Well, it's time for me to drop the F bomb. No, not that F bomb. The F bomb I'm talking about is fraud. And I'm ready to declare our first fraud team of the 2006 season: yes, it's the Philadephia Eagles. The Jaguars ran the ball up and down the field all afternoon -- over 200 yards rushing -- while the Eagles' offense was utterly inept all day from top to bottom. There were some of those usual stupid mistakes, but unlike other weeks they weren't game-killers. Despite a 13-6 score, the Jaguars dominated all afternoon.

All week the Eagles kept proclaiming that, despite having a 4-3 record, they were a great team. A great team! The arrogance of this team -- underachieving players, overrated coach, stubborn management -- is mind-boggling. Well, now they're a 4-4 team. A .500 team. Mediocrity.

This so-called great team that was averaging over 400 yards' offense per game was almost completely shut down. Meanwhile, the worst team in college football (Temple) scored 28 points and actually won on the same field yesterday.

Fool me once -- shame on you.
Fool me twice -- shame on me.
Fool me three times -- okay, it's getting ridiculous.
Fool me FOUR times -- no more fooling. Philadelphia Eagles, you are officially frauds!

That was surprising....but I just want to say, go bears!!

Merriman with a statement game sacking Bulger 3 times

ahh, the Barry Bonds of the NFL.....for now

Wow, that Colts 34-31 win over Denver was awesome. Game of the year by far.

JIP, I am using your great Eagles fraud rip in my notes.

What, again? Why don't I just do all your work for you?

What happened to that Denver defense? I haven't been impressed by the Broncos all year because they haven't been scoring. Today they got points but they got shredded. Of course, teams can score against the Colts (well, maybe not the Eagles) but they tend to give up a lot more.

By the way, about the Bucs-Giants game: if it was so windy at the Meadowlands why did Jon Gruden have Bruce Gradkowski throw the ball 48 times and hand it off to Cadillac Williams only 8 times??? It makes no sense. Unless maybe your name is Andy Reid.

One of the reasons the Denver defense gave up 400 yards to the Colts is the defensive strategy utilized. Denver chose to defend Peyton with zones for the most part. And that defense is suppose to slow down the passing game. Only, against the Colts, it doesn't. The reason it doesn't work against the Colts is because Peyton and his receivers have been together so long, they think as one. Harrison and Wayne do not run typical NFL patterns. They get free a lot of the time by running the defenders off the ball and cutting to the sidelines or back toward the LOS on timing routes. There's only one defense that works against that: the CB must knock the receiver off his route, or, the front seven must knock Peyton Manning on his ass. The Denver D did neither. I'm convinced that you can't beat Peyton with zone or man coverage. He's just too smart (he and Brady read defenses better than any QB in the NFL) and too accurate with his throws. But if you can get a few hard hits against him, to get him thinking about protecting his hide rather than football, then your odds of winning go way up.

But Denver's defensive stats are a lot like Chicago's gaudy offensive stats. You have to consider the source. Anybody who thought the Colts would be held to 8 pts was just hoping. I'm not disparaging Denver or Chicago though. Both of them are deserving of their accolades, and, I think both teams will win their division.

What, again? Why don't I just do all your work for you?


Well, Joe, when you get on a great roll why should I try and top it?

Gotta agree. Colts-Broncs was the best game I've seen so far this year - even if I found myself rooting hard for the Broncs. I didn't expect anyone in the NFL to survive giving the Colts that much time and so few points needed to win. You could see confidence in Manning's face before he came off the sidelines. As though he had it all planned. I think there was only one dropped pass during that march down the field. Magnificent execution.

The Broncs also made a statement. They can score. And Jake can still snake. Ninety percent of the NFL would have folded under that onslaught of offense and well-coached defense. Why they didn't blitz the heck out of Manning I'll never know. Hell give him the long pass. But don't give him time to be accurate. That's suicide.

And note that I did say "best game I've seen so far". Colts have a little date with Destiny (aka the Brady Bunch) next Sunday and the weather may again be the Colts worst enemy. They won't have the thin still air of high altitude there, and those New England nor-easters are unpredictable. Viniatieri will be coming home and though folks will be glad to see him, I don't think they'll be rolling over to greet him.

The key is to be ahead by more than a touchdown and extra point at the end of the game. Make them score eight to beat you. That's what the Bronc's could have done if they hadn't gotten conservative near the end and run when they could have passed. But still all in all - it was one hell of a great game by both teams.

The Colts/Broncos game was a great game, but (while I was rooting for the Colts) I couldn't believe that the Broncos were so ineffective in stopping the Colts were scoring. Really poor defense. Manning basically threw the ball anywhere he wanted and the reliever as always completely open. The Broncos gave away the game if you ask me.

As for next week, I think the Colts will win and remain undefeated.

I love what the Bears are doing and it looks like the very first football team I ever followed are playing great football, even if they had a little hiccup last week.

And the Ravens got back on track as well.

It was a good week for the teams I follow, including the Redskins (who didn't play this week and therefore couldn't lose).

Anthony

My favorite moment yesterday was of course Brett Favre's TD and subsequent Lambeau Leap. Great stuff.

Can we take a moment and recognize the NY GIANTS whose "2nd String d-line" stepped up and helped to make it happen. Eli kept his cool, Plexico made an amazing one hand catch, Tiki & Brandon brought it home....NYG never get the respect they deserve and looking around the NFC I say HAIL to GMEN...it ain't always pretty but we get it done....
D

I didn't quite understand that myself about Denver not blitzing, since SD and PIT gave the league a blueprint on how to beat IND. And at least against us last year, Denver brought the house on Brees.