Waddle's World

Redskins at Jets

A couple of embarrassed teams meet in the Meadowlands this weekend as the Redskins visit the Jets. The Skins are coming off a 52-7 pasting in New England…the Jets stunk it up at home against the Bills. I have to say, I was expecting a better effort out of a very solid Redskin defense. They had given up just 88 points thru 6 weeks before their spin in the Patriot meat grinder. They should have a much easier go of it against the Jets. The Jets could only muster 254 total yards and a field goal against a Buffalo defense that was ranked 31st overall. Chad Pennington was pulled for Kellen Clemens, who promptly threw 2 picks. Clemens will get the start this week as Pennington has been banished to the Jet bench. One team will bounce back this week, and it wont be the Jets. Despite last weeks thrashing, these Skins are a pretty good team. Their 3 losses have come a the hands of the Giants, Packers, and Patriots, who are a combined 20 and 3. They aren't a high powered offense, but you don't have to be against Eric Mangini's crew. I like the Redskins to get back on track.



Patriots at Colts

After weeks of hype, the "Big One" is here as the 8 and 0 Patriots visit the 7 and 0 Colts. This one has gotten more attention than most Super Bowls as Tom Brady and his shiny new offense squares off with Peyton Manning and his arsenal of weapons. The Numbers are staggering. The Patriots average 41 points per game behind Brady's 30 td passes to just 2 interceptions. The Colts average 32 per Sunday as Peyton Manning has a slightly less impressive touchdown to interception ration. I give Joseph Adai and the Colts a slight edge in the running game, and I believe Adiea is the key to the outcome. Despite their explosive potential, I think Tony Dungy would like to keep it on the ground and control the clock. It may sound funny to suggest that the Colts don't want to get into a shootout, but the truth is…they don't. They want to dictate the pace of the game, get a lead, and then let the crowd and their defensive ends give Brady fits. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are quick and more effective on turf, and if Brady uses a lot of 7 steps drops, he may get roughed up a bit. Its impossible to shut these Patriots down, but the Colts will look to keep everything in front of them. Look, I still think the Patriots are the best team in football and they will be Super Bowl 42 champs, but theyre on the road, against an excellent Colts team that feels disrespected and will be sky high. I like the Colts to pull the upset.



Seahawks at Browns

Don't look now, but the Cleveland Browns are 4 and 3, and starting to make some noise. This week they host the Seahawks who are coming off the bye and have the same 4 and 3 record. Im not sure how much you've seen of this Browns passing game, but Derek Anderson continues to make strides. Hes a big, strong armed pocket passer who's now thrown 17 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions. Braylon Edwards has been on the receiving end of 9 of those scoring throws, as he leads a dangerous trio of receivers that includes Joe Jurevicious, and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. the Browns running game has been reliable of late as well. The same cannot be said of the Cleveland defense, which ranks dead last and allows 410 yards each and every Sunday. The Seahawks are not a dynamic offense, but they should move the ball on these Browns. They would be wise to try and run the ball, control the clock and keep that Browns offense off the field. That means Shaun Alexander has to get rolling. Alexander is averaging less than 3 and a half yardsd per carry and his struggles have hampered the entire offense. And these Seahawks, they don't like to leave the nest. They have one road win this year, against the lowly 49ers who are just a hop skip and a jump from the great northwest. I like the Browns at home.



Broncos at Lions

The Broncos and Lions meet in Detroit this weekend, as 5 and 2 squares off with 3 and 4. Can you guess who's 5 and 2 and whos 3 and 4? Of course you can…becuz you've been watching me all year and I keep you up to date and informed. Of course it's the Lions at 5 and 2, as they try to continue whats been a better than expected start. Now, we can argue the merits of stats, and debate whether they matter or not, but they re not real flattering to the Lions. They don't run it well, don't protect their quarterback, and aren't real good defending the pass. But, they are opportunistic and can throw the heck out of it. And that's where the problems may begin for Detroit. The Denver broncos are dreadful against the run, but with Champ Baily and Dre Bly at the corners, theyre hard to throw on. I know what youre thinking…you saw the Monday Night game and watched Brett Farve dissect that Bronco secondary. But, let me remind you, that was Brett Farve. Jon Kitna wont fare as well, especially while dealing with the Denver pass rush. Listen, the Lions are a good story, theyre having a nice season….but Im all about matchups, and the Broncos are a tough matchup for these Lions. I like Denver on the road.



Panthers at Titans

If youre in Nashville for the Panthers-Titans game this weekend, you better not blink, becuz this one could be over quickly. Both teams will keep it on the ground. The Titans don't trust a banged up Vince Young to do much more than hand off, while the Panthers continue to have injury problems with their signal callers. Now, that wasn't a shot at Vince Young, but his game changes drastically when his mobility is limited by the leg injury. Plus, the Titans are running the rock well with LenDale White and rookie Chris Henry. These Titans wanna get you in a phone booth and bloody your nose. They are the leagues number 1 ranked run defense and have a couple of maulers up front in Kyle Vanden Bosche and Albert Haynesworth. Regardless of whos under center, the Panthers will protect their aging quarterbacks by keeping it on the ground, and there they'll find little room to run against this Tennessee front 7. If youre looking for a glimmer of hope, Carolina fans, be happy that the Panthers are on the road. They are an amazing 4 and 0 away from Bank of America Stadium. Its gonna take more than "Road Mojo" to beat the Titans in Nashville. I like Tennessee at home.



Texans at Raiders

Two struggling teams meet in Oakland this weekend as the Texans visit the Raiders. Both have lost 3 straight, with the Texans having dropped 5 of their last 6. The Texans are banged up and struggling to hang on to the football, turning it over 23 times so far this year, including 14 miscues the last 3 weeks. Sage Rosenfels, has taken over for the injured Matt Shaub the last 2 weeks and may get the start this Sunday. He's finding life difficult with a limited supporting cast. Their best bet is to keep it on the ground against a Raider defense that is ranked 30th and allows 149 yards per game on the ground. As for the Houston defense, theyre coming after Dante Cullpepper, and why not, everyone's been getting to him. Culppepper's been sacked 12 times the last 3 weeks, including 5 times last Sunday. And for that reason, I expect the Raiders to keep it on the ground as well. Despite LaMont Jordans' recent struggles, as a team, the Raiders rank 6th running the ball and average 138 yards per game on the ground. Alright, enuff with the numbers, truth is, this is a pig race, and Im going with the home sow…..I say the Raiders are the lesser evil in this one.



Cowboys at Eagles

With the Eagles sitting at 3 and 4, their matchup with the 6 and 1 Cowboys this weekend isn't as sexy as we had hoped for, but this one is in Philly, so expect some fireworks. The truth is, the Eagles haven't been half bad. They rank 8th in total offense, but cant punch it in. They've made 25 trips inside the red zone this year, and have just 7 touchdowns to show for it, and trust me, field goals aren't gonna be enuff against these Cowboys. They average more than 400 yards and 32 points per Sunday. And now, Tony Romo has a mega-millions contract, so his confidence should be at an all time hight. And lets not forget this improving Dallas defense. Sure, they were torched by the Patriots, but who hasn't been? They've been solid of late and rank 6th overall. The key to this matchup is the Eagle pass defense versus an explosive group of Cowboy receivers. The Eagles have suffered thru a number of injuries in the secondary, but have hung on due to a solid pass rush. Unfortunately, for them, the Cowboys do a nice job protecting Romo, and their corners are gonna struggle to keep up with Owens, Witten and Crayton. I like the Cowboys to win this divisional battle



Cardinals at Bucs

Two teams desperate for a win meet in Tampa Sunday, as the 3 and 4 Cardinals visit the 4 and 4 Bucaneers. The Cardinals have lost 2 in a row and are coming off the bye, while the Bucs have dropped 3 of 4 and are stumbling towards their bye next week. When Ken Wisenhunt landed in the desert, he promised a new, hard nosed style that focused on running the ball. So far, he's kept his word as Edgerrin James has carried it 156 times, second only to the Steelers Willie Parker. James should find room to run against a Cucaneer front 7 that's given up more than 130 yards rushing in 4 of their last 6 games. That's not to say they wont throw it as well. Kurt Warner has a tremendous tandem in Bolden and Fitzgerald. The Bucs don't have the high profile names on offense, but theyre getting solid production from young and old alike. Earnest Graham has been more than acceptable taking over for the injured Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman. Jeff Garcia should rebound from his first bad outing of the season, and there isn't a cornerback on the Arizona roster that can run with the 35 year old Joey Galloway. Plus, The Cardinals still haven't learned to win on the road. I like the Bucs to win a close one.



Bengals at Bills

A very interesting matchup in Buffalo this weekend between the Bengals and Bills. And what a contrast. The Bengals have tremendous talent and little to show for it, while the blue collar Bills have very little talent but play with the heart of a champion. Marvin Lewis is still struggling to connect with his team which has lost 5 of their last 6 Dick Jauron and his group of over achievers have won 3 of their last 4. With that said, this is a bad matchup for the Bills. They average just 14 points per game, and that's not enuff to get past these Bengals. Yes, that Bengal defense is sieve like, but even on a good day, the Bills aren't gonna put 21 on you. Carson Palmer and friends are more than capable of a 30 point afternoon, especially against a Bills front 7 that has a total of 8 sacks, and a secondary that's allowing 253 yards per game thru the air. Discipline, effort, and confidence means a lot, but, in the NFL, most of the time, talent means more. And this is one of those times. I admire these Bills, but the Bengals have more firepower. I like Cincinnati on the road.



Jags at Saints

A good one in the Superdome this weekend as the Jaguars visit the Saints. After a well documented 0 and 4 start, the Saints have won 3 straight and are right back in the NFC South race. Drew Brees has regained form, throwing 8 touchdowns passes and just 1 interception over that stretch, and Reggie Bush has taken to his new role as the lead back. But, before we declare the Saints "all the way back", let me remind you that their "tidy" little 3 game streak consists of wins over the Falcons, 49ers, and an average group of seahawks. And even with Quin Gray at the Helm, the Jags are a significantly stiffer test. With David Gerrard out, the Jags are no longer a balanced attack, but the one-two punch of Taylor and Jones-Drew will keep the Saints front 7 on their heels and slow down their newly found pass rush. Defensively, Jacksonville will be prepared for the quick release Brees and the contact-shy Bush. The Jags are susceptible to big plays down the center of the field, but the Saints would rather dink and dunk and work the sidelines. This is a matchup of style versus substance. I'll take substance….and the Jags on the road.



Packers and Chiefs

If you had told me at the start of the season that Brett Farve would have the league's worst running game behind him, and yet, still be 6 and 1 after 8 weeks, I would've told you to seek counseling. So much for my medical qualifications. This week the "one man game" travels to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs, a team that is finding its comfort zone. I think both quarterbacks are gonna be on the run in this one. The Chiefs have 21 sacks on the season, thanks in large part to the play of Jared Allen who has 8 in 5 games. The Packers will also bring the heat with Aarron Kampman, and that porous Chief offensive line better be at their best. Listen, if we're comparing quarterbacks, the Packers obviously win hands down. But the Chiefs have a veteran secondary and a better running game, so its not gonna be a walk in the park for number 4. In todays NFL, homefield advantage can be overrated. Not at Arrowhead. That place is a zoo, and when the Chiefs have something to play for, it gets loud and crazy and can affect your concentration. With that said, I like the Chiefs at home.



Chargers at Vikings

Looks like a mismatch in Minnesota this weekend as the Chargers visit the Vikings. After a shaky start, the Chargers have won three in a row in convincing fashion, outscoring their opponents 104 to 27. They now sit tied atop the AFC West at 4 and 3. As for those Vikings, they're one dimensional on offense and awful defending the pass, and that spells disaster in this matchup. The Charger defense is finally rounding into form, getting after quarterbacks and forcing turnovers. Regardless of who's under center for the Vikings, that unfortunate soul is in for a long day. Constantly feeding Adrian Peterson is no longer the only option. Peterson has had limited success lately, averaging just 66 yards per game the last two weeks, while facing 8 and 9 man fronts. If LT was the Chargers only weapon, we'd have a stalemate. In this one, I say Norv Turner sets up the run by throwing it. The Vikings cant handle both Antonio Gates and newly acquired Chris Chambers, especially with Phillip Rivers finding his rhythm. Rivers will victimize the Minnesota corners, loosening up their front seven, and then LT will put the finishing touches on the Chargers fourth consecutive "W". This one could get outta hand early. San Diego wins big.



49ers at Falcons

A real douzy in the Georgia Dome this weekend as the offensively challenged 49ers visit the train wreck that is the Falcons. After a 2 and 0 start, the Niners have now lost 5 straight, while the nightmare season resumes after the bye for the 1 and 6 Falcons. Alright, lets not spend a lot of time on this one. Joey Harrington takes the wheel once again after the expected occurred last week: an injury to Byron Leftwich. He's gonna air it out against this 49er secondary because A, Walt Harris will most likely miss the game due to injury, and B Bobby Petrino loves to throw the rock. Not to mention that the NIners don't defend the pass very well. Truth is, the Niners don't do anything real well these days, especially on offense. Alex Smith returned last week and still looks bothered by the shoulder injury. He has one reliable receiver in tight end Vernon Davis, and will probably be without All Pro running back Frank Gore. Gore has a bum ankle to go along with his disappointing season. Im going with the bad, home team, instead of the bad, road team. I say the Falcons get their second "W" of the season, and still remain miserable.



Ravens at Pittsburgh

A good one set for Monday night in Pittsburgh as the Steelers and Ravens battle for first place in the AFC North. The Ravens dominated this series last year, outscoring the Steelers 58 to 7 in two decisive wins. But…these two teams are significantly different this year. The Ravens rank 2nd in overall defense, but they aren't sacking quarterbacks and forcing turnovers at the breakneck pace of years gone by. They're also a stiff aging secondary that has been susceptible to the big play. The Steelers offense looks a lot different this year as well, but their changes have been for the better. While Willie Parker is on pace for another 1500 yard campaign , Big Ben is light years ahead of where he was after 8 weeks last season. So far, he's thrown 15 touchdowns and just 6 interception while completing 65% of his passes. His improved decision making has been the difference. This year, the Steeler offense will not be overwhelmed by the Baltimore defense. When you flip it around, the Steeler defense also gets the nod over Ravens offense. Pittsburgh ranks number 1 in total defense and points allowed. And despite the addition of Willis McGehee, the Ravens are more inept than ever. They're averaging just 15 points per Sunday the last 4 times out, and constantly settle for field goals. They will get some much needed help with the expected return of Mcnair, Ogden, and Heap to the lineup, but don't hold your breath for miracles. Heinz Field will be rocking, and I say they'll have a lot to be excited about. I like the Steelers at home