So it’s official then. The Boys of Belichick are mad.
Mad that the New York Jets turned them in to the league for videotaping coaches’ signals. Mad that the league office docked them a possible first-round draft choice. Mad that the media in the aftermath of “Videogate” questioned the validity of their three Super Bowl victories.
How do we know they’re mad? Because they’re taking their frustrations out on their opponents. The Patriots are leading the NFL in total offense, total defense and total annihilations.
You had to wonder during the offseason how Randy Moss was going to fit in with the Pats. But who knew he would be second in the league in receiving yards and tied in touchdown catches with October just over the dashboard?
As impressive as the Pats have been – they’ve scored 38 points every Sunday – they might save their best for Monday night when they play the Bengals at Cincinnati, the same Bengals who allowed 51 points to Cleveland two weeks ago. The Bengals had better hope the Pats are as allergic to cats as Mike Shanahan is. Otherwise, things could get ugly.
Couch potato heaven
Seattle at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Seahawks by 2
Last meeting: Niners won 24-14 at San Francisco on Nov. 19, 2006.
Battle for first place in NFC West. … Niners hoping to prove they belong in playoff picture, but their offense has been offensive. They’re racking up a paltry 223 yards per, worst in the NFC. … San Fran needs to get TB Frank Gore going. And what better team to do it against than the Seahawks? He ran for 356 yards last season vs. Seattle. … Seahawks TB Shaun Alexander will play with broken bone in left wrist. … SF WR Darrell Jackson makes first appearance vs. old club. He spent seven seasons in Seattle, catching 47 TD passes.
Prediction: Seahawks 37, 49ers 30
New England at Cincinnati
6:30 p.m. Monday, Patriots by 7
Last meeting: Patriots won 38-13 at Cincinnati on Oct. 1, 2006.
Tom Brady completing passes on the field, too. He leads league in TD passes (10) and passer rating (141.8). … Just wondering: How in the Houshmandzadeh are those paper tigers on the Cincy defense gonna stop the Pats? Bengals are 29th in the bid’ness in D. Patriots lead the league in total yardage. … Bengals need to rev up running game. Rudi Johnson puttin’ up 3.1 yards per. … Yeegads! Pats allowing 2.2 yards a carry, Bengals 5.4. … Cincy allowing almost 32 points per and doesn’t have a sack man with more than one. … New England: 15 touchdowns, four FGs attempted.
Prediction: Patriots 38, Bengals 20
Worth the electricity
St. Louis at Dallas
11 a.m., Cowboys by 13
Last meeting: Rams won 20-10 at Dallas on Jan. 1, 2006.
Best QB in the NFC? As we speak, it’s Dallas signal-caller Tony Romo. Romo in 13 games as a starter: 9-4 with 3,501 passing yards, 24 TDs, 12 INTs. … Cowboys’ 24-point pasting of Bears in the Shy stamps them as club to beat in the Junior Varsity Conference. … The Rams? So much for TB Steven Jackson’s goal of 2,500 yards from scrimmage. He will miss this one with a groin tear, leaving rookie Brian Leonard to start. … Still think Wade Phillips can’t coach? He’s 32-19 as a HC since leaving Broncos.
Prediction: Cowboys 27, Rams 16
Chicago at Detroit
11 a.m., Bears by 3
Last meeting: Bears won 26-21 at Detroit on Dec. 24, 2006.
“Rex Grossman is our quarterback.” Or not. Bears coach Lovie Smith finally pulled plug on Wrecks, inserting Brian Griese as Bears’ startin’ QB. … Maybe Smith should have waited another week. Grossman last year vs. Lions: 486 passing yards, five TDs, no picks. … Bears minus-six in turnovers and ground out a measly 226 yards per, 31st in the league, with Grossman running the offense. … Lions QB Jon Kitna leads league with 980 passing yards. Yeah, well, stuff happens when you fall behind by 112 at Philly.
Prediction: Bears 26, Lions 25
Green Bay at Minnesota
11 a.m., Packers by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 9-7 at Green Bay on Dec. 21, 2006.
Wake up the echoes! Pack is back, having won seven straight since late last season. … Brett Favre tied with HOFer Dan Marino with 420 career TD passes. … GB DE Aaron Kampman has seven sacks in past four vs. Vikes. … Minnesota QB situation unclear, with Tarvaris Jackson hoping to return after missing last week’s L at KC. … Pack 3-0, Vikings 1-2. So which team has allowed an NFC-low 36 points? The Vikes, naturally. … Packers like O.J. these days: can’t run. Rookie Brandon Jackson thru three: 38 carries, 97 yards.
Prediction: Vikings 19, Packers 18
Tampa Bay at Carolina
2:05 p.m., Panthers by 3
Last meeting: Panthers won 24-10 at Carolina on Nov. 13, 2006.
Say, didn’t you used to be Cadillac Williams? Kid hasn’t been the same since his big rookie year. Weeums averaging 3.5 yards per going into this one. … Tampa QB Jeff Garcia has won three straight starts vs. Panthers in other teams’ jerseys, including past two, when he threw for 300-plus, three TDs-plus. … Who knew? Carolina DE Mike Rucker has one fewer sack in his career (52.5) than all-pro teammate Julius Pepper (53.5).
Prediction: Bucs 12, Panthers 10
Pittsburgh at Arizona
2:15 p.m., Steelers by 6
Last meeting: Steelers won 28-15 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 9, 2003.
Ex-Steelers assistants Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, bypassed for team’s HC gig, have moved on to House of Cards. You don’t suppose they’d like to beat their old team, do you? Nah, didn’t think so. … Cardinals QB situation “weird,” to use Kurt Warner’s word. He’s running the no-huddle offense, Matt Leinart the regular version. … Team is down on Leinart, who is struggling to read defenses. Hope he can’t read his stats, too: two TD passes, three INTs, 62.6 passer ratin’.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Cardinals 24
Beats cleaning the garage
Baltimore at Cleveland
11 a.m., Ravens by 4
Last meeting: Ravens won 27-17 at Baltimore on Dec. 17, 2006.
“Romeo Must Go” T-shirts all the rage outside stadium in Cleveland….Good thing Brownies scored those 51 points vs. Cincy. They’re 31st in the loop in total D and run D. … Ravens’ Steve McNair has 37 career rushing TDs, one away from tying Kordell Stewart for third all-time among NFL QBs. … Balt special teams gittin’ ‘er done, witness two punt returns for TDs in first three. Browns, meanwhile, had potential game-winning FG blocked at Oakland….Browns TE Kellen Winslow finally emerging into a player. He’s had 80-plus yards in catches every Sunday.
Prediction: Ravens 34, Browns 27
Kansas City at San Diego
2:15 p.m., Chargers by 11 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 20-9 at San Diego on Dec. 17, 2006.
Game features NFL’s leading rushers in 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson. So what have they done for us lately? Diddly squat, that’s what. Johnson is averaging 2.8 per, L.T. 2.3. … Tomlinson last seen yelling at QB Philip Rivers. Johnson, meanwhile, is all over Chiefs coaches. … SD coach Norv Turner 0-5 vs. Chiefs when he walked other teams’ sideline. … Chiefs’ vaunted offense has accounted for two TDs in three games. … How much are Bolts struggling? They’re 27th in offense, 21st in D. …Chargers coming off rare back-to-back losses. Past two times that happened, they won by 21 and 22 in next game.
Prediction: Chargers 34, Chiefs 10
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants
6:15 p.m., Eagles by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 36-22 at the Meadowlands on Dec. 17, 2006.
News flash: Donovan McNabb just completed another TD pass vs. the Lions. … Just wondering: Did fans in Philly boo McNabb because Eagles didn’t hang 60? … Just when you thought Giants were going to sign Padres manager Bud Black to help their defense, G-Men stifle Redskins on the road. … Eagles TB Brian Westbrook averaging 7-plus yards per every time he touches the ol’ pigskin. … NY’s Derrick Ward coming off career-high 94 rushing yards vs. ‘Skins. … McNabb has won seven of past eight vs. G-Men, including nine TD passes, no INTs in past four.
Prediction: Giants 20, Eagles 19
Get a life, Bubba
Houston at Atlanta
11 a.m., Texans by 3
Last meeting: Texans won 17-13 at Houston on Nov. 3, 2003.
Texans QB Matt Schaub returns to Hotlanta to face ex-teammates. … Texans 3-2 all time vs. NFC South. … Injuries catching up to Houston. TB Ahman Green hurting, but expects to play. WR Andre Johnson, one of the best in da bid’ness, is out with knee problems. … The Falcons? They’re 0-3 and melting down on the sidelines. CB DeAngelo Hall fined after last Sunday’s tantrum vs. Carolina.
Prediction: Falcons 19, Texans 16
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo
11 a.m., Jets by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 31-13 at the Meadowlands on Dec. 10, 2006.
Having any fun yet, Bills? Didn’t think so. … Buffalo showing all the signs of your basic 2-14 outfit. … QB J.P. Losman gone with a knee injury, leaving rookie Trent Edwards as only option. … Real issue in Let’s Go, though, is a D that has allowed a league-worst 458 yards per. … Who knew? Jets QB Chad Pennington’s 121.4 passer rating is second in the league behind a man named Brady.
Prediction: Jets 27, Bills 19
Oakland at Miami
11 a.m., Dolphins by 4
Last meeting: Dolphins won 33-21 at Oakland on Nov. 27, 2005.
Talk about a ballclub on a roll. One more W and Raiders match 2006 total. … Raiders not sure which marginal QB to go with, Josh McCown or Daunte Culpepper. … Turnovers fileting the Phish. Dawfins are minus-five, worst figure in the loop. … Raiduhs getting back to running game. LaMont Jordan has 100-plus in back-to-back games for first time in his career.
Prediction: Dolphins 23, Raiders 17
