Write On Sports LLC - "Rankings Going into Week 4" by Matthew Wolf

Rankings Going into Week 4

2006-09-28 23:44:06 | By: Matthew Wolf

This week, we'll skip the game by game and go straight to my rankings:

1. Indianapolis. I know another playoff pratfall is always looming, but its just hard to picture this team losing more than 3 games this year. The running game is only going to improve, and the passing...is just fine. Lots of yards on the ground to Jax, and I thought they looked reasonably shaky against NYG, but they're still rolling along.

2. Chicago. I know they almost gave it away this weekend, but they rallied and won on the road against a good team. Grossman's pick killed a lot of people's early season love, but you have to like the way he finished. I haven't had much love for the Bears for awhile, but I actually think this team could do some damage, especially if they start running the ball like they have the last few years.

3. Cincy. Close call for #2, and a great win at Pitt...I just feel like the Bears could maybe take them down on a neutral field right now. But once Palmer gets more comfortable, this team will be right there. [You know its coming...]...assuming all their players don't go to prison.

4. Seattle. Looked great this weekend and would be higher if not for Alexander's injury. He hasn't been carrying them so far, so it may not be fatal. But still. Hasslebeck is on fire, and that receiving corps is dangerous. I don't like how they let NYG come back, but I guess its hard not to get complacent when you are killing someone. Chicago this week could be a great game.

5. Denver. Give them a mulligan for that weak display in StL, just like last year in Miami. They killed the Pats, and completely shut down the Huards the week before. That defense is great, and Tatum is explosive. Jake can settle in like last year, and take them to the division title.

6. San Diego. Once they play someone good, we'll know if they're for real. But its hard not to be optimistic. Rivers has looked like the real deal, the defense is great (anyone else recall Hacksaw's running countdown of days Merriman missed last year during the preseason? Doesn't look like it mattered much), and LaDanian and Turner will churn yards. Marty will lose them some games out of over-conservativeness...but they'll be in the playoffs this year.

7. Atlanta. They get a pass for this past week’s no-show. It was NO's night, and anyone that says momentum and passion aren't big parts of success in the NFL is a fool. They'll get the ground game running again, and Vick will maybe learn not to lob balls to blanketed downfield on key downs all night in the future.

8. Baltimore. Love the D, but I'm scared of that offense. McNair is an upgrade, but by how much? Can this team really compete for a title? Jamal is still running, but he's not the same back he used to be. Playoffs likely, but that's about it for this squad.

9. Philly. They look dominant most of the time, but I can't forgive them for that choke job v. Eli. Still, so long as he's healthy, Westbrook is amazing.

10. Jacksonville. Love the ground game, love the defense. I just have no faith that Lefty and the WRs can score when needed.

11. Dallas. I don't trust Bledsoe, but I'm not of the opinion that Romo is ready to lead a team to a title. Defense is solid, it’s really all about the QB here. I'm not talking about TO. Someone else may have been covering this issue already, I'm not sure.

12. New Orleans. Great on Monday. I like their use of the RBs. Bush hasn't dominated, but he's still being productive...and you know that monster game is coming. Brees looks good and the defense is playing well. Will it last? Who knows. But they look pretty solid now.

13. Minnesota. One defensive stop away from convincing me that they are for real...but they didn't do it. This team still has to prove its more than just another team.

14. New England. Flat. All year. Just doesn't look like the same old Pats. Maybe they're slipping? I still trust Brady to get them some Ws, but they're not looking good right now.

15. St. Louis. Bulger is coming around a bit, though the ground game has been somewhat disappointing. Still need to get 6 more often. The defense is competitive. This is a pretty decent team, but if they get it together offensively, they could be dangerous.

16. Carolina. Steve Smith is a bit of a difference maker, eh? I've always thought Delhomme was a bit of a loose cannon, its clear to me that Smith makes up for a lot of that. Defense needs to get back that edge that has been so scary the past few years.

17. Miami. The defense is average. The offense is bad. But the players are there. I guess this is the first real test for Saban...can he get these guys to play to their levels (which is likely a wild card team), or will they underperform all year? I know Daunte makes such a huge difference here as well...and that's not particularly encouraging.

18. Washington. Brunell had one of those games where every single person had to eat a bit of crow after bashing him for a week...but I don't really get the sense that anyone thinks he'll be that good again. A healthy Portis makes that less important, of course. Still waiting for last year's defense to show up.

19. NY Giants. They could arguably be higher...but I'm punishing them on account of the biggest thing that's driving me crazy this football season: the free pass that seems to be given to Eli by the national media. He arguably cost them the Colts game with bad play down the stretch...almost cost them the Eagles game by his early performance (only to be bailed out by his WRs) and then cost them the Seattle game by completely imploding out of the gate. Yet, I hardly catch criticism of him in the national columns or TV shows commesurate with his performance so far. We'll see if it (and by "it" I mean: his poor play and everyone's continued willfull silence) continues, I expect that it will.

20. Buffalo. I know they beat Miami, so its kind of lame to have them down here. But I just don't think they're as good, and until Losman proves himself, I don't see this team with a playoff shot. The defense is solid but unspectacular. Willis needs to get in the endzone.

21. Pittsburgh. Again, punishing the golden boy QB. Although Batch made some plays to beat Miami, Ben has not made the plays he needs to make. And Miami could have won that game (sans, of course, the Daunte meltdown) so this team could easily be 0-3.

22. Jets. I know Pennington has looked great, but their running situation is a disaster and I just see this team slipping. I haven't seen as much of this team as I'd like, but when I have watched, I have not been that impressed.

23. San Francisco. Not a good team, but you can see the makings, right? Gore needs to hang on to the ball [understatement]. I like what Smith has shown so far.

24. Kansas City. Hey, they still have Larry, right? If Green comes back soon, they'll get into the wild card mix. If not, well...

25. Arizona. So long as Warner is giving away games (and he's still starting, so this will continue) I can't give them any respect. Bring on Leinart.

26. Tennessee. Bring on Young.

27. Cleveland. Braylon looks like he could be a star in the making. If they get a ground game, they could really do something offensively.

28. Houston. Defense? Offensive line? Those things aren't important. [Reggie Bush]

29. Green Bay. Favre is on fire right now, and its great for his final year and for fantasy owners. But 350 yds per week are numbers usually reserved for the Colts or teams that are always losing. These guys ain't the Colts.

30. Tampa Bay. Hope Simms is OK. The new guy didn't look so good for me. Long season forthcoming.

31. Detroit. Roy Williams is good at football, but sounds like an idiot with all his posturing. Wait until you are good before you tell me how good you are.

32. Oakland. Nothing to say here.