Cold Open
The Rams' 2022 model doesn't resemble their 2021 one, and it sure doesn't resemble one set up for long term success. Cooper Kupp still remains an all-word wideout, yet also remains what seems like the Rams' lone target. Odell Beckham Jr. and Robert Woods aren't walking through the door. The addition of Allen Robinson hasn't resulted in success.
The problem with their offense, though, isn't just about weapons. It's about their offensive line. Too many football fans and media members dismiss poor offensive line play as an excuse for poor quarterback play. Monday night was an example of why that's nonsense. With the retirement of Andrew Whitworth at the forefront, the Rams' line can't handle a decent pass-rush.
We saw this glaring problem against the Bills and the 49ers. Matthew Stafford is shrinking under the pressure, and head coach Sean McVay has yet to figure out a way to scheme around it. The NFC West division title is still there for the taking at 2-2, but as Monday's game indicated, it already feels like a stretch to assume the defending champions are hosting playoff games in January.
Ten-Yard Gain
No. 1: The independent doctor who examined Tua Tagovailoa has been fired after the scary situation last Thursday. Tagovailoa shouldn't have been on the field and playing, and that's simply stating the obvious. However, the Amazon Prime halftime broadcast was crushed on social media for not addressing the injury Tagovailoa endured in the previous week against the Bills. I felt that was unfair. Ryan Fitzpatrick was emotionally distraught, and Richard Sherman was very open and honest about how scary the scene was. Other halftime shows would've just shown game highlights and spent as little time as possible on it.
No. 2: Just three weeks ago, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pounded the table that Dak Prescott was a fast healer, saying his quarterback could return within two weeks. Jones even refused to place Prescott on IR. Cooper Rush hasn't lost since, and the Cowboys look better than they did in Week 1 with Prescott. And now, suddenly, Jones is discussing how he needs to see Prescott grip a football before returning. Didn't you tell us he was a fast healer?
No. 3: John Harbaugh is getting burned by analytics. And it appears players on the Ravens -- like veteran Marcus Peters -- have had it. Failing on a pair of two-point conversions last year cost them a postseason spot. And now going for a touchdown last week-- when just a field goal was needed to take a lead against the Bills -- has Harbaugh's squad losing trust. This much, is obvious.
No. 4: The Kenny Pickett era is here in Pittsburgh -- as it should be. The best bet for the franchise is to have Pickett take his lumps and attempt to contend next season. It is, however, a very odd sight, knowing the Steelers' campaign has been buried before Columbus Day under longtime coach Mike Tomlin.
No. 5: Tom Brady feels like he's having the sad career ending we'd opined for for years now. Yet, we haven't embraced this as fans? Does America love him so much, that no one is laughing? No, we shouldn't root for marital problems. But on the field, Brady looks old and flustered. And the Buccaneers look flat-out boring through four weeks of action.
No. 6: The Lions currently sit at 1-3 in the NFC North, but they feel like 3-1. Sure, we love these 'Fighting Dan Campbells.' But, at some point, the barn-burning games need to result in more wins. The injuries have mounted for Detroit, but if you want to be a playoff team, you need to beat Geno Smith and the Seahawks on home turf. You need to. And they didn't.
No. 7: I'll be stunned if Frank Reich survives all 18 weeks of this season if the Colts fall more than three games back in the AFC South. And for the third time in four weeks, a squad that many had pegged to win a lousy division, has just looked like one of the worst five teams in the league. A loss to the Titans, a tie against the Texans, and a loss to the Jaguars. I'm sure patience is running thin for Colts owner Jim Irsay.
No. 8: The fact Matt Rhule is even being asked and acknowledging how far Sam Darnold is from returning from injury tells us all we need to know about Baker Mayfield. His offseason focus was about everything but becoming a better quarterback. The walk-on who fought for everything in his career has maxed-out -- he stinks. The Panthers are destined to be bottom-feeders for the foreseeable future.
No. 9: Last week showed both the good Daniel Jones defenders bring up, and the actual bad part of his game that gets overshadowed by the losses and turnovers in past years. His mobility in scoring twice on the ground last Sunday is second only to Lamar Jackson in today's NFL. But Jones' inability to survive seasons without getting hurt as a result is the reason he can't get big money as a franchise quarterback. Your best ability has to be availability, and Jones has failed to do that for these surprising 3-1 Giants.
No. 10: Andy Dalton deserves more games at quarterback for the Saints, and it's probably not a good sign for the franchise that this statement needs to be said. But the Red Rifle has far less erratic play, and can hit with the Saints' big wideouts just as much as Jameis Winston can. The NFC South is still there to be snagged, as long as the Bucs don't struggle. Dalton gives the Saints their best chance to win right now.
Five Games to Chew On
Giants at Packers: London is calling for two 3-1 teams on Sunday morning. This matchup would have more juice if Daniel Jones and Kadarius Toney were healthy for New York. Nevertheless, Aaron Rodgers has admitted the Packers' offensive woes can't continue. And on the flip side, Saquon Barkley has been the best player in football through four weeks.
Falcons at Bucs: The Falcons are a stunning 2-2, in a year many wondered if they'd be the worst team in the NFL. Don't look now, but if Atlanta manages the upset this weekend, they'll own sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The Bucs should roll here, but it's a game worth monitoring because it could lead to a sky-falling situation for Tom Brady if Tampa stumbles.
Eagles at Cardinals: The Eagles are the lone unbeaten team in the league, now they travel to Arizona, where the Cardinals continue to be unpredictable on a week-to-week basis. Philadelphia is going to be favored in every game this season, but they'll stumble eventually. This could be a big spot for both Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury to make us view them as a legitimate threat among NFC contenders once again.
Cowboys at Rams: A few weeks ago, fans and pundits pegged this game as the ideal return date for Dak Prescott. That rush has been paused. thanks to the winning football Cooper Rush has been playing. The Rams don't look right -- their pass protection has been bottom of the barrel. And as we saw last Monday against the Giants, Dallas' pass rush can shrink poor offensive line play. Matthew Stafford may fear for his safety on Sunday. The reigning champions falling to 2-3 would be a wild story next Monday.
Bengals at Ravens: John Harbaugh has all the negative attention on him, and those whispers will only get louder if the Ravens totally cough up their AFC North division lead to the Bengals, which started this season 0-2. This game on Sunday presents real opportunity for two star quarterbacks -- Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson -- to stabilize their teams in the crowded AFC.
My Picks
An improved 2-1 week has us at 5-7 overall to start the year. For this week:
Lions (+3.5) at Patriots: Mac Jones remains hobbled and Bailey Zappe looked steady against the Packers in Lambeau last week. But, these Pats did what they'll do a lot of this season: lose. The Lions feel like the best 1-3 team ever, although they've had the most total combined points for and against in every one of their games. Detroit's roster is better than New England's. and Jared Goff is playing good football. Anything over three full points laid by the Pats is actually disrespectful to the Lions. Give me Campbell's crew.
Titans (-2.5) at Commanders: There are tricks by the sportsbooks, and then there are occasional gifts. Plenty of huge numbers on this week's board to draw people in. But this small number, sitting below a field goal, shouldn't go overlooked. The Titans aren't back in the circle of trust just yet, despite two straight wins. The Commanders are flat-out awful. In fact, they may end up being the league's worst team by season's end. Derrick Henry is running possessed right now, and Washington won't have enough offense to answer back. This should be the lock of the week for many of you.
Cowboys (+5.5) at Rams: Cooper Rush should play another game, and the Cowboys offense is just fine with him under center. Nothing flashy, but steady with a solid run game. The Rams can't block up front and they've now lost two games -- including the 49ers on Monday night -- due to their lack of handling a pass rush. And as we've seen with the Cowboys, their defensive front can wreck games. This feels like the worst game at the worst time for the Rams.
Football Food of the Week
Tuscan Chicken Wings. I can hear the squeaky voice of Andrew Bogsuch saying, "You are giving us wings!" Calm down, Andrew. Yes, I am. We all know people who complain about wings being too hot -- so, this is a perfect crowd pleaser. The combo of rosemary seasoning, oregano, crushed garlic, olive oil, and crushed red pepper will have the perfect combo of flavor with slight heat. It's an Italian twist on an NFL Sunday favorite! The wings recipe is right here: https://gooddinnermrsmellen.com/2022/02/13/tuscan-chicken-wings/
Thanks for reading as always, and enjoy Week 5. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @MrazCBS.