Wow, what a first week! There’s no better feeling for a football fan to realize that football is finally back after 7 long months! Everybody is back to square one, and depressing seasons of past are long forgotten. For some of us, there is still excitement, and others are already coming to the realization that this will be a LONG season.
Grffining Rant
Ok, I’m starting off the season with a rant. Why does everybody feel like they see someone in a certain pose that it all of a sudden becomes a national craze? Planking was just ridiculous, but was the first example of this, so not that annoying. I’ll admit, Tebowing was hilarious. But mostly because it was a legit pose from an unlikely SUPERstar and somebody everybody rooted for. But now people are trying to take every one time pose and turn it into a craze. Last year, when Brady lost the Super Bowl and bowed his head in his hands, people did that for about 3 days and it was over with. All of a sudden, RGIII does his infamous move, and everybody has to pick that up too! Guarantee that lasts about 2 weeks (not before at least one person does a TD dance that involves Griffining). This is just getting stupid people…Side note, Von Miller Tebowing after his late game sack was hilarious!
The Best Game that got Zero Coverage
With the excitement of Week 1 across the league, one game’s highlights got swept underneath the rug. Well I would like to be the one person to talk about the game of the year! Nobody talked about it because of the teams that played, Vikings and Jaguars. But I guarantee if it were Packers vs Patriots, Sportscenter would have blown up! I had the excitement of going on opening weekend, and the honor of taking Chris (our German friend and 1 of FMQB’s loyal 7 readers) to his first NFL game to see his favorite team. Adrian Peterson was a game time decision, you should have heard the Metrodome roar when at the end of the starting lineups they announced him! Vikes started out flat as the Jags seemed to be able to put together decent drives. After their first score, the Vikings somehow blocked the extra point (key for later in the game). And at the very end of the first half, Peterson finally punched it in to get them on the board. Second half was a back and forth battle, and the Vikings took the lead by 4 in the 4th quarter. Then Blaine Gabbart had about 90 seconds to go the distance and score. On a third down, he heaved one deep towards the endzone we were at, and miraculously connecting on a 40 yd bomb to Cecil Shorts. The entire place deflated, you could hear a pin drop, as the Vikings seemingly gave it up with only 20 seconds left. But after a good return and two quick passes (all with no timeouts), the Vikings had a long 55 yarder to take it into OT, and nailed it! In OT, the Vikings scored a FG on the first possession, allowing the new OT rules to take place for the first time in NFL history. This added an entire new point of excitement to the game, with the Vikings needing a “4 and out” if you will. Well the defense held, and once again the Metrodome absolutely exploded! It was definitely the loudest stadium I had ever been in, and even not being a Vikings fan, it gave me the chills.
Losing Teams With Nothing to Worry About
Giants- Even with a poor performance, we are talking about the defending Champs. Even though I didn’t pick the Giants to make the playoffs, they still have a shot, and will put together a strong performance the rest of the year.
Saints- Even with Bountygate and an atrocious defense, the Sinners have the offense to stay competitive in every game.
Packers- Thursday night was a key example of why the Packers shouldn’t panic. Although the stats of the offense weren’t overly impressive, the Defense came up absolutely huge with 4 INT’s and 7 sacks.
Seahawks- Yes, the Seahawks lost to the lowly Cardinals, but they had a shot at winning it (even with the replacement refs’ 4th Timeout). I still have high hopes for Russell Wilson, and think the Seahawks will make a run at the playoffs.
Steelers- Steelers have a legit shot at starting 0-2, and their defense showed weaknesses, but with Big Ben at the helm, they’re guaranteed at least 8 wins.
Winning Teams that Shouldn’t Hold Their Breath
Vikings- Sorry Vikings fans, but Week 1 is the only time you will get excited about your team. Fact of the matter is, they barelybeat the Jaguars at home. They also have a legit shot at starting the season 2-0, but wouldn’t doubt if they go 0-6 in the division.
Cardinals- The revolving QB carousel is still at it. After Skelton got the start week 1, it was Kolb who won the game for the Redbirds. Apparently Skelton is ok to play Sunday, but now Kolb is getting the start. Nice win, but this crazy QB nonsense will not work.
Buccaneers- I may regret saying this later when the Buccaneers are the surprise team of the season, but I was totally shocked at Sunday’s outcome. I’m a Greg Shiano fan, always was one when he was at Rutgers, but it’s his first NFL gig for a team that lost its last 12 games last year. They actually did make quite a few pickups in free agency, starting to wonder if they’ll make a run now…
Second Rant: Vilma
I have a major beef with Jonathan Vilma right now. He was facing a year long suspension due to his role in the Bounty scandal. Vilma ended up being the most vocal and putting up a HUGE fight against Goodell and the NFL in order to get reinstated. Last week the players were “temporarily reinstated” while the judge could figure out what to do. Vilma was overjoyed, cocky on Twitter, and what happens? He IMMEDIATELY get place on the PUP list so he can rehab his knee injury! What the hell man?!?! Now you’re out for the next 6 weeks anyway and if the judge comes back and says the NFL has the right to suspend you, you have to miss another 16 games. Why not use the suspension to heal up, you’ll end up getting an extra half season of pay if you do. I guess I get it, if Vilma is 100% innocent, he would want to fight it so his name isn’t smeared. Still just seems really weird to me.
Stat of the Week #1
Robert Griffin III leads the league in passer rating
Stat of the Week #2
CJ Spiller had a whopping 12.1 yds per attempt
Stat of the Week #3
A running back is leading the league in receptions
Stat of the Week #4
Only 6 teams in the AFC won a game in Week 1
Stat of the Week #5
Since starting last season 13-0, the Packers are 2-3 including 2 home losses
Stat of the Week #6
After being dead last in the league in Rushing Defense last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the Panthers to 10 yds rushing
Suprising Stat
At the start of his 17th season, Ray Lewis just recorded his 41st sack of his career (wouldn’t anybody assume that number to be way higher?)
Surprises of Week 1:
Jets– Sure they were playing the Bills, but I think the biggest surprise of the week was the league leading 48 points put up by the New York Jets. After the 1st and 2nd string offense failed to score even one TD in the preseason, where did this come from?!?!
Redskins- People thought that RGIII would be good, but not this good! He went into New Orleans, and put up 40 points on the road, in his first professional game. I had the Redskins pegged for a rough season, but the league will have to watch out for RGIII for weeks to come!
Cowboys- Keep in mind, I picked the Cowboys to win the division (even after coming in 3rd place last year), but they looked extremely sharp on Wednesday night. They defeated the defending Super Bowl Champs on the road, and in decisive fashion. Even this took me a bit off-guard. I’m sticking with the Cowboys and a deep playoff run. Romo’s timing is perfect, and their window will close within the next 3-4 years.
Broncos- I felt like we opened up a time capsule as we watched Peyton Manning trounce all over the Steelers with the no-huddle offense, and man was that fun to see! Broncos have one of the toughest schedules this year, but they got off to a great start against a strong opponent. It was a pleasant surprise to see them start the season off strong.
Cam Newton- Had a decent game of throwing, but the Bucs completely shut him down on rushing and scoring…I actually only threw this in here to hit my weekly Cam Newton quota! Thinking of switching it this year to an RGIII quota?
John Madden Rant
We all love John Madden, mainly because of the crazy things he says. Well this week he came out and said that RGIII was the best player in the league…Ok, before people get too caught up, HE’S PLAYED ONE GAME in his entire career. You’re really telling me he’s better than Tom Brady? Peyton Manning? Adrian Peterson? Calvin Johnson? C’mon Man.
Quote of the Week
“It would be cool to see the Vikings score on this end” FFMQB (Female Friday Morning Quarterback)
“It would be cool to see the Vikings score at all!!!” Chris
If the Playoffs Started Today:
It amused me to see that ESPN has already calculated all of the playoff tiebreaking procedures after only one week! If the playoffs were to start today, Dallas and Baltimore would be the #1 seeds. Arizona would be the #2 seed! Also surprisingly, the Giants are #15 and the Packers are dead last in the NFL (well, they were before Thursday’s win).
Houston and Baltimore are the only 2 teams that are alone at the top of their division. Not 2 teams you want to be a game behind after only the first week.
The Packers and Giants are the only 2 teams that are alone at the bottom of their division. NFC North and East are 2 divisions you don’t want to be a game behind only after one week.
Take a look at Jacksonville’s wacky tiebreaker procedure:
Wins tie break over Buffalo, Cleveland and Oakland based on best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Miami (Buffalo wins tie break over Miami based on best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed). Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Kansas City (Oakland wins tie break over Kansas City based on best net points in all games). Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Cincinnati (Cleveland wins tie break over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh based on best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed). Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Pittsburgh (Cleveland wins tie break over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh based on best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed). Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Tennessee (Jacksonville wins tie break over Tennessee and Indianapolis based on best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed). Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Indianapolis (Jacksonville wins tie break over Tennessee and Indianapolis based on best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed).
Who takes the time to do this after Week 1!!!
For the Record:
I know I’m in a battle of the blogs, and my 7 readers doesn’t hold up to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King (Monday Morning Quarterback), or ESPN’s Gregg Easterbrook (Tuesday Morning Quarterback). Gregg Easterbrook’s humor and insight was my inspiration to make FMQB, but I have a beef. This week, out of the blue, TMQ referred to the Ravens as the “Nevermores.” This is the first time I’ve seen him use that nickname, which I had an entire column dedicated to last year! Just saying….
FMQB 