A lot happened this past weekend in the NFL that deserves to be mentioned.  I will take it upon myself to go over a few things that I see fit to be discussed after every week during the NFL regular season and playoffs.  Lets get started shall we.

The Detroit Lions lose because of a silly rule

It had appeared to everyone that was watching it happen live that the Detroit Lions had won their first road game in 3 years.  Yes, it’s been that long.  Detroit played a good game and well, lets just say that Chicago needs some work in short yardage situations.  Also Jay Cutler still has the turnover problem (1 INT, 1 fumble). 
Detroit had lost Matthew Stafford earlier in the game and Shaun Hill stepped in and did an admirable job.  He did throw one interception, but the drive that mattered at the end of the game was a beauty.  Detroit’s best receiver Calvin Johnson was thrown to often.  He only managed 4 catches for 45 yards to end the game, but he made an incredible catch for what was to be the go ahead touchdown. 
However, the referees huddled (pun intended) and deemed the catch to not be a catch because Johnson did not have control of the ball coming down.  Now from first impression, it was a catch.  Had the ball in the air.  Came down, still with the ball.  Butt hits the ground, still has the ball.  Then as he starts to get up, the ball is left on the ground when Johnson gets up. 
There is a rule that was put in place last year that says (I’m paraphrasing) that the receiver has to have full control of the football after he touches the ground.  Here is the rule so you can read it for yourself.  By rule, Johnson did not have control of the football.
Now I don’t like the rule at all.  A running back lunging for the goal line loses the ball at the pylon still counts as a touchdown.  The ball crossing the plane of the goal line still counts as a touchdown.  This rule doesn’t make sense when you account for those other two. 
The Lions did get hosed, but the referees were correct.  They reviewed it to be sure and still came back with the correct answer.  Unfortunately the NFL won’t change the rule in the middle of the season.  It’s not their style.  The only saving grace is that it was during Week 1.  Not Week 17 or during a playoff game.  Like we think the Lions will make the playoffs this year anyway.  Oops.  Did I say that out loud?

A quarterback controversy in Philly?

Now you would think that the controversy would have something to do with the Eagles trading away Donovan McNabb and maybe regretting it.  Honestly I didn’t expect a controversy to happen until mid-way through the season, but after Week 1?
Kevin Kolb looked lost and who could blame him.  Why was Michael Vick being inserted on what seemed to be every other play against the Packers?  Kolb couldn’t get a rhythm going.  It also didn’t help that he was planted in the turf by Packers linebacker Clay Matthews Jr.  Kolb wouldn’t return thanks to a concussion.  Vick proceeded to take over the second half of the game and almost got the Eagles the victory, but at what cost?  Kolb is their future. 
They traded McNabb to get ready for the Kolb era.  Vick isn’t the long term solution.  At least when they signed him I didn’t think he was going to be.  There seems to be a silly misconception with Andy Reid and what he thinks Michael Vick can do for his offense.  Vick doesn’t solve your problem on 3rd down and 1 to go.  Vick is not the accurate passer that the west coast offense needs. 
How is there a controversy to begin with?  Kolb is hurt.  Yes he looked lost, but to me it’s because Andy Reid wants to use gimmick plays with Vick way too often.  The Miami Dolphins wildcat offense thinks Reid is doing that way too much. 
This is a non-issue right now, but when Kolb is ready to play, will Andy keep doing the gimmick plays?  If so why did you trade Donovan McNabb to begin with?  Kevin Kolb needs the offense to himself if you think he is your future.  Anybody can tell you that coach.

Two stupid mistakes equals a loss

Dallas was down by only a field goal with less than 30 seconds to go in the first half.  They were somewhere on their own 30.  Take a knee and go into the half knowing you’re only down by 3 right?  Wrong if you’re head coach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who is the next head coach in Dallas. 
The Cowboys proceeded to try and move the ball down field.  I’m screaming take a knee!  What are you doing?  Sure enough on the third play, it was a botched screen pass, I think and Tashard Choice promptly fumbles and the Redskins return it for a touchdown.  10-0 Redskins at halftime.  Thank you Dallas.
That’s why you take a knee Phillips and Garrett.  Every time something like that happens, you always think that in some way shape or form that it will bite them in the but.  Sure enough it did. 
The Cowboys were down 13-7 on the last drive and the Redskins had left Miles Austin open far too often.  Dallas was in the redzone with less than 10 seconds in the game.  Romo was under pressure escaped the pocket briefly to find a wide open Roy Williams in the endzone.  Touchdown Cowboys game over right?  Wrong again. 
Right Tackle Alex Barron, who was starting for injured Marc Colombo, was called for holding.  It should have been for a choke hold on Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo because that’s what it was.  Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams was quoted saying “You can’t blame it on that one play.”  Yeah you can.  That would’ve won the game. 
Wade Phillips took responsibility for the idiotic move of not taking a knee before halftime.  He also seemed to fault Choice as well.  “If you catch the ball with 4 seconds left, you don’t need to make an extra yard or two.”  Keep telling yourself that next time coach.

Panic in tinsel town

With all the talk the Jets have been doing this offseason and the “Hard Knocks” HBO special, it was time to put up or shut up.  Well, they should have realized who they were playing for their first game.  The Baltimore Ravens have seen this before many times and they usually know what to do.  Smack them in the mouth.
Neither team could get anything going offensively, but the Ravens did have success getting Anquan Boldin the ball.  Which to the surprise of many, Darrelle Revis wasn’t moved to his side of the field until it was too late. 
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis made his presence known throughout the game by disrupting the running game and laying the smackdown on Jets tight end Dustin Keller late in the game.  It was brutal.
All in all it was exactly what I expected.  The Ravens would bring the Jets back down to earth and the Jets would have to tone down the talking and get back to business.  However, I didn’t expect the kind of panic from most about the Jets lack of an offense.  They played the Ravens folks.  They have a good defense too last I checked. 
Seeing Dustin Keller run out of bounds to end the game without looking for the first down marker summed up the entire game for me.  Baltimore was in their heads from start to finish.  Sanchez had no time to throw and the running game couldn’t get a decent push on the line.  The Jets will recover.  The Ravens are here to stay.  That’s all.  Don’t jump ship yet New York.  Yikes.