Week 2 Game Review- Part 1

To quantify how I review games, I review the following statistics: quarterback pressures, based upon sacks and QB hits; turnovers; total yards; red zone opportunities and success rate; penalties; and time of possession.  The reason I review those stats is because they clearly tell the story of the game.  And generally, the teams that win those battles win the game.  Let's get to the first round of games!

After seeing the score and the highlights of my beloved Eagles, I would have believed the game was an unmitigated disaster.  Taking a closer look at the above stats, it was a much closer game than the score indicated.  Time of possession and total yards were about even.  The Saints had slightly more pressure, based on the QB hits (5-1).  Where this game turned for the Eagles was the turnovers, red zone success rate rate (20% compared to 67% for New Orleans) and penalties.  This is understandable with a young first time quarterback in Kevin Kolb starting.  To beat an explosive team like the Saints, the Eagles had to close a higher percentage of their red zone opportunities and cut turnovers, to keep the ball away from their offense.  I suspect if a healthy Donovan McNabb played in this game, the score would have been much closer.

After the last two starts, Jake Delhomme needed to significantly cut down his turnovers.  He did so in this one, and the efficiency of the Carolina offense improved significantly.  I was very surprised to see how close this game actually was.  Carolina had about a 70 yard edge in total yards.  The penalty and turnover rates were identical.  Atlanta had a couple more minutes in possession of the ball.  Where Atlanta won this game was capitalizing on its extra red zone possession and the quarterback pressures.  Their line allowed no sacks and no hits.  That's why Matt Ryan had such a huge game.  He had the time to deliver the ball to his receivers.

In the Minnesota-Detroit game, it was another one where the game was actually closer than the final score indicated.  The total yards for each team were identical, the penalties, and time of possession were about even, as well.  Detroit's defense created intense pressure on Brett Favre with three sacks and seven QB hits, whereas Minnesota's much ballyhooed defense created two sacks and two QB hits.  The two big differences were the turnover battle and red zone opportunities.  Although the percentage for each team was the same, Minnesota had double the chances, thus were able to capitalize.

Based upon the highlights, Cincinnati at Green Bay was a very entertaining game.  The stats bear that out with the total yards being virtually even, the penalties about the same, and the capitalization of red zone opportunities.  Although, the Packers had a 67% success rate, the Bengals had 100% success rate on one additional opportunity.  Cincinnati dominated in time of possession and maintained intense pressure on Aaron Rodgers.  The Packers won the turnover battle, which kept them in the game.