Wins and Losses

 

What an amazing Sunday of games.  After ten completed games the playoff picture is starting to pan out.  There were a lot of games that were decided at the very end and the day finnished off with a bang with the night game of the Giants against the Eagles.

Starting off the day, the 2-7 Bengals hosted the 1-8 Buffalo Bills that were coming off their first win of the season against Detroit.  The Bengals looked to have this game in control early, leading 31-17 at halftime.  But, not so fast.  After a couple Carson Palmer interceptions (one by Buffalo corner George Wilson) and a Cedric Benson fumble, the Bills scored 35 points in the second half to win this one 49-31.  The Browns traveled down to Jacksonville and they didn’t hold on to a lead much better.  After Abram Elam scored a touchdown off a Jacksonville fumble, Cleveland took a 17-10 lead in the second half.  With the score tied 17-17, McCoy led the Browns downfield to a go ahead fieldgoal with almost three minutes left (too much time).  Maurice Jones-Drew took over on the last drive, turning a screen pass into a 75 yard reception, and Jacksonville won 24-20.

The Jets defeated the Browns with seconds left in overtime in Week 10.  The week before that the Lions fell in OT to this now 8-2 team.  On Sunday the Mark Sanchez led Jets came from behind once again in a thrilling 30-27 win over the snake-bitten Houston Texans.  The game winning touchdown pass at the end of regulation was caught by former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes.  The 6 yard touchdown was set up by two LaDanian Tomlinson receptions and a long Braylon Edwards catch on the game winning drive.  The Patriots also continue their domination of the NFL by defeating the Colts 31-28.  Peyton Manning threw a crucial interception late in the fourth quarter which allowed the Patriots to secure the victory.  New England is also 8-2, like the Jets, and it will be interesting to see who wins the AFC East.

In the NFC, the Vikings were pummelled at home by Green Bay 31-3.  Aaron Rodgers threw for 4 TDs and Minnesota played so bad of late that head coach Brad Childress was fired Monday.  The interim coach will be the defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.  No suprise that Tampa Bay beat San Francisco (who hasn’t this year).  But, the Bucs 21-0 victory has them at 7-3 on the season and right in the NFC playoff race along with 8-2 Atlanta and 7-3 New Orleans in the South.  Rookie LeGarrett Blount ran for 82 yards and fellow rookie receiver Mike Williams has 43 receptions on the season.  Washington got a much needed victory over Tennessee to even their record out at 5-5.  The starting QB for the Titans Vince Young will miss the rest of the season with a thumb injury, and he and head coach Jeff Fischer had another falling out after the game.

Dallas is on a two game winning streak Cowboys fans.  Unfortunately, they are 3-7 on the year.  Speaking of poor play, every team in the NFC West lost on Sunday.  Seattle is .500 at 5-5, losing to New Orleans 34-19.  They make the playoffs by default (someone has to in that division).  Like I mentioned at the top of the article, Philadelhia played the Giants on Sunday Night Football.   Even though that defensive line of New York herrassed Vick and Justin Tuck recorded 3 sacks, Vick still hasn’t thrown an interception on the season and has my vote for MVP.  This 27-17 victory by the Eagles really came down to a critical 4th and 1 conversion by LeSean McCoy on a toss sweep where he gained 51 yards.

It was a great Sunday of football!  Even though I had to take a nap after the Browns loss, I enjoyed every minute of the games.  I am ready for Turkey day and then I will be taking a nap for a different reason.  You got to love football.  Happy Holidays, everyone.