Ten Things We Learned On The NFL’s Fifth Sunday

Added on Oct 11, 2010 by Scott in

NFL

Week five of the 2010 NFL season proved to be eye-opening and head-scratching at the same time. The Chiefs finally lost, while the Lions finally won. Both the Bears and Raiders used two quarterbacks, but both came away with victories. The Saints and Packers looked nothing like Super Bowl contenders, while the Ravens and Giants did. There was much to be learned on this fifth Sunday. Ten things to be exact.

10. The Ravens defense is still pretty good – The numbers don’t really tell the whole story. Kyle Orton threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns, but most of that came after the Ravens had a sizable lead. Ray Lewis and Co. shut down the run and limited the league’s best passing attack for most of the game. At 4-1, Baltimore is separating themselves as one of the few elite teams.

9. Nothing will come easy for the Colts – Yuck. Talk about ugly. The Chiefs and Colts traded three-and-outs and field goals for close to sixty minutes in what amounted to old school 1950s football. Peyton Manning didn’t throw for 300 yards or a touchdown for the first time since he was nine years old. I made up that last part, but my point is the days of Indy blowing out everybody by double digits are over.

8. The Packers are running out of bodies – Aaron Rodgers has a concussion. Clay Matthews has a bad hamstring. Jermichael Finley has a hamstring ligament displacement. Ryan Pickett sprained an ankle. Donald Lee hurt a shoulder. The Packers sideline looked like a triage station in the second half. They still haven’t found a competent replacement for Ryan Grant and also lost Nick Barnett and rookie safety Morgan Burnett for the season. Nothing can derail a Super Bowl train faster than a glut of injuries.

7. The Lions aren’t giving up – 44-6! The Lions must’ve eaten their Wheaties yesterday morning because they absolutely destroyed a decent Rams squad. Shaun Hill continues to put up numbers and the front seven gets better every week. They’re still staring at a top five pick in next year’s draft, but unlike in past seasons, this Detroit team won’t roll over for anybody.

6. The Bears need Jay Cutler… badly – I seriously thought Todd Collins retired three years ago. Nope. There he was setting quarterbacking back a century by going 6/16 for 32 yards and four interceptions against a below average Panthers defense. This clown makes Jay Cutler look like Johnny Unitas. Needless to say, the Bears won’t survive very long without #6 under center.

5. Josh Freeman is starting to get it – I’ve never been a huge Freeman fan, but the guy is making plays and more importantly, winning. Beating the Bengals in Cincinnati is no simple task. The second-year signal caller isn’t making excuses for the lack of talent surrounding him; he’s just making do with what he’s got. That’s the sign of a professional.

4. The Giants might be the team to beat in the NFC – Two weeks ago Bug Blue appeared to be lost and confused. After punishing the Bears and Texans in back-to-back games, they now appear to be one of the best, if not the best team in the conference. If Eli Manning can stop tossing stupid picks, look out. Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw are beasts.

3. The Saints are still in sleep mode – The defending champions are the definition of mediocre through five games. The offense isn’t explosive, the defense isn’t forcing turnovers and the special teams misses Reggie Bush. It could be a Super Bowl hangover, or it could be they just aren’t very good. Lucky for them the NFC is wide open.

2. The Cowboys and Chargers are killing themselves – Turnovers, penalties, special teams breakdowns, mental collapses — these two teams got it all. Romo and Rivers both throw for 400-plus and lost. If you’re a fan of either team, you must be beyond frustrated at this point.

1. It’s a .500 league – Fifteen teams are either 3-2 or 2-3. Besides Baltimore, Pittsburgh, the Jets and maybe the Giants, nobody looks especially dangerous. The NFC is a mess. It’ll sort itself eventually, but don’t be surprised if a couple 8-8 teams sneak into the playoffs. Right now, there isn’t a lot of crisp, clean football being played around the NFL.