If I had to sum up Week 2, I would probably coin the term ‘the great equalizer’. But no in the sense that Steve Jobs used that term to sum up the concept of death. I’m talking more of how teams that were riding high after Week 1 were taken down a notch, and underwhelming performances last week were complemented with decent showings this week.
And, as with last week, we know that it’s impossible to keep up with all the stories from a week in football. So, once again, we’re bringing you this week’s edition of The Bullhorn to run down to good, the bad and the ugly of this week in football.
Thursday, September 17
Jamaal Charles Becomes The Most Hated Man in Kansas City
It’s pretty easy to forget that the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs have such a bitter rivalry. Mostly because the Broncos weren’t really a team to watch until they got Peyton Manning and Wes Welker. Regardless, the rivalry this week is probably why this week’s edition of Thursday Night Football was the highest ever with an average of 21 million viewers. And those select few got an absolute treat in the final play of the game. Tied 24-24 with less than a minute to go, Chiefs’ running back Jamaal Charles fumbled on the 25 and allowed Broncos defenseman Bradley Roby to mosey on into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown.
This baby’s reaction and these two post-game speeches pretty sum that one up as well as I ever could.
Sunday, September 20th
“New England Is not Exactly The Boy Scouts of America”
Rex Ryan is probably the closest thing we’ll ever get to a real-life boy who cried wolf. If the guy had 6 eggs, he’d promise everyone 12. Beyond his promises, he also can’t keep his mouth shut. Example, after the Buffalo Bills lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday 40-32, Ryan said that he felt that the refs missed calls against the Patriots (11 penalties) and called a few too many against the Bills (14 penalties), because nothing screams ‘sore loser’ like blaming the refs. In defense of his own players, Ryan commented on the Patriots, saying, “They outplayed us, they outcoached us, they outdid whatever. But there’s different ways of chatting and of all that type of stuff, too. Let’s face it: New England is not exactly the Boy Scouts of America. All right? So you can say what you want, but the tape doesn’t lie either.”
Source: ESPN.com
Both players and coaches did admit that they felt the Bills have to work on keeping their emotions in check as the season continues, in which case they’ll need to all wear winter boots to keep Rex from getting too fired up about feet. However, as is tradition, Ryan says he won’t put a muzzle on his players because he doesn’t put one on himself.
QB Killing Fields
As a fan of the Giants, it’s hard for me to look at a match-up like the Eagles-Cowboys game and not just end up rooting against both. However, no one likes seeing a guy go down with a broken collar bone, which is exactly what happened to Tony Romo.
Injured Sunday’s 20-10 victory over the Eagles, Romo was taken into the locker room and returned out of pads and in a sling. With a broken left clavicle bone, Romo will miss the next six to eight weeks, pegging him as most likely not being able to return until the end of November. Luckily, Romo isn’t expecting to have to undergo surgery.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. No surgery needed. We're just getting started cowboys nation. See you soon
— Tony Romo (@tonyromo) September 21, 2015
In what continued to be a rough weekend for quarterbacks, Jay Cutler got stiff-armed straight into the dirt while trying to make a tackle after he tossed a pick-six in Chicago’s 48-23 loss to the Cardinals. The injury appears to be in his right shoulder from the impact but everyone’s now saying it’s his hamstring so we’ll see what that turns into. Of course Twitter was merciless to him.
#Bears Jay Cutler leaves game with injury after pick 6 https://t.co/DNmL7Yiecs
— ✶ Sports Mockery ✶ (@sportsmockery) September 20, 2015
Saints god-send Drew Brees suffered a bruised rotator cuff on Sunday against the Buccaneers in a 26-19 loss. While there is no tear, Brees’s participation in Week 3 against the Panthers remains questionable. Unfortunately for Brees, early talks are swarming that this may affect New Orleans’ decisions regarding his contract expiring in 2016.
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had X-Rays on his chest and ribs after being subjected a near mafia-level beating at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings in their 26-16 loss. The quarterback reportedly suffered pain in his left arm during the entire game, is questionable to start for week 3.
Old Gun vs. Young Buck
After dismantling Jameis Winston last week, 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota led the Tennessee Titans against 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Football and the Cleveland Browns. It seems as if Mariota still has a bit to learn despite last week’s stellar performance as Manziel’s seasoned NFL prowess pretty handily dealt the Titans a loss in the form of a 28-14 victory, giving the Cleveland Browns their opening home game win since 1999. It seems like Manziel is coming back to form from his college days of just heaving bombs down the field to connect for big touchdowns, like this one to Travis Benjamin early in the game.
JOHNNY MANZIEL. To Travis Benjamin, 60 yards! pic.twitter.com/EljyLogVEr
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) September 20, 2015
Pete Carroll Blames the Refs; Aaron Rodgers Makes Fun of Russell Wilson
After two back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and no uber-prominent team changes, it’s kind of surprising that the Seahawks have opened the season at 0-2. But, when you’re going up against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (Seattle lost the game 27-17), you should get used to expecting the worst. Especially after the 2012 officiating debacle.
Source: Green Bay Packers
Of course, as with most games these two teams meet, there were some discrepancies and disagreements regarding a few key plays. Seattle’s Pete Carroll claims that the refs improperly awarded the Packers the ball after a key fourth quarter fumble after Packers defenseman intercepted Russell Wilson but dropped the ball. Carroll argues that Seattle came up with it, despite Green Bay being awarded the ball. Carroll also said he disagreed with the refs 52-yard pass interference penalty against Richard Sherman after a Seahawks defenseman jumped off-sides before the snap. Carroll argues the ball should have been dead. He also disagreed with the refs decision to eject K.J. Wright after the defenseman threw Aaron Rodgers to the ground by the facemask. Not sure what else he expected to happen.
Beyond Carroll’s complaining, Rodgers threw a little shade of his own in a post-game interview. In the vein of Russell Wilson’s tearful proclamation of his love of God, Rodgers thanked God for his win on Sunday. Rodgers has come out publically and said that he doesn’t really think God is a big football fan.
Winston Makes His Fans Eat Their Boos
Last week, Jameis Winston was literally booed off the field at half time for playing so terribly. This week, he gave his “fans” something cheer about with a 26-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints. It probably didn’t hurt matters that Drew Brees went down halfway through the game with bruised rotator cuff, but a win’s a win.
Source: Air Force
Julio Jones Upstages Beckham Jr.
Coming off a big game last week, Falcons WR Julio Jones decided to upstage Odell Beckham Jr. on his own field and perfectly executed a wild one-hand catch to drag the Falcons out of their own end zone in a 24-20 Falcon victory.
Julio Jones is pretty good at this: pic.twitter.com/mJaQriocA5
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 20, 2015
The Giants, currently 0-2, have opened three straight seasons at 0-2, the first time in franchise history. Nearly poetically, Sunday’s game also honored the 1990 Super Bowl winning team at half-time.
Monday, September 21st
Jets Muscle Their Way to 2-0; Luck Tosses Colts Down to 0-2
A lot of people (including me) really thought the Jets showing last week was going to end up being a one and done for the franchise before they returned to old form. But, surprisingly, the Jets came back out against the Colts and ended up putting the beat on them with a 20-7 victory. The Jets have already recorded 10 takeaways this season and turned it into 34 points, which is a stark contrast to last season’s 20 points off takeaways the entire season. You can check out all of the big plays of that game (Revis’s end zone fumble recovery, Marshall’s TD while wearing two Colt defenseman, Ivory hurdling over a defenseman) here.
Source: New York Jets
The Colts also surprised everyone by not recovering from their loss to Buffalo last week. Andrew Luck recorded 4 turnovers and, after two weeks, is currently pulling a 54% completion rating. The Colts offense was rated in the top 5 earlier this season.
Other Week 2 Stories:
Minnesota Vikings Will Cut Ties With Long Time Mascot Ragnar
Donald Trump Ways In Flacco, Romo
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