All teams enter week 6 having completed one quarter of the season, and clearly some vivid stories have emerged.
Who would have thought Denver would be 5-0? The money would be on 0-5. Finishing preseason, the Broncos’ clubhouse appeared in ruin. Rookie coach, Josh McDaniels, appeared thrust in a situation way over his head while wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, was in defiant revolt. There was no telling what potential quarterback, Kyle Orton had with Jay Cutler storming out of town. Not only is the offense clicking, but a terrible defense for the past several years has suddenly proven most effective under the leadership of former Ravens coordinator, Mike Nolan. The Broncos’ crowning achievement was defeating New England, the pupil, McDaniel, defeating his mentor, Bill Belichick.
Brett Favre’s leadership in Minnesota perhaps is not a surprise but the Vikings are undefeated with an explosive, multi-dimensional offense and a strong, effective defense. Favre showed classic late drive and even throws his body at defenders at 40 years old blocking supporting his teammates a task most pretty boy quarterbacks at any age would avoid.
Surely, the Cincinnati Bengals were not the choice to lead the AFC North. So far, they show four wins, one win against each of their divisional rivals including a dramatic final second’s drive to beat the Ravens in Baltimore.
Life’s a breeze in New Orleans where QB Drew Brees has the New Orleans Saints undefeated. Finally, the Saints are learning how to play defense too. This was once a closely bunched division, but this year only New Orleans and Atlanta have much kick in them.
While the New York Jets aren’t better in the standings that this point last year, rookie coach Rex Ryan with rookie QB Rex Ryan have turned around the team’s attitude to a tough and maddening squad who play with determination and attitude. Bringing his offensive strategy that sustained the Ravens’ might along with linebacker, Bart Scott, to help provide leadership on the field, the Jets will be in the playoff picture at the end of season.
Archie Manning could be the world’s proudest papas. His sons, Payton and Eli, are leading undefeated teams, the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants, either team could be declared the best in its conference at the quarter post.
In saluting the achievements, perhaps the big story of 2009 is just how dreadful some teams are performing this year. Highlight number one, the Detroit Lions at 1-3 are not the worst team in the NFL. In fact of the lesser teams, they are perhaps one of the most promising. Coach Jim Schwartz appears a capable leader bringing in highly experienced defensive coordinator, Günter Cunningham as part of a much more sophisticated leadership team to mold the Lions into a potential winner. Matt Stafford looks promising as quarterback. The Lions broke their losing streak in week 3 knocking off the Washington Redskins who now go on the list of seriously troubled franchises.
The miseries run high in Cleveland, Tennessee, Buffalo, Oakland, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis besides Washington and Detroit.
Tennessee? How could they be on the list? Did they not have the best regular season record a year ago only to be eliminated by Baltimore in the Divisional championship round? Tennessee is winless likely to be 0-6 facing New England this weekend. This is essentially the same team, no big roster turnover, no whiz-kid new coordinator ruining proven successful formulas. Albert Haynesworth was a key defender lost to the Redskins as a free agent, but surely his loss doesn’t turn a top team into a cellar dweller. Head Coach, Jeff Fisher, is the dean of NFL coaches who has been seen as an effective leader. No credible explanation has been offered, not even the fallback of … they suddenly got old.
The Cleveland Browns are a joke. They fired coach Romeo Crennel and brought in Eric Mangini (aka Man-Genius) who had just been fired by the Jets. Also ousted was GM Phil Savage who never gained respect from ownership. One could tell from the opening of training camp that Mangini’s approach was bound to cause trouble bullying his rookies and not making a decision on his starting QB until just days before the season opener. From there, it’s been one sorry mess. During a total thrashing by the Baltimore Ravens in the 3rd quarter, week 3, Mangini got out his quick hook and yanked QB Brady Quinn in favor of Derek Anderson. This is not a popular move with Browns fans. There was quite an uproar when local fellow, Bernie Kosar was deposed by Vinnie Testeverde. Quinn, a former Notre Dame star is also an Ohioan lad. Reports circulate frequently how in just the first quarter, Mangini has lost any support from his players. It’s a toxic clubhouse that can only get worse.
While the Redskins are 2-3, the way they’ve lost, the way they play, and who has beaten them put them on the list. Their opening loss against the New York Giants in New York is no shame. The Giants are a proven tough team. Their other two loses were to teams they should have beaten, Detroit and Carolina. Besides that, they beat St. Louis 9-7 and looked unstable and sloppy and confused particularly in the first half against Tampa Bay. Coach Jim Zorn appears to have little support from the team with some bad mouthing him to the media and others asking for a vote of confidence from ownership amidst speculation impatient owner, Daniel Snyder, could fire him before season’s end. Former Redskins greats including Joe Theismann and John Riggins ripped him viciously on DC sports programming. This is a very troubled franchise in a tough division and a city accustomed to class and excellence from their beloved NFL team, the one phenomenon that unites all.
St. Louis is all but a franchise in receivership as the Rosenbloom family attempts to sell the team after the death of Georgia Frontiere. Steve Spagnuolo, former Defensive Coordinator for the New York Giants is the latest coach assigned the task to try to restore order to a miserable team. The team needs a complete overhaul and the right people to call the shots, a difficult task when ownership is in transition. Perhaps the most foretelling story of the Rams situation has been the story regarding Rush Limbaugh’s possible involvement with an investment group seeking to buy the team. After a vicious smear campaign from the usual left-wing goons including Al Sharpton who helped finance the uproar, Limbaugh was forced out. One must speculate the left-wing complainers were terrified with the prospect of Limbaugh likely becoming a very likeable owner who’d treat his players with respect. Given a different roll to see Rush perform could further his reach, and for the crowd that speaks of diversity and inclusion as virtues, there’s no room for those who believe in traditional values and profess conservative beliefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been a team adrift since the death of founding owner Lamar Hunt in 2006 leaving son Clark as the acting owner for the family’s interest. A front office shakeup and failure to develop a roadmap for the team on the field has rendered KC football a chaotic mess with no sense of direction. Scott Pioli is tasked with being the architect of a resurgent team having front office experience with Cleveland, Baltimore, the New York Jets, and New England seen as a key figure developing personnel for the Patriots establishing their dynasty. Todd Haley, former offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals serves as the first year head coach. Clearly Pioli and Haley have much work to accomplish. Of the miserable teams, the Chiefs at least show the most discipline and hustle. Final note, the Rams have only scored 34 points all season while giving up the second most points in the league. And how many teams have scored 34 points in just one game?
The Oakland Raiders don’t even provide a good caricature of their former selves. Long gone are the days that upstart owner, Al Davis, is an effective football franchise leader with the leadership positions being reduced to a revolving door mess since John Gruden left for Tampa Bay. Poor draft selections and clear incompetence couple to make the Raider situation pathetic. What’s clear to 31 other teams and NFL fans nationwide is JaMarcus Russell is not an NFL quality quarterback. That fact escapes notice with the Raiders’ decision makers. As if things couldn’t be any worse, head coach, Tom Cable, is under investigation for assault charges breaking the jaw of former assistant coach Randy Hanson, early in training camp, August 5, 2009. Do the Raiders still display the banner along the sidelines that reads, “Commitment to excellence?”
No one would have expected the Carolina Panthers to be on this list as they were playoff participants last year despite their horrific loss. What’s become clear is the Coach Fox era is over and Jake (DeHolme) is a mistake. In a season “Peppered” with frustration, it’s time for this team to blow it up and start over.
91 year old founding owner Ralph Wilson, the Buffalo Bills, inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame last summer is dearly beloved by the Buffalo community who has long struggled to keep his team competitive in a small market, Buffalo, but conceded to playing one home date at Toronto’s Rogers Center for its lucrative gate receipt. Winning a Super Bowl is about the only accomplishment for an NFL team that eluded Wilson, but his days grow short, and what is there to be said of a team that was borderline for the past few seasons signing clubhouse terror and media craving mad man, Terrell Owens, as their #1 receiver. While losing by just one point 24-25 versus New England in week 1, their only victory came week 2 versus Tampa Bay a 33-20 victory. They were even on the losing end of a bizarre 6-3 loss to Cleveland giving the Browns their only win.
The final flop lands in Tampa where the Bucs are a punchless bunch of rag-tags making the glory years developed by Tony Dungi handed off the John Gruden look so far away now. Today, their pirate’s ship’s cannons don’t fire, the sails are tattered, and the mast is missing. While trying to rebuild, efforts so far have not produced results with baffling draft choices and a lack of direction.
So what’s ahead as teams move into the second quarter of the 2009 season. Here’s what to expect this weekend.
Baltimore at Minnesota (-3)
Brett Favre must overcome the best in the business at stopping the run, but can his passing game prevail. They’ve not played a defense like the Ravens so far. Baltimore should win by a field goal.
Kansas City at Washington (-6 ½)
If the buzz on the local media is any indication of the health of the DC football team, they could be headed for another upset this weekend. Washington should be good enough to win. Given the statements about Coach Zorn though, if this team is already packing it in for the season, the Chiefs could yank their feathers.
Houston at Cincinnati (-5)
The Bengals dream season will continue to look bright as they should be able to handle this home game with relative ease.
New York at New Orleans (-3)
This is one of the toughest games to call this week and could easily go either way as Eli Manning heads down to his part of the world. We’ll give the Saints the slightest edge.
Carolina (-3 ½) at Tampa Bay
The Panthers are a more talented team but that hasn’t meant much so far this year. Still they’ve got to be strong enough to edge Tampa Bay.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh (-14)
The point spread is a referendum on what America thinks of the sorry state of the Browns. Pittsburgh’s struggles so far this year will look like a distant memory as the terrible towels will be waving in joy as the Browns will be dismembered and dumped into the river in Steel town.
Detroit at Green Bay (-13 1/2)
The team from Michigan will lose to the team on Lake Michigan, no doubt. Can Detroit beat the spread? Maybe.
St. Louis at Jacksonville (-9 ½)
More than their physical location will be heading south for this game. St. Louis will get clobbered in Jacksonville but nobody in Jacksonville will know it since the game will be blacked out and the stands empty. And why did the NFL chose Jacksonville over St. Louis or Baltimore when they added teams for 1995?
Philadelphia (-14) at Oakland
The toughest part of this weekend will be the cross country flight for the Eagles. Marching over the Raiders will be a walk in the park.
Arizona at Seattle (-3)
One of these teams needs to show something or San Francisco could walk off with the division. Arizona doesn’t have the explosive performance they enjoyed on offense last year and Seattle’s just a little healthier. This game could easily go either way. Very slight edge goes to Seattle.
Tennessee at New England (-9 ½)
Your team is 0-5 and needs some silver lining to get its first win. How about a trip to enjoy autumn in New England? Ah, that would be nice if there weren’t a football game to be decided. Tennessee won’t get dusted off the field, but they won’t win either.
Buffalo at New York Jets (-9 ½)
Is this the week T.O. finally explodes? There will be plenty of microphones in the Meadowlands as the Rex Ryan hit squad will have his number and dominate this game without much to fret.
Chicago at Atlanta (-3 1/2)
Atlanta should stand strong and defeat the Bears but must bring out their best game to do so.
Denver at San Diego (-3 1/2)
Is this the game where Denver’s balloon finally breaks? Don’t count on it. San Diego’s running attack has been almost nonexistent so far. If Denver plays the kind of football they’ve played so far to beat teams that were supposed to be better than they are, they’ll win this. After all, they are 5-0 and the Bolts are 2-2. The season is far enough along that this should indicate who the better team is especially since they play in the same division.
Who would have thought Denver would be 5-0? The money would be on 0-5. Finishing preseason, the Broncos’ clubhouse appeared in ruin. Rookie coach, Josh McDaniels, appeared thrust in a situation way over his head while wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, was in defiant revolt. There was no telling what potential quarterback, Kyle Orton had with Jay Cutler storming out of town. Not only is the offense clicking, but a terrible defense for the past several years has suddenly proven most effective under the leadership of former Ravens coordinator, Mike Nolan. The Broncos’ crowning achievement was defeating New England, the pupil, McDaniel, defeating his mentor, Bill Belichick.
Brett Favre’s leadership in Minnesota perhaps is not a surprise but the Vikings are undefeated with an explosive, multi-dimensional offense and a strong, effective defense. Favre showed classic late drive and even throws his body at defenders at 40 years old blocking supporting his teammates a task most pretty boy quarterbacks at any age would avoid.
Surely, the Cincinnati Bengals were not the choice to lead the AFC North. So far, they show four wins, one win against each of their divisional rivals including a dramatic final second’s drive to beat the Ravens in Baltimore.
Life’s a breeze in New Orleans where QB Drew Brees has the New Orleans Saints undefeated. Finally, the Saints are learning how to play defense too. This was once a closely bunched division, but this year only New Orleans and Atlanta have much kick in them.
While the New York Jets aren’t better in the standings that this point last year, rookie coach Rex Ryan with rookie QB Rex Ryan have turned around the team’s attitude to a tough and maddening squad who play with determination and attitude. Bringing his offensive strategy that sustained the Ravens’ might along with linebacker, Bart Scott, to help provide leadership on the field, the Jets will be in the playoff picture at the end of season.
Archie Manning could be the world’s proudest papas. His sons, Payton and Eli, are leading undefeated teams, the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Giants, either team could be declared the best in its conference at the quarter post.
In saluting the achievements, perhaps the big story of 2009 is just how dreadful some teams are performing this year. Highlight number one, the Detroit Lions at 1-3 are not the worst team in the NFL. In fact of the lesser teams, they are perhaps one of the most promising. Coach Jim Schwartz appears a capable leader bringing in highly experienced defensive coordinator, Günter Cunningham as part of a much more sophisticated leadership team to mold the Lions into a potential winner. Matt Stafford looks promising as quarterback. The Lions broke their losing streak in week 3 knocking off the Washington Redskins who now go on the list of seriously troubled franchises.
The miseries run high in Cleveland, Tennessee, Buffalo, Oakland, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis besides Washington and Detroit.
Tennessee? How could they be on the list? Did they not have the best regular season record a year ago only to be eliminated by Baltimore in the Divisional championship round? Tennessee is winless likely to be 0-6 facing New England this weekend. This is essentially the same team, no big roster turnover, no whiz-kid new coordinator ruining proven successful formulas. Albert Haynesworth was a key defender lost to the Redskins as a free agent, but surely his loss doesn’t turn a top team into a cellar dweller. Head Coach, Jeff Fisher, is the dean of NFL coaches who has been seen as an effective leader. No credible explanation has been offered, not even the fallback of … they suddenly got old.
The Cleveland Browns are a joke. They fired coach Romeo Crennel and brought in Eric Mangini (aka Man-Genius) who had just been fired by the Jets. Also ousted was GM Phil Savage who never gained respect from ownership. One could tell from the opening of training camp that Mangini’s approach was bound to cause trouble bullying his rookies and not making a decision on his starting QB until just days before the season opener. From there, it’s been one sorry mess. During a total thrashing by the Baltimore Ravens in the 3rd quarter, week 3, Mangini got out his quick hook and yanked QB Brady Quinn in favor of Derek Anderson. This is not a popular move with Browns fans. There was quite an uproar when local fellow, Bernie Kosar was deposed by Vinnie Testeverde. Quinn, a former Notre Dame star is also an Ohioan lad. Reports circulate frequently how in just the first quarter, Mangini has lost any support from his players. It’s a toxic clubhouse that can only get worse.
While the Redskins are 2-3, the way they’ve lost, the way they play, and who has beaten them put them on the list. Their opening loss against the New York Giants in New York is no shame. The Giants are a proven tough team. Their other two loses were to teams they should have beaten, Detroit and Carolina. Besides that, they beat St. Louis 9-7 and looked unstable and sloppy and confused particularly in the first half against Tampa Bay. Coach Jim Zorn appears to have little support from the team with some bad mouthing him to the media and others asking for a vote of confidence from ownership amidst speculation impatient owner, Daniel Snyder, could fire him before season’s end. Former Redskins greats including Joe Theismann and John Riggins ripped him viciously on DC sports programming. This is a very troubled franchise in a tough division and a city accustomed to class and excellence from their beloved NFL team, the one phenomenon that unites all.
St. Louis is all but a franchise in receivership as the Rosenbloom family attempts to sell the team after the death of Georgia Frontiere. Steve Spagnuolo, former Defensive Coordinator for the New York Giants is the latest coach assigned the task to try to restore order to a miserable team. The team needs a complete overhaul and the right people to call the shots, a difficult task when ownership is in transition. Perhaps the most foretelling story of the Rams situation has been the story regarding Rush Limbaugh’s possible involvement with an investment group seeking to buy the team. After a vicious smear campaign from the usual left-wing goons including Al Sharpton who helped finance the uproar, Limbaugh was forced out. One must speculate the left-wing complainers were terrified with the prospect of Limbaugh likely becoming a very likeable owner who’d treat his players with respect. Given a different roll to see Rush perform could further his reach, and for the crowd that speaks of diversity and inclusion as virtues, there’s no room for those who believe in traditional values and profess conservative beliefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been a team adrift since the death of founding owner Lamar Hunt in 2006 leaving son Clark as the acting owner for the family’s interest. A front office shakeup and failure to develop a roadmap for the team on the field has rendered KC football a chaotic mess with no sense of direction. Scott Pioli is tasked with being the architect of a resurgent team having front office experience with Cleveland, Baltimore, the New York Jets, and New England seen as a key figure developing personnel for the Patriots establishing their dynasty. Todd Haley, former offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals serves as the first year head coach. Clearly Pioli and Haley have much work to accomplish. Of the miserable teams, the Chiefs at least show the most discipline and hustle. Final note, the Rams have only scored 34 points all season while giving up the second most points in the league. And how many teams have scored 34 points in just one game?
The Oakland Raiders don’t even provide a good caricature of their former selves. Long gone are the days that upstart owner, Al Davis, is an effective football franchise leader with the leadership positions being reduced to a revolving door mess since John Gruden left for Tampa Bay. Poor draft selections and clear incompetence couple to make the Raider situation pathetic. What’s clear to 31 other teams and NFL fans nationwide is JaMarcus Russell is not an NFL quality quarterback. That fact escapes notice with the Raiders’ decision makers. As if things couldn’t be any worse, head coach, Tom Cable, is under investigation for assault charges breaking the jaw of former assistant coach Randy Hanson, early in training camp, August 5, 2009. Do the Raiders still display the banner along the sidelines that reads, “Commitment to excellence?”
No one would have expected the Carolina Panthers to be on this list as they were playoff participants last year despite their horrific loss. What’s become clear is the Coach Fox era is over and Jake (DeHolme) is a mistake. In a season “Peppered” with frustration, it’s time for this team to blow it up and start over.
91 year old founding owner Ralph Wilson, the Buffalo Bills, inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame last summer is dearly beloved by the Buffalo community who has long struggled to keep his team competitive in a small market, Buffalo, but conceded to playing one home date at Toronto’s Rogers Center for its lucrative gate receipt. Winning a Super Bowl is about the only accomplishment for an NFL team that eluded Wilson, but his days grow short, and what is there to be said of a team that was borderline for the past few seasons signing clubhouse terror and media craving mad man, Terrell Owens, as their #1 receiver. While losing by just one point 24-25 versus New England in week 1, their only victory came week 2 versus Tampa Bay a 33-20 victory. They were even on the losing end of a bizarre 6-3 loss to Cleveland giving the Browns their only win.
The final flop lands in Tampa where the Bucs are a punchless bunch of rag-tags making the glory years developed by Tony Dungi handed off the John Gruden look so far away now. Today, their pirate’s ship’s cannons don’t fire, the sails are tattered, and the mast is missing. While trying to rebuild, efforts so far have not produced results with baffling draft choices and a lack of direction.
So what’s ahead as teams move into the second quarter of the 2009 season. Here’s what to expect this weekend.
Baltimore at Minnesota (-3)
Brett Favre must overcome the best in the business at stopping the run, but can his passing game prevail. They’ve not played a defense like the Ravens so far. Baltimore should win by a field goal.
Kansas City at Washington (-6 ½)
If the buzz on the local media is any indication of the health of the DC football team, they could be headed for another upset this weekend. Washington should be good enough to win. Given the statements about Coach Zorn though, if this team is already packing it in for the season, the Chiefs could yank their feathers.
Houston at Cincinnati (-5)
The Bengals dream season will continue to look bright as they should be able to handle this home game with relative ease.
New York at New Orleans (-3)
This is one of the toughest games to call this week and could easily go either way as Eli Manning heads down to his part of the world. We’ll give the Saints the slightest edge.
Carolina (-3 ½) at Tampa Bay
The Panthers are a more talented team but that hasn’t meant much so far this year. Still they’ve got to be strong enough to edge Tampa Bay.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh (-14)
The point spread is a referendum on what America thinks of the sorry state of the Browns. Pittsburgh’s struggles so far this year will look like a distant memory as the terrible towels will be waving in joy as the Browns will be dismembered and dumped into the river in Steel town.
Detroit at Green Bay (-13 1/2)
The team from Michigan will lose to the team on Lake Michigan, no doubt. Can Detroit beat the spread? Maybe.
St. Louis at Jacksonville (-9 ½)
More than their physical location will be heading south for this game. St. Louis will get clobbered in Jacksonville but nobody in Jacksonville will know it since the game will be blacked out and the stands empty. And why did the NFL chose Jacksonville over St. Louis or Baltimore when they added teams for 1995?
Philadelphia (-14) at Oakland
The toughest part of this weekend will be the cross country flight for the Eagles. Marching over the Raiders will be a walk in the park.
Arizona at Seattle (-3)
One of these teams needs to show something or San Francisco could walk off with the division. Arizona doesn’t have the explosive performance they enjoyed on offense last year and Seattle’s just a little healthier. This game could easily go either way. Very slight edge goes to Seattle.
Tennessee at New England (-9 ½)
Your team is 0-5 and needs some silver lining to get its first win. How about a trip to enjoy autumn in New England? Ah, that would be nice if there weren’t a football game to be decided. Tennessee won’t get dusted off the field, but they won’t win either.
Buffalo at New York Jets (-9 ½)
Is this the week T.O. finally explodes? There will be plenty of microphones in the Meadowlands as the Rex Ryan hit squad will have his number and dominate this game without much to fret.
Chicago at Atlanta (-3 1/2)
Atlanta should stand strong and defeat the Bears but must bring out their best game to do so.
Denver at San Diego (-3 1/2)
Is this the game where Denver’s balloon finally breaks? Don’t count on it. San Diego’s running attack has been almost nonexistent so far. If Denver plays the kind of football they’ve played so far to beat teams that were supposed to be better than they are, they’ll win this. After all, they are 5-0 and the Bolts are 2-2. The season is far enough along that this should indicate who the better team is especially since they play in the same division.
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