AFC Recap:

Patriots 25 - Bills 24

Media Story: The magic is back. Pats offense looks like the juggernaut we all thought it would be. Brady leads the NFL in passing yards after one week.
Real Story: The Pats beat a team that went 7-9 last year by 1 point at home that played most of the game without two starters and only because of a miracle fumble. Brady was nearly the reason the team lost as he threw a ridiculous pick 6 and never looked comfortable in the pocket whenever any defender came close to him. Mayo's injury has the potential to be huge given the Pats depth at linebacker.

Colts 14 Jaguars 12

Media Story: Colts defense is for real this year. Manning looks to be in midseason form.
Real Story: The Colts beat a team that went 5-11 last year by 2 points at home thanks to a missed two point coversion. The Colts interior defense had all kinds of problems stopping MJD. Manning forced a throw into double coverage in the end zone on the first drive that was picked. Anthony Gonzalez was injured and none of the Colts receivers stepped up to replace him. The running game looked putrid again. Outside of Wayne and Clark the Colts look to have no offensive weapons.

Chargers 24 Raiders 20

Media Story: Phillip Rivers leads Chargers on heroic last minute drive for comeback win.
Real Story: SD was 20 seconds away from losing to a team that went 5-11 last year and has traditionally been one of the worst teams in the league for the last 6 seasons. They were completely outplayed throughout the game as Oakland had more yards and more TOP. The Chargers run defense was putrid and the only thing that saved them was the ineptitude of JaMarcus Russell.

Steelers 13 Titans 10

Media Story: Steelers can't run the ball, can't pass protect, lose Polamalu to an injury and are fucked without him, which is illustrated by the fact Tennessee went right down the field for a TD the minute he left the game.
Real Story: The Steelers just beat the team that had the best record in football last year and was probably the favorite to win the superbowl going into the playoffs last season and was more than likely the toughest team on their schedule. Despite a defense that ranked in the top 10 last year, Ben throws for 360 yards. The vaunted Smash and Dash doesn't do shit outside of one run. In the 2nd half the Titans scored 3 points with Polamalu out of the game and in crunch time when they only needed a FG to win the game with 2 minutes left they go 3 and out. The Titans touchdown drive was aided not because Polamalu wasn't on the field, but because the Steelers only had 10 guys on the field.

+1

Steelers are supposed to be in "big trouble" because Troy got hurt. The Chargers starting C and RG looked like they suffered serious injuries and their RT is just awful.

Good stuff Steelerworks.

+1

I was thinking the same thing last night USS, though I'd throw the Ravens in the mix as well.

It's downright funny.

Magic my ass. The patriots went up against a subpar team that failed to finish the game. Nothing that was unexpected or magical about it. If anything the Patriots should be worried.

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Patriots: Pessimist that I am, I expected the Pats to crush the Bills in the second half. The fact that they didn't pleases me greatly.

Colts: The window is closing.

Chargers: Looked very beatable.

Neither the Bills nor the Raiders has a proven OL, but both looked very good last night.

I wouldn't throw the Ravens in there just yet.

I know it was the Chiefs, but the Ravens looked good enough- they held the Chiefs to one good drive and 188 total yards of offense.

And Flacco looks pretty good- ready to elevate his game to the next level.

It will be a war between us and them again this year- you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

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I know this, your ability to think concisely, your ability to make good judgments is much easier on Thursday night than during the heat of the game. -Bill Walsh

Flacco didn't have that great of a game. Sure, the stats look pretty and all, small sample size. He left many a pick on the field whether from a chief player dropping the pick, just coming up short on the tip drill, or going for the hit instead of the pick. He looked good on timing throws to the sideline, deep balls, and dump offs. Anything in the middle of the field, he was missing his receivers, throwing balls high and behind. That's a recipe for getting picked. Oh yeah, he was playing the chiefs.

Good stuff gentlemen.

Let them spin it all the way around. The media doesn't win anything for their spin reporting.

The Steelers however will win 'something' for their efforts!!!

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+1 nice post!

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"The Terrible Tahl is poised to strike!"