Triple Coverage: 2010 1st Edition

I love the NFL. I love it so much that I feel like I don’t watch enough of it after I leave a bar with 18 screens and every possible game broadcasted. I love it so much that I literally feel sick after every Raiders season opener because I know they’re still going to suck and Al Davis is still alive. I love football so much that I actually care about the flummoxing culmination of an atrocious Bears/Lions game. I love it so much that I bet on nearly every game and have a vested interest in games most team’s fans don’t even care about. I love it so much that I mapped out a ridiculous formula in which I determined the new decade’s crop of elite teams. I love it so much that I finish watching games like last week’s Cowboys/Redskins game and Ravens/Jets game thinking, “Man, I love football. I’m so glad it’s back,” when every other fan and sportswriter groans about how unbearable of a disgrace those contests were. I love it so much that I feel I don’t write about it enough. Which led me to believe that I needed to do something about it. And now we’re here.

Welcome to the first edition of Triple Coverage. This will be the Terry’s Take semi-weekly column for the rest of the NFL season unless another topic happens to supersede it for a specific week. It will consist of three segments per column (topics that emerge from the particular week, subplots that may have materialized throughout the course of the season, intriguing storylines, etc.), and will ultimately preview the upcoming week. Ok, enough prefacing. Let’s get another running column underway.

First Impressions
Arian Foster may have been everybody’s fantasy sleeper this offseason, but nobody predicted what would show up next to his name in the box score after week 1. It was another performance resulting in this reaction from every opposing fantasy owner: “THIS GUY DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE’S DOING!!! HE DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL!! I BET HE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHO ARIAN FOSTER WAS BEFORE HE READ THAT F**KING FANTASY FOOTBALL COLUMN BY MATTHEW BERRY!!! I KNEW FANTASY FOOTBALL WAS ALL LUCK!!!!! WHAT A JOKE.” Which is pretty much what I say every year.

Nevertheless, he headlined a monumental coming-out party. Foster rushed for 231 yards and three touchdowns, as the Texans beat the Colts for the first time in a game of legitimate merit. For once, the Texans might actually be for real. We all knew they could throw the ball, but the combination of beating the Colts and doing it with only 107 yards passing is one scary sight for the rest of the league.
Michael Vick may not be the superstar he once was, but he seems to be getting his old legs back. Without the serendipity of Kevin Kolb’s injury, the Packers would’ve ran away with their 20-3 third quarter lead in week 1. Instead, Vick used his newly nimble feet and revitalized speed to rally his team to a mere one-touchdown deficit. The Eagles still lost, but an added spark to an otherwise lackluster team in transition may be just what Philadelphia needs. His in-game production: 175 passing yards, one touchdown, no interceptions; 103 rushing yards on 11 attempts. That stat line seems indicative of the resurrection of Michael Vick. Too bad Andy Reid already pronounced Kolb the starter once at full strength. Remind me what makes him such a great coach again? Oh yeah, he teases his fans by making it to the playoffs every year and never winning a Super Bowl. I always forget that.

Alex Smith made a first impression as well – just not a very good one. The verdict: no touchdowns, two interceptions, 57.8 completion percentage, a dismal 52.5 passer rating, and a brutal shellacking by the Seattle Seahawks. Most of all, he temporarily aided the vindication for the 49ers as this year’s “Ubiquitous Sleeper Selection,” a selection dedicated to the “breakout team” that inevitably dissatisfies every season. Sometimes forewarnings dissipate the bewilderment.

If we were to jump to conclusions…
We would pick Seattle and the Kansas City Chiefs to win the NFC West and AFC West, respectively. Should we do it? Probably not, but these are the unquestioned worst divisions in the NFL, and both of these teams started the season off with a resounding bang.

The Chiefs played with energy, displayed explosiveness in multiple facets, and thrived off a legitimate home-field advantage to beat the San Diego Chargers 21-14. The offense was less than stellar (197 total yards, 1/11 on third down, 62 yards passing), but made the plays necessary (Jamaal Charles’ effortless 56-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, Dexter McCluster’s scintillating 94-yard punt return) to ignite the home crowd and keep the Chargers on their heels. Although the offense is shaky, the Chiefs obtain a young foundation (the abovementioned playmakers, Derrick Johnson, Glenn Dorsey, Javier Arenas, Dwayne Bowe, a respectable quarterback in Matt Cassel) that can only improve as the season progresses. With the ambiance of New Arrowhead Stadium behind them to augment situations such as the prevention of San Diego’s comeback on the final drive, the Chiefs have the ability to make some noise in the AFC West. Big plays come intermittently in the NFL, but may be just enough for Kansas City if the division proves to be as weak as it seems.

If the Chiefs displayed intimidating energy, the Seahawks took it to a whole new level. After the team’s first interception by Jordan Babineaux, Pete Carroll couldn’t contain his exhilaration. Matt Hasselbeck pumped his fist with enthusiasm after every touchdown. Seattle receivers torched the San Francisco secondary with every double-move. Mike Williams made his first NFL catch since 2007 and then some, showing unprecedented heart and determination. The Seattle Seahawks instantaneously became a compelling squad after week 1, drawing resemblances to the 2007 Golden State Warriors: a bunch of misfit counterparts that attain winning capabilities based on desire and fearlessness alone. With no evident superstar, energetic unity and camaraderie make this team a daunting contender for the NFC West crown. The most resonating moment from Seattle’s week 1 victory: Carroll received the game ball. Now there’s someone to believe in.

Cover 2
Two significant week 2 games to keep a close eye on: Texans at Redskins; Patriots at Jets. The Redskin defense was stalwart against the Cowboys, as playmakers flew around the field and prevented big plays from Tony Romo and the Dallas offense. Whether the critics were right about the dreadful play on both sides will be figured out once Washington is tested by the seemingly omnipotent Houston offense. On the other hand, the Indianapolis defense left Houston with a few question marks, so the Texans may have more to prove as well.

The Jets’ offense was painful to watch on Monday night, and it’s tough to fathom how it can improve drastically in a single week. The defense is possibly tops in the NFL, but low-scoring defeats will be a recurring theme until Mark Sanchez finds contentment within the offense and Shonn Greene makes an impact. New England still attains all the tools to put a slew of points on the board, giving them an apparent edge based on what we’ve seen thus far. Week two could give us a glimpse of how the AFC East will pan out this year.

Top bets of the week: Dolphins (+5.5) over VIKINGS; PACKERS (-13.5) over Bills; Ravens (-2) over BENGALS; Seahawks (+3.5) over BRONCOS; COLTS (-5) over Giants