The NFL is Poop - Week 3

What's Wrong with the 49ers?
Two weeks ago San Francisco was the toast of the town, beating Green Bay and gearing up for a matchup against the Seahawks. That loss was understandable given the environment, but losing by 20 to Indianapolis at home has put the 9ers two games down in the division and cast their playoff chances into doubt. I really don't understand what's wrong. Maybe teams have figured out Kaepernick, but I really didn't think that was possible. He's 26 of 55 for 277 yards, 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions over the past two games. So maybe someone figured out something. Time will tell.

Why the Bears Win
I often say the biggest reason the NFL is so popular is because of betting. And the reason why betting is so much fun is because the games are so unpredictable. And the games are so unpredictable because turnovers are so important in determining the outcome. And turnovers are very often a bad (or good) bounce at the right time, which makes them totally unpredictable.
But the Chicago Bears are proving that one team can be consistently good, year in and year out at not just forcing turnovers, but returning them for touchdowns. They had 9 touchdowns last year, and already 3 in 3 games this year. If they can keep this up, and with a ball-hawking secondary led by Peanut Tillman, I think they can, they will be a leader in a suddenly weak NFC all season.

A Brief Rant About the Redskins
Speaking of defensive touchdowns, the Redskins have 2 so far this season. And 0 wins. Teams that score defensive touchdowns generally win 85% of the time in the NFL.
RGIII is clearly not healthy, and he is pressing to compensate for it. Both of his turnovers came deep in Lions territory, and occurred on plays he never would have made last year. And he still hasn't learned how to slide when he leaves the pocket.
This is a truly distressing development, because maybe he will never ever regain the speed he had last year.

Nuclear Meltdown
Jets cornerback Kyle Wilson almost cost his team the game with a monumental blowup.
It started with the Jets leading the Bills 20-12 early in the 4th quarter. With 3rd and 6 on their own 24, Antwan Barnes committed an defensive holding, giving the Bills an automatic first down. Until Stevie Johnson got flagged for taunting, resulting in a replayed down. And what Stevie Johnson taketh away, Kyle Wilson giveth right back. Committing illegal contact on the next play, and then personal fouls on the next two plays, until Rex Ryan finally yanked him. Wilson single-handedly turned 3rd and 6 from the 24th into 1st and 10 from the Jets 37. The Bills did score a TD and the game-tying two-point conversion, but the Jets saved Wilson's ass by winning anyway. So the Jets who could easily be 0-3, are actually 2-1.

Breakout Star
It's very rare that a highly touted unknown fantasy sleeper actually lives up to those expectations (remember Tatum Bell?), but this year Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron is certainly emerging. In three games Cameron has 20 catches, for 269 yards and 4 touchdowns, including one thrown by the punter Spencer Lanning on a fake field goal.
But that wasn't Cameron's best catch of the year. He is reportedly banging Victoria's Secret Supermodel Erin Heatherton.

Game of the Week
Cincinnati Bengals 34 Green Bay Packers 30
The Bengals-Packers game certainly lived up to the billing I gave it last week. The Bengals scored the first 14 points, Green Bay responded with 30 in a row, Cincinnati answered with 13 (missed PAT), and that's where we picked up the action. Green Bay leading 30-27 with 4th and 1 at the Bengals 30 with about 4 minutes left. Mike McCarthy elected to go for it. Huge mistake! Field goals are too easy to get, you have to try to take that 6 point lead and force Cincinnati to score a touchdown to beat you. Green Bay handed it to Johnathan Franklin, he fumbled and Terrence Newman picked it up (eventually) and ran 58 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Obviously, that's an extreme example of what could go wrong, but even by the percentages, I feel he's better off taking the near-certain 6-point lead than taking a big risk to put the game away right then.

Game of Next Week
Seattle Seahawks at Houston Texans
Seahawks have to prove they can win on the road before "go ahead and crown their ass" and the Texans need to rebound from an ass-kicking by the Ravens, because remember that their first two wins were lucky comebacks against mediocre/bad teams.

Picture of the Week
Cam Newton's awesome Under Armor Biohazard shoe/sock things.

If the Super Bowl Were Played Today
Denver Broncos 41 Seattle Seahawks 24
I absolutely love what the Broncos are doing right now. They look absolutely unstoppable on offense and the defense looks stout enough and should improve when Von Miller comes back. As far as I'm concerned the Seahawks are very good, but I am still not convinced, but a win on the road in Houston would convince me.