Tuesday, October 1, 2013

THE NFL STORY: WEEK #4

So Major League Baseball has gone to one game playoffs. That's nothing new. The NFL has been doing it for years.

THE SCORE:
SAN FRANCISCO(2-2) 35
St. Louis (1-3) 11
THE STATS: St. Louis 188 net yards offense.
THE STORY: How bad was the St. Louis offense? They punted (11 times) almost as many yards as they gained on the ground (18).


THE SCORE:
Pittsburgh (0-4) 27
MINNESOTA (1-3) 34
THE STATS: Minnesota WR Greg Jennings 3-92-2 TD.
THE STORY: If I told you that one Pittsburgh pro sports team would be in the playoffs, and another one would be at the bottom of the division, this is not what you would have had in mind.


THE SCORE:
Baltimore (2-2) 20
BUFFALO (2-2) 23
THE STATS: Buffalo overcomes 11 penalties.
THE STORY: Somehow, Baltimore QB Joe Flacco managed to throw for 347 yards in spite of throwing 5 interceptions, which must be a record for someone not named Brett Favre.


THE SCORE:
Cincinnati (2-2) 6
CLEVELAND (2-2) 17
THE STATS: Cleveland QB Brian Hoyer 25-38-269-0-2 TD, 103.9 rating.
THE STORY: Only takes a couple of back-to-back wins as the starter at QB to be a hero in Cleveland.


THE SCORE:
INDIANAPOLIS (3-1) 37
Jacksonville (0-4) 3
THE STATS: Indianapolis LB Robert Mathis: 3 sacks.
THE STORY: Jacksonville has 3 TDs. Not in the game, but for the entire SEASON.


THE SCORE:
SEATTLE (4-0) 23
Houston (2-2) 20
THE STATS: Seattle 206 fewer offensive yards, 30 fewer offensive plays, just 3-14 on 3rd downs in the win.
THE STORY: The Game Everyone Wants To See may be set up for Monday, December 2nd in Seattle. Both the Saints and Seahawks could be 11-0 at the time. Don't laugh; in the weak NFC, this is very possible.


THE SCORE:
ARIZONA (2-2) 13
Tampa Bay (0-4) 10
THE STATS: Arizona overcomes 10 penalties.
THE STORY: Tampa Bay: New quarterback (Mike Glennon), same results.


THE SCORE:
Chicago (3-1) 32
DETROIT (3-1) 40
THE STATS: Detroit K David Akers 4-4 XP, 4-4 FG (23, 31, 41, 43).
THE STORY: Not your dad's Chicago defense.


THE SCORE:
NY Giants (0-4) 7
KANSAS CITY (4-0) 31
THE STATS: NY Giants 1-14 on 4rd down conversions.
THE STORY: After Week #4, Kansas City has already almost swept the NFC East (beaten Dallas, Philadelphia, NY Giants).


THE SCORE:
NY Jets (2-2) 13
TENNESSEE (3-1) 38
THE STATS: NY Jets 4 turnovers to zero for Tennessee.
THE STORY: Tennessee QB Jake Locker is lost "for a few weeks" with a sprained hip. Time to see if Tim Tebow is available in your fantasy league.


THE SCORE:
Dallas (2-2) 21
SAN DIEGO (2-2) 30
THE STATS: San Diego outscores Dallas 17-0 in 2nd half to turn 8 point deficit into 9 point win.
THE STORY: Good win for San Diego, but how do they compete in a division with two undefeated teams?


THE SCORE:
WASHINGTON (1-3) 24
Oakland (1-3) 14
THE STATS: Washington defense 7 sacks, season-low 14 points allowed.
THE STORY: Redskins 1-3 record leaves them just 1 game behind Dallas for first place in the NFL's worst division.


THE SCORE:
Philadelphia (1-3) 20
DENVER (4-0) 52
THE STATS: Peyton Manning 4 TDs; 16 TDs, 0 INTs on the season.
THE STORY: Are the Eagles the worst team in the NFL's worst division? Next week vs. 0-4 Giants will tell us.


THE SCORE:
NEW ENGLAND (4-0) 30
Atlanta (1-3) 23
THE STATS: New England WR Kenbrell Thompkin 6-127-1 TD.
THE STORY: New England might be the worst of all the 4-0 teams in the NFL, if such a thing can exist.

THE SCORE:
Miami (3-1) 17
NEW ORLEANS (4-0) 38
THE STATS: New Orleans RB Darren Sproles 4-28-1 TD rushing; 7-114-1 TD receiving; 2-26 kick returns; 3-44 punt returns.
THE STORY: A year too late for the Saints to play the Super Bowl at home.