The Crystal Ball 2012 Week 2

To all the fan bases whose teams lost last week, settle down. Championships are not won or lost in September. But a few of you could probably feel comfortable making alternate plans for February. Buffalo fans, I'm looking in your direction.

Opening Kickoff

Select Bronco fans, NFL fans, players and media reactions to:

The 2011 Denver Broncos - Tim Tebow gets too much attention and too much credit.

The 2012 Denver Broncos - PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING PEYTON MANNING

The Way It Was

Well, I guess Roger Goodell is the happiest man in the NFL after Week 1, since the replacement referees, who made more than a few mistakes did not do anything egregious to decide the outcome of a game. How does he keep winning? I want to see his contract, because if it's signed in blood, then I know the Devil is involved.

I'm sorry, but while he may have the physical gifts to play quarterback, there's nothing you can say or show me from his performances that will convince me that Jay Cutler is a leader. And the play of his teammates when the chips are down only confirms my beliefs.

I was not convinced of the supposedly overpowering Bear offense, and Thursday night confirmed my suspicions. Sunday afternoon will confirm the same said suspicions regarding the Jet offense.

So much for that revamped Bills defense. Can I change my Buffalo prediction?

It looks like Mark Sanchez gets to keep his job for another week. Sorry Tebow fans.

Wow, what a sensational debut for RGIII. You think Cam Newton was jealous?

It's gonna be a long season in Minnesota.

I thought Steve Spagnuolo was supposed to improve the Saints defense.

Why didn't the Saints attempt an onside kick after getting within 8 points? I know they still had 2 timeouts left and the 2 minute warning to stop the clock, but the Saints defense had shown all day they had no ability to stop RGIII and the Washington offense. If there was ever a time to take a chance, it was then. New Orleans played it safe, and lost. This is what happens with no clear head coach.

What a rough start for the Eagles dynasty.

Can we just say it; Jim Harbaugh is a raging douchebag? He was literally foaming at the mouth and bitching about the picked up flag for a block in the back during a punt return. Yet I counted at least 3 plays during the 49ers tilt in Green Bay in which his defensive secondary committed obvious pass interference and were not flagged for those infractions. Harbaugh, don't complain about getting jobbed by bad calls if you are also benefitting from them.

Easily the play of Week 1, David Akers tied the NFL record for longest field goal with a cool rebound off the cross bar at 63 yards. What I loved most was his expression as he realized the kick was good.

Kudos to the Cardinals for screwing things up for everybody. The replacement referees gave the Seahawks an extra time out. Why didn't you let Seattle score the winning touchdown? The Cardinals could have lead the charge for the return of the real referees. Another opportunity wasted.

So do I have to actually acknowledge, Kevin Kolb, Cardinal savior?

How many Browns fans were checking their Smartphone sports status updates from the Redskins/Saints game and trying to calculate exactly what draft pick position was more valuable than moving up and living in RGIII world?

Vernon Davis failed spike over crossbar. Hey, I get celebrations and wanting to shove your superiority down the opposing team's throat. But you have to stick the landing otherwise you just look like a fool.

The four years without football, and that the Browns haven't built a consistent winner since that fateful weekend in 1995, led to the Modell family, wisely, asking the Browns to have no tribute for Art Modell inside Cleveland Browns Stadium prior to the season-opener against Philadelphia. That was probably for the best since it had the potential to be a debacle. I give the Modell family credit and showing class for respecting the Browns fans this much and wanting to avoid a potentially embarrassing scene.

Tom Brady got so sick of Peyton Manning stealing all his attention, he went out and got his nose broken. That ought to bring all the media wags running back to Tom Terrific's camp.

The Ravens eventually rolled all over the overwhelmed Bungles, but I must ask. Why was Joe Flacco still in the game throwing deep passes midway through the 4th quarter of a blowout? Yes Flacco was eventually lifted in favor of his backup, but it still showed poor sportsmanship, although that comes as no surprise considering its the Ravens. Baltimore shouldn't feel too great about its new high powered offense. If Bungle defenders had more sure hands, Flacco would have been picked off 3 times, minimum. My guess is by showing bad sportsmanship, the next time Flacco throws a questionable pass, it will be caught by a defender.

The Steel Pit

Steelers 19 - Broncos 31

Eleven of the past 14 Steelers-Broncos pairings have been in Colorado. Now, how is that fair, NFL scheduling department?

I'm not sure if you heard, it certainly was a surprise to me, but Peyton Manning returned to football and now plays for Denver! What a shock! You would think NBC and the NFL would have made a big deal about this.

The theme of the night, at least from my perspective, was one big let down. NBC's constant fawning over Manning's return was completely shameless and transparently biased. I'm not busting on Manning, heck I like the guy despite his past tendency to throw his offensive line under the bus. Nor do I necessarily blame him for the hurricane of adulation that enveloped the football world caused by his return. I am also thrilled he's back in football. He's a great ambassador to the game and an exciting player to watch. But unless you were a Bronco or Manning fan, it approached nauseating levels of exaltation before kickoff commenced.

I might have enjoyed the game more, no matter the outcome, if Al and Cris had dropped all pretense and just came out wearing their I heart Peyton t-shirts right from the start. What an over the top love fest. Look, the fact is two quarterbacks played in Sunday night's game. One has won multiple Super Bowls, and one has a playoff record of 9-10. Try to guess who is who based solely on the media coverage before, during and after the game.

Unfortunately, the media coverage wasn't the only thing that let me down. Bronco fans showed some surprising ignorance by booing after the hit on Emmanuel Sanders. I get they thought it was pass interference, but they should have got a clue once they saw Sanders roiling on the ground and again after the referee made the call. Continuing to boo once you know it was for an illegal hit was incredibly disrespectful. I typically hold Bronco fans in a higher regard but I lost a bit of respect for them after that.

I also lost some respect for the team itself, who by the end of the game were celebrating every stop and sack they made on the Pittsburgh offense. After every play there was ridiculous preening, posturing and even a mocking Tebowing. I certainly hope this is not a sign of the direction this franchise is going, and if it is, perhaps Manning and Elway need to instruct their teammates/players how to behave with a little class.

But most of all, the Steelers let me down. Yes, I know, Pittsburgh played without several key people, and it was an away game to start the season, and the home team and crowd were amped beyond belief, especially considering their new quarterback acquisition, and almost half the offensive line went down with injury before halftime. That's a tremendous mountain of adversity to scale. But I'm not thrilled by the results, or how they were achieved.

First up, defense - There were way too many running plays and running yardage given up. Denver showed every Steeler opponent how to beat them; run the no huddle offense. Until LeBeau can devise a way to counter this, we're gonna be in trouble. By the end of Denver's first scoring drive, the defense looked gassed and were not getting off the ball with any explosiveness or drive. Denver's offensive line was getting 3-4 yards of penetration on every play. Not a very good present to defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau on his 75th birthday.

And how can I say this delicately, how about enough of Casey Hampton? Big Snack was a big marshmallow. He can now be handled man to man with ease. Many of the large gashes of runs were right at Hampton, and he did nothing to jam the line or disrupt the play. He should have been part of the veteran purge in the offseason. It's Steve McClendon's time. Although with that being said, I'm not thrilled with the overall performance of the supposedly hungry, young and stout defensive front. Where was the pass rush after the first quarter?

Next, offense - Remember way back in January, when Bruce Arians "retired" and the Steelers decided they needed a new offensive philosophy due to several key deficiencies in offensive performance? Well, lets see how they fared with their checklist.

·         Better offensive line play - two starters left early hurt and the backups could not clear lanes for the running game or keep Ben clean

·         Keep Ben from getting hit as much - 5 sacks allowed

·         Stronger commitment to the running game - 47 passing plays called and 24 rushes called. Although I believe that's the ratio we should see out of this. When you have a quarterback like Roethlisberger you should use his talents for something more than handing off the ball.

·         Improved running ability over short distances - 1st and goal from the Denver 3, series resulted in a field goal

I'm so glad we got a new coordinator! In fairness, the offense did look strong and they played tremendous ball control. Unfortunately, they missed several key opportunities to build a substantial lead and made some bone headed mistakes, Big Ben's interception just the most glaring of them all. And for you Willie Colon lovers out there, who for years would scoff as I questioned his ability and worth and consistently tell me he's their best lineman, remember this. He false started on two consecutive plays. Although he's still better than Chris Kemoeatu.

Regardless, it's the first game of the season. It's way too early to get this worked up about the little things.

Only In Faux NFL Reality…

Browns fans saw the perfect symbolic start to their season when rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden became trapped underneath the field size American flag before the start of the game. You think they knew Weeden was going to stink at that moment?

Apparently Ice Cube did not just create an anthem for the Raiders, he also declared himself the president of Raider Nation. Is Coors Light the official beverage of Raider Nation?

Here's a great story about Steelers linebacker James Harrison donating $100,000 to his alma mater Kent State. Two things that stuck out for me in this story. One, James worked his butt off just to get into college and play football, showing a level of determination few people have. And two, Josh Cribbs has pledged to also donate to Kent State, when he had his jersey retired two years ago. Come on Kent State, why isn't Harrison's jersey retired? Have you not seen Super Bowl XLIII?

Are you looking for something to jazz up your man cave for the NFL season? Looking for something unique and original that shows off your team pride? How about Print Map Art?

Ok, everyone can calm down and relax, apparently Gisele likes Tom Brady's scarred nose so crisis averted. Hey maybe she'll like him more with more scars. Quick, someone punch Tom in the face a few times!

Upon Further Review

I try to be a respectful sports fan. No really I do. I don't gloat, too much, when my team wins nor do I twist the knife on others when their favorite team loses, even if it's one of my more despised teams. I abstain, for the most part, from trash talking before, during and after games and refrain from anything but a few light hearted jabs, win or lose. Sure there's always a bit of good natured ribbing that occurs, but that's natural.

Like every fan, I know how much losing stinks, so I try to karmically pay it forward. I'm not going to rub someone else's nose in it, because if I should partake in that sort of childish behavior I know I'll receive it back ten fold. Now, with that established, can someone please tell me why every time the Steelers lose, I have to endure an avalanche of derisive mockery and ridicule?

Allow me to illustrate my point with a personal example. I have a friend who's a huge Ravens fan. I consider him a good friend, yet come football season we seem to be mortal adversaries. If the Steelers lose, his antics get under my skin so much that whenever I see or hear his gleeful joyous dancing and proclamations after a Steeler loss, I want to smack him upside the head with a steel beam. Mind you, his rancor is never directed at me. But he takes as much joy in a Steelers loss as a Ravens victory.

You would have thought he won the lottery after Pittsburgh got Tebowed last season, and he picked up where he left off Sunday night. I usually do not partake in this nonsense, but after his team got Brady-ed in the AFC championship game last season, I finally fed it right back to him. It felt good in the moment, but it never felt satisfying sticking it to him. I wasn't happy for the Pats, or even happy the Ravens lost. I was more excited to throw it in his face because he was so insulting to the Steelers and by extension me. And to be honest, after the initial satisfaction waned, I just felt bad for acting so foolish and making him feel worse. I don't want to be like that; that's no way to be a sports fan.

Yes, I know like many fans I can take these things too personally. And yes I know I'm too close to the situation. And unfortunately I have the same capacity to take the same enjoyment in the schadenfreude of others as they do me, but I try to keep it to myself because I know it hurts my friends. So I cheer to myself and leave it at that. Why is there no seemingly mutual respect or reciprocation anymore?

I know we live in a reactionary society now. From entertainment to politics to lifestyles, we live in a world where if you're for a chosen side, you're automatically against it's opposition. But should it be that way? Did we not at one point recognize differing opinions and respect the strength and courage it took to form a differing opinion and support another person despite their contrary beliefs? Did we not at one point use those differences to learn and grow as individuals and a society?

Like most other subjects open to public debate, the world of sports fandom has seemingly left the world of respectful difference and moved on to antagonistic division. I am openly wondering now, what has happened to civility in the world of sports fans, and is it possible to ever get back there again?

He Said He Said

"How can you not love that Kuhn? You kidding me?" - NFL Network announcer Mike Maylock after a great tackle by Green Bay fullback John Kuhn during the Bears-Packers tilt

I know it wasn't intended to be, but did anyone else think that sounded either a touch racist or like something Forrest Gump would say?

"Obviously he gets banged up. He’s probably the toughest metrosexual I’ve ever come across." - Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker on Tom Brady's broken nose

Too many jokes, brain hurting....

"There's no one to blame but myself. I hate to let my teammates down, the coaches, the fans. The loss is squarely on my shoulders. I'll take that and get better and learn from it." - Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger

You think he'll sing that same tune in November if he has to keep covering up for the defense? I hope not.

"He is Peyton." - Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin when asked about Manning's performance

Succinct and to the point. Much like Peyton's performance.

“Women are more honest and fair than men and they know how to catch a man cheating.” –- Steelers linebacker Larry Foote on Shannon Eastin, the first female official in an NFL regular-season game

Not sure if that's an honest answer or a bit sexist.

"I'll take you through the stories of an eventful Week 1 of the NFL season, but shouldn't that be singular? As in, "story?" Peyton Manning turned the clock back Sunday night, and he got the Super Bowl express rolling in Denver." - Si.com's Peter King

Wow, how incredibly disrespectful to the other 31 teams in the league that laid it out on the line in Week 1 and began their own stories for the 2012 season. And actually, it's rather disrespectful to the entire Bronco team. Wasn't it this kind of attention paid to the Denver quarterback position that hacked off a boatload of people last season?

"I think every guy in this locker room is disgusted with how we played." - Giants defensive end Justin Tuck

I'm guessing a few fans were disgusted as well.

Idiot of the Week

I really wanted to give this award to Warren Sapp for his ridiculous prediction that the Chiefs would beat the Falcons 41-0. It wasn't just his prediction, it was the conviction with which he gave it. Come on Sapp, how dumb are you?

But after watching the season opening game of Thursday Night Football on the NFL Network, the easy winner turned out to be Ceelo Green. Now I get it, the NFL Network paid Green a ton of money to be their version of Faith Hill and open up Thursday Night Football. It's a big honor plus a tremendous opportunity for exposure to a potential fan base unfamiliar with his work. Hey, cross promotion is always a good thing, especially when you're trying to build a brand name. And taking into account his musical work, the 7UP sponsorship and the television program The Voice, obviously Ceelo is building a brand.

But when you have the opportunity to open up to a brand new audience, why would your first impression to said audience be a horrific cover/remix of The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop"? Within 30 seconds, my brain was short circuiting trying to keep my gag reflex from kicking into high gear. And then when they kept playing snippets of that awful song into and out of commercial breaks, I started going into Pokémon-level seizures from the audio assault. I remember when Nike used The Beatles' "Revolution" for a shoe commercial and people lost their minds. Looking back after listening to that pile of sonic vomit Green inflicted upon the populous Thursday night, I give Nike credit; at least they didn't pervert a classic song.

"Blitzkrieg Bop" is a seminal song and a classic anthem of the Punk movement. To distort the song so and then warble over top of a memorable music track with lyrics that sounded like they were written by a 5th grader is not just disrespectful to the original musicians, most of who are dead, but just plain moronic. Come on Ceelo, be free to express yourself; write something original. So Ceelo Green, for tarnishing a classic Punk Rock song just to make a buck and get some network face time, you are an idiot. And Ceelo, one more thing. From an aesthetics standpoint, lose the ridiculous outfit. It makes you look like Casey Hampton, and that is not a compliment.

Plus I'll give an honorary idiot award to the NFL Network executives that green lit this aberration, no pun intended. You would have made a stronger statement, and a more entertaining opening, if you would have just played the original song over a montage of big plays and hard hits. You shouldn't need me to tell you that.

On Tap This Week

Ok, so from Thursday through Sunday...Pitt and Penn State lost, the Pirates were swept, the Steelers lost, my old high school team lost and my fantasy football team lost. As the theme of losing continued, I fully expected Matthew Fox to show up at my door. Regardless, each week is a chance at redemption, one of NFL Films most favorite story lines.

Last week: 9-6

Thursday: 1-0

Season to Date: 10-7

Just to point out a fact, before we get back to some significant winning. Peyton Manning is 3-2 lifetime against Pittsburgh, including Sunday night's win. The two previous times Peyton faced, and defeated, Pittsburgh the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl. Is that an omen? I don't know. But I suddenly feel a whole bunch better about this season.

Sunday

Kansas City (0-1) at Buffalo (0-1)

Considering what I saw last week....

Chiefs over Bills

New Orleans (0-1) at Carolina (0-1)

No way does Drew Brees lose two weeks in a row. I hope.

Saints over Panthers

Cleveland (0-1) at Cincinnati (0-1)

There's no way Weeden can be that bad two weeks in a row, right? Wait, don't answer that.

Bengals over Browns

Minnesota (1-0) at Indianapolis (0-1)

I think its time for a little Luck. Yay for cheesy puns!

Colts over Vikings

Houston (1-0) at Jacksonville (0-1)

I love the fight in Jacksonville last week. It won't be enough though.

Texans over Jaguars

Oakland (0-1) at Miami (0-1)

Ok, pop quiz Ryan Tannehill. What division does Oakland play in? WRONG. They play in the We-also-beat-you division.

Raiders over Dolphins

Arizona (1-0) at New England (1-0)

The only question I have is will Tom Brady actually play the entire game or will the lead be so large Belichick will pull him?

Patriots over Cardinals

Tampa Bay (1-0) at New York Giants (0-1)

Something tells me Tom Coughlin spent 10 days pounding a new game plan into his charges.

Giants over Buccaneers

Baltimore (1-0) at Philadelphia (1-0)

I'm rooting for Philadelphia. But I think the winner will be...

Ravens over Eagles

Dallas (1-0) at Seattle (0-1)

The last time Dallas played in Seattle, a botched snap cost Tony Romo a playoff win. This time, the results will be slightly different.

Cowboys over Seahawks

Washington (1-0) at St. Louis (0-1)

Until I see different, I'm on board with RGIII.

Redskins over Rams

New York Jets (1-0) at Pittsburgh (0-1)

Wow the Jets certainly have a potent offense this season. Oh wait, no, Buffalo just has a horrible defense. Remember, the Jets gave up 28 points to a crappy team at home. How many will they give up on the road?

Steelers over Jets

Tennessee (0-1) at San Diego (1-0)

An injured Jake Locker, a trip across the country, a hungry home crowd. Seems fairly straightforward.

Chargers over Titans

Detroit (1-0) at San Francisco (1-0)

Be honest, which do you think will trend as more important: The final outcome, or the post game handshake? I'll admit, I'm waiting until the post game show for the true entertainment.

49ers over Lions

Monday

Denver (1-0) at Atlanta (1-0)

Peyton is back, and he loves domes. But I'll go with Atlanta's stellar regular season dome performances as my guide this week.

Falcons over Broncos

Thursday

New York Giants at Carolina

Ok, this picking Thursday games ahead of time is harder than I thought. It really is a shot in the dark. Well, I guess that's how we're gonna have to roll this season. Bang goes the boom stick.

Giants over Panthers