Six weeks into the NFL season and what we don’t know still eclipses what we do.
Of the three best quarterbacks, one is done, another is banging around on a bad knee and the third is looking at a month-long time-out.
The defending Super Bowl champion has opened eyes, but lost Monday night to a bottom feeder and earlier this season was one possession away from having lost to a team that hasn’t won a game.
A team everyone figured to be the worst in the league has ridden a rookie quarterback to four wins and a share of the division lead.
About the only consistent thing in this season is that Pacman Jones is still getting into trouble. A division-by-division look:
AFC East
New England has either won outright or tied for this division title every year since 2001 while Miami, the Jets and Buffalo have rented locker space. The Pats were 1-8 to win it again this year before You-Know-Who went down, and now the Pats and Bills are both +120 to finish on top. Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison have stopped making plays. The Jets (+550) are too erratic and it’s hard to see the Dolphins (+600) going from one win in 2007 to 9 or 10 this year. The Bills, home against San Diego this weekend, are worth a serious look. Buffalo faces the Dolphins, Jets and Pats in successive weeks starting Oct. 26.
AFC North
No money to be made here. Pittsburgh was a heavy favorite (1-1) before the season and remains so (-800). The state of Ohio played itself out of the playoffs in the first month – Cincinnati is in the hunt for the first draft pick and there isn’t enough RAM to chronicle Cleveland’s problems. That leaves Baltimore at +400, and the Ravens have a shot only if Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger gets back on a motorcycle.
AFC South
Interesting options. Tennessee opened at 9-2 and with five straight wins is listed at -200. But the Colts (8-13 at the start of the season) are starting to get things together just in time for the Oct. 26 game at Tennessee, and look like a value at +200 despite a nasty late-October/early November schedule. How about Jacksonville? The Jags (+500) have underachieved this season, but showed promise in gutting out a win at Denver last Sunday and have three cripples (Cleveland, Cincinnati and Detroit) on the horizon.
AFC West
With the tide officially out in KC and Denver, the Ed Hochuli Division has turned into a match race between San Diego (even) and Denver (-175). The Broncos have a one-game edge, but without Hochuli’s officiating mistake San Diego would be 4-2 and Denver 3-3, not the other way around. Denver’s schedule seems more forgiving, but the Broncos can’t win this division with the worst secondary in the league. San Diego seems to be getting serious.
NFC East
OK, the Eagles are on a treadmill at 3-3 and looking up at everyone, but +2000? The Cowboys (-110) had issues even before Tony Romo’s injury and the loss to St. Louis took the bloom off Washington’s (+300) rose. That leaves the Giants, who themselves appear to be a decent value at +170. For the money it might be worth taking a flier on Philly and hoping the Giants get tripped up during a challenging November schedule.
NFC South
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. As injuries take a toll and weaknesses are exposed in the NFC East, the South should get some love. Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta are knotted at 4-2, but the linemakers are impressed with Carolina’s defense, despite the smackdown last Sunday in Atlanta. The Panthers won’t earn you much at -125; the only money-making potential appears to lie in either Atlanta (+1200) or New Orleans (+400). The Saints have the best QB in the division.
NFC North
With Detroit out of the picture, Green Bay (+350), Chicago (Even) and Minnesota (+125) should play musical chairs for the rest of the season. With crossovers against the tough AFC South, 10-6 will lock down this division, 9-7 should win it and 8-8 might do it. Green Bay’s number looks tempting, but the Pack could be sucking wind after their next two games (Indy and Tennessee). Someone has to win this division, and Minnesota’s running game might be enough when the weather gets cold.
NFC West
If Seattle looks tempting at +400, understand that not many teams win even weak divisions by giving up three points for every two they score. The Seahawks are also a God-awful road team. San Francisco (+400)? Right. The 49ers already have three home losses. That leaves, by default, Arizona at -250. Small profit, but there’s no other option.