The Bills won one game and everyone thinks they've wrapped up the AFC East and are headed to a playoff showdown with Tennessee.
Don't start planning the Super Bowl parade yet, guys.
Sure, they looked great and everyone else looked bad, but calm down people, they still have 15 more games to play. I know this is more than what everyone expected and it's exactly what the team needed, but 15 games is quite a while.
I am not saying that there is no cause for excitement. I am just trying to prevent the inevitable mass depression that will take hold of the city of Buffalo when a mediocre Jets team that, on the shoulders of the ancient Vinny Testaverde, goes 9-7 and somehow sneaks into the playoffs.
I must admit that the Bills defense looked incredible Sunday, and I am glad to see Takeo Spikes is finally getting some recognition. Spikes has been one of the top five linebackers in the league since he came in but not once has he made the Pro Bowl. He played every week on a horrendous Cincinnati defense and never complained once. He never had less than 105 tackles. On Sunday, he showed up and the rest of the world found out just how good he is. They found out just how good the rest of the Bills defense is too.
Lawyer Milloy looked like a top safety again after having a mediocre 2002 campaign. Sam Adams looked good too. I do not even want to say anything about his interception return; I think it would be best if I, and the rest of the world, forgot about it.
Some more Week One observations:
I've already hit this one, but Mike Martz is done. His play calling Sunday was absolutely horrendous: going for two fourth-and-longs, not realizing Kurt Warner was concussed, and handing Marshall Faulk the ball just nine times? There's no reason a team that good is not able to win.
The Jets' offensive coordinator, Paul Hackett, is another one who needs to go. No play was more indicative of Hackett's play calling over the past few years than the fourth-and-three when he handed the ball to LaMont Jordan. To that point Jordan had touched the ball just five times in the game. He had a total two yards on the day before that play. After it he had zero. Great call, coach.
Despite all their additions and new coach Marvin Lewis, the Cincinnati Bengals still are and will continue to be the worst team in football. They gave up 184 rushing yards on Sunday. The NFL should consider contracting them, getting the devices from Men In Black and erasing everyone's memories of this franchise.
Free agent quarterbacks Kordell Stewart and Jake Plummer both looked terrible Sunday. I bet the Bears are happy they drafted Rex Grossman, because at this rate it looks like he'll be the starter really soon. Kordell was just 14-for-34 for 95 yards, while throwing one touchdown and three picks. Plummer went 12-of-25 for 115 yards, and threw three picks. Less than stellar performances by both.
Rookie receivers Andre Johnson, Anaquin Boldin and Charles Rogers all looked like the real deal. Boldin set a rookie record for receiving yards in a debut with 207 and both Johnson and Rogers had big impacts on their team's wins.
Who didn't live up to the hype? Ravens QB Kyle Boller shot up draft boards faster than a speeding bullet, but he struggled as the Ravens starter Sunday. It was his first game but, he was just 22-of-43 for 152 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
All in all, week one was all we could have hoped for - and more. But, in football, you're always supposed to be focused on the games ahead. So, this week I'm looking forward to the Jets vs. Dolphins. Look for Vinny Testaverde to have a career day. Or break a hip. Either way, it will be entertaining.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
