As sports fans, we are prone to bursts of emotional rampage.

We are allowed to let a big loss ruin our entire weekend and have our significant others understand. We are allowed to bet on a football game and then cheer against our bet because our fantasy stud is on the other team—the one win-win situation in life.

Most importantly, we are allowed to find something negative even in the brightest of moments, because it’s our job as fans.

That is why I just couldn’t muster any excitement over the Vikings’ 27-10 stomping of the Lions; something just didn’t sit right. I spent the rest of the day writing down what bothered me about the game. I had it DVR’d so I could re-watch it to find any mistakes I missed. I felt like Ron Jaworski for a solid two hours.

When all was said and done, when all the mistakes were calculated, there was only one conclusive answer:

Brad Childress is going to cost us the Super Bowl.

After he brought us Brett Favre, the Vikings Collective forgot that we had the worst head coach in the league this side of whomever the Raiders hire. We forgot that we had the Mike Dunleavy of the NFL. The guy who didn’t know how to use his stars. The guy with no sense of desperation or timing.

The guy who didn’t think of letting Adrian Peterson return kickoffs until the 2008 playoff game against the Eagles was nearly over.

The guy who had Chester Taylor in the game in the fourth quarter loss to the Steelers even though Peterson was on fire.

The guy who is STILL starting Bernard Berrian even though Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice would give us one of the top five best receiving corps in the league.

We forgot because we had Favre.

We forgot because this defensive line is better than the Purple People Eaters.

We forgot because this offense is better than the ‘98 offense that held the record for most points in a season.

We forgot because we were winning.

But Childress has a way of reminding you just how poor he is. Let me give you some examples from Sunday’s win:

1. After a 60-yard drive featuring a steady dose of big runs from Peterson, Childress decides that a Shotgun Wide Receiver Reverse to Harvin would be the best course of action against the 1-7 Lions who couldn’t stop the run. The result? A fumble and giving away a great gadget play for the future.

2. After two terrible drops from Berrian, he wasn’t pulled for Harvin. The faster, stronger, more physical, more reliable Harvin. The same Harvin who has returned two kicks for touchdowns but doesn’t return punts.

3. The final one is the most important and the one that will end up losing us the Super Bowl. On fourth and inches, down in the red zone, he doesn’t hand the ball to the league’s best running back and let him run to the left side of the line fitted with All-Pro Steve Hutchinson. Instead, Childress calls a fullback dive to the right side stuffed by the 900-pound Grady Jackson.

Childress doesn’t know how to use his stars.

Childress managed to turn something positive into something negative, which happens to be the theme for this week’s Good/Bad/Ugly.

The Good: Bill Belichick Going for It on 4th-and-2

This has been the topic of debate today, and I feel that it needs to be touched on. The Patriots will win the AFC this year because of calls like this.

Because Bill Belichick knows you don’t play to lose.

We have spent the past eight weeks watching Peyton Manning beat players all by himself. The Dolphins controlled the clock and pressured Manning; you know, the things people say you need to do to beat the Colts. Well, guess what: He outscored them in 15 minutes.

In the fourth quarter alone, Manning managed to go 79 yards twice in under two minutes. If Belichick punted it away and Manning had done what he has all season and scored quickly, we would now be discussing the greatness of Peyton Manning.

Lost behind that sentiment would be a Patriots loss. Belichick doesn’t play to lose.

If Belichick makes that 4th-and-2 and runs out the clock, we continue to label him a genius, and none of this discussion exists. As sports fans we are supposed to be subjective and give our opinions. But sometimes, pretentious hindsight needs to dissipate and make room for objectivity.

Runner-Up: Chris Johnson and his MVP Campaign

While Bud Adams’ middle fingers pointed upward after Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills (their third in a row after an 0-6 start, symbolically vindicating his decision to reinstate Vince Young into the starting quarterback position), the real reason for Tennessee’s titanic resurgence was giving an interview to ESPN.

Check Chris Johnson’s stat line since the Week Seven bye:

Week 8 @ Jacksonville: 24 carries, 228 yards, two receptions, 11 yards, two touchdowns.

Week 9 @ San Francisco: 25 carries, 135 yards, three receptions, 25 yards, two touchdowns

Week 10 @ Buffalo: 26 carries, 132 yards, nine receptions, 100 yards, two touchdowns.

It’s not just fantasy owners who are taking notice anymore; Shannon Sharpe called him the league’s best running back. Others are hailing him as the next Barry Sanders.

Who can blame them?

With five plays from the line of scrimmage going over 50 yards, Chris Johnson is the league’s most explosive player. He also might be its most consistent.

The Bad: Maurice Jones-Drew’s Goal-Line Kneeldown

Not even a sincere apology from MJD could fix this mistake.

How dare you, Jack Del Rio? How dare you ruin so many fantasy teams on purpose?

Brian Westbrook’s 2008 kneeldown was spontaneous.

Del Rio’s was planned, orthodox, and malicious—like the Madden guy who breaks a long run in the fourth quarter and dives on the ground right at the one.

For the rest of this season I will not mention the Jaguars. They are on my fantasy blacklist.

The Ugly: The New England Patriots Defense

Listen, I know it’s Peyton Manning. I know he has spent the 2009 NFL season cementing himself as the best player of the decade. I know he’s got a laser, rocket cannon arm.

But allowing two 79-yard drives in under two minutes IN THE FOURTH QUARTER ALONE is utterly ridiculous and the reason your coach doesn’t trust you.

It’s the reason 4th-and-2 looks better than a punt—even when you’re on your own 30.

Arizona Cardinals

Who says you need to win at home to be a successful football team? The Cardinals don’t and are now 4-0 playing on the road after their 20-point pounding of the Bears on Sunday. Kurt Warner made up for his five-interception week eight performance with a five-touchdown week nine showing.

Bengals Defense

For many the Cincinnati Bengals have been the surprise team of the NFL for the first half of the season. Going into a week nine showdown with their AFC North rival, the Bengals were 5-2 and looking for a season sweep of Baltimore. They would need a strong performance from their defense facing off with an explosive Raven offense.

The Bengals were stout as can be defensively, allowing only seven points on the day and solidifying themselves as a contender, not a pretender, in the AFC playoff race.

The Bad

Green Bay Packers

Did anyone else see a letdown game coming? After losing to Brett Favre and Minnesota in week eight the Packers had what seemed to be a sure win on the schedule versus Tampa Bay in week nine.

Buccaneer rookie QB Josh Freeman had other ideas for the reeling Packers. The previously winless Bucs torched Green Bay for 38 points, handing Green Bay their fourth loss of the season.

San Francisco 49ers

After a promising start to the 2009-10 campaign, it seems like the 49ers have taken significant steps back, looking more like the ‘08-09 version. After two consecutive tough road losses, San Francisco came home only to get barnstormed by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, allowing 34 points to the previously one-win AFC South squad.

If the past month of play means anything, it seems like northern California football fans are in for another gloomy fall and winter.

The Ugly

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Uniforms

Really!? We thought you learned after so many years. Keep them in the closet next time for the sake of us all.

When the Cleveland Browns football team is brought up in conversation, people laugh, make jokes and pity one of the worst organizations in all of sports.

From an overnight trip to Baltimore to the lack of spending, the Browns are known for having notoriously awful owners since the 1990s.

Is it fate that this city should not have a football team or just bad luck?

The Browns looked promising only two years ago posting a 10-6 record with six players making the Pro Bowl.

But, disaster struck again with the team going 4-12 and ultimately the departure of head coach Romeo Crennel.

In an offseason rumored with coaches names such as Bill Cowher, the Browns ultimately decided on former Jets head coach Eric Mangini, who lost his job due to Brett Favre’s failures late in the season.

Man- genius, as he was once called, hired then-Ravens pro personnel director George Kokinis. The Ravens demanded that Kokinis be granted final authority over personnel moves if he were to make the promotion to the Browns organization.

Unfortunately, things went down hill from this point on.

Mangini had full personnel control and final say, like his former employer Bill Belichick while Kokinis was left in the dark on more than one occasion.

The “man-genious” not only traded away the #5 pick to the Jets, ultimately where USC’s Mark Sanchez was drafted, but traded away numerous players including former Pro-Bowlers Kellen Winslow Jr and Braylon Edwards. In these trades the Browns were able to get draft picks as well as cast-offs from Manginis previous team.

Not only did Mangini trade for Jets players but ended up making questionable draft picks up and down the draft, passing on top talent to move back and pick up late-round draft picks.

Where was Kokinis while all of these personnel decisions were made? No where to be found is where Kokinis says he was. Not only had Mangini made the final say on roster moves but had not informed Kokinis that the Browns had traded controversial wide receiver Braylon Edwards until the trade was completed.

The Browns are a team of disarray. The offense has been a complete joke as Mangini failed to name a starter until days before the Browns opened their season.

Brady Quinn was given the start but was quickly benched after only 10 quarters of play. Since, Quinn has been benched, came in for relief of the absolutely awful Derek Anderson, who takes the cake for his 2 for 17 effort in a disgusting 6-3 win over the terribly inconsistent Buffalo Bills and is now being looked at as the starter again soon.

The close relationship of friends became a tale of two men fighting for control of a football team.

Not only was the team losing, the front office was becoming divided and some of the best fans in football, the dawg pound, even debated boycotting the Browns opening kickoff this upcoming weekend.

Someone had to take the blame for owner Randy Lerner’s mistake of hiring Mangini, who is 1-7 while rumors that he has lost his locker room are spreading each week and unfortunately Kokinis became the scapegoat of the Browns organization.

If the Browns want to become serious contenders year in and year out they need to start over once again because the firing of George Kokinis was unjustified and an acknowledgement of the failures of Manginis’ first year as head coach.

Owner Randy Lerner must be willing to pay a coach big money in the off season in addition to spending money on free agents and change the culture and philosophy of the Cleveland Browns organizations because the fans and players don’t deserve to lose anymore.

From reality to fantasy it is all about the “W”.  The majority of points from week eight came on the ground, but a 40 year old quarterback was near the top of some leagues.

Week eight was full of headlines around the league, but the most popular was Brett Favre returning to Green Bay.  He didn’t disappoint in drama or in fantasy leagues as he went 17-28 for 244 yards and four touchdowns.  The 40 year old hasn’t been a fantasy lock all year because of his inconsistency.  The strong running game that Minnesota has attributed to the lack of points Favre puts up.

But he wasn’t even the best quarterback on the semi-frozen tundra.  Aaron Rodgers went 26-41 for 287 yards with three touchdowns.  Rodgers was the top quarterback of the week in most leagues as Favre was the second best.

Overall the top point getter in most fantasy leagues was Chris Johnson from the Tennessee Titans.  The dash of the smash and dash duo ran for 228 yards and three touchdowns, giving him a high 30 point showing in some leagues.

The biggest surprise came from Texans running back Ryan Moats.  He has 126 yards and three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills.  He also had two catches for 25 yards.  Moats is available in most leagues because he is the back-up to Steve Slaton, but because of Slaton’s recent fumblitis that he has caught, Moats looks to pick up some of the slack.

Johnson and Moats were just two of the five running backs that were in the top ten this week, proving that a strong running game will lead to victory.  Maurice Jones-Drew (177 yards, two touchdowns), Matt Forte (90 yards, two touchdowns), and Steven Jackson (149 yards, touchdown) were the other three.

Another shocker was the Chicago Bears defense.  Yes they did play the lowly Cleveland Browns, but what was shocking is that they held them to only two field goals.  The Bears also took an interception for a touchdown.

Reggie Wayne had the best day in receiving terms as he caught 12 balls for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Titan’s kicker Rob Bironas led all kickers by going 3-3 on extra points and 3-3 for field goals, two of which were 45+ yards.

A couple negative surprises for the week were let by the Denver Broncos allowing 30 points after multiple double digit fantasy point weeks.  Peyton Manning also did not throw a touchdown against the 49ers defense was surprising, but the future hall of famer is still a lock to start next week against Houston.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse in Oakland JaMarcus Russell is finally benched and then again named the starting quarterback for the Raiders’ match-up against the Chargers.

Looking at the Raiders roster, they have talent. They have one of the best defensive lineman in the NFL in Richard Seymour, a talented linebacker crew, and arguably one of the best defensive players in football in Nnamdi Asomugha.

So why does this team continue to struggle? It all starts with the quarterback.

Since the day he was drafted, JaMarcus Russell has not shown he has what it takes to be a championship-caliber NFL quarterback.

Its been a long time since Russell made that amazing Hail Mary throw while at LSU to beat Kentucky.

Russell has been nothing but unwilling to make the extra effort needed to be a starting NFL quarterback.

As a rookie, Russell had one of the longest holdouts in NFL history. The holdout lasted months and essentially ruined Russell’s rookie season.

That season Russell cost then Head Coach Lane Kiffin his job. Kiffin was opposed to drafting the LSU star with the No. 1 pick, while tyrant owner Al Davis said Russell was the best player hands down.

As Kiffin was fired, Davis wrote Kiffin a letter which included a section on how Kiffin was wrong in not wanting to draft Russell. Davis is quoted as saying, “JaMarcus is a great player. Get over it.”

Apparently, Kiffin is having the last laugh on that one.

Then there was the 300 pound rumor about Russell. Granted Russell is a mammoth of a player at his listed size (6′6″ 260lbs), but a 300lb quarterback? I don’t think that sounds too successful.

The Raiders have used draft picks on players they don’t even need in an effort to help Russell succeed.

Darren McFadden was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick to help give Russell another deadly weapon out the backfield but McFadden has yet to live up to expectations.

Then there is Darrius Heyward-Bay, one of the most baffling top 10 picks of all time.

DHB was a combine star in the 40 yard dash but disappeared in the ACC against some top talent but was drafted with the No. 7 pick and given a signing bonus way out of the rookie slotting, causing a headache for all teams in the surrounding area, and especially Michael Crabtree.

Isn’t this the same player who took his receivers for a week to go get some extra work running routes and catching passes? It really doesnt look like it.

Looking at Russell’s numbers this year, Tom Cable may have better success behind center.

Russell has two games throwing over 200 yards; one of those include an 86 yard touchdown which was much of the doing of TE Zach Miller as well as WR Louis Murphy who made some great blocks on the run.

Russell has two games throwing over a 60 percent completion percentage and three games under 40 percent passing.

HUH?!?!?!?!

Russel has completed more than 12 passes just once this season. During his career he has thrown more than 20 completions just twice.

How can anyone expect the Raiders to win any games in a season when their quarterback play has been one of the worst, if not the worst, in the NFL.

He has a 47.2 quarterback rating for gods sake!

Russell has two touchdown passes this year and the one to Miller should be credited to him and Murphy, who made that play, and not Russell who made the wide open pass.

One can only feel bad for Russell. He is young and immature and part of an organization that is trying to win but its owner its holding them back.

Maybe Russell should take some of the credit for his poor play. Have you seen his recent interview after the Jets game where Russell asked a reporter if he thought Russell was the problem with the offense?

Hello, have you not seen yourself making careless throws time after time? Making wrong reads play after play? Not giving your team a real chance to succeed and only holding them back?

Tom Cable, please make your quarterback accountable for his actions and abysmal play because he is not only making a joke of you, but also the Raiders’ proud and die-hard fans as well as the organization.

The Good

Brett Favre

Football fans from coast to coast marked November 1 on their football watching calenders the day that Favre signed with the Vikings. The future hall of famer did not disappoint on a typical chilly Sunday fall afternoon in Wisconsin throwing for 244 yards to go along with four TDs, leading Minnesota to the victory in the NFC North showdown.

Chris Johnson

The second year speedster from East Carolina was electric with the ball in leading the Titans to their first win of the season. His 228 yards on the ground was a career and Tennessee Titan franchise high. Johnson had touchdown runs of 52 and 89 yards making the Jaguar defense look silly for four quarters in Nashville on Sunday.

The Bad

Derek Anderson

Cleveland quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn combined to complete a total of seven passes in Cleveland’s miserable loss to Chicago in the Windy City on Sunday.

Anderson ended the first half of play with two completions and was replaced late in the fourth quarter by Brady Quinn. Anderson’s final line: 6-for-17 with 76 yards and two interceptions.

Yet, if you were dumb enough to start him on your fantasy team you did benefit from his rushing TD, Cleveland’s lone score of the day.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona’s week seven win vs. the Giants at the Meadowlands apparently was no sign of change for an inconsistent Cardinals squad.

What is supposed to be one of the NFL’s top run D’s was anything but that on Sunday. They got pushed around by the Panthers and allowing 270 yards on the ground.

Not helping the cause were the five interceptions thrown by Kurt Warner. The defending NFC champs are now 1-3 on their home field and 3-0 on the road. Luckily for them next week they play in front of Chicago fans rather than their own.

The Ugly

James Butler, St. Louis Rams Defensive Back

Rams against Lions is ugly in itself. The bone head play by Ram safety James Butler in the second quarter of the first win of the season for St. Louis put the icing on the cake.

After intercepting Lions QB Matt Stafford at the Rams one-yard line, Butler decided to make something out of nothing by attempting to return his interception for more yards, only to get tackled in his own end zone for a safety costing his team two points and giving the ball right back to Detroit.

Just another day in the life of a St. Louis Ram.

Jets-Dolphins Rivalry

New York safety Kerry Rhodes and Miami linebacker Joey Porter had some choice words for each other during pregame warm ups, which led to a physical altercation before their rivalry game kicked off on Sunday in East Rutherford.

Players were eventually separated and Miami won the game, sweeping the season series from their rivals for the first time in six years.

Rank            (Previous)            Team            Record         Comments
1            3            Giants            2-0            The Giants squeaked by the Cowboys but did Eli Manning look good. The Giants did not run the ball particularly well but the offense moved the ball through the air and the defense is one of the top in the league. The banged up secondary also tore apart Tony Romo.

2            6            Ravens            2-0            Although the Ravens defense was eaten alive by Phillip Rivers, Baltimore was able to come away with a victory on the road. The Ravens offense kept up with the high powered Chargers. Willis McGahee proved he is back to form. Although the defense was scored on often, Ray Lewis made a critical tackle late in the game to preserve the victory.

3            5            Colts            2-0            Peyton Manning was on the sidelines for most of the night but when he was in he was able to make things happen. Dallas Clark went off with the absence of Anthony Gonzalez. The run defense looked bad at times but good teams find ways to win.

4            8            Falcons            2-0            Matt Ryan continues to impress more and more each week. The acquisition of Tony Gonzalaz is clearly working out for the Falcons as he caught all 7 passes that he was targeted. Michael Turner picked up on his slow start last week rushing for over 100 yards. The defense was able to force two turnovers on the turnover prone Panthers.

5            13            Saints            2-0            This offense is electrifying; Drew Brees cannot be stopped. Marques Colston made two nice touchdown grabs and the Saints got a good contribution from all of their receivers. The defense still allowed nearly 400 yards passing to Kevin Kolb but when you score so many points it isn’t as much of a problem.

6            1            Steelers            1-1            After the first series the Steelers did not look like the same team. The loss of Troy Polamalu is bigger than expected as his replacement Tyrone Carter was scored on twice. The rush defense held Matt Forte to 2.2 yards per carry. The Steelers offense failed to establish the run but Ben Roesthlisberger is looking just as sharp as ever.

7            7            Chargers            1-1            San Diego lost a close one at home vs the Ravens. Phillip Rivers had a career game throwing for over 436 yards but had two costly interceptions. Vincent Jackson was targeted seven times, catching six of them for 141 yards. Sproles is a gamer; his speed on the field creates major matchup problems for defenses.

8            9            Minnesota            2-0            Things looked tough in the first half but for the second week in a row the Vikings rode Adrian Peterson in the second half. Favre and Harvin look like they have a special connection. Chad Greenway had two interceptions on Matthew Stafford.

9            17            Jets            2-0            Its official: the Jets are a dangerous team this season. New York was able to make Tom Brady look average for most of the game. Mark Sanchez was only three for five in the first half but was able to turn it around in the second half. The Jets defense is the difference maker this season; they held the Patriots touchdown less and contained Randy Moss. This team is a clone of Ryans former team the Baltimore Ravens.

10            2            Patriots            1-1            Tom Brady did not look like the old Tom Brady in this one. The Patriots were without Wes Welker and it showed. The Patriots were unable to move the ball and never really caught a rhythm. The defense looks like is missing Mayo and Seymour. Expect this team to be back next week.

11            16            Bears            1-1            The Bears responded with a win against the defending champions. Jay Cutler’s arm strength is absolutely incredible as he was able to make every throw with the rush in his face. Matt Forte struggled for the second week in a row. This was a huge win as Chicago fans were beginning to panic.

12            4            Eagles            1-1            The Eagles looked like they were definitely missing Donovan McNabb as they were unable to go touchdown for touchdown with the Saints. The defense was unable to contain Drew Brees and the explosive passing attack.

13            18            49ers            2-0            Frank Gore became the first player since Barry Sanders in 1997 to have two runs of 75+ yards on his way to 207 rushing yards. The 49er run defense held the Seahawks to 2.9 yards per carry on the ground. Shaun Hill is a game manager making accurate throws, minimizing turnovers.

14            12            Cowboys            1-1            Tony Romo did not look like the Tony Romo of week one. Marion Barber needs to stay healthy but Felix Jones will be ready to go if Barber is unable to play. The secondary needs to step up right away.

15            21            Texans            1-1            The Texans looked much better this week even though Slaton failed to impress on the ground again. Matt Schuab looked very good despite struggling with an injury. Andre Johnson is monster destroying the Titans secondary. Rookie Brian Cushing was all over the field for the Texans defense.

16            11            Packers            1-1            The Packers defense took a few steps back this week against the Bengals, who face the top two 3-4 teams four times a year. Charles Woodson is thriving in the 3-4 defense as he led the team in tackles, 10, and had two interceptions, one for a touchdown.

17            14            Cardinals            1-1            Kurt Warner looked much better this week than last week completing 24 of 26 passes including his first 15 and broke the NFL record for completion percentage. Larry Fitzgerald was held in check for most of the game. The defense played very well holding the Jags to only three points through nearly three quarters.

18            10            Titans            0-2            Another close one for the Titans, who could be 2-0 but are looking at 0-2 in the standings. The game vs the Texans was ferocious as tempers were flaring but again the Titan pass defense failed allowing Matt Schuab to throw for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Andre Johnson was toying with Corbin Finnegan throughout the game. The run defense again played very well but this team has problems.

19            19            Bills            1-1            Trent Edwards played well in the win vs the Buccs. Running back Fred Jackson had a huge game giving Bills fans some hope when Marshawn Lynn returns.

20            27            Bengals            1-1            Cincinnati played much better this week against a stingy Packer defense. Palmer was inconsistent but overall he has to play well for the Bengals to be successful. Cedric Benson finally appears to be the Bengals answer at running back. This team can easily be 2-0

21            20            Panthers            0-2            Much better game for Jake Delhomme but clearly anything less than four interceptions would be. Delhomme threw for over 300 yards including 130 to Steve Smith. The Panthers could have road their run game a bit more than they did but clearly this team is searching for an identity.

22            26            Broncos            2-0            The Broncos were able to take it to the lowly Browns this week. The Broncos are moving the ball without much help of Brandon Marshall. The defense has been very stingy in the first two wins of the season. The boos were loud when Kyle Orton made bad decisions; the Jay Cutler hangover is still lingering and it wont go away unless the Broncos keep winning.

23            15            Seahawks            1-1            Matt Hasselbeck went down with an injury during the game; that doesn’t give much hope to the Seahawks hopes this season. The running game failed to get anything going in the loss to the 49ers. Again this team needs to get healthy and stay healthy for this team to succeed.

24            22            Dolphins            0-2            Tony Sparanos game plan was simple; keep Peyton Manning off the field. The Fins held the ball for over 45 minutes but it wasn’t enough to stop Peyton and co. Horrible clock management in the last three minutes of the game. What in the world were the Dolphins thinking?

25            24            Raiders            1-1            Again if there is a true weakness on this team it is JaMarcus Russel; he is absolutely horrible at times. Richard Seymour wasn’t as dominant as he was in week one but the former pro-bowler, along with Greg Ellis, is helping this defense tremendously. Nnamdi Asomugh presence on the field is ridiculous, the one play he was out the Chiefs scored. Michael Huff is very impressive this season recording 3 interceptions, two more than in his previous three seasons.

26            25            Redskins            1-1            The Redskins are bad lets face it. The offense did not play very well against a team that allowed 28 points to the Seahawks last week. The Redskins defense played well keeping Steven Jackson in check besides a 58 yard run. Jim Zorn needs to get something going fast or its going to be a very long season.

27            23            Jaguars            0-2            Another rough one for this Jaguars team. Maurice Jones Drew isn’t getting enough carries to prove his worth and Garrard is still struggling to throw the ball downfield. The defense was able to contain Larry Fitzgerald but Kurt Warner picked the team apart.

28            28            Buccaneers            0-2            The Bucs finally calmed down but it was too late as they were already down 17-0. The Bccs were horrible on third down converting only 25 percent. Fred Jackson torched the Bucs on the ground as well.

29            29            Chiefs            0-2            Kansas City is pretty bad. They might be worse than the Lions, might is the key word. Matt Cassel struggled for most of the game despite a touchdown to Dwayne Bowe late in the fourth quarter. Bobby Wade proved to be a valuable asset to the Chief passing attack.

30            31            Rams            0-2            Besides Steven Jackson, Laurent Robinson and Donnie Avery, there aren’t many playmakers on this offense. The defense held Clinton Portis in check and the Redskins without a touchdown.

31            30            Browns            0-2            Good news is Braylon Edwards had one of his best games in the last two seasons but the bad news is that the Browns offense is horrendous. This is a very bad football team that doesn’t appear to be getting any better anytime soon.

32            32            Lions            0-2            Detroit had some things going during the first half especially containing Adrian Peterson. Running back Kevin Smith ran the ball better after struggling last week. Matthew Stafford threw two more interceptions giving him five to one touchdown to Calvin Johnson. When this team finally wins a game they will move up the list.

Rank (Previous) Team Record Comments

1 1 Steelers 1-0 The Steelers run game looked awful against the Titans but luckily Big Ben gave the team a chance in the fourth quarter with another comeback victory. The Steelers defense played very well especially Troy Polamalu, who looked tremendous in his limited action. This unit must come together with Polamalus absence.

2 2 Patriots 1-0 Tom Brady. Although a bit hesitant, looked solid in his official return. The Patriots could be looking at 0-1 if not for a lucky fumble recovery. The loss of Richard Seymour will be even tougher with defensive player of the year, Jarod Mayo on the bench for up to eight weeks.

3 3 Giants 1-0 Plaxico who? Eli Manning proved he was just fine without his former top receiver. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw will carry a major load for this team. The defensive line may be the best 4-3 d-line in football but the secondary must get healthy.

4 4 Eagles 1-0 Wow! The Eagles took it to the Panthers on both sides of the ball. The loss of McNabb will hurt this team if Kevin Kobb is unable to excel in the pass game. The Eagles defense looked terrific stopping Jake Delhomme and the Panthers run game.

5 5 Colts 1-0 Reggie Wayne torched the Jags in week one for 10 catches and 162 yards. The Colts defense was more blitz heavy than in years past and it proed to work throughout the game.

6 7 Ravens 1-0 Joe Flacco had a field day with the Chiefs secondary, helping the Ravens put up their highest offensive total ever. Ray Rice has taken the spot as the number one running back on the team but LaRon McClain is the X factor. Not only is McClain a valueable fullback but also lined up in single back set as well as at wide receiver.

7 6 Chargers 1-0 San Diegos two minute offense looked tremendous but other than that, this team didnt impress. LaDainian Tomlinson will miss his first regular season game due to injury. Linebacker Shawn Merriman was a non factor during the game.

8 8 Falcons 1-0 Michael Turner didnt do very much on the ground but Matt Ryan is taking the neccissary strides to become an elite quarterback. His new favorite target Tony Gonzalez looked phenominal in his Falcons debut; expect the two to hook up all season long. Although the defense has may uncertainties, they held the Dolphins scoreless for most of the 60:00 minutes.

9 11 Minnesota 1-0 The Brett Favre era has officially begun. The Vikings rode Adrian Peterson for 180 yards and three scores: Peterson looks as explosive as ever. Receiver Percy Harvin caght his first touchdown pass only to be tackled by Favre. Although the Browns scored a late touchdown, their first since last November, the Viking defense kept the Browns in check.

10 10 Titans 0-1 Tennessee almost came away with a victory in Pittsburgh in Thursdays opener. Albert who? The defense controlled the Steelers ground game, holding them to 36 total yards. The Titans needed to ride Chris Johnson more for him to be effective.

11 14 Packers 1-0 So much for the 3-4 being an experiment as the Packer defense forced Chicagos new savior into four interceptions. Aaron Rodgers is starting to make everyone forget about Brett Favre slowly but surely.

12 18 Cowboys 1-0 Tony Romo threw for career high 353 Yards as the Cowboys threw early and often on the Buccs. Roy Williams may not ever live up to the first and third round pick he was traded for but he is the receiver the Cowboys have been looking for.

13 19 Saints 1-0 The Saints put up 45 points on the Lions; the scary thing is if not for turnovers it could have been 70. Dree Brees is on an incredible run dating back from last season; dont you think the Dolphins feel dumb now on passing over him for Daunte Culpepper because of shoulder concerns?

14 9 Cardinals 0-1 This wasnt as much of a shocker as it may seem. With an injured Anquan Boldin and no Steve Breaston, the Cardinals couldnt get anything done of offense. Larry Fitzgerald was constantly double teamed thus Warner had to check down to Tim Hightower on 12 of his dropbacks.

15 16 Seahawks 1-0 The Seahawks put it on the Rams the whole game. Julius Jones looked impressive on the ground rushing for 117 yard touchdown. Hasselbeck did throw two interceptions but was able to overcome them. Tight end John Carlson is emerging as a top TE in the NFL.

16 12 Bears 0-1 Jay Cutler didnt make anyone in Chicago feel any more comfortable with their quarterback position as he threw for a career high four interceptions. The Bears decided to make Cutler the focal point of the offense rather than their stud running back; Matt Forte. The loss of Brian Urlacher is huge no matter what anyone (like Lance Briggs) says. Losing your best player is never easy; the Bears face a tough one in week two vs Pittsburgh.

17 20 Jets 1-0 VIVA LA SANCHEZ! I have to applaud at this one because the Jets look like a whole different team under Rex Ryan. Sanchez played his first game like a seasoned vet throwing for 272 yards and a touchdown. The Jets defense held Steve Slaton to 17 yards and Andre Johnson to 35 yards; that is no easy task. If the Jets can beat the Patriots, they will sky rocket up the power rankings.

18 26 49ers 1-0 What a great win for niner country. Singletary has this team ready to play. Shaun Hill might never be a superstar but he is efficient and runs the offense well. Issac Bruce still has it in the tank with a beautiful 50 yard catch in the win. If only the Michael Crabtree saga would be over already.

19 24 Bills 0-1 Buffalo could be 1-0 right now with a huge win over the Patriots, instead Leodis McKelvins lawn was vandalized and the team lost a huge game. Trent Edwards seems to be getting comfortable in the no huddle offense but the team needs Marshawn Lynch back from suspension. The loss of Paul Pulzansky will be tough.

20 13 Panthers 0-1 This was ugly. Jake Delhomme has 11 turnovers in his last two games; he looked absolutely awful. The Panthers got nothing from the ground game and Steve Smith was nonexistant. Lets hope this isnt an ongoing problem all season.

21 15 Texans 0-1 Bad loss for the Texans, who have high hopes this season. The offense was stalled on almost every series versus the Jets. Matt Schaub needs to get healthy and stay healthy for once. This team has big expectations this season; if the season is anything like week one, back to the bottom for the Texans.

22 17 Dolphins 0-1 This season is going to be a tough one for the Dolphins, who have the leagues hardest schedule. The offense looked awful for most of the game.

23 23 Jaguars 0-1 David Garrad missed open receivers downfield more than handful of times during the loss to the Colts. The defense played well in that they held the Colts to 14 points.

24 27 Raiders 0-1 Although they lost, they were impressive at times. This team can only go as far as JaMarcus Russell can take them. He is making his reads better this season but his accuracy is poor. Besides the deep touchdown pass, Russel couldnt get anything going. Richard Seymour helped this defense out in so many ways. He is playing with a chip on his shoulder; if he can sustain his week one level of play throughout the season, this unit will be much improved.

25 22 Redskins 0-1 As much as people want to root for Campbell, he just isnt cutting it. The problem is, he isnt concerned about his play. The Redskins couldnt convert on third down, something that was a problem last year as well.

26 25 Broncos 1-0 How does a team who wins go down in the rankings? When they score 12 points, 7 of those coming on a 87 yards fluke td with 11 seconds left. Lets face it, Denver got a lucky break. This team stinks. Brandon Marshall dropped two passes, one a deep seem pass. Rookie Knowshown Moreno had 17 yards but had very limited action during preseason and training camp.

27 21 Bengals 0-1 It doesnt get much worse for the Bengals who took the lead with 38 seconds left only to be victims of bad luck. Ocho Cinco offseason workouts seem to be helping from a terrible season last year but the Bengals couldnt do much even with a healthy Carson Palmer.

28 29 Buccaneers 0-1 The Buccs defense was burned by Tony Romo all game, which should be of some concern. The good news for the Buccs is that Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward are going to be a great one-two combo. Antonio Bryant needs to get healthy asap.

29 30 Chiefs 0-1 The Chiefs have problems. Matt Cassell needs to be healthy right away for this team to do anything. They were lucky enough to get quick scores in the fourth quarter but allowed a team record 501 offensive yards to the Ravens, who ranked 18 in total offense last season and 28th for pass offense. The Chiefs have some potential on offense but without a surefire receiver this team will struggle. (The signing of Bobby Wade will help but not enough)

30 31 Browns 0-1 THE BROWNS SCORED AN OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN!!! Its tough to be a Browns fan right now. This team has problems and coach Mangini has his hands full. Quinn was the right choice as starter because if he plays poorly, chances are he wont be pulled as quickly as Derrick Anderson would have been. The defense allowed 225 yards on the ground last week.

31 28 Rams 0-1 The Rams struggles continue with a twenty-eight point defeat. The Rams need to get Steven Jackson in a rhythm for the offense to do anything.

32 32 Lions 0-1 The Lions scored 27 points but allowed 45 to the Saints. The defense was able to make a few big plays which gives coach Schwartz some hope. The defense is learning to play together so expect the unit to improve as the season goes on. The offense is another story. Kevin Smith was held to 20 yards on 15 carries. Matthew Stafford displayed tremendous arm strength but was picked off three times; throwing to Calvin Johnson may be Staffords only chance of success this season.

Rookie golden child Mark Sanchez looked strong in his NFL debut, completing 18 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown. Although Sanchez shined, he wasnt the star of the day.

That award would go to the Jets defense, who held the Texans’ No. 3 offense to 183 yards.

The Texans did not even pass midfield during the first three quarters of the game and held last season’s electrifying combo of Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson silent.

Slaton was held to only 17 yards rushing on nine attempts while Johnson caught only four passes for 35 yards.

Slaton’s 17-yard total was the second lowest of his brief two-year career.

“You work for six months leading up to this first game,” Slaton said after the game, according to the Associated Press. “You have all offseason to prepare for this game and then to come out and play like that is upsetting.”

The Texan offense wasnt the only thing that struggled against the new-look Jets as the defense allowed 462 yards.

The Jets under Ryan look like a whole different team than in years past.

The defense, led by Ryan’s former middle linebacker in Baltimore, Bart Scott, swarmed the Texans on every play.

New York will have its hands full with the Patriots this Sunday.

Ryan and some players have already publicly talked a big game against the Patriots. The Jets even sent out a voicemail to all season ticket holders with Ryan saying he needs the fans’ support this weekend.

It will be an intense atmosphere in New York Sunday; if the Jets are able to defeat the rival Patriots, they will be a team to beat this season.