Week 5 Results

Tennessee 13, Baltimore 10 (predicted: Tennessee 23, Baltimore 20) - One of the better defensive games in my opinion, this one had pretty much the result I was expecting, although I'm still not sure how either team scored that much.

KC 0, Carolina 34 (predicted: KC 20, Carolina 27) - Wow. So much for the Chiefs/Broncos honeymoon. Apparently "Let's build on that! LET'S BUILD ON THAT!" didn't have the desired effect. 1-15.

Chicago 34, Detroit 7 (predicted: Chicago 33, Detroit 17) - Jon Kitna has reached new levels of incompetence. The Lions are bad at everything. Kyle Orton (!) had a career day against the defense. The run game sucked. The passing game sucked. The Lions are the worst team in the worst division in the league.

Atlanta 27, GB 24 (predicted: Atlanta 13, GB 17) - Aaron Rodgers had a chance to win it, but then threw an interception. On the bright side he is looking more like Brett Favre in that regard- Packers fans should be used to it. I really do not understand how you let Michael Turner burn you for that many yards. It's obvious the Falcons are a run-first team, just stack the line. Matt Ryan isn't that good...

Indianapolis 31, Houston 27 (predicted: Indianapolis 34, Houston 20) - This game was so funny for so many reasons. First to watch Peyton Manning's sad face the first 52 minutes of the game. Then to see Gary Kubiak calling pass plays instead of protecting the lead with a run game that had been working all day. Then to see Sage Rosenfels get hit end over end and fumble twice in the final minutes. Priceless. Well deserved victory/loss for the Colts/Texans.

San Diego 10, Miami 17 (predicted: San Diego 27, Miami 20) - The Chargers... Super Bowl Favorites still? How long is it going to be before teams figure out how to stop the Wildcat. Note to defensive coordinators: If Chad Pennington lines up wide, it's being direct snapped to Ronnie Brown. How hard is that to notice?

Seattle 6, NYG 44 (predicted: Seattle 24, NYG 31) - So much for Seattle getting impact players back at wide reciever. The Giants might be the best team in the league right now, but a 6 point showing is just sad. Mike Holmgren is lucky he's retiring at the end of the season, or he might have been forced out.

Washington 23, Philadelphia 17 (predicted: Washington 27, Philadelphia 31) - Donovan McNabb says that the Eagles keep beating themselves. Why won't he just admit the obvious and confirm that the Redskins are a better team? After the opening Eagles' drive and the DeSean Jackson punt return for a touchdown that should have been called back due to an illegal block by the Eagles, the Redskins played lights-out defense for the rest of the game and allowed 3 points while scoring 23. That's not the Eagles making mistakes, it's the Redskins dominating.

Tampa Bay 13, Denver 16 (predicted: Tampa Bay 17, Denver 27) - What happened to Denver's high-flying offense? Maybe it needs a shot of insulin. Still, Denver pulled out the win in Mike Shanahan's "Alamo," to paraphrase Dan Dierdorf. Oh, and Jay Cutler says he has a better arm than John Elway.

Buffalo 17, Arizona 41 (predicted: Buffalo 30, Arizona 24) - Way to get knocked out of the game with a concussion Trent Green....err, Trent Edwards. Didn't watch this game, but the score tells you everything you need to know. Reality check for Buffalo.

Cincinnati 22, Dallas 31 (predicted: Cincinnati 13, Dallas 34) - Carson Palmer again starts to re-emerge from the early-season drudge he was in. Will he stay healthy enough to turn the Bengals' offense into something teams worry about? By the way, the Bengals just signed Cedric Benson. I'm pretty sure that the AFC North is really worried about that.

New England 30, San Francisco 21 (predicted: New England 17, San Francisco 14) - Matt Cassell and Randy Moss finally get it together and lead the Patriots to victory. Quarterback controversy brewing in New England?????

Pittsburgh 26, Jacksonville 21 (predicted: Pittsburgh 24, Jacksonville 27) - Jacksonville, you disappoint me. Losing at home to a team without its top 2 starting running backs and a sieve for an offensive line, and you still lose? Come on. Odds are good that you'll be playing Pittsburgh again (in Pittsburgh) in the playoffs, so start figuring out why you failed miserably now.

Minnesota 30, New Orleans 27 (predicted: Minnesota 20, New Orleans 38) - What a weird game. Drew Brees puts up 330 yards and Reggie Bush returns two punts for touchdowns, yet the Saints still lose. And no, it wasn't because of the Vikings defense.

8/14 this week, 41/73 for the year.

NFC West at the Quarter Mark

Arizona Cardinals (2-2) - Apparently the Cardinals can't win against good teams on the road this year, either. After losing Anquan Boldin for a week in a pointless play against the Jets, the Cardinals play the Bills and Cowboys before their bye. After riding the bubble for two weeks, opinion on Kurt Warner's ability as a quarterback have come back down to Earth. Gunslinging only works against crappy teams. It also pleases me that all of the preseason talk about how good the Cardinals defense was going to be has since ended. The Antrelle Rolle experiment at FS was a dismal failure. Karlos Dansby is having an average year so far, but he's not the Shawn Merriman everyone thought he was. Without a top defense and a very, very one dimensional offense, the Cardinals "success" won't last long.

San Francisco 49ers (2-2) - So, my first question is whether or not the 49ers reformed offense is a result of the addition of Mike Martz or the addition by subtraction of Alex Smith? I'm going to guess the latter. Smith has done absolutely nothing of note in his time in San Francisco. Whaa whaa he had to learn x different systems in x years, guess what... so did Jason Campbell, and Campbell was still a passable starter. JT O'Sullivan has been sacked a lead leading 19 times or something ridiculous like that. Clearly the offensive line has to protect him better lest we endure an awkward return of the Alex Smith show. Oh wait, he's on IR again. No surprises there. Even Shaun King is a better alternative anyways. Frank Gore is finally living up to his potential, but the defense has shown no improvement from last year.

Seattle Seahawks (1-2) - Things are looking up for the Seahawks. The early bye gives key starters an extra week to heal (before they get put on IR like the rest of Seattle's receivers). The defense is doing well stopping the run but rank 25th against the pass. Good thing they signed Marcus Trufant to that multi-year deal in the offseason, because it obviously helped... Shockingly, the Seahawks are ranked second in run defense. And this is with Julius Jones as the starter. Did anyone see that coming? I guess his 2-season Dallas attempt to tell us that he sucks was actually just a bluff.

St. Louis Rams (0-4) - The Rams are by far the worst team in the league. Firing Scott Linehan? Ok. Hiring defensive coordinator Jim Haslett? What? The Rams haven't allowed less than 31 points this season. Meanwhile Chris Long is doing nothing, and Steven Jackson is just starting to get back into rhythm. The offensive line is still horrible despite having numerous starters healthy, which many people used as an excuse for last year. However all hope is not lost (yet) as they play in the weakest division in the league. Playing the NFC and AFC East doesn't help though, and all of the teams in the NFC West are pass-happy. It could be a long season for the Rams again.

NFC South at the Quarter Mark

Carolina Panthers (3-1) - Convincing wins over the Chargers in week 1 and the Bears in week 2 have the Panthers on top of the division. The power running game as well as the revitalized throwing arm of Jake Delhomme has taken the Panthers back out of the dregs of the NFC. We've yet to see the return to form of Julius Peppers, although he should get plenty of chances to prove himself against the likes of Arizona, Oakland, Detroit, and Atlanta. The defense is performing adequately, but will have to improve (especially against the run) if they expect to go far into the playoffs. Oh, and Steve Smith has to avoid punching someone else on his team. He must have landed a good hit on Ken Lucas- noses aren't the softest part of the body.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) - The Bucs have always been good on defense, but this year they're not doing so hot especially against the pass. Most of that can be attributed to the aging cornerbacks who have clearly lost a step on their younger opposition (see: Ronde Barber vs. Greg Jennings). When any defense lets Brandon Lloyd hit the century mark, its time to take a look at the problem(s). On offense Jeff Garcia got benched after the week 1 loss to the Saints. Brian Griese has filled in and won three straight despite throwing a dangerously high number of interceptions. That obviously won't be a winning strategy for long. The Bucs have a very manageable schedule, but I think they miss the playoffs this year.

New Orleans Saints (2-2) - Oh look, it's 2006 again without the excitement. For all the noise the Saints made in bringing Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans he's done exactly nothing. Actually, that's not true... he found his way to the injury report (surprise) and has 16 receptions for 151 yards and no touchdowns. Not bad numbers for a tight end, but I still don't understand the hype. First round pick Sedrick Ellis is out with an injury for a month, which means Jonathan Vilma will be seeing more offensive lineman pretty soon (just like in New York!). In the secondary basically everyone good is injured, which isn't saying much. Luckily for the defense Drew Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and can put enough points on the board to keep them off the field. Reggie Bush, despite being unable to run anywhere between the hashes, is having a great season so far due to his receiving ability. Deuce McAllister is back (tentatively). We'll see how long he lasts. I could see the Saints as a playoff team, but defense wins championships and they don't really have a chance.

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) - First step: win a road game. Next: beat a good team. Final: beat a good team in a road game. Seriously it's like night and day with the Falcons. At home they're unstoppable (against the Lions and the Chiefs...) but on the road against good teams they can't even score a touchdown. Matt Ryan looks like a rookie no matter how you swing it. However, I do think the Falcons have a great nucleus of young players to build around: Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner, and Sam Baker (who despite his "reach" tag in the draft isn't playing terribly). Their #13 ranking in pass defense is only because opponents know they can't stop the run, and there isn't a defensive starter outside Keith Brooking that anyone would consider irreplaceable (and even he's arguable). Looking at their schedule, I see enough games remaining that the Falcons could finish 8-8.

NFC North at the Quarter Mark

Green Bay Packers (2-2) - Ah, from the best division in the league to one of the worst, and what better place to start by the center of football hype 2008? Aaron Rodgers clearly is not the under-the-radar phenom everyone was saying he was after beating amazing teams like the Vikings and the Lions. Reality check folks... even the Falcons destroyed the Lions. Yes, the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan Grant hasn't earned a penny of his big contract extension to date, and now Aaron Rodgers is hurt and could end his starting streak at 4. So much for replacing Brett Favre. Meanwhile I heard something about how Favre had an OK game against the Cardinals this week. The Packers should still win the division but lets face it; only because the NFC North is so awful as a whole. Whoever makes it to the playoffs is just going to be first-round fodder. The Pack has a lot of questions going into week 5 other than Rodgers and Grant with a season ending injury to DE Cullen Jenkins and a semi-severe spleen injury to Al Harris who will miss at least some time recovering. If the offense can't move the ball when faced with good defenses (like Tampa Bay, who were really only threatened by Ronde Barber's sudden loss of balance) Green Bay is going to fall far short of the high offseason hopes.

Chicago Bears (2-2) - Kyle Orton? Really? We'll see how long he lasts. The Bears were flying under the radar in the race for "most retarded QB controvery in the league" this past offseason, but Orton managed to beat the Eagles and the Colts, two teams who traditionally aren't as bad against the pass as one would think. On the positive side, Matt Forte looks like the real deal. He's like a Deuce McAllister, except with two good knees. However like 2006 Larry Johnson, worries are surfacing about his workload. The defense has improved by leaps and bounds from last season, aided by the return to health of many key defensive starters. For now at least, the defense should be able to mollify at least a portion of the inevitable offensive bumbling.

Minnesota Vikings (1-3) - Brad Childress. Look, the guy even has the important part of "Child Molester" in his last name, and he even looks the part. Calling time out to throw the challenge flag and lose another time out? Come on. I will give credit where it's due for benching Tarvaris Jackson after he clearly regressed from the final four games of last season, but you have to look at it differently because Jackson is African American. Gus Frerotte won't last a full season anyways, so we'll see Jackson again soon enough. Meanwhile, where's that defensive front four that even scared the commentators in the preseason? Jared Allen has done an adequate job, but I don't think you could find one person that knows anything about the game to say he's lived up to expectations. The pass rush can't be that great if the Vikings keep getting killed through the air. And running (literally) a ball control offense doesn't work if nobody fears your quarterback(s).

Detroit Lions (0-3) - At least the Matt Millen era is over. On one hand it's unfortunate because you could count on him to draft the most hyped up player available and watch him fail miserably. Roy Williams worked out (kind of, he's not good enough to lock into a long term deal apparently) and Calvin Johnson in my humble opinion hasn't lived up to his #2 draftee status, although he's not a bust by any means. Jon Kitna was even keeping it close with the Packers until he threw two pick-6s in the fourth quarter. No, the problems with the Lions start and end with the defense. You'd think that Millen, a former linebacker, would be able to draft at least a couple of decent ones. Yet Ernie Sims is the only one that has worked out, and the Lions' front 7 holds less water than a sieve. While they're not wretched to the degree of the St. Louis Rams, they're pretty close. Luckily they still have several division games left, so 0-16 should be out of the question.

NFC East at the Quarter Mark

New York Giants (3-0) - Looks like the Giants are off to their traditional solid first half of the season. With Plaxico Burress out serving a (somewhat bizarre) team-levied suspension, the Giants will be facing a tough Seahawks run defense with Amani Toomer as their #1 wide receiver. Quite frankly, the Giants virtually have to go into week 7 undefeated in order to safely consider themselves a playoff team. Week 7 starts a series of brutal matchups against Dallas, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Arizona, Washington, Philadelphia, and Dallas again before finishing the season with Carolina and Minnesota. The Giants probably need 12 wins to win the division, and losses to either Seattle, Cleveland, or San Francisco would be a serious setback in a division that does not give playoff berths willingly.

Washington Redskins (3-1) - Jason Campbell truly looks comfortable directing the Redskins offense. He hasn't thrown an interception or fumbled yet this season, and it's not like he's just handing off to Clinton Portis (OK, he does a lot of that too). I always thought the Redskins didn't get enough credit for what amounted to a good showing last season despite a first-round elimination in the playoffs. Santana Moss even looks like the #1 receiver everyone has said he could be, and as a bonus he has consistently had big games. Who saw that coming? It's a far cry from the last time he had to take himself out of a game for dropping the ball 5+ times. Like any team in the NFC East, the Redskins have a good shot at winning the division, and expect the week 16 matchup vs. the Eagles to have playoff implications for both teams. If they can go into Philadelphia and win, they'd have a huge advantage in a tiebreaker situation nearer the postseason on both Dallas and Philadelphia.

Dallas Cowboys (3-1) - Dallas' epic fail against the Redskins clearly has them in a little bit of a tizzy. Terrell Owens is getting uneasy. The Redskins put the Cowboys into panic mode early, and it showed in the playcalling. 8 carries for Marion Barber? Are you serious? It's not like TO was lighting up the show or anything. Unlike last year, I think that the Cowboys will not have the luxury of taking weeks 16 and 17 off and I think it will actually help them. I still expect them to win the division, but laying a few more eggs like they did in week 4 will definitely come back to haunt them. The Cowboys have shown the league 2 years in a row that they aren't mature or disciplined enough to win in the playoffs. This is the year that they have to show otherwise. Wade Philips knows it....

Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) - I'll give McNabb a free pass on the Chicago game due to Brian Westbrook being out, but Buckhalter did fine in his stead. After the ridiculous Monday night game in week 2, the NFL learned that the Eagles were back. McNabb is healthy, and if he and Westbrook can make it through the season (not exactly the "if" statement any Eagles fan wants to hear) the Eagles could go far into the playoffs. If DeSean Jackson wasn't such a moron, the Eagles could very well be sitting at 4-0 right now. The defense is playing beyond their abilities, first against the rush, 11th against the pass, and 7th in points allowed. Those are Super Bowl caliber numbers (except they won't win, because it's Philadelphia).

Treasures from Bill Simmons

Normally I can't stand ESPN Page 2. DJ Gallo is a retard. Patrick Hurby and Dave Fleming are both huge morons. But Bill Simmons' latest article has some real treasures. Among them:

1) I actually had seen this beforehand, but he posts this link about a near-murder over fantasy football points. My favorite sentence in the article is "Additional charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence were added to Ward's arrest" - I guess his battery was running low.

2) On Scott Linehan: "This seems like a good time to mention that when your defense has given up 147 points in four weeks, firing the head coach and promoting the defensive coordinator isn't exactly the best way to fire your fans up." Glad I'm not the only one that thinks so.

3) On the Pittsburgh Steelers: "Here's something you won't hear on Sunday night: 'You can't make those kinds of mental mistakes against Mewelde Moore, he will KILL you.' "

4) "VEGAS (-120) over anyone dumb enough to do a 10-point, three-team tease
San Diego killed you in Week 1. Miami killed you in Week 3. Kansas City killed you in Week 4. These were not accidents. Just stop. No more."

Super Bowl memories, anyone?

Link to full article.

AFC West at the Quarter Mark

Denver Broncos (3-1) - Just like last year the Broncos can't stop the run a la Indianapolis. I guess that happens when you have a small defensive line and only average linebackers. In the secondary, both Dre Bly and Champ Bailey have been stinking it up and as a unit the secondary allows in excess of 250 yards per game through the air. Offense is a different story, as Jay Cutler has announced his breakout season in a big way. Brandon Marshall responded to his suspension with 166, 155, and 77 yard games with a touchdown in each. The running back platoon is effective when Mike Shanahan feels like using it.

San Diego Chargers (2-2) - I guess we should call it Norv Turner syndrome. Philip Rivers is still immature, and played horribly against the Raiders. LT has also started slow, partially due to a toe injury and partly due to the Chargers general bumbling around on offense. Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson seemed to have emerged as viable threats at wide reciever. It's a miracle what getting out of Miami will do for you. The defense is the problem. The Chargers are getting killed by the pass, and while Antonio Cromartie is certainly getting enough balls thrown his way to repeat his league-leading interception performance of last season he's not making good on them. I don't see why San Diego is a Super Bowl favorite as of right now. Talent alone won't do it.

Oakland Raiders (1-3) - As usual the Raiders are a mess. Firing Lane Kiffin for Tom Cable only seems like a lateral move, as the real problem is at the top. Al Davis continues to ruin the Raiders, and as long as he's in charge nobody should expect great things from them. Jamarcus Russell has improved from last year and the running game is strong even with the temporary absence of Justin Fargas. Like the Broncos, however, the lack of a pass rush and large bodies in the middle hurts the entire unit.

Kansas City Chiefs (1-3) - With a league-leading 17 rookies, the Chiefs surprised the Broncos last week at Arrowhead. If Larry Johnson can return to 2006 form and become a legitimate running threat, the Chiefs might even have a chance to improve on last season. Now that I think about it, none of the 4 teams in the AFC West have a great run defense, which doesn't bode well for them. Damon Huard and Dwayne Bowe are a very underrated QB/WR tandem that isn't going to make headlines, but it is effective. Look for the Chiefs to make some noise in 2-3 years.

AFC South at the Quarter Mark

Tennessee Titans (4-0) - The Titans finally admitted to themselves and the rest of the league that Vince Young is not a good quarterback and benched him for Kerry Collins. The Titans haven't lost yet. Coincidence? I don't think so. I am ready to admit that Chris Johnson instead of a wide receiver was an excellent first-round pick, as Johnson is a huge home-run threat but has also shown he can grind it out inside the 10, catch passes out of the backfield, and run between the tackles. So basically he's a better version of Reggie Bush. The Titans defense is elite. With Albert Haynesworth in a contract year and several other veterans playing at an extremely high level, the Titans are early favorites to take the AFC South title away from the Colts.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) - After their 0-2 slide at the beginning of the season, the Jags seem to have gotten back in gear with big division wins over the Colts and the Texans. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are living up to their reputation as one of the top running back tandems in the league. David Garrard has made smart choices on the field- scanning his options and scrambling when he has none. The weakness is the defense, which I still don't think can be counted on to step up when the game is on the line. A win against the Steelers at home would make a very strong case for the Jags to make a second consecutive playoff appearance.

Indianapolis Colts (1-2) - The Colts have not looked like themselves so far this season, and everyone knows it. Key injuries on the offensive line and the loss of (surprise!) Bob Sanders until after midway through the season have degraded the Colts ability to control the clock and stop the run. Marvin Harrison is obviously in the twilight of his career and seems to have a serious case of the fumbles. Coming off an early bye should get some more starters healthy, but none of it matters if the defense can't get off the field. Peyton Manning is going to have to finish more of his drives in order to win games. On the upside, the last time the Colts played like this they won the Super Bowl.

Houston Texans (0-3) - The Texans are an 0-3 team that really shouldn't be. The loss to the Jaguars in the final minute was a pity, because it was a good game on both sides. Matt Schaub finally figured out what his problem was (as did Andre Johnson) and both returned to form. Unfortunately they play in the most competitive division in the AFC, and a loss to the Colts in week 5 could end their playoff aspirations early and even put a winning season in jeopardy. Most of the serious problems are on defense, as the Ahman Green situation has been solved in the form of Steve Slaton.

AFC North at the Quarter Mark

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) - Despite the record, the Steelers do not look good. Even after four games their brutal schedule has taken its toll, with the top backup running back and guard out for the season in addition to Willie Parker's absence for one game so far (and probably another in week 5). The "F" in "FWP" might as well stand for "fragile." While the defense is still strong and will continue to be so as long as Dick Lebeau is calling the plays, there are major questions on the offensive line that in turn limits what the Steelers can do in terms of scoring. Don't expect Roethlisberger to throw 32 touchdowns this year, he barely has time to dump it off to Mewelde Moore.

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) - After their freak week 2 bye, the Ravens might be the surprise team in the league so far this year. The return to health of key defensive players like Chris McAllister and Ray Lewis is making the difference, as the Ravens are at the top of the league in defense. Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco is doing an adequate job, but the fumbles have to stop. The running game is doing well with Willis Mcgahee and rookie Le'Ron McClain. While the defense is nowhere near that which carried them to a Super Bowl victory in 2000, the Ravens could sneak into a wildcard spot if their physical style of play doesn't put all of their starters on IR first.

Cleveland Browns (1-3) - As expected (by me) the Browns are folding to good teams. Just like 2007. Derek Anderson is taking most of the blame, but really it's everywhere. Offseason acquisitions have done pretty much nothing (has Stallworth even played a game yet?), while we're at risk of seeing the beginning of the Brady Quinn era before November. Braylon Edwards, the "budding superstar" can't play for more than a quarter before collapsing due to lack of breath. The Browns need to figure out their problems and do it fast, because with their schedule life does not get easier.

Cincinnati Bengals (0-4) - The only good thing about the Bengals this year is that people finally stopped talking about how they were "on the bubble" of making the playoffs. How on Earth has Marvin Lewis kept his job this long? The Bengals look terrible in nearly every area of play. Carson Palmer showed flashes of his former self against the Giants before a somewhat mysterious injury sidelined him for week 4. The running game is so bad that they just signed Cedric Benson. The defense is its usual terrible self with the exception of rookie Keith Rivers. Chad Ocho Cinco has not compensated for his pouting in the offseason, and if he wants a trade he should start proving that he's worth it.

AFC East at Quarter Mark

Buffalo Bills (4-0) - The Bills were a sleeper team in the offseason after consecutive 7-9 starts. While I won't attribute the losing record in total due to injuries, having their young starting defense healthy certainly helps. The Bills look good on both sides of the ball, they just need to come out of the gate faster and put up more points in the first half. Trent Edwards has been a consistent, mistake-free quarterback who also can make some big plays (see: Lee Evans). Marshawn Lynch is arguably one of the top 5 running backs in the league, and he has the offensive line to have a huge year. Buffalo is a very balanced team and is looking like an early playoff contender after beating the Seahawks at home and the Jaguars in Jacksonville. However I do think that the team's youth will be a factor if they make it that far.

New England Patriots (2-1) - The Patriots have managed to win two games despite losing Tom Brady for the season. Of course, the two teams they beat were the Kansas City Chiefs (1-3) and the New York Jets (2-2) before getting routed by the Ronnie Brown. Matt Cassell looks lost in the offense much like he did in the preseason, while the single season touchdown record holder Randy Moss has only one touchdown and around 170 yards. The Patriots are not capable of winning shootouts without Brady, as their defense is clearly aging and finally having their weaknesses exposed when not playing with a 20 point lead. If the Patriots plan on playing in the postseason, they are going to have to take a long look at their quarterback situation and ask themselves if Matt Cassell is really the answer. Unless he turns it around in a big way against the 49ers, I wouldn't expect Cassell to hold his job.

New York Jets (2-2) - After three weeks of handcuffing Brett Favre with 4-yard dumps and screens, the Jets finally let him do what he does best- throw the ball downfield. Apparently the Cardinals defense isn't as good as everyone thought, and got gashed for 56 points and 6 touchdowns by Favre. The defense still is not playing up to their potential, but if there is one team in the division that should improve by leaps and bounds it's the Jets. The next meeting with New England should be totally different.

Miami Dolphins (1-2) - Single-wing formation aside, the Dolphins still got destroyed by two very mediocre teams in the Cardinals and the Jets. The victory over the Patriots was impressive, but the Dolphins are going to have to do it again before people start to take notice. The secondary is awful, and the offense outside of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams is ineffective. The Dolphins have a serviceable quarterback in Chad Pennington (and Ronnie Brown), but he needs a little help from his limited options on the outside.