With Week Nine in the NFL almost behind us, I’m left wondering yet again how teams fighting for playoff positions can come out so flat. I’m going to leave San Francisco and the New York Giants out of this (today), and focus on Baltimore, and the pathetic NFC North tandem of Chicago and Green Bay.

Last week Baltimore completely dominated Denver, handing them their first loss of the season, a 30-7 drubbing. Yesterday they traveled to Cincinnati to exact some revenge for a narrow Week Five loss to the Bengals. Yet what ensued was 60 minutes of lifeless football – with the Ravens not even mustering their score until the fourth quarter. Cincy was up 14-0 nothing before the Ravens even knew what was happening, and they were able to set it to cruise control for the rest of the game. Joe Flacco was dreadful, going 18-32 for 195 yards and two picks, and Bengals’ corners Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph had his receivers blanketed all day. Forgot the Ravens competing in the AFC North – they’ll be lucky to make the playoffs if they keep showing as little fire as they did Sunday afternoon.

When Tommie Harris missed Chicago’s Week Seven game against the Bengals, the Bears were pasted 45-10. I said it then, without Harris and Brian Urlacher in the middle of the defence, the Bears are useless. Well, just four plays into yesterday’s tilt with the Arizona Cardinals, Harris had a brain cramp and punched guard Deuce Lutui in the face – immediate ejection. Arizona went on to score on its first sixpossessions, en route to a 41-21 cake walk. Head Coach of the Bears Lovie Smith took over defensive play-calling permanently at the beginning of the season. After yesterday’s debacle, it’s amazing the Bears haven’t pulled a Daniel Snyder and stripped him of the responsibility. Jay Cutler and the offence tried, but they just couldn’t keep up. The Bears are a complete mess right now, and sit three games back of Minnesota in the NFC North. And just think Bears fans, the team doesn’t own its top two draft picks in 2010.

And then there’s Green Bay. I don’t care how composed Josh Freeman looked/played in his debut – you do not lose to the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No team in the NFL should have lost to this years’ Bucs, they’re simply terrible. But Green Bay, attempting to keep pace in the NFC North, allows a rookie quarterback to toss three touchdowns and lead his team to victory, even after they’d taken a 7-0 lead under three minutes into the game. Let’s just hope the Packers didn’t make people in Tampa all superstitious - or else we may be in for more of the creamsicle jerseys.

TWO POINT CONVERSION

- how can people consider New Orleans a better team than Indianapolis? New Orleans was down 24 points at half to Miami two weeks ago, and down 14-0 in the first quarter to Carolina yesterday. If they even try that in the playoffs, they’re going to get bounced by a team that knows how to finish

- I know Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger have both won the Superbowl, and they’re both good-to-great players, but Philip Rivers is the best quarterback from the 2004 draft class. Week in, week out he’s simply outstanding, and watching his game-winning, last-minute drive against the Giants was a thing of beauty

Week Four has almost come to an end, and as I write this, I’ve only seen one team playing in the Sunday nighter. San Diego, care to show up for the second half? Right now, it looks like Pittsburgh is responding well to my claim that they needed a statement game to prove their worth to the league.

Sticking on the topic of statement games, how ’bout those Denver Broncos. After an early Marion Barber touchdown, the Broncos completely shut down the Dallas Cowboys and moved to 4-0. They’ve now won more games than I thought they’d win all year, and I’m really curious to see if their defence can keep it up.

And then there’s Tennessee. I won’t get into too much detail today… but that was pathetic. I would not want to be Jeff Fisher right now. Without further delay, let’s get into the goods.

THE GOOD

Matt Stafford flashed his potential in the first half of Detroit’s 48-24 loss to Chicago. He led the Lions on three touchdown drives, and finished the day 24 of 36 for 296 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Detroit has to be excited about what he’s shown thus far, even if his record may not be as sparkling as the Sanchize in New York.

I’d also like to contragulate two other quarterbacks making their debuts: both Chad Henne of Miami and Josh Johnson of Tampa Bay looked comfortable under center. Henne got the Dolphins their first win of the season in a cake walk over the Bills, while Johnson kept his team close to the Redskins, only to lose by three. Great debuts for both men.

The New Orleans Saints got by the New York Jets 24-10, without a strong day from quarterback Drew Brees. He threw for only 190 and no scores, and instead the Saints were led by their… defence? Perenially a laughing stock, New Orleans’ defence is thriving under coordinator Gregg Williams, and contributed two scores – a 99 yard interception return by Darren Sharper, and a fumble recovery in the endzone by Remi Ayodele. If the defence can keep up the strong play, New Orleans will be a force come January.

 
THE BAD

Matt Stafford may have a dislocated right kneecap. The Lions did not comment on the extent of the injury after the game, and Stafford will undergo tests Monday. Tough break coming off a career day for the young signal caller.

If the Cincinatti Bengals wanted to be taken seriously following their upset win over Pittsburgh, they sure didn’t show it. Yes they beat the Browns 23-20 in overtime – but they beat the Browns 23-20 in overtime. You cannot barely escape Cleveland with a win if you want to be a contender, you need to walk all over them and move on.

 
THE UGLY

Tony Romo is crippling the Dallas Cowboys. He was 25 of 42 for 255 yards and a pick against the Broncos, and went without a passing touchdown for the second straight week. Even worse, he’s going to get someone hurt. He was constantly throwing high to his receivers, and in particular, he left Roy Williams out to dry with a high pass. Williams went up for the ball, and was drilled in the ribs by linebacker DJ Williams when he was coming down. If this keeps up, we may see Jon Kitna quarterbacking America’s Team soon.

Cleveland is bad, St. Louis is worse. 108 passing yards from Kyle Boller. 79 rushing yards from Steven Jackson. Three turnovers, all leading to San Fransisco defensive touchdowns. Right now, I’m looking at the Rams’ Week Eight matchup with Detroit and thinking that the Lions are going to blow out their opponent.

 
TWO POINT CONVERSION

- here’s how the Oakland Raiders’ last three first round picks performed against Houston; QB JaMarcus Russell (1st overall, 2007) 12 of 33 passing for 128 yards; RB Darren McFadden (4th, 2008) 6 carries, -3 yards; WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (7th, 2009) one catch for 18 yards. Yep, that sure is a black hole in Oakland alright – it’s pulling in talent and not giving it back

- the Miami Dolphins had eight different players run the ball against the Bills. Who says the Wildcat is dead?

*** NOTE ***

By the time I finished writing this, the Sunday nighter sits at 35-21 Pittsburgh. At least San Diego played 30 minutes of football.