Now that we’ve completed two weeks of the NFL season, some teams are already in desperate trouble. Hard to believe, but for these 0-2 clubs an 0-3 start warrants a look to “next year”. Last season no playoff team even started 0-2, let alone 0-3. So the uphill climb must start now!
In the AFC at least three of the four winless teams can be viewed as surprises.
The Houston Texans head into the bye after getting manhandled by the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-7 in their home opener. They fired offensive-coordinator Chris Palmer as they head into their bye. Losses at Buffalo 22-7 and the aforementioned Steelers really were no surprises at all. In week four they travel to the 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals.
The Baltimore Ravens were picked by many to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Losses to the Colts 24-7, and the Titans 25-10 leaves this unit scratching their collective heads. Starting quarterback Kyle Boller is now out for about a month. Some question if he’s an NFL starter to begin with. Anthony Wright will have to get the job done. He’s started in the past so he has the talent to hold down the fort. After their bye this week, they have a tall order in hosting the New York Jets. That matchup will have “playoff atmosphere” all over it. The Ravens have won and covered the spread after their bye the last three seasons.
Over to the AFC West, resides two 0-2 clubs in the Oakland Raiders, and the San Diego Chargers.
The Oakland Raiders had high hopes with their new offensive additions wide receiver Randy Moss, and running back Lamont Jordan. Losing at New England 30-20 is no surprise whatsoever. And last week the heart-break home opener to division rival Kansas City 23-17, was their third straight loss at home to the Chiefs. This club has yet to put three touchdowns up in one game? Now they head to Philadelphia to play the defending NFC Champion Eagles! The Raiders are headed for a long frustrating year.
The San Diego Chargers easily could be 2-0 instead of winless. They hosted the Dallas Cowboys and lost 28-24. They committed stupid penalty after stupid penalty to give away that one. At Denver, they failed to put the Broncos away (Denver was trying to give it to them) as they lost on a last second field goal 20-17. Now a bit of a revenge matchup on Sunday, as quarterback Eli Manning and the undefeated New York Giants come to town. Remember Manning snubbed the city and organization at last year’s draft. This obviously is a must win for San Diego. Because staring them in the face, they must go play the Defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots on the road in Week four.
How about the NFC? It was suppose to be the “inferior” Conference. They have three clubs yet to win a ballgame. Two of them reside in the old Black-n-Blue NFC North.
The Minnesota Vikings were favorites of many to represent the NFC in this years Super Bowl heading into the season. How do they feel now? They came in with a new revamped defense, but no Randy Moss. How could they be better? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers easily disposed of the home team 24-13. Then the Vikings got thoroughly embarrassed at Cincinnati 37-8. Mike Tice better not answer his phone anytime soon. They host the New Orleans Saints (coming off a MNF matchup & make their third straight road appearance). If they can’t put together a victory here, there’s no telling how far down this club will go.
The Green Bay Packers really weren’t expected to be a very good club. And it shows. How in the world head coach Mike Sherman got his contract extended last month is beyond me. They fail to score a touchdown at Detroit in a 17-3 loss, then open at Lambeau Field with a loss to the Cleveland Browns 26-24. This will probably be quarterback Brett Favre’s last season, and a long one. After this matchup they travel to play the Carolina Panthers in a Monday Night matchup.
Finally, everyone’s darling (not mine) of the NFC West . Head coach Dennis Greens’ upstart Arizona Cardinals. They were beaten on the road at the Giants 42-19. The game was closer than the score would indicate. Quarterback Kurt Warner then faced his other ex-team. The St. Louis Rams earned a rare grass road victory 17-12. This offensive line of the Cardinals will have problems all season long. They play at Seattle this week, and like the others mentioned, must win to keep any playoff hopes alive.
This is what separates the NFL from every other professional sport. Every single game has meaning period! Coaches and players alike already have some jobs on the line, and were not even into October yet.
“Stat of the Season” -- Did you know that through two weeks, the straight up winner is 29-2-1 against the spread? That’s 90.5 percent.
