Musings on Week 1 of the NFL Season

In the words of the great San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Scott Ostler, here are my deep thoughts, cheap shots, and bon mots:



---Well, so much for T.Ocho and the Cincinnati Bengals. I picked the Bengals to go into the hostile confines of Foxboro and pick up an impressive road victory, and boy was I wrong. Cincy lost by a count of 38-24, but that score is not indicative of the butt-whooping that transpired. Tom Brady and the Pats' offensive line manhandled a helpless Bengals defense, and Chad Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens were an underwhelming duo in this one.



---From the Patriots standpoint, this was a huge win to silence those, including myself, who were starting to wonder if the team was past its' prime. For selfish reasons----more specifically, my strong dislike of Bill Belichick----I still hope that New England has a down year. But judging from Sunday's performance, it seems as if such a hope is pure folly.



---As for Cincy, well, they have major reason to be concerned. The ineffectiveness of T.Ocho is indeed a significant worry, but one can safely assume that those two star receivers will have excellent seasons. The biggest issue for Coach Marvin Lewis and company after today's loss has to be the defensive line. They were dominated in every aspect of the game on Sunday.



---Kudos to Patriots WR Randy Moss for sporting a San Francisco Giants cap in his post-game press conference. On a day in which my beloved Giants pulled even with the Padres atop the NL West with a huge win in San Diego, Randy Moss sporting the Orange and Black cap was a beautiful sight. Nice job, Randy. Now if he could just stop making ridiculous accusations about not being supported by the fiercely loyal New England fan base, I'd be even happier.



---Meanwhile, in Chicago, the game ended amidst significant controversy. Lions' star receiver Calvin Johnson appeared to have caught the game-winning touchdown catch, only to have it ruled incomplete. All signs seem to indicate that the referees made the correct call. Even Lions coach Jim Schwartz admitted so after the game. However, I am not entirely convinced. That looked like a pretty damn good catch to me. If I was officiating that game, the Detroit Lions would have probably walked out of Soldier Field with a win.



---Speaking of the Lions, here's hoping Matthew Stafford is okay after leaving the game early due to injury. If the Lions have any hopes of contending this season, they need a healthy and productive Stafford.



---Huge win by the Texans today at home against Peyton Manning and the Colts. While one win in the season opener is not enough to convince me that Houston has what it takes to win the division----I still think the Colts will be the better team in the long run----there is no denying the fact that the Texans are a terrific team. Matt Schaub is one of the game's most underrated quarterbacks, and Brian Cushing and Mario Williams headline an impressive defense. The Texans will be a force to be reckoned with in 2010.



---The Rams may have lost to the Cardinals, but they should at least take solace in the play of rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. The former Oklahoma Sooner played extremely well in his NFL debut, and I would even go as far as to say that Bradford could eventually reach Kurt Warner-level heights in St. Louis throughout his career. As a Niners fan, though, I must admit that I hope he experiences success with a team other than the division-rival Rams.



---Speaking of the Niners, that was a depressing performance today in Seattle. I think I speak for Niners fans everywhere when I say that I remain wholly unimpressed and angry at the dismal play of quarterback Alex Smith. In terms of horrific draft picks in sports, the Pistons have Darko Milicic, the Wizards have Kwame Brown, the Chargers have Ryan Leaf, and the 49ers have Smith. Please Alex, I'm begging you: Step it up.



---Nice job, Dennis Dixon. Granted, the Steelers' 15-9 overtime win over the Falcons wasn't exactly dazzling, but it is a win nonetheless. Dixon thrived under pressure and got the job done, calming the fears of Steelers Nation in the absence of Ben Roethlisberger.



---I believe that one of the New York teams will make a deep run into the playoffs this season. I'm just not sure which New York team that will be. The Giants looked good today in their win over the Panthers, and the Eli Manning-led offense remains as prolific as ever. The Jets, meanwhile, who open their season on Monday Night Football against Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens, have enormous potential this season as well, thanks to Darelle Revis, Mark Sanchez, LaDanian Tomlinson, and the fiery spirits of Coach Rex Ryan. As the Giants and Jets christen a gorgeous new stadium in the Meadowlands, it should be a fun year of football in the Big Apple.



---Game of the day: Redskins-Cowboys. The latest edition in this classic rivalry was incredibly thrilling and compelling, as Donovan McNabb and the Redskins picked up a crucial division win. As long as McNabb stays healthy, I like Mike Shanahan's Redskins to win the NFC East.



---And finally, I'll end with a report from the Fashion Police. Memo to the Philadelphia Eagles: Never, ever wear those garishly green retro eye-soars again. Thank you.