How the Steelers can win with Mike Vick

Sunday was bittersweet for Steelers fans, and the general consensus is that the bitter outweighs the sweet by a large margin. The sweet part of Sunday afternoon was that the Steelers pulled out a gutsy 12-6 win on the road against a tough St. Louis Rams team, and proved that they can win even when their explosive offense is not clicking. The bitter part for Steelers fans was that they received the news that they would be deprived of the privilege of watching #7 line up behind the center for
at least one month.

Early in the 3rd Quarter, Rams Safety Mark Barron accidentally drove his helmet into the knee of Ben Roethlisberger, knocking him out of the game. Early Sunday evening, it was reveled that the QB and unquestioned leader of the Black and Gold has a sprained MCL and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, if not more. The man who is replacing Big Ben is none other than Mike Vick. That's right. The man who caused many Steelers fans to claim to throw away their loyalty to the team will now be all over television for at least the next month, and it will be a great test of loyalty for those who blew up social media declaring that the Steelers were dead to them.

For Steelers fans who made these threats and didn't go through with them (I'm sure there were plenty of them), Vick starting is a chance to show just how badly they exaggerated their outrage when he was signed back in August.  For those who went through with their threats of abandonment (which I suspect there were few),  it will make the withdrawal process much easier. For those like myself who support Vick, it's an opportunity to see just how much the former Virginia Tech Hokie has left in the tank.

While losing Roethlisherger is a massive loss that puts a dent in the Porsche that is the Steeler offense, it may be nothing more than a flat tire that is fixable. Here are some ways in which the Steelers can manage Ben's injury and remain in playoff contention with Vick as a substitute teacher:

Receivers  
The Steelers still have plenty of weapons in their arsenal, and having 2 of the most dangerous offensive threats in the game at his disposal will make the transition much easier for Vick to handle. Having Antiono Brown, Le'veon Bell, Marcus Wh
eaton, Heath Miller and, after this Thursday, Martavis Bryant to throw to is something that every quarterback would love to have, and I think Vick is capable of working with this group.

Le'veon a prayer 
Le'veon Bell is the man. After serving a suspension for the first 2 weeks of the season as a result of the McKnight Road Incident, Bell made his season debut in St. Louis on
Sunday and played a big role, accounting for 132 yards of total offense, 70 of which were receiving. With Ben out, the Steelers will not be as active in throwing the deep ball, which means that short passes will become even more prevalent in Todd Haley's offensive game plan. As good as Antonio Brown is, Bell is the focal point of this offense because he possesses a versatility that is so rare among running backs and has never been seen in Pittsburgh. Bell is a joy to watch no matter who is behind center, and I'm intrigued to see just how good he can be as the year goes on.

Depth at Runningback

While Bell was serving his suspension, Deangelo Williams was called on to fill his shoes. Williams exceeded the expectations of a lot of Steelers fans by rushing for 204 Yards on 41 Carries in 2 games, before curiously getting only one touch against the Rams when Bell returned this past Sunday. As good as Bell is, getting Williams involved would improve the offense a great deal. If used correctly, Williams would take carries away from B
ell, which would give Le'Veon less of a workload and decrease the risk of injury. The Steelers are no stranger to mismanaging  (Lagarratte Blount anyone?) Let's hope the Steelers take advantage of the options that Williams gives them.

Defense???????

It;s too early to determine weather the Steelers defense will serve as an asset or be the teams Achilles heal. John Butler has plenty of talent to work with in his first year as the team's defensive coordinator, but there is also inexperience that comes with that talent. Out of 11 defensive starters, only 3 are above the age of 30, and 3 have 3 years or less of NFL experience. After a disappointing Week 1 performance in Foxborough, the past 2 weeks went smoothly for the defense, as they allowed a combined total of just 24 points against San Francisco and St. Louis. It's always hard to tell if young players can play consistently well, but if the Steelers defensive unit can keep riding the high wave that they have been on the past 2 weeks, it will make life without Big Ben a lot easier to get through.

Vick's Mobility
From 2001-2006, Mike Vick was arguably the greatest running quarterback in the history of the NFL. Although his feet are not what they used to be, Vick still has the ability to pull off a big run once in a while (i.e against the Steelers last year as a member of the New York Jets), and he is a better scrambler than Roethlisberger. Vick's mobility will help keep opposing defenses guessing, as they know not to underestimate what Vick can still do with his legs.

Experience 
Simply put, Mike Vick knows what he's doing.  He's been an NFL Quarterback since 2001, and has spent most of his time in the league as a starter. The Steelers are fortunate to have the luxury of having a back-up QB that they know will not get rattled in emergency situations, an asset which plenty of teams, such as the Patriots, don't have. Vick seemed very calm in his appearance in St. Louis, and I think he will retain that confidence come Thursday Night at Heinz Field. I'm much more comfortable with Vick starting than I would be if I were a Patriots fan facing the reality of Jimmy Garoppolo starting for 4 weeks.

I am predicting that, assuming the timetable for Ben's return is accurate, the Steelers will go 2-2 in the 4 week interim. 4-2 if he is out for 6. Losing Big Ben is a crushing blow, but I say to all Steelers fans for the time being that rather than panic, just sit back, relax, and see if Mike Vick has one last miracle left in him.

NFL Week 3 Preview/Predictions

            

Hello everybody. Although I am a rather pedestrian 17-16 on my NFL picks so far, I can proudly say that I am at the very top of the food chain, as evidenced by the table above. My cousins, to this point, have not been as successful in predicting as I have. Hopefully it stays that way after Week 3. After the New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins on Thursday Night, Brad, Jeff and I are all 1-0 for the week, while Ryan is 0-1. Let's break down all of these Week 3 battles to see why we think what we think

1:00
Bengals(2-0) at Ravens(0-2)
Almost all of us are united here. The Ravens have had a very disappointing start to the season, losing their first 2 games to Denver and Oakland on the road. Cincinnati is 2-0, with wins over Oakland and San Diego. I think that the Ravens will be playing very inspired football on Sunday, as 0-3 is not an option for a team of their caliber. Andy Dalton will struggle against the Baltimore defense, and I see the Ravens winning a low scoring affair, 20-16. The lone ranger who sees the Bengals pulling out a win is Jeff, who stated that the ''Ravens are struggling''. Very deep observation.

Most Intriguing Match-up
Raiders(1-1) at Browns(1-1)

The most intriguing match-up of the week isn't always the best one. I find this game very intriguing because it is between 2 teams that have been doormats in this league for a while, but are itching back towards respectability. I think Oakland is a sleeper in the AFC West, as they have a much improved offensive attack with the additions of receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper. However, I think the Cleveland defense will cause problems for Derek Carr this week, and the Browns will feed off of their home crowd and improve to 2-1. Josh McCown will be behind center this week instead of Johnny Manziel. While I am part of the ''Free Johnny Football'' campaign, I do think McCown is capable.

While he is no Drew Brees, McCown is a smart player who knows how to manage a game. Jeff is the lone ranger once again, stating; ''Josh McCown is coming back from injury and will struggle.'' While I see Jeff's point, I still think Cleveland will etch out a 21-17 win,

Saints(0-2) at Panthers(2-0)
New Orleans is a train wreck. Just awful. Their performance against Tampa Bay in the Superdome last Sunday was embarrassing, and I really cannot imagine things getting better against a tough, tough Carolina team, especially without Drew Brees. The Panthers are 2 seasons removed from a going 12-4, and they are capable. I'm gonna go with a 31-14 Carolina triumph. Godspeed, Luke McCown.

''Who the Hell Cares'' game of the week
Bucs(1-1) at Texans(0-2)
Oh boy. Despite a win over the Saints last week, I still don't see Tampa Bay as a team that is ready to win. The Texans are 0-2 and have not looked good at all. These are 2 teams that I do not think will turn many heads this year. 24-10 Texans. Not that I care.

Falcons(2-0) at Cowboys(2-0)

The 4 horsemen are split here. Ryan and Brad have Dallas winning while Jeff and I picked Atlanta. I think that the Cowboys are very lucky to be 2-0, and not having Tony Romo or Dez Bryant will catch up with them on Sunday. The combination of Matt Ryan and Juilo Jones will cause fits for the Cowboys secondary, as the Falcons have a very explosive offense that I think could win them the NFC South. Every Dallas fan knows that the offense makes their team click, and now that the Dallas attack is depleted, I think that they Cowboys will have a very uphill climb for quite a while. Brad begs to differ, stating that he ''can't see Atlanta beating Dallas.'' Well, I
can see it. 28-17 Atlanta.

Colts(0-2) at Titans(1-1)

The Horsemen are united. While the Colts have looked quite dreadful in losses to the Bills and Jets, The Titans are far weaker than both of those teams, and I think that Andrew Luck will finally get his way in Week 3. Remember, Tennessee was 2-14 in 2014, and Marcus Mariota won't improve this team that much. 30-13 Colts.

Jaguars(1-1) at Patriots(2-0)

Although the Jags got a big win over Miami in Week 2, they are still the Jags, and Tom Brady is still Tom Brady. 34-13 Pats. Also expect Gronk to spike it at least twice.

Chargers(1-1) at Vikings(1-1)

We are again split, as Jeff and I have the Chargers, while Ryan and Brad have the Vikings. While I expect a close game, I think that Phillip Rivers will turn in a clutch performance, as he is due to bounce back after a disappointing game in Cincinnati.Brad believes that the home-field advantage will be the difference in a Vikings win. I think that The Chargers will spoil a lot of Sundays in the Twin Cities with a last minute touchdown drive. 24-20 San Diego.

Eagles(0-2) at Jets(2-0)
As badly as I ripped the Eagles in my last NFL article, I think that they are too talented to start out 0-3. Sam Bradford will finally have a breakout performance, and the Jets are due to come back down to earth after an impressive 2-0 start. Everyone in my group agrees except for Jeff, who thinks that the Jets current momentum will propel them to a win. I disagree. 31-20 Eagles.

Steelers(1-1) at Rams(1-1)

This is an interesting one. Although Pittsburgh is the better team on paper, these type of games plagued the Steelers throughout last season. Nonetheless, I still predict the Steelers to prevail here, as does everybody except Brad, who said he ''just has a feeling'' about the Rams. I think he's just superstitious in picking against the Black and Gold, as this is the 3rd week out of 3 that he has done so. Le'Veon Bell is back from suspension, and that should make the offense even stronger going up
against a Rams defensive unit that has under performed this year and looked pretty ugly in a 24-10 loss to the Redskins last week. Although it could be a trap game, I still expect the Steelers to take this one. Steelers 31, Rams 17.

4:05
49ers(1-1) at Cardinals(2-0)

The Horsemen ride together. The Cards have looked pretty dominant in their first 2 wins over New Orleans and Chicago, and I see no reason why San Francisco can stop them. Carson Palmer is in a grove after coming back from a torn ACL that cut his 2014 season short, and San Fran is in the opposite of a grove, as they were smacked in the face repeatedly by the Steelers in a 43-18 loss last Sunday. I see the Cards cruising to a 34-10 win.

4:25

Bills(1-1) at Dolphins(1-1)

This is a tough, tough AFC East match up to predict, but I think the Bills narrowly take this one. Buffalo has a stout defense and an offense that could surprise some people. Tyrod Taylor could be the real deal if he limits his interceptions, and I think he will a better job of that against Miami than he did last week against New England when he was picked off 3 times. Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins provide Taylor with dangerous options as receivers, and LeSean McCoy will finally have a breakout game of 100+ yards rushing. I think the Bills defense will handle Miami well enough to escape with a win. Brad and Ryan share my opinion, while Jeff disagrees, stating that Miami's ''electric offense'' will lead them to a win. It will be close, but I say the Bills will win by a score of 26-20. Buffalo will be talking proud after they win this one.

Bears(0-2) at Seahawks(0-2)

The Bears are dreadful, as was evident when they were publicly undressed by Arizona last week in front of their home fans. The Seahawks are the best 0-2 team in the NFL, as they have lost 2 close road games at St. Louis and Green Bay, and are coming home to the loudest stadium in the league with Kam Chancellor back at Strong Safety after a holdout. This will be the Hawks first step to getting back on track. Seahawks 34, Bears 7.

Broncos(2-0) at Lions(0-2) 

We are all united! The Lions have gotten off to a rocky start, losing to San Diego and Minnesota, and I don't think facing Peyton Manning is going to solve any problems in the Motor City. Phillip Rivers and Teddy Bridgewater both were successful against the Lions secondary, and I think Manning will do the same and turn in a big game. Matthew Stafford has a good enough arm to keep things interesting, but I think Denver will hold on and improve to 3-0. 34-23 Broncos.

Chiefs(1-1) at Packers(1-1) 

The horsemen ride together again. The Chiefs are a good team, but Green Bay is stronger and Aaron Rodgers has more weapons offensively than Alex Smith does. Brad put it best by saying;''Rodgers is unstoppable at Lambeau Field''. Packers 27, Chiefs 14.

Thank you for reading, and we will see whose picks turn out to be the most accurate. Mine probably will be, but anything can happen. 

Yogi Berra: There Will Never Be Another

On Wednesday, the sports world lost one of it's heroes, as Lawrence Peter ''Yogi'' Berra passed away at the age of 90. It's difficult to describe what this man meant to baseball, the New York Yankees, and, most importantly, those who knew him. Yogi was equally known for his quick wit and often puzzling sense of humor as he was for his fantastic play on the diamond. One thing that separates him from so many other athletes in the often harsh world of pr
ofessional sports is that nobody who ever truly knew the man ever said a bad word about Yogi Berra. Much like Stan Musial and Chuck Tanner, who are also sadly no longer with us, Berra had such a wonderful personality and positive outlook on life that anybody who knew him loved him.  

Growing Up: St. Louis, Disappointment, and World War II
Yogi's story began in a place called ''The Hill'', a neighborhood in St. Louis made up mostly of Italian Americans. Berra's closest friend from the neighborh
ood was future Major League player and broadcaster Joe Garagiola. Like most Americans, Yogi grew up loving the game of baseball, and in 1942, Berra and Gargiola were both given tryouts with the hometown St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals signed Garagiola and not Berra. Rumor has it that St. Louis team president Branch Rickey was more impressed with Yogi than he let on. Rickey knew he would soon be taking the helm of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and hoped to sign Berra then. Unfortunately for Rickey, the New York Yankees got to Berra first, and the rest is history. It is not clear how Lawerence got the nickname ''Yogi'', but, according to Berra, he got the name from one of his youth teammates as a result of the way he sat down resembling a Yogi

Another thing that makes Yogi's life so special is that he was more than just a great athlete - he was an American hero. After being shunned by the Cardinals, Berra was called by Uncle Sam to serve in the U.S. Navy during WWII. As a Second Class Seaman, Yogi served on a rocket boat during the Allied invasion at Normandy, where he came under enemy fire and received commendations for bravery. 

After his service, Berra returned to the diamond, playing for the minor league Newark Bears. While in Newark, Yogi met legendary Yankee catcher Bill Dickey, who became a great mentor in teaching Yogi how to be a great catcher. Berra later said, ''I owe everything in baseball to Bill Dickey''.

New York: Yankee Icon
Yogi made his Major League Debut with the New York Yankees on September 22nd, 1946. The New York media did not expect much out of Berra, saying that he was bowlegged and that his appearance resembled that of an ape, as well as mocking his hobby of reading comic books in the locker room among other things. The Press did not think he ''looked like a Yankee'', and not a lot of people saw him fitting in with a stacked squad that featured the likes of Phil Rizzuto, Charlie Keller, and the immortal Joe DiMagio. Needless to say, New York was a little off in its assessment of the young catcher from St. Louis.

When it comes to Berra's performance on the field, the numbers say it all: 18 All Star Games; 14 American League Pennants; 10 World Series Championships; 3-time American League MVP; 358 home runs; 1,430 runs batted in;, a lifetime Batting Average of .285; and World Series records for games played (75), at bats (259), hits (71), doubles (10), singles (49), games caught (63), and putouts by a catcher(457). And he was one of the greatest defensive catchers to ever play the game. Not bad for a player who was too short, stocky and awkward to be a Major League player. Berra had his number 8 retired by the Yankees has as a plaque in Yankee Stadium's monument park, and received the games highest honor when he was inducted into the baseball hall of fame in 1972.

Coaching/Managing Career: Wrongful firings and more championships
Berra's life in baseball did not end after his last game as a Yankee. In 1964, Yogi replaced Ralph Houk as Yankee manager. Much like when he first started as a player, the New York Press did not think Yogi would succeed, and for the first 5 months of the season, it looked like they might have been right. But the Yanks caught fire in September, capturing the AL Pennant before losing a hard fought 7 game World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals. After the season, Berra was fired. Ralph Houk, now the Yankees General Manager, said that he felt that Berra ''was not ready to manage''. It was a mistake that would come back to bite the Yankees, as the once invincible dynasty would not play in another World Series until 1976.

The Yankees loss proved to be a gain for the other New York team, as Casey Stengel, who was Yogi's manager for the majority of his Major League career, asked Yogi to be on his coaching staff with the New York Mets. It did not look to be anything special, as the Mets were horrendous from 1965-68. But in 1969, the Mets put it all together and won their first World Series, defeating the Baltimore Orioles in 5 games in one of the biggest shocks in World Series history, giving Yogi his 11th World Series title and first as a coach.  In 1972, Yogi got another chance to manage when Mets skipper Gill Hodges died unexpectedly during Spring Training. The Press was still skeptical of weather or not Yogi was ready to manage, but Yogi proved them wrong yet again.

The 1973 season looked like it would be one to forget, as injuries to several key players resulted in the Mets being in last place during the month of July. When asked about his struggles, Yogi replied with what became one of his most famous quotes: ''It ain't over till it's over.'' Yogi was right, as the Mets ended up fighting back to win the NL East with an 82-79 record. In the NLCS, Yogi's Mets shocked the Cincinnati Reds, a team which had finished the regular season with 17 more wins than the Mets in the regular season, in 5 games, meaning that Yogi would take part in his 17th World Series. His Mets fell short, as they could not hold a 3 games to 2 lead and wound up losing in 7 to the mighty Oakland A's, who won their 2nd of 3 consecutive world championships. Despite not winning the big prize, it was still a noble effort, and one of about 8,000,000, reasons why Yogi is the man.

Yogi would be fired from the Mets on August 5th, 1975. In 1976, he would return to the Yankees by joining the coaching staff of new Yankee manager and former teammate Billy Martin. In his first 3 years as a Yankee coach, the team won 3 straight AL Pennants along with World Series wins in 1977 and 78. Yogi would appear in his 21st and final World Series in 1981, when the Yankees lost in 7 games to the LA Dodgers. After the 1983 season, Yogi would once again get a chance to manage. 16 games in to the 1985 season, impatient owner George Steinbrenner decided to fire Berra after a 6-10 start to the season.

Yogi(Left) talks with George Stienbrenner(Right)

Feud With Steinbrenner/Reconciliation 
Yogi was very hurt by this decision. Not so much with the fact that he was fired, but that Stienbrenner had one of his employees break the news to him rather than telling him face to face. As a result, Yogi vowed never to step foot in Yankee Stadium ever again as long as George owned the Yankees. In the meantime, Yogi's last coaching effort in baseball was with the Houston Astros from 1986-89. Yogi kept his promise until 1999. In January of that year, Sieinbrenner made a trip to the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in New Jersey to apologize. A person riding in the car with Stienbrenner on the trip said he had never seen the boss so nervous. When Stienbrenner arrived, he told Berra face to face that firing him was a terrible mistake. Yogi forgave him, and the grudge was put to rest.

July 18th 1999 was declared ''Yogi Berra Day'' at Yankee Stadium. The Legend himself threw out the first pitch to an emotional standing ovation, and an already incredible day was capped off when David Cone threw a perfect game against the Montreal Expos. From that point forward, Yogi was part of the Yankee family again. Over the next decade, he spent a lot of time hanging around the Yankee clubhouse, and developed a particularly special bond with Derek Jeter.

In conclusion, there will simply never be another Yogi Berra. There will never be somebody with his kind of wit and sense of humor ever again in sports. Never again will an athlete win 10 championships with one single team. I am sure of this because athletes like Berra simply don't exist anymore, and for that matter, never existed before he came along. He was a once in a lifetime type player and person, and we were lucky to have him with us for 90 years. Rest easy, my friend.

I will leave you with a collection of some of my favorite ''Yogi-isms.''

''Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.''
''I didn't really say half the things I said.''
''You should always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they won't come to yours.''
''Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.''
''If you come to a fork in the road, take it.''
''So I'm ugly. I've never seen anyone hit with his face.''
''It's deja vu all over again.''
''We made too many wrong mistakes.''
''I usually take a 2 hour nap from 1-4.''
''It ain't over till it's over.''

Steelers Handle 49ers 43-18: Analysis and Recap

Steelers Handle 49ers 43-18: Analysis and Recap

By: Bradley Stewart

          Although I did not watch the game, I was receiving score updates on my phone.  I was very impressed with the way the Steelers played this game.  This is my analysis. 

Offense:  

          I'm obviously not going to spend much time describing our offensive effort.  I mean when you put up 43 points there's not much explaining to do on the offensive end.  Yes, this was against the 49ers defense that was shattered this offseason, but anytime you put up 43 points it's terrific.  What may be the most impressive part of this offensive performance is that Pittsburgh had a total of 453 yards with just of twenty-three minutes of possession of the football.  That total is nearly fourteen minutes less than San Francisco's.  Up to this point in the season, the Steelers have racked up a total of 917 yards, which is the most in the NFL.  Pittsburgh has also averaged 32 points per game.  That's good for third in the NFL.  This is all without All-Pro runningback, Le'veon Bell.  This offense can only get better with the Steelers getting Bell back this week and the play-making wide receiver Martavis Bryant.  The sky's the limit and Roethlisberger's goal of 30 points per game is definitely within reach.

Defense:

         The issue for Week One for the Pittsburgh Steelers was their defense.  Their defense held the Niners to only eighteen points.  There were two things that concerned me about the Steelers defense in Week 2.  Pittsburgh may have won the game, but lost in both of these categories.  The most concerning of these two is yards allowed.  Pittsburgh gave up 409 yards against San Francisco.  It was almost as if, the 49ers just couldn't score.  It is obvious they were moving the ball, they just couldn't punch it in.  This could be to the injury of Carlos Hyde, but it appears the Steelers defense will stop any average offense, but not any good offense. The second concerning thing about the defensive effort was San Francisco's thirty-seven minutes time of possession.  Hopefully, you get where I am going here.  In order to score points, you need to have the FOOTBALL!  If the Steelers defense can get these numbers down, the offense will have more opportunities to score more points.  One sort-of concerning thing about Pittsburgh's defense was the lone turnover.  Now the fact that the Steelers won the game is good, but the Steeler's need to take advantage of every opportunity then can get and they need to force more turnovers, especially when the offense makes a mistake.  Overall, I am greatly pleased with the defensive effort, there is still work to be done, but if they repeat this performance it won't be enough.

Special Teams:

           The main thing about this special teams is the two-point conversions.  I am strongly for going for two.  The fact that our kicker missed an extra point against the 49ers only strengthens my case.  Ben Roethlisberger says that the Steelers will continue to go for two, which I agree with.  Pittsburgh has practiced it during Training Camp and practices plays every day.  They have specific sets and plays for two-points conversions, which will make them tough to prepare for.  The Steelers went two for two on two-point conversions and they stopped, because the game was getting out of hand.  Look for more two-point conversions to come.

What's Up Next? Sunday, September 27, 1:00 PM EST, @St. Louis Rams (1-1)

NFL Week 2: Key Points

Hello all. Week 2 of the NFL season has past, which means that it is time to review some key events that took place around the league this week. Some teams were impressive, others were appalling. Let's get into it.

Best Game: Ravens at Raiders

Much like the Seahawks-Rams affair last week, this game had it all; excitement, drama and storytelling. The story was of a NFL heavyweight going up against one of its outcasts, and the outcasts prevailed. The game was a back and forth tilt, as the teams were tied at 20 at the half. Oakland started to pull away in the 3rd quarter, scoring 10 unanswered points to build a double-digit lead going into the final 15 minutes. The Ravens would punch back however, as a Justin Tucker field goal and a short TD run from Lorenzo Taliaferro tied things at 30. It looked like Baltimore might steal one when Will Hill picked off Derek Carr with 5:06 to play, giving the Ravens a golden opportunity for a game winning drive. But, despite getting a first down inside the Oakland 15 yard line, all the Ravens could squeeze out was a field goal, forcing John Harbaugh to have the up-most
faith in his defense that had been struggling all day. The D did not deliver, and with 26 seconds of battle remaining, Carr found Seth Roberts in the end zone, giving the Silver and Black their first win of the 2015 campaign.


The stars that shined brightest for Oakland were receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. The 2 new additions to the ''Black Hole'' are giving fans hope that maybe 2015 won't be as crappy as 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 09, 08, 07, 06, 05, 04 or 03, as they combined for 220 yards on 16 catches. Derek Carr is looking like a stud. The former Fresno State standout was on fire on Sunday, going 30-46 with 351 yards passing and a QB Rating of 85.6, numbers that show that it is not likely that Carr's career will be similar to that of his brother, David(that's a good thing). Although nothing is guaranteed, Sunday was a good day to be a Raiders fan, and hopefully more of those days are in the future for the oddest fan-base in the NFL.

Honorable Mentions: Broncos at Chiefs, Falcons at Giants, Bucs at Saints

Biggest Statement: New York Jets

Jets flying high might not be so rare this season

Yes, the Jets will finally be talked about in positive light on this blog. It is about time this team got some positive press, and I am giving them a well deserved piece of it. Not only are the Jets 2-0, but they are a very convincing 2-0. After a solid 31-10 win over Cleveland in Week 1, New York had their first road test of the season on Monday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Jets passed with flying colors, dominating a team that they were not supposed to beat in their house. The Jets defense held Indy scoreless until the 4th quarter, and the QB-Receiver combo of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brandon Marshall worked together smoothly to make sure the offense supported the defense well enough to bring home the win.

The Jets have greatly surprised me so far. I knew that they had an above average defense coming into the season, but I did not expect Ryan Fitzpatrick to be this solid behind center. Fitzpatrick has done a great job filling in for an injured Geno Smith, and Geno might be relegated to holding a clipboard on the sidelines upon his return if Fitzpatrick keeps this up. For the Jets, this is a cause for joy. For the Colts, this is a cause for worry. In 7 months, Indy has gone from being one game away from the Superbowl to scoring a total of 15 points in their first 2 games. The Colts need to figure out what is wrong and fast, or else this could be a very miserable year in the ''Hoosier State''. The Jets could be for real, and I am intrigued to see if they can keep up their splendid form as the season rolls on.

Honorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers

I'd be crying too if I was an Eagles fan. Probably just on the inside

Biggest Flop: Philadelphia Eagles
''The Eagles have an offense that has several play-makers, and can score a great deal playing in Chip Kelly's system. The Dallas defense is not top notch, and I do not think that they will be able to stop the Eagles from flying high in Week 2.'' -Joe Smeltzer

Well Eagles, thanks for making me look like a fool. I could handle the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being embarrassing Week 1. That team is not expected to be a contender. But you guys have no excuse. An offense that was expected to light up scoreboards across the land got completely punked by a rather pedestrian defense in their home opener, scoring just 10 lousy points.And you know what else? Philly's opponent played with out it's starting QB and star receiver for a good part of 2 quarters. And you know what else? The last fact I mentioned didn't even matter because Dallas had a comfortable 13-0 lead at the time of Tony Romo's collarbone injury, and the Eagles offense was so horrendous that all Brandon Weeden had to do to ensure a Cowboy victory was not crap all over the bed(he didn't, going 7-7 passing with 73 yards and a TD). And you know what else? Respected NFL insider Adam Schefter, among others, predicted before the season started that these guys would win the Superbowl. And you know what else? They are 0-2 after losing 2 very winnable games. I rest my case, and Chip Kelly might be resting a lot more next season if his brilliant offensive mind dosent rescue this season. 

That's all for my key points of Week 2. See you next week for more ranting and raving from Smeltz. 

NFL Week 2 Predictions

 

Week 2 of the NFL Season is upon us, and my cousins and I are back for some more picks. Last week, all 4 of us did an average job with our picks, as evident by our records shown in the picture above. Hopefully, Joseph Arthur Smeltzer will be more accurate in his predictions this week and prove to all you readers that he is smarter than Brad, Jeff, and Ryan. I am already off to a good start, as Jeff and I both picked the Broncos to defeat the Chiefs on Thursday night, while Brad and Ryan have both started out 0-1, as they picked the Chiefs.

Sunday
Most Intriguing Match-up 

1:00
Patriots(1-0) at Bills(1-0)
This game will be very close. The Buffalo Bills are tough, as proven by their Week 1 trouncing of the Colts, and I chose this as the most intriguing match-up of Week 1 because it will be a measuring stick for Buffalo. However, I see the Pats coming out victorious. I expect the Bills defense to make life tough for Tom Brady, but I think that pick #199 will show his mental toughness yet again and possibly even pull out one of his famous game winning drives in the final 2 minutes. Out of the 4 of us, only Brad sees Buffalo being victorious, stating that he ''believes that the Bills have the ''us against the world'' mentality, even more than the Patriots.'' I respectfully disagree with Brad, as I expect the Patriots to pull out a tight win and have the city of Buffalo feeling deflated.

Texans(0-1) at Panthers(1-0)
I am the only one in my group who has Carolina winning this one. The Texans looked extremely over matched in their 27-20 loss to the Chiefs(which was not as close as the score would indicate), and although Carolina didn't turn heads in their 20-9 win over the Jags, I still see them as a very dangerous football team because of their tricky offense and stout defense. Playing at home will also give Carolina an advantage. The combination of Cam Newton and Jonathon Stewart will be effective, and the Carolina defense will limit Houston's offensive attack.

Titans(1-0) at Browns(0-1)
The 4 horsemen are split here,as Ryan and Jeff have the Titans, while Brad and I have the Browns. I see Cleveland prevailing in the ''battle of the towns that rock''.  Last weeks loss to the Jets was as bad as it gets, and I really can't see Cleveland laying another egg to a bad team, especially in their home opener. The Titans are flying high after their trouncing of the Bucs last week, and I think they will come back to earth. The Browns defense is an underrated unit, and I think that Marcus Mariota will be flustered as this will be the first good NFL defense that he has ever seen. Johnny Manziel is due for a breakout performance. The controversial former Texas Aggie has shown several flashes of brillance in his short career, and I think that this is a good week for him to put it all together against a defense that is still adjusting to Dick Lebau's strategy. Jeff disagrees with me, stating ''Johnny Manziel is starting, nuff said.''

Cardinals(1-0) at Bears(0-1)
All 4 of us are united here, and for good reason. Arizona was a Superbowl contender last season until Carson Palmer blew out his knee. Palmer is back, and the Cards are ready to roll, with a defense that can compete with just about any in the NFL. Meanwhile, Chicago is looking at the possibility of a Top 5 draft pick for 2016.

Chargers(1-0) at Bengals(1-0)
Phillip Rivers has been a reliable NFL QB for years. However, he is know to be somewhat inconsistent. I think that this will be one of those games where Rivers gets flustered. The Bengals defense is solid as it often is under Marvin Lewis, and the Tigers are also playing at home, where they have been successful over the past few years. I see a low scoring affair, with Andy Dalton making a few key plays to back up a solid defensive effort.

Lions(0-1) at Vikings(0-1)
All 4 of us in agreement here. More so because the Vikings are bad than that the Lions are good. I think Brad was accurate when he stated;"until Adrian Peterson is back, the Vikings will struggle.''

''Who the Hell Cares'' game of the week

Buccaneers(0-1) at Saints(0-1)
Read everything I wrote in my NFL Week 1 review about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and it will be easy to see why I think the Saints will win this game. Not that I care.

Falcons(1-0) at Giants(0-1)
I am the lone ranger out of my group in picking New York. The Giants outplayed Dallas for most of the game in Week 1 despite coming up short, and I think that they will play inspired in their home opener. I just have a gut feeling that New York will prevail, as their defense will limit Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. Jeff begs to differ, saying that; ''The Giants will struggle after a close game last week, while Jones will shine.'' While I can see Jeff's point of view, my gut suggests otherwise.

49ers(0-1) at Steelers(0-1)
The horseman are split. Ryan and I see the Steelers bouncing back, while Brad and Jeff see the city going up into flames. I think the Steelers will get it done on Sunday. Frankly, they don't have much of a choice. The team will be well motivated as they are coming home for the first time in the 2015 campaign after a tough loss to New England in Week 1, and the offense will be able to capitalize, even without some of their biggest guns. Colin Kapernick is no Tom Brady, and as a result I see the Steelers defense performing better than that dreadful display in Massachusetts. Heinz Field will be rocking and the Steelers know how to feed off of their fans. Jeff stated; ''This will be a good game but Kapernick will be dominant like he was during their Super Bowl run.'' I think Jeff is just wrong.

This pretty much sums it up

Rams(1-0) at Redskins(0-1)
Not a whole lot to say about this one. The Redskins are a mess, while the Rams could be a team to watch if their 34-31 win over the Seahawks in Week 1 is any indication. St. Louis will win somewhat convincingly.


4:05 
Ravens(0-1) at Raiders(0-1)
Another one that seems easy to predict. Oakland is still rebuilding, while the Ravens are still a force in the AFC. Although the birds fell short against Denver in Week 1, holding Peyton Manning to just 19 points at home is impressive, and it shows that this defense is still a force after all of these years. Oakland is not ready to win yet, and they will not win on Sunday.

Dolphins(1-0) at Jags(0-1)
This game might be close. Although the Jags remain unimpressive and the Dolphins have been predicted by some to win the AFC East, Miami did not open any eyes Week 1 in their 17-10 win over the lowly Redskins. Brad says; ''This Miami defense is just too much for Blake Bortles.'' I second that.

4:25
Cowboys(0-1) at Eagles(0-1)
In what is becoming a pattern, the horsemen ride together. The Cowboys were extremely lucky to avoid what would have been an embarrassing defeat in front of their home fans at the hands of the New York Giants last Sunday night. If that wasn't enough cause for concern, the announcement after the game that Dez Bryant would be out for a least 6 weeks with a broken foot certainly was for Big D. Bryant is one of the leagues best play-makers, and Dallas will miss him tremendously. To add to that, the Eagles have an offense that has several play-makers, and can score a great deal playing in Chip Kelly's system. The Dallas defense is not top notch, and I do not think that they will be able to stop the Eagles from flying high in Week 2.

Seahawks(0-1) at Packers(1-0)
This will be a close game, and with 2 teams that are this evenly matched, it really comes down to who is playing at home. Both Seattle and Green Bay have 2 of the best home field advantages in the NFL, and Green Bay is blessed enough to be the home team on Sunday Night. I can't see Aaron Rodgers letting his home fans down as his history at Lambeau Field is excellent. Brad summed it up by saying; ''Green Bay wants revenge''.

Jets(1-0) at Colts(0-1)
Come on. You don't really expect the Jets to start out 2-0, do you?

I hope you enjoyed the read. Which picks to you agree with? Comment below and don't forget to add me on Google plus.