GB 42 NO 34 - The Pack is still the real deal, but their young D needs to pick it up, even if against a top 4 offense. Aaron Rodgers stellar first have and bleak second reminds me of last years NFC championship game. He needs to play all 4 quarters to establish himself as one of the top playcallers. NO will win a competitive NFC South because off a lack of defense across the board in that division.
NY 27 DAL 24 - Dallas still has a lot of work to do. Tony Romo is a great quarterback when there's no pressure on him. He's one of the last guys I'd want under center in a 2 minute drill (or holding onto a lead). Dallas needs to find an alternative to Dez Bryant returning kicks, he needs to be a healthy RECEIVER. NY's D looked loose and corner play was decent at best from the get-go. I'll attribute this to first game jitters and the magnitude of the game being in NY. Darrelle Revis andAntonio Cromartie found their footing in the second half and appear to be the best secondary in the AFC (We will see if Vontae Davis can back up his words tonight against Brady's Pats). The Jets won for their fans and will be fine and will contend with NE for the AFC East title.
WASH 28 NY 14 - Rex Grossman silenced a shit load of haters (including myself). The guy was gun slinging like Brett Favre. One frozen rope to Santana Moss after another makes Kyle and Mike Shanahan's decision to start him a very smart one over an inexperienced John Beck. Tim Hightower is happy to be out of the pass heavy Cardinal offense and is ready to carry the load of a balanced Washington offense. NY is no longer a veteran team, they are old, injured and confused. A weakend secondary and D line go lit up in the air and on the ground. Eli Manning needs to have a higher completion percentage if they want to be a .500 team (If seems the players were right in leaving him off the top-100 list). The loss of possession receiver Steve Smith may come back to haunt them (Victor Cruz is not the answer).
PHI 31 STL 13 - All signs point to the Eagles as the favorites in the NFC East. If Mike Vick andLeSean McCoy continue to be elusice run threats, they'll keep most defenses on their heels when it comes to the passing game. Despite no new contract, DeSean Jackson seems to have picked up right where he left off as the leagues best big play threat. Mike Vick said it right, no D can prepare for him. The Rams couldn't contain, didn't spy and were pushed around by a young and inexperience offensive Eagle line with a few additions just days before their opener in STL. The Rams are the popular pick to win the NFC West. Injuries to STL, including possesion and league leading receiverDanny Amendola may dampen that talk. Sam Bradford appears to be OK after MRI but needs to pick it up in his second year at the helm.
OTHER NOTES - Carolina seems to have found their man. Cam Newton's 422 passing yards is more than Tom Brady's career high. The Donovan McNabb experiement in Minnesota will be as dismal as his stint in Washington. Goes to show how great of a talent evaluator Andy Reid really is. TheJim Harbaugh era has begun in SF with gritty hardnosed football as advertised. Never bet against a home-dog especially when it's Chicago. The Bears still possess one of the leagues best defenses. The Soldier field sod still seems to be an issue as Altanta's high powered offense was grounded in mud.Chan Gailey and the rest of the bills made a smart decision taking Marcel Dareus instead of a quarterback in the 2011 draft. Ryan Fitzpatrick should keep them competitive. If kept healthy,Matthew Stafford and the Lions should makes noise. Colts should look forward to taking Stanfords'Andrew Luck in the 2012 Draft after they place Peyton Manning on IR. The Steelers are getting old and the Ravens D may still be the best in the league. Who cares about the Ohio rivalry between the Browns and Bengals.. nobody.
MNF Predictions - NE 24 MIA 10. OAK 21 DEN 20.
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