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.

1. Dallas Cowboys: 11-5
Hosting a Super Bowl doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the Super Bowl.
2. New York Giants: 9-7
Where’s the running game and the defense?
3. Philadelphia Eagles: 8-8
Will Philly fans miss McNabb at any point this year?
4. Washington Redskins: 6-10
A new coach and a new QB, but there are still a few headaches on the team.

Coaches

Tom Coughlin – Giants
Hard to believe it’s been three years since Tom Coughlin led the Giants to perhaps the biggest Super Bowl upset in NFL history.  Since then, the Giants have hit a snag in development.  Winning the division in ’08 didn’t guarantee they would repeat as Super Bowl champions as they were ousted by division rival Philadelphia in the divisional round.  Last year with a 5-0 start to the season, things began to look good for the Giants until they started a four game losing streak that resulted in a 3-8 record to finish the season 8-8.  In the midst of all the turmoil the defense had allowed 40+ points in three of their final four games.  Coughlin knows that in order to get back into contention, especially in the NFC East, it starts on the defensive side.  His job depends on it.

Mike Shanahan – Redskins
In owner Daniel Snyder’s ten year reign, the Redskins have only had three winning seasons and six different head coaches.  Mike Shanahan is now the eighth.  There is optimism though in D.C.  Shanahan brings a new attitude that starts at the top and is working its way down to the players.  He and new general manager Bruce Allen have total control over personnel decisions and so far it has worked with the acquisition of Donovan McNabb from Philadelphia, but so far has failed with Albert Haynesworth.  There will be some bumps in the road this year, but Shanahan has the Redskins thinking of being back in the lime light of the NFL.  With a legitimate quarterback at the helm, that could be sooner than later.

Andy Reid – Eagles
From the time Andy Reid was hired in 1999 he has had the same quarterback leading his team.  Now that McNabb is in Washington, Reid will turn his attention towards making sure Kevin Kolb doesn’t turn out to be a bust.  Reid has a knack for making the most out of seemingly hopeless situation.  McNabb for the longest time didn’t have the best receivers to throw to, but the Eagles had appeared in five consecutive NFC championship games.  Reid has more to work with on offense to help ease the transition over to Kolb, but they don’t have a dominant rushing attack to help take more of the burden off Kolb’s shoulder.

Wade Phillips – Cowboys
The talk of can the Cowboys win a playoff game with Tony Romo and Wade Phillips is now over.  They got past their division rival Philadelphia in the wild-card game last year, but were exposed against the Vikings in the divisional round.  Phillips has some question marks in how he handles his teams in big games.  At times the Cowboys look like they’re the best team in the NFL, but others they look like they belong in the middle of the pack.  With Cowboys Stadium being the sight for this years Super Bowl it won’t be said, but you can bet that owner Jerry Jones wants to see his team play in that game.  The Cowboys normally start out strong, but if they struggle early, it will interesting to see if Jerry keeps his finger off the trigger.

Best Acquisition: QB Donovan McNabb – Washington Redskins
No matter what you say about McNabb, you can’t deny that he is a proven winner.  The Eagles only had two losing seasons with McNabb at quarterback.  That is tough thing to do in a tough sports town like Philadelphia.  The Redskins haven’t appeared in a Super Bowl in almost 20 years.  McNabb doesn’t have a whole lot left in the tank, but he has at least three more good years left in him.  There isn’t as much to throw to in D.C. as there was in Philly, but that didn’t stop McNabb from being the Eagles all-time passer.

Quarterback – Grade
Giants – A
Cowboys – B
Redskins – B
Eagles – C

He isn’t the flashiest quarterback, but Eli Manning gets the job done.  Last year was by far his best season statistically.  He had great chemistry with his receivers Steve Smith and Mario Manningham.  The bigger emphasis on the passing game was due in large part to a change in philosophy with the coaching staff.  The weren’t getting the same push in the running game and instead went to the pass.  Like his brother Peyton, if Eli goes down the Giants are in serious trouble.
Tony Romo being the quarterback for “America’s Team” has perhaps the biggest monkey on his back.  He has always managed to keep a positive outlook on his position.  It helps when he has Jason Witten to throw to.  Romo has also brought out the best of Miles Austin who has become one of the biggest deep threats in the NFL in just one year.  Romo also has the benefit of having an owner that will do everything possible to put a winner out on the field.  The added pressure of the Super Bowl in Dallas might be too much for Romo to handle.
Washington has struck out on so many quarterbacks during the Daniel Snyder era.  This should be the home run they’ve been looking for.  Donovan McNabb is a proven winner and he has done so without a lot of receivers to throw to or a viable running game throughout his career.  McNabb has two tight ends in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis to target.  Santana Moss is still one of the best at running the deep route.  McNabb also has a good running back in Clinton Portis to fall back on should the passing attack fail during games.  Don’t expect a playoff run, but Washington will have a more balanced offense.
The Eagles have said good bye to their all-time passing leader and said hello to Kevin Kolb.  He has a handful of starts under his belt, but against inferior opponents.  The former second round pick was thought of highly when he was selected in the ’07 draft.  Everyone wondered why the Eagles selected a quarterback so high, but it has now become apparent this year.  The Eagles are a talented enough team to avoid a total meltdown in Kolb’s first year as starter, but if the Eagles fall short of the 8 win plateau, many will wonder if they’re in a full rebuilding mode.

Running Back – Grade
Cowboys – A
Giants – B
Redskins – B
Eagles – C

Dallas has a three headed monster at running back.  Any one of them can start for every other team in the NFL.  Marion Barber is the workhorse.  He’ll get the tough yards and is a constant threat to score in the redzone.  Felix Jones is the speedster.  Always a threat to run it all the way he’s used primarily on draw plays that utilize his speed.  Tashard Choice is the wild card.  He could be an every down back, but is better used as the third down back.  An underrated receiver he is also adept in pass protection for Tony Romo.
Ahmad Bradshaw will be named the starter, but Brandon Jacobs is still a big part of the running game for the Giants.  The Giants need both to be on their game to get back to the playoffs.  Jacobs is hard to stop in the trenches and Bradshaw is difficult in the open field.  Both complement each other well.  The only problem for the Giants is on third down.  They don’t have a reliable option there.  Bradshaw is by default by he isn’t great in pass protection.
Clinton Portis is getting really close to the end of his career.  The wear and tear on his legs is starting to catch up to him.  The Redskins hope to ease some of that off Portis this year which resulted in the signing of Larry Johnson.  Together they form a pretty good duo of backs that should provide a decent duo for McNabb and the offense.  Portis will still be the primary third down back due to his blocking skills and Johnson will be the primary back in the redzone.
The Eagles began the youth movement at running back last year with LeSean McCoy getting most of the carries due to Brian Westbrook’s multiple concussions.  McCoy showed some flashes of his potential, but he was non-existent in short yardage plays.  Mike Bell was signed to provide some stability in short yardage situations and at the goal line.  McCoy should get over the 1,000 yard plateau this year, but the Eagles should look to get him more involved in the passing attack. 

Wide Receiver – Grade
Cowboys – A
Giants – B
Eagles – B
Redskins – C

An already good group got even better when rookie Dez Bryant fell to them in the first round.  With Bryant the Cowboys will have a formidable combination of him and Miles Austin for quite some time.  Austin exploded for 11 touchdown catches and over 1,300 yards receiving last year.  He probably won’t come close to those stats, but expect his catches to go above 81.  Bryant is deceptively fast and is great at catching passes over the middle.  He fits that Anquan Boldin mold of a big physical receiver that isn’t afraid to make contact.  Jason Witten is still one of the best tight ends in the NFL.  He’s tough for linebackers to bring down when given room to move after the catch.  Roy Williams can still be productive, but this is his last chance to prove his worth on a contending team.
Eli Manning has a good group that has developed great chemistry with one another during one of the best passing seasons in Giants history.  Steve Smith had a breakout season with 107 receptions and over 1,200 yards receiving.  Mario Manningham added 822 yards and his 5 touchdown catches to the mix.  Both will be the go to guys for Manning.  Last years first round pick Hakeem Nicks came on slowly, but managed to have a productive year with 790 yards and 6 touchdowns.  Kevin Boss was a favorite target for Manning during their Super Bowl run when Jeremy Shockey was out with an injury.  Boss’ strength is mostly in blocking, but he is slowly becoming a great pass catching tight end.
Philadelphia has enough weapons at Kevin Kolb’s disposal to help ease him along in his first season as the starter.  DeSean Jackson is perhaps ready to dethrone Steve Smith in Carolina as the best deep receiver in the NFL.  His receptions will certainly increase from 62 of a year ago.  Brett Celek is a given at tight end.  He is the best target to throw to since he’s always in single coverage.  Celek’s quickness also allows him to lineup as a receiver to create mismatches.  Jeremy Maclin was often lost in the offense, but improved late in the season.  The former 1st round pick will need to create chemistry quickly with Kolb in order to bring more balance in the passing attack.
Both tight ends will be used often in the Redskins passing game.  Chris Cooley is still a Pro-Bowl caliber tight end when healthy.  Fred Davis, given the opportunity, proved his worth last year for the Redskins.  Both will instantly be McNabb’s favorite targets.  Santana Moss still has the speed that made him a 1st round pick for the Jets in ’01.  Moss will be what DeSean Jackson was for McNabb in Philadelphia.  A deep threat on every down.  Devin Thomas was given more playing time down the stretch last year and showed some potential, but he will be on a short leash with pressure to produce immediately.

Defense – Grade
Cowboys – B
Redskins – B
Eagles – C
Giants – C

Dallas has perhaps the most feared pass rush in the NFL and it starts with DeMarcus Ware.  It was a down year for Ware (11 sacks), but he still left his mark in most games he played.  Without Jay Ratliff and Igor Olshansky on the line, Ware wouldn’t be running as freely as he does.  Ratliff isn’t one to shy away from sacking the quarterback either.  His 13.5 sacks are second only to Ware in the last two years.  Keith Brooking and Bradie James patrol the middle for the Cowboys.  Brooking’s veteran presence and James’ speed and agility complement each other well in Wade Phillips’ attacking scheme.  The one area of weakness has always been the secondary.  Cornerback hasn’t been the problem with Terrence Newman and Mike Jenkins, but rather at safety.  No one has been able to cover the deep pass since Darren Woodson patrolled center field for the Cowboys.  That will need to change if the Cowboys are to play in the Super Bowl.
The Redskins are changing to a 3-4 defense, which is probably a good thing.  Washington has struggled to cause turnovers and switching the scheme might change that.  The most important part of the 3-4 is the defensive line.  If they don’t plug the gaps, blockers will be after the linebackers.  Albert Haynesworth will be counted on to help in that area, but with his attitude needing adjusting it’s a long shot.  It will be up to the linebackers lead by London Fletcher to make sure the new scheme is up to par.  Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter will the pass rushers of the edge.  Both combined for 22 sacks last year and should be able to duplicate that in a 3-4.  Fletcher will be joined by Rocky McIntosh in the middle to plug the running lanes and get after receivers over the middle.  Both are very good in both departments.  Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall will have a lot of responsibilities this year.  More blitzing means more single coverage and both haven’t lived up to their first round potential in quite some time. 
The Eagles pride themselves on having an undersized front seven.  That’s how they’re always near the top in total defense with their team speed.  They took a few steps backwards last year due to injuries and guys getting older, but they’ve infused youth into the unit.  First round pick Brandon Graham will be starting opposite Trent Cole on the end.  Cole is still an excellent pass rusher and Graham will be expected to achieve at least a half-dozen sacks this year.  Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are two of the most underrated run stuffers in the NFL.  Both have a quick first step and are always pushing forward.  Ernie Sims was acquired from Detroit in a trade and instantly infuses some youth at linebacker.  With Stewart Bradley back from injury both will bring some stability to a unit that struggled against the pass and run last year.  Asante Samuel is still a ball-hawking corner always with a keen eye on the quarterback and receiver.  Rookie Nate Allen will be thrust into the starting safety spot left by free acquisition Marlin Jackson who is lost for the season.  Allen will be in a tough position of protecting the defense from the likes of Romo, Manning and McNabb in six games this year. 
New York, to put it simply was awful last year on defense.  Tom Coughlin cleaned house in the coaching staff and hired Perry Fewell from Buffalo.  Fewell will look to bring back the pass rush and dominate the passing game.  Their depth on the defensive line is second to none in the NFL.  Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka are every down ends that could play tackle if need be.  Osi Umenyiora is relegated to being a situational end, but is slowly earning his way back to getting more playing time.  First round pick Jason Pierre-Paul is a raw athlete, but will get plenty of looks to see what he can do as a pass rusher.  Keith Bullock is the new middle linebacker after spending his first 10 seasons in Tennessee on the outside.  Bullock brings needed veteran presence to a defense that will need a kick every once in a while and Keith is that guy.  Corey Webster fell off the map late last year and the Giants don’t need a repeat of that.  Aaron Ross struggled with a hamstring injury that kept him out of most games and they need his physical play to stop the best passing teams.  Antrel Rolle will immediately help stop the deep pass, but the Giants need former 1st round pick Kenny Phillips healthy to help.  Both Rolle and Phillips will complement each other well and create what Rolle had in Arizona with Adrian Wilson.