Weekend Wrapup: NFL Week 5

by Crixtopher

<better late than never>

Green Bay blew that game vs the Bears and in the process may have helped Chicago become a factor again this season. Still, the Bears' Brian Griese played well enough not to lose, and Greg Olsen may start to become a serious weapon for this offense. Great speed, size and hands. I think I actually saw one run by Cedric Benson that was determined, maybe he is starting to feel it finally. For the Pack, no worries fans, its one loss. James Jones two costly fumbles could prove to be just the learning experience the rookie needs to become an even more focused and up-and-coming player. DeShawn Wynn and Vernand Morency again displayed flashes of hard nosed running which bodes well for a struggling rushing attack.

San Diego also looks revived thanks to a surprisingly bad Broncos team. Maybe Denver can resuscitate itself with a bye this week? Their defense is grossly underperforming making mistakes not typical of a Mike Shanahan coached team. The Chargers got untracked though which could turn their season completely around if they can find a way to build on the momentum.

The Ravens took care of business and pulled themselves back up to 3-2, but I still think they are too weak to make a playoff run. The 49ers need an offensive coordinator in the worst way, its too bad because their defense is playing well. They probably will get Vernon Davis back next game which has to help.

Honestly I thought the Buccaneers would have made the loss to to the Colts a lot closer. Maybe their defense isn't all the way back to the form it had three or four years ago, then again most defenses look worse against the Colts, who just continue to roll along even without stars in the lineup.

Don't look now but America's favorite team to bash, the Arizona Cardinals are in first place in the NFC West. Sure they allowed the struggling Rams thirty one points, but forget the stats on this one. The Cardinals defense again generated critical turnovers at the right times, and the Cards found a way to win playing arguably their worst game of the season beating a division rival in their house. They won their second game in a row without their best player Anquan Boldin, and won the type of game that the old Cardinals always lost. ALWAYS. Not to be overlooked, the ball is bouncing Arizona's way which is critical for teams that are turning the corner. Two controversial calls by the referees ended up as two Cardinal touchdowns. The bigger story is losing Matt Leinart for the year with a broken collarbone. He wasn't performing nearly as poorly as the media painted it, rather he was integral to the Cardinals success in each game. Picking up under appreciated Tim Rattay to back up Kurt Warner was the right choice, but losing Leinart is no small loss.

Somehow without his main weapons on offense Matt Schaub continues to drive the Texans' impressive start. They barely eeked out the win thanks to a monster game by kicker Kris Brown, and the Dolphins lost the game and Trent Green to yet another concussion. Cleo Lemon doesn't strike fear into the opponent but who knows, maybe he can provide the spark this team needs to win their first game. Travis Johnson, I'm with you, any player who hits my knee with their helmet on a bad excuse for a block deserves to be yelled at. Green could have ended Johnson's career with that bad decision and wussy block. The reason so many people were up in arms about Johnson's reaction is because Green was knocked unconscious, if Green had not been hurt on the play then I think we would be hearing a lot more open support for Johnson, not the other way around.

The Lions are very inconsistent an offense and I'm not sure their defense is solid enough to get them into the playoffs. The Redskins look better every week on both sides of the ball. A stingy defense and rising star Jason Campbell are making for Washington's first genuinely good team in years.

The Titans defense is also solid and improving each game, ending Joey Harrington's two game streak of good play. Atlanta, Byron Leftwich is not the answer. I said it before the season even started the answer was Aaron Brooks, now for this season its too late.

The Steelers bounced right back with another dominating performance over the question mark that is Seattle. Losing career Seahawk and Pro Bowl fullback Mack Strong is a huge loss as he has paved the way for all of Shaun Alexander's success.

Chad Pennington may be at the end of the road now that his moxy has worn off. Man was I wrong about the Giants, I had them dead in the water with Tom Coughlin fired mid-season. This team looks to be gaining momentum.

Yeah the Panthers won on a last second field goal but the future for both Carolina and New Orleans this season is bleak. Jake Delhomme on IR, backup David Carr may miss time with an aching back, untested rookie Matt Moore may start this week with recently signed 43-year old Vinny Testaverde backing him up. There are red flags and then there are big red flags, using Testaverde's signing as a barometer for this team I'd have to say that is a big red flag.

The Patriots continued to dominate and the Browns proved while they are improved they are not yet good, just okay.

I underestimated Jacksonville before the Kansas City game but that was an impressive win. They held the Chiefs scoreless until the final play of the game, and Maurice Jones-Drew got back on track with some highlight reel runs. You have to hand it to coach Jack Del Rio for pulling the plug on Leftwich when he did, he was right, David Garrard was by far and away the better option. I smell playoffs.