Natural order restored in NFL

Well, after a rowdy Week 3, some normalcy was restored around the Grill Room and the NFL last week.

I guess after righting a few wrongs, God decided to let the natural order of things get back to governing the NFL for a while. Lord knows, He has enough on His plate these days. Glad He checked in, though. He's certainly welcome anytime, and sure can liven things up.

To review:

• After having their prayers answered against Washington a week earlier, Detroit lifted itself up for a half against the Bears before becoming the Lions again, and falling back to earth with a thud in a 48-24 mauling.
• Mark Sanchez, he with the twinkle in his eye, looked oh-so pretty in leading Buddy boys' Jets to an immaculate 3-0 start, before he was brought to his knees by Saint Defense of New Orleans in a 24-10 beat-down.
• And after two humbling losses, the defending-champ Steelers were back to being grateful for being lucky enough to wear the uniforms of one of football's preeminent franchises, when they sent a lightning bolt the Chargers way in their big win Sunday night.
  

But just because things are returning to normal around the NFL, we aren't without a few questions.
Like...

Remember the Wildcat?
Here's why we're asking:
Because after being all the rage last year, we're hearing very little about it this year. Sure, it's still being used around the league, especially in Miami where it was brought into vogue a year ago, but it doesn't seem to be having near the impact this campaign. Giving NFL defensive coordinators a year or so to break something down on film, is like giving Bill Clinton a podium and no talking points -- every little thing will be covered.

Remember when St. Louis used to be home to the, 'Greatest Show on Turf?'
Here's why we're asking:
Because, believe it or not, it was a decade ago that the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams offense averaged a whopping 33 points per contest during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 seasons.
These days Rams' fans can be excused if they thought all that happened during the 1899, 1900 and 1901 seasons. This year's version of the team has scored a total of 24 points, to average a pathetic six points per contest. My gosh, the Saints haven't scored less than 24 points in any one game this year. Call the 2009 Rams, 'The Lamest O on Earth?'

Remember all the talk about the Giants' run-heavy attack?
Here's why we're asking:
Because this year the Giants have scored 11 touchdowns, and only one of them has been on the ground. Because this year the Giants share the league lead with the Colts for gains of 20-plus yards through the air with 18 (seriously, this Manning stuff goes past freaky sometimes, doesn't it?). Because WR Steve Smith (no, not the Carolina dude) leads the league in receptions (34), yards (411), and TDs (4). The ground game is hardly a passing fancy, though, and ranks sixth in the league.

Take your pick For informational purposes only...some picks for Week 5 action around the NFL brought to you by folks who most likely know as much about the game as you do:
ESPN
YAHOO!
CBS Sports
CNN/SI
NBC
SportingNews
LA Times
AP

College:
SportingNews
CBS Sports
NBC

This Week's Grill Room NFL 100-PROOF lock: New England over Denver, minus-3.5:
OK, after some indigestion Week 2, we're back to feasting on the favorites and have positively scoffed up the last two weeks.
Frankly, the vittles aren't near as inviting in Week 5. Take a look at the schedule (below). You wouldn't want to take a bite out of that thing with somebody else's mouth!

The No. 1-ranked Giants (minus-15 at home vs. the No. 30 Raiders) and No. 7 Eagles (minus-14 at home vs. the No. 29 Yucks) both look tempting, but those lopsided spreads invite the dreaded back-door cover, and that would only leave our customers with a wicked case of heartburn. Can't have that.

So we're going to recommend some comfort food this week...
Has there been a more dependable selection than the No. 5 Patriots over the past decade or so? And while the Broncos are one of the darlings of the NFL, especially when they disposed of the Cowboys last week, they seem in danger of becoming overdone to us.

We'll say the Patriots will go into chilly Mile High Sunday and serve up a nice cover dish, something in the order of 24-10.
(Season record: 3-1)

Tape it up

• To get the latest on all the aches and breaks around the NFL go here.
• There's a very real possibility that the 4-0 Giants will be guided by a new Carr when they shift into gear against the 1-3 Raiders Sunday.
  
• Patriots' RB Fred Taylor has a hitch in his giddy-up that might require surgery.
  

TV Time
If you can't stop by the Grill Room, here's the college and pro football fare that's cooking on the tube this weekend:
(For our U.S. military viewers and their families overseas the games American Forces Network will be showing are in bold.)

COLLEGE:

Friday, Oct. 9
Louisiana Tech at Nevada, 9 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Oct. 10
Auburn at Arkansas, 12 p.m., ESPN
Boston College at Virginia Tech 12 p.m., RAYCOM
Georgia at Tennessee, 12 p.m., SEC
Miami (Ohio) at Northwestern, 12 p.m., Big 10
Michigan State at Illinois, 12 p.m., Big 10
Purdue at Minnesota, 12 p.m., ESPN2
Vanderbilt at Army, 12 p.m., CBSC
Houston at Mississippi State, 12:30 p.m., ESPNU
Iowa State at Kansas, 12:30 p.m., Versus
Oklahoma State at Texas A&M, 12:30 p.m., FSN
New Mexico at Wyoming, 2 p.m., Mtn.
Alabama at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Baylor at Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Connecticut at Pitt, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Wisconsin at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Navy at Rice, 3:30 p.m., CBSC
Duke at NC State, 4 p.m., ESPNU
Utah at Colorado State, 6 p.m., Mtn.
Stanford at Oregon State 7 p.m., FSN
Colorado at Texas, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
Southern Miss at Louisville, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
TCU at Air Force, 7:30 p.m., CBSC
Florida at LSU, 8 p.m., CBS
Georgia Tech at Florida State, 8 p.m., ESPNU
Michigan at Iowa, 8 p.m., ABC
BYU at UNLV, 10 p.m., Mtn.

NFL:

Sunday, Oct. 11
(Byes: Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Diego)
Cincinnati at Baltimore 1 p.m., CBS
Cleveland at Buffalo 1 p.m., CBS
Washington at Carolina 1 p.m., FOX
Pittsburgh at Detroit 1 p.m., CBS
Dallas at Kansas City 1 p.m., FOX
Oakland at N.Y. Giants 1 p.m., CBS
Tampa Bay at Philadelphia 1 p.m., FOX
Minnesota at St. Louis 1 p.m., FOX
Atlanta at San Francisco 4:05 p.m., FOX
Houston at Arizona 4:15 p.m., CBS
New England at Denver 4:15 p.m., CBS
Jacksonville at Seattle 4:15 p.m., CBS
Indianapolis at Tennessee 8:20 p.m., CBS

Monday, Oct. 12
N.Y. Jets at Miami 8:30 p.m.. NBC
(All times EST)