Kelsey Tucker

Sports Editor

   With a league lockout earlier this year lasting months, the outlook on the 2011 National Football League season seemed bleak. Thankfully, the lockout was resolved and football resumed as planned. However, some skepticism still exists among fans about exactly how the season would turn out. If the first three weeks have been any indication, this year’s season will certainly be interesting.

    The day every football fan had been waiting for September 8, the season opener,  finally arrived. The game between the reigning Superbowl champs, the Green Bay Packers, and the New Orleans Saints who won the Superbowl in 2010 ended with the Packers winning 42-34. The Packers have had another great season so far, starting off with a 3-0 record. A familiar face from Kentucky was picked up by the Packers in the 2011 NFL Draft and made some big plays in the season opener. Randall Cobb from the University of Kentucky scored 3 touchdowns in his NFL debut, celebrating with a classic Lambeau Leap, a celebratory trademark of the Green Bay Packers.

    On Sunday, September 11, the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, excitement in the hearts of fans truly escalated as every other team played their first games (except the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos, who would kick off their seasons on Monday). The Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Ravens in Baltimore, where Joe Flacco and the Ravens pulled off a surprising win against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, beating them 35-7. The St. Louis Rams started their season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles with a disappointing loss of 31-13. Since the New York Giants lost against the Redskins on 9/11, it was only fair that the New York Jets defeated the Dallas Cowboys, at home, on this historic date. This day of football was also a day of remembrance and honor for 9/11.

    By the time Week 2 rolled around, the teams began to get in their groove. The Steelers came back against their disappointing loss to the Ravens in Week 1 to annihilate the Seattle Seahawks, 24-0. The Patriots defeated the San Diego Chargers 35-21. The Giants nabbed their first win against the Rams, 28-16. However, the Cowboys struggled to pull off a win against the San Francisco 49ers, winning only by a field goal. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo fractured a rib during the game, but played in spite of it, which might explain the team’s difficulty in pulling together.

    With Week 3 came many great match-ups and exciting games. The Giants faced off against the Eagles in Philadelphia. During the third quarter of the game, Michael Vick was injured after he was hit by a Giants’ tackle. The diagnosis was a broken right hand, but on Monday September 26, it was determined that it was just a bruise, not a fracture like they originally thought. The Giants ended up getting their second win of the season, 29-16. The Cowboys played the Washington Redskins at home, and only one touchdown was scored the whole game by the Redskins. However, the Cowboys pulled off a win scoring only field goals, winning 18-16. The Patriots had an unexpected tough game against the Buffalo Bills and suffered their first loss of the season. This was a huge upset, as the Patriots are thought of as nearly unstoppable, winning all their games up until this one. The Bills excitedly beat the Patriots by a field goal, 34-31. The Sunday night game of the Steelers vs. the Indianapolis Colts was expected to be a huge blowout, but the Colts surprisingly held their own and the Steelers had a rough time. However, the Steelers toughed it out and ended up winning 23-20.

    The Colts have had a tough season so far without their star quarterback, Peyton Manning. Manning suffered a neck injury, has had multiple surgeries to correct the problem, and is likely out for the whole season. Colts owner Jim Irsay backtracked on his remarks that Manning would be out for the whole season and holds out hope for his return, saying “I didn’t say Peyton was out for the season FOR SURE. We are keeping him on active roster and taking it month by month. An outside chance of his return in December is possible.” We will just have to wait and see if Manning will return, be out for the whole season, or retire altogether.

    The star quarterback of Auburn University, #1 2011 draft pick Cam Newton, was picked up by the Carolina Panthers this season. Newton attained his first win with the Panthers in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

    The Rams have had a disappointing season so far, not winning any games. Quarterback Sam Bradford had a decent rookie season last year with the Rams after being the #1 2010 draft pick, coming from Oklahoma University.

    Two teams who are arguably some of the worst teams in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions, are both 3-0 after the first three weeks of play. This is the first time these teams have been 3-0 in over 30 years. Interestingly, Paducah Tilghman graduate George Wilson who plays safety for the Bills and was chosen as their captain this year picked off Tom Brady in the Bills win against the Patriots. 

    So far, the 2011 NFL season has been exciting, interesting, and surprising. With Week 3 behind us and Week 4 on the way, fans are anxious to see what the rest of the season holds.