The NFL is Poop - Week 2

Thunder and Lightning
A strange, sloppy game between the 49ers and the Seahawks, with a result I certainly did not see coming. I love Colin Kaepernick, but the Seahawks defense rattled him into the worst game he's ever played. And because the defense was so dominant it allowed the offense to keep pounding with Marshawn Lynch until that worked, which opened things up for Russell Wilson who was horrible early but good enough late to rout the 49ers and make a big statement in the division and in fact, the conference.
I am not usually a proponent of home-field advantage. I know it exists, but I think it's importance is heavily overstated. But if ever a crowd and a field can make a significant impact on the game, it is this Seattle atmosphere right now.

Manning Bowl
Peyton Manning is now on pace for only 72 touchdowns this season. And the New York Giants are on pace to make 80 turnovers. There's a pretty good chance the Broncos will be able to keep this up and dominate offensively most of the season.
The Giants will not continue to turn the ball over like this. Eli Manning has gone through stretches like this before, and even won the Super Bowl in those same seasons. He will eventually figure it out, because luck plays a big part in turnovers. And since the NFC East is down this year, I still think the Giants have a decent chance to make the playoffs.

1-Point Wins
Buffalo 24 Carolina 23
Beautiful last-second game-winning touchdown pass by EJ Manuel. Obviously the Panthers blew the coverage, but the play was designed to make that happen. A lot of sports is luck and timing but eventually sometimes you just need to make a play. EJ Manuel did that, several of them really, and that bodes well for long-suffering Bills fans like Damino.

Chicago 31 Minnesota 30
The last-second throw by Jay Cutler may have been even better, hitting Martellus Bennett, against much better coverage. The Bears have survived two very close games and are now one of only three 2--0 in the NFC.

Kansas City 17 Dallas 16
This one wasn't as exciting as the other two but it was still an exciting and interesting game. Everyone was going nuts about the Kansas City Chiefs before the season and now that they've gone 2-0 everyone thinks their suspicions were realized. Sure the Chiefs are improved, but they are still far from playoff caliber. And if they do end up shocking me and making the playoffs, Alex Smith will be a much bigger, well not bigger, a much more important reason, than Andy Reid.

Game of the Week
Houston 30 Tennessee 24
This overtime game was exciting enough to earn this spot on its own merits, but what really put it over the top was a crazy sequence late in the fourth quarter.
4th down and 9, Houston as the ball at the Tennessee 33 as time is winding down.
Randy Bullock hits a 51-yard field goal.
BUT WAIT...Titans coach Mike Munchak called time.
Randy Bullock misses a 51-yard field goal.
BUT WAIT...the Titans were offsides.
Randy Bullock misses a 46-yard field goal.
BUT WAIT...Munchak called time out again.
Randy Bullock misses a 46-yard field goal.
So he got 4 tries, hit the first, and missed the next 3 sending the game into overtime.
The Texans won the coin toss and won the game by scoring a touchdown. They can say they did it because of the new overtime rules requiring each team to get a possession unless the first team scores a touchdown. But we know they did it because they didn't want to have to rely on Randy Bullock again.

Game of Next Week
Green Bay at Cincinnati
Ok, so this doesn't have any divisional or conference implications but I like this game for two reasons: both teams are really good on offense, and both teams need this game. They both lost tough games in week 1 and they are both playoff and Super Bowl contenders but one of them will be 1-2 after this.

A Brief Rant About the Redskins
If the first half against the Eagles and the first half against the Packers were combined into one game the Redskins would have lost it 50-7 and allowed almost 700 yards of offense. That they scored 40 second half points in these two games is only a product of how badly they played and how far behind they were.
There is little hope they can suddenly turn this season around, for one simple reason: Robert Griffin III is not healthy.

They aren't even trying running plays. And without the threat of him keeping it in the pistol formation, Alfred Morris can't run.
And without any running game the Redskins pass. And without making any first downs, the defense is constantly on the field, and it's bad to begin with.
And that is how you have two of the worst games any team could ever possibly play, back-to-back to open the season.

Picture of the Week
Falcons safety William Moore makes an unorthodox tackles on the Rams Mike McNeil.

If the Super Bowl Were Played Today
Denver Broncos 27 Seattle Seahawks 13
Denver has looked dominant in two games and even though the Pats are too, you can't even imagine New England beating Denver right now. A closer race in the NFC as the Seahawks are the clear choice but the Bears and Saints have been impressive too. And Seattle barely beat Carolina, so who knows. It's still early.