Week 2 Judgements: Argue all you want, Kolb still Eagles starter
1. Sorry, Philadelphia. The only quarterback controversy in town is the one that will be fought this week on talk radio. Michael Vick is the starter only until Kevin Kolb returns. Andy Reid made the Donovan McNabb deal because he believed in Kolb, and he's not about to turn his back on his young quarterback because of one half and one concussion. When Kolb is cleared to return, he returns as the starter and Vick goes to the bench. Any questions? Good.
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| It's unlikely to see this scene of the Manning brothers in early February. (Getty Images) |
3. Here's why you should take the Houston Texans seriously: In Week 1, they beat the Colts, a club that was 15-1 against Houston. In Week 2, they won where they never won before -- against an NFC East team on the road. Maybe Bud Adams should save some of those "Just Believe" T-shirts for his hometown team, and I'm not talking about Tennessee.
4. I'm with John Harbaugh. If Terrell Suggs' hit on Carson Palmer is roughing the passer we need to clarify the rule. Because if that doesn't pass the test you might as well outlaw all hits on QBs.
5. Guess Danny Woodhead had no secrets to reveal about the Jets.
6. Poor Eric Mangini. He has no chance to survive. Not only is he 0-2 again, but he might stay winless for awhile. Look at the schedule: Five of his next seven opponents are 2009 playoff teams, and that includes New Orleans in New Orleans. The Browns' defense has been solid, allowing 33 points in two games and only 16 in the second half, but their offense stinks. Four of its five turnovers turned into points, and when you have as few playmakers as the Browns you absolutely, positively cannot survive self-inflicted wounds. "There is a certain way we have to play to be successful," Mangini said. And they did last season, with eight turnovers in their last eight games. Result: They won half of them, finishing the season on a four-game tear. Connect the dots, Cleveland.
7. But here's the worst part about what may be ahead for Mangini and his Browns: As long as Jake Delhomme can't play Seneca Wallace remains the starter. So why is that frightening? Because an injury to him puts rookie Colt McCoy in the huddle, and there's no way he's ready to step on the field -- maybe ever.
8. The Detroit Lions are closer than you think to making it back to the competitive world of pro football. They should have beaten Chicago and could have beaten Philadelphia. One thing I know about the Lions: for the first time in years they're worth watching.
9. The more I see Minnesota the more I think Brett Favre misses Sidney Rice more than he ... or anyone else ... anticipated. Memo to Brad Childress: call San Diego's A.J. Smith. He has a wide receiver for sale that you can use.
10. Washington lost an OT game to New Orleans a year ago when Shaun Suisham blew a 23-yard field goal that could've clinched a victory with 1:56 left in regulation. Now, fast forward a season, and the Redskins flub another sure win when Graham Gano's 29-yarder to ice Houston in the fourth quarter is blocked. Later, Gano misses a chance to end everything by slicing a 52-yarder in OT wide right. Maybe it's time Daniel Snyder spent money on someone who can make a field goal.
11. Maybe it's time Jerry Jones does, too. I mean, how much longer will the Cowboys try to survive with David Buehler missing field goals?
12. Please tell me that Gano's OT miss doesn't provoke more outrage about coaches calling timeouts before a kicker tees up a field goal. If you can call a timeout when Peyton Manning is ready to take a snap, why not a kicker? You can. And you should.
13. It's not only Mark Sanchez who should make the Jets feel glad all over. It's this: Randy Moss was never a factor after star cornerback Darrelle Revis bowed out with a tight hamstring. In fact, virtually no Patriot receiver was, and if you're going to catch New England you better solve New England's passing attack. The Jets just did.
14. Looks like the NFC East is not the beast anymore. It was 1-3 in non-division games Sunday and is 2-4 this season.
15. I'm not sure which was more impressive: Andre Johnson's game-tying 34-yard touchdown catch or Matt Schaub's scramble just to get the ball off. It wasn't Eli Manning in Super Bowl XLII, but it was close.
Five things I like
1. Romeo Crennel vs. his former team. Tell me the former Cleveland coach didn't enjoy the second-half performance of his Chiefs' defense. It held the Browns to 55 yards, three first downs -- including one by penalty -- and no points. This is the same defense that held off San Diego last week, and maybe, just maybe, Crennel makes the difference for K.C. this season.
2. Ryan Mathews walking without a limp. The Chargers rookie bowed out in the first half with an ankle injury and didn't return, but coach Norv Turner insists he kept him out as a precaution, and Mathews insists he's OK. Lucky for San Diego. Though Mike Tolbert ran for 82 yards and scored twice, Mathews is the key figure in a running game that could take the Bolts deep into the playoffs.
3. Denver in home openers. It won its last 11, the best current streak in the NFL.
4. Cleveland's coverage units, particularly on punt returns. A week ago, Kansas City put up 160 yards on punt returns against San Diego ... and that was in the first half alone. The Browns allowed Javier Arenas and the Chiefs 6 yards all afternoon.
5. Pittsburgh's defense. Not only did it stop Chris Johnson's streak of consecutive 100-yard games at 12; it surrendered one touchdown in nine quarters (including the OT vs. Atlanta) this season. Who needs Ben Roethlisberger when opponents can't find the end zone with a divining rod?
Five things I don't
1. Joe Flacco vs. Cincinnati. In his last three games against the Bengals, Flacco looks more like Joe Schmo, with two touchdown passes and eight interceptions ... and, oh, yeah, three losses.
2. Seattle on the road against anyone but St. Louis. The Seahawks lost 12 of their last 14 road games, with the only victories against the Rams.
3. Any quarterback making his first start for Cleveland. There have been 16 of them since the club returned to the NFL in 1999, and their record is 1-15. The only winner? Jeff Garcia in 2004.
4. Dallas losing to Jay Cutler at home. When Wade Phillips says his team is "at a crossroads" you better believe it. And Phillips' coaching career is right there with it.
5. Jacksonville on the West Coast. The Jags lost three times there in two years by a combined score of 99-16. Now you know why we don't hear more about the Jags moving to L.A.
Monday morning running backs
They are the few. The proud. The future. I'm talking about the three guys who were first-round running backs in this year's draft -- C.J. Spiller, Mathews and Jahvid Best. Spiller and Mathews were the top two backs in the draft, but Detroit's Jim Schwartz said he thought Best was "the best offensive player," period. And maybe he's right. Let's see check in to see how these guys are doing.
Spiller, Bills (2 games, 8 att., 9 yds., 1.1 avg., 6 long, 0 TD)
Mathews, Chargers (2 games, 24 att., 101 yds., 4.2 avg., 15 long, 0 TD)
Best, Lions (2 games, 31 att., 98 yds., 3.2 avg., 33 long, 4 TDs)
Just asking ...
• Who's in worse shape -- Dallas or Minnesota?
• Why isn't anyone talking about undefeated Miami?
• Who gets benched first -- Trent Edwards or
• What does it take to get Curtis Painter and Sage Rosenfels on the field?
• Think Tom Coughlin wanted to throw Brandon Jacobs into the stands with his helmet?
Meaningful numbers
0 -- Buffalo first-quarter net yardage
6 -- Jacksonville turnovers
7 -- Tennessee turnovers
8 -- Consecutive wins by Cincinnati vs. the AFC North
14 -- Cleveland fumbles in six games, including preseason
127 -- Pittsburgh's offensive yardage
232 -- Jahvid Best offensive yardage
1-11 -- Cleveland in home openers since returning to the NFL
1-27 -- St. Louis over its last 28 games
My top five
1. New Orleans
2. Green Bay
3. Houston
4. Miami
5. Pittsburgh
My bottom five
32. Buffalo
31. Cleveland
30. St. Louis
29. Carolina
28. Detroit
Next weekend's three best games
Dallas at Houston ... Big D stands for Damn right, the Cowboys better win.
Atlanta at New Orleans ... Mike Smith's chance to prove he can take back the division.
New York Jets at Miami ... First place at stake in the AFC East.
