Week 6 Story Lines…

The Baltimore Ravens travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in what is being described as a chess match. Sitting at 2-2 a lot of question marks are surrounding the Colts and Peyton Manning. Manning has looked off his game this year, but has still managed to play catchup and display why he is still a top quarterback in the league. Had it not been for two incredible come from behind wins (Minnesota, Houston) the Colts could be sitting at 0-4. Expect the Ravens to throw the kitchen sink, fridge, stove and whatever other appliance you can think of at Manning. There’s no question that the Colts offensive line has struggled but Manning is still finding ways to win. He isn’t receiving the protection and comfort in the pocket that he has been accustomed too. On top of that add injuries to Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney on the defensive end, and you get a team that hasn’t only been bad against the run, but a team that is ranked dead last giving up 188.5 rushing yards per game. On the opposite side of the coin, with Joe Flacco being named the starter for the year in Baltimore; a win on the road against Indy could really help solidify the young QB’s thought process when it comes to game management and how to be successful in the NFL. Expect a battle of field position, a heavy dose of McClain and McGahee, and the game to come down to a field goal. 

Meanwhile in Kansas City, reports have surfaced that the Chiefs are considering trading TE Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez is the best TE to ever enter the NFL, and is looking to make a move to a contender and compete for a Super Bowl. Gonzalez has caught 68TD’s in his career, and has amassed over 10,000 yards receiving. He has caught 21 balls this year, with 2 TD’s. He has shown that he still has some play in him, and can create nightmares for defensive coordinators over the middle especially in one-on-one battles. TE’s are often called the security blanket for Quarterback’s and let’s face it; they don’t get any safer then Tony Gonzalez. Not only is he a good leader on the field, he is an outstanding member of the NFL community, and the Kansas City community off the field. He is the type of player that could seemingly fit into any locker room and impact it positively with his experience and play. Watch for this weekend to factor in on the interest in Gonzalez. If the price is right, expect him to be moved by the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. Over the last year the Chiefs have shown that they are willing to part with assets for the sake of rebuilding the team. There isn’t many if any who compare to Gonzalez, but the Chiefs would be making the absolute right decision if they can somehow acquire more draft picks and keep building. The Chiefs are looking for a third round pick with the Giants reportedly offering a sixth rounder. Other teams said to be interested include the Packers, Eagles, and the Bills. Watch these teams this weekend and pay attention to their pass game, pass protection and overall offense. If I am the Bills or Packers, I fork over my third round pick to get Gonzalez. Both of these teams could be contenders later in the year, both with inexperienced QB’s at the helm. No matter how you spin it, Gonzalez is a definitive improvement over Robert Royal or Donald Lee. Watch for this weekends game to play a big role in who makes a play for Gonzalez. That being said, if the Giants find a way to land him, watch out NFL, we could be looking at repeat champions. 

Will Adrian Peterson finally go-off this weekend? Peterson isn’t having the type of start to the season that he has had last year even though the stats don’t necessarily back that up. He sits third in the league in rushing yards with 452 and 3 TD’s. Peterson has beens slowed down by tough defenses. The inconsistencies in Minnesota’s passing game have a lot to do with that. Gus Frerotte has looked better in recent weeks, and should continue to improve as the passing game comes together. Peterson will be the direct beneficiary of the deep ball. It’s simple, stretch the field, open the gaps, and away he goes. A Vikings-Lions game shouldn’t rank up there as one of the highlights of the year, but if you are looking for a single game matchup with the potential to see great things, this would be one of them. The Lions enter the game winless, and without QB Jon Kitna. They sit dead last in the league giving up over 420 yards of total offense per game, including 180 yards of rushing, good for being ranked 30th in the league only ahead of Kansas City and Indianapolis. A lot of question marks surround Detroit’s offense and how effective Dan Orlovski will be. If Detroit has a hard time moving the ball which wouldn’t be surprising, expect a very heavy dose of Adrian Peterson early and often. As far as player matchup goes, you might not find a better one. Don’t be surprised to hear “Let’s go to Minnesota for a game break” more then once. 

These are the story lines I’m looking forward too, what about you?

Enjoy the games, and to all our canadian readers, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. 

Dan Legroulx

danlegroulx@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

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