| Contributing editor Joel
Buchsbaum discusses what jumped out at him during the Sunday games from Week Nine. Carolina vs. Atlanta: "Tough, low-scoring game.
Atlanta came back at the end. They ran the ball better with Anderson. Carolina’s
offensive line hurt them again."
Cincinnati vs. Cleveland: "Basically, Cleveland
cannot throw the ball at all. They really don’t have a passing attack. The difference
is Cincinnati can run the ball because they’ve got the horse (Corey Dillon) back
there."
Detroit vs. Indianapolis: "Indy just totally blew
them out in the first half, got very sloppy with the ball in the second half and almost
gave them a chance to get back in it. But Batch was erratic all game, and the better team
won. You know, the Lions had been winning ugly off the turnovers, but the turnovers came
too late, and they didn’t do a good enough job cashing in."
Green Bay vs. Miami: "Two different games: The
Packers start out 17-0, they looked great and the Dolphins looked totally dead. The
Dolphins come alive and they make two big plays on special teams that really turned the
whole tide of the game — the fake punt that went for about 50 yards and then the guy
fumbles the ball and they still recover, and the punt return by Ogden."
Minnesota vs. Tampa Bay: "The Bucs played their
A-plus game. They were dominating all over the place; they had Culpepper’s head on a
swivel. On offense they were extremely efficient. They had good field position because of
the turnovers the defense was forcing. They made excellent decisions. They held onto the
ball. Everything clicked."
N.Y. Jets vs. Buffalo: "Both teams played even
except for one thing: The Jets turned it over four times, and the Bills didn’t."
Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore: "The Ravens just cannot
score a touchdown. I mean, the first drive they’re down inside the 10, and Dilfer
fumbles the ball away. It’s just incredible this team can’t score a touchdown.
Their QB play has been miserable overall, and they lost Travis Taylor, a first-round pick,
with a collarbone injury."
New Orleans vs. Arizona: "It’s a game where
Arizona came out with a lot of emotion, played well in the first half and then their
offense couldn’t do anything in the second half. That was the game."
Philadelphia vs. N.Y. Giants: "The Giants played
their ‘A’ game on both sides of the ball. The Eagles played another miserable
game. They’ve played two horrible games this year, both vs. the Giants. McNabb was
off, but they also dropped at least nine passes. They had no running game. On defense they
gave up big plays on third down. And then at the end of the game they just wore down. The
defense was on the field about 41 minutes."
St. Louis vs. San Francisco: "In the first half
it almost looked a little bit like the same Rams (as in Week Eight). They were down. Green
struggled very early in the game. Marshall Faulk kept them in it. Then in the second half,
the defense started to really come around. They were flying; they were playing with
intensity; they simplified the defense for them. Leonard Little was getting a good pass
rush. They were blitzing more than they blitzed all year, and Garcia started to look a
little shaky from all the hits he was taking. Green played well in the second half. Faulk
continued to excel and show great leadership. Without Warner, they need Faulk more. Green
is a good quarterback, Warner is a special quarterback."
Jacksonville vs. Dallas: "The game turned in two
different ways: First, Aikman went out early with a bad back after playing very well, and
then you wondered why Jacksonville didn’t blow them out. They were very efficient on
offense. Brunell was about 20-of-25, made good decisions and threw the ball better than
he’s thrown all year. The Cowboys, for some reason, just did not cover Kyle Brady. He
was open whenever they wanted him, and he was their big receiving threat. For Dallas,
it’s amazing they were able to come back and send this game into overtime, but Emmitt
did have a good game for them and after a shaky first half, Randall Cunningham played much
better in the second half."
Kansas City vs. Seattle: "Chiefs are starting to
look like the Rams. Their big plays are coming on big pass plays; they’re taking a
lot of chances. They’re throwing touchdowns, but they’re also throwing
interceptions. Seattle could’ve won this game; they ran the ball well, except Kitna
threw three very costly interceptions, and a couple of them were just terrible decisions
and terrible throws."
Oakland vs. San Diego: "Chargers gave a great
effort, it just wasn’t quite good enough. The Raiders are having a hard time getting
into the endzone: a lot of field goals, no touchdowns." |
