NFL Week in Review: Week 6
By Loot, Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
With a depleted roster, Tom Brady continues to work his magic. On the final winning drive against the Saints, we saw Brady complete a key pass to forgotten Austin Collie, before connecting with undrafted free agent Kenbrell Thompkins for the deciding score. With so many teams faltering despite having huge big-name talent on offense, it’s refreshing to see a team do big things with so little at their disposal. Good coaching, a clutch QB, and a good line can take you a long way.
With 302 yards receiving in the past 3 games, Chargers rookie WR Keenan Allen is quietly establishing himself as one of the best first-year offensive players in the league. If he can keep it up, the third-round draft pick could be a star in this offense. Rivers, who has been excellent, is starting to look his way more and more.
Philly has bounced back nicely in the past few weeks to even it up at 3-3. Wins over the Giants and Tampa doesn’t signal a revival, but the Eagles needed those wins to restore some confidence after a rough run. In Michael Vick’s absence, QB Nick Foles has played well and maybe re-ignited the quarterback controversy. LeSean McCoy is the NFL’s leading rusher, nearly 100 yards ahead of second-place Arian Foster.
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The Chiefs are 6-0 and their defense has given up fewer points per game than any team in the league. That’s great for any team, but for one coming off a 2-14 season, it’s nothing short of amazing.
Before we crown Denver as AFC champion, there all always unsuspecting teams that could have their number. Sometimes, explosive teams like the Broncos run into an opponent where they have every edge on paper, yet are unable to take flight for whatever reason. Could a team like the Chiefs, Colts, Chargers, or Patriots become Denver’s kryptonite this season?
Last season the Falcons, Vikings, Redskins, Giants, Steelers and Texans were a combined 62-34. So far in 2013, those 6 teams are a combined 6-26. There have been some sudden shifts of power before in the NFL, but this is ridiculous.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals, Lions, Eagles and Chiefs were a woeful 15-49 last season and so far this season are a combined 16-8.
Last season, Matt Schaub, Eli Manning, and Joe Flacco had a touchdown/interception ratio of 70/37. This season, the three have combined for 24 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.
While there are some issues that still need to be addressed, the San Francisco 49ers have done well to overcome a mini-crisis and it might serve them well later. They fell to 1-2 after consecutive defeats where they were outscored 56-10, but they have won 3 straight. Overcoming adversity is a galvanizing element. Not many people predicted 3 straight wins (and covers) after how bad they looked in weeks two and three.
Though playing in Buffalo and out of view of most of the national viewing audience, rookie Kiko Alonso is serving notice as one of the league’s top linebackers. He leads the entire league in tackles, while being tied for the league lead in interceptions with 4. The 2nd-round pick out of Oregon has been excellent.
Among running backs struggling this season, at least in terms of average yards per rush, include Doug Martin (3.5), BenJarvus Ellis-Green (3.3), Trent Richardson (3.2), Chris Johnson (3.1), and Maurice Jones-Drew with a woeful average of 2.9 yards per carry.
With 32 teams in the league, only 11 of them are under .500.
