Week 4 Game Notes

Bears over Panthers

• Where have you gone Mike Martz?  Jay Cutler attempted only 17 passes.
• How do you put up 34 points without a passing game?  Matt Forte was a beast, rumbling for 205 yards on the ground and adding another 23 through the air.  Also: see Devin Hester.
• When not playing under water, Cam Newton averages 409 passing yards per game.

Bengals over Bills

• The undefeated Bills are no more.  A team that grabbed everyone’s attention with historic comebacks, in this contest Buffalo couldn’t hold onto its own lead.
• Buffalo got after Andy Dalton, but the rookie never lost his composure and performed splendidly.

Titans over Browns

• With all the pub to the Bills and Lions, one of the season’s early surprises that’s gone under the radar are the now 3-1 Titans.
• Wily veteran Matt Hasselbeck should be among quarter-season MVP candidates.  His passer rating of 104.7 ranks fourth and his 8.7 yards-per-pass attempt rank third.
• Hasselbeck had to be the man in the Music City as superstar running back Chris Johnson has not played up to his hefty contract extension thus far.  Against Cleveland though, Johnson broke the 100-yard mark for the first time since last December.
• Colt McCoy attempted 61 passes.  I can’t wrap my head around that.

Texans over Steelers

• Super Bowl hangover usually affects the winners; Pittsburgh looks out of sorts in the season’s early going.  The offensive line’s a mess, which makes things much tougher for Ben Roethlisberger, who holds the ball and takes a fair share of sacks any way.
• This also is not the Steel Curtain defense we’re used to, as evidenced by Arian Foster’s 155 yards on the ground this week, Ray Rice’s 149 total yards Week 1, and even the Colts having success rushing a week ago.

Lions over Cowboys

• The Cowboys blow the largest lead in franchise history, and the Lions come back for the second-straight week and move to 4-0.
• How good is Calvin Johnson?  Wow.  I’d love to feel what he’s feeling right now: to have been on a team that was so bad for so long that's now all of a sudden great.

Saints over Jaguars

• I was worried this one might get out of hand, but Drew Brees’ two interceptions kept the scoring differential in check.  Saints win by less than two touchdowns.

Chiefs over Vikings

• Hey Minnesota, at least you didn’t give up another halftime lead.

49ers over Eagles

• In their current three-game losing skid, the Eagles have been outscored in the fourth quarter 36-0.
• Philadelphia is showing why great teams are built from the inside-out, not outside-in.  (Start with offensive and defensive lines, not wide receivers and cornerbacks.)  Even in the pocket Michael Vick is getting hit entirely too much, and the Eagles rank thirtieth in run defense.
• The Jim Harbaugh factor: Alex Smith has just one interception on the year.
• The 49ers have three wins, which amounts to a commanding lead in the NFC West over the 1-win Cardinals and Seahawks and the winless Rams.

Redskins over Rams

• Speaking of the Rams, no offensive line has been worse through four games, and that’s where I place the blame for an 0fer start.  Sam Bradford proved last year that even without great talent on the outside he can drive an offense, but that doesn’t mean anything when he faces pressure every single drop back.
• Another of the season’s early surprises: the Redskins are pretty much the only NFC East team trending upwards.  The Brian Orakpo-led defense stifles opposing offenses, and Rex Grossman produces just enough to pull out three victories in four games.

Giants over Cardinals

• Although the Giants are also 3-1, I don’t feel as good about them as I do Washington.  They have a tendency to fade in the second halves of seasons, their schedule gets much more difficult down the stretch, so many starters are injured on defense, and their win over Arizona was a complete fluke.  New York probably should stand at 2-2 right now.
• On the eventual game-deciding drive, Victor Cruz dropped the ball thinking he was down though never touched, and the Cardinals picked up what should have been a fumble—after which they could have iced the game—but the referees instead called Cruz down.  Eli Manning-to-Hakeem Nicks.  Touchdown.  Game over.  Giants win.

Falcons over Seahawks

• Atlanta jumped out to a big lead, and though they allowed Seattle back in it, the Seahawks’ best effort couldn’t bring them all the way back.
• If we weren’t sure before, we now know Julio Jones is the real deal: 11 catches for 127 yards.  Good game, rook.

Packers over Broncos

• Aaron Rodgers is the first player ever to pass for 400 yards, throw 4 touchdowns, and rush for another 2 in a single contest.  Too good.

Patriots over Raiders

• Wes Welker’s 616 receiving yards through the first four games are an NFL record previously held by another Patriot, Terry Glenn, who went for 544 yards over the first four games in 1999.
• R.I.P. Al Davis, you insane old man.

Chargers over Dolphins

• After dislocating his shoulder against San Diego, Chad Henne is done for the year.  Matt Moore will be the new starter.  Granted, this is not much of an accomplishment, but of all the Carolina quarterbacks that saw time last year, Moore played the best of the bunch.

Ravens over Jets

• I knew this game was going to be trouble when I heard Nick Mangold was out.  With the league’s most disruptive defensive lineman, Haloti Ngata, lining head up on a rookie center, Mark Sanchez was going to have a long night, and he certainly did.
• On New York’s first play from scrimmage, Ed Reed flies in and gets the strip sack fumble, which Jameel McClain returned for a touchdown.  That was the theme of the night as the Raven defense took back two more Sanchez turnovers for scores as well in a game that saw five total return touchdowns, an NFL record.

Buccaneers over Colts

• Can Peyton Manning win the MVP without even playing a game?  I cannot say the Colts would be 4-0 if they had Manning, but I positively guarantee they wouldn’t be 0-4.

--from @jeuneski

Week 4 Pick-Down

Matchup	Adam's Pick	Eric's Pick
Panthers at Bears	Panthers	Bears
Bills at Bengals	Bills	Bills
Titans at Browns	Browns	Titans
Steelers at Texans	Texans	Steelers
Lions at Cowboys	Lions	Lions
Saints at Jaguars	Saints	Saints
Vikings at Chiefs	Vikings	Chiefs
49ers at Eagles	49ers	Eagles
Redskins at Rams	Redskins	Rams
Giants at Cardinals	Giants	Cardinals
Falcons at Seahawks	Falcons	Falcons
Broncos at Packers	Packers	Packers
Patriots at Raiders	Raiders	Patriots
Dolphins at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers
Jets at Ravens	Ravens	Ravens
Colts at Buccaneers	Buccaneers	Buccaneers
	Adam	Eric
Week 3 Record	12-4	10-6
Season Standings	33-15	31-17

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

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

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
I'm probably hopping on the Cam Newton bandwagon too early and too intensely, but I like him. I said he would either be great or terrible, and early indications lean towards greatness. Greg Olsen and Steve Smith are going to be tough matchups for the Chicago secondary and linebacking groups, and Carolina’s strong offensive line, combined with Newton's mobility, will make the Panthers a tough team to contain for Chicago. Since they don’t blitz that often, the Bears have to get pressure with their front four, and I think the Panthers’ line will be able to give Newton ample time to find his targets downfield. I also think this is the week DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart get on track and punish the Bears. Carolina certainly has the ability to rush the passer, and while missing Jon Beason is huge, the Bears don't run the ball anyway. I look for Jay Cutler to get pressured early and often and commit characteristic turnovers. Carolina will control the clock, and Steve Smith will hit a few big vertical plays.
Prediction: Panthers 23 – Bears 20

Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals

I'm not incredibly high on the Bills, but it's hard to knock a team for being 3-0. They might suffer an emotional letdown after beating the rival Patriots for the first time in fifteen attempts, but the Bills know they have to win every game they're supposed to to set themselves up for a postseason run. This year’s Bills are better, but they still aren't as good as the Jets or Patriots, so every game truly counts. The Bengals meanwhile have some talented, young players that showed just how inconsistent they could be in an ugly loss to the 49ers last week. Buffalo just moves the ball much better than Cincy and will be able to outscore them. I can't believe this, but the Bills move to 4-0.
Prediction: Bills 24 – Bengals 17

Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns
Two teams I'm still completely unsure of, but I will go with the Browns for a few reasons. I trust their identity and their plan more than I do the Titans’, Chris Johnson is having an awful start, and Kenny Britt is gone for the season. The Browns manufacture a win at home.
Prediction: Browns 20 – Titans 17

Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans
Both playoff-quality squads in terms of talent, this is a good test for each team. The Steelers look to prove their defense can stop an elite passing attack, and the Texans look to prove they belong among the league's elite. In the end I don't think Pittsburgh can cover the Texans’ aerial assault, and I also think Ben Roethlisberger will be under pressure all day. I like the Texans whether or not Arian Foster plays because of how well Ben Tate has been going, their prolific passing game, and their ability to bring down the opposing quarterback.
Prediction: Texans 27 – Steelers 20

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys
Miles Austin is unlikely to play in this game, and while Tony Romo played last week, cracked ribs don't feel better or heal instantly, especially when you get pounded by 300-pound lineman for a living. Dez Bryant is also less than 100% healthy, ditto for Felix Jones. All this and a very green offensive line that was in absolute shambles last week against the Redskins is a very bad sign with the Lions coming to town. Ndamukong Suh is the best defensive tackle in the league, and top pick Nick Fairley may make his debut, joining Suh and the rest of the stellar Lions front to wreak havoc on the Cowboys’ inexperienced offensive line. Dallas has tons of talent, but until it's all on the field together and the offensive line gels, the Boys are just an average team that will struggle to sustain drives and put up points. Meanwhile, the Lions have an electric offense, and Calvin Johnson will have a massive advantage over either Terrance Newman or Mike Jenkins at corner. Brandon Pettigrew is developing into a star, and Matthew Stafford has been great thus far. I like the Lions to punish Romo all day long and for Calvin Johnson to have a monster day.
Prediction: Lions 28 – Cowboys 24

New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars
Simply, the Saints are one of the most explosive teams in the league and should outscore Jacksonville even on their worst day. Drew Brees vs. Blaine Gabbert, not even close.
Prediction: Saints 28 – Jaguars 17

Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs
I don't think the Vikings are as bad as their 0-3 record indicates, while I believe the Chiefs might be even worse than their 0-3 mark. Adrian Peterson will be the principal difference maker in this game, and I look for the Vikings to finally get on the winning track against the hapless Chiefs.
Prediction: Vikings 17 – Chiefs 10

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Full disclosure, I'm going to pick the 49ers to win until they start losing games left and right and completely unravel. So yes, I'm a homer, but there is some rationale behind this homer pick. First, the Niners are 2-1 and had a 10-point fourth quarter lead in the only game they lost. They haven't been pretty, but they've been competitive in all three contests so far this year. Additionally, the Eagles are a finesse team that wants to throw the ball and rush the passer. Unfortunately for Philly their star quarterback Michael Vick is really banged up (bruised hand, coming off a concussion two weeks ago), and their offensive line is a mess. Conversely the 49ers have rushed the passer very well in their first three games and have done an excellent job of showing different looks to opposing offenses. I'm not sure the Eagles’ line can block the Niners’ front seven, and I am sure the plan will be to hit Vick early and often. LeSean McCoy is a very talented back, but the 49ers rank third in the league against the run, so he may have difficulty finding running room. On offense there is no doubt the 49ers have a ways to go, but Alex Smith hasn't turned the ball over with just one interception on the year. If San Francisco can find their running game against Philly, who ranks 30th in the league against the run, I think they have a very legitimate shot at winning this matchup. I look for more of a balanced approach between Frank Gore and rookie Kendall Hunter and for the 49ers to wear down the Eagles’ defense, throw when they need to, control the clock, and punish Vick on their way to victory.
Prediction: 49ers 21 – Eagles 20

Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford has been hit a ton so far this season playing against some furious pass rush teams like the Eagles, Giants, and Ravens. Unfortunately for Bradford that doesn't figure to change with star quarterback menace Brian Orakpo and his impressive rookie running mate Ryan Kerrigan coming into town. Steven Jackson hasn't looked right since he suffered an injured quadriceps Week 1, and I think the Rams are going to struggle to get into a rhythm offensively. Meanwhile, the Redskins offensive line has looked improved, and Rex Grossman is probably best suited to play in a dome environment. Despite Washington's relative lack of weapons on offense, I expect them to win the turnover battle, punish Bradford, and do just enough to oust the Rams on the road.
Prediction: Redskins 17 – Rams 16

New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals
To me, this game is relatively simple. The Giants have more all around talent than the Cardinals, and Arizona's main strength, the Kevin Kolb-Larry Fitzgerald connection will be disrupted by the Giants’ stellar pass rush all game long.
Prediction: Giants 24 – Cardinals 14

Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks
Seattle can be tough at home, but the Falcons just have so much more talent across the board. I think this will serve as a great game for Matt Ryan to get back on track, find his rhythm, and get rolling into the second quarter of the season.
Prediction: Falcons 27 – Seahawks 16

Denver Broncos at Green Bay Packers
This is probably the most lopsided matchup of the weekend. No way the aging Broncos secondary can keep up with all of Green Bay’s horses, and no way Kyle Orton and company can matchup with the Packers’ impressive defensive personnel.
Prediction: Packers 34 – Broncos 16

New England Patriots at Oakland Raiders
It seems ludicrous to pick the Patriots to lose two regular season games in a row, but strange things happen in the NFL, and if there is a team that embodies the formula to beat New England, it is the Oakland Raiders. They get tremendous pressure up the middle with their front four and can drop seven into coverage without having to blitz to create pressure. On offense the Raiders can really pound the ball with Darren McFadden, who's having a superb year. This is probably a dumb pick, but I think the Raiders are an all-around solid team that will give New England trouble playing in the vicious Black Hole.
Prediction: Raiders 24 – Patriots 23

Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers
There is just too much turmoil surrounding the Dolphins right now to succeed on a cross-country trip against a superior team. Philip Rivers will have his breakout game, and the Dolphins won't have enough firepower to match it.
Prediction: Chargers 31 – Dolphins 17

New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens
Two similar teams stylistically, but I just like the Ravens’ personnel more. Joe Flacco is better than Mark Sanchez, the Ravens’ receivers are at least a match for the Jets’, and Ray Rice is easily the best running back in this game. I also think the front seven of Baltimore creates a lot more pressure than New York's does. The Jets do have an excellent secondary, but that won't be enough on the road against the powerful Ravens.
Prediction: Ravens 20 – Jets 10

Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another prime-time game for the Colts, who are probably a little exhausted after their all-out effort fell short against the Steelers last week. Josh Freeman is going to have a breakout game sooner or later, and I trust him to outdo anything Kerry Collins or Curtis Painter could possibly muster. LeGarrette Blount might also be in for a big game against a soft Colts rush defense.
Prediction: Buccaneers 30 – Colts 14

Week 3 Game Notes

Bills over Patriots

Adam

• The Bills overcame an at least 18-point deficit for the second week in a row.  That certainly says something about the character of this team, but it's not completely positive that they fall behind by so much every week.  Bad starts will eventually catch up to Buffalo.
• The Bill are certainly a better team than last year, and their passing attack gives them a shot to outscore a lot of teams, but I still think we are looking at a squad that might not finish much above 8-8. 
• The Patriots were again prolific in the passing game, and for a while it looked as though they were going to roll to yet another win over the Bills.  Then Tom Brady got bitten by the interception bug, tossing as many interceptions in this game as he did all of last year.  Still, two of those picks were tipped passes.
• This game was more aberration than cause for concern in my opinion.  The Pats’ defense has to improve, but as long as Brady is healthy, New England can beat anyone.

Eric

• The Patriots had won 15-straight over their AFC East rival Bills, but by overcoming a 21-point deficit, Buffalo ended that streak and remains the last undefeated team in the AFC.
• With their comeback over Oakland a week ago, Buffalo becomes the first team to ever rally from at least 18 points down and win in consecutive weeks.
• More than Tom Brady’s “struggles”—despite 4 picks he still passed for 387 yards, threw 4 touchdowns, and set the record for most passing yards through the first three games of a season—the defense really is what’s troubling for the Patriots moving forward.  The pass rush was non-existent, which allowed weak-armed Ryan Fitzpatrick to carve up the secondary like a Christmas ham.

Panthers over Jaguars

Adam

• Cam Newton didn't throw for 400 yards, but he got the more important outcome, a win.  He seems to have the whole team behind him, a knack for making big plays, a commanding presence—a natural leader, if you will—and it seems he has a very bright future in this league.
• Week-in-week-out, Carolina will be a tough out with Newton, a potent running back combo, and a solid offensive line. 
• The Jaguars are going to be bad, maybe really bad this year, so getting Blaine Gabbert in the fold makes sense.  Get the kid some experience then work on rebuilding around him over the next few years.

Eric

• Rookie Cam Newton didn’t throw for 400 yards again, but he also didn’t turn the ball over, and in a game with monsoon conditions, the team that makes the fewest mistakes will finish on top.
• Making his first career start, the Jaguars rookie quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, wasn’t quite so lucky.  Gabbert threw an interception and also was sacked in the end zone for a safety in his first possession as a starter.

49ers over Bengals

Adam

• As opposed to years past, this year Alex Smith is not make the crushing mistake that loses close games.  He has just one interception on the year and is completing 69% of his passes.  No doubt Jim Harbaugh has the reigns pretty tight on the playbook, but with the way the 49er defense is playing (3rd against the run, 16th against the pass), if Smith can simply be economical the Niners will be in a lot of games.
• Frank Gore has to get going if this team wants to really step up and be able to play with the better teams in the league.  He's averaging less than 3 yards per carry so far this year.  Part of that blame falls on the offensive line, but part of it might also be that the surgically-rebuilt Gore is hitting the running back wall at age 28.
• Vernon Davis finally got more involved in the game plan with 8 catches for 114 yards, and Michael Crabtree looked healthy in his return to action.
• Playing alongside superstar Patrick Willis, Navorro Bowman is making a name for himself, flying around and notching 30 tackles so far this year, good for fourth in the league. 
• Aside from the first drive where Andy Dalton dismantled the Niner defense, the rookie really struggled.  He was battered and threw two picks and no touchdowns.
• Cedric Benson certainly got the ball enough, 17 carries, but was only able to muster 64 yards.
• AJ Green looks like an athletic freak out there, but the rookie is still learning the position to be sure.

Eric

• What’s the fewest amount of plays you have to make to win a game?  I think the Niners found that out on Sunday.  I loved when Adam told me he was watching the Niners-Bengals pillow fight.
• San Francisco’s record in games where Alex Smith has a turnover: 0-1.  In games he doesn’t: 2-0.  Smith did nothing spectacular against the Bengals, but more importantly he didn’t make the mistake that would cost San Francisco the game.
• Andy Dalton had a come-back-to-Earth performance (17/32 for 157 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) after looking pretty good against the Broncos last week.

Browns over Dolphins

Adam

• This is the type of game the Browns want to play: ugly, close, low scoring.  They aren't going to light up the scoreboard but they can control the ball with Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. 
• The Dolphins are a hard luck franchise right now that just don't seem to have a true identity.  Tony Sparano is a lame duck coach, Reggie Bush is a chronic underachiever, and Chad Henne has as hot a seat as almost any starting quarterback in the league.
• The defense is solid but not quite good enough to carry Miami through the season.

Eric

• Another game where neither team made many standout plays, Colt McCoy led a late Browns comeback, and Cleveland moved to 2-1 on the young season.

Lions over Vikings

Adam

• The Lions are so explosive on offense that even a 20-point deficit on the road is no big deal.
• Calvin Johnson is physically the most unguardable receiver in football.  Nobody is as tall, fluid, strong, and athletic as Megatron.
• Jahvid Best is a nice playmaker, but Detroit needs a more solid feature back.
• Still, with Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, and Matthew Stafford, the Lions will light up the scoreboard every game.
• The Vikings should be at least 2-1, and if they were we would be singing the praises of Leslie Frazier and the savvy signing of Donovan McNabb.  Instead they've blown consecutive huge leads at home, and now the murmurs for Cristian Ponder have begun.
• Minnesota needs to figure out a direction fast or they will waste the prime years of one of the league's true superstars, Adrian Peterson.

Eric

• With the 26-23 overtime victory, the Lions ended their 13-game Metrodome losing streak by beating the Vikings on their home turf.
• Calvin Johnson continues his monster start and becomes the first NFL player ever with at least two receiving touchdowns in each of his team’s first three games.
• Tight end Brandon Pettigrew had a strong performance, catching 11 balls for 112 yards.  When the running game wasn’t going, short passes to Pettigrew kept Lion drives moving.
• Free agent Stephen Tulloch has been a great addition to the middle of the Lion defense.
• In all three games this season, the Vikings have had double digit leads going into halftime.  The Vikings have lost all three games.
• The blame up in Vikings country seems directed towards the offense and 34-year-old quarterback Donovan McNabb.  What really falls off from half to half though is Minnesota’s defensive pressure.  Kevin Williams looked fast in his first return to action, Jared Allen blew up Jeff Backus a few times, and even Brian Robison was getting pressure.  In the second halves of all three of Minnesota’s games so far, that unit completely disappears.

Saints over Texans

Adam

• We expected nothing less than a shootout in this game, and weren't disappointed one bit.  The lowest point total the Saints have tallied this year was last week against Chicago when they racked up a mere 30 points.
• Drew Brees is back in top form after a bit of an off year last season, but New Orleans needs to use their massive offensive line and running back duo of Pierre Thomas/Mark Ingram a little bit more. 
• The Texans hung right in this game and led for much of the way, but allowing 23 points in the fourth quarter just is not acceptable, exactly the kinds of mistakes the Texans have made in years past.
• Even if they have a gift-wrapped division this year, Houston must be more solid in closing down games.
• Ben Tate looks like a stud, and when Arian Foster gets back and healthy, Houston may have the best running back duo in the league by a long shot.

Eric

• This was a fun one—unless you like defense—that featured 37 total points scored in the fourth quarter and multiple fourth quarter lead changes.
• Both teams had very similar statistical days.  Drew Brees and Matt Schaub each threw for 370 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The Texans netted 109 yards rushing, the Saints 100.  The difference though was Houston’s four red zone drives that ended in field goals rather than touchdowns.

Giants over Eagles

Adam

• Eli Manning finally had a game with no interceptions and seemed to get rid of the ball a little quicker than usual.
• Ahmad Bradshaw is a really good all around back, and while the Giants have no superstars on offense, Manning, Bradshaw, Hakeem Nicks and a solid offensive line makes for a team that should consistently put up points.
• Michael Vick is always going to struggle staying healthy, especially if he continues to run so much and his offensive line doesn't improve.
• The whole Eagles team seems to be built to play in a dome environment.  Vick, LeSean McCoy, Desean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin are all small players that rely on speed and are susceptible to injury.  I don't know how this offense will fair with injuries and in sloppy, cold conditions as the season progresses.
• Even the Philly defense is built to play fast and with a lead.  They have great corners and pass rushers but can be beat up in the trenches.

Eric

• This marks the second game in a row that Michael Vick started but didn’t finish.  Non-coincidentally, Philadelphia has lost both games.
• Rookie Casey Matthews has no business as a starting NFL middle linebacker.  Perhaps with all the offseason moves the Eagles should have bolstered their linebacking corps.  Watch Matthews get burned down the sideline by Brandon Jacobs, of all people.

Titans over Broncos

Adam

• Kenny Britt tore his ACL, and to me that dashes any playoff hopes the Titans may have had.  By far their best weapon on the outside, Britt's absence puts too much pressure on Matt Hasselbeck to carry the team.
• Averaging just 2.1 yards per carry, Chris Johnson has to pick it up for this team to have a respectable season. 
• Flatout, the Broncos are not very good.  At his best Kyle Orton has been really average, and there isn't much to Denver's skill positions.
• Denver is also extremely old in the secondary, and Elvis Dumervil has to get healthy to complement super rookie Von Miller.

Eric

• Tennessee’s leading rusher was their punter who had one carry for 21 yards.  Chris Johnson, show me why you got paid.
• A stagnant running game meant Matt Hasselbeck had to play well, and he did.  Hasselbeck went over 300 passing yards for the second-straight week.
• The Titans lost Kenny Britt in this contest for the season, and also, news broke today that former Titan offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger died Friday night due to cancer.  He was 58.

Raiders over Jets

Adam

• Are we looking at a different Raiders team than we've seen in years past?  Maybe, but I know it's still very early.  They did take a step forward last year going 8-8 and they appear to be building on that success despite the significant offseason losses of Nhamdi Asoumgha, Zach Miller, and Robert Gallery.
• Darren McFadden has become an absolute beast.  After a breakout season last year, Run DMC already has 393 yards this season and averages 6.4 yards per carry.  Adrian Peterson might be the only back that physically rivals McFadden.
• Jason Campbell has been very solid this year with just one pick and a 94 passer rating.
• Since Mark Sanchez is so up and down, and the running game has been really inconsistent, if somebody scores 25 points against the Jets, they're probably going to beat them.
• I also think the defense in New York is overrated and that the special teams have lost an edge with Brad Smith’s departure.
• New York is still better than most teams, but I think they are closer to the middle of the pack than most pundits care to admit.

Eric

• Raiders runner Darren McFadden gashed the typically stout Jets defense all day, going for 171 yards on 19 carries and scoring 2 touchdowns.

Chargers over Chiefs

Adam

• Philip Rivers has not been the prolific stat machine we are so used to, but winning in September is also something we don’t expect from the Chargers.  Rivers will get on track; he's simply better than his 82 passer rating suggests.
• What I really like is the emergence of second year back Ryan Mathews, who has looked strong so far this year.  Mathews carried 21 times for 98 yards in this game and also has 18 catches already this year.  A true feature back could really give this offense the balance it will need in the latter months of the season.
• Antonio Gates needs to get healthy because when he does, Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Mathews, and Gates might be as good an offensive group as exists in the league. 
• The Chiefs at least competed in this game, but without the threat of explosion from Jamaal Charles, the offense just has to work too hard to sustain drives and manufacture points.
• It's going to be a really long season in Kansas City.

Eric

• San Diego let Kansas City hang around an awfully long time, but a late Eric Weddle interception of Matt Cassel sealed the deal for the Chargers.

Ravens over Rams

Adam

• In the Ravens’ two wins this year they've outscored opponents 72-14.  Between those two blowouts they lost to the Titans.  Kind of hard to figure, but the Ravens look powerful when they're clicking on all cylinders.
• Rookie speedster Torrey Smith had a huge, breakout game going over 150 yards receiving with 3 scores, just the type of deep threat this offense has always needed.  He should really complement fellow burner Lee Evans in clearing out the middle for Ray Rice, Anquan Boldin, Ed Dickson, and Dennis Pitta.
• This is the most complete Ravens team I've ever seen, but it still all hinges on the consistency of Joe Flacco. 
• The Rams have had a tough opening schedule with games against the Eagles, Giants, and Ravens.  Fortunately the Rams, despite being 0-3, play in a division where getting to 8 wins might be good enough to reach the playoffs.
• Sam Bradford has been under duress a lot this year.

Eric

• Baltimore’s Torrey Smith is the first rookie to ever catch 3 touchdown passes in a first quarter.
• In a 37-7 rout, even big ol’ Haloti Ngata got in on the scoring.
• Sam Bradford had 3 first half passing yards.  3.  Count ‘em: 1, 2, 3.

Seahawks over Cardinals

Adam

• I thought it was possible Seattle wouldn't win a game this year, but I guess that was silly considering the division they play in.  This game was a race to 13 points.  Seattle got there first. 
• The Cardinals just don't have much talent outside of Larry Fitzgerald and Kevin Kolb, who did not play very well this week.

Eric

• Sidney Rice did not disappoint in his Seahawk debut, catching 8 passes for 109 yards.

Packers over Bears

Adam

• The Packers pretty much man handled the inferior Bears, but somehow Chicago always makes these games closer than they should be.
• Aaron Rodgers actually threw an interception; the sky is falling!
• Ryan Grant looks to have regained the explosion that he had prior to injury last season, and that's a scary prospect for defenses.
• Even scarier is Jermichael Finley adding to the seemingly endless array of weapons at Rodgers' disposal.  On the season Finley has 15 grabs for 206 yards and 3 touchdowns.
• I never thought I'd see a more athletic tight end than Vernon Davis, but Finley might be that guy.  Finley is the more fluid route runner, a more sudden athlete, and goes up better for jump balls.  Davis might have more pure straight-line speed, but I think Finley is the better overall athlete.
• Top-5 wideout Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Finley, Grant, rookie Randall Cobb, veteran Donald Driver, James Jones, and James Starks compose the deepest and most frightening collection of skill players in the league.
• Good, young offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga dodged a bullet when he sprained his knee but didn't do more serious damage. 
• The Bears ran the ball just twelve times, which includes three Jay Cutler scrambles.
• Cutler isn't good enough, the receivers aren't good enough, and the offensive line isn't good enough for the Bears to continually throw the ball 40 times per game.  If that trend continues, Cutler will continue to throw 2-3 picks and get sacked at least 3 times every game.  That simply isn't sustainable, especially for a Bears team that should control the clock and win games with their solid defense.

Eric

• Making up for injury has been the Packers’ M.O., but losing safety Nick Collins for the year to a neck injury sustained Week 2 really hurts.  The secondary has not gotten off to a great start any way, but now down one of their key components, Green Bay must reach down the depth chart once again and find some magic.
• The added dimension of Jermichael Finley, who broke out in this game with 3 touchdown catches, makes the Green Bay offense more dangerous than it was a year ago when it tore through the playoffs all the way to a championship.

Buccaneers over Falcons

Adam

• The Bucs haven't been particularly pretty the past two weeks, but the end result is all that matters in the NFL.  A road win in Minnesota followed by a 3-point victory over the rival Falcons have the Buccos right where they want to be, 2-1, tied atop the NFC South. 
• Matt Ryan simply has to be better.  It's time for him to take the step from a merely good player to one that can carry a team on his shoulders.  I don't know if he's capable of taking that step, but with the talent surrounding him, he has every chance.

Eric

• Atlanta has not protected Matt Ryan well at all.  He got beat up against the Eagles last week and here again versus the Buccaneers.
• Tampa Bay completely stoned Michael Turner, and that’s the number one way to beat the run-heavy Falcons.

Steelers over Colts

Adam

• The Steelers have not been particularly impressive this year, especially on offense, but you can't argue too much with a 2-1 record, even if those wins came against Seattle and the now hapless Colts.  Still, Pittsburgh doesn't look like the team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl last year.
• The Colts nearly took this game on the strength of their defensive ends, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, but just didn't have enough juice to finish the game.

Eric

• Curtis Painter.

Cowboys over Redskins

Adam

• The Redskins looked like the better team all game long.
• LaRon Landry, Brian Orakpo, and Ryan Kerrigan, who I gave no credit to when they drafted him, are big-time studs.  Landry might be the most explosive hitter in the league, and Orakpo/Kerrigan look like one of the best bookend pass rushing tandems anywhere.
• Rex Grossman has been solid, though physically he always looks like he doesn't belong in the game.  The Redskins need more weapons on the outside and a little more punch in the running game to support Grossman.
• Second-year tackle Trent Williams is a beast as well.  His battle with DeMarcus Ware was great television. 
• The Cowboys did everything wrong in this game and still won.  It's hard to fathom what the locker room was like after this game.  It honestly felt like the Cowboys lost with the litany of mistakes they made.
• Dallas’ young center, Phil Costa, had perhaps the worst performance I've ever seen a player at that position have.  He snapped the ball at the wrong time at least four times.  When he did get it right he snapped the ball over Romo's head three times and twice at his feet.  Romo even called Costa out at the end of the game.
• On top of that, many of the Boys' young wideouts had no idea where to line up, and Romo had to direct them once they broke the huddle.
• How Dallas moved the ball at all is a testament to Romo.
• Six field goals won’t be good enough most nights, and Dallas has a ton to work on.

Eric

• The vaunted Dallas offense scored a grand total of 0 touchdowns but still got the win.  Rookie Dan Bailey kicked six field goals and the Cowboys won 18-16.

--from @AdamHocking and @jeuneski