NFL Power Rankings - Week 5
Operation Bet Against The Rams is taking a one-week sabbatical due to a bye week. With the stock market the way it is, doesn’t the NFL know I need every automatic win I can get? Anyway, Operation Bet Against The Rams’ younger brother, Operation Bet Against The Lions is back from his one-week sabbatical though. We’re not as confident in the younger brother, but we’re going to count on him until he fails us.
There was quite a shake up atop the rankings as the Cowboys forgot that you’re allowed to use your running backs and the Broncos granted Herm Edwards a gift so that he doesn’t have to go winless or at least experience the rough ride that Miami took last season. There are some good match-ups this week and I feel like I’ll have a pretty good feel for the season after watching this week’s games. To conclude, my Dad made an interesting point. Why does nobody point out how often the word “fortuitous” is misused? Announcers use it all the time as if it means “lucky.” You’ve heard “fortuitous bounces” used in place of “lucky bounces” for years. Unfortunately, “fortuitous” is defined as, “occurring by chance” according to my boy Webster. There’s your lesson for the day. That and, never ever take my advice on an over/under. You’ll read about it below but I’m sure you have an inkling where I’m headed with that one.
32. Detroit Lions (0-3)
Nothing new to report here. Wait, they finally fired Matt Millen? Ok, there is something new to report. Too bad that it won’t affect anything this season. The black cloud over the future is gone, but having no running game or defense will keep this team in the cellar or close to it all season.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-4)
I have to admit, I was a little worried when the Bills were down 14-6 at the half. Not worried enough not to take the Bills’ second-half line, but worried nonetheless. The Rams fired Linehan and now have no more excuses for having no O-Line or defense. To answer a faithful reader, D.J. from the Valley’s question, Operation Bet Against The Rams is currently 4-0 and we have no reason change course or to expect a change here at RW.
30. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4)
It’s not my fault that I picked Cincy. Who knew Carson Palmer would be declared unavailable the night before the game? If Palmer doesn’t return, the Bengals could contend for #32. At least Cincinnati fans have Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Edison Volquez, and Johnny Cueto. The future looks bright. Oh, right, this is football. Nevermind.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)
Herm Edwards is breathing a sigh of relief because, before this past Sunday, 0-16 was looking like a real possibility after a home loss to the Raiders and a road loss to the Falcons. The Chiefs still aren’t any good but at least proved that they can be frisky at home.
28. Oakland Raiders (1-3)
Al Davis is utterly insane. Right now he’s floating around somewhere past Planet Palin. Lane Kiffen’s firing will hurt more than it will help this season. That’s not good when you’re talking about a team for whom “competing” was a step in the right direction. To answer a question posed, Al Davis has the right as owner to do whatever he wants with a team that he built and currently owns. Taxpayers have a right to vote against the usage of their money towards stadiums. Something tells me future plans will receive more scrutiny in today’s economy because uber-rich people complaining about public funds won’t go over too well in today’s era of exposed white collar crime.
27. Cleveland Browns (1-3)
I couldn’t move the Browns up in the rankings because they beat the Palmer-free Bengals. Brady Quinn is one game away from starting, and I’m not so sure that’s good for anyone except Quinn’s agent who will benefit from the advertising money that’s sure to come in. The Browns barely beat a Palmerless Bengals team. At least they can’t look bad in a bye week. Only the Raiders can do that.
26. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)
I know the Seahawks are getting two receivers back. Great, now they have two receivers qualified to play in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, those receivers don’t also help the offensive line. Hasselbeck can’t find them if he’s on his rear the whole game and nursing a back injury to boot. A trip to New York to face the Giants is NOT what the doctor ordered.
25. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
I read a report before their game against the Jets that said it would be pouring rain. The report did not mention that the rain would only last for two minutes. So, yes, for the second year running, I had the under in a game that yielded 90+ points and in which one team covered the over by itself. As to the Cardinals, how bad can Matt Leinart be if he’s not starting over Kurt Warner at this point? Warner can’t hold onto the ball so it doesn’t matter if he’s accurate. I’m just happy that Anquan Boldin is okay after that scary hit. That’s about all the good news the Cardinals have.
24. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
They play well against teams that they’re supposed to beat. Unfortunately, they’re rooting for Aaron Rodgers’ shoulder to be worse than a sprain. With a healthy Rodgers, Atlanta will be one game closer to 2-14. I must say, Matt Ryan is looking better than I thought he would though. Unfortunately, his offensive line is not good against teams that actually look like NFL teams.
23. Houston Texans (0-3)
If there was ever an 0-3 team that you didn’t want to play, this is it. Whoever created the QB controversy rumor in Houston is a moron. They were right there with an all of a sudden good Jacksonville team and I can promise you that Indianapolis is not chalking this one up in the win column just yet despite the history of this matchup. That 3-point spread is about right, and don’t be surprised when you get to the bottom of this and see that I have picked Houston.
22. Miami Dolphins (1-2)
Normally I’d say that San Diego is a great team to put in a teaser with a 6.5-point line against this Dolphins team. But, I hearken back to my Patriots pick in my Survivor Pool two weeks ago. Let’s just say that if the Dolphins could fool Bill Belichick, I’m pretty sure they can fool Norv Turner. With this squad, the Dolphins will need gimmicks to beat a resurgent Chargers team.
21. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)
The 49ers are a good front-running team because they have Frank Gore and their inability to protect the quarterback is negated. Think of them as a poor man’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Solid defense, good running attack, shaky passing game. If they fall behind, they’re in trouble. I still like the 49ers, but can’t put them any higher after they let me down last week.
20. Chicago Bears (2-2)
They beat the Eagles sans Brian Westbrook and they get to play the Detroit Lions this week. Matt Forte is legit. Kyle Orton is not. The defense figures to get a bit worn out as the season goes on, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt if they take care of business this weekend. If they don’t, then they’ll secure a spot in the RW doghouse.
19. New York Jets (2-2)
Call me a skeptic, but I’m still not buying the New York Bretts despite his 6 TD’s. They came out at halftime and tried to give the game away. I’m glad they went for 2 to make the lead an even 21. That was a smart play. Who knows when the other team is going to score 21 points in the final 1:30 of the game? If Carson Palmer is back in two weeks, the Jets could be facing a hungry Bengals team and we’ll see how good the Jets really are.
18. New England Patriots (2-1)
Not only must the Patriots win this game, but they must look good doing it. A slobber knocker against the 49ers won’t appease Belichick and it won’t appease the media. Personally, I have no faith in the Patriots’ ability to move the ball on offense and I think they proved that they don’t exactly have any speed on defense. Sunday’s game will be very telling.
17. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
They get Bryant McKinnie back from suspension which should really improve things on the offensive line. However, Gus Frerotte is still playing quarterback and their defense is not looking like the unshakable force that suited up last season. Playing in New Orleans isn’t going to make things much easier. The Vikings should be a good team but could very well be 1-4 after Monday night.
16. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
I must say that if Flacco can learn to get rid of the ball I think I’ll be impressed by him. If their defense keeps it up the Ravens can be a force in a pretty weak AFC North. They choked away that game against the Steelers but looked pretty solid in a tough environment. They have a tough home game against Tennessee followed by Indy on the road, but then they get Miami, Oakland, Cleveland and Houston. They need to survive the two-week uphill battle so that they can coast for a month.
15. New Orleans Saints (2-2)
The Deuce was loose. McAllister opened up the field for Drew Brees and Co. to go buck wild. They looked like the Saints of a few years ago and sprinkled in some Reggie Bush when needed. They’ll need to be solid in their run defense this week against Minnesota. I suggest 9 in the box thus forcing Gus Frerotte to pick you apart. When do we start making the Bernard Berrian-Clifford Franklin comparisons?
14. Green Bay Packers (2-2)
The Packers looked great at times in a tough road game against Gruden’s Bucs, but you have to be worried about Aaron Rodgers’ going down. I’m not sure that Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm are quite ready. They’ll probably have to wait 5 years like Rodgers did. Luckily for Green Bay, it won’t matter this week with Atlanta in town.
13. Denver Broncos (3-1)
Wow, they really have no defense. How do you lose to Kansas City? The Broncos are going to be beyond embarrassed when the Chiefs go 1-15. I guess you can’t win every game depending solely on your offense. Playing at home will help. But they might want to try running the ball more on offense to control the clock, or else Earnest Graham and Brian Griese will move the ball all day. Now that’s embarrassing.
12. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)
The Colts just aren’t impressive anymore. Their offense may be better than most, but, without Bob Sanders for the next month, their defense is in the bottom tier. The Colts need a win this week in Houston, but they’ll likely need to survive a shootout to make it happen.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
There’s something about this Bucs team that fails to impress anyone, yet they keep on winning. Sound like another Bucs team in the past decade? This defense isn’t as good as the one that won the Super Bowl but this team keeps getting the job done. A win in Denver this weekend would not be a shock.
10. Carolina Panthers (3-1)
It’s not tough to look good at home against the Falcons. You know what’s easier though? Looking good at home against the Chiefs! That’s right Panthers fans, your team will be off to a 4-1 start. Next week’s game in Tampa will be a bit tougher of a test.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
How do you go down in the Power Rankings after a Monday Night Football win? It’s easy, when you’re down 14-6 and need a stupid personal foul, no-huddle offense, a lucky missed pass deflection, and a defensive touchdown to beat a rookie QB in his first road game, you get to drop in the RW Power Rankings. The Steelers have not impressed and losing Mendenhall and Simmons didn’t help the cause.
8. San Diego Chargers (2-2)
Maybe getting manhandled by the Raiders for the first half was what the Chargers needed as a wake-up call. They looked atrocious and there really isn’t a good excuse. A convincing win this week in Miami will give the Chargers a boost in the rankings.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)
How big was that Josh Scobee field goal in Indy a couple weeks back? Their defense isn’t as good as I thought it was, but their offense is better than anybody wants to give them credit for. Garrard is back to getting things done. A home win against a short week Pittsburgh team will bring the Jags back into the Super Bowl conversation.
6. Washington Redskins (3-1)
I liked them with the 11 points but who knew they’d win the game outright? It was like having 24.5 points and the Beavers against USC. How long before I stop bringing that up by the way? I still like the Redskins as a playoff team, but not as a go up to Philly and win team. They just have to look decent before coming home to face the Rams and Browns and then go on the road to Detroit. A 6-2 record heading into a home match-up with Pittsburgh is highly likely and welcome news in the nation’s capital. Way more welcoming than a $700 billion bailout. For your benefit, I didn’t write the paragraph that was brewing in my mind just now. I even deleted a random comment on Lou Dobbs.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
This is not the same team when Brian Westbrook is on the bench. He is their MVP times ten. He’s one of the few guys in the league that I’d value at more than a field goal in the spread. Great play calling by Andy Reid by the way. No Westbrook, McNabb’s your QB, and you don’t try a sneak or a bootleg inside the one, three times? The Eagles will be back in the top-3 within a month with a healthy Westbrook though. My sleeper still looks good.
4. Buffalo Bills (4-0)
The Bills were threatening to spoil the Bet Against The Rams theory, but then they came out and killed the hapless but hopeful Rams. There really isn’t anything bad to say about this team. Marshawn Lynch is looking like he might be a top-5 running back. Trent Edwards has been picked up in every fantasy league. The defense is knuckling down when needed. Nobody believes in them but a road win in Arizona will get them some much-deserved respect outside of the RW world.
3. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
T.O. doesn’t get into legal trouble. He craves victories. He’s one of the best receivers in the game, if not the best. However, if you put a mike anywhere near him, he’ll spew some utter nonsense. For some reason, Grandma Wade decided to treat T.O. like an offensive coordinator and give him the ball twice as often as Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined. The Cowboys are great when they’re running the ball, forcing teams to double Witten, and thus freeing up T.O. to take advantage, or vice versa with T.O. and Witten. Hopefully for my friend Sarah, a die-hard Cowboys fan, Grandma Wade will decide to run the ball more than once every five plays. I feel bad for the Bengals this weekend already.
2. New York Giants (3-0)
They are the most unimpressive 3-0, #2 in the Power Rankings team I think I’ve seen. Brandon Jacobs is a great power runner but with Plaxico going off the deep end for a change, the Giants’ offense lacks a game changer. Their defense is good but not great, but they’re rewarded with the easiest first six games in the league. I have a feeling they’ll settle in around #10 in the RW Power Rankings by season’s end and wouldn’t be surprised by a third place finish in the NFC East. They need to take advantage of the cakewalk early schedule and thus far they’ve taken care of business, albeit in unimpressive fashion.
1. Tennessee Titans (4-0)
The Titans haven’t had a murderer’s row schedule either, but they’ve looked impressive in every win. It looks painful to play against the Titans and by the end of their games you wind up feeling bad for the poor QB who’s facing them. The Titans have the best defense in the league and their running game is controlling the clock. Kerry Collins is doing a good job leading and not making mistakes. I would not be surprised to see this Titans team in the Super Bowl. They have another defensive battle waiting for them in Baltimore this weekend.
WEEK 5 PICKS
Buffalo +1 at Arizona
Carolina -9.5 vs. Kansas City
Chicago -3.5 at Detroit
Dallas -16.5 vs. Cincinnati
Tampa Bay +3 at Denver
Atlanta +10 at Green Bay (note: this game's off the board, but my pool set the line at 10)
Houston +3 vs. Indianapolis
Jacksonville -4 vs. Pittsburgh
San Francisco +3 vs. New England
New York Giants -7 vs. Seattle
Philadelphia -5.5 vs. Washington
Miami +6.5 vs. San Diego
Tennessee -3 at Baltimore
New Orleans -3 vs. Minnesota
Season: 35-24-1
Note: My Dad and I won our 97-person pool last week due in large part to my Dad’s missing a grand total of two games last week. Not too shabby.
There was quite a shake up atop the rankings as the Cowboys forgot that you’re allowed to use your running backs and the Broncos granted Herm Edwards a gift so that he doesn’t have to go winless or at least experience the rough ride that Miami took last season. There are some good match-ups this week and I feel like I’ll have a pretty good feel for the season after watching this week’s games. To conclude, my Dad made an interesting point. Why does nobody point out how often the word “fortuitous” is misused? Announcers use it all the time as if it means “lucky.” You’ve heard “fortuitous bounces” used in place of “lucky bounces” for years. Unfortunately, “fortuitous” is defined as, “occurring by chance” according to my boy Webster. There’s your lesson for the day. That and, never ever take my advice on an over/under. You’ll read about it below but I’m sure you have an inkling where I’m headed with that one.
32. Detroit Lions (0-3)
Nothing new to report here. Wait, they finally fired Matt Millen? Ok, there is something new to report. Too bad that it won’t affect anything this season. The black cloud over the future is gone, but having no running game or defense will keep this team in the cellar or close to it all season.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-4)
I have to admit, I was a little worried when the Bills were down 14-6 at the half. Not worried enough not to take the Bills’ second-half line, but worried nonetheless. The Rams fired Linehan and now have no more excuses for having no O-Line or defense. To answer a faithful reader, D.J. from the Valley’s question, Operation Bet Against The Rams is currently 4-0 and we have no reason change course or to expect a change here at RW.
30. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4)
It’s not my fault that I picked Cincy. Who knew Carson Palmer would be declared unavailable the night before the game? If Palmer doesn’t return, the Bengals could contend for #32. At least Cincinnati fans have Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Edison Volquez, and Johnny Cueto. The future looks bright. Oh, right, this is football. Nevermind.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)
Herm Edwards is breathing a sigh of relief because, before this past Sunday, 0-16 was looking like a real possibility after a home loss to the Raiders and a road loss to the Falcons. The Chiefs still aren’t any good but at least proved that they can be frisky at home.
28. Oakland Raiders (1-3)
Al Davis is utterly insane. Right now he’s floating around somewhere past Planet Palin. Lane Kiffen’s firing will hurt more than it will help this season. That’s not good when you’re talking about a team for whom “competing” was a step in the right direction. To answer a question posed, Al Davis has the right as owner to do whatever he wants with a team that he built and currently owns. Taxpayers have a right to vote against the usage of their money towards stadiums. Something tells me future plans will receive more scrutiny in today’s economy because uber-rich people complaining about public funds won’t go over too well in today’s era of exposed white collar crime.
27. Cleveland Browns (1-3)
I couldn’t move the Browns up in the rankings because they beat the Palmer-free Bengals. Brady Quinn is one game away from starting, and I’m not so sure that’s good for anyone except Quinn’s agent who will benefit from the advertising money that’s sure to come in. The Browns barely beat a Palmerless Bengals team. At least they can’t look bad in a bye week. Only the Raiders can do that.
26. Seattle Seahawks (1-2)
I know the Seahawks are getting two receivers back. Great, now they have two receivers qualified to play in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, those receivers don’t also help the offensive line. Hasselbeck can’t find them if he’s on his rear the whole game and nursing a back injury to boot. A trip to New York to face the Giants is NOT what the doctor ordered.
25. Arizona Cardinals (1-3)
I read a report before their game against the Jets that said it would be pouring rain. The report did not mention that the rain would only last for two minutes. So, yes, for the second year running, I had the under in a game that yielded 90+ points and in which one team covered the over by itself. As to the Cardinals, how bad can Matt Leinart be if he’s not starting over Kurt Warner at this point? Warner can’t hold onto the ball so it doesn’t matter if he’s accurate. I’m just happy that Anquan Boldin is okay after that scary hit. That’s about all the good news the Cardinals have.
24. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)
They play well against teams that they’re supposed to beat. Unfortunately, they’re rooting for Aaron Rodgers’ shoulder to be worse than a sprain. With a healthy Rodgers, Atlanta will be one game closer to 2-14. I must say, Matt Ryan is looking better than I thought he would though. Unfortunately, his offensive line is not good against teams that actually look like NFL teams.
23. Houston Texans (0-3)
If there was ever an 0-3 team that you didn’t want to play, this is it. Whoever created the QB controversy rumor in Houston is a moron. They were right there with an all of a sudden good Jacksonville team and I can promise you that Indianapolis is not chalking this one up in the win column just yet despite the history of this matchup. That 3-point spread is about right, and don’t be surprised when you get to the bottom of this and see that I have picked Houston.
22. Miami Dolphins (1-2)
Normally I’d say that San Diego is a great team to put in a teaser with a 6.5-point line against this Dolphins team. But, I hearken back to my Patriots pick in my Survivor Pool two weeks ago. Let’s just say that if the Dolphins could fool Bill Belichick, I’m pretty sure they can fool Norv Turner. With this squad, the Dolphins will need gimmicks to beat a resurgent Chargers team.
21. San Francisco 49ers (2-2)
The 49ers are a good front-running team because they have Frank Gore and their inability to protect the quarterback is negated. Think of them as a poor man’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Solid defense, good running attack, shaky passing game. If they fall behind, they’re in trouble. I still like the 49ers, but can’t put them any higher after they let me down last week.
20. Chicago Bears (2-2)
They beat the Eagles sans Brian Westbrook and they get to play the Detroit Lions this week. Matt Forte is legit. Kyle Orton is not. The defense figures to get a bit worn out as the season goes on, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt if they take care of business this weekend. If they don’t, then they’ll secure a spot in the RW doghouse.
19. New York Jets (2-2)
Call me a skeptic, but I’m still not buying the New York Bretts despite his 6 TD’s. They came out at halftime and tried to give the game away. I’m glad they went for 2 to make the lead an even 21. That was a smart play. Who knows when the other team is going to score 21 points in the final 1:30 of the game? If Carson Palmer is back in two weeks, the Jets could be facing a hungry Bengals team and we’ll see how good the Jets really are.
18. New England Patriots (2-1)
Not only must the Patriots win this game, but they must look good doing it. A slobber knocker against the 49ers won’t appease Belichick and it won’t appease the media. Personally, I have no faith in the Patriots’ ability to move the ball on offense and I think they proved that they don’t exactly have any speed on defense. Sunday’s game will be very telling.
17. Minnesota Vikings (1-3)
They get Bryant McKinnie back from suspension which should really improve things on the offensive line. However, Gus Frerotte is still playing quarterback and their defense is not looking like the unshakable force that suited up last season. Playing in New Orleans isn’t going to make things much easier. The Vikings should be a good team but could very well be 1-4 after Monday night.
16. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
I must say that if Flacco can learn to get rid of the ball I think I’ll be impressed by him. If their defense keeps it up the Ravens can be a force in a pretty weak AFC North. They choked away that game against the Steelers but looked pretty solid in a tough environment. They have a tough home game against Tennessee followed by Indy on the road, but then they get Miami, Oakland, Cleveland and Houston. They need to survive the two-week uphill battle so that they can coast for a month.
15. New Orleans Saints (2-2)
The Deuce was loose. McAllister opened up the field for Drew Brees and Co. to go buck wild. They looked like the Saints of a few years ago and sprinkled in some Reggie Bush when needed. They’ll need to be solid in their run defense this week against Minnesota. I suggest 9 in the box thus forcing Gus Frerotte to pick you apart. When do we start making the Bernard Berrian-Clifford Franklin comparisons?
14. Green Bay Packers (2-2)
The Packers looked great at times in a tough road game against Gruden’s Bucs, but you have to be worried about Aaron Rodgers’ going down. I’m not sure that Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm are quite ready. They’ll probably have to wait 5 years like Rodgers did. Luckily for Green Bay, it won’t matter this week with Atlanta in town.
13. Denver Broncos (3-1)
Wow, they really have no defense. How do you lose to Kansas City? The Broncos are going to be beyond embarrassed when the Chiefs go 1-15. I guess you can’t win every game depending solely on your offense. Playing at home will help. But they might want to try running the ball more on offense to control the clock, or else Earnest Graham and Brian Griese will move the ball all day. Now that’s embarrassing.
12. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)
The Colts just aren’t impressive anymore. Their offense may be better than most, but, without Bob Sanders for the next month, their defense is in the bottom tier. The Colts need a win this week in Houston, but they’ll likely need to survive a shootout to make it happen.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
There’s something about this Bucs team that fails to impress anyone, yet they keep on winning. Sound like another Bucs team in the past decade? This defense isn’t as good as the one that won the Super Bowl but this team keeps getting the job done. A win in Denver this weekend would not be a shock.
10. Carolina Panthers (3-1)
It’s not tough to look good at home against the Falcons. You know what’s easier though? Looking good at home against the Chiefs! That’s right Panthers fans, your team will be off to a 4-1 start. Next week’s game in Tampa will be a bit tougher of a test.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)
How do you go down in the Power Rankings after a Monday Night Football win? It’s easy, when you’re down 14-6 and need a stupid personal foul, no-huddle offense, a lucky missed pass deflection, and a defensive touchdown to beat a rookie QB in his first road game, you get to drop in the RW Power Rankings. The Steelers have not impressed and losing Mendenhall and Simmons didn’t help the cause.
8. San Diego Chargers (2-2)
Maybe getting manhandled by the Raiders for the first half was what the Chargers needed as a wake-up call. They looked atrocious and there really isn’t a good excuse. A convincing win this week in Miami will give the Chargers a boost in the rankings.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)
How big was that Josh Scobee field goal in Indy a couple weeks back? Their defense isn’t as good as I thought it was, but their offense is better than anybody wants to give them credit for. Garrard is back to getting things done. A home win against a short week Pittsburgh team will bring the Jags back into the Super Bowl conversation.
6. Washington Redskins (3-1)
I liked them with the 11 points but who knew they’d win the game outright? It was like having 24.5 points and the Beavers against USC. How long before I stop bringing that up by the way? I still like the Redskins as a playoff team, but not as a go up to Philly and win team. They just have to look decent before coming home to face the Rams and Browns and then go on the road to Detroit. A 6-2 record heading into a home match-up with Pittsburgh is highly likely and welcome news in the nation’s capital. Way more welcoming than a $700 billion bailout. For your benefit, I didn’t write the paragraph that was brewing in my mind just now. I even deleted a random comment on Lou Dobbs.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
This is not the same team when Brian Westbrook is on the bench. He is their MVP times ten. He’s one of the few guys in the league that I’d value at more than a field goal in the spread. Great play calling by Andy Reid by the way. No Westbrook, McNabb’s your QB, and you don’t try a sneak or a bootleg inside the one, three times? The Eagles will be back in the top-3 within a month with a healthy Westbrook though. My sleeper still looks good.
4. Buffalo Bills (4-0)
The Bills were threatening to spoil the Bet Against The Rams theory, but then they came out and killed the hapless but hopeful Rams. There really isn’t anything bad to say about this team. Marshawn Lynch is looking like he might be a top-5 running back. Trent Edwards has been picked up in every fantasy league. The defense is knuckling down when needed. Nobody believes in them but a road win in Arizona will get them some much-deserved respect outside of the RW world.
3. Dallas Cowboys (3-1)
T.O. doesn’t get into legal trouble. He craves victories. He’s one of the best receivers in the game, if not the best. However, if you put a mike anywhere near him, he’ll spew some utter nonsense. For some reason, Grandma Wade decided to treat T.O. like an offensive coordinator and give him the ball twice as often as Marion Barber and Felix Jones combined. The Cowboys are great when they’re running the ball, forcing teams to double Witten, and thus freeing up T.O. to take advantage, or vice versa with T.O. and Witten. Hopefully for my friend Sarah, a die-hard Cowboys fan, Grandma Wade will decide to run the ball more than once every five plays. I feel bad for the Bengals this weekend already.
2. New York Giants (3-0)
They are the most unimpressive 3-0, #2 in the Power Rankings team I think I’ve seen. Brandon Jacobs is a great power runner but with Plaxico going off the deep end for a change, the Giants’ offense lacks a game changer. Their defense is good but not great, but they’re rewarded with the easiest first six games in the league. I have a feeling they’ll settle in around #10 in the RW Power Rankings by season’s end and wouldn’t be surprised by a third place finish in the NFC East. They need to take advantage of the cakewalk early schedule and thus far they’ve taken care of business, albeit in unimpressive fashion.
1. Tennessee Titans (4-0)
The Titans haven’t had a murderer’s row schedule either, but they’ve looked impressive in every win. It looks painful to play against the Titans and by the end of their games you wind up feeling bad for the poor QB who’s facing them. The Titans have the best defense in the league and their running game is controlling the clock. Kerry Collins is doing a good job leading and not making mistakes. I would not be surprised to see this Titans team in the Super Bowl. They have another defensive battle waiting for them in Baltimore this weekend.
WEEK 5 PICKS
Buffalo +1 at Arizona
Carolina -9.5 vs. Kansas City
Chicago -3.5 at Detroit
Dallas -16.5 vs. Cincinnati
Tampa Bay +3 at Denver
Atlanta +10 at Green Bay (note: this game's off the board, but my pool set the line at 10)
Houston +3 vs. Indianapolis
Jacksonville -4 vs. Pittsburgh
San Francisco +3 vs. New England
New York Giants -7 vs. Seattle
Philadelphia -5.5 vs. Washington
Miami +6.5 vs. San Diego
Tennessee -3 at Baltimore
New Orleans -3 vs. Minnesota
Season: 35-24-1
Note: My Dad and I won our 97-person pool last week due in large part to my Dad’s missing a grand total of two games last week. Not too shabby.
Grandma Wade is just keeping Jason Garret's headset warm anyways. I almost think he has it worse than Lane Kiffen had it, because everyone already knew Al Davis is nuts AND the Cowboys are a winning team. I bet he gets fired if the Cowboys don't make the playoffs... and have you seen the NFC East this year?
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You know why the Buffalo Bills are good right? It's all because I'm choosing their plays via Playstation. You can thank me later.
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I just realized that without St. Louis or Kansas City this weekend, I don't know who to pick against in Survival Football.
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Well, the Rams actually are playing this weekend against the Redskins. However, if you already have used the Redskins in your Survivor Pool, then go ahead and just use another proven strategy and pick against Detroit. They play Minnesota this weekend. Ask and ye shall receive.
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