The NFL Story: Week #5

So Hank Williams Jr's theme song is no longer on Monday Night
Football. If only we could also get rid of that awful Faith Hill song.


THE SCORE:
KANSAS CITY (2-3) 28
Indianapolis (0-5) 24
THE STATS: Kansas City WR Dwayne Bowe 7-128-2 TD.
THE STORY: One day, Indianapolis will win a game. They just need to get Peyton Manning back. And Joseph Addai. And Marshall Faulk. And Marvin Harrison. And Edgerrin James. And Johnny Unitas. And Raymond Berry. And Lenny Moore. And Art Donovan.


THE SCORE:
Arizona (1-4) 10
MINNESOTA (1-4) 34
THE STATS: Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson 29-122-3 TD.
THE STORY: Even Minnesota couldn't blow a 28-3 halftime lead.


THE SCORE:
Philadelphia (1-4) 24
BUFFALO (4-1) 31
THE STATS: Buffalo LB Nick Barnett 2 Int, 1 TD return.
THE STORY: How bad is it for the Eagles? Well, you know that play at the end of the game, where the team that is leading with 1:30 left tries to draw the other team offsides by making like they are going to snap the ball on 4th down, but of course, everyone knows they are just trying to draw the defense offsides? It never works. Against the Eagles, it worked, as Juqua Parker jumped offsides, ruining a chance for the Eagles to score a late TD to tie.


THE SCORE:
OAKLAND (3-2) 25
Houston (3-2) 20
THE STATS: Oakland's Al Davis 1929-2011.
THE STORY: Just win, baby.


THE SCORE:
NEW ORLEANS (4-1) 30
Carolina (1-4) 27
THE STATS: New Orleans QB Drew Brees 32-45-359-1-2 TD, 100.1 rating.
THE STORY: Saints are the only team in the NFL to lose their first game and win every week since.


THE SCORE:
CINCINNATI (3-2) 30
Jacksonville (1-4) 20
THE STATS: Cincinnati 2-3 on 4th down conversions.
THE STORY: With Jacksonville down by just 3 points, the official description of the final wild play for the Jags went like this: QB Blaine Gabbert passed to Mike Thomas to the right for 13 yard gain. Mike Thomas fumbled. Maurice Jones-Drew recovered fumble. Maurice Jones-Drew fumbled. Jarett Dillard recovered fumble. lateral to
Blaine Gabbert. Blaine Gabbert fumbled. Geno Atkins recovered fumble and returned for 10 yards (Mike Nugent made PAT).


THE SCORE:
Tennessee (3-2) 17
PITTSBURGH (3-2) 38
THE STATS: Pittsburgh offense: 26 first downs.
THE STORY: Titans' RB Chris Johnson still trying to be Chris Johnson (14-51-1 TD).


THE SCORE:
SEATTLE (2-3) 36
NY Giants (3-2) 25
THE STATS: Teams combined for 31 points on 6 scores in the 4th quarter.
THE STORY: Giants blow a shot at the NFC East lead against an NFC West team that was 0-3 outside its own division.


THE SCORE:
Tampa Bay (3-2) 3
SAN FRANCISCO(4-1) 48
THE STATS: San Francisco RB Frank Gore 20-121 TD.
THE STORY: San Francisco had more yards rushing (213) than passing (205). Didn't they pass a rule against such things in the NFL ?


THE SCORE:
NY Jets (2-3) 21
NEW ENGLAND (4-1) 30
THE STATS: New England RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis 27-136-2 TD.
THE STORY: Jets have given up 30 points in each of the past three games, all losses. First two games, gave up 27 points combined, winning both.


THE SCORE:
SAN DIEGO (4-1) 29
Denver (1-4) 24
THE STATS: San Diego balanced offense 206 yards rushing, 212 passing.
THE STORY: San Diego, a notoriously slow starting team, is already 4-1. Denver is just notoriously bad.


THE SCORE:
GREEN BAY (5-0) 25
Atlanta (2-3) 14
THE STATS: Green Bay 25 straight points after spotting Atlanta a 14-0 lead.
THE STORY: Between now and Week #12 when 5-0 Packers finally play 5-0 Detroit, Green Bay's 5 opponents are 9-15 (.375).


THE SCORE:
Chicago (2-3) 13
DETROIT (4-1) 24
THE STATS: Teams combined for 26 penalties for 198 yards (Chicago: 14-104).
THE STORY: I don't know what was more bizarre -- seeing the Lions play on Monday Night Football, or not hearing Hank Williams, Jr. on Monday Night Football.

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