Pittsburgh Steelers 10, Houston Texans 17
The Steelers looked terrible in yet another game against an upper tier team. The Texans were able to destroy the Steelers’ offensive line, and Roethlisberger was never able to get comfortable.
Penalties kept the Texans from running away with this game. They were certainly the better team today. Unfortunately, their star receiver, Andre Johnson, was injured in the second quarter, and he never returned. He fell on the play, and he quickly grabbed his knee. His status could be huge going forward. We should know more tomorrow.
Minnesota Vikings 17, Kansas City Chiefs 22
Both of these teams are bad. There’s no doubt. At this point, Minnesota is beginning to look like a favorite to get that special #1 pick overall.
The Chiefs, on the other hand, have finally got their first win of the year. They took the Chargers to the wire, and now they have 1 in the win column. It’ll be interesting to see if they can continue to build some momentum.
Carolina Panthers 29, Chicago Bears 34
Here’s another game between sub-par teams. The Bears struggled to get a comfortable lead the entire game, but they were able to do just that in the later stages.
The Panthers showed a lot of resilience in this game, but they came up just short once again. The good news is that they’re a very competitive team, playing up to their opponents’ level. Newton would seem to be a solid pick as their starting quarterback going forward.
Buffalo Bills 20, Cincinnati Bengals 23
Really Buffalo? Really? The Bills blew a 14 point lead to lose their first game of the season. I guess there’s bound to be a big points swing in every Buffalo game. This one just wen the wrong way.
On the other hand, the Bengals are 2-2, and Andy Dalton is adjusting to the pro game very well. Are the Bengals missing Palmer right now? Not really. Still, this season is all about building for the Bengals. They won’t be in the playoffs this year, but they’re showing a lot to like.
Tennessee Titans 31, Cleveland Browns 13
The Titans are the biggest surprise out of the AFC South. Let’s face it. When Manning went down, we all knew the Colts would be terrible, but did anyone expect the Titans to be 3-1? They lost the opener to the Jaguars, but since then they’ve been rolling. With the status of Andre Johnson in question, they could be a contender for the division title.
The Browns have had an up and down season. Realistically, they need a lot of help to make a playoff run, and they need to improve a lot more. Still, they’re 2-2, and they’re in the thick of the AFC race.
New Orleans Saints 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 10
The Saints came out of the gates in a hurry piling up a 14-0 lead after their first 2 drives. They did a great job getting Darren Sproles the football, but they had 3 drives sputter deep in Jacksonville territory. It wasn’t that impressive win you like to see, but they got the “W,” and that’s what you’re always looking for.
The Jaguars looked a little better offensively. They would have had 16 points had they not been forced to go for it on 2 separate 4th downs deep in Saints territory. They were a couple of converted drives from winning the game. Gabbert looked great in the first half. The Jaguars have a lot of room to improve, but at least they’re showing improvement in small steps.
Washington Redskins 17, St. Louis Rams 10
The Redskins have been one of the quiet surprises of the 2011 season. They’re now 3-1, and they look like a strong contender for the NFC East title. This wasn’t exactly a big win for them, but as I mentioned before, they got the win.
The Rams, on the other hand, look like one of the worst teams in the league. They gave a solid team a strong game, but that won’t make them feel any better on Monday when they watch the game tape.
Detroit Lions 34, Dallas Cowboys 30
Are you kidding me? The Lions need to be renamed the “Harry Houdinis.” I don’t see this team making any kind of deep playoff run doing this every week, but they’re one of only 2 undefeated teams left in the league. The Packers are playing in the late game; so, it’s possible they could be the last undefeated team in the NFL.
As for the Cowboys, I don’t know what to tell them. Possibly a famous quote from Vince Lombardi would work, “What the hell’s goin’ on out there?!” This game set the new Cowboys’ record for the biggest blown lead in their history. Tony Romo is becoming a pro at giving games away. I hate to start the “replace Romo” chant, but there’s not much else to talk about with this team.
San Francisco 49ers 24, Philadelphia Eagles 23
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce your dream team; the Philadelphia Eagles. Wait what’s that? I’m being told that the Eagles are now 1-3, and it looks like things aren’t getting better. This is what happens when you go for it all in free agency, and the team doesn’t gel properly. They’ll have a tough time making the playoffs from that division. The NFC is ridiculously tough this year, and digging out of a 1-3 hole looks improbable at best.
The 49ers are now 3-1. Yes, that’s right. They’re 3-1, and they’re playing in the NFL’s worst division. They’re likely just 5 wins from clinching the division, and their schedule should give them an advantage in seeding should they continue to play at this level. Still, it’s too early to declare these guys the divisional champions. They’ve disappointed us in the past, and they can do it again.
