Week 2 NFL Review - Brendan Darr's Blog

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Brendan Darr's Blog

Week 2 NFL Review Stuck

Posted on September 18, 2012 at 06:21 PM.

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It was an interesting week in the NFL, to say the least. We saw some trends developing, and unfortunately, some seasons ending.

1) Struggling Running Backs

Titans Running Back Chris Johnson is averaging 1.1 yards per carry. Chiefs Running Back Jamaal Charles finished with three yards total. Raiders Running Back Darren McFadden barely has 50 yards rushing on the season through two games. 14 individual players have rushed for more yards than the Arizona Cardinals, as a team, have this season.

Is it offenses moving away from the running game? Definitely not. Teams may be catching up to these running games, but at least in the case of Charles, he isn't healthy. Maybe McFadden too. As for Chris Johnson? It is definitely one of the great mysteries of the early season.

2) Elite Quarterbacks Struggling

Before the season I argued that the top three Quarterbacks in the league were Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Of that trio, none rank in the NFL's top 10 Quarterback's in Passer Rating. Only Brees is in the top five in passing yards, while Brady is ninth.

The three are still the best three Quarterbacks in the league, but their teams have struggled so far this year. Brees, especially, has seen his teammates struggle around him with the loss of their coaching staff.

3) The Saints

So the Saints are officially in crisis mode. They have to be. Who saw this team starting 0-2 at the beginning of the season. Likely no one, not even the most pessimistic of fans, could have envisioned the Saints at 0-2.

The Saints had a 10-7 lead against the Panthers on Sunday after the first quarter. They were outscored 28-17 the final three quarters.

4) Injuries

The Redskins lost two starters on defense -- LB Brian Orakpo and DL Adam Carriker -- for the year. The Eagles lost starting Center Jason Kelce for the year as well. The Patriots vaunted attack took a hit this week with TE Aaron Hernandez sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks with a high ankle sprain.

As mentioned earlier, Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles re-injured his knee and will miss, at least, the next game. Finally, Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert suffered a bruised gluteus maximus, as well as shattered pride, in the Jaguars loss to the Texans.

5) The Replacement Refs

After Week 1, games were already taking, on average, over six minutes longer than games from 2011. That number is sure to rise after this past week's games. There were multiple blown calls in just about every game. Replays are taking forever.

Enough. That's it. It is time to end this, Roger Goodell. You can't honestly say these refs are "competent." They are completely out of their element and that is hurting the integrity of the game. Players across the league are coming out against the replacement referees.

God forbid this story is true. That is a traveshamockery.

Follow Brendan Darr on twitter for more: @BrendanDarr

Comments

# 1 StL_RamZ @ Sep 18

Lmao a bruised gluteus Maximus

# 2 Juggernaut55 @ Sep 19

Every report I've seen says Charles will play this week?

# 3 joefrommo117 @ Sep 19

Charles may play this week - he injured the same knee he had the ACL tear in last season. I think the Chiefs hope he's back to full strength and that it was just a bruise or something, but I don't think anyone knows at this point.

# 4 joefrommo117 @ Sep 19

Just saw that Charles practiced today, so he's probably fine.

# 5 Brendan Darr @ Sep 20

Yeah, I read a report Monday saying he'd miss this week, maybe more and then he practices on Wednesday. Things happen.