Giants Defense Finally Comes to Play
With Mathias Kiwanuka out of with a neck injury the G-Men still managed to man up and total ten sacks against the Bears high octane offense in week four. Despite winds up to 14 miles per hour and a little rain throughout the entire game the Giants were due for a big win. The Giants had an eye opening 9 sacks in the first half and sent Jay Cutler out of the game with a concussion. “It is fun watching our defense when they are doing that,” said Eli Manning. “When they get the sacks, it gets the crowd fired up. They set the tempo early on in the game, played outstanding. We had to help them out sometime and we did a decent job.” Backup Qb Todd Collins was also sent out of the game with a stinger with four minutes to go in the game where Qb Caleb Hanie finished the game. “We tried everything we could,” Bears center Olin Kreutz said. “Give the Giants all the credit in the world. They played lights out tonight.” With Giants at a record of 2-2 they go on to play the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium next weekend, looking for their third win.
Cincinnati Bengals get upset by the Cleveland Browns
The Cincinnati Bengals went into Cleveland Browns Stadium thinking they would continue their winning streak against them from last season, but they were surely mistaken. Browns running back Peyton Hillis took control of the game clock and beasted his way through Cincy’s D all game. With a touchdown in each of his three starts, Peyton Hillis looks like the new Mike Alstott of the NFL. Peyton Hillis added another touchdown to the stat sheet in week 4 against the Bengals, totaling 110 yards. “The message was,” Hillis said, “We’ve got to pull this one out.” Despite that Cincinnati got the air game going with Terrel Owens slashing up the Browns secondary with 222 yards and a touchdown, the turnovers cost the Bengals a win. Carson Palmer went 25 of 36 with 371 yards and two touchdowns but he fumbled twice, losing them both in week four’s loss to the Browns 23-20. Look for the Bengals (2-2) to rebound next week against the Bucs at Home next while the Browns (1-3) face the Atlanta Falcons at home in week 5.
Jets Squash the Bills 38-14
Defensive minded head coach Rex Ryan is letting his offense loose and the New York Jets aren’t a team to mess with. Mark Sanchez went 14 for 24 with two touchdowns while Ladanian Tomlinson silences his critics and ran for 133 yards on with two scores against the Bills on Sunday. This marks Ladanian’s 47th 100 yard game of his 10 year career and he surpasses Tony Dorsett with 12,831 rushing yards which making Ladanian 7th all-time leading rusher. The last time Ladanian had a 100 yard game was in 2008 with the Chargers. With a more than well balanced offense and a dream team defense look for the Jets (3-1) to continue their winning streak against the Vikings (1-2) on Monday night at home while the Bills (0-4) look to rebound or at least play a closer game against the 2-2 Jags next Sunday.
Ravens Prevent Steelers from Going 4-0
Joe Flacco bounced back in a huge way against a division rival in week 4. Joe Cool was morelike Joe Hero as he sneaked out a last minute drive to beat the Steelers 17-14. This is exactly what the Ravens needed as they usually are on the opposite end of the stick against the Steelers in the last minutes of previous matches. Flacco hooks up with T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 32 seconds remaining the back of the end zone and took the winds out of Steelers sails. Joe Flacco bounced back in a huge way and proved to his team and coaching staff that he can be a leader with a huge fourth quarter comeback win. “You go and win it on the last drive, there’s no better way to win,” Flacco Said. “There’s not too many better ways to win in Pittsburgh.” Next battle between the Steelers and the Ravens will be in week 13 under the lights. The next time around Big Ben will be playing. Can Big Ben pull out a win at M&T Bank Stadium? We will have to just wait and see. Baltimore (3-1) plays Denver (2-2) at home next weekend while the Steelers go on their bye.
Titans Go to Sleep, Broncos Go to Work
The Tennessee Titans were planning on keeping their win streak going after beating up on the Giants in week three 29-10 but Kyle Orton dials up a six yard touchdown to Correll Buckhalter to beat the Titans at home in a huge fourth quarter drive. The Colts went into Denver last weekend and torched them 27-13. The Broncos did not take that loss lightly. The Titans managed to have a season-high six sacks including an interception in the game but that still wasn’t enough to slow down Kyle Orton and the Denver Broncos pass attack. With thirty three ticks left in the game Vince Young heaves a Hail Mary pass down field to Kenny Britt over two defenders. Britt let it go right through his hands. The Titans (2-2) have a tough matchup next week against a hot Dallas Cowboys (1-2) team in Dallas who will be well rested after their week 4 bye. The Denver Broncos (2-2) trot into Baltimore (3-1) looking for another road win in week 5.
The Lions Restoring the Roar Despite 28-26 Loss in Green Bay
With backup Shaun Hill in for Mathew Stafford the Lions were moving the ball up and down the field all game. Despite throwing two interceptions Shaun Hill managed to keep the game within reach against Green Bay’s zone defense throwing for 331 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for fifty four yards. Lion’s defense played well getting two interceptions but it still wasn’t enough to stop Aaron Rodgers and his incredible passing attack, throwing through tight windows. Aaron Rodgers threw 3 touchdowns and spread the ball around all game. Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley, and Greg Jennings all had a touchdown. The packers shot themselves in the foot with a few fumbles and interceptions but they still manage to win the game at home. Look for the Lions to get their first win of the season against rookie Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams at home in week 5 while Green Bay (3-1) travels to Fex Ex Field to take on the Washington Redksins (2-2).
Brand New Offensive Coordinator, Brand New Loss
San Francisco 49ers lose another tough one to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday 16-14 and go 0-4 after firing offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. The Niners go on top in the first quarter 14-0 and then don’t score another point in the entire game. How does that happen? Maybe Alex Smith needs to improve a little bit more or maybe they should fire newly hired offensive coordinator Mike Johnson. Alex Smith threw two interceptions in the game and a solo touchdown against a sub-par Atlanta secondary. The other touchdown that was scored was by the Niners due to a Taylor Mays blocked punt which was recovered in the end zone. The word on the street is that Head Coach Mike Singletary may be losing the locker room in San Francisco but it is still too early to tell. The 0-4 Niners were supposed to be the team to beat in the NFC West before the season started but now they just look like a beat team. San Francisco (0-4) is in a desperate need of a win and should get it next week at home against the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2). Atlanta Falcons travel to Cleveland (1-3) in week 5.
Possibly, Maybe, Not Really
The Carolina Panthers played division rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday and almost won, instead they go 0-4. The Panthers and newly acquired rookie Jimmy Clausen played very well on Sunday despite the loss. Jimmy Clausen didn’t turn the ball over and threw for his first NFL touchdown to Jonathan Stewart for 55 yards. The Saints were in no rush to win and looked like a shell of their former self from last year but still managed to pull out a win. Saints signed John Carney on Tuesday because of slight lack of confidence in Garret Hartley after he missed a 29 yard field goal in overtime to week 3’s loss vs. Atlanta. John Carney, 46 years old, carried the team on his shoulders hitting three field goals including one in the fourth quarter to give the Saints the win. Carolina Panthers are 0-4 and lost Steve Smith with a high ankle sprain in week 4. With Jay Cutler looking to come back after a concussion in week 4, the Carolina Panthers play the Bears in at home in week 5. Can they get there first win? Don’t count on it. The Saints (3-1) travel to Arizona next weekend to play the Cardinals (2-2) and lock up another win.
Good One Week, Bad the Next. Are the Seattle Seahawks Losing Their Identity?
The Seattle Seahawks destroy the 49ers opening week 31-6. In week 2 they get crushed by the Denver Broncos 31-14. In week 3 they beat the San Diego Chargers 27-20. What do you think happens in week 4? If you are good at guessing patterns than you have guessed right. The Seattle Seahawks get owned by rookie quarterback Sam Bradford and the rest of the St.Louis Rams 20-3. Underestimated Sam Bradford keeps getting better and better throwing for 289 yards on Sunday with two touchdown passes vs. the Seattle Seahawks and their wishy-washy defense. “I give them credit, but that’s not really the issue for us,” Hasselbeck said. “We’ve got to get better and I’ve got to get better. I know I can and I know we can.” Matt Hasselbeck is 35 years old so he’s probably passed his prime. He did go to a Super Bowl once in his career, but that doesn’t mean he is going to bet better. Look for the Seahawks (2-2) to do nothing next week as they go on their bye and recover from Sunday’s awful loss. They go to Soldier field in week 6 to play the Bears (3-1). The Rams (2-2) go on to play the anxiously needing a win Detroit Lions (0-4) in week 5.
Jacksonville Bounces Back Big Beating Down the Colts
Maurice Jones-Drew and David Garrard can only play so bad for so long, the Jags were due for a big win and got it. On Sunday the Jags beat the Colts 31-28 in a nail biter. David Garrard threw two touchdowns for 163 yards with no interceptions while Pocket Hercules rushed for 105 yards with a rushing and receiving touchdown. Josh Scobee hits a 59 yard field goal as time expires in the fourth quarter to put an end to this shoot out of a game. The crowd goes wild as Scobee makes the longest field goal in franchise history for the Jags and Jack Del Rio lives to see another day. With newly acquired qb Trent Edwards, David Garrard can also see another day as they travel to Buffalo (0-4) next week. Look for Jags to pick Trent Edwards’s brains this week as they prepare to pick the Bills defense apart in week 5. That will not be an easy task for the Jags as they are an inconsistent team but it should be a pretty interesting game. Maybe Trent Edwards will be in for a play or two to show the Bills what they have been missing, maybe not though. The Colts (2-2) are hosting the undefeated Chiefs in week 5 and are looking to defeat them.
Arian Foster Paving the Way for Texans
King of foolish decision making Coach Gary Kubiak decided to bench Foster early on in week four’s win over the Oakland Raiders because he was late to a couple of team meetings this week. When push came to shove and the Houston Texans needed a boost, Coach Kubiak wised up and put Arian Foster back in the game. To no surprise, Arian Foster scored a touchdown on a 74 yard run against one of the weakest rushing defenses in the league. Arian Foster averaged an OMAZING 8.2 yards a carry though out the game and is a Fantasy Stud this year for whoever was lucky or smart enough to draft him. On a high potent offense, look for Foster’s numbers to stay consistent for the duration of the season and plug him in your lineups every week. Look for the game of the week in week 5 to be Texans (3-1) vs. Giants (2-2). Can the Texans stay on top of their division? The Oakland Raiders (1-3) play the San Diego Chargers at home in week 5 and will have another uphill battle in front of them.
Vick Gets Vicktimized, Gets Injured In Loss to Redskins 17-12
Michael Vick goes 5 for 7 with 49 yards before getting taken out of the game with a rib cartilage injury. This sounds of the carousel alarm as Kevin Kolb goes back under center to play for the Eagles. Also interestingly noted, Donovan Mcnabb did not get booed when stepping on his, what used to be his home field, Lincoln Financial. Donovan Mcnabb didn’t have a career day against his former team but he did manage to lead the team for a big win throwing for 125 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Clinton Portis left the game with a groin injury and Ryan Torain took on the full load. Kevin Kolb looked to put up decent numbers and did have a chance to win the game as he threw a last minute bomb to Jason Avant in the end zone, but Jason Avant dropped the ball. Kevin Kolb seemed to have checked the ball down a lot and didn’t attempt to throw deep too often. Redskins are trying to get the deep ball game going as throwing the deep ball is one of Donovan’s strengths. Look for Anthony Armstrong to take over for Joey Galloway in stretching the field in games to come. The Redskins (2-2) have a tough battle against the Packers next weekend at home while the Eagles (2-2) go to San Francisco to take on the 0-4 Niners.
What a Terrible Game to Watch as a Cardinals Fan
Where’s Matt Leinert when you need him? Coach Whisenhunt pulls Derek Anderson out of the game after throwing two costly picks against the Chargers with one being a pick to the house by linebacker Shaun Phillips. After that horrible performance, Max Hall got the nod, throwing for 82 yards on 14 pass attempts. The San Diego Chargers defense also managed 9 sacks in the game while Philip Rivers threw for 2 touchdowns and 241 yards. Mike Tolbert ran for a touchdown as well as rookie running back Ryan Mathews. It was nice to see the rookie get his first NFL career touchdown and build up confidence for the rest of the 2010 season. The Arizona Cardinals (2-2) do not get a break as they face the New Orleans (3-1) at home next week. Coach Whisenhunt did not say whether or not Derek Anderson will get the start. The Chargers (2-2) look to get another win at Oakland Raiders (1-3) in week 5.
Miami Dolphins Get Waxed 41-14 at Home vs. The Pats
Considering the fact that the Dolphins played the New York Jets very well in week three’s loss at home one might think they’d play even better against a weak Patriots defense. However, Patriots defense came to play on Monday night. They racked up a pick six to the house, a blocked field goal to the house and a kickoff return to the house to open up the second half. The Dolphins seemed a little over confident in this match thinking they can sling the ball any which way against the Patriots defense. Chad Henne threw three picks, Tom Brady threw none. Momentum changed drastically in the second half and the Dolphins kept digging themselves a hole. The Dolphins have back to back divisional losses in the last two weeks and are 2-2. The Patriots (3-1) and the Miami Dolphins (2-2) have a bye in week 5. Hopefully the Dolphins can learn and correct their mistakes during film on Monday.
Fantasy Savvy 