Week 10 NFL Recap

By Dave Shepherd | Wednesday, November 16, 2005 | ( 0 )

Got something to say?

Let's take a look back at Week 10 in the NFL...

The best NFL games of the week:

Dallas Cowboys 21 at Philadelphia Eagles 20

Oh how the mighty have fallen. All throughout last week people were questioning whether or not they could live without Terrell Owens - and it looks like they can't. Of course, they weren't doing great with him either. With just under 10 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, the Eagles were up 20-7. All they need to do now is hold onto the ball, and stop the Cowboys. A 20 yard touchdown pass with three minutes left shaved the lead to six points. It's ok, just don't turn the ball over. About 20 seconds later, McNabb threw the ball, and Roy Williams caught it for the INT, turning it into the game winning score. The Eagles would never recover, falling to the Cowboys and maybe dropping out of the divisional race.

Washington Redskins 35 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36

You'd expect a game with two of the top defenses in the NFL to be low scoring. You'd expect a quarterback to struggle under pressure when he has done so the last few weeks. You'd expect an extra-point to put the game into overtime. You'd expect. However, this game defied all expectations. Bucs QB Chris Simms was fantastic, throwing for three touchdowns and no interceptions in leading the Bucs over the Redskins. The play of the game happened with just under a minute in the 4th quarter. The Bucs had just gotten a touchdown, and needed an extra point to tie the game. The extra point was blocked - but it was offside. Jon Gruden then made one of the biggest play calls of his NFL career - sending Mike Alstott up the middle for the two point conversion. It paid off, as Alstott ran with tremendous heart and powered himself over the goal line for the win.

New England Patriots 23 at Miami Dolphins 16

Tom Brady has done it again. I've said it once, and I'll say it again - if you're going to beat the Patriots, you have to blow them out. You won't beat this team in close games that often. Nick Saban could only watch on as his mentor, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick guided the Patriots to a win. With 2:16 left in the game, Tom Brady threw a 17 yard touchdown pass to Ben Watson, and then the Patriots converted for two points, giving them the win over Nick Saban's Dolphins.

Minnesota Vikings 24 at New York Giants 21

It was their worst offensive output of the season, but the love-boat Vikings still found a way to win in an attempt to make themselves respectable once again. Minnesota became the first team in NFL history to return a kick, punt, and interception for a touchdown. Late in the fourth, after all of that had taken place, Minnesota was down by 3, but they had the ball. Their offense had done nothing all day, but it game to life just long enough to give Paul Edinger a shot at a 48 yard field goal, which he converted with 10 seconds left on the clock, for the win.

The worst NFL games of the week:

St. Louis Rams 16 at Seattle Seahawks 31

The Seahawks continued to roll, adding another win against a key division rival, and all but taking the NFC West crown. The Rams, instead of settling for a second field goal, tried a field goal fake in the 2nd quarter, only to have it fail miserably. The Seahawks took the ball and drove 87 yards for the touchdown. The Rams never recovered, rolling over for their division rival.

New York Jets 3 at Carolina Panthers 30

Pretty much what was expected. The Panthers took sole possession of the NFC South with the win, and the Jets essentially fell out of playoff contention. 9-7 just isn't going to cut it. Up until the third quarter Carolina only lead 10-3, but backed by four turnovers which they converted into 20 points, they quickly finished off the game, and the Jets.

Baltimore Ravens 3 at Jacksonville Jaguars 30

The Jaguars put up 30 points - the first time they have done that in nearly four years - and won easily over the Ravens. Except for an early field goal, Kyle Boller was incapable of getting Baltimore's offense to put up any points. The same can not be said for Byron Leftwich, who was able to connect on one touchdown to rookie first round pick Matt Jones. With two minutes to go, Kyle Boller threw an interception - no surprises there - and it was returned for a touchdown, finally putting an end to the Jags NFL record drought of 58 games without 30 points.

The rest:

Cleveland Browns 21 at Pittsburgh Steelers 34

Even without QB Ben Roethlisberger the Steelers still pulled off the win over the hapless Browns. After Cleveland scored first on a five yard touchdown run by Reuben Droughns, the Steelers put up 17 points in the second quarter to take the lead going into halftime. Hines Ward caught a 51 yard touchdown pass from former college quarterback Antwaan Randle El in the third quarter, and that would be all the Steelers needed, winning by 13.

Green Bay Packers 33 at Atlanta Falcons 25

In a game where everyone picked the Falcons, the Packers used their fifth running back of the season, Sam Gado, who-from seemingly out of nowhere-ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns in helping Brett Favre take the Packers over the Falcons. The win kept Atlanta out of first place in the NFC South (held by Carolina), and kept their very slim playoff hopes alive.

Denver Broncos 31 at Oakland Raiders 17

The Broncos have all but wrapped their hooves around the AFC West title, and after this win against the hated Raiders they're looking for home-field advantage. The Broncos put up 23 points in the first three quarters - leading 23-0 going into the fourth. The Raiders made a game of it, but Darrent Williams picked off the ball and returned it 80 yards for the touchdown, giving the Broncos their last touchdown of the day on route to a win.

San Francisco 49ers 9 at Chicago Bears 17

Nathan Vasher caught a missed field goal deep in his end zone at the end of the first half, returning it for 108 yards - the longest play in NFL history - and the touchdown. That touchdown gave the Bears some much needed points, and they would score 10 more points in the fourth quarter, while keeping the 49ers out of the end zone, to win the game.

Kansas City Chiefs 3 at Buffalo Bills 14

Same old Bills - no offense, great defense. However, sometimes, that combination is enough to win, as it was last Sunday. The Bills held the Chiefs to a field goal in the first quarter, the only points they would score in the game. J.P. Losman then connected on two touchdown passes, both to Lee Evans, one of 33 yards and the other of 29 yards, giving the Bills their only points, and the needed win.

Houston Texans 17 at Indianapolis Colts 31

Their offense did it again, as the league's best team continued to roll, this time trampling over the Texans. Peyton Manning threw three touchdowns, and both Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison had over 100 yards in the win. The Colts had already put 21 points up on the board before the Texans were able to score, and by then it was too late, as the Colts rolled over their divisional "rival".

Arizona Cardinals 21 at Detroit Lions 29

Roy Williams finally played like he's been expected to be, catching three touchdown passes from Joey Harrington. Williams ended up with 117 yards on 7 catches. Kurt Warner played for Arizona, and was able to connect on a meaningless touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald late in the game. With the win, Detroit keeps their slim playoff hopes alive, while Arizona is all but eliminated. Again.

Check back for the week 11 NFL recap.

Got something to say?