NFL Splinters: Week 14

Baker’s dozen

Whether it’s a case of finding a way to win, or finding a way to not lose, the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans continue their weekly re-establishment of history. Both improved to 13-0. For the mathematicians out there, that's 26-0 combined. Indy downed Denver, 28-16. N’awlins trimmed Atlanta, 26-23.

Hard to comprehend it, but the Colts defense was the difference—despite allowing a record day on offense for one Bronco.  After jumping to a 21-0 lead, Gary Brackett led the charge as the Colts stopped the Broncos on three fourth down attempts. Indy limited Denver to 6-of-17 on third down situations, and the Broncos came away with just two touchdowns in four trips to red zone. Brackett registered 10 tackles—two for a loss.

All this came on a day when Brandon Marshall wiped the slate clean—at least as far as reception records go. Marshall made 21 catches, topping the old single game mark of 20, set by Terrell Owens.

Unfortunately, the rest of the Bronco offense could not keep up. Marshall accounted for 200 yards through the air. The rest of the Broncos managed 157 yards of offense.

With the win, Indy grabs home-field advantage in the playoffs, establishes a new mark for consecutive regular season victories (22) and victories in a decade (114).

Last week, the Saints took advantage of a missed field goal to beat the Washington Redskins in overtime. This week, Jonathan Vilma stopped Jason Snelling one yard short of a first down, and the Saints made good. Vilma’s stick came on fourth down with little more than a minute remaining.

Pierre Thomas gained 100 yards from scrimmage—47 rushing and 53 receiving. Reggie Bush sealed the victory with two touchdowns on a pair of passes from Drew Brees. Reports have it that Bush did not need any teammates to push him over the goal line.

Racing in the Street

Recent traffic infractions behind them, the Minnesota Vikings righted their ship with a 30-10 victory over Cincinnati. Minnesota clinched a playoff spot as Adrian Peterson rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Bernard Berrian chipped in with 4 receptions for 47 yards. Meanwhile, the Viking defense held Carson Palmer to a season-low 94 passing yards.

Last week’s 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals looks like a pit stop for Team Viking.

Peterson and Berrian were both recently stopped for speeding. Berrian clocked in at 104 mph. Peterson bested his teammate at 109 mph.

“When the strip shuts down we run ‘em in the street from the fire roads to the interstate.”

Going in Opposite Directions

San Diego downed Dallas 20-17. The Chargers have won eight in a row and Philip Rivers is 16-0 in the month of December. The Cowboys, on the other hand? The 'Pokes have lost their last two, and there is something about the month of December and futility for Jerra Jones’ team. That’s all right.

Yesterday, the Cowboy organization etched their mark into NFL history as their first team to show their game in 3D on the stadium video board. Oh, and in other news, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are having marital troubles…NEXT!

The joke from Sunday night’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants: I went to a track meet and a football game broke out. The two combined for 886 yards of total offense. And that’s not even counting a 72 yard punt return by DeSean Jackson. Geez…what happened to Philly-Giant games of the past. You know…three yards and a cloud of dust? Instead, it was a case of – “up and down”…the field that is. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew has been reduced to a band of matadors searching for the ghost of Ernest Hemingway. Philly coach Andy Reid got so caught up in the frivolities that he went for for a chest….errr…hip bump with Jackson. That alone could have earned Reid a POTW.

Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!

Prior to the season, few, if any, of us could have predicted the Cleveland Browns playing Muhammad Ali to the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers’ season. But Thursday night, the Browners delivered a knockout punch, 13-6. The glaring statistic from Thursday’s game is the eight sacks endured by Ben Roethlisberger. Eight sacks? To the Cleveland Browns? Wait…How many sacks did the Browns have going into that game? 24? That means the Browns picked up 25% of their current sack total against the defending, now definitely past tense, Super Bowl champion, Pittsburgh Steelers. I am trying to imagine the discussions in the huddle. Does anyone think Big Ben became a tad concerned with assignments? Any moments of awkward silence? What are the chances Roethlisberger was reduced to begging?

Fumbling With the Blues

Okay, so this should probably be titled "Intercepting With the Blues." It’s just that Tom Waits had something else in mind. Not that it sounds better or anything.  

A year ago, Matt Cassel and Jay Cutler were flying high.

Cassel proved himself capable of sustaining an NFL life outside Tom Brady’s shadow. The USC grad was on his way to his first full season under center. He completed 327 of 516 for 21 TDs and just 11 picks. Yesterday, Cassel completed four passes…to the Buffalo Bills, running his season totals to 13 interceptions and 13 touchdowns.

Last year, Cutler threw 25 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Somehow, that gave him license to question Josh McDaniels. We all know the story about Cutler making a move to Chicago. Yesterday, the old boy tossed two more interceptions. The Vanderbilt alum currently has 22 picks and 19 touchdowns. How is the move looking right about now?

“And it’s hard to win when you always lose.”

Sympathy For the Devil

In the past, much has been said about Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens—not much of it is nice. Is age mellowing T.O.? He was knocked down a peg by Brandon Marshall yesterday. Maybe Owens is coming to grips with his mortality. Maybe it’s the fact that he has burned more bridges than JFK (think Bay of Pigs/Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War, Jimmy Hoffa, Marilyn Monroe). It’s just that with the Buffalo Bills air attack accounting for 86 yards yesterday, and 96 a week ago, one would expect Terrell to have a hissy fit.

That is what he has done in the past. But he hasn’t this year. In fact, T.O. commented that he is considering a return to Buffalo next year. Hmph. I don’t know what to make of that.

“I shouted out, who killed the Kennedys? When after all, it was you and me.”

The Chinchillas

Monday night lights

Revenge is in the air. San Francisco opened the season on the road with 20-16 defeat of the Arizona Cardinals. The Super Bowl runner-ups are catching their stride. Nate Clements is out. Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin should provide the entertainment Oh, Oh, Oh.

Got any NFL splinters? Post them here.

Pickin' Splinters