'BOYS & VIKES GET A WIN, VICK IMPRESSES, BRADFORD GETS WIN #1, LEON BURNS THE CHARGERS & RAIDERS FIND ANOTHER WAY TO LOSE
It will be the number one topic on every ESPN broadcast & on the lips of every sportstalk radio host, the Cowboys are back! And not a moment too soon, how could any football season be complete without the Dallas Cowboys & at least one team from New York. Oh, the Steelers continue to amaze, winning their third game with the #4 quarterback on the depth chart, but no one wants to hear about them right? The Texans were never in this game, just two weeks off their franchise's most important victory over the Colts, they were pretty awful. Three turnovers to none, no pass rush, they let Tony Romo pick them apart & there was even a Roy Williams sighting for Dallas. The guy Jerry Jones wanted to replace showed up large Sunday, catching five passes for 117 yards & two touchdowns. Since no one has really stepped out in this division, Dallas is certainly back in the mix for the title. I'm just sorry we'll have to hear about almost non-stop this week.
Brett Favre's Vikings finally got a win, albeit over the lowly Detroit Lions 24-10, but a wins a win. Favre was just adequate with a passer rating of 68.4. This team is a shell of what Minnesota had last season. Favre isn't the same, his line can't protect him consistently, he takes a lot of shots. Without Sidney Rice & Chester Taylor, he doesn't have his favorite receivers. Adrian Peterson ran for 160 yards, but that was about the extent of the good news in the Twin Cities. Even the vaunted Viking defense isn't invincible anymore. I don't see any way the Vikes make the post season.
The third big topic of the week, Michael Vick, actually paid off on the hype leading up to the Eagles game yesterday in Jacksonville. Vick ran for a score & threw for three more in Philadelphia's 28-3 win over the Jags. Vick looked sensational, definitely deserving of Andy Reid's confidence.
As I watched the Bengals-Panthers exercise in futility, I kept saying, "man, Carson Palmer stinks." He did, his passer rating was worse than rookie Jimmy Clausen, who started for the Panthers. Palmer was late getting the ball out, he was terribly inaccurate, he looked just like he did in their playoff game with the Jets last January. Remember, the word was he didn't have enough weapons? Well he's got plenty of weapons now & nothing has changed. This is not a playoff QB right now.
The Rams got their first win behind rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, beating the Washington Redskins 30-16. He didn't set the world on fire, but he doesn't have too much to work with, especially after Steven Jackson went down with a groin injury. The bottom line was they won, Rams fans have got the right guy for the job in Bradford, if they can build around him, this team can improve quickly.
Just how bad are the Charger special teams? Opening night in Kansas City, their punt coverage team cost them the game. In Seattle on Sunday, it was the kickoff coverage team. Seahawks return man Leon Washington brought two back for touchdowns, easily the difference in a 27-20 Seattle win. The Chargers totaled 518 yards but couldn't overcome 5 turnovers & Washington's kickoff returns. They have a chance to right the ship with Arizona, Oakland & St. Louis next up on the schedule.
The ravens returned to form somewhat on Sunday, defeating the Browns 24-17. Joe Flacco had a good afternoon completing 22 of 31 for 262 yards & three scores, all to Anquan Boldin. What was missing in the Ravens win was typical Baltimore smash-mouth defense. Cleveland ran for 173 yards led by Peyton Hillis' 144.
The Giants were my preseason pick to win the NFC East. Sadly for Giants' fans, I have yet to see any evidence of why I made that choice in two of their three games. They were completely embarrassed by the Titans, 29-10. The G-Men out gained Tennessee but they also committed three turnovers to none & were flagged for 11 penalties. This is really an up & down team that had better figure out who they are before it's too late.
The Falcons fought tooth & nail with New Orleans for 3 1/2 hours before they caught a real break. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley hooked a 29-yard field goal in overtime to keep Atlanta in the game & after having their own field goal attempt blocked only to have it nullified by a Saints' timeout, the Falcons backed up 5 more yards & Matt Bryant hit a 46-yarder for the win. Tony Gonzalez had his best day as a Falcon with 8 catches for 110 yards & a score. Former Mizzou defenders, LB Sean Weatherspoon & safety William Moore contributed 7 tackles apiece in the 27-24 overtime win.
The Arizona Cardinals figured after the 39-yard pass interference penalty with less than a minute to go in the 4th quarter, the game was lost. Their fans sure thought so as they began streaming for the exits before the game was over. Line up for a 29-yard field goal attempt, kick it & go back to Oakland. Not so fast my friend, we're talking about the Raiders. Sebastian Janokowski had already missed from 41 & 58, while making 3 others. He shanked it just wide of the left upright & Arizona had a heart stopping 24-23 win. I'll admit, the looks on the Raiders' faces up & down the sideline was pretty sad & I hate the Raiders. The Cards really dodged a bullet, out gained by 140 yards, minus 2 in turnovers & 107 yards in penalties doesn't normally add up to a victory. But we're talking about the Raiders. They pitched in with 11 penalties for a staggering 123 yards & then there were the missed field goals. Good luck trying to get well with Houston, San Diego & a battle for Bay Area supremacy with Frisco.
After tonight, there will only be three teams with a perfect 3-0 record, Pittsburgh, Kansas City & either Green Bay or Chicago. Admittedly, the Chiefs are a huge surprise but one I'm going to enjoy for the next 13 days, until they travel to Indianapolis.
Brett Favre's Vikings finally got a win, albeit over the lowly Detroit Lions 24-10, but a wins a win. Favre was just adequate with a passer rating of 68.4. This team is a shell of what Minnesota had last season. Favre isn't the same, his line can't protect him consistently, he takes a lot of shots. Without Sidney Rice & Chester Taylor, he doesn't have his favorite receivers. Adrian Peterson ran for 160 yards, but that was about the extent of the good news in the Twin Cities. Even the vaunted Viking defense isn't invincible anymore. I don't see any way the Vikes make the post season.
The third big topic of the week, Michael Vick, actually paid off on the hype leading up to the Eagles game yesterday in Jacksonville. Vick ran for a score & threw for three more in Philadelphia's 28-3 win over the Jags. Vick looked sensational, definitely deserving of Andy Reid's confidence.
As I watched the Bengals-Panthers exercise in futility, I kept saying, "man, Carson Palmer stinks." He did, his passer rating was worse than rookie Jimmy Clausen, who started for the Panthers. Palmer was late getting the ball out, he was terribly inaccurate, he looked just like he did in their playoff game with the Jets last January. Remember, the word was he didn't have enough weapons? Well he's got plenty of weapons now & nothing has changed. This is not a playoff QB right now.
The Rams got their first win behind rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, beating the Washington Redskins 30-16. He didn't set the world on fire, but he doesn't have too much to work with, especially after Steven Jackson went down with a groin injury. The bottom line was they won, Rams fans have got the right guy for the job in Bradford, if they can build around him, this team can improve quickly.
Just how bad are the Charger special teams? Opening night in Kansas City, their punt coverage team cost them the game. In Seattle on Sunday, it was the kickoff coverage team. Seahawks return man Leon Washington brought two back for touchdowns, easily the difference in a 27-20 Seattle win. The Chargers totaled 518 yards but couldn't overcome 5 turnovers & Washington's kickoff returns. They have a chance to right the ship with Arizona, Oakland & St. Louis next up on the schedule.
The ravens returned to form somewhat on Sunday, defeating the Browns 24-17. Joe Flacco had a good afternoon completing 22 of 31 for 262 yards & three scores, all to Anquan Boldin. What was missing in the Ravens win was typical Baltimore smash-mouth defense. Cleveland ran for 173 yards led by Peyton Hillis' 144.
The Giants were my preseason pick to win the NFC East. Sadly for Giants' fans, I have yet to see any evidence of why I made that choice in two of their three games. They were completely embarrassed by the Titans, 29-10. The G-Men out gained Tennessee but they also committed three turnovers to none & were flagged for 11 penalties. This is really an up & down team that had better figure out who they are before it's too late.
The Falcons fought tooth & nail with New Orleans for 3 1/2 hours before they caught a real break. Saints kicker Garrett Hartley hooked a 29-yard field goal in overtime to keep Atlanta in the game & after having their own field goal attempt blocked only to have it nullified by a Saints' timeout, the Falcons backed up 5 more yards & Matt Bryant hit a 46-yarder for the win. Tony Gonzalez had his best day as a Falcon with 8 catches for 110 yards & a score. Former Mizzou defenders, LB Sean Weatherspoon & safety William Moore contributed 7 tackles apiece in the 27-24 overtime win.
The Arizona Cardinals figured after the 39-yard pass interference penalty with less than a minute to go in the 4th quarter, the game was lost. Their fans sure thought so as they began streaming for the exits before the game was over. Line up for a 29-yard field goal attempt, kick it & go back to Oakland. Not so fast my friend, we're talking about the Raiders. Sebastian Janokowski had already missed from 41 & 58, while making 3 others. He shanked it just wide of the left upright & Arizona had a heart stopping 24-23 win. I'll admit, the looks on the Raiders' faces up & down the sideline was pretty sad & I hate the Raiders. The Cards really dodged a bullet, out gained by 140 yards, minus 2 in turnovers & 107 yards in penalties doesn't normally add up to a victory. But we're talking about the Raiders. They pitched in with 11 penalties for a staggering 123 yards & then there were the missed field goals. Good luck trying to get well with Houston, San Diego & a battle for Bay Area supremacy with Frisco.
After tonight, there will only be three teams with a perfect 3-0 record, Pittsburgh, Kansas City & either Green Bay or Chicago. Admittedly, the Chiefs are a huge surprise but one I'm going to enjoy for the next 13 days, until they travel to Indianapolis.
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