Forget the new NFL kickoff rule. Even with kickoffs moved back from the 35 to the 30, the over went 12-3-1 in Week 1.
I don't think it was one of those fluke weeks either.
The combination of lockout and new practice rules negatively impacted tackling more than pass protection.
I can still picture Matt Forte eluding Atlanta linebacker Sean Weatherspoon's missed tackle on his way to a 56-yard touchdown reception.
More overs than unders may not just be an opening week trend either.
The new rules have reduced padded and contact practice sessions. So tackling may not improve.
As for the new kickoff rule, there still were three kickoffs returned for touchdowns. San Francisco's Ted Ginn returned both a kickoff and punt back for a touchdown against Seattle.
Speaking of the Seahawks, their loss to the 49ers was their 17th in their last 21 road games. Of those 21 defeats, 20 have been by double-digits. No surprise that the line on Seattle-Pittsburgh keeps climbing higher and higher.
Carolina is another bad road team. The Panthers have dropped 12 of their past 13 away contests. Their only win during this span came against the Giants late in the 2009 season after New York had quit.
Thoughts on Tony Romo: Nice guy. Excellent quarterback for fantasy football purposes. But a loser in real football.
How bad is Arizona's defense? Cam Newton threw for 422 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals in his NFL debut. Newton completed just 42 percent of his throws during preseason. His top passing yardage mark at Auburn was 335 yards. He never passed for 400 yards either when he played for Blinn Junior College.
Tom Brady was the league's unanimous MVP last year. Aaron Rodgers may be the best quarterback. But no player is more valuable to his team than Peyton Manning. If there was any doubt about this it was erased by the performance of Kerry Collins and the Colts against Houston this past Sunday.
The Colts don't have the makeup to be a physical running team. Collins isn't comfortable in their system and is over-the-hill. That's a losing combination. If Manning returns next year, he just may find himself tutoring Andrew Luck.
