1. Mark Sanchez needs to be better than Trent Dilfer.
No team had more hype coming into 2010 than the Jets, thanks largely to their own bravado. The formula seemed simple, mimic the 2000 Ravens and play dominant defense, run the ball and don't make mistakes in the passing game. The thing is, these Jets aren't those Ravens. Baltimore didn't just have a dominant defense, they had a historically dominant one. On top of that, they had a top 5 running game anchored by a hall of fame left tackle in Jonathan Ogden, exceptional special teams and a surprisingly respectable 3,100 yards in passing.
The Jets may aspire to that, but it's a tall order, especially with Kris Jenkins out for the year, Darrelle Revis and Calvin Pace wounded and the offensive line a work in progress. They'll need to keep the game 1 training wheels off Mark Sanchez and get more games like last Sunday's against the Patriots. He won't have to toss 3 TDs a game, but he has to be able to keep 8 men out of the box and win a few games with his arm if the Jets are going to get out of the tough AFC East and make noise in the playoffs.
2. A bad quarterback is a death sentence.
You can get in trouble declaring a team out of the running after week 2, but the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns are dead in the water, all because of disastrous quarterback situations. If Derek Anderson, Trent Edwards, Matt Moore and Jake Delhomme are the answer, I shudder to think what the question is. All four have already gone to the second string, which may give them hope for the future (Max Hall and Jimmy Clausen are interesting prospects), but kills their chance of contending.
Matt Cassel, Alex Smith and the vortex of mediocrity in Oakland all have the capacity to totally undermine their teams seasons early, but they're all good enough to keep the jury out for a few more weeks.
3. The Lions and Chiefs aren't laughingstocks anymore.
Regardless of their current records (2-0 in Kansas City, 0-2 in Detroit) or how they ultimately finish the season, both the Lions and the Chiefs have already proven that they're no longer the league's doormats.
Kansas City has come roaring out of the gate with an upset win in a monsoon over a good Chargers team and a gutty victory over the terrible Browns. Beyond the record though, there's reason to expect the Chiefs to be a tough out all year long. Although their quarterback will probably be their ultimate undoing, they have receiving weapons in Dwayne Bowe, Dexter McCluster and Tony Moeaki, and they can run the ball as well as anyone with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs are top 10 in points allowed and rush defense and have respectable young talent at all three levels.
The Lions are 2010's early season hard luck story, losing twice by a combined total of just 8 points against two quality opponents (one game dropped to instant replay), plus losing their franchise quarterback to injury for a month. The results don't reflect the product on the field, however. For the first time in an eternity, the Lions have a balanced offense led by a rookie of the year contender Jahvid Best and genetic freak Calvin Johnson. Defensively, #2 overall pick Ndamukong Suh has already proven himself to be a force of nature and centerpiece to a feisty, up and coming squad.
Neither team should sniff the playoffs this year, though they both ought to make nasty spoilers in December.
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