Reality Check
Posted September 14, 2010, 10:10 AM ET

I loved watching HBO's Hard Knocks series on the New York Jets.

HBO does great work with their documentaries and the Jets provided a perfect combination of loud-mouths and personalities to keep any fan interested. But with all that being said, it does come down to players making plays and the game of football itself.

No matter how much hype and self-congratulatory praise, you gotta get it done between the lines.

And after the first week of the NFL season.....the Jets are 0-1, after being punched in the mouth by another Super Bowl contender by the name of the Baltimore Ravens. Even though the score was 10-9, the Jets never seemed in the game, as evidenced by their 6 total first downs. Coach Rex Ryan drops more F-bombs in a 15 minute segment of Hard Knocks than the Jets gather first downs.

Love 'em or hate 'em, the success or failure of the Jets will be a story to keep your eye on this year.

The Carolina Panthers got a dose of reality in their opener, too. An offense which produced a grand total of zero touchdowns in four pre-season games continued to sputter, when it was time for the real bullets.

Matt Moore threw to receivers that can't get open (the exception is Steve Smith), and the run game was grounded by a solid Giants defensive unit. When you make 5 turnovers on the road, including three picks in the end zone....well, you normally get a lopsided thumping.

There wasn't much to get excited about after the dull performance....but the positive performances included Mike Goodson on the kick-off returns; Greg Hardy making some plays; the linebackers and John Kasay.

All-in-all, it was a game to forget...and given the concussion sustained by QB Matt Moore, that might be what the doctor ordered. There is still a chance he plays in the home opener against Tampa Bay on Sunday, if not....the "Jimmy Clausen Show" begins earlier than anticipated.

The Panthers are going to be in trouble all year, if and when they fall behind by double digits....they are not built to score points in bunches. That's why it's imperative that they win at home this week vs. Tampa. A quick look at the schedule shows two powerful offensive teams in Cincinnati and New Orleans are on tap....a slow start for the league's youngest team is a bad combination.

I loved the Washington Redskins' uniform combo....and their ability to rip the heart out of the Cowboys on Sunday night. It was great theater, watching the Cowboys' closing drive and apparent game-winning touchdown with no time left, only to be eliminated by another penalty.

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, indeed.

The only other game that could top that bizarre ending was the touchdown catch of Calvin Johnson that was ruled incomplete in the Bears-Lions game. Here's my take:

It was a catch.....the ruling on the field is correct......and the rule itself is total BS.

Detroit should be used to it....losing, that is.

The NFL provided great fodder and it's only week one of the season.....don't you just love it!

---

There's another reality check taking place, and that's in college football.....more specifically: the Atlantic Coast Conference.

How bad is the ACC?

During the month of July, I asked a question on my radio show about the ACC gaining some much-needed national respect. I took a look at the each team's non-conference schedule, and picked their biggest early test in the season.....Just how many games could/would the league win?

The early returns have been embarrassing:

When you throw in ACC Champ Georgia Tech losing to lightweight Kansas and the Hokies inexplicably losing at home to James Madison in week two.....my goodness; it's ugly, in the ACC.

I guess NC State's win over Central Florida and Maryland's escape against Navy would be the highlights.

But look at this week's non-conference games, and tell me how many the ACC will win?

It's another week for the ACC to hang on tight and hope they don't get embarrassed.

I've always contended that pre-season polls are BS in college football. When the polls were released, the ACC's Coastal division had four teams in the Top 20: Miami, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and UNC.

All four teams have suffered losses by week two, and only Miami remains ranked in the Top 25. The good news is that they should stay there after this week, because they have an open date.

Who knows...maybe somebody will step out from the shadows and prove that they belong in the discussion as a viable Top 20 team.....but at this stage of the season, it appears the ACC is in over its head.

---

My wife and I attended the US Open in NY this past weekend, since we were in town for the Panthers' season opener.

The experience at the Arthur Ashe Center was fantastic. Of course, it didn't hurt that we caught both men's semi-final matches that included the top three ranked players in the world.

Like most sports, watching the best in the world in person gives you a whole new appreciation for their skills and accomplishments.

Rafa Nadal is amazing. I'm not a huge tennis fan (I leave that to my wife), but the guy is phenomenal. He eventually closed the deal on his first US Open championship and his ninth grand slam title....not bad, for a 24-year old kid. In the process, he became only the 7th man to win all four of the grand slam tournaments.

Watching Nadal, Federer and Djokovic all play Saturday afternoon was a joy....little did I know it would be the sporting highlight of the weekend, after witnessing the Panthers' effort against the Giants the following day.