Would there be an outcry about the way he was treated by the Packer organization? Would football fans, who know nothing about him as an actual person, give him the benefit of the doubt time and time again, as he makes himself look more and more like a jack-####? Would he be just another "overpaid NFL crybaby"?

When Terrell Owens breaks out the tears to defend his quarterback Tony Romo, saying that it was not fair for the media to pin the playoff loss on Tony Romo alone, a good deal of people laughed at him and called his manhood into question. Brett Favre whines and makes emotional statements regarding the Packers organization and their unfair treatment of him, and people are undeniably more inclined to put themselves in the shoes of Brett Favre. Where do we get off doing that?

Let's review. Brett Favre retired, breaking down into tears. I thought the amount of time put in was a bit excessive, and all in all, a bit overdone. But he's a legend, right? Fine, give him his due. But he should have been comfortable retiring, no? If he wasn't, he could have came back and if the Packers organization was truly as malicious as they are made out to be, they would have gotten full value for Brett when he did come out of retirement. For the first time. He came back, and he was made the starter. He retired again. He comes back, and the Packers don't want to start him. And from the business end of things, why should they be forced to deal him to an NFC team? Because he's Brett Favre? Outside of individual accomplishments, Favre has only brought to fruition one Lombardi trophy for Green Bay, over a decade ago.

To say that Favre somehow deserves a starting spot on the Packers' roster because of his name is to put him in significantly higher regard than say, the likes of Joe Montana. In a league of business, it was decided that Aaron Rodgers stood a better chance of bringing them a Super Bowl trophy over the next few years than Favre did this year. Sure, Rodgers hasn't won a big game yet, but when was the last time Favre stepped up and performed on a big stage? After 2 years ('05 and '06) in which he threw more picks than touchdowns, he plays awfully in the two most critical games of '07, against Dallas and the New York Giants, and is completely outplayed by all quarterbacks taking the field (Romo, Rodgers, and Manning).

Favre said the Packers didn't care about his legacy, and that's not necessarily true. They didn't want Favre extending his legacy on the team of a division opponent, by beating the Packers. How 20 million dollars to retire could ever be considered an insult is absolutely beyond me, and it's a shame that oh so many refuse to acknowledge the selfish undertone in all of this: Brett Favre wants to prove that he was Green Bay, that he built the Packers, and that he could destroy the Packers. The recent talk about Brett Favre giving plays/signals to the Lions only stands to solidify this theory, as Favre wants the Packers to be nothing without him, while he's still around.

Chad Johnson, a player who has never had legal trouble and whose antics are comparably entertaining to those of Muhammad Ali, did everything he could to get a trade out of Cincinatti. He whined. He complained. We, the fans, didn't like it. However, all things considered, the Bengals organization has proven to be a fairly poor one, and Johnson was one of the few on the team that didn't have a history of run-ins with the law. Apparently, the guy wants to win something before his years run out and knows his chances are slim with the Bengals.

What is he in the eyes of your typical fan though? A whining, overpaid crybaby, right? We afford Brett Favre the benefit of the doubt because we all know him so well, and we know that he is this wholesome guy that simply loves the game of football and nothing more. And we know this as well as we know that Chad Johnson is a self-motivated crybaby that simply craves attention, and he just complains until he gets his way. That's garbage. A man can know another individual for the majority of his life and one day find that he didn't know him at all. So, if your average Joe doesn't know Favre or Johnson, how does Favre so overwhelmingly get the benefit of the doubt when cast in a negative light?

How about Donovan McNabb, who led his team to four NFC championship games in 6 years, the same feat that took Brett Favre, the NFL's King Clutch, all of 17 years? Every year lies the question of whether Donovan McNabb is the right guy in Philly, even though he's the least intercepted quarterback per pass attempt in the history of the game, as it currently stands. Brett Favre holds the record for most interceptions. Why is it an outcry that Brett Favre got the ax after 16 years if  a quarterback like Donovan McNabb's head could possibly be on the chopping block in the eyes of fans, seemingly year in and year out?

Granted, the mind-boggling case that presents itself when talking about Brett Favre is more than likely due to his super-human status than the color of his skin, but it's still an interesting theory to entertain, as racial prejudice is still a widespread problem in this country. But this situation is just so crazy that only extreme suggestions can be offered to rationalize it.  Favre has achieved this nearly untouchable, above everyone and everything type status, and the guy doesn't even have class. For Brett Favre to think that Brett Favre has achieved a status that Joe Montana couldn't (Steve Young was named the starting quarterback over him), in having his "legacy" override the fact that the National Football League is in fact a business, suggests that he is above the game. Conspiracy unfolded on Brett. Alas, the Packers would deal him competitively, and much to the chagrin of the media and many fans, that would mean he would not face his former team twice a year, or even at all. 

While talking quarterbacks, let's compare Favre to the guy he replaced. Just weeks before the season starts, former Jets' quarterback and all-time NFL leader in completion percentage is released just weeks before the season began, to make way for good ol' Brett. What's lost in translation here is that the year the Jets finally decide to get some blocking on the offensive line, they throw Pennington, a good quarterback whose career has taken hits, completely under the bus. Pennington's career has largely been stalled out due to the injuries suffered. That's fine though, and that can be overlooked, because Brett Favre loves to play football, and now he's got a chance. Hey, let's cover that story instead. No malicious words from Chad Pennington, by the way. No conspiracy theories.

Eli Manning won more playoff games last season than Favre has in 10 years.  If he posted a sub-par season this year, he'd be Rex Grossman, and a far cry from the likes of Brett Favre. Did I mention that he has 3 playoff wins in the last 10 years? Gee, that's exactly the amount that Rex Grossman had. In fact, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning, in 8 seasons combined, have combined for 9 playoff victories, which is three times what Favre has had in the last 10. And they have two Super Bowl rings between them. And this is the Brett Favre that Green Bay needed?

It's comical, in a sick and twisted way, the idea that Brett Favre is the greatest thing to ever happen to football. You would think that anyway, with the way he's portrayed in the media, and everything he does requires extensive media coverage. And if somebody dare report that he's made a fool of himself, then that individual is looked upon in a negative light, and Brett Favre is always innocent until proven guilty in a high-profile sport in which many other players are treated in opposite fashion.

He's not even the greatest quarterback in Packers' history. That honor belongs to Bart Starr. That's why I've ranted on this long. I'm sick and tired of Brett Favre. He's a Hall of Fame quarterback, for sure, and he's still overrated, recent issues not factoring in to that equation. That's not a knock on Favre's ability, but a knock on the media for portraying him as far greater a player than he actually is, and that's an incredible feat to pull off. And if he retires amidst the playoffs this year (assuming the Jets do not make it), it's going to be sickening that actual playoff games are going to be bogged down by Brett Favre talk. That's not his fault. But if he turns out to be a loser as a person on top of all that (which he's looking like more and more of one the longer he stays in the league)? Well, that's just awful.

The Patriots, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Packers were the class of football in '07. Heading into the '08, we have watched each of these teams struggle, and none of them have lived up to expectations. The one team excluded from that list, the New York Giants, has finally joined them with a downright awful performance in Cleveland against the previously 1-3 Browns.

I understand that these first couple of months of the season, I may have seemed very much like a homer. I can't blame myself, as the Giants gave me nothing to pessimistic about. They have played good football, and while they hadn't proved much, they were still winning the games on their schedule with some emphasis. Does their loss to Cleveland expose them for what they really are? No, especially with the parity we've seen in the NFL this season. Is it excusable? Absolutely not.

I was shocked by the Giants' performance on both sides of the ball, and the coaching was abysmal. Here's my breakdown:

Coaching: I have to start with the coaching here. It all started here, and on both sides of the ball, was incredibly lacking.

Offense: Kevin Gilbride has been calling the games fairly good so far this season. What he was thinking on Monday, I have no idea. He got away from the running game almost entirely at times, and that was one of the fatal flaws in the Giants' gameplan. At the root of it all, you need to get that running game working. It was working well, and while the Giants were moving the ball through the air, the running game was looking just as good as it had in previous weeks.

You have a defense that isn't getting many stops. You're quarterback has thrown one pick, two picks, now three picks (though the third is irrelevant to this argument), so you're defense is going to be tired. The running game hadn't slowed down, and yet, Gilbride called 29 passes to 24 running plays. Why? There's just no reason for it, especially considering you still have NO. 44 on the bench in the event the running game does stall a little.

And I'm not done. Yes, Eli threw a pick 6 to give the Browns a three score lead. But with a chance to cut that lead to two scores and leave a good 6 minutes on the clock, why is the offense going back to a huddle in the redzone? If you're throwing the game away, or if Eli is hurt and you don't want to take chances, throw Carr in there and let him work. It's just absolutely bogus to think that your team doesn't have to play a full 60 minutes every game. Perhaps that was Coughlin's call, but regardless, just completely ridiculous.

Defense: Since he has come to New York, I have been impressed by Steve Spagnuolo's ability to make adjustments and adapt his gameplan to counter the opposing offense throughout the game. Against Cleveland, I didn't see a whole lot. The Browns had Spagnuolo's blitz packages schemed to near perfection, and he didn't try to throw a whole lot else into the mix. To not generate pressure with five or six guys is no good. Why not try rushing three/four and getting more aggressive in the coverage schemes? It just seems something else could've been done.

Offense:

Eli Manning: Just some poor decision-making at times on his part, and again, three interceptions puts an incredible amount pressure on a defense. The Giants needed to keep the Browns defense on the field and wear them down. They didn't do that, and Eli Manning was a large part of that. Has Eli returned to his old self? No, that notion is ridiculous. But he still can't be excused for a performance like that.

O-line: Hyped as one of the best in the league, the Giant offensive line let Eli get smacked around all day, and this is a Browns' D that isn't very good up front. The run-blocking was good, but the Giants got beaten up in the trenches on passing downs.

Plaxico Burress: There were times when it seemed Eli and Plax weren't on the same page. Namely, one pick Eli threw that easily could've been a Burress TD grab. Burress broke inside, and Eli put it outside. Who's at fault? Nobody can really tell, but I'm not giving the benefit of the doubt to Burress, who was coming off of a two week suspension.


Defense:

I'm going to keep this relatively brief, but I think my first thought will sum it up adequately enough, in saying that this is the first time in the season that I have truly missed Osi Umenyiora. The Giants' defense got beat in the trenches, they didn't generate pressure, and their secondary broke down too many times. What else can I say? Yes, the offense didn't help them out, but they looked very poor throughout.


Outlook:

Are the Giants a soft 4-1? No, not at all. Similar to the Washington Redskins, I think they just got a little cocky. The NFC East as a whole has been cocky, and the rest of NFL has brought each of our teams back down to Earth. I hope this loss to the Browns was a good kick in the #### for my Giants.

The big upset everybody seems to be looking for is Arizona over the Dallas Cowboys. I wouldn't quite call that one just yet. I have a couple of other upset specials in the mix though. With weeks 1-5 failing to disappoint, I'm feeling week 6 will be just as exciting. Let's have at it then.


CHI @ ATL: Atlanta is young and exciting, but Chicago plays power football. Da Bears, by two scores. Winner: Chicago

MIA @ HOU: This is something of a trap-game for Miami, and as StreetCred has said, the Phins are very vulnerable to taking a step back here. But a Parcells’ team has an advantage in this situation, and the Dolphins will be coming out on top. The Texans simply are not smart with the football, turning it over much too often. Winner: Miami

BAL @ IND: The Baltimore Ravens’ defense has put up great stats, but they have yet to play a premiere offense. Indy’s defense has been nothing to speak of, and as a team, Indy’s been outscored by 11 points so far this year. Still, with Indianapolis, it is going to be a constant progression as they get guys back and Peyton Manning returns to form. Winner: Indianapolis

DET @ MIN: Detroit is hapless, helpless, and however else you could describe this miserable team. They’ve fallen pretty hard since posting a 6-2 mark at the ’07 season’s midway point. Hopefully the fans will have something to root for in a couple years. Winner: Minnesota

OAK @ NO: Why does this game have some serious upset potential? Well, when you have a Saints team that gives the opposing team opportunities via turnovers, losing to a hungry Raiders team that has been pretty sure with the football in relying heavily on a power running game, certainly becomes a possibility. Winner: Oakland

CIN @ NYJ: If Carson Palmer were in for this one, and if Ocho wasn’t making a fool of himself, Cincinatti would have a good shot at an upset. It just ain’t in the cards. Winner: New York

CAR @ TB: Carolina is the more well balanced team, and their solid pass defense takes on a bit of a sloppy passing attack at Tampa Bay. Winner: Carolina

STL @ WAS: Two teams in the league have turned the ball over just once so far this year. Those two teams? The New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. Bad news for St. Louis fans, who have already gotten a taste of one of those squads. Winner: Washington

JAC @ DEN: Still not sold on Denver, a team giving up 388 yards per game on defense. Jaguars pull out a win, getting back to some of the football efficiency they were utilizing last year. Winner: Jacksonville

DAL @ ARI: So, some are just now realizing what anyone with half a brain could tell you before the season started: Dallas is a good football team, but their roster is not super-human. Still, they have talent and this is one that they’ll win via the ground game. Winner: Dallas

PHI @ SF: Donovan McNabb has called out himself and his teammates. I like the move, because this is a team that needs to get fired up if they want to hang in the East. Winner: Philadelphia

GB @ SEA: Green Bay hasn’t been playing football near the level they were at last year, and a lot of that’s not on Aaron Rodgers. Seattle is awful though. Winner: Green Bay

NE @ SD: San Diego was caught off-guard by a team in Miami that will prove to be a good one, over the course of the year. Their defense needs to get back to its opportunistic old self, and they need to frustrate Cassel to win this one, which I think they can do. Winner: San Diego

NYG @ CLE: On paper in the preseason, this looked like a premiere matchup. The Giants beat up the Browns starters in the preseason in a fashion that haunts players, and the Browns have completely fallen out of the conversation of decent teams since then. Winner: New Jersey

Judging by the title, the avatar, and blog history, it’s fairly easy to draw the conclusion that I’m a Giants die-hard. I’m a New Jersey native, and the Giants are New Jersey’s team. Yes, I’m a die-hard, but I’d like to think that I can be and have been reasonably objective. That being said, the Giants are off to a fast 4-0 start and are looking every bit the championship caliber team that the preseason favorites, as per usual, are not. Still, as a fan, there’s something left to be desired.

Yes, the Giants are off to a 4-0 start. They lead the league in points per game at 31.8. They are second to the Titans in points allowed at 12.3. They are first in total offense at a staggering 431 yards per game, and their defense isn’t looking terrible either, holding opponents to 236 yards per game and ranking third in the league. Eli Manning has been superb, throwing one pick through the first four, while completing 64% of his passes. They have outscored opponents by an average of 19.5 points per game. In short, the Giants are motoring.

However, as a fan, I’m still looking for more out of this football team. The Giants are 4-0, but having played only one single team with a winning record. Granted, that team was in fact the Washington Redskins, who are undoubtedly the number two team in the NFC, and perhaps even the entire NFL. It was Parcells that said you can only play the schedule that you are given. Still, blowout victories over teams with losing records have not spiked my optimism. If anything, I find myself craving the big games even more so.

The Giants get the Browns on Monday Night Football next week, and then take the 49ers at homes, in what amounts to two very winnable contests. No NFL team can be taken for granted, but the Giants should by all means be 6-0 heading into Pittsburgh. That sparks the test. The Giants are the elite, but to prove it, they will need to come away with two of those games. And if they only come away with two victories, one of them has to be Dallas. Let’s quickly look ahead:

Giants @ Steelers (week 8): The Steelers have managed to keep a respectable record to this point, despite their offensive coordinator or whoever is calling the plays for that offense, nearly throwing the Jacksonville game away. They had over a quarter left of football to play, and the Steelers almost completely gave up on the run. Steelers fans, be thankful you have a guy as impressive as Big Ben behind center, because he single-handedly kept the game alive at times.

That being said, the Steelers have a strong defense, undoubtedly one of the top units in the league. However, the Giants have them in the trenches, and ought to be able to overpower that weak offensive line. The Steelers’ defense, while very strong, will still have its hands full with an offense that has countless weapons. The Giants, on paper, ought to be able to pull this one out. But paper that’s not marked by dead presidents isn’t very valuable, so only time will tell.

Giants vs. Cowboys (week 9): No matter what the case for the Giants heading into this game, whether they are 7-0 or 4-3, this is a must-win game. Nothing says “statement game” like having the chance to put the first lick on Dallas on your home turf. The G-men could lose to the Eagles and Steelers in this stretch, but if they can send the Cowboys away with an “L”, they’ll have made their point.

Dallas can’t be underestimated. Are the overrated? Sure. I’m starting to wonder when the analysts will start basing their definition of talent on high-profile players from previous years. Young guys have stepped it up all over the place, and yesterday’s talent is not quite the same as today’s. The Giants’ offense has just as many weapons to match the Dallas Cowboys. If the Giants are a half-step back as far as receivers go, they make up for that with a backfield that has averaged a league-leading 181.3 yards per game. The Giants have three backs over 100 yards and are averaging over 6 yards per carry between them, while still having a starting running back in Jacobs posting 95 yards per game. Can we say that the Giants have just as much talent as the Cowboys yet?

Still, the Dallas Cowboys are the Dallas Cowboys. They are talented. Overrated, but that’s because the media hyped them up like there was no tomorrow. Still, they are one of the most stacked teams in the NFL. Contrary to Pittsburgh, Dallas has a great offensive line, and that will make this contest that much tougher for the Giants. The Redskins have the style of defense that more naturally offsets a great offensive line when executed properly, in the sense that they don’t bring the heat very often, but stay very aggressive in the d-backfield and don’t leave much open. On defense, it is essential for the Giants to be able to overpower that offensive line and pressure Romo, because that is their style of play. This presents a slightly greater challenge than the Redskins faced (not by any means a discredit to what they did), though hats off to the ‘Skins for doing that without Jason Taylor.

I wouldn’t past the Dallas defense to buckle down and play well either. Can they stop this Giant offense? They haven’t been living up to their hype, but they still have talent. For Dallas to win this game, they are going to have to win it on defense. This Giants offense is firing on all cylinders, and they are a difficult unit to defend, especially when you have to prepare for three running backs with different styles that are equally explosive.

Again though, this is going to be a statement game for both teams. Dallas embarrassed the G-men in East Rutherford last year with a two-score victory, but the Giants got the last laugh. It’s going to come down to who wants it more, and I hope it’s my Giants.

Giants @ Eagles (week 10): The Eagles have been the slowest off the gun this year, and nothing concerns the hell out of me more than that, and that is as a Giants fan. The Eagles are a team that could be 2-6 heading into this game, and head out of it at 3-6 following a very convincing win. If you are not familiar with the NFC East, then you have no idea what a real trap-game is. It’s early yet, but this is shaping up to be that kind of situation for the Giants, and I don’t even think the Eagles will have fallen short of a respectable record at that point.

The Eagles have the talent. For three quarters, their offense looked unstoppable in Dallas on Monday Night. Their defense, while somewhat inconsistent, has been scary good at times. And let’s face it, Jim Johnson is hands down one of the best defensive coordinators of all time. He’ll be going against his disciple in Steve Spagnuolo, and you can bet he’ll be bringing his best.

The Giants certainly have the talent to beat Philly, but again, nothing’s guaranteed.


As a Giants’ fan, I’ll continue to bet on my Giants. However, for the unbiased observer, I’d advise against placing any kind of money on these contests. We have three games in which you can throw all predictions out of the window. As a Giant fan though, I couldn’t be less patient as I wait for this stretch to begin. These are the three I want.

What to predict, what to predict? Let's take a look at some teams listed as viable Super Bowl contenders this year:

Colts: 1-2
Jaguars: 2-2
Patriots: 2-1 (and very misleading, at that)
Chargers: 2-2
Vikings: 1-3 (though I never considered them a genuine Super Bowl team, the hype was certainly there)

Now, we all could imagine that some of the teams on this list would have come across some difficulties at this point in the season, but I don't think anybody imagined they all would. The AFC is wide open, and that's a preliminary to one of my picks. I'm not crazy, I swear to you.

TEN @ BAL: Tennessee hasn’t beaten any great teams yet, but Baltimore doesn’t fall into the “great team” category anyhow. Tennessee has the stingier defense and a veteran at quarterback. Upset special for Baltimore? I can’t call it. Winner: Tennessee

KC @ CAR: Kansas City didn’t so much prove that they are decent football team as much as they merely highlighted just how bad Denver is on the defensive side on the ball. They won’t run all day on Carolina, and Carolina gets a sure win at home. Winner: Carolina

CHI @ DET: Detroit finally ousted Millen. Detroit is still the same Detroit we know and love, and the same Detroit that Detroit fans find painful to watch. Winner: Chicago

ATL @ GB: Aaron Rodgers doesn’t need to be Brett Favre. He’s known that for years as Favre’s backup, and with an organization that showed some guts in supporting him, he won’t forget it this week. It’s unrealistic. One thing I admire about Rodgers is that he looks like a guy who’s learned from a great quarterback and is trying to make a mark as a great quarterback in his own right, as opposed to trying to be the guy that he studied under. Rodgers will be ready to go if he plays on Sunday. Winner: Green Bay

IND @ HOU: Indianapolis has been ####ed up. With the bye week, they are still hurting. They’ll be alright though. They have time to heal before playing Tennessee, and they’ll take this one from Houston. Peyton Manning will have a level-head, and for football fans, it’s going to be exciting to watch Peyton Manning grind out Ws. Winner: Indianopolis

SD @ MIA: In a recent blog post, I projected Miami sneaking into the playoffs this year on a wildcard spot in a shaky AFC. That starts here with a huge upset over San Diego. Granted, I think the Chargers are still looking damn good to take the conference this year with the way things have been going in the AFC, I still think this Miami team has upset potential. They don’t turn the ball over, and their one-two in the backfield is going to be rough on the Chargers. Winner: Miami

SEA @ NYG: Having the Bengals at home was a trap game, and as a Giants fan, it wasn’t the kind of thriller you like to see your team take part in. However, a “W” is a “W”, and the trap-game has come and gone. Or has it? The Giants are notoriously bad after the bye. Plaxico has been benched. However, I think the young guys will pick up the slack very nicely, seizing one of the few opportunities to be the go-to receivers they will have this year. The Giants have to pick up a win following a bye at some point or another, don’t they? Winner: New Jersey

WAS @ PHI: Philly is a physical team, and they are at home. But the Redskins have some confidence, and they’ll ride it out into this week over an Eagles team that has their greatest component on offense listed as questionable. This will put Philly in a tough spot if they lose, and Washington will be getting the Super Bowl hype when they win. Winner: Washington

TB @ DEN: Explosive offense, or great defense? I’ll take the great defense sir, and can I get a little “your offense couldn’t outscore the Kansas City Chiefs” on the side? Thank you. Have a good one. Winner: Tampa Bay

BUF @ ARI: Buffalo hasn’t gotten much credit at 4-0, and no, maybe they don’t deserve it. But take a look around the AFC and tell me who has lived up to the expectations? The Bills will be listed as a weak 5-0, but that’s still just two wins short of the total they accounted for last season in a 5 games as opposed to 16. Winner: Buffalo

CIN @ DAL: You know, Dallas has the talent, but I just think they are poised to fall apart against the Bengals. Oh, I couldn’t resist that. In all seriousness, Cincinatti without Carson Palmer means that the “any given Sunday” rule does not even apply. Winner: Dallas

NE @ SF: The Gold Rush is back! The Gold Rush is back! The Gold Rush is back! The problem is that New England is going to loot the 49ers down to their last peso. Winner: New England

PIT @ JAC: Pittsburgh is ####ed up. Jacksonville isn’t 100% either though, and Pittsburgh’s defense is still a rough unit. I’m going to bank on the fact that Jacksonville, while they will generate pressure, it won’t be enough to put Big Ben out of the game like the Eagles had. Winner: Pittsburgh

MIN @ NO: The Saints offense is starting to get some momentum going, and Minnesota has been dealt a tough slate and now finds themselves at 1-3. I’m going to pick against the Vikings in spite, seeing as in the preseason, they rivaled the Saints of ’07 with all of the Super Bowl hype surrounding what was in reality a .500 team. And to be honest, I just can’t stand that. Winner: Saints

Twelve teams make the playoffs in this league. That being said, these rankings will feature six teams from each conference. No more. No less. Your team may be a top 12 team in theory, but when push comes to shove, only 12 teams make the playoffs. As they stack up right now, the only teams that have proven anything remain in the NFC East. Bias? I guess one could call it that, but the top two teams in the AFC just haven't beaten anybody, and the rest of the conference is off to a pretty sorry start, considering where they were just a year ago.

1. New York Giants (NFC East division title): The defending Super Bowl champions are in first place in hands down the best division of football. Granted, any team in the NFC East could take the division, but right now, with Dallas hitting a snag, the Giants are undeniably the team to beat. If I sound biased, I really could care less. With what we've seen in the NFL this year, the Giants deserve the #1 spot, especially after a Cowboys loss. Granted, it was week 1 and this Redskins team has gotten better, but the Giants kept Washington out of that game altogether, and the Redskins are proving they are a talented football team. The defending champs are consistent on both sides of the ball, ranked 4th in both total offense and total defense, as well as tied for 2nd in the league in points allowed at 14.3 per game.

2. Washington Redskins (Wildcard): The Washington Redskins are doing what everybody is marveling at the Titans for doing, only they are playing ball-control football against better teams. That's exactly why I had the Redskins picked for an upset in Dallas. Both the Titans and the 'Skins share the league lead with a +6 turnover differential. However, the Redskins have proven they can control the ball against a talented cowboys team, holding onto the ball for over 38 minutes in that game. That's the kind of play that brings home championships.

3. Dallas Cowboys (Wildcard): The biggest cause for concern for the Cowboys is what makes the Washington Redskins a tough football team. Ball control. They have a big-play offense, and the kind of offense that is liable to score on an opposing defense every time it takes the field. That's all fine and good, but twice this year Dallas has had problems in the time of possession battle. Against the Eagles, they were dominated in that regard into the third quarter of play. The Redskins dominated that battle throughout. The Dallas defense is solid, but when put out on the field for twice as long as the offense, they are put into a bad situation. That will wear on this defense and the unit may have problems late in the season if the Dallas offense doesn't manage the clock better.

4. Buffalo Bills (AFC East division title): Sure, Titans fans probably aren't too happy to see their team not in the top two, let alone fall behind the Bills. At the very least, the opponents the Bills have beaten combine for a total of 4-11, which is one game ahead of those that Tennessee has beaten. Their defense is playing well, and their offense is far more explosive than that of Tennessee. If you're looking for a the overlooked mark the Bills have made through the first four that resembles that of a championship squad, look no further than their defense's ability to come up with the stop on third down, with a league leading 19.2%. Granted, this will probably change once they encounter better opponents, but even to force weaker teams punt more than four out of five times is damn good.

5. Tennessee Titans (AFC South Division title): The Titans have yet to beat a legitimate opponent this year, so I'm sorry I'm not sorry for ranking them this low, considering their four opponents have a combined record of 3-12. How this fact has completely escaped the minds of fans and analysts alike is beyond me. They are ranked a whopping 22nd in the league in offense. Now, that being said, I've always said the Titans were a good team, and they are playing good football. They just haven't done anything great yet this year, and a division that was supposed to be the AFC counterpart to the NFC East is a whopping 3-7 outside of Tennessee, while the East is 8-4 outside of the front-running New York Giants.

Plenty of people will draw comparisons between the Titans and championship teams. The difference-maker is that championship teams do what the Titans are doing now to good football teams. I'll believe in the Titans when they grind one out against a team with a winning record.

6. Carolina Panthers (NFC South division title): The Panthers have played well, and winning the first two without Steve Smith was solid. They get the one-up over the Bucs here because they don't turn the ball over so much on offense, even though the Buc's defensive play has made up for that. Still, at 3-1, the Panthers only have outscored opponents by a total of 10 points. What to make of that? Well, they have some resolve, that's for sure. Two wins decided by a field goal or less came against good teams in the Chargers and Bears, without Steve Smith. The loss to the Vikings will go overlooked, for now.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North division winner): Yes, the offense has taken a couple of more hits and losing a starting guard is no joke for a line that has already been looking poor. Still, the Steelers defense is one that will win games for them. Surprisingly enough, they are behind only the Redskins and Titans in the turnover differential column, and that's a credit to Big Ben just as much as it is this defense. Despite taking an absolute beating, Roethlisberger has kept a good handle on the ball.They will grind out wins, and with Cleveland looking in poor shape this year, it will be another division title for Pittsburgh.

8. San Diego Chargers (AFC West division title): San Diego Super Chargers? I'm Ron Burgundy? Well, San Diego came back and beat the Raiders to avoid a 1-3 start. Granted, they haven't been playing great football, but for this team, it was merely the "W" they needed. Much like the Colts need to do in this week upcoming, the Chargers bought some time to get back into a groove. They will, and fortunately for them, the Broncos don't have the defense to make a run at the division crown.

9. Green Bay Packers (NFC North division winner): Aaron Rodgers is currently being limited to handoffs in practice, but it looks as though he is going to start against the Falcons. It was a toss-up between Da Bears and the Pack, but I just can't bank on Kyle Orton to play decent enough week in and week out. We won't have an idea until week 11, and that's one to mark on the calender. The Packers got the guns on offense. Da Bears have the defense. Sure, defense wins championships, but nobody ever said offense couldn't get you there. The Packers defense will settle down and get back to their '07 form, giving them the edge.

10. Indianapolis Colts (Wildcard): The Colts are off to a shaky start and are being dragged down by injuries. They needed that bye week, and all they need to do this week is stay healthy against the Texans and come away with the "W". This is not a statement game for the Colts. They've got three games upcoming before they take on the Titans, and I can certainly see them coming away with two of those to pull to .500. They ought to be quite a bit healthier when they take on the Titans, which will make for an exciting game. The Colts will heal up, and much like the 2006 regular season which ended with a Super Bowl victory, the Colts will be dangerous come playoff time. Perhaps it's even better for this team to not have a chance to rest in the last week of the season, as it surely didn't help them in '07.

11. Arizona Cardinals (NFC West division title): Arizona was brought down to earth in these past couple of weeks, and if I didn't have a crazy wildcard selection to throw at you, they would be in the twelve spot. The Arizona Cardinals are going to be that one team that keeps the fans guessing, "Is there really going to be a 7-9 team in the playoffs this year?" Brought back down to earth via the Redskins and Jets, this Cardinals team will win in the same fashion many thought the Seahawks would earn a playoff berth: keeping their head above water in a very weak division. Good news for the Cardinals though: the Gold Rush is not in fact back, the Seahawks are sending Holmgren off in dramatic fashion, and the Rams are making a case for the #1 draft selection.

12. Miami Dolphins (Wildcard): Call me crazy. Say it again. I'll take two for this one, but in a weak division and conference this year, the Dolphins have the guns to grab that last spot. I just said the Dolphins have the guns to grab that last spot. I did. I said it, and I will take all accountability for saying it. However, seeing as turnovers are the theme of the day, let's throw a number out there: 1. Just one turnover by this Dolphins team this year, and that single turnover was a Pennington interception in the final second of the Dolphins/Jets contest in a situation in which he had to force a pass. But that's not the whole story here.

The one-two punch of Brown/Williams finally got going in full effect last week. With Pennington being the "underrated game manager" that he is, and I wholeheartedly agree with the SRMgenius when he says that, this offense has the pieces to be real good. The defense is young, but not terrible. They will make progress. Most importantly, it's a Bill Parcells team, and everybody knows that he can turn around the league's worst faster than anybody.

An upset over San Diego in week 5 is a viable possibility, especially with the coaching staff's apparent willingness to get creative with the play-calling. The Dolphins went up against a very good receiving core (even without Brady, a tough unit to cover) against New England, and had the bye week to serve as additional preparation. One can imagine that they will throw something interesting out there. A win over San Diego would set the tone for the rest of the season, and would put the Dolphins right there in the mix.

Dark horses:

Philadelphia Eagles: Shame to call this team a dark horse, but right now they seem to be falling back to Philly's old bad habits. They could easily make the top ten on the rankings here, and they could very well make the playoffs with a wildcard berth. With every single game in this NFC East being so critical though, Philly has to be able to close out games. They haven't done that in two big games this year.

Denver Broncos: I'm sorry, but a team that is all offense and absolutely no defense is hard to consider a playoff team, especially if dropping a game to the Kansas City Chiefs is any indication. Definitely got some firepower and could very well pull it together, but I do think this team is poised for an average season, and not a whole lot more.

Alright, here's the deal:

Team A:  21
Team B: 23

Team A is driving is down the field, and now has the ball in the redzone with just under 2 minutes to play. Team be doesn't have any timeouts. Team A can win with a field goal, so it is inevitable that they will now run the clock out and put it in with a few seconds left. I've run this through my head a dozen times, and seeing as no team can bank on blocking a field goal, the only sensible option I've come up with is to have the defense lay down and let Team A punch it in for six. That way, you at least give your offense a fighting chance to go and win the game. It would take some heads-up thinking by the head coach to leave a decent amount of time on the clock, but that's what they get paid to do. Granted, if Team A simply called for the QB kneel a few times in a row, it wouldn't quite work out, but most teams will try to grind out a few insurance yards for their kicker.

Thoughts?

Week Four in the NFL. Things have settled down. Last week, I picked 'em decently enough, but credit to the Cowboys for picking up another "W", despite the fact that I sincerely thought the Pack could grind one out at home. The Packers have a good football team, but the NFC East is quickly becoming a league of its own, and I can't say enough about them. Yes, they only play one game out of the division this week, but that is a very winnable one for the Eagles, and the East could very well be a perfect 9-0 against the rest of the league heading into week five. That's a bit more difficult than it sounds, and the beauty of it is that each divisional contest will hold the significance of a playoff game. That's a lot of good football on the slate.

CLE 14 @ CIN 28: Carson Palmer and Cincinnati showed resolve last week, and played well to give the defending champs a serious run for their money in the Meadowlands. Cleveland, has fallen short of every single expectation of them this season, and they'll be the team to continue on winless through the first quarter of the season.

HOU 7 @ JAC 20: Jacksonville drove down the field to beat the Colts in Indy last week, just after Peyton had apparently nailed the coffin shut. Houston has been another disappointment this year, and will be a nice stepping stone for Jacksonville as they make it back to .500.

ATL 16 @ CAR 21: Atlanta's been averaging over 200 yards on the ground through the first three. That will take a lot of pressure off of a rookie quarterback, and that will make this game interesting. However, it won't be enough to topple the Panters. Carolina will ultimately bounce back from last week's setback.

ARI 35 @ NYJ 20: One ancient quarterback versus another, but on the bright side, they are high-profile old-timers. Arizona and that offense is just too much for the Jets to handle though, and Favre just doesn't have a good enough grasp of the offense yet. Hey, Chad Pennington's looking pretty good over there in Miami. Maybe the Jets could trade for him?

MIN 13 @ TEN 17: This week's defensive struggle, and one of the better games this week. These teams are very similar, with great defense and great running games. Tennessee has the better QB in Kerry Collins though, and he can still manage the game consistently and efficiently. Titans grind out the win at home.

GB 28 @ TB 20: The game will not be as close as the score suggests. In the NFC, the teams could be divided into two divisions: the NFC East, and the Rest. Green Bay, coming off of a loss to Dallas, is still the best of the Rest.

SF 27 @ NO 17: The Niners haven't beaten impressive teams, but that's not to say they haven't impressed. From where they were last year, to be looking at 3-1 through the first four has to inspire some confidence. New Orleans is ####ed up on offense, and their defense has played poorly, as expected. No Shockey, and their top two wideouts will be absent from this contest as well. Not looking good for the Saints.

DEN 45 @ KC 10: Denver is explosive on offense, and while the defensive play is a huge concern, their isn't much to worry about against the Kansas City Chiefs. An exciting one for Broncos fans to watch, but not so much for the rest us. Kansas City is in rebuilding mode, but what remains to be done is the removal of Herm Edwards.

BUF 35 @ STL 17: Scott Linehan got to go. The Rams need something, and it's not coming this year. Watching the Rams play the Giants in week two, it was fairly easy to draw that conclusion just by looking at the guy's demeanor on the sideline. He's wound tighter than a clam's ####, and that's certainly not what a football team that is beaten and getting blown out week after week needs. Bills to move to 4-0.

SD 31 @ OAK 13: The San Diego Super Chargers pull back to .500 this week against a Raiders team that won't have a whole lot of fight left in them, as Al Davis continues to do whatever it takes to drain that from the team. Kiffin is still here, but having him on the chopping block is a bad situation if you're looking for wins. Back to the Chargers, all of the sudden an 0-2 start becomes nothing to worry about, especially with former AFC heavyweights dropping like flies around them.

WAS 23 @ DAL 20: Yes, I am not showing Dallas the love they've earned to this point. Dallas has more talent, but I like the way Washington's been playing, and that offense will progress with each week, as they become more comfortable with the scheme. Just how has Washington been winning games, pulling wins out against the Saints and the Cardinals, gives reason to believe in them. Washington is 1st in the league in turnover differential, currently at +5. Dallas is tied for 27th, at -3. Teams can have a world of talent and win games without winning the turnover battle. However, once they get into close contests against tough opponents (exactly what they are slated for this week), losing the turnover battle means losing the game. That's why I'm going way out on a limb here in picking the Redskins for the upset.

PHI 24 @ CHI 13: I wasn't sure if Philly was the real deal after what I saw out of them in Dallas. Granted, at that point, I wasn't sure if Dallas was all they were hyped up to be, as both teams looked sloppy at times in the Monday Night match-up. Philly bounced back the very next week though with a defensive performance that will send chills through offensive coordinators scheduled to play them. Jim Johnson and this Philly "D" at full force in a Philly win.

BAL 10 @ PIT 20: Pittsburgh's defense played considerably well in Philadelphia. The offense just couldn't get anything going, and for this defense to reach the sideline and then turn around, head back onto the field, and continue to play well shows they have great durability. Yes, Big Ben was sacked countless times and the Steelers converted 15% of their third downs (2/13). However, the question of whether this Baltimore offense can move the ball on a defense that has allowed the second fewest points in the league  and the third fewest total yards is a great one. Take Pittsburgh.

Who would've thought that out of the six teams heading into a bye this week (keeping in mind that four of those teams combined for three division titles, two conference championships, 49 regular season wins, and a Lombardi trophy), a mere 8-10 record would have been produced three weeks into the season between the lot of them? That's an abomination considering the accomplishments listed above. The Colts are 1-2. Seattle is 1-2. They are both currently tied with Miami, who by the way just humbled the Patriots to make the defending AFC champs look very soft at 2-1. The only one of these four '07 playoff teams that is showing any semblance of where they left off last year is the New York Giants. Let's get started:

New York Giants: Not a whole that I'm going to say here. The Giants are 3-0, off to their best start since their third trip to the Super Bowl coming off of the 2000 season. It's hard to believe that the Giants couldn't manage a 3-0 start in any of the following seven seasons, which included four playoff appearances, one division title, and a league championship. Let's keep in mind that the 2000 roster was headed by Kerry Collins, a Michael Strahan in his 20s, Jason Sehorn, and an emerging Tiki Barber. So, while drawing comparisons between the two teams and Giant teams of the past is nice, they don't provide much in terms of substance.

That being said, the tests still lie ahead for the Giants. They get Philly, Pittsburgh, and Dallas consecutively in the coming weeks. And while they are playing Seattle following the bye week, the Giants are historically bad coming out of the bye. And of course, Plaxico Burress has been benched for that game. Fortunately for the G-men, Seattle's lone win has come against the St. Louis Rams.

New England Patriots: Every single team in the league right now has to be fired up to go and play a game in Gillette Stadium after watching the Pats and more importantly, Bill Belichick, shovel down a huge slice of humble pie courtesy of a team that had lost 17 of its last 18 heading into that game. I can't believe that I almost forgot that karma has a tendency to hit in threes. The Super Bowl loss despite being heralded as the best team in the history of the NFL, 18-0, and double-digit favorites was the first strike, and damn was that one hell of a blow in itself.

But low and behold, Bill Belichick would underestimate just how much the karma gods appreciate class in football, and just how much they dislike teams that go for it on fourth down with a lead greater than two scores late in the fourth quarter, but do not have the gut to do it against teams that play them well. Just minutes into the season opener in New England, Bill Belichick would lose the one player with whom he has seen all of his success as a head coach in Tom Brady. Then came the loss to Miami, but it was not just a loss. It was a 25 point blowout, and now the Patriots are en route to missing the playoffs. It turns out that the karma gods love the NFL, and Bill Belichick is painfully learning the repercussions of attempting to spite the league with poor sportsmanship.

Indianapolis Colts: Well, Peyton Manning has apparently decided to feel what it's like to be a human being in this world, first requiring knee surgery and not looking his old self upon his return. Well, almost human, considering that his claim to the second longest active starts streak in the NFL is still in place. The Colts are beaten and bruised, and they need this bye week in a bad way. It's easy to forget that a key reason the Colts passing attack has been so potent in previous years is due to the solid running game that supplements it. Addai and Rhodes have been virtually non-existent, and the blocking has just been awful with all of the injuries on the line. Bob Sanders is out again, and the Colts can't win games with a good deal of their talent on the sidelines.

Miami Dolphins: If one 1-2 team looks to be heading in the right direction, it's the Miami Dolphins. They show that they can play some serious ball when they establish a running game. They did that against the Patriots in week three, and with underrated quarterback Chad Pennington taking the snaps, the 'Phins looked really good. How good will they be? Well, with a division whose only legitimate threat is the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins could sneak up and grab a wildcard spot. Likely? Probably not. But, despite the fact that a large number of analysts ever so desperately want Favre to succeed in 2008, if there is going to be a story of a veteran quarterback making a comeback in the AFC East, it will be Chad Pennington. Don't sleep on the Dolphins in a conference that has suddenly reversed roles with its NFC counterpart, and will certainly have a 9-7 wilcard team or two.

Seattle Seahawks: Things are looking rough on the preseason NFC West favorite. If I recall correctly, Adam Schein wrote an article something to the tune of how tough Seattle was, as a team that gets overlooked. That was the first sign of troubles to come. This team is in rough shape with injuries, with their only win coming against a hapless St. Louis Rams team that got outscored in the previous two weeks by a whopping 79-16. Great news for Seattle, as they play the defending champion Giants coming off of the bye. The NFC West is looking once again like Kurt Warner's house, and the best part about that is that he is an Arizona Cardinal.

Detroit Lions: Detriot is 0-3, so no, no 10 win guarantees being tossed around by Jon Kitna. Jon Kitna played the karma game last year and lost. The 6-2 Giants met the 6-2 Lions in Detroit. The Lions went on to lose that game 16-10, though Jon Kitna was quick to say that the better team had lost the contest. That's a no-no. Michael Strahan's reaction was priceless though, stating that he felt the Lions were the worst 6-2 team he had ever played. Karma smiled upon the 15 year gap-toothed veteran. The Lions won one game over their next seven. The Giants made history.

Matt Millen's gone, but you can almost hear the Sweet Child O' Mine lyrics ringing in the background. "Where do we go now? Ooh, where do we go?". Millen's gone, but Detroit is still Detroit. Detroit fans deserve a little better. As funny as it may be for Detroit to continue as the perennial laughing stock of the NFL, it's time for them to pass the buck.

With trap-game weekend over and a colossal regular game winning streak brought to an end by a team known most recently for its rather ugly losing streaks, we are left with five 3-0 squads here in the NFL. Oddly enough, it's hard to find any of these teams as a pseudo-undefeated squad. They all have talent, and while one could make the argument that Denver should not be on the list, they still had to drive the length of the field to go down and punch it in. With what was thought to be the class of the AFC in the Steelers losing a tough one to the Eagles, there is a tilt to the NFC at this point, despite the AFC having three 3-0 squads.

1. Dallas Cowboys: Natural inclination would lead me to put my Giants in this slot, as they are 3-0 and coming off a run for the Lombardi trophy. However, Dallas has been battle-tested more than any team in the league, just three weeks into the season. The Browns have proven to be not worthy of the hype to this point, but putting up 41 points (34 on offense) against a Jim Johnson defense is always worth noting. And they beat a tough Packers team that is proving they can play without Favre, and the kicker is this one wasn't at Texas Stadium either. The Pack got beat at home, and the Cowboys stuck it to them pretty good. No need to reel off a list of Pro Bowl names for you, as they will get plenty of attention throughout the season.

The only danger this Cowboys team may be in is a danger that every team in the East faces: falling asleep on your divisional rivals. Just as well, that is a message to the rest of the division. Dallas has five games left in the East, and outside o####ame in Pittsburgh, those are looking to be perhaps the only ones that the Cowboys are really going to have to fight for. The rest of the East has to beat Dallas if they want to challenge for the division crown, because the rest of the league is looking in poor shape to pick up the slack.

The East is no longer the class of the NFC. The NFC East, unbeaten through week 3 of the season, is the class of the NFL.

2. New York Giants: This Giants squad, known primarily as a defensive team, relied on its offense to pull one out against Cincinatti. Yes, the Giants faced an 0-2 Bengals team, but let's not forget how ferocious an offense that can be when they are on their game. Carson Palmer is still a priemere quarterback, and Cincinatti has enough offensive weapons to rival Dallas when playing as a unit. The Bengals O-line gave up three sacks over their first two games, arguably the only positive for that offense over that stretch. However, for the Giants to sack Palmer six times and for Palmer to be able to keep the Bengals in it was nothing short of spectacular. The Giants defense didn't control the tempo in that one, which I don't think they are used to.

But for this Giants offense to come to fruition and win a close game when called upon is the mark of a championship caliber squad. The Giants offense was the hallmark of inconsistency in '07, and they have looked revamped with several new dimensions in '08. Eli Manning has been able to rely on a receiving core that led the league in dropped passes last year, allowing him to spread the ball around beautifully. The Giants' backfield once again reared its ugly head and demonstrated why it is just so dangerous.

I likened the rivalry between the Giants and Cowboys to that between Ali and Frazier for a reason (and long before Howie Long ever made the reference), and that is because these two teams are going to fight tooth and nail for a full fifteen rounds every time they face each other, and right now, they are the best in the league, with Philadelphia being very close as well (didn't make the cut though because of a loss to Dallas).

3. Buffalo Bills: Looking for a proven winner? Let's try Buffalo, who has won two games against playoff squads of '07 in our short three week season (Seattle and Jacksonville). Trent Edwards has thrown a single pick and completed 67 percent of his passes through his first 3 games. The receiving core has been dynamic, with Josh Reed making some sizable contributions that tend to go unnoticed with the gaudy numbers that Lee Evans puts up (20.33 yards per catch over 12 receptions to this point). Marshawn #### is a workhorse and can put on some catlike moves when the situation calls for it, and the defense has been solid.

The story surrounding the Bills however, is just how with every passing game, it seems more and more likely that the Bills are going to run away with the AFC East. The division is hurting outside of Buffalo. Belichick showed us all that he may not be the guru that he's choked up to be, as his defense had absolutely no answer for an 0-2 Miami Dolphins offense that dropped 38. Last time I checked, Tom Brady does not in fact play defense, but it seems the Pats are falling hard without him. The Dolphins and Jets are fairly impossible to gauge, but it would appear more than likely that they will not contend for the division title. Facing a decidedly easy schedule up ahead, it's quite possible that the Bills, yes, the Buffalo Bills, could pile up 12-13 win season. They are young, healthy, and poised to take advantage of the opportunity that has presented itself.

4. Tennessee Titans: The Titans may have even gotten a boost by having Collins under center. Despite what people are saying of Vince Young, I stil think he has potential to be a solid, versatile QB in this league. But he needs a break, to get a chance to break some bad habits and improve his passing skills. Kerry Collins is a solid quarterback. He won't dazzle you, but his IQ hasn't diminished, and he never was a mobile quarterback, so not a whole lot lost there. His return can be likened to that of Kurt Warner and what he is doing for the Arizona Cardinals, in providing consistently solid play from the quarterback position. I've watched Collins for some time now, as he was a Giant for a good number of years. He can play.

Now, the play of the rest of this Tennessee squad speaks for itself. The defense has been exceptional, and though they have yet to undertake a real test, holding three NFL teams to 9.7 points per game still exemplifies solid play. In the backfield, the rookie Chris Johnson has been explosive. Everybody knows it, but I will reiterate that Tennessee has one of the best front sevens in the league. A strong running game and a solid defense will win you games, plain and simple. But, there is still a lot of talent and a lot of heart in that AFC South. Tennessee is looking like a solid playoff contender, but they are going to have to grind out a division title. No way around it.


5. Denver Broncos: The Broncos land fifth on the list for two reasons. The first being that they are undefeated partly due to a blown call by Ed Hochuli. The second reason to give is that while this team's offense has been explosive, there defense has been allowing 28 points per game. More or less, the Broncos are this year what everybody had hyped the Saints up to be (once again, missing the mark however), which is an offensive juggernaut that can score enough points to compensate for an average defense. Jay Cutler has been phenomenal (68% passes completed, 914 yards with only 2 picks), and his receiving core, headed by record-breaking rookie Brandon Marshall, has been stellar. However, the old adage that defense wins championships is more often than not true, and the Broncos really need to pick up their defensive play.

Forget the call by Ed Hochuli. All in all, the Chargers shouldn't have allowed them to drive the length of the field. The Chargers' defense even got a second chance to win the game on a put-up or shut-up two point conversion attempt. They lost the game twice after Hochuli blew the call. For those of you that remember, a blown call on a botched field goal attempt cost the Giants a game in the wildcard round against the 49ers. The game could have been won on that play, but it certainly wasn't lost on that play. No, with 20 minutes to play, the Giants allowed 25 points, and the 49ers advanced. The Broncos won, plain and simple. Bad calls happen all the time, and the Chargers had opportunities (and I stress the plural) to compensate for that call but did not.

Still, the Broncos need to improve their defensive play. The playoffs are where the teams that epitomize great defense emerge, and a great defense can make a great offense look helpless. Take a look at the record-breaking Patriots' offense of the '07-'08 season. The ended their season because a great defense had schemed their offense perfectly, and when it came down to the battle of defenses, New England played well but could not match the intensity of the Giants' "D". Which team held the record for most points scored before the Patriots? It was the Minnesota Vikings, and only god knows which year, as nobody talks about it because they didn't even make the Super Bowl that year. The Chargers have serious talent and could be the #1 seed in the AFC come January. But will that amount to a serious playoff run? Not unless they sure up that defense.

First off, I would like to address the Monday Night "thriller" between the Cowboys and Eagles. Whoever buys into the idea that the shootout between these two teams was a showcase of talent is out of his mind. Alex Marvez calls Tony Romo's play heroic, and I'm thinking that he watched a different game. Tony Romo cost his team big on that endzone fumble, and when he had a chance to put the game away, he went three and out. Donovan McNabb simply wanted the game less, fumbling it twice on handoffs and running around like an #### and not making a play when afforded all of the time in the world. On third and long, a veteran quarterback should know that checking it down is a must. To take a sack there was absolutely horrendous.

Where was that mighty pro-bowl supplemented defense of the Dallas Cowboys last night? The Eagles moved the ball effortlessly. Just the same, while the Eagles did a great job stuffing the run, their secondary got beat on the deep ball too many times. The difference in the game was the awful special teams play of the Eagles, as Felix Jones picked them apart to provide beautiful field position time and time again. Overall, a pretty sloppy game, and these two teams better pick up their play or they will lose this week to two very hot teams in Green Bay and Pittsburgh.

KC 10 @ ATL 21: Atlanta will work off a Michael Turner to beat a weak Kansas City team and jump to a misleading 2-1 start.

OAK 7@ BUF 24: Buffalo is looking more and more like the team to beat in the AFC East. The Patriots/Jets game indicated that the Jets just aren't a playoff caliber team. Buffalo is looking like the only real threat out of a sorry division, but that is not to take any credit away from them. Buffalo is 2-0 against '07 playoff squads, a mere two weeks into the season.

CAR 27 @ MIN 17: Carolina has gotten back to their playoff-caliber form, but let's not write off the Vikings just yet. EDIT: Let's in fact write off the Vikings. Gus under center is worse than Jackson under center, and even if he plays well this week (which I wouldn't bank on), he'll fall apart sooner than later. This is a must win for the Vikings, and the coaching staff has decided that they must lose.

ARI 24 @ WAS 28: This Washington picked up some confidence last week, and while Kurt Warner has looked brilliant, his near-perfect game did come against the Miami Dolphins. The 'Skins take this one.

TB 14 @ CHI 20: The Bears showed last week that their win against the Colts was no fluke. Their defense is looking like more than Tampa can handle at the moment. Da Bears.

HOU 14 @ TEN 24: Tennessee will move to 3-0 with Collins under center. Collins can win games, and he looked pretty damn impressive in week two.

MIA 14 @ NE 17: If Miami can finally get their ground game going, it will be a close game. I expect them too, but Matt Cassel will still be a headline next week, with a miraculous 2-0 record as a starting quarterback.

CIN 10 @ NYG 31: The defending Super Bowl champions continue to sharpen their game against inferior opponents, such as the hapless Bengals.

NO 20 @ DEN 28: Denver is the more complete team. Sure, they may have been put into position to win by a bogus call, but they still had to take advantage and execute. I like the call by Shanahan. It was a gutsy move to go for the conversion, and that will pay dividends for him and his team's confidence.

STL 17 @ SEA 28: I cannot decide who is a bigger disappointment between the Rams and the 'Hawks, even though Seattle has the upper hand in this one. The Rams just look embarrassed, and Scott Linehan looks like a joke out there on the sideline. The Seahawks are looking like this year's first legitimate pretender, and the NFC West is no longer soft enough for them to slip into the playoffs.

DET 17 @ SF 24: Detroit is looking a lot like Detroit, and San Fransisco will come out on top in this one. No need for a lengthy explanation regarding why the Detroit Lions are just awful year after year. Though to me, it's more entertaining to have a team like the Lions to depend on to be a sub .500 squad every year. It gives you something to talk about during the week. "Hey Al, what happened to your team on Sunday? Lost to the Detroit Lions, and you said they were going places. Chuckle, chuckle."

JAC 13 @ IND 17: Indy is simply looking like they may have gotten it together, and Jacksonville, while still a good football team, looks like they haven't. Indy keeps within a game of the Titans at week three's conclusion.

CLE 21 @ BAL 20: Cleveland's been a disappointment this year, and injuries are only hurting an already shoddy defense, but they have enough firepower to beat out the Ravens, at the very least.

PIT 27 @ PHI 28: This is going to be a hell o####ame. I'm going back and forth on this one as I write this, but I'm going to have to give it to Philly in Philly.

DAL 20 @ GB 31: I'm doing the unthinkable. That is, I'm putting the Cowboys down two scores to the Aaron Rodgers led Green Bay Packers. Who was it that gave the Pack a fighting chance with brilliant play when Brett "The Media's Beloved Jet" Favre was playing pretty damn poorly in the regular season against the Cowboys? Aaron Rodgers. The young quarterback is the real deal, and he faces an overrated defense on Sunday. Wade Phillips is a disgusting excuse for a head coach there in Dallas, judging by his reported comments at halftime and his refusal to acknowledge that the Eagles' offense moved the ball well against his defense ("well" is an understatement).

The NFC East loses it's first game to a non-division opponent, finishing week 3 at 9-3 collectively, and 7-1 against non-division opponents.

NYJ 14 @ SD 35: The San Diego Chargers are coming out fired up and will take out plenty of that aggression on an overrated Jets team. I'm kicking myself for picking the Jets last week, as my initial thoughts this season seemed to be a bit more accurate: the Jets and their savior are overrated. San Diego, after giving the fans a gut-wrenching first two weeks against teams that should not have taken them down to the wire let along beat them, finally gives them reason to cheer.

Giants 41 @ Rams 13

The Giants get off to a strong 2-0 start this season, and their level of play against the Rams is a strong sign for this Giants team. Granted, we are talking about the St. Louis Rams here. However, anytime you have