Last week: 8-5, making the season forecast 74-29. ESPN recently produced a nice one-hour documentary on the USFL. I enjoyed the piece and it was great to reminisce with many of the key players and highlights. But a couple of things bothered me, as someone who did my senior history thesis on why the USFL failed. For dramatic purposes, the piece framed the USFL as a tug-of-war between John Bassett and Donald Trump, prominent owners with very divergent agendas. Trump certainly was the preeminent villain in terms of escalating salaries and forcing the move from Spring to Fall, but he was far from alone. Bassett makes the ideal sympathetic hero, a people-friendly magnate dying of cancer, but he shares some of the blame in the league?s demise. Many struggling franchises needed real help to stay afloat in poor stadiums and novice fan bases (San Antonio, Portland, Arizona), but Bassett believed in fair market play, leading to mergers that confused and alienated fans and damaged league credibility and viability. They were the figureheads of the deeply divided ownership groups, but they were far from the only central players in both the rise and fall of the USFL. Don?t get me wrong, it?s still a great work that every football fan should watch. Just bear in mind that it?s overly dramatically framed, and Donald Trump (too willing to play along) is almost caricatured as the steamroller that flattened the league. When I interviewed several players, coaches, and owners in 1995 about why they thought the league failed, Trump was viewed more as the straw that broke the camel?s back, not the straw that stirred the toxic drink. Minnesota (5) at Green Bay (11): This is apparently the only game ESPN is allowed to talk about this week for some reason... The bottom line for me in this game comes down to offensive line play. Green Bay?s OL has been just brutal, but they did show signs of improvement last week against a decent Browns front. Minnesota?s defensive front four is the best in football, however, and that means trouble for the Packers. On the flip side, I like how the Packers own defensive front has been playing, and their speed can give the behemoth Vikings line some issues of their own. That means it?s up to which offense can do more under duress. I?ll take Adrian Peterson over Ryan Grant 100 times out of 100 in that fight, even though I think Aaron Rodgers can--and will-- outgun Brett Favre. Here?s hoping that the Packers faithful give Favre the respect he deserves for giving them so much success after years of futility. Favre wins in Lambeau Field...while wearing purple. Vikings 30, Packers 28. Denver (3) at Baltimore (15): One of the great questions this year is how these Broncos are 6-0. The easiest answer: they?re not bad at anything and they don?t make mistakes. Contrast that with the ?darlings? in Baltimore, who continually shoot themselves in the feet with coverage breakdowns, blown run blocks, and asinine penalties, resulting in a 3-3 record that leaves them teetering on the precipice of playoff outsiders already. If they don?t beat themselves, Baltimore at home is good enough to win this game. Added bonus in the Ravens column: it?s Halloween weekend in Baltimore, home of Edgar Allan Poe, author of the fantastic story ?The Raven?. Read that at halftime of a Baltimore 20-16 win. Atlanta (13) at New Orleans (1): This is one of the NFL?s better rivalries, and this meeting is pretty much the last chance Atlanta has of keeping the Saints from running away with the NFC South before November starts. Dallas did a great job exploiting the holes in the Falcons defense, something that Sean Payton no doubt studied carefully. He has the horses to exploit those same weaknesses, and the great New Orleans OL should give Drew Brees plenty of time and clean passing lanes to make it happen. The Saints have won the last five meetings in New Orleans itself, and they run that to six while essentially icing the NFC South. New Orleans 34, Atlanta 23. San Francisco (22) at Indianapolis (2): Earlier this week I wrote about the silver lining that San Francisco can take from last week?s loss with the play of Alex Smith. Funny thing about silver in clouds though; adding silver to clouds actually produces rain, as the Chinese so vividly demonstrated in their quest to keep the Olympics rain-free by seeding the clouds to the west of Beijing. It normally doesn?t rain indoors, but the Colts are playing better than ever and are precisely the type of lead in the balloon that San Fran doesn?t need right now. Indy keeps the 49ers slide going down with a 33-17 home victory. NY Giants (8) at Philadelphia (12): Huge game in the NFC East, and it comes at a bad time for the reeling Giants, losers of two straight. Last season the Eagles had Eli Manning?s number, and with Manning not real sharp lately they figure to have some success again defensively. My primary concern for the G-Men is their ability to snuff out the big play, something these Eagles rely heavily upon to score. With their secondary still struggling and the Eagles OL stabilizing, I think DeSean Jackson or LeSean McCoy can break a couple of big ones. That should be enough for Philadelphia to win the football side of the World Series matchup. Eagles 24, Giants 20. St. Louis (32) at Detroit (26): This is probably the best chance for the Rams to win a game, avoiding the fate of last year?s Lions and taking the collar for the season. It won?t be easy, with the host Lions coming off a bye and much healthier than they have been all season. The Rams, alas, are not very healthy--and not very good even when they are. The Lions are favored by 3.5 points, their largest margin as a favorite in over 2 years. Give the points; these Rams have scored just 60 points in 7 games and sport the worst OL this side of Green Bay. Detroit 27, St. Louis 13. Cleveland (29) at Chicago (21): These teams lost by a combined score of 76-13 last Sunday, but there is blowout written all over this one too. The Cleveland offense is terrible, scoring just four touchdowns all year. QB Derek Anderson has completed just over a third of his passes the last three weeks, and has completed consecutive passes just three times in that span (including his first five last week). Chicago may have some serious issues, but the Browns are ill-equipped to exploit them. Jay Cutler should have a huge day with his elusive receivers running wild against the team that ranks dead last in allowing yards after the catch over the last month. Chicago 37, Cleveland 10. Carolina (27) at Arizona (6): Carolina has a growing QB controversy, or rather Carolina would have a growing QB controversy if they had anyone legit to replace Mr. INT Jake Delhomme. For as good as the Panthers OL is and as great of a 1-2 RB punch as they have, it all unravels quickly when the passing game is more likely to turn the ball over (13 INTs) than produce a big play (12 passes over 20 yards, 5 of which came in the same game). The Cardinals defense plays with the same create-your-own-opportunism that Coach Whisenhunt saw personally in Pittsburgh. The playoff game in Carolina last year began the unraveling for Delhomme, and I just don?t see much chance for redemption in this one. Arizona 20, Carolina 17 in my survivor fantasy pick of the week. Seattle (23) at Dallas (10): Welcome to the Miles Austin show! The Cowboys receiver has burst upon the scene with over 400 yards and 4 TDs in his last two games, giving Tony Romo the legit big-play receiver he needs. That?s real bad news for Seattle, which has major injury issues on defense even after their bye week. This is a bit of a trap game for Dallas, which waxed a good Atlanta team last week and travels to PHI and GB in the coming weeks. That worries me a little, but more in terms of the 9.5 point spread. If Seattle had even average special teams this could be an upset, but their coverage and return units are all near the bottom. That means field position for a Dallas offense that is really clicking right now. Cowboys roll 30-13. Houston (14) at Buffalo (20): I had a friend in high school who loved to use the expression, ?just when you thought it was safe...? That applies here to the Bills, who have saved Dick Jauron?s hide by being less egregious than their opponent two weeks in a row. So just when you think it?s safe to say the Bills are back from the dead, along comes the Houston Texans. Led by legit MVP candidate Matt Schaub and fantastic rookie LB Brian Cushing, Houston appears to have turned the corner and learned how to win. That trumps the Bills acumen for just knowing how not to lose. Texans win on the road 32-17. Miami (17) at NY Jets (18): Didn?t these teams just play? Grudge matches so close together are always hard to forecast, because the memories of the last one are so fresh...and largely irrelevant. Miami won that game by pounding the Jets defense and throwing over it while QB Chad Henne had all day to survey the field. Expect the Jets to come up with a different plan of attack to get pressure. One of the issues with Miami is that there?s really not much they do different from week to week, what you see is what you get. If they can successfully adapt some countermeasures they should be fine, but that?s not their strong suit; the Dolphins rank 20th in point differential after halftime, normally a good harbinger of in-game malleability. I expect a close game with several lead changes, and the Jets wind up taking the last one of those. New York 26, Miami 24. Oakland (24) at San Diego (16): I?d love to offer some in-depth wisdom to break down this game, but these two teams are about as schizophrenic as Sybil, which makes them near impossible to forecast. If the Chargers and Raiders teams that showed up last weekend meet here, San Diego wins by about 40, but take the squads from the week before and the Raiders triumph. The Chargers have a greater ability to win without their ?A? game than the Raiders, who are as bad as any team in the league when they don?t bring theirs. Chargers 28, Raiders 10 in a pick with lower confidence than you might expect. Jacksonville (19) at Tennessee (30): I had written a nice little blurb about how it was high time people stopped overrating the 0-6 Titans, then along came the news that Vince Young will start at quarterback. That changes my thinking on this one. I initially thought the Titans could rally off their bye week and have an effective gameplan against a Jacksonville team that runs very hot and cold. But with Young at the controls, the Tennessee offense becomes almost completely one-dimensional until Young proves he can beat even a high school team, or his own team?s wretched pass defense, with his arm. This marks the latest in the season that a winless team is favored over a team that is at least .500 in NFL history, although the change to Young dropped the line from 3.5 to 1.5 almost immediately. The bookies know, and I?m listening...Jacksonville 29, Tennessee 24. Byes: Washington (25), Cincinnati (7), Pittsburgh (9), New England (4), Tampa Bay (31), Kansas City (28) Drinking in the Dorm Room Games 3-2 last week, 26-14 on the season. Oregon 22, USC 20. This game decides the PAC-10 rep in the BCS, and I?ll take the home team against a freshman QB. Texas 40, Oklahoma State 30. This is one of those games where the Cowboys can certainly win, but I?ll believe it when I see it. Florida 30, Georgia 10. In Tebow we Trust. Auburn 21, Ole Miss 20 Central Michigan 36, Boston College 34. Had the Chips not stumbled in their opener, this win would have solidified them as BCS-bowl worthy to some.

The brown throwback sideline hat worn by the Broncos' coaches is currently the top-selling legacy items sold on NFLshop.com. Next on the list was the Patriots AFL hat sideline hat, with the venerable Minuteman logo.

Kyle Orton is one of the NFL's best bargains this season, making a guaranteed salary of $1 million, which will likely rise to $1.5 million with incentives. He will become an unrestricted free agent after the season is over if the NFL extends the current CBA, which is unlikely. "I don't know how elite quarterbacks are judged," Josh McDaniels said Wednesday. "All I care about is that he can help us win. And I know he can do that." "Hopefully, (a new contract) happens sooner than later," Orton told Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune last week.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said that WR Brandon Marshall is playing himself into a ?significant raise.? ?Brandon understands that he?s got a year left on his present deal, but if he keeps playing the way he is, he?s going to get a very significant raise ? a much better contract,? Bowlen said Tuesday at the NFL Fall League Meeting. ?That?s the way it goes, and Brandon has accepted that.? Marshall, who asked to be traded and later was suspended because of insubordinate behavior at a preseason practice, has played well the past two weeks for the 5-0 Broncos.

The scoreboard is where games are officially won and lost, but they are largely decided by the team that wins the battles of yards per pass, yards per carry, penalty yards lost, first downs, and turnovers. For this reason, I created the following formula called the ?Trench Counter? to look at which team truly controls the game: (2x Yards per pass) + (2x Yards per carry) + (.5 First downs) - (Penalty yards/10) - (2.5 Turnovers) - (Opposing Team's Trench Counter) Click here for more information on the Trench Counter For the 2009 season, our weekly team rankings will be based solely off this formula. 1. New York Giants: 16.0 The Giants now have a narrow lead in our rankings thanks to their 44-7 win over Oakland, which produced a +36.2 in the Trench Counter column. I've knocked Eli Manning frequently in the past as being a quarterback who has relied on his running game and defense, but he is neck and neck with his brother Peyton in terms of passer rating (111.7 vs. 114.1) and he has thrown 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions. 2. New Orleans Saints: 15.8 With proof the Saints are more than just an air attack, Drew Brees ranks 10th in yards per game. They also have the ability to get right back into the top slot when they host the Giants. 3. Denver Broncos: 12.8 The Broncos have allowed just 8.6 points per game, which is a bigger difference from the second ranked Colts (14.2) than the 17th ranked Dolphins are going the other way. Elvis Dumervil's eight sacks already surpasses his 2008 total of five. Any chance the Broncos and Giants are both undefeated still when they meet in Week 12? 4. Indianapolis Colts: 11.4 Austin Collie leads all rookies in receptions and touchdowns. 5. Minnesota Vikings: 7.7 Brett Favre had a 101.4 rating in his 24 pass attempts while Tarvaris Jackson proved he still has a pulse with a 3-for-3 for 68 yards in garbage time. 6. Philadelphia Eagles: 7.4 Rookie LeSean McCoy has rushed for 162 yards on 40 carries to give Philadelphia a steady 4.1 yards per carry average. Fellow rookie Jeremy Maclin has caught 12 balls for 187 yards and two touchdowns. 7. Green Bay Packers: 5.6 The Packers hope the bye week will lead to a regeneration of their offensive line. 8. Baltimore Ravens: 5.1 The Ravens narrowly were defeated by Cincinnati, but were a disappointing -13.5 in the Trench Counter category due to being -10 in 1st downs and -2.8 in yards per pass attempt. 9. Seattle Seahawks: 3.3 The Seahawks are 2-0 in games finished by Matt Hasselbeck, who is one of eight quarterbacks with a passer rating over 100. Seattle has logged shutouts in two games already for the first time since 1986. 10. Pittsburgh Steelers: 2.7 Santonio Holmes has caught 23 passes and an amazing 22 of them have been for first downs 11. Dallas Cowboys: 2.4 Miles Austin logged over 36% of his career receiving yards in Sunday's overtime win at Kansas City. The Cowboys are also 3-0 when Tony Romo doesn't throw an interception this season and 12-2 for his career. 12. New England Patriots: 2.3 Randy Moss caught as many balls on offense (one for 36 yards) as he did on defense (intercepting the halftime Hail Mary). 13. New York Jets: 2.0 Mark Sanchez completed just 50% of his passes, frequently zeroing in on new weapon Braylon Edwards. 14. San Francisco 49ers: 1.9 Shaun Hill is a fine quarterback when games are close, but bad things will happen when the 49ers go into the locker room at halftime trailing 35-10. Hill had to air it out and he finished the game with a 45.7 passer rating, his worst mark since becoming San Francisco's starter. 15. Atlanta Falcons: 1.8 The bye week had to help Michael Turner, who busted out with three touchdowns and a 4.4 yards per carry average, his first game over 4.0 this season. Atlanta was 7-0 in 2008 when he averaged better than four yards per carry. 16. Cincinnati Bengals: 1.2 A big reason why the Bengals have been so successful is the shocking consistency of Cedric Benson, who leads the NFL in yards per game with 97.4, ahead of heavyweights like Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson. What is interesting about the Bengals and potentially concerning down the road is how they have been winning despite pedestrian numbers from Carson Palmer, who is 24th in passer rating with a mark of 76.9 and has just seven touchdowns to six interceptions. I wish the Bengals could be higher than this, but they had negative Trench Counter's in their first two games (including the Green Bay win) and minuscule advantages in their wins against Pittsburgh and Cleveland. 17. Houston Texans: 1.0 Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels had 101 and 94 yards receiving respectively on Sunday despite another atrocious ground game for Houston. 18. Chicago Bears: -0.2 Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo reclined and enjoyed their bye week trying to figure out why Cedric Benson was never able to run the ball for the Bears like that. 19. Washington Redskins: -0.2 The Redskins became the victim of Carolina's first 2009 win despite finishing with a +1.3 in the Trench Counter. 20. Arizona Cardinals: -2.8 The Cardinals are now 7-4 when Larry Fitzgerald catches at least two touchdown passes, snapping a one-game losing streak in such scenarios stemming from Super Bowl XLIII. 21. Buffalo Bills: -2.8 The Bills offensive line has been painfully porous, giving up 18 sacks for a total loss of 104 yards. 22. Jacksonville Jaguars: -3.0 The Jaguars were shutout on Sunday for the first time since the 2004 season. 23. Miami Dolphins: -3.1 Given the way Miami runs the ball, Chad Henne was hugely impressive in the 4th quarter, especially on the Ten Ginn 53-yard TD bomb and a couple key completions to Greg Camarillo. Henne finished the game with a 130.4 passer rating and going a long way to prove the Dolphins may not have erred in taking Jake Long over Matt Ryan. 24. San Diego Chargers: -3.4 The Chargers have had two weeks to let the A.J. Smith, Shawne Merriman feud fester. 25. Tennessee Titans: -4.3 The Titans have averaged an AFC best 5.3 yards per game and still are searching for their first win. 26. Carolina Panthers: -7.8 The Panthers have dropped from third in rushing yards per game to 23rd. 27. Kansas City Chiefs: -8.1 The Chiefs remain awful on 3rd down, with success in just 14 of their 68 attempts. 28. Detroit Lions: -8.3 Daunte Culpepper had a respectable 83.4 passer rating in Detroit's narrow loss to the Steelers, who were returning to the scene of their Super Bowl XL victory for the first time. 29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -10.1 Jimmy Wilkerson wasted a career game in Tampa Bay's loss at Philadelphia, logging three sacks and a forced fumble. 30. Cleveland Browns: -11.1 Mohamed Massaquoi's experiment as Braylon Edwards' official replacement got off to a slow start in Buffalo as he caught just one ball for 16 yards. 31. St. Louis Rams: -13.7 The Rams have scored just 6.8 points per game 32. Oakland Raiders: -18.2 Number one reason why I need to release my first season FIC for 2009? Passer rating doesn't include fumbles, which makes JaMarcus Russell's 85.4 passer rating look good as it doesn't count for his three lost fumbles.

$.01-- Ladies and gentlemen, we?ve found our surprise teams for 2009! With Denver?s great comeback against New England and Cincinnati?s last-second stunner over Baltimore, those two victors have established themselves as fully legit contenders. There is a whole multitude of reasons why, but the focus here is on great coaching--an alleged weakness of both the Broncos and Bengals. That preconceived notion is clearly flat-out wrong. I?m as guilty as anyone of doubting Josh McDaniels in Denver, but he has proven me hasty to judge. That?s ironic, because patience and a willingness to not rush to judgment appear to be hallmarks of his coaching style. As both John Madden and Marty Schottenheimer like to say, great coaches make great in-game and halftime adjustments. McDaniels clearly has figured out this concept; two weeks in a row the Broncos have come from behind to beat quality teams by pitching second-half shutouts. People laughed at McDaniels for insisting that Kyle Orton come back in the Jay Cutler trade, but true to his words, Orton has been perfect for young McDaniels? offense. The players trust and believe, and that can go an awfully long way. The same is true for Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati. Greatly aided by a more assertive leadership style from Carson Palmer, Lewis finally has a team with some pride and mental toughness. The defense is playing like a cohesive group, not a gaggle of somewhat talented individuals that happen to be wearing the same uniforms. Lewis? belief in Cedric Benson and his ability to get the volatile Chad Ochocinco to subjugate has turned around the Bengals? long-suffering fortunes. The talent has been there in Cincy before, but now it?s a real team, thanks in part to a great coaching job. $.02--At what point is enough enough in Oakland with Jamarcus Russell and his miserable QB play? The apathetic, inaccurate slinger clearly has incriminating photos of his coach (perhaps breaking someone?s jaw?) or owner Al Davis, because there is no other acceptable reason why a QB change has not been made. Sure he completed over 50% of his passes for just the second time in five games (he was 8-13), but Russell was sacked six times and lost three fumbles and appeared to not care at all that his team was getting pasted. Perhaps the worst moment, however, was on a play that should be Russell?s greatest strength. Rookie Louis Murphy got at least 5 yards behind the defense, but the cannon-armed Russell couldn?t get the ball over the top on about a 45-yard throw and allowed the defender to catch up and make a great play. When your calling card is downfield bombing and you can?t even do that right, it?s clearly time for a change. There?s just no way Charlie Frye or Bruce Gradkowski cannot give the Raiders a better chance to win than Jamarcus Russell, his exorbitant salary be damned. On the flip side, another former #1 overall pick that badly struggled in his early career looked pretty good for the Giants. David Carr was poised, accurate, and in control, none of which would ever aptly describe his Texans or Panthers tenures. Granted it was mop-up time in a laugher game against a vastly inferior opponent, but he did beat All Pro Nnamdi Asomugha on a great throw. Good for you, David Carr! $.03--Keeping with the ?how bad can they be?? theme, Cleveland beat Buffalo 6-3 in what just might be the worst game ever played. Derek Anderson went 2-17 through the air, begging the question ?Is Brady Quinn really that bad?? Buffalo was flagged 12 times before halftime (three were declined), and the refs missed a call where a Browns player had his helmet removed--the Bills player was holding it by the facemask as the play ended. All those weapons on offense for Buffalo, yet Trent Edwards can do nothing to get them the ball. An unforgivable special teams gaffe cost Buffalo the game, again despite the referees, who called roughing the passer on a play where the Browns defender initiated contact with Edwards before the ball left his hand. I truly hate calling for a coach?s head, but these Buffalo Bills are simply not professionally prepared to compete, not even against another team that clearly wasn?t ready to play. $.04--It was not a good Sunday for the game officials, who blew several calls and made a few others that should cause them great shame upon further review. From the aforementioned Browns/Bills calls, to the play in Detroit where a Lions defender was tackled from behind into Ben Roethlisberger?s feet and whistled for roughing the passer, to a play where Kellen Winslow openly taunted an Eagle (while down by three TDs) on a play where K2 dropped the ball and no flag was thrown, the zebras were far too often a lesser member of the Equidae genus. The inconsistency of calls regarding roughing the passer and unsportsmanlike conduct needs to get ironed out quickly, because indignant fans have had enough. $.05--Highlight of the week: Arizona?s late goal-line stand that sealed the win over Houston. I happened to be listening to the Texans? audio feed while watching it (thank you Sirius!), and Andre Ware summed it up perfectly: Houston was worried about not making the touchdown, while the Cardinals players were absolutely convinced they were going to make the stops. That difference in confidence and attitude was obvious as the downs bore on, and it?s the reason why Arizona should not be taken lightly and the Texans should not yet be taken seriously. $.06--You?re going to see and hear loads of opinions about just how egregious the bad teams are this year, but it?s time to move the Detroit Lions out of that grouping. I may be a homer here, but these Lions proved on Sunday they are not a bad team. Playing with a backup QB and without their best player (Calvin Johnson) for almost the entire game, Detroit went toe to toe with the defending champion Steelers and did not look overmatched in doing so. Coach Jim Schwartz has brought a new attitude to the Motor City and the players are gulping the Kool Aid. Yes they are 1-4, but look at the losses: New Orleans, Chicago, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh. The Lions won the first half against Minnesota and were tied with Chicago at halftime. Those aren?t moral victories, those are signs that the team is good enough to hang with the big boys but not quite ready to beat them. Yet. This Detroit Lions team is head and shoulders above the winless teams, including Tennessee, and is vastly superior to the other 1-win teams (Miami, which hasn?t played yet, is an exception). $.07--Five random NFL thoughts: 1. All you 49ers fans printing your playoff tickets already, welcome back to reality. 2. Every team coming off a bye won, most in convincing fashion. This reinforces my notion that entire divisions should get their byes at the same time, so as not to give a competitive imbalance. Atlanta and Carolina got an unfair leg up on New Orleans and Tampa (not that they needed that one!) by getting their bye already. Put a whole division on pause at the same time, then follow it up with two straight weeks of intra-divisional play. 3. Redskins fans are going to call for Jim Zorn?s head, but that game was lost early on when Chris Samuels went down. That left D?Anthony Baptiste to handle Julius Peppers for almost the entire game. Carolina took advantage and never stopped attacking. 4. This is incredibly premature, but here?s hoping that new Colts coach Jim Caldwell learned from Tony Dungy?s repeated mistake of resting his starters late in the year. It sure looks like the Colts will clinch the AFC South before December starts, but Caldwell must remember that the starters need to stay sharp late. Dungy stubbornly fought that notion and it cost them a few playoff losses. 5. Dallas finally found someone to step up and make a game-changing play in Miles Austin. Actually, he did it a few times, which makes his outstanding performance seem even less fluky. That bodes real well for a Cowboys team that doesn?t really have a defined leader or identity offensively. $.08: Non-football thought of the week-- Technically this is a football subject, but there is something much larger surrounding Rush Limbaugh?s interest in buying the St. Louis Rams. Without getting into politics too much, suffice to say Mr. Limbaugh is a highly divisive figure and would have it no other way. And that?s not anything that should prevent him from buying an NFL team. But it?s the racial angle that is most troublesome. Back when ESPN foolishly provided Rush with enough rope to hang himself on their network, he obliged with some racially charged remarks concerning Donovan McNabb. Those remarks, paired with his outward venom towards Barack Obama, demanding sainthood for James Earl Ray, and other sentiments that suggest a deep-seated racist nature are not easily ignored. That?s especially true for a league that is more than 50% black, yet is probably the greatest model of any group that race means nothing. Several writers, including Randolph Charlotin?s excellent piece here on RealGM, have opined that it?s not acceptable for a racist to own an NFL team. I disagree with that in principle; there are racists that own businesses, get elected to public office, even become highly successful sports figures. But the NFL could take a nice preemptive strike here and work towards soothing some of the bitter enmity that so badly ravages our nation these days and hold out for a better offer for the Rams, even if it means heading back to Los Angeles. The NFL doesn?t need to bring in an owner that automatically repels so many people, both politically and racially. With the NFLPA already publicly stating that same sentiment, it just makes too much sense for Roger Goodell to say ?No thanks? to Rush. $.09-- Florida State is pressuring legendary coach Bobby Bowden to hang up his hat and fully turn over the program to successor Jimbo Fisher. This is an interesting dilemma for both the school and the coach, one that has not played out well at other institutions with long-time coaching legends. Eddie Robinson at Grambling went out the door kicking and screaming, and the program has not recovered. Nebraska still hasn?t replaced Tom Osborn with any real success (sorry Frank Solich!), and it took years for USC to escape the doldrums after John Robinson. It?s a very delicate balance of both sides, though for the Seminoles it?s becoming increasingly apparent that Bowden has passed the end of the line. The man brought unprecedented success and amazing long-term prominence to a Florida State program that was best known for being where Burt Reynolds played college ball before Bowden arrived in Tallahassee. All those top 10 finishes and thrilling rivalry games, the Heisman winners and the NFL pipeline--Bowden created all that from nothing. Sure he?s had his scandals (Free Shoes University, the recent academic issues), but by and large Bobby Bowden is renowned for his dadgum spirit and positive influence on the game. But like so many other legends, the end game isn?t going well. Those close to the program will tell you Bowden does little other than being the public face of the team anymore, but even in that capacity his skills are obviously diminishing. The trustee that spoke up said nothing incorrect, even though Bowden sycophants clearly aren?t ready to hear it yet. $.10: Scouting Report-- Trent Williams, T, Oklahoma. 6?5?, 310, 40 time NA. Positives: Technically sound run blocker with a great mauling attitude. Fires off the snap and attacks with power, balance, and fervor. Great upper body strength. Good arm extension and hand punch. Good at finding targets in space at the second level. Moves in a short area fairly well for his size. Has played both right and left tackle on high-powered offenses. Has the base strength to envelop bull rushes. Decent, consistent knee bend. Has quick feet. Flips his hips and maintains balance while moving. Will play through pain and has shown great durability. Negatives: Doesn?t always recognize blitzes. Can be predictable and telegraphs whether it?s a run or pass. Can be slow to extend his arms in pass protection. Plays to the level of lesser competition too readily. Doesn?t consistently finish his blocks, too quick to try and make the next one. Guesses on opposing pass rushers? moves instead of reading and quickly reacting. NFL Comparison: A less fiery Eric Winston. Forecast: A premier right tackle prospect with enough athletic potential to maybe make a good left tackle. That equates draft-wise to Gosder Cherilus or Chris Williams as a mid 1st round pick. Midseason stock sliding a bit. Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com Catch me every Monday at 5:05 ET, 2:05 PT with Papa Joe Chevalier at papajoetalk.com

Knowshon Moreno took four direct snaps in Denver's Wild Horse formation on Sunday. "It was something we put together," Moreno said. "We got some big plays on it." Moreno rushed for 88 yards on 13 carries, with runs of 12, 5, 5 and 1 from the Wild Horse.

Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels agreed not to do the postgame handshake on the field. Instead, Belichick visited McDaniels in the Broncos' coaching office. McDaniels also met with Tom Brady just outside New England's bus.

The Vikings, Giants, Broncos and Colts remained perfect on Sunday, while the Rams, Buccaneers, Chiefs and Titans remained winless in Week 5. We will calculate each team?s Trench Counter*. Minnesota 38, St. Louis 10 Team Trench Counter: Vikings +14.3, Rams -14.3 The Minnesota Vikings (5-0) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back against the St. Louis Rams (0-5) on Sunday afternoon at Edward Jones Stadium. Brett Favre, who turned 40 this week, threw for 232 yards, one touchdown and an interception as the Vikings won their 400th NFL game. Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor combined for 89 rushing yards and three scores. Favre connected with seven different receivers and rookie Percy Harvin led the lot with four receptions for 66 yards. Kyle Boller started the game at quarterback, going 20-for-31 with 209 yards and an interception, but Marc Bulger finished it with 88 yards and a score on 7-for-7 passing. Steven Jackson ran well, gaining 84 yards on 21 carries, but lost one of the team?s three fumbles in defeat. Donne Avery led St. Louis in receiving with five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Philadelphia 33, Tampa Bay 14 Team Trench Counter: Eagles +7.8, Buccaneers -7.8 Donovan McNabb didn?t miss a beat in his first action since Week 1 as the Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) thumped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5). McNabb connected with rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin on a 51-yard score on the team?s second offensive play and the home team never trailed. McNabb finished with 264 yards and three touchdowns on 16-for-21 passing. The Eagles didn?t have much of a ground game, with McNabb, Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy combining for 62 yards on fourteen carries, but the defense held the Buccaneers in check. Josh Johnson threw the ball 50 times as Tampa Bay looked to battle back from an early deficit. He went 26-for-50 with 240 yards, two touchdowns and three costly interceptions. Kellen Winslow was his favorite target, grabbing nine passes for 102 yards and both of the team?s touchdowns. Philadelphia held Cadillac Williams to just eight yards on 10 carries, while Derrick Ward rushed six times for 37 yards in the loss. The Eagles put the nail in the coffin with less than a minute left in the game as Darren Howard tackled Williams in the end zone for a safety. N.Y. Giants 44, Oakland 7 Team Trench Counter: Giants +36.2, Raiders -36.2 The New York Giants (5-0) kept rolling and the Oakland Raiders (1-4) continued to struggle at Giants Stadium in New Jersey in Week 5. Eli Manning, making his 83rd consecutive start despite an injured heel, had 173 yards and two touchdowns in less than a half of work as backup David Carr took over at quarterback in the second quarter. Ahmad Bradshaw (110 yards and two touchdowns) and Brandon Jacobs (67 yards on 21 carries) helped New York control the game and the clock even without Manning on the field. JaMarcus Russell went 8-for-13 on the afternoon, totaling just 100 passing yards. Four of Russell?s completions went to tight end Zach Miller, who led the team in receiving with 69 yards. While Russell didn?t throw an interception, he certainly didn?t help his cause by losing three fumbles to the ball-hawking defense of the Giants. Michael Bush, starting in place of the injured Darren McFadden, rushed 12 times for 37 yards and a touchdown. Dallas 26, Kansas City 20 (OT) Team Trench Counter: Cowboys +6.6, Chiefs -6.6 The Dallas Cowboys (3-2) narrowly escaped Kansas City (0-5) with a win thanks to some heroics from receiver Miles Austin. Tony Romo went 20-for-34 with 351 yards and two scores, both of which went to Austin, who exploded with 250 yards on 10 receptions. Tashard Choice (8) got fewer carries than Marion Barber (15), but was more productive with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown. Midway through the overtime period, Romo hooked up with Austin on a 60-yard touchdown to avoid an embarrassing defeat. The Chiefs forced overtime after an impressive drive that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass by Matt Cassel to Dwyane Bowe with less than a minute remaining. However, Kansas City?s defense wasn?t able to stop Romo from connecting with Austin for a majority of the game. Their running game was almost transparent, as Larry Johnson tallied 37 yards on 21 carries in the loss. Pittsburgh 28, Detroit 20 Team Trench Counter: Steelers +3.4, Lions -3.4 The Detroit Lions (1-4) played respectably, but the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) still came away with a much-needed victory at Ford Field. Ben Roethlisberger went 23-for-30 with 277 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while Rashard Mendenhall ran well with 77 yards and a score on 15 carries. Roethlisberger connected with three different receivers for touchdowns -- Hines Ward (seven catches for 85 yards), Heath Miller (five receptions for 54 yards) and Mike Wallace (two catches for 52 yards). Daunte Culpepper got the Lions to within eight points midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn?t orchestrate a dramatic finish. He went 23-for-37 with 282 yards, one touchdown and an interception as he filled in for injured rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. Kevin Smith struggled to gain ground, rushing 20 times for 53 yards in the loss. With Calvin Johnson nursing an injury, Dennis Northcutt led Detroit in receiving with five catches for 70 yards and a score. Carolina 20, Washington 17 Team Trench Counter: Panthers -1.3, Redskins +1.3 The Carolina Panthers (1-3) got their first win of the season against the Washington Redskins (2-3) thanks to a strong fourth quarter. The Redskins led 17-2 in the third, but the Panthers went on to score 18 unanswered points. Jake Delhomme had 181 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while both DeAngelo Williams (18 carries for 40 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (10 rushes for 39 yards and a touchdown) were limited. Jason Campbell was steady for the Redskins, going 17-for-23 with 145 yards and a touchdown, but Washington?s defense collapsed in the second half. Clinton Portis rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while also grabbed two passes for 17 yards and another score. Cleveland 6, Buffalo 3 Team Trench Counter: Browns +1.2, Bills -1.2 Terrell Owens felt as though the Buffalo Bills (1-4) had a shot to win, but instead the Cleveland Browns (1-4) notched their first victory of the season in an extremely low-scoring game. Derek Anderson went 2-for-17 with 23 yards and an interception, while Jamal Lewis led the Cleveland offense with 117 yards on 31 carries. The Bills had better offensive numbers, but simply didn?t make timely plays. Trent Edwards went 16-for-31 with 152 yards and an interception, while Marshawn Lynch (69 yards on 17 carries), Edwards (40 yards on four carries) and Fred Jackson (30 yards on 13 rushes) gained yards on the ground. Buffalo?s offense was stopped cold often, including two fumbles by kick returner Roscoe Parrish. Cincinnati 17, Baltimore 14 Team Trench Counter: Bengals +13.5, Ravens -13.5 The Cincinnati Bengals (4-1) cemented their status as a legitimate contender in the AFC North with a dramatic win over the Baltimore Ravens (3-2). Carson Palmer hooked up with Andre Caldwell on a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 22 seconds left to give the Bengals yet another last-second win. Palmer finished the game with 271 yards, one touchdown and an interception on 18-for-31 passing. Chad Ochocinco led the team in receiving with 94 yards, while Cedric Benson starred on the ground with 120 yards and a score on 27 carries. Joe Flacco went 22-for-31 with 186 yards, one touchdown and two picks in the loss. Ray Rice was respectable on the ground, gaining 69 yards on 14 carries, while also grabbing seven passes for 74 yards and a score at M&T Bank Stadium. Ed Reed returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, but Baltimore?s defense wasn?t able to keep Palmer from leading Cincinnati down the field with the game on the line. Atlanta 45, San Francisco 10 Team Trench Counter: Falcons +17, 49ers -17 The Atlanta Falcons (3-1) exploded after their bye-week, putting 35 points on the board against the San Francisco (3-2) in the first half alone. Matt Ryan went 22-for-32 with 329 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as Roddy White reaped most of the benefits. After a slow start to the season, White grabbed eight passes for 210 yards and two scores in the win. Michael Turner excelled as well, tallying 97 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. Ryan also used his legs effectively, rushing for a 1-yard score in the fourth quarter. Shaun Hill struggled against Atlanta?s defense, throwing for just 198 yards to go along with an interception. He added 53 yards on four scrambles, while rookie Glen Coffee carried the ball 12 times for 45 yards and a touchdown at Candlestick Park. The 49ers head into their bye-week after the demoralizing defeat. Seattle 41, Jacksonville 0 Team Trench Counter: Seahawks +26.3, Jaguars -26.3 With Matt Hasselbeck back at quarterback, the Seattle Seahawks (2-3) absolutely pasted the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) at Qwest Field. Hasselbeck went 18-for-30 with 241 yards and four touchdown tosses, while Seattle?s stable of running backs enjoyed a nice afternoon as well. The three-headed monster of Edgerrin James, Justin Forsett and Julius Jones combined to rush for 123 yards in the victory. David Garrard went 18-for-31 with 188 yards in the loss, as the Seattle defense kept Jacksonville off the board. Maurice Jones-Drew rushed 12 times for 34 yards, while Torry Holt led the team in receiving with seven catches for 95 yards. Garrard stalled the Jaguars? offense twice with fumbles. Denver 20, New England 17 (OT) Team Trench Counter: Broncos +6.4, Patriots -6.4 Matt Prater?s 41-yard kick in overtime kept the Denver Broncos (5-0) perfect on the season as Josh McDaniels defeated his former employer, the New England Patriots (3-2) at Invesco Field. Kyle Orton had yet another great game, going 35-for-48 with 330 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, filling in for the injured Correll Buckhalter, gained 88 yards on 21 carries in the victory. Brandon Marshall was on the receiving end of both of Orton?s scoring passes, while Eddie Royal led Denver in receiving with 10 catches for 90 yards. Tom Brady had 215 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, while losing a fumble that stalled a New England drive. Sammy Morris was the team?s leading rusher. He carried the ball 17 times for 68 yards, while also hauling in two passes for 39 yards. Wes Welker starred with eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Randy Moss had as many receptions (one for 36 yards) as interceptions (he was in as a defensive back on the final play of the first play). Arizona 28, Houston 21 Team Trench Counter: Cardinals +1.5, Texans -1.5 The Houston Texans (2-3) scored three consecutive touchdowns over the third and fourth quarters, but a miscue allowed the Arizona Cardinals (2-2) to escape with a win. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returned an interception 49 yards for the game-winning touchdown with less than three minutes remaining. Kurt Warner had 302 yards and two touchdowns on the afternoon, while Beanie Wells (24 yards on seven carries) and Tim Hightower (17 yards and a score on six touches) weren?t very efficient on the ground. Anquan Boldin (seven receptions for 81 yards) and Larry Fitzgerald (five catches for 79 yards and two scores) led Arizona in receiving. Matt Schaub played well, going 35-for-50 with 371 yards and two touchdowns, but his interception came at the worst possible time. Steve Slaton rushed just 13 times for 39 yards as Houston aired it out hoping for a comeback. Andre Johnson led Houston in receiving, grabbing eight passes for 101 yards and two scores. Indianapolis 31, Tennessee 9 Team Trench Counter: Colts +11.2, Titans -11.2 The Indianapolis Colts (5-0) held the Tennessee Titans (0-5) to just three field goals at home as they cruised to their fifth straight win to open the season. Peyton Manning had 309 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, with rookie Austin Collie grabbing eight passes for 97 yards and two scores. Joseph Addai led the Colts in rushing, tallying just 27 yards and a score on 14 carries. Addai also caught 10 passes for 53 yards in the win. Kerry Collins continued to struggle, going 19-for-32 with 164 yards and an interception. LenDale White (10 rushes for 51 yards) and Chris Johnson (9 rushes for 34 yards) had decent nights on the ground, but the Indianapolis defense stalled numerous Tennessee drives. The Titans, who went 13-3 last season, rank in the bottom third of the league in both passing (offense and defense) and rushing (offense). *Explaining The Trench Counter

As much as I loathe the early bye weeks, it does make a 12-win forecast look even better. 12-2 is pumpkin pie with fresh whip cream and nutmeg sprinkled on top, paired with hard cider, whereas 12-4 is pie with Reddi-Whip and warm apple juice--nice but leaving you wanting. The 12-2 mark takes the season tally to 47-15. Some sweet pie indeed! The big news this week is the Braylon Edwards trade from Cleveland to the New York Jets. My quick thoughts: It?s addition by subtraction for Cleveland, who will not miss Edwards? aloofness and inconsistency. They could have received more in return back in April, but they got a functional slot receiver and some valuable picks to play with. The Jets finally get the big vertical threat they clamored for, but if he can?t prove he can catch the ball under pressure, it?s all for naught. It?s a risk worth taking for New York, but I just don?t see Braylon Edwards handling the bigger stage successfully. If he couldn?t deal with the distractions in Cleveland, imagine how he?ll fare in the city that never sleeps. Also making news is Michael Crabtree finally signing in San Francisco. If the preliminary reports of the deal are correct, he held out for less money than he would have gotten back in June, though he did gain a voidable year with easier incentives. All this nonsense should help the NFLPA realize they badly need a rookie slotting system as an integral part of the next CBA. It?s a chip they can give away for something else, perhaps expanded rosters or more guaranteed portions of contracts. On the field, it?s unlikely Crabtree plays before their bye week, and he?s walking into a tight locker room that he will have to win over by working hard with his mouth shut. Game of the Week New England Patriots (7) at Denver Broncos (6): I?ve overcome my doubts of the Broncos? ability to sustain their torrid start--this team is legit. But I think the undefeated run ends here at home at the hands of the master, Bill Belichick. The Denver OL has shown cracks in pass protection, and I just have a gut feeling that Kyle Orton is primed for one of those days that marred his career in Chicago. The Patriots are clicking in all facets of the game, and they keep that rolling. Interesting tidbit: just three 4-0 teams have ever been home underdogs since 1990, and all three lost...by a combined 51 points. The sportsbooks know something here by making the 3-1 Pats a road favorite over the 4-0 Broncos. New England triumphs 33-13. Best of the Rest Cincinnati Bengals (8) at Baltimore Ravens (5): The rapid development of Joe Flacco and the Baltimore passing offense gives the Ravens a totally new outlook, but I?m still somewhat skeptical they can sustain it. The Bengals are a tough test, with a vastly improved pass rush and a cohesive secondary that could dominate a thin receiving corps. The key here is the matchup between rookie LT Michael Oher against DE Antwan Odom, tied for the league lead in sacks. Oher has been impressive thus far, but with a backup on the other side (Marshall Yanda, a good backup indeed) the Ravens figure to shade their help his way. That could leave Odom with some one-on-one opportunities. It could also mean a lot of screens and draws right at him, and the Ravens run those very well. I like the Ravens at home in a close, entertaining game that will reward your trip to the local sports bar. Baltimore 27, Cincinnati 20. Atlanta Falcons (12) at San Francisco 49ers (9): I?m very intrigued by how the Michael Crabtree signing impacts the 49ers. That is a very tight ship right now, and they?ve taken on some potentially salty water with a greenhorn rookie. I?ve talked to a couple of Niners recently about Crabtree, and trust me when I say they were less than enthused about the prospect of him joining the team. This is a major test for Mike Singletary?s coaching acumen...and so is the Falcons offense, which had a bye week to tweak the blocking up front and get Michael Turner rested and hungry. But the Falcons almost never win in SF, having just one victory in their last 10 trips. Worse, they?ve failed to cover the spread every time. I?m still not buying into the 49ers being real great, but I?m not going to swim upstream against that massive tide. San Francisco 20, Atlanta 14. Houston Texans (15) at Arizona Cardinals (16): Two high-octane passing offenses, two clunker pass defenses. Sure sounds like a high-scoring shootout, right? Not so fast my friends! Lots of times when the forecast sure looks sunny and high, a low-pressure system strikes from out of nowhere and the great offenses get rained down upon. That forces a forecast based on which team can blunt the others? sunning attack, and I favor the Cardinals more aggressive, rested defense to do that. Arizona 23, Houston 16 New York Jets (10) at Miami Dolphins (19): This is the second week in a row where the Jets defense gets all the attention for its style, but the opposing defense actually matches up pretty well against the New York offense too. The dynamic rookie duo at cornerback is working out quite well in Miami, as Vontae Davis and Sean Smith improve weekly and look like they could rate amongst the league?s best sooner than you think. The key here is how well Mark Sanchez rebounds from the worst game of his life. If Cameron Wake and the rest of the Dolphins bring the heat like they did against Buffalo, Sanchez? misery could continue. But I see a strong bounce back week for a talented Jets OL, and the Dolphins don?t attack the B gaps like the Saints can, one of the drawbacks of a 30 front. The Jets have found loads of success against the Dolphins lately, but there?s something about Monday Night Football in Miami that makes strange things happen, even with Chad Henne at QB. Miami in the upset 28-27. The Rest Pittsburgh Steelers (13) at Detroit Lions (25): Steeler Nation is still gripping, but at least they?ve come to grips with Rashard Mendenhall as their running back. His authoritative performance in Monday?s come-from-ahead victory has mollified the worries about the run game. That mind-easing should continue this week in Detroit, where the Lions still have major holes on defense. So long as Big Ben & Co. take care of the ball, Pittsburgh should cruise, but bettor beware: The Lions almost always cover against the Steelers at home, having done so seven of the last nine times--and as a home dog in 6 of those. The current line is 10.5, so with the cover the Lions keep it to a 30-20 loss. Cleveland Browns (29) at Buffalo Bills (27): Two things happened in their overtime loss to Cincy that tells me these Browns should win this one. First is the emergence of Jerome Harrison, who ran with authority and a heretofore absent dose of speed, something that takes a lot of pressure off Derek Anderson and the passing game. Second was the way the Browns defensive line stepped up, and I?m not just referring to Shaun Rogers and his blocked kicks. The Buffalo line is still learning how to play together, and Rogers has a tendency to string together dominant efforts. I took a lot of flak for doubting Bills QB Trent Edwards in my Bills season preview, but he has validated my skepticism with erratic play and poor decisions. Brady Quinn had the same problems, but the Browns switched to Anderson; the Bills, alas, do not have that luxury. Cleveland celebrates being Braylon-free in a 24-20 stunner that could spell the end of the Dick Jauron era in Buffalo. Dallas Cowboys (18) at Kansas City Chiefs (30): Okay Cowboys fans, your time has finally come! This is the week where your beloved team finally puts it all together and looks like the dominant playoff force that Jerry Jones so desperately covets. Too bad it?s against the Chiefs, who have done the same for every other team they?ve played. Dallas cruises 37-17 in this week?s survivor fantasy game pick. Washington Redskins (20) at Carolina Panthers (24): This is the toughest game of the week for me to forecast. The winless Panthers are coming off a bye, while the Skins just might be the weakest 2-2 team ever. I expected much more from both. In fact, in my Redskins season preview I forecasted that the winner of this game would get the final NFC Wild Card spot. That looks ridiculous now, but if the winner here can get their running game and pass rush fired up, it?s not as unlikely as it seems. I?ll take the great, classy owner over the meddling blowhard one. Carolina wins 20-17. Minnesota Vikings (2) at St. Louis Rams (32): In the grand history of NFL football there might not have been five more mismatched contests than this one. If it were possible, these Rams could score negative points in this one. I guess I?ll have to settle for the Minnesota defense to win 14-3, which pairs with the offense for a 40-3 Vikings laugher. Indianapolis Colts (3) at Tennessee Titans (23): This is probably overly simplistic, but sometimes the K.I.S.S. principle works; Tennessee cannot defend the pass at all, and they now face a team led by Peyton Manning that is on pace to break the all-time passing yardage record. The Titans woebegone OL is little match for Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis either. Colts roll 33-17. Jacksonville Jaguars (22) at Seattle Seahawks (26): I see this as a huge game for the Jaguars, who quietly have a pair of impressive divisional wins and are visibly more confident as a result. Seattle is so beat up already; it seems like half their starters are questionable or worse. They?ve struggled to run and also stop the run, and that plays right into Jacksonville?s hands. It is real hard to pick against Seattle at home, but the emergence of TE Marcedes Lewis and WR Mike Sims-Walker has given David Garrard enough viable options to throw to that he can pick apart a porous Seattle secondary. Jacksonville has some secondary woes of their own, as their opponents complete over 71% of their passes, but the Seahawks haven?t shown the ability to balance it with an effective running game. Jacksonville surprises Seattle 24-20. Oakland Raiders (28) at New York Giants (4): Lost in the hubbub over the awful play of Raiders QB Jamarcus Russell is how it has decimated their promising running game. Teams are daring Oakland to throw; on three separate snaps last week the Texans used just their two CBs in coverage, with both safeties lined up within 5 yards of the line. The Giants have the top pass defense in the league by a wide margin, which leads to my suggestion for Raiders coach Tom Cable: the wishbone. Think about it when you?re down 21-0 before you have a completed pass or first down. At least it will eat some clock for your beleaguered defense. Giants in a 30-9 yawner. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (31) at Philadelphia Eagles (14): Some interesting ideas for prop bets for watching this game: 1. Number of times the announcers work themselves into a lather with Vick on the field, only to see him do nothing +/- 9.5 2. Number of times Cadillac Williams? remarkable recovery is discussed +/- 11.5 3. Number of shots of Bucs rookie QB Josh Freeman wondering how he?s not better than incumbent starter Josh Johnson +/- 5.5 4. Minutes of coverage before analysis of when the Bucs might actually win a game (my guess for that game: week 13 @ATL) +/- 34.5 minutes Eagles return off their bye with a 27-10 waxing of the hopeless Bucs. Byes: New Orleans (1), Chicago (11), San Diego (17), Green Bay (21) Drinking in the Dorm Room Games Alabama 28, Ole Miss 20, although the confidence is low here UCLA 38, Oregon 33, only because Oregon can?t win big games on the road and I dislike Colin Cowherd?s northwest bias Ohio State 19, Wisconsin 13, too much Buckeyes defense for the Badgers LSU 23, Florida 20, I just smell the upset Ohio 33, Akron 24, Bobcats pick up a nice in-state victory