The Bottom Ten/NFL Week 3
By Gaylon Kent
The Writer's Shack
Rarely has the race for the Dan Henning Trophy started out so wide open. Sure, Arizona's going to be pretty bad, and Oakland isn't going to surprise anyone, but week one also produced some foundation-building lousy performances from Cleveland, Kansas City, Detroit and Houston; teams throwing down the gauntlet and letting everybody know they intend to compete for the Bottom Ten top spot.
And Detroit and Houston won!
This week's mess, as the horses stumble out of the starting gate and pass the grandstand for the first time:
1. Arizona (0-1; lost to San Francisco 20-17)
Mitigating Factors: Cardinals show mettle of true B-10 champions, managing to lose despite doing statistically better than opponents, as Cardinals get more first downs, go 6-15 on third down, and allow only 194 total yards in game as boring as it was late (10:15 EDT kickoff)...Cardinal offense snoozes through middle quarters, when five straight drives - averaging 5.6 plays each - end in punts.
On The Flip Side: QB Matt Leinart was clutch, mustering only 102 passing yards and two clutch interceptions...The first led to the first 49er touchdown, the second ended the Cardinals final fourth quarter drive.
Next Loss: Seattle
2. Oakland (0-1; lost to Detroit 36-21)
Mitigating Factors: Raiders make powerful B-10 statement by overcoming 17-point deficit, only to give 16 unanswered fourth-quarter points to lose to team that won three games last season.
Finishing Touch: Raiders put together first half drives of nine, eleven and nine plays, all which end with missed field goals.
Next Loss: at Denver
3. Cleveland (0-1; lost to Pittsburgh 34-7)
Mitigating Factors: Brown offense in off-season form, accounting for just 46 yards rushing, one rushing first down and six sacks...Defense not any good either, allowing 365 yards and over 5.5 yards per play.
This Isn't Good: Tone was set on Browns first punt attempt. Punter Paul Enrster muffed the snap before managing a 15-yard punt. On the play the Browns were flagged twice for holding, once for an illegal formation and once for having an illegible man downfield.
Next Loss: Cincinnati
4. Kansas City (0-1; lost to Houston 20-3)
Mitigating Factors: Chiefs follow up two touchdown preseason with zero touchdowns in opener...Chiefs show mastery of fundamentals with two lost fumbles, two interceptions, a missed field goal and several dropped passes.
At Least They'll Be Rested For Next Week: Chiefs have five drives of four plays or less.
Next Loss: at Chicago
5. Chicago (0-1; lost to San Diego 14-3)
Mitigating Factors: Defending NFC champs forge into B-10 on strength of four turnover, three point performance...Bears muster just 202 total yards, including a mere 80 on the ground.
Man vs. Beast: Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson had more touchdown passes (one) than Grossman did.
Next Loss: Kansas City
Caught In The Lint Trap:
6. Detroit (1-0) - Pollman not fooled by win over Raiders!
7. Tampa Bay (0-1) - Offense bores entire country with two field goal, two fumble, five punt performance!
8. Houston (1-0) - Win over Chiefs hardly anything to get excited about.
9. NFL Overtime: It's still possible to lose in OT without even having the chance to be on offense.
10. Miami (0-1) - Failing to win in regulation, failing to win OT coin toss, 3.3 yards per rush, help pull out type of loss that sets nice, losing tone for season.
This Week's Clash of the Titans: Kansas City at Chicago
Answer To Last Week's Trivia Question: 1962 was the last time a major league baseball season ended with players with career home run totals in the 300's appeared in the top ten of major league baseball's career home run list, with Eddie Matthews (399), Duke Snider (389) and Gil Hodges (370) ranking 8-10. At the end of the 1963 season, Snider would rank tenth with 403 home runs.
No one guessed the correct answer. As a result, readers are given a week off from the trivia question, to rest up and do some reading.
Comments? Complaints? Recipes? Email Gaylon Here!
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