Each week, Hall of Fame wide receiver and Westwood One Sunday Night Football analyst James Lofton tells you about the teams, players and trends that are on the way out and those that are on the way up around the NFL.
OUT: One bad apple may not spoil the whole bunch, but don’t tell that to Seahawks head man Pete Carroll. The locker room can be a fickle place with 53 distinct personalities working towards one goal. When you break Carroll’s code, “Protect the ball” (or in this case, sub out “team” for “ball”), you can close the door on your way out. Adios, Percy!
UP! It may not be the ’70s Orange Crush, but Denver’s defense is worth the price of admission. DeMarcus Ware has seven sacks and Aqib Talib has a pair of picks. T.J. Ward’s the enforcer, while Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton and Sylvester Williams bolster the middle. Add a healthy Von Miller and you have a defense that rivals Denver’s offense – and that’s saying something.
OUT: Da Bears! At least at home. Solider Field is no home-field advantage for these Bad New Bears, who fell to 0-3 at home with a loss to Miami on Sunday. Call it the Windy City, call it the Second City… but right now, you can’t call it “Sweet Home Chicago”!
UP! And blow out the candles! Jerry Jones turned 72 Sunday and DeMarco Murray gave him some present, turning in a preformance for the ages. Murray surpassed Jim Brown in the record books with his seventh straight game with at least 100 yards rushing to open the season.
IN: Drew Brees and the Saints are in need of some home cooking. The road woes continued Sunday, as New Orleans dropped to 0-4 for the season with a late case of the blues in Detroit. They’ll be hoping a better tune Sunday night when Aaron Rodgers and the Packers come marching into the Superdome.
OUT: Running backs in Buffalo. The Bills will have to rely heavily on their young wide receivers with CJ Spiller (collarbone) and Fred Jackson (groin) both sidelined.
UP! Just how far up can Peyton Manning push his TD mark? Drew Brees (374) and Tom Brady (372) are on his heels! Well, maybe not his heels. More like his long, long shadow…
– James Lofton
Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton is the analyst for Westwood One’s coverage of Sunday Night Football. This weekend you’ll find James in New Orleans, where the Saints host the Green Bay Packers with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (206 career TD passes). Coverage begins Sunday at 7:30 PM Eastern.
