2012 NFL Week 2 'BIG UPS' 9-18-12

Week 2 NFL in the books.  What stood out the most to me were the upsets, close calls, and bad calls by the replacement officials.  RGIII is taking the league by storm and I'm happy because I'll gladly take the networks talking about him all the time over Tim Tebow.  No amount of words can really describe that Patriots/Cardinals game, but you could probably judge it by the amount of New Englanders who are just now waking up from alcohol induced comas.  Best thing that came out of B-More vs. Philly was Jacoby Jones crankin' the CHOPPA CITY JUKE and in OHIO, Trent Richardson for the Browns breaking out the #BEASTMODE on the Bengals. . . enough of that though, time to give props, Week 2 NFL BIG UPS.

Spiller + open field=GOODBYE.

C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills. All those Bills fans that were on the Fred Jackson-Top 5-running back-in-the-NFL-bandwagon better circle around 'cause one Clifford Spiller, Jr. is running roughshod on the league right now and if you blink you might miss him. The third year speed burner out of Clemson has come out the gates with some astonishing stat lines. Spiller racked up 123 yards and 2 TDs on 15 carries against the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Add in 14-169-1 in Week 1 vs. the New York Jets and Spiller is averaging 10.1 yards per carry.

Philadelphia Eagles Defense.  You can't turn the ball over nine times in your first two games and expect to win both of them.  A short field puts the defense in a bad spot because they generally lead to quick and easy scoring drives.  Hasn't happened to the Philly D so far this year.  Granted, they just barely edged the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, and forced rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden into 4 INTs, and definitely benefitted from a poor offensive pass interference call on a would-be Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones touchdown pass against the Baltimore Ravens.  But when you look at the team record, it says two in the wins, zero in the losses.  Just what you need the D to do until Mike Vick and the O can get that machine rolling, because we all now the talent is there on that side of the ball. 

Danny Amendola, St. Louis Rams.  I remember this kid coming out of the now world famous little guy receiver factory that is Texas Tech and trying to make the Dallas Cowboys on HBO's Hard Knocks.  From the practice squad to one of the Rams most versatile threats to score, Amendola is very deserving of a BIG UP.  His 12 first-half catches against the Washington Redskins on Sunday tied the NFL record for most catches in an opening half.  Amendola finished the game with 15 catches, 160 yards, and 1 TD.

Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins.  He's never gonna be a feature back in the league, they said.  He can't carry the ball more than 20 times a game, they said.  The longer Bush keeps at this pace, the more they say becomes irrelevant.  Bush, coming off his first career 1,000 yard rushing season in 2011, looks prime to honor his prediction of eclipsing 2K this season.  Wishful thinking on the young man's part but if he has games similar to the 26 carry, 172 yards and 2 TDs performance against the Oakland Raiders then the numbers start to pile up.
 

BIGGEST UP
Eli Manning, New York Giants.

Best 4th quarter QB of all-time?

He doesn't always start fast, but Manning has now become legendary for his play in comeback/game-on-the-line situations. Three interceptions in the first half, the Giants trailing 24-13 to the Tampa Bay Buccaners at the half while the home fans boo their Super Bowl winning quarterback off the field, finishes the game with a career-high 510 pass yards, including 234 of those in the fourth quarter, 3 TDs, including a bomb to Victor Cruz that went for an 80-yard TD, and a comeback 41-34 win to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start. Yeah, sounds just like a prototypical Eli game.

DeSean Jackson = "Bad A$$"

He's not leading the league in receptions, yards, or touchdowns but he sure is first place in another category in my book: #1 Bad Ass.  Dude is leaving Ochocinco, T.O., and Randy Moss in the dust right now, as well as helpless would-be-tacklers.  The antics are too much for those old school football purists but for me, its pure entertainment.  And at the end of the day, ain't entertainment what sports are all about? But who else in the NFL is as entertaining as they are good?

5.  Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings.  Haven't seen the 'calf roping' sack celebration for a while? That's 'cause the league banned it.  Apparently you're not allowed to do a celebration that involves going down to a knee.  Yup. And also Allen hasn't played very well this year (grow back the mullet, please).  Either way, I'm sure Aaron Rodgers still has nightmares about it after getting sacked 7.5 times by Allen last year.

4.  Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans.  That run against the Chargers this year was a CJ2K classic.  This guy has flash and flare; the trademark dreadlocks and gold teeth, and breakaway speed that makes Johnson an absolute nuisance.  Add in the Choppa City Juke touchdown celebration in Madden 11 and you have my friends what I call a bonafide HoodStar!

3.  Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars.  The boy is a basher between the tackles and explosive in the open field.  Highlight runs are scattered all over his resume, not to mention very innovative end zone celebrations.  Have you seen The Prada Store?

2.  Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens.  Already a legend.  Hands down the most exciting defensive player to watch once he gets his hands on the ball.  He can run it back himself or let a teammate handle things, like when he picked-and-pitched to Dawan Landry for a TD against the Panthers this year.

1.  DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles.  As if stopping on the Dallas one yardline and falling backwards after a crazy catch and run wasn't enough last week, D-Jack bobbles the punt return against the Giants, goes BACKWARDS, then cuts through the New York special teams before running baseline on the end zone and just ripping the guts out of the Giants in the new Meadowlands.  Bad A$$.