Every Monday, our very own DLamp will be taking a look at what just happened the day before in the NFL, and looking ahead to the Monday night game(s).
Hi-definition TVs might be the greatest invention of our generation. I watched the games yesterday on a friend’s TV and holly crap does it make a difference. I feel like a child who was just allowed to sit at the grown-ups table. This is a whole new world full of shiny new things, and I love it! Will Jim Haslett run the table with the Rams after taking over as head coach?
Preposterous. Scott Linehan was just the escape goat for a terrible team and a franchise in flux. Until the team is sold, they are going to be bad. They have some very good weapons (Steve Jackson, Tory Holt, even Bulger isn’t that bad) but their offensive line is a joke and the players have given up. They put up a good fight for half a game at Buffalo this week, but you can tell that they know they are out-gunned each and every week. Maybe Haslett will fire them up in a different way and squeak a few wins out of this sack of crap, but they should still be keeping an eye on who will be available with the first pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Are the Cowboys still the team to beat in the NFC?
They may not even be the best team in their division. I mean, Giants > Redskins and Redskins > Cowboys, then Giants > Cowboys. That’s the Transitive Property. A little math lesson for you. What this means is the NFC is completely wide open. Which ever team can make the playoffs (which is going to be a tight race) and get hot has got it, but it could be any of a number of teams.
Should Al Davis fire Def Coordinator Rob Ryan instead of Lane Kiffin?
Absolutely. This marks the second week in a row that the Raiders have jumped out to a lead, only to have the defense break down in the 4th quarter and cough up the win. If you thought last week at Buffalo was bad, then I don’t even want to tell you about this week against San Diego. Up 15-3 at the start of the 4th quarter, the Raiders ended up getting outscored 25-3 in the final quarter. Many say that Ryan’s exotic blitz schemes open up to many holes and tires out his defense. Unfortunately for Raider fans (and Kiffin) Al Davis is not one of those many. Davis loves Ryan because of his swagger, and because he looks like Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
Is Carson Palmer faking his elbow injury so he doesn’t have to play for a horrible Bengals team?
No way. Palmer is a competitor before anything else. Okay, well maybe he’s a connoisseur of fine beef franks first, but competitor is way up there on things he is. I do think it is very strange that there isn’t much known about the injury though. They say that he first reported it hurting after practice on Wednesday, but everyone thought he would be good to go (at least me and my fantasy team did!). Come Sunday, he is a no go and was even behind his brother Jesse on the depth chart. If this is a serious injury on any level then the Bengals just became the worst team in the NFL.
What happened to the Chicago defense last season?
I seriously have no idea. 2006 they are a suffocating group that lead a poor (terrible?) offense to the Super Bowl. Last year they get pushed around by just about everyone. Then this year, they are back to dominating. All you need for proof was that goal line stand at the end of the Sunday night game against the Eagles. Maybe they’ve finally adjusted to the new coordinator, but something has got these guys playing at a high level again and makes Chicago a match-up that no one is looking forward to.
Fantasy Question of the Week
How would the first round look if we redrafted today?
If all fantasy leagues redrafted after these first 4 weeks, how would the first ten picks play out? I think it would look something like this:
LT, AP, Gore, Barber, Lynch, Turner, Westbrook, Addai, Jackson, White
Some very familiar faces in the first round, but also some noteworthy absences. First off, no QBs in round 1. With the Brady injury and Manning slow start, no one would be foolish enough to waste a 1st rounder on those guys who were going there in almost everyone’s draft this year. Secondly, no Moss! I laughed when people took him in the first round this year. Laughed my ass off. Also, now we would see guys like Lynch, Turner, and White jump up to the tops of people’s lists after proving themselves thus far at the beginning of the season.
Un-Perfect Season Watch ‘08!
Still un-un-beaten: Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, St. Louis
Monday Night Sneak (Preview) Attack
Balt @ Pitt – Hmm, this is a tough one. On the one hand, I’ve heard nothing but bad things about the city of Baltimore. But on the other hand, Pittsburgh so easily becomes ‘Shitsburgh’. I’m really torn. I suppose I’ll take the home team and their exotic defense against the rookie QB.
2008 Sneak Attack record: 3-1
As someone in a league (TPPFF represent!) that took Brady I want you to know that I hate you from the sub-cockles of my heart.