| Contributing editor Joel
Buchsbaum discusses what jumped out at him during the Sunday games from Week Five. Tampa
Bay at Washington: "Basically a top defensive game with a lot of intensity.
Some missed scoring opportunities. The difference was the Buccaneers are hurting badly at
offensive tackle. Before the game I felt whichever team did the better job of running the
ball would win, and Washington had a big edge running."
Indianapolis at Buffalo: "Peyton Manning rallies the team at the
very end. It was a great job at the end. The last drive was beautiful. He showed why
he’s a champion."
Minnesota at Detroit: "Shootout-type game. Neither club matched
up well defensively against the other club’s offense. Randy Moss stepped up and had a
huge game."
N.Y. Giants at Tennessee: "Domination by Tennessee. They did
whatever they wanted on offense. They made almost every third-down conversion. This was
the best I’ve seen Steve McNair play for an entire game."
Pittsburgh at Jacksonville: "Jacksonville is a very beaten-up
team both emotionally and physically. And it showed. Pittsburgh went in there with nothing
to lose, with a care-free attitude, and they played smashmouth with them at times and they
really got after the quarterback. They were very aggressive. It was a tribute to Bill
Cowher."
Miami at Cincinnati: "Cincinnati seemed to have this game in hand
until right before the half when, I don’t know why they did it — Miami had just
kicked a field goal, (Cincinnati) was up by 10 points and all they have to do is take a
knee and go in at halftime with a 10-point lead — (but the Bengals) tried to make a
miraculous play. They don’t get it. Instead, Jason Taylor causes the fumble, picks it
up, takes it in for the touchdown."
New England at Denver: "The Patriots were more motivated for the
game. They were better-prepared for the game. The Patriots had masterful game plans on
both sides of the ball, and they deserved to win this one."
Arizona at San Francisco: "The 49ers’ young defense seems to
be coming together now to a degree. On offense, they are in sync. I don’t think they
missed Terrell Owens at all."
Chicago at Green Bay: "The Bears were better, and they also were
a little lucky. On defense they were better. They made the Packers one-dimensional by
taking away the running game. On offense Cade McNown threw up a couple of prayers that
were answered. One was the 68-yard touchdown to Marcus Robinson. And they ran the ball
fairly effectively for them."
Atlanta at Philadelphia: "(Brian) Mitchell had a great game on
special teams. I think Donovan McNabb has made a lot of progress since last year. But the
Eagles still have a tendency to self-destruct. There was the punt return (for a touchdown)
by (Atlanta’s) Tim Dwight when they could have put them away, all the penalties they
had, when it’s 14-7 and they’re on the one-yard line and they can’t convert
on third down."
Baltimore at Cleveland: "Baltimore’s defense had its third
shutout. What more can I say?"
Dallas at Carolina: "A big win for the Cowboys. It was a
nip-and-tuck game all the way. They pulled it out at the end. It was a must win for
them."
San Diego at St. Louis: "San Diego just couldn’t stop the
Ram offense." |
