We're almost to the halfway point of the NFL season, and the game results are half-nuts.
Who would have guessed that the rebuilt Atlanta Falcons would already have matched their 2007 total of four victories, more than San Diego, Jacksonville and Indianapolis?
Would anyone have believed that Peyton would be the other Manning brother?
Or how about this: Kyle Orton has more touchdown passes than these Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks: the Mannings, Ben Roethlisberger, Brad Johnson, and, of course, the injured Tom Brady. Not more than Kurt Warner, though.
For all the unexpected things that have happened this season, some things are still predictable. For example, Sunday's game between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers being a biggie. Both teams are 5-1 and atop their divisions, both have top-tier quarterbacks, and the matchup pits the Giants' outstanding running game and Pittsburgh's predictably strong defense.
Whereas much of the focus will be on Roethlisberger and Eli Manning, the X-factor could be New York receiver Plaxico Burress, who has played for both teams.
It's the first game back in Pittsburgh for Burress, who played for the Steelers from 2000-04 before the team let him go, choosing instead to make a major investment in Hines Ward. While that move has paid off handsomely for the Steelers, Burress has been very productive too, and last season caught the winning touchdown pass in the Giants' Super Bowl victory over New England.
Burress wasn't made available to Pittsburgh reporters this week and was uncharacteristically (but predictably) dull when talking to the New York media. Roethlisberger had some high praise for him, though.
"Plax really helped kind of mold me and make me who I am," he said. "He made me a better quarterback. It was a privilege and an honor to play with Plax."
Somehow, I don't see Pittsburgh fans treating Burress with the same reverence.
And in this game, I like the Steelers.
As for the rest of the games:
Oakland at Baltimore: For an example of how hard it is for a so-so team to make a trip across the country and win, look no further to the New York Jets' loss at Oakland last Sunday. Now, the Raiders are the road-weary visitors. Pick: Baltimore.
Arizona at Carolina: Both teams are much better when they play at home, where they're undefeated. It's hard to say which is hungrier, but a loss would be far more damaging to the Panthers because of their divisional logjam. Pick: Carolina.
