Week 5

James Thomas puts up the high score (and the first person to score double-digits in this wacky NFL season), it also catapults him to a first place tie with McNabb's mom in the overall standings. Overall it was his faith in Green Bay, Detroit and Dallas that put him on top.

However, although he had only 3 correct picks Scott Ward is the weeks' big winner as his wife Beth gave birth to their son Daniel James. Congrats Scott and Beth. Not sure what Flood's excuse is, maybe the single life gets in the way of NFL picks??

We had considerable consensus on games this week -- some of it good (Tennessee, the resurgent Patriots, and Lock of the Week Carolina); some of it not so good -- (The surprising Jets, frustrating Eagles and disappointing Bengals). Also Indy managed to break the always take double-digit points (especially at home) Maxim, while Green Bay apparently saved up all of its scoring for one week, against the poor homeless Saints, no less.

Still the NFL looks more muddled then ever, other then the fact that Indy is very good on both sides of the ball, even if Peyton is not lighting things up like he did last year. What are the other obvious playoff teams. Pittsburgh (who at least won't have to play another AFC Championship game at home)? Denver? San Diego?

And in the NFC, no one looks dominant after the Eagles poor performance, the defeat of the Vick-less Falcons, the entire NFC North should be relegated, English Premier League style to the Big-10 -- it is wide open.

The debate over the worst team is equally muddled: Houston? New Orleans? 49ers? Certainly the Jets did themselves no favors in the Matt Leinart Sweepstakes by beating the previously unbeaten Bucs

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the end of the season for both the Yankees and Red Sox (their loss in the ALDS at least giving the other some measure of satisfaction). FOX can talk a good game about the story of the White Sox and 4 at-bats from Vlad, but they have to be angry (not to mention poorer) with both Boston and New York out of it, though the rest of us are quite glad. New York's recent lack of success (five years without a ring) casts the Braves in a new light -- yes Atlanta have only won a single ring, but as the Yankees are proving: winning the World Series, Like pimping, ain't easy.

Lock of the Week, basking in the glow of a correct pick after several bad ones, will take the Bengals giving 3.5 at Tennessee.

Make it a Good week.

Jono