NFL's Week 5 Liquor Cabinet

For the entire NFL season, we will be breaking down the rest of the NFL not named Green Bay by looking at it like a liquor cabinet. Why did we choose this method? I like to booze and it makes things really easy to determine what's great, average and poor. 

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Andrew Luck and Indianapolis... Super Bowl contenders - I am not afraid to say it. I know this might be an overreaction, but that is what I do best here at Sports News on Tap besides finding sweet music sometimes. Luck outplayed Russell Wilson, dominated Colin Kaepernick and needs a big FU performance against Robert Griffin III to complete the circle (It will not happen this year unless they meet in the Super Bowl although highly unlikely).  The Colts beat Seattle and San Francisco in a mere three weeks. Who has better wins than Indianapolis right now?  Let's also not forget the play of Robert Mathis who looks like a brand new football player on the defensive end.  

Saints are the class of the NFC - Big time win for New Orleans in Chicago in a game where they dominated most of it. As it has been during the time of Sean Payton and Drew Brees, it was a new guy on Sunday with Pierre Thomas being the flavor of the week like the American Hi-Fi song. Jimmy Graham has been the second-best player in the National Football League next to Peyton Manning. The things he is doing on the football field are incredible and he will get paid to the highest degree.  

I loved late night football - I toyed with the idea of whether I wanted to watch San Diego-Oakland. I only slept for a little over three hours on Friday night due to work, not debauchery and honestly, I had been sluggish all Sunday due to partying.  I stayed up for it watching it from bed while I worked on some things for SnoTap and it was great. I enjoyed all of the little mistakes that happened throughout the game, and feeling like the joke was on everybody else that they did not see Terrelle Pryor ball out for the most part. I hope the NFL schedules one game at this timeslot every year.  

Browns and Jets are 3-2... Alternate Universe - I just do not know how to process any of this right now. Cleveland looks competent even if Brandon Weeden is at quarterback. The Jets, my God, the Jets look like legitimate football team with their pass rush, Antonio Cromartie playing well again and Geno Smith looking like the Rookie of the Year. I am stunned. Rex Ryan has done a marvelous job thus far. 

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The Romocoaster strikes again - If Romo never throws that interception and Denver still wins the game, we are probably talking about how Romo outplayed Manning and making the case that he is the best quarterback next to Drew Brees in the NFC right now (Face it Packers fans, Romo is outplaying Rodgers early on this season). Romo played great for 48 minutes and then caught the Romo disease making a bad turnover at the very end of the game. I do not know if that will ever change, but Dallas is clearly the best team in the NFC East. I know they are only 2-3 but they are a solid football team. I doubt that defense gives up 50+ points again.  

New England's true colors shown? - My buddy Eric and I traded barbs on Twitter last week wondering about the ceiling of New England. I thought the Patriots win last week was impressive although it has been diluted since their rivals New York came in and won in Atlanta as well.  The weather may have sucked, but Tom Brady did not look good again for the forth game out of five. Their defense played strong again, but Brady just was not there. New Orleans at home will be a massive game for the Patriots to judge this team. 

Rams still are not a good team - I hope no Rams fans are believing every week will be this way because if they do, I have some bad news for them. Interesting fantasy note, Andy Hutchins of Deadspin mentioned how we should treat fantasy differently when it comes to players against Jacksonville.  I totally agree and I started Austin Pettis who netted me 20 points. I will never start Austin Pettis again and will shut up about fantasy football.  

Houston sucks, do not buy high on San Francisco - Let's get this out of the way firstly, I told everyone the Texans were a team of frauds and they finally showed it on national television. Second, Colin Kaepernick turned in another shit performance. He only had six completions for the entire game. SIX.  Frank Gore did run the ball like a beast, but other than that, there is not much to take away from this game. Not convinced the Niners are a great team right now.  

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Super Bowl curse is alive and well for one New York team - If you remember, I had a preview for the New York Giants where I spoke about the Super Bowl Curse. How no team has made the playoffs when hosting the playoffs since 2002.  While the Jets might still have a chance, the Giants look completely cursed. Eli Manning already has 12 interceptions and they do not have an offensive line. Now they head to Chicago on a Thursday night... Yikes. Also this stat from NFL.com's Gil Brandt is pretty telling.  

.@Giants have given up 31 or more pts in 5 straight games, longest such streak in @nfl since 1954 (Chi. Cards)
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) October 7, 2013

Ryan Fitzpatrick will murder Tennessee's season - With how bad Houston and Jacksonville look so far, the season could have really opened up for Tennessee where they might find their way into the playoffs. Jake Locker goes down with an injury and then we remember how terrible Ryan Fitzpatrick is at quarterback. He looked woeful on Sunday against Kansas City. I realize it is a tough defense, but still, there is nothing to get me excited about their immediate future.  

What in the hell, Carolina? - I thought for sure Carolina turned the corner after their shutout win against New York and then they come off a bye to lay an absolute egg in Arizona. Maybe New York is really the second-worst team in football and the Panthers are still mediocre as a football team. I have no idea anymore with this squad.

Charlie.