How The West Is Won “NFL Edition” – Week Two
How The West Is Won “NFL Edition” – Week Two
I hoped your enjoyed last weeks review and I welcome to week two of “How The West Is Won”, as I round discuss the ultra competitive NFC West. Most importantly, how our Arizona Cardinals are looking, and a quick glance at the rest of the NFL.
So let’s get straight into it with our NFC West leading 2-0 Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals went to New Jersey to take on the New York Giants, and came away with a reasonably comfortable 25-14 victory. If there is a good time to play the G -Men is it definitely now, as they struggle to adapt to the new West Coast style offense. However, when the news broke that Carson Palmer would not be suiting up and Drew Stanton would be behind center the Giants fans grew in confidence. Stanton, did not impress anyone with his performance to be honest, but he did what you would like for a backup QB to do. He avoided the big turnover plays which is something that can not be said of the opposing QB Eli Manning.
The Cardinals D put a stranglehold on the struggling Giants and with some good returns from Ted Ginn Jr gave them good field position. The Cardinals were able to produce a professional and workmanlike performance that was far too much for the home town Giants.
Sep 8, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals linebacker John Abraham (55) against the San Diego Chargers at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
After recent events John Abraham was not available for this game, and he is done for the year, probably for his Cardinals’career now you would think. Additionally, in a week in which the NFL hardly covered itself in glory, RB Jonathan Dwyer added to the woes with his recent Domestic Violence charge. Given the current climate of the NFL Dwyer is unlikely to represent the Birdgang again either.
Also starting the week at 1-0 were the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. Seattle who found themselves travelling down the West Coast to take on the San Diego Chargers a team we ourselves had beaten the prior week. To be honest, this looked to be a far better Charger outfit that the one we saw in Phoenix, but even so the final score of 30-21 in San Diego’s favor was a surprise. The Chargers were immense, and even a typical Percy Harvin scoring play (which wasn’t picked up under review that he had stepped out-of-bounds) didn’t rattle them. Philip Rivers was more than happy to take on the Legion of Boom, throwing 3 TD passes to Antonio Gates and didn’t mind throwing towards Richard Sherman, something Aaron Rodgers and the Packers wouldn’t do in week one.
The Seahawks will be back as they return home for a Super Bowl rematch with Peyton Manning next up. The Hawks at home are fierce but if there is a weakness in that Seahawks D in which Rivers may have stumbled upon, you can be sure Peŷton Manning will exploit it. However,expect the Seahawks to prevail at home though.
The only team to lose last week in the NFC West was the St Louis Rams. The Rams traveled to Tampa Bay this week with third string QB Austin Davis starting under center. The Buccaneers are struggling so far to be truthful, but this was a far improved Rams effort from the Vikings debacle last week. The renowned defense even without Chris Long, was far too much for Tampa. Zac Stacy got the Rams running game going, but the Rams still don’t seem to know how to use Tavon Austin, much to the annoyance of most onlookers, some of their own fans included.
However, this win will give them confidence, and this performance will probably be a template for any success they may have this season. Stedman Bailey returning from suspension next week could give their passing attack a boost as well.
The week ended on Sunday Night with San Francisco 49ers playing host to the Chicago Bears. The Niners were comfortable in Dallas last week, and in the first regular season game at their new Levi stadium would surely not slip up. But, despite getting out to a big lead early, the Bears ( off the back of losing to Buffalo last week) with star wide outs Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey obviously limping, managed to come roaring back and knock off San Francisco 28-20. The Bear may have exposed some rather glaring issues in a much depleted Niners defense in the process.
Sep 14, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts late into the fourth quarter of their game with the Chicago Bears at Levis Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
We shall see if this is the case as next up for the Niners are the Cardinals. The Cardinals will be again be led by Drew Stanton, this time after a full week if preparation, so it will be interesting to see if Stanton can also attack the Niners defense.
The Rest of the NFL was dominated by talk of policies. The new drug policy which sees non-performance enhancing drug limits raised in line with other sports and suspensions issued was reassessed. Domestic violence in the wake of the Ray Rice situation is a huge issue. Click here to see our thoughts on the manner. Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers has been found guilty of this and is awaiting an appeal trial by jury. Niners Ray McDonald has been charged as well, and so has Dwyer as we mentioned early. Perhaps the biggest and possibly most damning news was Adrian Peterson being indicted for endangerment of a child, namely his own four-year old son.
On the field Jonny Football got on the field, for two plays at least, as Cleveland led by Brian Hoyer and without first choice RB and WR were able to rally and beat New Orleans Saints. The game of the week though was probably in Indianapolis, where the Colts for once got off to a flyer and had a lead over the Eagles, but Chip Kelly’s team came roaring back in a style that must be familiar in games Andrew Luck plays in now, as the Eagles prevailed 30-27 after a Trent Richardson fumble gave the ball away.
So we are an eighth of the way to knowing “How The West Is Won” in 2014 at least and so far so good the Cardinals lead the way, bring on the Niners!