NFL Week 6: Top Heroes and Zeroes From This Week's Games
Week 6 in the NFL produced its fair share of heroes and goats, while also producing some of the harder hits of the season. Some postgame commentary made me cringe at the thought of fines that will be issued. It was the type of weekend that had the NFL rethinking the method of tackles and which should be violations.
As we ponder a brief moment during Monday Night's contest, let's delve into the winners and loser around the league.
Hero No. 10: Peyton Manning
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Peyton Manning was in the middle of a tough battle Sunday night against the Washington Redskins. But, as Colts fans are aware, Manning hardly falters under pressure. With a comeback looming from the Redskins, Manning kept the Colts moving.
While many may hate on the Colts' quarterback, no one can deny that he is one of the most consistent performers around.
Goat No. 10: Donovan McNabb
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While Manning was leading the charge, McNabb was running from the onslaught. While his being forced from the pocket is largely a deficiency in the line, his lack of quality in the drives late in the game are all his own.
McNabb may have been suffering from a slight hamstring pull as we have learned. He was ineffective in orchestrating a late drive to tie the game. It is something that we have taken for granted as he has done it 25 times in his career. On Sunday, McNabb looked a step slower and a tad older.
Hero No. 9: Brandon Marshall
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The Dolphins were able to pull out an away victory on Sunday in Green Bay. A good portion of that success is due to the reliable hands of Brandon Marshall.
While Miami has been enamored with the wildcat offense for a couple of seasons, they lacked a sure-handed outlet for them to throw to. Chad Henne had his man in Brandon Marshall on Sunday. His 10 catches and 127 yards had the Dolphins in Green Bay territory all day.
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Goat No. 9: Renaldo Hill
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You never like to see a game end on a penalty. That is essentially what happened in Denver. Renaldo was flagged for pass interference on a 40-yard Mark Sanchez pass. What makes the penalty so excruciating is that it came on fourth down with just 70 seconds in the game.
Hill's pass interference would result in a first down and eventually a touchdown run by LaDainian Tomlinson. That would be the end of the game.
Hero No. 8: Sam Bradford
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Last week, Sam Bradford looked confused against the Detroit Lions. This week, he looked confident and more like the leader a quarterback should be. Such is the life of a rookie starting quarterback. Bradford was remarkably calm under the pass rush. This is the main reason for Sunday's success against the formidable San Diego Chargers.
Bradford looked like he was unaware of any pass rush at times. He checked over his options and never hurried. Bradford was more seasoned vet than rookie. At least for one day.
Goat No. 8: Brett Favre
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Brett Favre had a lackluster game against Dallas this weekend. This is not why I include him here though. It is for the constant attention he has brought to the Minnesota Vikings.
Getting to the playoffs is tough enough without constant media attention. What makes matters worse is the attention is unnecessary. What started as the annual retirement buzz has now taken the form of a lewd scandal that follows the gunslinger every week.
With a pending meeting with the NFL on Tuesday or Wednesday, Favre's status this season will continue to be an issue at least for the remaining week.
Hero No. 7: Ben Roethlisberger
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The Steelers were already a good team, going 3-1 without their star quarterback. Those hoping to gain ground on the Steelers may have missed their opportunity.
Ben Roethlisberger showed little signs of rust as he came off his four-game suspension this weekend. Big Ben threw for 257 yards and added three touchdowns in the rout of the Cleveland Browns.
Goat No. 7: Albert Haynesworth
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What has started as a headache may become cancerous to the 3-3 Washington Redskins. The Skins threw $23 million at the star defensive tackle. He immediately made them regret it by holding out until his own idea of how the defensive line should be formed was instituted.
It seems that the Haynesworth saga continues. He has stated that he feels he is ready to play. But it looks as though Mike Shanahan has no plans of doing so. They are content to sit their malcontent as some form of punishment.
Hero No. 6: Drew Brees
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Drew Brees quieted his critics on Sunday. Many felt that the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees were just not the same powerhouse they were last year when they captured the city's first Super Bowl.
Brees answered back with over 260 yards throwing and three touchdowns. He wasn't afraid of airing it out either. Two of his touchdowns passes were for over 40 yards, one to Lance Moore and one to Robert Meachem. I had a feeling it was too early to count the Saints out.
Goat No. 6: Jason Campbell
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Jason Campbell was downright awful on Sunday. He threw for 83 yards. He completed only eight passes and had two interceptions. He almost completed as many passes to the 49ers as he did his own team. Raiders brass would do well to burn his jersey in the hopes of getting all the funk out of it.
His passer rating was a dismal 10.7. I think that much like the SAT's, you get brownie points for just putting your jersey on correctly.
Hero No. 5: Matt Schaub
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I am still not sure if the Chiefs choked or the Texans won on Sunday. Either way, one thing is indisputable. Matt Schaub was on fire, at least for the fourth quarter.
Schaub put together three late drives, all of which ended in successful conversions. What was amazing were the last two. With seven minutes remaining and the Chiefs up by 10, Schaub went to work. He drove them down to the 1-yard line allowing Arian Foster to pound one in. After a quick Chiefs possession, he had the ball back and about 80 yards. The drive would end in an 11-yard TD and the victory.
Goat No. 5: Tom Cable
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We can blame Jason Campbell for being such a bad quarterback Sunday. But, why not blame the man that is supposed to make the decisions?
Now it must be tough coaching under Al Davis. The old man is set in his ways and he likes Jason Campbell. At some point Tom Cable has to look behind him and say, "my god, I have Kyle Boller sitting there ready to not throw interceptions."
It's a win-win. Even is Boller came in and threw two instant picks, you are basically just par for the course.
Hero No. 4: Kevin Kolb
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With Mike Vick sitting out due to a rib injury, Kevin Kolb to the helm. He was fantastic, again. Eagles fans have to think this may be the season for them. Granted you have one more great quarterback than is necessary but it has worked so far. When one is injured, the other performs.
The problem will come in the next week or so when Vick comes back healthy. There is no correct answer to this one. You may have to trade Kolb though. It is just ridiculous to have a quarterback with his talents rocking the headset rather than taking the snaps. His value may never be higher.
Goat No. 4: James Harrison
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On a week that saw a Rutgers player paralyzed and multiple NFL players on the ground concussed, James Harrsion spoke his mind. Too bad it was the wrong thing to say.
Harrison knocked out two Browns players with his violent hits. Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi both left the contest with concussions. When asked about his hard-hitting tactics, Harrison stated, "There's a big difference between being hurt and being injured. You get hurt, you shake it off and come back the next series or the next game. I try to hurt people."
Although NFL players are bred to impose their will on the gridiron, it was just the wrong weekend to say something like that. The NFL is now contemplating suspensions for similar helmet-to-helmet hits.
Hero No. 3: LaDainian Tomlinson
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LaDainian Tomlinson was supposed to be washed up. That is what we in Los Angeles were hearing from our brothers to the south in San Diego. Well, he isn't.
Now LT has to be thanking whoever is responsible for getting him to New York. He is reborn anew and for another week, he was the go-to guy in the red zone. He carried the ball 16 times and punched it in twice for two pivotal touchdowns.
Goat No. 3: Norv Turner
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Norv Turner has been leading the Chargers for some time now. It may be time for that to end. The Chargers have been making too many mistakes in this still young season. His defense is surprisingly soft and their special teams is a utter mess.
Furthermore, the Chargers are without a win on the road. This is with seemingly easy opponents being played. San Diego was embarrassed by Leon Washington in Seattle, they laid an egg in Oakland and then looked undermatched to the St. Louis Rams.
Hero No. 2: Alex Smith
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The people of San Francisco should hold a parade for Alex Smith. For one, he finally got the 49ers a win. Secondly, he may have calmed Mike Singletary down just a bit. One more loss and he may have gone on a shooting rampage.
The 49ers came into the season as clear favorites to win the NFC West. They then went on to lose five straight games to start the season. Because the division is so bad, the 49ers were not exactly eliminated before Sunday's contest. A win was very necessary. Alex Smith may have saved the season at least for one more week.
Goat No. 2: Jay Cutler
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Jay Cutler was awful for the second game in a row. He was sacked six times and ineffective in a loss to Seattle.
Now be for you scream at the top of your lungs that the Bears' offensive line is trash, I tell you to look at not only Sunday's game but his last start against the Giants where he was sacked 10 times. In both games, there were obvious outlet options for him to gain yards on. The problem is Cutler is stuck in a Mike Martz offense which necessitates looking downfield for 10 minutes. You do this until you find the perfect option or you get sacked. Well, he is getting sacked.
It is time for Cutler to pick up four yards at a time rather than hoping the line holds for six seconds. That is just common sense.
Hero No. 1: Randy Moss
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For the most part, modern day wide receivers are an egotistical bunch. Often there is not much to like because they like themselves all too much. In a rare turn of events, one of the more confident receivers became a surprise leader.
During half time of Sunday afternoon's game against Dallas, Randy Moss put on the hat of team leader. I am surprised it fit with the big head he plays with. The talk he gave worked on one youngster in Percy Harvin. At the beginning of the third quarter, he ran back a 95-yard kickoff for six. After that the Vikings were rolling. Coach Brad Childress attributed the turnaround directly to Randy Moss.
Goat No. 1: Wade Phillips
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This was supposed to be a magical season for the Dallas Cowboys. Instead they find themselves at 1-4 in the tough NFC East. There seems to be no end in sight. Especially considering their head coach is a lame duck.
What is known is that Jerry Jones will not fire Phillips this season. He may be of the understanding that a coaching change rarely if at all works in the middle of the season. So the Cowboys are left with a coach that approaches each week with calm and ease. What the Cowboys need is the exact opposite. It looks like they will not be getting that anytime soon.
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