As always, here are the Ten random things that popped into my head while watching this week’s NFL match-ups:

Number 10

Tom Brady “Bunch” fell back to earth pretty hard this week, didn’t he? With his 4 picks and a rating of like, 53, I think he had better avoid more games like that if he wants to keep the QB controversy talk alive. Even though NE jumped out to a 17-10 halftime lead, they couldn’t sustain it and hold off those enigmatic Broncos. I don’t know what to think about these two teams, because their performances this week are in such stark comparison to last week’s. My brain hurts already, and its only Number 10!

Number 9

Is Detroit the best team to have yet to win a game, or what? I guess that label can’t really apply, since they are the only team without a win, but I think that these guys are on the brink of coming together for coach Marty. This could be trouble as the Niners have to face them next week. Now I have never been on a losing team such as this, and I wonder how the losing affects the mind of a player? Do these losses cause the player to become hungry for that first win? Do the losses cause the player to become selfish and worry only about his personal stats, and not the good of the team? Or do the losses become acceptable, so to speak, to the player thereby sending the season down the tubes? I wonder about such things, and that is why www.49ersparadise.cjb.net pays me the big bucks.

Number 8

Looking for the “Yawner of the Week”? Well look no further than the Jets/Panthers game. If it wasn’t for Curtis Martin’s brilliant day (27-159), this game would have drawn less viewers than a “Hee Haw” marathon. The Jets and their ugly, conservative play and the bumbling Panthers provide more comedy than drama when it comes to the NFL. By the way, is it just me? Or is the Jets’ version of the WCO, just not working for them? Just a thought.

Number 7

“Money” McNabb is having some serious troubles this year, isn’t he? McNabb put out his worst performance of his young career in the Eagles’ loss to the Raiders. His line was something like: 12/27 – 133yds – 0TDs – 0Ints, rushing: 6carries – 30yds – 0TDs. Ok, so it is not “Ryan Leaf” bad, but it is not good. In fact, it is average at best. McNabb (I am withholding the “Money” nickname till he breaks out of his slump) was heralded as the best amongst Fantasy QBs coming into this season, and he has yet to live up to the hype. In fact, he and the Eagles have yet to live up to any of their hype this season, and are playing inconsistent, ugly football.

Number 6

Dallas, the team with more QB injuries than Jerry Jones has facelifts, and that’s saying something.

Quincy Carter? Out.

Anthony Wright? Out.

Clint Stoerner? Out.

Ryan Leaf? In.

IN? Look out people, with Stoerner not as healthy as he wants to be, we could see Shaky Leaf as early as next week. This does not bode well for Dallas fans (sorry Nyen), as Leaf’s list of NFL accomplishments is as short as his temper. Poor Emmitt Smith, I bet you old Emmitt is longing for the days of Jason Garrett.

(for those of you who don’t know, Garrett was a recent back up in Dallas, who is more capable than any of the guys I listed above)

Number 5

What is the deal with the NY Giants? Are they an NFC contender or not? Two tough one point losses, one to the mighty Rams and one to the up and down Eagles, and now this, a beating at the hands of the Redskins? Who are these NY Giants? They are the NFC’s version of the Broncos, only with nicer uniforms. Could those close losses have taken a toll on this team? Or did the Skins catch the Giants asleep at the wheel, trying to coast past them? I don’t know, but I do know that the Giants now sit at 3-3, and the NFC East is suddenly looking like the weakest division in the NFC, where I thought it would be the NFC Central. Will someone in that division please step up and move the forefront of that pack? Please? We, as NFL fans, need something solid to bank on each week.

Number 4

Remember the Titans? That team that used to be among the best in the league? The team that would run it down your throat with Eddie George and hammer you on defense until you didn’t want to play anymore? Well, that team has gone and left Jeff Fisher, and their situation is worse off than their record shows (2-4). Eddie is banged up and needs some rest to get back to being Eddie, and they have no real threat at back up, so Eddie can’t rest, not with the season on the line. I have always like Jeff Fisher and his coaching style, and I am curious to see what he will do to get this ship righted and back to its winning ways, because if doesn’t, this team is going down like the “Titan”ic.

On the other side of the ball are the Pittsburgh Steelers. Led by a fiery coach, a big, fast bruising back, an ultra-athletic QB who most Pittsburgh fans wanted dragged out of town last year, and a defense that is big, fast and dominating. I keep telling you people that this sounds alot like the Baltimore Ravens blueprint from last season, but there is one difference, Kordell Stewart. Now I have never been a big Kordell supporter (ever since I saw him beat Michigan with that flukey hail mary when he played at Colorado I have hated Kordell, you just can’t forgive people for things like that) and I am still playing the pessimistic role, and am waiting for him to have a bad game. But wait, I seem to remember saying that same thing about Trent Dilfer last year. Kordell looks mighty comfortable in this offense, and I am sure he is more than happy to be handing it off to Bettis over and over (I still hate that nickname, the “Bus”). Look out for these Steelers people, trust me on this.

4A

While that MNF game was on last night, I did my normal channel surfing during commercials and such, and I stopped on ESPN Classic, which was playing the NBA’s Greatest Games. This game just happened to be Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns. I watched for a bit and then the memory gates came flooding open, this was the game where Jordan dropped 55 against those Suns and won the game late in the 4th quarter! So, being the staunch NFL supporter I am, I flicked back to the MNF game, but when the game got to that 34-7 point and Tommy MaddoX”FL” came in, I switched back to watching Jordan in his prime. In a word? Awesome, simply awesome. I watched, open-mouthed as Jordan tore up Dan Marjle and carried the Bulls to the victory. It was great.

So then, just as I am going to turn off the TV and turn in for the night, ESPN Classic starts playing their next game. So, I watched briefly to see which game it was, and then I realized that it was the game where Jordan just came out of retirement, and was playing his first game against the Knicks. This was the game where Jordan dropped a “double-nickel” on John Starks little bean! How could I turn the TV off, when ESPN Classic was playing another classic Jordan game? Well, I didn’t, and I’ll tell you, my coffee is a little more than strong this morning.

Number 3

Rams lose one! Wasn’t it last year that the Rams lost their first one after going 6-0 to start? I guess the one bonus is that they didn’t lose Kurt Warner as they did last year. The Saints stuck it to ‘em on Sunday and showed that they wouldn’t give up their NFC West title without a fight, and would bring a few haymakers from the basement in an effort to win (for those of you not privy to my odd lingo, that means: throw a few good punches). So, the Rams now have a bye week to regroup and then get ready for their next game, against the toothless Panthers. Hey Marshall? You want some more rest by chance?

Number 2

That Buffalo / San Diego game was a classic! It had more storylines than a month of Young and Restless episodes, and provided us with a finish that I will not forget for a long time! Flutie was Flutielicious as usual, kicking ass and taking names, while Johnson also showed his worth by damn near winning the game for Buffalo. You think there are happier men in San Diego right not than John Butler and Doug Flutie? Well, I can think of a couple who might be as equally as happy, and that is Junior Seau and Mike Riley. Seau, the longtime great is finally having fun, while Riley is finally showing people that he is a quality coach.

Now about Rob Johnson, although he holds the ball too long and takes more hits than the “Happy Days” jukebox, he is a quality QB. I just think he hasn’t gotten a fair shake from a lot of NFL fans, this one included, so I think I am going to try to come to grips with the fact that it is not Rob Johnson’s fault that the Bills management picked him over Flutie. It is not his fault that the Bills brain-trust made a prudent business decision, where they weighed all of the significant factors (age, size, contract, potential) but forgot to think of the one that matters most in football (winning), its not RJ’s fault, so let’s ease upon him.

Number 1

You win some, you lose some. The Niners lost a tough one to that up and coming Bears team, in overtime, no less. That makes three overtime games for the Niners this season, and they sit at 2-1 in those games, so there are no complaints from this fan. But I will say that it is some really tough luck that Terrell Owens had one ricochet off him and into the waiting arms of Mike Brown (the Bears Johnny on the spot) who took it in for a score, and ended the shortest overtime in NFL history. It is tough luck that the ball bounced their way, but it is also deplorable that we could not shut the door on this Bears team who stunk up Soldier field for 3+ quarters. We should have won that game going away, and I guess we will have to roll with the punches and learn from this mistake. The Niners are only two years removed from a 4-12 record remember, so there is still going to be some growing pains. But I would never have thought that the growing pains would be caused by our top ranked offense, as opposed to our young defense. Them’s the breaks folks…

Until next time…