(Can Sanchez stick with Drew Brees, throw-for-throw?)
Wrapped up in the switch from Brady Quinn to Derek Anderson in Cleveland, or the passing of the torch (due to injury) in Miami from one “Chad” to another?
Yeah, me neither.
Take a look at the top five story-lines heading into week four of NFL action, with some analysis, as well as a fantasy perspective.
As if we haven’t already been blessed with three magical weeks of pro football, we could be in store for our best week yet.
5. Can Tennessee Really Drop to 0-4?
Sure, but it’s probably not going to happen.
The only true threat week four’s opponent, Jacksonville, has is their running game, and stopping the run is something the Titans are still very good at.
If Jacksonville is going to send the Titans to the depths of “out of playoff contention”, they’ll need big games from both Torry Holt and Mike Sims-Walker.
Fantasy Perspective: The odds are that the better overall defense wins, here. That is, if Kerry Collins doesn’t completely blow it and hand Vince Young back his job.
The Titans can both run the ball and stop the run as good as anybody, while their Achilles heel is their pass defense. Ditto for the Jaguars, while Jacksonville is far from being great at stopping the run.
Look for Chris Johnson and Lendale White to work their one-two punch magic in Tennessee’s first win in their last five games.
4. Can Detroit Make it Two in a Row?
Unlikely. The spirited performance by the rookie Matthew Stafford definitely has the makings of a feel-good movie, but it won’t last, especially not against a team that actually has it together on both sides of the ball.
Jay Cutler has overcome his Sunday night debacle against Green Bay, and it’s unlikely he falters against a Lions defense that usually doesn’t stop elite quarterbacks, much less slow them down.
Fantasy Perspective: Kevin Smith wants to make this game, but even if he does play, take into consideration that Julius Jones was the first running back to have any kind of success on Chicago in the first three weeks.
As for Chicago, their passing attack is very much alive, and Cutler now can spread the ball around as he pleases to Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Greg Olsen, and the rookie, Johnny Knox.
While Cutler should be on fire against a secondary that gave up 300+ yards to Jason Campbell, look for Matt Forte to have his best game of the season.
3. Is Baltimore About to be 4-0?
It’s entirely possible against a New England offense that has yet to top 26 points in a game. Tom Brady and co. have shown glimpses of 2007-magic, but both he and his receivers have been out of sync for much of the first three weeks.
Missing his bread and butter man, Wes Welker, probably has something to do with that. If Welker makes the contest, don’t be shocked to see the offense move on Baltimore better than any team has so far in 2009.
Fantasy Perspective: Baltimore can flat-out run the ball, and now they can actually throw the ball pretty well, too. If the Patriots can hold up their end of the bargain and put up more than 30 points, I have a feeling that Joe Flacco and his improved passing offense could match them.
Willis McGahee and Ray Rice should fins some success against an average Patriots defense, as the Ravens try to team up with their strong run defense in an attempt at controlling the game’s tempo. If that works, Baltimore could be 4-0 at Sunday’s end.
2. Monday Night Madness (Part 1): New Orleans Saints vs. New York Jets
Take the up-rise Jets with the new coach, gritty defense, and rookie quarterback, and pit them against Drew Brees, arguably the league’s best offense, and a Greg Williams’ led defense, and what do you get?
One hell of a Monday night game.
The Saints and Jets probably feel good about not having to follow the Packers/Vikings game, so they’ll do all they can to reverse the expectations and make the Favre vs. Rodgers contest live up to their performance.
Fantasy Perspective: How many games can Mark Sanchez go without blowing it for his team? He’s been sensational, but if Thomas Jones and co. can’t show up for the second straight game, can we really expect Sanchez to do it all by himself in front of the nation?
And even though the Jets defense is rowdy and gets in offenses face, they haven’t even come close to facing an offense as sophisticated and tuned-up as a Drew Brees-led attack. Look for Brees to struggle a bit early, but you’ll see the game ending with Brees launching at least two touchdowns and 300+ yards.
1. Monday Night Madness (Part 2): Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
Clearly the more-hyped of the two Monday night games, this bitter rivalry is only intensified by Brett Favre playing for the purple-people-eaters, instead of donning the green and gold we are all so accustomed to.
Favre has started his tenure off with the Vikings in remarkable fashion, throwing only one interception, while guiding Minnesota to a comeback thriller win in week three, while starting the season at 3-0.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense has been less than spectacular, as they needed a date with the St Louis Rams to score over 24 points for the first time this season. With tremendous troubles running the ball and protecting Rodgers, the Packers could have a very difficult night stopping Jared Allen and attempting to penetrate the “Williams Wall”.
Fantasy Perspective: While the heart and gut say this has the makings of s shoot-out, logic says the Packers actually could be over-matched. They looked great in the opener on defense, but have since allowed Cedric Benson and Steven Jackson to run all over them, and have given up 48 points in their last two games. That, and they’ve allowed Rodgers to get sacked 12 times in three games.
Sit Ryan Grant against the formidable Pat and Kevin Williams duo, and while I can’t have you sit Rodgers, I strongly suggest you to at least think about playing Matt Schaub, Philip Rivers, or Tony Romo over him if you can.
For the Vikings, expect to see plenty of Adrian Peterson. If Cedric Benson can do it, then AD has a shot at running wild, especially at home, and especially on Monday night.
In four games against the Packers, Peterson has run for under 100 yards just once and has scored in half the games. While Favre definitely has the potential to make a killing against his former team, expect Peterson to steal the show for the most part in a Vikings win.
