NFL Week 4 Game Notes

Falcons over 49ers

A: -The 49ers probably outplayed the Falcons, but again didn't put a full game of smart football together.  Alex Smith threw two really inopportune picks, and Nate Clements made the unforgiveable play of the year when he fumbled the ball after picking off Matt Ryan late in the fourth quarter.
-The Falcons emerge victorious and are 3-1.  Despite the unspectacular win, they are tied with the Saints for first in the NFC South after four games.

E: -This is a sucky way to go 0-4.  Clements gets the pick that would have sealed the Niners' first win, only to fumble it away thirty yards down the field.  Nate, just go down.

Ravens over Steelers

A: -The Ravens break their bad luck streak at Heinz Field with a nice win.  Still, even with Charlie Batch at QB, the Steelers easily could have won this game and run their record to 4-0.  As it is, they are 3-1 and now get back one of the league's very best players in Ben Roethlisberger.

E: -Joe Cool showed his moxie and Batch showed why he hasn't started a game in fifty years.  A win against the Buccaneers is not a good benchmark when facing the Ravens' defense a week later.

Browns over Bengals

A: -The Browns have played competitive, close games all year and finally are able to finish one out.
-The Bengals have been a little bit up and down to start the season, seemingly playing below their potential.  Terrell Owens had a huge day though with 10 grabs, 220 yards, and a touchdown.

E: -A trendy preseason playoff pick, the Bengals have not looked all that impressive coming out of the gate.  The offense stalled out early in New England but got on track after they got behind and had to throw the ball every down, they couldn't generate a touchdown against the Ravens, they were able to advantage of team with a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start in Carolina, and then they had a repeat performance of the New England game against the lowly Browns this Sunday.
-The Browns still suck.  Who is Peyton Hillis and why are teams with supposedly good defenses (Baltimore and Cincinnati) letting him run like he's Jerome Bettis?

Broncos over Titans

A: -Kyle Orton is playing great football with a quarterback rating right around a hundred and averaging well over 300 yards per game.
-Denver and Tennessee are enigmatic teams at 2-2; I can't read them just yet.

E: -The Titans weren't overwhelmed by the sheer number of turnovers like what happened against Pittsburgh, but some costly turnovers derailed their chances of beating Denver.  I am looking especially at Marc Mariani's inability to handle the kickoff following a late Denver touchdown.  Trailing 23-20 at that point, that fumble erased any hope of Vince Young leading a drive down the field to tie or win the game.

Saints over Panthers

A: -The Panthers drop to 0-4 despite playing a lot of close games.  Jimmy Clausen looked like a rookie QB, and the Panthers are certainly not opening up the playbook for him.
-The Saints have struggled throughout this year, but are 3-1 and are finding their rhythm.

E: -Maybe you can call it Super Bowl hangover, but the Saints have not been as impressive as they were a year ago.  Facing a vastly inferior opponent at home, a defending Super Bowl Champion should crush the Carolina Panthers.  Domination was not the story here or in any of the Saints' games so far.  They beat Minnesota by five points, San Francisco by three, lost to Atlanta, and then beat Carolina by only two.  Had just a handful of plays gone the other way, New Orleans could very easily be 0-4.  As strange as that sounds, it is not an exaggeration.

Packers over Lions

A: -Judging by the first half, it looked as though the Packers were going to roll to an easy victory, but the Lions then started really attacking the Green Bay secondary and found lots of success.
-The Packers ultimately held on for the win—that's the bottom line—but they will need to play better going forward.  The Packers travel to the Redskins, and then get the Dolphins and Vikings at home, at the Jets, home to the Cowboys, then at the Vikings and Falcons.  Strap it up tight Green Bay.

E: -It was closer than it should have been, but the Lions' road losing streak marches on.  With the defeat in Lambeau, Detroit has now lost twenty-three straight road games.

Rams over Seahawks

A: -Seattle has two nice home wins and two bad road losses.  I think that trend is indicative of the greater trend happening in the league this year.  There are a lot of middling teams and home field can make a huge difference.
-The Rams have to be thrilled as they have already surpassed last year's win total.  With another excellent performance from Sam Bradford, this team has found its quarterback-of-the-future and must now focus on surrounding him with talent.

E: -Through the first four weeks of the season, the best quarterback in the NFC West has been…rookie Sam Bradford.  Who will win this division?  And what record will they have?  The mediocrity is stunning.

Jets over Bills

A: -If the 49ers are the most disorganized team in the league, the Bills are the least talented.
-The Jets played excellently.  LaDanian Tomlinson had a renaissance game going for 133 yards on the ground.  On top of that, Santonio Holmes, Calvin Pace, and Darelle Revis will be back in uniform when the Jets play next: Monday night against Randy Moss' Minnesota Vikings.

E: -Here's another no brainer.  Of the four NFL teams that still don't have a win, the Bills have the best shot at going 0-16.

Texans over Raiders

A: -It's nice to see the Texans jump out to 3-1.  They are a talented bunch and you just get the feeling that a good start is all they need to develop confidence and live up to their potential as an elite team.  Arian Foster is on pace to rush for 2,100 yards.
-For the Raiders, another 1-3 start to a season is not what they had in mind.  Bruce Gradkowski is a solid player, but he certainly is not good enough to overcome shoddy protection and a lack of playmakers on the outside.

E: -Leading the league in rushing, Foster has really emerged as a top-flight NFL running back.  Derrick Ward also had a nice game in this one running the ball.  Perhaps after failing as the featured back in Tampa, he can become part of a great one-two punch in Houston like he was on the Giants' 2007 Super Bowl team.

Jaguars over Colts

A: -Peyton Manning was incredible again.  He is on pace to throw for 5,460 yards, 44 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions with a 70% completion rate.  Yet the Colts are 2-2, tied with the Titans and Jaguars in the AFC South.  If Manning is this good and the Colts still aren't winning their games, they will be in trouble.
-For the Jags, great win, and what a kick by Josh Scobee.

E: -Talented safeties keep dropping for the Colts, first Bob Sanders and then his replacement Melvin Bullitt.  That did not work in their favor playing a division game on the road.
-I'm sure Jacksonville looked at the Texans-Colts game film real close preparing for this matchup, and they executed, running all over the Colts' defense.  And let's hear it for Josh Scobee Doobie Doo's 59-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired.

Redskins over Eagles

A: -The Eagles are dealt a tough break, losing Michael Vick for who knows how long.  Kevin Kolb looked just OK in replacement.
-Donovan McNabb was not good but still managed a win.

E: -This game lost all of its energy after Vick got knocked out. The Eagles refused to take any chances with Kolb, which does not bode well moving forward, and the Redskins didn't make much headway either.  With no team yet looking dominant, the NFC East remains wide open.

Chargers over Cardinals

A: -Derek Anderson is god awful.  The Cardinals may be the worst 2-2 team in league history.
-The Chargers get an easy win, but with their potential, need to duplicate this type of performance each week.

E: -After another poor showing from Derek Anderson, the Max Hall era begins now.  See my note on the Rams-Seahawks game.

Giants over Bears

A: -If the Giants' defense can play like that more often, they can win the NFC East.
-On the flip side, the Bears may be who we thought they were.  Many people think Chicago's hot start was an aberration, but I will hold off on judgment because they didn't have Jay Cutler the whole way.  Cutler was concussed out of the game after being sacked nine times in the first half; 76-year-old Todd Collins relieved him in the second.

E: -The Bears' offensive line may be the worst in football.  Even a quarterback as talented as Cutler will have trouble making plays when he gets sacked nine times in a half.  This was a primary cause for Cutler's struggles last season too.

Patriots over Dolphins

A: -Any time you allow 3 non-offensive touchdowns, you are going to lose.  The Pats and Jets lead the division, and after starting 2-0, the Dolphins find themselves in third place in the AFC East.

E: -Special teams were the name of the game for New England with a blocked punt and touchdowns on both a blocked field goal and a kickoff return.  The defense got in on the scoring act too as Patrick Chung ran back a Chad Henne interception for a score.
-The top three AFC East teams have all played each other this year and the early pecking order goes as Jets (2-0), then Patriots (1-1), then Dolphins (0-2).  And just so I don't leave out the Buffalo fans, all three teams have beaten the Bills too.

A Classic Fall: Previewing the 2010 MLB Divisional Series

You might not have guessed it by looking at Hill 364's coverage, but there are other things going on in the world of sport besides football.  It's October now, so of course that means playoff baseball.

The Hardware

Adam's Playoff Prediction

Have We Lost Our Minds?

There was an incident that occurred over the past week or so that has drawn all the media's attention, but apparently none of its good sense.  The incident involves Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins.  After a loss to the Chicago Bears on September 27, reports say that Collins hurled his mouthpiece at a fan after that fan allegedly spit on Collins and used a racial slur.

What has been mind boggling about this situation is that Collins has been the one reprimanded by the league and the media.  Countless talking heads have ripped Collins for losing his cool after a tough game and characterized his behavior as hot-headed.  However, I have heard no discussion of the fan who spit on another human being, and threw in a racial slur for good measure, all after his team won.  Shouldn't a fan be excited that he just got to spend time in one of the league's best stadiums, watching two of the oldest rivals in sports, with his home team ultimately winning a great game?  Additionally, how disturbing is it that a fan in the diverse city of Chicago, amongst 70,000 other fans, could feel even the slightest bit comfortable using a racial epithet?

What has the presence of celebrity done to our values?  Collins gets blamed not because his offense was egregious, but because he is famous.  Are we so lazy that because the media portrays Collins as our bad guy we simply believe it, we simply absorb the media's fodder as our moral compass?

Yes, Collins is an ambassador of the NFL, but we are all human beings living in a society.  Nobody, no matter what context, is allowed to spit on and degrade another person.  Furthermore, no person can be expected to simply shrug that type of personal assault off.

The NFL jumped in quickly to force an apology from Collins, but what they should have done is openly criticized the use of spitting and a racial slur by a fan in an NFL stadium.  They should have stood by Collins.  They could have condemned the throwing of his mouth guard without making him the central villain in this story.  The NFL is a business, however, and they don't want to alienate their fan base by openly chastising a fan.  Instead the NFL clings to the moral low ground, the moral simplicity they expect the masses to gobble up.

It's disappointing to see this type of offense go unchecked and largely uncriticized in this day and age.  Why is it that we expect our NFL players to achieve this lofty standard of conduct and restraint, and expect nothing from ourselves?

--from Adam

(Image from espn.com)

Week 4 Pick-Down

Matchup	Adam's Pick	Eric's Pick
49ers at Falcons	Falcons	Falcons
Ravens at Steelers	Steelers	Ravens
Bengals at Browns	Bengals	Bengals
Broncos at Titans	Titans	Titans
Panthers at Saints	Saints	Saints
Lions at Packers	Packers	Packers
Seahawks at Rams	Rams	Rams
Jets at Bills	Jets	Jets
Texans at Raiders	Texans	Texans
Colts at Jaguars	Colts	Colts
Redskins at Eagles	Eagles	Eagles
Cardinals at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers
Bears at Giants	Bears	Bears
Patriots at Dolphins	Dolphins	Patriots
	Adam	Eric
Week 3 Record	6-10	10-6
Season Standings	22-26	26-22

Bye Weeks: Buccaneers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Vikings

To see how the "Experts" stack up: http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks

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The predictions here come from Adam and correspond to his picks.

San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons 

Yeah.  OK.  I get it.  My team stinks.  And since I am losing the pickoff to Eric, I better straighten up and fly right.  The Falcons are coming home after a huge road win in New Orleans, and though they might be ripe for a letdown, it's a bit early in the season for that.  Matt Ryan and company should be able to outscore the 49ers easily as San Fran averages only twelve points a game.

Prediction: Falcons 27 – 49ers 13

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

I cannot wait for this game.  It should be full of bone-jarring goodness with two Super Bowl hopefuls battling it out.  I had my doubts about the Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger, but they have proved that they can win with anyone under center.  Playing at home, I give the edge to the Steelers.  They have the better defense and the Ravens' offense just hasn't developed a rhythm yet.

Prediction: Steelers 16 – Ravens 13

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

I think this could be a lot closer than people would anticipate.  The Browns battled the Ravens well last week and the Bengals offense has yet to take flight.  Still, I think the running game of Cincy and their punishing defense will do just enough.

Prediction: Bengals 20 – Browns 17

Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans

The Broncos are a better team than I thought they would be.  Kyle Orton was terrific last week against the Colts but just couldn't get the ball in the end zone enough.  Denver's defense flies to the football and plays pretty well as a unit.  However, they are short a few playmakers on offense and I think they will struggle to slow down Chris Johnson.  The Titans secondary is also very talented and could have a few surprises for Orton.

Prediction: Titans 24 – Broncos 21

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

Carolina picked the wrong time to go to New Orleans as the Saints come off a home loss to a divisional opponent.  I think the running game of the Panthers can keep this contest close for two or three quarters, but as Ron Jaworski would say, "Points come out of the passing game.  You must have EXPLOSIVE plays."  The Saints will be more explosive on Sunday.

Prediction: Saints 28 – Panthers 17

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers 

To me, last Monday night was a good loss for the Packers (if such a thing exists).  They didn't finish drives, they didn't run the ball, they were poor in pass protection, awful in special teams, and were penalized eighteen times.  Yet with all that, they still nearly won. Green Bay should now be supremely motivated to go out this week and play some good football.  We haven't seen Green Bay's "A" game yet this year, and I think with the Lions coming to town, it's time for the Pack to roll.

Prediction: Packers 37 – Lions 13

Seattle Seahwaks at St. Louis Rams

I can't get a read on either team yet, but neither is all that good.  Ah, what the hell.

Prediction: Rams 20 – Seahawks 19

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

This is a good chance for the Jets to pad their record and get off to a nice start.  The Bills played better last week against the Patriots, but the Jets are a really bad matchup for Buffalo's awful offensive line.  The Bills' secondary could give Sanchez some issues, but not nearly enough.

Prediction: Jets 24 – Bills 10

Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders

Oakland could easily be 2-1, but they aren't, and after this week they will be 1-3.

Prediction: Texans 30 – Raiders 17

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

Easiest pick of the week.

Prediction: Colts 31 – Jaguars 14

Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles 

This really interesting game has so much going on.  Vick versus McNabb in Donovan's return to Philly.  Who has the edge, Andy Reid or McNabb?  I think it will ultimately come down to the fact that Philly has more offensive playmakers and will be playing at home. But honestly, anything could happen in this game.

Prediction: Eagles 31 – Redskins 27

Arizona Cardinals at San Diego Chargers

Derek Anderson versus Phillip Rivers, I have my pick.

Prediction: Chargers 27 – Cardinals 14

Chicago Bears at New York Giants

The Bears are 3-0, and this game will likely determine whether or not people think Chicago is "for real."  I think the fact that this is a nationally televised game will keep the Bears amped and prevent any chance of a letdown.  I would go with the Giants if their defense was playing up to its potential, especially facing the turnover-prone Jay Cutler, but the Giants have been awful on defense. Also, New York's offensive line will struggle with Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and the rest of Chicago's front seven.

Prediction: Bears 27 – Giants 24

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins get another primetime football game and will be anxious to prove themselves on a national stage.  The Patriots have no pass rush and will struggle stopping the Dolphins rushing attack.  I think Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker will be good, but not good enough in this interesting matchup.

Prediction: Dolphins 24 – Patriots 23