Pinned In Their Backyard

Slot

Team

Three easy steps/slides to get there

17

(2-2)

1. Jack del Rio’s decision to cancel David Garrard’s radio show was a sound one. He motivated him to let his play do the talking.
   
2. I was glad to see Maurice Jones-Drew get only nine touches. Only a few are more deserving of getting a “day off” to sit back, relax and enjoy a victory.
   
3. Owner Wayne Weaver declared he would consider playing some future games in Orlando. Here’s a newsflash: If he wants to attract more fans, fielding a competitive team is the way to do so.
   

Move made:

(LW: 20)

18

(2-2)

1. Terrible loss for the Cowboys. With one play (Renaldo Hill’s sack), the team lost all its momentum and sank faster than the Titanic.
   
2. After getting back-to-back
   200-plus rushing yards games, Dallas failed to reach the century mark for the first time this season.
   
3. Right now, Jerry Jones is looking hard at both Tony Romo and Wade Phillips. Unless Romo ignores Jerry’s phone calls, Phillips should be worried. A defeat in Kansas City will not be tolerated.
   

Move made:

(LW: 14)

19

(2-2)

1. Aaron Rodgers — the innocent bystander in the Favre-Green Bay saga — did not survive the pressure. The rest of his career he’ll try to become Steve Young and not Lynn Dickey.
   
2. The Packers’ left tackle for the evening, Daryn Colledge, was downgraded to varsity after the game. How fitting.
   
3. Hands down, this is the worst loss of the Ted Thompson-Mike McCarthy era. Their nightmare came to life.
   

Move made:

(LW: 18)

20

(2-2)

1. Steve Slaton’s first TD’s of the season enabled Houston to walk –not run– past Oakland.
   
2. The Texans’ NFL-worst defense held the Raiders to 45 yards rushing. Mmm…I prefer to highlight the fact that the unit got its first safety since they started playing in 2002.
   
3. “Everybody was having fun,” Texans’ DE Antonio Smith said. In the words of Joe Miller in Philadelphia: Please explain me, like I’m a four-year old…what was so funny about this game?
   

Move made:

(LW: 21)

21

(1-3)

1. The Lions employed six runners and ten receivers. Call Ryan Seacrest … there are auditions being held to find playmakers.
   
2. Talk about a burst bubble. Detroit started the second half of its game tied with Chicago, and ended it hoping that the injuries to Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson were not serious.
   
3. Rod Marinelli was let go at the end of last season after going 0-16. He’s now the Bears’ defensive line coach, and he has three times more wins than the Lions since he’s in Illinois. Just saying.
   

Move made:

(LW: 19)

22

(2-2)

1. A banged-up Clinton Portis (25 car. for 98 yds.) did the most damage without touching the ball. By drawing attention on a fake handoff to him, the Redskins caught the Bucs on their heels.
   
2. Bipolar Jason Campbell: he
   hurt his cause by matching his interception total from last season in only four weeks; and yet, called the game-winning play before it happened.
   
3. Jim Zorn has to trust this more than ever: You have to take it one game at a time, one play at a time.
   

Move made:

(LW: 22)

23

(1-3)

1. The Fins will go as far as Ronnie Brown is willing to take them. 369 yards say: It’s going to be a tiring ride. For the opposition.
   
2. With Joey Porter out, Cameron Wake and Jason Taylor picked up the pass-rushing slack for him. And then some (10 tackles, 5 sacks combined).
   
3. In ‘01, a second-year QB from Michigan shocked the NFL by leading his team to the Super Bowl after the incumbent was lost due to injury. The Dolphins are hoping that history repeats itself.
   

Move made:

(LW: 28)

24

(1-3)

1. Seneca (Wallace) tried his best (33 of 45, 257 yards, 1 TD, 94.4 passer rating) to fight with pride. Like his Roman namesake, he fell honorably.
   
2. And Julius (Jones) (11 carries for 25 yards) should have followed his lead.
   
3. Both were released in 2006, but the most compelling Game of Shadows book doesn’t even mention Barry Bonds. It’s all about Deion Branch’s career after he left New England.
   

Move made:

(LW: 24)

At the Bottom of the Pile

Slot

Team

Three easy steps/slides to get there

25

(1-3)

1. They say that before anything, you have to take care of the games within your division. The Bills are 0-8 vs. AFC East teams dating back to 2008.
   
2. And clearly, 46 rushing yards won’t make the task any easier.
   
3. The short-handed squad that played in Miami reminded Buffalo of one thing: Hockey season. And they want you to know that ten years later it’s still…NO GOAL!
   

Move made:

(LW: 23)

26

(1-3)

1. A typical JaMarcus Russell performance vindicated Jeff Garcia.
   
2. WR Darrius Heyward-Bay (20 yards) had a better rushing day than Darren McFadden (-3 yards). No wonder why they lost.
   
3. Even though they aren’t part of the Bottom Four, the following is very deserving of a:
   

   EXPLANATION ZONE. “We are really killing ourselves” Raiders coach Tom Cable said. There you go Officer…that’s the confession you needed to hear.

Move made:

(LW: 25)

27

(0-3)

1. Julius Peppers did not register a three-sack game and did not take a forced fumble into the end zone.
   
2. Jake Delhomme was not pressed to answer if a quarterback change would be good after yet another Panthers defeat.
   
3. After last week’s loss, Carolina DID enjoy the bye week. And that’s that.
   

Move made:

(LW: 27)

28

(0-4)

1. I just wanted to see some signs of life to get them out of the cellar. I don’t ask for much. I have low expectations for them.
   
2. Rookie WR Mohamed Massaquoi had a career day, catching eight passes for 148 yards. Please don’t sweat if you had trouble pronouncing his name, the Bengals had trouble containing his game.
   
3. Meanwhile, WR Mike Furrey played both ways. Does that make him ambidextrous?

Move made:

(LW: 32)

29

(0-4)

1. I hope I’m wrong, but I cannot help to wonder if this is the beginning of the end of the Jeff Fisher era in Tennessee.
   
2. Kerry Collins passed Dave Krieg for 12th place on the NFL’s all-time yardage list. To honor him, he committed two turnovers.
   
3. EXPLANATION ZONE. “This is the fourth week, and the last three I used up my excuses for what’s going on?” Titans’ LB Keith Bulluck said. Don’t worry Keith, I won’t ask what’s going on. I already know.
   

Move made:

(LW: 26)

30

(0-4)

1. The day for Bucs’ DE Gaines Adams: five tackles, one sack, two thrown-for-loss tackles, one QB hurry, one deflected pass and one fumble recovery. Finally a breakthrough…on a losing cause.
   
2. Want an encore? CB Aqib Talib delivers a career game (3 INT’s)…only to get burned on the game-deciding action.
   
3. EXPLANATION ZONE. “I bet he’d give the other three back for that one” Bucs’ head coach Raheem Morris said. Sorry coach, you’re not in a position to give away anything.
   

Move made:

(LW: 31)

31

(0-4)

1. Don’t pay attention to the final score, the game against the Giants was over the moment Jamaal Charles fumbled the opening kickoff.
   
2. As painful as it sounds, the only Kansas City player that’s reliable with the ball on his hands is Zack Greinke.
   
3. EXPLANATION ZONE. “This is obviously the worst-case scenario” Chiefs’ head coach Todd Haley said. And the end is not at sight.
   

Move made:

(LW: 30)

32

(0-4)

1. At 3:30 PM on Sunday I was picking the Chiefs as the tenants of the basement. Three hours and another shutout later, I changed my mind.
   
2. The rest is explained by the quote below.
   
3. EXPLANATION ZONE: “When the Rams first got here they won the Super Bowl — a lot of success in their first 10 years. I think our fans and the media got real spoiled” Rams’ DT Clifton Ryan said. Yes Clifton, but not because of you.
   

Move made:

(LW: 29)

In the Red Zone

Slot

Team

Three easy steps/slides to get there

1

(4-0)

1. Call it revenge; call it a fire still burning; call it whatever you want. In the end, Brett Favre got what he wanted. Here’s hoping that when all is said and done –for good–, the price was worth it.
   
2. Unlike any of his power moves, Jared Allen subtlety grabbed the spotlight by amassing a career high 4 1/2 takedowns of Aaron Rodgers.
   
3. PRAISING ZONE. By taking down the Packers, Favre became the first QB to defeat all 32 teams. Quite a feat.
   

Move made:

(LW: 1)

2

(4-0)

1. Dwight Freeney would be less menacing if he didn’t have Robert Mathis (3 sacks against Seattle)
   as his partner in crime.
   
2. The Colts won their 13th straight regular-season game, the longest current streak in the NFL. Call them the Anti-Lio…I mean, Anti-Rams.
   
   
3. PRAISING ZONE. It’s been a while since he belongs in that class, but just to make sure, Peyton Manning tied Frank Tarkenton for No. 3 on the NFL’s career list for TD passes.

Move made:

(LW: 3)

3

(4-0)

1. Steve Smith should have been treated with mittens. His 11 catches for 134 yards and two TD’s were too hot for K.C. to handle.
   
2. Bryan Kehl recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and an onside kick to start the second half. Now that’s what you want from your special-teamers.
   
3. PRAISING ZONE. The Giants completed an impressive three game road sweep. These road warriors make Mel Gibson proud.
   

Move made:

(LW: 4)

4

(4-0)

1. Safety Darren Sharper had his 10th interception return for a TD; that ranks as second best in such category in NFL history, but first in Reasons Why New Orleans Is In The Top Four.
   
2. I tried to put the Saints in front of the Giants. I decided to leave them here. In any case, I’ll get a verdict two weeks from today.
   
3. PRAISING ZONE.
   “The Saints outplayed us today,” Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan said. If you get that kind of humility from him, you’ve done something.

Move made:

(LW: 5)

5

(4-0)

1. For his career, Kyle Orton sports a 25-12 W-L record, including a 4-0 mark as Denver’s signal-caller.
   Did the Broncos actually bamboozle the Bears in the Cutler trade?
   
2. I’ve lost count of how many times Champ Bailey has affected games with a timely interception. Here’s a guess: more than a handful.
   
3. Mike Nolan does not deserve credit for Denver’s turnaround on defense. He deserves cash. And plenty.
   

Move made:

(LW:

6

(3-1)

1. With a 3-0 division record, the Niners are in the driver’s seat of the NFC West.
   
2. San Francisco scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in the same contest for the first time since ‘97. That’s also known as team effort.
   
3. Is there a better pupil for Mike Singletary than Patrick Willis? Two and a half sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown cemented his status as the teacher’s pet.
   

Move made:

(LW: 9)

7

(3-1)

1. The Bayou proved to be the scenario where the inspiration of Broadway Jose came to a halt.
   Two turnovers that resulted in touchdowns were too much to overcome.
   
   
2. New York actually let a green gang take care of its running game. Five different runners tried. None gained 50 yards.
   
3. The Jets lost the special-teams battle; they were allowed a single kick return for the game. Shrewd tactic by the Saints, ’cause that way, Leon Washington cannot make the opposing teams pay.
   

Move made:

(LW: 2)

8

(3-1)

1. The Patriots defended their court and took care of two unbeatens (Atlanta and Baltimore) in one week of work. Not bad at all.
   
2. New England safety Brandon Merriweather had the perfect name to show up for this game. In what turned out to be a slugfest, his presence (9 tackles, 2 passes defended) was undoubtedly felt.
   
3. First Matt Ryan, then Joe Flacco. Yeap, Tom Brady just won’t pass any torch. They’re gonna have to take it away from him.
   

Move made:

(LW: 13)

Inside Enemy Territory

Slot

Team

Three easy steps/slides to get there

9

(3-1)

1. One drop prevented Joe Flacco from getting his definitive come-of-age win. He doesn’t need to worry. He has the rest of the year to find another chance.
   
2. On a related note, the tide has turned for the Ravens. They ran 17 times and passed 47 times. That might not bode well in January.
   
3. Highlight of the weekend: For a change, it was hilarious to see John Harbaugh give Bill Belichick the old look-away postgame salute.
   

Move made:

(LW: 6)

10

(2-1)

1. Matt Ryan did not throw for 350 yds. and 4 TD’s in leading the Falcons to a victory.
   
2. Jason Elam did not miss the 29-yard field goal that could have sent the game to overtime.
   
3. After last week’s loss, Atlanta DID enjoy the bye week. And that’s that.

Move made:

(LW: 7)

11

(3-1)

1. If Johnny Knox is half as dangerous as Devin Hester is on special-teams play, opponents are really gonna have to pick their poison.
   
2. Adewale Ogunleye has a very good chance to surpass his five sacks from last year. He’s got 4 1/2 already.
   
3. Forget the last three victories and trust the Elway Rule: Once a QB completes a successful helicopter dive, he gets instant credibility from his teammates.
   

Move made:

(LW: 11)

12

(3-1)

1. Carson Palmer continued his Renaissance Tour with a gutty performance in Cleveland. The word on the street is that the critics loved it. Here are some of the reviews:
   
2. “The whole thing keeping me going is No. 9″, “The way he has been the last two weeks is unbelievable” — Bengals’ WR Chad Ochocinco.
   
3. “That was just Carson” – Bengals’ head coach Marvin Lewis.
   

Move made:

(LW: 12)

13

(2-2)

1. Rashard Mendenhall (165 yards, 2 TD’s and at least, 2 vicious blocks) got lucky. Not knowing his assignments only cost him demotion for a week. Billy Joe Hobert got a ticket out of town.
   
2. The Steelers held the Chargers to 16 rushing yards, while they ran for 177 yards. In any book, that’s a good trade-off.
   
3. This time, Jeff Reed did finish it off in the final minute. The Steeler Country hopes it wasn’t two games too late.
   

Move made:

(LW: 15)

14

(2-2)

1. I’m aware that Phillip Rivers is a stud. But he can’t do it on a weekly basis without some resemblance of a running game. Neither L.T. nor Darren Sproles showed up for this one.
   
2. Encouraging sign for the Bolts? Antonio Gates (9 grabs for 124 yards) seems to have left the injury trail for good.
   
3. San Diego had the ball for 19:40. Again, for this season, the only team capable of winning with that much time is Indianapolis.
   

Move made:

(LW: 10)

15

(2-1)

1. Donovan McNabb did not return this weekend to the Eagles’ starting lineup.
   
2. Philly’s defense did not surrendered 213 rushing yards in a losing cause.
   
3. After last week’s win, Philadelphia DID enjoy the bye week. And that’s that.
   

Move made:

(LW: 17)

16

(1-2)

1. Kurt Warner wasn’t forced to throw the ball 60 times to keep the Cardinals in the ballgame.
   
2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie did not make the interception on 4th and goal that sealed the victory.
   
3. After last week’s loss, Arizona DID enjoy the bye week. And that’s that.
   

Move made:

(LW: 16)