The First Week Of NFL Football Was A Real Eye Opener

Does explosive or inept describe the game play of the first week of the NFL? Were the offenses that good or were the defenses that bad? The new kickoff rule, did it take away some of the thrill? All good questions. In any rate, the first week of football was very entertaining from the first kickoff of the New Orleans at Green Bay opener to the final play of Denver at Oakland closing the week out.

Now, to answer the question about the new kickoff rule. It really doesn't matter unless you are playing in Denver where the kickoffs were going into the stands. Well, maybe not quite that far, but pretty close. Randall Cobb's kickoff return of 108 yards in Green Bay is proof the thrill of a monster return is still ever present. Maybe, the returners will take more chances at bringing the ball out of the end zone creating longer runs like Cobbs.

Some of the offenses ran up big numbers like New England, Miami, Buffalo, Houston, New Orleans, and Green Bay. Probably, no surprises here with quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers and their ability to methodically take apart a secondary. But the fact that their own teams defenses were also shredded reveals an apparent weakness, an Achilles heal that other seemingly lesser teams can exploit to overcome the offensive juggernaut they face. One simple mistake could tilt the game in any direction, like the Saints and Packers game proved.

The Cleveland Browns disappointed again in a game they should have won despite themselves. They were caught daydreaming and A.J. Green waltz into the end zone like he was on "Dancing with the Stars." Shurmur complained that the Bengals did something illegal, but the fact still remained, the Browns defense that was on the field didn't have a clue and Green tippy-toed past the secondary. The only bright spot for the Browns this week was the fact the Steelers looked even worse than they did, and who got obliverated by the Ravens. The Browns can only go up from here. Cleveland plays Indianapolis this week, thank goodness.

I was 100 percent on the picks I made this week. This coming week I will be making my picks for the whole schedule. I glanced over it and the only game that looks like a sure win is Detroit over Kansas City, but despite everything said and done it was only the first games of the season. Glad the strike got settled.