Monday, October 30, 2006

NFL Week In Review-Week 8

Wow. It’s midseason, and quarterback issues are making their annual trip to the forefront, due to both injuries and poor play. 10 of the 32 teams have already started multiple quarterbacks this season. It is definitely the impact position in the National Football League.

The most high-profile quarterback change has occurred in Dallas, as Drew Bledsoe was benched in favor of the Rib Man, Tony Romo. Romo struggled in the first half, before directing the Cowboys to a second-half blowout, as Dallas defeated the Carolina Panthers 35-14. This was a season-saving win for the Cowboys. It remains to be seen if this is the beginning of great things for the Rib Man, or if it is a blip on the radar in the tradition of Cowboy backups such as Clint Longley and Jason Garrett. I picked against the Cows at my peril. I played with fire and got burned.

Another quarterback controversy is flaring in Houston, as David Carr was benched after an awful first half against the Titans, throwing an interception, taking four sacks, and losing two fumbles, including one returned for a touchdown. Sage Rosenfels threw three touchdown passes, but it was not enough, as the Texans lost to Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans, 28-22.

From first to worst? Ben Roethlisberger is having an awful season, and the Steelers are right there with him. Big Ben was sacked five times, threw four interceptions, and had two of them returned for touchdowns, as the sorry Oakland Raiders defeated the Steelers, 20-13. The Steelers have joined the race for the #1 pick in the draft. Could Ben be benched in favor of Charlie Batch?

The leader for the #1 pick in the draft is the Arizona Cardinals, who have already changed quarterbacks, and are playing rookie 1st round pick Matt Leinart. The Cardinals’ defense allowed not one, but two 100-yard rushing days, as the Green Bay Packers rode Ahman Green and Vernand Morency to a 31-14 win. I hope Edgerrin James likes all that money he’s making in Arizona, because he left a Super Bowl contender to go to the worst organization in football. They have a nice new stadium, which amounts to putting lipstick on a pig.

The Baltimore Ravens came up big, as they went down to the Big Easy and whipped the Saints, 35-22. The Saints came up with some garbage time points to make it respectable. Steve McNair is still a quality quarterback, something that has been lacking in B-more.

The Atlanta Falcons went to Cincinnati and pulled out a 29-27 win over the Bengals. Michael Vick threw for three touchdown passes, as he comes into his own as a passing quarterback. Chad Johnson had a touchdown catch, after taking the field for warm-ups with “Ocho Cinco” as the nameplate on the back of his jersey. Highlights showed an upset Carson Palmer ripping the patch off, to reveal the normal “C. Johnson” above the number 85. Is he trying out for a gig on ESPN8-The Ocho?

The Philadelphia Eagles laid the biggest egg. Their high-powered offense could only manage six points at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags were missing QB Byron Leftwich, and won with backup David Garrard. Garrard was last seen directing the Jags into the playoffs last season, as Leftwich was injured.

Don’t look now, but Damon Huard has won four games as the starter in Kansas City. The banged-up Seahawks went into Arrowhead without their two main offensive weapons, and lost to the Chiefs, 35-28. Larry Johnson scored three touchdowns for the Chiefs.

The 49ers are awful. The Bears are good. The expected rout occurred yesterday in Chicago, as the Bears crushed the Niners, 41-10. A once-proud franchise in San Francisco has gone to the dogs. This Cowboy fan doesn't mind that, at all.

Tiki Barber and the Giants won the Barber Bowl, defeating Ronde and the Bucs, 17-3. Just another day at the office for the Giants, as Tiki Barber ran between the 10 yard lines, and Brandon Jacobs scored from the goal line. The Giants lead the NFC East.

The Chargers took care of business against the Rams, winning 38-24 in San Diego. LaDainian Tomlinson had a normal day, with two rushing touchdowns and a touchdown catch.

Prior to Sunday’s game with the Colts, the Broncos had given up two touchdowns all season. The Colts went to Denver and scored 34 points, defeating the Broncos, 34-31. Peyton Manning had three touchdown passes for Indianapolis. This goes a long way toward the Colts attaining home-field advantage in the playoffs, and avoiding a trip back to Denver and a possible snow storm in January.

The sad-sack Browns got their second win of the season, defeating the Jets, 20-13. The Jets’ offense was pretty non-existent, as their lone touchdown came on a kickoff return.

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