So what did we all learn from week one in the NFL?
Well, home field advantage meant very little for at least one week (11 out of 16 road teams were victorious), Pittsburgh’s defense is still very, very good and Terrell Owens might not be the hands on favorite anymore to ruin Dallas’ season after Drew Bledsoe threw three interceptions against Jacksonville. Oh yeah, and the Raiders are going to be bad again this year – real bad.
Here is a look at the top and bottom five in my opinion after one week of play:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
Hard to go against these guys after the defense allowed only 30 yards on the ground to Miami’s Ronnie Brown. Here’s a tip for anybody playing the Steelers this season: know where Joey Porter and Troy Polamalu are on every play or else you will quickly find out how both of them can turn a game around. Right Miami?
2. Indianapolis Colts (1-0)
The Colts had a nice win on the road in a distracting situation. However, they better figure out that run game sooner rather than later or else teams are going to start shutting down that passing attack. It won’t be this week against Houston, but Jacksonville is looming in week three.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)
The Bengals defense looks like they’re for real again this season. Regardless of how bad a shape Kansas City’s o-line is in, allowing Larry Johnson to rush for only 68 yards is impressive. Cincinnati’s passing attack will be there this season, but if for some reason it comes down a bit after last year, having Rudi Johnson carry the load isn’t such a bad thing.
4. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Nine points against Detroit? Shaun Alexander was held to what? Relax, the Lions are tough in home openers and they are a more physical team now under Rod Marinelli. Plus, Seattle has never been a great road team and hey, you try to win while fighting two big curses in one season (Madden cover jinx and Super Bowl loser melt down syndrome)!
5. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
My surprise playoff team in ’06 laid the wood to Tampa Bay and the rest of the Bucs this weekend in a 27-0 shellacking. The offense can move the ball now and the defense looks stronger than ever. Has Michael Pittman figured out where he is yet after the hit he took from Ray Lewis?
28. Cleveland Browns (0-1)
The problem isn’t with talent, because the Browns have it – but only giving the ball to Reuben Droughns 11 times is ridiculous. Is there a problem with play calling in Cleveland maybe?
29. Tennessee Titans (0-1)
This team has a real issue at quarterback. I understand that Kerry Collins is still learning the system, but come on Tennessee, you couldn’t even beat noodle-arm Chad Pennington last weekend.
30. Houston Texans (0-1)
Hey, the Texans were up 7-0 against the Eagles. Good try Houston.
31. Green Bay Packers (0-1)
Brett Favre gets shut out for the first time in his career while head coach Mike McCarthy stands there with a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face. Is it just me or does McCarthy look nervous on the sidelines like a kid who doesn’t want to get called on in class?
32. Oakland Raiders (0-1)
So, Jerry Porter wasn’t really laughing on the sidelines when Aaron Brooks was sacked for the seventh time Monday night because he wasn’t even paying attention to the game? That’s much better Jerry.
