NFL power poll
Man, gotta tell you guys, getting into the fall routine feels great.
There’s a little bit of a nip in the air this morning when I took the dogs out. There was football highlights on the TV as we made breakfasts and lunches. We reviewed the MNF games and see that the Titans played a tight game filled with kicking woes with the scores in the teens.
Happy fall everyone.
With that – and here’s hoping you played my picks Monday from Press Row, with Steelers minus-6 and Denver plus-3 (buy the half) – Tuesdays in the NFL season means power time.
Giddy-up.
Power poll
Kansas City. Want to know what has two thumbs and overpaid for Clyde Edwards-Helaire in his fantasy league? This guy. It’s hard to find a weakness in the Chiefs offense from a top-three QB, to a nice collection of pass catchers with the best tight end in the game, an all-time play-calling staff with Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy, a cohesive and familiar offensive line and now a promising rookie in CEH. Look out.
New Orleans. As we try to slot teams in a league that has 16 team that are 1-0 and 16 more than are 0-1, finding dividing line items beyond score is important. The Saints defeated a much-hyped foe in the Tompa Brady Bucs. The Saints did it with Michael Thomas, their best player – and arguably the best non-quarterback in the league – catching all of three passes. The Saints did it with Drew Brees playing below expectations, with 18-for-30 for 160 yards.
Seattle. The numbers were staggeringly good for Seattle, which allowed a late score to the pass-happy, defensive-allergic Falcons. Russell Wilson had the second best statistical showing of any QB in week 1, right behind.
Baltimore. He was far from alone in wondering how Lamar Jackson would work in the NFL, but Bill Polian truly has to hate this high-revving Ravens offense right? Polian, the NFL Hall of Fame executive became the face of the “Jackson will be a great WR” in the NFL during the draft process a couple of years ago. Jackson, last year’s unanimous league MVP, picked right up Sunday against a Browns team that was, well, the Browns. In the convoluted QB rating system, Jackson’s 152.1 (out of 158.3) was the best in large part because of his willingness to strike downfield efficiently. Jackson averaged 11 yards on each of his 25 pass attempts and threw three scores in the 38-6 win over Cleveland.
Green Bay. So Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers. Who knew? Cue the Dennis Green I know I preach the importance and the impact of good QB play, but look at the opening week of the power poll and those sentiments get even more power-packed. (Side Rushmore of ‘power’ folks: Kenny Powers, Georgia Power, Girl Power, Flower Power? Tough leaving former Hart to Hart Stephanie Powers off, but so it goes. Whatcha got?) Anyhoo, with the possible exception of DeShaun Watson for Drew Brees, it’s not a shock that the best teams have the best QBs, is it?
Powerless
Atlanta. Yes, that’s an offense loaded with firepower and 10 former first-round picks, and if you are a fantasy football player, try to deal for as many Falcons as you can get. But that defense put the A in A-trocious gang. Yes, Russell Wilson is excellent. But these Falcons made him look like Joe Montana mixed with Mike Vick. And if memory serves, isn’t Dan Quinn a defensive guy? Hmmmmmm. How bad is this Atlanta defense and coaching staff? Well, since the Super Bowl meltdown, this team is 14-19 with a Hall of Fame quarterback and one of the 10 best wide receivers ever to put on cleats.
New York Giants. Yes, there are a lot of folks who wonder how much I know and how stupid I can be, but here’s a little math that I believe will be forever undefeated. If Ben Roethlisberger has more rushing yards than Saquon Barkely, the Giants are going to lose.
Miami. DaVante Parker getting injured is crippling for a team that had high hopes after a strong finish to 2019. Man, we’re going to need to add another ‘B’ to the list of items that helped New England create the greatest dynasty in professional sports in the free agency era. There is Belichick. There was Brady. And there continues to be really Bad teams in the AFC East.
New York Jets. Speaking of that, hello New York Jets. Yes, Buffalo’s defense is salty and right there with Pittsburgh as the best in the league, but the Jets are rotten. Rot-TON. In a conversation that is going to be asked in a lot of places, do the Jets have a franchise QB in Sam Darnold?
Cleveland. Browns gonna Browns friends. Re-cue the Dennis Green. I know there are a lot of overreactions on the Monday and Tuesday following the opening week of the NFL season, but the questions about Baker Mayfield being a franchise dude or not are real, and pertinent. Because I certainly do not know. And worse yet, neither does Cleveland nor Baker himself.
US Open
Let’s open the Open with an Open contest to win stuff. Who’s with me?
The rules are easy and familiar. Pick five players in this week’s U.S. Open – there are two local choices in Baylor School grads Stephen Jäger and Harris English, who has been as steady as your grandfather’s work ethic – and count the four best scores.