NFL Week 2: The Panthers and 5 things to know from around the league

          Week two of this NFL season is (almost) in the books, and I have to say that I'm rather impressed with a lot of things. I also have to say that I'm pretty unimpressed by other things, and we'll get to those as well. From this point forward, I'd like to do game analyses for the Panthers while also commenting on five other things from around the league on a weekly basis. Without further ado, welcome to week two.
          Let's begin with the Panthers, who have been both atrocious and outstanding so far this year. Week one couldn't have been more disappointing. Losing to the Buccaneers while amassing only 10 rushing yards was downright embarrassing. Granted, the Buccaneers have proven to be a good team, taking the Giants to the wire yesterday. But come on, 10 rushing yards for a team that has four very capable ball carriers? Pitiful.
           But week two brought redemption for the Cardiac Cats. They beat the Saints 35-27 in a thrilling game where the Panthers steamrolled the defense for more than 200 rushing yards and Williams, Stewart, Tolbert AND Cam all scored TDs. It wasn't just the running game that thrived, as Cam had 253 yards through the air as well, including 104 to the always explosive Steve Smith. With such a perfectly balanced offense, the Panthers present an incredibly difficult matchup for any team. Another key stat, SuperCam had zero interceptions. Last year, the Panthers were undefeated when Cam didn't turn the ball over. I've said repeatedly that he doesn't have to make more hero highlight plays this year for the Panthers to go far, he just needs to make fewer bad decisions and the Panthers will be in the playoff hunt. The offense gets an A-

Cam Newton takes badass pictures

          Despite giving up 27 points, the defense actually played pretty decent. Godfrey made a great play on the pick six (though it was mostly a gift from Brees) and our defense was able to put pressure on Brees for most of the game. The Saints may be without Head Coach Sean Payton, but that offense is damn dangerous, and being able to force Brees into two interceptions and holding him to only 63% completion percentage and one TD is still quite a feat. Bravo defense, B-

"Hey! Don't let those guys hit me again!"

5 Things around the league that caught my eye:

1. Rookie QBs: 5 rookie quarterbacks have been handed the starting position this year, a record, and it has everyone talking. In week one only RGIII was able to come up with a win, and they had more turnovers as a group than total TDs. That was a bit discouraging, but week two provided a different result. 10 total TDs to only one turnover and a combined 3-2 record. It's still way too early to speculate on how the rest of the season will play out, but this is a good sign that it won't be a complete disaster.

2. Has anybody seen Chris Johnson? Titans RB? Mr. 2,000 yard season a couple of years ago? He may as well be on the back of a milk carton, because he is completely absent from the football field. 19 carries for a whopping total of 21 yards. That's twenty-one. He has less yards than his starting QB Jake Locker. He also has less yards than Browns QB Brandon Weeden, Tim Tebow, and the 90-year-old lady in the retirement home down the road. Johnson is on pace to hit the 100 yard mark in week 10. 

"Wait... So I'm supposed to carry the ball forward?"

3. Replacement Referees suck. We want the real ones back. Pay up Goodell, seriously.

4. Eli Manning won yet another game in dramatic come-from-behind fashion. I never thought I would consider him elite, I was too big of a fan of Peyton to admit Eli was elite. But it's true. Eli Manning, despite missing a few chromosomes here and there, is an elite quarterback. Two impressive Super Bowl winning drives and a near 5,000 yard season last year prove it. His 510 yard performance in a win against the Bucs, which also included a game-winning drive, is just further proof. He is undoubtedly the best 4th quarter QB in the game right now.

5. Time for three disappointments. Joe Flacco looked more like Joe Flaccid yesterday when the game was on the line. He has to start winning games in crunch time if he wants people to call him elite. Gostkowski AKA Shankopotamus blew it for the Pats while Vinatieri is still kicking 50 yard game-winners in Indy like it's child's play. And finally the Eagles opponents, who forced them into 9 turnovers in the first two weeks and allowed them to escape with wins both times. I expect Cleveland to blow games like that, but the Ravens? Come on man.

          Lastly I'd like to give a game from next week to look forward to. All of them. If football is on TV it's worth watching. So grab the remote, grab a beer, plop your lazy butt on the couch in front of the biggest TV in your house and enjoy!

Steve Smith

          Oh Steve Smith, where do I even begin. Smith has provided Carolina's faithful fans with highlight reel catches for years. Ever since he was drafted in 2001, He has been an explosive player capable of turning any play into a big touchdown. He has managed to single-handedly break down many secondaries and make many professional cornerbacks look like they're standing still. He is small (5'9", 185 lbs.) compared to many of his fellow NFL receivers, but pound for pound you would be hard pressed to find a better play maker around the league.

         

          Smith had a career year in 2005, catching 103 balls for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the league in all three of those categories, winning the coveted "triple crown" of receivers. He was the first receiver to do this since Sterling Sharpe did it in 1992, and no one has done it since then.

          Steve Smith has always held a special place in my heart as a Panthers fan. I'm a huge fan of offensive football, so naturally a man with Smith's talent, ability and attitude would catch my eye. Not to mention the fact that he tends to find the endzone in spectacular fashion. His endzone celebrations always made me laugh too, until the NFL started cracking down on them. Seriously Goodell, when every play could be your last (unless you're Brett Favre, apparently he will NEVER have his last play), why not let them celebrate in their own special way? Outside of distasteful celebrations (Stevie Johnson that means you) what's wrong with an impression of rowing a boat when you score against the Vikings? But I digress.

          Unfortunately for Smith, his numbers saw quite a dip in 2009 and 2010. Smith's talent certainly hasn't dropped, he was just stuck with abysmal quarterbacks who couldn't seem to throw the ball to the right team. Smith isn't getting any younger, and with Cam Newton coming in as a rookie starter I wasn't sure how long Smith was going to stick around to find out whether Cam is the real deal or not. Smith had been frustrated, and rightfully so. I mean, have you seen this guy jump? Just throw the ball up somewhere in his direction and he seems to come down with it every time, yet our quarterbacks still couldn't get him the ball.

          This year has been different. Smith looks like his younger self this year, already eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark through 12 games which he had failed to do in the past two years. I already covered this in my last post, but in my opinion Cam Newton will be the reason that Steve Smith retires as a Panther. Steve Smith is not a Hall of Famer. Yet. I think he could play at least four or five more years at a very high level, as long as he stays healthy, and that could put him in the discussion.
          Regardless, Smith will always be a favorite of mine. His highlights will never get old to me, and I can only hope that he will be a Panther for a few years more. Because with his talent at receiver he opens up the field for our three-headed monster running game and keeps the fans in the game knowing that at any moment Smith might do something they've never seen before. Whether it is his touchdown celebrations, incredible talent, or the fact that he packs the most attitude per pound in the NFL, Steve Smith certainly should be on your list of players to watch out for every Sunday.