- First, let's get the Panthers out of the way. Am I panicking because the Panthers were thoroughly dominated by the Falcons? No.
Why not? It's several reasons. First, just like last season, anytime the Panthers lost to someone they hyped the team that beat them and always made the Panthers seem like they were on their way out of the playoffs. Carolina lost to the Saints in their opener last year, and everyone talked about how the Saints are playing on emotion, and they're going to get something done this year. The Saints only won 2 more games the rest of the year. When Carolina lost to Chicago midseason, everyone thought Chicago was the new favorite to go to the Super Bowl in the NFC. Carolina faces them again at Soldier Field in the playoffs, and Steve Smith makes mincemeat of them.
Second, Atlanta is Atlanta. Fox knows the score; if you don't stop the run, you're not going to beat Atlanta. If you stop the run, you blow them out. Although the acquisition of John Abraham definitely made for a better Falcons' pass rush, this is the same team that's been doing the same things for the last 3-4 years. Vick only passed for 140 yards, and his completion percentage was still under 50%, even though he's got Lielie, Crumpler, Dunn on the flats, and White. That offense, once again, will be tested again this year, and if they don't create a balanced attack, they will not only miss the playoffs, but they can look forward to Vick quitting again at the end of the season.
Now, am I worried? Yeah, because we didn't show any semblance of a running game during Week 1, or in preseason. I felt paying Foster that money was a mistake; not only because he's an injury-prone running back, but he didn't show much after he was given the starting job last year. He had a couple of good playoff games, but he didn't show anything in the regular season. If Foster isn't averaging a good 4.5 ypc, then the running game becomes a liability, and makes the team one-dimensional. DeAngelo Williams shows promise, but he's not ready to start.
I expected more from not only Foster, but Keyshawn Johnson, and that offensive line. John Fox makes some of the best adjustments of any coach in the NFL, so we'll see what look he brings to Minnesota on Sunday.
- If you want to know why the National Football League is the top professional sport in America, all you have to do is look at the marquee games on Week 1: a solid matchup on Thursday with Pittsburgh beating Miami; the "Manning Bowl", which saw the brother tandem showing why both teams are Super Bowl contenders this year; and then the September 11th double-header, with a tight Redskins/Vikings game and Phillip Rivers debuting as the Chargers shut out the terrible Raiders. Even the Chargers/Raiders game was still fascinating to watch for a lot of reasons.
- Does the Deion Branch acquisition make the Seahawks the favorite in the NFC again? I don't know. But looking at that terrible game against the Lions, where they won 9-6, they definitely need him to help create a spark.
- The Jags only made the playoffs last year because they happened to have an easy schedule down the stretch. Having said that, they are a solid team this year, and will give the Colts problems in the AFC South.
- Are the Ravens for real? it's hard to argue with that 27-0 buttwhupping placed on the Bucs. For their sake, I hope so, because both Brian Billick and Steve McNair's fates are controlled by each other. If they don't make it to the playoffs, Billick won't have a job and McNair might not start for another team.
- Phillip Rivers was placed in the best position that a quarterback could ask for: the league's best running back in the backfield, and the league's best tight end on the line. Then he has a solid veteran to throw to in Keenan McCardell, a solid defensive line, and a decent coach in Marty Schottenheimer. Now that I think about it, SD had no business not making it to the playoffs last year; I don't care if they had Aaron Brooks at quarterback.
- Speaking of Aaron Brooks...it's a dead heat between him and Bret Farve for early voting of the worst starting quarterback of the year. I'm sure Al Davis had to love that 42 net passing yards his new quarterback got him. Here's a hint: unless it's Duce McAllister, you're not going to get too many valuable players from the Saints.
- J.P. Losman, watch the lines. A safety in the fourth quarter won't help garner confidence in your ability to lead the Bills as a playoff threat. When you have a chance to beat the Pats, you have to make good on it.
- I'm still not sold on Cincinnati. Maybe it's because I haven't seen enough of them this year, but I think I want to see more out of Rudy Johnson and the running game as well as that defense before I can say they're one of the top teams in the league. Consecutive games against Pittsburgh and New England at the end of this month will probably do the trick.
- The best game of the week: San Francisco falls to Arizona. Who would have ever thought that would be as entertaining as it was? With Jim Haslett unveiling an improved Rams defense, Norv Turner working with Alex Smith at the Niners, and Edgerrin James bringing needed depth for Arizona, the NFC West will be much tougher, and more competitive than it has been in years.
- I only have two picks for the hot seat: Brian Billick, who better hope Steve McNair can stay healthy, and Jon Gruden, who might be out by midseason if the Bucs continue to play like they did on Sunday. I would add Art Shell, but would Al Davis ditch him after one year again? Who knows.
- This year, I'm in two fantasy football leagues and in a 25-man football pool. I went 1-1 in my leagues, and I'm tied for 17 after week one in pickem. My picks were 9-7. Ugh. Week 1 tends to be my worst week, anyway.
More football to come later.
