Don’t you just hate it when you can’t separate the contenders from the pretenders after week three?
Of course, it’s too early. But you always feel like 15 teams have a shot to make a deep playoff run. Maybe 10 have a chance to get back into the playoff picture, and the rest should just call it a season now.
With sports, you have to take a step back. We’re all guilty of riding a bandwagon or two… or ten… every year. Crowning someone early in the season is never the right thing to do. Neither is writing off a team that is slow out of the gate.
Right now, seven teams are 3-0, nine are 2-1, another nine are 1-2, and the remaining seven are 0-3.
History tells us that teams who start 0-3 are doomed. Since 1990, when the NFL changed to a 12-team playoff, three teams have made the post season after starting 0-3, the ’92 San Diego Chargers, ’98 Buffalo Bills and ’98 Detroit Lions.
As for those 3-0 teams, history says they will stay at the top. However, as Dave Goldberg from NFL Fanhouse wrote earlier this week, last season debunked the trend.
Of the five teams that started 3-0, only two teams, the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants, made the post season. The Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills were planning Super Bowl parties.
Now, onto our winners and losers in week three.
Winners
Most Valuable Player: Peyton Manning
Manning is still in his MVP form from 2008. Last week he went 24-of-35 for 379 yards and four touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals.
Best Running Back: Maurice Jones-Drew
Jones-Drew finally got going, rushing for 119 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns against Houston Texans. He also caught four balls for 28 yards on the day.
Best Receiver: DeSean Jackson
Most felt Jackson was a solid receiver, but he is proving to be a top-flight play maker. He had six receptions for 149 yards, one touchdown, and a cartwheel into the endzone against the Kansas City Cheifs. Jackson could go without the latter.
Best Defense: Denver Broncos
Many might question Denver, but let’s give credit where credit is due. Their defense held the Oakland Raiders to just three points and 156 total yards of offense last week.
Best Rookie: (tie) Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford
Sanchez, who threw two touchdowns and rushed for another one, looked like he was in complete control of the Jets’ offense and deserves some props for his performance in week three. Stafford was also in complete control while leading Detroit to a win against Washington. He threw for 241 yards and a touchdown and gave the city some hope for the future.
Best Game of the Week: San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings
San Francisco had this game won all the way until the last 12 seconds. But Brett Favre showed why he was worth the wait for Minnesota, throwing a game-winning touchdown pass to Greg Lewis with two seconds left.
Losers
Least Valuable Player: JaMarcus Russell
Cleveland’s “dynamic duo” might give Russell a run for his money, all $61 million. He has a 39.5 passer rating on the season, and last week had a 22.6 rating. How much longer before we can officially declare him a bust?
Worst Running Back: Larry Johnson
Wasn’t Johnson supposed to be the key to Kansas City’s offense? He’s been almost non-existent this season. Last week, he ran the ball 19 times for just 38 yards.
Worst Receiver: Terrell Owens
Owens was held without a catch for the first time since 1997. He’s been trying to find his way in Buffalo’s offense, but that is hard to do when Trent Edwards is being held on a leash.
Worst Defense: Cleveland Browns
Cleveland’s defense might get this award a couple of times this year if they play like they did against Baltimore. Joe Flacco shredded this team a part through the air by throwing for 342 and a touchdown.
Worst Rookie: Darrius Heyward-Bey
No catches for Heyward-Bey last week against Denver. His ineptitude is making life hell for Louis Murphy, who actually plays like an NFL receiver.
Worst Game of the Week: New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just ugly. It was all Giants in this 24-0 route. Tampa Bay struggled to convert on third down most of the game and had to bench an inefficient Byron Leftwich.
