Last Place Update - October 11

October 11, 2011 – Okay, so I’m wrong.  No bye week for the Last Place Update, thanks to the Indianapolis Colts.  It’s one thing if you lose to Green Bay, Detroit, New England or New Orleans.  But noooo…you lost to Kansas City…AT HOME!!  

The question to ask is, was Peyton Manning so good and so needed that the Colts are helpless without him?  My answer is no.  Proof?  Archie Manning.  For years, he was the only good player the Saints had and I saw so many of his receivers drop pinpoint passes.  Archie Manning's Saints had no defense and a porous offensive line, so no, Peyton Manning's absence isn't the reason for the Colts' terrible record.  His presence would have made a difference, but not a five win difference.  Hence, this winless performance is a team effort.

Therefore, by your dismal 0-5 record, the worst in the NFL, Indianapolis Colts, YOU are this week’s Kings of the Cellar.  The Colts have a five game losing streak, two behind Miami’s seven game losing streak.  The 0-4 Rams and 0-4 Dolphins have byes, so they get a pass.

Today’s honorable mention goes to the 1-4 Philadelphia Eagles.  This is a team with the talent to be 4-1 or 5-0.  They beat Arizona and Jacksonville for the honorable mention, because the Eagles have a much better team than the Cardinals and Jaguars do.  Minnesota was eliminated for contention by beating Arizona.

WARNING!!!! 

You’ve heard the old clichés about how a winless team or a one win team is the best team with that record in the NFL.  The 1-4 Carolina Panthers ARE the best 1-4 team in the league!  Cam Newton kind of reminds me of Randall Cunningham.  If Newton continues to learn and mature at the rate he’s going and if the team executes better, those close losses will turn to wins.  They almost pulled off the upset against the New Orleans Saints and may get that needed win against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.  This week's game is a good test to see if the Panthers have what it takes to win more than just a few games this season.

Next loss for the winless teams…

Indy goes for its sixth loss in Cincinnati, Miami vies for its eighth straight loss versus the New York Jets, and St. Louis invades Lambeau Field to get spanked by the Green Bay Packers and go to 0-5.