Welcome
to my first Weekly Update on POINT AFTER with THE PITTMAN. A lot of
things happened in the first week of the 2014 NFL Season and I'd like
to discuss a few of the things that I found interesting, starting
with last Thursday's season opener in Seattle.
GREEN
BAY 16 SEATTLE 36
Every year since 2004, the defending Super Bowl Champions have kicked off the season on Thursday night. From 2004-2011, the defending Champs were a combined 8-0 in opening games, but over the last two years, the reigning Champions are 0-2, including last season when the Baltimore Ravens were dismantled by Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, 49-27. Last Thursday night in Seattle, the Seahawks quickly showed why they not only won last year's Super Bowl, but also why they appear to be even better this year than the team that captured the Lombardi Trophy just 8 months ago. Seattle running back, Marshawn Lynch, ran for 110 yards plus 2 touchdowns, while rising quarterback, Russell Wilson, added another 2 touchdowns through the air. The Seahawks defense, affectionately known as “The Legion of Boom,” completely dominated Aaron Rodgers and the entire Packers offense.
Every year since 2004, the defending Super Bowl Champions have kicked off the season on Thursday night. From 2004-2011, the defending Champs were a combined 8-0 in opening games, but over the last two years, the reigning Champions are 0-2, including last season when the Baltimore Ravens were dismantled by Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, 49-27. Last Thursday night in Seattle, the Seahawks quickly showed why they not only won last year's Super Bowl, but also why they appear to be even better this year than the team that captured the Lombardi Trophy just 8 months ago. Seattle running back, Marshawn Lynch, ran for 110 yards plus 2 touchdowns, while rising quarterback, Russell Wilson, added another 2 touchdowns through the air. The Seahawks defense, affectionately known as “The Legion of Boom,” completely dominated Aaron Rodgers and the entire Packers offense.
NEW
ORLEANS 34
ATLANTA 37
(F/OT)
The highest scoring, and possibly the most entertaining, game of Week 1 took place between the New Orleans and Atlanta Falcons. While the 2 quarterbacks for each team, Drew Brees for the Saints and Matt Ryan for the Falcons, threw for a combined 781 yards and 4 touchdowns, the hero of the game had to be Atlanta placekicker, Matt Bryant. First, with the Falcons trailing 34-31, Bryant nailed a 51-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime. Then, after New Orleans wide receiver, Marques Colston, fumbled the ball on the Saints second play in OT, Bryant connected on a 52-yard field goal to give Atlanta the victory, 37-34.
The highest scoring, and possibly the most entertaining, game of Week 1 took place between the New Orleans and Atlanta Falcons. While the 2 quarterbacks for each team, Drew Brees for the Saints and Matt Ryan for the Falcons, threw for a combined 781 yards and 4 touchdowns, the hero of the game had to be Atlanta placekicker, Matt Bryant. First, with the Falcons trailing 34-31, Bryant nailed a 51-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime. Then, after New Orleans wide receiver, Marques Colston, fumbled the ball on the Saints second play in OT, Bryant connected on a 52-yard field goal to give Atlanta the victory, 37-34.
CLEVELAND
27
PITTSBURGH 30
Before I get to what happened in the game between the Browns and Steelers, I'd like to share with you a fun new drinking game I came up with for you and your friends to play the next time you're watching a Cleveland game. The object of the game is simple. Every time they either show or talk about Browns BACK-UP quarterback, Johnny Manziel, you have to take a drink. If you would have played this revolutionary drinking game during Sunday's Browns game, you would have been 3 sheets to the wind before the 2 minute warning OF THE FIRST HALF!!!! As for the game, it was a tale of 2 halves. The first half saw the Steelers offense, led by quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, jump out to a 27-3 lead. While the second half featured Browns quarterback, Brian Hoyer, leading a no-huddle offense, which scored 24 straight points, to tie the game at 27-27 late in the 4TH quarter. After forcing a Cleveland punt, something that only happened twice in the second half, Pittsburgh got the ball at their own 43 yardline with just 43 seconds to go. After moving to the Browns 44 yardline, Roethlisberger found second year wide receiver, Markus Wheaton, for a 20-yard gain to the Cleveland 24 yardline. Following a quick spike of the ball, Steelers placekicker, Shaun Suisham, drilled a 41-yard field goal to propel Pittsburgh to their first opening game victory since 2010. Although the Browns weren't able to complete the comeback with a win, it's obvious that Cleveland is no longer a doormat of the NFL. Yes, even without Johnny Manziel as the starting quarterback.
Before I get to what happened in the game between the Browns and Steelers, I'd like to share with you a fun new drinking game I came up with for you and your friends to play the next time you're watching a Cleveland game. The object of the game is simple. Every time they either show or talk about Browns BACK-UP quarterback, Johnny Manziel, you have to take a drink. If you would have played this revolutionary drinking game during Sunday's Browns game, you would have been 3 sheets to the wind before the 2 minute warning OF THE FIRST HALF!!!! As for the game, it was a tale of 2 halves. The first half saw the Steelers offense, led by quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, jump out to a 27-3 lead. While the second half featured Browns quarterback, Brian Hoyer, leading a no-huddle offense, which scored 24 straight points, to tie the game at 27-27 late in the 4TH quarter. After forcing a Cleveland punt, something that only happened twice in the second half, Pittsburgh got the ball at their own 43 yardline with just 43 seconds to go. After moving to the Browns 44 yardline, Roethlisberger found second year wide receiver, Markus Wheaton, for a 20-yard gain to the Cleveland 24 yardline. Following a quick spike of the ball, Steelers placekicker, Shaun Suisham, drilled a 41-yard field goal to propel Pittsburgh to their first opening game victory since 2010. Although the Browns weren't able to complete the comeback with a win, it's obvious that Cleveland is no longer a doormat of the NFL. Yes, even without Johnny Manziel as the starting quarterback.
JACKSONVILLE
17
PHILADELPHIA 34
Another game that saw the 2 teams switch rolls after halftime was the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Philadelphia Eagles. Led by rookie wide receiver, Allen Hurns, the Jags jumped out to a 17-0 first half lead. Then, just as “Fire Chip Kelly” websites began popping up all over the internet, the Eagles started playing like the team many expected, scoring 34 unanswered points, and the Jags started playing like, well, the Jags. Amazingly, all of those “Fire Chip Kelly” sites began being replaced by “Chip Kelly for President” ones.
Another game that saw the 2 teams switch rolls after halftime was the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Philadelphia Eagles. Led by rookie wide receiver, Allen Hurns, the Jags jumped out to a 17-0 first half lead. Then, just as “Fire Chip Kelly” websites began popping up all over the internet, the Eagles started playing like the team many expected, scoring 34 unanswered points, and the Jags started playing like, well, the Jags. Amazingly, all of those “Fire Chip Kelly” sites began being replaced by “Chip Kelly for President” ones.
SAN
FRANCISCO 28
DALLAS 17
One of the biggest topics entering the 2014 NFL Season, at least as far as the Cowboys, was how bad will the Dallas defense be following one of the worst statistical seasons in history. If you simply looked at the score, you would think that the Cowboys defense played poorly in San Francisco's 28-17 victory, but that's why the final score doesn't always tell the whole story. The Cowboys offense, namely quarterback, Tony Romo's careless turnovers, and not the Dallas defense, were the main reasons for the lopsided score. All 3 of Tony Romo's first half interceptions illustrated why I have come to refer the Dallas quarterback as Tony OhNo.
One of the biggest topics entering the 2014 NFL Season, at least as far as the Cowboys, was how bad will the Dallas defense be following one of the worst statistical seasons in history. If you simply looked at the score, you would think that the Cowboys defense played poorly in San Francisco's 28-17 victory, but that's why the final score doesn't always tell the whole story. The Cowboys offense, namely quarterback, Tony Romo's careless turnovers, and not the Dallas defense, were the main reasons for the lopsided score. All 3 of Tony Romo's first half interceptions illustrated why I have come to refer the Dallas quarterback as Tony OhNo.
INDIANAPOLIS
24
DENVER 31
Perhaps aside from the Packers at Seahawks game, the marquee match-up of Week 1 was Andrew Luck and the up-start Indianapolis Colts traveling to Denver to battle Peyton Manning and the defending AFC Champion Broncos. Continuing with the Week 1 theme of one team jumping out to a big lead, Manning and the Denver offense cruised to a 24-7 halftime score. Then, all of a sudden, it was like the 2 teams swapped jerseys at halftime. After outscoring the Broncos 17-7 in the second half, the Colts trailed 31-24 when the Indy offense got the ball with just under 3 minutes remaining in regulation. It looked like the Colts had all of the momentum, but then Indy's Luck ran out when a 4TH down pass intended for wide receiver, Reggie Wayne, fell incomplete, securing the Broncos win.
Perhaps aside from the Packers at Seahawks game, the marquee match-up of Week 1 was Andrew Luck and the up-start Indianapolis Colts traveling to Denver to battle Peyton Manning and the defending AFC Champion Broncos. Continuing with the Week 1 theme of one team jumping out to a big lead, Manning and the Denver offense cruised to a 24-7 halftime score. Then, all of a sudden, it was like the 2 teams swapped jerseys at halftime. After outscoring the Broncos 17-7 in the second half, the Colts trailed 31-24 when the Indy offense got the ball with just under 3 minutes remaining in regulation. It looked like the Colts had all of the momentum, but then Indy's Luck ran out when a 4TH down pass intended for wide receiver, Reggie Wayne, fell incomplete, securing the Broncos win.
That
about does it for Week 1 of the 2014 NFL Season. Sure there were 2
games played on Monday night that I didn't cover, but do I really
need to tell you about how Eli Manning and the Giants offense came up
small against the Detroit Lions? And is it really necessary for me
to discuss the Arizona Cardinals 18-17 yawn-fest victory over the San
Diego Chargers? I didn't think so. Until next week....
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