| Here is One Man's View of the National Football | | | | 7) Atlanta Falcons (2-1) - Top rushing team is |
| League in Week 4.Denver at Jacksonville (-4), 1 p.m. | | | | averaging 187 yards per game on the ground, and |
| on Sunday | | | | are earning 5.3 yards per carry. They should walk |
| Denver is hoping that they put up a better showing | | | | through Minnesota's D. However, their secondary is |
| than their last trip to Florida, a 34-10 drubbing in Miami | | | | gutted, and the Vikings could shred through it. |
| in Week 1. The Broncos looked outstanding on | | | | 8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0) - The most |
| Monday Night, but as my friend Cody used to say, | | | | important thing about Cadillac running the ball so well |
| "Win on Monday, lose on Sunday". The Broncos | | | | is that is sets up third-and-short. The result: the Bucs |
| better be prepared for a muggy, 85-degree day in | | | | are converting 49 percent of their third downs. |
| the panhandle, with scattered thunderstorms | | | | 9) Denver Broncos (2-1) - On the flip side, the |
| throughout.Jacksonville is just trying to keep pace | | | | Broncos are scoring 20 points per game, but they're |
| with Indianapolis, which has another cakewalk in | | | | only converting 25 percent of their third downs. |
| Tennessee. The Jaguars should try to take | | | | 10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - It will be interesting |
| advantage of the fact that Champ Bailey is expected | | | | to see if the bye week stunted their momentum, or |
| slowed by a hamstring injury. The Jaguars are 7-1 | | | | gave them time to regroup and work the kinks out |
| ATS in their last eight games, while Denver is just | | | | of the offense. |
| 3-5-2 in its last ten.Seattle at Washington (-1.5), 1 p.m. | | | | 11) Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) - Trent Green took |
| on Sunday | | | | more shots on Monday night than I think he's taken |
| Seattle has been rolling at home, beating a good | | | | over the past four years. Their home-field edge will |
| Atlanta team 21-18 and then trashing a terrible | | | | be tested by Philly. |
| Arizona team 37-12. However, the Seahawks haven't | | | | 12) Dallas Cowboys (2-1) - Looks like Parcells' guys |
| traveled well the last two seasons (6-11 on the road). | | | | might have a little left in the tank after all, eh? They |
| I don't see them winning more than three road | | | | just better make sure they don't blow their load too |
| games this season, and this is a great opportunity to | | | | early in the season. |
| get one of them.Yup, they're undefeated. | | | | 13) Carolina Panthers (1-2) - If they're really a Super |
| Washington has claimed its two wins by a total of | | | | Bowl contender they will thrash an inferior Green Bay |
| three points over the Bears and Cowboys. The | | | | squad in primetime on Monday Night. |
| Redskins are coming off a bye, so they've had two | | | | 14) Seattle Seahawks (2-1) - Ho-hum. The Seahawks |
| weeks to fortify their home defenses, and Seattle | | | | are second in total offense (399 per game) and |
| has to make that West Coast-East Coast trip that | | | | eighth in total defense (283 per). But they still have |
| they like so much. They'll need Clinton Portis to finally | | | | to prove they can win on the road. |
| bust out if they want this game.St. Louis at New | | | | 15) Miami Dolphins (2-1) - It's still too early to get too |
| York Giants (-3), 1 p.m. on Sunday | | | | excited. As maligned as their offensive line has been, |
| Like it or not, one of these teams is going to be 3-1 | | | | they've only surrendered two sacks thus far. |
| after this week. Each of these clubs is putting up | | | | 16) San Diego Chargers (1-2) - This team is in a |
| serious offensive numbers, with New York averaging | | | | great position to pick up a road win, but only if they |
| 30 points per game and St. Louis putting up 24.3. The | | | | aggressively attack a decimated Patriots defense. |
| Rams are 2-7 ATS in their last nine away games, and | | | | 17) St. Louis Rams (2-1) - These guys are still a |
| the Giants are 5-1 ATS in their last six games.The | | | | sloppy mess. However, they have one mark of a |
| Giants had some team dissension this week. Plexico | | | | good team: defensively they're stopping teams on |
| Burress was benched for the first quarter of New | | | | third down 75 percent of the time. |
| York's loss to San Diego Sunday night by Tom | | | | 18) New York Giants (2-1) - Well, this isn't your |
| Coughlin for tardiness to team meetings the week | | | | father's G-Men. They score in bunches (30.7 per |
| before. Both Burress and Jeremy Shockey came out | | | | game) and they can't stop anybody (408 yards given |
| in the media and criticized the move as "unfair" after | | | | up per game). |
| the game. A comment like that isn't surprising coming | | | | 19) Chicago Bears (1-2) - Any game that Kyle Orton |
| from two guys who have displayed their immaturity | | | | has to throw the ball 39 times the Bears are going to |
| over and over again throughout their young, | | | | lose. It's such a shame that this outstanding defense |
| underachieving careers.San Francisco at Arizona (-3), | | | | is getting wasted on such a piss-poor offense. |
| in Mexico City, 8 p.m. on Sunday | | | | 20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Well, Motor City Kitties, |
| As you can see, I think these are two of the worst | | | | what team do you want to be? Overachievers or |
| teams in the league. However, I do think that this is | | | | underachievers? |
| an opportunity to for some people to cash in. Arizona | | | | 21) Buffalo Bills (1-2) - They were porous against the |
| is the favorite even though they've been absolutely | | | | run (174 per) even before losing TKO, and the |
| terrible thus far. The main reasons they're favored - | | | | offense is getting restless. They're throwing for only |
| because they're the "home" team, and because | | | | 100 yards per game, and both Eric Moulds and Lee |
| they're severely due for a win. However, they've | | | | Evans voiced displeasure about it this week. |
| been blasted twice, and lost a "real" home game to | | | | 22) New York Jets (1-2) - Is the Brooks Bollinger Era |
| St. Louis. Kurt Warner is out, meaning the Josh | | | | over before it begins? It wasn't really an NFL season |
| McCown shit-show is back in business. They can't run | | | | until Vinny Testaverde was involved. OK, now |
| the ball, can't stop anyone, and they can't finish | | | | everyone can start playing for real. |
| drives (though kicker Neil Rackers is a fantasy | | | | 23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - For their sake, they |
| stud).San Francisco, on the other hand, did get | | | | better have regrouped during the bye week. They |
| blasted by Philadelphia and did choke against Dallas. | | | | need a win over the Jets just to get back into the |
| But they at least have a win, and only lost by three | | | | AFC North race. |
| to a good Dallas squad. They're building confidence, | | | | 24) Tennessee Titans (1-2) - The Titans were |
| and their front seven has shown an ability to get to | | | | aware that Travis Henry was in the league's |
| the quarterback (11 sacks). Also, it's supposed to rain | | | | substance abuse policy before they traded for him, |
| all day in Mexico City on Sunday, meaning sloppy | | | | so the suspension shouldn't be too big of a surprise. |
| conditions. I'm not trying to openly campaign for the | | | | 25) Minnesota Vikings (1-2) - Offensive coordinator |
| 49ers (don't underestimate Arizona's Due Factor) but | | | | Steve Loney is still calling the plays, kind of. Loney |
| I'm just saying not to completely dismiss this | | | | gives them to Tice, who relays them to Culpepper. |
| game.FREE PICK: I hate taking a visiting team, but I'm | | | | Tice did change some calls during Sunday's win over |
| going to give Seattle (+2) one final shot before I | | | | New Orleans. |
| swear them off on the road forever. They're just | | | | 26) New Orleans Saints (1-2) - I know they have |
| 4-13 ATS over their last 17 games, but I just think | | | | excuses, but having the second-worst turnover ratio |
| that they have more talent than the Redskins - who | | | | (-7) and the worst penalty numbers (12 per game) is |
| have looked downright terrible in spots. If | | | | just sloppiness. |
| Washington does win, it won't be by much, so my | | | | 27) Oakland Raiders (0-3) - The front seven has |
| suggestion would be to get Seattle on the money | | | | played well, but they wear down in the fourth |
| line and then hedge by including them in a teaser. | | | | quarter in part because the offense is 28th in time of |
| Best case scenario: you win both bets and double | | | | possession (27:41). They've had a brutal schedule so |
| up.Week 4 Power Rankings1) Indianapolis Colts (3-0) - | | | | far. |
| If they hold the Titans to single digits, they'll join the | | | | 28) Cleveland Browns (1-2) - Their offense is only on |
| 1962 Packers as the only teams to achieve that feat | | | | the field for 26 minutes a game. I bet the Ravens |
| in their first four games. But, statistically, the Colts | | | | wish they still had Trent Dilfer (who is completing |
| are only 21st (322 yards per) in the NFL. | | | | 67% of his passes). |
| 2) New England Patriots (2-1) - Seventh most | | | | 29) San Francisco 49ers (1-2) - Though playing at |
| penalties, 30th in rushing, and now they're down a | | | | home, Tim Rattay had to move out of the shotgun |
| defensive leader and a starting lineman. The Pats | | | | and under center last week against Dallas because |
| have the league right where they want them. | | | | Cowboys fans were too loud. |
| 3) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) - I know they like to | | | | 30) Houston Texans (0-2) - The Texans reshuffled |
| pound the ball, but they have to at least attempt to | | | | their deck during the bye week. They better hope |
| get Willie Parker outside and in space at least once or | | | | for a good hand against a Cincinnati team that's |
| twice a game. | | | | dealing. |
| 4) Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) - The Eagles offense | | | | 31) Green Bay Packers (0-3) - A -8 turnover |
| (444 yards per game) is tops in the league, even | | | | differential is the NFL equivalent of moldy cheese. |
| though McNabb has been playing hurt since opening | | | | 32) Arizona Cardinals (0-3) - It's amazing that the |
| week. The main reason: free-agent-to-be Brian | | | | media-savvy NFL execs really picked the Cardinals |
| Westbrook. | | | | and Niners to go to Mexico and represent the league |
| 5) Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) - They are dominating | | | | in a new market. How do you say "McCown sucks!" |
| time of possession (35 to 25) and swarming on | | | | in Spanish?Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail |
| defense. It doesn't hurt when Carson Palmer is | | | | Doc's Sports Handy Links Articles:NFL Odds2005 NFL |
| completing 71 percent of his passes. | | | | SchedulesFootball PicksDoc's Sports Handicapping |
| 6) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) - The Jags look and play | | | | Service |
| like San Diego and the Jets did last season. And like | | | | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been |
| those teams, kicker Josh Scobee (7-for-9) will play an | | | | recognized as one of the leaders and most trusted |
| important role in this team's fate. | | | | names in sports handicapping information. |