A Quick Rundown on Week 3
The Dolphins, Eagles, and Patriots all kicked last second field goals to improve to 2-1. Dallas scored a late touchdown and Jacksonville notced a touchdown in overtime, as both teams moved to 2-1.
Tampa Bay defeated Green Bay by one point, with Packer kicker Ryan Longwell missing an extra point early in the game. Indianapolis won another low-scoring affair, joining Tampa Bay, Washington, and Cincinnati as the only teams to escape week 3 without a loss. Cincinnati throttled Chicago, picking off 5 passes for the second consecutive week. Washington was on bye, allowing the Redskins to move in to first-place when the Giants got destroyed by LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers.
Now the fun part...
While most pundits have been ranking teams all along, I am following the lead of the collegiate Harris Poll, and I am ranking teams based on their performance in the first three weeks of the season. Here are the NFL's top 10 ten teams heading into week 4:
1. Indianapolis (3-0)
The Colts have been winning with defense and a newfound commitment to consistlenly running the ball. Peyton Manning has only 2 TDs after 3 games. putting him on pace for 11, a hair under the 49 he threw for last season. Will this trend continue? Probably not, but the Colts seem determined to hold on to the ball more this season, using the running game to control the clock. So far it has worked. But their defense has not had a real test yet, and likely won't until Week 6, when St. Louis visits Indy for a Monday night showdown.
2. Cincinnati (3-0)
It's not the Bengals fault they have had an easy schedule so far, but Carson Palmer looks like the new Peyton Manning, throwing for 786 yards and 8 TDs. putting him on pace for 42 TDs. Cincinnati will face its first test in week 5, in a road game against Jacksonville. A home game against Houston in week 4 will allow Palmer to keep pace with Peyton Manning of 2004, while the defense will continue to cause turnovers.
3. Tampa Bay (3-0)
The story in Tampa Bay has been Cadillac Williams, who has carried the ball an astonishing 88 times already, picking up 434 yards. How much longer can the rookie handle this kind of punishment? Tampa Bay coach John Gruden will most likely start giving Michael Pittman some carries to lighten the load, because Williams will have a shortened rookie season if he keeps carrying the ball 30 times a game. But so far with a strong running game, and a defense that is stopping the run and putting pressure on the quarterback, this team could be headed back to the playoffs.
4. New England (2-1)
New England beat Pittsburgh, but lost to Carolina, who lost to New Orleans and Miami. Miami beat Carolina and Denver, who got beat Kansas City and San Diego. What does this all tell us? I have no clue, but New England still has Tom Brady, and thanks to a clock error against Pittsburgh, he had enough time to move them down the field for a late win. Brady always finds a way to win (except against Carolina) which is why the Patriots are still near the top. Cincinnati and Tampa Bay ahead of New England? Give it a couple weeks, and things will equal out, but for now that's how it is.
5. Pittsburgh (2-1)
Pittsburgh hasn't beaten any good teams yet, but Roethlisburger is looking good and the offensive line is creating holes for fast Willie Parker, who didn't find much room to run against New England in week 3. The defense is still one of the best in the league, and until they lose to someone other than New England, they are one of the best teams in the league.
6. Seattle (2-1)
Seattle shut out Vick and the Falcons for one half, and Shaun Alexander has rounded back into form after being stifled by the Jaguars in week 1. SO why are the Seahawks number 6, when Kansas City, Denver, and Jacksonville aren't ranked? Well..I don't have answer for that other than not many teams can shut down Vick like they did, which shows me their defense is for real.
7. Atlanta (2-1)
Vick still can't win with his arm, but it doesn't matter because he can with his legs. But will he be able to hold up? He already has a hamstring injury. The defense has played well so far, besides the first half against Seattle in week 2. A week 5 showdown is looming with New England. IF Vick stays healthy, they can play with anyone, even the Patriots.
8. Philadelphia (2-1)
The Eagles lost a tough game to Atlanta, but would have won with Jeremiah Trotter in to stop the run. The offense still looks explosive, and Donovan McNabb is doing is his best impersonation of Steve McNair from two years ago, playing through injuries and leading his teams to victory. The defense continues to impress, although it nearly collapsed against Oakland in week 3.
9. Miami (2-1)
Miami has two quality wins against the Broncos and the Panthers. How have they done it with Gus Frerotte? Nick Saban has somehow got him playing the best he has played in years, and the defense is still solid and opportunistic. Let's see if this lasts. I am buying it for now, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
10. Washington (2-0)
Is this team really one of the ten best teams in the league? Before you stop laughing, let me tell you why they are...and its not just because they are undefeated....wait...ok..here it is. Their defense is still one of the league's best, and Mark Brunell might actually have some football left in him. Ok nevermind, they're only here because they're undefeated.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Fantasy Debacle in Week 3
Another rough outing in week 3 for my fantasy squads. I entered the week with high hopes, and all teams came up empty. 1 came down to the wire, and the other two were blowouts.
A loss is a loss, I guess no matter how many points it is.
Here is the breakdown:
In one league I was going against Drew Brees (2 TDs), LaDanian Tomlinson (4 TDs), and Keenan McCardell. The ultimate insult was when Brees pitched the ball to Tomlinson and Tomlinson proceeded to then throw a TD to McCardell. Chad Pennington's -2 points couldn't quite make up the difference for my squad, as I fell to 1-2. Torri Holt and Chad Johnson had respectable outings, as they always do, but 2 players do not a team make. 1-2 it is.
I left Daunte Culpepper in for an easy matchup against the Saints in my other league, but I again ran into some bad luck going up against Steve Smith who had 375 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. (Ok it was only 170 and 3, but still...). I might of had a chance if any of my players had bothered to produce any points.
Drew (I can't catch a touchdown unless Billy Volek is throwing to me when we are losing by 20 points in the 4th quarter) Bennett, Deon (I may never catch another TD again because Tom Brady spreads the damn ball around) Branch, and Joe (I can't catch garbage TDs anymore because I am too busy either fumbling potential socres or trying to tackle the opponent after another Aaron Brooks interception) Horn.
Suffice to say, I went down hard, falling to 0-3.
My last chance for a win came down to a Monday night showdown. Things were looking pretty good for me. I was trailing by 10 points, but I had three players going against two of his. Derrick Johnson (a defender), Larry Johnson, and Daunte Hall were going against Rod Smith and DJ Williams.
I watched in horror as the seemingly ageless Rod Smith caught pass after pass. Larry Johnson was getting nothing on the ground because of the stupid backfield by committee that KC does, and Daunte Hall was doing OK. Early in the second quarter, Johnson was in on a series finally, and I began to get my hopes up. I watched in disbelief in the span of seconds as Johnson fumbled, the Broncos recovered, and Jake Plummer connected with Rod Smith on a touchdown pass. This one stung almost as bad as the LT TD pass to McCardell. It was now going to take a small miracle to pull of the W.
As the Broncos built a bigger and bigger lead, things only got worse for my team. The one "positive" came early in the 4th quarter when Rod Smith got knocked out with a concussion. No more catches for him the rest of the game, although I did feel kinda bad since I am from Denver originally, but all is fair in love and fantasy football.
As the game reached its climax (it was a really boring game), the Chiefs were moving the ball down the field, and Johnson was getting some carries, albeit he was not getting much. The Chiefs moved the ball to the Broncos 20. By my calculations, I needed a touchdown to tie it up. Trent Green dropped back and hit Eddie Kennison for a TD. It was over!
Wait a second. Here comes the challenge. The Broncos challenged the play, contending Kennison went out on the 1 yard line. If that was the case, I would for sure get the 6 points I needed to tie it up. Sure enough the challenge is reversed, but not only is the play reversed, the pass is ruled incomplete, and the ball moved back to the 21. Well I still have a shot, although it's not likely they are going to keep it on the ground. Green dropped back and then hit Sammie Parker for a TD and it was all over. I fell to 0-3 on the week, and 0-3 in my last league
A loss is a loss, I guess no matter how many points it is.
Here is the breakdown:
In one league I was going against Drew Brees (2 TDs), LaDanian Tomlinson (4 TDs), and Keenan McCardell. The ultimate insult was when Brees pitched the ball to Tomlinson and Tomlinson proceeded to then throw a TD to McCardell. Chad Pennington's -2 points couldn't quite make up the difference for my squad, as I fell to 1-2. Torri Holt and Chad Johnson had respectable outings, as they always do, but 2 players do not a team make. 1-2 it is.
I left Daunte Culpepper in for an easy matchup against the Saints in my other league, but I again ran into some bad luck going up against Steve Smith who had 375 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. (Ok it was only 170 and 3, but still...). I might of had a chance if any of my players had bothered to produce any points.
Drew (I can't catch a touchdown unless Billy Volek is throwing to me when we are losing by 20 points in the 4th quarter) Bennett, Deon (I may never catch another TD again because Tom Brady spreads the damn ball around) Branch, and Joe (I can't catch garbage TDs anymore because I am too busy either fumbling potential socres or trying to tackle the opponent after another Aaron Brooks interception) Horn.
Suffice to say, I went down hard, falling to 0-3.
My last chance for a win came down to a Monday night showdown. Things were looking pretty good for me. I was trailing by 10 points, but I had three players going against two of his. Derrick Johnson (a defender), Larry Johnson, and Daunte Hall were going against Rod Smith and DJ Williams.
I watched in horror as the seemingly ageless Rod Smith caught pass after pass. Larry Johnson was getting nothing on the ground because of the stupid backfield by committee that KC does, and Daunte Hall was doing OK. Early in the second quarter, Johnson was in on a series finally, and I began to get my hopes up. I watched in disbelief in the span of seconds as Johnson fumbled, the Broncos recovered, and Jake Plummer connected with Rod Smith on a touchdown pass. This one stung almost as bad as the LT TD pass to McCardell. It was now going to take a small miracle to pull of the W.
As the Broncos built a bigger and bigger lead, things only got worse for my team. The one "positive" came early in the 4th quarter when Rod Smith got knocked out with a concussion. No more catches for him the rest of the game, although I did feel kinda bad since I am from Denver originally, but all is fair in love and fantasy football.
As the game reached its climax (it was a really boring game), the Chiefs were moving the ball down the field, and Johnson was getting some carries, albeit he was not getting much. The Chiefs moved the ball to the Broncos 20. By my calculations, I needed a touchdown to tie it up. Trent Green dropped back and hit Eddie Kennison for a TD. It was over!
Wait a second. Here comes the challenge. The Broncos challenged the play, contending Kennison went out on the 1 yard line. If that was the case, I would for sure get the 6 points I needed to tie it up. Sure enough the challenge is reversed, but not only is the play reversed, the pass is ruled incomplete, and the ball moved back to the 21. Well I still have a shot, although it's not likely they are going to keep it on the ground. Green dropped back and then hit Sammie Parker for a TD and it was all over. I fell to 0-3 on the week, and 0-3 in my last league
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