The Day After Tomorrow: NFL Week 2 Breakdown
Posted by Robert Littal on 09.18.2006
The Eagles choke?? Carolina 0-2, but New Orleans 2-0?? What has happened to Daunte Culpepper?? Robert Littal has those answers and more in his NFL Week 2 Breakdown!
Before I get to the Giants lets talk about the Eagles for a minute. Teams get their lead from their QB, that is why the Saints are 2-0 and the Dolphins are 0-2. When you have faith in your QB or your QB is playing well, the rest of your team usually follows suit. So it wasn't surprising when Donovan McNabb was playing lights out for 3 quarters the Eagles were dominating the Giants. That is why as soon as McNabb started to act like the game was over his team started to play like the game was over. McNabb probably didn't think it was a big deal to joke around with Antonio Pierce and get a penalty, but it caused the entire team to relax and that is not something you want to do in the NFL. A fumble here, a couple of breaks for the Giants there, a couple of drop passes and next thing you know they are both 1-1 with the Giants holding the upper hand. No excuses for the Eagles and I hope the media are not desirous to not call McNabb out.
Eli Manning is one of those QBs that can look horrible for 3 quarters and win games in the 4th. He was terrible for 2 and half quarters, but then all of sudden the light bulb went on and he took over. I have to say this about the kid, he doesn't get rattle. I know it is early, but the Giants may have saved their season with this win.
Washington Redskins 10 vs. Dallas Cowboys 27
I have no idea if Jason Campbell is ready to be a NFL QB, but it is time to find out. The Redskins are not going anywhere with Mark Brunell as their starting QB. They use to blame the offensive system, but they brought in Al Saunders as offensive coordinator and they still are terrible. Campbell has sat for 1 year, it is time to give him a chance to see what he can do, what do they have to lose?
Drew Bledsoe saved his job and T.O. was pretty silent for a primetime game. The Dallas D is going to take them a long way as long as the offense and Bledsoe doesn't screw it up. I still think at some point Tony Romo is going to get his shot, so he should keep that arm ready.
Carolina Panthers 13 vs. Minnesota Vikings 16 OT
This was a heavyweight fight and the Vikings delivered the knockout punch. The Panthers have no one to blame except themselves. Penalties, stupid special teams plays and just an overall sloppy performance. Jake Delhomme needs to realize that there are other receivers than Steve Smith; it would also help if the line gave him some time. Very disappointing start to their season.
Brad Childress may look like a nerdy 12th grade scientist teacher, but he has instilled some toughness in the Vikings. The two games they have won, they have won just by punching their opponent in the mouth more times until their opponents just ran out of gas. It is hard to believe that Childress was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles who never like to run the ball much, but the Vikings are a smash mouth team.
Arizona Cardinals 10 vs. Seattle Seahawks 21
The Cardinals are not going to take that next step until they get those offensive line problems taken care of. No matter how many hall of fame caliber skill positions players you have, if you can't open holes for the RB or protect the QB you are not going to be an elite team. I will say they fought hard when this one looked like it was going to be a blow out. A normal Cardinal team would have quit and they didn't.
The Seahawks still don't look right offensively. They scored 14 points in the first quarter, but only 7 the rest of the game. Once again this seems to be an offensive line problem. Luckily for them they are in such a poor division this maybe overlooked, but in the long run it will cause problem.
Tampa Bay Bucs 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons 14
8 Quarters 3 points for the Bucs. That pretty much sums up their season so far. Is it me or does it seems like Chris Sims is imagining he is playing Oklahoma every week?
The Falcons shouldn't even attempt a pass they should just go to the wishbone. They ran for over 300 yards which is unheard of in the NFL. Is Tom Osborn coaching this team? Vick ran for more yards than he passed for. He will no longer be known as Mick Vick, Michael Vick or Ron Mexico. He will be known as Tony Rice.
Green Bay Packers 27 vs. New Orleans Saints 34
The Packers got off to a quick start. It was 10-0 and I honestly believed that the Saints were going to roll over, but to my surprise after a very slow start the Saints got off the mat and took it to the Packers in Lambeau Field no less. Stability at the QB position can be the difference between being a bad team and a good team. Drew Brees has made that difference for the Saints. Having Reggie Bush is great, but I don't think it would have mattered if Aaron Brooks was their QB. Listen to me "God" Favre, go to management now and beg for them to trade you to Tampa Bay.
Houston Texans 24 vs. Indianapolis Colts 43
The Texans said they drafted Mario Williams so they could stop offenses like the Colts. Ummmm it isn't working.
Detroit Lions 7 vs. Chicago Bears 34
Roy Williams sucks at predicting games even I am better than him. Last week they scored 6 points and he said they were close to scoring 40, this week they scored 7 so he will probably say they were close to scoring 50. If the Bears keep getting this type of QB play from Rex Grossman they are going to be extremely dangerous.
Miami Dolphins 6 vs. Buffalo Bills 16
Let's do an instant poll. If we could go back in time Dolphin fans and you had your choice, who would you want now Drew Brees or Daunte Culpepper? I have no idea what has happen to Daunte Culpepper, was Randy Moss that important to him? It isn't like Moss has been lighting the world on fire in Oakland. The Dolphins looked absolutely horrible and Daunte looked ordinary at best (I am being nice). I will give the Bills some credit; defensively they couldn't have played a better game, but they are going to need more from the offense if they want to continue to be competitive.
Oakland Raiders 6 vs. Baltimore Ravens 28
8 Quarters 6 points for the Raiders that pretty much sums it up for them. The Ravens definitely have a swagger to them now. It isn't that Steve McNair is doing anything spectacular, but just from a mental standpoint it seems that it has uplifted their entire team. Now for the first 2 weeks they have played some pretty awful offenses, so we will have to see what happens when they run up against a real team. Confidence though can take you a long way.
Cleveland Browns 17 vs. Cincinnati Bengals 34
A little disappointed in the "Chicken Dance" by Chad Johnson, but I give him a pass since it was such a pretty touchdown catch. By the way did you see that hit Chad took? He is lucky that his Mohawk didn't get knocked off as well. I am sure that a huge fine coming for that blast, because there was no need for that. The Bengals defense except for a couple of late throwaway touchdowns played very well again and you can see Carson Palmer getting more and more comfortable coming off that knee surgery. They are a legitimate Super Bowl threats. The Browns have to get more from Charlie Frye and Reuben Droughns they just aren't getting it done.
Kansas City Chiefs 6 vs. Denver Broncos 9 OT
Simply put the Chiefs can't win with Brock Huard at QB. They almost did, but the facts are no matter how great Larry Johnson is, he can't do it alone. I give the Chiefs credit defensively they held the Broncos in check all day. If I am a Broncos fan I am concerned. The offense is just not getting it done and if the Chiefs had any type of real QB at the helm they would have won the game. Jake Plummer didn't look that much better than last week, but a victory is a victory. Be happy for the W, but be worried about everything else.
Tennessee Titans 7 vs. San Diego Chargers 40
Look Titans it is quite possible you could go 0-16, so just stop with the charade at start Vince Young. Your team is going no where and it is not helping him just sitting on the bench watching the team get its brains beat in. He lead them to there only TD of the day, you have nothing to lose just let the guy learn on the job.
I may have underestimated San Diego or they just played two really bad teams. I guess we will see when they actually play someone who doesn't play like a Division II college squad. Someone should trade for SD running back Michael Turner that guy should be starting for some team.
New York Jets 17 vs. New England Patriots 24
Normally the Patriots after jumping on a team would close them out quickly, but these Patriots have a little more difficulty closing out teams, but when it counted they were able to dismiss of the Jets. The Patriots need to put Corey Dillon out to pasture, because Laurence Maroney is the future. They are 2-0, but it hasn't been a strong two wins.
Mr. Privilege Olive Oil Pennington throws for 300 yards in consecutive weeks. Next thing you are going to tell me our President knows how to read a teleprompter.
Saint Louis Rams 13 vs. San Francisco 49ers 20
The Rams are not exactly the greatest show on turf anymore. If anything they are a Kevin Costner of NFL offenses, big names, but box office bust. As I said in my NFL picks section, the Rams always have trouble in San Francisco and this time was no different.
I saw a #81 on the field for San Fran, complaining about not getting the ball and throwing tantrums on the sidelines. I was wondering if maybe I overslept and T.O. had been traded back to San Fran. Alas it was just Antonio Bryant who torched the Rams D like he was T.O. From the running back position Frank Gore is the real deal. I told you last week the 49ers were going to be a decent team, they are going to shock some people.
