Two weeks into the NFL season and one thing is becoming clear to me.We’re not very good at picking winners and it’s a good thing we don;t bet on these games. Schaumburg Stu won Week 2 with a record of 8-8, Mr. Fantasy and I where 6-10 while Dan the Man went 5-11. Through two weeks Schaumburg Stu and Mr. Fantasy are toed for the over all lead with a record of 17-15. Dan the Man is 15-17 while I am bringing up the rear at 13-19. Let’s hope Week 3 goes better for us.
Did you have the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles starting the season 0-2. Obviously it’s early in the season, but have any of these teams showed any signs of coming around to the team you thought they would be. Luckily for the Saints and the Eagles they play in relatively weaker divisions than the other 0-2 teams. Don’t forget that the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South with a record of 7-8-1 last season; so the Saints can easily get back in it. While these teams cab easily gain ground just by beating the teams in their divisions when they meet. Now even though the Eagles did just lose a game to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 they may still be in the best spot of all that 0-2 teams. With all the injuries the Cowboys have incurred early this season and as bad as the Washington Redskins may be along with the fact that the New York Giants have been the worst team in the NFL the first two weeks of the season the NFC East could easily be the worst division in the entire NFL. So if Chip Kelly can get the Eagles going in the right direction and that’s easier said than done with the way they’ve played these first two weeks they may have the easiest road to a division title. Of course the question is; can they straighten out their issues?
After there 27-26 Week 1 victory over the Giants, the Cowboys found out they’d be without there best wide Receiver Dez Bryant for possible up to 10 weeks. Then during their Week 2 game against the Eagles which ended up being a 20-10 win quarterback Tony Romo broke his clavicle and was placed on injured reserve with a return. That means Romo will be out for at least 8 weeks and will miss at least 7 games. The Cowboys did sign Matt Cassell to help fill the void left by the Romo injury, but you have to figure this week against the Atlanta Falcons who are also 2-0 that Brandon Weeden will be the starting quarterback. Weeden was 7 of 7 for 73 yards and a touchdown in relief of Romo on Sunday. In Bryant’s absence Jason Witten led the team in receptions with 7, but Terrence Williams led the tam in receiving yards with 84 and caught the only receiving touchdown. Cole Beasely did catch 4 passes, but only managed 14 yards on those catches. While the Cowboys have one of if not the best offensive line in football, but they’ll need to find a way to get more production out of there wide receivers while Bryant and Romo are out to continue to be successful. Will have to see if newly acquired Brice Butler or Devin Street can step up at receiver or maybe it’s time that Gavin Escobar shows something as a second tight end in this offense. Even with a very good offensive line the running game has struggled. Joseph Randle has gotten the most carries through 2 games; 34, but is only averaging 3.4 yards per carry. Darren McFadden has gotten 16 carries through 2 games , but he’s only averaging 2.9 yards per carry. While Lance Dunbar has been a factor in the passing game out of the backfield where he has 11 catches for 115 yards; he has only carried the football 1 time for 8 yards. Even with the offensive line the Cowboys have they don’t have a rushing touchdown. They did go out and make a trade with the Seahawks for Christine Michael right before the season started and you have to wonder if he’ll get a chance in the backfield. Michael has been inactive for the first 2 games of the season, but with the production the running backs have given the Cowboys you’d have to think they would take a look at him. Dallas is off to a 2-0 start, but you have to wonder if they’ll be able to at least tread water until Romo and Bryant return.
You have to think that the National League Cy Young race is won to 2 pitchers. Sorry Clayton Kershaw, but it’s not you this season. Voters have to looking at Zack Greinke; Kershaw’s teammate on the Los Angeles Dodgers or Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta. Arrieta made his 31st start last night and pitched a 3-hit shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers to get his 20th victory of the season. Arrieta struck out 11 while walking just 1 last night. Arrieta also lowered his ERA to 1.88. Greinke has made 30 starts and will make his 31st start tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Greinke is 18-3 and leads baseball with an ERA of 1.65. With both the Cubs and the Dodgers headed into the playoffs and the Cubs going into the wild card game you have to wonder if either pitcher will make a 32nd start this season. You’d think both guys would be the pitcher their team would want on the mound to open a playoff series or pitch them into a playoff series by winning a wild card game. Imagine a NLDS series against the Dodgers where it’s Greinke in Game 1 followed by Kershaw in Game 2. Then they could bring them back for a Game 4 and 5 if needed. Even with some of the struggles Kershaw had in last seasons playoffs it’s still a pitching set up any team would take. The Cubs won’t quite have that set up as they’ll have Arrieta to pitch them into a NLDS series it would be Jon Lester getting that Game 1 start and Arrieta would be back in Game 3 or maybe 4. Cy Young voters are going to have to make a tough choice between Greinke and Arrieta and no matter which guys wins it there will be a case for the other one to win it.
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