NFL Week Four running thread.

Kind of a weird week, with only two games that look good on the schedule--Tampa vs. Carolina and Denver vs. Indy.

Is Philly back on track or was last week an abberation? I'm not sure and I don't think we'll learn anything after the Eagles stomp the defenseless Giants. Marc Bulger might have to throw 60 passes for the Rams to have a chance against the 'Boys. I saw the Dolphins last week. If Cam Cameron gives the ball to Ronnie Brown, they might win some games. Jets always have problems with the Bills.

Here are this week's games with my picks. As always, best bets are in bold:

• Baltimore at Cleveland

[table][tr][td]Ravens.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Chicago at Detroit

[table][tr][td]Lions.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Green Bay at Minnesota

[table][tr][td]Packers.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Houston at Atlanta

[table][tr][td]Texans.[/td][/tr][/table]

• N.Y. Jets at Buffalo

[table][tr][td]Jets.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Oakland at Miami

[table][tr][td]Dolphins.[/td][/tr][/table]

• St. Louis at Dallas

[table][tr][td]Cowboys[/td][/tr][/table]

• Seattle at San Francisco

[table][tr][td]49ers.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Tampa Bay at Carolina

[table][tr][td]Carolina.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Denver at Indianapolis

[table][tr][td]Colts.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Kansas City at San Diego

[table][tr][td]Chargers.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Pittsburgh at Arizona

[table][tr][td]Steelers.[/td][/tr][/table]

• Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants

[table][tr][td]Eagles.[/td][/tr][/table]

• New England at Cincinnati

[table][tr][td]Patriots.[/td][/tr][/table]
Bye Week: Jacksonville, New Orleans, Tennessee, Washington

 

Those all look good to me. No big upsets this week.

 

I'll take the Browns for the hell of it.

 

Pittsburgh at Arizona is interesting, just because Ken Whisenhunt gets a shot at the team that he gave every opportunity to hire him as head coach before moving on.

Both teams have issues in the passing game. Hines Ward is out for the Steelers and Anquan Boldin is likely to sit for Arizona. The Cardinals also might play Kurt Warner in no-huddle situations, which could be tough on Matt Leinart.

 

That's what I thought today, when a supposedly ho-hum college football Saturday began.

And outofplace, don't forget that Russ Grimm followed Whisenhunt to the desert.

 

I didn't forget that. I just think Grimm is that irrelevant as a coach.

 

An early "Let's Go Texans!" chant from deep in the heart ...

They fought f'n hard against the Colts last week.

Nope, these are not your granddad's Texans.

Well .. these aren't even my younger Houston Oilers. Ahhhh ... damn it, that STILL was a catch in the end zone against the Steelers!!!! OK, I'm good. Got that out of my system ... for today. That's it ... let it go, let it go.

Back to the games ...

 

Go, Pack, Go!

 

Football!
Who can watch football when the baseball season has come down to Game 162?

 

The start of the Raiders-Dolphins game is delayed to lightning in Miami.

 

OK, from the "someone had to ask" department...

Who was the NFL's last white feature back? Was that guy from Carolina a couple of years ago a white guy? Who was the last before that guy?

 

Maybe Alstott?

Meanwhile, in Buffalo, it only took 12 1/2 quarters for the New York Jets's defense to recover its first fumble of the season. Bravo, lads.