The surprises of Week 1 only continued in Week 2. With surprise losses from the Cowboys and Patriots. As well, there was phenomenal play from rookie signal-callers. Here are five things that were learned in Sunday’s interesting action.
1. The Dallas Cowboys Are a Fluke
The Dallas Cowboys just defeated the defending Super Bowl Champions in the opening game of the season, so many are inclined to believe that Dallas is ready to make that leap into the group of elite teams in the league. Well, the notoriously inconsistent team lived up to their reputation yesterday. The Cowboys fell to the Seattle Seahawks 27-7 and it was not even close. Tony Romo responded his career game with an average game. Demarco Murray did not back up his fantastic game either with only forty-four yards on the ground. How does this club plan to make a deep run into January and potentially February with out stable play from their offense. Now the defense, Russell Wilson, rookie quarterback was made to be a proven veteran against the Cowboys as he completed fifteen of his twenty passes and Marshwan Lynch actually went into, “Beast Mode” gaining 122 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys need to have a defined gameplay to actually be considered a Super Bowl contender.
2. Do Not Trust Kickers With the Game On the Line
In the Arizona-New England matchup, it was almost a preconceived notion that the Patriots were going to plow through Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals. Although, the team from the dessert had different plans, jumping out on the Patriots up till the late fourth quarter. It all changed when Tom Brady, like only Tom Brady could do, bring his team down the field and tie the game. It seemed like Brady just did not have enough time when many shocked Patriot fans began their exit as Ryan Williams would lose the ball and Brady and company was back in action. With about forty seconds left, Brady centered the ball at the 24-yard line setting up Stephen Gostkowski for a 42 yard to steal a win away from the Cards. Gostkowski most likely got this opportunity due to the fact that he has hit his past 38 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter. Despite the odds favoring the veteran kicker to boot the 42-yarder through the uprights, he missed. Not even close either, Gostkowski missed the net even. This just proves that with time on the clock; let your quarterback try to get the ball into the end zone as opposed to letting a kicker miss a field goal. Especially when you have such a surgical signal caller such as Tom Brady.
3. The Giants Are the Best Fourth Quarter Football Team in Football
Does it surprise you? Eli Manning throws three interceptions in the first half, and then he turns it into a different gear and scores twenty-five points to shock the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This seems like it always happens with the Giants. The Giants live for the fourth quarter, with weapons like Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz tiring secondary’s out, they just find a way to get wide-open for big play after big play in the final minutes of the game. But let’s get to the true hero of the game, Eli Manning. Manning is just a different player come crunch time. Manning threw for 267 yards in the first three quarter, follow that performance with 243 yards in the fourth quarter alone! Highlighted by an 80-yard bomb to Victor Cruz that sent Met Life Stadium into frenzy. Whatever Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning compile for their fourth quarter play calling, it works time and time again, as this was Eli’s ninth, count it ninth, fourth quarter comeback dating back to the 2011 season. Just incredible.
4. The Saints Are in Trouble
For the first time in the Drew Brees era, the Saints are panicking. Without offensive guru Sean Payton, Drew Brees is left alone with one coach for six weeks, then another for the rest of the season. The record-setting passer can not develop chemistry with his new coaches because once he develops one with Aaron Kromer, Joe Vitt will return to be the second Saints interim coach. Besides the play calling, the Saints are in shambles all over. They have given away two possible comebacks with sloppy play on both sides of the ball. Brees is getting not nearly as much time in the pocket as last year, and for this week’s lost to the Panthers, their defensive line got ran over as they allowed 219 yards on the ground. The Saints could go from the winners of the NFC South, to last place in their 2012 campaign. There is time to turn around the Saints’ season, but it must start against Kansas City next week.
5. Robert Griffin III Is the Real Deal
After torching the Saints on the road in what may be the greatest rookie debut of all time, RGIII backed up his performance on Sunday. The rookie out of Baylor was flawless again against St. Louis, and added to his aerial assault by running around the Rams for 82 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Although they lost due to rookie like mistakes from Josh Morgan, Griffin cemented himself as a legitimate Quarterback in this league with a bright future.
