| Even the oddsmakers don't know what the hell is | | | | they're still the best team in a tattered division. |
| going on in the National Football League. This | | | | 9) Washington (3-0) - Mark Brunell leads the NFL |
| week, 11 of the 14 lines started at either 3 or 3.5 | | | | in fourth-quarter quarterback rating (101.3). |
| points. That's the token line that bookies throw | | | | 10) Carolina (2-2) - This trip out to Arizona is a |
| out to the home team, and it tells me that | | | | trap game. The Panthers better be wary. |
| they're feeling a bit uncertain about this week's | | | | 11) Jacksonville (2-2) - They need this game |
| slate.Seattle (2-2) at St. Louis (2-2), 1 p.m. on | | | | Sunday night a lot worse than Cincinnati does. |
| Sunday | | | | 12) San Diego (2-2) - The Chargers have |
| St. Louis has the mental edge in this series and | | | | converted 12 of 15 red-zone possessions (80 |
| has taken nine of the last 13 meetings. In 2004 | | | | percent) into touchdowns. |
| the Rams posted a 3-0 sweep, with two wins | | | | 13) Seattle (2-2) - Their two road losses came |
| coming in Seattle. This week St. Louis fans have | | | | to good teams (a combined 5-2) by a total of |
| been calling for the head of Mike Martz, whose | | | | nine points. But they're still road losses. |
| heart infection is still troubling him. However, Martz | | | | 14) Kansas City (2-2) - The Chiefs gave up 37 |
| is 26-10 against divisional foes and 27-6 at home | | | | points to Philly, but yielded only one drive of over |
| since 2001.Seattle has lost both of its games by | | | | 50 yards. So no, they're not as bad as last year's |
| six points or less, but continues to struggle | | | | D. |
| outside the Pacific Northwest. Look for a big | | | | 15) New York Giants (2-2) - Wow. Do these |
| game from Shaun Alexander. He has averaged | | | | guys look unstoppable on offense or what? |
| 150 rushing yards in three games last | | | | 16) Dallas (2-2) - I would be really worried about |
| year.Philadelphia (3-1) at Dallas (2-2), 4 p.m. on | | | | the Dallas secondary if I were a Cowboy. In each |
| Sunday | | | | of their last three games they've given up a pass |
| Philadelphia is coming off an emotional win and | | | | play of over 70 yards. |
| looking to continue its dominance against the | | | | 17) Miami (2-1) - My friend Rich told me that the |
| Cowboys. The Eagles have won nine of the last | | | | Fins would compete for the playoffs this year, |
| ten meetings by an average of 22 points. Andy | | | | and I laughed in his face. Maybe he'll laugh last. |
| Reid is 10-2 versus Dallas, with the average score | | | | 18) Chicago (1-2) - Lovie Smith is shaking up the |
| as 28-12.The Cowboys let another opportunity for | | | | secondary - again. He moved Jerry Azumah to |
| a win slip through their hands in Oakland last | | | | nickel back and inserted Nathan Vasher as the |
| Sunday, and are in danger of falling even further | | | | starter. |
| off the pace in the NFC East. Drew Bledsoe is 8-3 | | | | 19) Baltimore (1-2) - The Ravens defense hasn't |
| in his last 11 games with 16 touchdowns and 7 | | | | allowed a rushing touchdown yet in '05. |
| interceptions, and has the best third-down rating in | | | | 20) St. Louis (2-2) - Since 2001 the Rams have |
| the NFL (120.6).Washington (3-0) at Denver (3-1), | | | | committed 179 turnovers in less than 70 games. |
| 4 p.m. on Sunday | | | | 21) Detroit (1-2) - They've already had a |
| Clinton Portis is returning to face the team that | | | | tumultuous year and it's only been four weeks. A |
| traded him just prior to the 2004 season. In 27 | | | | home win against a good Baltimore team could |
| career games versus AFC opponents he's | | | | get them back on track. |
| averaging 97 yards a game and has scored 29 | | | | 22) New Orleans (2-2) - It was nice to see |
| touchdowns. The Redskins have held opponents | | | | Donte Stallworth step up in Joe Horn's absence. |
| under 18 points in nine straight games, and haven't | | | | Maybe he's maturing. |
| allowed a 100-yard rusher in eight straight | | | | 23) Oakland (1-3) - Eight teams have started 1-3 |
| contests.Last week the Broncos yielded just 12 | | | | and made the playoffs since 2000. But the |
| rushing yards to Jacksonville, and that old Browns | | | | Raiders have to stop trying to give away games |
| D-line has dominated at times in 2005. Mike | | | | if they want to make it nine. |
| Shanahan is 16-4 against the NFC at Mile High. In | | | | 24) Buffalo (1-3) - The Bills have scored just |
| 16 games at home, Jake Plummer has a 94.8 | | | | three total points in the fourth quarter of their |
| rating with 27 touchdowns and 13 | | | | four games. |
| interceptions.Pittsburgh (2-1) at San Diego (2-2), 9 | | | | 25) New York Jets (1-3) - Last year they could |
| p.m. on Monday | | | | get by without consistent QB play because Curtis |
| Pittsburgh will be well-rested and quite ornery | | | | Martin was playing out of his head. Now his age is |
| when they head out to San Diego. They've had | | | | showing. |
| 15 days to stew over their late collapse against | | | | 26) Cleveland (1-2) - Even with Rueben Droughns |
| the same New England team that the Chargers | | | | as the feature back they still refuse to trade |
| just throttled. Since 1995, Pittsburgh has been the | | | | either Willie Green or Lee Suggs. Why keep all |
| league's best October team (29-10).San Diego's | | | | three? |
| offense has been clicking on all cylinders the past | | | | 27) Tennessee (1-3) - At the beginning of last |
| few weeks, putting up over 40 points in each | | | | season, Chris Brown looked like a stud runner. |
| game. LaDainian Tomlinson has been a huge | | | | This year, he's looked weak. |
| reason for that. He is second in the NFL in scoring | | | | 28) Minnesota (1-3) - Look on the bright side, |
| with 48 points.Oh, and the Chargers will be in the | | | | they have the NFL's top punter (Chris Kluwe, 48.8 |
| Powder Blues on MNF.And here are my Week 5 | | | | yards per punt.) |
| Power Rankings:1) Indianapolis (3-0) - The Colts | | | | 29) Arizona (1-3) - Kicker Neil Rackers is leading |
| defense has fifteen sacks - all from lineman. Not | | | | the NFL in scoring, and has scored 50 of the |
| having to blitz to get pressure has been the key | | | | Cardinals' 74 points. |
| to the defense's success. | | | | 30) Houston (0-3) - They haven't allowed a |
| 2) Pittsburgh (2-1) - Willie Parker will start, but | | | | fourth quarter touchdown in seven games, and |
| Duce Staley is healthy and Jerome Bettis will suit | | | | opponents are only converting 31 percent of their |
| up. | | | | third downs against them. |
| 3) Philadelphia (3-1) - Under Andy Reid the Eagles | | | | 31) Green Bay (0-4) - That play on Monday |
| are 37-3 when they win the time-of-possession | | | | where Deshaun Foster carried Earl Little on his |
| battle. | | | | back for 29 yards told us everything we need to |
| 4) Atlanta (3-1) - They're averaging 206 rush | | | | know about the Packers defense. |
| yards per game. No team has averaged 200+ | | | | 32) San Francisco (1-3) - Left tackle Anthony |
| since the Bears in 1977. | | | | Clement got abused by Bertrand Berry (1.5 |
| 5)Cincinnati (4-0) - Carson Palmer is now | | | | sacks) last Sunday. Now he gets to face Dwight |
| completing an absurd 72 percent of his passes. | | | | Freeney. Good luck Alex Smith.Questions or |
| 6) Denver (3-1) - They've done this each of the | | | | comments for Robert? E-mail Doc's Sports Handy |
| last two seasons: look great early, tank it late. | | | | Links:NFL OddsHockey PicksNBA PicksDoc's |
| 7) Tampa Bay (4-0) - Cadillac Williams never | | | | Sports Handicapping Service |
| stayed healthy in college, so why would anyone | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| expect him to stay healthy in the pros? | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most |
| 8) New England (2-2) - Yes they're beat up, but | | | | trusted names in sports handicapping information. |