Re: NFL WEEK FOUR SCHEDULE DISCUSSION
It's been an exciting and rather unpredictable first three weeks of the 2011 season. When the league's only two teams not to make the playoffs this century are a combined 6-0 and the one that's reached the postseason nine straight times has yet to win a single game, that's some serious volatility.
The rise of perennial doormats like the Bills and Lions, and the swift and sudden fall of the traditionally-excellent Colts, are the most obvious examples that nothing can be taken for granted in today's NFL. And that goes for the games as well, with 12 of the 16 contests on last week's docket experiencing lead changes in the second half and both Buffalo and Detroit roaring back from deficits of 20 or more points to come out on top.
If there's one thing that can be surmised from what's already transpired, it's that teams with good quarterbacks can never be counted out of a game, as both the Bills and Cowboys have proved by delivering back-to-back stirring comeback wins over the past two weeks, and those that don't are more or less doomed. The present plight of the snake-bitten Colts in Peyton Manning's absence offers plenty of incriminating evidence to that last point.
There's a great deal that still needs to be determined, however, as this season reaches its quarter point. With that in mind, here are seven questions to ask when viewing what should be another great weekend:
1) Will this be Tony Sparano's last game as the Dolphins' head coach?
Could be. Miami has a bye in Week 5 and could very well be in an 0-4 hole following Sunday's challenging matchup at San Diego, which would give the 'Fins seven consecutive setbacks dating back to last season. Add in the fact that the Dolphins had about 20,000 empty seats for their last home game, and it would hardly be surprising if unhappy owner Stephen Ross creates a shakeup if the team is still winless entering the off week.
2) Can the Eagles and Falcons snap out of their early funks?
The two expected NFC contenders are both 1-2 and about to embark on important games that may be tougher than at first glance. Philadelphia hosts an improving San Francisco squad that's an overtime loss away from being 3-0 right now and will be doing so with an ailing Michael Vick once again. Atlanta, which has played poorly in both of its previous outings on the road this year, makes a cross-country trip to Seattle this weekend to take on a Seahawks outfit that has plenty of problems of its own, but is usually tough at home and got a needed boost on offense from last week's return of wide receiver Sidney Rice.
3) Can the Vikings hold onto a lead?
So far, the answer has been an emphatic no, as Minnesota has been outscored by an unbelievable 67-6 margin after halftime in wasting double-digit advantages against San Diego, Tampa Bay and Detroit. The task figures to be a little easier for the still-winless Vikings this week, however, as the wayward Kansas City Chiefs head into Sunday's matchup between the teams having scored the fewest points (27) and allowed the most (109) in the league through three weeks.
4) Can the Lions win again?
Detroit's stunning 26-23 overtime triumph at Minnesota, in which the team came back from a 20-0 halftime hole, was almost as improbable as the longtime losers' current sequence of win. Counting this year's preseason, the Lions have ripped off 11 consecutive victories that began with a four-game surge last December. For it to reach 12, however, Detroit will have to handle a fierce Dallas defense that's racked up a league-best 13 sacks one week after struggling to adequately protect franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford.
5) Which Houston Texans defense will show up?
The Texans were smothering on that side of the ball in back-to-back wins to begin the season, yielding a mere 325 passing yards combined to the quarterback-deficient Colts and Dolphins, but the bloom came off the rose after undertaking a major step up in competition last week. Houston was scorched for 354 net passing yards as well as 23 fourth-quarter points by Drew Brees and the high-powered New Orleans Saints in a 40-33 Week 3 setback, and Pittsburgh's outstanding combo of Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Wallace pose another dangerous threat to the remodeled group on Sunday in one of the most intriguing games of this weekend's slate.
[TABLE="width: 204, align: left"]
<tbody>
<center>[FONT=arial,helvetica]Darren McFadden has produced an NFL-best 393 rushing yards and 477 yards from scrimmage.[/FONT]</center> |
</tbody>[/TABLE]
6) Will Darren McFadden run wild once again?
The most overlooked great player in this league, McFadden has produced an NFL- best 393 rushing yards and 477 yards from scrimmage over the Oakland Raiders' first three games and was absolutely brilliant in the team's 34-24 ousting of the more revered New York Jets last Sunday, shredding one of the game's premier run defenses for 171 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Silver and Black may need a similar performance from the star running back this week in order to keep up with the prolific New England Patriots, who've eclipsed the 30-point mark in 11 straight games and are seething over a shocking loss at Buffalo a week ago.
7) Which of the Titans and Browns can stamp themselves as a prime early contender?
One of the more under-the-radar games on Sunday's schedule will take place in Cleveland, with both the Titans and Browns presently fielding 2-1 records under first-year head coaches and owning a share of first place in their respective divisions. The winner can take a big step towards becoming a real factor in the AFC playoff race down the road.
