Week 3 Judgements: Eli and Co. need to start show on time
Sep. 24, 2006
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
1. OK, so maybe he had to see for himself. At least now President Bush knows: No weapons of mass destruction in Tampa Bay, either.
2. If you want to know why coaches pay so much attention to that takeaway/turnover differential, look no further than the Jets' defeat of Buffalo. The Bills had 475 yards, including 150 rushing by Willis McGahee, and held the ball for over 33 minutes. Yet they lost. The reason: three turnovers, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The Jets had none and are +5 for the season. More important, they're 2-0 on the road after going winless there a year ago.
3. Forget about Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. I want to know what Bill Cowher's temperature was after Big Ben sabotaged a sure scoring drive with that interception in the end zone.
4. After watching Chicago's Alex Brown called for a horse-collar of Mewelde Moore, I think we need the rule clarified again. Say what? You can't tackle anyone by the shoulder pads?
5. So Alex Smith lost. This is what I like most about the improving San Francisco quarterback: Through three games he has no turnovers and has taken only four sacks -- three on Sunday. A year ago he had one touchdown pass, 11 fumbles and 11 interceptions. That's why they hired Norv Turner, folks.
6. I'm sorry, but Chad Johnson looked as if he was feeling the effects of last week's concussion. So why was he playing?
7. Next investigation for CSI: Miami: The Dolphins' missing offense. The Fins have two touchdowns in their last nine quarters and were lucky to escape a struggling -- OK, bad -- Tennessee team.
8. With Mike Shanahan winning five of his last six against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, do we say that he's gotten in Belichick's head?
9. Now you know why Andy Reid tires of those Brian Westbrook questions. Those two touchdowns, including a 71-yard run, tell you how much the running back is hurting. Oh, and nice stiff arm, Brian.
10. One week after hitting all eight passes in overtime, Eli Manning connects on 12 of 14, including three for TDs, in the fourth quarter. One problem: He had to dig out of a 42-3 ditch. And that seems to be this team's personality. It outscores its opponents 57-10 after the third quarter, but lags behind 82-24 the rest of the time. Someone buy these guys an alarm clock.
11. Let's see, one week Peyton Manning throws for 400 yards against Houston; the next Mark Brunell completes 22 straight passes against the Texans. I can't imagine where the Texans' pass defense would be without Mario Williams.
12. That was one gutsy call by Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis when he went for the first on fourth-and-one at the Cincinnati 30. It was early in the fourth period and he was down only 17-14. OK, so the Bengals made it ... but barely. Imagine if Carson Palmer got stuffed. It was a risk not worth taking.
13. Anyone notice that on Cleveland's last drive it was tight end Kellen Winslow who had three third-down catches, including two for firsts? Say what you want about his criticism of the Browns offense, but he got somebody to listen. Oh, and one other thing: He was right.
14. Terrell Owens says he can't wait for Philadelphia on Oct. 8. Excuse me, but I think it's the other way around.
15. Now playing at a theater near you: An Inconvenient Truth, starring Jeff Fisher and Billy Volek.
Survivor, Week 3
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona could've had Roethlisberger with the third pick of the 2004 draft. Instead, the Cards chose Fitzgerald and waited two years for Matt Leinart. Now Roethlisberger's working on the second two-game losing streak of his career, and critics in Pittsburgh are wondering if the Steelers made a mistake returning him to the field this soon. On Sunday he hit 18-of-39 for 208 yards and had a potential game-tying TD dropped late. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, had six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, but the Cards lost. Advantage: Draw.
Antonio Bryant vs. Brandon Lloyd
The 49ers traded away Lloyd, then promptly replaced him with the enigmatic Bryant. Bryant starts the season with a couple of monster games, while Lloyd suffers with the rest of the Washington offense. On Sunday, Bryant had four catches for 36 yards; Lloyd had two receptions for 20 yards. Advantage: Bryant.
Rod Marinelli vs. Dick Jauron
The Lions interviewed several candidates for their head-coaching vacancy, including Jauron, then settled on Marinelli. On Sunday he lost his third straight with the Lions while Jauron lost his second this season with Buffalo ... in his home opener. Advantage: Jauron, because of last week's defeat of Miami.
King for a day
Quarterback Mark Brunell had to listen to a lot of flak last week, most of it from reporters asking what was wrong with his offense. Well, Brunell saved his answer for the Houston Texans, setting an NFL record with 22 straight completions and finishing 24-of-27 for 261 yards and a TD. Does Clinton Portis make that much of a difference or was Sunday's result more a reflection of how dreadful Houston is? Stay tuned. In the meantime, Brunell doesn't have to answer to anyone for the next week.
Just asking but ...
1. Could someone put out an APB on the Giants' pass rush?
2. How happy do you think New England's Bill Belichick is with that preseason trip to China?
3. Is it too soon to start lobbying for Chad Pennington as Comeback Player of the Year?
4. Anyone asking "Who dey?" in Pittsburgh now?
5. Who felt worse -- Patrick Chukwurah or TV viewers forced to watch replays of the Denver defensive end blowing lunch?
