NFL Thoughts for Week 1 and Monday Previews

I love, absolutely love Football season. No other pro sport gives you one day per week to have so much to feast on, and have so much build up for every game. The 16-game season makes every single game count, unlike other sports where one loss can never be too damaging all by itself.

Anyways ...

THURSDAY

Pittsburgh 28, Miami 17

Dante Culpepper looked good for a half ... maybe even for three-quarters. But he never looked spectacular. And that's why Miami brought him in ... to be spectacular. He lost his cool and through a game-ending pick after being handed the game back after what seemed to be a game-losing pick. Amazing.

On the Steelers side, Fast Willie Parker looked good ... very good. Has anyone gotten less love for a 1000 yard seaons than Willie? Hopefully this year, everyone takes notice.

SUNDAY

New Orleans 19, Cleveland 14

The Browns looked impressive in defeat. I didn't see all of this game, but from what I saw, it looked as if a few minor things (like WRs) holding onto the ball would have helped. The two biggest things in this game for me were: Kellen Winslow showing up and performing and Reggie Bush living up to his hype with 100+ yards of total offense. Bush and Brees are nice puzzle pieces for the saints.

Seattle 9, Detroit 6

I was able to watch a good chunk of this game. Seattle looked tentative and out of sync. I think the NFC Superbowl curse will live on. They couldn't score double-digits on Detroit ... they'll never survive a first-place schedule ... even in the creampuff NFC West. Maybe Detroit's defense is that good, but I doubt it.

New York Jets 23, Tennessee 16

UGH @ Kerry Collins. Why is he playing? The Titans are going nowhere, why keep playing a journeyman quarterback who's lost it?

As to the Jets ... I wonder if Pennington is as good as he looked, or if it was the bad Titans D. I personally hope for the former, because I'm a big Pennington fan. Go MAC QBs!

Cincy 23, KC 10

Rudi Johnson is a beast. Marvin Lewis seems to be growing as a coach and learning the finer points of game management. That's scary.

Chad Johnson's hair ... also scary, but for a different reason.

St. Louis 18, Denver 10

I'm glad I didn't get to see any of this game. Looks like we're back to Bad Jake Plummer. I knew it wouldn't be long until he showed up again. Just wonder if the rest of Denver can carry them to respectable, or if they'll be floundering before too long. Should we start the "Countdown to Cutler?"

New England 19, Buffalo 17

How ... how ... how do you lose a game on a safety in the 4th quarter? I would have fird Jauron right after that play. Other than that, the only real revelation coming from this game is that, yes, the Patriots are going to miss Branch. Maybe it would help if they got rid of the distraction, but I think even more than that, they need his talent to open up the field for the tight ends.

Baltimore 27, Tampa Bay 0

Ummm ... way to get spanked, Tampa. I'm still not sold on Steve McNair as still being a viable quarterback, but for now I guess I have to eat my crow about him being way past prime. Just wait till he gets injured ... again.

Atlanta 20, Carolina 6

You have to think that this game would be different if Steve Smith played. Still, the A-T-L running game looked good and Michael-Mike Vick looked good, too. He'll never be a great quarterback, but if he (and the coaches) accept his role as a game-manager who can make a great play once a half, they are very good and very dangerous.

Philadelphia 24, Houston 10

Think this game might have been different if Reggie Bush was in Houston? Or if Dante Stalworth wasn't in Philly? He looked good.

(As an aside ... I want Mario Williams to succeed and to be better than Reggie Bush. If only to shut up so-called experts. But it isn't going to happen. The Texans talked themselves out of a difference maker to get a guy who is going to be closer to Courtney Brown than Julius Peppers. And why didn't anyone mention Brown during the draft? Every comparison was to Peppers ... wasn't Courtney Brown a can't-miss Defensive End?)

Arizona 34, San Fransisco 27

Then again, maybe Vernon Davis is the real offensive steal from the last draft. He made Alex Smith look like an NFL Quarterback! I didn't think anyone could make that happen.

And if the Cards are going to struggle to beat the 49ers (!!!) there is no way they'll live up to their "sleeper" hype ... again. Welcome to 7-9 land, Cards fans. You've been here a while, and you're not gonna leave.

Jacksonville 24, Dallas 17

I am going to boycott all things TO. That includes reactions from any game he plays in.

Indianapolis 26, New York Giants 21

I, for one, am glad this game is over, so I can stop hearing about Manning vs. Manning. It was even more hyped than any (and I mean any) Red Sox-Yankees game. The actual game itself provided some clarity for the NFL season.

1) The Colts are going to miss Edge. Welcome back to the playoffs, Peyton. You'll be 0-1 here again.

2) Plexico Burress stinks. He never fights for a ball in the air. He just runs his patterns and catches what comes to him naturally. What a worthless punk.

3) Eli needs to work on clock management. Welcome to 8-8 and missing the playoffs, kid.

Monday Night

Is Phillip Rivers the most blessed young QB since Big Ben? Seriously. He gets a team with Antiono Gates, LT, and a very good defense. Plus, he gets his first game against the Raiders. Not only the Raiders, but the Raiders quarterbacked by Aaron Brooks. The same Aaron Brooks he nullfies the Raiders best weapon, Randy Moss, and allows them to key on their next best weapon, Lamont Jordan. The chargers should take this one easily. Somewhere around 38-3 (expect LT to have 2 TDs and a buck-fiddy).


Minnesota vs. Washington should be a better game, but there's no denying which team has more talent. The only problem with that team, is that it has a QB I have no faith in ... and who seems to be declining rapidly, and might not be able to involve that talent in the game. Why doesn't Washington bite the bullet and start Jason Campbell? Surely, he can manage a game, hit short passes to Cooley and the speedy wideouts and involve the running game and get 11 wins this year, right? Even will noodle-arm Brunell, the Skins have too much talent (and too good a coaching staff) to lose this game. Should be somewhere around Redskins 17, Vikings 7.





Please leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments section. I'll get some college football thoughts up next, along with my rankings (not sure if I'll do top ten, 16, or 25 yet though).