Whisenhunt: the Ravens were exactly who he thought they were
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by Crixtopher
I just can't help myself, that was an eerily Denny Green moment yesterday in the Ravens game. Surely I was not the only Arizona Cardinals fan with my jaw on the floor when I saw Kurt Warner strolling onto the field with Matt Leinart standing on the sideline dejected and not injured. Maybe even more shocking was seeing Warner carve up the Ravens defense like it was the Louisville Cardinals defense whereas Leinart had much less success. Sure, anyone can point to stats and say well see Matt was struggling, but I have to say he wasn't playing miserably. He had not fumbled the ball away and had not thrown an interception, though he was off target more than once. This is a very interesting decision by coach Whiz, because on the one hand he looks like a genius for installing Warner who almost single handedly won the game for Arizona, but on the other hand he could be hurting the confidence of his QB of the present and future and simultaneously opening up the possibility for division of the fan base and locker room.
That said, remember before RB tandems were fashionable in the NFL? Feature backs used to be the blueprint for successful teams in pro football. Well I'm not betting on it but what if, and its a big if, Whisenhunt will attempt to hark back to the predominantly college strategy of rotating QBs based on package? If my vote counted I would vote no. My vote would be to let Leinart play in that no huddle two minute drill package and I bet his stats would have looked very similar to Warner's. As it stands coach may have opened up a can of worms.
Despite not having Andre Johnson, the Texans lost by just six points to the SB champs. Not bad.
I told you so. Green Bay Packers NFC North champs. I'm already ready to anoint them.
Getting Jared Allen back for the Chiefs was monumental in their first win of the year. Dude is a monster, 8 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and just putting pressure everywhere all game long.
See, football games really are fixed. 38-14, 38-14, 38-7; all Patriot victories. Randy Moss - 2 TDs, 2 TDs, 2 TDs. Are they peaking too early though?
With 8 more points scored this year the Cardinals are 3-0. If Larry Fitzgerald hadn't fumbled the long reception from Warner, or Adrian Wilson hadn't been called for a very questionable 15-yard unnecessary roughness with less than a minute to go, the Ravens would have been out of Matt Stover's game winning FG range. Then again, if they didn't have the best WR in pro football Anquan Boldin on their team they wouldn't have even been in the game that late.
I'm a big fan of Leon Washington, it doesn't matter what role you ask him to play he'll find a way to make an impact, returning a kick for 98 yards to help propel the Jets to their first win.
Bottom feeders update: St Louis, Atlanta, Miami, Buffalo and if they lose tonight, New Orleans.
McNabb silenced 'em, but I saw that coming a mile away. Wow did Kevin Curtis have a monster game.
Jacksonville really surprised me, I thought their defense had taken a step backward and I wasn't sure team continuity would be able to rebound after the Leftwich shocker. I love to be proven wrong though and they have now positioned themselves nicely at 2-1.
Did anyone really expect Derek Anderson to play like a Hall of Fame QB for a second straight week? That was one huge blocked FG by the Raiders as time ran out.
Nice gut check rebound game for the Giants. Their defense shut out the Redskins in the second half which is saying something considering what their D had played like the first two games of the year. Ofcourse the Redskins really helped them out at the end with poor play calling with four downs from three yards out. Firstly, with over nearly 30 seconds to go and no timeouts, instead of spiking the ball how about a QB sneak? Odds are in their favor to get atleast one maybe two yards, and if they were successful they could either run another QB sneak and get it in the end zone or then spike the ball. But running two slow developing running plays against 11 in the box? All I can say is boooooooo.
The Cowboys look great, the Bears do not. Tony Romo looks like a top 5 QB, and T.O. loves him for it. Sure the 'Boys secondary is shaky but atleast they are making the INTs. And finally, Marion Barber, its so much more than a nose for the endzone, he is simply unstoppable when gets within 15 yards! No one is running harder or with as much fire and determination. This year's Jim Brown award.
