The SoCalSportsGuys NFL Bye Week

So this week I’m taking a bye week from the usual format of NFL Power Rankings. I’m stepping back and looking at what the season has had to offer. Its been a great eight weeks of NFL action. But what have we learned from this season so far ? 

We know the Falcons are benefiting a great deal from a weak schedule. The Eagles are an up and down team. They are floating around .500 and are no longer trying to salvage their season but their very jobs (Michael Vick and Andy Reid). The Jets quarterback situation would have been a great one had they been playing NCAA teams. Mark Sanchez is fighting to keep his job and Tim Tebow doesn’t even know what position he is playing. Rex Ryan’s weight loss is about the only positive negative of the 2012 Jets. 
We know RG3 is a F#$@ing beast maybe even “Black Jesus”.  Adrain Peterson is not human. Seriously who recovers from a torn ACL and MCL injury like this? Andrew luck is far from a bust but not exactly the Colts savior this season either." Hey Peyton, we're down 24 points at the half work your magic" is the Broncos game plan week after week. Manning has been determined to keep his team from losing.
 If you don’t believe in the sophomore jinx, just ask Cam Newton. He’ll tell you there is something beyond all reasonable logic effecting his 2013 campaign. Oh and if you don’t believe in the Madden curse go ask Calvin Johnson how his season is going - just one touchdown in seven games.

We know Roger Goodell should be fired for almost letting replacement refs taint an NFL season (more important to gamblers such as myself) with bad calls and this bounty scandal that has yet to been put to bed. How many appeals do the Saints players get? Am I the only who thinks he is professional sport’s answer to Vince McMahon? I think the games played every Thursday night (Goodell’s answer to McMahon’s WWE Smackdown!) was a good move gone bad. I like the concept of having football throughout the week but even as a fan (who gambles on just about anything), do we really need to watch Arizona vs St. Louis on prime time? Or Kansas City at San Diego this Thursday? Goodell's feud with Johnathan Vilma and various NFL players (list is to long to go into detail) mirrors that of McMahon's and any of his WWE employees except they have yet to kick his ass during a press conference. Which will be the single greatest thing to happen to the NFL during his term as Commissioner if it happens. I just can’t decide which wrestling group is best to compare the 2013 New Orleans Saints to. Yes I just compared the NFL to WWE and I'm not ashamed for doing so.

Chris Johnson is on my fantasy team and I can’t remember a player that has had me second guessing starting him week after week. His production has been near the bottom and just when I’m about to bench him, boom, he suckers me back in with a performance like the 195 yard and two TD game against Buffalo a few weeks ago. Games like that leave me with more questions than answers and hating Johnson more for having a good game followed by a bad one. I feel like anyone of the following people in this commercial.
The contenders aside from the Falcons (who may not be as good as their record advertises) are definitely the Texans, Giants, 49ers, Bears and Packers. These teams have been exceptional either offensively such as the Packers and Giants or defensively like the 49ers and Bears. The Texans are the one team that is playing well on both sides of the ball. Offensively they are a force with a strong running game by Arian Foster (who leads the league with nine rushing TDs). Defensively the Texans rank second overall in net yardage and eighth in total points allowed. 
So far this season these teams have been getting the job done and have the least amount of weaknesses on their rosters. Then there are the good teams, the teams that can pick up wins but have weaknesses that can easily be exploited. 
Take the New England Patriots - A daunting offense of explosive weapons from the running backs to the tight ends, the Patriots can out gun anyone. Problem is they give up big plays with their weak secondary late in games and find themselves with a not so impressive record. Patriots benefit from playing in a division that includes the Jets, Bills and what I believe to be a decent team the Dolphins. Teams that I consider in this circle are the Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, and Vikings.

The Steelers a team of which I am a fan of, have been inconsistent with all the injuries to running backs, offensive lineman and safety Troy Polamalu. The Steelers have managed to stay above .500. Big Ben is having a great campaign ranking in the top-5 in almost every passing category and has only been sacked 13 times, one of the lowest totals in the league. With the Ravens fighting through their own struggles the AFC North division is up for grabs but not so fast Bengals and Browns fans that doesn’t include your bottom of the barrel franchises. 

The Vikings and Broncos are doing much better than I expected they would. I figured Peyton would have needed time to get things together but he came out shooting. Aside from the usual loss he receives from Tom Brady and the Patriots (somethings just never change) Manning has been looking sharp and is turning Demaryius Thomas into a elite wideout. Peterson has been carrying the Vikings and is currently leading the league in rushing with 775 yards. Minnesota may find themselves in the playoffs if they continue to grind out victories.

Then there are the not so good teams, what I like to call the Pretenders. I really don’t want to dig to deep on all these teams but just to name a few Saints, Dolphins, Seahawks, Cardinals, Cowboys, Eagles, and Redskins. Vick and Reid are under heavy fire after the not so impressive season the Eagles have had. The Saints are battling through games with Drew Brees having a phenomenal season but are still not gonna make the playoffs unless Tebow gets traded there to help balance out the bad karma. 
The Seahawks can play some D but that's about it. Offensively they've been pretty bad, rookie QB Russell Wilson has had some pretty bad games that resulted in wins and some fairly good games that have resulted in losses. The Dolphins are 4-3, surprisingly. But Ryan Tannehill will be sidelined and Matt Moore will be taking over for the time being. After the bold prediction of leading the league in rushing Reggie Bush has had six games of 69 yards or less and has only cracked the 100 yard mark once. 
RG3 is my rookie of the year through eight games. The QB has displayed a phenomenal level of explosiveness and raw talent. He’s done a lot to put his team in position to win, the Redskins defense has not done so. Tony Romo is still the gun slinger that I love to hate. I love it when he displays his level of incompetence with his five interception games and hate it when he’s putting the Cowboys in position to win with a final drive that suckers Dallas into saying Romo is elite and messes it all up with an interception on a throw away pass.

Figuring out the halfway mark MVPs this season has been a tough one. In the AFC Manning and Big Ben are having great seasons with near identical statistics and winning records. Both are playing behind sub par offensive lines and not so great defenses. In the NFC its another toss up between Ryan, Rodgers, and I’m making the case for Brees and Eli Manning to be included in the mix. Brees is doing it all, Manning is getting wins in the clutch. I can’t remember when was the last time there has been so many QBs having such great seasons. Thanks Roger Goodell for tying the secondary’s hands making the NFL a pass-first league and not letting me include a running back or wide receiver in the MVP race.

Its been a great season thus far a lot more football has to be played. Teams will begin to make stronger pushes for playoff spots in the coming weeks. The Falcons might not even lose a game this season. Has anybody looked at their schedule? Currently the Colts are in the last spot for an AFC Playoff berth and if Luck gets the Colts back into the playoffs I’m taking back my RG3 Rookie of the Year award. 
So here’s to another great NFL season.

NFL Week 6 Power Rankings

1)Atlanta Falcons (6-0) Previous Rank 2 - Facing a well prepared Oakland defense, Atlanta failed to turn this game into a laugher. The  Falcons found themselves ahead after Asante Samuel took a Carson Palmer interception to the house to give them a 20-13 lead. If not for that interception the game could have definitely gone the other way. Oakland gave Atlanta problems but nonetheless the Falcons are the only undefeated team left in the league.Matt Ryan has done an exceptional job at distributing the football. Roddy White has 37 receptions for 533 yards, Tony Gonzalez 43 receptions for 430 yards, and Julio Jones 30 receptions for 376 yards. Each receiver has four touchdowns and average over 10.0 yard per catch. They travel to Philadelphia this week to face the Eagles who have dropped two straight to lesser opponents.
*Editor's note* If Philadelphia beats Atlanta next week, the Eagles deserve to be number one the following week.

2)Houston Texans (5-1) Previous Rank 1 - Were they past due for a bad game? Or is this what happens when you face a good team? Not having linebacker Brian Cushing had a definite impact on the Texans defense this past Sunday night. The Texans suffered their first lost of the season. Arian Foster had his worst game this season two TDs with only 29 rushing yards. Matt Schaub threw two INTs and no TDs. The Texans defense looked sluggish and confused all night as they gave up six passing TDs to Aaron Rodgers and his receivers. The Texans failed their first test against stiffer competition and will now have to prepare for the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday.

3)Baltimore Ravens (5-1) Previous Rank 4 - The Ravens have won four straight after surviving a 481 yard performance by the Dallas Cowboys. The banged up Ravens' defense could not stop Dallas' running backs as they gave up over 90 yards to each back. Cowboys' kicker Dan Bailey missed a would be game winner in the final seconds giving the Ravens the victory. The Ravens benefited greatly from Jacoby Jones's 108 yard kick return in the third quarter. Baltimore heads to Houston this week without Ray Lewis and will need more of the luck they had this past week to beat the Texans.
*Editor's note* Which team is responsible for Baltimore's only loss? That would be the "lowly" ranked Eagles.

4)New York Giants (4-2) Previous Rank 6 - The best performance of the weekend goes to the Giants for their absolute dominance over the 49ers. The Giants held the 49ers out of the end-zone and allowed only a David Akers 42 yard field goal in the first quarter. The Giants host RG3 and the Redskins this Sunday looking to keep the pace in the NFC East.
*Editor's note* Again. Who is responsible for dishing New York one of their losses? If you guessed the Eagles, you're correct.

5)San Francisco 49ers (4-2) Previous Rank 3 - Even after the 80 yard rushing game against the Giants this week the 49ers still rank first in rushing. Alex Smith threw three INTs and Frank Gore was held to 36 rushing yards on only eight rushing attempts. The 49ers just played the worst game of their season and will now have a chance to redeem themselves when they host the Seahawks tonight in a match up between the best teams in the NFC West.

6)New England Patriots (3-3) Previous Rank 5 - Tough luck has plagued the New England's season. The Patriots could easily have a record of 6-0 as they have yet to be beaten by more that two points. The Patriots secondary clearly has some issues that need to be addressed now more than ever after being lit up by a Rookie QB with QBR of 43.8. Even in a loss like this, the Patriots offense still managed to get 475 yards of total offensive yardage. New England hosts Mark Sanchez and the Jets this Sunday and will look to avoid falling below .500 in a favorable division match up.

7)Chicago Bears (4-1) Previous Rank 7 - The Bears are coming off a bye week with an opportunity to display how prepared they are for the Lions. Jay Cutler has seven TDs and seven INTs and will need to be more focused for the rest of the season as the Bears could be legit contenders in their division.

8)Green Bay Packers (3-3) Previous Rank 11 - They beat the Texans last week, a team that was believed to be a better team. Green Bay's offense did what its always been capable of doing and that's light up the score board and make it all but impossible for more balanced teams like the Texans to catch up. Aaron Rodgers tied a franchise record with six TDs and 338 yards for a passer rating of 133.8. Jordy Nelson was the recipient on three of Rodgers' TD passes and now has gotten a bit of a confidence boost after only having one TD prior. Green Bay travels to St. Louis to face the sixth ranked pass defense in the league.

9)Minnesota Vikings (4-2) Previous Rank 9 - Minnesota was within five points before a 76-yard TD run by RG3 sealed the Redskins' victory. Minnesota's offense settled for field goals early failing to find the end-zone on three red-zone trips in the first quarter. Christian Ponder had 352 yards, two TDs, and two INTs and his lowest QBR of the season at 37.3. Minnesota's stingy rushing defense gave up 183 yards on the ground which is the most they have given up in a single game all season. Vikings host the Cardinals this Sunday an will look to bounce back as they are a game back of the Bears in the NFC North.

10)Denver Broncos (3-3) Previous Rank 13 - Peyton Manning did it again he led the Broncos into another come from behind victory. Denver's defense stepped it up big. They buckled down in the second half shutting down the Chargers offense. This team can be dangerous when both the defense and offense click like they did in the second half against San Diego. The Broncos get a much needed bye week before hosting the Saints.

11)Arizona Cardinals (4-2) Previous Rank 10 - Another loss for the Cardinals, this time in overtime to the Bills. Larry Fitzgerald caught 93 of Kevin Kolbs 128 total passing yards for the game. Arizona stalled offensively numerous times and got a 61 yard Jay Feely field goal just to send the game into overtime. Arizona ranks 28th in total offense and face a stingy Vikings' defense this Sunday.

12)Philadelphia Eagles (3-3) Previous Rank 9 -  The bye week couldn't come at a better time as the Eagles have dropped two straight. Philadelphia continues to turn the ball over.  Michael Vick added another two INTs to his total. For every TD pass Vick has thrown he has thrown an INT, he has eight passing TDs and eight INTs. With the firing of defensive coordinator Juan Castillo this week, Philadelphia will look for improvement on defense. The Eagles face Atlanta and New Orleans in the next weeks to come.
*Editor's note* This is preposterous! Philly has beat two of the top four teams and they are ranked 11th? Oh the humanity! 

13)San Diego Chargers (3-3) Previous Rank 12 - Antonio Gates and Phillip Rivers came out swinging giving San Diego a 24-0 lead entering the second half against Denver. Then they fell apart defensively as Manning picked them apart. Rivers turned the ball over a total of five times in the second half, three interceptions and two lost fumbles. San Diego enters their bye week and will travel to Cleveland when they return to action.

14)Seattle Seahawks (4-2) Previous Rank 18 - Seattle took advantage of New England's weak secondary last week. Russell Wilson had his first three TD passing game of his young career and was just seven yards shy of having his first 300 yard passing game. Seattle now owns a 4-2 record and will face another tough test tonight against the 49ers.

15)Washington Redskins (3-3) Previous Rank 23 - RG3 did it with his legs piling up 138 rushing yards and two TDs to add to his 182 passing yards and a passing TD. The rookie kept Minnesota's defense at bay all day resulting in Washington's first home victory of the season. RG3 coming back from a concussion injury had his best passing day of his young career with a near perfect QBR of 97.6. The Redskins face the first place New York Giants.

16)New Orleans Saints (1-4) Previous Rank 16 - Coming off a bye week, Drew Brees and company get to face the 31st ranked pass defense in the league. Very interesting to see what the Saints do against Tampa Bay's weak secondary.

17)Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) Previous Rank 15 - The Steelers are now 0-3 on the road after their loss to Tennessee last Thursday night. The defense continues to look sluggish. Safety Troy Polamalu has been sidelined due to a calf injury and the Steelers defense is no longer forcing turnovers at the rate they once did. Big Ben continues to make big plays while on the run and is having a much better TD to Interception ratio currently 10-2 while ranking fourth in QBR. The Steelers will look for their first road win of the season as they travel to Cincinnati for a Sunday night showdown.

18)Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) Previous Rank 14 - Andy Dalton had three INTs in the Bengals' loss to the Browns. Dalton now has 11 turnovers to go along with his 12 touchdowns on the season. Facing the Steelers this week, Cincinnati will need a victory before heading into their bye week to get above .500.

19)Dallas Cowboys (2-3) Previous Rank 17 -   Cowboys fans question did your boys really have this one as you all have claimed. Let's look at the stats. Dallas rushed for a total of 227 yards and one TD. Romo threw for 261 yards, two TDs, and one INT. Not great but could have been worse, it is Romo after all. So the Cowboys played one of their best games all season and still managed to lose. Failing to tie things up on a two-point conversion pass to Dez Bryant followed by a recovered onside kick. Dallas had one last chance at it but Dan Bailey missed a 51-yard field goal attempt in the final minute. No, Dallas fans they never had it. The Cowboys will travel to Carolina to face Cam Newton and the Panthers.

20)Detroit Lions (2-3) Previous Rank 20 - Coming out of their bye to face the Eagles, the Lions found themselves down 10 with five minutes to go. Matthew Stafford threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Nate Burleson. The Lions capped off regulation time with Jason Hansen's 19-yard field goal to tie things up and force OT. Detroit sacked Vick twice and forced a punt. Matthew Stafford took over at the 50-yard line and five plays later, the Lions found themselves victorious after a Hansen 45-yard field goal. Detroit possesses the weapons to wins games like this on a more consistent basis. Why they are 2-3? That's beyond me!They head to Chicago to face the Bears Monday night.

21)Miami Dolphins (3-3) Previous Rank 21 - Ryan Tannehill had two TDs and 0 INTs in the victory over St. Louis. Tannehill now has a total of four TDs. Miami isn't exactly destroying teams but they are grinding out victories, being careful with the football, and not forcing Tannehill to do to much. The Dolphins get a bye this week before their matchup with the Jets.

22)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-3) Previous Rank 22 - The Buccaneers finally get a victory after dropping three straight. Josh Freeman came out of the bye week much sharper completing 15 passes for 328 yards and 12.62 yard per completion average. Mike Williams got the big play he had been lacking all season catching a 62-yard touchdown pass. Now with some momentum going forward, the Bucs will need to keep their foot on the gas as now they host New Orleans.

23)St. Louis Rams (3-3) Previous Rank 19 - The Rams needed a victory badly against the Dolphins last week. St. Louis takes on Green Bay, New England, and the 49ers over the next four weeks. A brutal stretch that can easily cripple their season.

24)Buffalo Bills (3-3) Previous Rank 24 - Buffalo picks up a win to bring them back to .500 and surprisingly they didn't give up 40+ points in the process. After the overtime win, Buffalo now ranks 32nd in allowed rushing and 20th in passing defense. Fitzpatrick got his first victory without having a 100+ passer rating. With both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson splitting carries, Buffalo's ground game is carrying the team and is helping maintain the pace.

25)New York Jets (3-3) Previous Rank 25 - The reigns are beginning to pull Mark Sanchez back as he only attempted 18 passes for a total of 82 yards and two TDs. The offense is clearly going back to the ground game and the Jets are no longer asking Sanchez to win games but are doing everything they can to keep him from losing them. Shonn Greene had a great game rushing for 161 yards and three TDs. The Jets are much better when they try to control the tempo by running and keeping their banged up defense off the field. Despite facing a weak secondary in the New England Patriots this week don't expect Sanchez to be having a shootout with Tom Brady.

26)Tennessee Titans (2-4) Previous Rank 26 - Did the Titans beat the Steelers or did the Steelers beat themselves? I've been asking myself that question all week aside from me second guessing Chris Johnson every week. The Titans took advantage of the Steelers banged up defense allowing Johnson to carry the ball 19 times for 91 yards and played a more balanced game for a change. It worked! The Titans head to Buffalo this week and if both defenses play as bad as they have all year look for someone to have a 200 yard ground game.

27)Carolina Panthers (1-4) Previous Rank 27 - Carolina looks to get a victory coming out of their bye week after losing three straight. Panthers are currently 1-2 at home and need a big game from Cam Newton.

28)Oakland Raiders (1-4) Previous Rank 29 - Unlike the Cowboys' fans, the Raiders' fans took a much tougher loss much better. Maybe it's the level of alcohol involved? The Raiders put up a great fight against a high powered Falcons squad and made it very interesting in the fourth quarter. Had it not been for Palmer's INT the Raiders could have very well been victorious. Now the Raiders have a chance to get a win against Jacksonville this Sunday, all they have to do is make less mistakes and play with the same intensity they had in the Falcons game.

29)Indianapolis Colts (2-3) Previous Rank 30 - Andrew Luck is only a rookie and the Colts are asking a lot out of him. At times he has shown glimpses of being able to make the transition into the NFL look easy but like any other rookie he can regress just as easily. The Colts rank third in passing defense and host the Browns with a chance to get to .500.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) Previous Rank 31 - Blaine Gabbert currently has 796 passing yards and continues to fail at making big plays. The Jaguars' passing offense is awful ranking 32nd and their ground is not much better ranking 22nd. The Jaguars had a bye week to figure things out on both sides of the ball.

31) Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) Previous Rank 28 - Brady Quinn's first shot at the starting job may be his only shot. Quinn finished the day with a 15.7 QBR, not much of an improvement over Matt Cassel. Why don't the Chiefs just give Ricky Stanzi a chance? Anything over a 20 QBR will be a big step up for them at the QB position. The Chiefs are in a bad situation and will really need this bye week to get back on track if they ever were on track to begin with.

32)Cleveland Browns (1-5) Previous Rank 32 - The Browns didn't get to 0-6 as I thought they would. This isn't a bad team it's clearly a work in progress team and wins aren't to be expected. Cleveland benefited from three INTs from Dalton to help split the season series with the Bengals. Can traveling to Indianapolis this week can be what the Browns make it two straight wins?

NFL Week 5 Power Rankings

1) Houston Texans (5-0) Previous Rank 1 - Super Bowl bound? Still too early to tell if this team has what it takes but the Texans by far have been the most impressive team this season. Arian Foster is averaging 106.2 rushing yards per game and Matt Schuab has yet to have a 300 yard passing game largely in part to the fact that the Texans have a well balanced offensive scheme keeping opposing defenses on their toes. Now they didn't humiliate the Jets on Monday Night but they did get the win. Texans now will face Green Bay and Baltimore without star linebacker Brian Cushing who may be suffering from a torn ACL. Houston definitely will face its stiffest competition thus far in the weeks to come and we can finally get a true evaluation of what this team is all about.

2)Atlanta Falcons (5-0) Previous Rank 2 - A lot like the Houston Texans the Atlanta Falcons have yet to face stiff competition but have gotten the job done against lesser opponents. After an exciting matchup with the Redskins this past weekend the Falcons find themselves at 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. Another huge game for Tony Gonzalez 13 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown he is by far Matt Ryan's favorite target. The Raiders come to town this week lets just say if you have any Falcons on your fantasy be sure to start them.

3)San Francisco 49ers (4-1) Previous Rank 4 - The only blemish with the 49ers is they rank 27th in passing yards but who cares when you rank 1st in rushing and have the best defense in the NFL. The 49ers racked up 621 yards a new franchise record ironically enough the last time they broke this record was against the Bills. Alex Smith cracked the 300 yard mark for the first time this season. In doing research I discovered that this was his 3rd career 300 yard game and the only time the 49ers have won when he has reached that mark. The 49ers are a very legitimate contender this season and now have an opportunity to flex their muscle against the New York Giants this week.

4)Baltimore Ravens (4-1) Previous Rank 3 - The Ravens couldn't find the end-zone this past Sunday in Kansas City luckily for them the Chiefs had offensive woes of their own. This should have been a blow out game for the Ravens but it wasn't Jamaal Charles rushed for 140 yards against the aging Baltimore defense. For the first team this season we get a glimpse of what happens when the offense doesn't show up for the Ravens. Nonetheless the Ravens now boast a 4-1 record and find themselves atop the AFC North and will now get a chance to pat their defensive statistics as none other than gun slinger Tony Romo and his Dallas Cowboys come to town.

5)New England Patriots (3-2) Previous Rank 9 - The rushing game of New England is opening things up for Tom Brady. New England ranks 3rd in rushing and as a result ranks 9th in passing. Even without tight end Aaron Hernandez the Patriots offense is looking the best it has in years. As far as defense goes they rank 30th in passing yards allowed at 291.6 yards per game and 8th in rushing yards. Teams definitely can attack New England through the air but cannot out shoot Tom Brady and his arsenal of unlimited weapons. They will now face the stingy Seattle Seahawks defense.

6)New York Giants (3-2) Previous Rank 6 - Ahmad Bradshaw and Victor Cruz each had a great performance against the Cleveland Browns this weekend. Bradshaw rushed for 200 yards and a touchdown. Cruz 5 receptions for only 50 yards but 3 of them for touchdowns. The Giants did everything right as they should have facing a very week Browns team. The Giants now face stiffer competition this week as they face the number one defense of the 49ers.

7)Chicago Bears (4-1) Previous Rank 10 - The Bears defense held the Jaguars to 3 points and only one failed trip to the red-zone. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall have connected 19 times for 279 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games. As long as the Bears Defense continues to stop teams and Jay Cutler doesn't cough it up the Bears have a very prosperous season ahead of them. Chicago has a bye week and will face Detroit in week 7.

8)Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) Previous Rank 7 - The Eagles struggled this past Sunday in a loss to a banged up Steelers defense. Michael Vick fumbled the ball 3 times and now has 11 turnovers for the season. With a QBR of 51.7 he's been very careless with the ball but has yet to point the finger at anyone but himself. The offensive line is clearly built for the rush and continue to struggle when Vick is in the pocket. If Philadelphia plans on getting into the playoffs they need to stop turning the ball over.

9)Minnesota Vikings (4-1) Previous Rank 14 - The Vikings keep climbing up these rankings as they keep winning and are doing it very convincingly. They control the running game on both sides of the ball. Christian Ponder threw his first 2 interceptions of the season this past Sunday but other than that the Vikings were in complete control as they beat the Titans 30-7. They now will face the Washington Redskins.

10)Arizona Cardinals (4-1) Previous Rank 3 - It was bound to happen the Cardinals got their first loss at the hands of the St. Louis Rams. Its mind boggling to see a team ranked 25th in passing 31st in rushing offense and still have a 4-1 record. Arizona can improve to 5-1 as they face the Buffalo Bills.

11)Green Bay Packers (2-3) Previous Rank 7 - They lost to an emotional Indianapolis Colts team this week and Green Bay finds themselves below .500 for the 3rd time this season. Green Bay ranks 17th in both defensive categories and have given up 27 points in back to back weeks. They now head to Houston in a crucial game that can put them in a deeper hole if they can't pull out a win.

12)San Diego Chargers (3-2) Previous Rank 11 - San Diego didn't look that bad in their loss to the Saints this weekend. Phillip Rivers passed for 354 yards and a pair of TDs while spreading the ball to 8 different receivers. Sand Diego was in it this past week and if it wasn't for the two turnovers they might have gotten another victory. They face Denver this week in a crucial game that can get them a nice 2 game lead in the AFC west.

13)Denver Broncos (2-3) Previous Rank 12 - Three consecutive 300 yard passing games for Peyton Manning he truly is doing everything he can for the Broncos. Defensively the Broncos struggle when it comes to stopping the run ranking 21st. The Broncos for the most part have been very competitive in all three losses but as said earlier in the season they are relying on Peyton to be the savior and its starting to become a reciepe for disaster.

14)Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) Previous rank 13 - They finally loss to a lesser opponent. The Bengals found themselves in a position to win in the final minutes of the game until Andy Dalton threw an interception to seal a Miami Dolphins victory. Heading into Cleveland this week the Bengals have another shot at beating up on a bad team.

15)Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) Previous Rank 16 - The Steelers got Rashard Mendenhall back this past Sunday and he rushed for 81 yards and a TD. Pittsburgh got a win on a final drive in which Big Ben converted 2 crucial third downs and ate up over 6 minutes off the clock. Big Ben now has 29 game-winning drives under his belt. Pittsburgh will face the struggling Tennessee Titans without Troy Polamalu.

16)New Orleans Saints (1-4) Previous Rank 27 - The Saints finally got a win after the awful first quarter to their season. The bye couldn't come at a better time as they now get a chance to focus on the road ahead. For now the Saints get to enter their bye week with the best passing offense in football but rank nearly dead to last in all other categories offensive and defensively. The Saints clearly have displayed how dangerous and unstoppable they can be offensively. If they come out of the bye week with a more focused defense they can certainly salvage whats left of their season. Many may disagree where I currently rank the Saints but honestly the following 16 teams would have a tough time matching them offensively.

17)Dallas Cowboys (2-2) Previous Rank 17 - Coming off a much needed bye week, Tony Romo gets a chance to redeem himself against the Baltimore Ravens defense. The Cowboys are currently ranked first in passing defense and will certainly need to stop Joe Flacco this week to have a shot at getting above .500.

18)Seattle Seahawks (3-2) Previous Rank 18 - The Seahawks have the stingiest defense in the league giving up only 258.6 yards per game. They picked up another win (this time legit) against the Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks can definitely run the ball and have a strong defense but will they be able to stop the high powered Patriots this week?

19)St Louis Rams (3-2) Previous Rank 19 - The Rams are the first team to get a win against the Arizona Cardinals holding them to just a field goal. After losing their best receiver Danny Amendola due to injury, the Rams now have to figure out a way to move the ball through the air as they rank 30th in passing offense. Sam Bradford continued with yet another unimpressive game completing only seven passes on 21 attempts - a 33.3 completion percentage. Bradford's QBR is still at an awful 37.3 and losing Amendola won't help his cause. The Rams head to Miami this Sunday in what seems to be a coin flip of a game.

20)Detroit Lions (1-3) Previous Rank 20 - The Lions are coming off a bye week to face Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. If the Lions lose this week it'll be four straight losses and a lot of ground lost in their division. The Lions' defense is ranked 10th in passing yards allowed and 13th in rushing. Getting to Vick and slowing down his receivers will be key for the Lions to avoid another loss.

21)Miami Dolphins (2-3) Previous Rank 25 - The Dolphins are the best team when it comes to stopping the run allowing only 61.4 yards per game. Reggie Bush currently has 417 rushing yards - ranked 10th - and three touchdowns. Brian Hartline now has 514 receiving yards - ranked first - but only one TD. Miami will host the Rams this week and will need further production from their offense.

22)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) Previous Rank 22 - The Buccaneers host Kansas City this week, they will need a win to avoid digging themselves deeper. Coming off the bye week, Josh Freeman has had time to regroup with his offense and looks for a chance to display improvement.

23)Washington Redskins (2-3) Previous Rank 15 - Robert Griffin III gave his fans a scare this past Sunday when he suffered a concussion. The Redskins are now 0-2 at home and will host the Minnesota Vikings. RG3 listed as questionable for the game.

24)Buffalo Bills (2-3) Previous Rank 21 - The Bills have now given up a total of 176 points to start the season and after a 45-3 loss this weekend to the 49ers, the Bills are looking for answers to fix their defense. Buffalo's defense ranks at the bottom, 24th in passing and 30th in rushing yards allowed per game. In their two victories this season, Ryan Fitzpaterick had QB ratings of over 100 and the Bill's defense held the opposition under 20 points. The Bills travel to Arizona this week needing a victory to get back to .500.

25)New York Jets (2-3) Previous Rank 24 - Mark Sanchez is under scrutiny and rightfully so. With only a QBR of 28.2 a completion percentage of 48.4 to go along with six INTs and three fumbles. Sanchez has shown no signs of progression this season. The Jets have lost two straight at home and now host Andrew Luck and the Colts. In Week-2, I would have said this is a favorable match up for the Jets but now there is no telling which Jets' team will show up.

26)Tennessee Titans (1-4) Previous Rank 26 - Touchdown Titans! That was all the Titans managed to get in their loss to the Vikings this past Sunday. As expected, Chris Johnson did nothing against the Vikings stingy run defense being held to a total of 29 yards from scrimmage. Matt Hasselbeck threw 43 times and only managed to get 200 yards. However, he did spread the ball connecting with 10 different receivers. Hasselbeck and the Titans have a lot of issues to address on offense.

27)Carolina Panthers (1-4) Previous Rank 23 - Three straight losses for Cam Newton and the Panthers. With the bye week coming up Newton will need to regroup and figure out why he has regressed this season. Newton has only four passing touchdowns and five INTs. The running game is also a problem for Carolina as Newton is their rushing leader with 209 yards for the season, making the Panthers one dimensional.

28)Kansas City Chiefs (1-4) Previous Rank 26 - The Chiefs held the Ravens to only nine points this past weekend in their loss. Matt Cassel was injured and Chiefs' fans celebrated him coming out of the game. The cheering is inexcusable but Cassel did have a QBR of 11.9 last week and had 27.5 this week before he came out. Brady Quinn will now have shot at the starting job as Cassel is listed as questionable and has yet to be cleared to practice as he is suffering from a concussion. The Chiefs travel to Tampa Bay this week.

29)Oakland Raiders (1-3) Previous Rank 29 - The Raiders are coming off a bye week heading to face the undefeated Falcons on the road. Oakland can find themselves in a 1-4 hole with a defense ranking 28th against the pass facing Matt Ryan. The Raiders secondary will have their hands full this week.

30)Indianapolis Colts (2-2) Previous Rank 31 - They did it for Chuck Pagano, the Colts upset the Green Bay Packers in what was the headline of the weekend. Andrew Luck threw for 362 yards (the most by any Colts' rookie in a game) and a pair of TDs, including the game winner to wide receiver Reggie Wayne. The Colts head to New York to face the Jets with a lot of emotion and momentum. It should be very interesting game to watch. Prediction - Andrew Luck gives Mark Sanchez and Tebow a lesson on what a Quarterback really is.

31)Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) Previous Rank 30 - Blaine Gabbert now finds himself with a QBR of 38.6 and has only reached 200-yards once this season. Maurice Jones-Drew has 408 rushing yards and only one TD. The Jaguars continue their offensive downfall and get a bye week to sort this mess out. It's not looking too good for the Jaguars this season.

32)Cleveland Browns (0-5) Previous Rank 32 - It's still a work in progress in Cleveland as the Browns are looking for their first win this season. Brandon Weeden starts his campaign at a pitiful 12.6 QBR, five TDs and nine INTs. The Browns receiving corp doesn't have anybody with more than 200 receiving yards. Trent Richardson's 303 rushing yards ranks him 16th among backs. The Browns host the Bengals this Sunday and a win will mark the first time the Browns have beaten an AFC North Opponent since October 3, 2010.

NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

1) Houston Texans (4-0) Previous Rank 1 - The undefeated Texans have made it through another week displaying why they are the best team in football. Their offense is rolling and their defense is holding their own. In a absolute performance of dominance over Tennessee
this past Sunday, the Texans offense showed complete control with a balanced attack. The Texans' defense forced a fumble and two interceptions, returning both of them for touchdowns. They face a struggling Jets team this coming Monday night and are ready to show the world why they are for real this season.

2) Atlanta Falcons (4-0) Previous Rank 2 - They pulled it off this past Sunday, it's another win for the Falcons, regardless of how much the game seemed like a loss. Cam Newton stood on the sideline and watched Matt Ryan complete just three passes to get the Falcons setup for a Matt Bryant 40-yard game winning field goal. Falcons should consider themselves fortunate for beating the struggling Carolina Panthers as they gave up a 24-14 lead. Attlanta face RG3 in Washington this week.

3) Arizona Cardinals (4-0) Previous Rank 3 - Arizona gets another win even though they
gave up 480 total yards. They were able to force four turnovers and come back in the fourth quarter to force overtime. The Cardinals aren't exactly rolling over the competition, my best explanation for the 4-0 start is that they just find a way to win. How long can they can keep this up? Your guess is as good as mine.

4) San Francisco 49ers (3-1) Previous Rank 5 - They completely shutdown the Jets this
past sunday. Embarrassed Mark Sanchez (only a QBR of 2.8) and held the Jets to 45
total rushing yards. Their defense is either that good or the Jets are really that bad.
Alex Smith didn’t need to contribute too much as nine different players combined for a total of 245 rushing yards. At one point it felt as if the 49ers where running all their trick plays in a practice situation. That's how much control they had over the Jets.

5) Baltimore Ravens (3-1) Previous Rank 4 - Joe Flacco now has thrown for over 300 yards in three consecutive games. Baltimore's offense continues to look productive, but their defense continues to show small signs of decline — only one sack this past week — and allowed rookie Brandon Weeden to throw for 320 yards. Im only nit picking Baltimore at this point, overall they look solid and are still a very hard hitting bunch. The Ravens face a demoralized Kansas City Chiefs this week and look to improve their record to 4-1.

6) Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) Previous Rank 7 - This is my benefit of the doubt team — Jose thinks they should be ranked higher, but he is a jackass and this is my Power Rankings. They are 3-1 and have pulled out every victory by a margin of 1.33 points. In any of their games do they seem in control but yet they play as if they are going to win. By far the strangest team to watch this season. The Eagles rank in the top 10 in passing, rushing, and defensive passing yards allowed — And rank 12th in defensive rushing yards allowed. Most impressive is the team's offensive line during rushing plays, they provide plenty of holes for LeSean McCoy to explode around or through. They had zero turnovers this week against the New York Giants, taking good care of the ball and will need to do the same as they head into Pittsburgh this Sunday.

7) Green Bay Packers (2-2) Previous Rank 8 - Aaron Rodgers picks up his first four touchdown game of the season as he and Drew Brees had a shootout this past Sunday. The Packers offensive weapons are clearly there and are beginning to click, facing the Colts this week should help get them above .500.

8) New York Giants (2-2) Previous Rank 6 - The Giants fell short this past Sunday, literally. Missing a 45-yard field goal in the final seconds and Eli Manning threw a red-zone interception to start the 4th qtr. Those two key self inflicting wounds is what cost the Giants the game and some ground to their rival Philadelphia Eagles. They host the Cleveland Browns this week and will need a crucial victory to avoid losing anymore ground in the NFC East.

9) New England Patriots (2-2) Previous Rank 9 - They lit up Buffalo for 52 points, 31 of them in the 4th quarter alone. New England’s offense was sizzling as Tom Brady passed for 340 yards and three TDs. Running backs Brandon Bolden and Stevan Ridley both rushed for over 100 yards and combined for 3 TDs. New England hosts Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos this week as what looks to be a promising shootout.

10) Chicago Bears (3-1) Previous Rank 12 - The Bears are now 3-1 after picking off Romo five times. Chicago has gained some confidence. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall connected for some big plays, 138 yards and a TD for Marshall. Definitely a statement game for the Bears
especially to do it on the road in Dallas. They head to Jacksonville this Sunday to face the struggling Jaguars.

11) San Diego Chargers (3-1) Previous Rank 14 - San Diego’s defense forced six turnovers this week and carried the Chargers to a easy victory this past Sunday. The offense still has yet to prove that it has enough weapons to take control of the AFC West. San Diego now travels
to New Orleans to face a pissed off Saints team that is just looking for a team to trample over. Good luck Phillip Rivers, you're gonna need it.

12) Denver Broncos (2-2) Previous Rank 15 - Peyton Manning’s arm looked great this weekend, he was throwing darts, every pass had plenty of zip on it, and at the expense of the Raiders awful secondary - Manning and the Broncos got the tune up game they needed. Now that they've got some kinks out of the way, Manning and the Broncos head to face Manning's old buddy in New England, you might know him, Tom Brady.

13) Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) Previous Rank 17 - Riding a three game winning streak, the Bengals now look to keep the ball rolling as they host the Dolphins on Sunday. Andy Dalton finishes the first quarter of the season with 1,111 yards, eight TDs, and a QBR of 78.3. Wide Receiver A.J. Green now has 428 yards and three touchdowns. The Bengals couldn't have asked for a better start to their season.

14) Minnesota Vikings (3-1) Previous Rank 23 - Moving up 9 spots this week, the Vikings did enough for me to give them the biggest leap of improvement as they now have a 3-1 record. Minnesota has been stopping the run ranking 7th in rushing yards allowed. One thing that must be pointed out is that Christian Ponder seems to be getting worse as the season progress, yardage and completion percentage has come down significantly from week 1. Adrian Peterson’s contribution will clearly determine how far the Vikings can go.

15) Washington Redskins (2-2) Previous Rank 22 - Unable to defend the big play and unable to hold on to leads, the Redskins finish the first quarter of the season ranked first overall in rushing yards at a impressive 175.5 yards per game. RG3 is exceeding expectations for a Rookie at 1,070 yards and eight total TDs. If his defense can step it up, Washington can be a serious contender in the NFC East. They host Atlanta this week and if RG3 can survive a shootout with Matt Ryan, I will start to believe the RG3 is for real chants.

16) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) Previous Rank 16 - Coming off a much needed bye-week, the Steelers now expect Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and the much needed Rashard Mendenhall’s return. Three aging stars return and the Steelers can only hope that they can contribute enough to get them a win as they host the Philadelphia Eagles.
 *Editor's note - Philly wins by 10*

17) Dallas Cowboys (2-2) Previous Rank 10 - If I could give a #TheStupidSanchez award to Tony Romo I would. What the hell? It's my power rankings. Tony Romo you have earned a #TheStupidSanchez award. Dallas looked terrible on both sides of the ball on Monday night. Giving up big plays to Jay Cutler. Really? It's only Jay Cutler. Romo threw five interceptions, not even Dallas fans could come up with that many excuses for this loss. Enough picking on the Cowboys, I’m sure Jerry Jones is looking into pulling Brett Favre out of retirement to save the Cowboys season.
*Editor's note - #TheStupidSanchez is an award created during our fantasy basketball season. Jose Sanchez, the dumbass of our league, had Pau Gasol on the bench as he recorded a triple-double. That night, we created #TheStupidSanchez award and it has been a staple of our fantasy sports since it's creation.

18) Seattle Seahawks (2-2) Previous Rank 13 - Replacement refs are long gone and now the Seahawks must figure out legitimate ways to earn points - their dead last passing attack isn’t gonna cut it. They travel to Carolina this week and will need to do everything they can to keep Cam Newton and the Panthers out of the end-zone.

19) St. Louis Rams (2-2) Previous Rank 25 - The Rams got a much needed victory over Seattle to get themselves back to .500 and will host the 4-0 Arizona Cardinals. Sam Bradford’s QBR of 37.2 after four games is not very impressive. For now it's a work in progress in St. Louis.

20) Detroit Lions (1-3) Previous Rank 18 - Dropping three straight, the Lions rank first in passing yards but can’t seem to find the end-zone. They are definitely a 20/20 team meaning they play great in between the 20-yard marks. They have the weapons and with the bye week coming up, the Lions will need to look at what's going wrong offensively and come back strong as they will travel to Philadelphia in Week-6.
*Editor's note - Philly is going to tap that ass :)

21) Buffalo Bills (2-2) Previous Rank 19 - Giving up an astonishing 52 points to New England this past Sunday, the BIlls' defense was picked apart and left for dead. Buffalo now travels to San Francisco. The Bills are suffering from injuries and will now face a relentless hard hitting 49ers defense. Buffalo’s defense now ranks 23rd in passing yards allowed and 28th in rushing yards allowed.

22) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) Previous Rank 21 - Out of all the 1-3 teams Tampa Bay should be the only ones to hold their heads up high as they have been competitive in every game thus far. They have a bye week coming up before they host Kansas City. Two weeks to prepare for the Chiefs should be plenty. Note Josh Freeman has a QBR of 33.1.

23) Carolina Panthers (1-3) Precious Rank 24 - Even with another loss, I'm moving the Panthers up a spot. Not because they deserve it but because I'm gonna destroy the Jets in this weeks power rankings. Cam Newton has 167 rushing yards and so does DeAngelo Williams. Steve Smith still is the only one producing on a weekly basis. Carolina's defense is awful and unable to stop anybody. The Panthers now find themselves in a bit of a hole. 

24) New York Jets (2-2) Previous Rank 11 - Its official Tebow-Mania is just weeks away and the implosion of the New York Jets will begin. Mark Sanchez in his past three games: 44-of-101 (43.5 percent) for 547 yards passing. QBR(2.8) against the 49ers this past week. The 49ers exposed the Jets for what they are, a team with no offensive weapons and a defense that is beginning to decline. A positive for the Jets - Rex Ryan seems to have lost some weight. 


25) Miami Dolphins (1-3) Previous Rank 27 - Ryan Tannehill coming off a big game of 431 passing yards and one TD. Last week I couldn't name a Dolphins wide receiver but I can now. Brian Hartline had a 12 reception, 253 yard monster game this past week. Aside from the extraordinary statistics this past week the Dolphins still lost. The Dolphins travel to Cincinnati this week looking to bounce back after the tough loss.

26) Tennessee Titans (1-3) Previous Rank 29 - I knew Chris Johnson would do this to me. I knew he was gonna have a good game only to sucker me into starting him again this week. They face a stingy rushing defense in Minnesota this week. The Titans have offensive problems but at least now have Matt Hasselbeck  at QB which could be a bit of an improvement over Jake Locker. 

27) New Orleans Saints (0-4) Previous Rank 28 - Another weird loss for the Saints. It's not looking good for New Orleans' season who are four games back. They will need to come out strong and win four straight just to get back to .500. Drew Brees had his best game this past week but it's still not enough as the Saints defense is giving up huge plays and a ridiculous amount of yardage. 

28) Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)  Previous Rank 26 - Jamaal Charles contributed enough for a win but Matt Cassel threw the game away. Cassel now ranks 32 among all QBs and there is no better option for the Chiefs right now. 

29) Oakland Raiders (1-3) Previous Rank 20 - Peyton Manning ripped them apart, who's next in line to have their way with the weak secondary of Oakland? Oh! It's Matt Ryan and the Falcons. The Raiders get a bye this week and will have to come up with a game plan to put some points up and stop Matt Ryan from lighting them up. Oakland ranks dead last in rushing offense and have one of the worst defenses ranking in the 20's in both passing and rushing categories.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3) Previous Rank 30 - Unable to get anything going offensively against Cincinnati this past Sunday, the Jaguars find themselves without any weapons in the passing game. It doesn't get any easier for them as now they face the Chicago Bears.

31) Indianapolis Colts (1-2) Previous Rank 31 - Hopefully the Colts have come up with a way to slow down Mr. "Discount Double Check" Aaron Rodgers and his high powered Packers Offense. Andrew Luck is under a microscope this season. Being highly praised coming in as a rookie doesn't have it's rewards as every pass thrown is analyzed and every loss is easily put on him.

32) Cleveland Browns (0-4) Previous Rank 32 - As predicted another loss for the Browns and now face a the Giants who are coming off a tough loss. It's a long season in Cleveland for sure. Brandon Weeden now has a QBR of 10.1 for the season. No receiver has cracked the 200 yards receiving mark yet. There's always next year, Browns fans. 

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

NFL Power Rankings
1) Houston Texans (3-0) - Undefeated with two very convincing road
victories under their belt, The Texans did exactly what they had to do
during their visits in Denver and Jacksonville. With a strong
running-game from the tandem of Arian Foster and Ben Tate, Houston is
looking every bit the power-house that was expected. Matt Schuab has
thrown five touchdowns - four in his last game against Denver. They
face Tennessee this week following intriguing match ups against the
New York Jets, Green bay, and Baltimore. The next four weeks will
indicate if Houston is for real.

2) Atlanta Falcons (3-0) - Also undefeated, the Falcons are coming off
a 27-3 victory over San Diego. This week Atlanta will face the
struggling Carolina Panthers. Matt Ryan has a QB rating of 91.6 to go
along with eight TDs to start the 2012 campaign. The biggest surprise
so far for Atlanta has been tight end Tony Gonzalez. Tony G. is still
productive, reeling in a TD in each of the first three games. Gonzalez
has been spreading the field for wide receivers Roddy White and Julio
Jones, making Atlanta’s passing game one of the best in the league.

3) Arizona Cardinals (3-0) - The Cardinals are the least convincing of
the undefeated teams, but have been getting it done mostly in part to
their passing defense - ranked 7th overall. Arizona has held opponents
to a impressive 4.7 yards per pass-play. They dodged a bit of a bullet
in Week-2 against New England when the Patriots failed to convert a
game tying two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. The
Cardinals are coming off their most convincing victory over Kevin
Kolb’s former team. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kolb completed 17
of 24 passes including a pair of TDs. Arizona's defense should not
have a problem against Ryan Tannehill (31.9 QB rating) and the Miami
Dolphins this week.

4) Baltimore Ravens (2-1) - Joe Flacco has been rolling and Ray Rice
is doing what he does best. Fot the first time in team history, The
Ravens have an offense that is actually better than it's defense. An
emotional Torrey Smith scored TDs less than 24 hours after the loss of
his brother in a motorcycle accident in Sundays victory over New
England. Baltimore looks to gain a lead as they host division rival,
the Cleveland Browns, in Thursday night's game of the week.

5) San Francisco 49ers (2-1) - Many believe this is the best team in
football, but after being upset by Minnesota, the 49ers have regressed
in my book. Frank Gore has been impressive averaging 5.9 yards per
rush. Michael Crabtree has converted 12 1st-downs, but has failed to
find the end-zone. Vernon Davis has been Alex Smith’s security blanket
catching four of Smith’s five TDs. San Francisco faces a Darrelle
Revis-less New York on Sunday, that should open things up for
Crabtree.

6) New York Giants (2-1) - After losing to Dallas in Week-1, the
defending Super Bowl champs bounced back with a shootout in Tampa Bay
where Eli manning exploded for 510 yards. The New York football Giants
are coming off a another victory, this time shutting down Carolina's
Cam Newton (three interceptions). With Hakeem Nicks questionable for
Sunday’s divisional match-up against Philadelphia (3rd overall passing
defense), Manning and the Giants might have a hard time getting things
done.

7) Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) - Michael Vick has thrown six picks and 3
TDs, but yet his team managed victories over Cleveland and Baltimore.
Against Arizona, Vick didn't have throw a TD or a INT, and the Eagles
failed to find the end-zone. Their upcoming game against New York will
be a good test as to what the 2012 Eagles are about.

8) Green Bay (1-2) - Even though the NFL can’t overturn the clear
interception that has tainted the Packers record, we all know what we
witnessed on Monday Night Football. The Packers don’t seem to be
moving the ball very well, but they still have Aaron Rodgers and a lot
of weapons at his disposal. Their offensive line has not been playing
up to par allowing an astonishing 16 sacks. If adjustments are made,
Green Bay can most definitely return to form. The controversial loss
to Seattle may have been the very thing that will kick start Green
Bay’s season.

9) New England Patriots (1-2) - Barely losing to Baltimore and
Arizona, New England seems to be trying to figure things out. With the
loss of TE Aaron Hernandez due to injury, The Patriots have signed WR
Deion Branch and TE Kellen Winslow. Not the power house they once were
but still a very competitive group looking for another ticket to the
playoffs.

10) Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - Tony Romo and the Cowboys came out shooting
Week-1, hit a brick wall in Seattle, and looked a bit sluggish against
Tampa Bay. But I will give Dallas the benefit of the doubt and let
them play the "Replacement Refs Had Their Hand in the This" card - 13
penalties for 105 yards. The penalties may have been the reason the
cowboys failed to produce on offense. Whether or not, the Cowboys
season will based on how the O-Line holds up and if Romo can avoid
turning the ball over.

11) New York Jets (2-1) - After three weeks, Mark Sanchez has
prevented divine intervention by keeping Tim Tebow on the bench, aside
from wild-cat formations. The loss of Darrelle Revis will definitely
affect their ability to prevent the deep-threat. Sanchez will now need
contribute more production in upcoming games against San Francisco and
Houston in the coming weeks.

12) Chicago Bears (2-1) - Jay Cutler has thrown a pick in each game
this season, including four against Green Bay in Week-2. Chicago’s
neither a defensive or offensive team, having problems on both sides
of the ball. Their biggest flaw might be the offensive line which has
allowed 11 sacks and has not been there long enough to let Jay Cutler
and his receivers to get anything done.

13) Seattle Seahawks (2-1) - Receiving a present from the replacement
refs aside, the Seahawks sit at 2-1. Mostly due to the fact that they
have managed to keep teams out of the end-zone. Seattle has allowed
the least amount of points thus far and are shutting down opposing
team's run-game. The Seahawks are dead last in passing-offense at
127.7 yards per game , but they have managed to beat Green Bay and
Dallas, and now go on the road to face St. Louis and Carolina.

14) San DIego Chargers (2-1) - San Diego dominated Oakland and
Tennessee, but come on, it's only the Raiders and Titans. Atlanta came
to San Diego and held them to just a field goal. The Chargers look to
rebound this Sunday as they head to Kansas City.

15) Denver Broncos (1-2) - After the coming out party in Week-1 for
Peyton Manning against Pittsburgh, the "Peyton Manning is Going to
Bail us Out" Kool-aid has become the beverage of choice in Denver.
Manning has been better than expected, but he is not the Manning of
old. The Broncos will need that Manning if they are going to have a
chance of winning their division.

16) Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) - The Steel Curtain is far from being
your Father's Steel Curtain. The Steelers  gave up 31 points to Denver
in Week-1 and 34 to Oakland this past Sunday. The Steelers are
suffering from injuries - Troy Polumalu and James Harrison out of the
lineup definitely opens things up for opposing offenses. The tandem of
Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace has been very productive, Big Ben has
taken nine sacks but has thrown eight TDs and only one INT.

17) Cincinnati Bengals (2-1) - After Baltimore had their way with them
in Week-1, the Bengals have won two straight, doing so scoring over 30
points both times. The onslaught stems from getting nice production
from "The Law Firm" BenJarvus Green-Ellis and having four receivers
with over 100 yards. "The Red Rifle" Andy Dalton and the Bengals have
found themselves tied for 1st in the AFC North to start the 2012
season.

18) Detroit Lions (1-2) - Detroit has the most efficient passing game
in the league at 334 passing yards per game. Calvin Johnson has over
300 yards on the season, but has only one TD. The Lions can put up
points but find themselves giving up just as many. Their defense isn't
the force it was last season, and will probably have Matt Stafford out
at least a game due to injury. Shaun Hill will have to step up big if
the Lions look to stay relevant in their division.

19) Buffalo Bills (2-1) - Fred Jackson has been out since Week-1 with
a sprained right knee, C.J. Spiller promptly put the Bills on his
back. Enter Week-4, he too is suffering from a shoulder injury,
possibly leaving Buffalo without a strong running game for the weeks
to come. Spiller is listed as doubtful and Jackson questionable. Ryan
Fitzpatrick and third-string RB Tashard Choice will need to step it up
in order to keep their winning streak alive. The Bills faces new
England looking to rebound after consecutive tough-losses.

20) Oakland Raiders (1-2) - Oakland’s offense came to life this past
Sunday against a banged up Steeler’s defense. Darrius Heyward-Bey
suffered a vicious helmet to helmet hit that landed him in the
hospital and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s matchup against
Denver. Carson Palmer proved that he can connect with his other
receivers and is starting to look more comfortable in the pocket. The
Raiders will face a tougher defense task, and will give indication as
how far they have come since trading for Palmer last season.

21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2) - Tampa Bay's defense  is ranked first
against the run, but ranking dead last in passing yards, allowing
353.3 yards per game. Their offense isn’t impressive at all ranking
30th in passing yards and 21st in rushing. This teams lacks weapons
and lacks defensive play making ability. The lone bright spot has been
rookie RB Doug Martin taking over the backfield after demonstrating
the skill-set we saw in his years at Boise State.

22) Washington Redskins (1-2) -  Robert Griffin III has a QB rating of
69.3, 209 rushing yards, and seven total touchdowns. Washington leads
the league in points scored but the defense hasn’t been able to hold
leads. If Washington's D could put together some stops late in the
game, the Redskins could see themselves in contention for a Wild-Card
spot if not the Division.

23) Minnesota Vikings (2-1) - Coming off a very impressive win over
San Francisco, the Vikings have a favorable schedule for the next
seven games before their Week-11 Bye. Christian Ponder has yet to
throw a pick this season and Adrian Peterson has proved all doubters
wrong.

24) Carolina Panthers (1-2) - Cam Newton has yet to show any
progression this season. Steve Smith is still proving that he is a
premier receiver in the league with six receptions of 20 yards or more
and 11 1st-down conversions. Carolina is a pass first team and the
lack of balance could be holding them back.

25) St. Louis Rams (1-2) - The magic number was six this past Sunday.
Six points and six sacks. Sam Bradford was hurried too often and was
unable to get anything going. Their offense ranks 27th in passing and
20th in rushing. Upcoming games at home against Seattle and Arizona
can give St. Louis some opportunities to figure things out with their
offensive line.

26) Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) Jamaal Charles is coming off a monster
game and has propelled the Chiefs to the Number 1 ranked rushing
offense in the league. Matt Cassel hasn’t been great with a QB rating
59.3 and four picks to go with three TDs.

27) Miami Dolphins (1-2) - Reggie Bush looks to be starting off his
season on the right foot. Ryan Tannehill has one TD, four INTs, and an
awful QB rating of 31.9. With a receiving corp made of Brian Hartline,
Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano, you can’t put all the blame on the
rookie QB. it's going to be a long season for the Dolphins, maybe they
can focus on getting a rushing title.

28) New Orleans Saints (0-3) - I feel like their record could be 3-0,
but it's not. New Orleans is suffering with out head coach Sean
Payton. Losing to Kansas City in OT and were unable to comeback
against Washington and Carolina. The Saints could be a few adjustments
away to getting back on track but who is going to make the necessary
adjustments? They face the Green Bay Packers this week, both teams
need a big win under their belt after disappointing starts to their
respective seasons.

29) Tennessee Titans (1-2) - Chris Johnson is on my fantasy teams,
feel my pain. Seriously, watching the Titans offense unable to do
anything is nauseating. They are last in rushing yards at 39 yards per
game, mostly in part that they don’t run with only 45 total attempts -
33 from Johnson. Tennessee has problems and being a one dimensional
offense isn’t helping their cause.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2) They beat Indianapolis, got crushed by
Houston, and lost in OT to Minnesota. Blaine Gabbert’s QB rating of
42.3 finds himself in a similar situation as Miami’s Tannehill, no
receivers. BUT, at least he has MJD to help carry some of the burden.

31) Indianapolis Colts (1-2) - Andrew Luck isn’t exactly going to save
the Colts all in one shot. The rookie has plenty to learn but is
working through it. Luck is second in total QBR at 82.0 just ahead of
Ben Roethlisberger and behind Matt Ryan, but ranks 26th in actual
passer rating. So the glass can be considered half full or half empty
when it comes to Luck and his rookie campaign thus far. The Colts will
go only as far as Luck can take them. (No pun intended)

32) Cleveland Browns (0-3) - Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Buffalo to
start the season. Now Baltimore, the New York Giants, and Cincinnati
the next three weeks. 0-6 could be in the Browns' future. Brandon
Weeden isn’t exactly going light up the score board and Trent
Richardson isn’t going to put the Browns on his back and take them
anywhere, anytime soon. Scouting for their first overall pick next
year should be the main thing to focus on now for Cleveland.

-Daniel 
-Jose 

Jose's Fantasy Football Column for the Daily Press

It’s about time I start a column talking about a running back other than C.J. Spiller. Did you see Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles carrying the ball 33 times for 233 yards coming? I certainly didn’t.

Charles got so many touches because Peyton Hillis left the game with an ankle injury. Charles is a good option at RB, just don’t expect that kind of performance again.

Congratulations to Washington’s Alfred Morris on surviving the “Alfred Morris Three Weeks of Consistency Countdown.” The rookie’s Week 3 stat line of 17 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown is worthy of keeping the streak alive. Morris now has 263 yards and three TDs on the season.

Before the season started, a reader sent us an email predicting Morris as the biggest sleeper of the season. Jose Sanchez, the Daily Press proudly awards you with the inaugural “Deepest Sleeper Ever” award.

How did Buffalo’s “Fool’s Gold” Spiller fare this week? He had four carries for 16 yards and caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 32-yard TD, before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. If you took my advice of trading him, I accept PayPal payments.

Early indications are pointing to Spiller sitting out this week against New England. Fred Jackson has been progressing faster than expected from a sprained right knee ligament, but might not be ready this week. If neither are able to suit up, Tashard Choice will get the call. Choice filled in for Spiller and carried the ball 20 times for 91 yards against Cleveland.

Is it just me, or do you think there’s something special in the water in Buffalo? Possibly some of the “Mike’s Secret Stuff” that Bugs Bunny gave to his team in the film “Space Jam”?

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning didn’t have the big game I anticipated against Carolina, but it was mostly due to the lopsided score and the emergence of RB Andre Brown. Manning torched the Panthers’ defense in the first half for 208 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett to finish the Giants’ first drive of the game. Manning finished with 288 yards, the lone TD, and didn’t throw an interception.

Atlanta hosts the Panthers this week. As easy as it is to point to any QB going up against the Panthers’ defense, this is a dream matchup. I just love Matt Ryan’s chances against one of the worst defenses in the league. Matty Ice is coming off a 275-yard, three-TD performance against San Diego. The Falcons have been airing the ball out and should continue to do so against Carolina.

This week’s hottest pickup will be the Giants’ Brown. He followed a strong Week 2 performance with 20 carries for 113 yards and two TDs. But it was against Carolina. Ahmad Bradshaw has been cleared to return to practice this week and is expected to retain his starting gig. New York heads to Philadelphia for a tough divisional matchup and the Eagles’ defense hasn’t been very good. With Manning spreading the field, whoever the Giants have in the backfield should have a productive game. Even if the injury-prone Bradshaw plays this week, Brown should be worth a spot on your bench.

Personally, if I’m going to make a claim on a RB it’s going to be Detroit’s Mike LeShoure. The second-round pick finally made his NFL debut after missing the 2011 season due to a torn Achillies tendon, then getting suspended for the first two games of this season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The Lions host Minnesota this week and LeShoure, coming off a 100-yard performance, is worth a shot given the injuries in the Lions’ backfield.

I think the best pickup will be Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, who is turning into one of Manning’s favorite red zone targets. The 6-foot-6 TE is a perfect red zone target and has proven capable of reeling in Manning’s passes. Through three games, Bennett has 185 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been heavily involved in the Giants’ offense and should be a viable option to start, or a good bench option if you already have a good TE.

I haven’t focused much on special team/defenses because I feel they aren’t all that important as waiver wire pickups. But if you need a defensive improvement, Arizona — which held Philadelphia to just two field goals — should fit the bill. Through three games, the Cardinals have allowed 206 passing yards per game — the seventh fewest in the NFL. They’ve forced five fumbles, recovered four and have two interceptions.

House Rules

"Cause the house always wins. Play long enough, you never change the stakes. The house takes you. Unless, when that perfect hand comes along, you bet and you bet big, then you take the house.” -Danny Ocean from the film Oceans 11 

The NFL is the most popular of all American sports due to the fact that it draws so much wagering. Gambling wether legal or illegal has become very popular from the office pools, to the straight up bets amongst friends, even the common fantasy league has some kind of cash prize at the end of the season. I can be sitting down on a Sunday watching multiple games needing someone to cover a four-point spread, but keep the total under 45 all while rooting for players on my fantasy league to come up big. It’s turned the game into a chaos of mixed emotions, all while making it much more exciting. 

I’m writing this to open up your eyes to the world of gambling, not to turn you into a degenerate. I plan to give you enough knowledge to add another element to your football experience. With Las Vegas a few hours away from SoCal, sometimes I like to take a trip and lay some bets down and enjoy what the sportsbooks have to offer. So if you’ve never placed a bet in a casino this what you will need to know in order to place a few dollars on your favorite team.

The Spread

The point-spread at first glance can be confusing and difficult to understand.The point-spread was created to level the game out. Sometimes a team is clearly far superior to their opponent, by giving a favored team a negative start to the game-essentially what is being created is a coin flip. When betting against the spread you are gaining points or losing points to start the game. In all instances where points are involved, the “favorite’ is losing points at the start of the game or it can be interpreted as the “underdog” is gaining points to start the game. In some instances there is not a spread and the line is left at 0 known as a “Pick Em” because essentially all you are doing is just picking a winner straight up, with no points involved. 

EXAMPLE

Green Bay	-	8:30 PM ET	Green Bay -3.5 (-120)
Seattle	-		Seattle +3.5 (-110)

Here, Green Bay is a three and a half point favorite. The best way to understand, the game starts off Green Bay down by three and a half points. Let’s say the final score was Green Bay 27, Seattle 24 - Seattle would be the winning outcome, since they got the half point to cover in their favor. So really the betting outcome is Green Bay 27 Seattle 27.5 

Another example, if the line wasn’t -3.5 for Green Bay, rather it was
just minus-three, and the same outcome of Green Bay 27, Seattle 24, it's neither a win or a loss. Since the actual outcome results Green Bay 27, Seattle 27, this is known as a push - exactly like in BlackJack when the dealer and the player hold the same outcome. Here, you don’t win any money nor do you lose any money. In order to bet Green Bay -3.5 or minus-three and win, Green Bay just needs to cover by four points so any outcome of Green Bay winning by four points is a win. One thing to remember the bookmakers always make you bet at a price which is what they call, "juice above". If you bet on Green Bay -3.5 the (-120)
indicates you will have to bet $120 to make $100. If you bet Seattle +3.5 the (-110), you will have to bet $110 to make $100. The juice can vary depending on how much is coming in on either side.

THE OVER/UNDER 

Green Bay	-	8:30 PM ET
Seattle	-		Over/Under 45.5 Over-110 Under-125

The OVER/UNDER is the easiest of the lines to understand. It is a line predicting where both teams combined points will result in. Again, for example, Green Bay 14, Seattle 21, the total combined points of both teams is 35. The line is 45.5 so 35 is considered under. As shown above, over 45.5 indicates that you can bet on either over 45.5 total points or under. So if you bet on the over, any total of 46 and above will result in a win. If you bet the under, any total of 45 and lower will result in a win. When the line has a half point as the one above does the outcomes are only a win or loss. When the over/under line doesn't have a half point (for example, the line is at 50) outcomes can be a win, loss, or push.

Betting on the over/under line can very fun as you are rooting for either a high score or a low score. It is very easy to be burned by this, as occasionally some teams score a meaningless touchdown at the end of the game that can ruin your bet. Also, keep in mind that over/under bets have a juice on them as well.

The MONEY LINE 

(EXAMPLE OF WHAT A MONEY LINE MIGHT LOOK LIKE)

NEW ENGLAND -160

BUFFALO     +140

The money-line is basically a pick 'em. You pick who you believe is going to win the game, straight up, no point-spread. Seems easy. Right? However there is a catch because sometimes it is easy for us to just pick a favorite. Usually, the probability of winning would be high, bookmakers aren’t going to just give money away. That would be too simple and flat out dumb on their part. That is where the money-line kicks in, which means you can pick the winner, but the risk is higher. Above New England -160 indicates that you will be paid $100 for every $160 you bet on New England to win. Buffalo however is +140, which means you will be paid $140 for every $100 you bet on Buffalo. On heavy-favorites, the lines can reach -500 and even higher. Making it a bit more discouraging to bet huge dollar amounts just to make 100. This benefits bookmakers because if they get large amounts of dollars on the favorite and the underdog pulls off an upset, they stand to make large amounts of money. If the favorite wins essentially they are only paying out cents on the dollar.

Now that I have explained the three common bets on a football game, these bets also
apply to other sports. The money-lines vary and the spreads accordingly for each sport's scoring systems. Other things that can be bet on are what's called a "proposition bet", better known as “props”. You can bet on an individual players performance. For example, Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, OVER/UNDER 97.5 Yards. Prop bets are most popular on bigger games like playoff games and particularly the Super Bowl.

Ridiculous props such as - How long will Christina Aguilera hold the note on "brave" while singing the National Anthem, or what color Gatorade will the winning coach get showered in. Yes, this stuff exists. I will be doing more articles on gambling. I just wanted our readers to get familiar with gambling. I love to do predictions and will start today with my pick for tonight - Green Bay by 3 over 45.

-Daniel