With the NFL being such a game of trends, Week Ten did not disappoint. We saw some trends this week, but in keeping with the trend of this NFL season being completely unpredictable, the trends we saw were not what we expected to see.

How about this new slogan for the NFL: “The NFL, its TRENDY”

No? OK then, how about we get on with things and get onto the Top Ten?

Here we go!

Number 10

How quickly we forget. Five weeks ago, we were ready to cast Marty Schottenheimer aside and write of his NFL career, as well as the Redskins’ season. But since then, the Skins have reeled off four wins in a row; their latest one coming in convincing fashion over the ever-enigmatic Denver Broncos and after a bye week no less. What has happened here? Earlier in the season, us fans could have banked on the fact that Marty was gonna be thrown out of town, and he was gonna bump into Jeff George in the unemployment line. This is no longer the case however, now it seems that the Skins’ players have finally bought into Marty’s scheme and are playing real football for the first time since this time last season. Kudos to Marty, but I hesitate to say anything more, because there is a lot of games left to play, and the NFL is very quick to forget early season success.

Number 9

The Cleveland Browns owned the Baltimore Ravens this season, period. Cleveland hasn’t swept a team in a long time, in fact the only sweeping they have been doing since the franchise was revived, was sweeping out their locker room after their 16th game. This is a genuinely feel good story for the NFL, isn’t it? A new coach comes in and instills this intense defensive mindset, and things take off from there. The Browns offense is nothing to brag about, but it is getting better and it seems to always keep them in the game, and I think that Tim Couch is only going to get better once he has a good running back behind him. This team just reminds me of the Browns’ teams of old, with their smash-mouth defense and capable offense. I think that the Browns are just one or two lucky bounces away from being the AFC’s version of the Chicago Bears.

Number 8

In the Sunday night game we saw the Rams win, but we did not see the Rams dominate. We saw their offense roll again, but it seemed as though New England was never really out of it. It was a strange game. Normally, if we see Kurt Warner throw for 400+ yards, we see a Rams blowout, but this was not the case. I said that it seemed as though the Pats were never really out of the game, but at the same time, it seemed as though there was no chance they were going to win it. Is that even possible? That is just the feeling I got from the game, I don’t know if any of you thought the same thing, but I would like to know. Drop me and email if you have thoughts on it.

Then again, maybe someone has spiked my coffee… (Actually, I wouldn’t mind if someone did…)

One more point with regard to this game. I was really impressed with Tom Brady, and I mean really impressed. Granted, his stats weren’t highlight reel material, but they weren’t Ryan Leaf bad either. His line was something like 19/27 for 185yds with 1 TD and 2 INTs. Not spectacular, but not bad. But it was not the stats that impressed me; it was how he played the game and controlled the Pats offense. Brady threw the ball crisp and hard to his receivers, and was stepping into his throws like a seasoned veteran. I think the Pats have something here, with Brady, but I wonder what is going to go down when Bledsoe is back to 100% and is itching to get back in the game. Bledsoe has been Brady’s biggest fan and supporter thus far, but everyone knows that deep down Bledsoe wants to get back in the game to show everyone in New England why he is the best QB they have ever had.

Number 7

The “Lucky Bounce” Bears finally won a game that didn’t come down to the last tick of the clock. The beat the Bucs in a game that saw Brad Johnson play a very non-Buc-like football game. He went 40/56 for 399yds with 2INTs and ZERO touchdowns. How can you throw the ball 56 times in a game, complete 40 of them, and not have a single one go for a touchdown? How? I don’t get it. I guess when you are dumping it off underneath all the time that will be the result. Whatever the reason or result, I still think it is brutal, brutal that you can’t get in the endzone with at least 1 of the 40 completed passes.

Now the Bears sit at 7-2 and the Bucs have fallen to 4-5 and if the Bucs don’t come up with their patented late season streak to get into the playoffs, things could change in Tampa. But I think they are still going to be hard pressed to get in, even if they do get their record back to say 9-7, as Green Bay and Chicago are ahead of them in their division.

By the way, does anyone remember Simeon Rice? He was the standout pass rusher who shunned Arizona and wouldn’t resign; instead choosing to join Tampa Bay’s already stacked defense. Remember him? Well, his play has been far from standout this season, in fact, I haven’t even heard his name in a single telecast, or seen it in one game write up. Is he hurt, or just stinking out the joint?

Number 6

Michael Vick is supposed to be the savior of the Falcons’ franchise, isn’t he? He very well may be, but right now, the Falcons best QB is Chris Chandler. Chandler orchestrated a huge upset over the Packers, at Lambeau, and asserted himself as the team’s bona fide leader. Its funny, Vick is the young, exciting playmaker, and Chandler is the oft-injured, immobile, pocket passer, but it is Chandler who gives the Falcons the best chance to win. I have never been a fan of Chandler; in fact, I have often referred to him as “Crystal Chandelier” for his tendency to get injured. But think back to the last time Chandler was healthy for a full season and what he did then, it was ’98 and he led the Falcons to the big dance, and I don’t think those two things are a coincidence.

Another point about this game, I read that Leroy Butler broke his shoulder blade. How in the world do you break a shoulder blade in a football game? Man, that must be seriously painful! If anyone knows how it happened, DROP ME AN EMAIL to fill me in, because I can’t find it anywhere.

Number 5

Tennessee has clawed its way back to a .500 record, and I must say that I am surprised. The Titans won a huge division game on Sunday, and played some damn fine defense in the process (holding Bengal Dillon to fewer than 50yds rushing). One thing that disturbs me though, is the decreasing role that Eddie George is playing in this offense. Is he still hurt? Eddie rushed 23 times and only gained 61 yards, for a whopping average of 2.65yds per carry, and he had 1 reception for 4yds. That is not right, and it makes me think that my statement in last week’s Top Ten may just be correct. I think the Titans have lost confidence in Eddie George and have all but given up on him. I realize that is a strong statement, but if you look at the evidence, it may not seem as foolish as it sounds.

Last week on MNF, the Titans called a QB sneak on the 1yd line on the final play with the game on the line, instead of giving it to Eddie and letting him pound it in. This week, the Titans win but Steve McNair out-rushes Eddie George by 7yds and has 18 fewer carries.

Do any of you agree/disagree with this statement? CONTACT ME and let me know.

Number 4

Where in the world did that offensive shootout in Arizona come from? If you had asked me on Saturday what I thought the score would be between the Lions and Cardinals, I probably would have guessed 21-17 Lions. No one could have seen this 45-38 Cards win coming, and I mean nobody. The two teams who normally reside in their respective division cellars combined for 895yds of total offense and 11 touchdowns. That’s right, 11! Chuck Batch threw for 436yds on 62 attempts, that’s right, 62! On the other side we saw Jake Plummer throw for 334yds and 4 TDs, that’s right 4! For the first time in a long time, Jake had four times as many TD passes as he had INTs, must be a good feeling for Jake and the rest of the Cards.

This was an exciting game, and it was a good win for the Cards, who now sit at 3-6 and have climbed up the stairs and out of the basement of the NFCE, making way for the Dallas Cowboys. If the Cards can string together some wins, hopefully in the division, a wild-card berth may not be completely out of the question. But looking at their schedule, they have games coming against San Diego (who’s reeling), Oakland (who’s looking strong, but did get caught sleeping by Seattle), Washington twice, Dallas, the Giants and Carolina, it may be more than a long shot. The Cards may be hard pressed to get there this season, but look out for them in the coming years.

Oh yeah, the funniest part about this game? David Sloan’s stats: 2 receptions for 3 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hey Detroit, how about using David in places OTHER than the goal line?

Number 3

“A Rolling Stone gathers no Randy Moss”, that was a quote by Al Michaels last night on MNF, he made it as a joke, referring to the halftime show featuring Mick Jagger. I don’t think Michaels made it as a barb to Randy Moss, but that statement could not have been truer. In fact, I think a Rolling Stone could have gathered more passes than Randy Moss in the 1st half of the season. With all the negative press that Moss had been getting up till last night, I think he was looking forward to this game more than any other so far this season. It was his chance to show everyone that he is still the best athlete in the game and that he deserved that huge contract, and what better stage to do so than on MNF. Moss hauled in 10 catches for 171yds and 3 TDs, a game which is usually a normal day at the office for Moss, up until this season. In fact, that was his first multiple TD game of the year.

I don’t know what to think about this game, on either side of the ball. The Vikings looked good, at times, and the same can be said for the Giants. Although I am not ready to write off the Giants, or to say that the Vikings will make a run, I am ready to say that both of these team’s seasons will be effectively decided in the next two games. If either of them go “O-fer” in those games, they are pretty much done, and can only hope to get a wildcard, and I think that the possibility of that happening is not as slim as Randy Moss’ waistline. The Giants have Oakland and the Cowboys next, I think they may be in better shape to get a split than Minnesota, who has Chicago and Pittsburgh. It should be interesting.

One more question on that game last night. Why did the Giants stop giving Tiki Barber the ball? Early in the first half he had runs of 20 and 29yds, which went up the middle, and after that they tried to string him out and he got nowhere. If something is working, at least use it until the defense adjusts to stop it, come on Sean Payton, you gotta know that.

Number 2

Last week we saw the running backs tear it up, with 7 of them gaining at least 140yds, we also saw Shaun Alexander come close to busting the single game rushing record with his 266yd gem. In the passing department, we saw only 2 quarterbacks throw for over 300yds, and only 4 receivers gained over 125yds.

Compare that to this week, where we saw 9 QBs throw for over 300yds, 2 of them going for over 400 (almost 3 but Brad Johnson threw for 399yds). Those 9 QBs who threw for over 300yds also tossed out 21 TD passes, as compared to the 2 that the 300yd club threw for last week. The receivers also tore it up, as we saw 9 receivers rack up 125yds or more. In the rushing department, it was also much different than last week, as only 2 gained over 100yds, and neither of them gaining over 140.

No one could have predicted this stark contrast, but again, it is why we watch the NFL. Weeks like this past one are good for the league, as the fans (especially the casual ones) like to watch up and down football, with lots of passing and scoring, as opposed to the run dominated / eat up the clock style we see so often.

Number 1

How bout them Niners? The new “Kings of Overtime” won a thriller on Sunday, coming back late in the 4th to tie it up with a touchdown and a 2pt conversion to push it to overtime. I was one the edge of the couch for that late run, and the neighbors probably think I am nuts after my jumping and cheering parade after the win. Who cares though, that game was so exciting I just couldn’t help myself. Terrell Owens really stepped up again when we needed him, hauling in the late TD and coming up big in OT. My game ball undoubtedly goes to Jeff Garcia, and he is really making a case for league MVP as he goes along. I can’t even really put this game into words, all I can say is that it was an awesome win (division too), and it feels great to be at 7-2. Doesn’t it?

Until Next Time…