{"id":386,"date":"2009-10-01T18:31:02","date_gmt":"2009-10-01T22:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=386"},"modified":"2009-10-01T13:40:18","modified_gmt":"2009-10-01T17:40:18","slug":"fascinating-week-three-upcoming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=386","title":{"rendered":"Fascinating Week Three Upcoming – Random Thoughts on Last Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

I wrote the below post before this week’s games, and there was, as expected, plenty of intrigue.\u00a0 Below, in italics, are\u00a0some\u00a0quick notes on each game, so scroll down to the italics parts to see how I saw the intrigue play itself out.\u00a0 Expect another intriguing Week Four this weekend…more\u00a0on that later.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are many reasons why the NFL is the most popular sport in this country.\u00a0 It relates to everyone from the casual fan who just likes an action-packed sport to the die-hard football junkie that understands blocking schemes and coverage packages and everyone in between.\u00a0 Its athletes are so varied that they can be relatable to most sports fans likes–whether you like the hard-hitting linebackers, the fleet-of-foot wide receivers, the strategic quarterbacks, or the tough and gritty linemen.\u00a0 But, most of all, I think that the NFL is king because of its schedule structure.\u00a0 Obviously, the 16-game schedule is a major factor, as\u00a0each NFL game is the equivalent of 5 NBA games or 10 MLB games, in terms of proportion of a team’s schedule.\u00a0 But, also, the playoff structure is just about perfect, with just enough teams to keep most teams alive, while providing sufficient rewards for the top seeds, so that no one cruises (like about a dozen NBA teams every March and April).\u00a0 So, just imagine if, every week, every MLB team played\u00a0ten<\/em> meaningful games in the span of about 7 hours.\u00a0 That is the NFL.\u00a0 And, because of this phenomenon, each week is jam-packed with drama, intrigue, and excitement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week Three is no exception.\u00a0 In fact, it may be even more interesting than usual–which is saying something.\u00a0 Let us look at each game, independently, because it is just about now when early-season questions are answered, mid-season questions begin to form, and the seeds of the all-important late-season questions are planted.<\/p>\n

Early games<\/u>:
\nKansas City (0-2) at Philadelphia (1-1)<\/strong>
\nLet us start with the Birds.\u00a0 For many reasons.\u00a0 First of all, Michael Vick is back.\u00a0 That is going to be the national story about this game–without a doubt.\u00a0 However, I think that is only a minor factor in the intrigue of this game.\u00a0 First of all, this is a game that undoubtably favors the Eagles.\u00a0 It is at home, against a clearly inferior opponent.\u00a0 So, unlike last week, when the Birds faced arguably a better team, Kevin Kolb has to WIN the game this week.\u00a0 Simply putting up gawdy passing yardage numbers will not be enough if he doesn’t lead the team to a win.\u00a0 Also, it should be an interesting game for the defense to see if last week they just got beat by a phenomenal offense or if there really are some question marks here.\u00a0 The Chiefs were in both of their first two games against Baltimore and Oakland, so they might not be competely terrible.\u00a0 Plus, their $60-million quarterback is getting healthier.<\/p>\n

The only quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300+ yards in each of his first two starts?\u00a0 Kevin Kolb?\u00a0 Seriously?!?\u00a0 Now, call me Mr. Negativity, but is this bad for the future of the Eagles?\u00a0 Maybe it’s great.\u00a0 Maybe we have a bonafied backup and future starter.\u00a0 But, maybe we just think we do–which, I would argue, is worse than knowing that you do not.\u00a0 Plus, it is not like McNabb is the most emotionally stable QB to ever play.\u00a0 Either way, the team is in the bye at 2-1…and the Chiefs look TERRIBLE.<\/em><\/p>\n

Washington (1-1) at Detroit (0-2)<\/strong>
\nThe Skins looked really bad in their win over St. Louis.\u00a0 A lot of people are saying that the Lions might break their 19-game losing streak this week, at home.\u00a0 I don’t think so, but it certainly would be awesome.\u00a0 Either way, this game is very intriguing.<\/p>\n

Hahahahaha ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!\u00a0 The only thing better would be if the Lions beat the Giants in the Meadowlands, but this was great.\u00a0 So, now there are two other teams we have to worry about to win the division.\u00a0 Not saying that the games against the Skins are going to be cakewalks (they never are), but it’s nice to see that they will not be competing in the NFC East.\u00a0 PS…is “Redskins” the most offensive nickname of a team in any sport?\u00a0 Ever?\u00a0 And, it still exists–for the team in our Nation’s Capitol–in uber-politically-correct 2009?\u00a0 It’s not like this is the Chiefs or the Braves, which could be argued may be racially-based, but it is not derrogatory, but Redskins?\u00a0 That is really bad.<\/em><\/p>\n

Green Bay (1-1) at St. Louis (0-2)<\/strong>
\nThe intrigue here is in whether or not the Packers can bounce back, on the road, from a pretty bad loss.\u00a0 It should be interesting to see if what we think we know about these two teams is really accurate.<\/p>\n

St. Louis stinks.<\/em><\/p>\n

San Francisco (2-0) at Minnesota (2-0)<\/strong>
\nDid you know that the 49ers are 6-1 under Mike Singletary?\u00a0 This, surprisingly enough, is probably the Game of the Week.\u00a0 The Niners defense has been very good, but will be tested.\u00a0 That Vikings QB is not forcing throws into triple-coverage.\u00a0 This should be a very interesting game.<\/p>\n

I said on Thursday that “<\/em>That Vikings QB is not forcing throws into triple-coverage.”\u00a0 Well, he did throw into triple-coverage on the last play from scrimmage, and it was an absolutely incredible pass.\u00a0 I hate it, but you have to give the man credit.\u00a0 And, Greg Lewis–really?\u00a0 G-Lew?\u00a0 What a catch!\u00a0 Anyway, I think this game actually told us more about San Fran than it did about Minnesota.\u00a0 The Niners are for real, and honestly, I feel better about their playoff chances than I do about Minnesota’s (though I think they will both be there).\u00a0 The Niners came into Minnesota and, if not for one play, would have won this game.\u00a0 The Vikings have now beaten Cleveland at home, Detroit on the road, and SF at home.\u00a0 3-0, but not an incredibly impressive 3-0.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tennessee (0-2) at N.Y. Jets (2-0)<\/strong>
\nIf I said, two weeks ago, that this game would pit one 2-0 team and one 0-2 team, how many people would say that the Jets were 2-0 and the Titans 0-2?\u00a0 Not me.\u00a0 Are the Jets for real?\u00a0 The Titans went 13-3 last year.\u00a0 Can they possibly fall to 0-3?\u00a0 Fascinating game.<\/p>\n

This was a great game.\u00a0 This Jets team might just be, well, good.\u00a0 And, don’t sleep on the Titans, they are a few plays away from 3-0.\u00a0 They will probably have a lot of trouble catching Indy for the division, having spotted them 3 games, but this team can still play…I think.<\/em><\/p>\n

Atlanta (2-0) at New England (1-1)<\/strong>
\nIn, maybe, the <\/em>most intriguing game of a fascinating week is up in Foxborough.\u00a0 The Patriots could be (rather, should<\/em> be) 0-2.\u00a0 The Falcons look fantastic, but let’s not forget that they played two teams that have yet to win a game.\u00a0 The Pats were said to be the best team in football at the break of camp.\u00a0 But, they have looked barely average.\u00a0 This game is going to be very, very interesting.<\/p>\n

It was an interesting game, and the Pats showed why they are this decade’s premier NFL franchise.\u00a0 Let’s not get too crazed over one game in September, though.\u00a0 I think the Pats, while a great franchise, may have some holes in this 2009 version.\u00a0 PS…though this game doesn’t really help my argument all that much, am I totally wrong in thinking that the NFC is not just better, but significantly better than the AFC this year?\u00a0 If the Pats, Chargers, Steelers, and Titans\u00a0are as flawed as they seem, and the Saints and 49ers are as surprisingly good as they look, doesn’t that swing the balance a lot towards the NFC?\u00a0 You throw in the three NFC East juggernauts (Giants, Eagles, Cowboys), and the three extraordinarily talented NFC North teams (Vikings, Packers, Bears), plus the Falcons, and you have got all the answers you would ever need to the Ravens\/Colts\/Jets supporters.\u00a0 Plus, for every terrible Bucs team you throw at me, I’ll raise you the Chiefs and Browns.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jacksonville (0-2) at Houston (1-1)<\/strong>
\nAre the Jags really bad?\u00a0 Are the Texans actually as\u00a0good as some people predicted and just ran into a buzzsaw in Week One?\u00a0 This is going to be a tell-tale game for at least one of these teams.\u00a0 And, it might continue the Jags on their way to LA.<\/p>\n

This was a digusting game.\u00a0 I feel bad for Texans fans because their team does stuff like this.\u00a0 There is no way that they should lose to a very bad Jacksonville team, after a great win in Tennessee.\u00a0 Ugh.<\/em><\/p>\n

N.Y. Giants (2-0) at Tampa Bay (0-2)<\/strong>
\nMaybe the least interesting game of the week because the Giants should hammer Tampa.\u00a0 But, you never know about a team on the road in the NFL.<\/p>\n

The Bucs are the worst team in the NFL.\u00a0 Their offense is, well, offensive.\u00a0 PS…can anyone remember a year where there were more absolutely atrocious teams than there are this year?\u00a0 Think about the following teams and how they are currently constituted.\u00a0 Any of these teams probably would easily be the “worst team in the NFL” in any other year:\u00a0 Bucs, Browns, Chiefs, Raiders, and Rams.\u00a0 Plus, if you were to rank the NFL teams, one of the following would be ranked in the TOP TWENTY:\u00a0 Redskins, Jags, Lions, Bills, Dolphins, Panthers, Seahawks, and Texans.\u00a0 That’s absurd.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cleveland (0-2) at Baltimore (2-0)<\/strong>
\nAnother game that, on paper, looks boring, especially in B-more.\u00a0 However, don’t ever forget the hatred that these teams have for one another.\u00a0 Also, the Ravens have a habit of playing to the level of their opposition–be it good or bad–so this may not be the blowout that everyone anticipates.\u00a0 And, keep an eye on Brady Quinn–he might be running out of chances.<\/p>\n

The Ravens are the best team in the NFL, aren’t they?\u00a0 Maybe I have just been brainwashed by living in this city, but what does this team not have?\u00a0 They still have that F-you defense that will stand up to anything.\u00a0 They have a serious running attack, especially with McGahee playing like his career is on the line.\u00a0 And, they now have a bonafied, downfield, playmaking quarterback, who is (trust me, I’ve seen pretty much every game of his career) the most <\/em>POISED second-year QB I have ever seen.\u00a0 From day one in this league, this guy played like a 10-year vet.\u00a0 I actually think his talent is overstated (see the last sentence that I wrote–I don’t totally believe it), but his poise (which I think is MORE important for success as a quarterback) is unmatched at his young age.\u00a0 This team is good–very good.\u00a0 PS…as much as I am starting to like the Ravens (I can’t believe it, I really can’t), I still root VERY hard every year for a Browns sweep on the Ravens.\u00a0 Just as a big F you from the scorned city of Cleveland to money-hungry, evil owner, Art Modell.<\/em><\/p>\n

Late games:<\/u>\u00a0
\nChicago (1-1) at Seattle (1-1)<\/strong>
\nSimply a fascinating game.\u00a0 Plus, throw in the fact that Matt Hasselbeck is considering playing with a broken rib<\/a>, and you have got some intrigue here.\u00a0 Either way, this game is going to say a lot about both of these teams.\u00a0 The Bears looked bad in a loss to the hated Packers, then looked much better in beating the defending Super Bowl champs.\u00a0 Seattle crushed the Rams in Week One, but then lost to San Fran last week in a big NFC West game.\u00a0 The Bears are probably the better team, but the Seahawks have a great homefield advantage.\u00a0 This game is going to be good.<\/p>\n

Am I the only one that kind of liked those uniforms, in a pretty awful, hysterical kind of way?\u00a0 Everyone still talks about the awfulness of the old unis of the Astros, Padres, Chargers, or Nuggets, but in an honest moment–aren’t they all pretty great?\u00a0 Why can’t these neon green Seahawks jerseys be pretty great too?\u00a0 One more thing about this game:\u00a0 How can Jim Mora, Jr., go on and rant about his kicker missing two kicks when he made FOUR field goals, including one that put them up with less than 5 minutes left?\u00a0 The offense (HIS offense) scored one touchdown.\u00a0 And, it’s not like they lost by a point–they lost by 6.\u00a0 So, even if he makes them both and goes SIX-FOR-SIX, they still only have 25 points and the game is tied.\u00a0 He’s awful.<\/em><\/p>\n

New Orleans (2-0) at Buffalo (1-1)<\/strong>
\nAnother late game that I will be looking forward to all day.\u00a0 The Bills should be 2-0, but are getting completely overlooked.\u00a0 The Saints are 2-0, and are getting all the hype in every media market out there.\u00a0 The Saints caught a bit of a break playing road games in Philly and Buffalo in September, instead of November or December, but the Bills fans always bring it.\u00a0 This game is going to be closer than many think, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills were in it the whole way, with a chance to win in the end.\u00a0 But, then again, maybe the Saints are just that <\/em>good.\u00a0 We will know a little more after this game on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Is this Saints team really, really good or are the Bills pretty bad?\u00a0 Or both?\u00a0 This was a nice win for New Orleans on the road.\u00a0 PS…I am far from a TO supporter or even an apologist, but give the guy a break.\u00a0 He was asked several questions in which he could have thrown his QB under the bus and he didn’t do it.\u00a0 So, he gets ripped for that, too?\u00a0 Yes, he has been atrocious to quarterbacks in the past, but does that mean that every, single thing he says is somehow construed to being a shot at the quarterback…or, I guess the media, in this case?\u00a0 Come on, guys.\u00a0 He had NO catches; he is no longer news.<\/em><\/p>\n

Miami (0-2) at San Diego (1-1)<\/strong>
\nI’m not going to lie, I kind of think the Wildcat is a fad, closer to the Run-and-Shoot than a revolution like the West Coast Offense.\u00a0 But, like the Run-and-Shoot, it might not be as simple as watching tape and figuring out how to stop it.\u00a0 It may look complicated and gimmicky, but actually its brilliance is in its simplicity.\u00a0 It is basically a throwback to the 50’s and the Single Wing offense.\u00a0 If you are snapping the ball directly to the ball carrier, then you don’t need the quarterback to hand the ball off, therefore, you have an extra blocker<\/em>.\u00a0 It is just that simple.\u00a0 You have one extra guy blocking for a running play.\u00a0 It is not a gimmick.\u00a0 And, I love watching it–just like I loved watching the Run-and-Shoot.\u00a0 But, it is not going to win Super Bowls.\u00a0 And, as intriguing as the plight of the Wildcat in Miami is, the real intrigue in this game probably lies with the home team.\u00a0 The Chargers barely beat the Raiders in Week One, and then got beat, at home, last week to the Ravens. \u00a0(By the way, that play by Ray Lewis was incredible and is a complete microchasm of his Hall of Fame career).\u00a0 This game is big for San Diego because if they come out flat and bored, they will lose…at home…again.<\/p>\n

The Chargers don’t look good, but they don’t have to be good to win that division.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Denver (2-0) at Oakland (1-1)<\/strong>
\nSpeaking of the Raiders, they should be 2-0.\u00a0 And, this week, they get to host a team that has absolutely no right being 2-0.\u00a0 The Broncos are a very bad 2-0…I think.\u00a0 Are they?\u00a0 We will see.\u00a0 I kind of think that the Raiders are much better than people give them credit for, but we will see.\u00a0 This game could have significant NFC West implications, as the Raiders cannot afford a second home loss in the division, while the Broncos could really set themselves up with a 3-0 start.<\/p>\n

The Broncos are 3-0.\u00a0 They are not very good.\u00a0 But, they’re 3-0, and that is all that matters.\u00a0 I said from the very beginning (pretty much against everyone else’s opinion) that the Bears gave up WAY too much for Jay Cutler.\u00a0 Yes, Kyle Orton is not flashy\u00a0and probably not really very good, but he WINS.\u00a0 And, in the NFL, that is what matters.\u00a0 Orton doesn’t make the stupid throws that Cutler makes, and because he isn’t good, the Broncos have gone back to running the ball.\u00a0 And, it’s working–against bad teams.\u00a0 And, the best (and worst) part about it is two of the key players in the Broncos resurgence on both sides of the ball are named Correll Buckhalter and Brian Dawkins.\u00a0 And, how have the Eagles replaced these two?\u00a0 With rookies.\u00a0 I am still not willing to say that either was a grave mistake (clearly not Buckhalter), but these two are both playing VERY well.<\/em><\/p>\n

Pittsburgh (1-1) at Cincinnati (1-1)<\/strong>
\nAnd, yet ANOTHER fascinating game.\u00a0 Everyone knows that the Steelers have just about everyone back from their championship team last year.\u00a0 But, does that mean that they are a lock to be right there again? Not in the NFL.\u00a0 They lost a tough game last week that shouldn’t really hurt them, but they have to bounce back.\u00a0 They should be able to do that against a division rival that they have owned recently.\u00a0 However, on the other side is a Bengals team that should be 2-0 and is competing primarily because of their defense.\u00a0 If the Bengals think they are contenders (and though no one else may think it, I believe they do consider themselves contenders), this is a game they really should win–a home game against a division rival.\u00a0 This is it–show up or shut up.<\/p>\n

Wow!\u00a0 The Bengals are 2-1 and their only loss is to a 3-0 team.\u00a0 They have a win in Lambeau Field and a win against the defending champs.\u00a0 What is going on?\u00a0 It’s early, right?\u00a0 There is no way that this team is good, right?\u00a0 Either way, they sure have played havoc on suicide pools around the country.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sunday night:
\n<\/u>Indianapolis (2-0) at Arizona (1-1)<\/strong>
\nThe Colts have two unimpressive wins, but they are two wins nonetheless.\u00a0 The Cardinals have a bad loss and a road win in very impressive fashion–against a team that gave Indy trouble in Week One.\u00a0 Plus, throw in the fact that Arizona is still trying to justify their NFC Championship from a year ago as not fluke, there is a good bit at stake for them in this game.\u00a0 Very interesting…<\/p>\n

This was an incredibly impressive win for the Colts, especially considering the circumstances.\u00a0 They won in Miami on Monday night, then got home Tuesday, practiced all week, before flying the other way to Arizona, where they simply dominated the defending NFC champions.\u00a0 Peyton Manning is as good at his profession as anyone in the world is at theirs.\u00a0 Maybe the Cardinals are not as good as they appeared last January, but these back-to-back wins for the Colts are very impressive, nonetheless.<\/em><\/p>\n

Monday night:<\/u>
\nCarolina (0-2) at Dallas (1-1)<\/strong>
\nThe Tale of Two Troubled Quarterbacks in Turmoil.\u00a0 I don’t know why everyone is so down on these two quarterbacks.\u00a0 First of all, Jake Delhomme has won more games than any other NFC quarterback since 2002.\u00a0 Yes, he had 11 turnovers in two games, but the guy has won consistently in this league.\u00a0 Tony Romo’s reputation is that he doesn’t play well in big spots.\u00a0 Yes, I know his record in December, but if he is so “un-clutch” why does he have the best<\/u> <\/em>fourth-quarter passer rating of any quarterback in the NFL over the past three years?\u00a0 Either way, the loser of this game is in a lot of trouble because both teams are in hot water with their fans and play in ridiculously competitive divisions that do not give you any breaks.\u00a0 It is a little early to call anything an elimination game, but this might be as close as there is in Week Three.<\/p>\n

A nice win for the Cowboys.\u00a0 It wasn’t pretty, but it doesn’t have to be.\u00a0 I think we might be able to stick a fork in Carolina already, but the Cowboys certainly have a pulse.\u00a0 And, that stadium is ridiculous.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I wrote the below post before this week’s games, and there was, as expected, plenty of intrigue.\u00a0 Below, in italics, are\u00a0some\u00a0quick notes on each game, so scroll down to the italics parts to see how I saw the intrigue play … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}