Second Thoughts

I know. It was just one game. Way too early. Lots of football to play. A game of inches. It is what it is. We're all day to day.

 

Easier for some to say than others. Cue the statistics about playoff chances when you start 0-2-0.

Denver 17, Kansas City 23

Is Peyton Manning done? Or is it Gary Kubiak's so 1990s offense?

Ah, the 90s. Good times. I can almost remember where I was…

With the lights out it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us!

No, seriously. Entertain us, Gary Kubiak! That offense is boring.

Houston 13, Carolina 20

I'm not sure what the question is but I'm pretty sure the answer isn't Ryan Mallett.

San Francisco 16, Pittsburgh 31

Ben Roethlisberger would like you to write your rules down. Is that too much to ask?

Tampa Bay 9, New Orleans 27

Going to be a long year for everyone who thought the smart play was Jameis Winston over Marcus Mariota.

Detroit 33, Minnesota 34

Can't trust the Lions; don't believe in the Vikings.

Arizona 31, Chicago 20

So, you're John Fox. You just got fired by the Broncos, where your quarterback was Peyton Manning and your defense was led by Von Miller. The Chicago Bears, with the inscrutable Jay Cutler at QB and a defense allergic to tackling, give you a call. And you say yes! Don't say yes! Say, no thanks. Need some time with the family. Had a heart attack, you know. Take a year off and you could be the next head coach of the New York Giants as Tom Coughlin is inevitably shown the door when the Giants miss the playoffs. I really don't get it.

Jay Cutler still has a cannon and he will make a few throws every game that will shock and amaze and make you realize why his coaches have waited so patiently for Cutler to get it; to learn that it's okay to throw the ball away rather than throw a four-seamer into triple coverage, to stop listening to that little voice in his head that tells you "Throw it! Throw it! Throw it! Throw IT!" Four or five times this year, Cutler will play so well you'll ask yourself, "Does Jay Cutler have an evil twin?" The Bears will win three or four of those games. I just don’t think this will be one of them.

Besides, the Cardinals are simply a much better team than the Bears.

New England 20, Buffalo 19

No, I'm not sure I believe the Pats will win. Got to roll with my boys, though. 

San Diego 24, Cincinnati 30

This is one of those early season wins that has people thinking this year's Bengals could maybe, just maybe go all the way to the Super Bowl and get blown out by the Packers.  

 

Tennessee 34, Cleveland 16

Mariota. Manziel. Heisman winners both. I'm sure that will be mentioned once or twice. I would expect there'd be a graphic documenting all the other times Heisman Trophy winners faced off in the pros. They're going to need more filler than that for this one as it's likely to get well out of hand and quickly. Mariota's back story. Stock footage of Hawaii set to ukulele music. The long, troubled and maudlin journey of Johnny Manziel set to the guitar line from a slow, sad country song. A Sadness Factory montage of the pigskin tragedy that is the last 50 years of Cleveland Browns football. Quick tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Does everyone lose their shit if Mariota has another 4 TDs passing in this game?

Yes, yes they will.

Atlanta 30, NY Giants 17

So, I've changed my mind. John Fox was probably smart to take the Bears' job.

St. Louis 27, Washington 13

Washington is the racially insensitive clown car of the NFL.

Miami 23, Jacksonville 13

The Dolphins aren't as good as they think they are but they're way better than what the Jaguars think they are.

Baltimore 20, Oakland 6

The Ravens are better than the Raiders. Sometimes it's just that simple.

Dallas 20, Philadelphia 34

How did Sam Bradford not suffer a season-ending injury last week?

Anyway, this will be DeMarco Murray's first game against his ex since they broke up back in March. I'm not sure why; it just feels like Murray will be out to prove a point. Without Dez Bryant on the field, it will be hard for the Cowboys to prove they kept the right guy.

Seattle 16, Green Bay 38

Was their puzzling loss to the Rams just one of those four games the Seahawks were going to lose anyway or a glimpse into a deeply troubled collective pigskin psyche? Regardless of whether or not Steven Hauschka shanked his onside kick off or not, why not kick deep and let your defense (I hear they're pretty good) go to work. Three and out, punt return, field goal. Game over.

Related: Is Kam Chancellor that damned good? Answer: Yes, apparently.

Watching Marshawn Lynch get stuffed on that 4th and 1 in overtime made we wonder: Why not throw a slant pattern in that situation? I mean, everyone knew you were going to Lynch there. Is that just me?

Also, Aaron Rodgers is better.

NY Jets 12, Indianapolis 10

So, what's the over/under on rushing attempts for the Jets in this game? 40? 45?