Tuesday Tastings (Week 7): Rams Recognized, while Dallas Declines

It was a tough week of football in SPF land.  Two of our teams were off (Jacksonville and Atlanta) and several others played like they were taking the week off.

FINGER LICKIN' GOOD

St. Louis Rams - It is time to recognize these Rams that we recognize!  That isn't a misprint.  It's just SPF's way of saying that the Rams under Jim Haslett are starting to look like the Rams that used to be perennial Super Bowl contenders, and they deserve to be "recognized" for their accomplishments.

Fans often sit and scream, stew, or sulk when they feel like their teams are saddled with a bad coach.  Too often they have to hear media members defned the coach and explain why they are actually doing a great job, and it isn't their fault.

The Rams collapse from playoffs to mediocrity to cellar dwellers has to be laid directly at the feet of ex-coach Scott Linehan.  If getting rid of him has led to back to back wins against Washington and Dallas, then the fans were right.  Fire the coach!

It's great to see the Rams playing like the Rams again.

Tennessee Titans - The Titans took care of business by blowing out the hapless Chiefs.  They've got a critical showdown against Indianapolis next Monday night.  A win there and Tennessee is in the AFC South driver's seat for the near future.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Our other quiet SPF favorite took care of their business in the shadow of the Tampa Bay Rays ALCS victory that happened across the bay in St Pete.  The Bucs.

These Bucs are playing fine, fine football.  After looking to some "experts" as a middle of the pack team, this team only trails the Giants in the NFC and that's only by a half game.

TASTES KINDA OFF

Washington Redskins - They are still a very good team, but this Tom Boswell column says it all about their strengths and weaknesses.  The strength is that coach Jim Zorn hasn't tried to implement a high-flying style of the WCO and is relying on the "run, stop the run" attitude of Joe Gibbs.  The weakness is that this style leads to lots of close games - one of which the Redskins have lost.

SPF still loves the Skins, but we want to see a little more offensive firepower and imagination.  They are going to need it to keep up with the best of the NFC.

Carolina Panthers - They pummelled the Saints which keeps their home streak alive.  It's hard to complain, but the Panthers still look a notch below the NFC's best.

We like the Panthers.  They've done what we expected.  We now want to see them do something great - like beat a good team on the road.  If they can get past Arizona this weekend, their schedule is fairly easy.  Starting in late November, each week looks like a serious test. 

The Panthers could go from 8-2 to 8-8 by season's end if they don't show a little more than we've seen so far.

Indianapolis Colts - For the first time, the Colts under Tony Dungy are wildly inconsistent.  This is where Peyton needs to take over.  The defense can't win games for this team.  They need to let Manning spread the field and throw.  (Maybe he just isn't healthy enough yet.)

Something's missing.  If they can't win against Tennessee on Monday, the thing they may be missing is the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins have gone about as far as they can with the Wildcat formation.  The worst thing was to lose at home to a rookie QB coached by their former head coach, Cam Cameron.

Speaking of rookie QBs, both the Ravens and the Falcons are winning games starting them.  It might be time for the Dolphins to start Chad Henne considering the praise he gets from their coaching staff.

STARTIN' TO TURN

Dallas Cowboys - Many might have questioned us putting the Cowboys in our lowly tastings category.  They proved us right by getting pasted by the Rams.

Randy Galloway is calling the Cowboys "gutless".  With three coaches already fired this season, don't be surprised if Wade Phillips gets canned in favor of heir apparent, Jason Garrett.

I know Jerry wanted to usher in his new stadium with a Super Bowl ring, but it is looking more and more like he will have to wait until next year's selective housecleaning of this increasingly toxic bunch of players.

New Orleans Saints - We struggled to keep them in TKO, and finally downgraded them.  John DeShazier has it right - the 2008 Saints are a big disappointment.  The Saints cost themselves too much turning some sure wins into losses earlier this season. 

They needed to win in Carolina to keep pace in the NFC South.  Instead, they are in last place.  Now they go to London to play the equally desperate Chargers without Reggie Bush.

Things are definitely strange when the Saints faithful are saying that they might be better without Bush in the lineup.  If that's the case, why are you starting him?  Why not play Deuce and let Reggie be a 3rd down back and kick returner?

This and other questions answer the bigger question - why are the Saints so darn inconsistent?

Houston Texans - Despite their second win in a row, we're keeping them in the doghouse.  Beating the Lions should be expected at this point just like beating the Bengals will be next week.  The problem with the Texans is that they were expected to compete for a playoff berth, not just be able to beat the worst teams in the NFL.

Considering next week's schedule, there is a chance that the Texans could be tied for second in the AFC South at 3-4.  We're still not fooled by that either.  They've just hit the soft spot in their schedule.  After Cincy, they have seven tough games that could leave them at 3-11 going out to Oakland before ending at home against a tough Chicago team.

Sounds like 4-12 to us.

Cincinnati Bengals - Another week, another loss.  Carson Palmer looks like he may be done for the year.  As Paul Daugherty writes, "With Carson Palmer, the Bengals were marginally competitive. Without him, they're a hiker waiting on an avalanche."

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