NFL: Week 2 Review
WHO-DEY! A great weekend to be a Bengal fan, as the Bengals got their first win of the season with a 15-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. No touchdowns for the Bengals, no problem. The defense carried the Bengals to a win and looked the defense that was so good last year. The offense was able to move the ball against an excellent Ravens defense, but penalties (9 for 56 yards) derailed some drives and they were only able to muster up 5 field goals by Mike Nugent. A lot more confidence with Nugent kicking this season, than Bengals fans had last year with Shayne Graham, that's for sure.
As for the defense, they looked like a totally different unit than the one that played last week against the Patriots. They were able to get some pressure on Ravens QB Joe Flacco and held him to only 154 yards passing, including no passing yards in the first quarter, and picked him off four times. Under Marvin Lewis, when the Bengals win the turnover battle, they win games. Sunday, they were +4 in the turnover department.
A great win for the Bengals no doubt, but they still need to work on some things. Starting with cutting down the penalties and taking advantage of turnovers and good field position. If they can end drives with more touchdowns and less field goals, it will put less pressure on the defense and result in more W's.
As for the stars and duds of Week 2, instead of Impressive Performers, I think their is a better name for those stars on the gridiron. How about, as Frank Barone always said, on the popular television sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, "Holy Crap." Sounds better in my book. Now for those who put on performances that had use either saying, "Holy Crap," or "C'mon Man," in Week 2:
"Holy Crap"
HOU-QB Matt Schaub: 38-52, 497 yds, 3 TDs, 114.1 QB Rating (158.3 is a perfect QB Rating)
HOU-WR Andre Johnson: 12 rec, 158 yds, 1 TD. Big day for the Texans offense, as they win in overtime over the Redskins.
MIN-RB Adrian Peterson: 28 car, 142 yds, 1 TD
PHI-RB LeSean McCoy: 16 car, 120 yds, 3 TDs
CHI-QB Jay Cutler: 21-29, 277 yds, 3 TDs, 136.7 QB Rating
ATL-QB Matt Ryan: 21-32, 225 yds, 3 TDs, 117.3 QB Rating
ATL-RB Jason Snelling: 24 car, 129 yds, 2 TDs; 5 rec, 57 yds, 1 TD. Came in after RB Michael Turner went out with an injury.
DET-RB Jahvid Best: 17 car, 58 yds, 2 TDs: 9 rec, 154 yds, 1 TD. Only his second career game.
Pittsburgh Steelers Defense and Special Teams: I hate to do it but, they won the game for the Steelers. 7 turnovers forced, count'em 7, recorded 4 sacks, and returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Just a dominating performance to say the least.
IND-QB Peyton Manning: 20-26, 255 yds, 3 TDs, 145.5 QB Rating in a victory, over his brother and the Giants, in the Manning Bowl. I think you can almost bet on seeing Peyton Manning in this section every week. "Holy Crap," is this guy good.
"C'mon Man"
BAL-QB Joe Flacco: 17-39, 154 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 23.8 QB Rating
ARI-QB Derek Anderson: 17-31, 161, 2 INT, 42.5 QB Rating, pulled from game.
MIN-QB Brett Favre: 22-36, 225 yds, 3 INTs, 44.3 QB Rating. The Vikings fall to 0-2 and not the way Brett envisioned the season when he decided to come back.
CAR-QB Matt Moore: 6-16, 125 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, was benched later in the game in favor of Jimmy Clausen and probably lost his starting job in the process.
TEN-QB Vince Young: 7-10, 66 yds, 2 INT, 48.3 QB Rating, a fumble lost and was benched in the second half.
Tennessee Titans: Allowed the Steelers to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, turned the ball over seven times and had 11 penalties for 72 yards, not to mention they lost the game to the Steelers who only had 127 yards of total offense.
Dallas Cowboys: 0-2 start for a team that was a popular favorite to go to the Super Bowl. Doesn't get any easier as they face the undefeated Houston Texans next week.
Next week has some very interesting matchups, with some teams already facing must win games in only the third week of the season. A trip to 0-2 Carolina is next for the Bengals, but more on that matchup and the rest of NFL games in my Week 3 post, so stayed tuned.
As for the defense, they looked like a totally different unit than the one that played last week against the Patriots. They were able to get some pressure on Ravens QB Joe Flacco and held him to only 154 yards passing, including no passing yards in the first quarter, and picked him off four times. Under Marvin Lewis, when the Bengals win the turnover battle, they win games. Sunday, they were +4 in the turnover department.
A great win for the Bengals no doubt, but they still need to work on some things. Starting with cutting down the penalties and taking advantage of turnovers and good field position. If they can end drives with more touchdowns and less field goals, it will put less pressure on the defense and result in more W's.
As for the stars and duds of Week 2, instead of Impressive Performers, I think their is a better name for those stars on the gridiron. How about, as Frank Barone always said, on the popular television sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, "Holy Crap." Sounds better in my book. Now for those who put on performances that had use either saying, "Holy Crap," or "C'mon Man," in Week 2:
"Holy Crap"
HOU-QB Matt Schaub: 38-52, 497 yds, 3 TDs, 114.1 QB Rating (158.3 is a perfect QB Rating)
HOU-WR Andre Johnson: 12 rec, 158 yds, 1 TD. Big day for the Texans offense, as they win in overtime over the Redskins.
MIN-RB Adrian Peterson: 28 car, 142 yds, 1 TD
PHI-RB LeSean McCoy: 16 car, 120 yds, 3 TDs
CHI-QB Jay Cutler: 21-29, 277 yds, 3 TDs, 136.7 QB Rating
ATL-QB Matt Ryan: 21-32, 225 yds, 3 TDs, 117.3 QB Rating
ATL-RB Jason Snelling: 24 car, 129 yds, 2 TDs; 5 rec, 57 yds, 1 TD. Came in after RB Michael Turner went out with an injury.
DET-RB Jahvid Best: 17 car, 58 yds, 2 TDs: 9 rec, 154 yds, 1 TD. Only his second career game.
Pittsburgh Steelers Defense and Special Teams: I hate to do it but, they won the game for the Steelers. 7 turnovers forced, count'em 7, recorded 4 sacks, and returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Just a dominating performance to say the least.
IND-QB Peyton Manning: 20-26, 255 yds, 3 TDs, 145.5 QB Rating in a victory, over his brother and the Giants, in the Manning Bowl. I think you can almost bet on seeing Peyton Manning in this section every week. "Holy Crap," is this guy good.
"C'mon Man"
BAL-QB Joe Flacco: 17-39, 154 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 23.8 QB Rating
ARI-QB Derek Anderson: 17-31, 161, 2 INT, 42.5 QB Rating, pulled from game.
MIN-QB Brett Favre: 22-36, 225 yds, 3 INTs, 44.3 QB Rating. The Vikings fall to 0-2 and not the way Brett envisioned the season when he decided to come back.
CAR-QB Matt Moore: 6-16, 125 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, was benched later in the game in favor of Jimmy Clausen and probably lost his starting job in the process.
TEN-QB Vince Young: 7-10, 66 yds, 2 INT, 48.3 QB Rating, a fumble lost and was benched in the second half.
Tennessee Titans: Allowed the Steelers to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, turned the ball over seven times and had 11 penalties for 72 yards, not to mention they lost the game to the Steelers who only had 127 yards of total offense.
Dallas Cowboys: 0-2 start for a team that was a popular favorite to go to the Super Bowl. Doesn't get any easier as they face the undefeated Houston Texans next week.
Next week has some very interesting matchups, with some teams already facing must win games in only the third week of the season. A trip to 0-2 Carolina is next for the Bengals, but more on that matchup and the rest of NFL games in my Week 3 post, so stayed tuned.
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