Five Quick Hits
* The NFL and its television partners did a great job this weekend promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The league, in turn, deserves positive publicity for its efforts.
* Michele Tafoya, who normally makes the most of a pointless job, missed an opportunity in her postgame interview. Talking to someone whose wife is a breast cancer survivor, who was wearing pink shoes and a conspicuous pink captain's patch on his jersey, she could have asked about the league's involvement and shown the audience a player affected by the disease, throwing some attention toward a good cause and drawing out a from-the-heart answer instead of just the normal "glad we're 4-0" politics.
* Sometimes I try to watch the Monday night postgame show. I can't make myself do it. Trent Dilfer is a clown, and Stuart Scott is intolerable.
* Ravens OT Jared Gaither left the stadium in an ambulance this weekend. Gaither has full mobility in all of his limbs and might even play in next week's game.
* NBC's Sunday night broadcast is absolutely the best about showing timely, meaningful replays. Keep up the good work.
***
No one wants the referees to be the story, but in two Week 4 games, the officiating played a larger role than it should have. In its game against New England, Baltimore was penalized 9 times for 85 yards, including three 15-yard penalties and four that gave the Patriots first down. Ron Winter's flag-happy crew did a notably poor job in this game, though I don't think the officiating was quite as tilted in New England's favor as some of the Ravens are claiming. I just think it was generally poor officiating from a crew that was much too quick to get involved in the game.
I was actually more bothered by the officials in the Monday night game. Someone on Gene Steratore's crew really doesn't like Charles Woodson. The standout cornerback was called for two very questionable penalties: a holding call that looked like a legal chuck and a pass interference in the end zone that looked like nothing. Maybe Steratore has a bunch of Vikings on his fantasy team. The Packers were hit with 7 penalties for 57 yards and 3 Minnesota first downs. The Vikings were called for two 5-yard penalties: 10 yards, no first downs. That's a pretty big difference, and several of the flags (particularly the two against Woodson) were ticky-tack at best.
Given a choice, most fans would rather see officials let the game go on. Obvious penalties need to be called. The rules have to be enforced and the game must stay under control. But Winter's crew was just looking for an excuse to get involved, and even when they interpreted the letter of the law correctly, they never seemed to grasp its spirit. Steratore's crew made me wonder if the league had a preference as to which team won the game.
Moving on to more pleasant topics, let's get to this week's Power Rankings. Brackets indicate last week's rank.
1. New York Giants [1] — Outgained their opponent by more than 200 yards for the second consecutive week. Eli Manning's heel injury reportedly is not serious, and he is likely to start next week's game against the Raiders. Even if he does not, I don't think the Giants need Manning to beat the Raiders. This is the top-ranked defense in the NFL.
2. New Orleans Saints [2] — Beat the Jets with defense. The offense was okay, but the defense picked up 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, and a fumble recovery. In fact, the Saints' defense (2 touchdown returns) outscored their offense (1 touchdown and a field goal). Darren Sharper leads the NFL with 5 interceptions; no one else has more than 3. Sharper has 275 yards on interception returns this season, giving him 1,311 for his career. The records are 358 (Ed Reed in 2004) and 1,483 (Rod Woodson), respectively. Sharper also has 2 returns for touchdowns, giving him 10 for his career, which trails only Woodson (12) on the all-time list.
3. New England Patriots [4] — Last week, the story was Fred Taylor and their balanced offense. This week, with Wes Welker back in action and facing Baltimore's stifling run defense, it was back to the air. Tom Brady completed passes to nine different receivers — Welker led the team with 6 receptions — and passed for 258 of the team's 319 yards (81%). Beating the Patriots still begins with stopping Brady. DB Brandon Meriweather made several big plays and looked like an emerging star in the secondary.
4. Indianapolis Colts [6] — I'm starting to believe that Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the history of the game. I've just never seen anyone else play at such a high level, or for so long. I've only seen clips of Otto Graham and Johnny Unitas, and my mind is not made up about this, but Manning is literally amazing. That said, he's also surrounded by a great deal of talent on offense, and the real story of this week's game was the surprising excellence of the Indianapolis defense. Robert Mathis was particularly dominant, with three sacks and two forced fumbles.
5. New York Jets [3] — Defense continues to be excellent, but it's not good enough to overcome four turnovers. The Jets' offense has quietly escaped notice for most of this season because it hasn't been asked to do much. And in fact, it really hasn't done much. The Jets rank 24th in both yardage and points.
6. Baltimore Ravens [5] — Played well, and lost on details, not by getting dominated. Chris Carr fumbled the opening kickoff after fielding it halfway into the end zone. I don't understand why special teams coaches allow players to take kicks out from more than a yard or two deep. It's much more likely that something will go wrong — a turnover, a penalty, or not making it back to the 20 — than that the returner will make a big play. I've never seen a hold or a block in the back called on a touchback. Speaking of the coaches, more creative plays are called for on fourth-and-short.
7. Minnesota Vikings [9] — Sidney Rice impressed me on Monday night. Rice caught 5 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, but he also recovered both of Green Bay's onside kicks. Either of those goes the other way, and that game might have a different ending. Clutch performance from a good young receiver. Let's also give some credit to Ray Edwards and Brian Robison. You didn't hear much about them while the announcers were busy gushing over Jared Allen, but those guys generated a lot of the pressure that forced Aaron Rodgers into sacks. Allen had a terrific game, of course, but you don't have that kind of performance without a little help from your friends.
8. Atlanta Falcons [8] — Last season, Michael Turner led the NFL in rushing attempts (376). He averaged 106 rushing yards per game and 4.5 per carry. This season, he's at 75 and 3.5, respectively. Turner got too many touches last year, and this year, he's paying the price. The Curse of 370 can be taken too literally, but heavy workload ruins a running back. This decade, an RB has surpassed 350 carries 20 times. Of the top five, two got hurt the next season, one retired, one averaged 3.0 yds/att, and one went to jail. Of the next five (6-10), two got hurt, one did okay, one did great (LaDainian Tomlinson in 2003), and one is Turner. It's only been three games, but so far Turner looks more like Eddie George or Larry Johnson than L.T.
9. Denver Broncos [12] — Defense is great, but the offense could be a problem. Denver ranks 18th in scoring, despite help from the defense (good field position) and an easy schedule (no opponents among the top half of the league in total defense). Kyle Orton had good stats against Dallas (243 yards, 2 TD, 117.5 rating) and still hasn't thrown an interception this year, but his accuracy looked decidedly sub-par, especially on longer throws. I don't know if they'll be able to score against good defenses.
10. Chicago Bears [10] — No offensive woes are so severe that a game against the Lions can't solve them. Chicago finally got its running game going this week, with Matt Forte rushing for almost as many yards (121) as he did in the previous three games combined (150). Jay Cutler had an efficient game, as well (2 TDs, no interceptions), and the injury that sidelined Devin Hester apparently is not serious.
11. Philadelphia Eagles [11] — Not only did the bye come at a good time, but the upcoming schedule looks pretty tame, with matchups against 0-4 Tampa Bay, 1-3 Oakland, and 2-2 Washington. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to envision the Eagles at 5-1 when they host the Giants in Week 8.
12. San Francisco 49ers [17] — In a game with little offensive yardage from either team (a combined total of 405), San Francisco's defense controlled the game and the offense did what it had to. The Niners' defense tallied five sacks (in only 31 dropbacks) and two defensive touchdowns, led by MLB Patrick Willis (2.5 sacks, interception return for a TD). Quarterback Shaun Hill wasn't asked to do much, but he played mistake-free and threw a pair of touchdown passes. Hill's passer rating this season is 93.3.
13. Cincinnati Bengals [13] — The obvious problem this week was special teams, with Cleveland DT Shaun Rogers blocking not one but two Shayne Graham kicks. The Bengals also had issues with run defense, giving up 121 rushing yards to Browns backup Jerome Harrison. A lot of fans are still questioning whether Cincinnati is for real, especially after the Browns took them to overtime. Week 5 sees the Bengals travel to Baltimore with first place in the AFC North on the line. If Cincy wins that one, I think there will be plenty of believers.
14. Dallas Cowboys [7] — Perhaps this is too steep a drop for a team that lost a close game to a good opponent, on the road. I just don't see what makes them an elite team. They're a terrific rushing team, averaging a preposterous 6.0 yards per attempt, but they have no weapons in the receiving game and the defense is inconsistent. Dallas has beaten two teams that are a combined 0-7 this season, and lost to two teams that are a combined 8-0. Near the middle of the rankings seems appropriate for now.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers [16] — Survived another week. The offensive line was awesome on Sunday night, pushing the Charger defense all over the field. Ben Roethlisberger made good decisions and Rashard Mendenhall finally showcased the ability that made him a first-round draft pick in 2008. But Pittsburgh's defense looked miserable throughout the second half. Antonio Gates moved the chains at will, and apart from a meaningless last-minute sack/fumble, the Steelers forced no turnovers and their only sacks resulted from Philip Rivers' unwillingness to throw the ball away. The offense looked great, but I don't know if this defense can stop anyone — including Detroit next week.
16. Green Bay Packers [14] — Yardage notwithstanding, Aaron Rodgers did not play well on Monday night. He was sacked eight times, and most of them were his fault. Rodgers didn't get great protection from his blockers, but he needs to start throwing the ball away. Injuries to the offensive line and defensive backfield have become a real problem, most notably those of LT Chad Clifton and safety Atari Bigby. The transition to a 3-4 defense is still a little rocky. Green Bay generated absolutely no pass rush on Monday night — forget sacks, there wasn't even any pressure — and the move to linebacker seems to have neutered Aaron Kampman. He had 37 sacks the last three years, and he only has one so far this season.
17. San Diego Chargers [15] — The absence of Jamal Williams (who is on IR) spotlights his value to the team. Their front seven was humiliated by Pittsburgh's offensive line. Aided by San Diego's ongoing pass rush drought, Roethlisberger passed for 333 yards, with Hines Ward and Heath Miller grabbing 8 catches each. Ward repeatedly found the hole in San Diego's defensive zones, and the Chargers didn't seem to have anyone who could cover Miller. Their difficulties running the ball (31st in rush yards per game) have become a serious problem.
18. Arizona Cardinals [19] — During their great playoff run last season, the Cardinals were +9 in turnovers. So far this year, they're -2. I think that is fully adequate to explain their 1-2 record, but there's also an obvious problem on offense. Tim Hightower leads the team in receptions. Not Larry Fitzgerald, not Anquan Boldin, not even Steve Breaston. This team has explosive playmakers in the receiving game, and it needs to put the ball in the hands of those playmakers.
19. Jacksonville Jaguars [23] — Smart offensive game plan this weekend. The Jaguars have been successful this season running the ball with Maurice Jones-Drew, while David Garrard and his receiving corps have struggled. But facing Tennessee, with its great run-stopping and vulnerable pass defense, the Jags aired it out. Garrard threw for 323 yards, 3 TDs, and a 126.3 passer rating, with Mike Sims-Walker grabbing 7 catches for 91 yards and 2 TDs. This team has lacked weapons in the receiving game ever since Jimmy Smith retired, but Sims-Walker and Torry Holt may bring them back to respectability.
20. Houston Texans [20] — Clobbered the Raiders. They also took candy from a baby, solved the Monday crossword, and beat the computer on Beginner. Victories over the lowly Raiders and the winless Titans aren't terribly impressive, and this team has serious problems on defense and in the running game. Steve Slaton finally broke a couple of long ones on Sunday, but on most of the others, he got stuffed. Other than his 32-yard TD dash, Slaton carried 20 times for 33 yards. You need consistent 3- and 4-yard rushes to keep the chains moving.
21. Tennessee Titans [18] — At 0-4, they've already lost more games this year than they did all of last season (13-3). The reason is pass defense. In 2008, the Titans ranked 9th against the pass and allowed a passer rating of just 69.2. Right now, they're tied for last in pass defense and opposing passers have a collective rating of 107.1. Kerry Collins has struggled, too. He has already thrown almost as many interceptions (6) as he did all of last season (7).
22. Miami Dolphins [25] — Lead the NFL in rushing yards, second-to-last in passing. How do you not put eight or nine in the box to stop the run? Do defensive coordinators understand something I don't about the likelihood of Ronnie Brown passing from the Wildcat? The Dolphins are making the most of what they have, but they don't have much.
23. Seattle Seahawks [21] — Whose bright idea was it, facing a team whose only obvious weakness is run defense, to carry the ball 15 times and pass 53? That is a criminally stupid gameplan, no matter how much you're losing by or how many defenders are in the box.
24. Carolina Panthers [24] — The Panthers are 0-3, but they've lost to three good teams. I'm probably underrating them. On the other hand, they didn't just lose, they got blown out. Carolina is one of only five teams to be outscored by at least 50 points this season. The others are Detroit, Tampa, Cleveland, and St. Louis. Until they separate themselves from that kind of company, the Panthers are staying in this part of the rankings.
25. Buffalo Bills [22] — Trent Edwards has been sacked 16 times this season, second-most in the league. In his first two games, Edwards passed for 442 yards with 6 sacks and a 104.9 passer rating. In the last two, he has 348 yards, 10 sacks, and a 50.4 rating. Edwards needs to make better decisions and stay calm under pressure, but he also needs more help from his blockers and receivers. For that matter, a little run-stopping from the defense could help take some pressure off, too. There are a lot of problems here.
26. Detroit Lions [26] — How many times has this happened in the last year? The Lions were competitive early, leading 14-7 after the first quarter and tied at halftime. In the second half, they were outscored 27-3.
27. Washington Redskins [27] — Ranked ahead of both teams they've beaten: the 0-4 Buccaneers and the 0-4 Rams. You don't see many 2-2 teams as unimpressive as this. Quarterback Jason Campbell made one absolutely perfect throw, a beautiful 59-yard TD pass to Santana Moss, but otherwise looked awful. Campbell has good players around him, Pro Bowlers like Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley and Moss. Washington needs more production from its quarterback. Rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo had his first really good game as a pro (7 tackles and a sack) this weekend.
28. Cleveland Browns [32] — In this part of the rankings, making it to overtime is a major accomplishment. It seems like the QB switch from Brady Quinn to Derek Anderson will help at least a little. Frank Caliendo doesn't think it's going to make much difference: "That's like changing the mid-flight snack on the Hindenburg."
29. Oakland Raiders [28] — Opponents have scored twice as many points as them this season, so there are obviously multiple problems. Let's focus on the most obvious one: JaMarcus Russell cannot play quarterback in the NFL right now. Maybe he'll be able to one day, but right now he is a disaster. Kerry Collins and Jake Delhomme think Russell's play has been embarrassing. Russell is last in the NFL in completion percentage (39.8%), yards per attempt (4.7), touchdown percentage (0.9%), and passer rating (42.4). His interception percentage (3.7%) is bad, but not the worst. Which is like saying the mid-flight snack on the Hindenburg needed a little salt.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [29] — Byron Leftwich is from Washington, DC. I feel bad for him, getting benched the week his new team came to his hometown. These things matter to players, especially because Josh Johnson didn't exactly light things up in Leftwich's place. A coach can get away with that if he's a ruthless Bill Belichick-style winner, but not if he's an unproven, winless, rookie HC who fired his offensive coordinator a week before the season.
Aqib Talib intercepted Campbell 3 times this week. Three-interception games aren't terribly uncommon — there are usually a couple per season — but Talib is the first player to intercept three passes in a loss since 1992, when Eugene Robinson did it for Seattle. That's how bad the Bucs are. There were 46 three-pick games in between, and all of them led to wins. Tanard Jackson's suspension ends next week, so perhaps that will help.
31. Kansas City Chiefs [30] — Converted only two of 15 third downs against the Giants, mostly because Matt Cassel kept getting sacked. Part of that is on Cassel — he took a lot of sacks last year in New England, too — but some of it is on Kansas City's line. Other than a three-point home loss to Oakland, all of the Chiefs' losses have come by double-digits.
32. St. Louis Rams [31] — I imagine it's frustrating to be Steven Jackson. He consistently plays well against opponents who know they have to stop the run, and he's tied for fourth in rushing yards. Despite Jackson's production, the Rams rank 30th in yardage and last in scoring, with a truly amazing 6.0 ppg. This season, St. Louis is losing by an average score of 27-6, without playing a particularly difficult schedule.
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