Eagles quarterback Michael Vick catches a lift from teammates Danny Watkins, left, and Dennis Kelly. (Rich Schultz , Getty Images)
?A pile of teams have run a pile of plays for a pile of touchdowns over the course of the NFL's life. But two weeks into this season, teams have scored more points ? 1,556 ? than they did in the first two weeks of any other season.
That breaks the record set, well, last season. Teams scored 1,502 points in the first two weeks of the 2011 season and went on to set the record for the first three weeks of a season as well (2,157 points).
Of the top five scoring performances over a season's first two weeks, all five have some since 2002.
What's it all mean? It means the business of defense is tougher now than ever before given the rule book leans toward the kind of scoring the league wanted, and now has.
Also, this generation of quarterbacks is more accurate than most that came before it ? six starters have completed at least 70 percent of their passes so far. Offenses are more willing to work the middle of the field and few teams have enough defensive backs to keep up.
Must-see game of the week
Eagles at Cardinals 2 p.m.
The skinny: It is the beauty in the eye of the beholder bowl, with the Eagles having started the season at 2-0 despite nine ? count 'em, nine ? turnovers, including six interceptions by quarterback Michael Vick. Plus, the Cardinals having already used two starting QBs in their 30th-ranked offense. The Cardinals have not started a season 3-0 since 1974, and the Eagles are the first team in league history to win the first two games of the season each by one point. Philadelphia has squeaked by Cleveland and Baltimore.
The difference will be: Whether the Cardinals' struggling offense can move the ball against an Eagles defense that is tops in the NFC, allowing 267.5 yards per game. The Eagles' defense is tied for the league lead in interceptions with five. With two receptions, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald would become the youngest player in NFL history to reach 700 career catches. Since the start of the 2005 season, no player has more receiving yards and more receiving touchdowns that Fitzgerald.
The call: Cardinals 27-23
Catch 'em if you can
Buccaneers at Cowboys 11 a.m., KDVR-31
At least some of the luster is off the Cowboys' sky-high hopes after a dismal 27-7 loss at Seattle last Sunday. Of particular concern with the Cowboys is the 182 yards rushing the Seahawks gained against Rob Ryan's defense. Cowboys QB Tony Romo is 3-0 against the Buccaneers, with 11 TD passes and no interceptions in those three starts.
The call: Cowboys 23-17
Bengals at Redskins 11 a.m.
Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton appears to have made a significant jump in his development in his second season in the league and is coming off a three-touchdown game against the Browns. Bengals RB Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis has a total of seven rushing TDs against his last eight NFC opponents and has 12 rushing TDs in his last 18 games overall. Washington's Robert Griffin III is the first rookie QB since 1969 to have a touchdown pass of at least 65 yards in each of his first two games.
The call: Redskins 28-21
Falcons at Chargers 2 p.m.
The Chargers are one of the surprising teams in the league because of the many injuries they suffered in the preseason, the loss of WR Vincent Jackson in free agency and the retirements of Marcus McNeill and Kris Dielman. Falcons QB Matt Ryan is 14-4 against AFC teams, and his team is 25-0 when he finishes a game with a passer rating of at least 100 ? including Monday night's 27-21 win over the Broncos at the Georgia Dome.
The call: Falcons 27-19
Patriots at Ravens 6:20 p.m., KUSA-9
New England coach Bill Belichick is 5-1 against the Ravens in his career, but few teams have protected the home field like Baltimore has of late. The Ravens have won 11 consecutive home games and QB Joe Flacco is 28-5 in home starts. The Ravens have been uncharacteristically generous on defense, including an eye-opening 486 yards allowed in their loss to the Eagles last weekend.
The call: Ravens 24-23
Rams at Bears 11 a.m.
The Rams aren't pretty as they try to climb out their struggles in recent seasons, but they play hard for first-year St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher. Also, QB Sam Bradford is beginning to find his groove.
The call: Rams 20-16
Quick hitters
Bills at Browns 11 a.m.
Buffalo RB C.J. Spiller, a former track All-American at Clemson, leads the NFL in rushing after two games and brings a double-take-worthy 10.1 yards per carry average into this season.
The call: Bills 30-17.
Jaguars at Colts 11 a.m.
The Jaguars ran just 38 plays on offense against the Texans last week and continue to stumble on that side of the ball as they try to build quarterback Blaine Gabbert's confidence. Colts QB Andrew Luck may be a rookie, but he already knows the benefits in getting Reggie Wayne the ball ? 15 of Luck's 43 completions have gone to Wayne.
The call: Colts 20-16.
Jets at Dolphins 11 a.m.
The Jets' decision makers have routinely acted as though they knew exactly how the handle the public swirl that comes with Tim Tebow on the roster. If they lose this one, they'll see a entirely different level.
The call: Jets 23-19.
49ers at Vikings 11 a.m.
Normally a home underdog that plays in a dome is a quality upset pick. But the 49ers' defense can be a tough code to crack even for franchise quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, so the Vikings' Christian Ponder is looking at a tough day.
The call: 49ers 31-10.
Chiefs at Saints 11 a.m., KCNC-4
Given how the Chiefs have played defense thus far, especially in an injury-ravaged secondary, the potential exists for some pass-happy ugliness here. Saints quarterback Drew Brees has thrown for at least 300 yards in nine consecutive games.
The call: Saints 35-21.
Lions at Titans 11 a.m.
If you're the Titans and quarterback Jake Locker is your leading rusher, you have significant issues. Tennessee is averaging just 2.2 yards per carry, and Chris Johnson is averaging a what-is-wrong 1.1 ypc.
The call: Lions 35-16.
Steelers at Raiders 2:25 p.m.
Take a team trying to remake its roster, toss in some ill-timed injuries and you have a recipe for struggles. That's the Raiders' situation, especially at wide receiver and in the secondary. They worked out four street free agents this week at defensive back.
The call: Steelers 24-12.
Source: http://feeds.denverpost.com/~r/dp-sports/~3/i737tpDkPSg/sundays-nfl-games-points-pile-up-at-fast
colts big ten tournament 2012 dennis quaid bruce weber fired notorious big biggie smalls lyrics azores
No comments:
Post a Comment