Arizona Cardinals – Mathieu gamble paying off
Tyrann Mathieu played with both energy and purpose in his NFL debut. The former Heisman finalist managed to get after the quarterback and record a sack in the third quarter. He also showed his elusiveness and playmaking abilities on a 24-yard punt return midway through the fourth quarter. The Cardinals will look like masterminds if Mathieu is able to maintain this level of play throughout the preseason and into the regular season.
Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons passing game is going to be dangerous
Matt Ryan may not have thrown a touchdown pass, but he did look sharp while going 6 of 9 for 89 yards. Harry Douglas grabbed a short dump off pass and ran with it for 42 yards. The Falcons offense is absolutely loaded with playmakers. Matt Ryan should have a huge year.
Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens defense looks up to the challenge
2 Facts:
Fact 1:The Ravens defense lost Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Paul Kruger, Bernard Pollard, & Dannell Ellerbe this off-season.
Fact 2: The revamped Ravens defense kept the Buccaneers passing attack under 250 yards and only allowed them to get into the end zone once.
It’s definitely going to be weird seeing the Ravens without Ray Lewis & Ed Reed on the field, but I believe that John Harbaugh is a good enough coach to find ways to overcome that problem. Expect the Ravens defense to play hard and make plays this year.
Buffalo Bills – C.J. Spiller is for real
If you take away the ugly fumble, Spiller had a very promising first preseason game. C.J. managed to rack up 36 yards on only four carries. He wasn’t on the field long, but when he was, he showed good vision, quickness, and breakaway speed. 2013 will almost undoubtedly be C.J.’s best season yet.
Carolina Panthers – They can get after the quarterback
The Panthers defense was able to force 7 sacks against the Bears. 6 different Carolina players created the seven sacks, so it wasn’t just one or two players doing the damage; it was an assortment of defensive talent getting the job done. Josh Norman was also able to muster up 2 interceptions for the defense, one of which was for a touchdown.
Chicago Bears – They still have problems on the offensive line
It seems like, for as long as I can remember, the Chicago Bears have had pass-blocking problems. Their offensive line has improved greatly since 2010, when Jay Cutler was sacked 52 times in one season. Their preseason game against the Panthers must have looked awfully familiar to Bears fans, as their quarterbacks were sacked 7 times.
Cincinnati Bengals – Have the Bengals found their utility player?
Dane Sanzenbacher had a spectacular game against the Falcons. He had 2 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. The 5’ 11” wide out also returned a punt for 71 yards and a touchdown. AND HIS LAST NAME IS SANZENBACHER!!! How cool is that!?
Cleveland Browns – Josh Gordon is improving
Last year, in his rookie season, Josh Gordon compiled 50 receptions for 805 yards. He has the skillset to develop into a legitimate threat, and showed that in limited action against the Rams in Cleveland’s preseason opener. Gordon corralled a 21-yard pass from Brandon Weeden early in the first quarter. He finished with 2 catches for 27 yards on the night. I believe that Gordon will cross the 1,000-yard mark this season. (70+ receptions, 1,000+ yards, and 7 TD’s is my guess.)
Dallas Cowboys – It’s Dez Bryant time
Dez Bryant predicted a big year for himself and it’s starting to become apparent why. Bryant looked great against the Raiders as he hauled in 3 catches for 55 yards. I listed Dez Bryant as the 5th best receiver in the league in my “Top 5” series.
Denver Broncos – Let’s talk Brock…
Brock Osweiler, Denver’s 6’ 8” backup quarterback, had a promising performance in his first preseason action of 2013. The towering passer was 13 of 18 on the night. He didn’t throw any touchdowns, but he didn’t throw any interceptions, either. Osweiler has a chance to become a solid NFL QB, mostly because he has the luxury of sitting behind Peyton Manning.
Detroit Lions – Ansah makes some noise
Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit’s first round pick out of BYU, made his presence known early on against the New York Jets. The defensive end turned a horrible Mark Sanchez pass into a pick-six. He also had a couple of tackles to go along with the INT.
Green Bay Packers – Packers WON’T miss Greg Jennings
Greg Jennings was a fantastic player for Green Bay over the years, but I don’t think the Green Bay offense will skip a beat with him gone. Aaron Rodgers was 3-5 throwing the football. He was able to connect with James Jones on a 50 yard BOMB near the sideline. What I’m basically trying to say is this: Greg Jennings is a great player, but Green Bay is loaded with depth at the wide receiver position. Aaron Rodgers is going to get the job done, regardless of who lines up on the outside.
Houston Texans – Hopkins impresses in debut
For years the Texans have longed for a wide receiver to play opposite of Andre Johnson. All signs point to DeAndre Hopkins being the man for the job. Hopkins had a remarkable first game in the NFL, even if it was just an exhibition game. The rookie pass-catcher had 4 receptions, 52 yards, and a touchdown on the night. His touchdown was an absolute thing of beauty — Hopkins leapt above the opposing teams cornerback and attacked the ball at its highest point to secure the catch and eventual touchdown. Basically, what I’m trying to say is this: The Texans finally have a weapon to compliment their All-Pro receiver, Andre Johnson.
Indianapolis Colts – T.Y. Hilton gives Colts another playmaker
T.Y. Hilton looks like he has the potential to be a consistent weapon for Andrew Luck and the Colts. He showed his ability to stretch the field when he burned the defense for a remarkable 45-yard touchdown grab. It’ll be interesting to see if Hilton is able to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in his second season as a pro.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Their new uniforms are terrible
I’m not sure how everybody else feels about the new uniforms, but I think that they look incredibly awful. The new Jaguar logo is cool, but the two-tone helmet effect looks horrible. I like that they’re trying to be innovative and “fresh,” though. I just wish they had scrapped the two-tone helmet idea.
Kansas City Chiefs – Jamaal Charles = Brian Westbrook?
It’s no secret that Andy Reid likes to throw the football. Reid considers short passes to the running back to be “running type plays.” Charles caught 3 passes for 27 yards in limited action against New Orleans. The Chiefs will look to utilize his skills as both a runner & a pass-catcher this coming season. His receptions and receiving yards should both increase.
Miami Dolphins – Keller shines in debut
Dustin Keller, the team’s new tight end, showed off his talents against the Jaguars in Miami’s 2013 preseason debut. Keller only had 2-receptions, but both were for big gains. His first catch was for a 24-yards and a first down, his second catch was for 22-yards and a TD. Keller looks to provide Ryan Tannehill with a skilled & reliable target to look for when he’s in trouble.
Minnesota Vikings – Rookies dazzle
Cordarrelle Patterson, out of Tennessee, showed his playmaking abilities in his first ever NFL action. Patterson, who ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, showed off his blazing speed throughout the exhibition game. He finished the contest with 4 catches for 54-yards. He added a 50-yard kickoff return to the stat card, as well. Minnesota also got production out of rookie running back Zach Line, who had a 61-yard touchdown reception.
New England Patriots – Brady’s bunch can run
The Patriots offense compiled over 200 yards on the ground against Philadelphia. New England’s rushing attack also scored three touchdowns, one of which was a miraculous 51-yard scamper by LeGarrette Blount. Stevan Ridley had a good game, too. Ridley had a 61-yard run and a 1-yard TD. New England’s run-game is strong enough to make up for their lack of experience at the wide receiver position.
New Orleans Saints – Brees was ballin’
Drew Brees played in 2 full series against the Chiefs. The Super Bowl MVP quarterback was solid, as he went 7 of 10 for 65-yards. Brees wasn’t able to get into the end zone, but he still looked sharp in his debut. The return of Sean Payton will be huge for both New Orleans, and Drew Brees. Look for #9 to have a MONSTER season.
New York Giants – All about C-R-U-U-U-U-Z!
Victor Cruz didn’t wait long to start making plays again. The recently resigned receiver hauled in a long pass from Eli Manning for a 57-yard touchdown. Cruz must be productive. If Cruz can’t continue to produce big numbers, the Giants offense will suffer. I think he’ll be fine, though.
New York Jets – Sanchez was, well, Sanchez
Sanchez has an overall good game. The former USC quarterback and butt-fumble extraordinaire hit on 10 of his 13 pass attempts and even tossed a touchdown pass. He also threw an ugly interception…an interception that turned into a touchdown. It seems that no matter how well Sanchez plays, he always finds some way to screw it up. It’ll be interesting to see who wins the QB competition for the Jets. (My guess is that Sanchez starts week 1, but loses the job midway through the season.)
Oakland Raiders – Pryor still learning
Terrelle Pryor showed some promise against the Cowboys. He also showed that he has a lot of learning to do. Pryor was 6 of 10 with a pick. The interception came on a play where Pryor was flushed out of the pocket and tried to squeeze the ball into tight coverage. Pryor would have been better off just keeping the ball and running out of bounds. It’s evident that he still has a lot to learn, but it’s also evident that the talent is there. If Oakland allows Pryor to properly develop, he has the potential be a dangerous player.
Philadelphia Eagles – Did Vick gain the lead in QB race?
The quarterback competition between Michael Vick and Nick Foles will most likely go down to the wire. However, Vick’s strong game should help his case. Vick was 4/5 for 94 yards and a TD. Vick’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Desean Jackson was nearly perfect. I think that MV7 will end up winning the job.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Roethlisberger and Sanders are gelling together
Pittsburgh’s biggest question going into the season: Who will fill the void left by Mike Wallace? Emmanuel Sanders is the player that everyone assumes will do the job. I think people are right to assume that, though. Roethlisberger only completed 4 passes; Sanders caught 3 of those passes.
San Diego Chargers – Ryan Mathews played well
Mathews hasn’t fulfilled expectations up until this point in his career. Mathews has yet to play a full season in his career and has only rushed for more than 1,000 yards once. Injuries are the main that Mathews hasn’t produced. If Mathews can stay healthy, he can do big things. He showed his abilities against Seattle, as he ran for 27 yards on 3 carries. His best play of the night had to have been when he dove over the offensive line to convert on 4th and 1.
San Francisco 49ers – Kaepernick will continue to be a playmaker
Kaepernick only appeared in one series against the Broncos. In his limited action, he didn’t miss a pass, as he was 4 of 4 for 38 yards. Kaepernick will definitely miss the presence of Michael Crabtree; players like Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis are more than capable of picking up the slack.
Seattle Seahawks – Backup QB race heats up
Tarvaris Jackson & Brady Quinn both played well against San Diego.
Jackson – 8/9 for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Quinn – 6/11 for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Jackson played a better game than Quinn. Jackson is also more mobile, which helps his cause. I think that T.J. will take the number 2 spot.
St. Louis Rams – Bradford making strides
Sam Bradford, the former 1st overall pick in the draft, played very well. He was 5 of 8 for 102 yards and touchdown. It was a promising start for Bradford. Rams fans should be pleased with his performance. I’m excited to see Bradford connect with Tavon Austin, something he didn’t do against Cleveland.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Buccaneers passing game struggled
Josh Freeman was 4 of 7 for 34 yards, which isn’t bad. Freeman’s backups, Glennon and Weber, combined to be 13 of 29 for 176 yards and 3 interceptions. Tampa Bay must find a way to bring Freeman back after the season. I think they’re in trouble if they don’t.
Tennessee Titans – The return of CJ2K?
Okay, let’s be real, it’s unlikely that Chris Johnson will ever surpass the 2,000 yard mark again. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of having a great season. Johnson showed that he still has blazing speed when he broke away from the Redskins defense for a 58-yard touchdown. I think a 1,500-yard season is a realistic milestone for the former rushing champ.
Washington Redskins – Kirk Cousins may be the best backup QB in the NFL
Kirk Cousins showed why many people think he is the best backup QB in the league against Tennessee. The QB looked comfortable and in control. He was 6 of 7 for 52 yards in limited action. The former Michigan State quarterback topped off the night with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Fred Davis. I firmly believe that Kirk Cousins has the ability to be a starter on at least 4 teams in the league (Cleveland, Jacksonville, Minnesota, and Oakland.) It’ll be interesting to see if any of those teams eventually try to make a move for Cousins.
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