NFL 2009: PREVIEW WEEK-2
Week 2 NFL Preview
09/17/2009
IMPORTANT DIVISION GAMES HIGHLIGHT WEEK 2
It’s only Week 2, but already there are key division games!
“Games within your division are never easy,” says New York Giants head coach TOM COUGHLIN, whose team defeated NFC East foe Washington last week and will face another division rival in Dallas this Sunday night.
How important are division games? Since realignment to the current eight-division format in 2002, the 14 teams that have advanced to the Super Bowl have a combined 68-16 (.810) record in games within their division.
“These games are important,” says NBC analyst and former head coach TONY DUNGY, “because you want to gain an advantage in your division.”
Division battles also highlight the unpredictability of the NFL. In the seven seasons since realignment, 26 of the 32 NFL teams have won at least one division title. Last year, there were six new division champions, tying the record for the most in a season (2003).
Following are the seven division games taking place in Week 2:
DIVISION
VISITING TEAM
HOME TEAM
NFC South
Carolina
Atlanta
NFC North
Minnesota
Detroit
AFC West
Oakland
Kansas City
AFC East
New England
New York Jets
AFC South
Houston
Tennessee
NFC West
Seattle
San Francisco
NFC East
New York Giants
Dallas
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FALCONS, PACKERS & CHIEFS HONOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH THIS WEEK
NFL teams will host community events and gameday celebrations throughout Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15). This week, the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs will celebrate the month.
The Falcons will host CrossRoads Academy, a school with a large Hispanic participation, at their home game on Sunday, September 20. The students will spend the day with the Falcons Fitness Flag Crew and the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders. During pregame player introductions, the group will help unfurl a 40-by-40 yard long Falcons flag on the field. Additionally, the Latin American Association, Judia Jackson Harris Elementary School and Russell Elementary School will receive tickets to the game. Finally, Latin teen pop singer Tyna Q. of Alpharetta will sing the National Anthem and the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders will perform special routines to a mix of Latin hits. On Tuesday, September 29, the team will continue its celebration with a visit to Kanohdea Elementary School, where players will hold a youth clinic and cheerleaders will teach a short routine.
Prior to their game against Cincinnati, former Packers kicker Eddie Garcia will participate in the Ambassador Line on the field during pregame player introductions. At the Packers Tundra Tailgate Zone located in the parking lot, a fiesta will be thrown complete with Hispanic food. Banners located inside the stadium and the GameDay program will also recognize Hispanic Heritage Month.
Members of the Chiefs will host a special Fútbol Americano clinic this week for 50 children from the Guadalupe Center, a facility designed to improve the quality of life for individuals in the Latino community. During the preseason, the team invited the kids to attend a Chiefs game and tour the field during pregame warm-ups. After experiencing the game of football as spectators, these youngsters will have an opportunity to hone their football skills under the direction of Chiefs players, including QB Matt Gutierrez and RB Jackie Battle, at the Chiefs Training Facility.
The NFL’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month will culminate in a series of special events surrounding the New York Jets at Miami Dolphins Monday Night Football game on Monday, October 12 (8:30 PM ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes).
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After a Kickoff Weekend that saw quarterbacks making their first starts (MARK SANCHEZ of the New York Jets and MATTHEW STAFFORD of the Detroit Lions) and 270th start (Minnesota’s BRETT FAVRE)…the first six-touchdown pass game in an opener (New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES)…the longest game-winning touchdown from scrimmage in the final minute of the fourth quarter in NFL history (Denver wide receiver BRANDON STOKLEY’s 87-yard touchdown with 11 seconds remaining)…and the most games decided by six points or fewer on Kickoff Weekend since 2002 (nine), here comes Week 2:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0) at NEW YORK JETS (1-0)
Jets rookie head coach REX RYAN has brought a new attitude to this AFC East rivalry.
“I came here to win,” says Ryan. “I’m not intimidated by New England or anybody else.”
The Jets were not intimidated on Kickoff Weekend as they defeated the Houston Texans 24-7 behind a strong defense and the play of rookie quarterback MARK SANCHEZ, who passed for 272 yards and a touchdown.
One of the teams standing in New York’s way in the AFC East is the New England Patriots, winners of five of the past seven division titles.
On Monday night, Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY, passed for two touchdowns in the final 2:06 to pull out a 25-24 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills.
“Two-minute drives are always fun for a quarterback,” says Brady. “I’m glad we got a win. It’s a pretty special victory.”
With both teams coming off victories in Week 1, the anticipation is building for this division matchup.
“I’m looking forward to it,” says Ryan. “We’ll find out who has the better team right now.”
NEW YORK GIANTS (1-0) at DALLAS COWBOYS (1-0) (Sunday, NBC, 8:20 PM ET)
These two NFC East rivals, who have won the past two division crowns – Giants in 2008, Cowboys in 2007 – will meet in the first regular-season game at Cowboys Stadium.
“This,” Cowboys owner JERRY JONES says about his new stadium, “is the real deal. This stadium shows the glitz and glamour of the Dallas Cowboys.”
Both teams are coming off impressive Kickoff Weekend victories. The Giants defeated Washington 23-17 and the Cowboys beat Tampa Bay 34-21.
“We’re just going to go in there and try to play good football,” says Giants quarterback ELI MANNING. “It’s a big game. It’s a division game. We know it’s going to take a great effort on our part. We’re going to Dallas, playing in a new stadium, and it will be a loud crowd. It’s a big game for us.”
One of the key matchups will be Dallas’ high-powered offense against New York’s stout defense. The Cowboys, led by quarterback TONY ROMO’s career-high 353 passing yards, scored 34 points and amassed 462 yards of offense last week. The Giants, meanwhile, held the Redskins to 272 total yards, recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers, including a 37-yard fumble-return touchdown by defensive end OSI UMENYIORA.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-0) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-1) (Monday, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET)
The Indianapolis Colts return to Land Shark Stadium for the first time since the team’s Super Bowl XLI victory to face the Miami Dolphins. And both teams have eyes on playing at this venue in February when South Florida plays host to Super Bowl XLIV.
Last season, Miami, led by rookie head coach TONY SPARANO, won 11 games and captured the AFC East, one year after a 1-15 record. The 10-win increase tied the NFL record for the biggest one-year improvement, set by the 1999 Colts.
“That’s why fans love the NFL,” says Miami quarterback CHAD PENNINGTON, the 2008 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year, about the unpredictability of the NFL.
This year’s Colts hope that a first-year head coach will bring them similar success. Last week, JIM CALDWELL got his first career victory as the Colts defeated Jacksonville 14-12.
This game will take place on the same date – September 21 – as the first-ever Monday Night Football contest: New York Jets at Cleveland Browns in 1970. MNF is celebrating its 40th season this year.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS (SEPTEMBER 10, 13-14)
PITTSBURGH 13, Tennessee 10 (OT)
NEW ORLEANS 45, Detroit 27
Dallas 34, TAMPA BAY 21
San Francisco 20, ARIZONA 16
ATLANTA 19, Miami 7
N.Y. GIANTS 23, Washington 17
BALTIMORE 38, Kansas City 24
SEATTLE 28, St. Louis 0
Philadelphia 38, CAROLINA 10
GREEN BAY 21, Chicago 15
Denver 12, CINCINNATI 7
Minnesota 34, CLEVELAND 20
N.Y. Jets 24, HOUSTON 7
NEW ENGLAND 25, Buffalo 24
INDIANAPOLIS 14, Jacksonville 12
San Diego 24, OAKLAND 20
2009 WEEK 2 SCHEDULE (SEPTEMBER 20-21)
(All times local)
Carolina at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 4:05 PM
Minnesota at Detroit, 1:00 PM
Seattle at San Francisco, 1:05 PM
Cincinnati at Green Bay, 12:00 PM
Pittsburgh at Chicago, 3:15 PM
Arizona at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Denver, 2:15 PM
Oakland at Kansas City, 12:00 PM
Baltimore at San Diego, 1:15 PM
New England at N.Y. Jets, 1:00 PM
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SUNDAY NIGHT
N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 7:20 PM (NBC)
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New Orleans at Philadelphia, 1:00 PM
Houston at Tennessee, 12:00 PM
St. Louis at Washington, 1:00 PM
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MONDAY
Indianapolis at Miami, 8:30 PM (ESPN)
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