TUESDAY (FOOTBALL) TALK
What to make of Week 6
The Super Saints are tops….
After their complete dismantle of the Giants on Sunday, there seems to be a buzz about the Saints and the word “Super” keeps coming up. On Sunday Brees was super and the Saints passing game was unstoppable against the Giants number one ranked pass defense. In the matchup in the Bayou, the Saints were far superior on the field outclassing the Giants on both sides of the ball completely dominating this contest. In two games this season against preseason favorites to contend in the NFC (Eagles and Giants), the Saints have outscored their opponents 96-49. At 5-0 out of the gate, New Orleans have the look of the best team in the NFC and perhaps the entire league.
The Broncos leap another hurdle….
With their Monday night win over the Chargers, the Broncos may have seemingly put to sleep more ghosts of the past, but are folks sold on these Rocky Mountain boys yet? At 6-0 you have to concede that McDaniels has a pretty good team here. Their latest test against their division rival (Chargers) was just another hurdle this team has had to leap. With games against the Ravens and Steelers next on the docket, it seems the team will have to do even more leaping. So far in this young season, McDaniels and his Broncos have passed every test; first the cowboys, then the Patriots, and just recently the Chargers. How good are the Broncos, you know what they say “you are as good as your record.” At 6-0, I’d say they’re pretty good.
Looking under the microscope
Steelers all about the pass in 2009!
In case some of you haven’t been paying attention, this year’s version of the Pittsburgh Steelers is nothing like the versions of the past. This season the Steeler’s are ranked 5th overall on offense (403 yards/game) and led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger their passing game is ranked 2nd in the NFL. Unlike the Steelers of the past that worked the ground game, this year’s team is all about the pass. The team has gone pass over 57 percent of the time this season and when Big-Ben passes for 277 yards or more they are 4-0.
The new featured back in Baltimore
In six games this season the Ravens have run the ball 154 times with nearly 50 percent of the carries going to second year running back Ray Rice (73 carries). Not only has Rice been the dominant ball carrier in the ground attack with nearly twice as many as Willis McGahee (45 carries), he also leads the team with 33 receptions this season. With over 100 touches Rice is averaging 17 per game, but in his last two starts he has 41 touches for 337 yards and three touchdowns. With that kind of production, expect his touches to increase and his numbers get better.
The Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker looks to be healthy after his sensational performance in the snow last Sunday. Welker caught 10 passes for 150 yards with two scores; more importantly for fantasy owners, Welker has 37 targets and 24 receptions in his last three games.
In three games on the road this season, the Texan’s quarterback Matt Schaub has been nearly flawless. He has completed 88 of 129 passes (68%) for 1,120 yards and 10 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. Schaub has not been perfect, but he has been very good on the road.
Quietly the Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice is blossoming into something special. In his last four games he has had no fewer than 56 yards receiving and in total he has caught 18 passes for 363 yards. His 409 total yards receiving ranks 11th in the league and he has gradually become a favorite target of Favre’s; averaging seven per game in his last four starts.
By David Ortega
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