Week Two is in the books in the NFL, and not too many pro football fans have woken up the past two Mondays with the same attitude.
One of the fun things about the first two weeks of the season is how some teams can come out and look great in Week One and fall on their faces in Week Two.
Take the Falcons, for example. Atlanta fans had to be ecstatic last Monday after a victory over the reigning NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Then, of course, in Week Two, they follow up with a lethargic showing against Seattle.
The Eagles, on the other hand, have been in a state of suppressed turmoil since the last 60 seconds of the Superbowl, and things didn’t look any brighter after the Week One loss to the Falcons.
This week, behind five Donovan McNabb touchdowns, they rebounded to rout San Francisco – the same San Francisco who stunned the St. Louis Rams just a week ago.
The Rams responded by shaking out the cobwebs and showing up the Arizona Cardinals, who were highly-touted in the preseason but now find themselves at 0-2.
Another popular pick, the San Diego Chargers, are also winless after faltering down the stretch against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos lost to the supposedly hapless Miami Dolphins in Week One, but Miami couldn’t build any momentum against the Jets, who looked like the most inept team in football last week against the Chiefs.
Fans of teams in Week One should be cautious of how far their chests puff out because the air can be taken out pretty quickly.
And while nothing is set in stone, certain teams have found an identity – good and bad – in the past two weeks.
Cincinnati Bengals fans have a lot to be happy about behind a devastating passing attack combined with a pesky defense that has now frustrated two teams with turnovers.
Tampa Bay, after all the preseason doubts about their offense, now has the NFL’s leading rusher in rookie Carnell Williams. And the Steelers and Colts have essentially picked up where they left off last year.
On the other hand, some teams have also quickly established themselves but not the way they were expected. Raise your hand if you thought the Texans would be at least a playoff contender. They sure fooled me.
And if you’re a Minnesota Viking fan, I can’t imagine what you’re thinking. After spending big money to retool the defense and taking measures in the receiving core to at least soften the blow of Randy Moss’s departure, apparently, the joke’s on you.
After Daunte Culpepper’s 10 interceptions and two lost fumbles on the year, with only a garbage-time rushing touchdown to show for it, some Viking fans are clamoring for Brad Johnson. That’s right – Brad Johnson.
It can get pretty confusing right now, so keep the boasting low-key in the early part of the year. There are a couple weeks to go before order is truly restored.