2013 Week 8 Thursday Night Pick

Game Pick:

Panthers (3-3) vs. Buccaneers (0-6)

Pick: Panthers

What we learned

5. Games have been decided by closer margins; though what this says about the league and the teams is set to be seen. Have we reached the point where teams can scout each other so well?

4. The Jaguars have the potential to go 0-16 this season, and in my opinion will. 

3. Though RGIII has shown improvement, he is not back to as much form as he thinks and the Redskins will miss the playoffs. 

2. The Broncos are still one of the best teams in the AFC, but if they want to remain so they must improve the defense. 

1. The Colts are the real deal and must be treated as a serious contender. 

2013 Week 7 Thursday Night Pick and Wrap up

Firstly,

Seahawks (5-1) vs. Cardinals (3-3)

Pick: Seahawks

5. RGIII is not the same as last season. Recovered or not, he's clearly not the same QB. Not sure if the team is holding him back, or if he personally feels concerned about his recovery. 

4. The Rams are rising and no one is paying attention. (Everyone is too distracted by the Texans falling). 

3. The Lions are the real deal. (And yes, I will harp on it until they win a playoff game.)

2. There is a larger gap between teams -- basically it seems like teams tend to either be really good or quite bad, with a few teams floundering in between.

1. The power in the league is shifting slightly, from the traditionally good teams to some new playoff figures. 

Thursday Night Picks and Wrap Up

Bills (2-2) vs. Browns (1-1)
Pick: Bills

This was actually a tough game to pick because both teams have surprised the league so far this season. Both had big wins last weekend and both are under new leadership. The Bills beat a better opponent last week and their defense looked amazing.

Here are five things we learned last week:

5. The Texans are in trouble, though they know it and will try to fix it. However, it will probably be too late for them to catch the Colts.

4. The Steelers will not make the playoffs.

3. Having byes in week 4 isn't good.

2. Matt Flynn will never be a starting QB in the league.

1. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a ship that's sinking fast and will be the next New York Jets if they're not careful.

Super Bowl XLVI Wrap

What a game.

Super Bowl XLVI certainly lived up to the hype – yet the end result was the same.

The Giants outplayed the Patriots in the clutch. I’m not even going to touch the specifics of the game right now for several reasons. I haven’t looked at the game film and ESPN and co. have dealt with it plenty. I probably will go through it at some point.

Rather, I would like to discuss the ramifications of this game – basically what it all means.

Firstly, the question now needs to be raised ‘Are the Giants a dynasty in the making?’ Let me elaborate. Over the course of the last five Super Bowls, the Giants have won two of them. Once knocking off the ‘perfect’ Patriots through superior play in the clutch, something New England used to be known for. If Eli and Coughlin win one more in the next three or four years, I think the topic needs to come up.

On a similar subject, Eli had become ELIte. Leave him alone. I know many people don’t like him because of the way he acted on draft day. That was eight years ago. And it looks like a pretty good decision now, doesn’t it? Regardless of how one personally feels about him, one must admit that he has turned elite. I’m not a huge fan of Brady, but will admit that he is an elite quarterback. Between setting the record for 4^th quarter touchdowns and beating Green Bay, Sand Francisco and the Patriots (all on the road), in the playoffs when it mattered most, Eli had proven he needs to be in the conversation. Big bro Peyton may have four NFL MVPS, but Eli had two Super Bowl MVPs and rings. Both against New England, Peyton’s kryptonite.

Tom Coughlin—now the oldest coach to ever win a Super Bowl—has also changed the way he will be viewed in NFL history. He has now won as many Super Bowls as greats such as Lombardi and Parcells. He has survived New York. He has prepared his team under pressure. He has adapted to the new NFL, yet maintained enough of the ‘old’ coaching style. He had proved that the way to win Super Bowls is the way coaches have for years—quiet preparation, not big talk. He is not Rex Ryan. He controls his team, but not with an iron fist like he used to. And he had maintained a winning atmosphere  

Now, on to New England’s Head Coach and Quarterback.

Let me start by saying that I understand both Brady and Belichick are first ballot hall of famers. Nothing will change that. What I’m  talking about is how they’re viewed. Basically the legacy effect.

Here’s what it comes down to—for Brady more than Belichick.

They won their three Super Bowls in a small window of time—just four years. Yes, dynasty. No doubt. But long term, they didn’t have dominant success. Yes, the 16-0 season, but Indy gave theirs up two years later and Green Bay almost had one this year. And because they did lost the super Bowl that year, it becomes a novelty in NFL history. A what if statement. Then followed several years of regular season success and playoff disappointment. This year, they once again fell short on the big stage.

All I’m saying is that a lot of the credit for New England’s success in those years (2001-2004) went to Brady. Though he was good during those years, the Patriots of today have shown that there was more going on there than just a good quarterback. Those teams proved attitude, that a team first mentality can win championships without dominant players and create a dynasty. Players on those teams say that this mentality was the key to their success –it helped them stay together in times of trouble and have faith they could win the tough games. Those Patriots teams were great—there is no doubt. All I want to raise here is how much of a role Brady truly played. Widen the scope on those teams. Next time you want to say Brady is better than Manning look closer at the talent around each of them. Compare the mentality of the teams. Anyway, that is a discussion for a later time. It appears now that Brady and Belichick have lost the magic.

Over all, this Super Bowl was good for the Giants’ legacy, yet a blemish on New England’s long term picture. It will go down as a great Super Bowl, though not as epic as the first match-up. After all, you only get a chance to make a team go 18-1 once. 

Week 13 Wrap

So, I have a story to tell you all. I wouldn't normally toot my own horn like this, but this was pretty epic. My uncle called me on Sunday morning and was asking me about the Redskins/Jets game. I don't beat, but sometimes will pick the spread for fun. He asked me what the spread would have to be for me to pick the Redskins. I told him I'd take them if the spread was sixteen points or more. (I don't know what the actual spread was, however.) I hope he took that bet, because it was dead on. The Redskins lost by 15. Which means they beat my spread. And I was one point off in predicting that game. Just saying. 

Chiefs v. Bears (10-3)

This was actually a moderately entertaining game. The reason I’m writing about it is the two quarterbacks playing in this one. Tyler Palko did just enough to win, which basically was throwing an incredible hail Mary pass right before half time. Teams laugh at that, but in this case it was the difference in the game. He may be headed for the bench once Kyle Orton gets his feet under him, but at least he gave them one moment of brilliance. On the other side, Caleb Hanie didn’t screw things up that badly. So he hasn’t been an instant winner, but Martz’s offense is known for being complex. Give him a few more games – he may yet save the Bears playoff hopes.

Raiders v. Dolphins (14-34)

These Miami Dolphins may save Tony Sparano’s job. MAY. But they have really turned things around. It’s a shame that they didn’t get it together before they lost the first seven. If they finish at five hundred, then I predict his job may be okay, just because of positive momentum. However, regardless of the beat-downs they seem to deliever every week (now), I still think Sparano is one of the top coaches on the hot seat. We’ve already seen one go—so I wouldn’t be surprised if Sparano goes. It would be almost a tragedy, because he has gotten things together. Go strong, Miami, play for your coach.

Falcons v. Texans (10-17)

Who is T.J Yates? Well, he doesn’t seem to be a bad quarterback. Gary Kubiak has a reputation for having his back-ups ready and this season has shown it. But by having both Yates and Leinart ready to go when he lost his starter, and a pro-bowler at that, he has shown why he has remained the Texans’ head coach when many wanted to fire him. They’re poised to make the playoffs for the first time in team history. They might not get very far, but winning the division is just the first step. Manning won’t be around forever, so this might be a sign of things to come.

Packers v. Giants (38-35)

For a moment, I was thinking that the Giants could do it again. Twice in five years would have been quite an accomplishment. But they fell just short. It’s a shame they’re fighting for a playoff spot because they’ve had one of the toughest schedules of the NFC, if not the whole league. If the season ended today, they would be out and Detroit would be in. But they have a chance to win the division, being one game behind the Cowboys. The PACK is BACK. However, they don’t look as unbeatable as I thought they should. But I’ve been talking about them going undefeated (at least in the regular season) for a while now. However, I think going undefeated in the regular season, while awesome, is not a Super Bowl ring

Colts v. Patriots (24-31)

It’s a shame that what was once one of the best rivalries in the game was moved out of the top spot due to lack of interest. But let’s face it, without Manning, this isn’t much of a game. The Colts gave it a shot, like they have all season, but fell just short. It almost breaks my heart that the Colts are thrown out of primetime without Manning. Give them a chance. They’re playing well, but not producing. I think that Jim Caldwell is on the hot seat now. If they go 0-16, then there’s no way the management can justify not cleaning house. There’s so much more wrong with this team than just the loss of Manning. Two seasons removed from what was going to be an undefeated season, they can’t win a game. What does that say about the head coach? About everyone in that organization? Watch for some major changes here. 

Week 12 Wrap

Here's the week 12 wrap! I was at the Ravens game, which was just as epic as advertised. I loved every second of it. What a great game to pick to go to. Oh, and they won. Speaking of winning, Tebow Time seems win everything. 'all he does is win... all he does is win' -- wasn't that a song somewhere? Tebow's theme song, as a matter of fact. Bills' fans, don't despair. Steelers' fans, panic? 

49ers v. Ravens (6-16)

The Baltimore Ravens have developed this incredible tendency of performing to the level of their competition. 3-3 against teams at .500 or below and 5-0 against teams with winning records. This baffles me. But they show in the big games. The 49ers are a good team. Except for the Packers, they would have the best record in the NFC. This game was about more than brother v. brother, though that was an important historical moment for the NFL and the Harbaughs. But it was about two good teams battling out on Thanksgiving Day. And the Ravens came out on top. Even without Ray Lewis.

Bills v. Jets (24-28)

The Bills may have fallen a little bit. But I have a feeling they are on the rise. This was a good game between the Bills and the Jets. The Bills played very well and fought until the end, losing on a last minute drive by the Jets. Their playoff hopes are on the fritz now, but if they win out they still have a shot. Don’t write them off yet—this game showed that when they play well, they can go with the best of them. The Jets have a mixed bag here. They should be proud of Sanchez, but worried about this defense. This is not really a Rex Ryan defense. Too many points given up, too many running yards given up. It’s is not fixed yet.

Broncos v. Chargers (16-13)

This game was almost a tie. Almost. Thirty seconds away from being one, one might say. However, besides the Chargers’ slide, we must once again talk about Tim Tebow. The Broncos at 5-1 with him leading the charge. Clearly all this kid does is win. I still have a feeling that it might be short lived. He still can’t throw as well as he should be able to and is still more of a single wing tail back than a true quarterback. But John Fox is known for developing young quarterbacks. We’ll see if he can be the one who fixes Tebow. Elway’s not sold yet, so no one else should be either. Someone please put the Chargers out of their misery. I wouldn’t be surprised if Norv Turner bit the dust at the end of this season, or before.

Panthers v. Colts (27-19)

This game was within the Colts’ reach, but once again they dropped the ball. Benching Painter will not solve this. These problems run so much deeper than a lack of quarterback. The defense is terrible, the pass rush in nonexistent and the whole thing has just gone completely to hell without Peyton. Yet I still hear trade rumors about Peyton Manning. That will never happen. They would have to be stupid. They need to draft Luck, and let him sit behind Peyton for a year or two or as many as it takes before he retired. They have a unique situation here, and they should take advantage of it to ensure that the Colts never seen another season like this.

Steelers v. Chiefs (13-9)

If the Chiefs hadn’t kicked field goals, but rather gotten touchdowns, they would have won this game. But their quarterback (what was his name again?) threw three interceptions and doomed them. But perhaps Chiefs fans can take solace from this. After all, with a real quarterback like Kyle Orton at the helm, there might be hope for this team. Steelers’ fans should be a little concerned. Where are the points this offense is capable of generating? They should have blown out the Chiefs, rather than taking the game down the wire. And if they lose Troy out of this, then they’re really in trouble. After all they have to keep up with those pesky Ravens, who own the tie break.

Turkey Day Football

Well, NFL, you finally get what you want. Some decent games on Thanksgiving.
From calling for the game to be taken away from the Lions and Cowboys last year, we're screaming with delight at the games this year. The Lions have a chance to unseat the undeafeated Packers, the Dolphins and Cowboys are both on three game winning streaks and the brothers face off for the first time tonight. Every game has something interesting for fans. Congrats, NFL, eat your heart out.

PICKS

Lions (7-3) v. Packers (10-0)
Pick: Lions
Dolphins(3-7) v. Cowboys (6-4)
Pick: Cowboys
49ers (9-1) v. Ravens (7-3)
Pick: Ravens
(I will be at that game)

PS Also, I am sorry for dropping the ball last weekend on getting picks up here. I have them written down and will be posting a week 11 wrap-up. I had to go out of town and didn't have internet access.

Week 8 Wrap-up

Here are my week 8 wraps! Enjoy them --- and comment, if you so desire. Let the Tebow debate begin... or not. 

Vikings v. Panthers (24-21)

This was actually a good game. Despite the records of both teams, the game was close and well played. Both rookie quarterbacks played pretty well – Ponder and Newton continued to impress. However, I’m not sold on either. Ponder has time to convince me he is the answer, because he’s only played two games and won one of them. Newton, on the other hand, has played all of the games for his team and has only won two of them. He has put up flashy numbers, but if they don’t translate into wins, what does it matter in the long run? Look out for Ponder to continue to improve. Newton needs a little bit more of a running game and a defense before those flashy numbers can turn into wins.

Saints v. Rams (21-31)

What just happened? In all seriousness, what just happened? I have no idea what went down here. The Saints laid down for the Rams. Or were on such a high from last week’s utter beat down of the Colts. I have no idea what happened. The Saints need to take a long look at this tape and figure out how to avoid this in the future. First the Seahawks last year in the playoffs and now this. Good job, Rams. Save Spagnolo please!!

Lions v. Broncos (45-10)

The Lions are BACK. YAY. They got their swag back and are back on track. Stafford and the defense played well. However, there is  much to be said on the subject on Tim Tebow. The best Tebow related thing that happened was when one of the Lions’ defensive lineman ‘Tebowed’ on Tebow. I am not sold on Tebow. Really. Not at all. He’s a great human being, but that doesn’t mean he can play football. He looked great last week but now is questionable. He played terribly. Really badly. All of his problems came out in this one game – not going through his progressions, long delivery and poor accuracy. Welcome to Tebow time, Denver.

Patriots v. Steelers (17-25)

The Steelers are playing the best ball of their season right now. They’ve looked pretty good in all the recent games. Beat the Patriots is always an impressive feat. They’ve gotten their swag back and are ready to put up a fight against Baltimore. What was most impressive about this game, besides Ben’s accuracy, was the fact that they gave Tom Brady the ball with time left and stopped him. Not only stopped him, but scored points. However, this all being said, the Patriots mismanaged the clock when they had the ball down at the goal line in the 4^th. If they hadn’t done that, the outcome of this game might have been different.

Chargers v. Chiefs (20-23)

This was a good game. Newsflash – who are these Chiefs? They’ve won four in a row and are showing no signs of slowing down. They prevented the Chargers from getting in the end zone. That being said, the Chargers also didn’t capitalize on the chances they had. They let this one go away, but equal amount of credit should go to the Chiefs defense. These Chiefs have gotten their act together and really surprised me. I must admit I was ready to stick a fork in them so to speak when they were 0-3. Nice job, Haley and Cassel.

Cowboys v. Eagles (7-34)

The Eagles are back on track. Sorry Dallas, you ran right into the ACTUAL Eagles, rather than the turnover prone imitation that existed for the first few weeks. 

Week 7 Wrap-up

Sorry this is so late guys -- I just have had a lot of work recently and school does come first. But here's week 7, summarized for your enjoyment. From Tebow Magic, to London and back for Christian Ponder. 

Broncos v. Dolphins (18-15)

The Dolphins are on the hot seat. They’ve been losing games dating back to last season. And after this game the only thing I could think about them was that they’re finding new ways to lose games. Get it together Miami. Alright, to the topic everyone wants to hear about – Tim Tebow. Folks, let’s be honest here for the first 55 minutes of this game, he was horrible. Horrendous. No points scored, no offense. The Dolphins were winning, for Pete’s sake! But then during those last five minutes, he turned on the Tebow Magic. However, it was a little close for comfort. Before I see Tebow as the answer, I need to him to perform ‘Tebow Magic’ for a whole game against a team that hasn’t lost, what, it’s last ten games?

Chargers v. Jets  (21-27)

The Chargers were running away with this game and gave it back. After all the talk, they needed to come out and win it. The Chargers are rolling, but they really haven’t faced anyone really good yet and have the Raiders suddenly creeping up their backs. It worries me that the Chargers let the already down Jets jump back up into the fray. This is just a little too close to the Chargers teams of the past, who choke. Don’t be that team, San Diego. Push on. Also, could this be the spark that the Jets need to really get going? I hope not.

Bears v. Buccaneers (24-18)

I’m not actually that interested in what happened in this game –this game is only significant because it was played in London. The NFL insists on having a game in London every year. I have mixed feelings about this. I think it’s good for the game and a novelty, and quite honestly would love to attend one of these games. But if you look in the crowd you see a jersey from every team. Are these just displaced Americans, or are Londoners actually interested in this sport? Tough to tell. Rumors of a team in London are coming out--- that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Don’t do it NFL; our type of football may be a novelty over there, but it will never replace, or even compete with their futbol.

Packers v. Vikings (33-27)

This was one of the closest games the Packers have played all season. Though I never really doubted they would win, it is impressive how the Vikings stuck with them through most of the game, only really letting it get away in the second half. Though the Packers were bound to overpower the Vikings, the real story here is how rookie QB Christian Ponder performed. It wasn’t bad, especially considering that he played the defending champs in his first start out of the gate. People shouted during the draft that he was taken too high – but he played okay. Better than okay, really. It’s too early to tell, but I have a hunch that this Ponder kid might have been picked in the right spot.

Colts v. Saints (7-62)

Holy Bleep! The Saints opened up a whole can of Brees-just-beat-you-down on the Colts. Indy has been playing games close this season, but this was just an embarrassment on national television. It also put an end to the Colts’ streak of 10 win season. And probably the playoffs too. Not probably, actually. The Saints looked incredibly ready for what some might have called a ‘trap-game’ and impressed. They also took back the division lead from the Buccs, who lost. The bottom line is the Colts are the worst team in the league.

Ravens v. Jaguars (7-12)

There are no words, really. 

Week 6 Wrap-up

Everything from an undefeated season for the Packers to the handshake turned brawl. Everything you could ever want to relive from Week 6! Enjoy. 

49ers v. Lions (25-19)

The Lions proved that every week can’t be a comeback week. They really let this game get away from them in the fourth, something they haven’t done all year. I was a little surprised by that, but I know they’ll bounce back. You can’t win them all, really. The most controversial thing to come out of the game was the handshake/slap down by Harbaurgh and Scwartz. Jim Harbaurgh needs to learn to be a little bit more of a professional, calming down enough to shake and exchange words like a regular human. However, regardless of what happened, Scwartz shouldn’t have gone after him like that. Both a fiery guys, but I never would have expected this from two NFL coaches. Grow up, guys.

Cowboys v. Patriots (16-20)

The Cowboys almost won this game – which didn’t surprise me all that much. Though they now have a losing record, they were one stopped Tom Brady game away from being 3-2, and beating New England. This team has made huge strides from where they were a year ago. Garrett is the right fit, and just needs them to come out on top of a few more of the close ones. Dallas may not have a stellar record, but I think they are far from done. New England just does what they do best – give Tom Brady the ball with 2:00 left.

Saints v. Buccaneers (20-26)

Firstly, the Saints were one unfortunate pick away from winning this game, really. Don’t hate on New Orleans yet – though it was a division game, it won’t affect them in the long run. They’re still in the division hunt, which we knew was going to be close from day one.  Keep the faith, New Orleans. Tampa Bay is impressive here because they came back from a huge beat down by the 49ers just a week before this. Morris has this team in the right mind-set.  I need some time to figure out why they got their butts handed to them by the 49ers then could come out and beat the Saints. SEE ALSO, Bills v. Giants. What is the deal here?

Eagles v. Redskins (20-13)

The Eagles found the Rex Grossman everyone has been looking for all season – bad Rex. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for them. Because they were finally able to win a game, they are not yet down and completely out. They need to take a spark from this and continue to push through games. I wouldn’t count stick a fork in the Eagles yet. Give them time – looks like they are on the right track to righting the ship. The Redskins are the ‘skins we know from past years. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Is John Beck really the answer here? We’ll see.

Rams v. Packers (3-24)

I’m not writing about this game because of the failing Rams. I want to explore a possibility it may be a little bit early to talk about… an undefeated season for the Packers. I’m not necessarily talking about a Super Bowl (19-0) season, but perhaps an undefeated regular season. They look absolutely unbeatable and have all the missing pieces back from injury, even those like Grant and Finnley who had to miss all of last season. I may be crazy to bring this up so early, but I feel the need to talk about it. So here I am, saying it. And if they get the chance to do it, around 14-0 or so, they won’t lay down for the Jets (or any other team) and say that an undefeated regular season ‘isn’t an accomplishment’ and that resting the starters is key. The Packers have that killer instinct for it Go get it Green Bay. 

Week 5 Wrap-up

Here it is!  Week 5 wrapped up for your pleasure, in case you missed any of it. I had the joy of being home this weekend for fall break and getting to watch all the games on NFL RedZone. Who ever thought of that channel should be paid millions of dollars. Oh wait, they probably already are.

Eagles v. Bills (24-31)
Time to panic in Philly. I know I've been saying it for a while, but now, if they don't turn things around, they may miss the playoffs. IF things don';t improve both offensivley (mostly the line) and defensive (surprisingly, the secondary is one of the problems), they  may not even get a shot at the prize that they were awawred before teh season even began. The Bills, on the other hand, seem ot have put all the piecces together. To be fair, they caught a lot of breaks in this game,such as the two fluek interceptions. However, they got the 'W' and are leading their division. Who'd have thought?
Chiefs v. Colts (28-24)
How could Indy have let this one get away? I was watching it and thinking they had it in the bag,. The defense ket them down, but the offense's inability to score pointsi n the second hlaf was pretty detremtnal as well. Bold predicition - the Colts will ntio make the playoffs (not such a bold predictions) or win 10 games (more boldness). The Chiefs are doing as good job digging themselves out of the 0-3 start. Regardless, I don't see a repeat diviosn title for them either.
Jets v. Patriots (21-30) 
Congrats, New England, you've gotten over the hump? NBot wuite. The PAtriots played well and got the job done. Who knew they had a running game? But the etys are not the force they have been the last two years. Even with Mangold back at center, the Jets looked only marginally better. There's no running game, never really has been a passing game and the defense can't stop the run. For three weeks in a row. These Jets need to figure out who they are -- not who they want to be.
Packers v. Falcons (25-14)
First off, why was this game being played uin the dome for the third time in a year? Though the PAckers looked a little rough in the first half, they got it together and won. IT must also eb noted that the Falcons are not the great team they were klast year. They didn;'te vene have John Abraham to wrack havoc on the offensive line. The Falcons need to fix some major things before they can start thinking too far ahead, even about a repeat divison title. Is it too early to be talking about an undefeated season for Green Bay?
Bears v. Lions (13-24)
Detroit, you deserved this first Monday night game since 2001.  And, though there was a slow start, it became a show of how dominant Detroit can be. For the Bears, Jay Cutler should have put to rest any of those haters who are still talking about the NFC championship game last year. He played while Suh was in his face almost every play, didn't complain, didn't throw picks and really kept his team in the game. The defense really killed them here, giving up too many big plays. I knew the Lions were going to be a big play team -- how could they not with Megatron? The party is just beginning in Detroit, who is finally starting to mean something on the national stage. This game was key in the resurgence of both the team and the city. Roar on, Lions.

Other games of note:
Raiders v. Texans (25-20) - "Just Win Baby"
Chargers v. Broncos (29-24) - It's Tebow Time!!
Buccaneers v. 49ers (3-48) - Largest margin of victory for the 49ers since a super bowl.

Week 4 Wrap-up

Sorry that this is so late... my computer is now fixed, so this shouldn't happen again! I hope you guys still enjoy it, regardless. Week 5 picks will be up tomorrow! 

 LIONS LIONS LIONS....

Lions v. Cowboys (34-30)

The Cowboys let this one slip away. Tony Romo – possibly the most talked about quarterback since Brett Favre – was two different players in this game. Matthew Stafford got the Lions offense running late for the umpteenth comeback. He’s proving why he was a number one overall pick all those years ago.  Calvin Johnson, who is doing likewise, should be MVP. He takes the Lions in his hands and always seems to have the critical catch. These Lions are riding on a cloud. They’re catching all the breaks they missed over the past few years. Keep flying Detroit. And Dallas, lay off Tony Romo.

Bills v. Bengals (20-23)                                                           

So the Bills lost a game. To the Bengals. Andy Dalton came in and did what he had to do to win. For the Bills, don’t be crushed. You’re leading the division, knocked off the Patriots last week and now your emotions can calm down. You’d better stop playing all these close games, otherwise Chan Galiey will have a heart attack. The Bengals are still not doing enough to win the division, though I must admit they are not the train wreck I thought they would be. Marvin Lewis may keep his job.

49ers v. Eagles (24-23)

Who are these 49ers? Alex Smith seems to now be passable, though I must admit I haven’t seen him play a ton. He doesn’t seem to be losing them games anymore though. Harbaugh, like his brother in Baltimore four years ago, seems to have put things back on track. The 49ers are now leading the division, which although it is a bad one, is still an accomplishment. The Eagles, on the other hand, are last. Eagles fans, panic. Panic now. Which it sounds like you already are. Vick is right – the rest of the season’s games are ‘must-wins’.

Jets v. Ravens (17-34)

The Ravens doubled up the Jets. And pretty much made Mark Sanchez cry. That being said, the Ravens offense did pretty much nothing, though they did have the only offensive touchdown in this game. However, this game showed that the defense can still take control and win games. Don’t ever call Ray Lewis and Ed reed old. The Jets tried to be a team they’re not – a passing team. Mark Sanchez is not a passer, really. He manages the game. Though he’s gonna have trouble doing even that if the offensive line can’t improve.

Colts v. Buccaneers (17-24)

Curtis Painter didn’t stink as badly as I thought he would. In fact, he was almost good. Almost. But once again, almost doesn’t get you anything in the NFL. Colts fans, prepare to not make the playoffs this year. I can think of at least 6 teams in the AFC who are better (Ravens, Texans, Jets, Patriots, Bills, Chargers). Josh Freeman isn’t putting up the number he did last year, but remains a good 4^th quarter comeback quarterback. He’s winning games, with Blount’s help, which is all that really matters in Tampa. 

Week Two Wrap-up

Here is my take on five games of last week. I really haven't said enough about the Raiders Bills game, but am still in such awe of it, that I can't even put it into words. The Lions continue to be epic, as seems to be the theme this season. The other three games are just a few quick notes. I just wanted to touch on a few things, like the Vikings falling apart, Tony Romo's grit finally existing, and the 'Dream team's' first loss.

Also, last week for picks - 13-2-1 ^_^ (sorry about the New England / San Diego game-- it slipped through the crack for some reason.) 

Raiders v. Bills (35-38)

These are not last year’s Bills. Anyone who watched this game (and everyone should have), especially the fourth quarter, sees a team that has pulled itself together. Rather than falling apart at being down by multiple scores, the Bills rallied to put together a drive and win. Now I’m not saying that the Bills are Super Bowl worthy – yet . But I am saying that they are no longer a push over team.

Chiefs v. Lions (3-48)

As long as the Lions keep winning and putting up crazy numbers of points (ranked 3^rd in the NFL), I will continue writing about them. I think that the Lions will continue to thrive. They have the offense, they have the defense and they don’t need special teams because they never kick field goals. I’m slightly kidding there, but each piece is good. I don’t even think the Lions have a challenge until week 7 at Atlanta. We’ll see if I’m right. Keep rolling, Detroit.

Buccaneers v. Vikings (24-20)

Vikings fans, time to panic. The Buccs were down by 3 scores and came back to win. The Vikings laid down and gave it to them. Donovan was supposed to be the answer here. He’s not. A knock on him has always been his lack of pacing. He tends to slow down and lose momentum, which is exactly what happened here. A coach like Andy Reid could always get it out of him, but so far no other coach has been able to. But the defense also needs to take the heat for this one. Panic, Vikings fans. Now.

Cowboys v. 49ers (27-24)

Where were these Cowboys last week? 49ers fans, don’t start yelling yet. This was really won by Tony Romo’s grit, not your faults. Let poor Alex Smith be, okay? Tony Romo took control of this team and this game – finally. He played through what turned out to be a serious injury and led his team to a comeback and an overtime victory. With his receivers dropping left and right, he needs to remain as the leader of this offense. Maybe this is a sign of Jason Garret’s new attitude for the team? Or maybe dear Tony finally just ‘Cowboyed’ up? 

Eagles v. Falcons (31-35)

Here are the Falcons everyone wanted to see. A power offense, with a questionable defense. Michael Turner needs to get going this season, regardless of Matt Ryan's numbers. Now Eagles fans should worry a little bit. You lost because Vick was out. Hope this is just a one time thing. Vince Young is no Michael Vick, though many times he has been hailed as the natural successor. Lightning won't strike twice here, Philly. All I'm gonna say about this 'dream team' is that the Redskins are leading this division. Fix it, now. 

Week One Wrap

This is just something I wanted to start doing. I'm just going to go through a few of the major games this weekend, or ones that surprised me. Basically any thing I have a snippy comment about, I'll try to put in here. I've started with five games (including the opener). Let me know what you think!!

Saints v. Packers (34-42)

A national TV audience didn’t learn much they didn’t already know from this game. Green Bay and New Orleans are still powerhouse offensive teams with an illusion of a running game. Both these defenses surprised me—I hadn’t expected them to give up nearly so many points. Probably just rusty. The NFL couldn’t have hoped for a more exciting game to open 2011.

Steelers v. Ravens (7-35)

Seriously, was there anyone who didn’t watch this and walk away floored? There are two teams who have combined for a margin of victory of only 25 total points in the last six games. The margin of victory for this single game was 28. The Ravens came out and played not only like they had something to prove (which they did), but like the expected to beat down the Steelers. For a team who spent the whole off season saying things like it wasn’t a rivalry because the Ravens didn’t win enough or that Flacco can’t win a Super Bowl, this was the worst thing that could happen. One Steelers’ player said that they were beat like dogs. Good, now maybe they’ll shut the hell up. Take a bow Baltimore.

Lions v. Buccaneers (27-20)

These are the Lions I’ve been expecting to see for years. For now, when healthy, they are as good as hyped. Many said that the Buccs were supposed to win the division this year (though I never said that). This is no cream-puff team the Lions beat. The score isonly as close as it is because the Buccs got a TD with 1:35 left. Up to that point, it was 27-13. Lookout Kansas City—the Lions are coming.

Bills v. Chiefs (41-7)

Whether the Bills are really good or the Chiefs are just that bad remains to be seen. But I think that the Bills are just that good. They weren’t a push-over team last year, despite what everyone thought. Now, executing the small things, they’ve become good. Still no chance of winning the division though. But not quite a miserable season in store this year. However, Chiefs fans should be panicking. The situation in Kansas City is getting worse every game they play.

Giants v. Redskins (14-28)

Please don’t get excited Redskins’ fans. Please don’t. One game does not mean you’re good. Remember last year, they beat the Cowboys who turned out to be bad. I believe this might be a similar case. The Giants looked good on the first drive, but not afterwards. Eli’s pick six made this game for the Skins. Don’t forget that Rex Grossman would show flashes of good play then have terrible games. Celebrate this one – it’ll be one of the only ones.