The NFL stepped its game up in Week 2, with a few rookies stealing the show (Demaryius Thomas, Jahvid Best and Aaron Hernandez) and gave the underperforming teams of Week 1 (Chargers, Jets, Bengals, and Colts) a chance at redemption. Figuring out the hierarchy of the AFC is like decoding an episode of Lost–utterly confusing and raising more questions than answers. The Favre downfall continued, Jason Snelling did his best Arian Foster impression, Mark Sanchez was good, and Tampa Bay has an improbable two-game winning streak. In a week where Vince Young and Jason Campbell were benched, the quarterback shake-up continues: Jimmy Clausen will start for the Panthers, Ryan Fitzpatrick for the Bills, and Charlie Batch for the Steelers.
The Steelers’ defense is scary. Besides the seven forced turnovers against the Titans (Troy Polamalu is everywhere), you just have to look at Chris Johnson’s stat line to understand how dominant this unit is: 16 rushes for 34 yards and a lost fumble. This game ended his freakish 12-game streak of 100-plus yards on the ground. Pittsburgh didn’t have much of an offense, passing for an absurd 21 yards, but when Ben Roethlisberger comes back in three weeks the points will come. In the preseason, the Steelers would have been happy with a 2-2 record without Big Ben, but at this point it looks like they could run the table with their two remaining games being at Tampa Bay and at home against Baltimore. Cincinnati has questions at quarterback, the Ravens have questions everywhere, and the Steelers look like the strongest team in the division and perhaps in the entire AFC.
The Jets are back on track. By opening things up for Mark Sanchez and letting him throw the ball downfield, the Jets’ offense showed its true potential against the Patriots. They produced 336 total yards (compared to 176 in Week 1), were 6-for-13 on 3rd-downs (compared to 1-for-11 against the Ravens), and didn’t turn the ball over once. Imagine what this offense will look like once Santonio Holmes comes back in Week 5 and there will three legitimate number one receivers on the field: Holmes, Braylon Edwards, and Jerricho Cotchery, not to mention dynamic tight end Dustin Keller. The defense is a little banged up, but it doesn’t really matter; the Jets’ defense is dependent on Rex Ryan, and as long as he’s calling the plays they will be a top five unit. Going down to Miami and taking on the division leading Dolphins is their next test.
I like the Chiefs, but I’m not buying into them yet. How many games can this team win without producing on offense? They are 2-0, but have only scored two offensive touchdowns, and it would take exceptionally strong defense and special teams to carry them into the playoffs. I just don’t see it happening the way the team is being coached right now. For one, the Chiefs need to put the ball in Jamaal Charles’ hands more. I know they traded for Thomas Jones and feel obligated to involve him, but Charles is infinitely more dangerous, possessing the big play ability that Jones lacks. Secondly, they need to cater the offense to suit Matt Cassel’s skills or lack thereof: short routes and screen plays to give Charles and Dexter McCluster the ball in open space. That will open it up downfield for Dwayne Bowe and Chris Chambers. As long as Cassel is their quarterback, it won’t be a good offense, but it could at least be an explosive one. Other than that, it’s a strong team, particularly for the AFC West. They have solid defense and special teams, and have established Arrowhead Stadium as one of the toughest places to play in the league. The Chiefs will be good for a few upsets and could steal the wild-card, but Cassel would have to show serious improvement.
Jeff Fisher pulling Vince Young against the Steelers made no sense to me. This is a guy who, after being benched at the start of the 2009 season, came back and won 8 of the final 10 games, established himself as a team leader, and cemented himself as the face of the franchise (not Chris Johnson). So Young gets benched for getting beat up by the best defense in the NFL? Fisher claimed he was looking for a spark when he opted to go with Kerry Collins. Spark? Kerry Collins? This is a playoff caliber team, and Fisher needs to exhibit a little more confidence in Vince Young or else they’ll be back to where they started in 2009.
Matt Schaub is doing his thing when it counts. If you ask a fantasy football player, Schaub was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL last season. Statistically, he was great–4,770 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions–but he did not have the intangibles that a truly elite quarterback needs. When a game comes down to the wire, the best quarterbacks have the full trust of their teammates and they are confident in him to win the game. Schaub didn’t have that quality last season, losing two fourth quarter leads to Peyton Manning and the Colts and ultimately missing the playoffs. Down 27-10 to the Redskins in the final minutes of the third quarter Sunday, Schaub took control of the game, throwing two late touchdowns to force the game into overtime where Neil Rackers hit the game-winning field goal.
Vick! I was about to go into a detailed argument on why Vick should be the starting quarterback over Kevin Kolb, but it looks like Andy Reid came to that conclusion himself, naming Vick the permanent starter on Tuesday (ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports). Vick has paid his dues, and he deserves this second chance. Say what you will about his criminal past, but Michael Vick is one of the most exciting players to watch in sports (here’s a highlight to refresh your memory) and he gives the Eagles a better chance to win than Kolb does. I’m curious about what will happen after this season when he becomes a free agent, but with this decision I have to assume that the Eagles are seriously considering re-signing him. Their fans should be happy, or at least the closest thing to happy for Philly fans: probably still pretty pissed off.
My Week 3 Picks
NE (-14) over BUF
I normally wouldn’t touch a 14-point spread in Week 3, but the Patriots are going to be looking for blood after being embarrassed by the Jets, and the Bills are in the running for the worst team in the league.
ATL (+4) over NO
Michael Turner should be able to exploit a porous New Orleans rush defense that looked awful against Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore. I was hard on Matt Ryan last week, but after seeing the Pittsburgh defense dismantle Vince Young, I’m giving him a pass for that performance and he looked really good in Week 2. It’s hard betting against the Saints, but Atlanta should provide them with their toughest matchup yet.
DET (+10.5) over MIN
The way I see it, the Eagles have a better defense than the Vikings, and the Lions didn’t have a hard time scoring against them. Even with Shaun Hill at quarterback, I like Detroit in this game. Stick a fork in the Vikings, they’re done. (In all seriousness, what are the chances that Favre retires if they lose this game? I say at least 15%, maybe more.)
GB (-3) over CHI
The Bears will come down to earth Monday night. It’s one thing to beat the Lions and the struggling Cowboys, but the Packers are legitimate contenders. Clay Matthews may put Jay Cutler in the hospital.