Carnage’s Long and Boring Week Review [Week 7]

   Welcome to
Carnage’s Long and Boring Review – Week 7 Version!  This week I intend to post a
long message that is…well…boring and addresses some of the same statistical
trends that I have posted about every week.

 
As I’ve noted my
friends and I get together and watch various games while others camp out on
laptops tracking their fantasy scores.  My wife looked at me and said “Honey, is
Trent Dilfer really really good?”  Some of the other guys snickered…but I was
confused.   I KNOW for a fact that my wife knows the basics of Trent Dilfer. 
“Honey, don’t you remember…guy that got cut after winning the Super Bowl for
the Ravens and all that….”  I said.  She looked at me and said “No, this new
one, the one that plays for the 49ers….”  “Honey, it’s the same guy……you
do understand that right?” “Impossible.” She said.  “Coach Nolan wouldn’t be
foolish enough to call 44 pass plays while only giving Frank Gore the ball if
it’s THAT Trent Dilfer….would he?”

    Awesome.  She was
playing stupid girl and caught us all hook line and sinker.  “You are just mad
that you are going to lose because Frank Gore isn’t racking up the yardage” a
friend said.  “True enough.  I won’t hide that….but it just seems that teams
that don’t hand the ball off always lose.  Why don’t they hand the ball off
more?”  I considered accusing her of reading the long and boring week in review
columns, but she has no idea where I post this stuff.

   See, every week I
run the stat and it’s the same.  The team that runs the ball a higher percentage
of the time…..wins!  Out of the 13 games thus far this week, only one winning
team had a lower percentage of rushing plays than the team they beat.  The team
was the Cowboys who beat the Vikings.  The Bears/Eagles game was very very
close, with the Bears actually having a 1% higher rush percentage, but that was
a miniscule enough amount that I just considered them even.  On average, winning
teams came out with a very balanced attack, rushing 48% of the time while losing
teams rushed a mere 38% of their plays.   NFL Coaches!  Why have you not figured
out what a GIRL (Well, Woman….but it’s funnier to say Girl) has figured out? 
Running the ball is important to winning football games!

  One fun stat that
is pretty meaningless but I still found interesting is that the losig teams
actually ran more plays than the winners….with winners totaling 794’s take 
and losers 823. 

Anyway, let us take a
closer look at some of the action.

Lions over Buccaneers
or “How to get totally dominated on paper and still win!”

I believe at one
point that the Time of Possession was something like…Tampa Bay 24:00, Detroit
6:00.  The first half of this game felt like Detroit NEVER EVEN HAD THE BALL! 
In fact, I was given the impression that the Lions kept doing three and outs
while the Bucs were romping up and down the field at will.  End ToP: TB: 35:50
DT: 24:10. First downs: TB: 27 DT: 17. Third Down Conversions. TB: 57% DT: 37% 
Total Yards. TB: 422 DT: 278.  Total Plays. TB: 77 DT: 47…..and then the Big
one.  Fumbles-Lost: TB: 2-2.  DT: 0-0 (Neither team had an INT). 

Detroit’s offensive
game plan is becoming more and more balanced, and with Kevin Jones back in, I
see this trend continuing.  The Lions were able to win a game without Jon Kitna
throwing the ball 60 times.  This is good news for this team indeed!   Jones’
stat line?  Meh, 15 carries for 76 yards and 1 touchdown…but it meant so much
more than that.  Jon Kitna played a mistake free and precise game, completing 16
of 20 passes while they plugged away slowly.  The defense stepped up when it had
to with Dwayne White, little known Defensive End, coming up big with three
sacks.  Three sacks is all you will see but I felt that the Lions finally were
getting to a quarterback and a semi-regular basis.  Calvin Johnson showed
flashes of brilliant on a 30 yard romp into the end zone.  Jon Kitna’s 10 game
win prediction isn’t looking so insane…..

Tampa Bay has got to
be wondering what happened.  They were rolling along.  Jeff Garcia completed 37
of 45 passes en route to 300+ yards and two TDs.  The running game was going. 
Third string back Earnest Graham had nearly 190 total yards.  The high flying
Jon Kitna show was being held mostly in check…but this team could not get it
done on the far side of the field.  Sure, red zone efficiency was high, but that
little patch of territory from the 50 to the 20 was hard for them to cover. 

Statistical Notes:
Castoff quarterback Jon Kitna and Castoff Quarterback Jeff Garcia combined for
53 completions on 65 attempts with no INT’s.  81% completions out of two middle
thirties aged journeymen?  I like both of these guys.  They play smart and play
hard.  Earnest Graham caught 13 balls.  I know the single game record for
receptions belongs to Terrell Owens, with 20.  What is the record for Running
backs?  13 is an awful lot.  Ike Hilliard was only 8 yards shy of his second 100
yard game this season.  Prior to this year, his last 1000 yard game in week 8 of
the 2003 season. 

Titans over Houston
or “OH MY GOD!  THAT WAS SIMPLY INSANE!”

Vince Young on the
Sidelines.  Meh.  Andre Johnson still on the sidelines.  Meh.  Matt Schaub gets
knocked out of the game.  Meh…now this game is looking really dull.  We
weren’t even flipping over to this game after awhile, once we realized in one
half of football the Texans had about 30 yards of total offense.  Parts I did
see.  Matt Schaub gets hit by two Titans.  He fumbles but manages to get it
right back, but he’s hurt!  In comes Sage Rosenfels to the rescue.  Sage comes
out, looking deep on his first play!  Intercepted.  Pick 6.  Schaub comes back
in and gets leveled on a questionable hit by Albert Haynesworth.  To lighten the
mood on this particular play, here was the commentary, on TV and amongst my
friends.  “And Matt Schaub just had a 300 pound man come down hard on him.” -
TV.  “And he can’t get up from that?  Big deal!  That happens to my wife 3 or 4
times a week!” – A very large friend of mine. 

The mental image
shuddered off…of both my friend’s comment and the play…..the Texans/Titans
game went onto the back burner.  At 32-7..I was disappointed that this wasn’t a
better game.  Oh well.  Then….things started to happen.  Suddenly Sage
Rosenfels has marched it downfield twice to cut the lead to 32-22.  We have a
ball game!  The Texans come up with a big stop…and then the Punt is muffed! 
Eeek!  What happens?  The Titans continue to play conservative and the Texans
come up with another big stop.  Rosenfels immediately gives the ball away.  A
field Goal, a touchdown, an onside kick, and another touchdown later, the score
is somehow 36-35 Houston!  With under a minute to go, Kerry Collins leads his
team down to the 11 yard line and Rob Bironas kicks his EIGHTH Field goal of the
game. EIGHTH.

I’m not even going to
try to sort out this madness.  Although one thing sticks out in my mind.  Down
36-35 with 57 seconds left, does this Titans team have a chance with Vince Young
at the helm?  He’s a great athlete and good team leader, but he really is not
that polished of a passer yet.  Yeah, it was only 2 passes that he needed to
complete…but does Vince Young complete them?  Maybe, maybe not.  It’s just an
interesting thing to consider.

Statistical Notes: 
Sage Rosenfels, during his storied NFL career, threw 4 touchdown passes in his
best season.  He threw 4 touchdown passes on Sunday.  Rob Bironas, the first
kicker to kick 8 field goals in a game, doubled his season field goal number. 
Kicking Eight in a game situation is really cool.  Good job, Rob.  Wide Receiver
Kevin Walter had 456 yards in his first 59 Pro games.  In seven games this year
he has 435.  Kerry Collins won his first game as a starter since week 11 of the
2005 season.  LenDale White and Roydell Williams both broke the century mark for
the first time in their careers.

Patriots over
Dolphins or “Maybe 19-0 is possible…..”

I don’t even know how
to describe the madness that is the New England Patriots.  Yeah, this game was
against the lowly Dolphins, but still.. this team simply looks unstoppable.  Tom
Brady’s offensive line is playing well enough to allow him to read a book while
in the Pocket.  Randy Moss can catch any ball thrown in his general
direction….even into double coverage.  Wes Welker is worth the pick that the
Patriots gave up.  Dante Stallworth is the best #3 WR of all time.  The Dolphins
were able to put up some yards on the Patriots defense, but I simply do not
think that it matters.    I mean…that stat line.  21/25 for 354 yards, 6 TD’s
and 0 Interceptions.  He could have had 10 TD’s if he wanted.  Tom Brady is
accurate, calm, and surrounded by a fantastic team.  They still have some
regular season contests that could be tough (Colts, Steelers, Ravens to name a
few) but I think it will be hard to stop this juggernaut.  I did not even feel
remotely close to the same about the 2005, 14-2 Colts.

I never thought Tom
Brady was quite the caliber of Peyton Manning.  Yeah, he had he titles, he
played solid games, but I didn’t think he was capable of Manning like
numbers…..never mind the fact that Deion Branch was the best receiver he had
played with prior to this year.  Now I wonder…..if Brady had guys like Marvin
Harrison and Reggie Wayne is entire career while Manning had guys like David
Patten and Reche Caldwell…how things would have turned out. 

The Dolphins defense
got scorched, but their offense played well enough, I guess.  None of it
mattered.  They were never in this game.  Never.  I think the Dolphins are
seriously one loss and one Patriots win away from being eliminated officially
from the division title race.  Heck, The Patriots could have the division locked
up by week 10, with the Bills having only 2 wins and the Jets staying at 0….

Statistical Notes: 
Ronnie Brown, the sole bright spot of the Dolphins season….went over 100 yards
from scrimmage for the fifth week in a row.  Tom Brady is on pace for 4800 yards
passing, 62 TD’s and 5 INTs.  Wes Welker took over the team lead in receptions
at 47 and is on pace for 107. Randy Moss is on pace for 1700 yards and 22 TDs or
something insane. 

How much is too
much? 

I put these games back to back (Titans/Texans Patriots/Dolphins) to address the
question of running up the score.  As you may have guessed, with 1 minute
remaining in the Titans game, the Titans were wishing they took more than a 25
point lead into the fourth quarter, no doubt.  A lot of people have been bashing
the Patriots for unsportsmanlike running up of the score, but I have to
disagree.  The Patriots “Ran up the score” early enough in the game where it was
feasible that the Dolphins COULD mount a comeback.  If the Patriots would have
stopped playing after they hit 35 points….this game may have been a close one
down the stretch!  The Dolphins did make it to 28 and never laid down to die
over the course of this game. 

This is the NFL.  Ask the Houston Oilers if their lead against the Buffalo Bills
was secure in the Championship game all those years ago.  If you smell blood
with a lot of time to go, you try to put the team away.  Better early than
late.  Better when Brady is hot rather than after Brady sits on the sidelines
for an hour. Three touchdowns even in the early fourth quarter is not
necessarily a safe lead. 

That, and if I am a
Miami Dolphin and Tom Brady doesn’t bother to suit up in the second half, I feel
even more disrespected.  If a team only takes you seriously for a half of
football, I think that is a slap in the face.

Giants over 49ers or
“The Trent Dilfer Aerial Circus”

I already addressed
this game earlier, showing that in this game in particular my wife seems to have
a better grasp of coaching concepts than some NFL coaches.  Why do you come out
of the gates firing the ball around with Trent Dilfer when it has already proven
to be less than effective?  I just don’t understand.  Frank Gore was plugging
away with a 6.3 YPC. breaking some runs yet it was determined by Mike Nolan that
having Dilfer throw the ball around was the better play.  Yup, The Dilfer that
threw 2 picks.  The Dilfer that was sacked 6 times.  The Dilfer that lost 2
fumbles….One of which led to seven points the other way.   After a 2-0 start,
the 49ers find themselves at 2-4.  The last three games, Trent Dilfer is
averaging 30 passes a game whereas Frank Gore is averaging 15 runs.  I really
cannot fathom why they are seeing their season slip away.

The Giants continue
their winning ways.  Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress cooled down this week to
let the defense and Brandon Jacobs take center stage.  The front seven is really
really getting after the QB this year.  They are averaging an incredible 4 sacks
per game.  Brandon Jacobs put in a true workman like performance, going over the
century mark, averaging 6 yards a carry while his longest run was only 12
yards.  Grinding the ball away.   After starting the opposite of the
49ers…0-2…they have gotten their house together, won five straight, and are
definitely looking like a wildcard team at least…and could push the Cowboys if
the ‘Boys struggle.

Statistical Notes:
The numbers are absolutely staggering here.  The 49ers are 9-14 going back to
last year.   Frank Gore has 11 games with 18 plus rushes.  They are 9-2 in those
games.  They are 0-14 if Gore rushes the ball less than 19 times.  0-14.  That’s
right.  ZERO wins.   For the record, one of the games they lost with Gore
getting 18+…..Gore got exactly 18.  Is it not obvious?  Rush Gore more, you
win.  I can’t believe this has gone overlooked.  In the past three years with
Tiki Barber in the backfield.  Giants RB’s averaged 156 yards of total
production each game.  They were averaging 150 yards per game going into this
week and got 166 yards.  Tiki Averaged 5.0 YPC over those three years.  Giants
backs this year are averaging 4.74 YPC.  Tiki Barber was a great player, and I
did not think his production could be soaked up by committee, but the Giants
have managed it.

Redskins over
Cardinals or “How did we lose?  We dominated them V. 2.0″

By the numbers. 
(Arizona First, Washington Second)  Time of possession: (34:42 – 25:18) First
downs (19 – 10) Third down Efficiency: (38% – 33%) Net yards (364 – 160) Average
per rush (2.8 – 2.6) Average per passing play (6.5 – 4.6) Turnovers (3 – 1). 
Yup, despite dominating in all aspects of the game, the Redskins took
opportunities and ran with them, and in the case of London
Fletcher-Baker…literally.  This game was a defensive struggle.  The Redskins
defense struggle until forcing turnovers, and the Cardinals defense dominated
the offensive line.   Clinton Portis couldn’t get it going on the ground.  Jason
Campbell didn’t get it done through the air.   The Redskins will take a win any
way they can get it to try to keep pass in the now potent NFC East.

The Cardinals were
happy to get Kurt Warner back, no doubt.  He played well…with the exception of
the 2 INTs he threw.   The Redskins D did well in stuffing Edgerrin James. 
Anquan Boldin didn’t seem able to get open deep but played well in the Red Zone,
helping the Cards get in twice.  The Cardinals drop to 3-4….only 1 game behind
division leading Seattle. 

Statistical Notes: 
Anquan Boldin had 8 catches for 29 yards. A paltry 3.5 Yards per reception
compared to his 13.5 career average.  Edgerrin James and Clinton Portis…two of
the most talented backs in the league, combined for a total of 45 carries and
126 yards….a paltry 2.8 YPC.

Saints over Falcons
or “Maybe we can make a run at this thing yet….” 

The Saints did not
exactly beat a tough opponent….but a victory in the NFC South is a victory. 
Left for dead at 0-4, they have now won two straight and are only two games
behind the division leading Panthers who are stuck with David Carr and Vinny
Testeverde for the duration.  Drew Brees looked a lot better than he did the
first four weeks, although he still threw an interception.  Reggie Bush did not
put up big numbers, but he showed some serious heart getting into the end zone
despite having three or four Falcons defenders on top of him.  Most importantly,
Drew Brees had time to throw the ball.  The Falcons failed to register a single
sack…and that bodes well for the future.

The Saints front line
had no such trouble getting to the quarterback.  Despite Byron Leftwich looking
like he could be a good thing for the Falcons, coming out of the gate hot, the
lack of protection offered had him harassed all day while the Saints registered
three sacks.  Leftwich left the game replaced by….Joey Harrington.  The
Falcons O-Line is not playing well, and Warrick Dunn once again failed to find
any running room.  I honestly think the Falcons were a team headed for a
meltdown, even before the Michael Vick debacle.  Alge Crumpler has been hurt or
absent from the games almost the entire season.  One bright spot is that Roddy
White….who had only 2 100 yard games in his first two season, registered his
second of the year this weekend and is developing into a fine receiver.  

Statistical Notes: 
Jerious Norwood, getting half the carries this season the Warrick Dunn has, is
averaging nearly 6 yards per carry while Dunn is stuck in first gear and is
hitting 3.2 YPC.  Age could be taking it’s toll on Dunn, who has had a great
career.  The Falcons may want to contemplate some changes as far as starting
running backs go.  Roddy White has already surpassed prior season highs in
receptions and yardage. Reggie Bush is on pace to break his mark of 88
receptions last year…and could go over 100.  The Saints are now 4.0 in games
where Reggie Bush rushes the ball 18 or more times, despite Bush’s low YPC mark.

Bills over Ravens or
“The Upset everyone called!”

Everywhere I
looked…..everyone was expecting this game to be an upset.  And why not?  The
Ravens are really banged up.  The most important injuries at this point are to
Steve McNair and Todd Heap.  Those two are badly missed by this offense.  
Thanks mostly to Willis McGahee, the Ravens did move the Chains a bit and
managed to get into the end zone twice, but at 4-3 they can’t keep relying on
Kyle Boller behind center.  The Ravens Defense, also banged up, managed to keep
the Bills out of the zone for the most part and forced them to settle for four
field goals….but that was still too much for the Ravens offense.  The Ravens
really need to crank it up if they expect to make it to the playoffs.  They
still have to face the Steelers twice, the Patriots, the Chargers, and the
Colts.  Ouch.  Their seven opponents have a total of 13 wins….three of which
are against them!

This Bills team,
despite being 2-4…may not be as bad as people think.  Their first six games
were Broncos, at Steelers, at Patriots, Jets, Cowboys, Ravens.  Notice a trend? 
4 playoff teams from last year and the AFC Championship representatives from two
years ago.  They lost games to the Cowboys and Broncos by 1 point each.  If they
had won even one of those two games they would be at 3-3, with the toughest part
of their schedule done, and looking primed to try for a playoff run.   Lee Evans
finally had a decent game and almost eclipsed the century mark.  Marshawn Lynch
kept grinding it out against a tough Ravens D.  His YPC this year hasn’t been
good, but he is a talented guy that is on pace for 10 or so touchdowns and can
carry the load.

Statistical Notes: 
Derrick Mason caught 8 more balls and is on pace for a 110 catch season.  
Willis McGahee, I’ll grudgingly admit, could flirt with 1500 yards.  With 98
yards this game, Lee Evans almost matched his season total of 113 yards. 

Every week I comment
on the production of defenses in regards to scoring points. This week was no
exception.  Defense/Kick/Punt return units put up 11 touchdowns this week and
one safety.  Teams are really getting a lot of production out of defenses this
week.  Indeed the Redskins, Bengals, and Titans all won by low margins where the
difference was in fact less than the number of points put up by their D/ST’s
units.  I think a few things have been contributing this year.  1.  Horrible
Special Teams coverage.  There has been a lot of yardage chewed up by Punt/Kick
returns and plenty of TD’s scored.  2.  Poor protection for QBs.  Every week it
seems a QB gets hit, fumbles, and the ball is taken the other way.  3.  Lack of
Offensive players that know how to react to an INT.  Granted, some pick six
plays are ball hawks that jump in front and are just gone.  Others it seems, are
cases where offensive players don’t know how to play D.   I of course, have to
talk about my Packers at least ONCE in this column.  Back in 1995….I can’t
remember the opponent, but a Brett Favre pass was picked off and the defensive
player looked like he was going to get in for a touchdown.  Robert Brooks, Wide
Receiver, never gave up on the play and chased the defensive guy all the way to
the goal line.  Just before crossing, Robert Brooks punched the ball out of the
defenders hands and it sailed out the back of the end zone.  Brooks not only
prevented a touchdown by the other team after an INT…..he GOT THE BALL BACK
for the Packers.  Offensive players, it is YOUR job to play D when your QB has a
miscue. Some Defensive players slow down if they think they are in the open and
start to high step….not taking great care of the ball.  Run until the player
is absolutely across the goal line.  The game can depend on it.

Chiefs over Raiders
or “No, that was someone else that said the Chiefs would be lucky to win three
games this year….”

Early in the season,
I was really down on Kansas City.  I am not a huge Larry Johnson fan and the
team looked in disarray.  Suddenly the Chiefs find themselves a half game up on
the Chargers and on top of the AFC West!  Who’d of thunk it?  This was a huge
game for both of these teams.  A win for the Raiders would have left the
standings at 3-3, 3-3, 3-4, 3-4, finding themselves only a half game out.  I
wouldn’t say the Chiefs looked terribly impressive, but at least Larry Johnson
seems to be back on track.   Donnie Edwards has played really well for this
team, and Defensive end Jared Allen has quietly become a really solid end,
pouring on two more sacks to bring his season total to 8. 

Priest Holmes of
course, against all odds, made his return to the field this week.  Stat line?  4
carries for 9 yards.  Nothing special, but a feel good story.  I personally am
pulling for the 34 year old to have a few decent (By decent I’m thinking 50
yards) games this season.  He overcame astonishing odds to get to where he is.

The Raiders seem to
be waning fast after a two game winning streak.  The Rushing game, which had
been working out so well for them, has been on a two week hiatus.  I have to
wonder if Lamont Jordan isn’t still bothered by his back.  After seeing Justin
Fargus romp for 180 yards one week, he probably doesn’t want to take the chance
of losing his job by sitting out a few weeks, but it may be for the best..  By
the numbers, Daunte Culpepper looked like he had a solid game, but taking away
the one long late game strike to Jerry Porter and the 9 screen/check down passes
he threw….he really didn’t play that well.  Their Pass defense is fairly solid
but it is starting to be clear that they cannot stop the run, allowing a fourth
player to rush for 100 yards on them.  I think this team is headed in the right
direction, but it is at least a year, probably two, away.  I think this loss
starts the Jamarcus Russell Watch.

Statistical Notes: 
Prior to this week, Justin Fargus and Lamont Jordan had combined for 740 or so
rushing yards on 5.0 YPC.  One of them had 100 yard games in weeks 2, 3, and 4
and Jordan had 150 Total yards in week 1.  This weeks line?  Jordan and Dominic
Rhodes combined for 20 carries and 50 yards…A 2.5 YPC average.  Ouch.  Number
of 100 yard rushing games in the first seven weeks of 2006 for Larry Johnson? 
4.  Number of 100 yard rushing games for Larry Johnson in the first seven weeks
of 2006?  3.  Not a big difference.  Like LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson got
off to a slowish start last season.  He finished with (7) 100 yard rushing
performances in his last nine games.  LJ and LT fantasy owners rejoice!  Each
player gets another crack at the Raiders. Tony Gonzales continues to post
numbers.  Despite starting to slide down the Fantasy Rankings for Tight Ends,
Gonzo is on pace for one of his best seasons yet.  He’s on pace for 80 catches
and 1200 yards….Totals which would be his second highest season in catches and
third in yardage. 

Seahawks over Rams or
“Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”

The Seahawks really
needed this game.  They have not looked good the past two weeks and the Rams
looked prime to make a good punching bag to get back on track…..but Marc
Bulger was returning!  This would be a game, right?  Nope.  I don’t think
Michael Vick could avoid the plethora of defenders pouring into the backfield. 
Bulger was sacked 7 times, lost the ball twice, threw three interceptions, and
was running for his life most of the day.  Steven Jackson was still sidelined
and Brian Leonard found no room to run.  Taking away a single 17 yard game,
Leonard put up 27 carries on 11 yards.  This team is hopeless.  Reports this
Monday claim Bulger was seen at Steven Jackson’s house.  Steven Jackson was
allegedly throwing himself down the basement stairs repeatedly while Marc Bulger
watched while smacking his ribs with a large wooden mallet, trying to rebreak
them.  They figure that such self mutilating acts were certainly safer than
lining up behind the turnstiles that have been installed to act as Offensive
Line men.

I admit, I didn’t
watch a second of this game but with Shaun Alexander and his recent poor
running, 19 carries for 47 yards sounds like he didn’t really rectify the
situation.  Matt Hasselbeck also completed just over 50% of his passes.  This
offense is looking questionable lately. 

Statistical Notes: 
Alexander, a career 4.5 YPC runner, has 185 yards on 69 carries for an average
of 2.7 over his last four games. That’s not so good.  Tory Holt, used to piling
up the yards, is now 3/4 of a season worth of games removed from his last 100
yard outing.  Marc Bulger, who appeared to be on the cusp of greatness last
season with 24 TD’s to 8 INTs has 2 TD’s and 7 Int’s this season.

Bears of Eagles or
“Brian Greise did what?”

With 1:52 left in the
game and the Bears needing a touchdown to go ahead, the Eagles punter pins them
down on their own 3 yard line.  Game over.  The Bears havn’t scored a touchdown
all day, no way they go 97 yards to win this…..right?  Out of nowhere Greise
goes 7/11 and marches the team down the field to win the ball game.   Unreal. 
This win keeps the Bears season somewhat alive, although I don’t really think
they are good enough to really mount a huge comeback, it gives them hope.  And
although Greise played very well this day, I still have to question what the
Bears are doing throwing the ball 41 times in a game.  The offensive line and
Cedric Benson are probably the ones to blame for this, but still….  My hat
does go off to Tommie Harris, clearly not 100 percent, still getting in for two
sacks on Donovan McNabb.

What is wrong with
the Eagles?  I can’t figure it out.  This team has the talent…they just can’t
put it together.  The post season is falling farther and farther behind and they
just can’t seem to do anything about it.  For the second straight week, they
stunk in the red zone, scoring once in four trips. 

Statistical Notes:
Brian Westbrook has put up 100 yards of total offense in 13 of the last 14 games
he has played in, and 35 times in his last 46 games.   While it seemed
impossible for Cedric Benson to perform worse than his season average in YPC, he
did.  The 3.1 YPC runner wooed us with 17 carries for 46 yards and a strikingly
bad 2.7 YPC average.  I don’t know how long until Garrett Wolf or Adrian
Peterson becomes the man here…..but I would think sooner than later.  You
cannot continue to have your featured back play like that.

Cowboys over Vikings
or “Psssst, Brad Childress, you should really give the ball to Adrian Peterson
more.”

I really don’t know
what is going on inside Brad Childress’s head.  The rest of the NFL loving world
knows Peterson absolutely exploded last week and could be one of the most
talented runners in the NFL.  As an encore, Childress gives him……12
carries.  Oh, and 5 of those carries came in the first drive.  You know, the one
that they scored on?  The Vaunted Vikings run D finally met a foe it had
problems with in the form of Marion Barber III.  Man, as I said last week, that
guy runs hard.  Tavaris Jackson is really struggling.  I think they must stay
with him for awhile, but I don’t know how much longer they can do so.  Two
passes completed to wide receivers?  None to Tight Ends?  Oh boy.

The Cowboys put up
yards in bunches but still found themselves down come the end of the first
half.  Tony Romo didn’t get as great of protection as usual, but despite the
sacks and harassment, he played brilliantly.  Jason Witten is coming into his
own as an elite tight end. 

Statistical Notes: 
With his 10 catch performance, Jason Witten is on pace for 92 catches and 1200
yards.  Not bad for a tight end, I’d say.  Terrell Owens now has 18 touchdowns
in 23 games. Marion Barber III now has 22 touchdowns in the last 23 games.

That’s about it for
this week.  The Bengal’s beat the Jets or something, too, but I don’t really
know what went on in that game.  Gearing up right now for Colts and Jaguars. 
Until next week…