NFL Preseason Week 3 Review: Part 1

Patriots 27 Redskin 24

Brady and Moss continue to look as good as they ever did. For sure the Pats have to be a little worried about Brady’s shoulder but they aren’t letting on as is usually the case. On the other hand, they released Kevin O’Connell so I guess they aren’t THAT worried. Two picks will get you a pink slip, though and that was O’Connell’s contribution to the game. Moss  (6-90-2)  was the highlight for the Patriots but Joey Galloway (4-30) and Laurence Maroney (7-16 AND 3-30) are intriguing as well.

Jason Campbell had a good day, 13/22 209 though the Skins still have nothing new going on in the wide reciever corps – Cooley (2-87)  and Santana Moss (5-56) are still the mainstays although Devin Thomas looked good in his 3 catches for 36 yards. Either he or Malcolm Kelly need to step up but so far neither has really made an appreciable impact and probably won’t any time soon.

Packers  44  Cardinals 37

Here’s a few things I took away from this game – 1) if Beanie Wells is healthy he’s every bit the stud running back the Cards hoped.7 carries 46 yards and 2 TDS? Are you joking? The first-round draft pick out of Ohio State showed good patience in allowing his teammates to set up blocks and excellent lateral movement as he slashed his way to the end zone for his first score -- a 20-yard run in the second quarter.

2) Matt Leinart isn’t done yet it seems. Leinart's 24/38 360, 3 TDs and 1 INT was a very solid outing and with Brian St. Pierre injured, Leinart is trying to remind folks in Arizona there is more to him than internet photos of underaged drinking.

Both players did it against a solid Green Bay 3-4 scheme which totaled two interceptions and two fumbles against the Cardinals.

Green Bay's first team defense now has 12 turnovers over the first three weeks of the preseason. The transition to the new scheme has really been nearly seemless and in the game forced seven fumbles (three from cornerback Charles Woodson - don’t sleep on him in IDP) and four sacks.

 Also this just in – Aaron Rodgers is pretty good and so is Jermicheal Finley. Rodgers had a very impressive 3 touchdown, 258 yard day in just two quarters of work and even showed some footwork with a 34-yard scramble in the first quarter. Finely had four catches for 28 yards and 2 touchdowns. He seems to be passing Donald Lee in production if not status in the tight end pecking order.

Lions 18 Colts 17

Yes, the Lions are 2-1 in preseason games but remember that they were undefeated last year and we all know how that worked out. Still, Lions fans should be happy as both Daunte Culpepper (7/12 – 67yds 1 TD) and Matthew Stafford (13/19 – 160, 1 INT) looked pretty good. CPepp had the TD to Bryant Johnson, Stafford had the yards, but also a pick.  The line did give up a pair of sacks but is overall looking better than I expected. Meanwhile Kevin Smith continues to put in stud-performances, tonight compiling 50 yards on 8 carries as well as 3 catches for 33 yards receiving. Brandon Pettigrew (2-24) and Calvin Johnson (4-67) both had solid games as well.

The Colts’ main man Peyton Manning looked in mid-season form (12/15, 123, 1 TD) as did Dallas Clark (6-63-1). Joseph Addai still battles it out with UCONN Rookie Donald Brown. Addai (7-22) wasn’t terribly impressive but neither was Brown (5-16) save Brown had a touchdown. In Addais' 'plus' column, he did have a nice 21 yard catch. I still say Brown will take that job by mid-season and Addai hasn’t shown me enough to change that yet.

Saints 45, Raiders 7

The Saints are who we thought they were. Brees looked great (14/17–179-2), Shockey looked healthy (4-48) and we continue to see solid running from backs not named Bush or Thomas. This time rookie PJ Hill showed us something with a 83 yard and 2 TD performance. The Saints look ready to roll and defensively they looked solid as well although let's be honest - it WAS the Raiders offense they played against.

What can you say about the Raiders? That they look bad? That they totaled just 9 first downs to the Saints 31? Zach Miller (5-74) had a solid night and rookie wide receiver Louis Murphy stepped up with a nice 2 catches for 84 yards. Unfortunately, JaMarcus Russell continues to look adequate at best and Jeff Garcia is nipping at his heels. There still isn't a ton to be excited about here beyond Miller and Darren McFadden.

Steelers 17, Bills 0

The Bills worry me, they just do. Their offensive line worked better this week but defensively they looked pretty shaky. Buffalo's starters allowed 12 first downs, 209 total yards of offense and over 21 minutes in time of possession. Trent Edwards (6/13 31-1INT) continues to struggle, Terrell Owens is still out, and the run game has looked better. Can Owens and company turn it around? In Week 1 they have to play New England, so they‘d better.

Ben Roethlisberger looked solid in the game, though he didn’t throw any touchdowns. The biggest Steeler story is probably second year back Rashard Mendenhall, who compiled 48 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Mendenhall looked solid hitting the holes and could be a real threat to Willie Parker’s redzone carries. The Steelers receivers were led by Hines Ward (5-74) and Limas Sweed (4-34) who has looked more comfortable as the season has moved on.

Browns 23, Titans 17

The Browns still have to figure out who will be the quarterback here. Both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson played pretty well in inclement weather, showing accuracy and strength in at times rainy and windy conditions. We can probably nip those Brett Ratliffe rumors in the bud, huh?

The real story (aside from Braylon Edwards actually catching the 3 balls thrown his way for a total of 51 yards and touchdown) continues to be rookie running back James Davis. Davis had 5 carries for 28 yards but added another 27 yards on 4 catches. Sure. it's not his 116 yards against Detroit, but he’s doing all the right things and looks good. Jamal Lewis only got 23 yards on twice as many carries. You do the math there.

Lewis will still get his work, but Davis will start to bite in more and more if he keeps this up and if the Browns have a rough season, assume you will see more of him sooner than later.

For the Titans, Vince Young continues to show flashes of both bad (a pick six to Browns Linebacker Andre Hall) and good (a nice scramble for 23 yards through the Browns defense). The Titans can’t trust this guy – neither should fantasy owners. Kerry Collins is serviceable, but at some point this team needs a future answer at quarterback.