Week 5 Observations

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Published on October 11, 2010

The Giants performance at home against the Bears in Week 4 was no fluke. The team is beginning to grasp new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell's scheme, and Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are close to full strength again - which means they can get pressure without blitzing. And the secondary is vastly improved due to the arrival of free safety Antrel Rolle (who has been excellent so far) and the return of strong safety Kenny Phillips. Asked what he'd think if he were an opposing player looking at tape of the Giants defense right now, Rolle said "Honestly, I'd be scared shitless."

At 6-0, 215, Hakeem Nicks isn't as big as Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald, but he's athletic and has huge hands, enabling him to go up and snatch passes out of the air like a much bigger receiver.

Who's the best team in the NFC right now? The Falcons? Giants? Eagles?

What's wrong with the Packers and Saints? And while we're at it, the Colts? Peyton Manning's receivers were well covered by KC's improving secondary, but Manning was throwing passes at his targets' knees and was bailed out a few times by Austin Collie making great catches on balls thrown behind him.

Aaron Rodgers is getting just 7.3 YPA despite completing 66.1 percent of his passes. That means he's just not getting the ball downfield. But Drew Brees is even worse with just 7.1 YPA on 71.4 percent completion percentage! Brees' average completion is less than 10 yards, i.e., everyone on his team has become Wes Welker. It's long overdue they got Robert Meachem involved in the fourth quarter last week - if the Saints have any hope of returning to the playoffs, they'll have to attack vertically.

Ryan Mathews looked sharp against Oakland - 9 carries for 56 yards - while Mike Tolbert was awful - 12 for 11 and a key fumble. Expect Mathews to take over going forward.

When the going gets tough, the Cowboys fold.

Terrell Owens leads the NFL in targets with 60. That's a pace for 192. Last year Andre Johnson led the NFL in that department with 171.

If the 49ers go 7-4 the rest of the way, they'll be 7-9 and probably win the NFC West. I think 6-5 is more likely.

I hate to say it because I love the idea of him, but Calvin Johnson is injury prone.

Michael Crabtree is back. Consider him a top-15 receiver the rest of the way. Vernon Davis is still a top-5 TE, but I wish he'd stop celebrating every first down like he was "Rudy" making that sack. Your team is 0-4, and you're trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter to the Eagles.

I got 80 to 1 odds in Vegas on Matt Cassel leading the NFL in passing yards. Why couldn't I have gone with Kyle Orton instead!

I don't think Brandon Lloyd and Malcom Floyd are top-10 receivers going forward. Top-20, I think is inarguable, but the Chargers will start running the ball more once they stop giving away so many bizarre special teams touchdowns. Lloyd is only 6-0, 194 and is in his eighth year in the league! You have to wonder how Josh McDaniels is able to get so much production out of Orton and this group of journeyman wideouts, when the Saints and Packers can hardly generate any offense.

Might the Lions defense be turning a corner? They shut out the Packers in the second half in Week 4, and held the Rams to six points (and the Rams aren't that bad).