Brooks and Blanco atop the pack

Two weeks into the regular season has shown that the even the New England Patriots aren’t perfect, and while that may not be much of a revelation, the fact that the Chiefs, Bengals, Redskins, and Giants are has left many experts scratching their heads.

While the National Football League’s pursuit for parity positively progressing, thousands of fans whose teams were previously putrid are now realizing commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s dream of equality.

The Patriots are the closest thing to a dynasty in the league, but they and the Bills fell to the Panthers and Buccaneers, respectively, to fall to 1-1. The trend continued within the division as Miami and the Jets followed suit.

After looking so good in the opening week against the Broncos in their home opener, the Dolphins took a nose dive when Chad Pennington of the Jets got his groove back in time to get everyone a fresh start on the season.

The shocker in the North is that the Bengals are tied with the Steelers at 2-0, and they could continue on that way after their respective matches with the Bears and Pats. While they look to extend their streaks, Cleveland and Baltimore look to start one. The Browns bounced back from a 27-13 loss to Cincinnati on opening day by stunning the Packers, but the Ravens look plain awful after being outscored 49-17 through two games.

In the South, the Colts scored their seventh straight home win, and unlike last season, did so with a dominant defense led by Dwight Freeney that has allowed a total of 10 points in the past two weeks. At 2-0, they are in control of the division as Jacksonville and Tennessee are at 1-1, and Houston is fumbling at 0-2.

In the wild, wild, west, the Kansas City Chiefs continued to defy their detractors as the two-headed monsters known as Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes continued to gain ground and score touchdowns.

LaDainian Tomlinson also showed why he was one of the most sought after player in the fantasy world by notching an NFL record rushing touchdown in his 14th consecutive game, but that hasn’t helped the Chargers break into the win column. Currently they reside in the basement with the Raiders at 0-2, but they will most likely break out of the dumps this weekend against the G-men, while the silver and black takes its lumps from the home of the Philly Cheese steak.

Denver is still looking for an identity, and the just went out and regained the rights to castoff running back Quentin Griffin. After spending time on the outside looking in, Griffin will have to get back into game shape, but his hunger for the game and knowledge of coach Shanahan’s system should help him get up to speed in no time. The Broncos just hope that he can hang on to the ball this time around.

In the NFC East, Joe Gibbs looked like a genius when Mark Brunell regained some of his 1997 form against the Dallas Cowboys in the Lone Star State, as “America’s Team” gave up back-to-back longballs to Santana Moss to lose a 13-0 lead and the game in the final four minutes of the game.

The twin strikes of 39 and 70 yards were simple post plays that burned the Dallas DB’s, and Gibbs said that is was one of the most important victories of his career. Maybe he forgot winning three Super Bowls in his old age.

The Giants are a team with some steam, as they are tied with the ‘Skins at 2-0, while Dallas licks its wounds at 1-1, and Philly takes aim at Oakland. Look for New York to fall from the ranks of the undefeated this weekend against the Bolts (San Diego Chargers) and for the Eagles to climb into second.

Is it possible that Detroit and Chicago are in first place of the NFC North division? Not only is it possible, it’s a reality as the Bears and Lions are 1-1 ahead of a couple of miserable clubs from Green Bay and Minnesota.

The Lions are poised to go 3-0 for the first time since the Barry Sanders days in 1990 if they can get past Tampa Bay next week, and the Bears have a shot to do so if they can edge Chad Johnson and the Bengals this weekend.

The Green Bay Packers are a different story altogether, as Brett Favre and the cheese heads are sitting in the cellar at 0-2 and staring their third loss in the face. Though he became third in the all-time passing list with 50,277 yards, the Pack needs some work before they can rebound. With the recent emergence of Carnell Cadillac Williams as the motor in the Tampa backfield, the Bucs are cruising along. Williams tallied 128 yards against the Bills, and is looking to do the same in Wisconsin.

At least they don’t have to worry about the Detroit Lions extending their lead, as they are idle this week along with the Ravens, Texans, and Redskins, but the lords of Lambeau will have plenty of work to do if they hope to earn a win this weekend against the Tampa in the Battle of the Bays.

The Bears don’t have the same problem, as they have one of the most exciting teams on the field since Jim McMahon a guy named Sweetness led them to the Super Bowl. It’s been 20 years since Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka brought respectability to Da Bears.

Only seven teams have scored more points, and rookie QB Kyle Orton has injected new life into a struggling squad.

In the NFC South, the Katrina refugees suffered their first home loss of the season as the New Orleans Saints fell to the Giants in New York during the league’s exercise in emergency relief. Though coach Jim Haslett and his players admittedly weren’t at the top of their collective games, the loss was as much a part of a result of their poor play as their situation.

Calling the contest in East Rutherford, New Jersey a home game for the Saints because their team name was painted in the end zone was about as inaccurate as calling the economy “pretty darn good,” but it was the NFL’s intention that counted.

The debate will haunt the French Quarter as long as the ghosts of the Super Dome and Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

At the very least, the Saint, Panthers, and Falcons are just a game off the Buccaneers’ pace at 1-1, but the Falcons rest their hopes on Vick while the Panthers are a solid unit.

The NFC West is sorry to say the least. The 49ers are about as bad as bad can get, and while the Seahawks want to be a contender, they have had difficulty proving their stability since Reagan held office.

The Rams are always on the verge of breaking through into the realm of the real with Marshal Faulk and company, but his age is catching up with him, and Stephen Jackson is carrying more of the load (153 yards to Faulk’s 27). Either way they go, the golden clad Rams will never be as flashy as the yellow trousered team that won the Super Bowl.

That team was led by Kurt Warner, who coincidently leads the last place Arizona Cardinals. It has been a while since he has seen first place, and unless the red birds can put it together, it will be that way for a while.

On the local scene, Rich Brooks got a little company atop the standings as Jon Blanco moved into the first place condo after finishing with a weekly high 9-7, while Brooks was the worst at 6-10. With the duo locked in the lead at 18-14, they are only one step ahead of the competition, as Cramer and last year’s champ Will Hunter are even at 17-15. Just a game here and there separates the top four teams, but the Lil’ Mahi is just a few heady calls away from joining them at 12-20. Oh, and just a word of advice to the Mahi, stay away from the Cardinals!