Now, let's take a look at what occur on the field in Week 2. The second week of the 2014 NFL Season could easily be referred to as, "Topsy-Turvy Week 2" since it seemed as though everything that happened was the total opposite of what many expected. We continue to hear how the NFL is all about the passing game now and the running game has pretty much become obsolete in today's game; however, for all of the talk about teams needing to throw the football in order to succeed, there were only two 300 yard passers Week 2, while 4 running backs eclipsed 100 yards. With that said, let's take a look at some of the games from Week 2, starting with last Thursday night's match-up between 2 AFC North rivals.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 6 BALTIMORE RAVENS 26
Typically when these 2 teams meet, the game isn't decided until late in the 4th quarter. In fact, the previous 5 contests between these 2 bitter rivals had been decided by 3 points or less. The only thing that wasn't decided late in the 4th quarter of Baltimore's 26-6 victory last Thursday was whether the Pittsburgh offense would be able to score a touchdown. The answer to that was a resounding, "NO!" After scoring 27 points in the first 2 quarters of the season, the Steelers have been outscored 50-9 since. While the Steelers offense has been poor over the last game and a half, the Pittsburgh defense has been down right pathetic over the last 2+ years. Last Thursday night, the Steelers defense failed to record a single sack or turnover against a Ravens offense that just one week earlier allowed 3 sacks, while committing 2 turnovers. The once vaunted Steel Curtain Pittsburgh defense has turned into Reynolds Wrap.
SUNDAY FOOTBALL GAMES
MIAMI DOLPHINS 10 BUFFALO BILLS 29
Of the 4 undefeated AFC teams, perhaps the most surprising are the Buffalo Bills. Prior to their game against division foe Miami, Bills fans described the atmosphere as, "Woodstock with a tailgate!" The Buffalo offense featured rookie wide receiver, Sammy Watkins, achieving his first 100 yard game. While the Bills defense was able to hold a Dolphins rushing attack to just 80 yards for the game, just one week after the same Miami team ran for 191 yards against the Patriots. The only thing better than Buffalo's 2-0 start is finding out that former Bills quarterback, Jim Kelly, who was honored at halftime on Sunday, is officially cancer free. KELLY STRONG!!!!
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 24 CLEVELAND BROWNS 26
Just as surprising as the Bills 2-0 start is the New Orleans Saints dropping to 0-2 after their last second loss to the much improved Cleveland Browns. Quarterback, Drew Brees, and the Saints offense continues to score points, 58 total points through 2 games, but the New Orleans defense looks nothing like the unit that finished 4th in the NFL in yards per game just last season. The only thing positive about the Saints being 0-2 is that they haven't played at home yet, where New Orleans has been nearly unstoppable. In other breaking news, Johnny Manziel made his much anticipated pro debut on Sunday!! Johnny Football attempted one pass, which was incomplete, for zero yards. The only significant thing Manziel did against the Saints was annoy STARTING quarterback, and teammate, Brian Hoyer, for even getting in the game. Looks like it's getting Hot In Cleveland!!
DALLAS COWBOYS 26 TENNESSEE TITANS 10
Could it be that the Dallas Cowboys actually figured out the best chance for them to win is to run the football with stud running back, DeMarco Murray, and not rely solely on the right arm of quarterback, Tony Romo? In their 16-point win over the Titans, the Cowboys ran the ball 43 times for 220 yards, with Murray accounting for 167 of those yards, with Romo only throwing for 176 yards. If Dallas coach/owner, Jerry Jones, can actually let that formula to continue, not only do the Cowboys actually have a chance to win more games than they lose, they also could end up competing for a playoff spot.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 21 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 30
For the first time since December 22nd of last year, the Seattle Seahawks lost a football game. With temperatures reaching as high as 118 degrees on the field, the Chargers were able to do something no team was able to do last season, which was to score 30 points against the Seahawks "Legion of Boom" defense. San Diego quarterback, Phillip Rivers, and tight end, Antonio Gates, were able to find weaknesses the Seattle's defense that I'm sure future opponents will try to duplicate. The problem is not too many teams have a 6'4", 255 lbs. tight end like Gates.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 17 DENVER BRONCOS 24
The next opponent of the Seattle Seahawks are the Denver Broncos, but before Peyton Manning and company could begin to get ready for a Super Bowl rematch, they had to get passed a Kansas City Chiefs team that was coming off an embarrassing loss in their home opener. For the second week in a row, the Broncos offense appeared invincible in the first half, jumping out to a 21-3 lead thanks to 3 touchdown passes by Manning. Then, even without their best player, running back, Jamaal Charles, who left the game with an ankle injury, the Chiefs mounted a comeback. Down by a touchdown, Kansas City faced a 4th and goal from the Denver 2 yardline with just 15 seconds remaining, but Chiefs quarterback, Alex Smith, saw his pass intended for wide receiver, Dwayne Bowe, fall incomplete and with it any hopes of forcing overtime. If the Broncos don't figure out how to play as well as they do in the game's last 2 quarters as they do in the first 2 quarters, then they have no shot at getting back to the Super Bowl this year.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 30 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 27
Another team that for the second straight week played totally different in the second half than they did in the first half were the Philadelphia Eagles, but unlike the Broncos, the Eagles found themselves trying to come back from a big lead rather than hold on to one. In first half, the Philly offense was able to rack up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. Meanwhile, the Colts offense discovered they could move the ball on the Eagles defense on the ground and not strictly depending on quarterback, Andrew Luck; however, the 2nd year pro out of Stanford did throw for 3 touchdowns. Led by free agent acquisition, Darren Sproles, who finished with an incredible 152 yards receiving, Philadelphia was able to tie the game at 27-27 with just 3 minutes and 30 seconds in the 4th quarter. Followed by some questionable play calls, Indianapolis punted the ball back to the Eagles. It took just 3 plays for the Eagles to go 42 yards to setup the potential game-winning field goal by rookie placekicker, Cody Parkey. With just 3 seconds left on the clock, Parkey drilled the 36-yard field goal to give Philadelphia a dramatic 30-27 victory.
That about covers Week 2 of the NFL. Sure I didn't talk about the NY Jets timeout gaffe against the Packers on Sunday. I'll leave that to the New York media since they have much more experience at bashing the Jets than I do. Until next week....
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