This week my individual team comments will be shorter than usual. I am on vacation in Hilton Head, SC. Hurricane Isabel has headed north and all is well here in the Low Country. Well, at least after last Sunday. I took a pilgramage on Sunday to the Hilton Head Brewing Company, the Steeler bar on the island. Things started well with Pittsburgh taking a 10-0 and then 17-7 lead. Of course it all went downhill after that.... At least the buckets of Rocks were on sale.
Rnk | LW | Team | Record | Comments |
1. | 4. | Buffalo Bills | 2-0 | The Bills impressively avoided a pitfall game in Jacksonville. Now they can stamp themselves as the frontrunner in the AFC with a win in Miami. |
2. | 5. | Kansas City Chiefs | 2-0 | The defense looks improved. Combined with Holmes and explosive returner Hall that makes the Chiefs a dangerous foe. |
3. | 8. | Indianapolis Colts | 2-0 | The real test for Manning and Dungy comes in the playoffs. |
4. | 1. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1-1 | The Bucs displayed a chink in the armor. Having a letdown at home against a divisional opponent is not a good sign. |
5. | 7. | Oakland Raiders | 1-1 | Needed a last second FG to beat the Bengls at home. The real test comes Monday night in Denver. |
6. | 12. | Seattle Seahawks | 2-0 | Their division looks weak to me and the schedule is a joke. |
7. | 14. | Denver Broncos | 2-0 | Wins against the Bengals and Chargers have yet to make me a believer. |
8. | 2. | Tennessee Titans | 1-1 | Suddenly the Titans look old. |
9. | 3. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-1 | Losing to the Chiefs in Arrowhead is no disgrace, but the way the Steelers lost is troubling. Special teams snafus and multiple turnovers are not acceptable. Zereoue looks very ordinary. For the Steelers to succeed Maddox needs to have games like week 1, not week 2. |
10. | 11. | New England Patriots | 1-1 | Won a game in Philadelphia they desperately needed to win. |
11. | 15. | Carolina Panthers | 2-0 | Trying to prove that defense, the power running game, and a good kicker can still win in this league. |
12. | 16. | Minnesota Vikings | 2-0 | The offensive line is developing into a dominant unit. |
13. | 17. | Green Bay Packers | 1-1 | Got it together versus the Lions. Having the Cardinals and Bears up next should allow them to continue their winning ways. |
14. | 19. | Miam Dolphins | 1-1 | Proved the Jets are not a serious contender with Vinnie. Now they get to take the measure of the Bills. |
15. | 6. | New York Giants | 1-1 | Furious comeback in regulation was foiled by a Bryant kickoff that went out of bounds in the last minute, once again proving the importance of special teams. |
16. | 18. | St. Louis Rams | 1-1 | Martz finally admitted what everyone else already knew.... Bulger is a better QB than Warner. |
17. | 20. | Washington Redskins | 2-0 | Have beaten the Jets without Penington and Falcons without Vick. I will start to give them more respect if they can win against a team with their starting QB. |
18. | 9. | Atlanta Falcons | 1-1 | I'm sure this won't come as a shock.... The Falcons miss Vick. |
19. | 21. | New Orleans Saints | 1-1 | After a loss in Seattle and win over the Texans this is a team that has yet to define itself. |
20. | 10. | Philadelphia Eagles | 0-2 | McNabb has looked less than ordinary. And both losses came at home. Not good. |
21. | 24. | Baltimore Ravens | 1-1 | Boller is clearly not ready. Aganst teams that can't stop the run Lewis looks poised to make that unimportant. |
22. | 13. | San Fransisco 49ers | 1-1 | Remember, the win was at home against the most inept team in football. |
23. | 29. | Dallas Cowboys | 1-1 | Parcells still has some magic up his sleeve. |
24. | 22. | Cleveland Browns | 0-2 | Lewis completely embarassed the young Browns defense. |
25. | 23. | San Diego Chargers | 0-2 | Marty ball is already looking stale. At least the people of San Diego can enjoy the good weather all season. |
26. | 25. | New York Jets | 0-2 | You could see the air come out of their sails when Pennington left the field injured in the preseason. |
27. | 26. | Detriot Lions | 1-1 | Marriucci needs time. |
28. | 27. | Houston Texans | 1-1 | Competative in only their second year, but not ready to contend. |
29. | 28. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 0-2 | Just don't have the horses to hang with the big boys. |
30. | 30. | Cincinnati Bengals | 0-2 | Played hard in Oakland for Lewis, which is a step in the right direction. |
31. | 31. | Arizona Cardinals | 0-2 | McGinnis actually turned down the Bears job before landing the top spot in Arizona. At least that is one decision he doesn't have to look back at in regret. |
32. | 32. | Chicago Bears | 0-2 | Same old Kordell. |