Football is Back!

Football is back and everyone is happy.

That is, unless your team has already lost a game. Chill. It’s a long season and dropping the opener is no cause to panic, whoever you are. In the college game it’s more significant if you have title or BCS Bowl aspirations. Even then, if you run the table you can still get there. With the Monday night games still to be played, the first week featured numerous close, one-point decisions, missed field goals that would have changed the outcome, and dramatic come-from-behind, way-behind rallies.

I covered the Vikings-Titans duel. Big story there was the decision to go with Shaun Hill over newly-acquired Sam Bradford at quarterback. With Teddy Bridgewater out for the season, the Vikes, despite having little leverage, made the move they had to make to keep their high-hopes afloat.

As it turned out, Hill played well, and while Minnesota didn’t score an offensive touchdown, Hill protected the ball superbly, and when you don’t commit a turnover, you have a great chance to win. That’s what the Vikings did. They didn’t turn it over and converted two Titan turnovers into touchdowns. Adrian Peterson couldn’t do anything running the ball which was not entirely his fault; his offensive line didn’t open up anything up front.

So the Vikings found a way to win. All the good teams do. How about the Patriots? The Titans will be considerably better as the season goes on. The bottom line is this; winning a game you were losing, or losing a game you were winning is irrelevant. There will be countless other situations like that during the season. It’s one game. There are 15 left. Chill. We’re just getting started.

Football is back.

That’s a good thing!