NFL Week One notes

Some things about Week One in the NFL:

Good teams find ways to win, poor teams find ways to lose. Shocking, right? If I say Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, New England, San Diego, Oakland guess what catagory each belongs in?

Most striking thing about week one was the officiating. There were at least three unbelieveably bad calls: First, Thurday night, the phantom pass interference call on Troy Polamalu. 43 clearly had position, was running to make a play on the ball and the wr ran through him to prevent the pick. Refs need to get consistent with pass interference. It seems that when in doubt, flag the defense. It affects the offensive game plan, QBs can throw it up in desperation and hope for a penalty. Second, Monday night early game, the personal foul, roughing the QB on Vince Wilfork. He hit Trent Edwards in the waist (one of the last places you can still hit a QB legally) didn't drive him to the turf and because of that slid down Edwards lower body. Wilfork didn't wrap up and they called the penalty! Bananas! If you're a pass rusher you have to feel handcuffed. Lastly and most egregious, Monday night, late game, the TD that wasn't late in the second quarter by Oakland's Louis Murphy. WTF!? Help me here; WR catches the ball, clear control, two feet down, touchdown, right? Now, apparently, sometimes, if the refs feel like it, the receiver has to control the ball through the ground, after getting up, back to the sideline, until the ball is placed for the extra point. Look at it this way; if a receiver catches the ball , two feet down with possession and spikes it immediately, TD. If a runner sticks the ball to the edge of the goalline then immediately fumbles, TD. This rule for receivers is nuts. Of course, Oakland settles for a FG and, of course, end up losing the game by four.

Quick Hits:
I think I was 100% right about Jake Delhomme. I think I was 100% wrong about Joe Flacco.
The loss of Brian Urlacher won't hurt Chicago that badly. The loss of Troy Polamalu will hurt Pittsbugh badly.
Kyle Orton 1-0, Jay Cutler 0-1.
This Adrian Peterson might just have a future in this football stuff. Drew Brees, too.
RBs that aren't done yet; Joseph Addia and Laurence Maroney. Notice LaDanian Tomlinson wasn't named.
Oakland might have hope.
Lions have the week 8 game at home against Seattle circled on the calendar.

What to look for in week 2:
The NFL is a copycat league, the NFL is a parity league, but the NFL is also an up and down league. Teams that looked awful often come back to look good the next week and vice versa. Also, 0-2 and 0-3 starts almost ensure a losing record for the season. So, look for several of the 0-1 teams to bounce back this week. First up, Miami. I predict an upset win at home over Indy. Second, don't be surprised if Chicago gives Pittsburgh all they can handle. The Bears are at home, desperate for a win and motivated to show the Cutler debacle isn't just that. Pittsburgh is without the NFL's best defensive player and have a shaky O-Line. Lastly, Washington will bounce back after an uninspired loss to beat the truly horrible Rams.
Toss ups: Tennessee hosts Houston, both need a win coming off physical losses, Carolina needs a big turn-around travelling to division rival, Atlanta. If Delhomme looks anything like he did against Philly, season over already for the Panthers. Someone has to win the Denver-Cleveland game, I am giving it to the Browns simply because Denver does not deserve to be 2-0.

Lock of the week: going out on a limb and picking Minnesota over Detroit.