Week 1 - Lowered Expectations

Okay, maybe I was high on drugs when I picked Seattle to go to the Super Bowl. Let's just say that after a 5 turnover performance (including fumbling away the opening kickoff, and 3 picks by Hasselstiff), I'm going to just already write off the season, and expect yet another mediocre finish. Holmgren will be finished, the team will get a sucky middle round draft pick, and the cycle of not winning any playoff games continues. Lower expectations are so much easier to deal with.

Other things I learned during week 1...

* The Rams are still poorly coached and suck on the road.

* Maybe the Niners and Dolphins are not the two worst teams in the league. The new candidates? Cleveland and Tennessee.

* The Sports Guy put it best in his picks - giving Nick Saban months to prepare for defending Jake Plummer is probably too much to overcome.

* Is it too early for everybody to jump off the Arizona bandwagon? Is it too early to jump on the Giants bandwagon? For the record, I never bought into the Arizona thing. Their offensive line was as bad as advertised and their defense was nowhere near as good.

* As if the Packers didn't have enough to worry about, now Jevon Walker is done for the season with a torn ACL. Favre is probably rethinking his decision to come back at this point…

* I'm not sure if his shoulder still not healthy or if Chad Pennington just sucks. I'm going to say it's a bit of both.

* I'd say the Vikings missed Moss, maybe just a little bit, in week 1.

* Nice win by the Saints. Damn the "local team" rules that caused Channel 5 to switch from the Saints game (which apparently was broadcast nationally on FOX due to the hurricane) at 4:15 to the Giants game. Just before Carney kicked the winning field goal.

* I'm still not sure is the Dallas win means maybe the Cowboys really ARE this year's Chargers, or if it means that this year's Chargers have reverted to the crappy team they were supposed to be last year.

* Not a real impressive week 1 with our picks. We can break even if Philly wins tonight: St. Ides: 7-8, Samichlaus: 7-8

And, as my colleague pointed out, Michigan also lost a huge game at home against Notre Dame. There were a few calls that kind of went the way of the Irish. The big one being when on first and goal on a QB sneak, Henne apparently got into the end zone. But it was called down on like the one inch line. Then on second down, another QB sneak, and he seemingly doesn't get in after a huge pile-up. But wait! It's being reviewed! Somehow, the replay booth saw that he might have lost the ball. And, sure enough, it looks like he did, and ND recovered. It was a bit sketchy though that they reviewed the second play, but not the first. In college, neither coaches nor on-the-field officials have the ability to call for a replay. It can only be initiated by the officials in the booth. A few plays later, while Notre Dame is trying to kill the clock, the inexplicably call a rollout pass. The Irish QB is hit from behind, fumbles the ball, Michigan recovers deep in Irish territory. Oops, guess what. Replay initiatied from the booth again. His knee was down, no fumble, Notre Damn keeps the ball.

Now, both calls did seem correct. What I take issue with is their inconsistency on initiating the replays. And really, Michigan did deserve to lose the game. Hart got hurt early (although his backup did a fine job). Henne looked fucking awful.

Really, the only consolation all weekend was it looks like I'm going to win all 3 of my fantasy games this week. And the most threatening Big Ten teams (Ohio State and Iowa) and NFC West teams (Arizona and St. Louis) all lost as well. How ironic is it that the Niners stand alone atop the NFC West right now?

But, as my dad likes to say, "This shit is like wrestling. These teams will look awful one week and then great the next! You can't predict it!"

Although I'm not sure how that makes it like wrestling. Since wrestling is fake and you can predict it. But yeah, this whole parity thing in the NFL is getting out of control.