1. The best team in the AFC is not Indianapolis. It's the San Diego Chargers, and watch them start to pile up victories. One reason is that quarterback Philip Rivers is gaining the confidence of coach Marty Schottenheimer. All Rivers has done since he was handcuffed in Baltimore is hit 53 of 76 passes (69.7 percent) for 576 yards and four TDs, as well as pump up an offense that produced 20 first downs in its first 38 snaps against woeful San Francisco. Another reason I like these guys is their schedule. The Chargers play one winning team the next three weeks, and it's St. Louis ... and it's at home. So why is San Diego better than unbeaten Indy? Easy: It can stop the run.
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| L.T. bulldozes through the 49ers defense for four touchdowns. (Getty Images) |
3. I think this is what the NFL means when it talks about parity: seven of Sunday's games were decided by three or fewer points, including three by last-second field goals.
4. It's official: Miami blew it when it passed on free-agent quarterback Drew Brees. All he did was complete all seven of his passes during a magnificent 72-yard drive that clinched Sunday's upset of Philadelphia. Oh, yeah, the Saints also held the ball the last 8:26. Yep, Miami, he could've been yours; instead you traded for Daunte Culpepper. Have a nice life.
5. The more I see of former B&B owner Tom Walsh's offense the more I think the Raiders should have hired Bob Newhart.
6. This is what impressed me most about the Saints' win: No sacks of Brees. A week ago, Philly hammered poor Drew Bledsoe, sacking him seven times. This week, nothing. Sean Payton, you have my vote for Coach of the Year.
7. Yes, those were boos that filled the Georgia Dome. Michael Vick may be the most exciting offensive player in the game, but he's an inaccurate passer who can't help you if you fall behind -- and Sunday's lame effort was Exhibit A. The Falcons produced 98 yards in their last five drives. The Giants' Tiki Barber had more (131, including 115 rushing) in the second half by himself.
8. Baltimore safety Ed Reed has some explaining to do about that game-clinching Steve Smith touchdown catch. It sure looked as if Reed blew the inside coverage -- otherwise, how in the world do you explain how Smith was so wide open?
9. You think that was a tough loss, Redskins fans? Look what's ahead: Your club now faces, in order, Indianapolis, Dallas and Philadelphia. Then it's a road game in Tampa Bay where nothing is easy (see Cincinnati), followed by Carolina, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Orleans, St. Louis and the Giants. Add them up, and you have nine opponents with winning records (uh-huh, I counted Philly twice) and 10 with a combined mark of 36-19.
10. Look at it this way, Baltimore. You lost a game but might have found something in backup quarterback Kyle Boller. That was one of the gutsiest performances of his career, and his play on the club's last drive makes me wonder if the Ravens shouldn't go to the no-huddle more often when he's in there.
11. Someone please wake up the New York Giants. Yeah, that was a nice win and all, but when will these guys put four quarters together? The Giants outscore opponents 98-31 in the second half. That's the good news. The bad? They spot them a 78-29 first-half advantage. Clean up the first half, guys, and you can start making Philadelphia sweat.
12. This is why I'm not sure of the Cincinnati Bengals: Over their oast three games, two of which they lost, opponents ran for 532 yards and averaged 5.1 yards a carry. Now the Bengals face Carolina and Atlanta. Good luck.
13. Now I understand why Chris Simms isn't all that fired up about returning to Tampa Bay next year. He has seen Bruce Gradkowski play.
