2015-16 NFL Week 1 Results

Pittsburgh @ New England 

Welp, I guess Tom Brady (25 of 32, 281 yds, 4 TDs) wanted to prove to all of us that it’s not the amount of air in the balls, but what you do with the balls that count.  The Patriots blasted the Steelers and what makes it worse if that they seem to do it with ease.  Both of their tight ends (Gronk 5 rec, 94 yds, 3 TDs; Scott Chandler 1 rec, 1 yd, 1 TD) were responsible for the 4 TDs that they scored in this game.  The defense played well until late when Big Ben’s (26 of 38, 351 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int) pass to Antonio Brown (9 rec, 133 yds, 1 TD) made the score look respectable.  We’re done with all of the whispers of the Patriots cheating and now we can move one with all of this,………or so we thought.  The Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin went on record to say that they always have issues with their communications when they go to Foxboro and the fact that the entire first half all they could hear on their headsets was the Patriots radio coverage of the game.  It wasn’t until the Steelers reported it and the Patriots were told that they would have to stop using their headsets, was the problem all of a sudden fixed.  Are you surprised about more whispers of Patriot infidelity?  If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, ladies and gentlemen, it’s probably a duck.  We’ll see how long this remains an issue and we’ll also see how much better each of these teams can get. 

Inquisitive Mind 1-0 for the week

Green Bay @ Chicago

The Bears start the season 0-1 but, they actually looked like a football team.  They actually played well,…including Cutler (18 of 36, 225 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int).  Hear me out, the Bears ran the ball well with Forte (24 carries, 141 yds, 1 TD), had great play calling, and Cutler minimized his chances on making the ‘bad’ play.  The only issue on the play calling is getting down in the red zone and not calling Forte’s number, not even once.  That drive ended with a high pass over the head of Royal (Jay had a guy in his face and didn’t have a chance to really do anything but sling the ball).  They had 4 out of 5 drives early that ended in points.  The biggest issue is that they were playing the Packers.  Aaron Rodgers (18 of 23, 189 yds, 3 TDs) is the baddest man on the planet and he proved that in this game.  James Jones (4 rec, 51 yds, 2 TDs) showed up like he never left the team and the defense finally made a play on the interception by Clay Matthews. 

All in all, this is a huge step forward for the Bears even though the season will start 0-1.  I blame the Bears for talking about switching Kyle Long to tackle and waiting until the first game of the season to actually move him to right tackle was stupid, as they should have gotten him some reps in the preseason.  The Bears had a new attitude and the arrow, at least for now is pointing up.  One bad thing for the Packers is that they weren’t able to stop the run and next up is the Seattle Seahawks and their running game.   

Inquisitive Mind 2-0 for the week

Kansas City @ Houston

Is it too late to make those ‘Free JJ Watt’ t-shirts?  This Texans team really looked like they are a QB away from being very dangerous and as we know, getting that QB is tough.  Hoyer (18 of 24, 236 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int) was terrible and Ryan Mallett (8 of 13, 98 yds, 1 TD) wasn’t much better to go along with a weak ground game (21 car, 98 yds).  Yes, the Texans were down big early, but that defense finally showed up and slowed down the Chiefs or they might have scored 60 yesterday.  When will this team be able to match the defense with performance? 

The Chiefs looked great.  They got out to a big early lead with Travis Kelce (6 rec, 106 yds, 2 TDs) leading the way.  Jamaal Charles had over 100 yards combined and this defense looked suffocating at times.  Let’s see what Andy Reid has in store for us in week 2 as we know the Broncos will make a much more difficult foe. 

Inquisitive Mind 3-0 for the week

Cleveland @ New York Jets

We actually did see Johnny Football (13 of 24, 182 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int, 2 fumbles lost) and we also saw that there isn’t much out there for the Browns on offense.  McCown thought he was John Elway in the Superbowl and got knocked out of the game and Manziel came in and threw a TD and we all thought from there, that this could go well.  3 turnovers later and lots of disappointment and now we’re looking at Week 2.  The Jets did what we expected, run the ball (C. Ivory – 20 car, 91 yds, 2 TDs; team had 36 car, 154 yds,  2 TDs) and play defense.  Ryan Fitzpatrick (15 of 24, 179 yds, 2 TDs, 1 Int) wasn’t that bad out there, but he’s gotta get better for this team to keep it up.  Good win for the Jets. 

Inquisitive Mind 4-0 for the week

Indianapolis @ Buffalo

I don’t think anyone thought it would look this bad.  I am going to say that I think the luster is finally wearing off of Andrew Luck (26 of 49, 243 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints).  He came into the league as possibly the next savior for the Colts, but outside of Eli, he’s been a turnover machine and he looked that way in this game.  Adding insult to injury was TY Hilton (7 recs, 88 yds) and Frank Gore (8 car, 31 yds)both going down to injuries and this Colts team looked terrible.  The defense should be having open tryouts this week as pretty much none of them showed up for the game.  Props to Tyrod Taylor (14 of 19, 195 yds, 1 TD, 9 car, 41 yds) (former Raven) in his debut as he looked wonderful.  We know it’s just one game, but the kid looked poised out there and ready for the big stage.  The Bills defense looked good ladies and gentlemen, we may have to lookout for them this season. 

Inquisitive Mind 5-0 for the week

Miami @ Washington

So, the (redacted) had RGIII on the practice squad this week as the starting safety?!?!  Just let that dude go.  There is no need to keep him around when you risk him getting injured doing something silly and could cost your team $16M by guaranteeing his salary next year.  Walk away from this.  Gruden’s post game presser where he waxed poetic about the ‘success’ that his starter, Kirk Cousins (21 of 31, 196 yds, 1 TD, 2 Ints), had during this game was laughable.  Of course Gruden has to oversell this entire thing but in the end, this is just a bad sitcom.  With all of that said, I’m more disappointed in the Dolphins that it took all they had to escape with this win in a very close game.  I expected them to easily win this game and be ready for week 2, but it seems that they have more questions than anything else. 

Inquisitive Mind 6-0 for the week

Carolina @ Jacksonville

Blake Bortles (22 of 40, 183 yds, 1 TD, 2 Ints, 4 car, 26 yds), you looked like isht (I try not to curse on this here blog but Bortles and someone else pushed me this week).  I am expecting much better from you if this team expects to even be respectable this year.  The Panthers and Cam Newton (18 of 31, 175 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int, 14 car, 35 yds) showed us what they are going to have to do all season to win and that’s scrape by with bare parts and play defense.  The Panthers barely got 100 yards rushing as a team (35 car, 105 yds), and their WR production was horrible this entire game.  Tedd Ginn Jr. dropped a sure TD when he was wide open.  They are going to need people to make plays and this didn’t give anyone a warm and fuzzy feeling that they will in the future.  Add to all of this Kuechly’s concussion and this was a bad Sunday for the Panthers even though they got a ‘W’. 

Inquisitive Mind 7-0 for the week

Seattle @ St. Louis

Dear Pete Carroll, I’m getting tired of your isht (Pete is the other person that wanted me to cuss this week).  This ‘genius’ you’re supposed to have or be, just seems to get in the way of good football sometimes.  First the Superbowl and not running Lynch, but then the pooch/onside kick in overtime and the subsequent play call on 4^th and 1.  Dude, let your team, filled with talent, do what they do best and let’s stop the silliness.  The Seahawks struggled with this Rams team, but in the end, the better team won yesterday.  The Rams outplayed (and some would say out coached) the Seahawks.  Hopefully the Seahawks can bounce back next week or there may be some worry in Seattle. 

Inquisitive Mind 7-1 for the week

New Orleans @ Arizona

‘With a healthy Palmer, this Cardinals team is dangerous.’ – I mentioned this in my preview for the game and Carson (19 of 32, 307 yds, 3 TDs) must have read it because he played lights out.  I don’t think that Carson has looked this good in years.   The only bad thing from this game was the Cardinals losing Andre Ellington to a possible knee injury (PCL?) when their running game seems to struggle on a regular.  Larry Fitzgerald (6 recs, 87 yds) looked to be a part of the offense again and we’ll hope that it will continue for the remainder of the year.  The Saints looked horrible in this game.  They looked like Austin Powers without his mojo and I’m not so sure that the rest of their season won’t look the same.  Brees (30 of 48, 354 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int) may end up to be that guy that puts up a lot of numbers because they are behind so much all year. 

Inquisitive Mind 8-1 for the week

Detroit @ San Diego

The Chargers won this shootout with Philip Rivers (35 of 42, 404 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints) tying Dan Fouts on the Chargers TD list.  Two rookie RBs Melvin Gordon (14 car, 51 yds, 3 rec, 16 yds) and Ameer Abdullah (7 car, 50 yds, 1 TD, 4 rec, 44 yds) actually looked pretty good in this game for their respective teams.  Matthew Stafford (19 of 30, 246 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints) didn’t play his best game and was limited in hooking up with Megatron (2 rec, 39 yds).  Not sure if defense was actually a part of this game or not.  Keenan Allen(15 rec, 166 yds) had a monster game as Rivers spread the ball around to 7 different receivers. 

Inquisitive Mind 9-1 for the week

Tennessee @ Tampa Bay

Marcus Mariota, I apologize from everyone who ever thought that you wouldn’t be able to play in the NFL.  Great Game 1, and slow down out there.  Mariota (13 of 16, 209 yds, 4 TDs, no 4^th quarter play) easily won the battle between the #1 and #2 picks in the 2015 NFL Draft.  Jameis (16 of 33, 210 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints) looked like he wasn’t ready for primetime, while Mariota seemed like he was playing in a 7-on-7 drill.  Nothing seemed to go right for the Bucs and they were embarrassed and already have their head coach Lovey Smith on the hot seat.  Bucs gotta hope this was just one bad game and that they can turn it around.  The only highlight for the Bucs was Austin Seferian-Jenkins (5 rec, 110 yds, 2 TDs, on 7 targets) who had a MONSTER game for the Bucs, but too little too late. 

Inquisitive Mind 9-2 for the week

Cincinnati @ Oakland

Dear Derek Carr, the next time you’re running out of the pocket, please understand that those are grown men on defense who don’t get a chance to normally hit you because of the rules.  Those same men welcome the opportunity to engage you in a physical confrontation and due to your size and ability to defend yourself, I’d suggest sliding as a course of action in the future.  ALSO, NEVER hit someone with your throwing hand.  Carr (7 of 12, 61 yds) left the game early and the Raiders turned into the Raiders of old, no not the good version, the sad version.  The Bengals and Andy Dalton (25 of 34, 269 yds, 2 TDs) looked good this first game of the season and they hope they can continue down this road.  Consistency has been their achilles heel in the past. 

Inquisitive Mind 10-2 for the week

Baltimore @ Denver

Let’s have a moment of silence for Terrell Suggs.  Suggs tore his Achilles tendon and is out for the year.  Tough loss in a loss for the Ravens.  Meanwhile this was a defensive stalemate for the majority of the game.  The Broncos looked like they had more options on offense, but Peyton Manning (24 of 40, 175 yds, 1 Int) didn’t look good in this game.  If there were whispers of a lack of arm strength last year, this game did nothing to silence those whispers.  It was almost like watching the fall of a great right before he heads into retirement.  Maybe Brady was right in those text messages about Manning.  The Ravens looked like they had no other targets for Flacco (18 of 32, 117 yds, 2 Ints) to throw to other than Steve Smith (2 rec, 13 yds) and even he had a rough day at the office.  This injury for the Ravens could spell doom for this team for the season but they are a resilient bunch and we’ll look forward to seeing what rabbit they are able to pull out of the hat this time. 

Inquisitive Mind 10-3 for the week

New York Giants @ Dallas

I would probably add this to the group of people who wanted me to cuss this weekend, but the Cowboys should not have won this game and it’s just not that important to me to be upset about this loss for the Giants since they gift wrapped and gave this one away.  You play to win the game.  I would have run the ball in and taken the 10 point lead and given the Cowboys that 1:45 left in the game with no timeouts and the ball.  But noooo, the Giants wanted to run clock and then inexplicably Eli (20 of 36, 193 yds) decided to kill the clock by throwing the incomplete pass late.  The Cowboys had already lost their big money receiver (Dez Bryant 5 rec, 48 yds) and only had one viable receiver left to catch the ball, the only one that Romo (36 of 45, 356 yds, 3 TDs, 2 Ints) loves, Witten (8 rec, 60 yds, 2 TDs), who wasn’t covered on back to back plays.  Touchdown Cowboys and game over.  All one can do is shake their heads on this game and the mistakes the Giants made. 

Inquisitive Mind 11-3 for the week

Philadelphia @ Atlanta

Whatever Dan Quin put in the water for the Falcons defense, they need another shot for the 2nd half next week.  This was the fastest, tackling, flying to the ball defense that we've seen in Atlanta for years.  I mean really, as bad as Atlanta was last year, they were that good in the 1st half and they were able to hold on for the win against this Eagles team. Matt Ryan (23 of 34, 298 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints) didn't make me feel real good with those 2 picks so he has some opportunities for improvement.  Julio Jones (9 rec, 141 yds, 2 TDs) seemed to burn anyone guarding him and again the defense hit Sam Bradford (36 of 52, 336 yds, 1 TD, 2 Ints) on every opportunity they had.  

The Eagles seemed to be on the verge of blowing the game open at any point, but they just couldn't get over the hump against this Falcons D.  Jordan Matthews (10 rec, 102 yds) was on fire for the Eagles but in the end the Eagles ground game was stopped and that seemed to be the difference for the game.  

Inquisitive Mind 11-4 for the week

Minnesota @ San Francisco

Where did this 49ers team come from?!?  We all saw all of the talent they lost over the summer and we all assumed (I guess in this case that old adage came true) that they would be horrible.  Seems as though the defense under Eric Mangini is going to be ok.  The offense looked rudimentary, but Kaepernick (17 of 26, 165 yds) looked comfortable in that offense.  I even caught myself about 6 times saying, 'RGIII would look nice in this offense', but I had to leave that alone.  Don't let me forget to mention Carlos Hyde ( 26 car, 168 yds, 2 TDs) and his breakout performance.  I needed this type of play from him last year when I had him on my fantasy squad.     

For all of the hoopla we heard about Teddy Bridgewater (23 of 32, 231 yds, 1 INT) and the return of AP (10 car, 31 yds),....this game was horrible.  I mean the Vikings looked so out of sync, they just have to be better next week.  

Inquisitive Mind 11-5 for the week