(Like always, I don't recap the Sunday Night game because it's on to late and I'm too old...)
NFL Round-Up: WEEK 3
Tampa Bay - 14 (0-3) @ Atlanta - 56 (2-1)
Well, that escalated quickly. What answer do you have for this game if you're the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Three games into the Lovie Smith era and it looks like the team has already given up on him. It's a sad state affairs right now in Buc-land, especially for a team that was expected to be a potential "pop" team in the NFL this season. The Bucs are in desperate need of a quarterback as Josh McCown is reminding the world that he's a back-up QB who can play well in certain systems. Lovie Smith's system is not one of them. Going into this game, the Falcons defense was giving up the most yards in the NFL and the Bucs couldn't get the offense rolling. There's no explanation for that other than you just plain suck. I hope Marcus Mariota is watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers closely because "Suck for the Duck" seems to be going in full force. As for the Falcons, they were impressive but it's not hard to be impressive against a team that just isn't trying. Putting 56 points up against a lackluster Tampa Bay defense is good, but call me when you do that against Seattle, Carolina, Cincinnati, etc.
Tampa Bay Offensive MVP: Marcus Mariota. He was the reason the Ducks beat the Washington State Cougars on Saturday night. Oregon's offensive line was crap that game and the Ducks likely would have lost to the Cougars had they not had the stellar Mariota playing behind center.
Tampa Bay Defensive MVP: Lavonte David (8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery)
Atlanta Offensive MVP: Julio Jones (9 receptions, 161 yards, 2 TD's)
Atlanta Defensive MVP: Kemal Ishmael (5 tackles, 1 interception, 1 TD)
Up next for Tampa Bay: vs. @ Pittsburgh (2-1)
Up next for Atlanta: vs. @ Minnesota (1-2)
San Diego - 22 (2-1) @ Buffalo - 10 (2-1)
The San Diego Chargers are a good team people. Not only that, but Philip Rivers is one of the top 5 QB's in the league. The quicker everyone else realizes this, the better we are all going to get along. The Chargers showed last week when they beat Seattle that they can beat any team at home. The Chargers showed this week that they can travel all the way to Buffalo and beat an undefeated Bills team that's been pretty impressive so far this year. I don't know what the ceiling is for the Chargers, but as long as they have Rivers back there slinging the pig skin, I'm going to consider them a contender. As for the Bills, you knew you weren't going to go undefeated the entire season and the Chargers are a good team. Don't beat yourselves up over this loss because the Patriots are right there ready to steal sole possession of first-place in the AFC East. Dust yourselves off and come back fighting next week.
San Diego Offensive MVP: Philip Rivers (18 of 25 for 256 yards, 2 TD's, 131.4 rating)
San Diego Defensive MVP: Eric Weddle (10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflected)
Buffalo Offensive MVP: Fred Jackson (6 carries, 34 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 78 receiving yards, 1 TD)
Buffalo Defensive MVP: Aaron Williams (14 tackles)
Up next for San Diego: vs. Jacksonville (0-3)
Up next for Buffalo: vs. @ Houston (2-1)
Tennessee - 7 (1-2) @ Cincinnati - 33 (3-0)
I'm seriously still struggling to see how the Kansas City Chiefs got blown out by the Tennessee Titans at home to start week one. Going into the season, I thought the Titans had one of the worst rosters in the NFL and I think I predicted them to win 3-4 games the entire season. Then they come out and lay a beating on the Chiefs at Arrowhead to start the season and everyone is left scratching their heads in confusion. Perhaps the Titans are actually better than everyone thought?
Ya, the Titans are awful. As for the Bengals, are they the best potential Super Bowl team that absolutely no one is talking about? I'm going to go ahead and start the bandwagon on the Bengals being the best team in the AFC just so I can go ahead and jinx my good friend Steve Cook. My horrendous football luck is sure to wear off on the Bengals now and they will lose their next four games following the bye week (@ New England, Carolina, @ Indianapolis, Baltimore). Sorry Cook, but your kitties look good and they have flashy uniforms. Everyone that knows me knows that I'm a fan of flashy uniforms......
Tennessee Offensive MVP: Bishop Sankey (10 carries, 61 rushing yards, 1 reception, 9 receiving yards)
Tennessee Defensive MVP: Wesley Woodyard (9 tackles)
Cincinnati Offensive MVP: A.J. Green (6 receptions, 102 yards)
Cincinnati Defensive MVP: Reggie Nelson (6 tackles, 1 interception)
Up next for Tennessee: vs. @ Indianapolis (1-2)
Up next for Cincinnati: BYE WEEK
Baltimore - 23 (2-1) @ Cleveland - 21 (1-2)
All is right with the world again when the Cleveland Browns lose. I don't mean to bang on the Browns all the time, but they are not a good football team on paper. However, they've shown the last few weeks that you can't actually judge a football team on paper and they are obviously better than we are giving them credit for. Brian Hoyer continues to play well, which is great news for Browns fans because it keeps Johnny Manziel off-the-field (although they tried an illegal trick play with him this week which was pretty hilarious). If the Browns keep it up, they could end up as an 8-8 team or something else along those lines. The Ravens meanwhile continue to keep on rolling following all the Ray Rice drama. They also appear to have found a nice little running back in Lorenzo Taliaferro. The fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft had a solid game and if he can keep it up, the Ravens may just win the division like I predicted before the season started. Back-to-back division wins for the Ravens is huge and could have some serious implications come playoff time.
Baltimore Offensive MVP: Lorenzo Taliaferro (18 carries, 91 yards, 1 TD)
Baltimore Defensive MVP: Courtney Upshaw (5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass deflected)
Cleveland Offensive MVP: Brian Hoyer (19 of 25 for 290 yards, 1 TD, 127.1 rating)
Cleveland Defensive MVP: Tashaun Gipson (5 tackles, 1 interception)
Up next for Baltimore: vs. Carolina (2-1)
Up next for Cleveland: BYE WEEK
Green Bay - 7 (1-2) @ Detroit - 19 (2-1)
What is going on with the Green Bay Packers offense? Since the start of the season, the Packers can't run the ball and Aaron Rodgers has gone from the best quarterback in the league, to just an average guy. Seriously, can anyone figure it out? I picked the Packers to get into the playoffs and actually do some damage, so I'm just as disappointed as the rest of you. The Packers need to get this thing figured out. It also really hurts that I drafted Eddie Lacy pretty high in a few of my fantasy leagues and the guy has come out and laid a giant stink bomb so far this season. Now, let's give some credit to Detroit's defense though. I've said for years now that the Lions have a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball and once they get it clicking, it will be amazing. That's what happened today against the Packers. If the Lions defense can play like this every week, they can be a threat in the NFC. That's a big "IF" though people. Green Bay's offense may just be that bad this year.
Green Bay Offensive MVP: Aaron Rodgers (16 of 27 for 162 yards, 1 TD, 88.8 rating)
Green Bay Defensive MVP: Davon House (5 tackles, 1 interception)
Detroit Offensive MVP: Reggie Bush (12 carries, 61 rushing yards, 1 TD, 6 receptions, 38 receiving yards)
Detroit Defensive MVP: DeAndre Levy (10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 pass deflections)
Up next for Green Bay: vs. @ Chicago (1-1)
Up next for Detroit: vs. @ New York Jets (1-1)
Dallas - 34 (2-1) @ St. Louis - 31 (1-2)
Dallas Offensive MVP: DeMarco Murray (24 carries, 100 rushing yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 31 receiving yards)
Dallas Defensive MVP: Bruce Carter (12 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 interception, 1 TD)
St. Louis Offensive MVP: Zac Stacy (12 carries, 67 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 54 receiving yards)
St. Louis Defensive MVP: Janoris Jenkins (5 tackles, 1 interception, 1 TD)
Up next for Dallas: vs. New Orleans (1-2)
Up next for St. Louis: BYE WEEK
Oakland - 9 (0-3) @ New England - 16 (2-1)
The Patriots were my Super Bowl pick out of the AFC, so it's good to see them win a "must-win" game against the Raiders. They didn't look great in this game though so there should be some concern with this team. A team like New England that's picked to potentially win a Super Bowl should come out and put a whooping on the Raiders. The Raiders are not a good football team by any means, so I don't know if New England was just playing down to their competition or what, but they better get it figured out quickly because the Chiefs are playing good football right now and could take advantage of the Pats next week. As for the Raiders, when your best player is your kicker.....yep. Dennis Allen could get fired as early as this week (with Oakland, anything is possible), so that's something to keep an eye on as the weak progresses. I'm personally in favor of that move, but it's high time the Raiders stopped bringing in these lame duck coaches and bring in a guy with an actual successful track record that can help turn this once-proud NFL franchise around.
Oakland Offensive MVP: Sebastian Janikowski (3 for 3 FG's)
Oakland Defensive MVP: Justin Tuck (4 tackles, 1 sack, 3 QB hits)
New England Offensive MVP: Tom Brady (24 of 37 for 234 yards, 1 TD, 91.5 rating)
New England Defensive MVP: Jerod Mayo (11 tackles)
Up next for Oakland: vs. Miami (1-2)
Up next for New England: vs. @ Kansas City (1-2)
Minnesota - 9 (1-2) @ New Orleans - 20 (1-2)
Good news Minnesota fans: Matt Cassel was injured and Teddy Bridgewater was finally put into the game and actually looked pretty good considering it was his debut. If I'm the Vikings, I continue to play Bridgewater going forward. I can tell you as a guy that has had Matt Cassel as the quarterback of his favorite team for a few seasons that Cassel SUCKS and Bridgewater has serious potential. This is a no-brainer and needs to happen. (And according to the injury reports, it will as Cassel is out with an injury and Bridgewater is set to get his first start...)
Bad news Minnesota fans: You still lost and your team still looks hopeless without Adrian Peterson.
Good news Saints fans: HEY LOOK AT THAT! Your team is finally back after two horrific showings to start the season. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come?
Bad news Saints fans: Ummmmmmmmmmmm, LSU lost to Mississippi State?
Minnesota Offensive MVP: Teddy Bridgewater (12 of 20 for 150 yards, 6 carries, 27 rushing yards, 83.3 rating)
Minnesota Defensive MVP: Anthony Barr (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass deflected, 2 QB hits)
New Orleans Offensive MVP: Drew Brees (27 of 35 for 293 yards, 2 TD's, 120.3 rating)
New Orleans Defensive MVP: Junior Galette (7 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss)
Up next for Minnesota: vs. Atlanta (2-1)
Up next for New Orleans: vs. @ Dallas (2-1)
Houston - 17 (2-1) @ New York Giants - 30 (1-2)
Houston Offensive MVP: DeAndre Hopkins (6 receptions, 116 yards)
Houston Defensive MVP: Brian Cushing (17 tackles)
NY Giants Offensive MVP: Rashad Jennings (34 carries, 176 yards, 1 TD)
NY Giants Defensive MVP: Prince Amukamara (5 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes deflected)
Up next for Houston: vs. Buffalo (2-1)
Up next for NY Giants: vs. @ Washington (1-2)
Washington - 34 (1-2) @ Philadelphia - 37 (3-0)
This was one of the most highly anticipated games of the day for me. Since Chip Kelly came to Philly, the Eagles are "must-see" football, especially for us Oregon Duck fans. This game was exceptionally special because you knew there was going to be some bad blood brewing with DeSean Jackson making his return to Philly. I personally thought the Eagles were going to come out and put a rout on Washington, but for some reason Chip Kelly just isn't happy unless his team is involved in a close game. There were more than a couple of highlights throughout this game. My favorite were D-Jax catching a TD pass and doing the "Eagly Fly" dance and proceeding to "kick it out of his way". I love awesome TD celebrations and that's really the only reason I miss guys like Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. The other major highlight was Nick Foles getting blasted by a block which started off a brawl between the two teams that escalated in to some ejections for both teams. I'm not the kind of guy who glorifies violence, but if your quarterback gets taken out with a hit like that, you SHOULD retaliate so congrats to Jason Peters for having some balls. The Eagles ended up pulling out a close one here and one would think that if Philly keeps playing like this, it's bound to catch up with them sooner rather than later.
(PS: If Kirk Cousins keeps playing like this, the RG III-era in Washington will be over before it even began. If Cousins can start throwing a consistent deep ball, he's a legit NFL QB)
Washington Offensive MVP: Kirk Cousins (30 of 48 for 427 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT, 103.4 rating)
Washington Defensive MVP: DeAngelo Hall (5 tackles, 1 fumble recovery)
Philadelphia Offensive MVP: Nick Foles (27 of 41 for 325 yards, 3 TD's, 114.4 rating)
Philadelphia Defensive MVP: Malcolm Jenkins (4 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes deflected)
Up next for Philadelphia: vs. @ San Francisco (1-2)
Up next for Washington: vs. New York Giants (1-2)
Indianapolis - 44 (1-2) @ Jacksonville - 17 (0-3)
Andrew Luck has returned to "God" status. After some less-than-elite games by Luck to start the season, he found his rhythm against the Jaguars en route to a dominating performance. I haven't been shy about my admiration for Andrew Luck. He's easily the best young QB in the game today and he's going to own the NFL for the next 10-15 years barring some kind of massive injury. Today's game was a good reminder why. His numbers were phenomenal once again and even though it came against lackluster competition, great players look great against bad teams and that's what Andrew Luck is. As for the Jaguars, rookie Blake Bortles finally got some playing time and didn't look too bad. He doesn't exactly play in a QB-friendly system, so I'll be surprised if we see anything from Bortles this season, but from what I saw today, there's some potential there. You couldn't say the same thing about Blaine Gabbert after watching him play against NFL competition. Things just MIGHT be looking up in Jacksonville?
Indianapolis Offensive MVP: Andrew Luck (31 of 39 for 370 yards, 4 TD's, 3 carries, 15 rushing yards, 140.4 rating)
Indianapolis Defensive MVP: Greg Toler (4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 2 passes deflected, 1 TD)
Jacksonville Offensive MVP: Blake Bortles (14 of 24 for 223 yards, 2 TD's, 2 INT's, 2 carries, 30 rushing yards, 82.5 rating)
Jacksonville Defensive MVP: Geno Hayes (8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss)
Up next for Indianapolis: vs. Tennessee (1-2)
Up next for Jacksonville: vs. @ San Diego (2-1)
San Francisco - 14 (1-2) @ Arizona - 23 (3-0)
It's a wacky world we live in when the San Francisco 49ers don't look like the same San Francisco 49ers of the past few seasons (injuries and suspensions can do that to a team) and the Arizona Cardinals are sitting in first place of the NFC West and are one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the NFL. That's good for the Cardinals, but what's the problem with the 49ers? Why are they losing to teams that are playing back-up QB's? That's not what Super Bowl contenders do. San Francisco is also getting out-scored by opponents by 52-3 in the second half and that doesn't bode well for a team that is set to go play in Philadelphia next weekend. The Eagles are the kind of football team that will wear a defense down and explode on them in the second half. If the 49ers continue to play defense like they have been in the second half, the Eagles are going to have a field day next Sunday. At one time, I had the 49ers as my Super Bowl pick but after seeing them in the pre-season, I changed my mind. And they say the pre-season is useless!
San Francisco Offensive MVP: Colin Kaepernick (29 of 37 for 245 yards, 1 TD, 13 carries, 54 rushing yards, 103.3 rating)
San Francisco Defensive MVP: Ian Williams (5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection)
Arizona Offensive MVP: Drew Stanton (18 of 33 for 244 yards, 2 TD's, 6 carries, 16 rushing yards, 98.5 rating)
Arizona Defensive MVP: Tony Jefferson (10 tackles, 1 sack)
Up next for San Francisco: vs. Philadelphia (3-0)
Up next for Arizona: BYE WEEK
Kansas City - 34 (1-2) @ Miami - 15 (1-2)
I say it time and time again. Somethings in the NFL just don't make any sense. How do the Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots at home during week one, but lose to the Chiefs at home just two weeks later? Better yet, how do the Chiefs lose to the Tennessee Titans at home, but beat the Dolphins in Miami just two weeks later?
Kansas City Offensive MVP: Alex Smith (19 of 25 for 186 yards, 3 TD's, 2 carries, 17 rushing yards, 136.0 rating)
Kansas City Defensive MVP: Dontari Poe (4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 pass deflected, 2 QB hits)
Miami Offensive MVP: Lamar Miller (15 carries, 108 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 24 receiving yards)
Miami Defensive MVP: Jelani Jenkins (15 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hits,
Up next for Kansas City: vs. New England (2-1)
Up next for Miami: vs. Oakland (0-3)
Denver - 6 (1-1) @ Seattle - 26 (1-1)
The Super Bowl rematch was actually the Super Bowl game we had all hoped and prayed that we would get last February. The Seahawks came out and punched the Broncos in the mouth once again, but this time Denver took it with stride and managed a comeback to tie the game and move it into overtime. This was the game that we were all expecting to see at the Super Bowl and it's a good sign for Broncos fans if we do indeed get a rematch in the big game. Denver added some big time pieces in the off-season and it looks like those pieces may have paid off as the Broncos looked much more competitive against the Seahawks than in their previous outing. Seattle still ended up walking away with the win though so things aren't all entirely happy in Elway-Land. Anyway, if we somehow end up with these two teams in the Super Bowl in five months, I wouldn't have any kind of problem with that if the game is anything like this one was. Let's give Peyton another shot at those pesky Seachickens. He needs to bring a title to Denver so he can ride off into the sunset and the Broncos can suck again for 10+ years.
Denver Offensive MVP: Peyton Manning (31 of 49 for 303 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT, 85.7 rating)
Denver Defensive MVP: Nate Irving (13 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 QB hit)
Seattle Offensive MVP: Russell Wilson (24 of 34 for 258 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT, 9 carries, 40 rushing yards, 99.9 rating)
Seattle Defensive MVP: Kam Chancellor (9 tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes deflected)
Up next for Denver: BYE WEEK
Up next for Seattle: BYE WEEK
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