Another week of big scores, big performances and shocks in the NFL and week three was the week of the comeback. The league is starting to shape into the teams that have, the teams that haven’t and the teams (and coaches) who have literally no idea what they have or haven’t got.
Houston Texans 33 New Orleans Saints 40
Two of the league high powered offenses produced the shootout that was expected of them and with 37 points in the 4th quarter alone you have to wonder what the defences were doing. Houston were guilty of leaving points on the field and having to settle for field goals and this was ultimately their undoing, as the Saints led by 370 from Drew Brees came from behind twice in the final quarter to further solidify their playoff credentials. This was the first real test of the Texans new 3-4 defence and they failed miserably after a decent start but then again against Brees and a Sean Payton offense who doesn’t.
San Francisco 49ers 13 Cincinnati Bengals 8
In stark contrast the 49ers and Bengals could generate little offense to inspire any real hope for the season ahead. The Bengals and rookie QB Andy Dalton had been brought back down to earth with a bang after a week one victory and going 1-10 on third down just won’t cut it, but this as we know is a rebuilding project that will take time. The 49ers on the other hand have a great opportunity to make the playoffs in a week division that so picking up wins no matter how ugly is a bonus and QB Alex Smith while not spectacular must see that if he doesn’t lose games like this for the team then special teams and defence could carry them to a division title and the playoffs.
New England Patriots 31 Buffalo Bills 34
The Bills beat the Patriots; Tom Brady has as many interceptions in this one game as he had in the entire 2010 season and my fantasy team led by Ryan Fitzpatrick and Wes Welker goes off and finally wins. Yes the Bills snapped a 15 game losing streak against their high flying neighbours. Fitzpatrick led his Bills to their second heart stopping comeback in as many weeks with many commentators and analysts believing they are for real and not just on an early season hot streak. New England however have severe weaknesses and once again show that if Brady isn’t on form the defense cannot stop anybody and with nobody to run the ball consistently controlling the clock it has to be Tom Terrific all day.
Jacksonville Jaguars 10 Carolina Panthers 16
If ever a game showed just how important the Quarterback position is in the NFL it was this low scoring affair. Carolina didn’t do anything in the first three quarters but then the #1 overall pick Cam Newton earned every penny of his deal orchestrating a fourth quarter comeback with a TD toss to Greg Olsen (who is also found on the 2 point conversion) while Jacksonville struggled in Blaine Gabbert’s first start even though they seemingly hadn’t entered the season wanting to play the rookie (David Garrard must still be on the floor laughing counting his money). Carolina are in a tough division and will not be expected to win many games but after his big yardage multiple turnover games it was good to see Newton make few mistakes and come up big when required.
New York Giants 29 Philadelphia Eagles 16
So much for the ‘Dream Team’ as Vince Young christened them in training camp, even if the road loss in Atlanta could be swept under the carpet this certainly cannot as Eagles fans do not stand for losses at home especially against the Giants. To add insult to injury or technically injury to insult Michael Vick left with a broken hand (the non throwing one) and replacement Mike Kafka had two interceptions in seven attempts. Even more worrying is that the big money defensive backs were shredded by Eli Manning as he threw for 254 yards and 4 touchdowns including a 74 yard toss to Victor Cruz and scored another right over Nnamdi Asomugha but at least have LeSean McCoy in the backfield. New York on the other hand have answered their week one critics with two solid performances and if their running game can reproduce the thunder and lightning of the previous decade Manning has the tools to lead them to another Superbowl.
Miami Dolphins 16 Cleveland Brown 17
Even the emergence of rookie running back Daniel Thomas won’t satisfy the Dolphin fans who saw Cleveland come from behind to win with a late Colt McCoy touchdown. Miami are still searching for their first win and on this eveidence it will be a long time coming as even with time to mount a comeback Mike Adams picked off Chad Henne with seconds left to thwart any Dolphin hopes. Cleveland can take heart from the win and the performance of the ever improving McCoy but in the absence of Peyton Hillis their running game could not provide the platform the young QB will need against stronger opposition but they are another young team who appear to be heading in the right direction.
Detroit Lions 23 Minnesota Vikings 20
In yet another of the week three comebacks Detroit turned a 20-0 half time deficit around to win in overtime against division rivals Minnesota. The Vikings have now blown leads in each of their opening three games with many wondering if the right choices were made at Quarterback and if the Head Coach Leslie Frazier is up to the job. Detroit fans will point to the combination of Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson as the main reason for victory as the pair hooked up for two TD’s and a huge overtime play that set up the game winning field goal. The win puts the Lions joint top of the NFC North at 3-0 while the Vikings may want to start scouting Andrew Luck as they are still without a win.
Denver Broncos 14 Tennessee Titans 17
Matt Hasselbeck threw for 311 yards and 2 TD’s as the Broncos defense still can’t stop anyone no matter what scheme they are playing. In fact the only person unable to move the ball on the Broncos was Chris Johnson who looks like he is running with his entire $53m contract in his pockets. In truth neither team was able to move the ball on the ground and the game was won as the veteran Hasselbeck was able to look after the ball better than Kyle Orton who threw two interceptions. Tennessee could yet have a say in the AFC South as Jacksonville and Indianapolis look dead in the water with their QB troubles and if the Titans can find the running game an improved defense and a savvy veteran in Hasselbeck are just what is required.
Baltimore Ravens 37 St. Louis Rams 7
Rookie Torrey Smith did not even play in Baltimore’s opening two games and after a disappointing pre season the team signed veteran Lee Evans and many were thinking the former Maryland Terrapin was something of a bust. Then came a trip to St. Louis and Smith’s first catch as a pro was a 74 yard touchdown, his second was a 41 yard touchdown and his third a 18 yard touchdown (he also had two further catches but they didn’t go the distance) and using Peter King maths that’s equates to a season production of 70 catches for 2128 yards and 42 touchdowns. Thanks to the Joe Flacco to Smith connection, three Billy Cundiff field goals and a 28 yard fumble return from Haloti Ngata the Ravens ran out comfortable victors against a Rams team that had promised so much but have delivered so little this season.
Kansas City Chiefs 17 San Diego Chargers 20
A week after losing star running back Jamaal Charles the Chiefs almost pulled of a surprise victory and if not for safety Eric Weddle repaying some of his position leading new salary they would have. Philip Rivers threw two interceptions as the Chargers looked like the early season Chargers of old but Weddle’s late interception and a anaemic Chiefs offense spared Norv Turner’s blushes. But why Rivers was attempted 38 passes when the running game, led by Ryan Matthew 98 yards and 2 TD’s, was working well and the team was leading is anyone’s guess, but a 2-1 Chargers side will get out of September above.500 and are on course for a return to the playoffs.
New York Jets 24 Oakland Raiders 34
If the league is becoming a pass driven affair then somebody has forgotten to give that memo to the Raiders and star running back Darren McFadden (or more likely they got the memo and Al Davis has chosen to ignore it and go his own way again). McFadden ran for 171 yards and 2 TD’s with Michael Bush chipping in for 22 more and a score of his own. Have the Raiders exposed a weakness it the Jets defense or are McFadden and the Offensive line just that good, only time will tell but maybe the Raiders can provide a challenge out west. They still gave up over 350 yards through the air and if not for a couple of costly Jets turn overs and penalties this could have been different and Rex Ryan will say the Jets are still Superbowl bound, but we expect no less.
Green Bay Packers 27 Chicago Bears 17
I am not the only Bears fan that wants Mike Martz fired (the fact I never wanted him hired in the first place is testament to that) but if he is still in charge when the Bears and Bucs roll into Wembley I will not be responsible for my actions. Granted the outcome of the game may not have been different if Mike Tice or even I was calling the plays but Martz’s complete abandonment of the run for the second game in a row coupled with these pointless pre snap motions and long drop backs are killing this team and may kill the franchise QB. That being said Green Bay look as good if not better than the side that won the Superbowl on offense but there are concerns of defense and where it not for a phantom holding call on what should have been the play of the season on a Jonny Knox Punt Return the Bears would have had a chance to win. Both teams are what I thought they were, Green Bay are playoff bound and Chicago are driving their fans insane as once again the defense and special teams are their just the offense or to be exact the offensive co-ordinator are holding them back. Remind me, how much do hit men make?
Atlanta Falcons 13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16
Tampa Bay were the second team of the day to snap a long standing divisional losing streak as they beat Atlanta for the first time in three years. Despite a late Falcon comeback it was a swarming defensive effort that forced three turn overs, four sacks and limited Atlanta to just 30 yards of rushing offense. While the offense wasn’t stellar it did just enough especially late in the fourth quarter as the games key play may have been Tampa’s ability to lure the Falcons offside and enable them to run out the clock. Most people expected Tampa with a tougher schedule to last year to regress but it’s the Falcons who have been nothing like their 2010 vintage even with Matt Ryan’s 330 passing yards.
Arizona Cardinals 10 Seattle Seahawks 13
In case anyone cared there was a game in the Pacific North West as the low flying Cardinals faced off against the grounded Seahawks. In a game where both sides could move the ball, as the opposing defences’ are just as bad as the offense, but struggled to get in the end zone it was left to Seattle QB Tarvaris Jackson to score the crucial TD with you guesses it his legs not his arm. If not for another spectacular catch by Larry Fitzgerald Arizona wouldn’t have found the end zone and it makes you question his loyalty to the franchise as he signed an extension earlier in the year when every team in the league would have thrown money his way in free agency. This win leaves both teams at 1-2 but in a division with St. Louis and San Francisco who knows which team will make the playoffs and just how few wins will be enough.
Pittsburgh Steelers 23 Indianapolis Colts 20
Was this a sign of life in Indianapolis or of Pittsburgh’s underlying problems? Most expected a blow out on Sunday night but the Steelers who have been one of the leagues better running teams over recent season couldn’t get anything going on the ground against a Colt’s side who usually allow 100 yards to a JV squad. This time it was left to Big Ben Roethlisberger and the defense even though they needed a Shaun Suisham field goal to secure victory. Indianapolis fans were delighted to see Peyton Manning even if it was in the co-ordinators box and must have been wondering why, after Kerry Collins was knocked out of the game, Curtis Painter wasn’t trusted from the start as baring a fumble caused by James Harrison and returned for a TD by Troy Polamalu the backup QB nearly lead the Colts to an unlikely victory.
Washington Redskins 16 Dallas Cowboys 18
It wasn’t a classic by any standards but who amongst us would honestly be doing anything with two broken ribs and a punctured lung let alone playing professional sport, but Tony Romo lead his Cowboys to a division victory over the previously unbeaten Redskins. Six field goals from Dan Bailey on the back of 155 total yards from Felix Jones were enough to overcome three Graham Gno field goals and a solitary Tim Hightower TD in reply. Both teams have started 2-1 and will be happy to be sharing the NFC East lead with the Giants but neither will be satisfied here, this was a real chance for Washington to record their second divisional win and move a game clear and Dallas in spite of a win will be concerned that the team couldn’t convert any of their drives into more than field goals.
5 thoughts on the week;
1. Whether Detroit and Buffalo make the playoffs or not, and in two tough divisions the later is possible, they are for real. And it is nice to see some spark in two historic franchises that have been dormant for too long. Both have done it through the draft with some shrewd free agent acquisitions but because they have drafted wisely even if this isn’t the year they are built for the long haul.
2. In a league that values parity it is amazing that one player (usually the Quarterback) can have such an impact on a team’s fortune. Yes it’s the key position but there have been many good teams lead by average QB’s, even some who have won it all with the likes of Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson but the woes of Indianapolis, Seattle, Miami and Jacksonville show just how important the signal caller has become.
3. Unless of course you’re in Oakland (another example of Al Davis going against the trends of the NFL, Just Win Baby) where after years of big armed QB’s and speedy wide receivers leading the way Oakland have hitched their wagon to Darren McFadden. He is one of only five men who have over 300 yards (he has 393) and five men to be carrying the ball over 20 times a game. In years gone by 25 attempts was a mythical number that stud running backs wanted but in the era of the QB there is little left for a franchise back.
4. All the talk was due to a shortened off season defenses would rule and that is just not happening in fact it’s the offense that is coming out on top in nearly every game. And in some cases (Green Bay, New Orleans, New England, Buffalo, Houston) this isn’t stopping teams from winning. Is this move to high scoring all offense a sign of things to come has years of college spread formations finally caught up to the pro’s or is it just that right now we are seeing an anomaly that will rectify itself by the end of the season, or is everyone just so gripped by fantasy football that they are just wanting to make sure that their team puts up as many points as possible just to make our lives more frustrating.
5. No matter what sport you play you cannot just buy success, teams are built over a series of years and Philadelphia are the latest team to be finding this out the hard way. Just because you decide to bring in every top name free agent doesn’t mean you are going to be successful, in fact the only player performing at a dream team level (LeSean McCoy) was their all along.
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