NFL Kickoff Weekend 2012: My Top 10 CBS Contemplations
10. After watching Andrew Luck throw 3 interceptions and watching Peyton Manning, well, be Peyton Manning, wonder how Colts fans feel this morning? Indianapolis, remember, let Manning walk for zero compensation.
9. I'm actually giving the pregame to CBS over Fox. Even though James Brown was over-giggling as ever on CBS, Fox countered with Erin Andrews interviewing Aaron Rodgers to the backdrop of – for some reason – dramatic, hanging candles. And, sorry, why is Rob Riggle clownin' around with David Beckham and/or making NFL picks?
8. With an assist from a friendly crossbar at Lambeau, the 49ers' David Akers became only the 2nd kicker in NFL history to make a non-altitude-assisted 63-yard field goal. The other? Tom Dempsey.
7. Don't look now but Tom Brady has help on defense. Rookies Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower contributed to a defensive touchdown and helped hold the Titans' Chris Johnson to 4 yards rushing on 11 carries in an easy win.
6. Tim Tebow: All that attention for a guy who rushed 5 times for 11 yards?
5. While rookie quarterbacks Luck and Russell Wilson and Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden struggled mightily, the Redskins' Robert Griffin III dazzled. Coupled of fumbled handoffs, but otherwise he was poised in the pocket and accurate with his passing. Give Pierre Garcon credit for turning a high throw into an 88-yard touchdown and give offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan credit for a great game plan featuring short, quick, safe throws. But also give RG3 credit. Like the Rangers' Jurickson Profar, he hit a home run in his first big-league at-bat.
4. Best team I saw on Sunday: 49ers. They whipped the Packers, stopping Green Bay's 13-game home winning streak. They've now added legit weapons in Mario Manningham and Randy Moss to go along with a healthy Michael Crabtree, running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis. And, on defense, they returned all 11 starters from last year's gritty group. Team to beat in the NFC. Worst team? The Miami Fightin' Philbins. Seriously, rookie quarterback Tannehill (3 interceptions, 3 sacks) and head coach Joe Philbin might not win a game.
3. For the most part the replacement refs were satisfactory and solid. There was a missed block in the back on a Packers' punt return and I saw a couple of "unintentional" pick plays uncalled on receivers. The only real almost-gaffe occurred in Arizona where the refs mistakenly awarded the Seahawks a 4th timeout in the 2nd half. But the real culprit was the NFL "observer," the guy on hand to straighten things out before they get messy. Where was he?
2. Yes Cowboys fans, 2-0 is a distinct reality. Dallas opens as a 3-point favorite Sunday at Seattle, where the Seahawks will apparently start rookie Wilson at quarterback again despite Sunday's underwhelming performance in a 20-16 loss to the Cardinals. Wilson does not throw the ball deep. He had 98 yards passing until the final drive. Keep Marshawn Lynch from running wild and the Seahawks are 1-dimensional offensively. Also, stud left tackle Russell Okung limped off the field late with a leg injury.
1. Heartbreak of the day was the Eagles somehow escaping Cleveland with a win. Michael Vick threw 4 interceptions and there should've been a game-losing 5th. Trailing 16-10 and facing 2nd-and-Goal at the 4 with 1:30 remaining, Vick threw a ridiculous pass in the end zone right to Browns' linebacker L.J. Fort. Somehow the rookie dropped it. Given the stay of execution, Vick found tight end Clay Harbor for a touchdown on the next play.
