NFL Week 5: Eagles Lay an Egg And Week 4 Performance Grades
Week 4 brought more excitement to the 2010 NFL season than many fans bargained for, and Week 5 could have the same impact.
Close games came down to the wire with last-minute victories in a few games, and even a couple of games that were routs early on ended in a close decision.
As always, there are both good and bad to be taken from each team's performance, so here's my take on how each team played in Week 4 with grades for each team.
Arizona Cardinals
1 of 28
The Arizona Cardinals have gotten away with their shoddy play in their two victories, but it has cost them dearly with two blowout losses as well.
Sunday against the San Diego Chargers was no different. The defense let Antonio Gates trot through the secondary wide open on his two touchdown grabs. The defense gave up big chunks of yards no matter how the Chargers wanted them. Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews took 25 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns, while Philip Rivers only needed to connect on 15 throws to go for 241 yards and two more touchdowns.
And if you were holding your breath in anticipation of the Max Hall era, it finally began as Derek Anderson rode the bench after yet another pitiful performance. Hall was 8-of-14 for 82 yards in relief work, and who knows if he's much of a better option than Anderson. At least he wasn't turning the ball over?
Grade: F
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 28
The Falcons are 3-1. The fact that two of those wins have come on the strength of the opponent's miscues doesn't matter much to them. It's the fact that they've been able to capitalize on those miscues that speaks volumes for this team.
Matt Ryan didn't have the game of his life, throwing two interceptions against just one touchdown, but did enough to keep the Falcons in it until the very end. His second interception nearly cost the Falcons the game, but Roddy White was able to strip the ball from Nate Clements' hands and the Falcons ended up in field goal range for the game-winner with two seconds left.
The defense played well, albeit against what's been an anemic 49ers offense, but you only have to play well enough to beat your opponent, and that's exactly what the Falcons did.
Grade: B+
Buffalo Bills
3 of 28
Nobody runs in circles like the Buffalo Bills.
They may have put up big yards and big points against the Patriots in Week 3, but none of that was to be against the Jets this week. They just couldn't keep a drive going, as Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 12-of-27 passes for 128 yards, and although he connected for the team's only two touchdown throws, the Bills didn't get the production or the protection they were looking for.
The defense did absolutely nothing to stop the onslaught of the Jets offense, allowing both LT and Shonn Greene to cross the 100-yard plateau.
After a respectable performance last week, the Bills proved that they are who we thought they were: a punching bag.
Grade: D-
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Baltimore Ravens
4 of 28
A popular preseason pick for the Super Bowl, the Baltimore Ravens got it done this week against a 3-0 division opponent who was becoming a trendy bandwagon pick for the Super Bowl. The Steelers are still without their starting quarterback, and it was the Ravens quarterback who put the exclamation point on the game with a late touchdown drive for the lead.
The defense was able to hold Rashard Mendenhall to a low average despite his two touchdown carries. It wasn't flashy, but is it ever between these two teams? It's all about who does enough to get the win.
Grade: B+
Carolina Panthers
5 of 28
The defense was the only thing for Panthers fans to be excited about on Sunday. It was because the Saints weren't able to pile on the points that the Panthers ever had a shot to begin with.
But it can't all fall on the defense, especially when New Orleans defense is playing this type of football.
DeAngelo Williams had a nice game on paper, but it was below average when you take out the big 39-yard touchdown run. For a team that has so heavily relied on its running game in the past, that's not the type of output you're looking for.
This team is a shell of the 12-4 team that earned a first-round bye just two seasons ago. John Fox is in his last year contractually, and I'd be awfully surprised if he kept his job after this year.
Grade: C
Chicago Bears
6 of 28
The Bears weren't brought back to Earth on Sunday night. They came crashing down like a meteorite. Or like Jay Cutler to the turf.
There's really no soft way to land when a 3-0 team lets up nine sacks in the first half, and produces a total of 110 yards of offense for the game.
The defense played marvelously in the first half, keeping the game within three points at halftime. Julius Peppers was a force to be reckoned with once again, but in the long run, the Giants running game got the better of them.
The Mike Martz offense has its ups and downs. Over the past three weeks, we've seen the ups. This week, we saw the downs as Cutler was brought down. Again, and again, and again...
and again, and again, and again...
and again, and again, and again...
and again.
Grade: F
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 28
Losing to the Cleveland Browns is never a means to get a good "grade" (even if the Bengals gave a damn about my opinion of them). Carson Palmer and Terrell Owens both had their best games in a long time statistically, but it wasn't enough in what proved to be a hard-fought, bitter divisional matchup.
Despite his big statistical day, Palmer was harassed by the Browns defensive front as his offensive line couldn't get protection for him. Four sacks was the name of the game, and a couple of those proved to be the most costly kind: a third-quarter sack fumble that was taken down the field and resulted in a field goal, then a drive-killer late in the game that forced a punt and gave the Browns the ball back for good.
Cincinnati has been up-and-down since Week 1, and they need to regain their consistency if they're going to have a shot at retaining the AFC North title.
Grade: C+
Cleveland Browns
8 of 28
It's starting to cool off in Cleveland, and Eric Mangini's hot seat may be following suit.
Seneca Wallace had a nice performance with 18-of-30 for 184 yards, a touchdown, and a pick, but Peyton Hillis was the workhorse for the Browns yet again, breaking 100 yards for the third consecutive week and scoring a touchdown for the fourth consecutive week.
Despite the big yards and points given up, the Browns defense did what it had to to preserve their fourth quarter lead, which they've had in each of the previous three losses. They still have to answer some issues in the secondary, but they hope those answers will come with time.
Grade: B+
Denver Broncos
9 of 28
Kyle Orton doesn't strike many as the type of quarterback that can win a game with a clutch performance, but that's exactly what he did against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. A 26-20 win for Denver was punctuated by Orton's two touchdown throws, one to Eddie Royal and the other to Correll Buckhalter.
Although the Broncos had the ninth-ranked rush defense in the league going into this week, many (myself included) are surprised that they were able to shut down Chris Johnson. Whatever they rank this week, it should come with a big asterisk for their ability to do it against one of the best backs in the league, and one who breaks 100 yards as easily as many football fans break wind from the comfort of their couch.
A big road win is exactly what the Broncos needed to prove that they're not out of it just yet.
Grade: A
Detroit Lions
10 of 28
How can a team that's 0-4 exceed expectations? Just ask the Detroit Lions. They've made a close game of three out of those four losses, and covered the spread by a long shot on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Another tough effort from the Lions ended in a loss, but to suffer only a two-point loss to the preseason Super Bowl favorite Green Bay Packers says a lot about the resolve of this Lions team.
Still, I bet if you asked the Lions, they wouldn't be too satisfied with their second 0-4 start in the past three years. Good performances from the team as a whole help ease the pain of another loss, but they don't eliminate it.
Grade: C+
Green Bay Packers
11 of 28
After a disappointing loss on Monday Night Football, the Green Bay Packers could have come out firing on all cylinders against the Detroit Lions. They turned a 28-14 lead into a 28-26 victory when they allowed the Lions to claw and crawl their way back into the game.
They created a lot of pressure and two interceptions, but giving up 431 yards of total offense to Detroit isn't exactly the way for a Super Bowl favorite to make a name for itself, but that's exactly what the Packers did on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers, who many thought could have an All Pro season, was limited to just 17 attempts and two interceptions to go with his three touchdown tosses.
Grade: B-
Indianapolis Colts
12 of 28
The Colts have proven one fact beyond a shadow of a doubt: they can't win on Peyton Manning alone. He has thrown for over 300 yards and over two touchdowns in each of their losses, and the Colts now sit at 2-2.
The offense did enough to keep them in, it was the defense that struggled and gave the Jaguars a chance from the start. They didn't give up huge chunks of yards, but they allowed the Jaguars to hang onto the ball and matriculate the ball down the field on a long scoring drive to start the game.
Peyton Manning is still the man in Indy, but for the Colts to be a great football team, it'll take the efforts of everyone. Especially the defense.
Grade: C
Houston Texans
13 of 28
Arian Foster had one of his better performances against the Raiders defense on Sunday as the Texans piled on a 31-14 lead. Matt Schaub wasn't the passing leader he was last year, but was very effective and efficient behind an offensive line that gave him all day to throw.
The defense raised some concerns when they gave up 10 quick points against the Raiders to let them right back into the game late in the fourth quarter, but they did quiet Darren McFadden who had been making a lot of noise over the past few weeks.
Grade: B+
Jacksonville Jaguars
14 of 28
Josh Scobee's 59-yard field goal was the third-longest game-winner in league history. Still, the Jaguars will take a win any way they can get it at this juncture.
Maurice Jones-Drew broke 100 yards for the first time this season, as the Jaguars took advantage of what's been a hapless Colts defense to say the least.
The defense got lit up by Peyton Manning, but that's to be expected. The important thing is they didn't let him run the game, instead the Jaguars controlled the tempo and came out with the win.
Grade: B+
Miami Dolphins
15 of 28
It's hard to believe this was supposed to be a close game after watching the 41-14 debacle in South Beach.
The Dolphins couldn't put it together on offense, with Chad Henne surrendering three costly interceptions, each one deflating the Dolphins more and more to the point where there was practically no chance for survival.
But he wasn't alone in turning the ball over. The special teams gave up two big turnovers, on a blocked punt and a blocked field goal, that both set up New England touchdowns.
That was ugly, to say the least.
It's hard to find positives from this game, but if there's one to be had, it's the ease with which the Dolphins moved the ball...before turning it over.
Grade: D-
New England Patriots
16 of 28
The New England offense didn't do much, but when you generate 14 points on two special teams touchdowns, a touchdown on an interception return, and another touchdown on a 25-yard possession from a blocked punt, do you really need to do much on offense?
The defense and special teams was what won the Patriots this game. Patrick Chung's blocks of a punt and a field goal as well as his interception return for a touchdown easily make him player of the week.
For what was supposed to be a close game, the Patriots proved a point about their road woes on Monday Night Football. The world criticized them, and the world saw what they can do.
Grade: A
New Orleans Saints
17 of 28
16 points from the Saints isn't what we're used to seeing, but the Saints defense did enough against rookie Jimmy Clausen to win the game.
It's clear that the offense doesn't plan to run much, in the absence of Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Chris Ivory has 12 carries and a 5.6 yard per carry average.
The strong point came against the run, where they held Deangelo Williams to 3.5 yards per carry if you take away the 39 yard run.
The Panthers proved to be a challenge for their NFC South rival, but in the end, dome field advantage against a winless team made all the difference.
Grade: B
New York Giants
18 of 28
To say the Giants defense harassed Jay Cutler may be the understatement of the season at this point. 10 sacks, including nine in the first half, helped the Giants remind people that they still have one of the fiercest pass rushes in the league, even without Mathias Kiwanuka.
The Giants offense was all but anemic in the first half, putting up a meager three points despite a huge defensive performance. Ahmad Bradshaw found his rhythm, and even Brandon Jacobs got in on the fun with his first touchdown run of the year.
The Giants needed this win just about as badly as you could imagine, and to do it against an undefeated team in impressive fashion means the Giants may soon turn things around.
Grade: A
New York Jets
19 of 28
Yet another solid performance from everyone in a Jets uniform saw Mark Sanchez have another career day, with 161 yards on 14 completions with two touchdowns. This marks Sanchez's fourth consecutive game without an interception, something that many thought would plague the second-year quarterback all season.
The rush attack also had a big game against the Bills, as both LT and Shonn Greene went off for over 100 yards, and LT added two touchdowns.
The Jets defensive effort gets lost in the facts that 1) the offense dominated and 2) they played the Bills. Still, they shut just about everything down and got enough pressure on Ryan Fitzpatrick to make him scramble seven times.
Grade: A-
Oakland Raiders
20 of 28
So much for all those claims that for the first time in a long time, the Raiders had a chance to win the AFC West. Now, the Bruce is running out of his juice as Gradkowski threw two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions against the Texans defense.
Likewise, the Raiders just couldn't get a pass rush on Matt Schaub, and worse yet, they couldn't stop Arian Foster from trotting all over them into the end zone on 16 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. That is a deadly combination against a high-powered offense like the Texans.
The Raiders fought back into the game, but it wasn't enough against a Texans team that is coming to win every week.
Grade: B-
Philadelphia Eagles
21 of 28
This time, the quarterback controversy isn't self-induced. Michael Vick's rib injury in the first quarter meant Kevin Kolb got to go to work again, and in the youngster's chance to take his job back, it didn't take long for the boos to rain down on him.
He made the worst kind of impression. He was checking down time and time again, almost flat-out refusing to take shots downfield. Even on the touchdown drive, DeSean Jackson was wide open in the end zone but was overlooked for a checkdown to LeSean McCoy. He got the Eagles into the end zone on a throw to Brent Celek, but it was too little too late.
Philly's defense played admirably by holding the Redskins without a point in the second half, but the ineptitude of the offense was the tell-tale sign of a loss for an Eagles team that has been as potent as any offense in the league with Vick.
Grade: C-
Pittsburgh Steelers
22 of 28
Even though Charlie Batch didn't have the best game of his season, it almost doesn't even matter since this was probably the last game of his season as Ben Roethlisberger returns in Week 6. The Steelers offense played sluggishly, though, failing to move more than three to four yards at a time.
The defense didn't make use of the exotic blitzes we're used to seeing, but they were still able to hold the high-powered Ravens offense to just 17 points. To think, if they had just been able to create pressure, perhaps Flacco wouldn't have gotten 256 yards and a touchdown.
The offense may be shaky, but the Steel Curtain is certain. Still, it wasn't enough for a win.
Grade: C
San Diego Chargers
23 of 28
The Chargers dominated on offense and defense, and didn't let their not-so-special teams get in the way against the Cardinals.
The defense harassed anyone who had the ball in a Cardinals uniform, tallying nine sacks, two interceptions, and allowed only 3.4 yards per carry to Arizona.
Likewise, the Chargers offense played some of its best football to date as Rivers threw for two scores, Ryan Mathews had his first NFL touchdown and over 100 yards, and Mike Tolbert added another score. Both backs averaged six yards per carry against the Cardinals.
There aren't enough game balls to go around for the beating the Chargers laid on the Cardinals on Sunday.
Grade: A
San Francisco 49ers
24 of 28
Just when you thought you knew what the 49ers were, they went and found another way to lose by coughing up a 14-0 first-quarter lead against the Falcons.
The defense hasn't lived up to expectations over the first few weeks, but held the Falcons to a touchdown and three field goals. The offense, however, came out flat and only put up one touchdown. The other points came on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone by Taylor Mays.
If you're looking for positives from this game as a 49ers fan, good luck. The only question now is, who's more to blame: Alex Smith or Mike Singletary?
Grade: C
Seattle Seahawks
25 of 28
Something is odd about Pete Carroll's motivational tactics. The Seahawks look great when they're the underdog, but lay an egg against teams they should beat.
They will need to be much more effective running the ball where Justin Forsett's 19 carries only gave them 65 yards. It doesn't all fall on him, though. Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception and coughed up a fumble.
The defense did its job in containing the gimpy Steven Jackson, but Sam Bradford lit up the boards with 289 yards and two touchdowns, despite being picked off once.
Good teams win on the road, and the Seahawks are proving it by failing to do so.
Grade: D
St. Louis Rams
26 of 28
The Rams won two games in their first four, when many thought they wouldn't win more than two all season.
The decision to draft Sam Bradford looks better and better each time he drops back to throw. He may not have been laser accurate, but completing 23-of-41 attempts for 289 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick as a rookie says a lot about the iron will of Bradford.
The defense came up big all day, limiting the Seahawks to just 15 first downs on the day. Generating a pass rush all day led to four sacks and an interception, to go with under 10 yards per completion and a paltry average of 4.7 yards per passing play for Hasselbeck.
Grade: B+
Tennessee Titans
27 of 28
In four weeks, Chris Johnson has been held to less than 100 yards twice. When Johnson is held that low, it's up to Vince Young to step up and make plays, but that didn't happen. 17-of-28 for 172 yards and a touchdown may get it done against a team like the Giants that was shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly, but not against the high-powered Broncos offense.
Kyle Orton is playing some great football right now, but they can't seem to get any momentum running the ball. It will be up to teams to stop Orton if they want to stop the Broncos, and the Titans just couldn't do that on Sunday.
Grade: C
Washington Redskins
28 of 28
The Redskins were able to overcome getting blanked in the second half, more thanks to Kevin Kolb's utter unwillingness to take a shot downfield.
The defense did what it had to against what was a high-powered offense by limiting Kolb to just 201 yards on 35 attempts, 22 completions.
There wasn't a whole lot to be excited about after the first quarter on offense for the Redskins. Donovan McNabb completed far less than 50 percent of his passes, and threw an interception despite his early touchdown throw.
It wasn't pretty, but the Redskins did what they had to do by taking the wind out from under the Eagles' wings early with the two touchdown drives.
Grade: C+
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