So much has happened since Cleveland linebacker Dwayne Rudd tossed his helmet to get this NFL season off to a wacky and unpredictable start.
Rudd became the first player to lose his head, his helmet and a game all in one chest-beating premature celebration. His opening-day antics set the bar high for this season’s expectations. Halfway through, the only clear pattern remains high-scoring games such as the 40-39 thriller between the Browns and Kansas City that Rudd incited.
Overall scoring is at record pace and it’s not because of a few exceptional offenses. There are 22 teams scoring at a higher rate now than they did last season. Alas, the Bears have escaped the trend.
So have the St. Louis Rams, who patented this scoring avalanche only to watch other teams catch up. The Rams are currently 23rd in scoring, a 2-5 team and playoff long shot like the Bears.
It is partly the result of an expanded league, a watered-down product that has created more excitement than excellence, not a bad tradeoff for fans or owners who equate action with scoring.
So who will win? Nobody knows. Who can win? Almost anybody.
Last year’s Super Bowl champion New England Patriots were 3-4 at this point, just as they are now. They are joined by the Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, and 17 other teams with better records.
So the rest of the season is a schedule-maker’s dream with a few exceptions such as that Nov. 18 Monday night matchup between the Bears and Rams. Would 10 days be too early to start stuffing a turkey?
The finer points
BEST AFC TEAM
Denver
Lost to Baltimore and Miami, but beat San Diego and Kansas City to take temporary lead in hot AFC West.
SURPRISE AFC TEAM
San Diego
Marty Schottenheimer’s “Martyball” is working. Chargers hoping to become first team to play Super Bowl on its home field.
AFC TEAM TO WATCH
Pittsburgh
After bad start, Steelers are back on track, a playoff shoo-in in poor division.
BEST NFC TEAM
New Orleans
Beat Tampa Bay, Green Bay, San Francisco and should gain home field for playoffs. Not bad for team that quit on coach Jim Haslett down stretch last season.
SURPRISE NFC TEAM
St. Louis
Grounded before injuries to quarterback Kurt Warner and others, it will be a challenge for coach Mike Martz to resurrect a once-unstoppable offense.
NFC TEAM TO WATCH
Philadelphia
The Eagles and Saints don’t play in the regular season. This looks like a blockbuster NFC title game.
GAME OF FIRST HALF
Miami 24, Denver 22
Olindo Mare’s 53-yard field goal trumps Jason Elam’s 55-yard field goal, both in final 45 seconds. An AFC championship rematch couldn’t be better.
WHO COULD HAVE GUESSED?
That the expansion Houston Texans would win as many games as the Bears.
That the Bears would win as many games as the St. Louis Rams.
That the number would be two.
That Carolina would win three.
That the Packers would have as many wins as the Bears, Lions and Vikings combined.
That Drew Bledsoe’s Bills would be favored over Tom Brady’s Patriots.
That Jeff George would be hired by Mike Holmgren.
That anybody would ever catch Walter Payton.
That Brett Favre would get hurt.
That Ted Washington was the real Bears MVP.
That Todd Sauerbrun would ever lead the league in punting.
BEST STORIES
1. Emmitt Smith breaks Walter Payton’s rushing record.
2. Priest Holmes is still leading the league in rushing.
3. Tommy Maddox arrives from XFL to rescue Steelers.
4. Drew Bledsoe uses arm language to tell Patriots he told them so.
5. Jerry Rice is still breaking records, mostly his own, at age 40.
6. Michael Vick They say he’s still learning, but he has yet to throw an interception.
7. Ricky Williams lands with both feet in Miami.
8. Terrell Owens confuses whole world by stuffing pen in sock and autographing football.
9. Randy Moss flunks driver education class in downtown Minneapolis.
10. Steve Spurrier discovers he is coaching in pros.
COMEBACKS, NEWCOMERS and DIFFERENCE-MAKERS
Terry Glenn, Packers
Joins Bledsoe on New England’s all-ex-Patriots team.
Robert Edwards, Dolphins
Another former Patriot, he returned from near-amputation.
Deuce McAllister, Saints
Emerges from shadow of Ricky Williams to lead NFC in total yards.
LeCharles Bentley, Saints
Rookie starter at guard brought attitude and stability.
Donnie Edwards, Chargers
You wonder where Kansas City’s defense went?
Tony Parrish, 49ers
San Francisco is ecstatic. Didn’t he used to play for Bears?
Antwaan Randle El, Steelers
Rookie creates sparks. Watch him down stretch.
Napoleon Harris, Raiders
Rookie middle linebacker–and Thornton teammate of Randle El’s–making plays.
QUOTES TO REMEMBER
“I was confused as to what she wanted me to do.”
–Minnesota’s Randy Moss, explaining why he drove car into traffic officer
“I’m just going to get in an ice bucket with a snorkel and come back the next week.”
–Houston rookie David Carr, who has been sacked 42 times in seven games
“It’s pitiful watching us play right now.”
–Washington coach Steve Spurrier, after third loss
“It’s a T.O. thing.”
–San Francisco’s Terrell Owens, after signing ball in end zone
“I just get up after some plays and say, `Oh, man, I can’t wait to see that one on film.'”
–Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick
“If he’s not the best back in the league, he’s not far behind.”
–New England receiver Troy Brown, on Kansas City’s Priest Holmes
“It’s not just Brian [Urlacher]. This is not Gladys Knight and the Pips, you know. This is everybody. We’ve got to be like the Temptations; everybody is accountable. It’s not like we have a star and everybody else is just backup players and they go `doo-wop, doo-wop.'”
–Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache
DISAPPOINTMENTS
Bears take year off waiting for new Soldier Field.
Kansas City’s highest-scoring offense wasted by worst defense.
Marshall Faulk doesn’t get the ball on every play.
Bengals haven’t changed stripes.
The Randy Ratio proves a pain for Minnesota coach Mike Tice.
Aaron Gibson, the league’s first admitted 400-pounder, became an ex-player when released by Dallas.
There have been 50 quarterbacks to start already. Name 10.
CHALLENGES AHEAD
Can Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson keep Chargers in hunt?
When will Bengals win?
Which coach gets fired first?
Will Saints fold again?
Will Donovan McNabb’s shoulders wear out from carrying Eagles?
Is Brian Griese up to the chase?
Will either of last year’s Super Bowl teams, Patriots or Rams, make the playoffs?
Will old Raiders take their usual December nap?
Can Dolphins survive playoff heat?
How far can Brett Favre take the Pack?
Which receiver will complain loudest: Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Keyshawn Johnson or Tim Brown?
BEST SECOND-HALF GAMES
Nov. 4: Miami at Green Bay
Brett Favre tests gimpy knee on Monday night. Cris Carter joins Dolphins.
Nov. 11: Oakland at Denver
Every week is a showdown in AFC West.
Nov. 17: New Orleans at Atlanta
Round 2 of Cousin conflict. Michael Vick edged Aaron Brooks last time.
Nov. 17: Buffalo at Kansas City
High-powered offenses, awful defenses. This could be 60-50 game.
Nov. 24: San Diego at Miami
This could determine home field in AFC playoffs.
Dec. 1: Denver at San Diego
Broncos handed Chargers their only loss in first meeting.
Dec. 8: Buffalo at New England
Drew Bledsoe returns. Tom Brady is on the spot.
Dec. 8: Oakland at San Diego
Will tight AFC West race be decided by now?
Dec. 8: Green Bay at San Francisco
Familiar rivals jockey for NFC playoff position.
Dec. 23: Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay
Both teams could be fighting for playoffs on Monday night.
BEARS ON PRELIMINARY
2003 HALL OF FAME BALLOT
Jim Covert, OT
Richard Dent, DE
Jay Hilgenberg, C
Wilber Marshall, LB
Jim McMahon, QB
Among others: Marcus Allen, Herschel Walker, James Lofton, Joe DeLamielleure, Gary Zimmerman, Mike Kenn, Fred Dean, Randy Gradishar, Sam Mills, Jim Hart, Ken Anderson, Steve Tasker, Paul Tagliabue, Ron Wolf, Boomer Esiason, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Ken Stabler.
Already on list of 15 finalists to be voted on Super Bowl week: Hank Stram, Bob Kuechenberg, Bill Parcells.
Individual bests
Don Pierson names the top performers at halftime:
COACH OF MIDYEAR
Dave McGinnis, Arizona
The Cardinals are 4-3. That means if they lose all the rest of their games, they will meet the expectations of many.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE
Clinton Portis, Denver
Broncos are built around running, and Portis is filling void left by Terrell Davis.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE
Julius Peppers, Carolina
Leading league with nine sacks, he helped turn around league’s worst defense.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER
Brett Favre, Green Bay
Always good, sometimes you forget how good. Packers don’t really look like 6-1 team.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay
Brooks has scored four touchdowns, three on interceptions and one on a fumble recovery. The Bears have only one offensive player who has scored that much.
