Week 5 has come and gone and we are reaching the dog days of the NFL. The good teams start to separate themselves from the crappy teams. We find out which playoff contenders have become playoff pretenders. At least one team will have a train wreck of a meltdown, and pretty soon we can expect the quarterback carousel to start as a few teams on the edge of playoff contention desperately hope for a spark.
Off the Schnide – Saints Win! Saints Win! New Orleans finally got its act together long enough to beat the Chargers. Even more surprising is that the Saints won on the road, because they are a terrible road team. I think it also speaks to how much the Chargers secretly suck, but I’ll go over that later.
Undefeated – Falcons and Texans. The Falcons have done it with one of the best offenses in the NFL. The Texans have done it by playing ferocious defense. I would be happy with this Super Bowl match up but I don’t think both teams will make it this year. The Falcons should steamroll the Raiders at home next week but the real interesting game is the Texans vs the Packers. The Packers NEED this win desperately if they want to stay in the playoff hunt. The Texans NEED this win even more desperately to prove they can beat a good team. Houston has a small advantage because they are at home for this game.
Overrated, Overpaid, I’m Over It – Carson Palmer was a bad deal for what the Raiders paid for him. Remember that guy he came in to replace who got injured last season? I’m pretty sure Oakland buried the body because they don’t want anyone to remember that they used to have a good young QB and the future looked pretty bright. I can’t believe I am saying this, but bring back Jason Campbell. The Chargers are a bad good team. Despite their record, I think Denver will be leading the division after next week. One hundred million dollars for Mario Williams and the Bills defense is 24th in passing and 30th in rushing. Seems like they got screwed on this one.
Countdown to Tebow Time – Sanchez is one of the worst-rated passers in the league. With a completion percentage under 50%, only Cassel and Weeden (a rookie!) have a worse passer rating. I watched some of the Jets vs. the Texans, and the crowd was absolutely hot for Tebow. He came in for one play and threw a long bomb that was dead on target but VERY well defended so it was incomplete. The crowd, however, was amped because it was a shot down the field. Sanchez came in and, after a few boos, he ran a play and under pressure he threw the ball in the dirt on a check down. I hate to say it, but the Jets need the leadership and spark Tebow would provide. Sanchez is almost a lost cause at this point.
Dropping Out of Contention – Lions and Panthers are done at 1-3/1-4 records. The Lions have only themselves to blame, while Cam Newton looks human in his sophomore slump year. Anyone in the NFC South not named “The Atlanta Falcons” can pretty much make off season vacation plans now. Oakland is done, also. Teetering on the brink of disaster are the Green Bay Packers. Two & three might not seem like a big deal, but the Bears and Vikings are 4-1. The only thing the Packers have going for them is they have only played 1 divisional game so far, but their defense is mediocre (19th in the NFL) and they are having problems on the offensive line. They absolutely need to win next week against the Texans or their goose might be cooked.
Weekly Picks (Home Team in Caps)
Bye Week – Bears, Saints, Panthers, Jaguars
Mr Ross Picks
Steelers over TITANS, FALCONS over Raiders, Bengals over BROWNS, Rams over DOLPHINS, Colts over JETS, EAGLES over Lions, BUCS over Chiefs, RAVENS over Cowboys, SEAHAWKS over Patriots, CARDINALS over Bills, 49ERS over Giants, Vikings over REDSKINS,
TEXANS over Houston, Broncos over CHARGERS
Last Week 7-6
Total 42-43
Mrs Ross’s Picks
Steelers, Falcons, Browns, Dolphins (I know, in my dreams), Jets, Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens, Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers, Redskins, Texans, Chargers
Last Week 7-6
Total 43-42
