NFL Week 1 Recaps Posts -- FanHouse

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Ravens Completely Implode In Monday Opening Loss to Bengals

Posted: Sep 10th 2007 10:53PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Bengals, Ravens, AFC North

Par for the course in a wild Week 1 of the new NFL season. In a matchup of the last two AFC North champions, the Bengals made the least amount of mistakes and held on to a 27-20 win.

The Ravens turned the ball over SIX TIMES ... including on their last possession when a bobbled pass from Kyle Boller [more on that later] to Todd Heap landed in Bengals' DT Michael Myers hands in the endzone to clinch the win for Cincinnati. Boller came in on the Ravens final drive for an injured Steve McNair ... who threw an interception and lost three fumbles [Le'Ron McClain also fumbled, for the Ravens' other turnover]. One McNair fumble was returned by Bengals LB Landon Johnson for a TD.

That wasn't the only mistake. B-more was called for 10 penalties for 86 yards ... including an iffy offensive pass interference call that negated a game-tying TD in the final moments.

The sad thing is they had the Bengals. They had them. The Ravens offense was pretty effective while shutting down the Bengals normally explosive offense. Rudi Johnson was held to 50 yds rushing while Carson Palmer was sailing passes over everyone's heads. Well, not every pass. Palmer did connect with TJ Houshmandzadeh for the go-ahead TD and Chad Johnson [who debuted his weak "Hall Of Fame jacket celebration"] for the game's opening TD.

Story #2 of this game was injuries. The Ravens lost Jonathan Ogden when he re-aggravated his turf toe, Steve McNair to a groin injury and BJ Sams ... while they watched Ray Lewis, Ed Reed [who actually returned a punt for a TD when Sams left the game] and Terrell Suggs deal with various injuries. The Bengals weren't immune, themselves. Shayne Graham's hip pointer acted up again ... while the offensive line had to deal without Levi Jones [who didn't play at all], Willie Anderson and Eric Ghiacuic.

(Hat tip to the Sports Kittens ... pictured above ... for a hilarious poem about the Ravens)

Final Score: Bengals 27-Ravens 20

Cowboys Beat Giants In Texas Shootout

Posted: Sep 10th 2007 12:21AM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Cowboys, NY Giants, NFC East

4 COMMENTS

In the preview for the Giants-Cowboys game, I said that both QBs ... Tony Romo and Eli Manning ... were very much under the microscope. Well, both came through with flying colors. Both threw for 4 TDs apiece and over 300 yards.

Romo looked like the star he's projected to be. He picked apart the Giants secondary; working the seams and the middle. And not just dinks and dunks, but huge plays [Dallas averaged 14.1 yards per passing attempt]. He found Jason Witten six times for 116 yards and a TD ... and Terrell Owens three times for 87 yds and 2 TDs. He also found Sam Hurd for a 51 yard TD pass. Oh, and dude ran one in himself.

Manning was no slouch himself, completing 28 of 41 passes while torching the Cowboys secondary. His main targets were Plaxico Burress [8 rec, 144 yds, 3 TD] and Amani Toomer [9 rec, 91 yds]. He did some of that after suffering a shoulder injury.

It was the defenses that let them down. Neither, obviously, could stop the other team's QB ... nor could they stop the run game. Julius Jones and Marion Barber combined for 131 yards and a TD for Dallas. The Giants, despite losing Brandon Jacobs to a knee injury and having to use Reuben Droughns as a fullback, still saw backup Derrick Ward rush for 89 yards and catch a late TD. The two teams combined for 916 yards of total offense ... 5.1 yds per rush attempt ... 14.7 yds per reception ... and 13 of 25 on third downs.

Dallas heads into next week's game with the Dolphins trying to figure out how to lock down what was supposed to be an improved defense. The Giants head into their home opener with Brett Favre and the Packers trying to patch up that pourous secondary, as well as deal with injuries to Manning, Jacobs and Osi Umenyiora.

Final Score: Cowboys 45-Giants 35

Seahawks 20, Buccaneers 6: Hasselbeck and Alexander Up, Cadillac and Garcia Down

Posted: Sep 9th 2007 7:48PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, Seahawks, Seattle, Tampa Bay

2 COMMENTS

The Seattle Seahawks' 20-6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn't easy. The Bucs got off to an early 6-0 lead, were ahead until late in the second quarter, and were still very much in the game into the fourth.

But the Seahawks looked like real playoff contenders, and the Bucs looked like a team that should be heading toward rebuilding mode. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had a very good game, completing 17 of 24 passes for 222 yards, with no turnovers, and Shaun Alexander had 105 yards on 27 carries. The sweetest play of the day was Hasselbeck's 34-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Morris. That one sealed the game in the fourth quarter.

As for Tampa Bay: Cadillac Williams got off to a solid start but missed the second half with a rib injury, and Jeff Garcia missed two series with what was euphemistically described on TV as "having his bell rung." When Garcia was playing, he dinked and dunked his way to a bunch of short completions without doing anything spectacular. When Garcia left, Luke McCown took over and completed one of four passes.

So it appears, based on one game, that both the Bucs and the Seahawks are who we thought they were. The Seahawks can further validate that belief next week with a win over the Cardinals, and the Bucs will take on the Saints next in a game that, for the loser, will set up a long year in the NFC South.

Broncos Ride Elam's Leg to Victory; Bills Suffer Terrifying Injuries

Posted: Sep 9th 2007 6:28PM by Dan (author feed)
Filed under: Bills, Broncos, AFC East, AFC West, Denver, Buffalo

10 COMMENTS

The Bills lost a lot more than just the game this afternoon against Denver. And while the last-second field by Broncos kicker Jason Elam was heartbreaking, Buffalo has to be far more concerned with the various injuries suffered throughout the game.

Perhaps the most disconcerting was the injury sustained by tight end Kevin Everett, who was taken out in an ambulance after a helmet-to-helmet hit in the third quarter. He appeared to lose consciousness before hitting the ground, and it is not yet known if it has been regained.

In addition to Everett, safety Ko Simpson suffered a broken ankle, cornerback Jason Webster suffered a broke forearm and Coy Wire sprained his knee. And while they all appear to be serious, they pale in comparison to Everett's injury, which may end up being career, or even life threatening.

Continue Reading Broncos Ride Elam's Leg to Victory; Bills Suffer Terrifying Injuries

Will Crennel Get to Coach Another Browns-Steelers Game?

Posted: Sep 9th 2007 5:39PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Steelers, AFC North, Cleveland, Pittsburgh

28 COMMENTS

In college football, a head coach knows he better win his share of rivalry games or he will find himself out on the street. John Cooper found out that gaudy records didn't mean anything at Ohio State if he couldn't beat Michigan. Now Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is about to find out the same thing from the opposite side of the rivalry.

But that's not normally how the NFL works. Making the playoffs is much more important than beating your division rival, although it's hard to make the playoffs without winning division games.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel needs to win any game at this point, not just Browns-Steelers games. But how long can a coach last in Cleveland when he's now 0-5 against the Browns biggest rival with an overall score of 163-55 in those games? At some point, can losing to a rival be enough to help speed a coach's exit?

Continue Reading Will Crennel Get to Coach Another Browns-Steelers Game?

Redskins Wear Out Dolphins; Win In Overtime

Posted: Sep 9th 2007 5:18PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Dolphins, Redskins, AFC East, NFC East

3 COMMENTS

The Redskins offensive line wore down the Dolphins defensive line in a tightly contested 16-13 overtime Skins victory. Shaun Suisham kicked a game winning 39-yd field goal to give the Skins a season opening win.

In Washington, today was more of what Skins fans wanted to see: a much more vicious defense, a power running game and the ability to stretch the defense with long passes. They were pretty effective in all aspects.

The defense did a very good job slowing down Miami's offense and coming up with some big redzone stands; the Redskins piled up 191 rushing yards on the Dolphins; and Jason Campbell connected on a few deep balls ... namely Antwan Randle-El for 162 yards ... despite throwing two interceptions and overthrowing several other passes.

One down note was the Redskins' tackle Jon Jansen being carted off the field with a dislocated ankle. Coach Joe Gibbs labeled the injury "pretty bad".

Miami struggled to run the football, just as they did in the preseason. Ronnie Brown rushed for 32 of the Phins' ugly 66 yards on the ground ... with 12 of that coming on one play.

The passing game was so-so. Trent Green looked good with 219 yds and a TD ... but watched several of his passes dropped by receivers Marty Booker and Chris Chambers. The Dolphins were a very effective 7-of-14 on 3rd down conversions ... but shot themselves in the foot with 8 penalties [including back to back penalties that placed them out of FG range in the first half].

Final Score: Redskins 16-Dolphins 13 (OT)

Patriots Break NFL Record; Break Jets' Back

Posted: Sep 9th 2007 5:07PM by Dan (author feed)
Filed under: Jets, Patriots, AFC East, New York

9 COMMENTS

In the words of Dennis Green, "they are who we thought they were!" Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, that is.

Tom Brady did what Tom Brady does, while Randy Moss had one of the greatest games of his career. Add to that a pinch of Wes Welker, a tablespoon of Laurence Maroney and a cup New England's 3-4 defense, and you have a 38-14 beatdown of the New York Jets. Oh, and let's not forget Ellis Hobbs, who set an NFL record this afternoon with his 108 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Adding injury to insult, Chad Pennington left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury after being sacked for the third time. As he stumbled and limped to the sidelines, a chorus of cheers rained down on the field. Were they for his replacement, Kellen Clemens, or were they directed at him? The CBS broadcasted seemed to believe the latter.

Either way, when the smoke cleared, one thing was very evident: the New England Patriots are a force to be reckoned with. Their offensive line gave Brady all day to throw, and with the wide receivers they have, it's a nightmare for opposing teams. Meanwhile, their defense was solid all day and their special teams ran on all cylinders.

It will be a pleasant ride home for New England, while Eric Mangini and the Jets go back to the drawing board.

Vikings' D Feasts on Dog-Killer-Less Falcons

Posted: Sep 9th 2007 4:39PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Falcons, Vikings, NFC North, NFC South, Atlanta, Minnesota, The Word

9 COMMENTS

We now know for sure what we already had reason to believe. Take the Lassie-killer away from the Falcons and the offense becomes very bad very quickly.

Michael Vick might be headed to jail, and he might be reviled, but he's also missed mightily by the Falcons offense.Vick's been a big reason the Falcons running game has been one of the NFL's best in recent years. Without him the Falcons were held under 100 yards rushing on Sunday as they struggled to move the ball on the ground or in the air.

New quarterback Joey Harrington was the same Harrington we've come to know and fear over the years--a couple of nice plays, too many sacks and a couple of interceptions that were returned for Vikings touchdowns. Neither of the interceptions was as much a bad throw as bad luck--defensive tackle Kevin Williams made leap to snag a Harrington throw at the line and then returned it 53 yards (in about 10 seconds) for a touchdown and Antoine Winfield's interception return late in the game came after Michael Jenkins let it go through his hands.

Continue Reading Vikings' D Feasts on Dog-Killer-Less Falcons

Eagles Punt Returners Lose Season Opener

Posted: Sep 9th 2007 4:20PM by Enrico Campitelli (author feed)
Filed under: Eagles, Packers, NFC East, Philadelphia

16 COMMENTS

Where's a skier when you need him?

It all started on the first punt return of the game. Greg Lewis decided to field a punt inside the Eagles own ten yard line with the Packers storming towards him. It was a decision that helped cost the Eagles their season opening loss at Lambeau.

Lewis made another poor decision in the second half, fielding another punt he likely should have avoided. It upset Andy Reid and special teams coach Rory Segrest and gave the punt returning job to J.R. Reed.

Reed didn't fare any better. On a punt with under two minutes to go, Reed, sprinting up towards a ball he may not have had any business trying to field, fumbled the ball. Green Bay recovered and was in perfect position to kick a game winning field goal.

The Eagles never really showed much in week one, but the loss can be put on the shoulders of Rory Segrest, Greg Lewis and J.R. Reed.

Previously at FanHouse:
After Putrid Start, Eagles Get Going, Tied 10-10 at the Half with Packers