Hero of the week:
C.J. Spiller.
Buffalo Bills’ running back C.J. Spiller is this week’s ‘hero of the week’. Coming out of college everyone knew he was a talented player, but things didn’t pan out as well as expected and he fell behind Fred Jackson (a decent running back in his own right) in the depth chart. ‘College Spiller’, as I’m going to be calling him from now on, is most certainly back. College Spiller put the team on his back in week 2, rushing 15 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 47 yards. He averaged double-digit rushing stats for the second consecutive week against two of the league’s more physical defences. ‘Impressive’ isn’t even the word.
Villain of the week:
Replacement referees.
Just to clarify: ‘villain’ is probably the wrong term for the NFL’s replacement referees, as they are in a tough spot and clearly in way over their head. Although I feel that they are doing the best they can, they are not top-level referees for a reason and their performance this week was downright ugly. There were bad calls across the weekend, but as Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis stated quite correctly: "We already have controversy enough with the regular refs calling the plays." The controversy isn’t the issue with the new referees however, but the lack of control they have on games. This past weekend, games simply became out of control and unquestionably too dangerous. The Falcons vs. Broncos, Eagles vs. Ravens, Rams vs. Redskins and Giants vs. Buccaneers games the level of animosity between teams reached uncomfortable heights and displayed clearly that they are losing control of the players.
Former NFL vice-president of refereeing Mike Pereira stated: "You can't expect replacements to know the intricacies of the NFL rule book in two weeks on the job. It takes years," Pereira wrote on his blog for Fox Sports. "But it doesn't take long -- two weeks -- to see this is not working." He isn’t wrong.
Replacement referees.
Just to clarify: ‘villain’ is probably the wrong term for the NFL’s replacement referees, as they are in a tough spot and clearly in way over their head. Although I feel that they are doing the best they can, they are not top-level referees for a reason and their performance this week was downright ugly. There were bad calls across the weekend, but as Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis stated quite correctly: "We already have controversy enough with the regular refs calling the plays." The controversy isn’t the issue with the new referees however, but the lack of control they have on games. This past weekend, games simply became out of control and unquestionably too dangerous. The Falcons vs. Broncos, Eagles vs. Ravens, Rams vs. Redskins and Giants vs. Buccaneers games the level of animosity between teams reached uncomfortable heights and displayed clearly that they are losing control of the players.
Former NFL vice-president of refereeing Mike Pereira stated: "You can't expect replacements to know the intricacies of the NFL rule book in two weeks on the job. It takes years," Pereira wrote on his blog for Fox Sports. "But it doesn't take long -- two weeks -- to see this is not working." He isn’t wrong.
Biggest disappointment of the week: New Orleans Saints.
The New
Orleans Saints were expected to be firing on all cylinders following a
disappointing but close defeat to the Washington Redskins at home. They were
facing a Carolina Panthers team that had successfully stifled the rushing
threats of DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton. The Saints
managed to fire on no cylinders, and although they put up some points on
Carolina, the Panthers never looked like losing this game. Cam Newton and the
Panthers offence were free to do as they pleased, with the Jonathan Vilma-less
Saints defence never disrupting their rhythm. Conversely, Drew Brees and the
Saints offense rarely looked like the unit it normally resembles. The Saints
now sit at 0-2 after a turgid, pedestrian display against division rival in a
must-win game and are now officially in trouble.
Moment of the week:
Stephen Gostkowski misses 42 yard FG attempt.
It’s hard to believe that the New England Patriots, possibly the AFC’s best team, lost to the Arizona Cardinals. It’s harder still to believe that the Arizona Cardinals are now 2-0 and that Stephen Gostkowski had a chance to secure victory in the dying seconds and came up short. While the defeat does not rest squarely on the shoulders of Gostkowski – a whole host of errors led to a bad day at the office for the Patriots – the fact that the most accurate kicker in Patriots history and someone who has excelled in game-tying, or indeed game-winning, situations missed what was effectively a routine kick.
Stephen Gostkowski misses 42 yard FG attempt.
It’s hard to believe that the New England Patriots, possibly the AFC’s best team, lost to the Arizona Cardinals. It’s harder still to believe that the Arizona Cardinals are now 2-0 and that Stephen Gostkowski had a chance to secure victory in the dying seconds and came up short. While the defeat does not rest squarely on the shoulders of Gostkowski – a whole host of errors led to a bad day at the office for the Patriots – the fact that the most accurate kicker in Patriots history and someone who has excelled in game-tying, or indeed game-winning, situations missed what was effectively a routine kick.
Fail of the week:
Josh Morgan, throws football, costs Redskins dearly.
For this week’s ‘fail of the week’ it is actually impossible to look any further than Redskins wideout Josh Morgan, who responded to notorious windup merchant Cortland Finnegan’s taunts by throwing the ball at him. Cue a 15-yard penalty moving the Redskins back to 4th and 16, and forcing them into attempting a 62-yard field goal. Unsurprisingly Billy Cundiff didn’t make the mammoth kick, and the Redskins lost to the Rams. Morgan’s stupidity effectively lost them the game. Doesn’t get much more ‘fail’ than that.
Josh Morgan, throws football, costs Redskins dearly.
For this week’s ‘fail of the week’ it is actually impossible to look any further than Redskins wideout Josh Morgan, who responded to notorious windup merchant Cortland Finnegan’s taunts by throwing the ball at him. Cue a 15-yard penalty moving the Redskins back to 4th and 16, and forcing them into attempting a 62-yard field goal. Unsurprisingly Billy Cundiff didn’t make the mammoth kick, and the Redskins lost to the Rams. Morgan’s stupidity effectively lost them the game. Doesn’t get much more ‘fail’ than that.
'My team':
The Giants game
against the Buccaneers was, in many ways, an entire Giants season condensed
into an entire game. It had a horrendous first half, plagued with errors,
dropped balls, interceptions and injuries, and followed up with an incredible
second half dominated by a renewed focus, a ruthlessly efficient passing game
and a team now accustomed to performing in the clutch.
There are a few concerning points going forward though, namely the mistakes that defined the first half, and the alarming lack of pressure from the defensive line. The Buccaneers have a revamped offensive line that is now one of the better units in the league, and they neutralised the threat of the Giants’ defensive superstars: Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora. Had the Giants not recovered and stole victory from the jaws of defeat, it’d be tempting to write off the season. However the Giants proved that they are made of tough stuff and will be a hard team to beat this year.
There are a few concerning points going forward though, namely the mistakes that defined the first half, and the alarming lack of pressure from the defensive line. The Buccaneers have a revamped offensive line that is now one of the better units in the league, and they neutralised the threat of the Giants’ defensive superstars: Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora. Had the Giants not recovered and stole victory from the jaws of defeat, it’d be tempting to write off the season. However the Giants proved that they are made of tough stuff and will be a hard team to beat this year.
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