I watched the game from early into the fourth quarter on. It was more or less exactly the way the game was supposed to pan out, with the Chiefs trailing 31-14, and the Packers continually pressing. Eventually, Green Bay got the touchdown that at least seemed to ice the game.
38-14 in the fourth quarter. Game over.
Only the Chiefs kept fighting back, perhaps having taken a lesson from what the Colts did to them in the playoffs a couple of years ago (Kansas City had a 28 point lead in the game not once, but twice, yet still managed to lose). Suddenly, the Chiefs got one touchdown drive, and then another. That final touchdown made it briefly interesting, as a two point conversion would bring them to within a touchdown (and another two point conversion) of tying the game. But the Pack defended it well, and the Chiefs were now down 38-28.
Time expired, and the Green Bay Packers remained as one of the seven - yes, seven! - teams to remain unbeaten through the month of September.
The star of the game was quite predictable as well, with Aaron Rodgers dazzling everyone, lighting up the scoreboards as he threw five touchdown passes.
Surely, this cannot last, right? Some of those teams are bound to lose in the near future. Also, some of the winless teams are bound to find that first victory of the season as well, right?
Let's take a look at the schedule this coming week. I will begin with the Thursday Night Football game, which normally would feature two solid, smashmouth rival franchises slugging it out. But with the Steelers missing their quarterback, and the Ravens rather shockingly sitting at 0-3, the game does not have quite the same lure that it normally would and should:
Baltimore defeats Pittsburgh - I predicted a Ravens win last weekend, but I still maintain that they will have to win their first game eventually. Why not against a weakened, watered-down Steelers team? The Ravens need this win, because otherwise, it is hard to imagine them even salvaging anything out of this season.
London Game - NY Jets defeat Miami - The Dolphins have problems. I suspected this last weekend, even though I still predicted that they would beat the Bills (boy, was I wrong!). But in my defense, I did mention a discomfort with the pick, and indeed, Buffalo played extremely well. The Dolphins will play better, but the Jets should earn the victory in London.
Buffalo defeats NY Giants - I would love to believe that the Giants can pull off a second win in a row at Buffalo, and indeed, they just might. But it is hard not to be impressed with how well Buffalo has come storming out of the gate, and they are particularly tough at home. The Bills (hopefully) will not win in blowout fashion, but they probably earn the win nonetheless.
Philadelphia defeats Washington - I think that this is the Philly team that we were expecting, finally emerging. Washington has played fairly well so far this season, but they are not a high-powered team. The Eagles get things straight for a second week in a row, and earn a big victory on the road within the division.
Cincinnati defeats Kansas City - Boy, this is a tough stretch for the Chiefs! It's almost unfair! A home game against the Broncos, then a road game on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field, followed by another road game against the unbeaten Bengals. Cincy might not last too much longer as an undefeated team themselves, as they have a tough stretch of their own coming. But that first lost will not likely come against Kansas City this weekend.
San Diego defeats Cleveland - I suspect that the real Browns are indeed emerging. They may change the uniforms, and they may change quarterbacks at will (a problem that has plagued Cleveland for many years, actually), but they never seem to change the outcome on the field of play. Unfortunately, they just are not a good team, and the Chargers are hungry for a win after two straight losses. The Chargers win, and possibly big.
Carolina defeats Tampa Bay - The Bucs are improving, but it will take time. The Panthers, in the meantime, are playing lights out to start the season. With enough efficiency to get by on the road against a weak divisional opponent, the Panthers should remain unbeaten for at least one more week.
Indianapolis defeats Jacksonville - The Jaguars have done some impressive things and are an improved team, although you likely will not see it if you judge the final results at New England, and most likely, at Indianapolis this coming weekend. Having two toad games in a row against those two teams in particular is kind of unfair. The Colts continue to straighten out their wrinkles, and start to take a firmer command of a weak division after this one.
Oakland defeats Chicago - This one is tricky, because eventually, the Bears will earn their first win. Also, West Coast teams usually do not play particularly well on the road in the East Coast. However, the Raiders are soaring high right now, while the Bears are already reeling, like a wobbly fighter about to hit the canvass with a knockout punch. For Chicago's hopes this season, a loss here would effectively end their playoff chances, because the Bears are not good enough to recover. And I suspect that they will find a way to lose this one, too.
Atlanta defeats Houston - At least the Texans managed to get their first win last week. But going to Atlanta is a daunting prospect, with the way the Falcons are playing right now. The Texans try and hang tough, but in the end, I suspect Atlanta overwhelms them a bit.
Denver defeats Minnesota - True to their billing, Minnesota looks like a playoff caliber team. But going on the road to face Peyton and Company at Mile High Stadium in Denver? That is a tall order for anyone. The Broncos are playing extremely well so far, and they continue again this weekend with a win over the Vikings to remain perfect.
Green Bay at San Francisco - Green Bay is showing why they were one of the early favorites to win it all this season. The 49ers, in the meantime, are still reeling from two consecutive losses, and the last one was an embarrassing blowout. They will try to slow down the Pack, but Green Bay will likely put on a clinic worthy of the San Francisco teams of the dynasty era, and take a solid road win to add to their undefeated start.
Arizona defeats St. Louis - The Cardinals are on fire right now. They have one of the best defenses in the league, and perhaps the most explosive offense - and given the level of play of some of the offenses out there, that is saying something! With another home game against a divisional opponent, look for the Cardinals to take out the Rams, who suddenly look like they are struggling once again. The real test for Arizona will be when they play Seattle. That will provide our first glimpse as to whether they are legitimate this season, or if, like last season, they are a second tier playoff contender pretending to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Dallas defeats New Orleans - I would like to think that the Saints have it in them to win this game, and indeed, maybe they do. But the Cowboys, despite the injury problems that they have been plagued with, are still a solid team, and the Saints, quite frankly, are not. Even if this is being played in the Big Easy, rather than in Big D, the Cowboys should have enough to get past a weak New Orleans franchise.
Seattle defeats Detroit - So, this is the MNF match-up? Come on. This is almost unfair! The Lions are staggering after another disappointment, and an 0-3 start. Now, they go out to Seattle to face a still hungry and angry Seahawks team that is healthy and loaded? And this s a nationally televised game? Sorry, but the Lions are not up for that. Look for Seattle to overwhelm Detroit, as they start to emerge as a factor again in the NFC West, following the uncharacteristically slow, 0-2 start.
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