As evidenced in Cam Newton’s impressive N.F.L. debut, there is an army of young quarterbacks ready to step into the spotlight, says William C. Rhoden.
Monday, September 12, 2011
U.S. Open: Novak Djokovic the champion over Rafael Nadal
For more than four hours Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played punishing tennis that was also beautiful. They grunted and groaned and sent tennis balls straight at each over, over each other, around each other.
And after it appeared Djokovic was down and out, when he had lost the third set and was groaning on the sidelines while a trainer stretched and pulled and pounded on his aching back, the 24-year-old from Serbia came out for more.
Djokovic played the final games as if pain didn’t matter and, after making a sign of the cross, Djokovic bounced the ball 10 times, hit a serve and then a forehand winner, a massive thing that left Nadal almost immobile.
For the sixth time in a row Djokovic beat Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1, in 4 hours 10 minutes. The win made Djokovic 64-2 this year, gave him his first U.S. Open title and also placed him among the all-time greats.
He became the sixth man to win three of the four major titles in the same year since tennis' open era began in 1968. He won the Australian Open over Andy Murray in the final and beat Nadal in the Wimbledon final.
Overall, this was Djokovic's fourth major title. His first was at the Australian Open in 2008.
“It’s been an incredible year,” said Djokovic, who put on a blue baseball cap with FD/NY on it in honor of New York City firefighters, a day after the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The second-seeded Nadal, the defending champion, said, “Obviously I am disappointed now. This guy is doing unbelievable things.” Then he looked toward Djokovic and said, “What you did this year is probably impossible to repeat, so well done.”
After dropping the first two games of the first set, Djokovic began opening up the court with his swift movement and Nadal started to grow frustrated at watching some of his shots get shifted by a swirling, late-afternoon wind. Djokovic began making Nadal run corner to corner and from baseline to net and won six games in a row.
After 53 minutes, Djokovic served a love game and Nadal dropped his head as he walked to his seat on the changeover. The Spaniard had his serve broken three times in a row to end the set.
The third game of the second set encompassed enough ovation-causing tennis for an entire match. It lasted 17 minutes 15 seconds, and while trying to defend a sixth break point, Nadal, who appeared positioned for a winning overhead, slammed the ball into the net into the net.
If Nadal had held serve, he would have grabbed a 3-0 lead. Instead it was Djokovic who pumped his fist, came out after the changeover and held serve at love.
It was a game of momentous physical tennis, with both players grunting loudly. Djokovic has a two-toned sound, Nadal’s grunt is deeper and at the end of points and it made that single game sound symphonic.
Joel Pineiro, Angels look for better results in Oakland
Manager Mike Scioscia said Monday afternoon that Angels right-hander Joel Pineiro "is like night and day from what we saw the last time we were here." Pineiro better be, or it could be a rough night for him and the Angels in the Oakland Coliseum.
The last time Pineiro faced the Athletics here, on July 17, he walked the first three batters in a first inning in which he gave up eight runs -- seven earned -- and four hits and retired just one batter before being pulled from an eventual 9-1 loss. Pineiro said afterward that he couldn't find his normal grip on the ball, which kept slipping out of his hand.
A rough four-start stretch in which he went 0-3 and gave up 22 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings got Pineiro bumped from the rotation. But he regained his starting spot on Aug. 20 and has gone 1-0 with a 3.79 earned-run average in three games.
The Angels enter Monday night's game trailing the Texas Rangers by 2 1/2 games in the American League West. The Rangers are idle.
The A's got a scare before the game when Andrew Bailey was hit above the right eye by a Kurt Suzuki-hit ball while shagging in the outfield during batting practice. Bailey was on the ground for several minutes before walking off the field under his own power.
The right-hander has been ruled out for Monday night's game, but doctors have also ruled out a concussion.
The Angels lineup: 3B Maicer Izturis, CF Peter Bourjos, 2B Howie Kendrick, RF Torii Hunter, 1B Mark Trumbo, DH Vernon Wells, LF Mike Trout, SS Erick Aybar, C Jeff Mathis, P Joel Pineiro.
The A's lineup: 2B Jemile Weeks, SS Cliff Pennington, DH Hideki Matsui, LF Josh Willingham, RF David DeJesus, CF Ryan Sweeney, C Kurt Suzuki, 1B Brandon Allen, 3B Scott Sizemore, P Gio Gonzalez.
-- Mike DiGiovanna
Photo: Angels starter Joel Pineiro delivers a pitch against the Balitmore Orioles during a game last month at Angel Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press
U.S. Open: Serena Williams fined for outburst, but no suspension
Serena Williams was fined $2,000 for her verbal outburst against chair umpire Eva Asderaki during Sunday's U.S. Open women's final.
In a statement, U.S. Open tournament referee Brian Earley said the fine was for the code violation of verbal abuse.
"This fine is consistent with similar offenses at Grand Slam events," the statement said. "After independently reviewing the incident which served as the basis for the code violation, and taking into account the level of fine imposed by the U.S. Open referee, the Grand Slam Committee Director has determined that Ms. Williams' conduct, while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct."
In the first game of the second set, when Williams appeared to have hit a winning forehand against eventual champion Samantha Stosur of Australia, Williams yelled in celebration before the ball landed. Stosur barely was able to touch the ball, but the winner was taken away because of the hindrance rule that allows for a point penalty if the "hindrance" is considered to be on purpose.
After the point penalty, which ended up giving the game to Stosur, Williams launched into a verbal tirade during the next changeover and, among other things, was heard to say, "What a loser," "You're a hater," "A code violation because I expressed who I am? Really. Don't even look at me. I promise you, don't look at me. ... Don't look my way." And, in a comment that could be interpreted as threatening, she said, "If you ever see me walking down the hall, walk the other way."
The $2,000 fine wasn't even the largest issued so far at the Open. Men's doubles players Mike Bryan was fined $10,000 for an "off court" incident after he and brother Bob Bryan lost in the first round. Because Mike Bryan can still appeal the fine, a U.S. Open official said, the nature of the offense would not be disclosed.
Williams was technically still under a two-year probation in major tournaments as a result of her obscene outburst during her 2009 U.S. Open semifinal loss to Kim Clijsters. Had Sunday's incident been deemed "major," Williams could have been suspended from the 2012 U.S. Open.
ALSO:
Who's No. 1 -- Serena Williams or Caroline Wozniacki?
Novak Djokovic seeks perfect end at U.S. Open to near-perfect year
-- Diane Pucin in New York
Photo: Serena Williams has a word with the chair umpire during the U.S. Open women's final Sunday. Credit: Don Emmert / AFP / Getty Images
US Open 2011: Latest Serena Williams controversy detracts from her place in the sport
Serena Williams in the midst of her rage
Another US Open, another Serena Williams stage-stealing controversy. Two years and three days on from threatening to shove a ball down the throat of line judge Shino Tsurubuchi after being called for that infamous foot fault, the younger Williams sister yet again finds herself fined for letting her tongue lose on another match official.
Deja vu.
US Open referee Bill Earley, afforded hardly a moment's peace thanks to earthquake, hurricane, plague, and player revolt, decided to hand the multi-Slam champ a $2,000 fine for Serena's visceral comments towards umpire Eva Asderaki during last night's final against Sam Stosur. There were rumours of possible grand slam suspension, but the authorities decided to play soft rather than hard ball. Tennis fans are unlikely to be so generous.
As the New York Times' Chris Clarey put it, could anyone but Serena come back from her deathbed, reach the US Open final and still somehow not end up a clear sentimental favorite?
Admittedly, as with the foot fault, Serena was on the wrong end of a tough decision. There is no argument that her scream of 'Come On' was uttered before the ball, a thumping forehand, had touched Sam Stosur's racket. Where fact and speculation depart is over whether it was intentional, and thus calculated to help win her the point, or not. If it was the former, then the umpire's decision to award a penalty was correct. If it was the latter, the point should have been replayed.
Clarifying the situation with the umpire in a rather aggressive fashion was understandable. But where Serena was unquestionably wrong, was what happened next. Marching to the net to gesture at the umpire after winning the next point was not clever. Calling her "a hater," "unattractive inside" and "a loser" on the changeover, and essentially warning her to stay out of her way, was even less so. She let her mouth rather than brain take over. And sadly, given her past history, she should know better.
Players get frustrated when decisions go against them. Of course they do. And who can blame them. Umpires know this. "It's not a personal attack on me as a person," one said to me at the Australian Open this year – "it's just because I'm the umpire. It's part of the job." And, so by and large, the players get away with it. Andy Roddick for example, has spoken his mind rather more ferociously than he should on many an occasion.
The head-against-a-brick-wall thing about Serena is that she can behave so well. She can be hilariously charming, revealing, fascinating. Remember that press conference in Stanford? Hello Kitty backpack in tow, she had press and public enraptured over something as simple as a love of mexican food. Her return to the game was welcomed with open arms, a sentiment that has lasted all the way up to last night's final, Kardashian wedding-going aside.
The other point worth making is that where last night's incident differs from the one two years ago is that it was not a match-winning or match-ending point. The last point penalty handed Kim Clijsters a face in the US Open final. There was far more at stake. This time, the decision had the opposite effect – it amped Serena up. It made her play better. It did not lose her the title.
And she knew that too.
She even partially redeemed herself by going to sit with Sam ahead of the presentation ceremony. Who knows what they talked about, but it certainly looked good. "It shows you what a nice person she is that she can separate the result," Stosur said. "Pretty classy."
But then Serena ruined it again with one of the most obfusticating press conferences she has delivered in years. Avoiding the subject with a defence akin to Chris Taveray's, her answers revealed absolutely nothing. No regret, no remorse, no explanation.
"I don't even remember what I said," she said. " It was just so intense out there. It's the final for me, and I was just – I have to go – I guess I'll see it on YouTube. I don't know (Laughter.) I don't know. I was just in the zone. I think everyone, when they play, they kind of zone out kinda thing. I don't know, I'll see it later, I'm sure."
She said "I don't know" a lot.
Especially when asked whether as one of the most well-known tennis players in the world, she should set a good example and treat officials with respect.
"Um, I don't know. I think that, you know, when you're an athlete, whether you're looking at a basketball player or football player or tennis players, these athletes, we train all our lives since I was three – and I lie about my age a lot, but I'm 29. (Smiling). You know, we live for these moments, you know. Everyone lives to be, you know, in the final of Wimbledon or the final at the US Open. Whatever happens in that moment, you live for them and we breathe for them, and hopefully I'll be back for them."
The sad thing for Serena is that all this hullabaloo detracts from what she has achieved by even being in yesterday's final. "It was pretty close," she said during her acceptance speech last night. None of us really know how close.
And at some point, something will happen, something will come along to remind us again why tennis needs Serena Williams. As Stosur said, she has done great things for the sport. But this was not one of them.
NFL Week 1: What was the biggest surprise? [Updated]
Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss the most surprising aspects of a very entertaining first week of the NFL season. Check back throughout the day for more responses and weigh in with comments of your own.
Ron Fritz, Baltimore Sun
Without question, the biggest surprise of the first week was the Baltimore Ravens' beatdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-7. The Ravens forced seven turnovers, a team record, and took away the Steelers' will at every turn.
It was a stunning victory. Yes, the Ravens were at home and were slight favorites, but a Joe Flacco-led team had never beaten a Ben Roethlisberger-led team. Two of the last three seasons the Steelers knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs.
The Ravens crushed the Steelers in every way possible -- on offense, defense and special teams. The Ravens' new offensive line? Baltimore rushed for 170 yards and Flacco threw three TDs and was sacked just once. On defense, Terrell Suggs (three sacks) made Roethlisberger his personal tackling dummy.
This isn't going to sit well in Pittsburgh. The rematch is Nov. 6.
Last surviving member of Russian hockey team in plane crash dies
Alexander Galimov, 26, died of the severe burns that covered 90% of his body, officials said. He had been treated at the Vishnevsky Hospital, whose burn unit is considered to be one of the best in Russia.
Wednesday's crash of a chartered Yak-42 jet outside the western city of Yaroslavl claimed the lives of 37 players, coaches and staff of the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv team and 44 people overall. Flight crew member Alexander Sizov, now the lone survivor, has been moved out of intensive care and into a general ward, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Monday.
Galimov was a native of Yaroslavl who once played in its youth program. Fans had chanted “Galimov, live for the whole team!” at rallies following the crash.
“All of Yaroslavl, all of the country, all of the world followed the doctors' words, believing, hoping, praying that he would defeat death and remain with us,” Yaroslavl Gov. Sergei Vakhrukov said.
Vakhrukov added of Galimov: “He carried the team spirit of Lokomotiv and through his indomitable character often reversed the course of the most difficult games."
RELATED:
Notable athletes who have died in plane crashes
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-- Chuck Schilken
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Romo Admits It Was His Fault
Sometimes a quarterback points the finger at himself to shield a teammate from criticism. It can be part of leadership.
And sometimes the quarterback is simply telling the truth.
So let’s give the Cowboys’ Tony Romo credit for honesty. He couldn’t be assigned much credit for anything else in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Jets on Sunday.
“Really this game just came down to one or two plays,” Romo said. “Those plays were plays that I gave them the ball.”
First he fumbled on a third-down dive at the Jets’ goal line. Then came what Steve Politi of The Star-Ledger called Romo’s masterpiece of stupidy.
Peter King of Sports Illustrated described the game as a total, absolute, utter debacle for Romo:
With a minute to go and the score tied, only the Lord knows what Romo was looking at. He badly underthrew Dez Bryant, and the interception into the waiting arms of Darrelle Revis led to the winning field goal.
Romo and Bryant could be seen discussing the route after the interception, and it made you think that Romo was expecting Bryant to come back for the ball. But Romo set things straight after the game. And the postgame quotations from the coaches indicated that a zone coverage by the Jets’ secondary, disguised as man-to-man, tripped him up.
Dez Bryant said after the game that he had run his route correctly.
“We wanted to get in a formation and a protection that we felt could block up some of their pressure and give Tony a chance to work the outside the receivers,” Jason Garrett said. “It looked like they went to what we call (cover) 2-man, played up underneath it, and I don’t know if Tony was fooled by it a little bit, but unfortunately we made that turnover and gave them a chance to win the ballgame.”
Jets Coach Rex Ryan said: “Mike Pettine might have had the call of the day. We have this play called ‘Jet Mike Mix’ that we call, and we’d been getting a lot of one-on-one’s on the outside. We wanted them to think it was one-on-one, but we actually had help on top. Revis was able to undercut it and get the interception.”
It might have also been questonable for Romo to focus on Bryant in the first place. Bryant sustained a quad injury earlier in the game on a punt return, and was also hobbled by cramps.
“I cost us the football game tonight,” Romo said. “That’s frustrating. It’s disappointing to work very hard to make sure that you’re put in those positions to win the game, and it’s hard to swallow a game like that. I’ve got to be better. That’s the bottom line.”
Extra point There has always been the feeling that if Romo could eliminate dunderhead plays late in games, he could be considered an elite quarterback (and lead Dallas to a title). Romo fans and Dallas fans have been waiting for that to happen, for experience to kick in. Instead, they keep getting kicked in the teeth. Is there still a chance that Romo can mature into a champion? Or is what you see what you get?
Cam Newton: Is he the next Peyton Manning?
Cam Newton and Peyton Manning were both No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft. For most people, the comparisons stopped there because Manning has become one of the best quarterbacks the league has ever seen and Newton has been dismissed by many as a bust before ever taking a regular-season snap.
But after just one game, the brand-new Carolina Panthers quarterback is being mentioned in the same breath as the veteran Indianapolis Colts QB -- and in a very positive way.
Sunday was the first time Manning did not start since his first game as a rookie in 1998, when he set a record by throwing for 302 yards in his NFL debut.
Sunday was also the day that Manning's record was broken -- by Newton, who obliterated it with 422 yards in the Panthers' 28-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Overall, Newton completed 24 of 37 passes with two touchdowns and one interception -- way better than Manning's numbers in his debut (21 of 37, 302 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions).
Obviously it's just a coincidence that Newton burst onto the scene the same day the injured Manning was forced to become a spectator. And, of course, who knows how the Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn will fare once NFL teams get some video on him.
But still, it was a quite a start for a guy who had so many doubters coming in.
"He was everything everybody didn't expect him to be," said Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who caught eight of Newton's passes, including both touchdowns. "He was on point, he made some great runs, he made some great reads, made some fantastic throws. He made some throws out there that, honestly, as a receiver, it made it easy to catch them.”
ALSO:
NFL Week 1: What was the biggest surprise?
Tony Romo getting bashed after Dallas Cowboys' loss to N.Y. Jets
-- Chuck Schilken
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photo: Cam Newton. Credit: Matt York / Associated Press
London 2012 Olympics: Games fails to provide benefit to sports clubs
A key body of sports clubs around the country has called on the Government to implement small, immediate tax breaks because the impact of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has failed to filter down to the grass roots.
While sports clubs around the country should be harnessing the drive and inspiration of a home Olympic Games, a recent survey shows the opposite is true, with the vast majority of sports clubs not realising any kind of Games opportunity, let alone one to expand and nurture a new generation of sporting youth.
Survey results of 2000 sports clubs conducted by the Sport and Recreation Alliance shows a surprising 84 per cent of clubs do not expect any benefit from London hosting the Games. It appears that only a small pocket of clubs, some of which are based in London and receiving some of the Mayor of London's £15 million sporting facilities and sports participation grants, are realising any Olympic Games-related benefits.
Chief executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, Tim Lamb, said that "the results do not come as a surprise" and grass roots sports officials say the reason is simple: a distinct lack of volunteers and the lack of a lasting legacy from many of the temporary, and some of the permanent Games venues.
"We are disappointed that 84 per cent of clubs do not see the Olympic and Paralympic Games as an opportunity," Lamb said.
"However, this does not come as a surprise. We've been highlighting just how vital legacy is to the future of sports clubs. Despite this discouraging news, the Alliance is focusing on practical ways to help clubs."
Lamb said the Government should allow community amateur sports clubs the ability to claim Gift Aid on the subscriptions paid to them by junior members. He said this would be a simple way to keep money in community sport, was cheap and put sports clubs on a par with other organisations.
"This is a simple change, which would keep money in community sport without costing much," he said.
"It could save hundreds of clubs from the risk of closure and enable the country to build a sporting legacy."
Graham Hall, an athletics coach at the New Marske Harriers athletics club in Cleveland, said his club had a good base of 250 members but was struggling to attract volunteers to coach and take on administrative tasks. He said the club had a core group of 10 volunteers, with another 20 available to help host events but this was "the thin blue line".
"At this stage we have discussed putting new members on a waiting list unless they can bring a parent along to help," Hall said.
He said the problem wasn't so much the inspiration of the Olympics – which had resulted in the members training harder and being motivated by the Games – but rather attracting people to help with the monitoring, checks and administration.
"What we are doing (volunteering) to get away from work suddenly looks a lot like work," he said, referring to Key Performance Indicators required with grant monies.
Neal Underwood, the chairman of the Sharks Canoe club in Middlesex said the club had no direct benefits from the Games and didn't expect any. He said the permanent whitewater facility at Lea Valley was to turn into a tourism attraction after the Games with rental rates so high (£400 an hour) that it was prohibitive for training youngsters.
"The Olympic money is generating around the elite athletes but it doesn't filter down to the youngsters or to help the youngsters, it seems that there is no strategic overall plan that links the elite and grass roots," he said.
NFL Week 1: What was the biggest surprise?
Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss the most surprising aspects of a very entertaining first week of the NFL season. Check back throughout the day for more responses and weigh in with comments of your own.
Ron Fritz, Baltimore Sun
Without question, the biggest surprise of the first week was the Baltimore Ravens' beatdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-7. The Ravens forced seven turnovers, a team record, and took away the Steelers' will at every turn.
It was a stunning victory. Yes, the Ravens were at home and were slight favorites, but a Joe Flacco-led team had never beaten a Ben Roethlisberger-led team. Two of the last three seasons the Steelers knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs.
The Ravens crushed the Steelers in every way possible -- on offense, defense and special teams. The Ravens' new offensive line? Baltimore rushed for 170 yards and Flacco threw three TDs and was sacked just once. On defense, Terrell Suggs (three sacks) made Roethlisberger his personal tackling dummy.
This isn't going to sit well in Pittsburgh. The rematch is Nov. 6.
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It's a long way from penthouse to basement in NFL
Raiders head back to Denver looking to run it up again
T.J. Simers: It's the National Football League, and it's a ripoff
Photo: Members of the Baltimore Ravens celebrate an interception of a pass by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, kneeling at right. Credit: Nick Wass / Associated Press
Rugby World Cup 2011: And the winner of sports gear and products is…
Congratulations to tinribs, who was a total of only 10 points out across the two score predictions. Tinribs called England to win by 21-9 and SA to defeat Wales by 17-14. Good work!
We'll be in touch to arrange delivery of your prize of Maximuscle gear and products.
Honourable mentions go to leveller and Tommy Pea (a total of 13 points adrift), redrose101 (15), AuntieMavis (16) and nikh23 (18).
This blog is supported by Maximuscle, the sports nutrition choice of Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh team. For more information on how Maximuscle is the Team Behind the Team go to www.maximuscle.com/tbtt
N.F.L. Week 1 Quick Hits: Colts Exposed
So much for the lockout giving us an opening weekend marred by penalties, sloppy play, overwhelmed rookies and injuries. It was a fairly clean Week 1. We’ll soon review the film and get a clearer picture. In the meantime, here’s something to take away from each of Sunday’s games. (Did you see something you’d like to share? Put it in the comments section.)
Texans 34, Colts 7
It’s not just Peyton Manning’s brilliant quarterbacking that the Colts will miss – it’s the weaknesses he masked. Without No. 18, Indy’s undersize and mostly unathletic offensive line becomes exposed (hence Kerry Collins taking three sacks and losing two fumbles at Houston). The inadequate offensive line makes for a lethargic rushing attack, which wasn’t a problem until we discovered Sunday that the Colts’ wide receivers now need to get actual separation in order to catch passes.
With the offense diminished, Indianapolis’s defense, which is small and built on speed, no longer has the luxury of resting up during multiple long drives or playing with a lead. Thus, the D becomes reactive, which it’s not built to be.
All of these issues have long existed in Indianapolis. Sunday was just the first time in 209 regular-season games that they were fully exposed.
Bears 30, Falcons 13
The Bears may want to give Matt Forte the new contract he desires sooner than later. Forte, a fourth-year running back, rushed for 68 yards and turned five catches into 90 yards (including a 56-yard touchdown) in Chicago’s route of the trendy N.F.C. Super Bowl sleeper pick. They weren’t cheap yards, either. Forte showed drastically improved lateral quickness and agility, and he’s always been a smooth, patient runner.
Bengals 27, Browns 17
It came in a losing effort, but worth noting was the stellar performance of Browns second-year cornerback Joe Haden. He seems to be the A.F.C.’s next superstar. The No. 7 overall pick from a year ago, he shut out No. 4 overall pick A.J. Green (not counting the 44-yard touchdown that Green scored after the Bengals snapped the ball when the Browns’ D was still milling about in a huddle). Haden has rare agility; he changes directions like a fish, even out of a backpedal.
Bills 41, Chiefs 7
With the bandwagon in Houston now full, a lot of fans will rush to another bandwagon in Western New York. The Bills brought back more starters than any other team in football this season; perhaps that’s created early season continuity. It’ll be interesting to see what the film reveals from this game.
In the meantime, fantasy owners, take note: the dependable veteran Fred Jackson remains the featured ball carrier in Chan Gailey’s offense. Jackson posted 112 yards on 20 carries and showed the between-the-tackles timing and burst that Buffalo is apparently still waiting to see from last year’s first-round pick, C.J. Spiller.
Eagles 31, Rams 13
The headlines are saying this alleged Dream Team lived up to the hype in Week 1. Yes, the Eagles played well, particularly on defense, where their stifling secondary and revamped front line made Sam Bradford look like a rookie all over again. But you have to be at least a wee bit concerned about Michael Vick and the offense completing 44 percent through the air. Vick’s otherworldly athleticism saved the day; each of his 98 rushing yards seemed breathtaking. But Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg can’t design their offense around Vick constantly dropping back 9 or 11 steps and relocating his pocket after his first and second read are covered. Philly will need to get sharper before facing Atlanta on Sunday night.
Lions 27, Bucs 20
It’s interesting that the Bucs did not strive for more balance offensively (46 pass attempts vs. 16 rush attempts). True, you want to attack Detroit’s young safeties and iffy cornerbacks. But even with a playmaker as physically gifted as Josh Freeman, the Bucs don’t have the receiving firepower to win with a strict aerial approach. Without seeing the film, at first blush, it seems telling that LeGarrette Blount was a nonfactor in this game (five carries, 15 yards). Even in short-yardage situations, the 247-pound Blount was bypassed. Perhaps the Bucs’ decision-makers are now admitting what they probably knew in the back of their minds last season: they don’t have a true power runner on the roster.
Jaguars 16, Titans 14
The smartest guy in the room loves to remind everyone that, “It’s not time of possession that counts, it’s what you DO with possession!” This is true, although in the Titans’ case, time of possession was a real issue in 2010. It’s hard to score if you don’t have the ball.
Amazingly, even with a new quarterback and updated offensive system, time of possession was once again a major problem for the Titans on Sunday. They ran 49 plays; Jacksonville ran 73. Part of the discrepancy was due to Chris Johnson, who did not report to the team until receiving a new contract on Sept. 1, perhaps leaving himself ill-prepared for full-throttle action. Johnson had nine carries for 24 yards.
Ravens 35, Steelers 7
Why – WHY – did the N.F.L. burn this game in Week 1? Why not save the best rivalry in football for a later date? We didn’t need a marquee matchup at 1 p.m. on Sunday in Week 1. It was the first full day of the new season – that alone is exciting enough to make viewers watch.
Watching this game was like eating desert before dinner. Naturally, nothing tasted as good as usual. The Steelers actually did show up for this one – but they were kicked in the teeth upon arrival. Critics will focus on Pittsburgh’s seven turnovers. But most of those turnovers derived not from sloppy mistakes but from the Ravens overwhelming Ben Roethlisberger and his offensive line. Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata capitalized on mismatches all afternoon (left tackle Jonathan Scott doesn’t begin to have strong or quick enough legs to handle Suggs, and right guard Doug Legursky would have trouble containing Ngata even if Ngata had to play blindfolded and wasn’t allowed out of his stance until two seconds after the snap). The Ravens’ secondary took advantage of its front seven’s physicality and assumed a fast, attack-oriented approach to coverage.
More startling was Baltimore’s dismantling of the Pittsburgh defense. Baltimore’s retooled offensive line, which struggled to generate power a year ago, consistently allowed Ray Rice to detonate his explosiveness at the second level of the Steeler defense (Rice is punishing when he arrives in the open field). Even overweight softy left tackle Bryant McKinnie played well. We rarely see the Steelers bullied in the trenches. They have allowed a 100-yard rusher only twice in the last 51 games. Both times, the rusher was Rice.
Cardinals 28, Panthers 21
Maybe never has a fan base come away from a Week 1 loss with so many smiles on its collective face. The people in Carolina will be going bonkers for the next six days now that Cam Newton is the first player in N.F.L. history to throw for over 400 yards in his N.F.L. debut. It was a legitimate 400 yards, too (though a few Cardinals coverage breakdowns, such as the one that led to Steve Smith’s 77-yard touchdown in the first quarter, contributed).
Newton often made new Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton pay for his aggressive blitz packages, but Newton seemed to struggle a bit when he had to hang in the pocket and work through his progressions. Don’t be surprised if teams eventually decide to drop back into coverage against Newton and force him to be a reader rather than reactor. Aside from Smith, the Panthers have no dynamic receiving threats outside, which should make opposing defensive coordinators more comfortable with using slow-developing coverage-based schemes.
Chargers 24, Vikings 17
Does a victory over the Vikings mean the Chargers now get first dibs on moving to Los Angeles? September wins are rare in San Diego; this club has gone 2-4 out of the gate every year since Norv Turner arrived in 2007. Special teams meltdowns sparked last season’s 2-4 start. So you can excuse A.J. Smith or Dean Spanos (or anyone associated with the organization) if they blew a gasket after Percy Harvin’s opening kickoff touchdown return.
Later, a cluster of uncharacteristic red-zone mistakes from Philip Rivers seemed to further doom the Chargers. But once Rivers decided he could patiently defeat Minnesota’s two-deep safety coverages with dump-down passes to Mike Tolbert (nine catches, 58 yards and two scores), it was just a matter of allowing San Diego’s fast 3-4 defense to do its thing against Minnesota’s lackluster passing attack.
49ers 33, Seahawks 17
Jim Harbaugh’s debut came against his old Pac-10 nemesis, Pete Carroll. Carroll can’t accuse the brash first-year coach of running up the score this time – San Francisco’s final two touchdowns came off Ted Ginn returns. You can bet that at some point on Sunday night, Cam Cameron was watching highlights when he turned to his wife and said: “Like I’ve told you a million times, the Miami fans who booed us back on Draft Day were idiots. I mean, when’s the last time Brady Quinn scored back-to-back return touchdowns?”
Redskins 28, Giants 14
Even with one of his patented sack-fumble giveaways in the fourth quarter, Rex Grossman played an outstanding game Sunday. The Redskins’ newly appointed starting quarterback was poised in the pocket and showed good accuracy on throws he made with defenders closing in on him. Grossman was particularly adept between the numbers, which played into tight end Fred Davis’s having his first career 100-yard game.
Jets 27, Cowboys 24
We all saw what happened in this game (instant classic, by the way). We have all season to analyze these clubs; after all, at least one of them figures to be on national television each week. So for now, let’s just harp on what might be one of the more surprising N.F.L. factoids: this was the first time in history that the Cowboys lost a game after leading by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter. Given all the shots we’ve seen of Tony Romo sauntering off the field in his patented pose (head titled down, shoulders slumped, both sides of the chinstrap unbuckled), you would have guessed the Cowboys had blown at least a few two-touchdown fourth quarter leads in the past six years, no?
Andy Benoit is the founder of NFLTouchdown.com and an analyst for CBSsports.com. He can be reached at andy.benoit@NFLtouchdown.com or @Andy_Benoit.
N.F.L. Injury Report: Rams Lead Way in Licking Wounds
The Jets won, the Giants lost and the Colts just wish it was that simple.
But several other teams emerged from Week 1 with bigger concerns than just a blotch on their record.
The Rams’ optimism was sky high after the season’s first play, which their star running back Steven Jackson used to race 47 yards for a touchdown. But it dimmed dramatically when Jackson soon retired to the locker room with a thigh injury; he came in for one more carry and then called it a day. He soon had plenty of company: quarterback Sam Bradford banged his right index finger on a helmet in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game, and the Rams also lost their leading receiver from last season, Danny Amendola (dislocated elbow); their right tackle, Jason Smith (high ankle sprain); and the top cornerback Ron Bartell (shoulder stinger). Amendola and Smith appear to have the most serious injuries, and Jackson will have an M.R.I. on Monday. Bradford said he hoped he could play against the Giants next Monday night, but that is not certain when Coach Steve Spagnuolo described his injury as “some kind of nerve issue.”
The Chargers lost their kicker, Nate Kaeding, on the opening kickoff against the Vikings and then saw defensive end Luis Castillo carted off in the second half. Both injuries appear to be serious: Kaeding is believed to have a torn A.C.L., and Castillo a broken leg. The good news for San Diego fans? Mike Tolbert, who scored three touchdowns before hobbling to the sideline and collapsing, has a leg injury but is not expected to miss any significant time, reports Jason La Canfora of NFL.com. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with Philip Rivers’s right arm.
The Saints’ passing game, which looked great in Thursday night’s loss to the Packers in Green Bay, took a big hit when Marques Colston broke his collarbone in that game. The injury and the absence of Lance Moore, who missed that game with a groin injury and is still not certain to play in Week 2, leave quarterback Drew Brees without his two top receivers from last year. But despite at least one published report to the contrary, the Saints are not panicking: they said they had not contacted the agent for Randy Moss.
The Texans pummelled the Colts, but will be without receiver Kevin Walter for several months with what is thought to be a broken shoulder. Houston also lost running back Derrick Ward (ankle) in the game, which it played without its top back, Arian Foster, who sat out with a hamstring problem.
The Bengals’ rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton, was held out of the second half of his first start after a hard hit from the Browns’ Phil Taylor caused him to lose feeling in his wrist. Dalton, who was 10 of 15 for 81 yards and a touchdown, said he planned to play next week, even though his explanation for that rationale seemed to raise more questions: “If I could have gripped the ball I would have stayed in the game.”
Too bad the Colts’ coaches didn’t pull Kerry Collins when he proved unable to grip it either.
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