NFL WEEK 5 ~ “STOCK UP/STOCK DOWN” TEAMS OF WEEK (10-6/10-9/10-10)
By Gary Greene (10-6-22)
Note: OK last week we did 7 teams in Stock Up and 11 in Stock Down sections. We nailed most of them but we learned a few down ticks on some Stock Up teams and some upticks on a few Stock Down teams.
STOCK UP CHANGES
1). MIAMI – Clearly won’t be same without Tua at QB but for most part won’t be terrible decline as Teddy B. is the most winning starting QB in the league.
We basically nailed the other 6 although the Eagles Offense isn’t clicking on all cylinders past two weeks but they still are loaded.
STOCK DOWN CHANGES
1). WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (DEFENSE) – Although the team lost badly on scoreboard to Dallas the Defense actually played fantastic. The secondary though still allows big plays and the LB play isn’t good. Will be good to see how they stop (if they can) Titans Beast RB Henry this week.
2). NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (OFFENSE) – Playing with longtime veteran QB Dalton vs. Vikings in London the Offense finally showed some sparks. I am not really sure there is a difference if Winston doesn’t play. I have a feeling this is one of those 3 teams that will roller coaster week to week and drive the betting public crazy trying to figure them out.
3). LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – They did win last week but again Coaching calls were really bad too many times. It’s only one win and now they face KC on Monday Night. They surely will be outcoached in a gigantic way so they better be perfect with no turnovers and low on penalties to overcome the Coaching Mismatch of the week.
I pretty much nailed the entire STOCK DOWN teams I picked and why…..the Chargers Defense looked better than I thought we some key losses on that side of ball…but they still likely will have some bad days going forward losing such star talent. I am almost stunned (even being right) that the Indy and Denver Offenses are struggling so badly. Tampa Bay Offense still not clicking at all even with returning studs to catch the ball. New HC Todd Bowles looks like same dud he was first time around with the Jets. Some guys simply not HC material.
NEW STOCK UP/STOCK DOWN TEAMS HEADING INTO WEEK 5
STOCK UP
1). SAN FRAN DEFENSE: Now ranked #2 and 15 sacks (Bosa is now best in NFL rushing Passer) and only allowing 235 yards per game in this new world of you can sniff on the receivers is simply ridiculous good. Best DC (Ryans) in NFL as well.
2). BUFFALO BILLS DEFENSE: Ranked #1 still even losing 4 starters last week vs. a tough Ravens team on Road. They have 7 Int’s, 13 sacks and lead league allowing only 151 passing yards per game. They have great depth and so they always have fresh bodies late in games when they have been needed to stave off opponents as they win super close games with wild endings.
3). NY JETS: The Jets to me had the Best Draft (with Philly) and this Offense has got some nice talent. QB Wilson looked much improved last week and showed no rust. I think in coming weeks as he starts to mesh better with some new guys he should keep improving. He simply must avoid turnovers. The Defense is ranked #10 and love the way they are pressuring QB’s (8 sacks) and that pressure is causing them to grab INT’s (6 already) and I love first round stud CB Sauce Gardner. Last year you couldn’t wait to see NY JETS as your next opponent. Now not so much.
4). INDY DEFENSE AND COLTS DEFENSE: Both starting to look like they may need to carry their respective teams as both teams Offenses are brutal. Indy allows only 90 yards rushing per game and they get pressure on QB helping slow huge pass plays down field. Denver has 11 sacks and they also get relentless pressure on QB. Both teams tackle well and Indy will only get better on D when their best overall player Shaq Leonard returns to his old self (just returning from injury).
5). DALLAS DEFENSE: To me now the best D in the NFL. The rankings don’t show it but my eye test watching game tapes closely do. They have 15 sacks and could be 22 but opposing QBs often just threw ball away a nanu second before they were about to be sacked. LB Parsons is best Defensive player in game but I credit DC Quinn as he has the best schemes and had made fantastic in game adjustments (so many clueless and never change a thing). The Run Defense isn’t elite level right now but I feel they will improve and soon their INT’s will also return to elite numbers and the D should keep them in almost every game (if they avoid injury bug).
STOCK DOWN TEAMS
1). WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: They have the worst HC (Rivera) in the league and come into games most unprepared I’ve ever seen. He simply still has a job due to race factor. Unless they are tanking quietly behind the scenes (I doubt they are) this guy is a total Joke. It’s sadly looking like Wentz Project is going down tubes quickly as well. I don’t blame Wentz fully though as they lost a stud Center early on and they simply have an OL displaced and they can’t block. Now they lost stud young WR Dotson for a few weeks (he’s a TD maker and catches everything near him). The secondary simply can’t cover and allows too many big plays. They were improved last week but Dallas was calling a vanilla game with backup Rush. The elite QB’s will pass all over the field against them.
2). CHICAGO BEARS OFFENSE: Do “NOT” get me started with this joke run Offense. New HC and same awful approach. Entire philosophy is “play not to lose”. QB Fields showed me zero now for 2 years. He is Lamar Jackson without the passing skills. I could never imagine betting this team based on the Offense being solid for you that game.
3). INDY AND DENVER OFFENSES: These two teams simply have no Offense as both OL’s stink and worse 2 Veteran QB’s not playing at even above average level. Indy came in weak at WR so not overly stunned by Denver has elite WR talent. Denver HC/OC Hackett is now the worst at both jobs as he is so in over his head. I can’t see how either Offense improves all that much going forward.
4). BALTY RAVENS: The Defense can’t cover anyone and it’s funny how one DB looks astonished to another DB after all the mistakes when giving up big pass plays. That folks is a sign they aren’t prepared and not on right page and it’s killing this team. I am not a big Lamar Jackson fan like many and so I am never shocked at him struggling. How people think he should get the big contract is hilarious to me. He rarely ever makes a big 4th and goal (or 3rd and goal) when inside 10 (or 2…lol). I can see nobody open on a key 4th down and taking a chance if it’s last play of game, but throwing an awful INT when the opponent would be stuck at 2 yard line late in game is “who Jackson is”….a not smart QB. I blame tons of this teams problems on HC Harbaugh though. Being a gunslinger with taking chances on Offense on fourth downs is fun for fans, right up until you don’t get the TD (again and again). Jackson is not the QB I want as his Playoff performances and really most big games show he isn’t close to elite level and will always get beat by the Mahomes, Allen’s and Rodgers of the league.
5). PITTSBURGH STEELERS: It’s not shocking they are this bad as they came in with a joke OL and a terrible playcaller. The thought process that HC Tomlin simply never had a losing season will make all these big problems just go away. Well folks they aren’t as you can simply see the team is totally out of sync.
6). NY GIANTS PASS ATTACK: You see great rush attack as Barkley now looking like his promising elite stud self. But the Pass game is simply non existent. They are calling plays as scared as I’ve ever seen. Passing for only 140 yards per game is simply astonishing bad in a league greatly helping Offenses and the receivers.