Some fans are crazy. I mean, I thought I was excited for the NFL to come back.
My roommate shattered this illusion yesterday night. You may recall him from previous posts as a big-time Nets, Angels, and Raiders fan.
When he walked in to the house an hour or so before the game, he couldn't hold back a "Woo!" and other random expressions of glee. Amen. The NFL is back! If you weren't a little excited, I'm sure Alex Sudreth would be happy to help you find your way back to your home country.
Anyway, he was bouncing around the house, making phone calls, pacing from room to room, and shouting "Woo!" every few minutes. Not during the game, but for the entire hour leading up to it.
It was odd. And then the game started. He'd had a phone call last through the start of the kickoff, which he then resumed by calling his friend back after the second play from scrimmage. And he only increased in enthusiasm as the game got underway.
I don't know how I could live with a Raiders fan like that all year. I guess that's why I'm moving. And since I just realized this story has no point, let's move on to my thoughts from the game.
- During the pre-game show, the ESPN analysts were talking about how Tom Brady is underrated. Championships are important, they argued, and while Brady doesn't roll off your tongue when you list great quarterbacks the way, say, Donovan McNabb does, he should definitely start being considered in the top two or three of NFL quarterbacks. What?
For the last time, Brady is in the top one of NFL quarterbacks, and has been for years. McNabb is good, fun to watch, seems to be a good guy and all that, but as a quarterback he's nowhere near Brady, who proved it with more than two hundred yards passing and two touchdowns by halftime.
To me, the first drive was a microcosm of how Brady performs. He overthrew his receiver on the first two first downs, but atoned with a pair of perfect passes to Ben Watson to convert on third each time. He's not perfect, and of course no one really is, but as soon as the stakes get high, he produces. Almost every single time.
- Before the game, Oakland's horrific defense was discussed, but to me there is no question the key to their season is Kerry Collins. Collins has a cannon arm, but what he's been blessed with in physical talent he makes up for with inaccuracy and let's-call-it-curious decision making. (Last night in the fourth quarter, he was overthrowing receivers deep downfield while throwing off his back foot. Impressive, but stupid.) Lamont Jordan should deliver a respectable run game, and with Moss and Porter the Raiders could have a terrific aerial attack, but Collins has to get the ball to them. Based on his 153:154 career touchdown to interception ratio, I'm going to go out a limb here and predict that's not going to happen consistently (though he and Moss will make some real highlights).
I can see giving this guy a chance ten years ago. But Collins is not going to get any better. Then again, I guess in 1995 you might have been excited to have Norv Turner as your coach, too.
- As for the Patriots, their biggest problem could be the loss of Tedy Bruschi. Forget the coordinators, he was one of the very best players in the league. The defense was good but not great last night, and against a real quarterback, they could have some problems. Can the Pats win a third Super Bowl in a row? I think they certainly can, but while I do think they're still the best team, at this point I'd take the field, if that makes any sense.
- When your roommates get on your nerves, it is a good idea to pull out brochures from apartment complexes you've been visiting...but you've got to keep the lights on or nobody's going to notice. But for all I know, that light hasn't had a bulb in it for a couple months now.
- Were those commercials terrible or what? In the first half alone, we had a confusing ad about the Patriots signing a Pepsi machine to play for them and a classic UnderArmour spot wherein the homespun squad had to defeat a team called, and I am not making this up, Goliath. I think that was supposed to be symbolic of something but I couldn't quite put my finger on what.
The coup de grace was an ad for "Commander-in-Chief", the new drama starring Geena Davis, who if you couldn't tell from the title, becomes President. As the commercial told us, "For the first time in history, a woman will be President." No, she won't! It's so lame to act like your TV show has actual historical significance. I mean, what a victory for women, who have so often been treated like second-class citizens in this country. Now they have a TV show to celebrate their rise to the Presidency! Too bad the ads almost mock the fact that it's never actually happened.
Also, considering there's not a man in America who's going to watch that show, why was it advertised during the NFL opener anyway?
- Y'all already know I despise John Madden's videogame, but as always, his analysis was killing me last night. An example: as the Pats drove for the touchdown to take the lead at 10-7, we saw a quick replay of a New England pass play. As Madden said, "It all starts with pass protection." And the New England O-line looked like a bunch of All-Pros on that play for sure, perhaps because the Raiders put on the most vanilla three-man pass rush against New England's five blockers. Wow, nice! What a bunch of fighters! They had enough men to double-team only the defensive ends, but somehow still gave Brady enough time to find the open man.
- By the way, my roommate consoled himself after that touchdown with the phrase, "Life is still great." With the NFL back, I have to agree.
9 comments:
Hey Mike,
you were right about Texas not being as good as Ohio State, and how Vince Young isn't good enough to throw for 270 yard and 2 touchdown, and how their defense isn't good enough to keep Ohio State out of the endzone 6 consecutive time, and how Texas can't beat Ohio State 25-22. You were right about that, Ohio State is a much better team because they can't capitolize on 3 Texas turnovers or a average starting position beyond the 40 or the best receiver in the nation (Guinn). That Ohio State game really proved your point to me at the fair that Ohio State is a much better team than Texas, I mean with 2 starting quarterbacks and all, they have more starting quarterbacks than anyother great college football team. Ohio State is definately better than Texas, thanks for pointing that out Mike.
I don't recall making any of those claims, except possibly that Texas would lose, mostly because you're a passionate fanboy with no obvious connection to the school.
I guess it's too early in the year for the Mack Brown choke effect to kick in...but don't worry, it's coming.
I don't recall making any of those specific claims. However, your retroactive clairvoyance is almost as impressive as a pregame prophecy would have been.
Impressive that you waited several hours after the game's conclusion was sure to come post on an unrelated website. I am sorry to hear that even in a world seen through burnt-orange protective goggles you were unable to muster a comeback for more than a stunning twelve hours.
Additionally, I have searched long and hard for this Guinn you speak of. Which team does he play for?
Guinn plays for Ohio State-big time receiver. Mike you didn't suggest Texas would lose, but stated the emanance. I really didn't have a chance to say anything about Texas until I saw the game and has no desire to talk about until this morning. I think Texas is too good this year to choke. They have tended to choke in the past because of inexperience or one dimensional offense, but that's all gone now. They are set for a National Championship. I've already started looking for ticket to the Rose Bowl January 1st. Hope your still talking then.
The Guinn thing was a spelling joke (there's no u in his name), and spelling is obviously not a preemanant concern of yours.
Texas is too good to choke...I hope you realize that this makes exactly no sense, as only a good team can choke.
I do plan to still be talking when Texas doesn't play for the national championship. And I hope you buy a ticket to watch whoever does.
Have a great day!
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE! (By the way, that's Eric Ogbogu of the Dallas Cowboys in those ads.)
McNabb had a bad game in the Super Bowl and remains a good QB, not a great one. I wouldn't say he's absolutely proven that he's fundamentally incapable of winning a Super Bowl, though the evidence seems to suggest that he at least doesn't perform better under pressure, as I would say great quarterbacks do. But then his coach hasn't exactly done him any favors over the years. As John pointed out, McNabb's immunity to criticism is remarkable.
As John started to bring up, that Broncos game yesterday was abysmal. Of course, New England got destroyed by the Bills 31-0 in their opener a couple years ago and won the Super Bowl anyway. Despite this immediately obvious and absolutely fluke exception, teams that get blown out in the first week of the season generally tend to suck.
But the game was a classic Broncos loss from the last few years-abandon the run game when it's still tight, suffer some injuries, and make zero (0) plays with the game on the line. The fact that it's the first week makes it seem like the game is more indicative of our true quality as a team, but I don't agree that's the case...yet.
Rather, I think this run-of-the-mill Broncos loss portends a run-of-the-mill Broncos season.
david,
as my namesake, and new poster to this beloved blog... you should know that post game "i told you so's" mean nothing.
mike, i just can't waint for BVP to get cracked in the jaw should he get the chance to back up plummer. I don't think i've ever actively cheered for the demise of a bronco, but i'm willing to make an exception for BVP.
how 'bout them buffs?
miami will be a good litmust test. i'm guessing we'll come up a 14 on the base side. base, as in, "Inferior in value or quality"
should we give miami a good game, i'll pull a johnny come lately aka "david" and say wow looks like CU has a good team.
but, as a seasoned buffs fan, i think i'll put the burden of proof on them... proving me wrong.
good to see mikey, and his better half (?) on here.
d
I certainly don't want Plummer to get hurt, but I think I would share in the Schadenfreude if Bradleeeee was getting his world rocked. Nice to know I belong to fanbases flipped of by both quarterbacks, however.
That Miami game ought to tell us a lot, I agree, though I imagine it'll tell us what every game against a huge team has told us lately-that the Buffs can be very good, but are definitely still a level below the upper echelon.
I don't have a better half. If that's anyone's, it's John's.
yeah, i meant "johnny and his better half."
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