Friday, July 24, 2009

NFL 1981 Week 3 Preview

The Colts sit atop the AFC East at 2-0.  So far this season their defense is playing much improved.  The Dolphins, Bills, and Jets are all sitting at 1-1.  The Bills look as though they have taken a big step back this season and it's hard to tell with the Jets.  The Dolphins meanwhile have not looked like the defending champs.  Their running game and defense has been great, but their passing game is almost non existent.  The big shocker is the 0-2 Patriots who have looked very bad in these two losses.  Pittsburgh is the surprise team atop the AFC Central.  Their defense is greatly improved with the addition of Lawrence Taylor and the maturing of their young defensive players, and their offense has been solid so far.  Houston looks to be as dangerous as the past few seasons, though their offense has struggled a bit here at the beginning of the season.  Not much is expected of the two Ohio teams.  Kansas City is the talk of the AFC so far.  Not only does their offense look just as dangerous as they did last year, but their defense has played very well so far.  If they keep this up they may be the team to be in the AFC.  No one else in the West has impressed much so far.

San Francisco and New Orleans both sit at 2-0 in the NFC West.  The Saints offense has been a bit sluggish, but their defense has been very impressive.  The 49ers meanwhile don't seem to have lost a step from last season.  The Rams meanwhile are struggling a bit.  Age may be catching up to them on offense.  In the Central it is Green Bay and Tampa Bay both sitting at 2-0.  The Buccaneers have been very impressive so far and may make the jump from worst to first.  The big question mark for them has to be Steve Spurrier.  Chicago seems to have completely collapsed after a good 1980 season and the Lions and the Vikings are running in rebuilding gear right now, not sure if either team can get together enough wins to make a push at the playoffs.  The NFC East is pretty open, though the Giants and Eagles both seem to be out of it already.  The big surprise here is how shaky the defending Division champ Redskins have looked.  They are scoring points, but so far their defense is giving up more. 


NO trades 2nd year DT Ron Crews for Mia 2nd year TE Bruce Hardy


AFC
East: Baltimore 2-0; Miami, Buffalo, New York 1-1; New England 0-2
Central: Pittsburgh 2-0; Houston 1-1; Cincinnati, Cleveland 0-2
West: Kansas City 2-0; Seattle, Denver, Oakland, San Diego 1-1

NFC
East: Washingtin, St. Louis, Dallas 1-1; Philadelphia, New York 0-2
Central: Green Bay, Tampa Bay 2-0; Detroit, Minnesota 1-1; Chicago 0-2
West: San Francisco, New Orleans 2-0; Los Angeles 1-1; Atlanta 0-2


QBs
Sea Brian Sipe 122.6
GB Lynn Dickey 109.7
KC Greg Hendrickson 102.5

RBs
Den Otis Armstrong 248yds
Bal Billy Sims 235yds
KC Ted Brown 228yds

Recs
StL Ike Harris 252yds
Cin Isaac Cutris 244yds
Phi Charlie Smith 217yds


The Games to Watch
Tampa Bay 2-0 at Green Bay 2-0
    This should be a great, hard hitting defensive battle.

Washington 1-1 at New Orleans 2-0
    The Saints have looked very good so far this season, the Redskins a bit shaky.  This should be a good matchup.





1 comment: