How We Saw Week 2

They are doing it by making halftime adjustments.  They have outscored their first two opponents in the first half, 20-7.  In the second half, they have turned it on and run up a 54-14 advantage.  

You know who the New York Jets' leading rusher was on Sunday?  Their punter, Matt Turk, who rushed 14 yards on a fake punt.  Yes, Curtis Martin only carried the ball four times.  But, hand it to Bill Belichick - he is putting on one of the greatest coaching displays I have ever seen in any sport. 

Atlanta is now 0-2, but could, should, be 2-0.  They have as good a chance as any team of being this year's "Patriots."  The Pats, remember, started 0-2 last year, losing two close games to start the season.  The Falcons now have four very winnable games in a row (Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, at New York Giants, Carolina) that could put them back in the hunt.

The New Orleans Saints are the biggest surprise of the year to me.  What I didn't account for with them is their speed - they have put together a very fast receiving corps that will give virtually any defense this year fits.  

Like no other team I can remember, Detroit has a very real shot of going 0-16.  Their only saving grace:  they play the Packers at home next week, and that game will be a nail-biter.  If the Lions lose it, look out below . . . 

I have a very good fantasy football team:  Ricky Williams, Priest Holmes, Brett Favre, Jimmy Smith . . . .   This week I scored the second highest point total in the league, and I very well may lose to Jim's team.  He had Drew Bledsoe, who went nuts against the Vikings.  My only saving grace was that I had Peerless Price - who also went nuts.

We've seen Miami do this many times:  look great in September.  They're doing it again.  But, something rings differently to me about this team, and I think it's Ricky Williams.  He brings an added element that past Dolphins teams haven't had.  Unfortunately, like the rest of the League, they're just playing for second place in the division to the Pats.

How much is Cleveland wishing they had that Kansas City game back?  If they had won that, they would already be two games up on the rest of the division; as it is, they are one game up.

Arizona went into Seattle and gave Trent Dilfer his first loss in 16 starts.  They have a very real chance of starting 5-1 now, if they can just win three in a row at home, and win at Carolina.

Bonehead play of the day by the Vikings' Corey Chavous. Buffalo's Travis Henry fumbles at the Vikings 1 with 3:54 to go and Chavous had an easy recovery if he falls on it. Instead, he tries to pick it up, loses control and Bills' QB Drew Bledsoe recovers. The Bills go on to take the lead in a game they eventually win in overtime.

Philadelphia's 37-7 dismantling of Washington on Monday Night Football was no surprise. The Redskins don't yet have the skill players to implement Steve Spurrier's offense, and the defense still has not yet jelled.

Pittsburgh committed five turnovers against Oakland to fall to 0-2. The Steelers have turned the ball over 10 times in their first two games. Pittsburgh also allowed Oakland to convert 60% of its third-down attempts. The Steelers are in trouble.

Oakland followed New England's game plan and threw and threw against Pittsburgh. The Raiders threw 30 of 32 times in the first half , and 64 total, in their 30-17 win. Rich Gannon completed 43 passes, two short of Drew Bledsoe's all-time mark.

How wacky is the NFC? New Orleans and Carolina are 2-0, St. Louis is 0-2.

Speaking of wacky (or just bad), the AFC North (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh) is 1-7.The only win was Cleveland's division win against Cincinnati. On the other hand, the AFC West (San Diego, Denver, Oakland and Kansas City) is 7-1.

At 0-2, the Rams look disorganized and mortal. Teams now try and hit their receivers hard on each play and it seems to be paying off. Quarterback Kurt Warner looks frustrated and dejected.

Hot coach alert. For those who like the big rugged types, hard to beat Minnesota's 6'9" Mike Tice.

Homoerotic comment by an announcer: "You gotta ride the center."

Cold in the red zone: In their 21-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Indianapolis Colts were inside the Fins' 12-yard line four times and came away with six points total.

Week's Hot Player

Wade Phillips Memorial
 Bonehead Coach of the Week Award