NFL Quick Hits - Week 3
By Doug Upstone
Call it Super Bowl hangover or whatever you desire, but the New Orleans Saints are not the same team this season, at least to this point. Opponents have found ways to curtail Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense, playing deeper coverage's and allowing more underneath stuff. Reggie Bush aside, the middle three of the New Orleans offensive line are not getting the same push, especially guards Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans, explaining why the Saints are 31st in yards per carry at 2.6.
Last year the Saints defense would often have the luxury of playing with a lead, give up yards, but be less afraid to take chances. Against Atlanta, they couldn't get off the field as the Falcons were 9 for 18 on third down and two of three on fourth down. New Orleans defense lived by the turnover last year and has forced six this season, however four came in one game against San Francisco's sinking ship. No need for panic in the Crescent City, but obvious signs of concern for team that 19-43 ATS at home versus division opponent.
I believe it was Jimmy Johnson of FOX who said if the Cowboys are going to win, they need to do it when practicing and watching film on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, not when they show up to play the game. It was clear Dallas' preparation was in sync as they lassoed the Houston 27-13. The entire club played with greater purpose and linebacker DeMarcus Ware and the defense made life miserable for Matt Schaub and the Texans offense. Dallas and Tennessee both made good on September system that said to -Play on an underdog that lost the week prior as a favorite of six or more.
Jeff Fisher and his Titans are well-known around the NFL for trying to bait players into stupid penalties and have them lose focus. Evidently because the New York football Giants only face Tennessee every four years, they didn't read the memo and bit hard on these tactics. The Giants self-destructed with a myriad of personal foul penalties, missed field goals and other opportunities. The worst aspect is this was after a brutal performance against Indianapolis. Coach Tom Coughlin is a noted task-master and seems to not have control of this squad. As I've said before, the NFL schedule seems to be the cruelest when things go bad and though it is just good or bad luck, the G-Men have to go to the Windy City to face the 3-0 Bears next.
Did you know Tennessee is on 15-1 (10-0 most recently) and 12-3-1 ATS since losing to Dallas in 2006 in non-conference contests?
I've mentioned this to friends and other sports bettors but never wrote about it, mostly because of the love affair people had with Mike Singletary and his single-minded approach. From the day Singletary was named coach, I wondered if he could do the job because his seemed so intent on doing everything one way, which can good, but possibly a derailing factor if the ride gets bumpy. At 0-3, Ship Singletary is taking on water fast and sinking, and I can't help but think of the old classic movie "Caine Mutiny" where a stern Captain Queeg had this to say and I'm sure you could hear the former Hall of Fame linebacker saying in football terms, "[T]here are four ways of doing things: the right way, the wrong way, the Navy way, and my way. If they do things my way, we'll get along." Queeg later cracks on the stand in a trial regarding the ship-mates mutiny. This could replay in real life in Frisco.
Peyton Manning proved why he might deserve to have a higher place in the all-time quarterback rankings than say Brett Favre. Playing without wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez due to injury and Denver doubling or bracketing Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark, Manning instead went to Austin Collie and utilized free agent Blair White for a crucial touchdown pass in the third quarter. Manning said after the game the work he put in at the OTA's were the reason he and Blair were able to hook up. Favre didn't participate in any OTA's and seems to have better timing with guys in the Wrangler commercials than with Viking receivers. Indy might have won and covered, but giving up 519 yards has to be a concern.
Arizona was fortunate to win over Oakland. The Cardinals are arguably the worst 2-1 team in the NFL and were outplayed over large expanses against the improving Raiders. Bad things happen to bad teams and kicker Sebastian Janikowski picked a bad day to have a bad game. Props to CBS analyst Randy Cross who was prophetic is saying, "...much like a golfer, when a kicker has pulled two kicks, he'll have a tendency to overcompensate and fade the ball the other way". Moments later the left-footed Janikowski missed to the left. Lost in hoopla was this love-fest for backup Bruce Gradkowski, but the fact remains Oakland was forced to settle for six field goal attempts, not trips in the end zone. The Cardinals win makes the NFC 6-10 and 6-9-1 ATS vs. the AFC.
The Jets defense wasn't always impressive, but they have now won and covered twice as underdogs against division foes.
The Green Bay Packers outgained Chicago 379-276 which would typically mean a team would win in 3 to 5 points, however when you add in all the Packers penalty yards and stupidly kicking the ball to Devin Hester in punt returns (plus adding kickoff yards), Da Bears actually outgained the Pack 612-524, which would make the final score differential about right. Division home dogs are 7-2 and 8-1 ATS to start 2010 campaign.