Waddle's World

Packers at Minnesota

For the first time in several years, it fun to be a Packer fan again. The 3 and 0 Pack travels to Minnesota to take on the 1 and 2 Vikings. Dating back to the '06 season, the Packers have won 7 in a row, the longest regular season winning streak in the league. And recently the wins have been very impressive as all 3 of their W's this year have come against teams that made it to the post season last year. Brett Farve and defense are the story in Green Bay. #4 is still slinging it, and making solid decisions. His next touchdown pass will make history as he passes Dan Marino with 421 career TD strikes. The Packer defense has been even more impressive, holding opponents to just 17 points per Sunday. As for the Vikings, they are struggling with poor quarterback play. Adrian Peterson looks like a marquee back, but he cant do it all by himself. And this week, I think he gets some help. Kelly Holcomb will gradually improve as he learns the Minnesota system, and take some of the pressure off of the rookie. Defense hasn't been a problem for the Vikings….they give up just 12 points per game and have contributed 3 scores themselves. I like their chances of getting to Farve….who just happens to hate domes. I like the underdog Vikings at home



Raiders at Dolphins

Look for a ground war in Miami this weekend as the Raiders visit the Dolphins. After airing it out in weeks 1 and 2, Cam Cameron turned to Ronnie Brown last week and the Dolphin offense looked a whole lot better. Miami eventually lost to the Jets, but Brown registered his 1st 100 yard afternoon of the season. Expect more of the same in this one as the Raiders continue to struggle on defense. If the Dolphins can establish the run, and throw when they want, not because they have to, they will win this game. LaMont Jordan may be the biggest surprise of the year to this point. He is second in the NFL in rushing, averaging 117 yards per game. Thankfully for the Raiders he's delivering, because the quarterback play has been sketchy at best. McCown, Culpepper….not sure it really matters as both are just keeping the seat warm for JaMarcus Russell while he learns the offense. Lane Kiffin got his 1st NFL win last week against the Browns, but don't expect the celebration to continue for a 2nd straight week. The Raiders fly across country for an early kickoff, 9 am their time. That, and Ronnie Brown should be more than they can handle. The Dolphins will win at home.



Jets at Bills

The Jets are in Buffalo this weekend where Bills head coach Dick Jauron has to wonder what he did to deserve the horrible run of bad luck that has overcome his team. The injuries continue to mount as starting quarterback JP Losman was injured on his 1st drop back of the afternoon in Foxboro last week. Rookie Linebacker Paul Puzluzny left with a broken arm minutes into the game as well. Its not as if the Bills were the most talented team in the league to begin with. For now, its rookie Trent Edwards under center and rookie Marshawn Lynch dotting the I. Edwards would be wise to lean on his talented young running back against a Jets front 7 that allowed the Dolphins to run it for 112 yards last week. Chad Pennington returned from the ankle injury last week and had a very efficient day. Thomas Jones also came to play, having his first 100 yard rushing afternoon as a Jet. The Pennington-Jones combo should be more than enough to get past a decimated Bills defense. Laverneus Coles should also participate heavily to the Jets offensive party. Trust me, Rich Stadium is a tough place to play, and Dick Jauron gets his guys to play hard….But the Bills are outmatched in this one…



Texans at Falcons

Im not sure if you were watching the Carolina/Atlanta game last week, but the Falcons weren't half bad. In fact, if not for the immaturity of cornerback D'Angelo Hall, the Flacons may have won their 1st game of the year. But, he couldn't contain himself, and the Falcons lost…But in the process, Joey Harrington threw for 361 yards, 2 touchdowns and no picks, and gave this team a lift. John Abraham also decided to show up and had his first multi-sack game in more than a year. So, are the Dirty Birds turning the corner? Not likely, but they should be able to play with a Houston Texans team that is all banged up. Matt Shaub may be without his top 2 running backs, and top 2 receivers. Amazingly enough, despite being handcuffed by injuries, he was able to keep his team within a touchdown of the Colts. Doing it 2 weeks in a row, all by himself, may be too much to ask. The Texans defense will keep it close, but I expect the Falcons to get their first win of the season.





Ravens at Cleveland

What a difference a week makes. 2 Sundays back the Brown put 51 on the Bengals. Last week they could only muster 24…still not bad. This Sunday they play host to the Baltimore Ravens, who barely hung on to beat the Cardinals. No one is expecting this Cleveland offense to erupt each and every Sunday, but Romeo Crennel must get more consistent play out of his young quarterback. Derek Anderson is only completing 52% of his passes this year and will get an up close and personal look at the best defense he has seen to date. The Ravens should have no problems containing the Browns, but they did get a little sloppy at home last week which may cause a little concern for Ravens fans. That concern should be eased by the uptick in offensive production last week, the first time they have shown some explosiveness. The tandem of McNair and Boller combined for 250 plus yards and a touchdown and finally took some pressure off of Willis Mcgehee. Regardless of who's under center, expect the Ravens to air it out against a Browns defense that allows 431 yards and 35 points per game. Im not expecting this one to be very competitive. The Ravens have not been able to put it all together yet, but one day that will happen. Dominant defense, and a well balanced offense. I think it comes together at the expense of the Browns. I like the Ravens to roll..



Rams at Cowboys

The Rams visit the Cowboys for what looks to be the weekends biggest mismatch. The Rams have been a mess on both sides of the ball. The Oline has been banged up,which has led to Steven Jacksons ipulled groin and Mark Bulger's broken ribs. Jackson wont play in this one, and Bulger may wanna take a pass as well. Assuming Bulger guts it out and takes the field, look for him to throw it 45 or 50 times. He still has an excellent trio of receivers in Holt, Bruce, and Bennett, who should be more than the Cowboys can handle. If given time, Bulger may have enough to keep it close, but an upset is not in the Cards. With a win over the Bears last week, the Cowboys are now the team to beat in the NFC and are taking the field with a ton of confidence. Tony Romo has been the best trigger man in the conference thru 3 weeks, and that trend doesn't look like it will end any time soon. His combination of arm strength, mobility, and poise should keep him at the top the leagues passing leaders for the duration of the season. TO should be able to run free thru the Rams secondary, but when all is said and done, I believe Marion Barber and Julius Jones will do the most damage. The Rams continue to struggle up front, so why risk your franchise quarterback when you can get a "W" by keeping it on the ground and shortening the game. The Cowboys will win handily….



Bucs at the Panthers

Heres an interesting factoid for you. Did you know that in each of the last 4 years, the team that finished last in the NFC South, rebounded and won the division the following season. And if that trend continues, That means the Tampa Bay Bucaneers will be playing in January. Don't laugh, they're sitting tied atop the division at 2 and 1 and can make it 3 in a row with a win over the Panthers in Carolina. To do so they're gonna have to have the same kind of balance on offense that they displayed last week against the Rams. And if youre interested in an "Earnest Graham Fan Club" membership, you better act fast. He is a phenomenom in the Tampa area thanks to last Sundays 75 yard 2 touchdown effort. Earnest is a running back, for those of you who need a refresher course on the Bucaneers. He's been pitching in with Cadillac Williams, once again, nursing an injury. If the Bucs are gonna win on the road, Jeff Garcia has to continue his efficient play. Garcia is completing 66% of his passes and has yet to throw a pick. It's the Bucaneer game plan of days gone by….run it, play sound defense, and ask your quarterback to manage the game. And it may be enough against these Panthers who could be without quarterback Jake Delhomme. Delhomme has been outstanding, throwing 8 touchdowns and just 1 interception. Thankfully for the Panthers, they have developed some balance as the running game is averaging more than 140 yards per game on the ground. If you can figure out these Panthers, youre a better man than I. The Panthers have won 5 of the last 6 in this series. I think they squeak by and make it 6 of 7.



Seahawks at 49ers

The Seahawks are in San Francisco this week as these two teams fight it out for first place in the NFC West. After a 2 and 0 start, The 49ers came crashing back to earth with a 3 hour reality check in Pittsburgh. The step up in class proved to much as they suffered their first loss of the season, 37 - 16. The 49er offense continues to struggles. With teams concentrating on Frank Gore, Alex Smith has not been able to get on track. It doesn't help that his top target, tight end Vernon Davis may be on the shelf with a sprained knee. That means even more of Gore! Game planning for a one dimensional attack should make things a little easier on the Seahawks. Matt Hasselbeck and friends wont run roughshot over the San Francisco defense either. Nor should they after the Niners spent a billion dollars on upgrading their defense in the offseason. The Seahawks should keep it simple, and that mean a ton of Shaun Alexander. Despite a broken wrist, Alexander continues to carry the load for the Seahawks. The passing game has been average at best as Hasselbeck has guarded against making the big mistake. Throwing in the direction of Nate Clemens would be one of those mistakes. This one should be close, but when the final gun sounds, I'll be surprised if the Seahawks aren't on top. I like Seattle on the road



Chiefs at Chargers

The San Diego Chargers are a step away from Defcon 5 and a complete implosion. Nothing is working for a team that won 14 regular season games last year. The best running back on the planet cant find room to run, and a stacked defense is playing with zero emotion. For whatever reason, this Charger team has not responded to their new coaching staff. And tensions are rising among teammates. A difference of opinion between Tomlinson and Rivers was very apparent on the sidelines last week in Green Bay. The Charger offense is truly a mystery. Teams have stacked the line of scrimmage to contain LT and have dared Phillip Rivers to beat them thru the air. Last week at Lambeau, Rivers answered the call, which should have loosend things up for the running game. It didn't happen, and tempers flared. This season will be lost quickly if they don't solve the problems in their running game. The same is true for their once fearsome defense. On the surface, a visit from the Chiefs would seem to be just what the doctor ordered, but a closer look at these Chiefs may tell a different story. Their defense has been solid each and every week, and the return of Jared Allen only helped the cause. Larry Johnson has not gotten on track, but the emergence of rookie Dewayne Bowe could loosen things up. With no deep threat, the Chiefs had been facing a heavy dose of 8 man fronts. If teams are forced to back off, Johnson will surely break out. This ones gonna be a war, and history says the home team usually sneaks by. I expect that trend to continue. The Chargers win a close one.



Steelers at Cardinals

It's a bit of a reunion in the desert this weekend as the 3 and 0 Steelers visit the 1 and 2 Cardinals. Arizona head coach Ken Wisenhunt and offensive coordinator Russ Grimm will game plan against a defense that they saw everday in practice for years. That familiarity may keep this one close. Wisenhunt looked more like a major league baseball manager last weekend when he went to the pen and replaced struggling starter Matt Leinart with veteran Kurt Warner. The move worked as Warner rallied the Cardinals, but came up short as the Ravens kicked a last second FG for the victory. No controversy in Arizona, its still Leinarts job, but its comforting for Wisenhunt to have Warner in the bullpen. Regardless of who's under center, the Steelers defense will be a challenge. Look for a lot of Edgerin James in this game as the Cardinals try to control the clock, limit their mistakes and force turnovers. Mistakes have been few and far between for Rothlesberger and his teammates. Ben is healthy, confident, and making all the right decisions. It also helps to have the league leading rusher in your backfield. Willie Parker is averaging 123 yards per game. On paper, this one looks like a laugher, but this Cardinal team is improving, and Wisenhunt should know where to attack the Pittsburgh defense. The Steelers win, but will break a sweat in the process.



Browns @ Colts

Good matchup in the RCA Dome this weekend as the Broncos visit the Colts. The Broncos are 2 and 1 but it is an unimpressive 2 and 1. If not for a couple of last second Jason Elam field goals, the Broncos would be 0 and 3. While they have moved the ball successfully, their defense is getting pushed around, giving up 386 rushing yards in the last two weeks. They cant stop the run even with 9 defenders in the tackle box. With that said, expect a heavy dose of Joseph Adai. The Broncos don't have an answer for the Colts. IF they concentrate on Adai by stacking the line of scrimmage, Peyton Manning and his accomplished group of receivers will have a big day. Denver feels good about Dre Bly and Champ Baily on the corners, but they cant cover more than one guy apiece! Shannahan has to like what he's seen from his offense though. Travis Henry has been a perfect fit in this system, as expected, and Jay Cutler continues to show poise and a live arm. But…they cant get the ball in the endzone and keep settling for 3 pointers. While fans in Indianapolis are getting a little tired of all the "Patriot love", I'm sure Tony Dungy, Peyton Manning, and the rest of the Colts are more than happy to fly under the radar. I like the Colts to stay undefeated.



Eagles at Giants

Contrary to popular belief, both the Eagles and Giants are still alive and kicking. They will meet in the Meadowlands this weekend as both look to stay within reach of the division leading Cowboys. Donovan McNabb answered all the critics with a 381 yard 4 touchdown performance that earned him a perfect 158.3 OB rating. Helping out: Brian Westbrook with 3 tds and more than 100 yards rushing and receiving, and Kevin Curtis with 221 yards receiving and 3 scores as well. While all of those numbers are nearly impossible to repeat, the Giant defense is capable of surrendering a big day as well. They tightened things up in their win over the Redskins, but their secondary is still a liability. The Eagles have their own issues in the secondary with injuries to Brian Dawkins and Lito Shepard. Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress should have their own field day, but the New York Oline better come ready to play. The eagles blitzed relentlessly last Sunday. They got to Jon Kitna 9 times in their 56-21 rout of the Lions. Until they get healthy, the Eagles will continue to take chances. This one should be a typical Giants/Eagles battle. The 2 teams met 3 times last year, splitting the regular season series with the Eagles winning the all important rubber match in the playoffs. I hesitatantly say Philly wins









Patriots at Bengals

The high flying Patriots bring their show to Cincinnatai this weekend and the question is already being asked: Can the Pats score 100 points against a struggling Bengals defense. I mean, if the Browns can put 51 on you, the Patriots are at least twice as good as the Browns, so that means they score at least 102 points, right? Obviously Im not a big fan of sound logic, but odd are the Patriots will reach 38 for the 4th consecutive week. Its just not possible for this Bengals secondary to contain Moss, Welker, Stallworth, and Watson. It's a good bet Moss will have his 4th consecutive 100 yard afternoon of the season. And don't for a second believe that these Patriots are a one trick pony. They are also the 4th ranked rushing attack, with Lawrence Maroney leading the way. The Bengals bring an explosive offense to the table as well. Carson Palmer has thrown 9 touchdowns and TJ Houshmanzadah and Chad Johnson have combined for 54 catches already. Its very important for the Bengals to establish the run with Rudi Johnson early, control the clock, and keep Tom Brady off the field. Its their only chance to keep this game within reach. Don't get me wrong, the Patriots aren't invincible, but Id advise the Bengals officials to stock up on Kryptonite this week. The patriots get to 4 and 0