NFL Week 5 Hangover

Miami Dolphins 31 – New York Jets 27

The Dolphins and Jets seem to have a knack for making memorable Monday Night games and this one was no different. It was a battle of two of the league’s up-and-coming franchise rookie quarterbacks. It was a battle of the Wildcat vs. Rex Ryan’s blitz schemes. And for three quarters, it was a battle of two of the league’s best defenses. Then the gloves came off and they traded fourth quarter touchdown drives with the Dolphins only winning because they basically had the ball last. Oh, and Braylon Edwards is back.

Fantasy Studs: Chad Henne (20/26, 241 yards, 2 touchdowns), Ronnie Brown (21 carries, 74 yards, 2 touchdowns), Thomas Jones (13 carries, 42 yards, 2 touchdowns), Braylon Edwards (5 receptions, 64 yards, 1 touchdown)

Next Week: Buffalo (1-4) at New York Jets (3-2) - 1:15 PM; Miami (2-3), bye

New York Giants 44 – Oakland Raiders 7

It is rare when a 37-point game is not as close as the score indicates. This game was one of those times. The Giants kicked three field goals from inside the red zone, and the Raiders’ lone score should not even have counted. A few plays before it, the Giants forced a fumble and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown, but the referees blew the call, saying forward progress had been ruled despite that replays clearly showed the whistle was not blown until after the fumble was being returned. Raiders’ head coach Tom Cable has reportedly not physically abused anyone one his staff in a few weeks, though making JaMarcus Russell play every week is pretty cruel.

Fantasy Studs:Eli Manning (8/10, 173 yards, 2 touchdowns), Ahmad Bradshaw (11 carries, 110 yards, 2 touchdowns), Giants’ defense (7 points allowed, 6 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries), Lawrence Tynes (5 PAT’s, 3 FG’s – 25, 33, 37)

Next Week: New York Giants (5-0) at New Orleans (4-0), 10 AM; Philadelphia (3-1) at Oakland (1-4), 1:05 PM

Cleveland Browns 6 – Buffalo Bills 3

Derek Anderson may hold the dubious honor of playing the worst game by a winning quarterback in NFL history. Anderson completed just three passes in 17 attempts, and one of them was to a player on the Bills. So how badly does coach Eric Mangini think of Brady Quinn if he didn’t get put in there to relieve Anderson? Cleveland had just one drive of more than 23 yards.

Fantasy Studs: Browns’ defense (3 points allowed, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 2 sacks), Bills’ defense (6 points allowed, 1 interception, 1 sack)

Next Week: Cleveland (1-4) at Pittsburgh (3-2), 10 AM; Buffalo (1-4) at New York Jets (3-2) - 1:15 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers 28 – Detroit Lions 20

The Lions are back in familiar territory – a losing streak. Pittsburgh just barely pulled out a win in Detroit thanks to Ben Roethlisberger’s three touchdown passes, James Harrison’s three sacks, and Calvin Johnson missing most of the game with a knee injury in the first quarter. Pittsburgh’s defense stalled Detroit in the game’s final moments as Dante Culpepper tried to drive them in for a game-tying score.

Fantasy Studs: Ben Roethlisbereger (23/30 277 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception), Rashard Mendenhall (15 carries, 77 yards, 1 touchdown), Hines Ward (7 receptions, 85 yards, 1 touchdown), Dennis Northcutt (5 receptions, 70 yards, 1 touchdown), Steelers’ defense (13 points allowed, 7 sacks, 1 interception, 4 forced fumbles)

Next Week: Cleveland (1-4) at Pittsburgh (3-2), 10 AM; Detroit (1-4) at Green Bay (2-2), 10 AM

Dallas Cowboys 26 – Kansas City Chiefs 20

Tony Romo had huge numbers and two clutch fourth quarter touchdown drives, but most it had a lot less to do with the guy throwing the ball as it did the guy catching it. Or perhaps the guys not tackling him. Miles Austin dropped relatively easy touchdown passes early in the game, but he made up for them late, turning two seemingly insignificant pass plays into game-changers with huge runs after the catches.

Fantasy Studs:Tony Romo (20/34, 351 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 fumble lost), Matt Cassel (23/41, 253 yards, 2 touchdowns), Tashard Choice (8 carries, 92 yards, 1 touchdown), Miles Austin (10 receptions, 250 yards, 2 touchdowns), Dwayne Bowe (5 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown)

Next Week: Kansas City (0-5) at Washington (2-3), 10 AM; Dallas (3-2), bye

Minnesota Vikings 38 – St. Louis Rams 10

Days after his 40th birthday, Brett Favre showed no signs of slowing down with yet another blowout (the Vikings have the third highest margin of victory in the NFL). The Rams actually piled up more total yards on offense but gave the ball away four times (fumbling twice inside the Vikings’ 5-yard line, and throwing one interception from the Vikings 9).

Fantasy Studs: Adrian Peterson (15 carries, 69 yards, 2 touchdowns), Donnie Avery (5 receptions, 87 yards, 1 touchdown), Vikings’ defense (10 points allowed, 4 fumbles forced, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 2 sacks, 1 touchdown)

Next Week: Baltimore (3-2) at Minnesota (5-0), 10 AM; St. Louis (0-5) at Jacksonville (2-3), 10 AM

Philadelphia Eagles 33 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14

Tampa Bay’s new starting quarterback is often compared to Donovan McNabb, and this week Josh Johnson got a look at McNabb up close and personal. He apparently did not see the Philadelphia secondary very well, throwing 3 interceptions. McNabb played a near perfect game in his return to the field after breaking his ribs earlier in the season.

Fantasy Studs:Donovan McNabb (16/21, 264 yards, 3 touchdowns, 30 yards rushing), Josh Johnson (26/50, 240 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 40 yards rushing), Jeremy Maclin (6 receptions, 142 yards, 2 touchdowns), Kellen Winslow (9 receptions, 102 yards, 2 touchdowns), Eagles’ defense (14 points allowed, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 safety, 2 forced fumbles)

Next Week: Carolina (1-3) at Tampa Bay (0-5), 10 AM; Philadelphia (3-1) at Oakland (1-4), 1:05 PM

Carolina Panthers 20 – Washington Redskins 17

Midway through the third quarter, the Panthers found themselves in the familiar position of looking up at their opponents. They’d only managed two points (on a second quarter safety) and Washington had just scored a touchdown to go up 17-2. But Carolina woke up and Jake Delhomme engineered three scoring drives for 18 unanswered points to put Carolina up for good.

Fantasy Studs: Panthers’ defense (17 points allowed, 1 safety, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery)

Next Week: Carolina (1-3) at Tampa Bay (0-5), 10 AM; Kansas City (0-5) at Washington (2-3)

Cincinnati Bengals 17 – Baltimore Ravens 14

Cedric Benson became the first player to rush for 100-yards or more against the Ravens in four seasons and Carson Palmer carried the Bengals to their third straight 3-point win. The Bengals’ five games have all be decided by a touchdown or less, and they now sit atop the AFC North with wins over all three divisional rivals. And if Ray Lewis hadn’t complained about officials enough before, he can’t have liked the unnecessary roughness penalty called on him for a cheap shot he threw on Chad Ochocinco that kept Cincy’s last minute scoring drive alive.

Fantasy Studs:Carson Palmer (18/31, 271 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception), Cedric Benson (27 carries, 120 yards, 1 touchdown), Ray Rice (14 carries, 69 yards, 7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown), Chad Ochocinco (7 receptions, 94 yards)

Next Week: Baltimore (3-2) at Minnesota (5-0), 10 AM; Houston (2-3) at Cincinnati (4-1), 10 AM

Atlanta Falcons 45 – San Francisco 49ers 10

Just when you thought it was safe to call the 49ers and sure-thing NFC contender, they come out at home and allow 14 unanswered points to open the game, and 31 more to close it. Roddy White and Michael Turner lived up to their billing as fantasy stars, while the 49ers defense completely crumbled in the face of Atlanta’s balanced attack.

Fantasy Studs: Matt Ryan (22/32, 329 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception), Michael Turner (22 carries, 97 yards, 3 touchdowns), Roddy White (8 receptions, 210 yards, 2 touchdowns), Falcons’ defense (10 point allowed, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 3 sacks)

Next Week: Chicago (3-1) at Atlanta (3-1), 5:20 PM; San Francisco (3-2), bye

Seattle Seahawks 41 – Jacksonville Jaguars 0

First of all, yes. The Seahawks and Jaguars are still in the NFL. Many fans may not have been aware of this fact, and apparently neither are the Jaguars. Matt Hasselbeck returned to the Seahawks after breaking ribs earlier in the season and torched the Jags’ defense, while Seattle’s defense stopped Maurice Jones-Drew in his tracks. Seahawks fans finally got a good look at the multi-syllabic touchdown combination they were hoping for between Hasselbeck and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Fantasy Studs:Matt Hasselbeck (18/30, 241 yards, 4 touchdowns), Nate Burleson (6 receptions, 98 yards, 2 touchdowns), T. J. Houshmandzadeh (5 reception, 77 yards, 2 touchdowns), Seahawks’ defense (0 points allowed, 1 touchdown, 2 fumbles recovered, 5 sacks)

Next Week: St. Louis (0-5) at Jacksonville (2-3), 10 AM, Arizona (2-2) at Seattle (2-3), 1:05 PM

Arizona Cardinals 28 – Houston Texans 21

The only thing more potent than the combination of Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald in the second quarter of this game was that of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson in the fourth. As expected, these two offenses put on an airshow Sunday, but the story wound up being the defense. Arizona held from their own 1-yard line three times in the final minute to stone the Texans and preserve the lead that they earned on a 4th quarter interception returned for a touchdown.

Fantasy Studs: Matt Schaub (35/50, 371 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception), Kurt Warner (26/38, 302 yards, 2 touchdowns), Andre Johnson (8 receptions, 101 yards, 2 touchdowns), Larry Fitzgerald (5 receptions, 79 yards, 2 touchdowns), Anquan Boldin (7 receptions, 81 yards), Owen Daniels (8 receptions, 94 yards)

Next Week: Houston (2-3) at Cincinnati (4-1), 10 AM, Arizona (2-2) at Seattle (2-3), 105 PM

Denver Broncos 20 – New England Patriots 17

Kyle Orton had a huge fourth quarter to give the Broncos their fourth come-from-behind win of the season. New Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels beat his former mentor Bill Belichick in his first game against him. But the real winners Sunday are those who did not see the Broncos’ throwback uniforms.

Fantasy Studs:Kyle Orton (35/48, 330 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception), Tom Brady (19/33, 215 yards, 2 touchdowns), Wes Welker (8 receptions, 86 yards, 1 touchdown), Brandon Marshall (8 receptions, 64 yards, 2 touchdowns)

Next Week: Tennessee (0-5) at New England (3-2), 1:15 PM, Denver (5-0) at San Diego (2-2), Monday 5:30 PM

Indianapolis Colts 31 – Tennessee Titans 9

When you haven’t won a game yet and everything seems to be falling apart, it is just not fair to have to face Peyton Manning, who can make even the best of teams look like the J.V. Manning is now one of two quarterback to ever start a season with 5 consecutive 300-yard passing games, and the Colts have a 14-game regular season winning streak.

Fantasy Studs: Peyton Manning (36/44, 309 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception), Austin Collie (8 receptions, 97 yards, 2 touchdowns), Colts’ defense (9 points allowed, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, 1 sack)

Next Week: Tennessee (0-5) at New England (3-2), 1:15 PM; Indianapolis (5-0), bye

Originally published October 13, 2009 on SoCalSportsHub.com