Sunday Six Pack: Week Four
We’re with you every Sunday to provide the Sunday Six Pack, an article featuring six of the biggest storylines heading into each and every week of the season. Keeping tabs on these events will keep you prepared and informed throughout the season – just don’t drive within six hours of reading this. With that in mind, let’s take a look at this week’s Sunday Six Pack:
Can #1) Giant Disappointment
Last Sunday against the previously winless Panthers, and with starting center David Baas and starting Pro Bowl right guard Chris Snee in the lineup, Eli Manning was sacked seven times, went 12-for-23 for 119 yards (good for a whopping 5.2 yards per attempt) and posted no touchdowns and one interception. Hakeem Nicks (who was not subsequently traded to the Detroit Lions) saw only one target in his homecoming and the Giants once again failed to reach 100 yards rushing, running the ball for only 60 (14 of which came on an Eli scramble). Now they head to Arrowhead Stadium to face the reinvigorated Chiefs, NFL sack leader Justin Houston and his beastly defensive line friends Tamba Hali and Dontari Poe, with Baas and Snee having already been ruled out with injuries. But look on the bright side – the Giants signed a replacement FB with the nickname of “The Terminator”. I’m not feeling too good about starting any Giants offensive players this week. Oh, and that blur you just saw was Jamaal Charles scoring another long touchdown.
Can #2) Hoy Vey!
Brian Hoyer’s second start for the Cleveland Browns looked like a horrible matchup against a Bengals defense that held Aaron Rodgers to 244 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions last week. But then almost everyone in Cincinnati’s starting secondary was declared out this week and Hoyer’s matchup suddenly looks much more appealing. With two top options in the passing game in Jordan Cameron and Josh Gordon, who combined for 16 receptions, 212 yards and four touchdowns on 30 targets last week against Minnesota, Hoyer looks like an acceptable start in 2QB leagues this week. Cameron and Gordon should be locked in. Also, Davone Bess (who last week had seven receptions for 67 yards on ten targets) is a acceptable PPR bye week fill in in what looks to now be a high scoring affair.
Can #3) You Like It Broyled?
Nate Burleson couldn’t keep his deep dish pepperoni pizza on the front seat of his car and now it seems as if the patience many Ryan Broyles owners have exercised may finally pay off. Nasty Nate was actually the PPR WR28 after a Week 3 where he caught six balls for 116 yards on nine targets. Broyles will now step into Burleson’s slot receiver role in the Lions offense. It turns out that with Stafford’s big arm and Megatron’s ability, there’s a decent amount of room for the slot guy to work with. I expect Broyles to slide right into Burleson’s production and be a solid WR3 until he returns (reportedly in November).
Can #4) London Calling
In the first of two games in Wembley Stadium this year, the reeling Minnesota Vikings get to play the reeling Pittsburgh Steelers. There’s some interesting personnel changes in this game. First, the Vikings turn to Matt Cassel as Christian Ponder is nursing a rib injury. My guess is the amount of time Ponder’s rib injury takes to heal is directly proportional to how well Cassel plays. I don’t think the switch will have any tangible effect on the moribund and unimaginative Minnesota offense. We’re talking about a coaching staff that didn’t have anything better to say to explain the lack of use of the dynamic rookie Cordarrelle Patterson other than it was “inadvertent.” On the other side of the ball, Steelers rookie Le’Veon Bell finally returns and will attempt to revitalize the Pittsburgh ground game. Behind a patchwork offensive line that lost Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, I wouldn’t set my expectations for Bell too high.
Can #5) Rocky Mountain High
My math is a little rusty, but I believe Peyton Manning is on pace to throw for 452 touchdowns to 42 different receivers this season. The Broncos offense looks unstoppable and Philadelphia’s sieve-like defense should pose about the same level of resistance as the Maginot Line. On the other side of the ball, I’m extremely curious to see how the fast-paced Eagles offense looks in the high altitude. They looked gassed on Thursday Night Football after three games in 11 days, and although they’ve now had ten days to recover, it could get messy if they wear down early in the thin air. If that means Michael Vick ends up taking more nasty shots, we may see lead footed Nick Foles sooner rather than later.
Can #6) Down Goes Rivers
Just like the Giants, who are missing two starting offensive lineman this week, the underwhelming San Diego chargers line will be missing starting left tackle King Dunlap and starting right guard Jeromey Clary for their week four matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, but it’s not like the Cowboys are leading the league in sacks or anything. They’re only second. While the Chargers have done a good job getting the ball out of Philip Rivers’ hands earlier this year, they are going to have their hands full with the Dallas rush on Sunday. Danny Woodhead, who finally got involved last week and saw a team-high eight targets, is a good pass protector regardless of his size and may see a similar workload this week. I have conservatively set the total number of sacks that Eli and Rivers take at eleventy.
