Keeping it real

AS the NFL season moves into its fifth week, coaches are trying to emphasise to teams that the season has a long way to go.

The Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins all have unbeaten records, but it's still no guarantee of post-season play.

Those teams still struggling after four games could do well to remember eight teams in the past five years have become at least divisional champions after a 1-3 start.

For Bengals wide receiver T.J Houshmandzadeh it's enough to have their noses in front. “Hey, we’re winning,” he said “I’m happy about that, just to be 4-0.”

But what of last year's Super Bowl winners, the New England Patriots? The team that looked almost invincible in the play offs has had a stuttering 2-2 start. This week they play the Atlanta Falcons.

“We are going to get it on,” said Atlanta QB Michael Vick. “Two great coaching staffs, two great quarterbacks, two great teams - that’s the way it should be.”

For the Super Bowl-champ Patriots, things are not quite as they should be or have been. They are wrestling with injuries, and just surrendered 40 points (41 to San Diego) for the first time since 1998 against – guess who? –
Atlanta.

But these are, after all, the resourceful Patriots, whose leader, QB Tom Brady, is not ready to panic. “We have to go back to work,” he said. “We have a tough challenge against Atlanta. We have to improve in a short amount of time.”

The Falcons, led by defensive tackle Rod Coleman, will be coming after Brady. They’re hot off an NFL season-high nine-sack game against Minnesota and top the NFL in sacks (17). Their defence has allowed only one second-half TD this year.

ENDS