Article:Whatifsports NFL Replay: Week 2

Great success of the opening WIS NFL replay of the 2007-08 NFL season, we'll see what happens when I simulate week 2.

= Sunday =

Jacksonville Jaguars 26 Atlanta Falcons 24

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns (Game of the Day)

Green Bay Packers 30 New York Giants 10

St. Louis Rams 19 San Francisco 49ers 10

Carolina Panthers 27 Houston Texans 9

Indianapolis Colts 26 Tennessee Titans 21 New Orleans Saints 13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 (OT)

Dallas Cowboys 41 Miami Dolphins 30 (The Dolphins actually had a 23-3 lead at one point)

Seattle Seahawks 27 Arizona Cardinals 6 ( Shaun Alexander really sucks in simulations)

Minnesota Vikings 42 Detroit Lions 13

Chicago Bears 24 Kansas City Chiefs 21 (Haha, Devin Hester got a punt return TD)

Baltimore Ravens 17 New York Jets 10 (Both Kellen Clemens and Kyle Boller started the game)

Denver Broncos 49 Oakland Raiders 28 (Haha, Oakland had a 21-3 lead before getting blown out)

New England Patriots 24 San Diego Chargers 14

= Monday =

Washington Redskins 28 Philadelphia Eagles 7

= Game of the Day: Bengals @ Browns =

Ah the battle of Ohio. The Bengals came into this game reeling from a blow out loss to the Ravens on Monday, while the Browns stunned the Steelers 24-10. Generally this rivalry ends in a shootout.

The Bengals wasted very little time scoring. On the 4th play of the game, Kenny Watson ran his way for 46 yards all the way to the Cleveland 17. Rudi Johnson scored on a draw play 2 plays later. 7-0 Bengals already on top. But the Browns were not to be denied. They went right down the field in 11 plays into the red zone....only to have that joke of a running game fail them on 3rd and 5. Phil Dawson kicked the FG. 7-3 Bengals. The Bengals got the ball back, and they marched down the field, with another long run by Watson of 16. This time, they weren't going to get a touchdown as a 3rd and 9 pass at the Browns 24 sailed over the head of Chad Johnson. Shayne Graham put 3 on the board for the Bengals. 10-3 Bengals. So 3 possessions, 3 scores. Obviously defense was not a factor to start the game until both of them stiffened in the red zone. But the Bengals nearly got the first breakthrough of the game as time was winding down in the 1st quarter. Jamal Lewis coughed the ball up in his own territory, but the Browns got it back.

The start of the 2nd quarter saw the Browns punting it away....Cincy once again went right through the Cleveland defense. But when they were at the Cleveland 23, they stalled. Another FG made it 13-3 Bengals. Ensuing possession, QB Derek Anderson through consecutive first down passes. One to Joe Jurevicious for 14, and another to Kellen Winslow for 12. By the two minute warning, the Browns were at the Bengals 4 yard line. On 3rd and 1, Anderson fires.....TOUCHDOWN TO JAMAL LEWIS!!! 13-10 Bengals. The teams traded punts and it was halftime of an entertaining first half seeing just 3 punts.

2nd half began poorly for Cleveland, who had a chance to rally from 2 possessions down to take the lead on a touchdown. They went 3 and out, and gave it back to that Bengals offense that punted just once in the game. Cincy went on a methodical, time consuming drive. A 12 play, 84 yard drive lasted 7:43, and it ended with a Chad Johnson touchdown! 20-10 Bengals. The Browns were looking to respond as they put together a nice drive that had Anderson, Jurevicius, and Winslow all as the key players. The 4th quarter would decide if they could provide the comeback.

The start of the 4th quarter was the start of Cleveland's comeback. The 3rd play of the quarter, and the 12th play of the drive, found Jamal Lewis in the end zone again. 20-17 Browns. Now that Browns defense needed to make the Bengals punter earn his money. Instead, Carson Palmer threw passes to Chris Henry (I think he played in week 2), Chad Johnson, and TJ Whosyourmama and next thing you know, the Bengals are at the Cleveland 4 with over 9:00 to play. Gut check time for the Browns D. A touchdown effectively ends the game.

1st and goal, Rudi Johnson for a loss of 1.

2nd and goal, Johnson gains a yard (HEYYYOOO!!!)

3rd and goal, Palmer in trouble, loses a yard.

So that goal line stand, combined with Shayne Graham's FG made it 23-17 Bengals with 7:14 left. Now all Cleveland needed was a time consuming, game winning touchdown drive.

This drive started at their own 34. First play, Winslow catches it and gains 13. Third play after a Lewis 2 yard run, Anderson to Winslow for 13 more. Fifth play after another short run by Lewis, Anderson to Braylon Edwards for 9 and a first down. Now they are at the Cincy 29 with 3:34 left and all 3 timeouts. Jerome Harrison then gained 12 yards to the 17. Two minutes left, and they are 17 yards away from a victory.

On a 3rd and 1 at the 11 after a short yardage pass to Edwards and a 6 yard run by Lewis, Harrison picked up 4 more yards. Now they are 7 yards away, the Bengals defense has to be tired.

1st and goal, Anderson for the end zone...incomplete.

2nd and goal, Lawrence Vickers loses 2.

3rd and goal, still plenty of time, Anderson for the end zone....PICKED OFF BY DELTHA O'NEAL!!! But O'Neal falls at his own 1. The Browns can certainly stop the Bengals and get the ball back with a safety...and they still had two timeouts.

Next play, Kenny Watson's impressive 130 yard day on just 11 carries was capped off with a game ending 39 scamper to his own 40. Kneel downs, Bengals get win #1, Browns get loss #1.

Bengals 23 Browns 17


= WIS Standings =

AFC East
Patriots (2-0) Bills (1-1) Jets (0-2) Dolphins (0-2)

AFC North
Ravens (1-1) Bengals (1-1) Browns (1-1) Steelers (1-1)

AFC South
Colts (2-0)

Jaguars (2-0)

Texans (0-2)

Titans (0-2)

AFC West
Broncos (2-0)

Chiefs (1-1)

Chargers (1-1)

Raiders (0-2)

NFC East
Cowboys (2-0)

Redskins (2-0)

Eagles (0-2)

Giants (0-2)

NFC North
Vikings (1-1)

Packers (1-1)

Bears (1-1)

Lions (1-1)

NFC South
Saints (2-0)

Panthers (2-0)

Bucs (0-2)

Falcons (0-2)

NFC West
Seahawks (2-0)

Cardinals (1-1)

Rams (1-1)

49ers (0-2)

= NFL's Actual Standings From Week 2 =

= WIS Standings =

AFC East
Patriots (2-0) Bills (0-2) Jets (0-2) Dolphins (0-2)

Steelers (2-0)
Ravens (1-1) Bengals (1-1) Browns (1-1)

AFC South
Colts (2-0) Texans (2-0) Jaguars (1-1) Titans (1-1)

AFC West
Broncos (2-0)

Chargers (1-1)

Chiefs (0-2)

Raiders (0-2)

NFC East
Cowboys (2-0) Redskins (2-0) Eagles (0-2) Giants (0-2)

NFC North
Packers (2-0)

Lions (2-0)

Vikings (1-1)

Bears (1-1)

NFC South
Bucs (2-0) Panthers (2-0) Saints (0-2) Falcons (0-2)

NFC West
49ers (2-0)

Seahawks (1-1)

Cardinals (1-1) Rams (0-2)

Stay tuned for Kels' week 3 replay, as he has graciously offered to help me with this project.