One year later, the question becomes this: What will T.O. do for an encore in Philadelphia?
Maybe he’ll stop by his old crib in the ‘burbs and crank out a few ab crunches for old times’ sake. Or maybe he’ll rent a car and leave it in Andy Reid’s parking space at Lincoln Financial Field. Or maybe he’ll do a dance on the Eagles’ logo at midfield.
You never know with T.O.
You, of course, are done with the guy. You don’t want to read another word about him. You can’t stand who he is, what he is and all he stands for.
Liar! We can’t just say no to T.O. He’s too unpredictable to ignore. Too wacky, too volatile, too goofy. Oh, and too talented. Say what you will about him, but give him his due. The guy can flat-out play.
Not that Owens’ grudge match against his former teammates is the only highlight on the Week 5 docket. Pennsylvania’s other NFL team has a date with destiny.
That would be the Steelers, who haven’t exactly looked the part of defending Super Bowl champions in the early going. They’ll take a 1-2 record into San Diego to play the Chargers, still steamed after letting one get away at Baltimore. One more loss and the Steelers officially would be in full-scale crisis mode.
The Chargers? They have the league’s No. 1-ranked defense, but a loss today and they would fall out of a tie for first place in the AFC West. In that scenario, the Broncos would move ahead of the pack. Not that Denver has an easy time of things. The Broncos face the Ravens, proud owners of the toughest defense not based in Chicago.
Couch potato heaven
Pittsburgh at San Diego
6:15 p.m., Chargers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 24-22 at San Diego on Oct. 10, 2005.
If anybody in the NFL needed a bye last week, it was Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, he of the zero TD passes, five INTs. Chargers fans grumbling about Marty Schottenheimer’s conservative offense. And to think, it isn’t January yet. S.D. LB Shawne Merriman third in league with 4.0 sacks despite playing only three games. Chahguhs’ D allowing microscopic 184.3 yards per, best in the bid’ness. Stuff happens when you allow eight third downs in 35 attempts. Steelers’ offense struggling, but D hanging in there. It’s fourth in league vs. run at 78.3 yards per.
Prediction: Chargers 27, Steelers 25
Baltimore at Denver
6:30 p.m. Monday, Broncos by 4
Last meeting: Broncos won 12-10 at Denver on Dec. 11, 2005
Talk about a pitchers’ duel. Broncos lead NFL in red-zone D, having allowed one TD in nine trips. Ballimore, meanwhile, is third at 2-for-13. Two D’s have allowed combined 64 points in seven games. Ravens have won three of past four in series. Game marks return to Denver of ex-Broncos DL Trevor Pryce, team’s No. 1 pick in 1997. Ravens looking for third straight road dubya. Bronx 6-1 in past seven decided by a FG or less. Fifth-year linebacker Bart Scott, who didn’t start a game for Ravens until 2005, tied for first in loop with 5.0 sacks.
Prediction: Broncos 19, Ravens 13
Worth the electricity
Buffalo at Chicago
11 a.m., Bears by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 33-27 (OT) at Buffalo on Sept. 29, 2002.
Bills’ Dick Jauron was Da Bears’ head coach from 1999-2003, led them to 2001 division title. … Bears have allowed 29 points in four games and one TD or less in eight straight home games, league’s longest streak. … Bernard Berrian, touchdown machine. Get used to it, sports fans. Bears’ WR leads Not For Long with four catches of 40-plus and is tied for league lead with three TDs. … Bills’ D, 29th in the league in 2005, has improved to No. 12. … Let’s Go TB Willis McGahee leads league in rushing attempts (99) and yardage (389).
Prediction: Bears 27, Bills 6
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Bucs won 27-13 at Tampa on Jan. 1.
What’s this? Another MAC quarterback in the NFL? It’s true. Bucs rookie Bruce Gradkowski, a sixth-rounder from Toledo, makes first No Foul Language start. … Bucs TB Cadillac Williams running like a 1972 Pinto – 107 yards, 2.5 per. … Past four in series in Louisiana decided by a TD or less. … N’Awlins’ Drew Brees leadin’ the league in fourth Q passer rating at 136.5 – 17-for-24, 274, 2 TDs, 0 INTs. … Saints have allowed 65 points in four games, 22 fewer than first four in 2005. … Saints fourth in the league at 5.86 yards on first down.
Prediction: Saints 20, Bucs 9
Washington at N.Y. Giants
11 a.m., Giants by 4
Last meeting: Redskins won 35-20 at Washington on Dec. 24, 2005.
Washed up? Who says? ‘Skins’ Mark Brunell has led club to 30-plus points in five of past seven starts, including last week vs. nasty boys from Jacksonville. … Eli Manning piling up stats, but still making mistakes. He has thrown 25 third-down passes, three INTs, highest pct. in league. … Washington TB Clinton Portis making up for lost time. Injured in early going, he has 237 rush yds. and four TDs, tied for league lead. … Talk about scary. G-Men last in the league in third-down D, allowing a ghastly 58.7 conversion pct.
Prediction: Giants 30, Redskins 25
N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville
2:05 p.m., Jaguars by 7
Last meeting: Jaguars won 26-20 at the Meadowlands on Sept. 25, 2005.
Jags’ D looking to rebound. Jax allowed 38 points in first three, 36 in OT loss to ‘Skins. … Game features matchup of ex-Marshall QBs – Chad Pennington for J-E-T-S, Byron Leftwich for Jags. … Pennington second in AFC with 1,015 passing yards, six TDs. … Jets hanging tough with no running game. Ex-Niner Kevan Barlow, the starter-du-jour, averaging 2.9 yards per. … Jags have won 13 of past 17 at home with Leftwich under C. … Jax CB Rashean Mathis leads league with four INTs. … Go figure. Jets, 0-fer on the road in 2005, 0-2 at home, 2-0 with pillow mints.
Prediction: Jaguars 17, Jets 13
Beats cleaning the garage
Cleveland at Carolina
11 a.m., Panthers by 8
Last meeting: Panthers won 13-6 at Cleveland on Dec. 1, 2002.
Did you know? Browns’ Charlie Frye tied for most TDs among AFC Q-bees – five passing, three rushing. … Kellen Winslow Jr. grumbling that he doesn’t get the ball enough. Makes sense until you consider this stat: He leads Not For Long TEs with 22 grabs. … Mistake by the Lake already minus-6 in turnovers and hasn’t won a game. What’s that? OK, so Browns beat Raiders. As if that should count. … Carolina QB Jake Delhomme: 137 passes, one INT. … Panthers DE Julius Peppers lights out coming off the corner. He’s tied for league lead with 5.0 sacks.
Prediction: Panthers 31, Browns 13
St. Louis at Green Bay
11 a.m., Rams by 3
Last meeting: Packers won 45-17 at Green Bay on Nov. 29, 2004.
Gunslinger Brett Favre has been bringing butter knife to most of Pack’s recent gunfights. … Packers, minus-24 in turnovers last season, up to old tricks again at minus-3. … Rams a league-leadin’ plus-10 in turnovers after racking up minus-10 in 2005. … Matchup of rookie head coaches Scott Linehan and Mike McCarthy. … Pack 29th in da bid’ness in first-down plays at 3.96 yards per. … Rams QB Marc Bulger hasn’t thrown INT in 186 passes, second-longest streak in club history to Roman Gabriel’s 206 in late 1960s.
Prediction: Rams 19, Packers 17
Tennessee at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 18
Last meeting: Colts won 35-3 at Indianapolis on Dec. 4, 2005.
Colts’ Peyton Manning leads AFC with 1,112 yards passing and, coincidentally, 1,112 TV commercials. … Rookie Vince Young has taken over as Tin Men’s starting QB. He’s thrown 53 passes, 2 TDs, 3 INTs. … Titans have scored 47 points, lowest in the NFL for teams with three games, and have allowed 121 points, 31st in the league. Other than that, we’re talkin’ dynasty. … Colts have won six straight vs. Tenn, 11 straight within AFC South. … Manning on third down: league-best 135.4 passer rating, six TDs, zero INTs.
Prediction: Colts 41, Titans 7
Detroit at Minnesota
11 a.m., Vikings by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 21-16 at Detroit on Dec. 4, 2005.
Lions have yet to INT a pass and rank 30th in the league in red-zone D, allowing eight TDs in 12 trips. One more WR on draft day, though, and they ought to have things fixed. … Vikings seek ninth straight W vs. Lions. … Vikes’ Kevin Williams has 28 sacks since rookie year of 2003, second among NFL DTs. … Lions 0-4 and allowing 28.8 points per. Your thoughts, Matt Millen. … Doesn’t get much more mediocre than Vikings – 2-2, 63 points for, 65 against.
Prediction: Vikings 29, Lions 22
Miami at New England
11 a.m., Patriots by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 28-26 at New England on Jan. 1 of last season.
Dolphins, with a long history of fast starts, have to be league’s most disappointing team. … Why has Daunte Culpepper thrown 134 passes in four games? Because Dawfins have averaged 3.73 yards per on first down, next-to-last in the league behind the gawdawful Raiders. … What, you think Britney Spears’ first marriage didn’t last long? LB Junior Seau “retired” from Dolphins, then signed with Pats a few days later. … Pats coming off lousy home performance vs. Broncos, followed by 25-point win at Cincy.
Prediction: Patriots 24, Dolphins 19
Get a life, Bubba
Kansas City at Arizona
2:05 p.m., Chiefs by 3
Last meeting: Chiefs won 49-0 at Kansas City on Dec. 1, 2002.
Chiefs starting QB-by-default Damon Huard must be doing something right. Dude is 6-2 in eight career starts, tossing seven TD passes, two INTs. … No, really, we’re not making this up: Chiefs third in league in D and are allowing 3.92 yards per on first down, also third. … Rookie QB Matt Leinart makes first start for Cardinals. He fumbled, threw an INT in first duty last week. … Edgerrin James hit 100-yard mark 49 times in 96 starts for Colts, but is 0-fer Arizona.
Prediction: Chiefs 23, Cardinals 10
Oakland at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., 49ers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: 49ers won 23-20 in overtime at Oakland on Nov. 3, 2002.
There’s no there there, all right. And while we’re on the subjects, there are no wins in Oakland, either. … Raiders blew 18-point home lead last week to lose to lowly Browns. … Raiduhs, having converted just eight of 36 third downs, thinking about running the wishbone. … Oakland Oh-No also has accounted for league-worst 2.88 yards on first down. … Niners not much better, witness their 41-0 cliffhanger at K.C. last week. … San Fran minus-6 in turnovers through four.
Prediction: 49ers 13, Raiders 10
Read Jim Armstrong’s Opening Shots on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday in The Denver Post sports section and on Monday’s in NFL Monday. His previous columns are available online at www.denverpost.com.
