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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 21st September, 2005 - 4:54 pm
 During week two of the NFL season we saw the fall of the Patriots, the rise of the Buccaneers, and the continued dominance of the Steelers. The Viking offense continued struggled without Randy Moss, while the Texans offense simply doesn?t exist. Meanwhile, the Colts newfound defense won them another important early season battle, while the Bears newfound offense won allowed them to beat the Lions in a 38-6 romp. Here are a handful of highs and lows of the week two in the NFL.
The Highest of Highs
Donovan McNabb
After the Eagles week one loss to the Falcons, rumors were running rampant that things were headed south for Philadelphia. The San Francisco 49ers found out that both the Eagles offense and defense are running as effectively as ever. Quarterback Donovan McNabb threw for 342 yards and tied a career high with five touchdown passes. With the Eagles out gaining the 49ers 583 to 142 yards on Sunday, the defense held the 49ers to 3 points while grabbing 3 interceptions. The Eagles even survived having linebacker Mark Simoneau kick one of their six extra points.
Chicago Bears
In their 38-6 victory over the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears scored in almost every way they could. Chicago?s Thomas Jones ran for 139 yards and scored two touchdowns, rookie Kyle Orton threw for 150 yards and a touchdown to newly acquired receiver Muhsin Muhammad, and they also return both an inception and a punt for touchdowns. Chicago?s 38 points was their highest point total in over 10 years. Detroit fell to 1-1, and a first place tie with the Bears in the NFC North. Lion coach Steve Mariucci even handed rookie quarterback Dan Orlovsky the ball in garbage time to see if the UConn graduate could guide the offense better than starter Joey Harrington. Could this be a sign of change in Motown?
Indianapolis Colts
Neither Colt victory has looked pretty, nor has Peyton Manning looked dominant, but after two weeks the Colts are 2-0. The Colts owe their record entirely to their defense - they have given up a total of 10 points in their first two games. Meanwhile Peyton Manning?s numbers are just average compared to the rest of the quarterbacks in the NFL. The Jacksonville defense held Manning to just 122 yards in week two, but the Colts defense held the Jaguars to only 3 points leading to their 10-3 victory.
Carson Palmer
Things are looking up in Cincinnati, and Carson Palmer is a big reason why. After the Bengals 37-8 dissection of the Minnesota Vikings, they are 2-0 and have the NFL?s top ranked offense. Palmer has thrown for a league leading 617 yards, and his five touchdowns trail only Donovan McNabb (6). It?s not just Palmer who is tearing up the opposition, running back Rudi Johnson is averaging over 100 yards per game. Palmer has also spread the wealth around, receiver Chad Johnson has caught 16 passes for 230 yards ? each of Palmer?s five touchdown passes have gone to different receivers. If it wasn?t for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals would be an early season favorite to win the AFC North division.
New York Giants
Maybe the Giants haven?t faced the stiffest competition thus far in the 2005 season ? they have so far faced Arizona and New Orleans ? but they are still leading the NFC in points scored with 69. Heading into a week 3 battle with the San Diego Chargers the Giants are 2-0 and tied with the Redskins for first place in the NFC East. The Giants are currently in better standing then the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots, last years Super Bowl participants. Eli Manning is finally starting to produce in his second NFL season, and he has thrown for 337 yards and three touchdowns. Brother Peyton has thrown only two touchdowns and is only out-passing him by 29 yards.
The Lowest of Lows
Baltimore Ravens
When people think of the Baltimore Ravens, they immediately associate the franchise with an elite defense that has led a sub-par offense to successful seasons in recent years. This year that defense has yet to win them a game. Only seven NFL teams are allowing more points per game, and the Ravens themselves are second to last in points scored, averaging just 8.5 points in their first two contests. Coming into the season the Ravens were excited about their change to the 46 defensive formation, hoping that the switch would allow Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed to make more big plays. So far, the only big plays have been made by the opposition.
LaDainian Tomlinson
Yes, Tomlinson has rushed for 3 touchdowns in the first two weeks of the season ? albeit against mediocre run defenses, but the Chargers are 0-2. Tomlinson, who ran for 1,335 yards and 17 touchdowns at 3.9 yards per carry in 2004, isn?t producing enough for San Diego to win. He?s averaging career-lows in yards per game (62.0), and yards per carry (3.3). The Chargers have the NFL?s 20th ranked rushing attack, with supposedly the leagues best running back. If the Chargers are going to bounce back and make the playoffs for the second straight year then, LaDainian has to step up his production, which will make things easier for quarterback Drew Brees, and put less pressure on the San Diego defense.
Oakland Raiders
The Raiders added Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan to help fortify their lackluster offense this season. Both Moss and Jordan are producing ? Moss is leading the NFL with 257 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the first two games of the season and Jordan is averaging about 100 total yards per game - but the Raiders are still 0-2. ?Why?? You might ask! It?s no longer their offense that is the problem it?s their defense. Only three NFL have given up more points then Oakland, and only four teams have allowed as many yards as the Raiders have. You won?t win games against teams like the Patriots and the Chiefs with poor defensive stats such as those, and facing Philadelphia in week three won?t be any easier.
New England Patriots
It?s only their fifth loss in three seasons, and yes it was to a potential NFC title contender, but it?s still a low point for the two-time defending champion New England Patriots. Quarterback Tom Brady is heading into Sunday?s battle with the AFC rival Pittsburgh Steelers with a sore right shoulder, and coach Bill Belichick is calling for cameras to be place near each end zone (Panther running back Stephen Davis may have gotten away with a touchdown in the first half). All will likely be fine in Foxboro, but when the Patriots lose its shocking news.
The Young Texans
The Houston Texans are young, talented, and full of potential. They are also 0-2 and heading into a bye week full of questions. They have the league?s lowest ranked defense, averaging only 170 yards per game as a team and they have also scored only 14 points, the fewest in the NFL. They have dug themselves a huge 0-2 hole in a division that has been very competitive over the last few years. The Colts are off to a 2-0 start, and both the Jaguars and the Titans are 1-1.
It?s hard to imagine the Texans would be in this position with the offensive talent they have on the field. They have quarterback David Carr, receiver Andre Johnson, and running back Domanick Davis. Carr has only thrown for 237 yards and one touchdown to go against his three inceptions. Johnson, who had well over 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2004, only has 7 catches for 38 yards on the season. Davis has accumulated less than 150 total yards in his two games and caught Carr?s only touchdown pass.
The entire problem can?t be blamed on Carr, he?s been sacked 13 times already in 2005 for a loss of over 100 yards, that?s more than a fourth of the Texans total offensive yards in 2005 thus far (341). |
