Finally, a week to write home about – assuming anyone back at home would actually care to hear from us.

 

The Cold, Hard Football Facts Friday Beer Run posted a nifty 5-1 record with our six-pack of picks. The only game we got wrong was pegging Denver to beat Seattle. But that game stands as a perfect case study in how this little exercise works.

 

Had we been betting men, we would have taken into consideration the fact that the Broncos had put the game in the hands of a rookie quarterback in Jay Cutler. As the Cold, Hard Football Facts proved last week, rookie QBs always struggle in the NFL. And, with its decision to start Cutler, Denver has basically given up on the 2006 season. It's rather remarkable, considering that they had a 7-4 record heading into last night's game. Cutler wasn't awful. But he tossed up a horrendous prayer of a pass in the first half that was returned for a TD. He should have just taken a sack, as it proved one of the decisive plays in a 23-20 Seattle victory.

 

But our "Gridiron Grids" don't take factors like a new rookie QB into consideration. For the purpose of experiment, we rely only on the data provided by our comparison of Quality Stats. In the case of the Seattle-Denver game, it cost us.

 

Still, after Sunday's games, we're now 53-37 (.589) for the season. With a win by Carolina tonight, we'll close in on a perfectly round .600 for the season. And round is a good shape for us.

 

 

 

For two franchises that have recently represented the NFC in the Super Bowl, this has been a disappointing season thus far. Carolina's lack of consistency reared its head again in a 17-13 defeat at Washington last Sunday, while Philly has lost five out of six.

 

The Quality Stats reveal that these teams are pretty evenly matched, as each ranks in the top half of the league in four categories. The Eagles are 19 spots better in passing yards per attempt (No. 5 vs. No. 24); the Panthers are 19 spots better in Bendability (No. 6 vs. No. 25).

 

Beyond Donovan McNabb's season-ending knee injury, Philly has surrendered its two highest point totals of the year in the past two weeks. Carolina has also played better against quality opposition.