| Here's a Ferringo's-eye view of Week 3 in the | | | | every guffawing columnist across the country |
| National Football League: | | | | they're the Best Team Ever so it shouldn't |
| | | | matter, right? |
| | | | |
| | | | 4) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) - The Bengals |
| New England at Pittsburgh (-3) | | | | made one of the largest jumps from last |
| | | | week's Power Rankings (up eight slots from |
| Once again, the Patriots are involved in the | | | | 12). But memo to Chad Johnson: don't call out |
| Game of the Week. They're dogs entering the | | | | Mike Brown (just ask Marcus Pollard). I hope |
| Steel City, and are going up against the best | | | | my Bears knocks these guys back into the Dave |
| team in football right now. Ben | | | | Shula Days. |
| Roethlisberger has a ridiculous 153.6 passer | | | | |
| rating, which is nearly perfect. He's also | | | | 5) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) - Despite their |
| 16-1 as a starter, which is nearly perfect | | | | off-field issues, they already have a |
| and is looking to avenge the only loss of his | | | | division road win and are averaging 161.5 |
| pro career - a 41-27 blowout at the hands of | | | | yards per game on the ground. However, they |
| the Pats in the AFC Title Game last January. | | | | are just 1-4 ATS in Denver, where they play |
| | | | on Monday. |
| | | | |
| | | | 6) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - McNabb and |
| Pittsburgh is once again the top running | | | | Owens share the cover on this week's Sports |
| team in the league, bruising its way to 170.5 | | | | Illustrated. I don't buy the love fest. It's |
| yards per game (without their two best | | | | easy to get along when you're up 42-3 at |
| runners) and 4.7 yards per carry. The | | | | home, but let's see what happens when they're |
| Steelers also rank fourth on defense, but are | | | | in a tough spot. |
| just 17th against the run. The Patriots, on | | | | |
| the other hand, are only averaging 2.4 yards | | | | 7) Carolina Panthers (1-1) - Peter King said |
| per carry, and they are the 12th-ranked | | | | that Brees' interception against the Broncos |
| defense in the NFL. In two games, they've | | | | last week was one of the worst he's ever |
| yielded 23.5 points a game. | | | | seen. My vote goes to Jake Delhomme's toss to |
| | | | New England's Mike Vrabel, who returned it |
| | | | for a TD. |
| | | | |
| Per usual, Tom Brady will be the key to any | | | | 8) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) - Losing |
| upset chance that New England has. Brady's | | | | safety Donovin Darius for the year is a huge |
| shoulder is officially listed as probable, | | | | blow. Also, Byron Leftwich is on his way to |
| and he'll be looking to avenge his poor | | | | becoming the next Steve McNair - doesn't |
| performance (69.3 rating) against Carolina | | | | practice due to injury then steps up and |
| last week. That rating was the 17th worst of | | | | plays/leads his team on Sunday. |
| his 73 starts (in which he is 58-15). | | | | |
| However, he's 10-4 in games following his | | | | 9) Atlanta Falcons (1-1) - Backup QB Matt |
| previous 14 losses and has posted a passer | | | | Schaub has been an All-World Preseason player |
| rating close to 95 in those games. | | | | the last two years, and there are actually |
| | | | some rednecks in Georgia that would love to |
| | | | see him get his own shot. Those same folks |
| | | | have an IQ lower than Vick's passer rating of |
| Cincinnati (-3) at Chicago | | | | 73.4. Atlanta is 2-11 in games that Vick |
| | | | hasn't started in the last three years. |
| The Pats and Steelers may be the Game of the | | | | |
| Week, but I really think that this is the | | | | 10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - I really |
| most intriguing matchup of Week 3. It pits | | | | didn't think Mark Brunell could still throw |
| two young, up-and-coming teams - one with a | | | | it that far. I guess Roy Williams didn't |
| high-powered offense and one with a | | | | think so either. |
| hard-hitting defense - each trying to make a | | | | |
| name for itself among the top teams in their | | | | 11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) - They've |
| respective conferences. | | | | only faced 32 rushing attempts in two games, |
| | | | but the Bucs defense is giving up only 40 |
| | | | yards per game on the ground and 2.5 yards |
| | | | per carry. |
| In this corner, Cincinnati has been the | | | | |
| "Best Team That Nobody is Talking About" thus | | | | 12) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) - Blame that loss |
| far by demolishing Cleveland and Minnesota. | | | | on whichever linebacker that was that got |
| The Bengals and their Big Three - Carson | | | | juked by a 57-year-old Brunell on that |
| Palmer, Chad Johnson and Rudi Johnson - have | | | | 3rd-and-27 scramble. |
| led Cincy to the No. 1 offense in the league. | | | | |
| They are averaging 462 yards per game, with | | | | 13) Buffalo Bills (1-1) - Bills fans, this |
| 157 coming on the ground and 305 through the | | | | is what you get with a first-year QB. Trust |
| air. Palmer has been lights out (five TD's | | | | me, I know. I'd be more worried about Willis |
| and a 107.8 rating), and is being backed by a | | | | McGahee dancing in the holes. |
| defense that has already forced a ridiculous | | | | |
| 10 takeaways. | | | | 14) Seattle Seahawks (1-1) - Seattle is that |
| | | | quiet, shifty guy in the corner booth of the |
| | | | bar. He seems unassuming, but you keep |
| | | | looking over your shoulder because you don't |
| And in this corner, Chicago has been the | | | | know if he's going to snap and kill everyone |
| "Best Team that Everyone Forgot Existed" | | | | or just get blasted and stumble home. |
| until they posted a 32-point win last week | | | | |
| over the Lions. The Bears have gone back to | | | | 15) Chicago Bears (1-1) - Brian Urlacher has |
| their roots - run the ball (114 ypg, 4.1 ypc) | | | | 15 solo tackles and three sacks in two games. |
| and playing good defense (7th overall). This | | | | Now where are all those ass-clowns that said |
| is a big spot for a team that's on the verge | | | | he was overrated? Also, linebacker Lance |
| of having some confidence. If they can defend | | | | Briggs has just been wrecking people. |
| their turf they enter their bye week on a 2-1 | | | | |
| roll with putrid Cleveland waiting on the | | | | 16) Denver Broncos (1-1) - Remember how |
| other side. | | | | everyone ripped on them for picking up the |
| | | | Browns front four (worst in the league |
| | | | against the run in '04)? Well, Denver is |
| | | | currently 22nd against the rush (115 ypg) |
| But a win is far from given. Kyle Orton | | | | with K.C. rolling into town. |
| played well for Chicago last weekend | | | | |
| (translation: no turnovers) and will again | | | | 17) New York Giants (2-0) - If they go on |
| have to protect the ball against the Bengals. | | | | the road and beat San Diego I still won't |
| | | | jump on the bandwagon - but I'll be very, |
| | | | very impressed. |
| | | | |
| | | | 18) New Orleans Saints (1-1) - After what |
| Atlanta at Buffalo (2.5) | | | | they've been through and where they've been |
| | | | through over the last month (Oakland to Texas |
| There are certainly quarterback issues for | | | | to Carolina to New York and now to Minnesota) |
| both of these teams. Mike Vick is listed as | | | | Jim Haslett has a right to vent. That team |
| questionable this weekend with a sore | | | | just looked worn out in the fourth quarter of |
| hamstring, and J.P. Losman is unofficially | | | | that MNF game. |
| questionable after getting benched last week | | | | |
| for one drive against Tampa Bay. I would put | | | | 19) New York Jets (1-1) - The good news is |
| Vick at about 85 percent to play. Also, | | | | that Curtis Martin didn't tear any knee |
| Losman will again seize the reigns for | | | | ligaments (MRI was negative). The bad news is |
| Buffalo, and don't be surprised to see Mike | | | | that safety Erik Coleman just had thumb |
| Mularkey dig into his bag-of-tricks and pull | | | | surgery and may not be available. |
| out some gimmicks this weekend. | | | | |
| | | | 20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Monday, Steve |
| | | | Mariucci says that the team has no interest |
| | | | in ex-Buc Shaun King. Tuesday, King and Jeff |
| This game will be a slugfest. Atlanta is | | | | George worked out for the Lions. Tick-tock, |
| fifth in the league in rushing (157 ypg, 4.6 | | | | Joey Harrington. Tick-tock. |
| ypc) and Buffalo is 15th (100 ypg, 3.8 ypc). | | | | |
| The Bills are second in the league in total | | | | 21) San Diego Chargers (0-2) - This isn't a |
| defense, but are just 30th in rushing after | | | | bad team at all. However they've absolutely |
| getting rolled by Tampa Bay (191 rush yards) | | | | given away two games already. Ah, Marty Ball. |
| last Sunday. Atlanta, on the other hand, will | | | | |
| most likely be without cornerback/kick | | | | |
| returner Allen Rossum and defensive end Brady | | | | 22) St. Louis Rams (1-1) - I still don't |
| Smith, who are two key cogs. Rossum is | | | | think they're running the ball enough. |
| particularly important because the Falcons | | | | However, they are third in the league in |
| are already without corner Kevin Mathis - | | | | offensive time of possession (34:07 per |
| leaving the secondary very vulnerable. | | | | game). |
| | | | |
| | | | 23) Oakland Raiders (0-2) - Despite playing |
| | | | two of the best rushing teams in the NFL, the |
| New York Giants at San Diego (-5.5) | | | | Raiders D is giving up a paltry 3.0 yards per |
| | | | carry. However, they need to start pressuring |
| I hope Eli brings his ear plugs. This will | | | | quarterbacks. Their two sacks are tied for |
| be Manning's first appearance in San Diego, | | | | worst in the league. |
| the city that drafted him first overall in | | | | |
| 2004 even though he said he wanted nothing to | | | | 24) Tennessee Titans (1-1) - Their win over |
| do with that organization. Also, Manning and | | | | Baltimore last week wasn't a fluke from the |
| the 2-0 G-Men will be rolling into the den of | | | | standpoint that while they don't have the |
| a team that, at 0-2, is desperate for a win. | | | | depth to compete this season, they certainly |
| | | | have the talent to jump up and bite an |
| | | | unsuspecting team. |
| | | | |
| | | | 23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - Right now their |
| Yes, the Giants are 2-0. But they are the | | | | run-pass ratio is almost 3-to-1, but not the |
| fraudulent kind of undefeated. They tooled on | | | | way you'd expect. So far they've thrown 95 |
| the Cardinals (who doesn't?) and then topped | | | | passes to go with only 34 rushes. Unreal. |
| an emotionally spent Saints club in a "road" | | | | |
| game in Jersey. They have scored 69 points so | | | | 26) Miami (1-1) - People are already calling |
| far. Pretty impressive, right? But they're | | | | Ronnie Brown (34 attempts, 94 yards, 0 TD's) |
| 26th in total offense and have run the second | | | | a bust because he's not putting up the |
| fewest plays (104) in the league. They've | | | | numbers that Cadillac Williams (54-276-2) is. |
| mostly been the beneficiary of special teams | | | | I think it's way too early to be making those |
| flukes and turnovers. Defensively, they're | | | | claims. |
| allowed 370 yards per contest. | | | | |
| | | | 27) Minnesota Vikings (0-2) - Just a |
| | | | thought, but maybe it's not Randy Moss that |
| | | | they miss the most. Maybe it's former |
| San Diego, on the other hand, is playing | | | | offensive coordinator Scott Linehan (now in |
| well until it matters. Drew Brees and Co. | | | | Miami). |
| were on their way to a crucial road win over | | | | |
| Denver last weekend until Drew Brees threw a | | | | 28) Cleveland Browns (1-1) - As bad as the |
| horrible INT that Champ Bailey returned for a | | | | Packers were, any time you go into Green Bay |
| touchdown. The week before, they had benched | | | | and get a win it's an accomplishment. |
| Antonio Gates and decided to give LaDainian | | | | |
| Tomlinson only two touches in the fourth | | | | 29) San Francisco 49ers (1-1) - They lost by |
| quarter of a four-point loss to Dallas. It's | | | | 39 points, but I had to move them up one slot |
| tough to have must-win games in September, | | | | this week because the teams behind them |
| but this is pretty close for the Bolts. | | | | looked that awful. |
| | | | |
| | | | 30) Arizona Cardinals (0-2) - Kurt Warner |
| | | | got sacked five times last week and was hit |
| FREE PICK (YTD 0-1): This week I like | | | | six others. If they can't get the running |
| Indianapolis to cover the 13.5 against the | | | | game going - Marcel Shipp will start this |
| Browns. In 2004 the Colts had one of the | | | | weekend - then they're going to get Warner |
| Greatest Offenses Football Has Ever Seen. But | | | | killed. Their run-pass ratio is 37 rushes to |
| over their last three games - dating back to | | | | 98 passes. Not good. |
| the playoff loss in Foxboro - they've managed | | | | |
| just 12 points per contest. I'm looking for | | | | 31) Green Bay Packers (0-2) - Wow. This team |
| them to break out in a big way at home | | | | is a total mess, on all fronts, and shows no |
| against a Cleveland team that's 30th in the | | | | signs of improving. They just don't have the |
| NFL against the pass. Also, I think the | | | | talent on either side of the ball. |
| Brownies are due for a letdown after a tough | | | | |
| road win in Lambeau last Sunday. | | | | 32) Houston Texans (0-2) - Jason Babin and |
| | | | Philip Buchanon - a tandem whom the Texans |
| | | | traded a combined five first-day draft picks |
| | | | for the rights to - have both been benched. |
| 1) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - It's really | | | | |
| tough to be picky about a team that's looked | | | | |
| so good, but they are allowing the opposition | | | | |
| to convert 48 percent of their third downs. | | | | Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail |
| | | | |
| 2) Indianapolis Colts (2-0) - This team has | | | | |
| the purposeful look of a group on a Mission. | | | | |
| It hasn't been smoke and mirrors, but good | | | | Doc's Sports Handy Links:2005 NFL |
| ol' fashioned toughness. Let's see if they | | | | SchedulesSuper Bowl 2006NFL power |
| can sustain it. | | | | rankingsDoc's Sports Handicapping Service |
| | | | |
| 3) New England Patriots (1-1) - This game at | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has |
| Pittsburgh is part of their Murderer's Row | | | | been recognized as one of the leaders and |
| schedule that has them hosting San Diego, at | | | | most trusted names in sports handicapping |
| Atlanta, at Denver, bye, hosting Buffalo and | | | | information. |
| hosting Indianapolis. But hey, according to | | | | |