the loss of Marques Colston, but somehow this team always manages to find a big play from one of the other receivers in what is an underrated group.
St. Louis @ Seattle
This is a horror show. The Rams are far and away the worst team in the NFL, but the Seahawks have struggled to score points without their three top receivers. Can the Rams get going? Unlikely against a strong D in Seattle, and they will not relish this game after an opening to the season that sees Scott Linehan treading on thin ice. It would be no surprise to see him axed after this game. One potential situation we would love to see? Ex-Seattle Kicker Josh Brown faced with the game winner in OT. Unless the score is 0-0, that is unlikely.
Detroit @ San Francisco
This could be a shootout. Mike Martz's new offence against the team that he galvanised offensively in the previous two seasons. The 49ers have the stronger Defence, but the Lions can lay claim to having one of the best passing games in the league. It's really a question of which team cracks first. Two things we'd say are certainties are that Frank Gore should make mincemeat of the Lions Defence, and that Calvin Johnson will dominate the 49ers secondary.
Cleveland @ Baltimore
A divisional matchup that is tricky to call after the Ravens missed a week following Hurricane Ike. Joe Flacco showed promise in week one, but then so did Matt Ryan, and look how that turned out for Atlanta in his second game. Altogether, a lot of people are quick to forget that this is essentially a 'strength vs strength' matchup, as the Cleveland Offensive steam train crashes into the buffers of a Baltimore defence that proves itself week in-week out as one of the truly great units of the modern era. Did we mention we're still picking the Browns?
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
Nightmare pick. Neither team has looked strong, but the Colts edged a tight game last week, something that they needed to get truly back into the swing of things. The Jags are horrendous without their offensive line, and again, it's hard to see where the yards will come from on the ground. That same thing could be said for either team, but the Colts have an air attack that should be rejuvenated with TE Dallas Clark back in the lineup.
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
All aboard the Steelers bandwagon. I'll be honest, and say from a personal perspective, the Steelers have always been one of the teams that annoyed me. God knows what it was - probably Bill Cowher - but they were one of the teams it was always hard to like unless you were a fully paid-up terrible towel-wielding lunatic. Ben Roethisberger is an underrated player though, probably the third best Quarterback to play since the turn of the millennium. His ability to keep a seemingly dead play alive could hurt the Eagles.
To be fair to Philly, they have tried to veer away from shouldering Brian Westbrook with their entire offensive load, and it has shown in the emergence of DeSean Jackson as a major weapon. This is one of the best matchups in week three, and we expect a tight, low scoring engagement.
Dallas @ Green Bay
If we'd have completed our Power Rankings this week, the Packers would have jumped to number one, even with the Cowboys winning a difficult game against the Eagles last Monday. Put simply, the Packers have a team that is dangerous in all three phases of the game, and Aaron Rodgers proved that he has the physical and psychological toughness to pull a result out, even when momentum seems to be with his opponents. Not only that, but when the team needed a defensive stand, the team responded.
This week is a big early test of the Superbowl credentials of these two teams. Don't bet against this being the NFC conference finals matchup either, as both teams have a great chance to secure home field advantage in January. This week, we prefer the hot hand of Rodgers, but it'll be close.
New York Jets @ San Diego
Will L.T. play? It's certainly not looking good if you go by the noises coming from the Chargers camp, and even if he did play, will we see a replay of last week, when he was forced to leave the game early? As we write, he is pencilled in to start week three, but it would be a surprise if he was as effective as the L.T. we have known in recent years. All of this gives the Jets a huge psychological boost heading into Monday Night, and at the very least, if you're a betting man, get on them now to beat the 8.5pt spread. Like the Bills, the Jets have flattered to deceive lately, but that should not detract from the improvements made in the offseason. Brett Favre is a game winner, and has the balls to win any game he plays in.
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Wide-Right Fantasy Team Of The Week.
QB: Ben Roethisberger
RB1: LaDainian Tomlinson
RB2: Brandon Jacobs
WR1: Hines Ward
WR2: Donald Driver
WR3: Joey Galloway
Flex: Adrian Peterson
TE: Greg Olsen
DEF: Seattle
Under the radar picks:
David Martin (TE, MIA)
Vincent jackson (WR, SDC)
Kerry Collins (QB, TEN)
Dwayne Jarrett (WR, CAR)
Oakland Defence
RB1: LaDainian Tomlinson
RB2: Brandon Jacobs
WR1: Hines Ward
WR2: Donald Driver
WR3: Joey Galloway
Flex: Adrian Peterson
TE: Greg Olsen
DEF: Seattle
Under the radar picks:
David Martin (TE, MIA)
Vincent jackson (WR, SDC)
Kerry Collins (QB, TEN)
Dwayne Jarrett (WR, CAR)
Oakland Defence
2008 Week Two Preview
Tennessee at Cincinnati
Titans too strong, even without Young. Bengals D is a travesty. Could all be very different if the Cinci passing attack gets going, as the Titans lack the playmakers to chase a game.
Green Bay at Detroit
Even though Detroit are better than their loss last week to Atlanta, they are no match for a Packers team that has not missed a beat since Aaron Rodgers took over.
Oakland at Kansas City
A strong rushing attack is Herm Edwards' worst nightmare. Fortunately, that uis all Oakland has. It should still be too strong for the Chiefs, but we like them a lot better with Damon huard under centre.
NY Giants at St. Louis
The Rams are one of the few teams that have little home advantage, and facing a strong road team in the Giants is not their ideal start to the season.
Indianapolis at Minnesota
Both teams struggled in week one, but the Colts have a strong passing game that can take advantage of the 32nd ranked team against the pass last season. Dallas Clark's loss is a blow, but expect the team to utilise 3 WR sets, as Jacob Tamme - Clark's understudy - is also out.
New Orleans at Washington
The Saints march on Washington with a big advantage in confidence. Both teams faced tough divisional matchups in week one, but the big difference was that the Saints managed to find a groove, whereas the 'skins didn't trouble the Giants one bit. It will be interesting to see Reggie Bush try to build on a strong opening week.
Chicago at Carolina
Both teams upset strong AFC challengers on the road in week one, but the Panthers hold a big edge offensively. Jake Delhomme looked sharper than we gave him credit for, and whilst Kyle Orton is certainly not as bad as people make out, he is not the kind of guy that can break down Defences if the team falls behind.
Buffalo at Jacksonville
Upset? Perhaps not. the Jags O-line could struggle mightily against a player - in Marcus Stroud - who knows their weaknesses. Coupled with a strong offensive showing in week one, and it could be another long day for Jags fans.
San Francisco at Seattle
The Seahawks still look far better than the 49ers despite last week's loss to the Bills, and the 49ers stumbling offence should struggle against what we still consider to be the best Defence in the league. Yes, even after last week.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Let's not get carried away - the Falcons are about as good as we thought. They have the chance to win a few games like last week's game against Detroit, but they are still a long way from the finished article. The Bucs could struggle on offence with Brian Griese under centre, but overall, they should do a far better job of stopping the run than Detroit. One interesting side-story: Warrick Dunn's return to Atlanta.
New England at NY Jets
Contentious? You bet. The Jets could argue they have a stronger team right now, and we may agree. On the other hand, the nucleus of the great New England dynasty runs through the heart of this team, and Matt Cassel could surprise a few people - despite not starting a game since High School.
Miami at Arizona
To some this will look like an upset, but after seeing the Dolphins last week, they are one or two big performances at key positions away from winning games. Chad Pennington has revitalised the passing game, and if the Defence gets the hang of Boldin and Fitzgerald (no mean feat), then we think the Dolphins will have the edge.
San Diego at Denver
People are jumping on the Broncos bandwagon, but as we said last week, Jay Cutler is not the issue, the issue is whether the team can stop strong, balanced teams such as the Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson's status is probable, but he will be good to go. Barring a miracle, the Chargers should slice through the Broncos front seven.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Two great games to finish the weekend, and the first is by far the closest. Cleveland are still contenders in the AFC North, but teh STeelers set out their stall last week as one of the strongest teams in the NFL. Can the Browns stop them? Yes. Of that there is no doubt, but they need to get Braylon Edwards involved very early for a shot. last week we said the same thing - they didn't. The result was a heavy defeat to the Cowboys, something that they will hopefully learn from.
Philadelphia at Dallas
Both teams were impressive last week, but the class of opposition was completely different. We don't think the Eagles are bad - far from it - but we do believe they are still slightly behind the Giants in the race for second in the NFC East. Neither team is particularly strong at Receiver, but we like what we've seen of Felix Jones, who should be a big play threat whenever he touches the ball.
Titans too strong, even without Young. Bengals D is a travesty. Could all be very different if the Cinci passing attack gets going, as the Titans lack the playmakers to chase a game.
Green Bay at Detroit
Even though Detroit are better than their loss last week to Atlanta, they are no match for a Packers team that has not missed a beat since Aaron Rodgers took over.
Oakland at Kansas City
A strong rushing attack is Herm Edwards' worst nightmare. Fortunately, that uis all Oakland has. It should still be too strong for the Chiefs, but we like them a lot better with Damon huard under centre.
NY Giants at St. Louis
The Rams are one of the few teams that have little home advantage, and facing a strong road team in the Giants is not their ideal start to the season.
Indianapolis at Minnesota
Both teams struggled in week one, but the Colts have a strong passing game that can take advantage of the 32nd ranked team against the pass last season. Dallas Clark's loss is a blow, but expect the team to utilise 3 WR sets, as Jacob Tamme - Clark's understudy - is also out.
New Orleans at Washington
The Saints march on Washington with a big advantage in confidence. Both teams faced tough divisional matchups in week one, but the big difference was that the Saints managed to find a groove, whereas the 'skins didn't trouble the Giants one bit. It will be interesting to see Reggie Bush try to build on a strong opening week.
Chicago at Carolina
Both teams upset strong AFC challengers on the road in week one, but the Panthers hold a big edge offensively. Jake Delhomme looked sharper than we gave him credit for, and whilst Kyle Orton is certainly not as bad as people make out, he is not the kind of guy that can break down Defences if the team falls behind.
Buffalo at Jacksonville
Upset? Perhaps not. the Jags O-line could struggle mightily against a player - in Marcus Stroud - who knows their weaknesses. Coupled with a strong offensive showing in week one, and it could be another long day for Jags fans.
San Francisco at Seattle
The Seahawks still look far better than the 49ers despite last week's loss to the Bills, and the 49ers stumbling offence should struggle against what we still consider to be the best Defence in the league. Yes, even after last week.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Let's not get carried away - the Falcons are about as good as we thought. They have the chance to win a few games like last week's game against Detroit, but they are still a long way from the finished article. The Bucs could struggle on offence with Brian Griese under centre, but overall, they should do a far better job of stopping the run than Detroit. One interesting side-story: Warrick Dunn's return to Atlanta.
New England at NY Jets
Contentious? You bet. The Jets could argue they have a stronger team right now, and we may agree. On the other hand, the nucleus of the great New England dynasty runs through the heart of this team, and Matt Cassel could surprise a few people - despite not starting a game since High School.
Miami at Arizona
To some this will look like an upset, but after seeing the Dolphins last week, they are one or two big performances at key positions away from winning games. Chad Pennington has revitalised the passing game, and if the Defence gets the hang of Boldin and Fitzgerald (no mean feat), then we think the Dolphins will have the edge.
San Diego at Denver
People are jumping on the Broncos bandwagon, but as we said last week, Jay Cutler is not the issue, the issue is whether the team can stop strong, balanced teams such as the Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson's status is probable, but he will be good to go. Barring a miracle, the Chargers should slice through the Broncos front seven.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Two great games to finish the weekend, and the first is by far the closest. Cleveland are still contenders in the AFC North, but teh STeelers set out their stall last week as one of the strongest teams in the NFL. Can the Browns stop them? Yes. Of that there is no doubt, but they need to get Braylon Edwards involved very early for a shot. last week we said the same thing - they didn't. The result was a heavy defeat to the Cowboys, something that they will hopefully learn from.
Philadelphia at Dallas
Both teams were impressive last week, but the class of opposition was completely different. We don't think the Eagles are bad - far from it - but we do believe they are still slightly behind the Giants in the race for second in the NFC East. Neither team is particularly strong at Receiver, but we like what we've seen of Felix Jones, who should be a big play threat whenever he touches the ball.
Friday, 12 September 2008
Week Two Power Rankings
1: Dallas Cowboys
While looking dominant against Cleveland, the Cowboys will be even happier that they completed victory without any major injury concerns. Felix Jones looked like the player that Dallas fans are hoping for, and as we've said before, this team is one Receiver away from a shot at the Superbowl.
2: New England Patriots
Tom Brady's injury is quite simply a devastating blow fir a team that has thrived on the stability that he has brought to the position over the last 7 years. We still believe the Pats to be better than a one man team - remember that they won 3 superbowls without asking too much of Brady - and the sight of Matt Cassel looking a great deal more comfortable than most would have expected will cheer everyone concerned with the franchise.
3: Pittsburgh Steelers
A Crushing performance against the Texans catapults the Steelers up the rankings. We said last week that the Steelers are dark horses this season, and a convincing victory over the unpredictable Texans seems to back up that theory. The team will lose games, but they have a good mix of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Ben Roethisberger's health is key to any success this team will have.
4: San Diego Chargers
Whilst the loss to Carolina threw up some big question marks about this team, and Shawne Merriman's season ending surgery being announced earlier today, it would be easy to press the panic button in San Diego. What people should not forget is that the Defence is still capable of playing good football without Merriman, and that if it were not for a last minute fairytale ending for Jake Delhomme and the Panthers, the Chargers would probably be considered as favourites to claim New England's AFC crown.
5: Indianapolis Colts
Again, the loss to a mediocre team (Chicago) will have people worried, but remember that if there was one game that the Bears would be up for, it was this one. Peyton Manning's injury is still clearly limiting him, and Dallas Clark's loss for any length of time would be a blow, but the Colts look like they'll get going in the next few weeks.
6: Green Bay Packers
It would take a cold-hearted man to begrudge Aaron Rodgers anything in Green Bay this year, In our opinion he was shoddily treated by the media, and monday night's game could easily be classed as revenge on the hacks that lined up to criticise the team's decision to stick with Rodgers over Brett Favre. We admit we got it wrong, and didn't foresee him lighting up the game numbers-wise. On the other hand, long may he continue to prove the doubters wrong. Oh, and the rest of the team is pretty damn good too - including the best group of receivers in the NFL.
7: New Orleans Saints
Can the team win without Marques Colston? Yes, most likely they can, and their peripheral receivers such as David Patten, Deverey Henderson and Terrance Copper have shown enough ability to suggest that Drew Brees can rely on them during the next month while Colston recuperates. The Saints were marginally better than the Bucs, but in reality this team has another couple of gears to run through.
8: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags stay realatively high in the rankings by virtue of their solid overall roster, but there has to be a huge question mark over the team's offensive capabilities after the loss of both starting Guards for the season. If the ground game falters, then so will the Jags, as they proved this week.
9: New York Giants
The Giants fall one place even after winning against the 'skins, but that's mainly as a result of the Packers having a good week than the Giants being poor. No news is good news on the injury front, and getting big games from key players such as Burress and Jacobs in week one should answer a few lingering doubts about the Offence. We still hate the secondary of this team, but for now, they are still a contender in the NFC.
10: Cleveland Browns
We can't read too much into the Brownies stalling against Dallas. They'll be hoping to get Braylon Edwards more involved next week though, especially against their main contenders for the AFC North crown, Pittsburgh. Cleveland need momentum to build sooner rather than later, as the race for an AFC wild card spot could be wide open this season.
11: Houston Texans
Again, no panic for the Texans, who are a better team than their result against Pittsburgh suggests. Matt Schaub had a terrible start to the game, but finished strongly and will take some confidence into the rescheduled MNF game against Baltimore. Importantly, receivers Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter had good games, though the running game is still - after 6 years - not fixed. With Ahman Green likely out Monday, it is Steve Slaton's opportunity to make a statement as the starter in Houston.
12: Philadelphia Eagles
Whilst it's never good when you're agreeing with Pacman, he has a point. The Eagles beat a weak team in the Rams, probably the worst in the entire league, and with their best player lacking practice time. You could argue that a weak receiving lineup was even more depleted for the St. Louis game, but even so, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles fare against top level opposition in Dallas on Monday.
13: Washington Redskins
Next week is crucial for the 'skins. A game against the Saints is rarely easy, but this team faces the prospect of being 0-2 in a strong division. In the NFC East, it's never a good thing to fall away from the playoff contenders, so victory is paramount on Sunday. It's certainly not time to panic though, and if Campbell exploits the Saints leaky secondary, the Redskins should stay in the hunt for a wild card spot.
14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are still a force, but the general air of confusion regarding Jeff Garcia's status - he says he's fit enough to play, Jon Gruden is still going with Brian Griese at QB on Sunday - has cast a pall over West Florida. If the Bucs can steady the ship with a win against Atlanta, the team are still there or thereabouts. If not, a freefall could yet again affect the team who won the NFC South the previous year.
15: Buffalo Bills
A great result against the Seahwks sees the Bills leapfrog Seattle in our rankings, but it shouldn't be forgotten that the 'hawks are notoriously poor travellers, and have had particular issues on the east coast. The Bills can build momentum for a playoff run against Jacksonville on Sunday, but again, it's important to stress that finishing second, even to a Brady-less Patriots team, is no disgrace.
16: Seattle Seahawks
Oh the fall. The 'hawks can really not be considered a playoff threat until they sort out their woes on the road. Qwest field is like an extra man, but away from the Pacific time zone, the Seahawks have been abysmal in the last few years. They'll make the playoffs, of course, but only by virtue of sharing a division with St. Louis, San Francisco, and Arizona. Huge questions over the WR situation, with the returns of Deion Branch and Bobby Engram even more critical since news broke of Nate Burleson's season ending injury.
17: New York Jets
Yes, Jets fans can rest easy, they aren't quite ignored. Of course, this weekend is their big moment, as they have easily their best chance to establish themselves ahead of the Patriots in some time. Can they do it? Yes. Will they? It's always going to be a maybe when they play each other. The Jets looked solid in Miami last week, though they may be concerned that the Dolphins effectively had a shot to win heading into the dying seconds. A more ruthless team may not let them off the hook.
18: Tennessee Titans
The Titans win against the Jags may have statistically set them apart from the other three teams in the AFC South, but there are still deeper issues on this team than the result suggests. First of all, the victory came at a cost, as QB Vince Young was lost for a minimum of two weeks - but likely a month. The Defence is as strong as any in the AFC, but offensively, the team relies heavily on a running game that has shown a tendency to falter at crucial points of the last few seasons. LenDale White is the most important part of this offence going forward, and it's likely that the team will roll as he does. Fortunately for them, they travel to Cincinnati this weekend.
19: Arizona Cardinals
Can the Cards topple the Seahawks in the NFC West? Week one saw the Cards look decidedly unconvincing against one of the worst teams in the league. How the team fares against Miami this week will be a better indication of whether they can become what is effectively the winner of a 'best of the worst' contest. On the plus side, Rookie RB Tim Hightower has shown enough that - if he can cut out the fumblitis - he may be the successor to Edgerrin James at tailback.
20: Carolina Panthers
We stayed away from the Cats' game against San Diego last week as far as betting was concerned. In week one, anything can happen, and it was not a huge surprise to see Jake Delhomme come up big in the final quarter. On the other hand, one win doth not a team maketh, and there are still big questions at receiver. We like the Panthers though, and they have an outside shot at a wild card spot as things stand.
21: Minnesota Vikings
We told you. This team is so far from a contender it's not even funny. People have disagreed with us on this one all week, but the fact remains: The Vikes have not addressed crucial positions via the draft or free agency, and whilst they ignore their passing game, will rely primarily on the big play ability of Adrian Peterson to win games. That just won't cut it against many teams in this league. It says more about AP that they are this high in the rankings after a woeful performance - against a team they should really be hoping to beat this season - on Monday night.
22: Detroit Lions
Oh dear. What happened Lions? The Defence collapsed like we said it would, but the offence took two quarters to get warmed up, by which point the game was lost. The passing game was brilliant, but every other phase looked slightly underwhelming. Ernie Sims getting injured for any considerable amount of time would leave this team floundering. Well, floundering even more than they currently are. A game against Green Bay is not what this team needs right now.
23: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens came good against a week Cincinnati team, but may find the going tougher in Houston this week (Another one for 'sentences you never thought you'd say') as they face a Texans Defence that is composed of, you know... Pro athletes? At the same time, Joe Flacco looked composed at Quarterback, and Willis McGahee will be looking to emulate the Steelers successful run attack if he returns on Monday night.
24: Atlanta Falcons
Are Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood the best RB combination in the league? No, in fact they may not even be the best combination in their division, but we have to say, it's one in the eye for the idiot at ESPN.com who rated the Falcons a lowly 26th best rushing in the league this offseason. With the team heading to Tampa at just the right time, don't be surprised to see the Falcons grow in stature as the season progresses. We've said it before, and we'll say it again. With Matt Ryan at QB, this team has begun it's ascendancy.
25: Miami Dolphins
A loss against the Jets is always difficult for a team in the AFC East, considering the likelihood that the Patriots will continue their monopoly at the top of the division. This year of course, things are different, and really there were as many good points to take from the game as bad. At receiver the team has clear issues, and Ted Ginn needs to become the focal point of this offence quickly. He has the ability, but the team lacks a possession receiver to compliment him in the passing game. Chad Pennington looked rejuvenated too, though frankly even an average Pennington is better than some of the other options available to the team currently.
26: Chicago Bears
A win against the Colts and still just 26th? Look, Peyton Manning - despite anything they say - was clearly hampered by injury. He struggled on counter plays to actually get the ball into his tailback's hands, which is never a good sign. Tom Moore's shortened Offesive gameplan did not help, and played into an aggressive Defence's hands. Where the Bears may come unstuck is against teams that are willing to attack them and take a risk. Offensively, Matt Forte showed a great deal of promise, and every carry helps to erase the memories of the Cedric Benson experiment.
27: Denver Broncos
We took flak for this on various forums and messageboards, and we'll admit now: The Broncos are NOT who we thought they were! And we let them off the hook! Not really. We still think that eventually, the Defence will be the downfall of this team. It was nice to see Jay Cutler have one of those breakout games though, something he thoroughly deserves. Interestingly, though people criticise Mike Shanahan's admittedly hit and miss drafting record, Eddie Royal showed why he can still pick up the odd gem in later rounds. If Royal emerges to compliment 4th round pick in 2006 Brandon Marshall, Shanahan may have a better defence for his record. Certainly he'll have a better defence than he currently has on the football field...
28: Oakland Raiders
This is why the Vikings are not a contender yet. Young, unproven QB? Check. Overpriced and innefective Wide Receivers? Check. Strong Defence that still struggles against the pass? Check. Completely one-dimensional on Offence?... you get the picture. The Raiders will be particularly embarrassed by DeAngelo Hall's failings at Corner. He was targetted by the Broncos all night on Monday, something that could worry the team that paid big money to play 'the other guy' to Nnamdi Asomugha. Luckily for the Raiders, the team has an excellent chance to redeem itself against the Chiefs this week.
29: Cincinnati Bengals
The biggest losers from this week are the Bungles. Losing to the Ravens is not a good sign, but the manner of their capitulation was disturbing. 154 total yards is not enough for a team as weak on Defence as the Bengals, and Chris Perry's days as a starting RB look numbered, as he continually fails to live up to his draft stock, and this weekend against Tennessee will likely not be pretty for anyone involved with Cincinnati.
30: Kansas City Chiefs
Encouragingly, the Chiefs had a shot to tie the game up in New England in week one, and never looked completely outclassed by what was still a strong team without Tom Brady. The injury to Brodie Croyle could be a blessing in disguise, as this team needs the veteran leadership of Damon Huard to avoid becoming the league's whipping boys. Oakland are next up, and if the team has any aspiration of surprising us, they'll at least need to put up a strong showing in this one.
31: San Francisco 49ers
J.T. O'Sullivan: Not the worst passer in the league, but losing fumbles and interceptions is a fast track to the bench, even if your main competition (Alex Smith) is out for the season with a shoulder injury. One bright spot was Justin Smith, who looks to be another good addition to an already decent Defence. The team frustrates observers, with talented players such as Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but in reality, until this team has a game-breaking receiver, the 49ers will remain firmly towards the bottom of the league.
32: St. Louis Rams
Fortunately for the 49ers, they aren't even the worst team in their division, let alone the NFL. That honour goes to a team that took until the 4th quarter to register it's only points of week one - a field goal with 9mins left. The most impressive player on the team was punter Donnie Jones, who can be proud of his 48.5yd average over 10 (TEN!) punts. As we predicted, Steven Jackson is not ready to play right now. Unfortunately for the Rams, their options at tailback are so weak that he has no choice but to regain his form 'on the job' so to speak.
Frankly, the Rams are the worst team in the league by a mile, and Scott Linehan will be out of a job at the end of the season unless he can pull off a miracle.
While looking dominant against Cleveland, the Cowboys will be even happier that they completed victory without any major injury concerns. Felix Jones looked like the player that Dallas fans are hoping for, and as we've said before, this team is one Receiver away from a shot at the Superbowl.
2: New England Patriots
Tom Brady's injury is quite simply a devastating blow fir a team that has thrived on the stability that he has brought to the position over the last 7 years. We still believe the Pats to be better than a one man team - remember that they won 3 superbowls without asking too much of Brady - and the sight of Matt Cassel looking a great deal more comfortable than most would have expected will cheer everyone concerned with the franchise.
3: Pittsburgh Steelers
A Crushing performance against the Texans catapults the Steelers up the rankings. We said last week that the Steelers are dark horses this season, and a convincing victory over the unpredictable Texans seems to back up that theory. The team will lose games, but they have a good mix of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Ben Roethisberger's health is key to any success this team will have.
4: San Diego Chargers
Whilst the loss to Carolina threw up some big question marks about this team, and Shawne Merriman's season ending surgery being announced earlier today, it would be easy to press the panic button in San Diego. What people should not forget is that the Defence is still capable of playing good football without Merriman, and that if it were not for a last minute fairytale ending for Jake Delhomme and the Panthers, the Chargers would probably be considered as favourites to claim New England's AFC crown.
5: Indianapolis Colts
Again, the loss to a mediocre team (Chicago) will have people worried, but remember that if there was one game that the Bears would be up for, it was this one. Peyton Manning's injury is still clearly limiting him, and Dallas Clark's loss for any length of time would be a blow, but the Colts look like they'll get going in the next few weeks.
6: Green Bay Packers
It would take a cold-hearted man to begrudge Aaron Rodgers anything in Green Bay this year, In our opinion he was shoddily treated by the media, and monday night's game could easily be classed as revenge on the hacks that lined up to criticise the team's decision to stick with Rodgers over Brett Favre. We admit we got it wrong, and didn't foresee him lighting up the game numbers-wise. On the other hand, long may he continue to prove the doubters wrong. Oh, and the rest of the team is pretty damn good too - including the best group of receivers in the NFL.
7: New Orleans Saints
Can the team win without Marques Colston? Yes, most likely they can, and their peripheral receivers such as David Patten, Deverey Henderson and Terrance Copper have shown enough ability to suggest that Drew Brees can rely on them during the next month while Colston recuperates. The Saints were marginally better than the Bucs, but in reality this team has another couple of gears to run through.
8: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags stay realatively high in the rankings by virtue of their solid overall roster, but there has to be a huge question mark over the team's offensive capabilities after the loss of both starting Guards for the season. If the ground game falters, then so will the Jags, as they proved this week.
9: New York Giants
The Giants fall one place even after winning against the 'skins, but that's mainly as a result of the Packers having a good week than the Giants being poor. No news is good news on the injury front, and getting big games from key players such as Burress and Jacobs in week one should answer a few lingering doubts about the Offence. We still hate the secondary of this team, but for now, they are still a contender in the NFC.
10: Cleveland Browns
We can't read too much into the Brownies stalling against Dallas. They'll be hoping to get Braylon Edwards more involved next week though, especially against their main contenders for the AFC North crown, Pittsburgh. Cleveland need momentum to build sooner rather than later, as the race for an AFC wild card spot could be wide open this season.
11: Houston Texans
Again, no panic for the Texans, who are a better team than their result against Pittsburgh suggests. Matt Schaub had a terrible start to the game, but finished strongly and will take some confidence into the rescheduled MNF game against Baltimore. Importantly, receivers Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter had good games, though the running game is still - after 6 years - not fixed. With Ahman Green likely out Monday, it is Steve Slaton's opportunity to make a statement as the starter in Houston.
12: Philadelphia Eagles
Whilst it's never good when you're agreeing with Pacman, he has a point. The Eagles beat a weak team in the Rams, probably the worst in the entire league, and with their best player lacking practice time. You could argue that a weak receiving lineup was even more depleted for the St. Louis game, but even so, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles fare against top level opposition in Dallas on Monday.
13: Washington Redskins
Next week is crucial for the 'skins. A game against the Saints is rarely easy, but this team faces the prospect of being 0-2 in a strong division. In the NFC East, it's never a good thing to fall away from the playoff contenders, so victory is paramount on Sunday. It's certainly not time to panic though, and if Campbell exploits the Saints leaky secondary, the Redskins should stay in the hunt for a wild card spot.
14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are still a force, but the general air of confusion regarding Jeff Garcia's status - he says he's fit enough to play, Jon Gruden is still going with Brian Griese at QB on Sunday - has cast a pall over West Florida. If the Bucs can steady the ship with a win against Atlanta, the team are still there or thereabouts. If not, a freefall could yet again affect the team who won the NFC South the previous year.
15: Buffalo Bills
A great result against the Seahwks sees the Bills leapfrog Seattle in our rankings, but it shouldn't be forgotten that the 'hawks are notoriously poor travellers, and have had particular issues on the east coast. The Bills can build momentum for a playoff run against Jacksonville on Sunday, but again, it's important to stress that finishing second, even to a Brady-less Patriots team, is no disgrace.
16: Seattle Seahawks
Oh the fall. The 'hawks can really not be considered a playoff threat until they sort out their woes on the road. Qwest field is like an extra man, but away from the Pacific time zone, the Seahawks have been abysmal in the last few years. They'll make the playoffs, of course, but only by virtue of sharing a division with St. Louis, San Francisco, and Arizona. Huge questions over the WR situation, with the returns of Deion Branch and Bobby Engram even more critical since news broke of Nate Burleson's season ending injury.
17: New York Jets
Yes, Jets fans can rest easy, they aren't quite ignored. Of course, this weekend is their big moment, as they have easily their best chance to establish themselves ahead of the Patriots in some time. Can they do it? Yes. Will they? It's always going to be a maybe when they play each other. The Jets looked solid in Miami last week, though they may be concerned that the Dolphins effectively had a shot to win heading into the dying seconds. A more ruthless team may not let them off the hook.
18: Tennessee Titans
The Titans win against the Jags may have statistically set them apart from the other three teams in the AFC South, but there are still deeper issues on this team than the result suggests. First of all, the victory came at a cost, as QB Vince Young was lost for a minimum of two weeks - but likely a month. The Defence is as strong as any in the AFC, but offensively, the team relies heavily on a running game that has shown a tendency to falter at crucial points of the last few seasons. LenDale White is the most important part of this offence going forward, and it's likely that the team will roll as he does. Fortunately for them, they travel to Cincinnati this weekend.
19: Arizona Cardinals
Can the Cards topple the Seahawks in the NFC West? Week one saw the Cards look decidedly unconvincing against one of the worst teams in the league. How the team fares against Miami this week will be a better indication of whether they can become what is effectively the winner of a 'best of the worst' contest. On the plus side, Rookie RB Tim Hightower has shown enough that - if he can cut out the fumblitis - he may be the successor to Edgerrin James at tailback.
20: Carolina Panthers
We stayed away from the Cats' game against San Diego last week as far as betting was concerned. In week one, anything can happen, and it was not a huge surprise to see Jake Delhomme come up big in the final quarter. On the other hand, one win doth not a team maketh, and there are still big questions at receiver. We like the Panthers though, and they have an outside shot at a wild card spot as things stand.
21: Minnesota Vikings
We told you. This team is so far from a contender it's not even funny. People have disagreed with us on this one all week, but the fact remains: The Vikes have not addressed crucial positions via the draft or free agency, and whilst they ignore their passing game, will rely primarily on the big play ability of Adrian Peterson to win games. That just won't cut it against many teams in this league. It says more about AP that they are this high in the rankings after a woeful performance - against a team they should really be hoping to beat this season - on Monday night.
22: Detroit Lions
Oh dear. What happened Lions? The Defence collapsed like we said it would, but the offence took two quarters to get warmed up, by which point the game was lost. The passing game was brilliant, but every other phase looked slightly underwhelming. Ernie Sims getting injured for any considerable amount of time would leave this team floundering. Well, floundering even more than they currently are. A game against Green Bay is not what this team needs right now.
23: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens came good against a week Cincinnati team, but may find the going tougher in Houston this week (Another one for 'sentences you never thought you'd say') as they face a Texans Defence that is composed of, you know... Pro athletes? At the same time, Joe Flacco looked composed at Quarterback, and Willis McGahee will be looking to emulate the Steelers successful run attack if he returns on Monday night.
24: Atlanta Falcons
Are Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood the best RB combination in the league? No, in fact they may not even be the best combination in their division, but we have to say, it's one in the eye for the idiot at ESPN.com who rated the Falcons a lowly 26th best rushing in the league this offseason. With the team heading to Tampa at just the right time, don't be surprised to see the Falcons grow in stature as the season progresses. We've said it before, and we'll say it again. With Matt Ryan at QB, this team has begun it's ascendancy.
25: Miami Dolphins
A loss against the Jets is always difficult for a team in the AFC East, considering the likelihood that the Patriots will continue their monopoly at the top of the division. This year of course, things are different, and really there were as many good points to take from the game as bad. At receiver the team has clear issues, and Ted Ginn needs to become the focal point of this offence quickly. He has the ability, but the team lacks a possession receiver to compliment him in the passing game. Chad Pennington looked rejuvenated too, though frankly even an average Pennington is better than some of the other options available to the team currently.
26: Chicago Bears
A win against the Colts and still just 26th? Look, Peyton Manning - despite anything they say - was clearly hampered by injury. He struggled on counter plays to actually get the ball into his tailback's hands, which is never a good sign. Tom Moore's shortened Offesive gameplan did not help, and played into an aggressive Defence's hands. Where the Bears may come unstuck is against teams that are willing to attack them and take a risk. Offensively, Matt Forte showed a great deal of promise, and every carry helps to erase the memories of the Cedric Benson experiment.
27: Denver Broncos
We took flak for this on various forums and messageboards, and we'll admit now: The Broncos are NOT who we thought they were! And we let them off the hook! Not really. We still think that eventually, the Defence will be the downfall of this team. It was nice to see Jay Cutler have one of those breakout games though, something he thoroughly deserves. Interestingly, though people criticise Mike Shanahan's admittedly hit and miss drafting record, Eddie Royal showed why he can still pick up the odd gem in later rounds. If Royal emerges to compliment 4th round pick in 2006 Brandon Marshall, Shanahan may have a better defence for his record. Certainly he'll have a better defence than he currently has on the football field...
28: Oakland Raiders
This is why the Vikings are not a contender yet. Young, unproven QB? Check. Overpriced and innefective Wide Receivers? Check. Strong Defence that still struggles against the pass? Check. Completely one-dimensional on Offence?... you get the picture. The Raiders will be particularly embarrassed by DeAngelo Hall's failings at Corner. He was targetted by the Broncos all night on Monday, something that could worry the team that paid big money to play 'the other guy' to Nnamdi Asomugha. Luckily for the Raiders, the team has an excellent chance to redeem itself against the Chiefs this week.
29: Cincinnati Bengals
The biggest losers from this week are the Bungles. Losing to the Ravens is not a good sign, but the manner of their capitulation was disturbing. 154 total yards is not enough for a team as weak on Defence as the Bengals, and Chris Perry's days as a starting RB look numbered, as he continually fails to live up to his draft stock, and this weekend against Tennessee will likely not be pretty for anyone involved with Cincinnati.
30: Kansas City Chiefs
Encouragingly, the Chiefs had a shot to tie the game up in New England in week one, and never looked completely outclassed by what was still a strong team without Tom Brady. The injury to Brodie Croyle could be a blessing in disguise, as this team needs the veteran leadership of Damon Huard to avoid becoming the league's whipping boys. Oakland are next up, and if the team has any aspiration of surprising us, they'll at least need to put up a strong showing in this one.
31: San Francisco 49ers
J.T. O'Sullivan: Not the worst passer in the league, but losing fumbles and interceptions is a fast track to the bench, even if your main competition (Alex Smith) is out for the season with a shoulder injury. One bright spot was Justin Smith, who looks to be another good addition to an already decent Defence. The team frustrates observers, with talented players such as Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but in reality, until this team has a game-breaking receiver, the 49ers will remain firmly towards the bottom of the league.
32: St. Louis Rams
Fortunately for the 49ers, they aren't even the worst team in their division, let alone the NFL. That honour goes to a team that took until the 4th quarter to register it's only points of week one - a field goal with 9mins left. The most impressive player on the team was punter Donnie Jones, who can be proud of his 48.5yd average over 10 (TEN!) punts. As we predicted, Steven Jackson is not ready to play right now. Unfortunately for the Rams, their options at tailback are so weak that he has no choice but to regain his form 'on the job' so to speak.
Frankly, the Rams are the worst team in the league by a mile, and Scott Linehan will be out of a job at the end of the season unless he can pull off a miracle.
Disgruntled Garcia
It's all kicking off in Tampa. Brian Griese has been confirmed as the Buccaneers starter for this Sunday's home opener against the Falcons, because of Jeff Garcia's ankle injury. According to the Bucs themselves at least. Garcia himself claims he is on the trading block, and the Bucs will take anything for him - the question that needs answering is why he wasn't shipped in the pre-season? Whilst Griese and McCown both received starters reps throughout training camp due to Garcia's niggling injuries, the disruption cannot be welcomed.
Green Bay are looking for a veteran backup.. That said, how about the Bears? (Yes, every available QB will be linked to a Chicago move, even after their shock win over the Colts.
Green Bay are looking for a veteran backup.. That said, how about the Bears? (Yes, every available QB will be linked to a Chicago move, even after their shock win over the Colts.
Ravens @ Texans game now Monday Night
As a result of the oncoming Hurricane Ike towards the Gulf Coast, the previously scheduled Ravens - Texans game has been moved to Monday night at a 8:30pm ET (2:30am BST) - the same time as the Eagles @ Cowboys game.
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