Week 3 Rants

For better or worse, I had a full docket of games this weekend, and even better (or worse) I had cable the whole weekend. That meant i got to watch five games, and was reassured that I have no idea what’s going on in the NFL. Let’s look at the games.

I was given a treat with the televising of my home teams’ game. Well, not so much a treat as a three hour waste of an early afternoon. It was the only game on early, and while it was competetive, it wasn’t exactly entertaining. There was a lot of running for half a yard per carry (my marathon training regimen, by the way) and prancing around by guys like Brian Urlacher and Pat Williams, which is generally not pretty. Two points about the Vikings after watching this game. First, they have a good defense. At first I was skeptical, since they only beat the Redskins and an impotent Panthers squad (whereas Steve Smith makes Carolina, well, not impotent), and I remain so, but they held an offense that has scored a lot of points (albeit against the Lions and Packers) to nineteen, which was thanks in large part to one late drive with one big play to finish off the drive. The Vikings won’t really get a test next week either. Secondly, has anyone seen the Vikings offense? Anyone? Ryan Longwell and Rex Grossman have thrown as many touchdowns for the Vikings as Brad Johnson. And I’m tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns. I suspect the Vikes may find some offense in Buffalo.

I was surprised at how entertaining the Ravens-Browns game was, especially since fewer points were scored than in the Vikings game, and you know, the Browns were involved. It just goes to show you how exciting a game can be when you have a raucous crowd and one team is totally hated by the crowd. You have to give it a hand to Cleveland for being so devoted to such a crummy team. But they do have some talent. I was impressed by Corporal Kellen Winslow Jr. and Charlie Frye, if nothing else, is not in Tim Couch territory, and bordering on Bernie Kosar popularity. But really, everyone and their mother knew the Ravens were going to pull this game off. I don’t know what to think about either of these teams, but maybe Cleveland is better than I give them credit for. Or the Ravens suck.

The Giants were just… ugh. While Eli Manning may have more physical talent than his older brother, he reads defenses like he’s dyslexic. I don’t feel bad for him though, because seriously, who turns down a life in San Diego to live in New York in the winter? Hell, Peyton is happy in Indianapolis, and let me tell you, Indy is no San Diego. Anyways, with Eli, Amani, Tiki and Plaxico, I think they are one more goofy name ending in a vowel away from competing. Jerricho Cotchery, anyone?

So, funny story about Sunday night. The Patriots were good enough to make Jake Plummer adequate. See, the Patriots could actually penetrate and make him move around, and lo and behold, Plummer could complete passes and not do something stupid. That’s what happens when you go to Arizona State. Any thinking is counterproductive. In any case, when he’s just trying to get the ball off, he’s much more effective. And Tom Brady is human! Take that, Boston! See, he’s pouting because Deion Branch is gone, and he loses some of his swagger when he’s not surrounded by incredibly talented mates. The defense isn’t as good, and the offense features a rookie tailback and Reche Caldwell. So there you have it, Tom Brady isn’t immortal.
Two other things that bugged me. First, why does the field have a razor, not even like, a Mach 3, with lightning bolts on it? It looks ridiculous, but nobody says anything about it. Is it like, say, the Fleet Center with it’s Parquet floors? After a while, people just say, it’s a goofy way to do it, but what the hell. By now it’s tradition! Way to give Boston a bigger head, America. The second thing that bugged me was Patrick “up” Chukwarah’s little onfield ‘incident’. It’s not so much that he puked and then blitzed the quarterback, that’s just downright hardcore. The thing that bugged me was that they showed a slow motion replay of him yakking. Must See TV indeed.

Last night’s game was inspirational. It’s almost unfair for the Falcons to have to go in there and know that the Saints were going to play the most intense games of their lives. You really can’t analyze this game logically. Most of the time, players are playing for themselves, for money, but this time, the Saints were actually playing for their city. I have no snide remarks, and I’ll just say kudos to the Saints and best of luck to New Orleans. – Ryan