Nine Nuggets Previewing Week 5

Angel

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Nine Nuggets Previewing Week 5

1.) If the Chargers want to beat the Steelers, and I believe they can, Marty Schottenheimer is going to have the take the handcuffs off of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and quarterback Philip Rivers.

San Diego ran the ball on five of nine third downs against the Ravens in a loss last week. That's unacceptable. Plus, on one key drive, started at their own 40, Schottenheimer ran the ball three straight times. And Rivers was playing pretty good football in the first half against the outstanding Ravens defense ... on the road, no less.

Even with a dominant running game, highlighted by one of the game's elite backs in LaDainian Tomlinson, you can not be successful against great defenses by being one dimensional.

In a game where you figure both the Steelers and Chargers defenses will neutralize the run, Rivers has to throw on some early downs to be unpredictable. Keenan McCardell, who was shut out last week, needs to be involved. And the coaches need to draw up more pass plays built for the best tight end in football, Antonio Gates, who has been relegated to bystander status this season. I am not saying air the ball out, but at least throw some receiver screens or slants to Gates on running downs.

If Gates and McCardell are involved, and consequently Tomlinson is given room to run, San Diego will win at home.

2. It is highly doubtful that Daunte Culpepper and the struggling 1-3 Dolphins will get right this weekend in New England against the Patriots.

Bill Belichick did a brilliant job last week against Cincinnati mixing up the 3-4 and the 4-3 defense, especially using the 4-3 on third downs.

And the player who has benefited the most is defensive end Jarvis Green. The former LSU star sacked Carson Palmer three times and rattled him throughout the game with consistent pressure. And Green is likely to be a difference maker against Miami.

In talking to Green this week, he gave credit to Richard Seymour, for commanding the attention of two offensive linemen, which seemingly gave Green a free pass to the quarterback.

Green also said the big thing last week for the Patriots was pride, which he says carries over into this game with Miami. The defensive end said, "Look, we take that streak personally, the fact that we haven't lost back-to-back games in years. We didn't want that to happen on our watch. We have a lot of pride about this streak. We have a lot of pride in our locker room. Our coaches had a great game plan for us and we played well."

Green, Seymour, Vince Wilfork, and Ty Warren should dominate a Miami offensive line that has been shredded all season long.

3. Former Bears Coach Dick Jauron comes back to Chicago with his Bills team playing very solid football.

But the task this week is a tough one against the Bears, the best team in the NFL.

While J.P. Losman has truly improved and Willis McGahee ran and blocked tough last week, it is a very stern task for the Bills to be successful on offense against the omnipresent, playmaking Bears defense in Chicago.

And you have to believe in the Bears offense.

Muhsin Muhammed certainly does when we talked to the Bears receiver this week.

Muhammed said, "People thought I was a crazy man this summer saying Rex (Grossman) is a great player and we all believed in him. People in this city were looking at me like I had flipped. The city of Chicago had a lynch mob mentality going after Grossman this summer. But we all believed in him. He believed in himself. And Lovie Smith and Ron Turner always had a lot of confidence in him. And what's so impressive about Grossman this year is how he distributes the ball. We have become unpredictable. Rex and I have a great rapport. And he throws to the fullbacks, the running backs, the starting tight end, the back up tight end, Bernard Berrian deep, Rashied Davis for the game winner in Minnesota. We are a confident bunch and the coaching staff deserves so much credit for that."

4. The Cardinals are averaging a pathetic and unacceptable 70 yards per game on the ground.

With Edgerrin James in the backfield, that is simply awful, and hits home just how brutal the Cardinals offensive linemen's play has been.

Former Heisman trophy winner Matt Leinart makes his first NFL start this week for Arizona, trying to save an offense that has scored a total of 34 points and committed 10 turnovers in the last three games, all losses.

And while I believe Leinart's moxie will aid the Cardinals, take the pressure off of James, and re-establish Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the Chiefs defense comes into this game fresh off a dominating shutout of the 49ers. And before their Week 3 bye week, Herman Edwards' defense did a great job in Denver against the Broncos offense. Talking to Chiefs safety Greg Wesley this week, he gives new head coach Herman Edwards credit for instilling confidence in this defense, and what Wesley called a "fly-around-the-ball attitude."

But Leinart's presence, even in his first NFL start, is instantly an upgrade over Kurt Warner.

5. This is nothing short of a huge week for the Giants, specifically on defense.

The Redskins offense is finally clicking, thanks to the health of Clinton Portis, and the balance he provides for Marc Brunell and the passing attack.

New York, coming off a bye week, needs to start making plays on defense. The pass rush has been invisible. And the Redskins offensive line was truly fantastic last week against the stout Jaguars defense. You know former Redskin Lavar Arrington has had this game circled since signing with New York in the off-season. It's about time he made some plays for the Giants. Arrington is doing for New York exactly what he did for the Skins last year — absolutely nothing.

6. There's a certain toughness that Steve McNair has exhibited throughout his career.

And by going 10-of-14 on back-to-back game winning drives the last two weeks, the quarterback has exhibited that toughness now as a Raven.

But while I truly believe that more consistent and, dare I say, explosive days are ahead for the Ravens offensive attack, it is very tough to win in Denver, against the Broncos defense, on Monday Night Football.

While I loathe the matchup of Jake Plummer throwing into the Ravens secondary for the Broncos, it is tough to pick against Denver at home.

7. I will be surprised if the Jets win in Jacksonville this week. Actually, I will be floored.

If Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai can go off for 159 yards on 35 carries, this should be a run defense that Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew can exploit. The Jets' run defense has been leaky all season.

8. Bruce Gradkowski makes his first career start in the NFL this week for Tampa as the Bucs visit New Orleans.

And while I really liked the former Toledo star in college, this is going to be a tough test for the rookie against the Saints in the Superdome.

To make the task even more daunting, the Bucs announced that tackle Kenyatta Walker is out for the season.

Plus, with the way Drew Brees passed with precision against Carolina last week, expect another big week out of the New Orleans passing attack.

9. Randy Moss tells Chris Myers on Fox Sports Radio that, "I'm really not concerned with football right now."

When Myers asked if he should be more concerned with his job, Moss said, "It doesn't seem like anybody else is so concerned, so why should I?"

That's a beautiful backdrop for this weekend's battle of the Bay Area when the Raiders face the 49ers.

Now I know I lost picking the 49ers in Kansas City last week, but I'd rather be Rollin' with Nolan than going straight to the NFL's version of Hell with Art Shell.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6032854
 
Well, that guy has nugget-sized brains, but at least he talked about all our games.
 
Rupert said:
Well, that guy has nugget-sized brains, but at least he talked about all our games.
Of course...even people with nugget brains know the AFC West is the best division!! :p
 
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