Monday, November 16, 2009

NFL Football- Week Ten Review



We learned a lot this weekend in the NFL as the teams prepare for the home stretch now that every team has had their "bye" week and the standings are really taking shape.
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 18-12 to take sole possession of first place in the AFC North. By sweeping not only the Steelers, but also the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals (7-2) are poised to win their first AFC North division title since 2005.
The game had it's price though as Bengals' running back Cedric Benson was injured in the game as was Steelers' safety Troy Palomalu, who had been playing tremendous football since returning from a Week One knee injury.
Another thing learned is you don't go for it on fourth down from your own 28-yard line with two minutes remaining in the game while leading by six points.
New England Head Coach Bill Belichick has made a career as a great coach at taking risks such as the one he made Sunday night in Indianapolis.
This time it failed and the Colts, led by quarterback Peyton Manning's four TD passes, rallied for the 35-34 win to remain undefeated along with the New Orleans Saints. Both teams are 9-0 as the Saints held off the stubborn St. Louis Rams, 28-23 in a game that saw Saints' QB Drew Brees throw two interceptions. Reggie Bush (83 yards rushing) scored twice for the Saints.
The Minnesota Vikings improved to 8-1 with a 27-10 win at home over the Detroit Lions. Vikings' QB Brett Favre threw for 344 yards and Vikings' wide receiver Sidney Rice caught seven passes for 201 yards while running back Adrian Peterson added two scoring runs to go with 133 yards rushing for the winners.
The San Diego Chargers continued their winning ways with a 31-23 home victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson scored two touchdowns and rushed for 96 yards in his most productive game of the season. Quarterback Philip Rivers passed for 231 yards and two TDs to pace a balanced offense for the 6-3 Chargers, who are now tied for first place with the Denver Broncos after this fourth straight win.
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb threw 55 passes in the loss while connecting for a pair of second half TD passes and totaled 450 yards for the day in the air.
The Denver Broncos lost the game and possibly starting QB Kyle Orton as well on Sunday in Washington, D.C. as the Redskins topped the slumping Broncos 27-17.
Orton had thrown two long TD passes to Brandon Marshall before leaving the game with a high ankle sprain and later left the stadium on crutches. The Broncos host the Chargers next week in a showdown for first place in the AFC West.
Jacksonville bolted into wild card contention with a surprising road win at the New York Jets, 24-22 as Josh Scobee kicked a 21-yard game winning field goal as time expired. The Jags (5-4) were led by Maurice Jones-Drew, who rushed for 123 yards and scored a 33-yard touchdown on the ground.
The Tennessee Titans won their third straight game after starting 0-6 as they blasted the visiting Buffalo Bills 41-17. Chris Johnson rushed for 132 yards and also had nine catches for 100 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the way.
Carolina topped Atlanta, 28-19 as running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart combined for 174 yards rushing. Stewart scored two TDs in the win for the Panthers (4-5) and quarterback Jake Delhomme threw two scoring passes to Steve Smith.
Falcons running back Michael Turner left the game with an ankle injury after rushing for 111 yards on just nine carries.
The Arizona Cardinals improved to 6-3 and maintained a two-game lead in the NFC West as they beat the Seattle Seahawks, 31-20 behind Kurt Warner's 340 yards passing and two TD strikes, one to Steve Breaston and the other to All-Pro wideout Larry Fitzgerald to seal the win.
The Dallas Cowboys blew a chance to widen their lead in the NFC East, losing at Green Bay, 17-7 as the Packers defense rose up and stifled the Cowboys' offensive attack, sacking Pokes' QB Tony Romo five times while intercepting a pass and recovering two fumbles in this must-win game.
The Packers improved to 5-4 and remain in wild card contention with the win that saw improvement on defense and a balanced offense.
Miami rallied late for a 25-23 win over Tampa Bay as Ricky Williams (20 carries for 102 yards) broke off a long run to set up the winning 25-yard field goal by Dan Carpenter. Dolphins' running back Ronnie Brown (82 yards and touchdown run) left the game with an ankle injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs knocked off Oakland 16-10 behind the running of Jamaal Charles (103 yards on carries), who scored the Chiefs only TD with a 44-yard run. Both teams are 2-7 for the season.

1 comment:

  1. It was an exciting game day with several games close until the very end. I was glued to games from the first kickoff at 11 am until the last two minutes of the Indy and NE game. I fell asleep and missed that 4th down play. I am glad the Colts stayed perfect. Whew! What a close one for the Saints too.

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