Bottom 8 Online Franchise Week 2 - TCrouch's Blog

TCrouch's Blog

Bottom 8 Online Franchise Week 2

Posted on August 25, 2009 at 11:46 AM.

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Last Week's Games:

Game of the Week:

(1-1) Browns (TJ) 10, (0-2) Broncos 6
In a game that was all about the defense, the Browns and Broncos (two teams I would have never expected to get into a defensive slugfest in the first place) went at it. This game wasn't decided until the final minutes, when Orton of the Broncos threw an interception in the end zone to seal it.

Best of the rest:
(1-1) Lions (TCrouch) 35, (1-1) Vikings 31
The Vikings didn't control the clock (22:29 TOP to 37:31 for the Lions), but did all of their damage on big plays. Brett Favre over the top to Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian, as well as a 44 yard run by Adrian Peterson set them up well. The lead changed 3 times in the final two minutes in this thriller of a finish.

(1-1) Rams (Longhorn) 31, (0-2) Redskins (mgoblue) 24
Steven Jackson was a workhorse in this game. The Rams held a 17-7 lead at the half, and extended that to 24-10 after three quarters. But a feisty Redskins team fought back to close to within one score with 4:51 to play. Washington's playing tough, but Steven Jackson working with an early lead is hard for any team to push past.

(2-0) Bills (Dookie) 31, (1-1) Buccaneers 24
A close 10-10 game at halftime was blown apart by a 21 point 3rd quarter eruption by the Bills. The quarter was one of the most complete quarters of football turned in by any team this season--a 66 yard punt return score, a 38 yard interception return for a score, and a 29 yard TD pass from Edwards to Owens. That's balance. Tampa made it interesting with a 14 point 4th quarter, but it was never really in doubt after the third.

(1-1) Raiders 44, (0-2) Chiefs (Rustedwalleye) 23
This game was a slugfest for three quarters. Heading into the 4th quarter it was a 23-23 tie. Then Darrius Heyward-Bey of the Raiders caught a 90 yard TD pass from Jeff Garcia. A pair of field goals (from the punter, Lechler?!?), and All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha returned a pick for a TD in a 4th quarter explosion. The Chiefs have a long way to go to compete this season.

Snoozers and Laughers

(2-0) Saints (Steve) 41, (1-1) Eagles 14
What happened here? After exploding for a quick 7-0 lead on a Brian Westbrook run, not much else went right for the Iggles. Check the stat line: 8 first downs (compared to 24), 227 offensive yards (vs. 470), and 11:33 time of possession (compared to 48:27!). Just a thorough dismantling.

(2-0) Jaguars (Altimus) 36, (0-2) Cardinals 15
It was 30-7 in the 3rd quarter before Warner managed to find Fitzgerald for a score and a 2 point conversion to even have half the points that the Jaguars did. When that's the high point of your game, you had a bad day. Yet when you look at the stat sheet, you see the Cardinals racking up 410 yards of offense compared to 217 for the Jaguars. You see Kurt Warner putting up 328 yards on 36/55 passing with 2 TD's. And then you see those 5 INT's and it all makes sense.

Human Rankings, Week 2:

#1 (LW #1) Bills (2-0) 1st AFC East, Dookie
Dookie's Bills continue to roll. A showdown with Steve's Saints in week 3 will shake up these rankings.

#2 (LW #2) Jaguars (2-0) 1st AFC South, Altimus
It's all about the defense in Jacksonville. As long as the Jags continue to force turnovers, they'll stay near the top all season.

#3 (LW #3) Saints (2-0) 1st NFC South, Steve
Coach Noah has a real chance at contending with this team, as long as his offense continues to put up the numbers that it is, and his defense forces turnovers. The game against the Bills will be the season's barometer.

#4 (LW #4) Browns (1-1) 2nd AFC North, TJ
The Browns will be locked in some very tight contests all year long. I can't see them winning many games where the opponent scores 30 or more points, though. The offense that Cleveland has just isn't built for it.

#5 (LW #5) Rams (1-1) 2nd NFC West, Longhorn
Steven Jackson will make the Rams a potential playoff team, 1 season removed from a 2-14 debacle. Longhorn has St. Louis prepared each week--even in the season-opening 4 point loss.

#6 (LW #7) Lions (1-1) 1st NFC North, TCrouch
Will the real Lions please stand up? Getting shellacked 48-28 on opening night, they bounce back and manage to steal a victory from a much more dangerous Vikings attack. A loss to the 0-2 Redskins this week could spell huge problems in Detroit for the second consecutive season.

#7 (LW #6) Redskins (0-2) 4th NFC East, mgoblue
The Redskins came into 2009 with huge expectations. Then they ran into Brandon Jacobs in the opener. Still reeling from that loss, they met Steven Jackson of the Rams. The front seven is battered black and blue by those running backs. The good news is the Lions running game has no bite. They're the cure for any bad rushing defense.

#8 (LW #8) Chiefs (0-2) 3rd AFC West, Rustedwalleye
What can you say about the Chiefs. First the Ravens completely decimated them on opening day 52-10. Then the Raiders had their way with them in the 4th quarter to drop them to 0-2. The silver lining would be the fact that they competed for 3 quarters against Oakland before imploding in the 4th. Based on that, they should have a complete game and a possible victory around week 6 when they play the Redskins.

This Week's Games

Game of the Week
(2-0) Saints (Steve) @ (2-0) Bills (Dookie)
Early power struggle atop the rankings. Two opportunistic defenses support explosive offenses. This should be a good one, but I see the Bills pulling this one out.

(1-1) Packers @ (1-1) Rams (Longhorn)
Longhorn is finding his groove with Jackson, and I don't see much changing against Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers can hurt a secondary if you give him time, however. St. Louis by 7.

(2-0) Jaguars (Altimus) @ (1-1) Texans
I predict ugliness in this contest. The Texans love to go to Andre Johnson a lot. Any team that has a weapon that accounts for so much of their offense in the passing game is something that Jacksonville can focus on and force turnovers. Slaton may be able to bring balance, but I think the Jags will force at least 3 turnovers and win by 14.

(1-1) Browns (TJ) @ (1-1) Ravens
This is, on paper, a match that's tailor-made for the Browns. Two teams that love to play defense, and two offenses that don't exactly light up the scoreboard. However, I'll take Flacco over Brady Quinn in a tight contest. Ravens by 6.

(0-2) Chiefs (Walleye) @ (1-1) Eagles
The Chiefs have a lot to prove this week, and will need to bring their A game to pull out a victory at the Linc. I can't see it happening. There are too many weapons on the Eagles, and they'll be upset after getting exposed by the Saints last week. Bad news, Chiefs fans. Eagles by 17.

(0-2) Redskins (mgoblue) @ (1-1) Lions (TCrouch)
This one could be a close one. Or it could be a blowout. The good news for the Redskins is that the Lions can't run the ball a lick. The bad news for the Redskins is that Stafford has a cannon and is in the top 5 in passing yardage, and he's got a hell of a pair of weapons in Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew. If the Redskins can force some turnovers, it's possible that they get into the win column. It's possible...but not probable. Lions by 10.