I'm pretty sure that few (if anyone) saw that road teams would do well early in Week 6. It was kind of incredible. Then the late games started and the road teams became losers. I can't tell if there's a trend to be drawn from that, but Dallas and San Diego had little trouble at home (this despite the fact that Indy is supposedly a much better team than the Chargers).
Baltimore and Tennessee leave the Rankings again with losses. I'm getting tired of all the mucking about in the bottom half; it seems like nobody besides the top five has any sort of consistency. Maybe the teams that are down there now will change that perception, who knows?
Despite San Diego's win, I still don't take them seriously. They have noted arm-punter Philip Rivers at QB, who is lacking in consistency and doesn't have weapons to throw to.
I continue to sell anything out of Ohio. Yes, the Bengals technically have a better record than the Packers, but Green Bay has a far better QB (even if he only shows it two or three times a game).
Week 7 should be fun, even though the matchups leave something to be desired. Personally, I think it won't be out of the realm of possibility to have all ten teams stay where they are. Then again, if Denver loses, the whole thing goes to pot.
Here are the Rankings for Week 6:
Baltimore and Tennessee leave the Rankings again with losses. I'm getting tired of all the mucking about in the bottom half; it seems like nobody besides the top five has any sort of consistency. Maybe the teams that are down there now will change that perception, who knows?
Despite San Diego's win, I still don't take them seriously. They have noted arm-punter Philip Rivers at QB, who is lacking in consistency and doesn't have weapons to throw to.
I continue to sell anything out of Ohio. Yes, the Bengals technically have a better record than the Packers, but Green Bay has a far better QB (even if he only shows it two or three times a game).
Week 7 should be fun, even though the matchups leave something to be desired. Personally, I think it won't be out of the realm of possibility to have all ten teams stay where they are. Then again, if Denver loses, the whole thing goes to pot.
Here are the Rankings for Week 6:
1.) Denver (6-0) [no change]
People want to say that Denver was "exposed" or some such against Jacksonville. Maybe. My concern is that Manning refused to throw it in the red zone, and there seemed to be no valid explanation for it. Not only that, but no one has touched on it. Going back to Indy for the first time will be tough and that was probably weighing on everyone this week. Still, I expect a sublime performance, because that's what Peyton has done in five out of six weeks to start the season.
People want to say that Denver was "exposed" or some such against Jacksonville. Maybe. My concern is that Manning refused to throw it in the red zone, and there seemed to be no valid explanation for it. Not only that, but no one has touched on it. Going back to Indy for the first time will be tough and that was probably weighing on everyone this week. Still, I expect a sublime performance, because that's what Peyton has done in five out of six weeks to start the season.
2.) Kansas City (6-0) [+1]
It's funny that the Chiefs and Broncos are in the same division and are 6-0. People will point out just how different they are. It's true, KC has a more defensively-oriented team. That unit is tough as nails and brings down QB's with impunity. It's a good thing, as I tire of the argument that defense has been "legislated out of the league". When player safety demands adjustment, it's obvious that some teams are going to accomplish it quicker than others. KC is one of those that has adjusted on the fly. Combine that with a fairly weak schedule through six weeks, and you have what you see here.
It's funny that the Chiefs and Broncos are in the same division and are 6-0. People will point out just how different they are. It's true, KC has a more defensively-oriented team. That unit is tough as nails and brings down QB's with impunity. It's a good thing, as I tire of the argument that defense has been "legislated out of the league". When player safety demands adjustment, it's obvious that some teams are going to accomplish it quicker than others. KC is one of those that has adjusted on the fly. Combine that with a fairly weak schedule through six weeks, and you have what you see here.
3.) New England (5-1) [+2]
Brilliant play at the end, but I can't help but give the Saints a couple of assists on it. Few other QB's make that throw, though, so I don't want to look like I'm insulting Brady by saying it was a gimme or some such. Far from it. It was a tough throw and a tougher catch to make for Kenbrell Thompkins, but he made it and the Pats are back to winning. Really, they should be the third 6-0 team, but that unfortunate attempt in Cincy derailed that dream. Ah, well. Onward and upward, to beat the Jets again.
Brilliant play at the end, but I can't help but give the Saints a couple of assists on it. Few other QB's make that throw, though, so I don't want to look like I'm insulting Brady by saying it was a gimme or some such. Far from it. It was a tough throw and a tougher catch to make for Kenbrell Thompkins, but he made it and the Pats are back to winning. Really, they should be the third 6-0 team, but that unfortunate attempt in Cincy derailed that dream. Ah, well. Onward and upward, to beat the Jets again.
4.) Seattle (5-1) [+2]
Not exactly the dominant performance we were expecting. Seattle was just barely good enough to beat Tennessee, no thanks to some appalling gaffes on special teams. I'm not sure if Wilson is failing his receivers or if they're failing him. I'm betting on the latter, but if Wilson continues to play unimpressively (and has to run for his life for the majority of games), eventually the tide will turn.
Not exactly the dominant performance we were expecting. Seattle was just barely good enough to beat Tennessee, no thanks to some appalling gaffes on special teams. I'm not sure if Wilson is failing his receivers or if they're failing him. I'm betting on the latter, but if Wilson continues to play unimpressively (and has to run for his life for the majority of games), eventually the tide will turn.
5.) New Orleans (5-1) [-3]
Was that a bad loss? No, not really. But if Jimmy Graham is out for any length of time, it could get worse. Then again, when a team has as many weapons as New Orleans has, losing one guy shouldn't make a huge difference. Right? Okay, maybe not. The defense will get a large part of the blame for the loss and it's deserved. You don't rush three guys on Tom Brady and expect good things to happen. It's that simple. But the offense deserves its share of blame too, as they couldn't get a crucial first down. How does that happen? It's not from losing Jimmy Graham. As I mentioned before, they've got a bevy of weapons and losing one guy shouldn't have crippled them in the way that it appeared.
Was that a bad loss? No, not really. But if Jimmy Graham is out for any length of time, it could get worse. Then again, when a team has as many weapons as New Orleans has, losing one guy shouldn't make a huge difference. Right? Okay, maybe not. The defense will get a large part of the blame for the loss and it's deserved. You don't rush three guys on Tom Brady and expect good things to happen. It's that simple. But the offense deserves its share of blame too, as they couldn't get a crucial first down. How does that happen? It's not from losing Jimmy Graham. As I mentioned before, they've got a bevy of weapons and losing one guy shouldn't have crippled them in the way that it appeared.
6.) San Francisco (4-2) [+1]
Kaepernick continues to look less-than-impressive, but the 49ers have won three in a row. The 49ers' 1950 offense is infuriating. Their defense is quite good, though.
Kaepernick continues to look less-than-impressive, but the 49ers have won three in a row. The 49ers' 1950 offense is infuriating. Their defense is quite good, though.
7.) Detroit (4-2) [+2]
Beating Cleveland probably isn't a great accomplishment, though other teams that should have beaten them handily couldn't. I guess that's the difference between having Calvin Johnson and not. They had nothing on Green Bay last week. As long as Reggie Bush is healthy and the receivers are doing their part, Detroit is tough to stop entirely. But if any of those pieces go down, they're in trouble.
Beating Cleveland probably isn't a great accomplishment, though other teams that should have beaten them handily couldn't. I guess that's the difference between having Calvin Johnson and not. They had nothing on Green Bay last week. As long as Reggie Bush is healthy and the receivers are doing their part, Detroit is tough to stop entirely. But if any of those pieces go down, they're in trouble.
8.) Indianapolis (4-2) [-4]
Is there any word besides "inexcusable" to characterize that loss? Not to me. Now they get Denver at home and don't look like the team that beat SF and Seattle in consecutive weeks.
Is there any word besides "inexcusable" to characterize that loss? Not to me. Now they get Denver at home and don't look like the team that beat SF and Seattle in consecutive weeks.
9.) Chicago (4-2) [-]
Back on the Cutler rollercoaster, at least for a week. Even he should have no trouble facing a defense that can't stop anybody.
Back on the Cutler rollercoaster, at least for a week. Even he should have no trouble facing a defense that can't stop anybody.
10.) Green Bay (3-2) [-]
Rodgers might only show up a couple times a game, but man, those couple of plays can be utterly spectacular. By the way, Baltimore, how did Jordy Nelson get that wide open? Pathetic. I'm not sure how they'll fare down two receivers, especially with Rodgers playing mostly bad as opposed to last season when he was only partially bad. They might have to lean on the running game more and I'm not sure they have the personnel at RB to do it.
Rodgers might only show up a couple times a game, but man, those couple of plays can be utterly spectacular. By the way, Baltimore, how did Jordy Nelson get that wide open? Pathetic. I'm not sure how they'll fare down two receivers, especially with Rodgers playing mostly bad as opposed to last season when he was only partially bad. They might have to lean on the running game more and I'm not sure they have the personnel at RB to do it.
Three Games to Watch (Week 7):
San Francisco @ Tennessee (FOX)
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (CBS)
Denver @ Indianapolis (NBC)
San Francisco @ Tennessee (FOX)
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (CBS)
Denver @ Indianapolis (NBC)
That's all for this week. See you in two weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment