Thanks to a talent-rich draft, the annual ‘grading’ of teams’ performances in the NFL Draft has been a fairly generous one this year. If any division has polarized the opinion of the media, it is the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings have been widely praised for their haul, although perhaps not too surprising, as any team would struggle not to draw praise for three first-round selections, while the Chicago Bears have been lamented for not filling certain needs and arguably reaching with their first-round selection of Kyle Long. That leaves the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. Both teams have been praised for ‘solid’ drafts, but the latter’s general manager, Ted Thompson, may have struck gold with his current crop of rookies.

The Packers took UCLA’s Datone Jones with the 26th pick of the draft, and you’d struggle to find a person who does not like this pick. He has the ability to come in and start for the Packers immediately, and offers more dynamism on the edge than the likes of C.J. Wilson and Jerel Worthy. The pressure he will be able to generate on quarterbacks will help create space for Clay Matthews, who was often double teamed last season, and form a formidable one-two punch for the Packers’ defense. He has a lot to learn still, including improving his balance and agility, but he will make an impact on the Green Bay defense from day one.

Thompson also addressed the Packers’ desperate need for a running back, selecting Alabama’s Eddie Lacy in the second round before also taking Jones’ teammate at UCLA, Johnathan Franklin, in the fourth round. Lacy was arguably the best running back in draft, especially for teams looking for a workhorse back who can be on the field for all three-downs. However, injury concerns caused his stock to drop considerably. Instead of passing up on the immense talent Lacy offers, Thompson drafted some security in the form of Franklin. The duo should help take some heat off Aaron Rodgers, although both will need to work on their pass protection skills.

The offensive line was another area that Thompson and his team needed to strengthen, and they did so in the fourth round, taking David Bakhtiari (Colorado) and J.C. Tretter (Cornell). Green Bay has already decided to move Bryan Bulaga and Josh Sitton to left tackle and left guard respectively, ensuring Rodgers to have the best possible protection. This means that Bakhtiari and Tretter will likely compete with Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod at the right tackle position, although potentially either or both could move inside. Given Newhouse’s and Sherrod’s troubles at the left tackle position over the last two seasons, it will be interesting to see how they transition to right, but Bakhtiari could oust both players by the beginning of the season if he impresses enough in training camp and preseason.

The Packers also added a number of players later in the draft whose contributions will likely be limited to special teams in their rookie year, but defensive lineman Josh Boyd of Mississippi State could be groomed into an NFL-quality nose tackle in a year or two. He could push B.J. Raji for playing time while also helping out in the rotation in the meantime.

Most critics of the Packers’ draft attribute not taking a safety as the reason for their lower grades, stating it was the one need the Packers failed to fill, but is there really a need at the position? Charles Woodson’s departure does leave a void in leadership, but Green Bay has real ability and potential at the position. Morgan Burnett has developed into an efficient and trustworthy presence in the secondary, whilst both M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian have shown flashes of their potential, and could excel with added responsibility.

Thompson is revered around the league as one of the savviest GMs out there. If this class of rookies helps take the Packers back to the Super Bowl, and it would be no surprise if they did, then he will have more than earned the respect the rest of the league pays him.

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The modern day NFL has truly developed into a passers’ league, and if you can’t defend against the pass, chances are you will find yourselves picking pretty early in the NFL Draft. Last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary was horrendous, and the statistics speak for themselves.  The Buccaneers gave up 297.4 passing yards a game (worst in the NFL), which resulted in them being just 38 yards short of the single season record for passing yardage given up. In fairness to the Tampa’s secondary, blame must also be laid at the feet of the Buccaneers’ pass rushers, who notched  just 27 sacks (T-30th) and quarterbacks often had plenty of time to allow their receivers to gain separation and make composed throws.

There are now whispers around the NFL however, that the league’s worst pass defense could actually become the league’s best in 2013. Valid? Maybe. Pre-emptive? Certainly.

Heading into this offseason, General Manager Mark Dominik probably only had confidence in one player in his secondary; safety Mark Barron. The Alabama product showed flashes of ability in his rookie season, and is certainly one of the most talented young safeties in the league. Dominik and Head Coach Greg Schiano will hope that he can show more consistency this season, and that the year playing with veteran Ronde Barber helped the younger player develop.

Outside of Barron, there was very little proven talent in the Buccaneers secondary. Corner Eric Wright underperformed last season, whilst also takin

g up a sizable chunk of the salary cap, and Barber, in addition to being 37, was heading into free agency. The Buccaneers had no higher priority than improving their secondary heading into free agency and the NFL Draft.

First up was the signing of safety Dashon Goldson, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, potentially adding an effective ball hawk, and the perfect complement to the physical, enforcer-type play of Barron.  If you look at the more successful teams on the defensive side of the ball in recent years, they have almost all had a play-making tandem of this type. You need look no further than the San Fransisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers or Seattle Seahawks for evidence.

The next move made, the trade for Darrelle Revis, will likely define Dominik’s tenure as Tampa’s GM. If Revis can return from his injury and replicate the kind of form which has had people labeling him as the best defensive player in the NFL, then the price Tampa paid for him will seem almost insignificant. It’s a question which, at the moment, remains unanswered, and could possibly stay unanswered until his second season with the Buccaneers. If Revis does regain both his fitness and form this season however, there is no better single addition the Buccaneers could have made to improve their woeful pass defense.

Then came the addition of Johnathan Banks in the second round of the NFL Draft, and despite not grabbing the same headlines that the arrivals of Goldson and Revis did, Banks could prove to be a very good move by Dominik. A tall, rangy corner, Banks is reminiscent of Richard Sherman, and could prove to be a valued press corner in the NFL. He will probably need to put on some more muscle to be as effective in the pro game as he was in college, but he certainly has the talent and mentality to be a success.

It is almost unthinkable to presume the Buccaneers pass defense will not improve. They have added key veterans and a solid rookie, whilst they will also be confident of an improved showing from their defensive line. However, the question posed was: can the Buccaneers secondary be the best in the league? And the short answer is no. There is little to no quality depth behind the starters, meaning that an injury to Barron, Goldson, Revis or Banks would be hugely impactful. It is also arguably a year or two too soon, with Barron and Banks still inexperienced.

That being said, if the Buccaneers can keep this group together, and perhaps add a dominant pass rusher, there is no reason why this same question won’t receive a different answer in a season or two.

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Following the NFL Draft, there has been plenty of talk about which rookies will have the biggest impact in the NFL in their debut season and which teams ‘won’ the draft, but there has been little debate over which NFL veterans could benefit from their team’s recent additions. Here is a look at the NFL vets primed for a big season in 2013.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

Johnson, or ‘CJ2K’, set the league alight in 2009 when he rushed for 2,006 yards, 14 touchdowns, and also notched up a useful 503 receiving yards, firmly establishing himself as one of the premiere running backs in the NFL. His last three seasons have been considerably less successful, however, and he has not been shy about laying at least some of the fault at the door of his offensive line.

It seems as if the Titans’ front office was listening. After signing one of the best guards in the NFL in the form of Andy Levitre, they went out and drafted Chance Warmack out of Alabama, a player that many had rated as the best guard in this years’ draft. They should help open up running lanes for Johnson up the middle, whilst fourth round pick Brian Schwenke will challenge Fernando Velasco for the starting center position, creating healthy competition on the interior of Tennessee’s offensive line. Throw into the mix two veteran tackles, Michael Roos and David Stewart, and Johnson has potentially one of the best offensive lines in the league to run behind.

There will be no excuses for ‘CJ2K’ this year.

Michael Huff and Lardarius Webb, Baltimore Ravens

Ed Reed may be gone, but the ‘ball hawks’ of the Ravens’ secondary could be primed for a big year. Injuries in Baltimore’s front seven last season often meant that they struggled to consistently pressure the passer. Premiere pass rusher Terrell Suggs was never at 100% after coming back from a potentially season-ending Achilles injury, while both Haloti Ngata and Pernell McPhee struggled with minor injuries throughout the season, leaving outside linebacker Paul Kruger responsible for getting to the quarterback. As a result, quarterbacks had more time to let receivers gain separation, and the Baltimore secondary had difficulty containing more explosive offenses.

The defensive line has been bolstered with the additions of Marcus Spears and Chris Canty, whilst Elvis Dumervil, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, has also joined Baltimore’s ranks. If the likes of Ngata and Suggs can stay healthy, and emerging defensive stars like McPhee and Courtney Upshaw can continue their development, then both Huff and Webb could reap the rewards of the Ravens’ reinvigorated pass rush.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

It wouldn’t be too surprising if the Eagles ended up starting either Nick Foles or Matt Barkley ahead of Vick, but if the season started tomorrow, Vick would likely be the man under center for the Eagles. Last year Vick (and Foles) suffered from an offensive line bereft with injuries, and both struggled to stay upright and healthy when they faced teams with at least an average pass rush.

Their offensive line is healthy, at least for now, and has been bolstered by Lane Johnson, the fourth overall pick of the NFL Draft, who should fit a Chip Kelly offense perfectly. Johnson will most likely move to right tackle, opposite Jason Peters, allowing Todd Herremans to move inside, demoting disappointing first round pick Danny Watkins. Evan Mathis will retain his spot at left guard. Second-round pick Zach Ertz will compliment Brent Celek well, and give Vick more options in the passing game as both DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin stretch the field.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

Bear with us on this selection. Adrian Peterson is potentially heading into this season fully healthy and gunning for a mind-boggling 2,500 yards, taking some pressure off of Ponder in terms of needing to put up the yards and points for the offense. Then there are the additions the Vikings have made on the offensive side of the ball: Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson. Both are playmakers and give Ponder a more dynamic receiving corps to target. Left tackle Matt Kalil, who had a very good rookie season, should also head into his second year as a more dominant lineman, and will give Ponder better protection from his blindside.

We are not suggesting Ponder will go on to post numbers worthy of mentioning him in the Tom Brady/Aaron Rodgers class, or even the Joe Flacco/Matt Ryan class, but he could go a long way towards proving himself a capable franchise quarterback for the Vikings.

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It often takes at least three years to properly judge a draft class, and making judgments just a week after the NFL Draft can often prove misleading a year or two down the road. The Cincinnati Bengals have received widespread praise for their draft, but it is one of their AFC North rivals who could be sitting back and smiling two or three years down the road.

The Baltimore Ravens, led by their esteemed General Manager Ozzie Newsome, are strict adherents to the policy of ‘best player available’ in the draft and, given the multiple needs they had coming into the draft, their ability to still adhere to this policy was very impressive. In fact, the more you look at the Ravens’ current class of rookies, the more you like them, kind of like Michael Jordan’s dunk over a helpless Patrick Ewing back in the early 90’s. Sorry Patrick.

Drafting with the 32nd pick of each round, despite being a problem every team in the league would gladly have, was a challenge Newsome and Co. rose to manfully, and got things underway taking Matt Elam in the first round. The safety will likely step in for the recently departed Bernard Pollard, acting as an enforcer in the secondary, but the rookie is far more than a big hitter. Watch tape of Elam at Florida and you will see a player with all the instincts and coverage ability of a potential ‘ball hawk’ in the NFL. Having a player with that kind of dual-threat in the their secondary will be big boost to the Ravens.

Fearing they could lose their man, Baltimore traded up in the second round, taking linebacker Arthur Brown out of Kansas St., once again securing the best player available while also filling a substantial need. Brown will inevitably be compared to the recently retired Ray Lewis, but Brown is a mature and confident enough player to ignore those comparisons and focus on playing his own game. Like Elam, Brown should also start in his rookie year, and should provide much needed help to a Baltimore defense which uncharacteristically gave up a lot of yards last season.

Newsome, as well as Head Coach John Harbaugh, said that their plans for the 2013 offseason were to strengthen the spine of the defense, and by the end of the third round, they had done just that. Defensive tackle Brandon Williams, the 94th overall pick, might not start immediately on a defensive line boasting the talents of Haloti Ngata, Chris Canty and Arthur Jones, but he will certainly be seen in the rotation, and could be starting at nose tackle before long.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Ravens drafted Kyle Juszczyk (Harvard), arguably the best fullback in the draft, who will learn from Vonta Leach, arguably the best fullback in the NFL, while also probably getting some snaps at tight end. Baltimore also took two linemen in Ricky Wagner (Wisconsin) and Ryan Jensen (Colorado State-Pueblo), both of whom will provide depth and challenge for starters roles. Seventh round pick Aaron Mellette, a wide receiver out of Elon, is another great value pickup for the Ravens, and could feature as a slot receiver in his rookie season if he impresses, as the duo of Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones are bound to continue stretching the field.

Baltimore wasn’t finished defensively either, taking John Simon (Ohio St.), Kapron Lewis-Moore (Notre Dame) and Marc Anthony (California) in the fourth, sixth and seventh rounds respectively. Simon will likely transition from defensive end to outside linebacker in the Ravens’ scheme, and could see time as a rotational pass rusher, while Lewis-Moore will have to contend with an injury he sustained during the bowl game against Alabama, but would likely have gone much higher if he had been healthy, and should be a welcome boost to Baltimore later in the season. Cornerback Anthony, like Mellette, should have been off the board much earlier, and although his contributions this season will likely come on special teams, the depth behind Lardarius Webb, Corey Graham and Jimmy Smith at corner is so thin it would not be too surprising to see him challenge Chris Johnson or Chykie Brown for game time.

The Ravens lost a lot of leaders and veterans this offseason, and we’re not saying that this class of rookies will send Baltimore straight back to Super Bowl (although don’t try telling them that…). But the foundations are being rebuilt that will see the Ravens continue to be a perennial playoff team for years to come. Baltimore had to wait 13 years for their second Super Bowl win, but if these players can reach their potentials, don’t expect them to be waiting 13 more for their third.

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Similar to their pre-draft counterparts, the ‘Mock Drafts’, the post-draft grading of NFL teams’ performances are anything but an exact science. It often takes anywhere up to five years before you can truly judge how successful a certain draft class has been, so assumptions made before training camp has even begun, should be treated with a reasonable amount of skepticism. That being said, certain factors, such as whether or not a team managed to fill their needs, whilst also trying to adhere to a ‘best player available’ policy, can be assessed.

Winners

Minnesota Vikings

When you wind up with three first round selections, chances are that you are going to have a successful draft. Minnesota took Shariff Floyd (23rd pick), Xavier Rhodes (25th pick) and Cordarrelle Patterson (29th pick) with their three first round selections, and cases could be made that they were arguably the best defensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver in the draft respectively.

All of the three were expected to be off the board before they were actually taken, and General Manager Rick Spielman deserves credit for his draft day maneuvering, and the value he was able to pick up with each selection. He was also able to address a need at linebacker later in the draft, bring in Gerald Hodges (4th round) and Michael Mauti (7th round) who will both provide depth, and potentially eventually compete for a starting role.

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers may not have had three first round picks like the Vikings did, but they did draft three first round talents. San Diego took D.J. Fluker with the 11th pick overall, and then added Manti Te’o (2nd round) and Keenan Allen (3rd round) shortly after, with both Te’o and Allen seen by many as late first round talents. New GM Tom Telesco should be applauded for adding a potential leader to his defense, and helping out quarterback Philip Rivers with a new offensive lineman in Fluker, and target in wide receiver Allen.

Losers

Cleveland Browns

You can forgive Cleveland fans for having a feeling of anti-climax after their draft which saw them make very little improvement, at least in the short-term, to their current roster. First round pick Barkevious Mingo will likely transition to an outside linebacker role in the Browns’ new 3-4 defense, but will most likely end up providing depth behind Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard in his rookie year as he develops his ability to drop back into coverage.

The Browns offloaded some of their picks for better selections in the 2014 draft, so outside of Mingo and cornerback Leon McFadden (3rd round), they’re unlikely to have much impact from their rookie class this season. GM Michael Lombardi may have laid foundations for Cleveland’s future, but it’s doubtful this class will be able to help the Browns move up the AFC North pecking order.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys did the right thing trading down from the 18th spot, presumably a decision made after Kenny Vaccaro was taken by New Orleans with the 15th pick, but spending their resulting first round pick on Travis Frederick was wasteful. The center is a good player, and will probably start on Dallas’ offensive line, but was a reach in the first round, as the Cowboys could have easily traded down once more, picking up extra picks, and still have taken Frederick.

Dallas also added a potential starter in J.J. Wilcox (3rd round) and good depth in Gavin Escobar (2nd round) and Terrance Williams (3rd round), but completely overlooked their defensive line. They have already lost players such as Marcus Spears on that side of the ball, and considering their shortage of cap space, could struggle to find reinforcements.

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With the NFL Draft just days away, starting on April 26, here’s a look at the AFC North’s most pressing needs heading into the opening rounds.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengal’s draft strategy potentially hinges on whether or not they are confident they can re-sign offensive tackle Andre Smith, and whilst signs have not been positive so far in the offseason, head coach Marvin Lewis remains optimistic. If Smith is not re-signed, or the Bengals don’t think they will get a deal done, then D. J. Fluker (Alabama) or Menelik Watson (Florida St.) could be first round targets.

If Cincinnati don’t go with a tackle in the first round, they could well look at a safety, given it’s a substantial need, and trading up for a shot at Kenny Vaccaro (Texas) is conceivable. Both Matt Elam (Florida) and Eric Reid (LSU) are other options who would potentially available when the Bengals pick at 21.

Running back and wide receiver are two other areas where Cincinnati are looking to add depth and Giovanni Bernard (North Carolina) and Aaron Dobson (Marshall) could be solutions in the second and third rounds respectively.

Cleveland Browns

A lot of names have been linked with the Browns’ sixth-overall pick, including Geno Smith and Ziggy Ansah, but Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner could help push Cleveland’s defense into the ‘elite’ category, especially playing alongside Joe Haden, who has fast become one of the most dynamic corners in the NFL.

Cleveland has plenty of needs, so don’t be surprised to see them try and trade back in the first round and accumulate extra picks, especially considering they’re currently without a second-round pick.

Others pressing needs include pass-rushing linebackers, as Cleveland moves to a 3-4 defense. They plan to transition Jabaal Sheard to the position, but his ability to drop back and cover will be a concern; whilst recent signing Paul Kruger undoubtedly has talent, but he was never a starter during his time with the Baltimore Ravens. John Simon (Ohio State) could be a good pickup in the third or fourth round, as would Kiko Alonso (Oregon), as the Browns will need to add to their inside linebacker resources given their new defensive scheme.

Baltimore Ravens

Left tackle remains an issue for the Ravens, but given that they’re picking at the very end of the round, finding an NFL-ready prospect is slim. Menelik Watson could be an option if Baltimore are not keen to move either Michael Oher or Kelechi Osemele to the blindside, but if they are, expect the Ravens to target a new right tackle or guard later in the draft.

The additions of Michael Huff and Rolando McClain in free agency mean that the Ravens aren’t forced into drafting needs in the early rounds, but if either Eric Reid or Matt Elam fall to the 32^nd pick, Baltimore would be wise to take them, and help solidify a secondary now bereft of Ed Reed.

Anquan Boldin’s departure makes Robert Wood (USC) or Stedman Bailey (West Virginia) an intriguing option at the end of the second round, and Jon Bostic (Florida) could help replenish a depleted linebacker corps in the third or fourth round.

A plethora of compensatory draft picks should help the Ravens maneuver up or down in the draft if they have a need to.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have lost Mike Wallace this offseason and finding a new receiver to play alongside the likes of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders could lead to Pittsburgh taking Cordarrelle Patterson (Tennessee) if he’s still available, otherwise Jarvis Jones would potentially add some much needed youth to the Steelers defense, and is an area of need following James Harrison’s departure.

Pittsburgh has a talented and young offensive line that should only get better with time, but a versatile lineman like Barrett Jones (Alabama) in the second round would be the perfect addition to the likes of Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams.

Corner is another area of need for the Steelers, especially given Keenan Lewis’ departure and veteran Ike Taylor is entering the twilight of his career. Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) is an intriguing prospect if he falls to the Steelers in the third round, as he certainly has all the talent required to make it in the NFL. However head coach Mike Tomlin would have to be certain his staff could help keep Mathieu on the right path. Safer options would be Blidi Wreh-Wilson (Connecticut) or Logan Ryan (Rutgers).

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With the NFL Draft just days away, beginning on April 25, here’s a look at the AFC East’s biggest needs heading into the opening rounds.

Buffalo Bills

By cutting Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills showed they are committed to finding a new franchise quarterback, and they could do a lot worse than taking Geno Smith with their first round pick. Smith has come in for a lot of criticism this offseason, largely in part to the fact he isn’t a player of the same caliber as Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, but he does have all the tools required to become a franchise quarterback in the NFL.

Buffalo has some talented young offensive tackles in Chris Hairston and Cordy Glenn, but with Andy Levitre leaving in the offseason, they could look for a guard in the early rounds to potentially help protect their new quarterback. Barrett Jones (Alabama) could still be on the board when they come to pick in the third round, but if not, Earl Watford (James Madison) or Hugh Thornton (Illinois) should be available.

A need for a tight end could also be filled in the second round, with Zach Ertz (Stanford) likely still available, and has the ability to be a starter immediately in the NFL.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins helped fill some of their many needs by spending big in free agency, but there is still a glaring need at left tackle. Trading up to try and take Lane Johnson (Oklahoma) is a move mooted by many, but if they can’t work out a deal, it’s hard to see them taking anyone other than Xavier Rhodes (Florida St.) with the 12^th overall pick, as corner is another big need.

Depending on who Miami ultimately takes in the first round, offensive tackle Terron Armstead (Arkansas-Pine Bluff) or corner Robert Alford (Southeastern Louisiana) are potential second round targets.

Helping Ryan Tannehill has to be the Dolphins priority so do not be surprised to see Miami look for a tight end or guard in the third and fourth rounds, with both Vance McDonald (Rice) and Brian Winters (Kent St.) good fits.

New York Jets

New York could go in a number of directions with their first round pick, but finding a premiere pass rusher at the outside linebacker position has to be high on their list, and although patience will be required while he transitions to the new position, Barkevious Mingo (LSU) has so much upside that he’s hard to ignore. In addition, the recent first round they picked up as part of the Darrel Revis trade could help them aggressively go after a Dee Milliner (Alabama) or Xavier Rhodes.

Surprisingly, Mark Sanchez is still on the roster, but the Jets could be tempted to try and make a move for E. J. Manuel (Florida St.) or Tyler Bray (Tennessee) in the second or third round, to provide competition for Sanchez, and most likely, eventually replace him.

There are big question marks over Tyrann Mathieu (LSU) and whether he can keep himself out of trouble, but there are few players in the draft with more ability on the field. With Revis now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mathieu could be a valuable pickup, especially if head coach Rex Ryan is confident he can help Mathieu overcome his troubled background.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have been putting together a talented and young defense over the last couple of years and targeting a top corner in the first round could be vital in helping it progress to the next level. Desmond Trufant (Washington) could be off the board by the time they come to pick, but Jamar Taylor (Boise St.) is not far behind Trufant, and could be an immediate starter in the Patriots defense.

New England has replaced Wes Welker with Danny Amendola, but they could be looking for some more depth at receiver, and Marcus Wheaton (Oregon St.) could help make the transition easier. Wheaton is an accomplished route-runner and has good hands, making him perfectly suited to the Patriots offense.

An injection of youth at the guard position will also be high on New England’s wish list, but given their lack of picks, they would probably have to target one with their third round pick. Like the Bills, they might have to look at the likes of Watford and Thornton at this point in the draft, and hope they can develop one of them into the long-term successor  Logan Mankins.

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Plenty of big names are off the board by the 17th pick, but historically this is where contenders become champions. Most teams in this range already have strong rosters, so who will they take to help tip their side over the edge and onto greatness? Here’s the second part of your definitive NFL Mock Draft:

17. Pittsburgh Steelers – Barkevious Mingo (LB, LSU)

Mingo drops to the 17th pick thanks to concerns over which position he will play in the NFL, as well as questions over whether or not he can bulk up enough in time for the season. This makes him the perfect fit the Steelers, who tend not to rush rookies into the starters roles, and will show the patience required to turn him into a premiere NFL pass rushers.

18. Dallas Cowboys – Kenny Vaccaro (S, Texas)

Dallas have shown a commitment to improving their secondary given the nature of the modern NFL, and Vaccaro is the best safety available in the draft. There is a real need at the position for the Cowboys, but do not be surprised if Jerry Jones goes elsewhere.

19. New York Giants – Alec Ogletree (ILB, Georgia)

The inside linebacker position has been a weakness of the Giants’ defense for some time now, and Ogletree is used to playing the position in a 4-3 defense. New York could also potentially trade back a few places and still pick up Ogletree.

20. Chicago Bears – Desmond Trufant (CB, Washington)

The Bears’ secondary was causing turnovers for fun at times last season, and adding a player of Trufant’s caliber will only improve the unit.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – D. J. Fluker (OT, Alabama)

Reportedly, Andre Smith is looking for big money, and it is looking likely that the Bengals will replace him with a fellow Alabama-alumnus in the form of Fluker, who can step in immediately and take over Smith’s position at right tackle.

22. St Louis Rams – Eddie Lacy (RB, Alabama)

An unlikely pick for many, especially considering serviceable running backs can be found in the lower rounds, and that the Rams have three rookie running backs on their roster from last season, but they have let Steven Jackson go, and Lacy could be the workhorse back who directly replaces him, with the likes of Isaiah Pead being utilized more sparingly.

23. Minnesota Vikings – Manti Te’o (ILB, Notre Dame)

The linebacker has his fair share of critics, but his performances over the years at Notre Dame (barring the infamous game against Alabama) warrant him going in the first round. A much needed component to help improve Minnesota’s defense.

24. Indianapolis Colts – Jesse Williams (DT, Alabama)

The Colts are a young and growing team, but they lack quality at the defensive tackle position. Williams has the ability to start in his first year, and could be just the nose tackle that Chuck Pagano is looking for.

25. Minnesota Vikings – Tavon Austin (WR, West Virginia)

Minnesota lost Percy Harvin this offseason, and if there is a player in this draft who can step in and fill his shoes, it is Austin. Not only is Austin an explosive receiver, but also offers versatility as a returner and occasional running back.

26. Green Bay Packers – Montee Ball (RB, Wisconsin)

Running back has been a need for the Packers for some time now and Ball could be a very good fit for their pass-heavy offense. They could also afford to trade back a few places and accumulate an extra pick.

27. Houston Texans – Keenan Allen (WR, California)

If the Texans want to progress deeper into the playoffs, they need another receiver to draw attention away from Andre Johnson. Allen has the speed and ability to form a good dual-threat with Johnson.

28. Denver Broncos – Datone Jones (DL, UCLA)

Elvis Dumervil’s infamous fax machine-related departure could push Denver’s hand here. It will be interesting to see how effective Von Miller is without Dumervil, but a pick like Jones could help minimize the effects of losing Dumervil.

29. New England Patriots – DeAndre Hopkins (WR, Clemson)

Although replacing Wes Welker with Danny Amendola may offer the Patriots more long-term security at the position, there is a drop-off in talent. Picking up Hopkins, a solid short-to-intermediate route runner, could help Tom Brady acclimatize to losing his favorite safety blanket.

30. Atlanta Falcons – Damontre Moore (DL, Texas A&M)

The Falcons are ageing in some key positions, and by letting John Abraham go, amongst others, they are taking strides towards getting younger, particularly on defense. Moore has great potential, but should also be a serviceable starter in his rookie year.

31. San Francisco 49ers – Tyler Eifert (TE, Notre Dame)

If any team is going to take a tight end in the first round, it will be San Francisco. The loss of Delanie Walker has significant connotations for the 49ers offense, and Eifert would be a good fit, providing an effective dual-threat with Vernon Davis.

32. Baltimore Ravens – Eric Reid (S, LSU)

Baltimore may have signed Michael Huff, but the losses of both Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard means they are under-strength at safety. They may need to trade up a few places to ensure they can grab Reid, but his potential to make plays against both the pass and the run, and be an immediate starter in the NFL, should be enough to convince them he is worth trading up for.

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It’s that time of year. The Combine and Pro Days are all but over with, and Free Agency has hit its annual lull. Taking into account performances during the college season, Combine showings, and teams’ needs, here is part one of your definitive NFL Mock Draft:

1.  Kansas City Chiefs – Luke Joeckel (OT, Texas A&M)

By letting Eric Winston walk, the Chiefs have effectively committed themselves to taking an offensive tackle with their top pick, and despite strong competition from Eric Fisher, Joeckel is the best player available at the position.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dion Jordan (DL, Oregon)

The Jaguars have a lot of holes, but their ability to rush the passer is almost non-existent. Patience would be required with prospects like Barkevious Mingo and Ezekiel Ansah, but Jordan is ready to make an istant impact in the NFL.

3. Oakland Raiders – Sharrif Floyd (DT, Flordia)

Given the state of the Raiders roster last season, coupled with the releases of several key players, Oakland really can go with a ‘best player available’ policy. Questions remain over Star Lotulelei, leaving Floyd as the best defensive tackle in the draft by a considerable distance.

4. Philadelphia Eagles – Dee Milliner (CB, Alabama)

The Eagles have brought in safeties Pat Chung and Kenny Phillips to help their beleaguered secondary, and adding a corner like Milliner could make it a formidable unit next season.

5. Detroit Lions – Eric Fisher (OT, Central Michigan)

The retirement of Jeff Backus and departure of Gosder Cherilus means that the Lions have a big need at tackle. Fisher could be paired with last year’s pick Riley Reiff to give Detroit a tandem that will protect Matthew Stafford for years to come.

6. Cleveland Browns – Ezekiel Ansah (DL, BYU)

Cleveland seem committed to Brandon Weeden, at least for the moment, and will resist the temptation to go after Geno Smith. Few players have improved their draft stock as much as Ansah over the last couple of months, and he will add to an already strong defensive line in Cleveland.

7. Arizona Cardinals – Lane Johnson (OT, Oklahoma)

This year’s draft class is extremely deep at the tackle position, and therefore taking the third tackle off the board with just the seventh pick can probably not be considered a reach. They have brought in Carson Palmer in the offseason, so protecting him, and giving him the time to find a target like Larry Fitzgerald, is a must.

8. Buffalo Bills – Geno Smith (QB, West Virginia)

Smith has been questioned a lot this offseason, essentially because he isn’t Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, but he has the tools to be a good franchise quarterback. Parting ways with Ryan Fitzpatrick was a brave move, but probably the right one, and don’t be surprised to see the Bills trade up to ensure they acquire Smith.

9. New York Jets – Bjoern Werner (DL, Florida St.)

The Jets’ offensive failings have been well documented, but their once formidable defense has also struggled of late, and Werner could help reverse that trend. He could also help cover the loss of Mike DeVito to the Chiefs.

10. Tennessee Titans – Chance Warmack (OL, Alabama)

Warmack is undoubtedly one of the best players in this year’s class, but guards are just not seen to be as valuable as tackles in the modern NFL. The Alabama-product could arguably start on every single team drafting above the Titans, but expect Tennessee to be the first team willing to use a high first-round pick on a guard.

11. San Diego Chargers – Jonathan Cooper (OL, North Carolina)

Like the Titans, the Chargers also have a big need at the guard position, especially with the loss of Louis Vasquez, and they should take Cooper off the board immediately after Warmack.

12. Miami Dolphins – Xavier Rhodes (CB, Florida St.)

Miami have spent big money to improve their team during free agency, but one area they were unable to make much of a splash in, was the secondary. Rhodes is a big, physical corner, in the ilk of Richard Sherman, and would help solidify an under-strength secondary.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sheldon Richardson (DL, Missouri)

The Buccaneers love interior defensive linemen who can get after the quarterback, and Richardson fits that mould perfectly. Coupled with Gerald McCoy, Tampa could have a solid pairing at the position for years to come.

14. Carolina Panthers – Star Lotulelei (DT, Utah)

A highly versatile defensive tackle, Lotulelei could help improve the Panthers’ defensive line, and help out a very talented linebacker corps behind him.

15. New Orleans Saints – Jarvis Jones (LB, Georgia)

Although New Orleans might be tempted to take LSU’s Mingo, Jones would be the better fit for their defense. If it weren’t for some lingering questions over his health, Jones would potentially be a top-10 pick.

16. St Louis Rams – Cordarrelle Patterson (WR, Tennessee)

The Rams are looking for a star receiver following Brandon Lloyd’s departure last year, and Patterson arguably offers the most potential at the position in this year’s class. He would give the Rams one of the youngest and most dynamic, albeit raw, receiving corps in the NFL, along with the likes of Brian Quick and Chris Givens.

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Adrian Peterson rushed for 212 yards and one touchdown to help earn the Minnesota Vikings a much needed 36-22 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

Peterson, cut through St. Louis’ defense in the second quarter for an 82-yard touchdown score tying his season long he set just two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers. This is his eighth consecutive 100+ yard game for the NFL’s leading rusher. With two games to go, Peterson needs 294 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 NFL single-season rushing record.

His success on the field not only has him in contention for comeback player of the year but also keeps him in the running for MVP.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder completed 17 of 24 passes for 131 yards. On his first offensive drive of the game on 3rd and 5, Ponder scrambled in for a 5-yard touchdown run giving the Vikings an early 7-0 lead. His favorite target was Jerome Simpson, who caught four catches for 27 yards.

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford completed 35 of 55 passes for 377 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Bradford’s first touchdown came in the second quarter when he connected on a 4-yard pass to wideout Brian Quick.

Bradford threw his lone interception in the second quarter to defensive end Everson Griffen, who returned it 29 yards for a touchdown.

Bradford and the Rams started to come back in the fourth quarter. First Bradford connected with wideout Danny Amendola on a 6-yard touchdown pass. The Rams defense was able to force the Vikings to punt  on the following drive. On the Rams ensuing offensive drive, Bradford lead his offense from their own 12-yard line. Bradford connected with tight-end Lance Kendricks for a score and converted a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 33-22.

The Vikings answered back with a 51-yard field goal from kicker Blair Walsh and preserved the lead, earning Minnesota their second consecutive win.

At 8-6, the Vikings are still in contention for a wildcard play-off position, but will need help. They will have a tough match-up on the road next week against the Houston Texans. As for the Rams, they will head to Raymond James Stadium to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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The Arizona Cardinals started the season 4-0, and have since been on a nine-game losing skid. The Cardinals finally snapped their losing streak after their 38-10 victory over the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter with a Mikel Leshoure 1-yard touchdown run. Arizona answered back on the ensuing drive and running back Beanie Wells punched in a five yard touchdown to tie the game up.

Arizona’s defense played extraordinarily well and inevitably led the Cardinals to victory. The Cardinals forced four turnovers: three interceptions and one fumble. Arizona picked off Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford for the first time in the second quarter. Cornerback Patrick Peterson intercepted Stafford and returned it 31 yards.

The Cardinals capitalized on that interception and Wells punched in a 1-yard run. Seconds before the end of the first-half safety Rashard Johnson intercepted Stafford and returned it for a 53 yard touchdown to give the Cardinals a 21-7 lead going into halftime.

Cornerback Greg Toler picked off Stafford in the fourth quarter and returned it 102 yards for a score and put the Cardinals comfortably ahead 31-10. Wells put the icing on the cake with a 31-yard run with less than four minutes remaining in the game.

Wells finished the game with 67 yards along with three touchdowns.

Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley completed 14 of 21 passes for 104 yards and threw one interception. Lindley has played in five games and has yet to throw his first NFL touchdown.

As for Stafford, he completed 24 of 50 passes for 246 yards. This was Stafford’s third game this season without throwing a touchdown pass, two of those three games resulted in loses.

Star wideout Calvin Johnson may be the only reason why the Lions are still getting some attention despite a six-game losing streak. Johnson hauled in 10 receptions for 121 yards. This was his seventh consecutive game with 100+ receiving yards — he still needs 182 yards to break Jerry Rice’s NFL single season receiving yard record.

Johnson will look to get closer to Rice’s record next week as the Detroit Lions will welcome the Atlanta Falcons to Ford Field. As for the Cardinals, they will welcome the Chicago Bears.

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The Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North division for a second consecutive season with their 21-13 victory over divisional rivals the Chicago Bears at Solider Field.

Aaron Rodgers helped the Packers continue their 12-game winning streak in the NFC North division by tossing three touchdown passes. Rodgers completed 22 of 36 passes for 291 along with his three touchdown passes.

James Jones was the recipient to all three touchdowns, catching a total of five catches for 60 yards. Also, wideout Randall Cobb caught a game high six reception for 115 yards.

The Packers featured a combination of running backs to help jumpstart the run game. Alex Green, Ryan Grant and DuJuan Harris combined for 94 of Green Bay’s 113 rushing yards. The run game has picked up in the recent weeks due to rotation they have implemented.

Green Bay was ecstatic with the return of linebacker Clay Matthews, who missed the team’s last four games with a hamstring injury. His presence on defense was known, finishing the game with six tackles and two sacks. Matthews has 11 sacks in the 10 games he has played this season. The defensive pressure stepped it up in his return, combining for four total sacks.

The gameplan for Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears was to run the ball, control the clock and keep Rodgers off the field. Their opening drive looked as if it would have been successful but they had trouble moving the ball.

Cutler finished the game after completing 12 of 21 passes for 135 yards one touchdown and one interception. Cutler connected with wide receiver Brandon Marshall on a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give the Bears their early (and only) lead of the game.

The Packers secondary contained Marshall, who leads the league with 107 receptions, to only six receptions for 35 yards along with his score.

As for Chicago’s run game, Matt Forte had 20 carries for 69 yards. Forte also contributed in the pass game catching five passes for 64 yards.

Chicago’s tenacious defense was without Brian Urlacher but was still able to force two turnovers against Green Bay. Grant busted through the defense for a positive gain and was hit by cornerback Charles Tillman, who forced a fumble recovered by linebacker Nick Roach.

With less than eight minutes left, on a punt, returner Cobb attempted to throw a backwards pass to Jeremy Ross which he also fumbled — the Bears regained possession. The Bears were only able to kick a field goal on the horrendous Packers mistake.

With the victory, the Packers are in contention to earn a first-round playoff bye. As for the Bears, they have fallen to 8-6, along with four other teams in the NFC and will have to battle to earn a wild card playoff position. The Packers will be play their final home game of the season next week against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears will head west to take on the Arizona Cardinals.

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The Atlanta Falcons demolished the New York Giants 34-0, to improve to 12-2 and 7-0 at the Georgia Dome.

Falcons quarterback, Matt Ryan completed 23 of 28 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns. His 82.1 completion percentage and 142.6 quarterback rating were both season highs for the five-year starter. This was also Ryan’s sixth game this season throwing at least three touchdown passes.

Wide receiver Julio Jones was tied for a game-high six receptions for 74 yards and hauled in two touchdown catches. Jones has surpassed his eight touchdown rookie season, catching nine with for over 1,000 yards and still two games to go.

Veteran tight-end Tony Gonzalez also caught six receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown. Gonzalez leads the Falcons with 87 receptions.

As for the run game, Michael Turner carried the ball 16 times for 52 yards and punched in a one-yard run on the Falcons first offensive drive.

The Giants were out of sync from the start, opening their first drive with Eli Manning throwing an interception on 2 and 7 from their own 16 yard-line. Manning threw his second interception in the second quarter, resulting in a Falcons field goal.

Manning only completed 13 of 25 passes for 161 yards. His favorite target was wide receiver Domenik Hixon, who caught five passes for 80 yards.

The Giants were without running back Ahmad Bradshaw because of a foot-and-knee injury. Instead, rookie David Wilson got the nod for the start but was not nearly as explosive as last week. Wilson carried the ball 12 times for 55 yards.

With the loss, the Giants have fallen to 8-6 along with four other teams in the NFC. The Giants are currently third in the NFC East division at 8-6 behind the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, who are all 8-6. However, the Giants still control their own destiny and by winning out they will earn a wildcard playoff position. As for the Falcons, they will head to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions and control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

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The National Football League Draft is one of the most highly anticipated events on the sporting calendar as the 32 NFL franchises select the best young American Football players from the collegiate leagues to replenish their ranks. Predictably, a large portion of players who go on to become stars in the NFL are selected in the first round, where selections can make or break teams for years to come.

Names such as Ryan Leaf, Tony Mandarich and JaMarcus Russell should serve as cautionary tales to NFL General Managers, but the sheer amount of quality available in the Draft arguably makes it easier to hit, rather than miss, on a player in the first round.

On the flip side, for every Leaf or Russell, there is a Tom Brady or Kurt Warner, players who fall to the later rounds of the Draft or even fail to get drafted at all, but who go on to have stellar careers within the NFL.

With that in mind, we have examined which current NFL rookies (non-first and second rounders) have the potential to stand in the lofty heights created by the likes of Brady and Warner.

1) Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks.

Wilson was selected in the third round by the Seahawks, presumably to learn from the duo vying for the starting jersey, Matt Flynn and Tavaris Jackson. Not even the most optimistic of Seahawks’ fans would have predicted that their young rookie would oust the highly paid acquisition that was Flynn, but he did just that.

Wilson has thrown for 2,051 yards and 17 touchdowns so far this season, despite playing behind an inexperienced offensive line and without an elite receiving corps. With a few decent additions to Seattle over the coming years, Wilson could, and perhaps should, develop into an elite quarterback.

2) Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins.

Understandably, headlines were focused on another Redskins pick at the start of the season, a certain Robert Griffin III but fast forward a few months and, well, they’re still focused on RG3, but running back Morris is also earning some time in the spotlight.

Selected in the sixth round, Morris has perhaps offered more value for money than any other rookie currently in the NFL. Morris has 982 rushing yards (fifth in the NFL), with an average of 4.7 yards-per-carry, further proving that excellent running back prospects can be found towards the end of the draft (honorable mentions also to Daryl Richardson and Bryce Brown).

3) Vontaze Burfict, LB, Cincinnati Bengals.

The former Arizona State University player went undrafted this year, despite entering the 2011 NCAA season as one of the most highly rated prospects in the country. A poor combine workout, personality concerns and testing positive for marijuana all ensured that Burfict slipped off of most teams’ radars.

He has already collected 76 combined tackles this season and would perhaps have more if he had not been moved from inside to outside linebacker. More importantly, Burfict is repaying the faith shown in him by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis by training hard, playing well and avoiding any off-field controversies. Providing he can continue in this vein, we could well be witnessing the first few steps of the next Ray Lewis.

4) Alfonzo Dennard, CB, New England Patriots.

There was little fanfare in New England when Dennard was selected in the seventh round. Fans were far more focused on defensive counterparts Chandler Jones and Don’t’a Hightower, both of whom were selected in the first round, whilst the secondary was also strengthened in the second and sixth rounds with the acquisitions of Tavon Wilson and Nate Ebner. Although it was safe to say Dennard flew in under the radar, there is nothing under the radar about his play since.

Dennard has three interceptions — one of which was returned for an 87-yard touchdown — in just seven games and already looks at home in the Patriot’s defense. His form has also allowed for Devin McCourty to move back to safety, with a potentially dominant secondary forming among the young defensive backs for New England.

5) Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens were faced with a conundrum at the beginning of the season: stick with veteran kicker Billy Cundiff or roll the dice on the undrafted Justin Tucker? Tucker eventually won the battle in preseason and neither Tucker nor the Ravens have looked back since.

The kicker has missed just two of his field goal attempts, has 100 percent success rate on extra point attempts and has broken the franchise record with a 56-yard field goal. Although Baltimore was criticized by some for going with the rookie at the start of the season, they have proved their critics wrong as Tucker has arguably outshone all the kickers drafted above him, with perhaps the exception of Greg Zuerlein.

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Last Sunday Wembley stadium in London, England played host to its sixth Regular Season game as the New England Patriots blowout the St Louis Rams, 45-7. Although mentions of a potential franchise being based in the UK were tentatively whispered back in 2007, those whispers are now being echoed by some of the most prominent figures in the sport.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of the most outspoken persons on the issue, claiming “it’s time for you [UK] to have your own NFL franchise”, based in London and cited the way London handled the recent Olympics as proof that the city could host a permanent franchise.

The NFL has also taken significant steps towards finding out if a permanent franchise would be viable in the UK. By securing the Jacksonville Jaguars to repeated appearances from 2013 through 2016 at Wembley, the league will be able to evaluate whether or not a fan base can be built to a level that would sustain a franchise. They have also arranged a second Regular Season fixture in 2013 to be played in London, when the Minnesota Vikings will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. As well as rewarding UK-based NFL fans with an extra game, it will also go a long way to finding out if the consistent sell outs of Wembley are due to novelty, or if it can occur on a more regular basis.

Whilst things are progressing as well as could be expected in regards to the NFL’s international ambitions, there are a number of obstacles which first need to be tackled. League commissioner Roger Goodell has put his weight behind growing the game in the UK over other potential markets such as Germany and Mexico, but feels that the sport needs to be in the top five viewed sports before a franchise could be considered. Given the congested sports market in the UK, American Football will first need to overcome the likes of golf and motorsport, before it sits amongst the national sports of soccer, rugby union and cricket.

Another potential problem is logistics. The distance, and time required, to travel to and from London 16 times a year, not to mention preseason or possible playoff appearances, would certainly be an issue for some teams and owners. It is, however, not an unthinkable proposition. There is not a large difference in distance between London and the NFL teams based on the East Coast than there is between East Coast and West Coast based teams. The Patriots also proved last week that a team can fly into London on the Friday, perform to a high level on the Sunday, and be back at their training facility by the Monday.

Concerns have also been raised over the desire college players would have of joining an overseas based franchise in the NFL Draft, the primary resource NFL teams have for acquiring new players. Whilst this may limit a London-based franchises pool of players to select from, it is not a death sentence to the prospect of an overseas franchise. The creation of a London-based team would do miracles for the game at college level in the UK, something which is currently miles behind their American counterparts, and thus create a larger pool of players who would be willing to play in the UK. In addition to this, London would likely be a desirable location for free agents, as the city could likely rival anything that a New York or Chicago for example, could offer.

For arguably the first time since the inception of the International Series, a franchise in London within 10 years actually seems a realistic option. Many experts have even said that London could likely get a franchise before Los Angeles, given that the infrastructure is already in place, and the huge potential fan base the UK offers if the sports profile can be grown. With television audiences growing swiftly every year in the UK, and the continued success of the International Series, it may be time to start thinking of some potential franchise names. I’m going to put the London Bulldogs on the table.

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Adam Vinatieri made a field goal to put the Indianapolis Colts ahead by one point with 56 seconds left in the fourth. Given Blaine Gabbert’s tremendous struggles all afternoon long, virtually everyone in the building thought it was over.

To no surprise, that may have even included a number of his Jacksonville Jaguars teammates, as well.

In an AFC South showdown that the Colts (1-2) were less than a minute away from winning, the Jaguars (1-2) instead ended up leaving Lucas Oil Stadium with a 22-17 victory that completely shattered the hearts of Andrew Luck along with the rest of Indianapolis.

Only eleven seconds after the snap of the first play from scrimmage following Vinatieri’s clutch field goal, which just barely snuck through the left upright, Cecil Shorts III had just dove across the goal line while being tackled, finishing off an 80 yard catch and run up the middle of the field to give the Jags the eventual winning score.

“I told the guys going out onto the field, ‘We’re going to win. Right here, right now,’” said Gabbert. “We happened to get the right look for the play that was called. We just went with it.”

By the time the play was over the venue had instantly gone from jubilant to punched-in-the-stomach shocked. No one donning royal blue was able to process what had just taken place.

The game-winning touchdown pass was Gabbert’s only scoring throw of the game, and also just his tenth and final completion. He netted only 155 yards through the air on the day.

“This one’s going to sit in the pit of their stomachs for quite some time,” said Colts head coach Chuck Pagano of his players. “Obviously, we’re going to have to get over it and move on and get better from here.”

Pro start number three was another success for Luck, with the exception of how the final score turned out. Luck threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns. His interception with less than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter would set up a 47 yard field goal by Jacksonville kicker Josh Scobee that cut the Indianapolis lead to 14-13 a few minutes later.

After taking an early 3-0 lead on the game’s opening possession, the Jags did not find themselves back in the driver’s seat until the 11:02 mark of the fourth quarter thanks to a 26 yard field goal by Scobee.

Two first half touchdown passes by Luck – a 40 yarder toward the right sideline to rookie receiver T.Y. Hilton and a 4 yard slant to running back Mewelde Moore helped the Colts establish a 14-3 advantage going into halftime.

Maurice Jones-Drew broke a 59 yard untouched rush to the right and took it all the way for the score early in the third to bring Jacksonville within four. He had an unstoppable day, recording 177 yards on 28 carries.

On the ensuing Colts possession, receiver Austin Collie, who suffered a concussion in the preseason and has had three in total dating back to the 2010 regular season, took a hard hit over the middle after making his first catch of the season and then had to be carted off the field with a knee injury.

Trailing 16-14 inside of five minutes to go in the fourth, Vinatieri just missed a 36 yard field goal wide left following an inexplicable delay of game penalty that appeared to make all the difference on the attempt.

The Colts found themselves on their own 35 with no timeouts at their disposal shortly after Shorts III’s late touchdown. Luck was able to get them all the way down to the Jacksonville 26 yard line, but a final jump ball for Reggie Wayne in the end zone was knocked away to conclude the ball game.

No matter how wild it was, Jacksonville will certainly take the win.

“This win is close to the top,” said Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis. “That was pretty much a ‘Hail Mary’, but it was great.”

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The only thing the Houston Texans (3-0) did wrong on Sunday was not allow quarterback Matt Schaub to go home with his entire left ear intact. Other than that, they took care of business the way they had it planned all week.

On a high hit handed out by Denver linebacker Joe Mays, which warranted a flag, Schaub severely cut his left ear and had to come out of the game for a play. It turned out that a chunk of the lobe actually fell off.

“I felt fine,” Schaub said. “I just lost a piece of my ear. I was bleeding and my helmet came off. So, I had to come out for a play, but I was fine.”

Schaub threw for 290 yards and four touchdowns, Arian Foster tallied 105 yards on 25 carries and the Texans held on late to clinch their third consecutive win to open the season, defeating Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos (1-2) on the road, 31-25.

“We knew that we had to try to get the ball downfield because they had a lot of people committed to the run,” said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. “We did what we had to do to win, convinced them that we had to make some big plays and they did.”

Houston responded to Denver’s quick five points at the outset with a 60 yard Andre Johnson touchdown to gain a 7-5 lead at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter.

They never trailed again from that point on.

A three yard touchdown pass to Foster and 52 yard strike to receiver Kevin Walter later, the Texans had extended to a 21-5 advantage less than midway through the second quarter.

By halftime the Broncos were not done, though, as they were able to cut it to a 10 point game with two field goals before entering the locker room.

A dominant third quarter by the Texans in which they outscored the Broncos 10-0 put a considerable amount of distance between the two at 31-11.

It appeared to be over, but Manning, as he has always done, would not go down without swinging.

Manning found his old battery mate from his Indianapolis days, Brandon Stokley, for 38 yards and a touchdown to trim the deficit to 31-18 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth.

Another Manning touchdown pass with exactly three minutes left to go gave the Broncos an opportunity to win the game if they could find a way to come up with a much needed stop.

But that didn’t happen, as Schaub found Johnson down the left sideline on a critical 3rd and 5 in Houston territory. They were eventually forced to punt, but by that time the Broncos were left on their 14 yard line with just 20 seconds on the clock.

They tried to pull off a lateral-laced miracle as the clock struck zero, but to no avail.

“Second week in a row we lost by six points,” said Broncos head coach John Fox. “It’s the second week in a row we started very slowly. Different side of the ball this time.”

“We have to learn from this game, address it, be honest, everybody needs to be accountable and try to improve forward,” Manning said. “It’s not the ideal situation. Everybody would love to be 3-0. That’s not the way it is right now.”

While Manning and his new crew are still trying to find themselves, Schaub and the Texans just keep rolling along, even if pieces of body parts are literally being torn off.

Said Kubiak of Schaub’s performance, “Boy, he played like a champ today.”

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Sunday’s showdown between the Detroit Lions (1-2) and Tennessee Titans (1-2) in Nashville ended up turning into a good old fashioned shootout. One which needed an extra 8:25 to decide a winner.

And at the end of the day, it was the Titans who found themselves on top, 44-41, in what was probably the wildest game the day had to offer.

“Both of us looked at each other and said, ‘We’ve never been through something like this in our lives,’” said Titans head coach Mike Munchak of his counterpart Jim Schwartz. “It’s hard to put in words what to say about that. We both could’ve won in so many ways.”

Titans quarterback Jake Locker threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns while completing 29 of 42 passes and leading his team to their first win of the season.

Tennessee, who was previously winless, went into halftime with a 20-9 lead over a Lions team that is anything but a pushover.

After only seven points were scored in the third quarter via a one yard Mikel Leshoure rushing touchdown, the fourth quarter saw scoring come from left and right in every which way, through offense, defense and special teams.

A total of 46 points were scored in the final period of regulation.

Brandon Pettigrew’s fumble at the Tennessee 28 yard line with the Lions trailing 34-27 with about three minutes remaining in the fourth was recovered by Tennessee cornerback Alterraun Verner and run back 72 yards for a touchdown and what undoubtedly appeared at the moment to be the final dagger.

But Lions backup quarterback Shaun Hill had other plans.

Matthew Stafford, the Lions starting quarterback, did not return to the field due to injury following Pettigrew’s fumble. He had an outstanding day nonetheless, going 33/42 through the air for 278 yards and a touchdown.

Hill suddenly found himself thrown into a game trailing two touchdowns with just 1:16 left on the clock. He would put together an 80 yard touchdown drive in just 58 seconds, which ended with a 3 yard scoring toss to Calvin Johnson, who had yet another monster performance with 164 yards on 10 receptions to go with that touchdown grab.

Detroit successfully recovered the ensuing onside kick, and was stationed at the Titans 46 yard line with just 18 seconds remaining.

Hill’s prayer on second down was answered downfield by receiver Titus Young, as he hauled in a touchdown that set up the game-tying extra point as time expired.

Locker remained composed, however, and put Tennessee in position to take a 44-41 lead with 10:36 left in overtime.

Schwartz wanted to end it once the Lions made their way all the way down to the Tennessee seven. It would be a decision that would come back to bite him, as Hill attempted to scramble for the first down on fourth and one, but lost a yard and came up short to seal the victory for the Titans.

The play did undergo a booth review and was upheld, ending the madness.

Trying to somehow put everything into words, Munchak said, “I can honestly say, 30 years being around the NFL, I never saw anything close to what we experienced in this game, the highs and the lows, both sides of the ball.”

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The Minnesota Vikings pulled off the unthinkable, upsetting the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers 24-13 at the Mall of America Field.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder continues to play well for Minnesota, completing 21 of 35 passes for 198 yards, and two touchdowns in their upset victory. Percy Harvin led the Vikings in receiving, catching nine passes for 89 yards. Harvin was also featured in the backfield, having one carry for nine yards. Minnesota had an effective day running the ball against one of the NFL’s best defenses. The Vikings ran for a total of 146 yards and scored once on the ground. This was the first time the 49ers gave up over 100 yards rushing this season.

Adrian Peterson led the running attack with 25 carries for 86 yards. Quarterback Christian Ponder scrambled seven times for 33 yards, including his 23 yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph caught five passes for 36 yards and two touchdowns. Rudolph has already matched last seasons’ three touchdown total just three games into the 2012 season, and seems to be a key target for Christian Ponder and the Minnesota offense. The Vikings’ offensive line contained the ferocious 49ers blitz and did not allow them to sack Ponder once.

Alex Smith completed 24 of 35 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown, one fumble and one interception in Sunday’s loss. Smith’s lone interception ended his franchise record 249-throw streak without an interception. Smith’s favorite receiver was Mario Manningham, who caught five passes for 56 yards. Tight end Vernon Davis also caught five passes for 53 yards. In addition, 49ers veteran wide receiver Randy Moss caught three passes for 27 yards against his old squad. Frank Gore led the 49ers in rushing with 12 carries for 63 yards, and caught one pass for nine yards along with one fumble loss.

Although not being able to stop Christian Ponder, the 49ers’ defense was well led by linebacker NaVorro Bowman. Bowman had a career-high 18 tackles. Patrick Willis also contributed, with 10 tackles.  The 49ers will look to bounce back from this shocking upset next week against the New York Jets. The Vikings are looking to continue playing well, and will be on the road against division rival the Detroit Lions.

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In what was expected to be a tough match-up on the road for the New York Giants, especially while missing key members on offense such as Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw, David Diehl and Domenik Hixon, turned into the Giants defeating the Carolina Panthers 36-7.

Giants running back Andre Brown continues to make a name for himself  after his performance last night against the Panthers. The Giants could not have asked for more from their back up running back. Brown had 20 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

At wide receiver, four-year player Ramses Barden started in place for the injured Nicks. Barden lead all receivers, with 9 receptions for 138 yards. Barden’s performance could have landed him a spot to see the field more often.

Giants tight-end Martellus Bennett caught 6 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. This is Bennett’s third consecutive game with at least one touchdown. Astonishing enough, the last time Bennett scored a touchdown in three consecutive games was back in 2008 when he was with the Dallas Cowboys.

Eli Manning was extremely efficient Thursday night, completing 27 of 35 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown. Eli had a quarterback ratting of 110.2, his highest rating of the season. His 77.1% completion percentage was a season best thus far. Manning was able to enjoy the victory and watch the final minutes of the game from the sideline.

Another key factor in Thursday’s victory was the Giants defense. Although struggling in the secondary because of injury, they were able to force Cam Newton to throw three interceptions. In addition, the Panthers put the ball on the ground two times; both times, the Giants were able to recover and regain possession. The Giants limited Newton to 242 passing yards and only 6 carries for 6 yards on the ground. Newton had a quarterback rating of 40.6, a career worst for the 2nd year star. The Giants were also able to maintain the rest of the Panthers high powered running threats, only giving up 60 yards on 20 attempts.

Panthers back-up quarterback Derek Anderson took over when the game was out of reach, with less than a minute to play.

The Giants have some much needed rest to catch up on with their upcoming schedule. New York will be traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles Sunday September 30.

For additional player or game stats please click here. 

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A highly anticipated offensive shoot-out at Lambeau Field turned into a  defensive gridlock on Thursday night. The Green Bay Packers defense had a huge target on their back following their weak performance in Week 1 against the 49ers. In Thursday nights rivalry game against the Chicago Bears, the Packers defense completely shut down the Bears explosive offense to earn an encouraging 23-10 victory.

The rampant defense of the Packers held the Bears to just 168 total yards. Jay Cutler was completely flustered by Green Bay’s aggressive defense, only throwing for 126 yards and one touchdown, whilst also giving up four interceptions. Cutler was also sacked seven times, and is now 0-3 at Lambeau Field. Green Bay also limited Chicago’s run game, especially after Matt Forte left the game in the 3rd quarter with an ankle injury.

Packers linebacker, Clay Matthews, had seven tackles, and 3.5 sacks. Matthews has already matched the amount of sacks he had last year in the first two games of the season, and should continue to harass quarterbacks all season. The secondary also shone with Tramon Williams picking up two interceptions, whilst Charles Woodson and rookie Jerron McMillian also both picked off Cutler. The Packers secondary was also able to lock-up Bears star wideout Brandon Marshall, and limited him to two receptions for 24 yards. Marshall had a touchdown opportunity in the 3rd quarter however, but was not able to hang onto the ball.

Interestingly enough, Green Bay’s punter, Tim Masthay, threw a touchdown pass before Aaron Rodgers. In the second quarter, on a fake field goal, Masthay pitched the ball to Tom Crabtree who followed his blockers all the way for seven. Rodgers finally threw his first and only touchdown pass of the game in the fourth quarter to veteran wideout Donald Driver. Rodgers finished the game completing 22 of 32 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In addition, the Packers run game proved to be far more effective than in Week 1, as they rushed for a total of 106 yards, and Cedric Benson lead the team with 20 carries for 81 yards. Benson also had four receptions for 35 yards.

Green Bay has now extended their winning streak against the Bears to five games. The Packers handled the pressure of an expectant home crowd extremely well to earn their first win of the season. Green Bay will be on the road for their next game, a tough clash with the Seattle Seahawks on September 24th. The Bears will be back at Soldier Field, September 23rd, against the St.Louis Rams.

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South Florida, U.S.A. — Football Connect, is now available with its 2012-2013 version for iOS devices. In Football Connect 2012-2013, players use their iOS devices to access a unique board with tiles made up of NFL players and game events.

Each game’s goal is to line up tiles based on in-game player and team NFL events, adding an entirely new level of gameplay and game participation. Fans can play along with live NFL games to predict events that will happen and compete to get tiles in a row.

“Given the huge popularity of professional football and the widespread use of tablets and smartphones in front of the TV, Football Connect adds a layer of competition and entertainment during NFL games,” said Daren Trousdell, founder and CEO of OneUp Games. “Football Connect gives fans a rewarding and unique approach to the game, allowing them to socialize with others and take their sports on the go.”

OneUp Games newest app continues to provide fans with a fresh way to interact with their game of choice. Football delivers casual live-play games that enhance the user experience.

Key features include:

• Matching Players and Events – Think your favorite QB is about to get sacked? Line up players with actions as the game progresses and get points based on how well you predict the game.
• Live Information – Player boards are kept up-to-date with live information based on actual game events.
• Gamecast – Not near a TV for the game? Doesn’t matter. Every yard counts on the gridiron, and with a live gamecast built into the app, players will never be far from the huddle with up-to-date information on the current drive.
• Enhance Your Board – If you’re unhappy with your current tiles, use tokens earned through gameplay to add power ups and weapons, which will give you the edge over your competition.

Football Connect is now available for free in the iTunes store for iOS devices with optional in-game purchases. For more information, please visit http://www.1up.me.

About OneUp Games

Established in 2011, OneUp Games enhances TV sports watching, using the power of mobile and social platforms to bring teams, fans and friends together. OneUp Games use of the second screen compliments live sporting events, through interactive games and conversation. Realizing a missing link in the world of social TV between fan and sport, OneUp Games created Football Connect, a first-of-its-kind mobile app connecting sports fans to the live event through a bingo-type game.

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The Houston Texans were able to overcome a sluggish start in a big way during Sunday’s home and season opener at Reliant Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. A 24 point second quarter explosion following a scoreless first quarter paved the road toward a rather easy 30-10 win for the defending AFC South champions.

“I liked the way we were able to work through our uneasiness early in the game and be a darn good football team there in the second quarter,” said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak.

Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, who announced after the game that he had agreed to a four year, $62 million contract extension through the 2016 season, completed 20 of 31 passes for 266 yards and one touchdown in his first game back after fracturing his right foot back in Week 10 of last season.

With his previous contract due to expire at the conclusion of this season, Schaub stated, “I’m excited for it to be done and over with so every ounce of focus and energy can be directed to this season.”

Wide receiver Andre Johnson and running back Arian Foster, Houston’s other two offensive stars, made eight catches for 119 yards and one touchdown, and had 79 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, respectively.

But it was the Texans stingy defense that was the big story. After surrendering a field goal late in the first quarter to fall behind 3-0 to the Dolphins, lead by rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was selected 8^th overall in this summer’s draft, the Texans did not allow another score until a 72 yard punt return touchdown by Marcus Thigpen during the beginning stages of the second half.

And considering that those points came on special teams, it was exactly the type of day the Texans defense was hoping for.

Tannehill threw three interceptions in his NFL debut, which led to Houston’s scoring outburst in the second quarter. But even in spite of his struggles, he refused to focus solely on the negatives of his performance.

“I felt like we hurt ourselves more than they really just stopped us,” said Tannehill, who threw for 219 yards on 20 of 36 passing. “That’s a good defense. So being able to move the ball on a good defense like that gives us some confidence. Obviously, we have to fix a lot of things and eliminate those turnovers. But I think it gives us a look at what we could be if we played to our full potential.”

Tannehill’s three picks all came within the final eight minutes of the first half. The first was recorded by cornerback Johnathan Joseph at midfield and returned to the Miami 14 yard-line, setting up a 35 yard game-tying field goal by Shayne Graham. Linebacker Brian Cushing’s interception a couple minutes later near midfield would eventually lead to a 14 yard touchdown run by Foster, which gave the Texans the lead for good. Kareem Jackson, another Texans cornerback, was the final defender to intercept Tannehill at the Miami 30 with less than two minutes remaining in the half. After a 26 yard defensive pass interference penalty, Foster punched in his second touchdown of the afternoon from two yards out.

It was smooth sailing in the second half, as the Texans rolled to their first win of the year in what they believe can be a truly special season for them.

Houston travels to Jacksonville next week to take on a division rival in the Jaguars, while the Dolphins will host the Oakland Raiders in their home opener.

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The Chicago Bears made several offseason moves to improve offensively, including reuniting wide receiver Brandon Marshall and quarterback Jay Cutler, and adding more running back depth with the addition of Michael Bush. Both were important aspects in their 41-21 victory over a rebuilding Indianapolis Colts team/organization.

Bears fans held their breaths early after Jay Cutler was intercepted by linebacker Jerrell Freeman and scored to give the Colts their only lead of the day. However, the Bears offensive finally settled down and routed the Colts defense. Cutler threw for 333 yards, completing 21 of 35 passes for two touchdowns and one interception. Cutler and his number one wide out, Marshall made it seem they never stopped playing together. Marshall had nine receptions for 119 yards and one touchdown. Cutler targeted Marshall 15 times, several times in which were effective and others very risky passes into double coverage.

However, once the Colts began to attempt to cover Marshall better, Cutler began to spread the love. Rookie wide out, Alshon Jeffery caught three passes for 80 yards and also scored a touchdown. Jeffery will be a big target for Cutler especially when defenses are keen on covering Marshall. In addition, wide out Earl Bennett caught three passes for 50 yards.

As for Chicago’s run game, their duo consisting of Matt Forte and Michael Bush were also on point. Forte had 16 carries for 80 yards and one touchdown. Forte also caught three passes for 40 yards. As for Bush, he had 12 carries for 42 yards and punched in two goal line touchdowns. The Bears offense compiled 428 total yards, which thus far is in the top five for performances during the first week.

Defensively, the Bears forced five total turnovers, three interceptions and two fumbles. Cornerback Tim Jennings had two interceptions, and safety Chris Conte has one interception. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden and defensive lineman Julius Peppers had fumble recoveries.

Indianapolis rookie quarterback, Andrew Luck will want to forget about his first NFL start. Luck completed 23 of 45 passes for 309 yards, one touchdown, and threw three interceptions. In Luck’s defense he was up against a tough Bears “D”, but was very “unlucky.” Luck’s favorite receiver Sunday was veteran, Reggie Wayne. Wayne caught nine passes for 135 yards, and was targeted 18 times. Also rookie tight end, Coby Fleener had a busy day catching six passes for 82 yards. Fleener and Luck have a past history after playing together at Stanford University.

Chicago will be back in action on short rest, Thursday, Sept. 13^th at Lambeau Field against divisional rivals Green Bay Packers. Alex Smith had a fairly easy time passing the ball against the Packers weak secondary, Jay Cutler and the Bears offense could light up the score board once again come week two.

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Last season’s top two National Football Conference playoff seeds, the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers, clashed to kick off their regular season at Lambeau Field on Sept. 9.

Green Bay was off to a slow start offensively, much of it caused by a tenacious defense from the 49ers. Towards the end of the first quarter, 49ers kicker David Akers nailed a 40-yard field goal to take the lead, forcing the Packers to punt. On their ensuing drive, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith connected with veteran wide receiver Randy Moss for a 14-yard touchdown, which brought their lead to 10-0.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers answered back on the following drive starting at their own 20 yard-line. Rodgers began to run the “no huddle shotgun” offense and slowly marched down the field. On first and 15 on the 49ers 16 yard-line Rodgers dropped back and went to connect with tight end Jermichael Finley, but was held up by 49ers safety back Dashon Goldson, which resulted in defensive pass interference. As a result, on the next play Rodgers snapped the ball quickly and zipped it right into the arms of tight end Finley to cut the lead 10-7.

The 49ers ended the half with two boots from Akers. His first field goal from 43 yards, his second field goal from 63 yards, which tied an NFL record and gave the 49ers a 16-7 lead at the half.

In the second half, the Niners capitalized once again after forcing the Packers to a three and out on their first possession. On third and four inside the Packers 5 yard-line, Smith connected with tight end Vernon Davis and brought the 49ers’ score to 23-7, while the Packers remained scoreless.

Packers wide receiver/explosive punt returner Randall Cobb found the outside hole during the fourth quarter and sprinted 75 yards into the end zone. An initial flag thrown for an illegal block in the back, however, was overruled by another official, one of many controversial and surprising calls of the game. Rodgers and wide out Jordy Nelson connected for a two-point conversion to make it one possession game.

The Niners defense came up big down in the stretch with about eight minutes left as Rodgers misread the defensive coverage, went to throw short over the middle to wide receiver Greg Jennings and was intercepted by linebacker NaVorro Bowman instead. Following the interception on their first play just outside of Green Bay’s 20 yard-line, running back Frank Gore bounced to the outside and scored to put his team up 30-15.

The Packers bounced back quickly and fiercely. Rodgers connected with James Jones to cut the deficit back to an eight-point game. The Packers defense on the following drive finally made an important stop, giving the ball back to their offensive with plenty of time. Unfortunately, last season’s MVP, Rodgers, and his Packer offense were unsuccessful and were stopped on four and 10 on the Niners 45 yard-line. Alex Smith brought his offense back onto the field, and with two consecutive kneels solidified the 30-22 victory. Smith finished the game completing 20 of 26 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

Rodgers completed 30 of 44 passes for 303 yards also for two touchdowns and one interception. The Packers will have a short rest, but will be back on the field Thursday, Sept. 13 against divisional rivals the Chicago Bears.

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The Cleveland Browns kicked off an important season in their ongoing process of building a playoff caliber team by entertaining Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon. A ferocious defensive effort from the visiting Eagles saw them pick up a hard fought 17-16 victory, which will be all the more heartbreaking for Cleveland fans considering how close they came to upsetting the odds and recording the win themselves.

The Browns got off to a good start in the match as Phil Dawson connected with a 43-yard field goal, before Craig Robertson picked off Vick in the Eagles next drive. Despite having taken the advantage early on in the game, neither Brandon Weeden nor Trent Richardson were able to make a significant impact in the first half. Weeden threw two interceptions in the second quarter, while Richardson was only able to put up 25 yards from 11 carries in the first half, mainly due to the uncompromising defense of DeMeco Ryans.

The Cleveland defense was keeping the Browns in the game during the first half, with Vick under constant pressure and unable to connect regularly with the likes of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. The Philadelphia offensive line did, however, manage to give their quarterback good protection late in the second quarter. Vick stayed in the pocket and found Maclin in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown pass which, along with an earlier field goal, gave the Eagles a 10-3 lead at the half.

Both quarterbacks struggled in the third quarter, with Vick throwing two further interceptions and Weeden adding another to his own tally. The Browns were able to add two further field goals in the late third and early fourth quarter, thanks to interceptions by the Cleveland secondary, narrowing the Philadelphia lead to just one point.

Things went from bad to worse for Vick then, however, as D’Qwell Jackson picked off his pass on the Eagles 27-yard line and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Browns a six point lead with just over 10 minutes left to play in the final quarter.

A long drive late in the quarter by the Eagles resulted in a first and goal on the three yard line at the two minute warning. After a run by Bryce Brown, which culminated in a one yard loss, Vick threw a touchdown pass to tight end Clay Harbor. The extra point was good and Philadelphia once more regained the lead, leaving Weeden a difficult task with just over a minute left to play.

Unfortunately for Weeden and the Browns, any attempt to rescue the game was cut short as the quarterback was intercepted by Kurt Coleman, and the Eagles were able to safely see out the game.

This will be a game for rookies Weeden (12/35, 118 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INT) and Richardson (19 carries, 39 yards) to forget, as their personal performances do not do justice to how close and competitive this game was. Although Richardson’s performance could be attributed to his recent lack of practice due to injury, all but the most optimistic of Cleveland fans will be casting wary glances in the direction of Weeden, the franchise’s 17^th starting quarterback since 1999.

The Eagles weren’t without their own problems, specifically the pressure exerted on Vick by the opposing defense, and the offensive line will have to work hard to rectify this issue. Vick himself wasn’t terrible (29/56, 317 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INT) but the four interceptions he threw are a worry for Head Coach Andy Reid.

Both teams face challenging matches next week, with the Browns visiting divisional rivals the Cincinnati Bengals, while Philadelphia hosts the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns and Eagles will have to take much better care of the ball in those games if they are to stand any chance of beating two teams who both made it to the playoffs last season.

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The Detroit Lions welcomed the youngest team in the NFL, the St. Louis Rams, to kick off their season at Ford Field.

The opening drive of the game for Detroit started at their own 20 yard-line. Matthew Stafford helped drive the Lions down to the Rams own three yard-line. On first down, Stafford dropped back and was picked off by rookie Janoris Jenkins who returned the interception 34 yards. On the Rams ensuing drive, rookie kicker, Greg  Zuerlein, hit a 48 yard field goal to give the Rams an early 3-0 lead. Luckily for the Lions, they answered back quickly with a score of their own, Joique Bell rushed for a one-yard touchdown to regain the lead 7-3.

Unable to respond, the Rams gave the Lions the ball back after a three and out. Similar to their first drive, Stafford dropped back on St. Louis’ 16 yard-line, and was intercepted by Jo-Lonn Dunbar.  Once again, the Rams took advantage after forcing a second interception, and kicker Zuerlein hit 29 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-6. Stafford jogged back onto the field to help regain the lead for the Lions. On first and 10, running the no huddle offense, Stafford dropped back into Shotgun formation and looked to connect with wideout Calvin Johnson, and again, Stafford was picked off by Rams defensive back Cortland Finnegan who returned it for a touchdown, giving the Rams a 13-7 lead. Before the end of the first half, Lions kicker, Jason Hanson kicked a 42 yard field goal through the uprights to go into the half down 13-10.

In a low scoring third quarter, Hanson tied the game up after hitting a 45 yard field goal. After forcing the Lions to punt, the Rams regained possession at Detroit’s 47 yard-line. Onsecond and nine from Detroit’s 23, in Shotgun, Sam Bradford dropped back and connected with wideout Brandon Gibson for a 23 yard touchdown, sending the Rams back ahead, 20-13.

With 9:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Stafford did a good job of leading his offense down the field. On the Rams 5 yard line, running back Kevin Smith punched in a five yard touchdown run to tie the game back up. The Rams rookie kicker answered back on the ensuing drive with a 46 yard field goal to regain the lead 23-20 with less than two minutes left.

Starting at their own 20 yard-line, Stafford connected with wideout Calvin Johnson for a 20 yard completion.  The quarterback continued to strategically move the ball down field for the Lions. Once again, on second and seven, Stafford connected with Johnson for an 18 yard completion up the middle. Stafford quickly brought the offense to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock. On second and five, Stafford dropped back and found running back Kevin Smith wide open for an easy completion and a  27-23 victory.

Although throwing three first half interceptions, Stafford stayed focused when it mattered most and threw his only touchdown pass to win the game. The Lions will have any even tougher matchup next week on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.

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Minnesota opened up their season with an overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-23. Viking fans were extremely excited to welcome back a healthy Adrian Peterson after he suffered a gruesome knee injury towards the end of last season.

Peterson made his presence known with his quick explosive cuts in and out of Jacksonville’s defense. Peterson had 17 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns for the Vikings. Peterson punched in both of his touchdowns inside the Jaguars 5 yard-line.

Quarterback Christian Ponder ran the offense with much more authority compared to his rookie season. Although losing one fumble, Ponder completed 20 of 27 passes for 270 yards and had a 105.5 passer rating. Ponder connected with wideout Percy Harvin 6 times for 84 yards. Harvin was also featured at running back and had 5 carries for 20 yards.

As for the Jaguars, 2nd year quarterback Blaine Gabbert also stood behind center with the tons of confidence he lacked last season. Gabbert completed 23 of 39 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns, including one touchdown with 20 seconds left in the 4th to wideout Cecil Shorts that gave the Jaguars a short lived 23-20 lead. Gabbert also connected with tight end Marcedes Lewis for a one yard touchdown pass in the 2nd quarter. Lewis finished the game with 5 receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who sat out all preseason, was also effective offensively for the Jaguars. Jones carried the ball 19 times for 77 yards.

However, Vikings rookie kicker Blair Walsh, was definitely Sunday’s MVP. Walsh was 4/4 including a 55 yard bomb that tied the game 23-23 at the end of regulation to force overtime. Walsh was not done there: in overtime, Walsh hit a 38 yard field goal through the uprights to earn the Vikings the victory. Walsh’s other two field goals were from 20 yards and 42 yards out. Walsh was drafted in the 6th round out of the University of Georgia.

Defensively the Vikings were led by their linebacking core. Linebacker Chad Greenway led the team with 13 tackles, including 9 solo tackles. Linebacker Erin Henderson also had a great game grappling up 10 tackles, 6 which were solo, and one sack.

The Vikings will be back in action next Sunday, September 16 on the road against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts.

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With the 2012 NFL Draft all wrapped up, heated initial reactions have given way to more methodical and calculated analysis of who will look back on this draft as the pivotal moment that sent their franchise soaring towards Superbowl contention and those, who will have to endure further seasons of obscurity after setting their franchise back years.

Hit a Home Run: Patriots and Steelers.

- New England Patriots

The Patriots surprised a lot of people at the draft, trading up twice in the first round to snag both Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower, with Bill Belichick usually much more in favour of trading down and stockpiling picks. Both Jones and Hightower are elite prospects and combined with their second-round selection, safety Tavon Wilson, Belichick has upgraded his defense significantly.

Providing they can work through his off-field issues, they will have also gained great value with cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who slipped all the way to the seventh round despite being a potential second-round selection. New England already have a Superbowl caliber offense which needed very little strengthening after the free agency additions of Brandon Lloyd and Robert Gallery, and this draft will potentially go a long way to shoring up a defense which had become a bit of a liability for Tom Brady and Co.

- Pittsburgh Steelers

If the Steelers were asked prior to the draft where their biggest weakness lay, they would have replied ‘Offensive Line’ – cue the arrivals of David DeCastro and Mike Adams. Despite the lack of excitement generated by using your top two picks on offensive linesman, the Steelers added potentially the best guard and tackle (some had Adams rated higher than Riley Reiff) respectively in the draft.

Although Adams comes to Pittsburgh after testing positive for marijuana, both he and DeCastro will shore up an offensive line which was often out-muscled and outsmarted last season. The additions of both Shaun Spence and Alameda Ta’amu in the third and fourth rounds will also help invigorate an aging defense and could be the long term starters in place of both James Farrior and Casey Hampton.

Plenty of Potential: Eagles and Ravens.

- Philadelphia Eagles

The addition of Fletcher Cox in the first round will be huge for Andy Reid’s defense this season as they have lacked a good nose tackle for sometime now. Cox was arguably the best in this years’ draft class despite being picked after Dontari Poe. Despite Cox’s lauded ability and potential, it was in the second round that the Eagles really found success, drafting both Mychal Kendricks and Vinny Curry to bolster their defense. Both guys were predicted by many to possibly make it into the first round and should be able to make an instant impact for Philadelphia in the tough NFC East division.

- Baltimore Ravens

General Manager Ozzie Newsome continued the tradition of making great draft moves when he traded out of the first round, picked up an extra fourth-round selection, and still managed to draft a first-round talent in the form of Courtney Upshaw. Fellow second-round pick Kelechi Osemele will likely start on a Ravens’ offensive line bereft of guard Ben Grubbs, whilst running back Bernard Pierce, a third-round selection, could be used on short-yardage situations to help out Ray Rice in a way similar to Ricky Williams last season.

Fourth-round picks Gino Gradkowski and Christian Thompson both have the chance of being the long-term replacements for Matt Birk and Ed Reed respectively, whilst sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter has the physicality to be able to offer something in the receiving corps immediately for Joe Flacco.

Must Do Better: Browns and Broncos.

- Cleveland Browns

It is hard to admonish a team which picked up a player of Trent Richardson’s caliber, but the price they paid was big, perhaps too big. He will dramatically improve their running game, which is admirable, but the Browns have the misfortune of playing in a division with three of the best run defenses in the entire league.

They have also fallen for criticism with their other first-round pick, Brandon Weeden. The 28-year old is a good quarterback and should serve the Browns well, but there is no denying that he is a stopgap until they can found their franchise quarterback of the future. As such, Cleveland has been criticized for picking Weeden with the 22nd overall pick, with most experts suggesting he would have still been available later in the round and the Browns could have traded down and picked up a pick which they lost in the trade to ensure they got Richardson.

They also failed to draft a wide receiver until Travis Benjamin, who they took with the 100th overall pick, and look somewhat undermanned at the position.

- Denver Broncos

New arrival Peyton Manning may be happy to be a Bronco, but it is very doubtful he will be pleased with his new team’s performance in the draft. Similar to the Ravens, Denver traded out of the first round but picked up Derek Wolfe in the second. Wolfe, although a talented nose tackle, was tipped as a third, or even fourth, round pick by many experts, and was not deemed to be good value.

Running back Ronnie Hillman and corner Omar Bolden may eventually become starters, but in reality there is little for the Broncos fans to be excited about immediately, with quarterback Brock Osweiler, who will learn from Manning, as perhaps their most exciting pick.

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When the likes of Bruce Irving, Brandon Weeden and A. J. Jenkins all went in the first round of the NFL Draft, they guaranteed that certain elite prospects would fall into the second round and become highly sought after commodities when it all kicked off again in New York for the second night of the draft.

The Indianapolis Colts surprised no one by taking Stanford tight end Coby Fleener with their first pick, giving first overall pick Andrew Luck a familiar target in his first season in Indianapolis. They took another tight end in the third round, Dwayne Allen out of Clemson, much to the ire of many other teams with this years’ draft class seemingly stretched thin at the tight end position.

After trading out of the first round, Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome seemed to have worked his magic again, taking a legitimate first-round prospect in Courtney Upshaw and a late-first/early-second talent in Kelechi Osemele, both of whom could replace departing starters Jarret Johnson and Ben Grubbs. They also traded up in the third round to secure running back Bernard Pierce in the third, a problem position for Newsome since the retirement of Ricky Williams.

A plethora of other players who were unlucky to not make it into the first round also went early in the second round including Derek Wolfe (Denver Broncos), Andre Branch (Jacksonville Jaguars) Alshon Jeffrey (Chicago Bears) and Peter Konz (Atlanta Falcons).

The Green Bay Packers made a good job of shoring up their defense, taking both Jerel Worthy and Casey Hayward in the second round, arguably the best defensive tackle and cornerback left on the board. They will join first-round selection Nick Perry in giving Green Bay fans hope of an improved defensive performance this season.

Shorn of star cornerback Cortland Finnegan, the St Louis Rams took a big gamble on defensive back Janoris Jenkins out of North Alabama. The youngster was arguably the best corner in this years’ draft class after sixth-overall pick Morris Claiborne, but a number of off-field issues have seen his draft stock plummet since the combine.

Other picks of note included the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills improving their offensive lines with the acquisitions of Amini Silatolu and Cordy Glenn respectively. The Bills will be thrilled with the selection of Glenn who very few experts had falling into the second round, let alone down to the ninth pick in the round.

The two New York-based teams were also keen to improve their offenses, but instead went for wide receivers. The Jets, keen to give Mark Sanchez viable targets, picked up Stephen Hill out of Georgia Tech, and will be hoping his large frame and electric pace are enough to help out Sanchez. He was not the only large wideout to end up in New York, with Rueben Randle going to the Giants with the last pick of the second round, giving the Giants a very formidable looking receiving corps.

Quarterbacks also played a prominent part in both rounds, with the Broncos finding their quarterback of the future, drafting Brock Osweiler who will learn under Peyton Manning for their foreseeable future, and the Seattle Seahawks erased any talk of trading for Colt McCoy when they picked up Russel Wilson in the third round to compliment current QB’s Tavaris Jackson and Matt Flynn. The Philadelphia Eagles also found a viable backup to Michael Vick in Arizona’s Nick Foles.

Image Courtesy of    Baltimore Ravens

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