What a Sunday!

There was another slate of excellent games on Sunday.  On the holiday weekend, there was another reason to give thanks while eating leftover Thanksgiving turkey.  The Steelers played the Bills at 1:00, and led 13-0 at halftime.  Buffalo fought all the way back and made a field goal at the end of regulation to knot the score at 16 and send the game to overtime.  In sudden death, receiver Steve Johnson (who had 7 receptions on the day) dropped the winning catch in the endzone.  Pittsburgh then went on to make a field goal winning 19-16.  The Steelers are 8-3 on the season and the Bills have lost a record 3 games in OT.

The Browns also played at 1:00.  Jake Delhomme was the Browns starting quarterback, playing his old team the Carolina Panthers that started their 3rd Round draft pick Jimmy Clausen.  Cleveland got out to a 21-7 lead behind 3 rushing TDs by Peyton Hillis.  But, Carolina made it 21-13 at halftime.  Delhomme fumbled right before the half and opened the second half by throwing two interceptions (one that was returned for a TD by rookie Captain Munderlin).  Clausen played solid, completing 16-28 passes for 195 yards.  Cleveland had a late 24-23 lead, when the Panthers got the ball with about :50 left in regulation.  Clausen drove Carolina all the way down field and usually dependable Jon Kasay missed a 42 yard field goal.

The Chiefs’ Dewayne Bowe had 13 receptions and 3 TDs against the Seahawks.  He has become the single season leader in TD receptions as a Chief and they lead the AFC West at 7-4, after defeating Seattle 42-24.  The Giants came from behind to keep their playoff hopes alive against Jacksonville.  Tight end Kevin Boss caught a late TD pass making the final score 24-20.

Atlanta and Green Bay squared off for NFC supremacy.  Atlanta led 10-3 at halftime.  The Packers tied the game at 17 all.  The Falcons won this won 20-17 with a late field goal.  Aaron Rodgers threw for 344 yards in the losing effort.  But, Atlanta is now 18-1 at home as Matt Ryan as starter.  He completed 24 of 28 passes and Matt Turner ran for 110 yards.  The Bears are 8-3 and have sole possesion of the AFC North.  The Chicago defense frustrated Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick, forcing him to throw his first interception of the season.  However, mistake prone Bears quarterback Jay Cutler didn’t throw any interceptions and had 4 TDs.  All you can say is ‘Da Bears’.

Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts had a rough night against an inspired San Diego defense in Lucas Oil Stadium.  Manning threw 4 interceptions, including two which were returned for TD.  Indianapolis had virtually no rushing yards.  While, Chargers pounder Mike Tolbert went over 100 yards again.  Both these teams have 6-5 records and the Chargers are only one game back in the AFC West after winning 4 in a row.