NFL Picks: Monday Morning Quarterback

SJ takes a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from Sunday's action in the NFL.

Patriots stunned

If you've been officially knocked out of your suicide pool in Week 2 raise your hand. I see you ya bastahd, raise it! Well me too because the New England Patriots lost in heart wrenching fashion to the Arizona Cardinals....at home in Foxboro....by a last second missed field goal...from a guy who never misses a freakin' field goal in Stephen Gostkowski. Yeah, I guess you can tell I got knocked out too but I'm not bitter. No, not at all. I won't even mention the fact that the offensive play calling was downright offensive until the 4^th quarter. 

You're not a running team coach Belichick, you've got this guy named Brady who can move the ball up and down the field quite adroitly when you take the wraps off him as exhibited in the final stanza. Maybe it was offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel who was responsible for the low risk, low reward strategy but whomever it was, the Pats found themselves in an eleven point hole late in the game but a miraculous forced fumble by the defense gave the Patriots and millions who had added them to their NFL picks, thinking that couldn't lose, not only a chance but a sure-fire guarantee this victory would be theirs. But alas, it was not to be as kicker Stephen Gostkowki missed wide left and all those three team teasers went right down the drink. Well sure they would have been gone even if the kick was made, as NFL odds makers had the Pats listed as 14 point favorites, but I just didn't want to exclude anyone that got buried by the Pats miscues on Sunday. Brutal! 

Eli is a Giant

I'll admit it, I was never a huge Eli Manning fan. He, or his people, pulled the diva routine when he was drafted by San Diego and petulantly decided nope, not goin' there. So, he stomped his feet and eventually the organization traded him to the Giants where he could bask under the bright lights and media scrutiny of the Big Apple. 

But the kid's done pretty well and he has two Super Bowl rings to show for it. And no more prolific performance than on Sunday when he led his team from an eleven point deficit to a touchdown victory over the not so hapless anymore Tampa Bay Bucs. Just in case you're a stat guy, Manning launched for 510 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three interceptions but this is a guy who simply cannot be defeated, even by himself. He's a self-deprecating, aw shucks kind of guy until you put a challenge in front of him. Is he the most stylish, flashy and effortless passer I have ever seen? No, but he just wins and has become stone called money in the clutch. The Super Bowl champs are now 1-1 and the Tampa Bay Bucs are much better than last year's edition.

Rookies get better

Yeah, I'm talking about you Ryan Tannehill and you too Brandon Weeden. I guess there was no place to go but up as both these guys looked like they had never seen this brown spherical object before last week. But this week they recognized it as a football and realized they can do some pretty nifty things with it when they want to. Brandon Weeden's Browns lost again but at least he wasn't the reason this week. In fact, Weeden was downright effective as he passed for two TD's and threw for over 300 yards to rebound from a 5.1 QB rating in Week 1 to a 114.9 in Week 2. 

Before we move on to Ryan Tannehill, I would be remiss if I didn't give props to another rookie member of the Cleveland Browns, Trent Richardson. The third overall pick in this year's draft caught a touchdown pass and blazed into the endzone as well with a 32 yard scamper. 

Ah yes, Mr. Tannehill had a perfectly solid though unspectacular day, redeeming himself from last week's fiasco. He tossed for a modest 200 yards but had a passing touchdown and also rushed for a TD in leading the Dolphins to a surprising 35-13 victory over the Raiders. Reggie Bush seems to be invigorated as the every down back in Miami. He had 26 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns. I often wondered why he was used primarily as a 3^rd down and special weapons back in New Orleans but that's ancient history now. 

Fantasy Stars

Who needs Antonio Gates when you have Dante Rosario? Dante who...Rosario, now get it straight. Rosario got his number called due to an ailing Gates and he made the most of it. He caught only four passes from Phillip Rivers, but three of them were touchdowns. I don't expect Rosario will be this much of a game changer again this season solely because Gates will be returning to action but the former Carolina Panther certainly opened some eyes on Sunday. 

RG3 was once again a fantasy force to be reckoned with as he passed for one and ran for two touchdowns, garnering 30 points in most leagues. The kid is everything as advertised and more despite his Redskins losing to Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams. 

CJ Spiller and the Bills took care of business after a thrashing last week at the hands of the Jets. But Spiller has been phenomenal in both games and has to be considered a must start in all leagues. 

Rounding out Week 2's list of fantasy studs is Reggie Bush, Eli Manning, Hakeem Nicks, Cam Newton, Trent Richardson and the aforementioned Sam Bradford. If you've got any of these guys on your team, chances are you got a W this week.

Until Next Week