Open season

So let me get this straight. This may be the most wide-open season the NFL has ever seen and the Patriots decide to trade away one of the best wide receivers in the game? Because he told Tom Brady he looked like a girl since Gisele won't let him cut his hair? Nice.

BOLDIN & RICE: Raven mad.

There are no unbeaten teams left in the NFL and it's only Week 5. Indy saw to that with a not-so-impressive win over KC. The defending champ Saints lost to Arizona who were lead by some quarterback named Max Hall. Max Hall? The Giants went from toast to tied atop the division after putting a whuppin' on the red hot Texans. Mike Shanahan's Skins pulled out their second straight narrow victory, this time knocking off the Packers with an OT win. The Raiders upset the Chargers and are now tied with them. The entire AFC South is 3-2. There are only two teams without a win. And one of them is the Niners who could still win 7 or 8 games if they can get that first one.

There are 14 teams with three wins. That's almost half the league. It's the NFL's version of the Wild West. And the Pats decided to shoot one of their horses. Nice.

But I'm over it now.

Until Monday night when Randy Moss and the Vikings take on the Jets. How happy will I be if Moss scores three TDs to lead the Vikes past Mt. Ryan and his gang? Very. (And that's not even factoring in that Moss is on my fantasy team. My sister is mauling me so bad that if Moss puts up 30 points it won't help.)

There are no elite teams in the NFL in 2010. But win or lose on MNF, the Jets are clearly one of the NFL's best. But they may have been passed as the best. By the Baltimore Ravens. The Pats' next opponent.

The Ravens won their third straight, bucking the Broncos 31-17. Battering-ram running back Ray Rice returned from injury and rushed for 133 yards on 27 carries. The Ravens ran for an eye-catching 233 yards. Joe Flacco added 200 yards of controlled passing with no picks. Denver's Kyle Orton did put up over 300 yards in the air, but almost 100 of that came on two long passes to Brandon Lloyd. That's where Baltimore is vulnerable. On the long ball. Moss could have a big day ... oh, right. Nice.

This is the revenge game I've been waiting for since my Don Julio-less January afternoon. As big as that road win in Miami was last week, a win against the Ravens in any form will be much bigger. It will mean the Pats can go toe-to-toe with any team. But it won't be easy.

I would have major concerns about the game even if Moss wasn't traded. The defense showed some signs of improvement against Miami but after watching the tape of the game it was clear Chad Henne and the Dolphin offense were their own worst enemy. The defense made some plays. But surrendered many more.

Confidence level for the Pats D going up against Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, and TJ Housh? Low.

The Pats offense actually only put up 13 "real" points against Miami. Their other touchdown came after a blocked punt gave them the ball on the Dolphin 15. I would almost put that TD in the special teams category. They are down to Ben Jarvis as their starting runner. And now they don't have Randy Moss. Brady has nine touchdowns and only two picks and the offensive line has looked very solid. Welker and Hernandez are still dangerous. But the Ravens D is the best in the league.

Confidence level for the Pats offense going up against Ray Lewis and the rest of that defense? Medium.

I still think Brady and Belichick will be so intent on atoning for last year's playoff disaster that the Pats will win a very tight game. But when you look at the two teams closely, it's very possible that the playoff blowout was not a fluke.