AP Photo/David Zalubowski

By Paul Gotham

Staying undefeated

One quarter of the NFL season done (at least for most of the league), and four unscathed – Minnesota notwithstanding. And, no that is not intended to be a prediction for the Monday Night outcome. Prior to the season, this discussion could have had a ‘Sesame Street’ theme to it – as in one of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn’t belong. Enough of that. You get the idea. Sure, the Giants, Saints, and Colts all fit. But did anyone predict the Broncos to be 4-0? As I was saying, this could have used a ‘Sesame Street’ theme. But the Broncos are proving they belong. 26 is the key statistic for Josh McDaniels’s squad. 26 represents the number of points allowed. No typo here. After four games, Denver has protected the end zone better than any other team.  The next closest is San Francisco with 53 points.  To date, the Broncos have allowed two touchdowns.

Kyle Orton is benefiting from the defensive pressure. We could do a blind resume, but I’ll spare everyone the anticipation. Or maybe I won’t. Yesterday, Orton went 20-29 for 243 yards, 0 interceptions, and two touchdowns. His counterpart went 25-41 for 255 yards, 1 interception, and zero touchdowns. Yeah, Orton isn’t as sexy as Tony Romo. He just gets the job done. Wonder if Jessica Simpson has designs on joining Kyle’s ‘mile-high’ club?

The stat for Indianapolis must be 300. As in 300 yards per game. For the first time in his career, Peyton Manning has opened the season with four 300-yard games. So much for missing Marvin Harrison and Tony Dungy. Manning’s strike to Reggie Wayne was the 55th time the teammates have combined. Only Manning and Dan Marino have thrown 55 or more TDs to two different receivers. The Colts only figure to improve when Bob Sanders returns.

AP Photo/Bill Feig

After week two, Drew Brees had everyone trying to guess what his nine touchdown passes would convert to over 16 games. Since then, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sharper have taken care of getting the ball in the end zone.  Thomas rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns last week. This week, Thomas 86 yards on the ground, caught four passes for 46 yards and scored one TD. Sharper has five interceptions this season – two returned for touchdowns including one for 99 yards yesterday against the Jets. The New Orleans defense pressured  Mark Sanchez so much that the Jet rookie quarterback  must have dreamed of fleur-de-lis last night. With the win, New Orleans goes into the bye week undefeated as they prepare for the Giants.

Speaking of the Giants. Call it chocolate. Call it vanilla. Call it what you want. The Giants have had a cake walk thus far. After spanking the wet rag Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the G-Men pounded on the Chiefs yesterday. Please wake me when the Giants play a relevant team. It is nice that Mario Manningham and Steve Smith have made fans forget of past Giant receivers.

The New England Houdinis

Somehow, the Patriots escaped defeat in week one when Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin fumbled a kickoff. This week, the Ravens were driving with less than :30 in the game, when Mark Clayton dropped a fourth-down pass inside the ten yard line. Of his miscue, Clayton commented: “Flat out drop.”

Despite revamping almost their entire defense, not having Wes Walker, and Tom Brady recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, the Patriots stand at 3-1. Guess we shouldn’t be surprised by a Bill Belichik-coached team.

Which way to Asbury Park?

After a “month-long vacation in the strasophere where he found it really hard to hold his breath,” Mark Sanchez came crashing back to earth yesterday. In a  sea of fleur-de-lis, the rookie went 14-27, 138 yards, 0 TDs, and 3 INTs. Ouch! Don’t worry Mark. It’s all part of ‘ooh-ooh growin’ up.’  Besides the Jet defense held the high-flying Saints without an offensive touchdown for 50+ minutes.

Converting on third down

Joe Flacco might not get the headlines, but the Raven QB gets first downs. In their loss to New England, Baltimore converted on 9 of 14 third down opportunities. Flacco went 8-11 in those situations. Maybe he needs to improve on taking a roughing the passer.

Get the fork ready

Remember when Tennessee began last year 10-0? Remember how the Titans earned home-field advantage in last year’s playoffs? That all seems a distant memory as the Titans fell to 0-4. The last team to go 0-4 and make the playoffs? The 1992 San Diego Chargers. Yeah, yeah, yeah the Titans went 1-4 in 2002 before making AFC title game.

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