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