Changing of the Guard: NFL Week 2

Sunday perfectly characterized why we all love the NFL so much. Filled with stunning upsets, dramatic finishes, and an audacious new stadium, Week 2 showed that the 2009-2010 NFL season will follow the same path of unpredictability and unmatched excitement that the league has become known for in recent years.

Perhaps the biggest story to come out of the weekend was the potential changing of the guard in the AFC East. After talking alot of smack during the week, the New York Jets walked the walk with a dominant 16-9 victory over the Patriots at the Meadowlands on Sunday. Having never beaten a Tom Brady-led Pats team at Giants Stadium, this win marked a huge step forward for the re energized franchise. Rookie QB Mark Sanchez showed great poise and presence, but it was the stifling defense that impressed me the most. The Jets were relentless in their pursuit of Brady, and although they failed to register a sack, they constantly pressured him into making poor throws and decisions. The Jets defensive scheme and execution in this game hearkened back to what the Giants did to the Pats in the Super Bowl a few years ago. By not allowing him to ever get comfortable, the Pats offense could never get into a good rhythm and in turn was only able to muster up 3 field goals. I have to say that I am loving what new Jets coach Rex Ryan has brought to that team. He exudes a confidence that borders on arrogance, and his team follows suit. You get the feeling that after only 2 games this team truly believes that they have what it takes to make a run at it this year. Whether or not they continue on this pace, the Jets franchise has certainly had new life breathed into it by a group of hungry players and a coach who really seems to "get" the modern NFL player. It's been quite some time since I've been able to say this, but I am now looking forward to watching Jets football and think that rest of the AFC East has been put on notice: These Jets are for real. Now onto some thoughts on each Sunday game...

Atlanta 28 Carolina 20

• The big guns showed up for the Falcons on Sunday. Matt Ryan tossed 3 scores, Michael Turner rushed for 100 yards and a TD, and new addition Tony Gonzalez grabbed his second TD in as many weeks. He's already proving to be an excellent addition.
• Jake Delhomme looked remarkably better this week than he did in week 1. I guess he had nowhere to go but up, but it is still a good sign for Panthers fans

Vikings 27 Lions 13

• This type of game will become very familiar to Lions fans this year. There will be flashes of improvement and brilliance from the team as a whole and Matthew Stafford, but reality will ultimately come around to bite them in the ass the majority of the year.
• Favre's 2 touchdown passes this year have both been short swing passes to Percy Harvin. I expect him to be much more of a game manager than he has in the past b/c he has other guys who can do the heavy lifting.

Bengals 31 Packers 24

• Wow, this was quite the surprise. Cedric Benson ran wild, Antwaan Odom went off (5 sacks!?!), and the Bungals pulled off the first big upset of the season. Coming off of last weeks heart breaker, this was a fantastic rebound for Marvin Lewis and co.
• You got a heavy sense of deja vu at the end of this one didn't you though? All I was thinking when Green Bay recovered the onside kick was how if the Bengals managed to blow that one, they'd never be able to recover
• It looks like the Pack may not be as good as the pundits believed they were going to be. Barely beating the Bears despite 4 interceptions, then losing at home to a embattled Bengals team.
  

Cardinals 31 Jaguars 17

• The Cards finally win in the eastern time zone!
• I like the guy, but Jack Del Rio is on really thin ice in Jacksonville. You can't go from being very competitive one week at Indy and then lay an egg like this in the home opener. His team have been terrible underachievers the last two seasons

Raiders 13 Chiefs 10

• It's a good thing these teams play each other b/c I'm not sure they'd win otherwise
• KC out-gained the Raiders 409-166 and lost. Pathetic. Where do you even begin if you are Todd Haley?

Saints 48 Eagles 22

• It wouldn't have really mattered if Donovan McNabb played in this game or not. You'll be hard pressed to ever win when you give up 48.
• Drew Brees is insane. At this rate he is going to put up astronomical numbers.
• Quite the interesting start for Philly. A blowout win on the road followed by a blowout loss at home. What's next? Perhaps a close game?

Redskins 9 Rams 7

• Sigh....really Washington? 5 red zone appearances and no touchdowns is just unnacceptable
• This game actually speaks volumes about how bad the Rams really are. The Redskins practically wanted to give this one away but St. Louis couldn't get the W.
• As ugly as it was, a win is a win. As a Skins fan I'll gladly take the victory and just pray we don't lose to the Lions on Sunday.

Texans 34 Titans 31

• A surprise shootout and surprise victor in this one. I wrote the Texans off after being pounded by the Jets, but I was impressed with them in this one.
• Tennessee has big issues when it comes to pass defense
• Andre Johnson will do that to you though. What a great receiver. I think his hands are doused in stick-em
• Chris Johnson shows up and goes completely off in this one. As much as a 0-2 record hurts, I think the Titans are still a good team.

Bills 33 Buccaneers 20

• Buffalo rebounds nicely after the MNF debacle at New England
• Typical T.O. effort. Drops a sure thing touchdown but catches another
• It's going to be a long ass year for Tampa Bay

49ers 23 Seahawks 10

• Frank Gore went crazy in this one with two huge TD runs. I can't believe the 49ers didn't give him the ball more in the second half. He had 203 yards rushing with over 25 minutes to play. Talk about a blown chance to potentially break a record
• Patrick Willis destroyed Matt Hasselback and may have seriously damaged any playoff hopes Seattle had.

Bears 17 Steelers 14

• Party animal kicker Jeff Reed cost Pitt this game, plain and simple. If he makes even one of those two kicks in the 4th quarter, the Steelers would be sitting pretty at 2-0
• Jay Cutler looked significantly better in this game, and Bears fans have be feeling great relief after that big win

Broncos 27 Browns 6

• Booooooring. Cleveland is awful and Denver's 2-0 record is an illusion

Ravens 31 Chargers 26

• The good for Baltimore: They all of the sudden are an offensive juggernaut
• The bad for Baltimore: The vaunted D gave up over 400 yards passing to my boy Phil Rivers
• All time great play by Ray Lewis at the end of this game. He burst through the line like a bat out of hell to blow up Darren Sproles and the Chargers hopes of winning
• Norv Turner sucks. Terrible play call on 4th down. How he ever got another job as head coach is beyond me.

Giants 33 Cowboys 31

• This game felt like more of a large showcase or a circus than it did a football battle.
• The G-Men should send Tony Romo a fruit basket as thanks for handing them this game
• It is always amazing to see Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips dissapointed. They want to be good so badly, but they're not even half the team they think they are

Colts 27 Dolphins 23

• Miami dominated this game TOP wise yet still managed to give it away
• For my money, Peyton Manning is still the best QB in football, regardless of what anyone else will tell you.
• Donald Brown is going to be a big time player for the Colts. Nice to see a UConn alum in an impact position in the NFL

That wraps up my coverage on another great week of football in the NFL. While the matchups coming up in Week 3 are less than intriguing, I'm sure some crazy, unexpected shit will happen as always. I'll try to actually remember to make my pics sometime later this week, but at the very lease I will be previewing the games on the "That's Amore" radio show. Until then, you stay classy San Diego...