2016 NFL Week Two

I watched Week Two from Wednesday to Saturday this past week.  There were some boring games, but there were also several games that I really enjoyed watching.  Here are my thoughts…

New York Jets 37, @ Buffalo Bills 31

• I saw parts of this game in the background as I had dinner at Red Robin with my wife, son, and some friends. I watched it again later on as I wrote this review.
• When I saw the game on a TV at Red Robin, I didn’t know who was playing. I couldn’t see the team names on the score line.  I could tell that the team wearing white was the Jets, but I could not tell who was wearing red.  I thought, “white helmets with a logo.  Red uniforms.    The Patriots are wearing their Pat Patriot throwbacks.  Wait – those uniforms had white pants.  Why are they wearing red pants?”  Then I saw the ball cross midfield on a punt, and I saw the Bills’ logo.  At that point I thought, “Those are the Bills?!??  Those uniforms look stupid!  Why are they wearing uniforms that resemble the 1980s Patriots?”  I want the Bills to go back to wearing their red helmet-blue jersey combo from the Marv Levy-Jim Kelly era.[1]
• When I watched this game again, I really enjoyed it. It was a fun back-and-forth battle.
• The Jets played a pretty good game and earned a nice divisional victory. Ryan Fitzpatrick played pretty well against his former team.[2]
• This was the first game so far this year (with an even amount of turnovers) where the team that had a lower Red Zone 3rd Down Conversion Rate ended up winning the game. New York was 0-for-2, while Buffalo was 1-for-1.
• New York running back Matt Forte had three rushing touchdowns, but the New York passing game set him up for all three runs. This was a genuine team effort, and I was impressed that New York pulled out the victory.

@ Carolina Panthers 46, San Francisco 49ers 27

• The referee was correct to overturn Carolina’s apparent touchdown in the first quarter. He only got one foot down.
• The Panthers so far seem to be a team that wears its opponents down. They aren’t flashy or explosive – instead, they keep coming at their opponents without slowing down.  Their opponents fatigue, but the Panthers do not – and the next thing you know, old Jed’s a millionaire the Panthers are ahead by two touchdowns with over 300 yards of offense, and you’re trying to figure out how.
• Ted Ginn’s reception near the sideline midway through the third quarter was correctly ruled a catch. The NFL has begun to overanalyze catch vs. no catch with great frequency, but thankfully they used their heads here.
• San Francisco showed a lot of fight in this game. Even making a game out of what started as a complete mess was impressive.

Baltimore Ravens 25, @ Cleveland Browns 20

• I’m glad that Cleveland’s first touchdown stood. I don’t know how anyone could say, “HIS TOE TOUCHED THE LINE!!!!!” when there was no camera angle whatsoever that could show us for sure.
• What a start by Cleveland to go up 20-0 early! They had a chance to make it 21-0, but Baltimore blocked the PAT and returned it all the way for two points.
• With 7:42 left in the third quarter, Baltimore caught a huge break. I don’t see how that was an illegal contact penalty on Joe Haden.  He was running downfield stride-for-stride with the receiver he was guarding.
• …but I loved how Haden intercepted Flacco in the end zone on THE VERY NEXT PLAY.
• With 3:33 left in the 3rd quarter, Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda and tackle Rick Wagner were penalized for a very obvious chop block. The announcer asked if all chop blocks were now illegal.  I rolled my eyes and said aloud, “They’ve been illegal for decades!!!!!”  Thankfully, the color commentator set the announcer straight on what a chop block actually is.[3]
• What exactly did Cleveland receiver Terrell Pryor do with 23 seconds left in the game to earn a taunting penalty? He tried to toss the ball to the side judge and accidentally hit his opponent in the shoulder pad instead.  HORRIBLE call by the head linesman to throw that flag.  Cleveland would have been down five and had 1st and 10 from just outside the Baltimore 10.  Instead, they had to go back to the 30 and try again.  On the very next play, the desperation pass was intercepted at the goal line.  That was quite a shame.

Tennessee Titans 16, @ Detroit Lions 15

• This game was a penalty-fest. It was pretty tough for me to enjoy this ugly game.  Here was the play sequence, starting with 1st and Goal for Detroit from the Tennessee 8, with 1:48 left in the second quarter, that illustrates how bad it got:
  • Theo Riddick three-yard run up the middle to the Tennessee 5.
  • Defensive pass interference, 1st and Goal for Detroit from the 1.
  • Offensive pass interference that nullified a touchdown, 1st and goal from the 11.
  • Offensive holding that nullified another touchdown, 1st and goal from the 21.
  • Offensive holding that nullified a 14-yard pass play, 1st and goal from the 26.
  • Two incomplete passes, a two-yard run up the middle on a head-scratching draw play that NEVER works, and a 42-yard field goal.
• 3rd Down Red Zone Conversion Rate did have a role in this game. Tennessee was 0-for-1, and Detroit was 0-for-2.[4]  Tennessee left four points on the table, while Detroit left eight.
• Some will criticize the officials for calling so many penalties, but I agreed with all but one of them. The offensive pass interference in the end zone on Detroit receiver Anquan “I Want to Be Traded because I Want All the Superstar Attention but Larry Fitzgerald Gets It Instead”[5] Boldin was the lone exception.  I didn’t agree with the call, but I didn’t disagree, either.  The lone camera angle that came on the replay was in a spot where I couldn’t see Boldin’s hands.[6]

@ Houston Texans 19, Kansas City Chiefs 12

• Great matchup. These look to be two complete teams[7] on both sides of the ball, and, of course, the Texans want to avenge last year’s embarrassing blowout loss in the Wild Card playoffs.
• Kansas City tight end Demetrius Harris made a play with 11:39 left in the second quarter that exposed how silly the catch/no catch/incomplete/fumble rule has become. It was initially ruled a fumble, but then, after review it was ruled an incomplete pass.  I fully understand Houston head coach Bill O’Brien’s frustration.  Harris, on the run, controlled Alex Smith’s pass with both hands, took two steps, started to go to the ground, got tackled by free safety Andre Hal, and lost the ball before hitting the ground.  Sounds like a fumble, right?  Not according to the NFL.  Since he “had no chance to protect himself,” he isn’t considered to have possession of the ball.  This is madness.  Did he control the ball?    Did he get two feet down?  Yes.  Did he lose possession of the ball after both of these conditions were met?  Yes.  Then that should be a fumble.  Period.
• Houston kicker Nick Novak’s field goal with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter to make the score 19-9 is the current leader for my just-created Ugliest Made Field Goal of the Year Award. Fortunately for Houston, football is not figure skating, so Artistic Merit has no bearing on the score.
• From the Why Do They Even Track This Stat Department, with this win, Houston now owns the longest active regular-season win streak in the league (five games). Kansas City’s last regular season loss was in Week Six last season.[8]
• Turnovers were the difference in this game, so the Red Zone 3rd Down Conversion Rate told a different story than who won the game. Here is the stat – Houston: 0-for-4, Kansas City: 0-for-2.  Translation:  Houston should have won comfortably instead of in a nail-biter.

@ New England Patriots 31, Miami Dolphins 24

• This was Week Two of the Ludicrous Tom Brady Banishment.
• I’m impressed that Miami even made a game out of this. When the score reached 24-0, I thought that New England was going to win by 40.  Then New England quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo got injured…

Dallas Cowboys 27, @ Washington Redskins 23

• Remember when this game was always hard-fought, competitive, and meaningful? If you were born after 1989, then you don’t.  Today’s game was a nice throwback.
• Dallas kicker Dan Bailey is ridiculously accurate. In his career, he has made 90.4% of his field goal attempts, with 23 of them being from 50 yards or more, and his career long being 56.
• Washington fans, coaches, and players will regret this loss. They had several chances to win this game.  No – scratch that.  They gave this game away.  They were pathetic in the Red Zone and threw a crucial interception that Dallas turned into the game-winning touchdown.

@ Arizona Cardinals 40, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7

• Talk about a statement game! Anyone else think that Arizona took out some frustrations from Week One?
• Arizona cornerback Patrick Petersen’s interception in the first quarter was a beauty. He stayed with the receiver – Mike Evans – stride for stride, then looked like he was the intended receiver when he ran the ball down to intercept it.
• This was a colossal beatdown, but Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer made some poor throws that concerned me. A more opportunistic defense could cause him some problems.

@ Los Angeles Rams 9, Seattle Seahawks 3

• It’s nice to have football back in Los Angeles, and it’s nice to see the Rams wearing the proper colors.[9] I wish they’d wear these uniforms for every home game.  They really pop in the sunshine.[10]
• I got goosebumps every time the camera shot looking toward the torch cauldron in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum popped up.
• The officials were correct to flag James Ogletree when he hit Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson with about three minutes left in the first quarter. Wilson was sliding and Ogletree could have avoided him.
• This was a gritty, grind-it-out win for LA. This was one of the few games I’ve enjoyed that never saw a touchdown.
• Seattle’s offensive line is cause for concern. They have trouble blocking.[11]

@ Denver Broncos 34, Indianapolis Colts 20

• Jim Nantz put the announcer hex on Denver kicker Dan McManus on the field goal attempt at the end of Denver’s first drive. As he lined up for a 54-yard attempt, Nantz was reciting stats to show how accurate he was from that distance last year.  Naturally, McManus missed.
• Huge props to Indianapolis left tackle Anthony Castonzo for throwing the crucial block on running back Robert Turbin’s rushing touchdown with 8:06 left in the third quarter.
• Denver cornerback Aqib Talib’s Pick Six was outstanding. It ranks as the best one of the young season so far.
• I loved Indianapolis running back Frank Gore’s “dance moves” to stay inbounds for his team’s last touchdown. Leif Garrett would have been proud.
• I like hearing referee Walt Coleman announce penalties. He reminds me of Boss Hogg from The Dukes of Hazzard television show, but with a higher pitched voice.
• The Indianapolis offensive line has to do a better job of protecting Andrew Luck when he drops back to pass. He is getting clobbered back there, and he cannot take this kind of punishment all season.

Atlanta Falcons 35, @ Oakland Raiders 28

• I don’t care if I’m in the minority here…I get a kick out of watching football games with the baseball infield dirt still there.[12]
• It will be a sad day when announcer Kevin Harlan retires. He’s one of the all-time greats.[13]  I love his descriptions and his passion – both in football and basketball.
• Oakland punter Marquette King booted a bomb ballistic missile on his first punt. It elicited a “Whoa!” from the announcing team.
• Great call by the officials to negate the Atlanta interception in the end zone with 7:54 left in the second. It was an obvious push.
• How crazy was Oakland cornerback David Amerson’s interception in the end zone with 9:30 left in the third quarter? He snatched that ball in the middle of traffic.  I was wowed.
• I’m not arguing the referee’s call…I’m just asking a question. When Oakland challenged the spot with 7:27 left in the third, how the heck could the referee determine the true spot from the replays?  I couldn’t see squat from the camera angles CBS showed.  Do the officials have angles that we can’t see?
• HUGE props to Atlanta for not only going for two when they scored a touchdown to go ahead with 3:42 left in the third, but for calling a good old-fashioned quarterback draw that NO ONE expected.[14]
• That was an entertaining final play by the Raiders, with all of those backward passes.
• What a fun game this was to watch!

@ San Diego Chargers 38, Jacksonville Jaguars 14

• Wow…San Diego took out all of its frustration from Week One’s blown game in Kansas City on poor Jacksonville, who came back to earth after its performance against Green Bay.
• What a great run after the catch by San Diego receiver Tyrell Williams with 10:55 left in the 3rd! He was bouncing off of guys and dragging guys en route to the end zone.  It brought back visions of Tom Rathman.

@ Minnesota Vikings 17, Green Bay Packers 14

• Minnesota’s new home looks great.
• When Green Bay blocked the punt with a little over eight minutes left in the first quarter, the Vikings’ poor punter got clobbered.
• Minnesota cornerback Terrance Newman needs to play pass defense without grabbing receivers. He got hit with pass interference and holding in rapid succession.
• Green Bay receiver Jordy Nelson is now the answer to a trivia question: “Who scored the first touchdown in U.S. Bank Stadium history?”
• And tight end Kyle Rudolph is the answer to who scored the first Minnesota touchdown.
• What a catch by Minnesota receiver Stefan Diggs with 2:03 left in the second!
• With 12:52 left in the fourth, look at the top of the screen as the 2nd down pass play by Green Bay ended with running back James Starks being pushed out of bounds. Minnesota cornerback Captain Munnerlyn ran into a cheerleader, then spun around her to catch her before she fell.  Quite impressive.
• Green Bay completely overreacted to Minnesota safety Andrew Sendejo’s hit on Aaron Rodgers’ touchdown run. Center JC Tretter COMPLETELY deserved the unsportsmanlike conduct flag.  Yes, a team is going to want to protect its quarterback.  Yes, Rodgers was in the end zone, but just barely.  It was not a cheap shot – it was a legitimate attempt to stop a score.[15]
• Minnesota cornerback Trae Waynes – after being picked on by Green Bay all day – had the last laugh with 1:50 left in the game as he made a crucial interception.
• What a great game! Great win by Minnesota, whose defense is terrifying, and will be even better once they hang on to interceptions are recover fumbles with greater frequency.  This, along with the Atlanta-Oakland game, was one of my two favorites of Week Two.

Philadelphia Eagles 29, @Chicago Bears 14

• Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz’s toughness in this game impressed me. He took several bone-jarring hits.
• I have to tip my hat to Chicago receiver Kevin White. With just under eight minutes left in the third quarter, he carried the ball on an end-around.  As he got near the line-to-gain, he was tackled, but as he neared the ground, he reached to get the ball past the first down marker.  I love that type of mental awareness.[16]
• Chicago was very careless with the ball. Sometimes, turnovers are forced by a tenacious defense.  Other times, the offense is careless, and an opportunistic defense takes advantage of the golden opportunities.  This game was the latter.
• Eddie Royal’s punt return for a touchdown with 5:09 left in the fourth was the highlight of the game for Chicago.
• With 4:49 left in the game, after Chicago had committed a silly offside penalty – on the play after a dead-ball personal foul penalty – one of the announcers said, “the Bears are not pleasing their coach right now.” Understatement of the day.  I wouldn’t be pleased either if my team was carelessly turning the ball over and committing dumb penalties.
• Poor Chicago was beaten up in this game. They lost four players due to injury.

On to Week Three.  I should be caught up to real-time by next weekend.

October 1, 2016, 7:30 pm MST

[1] Seriously – those uniforms looked SHARP.  They’re among my all-time favorites.

[2] I like seeing Fitzpatrick do well.  He and I are from the same town, and he went to elementary school with my younger brother.  From everything I’ve heard, he’s a VERY nice guy.

[3] A chop block is a two-man job, and it is a very dangerous play.  It is a type of block where one player is engaged with an opponent and his teammate hits that opponent below the waist.  Part of the confusion comes from the fact that so many coaches and players use the term incorrectly.  They call any block below the waist a “chop block” when it is actually a cut block, according to definitions in the rule book.  (They also call any block in the back a “clip” when in actuality a clip must be both from behind AND below the waist.)

[4] Detroit only ran one third down play from the red zone.  The other time, Detroit started in the red zone, but penalties backed them up out of the red zone before third down came up.

[5] Yes, I’m still bitter about this and probably always will be.  Larry Fitzgerald is one of the two best receivers of all time.  Of course he was going to get the Superstar Attention.  Despite that, Boldin was still going to get the ball thrown to him A LOT.

[6] Why didn’t CBS show a replay from the back right corner of the end zone, which was the same angle that the calling official had?  That would have been much more informative.  I find it hard to believe that in an era where there are almost two dozen camera angles in any telecast this camera angle did not exist.

[7] Notice that I said “look to be.”  It’s still early in the season, and we don’t have a big enough sample size to make definite statements about how good or bad teams are yet.

[8] I don’t know why this matters when neither team made the Super Bowl – or even made the conference championship game.

[9] Blue and yellow, not navy blue and dark gold.  They need to leave those uniforms in St. Louis.

[10] Plus…that’s how the Rams looked when I started watching football in the late 80s.

[11] That’s really bad when it’s their main job.

[12] You used to see this in September anytime the following teams were playing at home: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Redskins (in my lifetime, not until 2005, and for only three seasons, but that was a regular sight in the 60s and early 70s).  And, before my time, the Baltimore Colts and New York Jets.

[13] A great call from the third quarter, after a risky pass from Oakland quarterback David Carr fell incomplete, “Boy, there was a thicket of Falcons aaaaaaaaall over Crabtree…”

[14] If you’re wondering why no one expected it, it’s because Matt Ryan runs like a goose.

[15] Plus, Sendejo bounced off of Rodgers like a pebble bouncing off of a tank, which looked hilarious, and, at the same time, showed the toughness of Rodgers.

[16] The officials, however, gave him what I thought was a terrible spot, and gave Chicago 2nd and 1.