I finally got DirecTV installed in the converted garage and hooked up to two 42-inch flatscreens. I leave one on the red-zone channel and another on whatever game I'm watching, flipping around during commercials. I'm sure many of you already have set-ups like this (and better), but I've always had either one screen at home with the package or the sports bar. Two big screens make a huge difference.
Seeing the Giants go into San Francisco and win by 23 was a nice way to break the new room in. The game wasn't as lopsided as the score - Alex Smith's three picks set up some short fields, and the Niners defense held for the most part, though with a big lead, the Giants were content with field goals after a while.
But New York had six sacks, San Francisco had zero. And in the second half, Ahmad Bradshaw and David Wilson gashed the defense with tough runs, something no one does in that stadium. It was almost as if the Giants wanted to send a message - not only do we have the better quarterback and the more explosive outside weapons, but we can beat you where you're strongest. It was like Rocky standing toe to toe with Clubber Lang and shoving his mohawked head: "Ain't so bad."
The Giants secondary is playing better. Prince Amukamara might be a difference maker opposite Corey Webster - very likely an improvement over the departed Aaron Ross with whom they won a Super Bowl. The Giants pass rush got to Alex Smith, but it wasn't always right away. It seemed like at least a couple sacks were of the coverage variety. It might not be Revis Island or AlCROtraz, but maybe you don't want to get stranded in Port au Prince, either.
Ahmad Bradshaw now has 57 carries the last two games and seems to be holding up fine. If the Giants defense continues to play better, he can easily finish as a top-12 back. David Wilson looks like he's about to break a big play every time he touches the ball. For years, the Giants' return men were useless, but Wilson's already one of the best in the league. I don't see him getting a huge workload even if Bradshaw were to go down, however. In that case, he'd split carries with Andre Brown. But if Wilson ever averaged 8-10 rushes and 3-4 targets per game, he'd be useful.
The Ravens' defense is like the Steelers' - not the same dominant unit you associated with the name brand. Maybe it's the absence of Terrell Suggs, but he's not coming back this year, so you'll have to adjust accordingly. They're 5-1, but they barely beat New England, Dallas and Kansas City, and the home game against Cleveland was competitive, too. Now Lardarius Webb and Ray Lewis might be out for the year. The AFC North is turning into a wide-open finesse division while the NFC West - home of the Bill Walsh Niners - is the epicenter of smash-mouth.
Jason Garrett is a broken man. Scared to use his timeouts and get a more makeable FG, scared to go for it on 4th-and-5 from the Ravens' 35 earlier in the quarter. Of course, Dez Bryant dropped an easy two-point conversion that would have tied the game. It's always something with the Cowboys. They're the NFC version of the Chargers, and I'd be very surprised if Philip Rivers or Tony Romo ever win a Super Bowl despite being plenty good enough and having more than enough talent around them.
Jeff Fisher's Titans teams always seemed to be a tough out, and it's no different now that he's in St. Louis. Their only big loss was in Chicago, and even that game was close well into the fourth quarter. Neither Steven Jackson nor Daryl Richardson has a rushing touchdown this season, so Fisher hasn't abandoned the team's traditions altogether.
Say what you want about Michael Vick, but he puts up stats - 300 yards, two passing TDs, 59 yards on the ground. Matt Stafford is still a volume guy, and he'll have plenty of passing yards on a per-game basis. But he's league average at best right now in real life, especially considering he has the best receiver in the league on his team.
Matt Ryan and the Falcons are awfully lucky. They completed one 20-yard pass after it bounced of a defender's helmet into Harry Douglas' hands while he was lying on the ground. They also got a pick six to take the lead, but gave it right back before Vanilla Ice heroically drove them into 55-yard FG range. If the season were to end today, Ryan would probably win the MVP vote, but it's telling that few if anyone would take him over Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning or Drew Brees. While the MVP isn't a career achievement award, you have to at least think the guy is top-five at his positon right now for him to deserve it.
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, I told our FFL producer Alan Springer to start him over Peyton Manning, but he listened to the advice of others (who won't be named but who know who they are) and went with Manning. I like Peyton's match-up against the Chargers, but he's going to have a tough time beating 338 yards, six TDs and 17 rushing yards. Regrettably, a caller on that show asked Rodgers or Ryan, and I said Ryan! I knew it was wrong in my gut as I said it, but it was the "Rapid Response" segment, so there was no time to retract. I apologize to whoever that was. I also think the segment should be changed to "Rabid Reponse," but that's just me.
What happened to Brian Flatline?
I had A.J. Green as my No. 2 receiver heading into this year, and apparently I was off by one. Green just went 7-135-2 against Joe Haden who's now arguably the best corner in the league with Darrelle Revis out for the year. He's at least Calvin Johnson's equal in fantasy at this point.
Montario Hardesty passed the eye test when Trent Richardson went out with an injury. Brandon Weeden had another quietly competent game.
How did this Colts team beat the Packers last week? They made Shonn Greene look like Shaun Alexander in his prime.
Maybe the Chiefs should bring back Brodie Croyle instead of Brady Quinn.
The Bucs run defense seems fairly stout, holding Jamaal Charles to just 40 yards on 12 carries.
Carson Palmer is actually good, but he can't shake the pick-six habit. Denarius Moore is easily the team's best receiver when he's healthy. For some reason, Darren McFadden can't find a hole, but Mike Goodson can't find someone to tackle him. Goodson had two fewer yards on 25 fewer touches. Sebastian Janikowski booms 52-yard field-goals like they're extra points.
It was pretty frustrating to see Oakland blow that game as fading ATL was such a nice pot odds play in Survivor. Pretty much everyone else won this week - except the Steelers - whom I had in two of my three remaining pools.
Russell Wilson has played much better the last two games, but it was shocking to see the Pats let Sidney Rice beat them deep up six with 1:18 left in the game. There wasn't much running in this game, though Robert Turbin had more success than Marshawn Lynch.
Stevan Ridley dropped a pass early in this one, but still wound up with 16 carries and a reception. Still, Brandon Bolden and Danny Woodhead were involved and ran more successfully.
C.J. Spiller is a top-five real-life back and should be top 12-15 in fantasy even if Fred Jackson stays healthy and gets his full cut of the time share.
In the 11th round of the 12-team, short bench, 1-QB Yahoo Friends and Family league, I had a choice between RGIII and Peyton Manning. I felt Manning was probably the sober pick, but it was a shallow 1-QB league, so I took the guy I wanted. Not that I could have gone wrong with either, but you have to love it when your QB runs for a 76-yard TD.
I was wrong to credit the Packers for last year's performance agains the Colts last week, but I was apparently also wrong not to credit them for it against Houston this week. Obviously, last year's team showed up tonight - only with a better defense. And Alex Green looks like a upgrade from James Starks. In one day, the Packers went from roughly top-10 to arguably the favorite to win the Super Bowl.