NFL Opening Week 2005

[Sass 0]

14 - 10 final.

 

Congrats to the Falcons.

[Damaramu 0]

The thing that made this game worse was that my parents were rooting for the Falcons and yelling at me the whole game.

Oh well I gave them a piece of my mind after the game.

After I told them off and called my dad fat and told them about how the Eagles were still going to the Super Bowl I made sure to put down their teams.

In my mom's case I told her that Farve was too old and should've hung it up.

And in my dad's case I told him that Oklahoma State has more trouble on offense than OU and that's saying something. When he tried to rebound I also reminded him about how his favorite football team is always little brother to my team and he can shut his fat mouth until they actually win a Big XII title.

 

I felt good after that.........but the Eagles still lost. So I'm sad.

[KingPK 0]

Ugh, lost my first fantasy game by 5 stinkin' points. A TD from either Trent Green, Hines Ward, Warrick Dunn, Jamal Lewis or Eddie Kennison would have given us the win.

 

Owens was being covered like a blanket.

[Guest MikeSC]

It's your parents' fault that your favorite NFL team is not a contender?

[Damaramu 0]

It's your parents' fault that your favorite NFL team is not a contender?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No they were gloating in my face when I was taking the loss gracefully.

[Guest MikeSC]

I, seriously, doubt both parts of that statement.

[Guest El Satanico]

Why do we still have 5 preseason games? The "experts" claim it's needed for the sake of chemistry. So, why is there always sloppy play in week 1?

 

I can't imagine that teams would be sloppier with just two games.

[Guest Vitamin X]

D'Angelo Hall really impressed me tonight. I didn't watch the very end of the first half or 3rd quarter, though, but that's the general impression I got. He did a hell of a job covering T.O. tonight.

 

Whoever said Atlanta doesn't usually physically dominate other teams obviously never saw them play last year or something. That's ALL they do, they're hardly what I call a finesse team. They're all smashmouth, run the ball, control the clock on offense and bump-and-run, put pressure and blitz the QB defense. Extremely physical team.

 

I still don't think the games in Week 1 are an accurate measure of who's really good or not yet. The Eagles will bounce back, I'm sure.

[Richard 0]

Why do we still have 5 preseason games? The "experts" claim it's needed for the sake of chemistry. So, why is there always sloppy play in week 1?

 

I can't imagine that teams would be sloppier with just two games.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Because enough people are willing to pay to attend pre-season games.

[the pinjockey 0]

I am glad that the Falcons TE's were able to embarass Jevon Kearse all night long. The announcers could talk about how he had to contain all they want (clog both inside and out), but the fact remains the TE's were able to control where he went so it was a moot point.

 

McNabb played like garbage. He played like the McNabb v.2001 with the happy feet, except back then the happy feet moved forward instead of doing a tap dance. And the screen "fumble" was the worst thing I had ever seen. Just because Kearney got a chip on Westbrook, doesn't mean he is going to continue running 10 yards backwards.

 

Falcons did a great job of getting pressure on McNabb and pretty much wanted the game from the opening kickoff as opposed to the Eagles who didn't realize they were playing a real game until the 20 minute mark.

 

And where the fuck was Ryan Moats?!? He has been impressive during the preseason and the offense desperately needed some kind of boost.

[Guest *KNK*]

Why do we still have 5 preseason games? The "experts" claim it's needed for the sake of chemistry. So, why is there always sloppy play in week 1?

 

I can't imagine that teams would be sloppier with just two games.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

What really gets me is that, shouldn't 2 1/2 months of practice be enough to establish "chemistry"?

 

However, the problem is the team and the players except for those fighting for a job aren't taking pre-season seriously (and rightfully so). There's no "chemistry" to be developed if the players aren't really putting forth a full effort.

 

 

Preseason needs to be reduced to 2 games but will never happen because 2 extra home games is $$$ for owners that fans are forced to buy if they want season tix

[KingPK 0]

There's sloppy play in Week 1 because, as Madden pointed out (yes, he actually made a good point), they are usually the first full games most of the starters play so they aren't quite in shape or together as a unit to play a solid game. That's why you usually have to wait until Week 6 or so to find out what teams are really about.

[Guest MikeSC]

He got blasted for it --- but Rush was right. Donovan is just not that good of a QB. He was always mediocre and the sports press fellated him regardless. Terrell bailed him out last season, but now Terrell is acting like his usual prima donna self and that isn't happening. You'll see Donovan's numbers crash back down to reality.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Donovan's athletic and can move around and lead a team quite well, but his arm strength just does not hold up well going towards the end of most games. How many career comebacks does the guy have? I've only seen two, both against my Packers (same season, too). He's a superb leader, but he's the kind of guy who needs to have a strong running game in order for him to stay alive. And what the fuck happened to his game? How did McNabb decide to become a pocket passer all of a sudden?

 

I also didn't realize that he was such a hefty dude for a QB. 6'2", 245?

[snuffbox 0]

I enjoyed tonights game.

[the pinjockey 0]

It isn't an all of a sudden thing with McNabb. Look at his running numbers from last year (40ish carries, 200 and change yards) and you will see he just doesn't use the running option anymore. He is desperately trying to prove to anyone and everyone that he is not the stereotypical quarterback who is dubbed "athletic" because he is black. He wants to be Peyton Manning. What he either doesn't realize or completely ignores, is that with one decent run a game he will get the opposing secondaries hesitating, which will open up the passing game and let him be a great passer. Apparently there is no middle ground to him between "running QB" and "pocket passer". What they need to do is strap him to a chair and make him watch Steve Young gamefilm.

[therealworldschampion 0]

It isn't an all of a sudden thing with McNabb.  Look at his running numbers from last year (40ish carries, 200 and change yards) and you will see he just doesn't use the running option anymore.  He is desperately trying to prove to anyone and everyone that he is not the stereotypical quarterback who is dubbed "athletic" because he is black.  He wants to be Peyton Manning.  What he either doesn't realize or completely ignores, is that with one decent run a game he will get the opposing secondaries hesitating, which will open up the passing game and let him be a great passer.  Apparently there is no middle ground to him between "running QB" and "pocket passer".  What they need to do is strap him to a chair and make him watch Steve Young gamefilm.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree, and it's not helping when the offensive line looks like complete and utter shit and isn't giving him a lot of time. But there were about 4-5 plays I saw where he could've broke a run and made the secondary hesitate.

[the pinjockey 0]

Yeah, Artis Hicks and Jon Runyan certainly did not have their best games as Coleman and Kearney did whatever they wanted. And that makes it even more important that he is willing to run. Look at how much the Eagles held back on their pass rush, because they had to contain Vick. The Falcons were teeing off on McNabb because there was no threat of McNabb taking off. (They were also teeing off since there was no running game since the line couldn't run block for shit, but that is another point.)

 

In defense of the O-Line though, like I said above, when the defense knows a pass is coming and knows that they don't have to contain they can just let loose which has to be hard on an offensive lineman. If you give Patrick Kearney and Rod Coleman free reign all game, they will make a lot of linemen look bad.

 

And it is even deeper that just running. They don't even use bootlegs and rollouts to get him out of the pocket. The only time he leaves the pocket is if he is forced, nothing planned. That is just plain stupid.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

And where the fuck was Ryan Moats?!? He has been impressive during the preseason and the offense desperately needed some kind of boost.

I think I saw a note in the local paper (didn't look at the Inquirer yet today) that Moats was deactivated for the game.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

If only I could remember who it was that I was arguing about Chad Pennington's shoulder with so that I could say:

 

 

Told you so.

[Ripper 0]

Big mental win for the Falcons. They beat the team that has taken them away from their super bowl berths the last two times in the playoffs, so they could definately be over the hump now.

 

It was a defensive struggle just as I thought, and Atlanta's D looks great. And anyone that says "what was up with Philly" in this lost is ignoring that Atlanta just has a great D. 2 of their touchdowns in last years NFC Championship game were caused by the offense, not given up by the D. This Defense is what atlanta is going to have to ride this season and its a damn nice D to ride.

 

Atlantas offense...it looked pretty good. The O-line did a great job save a few safety blitzs and thats just bad read jobs. The running game looked great, although I am still baffled by the constant flating of TJ Duckett that people have. Its going to be another no pass catching year for the Falcons recievers, Special teams looked great as usual...I am walking away quite positive for this game, although I do realize that it is week 1 and this is noway indicitive of how the season will work out.

 

I still say the NFC will consist of Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Philly, and Carolina all going at it for the Bowl birth.

 

People claim that Kevin Mathis "did that on purpose" before the game...seroiusly people. Did he quantum leap into Trotters body and make him meet himself for a confrontation. i don't think either one of them should have been kicked out honestly, but nither guy was more or less at fault.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I still say the NFC will consist of Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Philly, and Carolina all going at it for the Bowl birth.   

 

People claim that Kevin Mathis "did that on purpose" before the game...seroiusly people.  Did he quantum leap into Trotters body and make him meet himself for a confrontation.  i don't think either one of them should have been kicked out honestly, but nither guy was more or less at fault.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Do you mean the final 4 teams alive, competing for the NFC Championship game and then IN the NFC Championship Game competing for the Super Bowl berth? Has one division ever had 3 of the 4 final teams? It'd mean both Wild Cards going to teams in the same division, and then both of them beating the other division champs.

 

And while I agree that neither really deserved to get 86'ed, the rules are pretty strict that throwing a single punch is a game misconduct, and both guys threw punches.

[Black Lushus 0]

eh, Trotter shoved, I didn't see a punch...

[cabbageboy 0]

Just wondering but why are people so incessant in the Panthers pimping? Ok fine they had a fluke year and made a Super Bowl. Getting back would be like the Chargers getting back to the Super Bowl in 1996 or so.

[nl5xsk1 0]

People are sweating the Panthers because they had a top-shelf D until Jenkins got hurt. Good running offense and good run-prevention D is enough to get you a SB win these days, and they had both until Jenkins was lost again.

 

I personally didn't believe the hype ... but I was pimping the Vikings to win the SB, so I really don't know shit.

[Ripper 0]

They still haven't fallen off from that year. They almost made the playoffs last year and they lost each and everyone of their offensive weapons except the QB.

 

They have a monster Defense, a very good passing offense....they are just a good team.

 

And nl5xsk1, they are the best teams in the NFC. I personally think those 4 teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the conference.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Rip, I don't disagree that those 4 teams are pretty much the class of the NFC, I just don't think that 3 teams from the same division can all advance in the postseason like that. I can see 2 of the three getting to the second round of the postseason. ATL & Philly should earn the byes, and either Carolina or TB should be able to beat the West winner, even on the road.

 

But it would take both teams winning road games in the wild card round, and I just can't see that happening.

[Damaramu 0]

I'm not that worried about the Eagles. If we can just find a better running game we'll be in great shape. I think we might've one that game if we'd had Jermiah Trotter b/c he would've caused havoc for Atlanta's run game.

[Ripper 0]

no he wouldn't have. I don't think people realize what Corey Simon did for him.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Ripper, a lot of the reason why the run defense sucked in the early part of last year was because Simon was extremely out of shape coming into camp because he reported late due to being angry about his contract. He had to play himself into shape last year, which is one of reason why I think the run defense got better later on into the year. Much like Sunday night seeing Simon look like the fucking Michelin Man in that white Colts uniform, he's going to have to play himself into shape.

 

I also think the Eagles got killed on penalties last night, especially getting whistled for 4 illegal formation penalties, which is something you should only be getting whistled for once in a great while, not 4 times a game.