NFL WEEK ONE: What Happened?
NCAA
NCAA
(+) Navy 23; Ball State 35
(-) Georgia Tech 19; Boston College 16
(+) Oregon State 14; Penn State 45
(+) Miami 3; Florida 26(+) Mississippi 28, Wake Forest 30
Hey, RMF looks pretty smart for this week’s college picks. Boston College didn’t make the grade in the ACC shoot out. We did think Miami would lower the gap against Florida, but the ACC South Florida powerhouse is still on its way up and was no match for one of the SEC’s top teams. It’s fun to see Wake Forest in the thick of national competition. They used to be an ACC doormat like Duke. The Navy/Ball State game was interesting as RMF being focused on the Chesapeake region loves to see the Midshipmen win. Ball State could well be one of those I-A teams that looks like it should deserve real Bowl consideration.
(+) Miami 3; Florida 26(+) Mississippi 28, Wake Forest 30
Hey, RMF looks pretty smart for this week’s college picks. Boston College didn’t make the grade in the ACC shoot out. We did think Miami would lower the gap against Florida, but the ACC South Florida powerhouse is still on its way up and was no match for one of the SEC’s top teams. It’s fun to see Wake Forest in the thick of national competition. They used to be an ACC doormat like Duke. The Navy/Ball State game was interesting as RMF being focused on the Chesapeake region loves to see the Midshipmen win. Ball State could well be one of those I-A teams that looks like it should deserve real Bowl consideration.
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NFL
Nothing’s more prone to overstatement and hyperbole than the sports media’s analysis for the NFL’s first week’s results. We’re going to keep this simple. Yes, the complexion of the AFC championship competition was altered significantly when Tom Brady went down in the first quarter against Kansas City. New England could take this tragedy in stride and still win their division and possibly go deeper, but the competition is tough. Aside from New England’s prospects have taken an obvious hit, all the hype about “The balance of power in the NFL has undergone a serious shift” and other such nonsense one week into action is silly. Yes, there were some striking upsets we’ll highlight below.
Other far reaching comments about week one of 2008, yes, Oakland really is that bad. The ESPN commentators were right on the mark on how despite having excellent draft pick seedings, the Raiders have done a terrible job selecting talent. Al Davis is no longer a maverick football genius, he’s a meddlesome old coot whose time has passed, but look no further than his attempts to resolve the head coaching situation, Oakland fans must see the obvious, the pirates’ ship is drifting recklessly out of control.
History was made by a pair of victories as the Ravens, with rookie coach, John Harbaugh and quarterback, Joe Flacco, and the Falcons with rookie coach, Mike Smith and quarterback, Matt Ryan. Never before have two rookie coaches with two rookie quarterbacks both opened the season with wins. As a Ravens’ fan, isn’t it nice to be a part of history, but of what real significance is this? Just enough that all the football talk shows will make mention of it, by Halloween, it will be forgotten.
Buffalo’s commanding win over Seattle seems to be one of those games the pundits want to setup as saying, should Seattle go on and have a strong season, “see I told you back in week one.” Not so fast, Seattle is the best team in a weak division playing on the road. San Diego getting pounded at home by Carolina is hard to miss but doesn’t really move the tea leaves that much. The same is probably true for Chicago’s smack down leveled against the Colts. Chicago did make it to the Super Bowl two years ago. Philadelphia got off to a hot start but against The Rams! The Eagles are a good team and have been for a long time. Keep them healthy and watch them run.
The next chapter of the Brett Favre Soap Opera tells us little more than time marches on. The Jets were supposed to beat the Dolphins. Had Chad Pennington beat the Jets, that would have been the story. What should have happened did happen. The Cheeseheads in Green Bay must be relieved to have Aaron Rodgers get off to a good start in their home opener against division rival, Minnesota. This is the script that Green Bay brass set in motion with Brett Favre’s retirement announcement last winter. With all the media attention and distractions, getting this first big test out of the way is a real plus for the Packer backers. It’s way too soon to draw conclusions.
Finally, we think we’ve found the solution to Major League Baseball’s problem with maple bats. Gather them all up, pass them out at one of the nation’s rowdiest football fields and let’s have a good public flogging of “Boomer” (rip off nickname from the former Cincinnati quarterback of note) Chris Berman on ESPN. The worst thing about the beginning of football season is the huge scale reemergence of the All-World blowhard in the ESPN anchor chair for its massive Sunday NFL coverage. How many viewers moaned with Jake “they might come and they might” Delholme yesterday. Highlights become secondary trivial matters so the Bristol Blowhard can get in all his stock routines and mindless shtick. Which Berman routine drives, you the humble football fan the maddest? Is it the “da-da-da-da dah-dah-dah” routine to the tune of “If I Only Had a Brain?” How about the scream routine – a segment where one highlight features one Boomer falsetto shriek after another? Of course there’s the “wappa-wappa-wappa” deal? There are at least a half dozen more. Sadly, the in-depth coverage that ESPN has the time to cover that the regular networks don’t gets dragged down to cheesy humorless comedy of the boorish Berman routines. Many of the supporting crew provides intelligent insights into the game which are totally lost in the din.
Can we dream of some Sunday football analysis for grownups? For all their silliness, the fellows on Fox actually do get some superb football commentary going. It’s all the added comedy bits that destroys their programming. NBC is…NBC. Bob Costas is so prone to overstatement making a simple Sunday game seem like an epic world struggle. Keith Olbermann – please!!! Well, his buddy boy is back, but all that’s at the expense of Chris Collingsworth who’d be the most interesting of their crew. Surprise, surprise CBS rules the pre-game shows. James Brown is a competent and lively anchor. Each of the former players or coaches has his own flare and they actually talk football.
Nothing’s more prone to overstatement and hyperbole than the sports media’s analysis for the NFL’s first week’s results. We’re going to keep this simple. Yes, the complexion of the AFC championship competition was altered significantly when Tom Brady went down in the first quarter against Kansas City. New England could take this tragedy in stride and still win their division and possibly go deeper, but the competition is tough. Aside from New England’s prospects have taken an obvious hit, all the hype about “The balance of power in the NFL has undergone a serious shift” and other such nonsense one week into action is silly. Yes, there were some striking upsets we’ll highlight below.
Other far reaching comments about week one of 2008, yes, Oakland really is that bad. The ESPN commentators were right on the mark on how despite having excellent draft pick seedings, the Raiders have done a terrible job selecting talent. Al Davis is no longer a maverick football genius, he’s a meddlesome old coot whose time has passed, but look no further than his attempts to resolve the head coaching situation, Oakland fans must see the obvious, the pirates’ ship is drifting recklessly out of control.
History was made by a pair of victories as the Ravens, with rookie coach, John Harbaugh and quarterback, Joe Flacco, and the Falcons with rookie coach, Mike Smith and quarterback, Matt Ryan. Never before have two rookie coaches with two rookie quarterbacks both opened the season with wins. As a Ravens’ fan, isn’t it nice to be a part of history, but of what real significance is this? Just enough that all the football talk shows will make mention of it, by Halloween, it will be forgotten.
Buffalo’s commanding win over Seattle seems to be one of those games the pundits want to setup as saying, should Seattle go on and have a strong season, “see I told you back in week one.” Not so fast, Seattle is the best team in a weak division playing on the road. San Diego getting pounded at home by Carolina is hard to miss but doesn’t really move the tea leaves that much. The same is probably true for Chicago’s smack down leveled against the Colts. Chicago did make it to the Super Bowl two years ago. Philadelphia got off to a hot start but against The Rams! The Eagles are a good team and have been for a long time. Keep them healthy and watch them run.
The next chapter of the Brett Favre Soap Opera tells us little more than time marches on. The Jets were supposed to beat the Dolphins. Had Chad Pennington beat the Jets, that would have been the story. What should have happened did happen. The Cheeseheads in Green Bay must be relieved to have Aaron Rodgers get off to a good start in their home opener against division rival, Minnesota. This is the script that Green Bay brass set in motion with Brett Favre’s retirement announcement last winter. With all the media attention and distractions, getting this first big test out of the way is a real plus for the Packer backers. It’s way too soon to draw conclusions.
Finally, we think we’ve found the solution to Major League Baseball’s problem with maple bats. Gather them all up, pass them out at one of the nation’s rowdiest football fields and let’s have a good public flogging of “Boomer” (rip off nickname from the former Cincinnati quarterback of note) Chris Berman on ESPN. The worst thing about the beginning of football season is the huge scale reemergence of the All-World blowhard in the ESPN anchor chair for its massive Sunday NFL coverage. How many viewers moaned with Jake “they might come and they might” Delholme yesterday. Highlights become secondary trivial matters so the Bristol Blowhard can get in all his stock routines and mindless shtick. Which Berman routine drives, you the humble football fan the maddest? Is it the “da-da-da-da dah-dah-dah” routine to the tune of “If I Only Had a Brain?” How about the scream routine – a segment where one highlight features one Boomer falsetto shriek after another? Of course there’s the “wappa-wappa-wappa” deal? There are at least a half dozen more. Sadly, the in-depth coverage that ESPN has the time to cover that the regular networks don’t gets dragged down to cheesy humorless comedy of the boorish Berman routines. Many of the supporting crew provides intelligent insights into the game which are totally lost in the din.
Can we dream of some Sunday football analysis for grownups? For all their silliness, the fellows on Fox actually do get some superb football commentary going. It’s all the added comedy bits that destroys their programming. NBC is…NBC. Bob Costas is so prone to overstatement making a simple Sunday game seem like an epic world struggle. Keith Olbermann – please!!! Well, his buddy boy is back, but all that’s at the expense of Chris Collingsworth who’d be the most interesting of their crew. Surprise, surprise CBS rules the pre-game shows. James Brown is a competent and lively anchor. Each of the former players or coaches has his own flare and they actually talk football.
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Washington 7; NY Giants 16
No surprises here. Washington goes back into the status of a team in transition.
Washington 7; NY Giants 16
No surprises here. Washington goes back into the status of a team in transition.
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Cincinnati 10; Baltimore 17
Can we hope Baltimore is that good or is Cincinnati just a barge floating adrift down the Ohio River?
Cincinnati 10; Baltimore 17
Can we hope Baltimore is that good or is Cincinnati just a barge floating adrift down the Ohio River?
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New York Jets 20; Miami 14
And you were expecting???
New York Jets 20; Miami 14
And you were expecting???
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Kansas City 10; New England 17
No hype, no game from week one will have the far reaching influence of this game. Yes, New England won, but Tom Brady’s gone for the year. OUCH!
Kansas City 10; New England 17
No hype, no game from week one will have the far reaching influence of this game. Yes, New England won, but Tom Brady’s gone for the year. OUCH!
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Houston 17; Pittsburgh 38
Steelers don’t get much respect do they? Could they be the AFC’s best?
Houston 17; Pittsburgh 38
Steelers don’t get much respect do they? Could they be the AFC’s best?
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Jacksonville 10; Tennessee 17
Jacksonville got much preseason hype. This game can’t be that big of a surprise. The story really is, what’s up with Vince Young? Could this be a meltdown in the making?
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Jacksonville 10; Tennessee 17
Jacksonville got much preseason hype. This game can’t be that big of a surprise. The story really is, what’s up with Vince Young? Could this be a meltdown in the making?
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Detroit 21; Atlanta 34
We don’t have the heart to rub it in Detroit QB John Kitna’s face. Atlanta did it for us. The Lions still suck. This game must feel great for the folks in Georgia, but they have so much work ahead of them.
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We don’t have the heart to rub it in Detroit QB John Kitna’s face. Atlanta did it for us. The Lions still suck. This game must feel great for the folks in Georgia, but they have so much work ahead of them.
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Seattle 10; Buffalo 34
Don’t read too much into this one. Seattle leads a very weak division. Buffalo has much to show yet but like other AFC East teams might feel they have something to play for with Tom Brady’s loss.
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Don’t read too much into this one. Seattle leads a very weak division. Buffalo has much to show yet but like other AFC East teams might feel they have something to play for with Tom Brady’s loss.
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Tampa Bay 20; New Orleans 24
New Orleans is the sleeper in the field this year. Keep an eye on the Saints.
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New Orleans is the sleeper in the field this year. Keep an eye on the Saints.
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St Louis 3; Philadelphia 38
A crappy team meets a good team. No surprise. Keep the Eagles healthy and see what happens.
A crappy team meets a good team. No surprise. Keep the Eagles healthy and see what happens.
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Dallas 28; Cleveland 10
Who was handing out all those playoff tickets in Cleveland? Not yet. They aren’t as good as Pittsburgh. Baltimore could knock them back to third.
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Dallas 28; Cleveland 10
Who was handing out all those playoff tickets in Cleveland? Not yet. They aren’t as good as Pittsburgh. Baltimore could knock them back to third.
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Carolina 26; San Diego 24
Too soon to panic in San Diego. Too soon to celebrate in Charlotte.
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Too soon to panic in San Diego. Too soon to celebrate in Charlotte.
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Arizona 23; San Francisco 13
It’s more a matter of San Francisco being bad than Arizona being good.
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It’s more a matter of San Francisco being bad than Arizona being good.
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Chicago 29; Indianapolis 13
Did Chicago have a score to settle with Indy or what? Not sure this really predicts too much about the Colts, but Chicago has taken a lot of pounding in the sports media, probably not deserved.
Minnesota 19; Green Bay 24
The post Brett Favre era gets off to a solid start.
Did Chicago have a score to settle with Indy or what? Not sure this really predicts too much about the Colts, but Chicago has taken a lot of pounding in the sports media, probably not deserved.
Minnesota 19; Green Bay 24
The post Brett Favre era gets off to a solid start.
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Denver 41; Oakland 14
Oakland has earned the rights to the crappiest team in the NFL. Can Detroit, Arizona, or others be mentioned in the same breathe? On the other side, could Jay Cutler finally be the long-term quarterback answer in the post-Elway era?
Okay, RMF is 12-4 in the NFL contests this week. We missed on Tennessee over Jacksonville, Buffalo over Seattle, the Carolina slaughter in San Diego, and the Bears being inhospitable neighbors as the Colts opened their new digs. We’re not sure which is the bigger upset, San Diego or Indy, but both teams are expected to be close to the top in January. Isn’t having a lot of contested races a lot more fun than seeing if New England could really run the tables?
Denver 41; Oakland 14
Oakland has earned the rights to the crappiest team in the NFL. Can Detroit, Arizona, or others be mentioned in the same breathe? On the other side, could Jay Cutler finally be the long-term quarterback answer in the post-Elway era?
Okay, RMF is 12-4 in the NFL contests this week. We missed on Tennessee over Jacksonville, Buffalo over Seattle, the Carolina slaughter in San Diego, and the Bears being inhospitable neighbors as the Colts opened their new digs. We’re not sure which is the bigger upset, San Diego or Indy, but both teams are expected to be close to the top in January. Isn’t having a lot of contested races a lot more fun than seeing if New England could really run the tables?
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