Man oh man, what a wild weekend of football. I mean really, there were nail biting games and some not so nail biting games but either way, every time I had a game on I definitely found myself entertained. But as always the most fascinating part of the NFL are the stories that emerge on the field and here is what we learned from Week 3 in the NFL.

1. The teams that needed a big win to save their season...got the W. Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Seattle all teams that entered this week 0-2 finally put it together when they needed to most. An 0-3 start would certainly lessen their chances of making it to the playoffs, but there's hope in these cities once again. The downside to these wins is the fact that all three came against teams that well...are likely going to struggle all season but hey, a win is a win and if it gives these teams a fighting chance, so be it. 

2. The New England Patriots decided it was time to unload on a team and unfortunately that team just happened to be the Jacksonville Jaguars. Obviously, the Jags now have to go back to the drawing board yet again, which is a shame after a morale boosting win over Miami but holy hell man...the Pats just embarrassed and destroyed this team through and through and the irony was, it wasn't all Tom Brady dropping balls into the end zone. The tailbacks made the team proud, specifically LeGarrette Blount who managed to find his way into the end zone three times. This is a scary team right now, one filled with revenge in their hearts that they want to unleash on the league and so far...the Pats seem to be unstoppable. 

3. The Denver Broncos are becoming one of the most exciting teams to watch, for all the wrong reasons. I mean seriously, every freaking game now is a close one, and the defense always seems to make some miraculous play to spark the offense and I'm not sure my heart can take much more of it...but at the same time, you gotta love it. On the plus side however, Peyton Manning made some incredible plays, as did his wide receivers and for the moment run game be damned because the Broncos just keep winning, but every Denver fan has to be wondering when this luck will run out...

4. We need to take a moment and talk about the wonder of quarterbacking that is Aaron Rodgers. He was absolutely magical last night against the Chiefs and it's rare that you see a Quarterback completely own an defense the way Rodgers owned KC last night. He had them jumping off sides at will, snagging a free play every time it happened and a few of those just happened to be touchdowns because of how well he managed to confuse the Chiefs defense. It was simply poetry in motion on the field and even when the Chiefs stood up to Rodgers he found a way to make plays and torch them. Last night's performance was one for the ages ladies and gents. 

5. The value of a good backup quarterback, or a good quarterback in general was once again demonstrated this weekend. Dallas, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New Orleans all had their backups in the game with their starters injured and the end result for those teams was meh. Each team lost this weekend and none of the backups did anything worth while. Thought of the four Brandon Weeden and Luke McCown probably did the least amount of damage for their teams and Michael Vick came into service late as is and Clausen was...well worse than Cutler. Yes that's possible. Either way, these teams will no doubt evaluate their current crop of QB's and keep their eyes peeled on free agents, but let's be honest, the free agents out there this time of year are pretty so so. Here's to hoping these backups settle in and take the reins for as long as they are in service.

The beauty of the NFL is that there is something for every football fan. You get the glory of victory by either your favorite team or one you can root for. There's sorrow and joy when you see your team lose or watch a rival fall. It's simply a magical game through and through and every week brings us something new and exciting and Week 3 will be no exception.

We have teams desperate for a win and this may be the moment they finally leave victorious. We have teams riding the high of two straight wins and they may come crashing to the ground this week. It's what makes this game so exciting...the fact that anything can happen on Sunday and without further ado, here are the games that we think fit that mold and have us fascinated.

Scotty's Take
IT'S A TRAP!!!!  I always wanted to say that, you will just have to take my word for it that I am laughing out loud right now.  This is the biggest trap game of the season and it has to come against the 2-0 Broncos.  I am far from high on the Broncos bandwagon this year, don't get me wrong, I love the team, but they have left a lot to be desired on the offensive side of the ball. Although they did score a couple of touchdowns last week, the defense once again won the game.  I do not have a clue what is happening in Detroit right now, but this is one of the best teams at putting up numbers and very fast.  With Matt Stafford and his favorite target Chad Johnson, the game might come down to the crafty rookie running back Ameer Abdullah to put the Lions on his back and run to victory.  I am not calling an upset alert on this game, but I hope the Broncos are ready to play their hearts out to win it, because in the wild, I would give a lion a better chance of eating a donkey than the other way around, just saying.

Scotty's Take 
Have you started to drink the Kool-Aid in New York yet?  I am not talking about the 0-2 Giants but the 2-0 Jets that are starting to turn heads.  I know that they have not played the best of teams yet, but they are number one in the league with I think ten turnovers in their first two games.  That is nuts, but their defense is not the only part of the team that is playing right now, their offense looks pretty darn good and with the addition of Brandon Marshall, it looks like Ryan Fitzpatrick is having the time of his life with the weapons he has always deserved.  Philly is just a downright mess right now and I hate to say it, but Chip Kelly might find the door before the end of this season if he is not able to get anything to start working.  With the best running back in the game last year on his roster, I would expect to see a great running attack, but with everyone homing in on DeMarco Murray, and no blocking on the front line, he will be lucky to break a hundred yards this season.  I am still not sure what offense the coach was trying to make, but the Eagles defense will not be able to keep the games close if they are on the field for more than three quarters of the game.

Scotty's Take
Oh, the Seahawks have yet to win a game this season and I hate to say that it might not get any easier for them. With trying to upgrade their offense with Jimmy Graham, they may have made it worse.  But have no fear, this should be a great warm up game for them since they should have little trouble finding a way to beat the Bears this week.  With Denver's favorite son Jay Cutler out for this game, the Bears will have to depend on their running attack of Matt Forte and Jacquizz Rodgers who have had a less than stellar start to the season. The defense looks like they have lost a step or three as well so this game is not so much for the Seahawks to win, but for the Bears to lose.  Please don't hate me Ditka.

John's Take
This is a game that fascinates me for so many reasons because these are two teams clearly struggling with identity on the field. Miami for example is trying to establish itself as a defensive powerhouse by bringing in Ndamukong Suh to terrorize quarterbacks while at the same time establishing themselves as a balanced offense that will irritate a team by constantly moving the ball and putting up points. The irony is, Buffalo is trying to establish the same things and to top it off...neither team has accomplished their goals in two weeks. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball, but when the chips are down...they are teams that fold and this is the game for both of them to figure out the mess quite frankly. I'll be watching with baited breath to see which coach can get his team where they need to go and in all honesty, I have more faith in Rex Ryan than I do Joe Philbin.

It's a make or break week for several teams in the NFL as we slide into Week 3 tonight. Some teams are on a losing streak that simply has to end, others are doing well but know that they need to prove they are capable of more. Either way, it should make for some exciting football on the field and here are some of the stories to be watching out for this weekend and our picks of the week. 

What changes will the Colts make to get a win?
Injuries have decimated their secondary. The offensive line is a mess and Andrew Luck looks like a rookie. So what now? With an 0-2 start to the season everything looks like a mess for the Colts and after that Monday Night loss to the Jets, there doesn't seem to be much hope either. At this point, it really feels like the Colts are doing too much and overcomplicating their game plans. It's high time for Chuck Pagano to settle his team down and make sure they stick to fundamentals and adjust the gameplan on the fly if they hope to right the ship and get their first win of the season. 

Kam Chancellor ends his holdout, but will it make a difference?
The ugly contract dispute between Kam and the Seahawks has come to its end, and he will no doubt be pressed into service as quickly as possible since Seattle's secondary is as porous as can be. But, will his presence on the field be exactly what Seattle needs? I hate to say it, but no. The defense isn't the only problem plaguing Seattle right now. Russell Wilson is playing inconsistent and the run game is spotty at best, so while it will be a welcome sight for the 12th Man to see Kam back on the field, without balance on both sides of the ball, he's just going to be another tired defensive back getting torched when he runs out of gas.

Dallas fans have to be nervous this week, despite Jerry Jones' blessing of Brandon Weeden.
It's been a tough year for Dallas Cowboys fans. First they lose their star running back to the Eagles, and now the injury bug has only made it worse. Dez Bryant has a broken foot. Tony Romo has a broken collarbone leaving the offense in the hands of eternal journeyman...Brandon Weeden. I don't care how much praise Jerry Jones has given this man, it's a scary prospect to hand him the keys to the Dallas offense when he was awful in Cleveland. Of course, this could be the revitalizing of his career and he ends up saving the day this week but fact of the matter is, until there is a sizable lead or Weeden lights it up, every Dallas fan on the planet will be biting their nails before and during the game. 

What kind of gameplan does Rex Ryan put together now that his team has been exposed?
Fact of the matter is, we learned a lot about the Buffalo Bills during that New England game. We learned they are filled with talent on offense and defense, we learned they can be a formidable force. But we also learned, this is a team that relies heavily on hype and even more so on momentum and that's a big concern. If their opponents can get into their heads, then it becomes all the more easier to defeat them. Rex Ryan needs to make sure this team is all about fundamentals and that he teaches them to be an unmovable force or it's going to be a long season. 

Sunday Night Football is all about two teams that need to prove they can perform on offense. 
Denver and Detroit are two teams that should be shredding defenses. They both have franchise quarterbacks that can ball. They both have top tier wide receivers...yet they both have offenses that have simply been mediocre or down right awful on the field. Denver has problems with both the running and passing game and well...so does Detroit. So really, this is the game where fans from both teams are hoping they put it all together. If Denver can't start running the ball and get pass protection for Peyton Manning, they'll be out of the playoffs quick...IF they make it and if Detroit can't get it going either it's going to be another season of sadness for the fans. Silly as it may sound...first team to figure out how to score wins come Sunday night. 

John's Picks
Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions - Denver
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals - Arizona
Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots - New England
Oakland Raiders at Cleveland Browns - Cleveland
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets - New York

Scotty's Picks
Washington Redskins at New York Giants - Washington
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans - Tennessee
San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings - San Diego
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers - Carolina
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens - Cincinnati

Oh what a wonderful weekend of football. Some teams put to bed a terrible loss with sweet, sweet revenge on the field. Others discovered they were quickly silencing the critics of their performance from a year ago and some teams well...it was business as usual for them both good and bad. Either way, Week 2 was valuable for football fans, because this is the week that gave us a better understanding of our favorite teams and what they're made of and of course, every team that pulls that off is telling a story and here are the top ones from Week 2 in the NFL.

1. Denver's defense is legit. If it wasn't for Aqib Talib's pick six and Brandon Marshall's fists of steel, would we really be talking about a Denver Broncos win over Kansas City? My gut says no. The sluggish offense, lack of a run game and leaky offensive line put Denver in a tough place, but that defense made all the difference. This is a D that everyone in the league is going to have to watch out for, they have a powerhouse pass rush, a deadly duo of cornerbacks, the list goes on and on. When Manning and the offense finally come together, this is going to be one scary team on the field. But in the here and now, it's all about Defense in Denver and that's something I haven't been able to say in a long time. 

2. There are some surprising teams that hold the record of 0-2. Indianapolis, Baltimore and Seattle are teams that are normally hyper competitive on the field and two weeks into the season they look just awful. Each one of them features a franchise quarterback that look like shells of their former selves and defenses that are struggling. It's actually quite amazing to see and honestly, as an outside observer, I'm not sure what the problem is. But, if I had to guess, the power struggle between Coach and GM is causing issues in Indy. A new OC and lack of leadership on the D is hurting Baltimore and I think Seattle is still reeling confidence wise from their Super Bowl loss. Either way, these teams need to turn it around quick, or we just discussed three teams that won't be in the playoffs this year. 

3. Is it bad that I'm getting a little bit of joy out of watching Chip Kelly's completely redesigned roster fail on the field? Because I am. Truth is, after watching Mike Shanahan grow into a bit of an ego freak in Denver when he obtained full GM control over the roster...I've not been a fan of coaches who play General Manager and that includes Chip. Few coaches really have the ability to discover talent like GM's and judging from the Eagles performance thus far this season, Coach Kelly is reaffirming my belief in this. I mean...the Eagles are scary bad on the field and talent wise and the only person to blame is Coach Kelly. Here's to hoping ownership either steps in quickly or at the end of the season to strip Chip of this unnecessary power and let him do what he does best, coach. 

4. Turns out Buffalo couldn't put their money where their mouth is because man...that was an embarrassing loss to New England on Sunday. Sure they managed to pull it close but most of the game they were on their heels in disgusting fashion. All the wonderful things that the Bills did against Indy were simply not there. The offense couldn't get going, the defense couldn't stop Brady and his powerhouse offense. It's unfortunate really because it's obvious Buffalo is a talented team and one has to wonder if the hype and the bravado took precedence over preparation. Hopefully they all learned a valuable lesson and will bounce back.

5. Allow me to type a sentence that I thought I never would. Johnny Manziel looked pretty damn good on the field Sunday. Yup, I wrote that out and it's actually a statement based in truth since Johnny Football actually played a quality game. He made some damn pretty throws, in fact it seems the deep ball is suddenly his specialty but aside from dropping bombs on the Titans, he made all the important throws you would expect from a quarterback and he truly commanded the offense and his team. My hats off to him and now the question becomes whether or not he will he remain the starter and as of press time, meetings have occurred to have that discussion. It's possible Johnny has finally gotten his act together and may be the QB the Browns have been waiting for...time will tell.

I think it is fair to say that most of the teams in the NFL hit their rhythm by week three of the season. There were a lot of opportunities for a win by most teams and games being a lot closer than they should have been because of mistakes on both sides of the ball. How serious should the first game be taken in the larger vision of a season? I know this time last year there was doubt that Brady was going to have a successful season and a Super Bowl trip not even in the cards. The predictions and hopes run high and while fans hold tightly to the couch pillow watching teams who appear to have never played a game in their life struggle, there is still hope (for some of them). 

Also on just a quick side note...the only real unanswered question for me this week is did Universal Studios design the new cheerleading outfits for the 49ers? Because they are hideous and should be returned, they look like a failed costume idea for the X-men or Black Widow.  Sorry just had to rant on those hideous things, let's get back to what matters most, football and the games that have piqued our interest for Week 2. 

Daniel's Take: This week’s game for me is the much anticipated rematch with the Seattle Seahawks taking a visit to title town against the Green Bay Packers. While the Packers showed a few missteps against the Bears this week they continued the streak of coming into the Bears home and punching them right in the eye. Was it a true test for the Packers? Difficult to say when Cutler only gets one touchdown on 225 yards, against a team that seems to just have his number. More surprising to me was the loss the Seahawks suffer in St. Louis in overtime. Hard to say if you attribute it to rust, bad play calling, or Kam Chancellor having that big of an impact. Maybe the Rams are just that good but I still believe this game was a lot closer than it should have been.

That being said, let’s face facts that the Seahawks struggled on the road last season and looks like they could still have some of the same issues this year. The Packers have been dying to get them in Lambeau Field, taking the “12th man” out of the equation and with Kam Chancellor still holding out could be disastrous for the Seahawks. It could also be an old school shoot out but Russell Wilson’s performance was not all that much better than Cutler's last week but he has been underestimated before. I hope Wilson is ready to run as the Packers Defense looked a lot faster than I remember last season. Rodgers looks to have picked right back up with favorite receiver James Jones proving to be an unstoppable force if given the chance to settle into a rhythm. The Packers are looking for payback and want to put the past few encounters with Seattle far behind them and what better way than a win at home giving them a much better start to the season then years prior. I have a feeling it’s going to be a rough road for the Seahawks this year and Green Bay isn’t the only team out there looking for some payback.

Scotty's Take: What can I say, I called the Seahawks first loss of the season, but St. Louis has always had their number. Seattle has a huge chip on their shoulder and wants to make sure that the league understands that they are still a force to be reckoned with.  With the addition of Jimmy Graham in the off season, the Hawks have a premier Tight End that showed he can change the game at a drop of a dime.  It is hard to forget about BEAST MODE as well, but some teams are finally starting to show that it does not matter how good a Running Back is, they are committed to stopping them.  Green Bay is returning their staggering defense from last season and look like they are up to the challenge to putting the breaks on what could be a top offensive unit this season.  Being lead by Clay Mathews and the crafty veteran Julius Peppers, this defense has committed to stopping the run.  They also have Aaron Rodgers and his group of receivers that are pretty good.  I would say this would be a shoot out for the win, but I see this as a defensive battle and a very low scoring outcome.

John's Take: Thinking back to the playoffs last year, I honestly think Green Bay should have won that game. They embarrassed the Seahawks on the field for most of the contest, dominating Russell Wilson and even exposing some of his weaknesses only to find themselves going home after all was said and done. It was piss poor play calling that cost them the game and this my friends, is the revenge game. You know everyone on that team is still furious about that loss and they will unleash said fury on the Seahawks and I honestly think this one will be pretty damn ugly. They will use the same formula they used to slow down Wilson and Lynch, and punish them dearly in the process. This should be one interesting game to watch. 

Scotty's Take: The Bills showed last week that they are no joke in the Sexy Rexy era that has taken over Buffalo.  Tyrod Taylor seems to have found a groove and will have to be taken seriously as a passing threat on the offensive end, while the defense has nothing that needs to be changed as they are legit.  With New England rolling into town, I see that Tom Brady has a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove after he got off for cheating.  I can see Brandon Bolden taking the reins out of the backfield for the Pats, but what I expect to see a lot of passes to the back to start the game. It is next to impossible to go against any team that has one of the greatest Tight Ends in the game, so once again, Gronk will light up the defense and showcase his talents.

Scotty's Take: Minnesota looked just terrible (Charles Barkley Voice) in their season opener and with the distraction of having one of the greatest running backs in the league back on their roster, they are out of sorts.  Adrian Peterson is back and wants to play for a new contract, but his agent has made it apparent that it is not for the Vikings.  But the problem is that AP will have to carry the team to playoffs once again and it may take a while for him to get his groove back after being suspended last season and poor Teddy Bridgewater who I have high hopes for will be left to lead the sputtering offense to any possible points that they can score.  Detroit has something to prove after losing their lead last week to the Chargers, being up 21-7 in the third and losing the game should change their demeanor for this game and knowing that they need to step it up they have all of the tools in place to make a 40 point game look pedestrian.  With Mathew Stafford at the helm, they have a new threat in the backfield named Ameer Abdullah that can make anything happen when he touches the ball.  I don't want to get too hyped about this kid, but my friend at work is all high and mighty on this kid and from what he has shown in the preseason, along with his first game in the NFL, he will be one to watch for in this week's game.

John's Take: Why on earth would I find any game with the Cleveland Browns fascinating you might ask? The answer is simple, the tale of two quarterbacks that will be on display. We first get to see what Marcus Mariota will do under center after his brilliant game against Tampa Bay and that part alone should be fun. But let's be honest, we're all curious about Johnny Manziel. Is he good? Is he a bust? We still have no clue. After all, he tossed an amazing touchdown bomb in week one, then looked like a mediocre quarterback right after that. This is a big game for him, a real chance to silence the critics and show the world he can start for an NFL team. If this one goes sour...I think it will be the beginning of the end for his storied and short career.

There's a certain joy settling in for football fans, one that provides a sense of comfort and leaves that smile plastered on your face right after Kickoff Weekend. After all, football has returned at last and the next few months belong to our favorite sport and while some believe there's a certain anti climatic feel to the season as Week 2 arrives, that's simply not the case. There are some exciting games coming up and some compelling storylines and here are some of the top stories as we head into the second week of the NFL season and our top picks as well. 

Will the Denver offense finally jell in Kansas City?
After an anemic performance where they weren't able to get into the end zone, the Broncos offense has much to prove against a Kansas City Defense that tore the Houston Texans to pieces. The offensive line has to do a better job protecting Peyton Manning and setting up the run and let's be honest, Manning has to make some of the amazing plays that he is known for. It's a big test for the Broncos and the showdown in Kansas City will give everyone an idea of what kind of season Denver fans are in for. 

How will Indianapolis respond after being embarrassed in Buffalo? 
Let's just be honest, Buffalo not only destroyed the Colts in Week 1, they absolutely and utterly dismantled them, sold the parts for scrap and left the husk of the team in the middle of nowhere to rot. I mean this was ugly. In fact it was worse than the AFC Championship game because the team barely put up a fight, which means they need to do something special this week when the Jets come calling and while one could easily say "oh it's just the Jets" that's what some folks said about Buffalo and look what happened. The Colts need a big win here, plain and simple otherwise they will be staring down an 0-2 start in the AFC and that's a tough road to come back from. 

Can the Buffalo Bills beat the Patriots this week?
Rex Ryan has spoken a lot in the days leading up to this game, specifically on how he expects to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots in Buffalo and quite frankly, there's a strong chance the Bills can do it. If they stick to playing the same hard nosed and oppressive defense they executed against the Colts, there's a fair chance the answer to this question is a resounding yes. Brady hasn't faced a quality defense in a long time and this will be one tough test for him and the offense. Either way, this is the first time in a long time one can take the Bills seriously in a game against the World Champions and this is one to watch. 

Seattle needs a win in Green Bay, plain and simple. 
Let's be honest, despite the excitement and wonder of watching the Seahawks enter a wild and crazy shootout with the Rams, they lost the game. Part of it was due to more bone headed play calling, especially that ridiculous on side kick in overtime, but this is a team that has a lot on its shoulders. They are the defending NFC Champions, they lost the Super Bowl in spectacular fashion and now they dropped one to a division rival in week one. Heading into a showdown with Green Bay they need to show the NFC they are the team to beat. Anything less than a decisive win here is an utter failure and this will be quite the test because Green Bay is damn good.  

Will it be two Quarterbacks playing again for Cleveland this week?
This is quite the important question for Browns fans simply because the season opener ended in a quarterbacking disaster. Josh McCown left the game early with a concussion and that's unfortunate because it looked like he was giving the offense the spark the Browns so desperately need. His exit led to the return of Johnny Manziel and in classic Johnny Football fashion he managed to wow the crowd with a beautiful touchdown bomb...and then manage to disappoint the rest of the way. The good news is McCown passed his concussion protocol as of press time and will start, but will he finish the game?

John's Picks
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - Denver
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings - Detroit
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills - Buffalo
St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins - St. Louis
Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders - Baltimore
​
Scotty's Picks
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs - Kansas City
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles - Dallas
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars - Miami
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints - New Orleans
Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears - Arizona

What a glorious weekend ladies and gentlemen. Grills were fired up and barbecues were had as we all put on our finest jersey to sit down and be united in football. There are few weekends as magical as Kickoff Weekend and this year's beginning to the NFL was filled with some incredible thrills and plenty of juicy stories. So without further ado, let's talk about what we learned from Week 1 in the NFL.

1. I have said this before, and I will likely say this again and again until it happens, but for the love of all that is holy in the football world...please, please, please...release Robert Griffin III. It's fine that Washington demoted him to third string and deactivated him on Sunday to ensure he doesn't get injured so that they don't have to pay him $16 million guaranteed. But the man is a distraction through and through. Every five seconds the camera cut to him on the sidelines regardless of whatever happened on the field with Kirk Cousins at the helm. Enough is enough Mister Snyder. You and your team picked a bad player in the draft. It happens and it will happen again. Spare your fans the circus and let this worthless player go. 

2. While the Denver Broncos won in stunning fashion, there are still many questions when it comes to the offense. In fact, if it wasn't for the D, there's a good chance Denver would have lost their season opener because the offense was as anemic as it was in preseason. The only difference here is that the running game that looked great in games that didn't count couldn't get going against Baltimore and well, Peyton Manning had yet another up and down day. At times he was able to pick the defense to pieces, at times it looked like he had no control on the ball. It also didn't help that the reworked offensive line didn't do a fine job of protecting him. It's still clearly a work in progress in Denver, but it needs to come together quickly. 

3. Two teams this off season, Cleveland and Chicago, did their best to reinvent themselves in the hopes of seeing some different results when the regular season kicked off. Cleveland tried to do it with a fancy new uniform and Chicago revamped its coaching staff and as it turns out these moves were nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig because man...both teams looked rough. Cleveland was an absolute mess, losing their shiny new quarterback early on to injury and Johnny Football is well...Johnny Football. As for Chicago, well the hope was that John Fox and Adam Gase would finally fix the nightmare player that is Jay Cutler...turns out that was just a pipe dream. Cutler was inaccurate all day long and of course he did what he does best and turn the ball over. There's a good chance that once again...it's going to be a long season for Bears and Browns fans.

4. How about those Buffalo Bills? It seems like the Bills gave Rex Ryan all the tools he needed to coach a team because wow...he and his squad came out and shocked the world with their big time win over Indianapolis this week. They shut down Andrew Luck like few teams can and man...the decision to start Taylor at quarterback was a stroke of genius as he destroyed the Indy defense. I can't remember the last tiem I saw the Bills look that good and this could be a sign of things to come and it also means Indianapolis needs to do things differently next week and not take their opponents for granted. 

5. The Rookie Bowl ended with Marcus Mariota emerging victorious and man...did he impress. Mariota ended the day with four touchdowns and a perfect quarterback rating while Winston looked...just okay. He threw a pick six and another INT later on in the day so take what you will from that, but this continues the grand debate of which quarterback will be the better player for years to come. I personally think Tampa Bay got their draft choice wrong and today helps cement that in my mind, but this is a story to revisit later in the season since this was merely their debut.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...when you're a football fan that is. Kickoff Weekend is underway and we already enjoyed a grand taste of our favorite sport Thursday night when the Steelers and Patriots squared off in Foxboro. But today is just as special. Sundays are made for football and the majority of Week 1 games arrive in just a little bit. But before the league gets down to business, we thought we would take a few minutes and look at some of the more fascinating games you'll see today.  

Why this game is fascinating
One of the off season stories this year that captured my attention with when Geno Smith got his jaw broken by one of his teammates.  Although the defensive player was cut by the team and picked up by Sexy Rexy in Buffalo, I did not hear the outcry that should have come from Jets fans that their Franchise quarterback would be out for the start of the season, I heard a sign of relief.  It will be interesting to see what Ryan Fitzpatrick does at the helm with receivers galore against the otherwise stout Browns defense that has a huge chip on their shoulder from being knocked out of the playoff race last year. -Scotty

Why this game is fascinating
Oh it's always a treat when two elite quarterbacks square off on prime time television but today brings us an extra a special treat. QB Jameis Winston and QB Marcus Mariota, the first two picks in this year's draft will take the field today, squaring off against one another in a game that means more I think to the fans and pundits than it does to the quarterbacks in question. This game will no doubt have a little extra energy and flair to it, since these two young men were debated in the press as to who should have gone number one overall or who will be the better quarterback in the long term, but that question won't be answered today. What we will get is a showdown between two young rookies that know the winner of today's game gets bragging rights over the other and a chance the silence the "who is better" talk at least for a little while. Should be a fun one to watch for certain. -John

Why this game is fascinating
There's an interesting cloud hanging over this game and it just so happens to be hovering over the Denver Broncos sideline. In fact, it's hanging over Peyton Manning's head. This is a quarterback that once more has everything to prove and this is the game to do it in. There's a lot of concern out there that the injuries were not the issue down the stretch last year for #18, but that father time had found him at last. There's also been lots of talk that he won't be able to thrive in Gary Kubiak's zone run offense. Heck the list of questions go on and on and the only way to silence them...is for Peyton and the Broncos offense to utterly destroy the Baltimore defense and show it's business as usual in Denver. -John

Why this game is fascinating
There are questions of course surrounding the Green Bay Packers as they come in to this game, specifically how will the offense look without Jordy Nelson? But the real part of this game that intrigues me is the Chicago Bears. It's a new regime on the sidelines with John Fox taking over the helm and is he finally the answer to the Bears woes? After all Fox lost Super Bowls in both Carolina and Denver and is regarded throughout the league by fans and experts alike as a solid players coach who will win you games, but will never win you a championship. That matters because Fox inherited one of the league's worst quarterbacks in Jay Cutler and this is most likely Fox's last chance to prove he can really do something special in this league and turning Cutler into a winner is the only way to do that. If Cutler finally shows off his potential today and the Bears own the Packers, a team that usually embarrasses them, then perhaps there is hope at last for Bears fans and maybe Fox can shake some of that negative stigma that surrounds him. As for a Super Bowl...well only time will. -John 

This is it football fans! After waiting for months the big day has finally arrived, and Kickoff Weekend is upon us at last. Every play counts now and all thirty two teams are working toward the incredible goal of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and we here at Girls of Geek are going to bring you expanded coverage of the NFL all season long. So welcome to our new NFL Roundup as we preview some of the top stories to look at going into Week 1 in the NFL and provide you with our picks for winner and losers! 

How will Tom Brady respond on the field after DeflateGate?
This question arises for one particular reason, the fact that the weight of the scandal surrounding Tom clearly got under his skin during the preseason. He looked heavily distracted on the field and some may attribute that to the boredom of preseason but let's be honest, there's no way something this big wasn't on his mind on and off the field. Now that he has been exonerated by the courts, it's time to see just how much this bothered him. Simply put he's either going to obliterate the Steelers and take out his fury on them, or we'll be seeing a more trepidatious Tom Brady on the field. I'll be curious to see what happens.

"The Battle of the Rookie Quarterbacks" will be the centerpiece of Kickoff Weekend
There was a long and epic debate surrounding the two top quarterbacks in the NFL Draft this year. Everyone was dying to know who go number one overall and it turned out to be Jameis Winston, followed by Marcus Mariota. As if by some stroke of luck and/or scheduling fate these two young men will square off Sunday in a game that will no doubt have a little extra bravado to it since I'm sure Marcus wants to beat Winston to make a point, and vice versa. The question is...who will come out on top?

The Gary Kubiak Era begins in Denver
He was a backup quarterback to John Elway. He was the Offensive Coordinator for the Denver Broncos when they won Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII and now after a stint in Houston as Head Coach and a year with Baltimore as the OC, Gary Kubiak has come home to the Mile High City. We've only had a taste of what his offense and coaching scheme has to offer in Denver, but considering the success he had here, there's a fair chance the Broncos are in good hands with Kubiak and he will no doubt add a fire to a team desperately in need of inspiration and it just so happens The Broncos open up the season at home against the Ravens. 

Will Dan Quinn finally get the Atlanta Falcons over the hump?
Atlanta has been a team packed to the brim with talent for many years, but none of that talent has ever translated to the success that Owner Arthur Blank has hoped for...a Super Bowl Championship. That lack of performance on the field cost former Head Coach Mike Smith his job and now it is up to Dan Quinn, former Defensive Coordinator of the Super Bowl XLVIII Champion Seattle Seahawks to get this team going again. Unfortunately for Quinn, the expectations are high and anything outside of a fast start filled with wins may make the honeymoon end for Quinn and the Fans quickly.

How will the Seattle Seahawks respond on the field after their Super Bowl XLIX loss?
The two Super Bowl teams from last year have plenty of storm clouds hanging over their heads. We've already discussed Tom Brady, but the elephant in the room for the Seattle Seahawks will forever remain as fans still freshly remember that boneheaded play call that sealed the win for the Patriots. That kind of horrible loss sticks with a team and with many players from the Super Bowl XLIX roster still on the squad it will be interesting to see what they do on the field after seeing their second championship slip away.

John's Picks
Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos - Denver
Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins - Miami
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots - Pittsburgh
Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tennessee
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers - Minnesota
​
Scotty's Picks 
Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills - Indianapolis
Cleveland Brown at New York Jets - New York
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons - Philadelphia
New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals - Arizona
Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams - St. Louis

In stunning fashion late last week, Tom Brady's four game suspension for his involvement in Deflategate was overturned in court and it seems that the football world erupted in one incredible divide. There are those, myself included who believe that Brady cheated regardless. There are others out there who firmly believe that the court's decision simply underlines the fact that Commissioner Roger Goodell has become power hungry and is over stepping his bounds every chance he gets. 

But my opinion on the case and the decision and the opinions of others mean nothing quite frankly, because I think this matter is bringing a bigger issue in the NFL to a head. After all, the commish has been dealing with way too many scandals and suspensions, many of which that have been overturned in court as of late, and the recurring theme of those overturned suspensions that I keep hearing is that Roger is overstepping his bounds in totalitarian fashion, and to that I disagree. In fact, I think the commish is simply becoming the scapegoat for the ugly truth that we all don't want to admit as fans. The fact of the matter is, Goodell isn't the problem with the league and its punishment system...the real issue at hand just happens to be some of the players and coaches in this league. 

Think about it for a moment. This is a league that is designed and manufactured to be a beacon of pride and ego for its players and its coaches. Their sole goal every year is to knock off thirty one other teams and emerge as the finest. Legacies matter here, production on the field matters here and that no doubt changes the minds of some of these young men to do it at any cost. Not to mention, when you play for the most popular sport in all of the land, you suddenly feel invincible and it's obvious now that some of these guys clearly feel they can do whatever the hell they want, whenever the hell they want and that's unacceptable. Yet the last year is beginning to prove, that these men cannot stand the idea of ever being held accountable for their actions and that's a scary prospect. 

Don't believe me? Let's take a look at what some of these "upstanding men" have gotten away with. One fine example, Bountygate and the handful of defensive players who were discovered to be taking prize money for players they injured, found their suspensions vacated. Ray Rice, who the entire planet saw punch out his wife on the internet, was suspended indefinitely by the commissioner and had that suspension overturned in court. The list goes on and on, ending with the most recent surprise in Tom Brady and well...I don't want to say it makes me sick, but it makes me extremely disappointed in these players and in the league. The NFL is the top dog right now, no sport can even compete with it, and some of its worst players, men who make poor decisions are getting away with behavior that in the every day world would cost people jobs and in some cases send them to jail.  

So here are the questions I have to ask. How is Roger Goodell at fault for being too harsh on these guys? You honestly mean to tell me it's okay what some of these guys have done? Because none of it is okay. These guys simply think they're not only above the Collective Bargaining Agreement they signed a few years ago, but above the game and above any of their actions and that's just wrong and it's clear that none of these players would ever stand before the fans and own up to their mistakes, which is ironic considering such an act would not doubt aid their cause and the all important legacy since Tom Brady will forever have a cloud hanging over his head when it comes to the discussion of him being the greatest of all time, but I digress.  

Plus, I should take a moment and point out that this isn't a rampant problem in the league, as far as we know. There are plenty of players that respect the game, respect its history and understand how incredible it is to be here and be a part of something so wonderful and often times those are the players who pull a suspension and serve it and never say a word. But it's this new element, the ones who think they are bigger than the game that concern me. No one is bigger than the game, no one is bigger than the league and it's not something you fix by using the court of public opinion. Because in Brady's case, New England fans feel he did no wrong, so bias there cannot be relied upon to fix this and the courts continue to overturn suspension after suspension. 

The only clear answer to me appears to be an addendum to the CBA that puts the player in question into binding arbitration with the league and a committee of his fellow players, a coach or two and a league executive and those handful of men decide their fate. I'm sure some players will still think the decision will be unjust, but it keeps the matter within the league and at the least, it won't fall on the shoulders of one man. Either way, something has to change, because crying about your punishment is for one, pathetic and it sends out the wrong message when you're a role model that it's okay to do something bad and fight and cry until people see it your way and more importantly all of these discussions and stories about the league like this would go away if the players in question exercised a little common sense. Maybe don't cheat? Maybe don't break the law? Crazy idea I know. 

So, enough about Roger Goodell and his "power hungry" ways please. He's not power hungry. He's doing his damn job as outlined in the CBA. He's asking men to be men. He's making sure the integrity of the game and the game itself matters above all else and he's laying down harsh punishments for the ones who think they're above all that. Let's focus on those guys, the ones whose egos have blown out of control, who believe winning the wrong way matters and make sure their rogue decisions are always remembered as separate from the game, so that what the league and all the great things it stands for...can move on without them.