411's NFL Round Up 9.09.08: The Week 1 Edition

Posted by Emmett Wilks on 09.09.2008

Football is offically here! Which teams performed and which teams flopped in the opening week? Also, a look at what the Patriots need to do in a world without quarterback Tom Brady. All this and more in the latest edition of the NFL Round Up!

Finally, it is here. The 2008 NFL season kicked off last Thursday night and continued into this weekend with a great host of games. The beginning of each season is like New Years day. It's a fresh start for players, coaches, teams, and entire cities. But, what has to be remembered is that no one should put too much emphasis on anything that happens week 1. Nothing is concrete, even at this point of the season. The best example of the last few years remains the New England Patriots, who opened the 2003 campaign with an embarrassing 31-0 loss to the host Buffalo Bills. What did they do that season for all those with short memories? Went 14-2, earned a top seed in the AFC, and won their second Super Bowl. So, for all the observations and analysis that occurs right now, remember, we still have 16 more weeks of regular season football left to play. A lot more stories have yet to unfold. Now, onto the Round Up!

QUICK NOTES

New Fox NFL Sunday analyst Michael Strahan gave a very nice explanation as to why he decided not to return to the Giants and pro football. Sounding almost like the great Barry Sanders in his explanation, Strahan said he was just not comfortable taking the money of the Giants if his heart and mind were not fully invested in playing football. Strahan really seems content and happy with his decision to walk away from the game. I just thought it was an honest, heartfelt way of saying he needed to move on in his life.

Everyone wearing the GU63 on their jerseys was a very nice way to honor the late, great Gene Upshaw. For all those guys playing today for the huge contracts have a lot of thanks to pay to Upshaw, who was instrumental in making sure the most important element of the game, the players, got what they rightly deserved from ownership.

By the way, what the holy heck was the ticker on ESPN reading before the game. At first I thought I woke up from a long nap when all the stat lines were crawling on the screen, only to realize they were in fact "fantasy projections." Are you serious? How on Earth can anyone really predict the stats players will have going into the game, with all the variables that can go into it. Just complete nonsense from the silly world known as "fantasy football."

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, there is no one better at breaking down and explaining the quarterback position better than ESPN's Ron Jaworski. The former Eagles QB is always informative, providing his analysis in accessible and easy to understand ways for those who love the game but do not understand its intricacies.

Was it really necessary for the Panthers to have to kick the extra point after their game winning TD as time expired? The game was over and a winner had rightfully be decided. Really, they only thing that could possibly serve is bookies in Vegas needing the spread to end a certain way. Just not understanding that one.

Can't say I have any problems with the scheduling that opened up week 1 so far. A good match-up for the Sunday night game between the Colts and Bears (Super Bowl XLI participants) and very good Monday Night Football double header with Packers-Vikings and Raiders-Broncos. For the Monday night games, you have classic, division rival going head to head. Just a really good plate of football overall.


INJURY REPORT

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady- more later

Vince Young may be out 2-4 weeks with a sprained knee following a tackle from Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith on a bootleg play. ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that the injury may take as much as a month to heal. Being someone who has had a knee sprain on both knees, it is an injury that, once healed, gives you few problems when it's healthy. The length of time for healing is the question mark right now for Young.

The Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line is in tatters. Already reeling from the shooting of tackle Richard Collier, the Jags lost guards Vince Manuawi(season) and Maurice Williams(2 months) to respective knee and bicep injuries on Sunday. This all comes after losing starting center Brad Meester in week 1 of training camp earlier this year with a bicep injury. The Jags will be working out players to help fill the void, but an injury ravaged offensive line could end the Jags season, one that was Super Bowl hopeful, before it really gets started.

And speaking of injury ravaged units, the Seattle Seahawks have lost wide receiver Nate Burleson for 2008 after he injured his right knee going after a pass, tripping himself up in the process. Already without receivers Deion Branch and Bobby Engram, the Seahawks are in need of a major offense boost, following their 34-10 beatdown from the Buffalo Bills.

Cowboys' running back Marion Barber III got a tough injury with bruised ribs in Dallas win over the Cleveland Browns. Barber, the teams starting tailback, may be in doubt for the big early match up between Dallas and Philadelphia on Monday night next week. His back up, first round pick Felix Jones, played very well in his place. But in today's NFL, the only better than having one good running back, is two.

WEEK 1 OBSERVATIONS

BEST GAME

San Diego Chargers 24 Carolina Panthers 26

Back and forth all day between two very physical football teams. Best game of the weekend in my book, with a stellar finish. Jake Delhomme furthered the case that he is possible the most important QB for his team in the NFL. With just :03 second left on the clock, Delhomme fired a pass to backup tight end Dante Rosario in the back of the end zone to win a thrilling 26-24 victory.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Thru Sunday)


Matt Forte had a stellar debut for the Bears, earning Round Up's player of the week award

Matt Forte- Chicago Bears Running back

The rookie second round back out of Tulane was thrust into the starting role after the release of Cedric Benson. He responded with 123 yards rushing, with a 50 yard TD where he outran 2007 Defensive MVP Bob Sanders, and numerous third and short conversions. No, he did not put up the yards of Michael Turner or Willie Parker, but the Colts were the third ranked defense in 2007, making Forte's game that much more impressive.

Runners Up-

Donovan McNabb- Eagles QB won 38-3 over Rams (21-of-33 for 361 yards, 3 TD's)

Drew Brees- Saints QB, won 24-20 over Bucs (23-of-32, 343 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT)

Michael Turner- Falcons RB, won 34-21 over Lions (22 rushes, 220 yards, 2 TD's, 10 yard average!!!)


BUST OF THE WEEK-

Derek Anderson Browns lost to Cowboys, 28-10 (11-of-24, 114 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT)

People know I have always liked Anderson, but he couldn't do a thing against the Cowboys. Yes he was rushed and had his passes dropped, but he also let balls sail and missed open receivers. Maybe the pressure is a little too great, and they did play what could be a great team, but we all thought this would be a little better of a game than what we got.

Runner Up-

St. Louis Rams secondary- Gave up 414 yards through the air in a miserable display of missed assignments, blown coverage, and simply getting beat by backup wide receivers.


BIGGEST SURPRISES


Michael Turner, and the entire Atlanta offense, exploded in Week 1

All those who thought the Falcons, a 3-13 team in 2007, would open up their season with a 34 point outburst and 318 yards rushing, please raise your hand. No one? Well, I guess that makes all of us then. Atlanta's rushing attack, which has traditionally been a powerhouse the last few seasons, was sensational. Newly acquired free agent Michael Turner exploded for 220 yards on 22 carries and pair of touchdowns in his first game in a Falcons uniform. Safe to say that this performance has officially removed him from LaDainian Tomlinson's long shadow, as Turner had been LT's back up in San Diego the last four seasons. Major credit has to go to Atlanta's offensive line; LT Sam Baker, LG Justin Blalock, C Todd McClure, RG Harvey Dahl, and RT Tyson Clabo. They opened some massive holes for both Turner and Jerious Norwood (93 yards), and allowed just one sack on rookie QB Matt Ryan. Ryan for his part finished 9 of 13 for 161 yards, one TD (on his first ever NFL pass attempt), and no interceptions. I'm happy to see the Falcons succeed after the kick in the balls that was the Mike Vick saga, but I don't know how they will fare this year in what may be a very good NFC South.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco and Atlanta's Matt Ryan, rookie starting QB's both, were also both winners in their NFL debuts this weekend. Neither was asked to do a overabundant amount of work, with Flacco having a good game (15-29, 129 yards, 0 INTS, 30 yard TD run) and Ryan looking very sharp (9-13, 161 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT). Both guys have the benefit of good running games, and for Flacco at least, a very good defense. Both guys were also playing for rookie head coaches; John Harbaugh in Baltimore and Matt Smith in Atlanta, making all these rookies winners in week 1. Both a pleasant and big surprise.


BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

This one is a no-brainer; the loss of Tom Brady for the season.

But some mention has to go to the Detroit Lions. For goodness sakes, this was an up and comer last year, and they got positively beat down by the Falcons on Sunday. No rushing attack, no ability to stop the run or big play through the air, 2 of 9 on third down, and forced to punt 6 times. Just an awful debut for the team ESPN's Tom Jackson picked to win the NFC North, and it wasn't a crazy pick at the time.

LEAST SUPRISING DEVELOPMENT

Man, the Cowboys are good offensive football team. Any team can come up with a big play here and there to score. But to have four long, time consuming scoring drives is an example of a poised and talented football team. The offensive line was again dominate over the competition, bullying the front seven of the Browns from start to finish.

The Giants defensive line is just fine. The loss of Osi Umeyenoria will hurt, as well as the retirement of Michael Strahan, but as they showed against Washington, they are deep, talented, and ready to play.

And to further speak highly of these teams, if there was one prediction that held true for week 1, it was the NFC East is one MONSTER of a division. Cowboys impressive, the Giants defense stellar, and the Eagles entire team dominate. I still believe the Skins are pretty good too (I am a fan of Jason Campbell), which will easily make this the most competitive, and deepest division in the NFL.


The loss of Tom Brady for the season poses a lot of tough questions for the Patriots

NOW WHAT DO WE DO

Just a few minutes into the game, Tom Brady went to the turf after Chiefs safety Brian Pollard fell on his knee, sending Brady to the ground in pain. The MVP of 2007, Brady possesses the third longest starting streak of current NFL QB's, behind Brett Favre (254) and Peyton Manning (161), a streak that will end next week. The questions are jumping out now. Can the Patriots offense (and heck, entire team) function without Brady? What do they need to do to salvage the season? Was the hit dirty? Let me go after that last question first. No, it was not dirty at all. Pollard was going after the QB like he is paid to do, and was more knocked into Brady than dove into him. It was an unfortunate by-product of the game, and teammate Randy Moss, who from 50 yards away and on the ground clearly saw it was dirty, needs to back down. As for the other two questions. The answer is, no one really knows. I have seen numerous e-mails from people who say things like "well, the Pats would be nothing without Brady," or "it's Patriots scheme that makes Brady good." (A crock, but I get them). The fact of the matter is that the NFL is relational. Everyone depends on someone else in one form or another. Only Barry Sanders can really say he did most of it on his own. There is no doubt that the effect this will have on the Patriots will be immense, but not necessarily crippling to their season. Matt Cassel, Brady's replacement as of now, is, even with the shortcomings in the preseason, an unknown NFL commodity. He has taken very few regular season snaps, and in many regards could be considered a rookie for the amount of time he has seen. But Cassel as good a situation as someone in this position could be in. He has a receiver named Randy Moss lining up, a complement of good running backs, and a defense that will not be giving up a whole lot of points at any time during the season. Forgotten in the offensive barrage the Patriots displayed last season was an offense that was top 5 in almost every category, and it played very well on Sunday as well. Yes, it was against a still rebuilding Chiefs team, but it is a Bill Belichick defense. They won't ever be bad unit. So, again, what do they need to do as a team? Exactly what they have been doing. There is no denying that Brady was a huge part of the character of that team, but his loss cannot, and should not, derail the whole train. I would be surprised if we saw drastic changes in the offense. Though Cassel was competent in his performance during the game (13-of-18, 152 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT), one would not call his performance on Sunday incendiary. But that is to be expected. I would be very surprised if the Patriots deviated from the style of play that has made them such an impressive offense. They should continue to play in the shotgun, and not feel like they need to run the ball more. You cannot lose the entire character of your team because of one player, even if he is the centerpiece of the whole production. Continuing your identity is very important, just as important as not rushing to make rash decisions. For all those who think that Chris Simms or Dante Culpepper are going to be starting soon, think again. Sure, they may be signed, but not to start. Cassel is the guy for the rest of the season. If a new QB is brought in, he will be needed as a 2nd stringer, not a savior. Heck, whomever the Pats sign will need two to three weeks of tutelage to get into the groove with the offense, and that is valuable time that Belichick and the Pats don't have. From the start, I was not one of those commentators who were down on the Pats going into the season, but the fact remains that their best player is one the sideline for the year. They will not be as good as they could have been, simple as that. The smart guess right now is a 10-6 ball club, with still having a shot at winning the AFC East. Next week, they travel to North Jersey for a date with the Jets. Cassel will now deal with a media bombardment the likes of which he has never seen. Suffice to say, the whole NFL world will be taking a peak at this game.

That's going to do it for this week. Have a good one, see you all next week.