The Student of the Game

Welcome kids. . . here comes Week 2 action. While it was a seemingly mediocre week, the law of “Any Given Sunday” certainly held true bringing some big surprises, wonderful plays, and plot twists that showed why every Sunday is good times.

I deliver you the delicious appetizer that is the UPSET SPECIAL. . .

For any of you who know me or are even vaguely familiar with the “Student of the Game”, I’m not at all fond of the the Green Bay (Fudge)Packers. However, I have always said that the MVP of the league is Lambeau Field in Wisconson. Opposing teams always have a little bit of trouble playing in that locale. But since it is still early in the season, the Tundra is still sunny and green and thusly lost some potentency as an intimidator.

This lack of initimidation was proven when the Bears, the team voted “Most likely to go 1-15 beating ONLY the Chargers” overcame the legendary locale at Lambeau and beat the (Fudge)Packers 21-10.

In addition to the over-rated Packer QB Brett Favre throwing 2 INTs, Packer RB Ahman Green lost a fumble like luggage in an airport that was taken 95 YARDS by Bears FS Mike Brown. While the Bears had a lost fumble & INT of their own, the extra turnover that turned into a 95 yard touchdown would have been enough to decide a close game. As it turned out, it was the foremost of errors in a team that came out flat.

The fun fact in this outcome is that it puts Green Bay at the bottom of the division. That’s a first since the realignment of the league into 8 divisions.

Having finished serving the frozen treat that was the only upset special of the week, we move to our featured teams. Some teams were brought to tears as their performance continues to disappoint their fans. Minnesota, however, had the biggest test this week, but more on that later.

FEATURED 5. . . (Bucs, Browns, Steelers, Vikings, KC)

Steelers vs. Ravens. . .
The Steelers, after ending up on the better half of a grueling shootout against Oakland, came out flat against the Baltimore Ravens losing 30-13. With an opportunity to get a solid foothold in the division, a Pittsburg win would enter them into the race in the top half of the AFC North.

However, when Steeler QB Greg Maddox was injured after a mere 13 pass attempts with the Ravens already on the scoreboard, that’s when trouble brewed. The always bruising Ravens “D” held the Steelers in a shut out for the 1st half.

“Big” Ben Rothlisberger (12-20, 176 yds., 60%, 2 TDs, 2INTs) finally saw his first action coming into a game with his team 16 points down. He lead his team to score 13 points (with 2 TDs 1 each to WR Hines Ward [who boasted 151 yards on the day] and WR Antwaan Randle-El) in the second half that the STEELERS won 13-7.

In Pittsburg’s Defense, TE Todd Heap AND RB Jamal Lewis, the two main offensive weapons for Baltimore as well as CB comeback vet Deon Sanders, were laid down as the cost of the victory over Pittsburg. Heap is the only one that is 100% out for the next week.

Bucs vs. Seahawks. . .
10-6 was the final score in this Bucs loss, SOMEONE needs to score an OFFENSIVE TD. The entire Bucs team has only one TD in either of this season’s two weeks.

Bucs QB Chris Simms saw his first NFL action in the regular season replacing Brad Johnson who only recorded 7 passing attempts and appeared out of sync with his receivers.

During his 2nd drive of the game, Simms lead a trumphant march to the doorstep of the endzone which featured a streak of 5-7 passing with a 12 yard QB scramble. The only embarassment came in the fumble on 3rd down at the Seattle 2 yard-line which forced them to settle for Grammatica’s Graceful Field Goal work. (Martin “Automatica” Grammatica being the only consistant scorer the Tampa team possses.)

In defense of the young starter, he was on a drive that had a chance to win the game with 2 turnovers called back (both being INTs negated by “Roughing the Passer” calls). However, when the young Tampa QB threw the 3rd INT without out a Seattle foul being comitted, Chris Simms could only bow his head in defeat.

I only ask why Brad Johnson wasn’t put in after the first TWO INTS were called back in the first place. The pressure was forcing the 2nd year QB to make rookie mistakes (i.e. trying to throw the ball while falling to your knees dodging a blitz.) A sack is not an INT, a simple fact which would have kept the Bucs with possesion of the football.

This win offically put the Seahawks at the top of their division and the Bucs scrapping the bottom of theirs.

KC vs. Carolina . . .
So the Cheifs “D” gave up 3 pass TDs to QB Jake DelHOMO and the Carolina Panthers, but also managed to pick him off twice. The problem is the Panthers RB DeShaun Foster was good for 176 yds AND a TD. GUNTHER CUNNINGHAM — WHERE’S YOUR NEW “D” THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COORDINATING??

The Preist did get a TD and was only held to 66 yards. If it wasn’t for CB Eric Winfield on a TD return ALA DelHOMO, the Cheifs only had one TD. Last year the longest undeafeted team was KC — this year, they start at 0-2. And now, Preist Holmes, the man who works on Sunday, is said to be out next week.

Playoffs are already looking grim — Dick Vermil is glad it is a LONG season in a division with only one team who can really compete for the division championship.

Browns vs. C-Boys. . .

For every time Dallas WR Meyshawn Johnson yells he wants the damn ball, his coach, Bill Parcells, will tell him, “Shut up!”. It’s this discipline that keeps Dallas in the hunt every game including their victory over Cleveland 19-12.

Apparently, Parcel’s Defense was also intimidating holding Browns QB Jeff Garcia to 71 yards passing (8-27, 29.6%, 0 TDs) with 3 INTS. Granted, C-boys QB Vinny Testaverde threw 3 INTS of his own — the difference — 251 total yards passing — Old man Vinny went 322 yards on 23-35 (66%) and threw one TD. The other Dallas TD goes to RB Eddie George on the ground who turned in an improved performance over last week’s disappointing Dallas debut.

While 4 FGs is impressive for Browns K Phil Dawson, the Cowboy’s turned in much more scoring with 2 FGs, 2 TDs and the 1st safety of the season in the NFL.

The Browns may still hold the lead, but a victory over the Steelers has put the Ravens within one 1/2 game. A race — and it ain’t even week 3 yet. Oh the DRAMA of a CRAP division. Thank you, AFC North!

Minnesota vs. Philly . . .

The final score was 23-9 favoring Philly, but hardly is this scoring truly representative of the game that was. Minnesota QB Daunte Culpepper lead the Vikings offense that could move the ball up and down the field, but when they got to the end zone, SOMETHING would ALWAYS go wrong.

Daunte would try to run the ball for a TD in the Red Zone and fumble the ball. However, after watching replay after replay I can’t even decide if the plane was broken or not. This case, the correct call was made by the official on the basis that if Mike Tice HAD challenged, there would not have been CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE that Culpepper indeed crossed the line with the ball.

Then there’s Daunte’s second running attempt. . . no fumble, but there’s a holding call on an OT who’s on the opposite side of the play committing a foul on a man who wouldn’t have caused a problem anyway.

WHY did you think it necessary to HOLD to protect the league’s potentially most agile Line-Backer. Yes, technically, Daunte is a QB, but at 6′5″ and 260lbs., that’s an LB that can throw — who was shaking off the LB Blitz all night — but YOU THINK you need to hold. For those keeping track, that’s a potential 12-14 points 21-26 (assuming missed extra points) the adjusted score.

This is the part where we start getting into the official’s assistance of the Eagles. First off, if you are standing IN FRONT of Viking’s WR Randy Moss as he is trying to get a catch on the run, as his progress is impeded WITHOUT the defender trying for the ball — this is PASS INTERFERENCE on the DEFENSE. Since Moss was attempting to earn his money for once and relocated the defending OFFENDER interferring with him, it is still PASS INTERFERENCE. . . but this MORON official say it’s OFFENSIVE now. How can there be such a call if the denfender wasn’t even going for the ball?

Now, that would put the Vikings on the 1 yard line since it was in the endzone the event took place with a potential adjusted score. . . No, wait — keep that one — still 26-21 Philly.

Now we factor in Eagles WR Terrell Owens’s score, and the first TD of the game for the Eagles. First, he catches the ball on an amzing dive, but doesn’t have control, and his knee is down. Supposedly, the ends play right there, but I don’t agree with that philosphy either, so we move on.

While sliding, the masterful T.O. manages to settle the ball with a bit ‘o wiggle and jiggle bringing it under control. This is indeed a TD with one small glitch — YOU HAVE TO BE IN BOUNDS!!!!

In the midst of his wiggle and jiggle, it is OBVIOUS he is laying on ALL SORTS of white. And no — I’m NOT refering to any sort of inter-racial dating comments, I mean he was ALL OVER the side line — and he is RIGHT AT THE OFFICIAL’S FEET!

And then there’s Mike Tice who is against Stop signs. OK, maybe not stop signs, but the dude CERTAINLY has something against things that are RED — in this case, the challenge flag.

He doesn’t throw one for T.O.’s “alleged” TD, or to get the refs to check if Daunte broke the plane before the endzone fumble, but he throws one because on a backfield pitch pass to Eagles WR Pete Mitchell, he through it back to the QB Donovan McNabb, but it was illegal because he took the snap under center instead of a shot gun — WHAT THE HELL???? ALL THIS FOR A FIVE YARD PENALTY AND TO STOP AN 8 YARD PLAY!! I mean shoot, it wasn’t even near the Red Zone LET ALONE the endzone.

Oh — BTW if we cancel out T.O’s “alleged” TD — its 21-19 Minnesota. Still, I’m gonna watch the rematch when it comes up in the NFC Championship Game. The Eagles continue take sole possesion of 1st in the NFC East while the Vikings are 3rd in the NFC North.

RANDOM BITS:

The Dolphins are officially the first victims of the Bengals, but the next 3 weeks are going to be the determining factor in the involvement of the Bengals and their chances when the playoff picture begins forming in the AFC.

Welcome back, Micheal Vick who showed up against the Rams and hello to the Atlanta Defense. . . WHERE DID THIS performance vs. the Rams come from? Yes, the Rams O-line ain’t as good. . . but a lineman with an airborne fumble for a TD. . . CRAZINESS. There’s not been a game I can remember where I screamed, “You got KNOCKED the hell out!!” more often. Sorry, Marc Bulger.

Deon — don’t hand me the skullcap CRAP as an excuse for removing your helmet. The refs do a BAD ENOUGH job, we know they suck — the LEAST you can do is come UP with a GOOD excuse. Of course knowing Deon, with the cap keeping him from seeing as it allgedly did, he’ll still be wearing one next week — anyone wanna bet?

T.O. vs. Moss is still a push — PERIOD!

To the first time QBs Chris Simms and Ben Rothlisberger. . . you both have a bright future, but right now Ken Dorsey is better than you BOTH!!

Seattle is the most dangerous team in the NFC WEST — and NOT because of Matt Hasselbeck . . . it’s because of Rams QB Marc Bulger, the Niners secondary defense, and the Cardinals being . . . well. . . the Cardinals (But having Shaun Alexander helps).

KC will NOT win 10 games. . . but will still make the playoffs. I predict THIS as the first of my incorrect prodictions as they will fail to win the AFC West — but the season is young.

To the ref who BLEW the Niners go-ahead TD by calling WR Brandon Lloyd on OFFENSIVE INTERFERENCE. When he was BLOCKING for a RUNNER who already caught a pass when the contact in question took place how is this illegal?? I officially declare officals to be on OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE PROBATION — if you call it — PLEASE make it LOOK like you have a potential to be right.

To the New York Giants who won their first game this past Sunday. “Coughlin is RIGHT. Shut the [explitive deleted] up!!!!”

Apparently the “Student of the Game” had debate class this week. I had a lot of time on the Soap Box this week. But until next time, faithful readers — Play on, watch on. . . good times!!

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From the Desk of the Student of the Game