We are now eight weeks into the 2010 NFL season, here are some second quarter thoughts from my scatterbrained mind.
The Winners
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In a division that used to belong solely to the New Orleans Saints, the Bucs seem to be making a big splash. Despite being in second place in the NFC South, Tampa Bay is tied for the NFC’s best record at 5-2, and doing it with pure heart. Baby face coach Raheem Morris claimed that he had the best team in the NFC while talking at his pregame presser this past Sunday, and even though their depth chart is compiled of rookies and rejects, they have been proving it on the field. The Atlanta Falcons have been the best team in that division all year, but the scrappy Bucs aren’t going away any time soon. On defense, they are led by one of our generation’s most consistent corner backs in Ronde Barber as well as one of the game’s up and coming stars, Aqib Talib. Oh yeah, and don’t think we’ve forgotten about defensive end Stylez G White. With the emergence of LeGarrette Blount as his featured back and a wide receiving corps consisting of Mike Williams and Michael Spurlock, second year quarterback Josh Johnson is quietly leading his team to a possible post season berth.
New England Patriots
I think an overwhelming majority of NFL fans would admit they really don’t like the New England Patriots. It’s hard to like a coach like Bill Belichick, one who likes to make questionable 4th down calls and win Super Bowls in convincing fashion. Tom Brady? Who likes that guy? Spygate didn’t help either. However, what the Pats have always been particularly good at is winning as a team. Even if they don’t have the most talented group of players, they seem to win big games. The Pats go into Week 9 having won five games in a row, the longest winning streak in the NFL right now, and lead their division with the NFL’s best record at 6-1. Sure, their win over Buffalo was scary close, and they won back to back games by a total of only six points, but wins are wins, and the Pats know how to do it, even without Randy Moss.
Danny Woodhead
He’s more than likely going to be the smallest player on the field every time, but after the Jets cut Danny Woodhead, it was the Patriots who gave the scrappy running back a chance to shine.; and that’s just what he’s done. Bill Belichick has found ways to use him in four wide sets as a wide receiver, I-Form sets as the featured back and even in bunch formations as a screen option. Belichick has allowed Woodhead to become an integral part of the Pats’ goal line offense this season. He has 36 rushes on the season for 178 yards and two touchdowns, which puts his yards per carry at an impressive 4.9. He also has 14 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown. Maybe it’s because he’s taking his release from the Jets personally, or maybe he just fits well into New England’s system, but either way Danny Woodhead is making the most of his playing time and leaving Jets management scratching their heads.
Brandon Lloyd fantasy owners
Brandon Lloyd has been probably the most lethal albeit quiet fantasy threat all season so far. Lloyd, who has been with four different teams over a seven year career, has never really been featured as a team’s top receiving threat, having posted 500 receiving yards or more in only two seasons. This year, however, as the Broncos’ number one guy, he’s amassed 878 receiving yards in just eight games thus far, which is first in the NFL, along with four touchdowns. He is also averaging 109.8 receiving yards per game which is absolutely astounding, even for a receiver in a pass heavy offense. He’s certainly worked for his catches as well, pulling in tough grab after tough grab each week. Anyone who was lucky enough to pick Brandon Lloyd up off waivers within the first week or two of the season certainly found a diamond in the rough.
The Losers
Dallas Cowboys
Things just keep getting worse for America’s team these days. They started out the season 1-3 before going into an early Week 4 bye. Most analysts agreed that Dallas would pull out of it, especially coming out of a bye week. That hasn’t been the case. Embarrassing losses to both Tennessee and Minnesota put any chance of this team making a playoff run in serious doubt. And whatever doubt was there was washed away after Tony Romo broke his clavicle in Week 7 against the Giants. Jon Kitna will be taking the reins of this pitiful team from here on out, so it looks like Dallas fans will have to just hope for the best next season. Who knows? It might turn out to be a blessing in disguise if it means Wade Phillips loses his job.
Brett Favre
Let me preface this by saying that I absolutely hate Brett Favre. Before you read on, I feel it’s important to know that I am completely biased because, to be honest, I think the guy is nothing short of a cry baby and an idiot. He screwed with fans’ heads during three consecutive off seasons and sucked up every piece of media attention he possibly could. I don’t care about his statistics, and I don’t care about his jean commercials. All I want is for him to retire. He isn’t just a loser because of the fact that he’s a complete imbecile, and it’s not only because I hate him. It’s because once again he acts like a complete media whore and fails to do anything positive on the field with his team. Just watching him, anyone can see that his time is up for good. I just hope for the sake of all our summers that this time he actually retires.
Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan has long been the enemy of many fantasy owners, such as me. The guy loves multiple back systems, which often doesn’t help teams who own his running backs (ie: the year I drafted Tatum Bell only to see Mike Bell receive all the red zone touches). This time around though, I’m giving him flack for the way he’s handled two specific situations on his team. First, I think he has straight up alienated Albert Haynesworth by putting him through hell in the off season with physicals and then utilizing him the wrong way in their defensive scheme. Something has got to change or else Haynesworth is going to be out of there before they know it. And, secondly, if Shanahan places such a high importance on physical fitness, why did he pull Donovan McNabb last week and replace him with Rex Grossman during their two minute drill, citing McNabb’s lack of physical fitness as a reason? I think it’s completely and utterly ridiculous that he could even think of benching McNabb for a two minute drill like that; and of all people to replace him with, Rex Grossman? I always love a Sexy Rexy sighting, but really? Shanahan has always been known as a coach who has a revolving door of quarterbacks, and this is just his latest way of embarrassing his players. What is he going to have JaMarcus Russell try out next or something? Oh wait…
Most Impressive Single Game Performance (player)
Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans
7 receptions, 225 yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
16 rushes, 165 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 2 receptions, 31 yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Most Impressive Single Game Performance (team)
Oakland Raiders, 59 points scored, 8 touchdowns (five rushing, two passing, one defensive) (vs. Denver Broncos)
Power Rankings
1. New England Patriots (6-1)
2. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
4. New York Jets (5-2)
5. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)
6. Atlanta Falcons (5-2)
7. New York Giants (5-2)
8. Green Bay Packers (5-3)
9. Tennessee Titans (5-3)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-3)
11. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)
14. Houston Texans (4-3)
15. Miami Dolphins (4-3)
16. Oakland Raiders (4-4)
17. Chicago Bears (4-3)
18. Washington Redskins (4-4)
19. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)
20. St. Louis Rams (4-4)
21. Seattle Seahawks (4-3)
22. San Diego Chargers (3-5)
23. Minnesota Vikings (2-5)
24. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
25. Cleveland Browns (2-5)
26. Cincinnati Bengals (2-5)
27. Detroit Lions (2-5)
28. Denver Broncos (2-6)
29. Dallas Cowboys (1-6)
30. San Francisco 49ers (2-6)
31. Carolina Panthers (1-6)
32. Buffalo Bills (0-7)
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