For the entire NFL season, we will be breaking down the rest of the NFL not named Green Bay by looking at it like a liquor cabinet. Why did we choose this method? I like to booze and it makes things really easy to determine what's great, average and poor.
Top Shelf
Patriots-Panthers played a classic - It feels like the football gods know we are heading into prime football season giving us a great college football game Saturday and then the Monday Night masterpiece. This game had such a nice flow to it with just right amount of scoring and good defense. I thoroughly enjoyed this game and would not mind it being the Super Bowl in February. Cam Newton probably vaulted himself to another level after this game. Newton will get all sorts of attention with people debating just how good Cam is right now. I think the jury is still out, but he is definitely in the top 15, no question. Top 10 is probably still up for debate, but he deserves to be in the conversation. He also had this insane run on a third down... Just silly.
Unfortunately, this game ended in controversy, probably the biggest one since Fail Mary. In the final drive, final play of the game, Tom Brady drove his team down the field like he's done many times before. New England had the ball on Carolina's 18 and Brady's pass was intercepted in the endzone yet a yellow flag fell next to him. It ended up getting picked up thus ending the game. After the replay, it clearly shows Luke Kuechly holding Rob Gronkowski, and it should have been called giving New England another chance. This did not happen... TOM BRADY YOUR THOUGHTS.
Worth noting, Steve Smith and Aqib Talib reignited their rivalry with each other leading to Smith calling him 'Another notch in the bed post' and telling him to ICE UP, SON. Steve Smith is the based god
Denver's dominance - When a team wins by 10 points, it is not seen as a blowout nor is it seem as a game where one team imposed their will yet here we are talking how well Denver played against Kansas City. Denver's defense really played strong for the first time all year. I realize that is hard to fathom, but given how they looked against Dallas, probably their toughest team on their schedule minus KC, I would say this a top-notch defensive effort. Jamaal Charles is one of the best running backs in both running and catching the ball yet he was pretty much a non-factor. Broncos had a lead over Alex Smith for the whole game, and when Smith trails from the get-go, he struggles as a quarterback. Excited to see these two play again in a couple weeks.
Keep doubting the Cardinals - I started to get behind this train last week, but Arizona won again making them 6-4. Carson Palmer found Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald multiple times as well as Andre Ellington did alright when he was not losing dreads. Do not sleep on this team. (H/T Vince Marotta)
Pittsburgh is not dead! - So once upon a time, I picked Pittsburgh to win the Super Bowl. I know that's bad, but they have life! It looked like they were set to tease everyone with an early lead only to get smacked in the second quarter with 27 Detroit points including a big effort from Calvin Johnson. Pittsburgh shut them out in the second half including Ben Roethlisberger getting it done on the offensive end. Steelers sit two games back from first place with four of the last six games being in the division starting next week with a showdown at Cleveland.
Middle Shelf
New Orleans takes care of business - I rode hard for the Saints. I felt like San Francisco was not a good enough team to win on the road. Although San Francisco looked very competent controlling the game throughout the second half and it seemed like they were getting a road victory after Ahmed Brooks drilled Drew Brees causing him to fumble. Some laundry hits the fake grass calling it a personal foul on Brooks for coming close to the head. He called it bullshit. He is probably right, but here's the thing, it is a new NFL. I realize it does not make it right, but that's how it is whether we like it or not. If Brooks cannot adapt, he will continue to get penalized.
Why exactly did Baltimore-Chicago start at noon? - One of the biggest flubs of football was the lack of disregard the football teams had for their fans. It looked like apocalyptic weather out there, and they still tried to play a football game. It did not get started until almost 2:30 pm where they played a marathon of a game where Marc Trestman should thank his lucky stars no one is realizing how horrible he is at managing the clock.
Philadelphia needs to close - Eagles played three perfect quarters of football. Nick Foles looked great again and the defense continues to improve each week. Then Washington started to creep back in, and had a chance to tie this football game. Philadelphia needs to get better at closing, but right now, there is not a better team in NFC East.
Miami and San Diego, you confuse me - Both of these teams are by far the most confusing teams in the NFL. For San Diego, I believe they are not a good team. It seemed like they could be a playoff contender, but they have lost two straight with a road trip to Kansas City upcoming this week. Miami is suddenly only two games back and right in the playoff hunt. If Miami makes the playoffs after all the happenings this season, it would be the most NFL thing ever.
Percy Harvin's impact is still unknown - Seattle's prized off-season acquisition finally played his first game of the season. Harvin became involved with both the offense and special teams. It is hard to say anything more about Harvin given who they played. Pete Carroll is an innovative dude, and I believe he could do some unique things with Harvin in the coming weeks.
Bottom Shelf
Officially rock bottom in Houston - It seemed like the Texans finally caught a break. They had lost seven straight games and it was announced Matt McGloin would be the quarterback as Terrelle Pryor could not play on Sunday. McGloin tore up Houston's secondary and won the game as an undrafted rookie. Andre Johnson had words for Matt Schaub and they were not pleasant. Further, pulling Case Keenum for Schaub for confidence sake is absolutely stupid. Johnson, one of the most mild-mannered dudes in the league, now seems very unhappy. This is a complete mess in Houston.
Atlanta is truly bad - I felt like the writing was on the wall last week, and Tampa Bay drove home the point that the Falcons are a disaster on defense. Bobby Rainey gashed their rush defense for 163 yards and Vincent Jackson caught 10 balls to the tune of 165 yards. It does not get any easier for the Falcons as they head home for a short week against New Orleans.
Cleveland - THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE. Dammit Browns, I wanted to believe.
Pump the Geno breaks - Everyone is ready to sell their Geno Smith stock because he had a truly awful game in Buffalo. Let's get a couple things clear here... 1.) Buffalo has a good defense especially in the front seven, Geno had problems with them earlier this season. 2.) It is a tough place to play, and the environment did not suit him right. He will be fine, let's just all take one big cup of 'Relax'.
Charlie.
0 comments:
Post a Comment