Jetnation.com is proud to announce two new features. Each week will bring you the weekly Top 5 rankings as well as a recap of the previous weeks game with commentary. Here is this weeks installment written by Senior Columnist Nick Ferraro.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers 2-0
The Steelers are the league’s most complete team through two weeks.
2. Indianapolis Colts 2-0
The Colts improved defense is bad news for the rest of the league.
3. Kansas City Chiefs 2-0
Allowing only seven points in the second half to Oakland was impressive. That performance after drubbing the Jets in week one has the Chiefs in the top five for the first time in quite a while.
4. Cincinnati Bengals 2-0
The Bengals make a rare appearance in the top five after two impressive wins. The offense faces a stiff test this week in Chicago’s defense.
5. Tampa Bay 2-0
Gruden’s new Cadillac is running smoothly to open the season. The Bucs handled the Bills is impressive fashion.
Week Two Roundup
Redskins 14 Cowboys 13It was a devastating loss for the Cowgirls last night, who appeared set to make a fast start after winning in San Diego last week. You have to hand it to the Skins defense, which has kept the team in position to start out 2-0 despite its pathetic offense.
Stat of the Game: The Skins held Dallas to just 90 yards rushing. The Cowboys couldn’t put the game away because they couldn’t run it.
Giants 27 Saints 10
The Giants took advantage of their ninth home game. The game provided a chance for football fans to show their generosity in assisting those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Saints were able to show their generosity by turning the ball over six times.
Stat of the Game: Plaxico Burress hauled in five passes for 76 yards. Manning and Burress appear to be creating a nice chemistry together as Burress now has 10 grabs on the year.
Panthers 27 Patriots 17
This just in…the Patriots will lose games this year. Yes, that’s games with an “s�, as in multiple games. They are still the champs until someone sends else holds the Lombardi Trophy. That said, there are some chinks in the armor, and the Panthers exposed them after dropping their home opener to an emotional Saints team last week.
Stat of the game: The Champs managed just 39 yards rushing. No matter who you are, you can’t win without some production on the ground.
Game ball: Panthers defense – 39 yards rushing, 170 total yards against, 3 turnovers
Bears 38 Lions 6
The Bears intercepted five against Joey Harrington, whose hot seat is getting warmer. The preseason injury to Jeff Garcia will allow Harrington some extra time as the starter that he might not have if Garcia was healthy. The Bears defense is for real, and they got an efficient game from rookie QB Kyle Orton. The Bears were 8-15 on third down, which says a lot for Orton.
Stat of the game: The Bears rolled up 187 yards on the ground.
Bengals 37 Vikings 8
Dante with 5 more INTs in week two now has zero TDs and 8 INTs for the year. The Bengals were balanced with 300-plus yards through the air and 167 yards on the ground. Culpepper’s poor start will garner the attention, but what is going on with the Vikings defense? They infused several free agents and drafted for defense, but they appear less able to stop the opposition than last year through two weeks.
Stat of the game: Bengals have allowed only 21 points in the first two games. Marvin Lewis is making progress with the Bengal defenders.
Steelers 27 Texans 7
The Steelers drubbing prompted the Texans to fire Offensive Coordinator, Chris Palmer. The Steelers are quickly reminding those who forgot about them in their preseason predictions that there are two good teams in Pennsylvania. Big Ben was a machine-like 14-21 for 254 yards and three TDs. Ben is now 23-32 for 472 yards with 5 TDs and 0 INTs. What sophomore jinx?
Stat of the game: Willie Parker ripped off 166 yards rushing while the Steelers held another opponent under 100 yards rushing as a team.
Colts 10 Jaguars 3
This was the game of the week. The two AFC heavyweights bruised each other in a physical contest. The Colts defense won a game for its offense in an unusual twist. The Colts won despite only 122 yards passing from Manning. While they will look for ways to get their air attack on track in the upcoming week, the Colts ability to win a defensive struggle bodes well for the team going forward. The Jags need better play from their offensive line if they want to contend in the AFC.
Stat of the game: The historically soft Colts defense tallied six sacks in the win.
Eagles 42 49ers 3
You could see this coming after the Eagles dropped the Monday night opener in Atlanta. McNabb was brilliant and the Eagles backups were a perfect 10-10 in mop up duty. The 49ers came back to Earth with a thud after the week one upset of the Rams.
Stat of the Game: Eagles tight end L.J. Smith snared 9 passes for 119 yards and a TD. The Eagles will waltz in the NFC if Smith develops as another weapon for McNabb.
Buccaneers 19 Bills 3
This is the kind of game you had to expect coming into the season for JP Losman. Losman struggled on the road against a stingy Buc defense. The Bills could manage only 147 yards of offense. Brian Griese was an efficient 16-22, and rookie RB Carnell Williams provided 128 rushing yards. The Bills need to get Eric Moulds more involved. The former Pro-Bowler was held to one catch for eight yards.
Stat of the Game: The Bucs held the Bills to only eight first downs.
Titans 25 Ravens 10
The Baltimore crazies who cheered when Kyle Boller was injured last week may want to rethink things. The Titans, who were scorched by the Steelers last week, allowed the Ravens only 182 yards of offense. The home team forced two turnovers and posted six sacks on the day. Jamal Lewis tallied a dismal nine yards rushing. The Ravens have yet to score a TD this season when the game wasn’t out of reach.
Stat of the Game: The Titans defense allowed just 14 yards rushing.
Rams 17 Cardinals 12
The Ram defense bent but did not break yesterday. The Rams held the Cards to four field goals and stood up against a last minute drive by the home team. Steven Jackson provided the difference with a seven-yard touchdown run in the third. Jackson has officially taken the torch for Marshall Faulk who had just five touches for the Rams. The Ram defense was the story after getting burned in week one by the Niners.
Stat of the Game: The Rams won despite succeeding only 27% of the time on third down and just 189 yards passing. Winning on the road with defense is a nice twist for St Louis.
Seahawks 21 Falcons 17
The Seahawks held the Falcons scoreless in the first half and withstood a late rally to hold on to the win. The Seahawks defense held the Dirty Birds to just 223 yards of offense. The Falcons, last year’s number one rushing team, could only manage 115 yards on the ground with 43 coming from Michael Vick. Darrell Jackson held onto eight passes for 131 yards. Shaun Alexander provided balance for Seattle with 144 yards on the ground. The Falcons lack the firepower to make up a large deficit.
Stat of the Game: The Seahawks held the Falcons WRs to just eight catches on the day.
Broncos 20 Chargers 17
Denver played come-from-behind again on Marty Schottenhiemer. Denver’s defense held the Chargers to just three points in the second half. Champ Bailey turned the game around with an interception for a TD on the first play of the second half. LaDainian Tomlinson was held to just 52 yards rushing for the game. The Chargers will need to come out of an 0-2 hole if they want to repeat as AFC West champs.
Stat of the Game: After being burned for big plays against the Dolphins in week one, Denver held San Diego to just 213 yards of offense.
Browns 26 Packers 24
Does it get any worse than having the Browns come to town and dump you? The Packers look to be in for a long ride this season. Trent Dilfer had a huge day rolling up 336 passing yards and three TDs. The Packer’s secondary might be even worse than it was last year.
Stat of the Game: Rookie Braylon Edwards posted 107 receiving yards for the Browns.
Chiefs 23 Raiders 17
The improved Chief’s defense has people’s attention. Oakland hung 57 points on KC in two games last year. Kerry Collins was able to find Randy Moss for a 64-yard TD strike in the third, but it was the only points the Raiders could muster in the second half. The Raiders could only squeeze out 71 yards rushing for the game.
Stat of the Game: LaMont Jordan had just 15 carries for 59 yards. The Raiders need more on the ground to win.
Jets 17 Miami 7
The Jets did enough to win on Sunday. After the debacle in Kansas City in week one, the Jets managed not to turn the ball over. Pennington was accurate although his passes were not exactly bullets. His shoulder is still a concern no matter what the Jets are saying. The defense held Miami to 29% on third down after the Fins converted 53% in week one. The Dolphins were able to amass only 66 yards rushing. Jet’s rookie kicker Mike Nugent hit his first NFL field goal.
Stat of the Game: Curtis Martin had 72 yards on Sunday, and he has only 129 yards rushing through two weeks. This is a major concern if the Jets plan on returning to the playoffs.
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