Outside Oberlin

Strange days have befallen professional football

To quote Kang from the ever so popular television show The Simpsons (the episode in which Bill Clinton and Bob Dole are kidnapped by the space aliens who subsequently run for office disguised as politicians): "As a nation we must move forward, not backward, upward, not forward and twirling, always twirling."

It seems like the NFL is in a similar state of confusion. A quick rundown of the standings reveal a host of teams leading their conferences that have been mired in mediocrity the last few seasons.

On the flip side, last year's Final Four (including the back-to-back Super Bowl champs, the Denver Broncos) are struggling to look respectable.

This has resulted in wild unpredictability every Sunday and virtual chaos in the Las Vegas betting circles. All one needs to do is to rundown last week's scores. The Saints beat a now-lowly Niners team 24-6. Any team that loses to a guy named Billy Joe (Tolliver and Hobert) by more than two touchdowns should be relegated to the lowly ranks of the CFL.

Meanwhile, the pathetic Eagles beat the Redskins in a shootout 35-28, which featured the debut of rookie quarterback Donovan McNabb.

What the hell is going on this season?

Last year's Final Four (the Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and Broncos) are a combined 10-24. Not only are the Vikings the only team with a winning record (6-4), but they are also the only one to not dwell in the basement of their respective divisions.

Yes, major injuries have hurt the Jets, Vikings and Broncos, but that cannot explain the resurgence of the Colts, Titans and Rams. Yes folks, I'm talking about the St. Louis Rams. No longer are they the laughingstock of the NFC West; instead, they boast a 7-2 record and the league's highest-rated passer in Kurt Warner who is on track to break Dan Marino's single season touchdown record.

The Tennessee Titans, led by quarterback Steve McNair and star-in-the-making Eddie George have run roughshod over their opponents. The team is both undefeated at home and in their division. They also broke the Rams' unbeaten streak a few weeks back. Yancey Thigpen is a star receiver in a conservative offense that feeds off of the power running game featuring George, occasional rollouts and QB draws from the speedy McNair.

Many experts thought it would take a few years for the Indianapolis Colts to gel, but Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison have proved them wrong. Manning leads the AFC in passing yards (2518) and touchdowns (17). Harrison leads the AFC in catches (64), receiving yards (996) and touchdowns (11). Who knew that Edgerrin James (a player acquired in the draft after the blockbuster draft day deal that sent all of the Saints' first-round picks to the Colts so Mike "Crazy Man" Ditka could get Ricky Williams) would turnout to be the better of the star backs? Indy no longer misses Marshall Faulk, as James has been Faulk's mirror image this season as a genuine running and receiving threat. James is second in rushing in the AFC with 850 yards.

Perhaps the most surprising development is the success of the Warner-led Rams. Is it just me or does he sound like some shoe salesman? Anyway, the Rams have rolled over their opponents this season, compiling the most yards from scrimmage this year, as well as the most per game average. Faulk has not skipped a beat in his new home, piling up running and receiving yards. Wideout Isaac Bruce has come into his own, leading the NFC in touchdowns with 10.

Finally, the Seattle Seahawks, under the tutelage of Mike Holmgren, are finally supplying some offense to one of the best defenses in the league. We know that Chad Brown, Shawn Springs, Merton Hanks, Cortex Kennedy, Michael Sinclair and Darrin Smith are established veterans, but who is Jon Kitna and why is his team 7-2? Also remember that the team was relying on Sean Dawkins and Derrick Mayes before holdout Joey Galloway arrived on the scene last week.

Other surprises include the resurgent Lions squad (6-3) that has gone through numerous quarterback switches, yet still manages to win - without Barry Sanders, I might add.

You know about last year's big Four, but what about Green Bay, Dallas, San Francisco and Kansas City? These 90s powerhouses are on the way down and, in my opinion, for the better. With this new disparity in the NFL, who can honestly predict this year's Super Bowl?

The AFC is now the power conference, with a packed AFC East, and possibly the two strongest teams in the NFL residing in the Central, the Titans and Jaguars. This last month and a half will be a sprint to the finish line, but who will remaining standing? It's anybody's guess in this, the strangest year the NFL has seen in quite some time.