October 4th, 2007 — Miscellaneous, News, Notes, and More
It’s been a winning start for Joe Gibbs and the Redskins, who have won two of their first three games in ‘07.
That start, however, could be even better if not for a Giant comeback in the second half in Week 3, when Washington let a 17-3 halftime lead slip.
But, as it stands right now, the ‘Skins are in second in the NFC East. Can they keep it up?
Washington Redskins
So Far…: Washington is 2-1. They opened with a 16-13 overtime win over Miami, then defeated the Eagles 20-12 in Philadelphia. In Week 3, they were up by two touchdowns at the half against the Giants, but ended up losing 24-17.
What’s Gone Right: Minus the second half against the Giants, the defense has played well, which has put them in position for three victories.
What’s Gone Wrong: The Redskins’ injury list is one of the longest in the NFL. From Santana Moss, Clinton Portis, Fred Smoot, and multiple members of their offensive line (including Jon Jansen, who is on IR with a broken ankle), the medical staff has had their hands full.
How October Shapes Up: October is going to be a make-or-break month for the Redskins’ ambitions. There are home games against Detroit and Arizona, then road games at current unbeaten teams Green Bay and New England. Coming out of the month with a winning record would be a huge plus.
Grades
Performance: The Redskins should be pretty pleased, overall, about being 2-1 with a win in Philadelphia. However, the fact that they let a third straight win get away isn’t something to be happy about.
It won’t take long for us to see how good (or bad) the Redskins really are, with the schedule they face this month. Will their flaws trip them up, or will they rise above the mess below Dallas in the East and make a serious run at a playoff berth?
For now, Washington gets a B, but if 10 unbeaten quarters were 12, they would have an A or A-.
Grade: B
Offense: The Redskins have scored five touchdowns in three games, with three of them coming from Portis (227 rushing yards). Campbell is completing only 52% of his passes. There’ve been several missed opportunities so far, when mistakes or failure to move the ball well have cost Washington.
Injuries on offense haven’t helped much, but some points are going to have to be scored this month, because each of their four October opponents have very dangerous offenses.
Grade: C-
Defense: As I said, minus a second half in which they allowed the Giants to gain 208 yards and score 21 points, the defense has played very well, limiting their opponents to only 33 points in the previous ten quarters.
However, they’re going to need a little help from the offense so that they don’t have be on the field so much, because that’s just a recipe for disaster.
Grade: B
Special Teams
Former Cowboy Shaun Suisham has made six of seven field goals, including the game-winner in overtime against the Dolphins.
Punter Derrick Frost is averaging 45.9 yards per kick thus far.
As for the return game, Rock Cartwright is averaging 26.7 yards per kick return. The coverage team really hasn’t gotten burned for a huge return, which is always a good thing.
Grade: B
October 2nd, 2007 — News, Notes, and More
After dropping their first two games, the Giants have picked up two victories over NFC East rivals to level their record at 2-2.
New York Giants
So Far…: The Giants are 2-2. They opened with a 45-35 loss at Dallas, then followed that up with a 35-13 loss at home to Green Bay. But, it looks like something clicked at the half of their game at Washington in Week 3. New York was down 17-3, and appeared headed for a third straight loss, but outscored the Redskins 21-0 in the second half to win 24-17. Then, on Sunday night, the Giants defense held an Eagles offense that had scored 56 points the previous week to a solitary field goal in a 16-3 victory and sacked Donovan McNabb a franchise-record twelve times.
What’s Gone Right: Brandon Jacobs’ injury in the opener might have been a blessing in disguise. 4th-year back Derrick Ward, who had run for 123 yards in three seasons, has run for 353 yards and caught 17 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. While Eli Manning hasn’t been at his sharpest (59.8 comp. %, 890 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT), Plaxico Burress (19 rec., 286 yards) has caught six TD passes.
Twelve sacks in one game? Either the Eagles took the night off (it doesn’t help when you‘ve got a raw kid going up against a bunch of talented defensive linemen), or the Giants defensive line is finally showing its talent (both). Osi Umenyora had a team-record six sacks on Sunday, and young ends Mathias Kiwanuka and Justin Tuck combined for five in the sack fest.
What’s Gone Wrong: Injuries have been a bit of a worry. If they haven’t been knocked out, they’ve been banged up, including Manning, Umenyora, and other key players.
Also, Manning could be playing much better. Whether or not that shoulder that he injured against Dallas has been affecting him is unknown, but after throwing for 312 yards and four scores against the Cowboys, he’s been average in the last three weeks.
How October Shapes Up: The Giants have a matchup against the Jets on Sunday, then go to Atlanta the next week, before rounding out their home slate for the month with a game against the 49ers. Then, it’s time for a trip across the Atlantic Ocean, to face the Dolphins at London’s Wembley Stadium on the 28th. The schedule isn’t overly tough, so it’s not outlandish to see the Giants at 6-2 going into November. It would be a far cry from just a couple of weeks ago, when Coughlin’s seat was starting to smoke a little. 5-3 sounds more reasonable, but that all depends on which Giants teams we see in the next month.
Grading the Giants
Performance: C+ - What a difference a couple of weeks can make, right? In the first 10 quarters of the season, they were a D, at best. But, in the last six quarters, they’ve been a B+ (points off for kicking woes and for Manning being pretty average).
Offense: B- - The contributions from Ward have been a big bonus, but I think most people are expecting more from Manning.
Defense: B- - After the first two games, this would have been a big F. But, the last six quarters have been a massive turnaround. A dozen sacks can get people’s attention, to say the least.
Special Teams: C - Lawrence Tynes doesn’t appear to have very much of a leash with Tom Coughlin, who didn’t sound too positive about Tynes and his future after he missed a relative chip shot and an extra point against the Eagles. Tynes is 7 of 9 on field goals, with his two misses coming inside 40 yards, and has made 7 of 8 extra points.
The return team has had some nice returns, however, the coverage team has had some lapses.
October 2nd, 2007 — News, Notes, and More
Here’s the first installment of the monthly reports on each of Dallas’ divisional rivals.
The Eagles were supposed to the Cowboys’ closest rival for the division title, and were considered by many to be the favorite for the division, but they’ve looked nothing like a contender for the most part through the first month of the season.
Philadelphia Eagles
So far…: The Eagles are 1-3 and last in the NFC East. They dropped their first two games, falling at Green Bay 16-13 and at home to Washington 20-12. In Week 3, the offense got going in a big way, racking up 536 yards in a 56-21 rout of the Lions.
But, it’s back to square one after a 16-3 loss to the previously defensively-inept New York Giants.
What’s Gone Right: This one is taking me a little while. The run defense has been excellent, giving up only 74.5 yards per game thus far. But, that’s the only bright spot that doesn’t have a ‘but’ that follows it. Defensive end Trent Cole has picked up five sacks.
What’s Gone Wrong: Brian Westbrook put up 514 yards of total offense in the first havthree games, but missed the last game due to an abdominal strain.
How October Shapes Up: The Eagles are off this Sunday, then return to the Meadowlands to face the Jets. Their only home game of the month is against the Bears on the 21st, and they finish out the month with a game at Minnesota.
The way the schedule shapes up, they could and should go 3-0 in October. With the Cowboys setting the pace in the division, and looking at being at least 6-1 going into November, the Eagles can’t afford to lose anymore ground going into the second half of the season.
Unfortunately, the way the Eagles are playing, they could very well be 1-6 at the end of October. The Jets and Bears are better than they’re playing right now, and any trip to Minnesota isn’t an easy one.
Grading the Eagles
Performance: D - They shouldn’t be 1-3. But, ‘should be’ and ‘is’ are two completely different things.
Offense: C - McNabb hasn’t made many mistakes, but he has been McNabb-like for only one game. And, while Westbrook has been a bright spot, and there was the Lions blowout, the offense hasn’t done much in the other three games, which is a little surprising, considering it‘s supposed to be their strength.
Defense: C- - Could be better, could be worse. The rush defense has been excellent, and the pass defense has done decently, minus the Lions game, where Jon Kitna’s 400-yard passing performance was pretty irrelevant.
Special Teams: B- - David Akers has made seven of eight field goals so far, and new punter Saverio Rocca has adjusted well to the new football, averaging 41.9 yards per kick. The kick coverage team has also not allowed any huge returns. However, the return team hasn’t returned a kick for more than 28 yards, and there hasn’t been a punt return longer than 12 yards. You’d like to see more from your return game, when good field position makes a huge difference.
Next up, I’ll take a look at Eli Manning and the 2-2 Giants.
October 2nd, 2007 — News, Notes, and More
The Cowboys beat the Rams 35-7 to improve to 4-0, with Romo throwing for 339 yards and three scores, and Greg Ellis making a triumphant return to the field.
But, there were 13 other games on the schedule in Week 4, and it’s time for a few observations and notes from those games.
- First and foremost, congratulations from one Mississippi boy to another, as Brett Favre broke Dan Marino’s mark for career touchdown passes on Sunday at Minnesota. Favre’s 16-yard touchdown toss to Greg Jennings with 4:56 left in the first gave Favre the record, with 421 scoring passes in 17 NFL seasons (you may as well erase 1991 though). He extended the mark to 422 with a 33-yarder to rookie James Jones (darkhorse Rookie of the Year candidate) in the fourth. Favre also had his second straight 300+ yard game, going 32 of 45 for 344 yards, in leading the Packers to a 23-16 win over the Vikings. More importantly than the record, Favre and the Packers keep their early-season unbeaten run going, and are 4-0 going into a showdown against the Bears. Green Bay has a team full of young talent, and it looks like Favre has been feeding off of them (or drinking from the fountain of youth - where is it Brett?!) with great success.
- The guy who most think will break Favre’s record somewhere down the line, is also leading a 4-0 team. Peyton Manning tossed three touchdown passes (and had a sneak for another) in a 38-20 win over the Broncos. The Colts are positioning themselves for another runaway year in the AFC South, while the Broncos, with the loss, fell back to 2-2 after dropping their second game in a row.
Why is that big? Because the Chiefs are now at 2-2 as well, after going into San Diego and knocking off the Chargers 30-16. Both L.J. and L.T. got off their early-season slides, rushing for 123 and 131 (and a score) yards respectively. But, it was the quarterback play that made the difference, as Damon Huard threw for 284 yards and two scores and leading the Chiefs to 24 unanswered second-half points, while Phillip Rivers threw for 211 yards, zero touchdowns, and was picked off twice.
The Chargers are now 1-3, and in serious need of some wins before that record gets ugly. Hey, A.J. Smith, is this what you wanted? The blow from losing several assistant coaches might have been softened if they had held on to the head man, but instead of holding on to him, the Chargers got rid of head coach Marty Schottenheimer as well, a guy who the Chargers’ GM had some well-documented issues with. I don’t have anything against Norv Turner in the least, but when you’re already in turmoil, you don’t need to make it any worse, as the Chargers’ front office did.
But, given the fact that the AFC West is so deep, then the Chargers will be in it for the long haul if they can start picking up some wins. But, hey, watch out for those Raiders, who are 2-2, after Daunte Culpepper led Oakland to a 35-17 win at Miami. You can’t blame the Dolpins for letting Culpepper go, when there weren’t any assurances about his health, or his effectiveness. But, it’s got to feel pretty good for Culpepper to go in there and show that he’s still got plenty left. The stats weren’t huge (5 of 12, 75 yards, two scores), but he did run for three touchdowns, and most importantly, got the win, which dropped Miami to 0-4.
At the bad end of the surprise spectrum, the Bears are also 1-3, after giving up 34 points in the fourth to lose 37-27 at Detroit. When I read that line, I thought it was a misprint, and then I read the boxscore. Usually, a 13-3 lead in the fourth would seem safe for the Bears, but it wasn’t. Oddly enough, the game turned on the one thing that Lovie Smith hoped he’d avoid by changing quarterbacks: an interception. The pick was returned for a 64-yard score, and the Lions were up for good at 17-13. Three touchdowns later, it was done, done, and done. The Lions are, all of a sudden, at 3-1, and Matt Millen appears to finally be earning some his pay. As for the Bears, a hot Brett Favre is looming, which isn’t good news for a defense that has lost several key members.
The Eagles and Bengals are also at 1-3. After scoring 56 points against the Lions, Philadelphia’s offense dried up in a 16-3 loss to the Giants on Sunday night. After obliterating the Lions defense, Donovan McNabb was only 15 of 31 for 138 yards and zero touchdowns against a Giants pass defense that had been struggling. Keep beating other, NFC East rivals - it only allows the Cowboys to run, run, run far away from you.
As for the Bengals, defensive ineptness and a robot called the New England Patriots doomed them last night. The Bengals are not a good enough team to overcome mistakes or off nights on offense. They may as well have David Klingler in there if they’re going to be this bad.
There are now only four unbeaten teams, after the Steelers lost to the Cardinals 21-14. Kurt Warner came off of the bench to lead Arizona again, but it was Matt Leinart who was in at the end, leading the Cardinals to a score that made it 21-7 late in the fourth. If you’ve got two good quarterbacks, why not use them (as long as they’re both playing well)? But, if it keeps up for a little while, and one starts doing markedly better than the other, then that can lead to a little bit of controversy. We’ll see what happens there.
Also in the AFC South, there was another surprise, as the Browns knocked off the Ravens 27-13. Baltimore did get 307 yards from Steve McNair, but he had to throw it 53 times, after Cleveland had taken a commanding 24-6 halftime lead. The Browns are now 2-2, and could very well be 3-1. Derek Anderson has thrown for 780 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions in the last three weeks, in leading the Browns to two wins. Looks like Brady Quinn will have to wait a little while longer to become the starter, and it looks like that first-round pick may not be the #1.
That one looks to be up to several teams, including the Falcons and Bills. Atlanta and Buffalo did pick up their first wins of the season on Sunday, but there probably won’t be too many more for them. Give it up for Joey Harrington, who has been playing with some fire since the Falcons signed Byron Leftwich after the first two games. In the last two weeks, Harrington is 54 of 73 for 584 yards, four touchdowns, and no picks. On Sunday, he was 23 of 29 for 223 yards and two touchdowns, as the Falcons beat the Texans 26-16.
In Buffalo, the Bills picked up their first win by beating the Jets 17-14. J.P. Losman may not see his starting job again, if rookie Trent Edwards can build off of his successful first career start. The offense was woeful under Losman in the first three games, so it might be a welcome change. The Jets, meanwhile, are, well, not very good right now. That one makes the Patriots happy, as New England already has a three-game lead through four weeks.
In a division race that will be somewhat worth watching, the NFC South lead belongs to the 3-1 Bucs, who went into Carolina and knocked off the Delhomme-less Panthers (now 2-2) 20-7. David Carr only got sacked three times, and actually rushed for positive yardage, but he was also 19 for 41 passing. The Bucs lost Cadillac Williams and offensive lineman Luke Pettigout for the season on Sunday, but Michael Pittman (90 yards) and Earnest Graham (48 yards, TD) can fill in the hole left by Williams. Tampa has been a pleasant surprise thus far, but we’ll know in a few weeks if those injuries make a difference, or if Jon Gruden has another playoff team on his hands.
In another pivotal division clash, the Seahawks (3-1) went to the Bay Area and knocked off San Francisco 23-3 (2-2). They also knocked out Alex Smith with a shoulder injury, and that means that Trent Dilfer will start next week. Considering how badly Dilfer played on Sunday (12 of 33, 128 yards, two picks), it’s just as well that you have an injured Smith in the game, since he hasn’t been too effective for the most part so far, even when healthy.
This week, I’ll have first month/quarterly reports on the Cowboys, the NFC East, and the NFL, reviewing the first four weeks of action, and handing out some grades and a few presents.
September 30th, 2007 — Reports and Recaps, Cowboys Corner
After a slow start, another 300+ yard performance by Tony Romo, another fine performance by the ground game, and a dominant defensive showing led Dallas to a comfortable win over St. Louis and made the Cowboys 4-0 for the first time since 1995.
Romo posted his third 300+ yard game in four games, going 21 of 33 for 339 yards and three touchdowns, and he also added 24 rushing yards and a score. He was also involved in one of the game’s biggest plays. In the final minute of the first half, with the game tied at 7 and the Cowboys facing a third and three from midfield, Romo turned a potential disaster into a first down, recovering a kicked snap and scrambling four yards for a first down. It was only four yards, but it was the biggest four yards of the game, as the drive would capped off five plays later by a 15-yard touchdown run by Romo that put the Cowboys up for good.
And, the Rams would be put away early in the second half, as Romo threw two long touchdown passes to Patrick Crayton, and then tossed another one to Jason Witten late in the third for what would be the final margin.
The defense didn’t allow a touchdown, as the Rams scored their only points on an 85-yard punt return by Dante Hall that tied the game after a Julius Jones touchdown run.
The offense was clicking on all cylinders yet again, going over the 500-yard mark, as the Cowboys’ O racked up 502 total yards (171 on the ground). The defense held the Rams to only 187 yards and left the Rams offense feeling blue yet again.
Offensive MVP: Romo’s gotten it three games in a row, so it’s time to give it to someone new. And that someone is Crayton, who had a huge game, making seven catches for 184 yards and the two back-breaking touchdowns in the third, of 59 and 37 yards. With Terry Glenn still on the sidelines, it’s great to see quality contributions from Crayton and Sam Hurd.
Defensive MVP: The defense as a whole had a great afternoon, but there’s one player that deserves the award. Welcome back Greg Ellis! After a wait that was as agonizing for all of the fans as it was for him, Ellis made his return to the field, and made a huge impact, picking up 1.5 sacks. If there are any questions about his effectiveness following the long layoff, they were quickly answered.
Offensive Analysis: I think we’re all getting used to these performances by Romo. Maybe today’s kick and scramble will make people forget the bobble in Seattle. It’s easy to forget that he was actually tackled only a little bit short of a first down on that play, but a 4-0 record, 1,200 yards, and 11 touchdowns in four games make that a distant memory.
The running game didn’t get a big performance by a single person, but it was three backs who gained at least 47 yards (Jones - 13 for 52, Barber - 8 for 50, Tyson Thompson - 8 for 47), and it was an added bonus to see Romo moving well. Certainly a difference from the Drew Bledsoe and Vinny Testaverde days, right?
Defenisve Analysis: Ellis’ return, and Terence Newman’s cointinued return to health definitely make the defense a whole lot more formidable now, and it shows today, though the beat-up (and even more so after today) Rams might not be the fairest indication of how good the defense really is.
Overall Analysis: There’s no let-up in this team, and that’s what makes them so good. Anytime they’ve needed a play so far, they’ve gotten it. When the Giants pulled close multiple times, the offense had a response each time and put the G-men away. When the Dolphins took a third-quarter lead, the offense and defense took over the game, leading the way to 20 straight points and a second straight win. After the Bears tied the game at 10 in the third, the Cowboys scored on the next drive, and it wasn’t long before the win was signed, sealed, and delivered. And today, after Hall’s punt return tied the game at 7, Romo used the two-minute drill to perfection, and instead of the game being up for grabs in the second half, Dallas had a 14-7 lead going into the break, stopped the Rams on the first drive of the second half, and then blew it open with two touchdowns in three minutes.
LOOKING AHEAD
Next up, the Cowboys take their unbeaten record to Buffalo for a Monday night game against the Bills. The Bills got their first win of the season today, knocking off the Jets 17-14. Rookie Trent Edwards made his first career start in place of an injured J.P. Losman and gave the offense a huge lift, completing 22 of 28 passes for 234 yards and a score.
The Bills’ pass defense is giving up a ton of yards each game, and gave up 290 to Chad Pennington today, so that means that Romo could be on tap for yet another 300-yard outing.
It’s yet another one of those games that Dallas can’t overlook, as a showdown with New England is looming in two weeks, and both teams are expected to be unbeaten going into the game. But, as the Steelers found out today, it doesn’t take much to get knocked off of your cloud.
But, if the Cowboys continue to play as they have thus far, next week’s trip to the northeast will result in a fifth straight win and an unbeaten mark going into the season’s biggest test.
September 30th, 2007 — Previews and Predictions, Cowboys Corner
Do’s
- Keep the ground game going. The Rams have one of the league’s worst run defenses, giving up an average of 152.3 yards per game on the ground. Marion Barber is averaging nearly 88.7 yards per game, while Julius Jones is due for a big performance after being held down (partly by injury) in the last couple of games.
- Take advantage of St. Louis’ issues on offense. Marc Bulger was picked off three times last Sunday at Tampa Bay. The Cowboys have picked off seven passes in the last two games.
The Rams are also starting a new running back and have an offensive line that is missing most of its regular starters due to injury. And, there’s the stats: Two touchdowns and only 32 total points in the first three games.
Don’ts
- Don’t give the Rams any openings. The Cowboys should win comfortably. There’s no need for unnecessary mistakes on offense or defense. Bulger does have bruised ribs, but he’s also got Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, who are capable of doing big things anytime the ball’s in their hands. So, the secondary (which is even better with Newman’s health improving) must continue to play as well as it has in the past couple of weeks, and not have any lapses that could result in Holt or Bruce getting away for a huge play.
- Don’t underestimate their opponents. Often enough, the team most likely to beat you is the one that seems like the one you should blow away.
What Should Happen
The running game should flourish, and Romo should have yet another sharp game. As for the defense, a down offense presents the opportunity for a dominant performance. There is the Leonard factor, however. He may be a rookie starting his first game, but his all-around talents mean the D must always keep an eye on him.
Dallas should have this one wrapped up by the third quarter, if not sooner. However, the Rams may not want to go quietly, so we could actually be in for a game. But, a fourth straight Cowboys victory looks to be on the horizon.
Ideal Score: Dallas 35, St. Louis 13
Likely Score: Dallas 27, St. Louis 14
September 30th, 2007 — Previews and Predictions
Seattle at San Francisco: The big question for the 49ers is: Can the offense get going? San Fran has struggled on O thus far in ‘07, and that was exposed in last week’s 37-16 loss to Pittsburgh. The Seahawks, meanwhile, look to show who’s still the boss in the NFC West. But, Alex Smith and the ‘Niners want to give the division back to its rightful owner, and today’s game will be the first step in doing so. I say they pull out a close one.
Score: San Francisco 20, Seattle 17
Tampa Bay at Carolina: Four games into his Panthers career, and David Carr is likely making his first start, after Jake Delhomme’s strained right elbow (injured last Sunday vs. Atlanta) kept him out of practice for most of the week. Carr won’t have to throw it too much, since Carolina’s rushing attack with Deshaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams should be able to shoulder the load. However, the Bucs defense is playing like its old self, and could pose some problems for the often feather-like Carr (oh, another gust of wind just came along!). Tampa’s playing really well, and they may well be playing the Panthers at the right time. This one will be another close one, but I think the Bucs will pull it out and take the lead in the NFC South at the end of the first month of the season (this pick’s for you, Greg and Greg).
Score: Tampa Bay 21, Carolina 13
Kansas City at San Diego: It’s about time for Larry Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson to start playing like the MVP-caliber players they are. If they do, this should be a really good game. If they don’t, well, you should stop watching after the first half and wait for 60 Minutes. I would like to see them both go for over 150. If L.J. stinks up the joint again, I wonder if he’ll start regretting having held out as long as he did. $45 million, or a few more wins? Hmmm…
And, speaking of L.J., I know he’s not too happy about the way the offense is going, but the thing is, he’s a part of the offense that isn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard. He may have a valid point, and he may not have the offensive line he’s used to, but when you’re the workhorse, and you’re not doing the work, it doesn’t take long to run out of reasons, or excuses. It wasn’t Johnson who saved the Chiefs last week against the Vikings; it was Damon Huard, who everyone seems more than ready to cast off in favor of Brodie Croyle.
For the Chargers, however, a little home-cookin’ will do them good, after three tough road games to open the season. 2-2 won’t not look too bad if the Broncos get dropped by the Colts.
Score: San Diego 34, Kansas City 24
Denver at Indianapolis: The Colts have cut it close in the past two games, but the offense has been on top of their game, as expected. The Broncos got away with cutting it close in their first two games, but were run over by Jacksonville last Sunday, while getting held to an uncharacteristic 47 yards on the ground. Both teams’ run defense could be just a little better, which could mean big days for both Travis Henry and Joseph Addai.
But, Peyton Manning and the Colts will end the month of September unbeaten yet again, and pick up another victory over the Broncos, who they’ve owned recently.
Score: Indianapolis 31, Denver 17
Pittsburgh at Arizona: The Steelers are riding high right now at 3-0, but this is a game that could pose some problems for the Fighting Tomlins. Ken Whisenhunt will no doubt have his guys motivated, but the Steelers are clicking on offense (league’s best rushing attack - nearly 200 yards per game), and the Cardinals aren’t quite clicking on defense. The Steelers are also playing some stiff defense, which could give Matt Leinart more headaches after last week’s performance at Baltimore. If it does, will Whisenhunt stay with him, or will Kurt Warner come off of the bench again? And, if that does happen, does it mean that there’s a quarterback controversy out West? That will be Monday conversation, but the Sunday conversation will be about another Steelers win, as the Steelers should roll to 4-0.
And yes, Steelers fans, Mike Tomlin was the right choice.
Score: Pittsburgh 33, Arizona 20
September 29th, 2007 — Previews and Predictions
Chicago at Detroit: The Bears have finally decided to go to Brian Griese at quarterback, but will it be a winning solution? The Lions will have a statement to make, after getting plastered by the Eagles last week, and I think they will not only keep it close, but pull out a win.
Score: Detroit 27, Chicago 20
Baltimore at Cleveland: Jamal Lewis is playing his first game against his old team. Only a few seasons ago, he ran for 295 yards against Cleveland in a Ravens uniform. He won’t run for near that many on Sunday as a Brown, but the result will be the same as in that game - a Baltimore win. They cut it close last week against Arizona, which shows that they’re a little vulnerable to a team with a good offense (i.e. Cincinnati in their opener as well), so the Browns have a chance if Lewis and Derek Anderson play well.
Score: Baltimore 23, Cleveland 10
New York Jets at Buffalo: Another week, another loss for Buffalo. If there is a such thing as second-best in the AFC East, it’s the Jets. The Bills need to muster up a little offense if they are to have a shot for their first win.
Score: Jets 17, Bills 7
Houston at Atlanta:Something tells me that Pink Floyd or Incubus’ ‘Wish You Were Here’ will be playing pretty regularly when Matt Schaub is leading the Texans down the field. As for Michael Vick, he’ll be at home, smoking a joint, and opening all of his hate mail.
Score: Houston 34, Atlanta 17
Green Bay at Minnesota: Brett Favre and the Packers traditionally don’t do well in Minnesota, but they have won three of their last four in Mini-Soda. Green Bay is riding high, and it’ll be a record-setting day as Favre becomes the all-time career leader in touchdown passes. The Vikings will be intent on spoiling #4’s big day, but his teammates will make sure that doesn’t happen.
Score: Green Bay 28, Minnesota 16
Oakland at Miami: These two teams aren’t bad, but they aren’t good either, are they? Oakland’s actually been pretty competitive in each of their first three games, and might actually be a little better if Daunte Culpepper is in the starting lineup tomorrow. The Dolphins have been struggling mightily on defense in the past two games, allowing 68 points, and that doesn’t bode well against the Raiders, who are doing pretty good offensively, most notably on the ground. But, the Dolphins’ offense showed a great deal of improvement last weekend against the Jets (Ronnie Brown - over 200 yards of total offense and three touchdowns against New York), and should find a way to get Cam Cameron his first win against a Raiders defense that hasn’t fully played up to last year’s standards yet. Don’t be surprised to see this one come down to the final minutes, and if it does, expect Cameron and Raiders’ coach Lane Kiffin to have some timeouts saved just in case.
Score: Miami 24, Oakland 21
September 28th, 2007 — Previews and Predictions, Cowboys Corner
Fresh off of their first 3-0 start since 1999, the Cowboys are eyeing their first 4-0 start since 1995 when they take on the Rams on Sunday.
While the Cowboys are riding high, it’s the complete opposite for the injury-riddled, offensively-inept Rams, who come into the game looking for their first win of the season.
Last Sunday, the Cowboys made a statement by going into Soldier Field and routing the Bears 34-10. Dallas had their first game with a 300-yard passer (Tony Romo - 329 yards), 100-yard rusher (Marion Barber III - 102 yards), and 100-yard receiver (T.O. - 145 yards) since 1999, and only the third in team history. And, Anthony Henry picked off two passes for the second straight game, and returned one for a game-sealing score, earning himself the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
On the other side, the Rams were close with the Bucs for three quarters, but turnovers and missed field goals bit them in the end as they fell to Tampa Bay 24-3.
The Rams have seen several starters hit the injury list, and enter Sunday looking for a huge lift. But, the Cowboys will look to keep rolling and remain unbeaten.
Last Time They Played…
The last meeting between the Cowboys and Rams was a pretty forgettable one.
In the last week of the 2005 season, St. Louis came to Dallas and walked out of Texas Stadium with a 20-10 victory over an uninspired Cowboys team that had just had their slim playoff hopes dashed earlier in the afternoon.
The Cowboys had a 7-0 first-quarter lead after Drew Bledsoe hooked up with Jason Witten for a 19-yard touchdown.
The Rams took a 10-7 lead after a Jeff Wilkins field goal and a touchdown by former Cowboys back Aveion Cason put the Rams ahead late in the first half, but the Cowboys tied at 10 three seconds before the half on a Shaun Suisham field goal.
The third quarter was scoreless, but the Rams put the game away in the fourth with an Arlen Harris touchdown run and a field goal by Wilkins that iced the game with a little over a minute left.
Bledsoe was 18 of 39 for 242 yards, was picked off twice, and lost a fumble. The Cowboys were held to only 57 yards rushing and 15 total first downs.
LOOKING AT THE RAMS
Offense
The Greatest Show on Turf is anything but these days. It’s been a slow start, to say the least, for the Rams offense, as they have scored only two touchdowns and 32 total points in three losses.
Marc Bulger, who signed a big-money extension before the season, hasn’t earned his money yet (57.8 comp. %, 2 TD, 3 INT), including last week’s game, in which he was picked off three times.
In that game against Tampa Bay, Bulger’s effectiveness was limited by bruised ribs, which caused Rams’ coach Scott Linehan to go conservative when St. Louis was losing.
If he’s not up to strength this week, that puts even more strain on an offense that doesn’t have much going for them right now. Star RB Steven Jackson is going to miss the next few weeks with a groin injury, and the Rams’ offensive line lost yet another starter against the Bucs, taking the total to three.
In Jackson’s place, rookie Brian Leonard, a second-round pick from Rutgers, will start at tailback. You can’t really call Leonard anything, outside of a coach’s dream. He’s got a fullback’s blocking skills, a running back’s speed (sub 4.5 40) and moves (2,775 rushing yards, 32 TD at Rutgers), and the ability to catch the ball (207 catches, 1,864 yards, 13 TD).
So that the pressure isn’t completely on Leonard, there are a couple of stud receivers for Bulger to throw to, in million-time Pro Bowlers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.
Defense
The Rams defense was a big liability for several years, but has improved under their defensive coordinator, former Saints coach Jim Haslett. But, there are still several holes that the Cowboys could exploit.
The Rams’ rush defense has gotten torched by the Panthers (186 yards) and Bucs (182 yards).
The pass defense, while it hasn’t given up more than 201 yards in the first three games, has let the first three opponents complete passes at will (61.4 comp. %).
Special Teams
Wilkins has been the Rams’ placekicker in all but five of St. Louis’ games since the beginning of the 1997 season (he missed five games in 2000). In his Rams’ career, he has made 79.6% of his field goals (243 of 297) and 403 of 404 extra points.
This season, he’s six of nine on field goals, but he’s coming off one of the worst days in his career, when he missed two field goals that would have kept the Rams in what was a close game until the fourth quarter.
Former Seahawks and Dolphins punter Donnie Jones is in his first year punting for the Rams, and he’s been one of the bright spots, averaging 45.8 yards per kick, with four kicks going inside the 20.
The Rams have one of the league’s best return men handling return duties in Dante Hall, who is in his first year in St. Louis after spending his first six NFL seasons in Kansas City. Hall returned 11 kicks for touchdowns in his Chiefs career (five punt, six kickoff), which is third in NFL history behind Brian Mitchell and Eric Metcalf. Hall is averaging 22.5 yards on 11 kickoff returns this season, and does have an 84-yard non-touchdown return, and he is averaging 3.8 yards per punt return.
The Rams’ coverage team has done a decent job on kickoff returns, giving up an average of 22.3 yards per return (12th in the NFL) and ranks 24th in the league when it comes to punt returns (11.3 yards per return).
September 27th, 2007 — Hub Headliners, Cowboys Corner
After several seasons when the offense made us long for the days of the triplets, it looks like the Cowboys are back to their free-scoring days. It’s not Aikman, Smith, and Irvin, but Romo, Barber, and Owens does have a nice ring to it.
The Cowboys have gotten off to a great start on offense, balancing big performances by Tony Romo with a rushing attack that is regularly knocking off yards in chunks, and getting help from a defense that has forced the most turnovers in the league.
How does Dallas hot three-game start match up in Cowboys history? It’s not quite the best, but it’s still pretty darn good, coming in at #3.
1. 1968
Week 1: beat Detroit 59-13
Week 2: beat Cleveland 28-7
Week 3: won at Philadelphia 45-13
Total Points: 132
Per Game Average: 44
2. 1966
Week 1: beat Giants 52-7
Week 2: beat Minnesota 28-17
Week 3: won at Atlanta 47-14
Total Points: 127
Per Game Average: 42.3
3. 2007
Week 1: beat Giants 45-35
Week 2: won at Miami 37-20
Week 3: won at Chicago 34-10
Total Points: 116
Per Game Average: 38.7
But, where does it slot in among the best three-game stretches? This year’s start ranks sixth in Cowboys history, behind the two in 1968 and 1966, and three others, two in 1971, and another one in 1966. That 1966 team was Dallas’ most prolific offense in history, and it claims three of the top seven three-game stretches in Cowboys history, including the top one.
2. 1966
Week 2: beat Minnesota 28-17
Week 3: won at Atlanta 47-14
Week 4: beat Philadelphia 56-7
Total Points: 131
Per Game Average: 43.7
4. 1971
Week 12: beat Jets 52-10
Week 13: won at Giants 42-14
Week 14: beat St. Louis Cardinals 31-12
Total Points: 125
Per Game Average: 41.7
In Weeks 11-13 in 1971, the Cowboys scored 122 points (#5), including the first two victories above, and a 28-21 win over the Rams in Week 11. That ‘71 team, Dallas’ first Super Bowl championship team, remains the only team in Cowboys history to lead the league in points and win a title in the same year. The ‘77, ‘92, and ‘93 teams all were #2 in points, while the ‘95 team was third. So, while finishing at the top of the charts on offense might not guarantee anything, it’s a good sign to at least be among the best offenses in the league. And, if the Cowboys keep up the pace they’re on, they will do that.
This year’s start is tied with a stretch from Weeks 7-9 in 1966, when the Cowboys also scored 116 points (beat Pittsburgh 52-21, lost at Philadelphia 24-23, then won 31-30 at Washington).
Which four-game stretch will Dallas be looking to best when they hit the field against St. Louis on Sunday? The run from Weeks 1-4 by Dandy Don, Bullet Bob, and Co. in 1966 is not only the best start in team history, but also the best overall stretch in team history. In that four-game stretch, the Cowboys scored 183 points, averaging 45.8 points per game.
As I said, that team is the highest-scoring team in Cowboys history, averaging 31.8 points per game (445 points in a 14-game schedule). The 1968 team was the only other Cowboys team that averaged over 30 points through an entire season, as that squad averaged 30.8 points per game (431 in 14 games).
The best scoring team since the 16-game schedule began in 1978 is the 1983 team. Danny White had a team-record season, throwing for 3,980 yards and 29 touchdowns (and rushing for four more), Tony Dorsett rushed for over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns, and the Cowboys scored 31 or more points nine times in 16 games on the way to scoring 479 points total that season.
Funnily enough, though Tom Landry’s background was as a defensive coach, none of his 29 teams finished as the league’s best in points allowed, though they finished second once (1968) and third twice (1978 and 1982), while the offense led the league in points five times. Just a little something to chew on there.
So, there are some pretty lofty standards for this year’s team to reach, but, from the looks of it, it’s going to be quite a task to slow this team down. And, hopefully the big numbers will translate into wins, wins, and more wins…and maybe throw their name in there with that 1971 team.
September 26th, 2007 — Rants and Raves, News, Notes, and More, Cowboys Corner
Henry Gets Honored
CB Anthony Henry was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week today for his performance against the Bears on Sunday.
Henry picked off Rex Grossman twice, returning the second one 28 yards for a touchdown that was the killed off the Bears’ hopes, as it put the Cowboys up 27-10 early in the fourth.
Gramatica Gets Cut
After being on injured reserve for the last few weeks, following the last round of preseason cuts, Dallas released kicker Martin Gramatica yesterday.
Gramatica had been in competition with rookie Nick Folk for the starting placekicker role, but Folk took the lead in the competition with his consistent accuracy, and then Gramatica suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason loss to the Texans, which put him out of commission for the last week of action and handed the job to Folk.
Gramatica came on board last season, after the Mike Vanderjagt experiment ended 11 games into the season, and made six of eight field goals in the last five games of the season, and was a perfect 14 of 14 on extra points.
Gramatica was a third-round pick of the Bucs in 1999, and for a while, had a reputation as one of the most accurate and strong-legged kickers in the game. In his career, which also includes a brief spell with Indianapolis, is 144 of 188 (76.6%) on field goals in his career, with a career-long of 55 yards, and 204 of 206 (99%) on PATs.
Someone Needs a Slap in the Head
A day after Michael Vick gets more charges added on to his dogfighting case, it’s revealed that he tested positive for marijuana in a recent test, and is now even more screwed than he was already.
Vick won’t be able to leave his house between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (but Mom, why do I have to have a curfew? I’m 27!), and will have to be electronically monitored and subjected to random drug tests.
The failed test happened only two weeks ago, on Sept. 13, so it appears that Vick, as contrite as he appeared to be in his apology, is either incompetent or intent on skirting the rules and restrictions any way he can. How hard is it to lay off the green stuff when you know you have to, not only according to the law, but for the sake of your future? He got out of the water bottle situation, but now that he’s in deep doo-doo already, there’s no getting around this one.
That could cost him when he’s sentenced in December, because if he hasn’t followed the rules in between his indictment and his sentencing, then there’s no real reason to be the least bit soft on him. So, if I were Mike Vick, I’d straighten up very, very quickly, or at least get the Whizzinator.
The additional charges on his indictment may well have seemed a little excessive, considering the potential penalties each individual dog killing carry, but this really isn’t going to help his case either.
Someone, anyone, needs to get in this guy’s ear, and tell him that he’s one misstep away from having zero chance of getting back into football, because you know every little slip he makes, Roger Goodell is taking note of it, and not only that, I don’t think he would be allowed to resume his NFL career as a part of a work-release program.
September 26th, 2007 — Previews and Predictions, News, Notes, and More
Week 4 is highlighted by several ‘distance’ games - contests that will make a great difference in certain division favorites or contenders to put some distance between the trailing pack.
The matchup of the week is no doubt the Broncos at Colts on Sunday afternoon. It’s a bigger game for the Broncos than it is the Colts, who have had Denver’s number as of late. For the Broncos, this game is about getting back on track and keeping their lead atop the AFC West, but a loss would be their second straight, and would allow the Kansas City-San Diego winner to tie them at 2-2.
Speaking of that K.C.-S.D. game, that might be one of the biggest games of the early season, as both teams will be looking to get their star running backs on track and their teams off of a slide. L.J. and L.T. have combined for only 270 yards in the first three games. Considering what’s at stake, don’t be surprised if they hit that number on Sunday.
Elsewhere, there’s a big one in the NFC East, as Philly goes to the Meadowlands to face the Giants, for NBC’s Sunday night matchup. Both teams are 1-2 after picking up their first wins of the season last week, but are still very much in need of a win with the Cowboys in position to run away with the division very, very quickly, with a favorable schedule (minus New England, which is a home game) in the next few weeks.
In the NFC North, Green Bay goes to Minnesota looking to go to 4-0. Brett Favre has struggled in road games against the Vikings, but won the last time he was there. After the Packers have opened with three impressive wins, you can bet the Vikings want to knock them back down to earth, and close the gap in the division.
Chicago goes to Detroit with a new starting quarterback. Lovie Smith apparently has had enough of Rex Grossman’s inconsistencies, and is turning to Brian Griese for Sunday’s game. Maybe this is what Grossman needs to fire him up. But, it’s the perfect week for Griese to take over, as he’ll be slinging it against one of the worst pass defenses in the league. As for the Lions, a win over the Bears would be yet another step in the right direction, and erase the bad taste from that beatdown at the hands of Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.
In the NFC West, Seattle visits San Francisco in a pivotal early-season showdown. Both teams are 2-1, but could both easily be 0-3, if a couple of close games had gone the opposite way. The winner of this one will have an early leg up on the division title, and an automatic playoff spot. The question for San Francisco is this - Can they get the offense going? If they don’t soon, they’ll be in trouble, as Sunday’s game against the Steelers showed. They got away with it against the Cardinals and Rams, because they produced just enough to win, but just enough isn’t going to be enough most of the time.
In the AFC East, the race for second place goes into Week 4, as winless Buffalo goes on the road to face the 1-2 Jets. If the Jets win, things could get close in a heartbeat if the Bengals can knock off the Pats on Monday night.
That game is another ’distance’ game. A Patriots win would, at best, keep their two-game lead over the Jets, but if the Bills beat the Jets, they’ll already have a three-game lead, which is more than enough. Meanwhile, the Bengals need to shore up their weaknesses very quickly, because if they don’t bring their ‘A’ game on Monday night, they’re going to be yet another victim of the seemingly unstoppable Patriots’ train.
Baltimore goes to Cleveland in a pretty important matchup. The Ravens had a close call against the Cardinals at home on Sunday, and could very well get tripped up if Derek Anderson can stay on his feet long enough to get the ball to Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, and if Jamal Lewis can make the most of his first meeting against his old team.
That game, and the Bengals-Pats game, are big, because the Steelers are facing Arizona. The smart money says the Cardinals should give the Steelers’ D their biggest test to date, but the way the Steely McBeam’s are playing, the Cardinals might end up getting run over just like the Browns, Bills, and 49ers did.
The other games on the schedule are of great importance as well.
Tampa Bay and Carolina, both 2-1, face off at the Panthers’ den for the NFC South lead. A win for the Bucs would really signal their resurgence as a good team.
Houston goes to Atlanta, looking for win #3 and looking to keep the Falcons out of the win column. Matt Schaub faces off of against the team that (stupidly) traded him just before the Michael Vick mess came up, and has a chance to inflict more misery upon the Falcons, who aren’t catching many breaks right now. But, if Joey Harrington can build off his strong performance against the Panthers (361 yards, two TD, no picks), then maybe, just maybe Falcons’ fans will go home smiling on Sunday afternoon.
Jacksonville (2-1), Tennessee (2-1), Washington (2-1), and New Orleans (0-3) are off this week. The Redskins will be a close watcher of that Giants-Eagles game, as it will have bearing on if they have any room to breathe going into Week 5.
Week 4 Schedule
Chicago at Detroit
St. Louis at Dallas
Baltimore at Cleveland
Buffalo at New York Jets
Houston at Atlanta
Green Bay at Minnesota
Oakland at Miami
Seattle at San Francisco
Tampa Bay at Carolina
Kansas City at San Diego
Denver at Indianapolis
Pittsburgh at Arizona
Philadelphia at New York Giants (Sunday night)
New England at Cincinnati (Monday night)
September 25th, 2007 — News, Notes, and More, Cowboys Corner
Here’s how the Cowboys are faring in several of the individual and team statistical categories, thus far. It’s mostly good, though there is a little bad.
- Through three games, Tony Romo is sixth in passing yards (860), tied for third in touchdowns (eight), and tied for second in QB rating (111.9). Tom Brady is first in the league in touchdowns (10) and QB rating (141.8). It can’t hurt when you’ve completed 70 of 88 passes, as Brady has so far.
- Marion Barber III is 12th in the NFL (and 6th in the NFC) in rushing yards with 256, but he leads the league in yards per carry (6.4) and is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with four.
- T.O. is fourth in the league in receiving yards with 329, and leads the league in yards per catch at 20.6. Jason Witten also ranks among the league’s top receivers with 14 catches for 233 yards, which puts him third among tight ends, behind Antonio Gates (27 catches, 297 yards) and Kellen Winslow, Jr. (16 catches, 271 yards).
- Nick Folk is third in the league in scoring, with 32 points. Jeff Reed of Pittsburgh has 37 points, and Adam Vinatieri is 2nd with 33 points.
- Unsurprisingly, Anthony Henry is at the top of the charts in interceptions, with his back to back games with two picks. Tennessee’s Keith Bulluck picked off Drew Brees three times last night, and along with Raiders LB Kirk Morrison, is tied for second at three picks.
TEAM STATS
- Dallas is second in the league in total offense, racking up 420.3 yards per game, and have the league’s fifth-best passing (274 yards per game) and rushing (146.3 yards per game) offenses. New England is first in total offense at 441 yards per game. The Steelers are averaging an impressive 198.3 yards per game rushing, after torching the Bills and 49ers for 200+ yard days in the last two weeks.
- The Cowboys also lead the league in fourth-down conversions made at four, and unfortunately, in penalties (30) and penalty yards (256).
- On the defensive side of the ball, Dallas is still in the lower half of the league in total defense. However, the Cowboys have been greatly helped, especially in the last two games, by forcing turnover after turnover, which has them in the league lead in takeaways (10 - 8 picks, 2 fumbles) and turnover margin (+7).
- Speaking of the total defense rankings, Dallas is 21st in yards allowed per game, at 337. While Eli Manning and Trent Green racked up good yardage totals, the rush defense has been a strength, holding Miami’s Ronnie Brown and Chicago’s Cedric Benson to subpar totals. Because of that, the Cowboys come in at 8th in the league in rush yards allowed per game, at 86.7 per game.
September 24th, 2007 — Hub Headliners
When most people think of Mike Ditka, they think of the Chicago Bears. Ditka was the coach of the vaunted 1985 Bears team that went 15-1 and ran over New England in the Super Bowl, and he had a 106-62 record in 11 seasons as the Bears’ head man, leading them back to prominence after the end of the George Halas era brought only two winning seasons between 1968 and 1981, before Ditka came in to turn things around. From 1984 to 1991, the Bears won 10 or more games seven times.
There was all of the issues that he had, and his time in Chicago didn’t end on a good note, as he was fired following the 1992 season, despite six division titles, three trips to the NFC title game, and the Super Bowl title. There was also the three-year stint in New Orleans that didn’t go well in the least, as his Saints teams went 15-33 in those three seasons from 1997-99.
Still, Ditka is one of the most beloved figures in the city of Chicago, and one of the most recognizable people in the NFL. And, he’s also got his place in Dallas Cowboys history as well.
There are some people that may not think to remember it, but Ditka is in the Hall of Fame, not for what he did as a coach, but for being one of the best tight ends in NFL history.
That’s where his link with the Cowboys begins.
Ditka started his career with the Bears, where he played his first six NFL seasons. In his rookie year, he had one of the best years by any tight end in NFL history, catching 56 passes for 1076 yards and 12 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons in the league, and in his six years as a Bear, he caught 316 passes for 4,503 yards and 34 touchdowns, totals that might seem modest by today’s standards, but excellent then, when passing was less of an emphasis in the NFC. He set the mold for tight ends to be looked at as primary receiving threats for their teams, and set the table for guys like Kellen Winslow, Shannon Sharpe, Tony Gonzalez and others today, including Dallas’ own Jason Witten, who is one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league.
In 1967, he was traded to Philadelphia, where he made 39 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons. Then, in 1969, the Cowboys acquired him, and he would spend his final four seasons in Dallas, making 72 catches for 824 yards and five touchdowns. The highlight of the end of his career was being a member of the Cowboys’ first championship team, when Dallas beat Miami in Super Bowl VI, in which he caught a touchdown pass in the 24-3 title-clinching win.
Dallas would be where Ditka got his start in coaching. Immediately following the end of his playing career, Tom Landry brought him on as an assistant coach. He was an assistant coach in Dallas for nine seasons before he took the Bears job, and was a part of six division title-winning teams, eight playoff teams, three NFC champions, and one Super Bowl winner (Super Bowl XII).
He would, however, go back to his roots, as George Halas brought him back to the Windy City in 1982. Unfortunately for Halas, he wouldn’t get to see the fruits of the hire, as he passed away from cancer in October 1983, during Ditka’s second season as coach. Ditka compiled an 11-17 record in those first two seasons, before getting the ship righted the next season, and leading one of the NFL’s most storied franchises back to the promised land.
So, while Ditka is, without a doubt, a legend for what he did in Chicago, both as a player and as a coach, there is certainly a place for him in Cowboys history as well.
September 24th, 2007 — News, Notes, and More
- Brett Favre is playing like he’s 28, not like he’s about to turn 38. Favre had another vintage performance, throwing for 369 yards, and threw three touchdown passes to tie Dan Marino’s career mark of 420. His third, a 57-yarder to Greg Jennings, not only tied the record but gave the Packers a 24-21 lead over the Chargers with 2:03 to go, and after Nick Barnett picked off Philip Rivers, Brandon Jackson ran it in from the one to wrap up a 31-24 victory for the Packers, who are now 3-0 and looking like a serious contender after beating three very good teams.
As for the Chargers, they’re 1-2, and L.T.’s not putting up any kind of numbers so far. He did have a touchdown catch in yesterday’s game, but rushed for only 62 yards on 22 carries. Through three games, he’s rushed for only 130 yards and one touchdown, and is averaging a measly 2.3 yards per carry. You’d have to think that he’ll turn it on soon, but this isn’t the kind of start we were hoping to see from him. Then again, he has faced the Bears’ D, the Patriots’ D, and a much-improved Packers’ D. But, you wouldn’t expect him to get absolutely shut down for the most part like he has so far. He’s too good of a player to keep down, though, so just wait a week or two.
- The Eagles did a lot to make people quickly forget about that 0-2 start by laying a 56-21 beating on the Detroit Lions that showed just what the Eagles can be when they’re on, and just how far the Lions still have to go to be up there at the top. Donovan McNabb made sure he won’t have any critics this week by going 21 of 26 for 381 yards and four scores, and Brian Westbrook had a monster game as well, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and catching five passes for 111 yards and another touchdown. It was 42-21 at halftime, and the Eagles may well have scored 70 points if they hadn’t taken their foot off the gas in the second half. So much for counting them out, eh? THen again, they could turn around and lose next week, and be back at square one.
- The Giants got their first win of the season, scoring 21 second-half points to knock off Washington 24-17. After their defense was invisible for the first two games, it woke up in the second half, shutting down Jason Campbell and the ‘Skins, especially on the most important drive of the game. After Antwaan Randle El put the Redskins in New York territory with two minutes to go on a punt return, Campbell converted a 4th and 8 and a 3rd and 13 to get Washington to the 1. Following a spike, Campbell threw incomplete, and then Ladell Betts was stopped cold on 3rd and goal. Then, on 4th and goal, Betts was stopped again to preserve the win and take a little heat off of Tom Coughlin.
Which Giants will we see next week against Philly?
- With the Lions, Redskins, and 49ers falling, the Cowboys and Packers are the only two unbeatens in the NFC. Three other teams are at 2-1, in the Panthers, Seahawks, and….the Bucs. The Jeff Garcia effect is paying off in Tampa, and the defense is playing very well again. We’ll have to wait a few weeks to see if they’re for real though.
But, behind the Cowboys and Packers, who have been among the best of the best so far, who’s also got the stuff to contend in the NFC? The smart money, at this point, would have to be the Panthers or Seahawks, as they’ve been there before, and know what it takes. They both do have some holes, though.
You can’t forget about the Bears, but Rex Grossman needs to turn it around in a hurry. The 49ers have to show that they can pick up the wins against the better teams, and not just against the Cardinals and Rams, before they’re a serious contender. And, the Saints are too good of a team to look as bad as they have so far. A win tonight over the Titans would really boost their hopes, since the NFC South isn’t going to be a runaway for anyone, and there is going to be some serious battling for the two wild card spots as well, between good teams playing mediocre football, and mediocre teams playing good football.
- In the AFC, it’s all about the Colts and Pats again. The Patriots put another whipping on someone yesterday, throttling the Bills 38-7. Guess those AFC East Champion t-shirts need to start getting printed right now, because they might have it wrapped up by Week 10, if this keeps up. In the past two weeks, they’re playing as if they have a reason to be mad about people questioning their accomplishments in the wake of the videotape cheat ’scandal.’ Whatever gets you motivated, right? But, a team like New England doesn’t really need much motivating, and they’re too good of a team to have to resort to silly cheating tactics in the first place, as they’ve proved rather handily. Trying to get back to the Super Bowl and wrestle the title away from the Colts is just as much of a motivation as anything else.
As for the Colts, we know about the offense, but the defense has played much better than anyone expected them to this season. That defense was supposed to be the reason why their hopes of repeating would get tripped up, but it’s done a good job, especially in stopping the run against New Orleans and Houston. It’s not as if we’re talking about the Doomsday Defense here, but given the expectations, there’s certainly reason to give them praise so far.
But hey, what about the Steelers, who have outscored their first three opponents 97-26, and have gotten the job done with a balanced offense and a defense that’s allowing less than 250 yards per game so far? For all those who may have wondered about the hires of Wade Phillips and Mike Tomlin by their respective teams, those two hires are turning out very, very well so far.
- What about Kyle Boller leading a last-minute drive to get the Ravens a win? Steve McNair re-injured his groin in the game, so Boller had to come in and be the hero. It’s quite a turnaround for him, after just a couple of weeks ago, he threw a pick on a last-minute drive that killed off Baltimore’s hopes in a 27-20 loss to Cincy. On the same note, what about Matt Leinart getting benched after playing poorly, and Kurt Warner playing like the old Kurt Warner and not just an old Kurt Warner, going 15 of 20 for 258 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Cardinals back into the game? Will we see a quarterback rotation next week when the Cardinals take on the Steelers? Leinart hasn’t exactly been a world beater thus far, and Warner showed that he’s still got it, against one of the league’s best defense (that hasn’t played like it so far), so there’s a thought to ponder for Ken Whisenhunt.
The most interesting play of the game was in the third. Arizona had just gotten a field goal to pull within 20-6, and instead of waiting until the fourth, went for the onside kick - and recovered. But, they turned it over on the first play, after Larry Fitzgerald caught a long pass but was stripped of the ball. The Ravens went down the field and got a Matt Stover field goal to make it 23-6, setting up the wild finish. Had the Cardinals converted on that drive, the result might have ended up very differently.
- The battle for second in the AFC East is on, and it looks like it’s for the Jets’ taking, after they became the only other team in the division to have a win after holding off the Dolphins 31-28. Chad Pennington doesn’t want to give up his job quite yet, as he must have heard all of the ravings about Kellen Clemens and his imminent assumption of the starting QB job and promptly came out and threw two touchdown passes and played an efficient game.
As for the Dolphins, well, at least they have South Beach.
- The Broncos really missed out on a chance to really stamp their control over the AFC West by losing 23-14 to Jacksonville at home. After Travis Henry had rushed for 267 yards in the first two games, he was held to only 35 yards on 11 carries yesterday. With the Chargers struggling, and the Raiders and Chiefs in rebuild mode, it looks like the division is Denver’s to lose, and frankly, you have to capitalize on all of the opportunities you get to seal the deal.
- Speaking of the Raiders, what about Lane Kiffin’s timeout call on Cleveland’s late FG attempt working out? We see the timeout calls all the time in those situations, in an attempt to ice the kicker, but it doesn’t always work. Kiffin has seen it work in the last two weeks, one in his favor and one not. Against the Broncos, Sebastian Janikowski nailed a field goal to win it in OT, but it was nullified by a smart timeout call by Mike Shanahan. Janikowski’s next kick was just wide left, and the Broncos went on to win. Yesterday, the Raiders were up 26-24, and Phil Dawson had a game-winning attempt with seconds to go. Just as he went for the kick (which was good), Kiffin got the timeout. After the timeout, Dawson’s kick was blocked, and the Raiders got their first win.
That’s what you call on-the-job training, eh?
- You’ve got to feel for Joey Harrington. Harrington had one of the best games of his career yesterday, going 31 of 44 for 361 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks, and the Falcons still lost 27-20 to Carolina.
- Carson Palmer followed up his 401-yard, six-touchdown performance in a losing effort at Cleveland by throwing for 342 yards against Seattle. But, two interceptions and four total turnovers by the Bengals doomed them in a 24-21 loss to the Seahawks. Cincinnati is one of those teams that would be good if they weren’t so bad sometimes. Four turnovers don’t help your cause, but neither does Rudi Johnson rushing for only nine yards on 17 carries.
