Suffering from a knee-jerk reaction? Let our experts help
 

ESPN.com

Updated: September 19, 2007

Your favorite team is 2-0, so naturally you're making Super Bowl travel plans. Or your team is 0-2 and you've already inquired about getting a refund for NFL Sunday Ticket. That's what fans do -- they perform the knee-jerk dance.

But we're here to give those overreactions some proper perspective. Whether it's dousing your overzealous enthusiasm or talking you off the ledge, ESPN.com NFL writers Jeffri Chadiha, John Clayton, Len Pasquarelli and Mike Sando have the answers to six big NFL knee-jerk reactions after the first two weeks of the season.


"2. The Saints are back to being the 'Aints

Please. The Saints may be 0-2, but this is the NFC, so it's not as if anyone is going to run away with things. Look around the NFC South and you see nothing but mediocrity, so the Saints have plenty of time to bounce back. Sean Payton has to be concerned about the big plays allowed by the cornerbacks and how production has slipped at wide receiver. Devery Henderson isn't much of a threat on the other side of the field from Marques Colston, and the Saints are paying the price. Plus, the Saints are filling the defensive tackle position with street free agents, and that could get scary as the season goes on. That said, name me another team in the division any better. The Panthers were blown away at home by Houston last week, and the Bucs will struggle on the road. The Aint is a reflection of the division, not New Orleans.
-- John Clayton


The Saints are struggling to find an identity on offense. We've known all along their defense would have some issues. The Saints won in the playoffs because they leaned hard on Deuce McAllister and the ground game. McAllister had 21 carries for 143 yards against the Eagles in the divisional round. Reggie Bush carried a dozen times for 52 yards in that game. Now? Bush has more carries than McAllister through two games this season. The Saints won't duplicate their magical 2006 run, but they should be much better offensively once they get McAllister going. -- Mike Sando"


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ESPN - Some perspective for your knee-jerk NFL reactions - NFL

Re: Suffering from a knee-jerk reaction? Let our experts help
 

There is still a chance of over-achieveing last year.

Re: Suffering from a knee-jerk reaction? Let our experts help
 

So what if there was over-achieving going on. The main point is we are better team today than we were two years ago,

Re: Suffering from a knee-jerk reaction? Let our experts help
 

two years ago we were 1-1 going into the 3rd game of the season. This year we ARE better and we will prove it(Or at least they had better) this week against the Titans.

Re: Suffering from a knee-jerk reaction? Let our experts help
 

yeah I'm starting to get my enthusiasm back
I feel good about this game
unlike that last game
I'm not sure why but I had a feeling things were going to turn out bad against the bucks

I wish I could say the same about the colts
I personally had high expatiations going into that one as did many others
I thought that we were going to make a statement to the league
but I should know better because the NFL is apprised with so many talented players that anything is possible because and the minuet you think you know what’s going to happen that’s when you find yourself recounting that basket of eggs