I've got a lot to talk about this week, and I don't know if I can fit all of it in. So, as my roommate Adam Goodfellow would say, "I'll spare you my excess verbiage. Let's cut to the chase." Here are a few thoughts coming out of Week Three:
1. I don't care how bad their defense is, the Colts are still the second best team in the AFC. Their offense really is good enough to make up for their severe defensive shortcomings. Just ask Brett Favre, and I think he'd agree. Favre threw for 360 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions on Sunday, and Green Bay still lost by 14 points. Peyton Manning showed everybody why he's the highest paid player in football, out-slinging Favre to the tune of 393 yards and five touchdowns. What's even more impressive? All of those five touchdown passes came in one half. As long as Manning and that Indiannapolis offense can make it onto the field, the Colts are never out of a game.
2. A common proverb is that the mountain becomes steepest right before you reach the top. The Philadelphia faithful have been waiting a long time to see their beloved Eagles hoist the Lombardi trophy. After seeing their dreams crushed in each of the last three conference championship games, this may finally be the year that Eagles fans see all of their hard work come to fruition. Without a doubt, this is the best Eagles team of my lifetime. When you're talking about great teams, it always starts with great coaching, which the Eagles have had ever since Andy Reid signed on.
However, the biggest difference for Philly this year is that they finally decided to open up their wallet in the offseason. Players like Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse possess superstar talent that can't be coached. It's simply something that they're born with. They are players who can single-handedly change the outcome of a game, and these are the types of players who always seem to come up with big plays, even when they shouldn't. Donovan McNabb has been waiting to have players like this around him. Now he finally has the chance to silence his critics.
3. What a difference a year can make! On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs dropped to 0-3, matching their loss total for all of last season. What's even more embarrassing is that the defeat came at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs were 8-0 last year. I don't know how to explain last year's record, since the personnel is basically the same, but the reason for this year's disappointing start is simple: the Chiefs can't stop the run. This is a team that needs to get a win under its belt as soon as possible so that they can try and turn things around. Don't look for that win to come on Monday night, when they face the Ravens. I expect Baltimore to win, and I expect Jamal Lewis to rush for at least 150 yards.
4. Without being overly optimistic, I would like to acknowledge the play of the New York Giants over the past two weeks. Kurt Warner looked excellent against Cleveland on Sunday, and gave Giants fans a reason to be positive about the direction in which the team is heading. However, New York has a tough test coming up, as they head to Green Bay in Week 4.
5. Without being overly pessimistic, I would just like to acknowledge the fact that Jonathan Quinn is going to be the starting signal caller for the Bears this weekend, as they host the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles (see #2). If you're a Chicago fan, you can't feel good about this. Rex Grossman has shown a tremendous amount of promise, and to lose him for the year is a devastating blow. However, all is not bad for the Bears. Thomas Jones has quietly proven to be one of the biggest off-season signings, as he currently ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards with 329. This total puts him only 24 yards behind the NFL leader, Chris Brown (Who would have thought!?). Also, I would like to point out to Chicago fans that both Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme have played very well after making a name for themselves in NFL Europe. And, as we all know, it was Jonathan Quinn who was the MVP of World Bowl IX in 2001, as he led the Berlin Thunder to victory.
6. I'm not saying that I'm glad Rich Gannon got hurt. But, as a Giants fan, I couldn't be happier to see Kerry Collins get the starting QB opportunity now in Oakland. People can say what they want about Collins, who has had his fair share of problems on and off the field, but he has fought through a lot of adversity, and he carries himself with a lot of class (not to mention he still throws one of the best deep balls in the league). In the future, when each side looks back, I hope that the Giants will remember Collins as a great leader who made significant contributions to their franchise (including a trip to the Super Bowl), and I hope that Collins will look back fondly on the Giants as the team that gave him another chance when everyone else had written him off.
7. Atlanta at Carolina is the game of the week. This is about as big a game as you can have in Week 4, and could set the tone for how the season will play out for both these teams.
8. Finally, let's talk about 2004's version of the Cardiac Cats, the Jacksonville Jaguars. After a stunning last minute victory over the Titans in Week 3, the Jags are stirring up interest all over the sports world. This is a team which, coming out of Week 3, ranked last in the NFL in total offense. Despite its struggles, it has remained undefeated because of their stifling defense, which has only allowed two touchdowns so far. Can it keep pulling out these close victories? I don't see why not. New England is the best team in the league, and it hardly ever blows teams out. Either way, this is a young, exciting team, and it will continue to get better as Byron Leftwich improves.
That's all I've got for now. Check back in two weeks.