Time for a quick look at the games from this past weekend. Some interesting results as a few surprise teams are now at 3-0 (Bills and Lions), and the NFC West had an embarassing week with all four teams only scoring 43 points combined. The 49ers did get their second win in an ugly game against the Bengals moving them to first place in the West, and as we all know the Seahawks also got their first win of the season in Sundays game against the Cardinals.
Time for the recaps.
New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
The 15 game losing streak against the Pats is finally over for the Bills. Tom Brady and the Pats got off to a quick 21-0 lead over the Bills before the Harvard Man Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills stormed back. Tom Brady even became a turnover machine throwing four picks in this game after only throwing four throughout the entire regular season last year, the fourth was returned for a Touchdown giving the Bills their first lead of the game with 10 minutes left. In the end, the Bills were able to run the clock down after getting inside of the Patriots five yard line with the game almost over, and then Ryan Lindell kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired giving the Bills a 34-31 win.
New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
The "Dream Team" is now off to a 1-2 start, their defense was abused by Eli Manning for four scoring passes, Victor Cruz burned Nnamdi Asomugha for two of those scores, and Michael Vick was knocked out of the game with a hand contusion and the Giants had pressure on him all day long. This wound up being a surprisingly easy 29-16 win for the New York Giants.
Denver Broncos vs Tennessee Titans Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Just a closely fought 17-14 win for the Titans. Not really much to talk about here besides the Titans losing Kenny Britt to a torn MCL and ACL which is just a horrible blow for them, and Chris Johnson was horrible again after getting his new contract winding up with only 21 yards on 13 carries but he did have 54 receiving yards on four catches. I have a feeling the Titans are regretting that huge new contract now that CJ2K has become nonexistent on the ground.
Miami Dolphins vs Cleveland Browns Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Another closely fought game where the Browns pulled it out in the last minute with a scoring pass from Colt McCoy with 43 seconds left for a 17-16 win. The Miami Dolphins are now 0-3, and supposed feature back Reggie Bush struggled again accounting for only 25 yards on 11 touches and fumbling twice.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Carolina Panthers Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Cam Newton didn't throw for 400 yards this time, he only wound up with 158 passing yards while playing through a massive rain storm for a good portion of the game, but he did get his first win in the NFL after throwing a game winning scoring pass to Greg Olsen. Blaine Gabbert also made his debut and threw for 139 yards, a touchdown and a pick, he was also sacked in the endzone for a safety during his first drive in the 16-10 loss to Carolina.
San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
This was just one ugly mess that even people who like games where the defense controls everything would be depressed by. The 49ers couldn't even cross midfield until after halftime and the score was a 6-6 tie until the 49ers could finally score a Touchdown in the fourth quarter to make the score 13-6. The most entertaining moment of this game is probably Andy Lee, the Punter for the 49ers, running backwards out of the endzone for a safety to run the clock out. Alex Smith also finally had a game where he threw for over 200 yards this season.
Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Why do the Vikings continue to choke away leads in the second half? They were up 20-0 at halftime, then Matthew Stafford and the Lions stormed their way back, and got on the board twice with their usual redzone play of heaving it up to Megatron. The game eventually went to overtime, and the Lions pulled it out with a 26-23 win for their first victory in Minnesota since 1997.
Houston Texans vs New Orleans Saints Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Lots of points in this one. The fourth quarter had several lead changes, and even a touchdown for Houston that bounced off of three people before Kevin Walter caught it and ran in for a score. Late in the fourth Quarter, rookie Mark Ingram scored his first touchdown to give the Saints a 40-33 lead, and the Saints Defense was able to hold on to their lead after that for the win.
Baltimore Ravens vs St. Louis Rams Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Rookie Torrey Smith caught three touchdowns in the first quarter, and the Ravens absolutely slaughtered the Rams 37-7. If you really want to read about this bloodbath of a win for the Ravens just click on the link.
Kansas City Chiefs vs San Diego Chargers Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Surprisingly, the Chargers struggled for most of this game. They had the lead at halftime because the Chiefs offense was completely inept, they didn't even pick up a first down for most of the half. In the second half, they were able to make things interesting though with a touchdown that put them down 10-7 but the Chargers were able to strike back after the Cheifs made things interesting. The Cheifs had a chance to tie the game or take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but Matt Cassel's screen pass went straight into the hands of a defender on a horrible throw and the Chargers held on for a 20-17 win. Philip Rivers surprisingly had two picks and no touchdowns, and former Cardinal Steve Breaston finally got involved in the Cheifs offense with three catches for 53 yards including a 43 yarder in the fourth quarter.
New York Jets vs Oakland Raiders Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
A game that many people saw as one where the Raiders could upset the Jets wound up playing out that way. With the score tied at 17, the Raiders were able to pull away after that with their dominating ground game running for over 200 yards on the vaunted Jets defense including a 70 yarder by Darren McFadden and they held on for a 34-24 win after that.
Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Another close game, Josh Freeman didn't have a great passing day with only 180 yards and two picks, but the Bucs were able to get an early lead and keep control of the game. Meanwhile, Matt Ryan threw for over 300 yards, but the Falcon's are still having some issues punching the ball into the endzone after their offense was supposed to be vastly improved with Julio Jones joining Roddy White, and Michael Turner couldn't get anything going with only 20 yards on 11 carries. Tampa Bay was eventually able to run out the clock for a 16-13 win, they even went for it on 4th and 1 but the Falcons jumped offsides with 1:49 left in the game to extend that clock killing drive.
Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense were clicking on all cylinders, Jay Cutler was forced to throw the ball behind one of the worst O-Lines in the NFL all day long as Mike Martz ignored the running game again, and the Packers pulled out an easy 27-17 win. The Bears were able to make things a little bit closer than it looked though, Cutler was able to lead scoring drives right after throwing Interceptions on passes intended for Roy Williams. A trick Punt return by Johnny Knox late in the game that would have made the score 27-24 was also overturned by a phantom holding penalty.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts Recap - September 25, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
It looked like the Steelers were going to dominate the game, Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Wallace continued to connect on long touchdowns (81 yards on this one). But the Colts Defense stepped up, Big Ben had a fumble returned for a score and late in the game where the Colts struggled on offense all night long with Curtis Painter and Kerry Collins at QB the game was tied at 20. And then Ben did his thing, led the Steelers down the field, and they kicked a game winning field goal and pulled it out 23-20.
Washington Redskins vs Dallas Cowboys Recap - September 26, 2011 - NFL - SB Nation
This game was a massive comedy of errors. Tony Romo was playing through broken ribs and a punctured lung and he was getting beat up, his center couldn't snap the ball correctly, at least four or five snaps wound up on the ground or shooting over Romo's head. And with a bunch of backup receivers playing a bunch of them couldn't even line up correctly or run the correct routes. You could see Romo cursing people out on the field several times for their ineptitude. Yet, even with all of this, Romo was able to lead a game winning drive including a 30 yard completion on 3rd and 21 (shortly after Romo was sacked on another bad snap no less) and Dan Baily kicked his sixth field goal for to give the Cowboys a 18-16 lead in a sloppy game filled with mistakes and all of the scoring being field goals besides a pass from Rex Grossman to Tim Hightower late in the third quarter.