Fantasy Football Week Four Rankings: Running Backs

It is Week Four of the fantasy football season and leagues are starting to take shape.

While there are teams that are 3-0 and others that are 0-3 you have to remember that it is still early enough and you shouldn’t hit the panic button. For those that are 2-1 or 1-2, odds are your records could be flip flopped quite easily.

So don’t give up, keep hitting the Bruno Boys website and FORUM hard and don’t forget to nail the LIVE Q and A’s that we hold throughout the week.

This week we have quite a few key running backs taking a break as it is the first bye-week; the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles will all be kicking back.

One thing is for sure though, and that is the Bruno Boys won’t be. As always we will be hitting it hard so we can bring you yet another victory to stash on the shelves towards your quest of a championship title.

Let’s jump right into the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week Four Running Back Rankings.

1. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Green Bay

Adrian Peterson has been one of the best running backs all year and was expected to excel last week against the San Francisco 49ers. While he wasn’t stunning, he still put up 99 total yards. This was a game that the Minnesota Vikings let the ball fly.

In Week Four Peterson once again leads the way as he faces division rival Green Bay Packers. In his career, Peterson has averaged well over 100 yards per game and has also tossed in a few touchdowns against the Packers.

Expect some more domination from Peterson, who leads all running backs in fantasy football points through September. 

Point Projection: 24 points

2. Steven Jackson (St. Louis Rams) at San Francisco

After starting the 2009 season on a slow mark, Steven Jackson reached triple digit yardage in Week Two. In the Rams’ game Jackson continued to rise up the charts with his best effort this year, going for 163 total yards against the Green Bay Packers.

While he still hasn’t reached the end zone, the St. Louis Rams are leaning on Jackson big time to lead their putrid offense.

This week he faces the San Francisco 49ers, a team against which he has gone for over 100 total yards in four of their last five meetings. Look for continued improvement out of the workhorse and for Jackson to score his first TD of the season against a 49ers defense that has yet to allow one thus far. 

Point Projection: 19 points

3. Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans) at Jacksonville

After going for 298 total yards and three touchdowns in Week Two, Chris Johnson came down to earth somewhat against the New York Jets. Johnson had a total of 105 yards; an effort that is admirable considering that the Jets have made everyone else look horrible this year.

This week Johnson faces the Jacksonville Jaguars who are nowhere close to the solid defense that they used to be. Johnson will visit pay dirt once again as he continues to establish himself as the hands down best running back in Tennessee. 

Point Projection: 19 points

4. Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) at Kansas City

After being the touchdown machine for the New York Giants in 2008, everyone was starting to wonder where that Brandon Jacobs was this season.

Well, the answer came in Week Three as he went for 92 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This week he takes on a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has allowed five rushing touchdowns in three games, so the touchdowns should continue for Jacobs. In fact, solid yardage and a visit or two to pay dirt is expected. 

Point Projection: 18 points

5. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) vs. Detroit

While Matt Forte has struggled all season and has been one of the bigger busts thus far, in Week Three against the Seattle Seahawks he did go for 106 total yards.

While he did not reach pay dirt, the 10-fantasy-football-point showing does give a positive outlook heading into Week Four against the weak Detroit Lions rush defense.

Go ahead and plug him into your starting lineup once again as he has scored in double-digit fantasy points in his two career meetings against the Lions. We thought last week was going to be his breakout week, but that didn’t happen.

Expect Forte to score his first touchdown of 2009 and for this to be his breakout week.

Point Projection: 16 points

6. Marion Barber (Dallas Cowboys) at Denver  **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

With the news that Felix Jones will miss at least one week with a PCL sprain you better believe Barber is going to do whatever it takes to play in this game.

The only thing holding him back from suiting up would be if the training staff didn’t give Barber the green light to play.

If he does play you can expect around 100 total yards and a short yardage touchdown from the Cowboys’ workhorse. After watching Dallas get stuffed at the goal-line on multiple occasions on Monday night you better believe the coaching staff is hoping he can play in Week Four.

Make sure to monitor his situation up until game time on Sunday. And with the Cowboys playing the late game you might want to snag Tashard Choice as insurance in case Barber is a late inactive. 

Point Projection: 16 points

7. Willis McGahee (Baltimore Ravens) at New England

Willis McGahee continued his outstanding play this season by making it three weeks in a row in which he has had multiple touchdowns. This week he faces the New England Patriots, a much weaker version than what we have been used to in years past.

While a continuation of two touchdowns a game is unfair to expect, solid yardage and one visit to pay dirt is reasonable.

Point Projection: 16 points

8. Steve Slaton (Houston Texans) vs. Oakland

After a very slow start to the 2009 season Steve Slaton was able to get back on track as he went for triple digit yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This week Slaton takes on an Oakland Raiders defense that is not known for its stellar defense. A continuation of what he did in Week Three is what you should expect in Week Four as he shakes off the cobwebs and reminds fantasy footballers why he was a first round pick during this season’s fantasy drafts.

Point Projection: 16 points

9. Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals) at Cleveland

All the speculation and questions about whether this stretch run by Cedric Benson is real or not can now be quieted by the critics as he rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, arguably the best rush defense in the game.

This week he takes on one of the worst so another successful week is expected. In fact, his last game against the Cleveland Browns resulted in 171 rushing yards. As we stated previously, let the questions lay by the side and insert Benson as a RB1 this week.

Point Projection: 16 points

10. Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins) vs. Tampa Bay

In Week Three against the Detroit Lions, a game in which Portis was a game time decision, he rushed the ball 12 times for a total of 42 yards. While that is not very impressive, part of the reason for his struggles is the fact that the Washington Redskins were playing catch-up for the majority of the football game.

Watch Portis’ injury report carefully this week as we need to see how he bounces back after playing banged up in Week Three; but if suited up this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (187 rush yards allowed per game) it could be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Point Projection: 15 points

11. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Tennessee

Maurice Jones-Drew had a stellar game in Week Three, going for 147 yards and three touchdowns, continuing the impressive play that has made him a household name.

Things are going to slow down some this week, though, as he takes on a formidable Tennessee Titans rush defense that has made many running backs look human the past few seasons.

No matter what though, you need to make sure Jones-Drew is plugged into your lineup as he will make for a very nice low end RB1 play once again in Week Four.

Point Projection: 15 points

12. Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins) vs. Buffalo

Last week Ronnie Brown went for 115 total yards against the San Diego Chargers, who have a weakened rush defense but one that is similar to the Buffalo Bills‘ at the moment; Brown faces Buffalo in Week Four.

Throughout his career Brown has averaged 85 yards a game against the Bills, making him a solid option as a RB2 in Week Four. With solid yardage and a possible touchdown you are looking at a 14-16 fantasy point game.

Point Projection: 15 points

13. Glen Coffee (San Francisco 49ers) vs. St. Louis

With Frank Gore out for three weeks with an ankle strain, it will be the Glen Coffee show in San Francisco. Coffee ran into a tough Williams Wall in Minnesota last week and was only able to average a shade over 2.0 yards per carry.

Things will be different in Week Four against a Rams rushing defense that allows 148 yards per game.  Look for the 49ers to get Coffee involved early and often in front of the home crowd, and for the rookie to score his first NFL touchdown while flirting with 100 rushing yards. 

Point Projection: 15 points

14. Derrick Ward (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) at Washington

Derrick Ward touched the ball only seven times last week against the formidable New York Giants. Sadly his nine total yards was the best showing of any Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back in Week Three.

We expect the ship to be righted somewhat in Week Four against a Washington Redskins defense that has allowed two straight backs to reach 100 rushing yards against them.

Look for Ward to have a solid game, getting back and being one of the biggest surprises at the running back position in Week Four.

Point Projection: 14 points

15. Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions) at Chicago  **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

After a solid start to the season, in Week Three Kevin Smith led the Detroit Lions in yardage with a total of 119 yards, well on his way to the best game this year, until he had to leave the game due to a shoulder injury.

Maurice Morris had to come in and finish off the game which is cause for concern as this is a game the Lions needed to break the losing streak.

Nonetheless, if Smith plays against the Chicago Bears he is a must-start RB2 against his division rival. Make sure to check his injury status throughout the week as the Lions are calling it a week-to-week injury.

Point Projection: 13 points

16. Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints) vs. New York Jets

If Week Three showed anything it was that Pierre Thomas looks healthy once again. On 14 rushing attempts he went for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

To err on the safe side, though, we would like to point out that Reggie Bush had 13 rushing attempts and actually touched the ball more than Thomas did. And considering that Thomas faces the New York Jets in Week Four, you have to really check yourself and not get too excited if you are a Thomas owner.

While the potential is there to have a nice week, the odds are still stacked against him some. With that being said 70 total yards and a TD is obtainable for Thomas on any given week and we think he hits that projection in Week Four.

Point Projection: 13 points

17. Willie Parker (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. San Diego

Willie Parker lived up to his nickname “Fast Willie” in Week Three as he put up 129 yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. That effort was not good enough, though, as the Pittsburgh Steelers fell just short of victory, giving the Steelers their first back-to-back losses since 2007.

With that being said, there was only one more running back rush last week making it an obvious choice of having Parker rated as the pure starting back. He faces the San Diego Chargers defense this week who have looked worse than anticipated.

Don’t think twice as Parker is a solid option in Week Four as either your low-end RB2 in deeper leagues or a flex-option.

Point Projection: 12 points

18. Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) at New England

Ray Rice finally grabbed the first touchdown of his career as he went for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns.

Against the weakened New England Patriots defense Rice should be able to once again throw up solid yardage. Since he has only one touchdown in his career it would be unwise to predict much more than 10-12 fantasy points, although as you saw this week if he can reach pay dirt his value is much greater.

Point Projection: 12 points

19. Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) at Minnesota

Ryan Grant continued to impress this year after a weak effort in the 2008 season, as Grant went for 104 total yards, good enough for double-digit points in fantasy leagues.

Week Four is going to be a major test for him, though, as Grant has been only average in four career games against Minnesota. Despite this, if you are looking for a RB2 to start in deeper leagues you can do much worse than Grant. Another double-digit fantasy showing is expected.

Point Projection: 12 points

20. Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) vs. Dallas

Despite the talk of injury leading up to the game, Knowshon Moreno suited up and had a very nice game last week, running for 90 yards on 21 carries and punching in a touchdown. The fact that he had 21 carries is the eye opener and a great sign that he is ready to put his stamp on the football world.

Despite splitting carries with Correll Buckhalter, Moreno will be a solid play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week Four. Expect him to put up solid enough numbers to be a mid-to-low-end RB2 in deeper leagues.

Point Projection: 11 points

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK FOUR RUNNING BACK RANKINGS, CLICK HERE!

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CHRIS ZIZA.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Week 3 Studs

Once again, taking on the task of identifying those over-performers and under-performers from the previous week of fantasy football is Ryan Hallam, creator of Fighting Chance Fantasy.  So, join Ryan as he takes us through the Week 3 Studs and check back tomorrow as he take a look at the Week 3 Duds.  And if you have any questions for him, email rhallam@brunoboys.net for Week 4 fantasy football advice.

Note: All point projections read in this recap are from standard scoring leagues (non-PPR) and are projections made by the Bruno Boys staff

QUARTERBACK—STUDS

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets)—In his third win in as many games for the Jets, Sanchez finally had a game for fantasy owners to get excited about.  Against the suddenly vulnerable Tennessee Titans defense, Sanchez was 17/30 for 171 yards with two passing touchdowns and an interception.  Sanchez also ran four times for ten yards and another score.  He was projected for another ho-hum ten-point fantasy football day, but came up with a big 17 points.

Hallam’s Take: This is a good game for Sanchez but I still don’t consider him a strong fantasy football quarterback.  He isn’t asked to do a lot in the Jets offense and that just doesn’t translate to a lot of fantasy points.  He is still a good option as a bye week replacement, but I absolutely wouldn’t use him as a starter if you are considering trading away your number one guy figuring you can lean on Sanchez.  He is doing a great job for the Jets, but trust me there are bumpier days ahead for the young man.

Jason Campbell (Washington Redskins)—While he is off to a bad start, and you can’t say the offense was great today, somehow Campbell put up good numbers.  Against the Detroit Lions, he was 27/41 for 340 yards and two touchdowns.  He also ran one time for 21 yards, but lost points with one interception.  Campbell was only looked on for 12 points, but came up with a good game with 21 points.

Hallam’s Take: These numbers were just the result of the fact that the Redskins threw the ball so many times on Sunday.  Please don’t be fooled and give any credence to the fact that he had a 300 yard game.  Even the Redskins were exploring every avenue to try to replace him in the offseason.  I wouldn’t even want him as my bye week replacement as the ‘Skins offense has basically been at a stand still the entire season.  They have very few playmakers on the team, and the couple that they have with some potential are buried on the depth chart.  Leave Campbell in free agency where he belongs.

Kevin Kolb (Philadelphia Eagles)—For the second straight start, Kolb looked good from a fantasy football perspective, as he was 24/37 for 327 yards and two touchdowns.  Kolb also ran for a touchdown from one yard out.  With the lack of experience, he was reasonably figured for 10 points, but put up a great game with 27 fantasy points.

Hallam’s Take: This nice run might not last much longer depending on how Donovan McNabb’s rib heals, but Kolb is making a good case for himself to be a starter in this league somewhere next year.  Unless you are in a two-quarterback league, I don’t see him carrying much value, unless perhaps your starter has a bye next week.  He will hold the starting job as long as McNabb is out, but when that ends he is destined to go back to holding the clipboard.

RUNNING BACK—STUDS

Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars)—Jones-Drew finally had the game that the people who drafted him as high as the number one overall pick were waiting for.  MJD carried the ball 23 times for 117 yards and three touchdowns.  He also tacked on some more points with his four catches for 26 yards.  He was the high fantasy scorer of the day with 31 points, far exceeding his reasonable 18 point projection.

Hallam’s Take:  He had a couple of okay games, but those of you who picked MJD with your first pick, you can finally exhale.  Jones-Drew did it all on Sunday, and while you shouldn’t expect three touchdowns every week, you should now feel comfortable with the fact that you took him as high as you did.  Jones-Drew will live up to that top billing and was an excellent pick…as long as you didn’t pick him before Adrian Peterson.

Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints)—In his first game back from injury, Thomas picked up right where he left off last season.  Thomas carried the ball just 14 times, but made the most of it as he shredded the Buffalo Bills defense for 126 yards and two touchdowns.  His five-point projection was due to the uncertainty if he would play, but regardless of that, he put up an impressive 24-point performance.

Hallam’s Take: There were plenty of question marks surrounding how much Thomas would play this week with his knee injury, and he really didn’t show himself in the first half.  However, I think the questions surrounding him have all been answered as he tortured the Buffalo defense in the second half.  I was a little skeptical about Thomas coming into the season and if he would be able to repeat his 2008 numbers.  Well, I am now on board with him again, and feel that you should be starting him again in Week 4.

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles)—McCoy owners were waiting for the day that he would fill in for Brian Westbrook and their wishes were fulfilled sooner than expected.  McCoy made the most of his first chance to carry the load as he rushed 20 times for 84 yards and a touchdown.  His projection was conservative with the uncertainty of his role at just six points, but he more than doubled it with a 14-point outburst.

Hallam’s Take: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of fantasy value of Westbrook.  He has had a great career, but the guy you knew and loved likely will never come back.  Meet what will be the NEW man in Philadelphia as McCoy looked like Westbrook from five or six years ago.  He can run, cut, make guys miss, catch passes out of the backfield, and he will score.  You might want to try to trade for him before it is too late and his owner falls in love.

WIDE RECEIVER—STUDS

Santana Moss (Washington Redskins)—It’s about time Moss decided to show up, and it took the Detroit Lions to bring out the good game in him.  Moss brought in a season high 10 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.  His weak start to the year was the reason for his very low five-point projection, and he absolutely annihilated that with his 23-point outburst.

Hallam’s Take:  Excuse me if I don’t get crazy excited about one good game against perhaps the worst team in football.  Moss finally broke out and was successful, but I am just so skeptical of the Washington offense that I can’t get all giddy about this.  Sure, it is nice to see him score big points, but between Jason Campbell’s struggles, and the fact that Clinton Portis appears to be on the decline, where are the big plays supposed to come from in Washington?  This seems like more of the exception than the norm for Santana, but it isn’t all his fault.  I hope I’m wrong, but do you disagree?

Pierre Garcon (Indianapolis Colts)—He filled in admirably for the injured Anthony Gonzalez yet again, as Garcon was a part of the Colts plan of attack again.  The speedy Garcon had three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.  He also carried the ball one time for another 17 yards.  This cumulative effort gave him 13 fantasy points on the day, more than tripling his four point projection.

Hallam’s Take: Talk about taking advantage of an opportunity!  Garcon is making his presence felt while he is in the starting lineup and you have to like the apparent chemistry that he is forming with Peyton Manning.  You might not think about picking him up because of the fact that Gonzalez will be back, but I think that there are enough passes to go around in Indy that Garcon will be a fantasy factor, even when they are back at full strength.  It might not be quite to the level of what he is doing now, but he will certainly be worthy of a roster spot throughout the season.

DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles)—Jackson is looking like he is even better than last year, even with the backup quarterback in there.  The incredibly fast Jackson had one of the best games of his young career as he had six receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown.  Even with the big game last week he was projected for 14 points, but he shows up on the stud list for the second consecutive week with a 20 point game.

Hallam’s Take:  After an impressive rookie season, Jackson is certainly taking his game to the next level in 2009.  His speed is tough to cover and now he appears to have improved as a wide receiver too.  He is clearly the No. 1 guy in Philadelphia, and the way Kevin Kolb is chucking the ball around it is obvious that you don’t have to worry about the fact that Donovan McNabb is hurt.  Jackson has turned himself into one of those guys that you start every week, regardless of the matchup. 

TIGHT END—STUDS

Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers)—Davis has shown flashes of the talent that the 49ers saw when they drafted him sixth overall a few years ago.  Sunday might have been the first step in his ascension into consistent fantasy football relevance.  Davis had seven catches for 96 yards and two touchdown receptions.  Understandably, he was expected to score just four points, but he was the biggest surprise of the week as he put up 21.

Hallam’s Take: Is this what you can expect from Vernon Davis going forward?  Has he finally figured it out?  I can’t say for sure, but I am finding spots for him on rosters all over the place.  Perhaps the swift kick in the butt from Mike Singletary was just what this kid needed all along.  Davis has been doing everything the Niners have been asking from him (including blocking) and the results have been astounding.  If he has finally gotten on board with the team concept, he could fly up the fantasy charts.  I’m not quite ready to say he will, but I’m taking the chance on more than one of my teams.

KICKER—STUDS

Olindo Mare (Seattle Seahawks)—The Seahawks didn’t win and it was largely due to the fact that they couldn’t finish drives off with touchdowns.  Nevertheless, that is good news for Mare owners as he connected on four of his six field goal attempts and his lone PAT attempt.  Mare’s field goals from 46, 46, 39, and 37 yards gave him 13 fantasy football points for the week, and he was projected for just five.

Hallam’s Take: As they showed last year, the Seahawks struggle to finish drives and put up points with Matt Hasselbeck on the sidelines.  Seneca Wallace fared much better this week, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a solid contributor most weeks.  I think that this was more of a fluky thing for Mare, and I wouldn’t go running to pick him up after this performance.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS—STUDS

Indianapolis Colts D/ST (Two Stars)—Indy faced a high powered Arizona Cardinals offense on Sunday night, but was a much better fantasy football play than expected.  They allowed just 10 points, sacked Kurt Warner four times, picked him off twice, and forced a fumble.  This is a four-to-five-star performance, far exceeding the projection of just two stars.

Hallam’s Take: The loss of Bob Sanders and a few other key components have taken the Colts a few notches down the fantasy ladder, but, when they are fully healthy, they are among the top 10 or so in the league.  As long as they have (a rejuvenated) Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis putting pressure on the quarterback, that takes a lot of the pressure off of the rest of the defense.  The Colts are a little underrated as a fantasy football defense in my opinion.

FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THIS LINK.

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The Green Bay Fog: There’s No Fool Like an Old Fool

On October 10th, Brett Favre will turn 40 years old. In the grand scheme, Favre is still a young man since 40 is the new 30 or some nonsense like that.

In football years, Favre is an old dog up to his old tricks. Just ask the 49ers, who watched the old dog snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat in week three.

The roller coaster ride that has been Brett Favre’s career the last few years makes me believe the old adage that there is no fool like an old fool. Unable to make a decision, making decisions out of spite and somehow getting what he wanted all seem to be results of the numerous blows to the head he has taken over his career.

Now Favre is about to lead his new team, the Minnesota Vikings, into a grudge match with his old team, the Green Bay Packers for a made for TV event next Monday night.

The Green Packers, with coach Mike McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers, have seemed to be in a fog so far this season. Four INTs by Jay Cutler helped them win their opener. The Bengals scored 31 points on them in a week two loss and a game against the Rams is good for any team lost in a fog.

The fog will lift on Monday in Minnesota. The Packers will finally play their old player who has been gunning for them ever since they had the nerve to believe that he wanted to retire. 

Both Favre and the Packers moved on. Favre went 9-7 in New York and the Packers went 6-10 thanks to a bad defense last year. Favre has been learning his role with the Vikings and gone 3-0 during that process. The Packers rode through the fog to be 2-1 for this game.

Al Harris and Charles Woodson are both looking forward to Monday Night. They are ball hawks who must be dreaming about picking off Favre. Aaron Campman is probably dreaming about a three sack game. Defensive coach Dom Capers is probably dreaming about shutting down Adrian Peterson and making Favre have to beat them.

All of Green Bay is dreaming of a W.

Brett Favre is dreaming about taking his old team to the woodshed.

The game being in Minnesota is a factor but these two teams have played each other so often that the notion of home field advantage is overrated. The first quarter will be big for both teams. You can’t win the game in the first quarter but you can sure lose it.

This should be a classic NFL Monday Night game and I am going with the Packers. They will make the Vikings one dimensional and Al Harris, Charles Woodson, and Aaron Campman will all have their dreams come true.

The old fool has what he wants and let the bitterness begin when the storybook ending eludes him the first time around.

It will get even worse the second time around when he goes to Green Bay.

Packers 26

Vikings 17

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Fantasy Football Week Four Rankings: Quarterbacks

We’re only three weeks into the NFL season and already seven teams have seen their backup quarterbacks play because of injury or poor performance by their starters.

A couple of those teams, the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, find themselves on byes this week. Meanwhile, others like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have decided to straight up ditch their starter—Byron Leftwich—and go a new course with Josh Johnson, moving the former starter to third on the depth chart. Then, there’s the Cleveland Browns, who are back to square one with the quarterback competition between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

So, as you can see, it’s more important than ever to be sure you’re up to date on all things quarterback. To do so, check out the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 4 Quarterback Rankings below.

1. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) @ Minnesota

From the outside, it appears that Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had a shaky start to the season. He needed a last-minute drive to beat the Chicago Bears in week one, and lost on a last-minute drive to the Cincinnati Bengals in week two. But, statistically he’s been rock solid, as he’s thrown for 714 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the first three weeks. Minnesota has been good against the pass so far, but that’s mostly because the Vikings have faced some of the worst passing offenses in the league in the first three weeks.
Point Projection: 21 Points

2. Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears) vs. Detroit

After throwing four interceptions in the first game of the regular season, Chicago Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler has rebounded nicely with 483 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception in the last two games. It also appears that Cutler is starting to click with his receivers, particularly Johnny Knox. When Cutler was with Denver, it was when he started to click with Brandon Marshall that he started to put up some serious fantasy points. This week, Cutler will face the Detroit Lions, who are ranked 29th against the pass and 28th in the league in points allowed.
Point Projection: 20 Points

3. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Seattle

Of course, Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Peyton Manning is one of the league’s elite players, and it’s no surprise that he’s putting up some good fantasy football
numbers. But considering how good Manning has been in the past, would you believe that right now he’s off to his best season yet? That’s right, Manning is currently on pace to set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards, and average yards per attempt. He also boasts seven touchdowns and only two interceptions. Point Projection: 20 Points

4. Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) vs. Oakland

Houston Texans’ quarterback Matt Schaub had a dud of a performance in week one but has come on strong the last two weeks with 657 yards, seven touchdowns, and just one interception. His completion percentage and average yards per attempt are on par with his career averages, but what Schaub has done a better job of this season is protecting the football. As long as he continues to do that and stay healthy, then perhaps we will finally witness Schaub’s breakout season.
Point Projection: 18 Points

5. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) vs. New York Jets

Statistically speaking, quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints’ offense were not themselves in the win over the Buffalo Bills in week three. Brees only threw for 172 yards, no touchdowns, and had one of his passes intercepted. So, it was a bit of an off game for Brees, but you can expect him to bounce back this week at home against the New York Jets. Thus far, the Jets are one of the best defensive teams in the league, but it’s nearly impossible to contain Brees and the Saints’ offense in New Orleans.
Point Projection: 18 Points

6. Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) @ Pittsburgh

So far this season, the best performance by San Diego Chargers’ quarterback Philip Rivers came against one of the league’s best defenses in week two, when he threw for 436 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens. This week, Rivers faces another elite defense in Pittsburgh, but the Steelers haven’t been quite themselves lately. The Steelers, who were in the top two in every major defensive category last season, are 15th against the pass so far this year and are still without safety Troy Polamalu. Thus, Rivers will enjoy another solid performance.
Point Projection: 18 points

7. Eli Manning (New York Giants) @ Kansas City

New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning has been on point so far this season with five touchdowns and just one interception in the first three weeks. This week, Manning will play on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, who possess one of the league’s worst pass defenses. The Chiefs rank 20th in the league against the pass and 27th in points allowed, which means it will be another good week for the youngest Manning brother.
Point Projection: 17 Points

8. Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) @ Cleveland

Apparently the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Carson Palmer feel like there’s something they have to prove. And so far, they’re doing a good job of proving that they’re not the Bengals of old. After a sub-par performance in week one, Palmer turned it around the last two weeks and led the Bengals to a road win over the Packers and a come-from-behind win over the Steelers. In those games, Palmer had four touchdowns and just two interceptions and played well in the second half on each of those contests despite facing adversity. This week, he gets to face the Browns, who are 31st in the league in points allowed.
Point Projection: 17 Points

9. Tom Brady (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady assured everybody that the knee injury would not bother him this season and that he was 100 percent healthy. Well, that hasn’t exactly been the case as Brady has just three touchdowns and two interceptions on the season. True, Brady has been without one of his favorite targets, Wes Welker, the last two weeks but that should be no excuse. Look for Brady to get on track this week against a Baltimore defense that’s allowed four passing touchdowns in three games.
Point Projection: 17 Points

10. Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. San Diego

The last two weeks have not been kind to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have lost consecutive games on last-minute drives by the Bears and Bengals. The Pittsburgh running game is struggling right now, but the silver lining to all of this is that the Steelers have had to throw the ball a lot, and that’s meant good fantasy points for Roethlisberger. You can expect a similar thing to happen in this game for Roethlisberger, who’s averaged 17.5 points in the last two weeks.
Point Projection: 16 Points

11. Trent Edwards (Buffalo Bills) @ Miami

Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards played well in the first two weeks of the season, then struggled a lot last week against a surprisingly good New Orleans defense. Going against the Miami Dolphins this week may just be what the doctor ordered for Edwards. Heading into the season, it was believed Miami had a solid and improved defense, but so far, the Dolphins rank 26th in the league against the pass and 21st in terms of points allowed.
Point Projection: 15 Points

12. Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Green Bay

For those that didn’t hear already—or want to hear it for the 1,000 time—Minnesota beat the San Francisco 49ers last week on a last-second touchdown pass by Brett Favre to Greg Lewis, who somehow got both of his feet in the back of the end zone despite the rest of his body being a yard or two outside of it. But, the more interesting storyline here is that Favre is facing his old team, the Packers, in Minnesota. Favre should get his points, but Green Bay certainly won’t make it easy.
Point Projection: 14 Points

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK FOUR QUARTERBACK RANKINGS, CLICK HERE!

THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOY CORY STEGER

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Rex Ryan Is Already The Best Coach In The NFL

The New York Jets and their Head Coach Rex Ryan defeated the Tennessee Titans 24-17 Sunday in a rain-soaked contest at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

 

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (17-30, 171 yards) became the first rookie signal-caller in NFL history to lead his team to a 3-0 start.

 

“When Sanchez is playing at the top of his game and the defense is playing like they are, and special teams doing what we do, we’re unstoppable,” said Wallace Wright, a key performer on the Jets special teams unit. “We definitely feel we are the team to beat.”

 

The Jets believe that they are “the team to beat” because Ryan, 46, has instilled a swagger and genuine confidence in his players that has translated into victories on the gridiron.

 

Additionally, Ryan, who served as the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator from 2005-2008, has made playing the game of football enjoyable again for Jets players who were smothered by their former coach Eric Mangini’s tyrannical policies for three painstaking seasons.

 

One current Jets player was asked after Sunday’s game what their record would be if Mangini was still the head coach instead of the magnetic Ryan.

 

“We’d be 0-3, maybe 1-2,” said the player, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I’m serious. No one likes to be over-coached. It’s no fun.”

 

In essence, Mangini is to fun what kryptonite is to Superman. While Ryan has emphatically encouraged his players to speak their minds and voice their opinions.

 

However, the Oklahoman demands that his players exhibit a team-first mentality and he will not accept selfishness on his squad.

 

Promising wide receiver David Clowney learned that lesson when he was benched versus the Titans after he complained on Twitter about a lack of playing time.

 

In the immediate aftermath of Gang Green’s statement victory against the New England Patriots in week two, Clowney tweeted: “one play in the first half, four plays in the second half…A bit disappointed about my playing time but very happy and satisfied about the win.”

 

Clowney, 24, who was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech University, has performed brilliantly in his first two preseason’s with the Jets.

 

Unfortunately, in large part because of a severe collar bone injury he suffered last year, Clowney has not had an opportunity to exhibit his skills on the field during the regular season.

 

It is now apparent that Clowney, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds at the NFL Combine, will never be afforded a chance by Ryan in the future either if he continues to be preoccupied with himself.

 

“I was upset with him, yep,” admitted Ryan on Monday. “No individual is bigger than the team. If I feel a guy is not putting the team first, I’ll make that decision to put the guy down.”

 

After he posted the initial tweet that chapped Ryan’s ass, Clowney posted another message that read, “My team always comes first so I’ma just keep grinding.”

 

Ryan said that Clowney responded to being reprimanded in an ideal fashion. In fact, Ryan stated he is considering Clowney for the team’s practice player of the week award.

 

“It could be a misunderstanding between David and I, but nobody’s a bigger fan of David Clowney than I am,” said Ryan. “It’s not head games or anything else.”

 

Despite the fact that he has only three games on his resume, Rex Ryan is simply everything you want in an NFL head coach.

 

He is a player’s coach who requires discipline, he has an exceptional football mind. But, he doesn’t pretend to be a genius who could successfully split the atom.

 

In all probability, Rex Ryan is the man who will ultimately lead the New York Jets to their first championship since the 1969 season.

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Hey Bengals, Want to Be Taken Seriously? Beat Cleveland

Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was a giant step in the right direction, but if the Cincinnati Bengals want to make a true statement, they must beat Cleveland this weekend on the road.

 

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Brady Quinn: Where Did The “Golden Boy” Go Wrong?

The Date: Apr. 26, 2007

Location: NY City/Browns War Room

Time: Desperation/First Round: 22nd Pick

The Choice: Notre Dame QB and Hometown Hero Brady Quinn

We all remember how this all started…

Quinn was the toast of the town and the Browns looked like masterminds. Although the Browns passed on Quinn with the third overall pick, he was still on their minds. It was like destiny when he heard his name called by the commissioner.

Finally, the Browns had the QB who was everything they needed and wanted.

What more could we have asked for; he had the look, the poise, and was a hometown kid.

This was a recipe for success and the “Great White Hope” would bring the Browns back from ridicule and futility.

Fast forward…

Game One: September 13th.

Eric Mangini names Brady Quinn starter, and Browns faithful have great hopes for the season.

Enter Minnesota, with talented running back Adrian Peterson, and some old guy named Favre.

Outcome: Vikings 34 Browns 20

Quinn’s stat line: 21-35, 205 yds, one TD and one INT. 60 percent completion rate.

Not a bad line, especially when facing the D-Line that the Vikings smack you in the face with.

Game Two: September 20th.

Quinn is ready for his second consecutive start of the season; the Browns faced off against the Denver Broncos, who were a lucky play away from losing to the Bengals.

This was a game that we could win; but, as the saying goes: “That’s why they play the game.”

Outcome: Denver 27 Cleveland 6

Quinn’s stat line: 18-31, 161 yds, no TDs and one INT. 58.1 percent completion rate.

Game Three: September 27th.

A division game against the Ravens should be enough to get anyone pumped!

The perfect game to turn things around; the Ravens defense was not the same as it was last year, so maybe the Browns offense would have some luck moving the ball.

Outcome: Baltimore 34 Cleveland 3

Quinn’s state line: 6-8, 34 yds, no TDs, one INT. 75 percent completion rate.

Quinn was pulled in favor of back up Derek Anderson. Mangini hoped this would give the team a spark, since Anderson can put the ball down the field and has a better rapport with Braylon Edwards.

Outcome: Anderson: 11-19, 92 yds, no TDs, three INTs. 57.9 percent completion percentage.

So, after you digest the stats, what do you really know?

From my guess, not much. Both QBs have not had stellar games so far, but this was supposed to be Quinn’s season.

We were supposed to let him fly and see what he can do. But, as we are well aware of, Mangini is not going to let that happen.

Is it a personal grudge?

Mangini did not like either of the QBs that he had on his roster when he arrived in Cleveland. If he could have gotten away with it, and not gotten run outta town, he would have traded them both and played the entire season with Brett Ratliff.

These are the guys we have. Both are very talented, and can start for this team. Mangini just needs to stop flopping back and forth and make a decision. Quinn, in my opinion, is the face of this franchise for years to come.

The buzz on blogs and message boards are calling Quinn a bust.

How is this a fair assessment? It is way too early for the comparisons to Ryan Leaf.

This kid is stil young, and trying to develop his craft at the professional level. Why don’t we all get off his back and let him learn?

I know from being a die hard Browns fan, that we are desperately searching for someone or something that can bring us back to the proud glory days that we have been a part of.

This franchise is deep in history, so let’s just sit back and let Brady Quinn make his own mark in the record books.

What do we have to lose?

 

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Jeff Garcia Should Replace Jake Delhomme: Round Two

On September 14, I ventured out on a limb and posed the idea that then former Oakland Raider quarterback Jeff Garcia should replace Jake Delhomme under center for the Carolina Panthers.

Today, I am going out farther on that limb by strongly suggesting that the Panthers take a look at the now former Philadelphia Eagles reserve.

The Panthers are putting perhaps their final season with Julius Peppers in serious jeopardy by keeping Delhomme as their quarterback. Despite the organization’s assertion on Wednesday that it wasn’t looking to make a change, now that there’s a proven winner on the free agent market (again) like Garcia, the Panthers need to think twice.

Earlier this week Steve Smith admitted that he bailed on his route on a play that turned into an interception returned for a touchdown by Dallas corner Terence Newman on Monday night. But Smith was seen earlier on Monday evening barking at Delhomme.

Delhomme turned the ball over three times on Monday night. His footwork has become poor and he’s started making mental mistakes that have most of the southeastern region of the country wondering whose idea Delhomme’s contract extension was this spring.

The Panthers had one of the best running games in the entire NFL last year, with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart both having strong seasons.

But now, with the Panthers unable to convert on third down (one for eight on Monday), their running game has suffered. Smith’s production has also disappeared.

These are the same Panthers who were confident in their offensive line after securing tackle Jordan Gross this past spring. Coming into a season with lots of cause to be excited, the Panthers are winless after three weeks.

The Panthers have scored the second-fewest points in the NFC so far (37 through three games) and are tied for last in their division with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will start a relative unknown at quarterback this weekend.

Tampa, however, is entering into a rebuilding time. They have moved on from the Derrick Brooks-led defensive teams and are searching for an identity. They have a rookie head coach and spent a high draft pick on a quarterback this year.

The Panthers have a veteran roster and don’t have the same grace with their fan base that Tampa does; they’re not getting younger and they won 12 games last year.

But their promise seems to be moving backwards with Delhomme under center.

They need a change.

When I wrote this piece a couple weeks ago, the biggest objections (that didn’t come from Eagles fans in the wake of Donovan McNabb’s rib injury) was that Garcia is wrong for the Panthers’ system. He’s a mobile quarterback who needs to be in a West Coast Offense to be productive.

My response two games later is: How productive has Delhomme been in this system?

Garcia might not be younger than Delhomme, but he’s a fresh face and could spark confidence with the veteran roster. His legs might even become an asset in the running game that’s stalled in the midst of Delhomme’s poor decision making and fumble-itis.

The Panthers are off this week for their bye, and then have the failing Washington Redskins and the wandering Bucs. Those are two games the Panthers could, and should, win. But they’re also games against opportunistic defenses that will prey on Delhomme’s judgement.

The time is now for Carolina to make a change, and they’re getting a second chance to bring in Garcia. They made the mistake two weeks ago, and have lost twice since Garcia went to Philly.

With quarterback changes happening in Miami (due to injury) and Tampa (due to ineffective play), it’s time the Panthers follow Tampa’s lead before they’re forced to follow Miami’s.

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NFL Predictions: Week Four

Week Four has quite a few good looking showdowns on Sunday.

But it has a great big one on Monday night, a showdown that has been brewing for almost a year now.

Whether you call it a grudge match, or call it teacher against student, or call it a rivalry game: You’re right. I’ll get to that game a little later.

Last week, I had a great week going 14-2. My only losses were the Steelers losing to the Bengals and the Texans losing to the Jaguars. Other than that, it was a decisive week. On the season, I am 35-13 and looking to continue the good record.

So let’s look at Week Four and see what is in store for this weekend’s games.

 

New York Giants @ Kansas City Chiefs

The Giants defense was banged up, but still pitched a shutout last weekend in Tampa Bay over a lousy Buccaneers team. A week of rest should do wonders for the Giants team in need to get healthy.

The latest injury for the Giants is running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who has a sprained foot and was out of Giants practice on Wednesday, but Bradshaw is expected to play on Sunday. Expect Brandon Jacobs to carry the load for the Giants with Bradshaw’s foot injury.

The Chiefs haven’t played well and were embarrassed last week against the Eagles. Matt Cassel hasn’t played well yet, and it doesn’t look well against a defense with one of the premeir pass rushes. The Giants should be able to win this game easily on the road.

Final Score: Giants 30, Chiefs 10

 

Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts

Matt Hasselbeck hasn’t been able to go for Seattle and Seneca Wallace is playing better, but hasn’t won a game yet in 2009. It won’t get any easier in Indianapolis, but if Wallace or Hasselbeck are playing, they won’t have to worry about Dwight Freeney, who will be out with quadriceps injury.

The Colts offense is rolling. Peyton Manning is throwing touchdowns and winning games. Some things just never change, even if the head coach did. Seattle had a tough time trying to stop the Bears offense under Jay Cutler; it’s not going to be easier trying to stop Manning and the Colts offense.

The Colts should win this game easily.

Final Score: Colts 31, Seahawks 20

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Redskins

In the past, this game has been a playoff matchup. Now, it’s a game between two struggling teams.

Tampa Bay benched Byron Leftwich and promoted Josh Johnson, who moved the ball a little against the Giants, but still did not score. Washington’s defense can be tough, although Albert Haynesworth hasn’t gotten off to the start Redskins fans wanted.

Washington is struggling. Jim Zorn is teetering on being run out of Washington and Jason Campbell may follow him after the season. Clinton Portis is questionable for this game with an ankle injury. But, Washington should be able to generate enough offense, just enough to squeak by the Buccaneers.

Final Score: Redskins 17, Buccaneers 10

 

Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots

Two of the top teams in the NFL will square off in Foxboro in an anticipated matchup.

The Ravens offense has exploded onto the league and Joe Flacco has been very good of late, but he’s faced defensive teams who haven’t been very good.

Playing in New England is always tough for a young quarterback, and he can ask Matt Ryan about the pressure.

The Patriots got back on track last week, although at times, Tom Brady overthrew his receivers and struggled a bit. They were able to run the ball well with Fred Taylor, but the Ravens defense is always tough to face.

This should be a very tough game in Gillette Stadium and it should come down to the final minutes.

Final Score: Patriots 20, Ravens 17

 

Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos

The Cowboys finally won a home game on Monday night against the Panthers, so that is out of the way.

They are going to be without top running back Felix Jones with a knee injury for the game and Marion Barber is questionable with a thigh injury after missing last week. This means Tashard Choice may get most of the carries.

Denver’s defense has been outstanding through the first three games, but this will be their first test against a tough opponent. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is very good at preparing his players and if the Cowboys running attack is too banged up against Denver, it might be a long day for Tony Romo, who hasn’t been overly impressive.

Final Score: Broncos 24, Cowboys 17

 

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns

The Bengals won a huge game at home against the Steelers with less than a minute to go.

Carson Palmer is healthy and is playing well. He is the key to the Bengals season. So is Cedric Benson and Chad Ochocinco, who are having good seasons in 2009.

Cleveland is a mess. Period. They’ve scored only 29 points in the first three games, the city of Cleveland is calling for Eric Mangini’s firing, and Brady Quinn was benched for Derek Anderson. It’s a questionable move, considering Anderson threw three interceptions last week against the Ravens.

Don’t expect things to get any better for the Browns against an inspired Bengals team.

Final Score: Bengals 23, Browns 7

 

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee is 0-3 and their season is sinking fast.

Many are wondering if Vince Young should be put back in at starting quarterback, but for now, it’s still on Kerry Collins’ shoulders to get the job done.

The Jaguars got a big win over the Texans last week, who have been very disappointing so far. The problem is when you face a desperate team, generally they will come out fighting harder and playing tougher than you will, which should be the case for the Titans.

Expect Chris Johnson and LenDale White to run wild on the Jaguars.

Final Score: Titans 28, Jaguars 20

 

Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans

JaMarcus Russell is quickly becoming a bust in the NFL. He has horrible game management, he’s inaccurate, and he doesn’t try hard. He’s blessed with a strong arm and is a rich man, but that’s about it.

The Texans so far have been very disappointing at 1-2 and need a win to get some confidence back.

So far, Matt Schaub has thrown for over 800 yards and should have no problem throwing the ball at home against the Raiders defense, especially to Andre Johnson.

Final Score: Texans 31, Raiders 14

 

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears

The Lions ended their 19-game losing streak with a win over the Redskins, which should give Detroit hope for the future.

However, it doesn’t get any easier for Detroit, especially on defense.

Jay Cutler has been playing much better after his disastrous first week and has lead the Bears to two straight wins.

The Lions defense will have a long day ahead of them trying to stop the Bears offense with Cutler and company at Soldier Field.

Final Score: Bears 27, Lions 13

 

New York Jets @ New Orleans Saints

This is another premier game on the Week Four schedule, and it’s the classic great offense against great defense matchup.

The Jets defense has played very well because they get pressure on the quarterback. If they want to have a chance in the Superdome, they must get pressure on Drew Brees all game long.

Speaking of Brees, he’s already having an MVP-like season, throwing a ton of touchdowns in the explosive Saints offense, and as long as he stays off his backside, nobody is expecting different.

This should be a great game, and it’s the first test for the Jets on the road. It depends on how well Mark Sanchez can play in a loud building with a ton of pressure in his face.

Final Score: Saints 28, Jets 24

 

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins

For the first time in 13 years, Terrell Owens was held without a single catch in their loss to the Saints. You can probably imagine how unhappy he was about it.

Can you imagine if T.O. goes catch-less in a second straight game? I’m sure Trent Edwards does not want that, so expect him to throw the ball more to Owens in the game.

The Miami offense took a hit when Chad Pennington was injured and will miss the rest of the season with a bad shoulder, so now it’s on Chad Henne’s shoulders. With Henne in, does the Dolphins’ offense still use the Wildcat?

Miami’s defense hasn’t played well all season long, and with an angry T.O., they might be in for a long day trying to stop him.

With the focus on T.O., the rest of the Bills offense should have an easy day.

Final Score: Bills 24, Dolphins 16

 

St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers

The Rams were once a playoff team under Marc Bulger. Now, they are a huge mess and it’s not getting any better. The Rams have scored a total of 24 points in the first three games and are 0-3. Not a good start for Steve Spagnuolo.

The 49ers were two seconds away from being 3-0, but Brett Favre’s game winning touchdown pass took care of that.

The 49ers have been playing very well in 2009, but they will be without top running back Frank Gore, who has suffered an ankle injury.

Even without Gore, the 49ers should be able to take care of the Rams at home.

Final Score: 49ers 20, Rams 6

 

Sunday Night Football: San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a rematch of the second round playoff game between these two teams.

The Chargers cruised easily in their game against the Dolphins, but they will be playing in a tough environment on the road.  Phillip Rivers has had a tremendous season and will look to continue airing the ball out.

The Steelers need a win desperately to stay in the mix. They’re 1-2 and still without Troy Polamalu. The Steelers have also been two plays away from being 3-0 instead of 1-2, so their record is a little deceiving.

Mike Tomlin will have this team fired up on national TV and expect a much-needed win from the defending champions. But also expect a very close game.

Final Score: Steelers 24, Chargers 21

 

Monday Night Football: Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings

Remember that grudge match I was referring to earlier? This is it.

Teacher against student. You got it with Brett Favre against Aaron Rodgers.

All eyes will be watching Favre take on his former team for the first time, but he will at least have the crowd on his side in the Metrodome. The Vikings are 3-0 and playing very well, especially after their come from behind win against the 49ers.

The Packers are 2-1 and have been playing well in 2009, but this is a major test. This is Monday Night Football with the Packers and Vikings. This was a constant game on Monday nights with Favre in Green Bay, and usually Favre won those games against Minnesota.

Expect Adrian Peterson to have another great game on the national stage and drive the Packers defense nuts all night.

This time, it will be Favre torturing Green Bay fans on the Monday night showdown with a win.

Final Score: Vikings 34, Packers 24

 

Bye Weeks: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles

 

That’s the schedule and picks for Week Four. There are some great matchups to look forward to and it will all end with a highly anticipated grudge match, which of course will be dominated in the news with Brett Favre. What else is new? The media will have a field day with the anticipation of the Monday night game.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week and gets ready for another great weekend of NFL games.

Green Bay, Are you ready? Minnesota, Are you ready? Brett Favre, ARE YOU READY? The rest of us are.

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Modern Day Raiders’ Not Fit to Wear the Silver and Black

This year, the Oakland Raiders celebrate their 50th anniversary and
during that time a celebrated list of Hall of Fame members have worn
the silver and black.

From Marcus Allen to Fred Billetnikoff and Art Shell to Howie Long, the
Raiders were a storied franchise during the 70’s and 80’s. The teams
assembled by John Madden and Tom Flores attained legendary status in
NFL folklore.

How times have changed.

The failings and shortcomings of the current Raiders have been
dissected across the internet and media at large for many a year and
the fact is that players, coaches and even the owner himself are a
pale shadow of what the franchise used to be.

The “Commitment to Excellence” is officially over. The only
“Commitment” the Raiders now achieve are high salaries to
underwhelming players and long contracts to equally incompetent
coaches.

The ineffective, unprofessional structure of the club is galling for
all Raider fans.

Where is the General Manager? Where is the scouting structure? Where
are the talent evaluators? Where are the leaders on the field?

The Oakland Raiders are an antiquated sporting enterprise, and it pains
me to state the same.

The halcyon era that all Raider fans revelled in is long since over

Given the rabble that currently take to the field, it will be a long
time before Raider fans will enjoy watching players who will emulate
the Hall of Fame Raider heroes.

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