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NFL Cheat Sheet: Week 3
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| Rookies Matt Forte, Felix Jones and Eddie Royal have made big impressions in their first two games. ( / Getty Images) |
The prevailing thought at the time was that all three backs — a former league MVP, a former No. 4 pick overall and a former Pro Bowl performer — would find new homes, and eventually re-start their careers.
Well, we're three weeks into the 2008 NFL season, and nobody anywhere is talking about Alexander, Benson, or Henry. No, the focus has not been on the running backs of yesterday, but rather on the running backs of tomorrow.
Yes, the rookies are here. And with them comes a varied set of skills and personalities so dynamic, so widespread, that it's not premature to consider this year's rookie crop of 'backs the very best the league has ever seen.
Quite simply, they're everywhere.
Take a look at the league's rushing leaders. Rookies dot the list like sprinkles on an ice cream sundae. The season's fourth (Chicago's Matt Forte), fifth (Oakland's Darren McFadden), eighth (Tennessee's Chris Johnson), and 18th (Carolina's Jonathan Stewart) yard-compilers on the ground are first-year players.
Felix Jones, the lightning to McFadden's thunder down at Arkansas, already has a rushing touchdown (on his first carry as a pro) and a 98-yard kickoff return TD for the 2-0 Dallas Cowboys. He's the league's No. 1 kickoff return man, having averaged 38.1 yards per return through two games, too. Heck, even Peyton Hillis — the fullback for McFadden and Jones down in Fayetteville — is seeing significant time in Mike Shanahan's Denver backfield.
Kevin Smith, a third-round selection out of UCF, is getting a load of carries in Detroit, former Richmond Spiders star Tim Hightower has two more rushing touchdowns than Edgerrin James out in Arizona, and Kansas City's Jamaal Charles has been used in a variety of packages for Herm Edwards' Chiefs. Steve Slaton, a third-round pick out of West Virginia, is the starter down in Houston. Meanwhile, Baltimore's Ray Rice and Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall are both expected to play significant roles for their respective AFC North squads.
The scary thing?
It's not just the running backs.
If I'm not mistaken, the 2008 Draft was supposed to be a down year for receivers. For the first time since the common draft began, not one was selected in the first round. Sure enough, DeSean Jackson, the precocious Eagles receiver/return man, is off to a torrid start. The first receiver to begin his career with back-to-back 100-yard games since Don Looney did it in 1940 (Don Looney!), Jackson seems to be the game-breaker Philadelphia's so sorely missed since Terrell Owens left town.
Mirror images
| Take a look at more first-year players making their presence felt this fall and the established stars that they resemble. |
Eddie Royal, taken 15 spots ahead of Jackson at 42nd overall, has been nothing short of a dream for the Broncos. After completely undressing and embarrassing Oakland's $70 million cornerback DeAngelo Hall to the tune of nine catches, 146 yards, and two touchdowns in Week 1, Royal caught the game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion in Week 2's comeback win over the Chargers.
Six-foot-six man-child James Hardy had the game-winning touchdown grab on the road for Buffalo in Jacksonville last week, Green Bay's Jordy Nelson was on the receiving end of a beautiful Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass in Detroit, and Atlanta's Harry Douglas is making plays all over the field.
Even a few of the top rookie offensive linemen — Miami's Jake Long, Denver's Ryan Clady, and Carolina's Jeff Otah — are getting rave reviews. The two quarterbacks selected in April's first round — Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Baltimore's Joe Flacco — earned wins in their first career starts, as well.
Sure, it's only Week 3. But it's not too early to say 2008 seems to be the year of the offensive rookies.
NFL Week 17
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Week 17 action
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Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box
Analysis
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The Week 3 Cheat Sheet
Kansas City at Atlanta, 1 p.m. EST
What's it say about your squad when the 2008 Raiders — a team that lost 41-14 in Oakland a week earlier — absolutely manhandles you on both sides of the ball at Arrowhead? Mark my words, the Tyler Thigpen Era will go down as one of the darkest this franchise has ever seen. Pick: Atlanta 24, Kansas City 13
Oakland at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
My apologies to the several hundred Buffalo fans who've taken offense to the casual "Toronto Bills" references I've been tossing around the past few weeks. You guys are no doubt one of the NFL's most passionate fan bases, and after convincing wins over Seattle and Jacksonville it's quite evident that your team's not too shabby either. Pick: Buffalo 20, Oakland 6
Tampa Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Chicago QB Kyle Orton has won eight starts in a row at home and is 9-1 in games played at Soldier Field. Not bad for a guy best known by most NFL fans for a hideous neck beard. Pick: Chicago 17, Tampa Bay 3
Carolina at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
With their best offensive player suspended the first two games of the season, the Panthers have beaten two very strong teams to take the NFC South lead. Is it safe to take John Fox off the hot seat down in Charlotte yet? Pick: Minnesota 27, Carolina 21
Miami at New England, 1 p.m.
Over his career, Chad Pennington is 2-1 in New England and has completed 64 of 96 passes (66.7 percent) with four touchdowns and just one interception. Throw that all out the window on Sunday. It's the Matty "Moose" Cassel train, baby. Get on board before it's too late. Pick: New England 23, Miami 10
Cincinnati at New York Giants, 1 p.m.
The last name "Ocho Cinco" doesn't quite have the same effect when a guy averages 2.5 receptions per game, huh? Though this might come two weeks too late, it's safe to say the 2008 Bengals season is a lost cause. Pick: New York 34, Cincinnati 10
Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.
The Titans could field a team of high school kids on offense each week and still squeak out a few victories. Their defense, led by the unbelievable Keith Bulluck, is that good. Pick: Tennessee 27, Houston 10
Arizona at Washington, 1 p.m.
Kurt Warner posted his third career perfect 158.3 passer rating last week, tying him with Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history. If the 37-year-old keeps playing at this level, Sports Illustrated's going to be doing a "Whatever happened to . . . " piece on Matt Leinart much sooner than any of us ever expected. Pick: Washington 31, Arizona 20
New Orleans at Denver, 4:15 p.m.
Sean Payton and Mike Shanahan both attended Eastern Illinois University. So did Tony Romo and Brad Childress. You know who else is an EIU alum? Ron Westray, jazz trombonist and member of the world-famous Mingus Big Band! Thank you, Wikipedia! Pick: Denver 31, New Orleans 23
Detroit at San Francisco, 4:15 p.m.
You know who picked the 49ers over the Seahawks last week? I did. You know why? Because I'm all about the "JTO Show" in San Francisco. Now, say that sentence three times fast. Pick: San Francisco 31, Detroit 16
St. Louis at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.
A game I circled in May as "The Josh Brown Bowl" is now just a matchup between two of the league's most disappointing teams. Seattle's so depleted at wide receiver, they traded for chronic under-achiever Keary Colbert on Tuesday. Apparently, Brian Blades and Steve Largent weren't interested. Pick: Seattle 24, St. Louis 13
Cleveland at Baltimore, 4:15 p.m.
Down 10-3 with four minutes remaining from the Steelers' 20-yard-line, Romeo Crennel opted to kick a field goal on fourth-and-7. The Browns got the ball back deep in their own territory with less than a minute left, lost 10-6 a few seconds later and left Cleveland fans (and those who bet on the Steelers minus six) in disbelief. Sadly, it wasn't the worst Cleveland coaching decision of the night. Pick: Baltimore 17, Cleveland 14
Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 4:15 p.m.
A month ago, I'd tell you this was the biggest game of Week 3, if not the entire month of September. Now, it's a pleasant game to flip to if the Broncos-Saints or Eagles-Steelers are in commercial breaks. Pick: Indianapolis 24, Jacksonville 23
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 4:15
Two weeks into the season, the Steelers look like the class of the AFC. We should probably start talking about them as Super Bowl favorites if they take care of the Eagles in Philly on Sunday. Pick: Philadelphia 29, Pittsburgh 23
Dallas at Green Bay, 8:15 p.m.
Remember when people actually thought Brett Favre gave the Packers a better chance to win in 2008 than Aaron Rodgers? Ted Thompson should wear a T-shirt that reads "I Told You So" 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pick: Dallas 34, Green Bay 24
New York Jets at San Diego, Monday night
And remember when all the NFL experts thought Brett Favre gave the Jets a legitimate chance to win the AFC East? Ah, that all seems like so, so long ago. Pick: San Diego 24, New York Jets 13
Reader Email of the Week
Peter,
You should do yourself a favor. Go rent "Blazing Saddles" or "SpaceBalls" or "Road Trip" and get a feel for some things that are actually funny. Once you do that, come back to your computer, and work on your next column. Based on your Week 2 NFL Cheat Sheet, it is clear that you have no idea what good humor is.
— Bryan T., Latrobe, Pa.
Bryan T.,
Did you just put "Road Trip" in the same breath as "Blazing Saddles and "SpaceBalls" above? That's like tossing Billy Joe Hobert's name around in the same breath as Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. I liked Tom Green's bit with the feeding the mouse and all, but come on, man. That's just not right. "Blazing Saddles" and "SpaceBalls" are classics. "Road Trip" is . . . well, Billy Joe Hobert.
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