 |
| NFL Columns |
|
| Search |
|
|
|
|
| Draft Sim ID |
|
| Authored by Andrew Perna - 30th September, 2008 - 9:36 am
 The NFL season is about a quarter of a way through, and it appears as though the NFC is becoming the conference of dominance in football. All eight teams in the NFC East and South have winning records while only nine clubs have winning records in the entire AFC.
The AFC has more undefeated teams, but that speaks more to the competition in the NFC than anything else.
The NFC is 7-6 against the AFC so far this season, with Minnesota and St. Louis drastically lowering the conference?s record.
There are five interconference battles in Week Five ? Kansas City/Carolina, Tampa Bay/Denver, Buffalo/Arizona, New England/San Francisco and Cincinnati/Dallas ? as the AFC looks to reverse their recent fortunes.
The Downs
First Down?The Bills & Titans
After four weeks of action only two teams have a perfect 4-0 record. Believe it or not, those two clubs call Buffalo and Tennessee home. They both should have a good shot to extend their winning streaks in Week Five with the Bills facing the Cardinals and the Titans battling the Ravens.
Remarkably, they have won in similar fashion. Both have been well-disciplined, run the ball, passed conservatively, and capitalized on playmaking opportunities created by their defense. You know what stinks for NFL fans? They both will have Week Six off.
Second Down?Favre Explodes
Heading into Week Four there were numerous questions about the offense of the Jets, but Brett Favre did his best to silence all Eric Mangini?s critics on Sunday. Favre exploded for 289 yards and six touchdowns against Arizona?s porous defense, giving him the NFL lead in TD passes through the first four weeks.
Favre has played well this season, but teams have been able to play the pass as Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have yet to get in a groove on the ground. New York will have time to figure out a way to introduce the run to their offense with a week off and the struggling Bengals on the horizon in Week Six.
Third Down?Denver Answers My Question
Last week I wondered aloud if the Broncos, who were 3-0 heading into play this past Sunday, were as good as their undefeated record. Denver answered my question against Kansas City in Week Four after they were manhandled on the road by the previously winless team.
They took a brief lead midway through the second quarter but trailed for a majority of the game. They allowed Damon Huard for go 21-for-28 and Larry Johnson to run for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Giving up 33 points to the Chiefs is one strike, and their inability to score at will against the horrible Kansas City defense is another. A loss to Tampa Bay in Week Five could be their third strike.
Fourth Down?Redskins Continue To Improve
Don?t look now, but the Redskins are within an inch of first place in the NFC East after defeating the Cowboys. Jason Campbell has looked amazing since Washington?s Week One loss to the Giants, and young Coach Jim Zorn has looked like a veteran on the sideline. Victories are extremely important in the NFC East, but wins within the division are even more crucial.
Santana Moss and Clinton Portis helped Campbell control the game at Texas Stadium, with Moss running well after the catch and Portis just flat-out running well. The Redskins won?t have any time to celebrate and enjoy their huge win, though, with a trip to Philadelphia on the schedule this weekend.
The ?Who The Heck? Statline of the Week?
Steve Breaston, Arizona: Nine catches for 122 receiving yards against N.Y. Jets.
Keyboard Prediction for Week Five
Tennessee @ Baltimore, Sunday 1:00PM EST
Admittedly, I have been horrible with my picks so far this season. I haven?t been trying to predict cakewalks, but I would still expect myself to be much better than my 1-3 record. I picked Dallas to beat Washington in Week Four, but this week I?ll move over to the AFC in search of winning projection.
The Titans? defense has been spectacular this season, which should lead them to a win over the offensively-challenged Ravens this Sunday. Baltimore?s defense is always tough, but the difference should be the combination of Chris Johnson and LenDale White on the ground. Kerry Collins also manages the game extremely well while Joe Flacco is still a rookie.
The Keyboard Prediction: Tennessee 19, Baltimore 9
Season Record: 1-3
My Fantasy Diary
Things have gotten ugly quickly for The Drew Crew (1-3).
Thanks to sub-par performances from my roster and the exceptional production enjoyed by my opponent, I received a 62-point drubbing in Week Four.
Drew Brees (363 yards, 3 TDs), Earnest Graham (111 yards, TD), and Anquan Boldin (119 yards, TD) broke out for my opponent the Kazakhstan Borats while Philip Rivers (worst performance of the season), Thomas Jones (69 total yards), Felix Jones (0 points), Chris Chambers (42 yards), Vernon Davis (19 yards), and Mason Crosby (three extra points) stunk up the place.
The Philadelphia defense was the only solid producer for The Drew Crew, who lost for the second-straight week.
I?m pretty down on my roster as it currently stands, so I?m going to look to make some moves heading into this weekend?s action. I can?t stand to discuss this any further because I?ve made myself sick, so let?s move on?
Week One Record: 4-1
Week Two Record: 4-1
Week Three Record: 1-4
Week Four Record: 3-2
Season Record: 12-8
Top Ten Fantasy Starters At Each Position For Week Five
Based On Prior Week Performance And Matchups
Bye Week Advisory: Cleveland, Oakland, St. Louis, N.Y. Jets
Quarterbacks
1. Tony Romo, Dallas vs. Cincinnati
2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis at Houston
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans vs. Minnesota
4. Philip Rivers, San Diego at Miami
5. Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants vs. Seattle
6. Jay Cutler, Denver vs. Tampa Bay
7. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia vs. Washington
8. Jake Delhomme, Carolina vs. Kansas City
9. Jason Campbell, Washington at Philadelphia
10. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
Sleeper: Trent Edwards, Buffalo at Arizona
Running Backs
1. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego at Miami
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota at New Orleans
3. Marion Barber, Dallas vs. Cincinnati
4. Larry Johnson, Kansas City at Carolina
5. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis at Houston
6. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia vs. Washington (injury risk)
7. Frank Gore, San Francisco vs. New England
8. Clinton Portis, Washington at Philadelphia
9. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo at Arizona
10. Ronnie Brown, Miami vs. San Diego
Sleeper: Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay at Denver
Wide Receivers
1. Terrell Owens, Dallas vs. Cincinnati
2. Brandon Marshall, Denver vs. Tampa Bay
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis at Houston
4. Steve Smith, Carolina vs. Kansas City
5. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona vs. Buffalo
6. Calvin Johnson, Detroit vs. Chicago
7. Santana Moss, Washington at Philadelphia
8. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati at Dallas
9. Greg Jennings, Green Bay vs. Atlanta
10. Randy Moss, New England at San Francisco
Sleeper: Amani Toomer, N.Y. Giants vs. Seattle
Tight Ends
1. Jason Witten, Dallas vs. Cincinnati
2. Antonio Gates, San Diego at Miami
3. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City at Carolina
4. Greg Olsen, Chicago at Detroit
5. Anthony Fasano, Miami vs. San Diego
6. Chris Cooley, Washington at Philadelphia
7. Tony Scheffler, Denver vs. Tampa Bay
8. Kevin Boss, N.Y. Giants vs. Seattle
9. Owen Daniels, Houston vs. Indianapolis
10. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh at Jacksonville
Sleeper: Bo Scaife, Tennessee at Baltimore
Kickers
1. Matt Prater, Denver vs. Tampa Bay
2. Josh Scobee, Jacksonville vs. Pittsburgh
3. Nate Kaeding, San Diego at Miami
4. Rian Lindell, Buffalo at Arizona
5. Nick Folk, Dallas vs. Cincinnati
6. Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay at Denver
7. Joe Nedney, San Francisco vs. New England
8. John Kasay, Carolina vs. Kansas City
9. Jason Elam, Atlanta at Green Bay
10. Mason Crosby, Green Bay vs. Atlanta
Sleeper: John Carney, N.Y. Giants vs. Seattle
Defense/Special Teams
1. Tennessee Titans, at Baltimore Ravens
2. Philadelphia Eagles, vs. Washington Redskins
3. New York Giants, vs. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Buffalo Bills, vs. Arizona Cardinals
5. Pittsburgh Steelers, at Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Jacksonville Jaguars, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. Carolina Panthers, vs. Kansas City Chiefs
8. Chicago Bears, at Detroit Lions
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at Denver Broncos
10. Baltimore Ravens, vs. Tennessee Titans
Sleeper: San Diego Chargers, at Miami Dolphins
Predictions, Fantasy Stories, or Comments? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
