Important Division Games Highlight Week 2

Eli Manning - QB New York Giants

It's only Week 2, but already there are key division games

"Games within your division are never easy," says New York Giants head coach TOM COUGHLIN, whose team defeated NFC East foe Washington last week and will face another division rival in Dallas this Sunday night.

How important are division games?

Since realignment to the current eight-division format in 2002, the 14 teams that have advanced to the Super Bowl have a combined 68-16 (.810) record in games within their division.

"These games are important," says NBC analyst and former head coach TONY DUNGY, "because you want to gain an advantage in your division."

Division battles also highlight the unpredictability of the NFL.

In the seven seasons since realignment, 26 of the 32 NFL teams have won at least one division title. Last year, there were six new division champions, tying the record for the most in a season (2003).

Here are the seven division games taking place in NFL 2009 Week 2:

 

After a Kickoff Weekend that saw quarterbacks making their first starts (MARK SANCHEZ of the New York Jets and MATTHEW STAFFORD of the Detroit Lions) and 270th start (Minnesota's BRETT FAVRE); the first six-touchdown pass game in an opener (New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES); the longest game-winning touchdown from scrimmage in the final minute of the fourth quarter in NFL history (Denver wide receiver BRANDON STOKLEY's 87-yard touchdown with 11 seconds remaining); and the most games decided by six points or fewer on Kickoff Weekend since 2002 (nine), here comes NFL 2009 Week 2:

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0) at NEW YORK JETS (1-0)

Jets rookie head coach REX RYAN has brought a new attitude to this AFC East rivalry.

"I came here to win," says Ryan. "I'm not intimidated by New England or anybody else."

The Jets were not intimidated on Kickoff Weekend as they defeated the Houston Texans 24-7 behind a strong defense and the play of rookie quarterback MARK SANCHEZ, who passed for 272 yards and a touchdown.

One of the teams standing in New York's way in the AFC East is the New England Patriots, winners of five of the past seven division titles.

On Monday night, Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY, passed for two touchdowns in the final 2:06 to pull out a 25-24 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills.

"Two-minute drives are always fun for a quarterback," says Brady. "I'm glad we got a win. It's a pretty special victory."

With both teams coming off victories in Week 1, the anticipation is building for this division matchup.

"I'm looking forward to it," says Ryan. "We'll find out who has the better team right now."

NEW YORK GIANTS (1-0) at DALLAS COWBOYS (1-0)

These two NFC East rivals, who have won the past two division crowns -- Giants in 2008, Cowboys in 2007 -- will meet in the first regular-season game at Cowboys Stadium.

"This," Cowboys owner JERRY JONES says about his new stadium, "is the real deal. This stadium shows the glitz and glamour of the Dallas Cowboys."

Both teams are coming off impressive Kickoff Weekend victories. The Giants defeated Washington 23-17 and the Cowboys beat Tampa Bay 34-21.

"We're just going to go in there and try to play good football," says Giants quarterback ELI MANNING. "It's a big game. It's a division game. We know it's going to take a great effort on our part. We're going to Dallas, playing in a new stadium, and it will be a loud crowd. It's a big game for us."

One of the key matchups will be Dallas' high-powered offense against New York's stout defense. The Cowboys, led by quarterback TONY ROMO's career-high 353 passing yards, scored 34 points and amassed 462 yards of offense last week. The Giants, meanwhile, held the Redskins to 272 total yards, recorded three sacks and forced two turnovers, including a 37-yard fumble-return touchdown by defensive end OSI UMENYIORA.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1-0) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-1)

The Indianapolis Colts return to Land Shark Stadium for the first time since the team's Super Bowl XLI victory to face the Miami Dolphins. And both teams have eyes on playing at this venue in February when South Florida plays host to Super Bowl XLIV.

Last season, Miami, led by rookie head coach TONY SPARANO, won 11 games and captured the AFC East, one year after a 1-15 record. The 10-win increase tied the NFL record for the biggest one-year improvement, set by the 1999 Colts.

"That's why fans love the NFL," says Miami quarterback CHAD PENNINGTON, the 2008 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year, about the unpredictability of the NFL.

This year's Colts hope that a first-year head coach will bring them similar success. Last week, JIM CALDWELL got his first career victory as the Colts defeated Jacksonville 14-12.

This game will take place on the same date -- September 21 -- as the first-ever Monday Night Football contest: New York Jets at Cleveland Browns in 1970. MNF is celebrating its 40th season this year.

Seven highlights from games the first week of the NFL 2009 season

Denver wide receiver BRANDON STOKLEY caught a tipped pass and raced 87 yards for the game-winning score with 11 seconds remaining in the Broncos' 12-7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. That reception was the longest game-winning touchdown from scrimmage in the final minute of the fourth quarter in NFL history.

New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES threw a career-high six touchdowns passes in the Saints' 45-27 win over the Detroit Lions. Brees is the first player in NFL history to throw six touchdown passes on Kickoff Weekend.

Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings' 34-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Peterson is the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 180 yards and three touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend.

Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE started his 270th consecutive game in the Vikings' 34-20 win over the Cleveland Browns, tying JIM MARSHALL for the longest starting streak in NFL history. Marshall started 270 games in a row for Minnesota from 1961-1979. He played 12 games with Cleveland in 1960, but official records of starters were not kept before 1961. However, the Browns' internal records -- including highlight films, score sheets, game-day programs, newspaper clips and conversations with former players -- indicate that Marshall started the first game in 1960, but did not start the final 11 games of that season while playing a significant back-up role.

New York Jets quarterback MARK SANCHEZ made his first career start today against the Houston Texans. Sanchez became the first rookie quarterback since Pro Football Hall of Famer ROGER STAUBACH of the Dallas Cowboys (1969) to start on Kickoff Weekend for a team that finished the previous season with a winning record. The Jets posted a 9-7 (.562) record in 2008. Sanchez completed 18 of 31 passes (58.1 percent) for 272 yards and one touchdown in the Jets' 24-7 victory.

At 26 years, 13 days old, Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD (6,046) became the second-youngest player in NFL history to reach 6,000 receiving yards. Fitzgerald, who had six receptions for 71 yards against the San Francisco 49ers, trails only RANDY MOSS, who reached the milestone at 25 years, 270 days old.

Atlanta tight end TONY GONZALEZ, in his first game with the Falcons, had five receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown in the team's 19-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Gonzalez became the first tight end in NFL history -- and the 21st player overall -- to reach 11,000 career receiving yards (11,013).

NFL 2009 Week 2 Schedule

(All times local)

Sunday, September 20

Carolina at Atlanta, 1:00 PM

New Orleans at Philadelphia, 1:00 PM

Houston at Tennessee, 12:00 PM

St. Louis at Washington, 1:00 PM

Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 4:05 PM

Minnesota at Detroit, 1:00 PM

Seattle at San Francisco, 1:05 PM

Cincinnati at Green Bay, 12:00 PM

Pittsburgh at Chicago, 3:15 PM

Arizona at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM

Cleveland at Denver, 2:15 PM

Oakland at Kansas City, 12:00 PM

Baltimore at San Diego, 1:15 PM

New England at N.Y. Jets, 1:00 PM

N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 7:20 PM (NBC)

Monday, September 21

Indianapolis at Miami, 8:30 PM (ESPN)

 

NFL 2009 Week 1 Results

(Home Team in CAPS)

PITTSBURGH 13, Tennessee 10 (OT)

NEW ORLEANS 45, Detroit 27

Dallas 34, TAMPA BAY 21

San Francisco 20, ARIZONA 16

ATLANTA 19, Miami 7

N.Y. GIANTS 23, Washington 17

BALTIMORE 38, Kansas City 24

SEATTLE 28, St. Louis 0

Philadelphia 38, CAROLINA 10

GREEN BAY 21, Chicago 15

Denver 12, CINCINNATI 7

Minnesota 34, CLEVELAND 20

N.Y. Jets 24, HOUSTON 7

INDIANAPOLIS 14, Jacksonville 12

NEW ENGLAND 25, Buffalo 24

San Diego 24, OAKLAND 20

 

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