Matt Ryan is starting to look very much like a solid choice in Atlanta. I'm not picking the Falcons for the postseason, but it is amazing to see how draft day "busts" like Roddy White suddenly become legitimate NFL playmakers when they have a QB to throw to them. How many times have I said; receivers make QB's, but QB's also make receivers.

I hope that VY is learning from what happened and will continue to happen in TN while he soothes his sore knee and ego. Here's what I know about Young, he's a phenomenal talent who hasn't dealt with failure up to now. Here's what I think I know about him. He's a very bright, probably oversensitive guy. But there's no one I'm pulling for more to develop the thick skin needed to play QB in the NFL. My intuition is that he's a good guy, and TN will need him, maybe before the season is over.

Talk about your benchings. Add one journeyman scrub and the Vikings look awesome. Sure it took them a half, but they took one from a Panthers team we'll probably see in January.

Is Joe Flacco the Big Ben of 2008? No, because the 2008 Ravens are not the 2004 Steelers. Here's what I like about Flacco though; he appears to have the short memory that QB's need.

I'm not so sure Big Ben is the Big Ben of 2008 either. The Eagles finally exposed what I've been lamenting since preseason, that the Steelers don't pass block. But B-Ro seems to have regressed to a place I haven't seen since his post accident, appendicitis, year. He's holding the ball forever and is easily confused and flustered in the pocket. His footwork and pocket movement is atrocious. It's not just game 3 I'm talking about. It's been getting progressively worse since the second half of last season. Sorry Ben, I'd have put Leftwich in to start the 2nd Quarter. All that money they gave him, and his game is the worst it's been since his rookie year.  Sometimes the game comes so easy, it seems to slow down. Sometimes the QB just slows down, then the game gets much harder.

Dallas is good. TO is playing like a man possessed. Watching him run that DB up after getting shellacked was something I never imagined seeing. Dallas is the best team in the NFL right now. They mentally beat the Packers last night. That said, there's no week 3 trophy, so the bad news is that the Boys have 13 games to go. Let's see how they look after week 10.

Denver looks incredible too. Jay Cutler is having the year that Mike Shanahan predicted. Oh wait; they're a blown call and two missed Figs from 1-2. Oh wait; the defense can't stop from peeing their pants much less stop an opponent from scoring. Oh wait . . .you get the point. If the Broncs don't remember to play D by week 6 , this is a 9-7 team.

That would be fine for SD, a super talented squad that Norv Turner is hell bent on driving straight to mediocrity. A lot of folks rushed to praise Norv for taking the Bolts to the AFCC last year. I guess none of the watched Norv Coach the Chargers out of the SB on a day when the unbeaten Pats were eminently beatable. Norv is the Raid of coaches, he kills teams dead. You also have to wonder if LT 2 (Lawrence Taylor is the only LT) has much left in his tank, and if Lights Off for Lights Out will make this year's D a shell of last year's D.

Here's the improbable stat of the week, Brian Griese threw 67, not 6 or 7, times and won. Griese hasn't tossed that many since he was last seen partying in Denver. Who knows what the season holds for TB, and Bob's prodigal son. If anyone can rescue the career of a veteran backup, it's John Gruden. Just ask Rich Gannon.

I'm not the only one who smelled what the Tuna was cookin' this weekend in NE. (two, count 'em two, pop culture references there!) I love Tony Sparano pulling a reverse Vick putting his QB at RB (instead of a RB at QB). But seriously folks; NE was sooooooo overdue for a beat down that even Joey Porter could run his mouth and back it up. Times won't get easier for NE. A defense that played from ahead all of last season will not have that luxury this year. An offense with the game's best QB now has maybeth best QB.  That's if you count Tarvaris Jackson, Belichick's ego, particularly his insane decision to go with Cassel and not seek help, will finally undo this unit. the 30

Guess what KC did last week, they tried to trade for Brady Quinn. So three games into 2008, the Chefs suddenly believe they need a QB? What about 2007? If the Chiefs played the Rams could we arrest the NFL for staging a fake game?

Yeah, the Rams . . . . . I finally have to ask this question. Who interviewed Scott Linehan for the job? I can't believe someone hired this guy. Maybe the Wal Mart in St. Louis was closing and Linehan was the last coach left on the shelf. That's the only explanation that comes to mind. Wouldn't it be better if Scotty came out after each game and just uttered gibberish. I can hear it now: Q: "what happened with the pass protection" A: "Blagoo". Q: How about Steven Jackson, is he getting in game shape? A: Tibble tibble schmagiggy, zork. Then the white coats cart Linehan away.

Last but never least, I read today that the Saints lost Jeremy Shockey. Well, at least we know which NFC team is going to the SB.