NFL Hangover Week 3

I am back at home with a myriad of channels and a big screen at my disposal. So I’ll give you the run-down of what I saw yesterday.

Just a quick note, however, about picture quality. I can’t believe how annoyed I am after paying for NFL Sunday Ticket, that I still can’t get every game in HD. It shouldn’t be that difficult, I’m sure someone is covering the Philly-KC game in HD, just get me the feed dammit!

Chiefs (14) at Eagles (34)


To be honest, I only tuned in to see how Vick would look in the offense. This game didn’t look like it would be much of a contest, and it turned out I was right.

Vick’s first snap came spread wide as a WR. He came in motion and they faked the end-around to him as they handed to LeSean McCoy up the middle. It worked though, McCoy got decent yards on the play.

The Philly defense was in Matt Cassel’s face from the outset. He was sacked and hurried quite early in the game.

Vick ran the option with DeSean Jackson on his right and later ran a read-option with McCoy. Quick thought, with DeSean and LeSean on the roster, do you think Keyshawn wants to make a comeback. Would he change his name to MeSean just to match his nickname? I feel like someone needs to ask him just in case.

In the Red Zone, Vick gets another snap and fakes the run to McCoy before getting his head taken off trying to throw to the endzone. Wow, that was a monstrous hit. Andy Reid decides that it’s easier to just give the ball to McCoy on a direct snap and he scores a TD on the next play. It’s only the 1st quarter but this game is going to end badly for the Chiefs.

Watching LeSean McCoy play has convinced Pete and I that Brian Westbrook’s days are numbered in Philly.

Falcons (10) at Patriots (26)


This looked like another good game to keep tabs on. I thought Atlanta had a chance to take this one. Boy was I wrong.

Watching Kevin Faulk play, I have to believe he’s the best running back I’ve ever watched at running the shotgun draw. Maybe it’s because he gouged the Colts for years with this exact play, that it’s burned in my mind. He hesitates long enough for the pass rush to develop and hits the hole with a burst quick enough to be 5 yards clear before anyone gets to him.

The New England red zone offense is picking up where it left off last week. The Pats have to kick another FG after a terrible dropped pass by Joey Galloway.

After flipping over to watch the Ten-NYJ and SF-Min games for a while, I came back with the game tied 3-3. Fred Taylor just put together a drive all by himself, with some solid running and capped it off with a TD. 10-3 NE.

Atlanta is in the no-huddle offense and the announcers make a fantastic point that most people miss. The no-huddle’s biggest advantage is to ensure that you keep the same defensive personnel on the field. Clearly the Falcons like how their current 3-WR formation is matching up with the Pats 4-DB set. Matt Ryan makes several completions in a row and Michael Turner caps off the drive with a TD. 10-10.

From this point on, Atlanta couldn’t move the ball and the Pats running game looked ready to take over the game. I switched to a more compelling game and I’m glad I did (see SF-Min) since the final score was quite lopsided. Obviously the Falcons aren’t quite an upper-echelon team yet.

Titans (17) at Jets (24)

I had this game in the channel surfing rotation, but only really started watching in the 2nd Quarter.

Tennessee looks like they’re really missing Albert Haynesworth in run defense. They are getting blown off the line by the Jets O-line right now.

The Jets pressure defense is a lot of fun to watch. The variety of overload blitz schemes is keeping Kerry Collins on his toes right now. I’m also extremely impressed with cornerback Darrelle Revis. I know that’s not a novel observation, but I haven’t seen him play very often. He’s keeping his coverage tight and breaks on the ball with perfect timing. In order to have an outstanding pressure defense, you need corners like this. 14-0 Jets right now.

Ok, I just flipped over to another game and when I flipped back, it’s 14-10. Do I smell a comeback?

In the 3rd quarter, the Titans look like a completely different team. Their defensive line is absolutely smothering Sanchez right now. It’s not a pocket, it’s a mosh pit. This is clearly getting to the Jets offense as they seem lost at the moment. I can’t believe the pressure the Titans are getting from their front 4. Where was this in the first quarter? Who broke out the ephedrine at halftime?

Unfortunately, after a great defensive stand, the Titans rookie DB, Ryan Mouton, just fumbled for the second time trying to return a punt. The Jets capitalize as Sanchez hits Jerricho Cotchery for a TD. This kid is going to have terrible confidence now.

Sanchez and Cotchery show off their chemistry again on the next drive with a great deep throw down the sidelines. I always liked Cotchery and thought he would explode with Favre at QB last year. I guess I was a year too early as he looks like a complete weapon in this game. The resulting FG gives them a 24-17 lead.

In the 4th quarter, the Titans got a monstrous INT as a pass glanced off the fingers of Chancey Stuckey to Chris Hope. After watching Chris Johnson come within a foot tackle of breaking a long TD, I’m just wondering if the entire Jets sideline holds their breath every time he touches the ball. I held mine, but that’s because I bet on the Jets. Unfortunately for the Titans, NT Kris Jenkins decides that CJ looks like a Vegas buffet, because no one is getting in his way. He even brought him down in the backfield with only a fist full of jersey.

Speaking of RB’s that make you hold your breath. The network just flashed to highlights of the Jags-Texans game so I could watch Maurice Jones-Drew single-handedly destroy my fantasy football matchup this week. Thanks guys, I need a beer.

On the next play, Collins had pressure in his face when he threw the ball and LB David Harris intercepted.

The Jets moved the ball and ate some clock, but the Titans had one final chance to tie the game. Collins never had a chance on the final drive. After a 12 yard run by CJ, Collins was sacked for a 13 yard loss by David Harris right at the 2 minute warning. The pressure kept up for the next few downs with the Titans unable to complete a pass on 3rd and 4th down. Game over.

49ers (24) at Vikings (27)

I need to make sure I disclose this beforehand. I’m becoming a seasonal Niners fan this year. I’m not talking about dumping my beloved Colts, I’m referring to that one team every season that you can’t help but follow, because you want them to do well.

I wrote about them closing down the Cardinals in week 1. I saw them play live last week. I loved Singletary as a player and he’s made that defense into a downright nasty unit. The Crabtree situation confounds me. I just can’t help but follow them. They’re even my team in Madden this year.
When I saw the 2-0 Niners versus the 2-0 Vikes, it was instantly my #1 choice for the early game. Could Pat Willis and the defense hold Adrian Peterson to under 10 yards like last year? Could Frank Gore find any running room versus the Williams Wall?

In the first quarter, the Niners look terrible on offense. The first series ends with a sack, an incompletion, a delay of game penalty and a terrible WR screen. Ouch.

Apparently San Fran’s defense doesn’t want to be out-dueled, 3 and out for Minny after Favre is put under pressure.

Oh no, Frank Gore just limped off the field. This can’t happen. He’s really the only offensive weapon that San Fran has besides Vernon Davis. Another short offensive series.

On the next Vikings offensive series, Adrian Peterson bounces one outside to remind us all that he has more talent than anyone in the league. Favre hits Sidney Rice for a TD. 7-0.

The Niners follow up that touchdown with another 3 and out. My adopted team is NOT looking good and they’re missing their offensive catalyst, Gore, who was carted off through the tunnel and won’t return.

By the time the 2nd quarter rolls around, San Fran’s defense is still holding Peterson in check and giving Favre little time to throw. After a long punt return though, they gave up a FG after a good stand. 10-0 Vikings.

San Fran needs to pass on first down. The Vikes are loading 9 in the box because they know Singletary’s conservative offense is going to run on first down. The element of surprise just isn’t there. On 4th and 1, and just out of FG range, Shaun Hill completes a 25 yard pass to Josh Morgan out of the shotgun. With their newfound aerial prowess in hand, Hill hits Vernon Davis in the endzone for a TD. 10-7 Vikes.

On the next drive, Favre gets jacked up on a safety blitz to end the drive. I think I wrote about this same deficiency after week 1. Note to all defensive coordinators playing the Vikings. Blitz the safety. I repeat, blitz the damn safety.

With neither team doing anything offensively, we’re nearing the end of the first half. As Minnesota attempts a pass on 3rd down, it’s defended beautifully by Shawntae Spencer who celebrates by waiving his hands around in an “incomplete” motion. Penalty flag for taunting, drive extended. This ref should have his toenails pulled out. Is there a reason we need to penalize an entire team for a young player celebrating a great play? Vikes get a FG out of the drive and the ref gets a bonus check from the Minnesota fan club. 13-7 Vikings.

With the Vikings marching down the field again, they are stopped in FG range, but the general sense of the game is that this could seal the win, with all the momentum on Minnesota’s side. Somehow, San Fran’s line gets a great push, blocks the FG and Nate Clements returns it for a TD. 14-13 Niners and we have a ball game.

It’s now the 3rd quarter and I see something else I don’t like with San Fran’s offense. They continually motion a WR, usually Josh Morgan, across the formation, but have him crouch behind the tackle. Once he stops, they run the ball and use Morgan as an inside blocker. It’s not that I disagree with using WRs in creative ways to run block, it’s that this motion tips the defense to a running play, every time. San Fran needs to get more creative in order to find a few big plays. Why not run this motion and sneak Morgan out on a play action pass?

As I’m busy critiquing the Niners offense, Favre throws a pick and San Fran moves the ball far enough for a FG. 17-13 Niners, and an upset in the making?

On the ensuing kickoff, Percy Harvin takes the return 101 yards for a game-changing touchdown. I don’t think he was touched. Great play. 20-17 Vikes.

I think someone just told Vernon Davis to play his ass off or Mike Singletary will drop his pants again. He just made a beautiful grab over the middle in tight double coverage and followed it up with another TD reception. Not only is Davis playing like an unstoppable force, but Shaun Hill is once again making a gutsy drive to take a 4th quarter lead. With 5:10 left in the 4th quarter, he is 4-4 for 89 yards and a TD in the quarter. 24-20 Niners.

With 2:40 left in the game, Favre has a chance for a game-winning drive. This seems like a good time to mention that if the referee hadn’t blown that taunting call earlier in the game, it would be a 7 point lead. I’m just pointing it out.

On 3rd and 5, Favre misses his target by ~8 yards, not pretty. On 4th and 5, Dre Bly knocks the pass attempt down and it looks like the victory is sealed. Unfortunately for the 49ers, they once again can’t move the ball on the ground and punt it into the end zone.

With 1:30 left in the game and 80 yards to go, it seems like Brett Favre needs a miracle. Apparently he had one left in the bag. Favre makes some sharp throws to the sideline mixed with a few up the middle to Harvin. While the announcers criticized Minny for throwing to the middle of the field with no time outs, I liked it. It opened up the sidelines for other passes and got them some quick yards. With 8 seconds left, Minny had time for one play from the 35 yard line. If you haven’t seen it, here it is. It was really an amazing play. 27-24 Minny.

I have one complaint though. As usual, all the announcers could talk about was Favre. Granted, he made a nice play avoiding the rush and getting the pass off. The insane part of the play is the catch. Their 4th WR, Greg Lewis, makes the catch in a position that looks impossible to keep his feet in bounds. He gets the left foot down, drags the right foot and manages to keep control of the ball in a very awkward position. This is a once-in-a-lifetime catch and he deserves to be recognized. Greg Lewis, you receive the first Sports Opinionated Bow Down award. We grovel at your feet.

Heart-breaking loss for San Fran, euphoric win for Minnesota, and a great game to watch as a partially-neutral fan.

Bears (25) at Seahawks (19)

I joined this game with 8:45 left in the 1st Quarter with the score 7-0 Seattle. Who scored the TD? Julius Jones, one of my bottom feeder fantasy picks and currently the best running back on my one fantasy team. Man I love when I’m right. Just don’t look at the picks I was wrong about.

Dear god, who designed these uniforms for Seattle, a crossing-guard union? I can no longer see the color green when I look away from the TV. Someone needs to burn those uniforms.

Chicago runs a nice reverse to Devin Hester, make a couple nice pass completions and look genuinely solid and then Jay Cutler throws a pick.

On the next drive by Seattle, Seneca Wallace misses Nate Burleson for a sure TD when he’s 3 steps behind his man. Seattle FG for a 10-0 lead. It looks like the SO Curse might be back on.

I jumped away to a few other games with this one looking out of hand already, but I turned back to see Olindo Mare miss a FG at the end of the half to leave the score 13-7 for Seattle.

Chicago managed another TD to go up 14-13 in the 3rd quarter. Seneca Wallace then makes his second big mistake of the game. As he tries to avoid a safety, despite being outside the tackle box, he tries to throw a pass instead of just dumping it out of bounds. INT by Lance Briggs.

Seattle gets to Cutler on a 3rd and 4 inside the 10 though, keeping it to just a FG. 17-13 Bears. Seattle follows up with a good drive riding Julius Jones tough running to a field goal. 17-16 Bears.

In the 4th quarter, Aaron Curry comes around the blind side edge and causes Cutler to fumble. It looks like Seattle has a chance. On 3rd and 11, Seneca Wallace rolls out to avoid the rush and makes a nice throw but #24 on Chicago makes a leaping play to knock the ball down. Seattle settles for a field goal but is up 19-17.

Chicago is using Wolfe and Petersen at running back right now, where is Forte? Apparently it doesn’t matter, since Cutler hits Hester on a quick slant and he takes it 30 or 40 yards for a TD. With the 2 point conversion, Chicago is up 25-19.

Seattle makes a valiant effort to come back down the field but has a 4th and 2 pass into the flat snuffed out by good man coverage. Bears win 25-19. Maybe the SO Curse isn’t real after all.

Steelers (20) at Bengals (23)

I liked the look of this game because the Bengals were only 1 fluky play from being 2-0. And in my mind, the Steelers weren’t playing that well. I thought the Bengals had a shot to keep it close, but figured Pittsburgh would still pull it off.

Has anyone else noticed the announcers using the word “swagger” too much this year? Guys, you’re not Jay Z or Kanye, just stop trying. One guy on ESPN radio this morning actually used the word swagger-licious, that’s just disgusting.

I really only watched the first half and bit of the 3rd quarter of this game. Pittsburgh jumped out to an early lead, leading 13-3 at halftime and lost their “swagger” with a terrible miscommunication between Big Ben and Santonio Holmes for a Cincy INT and TD to make it 13-10.

I didn’t see anything else other than highlights, but what a great win for the Bengals and their fans.

Saints (27) at Bills (7)

Most people didn’t give the Bills a chance in this game.

With the Saints up 7-0 in the 1st quarter, the Bills stuffed Reggie Bush on 4th and 2. They made a nice drive riding Fred Jackson’s running and scored a TD on a fake FG. 7-7. I loved the fake FG call. Early in the game against a dynamic offense, you need points and they found a way to get seven of them.

Buffalo musters a sack and fumble on Brees. They look very good on defense right now. Speaking of looking good, does Fred Jackson get to keep the starter’s job when Marshawn Lynch comes back? I think he should.

The Bills are still making the defensive stops, but Robert Parrish fumbles on a punt return giving the Saints a field goal. 10-7 Saints.

Both defenses keep the pressure on and we go into halftime at 10-7.

I can’t believe how terrible Buffalo’s passing game is right now. The Saints seem to be playing good defense, but it’s not like they are normally good against the pass. That said, the Bills have really limited the Saints passing attack, which is a much bigger feat.

At the beginning of the 4th quarter, Trent Edwards just missed Terrell Owens who had a step on his defender. T.O. is not a happy guy. He’s had 185 consecutive games with a catch, but 0 tonight. I’m looking for some type of Twitter update in which he insults Edwards’ manhood. Nothing online yet, give it a day.

New Orleans decided to bring Pierre Thomas into the running game at halftime and it’s been a stroke of genius. He is moving the ball and eventually breaks a 34 yarder in the 4th quarter for a TD. 17-7 Saints.

Buffalo punts again to make it 7 punts in the last 8 possession. Stick a fork in their offense.

The Saints are now imposing their running game, yes, you read that right, their running game. Another FG to make it 20-7.

The Bill offense is still doing nothing, so Thomas puts his final stamp on the game with a 19 yard TD to give the Saints a 27-7 lead. He ends up with 126 yards and 2 TDs in the 2nd half alone.

It’s too bad for the Bills defense. They held the Saints in the first half but eventually just got tired. If their offense had moved the ball and given them some rest, they could have put their stamp on this game.

Colts (31) at Cardinals (10)

I can’t possibly give you any impartial comments on this game. All I can do is spare you the Colts-fest I would write and simply state that too many people underestimate the impact of Peyton Manning. ‘Nuff said.

Well, it was a suspenseful week with some great finishes. That said, I feel for the 49ers, who were a couple 4 yard runs and a terribly blown taunting call away from icing a 3-0 start. That and my retinas are still burning from a couple hours of staring at those Seahawks jerseys.

No wonder I feel hung over.