Panic time?

Week 2 of the NFL season is in the books and who would've thought the Vikings and Cowboys would be 0-2.  Let's talk some football!

NFL
Packers v. Bears
Surprisingly, this is a big game for both of these teams.  Based on my predictions, I expected the Bears to be 0-2 already.  I also thought Cutler wouldn't fit well in Martz' system and would still throw up the picks.  Then the Bears go into Dallas and win...pretty solidly.  I've got to give this team some credit.  But I'm not about to dole it out.  They barely beat Detroit, and last week I discussed the ineptitude of the Dallas Cowboys offense.  The Bears defense have given up only one TD pass this season, however, are ranked 27th in the league in passing yards given up.  Last week, Tony Romo passed for 374 yards.  The two interceptions is what killed him.  If Rodgers throws for 374 yards with the accuracy he typically displays, this will at least become a shootout, if not a romp for the Packers.  The Bears defense have yet to face a team with the gauntlet of receivers that the Packers have.  The Bears offense is starting to click, but their o-line is leaky, and that could spell disaster for the Bears with NFL sack leader Clay Matthews coming to town.

"But what about these 2-0 Packers?", you say.  "Sure, they beat the Eagles on the road.  But the Bills?  Come on.  The Packers haven't really played a good team either!"  What about it?  I discussed last week how the Packers can win even when their not clicking on all cylinders.  And the Bills game?  They did exactly what they were supposed to do, win in a romp 34-7.  This Packer team is too talented, even on the road in Chicago, to lose this game.  I don't think it will be a blowout, but I've pleasantly surprised before.

Vikings vs. Lions
Oh...my....goodness!  Childress finally starts using Peterson (145 rushing yds. last week) the way he should and they just get stonewalled.  I gotta give that Miami defense a whole heck of a lot of credit.  Minnesota has the ball with under 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter, 1st and 10 from the Miami 10 yard line, 4 run plays (which I'm cool with as Favre was way off that day) for 9 yards.  Studly, my friends, absolutely studly.  I didn't know the Miami defense had it in them.  On the flip side, the Minnesota defense is looking awfully good.  Both pass and run defense are in the top ten of the league, and they've played the Saints in New Orleans.  The defense has only given up 3 TD's (one of the TD's this last week was from a Favre fumble recovered in the end zone by Miami).  And that's why I think the Vikings will be able to pull this off and win at home against the Lions.  The Lions defense cannot do what the Miami defense did, plus that Detroit secondary is so ugly that Favre could have a field day and boost his confidence.

My other NFL picks: 49ers, Patriots, Saints, Giants, Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Cowboys, Redskins, Jaguars, Colts, Raiders, Chargers, Dolphins (LW: 9-7, 9-7, 5-10 (the record of picking the favorite with the point spread) Overall: 19-13, 19-13, 11-17)

College
Michigan v. Bowling Green
I would love to say that the Wolverines are going to win in a landslide...but did you see Michigan's defense last week?  No, you didn't.  When an offense puts up 42 at home, they shouldn't have to win by 5 to UMass!  The offense is electric, thank God!  But that defense is absolutely anemic.  Michigan drops in all polls and is now sitting at 21 in the AP.

Other games to watch
#1 Alabama at #10 Arkansas- Did you catch the ex-Michigan QB's playing last week?  Threet of Arizona St. against Wisconsin, and Mallet of Arkansas vs. Georgia?  Yeah, Mallet didn't like the hiring of Rich Rodriguez, and took his stuff to Arkansas where he has, in no subtle terms, placed himself in the conversation of the top 5 for the Heisman.  Now Arkansas is 3-0 and haven't played a ranked team, while 'Bama has beat a ranked team in Penn St.  But it's early in the college season and rankings are deceiving.  I think this Arkansas team is better tested, has the hot hand at QB and is playing at home.  I'm totally picking the upset, Arkansas over Alabama.  #12 South Carolina at #17 Auburn- This looks like a pretty good match up and Steve Spurrier could have South Carolina finally moving in the right direction.  #22 West Virginia @ #15 LSU- Look back at what I said about early season rankings in college football.  LSU barely got by a completely depleted UNC team, and the only win worth noting for W. Virginia is Marshall, but Marshall is no good.

Those with a vested interest in Kenosha
Bradford
Another week, another crushing victory.  Though they got out of the gate slow, Bradford beat up Oak Creek 55-20.  That's the most points they've given up this season.  Are we seeing some slippage?  I think not...Oak Creek just has some better offense that previous teams.  They stay #1 in the state and move up from #74 in the nation to #63.  Next up, a visit to Horlick Field against the 1-3 Racine Horlick Rebels.

Tremper
They stay 4-0 by squeaking  by Muskego 20-16 and move up in the state poll from #10 to #6.  They take on an 0-4 Racine Case team this Friday.

Remember that Franklin team I was talking about last week?  They shutout their opponents last game.  They've given up a total of 6 points in 4 games this season.  WOW!

Final thought
I hate the idea of an 18 game regular season schedule in the NFL.  I actually think 16 games is perfect.  Look at the scheduling and how it is set up right now.  You play all the teams in one division in your conference, all the teams of one division in the opposite conference, teams in your division twice and then the two teams in your conference who placed in the same spot you did in your division.  The ease and sense of tiebreakers alone makes the schedule an amazing set up.  You throw 2 extra games in the mix, it kind of goes down the toilet with one simple question...who are those two extra games going to be against? 

I personally think they should stick with 16 regular season and and just chop the preseason to two games.  Get these players motivated faster to play well.  Currently there's two weeks of training camp and then four weeks of preseason football...a total of 6 weeks to "get ready" for the season.  Are you kidding me?  With OTA's and various minicamps, they don't need this.  Have two weeks of training camp and two preseason games.  You cut down the risk of injury and put a better product on the field.  Having 18 regular season games doesn't do this.  The risk of injury goes up, and by week 18 and 19 the product on the field could be pretty ugly and useless, kind of like the two preseason games we have right now that would be chopped in the 18 game schedule.  And please don't try to change my mind with larger rosters and an extra bye week.  That just depletes the quality and adds another week of me not being able to see my team play. 

The 18 game schedule is being driven by greed and the current state of our national economy shows what happens when greed is at the center of what we think is progress.

Happy Football!