NFL Dud's

(Picture from ESPN.com)

This afternoon I turned on my television completely ready for another NFC shootout between the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints. After the first couple minutes, I thought for sure that America was in for another all-offensive spectacle. Then two things happened, Reggie Bush and a Cardinal offensive line that couldn't stop a Pop Warner defensive line. Reggie danced around a terrible, lackluster, lazy, poor tackling Cardinals defense and had a career day. He single handily changed the game, and was part of two of the three biggest plays of the game. The first was on a handoff up the left side where Bush hit a hole, should have been tackled, cut back across the field, broke Calais Campbell ankles and sent him diving into thin air only to come out empty handed, and then dead sprinted for a 46-yard touchdown. The other was just an 83-yard punt return, no big deal. Bush picked the best time to be the player "Dem Saints" thought they were getting. The third play that turned the tide (and probably the most epic) was a bit of Sean Payton trickery with the good ol' Flea Flicker. Brees hit Devery Henderson (who changed route for an amazing catch) for a 44-yard touchdown.

Other than watching the Saints route the depleted and beleaguered Arizona defense, there was nothing else worth watching. Warner got raped play after play, and he still kept coming out for more (he played well considering the circumstances, and I really hope this was not his last game, the guy's still got it). This game was fun to watch up until half way through the third quarter when the Saints took control of both sides of the football. The final score 45-14.

Much was the same for the Colts, Ravens game which was remarkably boring from the get go. The Colts were prepared for Ray Rice and were not going to allow him to touch the ball another 50 odd times. They forced an injured Joe Flacco to beat them, which did not happen. The sophomore quarterback threw two interceptions in a game where he could not make any mistakes. The Ravens could not cut a break, which is best summed up by the two times Ed Reed picked off Peyton Manning but the first he coughed up and gave it right back to the Colts, and the second was negated by a penalty. The final score 20-3.

Hopefully tomorrow's games can offer a little more intrigue to NFL fans who are sick of watching complete blow outs (besides the Green Bay, Arizona game last weekend). I for one am hoping the Jets defense can make things interesting against a Charger offense that has been clicking lately. And for ESPN's sake I am hoping that Brett Favre throws a last minute touchdown pass after a Tony Romo interception (then we can watch Brett cry for a week, Romo take all the blame for every problem in Jerry's World, and listen to the PTI guys debate who was more at fault Wade or Romo). Here's to hoping tomorrow offers brighter days!