Daily Star NY: Rising Cardinals far from pushover for Giants

[spanishomelette]

09/10/05

Rising Cardinals far from pushover for Giants

http://www.thedailystar.com/sports/2005/09/10/spbob.html

By Bob Christ

Contributing Writer

A capsule look at Week 1 of the 2005 NFL season.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Arizona (0-0) at N.Y. Giants (0-0)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line: Giants by 2½

Facts: Tiki Barber was a star against lousy defenses last year, getting all but one of his nine 100-yard games against bottom-dweller units. But against defenses ranked in the top eight in the league, his average was 3.1 yards a carry and 56 a game. But there’s good news. Arizona ranked last in yards yielded per rush last season at 4.7. ... Arizona hasn’t returned a punt for a touchdown since 1993, the longest current drought in the league. But they’ve got work not to do if they care to break the league record. From 1962-1980, the Rams never scored on a punt return. ... Second-year Giants QB Eli Manning (probable) got in all of 17 passes this summer and hurt his elbow. ... It might be a tie: Arizona is 1-20 in its past 21 road games; New York is 4-12 at home the past two years.

Analysis: Arizona coach Dennis Green is under orders to have his Cardinals up and winning so they can sell tickets to their new stadium next season. That’s why Kurt Warner is at QB and a young kid isn’t being groomed. The Giants’ Tom Coughlin is still wearing the lab coat and experimenting. Also, the Cardinals have the pass rushers to make Manning’s elbow feel worse.

Forecast: Cardinals 24, Giants 17.

Houston (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Bills by 4½

Facts: Buffalo’s defensive passer rating was tops in the league last season, but then again, the Bills didn’t face any of the top-seven rated QBs. ... Houston RB Domanick Davis lost four fumbles the first two games last year and never fumbled again. In the season’s final six weeks, he had four 100-yard rushing games, including 158 against Jacksonville’s 11th-ranked defense, the most the Jags have given up to a back the past three years. ... J.P. Losman is being force-fed the starting QB job in Buffalo after the Bills released Drew Bledsoe.

Analysis: Houston quarterback David Carr, who enters his fourth season as a starter, has a playoff-caliber team around him and might catch the Bills by surprise — the same way Jacksonville did in last year’s opener in Buffalo. Don’t shortchange Texans coach Dom Capers, either.

Forecast: Texans 21, Bills 17.

N.Y. Jets (0-0) at Kansas City (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Chiefs by 3

Facts: The average age on the Chiefs’ starting offense is 30, the oldest in the league. By contrast, in 1963, the year the franchise moved from Dallas to Kansas City, the Chiefs didn’t have any players that old. ... The Jets’ Curtis Martin not only won the rushing title but had a league-best nine 100-yard games last season. Incredibly, none came against a rush defense ranked in the bottom seven of the league. Kansas City’s was fifth worst last season. ... Chiefs QB Trent Green says he’s in tip-top shape after undergoing minor leg surgery to improve circulation.

Analysis: Jets QB Chad Pennington still can’t be trusted to open it up after shoulder surgery, so Martin will be wearing the bull’s-eye for New York. Kansas City, led by new defensive acquisitions CB Patrick Surtain, LB Kendrell Bell and DE Carlos Hall, should do enough to fluster New York. You know the Chiefs have enough ammunition on offense.

Forecast: Chiefs 35, Jets 24.

Tennessee (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Steelers by 7

Facts: Pittsburgh punter Chris Gardocki holds the NFL record of 1,045 kicks without a block. In 1988, however, Steelers punter Harry Newsome set a league mark with six blocks in one season. ... QB Ben Roethlisberger, 14-1 last season counting the playoffs, didn’t lead the Steelers to any touchdowns this summer. ... Injury-prone Tennessee RB Chris Brown missed five games last year yet still had six fumbles. ... Third-team RB Willie Parker gets the start for Pittsburgh. He had 102 yards in last year’s season finale against Buffalo’s desperate-to-win defense despite playing with backups. ... Pittsburgh was the only team to go undefeated against playoff teams in the regular season last year (3-0). ... The Titans were the only team in the league to lose twice despite scoring at least 35 points.

Analysis: One of the bigger mismatches of the weekend, unless of course the Devil Rays continue to play the Yankees. The Titans are going through salary cap hell and don’t have the depth to stay with the Steelers.

Forecast: Steelers 24, Titans 7.

Chicago (0-0) at Washington (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Redskins by 6

Facts: Purdue’s Kyle Orton becomes the first rookie to start an opener at QB since Baltimore’s Kyle Boller in 2003. Orton, the same guy who was benched against Northwestern last year, will be facing 2004’s third-ranked defensive unit and 90,000-plus Redskins fans. ... Patrick Ramsey won the QB sweepstakes for the Redskins. ... Chicago was held to 160 yards total offense against Washington last year, the Redskins’ second best defensive game of the season. ... Redskins RB Clinton Portis had a season-high 171 yards in that game against the Bears last season. And, yes, Chicago LB Brian Urlacher did play.

Analysis: If not for bad publicity, Ramsey wouldn’t get any. But in Washington’s final five games of 2004, he somehow led his team to three victories, each time having a passer rating that surpassed 100. In fact, only four guys had that high a rating over the course of the season. A rejuvenated Portis makes Ramsey’s life in the pocket easier.

Forecast: Redskins 20, Bears 7.

Cincinnati (0-0) at Cleveland (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Bengals by 3½

Facts: Cincinnati, which has finished 8-8 the past two seasons under coach Marvin Lewis, has gone 14 consecutive years without a winning season, six short of the NFL mark set by New Orleans from 1967-1986. ... Where’s Akili Smith and Tim Couch? ... Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer had two 300-yard passing games last season, both coming against Baltimore’s No. 2-rated unit (based on passer rating). Those were the only times the Ravens yielded a 300-yard game. ... Cleveland RB Lee Suggs (ankle, doubtful) closed the 2004 season with three straight 100-yard rushing games. Reuben Droughns, who had 1,240 yards for Denver last year, will replace him.

Analysis: One of Palmer’s problems last year was that his interception rate (4.2 percent) was worst in the league for qualifying QBs. Also, the Browns will be drawing from extraordinary energy in their season opener at home with new coach Romeo Crennel, much the way they did last year when they had no right to beat Baltimore but were caught up in the 40th reunion celebration of the team’s last title.

Forecast: Browns 23, Bengals 20.

Denver (0-0) at Miami (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Broncos by 4½

Facts: Last season was the first time since 1976 the Dolphins had a losing home record (3-5), the second longest streak in league history (Pittsburgh, 1970-1998). ... The Dolphins, in addition to Washington, were the only teams not to yield a 300-yard passer in 2004. However, that’s when DBs Patrick Surtain and Sammy Knight were still around. ... Denver’s Mike Anderson, who missed all last year with a groin injury, hopes to return to the form that allowed him to gain 1,487 yards his rookie year in 2000. ... Miami finished with a league-worst 3.5 rushing average last season without Ricky Williams. That’s exactly what Williams averaged in 2003.

Analysis: Miami coach Nick Saban must be beating his head against the wall after getting stuck starting QB Gus Frerotte. This guy was already the worst-rated QB going into his dreadful performance in the exhibition finale. Not to mention, he’s not much for running for his life, which is going to happen a lot.

Forecast: Broncos 28, Dolphins 10.

New Orleans (0-0) at Carolina (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Panthers by 7

Facts: The Saints will be playing all 16 of their games away from New Orleans. The 1926-27 Duluth Eskimos know what travel is about, too. They played 22 consecutive road games in 1926-27 before folding. ... When Carolina was closing with a rush last season after a 1-7 start, they forced at least three turnovers in seven consecutive games. In the finale, the Panthers were 21-18 losers to New Orleans, which didn’t commit a turnover. ... The Saints won their final four games last year and still didn’t make the postseason, one of three teams to do so the past 11 years.

Analysis: The Saints are catching a break since Panthers standout DE Julius Peppers is questionable with a foot injury. Of course, that’s not making them forget how their lives were ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. They’ll fight to the end, though.

Forecast: Panthers 27, Saints 26.

Seattle (0-0) at Jacksonville (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Jaguars by 3

Facts: Seattle’s round trip for this game is about 6,000 miles. According to the NFL, that’s only about 1,200 shy of what Cincinnati will travel all season, including exhibitions. ... FYI: Jacksonville hasn’t returned an interception for a touchdown since 1999. Every other team has had at least three this century; Tampa Bay and New England have had 14 apiece. ... Seahawks defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes reportedly will miss this game after being hospitalized with dizziness.

Analysis: After Seattle’s glittering 3-0 start last year, in which its defense was atop the rankings, the Seahawks gave up an average of 376 yards a game, which over the course of the season was crummier than all but two teams in the league. Jaguars RB Fred Taylor will like this matchup since he feasted of rotten defenses all year, getting four of his five 100-yard games against teams ranked in the bottom seven in yards allowed per carry.

Forecast: Jaguars 28, Seahawks 14.

Tampa Bay (0-0) at Minnesota (0-0)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line: Vikings by 6

Facts: Minnesota has not had a losing home record in a season since 1984, the longest current streak in the league. ... During the 2004 regular season, the Vikings were 0-5 against teams that reached the postseason. But they won at Green Bay in the first round. ... Go figure: Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper has had only one of his past 13 300-yard passing games at home. ... Did you know Tampa Bay’s Brian Griese had the best completion percentage in the league last season at 69.3? A year earlier, in limited duty with Miami, he was at a career-low 56.9 percent.

Analysis: The additions of safety Darren Sharper and cornerback Fred Smoot give the Vikings swagger in the secondary that hasn’t been there for ages. Let’s see Griese take advantage of this revitalized defense. As for Bucs RB Cadillac Williams, his 12 summer carries for 48 yards make him hard to judge.

Forecast: Vikings 27, Buccaneers 17.

Dallas (0-0) at San Diego (0-0)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line: Chargers by 4½

Facts: San Diego TE Antonio Gates, who had 81 catches and 13 TDs last season, is in the last week of his suspension. ... Dallas, which holds the all-time record of 17 consecutive opening-week victories, has lost its past five openers, tying Arizona for the longest current mark in the league. ... Last season, Cowboys QBs — mainly Vinny Testaverde — had the third-worst interception rate in the league. This summer, Dallas passers, led by new starter Drew Bledsoe, had one in four games, tied for the fewest in the league. ... Four times in the past nine years the Chargers’ most lopsided victory of the season came on opening day. ... No one was better on third- and fourth-and-one plays than Drew Brees, who got first downs on each of his 11 runs.

Analysis: There’s a little bit of Tiki Barber in Dallas running sensation Julius Jones. No, not the fumbling part, but when going against the poorer rushing defenses, he winds up taking bows in the end zone and smiling for the cameras. The only two times he was stuffed last year came, not coincidentally, against the only two tough run defenses he faced (No. 1 Washington, No. 2 Baltimore), when he averaged 2.7 yards on 58 total rushes. San Diego was at No. 6 in 2004.

Forecast: Chargers 30, Cowboys 17.

Green Bay (0-0) at Detroit (0-0)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line: Lions by 3

Facts: The Packers were 2½-point underdogs at Detroit last year and won, 38-10. That 28-point victory matched the second largest in the league all season for an underdog. The Lions gouged Green Bay’s 25th-ranked defense for 18 yards in the second half of that game. ... Detroit RB Kevin Jones averaged 118 yards rushing in the team’s final seven games, 12 more a game than rushing leader Curtis Martin averaged last season. ... Green Bay had three defeats to double-digit losers last season, tied with Minnesota for most among playoff teams.

Analysis: The Lions, despite having all those high picks at wide receiver (Mike Williams, Roy Williams, Charles Rogers), sure aren’t cashing in downfield, not having a single completion of even 30 yards this summer. Or maybe they’re waiting for games to count. Or maybe QB Joey Harrington’s not that good. Or maybe they can’t pass-block long enough.

Forecast: Packers 20, Lions 13

St. Louis (0-0) at San Francisco (0-0)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line: Rams by 6

Facts: Just wondering out loud: What does the quality control coach do on a team like the 49ers? ... The Rams had a turnover margin of minus 24 last season, six off the league record, and still made the playoffs. Pittsburgh had negative 30 in 1965. ... Based on last year’s records, the Rams have the easiest 2005 schedule in the league. Their foes have a cumulative 114-142 mark based on last year’s records.

Analysis: This is a sandwich game for the 49ers, who are just looking forward to the postgame meal. The last time these two teams met, San Francisco QB Tim Rattay helped generate 160 yards total offense. The time before, the Rams were up, 24-0, after their first four drives. Expect more of the same.

Forecast: Rams 31, 49ers 16.

Indianapolis (0-0) at Baltimore (0-0)

Time: 8:30 p.m.

Line: Colts by 3

Facts: Indianapolis had a four-game streak last season in which it won its games by at least 30 points. How impressive is that? Consider that the Cardinals haven’t won even one game by that margin in 12 years. ... Indianapolis went winless in the preseason. So did the Giants in 2000, and they still reached the Super Bowl. ... Ravens RB Jamal Lewis was released from prison in time for training camp, but had six carries in practice games. ... Good grief! Colts QBs were sacked a league-high 21 times in the preseason. During the 2004 regular season, Peyton Manning went down 14 times.

Analysis: Sure, it was only the exhibition season, but the fact that the Colts gained an average of 2.5 yards a carry this summer has alarm bells sounding in Indianapolis. That’s 0.7 worse than the next-worst rushing team. Maybe it means nothing. But since Baltimore gave up 3.6 yards a rush last year, second best in the league, things probably aren’t going to get better Sunday night.

Forecast: Ravens 23, Colts 21.

MONDAY NIGHT’S GAME

Philadelphia (0-0) at Atlanta (0-0)

Time: 9 p.m.

Line: Eagles by 1½

Facts: Andy Reid’s Eagles are the team of the century with 59 victories. ... FYI: Derrick Burgess, the guy who harassed Michael Vick in last year’s NFC title game, signed with Oakland. ... Eagles kicker David Akers made more field goals of 40 yards or longer (17) last season than any other kicker even attempted. ... The NFC South champ Falcons lost to the Chiefs by 46 and Bucs by 27, the only playoff team in the league to twice be pummeled so harshly by non-playoff teams. ... Atlanta RB T.J. Duckett averaged 6.3 yards on 26 preseason rushes, and backfield mate Warrick Dunn averaged 6.0 on 25 carries. ... Terrell Owens probably will show up.

Analysis: The Eagles were in the bottom half of the league in stopping the run last season, and that’s what the Falcons are doing well, not to mention Vick’s scrambling. He had 902 rushing yards last season, excluding his 100-plus yards in the playoff game against St. Louis. Also, is there any team in the league that can shrug off a loss right now easier than the Eagles? When you’re remaining scheduled includes nine games against teams that lost at least 10 games last season, there’s just not that sense of urgency. Especially on the road.

Forecast: Falcons 27, Eagles 21.

[tr1]

JJ Arrington is gonna give the Giants problems...

[Westbrook36]

The analysis of the Eagles/Falcons game is laughable. Yeah, our run defense sucked before Trotter was inserted. I guess he just ignored the beat down in the NFCC Game. :laugh:

Also, the talk about urgency is just a stupid idiotic point. Why on earth wouldn't a team that whose calling card is coming to play every week not be prepared for the opening Monday Night Game?

Laughable.