| Here's a Ferringo's-eye view of Week 3 in
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| | guffawing columnist across the country
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| the National Football League:
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| | they're the Best Team Ever so it
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|
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| | shouldn't matter, right?
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| New England at Pittsburgh (-3)
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| | 4) Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) - The
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| Once again, the Patriots are involved in
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| | Bengals made one of the largest jumps
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| the Game of the Week. They're dogs
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| | from last week's Power Rankings (up eight
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| entering the Steel City, and are going up
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| | slots from 12). But memo to Chad Johnson:
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| against the best team in football right
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| | don't call out Mike Brown (just ask
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| now. Ben Roethlisberger has a ridiculous
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| | Marcus Pollard). I hope my Bears knocks
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| 153.6 passer rating, which is nearly
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| | these guys back into the Dave Shula Days.
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| perfect. He's also 16-1 as a starter,
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| which is nearly perfect and is looking to
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| | 5) Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) - Despite
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| avenge the only loss of his pro career -
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| | their off-field issues, they already have
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| a 41-27 blowout at the hands of the Pats
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| | a division road win and are averaging
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| in the AFC Title Game last January.
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| | 161.5 yards per game on the ground.
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|
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| | However, they are just 1-4 ATS in Denver,
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| Pittsburgh is once again the top running
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| | where they play on Monday.
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| team in the league, bruising its way to
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| | 6) Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) - McNabb
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| 170.5 yards per game (without their two
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| | and Owens share the cover on this week's
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| best runners) and 4.7 yards per carry.
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| | Sports Illustrated. I don't buy the love
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| The Steelers also rank fourth on defense,
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| | fest. It's easy to get along when you're
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| but are just 17th against the run. The
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| | up 42-3 at home, but let's see what
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| Patriots, on the other hand, are only
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| | happens when they're in a tough spot.
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| averaging 2.4 yards per carry, and they
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| | 7) Carolina Panthers (1-1) - Peter King
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| are the 12th-ranked defense in the NFL.
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| | said that Brees' interception against the
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| In two games, they've yielded 23.5 points
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| | Broncos last week was one of the worst
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| a game.
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| | he's ever seen. My vote goes to Jake
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| | Delhomme's toss to New England's Mike
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| Per usual, Tom Brady will be the key to
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| | Vrabel, who returned it for a TD.
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| any upset chance that New England has.
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| | 8) Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) - Losing
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| Brady's shoulder is officially listed as
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| | safety Donovin Darius for the year is a
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| probable, and he'll be looking to avenge
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| | huge blow. Also, Byron Leftwich is on his
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| his poor performance (69.3 rating)
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| | way to becoming the next Steve McNair -
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| against Carolina last week. That rating
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| | doesn't practice due to injury then steps
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| was the 17th worst of his 73 starts (in
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| | up and plays/leads his team on Sunday.
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| which he is 58-15). However, he's 10-4 in
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| | 9) Atlanta Falcons (1-1) - Backup QB
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| games following his previous 14 losses
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| | Matt Schaub has been an All-World
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| and has posted a passer rating close to
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| | Preseason player the last two years, and
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| 95 in those games.
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| | there are actually some rednecks in
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|
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| | Georgia that would love to see him get
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| Cincinnati (-3) at Chicago
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| | his own shot. Those same folks have an IQ
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| The Pats and Steelers may be the Game of
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| | lower than Vick's passer rating of 73.4.
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| the Week, but I really think that this is
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| | Atlanta is 2-11 in games that Vick hasn't
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| the most intriguing matchup of Week 3. It
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| | started in the last three years.
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| pits two young, up-and-coming teams - one
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| | 10) Washington Redskins (2-0) - I really
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| with a high-powered offense and one with
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| | didn't think Mark Brunell could still
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| a hard-hitting defense - each trying to
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| | throw it that far. I guess Roy Williams
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| make a name for itself among the top
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| | didn't think so either.
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| teams in their respective conferences.
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| | 11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) - They've
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|
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| | only faced 32 rushing attempts in two
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| In this corner, Cincinnati has been the
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| | games, but the Bucs defense is giving up
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| "Best Team That Nobody is Talking About"
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| | only 40 yards per game on the ground and
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| thus far by demolishing Cleveland and
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| | 2.5 yards per carry.
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| Minnesota. The Bengals and their Big
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| | 12) Dallas Cowboys (1-1) - Blame that
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| Three - Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and
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| | loss on whichever linebacker that was
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| Rudi Johnson - have led Cincy to the No.
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| | that got juked by a 57-year-old Brunell
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| 1 offense in the league. They are
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| | on that 3rd-and-27 scramble.
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| averaging 462 yards per game, with 157
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| | 13) Buffalo Bills (1-1) - Bills fans,
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| coming on the ground and 305 through the
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| | this is what you get with a first-year
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| air. Palmer has been lights out (five
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| | QB. Trust me, I know. I'd be more worried
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| TD's and a 107.8 rating), and is being
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| | about Willis McGahee dancing in the
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| backed by a defense that has already
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| | holes.
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| forced a ridiculous 10 takeaways.
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| | 14) Seattle Seahawks (1-1) - Seattle is
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|
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| | that quiet, shifty guy in the corner
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| And in this corner, Chicago has been the
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| | booth of the bar. He seems unassuming,
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| "Best Team that Everyone Forgot Existed"
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| | but you keep looking over your shoulder
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| until they posted a 32-point win last
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| | because you don't know if he's going to
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| week over the Lions. The Bears have gone
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| | snap and kill everyone or just get
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| back to their roots - run the ball (114
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| | blasted and stumble home.
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| ypg, 4.1 ypc) and playing good defense
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| | 15) Chicago Bears (1-1) - Brian Urlacher
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| (7th overall). This is a big spot for a
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| | has 15 solo tackles and three sacks in
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| team that's on the verge of having some
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| | two games. Now where are all those
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| confidence. If they can defend their turf
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| | ass-clowns that said he was overrated?
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| they enter their bye week on a 2-1 roll
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| | Also, linebacker Lance Briggs has just
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| with putrid Cleveland waiting on the
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| | been wrecking people.
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| other side.
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| | 16) Denver Broncos (1-1) - Remember how
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|
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| | everyone ripped on them for picking up
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| But a win is far from given. Kyle Orton
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| | the Browns front four (worst in the
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| played well for Chicago last weekend
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| | league against the run in '04)? Well,
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| (translation: no turnovers) and will
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| | Denver is currently 22nd against the rush
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| again have to protect the ball against
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| | (115 ypg) with K.C. rolling into town.
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| the Bengals.
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| | 17) New York Giants (2-0) - If they go
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| | on the road and beat San Diego I still
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| Atlanta at Buffalo (2.5)
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| | won't jump on the bandwagon - but I'll be
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| There are certainly quarterback issues
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| | very, very impressed.
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| for both of these teams. Mike Vick is
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| | 18) New Orleans Saints (1-1) - After
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| listed as questionable this weekend with
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| | what they've been through and where
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| a sore hamstring, and J.P. Losman is
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| | they've been through over the last month
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| unofficially questionable after getting
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| | (Oakland to Texas to Carolina to New York
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| benched last week for one drive against
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| | and now to Minnesota) Jim Haslett has a
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| Tampa Bay. I would put Vick at about 85
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| | right to vent. That team just looked worn
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| percent to play. Also, Losman will again
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| | out in the fourth quarter of that MNF
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| seize the reigns for Buffalo, and don't
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| | game.
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| be surprised to see Mike Mularkey dig
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| | 19) New York Jets (1-1) - The good news
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| into his bag-of-tricks and pull out some
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| | is that Curtis Martin didn't tear any
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| gimmicks this weekend.
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| | knee ligaments (MRI was negative). The
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|
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| | bad news is that safety Erik Coleman just
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| This game will be a slugfest. Atlanta is
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| | had thumb surgery and may not be
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| fifth in the league in rushing (157 ypg,
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| | available.
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| 4.6 ypc) and Buffalo is 15th (100 ypg,
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| | 20) Detroit Lions (1-1) - Monday, Steve
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| 3.8 ypc). The Bills are second in the
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| | Mariucci says that the team has no
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| league in total defense, but are just
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| | interest in ex-Buc Shaun King. Tuesday,
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| 30th in rushing after getting rolled by
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| | King and Jeff George worked out for the
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| Tampa Bay (191 rush yards) last Sunday.
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| | Lions. Tick-tock, Joey Harrington.
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| Atlanta, on the other hand, will most
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| | Tick-tock.
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| likely be without cornerback/kick
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| | 21) San Diego Chargers (0-2) - This
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| returner Allen Rossum and defensive end
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| | isn't a bad team at all. However they've
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| Brady Smith, who are two key cogs. Rossum
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| | absolutely given away two games already.
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| is particularly important because the
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| | Ah, Marty Ball.
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| Falcons are already without corner Kevin
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| | 22) St. Louis Rams (1-1) - I still don't
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| Mathis - leaving the secondary very
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| | think they're running the ball enough.
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| vulnerable.
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| | However, they are third in the league in
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|
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| | offensive time of possession (34:07 per
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| New York Giants at San Diego (-5.5)
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| | game).
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| I hope Eli brings his ear plugs. This
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| | 23) Oakland Raiders (0-2) - Despite
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| will be Manning's first appearance in San
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| | playing two of the best rushing teams in
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| Diego, the city that drafted him first
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| | the NFL, the Raiders D is giving up a
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| overall in 2004 even though he said he
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| | paltry 3.0 yards per carry. However, they
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| wanted nothing to do with that
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| | need to start pressuring quarterbacks.
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| organization. Also, Manning and the 2-0
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| | Their two sacks are tied for worst in the
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| G-Men will be rolling into the den of a
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| | league.
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| team that, at 0-2, is desperate for a
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| | 24) Tennessee Titans (1-1) - Their win
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| win.
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| | over Baltimore last week wasn't a fluke
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|
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| | from the standpoint that while they don't
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| Yes, the Giants are 2-0. But they are
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| | have the depth to compete this season,
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| the fraudulent kind of undefeated. They
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| | they certainly have the talent to jump up
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| tooled on the Cardinals (who doesn't?)
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| | and bite an unsuspecting team.
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| and then topped an emotionally spent
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| | 23) Baltimore Ravens (0-2) - Right now
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| Saints club in a "road" game in Jersey.
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| | their run-pass ratio is almost 3-to-1,
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| They have scored 69 points so far. Pretty
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| | but not the way you'd expect. So far
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| impressive, right? But they're 26th in
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| | they've thrown 95 passes to go with only
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| total offense and have run the second
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| | 34 rushes. Unreal.
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| fewest plays (104) in the league. They've
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| | 26) Miami (1-1) - People are already
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| mostly been the beneficiary of special
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| | calling Ronnie Brown (34 attempts, 94
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| teams flukes and turnovers. Defensively,
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| | yards, 0 TD's) a bust because he's not
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| they're allowed 370 yards per contest.
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| | putting up the numbers that Cadillac
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|
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| | Williams (54-276-2) is. I think it's way
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| San Diego, on the other hand, is playing
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| | too early to be making those claims.
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| well until it matters. Drew Brees and Co.
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| | 27) Minnesota Vikings (0-2) - Just a
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| were on their way to a crucial road win
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| | thought, but maybe it's not Randy Moss
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| over Denver last weekend until Drew Brees
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| | that they miss the most. Maybe it's
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| threw a horrible INT that Champ Bailey
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| | former offensive coordinator Scott
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| returned for a touchdown. The week
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| | Linehan (now in Miami).
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| before, they had benched Antonio Gates
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| | 28) Cleveland Browns (1-1) - As bad as
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| and decided to give LaDainian Tomlinson
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| | the Packers were, any time you go into
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| only two touches in the fourth quarter of
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| | Green Bay and get a win it's an
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| a four-point loss to Dallas. It's tough
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| | accomplishment.
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| to have must-win games in September, but
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| | 29) San Francisco 49ers (1-1) - They
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| this is pretty close for the Bolts.
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| | lost by 39 points, but I had to move them
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|
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| | up one slot this week because the teams
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| FREE PICK (YTD 0-1): This week I like
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| | behind them looked that awful.
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| Indianapolis to cover the 13.5 against
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| | 30) Arizona Cardinals (0-2) - Kurt
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| the Browns. In 2004 the Colts had one of
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| | Warner got sacked five times last week
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| the Greatest Offenses Football Has Ever
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| | and was hit six others. If they can't get
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| Seen. But over their last three games -
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| | the running game going - Marcel Shipp
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| dating back to the playoff loss in
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| | will start this weekend - then they're
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| Foxboro - they've managed just 12 points
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| | going to get Warner killed. Their
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| per contest. I'm looking for them to
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| | run-pass ratio is 37 rushes to 98 passes.
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| break out in a big way at home against a
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| | Not good.
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| Cleveland team that's 30th in the NFL
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| | 31) Green Bay Packers (0-2) - Wow. This
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| against the pass. Also, I think the
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| | team is a total mess, on all fronts, and
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| Brownies are due for a letdown after a
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| | shows no signs of improving. They just
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| tough road win in Lambeau last Sunday.
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| | don't have the talent on either side of
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|
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| | the ball.
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| 1) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) - It's
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| | 32) Houston Texans (0-2) - Jason Babin
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| really tough to be picky about a team
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| | and Philip Buchanon - a tandem whom the
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| that's looked so good, but they are
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| | Texans traded a combined five first-day
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| allowing the opposition to convert 48
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| | draft picks for the rights to - have both
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| percent of their third downs.
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| | been benched.
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| 2) Indianapolis Colts (2-0) - This team
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| has the purposeful look of a group on a
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| | Questions or comments for Robert? e-mail
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| Mission. It hasn't been smoke and
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| mirrors, but good ol' fashioned
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| |
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| toughness. Let's see if they can sustain
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| | Doc's Sports Handy Links:2005 NFL
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| it.
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| | SchedulesSuper Bowl 2006NFL power
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| 3) New England Patriots (1-1) - This
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| | rankingsDoc's Sports Handicapping Service
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| game at Pittsburgh is part of their
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| | 1-866-238-6696Since 1971 Doc's Sports
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| Murderer's Row schedule that has them
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| | has been recognized as one of the leaders
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| hosting San Diego, at Atlanta, at Denver,
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| | and most trusted names in sports
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| bye, hosting Buffalo and hosting
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| | handicapping information.
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| Indianapolis. But hey, according to every
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|
