What We Learned From Week 2

"Where have you gone, Ed Hochuli, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you..."

Just as I finish writing this, another flag was thrown by a replacement ref.

"Sneezing, number 100, Red.....ummm I mean blue...ummm...20 yards...fifth down!"

As I write that, I think the Broncos-Falcons game just reached halftime.

And now, another flag was thrown because a ref was intimidaded enough by a whining wide reciever convincing him he was interfered with!

Well, you get the idea. The replacement refs suck. And this is only Week 2 of supposedly 5 that we are stuck with them. Get used to it, fans!

Next week, we will see a flag thrown for insulting a ref's mother. That will be COOL.

Anyway, here's what we learned after Week 2:

1. You can cancel those Super Bowl plans, Cowboys and Jets fans!
After their impressive Week 1 performances, you'd have thought both teams had won their respective conference title games. Especially the way their fanbases reacted. Ah, how things change so quickly. An absolutely brutal performance in Seattle by Romo and co., and a mediocre at best performance in Pittsburgh by Gang Green. And no, not even the lord and savior himself would have won it for your team, Jet fans!

2. Miracles do happen in Foxboro. AGAINST the Patriots.

In St. Louis, Billy Cundiff had to be smiling when Stephen Gostkowski shanked a 43-yarder, a chip shot for Gostkowski, with 1 second remaining. Well, at least until a couple of hours later. But I digress. Arizona handed this game to the Pats on a silver platter. Larry Fitzgerald only caught ONE pass for four yards. ONE. Ryan Williams fumbled on his own 30, giving the Pats amazing field position. And the Patriots spilled it away.

3. Houston is officially the team to beat in the AFC.

The 49ers get all the attention for becoming the instant Super Bowl favorite after back to back impressive wins against Green Bay and Detroit. But the Texans dominated two bad teams in Miami and Jacksonville. This is the hallmark of a great team. We'll see how they fare against stronger opponents. But for now, they look scary good.

4. The Tom Coughlin-Greg Schiano spat would never have happened 30-40 years ago.

We can spend all day and night arguing about who was right or wrong on this incident. But here's the truth: the reaction to Tampa Bay's aggressive play during the Giants' victory formation is a byproduct of today's NFL. The real reason Coughlin was so furious is because he is scared to see his franchise quarterback, Eli Manning, get hurt. NFL teams, or any pro sports team for that matter, invest millions in franchise players. This was not the case in the 50s and 60s. Back then, a play like this would have been considered tough, hard-nosed football. Today, it is considered bushleague and an attempt to injure an opponent. And it's all because franchises are paranoid of their high-priced stars suffering season-ending injuries. It's all about the benjamins, folks.

5. Maybe the Saints really do miss Sean Payton.

At 0-2, New Orleans is in a heap of trouble. Not only is their defense statistically the worst in the NFL, but there seems to be a lack of structure in terms of game planning and coaching. Interim coach Aaron Kromer will not be calling plays in four weeks. Drew Brees probably should be the head coach for the remainder of the season. Hey, if Peyton can do it, why can't he? Coach Sean Payton will not return this season due to his Bountygate suspension. If the Saints don't learn to adjust to life without him, kiss the playoffs goodbye. Right now, it's not looking like they can.

Weekly Overreaction Jump Out of Your Seat Premature Euphoria Super Bowl Pick:
Arizona vs Houston

Top 5
1. San Francisco
2. Houston
3. Atlanta
4. Green Bay
5. New England

Bottom 5
32. Cleveland
31. Jacksonville
30. Minnesota
29. Kansas City
28. Tennessee