Views from the Nosebleeds: 2016 NFL Regular Season, Week 1

I nearly got roped into two things known to drive up my blood pressure over the past eight years: 1) another season of fantasy football and 2) buying a copy of Madden NFL 17.  However, there are three simple reasons why I won't drink the Kool-Aid with either: 1) both bled me dry financially last year, especially FanDuel, and a brother needs to save his duckets; 2) I don't have the time to invest in FanDuel or Madden because I have too many creative endeavors; and most important, 3) I want to be able to enjoy the game of football without worrying about how a dropped TD pass, a fumble or an aberration of a performance will drop my from a cool $500 to zilch in a matter of seconds.  Therefore, in an effort to accomplish what I failed to do last NFL season, I unveil a new weekly series dedicated to my favorite sport: "Views from the Nosebleeds."  So during a week featuring six fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins and four one-point victories--the latter being an NFL record for an opening weekend--let's go over some of my "views"...

ARE YOU REALLY READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!?!  When the season kicked off last Thursday with a Super Bowl rematch between the Panthers and the Broncos, one of my favorite Facebook friends put up a status echoing my inner thoughts: "Am I the only one, with football on, who isn't excited? Especially with all the other sh-- going on around us? Maybe just me. Carry on."  Aside from the lack of excitement about Cam Newton's head-to-head matchup with seventh-round draft pick out of Northwestern Trevor Siemian--who impressively orchestrated two clutch TD drives in Denver's 21-20 win over Carolina--he elaborated a bit: "...we have an election, genocide is rampant, systematic destruction and gentrification of our communities.....etc. idk. I'll see how I feel on Sunday."  Normally, football is one of my most cherished escapes from the problems of the world.  However, it's hard to get excited when America's historically dismissive attitude rooted in shifting the focus from uncomfortable issues to convenient ones has permeated into your favorite sport.  Nevertheless, Sunday rolled around, my enthusiasm returned in full force and all was well with the world--or at least the part of the world with turf and pigskin...

KEENAN ALLEN CAN'T WIN.  There's not much more disheartening than a player who has "playmaker" written all over him but can't stay on the field; unfortunately, this is becoming the case for San Diego Chargers star wide receiver Keenan Allen.  Named the Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year, Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pepsi NEXT Rookie of the Year in 2013, the Chargers got a steal with their third-round pick out of Cal, who grabbed 71 passes for 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns.  However, he hasn't been able to repeat his rookie season success because of a litany of injuries, including missing the final two games of a not-as-impressive 2014 season with a broken collarbone and half of what was shaping up to be a bounce-back 2015 season because of a lacerated kidney.  Still having Antonio Gates and Dontrelle Inman and adding former Browns wideout Travis Benjamin to their receiving corps, Allen's return to the fold seemed to bode well for the Chargers offense...until he tore his ACL not even half a game into 2016.  Although he plays for a rival team, any true fan of the game hates to see someone being carted off the field in tears who knows in his heart his season is over...

STANDING, SITTING AND KNEELING WITH KAEP.  All eyes were on the Rams-49ers primetime Monday Night Football matchup, but mainly to see Colin Kaepernick continue his protest of the National Anthem in the midst of social injustice.  The now-backup QB took a knee along with teammate Eric Reid to the displeasure of several Niners fans who screamed "STAND UP KAEPERNICK" during a moment of silence remembering the victims of 9/11.  However, he had his share of support not only from veterans, but also from other players around the league.  Most notably, Broncos LB and Kaepernick's teammate at Nevada Brandon Marshall was the first player of the 2016 regular season to kneel during the National Anthem.  In response to his gesture, the Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) cut ties with Marshall as an ambassador.  Prior to this departure, he defended his position after Denver's win: "I'm not against the military.  I'm not against the police or America.  I'm against social injustice."

Although the Sunday games were on the 15th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, many players still chose to show solidarity with Kaepernick.  Taking their cues from Tommie Smith and John Carlos' "human rights salute" during the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Marcus Peters of the Chiefs, Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty of the Patriots and Kenny Britt and Robert Quinn of the Rams all raised their fists either during or after the National Anthem.  Despite most of the Seahawks players and coaching staff locking arms in an ambiguous "demonstration of unity", Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas and Kenny Stills of the Dolphins knelt on the opposing sideline.  During Westwood One Sports' broadcast of the Panthers-Broncos game, Kurt Warner may have said it best:

I know a lot of people have different takes on it.  I'm a firm believer that the flag means different things to different people, and in this day and age with the platform we have, I can't argue with anybody using their platform to stand for what they believe in.

While I understand the positions of folks like Rob Lowe taking issue, I assert the following: contrary to popular belief, patriotism is deeper than stripes and stars; it also includes the right to protest and exercise dissent, expressly outlined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.  It is especially important to honor that right for those who have been historically and systematically silenced and told to put their issues on hold for years, decades and centuries.  So as much as these protests arguably shift the conversation from commemorating the tragic events of 9/11, these gestures send a clear message: "While we honor the memories of the fallen in a senseless attack against our nation, which affected all of us, the fight against any form of injustice cannot afford to take any days off."

THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE TAKE OF THE WEEK: WHENEVER THE STEELERS COME TO TOWN, THERE IS NONE FOR THE SKINS.  I had a feeling Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers would come into Landover and defeat Kirk Cousins and the home team, but I didn't expect such a disappointingly putrid performance on both sides of the ball as Washington fell to Pittsburgh in a 38-16 beatdown in their home opener.  Offensively, Cousins failed to silence his numerous doubters in and around the Beltway as he looked shaky all night long with low throws and questionable decisions at pivotal moments of the game, and the running game continues to struggle especially with Alfred Morris now playing for the enemy in Dallas--and looking pretty good down there.

Amidst horrendous tackling, particularly from former Broncos safety David Bruton, their run defense woes continued as they allowed DeAngelo Williams to gash them for 26 carries, 143 yards and two TDs including the final score of the game.  Wikipedia actually had the funniest thing I've ever seen on a fairly reputable site in my entire life at around 10:05 p.m. EST: "Bashaud unfortunately died after getting burnt alive by Antonio Brown on September 12, 2016 during a Monday Night Football game."  The quote was quickly taken down, but still...that about covers it.  I don't get why Josh Norman wasn't assigned to Brown more often...major defensive coaching faux pas.  They stay at home to face the Cowboys next Sunday and the offense might have a bit of a reprieve against a suspect defense, but with the wheels of Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and the aforementioned Morris, the run defense is in for another long sixty minutes of football.

SCRIBBLER'S GAME OF THE WEEK: OAKLAND RAIDERS 35, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 34.  Although there were quite a few nail biters this weekend--including the Chiefs' 33-27 OT win over the Chargers after being down 24-3--three main reasons make this inter-conference matchup the game of the week.  First, Drew Brees' pass to Brandin Cooks for a 98-yard TD was the longest pass play in Saints history, the longest of the past four NFL seasons and one of the longest plays from scrimmage in NFL history.  Second, amidst poor tackling synonymous with the Saints defense of the past six years, Raiders rookie RB Jalen Richard came back to his home state and broke free with a tough run up the gut for a 75-yard TD score that helped to tie the game at 27.  Third, "Blackjack" Del Rio (as NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson called him) decided to play for the ace.  After Brees' five-yard TD pass to Travaris Cadet to push the score to 34-27, Derek Carr completed a clutch 75-yard drive with a ten-yard TD toss to Seth Roberts to make it 34-33 with 47 seconds remaining.  Knowing the Saints were out of timeouts and had a rookie kicker waiting in the wings, Del Rio made the gutsiest call of the week with a successful two-point conversion call from Carr to Michael Crabtree.  Although Brees was able to get the ball down the field, kicker Wil Lutz narrowly missed a 61-yard FG attempt and the Raiders pulled off a tough road win.  Not bad when your defense allows Brees to go off for 424 yards and four TDs.

SCRIBBLER'S CHECKDOWNS:

• RGIII's nickname should be "Mr. Glass" as the Browns' QB curse and overall franchise woes continue and they'll continue to be the doormats of the AFC North;
• Even without Brady in the first few games, the Pats won't lose any traction in the AFC East with Jimmy Garoppolo starting because everyone else is average at best;
• Although the Texans were the only team in the AFC South to win, the only team who excites me is Jacksonville--although they always find a way to lose;
• The Chargers have become the perpetual Cinderella story of the AFC West...that is, if we're referring to Cinderella's coach turning back into a pumpkin.  Mark my words: the Bolts will be last place in the division;
• I don't care about anything in the NFC North except Matthew Stafford chewing out Eric Ebron for not getting out of bounds, visibly seen screaming, "USE YOUR HEAD!  USE YOUR F-----G HEAD!!"  I don't think I've ever seen Stafford that turned up, but it was funny AF;
• The Giants could win the NFC East crown, although the Eagles look like the second best team in the division with Carson Wentz's impressive debut.  I'm also glad to see Victor Cruz back in the lineup and hope he can stay healthy for an entire season for once;
• I'm not buying the Bucs remaining the best team in the NFC South for the rest of the year, but Famous Jameis showed me something against Atlanta; and
• Although the 49ers had the most impressive NFC West win to begin the Chip Kelly era, it was against the Rams coached by Jeff Fisher aka Mr. 8 & 8.  Best thing about that game other than the Niners' running game: Ray-Ray Armstrong needs to be a candidate for the coolest name in the NFL.