NFL Lessons: Week 4
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by The Beast
1. The Chargers can still turn things around After a 1-4 start to the season, don't discount the San Diego Chargers. So far the Chargers have been anything but super but they still have one thing that other teams in their division do not have: talent. I question Norv Turner's ability to be a Head Coach but with the talent on their roster it is too difficult to imagine that the Bolts will be bad for the entire season. Turner may never be as good as Marty Schottenheimer was but he will eventually figure out that LaDanian Tomlinson needs more carries. Wait until Week 8 or 10 before you rule them out.
2. The Bengals will either rise or fall After Cincinnati's 34-13 loss at the hands of the Patriots, Head Coach Marvin Lewis told the team, "If you don't want to be on this team, please don't show up! You don't call the offense, you don't call the plays. You just play. Nowhere in the NFL do guys act like this. We've got to figure this out." After Marvin's post game yelling match, the Bengals will either meet their coach high expectations or fall by the wayside. They certainly have the talent to be one of the AFC's better teams but their selfish attitude, police encounters, antics, and stupidity have all kept them from doing so. This isn't all Marvin Lewis's fault but their might be too many egos on this team for them to ever be serious playoff contenders.
3. Brett Favre for MVP After leading the Packers's to a 4-0 record, Favre has clearly thrown his name into the MVP race. While others may disagree, his play so far this season clearly makes him the most valuable to his team. So far this year the Packers are 4-0 despite having the the league's worst running game. To compensate for a poor backfield, the Packers have relied on Brett Favre throwing 35-45 times per game. Despite an average of nearly 43 attempts per game, the 38 year old quarterback has completed 65% of those passes while throwing just two interceptions to go along with eight touchdowns. Without a running game, Favre has single-handily carried his team to an undefeated record.
4. The Cowboys are by far the NFC's best While they only played the Rams, the Cowboys are unquestionably the NFC's best team. They have talented players on both sides of the ball but this year they finally have found the missing piece to their puzzle, quarterback. So far, Tony Romo has been spectacular and the Cowboys have finally found on offense that can match their defense. Is any other team in the NFC as good as the 'Boys.
5. Matt Leinart is absolutely right While the Arizona Cardinals were able to upset the Steelers on Sunday afternoon, franchise quarterback Matt Leinart is not too happy with the whole quarterback by committee thing. Leinart told the media, "I just want them to ride or die with me. If I'm the franchise quarterback, play me and let me stumble, because I'll fight through it, and that will help me and our team in the long run. I know coaches want to win now, and I guess they have their reasons. But I don't understand it, and this switching back and forth is almost worse than getting benched."
While I completely understand Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt's desire to win and win now, Leinart does make a valid point. At 36 years of age, Kurt Warner's career is just about over and the Cardinals are paying Leinart a bunch of money to be the franchise quarterback. Nothing good can come from this quarterback rotation, except a few more wins in 2007. I doubt the Cardinals are going to win the Super Bowl this year and the long term damage is going to be irreversible. If Whisenhunt plans to go with Leinart, then go with Leinart. If not than why is he even on the roster?
