Lions 31-41 Bills
Fun one. The Bills were up 21-0 almost instantly, pretty even match from that point on. The Lions started slow, got no lucky breaks and while they were never really in the game, they did pile up some points and moved the ball with confidence. The Bills defense isn't wowing anyone, feels like the Bills have finally figured out that their success is built on scoring every time they touch the ball.
Vikings 9-3 Bears
Fun game (if you like slop). Neither team could move the ball at all in the misty muddy conditions. Just as the Bears were about the stick in the TD that surely would've sealed the victory, QB Williams pulled up lame. Looked bad at first, then not quite as bad on replay, now everyone is clowning on him because it seems like he'll be back in Week Three, when he was hang-dogging like his career was over on the sideline. Anyway, both of these squads were on the 2nd string QBs by the end and neither team could do anything anyway. Weird game, one of those you just chalk up to weirdness and move on.
Bengals 20-6 Texans
I dunno, man, I was not impressed with anything the Texans were doing in this game. The D looked flat and backpedaling, the offense couldn't move forward at all. Everyone is blaming QB Stroud, but I don't think so. I think the O-line is not good, the WRs are kinda terrible, the running game is non-existent and the defense everyone was raving about isn't getting stops. You can blame the QB if you want, but I don't think its him. It could be the Bengals defensive Renaissance is for real (meh, maybe) or that the Bengal attack is back on track (the passing game is humming right now), and maybe the Bengals are gonna be for-real dangerous this season (could be). But I think this game was really more about everything going wrong in Houston and that is EVERYTHING (except the QB that is taking all the blame).
Colts 30-33 (OT) Chiefs
The Colts had a 4th down call late in the game that ended up in a penalty, so they kicked the tying FG in OT and then let the Chiefs come back and win the game. This was the controversial moment of the game but my quibble wasn't the 4th down FG itself, it was the first three downs they squandered. In that position, I would've wanted only a TD, a tie is of little use if you're gonna hand the ball back to QB Mahomes. So it was 4-down territory the whole time and they farted around on the first two downs, scrambled on 3rd down, got stuck with a 4th and long and basically had to kick the FG, which was just giving the game away at that point. It wasn't the 4th down, it was the 1st and 2nd downs that were wasted. Not sure what the Colts are (this is, like, the 5th year in a row that I don't understand what the Colts are), while the Chiefs seem better than last year (but not exactly vintage).
The rest of the slate:
Panthers 34-3 Falcons
The Panthers offense looks pretty damn good. Sup wit dat?
Eagles 24-20 Titans
Eagles had to steal the W, not a good sign, but they did get the W, so what do you want? The Titans are gonna be looking at drafting another QB next spring, I'm guessing.
Steelers 3-20 Patriots
The Pats don't look very good, the Steelers look bloody awful.
Packers 20-17 (OT) Jets
Two ugly teams getting ugly together. NYJ probably should've taken this but no one is surprised they didn't. The Packers got lucky (and no one is surprised about that either).
Browns 23-19 Bucs
To be fair, this game had a weird rain delay deep into the 4th quarter that interrupted what could (should?) have been the game-winning drive for the Bucs. That said, they shouldn't have let it get to that point. The Bucs are 0-2 and I thought they were the better team in both games.....is this a fixable problem or are they already cooked? As for the Browns, kinda thought the Deahsun Watson experience would've been over by now, but he just got a W on the road, so....can't stop now.
Saints 24-17 Ravens
Listen: more than any team in all of sports, the Saints do NOT tank, they are not out there trying to lose--indeed, they're trying to win the Super Bowl every damn Sunday no matter how sorry their roster is. So, while it is sad to see them spin their wheels at times, it is heartening to watch their never-say-die-ness go into a place like Baltimore and steal a W. Are the Saints good? Probably not, but they don't roll over, you have to beat them to get the W. As for the Ravens, I mean they've been like this for more than a decade now, right? Just when you think it is their time and they're going to dominate, they lose at home to the Saints. (Likewise, every time you're ready to give up on them, they go on a run) Up-down is just who the Ravens are.
Jaguars 13-20 Broncos
Seemed like the Jags had this one, then the Broncos stole it late. I think both of these teams are going to be good and this is probably the correct outcome.
Raiders 26-14 Chargers
Another sluggish performance (on both sides of the ball) from the Chargers, so, uh, wtf, guys? What is going on in LA? As for the Raiders, they look frisky, they look loose and it looks like it might be a while before we see their rookie QB. Chargers need to figure it out pronto.
Commanders 20-37 Cowboys
Yeah, division game. Commander QB Daniels hurt his elbow (yowza, a gnarly highlight) and that was pretty much it for the Commanders. The Cowboys looked better than last week but division games are always weird. Not looking good for the Commanders (it's Mariota time!), not sure yet about the Cowboys.
Seahawks 31-7 Cards
The Cards looked pretty good at the Chargers last week, not so much against the Seahawks (with a backup QB), who were clearly in no mood to mess around. I think the Cards are not particularly good but I think they're gonna be scrappy. The Seahawks look good and they look no-nonsense (don't mess with these dudes).
Dolphins 13-35 Niners
*yawn* Yeah, the Dolphins.
Giants 6-28 Rams
And here it is: Giants QB Dart got hurt, looks to be out for several weeks. Okay in last week's post I pointed out that while no one really thought much of NYG coming into this season that pessimism was based on the fact that we all knew Dart was going to get hurt eventually. We were all shocked the Giants stuffed the Cowboys last week, but they were healthy. Now they are no longer healthy. And the Rams finally looked like what we thought the Rams were gonna be.
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