Steve Brownlee

Watching some pro and college games last weekend got me thinking about offensive lines.

Like the old Washington Redskins “Hogs,” these are the guys who are often overlooked in the success of any team’s offense.

In fact, thinking about it more, if you look what I’m breaking down as the four parts of an offense, this is THE key part to success on that side of the ball.

There’s been many teams who did well with mediocre quarterbacks, or had so-so running games, or had a no-name corps of receivers who you’re just happy catch the ball at all.

Those are three parts of an offense.

But with the fourth part, how often do you hear about a crummy O-line anchoring a Super Bowl winner, or even a top team in a conference?

I can think of one — the recent Cincinnati Bengals. And that was why QB Joe Burrow was especially lauded.

But other than that, you can look at recent good Green Bay, Detroit, Philadelphia and Kansas City teams and their offensive lines, the Dallas Cowboys of the mid-1990s, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the late 1970s and I think even the Chicago Bears when they won it in, what was it, 1985?

Yet, you hear about all these teams signing this hot-shot receiver or that unstoppable tight end, or some great running back, but then wonder why it didn’t propel them to success.

It’s the O-line, you nincompoop!

OK, enough of my ranting, so let’s take a look at Week 5 of the NFL, the first week this season with teams getting a week off.

There’s four of those teams, including the Packers and Bears:

Today, 8:15 p.m.

San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams — The 49ers sure seem to be struggling with injuries just like they did last year. With this game in L.A. on a short week, surely give me the Rams, 30-24.

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

Minnesota vs. Cleveland — The Vikings, kind of like their Norse brethren of a millennia ago, make the short jaunt from the Emerald Isle to Saxony. OK, speaking in the 21st century, that’s these Vikings played in Dublin last Sunday and will stay in Europe to play in London this weekend.

Minnesota didn’t do so well against the Steelers, but I somehow see them getting better against the faltering offense of the Browns, who are bringing in their rookie quarterback — no, not Mr. Hyped-For-His-Freefall in the draft, Shedeur Sanders, but their other one, Dillon Gabriel. Vikings, 20-12.

Sunday, 1 p.m.

Dallas at New York Jets — Well, this should be a get-better game for Dallas, which actually has the longer time off after playing and tying the Packers on Sunday night vs. the Jets having played Monday in Miami. Cowboys, 34-30.

Denver at Philadelphia — Somehow, I see another blocked kick going a long ways for Philly’s 20th win in 21 games. Eagles, 23-19.

Houston at Baltimore — Could be another get-better game for the Ravens, but man, are they reeling at 1-3.

However, you have to consider Baltimore’s losses are to Buffalo, Detroit and KC. That might be three Super Bowl teams, even though they only let two at a time play in any given Super Bowl. Ravens, 27-24.

Las Vegas at Indianapolis — Yet one more get-better game after Indy fumbled away their win at the Rams last weekend after receiver Adonai Mitchell fumbled the ball away celebrating just before crossing the goal line in what ended up as a seven-point loss.

I will give the guy credit, though, he wasn’t trying to drop the ball on purpose as he was crossing the goal line; he just got too overexuberant celebrating early. Colts, 29-23.

Miami at Carolina — Carolina has had one highlight this season — blanking the Falcons 30-0. And they’re still celebrating it. Dolphins, 17-13.

New York Giants at New Orleans — The Jaxson Dart has era has officially begun, and if he starts 2-0 like I think he will, they’re going to start calling him the next Patrick Mahomes, until they realize just how bad these Saints he just defeated are. Giants, 23-17.

Sunday, 4 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Seattle — The Buccaneers seem to do it with bubblegum and baling wire, otherwise known as QB Baker Mayfield’s grit. That works until you run into a buzzsaw playing on its home field. Seahawks, 33-24.

Tennessee at Arizona — Arizona has apparently been snake-bitten with back-to-back last-minute losses while still a respectable 2-2. That all comes to an end against the fangless Titans. Cardinals, 20-14.

Detroit at Cincinnati — The barely one-dimensional Bengals, maybe more accurately described as no-dimensional, are coming off a short week where they didn’t look very good vs. Denver. And Detroit just kept rolling last week vs. another one-dimensional team, the Browns. Lions, 44-30.

Washington at Los Angeles Chargers — I think the Commanders still have some injury issues, while this L.A. group probably has some anger issues after blowing it against the Giants with their first-time starter Dart at QB. Chargers, 26-20.

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

New England at Buffalo — The Patriots are probably the biggest obstacle standing in the way of Buffalo winning the AFC East, but it’s mostly because they’re the ONLY obstacle standing in their way. And not that much of one. Bills, 31-21.

Monday, 8:20 p.m.

Kansas City at Jacksonville — The suddenly relevant Jaguars are actually 3-1, a better record than KC’s 2-2. Don’t let the records fool you. Chiefs, 27-19.

Last week — 9-6-1, 59 percent. Season — 39-24-1, 62 percent.

Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.