Corey Simon could have been speaking for every NFL player.

Teams can control many things, but not injuries, the Eagles’ defensive tackle said after his team fell to 0-2 with a 31-10 loss to New England.

After just two weeks, it’s clear that the teams that reach the Super Bowl probably will be the teams that stay the healthiest.

The Eagles are the perfect example of a team hurt by injuries. They had four defensive starters missing Sunday when they dropped their second straight home game, most importantly All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins and Pro Bowl cornerback Bobby Taylor.

And while that doesn’t explain the ineffectiveness of Donovan McNabb and the offense, which has scored just 10 points in two games, it’s one reason why Tom Brady was able to go 30-of-44 for 255 yards.

Oakland is another example. Without wide receiver Jerry Porter and safety Rod Woodson, the Raiders barely beat Cincinnati at home, winning 23-20 with the help of a late pass-interference call.

Other teams muddled through.

Denver lost quarterback Jake Plummer and running back Clinton Portis in the first half of its 37-13 win in San Diego. Two reasons the Broncos won: Steve Beuerlein, at 38, remains a capable backup quarterback, and San Diego isn’t beating anyone these days.

But it still forced coach Mike Shanahan to lie about Plummer’s injury – he has a separated right shoulder, not a “mild concussion,” as was announced during the game.

“If Steve went down on the first or second play and Jake went in there with a separated shoulder, they would know that we could not throw the football. So, for his sake and our sake I had to fib a little bit,” said Shanahan, who decided to start the season with just two quarterbacks.

A few years ago, the Dallas Cowboys were chastised for leaving some players off the injury report that the league requires during the week (for perusal by opponents and, unofficially, for gamblers and fantasy fans). The next week, nearly half the Cowboys’ roster was listed – right down to the bruised pinkies.

Other coaches play injuries up or down, depending on the effect they want, so the official report often means little.

“Questionable,” is the most abused category. In the official parlance, it means there’s a 50-50 chance a player will start.

Unofficially, it means anything from “he’s fine” to “forget it.” It’s no surprise when a “questionable” player is listed as inactive at the start of a game.

Back to the Eagles, who also have hedged a bit about injuries – Dawkins, for example, was listed as out from two-to-six weeks when his bruised foot was diagnosed.

Vague, isn’t it? The same injury cost Duce Staley a season, although this one is said to be much less severe.

In any case, the Eagles aren’t dead yet.

They have a bye next week to get healthy; McNabb, 18-of-46 for 186 yards and two interceptions on Sunday, will get better; and they haven’t played a division game yet.

Remember that the Jets and Titans each started 1-4 last season and won their divisions. The Titans went all the way to the AFC championship game.

But after two weeks and just 10 points, let’s call the Eagles “questionable.”

Odds and ends

• INDIANAPOLIS: The Colts look like serious challengers. The defense improved markedly last season when Tony Dungy took over but still fell apart late.

It seems much better this season. On Sunday, it held Tennessee to just 236 yards, had five sacks and knocked Steve McNair out for a couple of series with a dislocated finger in a 33-7 win. After being swept last season by the Titans, the win gives the Colts a leg up on the only other serious team in the AFC South.

• WASHINGTON: To Steve Spurrier’s credit, the Redskins took advantage of starting the season against teams with backup QBs. After an unimpressive win over the Jets (Vinny Testaverde for Chad Pennington), they came back from a 17-0 deficit in Atlanta on Sunday to win 33-31 as Patrick Ramsey (good draft pick) threw for 356 yards and two TDs and Laveranues Coles (very good free-agent acquisition) caught 11 passes for 180 yards. Doug Johnson, Michael Vick’s replacement, was just 16-of-36 for 197 yards and two interceptions.

• JAMAL LEWIS AND THE RAVENS: Lewis is obviously back from the serious knee injury that cost him the 2001 season – a record 295 yards on the ground will do that.

• SPECIAL TEAMS: Carolina upset Tampa Bay 12-9 in overtime by blocking two field goals and what would have been the winning extra point on the last play of regulation. Two of the league’s best defensive linemen got the three blocks – two by Kris Jenkins and one by Julius Peppers. Even with the inexperienced Jake Delhomme at QB, the Panthers have to be considered a contender for a playoff spot.

• BOOMING BILLS: The win over the Patriots was pure emotion – Lawyer Milloy leaving the Patriots and signing with Buffalo. Jacksonville, Sunday’s victim, is rebuilding. The Bills’ defense is better because of Sam Adams, Takeo Spikes and Milloy, but let’s wait to see what happens in Miami next Sunday – the AFC East (sans Jets) may beat itself up all season.

• BAD CARDINALS: Despite Emmitt Smith, the Cardinals drew only 23,127 for a 38-0 loss to Seattle in their home opener. Metal bleachers and temperatures over 100 degrees were two reasons, but an awful team is another – Arizona has allowed 80 points in two games, including 42 to the Lions, another bad team. Smith had 54 yards on 14 carries and now is 27 for 118 in two games, or 4.4 yards per carry, but he’s useless as a part-time back on an awful team.

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Dave Goldberg covers football for The Associated Press. Write to him at dgoldberg(at)ap.org