Long in coming; apologies for the delay. It's been a hectic week outside of the sports world for me. So, without further ado, my delayed recap of Week 3 action...
Kansas City 31, San Francisco 10
Yeouch. What else is there to say? San Francisco got torched in this one and it's set in motion the wheels of panic, as suddenly it looks like Mike Singletary is out of his depth as a head coach. I'm a fan of Singletary's, but I have to wonder. This game begs the question - is Kansas City really this good, or is San Francisco just this bad? Nonetheless, the Chiefs are 3-0 and you can't knock that. They're explosive on offense, stout on defense and play in a weak division. That's a recipe for success.
Pierce's Pick - SF
Baltimore 24, Cleveland 17
Joe Flacco and the Ravens finally have the explosive week on offense we've all been expecting, but that it waited until the Browns is a concern. We'll see how the Ravens play against the Steelers this week. Meanwhile, the Browns are bad, but they did hang in this game on the scoreboard.
Pierce's Pick - BAL
Dallas 27, Houston 13
The Cowboys found much needed life in this one, which was a much needed win that keeps them afloat. Houston loses a game they barely had any place in. I'm still high on the Texans, but credit to the Cowboys for manning out a win when they needed it most. And who knew Roy Williams could still play? Go figure.
Pierce's Pick - HOU
Minnesota 24, Detroit 10
The anemic Lions offense, as well as a handful of bad penalties at worse times gave the Vikings the win and saved their season early. I still think the Vikings are struggling at best; barring a couple big plays and foibles by the Lions, the Vikes could easily be 0-3. The Lions look awful on offense. They clearly need Matthew Stafford back. Losing Jahvid Best in the first half clearly crippled any explosiveness they might have had, too. As long as Calvin Johnson remains invisible for long spans at a time, the Lions will have trouble winning. The Viking defense is the best part of their team right now - their offense isn't impressing, either.
Pierce's Pick - DET
New England 38, Buffalo 30
How did Buffalo stay in this one? Apparently Ryan Fitzpatrick showed the coaching staff enough that Trent Edwards got shown the door afterwards. The Bills are still awful, but it speaks volumes about the inexperienced Patriots defense that the Bills hung up 30 on them. Still, the Patriots are clicking on offense and that can make them hard to beat.
Pierce's Pick - NE
Atlanta 27, New Orleans 24
This had the feeling of a trap game for me - only because Atlanta had to win it to make a statement in the division. A loss here more or less asserts the Saints' dominance in the NFC South. Garrett Hartley missed a couple FGs in Week 1 against Minnesota - the Saints clearly are concerned after he missed a 32-yard game winner in this one, so they brought John Carney back. Can't argue with that, but they should keep Hartley nonetheless - remember that Dallas cut Nick Folk similarly and he's fine in New York now. But some veteran insurance never hurts; second-year players, kickers or not, should be allowed their growing pains.
Pierce's Pick - NO
Tennessee 29, NY Giants 10
The Giants look bad. Tennessee went nuts on them and they responded as a team out of control. A week after Brandon Jacobs threw his helmet into the stands in Indianapolis, Tom Coughlin had to hope his team would buckle down and maintain some extra discipline. It didn't happen and now it appears as though the Giants are unraveling. Fast.
Pierce's Pick - TEN
Pittsburgh 38, Tampa Bay 13
Tampa is a good, rebuilding team, but they're just that. Meanwhile, whoever is at quarterback, the Steelers are clearly contenders - perhaps the strongest team in the AFC. Charlie Batch becomes the feel-good story of the week as a result and I leave Mike Wallace on my fantasy bench the week he goes off. The Steeler defense is as good as its ever been. This is a team to fear.
Pierce's Pick - PIT
Cincinnati 20, Carolina 7
The Jimmy Clausen era has started and it wasn't pretty. The Panthers look lost and, as I pointed out last week, remain unable to run the ball. Until that changes, this team will be winless and toothless.
Pierce's Pick - CIN
Philadelphia 28, Jacksonville 3
Another strong performance by Michael Vick has early MVP whispers circulating, which is perhaps as ludicrous as anything. But credit Vick for playing very well so far. But his real test comes when he plays teams that aren't Detroit or Jacksonville. The Jags also appear to be toothless; another loss is no surprise to me as I continue to think, as I do every year, that this has to be the final year of the Jack Del Rio era there.
Pierce's Pick - PHI
St. Louis 30, Washington 16
The Rams are showing spunk now, something that doesn't surprise me after how close their recent contests came. This is a team with leadership on offense and defense now and as they assemble more talent and continuity, they'll continue to improve. Much like the Kansas City/San Francisco game, this might tell us more about how bad the Redskins are than about how good the Rams may or may not be.
Pierce's Pick - WAS
Indianapolis 27, Denver 13
This was a fun game to watch - Kyle Orton is playing very well in Denver this year and honestly, as I watched this game, I had to remind myself throughout that Denver wasn't winning. They seemed to outplay the Colts except in clutch situations. I still like the Broncos in a weak division. The Colts are still the Colts though. Anyone can make a play for Peyton and they'll win if the other team doesn't capitalize on every opportunity.
Pierce's Pick - IND
Arizona 24, Oakland 23
How come nobody like Bruce Gradkowski? When he was in Tampa for awhile, he played well enough - although obviously needing time to develop. Whenever he plays in Oakland, the team rallies, but then coaching eventually benches him again. It's odd. The Cardinals win, but this closeness of this contest speaks to how much they've lost in the past year. They're a mediocre team at best.
Pierce's Pick - ARI
Seattle 27, San Diego 20
This is a game the Chargers should have won but did not. Credit to the Seahawks for some fantastic special teams play and let this game remind us that you should never, ever doubt the Seahawks at home. It'll be interesting to see if the Chargers shake out of their September swoon like usual or not this year. The division is weak, but I like both the Chiefs and the Broncos more than the Chargers. Likewise, the Seahawks are making their bid at rising to the top of an otherwise weak division.
Pierce's Pick - SD
NY Jets 31, Miami 23
It's hard to really not like the Jets right now. The Dolphins look good, too, but this was a big statement game for the Jets to say that they want this division. The Dolphins have a habit of owning their division competition at home, but not this time. A close, gritty game. Speaking of aged running backs, it looks like Ricky Williams lost his magic from last year and LT took it. Also, the Wildcat is closer to death than it was a year ago. It seems like every Wildcat down I see, by any team, is a wasted down. Last year that didn't include Miami, but this year it seems less effective for them, as well. I've also questioned how much it's stunted Chad Henne's growth.
Pierce's Pick - MIA
Chicago 20, Green Bay 17
Chicago is the luckiest team in the NFL right now, after a ridiculous rule gave them a win over Detroit and the Packers pretty much handed them this one. I missed the game, but in watching highlights, it looked like the Bears did everything possible to lose but the Packers just wouldn't let them. I still think the Packers are the class of the NFC, but they won't be if they have another game like this one. I have to think that the luck of the Bears will run out, but they do have a schedule favorable enough that they could contend going forward. It'll be interesting to find out as the season unfolds.
Pierce's Pick - GB
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Pierce's Picks 2010 - Week 3
Last week, I managed to go 10-6, although for some reason I felt like I did much worse. Seemed like the games I was confident about were off and the ones I was shaky on panned out. Go figure.
That puts me at 21-11 on the season, which isn't too shabby so far.
I've been told that bold is a little hard to discern with white text on black background, so we'll mix it up this week and put the winning team in gold and see how that works. After all, gold is the color of the Saints and they are the reigning champions, so it seems fitting to pick winners in one of the Saints' colors, yes? Let me know!
I'm also including the win/loss records for teams starting this week.
Sunday at 1:00pm EST -
San Francisco (0-2) @ Kansas City (2-0)
Cleveland (0-2) @ Baltimore (1-1)
Dallas (0-2) @ Houston (2-0)
Detroit (0-2) @ Minnesota (0-2)
Buffalo (0-2) @ New England (1-1)
Atlanta (1-1) @ New Orleans (2-0)
Tennessee (1-1) @ NY Giants (1-1)
Pittsburgh (2-0) @ Tampa Bay (2-0)
Cincinnati (1-1) @ Carolina (0-2)
Sunday at 4:00pm EST -
Philadelphia (1-1) @ Jacksonville (1-1)
Washington (1-1) @ St. Louis (0-2)
Indianapolis (1-1) @ Denver (1-1)
Oakland (1-1) @ Arizona (1-1)
San Diego (1-1) @ Seattle (1-1)
Sunday Night -
NY Jets (1-1) @ Miami (2-0)
Monday Night -
Green Bay (2-0) @ Chicago (2-0)
A couple notes on these picks: Yes, I really do think Denver might beat Indianapolis at Mile High. I like the way the Broncos are playing and I think they can be legit. I'm low on the Colts this year, part Superbowl loser hangover, part because they're getting older and a bit slower. Yes, I really do think Detroit beats Minnesota. The Vikings are playing slow, uninspired football and I believe that's a bad recipe against a team that is playing hard and is very hungry for a victory. They'll throw the kitchen sink at Favre and he will eat some turf on Sunday.
Oh, and I'm picking 9 away teams to win. That obviously is not going to work, but what can I say, I have to go with the picks I'm feeling, right?
That puts me at 21-11 on the season, which isn't too shabby so far.
I've been told that bold is a little hard to discern with white text on black background, so we'll mix it up this week and put the winning team in gold and see how that works. After all, gold is the color of the Saints and they are the reigning champions, so it seems fitting to pick winners in one of the Saints' colors, yes? Let me know!
I'm also including the win/loss records for teams starting this week.
Sunday at 1:00pm EST -
San Francisco (0-2) @ Kansas City (2-0)
Cleveland (0-2) @ Baltimore (1-1)
Dallas (0-2) @ Houston (2-0)
Detroit (0-2) @ Minnesota (0-2)
Buffalo (0-2) @ New England (1-1)
Atlanta (1-1) @ New Orleans (2-0)
Tennessee (1-1) @ NY Giants (1-1)
Pittsburgh (2-0) @ Tampa Bay (2-0)
Cincinnati (1-1) @ Carolina (0-2)
Sunday at 4:00pm EST -
Philadelphia (1-1) @ Jacksonville (1-1)
Washington (1-1) @ St. Louis (0-2)
Indianapolis (1-1) @ Denver (1-1)
Oakland (1-1) @ Arizona (1-1)
San Diego (1-1) @ Seattle (1-1)
Sunday Night -
NY Jets (1-1) @ Miami (2-0)
Monday Night -
Green Bay (2-0) @ Chicago (2-0)
A couple notes on these picks: Yes, I really do think Denver might beat Indianapolis at Mile High. I like the way the Broncos are playing and I think they can be legit. I'm low on the Colts this year, part Superbowl loser hangover, part because they're getting older and a bit slower. Yes, I really do think Detroit beats Minnesota. The Vikings are playing slow, uninspired football and I believe that's a bad recipe against a team that is playing hard and is very hungry for a victory. They'll throw the kitchen sink at Favre and he will eat some turf on Sunday.
Oh, and I'm picking 9 away teams to win. That obviously is not going to work, but what can I say, I have to go with the picks I'm feeling, right?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
NFL Week 2 - Recap
Atlanta 41, Arizona 7
Is this a surprise to anyone here? The Cardinals are lost and floundering without Kurt Warner, meanwhile the Falcons are one of the best home teams in the league. I wonder how the Cardinals would be doing with Matt Leinart...
Pierce's Pick - ARI.
Cincinnati 15, Baltimore 10
Another ugly game for the Ravens, and this time they didn't come out on top. These two teams made significant upgrades to their passing corps, but neither one can really get anything convincing going yet. I still think both are strong playoff contenders, but another poor performance from either and I might have to revise that statement. It's worth remembering, though, that the Bengals were rock-solid against their AFC North rivals last year and they've continued that into 2010 now.
Pierce's Pick - BAL.
Kansas City 16, Cleveland 14
The Browns are still bad. Kansas City might actually be developing some potential, though. But if I were a Browns fan, I might be taking a look at the 2011 Draft already, because there aren't many teams that look as lost as they do.
Pierce's Pick - KC.
Chicago 27, Dallas 20
And in Week 2, the Cowboys are in free fall. Ouch. How did the Bears win this when the 'Boys supposedly dominated their offensive line? Jay Cutler must have learned how to effectively run for his life lately - in fact, he moved quite well against the Lions. Good for him. Jerry Jones can't be happy at this point. Dallas has a tough game against Houston next, too, so 0-3 isn't unrealistic. Hard to recover from that.
Pierce's Pick - DAL.
Philadelphia 35, Detroit 32
A high-scoring affair, although I wonder about Detroit's attempted comeback here - was it legitimate, or did the Eagles defense go slack in what looked like garbage time? Either way, it's a thin line between 2-0 and 0-2 for the hungry Lions, who may yet surprise this season. Michael Vick looked sharp, I won't lie. The Eagles do have a better chance to win with him under center right now. If nothing else, in two games, the Lions have proven to have hit home-runs with both 1st-round draft picks this year.
Pierce's Pick - DET.
Green Bay 34, Buffalo 7
Buffalo officially enters the 2011 Draft Bowl with Cleveland. No surprise here as the Packers roll over them. If anything, I was surprised the Pack ended up having to kick two field goals. Not much else to say here other than the obvious - Green Bay is good; Buffalo is bad.
Pierce's Pick - GB.
Pittsburgh 19, Tennessee 11
The Steelers are 2-0 without Big Ben and likely to go 3-1 or better by his return. They're getting it done however they need to and managed to contain Chris Johnson. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed yet, but the Steelers are looking like they're a team on a mission this season and they're only going to get better once their starting QB returns to the lineup. As for Tennessee, what else is new - stop Chris Johnson, stop the Titans.
Pierce's Pick - TEN.
Miami 14, Minnesota 10
Another ugly loss for the Vikings who, like the Cowboys, may be approaching free-fall status. Suddenly they find themselves playing a critical game at home in Week 3 against the other 0-2 NFC North team and it is a game they could lose. The Dolphins, meanwhile, still bear the stamp of Parcells and Sparano - a gritty team that wins however it needs to when it needs to. Their defense is playing lights-out football and if you disregard those two unusual fumbles by Ronnie & Ricky, the Vikings really had no chance in this game.
Pierce's Pick - MIN.
Tampa Bay 20, Carolina 7
Carolina is bad. Tampa Bay might be for real. I don't expect contention this year, but it's clear that the youth movement in Tampa Bay is building something legitimate. Josh Freeman has a better record as a starter than his 2010 1st-round QB counterparts. Perhaps it is, after all, better to let a rookie learn from the sideline for at least half a season at first. Imagine that. Like the Titans, this game also proves that if the Panthers can't run the ball, they have no shot at winning a football game (or even being competitive; the Titans can at least be competitive if they can't run).
Pierce's Pick - TB.
Denver 31, Seattle 14
Never overestimate the Seahawks when they post a big win at home. Like Atlanta, Seattle is one of the better home teams in the league. On that note, it is not unusual for mediocre road teams to struggle mightily in Mile High Stadium. That being said, this result was as predictable as they come to me this week. Nevermind that Denver actually is a good football team and Seattle is, at best, a mediocre one.
Pierce's Pick - DEN.
Oakland 16, St. Louis 14
The Rams seem to be competing and, given the young talent they've been drafting, I can see them turning a corner later this season and winning 4 games or more. But not yet. Oakland isn't very good though, as the QB carousel continues to turn there. But mark my words, if this game was in November or December, Team Bradford posts a win.
Pierce's Pick - OAK.
NY Jets 28, New England 14
One game this week that truly surprised me. The Jets recover from that tough loss with a statement win against the Patriots. The Pats looked positively shell-shocked at times in this game as the Sanchize rolled his Jets down the field time and time again. But it's too early to make a decision on these two teams and their fates this year quite yet. Both are talented teams and I expect the AFC East race to remain tight between them and the Dolphins all year. But if you're the Jets, you definitely needed this win more than the Patriots. Credit to them for getting it.
Pierce's Pick - NE.
San Diego 38, Jacksonville 13
Ouch. I didn't see this one, but I wasn't surprised to see the Chargers bounce back against the Jags after their stunning loss to a division rival on national television. David Garrard looked awful. The Jags are a team on the cusp almost every year and, right now, this year looks no different to me. They'll win some, lose some, surprise and disappoint and remain on the outside looking in yet again. I've predicted such year after year and it amazes me that Jack Del Rio still coaches there - I like the guy as a coach, but he just can't get this team over the hump.
Pierce's Pick - SD.
Houston 30, Washington 27
A few people have talked about the grit Houston showed in this game, but I have to wonder how it came to that point at all. They were in Washington sure, and credit to them for a great comeback, but that was Washington's game to give away after the half. I want to buy into the Texans - another team perpetually on the cusp - but I need to see a solid performance against Dallas to believe they're for real. A tough loss for the Redskins, but this is clearly a much better team than it was last year and they can walk away with that, at least. Besides, they ought to still be warm from that bizarre victory over Dallas a week ago.
Pierce's Pick - HOU.
Indianapolis 38, NY Giants 14
Elder brothers never let their younger brothers beat them in front of a crowd. Any sibling knows this. Try and try as the younger may, it's just not something that the elder will allow. It's almost impossible. I had no doubt the Colts would win this one; but I didn't expect it to be so lopsided and I certainly didn't expect Brandon Jacobs to throw his helmet into the stands. I still think the Giants are a solid team this year, though.
Pierce's Pick - IND.
New Orleans 25, San Francisco 22
Why was this game so close? The Saints offense appears to be sputtering or, at least, has been figured out by the two coaches they've played so far. Nonetheless, they can still run it on you and beat you with screen passes. The 49ers showed a lot of grit in this game and should come away from it prouder than they left Seattle. This game actually raised more questions about the Saints than the 49ers for me. That is not a team that looks like it will repeat, to me.
Pierce's Pick - NO.
Is this a surprise to anyone here? The Cardinals are lost and floundering without Kurt Warner, meanwhile the Falcons are one of the best home teams in the league. I wonder how the Cardinals would be doing with Matt Leinart...
Pierce's Pick - ARI.
Cincinnati 15, Baltimore 10
Another ugly game for the Ravens, and this time they didn't come out on top. These two teams made significant upgrades to their passing corps, but neither one can really get anything convincing going yet. I still think both are strong playoff contenders, but another poor performance from either and I might have to revise that statement. It's worth remembering, though, that the Bengals were rock-solid against their AFC North rivals last year and they've continued that into 2010 now.
Pierce's Pick - BAL.
Kansas City 16, Cleveland 14
The Browns are still bad. Kansas City might actually be developing some potential, though. But if I were a Browns fan, I might be taking a look at the 2011 Draft already, because there aren't many teams that look as lost as they do.
Pierce's Pick - KC.
Chicago 27, Dallas 20
And in Week 2, the Cowboys are in free fall. Ouch. How did the Bears win this when the 'Boys supposedly dominated their offensive line? Jay Cutler must have learned how to effectively run for his life lately - in fact, he moved quite well against the Lions. Good for him. Jerry Jones can't be happy at this point. Dallas has a tough game against Houston next, too, so 0-3 isn't unrealistic. Hard to recover from that.
Pierce's Pick - DAL.
Philadelphia 35, Detroit 32
A high-scoring affair, although I wonder about Detroit's attempted comeback here - was it legitimate, or did the Eagles defense go slack in what looked like garbage time? Either way, it's a thin line between 2-0 and 0-2 for the hungry Lions, who may yet surprise this season. Michael Vick looked sharp, I won't lie. The Eagles do have a better chance to win with him under center right now. If nothing else, in two games, the Lions have proven to have hit home-runs with both 1st-round draft picks this year.
Pierce's Pick - DET.
Green Bay 34, Buffalo 7
Buffalo officially enters the 2011 Draft Bowl with Cleveland. No surprise here as the Packers roll over them. If anything, I was surprised the Pack ended up having to kick two field goals. Not much else to say here other than the obvious - Green Bay is good; Buffalo is bad.
Pierce's Pick - GB.
Pittsburgh 19, Tennessee 11
The Steelers are 2-0 without Big Ben and likely to go 3-1 or better by his return. They're getting it done however they need to and managed to contain Chris Johnson. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed yet, but the Steelers are looking like they're a team on a mission this season and they're only going to get better once their starting QB returns to the lineup. As for Tennessee, what else is new - stop Chris Johnson, stop the Titans.
Pierce's Pick - TEN.
Miami 14, Minnesota 10
Another ugly loss for the Vikings who, like the Cowboys, may be approaching free-fall status. Suddenly they find themselves playing a critical game at home in Week 3 against the other 0-2 NFC North team and it is a game they could lose. The Dolphins, meanwhile, still bear the stamp of Parcells and Sparano - a gritty team that wins however it needs to when it needs to. Their defense is playing lights-out football and if you disregard those two unusual fumbles by Ronnie & Ricky, the Vikings really had no chance in this game.
Pierce's Pick - MIN.
Tampa Bay 20, Carolina 7
Carolina is bad. Tampa Bay might be for real. I don't expect contention this year, but it's clear that the youth movement in Tampa Bay is building something legitimate. Josh Freeman has a better record as a starter than his 2010 1st-round QB counterparts. Perhaps it is, after all, better to let a rookie learn from the sideline for at least half a season at first. Imagine that. Like the Titans, this game also proves that if the Panthers can't run the ball, they have no shot at winning a football game (or even being competitive; the Titans can at least be competitive if they can't run).
Pierce's Pick - TB.
Denver 31, Seattle 14
Never overestimate the Seahawks when they post a big win at home. Like Atlanta, Seattle is one of the better home teams in the league. On that note, it is not unusual for mediocre road teams to struggle mightily in Mile High Stadium. That being said, this result was as predictable as they come to me this week. Nevermind that Denver actually is a good football team and Seattle is, at best, a mediocre one.
Pierce's Pick - DEN.
Oakland 16, St. Louis 14
The Rams seem to be competing and, given the young talent they've been drafting, I can see them turning a corner later this season and winning 4 games or more. But not yet. Oakland isn't very good though, as the QB carousel continues to turn there. But mark my words, if this game was in November or December, Team Bradford posts a win.
Pierce's Pick - OAK.
NY Jets 28, New England 14
One game this week that truly surprised me. The Jets recover from that tough loss with a statement win against the Patriots. The Pats looked positively shell-shocked at times in this game as the Sanchize rolled his Jets down the field time and time again. But it's too early to make a decision on these two teams and their fates this year quite yet. Both are talented teams and I expect the AFC East race to remain tight between them and the Dolphins all year. But if you're the Jets, you definitely needed this win more than the Patriots. Credit to them for getting it.
Pierce's Pick - NE.
San Diego 38, Jacksonville 13
Ouch. I didn't see this one, but I wasn't surprised to see the Chargers bounce back against the Jags after their stunning loss to a division rival on national television. David Garrard looked awful. The Jags are a team on the cusp almost every year and, right now, this year looks no different to me. They'll win some, lose some, surprise and disappoint and remain on the outside looking in yet again. I've predicted such year after year and it amazes me that Jack Del Rio still coaches there - I like the guy as a coach, but he just can't get this team over the hump.
Pierce's Pick - SD.
Houston 30, Washington 27
A few people have talked about the grit Houston showed in this game, but I have to wonder how it came to that point at all. They were in Washington sure, and credit to them for a great comeback, but that was Washington's game to give away after the half. I want to buy into the Texans - another team perpetually on the cusp - but I need to see a solid performance against Dallas to believe they're for real. A tough loss for the Redskins, but this is clearly a much better team than it was last year and they can walk away with that, at least. Besides, they ought to still be warm from that bizarre victory over Dallas a week ago.
Pierce's Pick - HOU.
Indianapolis 38, NY Giants 14
Elder brothers never let their younger brothers beat them in front of a crowd. Any sibling knows this. Try and try as the younger may, it's just not something that the elder will allow. It's almost impossible. I had no doubt the Colts would win this one; but I didn't expect it to be so lopsided and I certainly didn't expect Brandon Jacobs to throw his helmet into the stands. I still think the Giants are a solid team this year, though.
Pierce's Pick - IND.
New Orleans 25, San Francisco 22
Why was this game so close? The Saints offense appears to be sputtering or, at least, has been figured out by the two coaches they've played so far. Nonetheless, they can still run it on you and beat you with screen passes. The 49ers showed a lot of grit in this game and should come away from it prouder than they left Seattle. This game actually raised more questions about the Saints than the 49ers for me. That is not a team that looks like it will repeat, to me.
Pierce's Pick - NO.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Pierce's Picks 2010 - Week 2
Last week, I went a respectable 11-5.
As always, winners are noted in bold.
Sunday at 1:00pm EST -
Arizona @ Atlanta
Baltimore @ Cincinnati
Kansas City @ Cleveland
Chicago @ Dallas
Philadelphia @ Detroit
Buffalo @ Green Bay
Pittsburgh @ Tennessee
Miami @ Minnesota
Tampa Bay @ Carolina
Sunday at 4:00pm EST -
Seattle @ Denver
St. Louis @ Oakland
New England @ NY Jets
Jacksonville @ San Diego
Houston @ Washington
Sunday Night -
NY Giants @ Indianapolis
Monday Night -
New Orleans @ San Francisco
As always, winners are noted in bold.
Sunday at 1:00pm EST -
Arizona @ Atlanta
Baltimore @ Cincinnati
Kansas City @ Cleveland
Chicago @ Dallas
Philadelphia @ Detroit
Buffalo @ Green Bay
Pittsburgh @ Tennessee
Miami @ Minnesota
Tampa Bay @ Carolina
Sunday at 4:00pm EST -
Seattle @ Denver
St. Louis @ Oakland
New England @ NY Jets
Jacksonville @ San Diego
Houston @ Washington
Sunday Night -
NY Giants @ Indianapolis
Monday Night -
New Orleans @ San Francisco
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
NFL Week 1 - Thoughts
Separate from my Weekly Recap, I'll attempt to add a complimentary post that delves into some of the more remarkable topics that the week's games generate. Also, my apologies for not tweeting anything during the games this weekend, but unfortunately I've been battling some cold/throat virus and it kept me from having the energy for such an interactive activity while I watched my football. Next weekend you should expect some tweets!
Bad Week for Offense / Good Week for Defense
It seemed to me that every team that made a much-spoken-about offensive acquisition in the offseason struggled to put a touchdown on the board this week. At the same time, teams that aren't traditionally defensive powerhouses put together eye-catching defensive performances. Meanwhile, teams known for their vaunted offenses also struggled. Let's break it down:
Baltimore (Anquan Boldin, WR; TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR) - 10 points.
Chicago (Mike Martz, offensive coordinator) - 19 points; two goal-line failures.
Detroit (Nate Burleson, WR; Tony Scheffler, TE; Jahvid Best, RB) - 14 points; less than 200 yards total offense.
Miami (Brandon Marshall, WR) - 15 points.
Minnesota (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 9 points.
New Orleans (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
NY Jets (LaDainian Tomlinson, RB) - 9 points.
San Diego (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
Washington (Donovan McNabb, QB) - 13 points; only TD was scored by the defense.
Meanwhile, teams like the Lions, the Bills, and the Chiefs all play stout defensive games and hold their foes to respectable point totals. It seems that in this era of football, which has become known for being a high-flying, high-scoring, pass-happy golden age, perhaps some momentum is swinging back to the defense? Offenses have become more aggressive and more creative over the last five years. Perhaps in that time, defenses have caught up - defensive schemes have, over the past couple years, become more aggressive and more creative in response. Various gadget-type plays (see: Wildcat) have started to fizzle out and defenses are starting to expose the vulnerabilities in teams that pass more. I'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the season; is it a temporary thing, as new players adapt to new teams in real game environments? Or are defenses reacting and scheming properly in this pass-happy era now?
The Call That No One Is Talking About
Yes, Calvin Johnson caught a game-winning TD and it was taken away. People have talked about that and, in all the talk generated by it, another issue is being ignored. The score, at that moment, was 19-14. A successful 2-point conversion earlier would have made it 21-14. However, no one is talking about the call Lovie Smith made earlier in the game, near the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Shaun Hill fumbled the ball on the Lions' 1-yard line for a Bears recovery. The Bears went 3-and-out at the 1-yard line - much like another Lions goal-line stand earlier in the game. The score, at this moment, was 14-13 and the Lions had done nothing to inspire confidence in their offense to that point. In fact, at the time, they'd only converted one first-down for the entire second half. All evidence points to kicking a field goal in this situation - take the points, because the Lions have stuffed you on the goal-line up to then and they couldn't move the ball. If the field goal is kicked, it becomes 16-14, Bears lead, and when they make their final drive (when Forte scores the go-ahead TD), they can eat the clock and needn't scramble for a play. They can win comfortably, 16-14, and the controversial call never happens. Even if the Bears still score a touchdown, at that point, it's 23-14 and the game is out of reach for the Lions. Cardinal rule of good coaching: don't leave points off the board. It's one thing if the Lions offense had been clicking and moving the ball. It's another if they aren't. The Bears won that game and a controversial call is the news story as a result. If the Lions had won the game, that mind-boggling call by Lovie Smith is the new story - and it should be anyway, at least in Chicago.
The Must-Win Game of the Week
In Pierce's Picks this week, I chose the Houston Texans over the Indianapolis Colts. I did this because I considered it the Must-Win Game of the Week. Think about it - if the Colts win, it's another home loss for the Texans by their nemesis and says that the season goes on as all others before it have: so close, but so far; if the Texans win, it's a statement game that says "we're ready to go to war for this division and we will compete with anyone here." Turns out the Texans went for the latter. Suddenly this flips the entire division around - the Texans take the win, by running the ball, no less, and become a team you have to plan for, that you have to - dare I say it - fear a little. They have a hungry, tenacious defense. They have skill players and talent on offense. This is a team that can throw on you, run on you, and chase your QB around. They were 1-15 against the Colts, in their history, up til this weekend. That second franchise win against the Colts was a statement. I don't think you can buy the Texans as a viable playoff contender unless they can beat the Colts. They can beat the Colts. The rest of the league - take notice. They were a trendy playoff pick early last year. This year they might be a realistic one.
Bad Week for Offense / Good Week for Defense
It seemed to me that every team that made a much-spoken-about offensive acquisition in the offseason struggled to put a touchdown on the board this week. At the same time, teams that aren't traditionally defensive powerhouses put together eye-catching defensive performances. Meanwhile, teams known for their vaunted offenses also struggled. Let's break it down:
Baltimore (Anquan Boldin, WR; TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR) - 10 points.
Chicago (Mike Martz, offensive coordinator) - 19 points; two goal-line failures.
Detroit (Nate Burleson, WR; Tony Scheffler, TE; Jahvid Best, RB) - 14 points; less than 200 yards total offense.
Miami (Brandon Marshall, WR) - 15 points.
Minnesota (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 9 points.
New Orleans (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
NY Jets (LaDainian Tomlinson, RB) - 9 points.
San Diego (no significant new acquisitions; top-5 offense last year) - 14 points.
Washington (Donovan McNabb, QB) - 13 points; only TD was scored by the defense.
Meanwhile, teams like the Lions, the Bills, and the Chiefs all play stout defensive games and hold their foes to respectable point totals. It seems that in this era of football, which has become known for being a high-flying, high-scoring, pass-happy golden age, perhaps some momentum is swinging back to the defense? Offenses have become more aggressive and more creative over the last five years. Perhaps in that time, defenses have caught up - defensive schemes have, over the past couple years, become more aggressive and more creative in response. Various gadget-type plays (see: Wildcat) have started to fizzle out and defenses are starting to expose the vulnerabilities in teams that pass more. I'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the season; is it a temporary thing, as new players adapt to new teams in real game environments? Or are defenses reacting and scheming properly in this pass-happy era now?
The Call That No One Is Talking About
Yes, Calvin Johnson caught a game-winning TD and it was taken away. People have talked about that and, in all the talk generated by it, another issue is being ignored. The score, at that moment, was 19-14. A successful 2-point conversion earlier would have made it 21-14. However, no one is talking about the call Lovie Smith made earlier in the game, near the beginning of the fourth quarter, when Shaun Hill fumbled the ball on the Lions' 1-yard line for a Bears recovery. The Bears went 3-and-out at the 1-yard line - much like another Lions goal-line stand earlier in the game. The score, at this moment, was 14-13 and the Lions had done nothing to inspire confidence in their offense to that point. In fact, at the time, they'd only converted one first-down for the entire second half. All evidence points to kicking a field goal in this situation - take the points, because the Lions have stuffed you on the goal-line up to then and they couldn't move the ball. If the field goal is kicked, it becomes 16-14, Bears lead, and when they make their final drive (when Forte scores the go-ahead TD), they can eat the clock and needn't scramble for a play. They can win comfortably, 16-14, and the controversial call never happens. Even if the Bears still score a touchdown, at that point, it's 23-14 and the game is out of reach for the Lions. Cardinal rule of good coaching: don't leave points off the board. It's one thing if the Lions offense had been clicking and moving the ball. It's another if they aren't. The Bears won that game and a controversial call is the news story as a result. If the Lions had won the game, that mind-boggling call by Lovie Smith is the new story - and it should be anyway, at least in Chicago.
The Must-Win Game of the Week
In Pierce's Picks this week, I chose the Houston Texans over the Indianapolis Colts. I did this because I considered it the Must-Win Game of the Week. Think about it - if the Colts win, it's another home loss for the Texans by their nemesis and says that the season goes on as all others before it have: so close, but so far; if the Texans win, it's a statement game that says "we're ready to go to war for this division and we will compete with anyone here." Turns out the Texans went for the latter. Suddenly this flips the entire division around - the Texans take the win, by running the ball, no less, and become a team you have to plan for, that you have to - dare I say it - fear a little. They have a hungry, tenacious defense. They have skill players and talent on offense. This is a team that can throw on you, run on you, and chase your QB around. They were 1-15 against the Colts, in their history, up til this weekend. That second franchise win against the Colts was a statement. I don't think you can buy the Texans as a viable playoff contender unless they can beat the Colts. They can beat the Colts. The rest of the league - take notice. They were a trendy playoff pick early last year. This year they might be a realistic one.
NFL Week 1 - Recap
My weekly recap of the games around the league and what thoughts I have from them - some will be long, some will be short. Some of these games I'll have seen first-hand, some I'll only have second-hand information about. I'll do my best. I'll also mark if I called my prediction right each game.
New Orleans 14, Minnesota 9.
It seems to me that these two teams save their worst performances for each other. Both teams looked out-of-sync on offense, but played stout defense. Both Favre and Brees played subpar games given that both offensive lines gave them solid protection. Much like last year, it appears that you can stop the Saints if they can't run the ball - their success is far more predicated on their running game (and this was true last year) than people realize. Favre looks old and doesn't seem to trust any of his receivers other than Shiancoe. Percy Harvin looked lost out there. Greg Cammarillo has a huge upside for this team; I could see Favre clicking with him in the coming weeks.
Pierce's Pick - NO.
Miami 15, Buffalo 10
The only surprise here is that Miami didn't win more convincingly. But they won and that's the mentality the Dolphins have had under Parcells - win tough. I watched Chad Henne for four years at Michigan and always believed he'd be a good pro quarterback. I'll get a close look at him this week when his team visits Minnesota.
Pierce's Pick - MIA.
Chicago 19, Detroit 14
The Lions were cheated out of this game and everyone outside of the NFL's rule book seems to know it. Nonetheless, it was an ugly game for both teams and, regardless of the TD That Wasn't, the Lions had plenty of opportunity to win this game before that. Jay Cutler still looks unimpressive; if Chicago is to be successful, their success will hinge on Matt Forte and their defense. Lions fans can take some measure of solace in one of the most impressive defensive performances a Lions team has put together in a very, very long time. I'll have more on this game in a separate entry.
Pierce's Pick - DET.
Tennessee 38, Oakland 13
Chris Johnson seems set on his goal to exceed last year's production. It's one thing to say that against the Raider's run defense. What happens when Pittsburgh comes to town next week?
Pierce's Pick - TEN.
New England 38, Cincinnati 24
A statement game from a Patriots team that looks like they've taken offense to being written off by some so early in the year. It's still a tough division, but Tom Brady seems like he wants to live up to his contract. That's scary. Cincinnati has a lot of questions after this one; how they bounce back against a ferocious Baltimore team next week will say a lot about their character. An 0-2 start for a team with personalities like Ochocino and TO might spell disaster fast.
Pierce's Pick - NE.
NY Giants 31, Carolina 18
If the Panthers can't run the ball, they won't win games. It's how they're built. The Giants look strong on defense, but a home game against Carolina isn't going to convince me yet. But after watching the other three NFC East teams in Week 1, the Giants certainly seem to have more swagger and more talent pulling its weight.
Pierce's Pick - NYG.
Pittsburgh 15, Atlanta 9
An important win for Pittsburgh, who has a murderer's row in their Roethlisberger-less four weeks. Losing here would have likely given them a 1-3 starting record, or 2-2 at best. Atlanta still has trouble winning outside of a dome, but that's been a theme for them over the past couple years. Troublesome for Pittsburgh is that without the overtime TD scamper, Mendenhall posts a fairly pedestrian statline on a team that needs a strong running game without it's star QB.
Pierce's Pick - PIT.
Tampa Bay 17, Cleveland 14
These may again be two of the worst teams in the NFL this season, so forgive me for not paying much attention to this game. But from what I've seen and heard, Jake Delhomme continues to throw picks and Tampa might have the real deal in young Josh Freeman. 4th-round rookie WR Mike Williams had a TD in his first game, too. Dare I say it, but... maybe there's hope in Tampa? Not this year, but, in building something solid moving forward.
Pierce's Pick - CLE.
Jacksonville 24, Denver 17
This is a game that I assumed would be won by whichever team was at home. Denver plays well in thin air and poorly on the East Coast. Jacksonville has to have a playoff-bound year or the team will likely see overhauls across the board (which have been long in coming, if you ask me). A team can only exist on the cusp for so long. This game tells me that the Jaguars wanted it more. I'm interested to see how Denver responds when they play the surprising Seahawks at Mile High next week.
Pierce's Pick - JAX.
Houston 34, Indianapolis 24
The stunner of the week? The Texans have the monkey off their back for now with a momentous win against their nemesis, a team they know they have to dethrone to take the division. It's a good step for the Texans. If Arian Foster is the real deal and can continue to run hard all season, the Texans become a team to fear - prolific passing game, solid running game, hungry defense. How will teams defend them? Meanwhile, I wonder if the Colts, home of the ever-stoic QB and ever-stoic coach, have run out of gas and moxie. Like many others, I'm interested to see how both of these teams respond to their victory or defeat in Week 2. And does anyone else think that the rematch in Indianapolis will now be a highlight game of the week? I sure do.
Pierce's Pick - HOU.
Seattle 31, San Francisco 6
What happened here? San Francisco was supposed to ascend this year in a winnable division while the freshly Carroll-led Seahawks, amidst a roster overhaul, were supposed to flounder. Kudos to the Seahawks though, who must have played one heck of a game. The 49ers, meanwhile, welcome the Saints next week with questions on their mind and a need to play a tough game and pull out an unlikely win.
Pierce's Pick - SF.
Green Bay 27, Philadelphia 20
Much like some other games, this was an ugly one to watch. Neither offense seemed capable of much until the second half. The Packers barely pulled out a win in a game they should have dominated. The Eagles looked more comfortable with Vick under center than Kolb, which bodes poorly for their future. I wonder if they're going to end up regretting the McNabb trade? Clay Matthews has to be one of the most dominant young defensive players in the league. That guy is a monster, the kind of player that opposing offenses have to scheme specifically against.
Pierce's Pick - GB.
Arizona 17, St. Louis 13
Arizona had to fight to win this game, which speaks volumes about what Kurt Warner meant to this team. I'm not sure whether Matt Leinart would have been better or not, but they must have a lot of faith in those rookie QBs of theirs, because it's clear that Derek Anderson is not a permanent solution at QB for more than a year or two. St. Louis, meanwhile, should come away from this game without too many complaints. They played a good one and Bradford looks to be the real deal. The Mark Clayton acquisition was the second-most important move they made in the offseason (after drafting Bradford). Young quarterbacks need veteran weapons to flourish.
Pierce's Pick - ARI.
Washington 13, Dallas 7
Wow. This was as ugly a game that was played as any all week. The screen pass with no time left at the end of the first half is as much of a head-scratcher as Lovie Smith's decision to not kick a go-ahead FG. Nonetheless, neither team can walk away from this game too happy. Washington's offense was anemic. Dallas's offense was unimpressive. Both teams played sound defense, though, but this is most certainly not the way Dallas wanted to start the season. And as anyone who watched the game knows, they have a huge problem at right tackle.
Pierce's Pick - DAL.
Baltimore 10, NY Jets 9
Baltimore came into this game wanting to knock some swagger out of the Jets and did just that. There was no willingness to throw downfield, so the Jets never challenged the banged-up Baltimore secondary and the Baltimore front-seven got to run free. Shonn Greene had a rough start to his sophomore campaign, but the Jets can be thankful they picked up LT - he looks like he will give them fresh yards throughout the game and will flourish all over again with a 10-15 carry workload (not unlike Ricky Williams in Miami). However, it's clear that as with many other teams, Baltimore's passing game hinges on a convincing running game, which the Jets were unwilling to give them. Joe Flacco is, however, Mr. Cool when it comes to third-down and that was what made the difference in this game.
Pierce's Pick - BAL.
Kansas City 21, San Diego 14
The Chargers have to be scratching their heads after this one. A winnable game, a game they should have won, instead casts a question on their offseason losses and the holdouts of important offensive cogs Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill. Meanwhile, the Chiefs - who do play their division foes hard at home - get an uplifting win and scores from young players like Charles and rookie Dexter McCluster. There's still a lot of work to do there, though. The Chargers, though, have to be sick to go 4-and-out from the KC 6-yard line at the end of the game. This is a team that is supposed to make that score.
Pierce's Pick - SD.
(Pierce's Picks for the week combine for a record of 11-5).
New Orleans 14, Minnesota 9.
It seems to me that these two teams save their worst performances for each other. Both teams looked out-of-sync on offense, but played stout defense. Both Favre and Brees played subpar games given that both offensive lines gave them solid protection. Much like last year, it appears that you can stop the Saints if they can't run the ball - their success is far more predicated on their running game (and this was true last year) than people realize. Favre looks old and doesn't seem to trust any of his receivers other than Shiancoe. Percy Harvin looked lost out there. Greg Cammarillo has a huge upside for this team; I could see Favre clicking with him in the coming weeks.
Pierce's Pick - NO.
Miami 15, Buffalo 10
The only surprise here is that Miami didn't win more convincingly. But they won and that's the mentality the Dolphins have had under Parcells - win tough. I watched Chad Henne for four years at Michigan and always believed he'd be a good pro quarterback. I'll get a close look at him this week when his team visits Minnesota.
Pierce's Pick - MIA.
Chicago 19, Detroit 14
The Lions were cheated out of this game and everyone outside of the NFL's rule book seems to know it. Nonetheless, it was an ugly game for both teams and, regardless of the TD That Wasn't, the Lions had plenty of opportunity to win this game before that. Jay Cutler still looks unimpressive; if Chicago is to be successful, their success will hinge on Matt Forte and their defense. Lions fans can take some measure of solace in one of the most impressive defensive performances a Lions team has put together in a very, very long time. I'll have more on this game in a separate entry.
Pierce's Pick - DET.
Tennessee 38, Oakland 13
Chris Johnson seems set on his goal to exceed last year's production. It's one thing to say that against the Raider's run defense. What happens when Pittsburgh comes to town next week?
Pierce's Pick - TEN.
New England 38, Cincinnati 24
A statement game from a Patriots team that looks like they've taken offense to being written off by some so early in the year. It's still a tough division, but Tom Brady seems like he wants to live up to his contract. That's scary. Cincinnati has a lot of questions after this one; how they bounce back against a ferocious Baltimore team next week will say a lot about their character. An 0-2 start for a team with personalities like Ochocino and TO might spell disaster fast.
Pierce's Pick - NE.
NY Giants 31, Carolina 18
If the Panthers can't run the ball, they won't win games. It's how they're built. The Giants look strong on defense, but a home game against Carolina isn't going to convince me yet. But after watching the other three NFC East teams in Week 1, the Giants certainly seem to have more swagger and more talent pulling its weight.
Pierce's Pick - NYG.
Pittsburgh 15, Atlanta 9
An important win for Pittsburgh, who has a murderer's row in their Roethlisberger-less four weeks. Losing here would have likely given them a 1-3 starting record, or 2-2 at best. Atlanta still has trouble winning outside of a dome, but that's been a theme for them over the past couple years. Troublesome for Pittsburgh is that without the overtime TD scamper, Mendenhall posts a fairly pedestrian statline on a team that needs a strong running game without it's star QB.
Pierce's Pick - PIT.
Tampa Bay 17, Cleveland 14
These may again be two of the worst teams in the NFL this season, so forgive me for not paying much attention to this game. But from what I've seen and heard, Jake Delhomme continues to throw picks and Tampa might have the real deal in young Josh Freeman. 4th-round rookie WR Mike Williams had a TD in his first game, too. Dare I say it, but... maybe there's hope in Tampa? Not this year, but, in building something solid moving forward.
Pierce's Pick - CLE.
Jacksonville 24, Denver 17
This is a game that I assumed would be won by whichever team was at home. Denver plays well in thin air and poorly on the East Coast. Jacksonville has to have a playoff-bound year or the team will likely see overhauls across the board (which have been long in coming, if you ask me). A team can only exist on the cusp for so long. This game tells me that the Jaguars wanted it more. I'm interested to see how Denver responds when they play the surprising Seahawks at Mile High next week.
Pierce's Pick - JAX.
Houston 34, Indianapolis 24
The stunner of the week? The Texans have the monkey off their back for now with a momentous win against their nemesis, a team they know they have to dethrone to take the division. It's a good step for the Texans. If Arian Foster is the real deal and can continue to run hard all season, the Texans become a team to fear - prolific passing game, solid running game, hungry defense. How will teams defend them? Meanwhile, I wonder if the Colts, home of the ever-stoic QB and ever-stoic coach, have run out of gas and moxie. Like many others, I'm interested to see how both of these teams respond to their victory or defeat in Week 2. And does anyone else think that the rematch in Indianapolis will now be a highlight game of the week? I sure do.
Pierce's Pick - HOU.
Seattle 31, San Francisco 6
What happened here? San Francisco was supposed to ascend this year in a winnable division while the freshly Carroll-led Seahawks, amidst a roster overhaul, were supposed to flounder. Kudos to the Seahawks though, who must have played one heck of a game. The 49ers, meanwhile, welcome the Saints next week with questions on their mind and a need to play a tough game and pull out an unlikely win.
Pierce's Pick - SF.
Green Bay 27, Philadelphia 20
Much like some other games, this was an ugly one to watch. Neither offense seemed capable of much until the second half. The Packers barely pulled out a win in a game they should have dominated. The Eagles looked more comfortable with Vick under center than Kolb, which bodes poorly for their future. I wonder if they're going to end up regretting the McNabb trade? Clay Matthews has to be one of the most dominant young defensive players in the league. That guy is a monster, the kind of player that opposing offenses have to scheme specifically against.
Pierce's Pick - GB.
Arizona 17, St. Louis 13
Arizona had to fight to win this game, which speaks volumes about what Kurt Warner meant to this team. I'm not sure whether Matt Leinart would have been better or not, but they must have a lot of faith in those rookie QBs of theirs, because it's clear that Derek Anderson is not a permanent solution at QB for more than a year or two. St. Louis, meanwhile, should come away from this game without too many complaints. They played a good one and Bradford looks to be the real deal. The Mark Clayton acquisition was the second-most important move they made in the offseason (after drafting Bradford). Young quarterbacks need veteran weapons to flourish.
Pierce's Pick - ARI.
Washington 13, Dallas 7
Wow. This was as ugly a game that was played as any all week. The screen pass with no time left at the end of the first half is as much of a head-scratcher as Lovie Smith's decision to not kick a go-ahead FG. Nonetheless, neither team can walk away from this game too happy. Washington's offense was anemic. Dallas's offense was unimpressive. Both teams played sound defense, though, but this is most certainly not the way Dallas wanted to start the season. And as anyone who watched the game knows, they have a huge problem at right tackle.
Pierce's Pick - DAL.
Baltimore 10, NY Jets 9
Baltimore came into this game wanting to knock some swagger out of the Jets and did just that. There was no willingness to throw downfield, so the Jets never challenged the banged-up Baltimore secondary and the Baltimore front-seven got to run free. Shonn Greene had a rough start to his sophomore campaign, but the Jets can be thankful they picked up LT - he looks like he will give them fresh yards throughout the game and will flourish all over again with a 10-15 carry workload (not unlike Ricky Williams in Miami). However, it's clear that as with many other teams, Baltimore's passing game hinges on a convincing running game, which the Jets were unwilling to give them. Joe Flacco is, however, Mr. Cool when it comes to third-down and that was what made the difference in this game.
Pierce's Pick - BAL.
Kansas City 21, San Diego 14
The Chargers have to be scratching their heads after this one. A winnable game, a game they should have won, instead casts a question on their offseason losses and the holdouts of important offensive cogs Vincent Jackson and Marcus McNeill. Meanwhile, the Chiefs - who do play their division foes hard at home - get an uplifting win and scores from young players like Charles and rookie Dexter McCluster. There's still a lot of work to do there, though. The Chargers, though, have to be sick to go 4-and-out from the KC 6-yard line at the end of the game. This is a team that is supposed to make that score.
Pierce's Pick - SD.
(Pierce's Picks for the week combine for a record of 11-5).
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Twitter addition!
I've added a Twitter account to the side of the blog. Expect updates and thoughts live from games as I watch them.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Pierce's Picks 2010 - Week 1
Every week, I intend to update the blog with my picks for the week. No spread or anything along those lines, just a simple prediction on who will win each game that week. I'll log my record throughout the season and, at the end of the year, divide it down so that it reads out of 16, as per an NFL team's record. We'll see if I make the playoffs or not. So, without further ado, my picks for Week 1 -
Winning team is marked in bold.
Thursday Night -
Minnesota @ New Orleans
Sunday at 1:00pm EST -
Miami @ Buffalo
Detroit @ Chicago
Oakland @ Tennessee
Cincinnati @ New England
Carolina @ NY Giants
Atlanta @ Pittsburgh
Cleveland @ Tampa Bay
Denver @ Jacksonville
Indianapolis @ Houston
Sunday at 4:00pm EST -
San Francisco @ Seattle
Green Bay @ Philadelphia
Arizona @ St. Louis
Sunday Night -
Dallas @ Washington
Monday Night -
Baltimore @ NY Jets
San Diego @ Kansas City
Winning team is marked in bold.
Thursday Night -
Minnesota @ New Orleans
Sunday at 1:00pm EST -
Miami @ Buffalo
Detroit @ Chicago
Oakland @ Tennessee
Cincinnati @ New England
Carolina @ NY Giants
Atlanta @ Pittsburgh
Cleveland @ Tampa Bay
Denver @ Jacksonville
Indianapolis @ Houston
Sunday at 4:00pm EST -
San Francisco @ Seattle
Green Bay @ Philadelphia
Arizona @ St. Louis
Sunday Night -
Dallas @ Washington
Monday Night -
Baltimore @ NY Jets
San Diego @ Kansas City
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Final NFL offseason revelations.
A lot can happen in a week; this is a common theme in the NFL and it appears this season is no different already. We'll start with some NFC North news - namely, the odd surgery for Sidney Rice that will result in him missing at least the first half of the season. Immediately, this appeared dire for the Vikings and it still is a loss, no matter what, as Favre appeared to favor Rice to his other receivers. However, give the Vikings credit for having made what seems like a lopsided trade in their favor for Greg Camarillo, who was - in my opinion - a somewhat unheralded guy in Miami with fantastic hands, even if he lacks game-breaking speed. He seems like a good 3rd-down target for Favre, who I wouldn't be surprised to see develop significant trust in Camarillo fast. While I'm sure the Vikings would rather have Rice playing, the Camarillo move spares them having their receiving corps in disarray; now they'll still field one of the stronger receiving corps in the NFL with a likely four-some of Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, Camarillo and Greg Camarillo, not to mention tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and Adrian Peterson's ability to run a screen. Not a bad spot to be in after seeing your #1 WR go down.
Meanwhile, what's the preseason without a good quarterback controversy? Not surprising, the Arizona Cardinals didn't take long to lose faith in Kurt Warner's heir-apparent, Matt Leinart, who might be getting usurped with Derek Anderson as the preseason goes on. The Cardinals have a few options here, but I imagine Leinart has grown very weary of losing the confidence of Ken Whisenhunt's staff, who benched him for Kurt Warner two years ago, as well. It's becoming clear to me that Leinart's future might not be in the red-and-white of the Cardinals and, if it isn't Whisenhunt's desire to start him, it might be most fair to the young signal-caller to trade him, as well as most viable for the Cardinals, who still might be able to turn him for a 3rd- or 4th-round pick to any number of teams lacking capable quarterbacks to start.
It's become clear as the offseason has gone on that Roger Goodell will stop at nothing to push the sport to an 18-game regular season. I find this an intriguing concept only because I don't think football is particularly broken right now. It is by far the most popular American sport and I believe part of that is because it's a short season - 16 games makes every game meaningful (almost) and easy to keep track of. Adding games only complicates the game, risks more meaningless games than the couple that it has, and, of course, puts the players in harm's way for longer. I find that last point most interesting, given that player sentiment on the topic gravitates towards the additional damage per season an extra 2 games would put on them. It seems an odd card by the commissioner to play as a possible lockout looms for 2011. However, all of my reading suggests he is going to stick to his guns on this. Is it possible that he's doing this to use as a bargaining chip with the players in the collective bargaining negotiations? Personally, I see an 18-game season as detrimental to the sport compared to how it is now. The extensive, 4-game preseason may be a drag to casual fans, but I see the value to the sport of having that much time to evaluate personnel in actual game situations. The NFL isn't like the NHL or MLB, both of which have extensive farm systems to develop and evaluate talent. The NFL has the preseason and offseason workouts to figure things out - diminishing that time, in my opinion, will result in coaches having less time to evaluate prospects and thus may result in more busts than we already see, while deserving players - those rare gems that make their presences known in later preseason games - may end up going unnoticed. I remain open-minded, but as it stands now, I see a longer season as something extremely disadvantageous to the player base and I'll be interested to see how that plays out in the ongoing labor agreement negotiations.
I'll close this entry with my current radical theory. It's been well-documented that Tom Brady's involvement in the Patriots is less than it once was - he's older now, in his 30s, and not the same fired-up youngster he once was. He has a wife and children on the West Coast and it was clear this offseason that his priority was his family, not football. Even when I see him now, he looks less interested than he used to. This has led me to wonder... what does Tom Brady have to gain from playing for much longer? He holds several single-season records. He's won multiple Super Bowls. He's been a Super Bowl MVP and a regular season MVP. He won't ever threaten career passing records. At the same time, the Patriots - ever-thrifty front office they are - haven't been in much of a rush to get him resigned, as he is in the final year of his contract. They may be waiting for more news on the labor agreement, but part of me wonders... let's assume next year is a locked-out year, that there is (sadly) no football in 2011. I would not be surprised if Brady retired after this season, particularly if the Patriots don't offer him a respectable contract. Here's someone I could see being uninterested in watching his body deteriorate as he plays into his late-30s, not when he could be home with his wife and kids and growing old to still be able to play with those kids, or his grandkids. I could see him doing like Bill Cowher did and taking a nice broadcasting gig in the meantime. Anyway, it's a thought... we've seen better players than Brady leave the game prematurely so as to preserve their body. It's not outside of the realm of possibility. But it would certainly be different, a much-needed shock of reality to a sport that routinely has athletes put their bodies on the line at the expense of their futures... especially as the 18-game debate starts to close and become reality.
Meanwhile, what's the preseason without a good quarterback controversy? Not surprising, the Arizona Cardinals didn't take long to lose faith in Kurt Warner's heir-apparent, Matt Leinart, who might be getting usurped with Derek Anderson as the preseason goes on. The Cardinals have a few options here, but I imagine Leinart has grown very weary of losing the confidence of Ken Whisenhunt's staff, who benched him for Kurt Warner two years ago, as well. It's becoming clear to me that Leinart's future might not be in the red-and-white of the Cardinals and, if it isn't Whisenhunt's desire to start him, it might be most fair to the young signal-caller to trade him, as well as most viable for the Cardinals, who still might be able to turn him for a 3rd- or 4th-round pick to any number of teams lacking capable quarterbacks to start.
It's become clear as the offseason has gone on that Roger Goodell will stop at nothing to push the sport to an 18-game regular season. I find this an intriguing concept only because I don't think football is particularly broken right now. It is by far the most popular American sport and I believe part of that is because it's a short season - 16 games makes every game meaningful (almost) and easy to keep track of. Adding games only complicates the game, risks more meaningless games than the couple that it has, and, of course, puts the players in harm's way for longer. I find that last point most interesting, given that player sentiment on the topic gravitates towards the additional damage per season an extra 2 games would put on them. It seems an odd card by the commissioner to play as a possible lockout looms for 2011. However, all of my reading suggests he is going to stick to his guns on this. Is it possible that he's doing this to use as a bargaining chip with the players in the collective bargaining negotiations? Personally, I see an 18-game season as detrimental to the sport compared to how it is now. The extensive, 4-game preseason may be a drag to casual fans, but I see the value to the sport of having that much time to evaluate personnel in actual game situations. The NFL isn't like the NHL or MLB, both of which have extensive farm systems to develop and evaluate talent. The NFL has the preseason and offseason workouts to figure things out - diminishing that time, in my opinion, will result in coaches having less time to evaluate prospects and thus may result in more busts than we already see, while deserving players - those rare gems that make their presences known in later preseason games - may end up going unnoticed. I remain open-minded, but as it stands now, I see a longer season as something extremely disadvantageous to the player base and I'll be interested to see how that plays out in the ongoing labor agreement negotiations.
I'll close this entry with my current radical theory. It's been well-documented that Tom Brady's involvement in the Patriots is less than it once was - he's older now, in his 30s, and not the same fired-up youngster he once was. He has a wife and children on the West Coast and it was clear this offseason that his priority was his family, not football. Even when I see him now, he looks less interested than he used to. This has led me to wonder... what does Tom Brady have to gain from playing for much longer? He holds several single-season records. He's won multiple Super Bowls. He's been a Super Bowl MVP and a regular season MVP. He won't ever threaten career passing records. At the same time, the Patriots - ever-thrifty front office they are - haven't been in much of a rush to get him resigned, as he is in the final year of his contract. They may be waiting for more news on the labor agreement, but part of me wonders... let's assume next year is a locked-out year, that there is (sadly) no football in 2011. I would not be surprised if Brady retired after this season, particularly if the Patriots don't offer him a respectable contract. Here's someone I could see being uninterested in watching his body deteriorate as he plays into his late-30s, not when he could be home with his wife and kids and growing old to still be able to play with those kids, or his grandkids. I could see him doing like Bill Cowher did and taking a nice broadcasting gig in the meantime. Anyway, it's a thought... we've seen better players than Brady leave the game prematurely so as to preserve their body. It's not outside of the realm of possibility. But it would certainly be different, a much-needed shock of reality to a sport that routinely has athletes put their bodies on the line at the expense of their futures... especially as the 18-game debate starts to close and become reality.
September Baseball: Preparing for the final stretch.
Ahhh, September. Arguably the best month of baseball there is. The pretenders have been shorn off and now the division races are clear and coming down to the wire. The mid-tier teams are getting to the point of no return and those weird, bizarre deadline waiver moves are taking place.
Speaking of weird, bizarre deadline waiver moves, Manny Ramirez has found himself a new team, this time in the White Sox. Didn't the White Sox pick up an aging slugger last year, too, in an effort to stay in the thick of the race? Anyone remember how that worked out for them? I do. And while I don't think they'll let the Tigers pass them up this year, I don't think they'll be taking the division from the Twins, or even giving the AL Central its third-straight one-game playoff. Ramirez might give the Sox a little more pop, but if you look around the league, it becomes painfully obvious, as it does every year, that pitching is what gets you in the playoffs and - more importantly - what takes you deep. Just as the Rays or the Padres. So while the Sox picked up a bat, let's give credit where credit is due, to the Minnesota Twins, for picking up a left-handed reliever in Brian Fuentes as they prepare for a playoff series against the Rays or the Yankees depending on how it all shakes out.
In other news, fireballer Stephen Strasburg is undergoing Tommy John surgery after blowing out his elbow. As a Tigers fan, I've watched a reliever - Joel Zumaya - blow out his arm year after year because the primary pitch in his arsenal tops 100 mph. I've read articles lately that mention how unnatural it is to throw a ball overhand with such velocity; the human body isn't built to do that, at least not regularly. Strasburg is a phenomenally exciting player, but even after his debut, I had to wonder if he was built for the long run or not, knowing what I've seen of other high-prospect high-speed pitchers. I hope he makes a triumphant return next year, but to require Tommy John surgery without even completing a whole season, in his first year, well, I can imagine that the Nationals' front office has to be a little nervous about this one, along with the rest of Major League Baseball.
Going back to those wacky deadline moves, I want to take a moment to discuss Johnny Damon. He was claimed by the Boston Red Sox - odd, right, hence the wacky - only to turn them down, as he has a no-trade clause in his contract with the Tigers, allowing him to be the final say in any trade involving him. After turning it down, various columnists in Boston took some affront to the denial, to the point of publicly wondering why someone would choose to live in Detroit when they could live in Boston. Damon retorted to this almost instantly, defending not just the Tigers organization, but the city of Detroit as a whole. As a native who has witnessed the plight of Detroit first-hand, I can't help but applaud Damon for his kind words and spirit. While he has not had the best statistical season this year (which may be the main reason he might no be a Tiger next year...), he has a class act and a clubhouse leader, the type of guy you like to see on your team. So, Johnny Damon, I just wanted to say thank you.
Speaking of weird, bizarre deadline waiver moves, Manny Ramirez has found himself a new team, this time in the White Sox. Didn't the White Sox pick up an aging slugger last year, too, in an effort to stay in the thick of the race? Anyone remember how that worked out for them? I do. And while I don't think they'll let the Tigers pass them up this year, I don't think they'll be taking the division from the Twins, or even giving the AL Central its third-straight one-game playoff. Ramirez might give the Sox a little more pop, but if you look around the league, it becomes painfully obvious, as it does every year, that pitching is what gets you in the playoffs and - more importantly - what takes you deep. Just as the Rays or the Padres. So while the Sox picked up a bat, let's give credit where credit is due, to the Minnesota Twins, for picking up a left-handed reliever in Brian Fuentes as they prepare for a playoff series against the Rays or the Yankees depending on how it all shakes out.
In other news, fireballer Stephen Strasburg is undergoing Tommy John surgery after blowing out his elbow. As a Tigers fan, I've watched a reliever - Joel Zumaya - blow out his arm year after year because the primary pitch in his arsenal tops 100 mph. I've read articles lately that mention how unnatural it is to throw a ball overhand with such velocity; the human body isn't built to do that, at least not regularly. Strasburg is a phenomenally exciting player, but even after his debut, I had to wonder if he was built for the long run or not, knowing what I've seen of other high-prospect high-speed pitchers. I hope he makes a triumphant return next year, but to require Tommy John surgery without even completing a whole season, in his first year, well, I can imagine that the Nationals' front office has to be a little nervous about this one, along with the rest of Major League Baseball.
Going back to those wacky deadline moves, I want to take a moment to discuss Johnny Damon. He was claimed by the Boston Red Sox - odd, right, hence the wacky - only to turn them down, as he has a no-trade clause in his contract with the Tigers, allowing him to be the final say in any trade involving him. After turning it down, various columnists in Boston took some affront to the denial, to the point of publicly wondering why someone would choose to live in Detroit when they could live in Boston. Damon retorted to this almost instantly, defending not just the Tigers organization, but the city of Detroit as a whole. As a native who has witnessed the plight of Detroit first-hand, I can't help but applaud Damon for his kind words and spirit. While he has not had the best statistical season this year (which may be the main reason he might no be a Tiger next year...), he has a class act and a clubhouse leader, the type of guy you like to see on your team. So, Johnny Damon, I just wanted to say thank you.
College football returneth!
We'll begin with the imminent start of a new college football season by discussing one of the biggest ramifications coming out of the Big Ten realignment right now - the very likely loss of the Michigan-Ohio State game to end the season. Let's not fool ourselves: the rivalry between the Wolverines and Buckeyes is one of the oldest and most revered in the country - not just in college football, but among all sports. It will now be subjugated and victimized by the Big Ten braintrust that now seems to believe that splitting Michigan and Ohio State will result in a larger bottom line. And don't fool yourself; the motivating factor for anything in college football now is the bottom line - whether it's in stadium revenues, television revenues or whatever else, the BCS has taught us that college football is about maximum profit just as much as the NFL is. In fact, the frenzy for more revenue is what's perpetuating these realignments and in-conference maneuvers. The college conference powers are becoming willing to trade tradition for projected money - and that's the key to me, something illustrated by the coming Michigan-Ohio State split. Anyone in the Big Ten knows that Michigan-Ohio State, as well as being tradition, is extremely lucrative as it is. It's the biggest game of the conference every year. What the Big Ten aims to do, in the split, is push that profit margin by hoping - hoping - the teams might meet for a Conference Championship game some year. Given the state of Wolverine football, that's a somewhat far-fetched notion at present. Sure, the Wolverines might play the Buckeyes during the season nonetheless, but it won't be that iconic last game. It won't be a game that the season has built up to. No, sadly, it will just be another game on the schedule. And that is a loss to college football as a whole.
In other college football news, there's already lots of Heisman predictions going around. This is, to me, the most ludicrous thing imaginable. Of all sports, college football can be one of the most unpredictable, particularly when it comes to projecting individual players. There's no exact science to it and it's common that, by the halfway point of the season, most of the projected Heisman winners have fallen off the concept entirely. For example, Mark Ingram was a subject of consideration, but now that he's going to miss time, he's written off a week later. Therein lies the absurdity of predicting Heisman winners so early - too much can change during the season to start beforehand, and things can even change before the season. Now, I'm all for a lively debate. I'm fine with predicting how teams will do, as that's a somewhat more precise science. But charting how an individual will do, before he even sets cleat on the field for the season... well, let's face it, it's ridiculous.
In other college football news, there's already lots of Heisman predictions going around. This is, to me, the most ludicrous thing imaginable. Of all sports, college football can be one of the most unpredictable, particularly when it comes to projecting individual players. There's no exact science to it and it's common that, by the halfway point of the season, most of the projected Heisman winners have fallen off the concept entirely. For example, Mark Ingram was a subject of consideration, but now that he's going to miss time, he's written off a week later. Therein lies the absurdity of predicting Heisman winners so early - too much can change during the season to start beforehand, and things can even change before the season. Now, I'm all for a lively debate. I'm fine with predicting how teams will do, as that's a somewhat more precise science. But charting how an individual will do, before he even sets cleat on the field for the season... well, let's face it, it's ridiculous.
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