By Paul Gotham
Tougher than the rest
Indianapolis, Denver, Minnesota, and the New York Giants continue on without defeat (New Orleans enjoyed the bye week also undefeated).
Minnesota’s decision to sign Brett Favre parted the waters. For right now, it looks like those in agreement were right. Of course there is much football to be played yet this season. It is hard to imagine that Favre has never opened a season 5-0, yet that is the case. Adrian Peterson scored two touchdowns as the Vikes topped the hapless Rams, 38-10. Viking DE, Jared Allen recovered two fumbles – one he returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
What looked like an impending train wreck has become a runaway train in Denver. Josh McDaniels came to town an quickly showed quarterback, Jay Cutler, the door. Then a rift with Brandon Marshall appeared to spell doom for the rookie coach. Those are all distant memories as the Broncos outlasted Tom ‘Terrific’ and the New England Patriots in OT, 20-17. Kyle Orton went 35-48 for 330 yards while Brady finished 19-33 for 215. Didn’t Orton struggle in Chicago? After key wins over the Pats and Dallas Cowboys, Denver’s gauntlet of a schedule continues with a Monday night affair at San Diego. After a bye week, the Broncos travel to Baltimore before hosting Pittsburgh.
Another week and another 300 yards for Peyton Manning. Another week and another six receivers pulling in passes. Joseph Addai led the way with 10 catches. Addai also rushed for a touchdown. Manning joined Steve Young and Kurt Warner as the only quarterbacks to open the season with five consecutive 300 yard games.
The G-Men rolled over Oakland 44-7….yaaawwwwwwnnnnn. The season makes an abrupt shift for Eli and the boys when they travel to N’awlins next week. Philly, San Diego, Atlanta, and Denver loom in the distance.
Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 110 yards and one touchdown.
Sniffing the scum from the pond
Tennessee, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis have all fallen to 0-5. KC and TB come as no surprise – rebuilding was a pre-season theme for those two organizations. It seems like just yesterday we were singing the praises of “The Greatest Show On Turf.” That is long gone. The Titans just keep adding to Albert Haynesworth’s value.
6-3: Cleveland takes the battle of the inept
If someone were to quickly look at the box score for this game and see that Cleveland completed a mere two passes and was out gained 288-193, one would have to think the Bills played a good game. Right? Guess again. There is no way to describe this game other than U-G-L-Y…and there was no alibi. Not even watching this game in the Anchor Bar on Main Street in Buffalo could make it look better. But the wings sure were good. 🙂
Dick Jauron can look on the bright side. If his hands get cold, he can sit on them. He won’t find a warmer seat.
Time to take notice
The Cincinnati Bengals racked up 403 yards of offense en route to a come-from-behind 17-14 victory over Baltimore. The Ravens committed three penalties on the Bengals’ final drive. With the win, Cincinnati takes the top spot in the AFC North at 4-1. Baltimore falls into a tie with Pittsburgh at 3-2. Carson Palmer threw for 271 yards. Chad Johnson made nine receptions.
Monday Night Fight
If the New York Jets are to stay on top of the AFC East they will have to do it on the sod of Pro Player …errr….Landshark Stadium. Rex Ryan’s defense will need to slow a Miami ground attack that’s getting 183 yards per game. A Miami win will put three teams within one game in the division.
Mark Sanchez won’t need to “drive that dusty road from Monroe to Angilene.” But he will have to “Prove It All Night.”
Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.
You know, for the moment the Favre pickup seems like a magical deal for the Vikings, but two things – one, the ghost of Tarkenton, and the Vikings will not go all the way, and two, sooner or later, despite all the love, despite the Hollywood-like comeback for ol’ yeller, there will come a play and his femur will crack harder than Joe Theisman’s did way back when, and Favre will be on his way to announcing. And if you think he was wishy washy in his retirement slash comeback period, just imagine him in a realtor’s jacket with a microphone in his face.
It’s really hard for me to believe that Kyle Orton is now a “good quarterback”. If he is, there can be only one explanation for this Bears fan …. Orton greatly underachieved under the tutelage of Can’t Buy Me Lovie Smith and the terrible Bears coaching staff. In terms of smarts, strategy and know-how when it comes to offense, the Bears coaching staff has to be unquestionably bottom quartile. Hopefully we won’t see Cutler regress, but don’t be surprised if we see him turn into the Orton of yesteryear.
Geeez the Dolphins offense looks great with a QB who’s got a gun for an arm, combined with their state of the art Wildcat offense. That was a great MNF game!
I have been wondering the past couple of days. Has there been a year in which the NFL”s bottom tier of teams has been THIS bad. Or for that matter – there has been that many teams.
It was pointed out last night on the radio – that even though the Bills were horrible on Sunday – they might be the 7th worst team in the NFL.
Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Oakland, Kansas City, Detroit, St. Louis and Buffalo.
There are some Baaaaaadddddd teams out there.
Smitty – now that you mention it, the gap between the haves and have nots seems rather large. That Bills /Browns debacle might go down as the worst exhibition in league history.
Bill – Helmet Sticker!!!!!!!!!!! Are you suggesting Favre has rabies?
Wally – I don’t know if Lovie is to blame, but McDaniels is sure looking good right now – at least better than the uniforms worn by the Broncos this weekend. 🙂
Not rabies, Casey, more like a lack of calcium. I thought the yeller played well, yellow for Green Bay, yeller as a quarteback. And while I don’t think he’ll go down like the pooch, more like Nancy Kerrigan, it’s not something I am hoping for, but something I see as inevitable. Be great if it were a Thanksgiving day game, with his shiny femur snapping through his uniform, as millions of people across the country lose their appetites.
Oh, and what do you mean by Helmet Sticker?
Helmet sticker is a reference to college football when players accomplish something noteworthy. In this case you made me laugh out loud…as you have done so many times. Of course, I had to delay in responding while I recovered from your description of the breaking of bones. My body went kinda numb!
The Chinchilla has arrived!!!!!!!!!
To all on the pine check out Bill’s guitar work here: https://www.geocities.com/la_chinchillas/sampbeertruck.mp3
and here: https://www.geocities.com/la_chinchillas/sampmiuty.mp3
how could I forget here: https://www.geocities.com/la_chinchillas/sampmymymy.mp3
actually, you’re better off looking here – https://chinchillas.x10hosting.com/mp3s.htm – since geocities is closing any day now.
And i’m glad you like my little bunny.
Ah, I knew that meaning of helmet sticker, but I thought perhaps there was some other modern day usage or slang that passed me by, like you were, what’s the word, dissing me or something. Glad to know my gutter fed mind has nothing to worry about.
I’m probably biased, but Brady Quinn is not getting a “fair chance” with the Browns. It’s got to be a money or contractual bonus thing keeping him on the bench. I know the jury is still out on him as to whether he’ll be a solid NFL QB, but who would YOU start as the Browns QB if given these choices:
Quinn: 45/74 61% 400 yds 1 TD 3 INT Rating: 61
Anderson: 39/84 46% 384 yds 1 TS 5 INT Rating: 39
It’s a hapless team with little talent, so neither of these guys is gonna shine in the current environment. But I think the younger Quinn has much better potential.
Wally….. gulp… I agree…gulp… with you. God, that hurts!! 🙂 Seriously, Brady Quinn has never really been given a chance. Start 2 games here and then 2 games there – comepletely unfair for anyone to settle down and try to get comfortable.
Heck, Brady Quinn has been numbers the JaMarcus Russell – and he is STILL the starting QB in L.A.. Cleveland should do him a favor and let him go. He will find a job with another team.
Smitty, that’s it! Brilliant!! Brady Quinn to the Raiders!!!
And quit gulping so much … it’s embarrassing.
To the Raiders?!?!
Wally, have you lost your mind? Two years with the Raiders, and Quinn would be out of the NFL.
NFL Splinters – rockin it out again.
Too bad the Browns didn’t trade Quinn for Cutler. Quinn could be working with McDaniels right now.
Yes … I’ve lost my mind … I’m obsessed with the ND-USC game … in a trance …. can’t focus on much else … will Saturday ever get here????
Oh … make sure everyone sends your happy birthday wishes to Kelly … Casey’s much better half 🙂
Oh boy – be careful. You would not want to cause any melting of Mt, McKinley.
Back to Quinn – how about Brady in a Panthers uniform? He has to be an upgrade over apple turnover DelHomme.