NFL Week 2 Review/Week 3 Preview: Manziel Mania Pt. II

We're through two weeks of the 2015 NFL season, and there is already much to discuss. But let's start with the league's most talked about backup quarterback, Johnny Manziel. He started for the first time this season last week for the concussed Josh McCown, and he played pretty well and showed improvement in a 28-14 win over Tennessee. He didn't throw much, but he looked much better and completed two long touchdown passes to Travis Benjamin. However, despite showing promise last Sunday, coach Mike Pettine said McCown, who is now cleared to play, will start this Sunday. While many are calling Pettine dumb for the decision, it isn't really that ridiculous. McCown was brought in to be the starter and kept the job throughout training camp and the preseason, and he was driving the offense down the field in the first game before suffering a concussion trying to dive into the endzone. Johnny is closer to being starting quarterback material, but spending some more time sitting behind the veteran won't hurt. And the Browns don't lean on the passing game anyway.

Video of the Week

I might not do Video of the Week every week, but for the second straight week, there is a video I want to show you. This week, it's Madden 16's promotional movie preview for Madden: The Movie, featuring multiple NFL stars. When it came out in August, I didn't watch the whole movie preview. But I did on Sunday, and it made me regret not watching it sooner. It was hilariously awesome and amazing, and it made me wish that this was an actual movie. Just watch it.

Week 2 Review

Week 2 Observations
This week I've decided to take a brief look at three teams off to somewhat surprising 0-2 starts.
1. Eagles
Chip Kelly had a solid offense, but still decided to wheel-and-deal this offseason, trading star running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso, who was coming back from a torn ACL, trading quarterback Nick Foles to St. Louis for oft-injured quarterback Sam Bradford, signing 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray, and drafting speedy USC receiver Nelson Agholor. His moves haven't really worked out so far. Alonso played well in Week 1 but then got injured again and may be out for the rest of the season. The offense has sputtered thus far. Bradford hasn't looked good and has constantly been under pressure, throwing two picks in each of the first two games. Murray has NINE TOTAL RUSH YARDS. And the receivers, other than Jordan Matthews, have been quiet. The line has also struggled. The Eagles need to figure it out, and Bradford needs to improve, or he may lose his job.
2. Colts
The Colts also made some big moves in the offseason, signing veteran running back Frank Gore and veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson to pair with quarterback Andrew Luck and receiver T.Y. Hilton. They were heralded as having potentially the best offense in the NFL. They're still waiting for that offense to show up. They've scored a total of 21 points the first two weeks, as Luck has not looked like an elite quarterback, Gore hasn't done much aside from fumbling on the one yard line last week, and even reliable veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri has missed both field goals he has attempted. The defense was never a strength, so the talented offense will need to step it up. Luckily, a weak division allows the Colts to rebound.
3. Seahawks
The defending Super Bowl runners-up have lost the first two games, not being able to stop the Rams or Packers. They just haven't been able to keep up. Seattle is probably in the least trouble of these three teams, though, since those two teams are good and star safety Kam Chancellor has ended his holdout. The Seahawks are still a very good team and have 14 more games to play, so Hawks fans need not panic too much.

Game of the Week
Broncos 31, Chiefs 24
Last week's Thursday night game was wild and crazy. Peyton Manning and the Broncos looked stagnant for most of the first half, falling behind 14-0. But just before halftime, Manning engineered two consecutive touchdown drives to tie it up. In the second half, the teams went back-and-forth until the end. Kansas City scored a touchdown with just over two minutes to play to take the lead, but then Manning threw a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders with 36 seconds left to tie the game at 24. The Chiefs got the ball back and proceeded to run out the clock, content with taking the game to overtime. But running back Jamaal Charles fumbled the ball and it was scooped up and taken into the endzone by cornerback Bradley Roby with no time left on the clock. Charles ran for 125 yards and a touchdown, but also had two key fumbles, including the game-losing one.

Top Performances
Browns WR/PR Travis Benjamin vs. Tennessee: 3 catches, 115 yards, 3 TD; 154 punt return yards, 1 TD
Benjamin showed he's the most explosive player on the Browns, teaming up with Johnny Manziel once (and twice) again for a long touchdown pass, and scoring a touchdown on 78-yard punt return.
Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams vs. San Francisco: 20 carries, 77 yards, 3 TD
Williams ran all over the Niners defense in a 43-18 drubbing, as did the rest of the Steelers offense. As a reward for his strong performance, he gets demoted back to second-string with Le'Veon Bell back from suspension this week.
Patriots QB Tom Brady vs. Buffalo: 38-59, 466 yards, 3 TD
Brady aired it out Sunday and tore up the Bills defense. having his way and spreading the ball around (four different players had at least 87 yards receiving) in a game that was a blowout until late.

Play of the Week
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap3000000534279/Can-t-Miss-Play-Benjamin-goes-coast-to-coast
Of course my play of the week is Travis Benjamin's 78-yard punt return for a touchdown. My favorite part is when the punter gets plowed right in front of him and Benjamin just hops over him.

Week 3 Preview

Quick Picks (Home team listed last)
Last Week: 5-11
Overall: 13-18

Redskins 24, Giants 34 (Thursday, 8:25 PM, CBS/NFL)
Player of the Game: WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Raiders 21, Browns 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: CB Joe Haden
Falcons 28, Cowboys 27 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: WR Julio Jones
Colts 21, Titans 17 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: WR T.Y. Hilton
Bengals 28, Ravens 21 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: WR A.J. Green
Jaguars 28, Patriots 34 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: TE Rob Gronkowski
Saints 17, Panthers 14 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: RB Mark Ingram
Eagles 27, Jets 21 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: WR Jordan Matthews
Buccaneers 28, Texans 17 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: WR Vincent Jackson
Chargers 28, Vikings 23 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: QB Phillip Rivers
Steelers 21, Rams 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: DT Aaron Donald
49ers 21, Cardinals 17 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: LB Navarro Bowman
Bills 28, Dolphins 24 (Sunday, 4:25 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: QB Tyrod Taylor
Bears 21, Seahawks 24 (Sunday, 4:25 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: DT Michael Bennett
Broncos 31, Lions 21 (Sunday, 8:30 PM, NBC)
Player of the Game: QB Peyton Manning
Chiefs 24, Packers 31 (Monday, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Player of the Game: QB Aaron Rodgers

Game to Watch
Bills @ Dolphins
These two 1-1 teams square off in a battle of two underrated quarterbacks (Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor and Miami's Ryan Tannehill). Both teams also have very talented defensive lines that may put pressure on the two quarterbacks. They are both coming off losses last week. The Bills almost came back and beat New England but fell 40-32, while the Dolphins lost 23-20 to Jacksonville on a game-winning field goal in the final minute.

Fantasy Sleepers and Busts
Sleepers
Saints RB Mark Ingram vs. Carolina
It looks like Saints quarterback Drew Brees will start Sunday, but he's banged up with a shoulder injury. That means New Orleans might lean more on Ingram, who hasn't started the season exceptionally strong, although he had 98 yards receiving the first week and a rushing touchdown last week. 
Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders vs. Detroit
Emmanuel Sanders has been Peyton Manning's favorite option so far this year. Demaryius Thomas has more yards, but Sanders had been targeted one more time and has two touchdowns to Thomas's zero. The Lions also don't have a strong defense.
Cardinals RB David Johnson vs. San Francisco
All Johnson does when he touches the ball is score. He had just one touch in Week 1, and it was a 55-yard touchdown catch. Last week, the rookie from Northern Iowa had six touches, one of those being a rushing touchdown. Even though Chris Johnson is technically the starter in Andre Ellington's absence, look for David Johnson to get more touchdowns touches against a Niners defense that looked good vs. A.P. but awful vs. DeAngelo Williams.
Busts
Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Carolina
See Ingram, Mark.
Bengals RB Giovani Bernard vs. Baltimore
After Jeremy Hill took his job last year, Bernard kind of faded from fantasy relevance. He re-emerged last week, carrying the ball 20 times for 123 yards in a 24-19 win over San Diego. This was largely because Hill fumbled the ball twice. It may have been an anomaly, since Hill will get another chance and, barring another two-fumble game, will receive the bulk of the carries again.
Cardinals WR Larry Fitsgerald vs. San Francisco
Larry had a game last week, catching three touchdown passes and totaling 112 yards in a 48-23 win in Chicago. It was a vintage Larry Fitsgerald game. But don't expect an encore performance this week. The stats in recent games before last week show that it was an outlier.

CFB Week 3 Review/Week 4 Preview: Bama Down

Three weeks into the 2015 college football season, at least half of the top four teams have already changed. One week after Oregon lost to Michigan State, #2 Alabama fell to Ole Miss. More big games and playoff-shaping upsets are sure to come, and now I can finally watch college football all day Saturday (I only work on Tuesdays now, instead of Saturdays). Let's get started.

Week 3 Review

Week 3 Observations

1. Heavyweights Struggle

Aside from Alabama, who lost to Ole Miss 43-37 Saturday night, #10 UCLA barely got by an underrated BYU team 24-23, #6 USC was upset by rival Stanford at home 41-31, and #1 Ohio State only beat Northern Illinois 20-13 as both quarterbacks struggled. Which brings me to my next observation...

2. Ohio State's Offensive Struggles

The best team in the nation has not performed well offensively since they showed the potential to be an explosive, multidimensional offense in their first game vs. Virginia Tech. Since then, Braxton Miller has been quiet and neither quarterback has proven himself to be the clear-cut starter. Urban Meyer said Cardale Jones will start this week against Western Michigan, but J.T. Barrett will come in if Jones doesn't perform well. Luckily, the defense picked up the slack last week and Ezekiel Elliott had another 100 yard game. The offense should round into form despite a rocky couple of weeks.

3. The Next Aaron Rodgers?

Cal junior quarterback has been heralded as one of the best in the nation under center this year, seemingly coming out of nowhere (or maybe I just wasn't paying attention). I have even heard that he might be better than Aaron Rodgers was when he was at Cal. Goff was 27 of 37 for 268 yards and three touchdowns in a wild win at Texas last week, 45-44. On the season, he has 898 yards, 9 touchdowns, and two interceptions. It's only Week 4, and I haven't seen Goff yet, but he'll be someone to keep an eye on as the season goes along.

Upset of the Week
Stanford 41, #6 USC 31
My upset pick last week, Stanford went to Pasadena and played tough, physical football to beat the rival Trojans. Quarterback Kevin Hogan was 18 of 23 for 279 yards and two touchdowns, 153 of those yards and one of those touchdowns to receiver JuJu Smith-Shuster (what a name), and running back Christian McCaffrey ran for 115 yards on 26 carries.

Playoff Picks After Week 3
1. Ohio State
Despite an underwhelming victory over Northern Illinois, the Buckeyes still have the most talent of any team in the country and a winnable road ahead. As I said before, their loaded offense will probably shrug off the poor game last week, and the defense is already elite (they have as many defensive touchdowns (one) as their opponents have total touchdowns the past two weeks). Next Game: Western Michigan, Sat., 3:30 PM
2. Michigan State
The Big Ten currently rules my top two. The Spartans were very impressive in a win over Oregon two weeks ago, and they didn't struggle too much with Air Force last Saturday (they won 35-21). Their offense is firing on all cylinders right now. Next Game: Central Michigan, Sat., Noon
3. TCU 
The Horned Frogs remain number three after pulling away from SMU 56-37 Saturday night. As they enter conference play, they will be tested more after cruising through the last two games (they got by Minnesota in a close one in Week 1). Next Game: @ Texas Tech, Sat., 4:45 PM
4. Notre Dame
Number four is always the toughest spot to fill. There are many teams who could make a case for this spot, including Ole Miss, who beat the (alleged) best team in the SEC. But I went with the Irish, who are making a strong case for the playoff despite not having starting quarterback Malik Zaire. Looking at their wins so far, Texas and Virginia were more like tasty muffins than cupcakes, and #14 Georgia Tech was a quality foe. Next Game: Massachusetts, Sat., 3:30 PM 

Play of the Week

This play easily could have gone horribly wrong, but instead it ended up being one of the defining moments of Ole Miss's statement win over Alabama. The snap was high, Chad Kelly had to corral it and heave it off his back foot as defenders came bearing down on him, it went off of Laquon Treadwell's hands and a defender's helmet, and Quincy Adeboyejo caught it on the run off the carom and ran for a touchdown. What a crazy play.

Week 4 Preview

Game of the Week
#9 UCLA @ #16 Arizona (Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)
One of two ranked matchups this week, both in the PAC-12 (the other being #18 Utah at #13 Oregon), these two dark horses for the PAC-12 title meet in Tuscon Saturday night. Both teams have strong offenses led by talented young quarterbacks. UCLA freshman Josh Rosen struggled against BYU last week (he threw three interceptions), but on the year, he has 680 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. Arizona sophomore Anu Solomon has played flawlessly (albeit against weak opponents), throwing for 778 yards, 10 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. My Pick: Arizona

Upset Special
Record: 2-0
Texas Tech over #3 TCU (@ Texas Tech, Sat., 4:45 PM)
I'm kind of going for broke here, but I don't feel as strongly about any other potential upsets. Tech's Air Raid offense has been in full effect so far this season, as they have scored 35, 69, and 59 in their three wins. SMU kept it reasonably close with TCU until late in the game last week, so the Red Raiders could pull off a shocker in Lubbock this week.

NFL Week 1 Review/Week 2 Preview: Reign of TError

Week 1 of the 2015 NFL season is in the books, and a lot of overreactions can be made based on the first week of the play. Some of those include "the Colts are going to finish last in their division", "Marcus Mariota will win MVP", "Peyton Manning has nothing left", "the Seahawks won't make it back to the playoffs", and "the 49ers won't lose a game". Those may or may not be true, but it's a little early to speculate. Some more reasonable reactions based on the first week may include "the Browns are still the Browns" and "the Raiders are still the Raiders". Let's take a look back at the action from Week 1.

Before I get started, I just want to share this little video Nike put out. I think it's wonderful. It's apparently based on the toga scene from Animal House (a movie I know about but have never seen), and there are a lot of cameos from well-known Oregon alumni and supporters. Please just watch it.

Week 1 Review

Week 1 Observations
1. Tight End Revolution
Tight ends dominated last weekend's action, showing that rumors of the impending death of the tight end has been greatly exaggerated. It started Thursday night, when Pittsburgh decided not to cover Rob Gronkowski, and Gronk made them pay dearly for it, scoring three touchdowns with 94 yards receiving in a 28-21 New England victory. The Tight End ambush continued on Sunday. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had 106 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 Kansas City win over Houston. St. Louis's Jared Cook was the leading receiver (5 catches, 85 yards) in the Rams' 34-31 overtime victory over Seattle. My man Austin Seferian-Jenkins went off in Tampa's 42-14 loss to Tennessee, catching five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Arizona tight end Darren Fells had 82 yards and a touchdown in a 31-19 win over New Orleans. Cincinnati tight end Tyler Eifert had 104 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-13 blowout of Oakland. Jason Witten had 60 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning one, in Dallas's 27-26 win over the Giants Sunday night. Tight end is clearly a playmaking position in the NFL.
2. Key Injuries
Many big-name players got injured Sunday (with varying degrees of severity), including Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (PCL sprain), Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton (knee bruise), Panthers linebacker Luke Keuchly (concussion), Jets corner Antonio Cromartie (knee sprain), Browns quarterback Josh McCown (concussion), Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (bruised thumb), 49ers running back Reggie Bush (calf strain), Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs (torn Achilles), who's out for the season, and Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (broken foot), who could be out for up to 12 weeks.
3. First Week Sloppiness
The first week of the season looked a little sloppy at times. There were tons of penalties, shaky offensive line play, wide receiver drops, turnovers, and poor special teams play. A total of 11 field goals were missed, and due to the new extra point rule (ball moved back to 15), four missed PATs. Teams should cut down on the sloppiness as the season goes along.

Top Games
Rams 34, Seahawks 31, OT
It's always a great battle when these two teams get together, especially on defense and special teams. Although 65 points were scored, that was still the case Sunday. Seattle corner Cary Williams stripped Rams quarterback Nick Foles and returned it for a touchdown, Seahawks rookie return man Tyler Lockett had a 57-yard punt return for a touchdown, and Rams return man Tavon Audtin had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. The game went into overtime, where Rams kicker Greg Zurlien kicked a 37-yard field goal and the Rams defense won it by stopping Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.
Cowboys 27, Giants 26
Just like Rams-Seahawks, most of the time these two teams meet, it's appointment viewing (and usually on Sunday night). This was no different. It was about defense early, as New York scored two touchdowns off turnovers. But the Cowboys came back (aided in part by a phantom pass interference call on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie), and the Giants blew their opportunity to put it away with under two minutes to play when Eli Manning threw an incomplete pass on third down (he also later said he told running back Rashad Jennings not to score on first and second down), stopping the clock and allowing Tony Romo to lead a game-winning touchdown drive.
Falcons 26, Eagles 24
These high-flying birds met on Monday Night Football, and it was a great game. The Eagles struggled early, frazzled by new Atlanta coach (and former Seattle defensive coordinator) Dan Quinn's aggressive defense. Interceptions were exchanged, but the Eagles couldn't cover Falcons receiver Julio Jones, who had nine catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Philadelphia got back in it and had a chance to take the lead down 26-24 late, but kicker Cody Parkey missed a 44-yard field goal on fourth and one. The Eagles defense stopped the Falcons, giving Sam Bradford and company one more shot, but a high pass went through the hands of receiver Jordan Matthews and was intercepted by Atlanta safety Ricardo Allen. Matthews put his face in his hands and sunk to the ground in heartbreak.

Top Performances
Titans QB Marcus Mariota vs. Tampa Bay: 13-16, 209 yards, 4 TD
In his NFL debut, Mariota outperformed the guy drafted ahead of him, Jameis Winston. He didn't throw much, but when he did, he was magnificent, only throwing three incompletions and passing for four touchdowns.
Falcons WR Julio Jones vs. Philadelphia: 9 catches, 141 yards, 2 TD
We've talked about Julio, who may be making a case for best receiver in the league, and may make me regret choosing Detroit's receiving corps over Atlanta's in my NFL preview piece.
49ers RB Carlos Hyde vs. Minnesota: 26 carries, 168 yards, 2 TD
The second-year back out of Ohio State literally took the opportunity and ran with it in his first start, pounding his way through the middle, outrunning defenders on the outside, and paying homage to former teammate Braxton Miller with a sick spin move.

Play of the Week
There were multiple plays that caught my attention last weekend, like Hyde's spin move (see above) and multiple one-handed catches, including one the Brown's Brian Hartline made on his knees, and a one-handed interception cornerback Bryce McCain of the Dolphins made. But this week's Play of the Week goes to another one-handed interception, made by Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso, that looks almost Odell Beckham-ish.

Week 2 Preview

Quick Picks: (Home team listed last)
Last Week: 8-7
Overall: 8-7

Broncos 28, Chiefs 21 (Thursday, 8:25 PM, CBS/NFL)
Player of the Game: WR Demaryius Thomas
Titans 21, Browns 17 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: DE Jurrell Casey
Texans 16, Panthers 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS) 
Player of the Game: RB Jonathan Stewart
49ers 24, Steelers 21 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: RB Carlos Hyde
Buccaneers 24, Saints 34 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: QB Drew Brees
Lions 27, Vikings 21 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: WR Calvin Johnson
Cardinals 24, Bears 23 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: FS Tyrann Mathieu
Patriots 31, Bills 34 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: RB LeSean McCoy
Chargers 28, Bengals 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: QB Phillip Rivers
Falcons 24, Giants 28 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Rams 34, Redskins 21 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: WR Tavon Austin
Dolphins 17, Jaguars 13 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: DE Cameron Wake
Ravens 42, Raiders 24 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: WR Steve Smith Sr.
Cowboys 28, Eagles 31 (Sunday, 4:25 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: WR Jordan Matthews
Seahawks 30, Packers 32 (Sunday, 8:30 PM, NBC)
Player of the Game: QB Aaron Rodgers
Jets 31, Colts 28 (Monday, 8:30 PM, ESPN)
Player of the Game: WR Brandon Marshall

Games to Watch
Broncos @ Chiefs
The top two teams in the AFC West go at it on Thursday Night Football. Both teams won last week, but while Alex Smith and Kansas City's offense played well against the Texans, Peyton Manning and the Denver offense struggled against Baltimore. Both teams did play exceptional defense in their opening games. The Broncos had two interceptions against Joe Flacco, one of them returned for a touchdown and the other in the endzone to seal the win. The Chiefs had five sacks and chased Brian Hoyer from the game in Houston.
Cowboys @ Eagles
The Cowboys are in another must-watch game as they face NFC East foe Philadelphia. Dallas pulled out a Week 1 win over the Giants thanks to some Tony Romo heroics (and some bad clock management by Eli Manning and the Giants), while the Eagles got off to a slow start against Atlanta and could not pull out a win, missing a field goal and throwing an interception late. Nonetheless, this will surely be an offensive slugfest.
Seahawks @ Packers
This week's Sunday Night Football game is a rematch of the "Fail Mary" game a couple of years ago, but more importantly, it's a rematch of last year's NFC Championship, where Green Bay blew multiple opportunities, allowing Seattle to come back and win in overtime on their way to the Super Bowl. The Pack took care of Chicago last week behind their lethal passing attack, while the Seahawks lost to St. Louis in overtime.

Fantasy Sleepers and Busts
Sleepers
Cowboys WR Terrance Williams vs. Philadelphia
With Dez Bryant out for an extended period of time with a broken foot, Williams now takes over as the Cowboys' number one receiver. He had five catches for 60 yards last week, and that was with Bryant healthy for most of the game. Plus, the Cowboys play Philly in what will probably to be a shootout.
Cardinals RB Chris Johnson vs. Chicago
Johnson hasn't been CJ2K in a long time, but he still has some speed and will get the bulk of the carries for Arizona with Andre Ellington out. He had 10 carries (for 37 yards) last week, when Ellington was active. Against the Bears, he'll be able to find some running room.
Buccaneers TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. New Orleans
ASJ broke out last week in a blowout loss to Tennessee, and although that was mostly in Garbage Time, he proved that he is a real threat. This week he goes up against a Saints defense that allowed 82 yards and a touchdown to Arizona tight end Darren Fells, who isn't as good as Seferian-Jenkins.
Busts
Patriots QB Tom Brady vs. Buffalo
Brady threw four touchdown passes last week against the Steelers, but this week he faces a stout Bills defense that held Andrew Luck to 243 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The intimidating Bills defense also gets defensive tackle Marcell Dareus back from suspension this week.
Redskins RB Alfred Morris vs. St. Louis
Morris was busy last week vs. the Dolphins, totaling 121 yards on 25 carries. But this week he has to battle a defense that held Marshawn Lynch to 73 yards on 18 carries. Morris also probably won't get that many carries this week, especially if the 'Skins are down big early.
Eagles RB DeMarco Murray vs. Dallas
Murray did not get off to a roaring start in Philadelphia, running for nine yards on eight carries (although he did have a touchdown) Monday against Atlanta. Dallas doesn't have a suffocating defense, but they did hold Dallas to 99 yards rushing Sunday night.

CFB Week 2 Review/Week 3 Preview: Heating Up

Week 2 of the college football season is usually when the action really heats up, There are more competitive games and more ranked matchups. Last week saw two ranked teams lose to unranked opponents, including #18 Arkansas to Toledo (couldn't handle that MAC speed!), and #6 Auburn almost lose to FCS opponent Jacksonville State (the Gamecocks, if you were curious). It saw two backup quarterbacks lead their teams to improbable victories (Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer vs. Virginia and BYU's Tanner Mangum vs. #20 Boise State). It saw the first top-ten battle of the season (Michigan State over Oregon), and it was a good one. It should only get better from here (which is good, since I missed most of the first two weeks' games due to work). This week, there are four ranked matchups and many more good games. Let's get started.
Week 1 Review
Week 2 Observations
1. Two Playoff Teams From Big Ten?
After a shaky Week 1 for the Big Ten, followed by a few SEC coaches complaining about Ohio State's schedule (those coaches' teams would go on to lose their Week 2 contests), the conference got a big boost from Michigan State's 31-28 victory over Oregon Saturday night, along with some argument for whether the Big Ten could get two teams in this year's playoff. If Ohio State runs the table and Michigan State's only loss is to the Buckeyes, both teams could conceivably get in. It's too early to know for sure, of course, but there is a strong possibility.
2. Rough Week for the SEC
After complaining about Ohio State's strength of schedule, Brett Bielema's Razorbacks lost to Toledo. Same thing with Dan Mullen and Mississippi State, who lost to LSU, as well as Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, who lost to Kentucky. Auburn, the second-best team in the SEC heading into the week, had to go into overtime against FCS opponent Jacksonville State (they won 27-20). The SEC looked a little shaky last week behind Alabama.
3. Sleepers in the Pac-12
Out west, there are some possible playoff contenders. #13 UCLA, led by freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, easily disposed of UNLV last week 37-3. Cody Kessler and #8 USC demolished Idaho 59-9. Nick Wilson rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns as #22 Arizona beat Nevada 40-22. Davonte Booker and #24 Utah beat rival Utah State 24-14.
Upset of the Week
Toledo 16, #18 Arkansas 12
This was an easy choice, as Toledo, out of the MAC, beat #18 Arkansas, out of the SEC, in the first game of the Rockets' season. Toledo quarterback Phillip Ely, who used to play in the SEC (he was a backup at Alabama), threw for 237 yards and a touchdown, and the Rocket defense held the Razorbacks to a touchdown and a field goal.
Playoff Picks After Week 2
1. Ohio State
The Buckeyes didn't cover the spread Saturday, but still easily shutout a decent Hawaii team 38-0. They don't have many daunting tasks ahead, as their next ranked opponent is Michigan State in November, but anything can happen. Next Game: Northern Illinois, Sat., 3:30 PM
2. Alabama
Like Ohio State, the Crimson Tide didn't cover the spread Saturday, but still dominated Middle Tennessee 37-10. They are clearly the best team in the SEC right now, but they have to go through the gauntlet that is the SEC West, starting this week. Next Game: #15 Ole Miss, Sat., 9:15 PM 
3. Michigan State
The Spartans vaulted into the top four with a big win over Oregon Saturday night, and should be able to stay there until the Ohio State game unless they really drop the ball, which is unlikely with a veteran quarterback, veteran coach, and good defense. Next Game: Air Force, Sat., 12:00 PM
4. TCU
TCU stays in my top four not because of what they did last Saturday (they destroyed Stephen F. Austin 70-7), but because they are the most talented of the teams vying for the last spot right now. Next Game: SMU, Sat., 8:00 PM
Play of the Week

This beautiful fake field goal that went for a touchdown from backup quarterback DeShone Kizer, who would go on to take over for the injured Malik Zaire and score the game-winning touchdown, to tight end Durham Smythe, who is now out for the season after getting surgery this week, helped Notre Dame beat Virginia 34-27.

Week 2 Preview
Game of the Week
#15 Ole Miss @ #2 Alabama, Sat., 9:15 PM, ESPN
There are a few good ranked matchups this week, including #14 Georgia Tech at #8 Notre Dame, #18 Auburn at #13 LSU, and #19 BYU at #10 UCLA, but this clash of SEC powers gets this week's spot. These two teams have dominated their first two opponents, with Ole Miss scoring 73 and 76 points, respectively, in their first two games.
Upset Special
Record: 1-0
Stanford over #6 USC (@ USC, Sat., 8:00 PM)
Stanford came into the season ranked but got upset by Northwestern the first week of the season.They came back to destroy Central Florida 31-7 last week. USC has talent and destroyed their first two opponents, but those opponents were Arkansas State and Idaho. This game is in Pasadena, but Stanford is always a tough team.

Week 1 NFL Preview

I'm back again this year with my weekly NFL preview and picks, but in a different format this time. This year, I plan to have "quick picks" of all the games, along with who I think will be the player of the game. I also plan to highlight three games to watch and three fantasy sleepers and busts for the week. I hope you enjoy!

Quick Picks (Home team listed last)
Packers 34, Bears 24 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: QB Aaron Rodgers
Seahawks 21, Rams 17 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: CB Richard Sherman
Panthers 24, Jaguars 17 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: RB Jonathan Stewart
Dolphins 34, Redskins 14 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: QB Ryan Tannehill 
Colts 28, Bills 21 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: RB Frank Gore
Browns 17, Jets 14 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: LB Paul Kruger
Chiefs 24, Texans 17 (Sunday, 1:00 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: RB Jamaal Charles
Saints 17, Cardinals 28 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: RB Andre Ellington
Lions 21, Chargers 34 (Sunday, 4:05 PM, FOX)
Player of the Game: QB Phillip Rivers
Ravens 24, Broncos 31 (Sunday, 4:25 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: QB Peyton Manning
Bengals 20, Raiders 21 (Sunday, 4:25 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: WR Amari Cooper
Titans 14, Buccaneers 17 (Sunday, 4:25 PM, CBS)
Player of the Game: DT Gerald McCoy
Giants 28, Cowboys 38 (Sunday, 8:30 PM, NBC)
Player of the Game: QB Tony Romo
Eagles 34, Falcons 17 (Monday, 7:10 PM, ESPN)
Player of the Game: QB Sam Bradford
Vikings 24, 49ers 21 (Monday, 10:20 PM, ESPN)
Player of the Game: RB Adrian Peterson

Games to Watch (Three games to watch this weekend)
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
The Packers-Bears rivalry renews for another year, and things are a little different this time, mainly due to some defensive changes and injuries in the receiving corps. Green Bay lost Jordy Nelson in training camp to a torn ACL, while Chicago lost rookie wideout Kevin White for most, if not all, of the season, and have listed their top three wide receivers as questionable for Sunday.
Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This year's top two draft picks face off in Week 1 when Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston goes up against Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota. There are also many other intriguing young players in this game and some playmaking pass-catchers.
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys
Giants vs. Cowboys on Sunday Night Football is always a good game to watch, and usually a shootout, especially with game-changing receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Dez Bryant. Quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tony Romo will duel in what is sure to be a barn-burner.

Fantasy Sleepers and Busts (Three players I think could outperform expectations this week, and three I think could underperform expectations this week)
Sleepers
Eagles QB Sam Bradford vs. Atlanta
Sam Bradford is poised for a big year, as long as he can finally stay healthy. With a playmaker-rich offense that can make any quarterback look good (remember Nick Foles?), Bradford has been pegged as a breakout candidate by many, and looked impressive in the preseason. He should rack up the points this week against a Falcon defense that was very porous last season.
Packers WR Davante Adams vs. Chicago
Adams is also poised for a big year, partly due to the injury suffered by Jordy Nelson. Adams is now Green Bay's number two receiver behind Randall Cobb, and has the benefit of having the best quarterback in football. Plus, the Bears secondary isn't outstanding.
Browns RB Duke Johnson Jr. vs. New York Jets
Johnson may be more of a deep-sleeper, but now that he's gone through concussion protocol, he's sure to get a lot of action Sunday as one of only two healthy backs currently on the Brown's active roster (the other being starter Isaiah Crowell). He looked explosive in camp, and the Browns don't have many options in the passing game.
Busts
Saints QB Drew Brees vs. Arizona
This will be Game 1 for Drew Brees sans Jimmy Graham, and while he'll still probably be a solid fantasy starting quarterback at the very least, this week is not the week to bank on a good fantasy performance. He is facing a dangerous Cardinals pass defense in Phoenix.
Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch vs. Rams
I'm not telling you to bench Beast Mode, just like I'm not telling you to bench Drew Brees or Cam Newton, because in most cases, you probably don't have another solid option. But Lynch will probably not have one of his better weeks against a suffocating Rams defense. Same goes for quarterback Russell Wilson.
Panthers QB Cam Newton vs. Jaguars
Cam is without his top receiver, and is stuck with a dearth of established playmaking pass-catchers aside from tight end Greg Olson. He also goes up against a much-improved Jaguars defense, especially the pass rush.

G-Rex's 2015 NFL Preview: Best Units in Football

Football isn't an individual sport; A quarterback can't win a game by himself. He relies on the line, receivers rely on the quarterback, running backs rely on the line and quarterback, etc. It's a team sport, and more specifically, a sport of units. So I'm going to try to find the best units in the NFL (in my opinion). This is based mostly on past performance, of course, but this is also partly predictive. Some of these units weren't necessarily the best at the position last season, but could be this season.

Offensive Line:  Dallas Cowboys
For me, this one came down to the Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns. Dallas was the best offensive line in the NFL last season, and Cleveland was still among the better lines in the league after All-Pro center Alex Mack went down with a broken leg. Both teams added rookie depth (19th overall pick Cam Erving for the Browns, and La'el Collins, a first round talent who was undrafted due to being involved (though not criminally) in a murder investigation, for the Cowboys). The 'Boys return their stellar line, which includes young studs in left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin, two of the best in the NFL at their positions. They also have strong young center Travis Frederick and strong young left guard Ronald O'Leary, as well as veteran right tackle Doug Free. Providing depth along with Collins is huge guard/center Mackenzy Bernadeau, rookie left tackle Laurence Gibson, and right tackles Darrion Weems and Chaz Green.
Quarterback: Green Bay Packers
The Packers feature the best quarterback in the league (in my opinion) in Aaron Rodgers. Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady are also in the conversation, but right now Rodgers is the best. Last season, he threw for 4,381 yards, 38 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. The most interceptions he's thrown in a season since being drafted 24th overall by Green Bay in the 2005 draft and spending three seasons behind Brett Favre is 13. The Packers have serviceable backups in Scott Tolzien and rookie Brett Hundley (who have the benefit of throwing to a deep wide receiver group).
Running Back: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles already had one of the top running games in the NFL with the combination of LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles, but Chip Kelly wanted better, so they shipped McCoy to Buffalo and signed last season's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray, and injury-prone talent Ryan Matthews. While Murray probably won't lead the league in rushing again this season, he's a talented back, and the Eagles also still have Sproles, a 3rd down jitterbug. Philly's backfield is also helped by a strong offensive line.
Wide Receiver: Detroit Lions
The best at the receiver position was the toughest decision to make. Teams like the Falcons, Bengals, Dolphins, Cowboys, Giants, Packers, and Broncos all have strong groups of receivers, but I went with the dominating duo of Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate in Detroit. Each went over 1,000 yards receiving last season. It may not be the deepest receiving corps in the league (though it does have decent depth), but it may have the most talent at the top.
Tight End: New England Patriots
This wasn't nearly as hard of a decision as the receiver group, since the clear number one tight end resides in Foxborough. Rob Gronkowski is an unstoppable force, and one of the best players in the league, regardless of position, when healthy. Gronk had 1,124 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns last season. The Pats also got a solid veteran backup in Scott Chandler, and still have that Hoomanuwaio.... guy (actual name: Michael Hoomanawanui).
Defensive Line: Buffalo Bills
Teams like the Browns, Dolphins, and Bengals have deep defensive line groups, but the heads of the class are the Jets and Bills. The Jets already had a strong line led by monsters Muhammed Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson (who's expected to be suspended) before using the sixth overall pick in this year's draft on Leonard Williams, thought by many to be the draft's top prospect. But Buffalo takes the cake. Their line consists of Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus (who just got paid today), Kyle Williams, and Jerry Hughes, a quartet that helped the team lead the league in sacks last year.
Linebackers: Carolina Panthers
I honestly didn't think very hard about the best linebacker group, because the Panthers linebackers are as solid as they come. They are, of course, led by tackling machine Luke Keuchly, and also include Thomas Davis, who successfully came back from three ACL injuries to be a leader and contributor, and A.J. Klein, who, along with Keuchly, was a Pro-Bowler last year. The Panthers also drafted athletic and versatile Shaq Thompson in the first round, and he may eventually be Davis's replacement.
Secondary: Seattle Seahawks
An argument could be made for the Jets and Browns, who have defensive backfields with multiple Pro-Bowlers, but I'll stick with the Legion of Boom, even without holdout Kam Chancellor. They still have two of the best in corner Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas, along with Cary Williams and Dion Bailey. The race is much closer for best secondary now then it was when the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, but getting Chancellor back will create a bit of space between them and the other competitors.
Special Teams: St. Louis Rams
The Rams have a fun special teams group. Greg "the Leg" Zurlein has a cannon leg, and although he struggled with accuracy last season, he is still a solid kicker. Johnny Hekker is one of the best punters in the league (and he can pass when needed, which we'll get to later), and Tavon Austin is an electric punt return. Plus, Jeff Fisher likes to get creative sometimes when it comes to special teams, which leads to moments such as this and this and this.

CFB Week 1 Review/Week 2 Preview

The first week of the 2015 college football season has concluded, and back are the upsets, highlight reel plays, and breakout players. Of course, after one week, many people are bound to overreact based on how teams looked. Many things will change as the season goes on, and many things will not turn out to be what they seemed to be after one week.
Week 1 Review
Week 1 Observations
1. New QBs Looked Good
Many high-profile schools debuted new starting quarterbacks this past weekend, and overall, they performed well. In his first game taking over for the NFL-bound Bryce Petty, Baylor junior Seth Russell threw for 376 yards and scored six total touchdowns in a 56-21 romping of SMU. Ole Miss junior Chad Kelly scored three total touchdowns in his first game as a rebel, which was a 76-3 rout of Tennessee-Martin. UCLA freshman sensation Josh Rosen threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-16 win over Virginia. Notre Dame junior Malik Zaire (who did start some games last season) threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns in his debut as the full-time starting QB, leading the Irish to 38-3 trouncing of Texas. Notre Dame's old starter, Everett Golson, threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns in his Florida State debut, a 59-16 cakewalk over Texas State. And Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams Jr., taking over for a Heisman Trophy winner, played well in a 61-42 win against his old team, throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns and adding 94 yards on the ground. 2. Alabama is Still Alabama
In the first ranked matchup of the season, Alabama had little problem taking care of Wisconsin. They looked like a vintage Bama team, playing strong defense and leaning heavily on a physical running back, this time junior Derrick Henry, who rumbled for 147 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. Jacob Coker played alright in his first start at quarterback, and as long as he can minimize mistakes and play decent, Alabama can get back to the playoff on the strength of their defense and running game.
3. Braxton Miller is Amazing
The former Big Ten Player of the Year at quarterback made his much-anticipated debut at wide receiver/H-back after switching positions in the offseason. He decided to switch positions for the good of the team, who has two other talented quarterbacks, and for the good of himself, as many thought he would have a better shot in the NFL at receiver than at quarterback. Boy, was that a good decision. It took a little bit for him to get involved, but once he did, he became the focal point of the offense. His first reception was a diving catch, and he would go on to catch another pass for a touchdown, totaling 78 yards receiving. He also lined up in the backfield and at quarterback, running for 62 yards, most of which came on a tantalizing touchdown run involving a spin move that had the Internet buzzing. Miller may be the most electrifying offensive player in college football.

Upset of the Week 
Northwestern 16, #21 Stanford 6
In a battle of premier intellectual institutions, Northwestern knocked off Stanford in Evanston, controlling the game the entire time thanks to stout defense and a great running game, led by sophomore Justin Jackson, who had 28 carries for 134 yards. BYU knocking off Nebraska on a Hail-Mary with no time left on the clock that barely crossed the goal line was also considered.

Playoff Picks After Week 1
1. Ohio State
The Buckeyes started off slow and showed some weakness in the secondary, but overall they showed no reason to not keep them at number one with a 42-24 beating of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The overwhelming amount of talent they have on the offensive side of the ball is just ridiculous. They will be a pain to try to stop. Next Game: Hawaii, Sat., 3:30 PM
2. Alabama
The Tide keep on rolling, once again looking like a playoff contender in a win over a ranked Wisconsin team. Even with a new starting quarterback, they still have a strong defense and a talented running back. The SEC will be a gauntlet, but Alabama is the favorite again. Next Game: Middle Tennessee, Sat., 4:00 PM
3. Oregon
The biggest question facing the Ducks going into the season was how they were going to replace Marcus Mariota. Vernon Adams Jr. isn't Mariota, but he's a talented quarterback. The offense is once again loaded with talent, including Adams and running back Royce Freeman, who ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns against Eastern Washington. The defense, on the other hand, has never been a calling card for Oregon, and isn't this year either, as evidenced by the 42 points they gave up to Eastern Washington. Next Game:  @ Michigan State, Sat., 8:00 PM
4. TCU
An argument could be made for several teams here after just one week, including Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Baylor, but TCU is still in the top four despite not blowing anybody away in the first week. They got past Minnesota, who's a pretty good team and probably the third or fourth best team in the Big Ten, 23-17 in Minnesota. They still have a talented offense led by Trevone Boykin, and are still in the top four. Next Game: Stephen F. Austin, Sat., 3:30 PM

Week 2 Preview
Game of the Week
#7 Oregon @ #5 Michigan State, Sat., 8:00 PM, ABC
The first top-ten battle of the 2015 college football season looks to be a dousy. Two of the best and most consistently good (at least recently) teams in the nation face off in primetime.  Michigan State's tough defense and veteran quarterback go up against Oregon's new QB and electric running attack.

Upset Special
BYU over #20 Boise State (@ BYU, Sat., 10:15 PM)
BYU already pulled off one miraculous upset when they stunned Nebraska last Saturday on a Hail Mary. So it's not out of the question that they could pull off another upset against conference rival Boise State in Provo. Plus, they're a pretty good team.