It’s only Preseason, but there are always things to learn from your favorite teams early on. Friday Night Football offered 4 games to watch; it starts with the Minnesota Vikings going to Orchard Park to face the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo 20 Minnesota 16
IF there really was a QB competition…it seem like it was over but EJ’s injury now gives Kolb the opportunity to continue the competition.
Kevin Kolb looked disoriented and the Buffalo Bills 1st string offense didn’t put up much of a fuss. In fact, the fans actually booed Kolb upon his entrance to the field. Kolb went 13/21 for 111 and an interception that really wasn’t his fault. Kolb had this to say about his rough start: “I was a little bit disappointed there in the first quarter with myself, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen live action, been a long time since I’ve been on the field with the injury stuff from last season. I’ll just keep getting better, keep pushing.”
EJ Manuel came in and immediately put up a 14 play, 80yd drive, capped off with a touchdown pass to Brad Smith. He may not have done much else; even ended his night with a sack, but his poise and confidence with the team seems far beyond that of Kolb. Time will tell, but it already looks like EJ will be the man in Buffalo.
Christian Ponder saw the ground for most of the 1st quarter, something you don’t want to do in Preseason, and even fumbled the ball twice for the Vikings. Ponder ended his night going 5/12 with only 53yds. His backup, Matt Cassel, did not do any better. Cassel went 4/8 for 29yds, fumbled the ball and took a sack. Ponder wasn’t very happy with their performance and had this to say: “These next two games are crucial for us as an offense and for everybody because we’re going to get a lot of snaps.”
New England 25 Tampa Bay 21
If there was any indication that Tom Brady wasn’t 100% for this game, no one knew. Brady walked in and immediately showed us why he is the Commander of this football team. Brady threw 11/12 for 107 and a touchdown pass to Danny Amendola. 6 of his completions went to Amendola.
Ryan Mallet came in afterwards and put a show of his own on for the fans in Foxboro. Mallet threw 12/20 for 137yds and a touchdown.
Tim Tebow came in and did nothing to impress…which kind of makes you wonder if there will be a roster spot open for him when the 53 man selection is made. Tebow went 1/7 for -1yds and an interception: “It was definitely something I shouldn’t have thrown,” he said. “You want to do your best and play to the best of your ability and have it all go right and sometimes it doesn’t. You just have to keep going.”
Tampa QB Josh Freeman did not perform well at all this game and certainly understood this. He was sacked three times and completed only two of three passes before rookie Mike Glennon took over. Glennon finished the game going 12/22 for 121 and two touchdown passes.
Doug Martin left the game early with a head injury after taking a knee to the top of the helmet on a blocking play. Martin insists that he wasn’t concussed during this play.
San Francisco 15 Kansas City 13
Alex Smith did not impress and Colin Kaepernick only saw 5 snaps. Smith completed 7/16 for 62yds. Kaepernick threw 2 passes and had -3yds on the night.
There was no Jamal Charles and Frank Gore saw limited game time, especially after going on a 52yd dash. That nice run ended his night. Kansas City’s first round draft pick and the 1st overall pick, Eric Fisher left the game with a hand injury but came back not too much later.
This night belonged to the kickers—in terms of scoring. Phil Dawson went 3/3, including two 55yd long balls. Ryan Succup went 2/2 and an extra point.
There were only two touchdowns in the entire game; a 104 yd kickoff return by Chiefs DB Quintin Demps, and the final score that gave the 49ers the lead.
New Orleans 28 Oakland 20
Drew Brees rocked the house in Louisiana, going 14/18 for 202yds and a touchdown pass to Kenny Stills. His opponent, Matt Flynn, went 12/16 for 124 and a touchdown of his own. Flynn also took 4 sacks by 4 different players.
3 kickers went perfect tonight as Garrett Hartley went 4/4 with a 53yd long ball. Sebastian Janikowski went 1/1 on a 50 yard bomb and rookie Eddy Carmona went 1/1 with a 46yd decent kick himself.
There were 21 penalties in this game for a combined 207yds! Four turnovers added to the mistakes made by these two teams, although 3 of them were from New Orleans.
