Week 11 primer: Feeling separation anxiety (NFC East games only)
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It happens every season around this time. First, I go into a slump with the weekly NFL picks, allowing my fellow SN experts to put some distance between their record and mine. Second, there emerge only a handful of teams on which you can count to deliver a solid performance every week. It's starting to become clear which teams have it, and which teams just have too many questions.
At this point, your final four is looking like this: Cowboys and Packers in the NFC, Patriots and Steelers in the AFC. The Colts' injury issues and the Chargers' coaching concerns are becoming worrisome. The Giants, Lions and Seahawks have been great when they win, but they've been awful when they've lost. The Bucs, Titans and Jaguars have all played some good, physical defense, but this is becoming the year of explosive passing games, and none of them have one.
It's no coincidence that Dallas, Green Bay, New England and Pittsburgh also have gotten the best quarterback play, with Tony Romo, Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger all having that MVP look about them. And thanks to the NFL's regular-season scheduling, we'll get to those monemutal conference matchups before the conference playoffs. But before the Cowboys host the Packers in Week 13 and the Patriots entertain the Steelers in Week 14, it's time to sort out the mess and get back on track this week, starting with. . . .
Rivalry of the Week
Washington at Dallas. Jason Campbell is proving to be capable starter in this league with some superstar potential. The Redskins, however, don't have the offensive consistency at the moment to keep up with Tony Romo, who's already reached superstar status. Romo has a lot more help than Campbell, as well, with the better, healthier offensive line, along with the considerable skills of Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton, Marion Barber and Julius Jones.
The Cowboys' defense has been great in roping in quarterbacks of late, getting its 3-4 into a groove under Wade Phillips. The Redskins like to blitz, but without Sean Taylor there to take away Romo's favorite area, the middle of the field, it will be a long afternoon at the home of their archrivals. Cowboys 31, Redskins 13.
Mismatch of the Week
New York Giants at Detroit. The Giants have the best pass-rushing front four in the NFL, which has produced a league-best 32 sacks. The Lions have the worst pass-protecting front five in the NFL, which has given up a league-worst 40 sacks. I could go on and on about these now NFC wild-card contenders, but I think we've found a pretty good reason why the Giants will win rather handily. Giants 27, Lions 14.
Rest of the Week
Miami at Philadelphia. We have another rookie quarterback sighting in a starting lineup, but much to chagrin of many Philly football fans -- before Donovan McNabb led the team to an impressive comeback victory at Washington last week, of course -- it's not Kevin Kolb. It makes more sense for the winless Dolphins to roll with former BYU star John Beck, with really, nothing to lose -- expect every other game on their schedule. Starting Beck against the aggressive blitz packages of Jim Johnson isn't the best way to get his feet wet, however. And oh yeah, the Dolphins' defense has no answers for McNabb and Brian Westbrook. Eagles 34, Dolphins 14.
It happens every season around this time. First, I go into a slump with the weekly NFL picks, allowing my fellow SN experts to put some distance between their record and mine. Second, there emerge only a handful of teams on which you can count to deliver a solid performance every week. It's starting to become clear which teams have it, and which teams just have too many questions.
At this point, your final four is looking like this: Cowboys and Packers in the NFC, Patriots and Steelers in the AFC. The Colts' injury issues and the Chargers' coaching concerns are becoming worrisome. The Giants, Lions and Seahawks have been great when they win, but they've been awful when they've lost. The Bucs, Titans and Jaguars have all played some good, physical defense, but this is becoming the year of explosive passing games, and none of them have one.
It's no coincidence that Dallas, Green Bay, New England and Pittsburgh also have gotten the best quarterback play, with Tony Romo, Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger all having that MVP look about them. And thanks to the NFL's regular-season scheduling, we'll get to those monemutal conference matchups before the conference playoffs. But before the Cowboys host the Packers in Week 13 and the Patriots entertain the Steelers in Week 14, it's time to sort out the mess and get back on track this week, starting with. . . .
Rivalry of the Week
Washington at Dallas. Jason Campbell is proving to be capable starter in this league with some superstar potential. The Redskins, however, don't have the offensive consistency at the moment to keep up with Tony Romo, who's already reached superstar status. Romo has a lot more help than Campbell, as well, with the better, healthier offensive line, along with the considerable skills of Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton, Marion Barber and Julius Jones.
The Cowboys' defense has been great in roping in quarterbacks of late, getting its 3-4 into a groove under Wade Phillips. The Redskins like to blitz, but without Sean Taylor there to take away Romo's favorite area, the middle of the field, it will be a long afternoon at the home of their archrivals. Cowboys 31, Redskins 13.
Mismatch of the Week
New York Giants at Detroit. The Giants have the best pass-rushing front four in the NFL, which has produced a league-best 32 sacks. The Lions have the worst pass-protecting front five in the NFL, which has given up a league-worst 40 sacks. I could go on and on about these now NFC wild-card contenders, but I think we've found a pretty good reason why the Giants will win rather handily. Giants 27, Lions 14.
Rest of the Week
Miami at Philadelphia. We have another rookie quarterback sighting in a starting lineup, but much to chagrin of many Philly football fans -- before Donovan McNabb led the team to an impressive comeback victory at Washington last week, of course -- it's not Kevin Kolb. It makes more sense for the winless Dolphins to roll with former BYU star John Beck, with really, nothing to lose -- expect every other game on their schedule. Starting Beck against the aggressive blitz packages of Jim Johnson isn't the best way to get his feet wet, however. And oh yeah, the Dolphins' defense has no answers for McNabb and Brian Westbrook. Eagles 34, Dolphins 14.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:34 PM
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