Waddle's World

Rams @ Saints



A real douzy this weekend in New Orleans as the winless Rams come-a-callin'. St Louis is coming off their most productive Sunday of the season, they had the day off.

Hopefully the extra week of rest did them some good. This team that has been decimated by injuries. Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Isaac Bruce, Orlando Pace, Leonard Little, the list goes on and on. A month ago, this looked like a nice place for the Rams to get off the schnide. But, the Saints have rebounded quite nicely after their 0 and 4 start. They have caught fire, winning four in a row by an average of 14 points per game. It's no coincidence that Drew Brees has awakened since his early season struggles. After a start, hes thrown 11 tds and only 1 pick as the Saints have worked their way up the playoff NFC South standings. This should spell trouble for a Rams defense yielding 27 PPG. Their rush defense ranks 25th, allowing 130 ypg, which is music to the ears of Reggie Bush, who has also seen his production improve recently. I'm not ready to call the Saints legitimate contenders quite yet, but they don't need to be to get past these Rams. I like the Saints at home.





Bills @ Dolphins



An AFC East barnburner in Miami this weekend as the winless Dolphins host the surprising Buffalo Bills. Youre probably sick of hearing me talk about the job Dick Jauron has done with his team, but it's not just because I like the guy. He is doing a phenomenal job up there. The Bills evened up their record at 4 and 4 last week with a double digit victory over the Bengals. They even showed some life offensively, as J.P. Losman and Lee Evans rediscovered their magic from a year ago. Rookie Marshawn Lynch had his best day as a pro and should build on that performance as he faces a soft Dolphins defense that ranks 31st against the run and gives up almost 31 PPG.

The Dolphins simply don't do anything well. They rank 18th offensively, as they average 322 yards per game, but the majority of those yards were gained by Ronnie Brown, whos out for the season with a torn ACL. The Bills have the lofty task of game planning for the dynamic duo of Cleo Lemon and Jesse Chatman. Wow! I'm pretty sure I have said enough. The Bills get by the Dolphins as the misery continues for Cam Cameron and company…





Jaguars @ Titans



A heavyweight matchup Sunday afternoon in Music City as the 6-2 Titans play host to the 5-3 Jaguars. Tennessee shocked Jacksonville in week one with a hard-nosed 13-10 victory, in Jacksonville. The Titans defense set the tone for the season as they held Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor to a combined 48 rushing yards. On the flip side, the Titans piled up 282 rushing yards en route to the victory.

Not a whole lot has changed for Jeff Fisher's gang. They continue to run the ball effectively, ranking 3rd in the NFL in that department. Their run defense has been outstanding. They are 1st in the NFL by a wide margin, allowing only 66 ypg on the ground. However, this one's not gonna be easy. Jack Del Rio's boys aren't happy after surrendering 41 points in the Superdome last Sunday. The Jags will go back to the basics, as they are more than capable of running the ball as well. Their 139 rush yards per game ranks them 5th in the league. Expect them to pound the rock and have a very conservative game plan with Quinn Gray at the helm. This may surprise you a bit, but I got a feeling the Jags come to play. It's very difficult to sweep a tough divisional rival. The Jags have payback on their minds. I actually like the Jags on the road.







Browns @ Steelers



Who would have thought the week 10 matchup of the Browns and Steelers would be for first place in the AFC North? Not I, especially , after the Steelers pounded the Browns 34-7 in Cleveland, in week one. BUT, since then, the Browns have been one of the league's best stories. Derek Anderson is doing a very nice job leading the NFL's 4th ranked offense. He's thrown for 2,108 yards and 17 touchdowns, with 9 of them going to Braylon Edwards, who's quickly becoming one of the best wide receivers in the league. He and tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. have combined for 84 catches and just under 1400 yards. And on some Sundays, its still not enuff. Their defense has been dreadful. They are near the bottom in every major defensive category and things don't get a whole lot easier Sunday in the Steel City. Ben Roethlisberger is coming off a terrific performance Monday night, throwing 5 first half td passes against the Ravens! His favorite target has become Santonio Holmes, who should find plenty of room to roam against that Browns secondary. If youre still not buying what I'm selling, how 'bout Fast Willie Parker, who leads the league's 2nd-ranked rushing offense. I expect another very successful, balanced afternoon outta the Pittsburgh offense. The Browns will keep it closer than they did in week one, but this is a huge step up in class. I like the Steelers at Heinz Field.





Eagles @ Redskins



It's an NFC East showdown this week in Washington as the Redskins host the struggling Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles will be looking for a little payback after the Skins week two victory in Philly. A already disappointing season got worse last week as Terrell Owens and the Dallas Cowboys blew their doors off. The Eagles haven't been very efficient, offensively. Donovan McNabb has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 9 tds and Brian Westbrook is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but they cant punch it in. They've been awful in the redzone and keep settling for field goals. They may catch a break this week as Washington will be without starting CB Carlos Rogers. Fred Smoot is also banged up on the other side and safety Laron Landry is questionable as well. That would bode well for an Eagles offense that would rather throw the ball anyway. The Redskins have played solid football this season but don't "Wow" you with anything specific. Clinton Portis gave them a spark last week, rushing for 196 yards in their win over the Jets. HE got 36 carries in that one, don't be surprised if he gets another 30 in this one. Unfortunately for the Skins, stopping the run is a Philadelphia specialty. They hold opponents to 93 yards per game on the ground. The goal is to slow down Portis and Betts and force Jason Campbell to beat them thru the air. That plays right into the hands of Eagles defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson, who loves to bring pressure. Philly will get to Campbell and create a few turnovers. Those miscues will be the difference. I like the Eagles in a mild upset.





Falcons @ Panthers



A real thriller this weekend Charlotte as the 4-4 Panthers host the 2-6 Falcons. The Falcons come into this one on s season best one-game win streak as they managed to get by the feisty 49ers at home last Sunday. The Panthers weren't so fortunate, they were held to a touchdown last weekend in Tennessee, as they suffered their first road loss of the season. The offensive numbers in this one are just that: offensive. The Dirty Birds are 27th in the league in total yards, while the Panthers are 25th. Carolina HAS been able to run the ball with a little bit of success, averaging 123 yards per game, but they continue to have serious quarterback issue . David Carr was concussed last week. If he's unable to go, John Fox will give the ball to Matt Moore, who would me making his first NFL start. As for the Falcons, let's be honest here-they don't do anything real well. Warrick Dunn is coming off his first productive game of the season but Carolina's defense is a bit tougher than San Francisco's. I don't think the Panthers are a very good team, but you don't have to be against this Falcons bunch. I like Carolina at home.



Vikings at Packers

A good NFC North battle in Green Bay this weekend as the Vikings visit the Packers. Both of these teams earned their share of headlines last week. Rookie Adrian Peterson did his best to steal the spotlight from the Patriots-Colts matchup with a record breaking performance. Last Sunday in the Metrodome, Peterson set an NFL record for rushing yards in a single game with 296, against a very good Chargers defense. At about the same time, the Packers were putting the finishing touches on a hard fought win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead. With the victory, they join the Cowboys for the best record in the NFC at 7 and 1. While no one is capable of completely shutting Peterson down, the Packers do look equipped to contain him. They are solid against the run to begin with, allowing 94 yards per game, which ranks 8th. With Al Harris and Charles Woodson on the corners, they can afford to man up on the outside and drop an extra defender in the tackle box. And they'll need him, Peterson has already rushed for more than a thousand yards in the first eight weeks. He leads the league in rushing by more than 250 yards. If the Packers can just hold him to his typical 140 yard day, they'll win. There isn't a quarterback on the Minnesota roster that can harm the Green Bay secondary. The same cant be said of the Vikings secondary, they rank 31st in pass defense. Brett Farve and his quartet of receivers should have a big day. This is a tough matchup for the Vikes…..i like Green Bay at home.



Lions at Cardinals

Well< I guess Jon Kitna knew what he was talking about back in June when he told the world that his Lions would win at least 10 games this years. At the mid way point, the Lions are more than half way there at 6 and 2. This week they travel to the desert to face the Cardinals, who dropped their third straight in Tampa. Veteran Kurt Warner is coming off a miserable performance, going just 10 of 30 with 2 picks against an attacking Bucaneer defense. These Cardinals have played well at home so far this year with wins over the Seahawks and Steelers, and they'll need to be at their best against an improving Lions team. While they don't travel well, with just 8 road wins in the Matt Millen era, the Lions are quickly distancing themselves from the past and creating a new identity. A big reason for their new found success has been a commitment to the running game. With Kevin Jones healthy, Mike Martz has finally decided on a more balanced attack. The result has been fewer mistakes and 3 straight "W"s. We all know the Lions have a potent passing attack, but when you drop back and throw it every down, behind an average Oline, you are asking for trouble. With all that said, Im still struggling to believe these Lions are for real. They aren't a great running team, they don't protect their quarterback, and they are 30th in pass defense. I think this is a tough spot for the Lions. Their secondary will struggle with Anquon Bolden and Larry Fitzgerald, and Darnell Dockett is gonna spend the afternoon in the Detroit backfield. I say the Lions stumble this week. I like the Cardinals at home





49ers at Seahawks

The 49ers visit the Seahawks this week in a big NFC West tilt. Alright, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, as the Seahawks shouldn't break a sweat getting the W in this one. I will tell you this, if Shaun Alexander doesn't get on track, these Seahawks are going nowhere. Alexander is averaging just over 30 yards per game over the last 4 Sundays. That leaves too much for Matt Hasselbeck to handle, especially with all the injuries at wide receiver. They should get a boost this week as Deion Branch is expected back from a sprained foot. They should also benefit from facing a 49er defense that is allowing 28 points per game the last 3 weeks. The defensive problems are just the tip of the iceberg for these Niners. They've dropped 6 straight, thanks in large part to a completely inept offense that averages 224 yards and 13 points per Sunday. They've reached 20 points just once this year in the season opener. They average a pitiful 133 yards per game thru the air and Frank Gore's got a bad ankle. The capper, the Seahawks are always play well in the great northwest and are 3 and 1 at home. Make it 4 and 1. I like the Seahawks in a rout.



Indy at Chargers

A battle of bruised egos in San Diego this weekend as the Colts visit the Chargers. The Colts had the all-mighty Patriots right where they wanted them for 50 minutes, and then that guy named Brady got hot, and their dreams of an undefeated season went down the drain. These are still the defending champs, so I don't expect them to be dealing with a hangover a week later. I cant say the same for the Chargers. After beating the snot out of 3 straight opponent, they were on the receiving end of the whupping stick in Minnesota last Sunday. Their so called "dominant defense", was trampled by rookie Adrian Peterson for an NFL record 296 yards. In the process, they lost defensive end Luis Castiillo with an ankle injury. At 4 and 4 the Chargers are back to where they were a few weeks ago, with no identiy on offense and a defense that is not playing up to their lofty expectations. Is it just me or does Phillip Rivers yell at his teammates a lot, interesting considering his less than spectacular resumee. That's not to say Rivers isn't a talented young quarterback with a bright future, but his body language has to concern his head coach. While the Chargers battle their inner deamons, the Colts will get back to work. With or without Marvin Harrison, they have enuff to torture this San Diego defense. The Colts will get back on track and put last weeks game behind them. I like Indy on the road



Cowboys at Giants

What a difference 8 weeks makes. At least for the Giants. After their disasterous week one loss in Dallas, it looked like the Giants were in for a rough season. After losing to the Packers the following week, the GMen then went on a 6 game winning streak. They try to make it 7 in a row this weekend as they host those same Cowboys. The Cowboys come to town 7 and 1 and the top dog in the NFC. Its all working for the Dallas offense. They average 406 yards and 33 points per Sunday. They have an excellent combo in Barber and Jones, and a great trio of targets, but the keys to their success so far have been their young quarterback and their huge offensive line. Tony Romo is progressing nicely, and has 68 million reasons to play loose and confident. He's also very comfortable behind an Oline that is light years ahead of where they were last season. And…his defensive counterparts are starting to make a name for themselves. Those Cowboy defenders better have their "A game" this weekens, as They'll face a stiff challenge, once again, from this Giants offense. Eli Manning is playing with confidence, and is becoming the leader former teammate Tiki Barber doubted he could be. But, he is still prone to occasional horrendous outings and needs the comfort of a solid running game to keep him loose. On most Sundays, he's getting that much needed support. Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward have combined for nearly 900 yards on the ground, with Jacobs averaging 5 and a half yards per carry, Ward 4 and a half per rush. Add Burress, Toomer and Shockey to the party, and the Giants are gonna get theirs. The key to this one will be the Giants pass rush. IF they can get to Romo and take him out of his comfort zone, they will win. I say Umenyora, Tuck, and Strahan combine for a big day. I like the Giants at home.



Bengals at Ravens

At the start of the season, the week 10 meeting between the Bengals and Ravens looked like it would be very meaningful. Then both went out and underachieved, so the 2 and 6 Bengals visiting the 4 and 4 Ravens isn't a whole lot more appealing than the Bills and Dolphins. Marvin Lewis has 8 weeks to save his job. Unfortunately that prospect doesn't look promising when his defense gives up 400 yards and 30 points per Sunday. They do catch a break with this inept Baltimore offense. With Steve Mcnair under center, they take dinking and dunking to a whole new level. With Kyle Boller in charge, they are a high risk low reward offense. With tight end Todd Heap banged up, Willis Mcgehee is their only option. He's been a very good option, averaging 4 and a half yards per carry, but he cant do it by himself. The Ravens are also a red zone disaster. They've been inside the 20, 23 times and have just 7 touchdowns to show for it. Surprisingly, the Bengals offense isn't a whole lot better. Sure they rack up the passing yards as they attempt their weekly comeback, but their running game is non existent and they love to turn it over and commit penalties. To make matters worse, This week they may be without Chad Johnson who suffered a head and neck injury last week against the Bills. Id love to spend more time on this one, but I've got a dental appointment I cant wait to get to. The Ravens have won 14 of their last 15 at home. Make it 15 of 16. The Ravens get past the Bengals



Broncos at Chiefs

Neither team will be at full strength this weekend as the Broncos and Chiefs meet at Arrowhead. The Chiefs will be without Larry Johnson who sprained his foot in last weeks loss to the Packers, while the Broncos will have to make do without Jay Cutler. Cutler was battered, along with the rest of his teammates in their 44 -7 loss to the Lions. His leg injury means Patrick Ramsey gets the start. Ramsey has plenty of experience, but agility may be a more important commodity. The Lions sacked Denver quarterbacks 5 times last week, and they aren't nearly as good at rushing the passer as these Chiefs. Jared Allen should have Ramsey on the run all afternoon. That's if the Broncos decide to take to the air. They'd be wise to keep it on the ground and limit their risk. Its also what they do best, averaging 115 yards per game on the ground. The Chiefs would love to continue to run the ball also, but no LJ and a sketchy offensive line will limit what theyre able to do. No running game also means more pressure on the immobile Damon Huard. He's got several viable targets, but has to have time to deliver the ball. The Broncos defense has their issues, but they do rush the passer well. This is a huge game for the Chiefs. A win coupled with a Charger loss to the Colts and these Chiefs find themselves atop the AFC West standings. I like their chances against a Broncos team on the verge of free fall. The Chiefs win at home.