The Sports Headquarters

I’m not trying to troll for hits. I’m not anti-Green Bay. I’m not pro-Seattle. I’m just a man who watches sports and then writes my opinions for the masses to reflect upon. It’s what I do. So what I saw last night was a Green Bay Packers team who got flat out dominated by a good Seahawks team. Absolutely crushed. I believe the old addage goes something like, “You do not win or lose games based off of one individual play.” If that addage is true, then the last play of the game was merely to ensure the right team got credited for the win. Which I believe is what happened. Blame the refs all you want. Incorrectly blame Roger Goodell all you’d like. That’s not going to change anything. The Green Bay Packers are 1-2 while the Seattle Seahawks are 2-1. Point to the last play all you’d like, but those records accurately refect the teams who possess them. Bill Parcels would be proud. Blaming the officials for anything takes away from everything else that happened last night.

Both of these teams are a pleasant surprise through the first two weeks of 2012. The Falcons have looked liked the team everyone thought they could be in 2011 while you could easily say the same about the Chargers. Oh well. Better late than never I suppose. While both teams come into Week 3 with undefeated 2-0 marks, someone is going to leave San Diego with a blemish on their record. This is the Chargers last game before they face the Broncos in Week 6 so they better enjoy this home cooking while they still have it. The Falcons are coming off of an impressive win at home against the same Broncos while they look to go 3-0 against the AFC West throughout their first three games (kind of strange scheduling, no?). Regardless, this is an interesting matchup between two teams who no one expected to start off this hot. Which team will continue their unbeaten streak while the other tastes bitter defeat for the first time this season? Who knows! Maybe everyone will be happy and they will tie. (What are we? ESPN all of a sudden?)

With the Lions coming off of a tough loss against the 49ers, and the Titans coming off of a drubbing by the San Diego Chargers, this is the definition of a bounceback week for both teams. Only problem is, the Lions already have a win in 2012 while the Titans remain winless heading into Week 3. Does that mean much? No, probably not. I’ll tell you right now, the Lions are winning this football game. Calvin Johnson Madden curse or not, the Lions will beat the Titans. The Titans have looked horrible through the first two weeks of the young season while the Lions have looked bad but not as bad as Tennessee. After two disappointing performances by both teams to start the season, something has to give in this Week 3 matchup, so how will the Lions do it?

Coaching, contrary to popular belief, is important. Don’t believe me? Check the Saints 0-2 record to start 2012. No Sean Payton = No wins. It’s been that simple. Romeo Crennel, as solid of a coach as he may be, is also off to a 0-2 start which has left some scratching their heads. They haven’t had the toughest of starts schedule wise yet they come into Week 3 winless heading into a likely hostile Superdome in New Orleans. Unlike the Jets-Dolphins game I just previewed, I actually believe this has the potential to be a phenomenal game. Why? Two teams fighting for their first win of the season. 0-3 is a death sentence. You enter Week 4 without a win on your resume’ you might as well start watching college games to figure out who you’re drafting in 2013. The writing is on the wall for this to be a high scoring matchup between the NFC South and AFC West basement dwellers. So, which team gets their first victory of 2012?

The Jets are about as unstable as unstable comes. The Dolphins are slightly more stable with worse players. Currently, the AFC East is a four way tie with all four teams currently 1-1. The Bills, however, can take a seat in last place after they were stomped out in Week 1 by these New York Jets. This is a tough game to call. It’s supposed to be raining which you think would be an advantage for the Dolphins because Reggie Bush has been playing like a top two pick ever since he got to Miami but the Jets do still have Shonn Green and Tim Tebow. Neither defense really wows me and neither team’s passing attack is anything to write home about so this game is as hard as possible for me to call. So, let’s wing it. I’m too tired to try to make this game funny. Also, this game won’t be funny. It will likely be sad. Mainly because one of these teams will likely get a win after it is played.

I have a 100% serious question that I need an answer to immediately. How long does it take for someone to shake an image of being a bust? A year? Two years? More? How long until people stop being surprised with your output on the field and start taking you seriously in the NFL? Because I know Alex Smith still gets dogged despite a quality 2011 and so far a solid 2012. But how long is Reggie Bush going to be seen as someone who was only good in college? Because that’s about as big of a myth as the whole “icing the kicker” strategy I spoke about in my earlier preview. Since this game sucked about as much as I figured it would (Sadly Terrell Prior did not start like he would have if I played the Raiders in Madden), I’m just going to tell you score then go into full Reggie Bush mode for about 800 words or so. If you hate Reggie Bush, then it’s probably a good idea to stay tuned to see how foolish you have been. The Dolphins won 35-13 for the five of you who cared but not enough to watch the game.

Coaching staffs don’t get nearly enough credit. In fact, neither do referees. In fact, neither do most artists up until they are no longer with us. It’s strange how we don’t appreciate something until it is gone. Luckily for the Saints, Sean Payton will eventually come back and coach again. Sadly, that will not be any time soon and the Saints may end up paying the same price for Bountygate that the New England Patriots ended up paying for Spygate: a lost season. After Spygate, the Patriots missed the playoffs. Sure, that had everything to do with Bernard Pollard and his personal vendetta against the Patriots, but 2008 ended up being a lost season nonetheless for the Pats. 2012, so far, has shapen up to be an absolute debacle for the bountyless Saints as lost to the Panthers in Carolina on Sunday.