NFL RECAP – WEEK SIX
STATE OF THE GAME
It is still relatively early
in the season, but I am starting to get a vibe that the NFC good teams are
better than the AFC good teams. The Packers
went to Houston with a 2-3 record and dominated the previously undefeated
Texans. New England has lost two close
games to NFC West teams - Arizona and Seattle - - that 90% of people probably
put into the win column at the start of the season. Atlanta can largely thank a 4-0 romp through
the AFC West for its 6-0 start. Pittsburgh looks to be on the decline. Kansas City, a sexy pick to contend for the
playoffs at the start of the year -- looks to be one of the four worst teams in
the league. The Ravens have not looked
good on defense even before the rash of injuries they suffered against the
Cowboys on Sunday
Right now I would rank the
Giants, the Niners, the Packers, and the Falcons ahead of any teams in the
AFC. I expect Houston, New England,
Denver and Baltimore to emerge from the rubble of their divisions -- but all
these teams need to step it up to match up against the NFC's best.
5-10 MUSINGS FROM THE GAMES
Just Wow
Last week I voiced concern
that the Redskins needed to adopt a more conservative policy on using RG3. I said this in the spirit of protecting a great
young talent. As a fan though, I am
amazed at the level of excitement he creates.
His 76-yard TD run reminded me a little of a run Kordell Stewart had
back in his "Slash" days. I don't
mean to imply that Stewart is in RG3's class, only that you seldom see a QB who
can do what RG3 just did. Here's to
hoping RG3 stays healthy and exciting for a decade.
What Time Does the Game Start?
The second half Denver
Broncos have outscored the first half Denver Broncos 128-42 through six
games. What's the deal? Apart from turnovers, the Broncos don't seem
to start firing on full power until large deficits force them to an up-tempo
game. Obviously this begs the question
why wait? If the Broncos can begin to
put together four quarters of offensive efficiency their offense will have the
potential to carry the team deep into the playoffs.
I've Seen This Before
What gives with the Cowboys
and clock management at the end of games?
Tony Romo is a veteran quarterback.
Jason Garrett is supposed to be an offensive guru and he is a former
quarterback. Yet this dynamic duo once
again managed to mismanage an opportunity to pull off a big comeback win in
Baltimore. The Cowboys dominated the
Ravens physically in this game. Still,
between Dez Bryant dropping a tying 2-point conversion and the Jason and Tony
follies they find ways to lose.
One of These Things is Not Like the Others
After six weeks all four AFC
East teams are tied for first (and last) in the division with 3-3 records. So how does New England find itself in the company
of the Bills(who have given up 40+ points in each of their three losses) the
Jets (who never know where their offense is going to come from) and the
Dolphins (come on it's the Dolphins)?
The Patriots have lost three close games by an aggregate of five
points. For all their offensive
firepower, the Pats have not been able to put away the physical teams (Ravens,
Cardinals, Seahawks) that don't back down defensively. The Patriots who looked formidable against
the Bills and the Broncos, looked outmatched physically when they tried to run
on the Seahawks. New England must find a
way to win these slog out kind of games.
Clash of the Titans.
The Giants put an efficient
beat down on the Niners in San Fran on Sunday.
I still expect these two teams to meet again for the conference
championship. The Giants have restored
some run/pass balance to their offense and that makes them a very hard team to
defend. The Niners looked like the old
Niners on offense. That is two straight
times the Giants have shut down Alex Smith when he was coming off of a great
game in the prior week. The Niner
offense needs to find a way to out scheme the Giant defense. I am starting to get a little annoyed with
Coach Harbaugh and his midweek verbal gimmicks.
This is the NFL. Good game
planning trumps cheap motivational ploys.
At a Cross Roads
The Eagles let another game
slip away in the fourth quarter to fall to 3-3.
I don't know what it is but the chemistry just doesn't look right. The Eagles seem to be searching for an
identity offensively. It is hard to find
your identity when you turn the ball over as much as the Eagles (especially
Michael Vick) are doing. Andy Reid seems
to be blowing in the wind. The defense
plays solid most of the game but can't get the key stops it needs to bring
games home. I don't see the Eagles in
the playoff picture at the end of the season.
WEEKLY AWARDS
MVP
I have to give the nod to
RG3. The Redskins again put up 30 plus
points with the highlight machine behind center. He had the electrifying 76-yard run. More impressively, he dove head first into
the end zone on an earlier short TD run after suffering a concussion last week. Washington finally has its next football
hero.
A quick honorable mention to
the Seattle crowd. I don't recall
watching a pro game lately where the crowd seemed to carry a team as much as
the Seattle fans did on Sunday in the come from behind victory over the Pats.
EL BUSTO
Weeks like this demonstrate
why you have to wait until all the games are played. It would have been easy to anoint the Romo,
Garrett, Bryant act from Dallas the trophy after their end-of -game
hijinks. But.... My man Philip Rivers
goes for six turnovers while leading his team from 24 points ahead to lose
35-24? That is one for the ages maybe -
-but certainly for the week.
SURPRISE-SURPRISE-SURPRISE
The Jim Neighbors award goes
to the Cleveland Browns. Ok, it isn't a
huge surprise that they beat Cincy, but when you have gone as long as the
Browns did without a victory you deserve a little recognition.
TREASURE OF THE WEEK
Brady threw 58 times. The Seattle defense took all the Patriot
punches and hit back just as hard. The
Hawks made the big plays on both sides of the ball when they needed them. Russell Wilson shut me up with some great
fourth quarter throws. Hawks/Pats played
this week's best game.
TRASH OF THE WEEK
Hmmm -- I have to do a little
more homework as the Jaguars were off this week (stop making your own jokes -
-I meant they had a bye). OK. I looked forward to the Giants and the Niners
all week -- and then the Niners played like the Niners of four years ago. I watched that game in 8 minutes on the DVR
because it wasn't a game. Sorry Giants,
but because the Niners didn't bring their A game to this big game -- help them
toss this one in the dumpster.
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