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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 28th September, 2005 - 3:18 am
 Week three in the NFL was an offensive explosion. Of the 28 teams who played this past weekend only two scored fewer than ten points, Cleveland and Chicago. The Chargers picked up their first win over the Giants and Eli Manning, who shunned the team on draft day in 2004, New England handed Pittsburgh?s sophomore quarterback Ben Roethlisberger his first regular-season loss, and Daunte Culpepper?s Vikings finally put some points on the board.
After week three there are still four undefeated teams ? Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and idle Washington. Less impressive are the five remaining winless teams ? Arizona, Green Bay, Oakland, and idle teams Baltimore and Houston. Here are the highs and lows of week three in the NFL.
The Highest of Highs
LaDainian Tomlinson
In last week?s edition I listed Tomlinson as one of the lows in week two, sighting his decreased production and the Chargers 0-2 record as reasons. On Sunday night against the New York Giants the Chargers picked up their first win and Tomlinson was the reason. He ran for 192 yards on just 21 carries (9.1 yards per rush) and scored three touchdowns on the ground. Tomlinson also completed his only pass of the game, a 26 yard touchdown score to Keenan McCardell ? just the 4th pass of his NFL career and his second touchdown pass. He accounted for 28 of San Diego?s 45 points, and scored more than the Giant offense (23).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Following Tampa Bay?s 17-16 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday the Bucs improved to 3-0, and remained one of only four teams that stood undefeated after week three. Rookie Carnell ?Cadillac? Williams is averaging nearing 150 rushing yards per game to jumpstart the Buccaneer offense, but it?s their defense that?s winning them games. Tampa Bay has the leagues top-ranked run defense to complement their second-ranked rushing attack. They are allowing the fewest yards per game in the NFL and are beginning to look like the Buccaneers who won the Super Bowl back in 2003.
Shaun Alexander
Alexander helped the Seahawks win their second game of the season by putting on the kind of offensive display that only the LaDainian Tomlinson could relate to. Alexander ran for 140 yards on 22 carries and scored four touchdowns. The entire Arizona offense couldn?t manage even one touchdown on Sunday as the Seahawks cruised to an easy 37-12 victory. With Alexander?s effort on Sunday only rookie Cadillac Williams has rushed for more yards (434), while only Tomlinson has scored more touchdowns (6) this season.
Steve Smith
The Panthers? loss to the underdog Miami Dolphins had nothing to do with Steve Smith. The Carolina receiver totaled 170 receiving yards and scored three touchdowns in the loss. His performance on Sunday put him in a three way tie for the lead in NFL touchdown receptions with Keenan McCardell and Hines Ward with four touchdowns. However, Smith wasn?t mistake free, his fumble on an attempted fair catch punt return led to a Miami touchdown late in the second quarter.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins played themselves into a tie for first in the AFC East with the New England Patriots on Sunday. Miami has played great run defense and quarterback Gus Frerotte has been able to run the Dolphin offense well enough to put them in position to win games. Rookie running back Ronnie Brown is adjusting to the NFL nicely as well, he exploded for 132 yards and a touchdown on Sunday ? the first of his career. The Dolphins have beaten formidable opponents, and following their week four bye they will have Ricky Williams back on the field.
The Lowest of Lows
Arizona Cardinals
Entering the 2005 NFL season many football experts picked Arizona as this year?s sleeper to make the postseason. Now, after three games the Cardinals are 0-3 record and find themselves struggling on both sides of the ball. Opponents are averaging 130 yards on the ground against them ? we all know what Shaun Alexander did to them this weekend, and their offense has only managed one touchdown in their first three games. If the Cardinals can?t beat the 49ers this Sunday they will put themselves in a very deep hole and the playoffs will be the farthest thing from their minds.
NFL Injury Woes
Week three in the NFL was a dangerous one. Numerous players were carted off the football field this weekend, and some teams have lost the services of top players for the entire season. The Eagles reliable kicker, David Akers, who won the game for Philadelphia against the Raiders on Sunday, is now likely out for the teams next few games. The thought of linebacker Mark Simoneau kicking extra points could give Eagles fans nightmares for weeks to come.
The Buffalo Bills have lost pro bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes for the rest of the season after he tore his right Achilles? tendon in their 24-16 loss to the Falcons. Meanwhile, Patriots? strong safety Rodney Harrison is now also for the season with a serious knee injury. In addition, The Jets are likely to be without quarterbacks Chad Pennington and Jay Fiedler this week, both underwent MRIs on their throwing shoulders Monday. Third-string quarterback Brooks Bollinger is expected to be named the Jets starter for their game on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers fell to 1-2 following their 27-24 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Carolina, who many predicted to represent the NFC in this years? Super Bowl, is now tied with the New Orleans Saints for last place in the NFC South. The division has become more competitive with the resurgence of the Buccaneers (3-0) and the Michael Vick-led Falcons (2-1). The Panthers are heading into week four and a Monday Night Football match-up with winless Green Bay, this match-up has turned into an early season must-win for both fading Carolina and the win-less Packers.
J.P. Losman
The second-year player inherited the Bills starting quarterback position this off-season when Drew Bledsoe left for Dallas. Three weeks into the season the Bills are in last place in the AFC East, and Losman may be the reason why. His numbers have been dismal, a 61.0 quarterback rating, one touchdown pass against one inception, and 358 passing yards. The Bills, a run-first offense, have only required Losman to throw 79 passes. Buffalo has the leagues? lowest ranked offense, averaging only 224 yards per game, with most of them coming on the ground from Willis McGahee. With receivers like Eric Moulds, Josh Reed, and Lee Evans, its not a lack of talent around Losman that?s keeping the Bills from winning.
Travis Henry
Henry left the Bills for the Titans this off-season because of the talented Willis McGahee. This season Henry was in a battle with Chris Brown for carries, and the two ended up splitting carries in week one and two. Now, Henry is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL?s substance abuse policy. Henry, who is appealing the suspension, played in the Titan?s 31-27 loss to the Rams ? he ran for zero yards on three carries, while Brown ran for 83 yards on his 20 carries. If Henry gets suspended it will allow Brown to showcase what he can do when given the Titan?s entire rushing load, which may lead Henry, 27, to look for another job. |
