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Sunday, October 7
Updated: October 8, 1:17 PM ET
 
Bucs, Titans still looking for offense

By Joe Theismann
Special to ESPN.com

ESPN's Joe Theismann answers five key questions on Week 4 of the NFL season:

Should fans in Tampa Bay still be concerned about the Bucs' offense?
Yes, I think so. There is little difference between what the Buccaneers' offense did a year ago and what it is doing now.

With the addition of Brad Johnson, the Buccaneers were looking for two to four more completions per game. Johnson is delivering the completions, hitting on more than 70 percent of his passes. But the offense has retained the same, ultra-conservative philosophy; the Bucs still don't stretch the field with their receivers. Johnson averages only 6.22 yards per attempt, 24th in the league, and has yet to throw a touchdown pass.

If the Bucs end up in a situation where they have to throw the football to win the game, I don't believe they are equipped to do it.

Is it too early to stick a fork in the Titans?
We're starting to look around in the utensil drawer. Like the Bucs, the Titans have suffered on offense. Their inability to generate big offensive plays really hurts them. And no one knows how bad Eddie George's ankle injury is yet.

Their run offense is the league's fifth worst, at 79.7 yards a game. That offers little help for a passing attack that, like Tampa Bay's, is reluctant to attack downfield. And guess what? The Titans' offense next meets the Tampa Bay defense. If the Titans can't muster any offense and fall to 0-4, we'll be sticking a fork in them Sunday afternoon.

Are the Cleveland Browns officially playoff contenders?
I don't know if I'd anoint the Browns official playoff contenders yet. But between Cleveland and Cincinnati, the AFC Central has turned into a competitive division from top to bottom. Who would have believed Tennessee, and not the Browns or the Bengals, would be bringing up the rear?

My hat goes off to Cleveland coach Butch Davis, who has gotten immediate results. Tim Couch stepped up big against San Diego with a clutch touchdown toss to Kevin Johnson. The Chargers are a very good defensive football team, and Couch threw the ball exceptionally well at the right time.

Are the Browns a playoff team? Give me a few more weeks.

Is Chicago's defense good enough to challenge for a playoff spot?
Defensively, Chicago made big plays against Atlanta, forcing five turnovers and getting seven sacks. But other teams around the league, like the Jets, made a bunch of defensive plays, too. It's funny -- it seems like there are one or two weeks every year where the defense scores a ton of points. Sunday seemed like one of those days.

As long as Jim Miller is the Bears' quarterback, he'll be able to make the plays they need offensively. The Bears are another team that makes you wonder how good they are. Are the Bears as good as they played against Atlanta? Or were they good because the Falcons were struggling without running back Jamal Anderson? The jury is still out on the Bears' playoff chances, but their defense is at least keeping them in every game.

Where does Terrell Owens rank among the NFL's best wide receivers?
I believe Terrell Owens and Eric Moulds are the two best and most complete receivers in football. They are fast, tough, physical playmakers who also block well.

It's important to consider the different sizes of the receivers. For instance, Owens, Moulds, Rod Smith and Jimmy Smith are excellent "big" receivers, while Marvin Harrison is the best of receivers in the "special little guy" class.

A game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football, former NFL QB Joe Theismann won a Super Bowl and a league MVP award. He reviews the NFL each week for ESPN.com in Cup o' Joe.








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