Mark Craig's fourth-and-five

November 3, 2013 at 12:07AM
Arizona Cardinals safety (32) Tyrann Mathieu on the field during the national anthem before a game against the Carolina Panthers played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, October 6, 2013. (AP Photo/John Cordes) ORG XMIT: MIN2013110215171139
Tyrann Mathieu has played like the Honeybadger of old. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Three observations …

• Now suspended indefinitely, receiver Justin Blackmon has further solidified the Vikings' selection of Matt Kalil as the no-brainer draft pick of 2012.

• Safety Tyrann Mathieu, the Cardinals' third-round draft pick and the most controversial figure in this year's draft, is one of six NFL players with at least two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. He was named NFL defensive rookie of the month for October.

• Peyton Manning's fourth-quarter passer rating: 122.3, No. 1. Eli Manning's fourth-quarter passer rating: 40.9, No. 38.

Two predictions …

• The Bills are tough enough at home – beating Baltimore and Carolina and losing to New England and Cincinnati by a combined five points — to hand the Chiefs their first loss of the season.

• The newly balanced Packers will rush for more than 200 yards against Chicago's 25th-ranked run defense.

about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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