This will be a new segment I'll be doing each week from now on. Every week, five or more specific story lines going into the week of games.
1) How the Cowboys perform on the road in KC. This is still one of the most difficult places to play in the NFL and now the Chiefs are a well coached team. Their roster, the Chiefs' that is, is very talented and their QB doesn't make mistakes. The Cowboys are coming off a big home win and their best offensive weapon, Bryant, is not 100%. If they get down early it could be a 3INT game for Romo as he makes ill advised throws to try to get back in the game. This is the type of game you'd bet the Cowboys to lose because this is the type of game where strong leadership carries you through to victory. If things are different this year for the 'Boys you'll now it by how disciplined and focused they play in this game down the stretch.
2) Arizona vs Detroit. This game will be fascinating on many levels. First, the matchup of Megatron and Patrick Peterson should be fun to watch. I think Peterson is a bit overrated, but he'll have a chance to prove doubters like me wrong if he can cover the best receiver in the game one-on-one. It's really too bad Jonathan Cooper is injured because I would have loved to see him go against Suh and Fairly. This could be a bad game for Arizona's offense because their o-line is subpar. If Fitzgerald's hammy is okay and the o-line can keep that psychopath Suh from injuring their QB then Arizona will be fine. My guess is this is somewhat of a defensive game (Zona's D can play) and the birds find a way to pull it out at home.
3) RGIII's mechanics. They weren't good Monday night and though he's not willing to admit he's rusty, dude was clearly rusty. I think Washington starts the season off 0-2. They're coming off a short week, their defense has got to be tired, the Packers are really pissed they lost in San Fran, and that Pack D will have to make only minor adjustments for the Washington attack. This will be a tough game for the second year sensation RGIII. If he can be productive in the pocket like Kaepernick was last week against the green machine, win or lose, it'll go a long way towards his development and the long-term success of the team. Detroit in week three. Ugh! Just stay healthy RGIII!
4) The Manning Bowl. I actually don't care much about this game. It'll be good, don't get me wrong, I just think it won't be terribly compelling in terms of what the outcome of this game means for the rest of the season. Look, we already now what to expect from these two teams. The Giants are good, but inconsistent, the Broncos are really good on offense and will probably win the game. An 0-2 start won't be good for the Giants, but they weren't going to go 12-4 anyway. If the Broncos lose this game they'll still be the favorites to finish at the top of the AFC. You should enjoy this game because it could be the last one these two QBs play against each other, not because it has wide reaching implications for the 2013 season. Think of this like a friendly match between Spain and Brazil. It'll be fun to watch, but the only way you really care about the outcome is if this were a championship game.
5) 49ers vs. Seahawks. Saved the best for last. This should be a fantastic game to watch. I don't think the 49ers win this game because playing in Seattle is a nightmare. These teams don't like each other, these coaches don't like each other, and that's just what you want in a rivalry. I'll be watching these QBs, particularly Kaepernick. Wilson's shown himself to be practically unflappable in an almost Tebow-esque type of way. The guy is borderline delusional in his optimism, and in his case I mean it as a compliment. Kaepernick could be one of those rare guys that sees more of the picture and can use that to his advantage. Brady, Brees, and Rodgers are the only other guys that come to mind that seem to have that rare combination of transcendent talent and holistic awareness, and Kaep is more physically talented than all of them. Win or lose, and I think the 49ers lose this game, I'll be glued to every move Kaepernick makes because there is no other QB in the NFL that shows this much promise combined with this much uncertainty. Luck is probably a future HOFer (no it's not to early to say that) and will continue to be exceptional in the way we've come to think of exceptional QBs. Wilson is really, really good, a fantastic leader, a grounded human being it seems, but he's physically limited and a bit cooky with his optimism and religious expression. RGIII is talented, but slight and will probably end his career with an injury. Cam may have missed the maturity boat and will struggle to understand why he likely never becomes an icon. Kaepernick is different. Kaepernick is special in a way we've never seen in this league. Steve Jay Gould, famous evolutionary biologist, coined the term "punctuated equilibrium" to describe a method of evolution that progressed with giant leaps instead of the steady rate of minute change most of us think evolution of species happen. Gould's description is likely more correct than convention. Kaepernick may be that giant leap in the quarterback position that comes along once every Randal Cunningham.
Enjoy week 2!
1) How the Cowboys perform on the road in KC. This is still one of the most difficult places to play in the NFL and now the Chiefs are a well coached team. Their roster, the Chiefs' that is, is very talented and their QB doesn't make mistakes. The Cowboys are coming off a big home win and their best offensive weapon, Bryant, is not 100%. If they get down early it could be a 3INT game for Romo as he makes ill advised throws to try to get back in the game. This is the type of game you'd bet the Cowboys to lose because this is the type of game where strong leadership carries you through to victory. If things are different this year for the 'Boys you'll now it by how disciplined and focused they play in this game down the stretch.
2) Arizona vs Detroit. This game will be fascinating on many levels. First, the matchup of Megatron and Patrick Peterson should be fun to watch. I think Peterson is a bit overrated, but he'll have a chance to prove doubters like me wrong if he can cover the best receiver in the game one-on-one. It's really too bad Jonathan Cooper is injured because I would have loved to see him go against Suh and Fairly. This could be a bad game for Arizona's offense because their o-line is subpar. If Fitzgerald's hammy is okay and the o-line can keep that psychopath Suh from injuring their QB then Arizona will be fine. My guess is this is somewhat of a defensive game (Zona's D can play) and the birds find a way to pull it out at home.
3) RGIII's mechanics. They weren't good Monday night and though he's not willing to admit he's rusty, dude was clearly rusty. I think Washington starts the season off 0-2. They're coming off a short week, their defense has got to be tired, the Packers are really pissed they lost in San Fran, and that Pack D will have to make only minor adjustments for the Washington attack. This will be a tough game for the second year sensation RGIII. If he can be productive in the pocket like Kaepernick was last week against the green machine, win or lose, it'll go a long way towards his development and the long-term success of the team. Detroit in week three. Ugh! Just stay healthy RGIII!
4) The Manning Bowl. I actually don't care much about this game. It'll be good, don't get me wrong, I just think it won't be terribly compelling in terms of what the outcome of this game means for the rest of the season. Look, we already now what to expect from these two teams. The Giants are good, but inconsistent, the Broncos are really good on offense and will probably win the game. An 0-2 start won't be good for the Giants, but they weren't going to go 12-4 anyway. If the Broncos lose this game they'll still be the favorites to finish at the top of the AFC. You should enjoy this game because it could be the last one these two QBs play against each other, not because it has wide reaching implications for the 2013 season. Think of this like a friendly match between Spain and Brazil. It'll be fun to watch, but the only way you really care about the outcome is if this were a championship game.
5) 49ers vs. Seahawks. Saved the best for last. This should be a fantastic game to watch. I don't think the 49ers win this game because playing in Seattle is a nightmare. These teams don't like each other, these coaches don't like each other, and that's just what you want in a rivalry. I'll be watching these QBs, particularly Kaepernick. Wilson's shown himself to be practically unflappable in an almost Tebow-esque type of way. The guy is borderline delusional in his optimism, and in his case I mean it as a compliment. Kaepernick could be one of those rare guys that sees more of the picture and can use that to his advantage. Brady, Brees, and Rodgers are the only other guys that come to mind that seem to have that rare combination of transcendent talent and holistic awareness, and Kaep is more physically talented than all of them. Win or lose, and I think the 49ers lose this game, I'll be glued to every move Kaepernick makes because there is no other QB in the NFL that shows this much promise combined with this much uncertainty. Luck is probably a future HOFer (no it's not to early to say that) and will continue to be exceptional in the way we've come to think of exceptional QBs. Wilson is really, really good, a fantastic leader, a grounded human being it seems, but he's physically limited and a bit cooky with his optimism and religious expression. RGIII is talented, but slight and will probably end his career with an injury. Cam may have missed the maturity boat and will struggle to understand why he likely never becomes an icon. Kaepernick is different. Kaepernick is special in a way we've never seen in this league. Steve Jay Gould, famous evolutionary biologist, coined the term "punctuated equilibrium" to describe a method of evolution that progressed with giant leaps instead of the steady rate of minute change most of us think evolution of species happen. Gould's description is likely more correct than convention. Kaepernick may be that giant leap in the quarterback position that comes along once every Randal Cunningham.
Enjoy week 2!
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