Yes I Am Drinking The Bears' Kool-Aid

Note: This has been a very busy week for me, so I'm slowly writing this blog day-by-day, so that's why this didn't come out on Tuesday.

Yeah both teams played sloppily Tuesday night and yes two Jay Cutler interceptions were nullified by penalties, that's Jay Cutler, he takes chances and throws interceptions. Does Peyton Manning take chances? Does Tom Brady? Newsflash: they do. The difference is Brady and Manning have better personnel, and in the case of the Colts, I would say elite. What the Bears have going for them is they have an elite coach in Mike Martz. Sportsyak like to bang on Martz for every little thing. Yes he is a control freak and gets mean when things don't go his way. Did he make mistakes as coach of the Rams? Absolutely. Remember in the off-season after the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots? He cut ties with several defensive superstars, including London Fletcher, and came under fire when ordering a field goal at the end of regulation in the playoff game against the Panthers. I would admit that Martz is not the best when it comes to personnel decisions but he is a bona fide offensive genious, and has been for the past decade.

What's different about Martz's offenses is that a.) a defense simply cannot scheme against it. You expect pass on every play, but if you defense for that, you'll get run and vise-versa. b.) his offense does not audibleize that much. They come to line, have crazy motions, and then snap the ball with very little pre-snap "chicken dancing" from the quarterback. c.) he likes to control the pace. If the game is flowing slowly, he'll loosen it up by passing. If it's going super quick, he'll slow it down by calling a few runs.

Martz has recognized that the Bears do not have the talent or the o-line the caliber of his St. Louis teams, so he does not call passes that involve Jay Cutler dropping back, holding the ball for seven seconds and heaving the ball 60 yards for a big gain. The Bears offensive line simply cannot handle that. Even when the Packers rushed just three, it seems they hurried Cutler into moving outside the pocket for time to throw.

The Bears' defense is opportunistic, which is scary. They don't steal the spotlight with mega-bucks talent or monster turnovers, they just play good defense, much like the Bengals. So while the sports media are drinking the Michael Vick Kool-Aid, I'll take the Bears.

In other NFL news, the Micheal Vick beat a crappy team and Steelers can win without Ben Roethlisberger and the Chiefs, the freakin' Chiefs are 3-0. Maybe from now on I should call them "Patriots West" because their quarterback, offensive coordinator, linebacker and defensive coordinator used to be with the Patriots.

Browns Rant of the Week:

Another new feature to this blog. Living in Ohio I see the Browns week-in and week-out. They are making progress somewhat, but it's painful to watch sometimes. I have my doubts about the Ravens. They gave up 173 yards rushing to the Browns and fullback Peyton Hillis. And they would have given up more if it had not been for the conservative play calling of the Browns. They had spurts of aggressiveness, like on their very first drive where they threw on the first two plays and picked up considerable gains. And then there were two third and longs where they threw a rinky-dink screen on one, and simply and run up the middle that got stuffed on another.

And then there's their defense. On the game-icing touchdown to Anquan Boldin, the Browns blitzed eight, leaving Boldin practically uncovered. Thankfully though, that was really the only Browns defensive blunder of the game.

They need a lot of work to become a good team; cut down on penalties and loosen up on offense. I do however think they have the coaches and talent to be a .500 team.

Adventures in Officiation: The conclusion of the Saints-Falcons overtime game was, well, interesting. With two minutes remaining in the first overtime period the Falcons attempted a 41-yard field goal to win the game. The kick was blocked by the Saints, but...Sean Payton called one of those stupid timeouts just as the ball was snapped, nullifying the try as well as the block. On the second try Matt Bryant's field goal was good, but...the Falcons were penalized for a false start, pushing them back five yards. On the third try, this time from 46-yards, the kick was good with no timeouts or penalties and the game was over. Anyone else think the sneaky timeout before the field goal think is kind of stupid?

Charlie Batch Best Backup QB Ever?: Charlie Batch, Steelers backup quarterback, is 36 and has been in the league for 13 seasons. A second-round pick of the Lions in 1998 he started 12 games for the team in his rookie year (which was Barry Sanders' last before his abrupt retirement) and went 5-7, accounting for all five of the Lions wins that year. Batch was the highest-rated of the three starting quarterbacks of the Lions that season, going 173 for 303 for 2,178 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. Not bad for a rookie, especially one that was thrown into a less-than-ideal situation. And he did throw a 98-yard pass to Johnnie Morton, the longest pass of the season. The next season the Lions were 8-8 and made the playoffs even without Sanders. Batch started 10 games, going 6-4. Despite not being the leading passer for the team that year he still led the team in touchdowns with 13 and threw the same amount of INTs (7) as Gus Frerotte, who started the remaining six games.

The next season, 2000, the Lions were 9-7, which happens to be the last time the Lions have had a winning season. A miracle field goal by the Bears kept the Lions out of the playoffs. Batch was the primary starter, starting 15 games. Batch went 221 for 412 for 2,489 yards with 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

2001 was a disasterous season for the Lions. They only won two games. Ty Detmer was coach Marty Mornhinweg's starter. But after throwing seven interceptions and a bad showing against the Rams, Detmer was benched and Batch became the starter.

Since 2002 Batch has been on the Steelers staff but has only started five games in that span, but has always been effective and efficient. And unless Roethlisberger really struggles or gets hurt, then it's doubtful that we'll see him again this year.

Useless Stats Section:

Stat #1: The Seahawks and Cardinals are tied for the lead in the NFC West. Remember when we all thought the road in the NFC playoffs would go through San Francisco? The 49ers will be lucky to have a winning season based on the way they look and the way things are going.

Stat #2: The Giants have turned the ball over 10 times so far this season, the Colts, twice.

Stat #3: The Vikings have the 29th ranked offense in the NFL.

Stat #4: With one more interception, Favre will match his total from last season...in the fourth game.

Stat #5: The Cowboys are on pace to throw 688 passes this season.

Brett Favre Rant of the Week:

Adrian Peterson has almost 392 yards rushing already this season, that's a 2,091 yard pace, and with Favre playing as bad as he is, he's going to need every one of those yards. Favre threw two more interceptions, bringing his total to six in this young season. If he throws one more he'll have the same amount of interceptions as last year. Not all hope is lost for the Vikings though, they'll just have to rely less on Favre this season, and it's still unclear if he's injured, in pain, or just plain old. Next week the Vikings have a bye.

College Football Scores From Schools You've Never Heard Of:

Score #1: Southern Connecticut State 28, American International 7

Bonus Score: St. John Fisher 34, Hobart 14

CFSFSNYNHO Basketball-Football Score: Macalester 44, Crown College 41

CFSFSNYNHO Blowout of the Week: Southwest Baptist 69, Southern Nazarene 27

On TV Next Week: This week Fox has the doubleheader. I'll be seeing the "Battle of Ohio 2010 1.0" at 1:00 on CBS. Meanwhile on Fox at 1:00 I'll be seeing Saints-Falcons and Redskins-Eagles at 4:15. The Sunday Night game is Bears-Giants and Monday Night is Dolphins-Patriots. The Chiefs, Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Vikings, a combined record of 8-5, have byes next week.

Almost Everything is Right in the NFL World and Brett Favre Still is Old and Still Needs to Retire

It must be right because the Bengals won a game like the Bengals of last year; winning a slugfest game with opportunistic defense and exclusively riding the right leg of their kicker for points.

The Jets must have the Patriots number. But instead of smothering Tom Brady and their receivers, the Jets out-offensed the Patriots' defense. LaDainian Tomlinson averaged almost seven yards a carry and Mark Sanchez threw a career high in touchdown passes. In the first quarter, Mark Sanchez looked dismal - just like in the Baltimore game. Then, Jets coached loosened up the play calling and Sanchez flourished, throwing for 220 yards.

Yes there was the catch by Moss and yes Revis was injured, but the Patriots defense is ranked 25th in league through the first two weeks of the season and is just not looking good.

Well then it must be right, because Peyton Manning, who completed 77% of his passes in a blowout win and looked like the AFC Champions they are. The Giant defense is simply not what it once was before Steve Spagnolu left for St. Louis. The Colts - the freaking Colts - had a running game on Sunday Night. Addai had 92 yards rushing and even backup Donald Brown had 69. And unfortunately, Manning Bowl II was over by the end of the first quarter.

The Steelers have only two quarterbacks left on their roster, but their 2-0, thanks to seven turnovers by the Titans and the same old Vince Young - looking great in one game and then looking horrid in the next. Granted the Raiders defense is nowhere near the level of the Steelers.
The Bears, Packers, Dolphins, Chiefs, Texans, and Bucs are 2-0, as are the Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger and the 49ers, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Panthers are 0-2.

The Saints offense has looked much more low-voltage than it did last year. This is probably attributed to both defenses the Saints have faced to playing a lot more deep zones, preventing down-the-field passes. While Saints offense still looks sharp, they're taking little shots down the field and running the football.

Let's now shift to TV coverage of the NFL, a hot button issue with me. Through the first three weeks of the year, here are the games that have been shown on WTTE-TV, the Fox affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.

#1.) Steelers-Falcons
#2.) Eagles-Packers
#3.) Broncos-Seahawks
#4.) Eagles-Jaguars (that's what on the schedule)

Only in Week 1 did Fox have the doubleheader (CBS had it this week and has it next week). And in Week 1, there was tennis after the nationally televised Bengals-Patriots game, and football only in the local markets of the teams in play at 4:05. For some reason, they have not scheduled a 1:00 game when they didn't have a doubleheader. In my opinion, the Cowboys-Bears game should have been shown. That was the best matchup. It had the Cowboys, a team with a nation-wide following. So why not schedule it? And next week, their showing another 4:05 games with two teams that have markets nowhere near Ohio.

There two 1:00 matchups that are much, much better (Cowboys-Texans, Lions-Vikings). Yes Vikings-Lions is intriging because the Vikings have a shot at getting upset by the Lions. I know I complained last year when WTTE showed a Vikings-Lions game early last season, but now the Lions seem more competative and the Vikings are slipping.

Boy, does WBNS try. They try their damndest to show a healthy balance of Steelers, Bengals, Browns from week to week, and I usually have few complaints. This week, all three teams play at 1:00 and all three of their games are on CBS. I don't rail on them too much because they are obligated to show local matchups, unlike WTTE, where there are no NFC teams for hundreds of miles.

Useless Stats Section:

Stat #1: The Chiefs lead the AFC West.

Stat #2: The Bucs are 2-0, and for most of Sunday and Monday led the NFC South.

Stat #3: The Bengals have won their past eight collisions with AFC North opponents.

Stat #4: The Broncos have won 11-straight home openers.

I'm Glad Pro-Football-Reference Looks This Up And Not Me: The final score of the Titans-Steelers game, 19-11, had only happened twice before in NFL history. The final score of the Saints-49ers game, 25-22, had only happened seven times before in NFL history. Meanwhile, 20-17, the most common final score in NFL history, has happened 231 times.

Brett Favre Rant of the Week:

A new section of this blog, and it's pretty self-explanatory. I'm sure I can find something to bitch about Favre even if they start winning. This week, they played the Dolphins at home. Brett Favre looked 41 and missed a ton of passes and threw some flat-out bad ones too. The Vikings have the second worst offense in the league and Favre has already thrown four picks (he threw seven last year). Yes, Peterson is having a good season so far, but Favre is simply not throwing to his receivers.

Watch Out Drew Bledsoe!: Last year, it was Tom Brady filling the air with footballs early in the season. This year, it's Tony Romo, who has already thrown 99 passes - a 792 pace.

Speaking of lots of passing, Donvan McNabb and Matt Schaub combined for over 900 yards of offense, mostly through the air, in the Texans' first overtime win in franchise history. The Texans came back from 17-down where they converted a 3th & 15, a 3rd & 10, and a dandy 4th & 10 touchdown pass to Andre Johnson.

Who Looks This Stuff Up?: "Manning Bowl II" was touted as the 17,225th game in NFL History in a big, flashy NBC Sports graphic.

Sweet Play That Turned Really, Really Sour: 3:38 left in the game, 3rd and 13 from the Redskins' 46. Donvan McNabb play fakes and has time to load up. He throws a beautiful pass to the end zone. Joey Galloway is there for the catch, he's open...and he drops the ball like it's a live ferret.

College Football Scores From Schools You've Never Heard Of:

Score #1: Redlands 23, Whitworth 7

Blowout Special: Salisbury 84, Husson 7. Husson's only touchdown came in the fourth quarter.

Lehman Bros. Game of the Week: Newport News Apprentice 9, Greensboro 7

Why Can't It Be Next Week Yet?!: Steelers-Bucs at 1:00 on CBS, Cowboys-Texans at 1:00 on Fox, Colts-Broncos at 4:15 on CBS, Jets-Dolphins on Sunday Night, and Packers-Bears on Monday Night.

DSDBNF The Brett Favre is Old and Needs to Retire Edition (And Other Stuff From Week I)

See, even Brett Favre needs training camp! Man, oh man did the Vikings look lost and out-of-synch in the season opener and man, oh man did the Saints look poised and sharp. This won't be like last season when the Vikings started off playing the likes of Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis. Their middle-of-the-season schedule is murder, with the Jets, Cowboys, Pats, and Packers - three of which are away games. Forget the fact that the Vikings didn't have two of their star wide receivers, Favre barely looked their way. It seems he's rustier than he ever thought he would be, and it seems in nearly every press conference I bother to watch of his, he going on and on about how is ankle still bothers him and how old he is. If you think you're that old and rickety, retire!

Now for the Saints. And even though they scored only 14 points, they looked sharp, and on-target. Brees completed 75% of his passes to nine different receivers, and Pierre Thomas had a good day running the football. Their defense looked just as good as it did last year and instead of blitzing, they played tight coverage on the Vikings, which caught them, especially Favre, off-guard.

The Bengals thought that the season started next week instead of at 1:00 PM on the 12th. Now even though they lost, their offense didn't look that bad, and there was a healthy balance of Owens and Ochocino (and they were effective), although Jordan Shipley had the better game receiving than those two did. I wouldn't worry about the Bengals yet.

I wouldn't even worry about the Colts who got shocked by Houston, the team that led the league in passing last season, racked up 257 yards rushing, and their defenders bothered Manning when the game was contested, forcing him to step up and throw hurriedly, most of the time incomplete. Is it too much to say that the Texans are for real? And how sweet would it be if the Texans are vying for a Super Bowl victory in JerryWorld this January.

Jerry Rice Seahawks Spokesman?: Rice is undoubtedly the best skill position player in NFL history. He has had strained relation with the 49ers, the team that made him a star, ever since they cut him after the 2000 season. Rice attended a Seahawks practice and fired up the team and may have been the catalyst for the Seahawks' upset victory over the Niners.

Speaking of the 49ers, Alex Smith looked horrid as usual. He threw 45 passes for a mere 225 yards and threw two costly interceptions and Frank Gore had only 38 yards on the ground. Painfully more, the Niners punted in the fourth quarter in Seahawk territory trailing 28-6.

Random Stat #1: Pete Carroll won his first game as an NFL coach since January 2, 2000, a 20-3 victory over the Ravens (Carroll was the coach of the Patriots then).

Random Stat #2: The past three times the Steelers and Falcons have met, the game has gone into overtime.

Matt Forte The Next Marshall Faulk?: Forte had 201 yards from scrimmage (151 receiving, 51 rushing). Very Marshall Faulk-like in that sense, however Forte fumbled twice, something Faulk seldom did. And remember too that the Bears offensive coordinator is Mike Martz.

Random Stat #3: The Steelers have not lost an opening day game since 2002.

We're All Professionals Here: Derek Anderson complete a mere 51% of his passes and Sam Bradford, 58%. While both quarterbacks made some key throws, neither looked spectacular. And if Rams' coaches keep radioing-in this many passes, then Bradford shall have plenty of in-game experience!

Sweet But Futile Play: It's too bad the Browns honked a 14-point lead because Mohamed Massaquoi's touchdown pass from Jack Delhomme was flippin' sweet. On the other hand, the Bucs have been so bad the past couple years that I forgot that Ronde Barber even still played in the NFL (he returned a key interception for a touchdown that sparked a Buc comeback!)

Stat #3: Some much for the Cowboys' high-powered offense - they have only scored one touchdown in their past two games (going back to last season).

College Football Scores From Schools You've Never Heard Of:

Score #1: Wilkes University 38, Waynesburg 35.

CFSFSYNHO Blowout Special: Missouri West 81, Lincoln 14. It was 38-0 at halftime.

More Proof that College Overtime Sucks: In the Towson-Coastal Carolina collision, which Towson won 47-45 in the fifth overtime, there were 10 scoring plays in overtime. Ay Carumba!

Next Week (yes, this deserves boldface): There will be 16 NFL games.

Tomorrow's Games

Tomorrow is the first NFL sunday of the 2010 NFL Season. The Columbus, Ohio TV market will see Bengals-Patriots and Steelers-Falcons at 1:00, and Eagles-Packers at 4:00 with Redskins-Cowboys for the Sunday Night game. Sounds good!

This Made Me Laugh

Early in the college football season there are usually one or two games a week that involve a powerhouse program beating up on a "cupcake" or lower-skilled Division I-AA school (the powerhouse pays the smaller school big $$$ to come and get beat up).



Well, this past Saturday, Ole Miss was ahead of Jackson State 31-10 at halftime when the impossible happened: Jackson State mounted a comeback a beat Ole Miss 39-38 in double overtime. It all began with an interception by Jackson State. And that ignited a three touchdown rally in the fourth that led to overtime.



Since we've now returned to college football season, I can bring back Scores From Schools You've Never Heard Of:



Unfortunately, TMQ took the score of my favorite obscure school, Colorado School of Mines. Curse you, Gregg Easterbrook!



Score 1: Bemidji State 27, Minot State University 24



Bonus Score: West Virginia Wesleyan 38, St. Paul's 28



Obscure Blowout of the Week: Midwestern State 52, New Mexico Highlands 6



Obscure Lehman Bros. GOTW: McDaniel 3, Juniata 0



Final Note: Again cursing Gregg Easterbrook, he failed to mention Montana whooping up on Western State 73-2!



Final Final Note: This is the most college football I will ever devote to a single post.



Final Final Final Note: Hey, the real NFL season starts this Thursday - Saints vs. Vikings!