The PARADE's #1 reason to maintain a healthy level of Midwestern rage, while remaining guardedly optimistic: we're playing the Raiders at home.  This would be #2, or a good gift for those no class Indy fans.

As for the game...

Well, that um, nope still in a state of shock.

Confusion, anger, despair, hope, concern?

Somehow the PARADE may have been more okay with a healthy Brady and Co. dominating the Chiefs 30-7.

This was just perplexing.

The PARADE is going to be a little honest with AP Nation, the PARADE hates our QB-centric league and coverage.  Sure, it's one of if not the most important positions on the field, but the amount of time spent obsessing over it IS a little inordinate and maybe a little bit latently racist.  Not to get all Whitlock(y) but you think Stetson's is gonna pick up Glenn Dorsey to replace Tom Brady?  The PARADE is actually far more concerned about Dwayne No-Show getting hit in the hands, not focusing and choking in a clutch situation while healthy than our current QB vacuum.

That said, Brodie Croyle has failed the PARADE, and lost it's patient support.

via movies.yahoo.com

We shall return to Mr. Glass later.

Seriously, this talk of Bowe being heavier, is that the weight room or is it like: "Oh, I’m in shape! I’m round!" - [Damon Wayans, as James"The Grim Reaper" Roper in The Great White Hype]?

Answers?  Thank you traditional media.

And here's a legit reason to be pleased: Brandon Albert is awesome.  No joke. Awesome.  Long live B.A.

Also, our defense?  Left out there for way too long and held N.E. to 17, sure, blame it on Matt Cassel, but Cassel looked alright to me, that is after he gave up those two mystery safeties.

So there's the good news.

The really bad news.  LJ got stuffed for the most part, and we forgot to replace Damon Huard (which ironically is the best and worst move of ours this offseason).

In Huard we have the best over the hill back-up in football.  It's like putting a precision scope on backwards on a million dollar .50 caliber sniper rifle purchased yesterday.  Yeah, I guess it'll work alright, but we've got a major problem with no quick fix.

I mean who knows how we'll feel by the time of the BC "comeback," but Croyle's gonna need a hell of a rehab or else start up a vicodin addiction.

Also, I don't buy this Greg Cook whistful baseball(y) Posnanski comparison.  You know what Elway did when he realized he was gonna have to retire without winning a Super Bowl?  He put on 30 lbs. of muscle.  This is football, it involves the barbaric destruction of the human body in a dehumanizing fashion, you either train for that or you get destroyed.  What Posnanski is talking about is a bad M. Night Shyamalan plot device.

For those of you unfamilar to the admittedly terrible film "Unbreakable" here's a hint as to Samuel L. Jackson's character.

But I'm sorry it's not like this just happens because some people are "naturally" more inclined to survive (or eventually pay a horrible price for) the NFL's violent nature:

via i.a.cnn.net

So ultimately I guess the PARADE says this: be joyous, the liklihood of us going 4-12 is less after last weeks game (not mathematically, but holistically) and the Brodie Croyle question is essentially solved.

Now if we could just get a young QB without the Leinart/Quinn d-bag, scrub disease the PARADE would be pleased.

LJ for Matt Ryan?  After 1 week, na, and the Falcons would never go for it, but something to think about.