by Adam Schein

Comment

An impressed Tony Dungy told me this on Sirius NFL Radio Monday morning: "What's amazing is their confidence and how they place in every phase. They hustle. They create turnovers. Some people knocked them for the Chris Johnson pick, thinking they needed a receiver. He's been great as a runner and a receiver. This is an aggressive, well-coached, physical team."

Dungy's right.

Jeff Fisher is one of the best coaches in all of sports.

Johnson, a draft pick we liked, has been sensational. He scored two more touchdowns in the win versus the Vikings.

Fisher's defense flies around. The Titans forced four Minnesota turnovers that led to a difference making 21 points. Albert Haynesworth has been unstoppable. Tennessee is incredible in the trenches on both sides. Nobody misses Vince Young. Kerry Collins has steadied the ship. Having a quarterback who is unflappable is paramount to a team's success.

Tennessee doesn't have the talent of the other teams in the AFC South. They aren't one of the top six teams on paper in the AFC.

All the Titans do is bloody you — and win.

2. There are statement wins. And then there's what Washington did to Dallas in Week 4.

For the 'Skins — picked by most pundits as the fourth-place team in the NFC East during the preseason — to march into Dallas and beat the Cowboys is nothing short of sensational.

Jim Zorn has his club playing inspired football.

Yes, that Jim Zorn.

The Redskins don't turn it over.

Jason Campbell was a model of efficiency and confidence, distributing the ball brilliantly, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Santana Moss was unstoppable.

Clinton Portis provided the ultimate balance with 21 carries and six yards per touch.

And the 'Skins defense flew around and made plays, highlighted by my guy Chris Horton getting another clutch interception.

When Washington took the lead, I never thought the 'Skins would lose.

Somehow Dallas forgot it employed Marion Barber III.

Say hello to your third-place Dallas Cowboys.

2. With the possible exception of the Jets' win at Green Bay in 2006, New York played its greatest half of football under Eric Mangini since he took over in 2006.

I thought Arizona would win a close game, 24-20. Boy, was I wrong! Mangini's team rallied from a sluggish start and a Brett Favre pick to play perfect football in the first half, going up 31-0 on the Cards. Pick your turning point and star: Favre throwing three darts to Laveranues Coles for three first-half scores for the combination. A Shaun Ellis sack leading to a Kris Jenkins blocked field goal. A Darrelle Revis pick-six when Kurt Warner locked in on just one receiver. Jenkins dominating the entire offensive line leading to another Warner pick.

As good as it was for the Jets, it was that bad for Arizona, which just looked totally out of it and not ready for primetime.

And when Arizona staged a comeback with 21 unanswered points in the second half, it was Favre who stepped up and found Jerricho Cotchery to put the Cards to bed.

At 41-28, I disagreed with the decision to go for it on fourth and 1. Forget my take. Mangini and Brian Schottenheimer went for the jugular and Favre hit a wide-open Cotchery down the field for a dagger touchdown. Favre was simply brilliant with a career-high six touchdown passes. The future Hall of Famer shrugged off a Monday-night clunker with a performance for the ages.

4. Scott Linehan is out.

There was no way to keep him.

Linehan lost the locker room and was overmatched. As I've written for weeks, it became a no-brainer. St. Louis was outscored, 147-43. Let that sink in.

5. In speaking to Steve Smith on Monday morning during a spot on Sirius NFL Radio, the star receiver made sure to mention a key contributor to the Panthers' 3-1 success.

"In all seriousness, our training staff is incredible," he said. "Look at what they've done with Jake (Delhomme), me, Jonathan Stewart, and defensive players."

Smith also gave me and my audience the chills when he described for four minutes how his team feeds off of each other: Stewart sparks the passing attack. Stewart pushes DeAngelo Williams. Chris Harris and Julius Peppers spark the offense. John Fox pushes the right buttons.

The star receiver scored a key touchdown in the win against the Falcons and gave the game ball to Ken Lucas, the teammate he punched during training camp — an act that registered a two-game suspension.

Delhomme's healthy. Smith and Lucas are friends. Carolina is 3-1 with an excellent chance to have five or six wins by the time its Week-9 bye rolls around. The only thing that was holding Carolina back from a playoff season was a healthy Delhomme. The sky is the limit for this team. They can run, stop the run and make game-changing plays in the passing attack.

6. Huge win for the Jags, surviving a red-hot Matt Schaub and Kevin Walter to beat the Texans, 30-27, in overtime.

I didn't think Matt Jones would play a down for Jacksonville this year with his off-the-field issues and on-the-field underachievement. Jones was yet again a large factor in the Jaguars win, with a touchdown and 71 yards receiving

7. Drew Brees showed why he is a top-five quarterback in the NFL, no questions asked, lighting up, without either Marques Colston or Jeremy Shockey, the talented San Fran defense.

The Saints quarterback expertly guided New Orleans and established the tone with three beautiful-looking touchdown passes in the first half of a must-win game at home.

And finally, the Saints get something from 2007 first-rounder Robert Meachem! The receiver didn't have a single catch last year. Meachem made some sensational grabs, helping the Saints improve to 2-2. He finished.

Brees has always loved Lance Moore. He used the speedster, getting him seven catches and 101 yards with a couple of touchdowns.

And obviously, Sean Payton was paying attention to us last week when we begged for Deuce McAlister to get more involved.

8. Kyle Orton stepped up and made some game-changing throws, leading Chicago to a much-needed victory against a team with more talent.

Don't spin the Bears' big win against Philly any other way.

9. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Matt and Melissa Bryant, who lost a child this week.

I couldn't imagine playing in a game after burying a child, let alone hitting clutch field goals, including the one that gave the Bucs the lead over Green Bay for good.