Week five of the NFL shows there are no NFL experts

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After five NFL Sunday’s I’m pretty sure the term, “NFL expert”, is an oxymoron.  Every week brings upsets and there is almost nothing consistent to hang your hat on.  Almost.  We’ll sift through the rubble of another NFL Sunday and see what we can make of it.

Will the Packers rough their own kicker?

Remember when it seemed like the Bears had the worst kicking game in the league?  Well that crown is up for grabs this season.  The Packers kicker, Mason Crosby, made his case by missing four field goals and an extra point in the Packers 31-23 loss to the Lions.  Crosby may not have single handedly, or single footedly, lost the game, but he certainly didn’t help.  The Lions raised their record to 2-3 despite looking terrible at times this season.  

Could the Bengals actually be good?

Going into Sunday’s game against the Bengals, the Dolphins were 3-1.  The Bengals were also 3-1.  Before the game I said I thought the Dolphins were the worst 3-1 team in the NFL.  After their 27-17 loss to the Bengals I think that opinion was justified.  The Dolphins jumped off to a 17-0 start only to see the Bengals respond with 27 unanswered points.  The Dolphins offensive line is beaten up and Ryan Tannehill’s tendency to hangs onto the ball too long.  That’s a lethal combination.  Sunday it led to two Bengals defensive touchdowns.  I hate to say it, but the Bengals may be decent this year.  I’ll get back to you on that later.

Summary:  Mahomes is good and Bortles isn't

The Chiefs thumped the Jaguars 30-14.  The takeaway from that game is Patrick Mahomes is good and Blake Bortles isn’t.  Mahomes threw the first two picks of his career and also didn’t throw TD pass, but the Chiefs still put up 30 points.  Jaguars, QB, Blake Bortles, was picked four times.  He continues to be a millstone around the Jags neck. 

Getting nostalgic

I think the Rams are the best team in the NFL.  They got a scare Sunday, hanging on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks 33-31.  Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and the Seahawks ran for 180 yards but it wasn’t enough.  This Rams team is starting to remind me of “The Greatest Show on Turf “Rams teams.

Your time is coming, Browns fans

While the Browns may not yet be good, they’re definitely better as evidenced by their 12-9 overtime win over the Browns.  The win raises their record to 2-2-1.  Probably the biggest development is giving the QB reins to Baker Mayfield.  

For the Raiders, another game, another loss

While the Browns aren’t bad, you know who is?  The Raiders.  The Raiders lost to the Chargers 26-10.  For the Chargers it was a workmanlike performance against a bad opponent.  Chargers QB, Phillip Rivers spread the ball around in route to a 339 yards, two touchdown performance.

Gano is the Anti-Crosby

The Giants gave the Carolina Panthers an unexpectedly tough time in their 33-31 loss.  Odell Beckham Jr. even threw a 57 yard TD pass to Saquon Barkley  but it still wasn’t enough.  The Panthers got a game winning, 63 yard FG from Graham Gano with one second left.  It was Gano’s fourth FG of the game.  Not every kicker in the NFL is having problems.

Isn't the Broncos defense supposed to be good?

The Jets picked up their second win of the season.  Rookie QB, Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns as the Jets flew by the Broncos 34-16.  Isaiah Cromwell shredded the Denver defense to the tune of 219 yards on 15 carries.  That includes a 77 yard TD run.  Is the Broncos defense really that bad?  We’ll see.

Forget the Titans

The Titans were 3-1 going into their game against the Bills. They came out of it 3-2.  I didn’t think the Titans were particularly good, but I was surprised they lost to the Bills.  The Titans offense is limited, as is the Bills, but I think rookie QB, Josh Allen gives the bills more reason for hope.  

For whom the Bell toils

In a battle of teams of potential playoff teams off to bad starts, the Steelers steamrolled the Falcons 41-17.  The loss leaves the Falcons at 1-4 and like Mrs. Hogwallup from “Oh Brother Where Art Thou”, looking for answers.  The Steelers replacement for Le’Veon Bell, James Connor, ran for 110 yards and picked up another 75 catching passes.  Bell says he’s coming back in week seven, which is the Steelers bye week. That should be an interesting reunion.

49ers-Garropollo=Bad

The Arizona Cardinals may be a bad team, but the 49ers without Jimmy Garoppolo are worse.  That was borne out by the 49ers 28-18 loss to the Cardinals.  Cardinals rookie QB, Josh Rosen, hit Christian Kirk with a 75 yard TD pass from the first play from scrimmage to jump the start the offense.  The Arizona defense came up with five turnovers and scored on a 23 yard fumble return by Josh Bynes.

The Eagles have landed, with a thud

After a really rough stretch, the Viking defense had a nice outing in their 23-21 win over the Eagles.  Vikings WRs, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs combined for 207 receiving yards.  They caught 17 of the 21 passes they were targeted on.  The Eagles loss left them with a record of 2-3.  There seems to be a lingering Super Bowl hangover.

Texans have Watson but need Holmes to call plays

Sunday’s games were capped off with a Cowboys-Texans matchup.  The Texans prevailed 19-16 in overtime.  The Texans should have won the game fairly easily but they kept shooting themselves in the foot in the red zone.  Apparently they have no short yardage running game at all or their play calling is abysmal.  Deshaun Watson took a beating and if he continues with his present style of play he could be RGIII 2.0.  DeAndre Hopkins set up the game winning field goal on a brilliant 49 yard pass reception and run.  As for the Cowboys, they really don’t have much of a passing game.  I look for it to be a long season in Dallas.