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With Halloween upon us the theme for football fans is clearly trick or treat. As a kid, one of my most traumatic experiences was knocking on the door of someone's house and saying "Trick or Treat..." and having the guy who answered the door yell "TRICK!" and slam the door in my face.
Before we get started though, we need to award this year's Xtra Point Football best football fan costume. Congrats to Green Bay Packers "St. Vince." He seems to be in the running every year, but this year we've given it to him. Ok, on to the Halloween festivities.
After six weeks we have some surprises in the NFL. Some of you fans have been treated by your team while some of you have been tricked. Let's go by conference and division and see if your team has been giving out good candy:
NFC East
Giants (5-1) - Treat! About what you expected. They had a little hiccup last week, but nothing they can't correct.
Eagles (3-2) - Trick! They lost to the Raiders. That could come back to bite them.
Cowboys (3-2) - Trick! They have become way too comfortable in their new locker room. Too much talent being wasted here.
Redskins (2-4) - Trick! The blame is on Zorn but it all starts with the front office. It's amazing they can create the 2nd wealthiest franchise (behind the cowboys) running the team this way.
NFC North
Vikings (6-0) - Treat! We thought they would win the division, but we didn't think they would start off 6-0. Brett Favre has actually played well and he's brought them down the field in crunch time when he's needed to.
Packers (3-2) - Trick! Keep the ambulance close by because the offensive line is going to get Aaron Rodgers hurt.
Bears (3-2) - Trick! Lots of fanfare getting Jay Cutler, but Kyle Orton the QB they let go is 6-0!
Lions (1-5) - Not home, we have to come back. They do have one win already though...
NFC South
Saints (5-0) - Treat! Their candy clearly has the most caffeine in it. What an offense. Like the early 80's Chargers!
Falcons (4-1) - Treat! No sophomore jinx for Matty Ice. He's a bringht kid. A playoff team here, no doubt.
Panthers (2-3) - Trick! Jake Delhome is on the take. He's giving the other team the game plan. Gotta be. No other explanation. Mark Sanchez threw FIVE interceptions in one game last wek and still couldn't surpass him for having the dubious distinction of having the league lead in INT's.
Buccaneers (0-6) - Trick! I don't care how low the expectations were or how unstable the QB position is. In the NFL if you are 0-6 your fans have been tricked.
NFC West
49ers (3-2) - Treat! Singletary has them playing well. Without a a fluke loss to the Vikings and an injury to Frank Gore they would probably be 5-0. They have a legit shot at the playoffs. One of the surprise teams in my mind.
Cardinals (3-2) - Not home, have to come back. I know many didn't expect a lot just because they made a good run last year, but I did. We'll revisit them in a few weeks and see where they stand. Their season can still go either way.
Seahawks (2-4) - Trick! Mostly because I hate those green uniforms. I wish they would switch back to those old AFC ones that from the Steve Largent era with the grey helmets. They are better than those fluorescent ones they wore a few weeks ago though. Ugh. They are too flakey and their fans never know what team will show up. This division is up for grabs and they aren't doing much in the way of fighting for it.
Rams (0-6) - Trick! Again, low expectations do not have to mean an 0'fer. The Bucs will get a win at some point but I'm not sure the Rams will. They may be the Lions of 2009. They have already lost their last 16 games.
AFC
AFC East
Patriots (4-2) - Treat! Any real concerns have been answered. "What's wrong with Brady, what's wrong with Brady?" Five touchdowns in one quarter now shut up!
Jets (3-3) - Trick! What a tease. I bit less talking by the coach and some defensive players and a bit more paying attention to what you are doing on the field may help here guys. How about stopping the run and maybe getting a sack or something? Sanchez did complete 10 passes to his team and only 5 to the other team last week, so there is promise. The loss of Kris Jenkins may hurt more than anything else. If they turn it around here, they will be fine. Lose to the Raiders this week and the rest of the season will be a disaster.
Dolphins (2-3) - Treat! Chad Pennington was actually a good manage the game QB for them and the loss hurts, but they may have found something in Chad Henne. And the Wild Cat is no gimmick with the personnel they have. They get their best two players Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams on the field at the same time. How can that be a bad thing? Their defense may do them in though. They should have one the Colts game. If your offense keeps the ball for ¾ of the game, you are supposed to win the game.
Buffalo (2-4) - Trick! Sure they beat the Jets last week for a nice division win, but that's starting to not look like much of an accomplishment as the Jets are on the verge of collapse. Dick Juron sure makes some odd in game decisions.
Bengals (4-2) - Treat! Carson Palmer is back. Without the fluke play in week one, they would be 5-1. And nice job by Chad Eight-Five by buying the extra 1,600 tickets so the game didn't get blocked out on TV in Cincinnati this past week. Maybe the guy is growing up.
Steelers (4-2) - Not home, we have to come back. I guess it all comes down to if Troy Polamalu can stay on the field or not. They are clearly a different team without him. Perhaps the biggest single impact guy to their team in the league not named Peyton Manning. Ben Roethlisberger is not the best at anything but just knows how to win. Reminds me of Derek Jeter.
Ravens (3-3) -Trick! Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are doing their part. It's time for Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the rest of the "D" to hold up their end of the bargain. And Ray, enough complaining about the referees (even though you are right) because no one wants to hear it. And you should lucky that shot to the head on Chad Eighty-Five should cost you a suspension, not just s fine. You could have really hurt the guy. Remember Darryl Stingley?
Browns (1-5) - Trick! Ha, ha , ha.... What a joke. That Eric Mangidiot is something else isn't he?
AFC South
Colts (6-0) - Treat! Peyton Manning had the ball for less than 15 minutes in the game against the Dolphins and he pulled it out. Enough said.
Jaguars (3-3) Trick! Have to be disappointed with the poor start. Expected a lot more from them. They can still get a Wild Card spot though. Del Rio is a good coach though and can certainly turn them around. It's still early.
Texans (3-3) - Not home, we have to come back. Not sure how to read this team yet, I think their fans are confused too. They should be able to put up consistent points so they have a shot to make a run.
Titans (0-6) - TRICK IT'S A TRICK! RUN, IT'S A TRICK! MY god, RIP. What the hell happened here? How the might have fallen..., they were 14-2 last year! Fisher must be sick. He's a great coach and this has to be killing him. Anyone calling for his head is a moron. I would guess they have to start playing Vince Young here at some point just as a matter of principle to see what they have don't you think?
AFC West
Broncos (6-0) - Treat! Pat Bowlen got it right hiring a young Mike Shanahan, maybe he got it right with Josh McDaniels too? Knowshon Moreno is doing well and you can't say enough about Kyle Orton's performance. They were the laughing stock of the NFL with their off season circus of moves and non moves, but look who's laughing now....
Chargers (2-3) - Trick! How many times does Norv Turner have to trick us? And I don't care what anyone says, Ladainian Tomlinson will never be the same player he was, those days are over. They will probably make the playoffs again; they have too much talent not to. But Norv will find a way to screw that up. Love Philip Rivers though, he's a fighter. Have enough guys like that on your team and you will win. He can play for my team any day.
Raiders (2-4) - Trick! The defense they put out there is actually not that bad? If Jamarcus Russell can't learn to read a defense soon those, they are going to have to make a switch. He's certainly got the physical tools. Hey, I'm not calling the guy a dope or anything, playing QB in the NFL may be the toughest thing to do in all of sports? There have been many great athletes that couldn't play in the league, he wouldn't be the first. But he's got to show some improvement soon; it's time.
Chiefs (1-5) - Trick! This is a turn-around story so expectations couldn't be that high. But you have to be disappointed if your team only has one win in six weeks. After all, it is the NFL and everyone is playing for a paycheck. They have a great management team in their now and they are headed in the right direction. Matt Cassel should be there for a few years and have some success over time.
Mike Cardano is the founder of the Around the Horn Baseball Bog and Xtra Point Football Blog.Have a Fantasy Football or Rotisserie baseball question? Want to know who to pick up, who to activate and who the hot prospects are? Ask Dr. Roto. Let Dr. Roto guide your team to a league championship.
It was a pleasure for me to read your posts. Congratulations for the change, this sounds like some really good news! Good luck!
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