The 1st Quarter Report

The NFL season is a quarter of the way through the regular schedule, and already some shocking story lines are developing…

Let's do a division by division analysis starting with the NFC West…

3-1 Seattle: Remains the class of the division, (that‘s kind of an oxymoron when talking about the NFC West)… Though I am not sold on their QB, or running game… Despite Matt Hasselbeck’s 281 yd., 2 Touch Down performance, He still has a weak arm, the inability to throw a strong out rout, & an uncanny knack for making bone-head decisions at crucial moments in games… Aging Sean Alexander had a mere 78 yards on 25 carries or just over 3 yds per attempt, that has got to be a concern for Head Coach Mike Holmgren going forward, as they face tougher opponents on the road…
Season Prediction (SP): 10-6, win division, lose 1st playoff game..

2-2 49er’s: Starting QB Alex Smith will be out for the season, with a shoulder injury he sustained after being pile driven into the SF turf by 308 lb. Seahawk Rocky Bernard, but the  six 1st half sacks should tell you everything you need to know about the 49ers, they can’t protect the Passer, if they don‘t get back up QB Trent Dilfer some help soon, his season will be over by week 9…  Their defense is rather solid & Frank Gore is a legitimate feature back, with Pro Bowl possibilities if he can stay healthy & hang on to the ball, as with past seasons fumbles continue to be a problem in San Fran…  
S P: 6-10 look for San Fran to address their Offensive Line SOON…

2-2 Arizona Cardinals:  This team will be in the playoffs, Look for the Red Birds to be flying hi in the 1st round as a wild card team… A Valiant comeback bid 2 weeks ago against a very tough Baltimore Ravens defense, and this weeks shocking upset of the Steelers, tells me this team can make it to the Wild Card in the feeble NFC where an 8-8 record could still get the job done..
S P: 9-7  This year the Cardinals will finally emerge from the ashes in Phoenix…

0-4 St. Louis Rams: That’s not a misprint folks… “The Greatest Show on Turf” has been replaced by their early 1990’s counterparts “The Lambs”… This team is awful… Sure losing Orlando Pace from your offensive line is a huge blow, but that is no excuse for the way this team has played… This is best illustrated in QB Marc Bulger’s 11 for 24 114 yards passing against a Dallas defense that can be passed on… Needless to say Stephen Jackson won’t be getting the 1800 yards carrying the ball he predicted before week 1…
S P: 1-15 On the plus side they’ll get the 1st pick next April…

NFC North

4-0 Green Bay: The Packers have been playing good sound football and Brett Favre is playing within the confines of the system in place… Without a lot of high power ammo No. 4 can’t be the Gunslinger of old but, he has played with more maturity than in any past season I can remember… If he stays healthy and that defense and can cut down some of the Passing yards they’ve allowed, look for the Pack to contend in one of the NFL’s most competitive Divisions..
SP: 10-6 I see them losing to Dallas in the NFC Championship Game

3-1 Detroit: While they may fall one victory shy of John Kitna’s prediction of a 10 win season, this team is fun to watch… & They can score… They have a serious receiver corps., and a ball hawking defense that can turn games around…  Just ask last weeks starting QB of “Da Bears”  Brian Griese…
SP: 9-7 This team is on the rise

1-3 Chicago Bears… They aren’t suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, they weren’t that good in the 1st place… They don’t have a top tier QB, & you can’t win in the NFL without one… Why they didn’t go after Dante Culpepper in the off-season is a mystery to me, & What ever happened to Kyle Orton? Aside from Devan Hester returning punts & kickoffs, this team can’t produce much in the way of fireworks… They may win a couple of games do to inclimate weather later on, but sub 500 is definitely in the cards for them…
SP 5-11 high draft pick will mean a chance to draft a legitimate QB…

1-3 Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson has shown all the signs of becoming the marquis back the Vikes hoped for when they drafted him out of Oklahoma… They are in the rebuilding process though as evidenced by their lack of quality receivers and it remains to be seen if QB Kelly Holcomb, can produce even if given the talent..
S P: 4-12 perhaps a new stadium will see a resurgence in of the Purple People Eaters…

NFC South

3-1 Tampa Bay; The Bucs are looking reminiscent of their Super Bowl form of a few years ago… Jeff Garcia has yet to throw an interception this season and the defense is stingy as ever, the loss of running back “Cadillac” Williams may hurt, but Michael Pittman is one of the best back ups in the league… This team has a proven winning formula right now and they play the style of ball that wins ugly games in November and December..
S P: 11-5 Losing in 2nd round of playoffs at home

2-2 Carolina: This team needs to make a commitment to rebuilding… For a variety of reasons the Panthers don’t really have much in the way of explosive threats… Jake Delhomme, who was never going to be confused with Dan Marino anyway, appears to be suffering from an elbow injury, limiting the potential for the deep ball to WR Steve Smith… With that knowledge & Delhomme’s penchant for hanging receivers out to dry on crossing patterns, it could be a long year for the Panthers… (Though much shorter for many in the receiver corps)
S P: 6-10  Another NFC team that made it to a Super Bowl because of playing a soft
                  schedule that year…(like “Da Bears“ last year)…

1-3 Atlanta: Minus Michael Vick this team is a shell of it’s former self… Joey Harrington has done an adequate job filling in at QB, but relying on a Tight End, Algie Crumpler, as the primary receiver & Warrick Dunn (a prototypical scat back ) wont get them anywhere in today's game…  The Falcons Defense is woeful…   They did manage to win at home against the Texans this week, but another 400 yards ceded by the D means they are giving up more ground than the French Army…
S P 5-11

0-3 New Orleans: Maybe the bye week did them some good… losing Deuce McAllister for the season was a huge blow… But, that may be the catalyst needed to get the Reggie Bush era underway in the Big Easy…  New Orleans is a better team than their record indicates, though they may not make the playoffs they will bring it every week…
S P: 8-8 Some receivers and a power back are needed to get New Orleans over the top…

NFC East

4-0 Dallas: I always tell people my 2 favorite teams are the Patriots & whoever plays Dallas, so it pains me to admit this but…  As long as this team stays healthy they are the team to beat in the NFC… Tony Romo continues to improve 7 impress… The botched hold in the Playoffs last year seems to be a distant memory for both he ands his teammates… With Terrell Owens leading a high caliber cast of receivers, a very capable 1 2 punch in the running game, and a solid defense, this is clearly the cream of the NFC crop…
S P: 12-4  A trip to the Super Bowl awaits Big D… How bout those Cowboys, losers to the
                  Patriots in the January…

2-1 Washington: I like Joe Gibbs but I don’t believe he has evolved with the game… I believe his style of football is dated and shopworn… His ability to manage the clock properly as well as the advisability of some of the  challenges the Redskins have made, should be setting the alarm off in Daniel Snyders luxury Box some time soon… The Joe Gibbs Era in Washington officially ends this year…
S P 6-10: Hello Marty Schottenheimer?

2-2 NYGiants: Don’t let all those sacks against Philly go to your heads, you fans of the G-Men… Defensively they are still rather small up front, and will be run on like a track field as the temperature drops… Eli Manning admittedly doesn’t have the weapons his brother has in Indianapolis… But then again he wouldn't be the weapon Peyton is were he playing for Indy so…  Plaxico Burress remains an enigma, Amani Toomer is getting old, & Jeremy Shockey is the most over-rated Tight End in Football… Period….
S P: 9-6 Playoff bound but bounced early…

1-3 Philly: They are as bad as they looked Sunday night… Donovan McNabb has got to have the worst pocket presence in the NFL(Not good when you pass as often as Philly does)… His happy feet and poor discipline in the drop back, were just part of the reason the Giants tied an NFL record for sacks in a game…  Osi Umenyiora might as well have been wearing Michael Westbrook’s No.36 Jersey for all the time he spent in the Eagle’s Backfield… I know  the injuries didn’t help,  (Westbrook, Starting Safety Shawn Dawkins and Cornerback Lito Sheppard all sat out ), but that’s part of playing in the NFL…  15 penalties for 132 yards indicate a lack of discipline under head Coach Andy Reid…  Given the travails of Reid’s son, one has to question whether or not his personal life a mirror of his professional life???

S P: 5-11:  The Eagles will be shopping for a new QB & Head Coach this off season…

AFC West

2-2 Denver: Denver played the Colts tough at Indianapolis Sunday, and their ground game is excellent as witnessed by the 160 yds. Rushing… However in inability to convert key 3rd downs because of a lack of outside threats continues to plague Mike Shanahan’s team… This is not a new problem and it speaks volumes about the flaw in Mike Shanahan‘s approach to winning football games…  Ball control offenses that rely on a potent ground attack must have a legitimate possession receiver to convert the inevitable 3rd and long when it arises… In all honesty, when was the last time the Broncos had legitimate outside or downfield threats? You’d have to go back to the Dan reeves era…
S P:10-6 Perennial contender with the usual early round loss in playoffs

2-2 Oakland: You Don’t have to believe me, but the Raiders don’t suck…  & That is one of the bigger surprises so far this year… Despite their Top Pick in the draft, (LSU QB Jermarcus Russel), refusing to sign until week 1, the Raiders look like they are poised to make a playoff run this year…(don‘t laugh)… They have a bruising running game and it appears Dante Culpepper has been reinvigorated playing for the Silver & Black… The defense is a little lighter and faster than in previous years… That could be important down the stretch, since last year they grew tired as games wore on…
S P 9-7  I see a Wildcard spot…

2-2 Kansas City: Herman Edwards is not a good coach… There I said it… We all knew that after watching the way he dismantled the Jets team that Bill Parcells built, but few of us dared say it aloud…  Damon Huard is a serviceable back up QB but he not an NFL starter, & never has been… Larry Johnson has still not regained his stride from last season and it remains to be seen if he can shoulder the load for a full season… On the defensive side of the ball they can’t stop the run, and that will cost them later on in Denver and at home as it gets cold…
S P: 6-10 Herm gets the hook at years end

1-3 San Diego:  Many people say this is the biggest surprise this year in the NFL, not me… When you get rid of a winning coach like Marty Schottenheimer you send a bad message to the rest of your team…  Schotzy led them to a 14-2 season and for the sin of losing a football game to a better team he got the axe? Is anyone supposed to feel safe in San Diego? Let’s review.. Drew Brees, a very good QB, not safe… Marty Schottenheimer ,a great Head Coach, not safe…  LT better not fumble too much or he may wind up in the CFL next year…  Charger fans you got what you asked for… Marty couldn’t win the big ones, now you have  Norv Turner, who has proven as a head coach he can’t win the small ones… 
S P 8-8  This years season in review DVD will be sub-titled “How the fickle fail in the
                NFL”

AFC North

3-1 Pittsburgh:  As any loss to the Arizona Cardinals would indicate, the Steelers have some deficiencies to overcome this season… They are still a fundamentally sound team, but are not yet firing on all cylinders… New head coach Mike Tomlin needs to address Special Teams, the play there has been dreadful, leading to great field position for opponents… In addition ball security must become a prority fumbles & interceptions cost them the game against the cardinals…
S P 11-5 Good but not Good enough, lose a road playoff game @ Indy or Pats..

2-2 Cleveland:  But for their defense, the Browns could be replacing the Bengals as the 2nd best team in the division… They are playing sound fundamental football, except on defense, where they remain easier to score on than a Prostitute on Roofies… QB Derek Anderson has got people forgetting that 1st round draft pick Brady Quinn is waiting in the wings to take the snaps… Legitimate deep threat Braylon Edwards is emerging as a Pro-Bowl caliber receiver, & Jamaal Lewis is returning to form… If they can outscore the other team they have a chance to win… However most teams get more out of their offense than Brian Billick’s  Ravens, so look for the Browns to be involved in a lot of shootouts,…
S P 8-8 not bad Romi now let’s get cracking on some Defensive Picks…

2-2 Baltimore: The Ravens under Brian Billick are one of the most boring teams I have ever watched, Steve McNair does what is asked of him… Hit the low risk high percentage pass when the ground attack stalls… That’s usually a winning formula when your defense is led by Ray Lewis and company, and they are performing as advertised… Unfortunately, that has not been the case this year… Barely getting by the Cardinals, & losing to the Browns means all is not quite right in Baltimore… This will be Brian Billicks last year in Baltimore, look for a more offensive minded coach to invigorate this boring team…
S P 7-9 Look for a major overhaul n the off season…

1-3 Cincinnati: Over matched, Over Hyped & Out Classed… That  best describes the Bengals so far this year… Chad Johnson needs to focus on catching footballs not the cameras on the sidelines… When you’re winning Chad’s antics are said to help keep the team loose, when you’re losing they become a distraction… The Bengals & Marv Lewis have had discipline problems for a couple of years now… Allowing Chad Johnson’s behavior to go unpunished only gives the appearance those problems haven’t been addressed… Another team that needs to get some cohesion on defense… If we a going to assign blame for the loss on Monday, then the blame should really should go  Marv Lewis.. When you only dress 4 linebackers for an NFL game you deserve to lose…
S P: 7-9 Marv needs to break out the Hickory Stick soon… DISCIPLINE

AFC South

4-0 Indianapolis: The injury bug hit the Colts hard this past week…  RB Joseph Addai, WR Marvin Harrison, Safety Bob Sanders & LB Rob Morris all appear to have received significant injuries in their home victory over Denver… This does not bode well for Indy going forward…  The toughest portion of their schedule is coming up and these are some of their most valuable players… Don’t look for a repeat Colts fans…
S P 13-3: Losers at N. E.  in the AFC Championship Game…

2-1 Tennessee: One year away from greatness… Watch for Vince Young to come of age this year, perhaps knocking off the Colts once this year… A fairly stingy defense and the potential for a lot of scoring, this team will take a little time to gel but once they do look out…
S P 10-6 Next year they win the Division…

2-1 Jacksonville: Does anyone know who plays QB for this team? I called the front office and they didn’t know… In all seriousness has any QB ever fallen out a favor faster than Byron Leftwitch, Jason Garrett is a good QB and certainly more mobile than the Rotund Leftwich, but no team can win when the QB position is in a constant state of upheaval… This team needs an extreme makeover and a coach that is willing to commit to one way of doing things…
S P 7-9 tough division tough schedule rebuilding on the horizon…

2-2 Houston: This team is tough not to like, & tough to figure out…. One week they play like they can beat anyone anytime & the next they fall flat on their faces…  Losing to Atlanta this week-end despite over 400 yards of total offense is a case in point… The Texans need to develop confidence to win on the road… This team may be the Cinderella story of the season… Then again
S P : 9-7 One or two pieces still missing but give them 2 more years and look out…

AFC (L)East

4-0 Patriots I don’t need to go into great detail here the best got better… Imagine if Tom Brady had Randy Moss to throw to last year… After watching the ease with which he makes plays, I’m reasonably sure Moss catches what Caldwell couldn’t.. Another ring wouldn’t be such an unrealistic expectation had they just added Moss… The additions of  Dante Stallworth, Adalius Thomas, regaining a healthy Rodney Harrison, and still having an injured Richard Seymour on the horizon, it’s tough not to envision the Pats celebrating another Super Bowl Victory this January…
S P: 15-1 Someone will upset the apple cart.. AFC & Super Bowl Champs

1-3 Buffalo: One good thing about the injury to J.P Losman, it allowed the Bills to find there new QB… Rookie Trent Edwards might actually be the replacement for Jim Kelley that Buffalo has been looking for…  A little more of that opportunistic defense and the bills might finish near 500 this year.. After all they do get to play Miami and the Jets twice…
S P 7-9: next year the Playoffs

1-3 Jets: The Jets have a solid foundation in their defense, though their linebacker play leaves a little to be desired…Chad Pennington has to have the weakest arm of any starting QB in the NFL…  I am constantly amazed when one of his out routes is completed & not returned for a pick 6 the other way… His mobility reminds me of Dan Marino,(without the arm strength or pocket presence)… The announcers (Usually NY homers ), are constantly talking about his intangibles and Chad being the emotional leader of the team, Sadly for Jets fans they are not more critical, as it might hasten pennington‘s departure…  Eric Mangini was saddled with this guy and now he has to allow the Pennington era to run its course… This season out to do it…
S P 6-10 Another team in dire need of a rebuild…

0-4 Miami: I dare say this is the worst Dolphins team I‘ve ever seen… Trent Green has no real weapons in Miami and the defense is getting very old… Without LB Zack Thomas this Sunday they looked positively helpless to stop the run… Dante Culpepper made the most of his return to South Florida… Though only completing 5 of 12 passing attempts, he ran for 28 yds. & a TD..  While Justin Fargas looked like Jim Brown shredding the porous “Phins”   for 179 yds. on 22 carries… When you win by 18 points while only completing 5 passes in the NFL, you’ve exposed a serious weakness in the other team…

S P 0-16  I believe 0-4 Notre Dame could beat the 2007 Miami Dolphins…
                 I know # 7 Boston College could…


NFC West            NFC North           NFC South          NFC East
Seattle     10-6           Packers 10-6      Tampa   11-5      Dallas   12-4
Arizona    9-7             Lions       9-7       Saints     8-8       Giants    9-6
San Fran  6-10          Bears      5-11     Carolina  6-10     Wash     6-10
Lambs      1-15          Vikes       4-12     Atlanta     5-11     Philly     5-11

AFC West                     AFC North           AFC South         AFC East
Den  10-6                    Pitts     11-5           Indy  13-3           Pats   15-1
Oak   9-7                     Browns  8-8          Tenn  10-6           Buff     7-9
SD     8-8                     Balt        7-9           Hous   9-7           Jets    6-10
KC    6-10                    Cincy     7-9           Jax      7-9           Miami  0-16 

 

 

HPWW
Bob Grant