I wonder if the Bengals worked on that one

I thought the Vikings were a good team without Brett Favre and are a good team with him, but being objective, Favre looked old and rusty Sunday. For the Vikings to make the move to the next level, they need him to make plays in the passing game, not just manage the game.6. I feel so badly for the Bengals, but situational football is a huge part of the NFL. Where was the deepest man on the field Who cares if they catch it All they had to do was tackle anyone who touched the ball. A defense cannot get outflanked. I know this is a little like second-guessing, but it’s paramount to the situation. I wonder if the Bengals worked on that one.7. Miami’s first four drives went like this: punt, fumble, fumble, punt. This team has now turned the ball over nine times in the past two games, five from the Baltimore playoff game and four on Sunday. It had six fumbles all of last season and three yesterday. The Fins are not good enough to not play their style, which is to protect the ball and keep the game close. They played well enough on defense to win, but giving the Falcons four extra possessions is tough.8. The Falcons are strong when they can play with the lead, and yesterday they had a 10-0 lead at the half. John Abraham is a factor at home when that happens, as he had two sacks. If you want to beat the Falcons, you must protect against Abraham.9.

These are not the same defensive Ravens as before. Not anymore. These Ravens can move the ball with Joe Flacco at quarterback. Flacco might throw the best seven cut (corner route) in the NFL. He has a great command and is really in sync right now. Ray Rice is hard to tackle, and as the season progresses, he will be a huge factor.10. Brodie Croyle had a 116.00 quarterback rating against the Ravens, but he was 2 of 10 on third down, so the Chiefs ran only 44 plays and held the ball for 20 minutes. Quarterback ratings clearly do not tell the whole story. The Chiefs are bad on offense, and it will take some time to get it fixed.11. Jake Delhomme was in a very giving mood, and he’s why I love the Sunday Ticket. It’s not to watch all the games but rather to turn off the bad games and this one was bad. The Panthers looked bad on offense, and if they don’t make a big play, they struggle. In fairness to Delhomme, once a team takes away Steve Smith, what are his options in the passing game12. San Francisco looked very physical on defense, and showed it can pass rush with power. Kurt Warner looked as if he didn’t play enough in the preseason and was never in sync. Anquan Boldin was not himself and didn’t have any speed or burst because of the hamstring injury. The Cards’ line was pushed around all day. The 49ers are going to be tough to move the ball on with their front.13. The ‘Skins must find a way to get the ball down the field in their passing game. When teams take away Santana Moss, they don’t have a playmaker who worries you. Teams will take an attitude that if Antwaan Randle El beats us, or if Chris Cooley beats us, we deserve to lose. However, we can’t let Moss beat us, which is was the gameplan the Giants followed Two catches for six yards is not going to get it done.14 I feel badly for Steve Spagnuolo and the Rams. It’s going to be a very, very long season.Check back later for the Tavern.The National Football Post is a unique and premier online source of quality and credible news, information and insight about all sides of football featuring professionals with experience in all facets of the NFL. This article is also featured on Notes from Lombardi.

Kim Clijsters has capped a great return to womens tennis with a 7-5 6-3 win in the final of the US Open over Caroline Wozniacki. Kim received a wildcard into the event in which now she goes from being unranked in the world to the Number 19 player in the world according to projections.Nevertheless, congrats to the 19-year-old Wozniacki for making the finals and becoming the first Dane, man or woman, to reach the finals of a Grand Slam in the Open Era.Congrats to Kim Clijsters the 2009 US Open Womens Singles ChampionRelated ArticlesSerena Williams Defaulted from US Open Semi Final Against Kim Clijsters, Terrible! Is Womens Tennis Getting Strong From The Return Of Kim Clijsters Roger Federer Reaches $50 Million in Career Prize money after First Round US Open 2009 WinAndy Murray Questions Serena Williams and Her Interest Outside of Grand Slam TournamentsUS Open 2009 Is Off and Running and Read The Tennis Times for the Latest Gossip and Analysis This article is also featured on The Tennis Times. ) On Sunday, Drew Brees and company started their season out strong against a more resilient opponent than expected. But the stars were clearly Drew Brees and Mike Bell, although the Saints had many stars on the day on both sides of the ball. Below is a copy of my grades for each play (until about 10 minutes to go in the fourth since my DVR cut off) and each Position, followed by individual players overall grade. I understand this is not exactly how it is done by coaches, but I felt the need to simplify it in hopes that would be easier to understand for you, the fan. I also want to clarify that this is only my opinion and certainly may not reflect the opinions of any of the Saints coaches. Week One Saints vs. Lions Play-By-Play & Overall Grade SheetSunday, September 13, 2009 Special TeamsPlay Type Grade1 KO A2 PAT B3 KO A4 PR B5 PAT B6 KO A-7 DFGA A8 KOR D9 Punt C10 PR F11 Punt F12 DFGA B13 KOR B-14 PR B-15 PAT A16 KO A17 PR B18 PAT B-19 KO C20 PR F21 FG F22 KO C23 DFGA A-24 KOR C25 FG B26 KO F27 DFGA A-28 KOR A-29 PAT A30 KO A-31 DFGA A-32 KOR B-33 PAT A OffensePlay Type Grades1 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: A OL: A2 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B OL: B3 Run QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: B OL: A4 Run QB: A RB: B TE: A WR: A OL: A5 Pass QB: A RB: B TE: A WR: A OL: B Touchdown6 Draw QB: A RB: B TE: B WR: B OL: A7 PA QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: A OL: A8 PA QB: A- RB: A TE: B WR: A OL: A- Touchdown 9 Run QB: A- RB: B- TE: B WR: A OL: B-10 Pass QB: B RB: A TE: N/A WR: B OL: A11 Pass QB: Penalty OL: F12 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: B OL: A13 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B OL: B14 PA QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B OL: B15 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B OL: A16 Screen QB: A RB: B TE: C WR: B OL: A-17 Run QB: A RB: B TE: C WR: B OL: B18 Run QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: A OL: B19 PA Defensive Penalty20 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B- OL: A21 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B- WR: B- OL: B-22 Flea-Flicker QB: C- RB: B- TE: C- WR: C OL: C Interception23 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B OL: A-24 Pass QB: A RB: B TE: C WR: C- OL: A25 Draw QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: A- OL: A-26 PA QB: A RB: A- TE: A- WR: A OL: A-27 Run QB: A RB: B TE: B WR: A- OL: B28 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B- WR: B OL: B-29 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: A OL: B30 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: A OL: A31 Run QB: A RB: B TE: A WR: A OL: A32 PA QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: N/A OL: A Touchdown 33 Pass QB: A- RB: A- TE: B WR: A- OL: A34 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: A OL: A35 Pass QB: A RB: A- TE: A- WR: A OL: A-36 Pass QB: A RB: A- TE: A WR: A OL: B- Touchdown37 PA QB: B- RB: B TE: B WR: B- OL: B38 Pass QB: A- RB: B TE: B WR: B OL: B39 Pass QB: B- RB: B TE: B WR: B OL: A40 Draw QB: A RB: B TE: B WR: B OL: B-41 PA QB: A- RB: A- TE: B WR: B OL: A-42 Run QB: A RB: B TE: B WR: B OL: B-43 Bubble QB: A RB: B TE: B WR: B OL: B44 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B OL: B45 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: B OL: B46 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B- WR: B OL: A47 Run QB: A RB: A TE: B- WR: C OL: B-48 Pass Offensive Penalty49 Pass QB: A RB: N/A TE: A- WR: A- OL: A50 Pass QB: B RB: C TE: B- WR: B OL: C51 Pass QB: A RB: B TE: B- WR: A OL: B TD52 Run QB: A RB: C- TE: C WR: B OL: B- Fmbl Rtn53 Pass QB: A RB: A TE: B WR: C OL: B-54 Run QB: A RB: B TE: B WR: B OL: B55 Run QB: A RB: A TE: A- WR: B OL: A56 Sprint QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: B OL: A57 Run QB: A RB: A TE: A WR: A- OL: A-58 Run QB: A RB: B TE: A- WR: B OL: B-59 Run QB: A RB: C TE: B WR: B OL: B-60 Run QB: A RB: C- TE: C WR: C- OL: B61 Pass QB: A RB: N/A TE: A WR: B OL: B62 Run QB: A RB: B TE: A- WR: B OL: B-63 PA QB: A RB: A- TE: A- WR: A- OL: B64 Run QB: A RB: B TE: A WR: B OL: D Holding65 Pass QB: B RB: B TE: B- WR: C OL: A-66 Screen QB: A RB: A- TE: B- WR: B OL: B TD DefensePlay Type Grades1 Run DL: B LB: A DB: B2 Pass DL: A LB: B DB: A3 Pass DL: B LB: A DB: A4 Pass DL: A- LB: B DB: B5 Run DL: B LB: B DB: A6 Bubble DL: B LB: B DB: B7 Run DL: C LB: B DB: B8 PA/Scr DL: B LB: C DB: B-9 PA DL: A LB: A DB: A10 Run DL: B- LB: B DB: A11 Run DL: B LB: A DB: A12 Run DL: B LB: A DB: A13 Pass DL: B LB: A DB: A14 Pass DL: B LB: A DB: A15 PA DL: A- LB: A DB: A16 Draw DL: B LB: B- DB: A17 Pass DL: A- LB: D DB: B18 Run DL: C LB: C DB: B Touchdown 19 Run DL: B LB: B DB: A20 PA DL: A LB: A DB: A21 Run DL: A LB: A DB: B22 Pass DL: A LB: A DB: B23 Run DL: B LB: B DB: B24 PA DL: B LB: A DB: A25 Pass DL: A LB: A DB: A-26 Pass DL: A LB: A DB: A27 PA DL: B LB: A DB: A28 Pass DL: B LB: A- DB: B29 Pass DL: A LB: B DB: A30 Pass Offensive Penalty31 Pass DL: A LB: A DB: A Interception 32 Run DL: B- LB: B DB: A 33 Pass DL: A LB: A DB: A34 Pass DL: A LB: B DB: C-35 Run DL: B LB: B DB: B36 Run DL: A LB: A DB: A37 Pass DL: B LB: B DB: A38 Run DL: A LB: A DB: A39 Run DL: B LB: C DB: N/A Touchdown40 Run DL: B LB: A DB: A41 PA DL: B- LB: C- DB: B42 Run DL: B LB: B DB: B43 Offensive Penalty44 Pass DL: B LB: B DB: A-45 Pass DL: B LB: B DB: B- Incomplete/ FGA46 PA DL: B- LB: C DB: C47 Pass DL: B LB: B DB: B48 Pass DL: B LB: B DB: A49 Pass DL: B LB: A DB: A Position-By-Position Breakdown Offense QB: Drew Brees ARB: Mike Bell B Heath Evans B Reggie Bush CTE: Jeremy Shockey A- David Thomas BWR: Marques Colston B Devery Henderson B Robert Meachem A- Lance Moore BOL: Jahri Evans A- Jon Stinchcomb B Jonathan Goodwin B- Jermon Bushrod B- Carl Nicks C Zach Strief (LT/TE) B DefenseDL: Will Smith B Charles Grant C Bobby McCray B Jeff Charleston B Sedrick Ellis B Kendrick Clancy B Anthony Hargrove BLB: Jonathan Vilma A Scott Shanle B Scott Fujita B Marvin Mitchell BCB: Tracy Porter B Jabari Greer A- Randall Gay B Malcolm Jenkins C-S: Darren Sharper A- Roman Harper A- Pierson Prioleau B Observations Coming From the Film - The Saints played a lot of 3-4 defense in the first half, bringing in Marvin Mitchell to play a second middle linebacker spot. - They used this to rush four but disguise which four rushers were coming. - Williams found different ways to put eight men in the box on most occasions.

He made several tackles within five yards of the line of scrimmage after defensive linemen and linebackers would eat up blockers. - Something is wrong with Charles Grant He looked slow and out of shape on Sunday. I think Bobby McCray is a better player, especially for Gregg Williams's system. On the other side, Will Smith looked quick and agile and can be the player the Saints expect him to be. - Jonathan Vilma may have an even better year than he did last year The guy flew all over the field on Sunday. Williams' system seems to be a perfect fit for Vilma and his skill set. - Special Teams was bad Sunday; especially early in the game But as it went on, those problems got corrected It was mostly angles being taken by blockers/tacklers. Emphasis must remain on this next week against a good returner in DeSean Jackson. - Zach Strief played roughly 10 snaps as a second tight end.