What's My Line: Leaf had one of NFL's most forgetable days

SAL DEFILIPPO, news editor of the Las Vegas SUN, frequently deposits funds into the accounts of sports books throughout Southern Nevada. His column appears Fridays throughout football season. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]

IN THE AGE of statistics, this one is worth some analyzation.

1-15-2-4.

Those were San Diego quarterback Ryan Leaf's passing numbers following the Chargers' 23-7 defeat by the Kansas City Chiefs last week.

One completion. Fifteen attempts. Two interceptions. Four yards.

Sure, you can't read too much into one performance (or lack thereof), and Leaf did lead the Chargers to victories in the team's first two games. And some could say the rainy weather in Kansas City had something to do with the statistical void, although Leaf's Washington State background should have prepared him for it.

Or, you could simply look at this way: The guy threw for four yards.

That equates an advance of 9.6 inches each time Leaf dropped back to throw, a little less than the length of the football he was throwing. You can't even consider throwing on 4th-and-1 with those odds. The dude on the vibrating electric football game throws farther than that.

As for accuracy, his completions came at a rate of nearly 7 percent -- about the average state sales tax.

Did I mention that he fumbled three times? No word on whether these miscues were really attempts to throw a few complete passes to himself, but you have to wonder.

It got worse for Leaf after the game, when the frustrated quarterback found a target he thought he could hit -- an obscenity-laced verbal attack on a reporter. One certainty: His language easily was his most offensive production. His sentences were probably incomplete, too.

Contest updates: Through the first three weeks of the online Beat the Odds contest, Jared622 leads with 25 wins, while Steve has the best percentage at .740 (20-7). Sign up on the Sun's website, www.lasvegassun.com. One contestant each week will have a chance at $10,000 through the Guess the Score contest co-sponsored by KSHP 1400-AM.

Last week

Top play Kansas City was easy, thanks to Leaf, but the rest of the week was excruciating as usual -- New England's late interception return for a score meant a cheap cover against Tennessee. I continue to do well on over/unders while getting most of the games wrong.

For the season

Top of the line: 2-1.

Against the spread: 17-25-1, 40.7 percent.

Over/unders: 24-19, 55.8 percent.

Straight-up: 28-14, 66.7 percent.

Top of the line

I'm not expecting the Falcons to escape September unbeaten, but this is too many points to give a functional football team. It still feels funny descibing Atlanta that way, but it's true.

San Francisco 20, Atlanta 16.

Other games

An 0-3 start would be brutal for the Panthers. Combine that with Green Bay's Monday Night showdown with Minnesota next week, and you have the formula for a big upset.

Carolina 21, Green Bay 19.

Now that Jeff Hostetler and his injured ego are gone, maybe the 0-3 Redskins can focus a bit. Don't expect Denver to take any chances with John Elway in a nonconference game.

Denver 22, Washington 20.

Two JGs at QB, but the Cowboys' backup does OK at Big D, in his initial home start.

Dallas 28, Oakland 17.

Few people thought Philadelphia would have much to play for by the end of September. It does. Unfortunately, it's the top draft pick.

Kansas City 21, Philadelphia 6.

I've gone to the well once too often with the Oilers this season.

Jacksonville 29, Tennessee 14.

Longtime St. Louis fans get confused and start rooting for the other side, looking for Jim Hart. With Mark McGwire closing his season at home, don't expect that scalpers to make a killing with these tickets.

Arizona 15, St. Louis 12.

If you're Archie Manning, who do you root for? If you're not Archie Manning, why would you watch this game?

Indianapolis 24, New Orleans 22.

Seattle never has been 4-0, and its three wins are against teams that are 1-8. Pittsburgh is 2-1 despite the perception of being a major disappointment. The Steelers get healthy at home.

Pittsburgh 31, Seattle 16.

The No Passing Zone signs are removed from the stadium, but the Chargers yield, anyway.

New York Giants 17, San Diego 13.

Minnesota's explosive offense should thrive against the self-destructing Bears.

Minnesota 31, Chicago 13.

The Ravens will use rookie Priest Holmes at running back, which may alter the Bengals' defensive scheme a little. I'll put my faith in Corey Dillon to cross the goal line a few times.

Cincinnati 30, Baltimore 27.

The Buccaneers are the easy choice here -- after all, they haven't lost a Monday Night game in 15 years. That's largely because they haven't been on a Monday Night telecast since 1983, but Tampa Bay has been outscored 52-0 in the first half this season and it is too good to let that continue.

Tampa Bay 27, Detroit 19.

archive