With Week 4 behind us, there’s a whole lot of things going on this season that we couldn’t have expected and some that are familiar. The Cardinals are undefeated, the Patriots aren’t and JJ Watt is still awesome. While these points may now seem obvious, the games below will answer some questions posed here in Week 5′s edition of the Student of the Game’s Match-Up Mania.
Ravens v. Colts
The Colts have gotten past a powderpuff portion of their schedule in facing the Jags and Titans in the past 2 games In the weeks before that, they are 0-2 in their previous games against the Broncos and Eagles (although the officials did alter the outcome of the Eagles game). This win would help Indy believe that they can win the tough games and assure their ascension to the post season.
Baltimore, however, didn’t become a formidable opponent by being afraid of top NFL quarterbacks. They tore the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger apart in their Thursday night contest in Week 3 and Cam Newton’s Panthers in Week 4, so Terrell Suggs (aka T-Sizzle) and company will look attack the focal point to the Indy offense, the one and only Andrew Luck.
With the Colts defense as mediocre as it is missing not only defensive end Robert Mathis, but also safety LaRon Landry who is on suspension due to performance enhancing drugs, it’ll be a shootout between the Ravens’ signal caller Joe Flacco and Luck with a handicap. . . I still got Luck with the victory.
Cardinals v. Broncos
As passing performances in 2014 go, 4 weeks into the season we have a true standout. Drew Stanton of the Arizona Cardinals has his squad atop the NFC West at 3-0 and posing an early threat to win that division. . . Oh yeah, and Peyton Manning might play against him this week in Denver.
Joking aside, the injury to Carson Palmer hasn’t slowed Arizona a bit. Perhaps more amazing, the loss of stars Darnell Dockett, Karlos Dansby, and Daryl Washington seems to have done surprising less to slow their defensive performance as well.
Averaging only 15 points allowed per game, this team opened the season beating a Chargers’ offense that supplanted the Seattle Seahawks championship defense.
Manning and company will prove quite a challenge and still get their points on the board, but in the end, the Broncos improved defense will slow the Arizona running game forcing Stanton to win the game for the Cards moving the ball one-dimensionally. If so, I’m not brave enough to bet against Peyton.
Bengals v. Patriots
Last year, the Bengals snuck by the Pats and it was considered an upset. This year, the Pats are smashed by Kansas City the previous week on Monday Night Football and talking about the Bengals as a legitimate AFC post season threat.
Andy Dalton will have his favorite weapon in A J Green while Tom Brady will have Gronk and a week O-line facing Geno Atkins and Vontaze Burfict. The tables have turned making the “Who Dey” Nation the favored team these week.
Because it is Brady and he’s rarely one to lose back-to-back games it will be close, but I see the Bengals winning this one.
Honorable Mention
Chiefs v. Niners
We’ve seen a quarter of the season pass for these 2 teams and there’s still identity issues for both. The thing I’m interested in seeing is the first time Alex Smith returns to San Francisco to share a field with the quarterback that supplanted him when he was the Niners’ starter, Colin Kaepernick. Both signal callers will be facing good defenses that are missing key players. Will Smith or Kaepernick have a big day trying prove to one another and all if us that they are worthy to play in this league as a starter.
