NFL Nation: Final Word AFC 2010 Week 1
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Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
Big, but not too big: The Texans have been focused on the Colts quite a bit. Teams tend to spend a good deal of time in an offseason thinking about the team they are chasing in the AFC South. Teams tend to spend a lot of time pondering their opening day opponent. On the rare occasion a franchise is 1-15 all-time against an opponent, it probably thinks about it a lot too. Indianapolis is all three for Houston. Here’s hoping Gary Kubiak has managed things inside the building . The Texans need to have the right balance. It’s a giant game, and it’s just one of 16.
Looking for leadership: The young Jaguars imported Aaron Kampman for production and leadership, but they need young guys to emerge to go with Kampman and Maurice Jones-Drew. The Titans let a lot of veteran leadership walk, and also need leaders to emerge. Opening day is a good time for some of those guys on both teams to do something to indicate who they will be.
Winners: Guys who won real training camp position battles will want to perform well in the opener so as to not leave any doubts. So watch Jaguars left guard Justin Smiley, Texans kicker Neil Rackers and right guard Antoine Caldwell (though he will yield at times to Mike Brisiel), Titans right cornerback Jason McCourty or Alterraun Verner (thought they could share time) and Colts return man Devin Moore. Poor play by any of them is likely to create debate -- premature as it might be --- about whether the right guy won.
Tight ends: The Texans have star power that matches or surpasses the Colts. But a team is usually held together by the next tier of players, and that’s where the Texans have sometimes been lacking while it’s a department in which the Colts typically thrive. An example for this game could come at tight end. The Colts will look to their second guy, Brody Eldridge, to help out as run-blocker, pass-protector and target. The Texans expect to limit Owen Daniels in his first action since suffering a torn ACL halfway through the 2009 season. They will need quality work from Joel Dreessen and/or James Casey.
Rookie impact: There’s been a good deal of debate in Jacksonville this week about media attention on Broncos rookie Tim Tebow's return to his hometown. A backup or third quarterback, Jaguars faithful said, was not worthy of the sort of attention being bestowed on his visit. People saying that don’t have quite the understanding of stardom required of the situation -- and he's a star without having done anything in the NFL. I suspect Tebow gets in the game and has at least one chance to score. But the Jaguars are home favorites in a game that won’t be blacked out. The Jaguars need a good game from the No. 10 pick in the draft, Tyson Alualu. A good result from the Jaguars could mean more than 1-0.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
Big, but not too big: The Texans have been focused on the Colts quite a bit. Teams tend to spend a good deal of time in an offseason thinking about the team they are chasing in the AFC South. Teams tend to spend a lot of time pondering their opening day opponent. On the rare occasion a franchise is 1-15 all-time against an opponent, it probably thinks about it a lot too. Indianapolis is all three for Houston. Here’s hoping Gary Kubiak has managed things inside the building . The Texans need to have the right balance. It’s a giant game, and it’s just one of 16.
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AP Photo/Margaret BowlesThe Jaguars brought in Aaron Kampman for leadership but will need some of their younger players to step up as well.
AP Photo/Margaret BowlesThe Jaguars brought in Aaron Kampman for leadership but will need some of their younger players to step up as well.Winners: Guys who won real training camp position battles will want to perform well in the opener so as to not leave any doubts. So watch Jaguars left guard Justin Smiley, Texans kicker Neil Rackers and right guard Antoine Caldwell (though he will yield at times to Mike Brisiel), Titans right cornerback Jason McCourty or Alterraun Verner (thought they could share time) and Colts return man Devin Moore. Poor play by any of them is likely to create debate -- premature as it might be --- about whether the right guy won.
Tight ends: The Texans have star power that matches or surpasses the Colts. But a team is usually held together by the next tier of players, and that’s where the Texans have sometimes been lacking while it’s a department in which the Colts typically thrive. An example for this game could come at tight end. The Colts will look to their second guy, Brody Eldridge, to help out as run-blocker, pass-protector and target. The Texans expect to limit Owen Daniels in his first action since suffering a torn ACL halfway through the 2009 season. They will need quality work from Joel Dreessen and/or James Casey.
Rookie impact: There’s been a good deal of debate in Jacksonville this week about media attention on Broncos rookie Tim Tebow's return to his hometown. A backup or third quarterback, Jaguars faithful said, was not worthy of the sort of attention being bestowed on his visit. People saying that don’t have quite the understanding of stardom required of the situation -- and he's a star without having done anything in the NFL. I suspect Tebow gets in the game and has at least one chance to score. But the Jaguars are home favorites in a game that won’t be blacked out. The Jaguars need a good game from the No. 10 pick in the draft, Tyson Alualu. A good result from the Jaguars could mean more than 1-0.
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
Game plans will be an exercise in speculation. There's always a healthy dose of mystery heading into opening weekend. Teams withhold much of their playbooks throughout the preseason, creating wonder about how a new player will be utilized or how much coaching philosophies might have changed since the year before. Whoever guesses best likely will win Sunday's matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium. New Bills coach Chan Gailey has installed his offense and has switched the defense to a 3-4. The Bills also will show their full backfield for the first time. Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch return from injuries sustained in the preseason opener. With them out, rookie lightning bolt C.J. Spiller was limited to tailback duties. Where will Spiller line up now? Could be anywhere. The Dolphins, meanwhile, have new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Gailey has been watching Denver Broncos film and trying to project how Nolan will use the Dolphins' roster.
The New England Patriots defense could be in for a long afternoon. The Patriots better have something up their sleeves for the Cincinnati Bengals. Otherwise, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will have plenty to crow about. How will the Patriots contain the Bengals, who have placed an emphasis on their passing game? They added T.O. and drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham in the first round to help quarterback Carson Palmer. The Bengals have a strong enough rushing attack to keep any defense honest. Straight up, the Patriots appear to be at a disadvantage against the pass. The Patriots have the NFL's least experienced cornerbacks in Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty. As for a pass rush, the Patriots haven't had an effective one for a couple of years.
Don't dismiss the possibility of a big game from Darrelle Revis. The All-Pro cornerback had one week of practice to get ready for Monday night's opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed training camp and all four preseason games during his contract dispute. But that doesn't mean Revis will be rusty. Remember when the Jets signed cornerback Ty Law off the street in November 2008 for a Thursday night game against the Patriots? Law was 34, and they lined him up against Randy Moss. In the first half, Moss had zero receptions. He finished with three catches for 23 yards, and it took a pinpoint Matt Cassel rollout pass and a sensational sideline grab to beat Law for a 16-yard touchdown. Revis isn't 34 years old, and he wasn't signed off a free-agent scrap heap just before Thanksgiving. Revis kept himself in shape while AWOL, working out with a fellow Aliquippa, Pa., native named Ty Law.
If you have Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams on your fantasy team, start them. Heck, fourth-stringer Lex Hilliard might be a decent option against the Bills' run defense. The Bills' transition to a 3-4 defense hasn't made them noticeably better against the run, and they ranked 30th last year. The Bills were on the smallish side to begin with, and they're dealing with injuries at linebacker. Starting outside linebacker Reggie Torbor and backup inside linebacker Antonio Coleman won't play. Top inside linebacker reserve Kawika Mitchell was placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday. Newly acquired inside linebacker Akin Ayodele will be deactivated until he learns the system. On top of all those circumstances, Buffalo boasts a formidable secondary. Motivation for Miami to throw will be low.
Left guard, not quarterback, could turn out to be the Jets' weakest link. All eyes will be on Mark Sanchez on Monday night. So they might not see the peripheral blurs attacking him in the pocket. Left guard is among the chief concerns. The Jets featured a mimeograph offensive line over the past two seasons. That's 33 games of continuity for one of the best units in the league. But the Jets cut Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, and his potential replacements have been shaky. Matt Slauson won the job by default over disappointing rookie Vladimir Ducasse. As head coach Rex Ryan acknowledged in "Hard Knocks," there's not a lot of faith in either of them to keep Sanchez off his back.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
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AP Photo/Paul SancyaThe Dolphins can't be sure what to expect from new Bills coach Chan Gailey.
AP Photo/Paul SancyaThe Dolphins can't be sure what to expect from new Bills coach Chan Gailey.The New England Patriots defense could be in for a long afternoon. The Patriots better have something up their sleeves for the Cincinnati Bengals. Otherwise, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will have plenty to crow about. How will the Patriots contain the Bengals, who have placed an emphasis on their passing game? They added T.O. and drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham in the first round to help quarterback Carson Palmer. The Bengals have a strong enough rushing attack to keep any defense honest. Straight up, the Patriots appear to be at a disadvantage against the pass. The Patriots have the NFL's least experienced cornerbacks in Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty. As for a pass rush, the Patriots haven't had an effective one for a couple of years.
Don't dismiss the possibility of a big game from Darrelle Revis. The All-Pro cornerback had one week of practice to get ready for Monday night's opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed training camp and all four preseason games during his contract dispute. But that doesn't mean Revis will be rusty. Remember when the Jets signed cornerback Ty Law off the street in November 2008 for a Thursday night game against the Patriots? Law was 34, and they lined him up against Randy Moss. In the first half, Moss had zero receptions. He finished with three catches for 23 yards, and it took a pinpoint Matt Cassel rollout pass and a sensational sideline grab to beat Law for a 16-yard touchdown. Revis isn't 34 years old, and he wasn't signed off a free-agent scrap heap just before Thanksgiving. Revis kept himself in shape while AWOL, working out with a fellow Aliquippa, Pa., native named Ty Law.
If you have Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams on your fantasy team, start them. Heck, fourth-stringer Lex Hilliard might be a decent option against the Bills' run defense. The Bills' transition to a 3-4 defense hasn't made them noticeably better against the run, and they ranked 30th last year. The Bills were on the smallish side to begin with, and they're dealing with injuries at linebacker. Starting outside linebacker Reggie Torbor and backup inside linebacker Antonio Coleman won't play. Top inside linebacker reserve Kawika Mitchell was placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday. Newly acquired inside linebacker Akin Ayodele will be deactivated until he learns the system. On top of all those circumstances, Buffalo boasts a formidable secondary. Motivation for Miami to throw will be low.
Left guard, not quarterback, could turn out to be the Jets' weakest link. All eyes will be on Mark Sanchez on Monday night. So they might not see the peripheral blurs attacking him in the pocket. Left guard is among the chief concerns. The Jets featured a mimeograph offensive line over the past two seasons. That's 33 games of continuity for one of the best units in the league. But the Jets cut Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, and his potential replacements have been shaky. Matt Slauson won the job by default over disappointing rookie Vladimir Ducasse. As head coach Rex Ryan acknowledged in "Hard Knocks," there's not a lot of faith in either of them to keep Sanchez off his back.
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
There is a great matchup in Pittsburgh on Sunday between a future Hall of Famer and potential Hall of Famer. Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, one of the greatest tight ends ever, will be monitored closely by Pittsburgh Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu. This will be a stellar battle of athleticism versus size, as Gonzalez likes to shield opponents with his big frame to ward off defenders to make receptions. The Steelers will be aggressive with their blitz packages this week. So you can expect Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan to look to Gonzalez as a safety valve.
If you're into trends, Pittsburgh has had its way against the Falcons. The Steelers are 11-2-1 all time against Atlanta, including a 5-0-1 mark in Pittsburgh. The Steelers also have an NFL-best seven-game winning streak in openers. So why is Pittsburgh a home underdog? Backup Dennis Dixon is starting at quarterback in place of the suspended Ben Roethlisberger.
Keep an eye on the Cleveland Browns' pass rush, which didn't produce much in the preseason. Cleveland's defense, ranked No. 31 last season, struggled in a lot of areas but was eighth in the NFL with 40 sacks. It was baffling how the starters couldn't get to the quarterback during preseason. Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will prove if Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was holding back this preseason with vanilla schemes or if the lack of pass rush is a legitimate concern.
Cincinnati Bengals' receivers will look to exploit a mismatch against the New England Patriots' secondary. A season-ending shoulder injury to veteran Leigh Bodden leaves New England with starting cornerbacks Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty, who have two combined years of experience. The Bengals, meanwhile, have two experienced veterans in receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, who should have success Sunday. Cincinnati caught a break because Bodden, who once played for the Browns, usually defended Ochocinco well.
If there were a championship in the NFL for trash talking, the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens would be the two top contenders. As you've seen this week, no teams in the league do it better, and what makes it fun is that New York and Baltimore are two bullies who are good at backing it up. The Ravens know Jets coach Rex Ryan well and were aware of the mind games he would try to pull to get under Baltimore's skin. But the time for talking is almost over. We will have plenty more on this "Monday Night Football" game this weekend in the AFC North blog.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
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Jason Bridge/US PresswireTroy Polamalu will be matched up against tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Jason Bridge/US PresswireTroy Polamalu will be matched up against tight end Tony Gonzalez.If you're into trends, Pittsburgh has had its way against the Falcons. The Steelers are 11-2-1 all time against Atlanta, including a 5-0-1 mark in Pittsburgh. The Steelers also have an NFL-best seven-game winning streak in openers. So why is Pittsburgh a home underdog? Backup Dennis Dixon is starting at quarterback in place of the suspended Ben Roethlisberger.
Keep an eye on the Cleveland Browns' pass rush, which didn't produce much in the preseason. Cleveland's defense, ranked No. 31 last season, struggled in a lot of areas but was eighth in the NFL with 40 sacks. It was baffling how the starters couldn't get to the quarterback during preseason. Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will prove if Cleveland defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was holding back this preseason with vanilla schemes or if the lack of pass rush is a legitimate concern.
Cincinnati Bengals' receivers will look to exploit a mismatch against the New England Patriots' secondary. A season-ending shoulder injury to veteran Leigh Bodden leaves New England with starting cornerbacks Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty, who have two combined years of experience. The Bengals, meanwhile, have two experienced veterans in receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, who should have success Sunday. Cincinnati caught a break because Bodden, who once played for the Browns, usually defended Ochocinco well.
If there were a championship in the NFL for trash talking, the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens would be the two top contenders. As you've seen this week, no teams in the league do it better, and what makes it fun is that New York and Baltimore are two bullies who are good at backing it up. The Ravens know Jets coach Rex Ryan well and were aware of the mind games he would try to pull to get under Baltimore's skin. But the time for talking is almost over. We will have plenty more on this "Monday Night Football" game this weekend in the AFC North blog.
» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
The Chiefs hope to kick off New Arrowhead Stadium right: The Chiefs are one of the most proud and tradition-rich franchises in football. They put a lot of pride in the renovation of the already terrific Arrowhead Stadium. The stadium has caught up to the modern homes in today’s NFL with all the bells and whistles. The Chiefs hope the product on the field is renovated as well. They will get a chance to show off their shiny, new toys on "Monday Night Football" against San Diego. The Chiefs are improved, especially on offense, and they have a sweet rookie class. The team would love nothing more than kicking off the New Arrowhead era with an upset win over the four-time defending division champion Chargers.
Is Ryan Clady ready for action? The last time we saw the Denver All-Pro left tackle, about a month ago, he was struggling walking up a short flight of stairs. Now he is preparing to play one of the toughest positions in the NFL. Clady is expected to play at Jacksonville on Sunday, less than five months after having surgery on his patella tendon on his left knee after being injured while playing pickup basketball. Clady’s only preseason action was in a limited role at Minnesota. Clady looked rusty and was beaten a few times by average players. In a sense, it is a big victory for Clady to be on the verge of playing in the season opener. Still, how long will it take him to become the dominant player he has been in his first two NFL seasons?
The Raiders hope to handle Chris Johnson: The Raiders have been discussing and focusing on Johnson for weeks. Coaches mention him by name in practice. There is no doubt what Oakland’s primary focus will be Sunday at Tennessee: containing Johnson. Oakland’s run defense has been in shambles the past couple of seasons. Even though Oakland’s defense has looked good in the preseason, the run defense had issues this summer as well. Johnson is an unforgiving player. He has made good run defenses suffer. If Oakland, which added rookies Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston with designs on improving the run defense, can contain Johnson, it has a chance to win this game.
The Chargers can make us forget holdouts: Many league observers believe the Chargers will take a step or two backward without Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson and standout left tackle Marcus McNeill. Both players are holding out with no end in sight. San Diego will show what it has without the two top offensive players on "Monday Night Football" in Kansas City. The Chargers can make a statement to the league with a strong showing. San Diego has good depth and its offense was clicking in the preseason. It heads into this game with plenty of confidence and it is not worrying about who is not on the roster. Star quarterback Philip Rivers’ primary target will be tight end Antonio Gates, but the Chargers are confident in young receiver Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee and Buster Davis and new veteran option Patrick Crayton. Brandyn Dombrowski is taking over for McNeill, and the Chargers feel like he can protect Rivers’ blindside. If San Diego is at its high-octane best without Jackson and McNeill in Kansas City, it will send a message to both the holdouts and the rest of the league that the Chargers mean business in their current form.
Tim Tebow can make home-town impact: Many people thought the ticket-selling hungry Jaguars would take Jacksonville native and Florida folk hero Tim Tebow in the April draft. If not because of his potential as a quarterback, for his ability to create a buzz about the Jaguars and perhaps even keep the team in town down the road. Yet, Jacksonville bypassed Tebow at No. 10 and didn’t get another chance to select him before Denver traded three picks to take him at No. 25. Still, Tebow will begin his NFL career in his hometown. Will the home folks get a glimpse of Tebow? I bet they do. Denver will use Tebow in some special packages as a rookie.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:
The Chiefs hope to kick off New Arrowhead Stadium right: The Chiefs are one of the most proud and tradition-rich franchises in football. They put a lot of pride in the renovation of the already terrific Arrowhead Stadium. The stadium has caught up to the modern homes in today’s NFL with all the bells and whistles. The Chiefs hope the product on the field is renovated as well. They will get a chance to show off their shiny, new toys on "Monday Night Football" against San Diego. The Chiefs are improved, especially on offense, and they have a sweet rookie class. The team would love nothing more than kicking off the New Arrowhead era with an upset win over the four-time defending division champion Chargers.
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AP Photo/Rob CarrThe Broncos hope Ryan Clady can return to his All-Pro form sooner rather than later.
AP Photo/Rob CarrThe Broncos hope Ryan Clady can return to his All-Pro form sooner rather than later.The Raiders hope to handle Chris Johnson: The Raiders have been discussing and focusing on Johnson for weeks. Coaches mention him by name in practice. There is no doubt what Oakland’s primary focus will be Sunday at Tennessee: containing Johnson. Oakland’s run defense has been in shambles the past couple of seasons. Even though Oakland’s defense has looked good in the preseason, the run defense had issues this summer as well. Johnson is an unforgiving player. He has made good run defenses suffer. If Oakland, which added rookies Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston with designs on improving the run defense, can contain Johnson, it has a chance to win this game.
The Chargers can make us forget holdouts: Many league observers believe the Chargers will take a step or two backward without Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson and standout left tackle Marcus McNeill. Both players are holding out with no end in sight. San Diego will show what it has without the two top offensive players on "Monday Night Football" in Kansas City. The Chargers can make a statement to the league with a strong showing. San Diego has good depth and its offense was clicking in the preseason. It heads into this game with plenty of confidence and it is not worrying about who is not on the roster. Star quarterback Philip Rivers’ primary target will be tight end Antonio Gates, but the Chargers are confident in young receiver Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee and Buster Davis and new veteran option Patrick Crayton. Brandyn Dombrowski is taking over for McNeill, and the Chargers feel like he can protect Rivers’ blindside. If San Diego is at its high-octane best without Jackson and McNeill in Kansas City, it will send a message to both the holdouts and the rest of the league that the Chargers mean business in their current form.
Tim Tebow can make home-town impact: Many people thought the ticket-selling hungry Jaguars would take Jacksonville native and Florida folk hero Tim Tebow in the April draft. If not because of his potential as a quarterback, for his ability to create a buzz about the Jaguars and perhaps even keep the team in town down the road. Yet, Jacksonville bypassed Tebow at No. 10 and didn’t get another chance to select him before Denver traded three picks to take him at No. 25. Still, Tebow will begin his NFL career in his hometown. Will the home folks get a glimpse of Tebow? I bet they do. Denver will use Tebow in some special packages as a rookie.
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