Thoughts on Week One

By Brett | Permalink | 1 comment | September 13th, 2006 | Trackback

The NFL’s first week is now well in the books, and if there’s one thing that we know about week one it’s that it usually doesn’t mean a whole hell of a lot in terms of figuring out how the rest of the season will go for most teams.

Nevertheless, we’re going to share our thoughts on some of the more compelling week one teams.

Baltimore
Steve McNair brings respectability and balance to the offense, which the Ravens haven’t had since…well…ever, really. But the fact that their defense is back to using a scheme that emphasizes letting their athletic linebackers run around and make plays all over the field (and, unlike last year, healthy) is what really gives this team it’s identity. This team is for real. Ravens vs. Raiders in week 2 is a cruel, cruel scheduling quirk.

Atlanta
The Falcons put a week one beatdown on Carolina that I don’t think many people saw coming. Atlanta’s defense looks like they’ve regained their 2004 form. If they can keep pounding the ball on the ground and getting some effeciency from their passing game, they should return to the playoffs after staying home last year.

New England
They won ugly against Buffalo. “Never Bet Against Belichik and Brady” has become a mantra in the NFL, and we won’t bet against them going back to the playoffs this year…but only because they play in what could be the worst division in the league. This is not a particularly good team, though.

Denver
Ole Jake Plummer is good for a few 4 turnover games a season. Bottom line, this team is too good to suck that bad for a whole season. Expect Denver to in the playoff hunt all season.

Minnesota
Two things the Monday Night crew wants you to know about the Vikes: Brad Childess wants these guys to get bloody noses or something, and Brad Johnson is the best game manager in the NFL (which, we think translates to “he’s not really good enough to be a starter, but he’s better than a back up). Unlike in recent years, this appears to be a well coached team with a very solid offensive line.

Kansas City
Sweet Lord, that hit that Trent Green took was nasty. Unfortunately for the KC faithful and Larry Johnson’s fantasy owners, the offense wasn’t doing a damn thing before Green got knocked out. Herm Edwards has a way of doing that to a team. Could be a long season in KC.

Detroit
OK, so they only 6 points. They were this close to lightin’ it up 40, according to an overconfident and mathematically challenged Roy Williams. Jon Kitna looked a bit confused at times, and the offense in general looked pretty bad. Still, their front 7 on the defensive side played an excellent game and Rod Marinelli and Mike Martz have the Lions pointed in the right direction. This is one of those teams that won’t make the playoffs, but that no one is going to want to play along the way.

New York Jets
Remember when there was a QB competition between Chad Pennington and Patrick Ramsey? Seems like a long time ago, yeah? Pennington’s return to form –albeit against an awful Tennessee squad– was impressive, but this is still not a very good team with some major holes. Would you feel very confident having Kevan Barlow and Derrick Blaylock in your backfield? Neither would we. Jets fans, consider it a good year if your boys win 6.

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