Okay, here we go. I figured what better way to kick off getting the KVRX Sports blog back up and running than a State of Affairs NFL post. I am going to make this a weekly, Monday night/Tuesday morning wrap up column regarding some of my thoughts for the NFL week past. So without further ado, my Week 5 musings!
Top Team: This one is easy. Well maybe not THAT easy but I have to give it to the Ravens. It’s amazing the high level this D is playing at given all the injuries to the secondary heading into the season. They current rank 2nd in Pass D, 3rd in Total Yds and 4th in Scoring. The offense hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, given the offseason additions, but TJ Houshmandzadeh will continue to carve out a role, Donte Stallworth will return from injury to give them a legit, deep threat and the run game will prosper accordingly. Add Ed Reed into the equation at some point and this team will only get better. Wins over the Jets and Steelers edge them above both for the top spot. Being a full game up on and not having to go into Pittsburgh again in the regular season is huge as well. Play @ New England this week so we’ll see if the Ravens can hold on to the top spot. I don’t think any NFC team warrants a spot in the conversation, as of now, but I will include the Falcons since beating Cleveland should mean something in this league. Almost but not quite : Steelers, Jets, Falcons
Bottom Rung: Wow. So many choices, who should it be? It would be easy to pile on Buffalo but I am going to reserve this spot for a team that should be performing but isn’t quite up to the task at this point. A highly qualified candidate would be my Dallas Cowboys but I have to give the nod to the San Diego Chargers; let me tell you why. The Men in Powder Blue are having no trouble moving the chains and converting in the red zone ranking 1st and 2nd in YPG and PPG, respectively, yet they sit at 2-3. They have lost both of their division games thus far (@ KC, @OAK) in a weak AFC West and their 2 wins come against 2 ridiculously pedestrian teams, the Cardinals and the Jaguars. The 2 division losses is why the Bolts get the nod over the Boys. Dallas may have only won a single game thus far, but they are only one back in the loss column from the rest of the division. Same story for the Vikings as well, losses have came out of division and/or conference. DAL or MIN could easily take over this spot, depending on who takes the L next week in the Metrodome but for now, I’m sticking with the Chargers. Dishonorable Mention: Dallas, Minnesota, San Fransisco
BUY: As much as it pains me to say it, buy into the Giants now, for a couple reasons. I think the worst is past. The team was in disarray and in serious jeopardy of complete implosion after their Week 3 loss at home to the Titans. They are past that now. The defense is rounding into form of years past (1st in YPG, 1st & 9th against pass and run, 14th in PPG) and has been excellent their last 2 games, nearly decapitating Jay Cutler and harassing Matt Schaub all day, (13 sacks over those 2 games.) With a home date against the Lions and a road matchup against the Cowboys, the Giants could easily head into their bye week leading the NFC East at 5-2. No one would have thought that after the Titans debacle. Watch list: Chiefs, Titans, Patriots
SELL: The preseason darlings have shown everyone over the last 3 weeks that they aren’t quite there yet. Two ugly losses on the road to Chicago and Washington (2 teams I’m also not too hot on) and one they easily could have dropped to the Lions. The injury bug has bitten hard with LB Nick Barnett & WR Jermichael Finley, the teams top receiving threat, (Hook Em!) both out for significant time. Couple that with the possibility that S Derrick Martin, TE Donald Lee, LB Clay Matthews, DE Clay Pickett and QB Aaron Rodgers could all miss this week’s game at home against Miami, maybe longer for some, and things are starting to look very bleak. The schedule doesn’t get any easier from there as the Pack host the Vikings, go on the road against the Jets and host the Cowboys before their Week 10 bye. Unless GB can get healthy and clean it up quick, 3-6 could be an ugly reality heading into their scheduled week off. Don’t trust em: Texans, Bears, Cardinals
Top Dog: The former LSU Tiger and current Washington Redskin, LaRon Landry. Double L was all over the place in a gritty, defensive battle at home against the Pack passing attack. 10 solo tackles, 13 total, 1 INT and a forced fumble, which set up the game winning FG for a big win for the Skins. Props to a couple of RBs getting it done in a big way, in what has been a relatively down year for RBs thus far. And Nick Folk; in a rain soaked, windy Jets Stadium on Monday night, the former Dallas kicker went 5-5 on FGs (25, 53, 22, 34 & 31 yards) and 2-2 on PATs. Jerry most definitely regrets letting Folk go in light of the Cowboys struggles with David Buelher. Same Breed: Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Nick Folk
Dog House: Unfortunately in life, sometimes it’s much easier to point out the negative than it is to commend the positive. This week is no different. Occupying the dog house, and possibly applying for longer term residence, is Mr. Brett Favre. So far this year, Favre has five touchdown passes and seven interceptions through four games. His passer rating of 67.0 is lower than any full-season rating of his 20-year career. (Thanks ProFootball Talk) Couple that with his game ending interception last night and alleged off field indiscretions and leash up because you’re going out into the kennel! Congrats on reaching 500 TDs however! Potential Roomates: Carson Palmer, Mike Singletary, Mason Crosby
Prediction for Week 6: I like the Chiefs (and Longhorns Derrick Johnson & Jamaal Charles) to go down to Houston and bounce back and get a win over the Texans. KC has been highly impressive on the defensive side of the ball (3rd in PPG, 6th against the run) and the Texans have been getting gashed on that side of the ball (29th in PPG, 31st in YPG.) KC leaves Houston victorious and remains on top of the division.
There you have it folks! Hope you stuck around and I look forward to sharing my opinion with you next week! Hear more on my weekly radio show Sports on the Hump Day from 8-9 PM 91.7FM KVRX Austin or www.kvrx.org
Have a great week!
- Tyler A. Denning
(Outside of sports, one of my other passions is music. I will keep a running “set list” each week as I write State of the NFL. See below.)
Soundtrack to this post: BT, El-P feat. Ghostface and Prefuse 73, Gucci Mane, Trae feat. Three Six, Paul Wall, Jaylon & Lil Boss, Yo Gotti
