NFL Week 6 Hangover

New Orleans Saints 48 – New York Giants 27
The formerly #1 ranked Giants defense allowed the Saints to score touchdowns on five of six first half possessions, gaining over 300 yards in the process. And though the Giants kept them in check for most of the second half, this one was never in doubt once Drew Brees stepped on the field in the 1st quarter. Put the topic to bed; the Saints are the NFL’s best team.

Fantasy Studs: Drew Brees (23/30, 369 yards, 4 touchdowns), Hakeem Nicks (5 receptions, 114 yards, 1 touchdown), Marques Colston (8 receptions, 166 yards, 1 touchdown), Lance Moore (6 receptions, 78 yards, 1 touchdown), Robert Meechem (2 receptions, 70 yards, 1 touchdown)

Next Week: Saints (5-0) at Dolphins (2-3), 1:15 PM; Cardinals (3-2) at Giants (5-1), 5:20 PM

Minnesota Vikings 33 – Baltimore Ravens 31
At halftime this game was something like the bruising, defensive battle we all expected (17 total points). Then in the second half the teams combined for 47 points, scoring on 7 of the last 9 drives before Baltimore’s Steven Hauschka missed a 44-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to preserve Minnesota’s undefeated season.

Fantasy Studs: Joe Flacco (28/43, 385 yards, 2 touchdowns), Brett Favre (21/29, 278 yards, 3 touchdowns), Ray Rice (10 carries, 77 yards, 2 touchdowns, 10 receptions, 117 yards), Adrian Peterson (22 carries, 143 yards), Sydney Rice (6 receptions, 176 yards), Derrick Mason (7 receptions, 97 yards, 1 touchdown), Ryan Longwell (4/4 XP’s, 4/4 FG’s – 40, 22, 29, 31)

Next Week: Vikings (6-0) at Steelers (4-2), 10 AM; Ravens (3-3), bye 

Pittsburgh Steelers 27 – Cleveland Browns 14
So much for the smash-mouth Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 400 yards and the Steelers beat the Browns for the 12th consecutive time. The Steelers’ backfield questions went unanswered as Rashard Mendenhall got the majority of carries (17-7), but Willie Parker had a slightly better yards-per-carry average (3.7-3.6), with each losing 1 fumble on the day. Troy Polamalu had 4 tackles and an interception in his first game since being injured in Week 1 as the Steelers only allowed 1 scoring drive all game.

Fantasy Studs: Ben Roethlisberger (23/35, 417 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 1 fumble lost), Hines Ward (8 receptions, 159 yards, 1 touchdown), Santana Holmes (5 receptions, 104 yards), Heath Miller (5 receptions, 80 yards, 1 touchdown), Steelers’ defense (14 points allowed, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions)

Next Week: Vikings (6-0) at Steelers (4-2), 10 AM; Packers (3-2) at Browns (1-5), 10 AM

Carolina Panthers 28 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21
This is more like the Panthers we expected to see. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for over 250 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and the defense only allowed 1 touchdown drive. However, they also gave up 5 yards per carry and Jake Delhomme added two more interceptions to his league-leading total. On the other side, quarterback Josh Johnson was sacked 4 times and fumbled five times (losing only 1).

Fantasy Studs: DeAngelo Williams (30 carries, 152 yards, 2 touchdowns), Jonathan Stewart (17 carries, 110 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 fumble lost), Cadillac Williams (16 carries, 77 yards, 1 touchdown)

Next Week: Bills (2-4) at Panthers (2-3), 1:05 PM; Patriots (4-2) at Buccaneers (0-6), 10 AM

Kansas City Chiefs 14, Washington Redskins 6
The Redskins have not faced an opponent win a win at the time of the game all season, and they’re probably lucky to be 2-4. The Chiefs earned their first win of the season, and first of head coach Todd Haley’s career, largely by default. The closest either team got to the end zone was a safety, as no touchdowns were scored. Neither team made it past the opposing 20-yard line in the first half, and only twice in the second half. Ticket-holding fans are not expected to be reimbursed, however.

Fantasy Studs: Ryan Succop (4/4 FG’s – 39, 46, 46, 24), Chiefs’ defense (6 points allowed, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 safety, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery)

Next Week: Chargers (2-3) at Chiefs (1-5), 10 AM; Eagles (3-2) at Redskins (2-4), Monday 5:30 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars 23 – St. Louis Rams 20 (OT)
For the first time this season, the Rams were not losing at the end of regulation. But they were after the overtime. The Rams scored a season-high 20-points, but had no answer for Maurice Jones-Drew on defense (not many teams do) and gave up a 36-yard field goal on the opening possession of the overtime.

Fantasy Studs: Maurice Jones-Drew (33 carries, 133 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 fumble lost), Mike Sims-Walker (9 receptions, 120 yards), Torry Holts (5 receptions), 101 yards

Next Week: Indianapolis (5-0) at St. Louis (0-6), 10 AM; Jacksonville (3-3), bye

Houston Texans 28 – Cincinnati Bengals 17
Matt Schaub had seen the Bengals win one tight game after another this season and he decided to put this one away early. Shaub threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns as the Bengals ran out of 4th quarter magic. Their three 4th quarter possessions resulted in a punt, a fumble, and an interception.

Fantasy Studs: Matt Schaub (28/40, 392 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception), Andre Johnson (8 receptions, 135 yards), Steve Slaton (6 receptions, 102 yards, 1 touchdown, 10 carries, 43 yards, 1 fumble lost), Owen Daniels (7 receptions, 78 yards, 2 touchdowns), Chad Ochocinco (5 receptions, 103 yards)

Next Week: 49ers (3-2) at Texans (3-3), 10 AM; Bears (3-2) at Bengals (4-2), 1:15 PM

Green Bay Packers 26 – Detroit Lions 0
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers jumped out to a quick start and then threw it into autopilot for the final three quarters. Rodgers threw two first quarter touchdown passes, but the Packers did not get back into the end zone for the rest of the day. Green Bay’s defense had little trouble with Detroit’s back-up quarterbacks and held them to just 105 yards passing in 25 combined attempts. Detroit gained only 149 total yards all day.

Fantasy Studs: Packers’ defense (0 point allowed, 3 interceptions, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles), Aaron Rodgers (29-37, 358 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 1 fumble lost), Ryan Grant (24 carries, 94 yards), Donald Driver (7 receptions, 107 yards), Mason Crosby (2/2 XP’s, 4/4 FG’s – 46, 28, 31, 26)

Next Week: Packers (3-2) at Browns (1-5), 10 AM; Lions (1-5), bye

Arizona Cardinals 27 – Seattle Seahawks 3
The Seahawks probably saw this game as a chance to make a statement in the relatively weak NFC West. They made one: “We’re not going to win.” The Seahawks managed just 128 total yards (14 rushing!) against the resurgent Cardinals and Kurt Warner moved into a tie as the fastest quarterback to 30,000 yards in history. The Cards are out to prove once again that they can win without any semblance of a running game.

Fantasy Studs: Kurt Warner (32/41, 276 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception), Larry Fitzgerald (13 receptions, 100 yards, 1 touchdown), Steve Breaston (7 receptions, 77 yards, 1 touchdown), Cardinals’ defense (3 points allowed, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, 5 sacks)

Next Week: Cardinals (3-2) at Giants (5-1), 5:20 PM, Seahawks (2-4), bye

Oakland Raiders 13 – Philadelphia Eagles 9
Is there such a thing as momentum in sports? The Raiders had lost their last three games, scoring a total of 16 points. The Eagles had won their last two, scoring a total of 67 points. Philadelphia had more yards of offense in Week 5 than Oakland had had in Week 4 and 5 combined. And yet, here we are with the Raiders winning despite JaMarcus Russell continuing to be awful and the Raiders continuing to have no running game. The Eagles ran only 12 running plays against the leagues 4th worst run defense.

Fantasy Studs: Zach Miller (6 reception, 139 yards, 1 touchdown), Justin Fargas (23 carries, 87 yards), DeSean Jackson (6 receptions, 94 yards), Brian Westbrook ( 9 receptions, 91 yards), Raiders’ defense (9 points allowed, 6 sacks)

Next Week: Jets (4-2) at Raiders (2-4), 1:05 PM; Eagles (3-2) at Redskins (2-4), Monday 5:30 PM

New England Patriots 59 – Tennessee Titans 0
One might wonder why Tom Brady threw 34 times in a 59 point blowout, or why he was in the game to start the second half…and still throwing. But this isn’t pee-wee football, and it is up to the defense to stop them if they don’t like it. Brady was nearly perfect for the Pats, while Vince Young was 0-2 with an interception in just over one quarter of work.

Fantasy Studs: Tom Brady (29/34, 380 yards, 6 touchdowns), Chris Johnson (17 carries, 128 yards), Lawrence Maroney (16 carries, 123 yards, 1 touchdown), Wes Welker (10 receptions, 150 yards, 2 touchdowns), Randy Moss (8 receptions, 129 yards, 3 touchdowns), Patriots’ defense (0 points allowed, 6 fumbles forced, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions)

Next Week: Patriots (4-2) at Buccaneers (0-6), 10 AM; Titans (0-6), bye

Buffalo Bills 16 – New York Jets 13 (OT)
Mark Sanchez is starting to look more like Matt Leinart and less like Carson Palmer. Sanchez is now tied for the league lead in interception, after five of his passes ended up in the hands of guys in the wrong colored shirts. The Jets’ win over New England and 4-0 start seem like distant memories as they now sit just ½ game ahead of Miami for third in the AFC East, already having lost to the Dolphins head-to-head. Buffalo’s 2nd win of the season could best be described as an accident after they stumbled on offense all game and their defense allowed over 300 yards on the ground.

Fantasy Studs: Thomas Jones (22 carries, 210 yards, 1 touchdown), Leon Washington (15 carries, 99 yards), Bills defense (13 points allowed, 5 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack), Rian Lindell (1/1 XP’s, 3/4 FG’s – 33, 25, 47)

Next Week: Jets (4-2) at Raiders (2-4), 10 AM; Bills (2-4) at Panthers (2-3), 1:05 PM

Atlanta Falcons 21 – Chicago Bears 14
The Bears turned the ball over 3 times inside the 10-yard line, once on downs with under one minute to play. Jay Cutler and Matt Ryan traded fourth quarter touchdown drives however and it looked like Cutler might have one more in him to tie it up, but a false start penalty on Orlando Pace turned a 4th-and-1 into a 4th-and-6 with under a minute to go, and Cutler couldn’t convert. Cutler led the Bears in rushing as Matt Forte was quieted once again, and held to 23 yards on 15 carries, with 2 fumbles.

Fantasy Studs: Jay Cutler (27/43, 300 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions)

Next Week: Bears (3-2) at Bengals (4-2), 1:15 PM; Falcons (4-1) at Cowboys (3-2), 1:15 PM

Denver Broncos 34 – San Diego Chargers 23
If their offenses aren’t going to get the job done, Eddie Royal and Darren Sproles will take things into their own hands. Royal had a punt and kick returned for touchdowns and Sproles took back a punt as well. LaDainian Tomlinson was ineffective once again and the Chargers’ entire offensive hopes fell on the shoulder of Philip Rivers. Kyle Orton was his typical unspectacular self, and did what he seems to always do – win.

Fantasy Studs: Kyle Orton (20/29, 229 yards, 2 touchdowns), Philip Rivers (20/33, 274 yards, 1 touchdown), Tony Scheffler (6 receptions, 101 yards, 1 touchdown), Eddie Royal (8 total returns, 235 yards, 2 touchdowns), Darren Sproles (8 total returns, 226 yards, 1 touchdown)

Next Week: Chargers (2-3) at Chiefs (1-5), 10 AM; Broncos (6-0), bye

Originally published on October 20 on SoCalSportsHub.com.