What a week of games. I don't even know where to start. Better yet, I don't know how to give an actual analysis of most of the big games, but I will try.
Chiefs at Saints - This was the early game here on CBS, so I was flip flopping between this game and the 49ers/Vikings game (which I will get too.) You know, after the Saints had the lead in the 3rd quarter, I was thinking "Well. That's it." But it wasn't. Oh boy it wasn't. While I still don't think Cassel is going to be the QB that takes them to the next step, he did a bang up job making some pretty great throws late in the game. Jamaal Charles was fantastic yesterday. I always thought he was a great back, and felt awful when he got hurt last season so it's nice to not only see him back on the field but showcasing his talents. If there is something that I have learned as a Packers fan, it's that you can have the highest scoring offense in the league, but if your defense gives up just as much points, it will catch up to you in the end. As long as the Saints have Brees, they will always have a chance but if that defense doesn't get better, it's only going to get worse.
49ers at Vikings - Well. This was quite the shock. Not that I wasn't giving the Vikings a shot, but the way the Niners have been playing it seemed like they wouldn't lose at all (that's a stretch but they have been playing great ball.) Christian Ponder looked good, especially when he had to make plays on his legs. The stars of the game though, was the Vikings defense because they came to play. They brought the pressure to Alex Smith, they even made him throw a pick (his first since Thanksgiving 2011) and really threw off the Niners offense. Props to the Vikings, they will be a tough team to play in the NFC North.
At this point, I was waiting for the Steelers/Raiders, but since the Chiefs/Saints played until overtime, they switched around various games around the league. Here's my quick hits:
Lions at Titans - Crazy. Just complete craziness. When Shawn Hill threw that Hail Mary at the end of regulation, I told my brother "I have a feeling it's going to get caught." Low and behold, it was. What a game.
Bucs at Cowboys - They only showed the onside kick that Tampa Bay attempted and didn't get. I did hear Romo got Goldberg speared a couple of times, but they didn't show it. I have yet to see it.
Jets at Dolphins - How long do they stick with Sanchez under center? Seriously. I know Tebow isn't much better, but at least the players and fans rally around Tebow. The loss of Revis is going to be huge to the Jets defense, maybe even too much for them to make up for.
20 minutes later:
Steelers at Raiders - What a game. You know with this rivalry you were going to get a physical, high scoring game and it was. Both teams looked good, but unfortunately I have to bring my focus to the hit on Heyward-Bey. That was a cheap shot by Mundy, plain and simple. It was bad enough when he tried to clean out Streater in the previous play, but this one was just dirty. No need for that in any profession. I can only hope some kind of discipline is enforced on Mundy. Back to the game, the Raiders forced some late turnovers and drove down the field to set up the game winning FG from Janikowski. Roethlisberger played fantastic in this game, as did the entire offense but without Palomalu & Harrison, the defense doesn't have the intimidation that it normally has. Great game. I hope Heyward-Bey will be ok.
I didn't get to watch the Patriots at Ravens, but I heard it was fantastic so I will have to catch it on NFL Rewind this week.
All in all, some great games were played this week, and the replacement refs are still terrible. Still.
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