As mentioned on Wednesday’s podcast, we’re not ready to panic over Green Bay’s slow start on offense.
All five Around The NFL scribes picked the Packers to slay
the Bears in Chicago, based largely on our collective belief that Aaron
Rodgers and company are overdue for an explosion.Packers vs Bears Live Stream
To date, Green Bay’s star quarterback has yet to unfurl the
bevy of big plays we’ve come to expect from the annual MVP candidate.Packers vs Bears Live
On his 102 passes, Rodgers has just two completions of
25-plus yards, ranking him 31st in the NFL in that category. Rookie
Teddy Bridgewater, meanwhile, has two of those long completions over
just three quarters.
Lacking in chunk plays, Green Bay’s 223 total yards against
the Lions in Week 3 served as the team’s lowest output since Rodgers’
first season as a starter in 2008.
It’s not just the quarterback. Runner Eddie Lacy has yet to
top 43 yards in any game this season behind a scattershot offensive
line. Jarrett Boykin has been a disappointment as the presumed No. 3
wideout, while Randall Cobb’s bland usage in the scheme has led to Jordy
Nelson accounting for 50.4 percent of the Green Bay’s receiving yards.
Passing yardage is typically a dim lens to peer through, but
how many of you expected Rodgers — averaging 232.3 yards per game — to
trail Austin Davis (251.3) and Brian Hoyer (238.7) after three weeks?
If that’s still the case after Sunday, the
NFL 2014 Sunday Night Football
1. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) | Previous Rank: 2
The Bengals lost both their coordinators, Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden, to head coaching jobs in the offseason. Their top offensive threat, WR A.J. Green, has been hampered by a toe injury. But they haven’t missed a step and they’ve been impressive in winning their first three games by a wider margin each week. They have a bye week to savor their good start, but the schedule toughens when they return with games against the Patriots, Panthers, Colts and Ravens.Packers vs Bears Live Stream
2. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) | Previous Rank: 3
They were pushed to the limit Sunday by Kirk Cousins and the Redskins and they’ve been living on the edge, with a pair of three-point victories after overcoming a 17-point deficit to win the opener against the Jaguars. Cousins shredded the Philadelphia defense and the triumph came at a cost to the offense, with center Jason Kelce now sidelined because of a sports hernia. The offensive line is minus three starters with Kelce joining suspended right tackle Lane Johnson and injured left guard Evan Mathis on the shelf.
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-0) | Previous Rank: 4
How about a Cardinals-Bengals Super Bowl? Both once-downtrodden franchises have been among the league’s best teams so far. The Cardinals are building on last season’s 10-6 playoff near-miss. They have the highly regarded Seahawks and 49ers chasing them in the NFC West and they’re getting it done with backup QB Drew Stanton starting the past two games. Bruce Arians is showing he’s one of the NFL’s better coaches, with relatively little fanfare. He’s now 22-9 including his 12-game stretch filling in for Chuck Pagano in Indianapolis.
4. San Diego Chargers (2-1) | Previous Rank: 6
The Chargers handed the Bills their first loss of the season and now find themselves in a tie with the Broncos atop the AFC West. With their next four games against the Jaguars, Jets, Raiders and Chiefs, San Diego easily could be 6-1 by the time it plays at Denver on Oct. 23.
5. New England Patriots (2-1) | Previous Rank: 5
The win over the Raiders wasn’t particularly impressive but the Patriots managed to improve to 2-1. They haven’t really gotten going yet but the play of the revamped secondary has been a bright spot. New England ranks first in the league in pass defense.
6. Seattle Seahawks (2-1) | Previous Rank: 7
The Seahawks won the Super Bowl rematch but it was far more difficult against the Broncos this time. The blown fourth-quarter lead should be somewhat concerning to the defending champs. But QB Russell Wilson and RB Marshawn Lynch made the big plays in OT. Wilson is now 7-0 against Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.
7. Denver Broncos (2-1) | Previous Rank: 1
The Broncos have an early bye week to regroup following their overtime defeat at Seattle. They should feel good about their improved effort on defense, about QB Peyton Manning reaffirming his greatness and about the production of WR Emmanuel Sanders against the Seahawks. They do need to run the ball better, though. Denver is averaging only 3.2 yards per rushing attempt this season after saying farewell to RB Knowshon Moreno in the offseason. Only one of Manning’s eight TD passes so far has gone to a WR.
Games – Click Here for More!
8. Chicago Bears (2-1) | Previous Rank: 10
The running game didn’t do much to help QB Jay Cutler on Monday night. Brandon Marshall had only one catch and the defense was depleted, particularly in the secondary. But the Bears held on with a late defensive stand to beat the Jets, and they’ve steadied themselves with consecutive wins following their season-opening loss to the Bills. Rookie CB Kyle Fuller continues to shine, with three interceptions in the past two games.
9. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) | Previous Rank: 12
They escaped with a down-to-the-wire triumph in Cleveland and they’re managing to hold their season together during the turbulence of the Ray Rice controversy. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti had a news conference Monday at the team’s facility three days after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s news conference in New York. The Ravens denied many of the allegations in Friday’s detailed report by ESPN accusing them of a “pattern of misinformation and misdirection” in their handling of the Rice case. Meanwhile, the team’s coaches and players have done their best to remain in what Coach John Harbaugh previously called their football “cocoon” while so much happens around them.
10. Detroit Lions (2-1) | Previous Rank: 15
The defense led the way in the triumph over the Packers, accounting for nine points with a TD and a safety while QB Matthew Stafford and the offense were struggling. Now the Lions have to show they can live with some prosperity by following up with a road win in the Meadowlands this weekend against the Jets.
11. Indianapolis Colts (1-2) | Previous Rank: 17
Beating the Jaguars, even on the road, shouldn’t really even count. But the Colts deserved a break in the scheduling department after opening the season with losses to the Broncos and Eagles. They have another game they should win this weekend with the Titans visiting.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) | Previous Rank: 18
James Harrison is poised to make his return to the Steelers this week to compensate for the losses of LBs Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones to injuries. The move probably won’t give the Steelers a Super Bowl-ready defense again, as was the case in Harrison’s heyday, but it should enable them to get through an upcoming four-game stretch against the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Browns and Texans. The Steelers must take advantage of that less-than-menacing portion of their schedule if they’re to remain on the heels of the Bengals in the AFC North.
The Bengals lost both their coordinators, Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden, to head coaching jobs in the offseason. Their top offensive threat, WR A.J. Green, has been hampered by a toe injury. But they haven’t missed a step and they’ve been impressive in winning their first three games by a wider margin each week. They have a bye week to savor their good start, but the schedule toughens when they return with games against the Patriots, Panthers, Colts and Ravens.Packers vs Bears Live Stream
2. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) | Previous Rank: 3
They were pushed to the limit Sunday by Kirk Cousins and the Redskins and they’ve been living on the edge, with a pair of three-point victories after overcoming a 17-point deficit to win the opener against the Jaguars. Cousins shredded the Philadelphia defense and the triumph came at a cost to the offense, with center Jason Kelce now sidelined because of a sports hernia. The offensive line is minus three starters with Kelce joining suspended right tackle Lane Johnson and injured left guard Evan Mathis on the shelf.
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-0) | Previous Rank: 4
How about a Cardinals-Bengals Super Bowl? Both once-downtrodden franchises have been among the league’s best teams so far. The Cardinals are building on last season’s 10-6 playoff near-miss. They have the highly regarded Seahawks and 49ers chasing them in the NFC West and they’re getting it done with backup QB Drew Stanton starting the past two games. Bruce Arians is showing he’s one of the NFL’s better coaches, with relatively little fanfare. He’s now 22-9 including his 12-game stretch filling in for Chuck Pagano in Indianapolis.
4. San Diego Chargers (2-1) | Previous Rank: 6
The Chargers handed the Bills their first loss of the season and now find themselves in a tie with the Broncos atop the AFC West. With their next four games against the Jaguars, Jets, Raiders and Chiefs, San Diego easily could be 6-1 by the time it plays at Denver on Oct. 23.
5. New England Patriots (2-1) | Previous Rank: 5
The win over the Raiders wasn’t particularly impressive but the Patriots managed to improve to 2-1. They haven’t really gotten going yet but the play of the revamped secondary has been a bright spot. New England ranks first in the league in pass defense.
6. Seattle Seahawks (2-1) | Previous Rank: 7
The Seahawks won the Super Bowl rematch but it was far more difficult against the Broncos this time. The blown fourth-quarter lead should be somewhat concerning to the defending champs. But QB Russell Wilson and RB Marshawn Lynch made the big plays in OT. Wilson is now 7-0 against Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.
7. Denver Broncos (2-1) | Previous Rank: 1
The Broncos have an early bye week to regroup following their overtime defeat at Seattle. They should feel good about their improved effort on defense, about QB Peyton Manning reaffirming his greatness and about the production of WR Emmanuel Sanders against the Seahawks. They do need to run the ball better, though. Denver is averaging only 3.2 yards per rushing attempt this season after saying farewell to RB Knowshon Moreno in the offseason. Only one of Manning’s eight TD passes so far has gone to a WR.
Games – Click Here for More!
8. Chicago Bears (2-1) | Previous Rank: 10
The running game didn’t do much to help QB Jay Cutler on Monday night. Brandon Marshall had only one catch and the defense was depleted, particularly in the secondary. But the Bears held on with a late defensive stand to beat the Jets, and they’ve steadied themselves with consecutive wins following their season-opening loss to the Bills. Rookie CB Kyle Fuller continues to shine, with three interceptions in the past two games.
9. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) | Previous Rank: 12
They escaped with a down-to-the-wire triumph in Cleveland and they’re managing to hold their season together during the turbulence of the Ray Rice controversy. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti had a news conference Monday at the team’s facility three days after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s news conference in New York. The Ravens denied many of the allegations in Friday’s detailed report by ESPN accusing them of a “pattern of misinformation and misdirection” in their handling of the Rice case. Meanwhile, the team’s coaches and players have done their best to remain in what Coach John Harbaugh previously called their football “cocoon” while so much happens around them.
10. Detroit Lions (2-1) | Previous Rank: 15
The defense led the way in the triumph over the Packers, accounting for nine points with a TD and a safety while QB Matthew Stafford and the offense were struggling. Now the Lions have to show they can live with some prosperity by following up with a road win in the Meadowlands this weekend against the Jets.
11. Indianapolis Colts (1-2) | Previous Rank: 17
Beating the Jaguars, even on the road, shouldn’t really even count. But the Colts deserved a break in the scheduling department after opening the season with losses to the Broncos and Eagles. They have another game they should win this weekend with the Titans visiting.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) | Previous Rank: 18
James Harrison is poised to make his return to the Steelers this week to compensate for the losses of LBs Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones to injuries. The move probably won’t give the Steelers a Super Bowl-ready defense again, as was the case in Harrison’s heyday, but it should enable them to get through an upcoming four-game stretch against the Buccaneers, Jaguars, Browns and Texans. The Steelers must take advantage of that less-than-menacing portion of their schedule if they’re to remain on the heels of the Bengals in the AFC North.
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