Football time baby!!!!

[TheTaxidermist]

Reg season just kicked off and my Stillers just kicked some Dolphin bootay. I said they'd win 21-17 and when Jeff Reed missed that field goal that would have made it 24-17, I thought it was destiny for it to be 21-17, but no. Oh well. I'm sure most football fans are probably looking forward to Manning vs. Manning on sunday night. I'm not however. I could care less for Peyton Manning (a.k.a. cough cough I'm choking, help me!!!!!) and Eli Manning. Eli Manning only came into the NFL as a top prospect because of his last name.

[TheTaxidermist]

The Manning vs. Manning match turned out to be a pretty darn good game. Nevermind the fact that it had the least anti-climatic ending ever! Not too much surprised me today. The only big surprise was the Ravens tearing the Bucs apart.

[Chrispy]

The only big surprise was the Ravens tearing the Bucs apart.

What about Green Bay getting shut out?

And my J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets getting a tick in the win column?

[TheTaxidermist]

What about Green Bay getting shut out?

And my J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets getting a tick in the win column?

It was only a matter of time for Green Bay to get shut out. Brett Favre still has the ability to get the job done it's just that he has no team around him. He can only do so much, like Michael Jordan for the Wizards. Of course the Jets winning wasn't a great surprise for me. Chad Pennington played pretty well and I wrote him off a year ago as being done. He didn't have much pep on the ball before his two shoulder surgeries. I figured the surgeries would just finish his career. Maybe he's got somethin left. I wouldn't judge yet because he did play the Titans.

[John Clabo]

Go TITANS


.....That is all. ;)

[Brendon]

It's another long year for us Raiders fans...

[TheTaxidermist]

Oh man, you got that right. They replaced Brooks by the end of the game. Suddenly, the Raiders are missing Rich Gannon from his prime.

[Nick_Fury]

What about Green Bay getting shut out?

And my J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets getting a tick in the win column?

That was SO sweet. Hopefully the Bears can keep that kind of performance up and not have too many injuries on our D this year (I'm looking at you Mike Brown) so that when we make the playoffs, we don't lose in our first game again.

[Brendon]

Oh man, you got that right. They replaced Brooks by the end of the game. Suddenly, the Raiders are missing Rich Gannon from his prime.

I'd take Rich Gannon as he is currently over Aaron Brooks.

[John Clabo]

Damn Vols lost to the Gators by 1 damn point yesterday! ARRRGHHH!

[EclipseSix]

Bears 2-0. W00t

[Brendon]

At least USC is still winning...

[TheTaxidermist]

Damnit the steelers lost. I can tell you why they lost tonight.

1) Roethlisberger looked very rusty. Reminds me of the Colts Steelers monday night game last year.
2) Roethlisberger had a 104 temp.
3) They gave up on the run way too early
4) Jacksonville's D did tremendously well.
5) Santonio Holmes played like a rookie, causing the first interception and making stupid plays on kickoffs and punts.
Look for the Steelers to do much better against the Bengals next week.

[Brendon]

If Carson continues to look like his knee isn't going to bug him, I don't see the Steelers being able to stop their offense. On the flipside, Willie had a horrible game, and Ben is out of it still. They might be better off playing Batch again.

[TheTaxidermist]

Now see that's what I don't get. Nobody is giving the Steeler's defense any credit. They kept the Jaguars to only 9 points in that game. They have the type of defense that bends but doesn't break. Anytime they get close to their own endzone the defense stiffens up. And to me, it looked like Ben was just rusty. He's gonna come back just like he did last year when he was rusty. Willie Parker will be a bigger part of the offense because the Bengals rushing defense is not that good. Just don't be surprised if you see a Steelers victory.

[Brendon]

I won't be surprised either way. And you're actually counting out the Bengals. Don't forget, if Palmer is healthy he's the second best QB in the NFL. Rudi is no laughing matter, and Chad is a top 5 WR. They have a few other solid WR's, as well. Their defense isn't as good as the Steelers, but it's not a pushover like some offensive-oriented teams out there.

Most likely, this will come down to a good ol' defense vs offense match. In the past, defense dominated those, but with the new rules in recent years I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bengals walk away with the win.

[Brendon]

What do you know--Ben had a horrible game, and the Steelers' defense couldn't stop Palmer ;)

[Chrispy]

And my J E T S Jets Jets Jets walked away with another win. BOOYAKASHA.

What a horrid week for my fantasy guys, though. Chad Johnson, Plaxico...blech.

[TheTaxidermist]

what are you talking about couldn't stop Palmer? I take it you didn't watch the game then. Couldn't stop Palmer in the second quarter maybe but in the fourth quarter, those were cheap TD's. The Steelers managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. I can look at a few plays that could have sealed the deal.
1) Ben Roethlisberger's interception in the endzone. What were they thinking throwing on first down when they could have run it since they were having great success?
2) Deshea Townsend's dropped INT that would have went for 6.
3) Ricardo Colclough's muffed punt (which after looking back at it, the wind probably had a great effect. I live in Pittsburgh and let me tell you, they weren't kiddin about the wind).
4) Verron Haynes fumble.
5) Ben Roethlisberger's deep pass that didn't go so deep and ended up in Bengals hands.
6) Not a play so much but just the awful playcalling by Ken Whisenhunt.

In my opinion those were the five plays that really killed the Steelers. I don't care what the score says, the Steelers dominated the game. Palmer was only 18/26 for 193 yards 2 (legitamite actual drive down the field and score TD's) 2 INT's and 3 fumbles (one lost). If you remember those last two TD's came off of fumbles and on the very next play rewarded great field position with TD's. He also was sacked 6 times. I'd say they did a pretty good job stopping him and an even better job stopping Rudi Johnson. Yes Roethlisberger did not look good and it's starting to concern me. Palmer didn't look that great either. He had one good quarter, two 3/4 awful quarters, and 1/4 quarter that he was in a lucky position. I was right about Willie Parker though. What I still have yet to figure out is why (knowing the ineffectiveness of Roethlisberger) did the Steelers opt to throw 39 times? A running game that is tearing a defense apart is the perfect remedy for an ailing qb.

There's my two cents on the game. To sum it all up, the Steelers SHOULD have won that game. I hate making excuses but if you actually watched the game, everything I said was true.

[CUatTHEFINISH]

The Fighting Irish posted up a nice comeback victory, go ND!

*takes cover before he is pelted with rotten vegetables*

[Brendon]

I would have watched the game, if it was actually shown here. Not everyone can just watch any game they want every week...

And cheap TDs or not, they're TDs. Four weeks from now, all that will matter is who won, and who lost. I wish people remembered more, but sadly they don't. Trust me, I'm a Raiders fan--I wish people would look at more than just wins/losses (well, not so far this season...)

[TheTaxidermist]

If I recall, I think it was a nationally televised game (since it had Phil Simms and Jim Nantz doing the announcing). My problem with the game is that they are saying Palmer played really great when the Steelers defense ate him alive for supper. The stats for palmer were very exaggerated and the supposed greatness of his performance was even more exaggerated. Heck, he did better than Roethlisberger though, not like that's a tough thing.

Speaking of Simms, how about his son Chris being hospitalized and having to have his spleen removed. I wonder if maybe he had been feeling effects from spleen problems and maybe that was affecting his ability to be a productive qb? I don't know, just a theory of mine. I don't know how soon the Bucanneers will see Chris Simms back. (Even as a Bucanneer hater) I wish him a fast recovery.

[Chrispy]

I had a pretty bad week picks, but I'm just glad the Jets put up a fight against the Colts.

And if Donald Driver can just get me 4 points tonight, I'll win this week in my fantasy league.

[TheTaxidermist]

I thought Cincy would put up a better fight against New England but they really did get clobbered. Seahawks got whomped on by the Bears and don't say it's because Alexander was out. Alexander would not have made that big of a difference that would have covered that humungous deficit.

[Brendon]

Da Bears are looking incredible. IF Grossman can stay healthy, they're the favorite right now. We may be seeing Baltimore and Chicago fighting over who is the best team come playoff time.

But the REAL fight begins now. Titans vs Raiders: who will get to mess up the first overall pick?

[Chrispy]

I'd have to say the Titans will get the first pick, but looking at the Raiders QB it's hard not to pick them.

Stupid Donald Driver last night; one more catch and I would have won the week in my fantasy league :pshh:

[TheTaxidermist]

Da Bears are looking incredible. IF Grossman can stay healthy, they're the favorite right now. We may be seeing Baltimore and Chicago fighting over who is the best team come playoff time.

But the REAL fight begins now. Titans vs Raiders: who will get to mess up the first overall pick?
Ravens? Ravens? Oh man, don't tell me you jumped on their bandwagon too. Their team is so overrated. I don't care if they are 4-0 or not, they played bad teams (excluding the Chargers who I think are overrated too). Just wait until they face some real competition. Who'd they beat the first three weeks? Tampa Bay, Oakland, and Cleveland? Not too much talent right there. They talk about this greatly improved offense. I see a slightly improved offense. They only managed 28 points out of 6 turnovers on Oakland. If you get 6 turnovers in a game, you should score at least 38 points. I don't care what team you are. They luckily pulled out a win against Cleveland only because of a stupid coaching decision by the Browns. Yeah they're 4-0 but most half-decent teams would be 4-0 with their schedule.

[EclipseSix]

Can you say.. DA BEARS. 4-0 woot.

[TheTaxidermist]

I'd say the Bears are lookin pretty good. I knew as soon as Rex Grossman stayed healthy he'd take control of that team and at least make the offense run effectively. He's done a lot more than that.

[Chrispy]

It's only 4 games in, though; let's just see how low Grossman -- and Pennington, for that matter -- can last.

[Jon]

Baltimore is bringing it back :) Man if we had T.O. we'd go undefeated all season long. We'll still be in the playoffs and probably get pretty close to the Super Bowl.

[John Clabo]

Bah, Titans have lost it....atleast we've got the Vols...

[TheTaxidermist]

Baltimore is bringing it back :) Man if we had T.O. we'd go undefeated all season long. We'll still be in the playoffs and probably get pretty close to the Super Bowl. Are you kiddin me? TO woulda had a breakdown two years ago for the Ravens if they had gotten him. Oh man with that awful offense, plus TO, woulda resulted in TO goin crazy.

[Jon]

I think Ray Lewis could tame T.O.. He's a freaking murderer...I mean accused murderer :)

5-0 tomorrow night :P

[TheTaxidermist]

I'm officially voting for Rex Grossman for MVP. He adds so much to that offense and it perfectly compliments the defense.

[Chrispy]

Rex has been one of my three picks for MVP for about a week or two now.

Too bad one of the other two couldn't be Chad Pennington ;(

[TheTaxidermist]

For me the MVP's would have to be Rex Grossman or Donovan McNabb. I'd have to go with Grossman since you can see how much he changes in that team and that's what being the MVP is all about.

[TheTaxidermist]

Anybody watch the Bears game last night? Wow the Bears looked awful and yet they still pulled out an amazing victory even though they had a 20 point deficit with about 10 seconds left in the third quarter. I'm changing my MVP vote to Drew Brees of the Saints or Steve Smith (even though a receiver has never won MVP before).