Byzantium's Shores: chronicling the misadventures of an overalls-clad hippie

The theme of the 2002 NFL season seems to be "Schizophrenia". I can't think of how else to explain why so many teams are spending parts of the year looking like they can beat anybody, and then immediately turn around and look like they can be beaten by anybody. How else to explain the Raiders opening 4-0, then dropping to 4-4, and then starting to win again? How else to explain how dominant the Packers looked until the last two games, when they've looked pretty lousy? And how to explain the fact that the Kurt Warner Rams are 0-6 this year, while the Marc Bulger Rams are 5-0? Weirdness galore, I tell you. Anyhow, the weekly round-up awaits.

:: The Bills lost their third straight, this time to the Jets who earlier this year looked marginally better than the Bengals but who now look like a serious threat to get into the playoffs. The Bills sputtered on offense, with Drew Bledsoe committing three turnovers (two INTs, one fumble), Eric Moulds and Peerless Price having eight receptions combined, and generally being unable to get the ball moving consistently. The lone offensive bright spot was Travis Henry, who had 83 yards on 17 carries, but the game got away from the Bills and thus they got away from Henry. The Bills have been sputtering for a while now on offense, which would not be cause for so much concern if the defense was not so lousy. Their tackling has improved somewhat, and they hit hard, but they are getting overwhelmed at the line of scrimmage (Jets RB Curtis Martin was able to gain 120 yards rushing) and they are generating no pass-rush at all (they had one sack yesterday). They have to get some defensive help for next year if they want to be an improved team.

So now they're 5-6, with five games left. My original prediction for them, 6-10, is looking more realistic now than it did a few weeks ago when they had a modest winning streak going. Their schedule includes games against Miami (at home) and New England (on the road), both of whom will be jockeying for AFC East position; San Diego (at home), who will be jockeying for AFC West position; Green Bay (on the road), who will be jockeying for home-field advantage or a first-round bye; and -- the lone bright spot -- the Bengals. Going 1-4 in those five games will put them at 6-10, and that's a strong possibility.

:: Note to Warren Sapp: what you do can be perfectly legal, perfectly in keeping with league rules, perfectly OK as far as the rule-book goes....and still make you a jerk.

:: The Steelers won, so I can still hold onto the barely-flickering light that is my pick for AFC Champion, but they almost lost to the Bengals yesterday. You're not helping, guys. The Eagles play tonight. They may do OK, but Koy Detmer in place of Donovan McNabb doesn't fill me with confidence.

That's all, really, for this week. I wasn't much in a football mood yesterday, so I didn't watch too much of it.