Raiders aint last anymore
NFL Power Rankings Week 2
Rk Team Last Wk Rise/Fall High/Low Comment
1 Colts 1 - 1/1 I must have gotten over 500 emails from Patriots, Chargers, and Bears fans last week, killing me for having the defending Super Bowl Champion Colts as the No. 1-rated team in the first edition of the weekly NFL Power Rankings. Halfway through Thursday night's bout with the Saints, it looked like they might have been right. But after a 31-0 third and fourth quarter performance over New Orleans, there are currently no doubts that Indianapolis is No. 1, for now. Beyond Peyton Manning's brilliance, Joseph Addai's dominance, and the crafty hands and footwork of the Indianapolis receivers, the Colts defense put on quite an unexpected performance. The Colts held 2006's top-rated offense to only 293 yards of offense and kept the league's most explosive backfield to under 75 yards on the ground. A lot was made of the off-season departures of former starters Cato June, Mike Doss, and Jason David. If Thursday night was any indication, the Colts may very well be better off without them.
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2 Patriots 2 - 2/2 Rodney Harrison was out, Tom Brady was nursing a sore shoulder, and there were questions about the locker room chemistry in New England. No problem. The Pats demolished the Jets in New York, using a Belichick-ian blend of special teams dominance, a dynamic offensive gameplan, and defensive mastery. Randy Moss didn't play a single snap during the preseason. Didn't matter. The three-time Pro Bowl receiver made quite an impact in his New England debut, catching nine balls for 183 yards and a touchdown. All that for a fourth-round pick? That draft day trade may end up being the steal of the century. The Jets are one thing; the Chargers are a whole other. New England squares off with San Diego on Sunday night.
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3 Chargers 3 - 3/3 Hey, a win's a win. But Sunday's 14-3 slugfest over Chicago wasn't pretty. The Chargers won a sloppy battle with the 2006 NFC Champions, surviving two turnovers and three sacks to get the W. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to only 25 yards rushing, but caught seven passes for 51 yards and threw and ran for scores. His fantasy football owners went home happy, as usual. Though some may be jumping off the San Diego bandwagon after Sunday's "eh" performance, Philip Rivers thought it was an important victory, "This was a game we didn't win last year. L.T.'s not going to rush for 170 yards every game. It's about winning." The Bolts take on the Pats in a rematch of last year's AFC Divisional Round classic. It's safe to say there will be no dancing on any midfield logos this time around.
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4 Bears 6 (+2) 4/6 Turnovers and offensive inconsistency cost the Bears Sunday in San Diego. Though the defense looked stellar, Lovie Smith and Ron Turner's offense simply couldn't get it going against the favored Chargers. Four turnovers, a shaky running game, and missed opportunities throughout the game haunted Chicago. Both Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson fumbled in big spots during the second half, sealing the game for San Diego. The loss of Mike Brown will hurt the defense, but the Bears can get on track against Kansas City this Sunday. It's a winnable game. That is, of course, if the Bears offense decides to show up.
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5 Saints 4 (-1) 4/5 Hideous start to the season for the Saints in Indy. The receivers looked slow, Drew Brees looked out of sync, and the defensive backfield looked weary. Manning and Co. lit up the Saints for 452 yards, scoring 31 points in the second half alone. Jason David put the torching he received on three separate touchdown passes on him, telling the media after the game, "Anytime you come back and play a team you used to play for, you want to play your best game. I didn't play my best game tonight. All the plays you saw tonight ... that's on me. There's nobody else to blame but me." But David wasn't the only one who had a rough opening game. The entire team did. With 10 days in between contests, the Saints should look a little better Sunday against Tampa Bay.
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6 Seahawks 8 (+2) 6/8 The Seahawks defense came out hitting hard on Sunday. Tampa stars Jeff Garcia and Cadillac Williams were each knocked out of the game — Garcia on a Julian Peterson/Leroy Hill hit, Williams on a joint effort led by new additions Patrick Kerney and Brian Russell. Kerney made his Seahawks debut with 1 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. Seattle didn't get much preseason love from the experts, but has as good a chance to win the NFC as anyone. The defense looked downright scary on Sunday afternoon.
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7 Bengals 9 (+2) 7/9 The Bengals escaped a near catastrophic collapse against the Ravens on Monday night. A questionable offensive pass interference call on what appeared to be a clean Todd Heap touchdown, followed by a goal line interception by Michael Meyers, secured the 27-20 win. Carson Palmer was money as always, connecting on 20-of-32 passes for 194 yards and two scores in the victory. The real story, though, was the Bengals D. All summer we heard and read about how the Cincinnati defense would be the reason why the Bengals wouldn't win the AFC North. On Monday evening, the “other” eleven forced six turnovers and kept the Ravens out of the end zone when it mattered most. As for Chad Johnson’s much hyped end zone celebration? Eh, I expected something a little more.
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8 Broncos 7 (-1) 7/8 Travis Henry started his career as a Bronco with a bang. T-Hank had 183 total yards in the Broncos' last-second 15-14 victory over Buffalo. Though he repeatedly denies any such comparisons to the Denver legend, quarterback Jay Cutler looked Elway-esque on the Broncos last drive, guiding Denver 44 yards in the final two minutes of the game. Cutler passed for 304 yards, hitting star receiver Javon Walker nine times for 119 yards. Jason Elam hit the game-winning field goal as time expired, his third FG of the game. The Broncos face Oakland on Sunday.
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9 Steelers 14 (+5) 9/14 The Mike Tomlin era couldn't have possibly started any better for Pittsburgh fans. The Steelers dominated the Browns on both sides of the ball, easing to a 34-7 opening weekend victory. Ben Roethlisberger completed 12 passes, four of them for touchdowns. The defense caused five turnovers and sacked the Cleveland quarterbacks six times. At no point during the entire game did the Browns look to stand a chance. Bill Cowher who? Tomlin and Co. take on the Bills for their home opener next weekend.
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10 Ravens 5 (-5) 5/10 The Ravens had six turnovers, suffered injuries across the board, and trailed by two scores entering the fourth quarter. And yet, despite all that, Baltimore had multiple chances to tie the game in the final two minutes. In the end, a controversial offensive pass interference call on Todd Heap, followed by a Cincinnati interception, put the game on ice for the Bengals. Steve McNair had arguably his worst game in two years as a Raven, turning the ball over four times and missing open targets throughout the evening. Kyle Boller looked solid in relief, but came up just short. Defense and special teams carried the Ravens on Monday. Nothing new there.
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11 Cowboys 12 (+1) 11/12 Though the Dallas defense didn't remind anyone of the Steel Curtain or the '85 Bears, the Cowboys offense was working on all cylinders against the Giants. Tony Romo threw four touchdown passes and rushed in another as the Cowboys showed they were the class of the NFC East. If there's any reason for concern, it's the Cowboys' defensive backfield. Eli Manning torched Dallas for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
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12 Jets 13 (+1) 12/13 Bill Belichick beat Eric Mangini for the third time in four tries on Sunday. Mangini's Jets hung tough with the Patriots through one half of action, but New England was simply too much in quarters three and four. Randy Moss's 51-yard touchdown with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter was the nail in the coffin, extending New England's lead to 28-7. The Jets will need to regroup quickly; New York's got Baltimore on Sunday.
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13 Panthers 15 (+2) 13/15 After an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2005, the Panthers had a disappointing 2006, missing the playoffs altogether with a mediocre 8-8 record. The 2007 season started off on the right foot Sunday for Carolina with a dominating 27-13 win in St. Louis. Steve Smith burned Rams corner Tye Hill for a game-breaking 68-yard play. Smith's thoughts on the gamebreaker? "Hey, I make plays. That's what I'm here to do." More of those and the same type of defense seen on Sunday, and the Panthers could give the Saints a run for their money in the NFC South this season.
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14 Titans 26 (+12) 14/26 Much was made of the loss of running back Travis Henry. Losing a 1,200-yard rusher to free-agency and replacing him with the Chris Brown/Lendale White/Chris Henry trio was considered a major downgrade. Sure enough, Tennessee finished with 282 yards rushing — a franchise record — on Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville. Chris Brown gashed the Jaguars for 175 yards, while LenDale White ripped off 66 on 18 carries. Jacksonville was the big favorite coming into Sunday's contest. Didn't matter. The lesson, as always? Never, ever, ever question Vince Young.
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15 49ers 16 (+1) 15/16 It was all Arnaz Battle, all the time, in Monday night’s 20-17 win over the Cardinals. On the final game-winning drive, Battle freed up quarterback Alex Smith with a bone-crushing block on a 4th-and-1, giving the quarterback the space needed to run 25 yards and convert a first down. Two plays later, Battle caught a pass at the 2 yard-line, only to fumble while crossing the end zone. On the very next snap, Battle took an end around three yards behind a Michael Robinson block for the game-winning touchdown. The former Notre Dame quarterback was everywhere. As for quarterback Alex Smith, ESPN’s Mike Ditka probably said it best, “He used his arms, he used his legs, and he used his head.” Ugly win for San Francisco, sure. But a win’s a win. They’ll take it.
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16 Jaguars 10 (-6) 10/16 For all the hype the Jacksonville defense got over the summer, Sunday's performance against Tennessee was rather unsettling. The Jags D gave up 350 yards of offense, with a startling 282 coming on the ground. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor combined for only 48 yards. Linebacker Mike Peterson told reporters afterward, "They were faster, stronger, flying to the ball, blocking better. I don't have any answers for you. I wish I could give y'all some answers because I'm looking for some answers myself." No answers here either, folks.
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17 Texans 25 (+8) 17/25 The Texans beat the Chiefs 20-3, marking the team's first three-game winning streak (dating back to last season) in franchise history. Matt Schaub had a solid debut, guiding the Texans with a 16-for-22 effort, good for 225 yards and a touchdown. Andre Johnson continued where he left off last season with seven catches for 142 yards and a TD, and the young defense kept Larry Johnson to an eye-popping 43 yards. Houston is a potential sleeper team in the AFC this year. If they keep playing the way they did Sunday, we could be talking about them come January.
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18 Bills 21 (+3) 18/21 The Bills honored former special teams star Steve Tasker by retiring his number on the Ralph Wilson Stadium Wall of Fame on Sunday. As if it was scripted, Roscoe Parrish had a dazzling 79-yard punt return on Tasker's special day. Buffalo's defense and special teams played well. The Bills offense, however, had only 209 total yards. Quarterback J.P. Losman threw for less than 100 yards, as the Bills passing game really never got off the ground. Tough loss for Buffalo, as they led for the majority of the game. It's uncertain how the Bills will react to the Kevin Everett situation. They've got the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday. An 0-2 start could be disastrous in the crowded AFC.
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19 Packers 22 (+3) 19/22 Brett Favre tied John Elway's record for most career wins as a quarterback (148) in Green Bay's 16-13 victory over Philadelphia. The Packers punt coverage unit was superb, recovering two botched Eagles punt returns. The Packers D held Philadelphia to 283 yards, with Donovan McNabb completing only 45.5 percent of his passes. Green Bay has won five straight games dating back to last season. The Pack travel to New York for a battle with the Giants next weekend. Brett Favre won't be giving any sacks to Michael Strahan this time around.
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20 Vikings 27 (+7) 20/27 The Vikings defense put on quite a show against the Falcons Sunday in Minneapolis. Leslie Frazier's unit gave up only 265 yards, scored two defensive touchdowns, had six sacks, and grabbed two interceptions. Complete dominance. On offense, Adrian Peterson ripped off 163 total yards and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson played well enough in his third career start. The Vikings could end up being a lot better than expected in 2007. With arguably the best offensive and defensive lines in football, they might very well be NFC playoff sleepers.
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21 Eagles 11 (-10) 11/21 Donovan McNabb completed less than 50 percent of his passes, as the Eagles suffered through a turnover-plagued loss to the Packers. Punt return men J.R. Reed and Greg Lewis each muffed returns, with Lewis' resulting in a Packers touchdown. Philadelphia, everybody's preseason NFC East champion picks, could be 0-2 with a loss to Washington on Sunday.
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22 Rams 17 (-5) 17/22 Steven Jackson didn't take a snap all preseason. Some would say the decision backfired on Sunday, when the 2006 Pro Bowl running back fumbled balls on consecutive carries in the third quarter. The two fumbles matched Jackson's total for ALL of last season. Jackson only had 58 yards on 18 carries; only one catch for 3 yards. On top of the 27-13 defeat, St. Louis also lost seven-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Pace for the year to an injured shoulder. Much was made of the revamped St. Louis defense over the summer. The unit gave up 27 points, 186 yards on the ground, and 20 Carolina first downs. St. Louis was a big sleeper pick this summer. They were outclassed by Carolina on both sides of the ball Sunday.
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23 Cardinals 20 (-3) 20/23 Wild finish in San Francisco late Monday evening/early Tuesday morning. Ken Whisenhunt’s first game as coach of the Cardinals came right down to the final whistle, ending with the rival Niners on top 20-17. Matt Leinart struggled throughout the evening, going 14-for-28, for only 102 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. There was improvement in the run game (Edgerrin James ran for 92 yards), though, and solid play out of the defense for Arizona. Although the Cards came up just short in the end, there's definite reason for optimism in Phoenix. Arizona looked much better Monday evening than they looked for the majority of the '06 season.
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24 Redskins 23 (-1) 23/24 Clinton Portis ran for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Antwaan Randle El hauled in five balls for 152 yards in the Redskins' 16-13 opening weekend victory over Miami. So, maybe the Washington offense is finally digesting Al Saunders' 800-page playbook? Well, it's only been one week, but the Redskins' offense looked as good as it did at any point all of last season. The defense? Well, if Sunday was any indication, it's night and day from 2006. Washington held Miami to 66 rushing yards and 13 points. London Fletcher led the way with 11 tackles in his Redskins debut. What did Mr. Portis have to say after the game? "It don't shut them up, we need the doomsayers. We don't need nobody to jump on our bandwagon." Portis said that? Sounds about right.
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25 Giants 19 (-6) 19/25 The only thing worse than Britney Spears’ performance on Sunday night was the display of ineptitude the Giants defense put on. Like Britney, the D looked blurred and unprepared from start to finish. To be certain, it was a tough start to the season for Giants fans. Aside from the constant mentions of Tiki Barber’s name throughout the NBC telecast and injuries to team leaders Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, and Osi Umenyiora, the once-proud Big Blue defense got absolutely lit up by the rival Cowboys. The New York D gave up 45 points and 477 yards, with 345 of them coming through the air. As for Tiki? Well, Derrick Ward looked just fine in relief of the injured Brandon Jacobs. As any Giants fan will tell you — no more Tiki Barber talk, please. He's not coming back. So what's the point?
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26 Lions 24 (-2) 24/26 Year two of the Mike Martz era started off with some offensive fireworks in Oakland on Sunday. The Lions offense tallied 392 yards, put 36 points on the scoreboard, and moved only nine games within Jon Kitna's off-season prediction of 10 victories. Detroit's defense held its own, despite a mid-game, 17-point lapse. As for Kitna? He told reporters after the game, "In the fourth quarter, when it got loud, we didn't blink. We kept executing and doing what we needed to do." The Vikings have one of the top defensive units in the entire league. They travel to Detroit for an old fashioned NFC North battle on Sunday. Just how good is that Lions offense? We should have a better idea after Sunday.
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27 Chiefs 18 (-9) 18/27 Anyone who watched HBO's "Hard Knocks" series knew the Chiefs' offense was in some serious trouble this season. But no one expected them to be this bad. Sunday's performance was atrocious. The Chiefs offense went 3-for-11 on third downs, totaled only 219 yards, and coughed up four turnovers. Larry Johnson only rushed for 43 yards, as the Houston defense kept him bottled up throughout Sunday's 20-3 loss. Kansas City could quite possibly have the worst offense in the entire league.
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28 Dolphins 29 (+1) 28/29 The Dolphins dropped a tough one in Washington on Sunday. Miami's offense sputtered. There were numerous false starts, a slew of dropped passes, and some really curious management of time outs. Ronnie Brown ran for only 32 yards and Jesse Chatman managed just 15 yards on seven carries. Cam Cameron's been hyped as an offensive mastermind. There was nothing masterful whatsoever about Sunday's performance against the Redskins.
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29 Raiders 32 (+3) 29/32 The Raiders featured one of the worst offensive units in league history last season. This year's 11 look far superior. On Sunday, Oakland put up 375 yards, scored 21 points, and kept the Raiders in the game late into the fourth quarter against the Lions. In the end, the Silver and Black came up a bit short, despite a 30-for-40 passing performance from quarterback Josh McCown. At the very least, the Raiders will be watchable this season. They may not win many games, but they won't cause you to change the channel when they're on offense.
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30 Buccaneers 30 - 30/30 Injuries and inconsistency plagued the Buccaneers in their season opener, losing 20-6 in Seattle on Sunday. Both running back Cadillac Williams and quarterback Jeff Garcia were knocked out of the game and banged up. The Bucs offense looked mediocre; the defense spotty. Tampa Bay went 4-12 last season. If they're to improve in '07, they'll need steadier production than they got on Sunday from both sides of the ball.
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31 Falcons 28 (-3) 28/31 The start of the Joey Harrington era in Atlanta was anything but pretty. The Minnesota defense manhandled the Falcons offense, as the season opener was never really in question. Harrington was under pressure the entire game, throwing two interceptions that were each returned for touchdowns. It could be a long, long year for Falcons fans.
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32 Browns 31 (-1) 31/32 New running back, new tackle, new left guard, and a new defensive backfield. Same old terrible Browns. There was likely no more demoralizing start to a season than the one the Browns endured Sunday against Pittsburgh at home. Cleveland had five turnovers and allowed six sacks, never standing a chance in a 34-7 loss to the Steelers. Charlie Frye struggled, Derek Anderson didn't look much better, and Brady Quinn manned the clipboard. It doesn't get much easier. The Browns face the interstate rival Bengals next weekend.
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NFL Power Rankings Week 2
Rk Team Last Wk Rise/Fall High/Low Comment
1 Colts 1 - 1/1 I must have gotten over 500 emails from Patriots, Chargers, and Bears fans last week, killing me for having the defending Super Bowl Champion Colts as the No. 1-rated team in the first edition of the weekly NFL Power Rankings. Halfway through Thursday night's bout with the Saints, it looked like they might have been right. But after a 31-0 third and fourth quarter performance over New Orleans, there are currently no doubts that Indianapolis is No. 1, for now. Beyond Peyton Manning's brilliance, Joseph Addai's dominance, and the crafty hands and footwork of the Indianapolis receivers, the Colts defense put on quite an unexpected performance. The Colts held 2006's top-rated offense to only 293 yards of offense and kept the league's most explosive backfield to under 75 yards on the ground. A lot was made of the off-season departures of former starters Cato June, Mike Doss, and Jason David. If Thursday night was any indication, the Colts may very well be better off without them.
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2 Patriots 2 - 2/2 Rodney Harrison was out, Tom Brady was nursing a sore shoulder, and there were questions about the locker room chemistry in New England. No problem. The Pats demolished the Jets in New York, using a Belichick-ian blend of special teams dominance, a dynamic offensive gameplan, and defensive mastery. Randy Moss didn't play a single snap during the preseason. Didn't matter. The three-time Pro Bowl receiver made quite an impact in his New England debut, catching nine balls for 183 yards and a touchdown. All that for a fourth-round pick? That draft day trade may end up being the steal of the century. The Jets are one thing; the Chargers are a whole other. New England squares off with San Diego on Sunday night.
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3 Chargers 3 - 3/3 Hey, a win's a win. But Sunday's 14-3 slugfest over Chicago wasn't pretty. The Chargers won a sloppy battle with the 2006 NFC Champions, surviving two turnovers and three sacks to get the W. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to only 25 yards rushing, but caught seven passes for 51 yards and threw and ran for scores. His fantasy football owners went home happy, as usual. Though some may be jumping off the San Diego bandwagon after Sunday's "eh" performance, Philip Rivers thought it was an important victory, "This was a game we didn't win last year. L.T.'s not going to rush for 170 yards every game. It's about winning." The Bolts take on the Pats in a rematch of last year's AFC Divisional Round classic. It's safe to say there will be no dancing on any midfield logos this time around.
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4 Bears 6 (+2) 4/6 Turnovers and offensive inconsistency cost the Bears Sunday in San Diego. Though the defense looked stellar, Lovie Smith and Ron Turner's offense simply couldn't get it going against the favored Chargers. Four turnovers, a shaky running game, and missed opportunities throughout the game haunted Chicago. Both Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson fumbled in big spots during the second half, sealing the game for San Diego. The loss of Mike Brown will hurt the defense, but the Bears can get on track against Kansas City this Sunday. It's a winnable game. That is, of course, if the Bears offense decides to show up.
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5 Saints 4 (-1) 4/5 Hideous start to the season for the Saints in Indy. The receivers looked slow, Drew Brees looked out of sync, and the defensive backfield looked weary. Manning and Co. lit up the Saints for 452 yards, scoring 31 points in the second half alone. Jason David put the torching he received on three separate touchdown passes on him, telling the media after the game, "Anytime you come back and play a team you used to play for, you want to play your best game. I didn't play my best game tonight. All the plays you saw tonight ... that's on me. There's nobody else to blame but me." But David wasn't the only one who had a rough opening game. The entire team did. With 10 days in between contests, the Saints should look a little better Sunday against Tampa Bay.
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6 Seahawks 8 (+2) 6/8 The Seahawks defense came out hitting hard on Sunday. Tampa stars Jeff Garcia and Cadillac Williams were each knocked out of the game — Garcia on a Julian Peterson/Leroy Hill hit, Williams on a joint effort led by new additions Patrick Kerney and Brian Russell. Kerney made his Seahawks debut with 1 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. Seattle didn't get much preseason love from the experts, but has as good a chance to win the NFC as anyone. The defense looked downright scary on Sunday afternoon.
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7 Bengals 9 (+2) 7/9 The Bengals escaped a near catastrophic collapse against the Ravens on Monday night. A questionable offensive pass interference call on what appeared to be a clean Todd Heap touchdown, followed by a goal line interception by Michael Meyers, secured the 27-20 win. Carson Palmer was money as always, connecting on 20-of-32 passes for 194 yards and two scores in the victory. The real story, though, was the Bengals D. All summer we heard and read about how the Cincinnati defense would be the reason why the Bengals wouldn't win the AFC North. On Monday evening, the “other” eleven forced six turnovers and kept the Ravens out of the end zone when it mattered most. As for Chad Johnson’s much hyped end zone celebration? Eh, I expected something a little more.
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8 Broncos 7 (-1) 7/8 Travis Henry started his career as a Bronco with a bang. T-Hank had 183 total yards in the Broncos' last-second 15-14 victory over Buffalo. Though he repeatedly denies any such comparisons to the Denver legend, quarterback Jay Cutler looked Elway-esque on the Broncos last drive, guiding Denver 44 yards in the final two minutes of the game. Cutler passed for 304 yards, hitting star receiver Javon Walker nine times for 119 yards. Jason Elam hit the game-winning field goal as time expired, his third FG of the game. The Broncos face Oakland on Sunday.
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9 Steelers 14 (+5) 9/14 The Mike Tomlin era couldn't have possibly started any better for Pittsburgh fans. The Steelers dominated the Browns on both sides of the ball, easing to a 34-7 opening weekend victory. Ben Roethlisberger completed 12 passes, four of them for touchdowns. The defense caused five turnovers and sacked the Cleveland quarterbacks six times. At no point during the entire game did the Browns look to stand a chance. Bill Cowher who? Tomlin and Co. take on the Bills for their home opener next weekend.
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10 Ravens 5 (-5) 5/10 The Ravens had six turnovers, suffered injuries across the board, and trailed by two scores entering the fourth quarter. And yet, despite all that, Baltimore had multiple chances to tie the game in the final two minutes. In the end, a controversial offensive pass interference call on Todd Heap, followed by a Cincinnati interception, put the game on ice for the Bengals. Steve McNair had arguably his worst game in two years as a Raven, turning the ball over four times and missing open targets throughout the evening. Kyle Boller looked solid in relief, but came up just short. Defense and special teams carried the Ravens on Monday. Nothing new there.
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11 Cowboys 12 (+1) 11/12 Though the Dallas defense didn't remind anyone of the Steel Curtain or the '85 Bears, the Cowboys offense was working on all cylinders against the Giants. Tony Romo threw four touchdown passes and rushed in another as the Cowboys showed they were the class of the NFC East. If there's any reason for concern, it's the Cowboys' defensive backfield. Eli Manning torched Dallas for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
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12 Jets 13 (+1) 12/13 Bill Belichick beat Eric Mangini for the third time in four tries on Sunday. Mangini's Jets hung tough with the Patriots through one half of action, but New England was simply too much in quarters three and four. Randy Moss's 51-yard touchdown with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter was the nail in the coffin, extending New England's lead to 28-7. The Jets will need to regroup quickly; New York's got Baltimore on Sunday.
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13 Panthers 15 (+2) 13/15 After an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2005, the Panthers had a disappointing 2006, missing the playoffs altogether with a mediocre 8-8 record. The 2007 season started off on the right foot Sunday for Carolina with a dominating 27-13 win in St. Louis. Steve Smith burned Rams corner Tye Hill for a game-breaking 68-yard play. Smith's thoughts on the gamebreaker? "Hey, I make plays. That's what I'm here to do." More of those and the same type of defense seen on Sunday, and the Panthers could give the Saints a run for their money in the NFC South this season.
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14 Titans 26 (+12) 14/26 Much was made of the loss of running back Travis Henry. Losing a 1,200-yard rusher to free-agency and replacing him with the Chris Brown/Lendale White/Chris Henry trio was considered a major downgrade. Sure enough, Tennessee finished with 282 yards rushing — a franchise record — on Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville. Chris Brown gashed the Jaguars for 175 yards, while LenDale White ripped off 66 on 18 carries. Jacksonville was the big favorite coming into Sunday's contest. Didn't matter. The lesson, as always? Never, ever, ever question Vince Young.
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15 49ers 16 (+1) 15/16 It was all Arnaz Battle, all the time, in Monday night’s 20-17 win over the Cardinals. On the final game-winning drive, Battle freed up quarterback Alex Smith with a bone-crushing block on a 4th-and-1, giving the quarterback the space needed to run 25 yards and convert a first down. Two plays later, Battle caught a pass at the 2 yard-line, only to fumble while crossing the end zone. On the very next snap, Battle took an end around three yards behind a Michael Robinson block for the game-winning touchdown. The former Notre Dame quarterback was everywhere. As for quarterback Alex Smith, ESPN’s Mike Ditka probably said it best, “He used his arms, he used his legs, and he used his head.” Ugly win for San Francisco, sure. But a win’s a win. They’ll take it.
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16 Jaguars 10 (-6) 10/16 For all the hype the Jacksonville defense got over the summer, Sunday's performance against Tennessee was rather unsettling. The Jags D gave up 350 yards of offense, with a startling 282 coming on the ground. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor combined for only 48 yards. Linebacker Mike Peterson told reporters afterward, "They were faster, stronger, flying to the ball, blocking better. I don't have any answers for you. I wish I could give y'all some answers because I'm looking for some answers myself." No answers here either, folks.
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17 Texans 25 (+8) 17/25 The Texans beat the Chiefs 20-3, marking the team's first three-game winning streak (dating back to last season) in franchise history. Matt Schaub had a solid debut, guiding the Texans with a 16-for-22 effort, good for 225 yards and a touchdown. Andre Johnson continued where he left off last season with seven catches for 142 yards and a TD, and the young defense kept Larry Johnson to an eye-popping 43 yards. Houston is a potential sleeper team in the AFC this year. If they keep playing the way they did Sunday, we could be talking about them come January.
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18 Bills 21 (+3) 18/21 The Bills honored former special teams star Steve Tasker by retiring his number on the Ralph Wilson Stadium Wall of Fame on Sunday. As if it was scripted, Roscoe Parrish had a dazzling 79-yard punt return on Tasker's special day. Buffalo's defense and special teams played well. The Bills offense, however, had only 209 total yards. Quarterback J.P. Losman threw for less than 100 yards, as the Bills passing game really never got off the ground. Tough loss for Buffalo, as they led for the majority of the game. It's uncertain how the Bills will react to the Kevin Everett situation. They've got the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday. An 0-2 start could be disastrous in the crowded AFC.
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19 Packers 22 (+3) 19/22 Brett Favre tied John Elway's record for most career wins as a quarterback (148) in Green Bay's 16-13 victory over Philadelphia. The Packers punt coverage unit was superb, recovering two botched Eagles punt returns. The Packers D held Philadelphia to 283 yards, with Donovan McNabb completing only 45.5 percent of his passes. Green Bay has won five straight games dating back to last season. The Pack travel to New York for a battle with the Giants next weekend. Brett Favre won't be giving any sacks to Michael Strahan this time around.
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20 Vikings 27 (+7) 20/27 The Vikings defense put on quite a show against the Falcons Sunday in Minneapolis. Leslie Frazier's unit gave up only 265 yards, scored two defensive touchdowns, had six sacks, and grabbed two interceptions. Complete dominance. On offense, Adrian Peterson ripped off 163 total yards and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson played well enough in his third career start. The Vikings could end up being a lot better than expected in 2007. With arguably the best offensive and defensive lines in football, they might very well be NFC playoff sleepers.
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21 Eagles 11 (-10) 11/21 Donovan McNabb completed less than 50 percent of his passes, as the Eagles suffered through a turnover-plagued loss to the Packers. Punt return men J.R. Reed and Greg Lewis each muffed returns, with Lewis' resulting in a Packers touchdown. Philadelphia, everybody's preseason NFC East champion picks, could be 0-2 with a loss to Washington on Sunday.
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22 Rams 17 (-5) 17/22 Steven Jackson didn't take a snap all preseason. Some would say the decision backfired on Sunday, when the 2006 Pro Bowl running back fumbled balls on consecutive carries in the third quarter. The two fumbles matched Jackson's total for ALL of last season. Jackson only had 58 yards on 18 carries; only one catch for 3 yards. On top of the 27-13 defeat, St. Louis also lost seven-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Pace for the year to an injured shoulder. Much was made of the revamped St. Louis defense over the summer. The unit gave up 27 points, 186 yards on the ground, and 20 Carolina first downs. St. Louis was a big sleeper pick this summer. They were outclassed by Carolina on both sides of the ball Sunday.
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23 Cardinals 20 (-3) 20/23 Wild finish in San Francisco late Monday evening/early Tuesday morning. Ken Whisenhunt’s first game as coach of the Cardinals came right down to the final whistle, ending with the rival Niners on top 20-17. Matt Leinart struggled throughout the evening, going 14-for-28, for only 102 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. There was improvement in the run game (Edgerrin James ran for 92 yards), though, and solid play out of the defense for Arizona. Although the Cards came up just short in the end, there's definite reason for optimism in Phoenix. Arizona looked much better Monday evening than they looked for the majority of the '06 season.
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24 Redskins 23 (-1) 23/24 Clinton Portis ran for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Antwaan Randle El hauled in five balls for 152 yards in the Redskins' 16-13 opening weekend victory over Miami. So, maybe the Washington offense is finally digesting Al Saunders' 800-page playbook? Well, it's only been one week, but the Redskins' offense looked as good as it did at any point all of last season. The defense? Well, if Sunday was any indication, it's night and day from 2006. Washington held Miami to 66 rushing yards and 13 points. London Fletcher led the way with 11 tackles in his Redskins debut. What did Mr. Portis have to say after the game? "It don't shut them up, we need the doomsayers. We don't need nobody to jump on our bandwagon." Portis said that? Sounds about right.
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25 Giants 19 (-6) 19/25 The only thing worse than Britney Spears’ performance on Sunday night was the display of ineptitude the Giants defense put on. Like Britney, the D looked blurred and unprepared from start to finish. To be certain, it was a tough start to the season for Giants fans. Aside from the constant mentions of Tiki Barber’s name throughout the NBC telecast and injuries to team leaders Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, and Osi Umenyiora, the once-proud Big Blue defense got absolutely lit up by the rival Cowboys. The New York D gave up 45 points and 477 yards, with 345 of them coming through the air. As for Tiki? Well, Derrick Ward looked just fine in relief of the injured Brandon Jacobs. As any Giants fan will tell you — no more Tiki Barber talk, please. He's not coming back. So what's the point?
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26 Lions 24 (-2) 24/26 Year two of the Mike Martz era started off with some offensive fireworks in Oakland on Sunday. The Lions offense tallied 392 yards, put 36 points on the scoreboard, and moved only nine games within Jon Kitna's off-season prediction of 10 victories. Detroit's defense held its own, despite a mid-game, 17-point lapse. As for Kitna? He told reporters after the game, "In the fourth quarter, when it got loud, we didn't blink. We kept executing and doing what we needed to do." The Vikings have one of the top defensive units in the entire league. They travel to Detroit for an old fashioned NFC North battle on Sunday. Just how good is that Lions offense? We should have a better idea after Sunday.
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27 Chiefs 18 (-9) 18/27 Anyone who watched HBO's "Hard Knocks" series knew the Chiefs' offense was in some serious trouble this season. But no one expected them to be this bad. Sunday's performance was atrocious. The Chiefs offense went 3-for-11 on third downs, totaled only 219 yards, and coughed up four turnovers. Larry Johnson only rushed for 43 yards, as the Houston defense kept him bottled up throughout Sunday's 20-3 loss. Kansas City could quite possibly have the worst offense in the entire league.
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28 Dolphins 29 (+1) 28/29 The Dolphins dropped a tough one in Washington on Sunday. Miami's offense sputtered. There were numerous false starts, a slew of dropped passes, and some really curious management of time outs. Ronnie Brown ran for only 32 yards and Jesse Chatman managed just 15 yards on seven carries. Cam Cameron's been hyped as an offensive mastermind. There was nothing masterful whatsoever about Sunday's performance against the Redskins.
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29 Raiders 32 (+3) 29/32 The Raiders featured one of the worst offensive units in league history last season. This year's 11 look far superior. On Sunday, Oakland put up 375 yards, scored 21 points, and kept the Raiders in the game late into the fourth quarter against the Lions. In the end, the Silver and Black came up a bit short, despite a 30-for-40 passing performance from quarterback Josh McCown. At the very least, the Raiders will be watchable this season. They may not win many games, but they won't cause you to change the channel when they're on offense.
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30 Buccaneers 30 - 30/30 Injuries and inconsistency plagued the Buccaneers in their season opener, losing 20-6 in Seattle on Sunday. Both running back Cadillac Williams and quarterback Jeff Garcia were knocked out of the game and banged up. The Bucs offense looked mediocre; the defense spotty. Tampa Bay went 4-12 last season. If they're to improve in '07, they'll need steadier production than they got on Sunday from both sides of the ball.
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31 Falcons 28 (-3) 28/31 The start of the Joey Harrington era in Atlanta was anything but pretty. The Minnesota defense manhandled the Falcons offense, as the season opener was never really in question. Harrington was under pressure the entire game, throwing two interceptions that were each returned for touchdowns. It could be a long, long year for Falcons fans.
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32 Browns 31 (-1) 31/32 New running back, new tackle, new left guard, and a new defensive backfield. Same old terrible Browns. There was likely no more demoralizing start to a season than the one the Browns endured Sunday against Pittsburgh at home. Cleveland had five turnovers and allowed six sacks, never standing a chance in a 34-7 loss to the Steelers. Charlie Frye struggled, Derek Anderson didn't look much better, and Brady Quinn manned the clipboard. It doesn't get much easier. The Browns face the interstate rival Bengals next weekend.
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