THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

Does anybody care about hyperbole on an NFL Sunday? Not one bit. Let’s get down to the business of the greatest game on Earth, professional football in America. Here is the 2010 Week 9 Recap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons–Everybody thought these teams would be 5-2. Riiiiight. While Mike Smith looks like an average non-descript White Guy named Mike Smith, he coaches with internal fire. Early on the Falcons had 4th and 2 at the Tampa Bay 39. Smith decided to go for it, and Matt Ryan passed for the first down to keep the drive going. Michael Turner capped off the drive with a 3 yard touchdown run to have the Falcons up 7-0.

In the second quarter Matty Ice hit Jenkins for a 43 yard gain to set up Michael Turner on the ground from 12 yards out to have the Falcons up 14-0. Raheem Morris still insists the Bucs are the best team in the NFC. Michael Spurlock returned the ensuing kickoff 66 yards to the Atlanta 30, as Morris clarified that he meant the Bucs had the best special teams in the NFC. He then asked to play San Diego next week. Josh Freeman hit Aurelias Marcus for a 15 yard touchdown to get the Buccaneers within 14-7.

Ryan had the Falcons on the move again, but with 5 1/2 minutes left in the half they had to settle for a 31 yard Matt Bryant field goal as the Falcons led 17-7. Yet Freeman fired a slant pass to Mike Williams, who took it 58 yards for a touchdown as the Buccaneers were right back in it at 17-14.

The third quarter began disastrously for the Bucs as Freeman was intercepted, setting up the Falcons at the Tampa Bay 15. On 3rd and goal from the 5, Ryan fired for the touchdown to Palmer to give the Falcons some breathing room at 24-14. With less than one minute in the third quarter, Matt Bryant tacked on a 41 yard field goal to have the Falcons up 27-14.

In 2007, Michael Spurlock returned a kickoff for a touchdown, which would have been no big deal except that it was the first kickoff touchdown return in Buccaneers history, that being 31 years. 3 years later, Spurlock gave the Buccaneers their second kickoff return for a touchdown in team history, as he broke several tackles on his way to an 89 yard trip to paydirt. The third quarter ended with the Buccaneers hanging around, only down 27-21.

With 5 minutes to play, a 33 yard defensive pass interference call had the Buccaneers at the Atlanta 11. On 3rd and 3 a run had the Bucs just short. On 4th and 1 with 3 minutes left, Freeman called timeout. The collision happened, and the Atlanta defense won the battle in the trenches.

The Buccaneers were game, but one play near the goal line made the difference as the Falcons lead Tampa Bay and New Orleans by one game at 6-2 in the ultra-competitive NFC South. 27-21 Falcons

Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens–Willis McGahee broke off a 32 yard touchdown run to have the Ravens up 7-0. Chad Henne brought the Dolphins right back, and a 10 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall had the game tied 7-7.

The second quarter began with the Ravens inside the Miami 10, but a 3rd down run went nowhere and John Harbaugh brought in Billy Cundiff for the chip shot, which had the Ravens up 10-7.

Henne was then intercepted by Lardarius Webb, who returned it inside the Miami 5. It wa the first time Henne had ever been intercepted by a man named Lardarius. A sack of Joe Flacco followed by delay of game set up 3rd and goal at the 20. From 38 yards out, Cundiff never got a chance to kick another field goal as the snap was fumbled.

The Ravens got the ball and Flacco drove them deep again. Yet offensive pass interference, delay of game, and a sack led to another field goal attempt. This time Cundiff was good from 31 as the Ravens led 13-7.

With seconds left in the half, the Dolphins reached the Ravens 9. A second down pass got down to the one, and on 3rd and goal Henne fired incomplete. On 4th and goal at the one, Tony Sparano decided to take the points and the field goal as Miami trailed 13-10 at intermission.

Joe Flacco quickly led the Ravens 81 yards in the third quarter, with a 12 yard touchdown pass to Derrick Mason putting the Ravens up 20-10.  The Dolphins turned down a gift touchdown when a Flacco pass in the flat that shoud have been intercepted for a touchdown the other way was dropped. Yet the Ravens missed another chance to extend the lead as the third quarter was ending when Cundiff missed his second field goal of the day.

Miami returned the favor with a missed field goal of their own, and the Ravens sought to ice the game. Yet on 4th and 1 from the Miami 3 with 7 minutes left, Harbaugh took no chances. Cundiff nailed the 20 yarder to have the Ravens leading 23-10.

Ed Reed put the nail in the coffin with an interception of Henne. Reed missed the first 6 games this year while recovering from injury. The Hall of Famer has 3 interceptions in 2 games back. It set up Cundiff’s 4th field goal in 6 tries, as just over 2 minutes remained.

Until this game Tony Sparano had seen his team go 4-0 on the road and 0-3 at home. He wanted to break that cycle, but I am sure he would have preferred a home win rather than a road loss. John Harbaugh has the Ravens playing as nasty and tough as ever. 26-10 Ravens

Chicago Bears @ Buffalo Bills–This game was played in Toronto, proving we hate Canada more than England, which says a lot. After a 3-0 start, the Bears are fading and Lovie Smith might be banished back to Gilligan’s Island with Thurston Howell III. Both of these entire teams should have been banished somewhere after a scoreless first quarter.

After a 3-0 start, the Bears are fading and Lovie Smith might be banished back to Gilligan’s Island with Thurston Howell III. Both of these entire teams should have been banished somewhere after a scoreless first quarter. In the second quarter Jay Cutler hit Greg Olsen for a short touchdown to have the Bears up 7-0. The Bears almost added to this thriller with a missed field goal. Late in the half Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Roscoe Parrish for the touchdown to tie the game 7-7.

This battle of whatever the opposite of titans are saw Cutler lead a 60 yard drive that was capped off with Chester Taylor running it in from one yard out to have the Bears up 14-7. Fitzpatrick brought the Bills right back with a 45 yard pass to St Johnson to set up Jackson from 4 yards out. Ryan Lindell had his extra point blocked as the Bills trailed 14-13.

Buffalo got the ball back, and with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation McIntyre rammed it one from one yard out. The 2 point conversion failed, but the Bills led 19-14. The Bills tried to pad the lead, but an interception of Fitzpatrick was returned 39 yards to have the Bears in business.

On 3rd and 10 from the Buffalo 23, Cutler hit Greg Olsen for 18 yards, and then Bennett for the 2 yard touchdown. Cutler hit Matt Forte for the 2 point conversion as the Bears led by a field goal with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation.

Fitzpatrick would finish 31 of 51 for 299 yards and a touchdown, and he led the Bills from their own 20 to  4th and 10 at the Chicago 44 with 2:24 to play. Chan Gailey opted against a 62 yard field goal attempt, and Fitpatrick fired incomplete. The Bears only picked up 9 yards, but a perfect punt had the Bills back at their own 1 with 1:04 left. Fitzpatrick got them to the 25, but was then intercepted by Harris to end things.

Buffalo fell to 0-8 as poor Ralph Wilson is waiting for his 92nd birthday present. Buffalo joined Denver as the only tea to lose in two countries, although at least with Buffalo it was the same continent. The Bears are not a good team, but they are winning ugly games against bad teams barely, and that still counts. 22-19 Bears

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers–Drew Brees saw a 54 yard run by Julius Jones wasted when his pass was deflected and intercepted, and returned 70 yards the other way as Carolina moved inside the Saints 10 yard line. The drive stalled, and John Kasay hit the 21 yard field goal to have the Panthers up 3-0.
Jimmy Stewart got nailed on a run, resulting in a fumble that the Saints recovered at the Carolina 28. Stewart was injured on the play as well. The Saints capitalized as Brees hit Jeremy Shockey for the touchdown to have the Saints up 7-3. The Panthers missed a chance to get on the board again when the normally reliable Kasay missed a 40 yard field goal.

With less than 3 minutes left in the half, Brees hit Graham for a 19 yard touchdown to give the Saints the 14-3 lead and increasing the hot seat for John Fox and his 1-6 Panthers. Jimmy Clausen came in for the injured Matt Moore. It did not matter as the Saints added a field goal to lead 17-3 at the half.

In the third quarter a defensive personal foul on the Panthers due to hitting a defenseless receiver in the head set the Saints up deep. The Carolina defense held, but another field goal had the Saints up 20-3. Clausen then threw a pass to Jabari Greer, who plays defense for the Saints. Greer took it 30 yards for the score as the Saints were coasting 27-3.

Ladell Betts took it in from one yard out to extend the blowout as Jerry Richardson saw his once proud Panthers fall to 1-7 while they are still doing the Benson Boogie in the French Quarter as Sean Payton saw his team look like champions. 34-3 Saints

New England Patriots @ Cleveland Browns–Yes, the Browns defeated New Orleans on the road, but surely the 6-1 Patirots would rip them to shreds. That’s why they play the games. Colt McCoy moved Cleveland down the field to set up a Phil Dawson field goal. The Patriots then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, allowing Peyton Hillis to ram it in from 2 yards out to have the Browns up 10-0.

The Browns got the ball back, as Walrus Mike Holmgren was on the verge of not firing Eric Mangini. Yet Mangini decided to have the Browns go for it on 4th and 1 from their own 36. This did not work well when Evil Hoodie Bill Bellichick tried it a couple years back, but maybe Mangenious knows more than his old boss. Anyway, McCoy spread the field and then snuck over for the first down. Yet the drive ended when Hillis fumbled and and the Patriots recovered.

Midway through the second quarter Tom Brady finally got the Patriots moving. On 2nd and goal from the Cleveland 2, A pass was batted up in the air and somehow caught in the back of the end zone by Hernandez for the score to get the Patriots within 10-7.

Yet McCoy stayed poised and led a 60 yard drive that was capped off when Chancy Stuckey ran it in from 11 yards out to have the Browns up 17-7. Speaking of fumbles, Ernest Byner cost the Browns a playoff win in the 1987 season when he fumbled at the 2 yard line. This time it was New England fumbling at the 2 yard line as the Browns recovered.

In the third quarter Colt McCoy channeled his inner Steve Young, scrambling for a 26 yard touchdown jut past the end zone marker as the Browns were leading in a shocker 24-7.

Dawson tacked on another field goal as the Dawg Pound went wild, with the Browns leading a stunned New England 27-7 with 11 minutes left in regulation.

A controversial defensive pass interference penalty set up a Tom Brady touchdown pass to Hernandez to give New England a ray of hope. Making things interesting was that Stephen Gostkowski was injured, so wide receiver Wes Welker came in for the extra point. Welker made it. Yet that was it for the Patriots on the day. Instead, Peyton Hills burst free for a 40 yard touchdown exclamation point as the shocker of the day remained a 20 point blowout.

With 2:20 left, Mangini actually received a Gatorade bath, lowering the bar for celebrations. Yet he does love beating his old boss, and the ultimate ignominy was Bellichick calling for Brady to take a knee rather than pile up garbage statistics. Usually the losing team does not do this, but there was nothing usual about this as the 2 men actually shook hands very briefly afterward. 34-14 Browns.

New York Jets @ Detroit Lions–Matthew Stafford hit Brandon Pettigrew from 11 yards out as the Lions moved easily on the Jets early on to have the Lions up 7-0 early on after an 11 play, 80 yard drive. Late in the firs half Sanchez brought the Jets inside the Detroit 10, but on 3rd down out of the shotgun, a fumbled snap killed the touchdown threat. Rex Ryan had to settle for a field goal as the Jets pulled within 7-3, although the 3 points were more than they scored last week.

The Jets got the ball back, and in one play the game changed as Sanchez went for the bomb and found Braylon Edwards for a 74 yard touchdown to put the Jets up 10-7.

In the third quarter Sanchez completed a pass to Braylon Edwards, who then fumbled the ball, setting the Lions up with a short field. The drive stalled at the 2 yard line, and Jim Schwartz opted for the field goal. A brainless roughing the kicker penalty resulted in Jason Hanson limping off the field. Instead of a 10-10 game, the Lions had 1st and goal. It was the third defensive personal foul gaainst the Jets, and not what Rex Ryan had in mind with Hard Knocks. Mathew Staffotd made them pay b faking the handoff and fooling everybody, rolling around the end past the pileon to have the Lions up 13-10. Hanson could not even kick the extra point as Ndamokung Suh…yes, Ndamokung Suh…tried it. It bounced off the upright no good.

Early in the fourth quarter Stafford found Nate Burleson, who made an acrobatic catch for  36 yard gain. Stafford went deep to Pettigrew, and while it was ruled incomplete over the protests of Pettigrew, defensive pass interference put the ball on the 2 anyway.  Stafford hit Burleson for the touchdown as the Lions led 20-10 with 12 minutes left in regulation. The teams then each punted twice, and the Jets took over at their own 44 with 4 1/2 minutes left.

Sanchez hit Jerricho Cotcherry for 18 and Dustin Keller for 25 more. From the one, Sanchez plowed in as the Jets only trailed 20-17 2:46 to play. Rex Ryan decided not to go for the onsides kick, as the Lions took over at their own 34.

At the 2 minute warning, the Lions faced 3rd and 6 at their own 38. The Jets were out of timeouts. A running play would have taken 45 seconds or more off the clock. Yet these are the Lions, and Jim Schwartz picked the worst time to summon up the organization’s inner Rod Marinelli. Stafford fired incomplete, and the Jets took over after a put at their own 22 with 1:40 to play.

On 3rd and 9, Sanchez, hit Keller for 11. He then hit Ladanian Tomlinson for 10 more. With 49 seconds to play, Sanche hit Tomlinson for 13 more, and then an imbecilic personal foul out of bounds against the Detroit defense had the Jets in easy field goal range. These are the Lions. As the gun sounded, Nick Folk connected from 36 as the game went into overtime tied 20-20.

The Jets got the ball first in overtime at their own 32. Sanchez went deep to Santonio Holmes for a 52 yard gain to the Detroit 16. On 3rd and 6, Rex Ryan took no chances, bringing in Folk for the 30 yard field goal. Folk connected, and the Lions found a new way to extend their history of futility since Bobbie Layne retired. The Jets got lucky, but they are still 6-2. As for the Lions, the Ford Family should reconsider their initial decision to turn down a federal bailout. 23-20 Jets, OT

San Diego Chargers @ Houston Texans–Republicans and Democrats agree that Darrell Issa should use his chairmanship of the House Committee on Oversight to pursue impeachment proceedings against Norv Turner and the Chargers Special Teams Coach.

The Chargers began with their one billionth special teams error of 2010 as the Chargers fielded the opening kickoff at their own 3. Their one billionth and first special teams error was Mike Scifres having his 5th punt blocked 2 minutes into the game. The Texans needed one play on offense for Arriun Foster to run it in for a 8 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Texans lead.

Philip Rivers came right back as he channeled his inner Dan Fouts and went deep to Ajirotutu for a 55 yard touchdown bomb to tie the game 7-7. Matt Schaub brought the Texans back, but a pass to the end zone was dropped by one player on each team. A 28 yard field goal by Kris Brown had the Texans up 10-7.

Rivers executed a flea flicker that went to Wilson, in for injured Antonio Gates, for a big gain to the Texans 24. Rivers hit McMichaels for the 11 yard touchdown as the Chargers led 14-10. Yet later in the half the Chargers fumbled the ball again, and the Texans took over at the San Diego 43. Arrian Foster gashed the Chargers with a couple runs, and defensive pass interference set up the ball on the 2, as Foster took it in to have the Texans back on top 17-14.

Foster thought he had another touchdown later in the half, this time on a short pass. Yet the Calvin Johnson rule showed that Foster did not catch it, and instead a field goal by Neil Rackers from 21 yards out had the Texans up 20-14.

In the third quarter, Arriun Foster continued to run all over the Chargers, but again the Texans could not finish things near the goal line. A 25 yard field goal had them up 23-14.

Yet while the Texans kept kicking field goals, the Chargers were answering with touchdowns. From the Houston 13, Rivers threw his third touchdown pass, as Randy McMichaels imitated Antonio Gates with a one handed catch in the end zone to have the Chargers within 23-21.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Texans faced 4th and 1 fro the San Diego 18. Gary Kubiak had Arriun Foster, so going for it seemed the right thing to do. Yet this time Foster got stuffed, and San Diego took over. Yet Rivers threw an ill advised pass into double coverage that was intercepted near midfield. The Texans could not capitalize.

Rivers got the ball back, and a 28 yard touchdown touchdown pass to Ajirotutu had the Chargers on top. Mike Tolbert leapt over the top for the 2 point conversion to have the Chargers up 29-23.

With 3 1/2 minutes left in the game on 4th and 1, Schaub snuck for what appeared to be a first down. Yet when the chains were brought out, again the Chargers had held and took over.
The Texans got the ball back, and Foster quickly had the Texans past midfield. Yet with 90 seconds to play, a pass to Andre Johnson was bobbled and intercepted by Paul Oliver. Johnson will one day be in the Hall of Fame, but this bobble was a killer. The Chargers improved to 4-5, and the rest of the AFC is already looking over their shoulder. The Texans again failed to get to the next level, as they always look redy to just about turn the corner before they don’t. 29-23 Chargers

Arizona Cardinals @ Minnesota Vikings–Brad Childress is on the verge of losing the locker room if he has not already done so. First Childress, who is bald and Catholic, verbally scuffled with Brett Favre in a strange press conference. Then he got rid of Randy Moss over the objections of owner Zygi Wilf. Now reports have him nearly coming to blows with Percy Harvin.

Early on you could fry an egg on Chilly’s head, when Favre was  intercepted by Kerry Rhodes, who appeared to be running for a touchdown the other way. Yet just shy of the end zone, Greg Camarillo chopped the ball out of Rhodes’s hands, and it rolled out of the end zone for a touchback as the game remained scoreless.

In the second quarter, Favre fired a quick pass to Adrian Peterson, who took it 13 yards for a touchdown as the Vikings led 7-0. The lead lasted a few seconds as Stephens-Howlin returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to tie the game 7-7.

Later in the half Peterson got stopped on 3rd and short inside the Arizona 5 yard line. Brad Childress gambled last week, which led to a failed conversion, post game temper tantrums, and Randy Moss finding another team. This time Childress opted for the field goal. Ryan Longwell had the Vikings up 10-7.

The Vikings could not hold the lead as Anderson rapidly moved the Cardinals 81 yards before the end of the half, with a 30 yard touchdown pass to Roberts having the Cardinals up 14-10 at breaktime.

Percy Harvin is a gamebreaker, and the second half kickoff provided another touchdown. Yet this time it was for the Cardinals as Harvin was stripped of the ball, as the Cardinals went 30 yards the other way. The Cardinals led 21-10 as the relationship between Chilly and Harvin remained…well…chilly.

From the Arizona 7, Anderson led a time consuming drive all the way to the Minnesota 4. Minnesota held on defense, and a field goal with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation had the Cardinals up 24-10 on the road. The relatonship between Chilly and owner Wilf got…well…very chilly. Yet Childress’s coaching seat got…well…blazing hot.

Favre brought the Vikings back again, as they reached the Arizona 5 yard line with 7 minutes left. On 3rd and goal Bernard Berrian had to come out of the end zone to catch a pass, setting up 4th and goal from the 1. Favre ran a play fake, rolled out, and fired incomplete. Chilly’s head exploded as he wondered why he wanted this job anyway, which will be an academic issue in a few weeks. Arizona held again.

This time the Vikings held, and after a punt got the ball back with a short field. Adrian Peterson banged it in from 2 yards out as the Vikings were within 7 points with 3 1/2 minutes left. Childress opted not to go for the onsides kick. Perhaps his relationship with kicker Ryan Longwell is…well..you know.

The Vikings again held as Ken Whisenhunt could not see his team put the game away. Favre would have one more chance, and the all time leader in touchdowns and interceptions was going to provide another thrilling finish.

Favre took the Vikings 77 yards, and with 34 seconds left, he hit Vincente Shiancoe in the end zone for a 25 yard touchdown. Let me say it for the Minnesota radio announcer. Oh….my….heavens! Favre did it again. At that moment he was 35 of 46 for 424 yards. Even more amazing, in his 20th year, 424 yards was his career high. He once passed for 399 yards in one half but did not play the second half. That was the day after his dad died.

This time the Vikings had stormed back for 14 points in the final 3 minutes as the game was tied with 27 seconds left in regulation. The game went into overtime after Anderson was sacked twice.

The Cardinals got the ball first, and Anderson was sacked two more times, for six on the day and four in the last few plays. The Vikings took over, and Peterson ripped off a 40 yard gain to the Arizona 40. ANother run and a short completion to Berrian had the Vikings in field goal range.

On 4th and 1 from the Arizona 18, Childress brought in Longwell for a 35 yarder to win it. Longwell was perfect, and the Cardinals saw a 24-10 lead late in the game go up in smoke. The Vikings had a comeback for the ages. Minnesota asked television executives to change the name of television hit “Everybody Loves Raymond” to “Everybody Loves Chilly.” No, not really. Yet embattled Chilly Willy saw his team get to 3-5 with a bit of help from the Gunslinger, and Favre finished with 446 yards passing. The old man did it…again. 27-24 Vikings, OT

New York Giants @ Seattle Seahawks–The Giants have won four in a row while the Seahawks got blasted by 30 last week. With Charlie Whitehurst making his first start for injured Matt Hasselbeck, this game was a mismatch from the start. Seattle went 3 and out, and the Giants easily reached the Seattle 29 before fumbling the ball away. It was the last break Seattle would get. They punted again and the Giants took over at their own 48.

Eli Manning hit Ahmad Bradshaw for 13. On 3rd and 9, an incomplete pass was nullified by defensive pass interference at the Seattle 22. Manning hit Bradshaw for 9 yards down to the 10, and from the 2 Bradshaw ran it in to have Big Blue up 7-0.

Seattle went 3 and out again, and the Giants took over at their own 37. From the Manning his Pacoe for 10 yards. On 3rd and 8 jut shy of midfield, an incomplete pass was nullified by illegal contact as the Seattle defense killed themselves again. On the next play Manning went deep to Hakeem Nicks for a 46 yard touchdown as the G-Men led 14-0.

Pete Carroll could only watch helplessly as Seattle fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Goff picked it up at the Seattle 26 and returned it to the 4. One play was enough for Bradshaw to carry it in and have the Giants up 21-0, still in the first quarter.

The second quarter began with the Seahawks driving and facing a 2nd and 16 at the Giants 17. Whitehurst was then intercepted, as Thomas returned it to the Giants 28. Manning hit Steve Smith for 17 yards, and Brandon Jacobs rumbled for 14 more. On 3rd and 13 from the Seattle 43, Manning hit Nicks for 22. On 3rd and 5 from the 6, Manning hit Smith for the touchdown as the Giants led 28-0.

Whitehurst led the Seahawks on a drive to the Giants 25. Yet he was then intercepted by Webster, giving the Giants the ball back at their own 14. On 3rd and 4, Manning connected with Mario Manningham for 32 yards. Manning made it look easy as he hit Nicks for 13 more and finished the drive with a 5 yard touchdown to Kevin Boss. The Giants led 35-0 at halftime ina  game so thoroughly one-sided that Tom Coughlin almost smiled. Like his mentor bill Parcells, Coughlin may have almost been smiling on the inside as well.

The uneventful second half saw the Seahawks shut the Giants out of the end zone completely. Lawrence Tynes kicked a pair of field goals to have the Giants up 41-0, while Seattle eventually cracked the end zone. They needed 6 touchdowns and fell short by 5 of them. The Giants won their 5th straight to get to 6-2 while the Seahawks have lost their last 2 games by a combined 74-10 as Pete Carroll tires of the Seattle rain while USC flounders in the warm California sun. 41-7 Giants

Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders–For more on the game of the day, go to http://www.justblogbaby.com

For the first time since 2002, the Raiders are no longer a bad team. They are 4-4, and have won back to back games by a combined 92-17. Yet they are still an average team, although a win over the surprising 5-2 Chiefs would push them in the direction of a good team. Jason Campbell again started instead of Bruce Gradkowski. More importantly for the Raiders, all world cornerback Nahmdi Asomugha was out with an ankle injury sustained in the fourth quarter last week when the Raiders were already up by 30. This is why starters should be on the bench relaxing during blowouts, but it is hard to blame Tom Cable for the freak injury.

As for the game itself, it was badly played early on. By the time the game was over the teams combined for 27 penalties, with the Chiefs committing 12 for 100 yards and the Raiders 15 for 140 yards. To start the game, the Chiefs went 3 and out, the Raiders did likewise, the Chiefs did again, and the Raiders reached the Chiefs 47 before punting again. The Chiefs faced a 2nd and 1 at the Oakland 41, but Thomas Jones failed to convert on 2 tries. On 4th and 1, Todd Haley decided to go for it, but a false start killed the drive and the Chiefs punted. The Raiders ran 3 plays, and on 4th and 5 from their own 46, a fake punt did not work as Cartwright was stopped after 2 yards. The Chiefs took over at the Oakland 47. From the 44, a defensive pass interference penalty on Chris Johnson had the Chiefs at the Oakland 14. Thomas Jones ran it to the 7 as the scoreless opening quarter ended.

Confusion then reigned for all involved. On 3rd and 2 from the 6, Cassel thought he had a touchdown. Cable challenged the call and it was reversed and ruled down at the one. Yet while everybody thought it was 4th and goal, Haley was screaming on the sideline that it was 1st and goal. The Chiefs were called for holding, yet the officials gathered and decided that it was 1st down. Cassel then fired an 11 yard touchdown to Tucker. Cable again challenged the call, and replays appeared to show the receiver not getting both feet down. Yet this call stood, the Chiefs led 7-0, and the Raiders were out of challenges for the game.

Disaster struck the Raiders on their ensuing play from scrimmage as Darren McFadden fumbled, giving the Chiefs the ball at the Raiders 26. The defense held, and Ryan Succop nailed a 43 yard field goal to have the Chiefs up 10-0. The game then settled into a slog of penalties and punts.

The Raiders went 3 and out, losing 12 yards, and punted. The Chiefs saw Thomas Jones fail to again convert on 3rd and 1 from their own 44, as they punted it back. The Raiders ran 3 plays, lost a yard, and Shane Lechler punted again. Arenas returned it 72 yards for a touchdown, but the 17-0 lead was for naught as an illegal block nullified the return. It got uglier.

With 1:23 left in the half, on 3rd and 1 form the Oakland 23, Cassel fired incomplete. On 4th and 1, Succop nailed a 41 yard field goal. Yet offensive holding nullified the kick, and while the Chiefs lined up for a 51 yard field goal, it was a fake and pooch punt instead. That backfired as it became a touchback.

From the Oakland 20, Campbell was quickly intercepted. He would finish the half 4 of 10 for a pathetic 18 yards, as the Raiders had 49 total yards at halftime. Meanwhile, the Chiefs had the ball at the Oakland 45 with a chance to do some real damage. Cassel hit Jamal Charles for 13 yards and Dwayne Bowe for 19 more as the Chiefs had 1st and 10 at the Oakland 13 with 51 seconds left in the half.

On 3rd and 10, Cassel fired incomplete. Yet defensive holding on Stanford Routt made it 1st and goal at the 8. Cassel was then sacked for a 6 yard loss by Michael Huff. On the next play, Cassel threw an ill advised pass into traffic that was deflected and intercepted in the end zone for a touchback by Ware. The Raiders dodged a bullet, and despite playing dreadfully on offense, were only down 10-0 at halftime.

The lifeless Raiders needed a spark in the second half, and Jacoby Ford provided it with a 94 yard kickoff return for a score. Just like that, the Raiders were within 10-7. A terrible excessive celebration penalty was called on the Raiders afterward. Apparently only one player is allowed to leap into the stands. When a second player leaps into the stands, it is unsportsmanlike conduct.

So the Raiders kicked off from their own 15.  Arenas returned it and got blasted by Cartwright, causing a fumble.  Eugene recovered it for the Raiders and took over at the Chiefs 34.  Yet a golden opportunity for the Silver and Black was wasted.  Campbell misfired on 3rd and 5, and Seabass missed wide on a 47 yard field goal as the Raiders still trailed.

The Chiefs took over at their own 37. From the Chiefs 48, An 11 yard pass to Moeaki with a horse collar penalty tacked on had the Chiefs at the Raiders 26. An offsides penalty followed by a 13 yard by Charles had the Chief with 1st and goal at the 8. Cassel was sacked for a 9 yard loss, and then he Charles for 11. Cassel was sacked again and Succop hit a 25 yard field goal to have the Chiefs up 13-7.

The Raiders took over at their own 26, and Campbell hit Ford for 16 yards. McFadden then broke off  24 yard run. On 3rd and 4 from the Chiefs 18, McFadden took a short pass for 16. From the 2, Campbell hit Khalif Barnes for the tackle eligible touchdown as the big fella celebrated. The Raiders led 14-13 after three quarters.

Kansas City punted, and with 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Raiders faced 3rd and 8 at the Chiefs 44. Campbell rolled out, threw a terribly underthrown ball, and somehow Ford became a hero again when he slipped, fell down, and caught the ball while laying on the ground at the 7 yard line. The Raiders took the good fortune and wasted it again. Sebass kicked a 23 yard field goal as the Raiders led 17-13 with 10 minutes to play.

The Chiefs went nowhere and punted on 4th and 10 at their own 15 with a chance to take control of the game. Instead a nightmare occurred for the Raider Nation. Miller fumbled the punt. Although the replay clearly showed that Miller was down, the Raiders were out of challenges as Tom Cable screamed at the officials in vain. While this was not the Tuck Rule, the Raiders do not do well with fumble calls either way. The Chiefs took over at the Oakland 30. On 3rd and 11 from the 20, Cassel went to the end zone to Bowe for the touchdown. With 6 minute to play, the Chiefs led 20-17.

The Raiders appeared to have blown the game when the next series featured Campbell missing a wide open Darrius Heyward-Bey and then taking a sack. The Chiefs took over at their own 45 with 4 minutes left. Charles picked up 7 yards and Thomas Jones picked up 4 more as the Chiefs had 1st and 10 with 2:39 left and the Raiders took their first timeout. One more first down would end it.

The Raiders got a break when the Chiefs were called for offensive holding, making it 1st and 20. Charles picked up 12 and the Raiders took their second timeout. Jones then lost 3 yards to set up 3rd and 11 as the Raiders took their final timeout. With everything on the line, Cassell hit Bowe past the marker, but Bowe dropped it. If he catches it, the game is over. The Raiders had a shred of life. They got the ball back at their own 25 with 2:06 to play and no timeouts. A pass lost one yard at the 2 minute warning.

On 3rd and 11, Campbell hit Johnny Lee Higgins for 12 yards. Campbell spiked the ball to stop the clock, but before he did the officials had stopped play to review the Higgins catch. It was ruled a catch, so the Raiders were given another gift, as they could run an actual play on 1st and 10 instead of a spike. With 1 minute to play, the Raiders had 3rd and 3 at their own 43. Campbell threw incomplete, but defensive holding kept the drive going.

The Raiders tried a draw play, but McFadden only picked up 4 yards. Yet in another amazing stroke of luck, an injured Kansas City defender led to the second Chiefs timeout instead of the Raiders hurrying up to the line. 41 seconds remained. Yet hope he seemed lost when a 19 yard pass to Ford was nullified by offensive holding as the Raiders had 1st and 20 just shy of midfield with 24 seconds to play. They needed a miracle.

They got one. Jacoby Ford had been a hero all game, and when it counted most, Campbell found him for a 27 yard gain. The Raiders raced up to the line and made sure they were set, since any penalty would mean a 10 second runoff and game over. Campbell spiked the ball with 7 seconds left. Seabass came in for a 41 yard field goal. Earlier in the year he missed a 32 yarder in a loss to Arizona. Another miss would mean another loss and another failed attempt to get to .500. This time Seabass was perfect, and the game went into overtime deadlocked 20-20.

The Chiefs won the toss and elected to receive. Yet they mishandled the kick, and started at their own 10. Charles picked up 6 yards on first down, but  then the Chiefs went to the air which led to an incompletion and a false start and a punt. The Raiders took over at their own 38. Jason Campbell knows he is playing for his job, trying to fend off Bruce Gradkowki when he gets healthy. So Campbell asked himself a simple question. What would Al Davis do?

Campbell went for all the marbles on the first play, and completed the bomb to…who else…Jacoby Ford…for a 47 yard gain down to the Kansas City 15. Tom Cable took no chances, running one play to get the hashmark perfect and then bringing in Seabass on 2nd down. From 33 yards out, Seabass drilled it to end things 3 minutes into overtime.

For the first time since the 2002 Super Bowl Season, the Raiders defeated the hated Chiefs at home. The Raiders have won 3 straight, and are 5-4. Tom Cable and Hue Jackson have a team that has something missing for a long time…heart. The sellout Raider Nation crowd at the Mausoleum was rewarded with a thrilling win, one of the great all time Raiders comebacks.  The Raiders are only 1/2 a game behind the Chiefs as the Raiders go into their bye week with plenty of optimism. There is a long way to go, but the Raiders have earned their 5-4 record the hard way, and they are 3-0 in the division. 23-20 Raiders, OT

Indianapolis Colts @ Philadelphia Eagles–Walrus Lite Andy Reid had the Philly crowd fired up by starting Michael Vick over Kevin Kolb. Jim Caldwell showed no emotion as he started Peyton Manning over Curtis Painter.

The game could not have begun better for Philadelphia. From their own 28, McCoy ran around the end for a 62 yard gain. Vick then hit Desean Jackson for a 9 yard touchdown to have the Eagles up 7-0 less than 2 minutes into the game. Manning was then intercepted at the Indy 42 by Asante Samuel, who returned it to the Indy 9. Yet a golden opportunity produced only a field goal as the Eagles led 10-0.

Manning moved the Colts to a 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield. A handoff failed to reach midfield, and on 4th and 1 Jim Caldwell stoically decided to punt. It was perfect, as the Eagles were backed up to their own one. Yet on 3rd and 7 from the 4, Vick went deep to Jackson for a 58 yard gain. Vick hit Jackson again for 18 yards, and roughing the passer set up 1st and goal at the 8. Yet on 3rd and goal at the 3, Vick fired incomplete and the Eagles again settled for a field goal and a 13-0 first quarter lead.

Caldwell decided not to bench Manning for Painter and give Payton a chance to improve. He did. On 3rd and 10 from the Philly 40, Manning hit Reggie Wayne for 11. Defensive pass interference set up 1st and goal at the 10. Manning hit Tamme for a 3 yard touchdown as the Colts were within 13-7.

The Eagles took over at their own 32. On 3rd and 9, Vick scrambled for 24 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Indy 40, Vick hit Avant on a short pass that went for 34 yards. Yet on 1st and goal from the 6, the Eagles again moved backwards, and had to settle for a 3rd straight David Akers field goal to lead 16-7.

With 4:40 left in the half, the Colt faced 3rd and 10 at their own 20. Manning fired over the middle to Austin Collie, who got nailed by 2 defenders like a ping pong ball. Collie was taken off the field on a stretcher with a concussion. While the hit seemed clean, an illegal contact penalty was called. Instead of the Eagles getting the ball back up by 9, the Colts moved forward. On 3rd and 2 from the 33, Brown gained 3. Another unnecessary roughness call moved the Colts to the Eagles 45.  Manning hit White for 33 yards, with a defensive facemask moving the ball to the 6. With James in for Addai, he ran it for the 6 yard touchdown as the Colts were within 16-14.

The Eagles took over at their own 30 with 1:53 left in the half. They went 3 and out, and an 18 yard punt gave the Colts the ball at midfield with 1:04 left. A 9 yard completion to Tamme and an 18 yarder to Wayne was followed by 3 incompletions. Adam Vinatieri kicked the 37 yard field goal to lead 17-16 entering the locker rooms. The Colts were playing in their 1955 uniforms, which may have explained the slow start.

The Colts and Eagles traded punts to start the third quarter, and after the Colts punted again, the Eagles took over at their own 46. Vick led them to the Indy 27, and a 44 yard David Akers field goal, his 4th of the day, had the Eagles back on top 19-17. Manning led the Colts from their own 18 to the Philly 47, but the drive stalled and the Colts punted. The Eagles took over at their own 20.

Vick hit Jackson for 11 and McCoy picked up 9 more. Vick hit Captain Morgan Brent Celek for a 56 yard touchdown, but it was nullified by offensive holding. The Eagles faced 2nd and 26 at their own 28. Vick Hit Jeremy Maclin for 22 yards. On 3rd and 4 from midfield, Vick showed why he is one of the most electrifying player in football, scrambling for 32 yards as the third quarter ended.

One minute into the fourth quarter, facing 2nd and goal from the 1, Vick scrambled for the score to complete the 10 play, 80 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive and have the Eagles up 26-17. The Colts punted again, and Vick led the Eagles on a time consuming drive. While it only moved the Eagles from their own 11 to midfield and resulted in no points, somehow 39 yards bled 6:45 off the clock. The Colts got the ball back at their own 15 needing 2 scores with only 6 minutes to play.

With 3 1/2 minutes left, the Colts faced 3rd and 18 at the Philly 41. Manning was sacked and fumbled, which appeared to end things. Instead, unnecessary roughness on the defense kept the Colts alive. From the Philly 31, Manning hit Wayne for 12 and Tamme for 7. It took 16 plays, but on 3rd and goal form the 1, James ran it in to get the Colts within a deuce with 1:50 to play. Jim Caldwell decided not to go for the onsides kick, kicking it deep and relying on the defense.

Jackson picked up 11 yards, and in a very questionable coaching decision, Caldwell did not stop the clock. A full 43 seconds elapsed. Only after the next play did the Colts call their first timeout, with 1:06 to play. With the Eagles facing 3rd and 2 at their own 39, a false start and a sack of Vick gave the Eagles one last shot. Yet the Colts had the ball at their own 26 with only 40 seconds left.
A field goal would win it, but Adam Vinatieri never got the chance. On 3rd and 10 from the Indy 41, Manning was intercepted by Asante Samuel. It was a tough win, and a very exciting game that could be a Super Bowl preview, although both of these very good teams still have tough division races on their hands. 26-24

Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers–Michelin Man Wade Phillips has seen his entire team become a stuffed turkey long before Thanksgiving as the pre-season Super Bowl contenders came in at 1-6. The Packers are still in the playoff hunt, playing not as well as expected in the pre-season but far better than Dallas. These teams battled in 1990s for the right to go to the Super Bowl, while today the Packers are just trying to make the playoffs and the Cowboys are plying for their jobs.

After Dallas punted, Aaron Rodgers led a 7 minute drive that produce no points when a field goal from 51 yards out by Mason Crosby was blocked. Yet Jon Kitna, playing for the next 8 weeks in place of injured Tony Romo, was intercepted, giving the Packers the ball at their own 35. Rodgers scrambled for 25 yards to have the Packers in scoring position again as the first quarter ended. Early in the second quarter, on 3rd and 2 from the Dallas 9, Rodgers hit Jackson for the touchdown to have the Packers up 7-0.

Dallas went 3 and out, and the Packers took over at their own 20. Rodgers hit Greg Jennings for 10 and then scrambled for 12 more. A 22 yard pass to Jones went to the Dallas 33. Rodgers went to Jones again all the way down to the 2 yard line. On the next play Jackson ran it in. Wade Phillips challenged the call to no avail. The Packers led 14-0, and Jerry Jones was prepared to blow up the stadium until it was again pointed out to him that it was a road game and he does not own Lambeau Field. Wade Phillips spent halftime researching real estate near where his father retired Coach Bum Phillips lives.

With 3 minutes left in the half, Rodgers went deep to Greg Jennings for a 33 yard gain and 1st and goal at the 10. Rodgers then hit Jennings for the touchdown just before the 2 minute warning to put the Cheeseheads up 21-0 and complete the 10 play, 93 yard drive. Bad went to worse saw a fumble returned for a touchdown to make it 28-0. Yet the Dallas runner clearly had his knee down. An easy challenge never happened because the Cowboys were out of timeouts. This is how teams become 1-7 and organizations get blown up.

With seconds left in the half, Kitna lobbed a 2 yard pass to the corner of the end zone, and Dez Bryant came down with it as the Cowboys trailed 28-7 at halftime.

After an exchange of punts in the third quarter, the Packers took over at their own 37. Rodgers hit Jennings for 8, Jones for 14, and Nelson for 27 down to the Dallas 10. On 3rd and goal, Rodgers hit Jones for the touchdown to have the Packers obliterating Dallas 35-7.

In the fourth quarter Rodgers led a staggering 16 play, 80 yard drive that took over 9 minutes off the clock. For once the Dallas defense held, but a 26 yard Mason Crosby field goal made it 38-7. The misery was compounded when Kitna was hit while trying to throw. Clay Matthews plucked the ball out of the air and lumbered 62 yards for a touchdown to have the packers up 45-7 with 8 1/2 minutes still remaining.

Dallas then fumbled a punt with the Packers taking over at the Cowboys 18. Mike McCarthy did not pile on, and no further points were scored. The game ended with Kitna being sacked. Speaking of sacked, Jerry Jones has some decisions to make. Wade Phillips went 11-5 for 3 straight years before this season, but Jones is not always rational. He may want to party like its 1989. They went 1-15 that year, but were holding the trophy 3 years later. Lost in all the Dallas drama is that Green Bay played very well tonight, and is a serious playoff contender. 45-7 Packers

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals–The Steelers under Mike Tomlin have remained an elite franchise, while the Bengals alternate between the Bungles and the Bengwads. The Steelers have 2 championships in the last 5 years, while the Bengals have 2 reality tv divas with zero rings.

The Bengals fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Steelers recovered at the Cincinnati 25. On 3rd and 3 Ben Roethlisberger hit Mendhenhall down to the 2, and Mendenhall rammed it in to have the Steelers up 7-0 only 2 minutes into the game. The Bengals tried to punt, but it was blocked, and the Steelers took over at the Cincinnati 30. Mendenhall ran it for 20 yards to set up 1st and goal at the 10. The defense held, and a 25 yard field goal had the Steelers up 10-0.

The Bengals punted again, and Big Ben had the Steelers on the move. On 3rd and 6, Roethlisberger pulled a Houdini by escaping a sack and somehow shot-putting a completion to set up 4th and 1 just past midfield. Mike Tomlin decided to punt.

The Bengals took over at their own 12, but after moving the ball some, punted again. Early in the second quarter this had the Steelers starting at their own 1 yard line. Pittsburgh was on the move again but a fumble was recovered by the Bengals at the Pittsburgh 38. A couple plays later Carson Palmer went deep to Terrell Owens, who loves him some him, for the touchdown. Owens did an end zone dance to celebrate the Bengals being 2-5 and losing again at home.

With 5 minute left in the half, Palmer was intercepted, and the Steelers took over just shy of midfield. On 3rd and 2, Roethisberger, who is still not Jewish, went deep to Mike Wallace to set up 1st and goal at the 9. On 3rd and goal, Big Ben hit Hines Ward for the touchdown to have the Steelers up 17-7 with just over 2 minutes left in the half.

A long kickoff return had the Bengals at the Pittsburgh 43. The Bengals took advantage by failing to make a first down and missing a 51 yard field goal. With 45 seconds left, Big Ben immediately fired to Wallace and spiked the ball with 21 seconds left at the Cincy 35. Jeff Reed nailed a 53 yarder with 5 seconds left to have the Steelers up 20-7.

The Bengals again almost made things somewhere below exciting midway through the third quarter by missing another field goal, this time from 45 yards. The third quarter ended with the Bengals punting badly and the Steelers taking over at their own 44. The fourth quarter began with Big Ben handing off to Antwon Randle-El, who stopped, reversed, and threw the halfback option bomb to Mike Wallace in the end zone for another touchdown and a 27-7 lead. For some reason, the rest of the game was played.

This time the Bengals came right back, as padding stats is easy to do when the defense gets bored. Palmer went deep to Owens for a 50 yard touchdown bomb. Owens caught the ball, and ran into a security guy, knocking him down. The collision could not have been avoided, but Owens could have shown an ounce of class by helping the guy up. Instead he bounced off the guy and ran to the middle of the end zone to celebrate himself and his touchdown while the security guy stayed on the ground for a minute or so. The man was not hurt, although T.O. had no idea either way. 13 minutes still remained, plenty of time.

Big Ben was then intercepted, as the Bengals took over with a short field. A personal foul on Flozell Adams had the Bengals starting at the Pittsburgh 36. Another roughing the passer penalty had the Bengals at the 21. Defensive pass interference in the end zone had the Bengals at the one. The Bengals had 0 offensive yards on the drive, but the Steelers gave up 50 yards in personal fouls. They turned a laugher into a close game when Cedric Benson plowed over to get the Bengals within 27-21 with a full 9 minutes left.

The Steelers wanted to bleed the clock and ice the game. Big Ben did his job, getting the Steelers in position to put it away with a 46 yard field goal. Yet the kick was no good, and the Bengals had 4 minutes to go 65 yards. The STeelers had only blown leads of more than 10 twice in the last 23 years, both time to the Bengals. One of those games was last year. Yet the Steelers had never lost a game when up by 20 in their entire franchise history, winning 179 and tying once.

On 3rd and 15, with Pallmer about to get sacked, he found Cedric Benson, who bobbled it several times and somehow caught it for a first down at the Cincy 48 at the 2 minute warning. Defensive pass interference moved the ball 2 yards to midfield. The Bengals reached the Pittsburgh 37 with 1:15 left. Palmer found T.O. at the 17. T.O. got blasted over the middle, but to his credit, hung on to the ball with one minute to play as Palmer called Cincy’s first timeout. After an offensive holding penalty and an incompletion, Palmer hit Chad Johnson for 15 to set up 3rd and 5 at the 12 with 44 seconds left. Palmer fired incomplete, and it came down to the next play.

Palmer fired to Shipley at the 3 yard line, but Shipley got blasted by Ike Taylor and James Harrison. Harrison is glad he did not retire, and this hit was totally clean. As for Taylor, he hit harder on the play than Ike Turner. There would be no miracle for the Bengals. Some will praise them for a furious comeback, but they were lifeless for 45 minutes, and football is a 60 minute game, not a 15 minute sprint.

The Mike Tomlin Steelers got to 6-2, and remain a serious contender. The 2-6 Bengals once again are letting down Marvin Lewis, who is too good a man and coach to be saddled with such overpaid rejects. Perhaps if they spent less time on Twitter and more time practicing there would be better results. Perhaps not. 27-21 Steelers

eric

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