Week 5
Former Texas Tech star receiver Michael Crabtree is finally in camp with the San Francisco 49’ers after holding out for four regular season games believing he was entitled to a better compensation than his draft selection slot afforded him. One has to wonder what he and/or his agent were contemplating in this action. Waiting until next year’s draft could only devalue his status and meanwhile, where’s the money sitting around and pouting?
In the ironic rewards department, dark clouds were gathering around Braylan Edwards in Cleveland who stood accused of punching out a diminutive associate of Cleveland Cavaliers super-star and minor Ohio deity, Lebrun James. Before the story wiggled out of the news cycle, Edwards was traded to the New York Jets. Clearly, the Jets expect the pouty receiver to catch the ball.
New York Giants fans endure anxiety over the status of QB Eli Manning who’s nursing a chronic heel injury as the team prepares to host the hapless Oakland Raiders.
What does one make of the Washington Redskins travelling to Charlotte, North Carolina to face the Carolina Panthers?
Could this be the “High Anxiety Bowl?” The Panthers at 0-4 desperately need a win to salvage any kind of respectability for the 2009 season and the Redskins who’ve looked just plain horrible through out much of the season could be the perfect victim for their frustration. Though the Skins beat Tampa, the highlights show a quarterback struggling miserably.
Donovan McNabb returns to action after Philadelphia’s bye week to face Tampa Bay. Should the Philadelphia Phillies falter against the Colorado Rockies in the MLB playoffs, somehow McNabb will be held responsible. Hmm, can he throw a 90 mph fastball and get three batters out in the 9th inning?
The resurgent Denver Broncos could have their golden coming out party if they can defend the mile high world and defeat the evil dark warriors led by the coach in the tattered hoody.
The games:
Cincinnati at Baltimore (-8 ½)
Baltimore should win this game and take some of the air out of Cincinnati’s early season sails. The Ravens need to be careful on special teams. The Bengals could beat the spread.
Washington at Carolina (-3 ½)
Even with a reckless Jake the Mistake leading the Carolina offense, is he any more helpless than Skin’s passer, Jason Campbell. This looks like a good bet for the Panthers.
Cleveland at Buffalo (-6)
Here it is, the Lake Erie “Mistake by the Lake” Bowl. Both teams have not looked good this year, but Cleveland has more ways to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory than the Buffalo Bills. This game could be the Terrell Owens get happy game.
Pittsburgh (-10 ½) at Detroit
The Lions losing streak will reach two as Big Ben and the boys invade Motown.
Dallas (-8 ½) at Kansas City
Could this be a trap game for Dallas? Probably not. The Chiefs simply have too many loose ends to put up enough of an attack to beat the Cowboys. Even if the Cowboys achieve a substantial win, no one should assume the team is moving in the right direction or turning the corner. Winning games like this is a basic requirement nothing to marvel about.
Oakland at New York Giants (-16)
The -16 might be a little generous if Eli Manning doesn’t start, but this game will follow the “come east and get your asses whooped” formula that west coast teams endure when they come east.
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia (-15)
Welcome back Mr. McNabb. The Eagles will prevail.
Minnesota (-10) at St. Louis
Only ten points for the Vikings. They’re going to slaughter St. Louis.
Atlanta at San Francisco (-2.5)
This will be an interesting game featuring two teams that appear on the rise. Holding down the home fort, the 49’ers have a slight advantage.
Houston at Arizona (-5.5)
The Cardinals need this game to put them back in the picture for 2009. Houston will not be an easy foe as they continue to grow with baby steps toward being a respectable program.
New England (-3) at Denver
Here’s another game that will help fans determine to what extent is Tom Brady still recovering from his dreadful knee injury last year. Denver is a much better team than expected with their improved defense being the refreshing change, but can they stand up to the multifaceted New England attack? Probably not, the Patriots should prevail.
Jacksonville at Seattle (-1)
The experts didn’t want to pick this game and neither do we. Both teams are capable of flashes of brilliance. They can turn around and look hideous a couple plays later. These are two teams that look like candidates for rebuilding. We’ll pick Seattle largely out of deference to the home team advantage.
Indianapolis (-4) at Tennessee
This game was supposed to mean something when the season started. While the Colts sitting at 4-0 should not be a huge surprise, who’d figure the Titans would be a lowly 0-4 unable to get much of anything started. Somehow, giving Indy four points seems awfully cautious but aren’t the Titans bound to break out of their funk at some point? Regardless, the Colts are just too strong at this point in the season. Only if Payton’s brothers don’t prepare for this one could the Colts go down.
New York Jets (-2) at Miami
Working in an inexperienced QB and all the other minor issues add up to make this game a tough one for the fish. The Jets aggressive defense should be tough enough to keep Miami from getting anything started.
Closing Thoughts:
Upon completion of this weekend’s games, the 2009 season will be one quarter complete. The big stories in the AFC must be how well Denver is playing set against how poorly Tennessee has started. Cincinnati’s early success could be a mild surprise and surely most fans would have expected the Steelers to be tougher.
The NFC’s stories surely are the 4-0 teams each having it’s own story for how it reached the top: Minnesota with Brett Favre; New Orleans not only showing a great offense with Drew Brees but also a stronger than expected defense; and finally, the New York Giants appear to be much more like the team that just won the Super Bowl after the 2007 season than the team that faded late in the season last year.
Sure, the Dallas Cowboys get a lot of coverage, but is their mediocre performance that much of a surprise? Tony Romo hasn’t proven anything yet as fans wonder if he ever will. He’s supported by a miserable offensive line as the Cowboys’ defense has likewise been inconsistent. Once gain head coach Wade Phillips ability to run an NFL team looks weak. Realistically, at 2-2, perhaps being a middle-of-the-pack, mediocre team is the true reflection of what the 2009 Cowboys amount to as an NFL franchise. Does that old expression, “you can’t put lipstick on a pig” come to mind?
Baltimore should win this game and take some of the air out of Cincinnati’s early season sails. The Ravens need to be careful on special teams. The Bengals could beat the spread.
Washington at Carolina (-3 ½)
Even with a reckless Jake the Mistake leading the Carolina offense, is he any more helpless than Skin’s passer, Jason Campbell. This looks like a good bet for the Panthers.
Cleveland at Buffalo (-6)
Here it is, the Lake Erie “Mistake by the Lake” Bowl. Both teams have not looked good this year, but Cleveland has more ways to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory than the Buffalo Bills. This game could be the Terrell Owens get happy game.
Pittsburgh (-10 ½) at Detroit
The Lions losing streak will reach two as Big Ben and the boys invade Motown.
Dallas (-8 ½) at Kansas City
Could this be a trap game for Dallas? Probably not. The Chiefs simply have too many loose ends to put up enough of an attack to beat the Cowboys. Even if the Cowboys achieve a substantial win, no one should assume the team is moving in the right direction or turning the corner. Winning games like this is a basic requirement nothing to marvel about.
Oakland at New York Giants (-16)
The -16 might be a little generous if Eli Manning doesn’t start, but this game will follow the “come east and get your asses whooped” formula that west coast teams endure when they come east.
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia (-15)
Welcome back Mr. McNabb. The Eagles will prevail.
Minnesota (-10) at St. Louis
Only ten points for the Vikings. They’re going to slaughter St. Louis.
Atlanta at San Francisco (-2.5)
This will be an interesting game featuring two teams that appear on the rise. Holding down the home fort, the 49’ers have a slight advantage.
Houston at Arizona (-5.5)
The Cardinals need this game to put them back in the picture for 2009. Houston will not be an easy foe as they continue to grow with baby steps toward being a respectable program.
New England (-3) at Denver
Here’s another game that will help fans determine to what extent is Tom Brady still recovering from his dreadful knee injury last year. Denver is a much better team than expected with their improved defense being the refreshing change, but can they stand up to the multifaceted New England attack? Probably not, the Patriots should prevail.
Jacksonville at Seattle (-1)
The experts didn’t want to pick this game and neither do we. Both teams are capable of flashes of brilliance. They can turn around and look hideous a couple plays later. These are two teams that look like candidates for rebuilding. We’ll pick Seattle largely out of deference to the home team advantage.
Indianapolis (-4) at Tennessee
This game was supposed to mean something when the season started. While the Colts sitting at 4-0 should not be a huge surprise, who’d figure the Titans would be a lowly 0-4 unable to get much of anything started. Somehow, giving Indy four points seems awfully cautious but aren’t the Titans bound to break out of their funk at some point? Regardless, the Colts are just too strong at this point in the season. Only if Payton’s brothers don’t prepare for this one could the Colts go down.
New York Jets (-2) at Miami
Working in an inexperienced QB and all the other minor issues add up to make this game a tough one for the fish. The Jets aggressive defense should be tough enough to keep Miami from getting anything started.
Closing Thoughts:
Upon completion of this weekend’s games, the 2009 season will be one quarter complete. The big stories in the AFC must be how well Denver is playing set against how poorly Tennessee has started. Cincinnati’s early success could be a mild surprise and surely most fans would have expected the Steelers to be tougher.
The NFC’s stories surely are the 4-0 teams each having it’s own story for how it reached the top: Minnesota with Brett Favre; New Orleans not only showing a great offense with Drew Brees but also a stronger than expected defense; and finally, the New York Giants appear to be much more like the team that just won the Super Bowl after the 2007 season than the team that faded late in the season last year.
Sure, the Dallas Cowboys get a lot of coverage, but is their mediocre performance that much of a surprise? Tony Romo hasn’t proven anything yet as fans wonder if he ever will. He’s supported by a miserable offensive line as the Cowboys’ defense has likewise been inconsistent. Once gain head coach Wade Phillips ability to run an NFL team looks weak. Realistically, at 2-2, perhaps being a middle-of-the-pack, mediocre team is the true reflection of what the 2009 Cowboys amount to as an NFL franchise. Does that old expression, “you can’t put lipstick on a pig” come to mind?
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