The Panthers defeated the Saints 35-27 while the Redskins fell short at the Rams 31-28. Both teams are 1-1.
Here are some thoughts on the games:
– After a dismal running game in the season-opening loss to Tampa Bay (barely double digit yards), the Panthers piled up 219 against the Saints. Cam Newton carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards and a touchdown, DeAngelo Williams ran for 69 yards and a score on 14 rushes and Jonathan Stewart, who missed the opener with a right ankle injury, added 51 yards rushing.
– The Redskins were without top receiver Pierre Garcon, who was injured during the opening season win over the Saints. As a result, Aldrick Robinson started in his place. In the third quarter, Robinson was open deep and Robert Griffin III put the ball in his hands and he dropped it. It should have been easy completion. That would have set the Skins up for a touchdown or at least a short field goal.
– Brian Stropolo is a New Orleans Saints fan. Unfortunately, he was also a replacement official scheduled to be a side judge for the Panthers-Saints game. He didn’t step aside. No, the NFL found pictures of him wearing Saints gear just hours before the game, thanks to ESPN. He was replaced by Tim Keese, who was an alternate on the crew. Just another reason why the NFL needs to get the regular refs back, although they sometimes aren’t the best in the world either. I’m sure officials have favorite players and grew up rooting for certain teams but most can be objective. I suppose Stropolo thought he could too but his rooting interest is recent – plus, he’s a replacement official.
– The officiating was worse for the Redskins-Rams than it was for the Panthers-Saints. There are really too many problems to go into all of them here. But to name a few, London Fletcher was called for a late hit out of bounds when the ball carrier was in the air going out of bounds but he wasn’t out of bounds yet. I’m not sure how someone can stop the tackling motion in mid-air but these refs expected him to. There was a play in the end zone where it looked as if Stephen Jackson got two feet in but he was called out. Once Griffin was hit as he was going out of bounds and the player was called for unsportsmanlike conduct. But then several more times during the game, both ways, on more obvious calls, late hits weren’t called.
– The Saints have trouble with mobile quarterbacks that use screens and options. Both against Griffin and Newton, they had a lot of trouble.
– It’s good to see Griffin run to escape trouble and it’s even good to occasionally give him the option to run but the designed running plays didn’t seem to work as well and they put him in danger. He took a number of hard hits against the Rams, in a particularly hard-hitting games that the referees let get out of control. You don’t want your franchise quarterback to get hurt before he’s even the franchise quarterback. It’s his second game for goodness sake, save him.
– Finally, Joshua Morgan should be cut from the Redskins. It’s hard to sugar coat what he did. First, very late in the game, with the Redskins driving for a winning touchdown or tying field goal, he had an easy first down and turned back to lose yardage. Then, seconds later, he throws the ball at the defender. INEXCUSABLE. No matter what he ever does for the Redskins in the future, he will be remembered for that. If he had gotten the first down, the Redskins would have had plenty of time to have won the game. If he had not thrown the ball at the defender, the Redskins would have at least gone into overtime. Seriously, he should be off the team. The Redskins don’t need that kind of player. The Skins have been thinking of bringing back tight end/fullback Chris Cooley. Now would be a good time for that.
