NFL September 18th, 2011. After the first series of games...

It is 2:26 pm MST and the first series of NFL games has concluded. Here's my take so far:

Drew Brees is who we thought he was! And Da Bears let him off the hook! Well, we know that New Orleans has an unlimited supply of "good" receivers and missing Marques Colston was not going to be an issue this week. This is why it's always a gamble to have a New Orleans receiver as a fantasy player, just take Drew Brees and the 50 points a week he'll get you. That being said, my condolences to Brian Urlacher and his family, I was really pulling for a "Brett Favre tribute" performances. NO 30 - CHI 13

The Minnesota Vikings are similar to the Utah State Aggies in that they can have a 3 score lead, and still find a way to lose. Hats off to Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for pulling off the come-back W. TB - 24 - MIN 20

Oakland Raiders, way to go. You looked better than Minnesota, but choked just as bad. Actually, at least you made it dramatic. I mean, you could have opted to attempt another Janikowski field goal record, but you made the right decision to try the infamous "Hail Mary." I think 7 people caught the ball, but after the refs peeled the pile away, the was a guy wearing a Buffalo Bills jersey clutching the ball with joy. Pretty sure I was happier than he was. Man, I don't like the Raiders one bit. Well, I'll correct that. Man, I don't like Al Davis, owner of the Raiders, one bit. BUF 38 - OAK 35

Is anyone surprised that Kansas City is awful?  I'm a huge Detroit Lions believer this year.  Huge.  I'm sad that Jamaal Charles is on my fantasy team and that he left the game in the 1st quarter after being hit into the mascot.  Thanks for the 2 points buddy. DET 48 - KC 3

Kerry Collins isn't terrible, but he has shown us that Peyton Manning is the Colt's team.  Without him, they will contend for Andrew Luck.  How perfect will that be?  Andrew Luck, learning from Peyton for a few years?  Maybe trade him for ... anything!  Good job to the Browns, I am starting to believe in Cleveland. IND 19 - CLE 27

The New York Jets had a bye week this week while the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to visit the new, New Meadowlands Stadium. NYJ 32 - JAC 3

Um, this next one is a doozy.  For the second straight week, the Baltimore Ravens are the surprise team in the NFL.  Not because they dominated an elite team, but because they were dominated by a RANDOM Tennessee Titans team with so many question marks.  And this came one week after they dominated the Pittsburg Steelers.  Now, my question is "What is going on in Baltimore?" TEN 26 - BAL 13

This is the game I was excited for all week and got NFL Sunday Ticket (from my friend Mike Farris) for:  Carolina Panthers hosting the defending super bowl champion Green Bay Packers.  "Why?" you ask, because I love the Carolina Panthers.  I am the definition of "sticking with your team, no matter what."  "How do you do this without being a 'homer'?" you ask?  Because, I'm awesome.  Moving on, Cam Newton topped himself from last week, he threw for 432 yards and rushed for 57.  He threw 1 td and rushed for another.  However, he did throw 3 picks, all his fault.  Steve Smith had a really "off" game with his fumble and several dropped passes.  Green Bay had a slow start, but showed us why they are the defending champs with their 2nd half performance.  As a "true" Panthers fan, I have hope for the future, be it this season or the next few seasons to come.

To summarize, I love the new Miller Light commercials.  And I dig the new Axe body spray commercials too.  So, even when my team is losing, I'm cheered up by great advertising.  Good Job Miller and Axe.  Good job.

CF