By Paul Gotham
Staying undefeated
One quarter of the NFL season done (at least for most of the league), and four unscathed – Minnesota notwithstanding. And, no that is not intended to be a prediction for the Monday Night outcome. Prior to the season, this discussion could have had a ‘Sesame Street’ theme to it – as in one of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong. Enough of that. You get the idea. Sure, the Giants, Saints, and Colts all fit. But did anyone predict the Broncos to be 4-0? As I was saying, this could have used a ‘Sesame Street’ theme. But the Broncos are proving they belong. 26 is the key statistic for Josh McDaniels’s squad. 26 represents the number of points allowed. No typo here. After four games, Denver has protected the end zone better than any other team. The next closest is San Francisco with 53 points. To date, the Broncos have allowed two touchdowns.
Kyle Orton is benefiting from the defensive pressure. We could do a blind resume, but I’ll spare everyone the anticipation. Or maybe I won’t. Yesterday, Orton went 20-29 for 243 yards, 0 interceptions, and two touchdowns. His counterpart went 25-41 for 255 yards, 1 interception, and zero touchdowns. Yeah, Orton isn’t as sexy as Tony Romo. He just gets the job done. Wonder if Jessica Simpson has designs on joining Kyle’s ‘mile-high’ club?
The stat for Indianapolis must be 300. As in 300 yards per game. For the first time in his career, Peyton Manning has opened the season with four 300-yard games. So much for missing Marvin Harrison and Tony Dungy. Manning’s strike to Reggie Wayne was the 55th time the teammates have combined. Only Manning and Dan Marino have thrown 55 or more TDs to two different receivers. The Colts only figure to improve when Bob Sanders returns.
After week two, Drew Brees had everyone trying to guess what his nine touchdown passes would convert to over 16 games. Since then, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sharper have taken care of getting the ball in the end zone. Thomas rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns last week. This week, Thomas 86 yards on the ground, caught four passes for 46 yards and scored one TD. Sharper has five interceptions this season – two returned for touchdowns including one for 99 yards yesterday against the Jets. The New Orleans defense pressured Mark Sanchez so much that the Jet rookie quarterback must have dreamed of fleur-de-lis last night. With the win, New Orleans goes into the bye week undefeated as they prepare for the Giants.
Speaking of the Giants. Call it chocolate. Call it vanilla. Call it what you want. The Giants have had a cake walk thus far. After spanking the wet rag Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the G-Men pounded on the Chiefs yesterday. Please wake me when the Giants play a relevant team. It is nice that Mario Manningham and Steve Smith have made fans forget of past Giant receivers.
The New England Houdinis
Somehow, the Patriots escaped defeat in week one when Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin fumbled a kickoff. This week, the Ravens were driving with less than :30 in the game, when Mark Clayton dropped a fourth-down pass inside the ten yard line. Of his miscue, Clayton commented: “Flat out drop.”
Despite revamping almost their entire defense, not having Wes Walker, and Tom Brady recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, the Patriots stand at 3-1. Guess we shouldn’t be surprised by a Bill Belichik-coached team.
Which way to Asbury Park?
After a “month-long vacation in the strasophere where he found it really hard to hold his breath,” Mark Sanchez came crashing back to earth yesterday. In a sea of fleur-de-lis, the rookie went 14-27, 138 yards, 0 TDs, and 3 INTs. Ouch! Don’t worry Mark. It’s all part of ‘ooh-ooh growin’ up.’ Besides the Jet defense held the high-flying Saints without an offensive touchdown for 50+ minutes.
Converting on third down
Joe Flacco might not get the headlines, but the Raven QB gets first downs. In their loss to New England, Baltimore converted on 9 of 14 third down opportunities. Flacco went 8-11 in those situations. Maybe he needs to improve on taking a roughing the passer.
Get the fork ready
Remember when Tennessee began last year 10-0? Remember how the Titans earned home-field advantage in last year’s playoffs? That all seems a distant memory as the Titans fell to 0-4. The last team to go 0-4 and make the playoffs? The 1992 San Diego Chargers. Yeah, yeah, yeah the Titans went 1-4 in 2002 before making AFC title game.
Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.
I heard today that the Titans have already given up 100+ points this year. It took them until Week 9 last year before they hit that mark.
Buffalo Bills fans are making their Christmas lists:
1. New Coach
2. New QB
3. A Defensive Line
At least they have the punter position covered.
Could the St. Louis Rams be the next team to 0-16?
Is it possible that T.O. actually made Tony Romo look better then he really is?
Last week – TO first game in his career without a reception.
This week – Romo first time back-to-back games without a touchdown pass. Hmmm…TO, Parcells, and Jess – Tony must just struggle with relationships.
The Rams – how the mighty have fallen. From the greatest show on turf to….
Smitty – great ot have you chiming in with some NFL splinters.
You know, Edwards tossed the ball first thing to TO – my guess is there is some internal friction on that team. Edwards either has terrible downfield vision, or just never thinks about throwing to TO, because he never looks to that side. And how could he not know about that record? I don’t get why the Bills have great receivers and don’t bother tossing the ball to them. They need to do that more. That, and they need a new coaching staff.
New coaching staff – yes! I was thinking that first pass was Jauron feeling the heat – man I better use this huge contract for more than a decoy.
Casey,
You forgot about carrie underwood. And yes I watch mtv and vh1, I mostly just let it play when I’m sleeping. But no, I dont listen to country, so dont spread rumors!!
Gino,
That’s all right. We are here for you. If there is anything else you need to get off your chest, just let us know.
🙂
Michael Crabtree and his agent are in San Francisco to meet with team officials and re-open negotiations. Hmmmm, it is amazing what a 3-1 start will do for a team.
If this was a poker match – Crabtree’s bluff has been called and the Niners are walking away with the pot.
Crabtree better hope they are leaving something on the table or at least a rainbow to follow that pot of gold he was chasing..
What are the chances that Crabtree realized his only remaining card was a contract in the CFL?
Probably pretty good right after Pacman Jones sent him a jersey..
Maybe I should root for the Titans to keep floundering so that Jeff Fisher is fired from that job and available when ND is looking for a replacement for Weis.
I’ve told every Bills fan I’ve seen since they hired Dick Jauron … the man is NOT head coach material. He proved that in spades with the Bears. When are people gonna learn??? So who will be the first dummy to hire Wade Philips after the Cowgirls fire him???
How many NFL head coaches really want to take a college job? It sounds like most of them would see it as babysitting. Plus, the time put into recruiting has got to be a deterrent.
Why did Pete Carrol take USC job? Dave Wannstedt at Pitt? Lou Holtz was college-to NYJets-back to college.
Here’s the reason I can think of … there’s actually less pressure and more emotion in college. The NFL is a business (a very profitable business) and you better win big NOW. They don’t think twice about replacing you cuz they’re swimming in cash. College coaches usually get 4-5 years to get ‘er done and if they happen to win big, they’re guaranteed jobs for a decade and become “legends” on that campus. I think it’s easier to coach and motivate college kids … they haven’t yet inked the big deal and probably don’t have quite the attitude yet. Plus it’s easier cuz the best coaches are already in the NFL … you don’t have to be that smart to win in college … look at Bobby Bowden … he’s been bumfuzzled for decades!
Wally,
Look at the guys you mentioned – Carroll, Wannstedt, and Holtz. Do you remember their stints in the NFL? Did / does any team want them? Do you think Fisher is in the same category?
I don’t think one bad season for the Titans is going to cost Jeff Fisher his job. Offensively that team is lacking.. Outside of Chris Johnson and LenDale “Tequila ” White – this team has an borderline over-the-hill QB and mediocre wide receivers. Plus this team took some major personnel hits on defensive – Albert Haynesworth.
The Titans aren’t built to come from behind and their defense has put them in that position the first 4 weeks.
That all being said – I just don’t see FIsher being the scapegoat for this and if he was – I don’t see him being out of a NFL job for long ( a la Buffalo or Washington),
Casey — Why would anybody want Jauron????
Smitty — Actually, I would be surprised if Fisher were let go … and if he were, another NFL team would swipe him up in a minute (see Buffalo or Wahsington).
My prior comments about JF were just an extension of a dream or something. Besides … he’s a former Trojan … don’t think he’s consider the ND job.
I wasn’t talking about Jauron. I was comparing Fisher to that of Carroll, Wannstedt, and Holtz – the guys you mentioned.
Wally – I am not sure what the Bills’ front office find in Dick Jauron that they continue to give him a vote of confidence. It has made absolutely no sense that they have not attempted to use Lee Evans and Terrell Owens. Why go get a guy like T.O. if you are not going to use him? Throwing the ball to him 4 times a guy doesn’t really count as making him a focal point of the offense.
All of the guys you mentioned – Carroll, Wannstedt and Jauron.. I am not including Holtz. All were GREAT NFL coordinators. Carroll was an absolute great defensive coordinator, but somehow it doesn’t translate from there to a head coach. Same with Wannstedt.. Great coordinator – just doesn’t cut it as a NFL coach.
Would Wannstedt have reached that level of success, if he was NOT working for Jimmy Johnson?
What “level of success” has Wannstedt reached??? Did he save a lot of money on his car insurance or something??