Introduction
This week had some important showdowns that helped teams prepare for next week, when four games will feature division rivals in the top two spots of their respective divisions. Let’s take a look at some of last week’s top games:
5: Baltimore Ravens 44, San Francisco 49ers 6
In Baltimore, the Ravens, not known for having a high powered offense, scored over 40 points for the second straight game and clobbered the hapless 49ers. Ray Lewis had another big game for the Ravens, returning an interception 29 yards for a score and also had 18 total tackles, 14 of them solo.
The 49ers are now all but out of the playoff race at 5-7 and four games out of first place in the NFC West.
4: St. Louis Rams 48, Minnesota Vikings 17
In St. Louis, the Rams systematically destroyed the woeful Viking defense and scored a huge victory at home, where they are used to winning.
The Rams got another huge game from Marshall Faulk in just his second game back from injury. Faulk had three touchdowns and 108 yards for St. Loius while the Vikings had yet another good game from Pro Bowl-bound Randy Moss. Moss had 10 catches for 160 yards and a score, but Minnesota could not find the defense that led them to six straight wins to open the season.
The Rams are now tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for best record in the NFC at 9-3.
3: Philadelphia Eagles 25, Carolina Panthers 16
In Carolina, the Eagles managed to keep their position atop the NFC and keep their seven-game winning streak alive with a victory over the tough Panthers.
John Kasey, the only player left from the Panthers inaugural season and normally a dependable kicker, missed three field goals and an extra point, which ended up making the difference in the Eagles’ nine point victory.
Donovan McNabb continued to impress, throwing for 182 yards and a touchdown, he threw just one pick early in the game while Carolina got another 100-yard rushing effort from Stephen Davis.
Carolina remains two games over the Saints in the NFC South and the Eagles took a one game lead on the realing Cowboys.
2: Miami Dolphins 40, Dallas Cowboys 21
In Texas Stadium, the game of the day on Thanksgiving turned out to be not much of a game at all.
Jay Fiedler and Chris Chambers wound up schooling the Cowboy defense, connecting for three scores, all at the expense of Cowboy cornerback Mario Edwards.
The Cowboy offense was dreadful in the first half, gaining a total of just 10 yards. Troy Hambrick virtually contributed nothing to the game, just gaining three yards on two carries.
The Dallas defense, ranked No. 1 before this week, didn’t do much to help either, allowing Jay Fiedler to distribute the ball at will to his recievers. Ricky Williams also exploded for 104 yards on the ground as Miami improved to 8-4 and stayed within striking distance of New England.
1: New England Patriots 38, Indianapolis Colts 34
In Indianapolis, the Patriots, who are used to dominating the Colts, managed to squeak out a win by the skin of their teeth, literally.
If it was not for a game-saving tackle by All-Pro linebacker/defensive end Willie McGinest on 4th down on New England’s one yard line, the Patriots would not be 10-2. But to set up the breathtaking final play of the game, the Patriots had to first collapse on both offense and defense, blowing a 31-10 lead.
The Colts came back and tied the ballgame, but Patriot quarterback Tom Brady found Deion Branch in the back of the end zone to put the Patriots up by a touchdown.
The Colts got a field goal from Mike Vanderjadt, but that’s all that the Patriots defense would give up down the stretch as New England held on for the victory.
Player of the Week: Tom Brady
In a game that the Patriots had to win in order to try to get that illusive first round bye in the playoffs, and Brady came out slinging against the Colts defense.
He had a couple of early touchdowns and didn’t make the mistake that could have cost the Patriots the game.
Just like two years ago when the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI, Brady is doing just enough to win, which seems to be a formula that many quarterbacks (see Donovan McNabb, and Jay Fiedler) seem to be adopting today.
Disappointment of the Week: Mario Edwards
In a nationally televised game on a national holiday, you would think that you would at least try to show up for the game.
Edwards looked like he had had a little too much turkey earlier and got burned by Chambers early and often in the Cowboy-Dolphin game.
The Dallas defense, ranked No. 1 in the league prior to the Miami debacle, will most likely slip and show everybody just how much better the AFC is then the NFC.
Watch out for: Minnesota Vikings
This part of the column is usually reserved for players that have not gotten enough credit but have been very productive under the radar screen.
This week it is being used as an advisory for anybody in the NFC North to please watch your heads. The Vikings are tumbling at a faster pace than the rate they began the season.
The Vikings won their first six games and have now won just one game in their last six starts. The Vikings now sit at 7-5, just a game above the hungry Packers.
Even if the Vikings do make the playoffs, its all but assured that they will wind up getting destroyed by whatever lucky team draws them in the first round.
Stat of the Week: 5-0
That’s the record that the New England Patriots have against the five best teams in both the AFC and NFC. Makes you think of two years ago, huh? It looks as though Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and rest of the Patriots could very well be headed back to the Super Bowl.
