I suppose that one of the compelling storylines of the weekend is the condition of the teams that have stumbled out of the gate. While realistic hopes are not the same for every team at the start of the season, no one expects to be winless going into October. Plus, the desperate teams have their own claims to fame, for they are the places where coaching vacancies occur and where top draft choices go.
So the 0-4 Colts host the 1-3 Chiefs. Curtis Painter looked like he could lead Indy to a victory on Monday Night against the Bucs, and so I expect him to break the Colts’ terrible streak this Sunday at home against the troubled Chiefs.
Similarly, the 0-4 Vikings host the 1-3 Cardinals. I don’t know what to think of the Vikings. Their penchant for falling apart in the second half, their failure to beat the previously winless Chiefs, and their simmering quarterback controversy -- they really are a disaster. But you can’t bet against a team that boasts one of the best running backs in the league forever.
Neither of the Pennsylvania teams is winless, but both have been disappointing through the first quarter. This week, the 2-2 Steelers host the 3-1 Titans. Lots of dire talk these days about Pittsburgh, though a quality win would put that to an end. Or at least put it on hold.
Even more disappointing have been the “Dream Team” Philadelphia Eagles. They’re off to a stunning 1-3 start, and Frank Gore recently suggested that the Eagles basically stopped playing in their loss -- at home! -- to the 49ers. And now they travel to Buffalo to play the 3-1 Bills. Buffalo stumbled last week against the Bengals, but they were one of the last undefeated teams in the league, and they managed to beat the Patriots. Could be real ugly real soon for the Eagles if they don’t turn things around this weekend.
Meanwhile, one of the two marquee match-ups of the weekend is the Jets’ visit to New England. It’s a divisional game, it’s a rematch from last year’s playoffs, and it’s between two squads that don’t like each other very much. Should be a great game. And it should be a Patriot win, distancing themselves from their division rival and putting the Jets in a pretty fair hole.
Don Banks wrote a fascinating article about the parallels between the two marquee games -- that Jets/Patriots game and the Packers visit to Atlanta.
Our particular rematch is a fascinating one since Green Bay played in Atlanta twice last year. The first game was during the regular season, and it was a narrow and heart-breaking loss. The second game was in the playoffs, and it was a nearly perfect performance by the Packers as they completely dominated the favored Falcons. As a result of that contest, plus the very different starts to 2011, the Packers come into this game as the popular pick. Peter King, for example, offers an analysis of the match-up, and he explains why the Packers will prevail.
I hope the Packers don’t believe their own press, though. I think Atlanta is better than its record, and their hometown crowd will be rocking for this national televised game. I was brimming with confidence going into our game against Denver last weekend, but this one has me worried. Also, I believe that the Sunday Night Football game is the best broadcast in the NFL right now, and I’d love to see us do well on that stage.
Meanwhile, our two most competitive Division rivals are also in Prime Time this weekend, as the 2-2 Bears visit the un-defeated Lions. I’d sure love to see Chicago pop Detroit’s insufferable bubble. My fear is that their first loss is further down the road, however. I think the Lions are for real on both sides of the ball, and I think Chicago’s only advantage is in the return game. If it were being played in Chicago, then perhaps… but, no.
Finally, speaking of the surprising Lions, there seems to be a certain geographical symmetry across the sports world these days. Michigan and Wisconsin, for example, are all thumbs up -- Wolverines, Lions, and Tigers are winning in the former, with the Badgers, Packers, and Brewers winning in the latter. In Minnesota, by contrast, both the Vikings and Golden Gophers are disasters. New York (Yankees and Jets) performs below expectations. And in Philadelphia, the two dream team rosters (Phillies and Eagles) have come up short.
Of course, one weekend can make an enormous difference. We’ll see what the sports world looks like come Tuesday morning.
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