Week 6 NFL Recap

By Dave Shepherd | Wednesday, October 19, 2005 | ( 0 )

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Let's take a quick look back at Week 6 in the NFL:

The Best Games:

Carolina Panthers 21 @ Detroit Lions 20
The Panthers headed into Ford Field at Detroit desperately needing a win to keep pace with division-leader Tampa Bay. They would get it, from an unlikely source. QB Jake Delhomme was taken out of the game after he slid and ended up getting squashed by safety Kenoy Kennedy, so former Heisman trophy winner Chris Weinke stepped in to lead the Panther offense. Trailing 20-14 late in the game with the ball at midfield, Weinke led the Panthers to the Detroit 3. He threw a pass into the end zone, but it was dropped by WR Ricky Proehl. One play later, they tried again the same combination, this time for the touchdown and the game winning score. Chris Weinke finished the day 5/7 for 47 yards and one touchdown.

New York Giants 13 @ Dallas Cowboys 16
Which one of these two teams might be able to take Philadelphia's crown as the new beast of the NFC East? If they both play like that again, probably neither. The Cowboys gave the Giants and Eli Manning every opportunity to put the game away, committing four turnovers, missing two field goals, and allowing the Giants to have a game-tying touchdown with only 33 seconds left. However, a game winning field goal by K Jose Cortez in overtime put all that behind them. The Giants didn't play great either, committing four turnovers in five drives, one of which was a fumble on the Dallas one while they were down by seven with only a minute left. Still, it was an exciting game.

Jacksonville Jaguars 23 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 16
Two reasons the Steelers lost the game: Tommy Maddox taking snaps and Tommy Maddox throwing. Going into overtime Maddox had already proved he was colorblind on two separate occasions, and there was no need for further proof. After a 71 yard kick off return to start overtime for the Steelers, it looked like they were in good position to win the game. Nope - Tommy Maddox fumbled the ball, and the Jaguars recovered. However, they went three and out, giving the Steelers another shot. Nope - Tommy Maddox tosses the ball up, it's picked off, returned for a touchdown, and the Jaguars win. A minute later, Maddox takes off his blindfold, and the realization hits him: he isn't, and will never be, a Jedi. Luckily, Roethlisberger should be in the lineup next week.

Atlanta Falcons 34 @ New Orleans Saints 31
On paper this game doesn't even look close. Could the team that lost to Green Bay 52-3 manage to beat one of the top teams in the NFC? Atlanta K Todd Peterson attempted a 41 yard field goal for the win� WIDE! It's going to overtime� except for one problem: the dreaded yellow flag. An extremely questionable defensive holding call allowed Atlanta's kicker to line up and try again, this time nailing the 36 yard field goal for the win. Should it have been called? Technically yes, but in reality no. Almost every team in the NFL does this when attempting to block a field goal and calling it at a key time in the game when the exact same play wasn't called the week before is very questionable.

Washington Redskins 21 @ Kansas City Chiefs 28
Coming off the bye-week, the Chiefs needed their defense to play better (no surprises there) and they needed a win. Heading into the second half they trailed 7-6, and after exchanging two touchdowns with the Redskins they headed into the fourth knotted up at 21 a piece. Early in the fourth, Priest Holmes transformed a short pass from Trent Green into a brilliant 60 yard touchdown. In the last minute of the game however, Washington began to move the ball on the KC defense� here we go again right? Wrong. On 4th down Redskins QB Brunell heaved a pass towards Santana Moss in the end zone, but Sammy Knight was able to tip it away and win the game, a huge win for the Chiefs.

The Worst Games:

Miami Dolphins 13 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27
All eyes were focused on the strange-colored reddish haze surrounding Ricky Williams. No, it wasn't "alternative medicine". It was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, hammering Williams and limiting him to a measly 8 yards on 5 attempts. Tampa Bay was in control from start to finish, and the score flattered the Dolphins, who continue to play like champions at home, but play like the Houston Texans when they travel. Well� not quite THAT bad�

Houston Texans 10 @ Seattle Seahawks 42
Speaking of the Houston Texans and bad� they got blown out again. At this point an 0-16 season isn't out of the question for the NFL's worst team. The best play of this game was when the referee referred to the Texans as "Dallas" - an insult to Cowboy fans everywhere. The best player of the game was Seattle RB Shaun Alexander, who ran for 141 yards and 4 touchdowns. In other news, the Houston Texans have received an invite to play in the Big 12, but declined because the #2 Longhorns would most likely set a new record for sacks in a day.

Minnesota Vikings 3 @ Chicago Bears 28
I guess that answers the question as to whether sex before the game helps your performance. Turns out it doesn't. The ship is sinking for the Vikings, as they got dominated by NFC North-rival Chicago. Thomas Jones rushed for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the Bears cruised for the win. Here's a scary thought: Maybe Randy Moss was keeping the Vikings players under control�

St. Louis Rams 28 @ Indianapolis Colts 45
The St. Louis Rams blasted out of the gate for a quick 17 point lead, and that was all she wrote. For the Rams, not the Colts. Peyton Manning got his team back on track, leading them to 45 points in the next 3 quarters for an easy victory. After the initial setback, the defense played great for Indianapolis forcing four turnovers to help push the Colts to victory.

The Rest:

Cleveland Browns 3 @ Baltimore Ravens 16
The Baltimore defense played great, preventing the Browns from getting past the Baltimore 47 until the second half. They held former Raven QB Trent Dilfer in check, sacking him four times and squeezing out three turnovers. Their offense mustered only one touchdown, and that'll have to improve if they want to keep winning.

Cincinnati Bengals 31 @ Tennessee Titans 23
Bengals QB Carson Palmer is on his way to being the next Peyton Manning. The offense is there, and the Bengals played a good game to get the win over division rival Tennessee. The key play was at the end of the third quarter when Titans QB Steve McNair gunned the ball to receiver Tyrone Calico who was hit by Tory James. The ball popped up in the air, and Thurman picked off the ball, returning it for a touchdown, marking the second straight game McNair has thrown a pivotal interception while Tennessee was leading.

San Diego Chargers 27 @ Oakland Raiders 14
Drew Brees probably doesn't get much sleep at night. He's had a decent year, but the guy behind him has completed 4 of 5 for 3 touchdowns. No, not Phillip Rivers. LaDainian Tomlinson. He notched his second touchdown pass of the season on a 4 yard pass to Justin Peelle as the Chargers cruised to a win over the Raiders. Randy Moss was a non-factor, getting injured early in the game with bruised ribs and a strained groin.

New England Patriots 20 @ Denver Broncos 28
Jake Plummer played fantastic. Stop laughing. He really did. He finished with 262 yards and two touchdowns in guiding the Broncos to a win over the sliding New England Patriots. New England almost a made a comeback late in the game, but failed to convert on a 3rd and long situation, punted, and the Broncos ran the clock out from there.

New York Jets 17 @ Buffalo Bills 27
Kelly Holcomb has been named the Bills starter at QB. As if there was any doubt. When your options are the guy who hasn't lost yet, and the guy who's only won a game� you'd figure it's pretty obvious. Holcomb wasn't fantastic, finishing with 164 yards, 2 touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He did enough to win though, and that's what matters.

Check back for next week's NFL recap.

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