Chiefs defeat AFC West Kings in solid MNF showing
Chiefs rookies McCluster, Eric Berry, Javier Arenas and Moeki contributed big and no doubt the rain helped but that defense played inspired ball for 3 quarters and did just enough late to pull off the upset of the weekend….Arenas and McCluster looked like reincarnations of the original X-factor Dante Hall, and brought the crowd to their feet on nearly every return.
Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson , back-to-back No. 3 overall picks @ DT..finally played big and the defense was flying all over the field….SD’s experience began to overcome KC’s youthful exuberance when Rivers found a wide open Legedu Naanee on the second TD. The blown coverage would be inexcusable, were it not for the fact the extra attention being paid to Antonio Gates was so successful most of the evening.
SD holdouts WR Vincent Jackson and LT Marcus McNeill definitely hurt the team’s overall chemistry. Arrowhead was actually a volatile environment. The fired up effort in their first game in a new stadium was nice to see as a fan of the game. However, it was a downpour for most of the game and the KC offense failed to convert their first 8 3rd down conversions. Conventional wisdom suggests they will be very hard pressed to consistently repeat their performance as the year progresses. But hey, I do like a good underdog story.Really though, Kevin Kolb is guaranteed the job?
What reason do the Eagles have to rush Kolb back with a Pro-Bowl veteran who led a team to within a game of the SB, and helmed the franchise to the tune of league leading jersey sales and icon status? The guy had one 300-yd game against an undermanned chiefs team last season. What else has he done? Vick ran for over 100 yards in just half a game, and nearly pulled off a come from behind win in electrifying fashion. Does anyone else think the Eagles fans want some more of that?
Texans may be the dark horse for the AFC. Seriously.
The Texans manhandled the Colts, whose run defense has never qualified as solid sans the playoff run in their Super Bowl winning 06 season. What a game (team record 230 yds) and story for second year RB Arian Foster. His 33 carries alone were eye opening for a player most avid fans had not heard of until recent weeks. Google his story its awesome... Remember when the Texans drafted freak of nature DE Mario Williams #1 ahead of Reggie Bush? Hard to believe how much opinions on that have changed. Williams harassed #18 and along with DT Amobi Okoye whose just 23 entering his 3rd season, Pro Bowl MLB Demeco Ryans and currently suspended OLB Brian Cushing, the Texans have the nucleus of a defense capable of competing with playoff caliber offenses.
The Patriots aren’t going anywhere The Patriots looked like they are back to their normal selves following their win over a high-hopes Bengals team. They were up 31-7 after Ben Tate’s KO return to open the second half. While Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward is regarded widely as the greatest slot reciever in history, Wes Welker is making a strong case for consideration, albeit with an entirely different skill set. Whereas Ward is a productive throwback who plays with the mentality of a fullback, Welker caught 123 passes (second most in league history) last season despite missing four games. The man had surgery on his knee just 8 months ago and Sunday he scored two Tds. A healthy Welker is key for NE’s offense.
Randy Moss was obviously lacking in taste with his timing regarding his 15-minute address of his contract situation, but as ESPN’s analysts pointed out the fans did not see his positive locker room address to teammates following NE’s win. He remains by all accounts a team leader and influential presence on an increasingly younger team. While the Jets and their various offseason moves garnered all the preseason attention, Belicheck and the boys (no-name defense and all) came out looking like the best team in football on the opening weekend.
