What?s hot heading into Week 4, with the regular referees back, and only three teams remaining unbeaten?
Michael Vick could lose his job to turnovers, putting Andy Reid in more danger of losing his job
I can?t wait to see Sunday night?s game in person in Philadelphia, mainly to see how Vick handles the Giants? ferocious pass rush.
The Eagles (2-1) can?t keep winning if Vick keeps turning the ball over so frequently. He has nine turnovers in three games. Vick has more turnovers than any other team (let only player) except the Chiefs, who also have nine.
There?s no way Reid is eager to bench Vick in favor of Nick Foles, a rookie who looked good during preseason, but has never started a regular-season game.
However, Sunday night begins a critical three-game stretch for the Eagles against playoff teams from 2011. They visit the Steelers in Week 5, then return home to face the Lions in Week 6.
Facing the Giants could be another nightmare for Vick. They have pass rushers that force quarterbacks into mistakes. Not all of the turnovers have been Vick?s fault as the Eagles? offensive line has serious protection issues. Vick, however, has been guilty of holding the ball too long, and not recognizing blitzes quickly enough.
Sunday night will be another referendum on Vick, the Eagles? offensive line, and the Eagles? legitimacy as a Super Bowl contender. Reid is the NFL?s longest-tenured coach, but he has not won a Super Bowl. Giants coach Tom Coughlin has won two.
Win or lose Sunday night, the Giants know they are capable of taking their game to another level at any time. Look at how they dismantled the Panthers, 36-7, in Week 3. Look at how Eli Manning has played in fourth quarters throughout his career, and during January runs to the Super Bowl.
Vick does not have that kind of track record, and Reid no longer has the job security Coughlin enjoys, following the Eagles? not-so-great 8-8 record in 2011. Reid can?t let this season get away from him. What if Vick falters the next three weeks, and the Eagles are 2-4 heading into their Week 7 bye? That could mean bye-bye for Vick as a starter. Which could eventually mean bye-bye for Reid.
Tom Brady doesn?t do three-game losing streaks. Or does he?
The Patriots? future Hall of Fame quarterback has not lost three straight games since 2002. Having dropped their last two, the Patriots (1-2) visit the Bills on Sunday, in what will be a great atmosphere.
The Bills (2-1) are hungry to be respected as a playoff contender. Beating the Patriots, who need a win badly, would be a statement.
Defensive end Mario Williams got the big bucks from the Bills during the offseason for games like this. If the Bills? talented front four of Williams, Mark Anderson, Marcell Dareus, and Kyle Williams can stay in Brady?s face, it could set the tone.
Asked about the criticism he received after the Jets blew out the Bills in Week 1, Williams brought up his past, when the Texans were criticized for picking him No. 1 in the draft over Reggie Bush in 2006.
``I guess these analysts forget,?? Williams said during a conference call this week. ``Everything pretty much worked out there (Houston) for six years, being a part of that team and changing things around. I have heard criticism my whole career, whether it is about me or the team I am playing with. And the end of the day, I prevailed. So that is what I am looking to do here.??
For Williams, handing Brady a third straight loss would be a sign that things are changing for the better in Buffalo.
Are they Lions or cubs?
The Lions were a feel-good story last season, making the playoffs for the first time since 1999. But they are 1-2 heading into Sunday?s game against the Vikings. Late-game mistake and porous defense have hurt the Lions in the young season. They are giving up 31.3 points per game. It will be tough for them to win consistently unless that number goes down.
The Lions have a bye in Week 5, and being 2-2 would feel so much better than 1-3. But the Vikings are no longer pushovers, with quarterback Christian Ponder looking like one of the NFL?s most improved players. If the Lions drop to 1-3, in the tough NFC North, they could be the latest example of how fleeting NFL success can be.
Which hangover is worse, the Bounty Scandal, or the Replacement Rip Off?
Both the Saints and Packers need love heading into Sunday?s matchup at Lambeau Field. The Saints are looking at a possible 0-4 start. The Packers (1-2) need to move on, after feeling ripped off by the replacement referees in Seattle.
No wonder the NFL has so many people hooked. A month ago, you would have been hard pressed to find anyone that said, ``Starting Week 4, the Cardinals will be 3-0, and the Saints and Packers will have one victory between them.??
Enjoy your Sunday.
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