After a rough week in which he was criticized for harping on his race, Donovan McNabb woke his 0-2 Eagles out of the doldrums by kicking the shit out of the Detroit Lions 56-21. He completed 21-26 passes (20 of his first 21, including 18 in a row) for 381 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the first half the Eagles had 7 possessions, they scored 6 touchdowns and fumbled at the 12 yard line after a 72 yard drive. And they did it all in these really awesome throwback uniforms.
Turnabout is Fair Play
One week after getting fucked over when Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan called a very last second timeout before a field goal attempt, the Raiders employed the same strategy to beat the Browns. Trailing 26-24, Phil Dawson made a game-winning field goal but Raiders coach Lane Kiffin called a timeout a split second before the snap. Dawson had to kick it again, that kick was blocked and the Raiders won their first game of the season.
The Good and the Bad
So far this season there are 5 teams at 3-0 and 5 at 0-3, 11 at 2-1 and 11 at 1-2. The Patriots, Steelers, Packers, Cowboys and Colts are 3-0. Four of those teams we expected to be good, and then there's the Packers. Amazing about Green Bay is that they already played the tough part of their schedule. All 3 of their victims made the playoffs last year. They have 2 games left with the Lions and Vikings, and 1 each with the Raiders and Chiefs. Five wins there gives them 8 wins.
The Bills, Dolphins, Saints, Falcons and Rams are all 0-3. I'm not too shocked by any of those either, other than the Saints. But at this point in the season, the records don't lie. The Saints are a bad team this year. Their defense stinks and their offense, while talented, is playing like shit. Drew Brees has 1 TD and 7 INTs.
Game of the Week
Green Bay 31 San Diego 24
Brett Favre tied the all time record for touchdown passes with 420 and his 420th was a 57 yarder to Greg Jennings with just over two minutes to go in the game and it gave his Packers a 24-21 lead. The Chargers who had big expectations heading into the season now have to figure out what is going wrong with them. The Packers who had no expectations are in position to have a really good season as long as Brett Favre can avoid the bad interceptions that until now had marked the last few years of his career.
Game of Next Week
New England at Cincinnati
Right now it looks like the New England juggernaut can not be stopped. If the Bengals defense allowed 51 points to the Cleveland Browns offense, which at best is half as good as New England's, then it is safe to assume that the Patriots will score at least 102 points in this game.
A Brief Rant About the Redskins
A horrible, awful, chokejob by the Redskins. Just when they had a chance to go to 3-0, and bury the hated Giants, they completely shit the bed in the second half and blew a 14 point lead at home against a division rival. The Redskins first four possessions of the 2nd half were all 3 and outs, except for the one when Clinton Portis fumbled on the second play. You can't blame the defense for being tired after being on the field for the entire second half. I do blame Jason Campbell a little bit since he is such an inaccurate passer. Had he completed one pass on any of those drives things might have been different.
But the real blame goes to the coaching staff which completely botched the final drive. Campbell was poised and accurate in leading the Redskins to the 2 yard line with about a minute ago. Then they did a clock play. Not sure if this was Campbell or Gibbs, but they should have run a play. They had plenty of time. They should have taken four shots at throwing the ball into the endzone. Instead they did a spike, a swing pass to the fullback and 2 running plays that got stonewalled. Horrible play calling.
And even more frustrating was that I am always harping on the fact that the defense never forces turnovers (12 last year) but in this game they got 3 and turned that into 10 points. And they still lost the game.
Ok, so maybe not such a brief rant this week.
Cheerleader of the Week
Alexandra of the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders
Alexandra is a rookie on this year's squad. She likes "Half Baked," the ice cream flavor not the movie, she never misses an episode of "Nip/Tuck" but she'd like to be on America's Next Top Model. She fears rats and possums. How can you be afraid of possums? They're afraid of you. That's why they play possum. But she likes Eagles fans and their enthusiasm for their team, even when it manifests itself in booing. Her favorite superhero is Michelangelo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles because they fight crime and eat pizza. Not bad work if you can get it.
If The Super Bowl Were Played Today
New England Patriots 38 Dallas Cowboys 21
I have a strong suspicion that the Patriots are going to score exactly 38 points for 15 more games in row. The Cowboys have shown a good offense but right now there isn't a defense in the world that can hold the Patriots to 37 points.
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