There were plenty of questions answered in Week 4. The Saints continue to march in, the Broncos proved they are a legitimate team, Jay Cutler becoming a hit in Chicago, San Diego has lost its defense and the Raiders and Rams are baaaaaaad. Thank goodness neither team is in L.A. right now.
The Good:
Mendenhall can RUN for Mayor in Pittsburgh!
For the past three weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been trying to find a running game. This week, they found it in RB Rashard Mendenhall. While filling in for the injured Willie Parker, Mendenhall showed why the Steelers drafted him in the 1st round last year. He finished the night with 165-yards rushing, 2 TDs and another 26 yards on 2 catches. That should certainly get him out of the doghouse for his previous fumble problems.
Finally, somebody that can walk the walk.
There are some players that can talk a mean talk, but cannot follow it up by walking the walk. FS Darren Sharper is not one of those guys. One week after saying that QB Mark Sanchez gave plays away with his eyes and that the Saints would be able to strip sack him, Sharper delivered by intercepting 2 of Mark Sanchez’s passes and taking one back 99-yards for a TD.
Just keeps getting better.
QB Peyton Manning looks like his old self again. Manning only threw 2 touchdown passes in the Colts’ victory over the Seahawks, but it’s the other things he does so effortlessly. He completed 31 of 41 for 353-yards and moved into a tie for third on the all time NFL TD pass career list. Manning now has 342 TDs in his career and trails only Dan Marino (420) and Brett Favre (469).
The other Steve Smith.
Everybody knows about the Steve Smith playing for the Carolina Panthers. This week everyone is starting to talk about the Steve Smith playing for the New York Giants. The New York Smith is starting to make a name for himself. He has quickly become the Giants number one receiver and is quickly making Giants fans forget about the guy that shot himself in the leg. Smith had 11 catches for 134-yards and 2 TDs. Watch out Carolina Steve Smith!
The Bad:
Invasion of the body snatchers.
Before the season began, Chargers’ running back LaDainian Tomlinson said he felt that he was still the best running back in the league. It appears that the pod people have replaced L.T. with a shell of a runner. After missing the past two games with an ankle injury, L.T. returned to the field and was ineffective. He only had seven carries for 15-yards. His consecutive games streak of getting at least 10 carries in games he started came to a screeching halt at 86.
Momma told me there would be days like this.
After becoming the only NFL QB in history to win his first 3 starts, Jets QB Mark Sanchez suffered his worse game as pro, only completing 51 percent of his passes and throwing 3 interceptions and committing one costly fumble in the end zone. Mark will probably be getting a fine for a penalty he committed after throwing an interception that Darren Sharper returned 99-yards for a TD. Keep your chin up Mark, you can’t win them all.
What A Difference A Year makes.
The Tennessee Titans drop to 0-4 after being blown out by the Jaguars 37-17. Something is wrong in Tennessee and appears to be the defense. This year, the Titans are 22nd overall on defense and ranked dead last versus the pass. Last year, the Titans were in the top 10 against the pass and against the run and were second in scoring defense allowing just 14.6 points per game. This year, Tennessee is 27th in scoring defense allowing 27 points per game, nearly twice as much as last year.
The Ugly:
Aren’t You Glad They’re Not In Los Angeles?
St. Louis can keep the Rams! They may very well be the worst team in the NFL right now. They are so bad, we are officially calling them the Lambs. Why? Because they are baaaaaad. The Rams were shutout again this week 35-0, making this the second time in four games the Lambs could not score a single point. What is worse, the Lambs offense produced 21 points for the 49ers. That’s three less than the 24 points they have scored for themselves all year.
They should have left him at home.
Upon returning from a three-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, Bills RB Marshawn Lynch made zero impact. Lynch had 4-yards on eight carries versus the Miami Dolphins. With production like that, the Bills would have been better served by letting Lynch stay in Buffalo.
You Call That Roughing The Passer?
Next year the league will consider two hand touch for quarterbacks. The Baltimore Ravens were penalized twice for roughing the passer when they brushed up against Patriots QB Tom Brady. The second of the two, a penalty on Terrell Suggs, who was diving out of the way to avoid contact with Brady, was just plain ugly. Time to put skirts on the quarterbacks.
Great blog Steven. I feel LT can still have an impact but to be fair he was against a Pittsburgh D that is A+. And only getting 7 carries is a joke, although being 14-0 down quickly couldnt have helped him either. Just wondering about your thoughts on the Cowboys i was Very Dissapointed with the loss and am not at the stage where im more angry with a Cowboys loss than a Liverpool loss in the EPL. Do you see Jason Garrett as the “GREAT ONE”. No F.Jones doesnt mean we cant run the ball.
NOW*
Another gem… You guys are amazing.. Truely the voice of the NFL fan!!!!
Yet another honest and refreshing take on the NFL.
Mendenhal “Runs for mayor” priceless!
I also think you nailed it with LT he just does not look like the same guy he was a year ago. Imagine all the Fantasy owners that are just sick to their stomachs at his current situation.
As for the St. Louis Laaaambs, ‘nough said!
How to comment on Princess Tom Brady, in his “tower of wounded knee” while Flacco was getting pummeled on the other side of the ball! Man up Brady, and grow a pair!
Hey, Brady didn’t throw those flags. Just like every receiver on a third down play, they are looking to the refs when they don’t catch a ball. Sometimes you get the call, sometimes you don’t. Don’t blame Brady.