Week One Recap

I have to admit, there is something about the NFL that just get the blood pumping.  The first weekend of action had many games where you couldn’t take your eyes off the screen.  This week’s All Out Blitz recaps the highlights of week one. 

 The quarterbacks in the Philadelphia-Carolina game both had lousy finishes.  Donovan McNabb suffered broken ribs while running into the end zone midway through the fourth quarter of a game they were winning 31-10.  Why would you have your QB running at that point in the game?  Sure, the hit was a bit late but the game was over, don’t put your quarterback in harm’s way.  Eagles head coach Andy Reid states that he thinks McNabb can play this week, but Kevin Kolb will take most of the reps in practice and the Eagles signed QB Jeff Garcia on Monday. Garcia was released by Oakland this preseason and played for the Eagles in 2006, so he does know the system.  Jake Delhomme was a different story.  He was just terrible on Sunday.  Four interceptions and a lost fumble will lead to a lot of discussion about replacing him as starter for this week’s game versus Atlanta.  This was a continuation of the playoff game that ended the Panthers season in 2008 where he also threw four interceptions.  Delhomme never had the greatest arm strength to begin with, but was always right on target with his throws.  If he can no longer be precise with his throws, than it may be time for him to go.  Problem is the Panthers gave him $20 million in guaranteed money this spring, so he may have a longer leash than he deserves.  The Panthers are hedging their bets however as they have signed AJ Feeley to put the pressure on Delhomme.

The Steelers may have won their opening game last Thursday, but if the offensive line doesn’t improve, not only won’t Willie Parker have any room to run, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger won’t make it through the season.  I know Ben is big and can take a hit, but you don’t want to be getting hit by 280-320 pound defensive players all that often.

Doesn’t surprise me one bit that the Dolphins offense was anemic on Sunday.  They have been trying all preseason to find a receiver to play opposite Ted Ginn.  Problem is Ginn is not a number one receiver.  He is more of a number two.  There just aren’t any playmakers in Miami.

I’m not sure which group of fans to talk off a ledge first, Cincinnati or Buffalo.  A fluke deflection led to Wide Receiver Brandon Stokely’s long game winning touchdown on Sunday, while Buffalo just choked and allowed two touchdowns in just over two minutes to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on Monday.  New England looked out of sync on offense all game before coming alive in the fourth quarter.  I guess Wes Welker is just fine as he caught 12 passes for 93 yards.  Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor handled the bulk of the running, although neither had a good game.  Taylor did get the ball at the goal line.  Terrell Owens only had two receptions for 46 yards, and just doesn’t look like the same player he used to be.

Brett Favre only had a little over 100 yards passing on Sunday.  Take this any way you want.  Were the Vikings protecting him?  Did they just decide not to pass because Adrian Peterson was able to beat the Browns all by himself?  I’m thinking a little of both.

Anthony Gonzalez suffered a sprained knee ligament and will miss the next 2-6 weeks.  As I’m writing this, there are rumors that the injury is much worse and he could be out longer.  Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon now move up the depth list.

If you drafted QB Drew Brees, you’re thrilled with his performance on Sunday.  If you drafted one of his receivers, you might be a little confused.  Sure, Brees and the Saints love to throw, but they spread the ball around so much, it’s hard to tell who is going to have the big game from week to week.

So much for the Cowboys becoming a run-first team as Tony Romo threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns against Tampa on Sunday.  Dallas is still a very dangerous passing team and without TO, Romo spreads the ball around, which could even make them more dangerous.

In the battle of rookie quarterbacks, the Jets Mark Sanchez clearly outplayed the Lions Matthew Stafford.  Sanchez looked poised and in control of the Jets offense as they upset the Texans, while Stafford had a rough day against the Saints going 16-37 for 205 yards and three interceptions.  There had to be an extreme amount of pressure on Stafford as he had to know that the Saints were going to score quite a few points and it would be on him to keep pace with them.

 Memo to the Arizona Cardinals -  the season has started, time to show up and play.  Kurt Warner and the Cardinals offense had a rough preseason, and that continued on into week one.  Wide receiver Steve Breaston was a late scratch and Anquan Boldin is still not 100%, but that still doesn’t seem to be much of an excuse for a passing offense that should be able to score points almost at will.  The good news was that RB Tim Hightower was awesome in the passing game with 12 receptions for 121 yards, but only had 15 yards on eight rushes.  Chris Wells is sure to get more and more playing time if Hightower can’t improve upon those rushing totals.

The Rams really are as bad as we thought they were.  There just aren’t many threats on offense outside of RB Steven Jackson, and he can only do so much.  Why he wasn’t involved in the passing game yesterday is a big question.

What a terrible game for Chicago on Sunday.  Jay Cutler looked pretty bad and certainly not in sync with his receivers.  They lost the game late when it looked like they could win it.  Then they find out that All-Pro Linebacker Brian Urhlacher will be lost for the season with a dislocated right wrist.  Cutler should get better, although he has to realize his cannon for a right arm doesn’t mean he can throw off his back foot all the time.  The Bears might want to get back to what was so successful last season, getting the ball into Matt Forte’s hands.

This post was written by George Kurtz