1.\ 1. The Redskins, Lions, Bills, and Titans are all better than I thought. This might seem pretty obvious, but still, I am a person who admits when he is wrong. The first three are each 2-0, and most people believed them each to finish last in their divisions. The Redskins have grinded out two tough games against the Giants and the Cardinals and came out on top in both contests. They will get their first of the season next week as the travel to face the newly-clutch Romo and the Cowboys.
The Lions are perhaps the most impressive of this bunch, blowing out the Chiefs and getting a big lead in week one before letting the Bucs get somewhat back in the game. But what impresses me about the Lions is how they are moving the ball with ease, and just as impressively getting defensive stops. The defense coming to life is a good sign if they want to compete with Packers in the NFC North.
I knew the Bills would be hit or miss on defense (and on Sunday they were quite the miss), but I never expected their offense to be able to bail them out. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been completely in sync with all of his receivers, especially tight end Scott Chandler. He took a game that the Bills of Christmas’ Past would not have even had a chance to stay within two touchdowns, and not only made it close, but got the victory. In every possession the Bills had in the second half on Sunday, they scored a touchdown.
Finally, I didn’t know what to expect from the Titans this year, but I knew the Jaguars would be garbage. And after the Jags found a way to win in week one against Tennessee, I wrote the Titans off. Now after their performance against the Ravens in week two, I may have been wrong again. I am still not saying that the Titans are anything more than an 8-8 team, but do not think that they are the team that you saw (or probably didn’t…and if you’re in the Jacksonville area and didn’t go to the game, I KNOW you didn’t #yourgamewasblackedout) on week one.
The Lions are perhaps the most impressive of this bunch, blowing out the Chiefs and getting a big lead in week one before letting the Bucs get somewhat back in the game. But what impresses me about the Lions is how they are moving the ball with ease, and just as impressively getting defensive stops. The defense coming to life is a good sign if they want to compete with Packers in the NFC North.
I knew the Bills would be hit or miss on defense (and on Sunday they were quite the miss), but I never expected their offense to be able to bail them out. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been completely in sync with all of his receivers, especially tight end Scott Chandler. He took a game that the Bills of Christmas’ Past would not have even had a chance to stay within two touchdowns, and not only made it close, but got the victory. In every possession the Bills had in the second half on Sunday, they scored a touchdown.
Finally, I didn’t know what to expect from the Titans this year, but I knew the Jaguars would be garbage. And after the Jags found a way to win in week one against Tennessee, I wrote the Titans off. Now after their performance against the Ravens in week two, I may have been wrong again. I am still not saying that the Titans are anything more than an 8-8 team, but do not think that they are the team that you saw (or probably didn’t…and if you’re in the Jacksonville area and didn’t go to the game, I KNOW you didn’t #yourgamewasblackedout) on week one.
2. 2. The Baltimore Ravens had the letdown of all letdowns. The definition of a letdown is when you come across a trap game on your schedule and you not only don’t play as well as you are capable, but you simply lose.
Sidenote: the Romo definition of a trap game is quite complex, but there are a few keys to figuring out if your team has a trap game and should be worried about their performance. The first key in recognizing a trap game is schedule. Did your team just play a good team? And do they have a good team coming up in two weeks? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, there is a small chance the upcoming game is a trap game. Now, if the upcoming game is on the road, there is a greater (albeit slightly greater, but still greater) chance of a trap game. Next, did your team just win that big game against a good team? Oh boy, now the upcoming game is an even bigger possibility of a trap game. Finally, if this upcoming game is more important for the other team than it is for you, you are very much looking at a trap game.
With all that being said, NY Jets, you are currently on trap game alert! Your next game is against the Oakland Raiders, with the Pittsburgh Steelers lurking after them. Handle it better than the Ravens did to avoid a letdown.
Sidenote: the Romo definition of a trap game is quite complex, but there are a few keys to figuring out if your team has a trap game and should be worried about their performance. The first key in recognizing a trap game is schedule. Did your team just play a good team? And do they have a good team coming up in two weeks? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, there is a small chance the upcoming game is a trap game. Now, if the upcoming game is on the road, there is a greater (albeit slightly greater, but still greater) chance of a trap game. Next, did your team just win that big game against a good team? Oh boy, now the upcoming game is an even bigger possibility of a trap game. Finally, if this upcoming game is more important for the other team than it is for you, you are very much looking at a trap game.
With all that being said, NY Jets, you are currently on trap game alert! Your next game is against the Oakland Raiders, with the Pittsburgh Steelers lurking after them. Handle it better than the Ravens did to avoid a letdown.
3. 3. Cam Newton is the rookie of the year, barring injury. The man has played just two games in the National Football League. It should be entirely too early to give out the hardware yet. In fact, Newton threw three interceptions in his last game, and has still yet to win a professional football game.
So why is he the rookie of the year? Well for one, he has thrown for 854 yards already in just two games, which is on pace for an unheard of 6,832 yards. He had his Panthers well in the game against the defending champs before letting the game get away in the second half. Newton’s second game in the NFL proved that his first was no fluke.
Even if he regresses to the mean, and simply plays average in the next 14 games, he will still throw for over 4,000 yards. That is quite impressive in his rookie season. Also, there have yet to be too many standout performances from rookies other than Cam, especially at the skill positions. He could face competition from Andy Dalton, and perhaps later Blaine Gabbert, but Newton already has the edge on them (plus Dalton has to face the Steelers and Ravens a combined 4 more times) making the award almost certain his, barring injury.
So why is he the rookie of the year? Well for one, he has thrown for 854 yards already in just two games, which is on pace for an unheard of 6,832 yards. He had his Panthers well in the game against the defending champs before letting the game get away in the second half. Newton’s second game in the NFL proved that his first was no fluke.
Even if he regresses to the mean, and simply plays average in the next 14 games, he will still throw for over 4,000 yards. That is quite impressive in his rookie season. Also, there have yet to be too many standout performances from rookies other than Cam, especially at the skill positions. He could face competition from Andy Dalton, and perhaps later Blaine Gabbert, but Newton already has the edge on them (plus Dalton has to face the Steelers and Ravens a combined 4 more times) making the award almost certain his, barring injury.
4. 4. The Philadelphia Eagles are not THAT good. I’m not saying this because they lost the game. I’m saying this because so far this season, I’ve seen them give up a long touchdown run to Steven Jackson, a long run to Michael Turner, have the 30th ranked run defense, and not only that, their pass defense has looked beatable. I still think they win the division, but they need to fix the run defense soon or else they will get beat by a team that can run the ball effectively in the playoffs.
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