UP - Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants – While the Giants have lost
three straight and the quarterback play has been poor, Brandon Jacobs has
stepped up his level of play. Unfortunately for the Giants, they have not been
able to get both the running and passing game going at the same time.
UP - Thomas Jones, RB, Jets – For all of the talk about how
Thomas Jones was going to decline this season after turning 31 entering the
season, Jones has silenced his critics. In his last three games, he has totaled
over 425 rushing yards.
UP –
Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins were 0-3 at one
point this season, but have now improved to 3-4, and if not for a 2nd
half collapse to the Saints, they could be 4-3. They have a big game in
New England this week and if they can pick up a victory,
they’ll be right back in the hunt. Not to mention, they’d be 4-0 in the
division.
Also on the rise
Sidney
Rice, WR, Vikings
Donald
Driver, WR, Packers
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
DOWN – Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys – Every week you hope that this
Dallas tight end will
emerge back into the offense, but it doesn’t happen.
Witten continues to catch at least 4 balls a
game, but he has eclipsed the 55 yard mark just twice this season. He has also
not reached the end-zone. Unless the Cowboys make some changes in their
offensive schemes- which you would doubt they do since they are winning- there
is no reason to believe
Witten
will get out of this funk.
DOWN - Eli Manning, QB, Giants – Eli has been terrible in his
last three games and it has led to three straight Giant losses. His numbers do
not tell the whole story, either. He has been misreading and overthrowing his
targets. In addition, the weather will continue to get worse in the
Meadowlands, which also does not bold well for the passing game.
DOWN - NFC West – It’s pathetic how the 1-7 Rams
are three games out of first place in the NFC West. The Cardinals came off two
big road wins and then drop a home game to the struggling Panthers. The
Seahawks have lost two straight and are only two games back sitting at 2-5. And
no need for panic in
San Francisco.
You’ve lost three straight, but are only one game behind the Cards, who you
have already beaten.
Defeated & Undefeated
The
zeroes in the win and loss column continue to disappear as the Saints and Colts
are the only undefeated teams in the NFL. The Bucs are the only winless team.
While the schedule looks like the Saints could go 16-0 and the Bucs could go
0-16, don’t count on either to occur.
Look ahead…
Primetime
football for Week #9 looks very intriguing. The Cowboys face off with the
Eagles on SNF for NFC East supremacy, while the Steelers travel to
Denver for an AFC battle
in Mile High. The battle of the Bay’s takes place in
Tampa while the Giants look to avoid their
fourth straight loss at home to the Chargers. The Ravens also look for revenge
in
Cincinnati.
