You know football has become big when the night before the season opener you feel those anxious feelings inside your body that remind you of the time before Christmas when wondering if you were going to get Nintendo...and if you did...please tell me mom had the brilliance to get Legend of Zelda.
Ahhh Zelda, it was like the golden ticket for Wonka because the game cartridge was literally gold...and finding one that Christmas was complete chaos. Ask my mother...and yes...she won best mom in the world because Nintendo and Zelda were both there under the tree Christmas morning along with Mike Tyson's punchout which was a great compliment to Zelda. You go from adventure, character building, puzzle solving, to just flat out button mashing fun.
Those same anxious feelings were brewing Saturday night when thinking about my Colts opening up the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil stadium against the Bears. Obviously alot of concern over the franchise's knee issues.
All reports going in said he was fine and on schedule...but the thought of All-Pro Jeff Saturday not in there and Brian Urlacher still pissed that Manning and the Colts ran all over them in the Super Bowl two years ago...well how would you feel if Urlacher was coming to get you.
Also I had alot of concern about the Colts defense. Yeah, for the first time ever they were top 3 in the league last year but when it mattered most against San Diego in the playoffs they couldn't stop a team without Ladanian Tomlinson or their starting QB Phillip Rivers.
All they had to do against the Bears was stop a rookie runningback and make Kyle Orton throw. I mean, name one Bears receiver? Couldn't do it...Indy got absolutely manhandled in the front 7 and Pro Bowl alternate Antoine Bethea was miserable...couldn't tackle...couldn't cover tight ends all of it added up to Chicago converting 10-16 third downs and bleeding the clock.
I'll say this, Dwight Freeney looked fantastic but the down and distance the Bears got in and the 3 and 5 step drops they were using did not cater to Freeney and Mathis having big days even though both guys did manage a sack.
The Colts got spanked. Kudos to the Bears, looked like the team from the Super Bowl year. In fairness to them, they were not at full strength in that game. But they also did an awful job stopping the run.
So what's crazy is...the Bears tell John Madden if they could have just stopped the run in that game they could have won. So that's what the gameplan was Sunday...stop Joe Addai and make a rusty Peyton Manning beat them. That takes alot of guts to say we want Manning to beat us.
It worked. Manning and his Ferrari receivers missed by inches on about 5 game changing plays. The running game was stuffed...I mean...you put 8 on the line of scrimmage against Manning and its usually surgery on you.
It's amazing how many Colts fans I've talked to that are panicked...one guy predicted 8-8. That's what happens I guess when you don't lose for 21 games in Sept. and Oct. People forget how to lose.
Indy is not going anywhere...When you talk favorite in the AFC...the horseshoe is right there. Or are they? Manning and the defense will get better, I hope.
Alright quick thoughts around the rest of the league.
The Bills are better than you think. They have been stockpiling draft picks for a couple of years now. Signed some key vets (Marcus Stroud from Jags fame comes to mind) and have a rising talent at QB and RB in Edwards and Lynch.
Brett Favre is still good...but he he will throw a key interception to kill you at any moment. This week he gets applauded for lobbing a watermelon TD throw under duress. That same play can end your season. Don't believe me, check the end of last year's Pack v. Giants game. Okay it wasn't a lob but it was a piss poor read and pass.
Jay Cutler is an absolute stud. Denver's QB will emerge this year as top 5 in the league. No one throws a better looking rope. I mean its effortless. The guy can do it in the pocket or on the run. Mike Shanahan has finally opened up the playbook like it was with Elway. Keep an eye on their rookie WR Royal out of Va Tech and when Brandon Marshall comes back this week...it gets even more scary. Yeah, the Raiders suck, but pass defense is not that bad.
Pittsburgh is foooooo real. How would Willie Parker respond from a broken leg? ...ahh he's still fast Willy. If he is on your fantasy team you destroyed your league week 1. Big Ben can throw it with the best of them...Hines Ward is still awesome. And the 3-4 they run in Blitzburgh is scary. It makes no sense to me how you can rush 6 and cover like your in a dime....pressure makes it that way.
Dallas will win a playoff game finally. You know I read that Tony Romo spent alot of his off season playing grab ass with Jessica...ehhh I mean studying Tom Brady and how he moves efficiently in the pocket. Watching ESPN's film breakdown...the guy looked like a mirror image of Brady. He literally had 20 minutes to stand their flat footed ... survey and dice.
Eagles...you look pretty...but are we viewing you with beer goggles. St. Louis seems to be getting worse every season. Forget trying to make a first down..I'm not sure the Rams can get dressed before the game without sucking at that. McNabb has Warren Moon laser arm....and there were guys out running the other team...but let's see what happens Monday against Dallas.
Panthers dominate NFC South and might get homefield with everyone in NFC East beating each other up. If Chicago was old Chicago and they were against Indy....then Carolina is old Carolina. The line is already being dubbed "the great wall of Charlotte" (by me only). The backs are slash and pound capable....with Williams slashing and Stewart steam rolling. Julius Peppers is in a contract year and playing like it. The secondary makes alot of plays ei Chris Gamble ripping Gates. Ask NFL GM's who the most talented team on paper was in week one..... 99 percent will say San Diego. To beat them on their field without Steve Smith...take notice everyone. The NFC South is weak....Panthers looking good.
The Saints can move the ball. Drew Brees seems to throw for 350 yards every game but no one thought that he would be so darn good 5 years ago...except die-hard Purdue fan. But with Colston down it will be interesting to see what happens. Reggie Bush will never be the runner they thought but he does make plays in the passing game. Defensive is going to be the question for them. NO's secondary does not illicit any feeling whatsoever in anybody ...except strangely it does do something for die-hard Saints fan.
The Giants....hey I better say something ..I almost forgot they are the reigning champs. Plus the rush looked better than I thought without Osi. Their D co-ordinator is genius level...the Redskins are idiots for not locking him up. He said no to them is what one report said...then another says he was shunned ..who knows. But I do know Eli Manning and Plax are as good as there is and Brandon Jacobs is the scariest player in the NFL. Its not even fair watching DB's trying to tackle a guy who's 265 pounds. I literally felt bad for Laron Landry of the Skins. Guy was mulled several times by #27.
Jackonsville has issues. The Jags looked miserable in week 1 against a Titans team that has a QB who's mom is making statements about his well being. That's embarrassing. Can you imagine Peyton Manning's mom making excuses for her son? Alot of it is injury...both guards...a backup guard..and center all out. They will get it together though just like the Colts. But, they won't if David Garrard was a flash in the pan. Is he for real? If he is, the Jags will be okay.
The Titans we just briefly touched on above ...but yikes. What a mess...and yet they are still good. They might be better with Kerry Collins at QB. Tennessee is as physical and tough as it gets. Obviously they have a rookie RB who is Hussein Bolt Jr. but more than any other coach, Jeff Fisher makes you wonder "how is he doing this". The receivers are no-name... they don't score more than 20 points a game. Can you really name anyone of defense except Haynsworth. I don't understand...but they win.
Green Bay -- the entire country could hear the exhale in Wisconsin. Aaron Rodgers looks legit. Hey, guy was a stud at Cal...known for accuracy...looked every bit of that against a highly tauted Vikings defense. Green Bay is just really good. They are a dumb Favre pick away from the Super Bowl last year. Rogers had no problems spreading the D from the shotgun and picking it apart.
And saving the worst for last....New England. The team that makes me cringe upon saying its very name. At first you want to say ...it's over. Brady out, no chance. But if you know anything about this team and who coaches it....believe me Colts fans do....you know that is not the truth.
This team will not die....it will continue to win....even with a guy who has not started since high school. Tom Brady was a nobody when he got his call. It's alot to expect from Matt Cassell but he can be Jeff Hostettler good. No doubt in my mind....I can complete passes to Randy Moss and Wes Welker and so could you.
Coming into the season people said the Pats defense was on a downswing, it would be a weakness....ahhh 5 sacks in week one and tough as always. That's why it is my fantasy defense... because as much as I hate them...and I do hate them...they are always good as long as Bill Belichek is coaching. Plus New England has the easiest schedule in the league
Ahhh Zelda, it was like the golden ticket for Wonka because the game cartridge was literally gold...and finding one that Christmas was complete chaos. Ask my mother...and yes...she won best mom in the world because Nintendo and Zelda were both there under the tree Christmas morning along with Mike Tyson's punchout which was a great compliment to Zelda. You go from adventure, character building, puzzle solving, to just flat out button mashing fun.
Those same anxious feelings were brewing Saturday night when thinking about my Colts opening up the state-of-the-art Lucas Oil stadium against the Bears. Obviously alot of concern over the franchise's knee issues.
All reports going in said he was fine and on schedule...but the thought of All-Pro Jeff Saturday not in there and Brian Urlacher still pissed that Manning and the Colts ran all over them in the Super Bowl two years ago...well how would you feel if Urlacher was coming to get you.
Also I had alot of concern about the Colts defense. Yeah, for the first time ever they were top 3 in the league last year but when it mattered most against San Diego in the playoffs they couldn't stop a team without Ladanian Tomlinson or their starting QB Phillip Rivers.
All they had to do against the Bears was stop a rookie runningback and make Kyle Orton throw. I mean, name one Bears receiver? Couldn't do it...Indy got absolutely manhandled in the front 7 and Pro Bowl alternate Antoine Bethea was miserable...couldn't tackle...couldn't cover tight ends all of it added up to Chicago converting 10-16 third downs and bleeding the clock.
I'll say this, Dwight Freeney looked fantastic but the down and distance the Bears got in and the 3 and 5 step drops they were using did not cater to Freeney and Mathis having big days even though both guys did manage a sack.
The Colts got spanked. Kudos to the Bears, looked like the team from the Super Bowl year. In fairness to them, they were not at full strength in that game. But they also did an awful job stopping the run.
So what's crazy is...the Bears tell John Madden if they could have just stopped the run in that game they could have won. So that's what the gameplan was Sunday...stop Joe Addai and make a rusty Peyton Manning beat them. That takes alot of guts to say we want Manning to beat us.
It worked. Manning and his Ferrari receivers missed by inches on about 5 game changing plays. The running game was stuffed...I mean...you put 8 on the line of scrimmage against Manning and its usually surgery on you.
It's amazing how many Colts fans I've talked to that are panicked...one guy predicted 8-8. That's what happens I guess when you don't lose for 21 games in Sept. and Oct. People forget how to lose.
Indy is not going anywhere...When you talk favorite in the AFC...the horseshoe is right there. Or are they? Manning and the defense will get better, I hope.
Alright quick thoughts around the rest of the league.
The Bills are better than you think. They have been stockpiling draft picks for a couple of years now. Signed some key vets (Marcus Stroud from Jags fame comes to mind) and have a rising talent at QB and RB in Edwards and Lynch.
Brett Favre is still good...but he he will throw a key interception to kill you at any moment. This week he gets applauded for lobbing a watermelon TD throw under duress. That same play can end your season. Don't believe me, check the end of last year's Pack v. Giants game. Okay it wasn't a lob but it was a piss poor read and pass.
Jay Cutler is an absolute stud. Denver's QB will emerge this year as top 5 in the league. No one throws a better looking rope. I mean its effortless. The guy can do it in the pocket or on the run. Mike Shanahan has finally opened up the playbook like it was with Elway. Keep an eye on their rookie WR Royal out of Va Tech and when Brandon Marshall comes back this week...it gets even more scary. Yeah, the Raiders suck, but pass defense is not that bad.
Pittsburgh is foooooo real. How would Willie Parker respond from a broken leg? ...ahh he's still fast Willy. If he is on your fantasy team you destroyed your league week 1. Big Ben can throw it with the best of them...Hines Ward is still awesome. And the 3-4 they run in Blitzburgh is scary. It makes no sense to me how you can rush 6 and cover like your in a dime....pressure makes it that way.
Dallas will win a playoff game finally. You know I read that Tony Romo spent alot of his off season playing grab ass with Jessica...ehhh I mean studying Tom Brady and how he moves efficiently in the pocket. Watching ESPN's film breakdown...the guy looked like a mirror image of Brady. He literally had 20 minutes to stand their flat footed ... survey and dice.
Eagles...you look pretty...but are we viewing you with beer goggles. St. Louis seems to be getting worse every season. Forget trying to make a first down..I'm not sure the Rams can get dressed before the game without sucking at that. McNabb has Warren Moon laser arm....and there were guys out running the other team...but let's see what happens Monday against Dallas.
Panthers dominate NFC South and might get homefield with everyone in NFC East beating each other up. If Chicago was old Chicago and they were against Indy....then Carolina is old Carolina. The line is already being dubbed "the great wall of Charlotte" (by me only). The backs are slash and pound capable....with Williams slashing and Stewart steam rolling. Julius Peppers is in a contract year and playing like it. The secondary makes alot of plays ei Chris Gamble ripping Gates. Ask NFL GM's who the most talented team on paper was in week one..... 99 percent will say San Diego. To beat them on their field without Steve Smith...take notice everyone. The NFC South is weak....Panthers looking good.
The Saints can move the ball. Drew Brees seems to throw for 350 yards every game but no one thought that he would be so darn good 5 years ago...except die-hard Purdue fan. But with Colston down it will be interesting to see what happens. Reggie Bush will never be the runner they thought but he does make plays in the passing game. Defensive is going to be the question for them. NO's secondary does not illicit any feeling whatsoever in anybody ...except strangely it does do something for die-hard Saints fan.
The Giants....hey I better say something ..I almost forgot they are the reigning champs. Plus the rush looked better than I thought without Osi. Their D co-ordinator is genius level...the Redskins are idiots for not locking him up. He said no to them is what one report said...then another says he was shunned ..who knows. But I do know Eli Manning and Plax are as good as there is and Brandon Jacobs is the scariest player in the NFL. Its not even fair watching DB's trying to tackle a guy who's 265 pounds. I literally felt bad for Laron Landry of the Skins. Guy was mulled several times by #27.
Jackonsville has issues. The Jags looked miserable in week 1 against a Titans team that has a QB who's mom is making statements about his well being. That's embarrassing. Can you imagine Peyton Manning's mom making excuses for her son? Alot of it is injury...both guards...a backup guard..and center all out. They will get it together though just like the Colts. But, they won't if David Garrard was a flash in the pan. Is he for real? If he is, the Jags will be okay.
The Titans we just briefly touched on above ...but yikes. What a mess...and yet they are still good. They might be better with Kerry Collins at QB. Tennessee is as physical and tough as it gets. Obviously they have a rookie RB who is Hussein Bolt Jr. but more than any other coach, Jeff Fisher makes you wonder "how is he doing this". The receivers are no-name... they don't score more than 20 points a game. Can you really name anyone of defense except Haynsworth. I don't understand...but they win.
Green Bay -- the entire country could hear the exhale in Wisconsin. Aaron Rodgers looks legit. Hey, guy was a stud at Cal...known for accuracy...looked every bit of that against a highly tauted Vikings defense. Green Bay is just really good. They are a dumb Favre pick away from the Super Bowl last year. Rogers had no problems spreading the D from the shotgun and picking it apart.
And saving the worst for last....New England. The team that makes me cringe upon saying its very name. At first you want to say ...it's over. Brady out, no chance. But if you know anything about this team and who coaches it....believe me Colts fans do....you know that is not the truth.
This team will not die....it will continue to win....even with a guy who has not started since high school. Tom Brady was a nobody when he got his call. It's alot to expect from Matt Cassell but he can be Jeff Hostettler good. No doubt in my mind....I can complete passes to Randy Moss and Wes Welker and so could you.
Coming into the season people said the Pats defense was on a downswing, it would be a weakness....ahhh 5 sacks in week one and tough as always. That's why it is my fantasy defense... because as much as I hate them...and I do hate them...they are always good as long as Bill Belichek is coaching. Plus New England has the easiest schedule in the league
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