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