Just anonther week full of expletive-filled press conferences, firings and off-the-field trouble. So how was your work week?
Everyone wants to rehash the Denny Green implosion Monday and the fallout from it in the offensive coordinator ranks. But this is about the games so read about that other stuff elsewhere.
GAMES OF THE WEEK:
Panthers (4-2) at Bengals (3-2): Two fashionable preseason picks to reach the Super Bowl find themselves going in different directions. Carolina has won four in a row since WR Steve Smith's return to the lineup in Week 3, while Cincinnati has lost two in a row. The Bengals' problems have been running the ball (fewer than 100 yards total per game) and stopping the run (allowing 140 yards per game). Two key members of Cincinnati's offensive line, C Rich Braham and LT Levi Jones, are out. ... Carolina keeps rolling.
Steelers (2-3) at Falcons (3-2): Can the Super Bowl champs get their first road win of the season? To do so, they'll have to stop Atlanta's league-leading rushing attack, sparked by Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick. And Pittsburgh's aggressive defense and ball-control offense might provide the formula to ground the Falcons. I'd like the Falcons' chances more if their defensive line wasn't so banged up. DE John Abraham and DT Rod Coleman, easily the unit's two best players are questionable. ... Another road winner, Pittsburgh.
Giants (3-2) at Cowboys (3-2): Smash-mouth football at its best as both teams rush for 152 yards per game. The difference is Dallas' defense is very stingy against the run, meaning New York QB Eli Manning must play mistake free and spread the ball around to his receivers and TE Jeremy Shockey. New York's defense has to come up with ways to pressure Dallas QB Drew Bledsoe or he will pick the Giants' secondary apart. ... Dallas has too much defense and takes this one to keep the heat on Philadelphia in the highly competitive NFC East.
GAMES OF THE WEAK:
Cardinals (1-5) at Raiders (0-5): What happens when two frustrated teams meet? More penalties than points? I think the Raiders finally win one with RB LaMont Jordan having a huge day.
Packers (1-4) at Dolphins (1-5): So much for Miami's plans of winning the AFC East. The Dolphins have been the conference's most disappointing team, thanks largely to a defense that has turned inconsistent and an offense that has struggled under offseason acquisitions Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington, who will start again Sunday. The Packers are 5-2 against the former Lions signal-caller, but their pass defense (276 yards per game) is statistically the worst in the league. The return of RB Ahman Green should help the Packers to their second win.
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