You know what Brian Griese is thinking here - "I have them scoring for the first time in ages, and now I have to play on defense too?"

I am convinced that Tom Brady is playing better than any quarterback ever has, and I have seen all of them since Johnny Unitas was throwing bombs to Lenny Moore and Raymond Berry. Adding Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte’ Stallworth to the Patriot receiving corps has created a Pro Bowl quality attack. Brady has completed 72.5% of his passes so far this year. Moss has caught eight touchdown passes in six weeks and was only the third best receiver on the team this week. Welker caught eleven passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns while Stallworth caught seven for 136 yards and one score. The highlight for me was the one yard touchdown pass to Kyle Brady because the Cowboys were double teaming linebacker/blocker/receiver Mike Vrabel. When your linebacker moves to offense and gets double teamed, you know your team is hitting on all cylinders.

Soon, injured running back Laurence Mahoney will come back and provide the rushing punch that will make this team capable of 50 points per week. I am not kidding. Barring injuries or a rash of turnovers, I cannot think of any way to stop this offense. The Patriots will soon get all pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour back. What can stop this team?  The Indianapolis Colts? Don’t bet on it. Next week they face the Miami Dolphins. The point spread could be 40 points.

The Treasures

Adrian Peterson, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings
20 Carries, 224 Yards Rushing, Three Touchdowns; One reception, Nine yards

You knew he had to be on this list. Those of you who decided that this Viking rookie running back would be a good acquisition, you are basking in the plethora of points brought by this young man. Oh yes, he also returned for kickoffs for 128 yards. I suppose he could work on his passing. The Oklahoma graduate is putting up college numbers as he is averaging over 100 yards per game. Given the weakness of the division, Peterson could continue to put up good numbers all year. What is more amazing is that Chester Taylor had more carries (22) than did Peterson who did not start.

Donte’ Stallworth, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots
Seven receptions, 136 yards, One Touchdown

Okay, I was wrong last week. I should have known that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady would find a way to get everyone in the offense. I did say last week “Stallworth is likely to catch the ball between the 20s and unless he can break for a long touchdown, points may be hard to come by.” I guess a 69-yard touchdown would qualify. Stallworth will have games where he disappears because of the quality receivers beside him. Still, it is good to see that Brady has found him.

Tony Gonzalez, Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs
Nine receptions, 102 yards, Two Touchdowns

Sure, he is a well-known name, but how many people had Gonzalez picked below Gates, Winslow, Witten… you get the idea. He now has more touchdowns than any tight end in NFL history. He has over 100 yards receiving in the past two weeks and he has at least four catches in every game this year.

Brian Griese, Quarterback, Chicago Bears
26-45, 381 Yards Passing, Three Passing Touchdowns, Two Interceptions

Rex who? It is hard to believe that Griese could complete passes to nine different players and total 458 yards of offense and still lose because the Bears defense allowed 34 points and 444 total yards. Griese has 881 yards of passing in the three weeks and has sparked an offensive revival but this can be misleading. A lot of points came in a late game comeback against that dependable “Prevent” defense.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars
12 Carries, 125 Yards Rushing, Two Touchdowns, Four Receptions, 59 Yards Receiving

The second-year 5’7” rushing has 207 yards in the past two games after only 100 yards total in the first three games. Drew can be explosive but he is always an injury risk. When he is rushing successfully, he usually is catching the ball as well. Find someone who gave up on him after the first three weeks and grab him before he examines this weekend’s stats. 

Matt Hasselbeck, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
26-43, 362 Yards Passing, Two Passing Touchdowns, One Interception

With the exception of last week’s debacle at the hands of the Steelers (21-0), Hasselbeck has had a decent year. This week was the best. No team until week 16 (the Ravens) will pressure the Seahawk offense the way the Steelers did. So expect at least 250 yard games with a couple of scores. Hasselbeck is a good second tier quarterback who will not hurt you.
 
Kevin Walters, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
Twelve receptions, 160 Yards

The only knock was that he did not find the end zone. As long as Andre Johnson is hurt, Walters will be the top choice of either Matt Schaub or Sage Rosenfels. After only four catches in total over the first three weeks, Walters has caught 23 passes over the last three weeks.

Braylon Edwards, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
Five receptions, 69 Yards, Three Touchdowns

Last week, he made six catches for 110 yards but did not score. This week, minimal yards, but he found the end zone three times. My guess is he enjoyed this week more.

Chris Cooley, Tight End, Washington Redskins
Nine receptions, 105 Yards, One Touchdown

Cooley has now scored a touchdown in four straight games. Cooley only had 185 yards before this week’s 105, so yardage may be a fluke. Being a target in the end zone will easily fit this 6’3”, 245 pound receiver who is on the cusp of being an elite tight end. Compare him to Jason Witten who also has four touchdowns in six weeks. 

Fool’s Gold

Chicago Bears Defense
34 Points, 311 Yards Rushing Allowed (7.2 yards average per rush)

The Bears had to fight back from a Viking offense that scored three touchdowns from 60 yards or more. Allowing the Tarvaris Jackson to Troy Williamson passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns by Adrian Peterson for 67 and 73 yards, is not Chicago Bear defense. Last year the Bears only allowed 255 points which led the NFC in a 13-3 year. In six games this year they have allowed 149 points.

Bobby Engram, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks
Nine receptions, 120 Yards

This was the best game for the 12-year veteran since he covered 143 yards in 1999. With Deion Branch out, Engram will get more throws but don’t expect 100 yards again. Engram will be there for three to five catches for 30-60 yards and a touchdown in every third game. Use him sparingly.

Devin Hester, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
One reception, 81 yards, One Touchdown

Yes, he can fly but it is only his second catch of the year and the first was for three yards. Unless your league allows you to get return yardage and scored, Hester is not your man. Hester can fly but he has yet to prove he can catch.

Chad Pennington, Quarterback, New York Jets  
11-28, 128 Yards Passing, One Interception

Chad, listen to the footsteps… they belong to Kellen Clemens. The second year pro out of Oregon can throw vertically, something Pennington seems unable to do. With the Jets 1-5, it is just a matter of time before Clemens is allowed to audition for next year. Pennington has yet to complete a pass for more than 29 yards.

Now, a Moment of Real Life

Does anyone really need practice? I believe Vinny Testaverde’ last job was Commissioner of the More Taste League. He walks into the Panther locker room and comes out onto the field to complete a touchdown pass in his 21st season. He completed 20 of 33 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown, without throwing an interception. His counterpart for the Arizona Cardinals ended being Tim Rattay who was signed this past week as well when Matt Leinart was played on injured reserve. I always thought NFL playbooks were the size of New York City phone books and need a Rhodes Scholar to master in pre-season. Here these two veterans show up and run their teams in less than a week.

Then there is the only on Sunday play of Plaxico Burress. Burress caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. That was his eighth touchdown in six games. This is unique because Burress cannot practice. Burress has a severely sprained right ankle that desperately needs rest. So each week, Burress does not catch any practice passes until just before game time. Then he goes out and scores touchdowns.

Questions and comments may be sent to davidkopacz@sportsgrumblings.com