Week 2 was much different from week 1, no big names got hurt, not too many upsets and the Colts actually won a game.
The one name on the lips of everyone in week 2 was Matt Cassell. Cassell started his first game since high school and won. The New York Jets had a golden opportunity to possibly lock up the AFC East 2 weeks into the season and failed. Gang Green got very conservative when they gave the ball 3 times to Thomas Jones who failed to get into the end zone from about 3 yards away. Obviously Eric Mangini forgot he got Brett Favre to play QB as he refused to let him throw the ball. Maybe Favre just is not comfortable yet but there is no excuse to have him handcuffed and not let him sling it around the field. Do not take away from his arsenal and restrict him from doing what he does best. Pats win 19-10.
The New York Giants on the other side were beyond superior against the St. Louis Rams. Eli Manning threw for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns. Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Ahmad Bradshaw each scored for the G-Men. The defense was spectacular. They recorded 6 sacks and an interception by Justin Tuck who took it 41 yards to the house. The Giants put up 41 points and continue to prove that they are a top team in the NFL on both sides of the field. Tuck, Antonio Pierce, Jay Alford, and Fred Robbins were the sackers making the day a nightmare for Marc Bulger.
Last weeks 2nd biggest story, the Bills, won another game as they beat the Jaguars 20-16. Trent Edwards was 20-25 for over 230 yards and was the first player since Doug Flutie to complete 80% of his passes. Unlike their first game, this week the Bills just managed the clock well and Trent Edwards was the definition of efficient. Marshawn Lynch ran in for a touchdown and ran for 59 yards. The next test for the Bills will be the defensive dominated Raiders.
And speaking of the Raiders, they finally won a game all on the back of Darren McFadden. McFadden rushed for a very impressive 164 yards and a touchdown on just 21 carries. McFadden was on full display as Fargas went down, and proved to everyone why the Raiders drafted him so high.
The Cardinals are finally coming into their own, and leading the way is none other then Kurt Warner. Sunday, Warner threw for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns. All 3 tds were to Anquan Boldin. Boldin and Fitzgerald combined had 293 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Cards are 2-0 and are looking like the toast of the town and possibly a division winner this year.
The wild game of the week award goes to the Chargers, Broncos game. Brandon Marshall had a coming out party as he came back from a suspension and caught 18 balls for 166 yards and a score. Ladanian Tomlinson played very sparingly as he is battling turf toe. But filling in for him was little Darren Sproles. Sporles had a career day, piling up 317 all-purpose yards on 14 touches, including a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first half and a 66-yard catch-and-run for the go-ahead score with 4:22 remaining. Jay Cutler continues to prove that he is the real deal as he threw for 350 yards and 4 touchdowns. None bigger than one coming with :24 seconds in the 4th quarter as Cutler found rookie and week 1 standout Eddie Royal for a 4 yard game tying touchdown. This of course coming after the biggest controversial play in the NFL this year. A ball that slipped out of the hand of Cutler, clearly a fumble was ruled an incomplete pass by ref Ed Hochuli. After the game Houchuli said he got the call wrong and now will be lowered on the totem poll by the NFL. After the touchdown Mike Shanahan put up 2 fingers signaling going for the 2 point conversion. So what does Cutler do? just throw it to Royal and he did and Royal caught it. Shanahan said it was a "gut feeling" and for the Chargers its gut check time as they are 0-2.
3 boring games of the week were the Titans vs. Bengals, Bears vs. Panthers and the 49ers vs the Seahawks. The only positives in the Titans game was that Chris Johnson is a beast running for another 100+ yards and Kerry Collins threw his first touchdown in almost 3 years. Although the ladder was actually an exciting game, no one is talking about it. The 49ers won the game in OT as Joe Nedney kicked a 40 yard FG to win the game. J.T O'Sullivan threw for over 320 yards but only 1 touchdown and was sacked an incredible 8 times. Patrick Willis was remarkable once again proving why he is a top defensive player in this league. Willis caught a tipped pass and took it all the way back to the house for an 86 yard touchdown.
The Colts and Vikings matched up in a game that would end with one of these 2 potential Super Bowl teams to be 0-2. The Colts thanks to a late rally by Peyton Manning and a clutch FG by Adam Vinateiri gave the Colts an 18-15 win. Adrian Peterson had a great game but never found the end zone. Peterson ran for 160 yards on 20 carries and caught 4 passes for 20 yards. The Vikings scored all their points on FG's and the lack of passing from Tavaras Jackson has the Vikings questioning their QB situation. Could we possibly see a John David Booty or Gus Frerotte soon?
The Sunday night game was a weather trenched game as it was pouring all game. The Steelers won 10-6 over the Browns as the only touchdown went to Hines Ward in the first half. The rest was all Steelers defense as sacks and interceptions were the key. Brian McFadden and Troy P both had interceptions.
The game of the week and the marquee matchup of the week was the Monday night game. A rivalry of NFC East warriors, the Eagles and the Cowboys squared off in the last opening game at Texas Stadium. The first half was a shootout as the 2 teams set the 2nd highest point total at the half for a MNF game. After an opening FG, Tony Romo went deep to Terrell Owens for 72 yards and a touchdown. After the Eagles ended the next drive with a FG, Felix Jones took the kick off to the house for a 98 yard TD return. And that was all in the first quarter. The 2nd quarter brought more of the same as Brian Westbrook scored 2 touchdowns 1 receiving and 1 rushing. Terrell Owens caught his 2nd touchdown of the game and Tony Romo fumbled a ball in his own end zone that was recovered by the Eagles for a touchdown. The 2nd Westbrook touchdown came Desean Jackson caught a 60 yard bomb from Donovan McNabb but started to celebrate early. He threw the ball behind him thinking he crossed the touchdown marker but actually was a yard early. The Cowboys challenged the play and it was overturned. A real bone head play. He was luckily saved by Westbrook. At the end of the half the score was 30-24. The 3rd quarter slowed down a bit as only 7 points were scored. Marion Barber caught a 14 yard pass for a TD, and off we went to the 4th quarter with the score being 31-30. Westbrook started the 4th quarter by capping off an 11 play 70 yard drive by scampering into the end zone for his 3rd touchdown of the evening. Marion Barber answered Westbrook's TD with one of his own later on in the 4th quarter putting the Cowboys up 41-37. The defense for the Cowboys then forced 2 sacks under 2 minutes left in the game and it was over. The Cowboys play in a wild one full of points and excitement.
MVP's Of Week 2 are as Follows:
- Brandon Marshall - 18 receptions, 166 yards, 1 touchdown
- Anquan Boldin - 6 receptions, 140 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Larry Fitzgerald - 6 receptions, 153 yards, 0 touchdowns
- Santana Moss - 7 receptions, 164 yards, 1 touchdown
- Terrell Owens - 3 receptions, 89 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Jason Witten - 7 receptions, 110 yards, 0 touchdowns
- Darren McFadden - 21 rushing attempts, 164 yards, 1 touchdown
- Adrian Peterson - 20 rushing attempts, 160 yards, 0 touchdowns
- Kurt Warner - 19 for 24, 361 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Aaron Rodgers - 24 for 38, 328 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Justin Tuck - 2 sacks, 1 interception, 1 touchdown
- Charles Woodson - 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown
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