Thursday, September 30, 2004
I really really miss writing. Or having structured free time to write. Or getting paid to write. That was fun. Currently, I write for fun, but I never have the time to structure and make myself write. I am jealous of the comedy writers taht get to write for ESPN and such for getting paid to write. Course, here I get to post pictures that everyone likes, and noone complains. It doesn't balance out really, since I really like having money, but what can you do? Start your own magazine? Build a mansion or two, invite beautiful women over,a dn make mad passionate love to them in a cave with a hot tub in it? Wear smoking jakets all damn day?
You oculd do that. BUt it's been done, and anything after the original is just a poor second.
NFL Week 4 Preview:
Sunday, Oct. 3
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been forced to go wit a rookie QB, who has shown some am strength and some amazing touch. But he has also showed signs of being a rookie. While the personnel of the Bengals defense isn't awe-inspiring, it is solid scheme wise, thanks to Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals will continue working the passing game, with psuedo rookie Qb Carson Palmer and wideouts Chad Johnson, Peter Warrick, et al. The Bengals are showing life, thse days after spending much of the 90's at the bottom of the league. The Steelers find themselves somewhere right in the middle of a complete rebuild job and the peak of their success. the question is...which way is the pendulum swinging? I was no Tommy Maddox fan, as you may remember, but a rookie Qb can be a touggh thing to play.
Prediction: Cincinnatti Bengals
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Colts are going strong now, scoring at will. The defense still struggles to make a stop when it counts, but as long as the offense struts around like the big stud of the barn, the colts will continue winning. At some point,the offense is going to stumble nad struggle, but for now, they seem to be doing all right. The Jags are doing fairly well for themselves as well, but I am not sold taht they're ready for the juggernaut that the Colts are right now.
A quick note of thanks to Peyton Manning for torching the Packers defense like that. If only Chicago were capable of the same.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
The Patriots have won a crapload of games in a row, and there hasn't been any major injury to any of their players...nothing to make you think it shouldn't continue. The Buffalo Bills are a team that just plain stinks of desperation, as they try to win, but just can't for whatever reason. You gotta think they're thankful for the Dolphins being in the same division, to save them some embarassment. The Patriots will need to stop the run, and that will be enough to win the game, as long as the offense doesn't get turnover happy.
FOr the Bills to win, they'll have to find a way tog et teh ball to Eric Moulds, and have some success running the ball up the middle.
Preiction: New England Patriots
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
Hey, look! Kurt Warner! Kurt has caught quite a few people sleeping lately, and seems to have had a small revival at times. I don't expect it to last, sooner or later, teams will adjust,and the Giants will go back to struggling. Like, this week, for instance. Then again, Kurt has always had good luck against the Packers defense, and the Pack is coming off of that horrible showing against the Colts. It'll be important for the Packers offense to come out and re-create teh success they had last week, because I expect that they'll need to score some points; more than 24. The Giants O-line won't be able o handle the packers defeense as well as the colts did though, and I think thathe Packers will show improvement over the past week. BUt if tehy can't stop the pass this week, it could mean ugly things for green Bay.
Winner: Green Bay Packers at home
Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans
Oakland came out and put it to Tampa with Kerry Collins leading the way. QB depth is great when you have it, isn't it? Oakland's offense does nothing to inspire me on the ground. the running game is nothing special, and the Texans are pretty good stopping the run. However, they're so-so stopping the pas, whihc is what the Raiders do as well. You know what? this entire matchup bores the hell out of me.
Winner: Houston Texans winning at home. I should take the Raiders, but hell with it.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
The Bears lost young Qb Rex Grossman for the entire year, thanks to a torn ACL. This really sucks, because form what I could see, teh team was really responding to him, and while there were growing pains there were some signs of promise as well. With him out, it comes down to Johnathan Quinn, who fails to inspire the imaginations of the fans in the stands, unless you happen to ask his wife, and then, well, she's biased anyway, so you can't go by her feelings, can you?
Anyway, with a season ending injury, the Bears signed another QB, former Dallas QB Chad Hutchinson. Whatever. They'll see what he has this year,a nd if not they'll probably look at trying to find a more solid backup QB to play behind Grossman, in case he proves to be too brittle to play signifigantly in seasons to come. Whether that is a high draft pick next year, or possibly a capable vetran...who knows. Either way, alot of people are looking at this season as a wash at this point. And considering the injuries we've had in losing 2 starting cornerbacks, a starting LB, a pro Bowl safety and Defensive Lineman, and NOW a starting QB.....I'm beginning to think that way myself.
Sigh....another season hoping for a high draft pick. It's possible that Quinn could come in Kurt Warner-like and lead us to salvation, but it's rather unlikely. Best to get teh young kids some playing time and experience, and build for next year. Maybe an extra treat by getting another victory against the Packers at the end of the season, when some of our injured guys should be back.
The Eagles bring Donovan McNabb home, meanwhile, to Chicago. He grew up there, you know. The Eagles only ahve to worry about Thomas Jones on offense, and dare Quinn to beat them with the pass. The Bears Ol won't be able to withstand the pass rush, and the Eagles offense will be able to overcome an undermanned Bears defense.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns
I wanna take a nap just thinking about wattching a Cleveland Browns game. Add to the fact that they've lost the only electrical player they had on the entire damn team for the season in rookie TE Kellen Winslow Jr. Well, he's electrical in the figurative sense. The Human body is a great conductor for electricity, but usually at the expense of the owner of said body.
For those unfamiliar with the human body, see the following example:
Results may vary.
It also follows the law of the Football Gods, and Kellen Winslow was one fo the last draft picks to sign. He held oout and missed much of camp demanding more money than he was worth, only to find that after 3 weeks fo work, he's out for the year wiht an injury.
Holding out like that is just plain bad karma. The only problem is that it affect the whole team, and not just him. Not that I have much sympathy, mind you.
Meanwhile, the Redskins need to bounce back form a hard Monday Night loss. What luck! They get the Browns this week!
Winner: Washington Redskins
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
This should be a good match-up of the most escapable Qb against the fastst and nimble-est defensive line in football. The front four of the Panthers should have some fun against Vick, and vice versa. I think that the Falcons offense is still sputtering,and with Carolina at home, I'm gonna hve to take the Panthers in this game.
Winner: Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals
THe Cardinals have hardly anything going for them. AND the dead weight of Denny green. OK that's not fair. I actually think he'll raise them up to playoff level football, but dpn't expect him to ever get to the Super Bowl, or to maintain it for lng. I'm expecting a re-eneactment of his time in MN really.
The Saints, meanwhile, need a victory against a legitimate team. That's not going to happen this week, but they'll get the win rgardless.
Winner: New Orleans Saints
Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
John Lynch will probably get a heroes welcome as he returns to Tampa, his home for so many years. I expect that the Broncos will be running the ball, since the Wr's haven't done much for them this year.
Jake Plummer has been catching flak from the NFl, because he wanted to wear his Pat Tillman sticker on his helmet for an extra week. The Uniform overlords have told him that he'll be fined if he does. Plummer played for the Cardinals with Tillman. He played his college ball with Tillman. Sometimes, you have to know when you are enforcing the rules for stupid reasons and recognize it as such.
Being somewhat of a romantic, I'm gonna ay taht Plummer will be pured by this to come out and take it to the Buccs, and the Broncos win. The tampa defense is not what it was a year ago, and won't be able to stop the run, unless the field is so waterlogged that the RB's can't trudge through it. Not likely.
Winner: Denver Broncos
N.Y. Jets at Miami Dolphins
No need for a breakdown on this one. The miami dolphions have entered into the same realm of the Cincinnatti Bengals of a 2 years ago. There isn't a single reason to pick them to win a game until they can prove the can win 2 in a row. (1 win might be a fluke. ) That being said, let's look at their offseason. Just the recent offseason, for crying out loud. the lose ricky Williams, so they trade adn weaken their defense by sending Ogunleye to Chi-town for Marty Booker, espite the fact they don't have a clear #1 QB to get Booker the ball. They also lost David Boston, necessitating the need for the Bears trade. The also trde away a high draft pick to get Lamar gordon fromthe Rams, only for him to get inured this past week, and he's out for the season, giving them nothing to show for the lost draft pick. Jay Fiedler is back in at QB after AJ Feeley couldn't do any better than what fiedler was doing. It doesn't amtte, because they are essentailly the same guy. An average Qb that will never beat you, but has enough savy to make the mid range passes. Come to think of it, I've never seen them in the game at the same time before A secret identity maybe?
(See that was a joke, and was funny, because there is only 1 QB in the lineup at one time, and you'd never have 2 QB's on the field at the same time. Or at least, it'd be highly unorthodox.) Never mind.
Winner: New York Jets
Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers
the Titans may or may not have Steve McNair to play against the Chargers. Based off of their play recently, I don't think it's going to make much of a difference. the Titans have been playing some really good ball, and Bobby Volek stepped in and performed well last year too. The Chargers are still milling about, trying to figure out who is going to be the QB.
Winner: Tennessee Titans, who will pound the ball up and down the field.
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers
Noone has said it yet, at least not in the circles I travel, but Marshall Faulk is no longer Marshall Faulk. He's just not. He hasn't ahd that breakout game that makes you stand back and get nervous about facing him. For that matter, the Rams offense, while CAPABLE of putting up big scores, just hasn't, and it's got to be troubling. My guess goes back to the idea that they've gotten so pass happy,t hathtey've forgotten hwo great of a runner that Faulk is/was. It's hard to tell these days,s o we'll have to look at it deeper another week. this week, they'll face off against rival San Fransisco, who ahs nothign going for them.
Winner: St Louis Rams
Monday NIGHT FOOTBALL
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
MORE BOLD WORDS!
The Chiefs ofense is not what i once was, and the defense ahsn't done squat this year. The Ravens don't have much of an offesne themselves, but they have a defense that is well known for being the toughest, especially on Monday Nights.
Notice how you haven't heard jack about Deion Sanders? Notice how he's out with a hamstring problem? If he plays in this game, it's because he wants the attention. If he doens't play in this game....don't be surprised if you don't see him for the rest of the year. Without any PRIME TIME games to play,it's hard for him to get the attention he wants.
The Chiefs continue the downturn, and end up 0-4.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens
You oculd do that. BUt it's been done, and anything after the original is just a poor second.
NFL Week 4 Preview:
Sunday, Oct. 3
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been forced to go wit a rookie QB, who has shown some am strength and some amazing touch. But he has also showed signs of being a rookie. While the personnel of the Bengals defense isn't awe-inspiring, it is solid scheme wise, thanks to Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals will continue working the passing game, with psuedo rookie Qb Carson Palmer and wideouts Chad Johnson, Peter Warrick, et al. The Bengals are showing life, thse days after spending much of the 90's at the bottom of the league. The Steelers find themselves somewhere right in the middle of a complete rebuild job and the peak of their success. the question is...which way is the pendulum swinging? I was no Tommy Maddox fan, as you may remember, but a rookie Qb can be a touggh thing to play.
Prediction: Cincinnatti Bengals
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Colts are going strong now, scoring at will. The defense still struggles to make a stop when it counts, but as long as the offense struts around like the big stud of the barn, the colts will continue winning. At some point,the offense is going to stumble nad struggle, but for now, they seem to be doing all right. The Jags are doing fairly well for themselves as well, but I am not sold taht they're ready for the juggernaut that the Colts are right now.
A quick note of thanks to Peyton Manning for torching the Packers defense like that. If only Chicago were capable of the same.
Prediction: Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
The Patriots have won a crapload of games in a row, and there hasn't been any major injury to any of their players...nothing to make you think it shouldn't continue. The Buffalo Bills are a team that just plain stinks of desperation, as they try to win, but just can't for whatever reason. You gotta think they're thankful for the Dolphins being in the same division, to save them some embarassment. The Patriots will need to stop the run, and that will be enough to win the game, as long as the offense doesn't get turnover happy.
FOr the Bills to win, they'll have to find a way tog et teh ball to Eric Moulds, and have some success running the ball up the middle.
Preiction: New England Patriots
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
Hey, look! Kurt Warner! Kurt has caught quite a few people sleeping lately, and seems to have had a small revival at times. I don't expect it to last, sooner or later, teams will adjust,and the Giants will go back to struggling. Like, this week, for instance. Then again, Kurt has always had good luck against the Packers defense, and the Pack is coming off of that horrible showing against the Colts. It'll be important for the Packers offense to come out and re-create teh success they had last week, because I expect that they'll need to score some points; more than 24. The Giants O-line won't be able o handle the packers defeense as well as the colts did though, and I think thathe Packers will show improvement over the past week. BUt if tehy can't stop the pass this week, it could mean ugly things for green Bay.
Winner: Green Bay Packers at home
Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans
Oakland came out and put it to Tampa with Kerry Collins leading the way. QB depth is great when you have it, isn't it? Oakland's offense does nothing to inspire me on the ground. the running game is nothing special, and the Texans are pretty good stopping the run. However, they're so-so stopping the pas, whihc is what the Raiders do as well. You know what? this entire matchup bores the hell out of me.
Winner: Houston Texans winning at home. I should take the Raiders, but hell with it.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears
The Bears lost young Qb Rex Grossman for the entire year, thanks to a torn ACL. This really sucks, because form what I could see, teh team was really responding to him, and while there were growing pains there were some signs of promise as well. With him out, it comes down to Johnathan Quinn, who fails to inspire the imaginations of the fans in the stands, unless you happen to ask his wife, and then, well, she's biased anyway, so you can't go by her feelings, can you?
Anyway, with a season ending injury, the Bears signed another QB, former Dallas QB Chad Hutchinson. Whatever. They'll see what he has this year,a nd if not they'll probably look at trying to find a more solid backup QB to play behind Grossman, in case he proves to be too brittle to play signifigantly in seasons to come. Whether that is a high draft pick next year, or possibly a capable vetran...who knows. Either way, alot of people are looking at this season as a wash at this point. And considering the injuries we've had in losing 2 starting cornerbacks, a starting LB, a pro Bowl safety and Defensive Lineman, and NOW a starting QB.....I'm beginning to think that way myself.
Sigh....another season hoping for a high draft pick. It's possible that Quinn could come in Kurt Warner-like and lead us to salvation, but it's rather unlikely. Best to get teh young kids some playing time and experience, and build for next year. Maybe an extra treat by getting another victory against the Packers at the end of the season, when some of our injured guys should be back.
The Eagles bring Donovan McNabb home, meanwhile, to Chicago. He grew up there, you know. The Eagles only ahve to worry about Thomas Jones on offense, and dare Quinn to beat them with the pass. The Bears Ol won't be able to withstand the pass rush, and the Eagles offense will be able to overcome an undermanned Bears defense.
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns
I wanna take a nap just thinking about wattching a Cleveland Browns game. Add to the fact that they've lost the only electrical player they had on the entire damn team for the season in rookie TE Kellen Winslow Jr. Well, he's electrical in the figurative sense. The Human body is a great conductor for electricity, but usually at the expense of the owner of said body.
For those unfamiliar with the human body, see the following example:
Results may vary.
It also follows the law of the Football Gods, and Kellen Winslow was one fo the last draft picks to sign. He held oout and missed much of camp demanding more money than he was worth, only to find that after 3 weeks fo work, he's out for the year wiht an injury.
Holding out like that is just plain bad karma. The only problem is that it affect the whole team, and not just him. Not that I have much sympathy, mind you.
Meanwhile, the Redskins need to bounce back form a hard Monday Night loss. What luck! They get the Browns this week!
Winner: Washington Redskins
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers
This should be a good match-up of the most escapable Qb against the fastst and nimble-est defensive line in football. The front four of the Panthers should have some fun against Vick, and vice versa. I think that the Falcons offense is still sputtering,and with Carolina at home, I'm gonna hve to take the Panthers in this game.
Winner: Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals
THe Cardinals have hardly anything going for them. AND the dead weight of Denny green. OK that's not fair. I actually think he'll raise them up to playoff level football, but dpn't expect him to ever get to the Super Bowl, or to maintain it for lng. I'm expecting a re-eneactment of his time in MN really.
The Saints, meanwhile, need a victory against a legitimate team. That's not going to happen this week, but they'll get the win rgardless.
Winner: New Orleans Saints
Denver Broncos at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
John Lynch will probably get a heroes welcome as he returns to Tampa, his home for so many years. I expect that the Broncos will be running the ball, since the Wr's haven't done much for them this year.
Jake Plummer has been catching flak from the NFl, because he wanted to wear his Pat Tillman sticker on his helmet for an extra week. The Uniform overlords have told him that he'll be fined if he does. Plummer played for the Cardinals with Tillman. He played his college ball with Tillman. Sometimes, you have to know when you are enforcing the rules for stupid reasons and recognize it as such.
Being somewhat of a romantic, I'm gonna ay taht Plummer will be pured by this to come out and take it to the Buccs, and the Broncos win. The tampa defense is not what it was a year ago, and won't be able to stop the run, unless the field is so waterlogged that the RB's can't trudge through it. Not likely.
Winner: Denver Broncos
N.Y. Jets at Miami Dolphins
No need for a breakdown on this one. The miami dolphions have entered into the same realm of the Cincinnatti Bengals of a 2 years ago. There isn't a single reason to pick them to win a game until they can prove the can win 2 in a row. (1 win might be a fluke. ) That being said, let's look at their offseason. Just the recent offseason, for crying out loud. the lose ricky Williams, so they trade adn weaken their defense by sending Ogunleye to Chi-town for Marty Booker, espite the fact they don't have a clear #1 QB to get Booker the ball. They also lost David Boston, necessitating the need for the Bears trade. The also trde away a high draft pick to get Lamar gordon fromthe Rams, only for him to get inured this past week, and he's out for the season, giving them nothing to show for the lost draft pick. Jay Fiedler is back in at QB after AJ Feeley couldn't do any better than what fiedler was doing. It doesn't amtte, because they are essentailly the same guy. An average Qb that will never beat you, but has enough savy to make the mid range passes. Come to think of it, I've never seen them in the game at the same time before A secret identity maybe?
(See that was a joke, and was funny, because there is only 1 QB in the lineup at one time, and you'd never have 2 QB's on the field at the same time. Or at least, it'd be highly unorthodox.) Never mind.
Winner: New York Jets
Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers
the Titans may or may not have Steve McNair to play against the Chargers. Based off of their play recently, I don't think it's going to make much of a difference. the Titans have been playing some really good ball, and Bobby Volek stepped in and performed well last year too. The Chargers are still milling about, trying to figure out who is going to be the QB.
Winner: Tennessee Titans, who will pound the ball up and down the field.
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers
Noone has said it yet, at least not in the circles I travel, but Marshall Faulk is no longer Marshall Faulk. He's just not. He hasn't ahd that breakout game that makes you stand back and get nervous about facing him. For that matter, the Rams offense, while CAPABLE of putting up big scores, just hasn't, and it's got to be troubling. My guess goes back to the idea that they've gotten so pass happy,t hathtey've forgotten hwo great of a runner that Faulk is/was. It's hard to tell these days,s o we'll have to look at it deeper another week. this week, they'll face off against rival San Fransisco, who ahs nothign going for them.
Winner: St Louis Rams
Monday NIGHT FOOTBALL
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
MORE BOLD WORDS!
The Chiefs ofense is not what i once was, and the defense ahsn't done squat this year. The Ravens don't have much of an offesne themselves, but they have a defense that is well known for being the toughest, especially on Monday Nights.
Notice how you haven't heard jack about Deion Sanders? Notice how he's out with a hamstring problem? If he plays in this game, it's because he wants the attention. If he doens't play in this game....don't be surprised if you don't see him for the rest of the year. Without any PRIME TIME games to play,it's hard for him to get the attention he wants.
The Chiefs continue the downturn, and end up 0-4.
Winner: Baltimore Ravens
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