NFL Week 2

These are my thoughts and my thoughts only.

First off on my Eagles, that loss Sunday night was hard to take. We were kicking Atlanta's tail and we let them off the hook, the coach admitted it, the players knew it, and if ANYBODY starts talking how over rated and overblown our team is I can't wait to play yours. We had a guy with NO regular season NFL snaps in the game and I wonder if the coach would have taken the leash off earlier if we wouldn't be talking about the 2-0 Eagles instead of the gritty 1-1 Falcons. We need to tackle better, it wasn't just Casey Matthews while everyone wants to blame him, even on the last drive there were at least 4 missed tackles before he crossed the 50.  As for the Offense, if we can cut down on the dropsies, that 4th quarter doesn't even matter. I also think Andy Reid needs to fall out of love with some of those gadget plays, one gadget play cost us field position(that lead to the first fumble), and the other one made a 3rd and 3 a 4th and 4.  We have the backs to run screen plays, we are the Philadelphia Eagles in the Andy Reid era we have been known as the "screen kings" why not let Dion Lewis or Shady Mccoy who had been eating Atlanta up all game long have a go at them, get it to a 4th and one maybe or even the first. Hell do a play action and get Kafka to stop being so focused on Maclin, and give Djax a chance in the open field(unless his arm injury was so severe that he was really just a decoy out there).

Defenses

I think we are gonna see quite a few new Defensive Coordinators at the end of the year, it may be good for the league to see games coming down to the wire and things being so run and gun, but I think I saw at least 4 games this weekend and possibly 5 last where the team with the lead through 3 quarters wasn't the team who won the game. Talking to my dad he thinks that defense was hurt by the lockout, I think that with all the turnover we had when free agency began a lot of teams are playing looser since they have an excuse no OTA, two a days, and fewer 10-10-10's if you start slow you have a ready made excuse. This is bringing a lot of parity to the league and making a lot of teams wake up and stop hitting cruise control like they have some kind of edge just because they brought back a strong team from last year.



#TeamCam

Cam Newton is going to do a lot to erode the stereotypes of black QB's, I know this is two games in, I know he has had a few turnovers is his first two games: He has also thrown for over 800 yards in his first two NFL starts and you can say what you will about Arizona's Defense, but Green Bay won last years Superbowl and with no running game(Cam Newton had 53 rushing, the rest of the running backs had 18) he put up 432 yards  threw for a td and ran for one, yes he had 3 picks but hell he had to throw trying to win the game. And Green bay knew it, oh and by the way this wasn't just in garbage time that game was close until the very end, they lost by a touchdown but were in it all game long. His 850 yards is a rookie record, he already broke Peyton Manning's Rookie Record for most yards in a first game of the rookie year start, and with his second he broke the record for yards in the first two performances. And all this with no running game so that the opposing team KNEW ahead of time he had to throw it, it's one thing to surprise people it's quite another when you already know what is going to happen and you still can't stop it.

I say he gets those turnovers in line and that Carolina improves it's defense and we just may have to pay better attention to the panthers. Yes he will eventually come back down to the ground, the more film you get on a guy the better you will be able to game plan for his strengths and take advantage of his weaknesses. But if he gets another 400 yard game in, I think regular sports writers are going to have a cow especially since all preseason long all you could read about was how "Cam was a disaster and another Heisman bust," no OTA's or training camp, basically having a trial by fire in the preseason and he's still looking this good nice. I will say I don't know if he would be starting right now with a full training camp, they may have decided to let him go ahead and learn on the bench before taking these first few losses but hey, Carpe Diem and it looks like it is working out well for the rookie.

It's Early Yet

As the week to week performances are showing teams really haven't jelled, whether it be early season injuries, new acquisitions not fully integrated into the system, or just teams not yet used to the rule changes a team can look good one week and terrible the next. From what I saw team by team this weekend I see some folks need to go ahead and make a decisions and stay there.

Dallas vs San Fran

Last week I think Tony Romo forgot that sometimes you don't have to do it all at the end of the game, you have the lead just run the clock. I'm sorry to hear about his collapsed lung but it does speak loads about his mental toughness. I think San Fran still has a ways to go, they looked good and it was a good game but they need to learn how to close out. Romo's Cowboy's have been fair to good, but a better defensive showing and that game is no where near that close.

Oakland vs Buffalo

Talk about an exciting game, these two teams are really trying to make positive strides towards the future. It came down to the final play, yes some things were sloppy but putting up 30 points for Buffalo was pretty amazing considering their door mat status last year. As for the Raiders, one hates to see a busted coverage cost you a game, but that is something you can use to get better. Maybe it's just early season flash in the pan status but those two teams are definitely opening eyes.

Detroit vs Kansas City

A healthy Matthew Stafford means great things for the Motor City and Calvin Johnson's receiving numbers, 2 games 4 touchdowns, very nice. I think Detroit may make the playoffs this year, don't ask me who they are knocking out, but I think barring injury it's going to be hard to close the door on them. I feel sorry for the Chiefs  another crushing injury to a team who came so far last year. And by the way Matt Cassel's paltry numbers versus Detroit with no running game is proof that Cam is looking pretty special UNLESS one thinks that the Lions defense is way better than Green Bay's.

Cleveland vs Indianapolis

This is what vengeance looks like ladies and gentleman. All those teams that Peyton Manning made look like Pop Warner teams over the years yes, I don't care who is under center right now you are getting the "We've been waiting to pound you into the ground for years Peyton," treatment. Yes part of it is Indy's fault for not having a qualified back up and a secondary playbook for when Captain Cranium finally couldn't go, I mean yes just like Green Bay through the majority of Brett's career if the QB doesn't get hurt why worry about it, and now we see the answer is:Because you're supposed to be prepared for the worst even if it pretty much never happened since he got there. I mean yes Colt McCoy for Cleveland looks nice but please this was more about who wasn't on the field than who was. No team that expects to be taken seriously this year will be respected if they lose to the Manningless Colts, love him or hate him for the past decade we have all been amazed by that mans skill under center so for him not to be there "if not now when?" is what is pasted on the black board in every locker room they play and yes teams have their ears pinned back and smell blood in the water.

Tampa Bay vs Minnesota

Donovan Mcnabb is snake bit, I will say it. This is the second year in a row he has been on a team that can't hold a double digit lead in the 4th quarter, now yes last week people can look at his 39 yards passing and be like "OMG see we were right he sucks," but he had good numbers this week, they had the lead and running the football to use up clock is USUALLY what most teams want to do when they have a late lead. That damn defense just needs to hold somebody, and as for AP hey he had good numbers, they just couldn't hold them. And not taking anything away from Tampa Bay, Josh Freeman is looking like a great QB and I believe they are almost out of the rebuilding phase. That was a good comeback, hands down.

Chicago vs New Orleans

Jay Cutler needs to demand a new offensive line, this is two weeks in a row that man has been street pizza. I think he has now been sacked 11 times in the first two games, and you expect this guy to lead you deep into the playoffs. He's getting running QB hit back there, yes they won against Atlanta with him being hit like that but ummm how many times before you QB doesn't get up? How long before he catches a concussion just like Mike Vick because he gets whipped into either the ground or somebody else's body or pads? That was a great come back for New Orleans after that tough loss in Green Bay, by the way Devry Henderson OUT RAN everybody, that wasn't a blown coverage dude was step for step with him before he took off. One thing I hate about sports writers who are trying to mask their agenda by smudging the facts a little, why lie about what everybody saw happen? That long TD was step for step until it wasn't right after the ball got there, Speedy receivers have become all the rage in the NFL and until teams get Cornerbacks who can match that "Start your engines".

Jacksonville vs NY Jets

David Garrard is looking mighty good right now, McCown may turn out to be a good quarterback, a hall of famer, hell he might even lead them to a SuperBowl victory but if he doesn't show some promise soon the coach who decided to start him won't be there to enjoy his genius. Jones-Drew may be trying to work his olympian magic(Deion Sanders calls him Pocket Hercules), but if you have nothing to worry about in the air stacking the box is as bread and butter as the NFL gets. Mark Sanchez is starting to realize why Eli looked brilliant all those years, when you have a 6'5 target who can jump when most cornerbacks are between 5'8-5'10 with the RARE 6'1 skyscraper in there those back shoulder throws become your favorite meal. Plaxico may not get a million yards but I can see him getting at least a TD a game, the Randy Moss rule, just put it up there and let him get it. As long as their defense stays good and healthy we all may have to listen to Rex say "I told you so" at years end.

Seattle vs Pittsburgh

Pete Carrol may be in over his head, I may have complained that the Panthers had no running game but when your leading rusher is your QB and he only has 12 yards, Houston we have a problem. I know there is an issue with no offseason but come on all these guys have played football before, and where is your defense? Yes you ran into an embarrassed and pissed off Steelers team who had just had their butts summarily waxed, kicked and framed for them by the Baltimore Ravens, but still not even a field goal. There is still a chance, but carrol may be another college coach who doesn't flourish in the pro's. As for the Steelers, they were in the SuperBowl last year, any team not sure of how to play will be chum in the water for them any game.

Baltimore vs Tennessee

What in the hell? Really Ray, you let the Titans a team that is in FIRM rebuilding mode after Jettisoning both it's coach and it's quarterback last year and yall let them beat you? Okay this may have been a trap game for the Ravens after the emotional high of FINALLY beating the Steelers with Big Ben under center but yall got to do better than this. I think Flacco and company are way better than their 13 points showed this game, and while long in the tooth I can't believe the Ravens defense is ready to crumble to dust already. Week 3 will go a long way in showing if maybe the Ravens need to think about rebuilding soon too. Oh and CJ 2k ummm you need to start showing folks you were worth all that money you held out for I know it was the Ravens but two weeks in a row with sub par numbers is not a good look.

Arizona vs Washington

Rex Grossman seems to be trying to resurrect his good name as well as give the Shanahan's some cover for last years Mcnabb debacle, we shall see how it works out going forward but at the moment 2-0 has them looking like geniuses, especially with the first win being over division rival NY(Giants). Kevin Kolb is putting up good numbers but looks like he and Arizona need to work on that 4th quarter defense you hate to have the lead going into the last 7 minutes of the game and just lose it like that with all that momentum. New players, new pieces I know but CLOSING seems to be a problem in the NFL this year waaay to many teams are losing after holding the lead for the majority of the game.

Dallas vs San Francisco

I'm happy for Romo, but it shouldn't have to take a collapsed lung to apologize screwing up that victory versus the Jets in week 1. He lead the come back, he got some of his respect back, probably worked off a little bit of that rust after his season ending collar bone injury from last year and now has to hope that his rib injury doesn't turn around and put him right back on the sidelines. As for the 49ers good game, just need to close it out. Another one of those games where a player just put on the jets but keyboard jockeys want to take credit from the offensive players and just blame defenses for screwing up their weekly predictions. Unless you're Nostradamus you have a 50/50 shot in every game you pick, quit complaining, and quit acting offended that you called the wrong side of the coin they named the movie "Any Given Sunday" for a reason you hacks.

Cincinnati vs Denver

If Kyle Orton wishes to keep the Denver throne he is gonna have to play better than a squeaker versus the now Palmerless, Houshmanzadaless, and Ocholess Bengals yes they are rebuilding, yes they got some high picks, yes they had other talent on that team. You still better blow the Bengals out when their nucleus of core offensive players are gone and they are back on the downswing. The Bengals always jump up for a few years and then fall into the doldrums, you spank the Bengals when they are in their doldrums because if you don't they will gain momentum. I don't care if Tim Tebow was out there as a spare Wide Receiver to shut fans up, the more time he spends on the field the better the story becomes for Tebow being the ultimate team player and you being the hapless sap wasting the teams time. You are trying to fill the shoes of a long gone legend their Kyle and unlike Aaron Rogers you don't have a Lombardi, hell unlike Grossman you don't even have a SuperBowl appearance in other words you're resume is awful light and those fans are looking for the second coming. Tebow may be unorthodox but so was the man who's shadow you aren't getting out from under. Dalton is throwing well, lets hope he can keep up the good work and at least stop Cincinnati from spending another 3 or 4 years on the QB draft carousel.

Houston vs Miami

It looks like the Texans see this year as their "we can win the division and nobody can stop us" year. Peyton is on the bench and they want to see their team of destiny status come to fruition. I say if you don't have powerhouse status already in the league you better dodge these Texans, they are going to leave it all on the field in hopes of at least quieting the demons for one year. If Peyton never plays another down it will be seen as the kick off to many great years of division dominance, but if he plays again next year at least they can say they have been to the playoffs and have something to build off of. After putting up such a tough fight against New England in week 1 Miami is looking a little lost this week, hopefully the Fins can pull it together. That's another team who has a hall of fame legacy that has never been lived down by any of the QB's successors.

San Diego vs New England

Team Belicheck seams to be cruising along just fine, the loss to the Jets last year in the playoffs seems to have motivated the team with the least to prove to play with a chip again. While the Chargers showed signs of life the Patriots never relinquished control of this game, everything that the Chargers normally do well NE took away and took it away early. The score might look close, but the game never was.

Monday night NY Giants vs St. Louis Rams

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. The Giants got a gift wrapped game from the Rams as it seemed the St Louis team couldn't get out of it's own way in a mistake filled turnover game the Giants just made fewer mistakes. Which you know what is always good football, but until they actually put together 4 solid quarters and protect Eli, I'm not buying that the Giants are serious this year.

Okay these are my delayed football thoughts, twice delayed by a busy work schedule. Agree disagree tell me I shorted your team(or defend them in the comments, it's completely up to you)