It was an awesome weekend for sports in Michigan! Every single sports team won (put your hand down, CMU)! But I am going to focus on the NFL. We're off:

Lions v. Bucs - What an impressive game, as long as you collapsed into a beer-cheese dip coma in the middle of the third quarter. The Lions final touchdown was cause for hyperventilation, with Calvin ripping down what looked like an interception and Stafford limping off the field. I was alone in my apartment and unabashedly yelped "OH PLEASE NOT THE LEGS!". The TV crew talked me off the ledge, diagnosing the affliction as "cramps". Lions were up by 14, and they responded by turning their brains off. Josh Freeman looked surprised to suddenly be moving the ball down the field, as was everybody else. The Bucs were terrible in this game, and the Lions were sloppy. Despite mental errors, the Lions are far more dangerous team than years past. With Stafford in, the Lions can put up a bunch of points in a hurry. Ford Field is gonna be awesome next week, get your tickets.

Steelers v Ravens- I guess the question is going to be: Super Bowl hangover? It's a remarkably consistent phenomenon in the NFL. I guess there is some anecdotal evidence. It must be a real bummer to fight all the way to the Superbowl and blow it at the end. Either way this was a beating, and I think the story is more about this Ravens team. Joe Flacco might be taking the next step, and maybe Anquan Boldin needed a year to adjust. Maybe he didn't like being surrounded by crabs.

Seahawks v. 49ers - Alex Smith has gotten the shaft in the NFL. His first coach selected Alex in the draft because he thought Aaron Rodgers stunk. Since then Smith has had 4 different head coaches and more offensive coordinators. He even had to play under Mike Martz, who starts by saying you don't know how to play quarterback. But today, Alex Smith was clearly the best quarterback on the field today, because the other one was Tavarius Jackson. Here in the NFC north, we have seen much of the Tavarius Jackson story. Game plan for him by making sure you don't throw interceptions for touchdowns, and you are guaranteed to win every time.

Giants v Redskins - The Eagles are going to win the NFC East. No problem. That Tim Hightower is pretty good.

Vikings v Chargers - This game almost bounced me from the Knockout Pool. I never in a million years thought the Vikings had a chance. For some reason, every year, Phillip Rivers forgets how to play football in the offseason. McNabb showed his age a bit, but he is still dangerous.

Panthers v. Cardinals - Great game! Cam Newton had a great day, which is pretty easy for me to say because he had the best statistical "first game" in the history of the NFL. But he lost, so he is a bum. Take your stupid statistics back to baseball where they belong.

Falcons v Bears - I am starting to think the NFC South is not nearly as good as advertised. They might not have very much defense in that division. Either way, Lions fans who were non-plussed with the Bears in the preseason (PSHHHH- Chicago?) should be concerned that Cutler's second year under Martz might be fruitful.