Sunday Morning Gametime
The 2010 season has arrived and with the first game in the books, football fans get set for the opening Sunday and full slate of 13 games today. The Thursday night game was anything, but a barn-burner. It may have lacked some of the excitement we have come to expect from the NFL, but it was never short of drama.
Not quite a Favre-like performance left the Vikings on the short end of the victory stick, while the Saints and Drew Brees simply marched into the new season with the same step they ended their Superbowl run over seven months ago.
Favre and the Vikings will be looking hard over the next few weeks to try and solve their offensive woes and improve a passing game that was simply lacking any real playmaking threats. With a less than 100% Percy Harvin (missed a lot of training camp) and an injured Sidney Rice, the Vincent Jackson sweepstakes could be just the ticket.
Sunday Games:
The Thursday night lack-luster display was just a taste of what football fans have been waiting for since February, but don’t expect today’s games to be anything less than mouth-watering and lip-smacking good.
13 games are slated for the opening Sunday with a classic divisional matchup encore featuring the Cowboys and the new-look Redskins. Romo and company will be traveling to D.C. to meet the Redskins in tonight’s finale, but
The Bengals have added a few wrinkles to their lineup this season with the signing of wide receiver Terrell Owens, but against the Patriots (ranked 13th against the run in 2009) their biggest key could be running back Cedric Benson. Benson finished last season with 392 yards rushing in his last four starts and will anchor the team’s ground game in 2010. Another player to watch will be the Bengals rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham who could get lost in the shuffle with defenses paying more attention to T.O. and Ochocinco.
There won’t be any new surprises in Houston today with a typical AFC South shootout on order for today’s matchup between the Colts and Texans. Tight end Dallas Clark is healthy and back in the line-up, so along with the usual cast fantasy owners can expect a productive day. Even with a healthy defense, there will be little chance of the Colts slowing down Texan’s wide receiver Andre Johnson. Rookie running back Arian Foster could see a good day on the ground against the Colts 24th ranked run defense (in 2009).
Denver has a new look this season without stud receiver Brandon Marshall (traded) and his absence could open the door for a more productive season for running back Knowshon Moreno. Despite the lack of playmakers on the outside, quarterback Kyle Orton could still put up respectable numbers from under center. He’s not going to turn any heads, but he’s got great command of the offense’s short passing game.
Taking a little peek ahead at Monday night, in Baltimore the Raven’s offense has been given a huge face-lift and upgrade with some key off-season signings and a last minute addition. The arrival of wide receiver’s Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmanzadeh will instantly make Joe Flacco a more appealing fantasy option and productive NFL quarterback. The upgrade in the passing game will also stretch the defenses and give running back Ray Rice more room in 2010 to operate in the run game.
Notables;
There’s will be plenty to watch today and even more to talk about, but for now I leave you with a couple of notables that I will be keeping my eye on today…..
In St.Louis, even with a rookie quarterback calling the signals, I am expecting to see good things from wide receiver Laurent Robinson.
If the Browns can give quarterback Jake Delhomme time, I don’t think it will take him long to find the team’s leading wide out Mohamed Massaquoi. Running back Jerome Harrison will interest, at least for a day against the leagues worst run defense a year ago.
It might be the Lions they are playing, but my focus won’t be on quarterback Jay Cutler, but rather running back Matt Forte who has had success on the ground in the past. On the other side, I expect a strong showing from wide receiver Calvin Johnson who will give the Bear’s secondary fits all afternoon.
With a lot of focus going to Eagle’s receiver DeSean Jackson, it’s Jeremy Maclin who could come up with a big game as well. A much bigger target with great speed as well, Maclin could be a hot item in the Eagle’s passing game today. In the same game Packer’s wide receiver Greg Jennings won’t disappoint fantasy owners, but a surprise play could be third year receiver James Jones.
There’s going to be plenty of action today and much for fantasy owners to cheer about, when the games kickoff in under two hours who will you be watching?
