Tuesday, September 16, 2008

NFL Week 2 Review...and The March Towards Canton for Jay Cutler




Time for my NFL Review for Week 2 and an update on Jay Cutler’s March Towards Canton…let’s get started

Oakland (1-1) 23, Kansas City (0-2) 8

Thoughts: At least the Raiders won’t go winless this season. This was an ugly game accept for those of you who own Darren McFadden on your fantasy football team. He broke out in this contest. Two main things from this one. First, I see the angle that Lane Kiffen is working here, the head coach of the Raiders. He KNOWS that Al Davis wants to fire him but he isn’t going to resign and give up money. See, if he gets fired, he’ll get compensation. Kiffen is going to ride this one out until the end because he knows that he can get a job another place soon. Other teams are going to understand that the Raiders are dysfunctional. Enjoy the Rex Ryan era Raider fans. Second, Larry Johnson expressed some disappointment about being phased out of the K.C. offense. Of course you’re getting less carries because you’re washed up. It isn’t your fault, you’re a running back who carried the ball so much the past two years and its catching up to you. At least you signed your big contract last offseason. Save that money and I need to stop seeing you partying at clubs on the internet, that’s not a good look. K.C. fans, at least you have jazz music. War Charlie Parker!

New York Giants (2-0) 41, St. Louis (0-2) 13

Thoughts: The Rams may be that bad, but the Giants aren’t this good. I know that I’m more critical of my Giants then other teams and I’m happy that they’re 2-0, but they’ve played the Rams and Redskins, two bad teams. I’m surprised that Manning is throwing the ball as much as he is, don’t expect this offensive passing to continue. When it comes down to the tough parts of the schedule later, the Giants will rely on the running game and Jacobs. Justin Tuck looks like a beast as well on the Giants defensive line. What happened to Stephen Jackson and Mark Bulger? These guys used to be strong on offense and now not so much. They need to figure that out soon or its going to be an even longer year in the Lou.

Indianapolis (1-1) 18, Minnesota (0-2) 15

Thoughts: How did Indy win this game? They looked like garbage for three quarters, they had backup offensive lineman in the game, Manning was getting beaten up, Harrison was non-existent, Addai was getting no yards, yet they won. You want to know how? Tavaris Jackson is one of the worst quarterbacks I’ve seen for a contender in a long time. He makes too many mistakes. You want to know why the Minnesota fans were booing when the Vikes were up 12-0 and attempting a field goal. They knew that if you let the Colts hang around in a game, they are going to put up points at some point. At least Peterson had a good day on the ground…yes, I own a fantasy football team but that’s all I can say about it.

Tennessee (2-0) 24, Cincinnati (0-2) 7

Thoughts: I was going to do a post on the whole Vince Young saga last week but didn’t get around to it but I’ll give you the condensed version here. I’m not going to comment on all of the psychological stuff like suicide, depression, even the gun in the car. I will comment on the on the field stuff. He needs to improve. He needs to get over the fact that he will be critiqued for his play on the field. This isn’t Austin, Texas. He needs to grow up and take accountability. He played dreadfully against Jacksonville and should have been booed. If I was in the stands, I would have done the same thing, honest. I like that Jeff Fisher is taking a hard line with Young and playing Collins possibly for the rest of the season. On the game itself, Cincinnati’s defense wasn’t that terrible and the strength of the team is supposed to be the offence which has disappeared. The Bengals need to clean house starting with Marvin Lewis, Chad whatever the hell he’s going with these days Johnson and ownership. Of course you can’t fire ownership so long year ahead for those guys.

Buffalo (2-0) 20, Jacksonville (0-2) 16

Thoughts: Break up the Bills! Good start for those guys. That was a major win for those guys on the road. I wasn’t buying into the Trent Edwards era before the season but he may be the answer at quarterback for the Bills. As long as they can run the ball and control the clock, they may do well. I knew I picked them second in the AFC East for a reason. Jacksonville? If they can’t run the ball, they can’t score and then they can’t win. That is all. I didn’t pick them to even make the playoffs let alone make the Super Bowl because they can’t score points.

Green Bay (2-0) 48, Detroit (0-2) 25

Thoughts: What a wacky game. The Packers were dominating, then the Lions got within one and then Green Bay scored like the final 15 points. Aaron Rogers looks legit, but let’s hold off on the worship, its only been two games. I was all for getting rid of Favre myself during the whole off-season. You have to get younger at some point and this was the perfect time for Green Bay. The Lions can score some points but that defense is sad. Matt Millen needs to go and I’m not even a Lions fan and I’m pissed at him.

Carolina (2-0) 20, Chicago (1-1) 17

Thoughts: Who had Carolina 2-0 at this point of the season without Steve Smith? Yeah, me neither. Props have to go to John Fox, Jake Delhomme and the rest of that team for getting two tough wins. They may be the best team in the NFC South right now, it isn’t the Saints. Is Chicago the second best team in the NFC North? Maybe.

Washington (1-1) 29, New Orleans (1-1) 24

Thoughts: This may be the game that serves as a breakout for Jason Campbell, who I think is a legit talent for the Redskins. Reggie Bush, stop taunting, you haven’t done enough to go there.

San Francisco (1-1) 33, Seattle (0-2) 30

Thoughts: You just lost a game to J.T. O’Sullivan and Frank Gore didn’t have a great game. Consider your season over Seattle.

Arizona (2-0) 31, Miami (0-2) 10

Thoughts: I know that its Miami and they stink, but good start to the season by the Cardinals. What about the Kurt Warner revival? Its good to see the old man still slinging the pigskin around. Maybe this will be a wakeup call for Matt Leinart to stop hanging out with young co-eds and get better. Funny how people were insulted in the 2006 draft when the icon from Santa Claus, Ind. and hero to the Commodore nation was considered a better pro prospect than Leinart and people told me that was crazy. I knew the Cardinals should have taken the man below…


Denver (2-0) 39, San Diego (0-2) 38

Thoughts: The March Towards Canton for Jay Cutler is off to a rousing start this season. That was a crazy game between the offensive explosion of both teams (I have Philip Rivers on a fantasy team, so I was very happy with the game), Brandon Marshall with 18 catches!, the crazy Cutler fumble that wasn’t called to the two-point conversion for the win. First, San Diego had a break go against them but the Broncos still had to convert a third down, score a touchdown and get a two-point conversion for the win. The Chargers should have had plenty of time to regroup. Second, as much as I’m a fan of Cutler for obvious reasons, I didn’t expect this development from him. I think he’s focused on football unlike Vince Young or Leinart. I’m on Deadspin daily and those two are at a party or have liquor in their hands and Cutler is never shown in this light. I’m not saying that you have to be a choir boy to be a good quarterback but it doesn’t hurt.

Tampa (1-1) 24, Atlanta (1-1) 9

Thoughts: Now those are the Falcons I grew to love over my years of living in Atlanta. The first week was an anomaly. I do like the direction that the Falcons are going but to ask them to win a road division game in the second contest of the season with a rookie quarterback, that was too much to ask.

New England (2-0) 19, New York Jets (1-1) 10

Thoughts: The Matt Cassel Era is on! All things considered, good win for the Patriots. Anytime you win against a division foe on the road, it’s a good win. The offense is going to have to improve if they are going to advance far this season. Favre still doesn’t look comfortable in that offense, it will take him time.

Pittsburgh (2-0) 10, Cleveland (0-2) 6

Thoughts: First, throw the ball to Edwards more Cleveland! I need fantasy points. Second, Pittsburgh has to be the favorite in the AFC now, right? Next, the Browns looked weak on the offensive side of the ball. Only Winslow seemed to get any activity going. Furthermore, why are you kicking a field goal in the fourth quarter down 10-3 Cleveland. Just not a good display on national TV, unlike…
Dallas (2-0) 41, Philadelphia (1-1) 37

Thoughts: Very entertaining game. Both offenses looked on. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it until his career is over. If McNabb is healthy for an entire season, not only will the Eagles win at least 10 games, Donovan is an MVP candidate and Philly is a threat to go to the Super Bowl. I say all of this as a Giants fan and not happy about it. DeSean Jackson, you’re an idiot. Dallas needs to work on that defense because Philly, Green Bay, New Orleans and maybe the Giants have offenses that put up points and the Cowboys are going to have get through at least two of those teams to reach the Super Bowl.

Those are my thoughts. I’ve been terrible with not giving you some musical selections to listen to while reading the post.

Here’s Early Day Minors with Land of Pale Saints. Love this song and this live cut was done in Brooklyn in the NYC, hometown represent!



And finally, for our boy Vince, here’s a video from The Black Angels based out of, you guessed it, Austin, Texas, called Young Man Dead (Death Sentence). Yes, that’s who you think it is in the video. I guess having the “Six Degrees” game wasn’t enough for this working actor. BTW, they have a hot female drummer, I do love the musicians. Talk to y’all later!

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