Cleveland Browns 35 New York Giants 14
Not a crazy finish, but that just makes it even more remarkable. The Giants just got completely dominated on defense. The Giants actually ran the ball down Cleveland's throats, but Eli was picked off 3 times including once for the touchdown that sealed the game. Derek Anderson made a couple long connections with Braylon Edwards and the Browns overcame their own penalties to dominate the world champs.
Atlanta Falcons 22 Chicago Bears 20
The Bears did so many things wrong in this game they almost deserved to lose it. First they blew two shots at the end zone from the 1 yard line. But they overcame that and took a 20-19 lead with 11 seconds left. That's when the trouble started. Lovie Smith elected to squib kick, a move I vehemently disagree with. You can't be scared, you have to trust your coverage team. And even if they do a horrible job, and allow a 50-yard return, that will use up most or all of the remaining time. A horrible decision. But even after that they still should have won. But the squib kick was too short allowing the Falcons to return it to the 44 with enough time to get a play off. And that play was a 26 yard completion to Michael Jenkins, and he got out of bounds. How does that happen? Give him the inside, let him catch it, just don't let him have the sideline, horrible play. And that's why the Bears lost, poor decision making, and poor execution.
Houston Texans 29 Miami Dolphins 28
Pity the poor Dolphins. They got 4 turnovers and a couple perfectly executed trick plays and still couldn't win this one. And when they thought they had it won, forcing the Texans into a 4th down and goal with 7 seconds left, Matt Schaub snuck it in for the winning score.
Minnesota Vikings 12 Detroit Lions 10
A win is a win but the Vikings have nothing to be proud of here. If not for a horrible pass interference call, they would have lost this game. The Vikings tried to give this game away but the Lions were too inept to take it.
And unfortunately the margin of victory ended up being an incredibly foolish play by Lions QB Dan Orlovsky. Taking the snap from the 1-yard line Orlovsky took his drop -- right out of the back of the end zone. It was an absent-minded move, like when I leave the lights in my car on. Sure I know the lights are on, but I'm thinking 2 steps ahead and forgetting where I am. I know Orlovsky knew where he was on the field, but he was thinking about his progressions, the safety cheating up, that big scary Jared Allen, and the back of the end zone left his mind, and he left the back of the end zone.
A Brief Rant About the Redskins
How did the Redskins lose this game? Turnovers. Turnovers and an idiotic play by Pete Kendall. They hadn't turned the ball over on offense all season and they let the worst team in the league stay in the game by fumbling three times. But Kendall's was the worst. He caught a tipped pass and tried to run with it. Fall on the ground! That turned a likely 10-3 Redskins lead into a 10-7 Rams lead. But they still should have been able to overcome it. They moved the ball pretty well, but always did something to sabatoge the drive, fumble, sack, something. And they seemed to deviate from the aggressive play-calling to go back to running on first and second down. But the Rams are so bad none of this should have mattered. They should have blown them out at home. But at the very least they should have escaped with a 1-point victory. How do you allow a 43-yard pass on 3rd and 13? Terrible.
Game of the Week
Arizona Cardinals 30 Dallas Cowboys 24
One of the craziest games ever as the Cardinals scored on the first and last play, to win it, despite being fucked over by their coach. Ken Whisenhunt went for a foolish onsides kick which didn't end up hurting them but he did that foolish timeout-right-before-a-field-goal move, and it killed them. The Cardinals had blocked the game-tying field goal, but their idiot coach gave Nick Folk another chance, and he made it to force overtime. After Dallas won the coin toss those people who love to talk about momentum must have thought the Cowboys would win for sure. But there is no momentum or any other magical force that effects what happens next. Players make plays and the Cardinals blocked the punt to win the game. The first time an overtime game ended on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.
One awesome play in this game by one of my favorite players in the NFL. On the first play of the 4th quarter Kurt Warner chucked the ball up, as he often does, and Larry Fitzgerald, from a dead stop, out jumped two defenders and hauled the ball in. And that's why Kurt Warner is still playing, and still putting up numbers, because Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are so good.
Game of Next Week
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
While everyone is talking about the NFC East, the division's disastrous 3-loss week put it pretty much on even footing with the NFC South. The Falcons and Bucs are also 4-2 so if the Saints lose this they risk falling 2 games behind the rest of the field. Neither team plays consistently from week-to-week so it's hard to know what to expect.
Cheerleader of the Week
Danielle of the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders
I like her because her degree is in broadcast journalism. Also she's part-Irish and I'm sort of part Irish by marriage. She likes seafood and Hawaii and "The Scorpion King." Really?
If the Super Bowl Were Played Today
New York Giants 21 Tennessee Titans 20
Even though the Giants got embarrassed on Monday night they still earn this spot by being the best team in the NFC. I'm disappointed because I could have made a case for the Redskins had they not blown it against the Rams. The Titans had the week off and remain the last undefeated team in the NFL.
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