The NFL is Poop - Week 2

Look for "The NFL is Poop" each week at the conclusion of that week's games. We'll analyze the action and have some running features.

They Figured Out How To Use Mike Vick
The Falcons finally figured out that Mike Vick will never be a good pocket passer. He needs to be out there running for them to succeed. That's when he is most dangerous. This probably will never work in the playoffs, and he might get killed by a linebacker one of these days, but it beats the alternative which is, watching him make every throw 2 seconds too late.

So What Does That Mean for Vince Young?
For some reason the Titans traded Billy Volek even though they have the worst QB situation in the league (assuming the Raiders get demoted to Pop Warner) so now they are stuck with Kerry Collins and Vince Young. Soon the Titans are going to begin the Vince Young era. Problem is, like Vick, he lacks the ability to throw as a good NFL QB should. If they let him lose he can win them games, if they force him to conform, he'll be inconsistent and never lead them anywhere.

The Best Player on Every Team is the Backup Quarterback
I think Broncos fans are being a tad impatient with Jake Plummer. I know he's had three bad games in a row (including the AFC Championship game against Pittsburgh) but he really was fantastic last year. He deserves a lot more slack than they are giving him, especially because his backup is a rookie.

What Goes Around
As I have described here before, my strategy for picking NFL games is this: With 50% of the league finishing between 7-9 and 9-7 each year, teams win just about every other week. I look for good teams coming off a loss and bad teams coming off a win. But last week of the 10 games in which the teams had different records coming in (a 1-0 team vs. an 0-1 team) the 1-0 team improved to 2-0 in 8 of those cases. Only the Giants and the 49ers bucked that trend. But don't worry, once the season gets going, my theory will prove itself again.

Game of the Week
Giants 30, Eagles 24. An amazing fourth quarter comeback for the Giants who really couldn't afford to fall to 0-2. I don't believe this was a "coming of age" game for Eli Manning, I just think he's a good quarterback who is still young and therefore will improve, regress and improve and regress. Then it will only matter if he has a little more testicular fortitude than his brother come playoff time.

Game to Watch
Saints and Falcons in New Orleans, the first game back since Hurricane Katrina. I don't buy into all the emotion, but both teams are 2-0 right now and if the Saints are for real (they do have legitimate weapons on offense) then that emotion could be a huge boost for them to springboard them to a 3-0 start.

Cheerleader of the Week
Valerie of the Buffalo Jills. Valerie is 19 years old, she's a 5'6" brunette with hazil [sic] eyes who obviously filled out this application herself. She loves pasta, Sandra Bullick, Matthew McConahay and hates spelling.

Time to Rant About the Redskins
Mark Brunell is horrible. They have to sit him down. He can't complete a pass and cost the team a chance to get back in the game with a horrible interception. Joe Gibbs will never bench him though so we'll have to wait until next season to see if Jason Campbell is ready. Brunell blew so many third downs with horrible passes. He stinks.

If the Super Bowl Were Played Today
The San Diego Chargers would beat the Chicago Bears 28-17. Each week I'll pick the two best teams from each conference to play in my mythical Super Bowl. I'll consider season performance to date but also talent, so this space won't necessarily be populated by the teams with the best record. Both of these teams have good strong ball-hawking pressure defenses, good running games (though LT is much better) and young untested QBs who have the potential to screw it up at any moment.