In week 1 it felt like my teams could do no wrong. How quickly things change in the NFL. In week 2 many things changed for the Broncos, Cardinals and Jets. Lets get started with the highlight of the week.
Cardinals @ Patriots
How awesome was this game? As a Cardinals fan you heard it all going into this game. Patriots have never lost a home opener at Gillette Stadium, Bill Belichick 12-0 in home opening games as a head coach.
But the Cardinals somehow did it. That is why I love this team. Even in their history of struggles, they find a way to win the tough games.
Last time these two teams met was back in 2008 at Gillette and the Patriots won that game 47-7. So yea, I had my doubts too that the Cards could win this one.
To quote what I said in this blog last week "I think the Cardinals D is VERY underrated and I look forward to seeing what they can do next week against the Patriots and Tom Brady."
After week 2 is all said and done, I feel even more confident in saying, "I think the Cardinals D is one of the most underrated defenses in the NFL."
In what was a field goal battle early on, Arizona held down and dominated the Pats offense. Yes, I know that Aaron Hernandez went down with an injury and yes, I know the Cardinals needed a little bit of luck on their side to hang on for the win. I still can not believe that Stephen Gostkowski missed that field goal after he had been perfect all day. Crazy.
To hold Tom Brady to just 28 completions on 46 tries and just one touchdown with one interceptions is pretty darn good. Brady had a QBR rating of just 30.6 and the high powered New England offense that seems to score touchdowns when ever they want, did not find the end zone until the 2:06 mark in the 4th quarter.
The Cardinals offense is still a bit of a mess and this goes back to me saying maybe Peyton Manning would have been a better fit in Arizona. It could just be the fan in me talking, but I feel like this team is ready and on the verge of winning a Super Bowl. The only thing holding them back is that big question mark at quarter back, I feel like they have the talent every place else on offense. For right now, who needs it. The Cards are 2-0 and as they say, it is defense that wins championships.
Remember these names; Daryl Washington (LB, 11 Tackles), Calais Campbell (DE, 10 Tackles, 2 Sacks), Paris Lenon (LB, 8 Tackles), Darnell Dockett (My personal favorite, DT, 4 Tackles), Patrick Peterson (CB, 3 Tackles) & Adrian Wilson (S, 3 Tackles).
Keep an eye on this defense. Next week Arizona returns home. Who would have though it would be a 2008 NFC Championship game rematch between The Cardinals and Eagles in week 3 and both teams would be 2-0. Not me.
Jets @ Steelers
Not to much to say about this game other than I think the Jets blew it big time. I am a huge Rex Ryan fan, but this week I feel like he screwed up bad.
The Jets went back to looking like the Jets from the preseason. They had one good drive in the football game and that was it. The only time the Jets had back to back 1st downs was when Tim Tebow was in at quarterback. Sad thing is he only got to play 3 downs.
No reason to keep a game changer like Tebow on the sidelines. What a waste of a great talent. Mark Sanchez is your guy and that is fine. Some of the best Steeler defensive players were out with injury and Sanchez and the rest of the Jets offense struggled against a Steelers D not at 100%.
Sanchez was 10/27 for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Last season against the same team, Tebow was 10/21 for 316 yards and 2 touchdowns. Enough said.
Sanchez is your quarterback and that is fine, but don't forget to use your game changer.
Jets play at Miami next week. The birthplace of Tebowmania in the NFL.
Broncos @ Falcons
Speaking of Tim Tebow...we still have four more weeks before the trade deadline.
Ok, so I will cut the guy a little slack, but man Peyton did not look good when he threw the ball deep and I am sure he will be the first to tell you that. He was fine every place else, but that deep ball was not having it on Monday night.
This is just coming from a lone observer, but it looked to me like Manning was just confusing his entire offense the whole game with all that pre snap audible stuff. Just play football.
I can't count how many times Manning had to grab Willis McGahee and move him around because he was in the wrong spot with Manning doing so much play changing at the line.
McGahee of all people was the most productive part off the offense, rushing for 113 yards and two scores.
Give credit where it is due, like John Gruden said, the Falcon defense played tough and played tricky. Loved how the Broncos defense played in response to that and kept us in the football game, but it was not enough to overcome early mistakes. You just can't win a football games turning the ball over four times in one quarter.
The defense did their best to keep Denver in it, but in the end, they themselves ran out of energy and and ran out of time.
I am ready to see more Von Miller early in the ball games making big plays. And Coach Fox, don't forget about Lance Ball. You have a special talent sitting on the sidelines, let him loose and see what he can do.
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