THE NFL STORY: WEEK #7

So Tebowing has replaced planking as the latest Internet
craze. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Introducing-Tebowing-It-8217-s-like-planking-?urn=nfl-wp10549

I think I've seen this praying position before, but I just can't put
my finger on it. Maybe I'll remember after I leave the Rodin museum.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thinker)


THE SCORE:
CHICAGO (4-3) 24
Tampa Bay (4-3) 18
THE STATS: Chicago RB Matt Forte 25-145-1 TD.
THE STORY: Tampa Bay's schedule doesn't get any easier, with 3 straight division leaders ahead (New Orleans, Houston, Green Bay).


THE SCORE:
Washington (3-3) 20
CAROLINA (2-5) 33
THE STATS: Carolina QB Cam Newton: 18-23-256-0-1 TD passing, 127.5 rating; 10-59-1 TD rushing.
THE STORY: After starting the season 3-1, Redskins (3-3) now just a .500 team in a .500 division.


THE SCORE:
San Diego (4-2) 21
NY JETS (4-3) 27
THE STATS: Jets defense holds Philip Rivers to 50% passing, 179 yards, 51.4 rating.
THE STORY: Jets not accustomed to being in 3rd place in the AFC East; San Diego not accustomed to leading the AFC West in October.


THE SCORE:
Seattle (2-4) 3
CLEVELAND (3-3) 6
THE STATS: Cleveland K Phil Dawson two 50+ yard field goals (52,53).
THE STORY: Let's be kind and just call this one "a defensive struggle".


THE SCORE:
HOUSTON (4-3) 41
Tennessee (3-3) 7
THE STATS: Houston RB Arian Foster 25-115-2 TD rushing; 5-119-1 TD receiving.
THE STORY: Texans laid down the most impressive combination of offensive (518 yards) and defensive (148 yards allowed) performances of the day -- until the Sunday Night game.


THE SCORE:
DENVER (2-4) 18
Miami (0-6) 15
THE STATS: Miami 15-0 lead with 7:34 to play.
THE STORY: Miami loses chance to win a game against the worst team it will face all year. The rest of Miami's schedule is entirely against teams with .500 or better records.


THE SCORE:
ATLANTA (4-3) 23
Detroit (5-2) 16
THE STATS: Detroit 1-12 3rd down conversions.
THE STORY: In spite of 2 straight losses, Detroit would make the playoffs, if the season ended today. Unfortunately for them, the season doesn't end today.


THE SCORE:
KANSAS CITY (3-3) 28
Oakland (4-3) 0
THE STATS: Oakland gets 322 yards, 18 1st downs, but 0 points thanks
to 6 turnovers.
THE STORY: New Raiders QB Carson Palmer went for 17.3. That's not completions or points. That was his QB rating after replacing starter Kyle Boller in the 2nd half. Palmer was 8-21-116-3-0 TD.


THE SCORE:
PITTSBURGH (5-2) 32
Arizona (1-5) 20
THE STATS: Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger 26-39-361-0-3-121.8 rating.
THE STORY: At least Arizona still has two more games against winless St. Louis to look forward to.


THE SCORE:
St. Louis (0-6) 7
DALLAS (3-3) 34
THE STATS: Dallas RB DeMarco Murray 25-253-1 TD.
THE STORY: Why was DeMarco Murray still available for pickup as a free agent in my fantasy league on Wednesday after he set a Dallas rushing record?


THE SCORE:
GREEN BAY (7-0) 33
Minnesota (1-6) 27
THE STATS: Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers 24-30-335-0-3 TD, 146.5 rating.
THE STORY: Yes, Minnesota blew another halftime lead (17-13).


THE SCORE:
Indianapolis (0-7) 7
NEW ORLEANS (5-2) 62
THE STATS: New Orleans: 36 1st downs, 557 yards, 38:19 possession.
THE STORY: NBC showed Peyton Manning on the sidelines so many times during the Sunday Night broadcast, I thought I was watching ESPN "This is SportsCenter" commercials.


THE SCORE:
Baltimore (4-2) 7
JACKSONVILLE (2-5) 12
THE STATS: Jacksonville defense: allowed just 146 yards.
THE STORY: Baltimore saved their worst performance of the year for the national spotlight of Monday Night Football.

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