The Giants returned from their bye week and showed that they were preparing over the week off rather than vacationing in Mexico like players on other teams (Tony Romo, cough, cough) would do. Without Plaxico Burress and in an “after the bye week” game that the Giants normally lose, the G-Men came and absolutely embarrassed the Seahawks in East Rutherford, paying back Seattle for the beat down at Qwest Field in 2006.
But enough with the talk about the Giants game (if you want to even call a 44-6 romping a game), let’s take a look at the league as a whole as we wait the last game of the week tonight and anticipate what’s to come in Week 6.
LIGHTS OUT
When Shawne Merriman went down with a season ending knee injury, San Diego was nervous about their defense. I mean they didn’t come out and say it, but you could tell they were and the entire NFL media let you know how the over hyped Chargers would not be the same. The Chargers haven’t been good this year and they weren’t good in previous years either to earn so much respect. I mean sure they made it to the AFC Championship game last year, but that was because Peyton Manning couldn’t find a receiver in the end zone while in the red zone multiple times at the end of the divisional playoff game. But once they got to the AFC Championship it was merely a formality for the Patriots to go to before going to the Super Bowl and they laughed at San Diego on the way to Phoenix. While LaDainian Tomlinson rode the bench with his helmet on, hiding behind his visor, Philip Rivers held conversations with the crowd and the Chargers were easily dismissed. Then entering this season, after choking away their season to the Patriots in 2006 and then losing to them again last season in the AFC Championship, the Chargers were given this “elite” status that they have held all the way up until this week even with a 2-2 record going into today. But not anymore my friends. You don’t lose to the Miami Dolphins and keep your “elite” status. Week in and week out I am constantly writing about how overrated the San Diego Chargers are and they are finally showing their true colors. Listen I don’t like to toot my horn, but come on how could I not call out the Chargers for being advertised as something they’re not. Today, Mr. LT racked up a whopping 35 yards on 12 carries and he has had the quite the season, ranking 13th in rushing yards in the NFL. And Philip Rivers, well he was quite impressive himself completing 13 of 28 pass attempts (46.4%). Everyday when I wake up I take a shower, brush my teeth, and thank former Giants GM Eddie Accorsi for trading Rivers and 93 draft picks to the Chargers for Eli Manning back in the 2004 draft. But enough rambling on about a 2-3 football team. There are far more important things to discuss in the NFL and the San Diego Chargers have finally lost the right to have their team name in the same sentence as the word “important.”
THE OTHER MANNING
Who’s that other guy in the league that has “MANNING” across the back of his jersey and plays for the team with the horseshoe logo on their helmet? Oh yeahhh, Peyton Manning, I forgot about him. Just kidding, I didn’t forget about my favorite QB in the league not named Eli, but I think the rest of the world did. When Tom Brady went down for the season, it was the Colts and Cowboys who were suppose to be the heir to the Super Bowl throne (not the team that won the last Super Bowl, they couldn’t be any good). But the Colts lost to the Bears, then they had a miraculous win over the Vikings, then they lost to the Jags, and went into their bye week 1-2 with two home losses, an abundance of injuries and a superstar QB with a surgically repaired knee looking for answers. With the Giants and Colts on at the same time today it was hard to keep my eye on the Colts, but once David Carr was in for the Giants and Sinorice Moss was catching TD passes (yes Sinorice Moss caught TD passes, two to be exact), I put on the Colts just in time to see them go down 27-10 with eight minutes left in the game. What a shocker. The Colts losing to a winless team with a QB who might not be good enough to play in Division I-AA, or whatever they call it now. But once the Colts marched down the field and cut the deficit to 27-17, the same QB (Sage Rosenfels) who I believed to a perfect fit for the CFL showed his true colors. Two Rosenfels fumbles and an interception later and the Colts were on their way to an improbable 31-27 win to improve to 2-2. I think that is the win the Colts needed to get back on track and return to their old form and I still have them to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
NFC LEAST
I wasn’t sure if the Redskins could overcome an early 14-0 deficit to the Eagles in Philly, but they did and once again proved that they are going to be around for the long haul this season. You know who’s not going to be around for the long haul in ’08? The Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are now 2-3 on the season and with an 0-2 division record and having yet to play the Giants you can be sure that the Eagles will not be around for the postseason party. But then again, haven’t I told you this before? What is wrong with DeSean Jackson? I understand he has immense talent and great speed, but does he not remember that he committed this play only three weeks ago? I guess he has a short memory because today when he ran a punt back for a TD, he skipped his way into the end zone and then proceeded with another ridiculous celebration. If I was the Eagles I would fine him for every celebrating again after his last debacle, but even so, that stupid play against the Cowboys should result in at least a two year celebration suspension for Jackson from the league office.
THE FAB FIVE
1.New York Giants
Still undefeated. Still on top in the Beast. Still the best team in football.
2. Washington Redskins
Another divisional win and on the road and undefeated against every team not nicknamed the G-Men.
3. Tennessee Titans
Also undefeated, but they are a member of the AFC, aka the JV.
4. Dallas Cowboys
Have only lost to the Redskins and redeemed themselves with a win in Week 5, even if it was against the Bengals.
5. Carolina Panthers
They just keep winning and they are doing it without anyone noticing.
THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Welcome to fifth to last place. A 1-4 record and a 34-0 loss will get you there.
29. Houston Texans
You lose the way the Texans lost on Sunday and you should be lucky there is even a bottom of a barrel willing to hold you.
30. Detroit Lions
Flat out awful and I would like to put them lower than the Bengals (and I will once they lose again), but how can you flip flop two teams that both lost?
31. Cincinnati Bengals
Another loss in good old Ohio. Ohio teams (Cincy and Cleveland) are now 1-9 this season and only win was against each other (Cleveland over Cincy).
32. St. Louis Rams
Saved by the bye, but still the worst of the worst.
THE PICKS
How about those picks? I hope you used them because as of right now they are 8-4 and still have one game to go tonight. That brings the season total to 39-35 (.527). I’ll take it.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
How many games will the Dolphins win? They have won their last two after going 1-20 in their previous 21. I am going to say that the Dolphins go 8-8 this season. I really want to say 7-9, but they are looking better each week.
Do you think Green Bay (2-3) kind of, sort of, maybe misses Brett Favre? I mean it’s only Aaron Rodgers first season as a starter, but say they lose to Seattle (who will certainly be looking to rebound) next week, they would be 2-4 with Indianapolis on deck. This is all hypothetical, but Wisconsin could become unruly in the coming weeks.
How many games will the Patriots win? They have three Ws already, but they still have the Broncos, Colts, Bills twice, Jets, Dolphins, Denver, Indianapolis, and Buffalo twice. Not to mention the overrated Chargers and Steelers. I said nine when Tom Brady got hurt, so I am sticking with it. 9-7 for the Pats.
I am big believer of people being held accountable for their words and actions. When an athlete says or does something stupid he has to stand as his locker and answer the questions from the media. But when a member of the sports media says something stupid they get away with and it goes unnoticed. I have mentioned Trent Dilfer and his ridiculous remarks a few times and when Mark Schlereth said the “Giants would lose to the Rams” in Week 2, I mentioned that as well. I love Chris Berman just as much as any football fan, but last night Berman said on ESPN that the Seahawks would beat the Giants bye one point (I believe it was 24-23). Now sure you can say that’s just the The Swami being The Swami, but either way, the Seahawks go out and get routed 44-6 and no one says anything, Berman doesn’t apologize, and next week he will go about his business and continue to make picks that define “fairytale.” Obviously I don’t expect Berman to sit there and correctly pick every game, but I mean come on. He should have to take some heat for it and say next week “guess what I picked last week” or lose his picking privileges for at least a week.
I had this conversation with my friend “Red” (that’s his nickname) tonight. We were talking about how good we think the Giants really are after five weeks and we discussed how they beat the Redskins in Week 1 and that was their only true competition so far this season. I brought up the idea that we played the Redskins before they were who they are now. But he countered with a great point. “What if the Giants are just that much better than the Redskins?” That is a great point and kind of scary because if the Giants really are that much better than the Redskins as they were in Week 1, think about how much better they are than the Cowboys and Eagles who they have yet to play.