FRIDAY NIGHT'S RECAP
Two very entertaining games on Friday night & here are a few observations from them.
New England/Washington
1. When Albert Haynesworth's 330-pound body came crashing down on Tom Brady in the second quarter, I could hear the collective gasp all the way from New England. He landed very awkwardly with Haynesworth right on top of him. Brady kept flexing his right arm, swinging it around trying to keep it from stiffening up, word after the game was a sore shoulder.
2. Think Brady doesn't want to win? Also in the 2nd qtr, after Fred Taylor turned the wrong way & a Brady pass went whistling by him, Brady proceeded to chew Taylor's ass all the way back to the huddle. Taylor is an 11-year veteran with 10,000+ career yards who joined the Pats in the off-season. Doesn't make any difference, vet or rookie, run the wrong route & you're gonna hear from Brady.
3. Jason Campbell looked very good tonight, he throws a nice deep ball. He made some pinpoint 3rd down passes as well, he just might be better than Dan Snyder thought he was. Patriot rookie safety Patrick Chung made 2 big plays in the second half. Randy Moss caught 2 Brady touchdown passes. I thought the Patriot linebackers really struggled. Too many guys running free over the middle & some sloppy tackling when Washington ran the ball. Colt Brennan absolutely telegraphed his goal line pass that was picked off & run back 99-yards for what turned out to be the winning score. Patriot rookie tackle Sebastian Vollmer played both left & right tackle & he played probably 3 quarters of the game. I wanted this kid for Kansas City so badly. I think his upside is huge.
Green Bay/Arizona
1.Aaron Rogers was 'lights out'. He was brilliant as was their entire offensive unit. They just about ran the Cardinals out of their own building in the 1st half, rolling to a 38-10 halftime score. Rogers is an ascending star to be sure.
2. Packer wideout Greg Jennings appeared to sustain a concussion in the first quarter. Jordy Nelson stepped in & he had to have 100 yards receiving & a touchdown. The Packers just keep trotting out one receiver after another. Jermichael Finley also had a big night, he may challenge starting TE, Donald Lee, for playing time. The rebuilt Packer O-line had it's moments tonight, looking great on one play & the next Rogers would be flushed out of the pocket too quickly.
3. Ken Wisenhunt had to be steaming, because after halftime, his defensive starters were back in the game. The Packers had literally run over them in the first half, they looked nothing like a defending NFC Champ should look. Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, last years super tough rookie cornerback, was torched for 3 touchdowns in the first half. The Arizona defense held the Brian Brohn-led Packers to 2 consecutive 3 & outs, helping to change the momentum in the game.
4. Matt Leinart also helped to change the momentum. He entered the game after half & lit the 2nd team Packer defense up for 3 touchdown passes & 360 yards. And his receivers dropped 3-4 passes. Beanie Wells finally made his preseason appearance, carrying 7 times for 46 yards & 2 scores. He looked fresh & very quick. The Cards actually had a chance to win the game, going for a 2-point conversion with :33 seconds left, Leinart hit Early Doucet right in the hands on a fade route, but Doucet couldn't hold it. That left them down 38-37 & on the ensuing onside kick, Packer Ruvell Martin caught Neil Rackers kick on the fly & took it back for a touchdown, final score GB 44 Ariz 37. One more thing, the Packer defense has 12 turnovers in 3 games, very, very impressive.
New England/Washington
1. When Albert Haynesworth's 330-pound body came crashing down on Tom Brady in the second quarter, I could hear the collective gasp all the way from New England. He landed very awkwardly with Haynesworth right on top of him. Brady kept flexing his right arm, swinging it around trying to keep it from stiffening up, word after the game was a sore shoulder.
2. Think Brady doesn't want to win? Also in the 2nd qtr, after Fred Taylor turned the wrong way & a Brady pass went whistling by him, Brady proceeded to chew Taylor's ass all the way back to the huddle. Taylor is an 11-year veteran with 10,000+ career yards who joined the Pats in the off-season. Doesn't make any difference, vet or rookie, run the wrong route & you're gonna hear from Brady.
3. Jason Campbell looked very good tonight, he throws a nice deep ball. He made some pinpoint 3rd down passes as well, he just might be better than Dan Snyder thought he was. Patriot rookie safety Patrick Chung made 2 big plays in the second half. Randy Moss caught 2 Brady touchdown passes. I thought the Patriot linebackers really struggled. Too many guys running free over the middle & some sloppy tackling when Washington ran the ball. Colt Brennan absolutely telegraphed his goal line pass that was picked off & run back 99-yards for what turned out to be the winning score. Patriot rookie tackle Sebastian Vollmer played both left & right tackle & he played probably 3 quarters of the game. I wanted this kid for Kansas City so badly. I think his upside is huge.
Green Bay/Arizona
1.Aaron Rogers was 'lights out'. He was brilliant as was their entire offensive unit. They just about ran the Cardinals out of their own building in the 1st half, rolling to a 38-10 halftime score. Rogers is an ascending star to be sure.
2. Packer wideout Greg Jennings appeared to sustain a concussion in the first quarter. Jordy Nelson stepped in & he had to have 100 yards receiving & a touchdown. The Packers just keep trotting out one receiver after another. Jermichael Finley also had a big night, he may challenge starting TE, Donald Lee, for playing time. The rebuilt Packer O-line had it's moments tonight, looking great on one play & the next Rogers would be flushed out of the pocket too quickly.
3. Ken Wisenhunt had to be steaming, because after halftime, his defensive starters were back in the game. The Packers had literally run over them in the first half, they looked nothing like a defending NFC Champ should look. Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, last years super tough rookie cornerback, was torched for 3 touchdowns in the first half. The Arizona defense held the Brian Brohn-led Packers to 2 consecutive 3 & outs, helping to change the momentum in the game.
4. Matt Leinart also helped to change the momentum. He entered the game after half & lit the 2nd team Packer defense up for 3 touchdown passes & 360 yards. And his receivers dropped 3-4 passes. Beanie Wells finally made his preseason appearance, carrying 7 times for 46 yards & 2 scores. He looked fresh & very quick. The Cards actually had a chance to win the game, going for a 2-point conversion with :33 seconds left, Leinart hit Early Doucet right in the hands on a fade route, but Doucet couldn't hold it. That left them down 38-37 & on the ensuing onside kick, Packer Ruvell Martin caught Neil Rackers kick on the fly & took it back for a touchdown, final score GB 44 Ariz 37. One more thing, the Packer defense has 12 turnovers in 3 games, very, very impressive.
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