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| Authored by Andrew Perna - 8th November, 2005 - 10:38 pm
 In week eight we saw LaDainian Tomlinson run wild in New York, Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil gamble on the game?s final play, and the Carolina Panthers win their fifth straight game. We also saw the drama in Philadelphia come to a head, Baltimore?s continued struggles on offense, and the Miami?s? failure to capitalize on several Atlanta blunders.
Oh, and we can?t forget that Manning?s Colts finally beat Brady?s Patriots. Those were just some of the highlights from week nine in the NFL. Here is my complete list of highs and lows.
The Highest of Highs
Tomlinson?s TD Party in New York
San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson ended his two-week touchdown drought with four trips to the end zone this weekend. Tomlinson ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown through the air. The win kept the Chargers in the thick of the very competitive AFC West, and gave Tomlinson 18 total touchdowns for the season. He has run for 13 touchdowns on the ground, thrown three touchdown passes, and caught two touchdown receptions. LaDainian and the Chargers will now rest with a bye in week ten.
Chiefs Gamble
With five seconds remaining in regulation Kansas City coach Dick Vermeil had two options. The Chiefs were down three points, and on the Raiders one yard line. Vermeil?s two choices were ? force overtime with a sure field goal, or go for the win on the game?s final play. Luckily for Kansas City, Vermeil decided to take his chances and place the ball in the hands of running back Larry Johnson. Johnson ran up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run, and a Chiefs victory.
That wasn?t the games only drama, the Raiders had taken the lead on a 7-yard touchdown catch by Randy Moss with 1:55 left in the game. Kansas City quarterback Trent Green, who had buried his father just four days before Sunday?s game, wept as the Chiefs emerged victorious.
Green threw for 235 yards and one touchdown, while Johnson ran for 107 yards and two scores against the Raiders.
Carolina Wins Again
The Panthers reeled off their fifth straight victory on Sunday with a 34-14 dismantling of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The win propelled the Panthers into a tie with the Atlanta Falcons, also 6-2, for the NFC South lead. Meanwhile, the loss dropped Tampa Bay to 5-3. Carolina tore up the Buccaneers top-ranked defense. Panther running back Stephen Davis ran in for two scores, and red-hot receiver Steve Smith had 106 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Panthers will look to keep their winning streak alive as they face the Jets, Bears, and Bills in the next three weeks.
Seattle Takes Hold
The Seahawks took firm control of the NFC West division with a 33-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle, now 6-2, has won four straight contests. Their closest competition in the division is the St. Louis Rams, who stand at 4-4. The Seahawks were led by running back Shaun Alexander, who ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks will have the opportunity to nearly lock up the division title with a win over St. Louis next week.
Peyton Finally Beats Pats
Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts marched into Gillette Stadium to face their rival Patriots, and left Foxboro still undefeated. The Colts manhandled the defending-champions, who they had famously struggled against. Peyton Manning unloaded, throwing for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Edgerrin James ran for 104 yards and scored one touchdown, as Peyton Manning was finally able to beat the Patriots in New England. The victory also virtually assured the 8-0 Colts home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Lowest of Lows
Trouble in Philadelphia
Not only did the Eagles lose their second-straight game, 17-10, to the Washington Redskins on Sunday night. But, they also lost pro bowl receiver Terrell Owens to suspension for the rest of the season. Owens, who got into a fist-fight with Hugh Douglas in the locker room and further criticized Donovan McNabb and the Eagles organization, was suspended for Philadelphia?s game on Sunday. The organization had said that the issue between Owens and the team would be discussed later in the week by Coach Andy Reid and Owens himself.
However, the Eagles didn?t waste any time taking care of the team cancer. On Monday coach Andy Reid announced that T.O. would be suspended for four games, and will remain inactive for the rest of the season. The T.O. problem might be solved, but the Eagles road to the Super Bowl just became a lot more difficult.
Miami Fails to Capitalize
The Dolphins lost to the Falcons 17-10 on Sunday after failing to capitalize on several scoring opportunities. Atlanta was sacked three times by Miami, and lost two fumbles. The Dolphins had a chance to send the game to overtime with a drive that began on the Falcons 42-yard line, but their comeback was halted by an interception thrown by Michael Vick. Miami lost an opportunity to improve to 4-4, and into a tie with the New England Patriots for first place in the AFC East. The Dolphins did see one positive, a strong showing from Ricky Williams, who had 52 yards and a touchdown.
Baltimore Stopped by Bengals
Even when you?re holding opponents to 17.6 points per game, you can?t win when you?re only scoring 12.1 points per game yourself. The Bengals held the Ravens to 240 net yards, while the Bengals accumulated 329 yards of their own. Cincinnati improved to 7-2, as Baltimore fell to 2-6. The Ravens will undoubtedly miss the playoffs this year, after switching to the 46 defensive formation at the beginning of the season. The switch was supposed to allow the Ravens to make even stronger.
The Dumps of Detroit
The Lions had a favorable match-up this week against the poor Culpepper-less Vikings. Midway through the second quarter Detroit was already down 24-0, and was struggling offensively. Back up Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson threw for two first-half touchdowns, while Lions quarterback Joey Harrington threw just one touchdown and was intercepted twice. Detroit lost their second consecutive game, after blowing a chance to improve to 4-4, and remain a game behind the 5-3 Chicago Bears in the NFC North. Detroit, who started Harrington in relief of the injured Jeff Garcia, also lost running back Kevin Jones with a shoulder injury.
The Saints Need an Angel
After beginning the season with an emotional victory over the Carolina Panthers in week one of the season, the New Orleans Saints have done nothing but struggle. The Saints have lost five consecutive games, and have allowed the second-most points in the NFL (242). The Saints don?t have a stadium, and their ?home? games take place on the road. In addition to all the adversity that Hurricane Katrina created, the Saints have been bitten by the injury bug. Wide receiver Joe Horn has missed three games due to injury, and running back Deuce McAllister was lost for the season after injuring his knee earlier in the season. |
