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Analysis of Week 15 in the NFL

Game Recaps

Colts 35 Jaguars 31

Every week, these undefeateds get a little closer to losing their way. The Colts, however, stayed on course. Peyton Manning seemingly got out of his funk, and Indianapolis needed a performance like that to find their way over the desperate Jaguars. His completions to Reggie Wayne (five for 132 yards and one touchdown) and Dallas Clarke (seven for 95 yards and two touchdowns) made this game exciting from the start, but it was Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones Drew, who ran for 110 yards and one touchdown, that gave the Jags  lightning. For the record, David Gerrard was one costly interception away from proving himself on national television.
Game Ball: Peyton Manning went 23 for 30 for 308 yards and four touchdowns.

Cowboys 24 Saints 17

We can’t say we are entirely surprised. Tony Romo and the Cowboys have had decent games (Romo has been playing extremely well as a matter of fact) and just have not been able to come away with the win. While Romo got the job done, he didn’t exactly outplay Drew Brees and the Saints by himself. The key to this game was a massive surge from DaMarcus Ware and the Dallas defense, who forced two of Brees’ fumbles as well as an interception and held New Orleans run game to only 65 yards total. It was truly inspirational to see Ware come back from that injury and play the game the right way.
Game Ball: Miles Austin had seven catches for 139 yards and one touchdown.

Patriots 17 Buffalo 10

Traditionally, the Pats put up huge numbers and beat the Bills fair and square. This week, Buffalo beat themselves. Tony Brady didn’t have to throw bombs, Lawerence Maroney didn’t have to run the length of the field, and the defense…well they didn’t really have to try. The Bills had 100 penalty minutes in just the first half of the football game, finishing the game with 124, completely giving New England control of the game. The Pats’ defense, who now looks like the who’s-who of Madden 2001, came alive behind Junior Seau and Tully Banta-Cain, but it wasn’t a great effort.
Game Ball: Banta-Cain had three sacks on the day.

Arizona 31 Lions 24

We will say it every week if we have to – give this Lions team a couple more years and they will be competitive again, and this week they were behind third-stringer Drew Stanton who only threw for 72 yards total!  Even the Lions’ defense was up for the task of defending the great Kurt Warner, who is looking older and more tired by the day. What we are happy about is the rookie, Beanie Wells, grabbing the first hundred-yard game of his career.  One thing is for sure: The Lions can not and will not play behind Daunte Culpepper and actually win.
Game Ball: Wells had 17 rushes for 110 yards and one touchdown.

Dolphins 24 Titans 27

After a couple of lack-luster weeks, Vince Young is back with a vengeance. The Titans just won’t go away, and their defense took care of business against Miami. The Dolphins had gotten their wake up call: One good week does not mean Chad Henne is good enough to run your team around. His three interceptions pretty much cancelled out all of the running Ricky Williams did (80 yards and one touchdown’s worth). Miami’s defense didn’t look so hot either – Justin Gage only had 43 yards receiving but his short-yardage catches led to two touchdowns, and Chris Johnson had his ninth straight 100+ yard game.
Game Ball: Young went 14 for 27 with 236 yards and three touchdowns.

Browns 41 Chiefs 34

Did you think this game would be this great? The best part = Brady Quinn got another win today, and he only threw for a total of 66 yards. And this is two in a row for Cleveland! By now you know the story lines: Third string backup Jerome Harrison runs for 286 yards, while Josh Cribbs returns two 100+ kicks for touchdowns. What you may not know is that Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles had 154 more rushing yards and one touchdown. Matt Cassel can’t catch a break these days.
Game Ball: We will give it to Harrison, who along with those 286 yards had three touchdowns and averaged 8.6 yards per carry.

Texans 16 Rams 13

Hey Houston! When we say you are completely inconsistent, this is what we mean. Not only did the Texans struggle with St. Louis, but they damn near almost lost this game. The numbers here don’t match up. Matt Schaub had a fantastic game, going 28 for 40 with 367 yards and one touchdown. Keith Null only completed passes for 173 yards and threw an interception. Andre Johnson had 150 yards more than any Ram receiver. The Texans even held Steven Jackson under one hundred yards. They just can’t get it done some days, beyond all reason, and we can’t figure it out.
Game Ball: Johnson had nine catches for 196 yards.

Falcons 10 Jets 7

You keep giving them the ball, eventually they are going to score. Matt Ryan and the Falcons continue to look horrible, but they escaped with the W after numerous mistakes by the Jets. New York’s offense just couldn’t get going – After Mark Sanchez’s three interceptions, Thomas Jones only racked up 52 yards, while Braylon Edwards’ big catches led to only one touchdown. For the record, it must suck to be Kellen Clemmens… but make no mistake Atlanta did not look any better, even behind Ryan. There just isn’t enough time or space to diagnose what is wrong with these two teams.
Game Ball: NO ONE.

Raiders 20 Broncos 19

Denver must be in trouble. Oakland went thru three quarterbacks: Charlie Frye, JaMarcus Russell, and JP Lossman – all of whom only three for a combined 102 yards – and they still somehow managed to upset the Broncos. The fire in Denver’s eyes earlier in the season is gone, and the Broncos are looking at potentially missing the playoffs and having an identical season as last year’s. We won’t have answers to most of the questions this game raised, but the fact that JaMarcus Russell threw the game-winning touchdown means one thing: They will never be able to truly part ways with them.
Game Ball: Michael Bush had 18 carries for 133 yards and one touchdown.

Bengals 24 Chargers 27

This was an especially tough one to watch. It was also incredibly out of character for both teams. Both Philip Rivers and Carson Palmer played almost identical mediocre games. Both teams’ rushing games were all but completely shut down. It came down to two things: San Diego has a better receiving core and that Cincinnati’s defense slipped for just one split second… oh and Nate Kaeding’s leg is extreme to say the least. When Antonio Gates is having a bad day, Vincent Jackson steps up, and that makes them very hard to defend.
Game Ball: Jackson had five catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

49ers 13 Eagles 27

At the end of the day we have learned three things: San Fran is not there, yet… There won’t be a game where DeSean Jackson doesn’t get behind you at least once… And the Eagles should be on the league’s radar. Donovan McNabb threw two interceptions, but he never gets points for the touchdown he scored on an eight yard run or the laser passes to Jackson down the field. The defensive side of the football was equally as impressive, although they failed to shut down Frank Gore who had another 100+ yard game. The worst part of the whole day was potentially losing Michael Vick because that was a surprisingly effective part of their offense. The Eagles do, however, need to play a more disciplined game – those penalties and missed plays could cost them a playoff game against a team that can take advantage.
Game Ball: Action Jackson had six catches for 140 yards and one touchdown.

Packers 36 Steelers 37

To be honest, we can’t believe the Steelers are still considered “in the hunt”. It took Ben Roethlisberger five hundred passing yards to keep it that way. Usually, games between these two are centered around defense and huge stops. Apparently, that is no more. We are surprised and somewhat dismayed that the Steelers defense couldn’t get through to Aaron Rodgers more than once, while the Pack had Big Ben on his back five times. For two nitty-gritty teams, this was all passing, quick movement, and a very high scoring game. Overshadowed in Roethlisberger’s numbers is the fact that Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes as well – just not that fateful final one. They just couldn’t stay on the outside looking in could they?
Game Ball: Roethlisberger went 29 for 46 with 503 yards and three touchdowns.

Buccaneers 24 Seattle 7

Once again: Matt Hasselbeck is on his way out. And no, Senece Wallace is not the answer here. It looks like Tampa Bay’s growing pains are starting to pay off  – the team has a quarterback who is getting smarter with each game and can obviously rebound, as well as a defense who knows how to take advantage of the opportunities they are given. Maybe in the coming years they will be what they once were, but Seattle, we can say with utmost certainty, will not. Their quarterback may be pretty horrible, but their receivers are even worse (yes, we mean you TJ Houshmandzadeh) and their defense can’t stop a thing. They need an overhaul, and Jim Mora will be the guy to do it.
Game Ball: Josh Freeman went 16 for 26 for 2o5 yards and two touchdowns.

Bears 7 Ravens 31

Like most weeks, we could go on and on about what is so wrong with the Bears… but maybe we should concentrate on what went so right with Baltimore. With Cincinnati slipping, they are surging for a playoff spot and what a showing to prove themselves. Joe Flacco’s arm could be considered perfect after this performance – although we will say some of his receivers dropped those perfectly thrown balls – and their defense showed heart and tenacity. Chicago can’t hope to win a game on six turnovers, three of which were by Jay Cutler, although they did limit the penalties this week. It’s a long road to redemption for the Bears… but in Baltimore they will be celebrating.
Game Ball: Joe Flacco went 21 for 29 for 234 yards and four touchdowns.

Vikings 7 Panthers 26

For such a great record, the entire Vikings team looks tired and completely unaware that they still need to earn that second seed. We won’t put this all on  Brett Favre’s shoulders, although controversy and other issues stem from his actions Sunday. That crazy defense looked completely besides themselves. Jon Stewart ran all over them, Steve Smith was pretty much allowed to run where he wanted when he wanted, and this was with backup quarterback Matt Moore at the helm! Julius Peppers came out like a complete animal – he had one sack, but completely destroyed Favre all night. Carolina needed this wake up earlier in the season… and something tells us Jake Delhomme is not welcome there right now.
Game Ball: Moore went 21 for 33 with 299 yards and three touchdowns.

Giants 45 Redskins 12

The Redskins had been playing remarkably well – that is until apparently this week. We have to say it – someone has to – that they looked completely confused and like they had no idea of the plays let alone how to execute them. The Giants, searching for a way back in to the playoff spot, took advantage of that. Eli Manning looked close to perfect, connecting with three different receivers for touchdowns, and their running game looked back on track (granted, it was used in the right situations). Five sacks by their defense obviously had Jason Campbell looking through his ear hole, but thats no excuse for his abismal performance.
Game Ball: Manning went 19 for 26 with 268 yards and three touchdowns.

Week 15 Wrap Up

– Injury Report: Eagles runningback Brian Westbrook plans to practice with the first team this week. He is expected to be available this coming Sunday against Denver… Tennessee lost linebackers Keith Bullock and David Thornton for the season. Bullock tore his ACL Sunday, while Thornton is having season-ending shoulder surgery this week…
– After their loss to the Panthers Sunday, Brett Favre made some widely inappropriate comments about his coach, Brad Childress, trying to remove him from the game. There is a time and a place boys… and that place is never at a press conference.
– Contrary to previous beliefs that Mike Holmgren would be taking over as head coach in Cleveland, Monday he signed a contract to become the team’s new president. Holmgren is expected to be involved in both personell decisions as well as game planning.
– The Cowboys cut place kicker Nick Folk Monday after a series of missed field goals. They replaced the kicker with Shaun Suisham, who was cut earlier this year for being horrible in Washington.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

This week, this wasn’t that hard of a choice. Cleveland’s games this season have normally been nothing short of disasterous, but this week they have someone to thank for victory: Jerome Harrison. Harrison rushed for 286 yard (only ten shy of the record), breaking Jim Brown’s Cleveland record. His runs nearly netted the win for the Browns – seeing that their passing offense was limited to only 66 yards. Harrison rushed for more yards than Thomas Jones, Cedric Benson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joseph Addai, and Marion Barber combined (thank you Adam Schefter)… not bad for a third-stringer.

Too Close for Comfort…

Analysis of Week 10 in the NFL

Game Notes

Bears 6 49ers 10

It was a sloppy game by both teams, and the only highlights on Friday were of Jay Cutler’s five interceptions. You just can’t win a game like that. San Francisco didn’t have to play exceptionally well, but Alex Smith limited his mistakes, Michael Crabtree had another decent game, and Frank Gore took time off of the clock so the Bears couldn’t come back. It wasn’t pretty, but it could be just what the Niners need.
Game Ball: Frank Gore had 25 carries for 104 yards and one touchdown.

Bills 17 Titans 41

For those of you who are keeping track, Vince Young is 3-0 since taking the reigns in Tennessee. The Titans look rejuvenated, but this game was close until a 24 point quarter. Young wasn’t perfect, he had one touchdown and one interception, but compared to Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick, he looked like an All-star. Nate Washington and Kenny Britt are getting their reps, but Chris Johnson is the X factor on this team. Terrell Owens had three catches for 85 yards, so we will have to go one more week without a breakdown.
Game Ball: Chris Johnson went for 122 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and had another 100 yards as a receiver.

Saints 28 Rams 23

Can they lose? The Saints did everything wrong Sunday and still came away with the win. That’s not taking anything away from St. Louis, they took advantage of New Orleans’ mistakes and Mark Bulger outplayed Drew Brees (yes, it happened). Steven Jackson ran over 130 yards and their receiving core averaged over ten yards per catch. Special teams and Reggie Bush sealed the deal for the Saints, but it’s clear they will need to tighten up before they think about finishing the season undefeated.
Game Ball: Reggie Bush had six carried for 83 yards and one touchdown.

Buccaneers 23 Dolphins 25

The Bucs learned the hard way Sunday that they can’t dig a huge hole, and then attempt to come back. The game was tight, especially after an injury to Ronnie Brown, but even a rally towards the end left Tampa Bay two points short. They did a good job against Miami’s deadly run, but we don’t think anyone can  completely control them. Buc fans can’t be too mad about this one – there is a lot of potential on this team and Josh Freeman shows promise.
Game Ball: Kellen Winslow had seven carries for 102 yards

Lions 10 Vikings 27

We knew the Vikings would win this, but their efficiency is incredible, especially coming off of a bye week. Brett Favre shows no signs of slowing down, and he managed this game without making a single mistake. Adrian Peterson controlled the running game, and looked dominant again after running for 133 yards. Most teams come off of the bye week rusty, but Minnesota looks rested and rejuvenated. Detroit isn’t trying to win a Super Bowl, but they need to have a game plan and gain some composure. Although Matthew Stafford didn’t throw an interception, he threw 51 passes to nine different receivers with little results.
Game Ball: Sidney Rice had only nine catches, but went 201 yards with them

Jaguars 24 Jets 22

The Jets continue to look confused and disorganized. Can they fix it? They may still have the second place trophy in the NFC East if they pull it together, but at this point their second meeting with New England is a daunting task. Mark Sanchez is regressing with each game – that young fire-thrower is becoming a problem and turning the ball over quite a lot these days. Jacksonville, on the other hand, seems to be just waking up. Quarterback David Gerrard had another promising start, and they are creeping into contention.
Game Ball: Maurice Jones-Drew went 123 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown.

Bengals 18 Steelers 12

Cincinnati is the real deal, and they’ve proved that by matching up pound for pound with the defending champs. It was scrappy, and a clinic on how to play defense, but does it matter? Neither quarterback was spectacular, and there was little to no running game on Sunday, but 60 minutes and eight field goals later, the Bengals came out on top. The stats are horrible, but that just shows you the fight.
Game Ball; Jon Fanene and the Bengals defensive line were ravenous. Fanene had two sacks on the day, two tackles for loss, and got to Ben Roethisberger twice more in the backfield.

Broncos 17 Redskins 27

Uh… excuse me? Denver is sinking lower each week, but they came out uninspired. You can blame part of the loss on losing Kyle Orton, who was playing very well, and on Chris Sims complete lack of preparation. Let’s not take anything away from Washington. They did everything they could possibly do to win on Sunday, including gadget plays, to win. They were missing their star and on the ropes, but they got it done against a team that should have played a lot better than them.
Game Ball: Ladell Betts didn’t have over 10 yards for the first eight weeks, but replaced Clinton Portis in style with 144 yards and one touchdown.

Falcons 19 Panthers 28

Someone must have pulled Jake Delhomme aside and told him that his career was on the line, because in the last two weeks, he’s been playing inspired football. In his second interception-less game, Carolina looked powerful, but let’s be honest – Michael Turner had 111 yards on only nine carries in the second quarter, and his injury left the Falcons without an attack. Matt Ryan’s dismal day combined with losing Turner was a nightmare for Atlanta. The Panthers’ defense wasn’t nearly as menacing as it usually is, but they are creeping towards .500 and may become dangerous in the weeks to come.
Game Ball: Muhsin Muhammad had only six catches for 91 yards, but Steve Smith was deadly in the end zone (two of his four catches were for touchdowns).

Chiefs 16 Raiders 10

This will go down in history as the game that no one watched. All three quarterbacks were simply horrible, there was no defense… what is there to say? This is about what you would expect from a bunch of 2-7 teams. We do wonder, however, how much longer the Raiders are going to pretend JaMarcus Russell is their man, especially now that he is only playing a half of a game.
Game Ball: Michael Bush had 14 carries for 119 yards.

Cowboys 7 Packers 17

As long as the Cowboys aren’t on the big stage, they seem to be fine. But as soon as people pay attention, as soon as playoff whispers come, they drop like flies. Tony Romo was shaky for the first time in weeks,  and his receivers suffered for it. The big story this week is the completely inconsistent Packers, who’s defense completely shut down any chance Dallas had at winning this game. Their running game was held to 61 yards, Miles Austin was shut down, and Romo was sacked five times. Aaron Rodgers just needed to control the game, and he did a fantastic job alongside Ryan Grant who had 79 yards on the day.
Game Ball: Aaron Rodgers didn’t throw an interception, but the important part is his rushing touchdown, as well as going 25 for 36 with a passing touchdown.

Seahawks 20 Cardinals 31

This was billed as the battle for the NFC West, but did Seattle really have a chance? Arizona may be inconsistent, but Seattle can beat them at their own game. Matt Hasselbeck attempted 52 passes on the day, so it’s no wonder he was picked off twice. Kurt Warner, on the other hand, had another one of his great weeks, but there really is no telling what Kurt Warner will take the field each day. The Cardinals had great games from Anquan Boldin and Beanie Wells, so their balanced attack could beat out the Seahawks any day.
Game Ball: Kurt Warner went 29 for 38 with 340 yards and two touchdowns.

Eagles 23 Chargers 31

In Philadelphia and on most major networks, there was one key for the Eagles to win this game. Run the ball. Did they do it? No. Did they win? No. The Chargers are quietly becoming a force to be reckoned with – you would never know they were 6-3 at this point. They ran up and down the field on Philly, and it was nice to see LaDainian Tomlinson show everyone that he still has some jets on him. The Eagles and their “incredible” defense couldn’t stop Philip Rivers or Antonio Gates, or even Darren Sproles for that matter. There are so many problems we would need a year to list them, but after Donovan McNabb threw for 450 yards and still couldn’t win the game, we think Philadelphia is already aware
Game Ball: Tomlinson couldn’t break 100 yards, but his 96 yards and two touchdowns were more than enough to help San Diego out.

Patriots 34 Colts 35

It’s safe to say, this one lived up to the hype. This will go down as one of the greatest games between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and of course, one of the biggest mistakes Bill Belichick has made. You know what happened, but we definitely think Belichick was right (oh God that hurts to say). If they get that first down, the game was over. Either way, he knew Peyton Manning would win the game and that was his only chance to take control. It back fired, so there is a media outcry, but we get his point. It’s safe to say that Peyton Manning and the Colts are on top of the world now. This was one of the biggest tests of their season, and they passed with flying colors.
Game Ball: It was dueling receivers in Indianapolis Sunday night. Randy Moss had nine catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns, while Reggie Wayne had ten catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

Baltimore 16 Cleveland 0

Can you say BORING? Baltimore didn’t beat the Browns up enough, so the game was completely pointless. Monday Night Football’s track record of great games this season ended tonight. We don’t think it matters who is playing for the Browns, their attitude and training is too far beyond anything. There are teams who are just as bad in the NFL, but you can tell they are trying, and that’s the point. The Ravens couldnt get much going either. At least they got the win when they needed to, because their schedule does not get any easier.
Game Ball: Derek Mason had three catches for 78 yards.

Week 10 Wrap Up

– Injuries: Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson went out of their game against Pittsburgh with a hip flexor strain. Depending on how he feels in practice, Benson could miss next week… Troy Polamalu tweeked his knee again against Cincinnati. He will undergo tests and isn’t expected to be out long…Towards the end of the Eagles loss to the Chargers, Brian Westbrook sustained yet another concussion. This will be his second concussion in a month. The Eagles will evaluate him, but expect Westbrook to miss at the very least two weeks. Many commentators speculate this could be the end of Westbrook’s career…Seahawks running back Julius Jones sustained a bruised lung midway through the first quarter Sunday. He is expected to be out two to three weeks…Wildcat man Ronnie Brown is on crutches after hurting his right foot. The Dolphins will not releasae the extent of his injury, but experts expect he will miss at least next weekend… Denver is staying quiet on the severity of quarterback Kyle Orton’s ankle. He will undergo tests throughout the week, but may miss up to two games.
– Tennessee owner Bud Adams was so happy his team had won three in a row that he decided to give the finger to everyone in the stadium. On both hands. And he did a dance. His fine? $250,000 and his dignity.
– ESPN reported that troubled running back Larry Johnson may be headed to Cincinnati. The Bengals are in need of a quality backup for Cedric Benson, and have a goos track record with healing troublemakers.
– The NFLPA’s investigation into Eric Mangini and the Browns has become more serious, with the NFLPA asking for a meeting with the Head Coach. Mangini is under fire for his team’s many injuries, as well as his reported outlandish fines.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

We are going to give this one to ever participant in this week’s Sunday Night Football game. While the ending was controversial, this was probably the most exciting game of the season. Both teams put up over 30 points, but the defense was also on their game. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were battling all night, and they really ended up on par with each other. There isn’t anything better than watching two of the best teams in the NFL battle, especially when the mistakes are limited and the energy is high.

Sunday Morning Preview

The Rivalry That Never Sleeps

by Zach Speers

There was Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders. There was Ron Jaworski and Reggie White. Neither team has ever much liked each other so why should this year be any different? The Eagles will meet the Cowboys this Sunday and Lincoln Financial Field much the same way they always have: With the energy that other teams save for the playoffs.

The Eagles dominated the New York Giants. They pressured Eli Manning and although Brandon Jacobs had 86 rushing yards he was kept out of the end zone. Donovan McNabb has been settling into a rhythm with his receivers since their embarrassing loss to the Oakland Raiders. Rookie Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson have become the deep threats that Philly has needed in order to have any kind of running game. With Brian Westbrook still out from a concussion many believed that they couldn’t beat the Giants. LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver didn’t hear that news; they ran for a combined 156 yards with a touchdown each.

The Cowboys have had a lot of pressure to win since the beginning of the season. The last three weeks Romo has stepped up and started to become the leader he needs to be. He may be only completing 33% of his passes to Roy Williams, who should be his number one receiver, but he’s getting the job done to Miles Austin. He threw for 256 yards in Dallas 38-17 win over the Seahawks with three touchdowns. More importantly, Romo didn’t surrender the ball by throwing an interception which is something he has had trouble with in the past.

The Eagles and Cowboys meet while they are both sitting at 5-2 and atop the NFC East. On Sunday, one team will claim that spot to be theirs alone. More than just that is riding on this game however. This could decide field advantage in a possible playoff situation. This much is true, the team that wins will have to start being looked at as more of a threat in the league. The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts may be the best two teams as far as records are concerned, but the Cowboys and Eagles are both capable of going all the way.

Watch the Eagles’ defense for this will be their first meeting without Jim Johnson calling the plays. The Cowboys will be sure to try and exploit any mistakes made by the secondary and will hope to keep McNabb contained. Prepare to see a battle both offensively and defensively.

The Week of Change…

NFL Week 8 Analysis

Game Recaps

Texans 31 Bills 10

The Texans showed one very important thing this week: Not only can they win, but they can adapt and make a comeback. In the midst of turnover problems, Houston benched star Steve Slaton. His replacement, Ryan Moats, went on to have a career day. Matt Schaub didn’t have his best day, but the defense and the running game picked him up, and now the Texans are 5-2. The Bills continue to struggle, but their problems aren’t simple. Neither Ryan Fitzpatrick or Trent Edwards can get the job done and they have no passion on either side of the ball. Another week, another loss, and it can only get worse
Game Ball: Ryan Moats had 23 carries for 126 yards and three fourth quarter touchdowns to lead the Texan’s comeback.

Browns 6 Bears 30

There really was no reason the think that Cleveland could be competitive in this game, but at least they got Brady Quinn in the mix, even if it was for only three snaps in the fourth quarter. We could list the Browns problems, but there are too many and it would take a small army to fix them. The Bears, on the other hand, got a win when they needed to. Beating the Browns doesn’t mean much to the average person, but these games are confidence boosters for Jay Cutler… who still didn’t throw a touchdown and had one interception on the day. Sloppy play can still win against Cleveland but it won’t get the Bears very far against teams who can capitalize on their mistakes.
Game Ball: Matt Forte had 26 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks 17 Cowboys 38

Eight games into the season, the Cowboys look refreshed and their offense looks dangerous. Tony Romo is in the groove, and with so many options it’s hard to see where he could go wrong. Romo handed it off to Felix Jones and Marion Barber who combined for 92 yards and a touchdown, or he could pass it to Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton or who? Sam Hurd. The defense is starting to follow suit, showing the same explosive tendencies they did at this time last year. The Seahawks are slowly falling off of everyone’s radar, but it’s not like Matt Hasselbeck isn’t trying.  Hasselbeck went 22 for 49 with 249 and two touchdowns.
Game Ball: Tony Romo went 21 for 36 with 256 yards and three touchdowns.

Rams 17 Lions 10

St. Louis couldn’t be the new Detroit, they just couldn’t. What was special about this win was coach Steve Spagnuolo’s reaction – giving the game ball to everyone and sincerely thanking the team – but the Rams changed a lot this week.  Yes, they were playing the equally challenged Lions, but they really controlled themselves and had patience. They limited the penalties and turnovers, but we can point to one man who controlled this game: Running back Steven Jackson may be wasting his talent in St. Louis, but he is the star of the team by far. Matthew Stafford’s return problem some, but we are sure he will return to form when Calvin Johnson is back in the lineup.
Game Ball: Steven Jackson had 22 carries for 149 yards and one touchdown.

49ers 14 Colts 18

What a weird game? A win is a win in coach Jim Caldwell’s book, and the Colts remain undefeated, but they threw everything out on the field for this one. Frank Gore rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown and Vernon Davis still got the better of the Indianapolis defense, but the Colts battled back. It wasn’t a last second Peyton Manning touchdown pass this time, it was a throw from running back Joseph Addai, who also rushed for 62 yards. This is the latest in close-but-no-cigar losses for San Francisco, who had Michael Crabtree catch six passes for 80 yards but one fumble, and it seems like the team will be on the edge of greatness forever.
Game Ball: Wide receiver Reggie Wayne had a career day with 12 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Dolphins 30 Jets 25

If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Mark Sanchez plays well, the defense shuts down the wildcat, and for some reason special teams can’t make a tackle and allow two 100+ yard touchdowns to ruin their chances. Sanchez had one of his best games, going 20 for 35 with two touchdowns, and the defense limited the rushing game to 62 YARDS. The Jets even won the battle of ball control by ten minutes. Miami is just too resilient a team for New York. A fumble by Shonn Greene in the third quarter may have permanently taken the wind out of the Jets’ sails.
Game Ball: Tedd Ginn Jr. may not be able to catch a pass, but he certainly can play special teams. Ginn had two kickoff returns, one for one hundred yards, and one from 101 yards, for touchdowns.

Giants 17 Eagles 40

No matter how good either team is, these games are usually competitive. This week proved otherwise. The Giants are slowly falling apart, as this week they couldn’t score points or stop the Eagles on defense. There was no hope, especially when Eli Manning throws two interceptions. Even though the Eagles couldn’t seem to stop Brandon Jacobs, who ran for 86 yards, they shut the Giants down in every way. Donovan McNabb took care of the rest, throwing touchdown  passes to his top three receivers: DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek. The Philadelphia rushing game was equally as impressive, with rookie LeSean McCoy running for 86 and Leonard Weaver pulling in another 75.
Game Ball: Donovan McNabb was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 23 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns.

Broncos 7 Ravens 30

From the kickoff to the last second, Baltimore looked like they meant business. Undoubtedly, they were sick of losing close games to AFC opponents. The Ravens put a hurting on the Broncos, literally. Everything that looked good about the Broncos in the first six weeks turned bad: Kyle Orton looked shaky and couldn’t rebound, Knowshon Moreno fumbled and only averaged 3.9 yards per carry. The Ravens, on the other hand, were dominant. They limited the Broncos to only 66 yards rushing, and Joe Flacco handed it off to Ray Rice enough to get into a rhythm and win one of the biggest games of the season. And all this effectively without Willis McGahee.
Game Ball: Ray Rice had 23 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Jaguars 13 Titans 30

We just knew the Titans couldn’t go much longer without a win. You can point to the change at quarterback, because Vince Young played exceptionally well. Or you can point to something more obvious: the fact that Chris Johnson had over half of the Titan’s total offense. The Titans put a game plan together and it worked, even if the Jaguars had more completions to Tennessee than their own team. David Gerrard couldn’t get anything going, and anything the Jags offense did was because of Maurice Jones-Drew and his 177 yard day (including 80 yard and 79 yard touchdown runs). The rest of Tennessee’s schedule is tough from here on out, and this win may have been one of their only chances.
Game Ball: Chris Johnson averages 9.5 yards per carry, with 24 attempts for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

Raiders 16 Chargers 24

San Diego squeaked out  yet another win, but nothing they did Sunday was necessarily special. Phillip Rivers threw an interception, LaDainian Tomlinson could only manage 56 yards, and Darren Sproles was basically non-existant. The only good part of this game was the Shawne Merriman finally broke through for not one but two sacks. The Raiders can’t even manage a highlight reel of their season so far, let alone this game. The defense didn’t even perform well, which really put them in a hole seeing that JaMarcus Russell still couldn’t manage to be a real NFL quarterback.
Game Ball: Vincent Jackson had eight receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown.

Carolina 34 Cardinals 21

A week after surprising New York, the Cards couldn’t get it together. It may be that Jake Delhomme didn’t have an interception, his first game without a turnover all season, but we bet that had nothing to do with it (Delhomme could barely muster 90 yards of offense). It probably has something to do with the Panthers defense, who recovered five interceptions and a fumble from Kurt Warner. All six of Arizona’s turnovers ended well for Carolina, and that was the difference. The bright side is that Steve Smith can stop whining, he caught his touchdown pass all season.
Game Ball: DeAngelo Williams broke through for 158 yards on 23 carries.

Vikings 38 Packers 26

We guess it’s true: Brett Favre always shows up for the big games. The Vikings swept the season series against Green Bay, and this time they outperformed them in every aspect of the game. Favre threw four touchdowns to four different recievers, and Adrian Peterson added one more, while Jared Allen broke through for three sacks. Most people say Aaron Rodgers would be a better quarterback if he wasn’t on the ground half of the time, but this week it was just as easily his fault (the offensive line did no good, but Rodgers held on to the ball way longer than he should have, and he was brought down six times). Favre played his heart out on a field he used to call home, going 17 for 28 with 244 yards and four TDs.
Game Ball: Percy Harvin played his heart out. Not only did Harvin return five punts for 175 yards, but he had 84 yards on five catches for one touchdown.

Falcons 27 Saints 35

One more undefeated, but the Saint’s didn’t have it easy yet again this week. They may be 7-0, but Matt Ryan and Atlanta put up 27 points, and were one two minute drive away from ending New Orlean’s unbeaten streak. More and more we are seeing the Saints defense step up when times are tough, and this week they caught three interceptions and sacked Matt Ryan three times. There really are no downsides to the Saints that we can see so far.
Game Ball: Roddy White had only four receptions for 108 yards an a touchdown.

Week 8 Wrap Up

– Injury Report: After being sacked six times, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is reportedly suffering from not one but two sprains (one on his toe, the other reportedly on the other ankle). Coach Tom McCarthy says Rodgers may miss practice, but expects to play… Anquan Boldin reinjured his ankle against the Panthers Sunday. He will undergo tests, but says “If I can run, I will play football… Texans tight end Owen Daniels will be out the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. He underwent surgery on Monday… Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis will be out four to six weeks with a MCL tear. The Saints released that no surgery will be needed…
– Another week, another Browns story. Browns owner Randy Lerner has come out to the public, saying he is “sick” over the condition of his team. He hinted that he would need a new coach, but that Eric Mangini will not be fired during the bye week. Lerner will reportedly meet with two fans who have been urging a protest of the Browns season for their Monday Night Football game on Nov. 16.
– We’re just waiting for the press conference break down. Coach Jim Mora threatened his 2-5 team after their loss Sunday, saying he would evaluate every position with the organization in the coming weeks.
– Roger Goodell announced that he would ask Congress to respect the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement even if state laws challenge it. This all stems from an incident where New Orleans players were pardoned from steroid use because of Louisiana law.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

Yes, it was Joseph Addai who threw the game-winning touchdown, but it was Reggie Wayne who caught it. Wayne led all recievers with 147 yards, but his one touchdown kept the Colts undefeated. Weirdly enough, this wasn’t the highest posted total for Wayne this season – he had 167 yards in Week 1. Wayne is currently second in the league with overall yardage, but averages only 6 catches per game.

Winning by a Mile…

Analysis of Week 7 in the NFL

Game Recaps

Colts 42 Rams 6

Peyton Manning continues to look strong as the weeks go by, and Indianapolis may be the most overlooked 6-0 team around. Yes, they faced the Rams, but the Colts looked good on both sides of the ball. It is officially scary to watch a quarterback with that much knowledge connect and feel comfortable with that many receivers, and have two running options to choose from.
Game Ball: Peyton Manning went 23 for 34 with 235 yards and three touchdowns.

Vikings 17 Steelers 27

Pittsburgh has played six weeks of ho-hum football, but Sunday they came in firing. That old Pittsburgh defense looked strong with the return of Troy Polamalu, and basically won this game. Once they shut down Adrian Peterson, they shifted to Percy Harvin and batted him around like a rag doll. Brett Favre can’t win them all, but he looked a little more like himself when he threw an interception that really lost them any chance to rally back.
Game Ball: James Farrior anchored the defense, with nine solo tackles, one sack, and one tackle for a loss.

Patriots 35 Buccaneers 7

They really couldn’t ship a more exciting game overseas? People will look at this and see a rout and a nice statistic-boosting game for the Pats, but there was just something that irked us. Tom Brady threw two interceptions, something that any other team would have capitalized on.
Game Ball: Wes Welker caught ten passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

49ers 21 Texans 24

In the battle of the “yeah, buts…” the Texans escaped a comeback for the ages. San Francisco sank to 3-3 but that was not without its bright spots. Michael Crabtree had five catches for 56 yards in his first NFL start, while Alex Smith led a 21 point second half. Matt Schaub looked solid for Houston with two more touchdowns, but a potential injury to wide receiver Andre Johnson drew a dark cloud over the win. The Niners will have to regroup before they try to recover, but they have a very unforgiving schedule going into November.
Game Ball: Alex Smith went 15 for 22 with three touchdowns in only one half of football.

Packers 31 Browns 3

Aaron Rodgers was nearly perfect in Green Bay’s rout, a game that really served as practice for Minnesota next week. Every major player showed up, from Ryan Grant who had 148 yards and one touchdown to Donald Driver who only caught two passes, but took them for 84 yards and a touchdown. Regardless, the Browns are obviously throwing this season away. Keeping Derek Anderson in when he went just 12 for 29 with an interception just to save a couple million bucks is simply pathetic.
Game Ball: Aaron Rodgers went 15 for 20 with 246 yards and three touchdowns.

Chargers 37 Chiefs 7

We’ll say it every week if we have to: for an “offensive genius” Todd Hailey’s offense sure isn’t putting up any numbers. The Chargers needed this win to gel and get their feet on the ground, but it wasnt all good. The running game was still frustrated, even though LaDainian Tomlinson had 71 yards for his best showing of the season.
Game Ball: Phillip Rivers went 18 for 30 with 268 yards and three touchdowns.

Jets 38 Oakland 0

Three bad games usually signal something had to change, and the Jets excelled this week after their offense was jump started. Even without Leon Washington, who was injured in the first half, backup Shonn Greene filled in just fine. Mark Sanchez bounced back by going nine for 15 with 143 yards and one touchdown. Finally, coach Tom Cable took JaMarcus out, even if it took two interceptions and fumble, but we bet it won’t stay out.
Game Ball: Shonne Greene put up 144 yards, for about 7.6 yards a carry, and two touchdowns.

Bills 20 Panthers 9

Every week it becomes more apparent that Jake Delhomme is on his last legs, even after three more interceptions. Maybe the Panthers don’t even notice. When your running backs and defense have all the points, you know your quarterback is inefficient. This was a sloppy game by both sides, but Buffalo took their time and capitalized on Carolina’s mistakes. Ryan Fitzpatrick was definitely not an upgrade over Trent Edwards, but they got the win and that’s what really matters.
Game Ball: Lee Evans had his best game of the season, catching five passes for 75 yards and one touchdown.

Falcons 21 Cowboys 37

We definitely thought this game would be closer than it was, but Matt Ryan can’t afford to play this poorly when his defense is stagnant on a good day. The Cowboys really looked fantastic on all sides of the ball, but Tony Romo was the cream of the crop. Romo hooked up with Miles Austin, wo had another amazing week with 117 yards and tw touchdowns.
Game Ball: Tony Romo went 21 for 29 with 311 yards and three touchdowns.

Bears 10 Bengals 45

This game really shouldn’t have been this big of a rout, but when you allow the Bengals to score on almost every possession in the first half, that’s what happens. Even scarier than the defense was Jay Cutler, who completely lot it and threw three interceptions. Cincinnati on the other hand put on a clinic – Chad Ochocinco had 118 yards and two touchdowns, while Cedric Benson ran for 189 yards and one touchdown.
Game Ball: Carson Palmer went 20 for 24 with five touchdowns and 233 yards.

Saints 46 Dolphins 34

You want excitement? Try ten touchdowns and five interceptions. New Orleans won, even though Drew Brees didn’t put up his normal numbers. The Saints remained unbeaten by not allowing the ‘Phins to control the ball and the game. Miami learned an important lesson – you can’t play three quarters and think your going to win.
Game Ball: Ricky Williams had nine carries for 89 yards and three touchdowns.

Cardinals 24 Giant 17

Last week, the defense was a question for New York. They never answered, and now the entire offense should be added to the list. Eli Manning  Manning threw three interceptions, but his receivers – with the exception of Hakeem Nicks – were dropping balls constantly. Brandon Jacobs wasn’t a force and Ahmad Bradshaw was shaky and fumbled. It was a debacle, and the Giants are falling fast.
Game Ball: Beanie Wells won his job back, going 67 yards on 14 carries with his first career touchdown.

Eagles 27 Redskins 17

There just isn’t enough time to write about where the Redskins go wrong each week. There were, however, some things that the ‘Skins could build on this week. Jason Campbell got  beat up, but looked a little more awake and alert. Washington’s defense was also in the mix, holding the Eagles to only 27 points (I know… only…). The Eagles bounced back from their loss to Oakland, but they did look a little sloppy. Donovan McNabb wasn’t on his game, and the pass rush was horrendous, allowing Jason Campbell to connect for 246 yards. Both teams need time to grow, and the game left a lot of things to work on for both sides.
Game Ball: DeSean Jackson was impressive, with both a rushing and a passing touchdown. He had one carry for 67 yards and only two receptions for 69.

Week 7 Wrap Up

– Injury Report: Jets running back Leon Washington broke his leg in the first half of the Jets win on Sunday. He had surgery immediately afterwards, but will be out for the rest of the season… Texans receiver Andre Johnson left the game early and was taken to the hospital with a “bruised chest”. Houston later released that he had a bruised rib and is day to day… Bills QB Trent Edwards will reportedly sit out another week with concussion symptoms. No word if the Bills are making this up so they can start Ryan Fitzpatrick or they really want Edwards to get better… Dolphins cornerback Will Allen will be sidelined for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, as will Rams CB Bradley Fletcher… Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was removed from Sundays game following a knee injury. He will undergo tests Tuesday to see the severity…  Brian Westbrook was taken out of the Eagles victory against Washington with an injury in the first half, then showed up in street clothes ten minutes later. The Eagles announced he had a concussion. No word yet on how long he will be out…
– After an exceptional second half of football, it seems that former No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith is going to get his starting job back as quarterback of the 49ers. Smith led a 21-point comeback after he replaced Shaun Hill, but the Niners still lost. On the flip side, a couple of discouragingly bad QBs still have their job. JaMarcus Russell and Derek Anderson were both given votes of confidence by their head coaches Monday. Panthers brass are still deciding on the fate of Jake Delhomme.
– The Dallas Cowboys extended DeMarcus Ware’s contract Monday morning, totaling $80 million for six years.
– After Sunday’s that left them winless, Kansas City running back Larry Johnson took to Twitter to bash his coaches and team. After grumpily swearing at reporters after the game, he apparently went home to tweet about  coach Todd Hailey. The tweets included criticism, and Johnson even said that his own father would be better.
– Newly aquired Jets reciever Braylon Edwards was officially charged with assault after a nightclub incident that ultimately got him traded. Edwards had only one reception in the Jets 38-0 win over Oakland Sunday.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

Carson Palmer was the leader in the Bengals’ biggest win so far this season. After a couple of below-average starts, he came out and led the Cincinnati offense to scoring seven times on their first seven possessions. Palmer went 20 for 24 with 233 yards and five… yes we said five… touchdowns.

Sunday Morning Preview

Coming off the Bye

by Corianne Egan

So far this season, there are the unbeatens… and then there is everyone else. In the catagory of underachievers, the Cowboys and Tony Romo rank supreme. They are in the middle of the pack on defense, slightly above average on offense, and have not one star on their entire team.

Last year they were in need of a makeover. This year, it seems to be much more than that.

Dallas has it’s second chance this Sunday. They are coming off of the bye week, rested and with a new game plan. It won’t be easy – they face Atlanta this week, and still have two meetings with Philadelphia and other big NFC opponents on the list – but they have to prove something, don’t they?

At 3-2, Dallas is just above average. Tony Romo hasn’t made waves, except against Tampa Bay in their first game of the season. Marion Barber and Felix Jones may still be explosive, but fans won’t ever get to see it because of chronic injuries.  The ‘Boys haven’t utilized weapons like Tashard Choice or Miles Austin, although we hope they will start doing so after their performances in the last couple of weeks. DeMarcus Ware is inconsistant, but seems to be waking up.

All signs point to a great comeback week. But the Falcons say no. Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzales, and Michael Turner have been waiting for this. They love being the underdogs. They love being 4-1 and have people write them off or ignore them completely. 

Either way, this is a make or break game for Dallas. They can’t sink to .500. They can’t suffer from a lack of motivation. Maybe the spotlight is too big or the expectations are too high, but they can’t allow themselves to fall behind this early in the season.

Look who’s 5-0…

Week 5 Analysis

Game Recaps

Browns 6 Bills 3

After last week’s close call against Cincinnati, it was only a matter of time until the Browns pulled a win out of their hat. But is it possible to win a game when your starting quarterback goes 2-17 with an interception for the entire game? Apparently, the answer is yes. The game was an all-around pathetic showing by both teams, on both sides of the ball. The only entertainment that could have come out of this was a Terrell Owens breakdown, but like we say every week, I guess we’re just going to have to wait.
Game Ball: Jamal Lewis had 31 carries for 117 yards, but hey, with 31 carries, who wouldn’t break 100?

Cowboys 26 Chiefs 20

After his performance this week, we’d be really surprised if Dallas didn’t change their playbook to include Miles Austin a little more. Both Austin, who started for Roy Williams, and Tashard Choice, who started for Felix Jones, had amazing performances. However, the game shouldn’t have been this close. Just one turnover-less game for Tony Romo would restore our faith in the Cowboys quarterback. On the other side of the ball, apparently a mid-week temper tantrum from Todd Hailey did nothing to help the 0-5 Chiefs.
Game Ball: Who are you calling a backup? Austin caught 10 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns, while Choice had 8 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown.

Vikings 38 Rams 10

Every week we can say the same thing about St. Louis, but it won’t change anything. Although they were never really in this game, the stats don’t lie. They are even with offensive and defensive numbers, but turnovers and penalties will kill them every week. The Rams were 0-4 in the red zone, had four turnovers, and 82 yards in penalties. As if Jared Allen could get any better than last week, he had a fumble return for a touchdown. Minnesota continues to play like the champions we hesitantly thought they could be.
Game Ball: Percy Harvin tops himself every week, but this week he had four receptions for 66 yards.

Oakland 7 New York 44

It only took Eli Manning a half of football to get a lead big enough that he was confident in leaving the game. We expected a blowout, but it also appears that head coach Tom Cable has lost all faith in JaMarcus Russell, and took the game out of his hands. The only problem with doing that is that there are no trick plays that can save them, and no running game as a back-up plan. The Giants glided to 5-0 without a problem, but we wonder – couldn’t David Carr has won this by himself.
Game Ball: Ahmad Bradshaw had a breakout day, rushing for 110 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown, but also one reception for 55 yards.

Tampa Bay 14 Philadelphia 33

Everyone was anxious to see how many plays Donovan McNabb would need to be back in his rhythm. The answer: Two. The game was an obvious mismatch from the start, but McNabb didn’t flinch when he got hit and that is a huge plus for Eagles fans everywhere. The Eagles defense held the Bucs to only 85 rushing yards, had three interceptions (two from Asante Samuels and one from Sheldon Brown) and a safety. However, it was the rookie Jeremy  Maclin who turned heads by catching six passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
Game Ball: Donovan McNabb went 16 for 21 with 264 yards and three touchdowns, but also ran twice for 30 yards – a team best – in his return.

Pittsburgh 28 Detroit 20

Even if they finish with only one win, a major thing that has changed about Detroit this season: They are competitive. The Steelers brought the house down on the Lions today – Ben Roethlisburger threw three touchdowns, James Harrison had three sacks, and Rashard Mendenhall ran for a touchdown – and Detroit stayed in it. The only downside was that Daunte Culpepper was average at best. Keep this up and the Lions could even manage two wins this season.
Game Ball: Ben Roethlisburger quietly went 24 for 30 with 277 yards and three touchdown passes.

Washington 17 Carolina 20

Carolina needed a win, and they got it, but what boggles out minds is how Washington is finding new ways to lose. The Redskins played a good game until the last ten minutes – even quarterback Jason Campbell was playing well – before everything fell apart. There were no standout players, although Steve Smith did seem to find a rhythm with five catches for 65 yards. Even in the win, Jake Delhomme threw an interception, which begs the question: will Delhomme ever be turnover-less?
Game Ball: Jason Campbell had his best week yet, doing 17 for 23 with 143 yards and one touchdown.

Cincinnati 17 Baltimore 14

The Bengals knew this was a big game, a statement game, and they got everything done the right way. Every one of their key players performed in the win and didn’t panic, which was important when you are facing a defense like Baltimore. To go from the basement to the top of the league in passing offense is great, but we kind of knew it couldn’t last. Joe Flacco had arguably his worst outing so far this season, and his two interceptions were obviously an issue. This may have been the first time we’ve watched the Baltimore defense, led again by Ray Lewis, fight for something and not win.
Game Ball: Cedric Benson has 27 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown.

Atlanta 45 San Francisco 10

We knew the Niners would have an off week, but we never predicted a blow-out. We thought this would be a competition – San Fran has done so much against big teams and looked convincing, and Atlanta wasn’t looking that great going into the by week – but we take it back. Even if the 49ers were on their game, we aren’t sure anyone could have stopped Michael Turner, who burned everyone ever time he touched the ball. We are glad to see Matt Ryan and the Falcons are looking better after the bye week. It will be interesting to see if Mike Singletary can rally the troops and learn from this.
Game Ball: Michael Turner was the star, with 22 carries for 97 yards and three touchdowns. Yes, we said three.

Jacksonville 0 Seattle 41

Matt Hasselbeck must be feeling better. In his first start back from a rib injury, Haseelbeck showed what he could do if he was healthy and out to prove something. Jacksonville showed little emotion as they were pummeled, especially quarterback David Gerrard, who barely completed 18 of 31 passes. The Jags didn’t even have their run game to rely on, as Maurice Jones-Drew was limited to 34 yards, as he averaged only 2.8 yards per carry. Adding insult to injury, the Jags could only get to Hasselbeck once in the entire game. Seattle played disciplined, inspired football, and that not only gave them a win, but allowed them to dominate.
Game Ball: Matt Hasselbeck returned to Seattle to complete 18 of 30 pass attempts for 241 yards and four touchdowns. 

Houston 21 Arizona 28

To be honest, we didn’t expect this game to be this exciting. Matt Schaub and Kurt Warner battled for most of the game, but it was Schaub’s interception that sealed the deal for Arizona. This week, however, Schaub also didn’t have a running game behind him, as Steve Slaton virtually disappeared. The defense for the Cards was the story, although they didn’t get to Schaub at all. The only encouraging plays of the game came when Warner connected with Larry Fitzgerald, and those Super Bowl flashbacks danced in the heads of Cardinals fans everywhere.
Game Ball: Larry Fitzgerald had five receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

New England 17 Denver 20

Tied at 17 going into overtime, we knew this game was worth the wait. Denver sailed to 5-0 behind Brandon Marshall and rookie running back Knowshon Moreno, and an unlikely hero in Kyle Orton. Orton threw one interception, but he was calm when push came to shove. This really showed what Denver could do – yes, they beat good opponents, but this was against a seasoned team who knew what was coming, a quarterback that rarely ever loses, and a coach who adjusts to every move you make. Coming back from ten down in the second half to win a game in overtime is big enough, but against a healthy Tom Brady with Wes Welker as a target is commendable. We were critical of Josh McDaniels to start the season, but could he have been right? Everything is working out for Denver, and we can’t say we are upset about it.
Game Ball: For the second week in a row, Brandon Marshall gets the game ball, for being a game-changing receiver, with 8 catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. 

Colts 31 Titans 9

After the loss Sunday night, someone told us that Tennessee was the best 0-5 team in history, and we can’t say we disagree. Tennessee should be winning – they have all the pieces, minus Albert Hainsworth who hasn’t done much this year – but the problem seems to be Kerry Collins. Collins was a problem again for the Titans, and his interceptions make his team lose hope. We just wonder what has Jeff Fischer so mad at Vince Young that he won’t start him. With New England on the horizon, it looks like the Titans are going to be in an 0-6 hole heading into their bye. On the other side of the ball, Peyton Manning is continuing his excellence. Manning threw three touchdowns, including two to new favorite target Auston Collie. We are happy for Manning, but even happier that Dwight Freeney got another sack and is continuing his Pro-Bowl type play.
Game Ball: Austin Collie caught eight of the nine passes thrown his way, collecting 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Jets 27 Miami 31

There were flashes of good football throughout the whole first half… then, there was the fourth quarter. With the lead changing five times, this had to be up there with the most exciting games this year. The thing is, to beat Miami, your running game needs to at least be on the field. Although Leon Washington had a good first half  he was invisible for the Jets in the fourth quarter, which allowed Miami and Ronnie Brown to control that game. Not to mention that Chad Henne actually took control of the game in the waning minutes to force a win (a quarterback, in Miami! What is this?). The Jets got one thing out of this game: Braylon Edwards seems to have some chemistry with Mark Sanchez. We are predicting many, many more connections with the two.
Game Ball: Chad Henne forced Tony Sparano to consider playing real football because when he was in under center, he was incredible. Henne went 20 for 26 with 241  yards and two touchdown passes, including one momentum-changing 53 yard pass to Tedd Ginn Jr.

Week 5 Wrap Up

–  Injury Report: San Francisco safety Michael Lewis received his third concussion this year when he tackled Michael Turner this week. The 49ers are expecting Lewis to be out for quite awhile, seeing as he’s had to many head injuries in so little time… Tennesse corner Nick Harper was hurt in a collision on the opening kick off Sunday night. X-Rays revealed the corner had broken his arm, and is expected to miss at least six weeks… The Manning brothers are both overcoming pain to continue to play. Peyton Manning is said to be battling a sore left knee, while Eli Manning is wrestling with heel injuries. Both won on Sunday… In that scrimmage, I mean game, against Cleveland this week, both of the Bills’ linebackers suffered season-ending knee injuries. Kawika Mitchell injured his right knee, while Marcus Buggs has injured his left. Buffalo will have to sign free-agent replacements to continue the season…New England left tackle Matt Light was seen exiting the team’s plane using crutches after injuring his left knee. We all know Bill Belichick will never tell us what’s wrong.
–  While Oakland continues to struggle on the field, off of the field, their lives are a mess. Ex-Defensive assistant Randy Hanson went public this week with his allegations against head coach tom Cable. Hanson claims Cable threw him from a chair and broke his jaw with a sucker punch in a during preseason training.
–  The Eagles have apparently begun talking to head coach Andy Reid about a contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia. Reid’s contract expires after the 2010 season.
–  While the ownership issue in St. Louis has yet to become a battle, Players’ Union director DaMaurice Smith has written an open letter to Commissioner Rodger Goodell, explaining why he thought Rush Lindbaugh’s bid to buy the team would be a bad idea. “Sports are meant to unite,” he said, and later commented that  he knows he has absolutely no say in those matters.
–  The NFL is investigating an injury to Browns rookie running back James Davis. ESPN has reported that Davis was injured in a post-practice drill where he was playing without pads, against linebackers who were. This is just an addition in a string of investigations into Eric Mangini and the Browns, who has also been accused of injuring a wide receiver in practice this preseason.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

Miles Austin hasn’t caught more than three balls the entire season, but given his chance in Week 5, he showed Dallas coaches why they should give him more chances. Austin caught 10 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and still, Cowboys officials came out quickly after the game to confirm he would not be the starter.