Border Battle: Week 1 (oh yeah, the other two NFC North Teams)
By Derek Kast
Glorious NFL, thank you for entering my life and befriending me again. Real live-action, blood and guts, “it’s on the line” football has returned and with the weather in my neighborhood this weekend, it sure feels like it’s on time. Week 1 had it share of blow outs, close games and surprises. As usual, my fantasy football woes were alive and my quarterbacks in two leagues left me wishing for better days. Tom Brady went out (for the year!?!) and Carson Palmer played more like Carson Cressley. Yes, to me it was bad enough for a “Queer Eye” reference. Get heated, Palmer, come out with fire in week 2. Please?
All in all, it was good, albeit injury-filled week for football. It feels great to have it back. Week 4 of the preseason has become such a joke that it hardly whets my NFL appetite. Did anyone of significance even play for any team? Let’s get an 18 game schedule with 2 preseason contests in the rulebook. It’s a different era, it is time. Now, on the most important division in professional sports.
The Lions and Bears kicked off their seasons this Sunday, and I guess it’s worth looking at those teams as well. The border battle is alive and well and better than ever. Going into the day, all records were reset and the division was/is up for the taking. Do I hear a Rick Flair “Whooooooooo!”? I believe I do.
Detroit Lions (0-1, Last in the NFC North and NFL in Record, Rushing Defense and Dignity)
Sunday featured an early game by Tom Jackson’s (ESPN / Denver Bronco’s) favorite to win the NFC North in 2008, the Detroit Lions. He stated that this is the year that the offense comes together and the defense steps up. The first test for this juggernaut in silver and Honolulu blue, the consensus pick as the worst team in the NFC (possibly in football), the Atlanta Falcons.
Detroit did their best job of being the Detroit Lions by laying an egg and getting absolutely knifed by the Falcons offense. Michael “The Burner” Turner rolled off a swift 220 yards and two scores on the ground along with another 93 from his backup, Jerious Norwood. The best word I can find for this Lions defense is putrid. Yes, there can be no other word to describe the complete dominance that Atlanta found in the running game. Add another 156 in the air by Matt Ryan and the Lions ended the day with a disappointing 474 yards of total offense given up. This was not the look of a division champion.
The Kittie’s offense was only decent on the day. QB John Kitna was efficient completing nearly 73% of his passes for the game, including a couple of scores. However, in the end, the 21 points that the Lions mustered was little conciliation on a day in which they gave up 34. With Detroit spending most of the day in catch-up mode, their own rushing game never got going. The non-silent Bob, Kevin Smith only had 48 yards in his career-opening game. Steady but not spectacular was the story for the Lions.
In week 2, the Lions get the Pack at home and will have to erase the memories of their first week destruction. Maybe Matt Millan can get out the duct tape and WD-40 to fix his broken team. Seriously, as long as he has a say in how this team is built, I will never buy into the “This is the Lion’s year.” talk. Look for a Border Battle style preview later in the week.
Chicago Bears (1-0, 1st Place NFC North, Scary-Good Defense Again)
I keep wanting to make excuses for how a Bears team can win with a defense that seems to be lucky, but gets the job done. I can’t anymore. With the exception of an injury-filled year in 2007, the Lovey Smith led Bears have had a strong, and most importantly opportunistic defense. Against the Indianapolis Colts, in the opening of their new home, the Bears defense was back and scoring points again. A fumble return TD and a safety helped add 9 points to the Chicago total on route to a 29-13 win to open their season. They had solid coverage for the most part, a nice pass rush and most importantly, sure tackling.
With strong up front pressure surprisingly rattling a rusty Peyton Manning, the defense was one strong reason that the underdog Bears left Indy with a win. But, it wasn’t the only reason. Kyle the (former?) party monster Orton was helped by impressive rookie Matt Forte. Forte sprang into action right away and outran the Colt defenders on his way to a speedy 123 yards. Orton also looked improved as he seemed confident and comfortable in the pocked despite facing an elite pass rusher in Dwight Freeney. Orton didn’t fill the stat line with his night, but definitely managed the game well and didn’t make any key mistakes. If the defense continues to play at its week one level, and can keep healthy, perhaps Orton can once again play the 2000 Raven’s - Trent Dilfer role.
Chicago seems to have their swagger back, at least on this night. I’ll admit that Peyton Manning wasn’t the confident quarterback that he usually is, but in a division where Aaron Rodgers and Tarvaris Jackson are anything but proven, and John Kitna plays for the Lions, the Bears may have an opportunity to use a pressure defense and a possession offense to win a few more games than I originally had thought. It can be argued that the Bears have recaptured the formula that brought them to the Super Bowl just two short seasons ago. With Orton playing Grossman and Forte playing Jones, anything is possible. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t see a team without faults, but I was pretty impressed with how the Bears handled Manning and the Colts.
Next week the Bears head to Carolina to face a Panthers team that completed their own upset win over an AFC power. Carolina will still be without their star wideout Steve Smith, but I don’t believe that the enigmatic Smith is always the game changer he thinks he is. I think this should be a fairly even match-up, but I think that the Carolina defense will be a little better challenge for Kyle Orton. I think the Bears squeak one out on the road again and open their season 2-0.
