Three weeks are now in the books on the 2011 NFL season, and what a wild ride it has been. Take for example the NFC East. A year ago, the Eagles dominated the division, with the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins bringing up the rear. This year it's flipped. Dallas is in first with a 2-1 record, followed by Washington and the Giants, who upset Philly. The Eagles are in last at 1-2.
Meanwhile the NFL is abuzz over the 3-0 starts by the Lions and Bills. The Lions haven't been 3-0 in a season since 1980, when Jimmy Carter was still president!! The Lions stunned the Vikings with a 23 point comeback to win in overtime 26-23.
As for Buffalo they erased a 21-
0 deficit, their second consecutive big comeback, to beat the rival Patriots 34-31. The win snapped a 15 game losing streak to New England, and povalted the Bills into first place in the AFC East.
Is Hell freezing over? Perhaps it is. The Lions, Bills, 49ers, Cowboys, Browns, Texans, Redskins, and Raiders are all 2-1 or better and either in first or second place in their respective divisions. If it continues, 2011 could be the biggest parody year in the NFL ever!!!
Week 4 Rankings:
32: Kansas City Chiefs (0-3): They lost Jamall Charles for the season, and Matt Cassell hasn't been the same since Charlie Weis left for Florida University as its offensive coordinator. Cassell was a system QB for the Patriots, and has never shown that he can play with the best of them outside that system. Even though they made it interesting against San Diego, Cassell still lost the game with a late pick. Todd Haley is destined to be first coach fired.
31: St. Louis Rams (0-3): Not a good time to be a sports fan from Missouri, I guess. The Rams are awful. Battered by injuries all season, the Rams were quickly silenced by the Ravens 37-7 on Sunday. Sam Bradford is beaten up, and Steven Jackson has yet to return. The Rams schedule doesn't get any easier over the next five games. Can you say 0-8?
30: Miami Dolphins (0-3): See ya Tony Sparano. Miami needed a win in Cleveland and didn't get it. Chad Henne hasn't been bad, but the Dolphins don't have that spunk they had in 2008 and 2009.
29: Indianapolis Colts (0-3): Is Jim Irsay desperate to sell tickets? Is that why he keeps trying to convince people that Peyton Manning will play this season with a neck injury? Hello!
28: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2): You have to be pretty bad to be ranked lower than the 0-3 Vikings, but the Jaguars are pathetic. They can't score and can't tackle anyone. I don't know how they won their first game against Tennessee, but they did. I find it hard to imagine these Jags winning more than that the rest of the season. See ya' Del Rio!
27: Seattle Seahawks (1-2): Some how the Pete Carroll's won a game against the equally droll Arizona Cardinals. The Hawks still can't score; they have no quarterback to speak of, and really not much to look forward to the rest of the way.
26: Minnesota Vikings (0-3): Donavan McNabb looks like an old man, completing only 58 percent of his passes, and Adrian Peterson has had a quiet 296 yards rushing this season. Peterson still has a lot of burst, but not the 70 yards to pay-dirt burst he used to have. The Vikings have also blown big leads to the Bucs and Lions in consecutive weeks at home no less! At HOME!
25: Cincinnati Bengals (1-2): The Bengals are rebuilding. Andy Dalton might be a good player one day -- but that won't happen with Marvin Lewis as the coach of this team. Why did Lewis return to Cincy again?
24: Denver Broncos (1-2): Tough three point losses to Oakland and Tennessee has prevented Denver from shocking people this year as well. The Broncos are turning the ball over way too much with 10 turnovers this year already! Denver has received surprisingly good play from Eric Decker and Willis McGahee.
23: Arizona Cardinals: (1-2): Wasn't this supposed to be the team that would run away with the NFC West? That might still happen, but what the heck? Allowing the dreadful Seahawks to comeback and beat them in the fourth quarter? Cards need a win against the G-Men, or this will get ugly fast.
22: San Francisco 49ers (2-1): I don't know what to make of these guys. They were impressive week 1 against the Seahawks, and nearly pulled it out against the Cowboys in week 2. However against Cincinnati, the Niners went back into a shell. Their offense is nothing to write home about, but the fact that Alex Smith has completed 68 percent of his passes is a miracle in its own right, and I guess it should be celebrated. I guess?
21: Cleveland Browns (2-1): Two wins against the putrid Colts and Dolphins does little to make me into a believer in Pat Schumer and the Browns. These guys also lost to the Bengals!! The schedule is fairly easy with the Titans, Seahawks and Niners on tap for the next month. But, I wouldn't buy the Browns as far as you can throw them.
20: Tennessee Titans (2-1):Mike Muncheck has done a nice job so far with a team that nobody is paying attention to right now. The Titans humiliated the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago, and Matt Hasselbeck seems to be regaining that old spark in his right arm. Keep in mind it's only a matter of time before Chris Johnson gets it going.
19: Carolina Panthers (1-2): If only the Carolina Panthers didn't have a cornucopia of turnovers this season, they too would be 3-0 like the Bills and Lions. I'm not be cliche either. Cam Newton has been brilliant, throwing for over 400 yards in his first two games, and the Panthers had the champion Packers on the ropes in week two, but couldn't deliver the knock out blow. The Panthers are improving quicker than people expected.
18: Chicago Bears (1-2): The Jay Cutler's are not looking too good. After beating up Atlanta in week 1, the Bears got dropped by both the Saints and Packers in consecutive weeks. Their once vaunted defense has more holes than swiss cheese, and the offense still can't find a legit receiving weapon.
17: Atlanta Falcons: (1-2): The only reason the Falcons beat the Eagles in week 2, had more to do with Michael Vick getting injured than Atlanta's sweat fourth quarter comeback. The Falcons looked even more pedestrian in Tampa, a game they were trailing 16-3, before making a last ditched effort to comeback. Are the Falcons on the way to bustville?
16: San Diego Chargers (2-1): Not much you can say here. The Chargers avoided a late collapse against KC last week thanks to a bone headed play by Cheifs QB Matt Cassell. The Bolts are 2-1, which is a fast start for them considering all their past troubles in September. But, by no means do these Chargers scare anyone right now. Also Antonio Gates is out five weeks with another injury.
15: Philadelphia Eagles (1-2): Time to worry about the Dream Team? Michael Vick is turning into a Ragady Anne doll, after first suffering a concussion, the bruising his hand the following week. Yet, the Eagles insist he can still play. Mike Kafka is ready at the waiting. Also the Eagles defense has looked pathetic since their week 1 thrashing of the Rams. They can't tackle anyone, and that so-called super secondary looked terrible against the Giants on Sunday.
14: Dallas Cowboys (2-1): These guys like to grind it out. Last second loss to the Jets, followed by heart-attack city against the 49ers and Redskins. If one thing is for sure this year, Tony Romo has won my respect, the guy fights his way through football games, even if his O-Line stinks and even if he is injured badly.
13: New York Jets (2-1): Probably shouldn't rank the Jets this high. They are quickly falling apart, and were a blocked punt away from being 1-2 this year. Even Joe Namath is criticizing Rex Ryan right now. The Jets offense has looked bad, as Mark Sanchez can't find his big target wide outs this year. He has also been sacked 10 times this year, and has suffered a concussion, stiff shoulder and broken nose in consecutive weeks. The Jets so-called super defense has looked dreadful this year as well. It won't get better over the next two weeks.
12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1): The Tampa Bay Youngry's are looking good. Great comeback over Minny, coupled with a solid effort against the Falcons has Tampa in good position.
11:Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1): They have been playing ugly football so far. The Steelers were outplayed by a Colts team without Peyton Manning, which has to leave Mike Tomlin scratching his head. They have problems all over the offensive line right now.
10:New York Giants (2-1): See what a win over the Eagles can do for ya! The Giants are not perfect, and with all of the injuries, there is long term concerns about this team, yet they grinded it out in Philly in inspirational fashion. Victor Cruz looks for real, and Eli Manning stepped up his game last week. Now if they can only keep it up, watch out for Big Blue.
9: New Orleans Saints (2-1): Not too crazy with the way the Saints play defense. Granted they got carved up by two great offensive teams, but boy these guys can't cover or tackle. Big concern for the Bayou boys for sure. But as long as Drew Brees and co. keep scoring all will be well.
8:Oakland Raiders (2-1): Another team that was just a few plays away from being 3-0. The Raiders are back baby! Darren McFadden ate the Jets for lunch last week, churning out 171 yards on the ground, and Jason Campbell is protecting the football. Hue Jackson has lit a fire under this band of misfits.
7: Houston Texans (2-1): The Texans would be 3-0 right now if they only had a defense. Houston should have blown the Saints out of the building last week, but Drew Brees led an inspiring comeback to beat back the Texans. No matter, these guys are still the best in the South.
6: Washington Redskins (2-1): There is something about this team that I really like. Even though they lost to Dallas on Monday night, the Redskins play tough/grind it out football, something that will help them later in the season. Rex Grossman hasn't turned it over that much, in fact he looks like a different QB, and Tim Hightower is running with lots of power.
5:Buffalo Bills (3-0): 3-0 is 3-0, and the Bills deserve to be in the top five. Their defense has not looked that great, but Ryan Fitzpatrick, and this Bills offense has been phenominal. Two straight second half comebacks have been led by the Harvard product. I guess all that calculus is good for something.
4:New England Patriots (2-1): I know they lost a heartbreaker to Buffalo, but does anyone really think the Patriots will lose this division to the Bills? Really? Not as long as Tom Brady has something to say about it.
3: Baltimore Ravens (2-1): Even at 2-1, the Ravens still have all the pieces in place. Their defense, even though they are old, are still playing at high level, the offense found a new weapon in Torry Smith last week.
2: Detroit Lions (3-0): Someone slap me in the face, I can't believe I am doing this, LIONS #2!!! Hey they deserve it. Their offense has been on fire, and defensively they have given up only 46 points all year. The Lions have a bite for the first time in a long, long, long time.
1: Green Bay Packers (3-0): The champions have shown no sign of slowing down, as Aaron Rodgers and this offense continues to roll.
Meanwhile the NFL is abuzz over the 3-0 starts by the Lions and Bills. The Lions haven't been 3-0 in a season since 1980, when Jimmy Carter was still president!! The Lions stunned the Vikings with a 23 point comeback to win in overtime 26-23.
As for Buffalo they erased a 21-
0 deficit, their second consecutive big comeback, to beat the rival Patriots 34-31. The win snapped a 15 game losing streak to New England, and povalted the Bills into first place in the AFC East.Is Hell freezing over? Perhaps it is. The Lions, Bills, 49ers, Cowboys, Browns, Texans, Redskins, and Raiders are all 2-1 or better and either in first or second place in their respective divisions. If it continues, 2011 could be the biggest parody year in the NFL ever!!!
Week 4 Rankings:
32: Kansas City Chiefs (0-3): They lost Jamall Charles for the season, and Matt Cassell hasn't been the same since Charlie Weis left for Florida University as its offensive coordinator. Cassell was a system QB for the Patriots, and has never shown that he can play with the best of them outside that system. Even though they made it interesting against San Diego, Cassell still lost the game with a late pick. Todd Haley is destined to be first coach fired.
31: St. Louis Rams (0-3): Not a good time to be a sports fan from Missouri, I guess. The Rams are awful. Battered by injuries all season, the Rams were quickly silenced by the Ravens 37-7 on Sunday. Sam Bradford is beaten up, and Steven Jackson has yet to return. The Rams schedule doesn't get any easier over the next five games. Can you say 0-8?
30: Miami Dolphins (0-3): See ya Tony Sparano. Miami needed a win in Cleveland and didn't get it. Chad Henne hasn't been bad, but the Dolphins don't have that spunk they had in 2008 and 2009.
29: Indianapolis Colts (0-3): Is Jim Irsay desperate to sell tickets? Is that why he keeps trying to convince people that Peyton Manning will play this season with a neck injury? Hello!
28: Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2): You have to be pretty bad to be ranked lower than the 0-3 Vikings, but the Jaguars are pathetic. They can't score and can't tackle anyone. I don't know how they won their first game against Tennessee, but they did. I find it hard to imagine these Jags winning more than that the rest of the season. See ya' Del Rio!
27: Seattle Seahawks (1-2): Some how the Pete Carroll's won a game against the equally droll Arizona Cardinals. The Hawks still can't score; they have no quarterback to speak of, and really not much to look forward to the rest of the way.
26: Minnesota Vikings (0-3): Donavan McNabb looks like an old man, completing only 58 percent of his passes, and Adrian Peterson has had a quiet 296 yards rushing this season. Peterson still has a lot of burst, but not the 70 yards to pay-dirt burst he used to have. The Vikings have also blown big leads to the Bucs and Lions in consecutive weeks at home no less! At HOME!
25: Cincinnati Bengals (1-2): The Bengals are rebuilding. Andy Dalton might be a good player one day -- but that won't happen with Marvin Lewis as the coach of this team. Why did Lewis return to Cincy again?
24: Denver Broncos (1-2): Tough three point losses to Oakland and Tennessee has prevented Denver from shocking people this year as well. The Broncos are turning the ball over way too much with 10 turnovers this year already! Denver has received surprisingly good play from Eric Decker and Willis McGahee.
23: Arizona Cardinals: (1-2): Wasn't this supposed to be the team that would run away with the NFC West? That might still happen, but what the heck? Allowing the dreadful Seahawks to comeback and beat them in the fourth quarter? Cards need a win against the G-Men, or this will get ugly fast.
22: San Francisco 49ers (2-1): I don't know what to make of these guys. They were impressive week 1 against the Seahawks, and nearly pulled it out against the Cowboys in week 2. However against Cincinnati, the Niners went back into a shell. Their offense is nothing to write home about, but the fact that Alex Smith has completed 68 percent of his passes is a miracle in its own right, and I guess it should be celebrated. I guess?
21: Cleveland Browns (2-1): Two wins against the putrid Colts and Dolphins does little to make me into a believer in Pat Schumer and the Browns. These guys also lost to the Bengals!! The schedule is fairly easy with the Titans, Seahawks and Niners on tap for the next month. But, I wouldn't buy the Browns as far as you can throw them.
20: Tennessee Titans (2-1):Mike Muncheck has done a nice job so far with a team that nobody is paying attention to right now. The Titans humiliated the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago, and Matt Hasselbeck seems to be regaining that old spark in his right arm. Keep in mind it's only a matter of time before Chris Johnson gets it going.
19: Carolina Panthers (1-2): If only the Carolina Panthers didn't have a cornucopia of turnovers this season, they too would be 3-0 like the Bills and Lions. I'm not be cliche either. Cam Newton has been brilliant, throwing for over 400 yards in his first two games, and the Panthers had the champion Packers on the ropes in week two, but couldn't deliver the knock out blow. The Panthers are improving quicker than people expected.
18: Chicago Bears (1-2): The Jay Cutler's are not looking too good. After beating up Atlanta in week 1, the Bears got dropped by both the Saints and Packers in consecutive weeks. Their once vaunted defense has more holes than swiss cheese, and the offense still can't find a legit receiving weapon.
17: Atlanta Falcons: (1-2): The only reason the Falcons beat the Eagles in week 2, had more to do with Michael Vick getting injured than Atlanta's sweat fourth quarter comeback. The Falcons looked even more pedestrian in Tampa, a game they were trailing 16-3, before making a last ditched effort to comeback. Are the Falcons on the way to bustville?
16: San Diego Chargers (2-1): Not much you can say here. The Chargers avoided a late collapse against KC last week thanks to a bone headed play by Cheifs QB Matt Cassell. The Bolts are 2-1, which is a fast start for them considering all their past troubles in September. But, by no means do these Chargers scare anyone right now. Also Antonio Gates is out five weeks with another injury.
15: Philadelphia Eagles (1-2): Time to worry about the Dream Team? Michael Vick is turning into a Ragady Anne doll, after first suffering a concussion, the bruising his hand the following week. Yet, the Eagles insist he can still play. Mike Kafka is ready at the waiting. Also the Eagles defense has looked pathetic since their week 1 thrashing of the Rams. They can't tackle anyone, and that so-called super secondary looked terrible against the Giants on Sunday.
14: Dallas Cowboys (2-1): These guys like to grind it out. Last second loss to the Jets, followed by heart-attack city against the 49ers and Redskins. If one thing is for sure this year, Tony Romo has won my respect, the guy fights his way through football games, even if his O-Line stinks and even if he is injured badly.
13: New York Jets (2-1): Probably shouldn't rank the Jets this high. They are quickly falling apart, and were a blocked punt away from being 1-2 this year. Even Joe Namath is criticizing Rex Ryan right now. The Jets offense has looked bad, as Mark Sanchez can't find his big target wide outs this year. He has also been sacked 10 times this year, and has suffered a concussion, stiff shoulder and broken nose in consecutive weeks. The Jets so-called super defense has looked dreadful this year as well. It won't get better over the next two weeks.
12: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1): The Tampa Bay Youngry's are looking good. Great comeback over Minny, coupled with a solid effort against the Falcons has Tampa in good position.
11:Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1): They have been playing ugly football so far. The Steelers were outplayed by a Colts team without Peyton Manning, which has to leave Mike Tomlin scratching his head. They have problems all over the offensive line right now.
10:New York Giants (2-1): See what a win over the Eagles can do for ya! The Giants are not perfect, and with all of the injuries, there is long term concerns about this team, yet they grinded it out in Philly in inspirational fashion. Victor Cruz looks for real, and Eli Manning stepped up his game last week. Now if they can only keep it up, watch out for Big Blue.
9: New Orleans Saints (2-1): Not too crazy with the way the Saints play defense. Granted they got carved up by two great offensive teams, but boy these guys can't cover or tackle. Big concern for the Bayou boys for sure. But as long as Drew Brees and co. keep scoring all will be well.
8:Oakland Raiders (2-1): Another team that was just a few plays away from being 3-0. The Raiders are back baby! Darren McFadden ate the Jets for lunch last week, churning out 171 yards on the ground, and Jason Campbell is protecting the football. Hue Jackson has lit a fire under this band of misfits.
7: Houston Texans (2-1): The Texans would be 3-0 right now if they only had a defense. Houston should have blown the Saints out of the building last week, but Drew Brees led an inspiring comeback to beat back the Texans. No matter, these guys are still the best in the South.
6: Washington Redskins (2-1): There is something about this team that I really like. Even though they lost to Dallas on Monday night, the Redskins play tough/grind it out football, something that will help them later in the season. Rex Grossman hasn't turned it over that much, in fact he looks like a different QB, and Tim Hightower is running with lots of power.
5:Buffalo Bills (3-0): 3-0 is 3-0, and the Bills deserve to be in the top five. Their defense has not looked that great, but Ryan Fitzpatrick, and this Bills offense has been phenominal. Two straight second half comebacks have been led by the Harvard product. I guess all that calculus is good for something.
4:New England Patriots (2-1): I know they lost a heartbreaker to Buffalo, but does anyone really think the Patriots will lose this division to the Bills? Really? Not as long as Tom Brady has something to say about it.
3: Baltimore Ravens (2-1): Even at 2-1, the Ravens still have all the pieces in place. Their defense, even though they are old, are still playing at high level, the offense found a new weapon in Torry Smith last week.
2: Detroit Lions (3-0): Someone slap me in the face, I can't believe I am doing this, LIONS #2!!! Hey they deserve it. Their offense has been on fire, and defensively they have given up only 46 points all year. The Lions have a bite for the first time in a long, long, long time.
1: Green Bay Packers (3-0): The champions have shown no sign of slowing down, as Aaron Rodgers and this offense continues to roll.
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