I just want my readers to know that my dedication to watching football and blogging about it remains sky high. I watched and blogged from 4 locations today, most of them disclosed. I watched the 1st half of the early games in the living room of my parents in sunny South Florida. The 2nd half of the early games were watched at the Palm Beach airport. The internet connection even worked on the plane until we took off. My connecting flight from Atlanta to LA was a blessing because they had DirecTV. The late games had already ended, but the night game was in full view for me. I did not have internet access, but could access Microsoft Word. This explains the 2 different fonts. It beats having to come home exhausted. The final it of blogging was done from my home in Los Angeles. So yes, I am watched and blogged across America today. If I am not your hero, reevaluate your priorities.
For the 5th straight week, the Tygrrrr Express is in a different city watching football. For the 4th straight week, it will not be at my home in Los Angeles. After a 24 hour stop from New York to Atlanta, the Tygrrrr Express is now in South Florida. Later tonight I get to sleep in my own bed for 5 whole days before heading back to New York. Nevertheless, nothing cures exhaustion, or any other problem for that matter, than a healthy dose of the National Football League.
Unfortunately, my flight is during the games, rendering my recaps as substandard as ever.
The Oakland Raiders have their bye week, so this is the week where I relax and decompress before the stress of the last few years resumes next week.
With that, below is the recap of Week 5.
Tennessee Titans @ Baltimore Ravens–Several years ago this was a rivalry between the top defenses in the league. It may be again. Ray Lewis is still the emotional leader for Baltimore, while Jeff Fisher continues to get superior play from a team without many known superstars. A blocked field goal for a touchdown propelled the Ravens to their championship over a stunned Tennessee. A couple years later a successful field goal allowed the Titans to win going away in Baltimore. As expected, this game was a bare fisted slobberknocker on defense.
After a 3-3 first half, Joe Flacco led the Ravens 71 yards over 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. McClain cracked the end zone from a yard out to put the Ravens up 10-3. With 13 minutes remaining, Kerry Collins moved Tennessee to the Baltimore 8, but the Titans had to settle for a 26 yard Rob Bironas field goal. With 6 minutes remaining in the game, Collins led the Titans from their own 20 all the way down the field. An 11 yard pass to Algae Crumpler just inside the 2 minute warning had the Titans up 13-10. Flacco got the Ravens several yards shy of midfield, but he never got the chance to throw the hail mary. He spiked the ball with 2 seconds left, but a false start on the spike ended the game. The Titans are 5-0, and winning ugly. Then again, for those who like watching a typical Titans game against the Ravens, this was sheer beauty. 13-10 Titans
Kansas City Chiefs @ Carolina Panthers–Carolina held the ball for 39 minutes and outgained the Chiefs 441-127. After the 1st quarter, Jake Delhomme had 104 yards passing. Damon Huard had 6. The Panthers began their second drive at the Kansas City 46, and the short field led to a 10 yard touchdown run by Williams to put Carolina up 7-0. In the 2nd quarter, Delhomme found Williams for a 25 yard touchdown pass. Later in the quarter, a 6 minute drive ended when Williams broke off a 32 yard touchdown run to have Carolina up safely 21-0. The game was a blowout, and the mercy rule prevents me from elaborating on the relatively uneventful 2nd half. 34-0 Panthers
Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions–The Bears may not be that good, but the Lions are as bad as ever. Kyle Orton had a 9 yard touchdown pass to Matt Forte and a 12 yarder to Devon Hester to take a 17-0 halftime lead. In the second half, Orton found Marty Booker for 30 yards, setting up a 1 yard run by Forte took put the Bears safely up 24-0. Orlovsky came in for Jon Kitna, as if the last half a century was Kitna’s fault. Orlovsky threw a 26 yard touchdown pass to Charles Tillman. Unfortunately for the Lions, Tillman plays for the Bears, and the interception had Chicago up 31-0. This did not take away from the pain of the Cubs, but this blog is about football. 34-7 Bears
Atlanta Falcons @ Green Bay Packers–This used to be Michael Vick vs Brett Favre. Now we have the eras of Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers. The Falcons took the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards. On 3rd and goal from the 1, Turner was stuffed. On 4th and goal from the 1, Ryan threw a touchdown pass to Peelle. After a punt, Turner ripped off a 22 yard run to set up a 42 yard Jason Elam field goal to put Atlanta up 10-0 after the 1st quarter. The Packers then moved 87 yards, as Rodgers hit Donald Driver with a 44 yard touchdown pass to pull Green Bay to within 10-7. The Falcons went up 17-7 on a 22 yard touchdown pass from Ryan to White. The Packers had a field goal nullified by a penalty before the half ended.
The Packers closed to 17-10 after a 12 play, 6 1/2 minute drive, and then tied the game ona 25 yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Greg Jennings. The Falcons went back up 20-17. The key play in the game occurred with 4 1/2 minutes remaining. Rodgers was intercepted by Boley at the Green Bay 35, and Boley returned it to the 19, setting up the touchdown with 3 1/2 minutes remaining to put the Falcons back up by 10.
Rodgerrs found Jennings for 36 yards on the next drive, setting up a 4 yard touchdown pass to Lee with 2 minutes remaining. It was not enough, as the onsides kick failed. 27-24 Falcons
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans–This game was ridiculous. Both quarterbacks started red hot. Peyton Manning was 9 for 11 for 93 yards, and Sage Rosenfels, filling in for Matt Schaub, was 6 for 6 for 64 yards. The 1st quarter belonged to the Colts, with an Adam Vinatieri field goal and a Joseph Addai run from a yard out putting the Colts up 10-0. After several Rosenfels passes, Slaton burst through from a yard out in the 2nd quarter to pull the Texans to within 10-7. Kris Brown tied the game up 10-10. When Rosenfels found Andre Johnson with 27 seconds left in the half, The Texans had surged to a 17-10 lead.
After a Colts punt, the Texans began a drive with 9 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. The Texans then went from their own 9 in 15 plays, eating up 8:47 off of the clock. With seconds left in the period, a field goal had them up 20-10. On the next drive, Slaton ran 41 yards to set up a 1 yard run by…yes…Slaton. The Texans led 27-10. 27 unanswered points, in what was to be the shocker of the day.
Yet Peyton Manning is simply insane. Yes, there was plenty of luck, but this game will be talked about long after Manning retires a sure first ballot hall of famer. With 8 minutes left, from his own 19, he led an 11 play drive that ended in a 7 yard pass to Santi with 4:14 remaining. The Colts trailed 27-17, and the onsides kick failed, which should have ended the game.
On 3rd and 8 form the Indy 40, Rosenfeld came up a yard short of the 1st down. Wore than that, he fumbled the ball, and Gary Brackett ran it back 68 yards for a touchdown to pull the Colts within 27-24. After a touchback, Rosenfels fumbled again, and the Colts began at the Houston 20. Addai ran 15 yards, and then Manning found Reggie Wayne for the 5 yard touchdown pass. 2 1/2 minutes still remained, but psychologically the Texans were just done. Yes, the Colts deserved to lose. No, winning this game should not paper over serious problems with the Indy offense. Yet champions make the most of dumb luck, which Houston provided an abundance of. 21 points in 2 minutes, all with less than 5 minutes remaining, did in Houston. Rosenfels was intercepted to seal the come from behind shocker. 31-27 Colts
San Diego Chargers @ Miami Dolphins–It took Bill Parcells 2 years to turn around the Giants and Patriots. He turned around the Cowboys in 1 year. With the Jets, he did it in one game. We now know the Dolphins have been turned around in 3 games. As for Norv Turner, he turns teams around in the opposite direction. The 14-2 Chargers of Marty Schottenheimer are gone.
Chad Pennington, started 9 for 10 for 98 yards. A 17 yarder touchdown pass to Camarillo put the Dolphins up 10-3 in the 2nd quarter. The Dolphins continued to run their “Wildcat” formation with direct snaps to the running back, and threw in some no huddle offense for good measure. It confounded New England last week, and a direct snap to Ronnie Brown went for a 5 yard touchdown and a 17-3 Miami lead at the break.
The second half was about defense. Philip Rivers found former Miami wide receiver Chris Chambers for a 17 yard touchdown pass to cut the gap to 17-10. On the next San Diegon drive, they reached the Miami one yard line. On 4th and goal from the 1, Ladnian Tomlinson was stoned up the middle. 10 minutes remained, and the goal line stand energized the Dolphins. Yet despite moving from their own 1 to the San Diego 38, the Dolphins decided to punt. It did not matter, as the Miami defense matched San Diego in heart. The Dolphins ran out the clock to preserve the win. They are 2-2, and the Norvelous Chargers are again 1-3. 17-10 Dolphins
Seattle Seahawks @ New York Giants–the defending champs jumped all over Seattle from the start. beginning on their own 9, the remaining 91 yard came easily. Brandon Jacobs ripped off a 44 yard run, setting up a 32 yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Dominic Hixon. After a Seattle field goal, Manning ripped off passes of 22 and 29 yards to Amani Toomer, setting up Brandon Jacobs from 3 yards out. Big blue led 14-3 at the end of the 1st quarter, and added a field goal seconds into the 2nd quarter. This game was over by halftime as an 11 play, 6 1/2 minute drive led to a 1 yard Jacobs plunge. The Giants led 27-6 at the break, and continued to pour it on in the second half.
The Giants took the kickoff, and 3 minutes later, Manning found Moss for 23 yards and a 34-6 drubbing. The Giants added a field goal, and Manning then found Moss again for 5 yards to make the demolition 44-6 with almost the entire 4th quarter to play. The score stood. 44-6 Giants
Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles–Philly began with a 80 yard, 12 play, 6 1/2 minute drive that ended in a 9 yard run from Bryan Westbrook. the Redskins had a less successful drive, with 3 incomplete Jason Campbell passes that took off 22 seconds from the clock. The ensuing punt was returned 68 yards for a touchdown to put the Eagles up 14-0 after the 1st quarter. Yet Washington slowly fought back. 3 field goals in the 2nd quarter, the last 2 in the final 2 minutes of the half, had Washington down only 14-9 at the half.
In the 3rd quarter, Jason Campbell handed of to Antwon Randle-El, who threw an 18 yard halfback option pass to put the Redskins up 16-14. After a short punt, the Redskins took over at the Philly 43. Clinton Portis did the rest, as his 4 runs put the Redskins up 23-14 seconds into the 4th quarter.
The Eagles then mounted a 12 play, 7 1/2 minute drive that had them facing 2nd and 1 at the Washington 2 yard line. Westbrook was stuffed, and on 3rd and 1, Westbrook lost 3 yards. The Eagles did kick a field goal, but never got the ball back. The Redskins took over at their own 20 with 7:18 remaining, and Clinton Portis converted on 4th and 1 from the Philadelphia 38 with 2:48 left to put the final nail in the coffin. The Redskins under Jim Zorn have very quietly won 4 straight games after an opening day loss on the road to the defending champion Giants. 23-17 Redskins.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Denver Broncos–This was a 6-6 bonelock until 6 minutes remained in the 3rd quarter. A short swing pass from Jay Cutler to Brandon Stokely put the Broncos up 13-6. The Broncos led 16-6 after a 14 play, 6 minute drive ended with 12 1/2 minutes remaining. The Bucs did manage a touchdown to pull it to within 3 points, but took 13 plays and 5 1/2 minutes to do it. Only 2:02 remained, and the Buccaneers never got the ball back.
After a pair of shootouts followed by an embarrassing loss, the Broncos won a tight defensive game. Buc Ball exists, but this time the Buccaneers were on the losing end of it. 16-13 Broncos.
Buffalo Bills @ Arizona Cardinals–The Bills entered the game 4-0, with Trent Edwards playing solid and the defense helping in 3 come from behind wins. The Cardinals have a potent offense with Kurt Warner and his various weapons, but defense has been lacking. Nevertheless, today was all Arizona. Edwards was knocked out of the game with a concussion on the first series of the game. Backup J P Losman, who resembles Adam Sandler, could not recreate the magic of Bobby Boucher in “The Waterboy, although he did show shades of excitement early on.” The Cardinals harassed him all game, and the offense was unstoppable.
A 2 yard Warner toss to Fitzgerald and a 17 yard Hightower run had the Cardinals up 14-0. Losman then threw an 87 yard bomb to Lee Evans to pull within 14-7. A 1 2play, 6 minute drive ended with Edgerrin James plunged from one yard out to put Arizona up 21-7. Losman ran for 2 yards to pull the Bills to within 21-14, but Neil Rackers added a field goal from 47 yards out before end of the half.
The Cardinals only led 24-17 in the 3rd quarter, but Warner then found Larry Fitzgerald again for 2 yards to put the game out of reach. Hightower scored again form 2 yards out after another field goal to make the game a route. At 3-2, the Cardinals lead the NFC Worst, and still may have the Greatest Show in the Desert. 41-17 Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys–On the first play of the game, Carson Palmer was intercepted, setting up a field goal. A 33 yard touchdown run by Felix Jones followed by a 4 yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo to Jason Witten had the Cowboys up 17-0. They would not be cruising for long. A pair of field goals had it 17-6 at the half, and an 82 yard drive that took 11 plays and over 5 minutes ended in an 18 yard pass from Palmer to T J Houshmanzadeh to cut the gap to 17-13. A 3rd field goal had Dallas clinging to a 17-16 lead in the 3rd quarter.
With all the momentum, the Bengals tried an onsides kick that totally fooled Dallas. However, the Bengals fumbled the ball away on the drive. The Cowboys capitalized, as Romo threw a 57 yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens to give the Cowboys some breathing room. Carson Palmer brought the Bengals right back, and a 10 yard touchdown pass to Houshmanzadeh had the Bengals within 24-22. The 2 point conversion failed. Yet Dallas and Romo kept firing, and the last touchdown pass, a 15 yarder to Crayton, put the game out of reach. Before the game T. O. and Ocho Cinco shared a photo with Jerry Jones. After the game they hugged warmly. The Bengals fell to 0-5, and the Cowboys improved to 4-1 with the win. 31-22 Cowboys.
New England Patriots @ San Francisco 49ers–Matt Cassell and J T O’Sullivan put on an aerial show. After both quarterbacks were intercepted, they settled down and began throwing touchdowns. O’Sullivan put the 49ers up 7-0 with a 16 yarder to Frank Gore. Cassel just did what his predecessor used to do. He went deep to Randy Moss for a 686yard touchdown pass to tie the game. O’Sullivan had the 49ers back on top 14-7 with a 6 yarder to Isaac Bruce, and a field goal by Grotkowski made it a 14-10 game. Then with seconds left in the half, the Patriots scored to take the 17-14 lead into the locker room on a 2 yard run by Kevin Faulk.
Both quarterbacks kept firing in the seconds half, but the Patriots had too much firepower. Another field goal and another touchdown extended the lead to 27-14. O’Sullivan did hit Bruce again for a 5 yard touchdown to close the gap to 27-21, but it was not enough. Gostkowski drilled a 49 yard field goal with several minutes remaining to ice it. 30-21 Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars is the Sunday night game. These teams have played some head knockers over the year. A blocked field goal for a touchdown on the final play of a Monday Night Football game gave the upstart Jaguars a shocker over Pittsburgh. During Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season, he led the team to a gutty 17-16 win in Jacksonville. A 60 yard field goal attempt was barely no good, as Pittsburgh survived. Last year Jacksonville went into Pittsburgh twice and knocked them around. Mike Tomlin and Jack Del Rio are mirror images, emphasizing hard running and defense.
Ben Roethlisberger threw a 72 yard touchdown pass only 2 minutes into the game to Rashean Mathis. Unfortunately for Big Ben, Mathis plays for the Jaguars. Yet Roethlisberger came right back, and, led a 70 yard drive that took 12 plays and ate up 7 ½ minute of clock. A 1 yard touchdown pass tied the game 7-7. 10 minutes into the 1st quarter, David Garrard finally took the field. He went right to work. A 74 yard drive was aided by a defensive pass interference call at the 2 yard line, setting up Maurice Jones Drew for the go ahead touchdown.
Pittsburgh did manage to reach the Jacksonville 20 on their next possession, but a 3rd and 3 pass fell incomplete. The field goal made it a 14-10 game. After a Jacksonville punt, Roethlisberger found a wide open Nate Washington. The defensive breakdown resulted in a 48 yard touchdown pass with 9:20 remaining in the half to give the Steelers their first lead at 17-14. Jeff Reed nailed his 2nd field goal with 45 seconds left in the half to put the Steelers up 20-14.
Statistically Pittsburgh was dominating. They led in time of possession 21 minutes to 9. They had 300 yards of offense, with about 250 coming from Roethlisberger. The Jaguars had only about 50. Pittsburgh ran 46 plays to only 16 for Jacksonville. Although the score was close, the key in the 2nd half would be if the Jacksonville defense would be able to avoid exhaustion from being on the field so long.
Both of these normally well disciplined teams had personal foul penalties. In the first half, Pittburgh failed to convert a 3rd and 16, but were bailed out by a taunting penalty after the play. Seconds into the 4th quarter, a hit on a defenseless Jacksonville receiver after an incomplete pass kept a drive alive for the Jaguars. A 40 yard pass from Garrard to Walker set up a Garrard touchdown pass over the middle as the receiver split the seams. One minute into the 4th quarter had the Jaguars back on top 21-20.
With 6 ½ minutes left, Pittsburgh took over at their own 20. A 27 yard run by Mewelde Moore, filling in for the injured Willie Parker, had the Steelers on the move. Just before being sandwiched by 2 defenders, Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward for a gain to the red zone. 2:07 remained, but Big Ben was in pain. Nevertheless, on 3rd and goal from the 5, Roethlisberger hit Ward again for the touchdown with 1:53 remaining. A costly delay of game penalty forced Pittsburgh to try the 2 point conversion form the 7 yard line. It failed, but the Steelers led by 5 points. Jacksonville took over at their own 26 with 1:48 left. With 1:15 left, Jacksonville faced 4th and 9. The pass was caught before the marker, but pure courage resulted in stretching 2 defenders just past the marker. Garrard was sacked and fumbled. Jackonville recovered it, and the Jaguars were forced to take their final timeout with 36 seconds remaining. On 4th and 14 from his own 33, Garrard’s pass was batted down t the line of scrimmage. In a game with a pair of good defenses, defense won the day. The NFL will benefit if these teams meet again in the postseason. The Steelers snapped Jacksonville’s 4 game winning streak in the series. 26-21 Steelers
Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints was the Monday night game. Pierre Thomas returned the opening kickoff 56 yards to the Minnesota 47. With the short field, Drew Brees went right to work, and several plays later tossed a 15 yard touchdown pass to Devry Henderson to put the Saints up 7-0. After a punt and a touchback, Brees threw a 50 yard bomb to Henderson. The Saints were in total control of the game, but on 3rd and 1 in the red zone, a holding penalty negated the conversion. A field goal would have put the Saints up 10-0, but in the blink of an eye momentum had swung.
Kevin Williams blocked the kick of Martin Grammatica, and Antoine Winfield plucked it out of the air and raced for a touchdown to tie the game 7-7. Give credit to the Saints and Brees. They acted like nothing happened. Thomas again had a long kickoff return, this time to near midfield. Brees fired away at will, and had the Saints on the move again. The Saints again stalled in the red zone, and Grammatica this time nailed the 35 yard field goal to put the Saints up 10-7.
The Saints tried a surprise onsides kick, but it failed. The Vikings took over at the New Orleans 40. The Vikings did not pick up a first down, but a 53 yard field goal tied the game 10-10 with a minute left in the opening quarter. Despite having little to no offense, the Vikings had the advantage at the start of the second quarter. Antoine Winfield belted Brees, and ripped the ball out of his hands. The fumble set the Vikings up with 1st and goal at the 5. A pair of runs lost a couple of yards, but on 3rd and goal at the 9, the Saints jumped offsides. Given a second chance, Frerotte handed off to Chester Taylor. Taylor threw the halfback option pass to Fashenko. The Vikings had only 30 yards of offense, but led 17-10.
Yet Minnesota had no answer for Pierre Thomas, who for the 3rd time in 4 returns advanced to near midfield. With the Saints on the move, Reggie Bush fumbled. Although replays clearly showed Bush being grabbed by the facemask, there was no penalty call. The Vikings recovered the fumble. Gus Frerotte, still in for the benched Tarvaris Jackson, led the Vikings from the Minnesota 14. He took the Vikings down the field, and a 33 yard field goal had Minnesota up 20-10 at the half. The Saints dominated statistically, but were done in with 3 turnovers.
The 3rd quarter was fairly uneventful for 13 minutes, and the Vikings were in total control at this point. However, as earlier, football is a game of momentum. The Vikings had their big play when they were on the ropes, and the Saints returned the favor with 2 minutes remaining in the period. Reggie Bush, who had been bottled up all game, returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown, and the Saints were within 20-17. On the last play of 3rd quarter, the Vikings punted again, and Bush returned it again. He slipped and fell at midfield, the only thing keeping him from another touchdown return. That set up a 53 yard field goal by Grammatica, who drilled it. With 13-20 remaining, the game was tied 20-20.
The Vikings had to punt, and we all knew that there was no way the Vikings would punt the ball to Bush again. They would kick it out of bounds. There is absolutely no way they would kick it to him again. Several seconds later, unconfirmed rumors were that Minnesota Coach Brad Childress, who is bald, was told to either fire the special teams coach or be fired himself. During this “what the hell were they thinking?” moment, Bush ran a second punt back, this time for a 64 yard touchdown. Had he not slipped on the previous one, he would have taken 3 of them back. The Saints led 27-20 with 11:36 remaining. 2 punt returns for touchdowns in less than 2 minutes had swung the game.
Yet the pendulum swung back. Frerotte completed a 36 yard bomb just before getting belted. From the New Orleans 27, Tarvaris Jackson came in for one play as Frerotte put his eyeballs back in his face on the sidelines. After a penalty forced 3rd and 17, All Frerotte did was throw up a prayer before getting belted again. Bernard Berrian caught the 33 yarder for a touchdown to tie the game. Frerotte was 4 for 4 for 85 yards on the drive. With 7 minutes left, the game was deadlocked at 27-27. For those who like 3 yards and a cloud of dust, this game was boring. For those that like big plays over and over again, this was a thriller.
Drew Brees could have led a time consuming drive, but that is just not how this pinball machine of a game was being played. Brees hit Billy Miller for a 41 yard pass to the Minnesota 39. Minnesota got leveled at the end of the play, but the Saints were on the move with 5 minutes remaining. On 3rd and 1 from the 30, a wobbly Billy Miller returned, along with fan favorite Deuce McAllister. McAllister converted, and the clock kept moving. This was a game where the teams had under 100 yards rushing combined with 2:04 remaining. The Saints led in rushing 56-41, which was meaningless.
Grammatica was brought in for his 4th field goal attempt. From 46 yards out, the kick was wide left. Minnesota took over at their own 37 with 1:59 remaining and 2 timeouts. On 3rd and 3, Frerotte threw up a bomb into double coverage. The Vikings were given the defensive pass interference call that never gets called in that situation. The Vikings were at the New Orleans 14 with 1:11 left. The Saints had 2 timouts left, but on 3rd down the Vikings were able to grind down the clock. A 30 yard field goal attempt by Ryan Longwell with 16 seconds left was all that was needed. The kick was good.
With 13 seconds left, the Vikings decided to kick it deep to Reggie Bush just for the fun of it. No, not really. The squib kick was ready, and the Stanford Marching Band began to play. The Saints have had a kickoff return on several laterals before (although they missed the extra point and lost anyway). Nevertheless, Aron Stecker, who is not Reggie Bush, smartly took a knee to give Drew Brees 11 seconds to work with from 75 yards away. The hail mary was intercepted, and the Vikings survived what might so far have been the game of the year. 30-27 Vikings
eric
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