The Peyton Manning Era in Denver begins with a win over the Steelers, 31-19.

Great start for the Pats. It was nice to see the rookies making an impact on defense. The running game also looks promising.

Jav_sol wrote:

The running game also looks promising.

And Benjarvis Green-Ellis wasn't even playing.

Packers rebound with win over the Bears, 23-10

Jav_sol wrote:

Packers rebound with win over the Bears, 23-10

Had to root against the Pack last weekend, 'cause they were playing the Niners, but I'm more than happy to see them stick it to the Bears.

Terrible play calling by the Pats on Sunday. The running game just wasn't working, why they insisted with it, is beyond me. Took too long to get Welker and Gronk involved. They crazy thing is that they had a chance to win the game, but a deserved loss.

Manning throw three picks in the first quarter and the hordes start jumping off the bandwagon... Ingrates.

Despite that, the Broncos made a game of it, but lost to the Falcons, 27-21.

Steve Sabol, who along with his father Ed created NFL Films back in 1962, passed away at the age of 69 from brain cancer. Ed was inducted into the pro football HOF last year; Steve, who was the creative force within the company, should have been inducted as well.
The Sabols, through NFL Films, were as responsible as anyone for pro football's prominence as the most popular sport in America in the last 50 years. Their work was and is cinematic; their innovations widespread and influential; their legacy enduring and profound.

Surprisingly, the Niners lost convincingly to the Vikings, 24-13.

Pats lost a penalty-filled game against the Ravens last night, 31-30.

That touchdown call at the end of the Seahawks-Packers game was a crap call.

Tu_triky wrote:

That touchdown call at the end of the Seahawks-Packers game was a crap call.

Saw that online... It's getting ugly.

bmwracer wrote:

Saw that online... It's getting ugly.

Absolutely, I'm not an NFL expert but the NFL is getting so much negative press from this current referee fiasco that it's tarnishing their brand.

The outrage on the "Twitterverse" was full throated and unambiguous.

bmwracer wrote:

Pats lost a penalty-filled game against the Ravens last night, 31-30.

The refs sucked. Apparently, Ray Lewis is invisible, he was bear hugging Gronk and there was no call. Gronk should have just given him a piggy-back ride throughout the game.

Tu_triky wrote:

Absolutely, I'm not an NFL expert but the NFL is getting so much negative press from this current referee fiasco that it's tarnishing their brand.

Yeah, people keep talking about that. But look at the ratings. These NFL games are smashing everything on TV, it isn't even close. The NFL is probably making more profit now than it ever was before.

Jav_sol wrote:

Yeah, people keep talking about that. But look at the ratings. These NFL games are smashing everything on TV, it isn't even close. The NFL is probably making more profit now than it ever was before.

I agree with you. That's why the NFL leadership doesn't seem to give two sh*ts about this referee situation. Money talks and bullsh*t walks...don't think ever think anything other than money is the object of worship.

Having said that, the NFL commissioner maybe presiding over this golden time for the league, but not many people attribute its success to his leadership.

At this point, I'm not sure what type of leverage the officials would have.

Back to football, the Arizona Cardinals have surprised me. Did not expect them to be undefeated.

Jav_sol wrote:

Back to football, the Arizona Cardinals have surprised me. Did not expect them to be undefeated.

Me neither... But it's pretty cool.

Tony Romo throws five picks and the Cowboys get beat by the Bears, 34-18.

Rams sack Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb nine times en route to a 17-3 victory, knocking the Cardinals from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Niners put a big hurt on the Bills, 45-3.

Turnovers cost the Broncos in a 31-21 loss to the Pats.

Colts come from behind to stun the Packers, 30-27.

Terrific weekend of football. At the collegiate level there were a number of significant games that came down to the wire. Biggest upset was North Carolina State beating Florida State. After seeing FSU's remaining schedule of games a couple of weeks ago, I thought they had a very legitimate chance of going undefeated; the Wolfpack squashed that on Saturday. Other surprises--how dominant South Carolina was in destroying Georgia; how Florida was able to beat LSU by running the football; how prolifically balanced West Virginia's offense was in gutting Texas' supposedly good defense; Notre Dame still being undefeated; Penn State beating Northwestern (sounds weird I know but the Wildcats were undefeated going into the game and Penn State . . .well, everyone knows their problems); Ohio State crushing Nebraska (the Black Shirts are a thing of the past); Stanford giving up 48 points to Arizona, and still winning; a one-win Cal team putting up 43 points in a beatdown of UCLA.

In the NFL, I watched a lot of the Indy/Green Bay game. Andrew Luck is the real deal. Yes, he made some rookie mistakes and was fortunate several of his passes weren't intercepted, but he showed poise, leadership and clutch play in the Colts' upset of the Packers. The big question with him is will the Indy organization over the next few years be able to surround him with adequate personnel--both on offense and defense--so that he can contend for a Super Bowl. Right now their very best players--Wayne, Freeney, Mathis, Vinatieri--are on the downside of their careers.
Peyton Manning is doing fine--his problem is the Denver defense which has some individual stars but collectively is not very good.
The Forty-niners continue to roll; Geezer must be very happy.
Who'd have thought both the Bears and the Vikings (the Vikings!) would be two games up on the Packers after only five weeks?
I have conflicting feelings about Drew Brees breaking Johnny Unitas' record for most consecutive games throwing a TD pass. On one hand if someone had to break the record, I'm glad it was Brees who has been exemplary both on and off the field (example: even though he left the Chargers a number of years ago to play for the Saints, he still comes back to San Diego every year for charity work). On the other hand, his record-breaking achievement means another step in the diminishing of Unitas' legacy which I personally find sad. To me Johnny Unitas is one of the two greatest QBs in NFL history (Joe Montana being the other), but every year more and more people will forget/dismiss/downplay his legacy, just as they will Montana's in the future.