This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
First down
Giants at Saints, 11 a.m., Ch. 13 • OK, so the devil's advocates among you will surely bring up New Orleans' defense forcing eight turnovers in its last three games after getting only three takeaways in their first four, or New York picking off 11 passes already this year, or Saints DE Cam Jordan posting five sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in his last two games, and suggest such statistics are not irrelevant at all in N'Awlins winning 3 of 4 and East Rutherford winning 4 of 5.
I don't care what you say — this game is not about defense. You know why I say that? Might it be because the Saints are 30th in the NFL in allowing 404.9 yards per game, and the Giants are 29th, allowing 401.7? Why yes, yes it is.
So, please, let's limit any talk of defenders on these teams to discussing when Jason Pierre-Paul and his fingers numbering nine might return.
Second down
Jets at Raiders, 2:05 p.m., Ch. 2 • Alt-rock band Collective Soul was in SLC on Saturday, and one of their biggest hits includes the lyric: "Have I got a long way to run?" It all depends. If they're up against the Jets or Raiders, those puny musicians ain't running anywhere.
New York leads the league by allowing 71.5 rushing yards per game, and 3.4 ypc. Oakland is third against the run, at 84.3 ypg, and hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 10 games.
This is, of course, potentially worse news for the Jets, considering running the ball has been a much bigger component of their offense (NY ranks third in rushing offense, while Oakland is 23rd).
So, it's all up to you, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Think you can handle it? Well, considering he's already beaten Oakland with Buffalo, Tennessee and Houston, and could be the first-ever quarterback to beat the Raiders with four different teams, yeah, I'd say he's got a shot.
Third down
Seahawks at Cowboys, 2:25 p.m., Ch. 13 • Show of hands: Who thought before the season these teams would come into this matchup with four losses apiece? You're a liar, you're a liar, and … yes, you over there, you're a liar, too.
Of course, the reasons for their struggles are pretty straightforward. In Seattle, a craptastic line has allowed bajillion-dollar QB Russell Wilson to be sacked a league-high 31 times, and the defense is less dominant than in years past.
As for Dallas, the obvious answer is that, with QB Tomy Romo and WR Dez Bryant out injured, and relying on Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden to replace to departed DeMarco Murray, their offense has been messier than a pile of cat puke.
Of course, an alternate explanation is that when you bring a dumpster-fire of a human being like Greg Hardy onto your team, then act as an enabler by following his arguing with teammates and shoving an assistant coach by immediately discussing a contract extension, you might be fostering dysfunction. Not even Bryant's return can compensate for that.
Fourth down
Packers at Broncos, 6:30 p.m., Ch. 5 • This is just the fourth meeting in NFL history between teams that are at least 6-0. The previous ones occurred in 1921, 1973 and 2007. In that last one, Tom Brady and the Pats beat Peyton Manning and the Colts.
According to Vegas, Manning isn't going to win this one either.
Denver fans are up in arms that an undefeated team playing at home is a three-point underdog, but it's honestly not that hard to understand: Manning has more INTs than TDs and almost half as many pick-sixes as TDs.
For all the talk about Denver's stingy defense, Green Bay has allowed a league-low 101 points. Of course, Denver opponents have scored just 102 — and 21 came off those aforementioned Manning picks.
Here's what it comes down to: It's no longer about whether Manning can match Aaron Rodgers; it's now about whether he can avoid making more mistakes than his defense can compensate for.
As Jamie Hyneman of "Mythbusters" fame would say, "Well there's your problem."
Twitter: @esotericwalden