Do you know the best thing about following the NFL in America (apart from the fact, that, well, it is actually based over here)? Sports bars. And lots of 'em.

Every Sunday, I can take my pick from dozens of different venues at which to keep an eye on all the games, as they happen, from midday in our time-zone until the clock ticks round to 0:00 in the final game (usually around 11.45pm).

Welker: mammoth catch-and-run

It is an absolute sporting smorgasbord of spectating satisfaction, with every game shown live on multiple large-screen TVs. Usually with fans of many of the teams all watching in the same confined space and merely swapping banter instead of anything more physical.

Even my wife - who will usually run a mile at the mere sound of ESPN being switched on the TV at home - will happily go along to our sports bar of choice on any given Sunday to enjoy the atmosphere, festivity and sheer good fun of the occasion, albeit she does start to flag after six hours or so.

Of the national chains, there is Buffalo Wild Wings, Beef O'Brady's, TGI Fridays and Hooters; here in Orlando we also have the Miller's Ale House group, ESPN Sports Club, NBA City, Legends Sports Bar & Grill and another dozen or so genuine individuals.

Plus, we have fans here from all over the country, meaning the Atmospherometer goes all the way up to 11 at times.

Add in the fact that all of them have food and drink specials for Game Day (for example: $4 pitchers with an order of their signature Chicken Zingers at the Miller's Ale Houses!), and you have the recipe for truly blissful football watching.

Try finding anywhere like that on the nearest High Street for the Premier League on a Saturday afternoon.

Discovery

I say all this, though, merely as the usual preamble to the Main Message of this week's column. And it comes courtesy of my waiter at my newest sports bar discovery, that of Uno Chicago Grill in nearby Winter Garden (a nice little western suburb of Orlando itself).

Having avoided what I considered a fairly run-of-the-mill pizza chain in recent years, I was inveigled in this recent past weekend by their 'lunch special' billboard that offered an all-you-can-eat option for just $6.99, including a choice of soups, salads and wraps. Well, it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?

Having walked in, we discovered a classically elegant setting, with faux brickwork, comfy armchairs, friendly service and multiple TVs. Lots of TVs. Like one at each table! Choose which game you want to watch, and off you go.

It is NFL Nirvana, and then some. But, it was what the waiter, Joseph, said that really caught my attention, and confirmed my main thought from a wild Week One that had a record-equalling touchdown pass (Wes Welker's 99-yard catch-and-run for New England at Miami); a record-equalling kick-off return (Randall Cobb's amazing 108-yard effort in the Packers' shootout win over New Orleans); and a record-equalling field goal (the 63-yarder by Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski at Denver).

And that thought was this: Who needs the off-season (or the pre-season, come to that), anyway?

Meaningful kick-off

If teams can go out without the benefit of any summer training camps, study groups or organised activity of any kind, and go bombs away from the very first meaningful kick-off, why bother with any of that summer nonsense?

We had a record-setting first week of the season in quarterback terms. Four surpassed 400 yards through the air (Tom Brady leading the way with his circus-act 517 against the Dolphins, but Chad Henne, Cam Newton and Drew Brees as well), while another ten topped 300.

And there were spectacular plays aplenty on special teams (notably Tedd Ginn's kick-off and punt returns for scores against Seattle) after we'd been led to believe the kick-off return would go the way of the Dodo following the new ruling for getting things under way from the 35-yard line instead of the 30.

Green Bay came out of the gate like the champions they are, and an overlooked Chicago, Buffalo, Houston, New England and Baltimore were equally impressive. Philadelphia weren't exactly 'dream team' status (more 'good night's sleep') but showed signs they can still dazzle, while Washington, Cincinnati, Arizona and Jacksonville all confounded predictions of doom and gloom.

Hopeful

Even Carolina, Miami (if Henne can replicate his 400-yard stunner a few times), and Denver looked hopeful in defeat. You could even put Dallas in the latter category if not for Tony Romo's fourth-quarter meltdown in the defeat by New York Jets, which led to Jerry Jones' mystifying comment that the Cowboys quarterback "actually had one of his best games for us." Cue much scratching of heads by the pundits in Texas.

Amazingly, the talking heads have also ripped apart Chad Ochocinco in his nice new Patriots outfit. Not for something he did, but more for what he didn't do in the Tom Brady pass-fest in Miami; i.e. accounting for just 14 of those 517 passing yards.

Poor old Ocho. He makes one Tweet about being in awe of Brady's prowess at first hand and the likes of Tedy Bruschi - someone who religiously toed the line of sporting non-comment when he was actually a Bill Belichick player - jump down his throat as if he has just thrown the team and all its occupants under the nearest bus.

You can say what you like about the madcap former Mr Johnson, but there isn't a malevolent bone in his body, and the game will definitely be that bit duller when he does decide to switch off from the game altogether (which may not be too long if he gets mercilessly pilloried as he did this week).

Outburst

So what to make of Week Two?

Well, if the opening salvo is anything to go by, it's a fool who will make any predictions at all.

No-one (and I mean not a single soul, not even in the blue-and-reddest of uniforms) saw Buffalo's 41-point outburst at Kansas City coming; or the revival of the Redskins against their arch-rivals; or the Falcons getting taken to the cleaners by Brian Urlacher and Co; or even rookie Newton throwing the ball like Steve Young.

And it will be an occasion of Halley's Comet rarity if the Steelers concede seven turnovers again this DECADE, let alone for the rest of the season.

So the best advice is just to sit down, strap in and get ready for another wild ride on the NFL side. And, if you can find a convenient American sports bar, raise a glass or three as well!

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