Jets over Lions
Adam: -Dammit Detroit, I picked you in this game and you had a ten point lead late in the fourth quarter. But being the Lions, they pissed this game away, and the difference may have been Ndamukong Suh's missed extra point. Who would have thought that sentence would be written this year?
-The Jets sneak out with a win. Had they lost this game, there would have been a lot of media heat surrounding this team, so they have to be thrilled to escape the Motor City unscathed.
Eric: -This game proved that the Lions need Matthew Stafford to be able to win. In this game and in the season opener, the Lions were leading at the time of Stafford's injuries, only to have the other team overtake them and hand them a loss. On top of that, the Lions won the only game Stafford finished. Now he may be out for the season. Better luck next year Detroit.
Bears over Bills
A: -The Bears are the worst 5-3 team I have ever seen; this team is not going to the playoffs.
-The Bills really could have won this game, but they are 0-8 for a reason.
E: -The Bills were close this time, leading in the fourth quarter. Next week they get their best chance for their first win, at home (not in Toronto) against the hobbled Lions.
-The Bears won this game because their Swiss cheese offensive line could handle Buffalo's lackluster pass rush.
Vikings over Cardinals
A: -I thought Arizona would get their doors blown off in this game, but they dominated for 3 1/2 quarters and then gave the game away. I think that says more about Minnesota than it does the Cardinals. The Vikings are not a good team right now.
E: -Brad Childress' job is safe for at least another week.
-The Cardinals' defense and special teams were the reason for Arizona's lead. When the offense needed to run out the clock to not allow Minnesota to tie or make a drive when they got the ball first in overtime, they did not step up.
Browns over Patriots
A: -While I thought the Browns had a chance in this one, I never thought they would win by 20 points. Eric Mangini has this undermanned team playing extremely solid football.
-The Patriots had a stinker in this one, and it has to hurt Bill Belichick to lose to his protégé. Still, New England is in fine position at 6-2. Perhaps this loss though was indicative of who New England really is and was not simply an aberration.
E: -Cleveland is finding its identity as a big, tough, physical team, a movement led by bruising runner Peyton Hillis. In the Browns' last two games, they have beaten the Saints by 13 and the Patriots by 20.
Ravens over Dolphins
A: -The Ravens' explosive offense was the difference in this battle of tough-minded, defensive teams.
E: -Baltimore snaps the Dolphins' 4-game road winning streak.
Chargers over Texans
A: -San Diego is starting their annual November march toward winning the AFC West after sleepwalking through the first six weeks of the season.
-The Texans' promising outlook is now seriously jeopardized in the tough AFC South.
E: -With the Raiders' win bringing the Chiefs closer to the pack, the Chargers' first winning streak of the season puts them right back in the race.
Falcons over Buccaneers
A: -The Buccaneers showed me more in this loss than they did in any of their wins this year. They were about a yard away from winning this game in the Georgia Dome against a very good team.
-The Falcons held on for the victory and stand atop the NFC at 6-2. Michael Turner was very good again, toting the rock 24 times for over 100 yards. Matt Ryan has been efficient, accurate and smart all year long.
E: -In a hard-fought game between two closely matched teams, home field advantage was ultimately enough to push Atlanta over the top.
Saints over Panthers
A: -Welcome to the season, New Orleans. The defending champs are waking up.
E: -This one went true to form: Saints in a blowout.
Giants over Seahawks
A: -The Giants keep cruising, up 35 points at halftime.
-I love seeing Pete Carroll squirm; the NFC West is still wide open.
E: -I've only got to change one letter and flip the order of two others: Giants in a blowout.
Eagles over Colts
A: -The Colts only lost by two, but it wasn't as close as the score indicates. Peyton Manning struggled all day. Asante Samuel seems to be the one corner in football that is in Manning's head.
-Michael Vick looked sharp returning from injury; I was concerned he would be rusty. DeSean Jackson was back and as good as ever. If Vick can play at this level, this team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender nobody would want to play come January.
-The Eagles had better strap it up. They go to Washington next week and then host the Giants.
E: -Vick played great in his return to action.
-Andy Reid moves to 12-0 after a bye week.
Raiders over Chiefs
A: -The Chiefs are a solid team, but they can't overcome mistakes on the road against other good teams.
-Did I just call the Raiders a good team? Jason Campbell has won three games in a row, and it sounds like he has won the starting gig outright for the Raiders. Oakland now gets a bye week at the perfect time. They have a tough stretch run, but if they can win their division games, they have a chance to make the postseason.
-Darren McFadden is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, wow.
E: -Rookie Jacoby Ford buried the Chiefs in this one. After getting passed over in favor of Bruce Gradkowski earlier this year, Campbell finally finds some confidence and leads the Raiders to a three-game win streak.
Packers over Cowboys
A: -So long Wade, we hardly knew ye.
-The Packers' offense finally exploded and did what we thought it was capable of. The defense was great too, and Clay Matthews put himself in the Defensive Player of the Year driver's seat.
E: -Firing Wade Philips was probably the right move; the team was not following him anymore. But to complete the turnaround, Jason Garrett should probably be gone at the end of the season too. Bill Cowher anyone?
Steelers over Bengals
A: -The Bengals rallied late, which has tended to happen this year, but came up short, which has also been a trend.
-Terrell Owens is having a monster year: 55 catches, 770 yards, and 7 touchdowns. That projects to 110 grabs, 1540 yards, and 14 touchdowns by the end of the season.
-The Steelers roll on to 6-2. Rashard Mendenhall is a workhorse and gives this team the balance that makes them favorites in the AFC.
E: -A familiar story played out for Cincinnati, falling behind early and then unable to complete the comeback.
-Owens is having a tremendous, resurgent season, but it comes at the expense of what made the Bengals great a season ago, their power running attack.
Adam: -Dammit Detroit, I picked you in this game and you had a ten point lead late in the fourth quarter. But being the Lions, they pissed this game away, and the difference may have been Ndamukong Suh's missed extra point. Who would have thought that sentence would be written this year?
-The Jets sneak out with a win. Had they lost this game, there would have been a lot of media heat surrounding this team, so they have to be thrilled to escape the Motor City unscathed.
Eric: -This game proved that the Lions need Matthew Stafford to be able to win. In this game and in the season opener, the Lions were leading at the time of Stafford's injuries, only to have the other team overtake them and hand them a loss. On top of that, the Lions won the only game Stafford finished. Now he may be out for the season. Better luck next year Detroit.
Bears over Bills
A: -The Bears are the worst 5-3 team I have ever seen; this team is not going to the playoffs.
-The Bills really could have won this game, but they are 0-8 for a reason.
E: -The Bills were close this time, leading in the fourth quarter. Next week they get their best chance for their first win, at home (not in Toronto) against the hobbled Lions.
-The Bears won this game because their Swiss cheese offensive line could handle Buffalo's lackluster pass rush.
Vikings over Cardinals
A: -I thought Arizona would get their doors blown off in this game, but they dominated for 3 1/2 quarters and then gave the game away. I think that says more about Minnesota than it does the Cardinals. The Vikings are not a good team right now.
E: -Brad Childress' job is safe for at least another week.
-The Cardinals' defense and special teams were the reason for Arizona's lead. When the offense needed to run out the clock to not allow Minnesota to tie or make a drive when they got the ball first in overtime, they did not step up.
Browns over Patriots
A: -While I thought the Browns had a chance in this one, I never thought they would win by 20 points. Eric Mangini has this undermanned team playing extremely solid football.
-The Patriots had a stinker in this one, and it has to hurt Bill Belichick to lose to his protégé. Still, New England is in fine position at 6-2. Perhaps this loss though was indicative of who New England really is and was not simply an aberration.
E: -Cleveland is finding its identity as a big, tough, physical team, a movement led by bruising runner Peyton Hillis. In the Browns' last two games, they have beaten the Saints by 13 and the Patriots by 20.
Ravens over Dolphins
A: -The Ravens' explosive offense was the difference in this battle of tough-minded, defensive teams.
E: -Baltimore snaps the Dolphins' 4-game road winning streak.
Chargers over Texans
A: -San Diego is starting their annual November march toward winning the AFC West after sleepwalking through the first six weeks of the season.
-The Texans' promising outlook is now seriously jeopardized in the tough AFC South.
E: -With the Raiders' win bringing the Chiefs closer to the pack, the Chargers' first winning streak of the season puts them right back in the race.
Falcons over Buccaneers
A: -The Buccaneers showed me more in this loss than they did in any of their wins this year. They were about a yard away from winning this game in the Georgia Dome against a very good team.
-The Falcons held on for the victory and stand atop the NFC at 6-2. Michael Turner was very good again, toting the rock 24 times for over 100 yards. Matt Ryan has been efficient, accurate and smart all year long.
E: -In a hard-fought game between two closely matched teams, home field advantage was ultimately enough to push Atlanta over the top.
Saints over Panthers
A: -Welcome to the season, New Orleans. The defending champs are waking up.
E: -This one went true to form: Saints in a blowout.
Giants over Seahawks
A: -The Giants keep cruising, up 35 points at halftime.
-I love seeing Pete Carroll squirm; the NFC West is still wide open.
E: -I've only got to change one letter and flip the order of two others: Giants in a blowout.
Eagles over Colts
A: -The Colts only lost by two, but it wasn't as close as the score indicates. Peyton Manning struggled all day. Asante Samuel seems to be the one corner in football that is in Manning's head.
-Michael Vick looked sharp returning from injury; I was concerned he would be rusty. DeSean Jackson was back and as good as ever. If Vick can play at this level, this team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender nobody would want to play come January.
-The Eagles had better strap it up. They go to Washington next week and then host the Giants.
E: -Vick played great in his return to action.
-Andy Reid moves to 12-0 after a bye week.
Raiders over Chiefs
A: -The Chiefs are a solid team, but they can't overcome mistakes on the road against other good teams.
-Did I just call the Raiders a good team? Jason Campbell has won three games in a row, and it sounds like he has won the starting gig outright for the Raiders. Oakland now gets a bye week at the perfect time. They have a tough stretch run, but if they can win their division games, they have a chance to make the postseason.
-Darren McFadden is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, wow.
E: -Rookie Jacoby Ford buried the Chiefs in this one. After getting passed over in favor of Bruce Gradkowski earlier this year, Campbell finally finds some confidence and leads the Raiders to a three-game win streak.
Packers over Cowboys
A: -So long Wade, we hardly knew ye.
-The Packers' offense finally exploded and did what we thought it was capable of. The defense was great too, and Clay Matthews put himself in the Defensive Player of the Year driver's seat.
E: -Firing Wade Philips was probably the right move; the team was not following him anymore. But to complete the turnaround, Jason Garrett should probably be gone at the end of the season too. Bill Cowher anyone?
Steelers over Bengals
A: -The Bengals rallied late, which has tended to happen this year, but came up short, which has also been a trend.
-Terrell Owens is having a monster year: 55 catches, 770 yards, and 7 touchdowns. That projects to 110 grabs, 1540 yards, and 14 touchdowns by the end of the season.
-The Steelers roll on to 6-2. Rashard Mendenhall is a workhorse and gives this team the balance that makes them favorites in the AFC.
E: -A familiar story played out for Cincinnati, falling behind early and then unable to complete the comeback.
-Owens is having a tremendous, resurgent season, but it comes at the expense of what made the Bengals great a season ago, their power running attack.
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