WEEK 4
NFL GAME REVIEWS
San Diego Chargers 28 Oakland Raiders 18 Is Lane Kiffin’s job still at risk? Well it probably is, but its dependant on wins and losses. After a slow start the Chargers need some wins, but it was the Raiders who struck first from a 22yd Sebastian Janikowski field goal. Phillip Rivers was then tackled in his own end zone by Gibril Wilson for a safety, not a good start for Norv Turner. Jamarcus Russell opened up the second quarter with a massive 63yd bomb to Zach Miller for a lead‐extending TD. Rivers then had a pass picked by Chris Johnson and this set up Janikowski from 28yds out to put the Raiders up 15‐0 at half time. Nate Kaeding finally got the Chargers on the board, he hit a field goal from 28yds out which turned out to be the only score of the third quarter. It was beginning to look hopeless for the Chargers but it wasn’t – they pulled out one of the best comebacks of the season....The first TD came from Rivers to Antonio Gates from 9yds out to cut the lead to 5, Ladanian Tomlinson then darted in from 13yds out and then Rivers passed to Sproles for a two point conversion – Chargers up by 3. Nate Kaeding extended the lead to 6 when he hit a FG from 47yds out, and Ladanian Tomlinson finished off the game with a spectacular 41yds run to put the game away. The Chargers scored 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Raiders were totally embarrassed. Game Notes....
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4th Quarter Comeback – San Diego scored 25 points in the fourth quarter, after scoring 3 points in the first 3. Rivers Quivers – Phillip Rivers threw his first interception of the season in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland Browns 20 Cincinnati Bengals 12 The meeting of the two 0‐3 teams that shouldn’t be 0‐3! We all know they’re better than that, right – well one of them is going 0‐4! Phil Dawson got the game underway – 3‐0 to the Browns after he hit a 25yd field goal. Shane Graham kicked off the second quarter scoring with a field goal from 42yds out to tie the game. We should welcome Ryan Fitzpatrick to the role of Bengals QB after Carson Palmer became inactive this week. He threw a pick to Mike Adams then threw another to Eric Wright; however the latter was fumbled away and “re‐recovered” by the Bengals. Shane Graham then added 3 points to end the half – Bengals up 6‐3. Derek Anderson managed to get the second half off in style – he was picked by Chinedum Ndukwe. After a scoreless third quarter, the fourth was explosive – Derek Anderson hit Braylon Edwards for the first TD of the game – 4yds out gave the Browns the lead again. After Chris Perry fumbled the ball away on the very next possession, Jamal Lewis returned to form and ran in from 1yd out for the Browns second TD. Ocho Cinco/Chad Johnson hasn’t exactly been his usual explosive self this season – well he got back to form when Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed him a 4yd TD for six, However the ensuing two point attempt failed. After Ryan Fitzpatrick fumbled the ball away, Phil Dawson added another 3 from 29yds out to give the Browns an 8 point lead. The game ended when Fitzpatrick threw his third pick of the day, this one to Terry Cousin. Bengals drop to 0‐4 and Chad Johnson is getting increasingly less theatrical. Game Notes.... o
POT – Points Off Turnovers – The Bengals turned the ball over 5 times! The Browns managed to score 16 points off of those turnovers and was a major factor in contributing to their win.
Houston Texans 27 Jacksonville Jaguars 30 The Texans could have started better...the Jags could have started worse, but Montell Owens started the scoring, taking the direct snap from centre and running 41yds to the house for an electrifying TD. Kris Brown added 3 points from 27yds out to bring the Texans back into the picture. Matt Schaub opened up quarter 2 by hitting Steve Slaton from 30yds out to give the Texans the lead. Halftime score was tied at 10 after Josh Scobee added 3 points from 46yds out. David Garrard threw his first TD of the day, connecting with Matt Jones from 5yds out for the TD, but Matt Schaub answered back – he hit Kevin Walter from 25yds out to tie the game again. In the fourth quarter, with the game still tied, Josh Scobee hit a 40yds field goal to give the Jags the lead again, but Schaub wasn’t finished yet, Kevin Walter received another TD to change the lead yet again. David Garrard answered the pressure call and ran up the middle himself for a 5yd QB run TD to change the lead yet again! Kris Brown then ended the game with a 47yd field goal to induce overtime. After a constant game of lead changes and close calls, it was Josh Scobee who won it; his 37yd field goal in overtime gave the Jags the victory – 30‐27. Game Notes.... o o
4th Down Crown – The Jags managed two fourth down conversions – the first of which resulted in a 41yd TD run by Montell Owens. Run David! – Apart from having the first error free game of his season, David Garrard was almost as effective running the ball as he was throwing – he ran 7 times for 41yds and was the Jags leading rusher.
Denver Broncos 19 Kansas City Chiefs 33 The Bronco’s have been off to a magical start – the Chiefs are having a season to forget. Nick Novack got the scoring underway; a 23yd chip shot put the Chiefs in the lead. After rookie receiver Eddie Royal fumbled the ball back to the Chiefs, Novack added another 3, this time from 21yds away. Jay Cutler got the second quarter underway; he hit his old favourite – Brandon Marshall deep from 16yds out and the TD. Brandon Marshall managed to follow his TD with a fumble which was recovered by Brandon Flowers and which set up Larry Johnson for a 1yd rushing TD. The half ended with Matt Prater’s first field goal of the game – he hit it from 56yds out – a new personal best. The only scoring of the third quarter occurred during an early field goal exchange. Matt Prater hit a 51yd field goal, followed by Nick Novack hitting one from 43yds out. Jay Cutler then threw a pick to Derrick Johnson to give Larry Johnson the opportunity to...fumble the ball away back to the Broncos. Cutler then threw another pick, this time to Brandon Carr, and This set up Damon Huard’s first TD of the game, thrown to Tony Gonzalez from 10yds out. Another field goal exchange followed – Prater nailed one from 22yds out, then Novack from 33yds out, then Prater again from 33yds out. Larry Johnson finished off the scoring – he ran around the left end for a 16yd TD and give the chiefs their first win of the season. Game Notes.... o o
Larry’s back! – One of the biggest reasons for the Chiefs convincing win was Larry Johnson’s 28 attempts for 198yds rushing and 2TD’s. Cutler passed it? – Despite losing, Jay Cutler still managed 361yds passing on the day – Eddie Royal managed 104yds receiving.
San Fransisco 49’ers 17 New Orleans Saints 31 Two teams fighting to do well in divisions with tough opponents. The 49’ers struck first – Joe Nedney hit a 47yd field goal to open the scoring, and then Drew Brees handed Takeo Spikes a gift – but the 49’ers couldn’t capitalise. The Saint’s really came alive in the second quarter; Brees hit Lance Moore from 5yds out for the first TD of the game, and then hit Moore again, this time from 33yds out to put the saints up 11 points. The Saint’s weren’t finished yet – after Joe Nedney added 3 points for the 49’ers, Brees hit another deep ball to Robert Meachem for a 47yd TD – he’s learning how to toast the 49’ers deep! Joe Nedney kicked off the second half with a 38yd field goal, which turned out to be the only score of the third quarter. Deuce McAllister was back to form when he opened up the scoring of the fourth quarter, his 1yd TD run ignited the Saints. After J.T. O’Sullivan was intercepted by Tracy Porter, the Saints fumbled the ball away and could do little with it. J.T. O’Sullivan did get a TD today; it was the last TD of the game. He hit Isaac Bruce from 5yds out, and then managed to hit Frank Gore for the two points. Gramatica cemented the Saints win – his field goal from 31yds out led the Saints to a 31‐17 win. Game Notes....
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More Moore? – Until now, Lance Moore has been an unknown in New Orleans – he became the leading receiver today 0 totalling 7 catches for 101yds and 2 TD’s (which equalled his TD total for last YEAR!) Sullivan Sands – J.T. O’Sullivan isn’t getting much help from that O‐Line – he’s been sacked 19 times this season, including 6 sacks today.
Arizona Cardinals 35 New York Jets 56 Can you believe that with scores this high, the first quarter was scoreless! It held a blocked Neil Rackers field goal, a Brett Favre interception thrown to Chike Okeafor and a Kurt Warner fumble, generated by the rookie Sedrick Ellis. The action really kicked off in the second quarter – Brett Favre hit Lauverneus Coles from 12yds out to open up the scoring. Kurt Warner didn’t get off to a great start, His pass intended for Ben Patrick was picked by Darrelle Revis who returned it 32yds to the house for the TD. Favre and Coles then hooked up for a second TD, 34yds out put the Jets up 3TD’s. Kurt Warner had another pass picked, this time by Eric Smith – this set up Jay Feeley for a 20yd field goal which he hit. Warner’s misery continued – he fumbled the ball away to David Harris and this set up Favre and Coles for the third time – 2yds out – TD. The final catastrophe of the half for Kurt Warner – he fumbled the ball away yet again and set up Jay Feeley for a 30yd field goal, which gave the jets a 34‐0 lead at halftime. After a halftime pep talk, the Cardinals appeared to have found some energy – it came in the form of Edgerrin James, who ran 4yds up the middle for the first Cardinal TD of the day. James did it again on the next possession, running in from 2yds out and then adding the two points himself. The running game appeared to be working and it was Tim Hightower who ran in for the third Cards TD of the day, 1yd out – the score was now 34‐21 Jets. Brett Favre arose to form again – he hit Jericho Cotchery from 17yds out to give him his fourth TD, Warner answered the points with his own TD, he hit Anaquin Boldin from 8yds out for the score, but Favre wasn’t done with Cotchery yet – 40yd deep ball was caught for another Favre TD. Warner hit his third TD of the day when he struck Jerheme Urban from 14yds out but the game was over when Warner fumbled the ball away for the third time and allowed Favre to hit his 6th TD of the day – Dustin Keller caught it from 24yds out and the Jets blow past the Cardinals 56‐34. Game Notes.... o o o
Mr Favre’s Career High Game – Brett Favre hit 6 TD passes in the game, a career high for him. He also made Lauverneus Coles a very happy man – he caught 3 TD passes for 105yds. Warner Corner – Kurt Warner had a miserable day – he fumbled the ball four times and lost three of them – he also threw 3 picks, one of which was returned for a TD. Darrelle Revis –Another Unknown in the Jets, but he had a big game – 2 picks, 1 interception returned TD and 3 tackles.
Greenbay Packers 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30 Post‐ Brett Favre in Greenbay has been productive, Aaron Rodgers has impressed – but how would he fare against a complex Tampa defence? It started well for the Packers – Aaron Rodgers got the first TD of the game, he hit Greg Jennings from 25yds away. However, after Rodgers had a pass picked off, it was Brian Griese who hit Alex Smith from 9yds out to tie the game. Matt Bryant gave the Bucs the lead with a 23yd field goal, and then after Rodgers was picked for the second time – Bryant tacked on another 3 – this time from 36yds out. In the third quarter Brian Griese threw his first pick of the day, Tramon Williams with the steal. Ryan Grant looked good for the Packers, until he fumbled the ball away and it was recovered by Jermaine Phillips who took it all the way back to the house – touchdown Tampa Bay! The Packers got some life back though, when Griese was picked again, Aaron Rodgers went deep down the middle to Greg Jennings – a 48yd TD that embarrassed the Bucs. The Embarrassment continued when Griese was intercepted for the third time, Charles Woodson with the take‐away and he took it all the way back home – touchdown Greenbay. Matt Bryant hit a 24yd field goal to put the Bucs back, firmly in the lead, then after Rodgers was intercepted for the third time in the game – Earnest Graham ran it up the middle from 1yds out to finish off the scoring – Bucs win 30‐21. Game Notes.... o o o
Griese, Not Greasy – Brian Griese has won 8 out of his past 9 starts as a Buc! Turnover, Turnover – Each QB threw 3 picks in the game – 2 of which went back for TD’s Tampa 2 – The Bucs complex defence held the Pack to only 28yds on the ground.
Washington Redskins 26 Dallas Cowboys 24 This was expected to be the game of the week and it certainly delivered – the two big NFC east powerhouses clashed and generated a surprising result. It was Tony Romo who got the Cowboys going; he hit star tight end Jason Witten from 21yds out to put the Cowboys up. Jason Campbell started the Skins rolling when he hit James Thrash from 3yds out to bring the Skins level. Campbell then hit Antwan Randle El from 2yds out – two TD’s in two drives. Shaun Suisham then finished the half’s scoring, he added three points for the Skins to give them a 7 points lead going into halftime. Tony Romo didn’t waste much time in the third; it took just 5 plays for Romo to connect with T.O Terrell Owens from 10yds out to bring the Cowboys level. Suisham opened up the gap again with 3 points from 33yds out, they maintained the lead into the fourth. Suisham then hit another two field goals late into he fourth – firstly from 33yds out, then from 29yds – Skins lead by 9. It was too late for the Cowboys, a Tony Romo TD to Miles Austin was the best they could manage and the game ended with a Skins win 26‐24. Game Notes.... o o
Which Moss? –The lesser known Santana Moss had a big day for the Skins – he had 8 receptions for 145yds and toasted the Cowboys CB’s. Suisham Kicking Himself – Shaun Suisham was the real winner of the game for the Skins – he hit 4 field goals for 12 points.
Minnesota Vikings 17 Tennessee Titans 30 Tennessee are a shock to all in the NFL. With uncertainty around Vince young, they still remain undefeated. Rob Bironas kicked off the game with a field goal, 20yds out to give the Titans the lead. Rookie RB Chris Johnson then showed them how it’s done, he ran around the end for a TD. It didn’t take Adrian Peterson long to show why he’ one of the best backs in football, he cruised in from 28yds out to put the Vikings on the board. Bironas then struck back from 32yds out to give the Titans a 6 point lead. After Adrian Peterson fumbled the ball back to the Titans, Lendale white showed him how a power back carries the football, he ran in from 1yds out for the TD. Ryan Longwell then hit his first of the day, 42yds out and the Vikings are 10 points behind. After halftime both defences seem to have perked up, the only score was a 49yd Rob Bironas field goal. The fourth quarter was more productive, but not productive enough for the Vikings – Adrian Petersons run from 3yds out was promising, but that soon died when Chris Johnson turned the corner and ran in from 6yds out to put the Titans up 13 points, and that’s how it finished. The Titans advance to 4‐0 and the Vikings are at 1‐3. Game Notes.... o o
First 4 – The Titans have their first 4‐0 start ever! Recovery Time – The game yielded 7 turnovers, 6 of which were recovered by the opposing team.
Atlanta Falcons 9 Carolina Panthers 24 Anyone else noticed Atlanta can dominate at home but get ruffled away from their nest? After a couple of 20+yd passes to Mushin Muhammad, It was The Daily Show’s own Jonathan Stewart that got the Panthers rolling – he rumbled in from 8yds out to give the Panthers an early lead. Ex‐Bronco Jason Elam brought the Falcons back in the game – he struck a 33yd TD for 3 points. Elam brought them back within 1 point at the beginning of the second quarter from 44yds out. Delhomme then responded by torching the young Falcon’s backs, with a strike to returning star Steve Smith ‐ a 56yd TD followed. After a penalty ridden drive, Jason Elam tacked on his third field goal to give him 9 points on the day. In the third quarter it was John Kasay who tacked on 3 for the Panthers, a 44yd field goal gave the Panthers an 8 point lead. Muhammad was burning the Falcons all day and it paid off when Delhomme hit him from 36yds out for a TD. The Falcons lose another game away from home and the Panthers win 24‐9. Game Notes.... o o o
Mushin 2004? – Mushin Muhammad was taking advantage of the special treatment the falcons DB’s were giving Steve Smith – he had 8 receptions for 147yds and a 36yd TD on the day, his best since 2004. Turnover? –Can you believe there were no fumbles or interceptions on the day? 41 High – Matt Ryan threw a career high 41 times today – he hit only 21 of these though.
Buffallo Bills 31 St Louis Rams 14 (The Trent‐Bowl) This game resulted in Rams coach Scott Leinehan being fired.....Guess who won!? Ryan Lindell put the Bills up first – he hit a field goal from 45yds out. Donnie Avery...who? Well remember that name...he pulled out a 37yd run from scrimmage for the TD in an impressive TD run for the Rams. Ryan Lindell then nailed another 35yd field goal, but Steven Jackson answered back, proving he’s still a force to be reckoned with – his 29yd run put the Rams up 14‐6 at the half. Fred Jackson kicked off the second half scoring for the Bills, he ran 22yds for a TD. After the Rams decided to bench Marc Bulger, it was Trent Green’s turn to show what he was made of....he threw an interception to Jabari Greer who took it 33yds to the house – the Bills now up 20‐14. Trent Edwards then hit his favourite little guy, Lee Evans from 39yds out and then Trent added the two. The game finished when Ryan Lindell hit a 45yd field goal, and that was Leinehan’s job gone! Bills win 31‐14. Game Notes.... o o
Ram Slam – The Rams suffered their 8th straight loss, whereas the bills are 4‐0 for the first time since 1995. Jackson Shines – St Louis Running back Steven Jackson was the team’s leading Rusher with 24 attempts for 110yds AND the leading receiver, catching 5 passes for 78yds.
Philadelphia Eagles 20 Chicago Bears 24 This weekend’s Sunday night game was another great matchup, powerful offense against big play defence – the formula for a great game! It was a simple TD exchange in the first quarter – Kyle Orton struck Greg Olsen from 19yds out for the early lead, but then Donovan McNabb hit DeShaun Jackson from 22yds away to even things up. In the second quarter the Bears started taking deeper shots and it paid off – Kyle Orton drilled Marty Booker from 23yds out to give them the lead again, but Correll Buckhalter (in for the injured Brian Westbrook) capped off a successful drive with a 1yd TD run. After Kyle Orton threw a pick, and David Akers missed a field goal, it was Kyle Orton hitting speed machine Devin Hester from 20yds out which re‐ignited the scoring. The second half was quite – the only score of the third quarter was a 24yd David Akers field goal, to bring the Eagles within 4 points. After many turnovers and punts, the fourth was full of much the same – Akers hit a 31yd field goal followed by Robbie Gould hitting a 41yd attempt. The Game ended 24‐20 for the Bears and both teams advance to 2‐2. Game Notes.... o
Malfunction ‐ The clock stopped working at soldier field and the officials had to use stopwatches to record the time – this went on for 4 minutes!
Baltimore Ravens 20 Pittsburgh Steelers 23 Its Monday Night football and it came to you live from Hines Field! Jeff Reid nailed the first field goal of the game – his 49yd field goal was good. After Ben Roethlisberger was picked off, it set up Matt Stover from 33yds out to level up the game. Stover gave the Ravens the lead early in the second with another field goal – this one from 20yds out. Joe Flacco then got the Ravens Steamrolling with a 4yd TD to Daniel Wilcox, giving the Ravens a 10 point lead at halftime. It took a halftime talk from hell to get the Steelers focused again...seemed to work though – Ben Roethlisberger hit Santonio Holmes from 38yds deep to bring them back to life, then the Steelers defence stepped up – Joe Flacco was power bombed and LaMarr Woodley scooped up the ball and took it to the house – 17‐13 Steelers at the end of the third. The Steelers extended their lead to 7 points thanks to a 19yd Jeff Reed field goal, but Le’Ron McLaine swiftly brought the game level, running in from 2yds out – we have overtime! After the Ravens won the toss, they could do nothing with it – it merely took some big passes by Roethlisberger to get within Jeff Reeds Range – he nailed the 46yd pressure kick and the Steelers win 23‐20 after a very closely fought game. Game Notes.... o
Derrick Mason –He had a big day for a Ravens receiver – 8 catches for 137yds was impressive for a team with a rookie QB.