Random Sunday Football Thoughts – Week 3

First off a big thanks to Mrs. Scott for this week. She came through with a delicious spread for me and the boys. I had to take the belt out a notch today, but it was well worth it.

For those of you sick of football, yeah I know, I’m on it. I still have a review of the Accidental Billionaires, plus it’s time to review the new series Boardwalk Empire and the first episode of the new season of Dexter. In the meantime, here’s my thoughts on some of the football games I viewed yesterday.

Patriots-Bills: These aren’t your older brother’s Patriots. What first appeared to be chinks in the armor are now full-fledged body parts being exposed, and it's only time until this team loses a leg (Kevin Faulk was a hand). When the Bills can put up 30 points on you with Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the charge, it’s time to take a hard look at yourself in the mirror. What should Bill Belichick see in that reflection? A 10-6 team and a first round playoff exit. If he’s lucky.

Titans-Giants: How entertaining is an Eli Manning left-handed lob for an interception in the end zone? As it turns out, about as fun as one pick can get! This game was a lot closer than the score says, as the Giants made 3 turnovers (2 within the Titans’s 5 yard line) and Chris Johnson scored 2 TD’s to put the game out of reach. Did we learn anything? Ahmad Bradshaw appears to be the MAN at tailback for the Giants. Kareem McKenzie makes some dumb penalties. Vince Young wins football games.

Cowboys-Texans: Typical Houston. Just when you think they’re any good, they turn in an odorous effort at home against their in-state rivals. Andre Johnson didn’t look to have his same explosiveness and DeMarcus Ware played like DeMarcus Ware. I still don’t remain sold on the Cowboys until they develop some consistency, but they looked good today.

Chargers-Seahawks: Do the Cardinals or the Seahawks make the playoffs at 7-9? Couldn’t the whole NFC West schedule be played like the NBA Draft Lottery? Teams could draw balls for victories and save us all the shame of watching this train wreck of a division. By the way, Norv Turner is confirming by the day that he’s one bad coach. Yeah, the Chargers will probably come back to get to 10-6 and win the 2nd worst division in football, but they’re not impressing anyone along the way.

Colts-Broncos: We learned this week that you don’t count a team out because of a fluky Super Bowl loss and then a bad loss in Week 1 of the season. Indianapolis looked methodical this week, with Peyton Manning back as head surgeon. (Side note: Do you think Peyton ever plays that game like in Celtic Pride where he flips channels until he finds a channel with him on it? I swear he's in every 3rd commercial during football games, though the Sony bits with him and Timberlake need to end, now) With only 3 wideouts at his disposal, including Blair White off the practice squad, Manning turned in a stellar outing and easily disposed of the Broncos. The Colts’ defense will still give them issues down the stretch but against a weak offense like Denver those issues are less glaring.

Jets-Dolphins: Another game that was closer than the score, with this game coming down to the final possession. This one came down to the Jets making good plays at the right times while the Dolphins couldn’t quite get it done, especially CB Jason Allen having a terrible last few series. I like Tony Sparano as a coach, but he needs to stop running the Wildcat offense around the 35 yard line where a loss of yardage (something more likely to happen with a trick play) takes the team out of field goal range. This happened on at least one occasion last night where no points were scored. And of course Braylon Edwards had to factor into this one so the talking heads have something to talk about today.

Other thoughts for the day:

- Pittsburgh continues to look like the favorite. Chaz Batch comes in from the blueberry patch and throws 3 TD’s and they roll over Tampa. Two things can derail them now. Either Ben Roethlisberger comes in and kills the chemistry (I don’t think Shaft lets that happen) or Troy Polamalu gets hurt (always a possibility).

- Kansas City at 3-0 deserves a mention. Yesterday was the first game they really, truly deserved a win or that Matt Cassel didn’t look like a CFL reject. Their remaining schedule still has them playing Oakland and Denver twice each, Buffalo and Jacksonville both at home, plus Seattle, St. Louis and Arizona from the NFC West. There’s no reason the Chiefs couldn’t win the division with 10 wins with that schedule. At which point I will wager my children against them in the first round.

- I hate Oakland as a Chiefs fan, but I like when Oakland and Kansas City are both good at the same time. Sebastian Janikowski, shame on you. Three missed FG’s and your team loses by 1. The Chiefs now have an early 2 game lead because of you.

- The Saints are still 2-1 and only lost because of a shanked chip FG in overtime, but something isn’t quite right there. I trust they’ll turn it around, but right now Green Bay is still the clear NFC favorite.

- The NFC East was terribly over-hyped this off-season. This is the reason if you’re Andy Reid you play Mike Vick. A 9-7 team could win this division, and Vick gives them the best chance to win, even in a rebuilding year.

- I still like Green Bay tonight, even if everyone and their dog is laying the 3 points on them.