10 & Out: Droppings from an NFL Fan Brain

Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) is pressured by New England Patriots defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich (50) during the third quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Buccaneers 23-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to 10 & Out, an abbreviated version of your week in the NFL. Each week we’ll try to bring you ten takes on the week that was in the NFL. Or Seven. Maybe a dozen. Quit pressuring me. Point is, it’s fresh, it’s sassy and it’s literally the single most one-sided and unsubstantiated collection of brain droppings you’ll read this week. Ready….BREAK!

What I learned this week…..

– Chiefs are good, but probably not this good. Dolphins aren’t as good as everyone thought last week, but aren’t as bad as everyone thought last year. Giants are bad. Eli has more turnovers than a French bakery. But they can’t be this bad, right?

– For what it’s worth… (not much) I have yet to hear anyone say the Broncos are running up the score on anyone. Just saying.

– Hey, didn’t you used to be…Chip Kelly? The “new-look” Eagles offense is down plays per game, yards per play, points per game, you name it. Have DC’s already figured out the vaunted Duck Offense? More likely it’s the turnovers that are doing them in. As my buddy Special Ed says, once you get sand in the gears, its grinds to a halt. Message to Chipper: you don’t ALWAYS have to go hurry-up if you have no rhythm & no attack.

– Fan o’ the Week goes to…the 500,000 fans that lined up in Piccadilly Circus for a rally before the London Steelers-Vikings game. That’s a lot of people, folks. Signifies at LEAST a continued and expanded relationship.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugh

Good: Broncos. On pace to outscore the ’07 Patriots? Billick’s Vikings offense? Try on pace to outscore the Nuggets.

Bad: The Jaguars. I mean, c’mon. Now you’re trading a left tackle. If you’re gonna trade someone, just trade MJD, get value, and start that rebuild. And that empty stadium? Awful. 2-for-1 Bud Lights if you come to the game. Seriously. Just stop, it’s over.

Ugh: Freeman and the 0-4 Bucs. WTF is going on there? Missed a team photo. Alright, if you wanna be QB, you gotta be in the photo. Missed several team meetings. Yea, that’s not good. If you have to be in the team photo, I’m guessing you have to be at meetings. Also, you’re not playing great, study should really help. Now, leaks come that you’ve failed a drug test? From who? Has to be another team trying to get him released and sign him for free. Schiano isn’t that much of a meathead, right? BUT…three of their four losses have been by a total of 6 points. Two of them on FGs at the end of the game that the DEFENSE gave up. That Jets game, the LB flat threw the game away. Against New Orleans, the kicker misses the FG that ends the game. Now, they got their brains beat in by the Patriots, but that’s to be expected. How is that Freeman’s fault?

61-yards and a cloud of Angel dust… Last year the Patriots averaged 428 ypg. So far this year? 367. That difference of 61 yards will surely be minimized by the inevitable return of Gronkowski and Amendola, but it can’t be overlooked. McDaniels has all but abandoned a two tight end offense, and purposefully slowing down the offense, and draining time, went a long way to beating the Falcons. You’re watching the birth of Patriots 4.0, and it looks a lot like the 2008 Steelers.

W2W4: What to watch for…Goodie, goodie gumdrops. The Bills-Browns game we’ve all been waiting for. Watch for EJ. He’s not bad. Watch for Brian Hoyer, he’s playing really well too, and a Cleveland kid that goes to OSU and then gets to turn the Browns around? That’s a good deal. Also, his name is Kiko. Kiko Alonso. Watch.

Locks of the Century of the Week…

CHI +1 v. NO a good team getting a point at home against a team on a short week? +1 is bs because it’s basically a pick ’em but then again, I can see 24-23. Bears +1

KC-2.5 @ TEN Titans are without Jake Locker, who was quietly having an excellent start. Chiefs have to lose at some point, but probably not now. No, Andy will save the tumble from grace for its most destructive point. Chiefs -2.5

IND+3 v. SEA again, good team, at home, gets points. That’s rare. Seattle has shown some chinks in the armor lately, and Luck may be due for a statement game. Also, I hate Pete Carroll. I’ll take the Colts +3

REMEMBER…if you’re gonna bet, bet your friends, or at least, bet your beer money. Oh and parlay whatever you’d like with the Broncos to win next week. Never been a gimme like this, folks.

Love it? Hate it? Want to know what I’m eating right now? Hit me up here: kevincasini@hotmail.com