NFL Week FourAlthough the Packers 0-4 start is obviously cause for concern, it's not as if they've slipped far behind. The Bears and the Lions lead the NFC North with identical 1-2 records. Home teams have still won 2/3rds of all games; last year it was about 57%. The average home field advantage has been 5.9 points per game; last year's was 2.5 points.
New England obviously slips quite a bit on their first home loss in over two years. The spreadsheet likes Cincinnati, Indianapolis and San Diego, but unlike last year the AFC is not dominating; AFC teams as a whole are one game under .500. The spreadsheet is unimpressed with 4-0 Tampa Bay, whose four opponents now have a combined record of 3-12, 3-8 when not facing the Bucs. The Redskins are 3-0 despite outscoring their opponents by a grand total of 6 points this season.
A good example of a game changing our opinion of several teams: San Francisco's pummeling by Arizona. San Francisco won their opener at home against St. Louis, but looked awful against Philly. Then they put up a game fight against Dallas. But in the wake of the fiasco in Mexico City, San Francisco stinks on ice, and Dallas looks poorer than we thought, handing the Raiders their first victory this season.
Better than their record: San Diego. Cleveland might not suck completely; ironically the spreadsheet likes their two losses (to Cincinnati and Indianapolis) better than their win (over Green Bay).
Eli Manning is taking a big step forward. After four games this season, the Giants have scored 136 points. In Manning's first four starts in 2004, the Giants managed a grand total of 37 points.