Top performances from Week 4
The Chargers absolutely destroyed the Patriots this week. Everyone is saying that the injuries have finally caught up with the Patriots, and quite frankly, they're probably right. San Diego moved the ball up and down the field effortlessly, and their defense put the clamps on in the second half, leading to a 41-17 victory.
Philadelphia showed that they are for real with a solid win at Kansas City, scoring 31 unanswered points to defeat the Chiefs 37-31. Kansas City's defense, after impressing in the first 2 weeks, has looked horrible in the past 2. Tony Gonzalez was a non-factor, with 1 catch for 1 yard. Brian Dawkins told his team at halftime (trailing 24-13) that the Chiefs wouldn't score again. They didn't, except for a garbage TD with a minute left.
The Eagles D looked great, stuffing the run, and pressuring Trent Green into mistakes, and Donovan McNabb had his third consecutive 300-yard game.
Neil Rackers kicked 6 field goals to lead the Cardinals in a 31-14 rout over the 49ers in a game played in Mexico. Props to Rackers for allowing my fantasy squad to eke out a 3 point victory. Without his last "garbage" field goal late in the game, I would have tied. This game bears no other mention, as both teams are going nowhere this season.
Brett Favre threw for 300 yards and 4 TDs in an ill-fated comeback attempt against the Panthers. Looking at the stats from the game, one could argue he still has "it." But I wouldn't. He continues to put up good stats when his team is losing big, and can't come through for his team when it really needs him (ie. the first half of the 4 games the Pack has lost so far). Nonetheless, not just any QB can put up these kind of numbers, earning Favre his spot in this week's top performers.
I would put Atlanta's defense here for sacking Daunte Culpepper 9 times and intercepting him twice, but every team Culpepper has faced has had similiarly gaudy numbers (excluding the Saints). Cincinnati intercepted him 5 times and sacked him twice. Tampa Bay intercepted him three times, and sacked him twice, both causing fumbles. Culpepper has a much-needed bye week, but I would advise you to pick up Chicago's defense in your fantasy league for the week 6 matchup against the Vikings.
David Carr had his breakout game of the season completing 17 of 26 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Despite being sacked 7 times (for a total of 20 in 3 games), he nearly led the Texans to a victory at undefeated Cincinnati. Can Carr keep up this tremendous production, and possibly get over the 200 mark for the first time? Only time will tell.
One more thing before the rankings...
The Philadelphia Trojans?
The Philadelphia Eagles and the USC Trojans have been mirror images of each other the past 2 weeks.. They both keep falling behind early, and coming back with a flurry of offense in the second half to win.
The Eagles looked incredibly inept against the Raiders in week 3, falling behind 10-6, before Donovan McNabb and co. caught fire, paving the way for 23-20 victory that would not have been nearly as close if L.J. Smith didn’t lose a fumble deep in Oakland territory late in the game. In the same week, USC spotted Oregon a 13-0 lead, then woke up and scored 42 points unanswered.
In week 4, Philly and USC both spotted their respective opponents (Kansas City and Arizona State) 18-point leads late in the second quarter. The Eagles responded with 31 unanswered points, winning easily (although the final score of 37-31 seems closer, due to a garbage touchdown by Kansas City with a minute remaining) USC outscored Arizona State 35-7 in the second half for a convincing 38-28 win.
On to the rankings of the top 10 teams right now........
1. Indianapolis (4-0) (1)
Can everyone please shut up about the Manning brothers combining for 8 touchdowns. Peyton threw 4 against the Titans, and Eli 4 against the Rams. These are two of the worst defenses in the league. Anyway, the Colts offense is not back just because they beat up on one of the worst teams in the league, and their defense still hasn't shut down a good offense. Next up for the Colts is a tough matchup with a high school junior varsity team (err...the San Francisco 49ers) as they continue to play what appears to be the easiest schedule in the league. In week 6 and 7, the Colts battle the Rams and the Texans. If this team isn't 7-0, I am moving them out of the top 10. With that said, they are still the number one team because the offense will be "back", and the defense is improved, although not as much as the so-called experts would have you believe.
2. Cincinnati (4-0) (2)
How can I keep this team at number 2 after they nearly lost to the Texans at home. Well, on any given Sunday, blah blah blah, anyone can win. Anyway, a team is not always going to play its best every week, and while the Bengals haven't beaten anyone yet (like the Colts), I have been impressed with Carson Palmer, and the balance they have shown on offense. Will this team be in this spot in two weeks? Maybe not, but for now, they are.
3. Tampa Bay (3-0) (3)
Tampa Bay should have lost to Detroit on the terrible call to reverse Marcus Pollard's touchdown. Then again, lots of things "should" have or should happen. Tampa Bay won the game, as the defense carried the load this week with Cadillac picking up a flat tire. Joey Galloway is playing like its 1999, when he was actually good, and Brian Griese has looked competent. Maybe they "should" not be this high, then again the Raiders "should" have beaten the Patriots 4 years ago, and look what both teams have done since...
4. Pittsburgh (2-1) (5)
Pittsburgh had a bye in week 4. Duce Staley, Jerome Bettis, and Willie Parker are all healthy and the defense is still one of the best in the league. The offensive line can create holes for any running back to find room, and Ben Roethlisburger has lost only 2 games he started. The big test for them will be San Diego, who has blown out the Patriots and the Giants in the last two weeks. I will allow them to remain in this high spot for now..
5. Atlanta (3-1) (6)
Any team can sack Daunte Culpepper 9 times and intercept him twice, but the Falcons' defense has shut down one of the best offenses (see below) in the league, and proved it can still run the ball without Vick in the lineup after he left the game with a knee injury. Nonetheless, this team lives and dies with Vick , and as aslong as he is in the game, this team is one of the best in the league.
6. Philadelphia (3-1) (8)
The Eagles showed us they will be a Super Bowl contender this season with an impressive comeback against the Chiefs. They showed they can stop the run again (albeit they didn't at the beginning of the game). McNabb is the new "Brett Favre", according to Cris Collinsworth, and I would agree with that sentiment. With offenses focusing on Bryan Westbrook, Terrell Owens will find room to work and vica versa. This team has a lot of weapons, and McNabb is employing them well.
7. San Diego (2-2) (unranked)
The Chargers looked damn good against the Patriots and the Giants. Martyball is dead according to Marty, which bodes well for San Diego. Last year in the playoffs the Chargers were too conservative, and it cost them. Now the offense appears to be open, and after suffered 2 bad losses, they have shown they have one of the best offenses in the league. And they can stop the run pretty well. If they can learn to stop the pass, they'll keep moving up.
8. Miami (2-1) (9)
Maybe it was a fluke that they killed the Broncos in week 1, but they also beat a good Panthers' team. If they can win some games on the road, they will continue to move up. Ricky Williams will be a factor when he returns in week 6.
9. Washington (3-0) (10)
What can I say. They have to be here. I don't like it but they deserve it. Mark Brunell has shown he can still play, even though Clinton Portis still isn't showing why he was worth the trade. And the defense is still good enough to keep the game close.
10. Denver (3-1) (unranked)
I might regret this, but the Broncos just blew out the Chiefs (at home) and the Jaguars (on the road). They are plugging in running backs and having good results again, and Jake Plummer hasn't done anything yet to convince me they don't belong in the top 10, well other than that terrible performance in week 1, but I'll let it slide. A tough match-up against a good Washington defense will show if either team is for real.
On the Fringe:
New England (2-2) All I ‘m gonna say is this team better find a defense and fast…
New York (3-1) As much as I think Eli Manning is overrated, he has looked good...and Plaxico Burress has done better than expected. Still haven't beaten anyone, and didn't compete with the one good team they played.
Seattle (2-2) A missed FG at the end of regulation sends them out of the top 10. This team goes for dry spells where it doesn't score for long stretches.
