Playoff Hopefuls Begin Losing Hope
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

When a team expected to make the playoffs opens its season with a loss, players, coaches, and fans insist that there’s nothing to worry about. It’s just week one.
But starting 0-2 is cause for concern. Of the 15 teams that started 0-2 the last two years, only one made the playoffs. So fans of the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and San Diego Chargers should worry. All three were in the playoffs last year but are now 0-2.
Not only have the Minnesota Vikings lost both their games this season, but they never even looked competitive yesterday in losing to the Cincinnati Bengals, 37-8. Minnesota was the preseason favorite to win the NFC North in large part because it added five free-agent starters to last season’s lackluster defense. But the rebuilt defense was a mess yesterday. Bengals receiver Chad Johnson scored on a 70-yard catch less than a minute into the game, and for 59 more minutes the Bengals moved the ball with ease.
The Vikings have two solid cornerbacks in Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot, but third cornerback Ralph Brown has been exposed, both by Tampa Bay last week and by Cincinnati this week, as a player who can beat in a three-receiver set. If Minnesota can’t shore up its nickel package soon, it can expect to see opposing offenses score 30 or more points regularly.
As bad as the defense looks, the Vikings’ offense might be an even bigger concern. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper clearly misses longtime target Randy Moss, but he might miss center Matt Birk, out for the season with a hip injury, even more. Culpepper’s obvious discomfort in the pocket is largely a result of new center Cory Withrow’s struggles with protection from defensive tackles rushing up the middle. Culpepper, who led the NFL in passing yards last season, is being forced to rush throws, which helps explain his five interceptions yesterday.
Meanwhile, the new-look Bengals improved to 2-0 with the win, and they just might be good enough to challenge the Pittsburgh Steelers, also 2-0, for AFC North supremacy. The most striking quality about the resurgent Bengals is how complete they are. Young skill position players like Johnson, quarterback Carson Palmer, and running back Rudi Johnson get plenty of attention, but the Bengals have young talent all over the field. Guard Eric Steinbach and middle linebacker Odell Thurman have helped solidify more peripheral problems for the Bengals, who seem ready to challenge for a playoff berth after a drought of more than a decade.
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The Detroit Lions also boast young, headline-grabbing skill position players, but they don’t have the same core talent that the Bengals have. The Lions’ 38-6 loss to the Chicago Bears made it abundantly clear that Detroit has concentrated on acquiring big names (each of its last five first-round picks has been an offensive skill position player) at the expense of developing a complete team. One of weakness yesterday was the offensive line, which was dominated all day long by the Bears’ front, particularly guard Ruben Brown and defensive tackle Ian Scott.
With the Packers’ loss in Cleveland yesterday, the 1-1 Bears sit atop the NFC North. Though they’ve shown some improvement, any division with the Bears on top must be the worst in the NFL.
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It’s no surprise that the Indianapolis Colts have started the season 2-0, but no one could have anticipated the way they would win their first two games. Indianapolis is the only team in the league that hasn’t allowed a touchdown after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 10-3 yesterday. Peyton Manning and the Colts’ dynamic offense have carried the team’s suspect defense into the playoffs the past three years, but this year it’s the defense that has carried the offense, first in a 24-3 opening-day win against the Ravens, and again yesterday against the Jaguars.
Manning had a career-low 122 passing yards, but the Colts’ defense stymied Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich all day. Middle linebacker Gary Brackett, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent two years ago, has now developed into one of the best linebackers in the league in pass coverage. And young safeties Bob Sanders and Mike Doss, who had nine tackles apiece yesterday, compliment a strong, fast secondary.
Jacksonville held the Colts’ offense scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter, and when Indianapolis finally did reach the end zone, it was on the ground, not through the air. Their touchdown drive lasted 17 plays, covered 88 yards, took nine minutes off the clock, and concluded with a 6-yard Ran Carthon touchdown run.
Colts fans should be thrilled that their team has started 2-0 despite two straight subpar games from the offense. Manning and his receivers will be back up to speed eventually, and if the Colts’ defense is still playing this well when that happens, the Colts might be the best team in football.
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The Carolina Panthers rebounded from their poor showing last week and provided evidence that the lofty preseason expectations they garnered were merited with a 27-17 win over the New England Patriots. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins was lost for the season in the opener, but the Panthers still have one of the league’s best defensive lines, and ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker gave Tom Brady fits and prevented Corey Dillon from finding room to the outside.
New England hasn’t just been the best team in football in recent years, it’s also been the smartest. The Patriots keep their cool in the heat of battle, which is why it was so surprising to see Brady screaming at an official when he didn’t like an offensive pass interference call, and to see safety Rodney Harrison get an unnecessary roughness call when he ripped off Stephen Davis’s helmet after the whistle blew.
Even more surprising for New England were the mistakes it made in coverage that allowed Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme to make big plays in the passing game. That could be a sign that the Patriots miss departed defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.
If any team has shown it can adjust as the season goes on, it’s the Patriots. A loss in September won’t derail their attempt to win a third straight Super Bowl. For a handful of other playoff perennials, however, two losses in September is bad news.
Mr. Smith is a writer for the statistical Web site www.FootballOutsiders.com.