Week 3 Power Rankings Part I

With week 3 in the books, is it too early for some power rankings? Of course not. I’ve always believed that week three is when you can really understand a team’s identity, and the direction of their season. So without further ado, my week three rankings of power:

The Abyss


32. Carolina Panthers

Before the season started I thought Carolina would be a .500 team captained by a strong running game and a solid defense. Never did I think they would be among the worst teams in the league. They’re rushing for 98 yards per game, good for19th in the NFL (with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart no less), and currently have the worst overall offensive unit. It’s turned into a disastrous season for the Panthers, especially with Matt Moore vastly underperforming and rookie Jimmy Clausen being thrust into the starting job.

31. Buffalo Bills

Watching the Bills put up 30 points on the Patriot’s ______ defense (insert appropriate adjective) was sickening from a New England point of view but promising for Bills fans. It’s always nice when a quarterback throws the ball to actual wide receivers rather than runningbacks so Ryan Fitzpatrick is a definite upgrade over Senator Edwards. (As an aside, watching Trent Edwards play quarterback is like playing fetch with one of my family member’s dogs. Once you throw the stick or ball, the dog retrieves it yet is unwilling to then give the object back, thus defeating the purpose of fetch in the first place. Trent Edwards completely defeats the purpose of playing quarterback. Constantly throwing checkdowns does not a quarterback make.) Anyway, this team is in complete disarray…there really isn’t more to say about it…

30. Jacksonville Jaguars

It can’t get any worse than what’s happening in Jacksonville. The team sucks, and no one watches them, imagine that! Could you imagine if the team moves and the same thing occurs that happened to the Seattle Sonics-Oklahoma City Thunder in which they inexplicably become good? I don’t know how Jacksonville fans actually suffer through watching David Garrard throw three picks a game and offenses scoring on them at will. With Jones-Drew not looking the same how do people watch this team?…oh right, they don’t!

Cryogenic Division of Suck

29. Arizona Cardinals

Continuing the Trent Edwards-family dog analogy, watching Derek Anderson play quarterback is similar to when I learned how to drive stick shift. I struggled at first (Anderson-5 Td’s, 8 picks first season), found some great success in being able to efficiently operate the vehicle (Anderson- 29 TD’s, 19 picks, 82.5 rating), then I didn’t drive stick for several months. Upon my return, I was absolutely abominable, like couldn’t get the 92’ Mazda to move (Anderson- 3 TD’s, 10 picks, 44.5% completions threw eight games). Anderson, as most quarterbacks do, had a poor start, played great in his second season, and then inexplicably churned out one of the worst quarterback performances over an eight game period of all time. Luckily in my story, I eventually learned to overcome my stuggles. In poor Derek’s case he’s already off to a sterling 67.6 quarterback rating over the first three games. Did he forget how to play the quarterback position; did the success go to his head after the 2007 season? Derek’s story has striking similarities to mine; let’s see if it also ends happily (or with the entire locker room slain when Larry Fitzgerald finally goes off the deep end.)

28. St. Louis Rams

The Rams put up thirty points against the Washington Redskin’s defense. Is it possible to italicize something twice? Because that is a mind boggling piece of information. Does it speak more about where the Skins’ stand at this point or how much the Rams have improved? I’d say it says a little more about how terrible Washington played but things are slowly tilting upward for the tortured Rams. Sam Bradford looks promising, Mark Clayton is playing well, and they have a really good runningback.

The should have been Decent but Suck Division

27. Detroit Lions

A team once thought to be a possible sleeper now sits at 0-3. But it is about as good a 0-3 as you will ever see. They should have beaten the Bears, could have beaten the eagles as they had the ball in the final minutes to take the go ahead score, and played a Vikings team much closer than the score indicates. But this team needs second year quarterback Mathew Stafford badly. Not only will he improve the team, but he needs to continue his promising development if the Lions hope to contend for a playoff spot next year. And how about Jahved Best, and Ndamukong Suh; two rookies who have looked great thus far. This team has a solid young core, and even though they won’t make the playoffs they’ll take the Raider’s place as the team most- likely- to- beat –a- top- ten- team- just- when- you-can’t-imagine-them-winning-another-game.

26. Oakland Raiders

For all Oakland’s faults, at least they’re consistently terrible-much easier to predict games that way. Everyone thought they would be a frisky 9-7 team this year, but they have been anything but. Who thought Jason Campbell would be benched by the second game? People say the Red Sox were cursed, but what about the Raiders quarterback position? Here’s a question, what will happen first: Bill Belicheck smiles, Andy Reid properly manages the clock, or Oakland solves its QB conundrum? Not since Rich Gannon have they been solid in that department. One bright spot within the dark cloud of abysmal drafting: Darren McFadden has started to look like he deserved to be picked among the top ten (Heyward-Bey on the other hand….) over the past three games. Granted it came against the 25th, 31st, and 17th ranked rush defenses in the league…but hey, Raiders fans need something to be happy about…

25. San Francisco 49er’s

I have a passionate hatred for the San Francisco 49er’s; they made me look stupid. This team went from being stomped by the Seattle Seahawks, to nearly beating the Super Bowl Champs, to again getting stomped by a supposedly inferior team. Why? Just why? Do they play well every other game, is Mike Singletary not as much of a hard a$$ as he seems? It’s logical to point to quarterback Alex Smith as the root of the problem but you would only be half right. The defense has given up 87 points in three games…good for 29 a game, and among the worst defenses in the NFL. Giving up 25 to New Orleans I can understand, but 31 points each to Kansas City and Seattle is inexcusable. It’s as mind boggling as Tom Brady’s hair. It’s the strangest development of this NFL season and one no one saw coming…just…mind…boggling…

The David Tyree Division

24. Cleveland Browns

I hate writing about the Browns; they’re so boring. I petition we change they’re name to the Cribbs, because he’s the only watchable part of that team (don’t judge me, I think it’s catchy…no pun intended). Surprisingly though, Cleveland has been in every game they’ve played this year, a testament to how their defense has improved, and the emergence of Peyton Hillis (as an aside, I think white running backs are the coolest ever…I mean name five white HB’s of the last ten years…you can’t.) . I’ve already written 86 words about the Cribb’s, and that’s way too much, moving on…

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After boldly declaring that Tampa Bay could beat Pittsburgh last week, and even giving them the blueprint…the Steelers went out and put up 38 points on a combination of tipped balls and fluke plays. Who knew Chazz Batch was going to throw for as many TD’s as Peyton Manning? Crazy, just crazy. But I digress…Tampa Bay is another one of those promising yet still talent lacking teams. But they have bright spots: Josh Freemen looks like a young Big Ben and Mike Williams looks like a real weapon. On the negative side, Raheem Morris continues to look a little bit lost on the sideline, and Cadillac Williams continues to look less and less like his glorified nickname. But I will give myself some credit here…I did predict that the Bucs would not remain undefeated…pretty good, I know.

The Coulda’ Woulda’ Shoulda’s

22. Washington Redskins

The Redskins barely beat a struggling Cowboy’s team in week one, lost to Houston in week two after they were up by 17, then lost to the Rams after letting them score 30 points. The defense isn’t as good as it has been in years past, and they completely lack a running game while not possessing a single elite receiver for Donovan McNabb. Doesn’t sound good, right? This team won’t continue to look as bad as they did against the Rams again, but I don’t expect them to make the playoffs; especially if their defense really is as bad as it seemed like on Sunday.

21. New York Giants

After week one I was quick to jump on the Giant’s bandwagon. I mean, they looked great, and who thought the Panthers would be this bad? But after bad losses to the Titans and Colts, I just don’t see this team turning it around. A bad showing against the Colts happens, but to play poorly against against the Titans speaks to where this team is at. Since the loss of Michael Strahan and Antonio Pierce to retirement they have not had strong leadership, and it seems that Tom Coughlin has not been able to hold them together.

And look at this pick Eli Manning...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aYAhmXZa-8...Oh boy

20. Seattle Seahawks

Thank God the Jets just waived Leon Washington, instead of keeping or trading him because he really is awful and was completely incapable of recovering from that knee injury!...oh wait, Washington returned two kicks back for touchdowns on Saturday…and the Jets just waived him, now I remember. Like a couple other teams (Bears, Bucs, Chiefs), the Seahawks aren’t contenders but rather have gotten some fluky wins against teams they caught at the right times. This team plain doesn’t have the talent on defense or along the offensive line to compete at a playoff level. Yet, sadly they look like favorites to win the NFC West. How? First, the division sucks, and second it’s hard to go into Seattle and play well as the past weeks have shown. It is certainly feasible for this team to go win 5-6 of their remaining home games (Cardinals, Giants, Chiefs, Panthers, Falcons, Rams), get a game on the road and win the division with a .500 or below record. Moving on before I start thinking about the 11-5 2008 Patriots not making the post season…anger rising…breathe…deeply…

The Miscreants

19. Minnesota Vikings

I thought that before the season started the Vikings had a real chance to lay a big stinker of a season. So far, they have proven me right. Favre looks mortal again, and the vaunted front four isn’t looking so spectacular. The only bright spot thus far is the re- emergence of Adrian Peterson who has looked very good so far. They need Sidney Rice to return if they hope to get the passing game back on track…

18. Denver Broncos

If it weren’t for Denver’s inability to execute in the redzone, they would have beaten the Colts. If Kyle Orton and company can figure out how to get points in the redzone, this team could be a force to be reckoned with. It’s now clear why they were willing to give up Brandon Marshall, considering all the other receiving options they have. But a sub par rushing game and pass defense plus a difficult upcoming schedule is keeping this team in the bottom half of my rankings.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

We can’t talk about Cincinnati without discussing the plight of Carson Palmer. This guy has not looked remotely close to his 2006 form this season (or last) and many are beginning to question his elite status. Given the weapons at his disposal, Carson should be playing much better. The unofficial count of dropped interceptions has reached eight, which is a truly remarkable number. It begs the question; of how long will it take T.O to snap. It’s only a matter of time with Palmers propensity to throw the ball to the other team. Also a concern is Cedric Benson’s large drop-off from last year’s productivity. Should they put the ball ore in Bernard Scott’s hands, a guy who seems to be able to make two or three big plays per game?

16. San Diego Chargers

Its September, and the Chargers are 1-2…surprised?, either am I. Don’t panic, San Diego has started below .500 the past three years and still made the postseason. But the complete lack of a running game, flurry of penalties, and break downs in the special teams department have to be worrisome. On the good side, they don’t seem to be missing Vincent Jackson, but they have to be shaking their heads at the brilliant work LaDainian Tomlinson is doing now for the New York Jets. They could really use a rejuvenated Tomlinson after the injury suffered by rookie Ryan Mathews.

...Part II coming soon

Week 3 Predections...

Pictures say a thousand words...This picture says my week 3 predictions are small, ugly, short and to the pont.

My picks suck this time around...no analysis, but I will say writing less than 1,000 words is occasionaly fun. I've been short on time this week so this is what you will have to settle with:

Tennessee Titans @ New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cincinnati Bengals @ Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys @ Houston Texans

San Francisco 49er’s @ Kansas City Chiefs

Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints

Washington Redskins @ St. Louis Rams

Philadelphia Eagles @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Oakland Raiders @ Arizona Cardinals

San Diego Chargers @ Seattle Seahawks

Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

Lock of the week: Houston Texans OVER Dallas Cowboys

Upset of the week: Detroit Lions OVER Minnesota Vikings

Pounding of the week: San Diego Chargers OVER Seattle Seahawks

Week 2 Review...Any Given Sunday

Week 2 of the 2010 NFL season highlighted the unpredictability of this game. What’s that saying?...oh yeah: any given Sunday. The statement couldn’t be truer. Just because the Jet’s offense looked like a Pop Warner squad against the Ravens last week; or the Colt’s defense got gashed by running-back Arian Foster (who?), or San Diego was embarrassed by the lowly Chiefs doesn’t mean similar things will play out next week. Teams evolve, they learn, and grow as each week passes. That sounds incredibly obvious, but it is often the simplest rules in life that are oft overlooked. I can’t speak for everyone, but I grossly overreacted too many week one losses and wins. Even though the Patriots are a very young team and will inevitably run into some growing pains, I got way too excited over their smothering of the Cincinnati Bengals. After the Charger’s embarrassing loss and the Jaguar’s strong performance in week 1, plus San Diego's history of poor starts to the season I thought this was a probable upset. Boy was I wrong. I thought the Cowboys would play strong in week 2 and get their season back in control. Hell, I predicted the upset of the week to be the New York Giants over the Indianapolis Colts. Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong in so many ways.


The same things can be said for week two, and the first three-four games of the season really. The past three seasons the Chargers have started off: 2-3 (then won 11 straight), 0-2, and 1-3. All three years they made the playoffs. In 2003, the Patriots lost their season opener 31-0 to the Bills, and then proceeded to pump out 15 straight wins on their way to another Super Bowl victory. Or how about in 2008 when the Colts started out 3-4 then proceeded to win nine straight games on their way to a playoff berth. If you’re not convinced yet, trust me, there is a lot more examples of bad starts leading to great finishes and playoff berths. This is especially true for established, perennial contenders. So just because a team that makes the playoffs year after year starts poorly don’t overreact and temper your pessimism.

For all the great examples I can give, it doesn’t make it any easier to mitigate those gut over-reactions. It’s our human nature, it’s in our DNA. If someone told you that you failed your chemistry test, your first thought would be of the worst possible scenario, right (shut up all you optimists)? “I failed the test! I should just drop the class! I’m done for, what in God’s name am I gonna do now?!?!?! Woe is me!!!” The same thing happens in professional football. If a team loses a ball game (especially if they lose badly) people are apt to declare the team finished. To combat these gut reactions one must learn to put a loss or poor performance in perspective and realize it is only one game. For instance, it’s not like Napoleon never lost a battle, nor Michael Jordan scored 40 points every game. It’s all a matter of perspective. If the Colts get blown out at home, don’t even begin to predict it will happen next game, because history shows the opposite. Follow the established trends!

But that is not to say ignore the first few weeks of the season and call them meaningless. Merely temper your worry, and believe that the team will turn things around. And that’s not to say you can’t make any conjectures after a football game, because hey, there would be plenty people without a job, right? Now let’s look at a couple ways to interpret the first few weeks:

1. Did the team lose in a way it doesn’t normally lose? Did a previously top ranked defense give up 32 points? Did a frighteningly efficient offense score only 13 points? That’s a sign that it was a fluky performance. Go by the law of averages. If a team scores 30 points per game over a season don’t be surprised if they have a poor performance or two. The 07’Patriots had the highest scoring offense of all time yet still had a game where they scored 20 points. Chris Johnson ran for only 36 yards this past Sunday, do you think that trend will continue throughout the season?…don’t bet on it. The point is, fluky things happen…and teams will lose because they don’t play the way they usually play. If that does occur, you can bet on them continuing based on past trends, rather than fluke occurrences.

2. Take into account other factors such as weather, home field advantage, a short practice week, a lot of travel (etc.). These types of things affect teams more than many people realize. The Jaguars have been outscored 99-16 when traveling to the west coast over the past three seasons. Coincidence? Possibly, because four games is a small sample size yet it is still a telling statistic. Young teams with inexperienced quarterbacks often struggle on the road, as well as warm weather teams often performing poorly in cold weather. You think opponents enjoy playing at Lambeau field in December? Sometimes teams struggle when playing in Mile-High stadium because; well it’s located pretty far above sea level. Just the same, teams can perform subpar when faced with a short week of practice. And you would be naïve to think high powered passing attacks don’t excel playing in domes or suffer in the rain/snow.

3. Similar to number 1, did something really out of the ordinary happen? A special teams/defensive score often swings games immeasurably; by not just putting points on the board but swinging momentum for good. I’m not saying it’s a good thing if these happen to a team, but realize they aren’t usually an every game occurrence. Now if your quarterback throws 4 pick six’s’ in a row it may be something to worry about.

But you’re allowed to start worrying if…

- Your coach has the “Wade Phillips face:


- You don’t know who your starting quarterback is, nor do you know who it should be.

- Reports surface that your team doesn’t “practice well”…

- Your team is starting to look like a frat house, and players are getting DUI’s at 6:30 in the morning…

- Your star wide receiver looks like he might commit a double homicide because of the quarterback he has to play with (see: Larry Fitzgerald).

- Your team has three good running backs yet doesn’t run the ball.

Some week 2 revelations…..

1. For every forty plays that Moss dogs it, he does this….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe5od2JTnUc

…holy heck batman…if he did that the other eight times Brady threw it to him…



2. The Houston Texans might have the best offense in the NFL. No, seriously. Matt Schaub threw for 497 yards on Sunday. Yeah, that’s what I said. He threw for nearly 4800 yards last year to transform into one of the league’s best. Oh yeah, and he’s throwing to the best wide receiver in football. I mean, did you see that catch he made on Sunday to tie the game? At this point in their career I think Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson are the only other guys in NFL that make that catch. Unbelievable. As long as the Texan’s offensive lines continues its strong play, and Arian Foster doesn’t fade away, they will score 30 points a game. And that defense. It’s young, fast, and capable of making huge plays. They won’t be a top ten squad but they will make plays when they need it, and won’t shrink from big moments. Watch out for this team, it’s been a long time coming but the Texans have arrived. (What was I saying about making hasty conjectures…crap)



3. If the 49ers can stop making horrendously stupid plays…then they can make the playoffs and maybe even surprise a team. Seriously, watch this team play. Block out the muffed snaps, fumbles, tipped ball interceptions, delay of game penalties, and the glazed look of Alex Smith and you will see a team that can run the ball, play tough, physical defense, and has some incredible offensive weapons in Vernon Davis, Josh Morgan, and Michael Crabtree. They're a legit quarterback away from the Super Bowl.





4. Brett Favre looks every Nano second of his 40 years of age…Was it really eight months ago that Favre was capping off his best statistical season as a pro? It looks like that party is coming crashing down…fast. Just watch some of the deep balls Favre threw Sunday, they were woefully short and lacked powerful delivery. The question is, can Favre rebound…



5. Not convinced by the Dolphins…They’re 2-0 after beating the worst football team in the league by far and then barely beating a Minnesota team that turned the ball over four times, committed seven penalties and converted five of fourteen third down attempts. Yikes. Those aren’t your Vikings of last year people, forget them. The Dolphins are a decent team. They have a strong running game, an ok quarterback, and a really good defense. However, they won’t make the playoffs. The AFC is too stacked, and with both the Jets and Patriots in division I don’t see a way. We'll see the real Dolphins come out when they face New England and New York.





6. Carson Palmer is far from is 2006 form…I can’t believe the guy has only thrown one pick on the season! I’ve watched both his games this year, and I’ve counted six dropped interceptions. Not even difficult to catch balls, just muffed picks. If it weren’t for Joe Flacco’s ugly meltdown and some awful officiating, the Bengal’s would have lost to Baltimore. The guy just has never looked the same since the knee injury he suffered in the 2006 playoffs. Is it time to downgrade him from elite status? Maybe they could throw in his brother and nobody would notice...



7. I’m not ready to get on the Vick bandwagon just yet…He shredded the Packer’s defense in garbage time, and a Lion’s defense that couldn’t stop the Buffalo Bills. I’ll reserve judgment on Vick until he plays a legit defense for a full game.



8. Buffalo is terrible…Sorry, I couldn’t resist. (And if they somehow beat the Patriots this Sunday I will light myself on fire.)



9. The Dallas Cowboys may be in danger…The Boys’ next six games: @ Texans, vs. Titans, @ Vikings, vs. Giants, vs. Jaguars, @ Packers. That’s four very tough games, and two against teams that are hard to predict. Already in a 0-2 hole, Dallas has left itself NO room for error. Let’s say they split those six games (a lofty goal at this point in time), which would put them at 3-5. At that point they really need to win out the rest of the season; maybe being able to lose another while still making the playoffs. That is a tall order, yet not impossible. The Colts and Chargers have done similar things in the past. Yet I’m not sure the Boys’ are up to it with Wade Phillips at the helm of an undisciplined team. With reports starting to surface that Dallas does not practice well nor take it seriously, they will need a renewed urgency if they hope to be the first to play in the Super Bowl on their turf.



10. Why Tampa Bay can beat Pittsburgh…I’m not jumping on the Buc’s bandwagon quite yet (I’m sure they won’t make the playoffs, and they might not even reach .500), but don’t count them out against the Steelers. Here is my worry for Pittsburgh; we haven’t seen them have to play from behind yet. And all it takes for that to happen is a bomb from Josh Freemen to budding star Mike Williams. This team has shown a knack for big plays thus far, and if they can get one Sunday and go up by a touchdown, can the Steelers respond? That’s my worry. I’m not so sure Chazz Batch is capable of leading this subpar offense on long touchdown drives, or even consistently moving the football against an underrated Buc’s defense. The Pittsburgh defense is fierce, and you have to like them against a second year Quarterback, but every defense gives up the big play once in a while. Right?

Week 2 Picks

Buffalo Bills @ Green Bay Packers


The Packers win this one easily, probably by at least 20 points. Green Bay’s offense is too explosive for the Bills, and the Pack defense should have an exceptional today against a terrible offense.

Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings

This game will be close, but I predict a big day for Viking’s running back Adrian Peterson. With how fierce Minnesota’s run defense is Miami will resort to passing and I don’t think they will be able to win that way. Vikings get an ugly win.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns

The toilet bowl game. Moving on…

Arizona Cardinals @ Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta puts their ugly week one loss in the rear-view and crushes Arizona. The Cardinals defense will play well, yet despite that their offense isn’t good enough to stay with the potent Falcon’s offense. Expect an ugly day from QB Derek Anderson.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

By far the toughest pick of the week, in what should be a close game. Despite the Bengal’s dreadful week one loss, they should be sharper in this one…look for Palmer to attack the young Raven’s secondary and look for it to work. Despite that, I don’t think the Cincinnati defense can stop the Ravens, so it will come down to a couple of plays. I like the Raven’s defense to come up big when it matters most and seal the deal.

Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys

If the Cowboys are a play-off team like everyone knows they should be, they need to make a statement against a mediocre Bear’s team. I like them to take care of business and win by double digits in their home opener. (But if they lose….dear god)

Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions

Without Matt Stafford this will be a tough game for Detroit to win. Without Stafford they can’t stretch the field and won’t be able to score on a talented Eagle’s defense. I also think Vick will have a hell’ of a day, exploiting a weak (but growing) Lion’s defense.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans

Fact: The Titans looked tremendous against the Raiders. Fact: The Raiders suck. The point I’m illustrating is that we don’t totally know how good the Titans are yet. Despite that I like them to win a close defensive battle against the Steelers. With Ben I think the Steelers have the edge, but without him they will have to rely on the ground game and defense. With how good Pittsburgh’s defense looks with a healthy Polamalu they will always be in games but with Dixon at the helm I give Tennessee the edge. .

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

Another pretty awful game. Matt Moore looked bad Week 1 but the Panthers have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL. It’s not enough to win against good teams, but the Bucs are not. Therefore I like Carolina’s two-headed monster in Williams and Stewart to carry the day against a bad defense and come out on top. If Moore can improve during the season Carolina will be a dangerous team.

Seattle Seahawks @ Denver Broncos

What should we make of Seattle’s thumping of San Francisco in week 1? I along with many others thought Seattle would contend for the league’s worst team in 2010. The team doesn’t look like they have the talent to contend, yet they did just that and more against a playoff hopeful. If Hasselbeck and the defense continue to play well, who knows what could happen? I’m still going with Denver in this one though; their just plain more talented. I like Denver’s offense putting up points against the Seahawks with the Seahawks not being able to match them. I will say this though; if Seattle wins I’m jumping on the bandwagon.

St. Louis Rams @ Oakland Raiders

It pains me to even use up time writing about this crapfest of a game. Neither of these teams will make the playoffs, and I doubt anyone outside of Oakland or St. Louis really cares about the outcome of this contest. At least Bradford and Campbell will get to shine against mediocre defenses. I like the Raiders in this one because of a more experienced quarterback, and a better defense. (Note: The New England Patriots have the Raider’s number one pick. The Pats have the Raider’s number one pick! The Raider’s number one pick belongs to the patriots!!)

New England Patriots @ New York Jets

What happened to the super bowl bound J-E-T-S? It took just one game for this team to go from media darling to a train-wreck. But really, anyone who watched Hard Knocks or a couple of Jets preseason games saw this coming. Sanchez is still a few years away from competence, and their hodge-podge of has-been receivers has not worked out thus far. It remains to be seen how much of a difference Santonio Holmes will make. Their defense remains fierce but New England is catching them at a time with Kris Jenkins out for the season and Darelle Revis seemingly rusty from his 36 day holdout. With Revis on Moss, rookie Kyle Wilson will likely be guarding slot machine Wes Welker, a matchup that undoubtedly favors New England. All signs point to Welker, along with the Pat’s rookie Tight Ends to have a big day. I like the Patriots in this one, possibly by double digits.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Diego Chargers

I like Jacksonville’s offense, and I think their defense is not great, but passable. They’re also catching the Chargers at the right time, as they are without Vincent Jackson. The Chargers have a penchant for starting seasons off badly under Norv Turner (1-3 in 07’, 2-3 in last two years), so this is a Jags win in the making. Look for Jones-Drew to have a huge day, and the Jaguars to win a high scoring battle in this upset.

Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins

Houston’s offense is just too good for Washington to contain, never mind keep up with. I like Schaub and company to get on track after a poor showing of the passing game in week one and light the Skins’ on fire. The key to this game will be if the Texans can protect Schaub and if their defense can get to McNabb. If those two things happen, and if the passing game gets going I think the Texans beat Washington handily at Fed-Ex field.

New York Giants @ Indianapolis Colts

Of all the games this week, I thought about this one the longest. It’s never a good idea to bet against Peyton and company, yet I have a good feeling about the Giants at home. Plus, the Colts are due for a downer of a year, just like the Pats had in 2009. Let’s not overreact to week one, but couldn’t this be the year the Colts go 9-7, 8-8 and do some serious spring cleaning? On to the Giants. Their defense looks a lot better than last year (although it was against the panthers) and they will be matching up against the Colt’s worst offensive line in recent memory. New York’s offense also looks greatly improved with the emergence of Hakeem Nicks. Based on the Colts God awful run defense in week one, I think the Giants will run it down their throats. The Texans showed that that was a possible blueprint for beating the Colts, so look for teams to try it all year. If the Giants can control the clock, run it as well as Houston did, and hold the Colt’s under 20-22 points I like them to win.

New Orleans Saints@ San Francisco 49er's

As much as I would like to think the 49ers can win this one, I continue to remind myself that Alex Smith is their Quarterback. To beat the Saints a team needs to be able to score because New Orleans’s offense is too good to contain. San Fran won’t be able to implement their ball control, smash mouth, put it in the hands of the defense game plan; thus the Saints get the edge because of Drew Brees. I just don’t trust Alex Smith near enough to believe they can match the Saint’s touchdown for touchdown. Look for the Saints to win handily, as the 49er’s fall to 0-2 in danger of their season falling apart.

(Winning teams in bold)

Upset of the Week: New York Giants over Indianapolis Colts

Pounding of the Week: Green Bay Packers over Buffalo Bills

Lock of the Week: Tennessee Titans over Pittsburgh Steelers

Week One Revelations

1. The Bengal’s defense isn’t what we thought it was. The fourth best defense last year and what was thought to be the strength of the team got shredded by the Brady bunch. The Pat’s offense only put up 24 points, but that was because they held the ball for a mere 28 minutes. Every time the Patriots had it, they drove down the field effectively and executed well. A striking example is when the Patriots conducted an eight minute touchdown drive to begin the fourth quarter to cement the victory after a minor Bengal’s comeback. The Bengal’s defense made few plays and let their opponent drive the ball right down their throats. For once, the anemic passing game didn’t lose it for the Bengal’s; rather a surprisingly porous defense did.



2. Chris Johnson is no joke….In a spectacular performance against Oakland, Chris Johnson began right where he left off. In his twelfth straight 100 yard rushing game CJ2K also put in two scores; something that is becoming routine for the 24 year old phenom. Some thought he was a one year wonder, and a back that could not hold up…but week 1 showed us that he will continue working the magic that he did in last year’s 2000 yard campaign. Expect another great season for the Titan’s young stud, and keep an eye on those record books.





3. Trent Edwards is not an NFL Quarterback. Captain check-down was abysmal on Sunday. Part of it might be play calling, but the fact of the matter is that Trent Edwards doesn’t even look downfield to throw. I don’t know what the Bills hope to accomplish…by throwing check-down after check-down the defense can collapse on the offense which means the running game can’t get going. Taking a page from the venerable Bill Simmons, let’s call this “The Clogged Toilet” offense, because, really, that’s what it is.



4. The Steeler’s Defense is back! It’s amazing what a difference Troy Polamalu makes to that defense. They went from giving up 237 yards of total offense and 14 points a game (healthy Polamalu) in 2008 to 305 yards and 20 points per game (injured Polamalu) in 2009. What a tremendous difference that is! Don’t underestimate this team; look for them to grab a wildcard spot and possibly make a run towards the Super Bowl.





5. I don’t like to make hasty generalizations, but screw it…Houston looks great! A fantastic passing game, a breakout running back, a bright young defense, tons of playmakers…your 2010 Houston Texans! What has plagued this team in the past is an inability to win big games, an anemic running game, and bad play on the road. Two of those looked good in week 1, but how they perform on the road remains to be seen. I would like to say that no one should ever put too much stock in week 1, but damn did Houston look good. It’s no small feat to beat the Colts, and I think Houston can definitely grab a Wild Card spot if not, dare I say, win the division. Keep a definite eye on Arian Foster this year to see if he is a true number 1 back’ or merely a product of a bad Colt’s run defense.



6. Were our expectations of young Quarterbacks to high? Here they are: Chad Henne, Matt Ryan, Mark Sanchez, Alex Smith (now that I think about it expectations probably weren’t that high at all for poor Mr. Smith), Matt Moore, Joe Flacco, Dennis Dixon, Jason Campbell, Kevin Kolb (dear God), and Matt Cassel. None of them played well, and some were atrocious. That begs the question, were we to high on them? Cambell, Moore, Dixon, Kolb…those I can understand. They were either unexpectedly thrust into the starting job or were put on God awful teams. But I expected at least Ryan, Flacco, and Henne to be better. Granted its only week 1, (why did I write this article again?) so they have plenty of time to prove us right.





7. Has Dallas tackle Alex Barron been cut yet? Was he even allowed to get on the bus, is his family in danger, has the witness protection program been contacted???



8. Does Bill Belicheck require basic human rest/sustenance? The man doesn’t have an offensive or defensive coordinator! With the amount of preparation that must require (to lead a winning team no less) I can’t imagine he has much time for anything else. He should just formally give Brady the role of Offensive Coordinator and be done with it.



9. The return of the Manning face…Its back baby!




10. I’m having some serious déjà vu…Kris Jenkins is out for the season…with Bob Sanders probably following. Both teams survived the same injuries last year but it is a serious blow never the less. The loss of Sander’s especially hurts the Colt’s run defense, and Jenkins looked great in the preseason. I’m sure both teams will survive, but how long are those two players going to suffer season ending injuries year after year?



11. Can Santonio Holmes cure the Jet’s offensive woes on offense? Their offense was as terrible as the Bills. Digest that for a minute. That’s like saying Usain Bolt and I had the same time running the 200 meter dash. How can a team with weapons such as LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonne Greene, Braylon Edwards, Jericho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller perform so terribly? It’s beyond comprehension; but for the sake of Rex Ryan and Brian Schottenheimer’s reputation they better hope Santonio Homes can take this offense up a notch.



12. The New England Patriots look dangerous. Few teams had much to cheer about in week 1, even if they won, but the Pats were one of the few exceptions. Wes Welker is back doing what he does best, Brady looks primed for another monster year, and the defense looks reinvigorated. It’s hard to put into words how fun that defense was to watch on Sunday. They were fast, fierce, tackled well, were full of energy, and seemed to play better fundamentally. All last season they looked flat, and a little bit lost. Now it looks like they’ve got some fire in their belly and really believe in themselves. It seems like the making of another classic Belicheckian defense. And I have to mention all the new toys that Brady has. Both Tight ends look fantastic, and Brandon Tate looks like the weapon this team has been missing. I don’t think it’s an understatement to say this offense has the potential to be better than they were in 07’.



There it is, twelve revelations from the first week of the 2010-2011 NFL season. As they always are, week one was full of fluky games, and strange occurances. If you told me last week that the Colts would lose to the Texans, Seattle would blow out the 49er’s, the Saints would be held to 14 points, Michael Vick would look like the old Michael Vick, and a guy named Arain Foster would win me game one in two of my fantasy leagues I would have respectfully laughed in your face. Here is to week two proving all of my revelations wrong!

Some Thoughts on the "Patriot Way"

Asante Samuel: Not re-signed. Richard Seymour: Traded. Ellis Hobbs: Not re-signed. Matt Cassel: Traded. Mike Vrabel: Traded….the list continues. When you look at that list, what do those players make you think of? They make me think of what the Patriots of 2010 would look like if they retained an all-pro defensive back, an all-pro defensive end, and three quality players who ultimately made the team better. I’m not writing this to demean the Patriots philosophy nor to say it is invalid, because, let’s face it, Bill Belicheck is slightly more experienced in all things football then I am. I am merely espousing my thoughts on how the Patriots manage their team and deal with player personnel.


Before I really delve into the issue, let me talk a bit about why I decided to write this article in the first place. I read today that Randy Moss is disgruntled with the team. He feels that they don’t value him enough to re-sign him during the next off-season; therefore he believes the 2010-2011 season will be his last bearing the blue and silver. This situation perfectly highlights the patriot’s philosophy in managing their team. They value no player to highly, no player’s skills so transcendent that they cannot replace them with a well-used draft pick. Cold blooded right? Why pay an aging Randy Moss thirty million dollars when they can stock pile mid- round draft picks and turn them into a stable of usable wide receivers? All for a price much less then Moss would require. That is the philosophy that underpins the Patriots organization, and the reason that they have let go of so many talented players over the years.

Of course, the philosophy outlined above has a lot of merit. The Patriots are the most adept in the NFL at recognizing when a player is declining in talent and then pulling the plug. They did it with Richard Seymour in 2008 and got a first round draft pick in return. A brilliant move. As long as the draft pick is used well, the Patriots turned a player on the tail end of their career (albeit a great one) into young, first-rate talent. Although, there is risk involved with this type of move, because a team is trading away proven talent for unproven players. Though the organization is saving money, who really knows if the new players they acquire will match the talent lost?

Belicheck also has supreme confidence in how his system works. Though he values elite “A” grade talent, the Patriots believe that they can substitute “B” grade players in and still have success. A grade “A” talent is expensive, and a team can only have so much of it. If a team overloads on supreme talent the rest of their roster is thin, and depth will be severely lacking. By sticking a roster mostly with B talent a team is able to create excellent depth and have a roster completely full of solid players while a team that focuses on A grade will need to fill a large portion of the roster with lesser talent. This is not saying either philosophy is better; it is just two ways to approach the game. There are examples of both styles through-out the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts are perhaps the greatest example of a team that chooses to load up on A grade players while sacrificing other parts of the team. They have Peyton Manning, Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Bob Sanders, Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark, and Garry Brackett: all of which are all-pros that the Colts pay a lot to keep. They have had all these players for at least eight years, a testament to the unchanging nature of the Colt's team. Though this has worked for them thus far, they would be screwed if they had a bad injury to a couple of those elite players. But look at the 2008 Patriots, the season they lost Tom Brady to a knee injury, yet still managed to go 11-5, missing the play-offs because of the ludicrously asinine….ahem, unfortunate NFL division system. A testament to both the depth of the New England Patriots and the system that Bill Belicheck has created.

Which philosophy is better? I don’t know. Over the past nine seasons the Patriots have won three Super Bowls, and appeared in four. The Colts have won one Super Bowl, and appeared in two. Advantage: Patriots. But wait. The Colts have won 12 or more games the past seven seasons, and have had greater success than the patriots over the last two. Advantage: Colts. In addition, the Patriots have restocked their roster with a ton of young players over the past couple of years and are going through a transition period after letting go of many of their proven talent. The Colts on the other hand have remained steady and the model of consistency. So what is better? Seven seasons of high play-off seeding and a championship or three super bowls in four seasons’ yet only one Super Bowl appearance in the last six? What’s the answer? Cliché warning: only time will tell. I believe what happens over the next five years with the direction of the Pats and Colts will provide at least a framework for answering that question. If the Colts continue to be a consistent 12 win machine and the Patriots drift into mediocrity we must side with the Colts. But if the Patriots trend upward and appear in or win another Super Bowl, the pendulum swings the other way.