WEEKEND FOOTBALL WRAP

Sunday-

The most ridiculous NFL conversation is the one that takes place in August and September and usually begins when one person says something dumb like this--"the Redskins could be good because their schedule is so easy". An NFL schedule's relative strength or weakness can not be determined in August or September. Wait till January, when the season is over, and then, only then will you have some idea on schedule strength. If you're not convinced, the proof is in the results and there is no better place to start than yesterday's games.

Yesterday's NFL slate was another slap in the face for those that think they know something about the NFL. The truth is, nobody knows anything about the NFL. Of the 13 games yesterday, underdogs not only covered in nine, they won all nine outright! Let me repeat for emphasis---NFL underdogs went 9-4 against the spread yesterday and won nine games outright! That may be unprecedented (I don't have time to look it up). How many Ravens' fans chalked up two wins against Cleveland this year when they looked at the schedule. Do you think San Diego fans were much concerned about a Week 3 home game against Kansas City? Look at the standings...I'm sure it looks just like you thought it would when you started the "let's look at the Skins schedule and figure out where they'll finish" discussion a few weeks ago. In the NFC, Dallas and Green Bay are unbeaten while Detroit and Tampa Bay appear to be contenders to win their divisions if not more. Meantime, Chicago, Philly and New Orleans, all playoff teams from a year ago and consensus preseason favorites to do the same this year are struggling if not worse. In the AFC, Cleveland and Oakland have gone from predicted cellar-dwellers that can't score to high-octane offensive juggernauts that many are referring to as "dangerous". Meantime, if you had San Diego and Baltimore on your schedule, that was two losses in August. Now, it could be two wins.

Here's more to support my "we don't know anything about the NFL" assertion. Over the last five years, 50 percent of the teams that have made the playoffs are teams that didn't make the playoffs the season before. Translation-half of the teams that make the playoffs this year are teams that will be considered surprises. How bout this....4 of the last 8 Super Bowl winners were non-playoff teams from the year before. Is there really a 50 percent chance that a team that missed the playoffs last year will win the Super Bowl this year? Yes, can't we see that possibility already through four weeks? Green Bay, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh???

Bottom line is this. One should never get too excited or become too intimidated by a schedule. It never is what it appears to be. Most Redskins' fans looked at their "last-place" schedule and thought "simple" a few weeks ago. What appeared to be easy (Lions, at Packers, Arizona, at Tampa Bay) doesn't look so easy now. What appeared to be difficult (Philly twice, Chicago, at Jets) may not be that hard. Best advice, take the NFL for what it is...a week-to-week league that thrills us because anything can happen and it usually isn't what we think.

Saturday--

One of the more exciting college football days in a long time. Five of the Top 10 down including a huge bounce-back win for the Terps. In hindsight, we should've seen the Rutgers, Texas, and West Virginia losses coming. Rutgers hadn't faced a D-1 team, Texas nearly lost to Arkansas State, and West Virginia's defense was suspect. With that said, the Oklahoma and Florida losses seemed impossible. The Sooners were killing everyone and while Florida had struggled in a win over Ole Miss, Auburn was an unlikely candidate to pull the upset, especially on the road. Kudos to Tigers' coach Tommy Tuberville who is now 5-1 against the Top 10 over the last three years. Kudos also to Ralph Friedgen who for my money, is the best gameday coach in town. After a devasting loss at Wake Forest, Fridgen got his team ready for what appeared to be a very difficult spot at 10th ranked Rutgers. The Terps were the more physical team and played with a sense of urgency we haven't seen this year. Additionally, whether Ralph will admit this or not, the Terps got a break when Jordan Steffy left the game with a concussion. Chris Turner was poised, found 2nd and 3rd options repeatedly in the passing game, and even made a play or two with his feet. The play calling became much more Ralph-like with Turner in the game than it had been with Steffy. While I certainly hope the injury to Steffy isn't serious, I also hope Turner is the starter Saturday against Georgia Tech. The Terps have three straight at home and a move in the ACC is still there for the taking. BTW, hope Erin Henderson's injury isn't serious...he is the best pound for pound player on the team and a legit all-american candidate.