Broncos crush Jets, end New York’s winning streak at five games.
November 30, 2008
Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos stopped the surging New York Jets, and showed they might also be a team to reckon with in the wide-open AFC.
Cutler passed for 357 yards and two touchdowns and rookie Peyton Hillis ran for 129 yards and a score in the Broncos’ 34-17 victory over the Jets at a wet and windy Meadowlands on Sunday.
The Broncos (7-5) washed away the sting of a 31-10 loss to Oakland at home last weekend by stopping the Jets’ five-game winning streak. Denver leads the AFC West by three games with four weeks left.
It was a disappointing loss for New York (8-4), which was coming off emotional victories at New England and Tennessee and was making a claim as the conference’s top team.
Cutler finished 27-of-43, and Hillis became the first to rush for 100 or more yards against the Jets’ third-ranked run defense. Brandon Stokley and Eddie Royal each had touchdown catches, and tight ends Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham combined for 13 catches and 149 yards.
Thomas Jones had 138 yards rushing and two touchdowns for New York, but Brett Favre struggled in the sloppy conditions. He finished 23-of-43 for 247 yards and an interception.
The Jets are still a game ahead of both New England and Miami in the AFC East.
Broncos safety Vernon Fox gave the Broncos an early lead when he returned a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown on a controversial play midway through the opening period that set the tone for the game.
Wide receiver Brad Smith took a direct snap and tried to hand off to Jerricho Cotchery, but the ball squirted away. Cotchery jumped on top of the bouncing ball and was immediately hit by Fox. The ball then came loose and Fox picked it up and returned it for a touchdown.
Jets coach Eric Mangini threw out the red challenge flag, but the officials ruled Cotchery had never gained possession so it was still a fumble, and not a reviewable play.
Jones tied it with a 59-yard touchdown run on the opening play of New York’s next possession. Jones went up the middle, broke right and took off untouched down the sideline for the longest run in his career.
Denver came right back four plays later when Royal, showing no signs of the toe injury that limited him in practice, scored on a 59-yard touchdown pass with 6:44 left. Mangini challenged the play, thinking Royal stepped out of bounds, but the call was upheld after a short review.
Matt Prater’s 25-yard field goal made it 17-7 with 1:44 remaining in the opening quarter.
Jones scored his second touchdown on an athletic, heads-up play. On first-and-10 from Denver’s 29, Jones took the handoff and went down near the line of scrimmage, but his body rolled over the Broncos’ Kenny Peterson without touching the ground. Jones bounced up off the defender’s back and zipped into the end zone, scoring a 29-yard touchdown - with many of the Broncos standing around, thinking the play was dead. After a review to check to see if Jones’ left elbow touched the turf, officials upheld the original call.
Denver took advantage of Dre’ Bly’s interception of Favre as Hillis scored on a 1-yard run to cap a seven-play drive that made it 24-14 late in the first half.
Prater’s 35-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining before halftime made it 27-14.
Dwight Lowery’s first NFL interception helped the Jets close within 10 as Jay Feely kicked a 30-yard field goal with 2:50 left in the third quarter. The Broncos had players injured - Spencer Larson, Ebenezer Ekuban and Bly - on consecutive catch-and-runs by Leon Washington on the drive.
Stokley’s 36-yard touchdown reception with 9:26 left sealed the victory for the Broncos.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Plaxico Burress to face criminal charges of possession of a weapon.
November 30, 2008
Plaxico Burress plans to turn himself in to police Monday morning in New York City and plead not guilty to criminal possession of a weapon, his lawyer said.
Benjamin Brafman wrote in an e-mail to the Associated Press on Sunday that he was advised the New York Giants’ star receiver will be charged after accidentally shooting himself in the right thigh.
“I do not expect that Mr. Burress will make a statement,” Brafman wrote.
He met with Burress for about an hour Sunday at the player’s home in New Jersey.
“I would ask that his fans, the Giants and the media withhold judgment in this matter until all of the facts have been disclosed,” Brafman wrote to the AP.
Brafman is a well-known criminal lawyer who has defended mobsters and other high-profile figures, including hip-hop impresario Sean “Diddy” Combs on a bribery and gun possession charge in 2001.
Burress shot himself at a Manhattan nightclub Friday night and was released from a hospital early Saturday, the Giants said.
“As far as we know, he’s going to be OK,” general manager Jerry Reese said before the Super Bowl champions’ game Sunday at the Washington Redskins.
Before the shooting, Burress already had been ruled out of the game because of an unrelated leg injury.
New York police and NFL security are investigating what happened Friday. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was interviewed by NFL security at the team’s hotel Saturday, Reese said.
Pierce — who started against Washington — reportedly was present for the latest dramatic turn in a tumultuous season of fines and suspension for Burress.
“Antonio is working on trying to beat the Redskins right now,” Reese said before kickoff. “That’s where his focus is and where it should be right now.”
Neither Reese nor Giants president and CEO John Mara would say what Burress’ status with the team might be going forward.
“I want to wait until we find out all the facts and circumstances before we make any determination,” Mara said. “I don’t know what happened there, and until we find out exactly what happened, I’m not going to make any comment or make any decision about what his future is.”
Reese and Mara said they hadn’t spoken to Burress, who hurt his hamstring two weeks ago and was going to miss the game against the Redskins because of that injury.
“I reached out to him,” Reese said. “I did not get a return phone call.”
Mara repeatedly said the Giants would cooperate with the police and the NFL in their investigations.
Asked if he knows what the scope of those inquiries are, Mara said: “I do not know, no. I guess the circumstances of how he got shot, whose gun it was. There are a lot of questions like that that are still unanswered.”
Burress caught the go-ahead touchdown pass in the Giants’ Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in February, following a regular season in which he scored a career-high 12 TDs. He was rewarded with a $35 million, five-year contract, only hours before the current season.
But his consecutive-games streak with at least one catch ended at 115 last week against Arizona, after he aggravated his hamstring injury during the first series and did not return.
Burress has 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns while constantly drawing double coverage this season.
Off the field, he was suspended for a game against Seattle in October and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting and failing to notify the Giants of his absence. He said he had a family emergency.
Burress also was fined $45,000 by the NFL for his conduct during a game against San Francisco in which he abused an official and tossed a ball into the stands.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Rodgers and Packers on outside looking in after home loss to Panthers.
November 30, 2008
DeAngelo Williams scored his fourth touchdown of the game with 1:30 left on the clock, giving the Carolina Panthers a stunning come-from-behind 35-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers in wintry conditions at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
The Packers appeared headed for a comeback victory of their own after breaking a 28-28 tie on Mason Crosby’s 19-yard field goal with 1:57 remaining. But Green Bay immediately gave up a 45-yard kickoff return to Mark Jones and a 54-yard heave from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith to set up first-and-goal on the Green Bay 1.
Williams then went up the gut for his career-high fourth score of the game, helping Carolina (9-3) keep pace in the competitive NFC South.
And the loss could be crushing for the Packers (5-7), who will fall two games out of the NFC North lead with four games left unless division co-leaders Chicago and Minnesota play to a tie Sunday night.
Green Bay’s last-minute special teams and defensive breakdowns ruined what could have been a signature win for first-year Packers starter Aaron Rodgers. He led Green Bay back from a 21-10 halftime deficit despite blustery wind, temperatures in the 30s and snow showers, with the Packers poised to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
And with the game tied at 28, Rodgers drove the Packers deep into Panthers territory, then absorbed a jarring late hit out of bounds by Carolina’s Julius Peppers for a penalty. That set up first-and-goal on the 7.
Green Bay’s Brandon Jackson ran to the 1, but the Panthers stuffed the Packers on two straight running plays. Packers coach Mike McCarthy briefly considered going for it on fourth-and-goal, but instead sent in Crosby to kick the field goal for the lead — only to watch it all fall apart on two big plays.
Jones weaved through the Packers’ kick coverage for 45 yards to Carolina’s 45. Delhomme then heaved a jump ball to Smith, who brought it down as Packers defensive back Charles Woodson appeared to slip.
After a replay review confirmed the spot of the ball, Williams scored to win it.
Rodgers finished 29-of-45 for 298 yards with three touchdowns and an interception, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Packers’ confounding last-minute mistakes.
Trailing 21-10 at halftime, Rodgers drove the Packers to a field goal to open the half. He then put together an eight-play, 95-yard drive ending with a touchdown pass to Donald Lee and 2-point conversion pass to Greg Jennings to tie the game late in the third quarter.
After a defensive stop by the Packers, Rodgers threw a 21-yard dart to Jennings in the end zone, giving Green Bay a 28-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.
But the Panthers tied the game on a 1-yard run by Williams after a 36-yard completion from Delhomme to Smith on third-and-11.
Smith finished the game with 105 yards receiving — all in the second half. Delhomme was 12-of-17 for 177 yards.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Colts held without an offensive TD in 10-6 road win over the Browns.
November 30, 2008
Often overlooked and always overshadowed by their star-studded offense, the Indianapolis Colts’ defense found the end zone on a day Peyton Manning couldn’t.
Defensive end Robert Mathis scooped up Derek Anderson’s fumble and rumbled 39 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as the Colts stayed in the thick of the AFC playoff chase by winning their fifth straight, an ugly 10-6 decision over the snake-bitten Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Mathis’ big play helped bail out Manning and Indy’s high-octane offense, which failed to score a TD and never got humming with its usual efficiency.
Still, the Colts (8-4) got a 30-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri and improved to 5-0 in November, a month-long run that has allowed them to recover from a 3-4 start.
The Browns (4-8) lost their fourth straight at home and may have lost quarterback Derek Anderson and tight end Kellen Winslow for an extended period.
Anderson, starting in place of the injured Brady Quinn, injured his left leg in the final two minutes. He was dropping back to pass when offensive tackle Kevin Shaffer fell on him while being knocked backward by a charging Mathis. Anderson tried to get up, but couldn’t and had to be helped to the sideline.
Ken Dorsey, Cleveland’s third stringer who hadn’t played all season, came in for the final three plays and was intercepted on the Browns’ last snap.
Winslow went out on the first play of the third quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return.
Those losses won’t help coach Romeo Crennel, who may be down to his final days for the Browns, who are 1-6 at home and haven’t scored in nearly 135 minutes.
Manning finished 15-for-21 for 125 yards and was unable to find the same holes in Cleveland’s secondary that Houston’s Sage Rosenfels, Denver’s Jay Cutler and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco exploited in recent weeks. The Colts had only 215 total yards, ran just 50 plays and had the ball for less than 28 minutes.
But they won, and that’s all that matters this time of year.
Anderson, who went 16 of 26 for 110 yards in his first start since being benched for Quinn, was setting up to throw on third down when he was hit from behind by Dwight Freeney, who bull rushed tackle Joe Thomas into his quarterback. The ball squirted loose, Mathis picked it up and lumbered in for the game’s first and only TD.
Crennel’s future could hang on the way the Browns finish this season. There are already rumors about the club’s interest in former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher, but Browns owner Randy Lerner said earlier this week that he won’t make a decision on Crennel or general manager Phil Savage until after the season.
Lerner denied he has made contact with Cowher, who played linebacker for the Browns for three seasons and was an assistant coach with Cleveland from 1985-88.
The Colts came in as the NFL’s most efficient team inside their opponent’s 20-yard line, scoring a touchdown on 72 percent of their visits and coming away with points 94 percent of the time.
But they failed to get a TD on two drives deep into Cleveland territory in the first half.
Manning fumbled trying to sneak in from the 1-yard line just before halftime. On fourth-and-goal, Manning seemed to be on his way across the goal line, but when he reached out with the ball it was knocked away by Browns safety Brodney Pool. Colts tight end Dallas Clark pounced on the ball in the end zone, but only the fumbling player is allowed to recover it for a score.
Anderson completed his first seven passes — only one longer than 5 yards — and had the Browns on the Colts 9 following a 16-yard slant pass to Braylon Edwards.
But Cleveland’s longest scoring drive of the season bogged down and Phil Dawson kicked his second field goal to make it 6-3.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
2008 NFL regular season game preview - Colts vs Browns.
November 30, 2008
The Indianapolis Colts appear to have saved their season with four straight nail-biting victories. The Cleveland Browns’ year just keeps getting worse.
The Browns will be without quarterback Brady Quinn for the rest of the season, which means Derek Anderson will start Sunday as Peyton Manning and the Colts try to deal Cleveland a fourth straight home loss.
With a struggling defense and ineffective offense contributing to a 3-4 start, Indianapolis’ chances of a seventh straight playoff appearance seemed to be slim entering this month.
However, despite a November schedule that included games against traditional New England, Pittsburgh and San Diego, the Colts (7-4) can finish the month 5-0 on Sunday to cap a stunning turnaround.
They came from behind in the second half to beat the Patriots and Steelers, and after holding off Houston on Nov. 16, got a 51-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal as time expired for a 23-20 road win over the Chargers on Sunday night.
The four straight wins have come by a total of 16 points.
“To win the games like we have, where they’re three-point games - three points, six points - and you have to make a play at the end of the game, you just feel good about the way it has transpired,” Colts coach Tony Dungy told his team’s official Web site. “You feel like you’re doing the things it takes to win games in December and January. It has been very, very gratifying.”
After a difficult start to the year following a pair of preseason procedures on his left knee, Manning has been more efficient in November, throwing nine touchdowns and one interception in four games while completing 65.4 percent of his passes. He completed a season-high 32 passes against the Chargers as Indianapolis converted 10 of 17 third downs.
The Colts haven’t been as dominant this season as they have the last five, as they won at least 12 games and captured the AFC South title in each year, but are still in position for a trip back to the postseason.
They have plenty of ground to make up on first-place Tennessee in the division, but are tied with Baltimore and New England for the wild-card spots, with the head-to-head tiebreaker in hand after beating both clubs.
“We probably still won’t (win the division), but what we have to do is make (the Titans) continue to play, so we’ve got to keep winning so they have to keep winning,” Dungy said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Indianapolis will continue to play without two of its offensive linemen. Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday is expected to miss three to four weeks with a calf strain he sustained in San Diego, while guard Ryan Lilja was ruled out for the season this week after missing the first 11 games with a knee problem.
Starting safety Bob Sanders has also missed the last two games with a knee injury.
The Browns will play the rest of the year without Quinn due to a broken right index finger. He had made three starts after taking the job from Anderson, but tried to play with the injury Sunday and was replaced after going 8-of-18 for 94 yards and two interceptions.
“It’s frustrating,” Quinn said. “I can’t begin to tell you. I’m hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league.”
Cleveland (4-7) lost that game 16-6 to Houston, an outcome owner Randy Lerner called “sickening.” The Browns went 7-1 at home en route to a 10-6 finish in 2007, but they’re 1-5 there this season.
“There’s no explanation for it,” running back Jamal Lewis said. “We were just all over the place.”
A healthy Anderson wasn’t any better than the injured Quinn against the Texans, going 5-of-14 for 51 yards and an INT. Before losing the starting job this year, he had completed just 49.8 percent of his passes, throwing nine touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The season-long struggles of wide receiver Braylon Edwards haven’t helped. Edwards leads the NFL in dropped passes, the most recent of which could have been a late touchdown Sunday.
“I’m just worried about my team. When they are depending on me to make a play, and they’re calling my number I’ve got to deliver,” Edwards said. “I don’t what it is, but I got to go somewhere and get my head together.”
Cleveland’s defense also continues to have problems, especially against the run. Opponents have rushed for more than 110 yards in 10 of 11 games this season, and each of the last seven.
That could benefit the Colts, who have topped 100 yards on the ground only twice this season and rank 30th in the league with 3.5 yards per carry.
The Browns haven’t beaten Indianapolis since Sept. 25, 1994 - before the former Cleveland franchise moved to Baltimore.
The Colts are 4-0 against the new Browns, all with Manning under center, even though he’s thrown two touchdowns and four interceptions in those games. Indianapolis’ three wins in Cleveland during that span came by five points or fewer.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
2008 NFL regular season game preview - Panthers vs Packers.
November 30, 2008
The Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers are both coming off defensive efforts they would like to forget.
Each team looks to bounce back from a disappointing road loss when they meet Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field
Though both teams find themselves in the NFC playoff picture, they certainly didn’t play like teams ready for the postseason last week.
Carolina (8-3) was pushed around in a 45-28 loss at Atlanta last Sunday, allowing the most points in coach John Fox’s seven seasons guiding the Panthers. Despite the outcome, Fox won’t panic knowing his team is tied for the NFC South lead with Tampa Bay, and currently owns the conference’s top wild-card spot.
“I’m sure glad we were more emotionally and technically right in eight of them than the other three (games),” Fox said. “The other team practices, too, and it’s hard to win all of them.”
Green Bay (5-6), meanwhile, lost 51-29 at New Orleans on Monday night one week after beating the Bears 37-3 at home. More importantly, the loss dropped the Packers out of first place in the NFC North, in which it now trails co-leaders Chicago and Minnesota by one game.
It was the most points allowed by Green Bay since a 51-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 21, 1980.
“Five games to play, we’re not out of anything,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s right in front of us. We need to win football games. We know that. That’s our focus.”
This is the second straight season these clubs will meet after Green Bay won 31-17 at Lambeau last November. The Packers rushed for 103 yards in that contest and hope to better that number against a Carolina defense that’s struggled to stop the run recently.
The Panthers opened the season by not allowing high-profile backs LaDainian Tomlinson, Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson or Michael Turner to reach 100 yards rushing. In the last three weeks, though, they’ve yielded 142 yards on the ground to Oakland, 130 to Detroit and 133 to the Falcons.
Carolina has also dropped from second in the NFL scoring defense to seventh after giving up 67 points in the last two games.
“I don’t know what you call problems,” said a defensive Fox. “I think overall in our body of work we’ve played pretty good defense and good enough to win eight games. Are the three losses problems? I guess. I don’t really know how else to answer that.”
The Packers’ Ryan Grant, who has run for 837 yards on 216 carries this season, gained 88 yards on 20 attempts in last season’s win over the Panthers.
While Grant has rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns in his last two games at Lambeau, the Packers hope quarterback Aaron Rodgers bounces back from a subpar performance. Rodgers threw for 248 yards and two TDs, but also threw three interceptions - including two on consecutive possessions - against the Saints.
In order to win their third straight home game, Green Bay’s defense will need to rebound after allowing New Orleans’ Drew Brees to throw for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
The Packers’ pass rush continues to contribute to the team’s defensive inconsistency. They have 18 sacks, tying them for 25th in the league after recording a respectable 36 a season ago.
“It’s always execution,” McCarthy said. “The ability to prepare and perform is something that we strive (for) every week. The disappointment or frustration that I stand here with as a coach is the way we’ve been preparing and the way we’ve been practicing, and coming off a very solid, strong performance against Chicago, and the ability to take another step forward. And we didn’t do that.”
Though not as potent as New Orleans’, Carolina’s offense is by no means devoid of talent. DeAngelo Williams has rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games, averaging 117 yards during that span.
Steve Smith caught eight passes for a season-high 168 yards against Atlanta, but has just 13 receptions for 188 yards and no TDs in four career games versus Green Bay.
Jake Delhomme was 21-for-35 for a season-high 295 yards with a touchdown last week. He has thrown for 490 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in two contests against the Packers, who have won four of the last five meetings between these teams.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
McNabb lead Eagles to 48-20 win over the Cardinals on Turkey Day.
November 28, 2008
Donovan McNabb got pulled for Kevin Kolb again. This time, he earned a seat on the bench with a superb performance instead of a stinker.
McNabb threw four touchdown passes, Brian Westbrook tied a team record with four scores and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Arizona Cardinals 48-20 on Thursday night.
“Adversity always happens in our position,” McNabb said. “It’s how you pull yourself out of it. I knew coming into this game if I just continued to be myself and know what I’m seeing out there and react, good things will happen.”
Just four days ago, McNabb was benched for the first time in his career at halftime of a 36-7 loss at Baltimore. The Eagles only trailed 10-7 when coach Andy Reid decided to put Kolb in after McNabb threw five interceptions and lost two fumbles in his previous seven quarters.
But Reid gave McNabb another chance and the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback responded with his best game since Week 1. He completed 27 of 39 passes for 260 yards and a passer rating of 121.7. Kolb ran out the clock while McNabb celebrated the win on the sideline.
“He was very determined, he commanded the offense, he relaxed and played very well,” Reid said. “He blocked everything out and went about his business. It’s a credit to him and the kind of guy he is.”
Westbrook, playing with a sore ankle and knee, had 110 yards rushing and 20 more receiving. He had two TDs on the ground and two receiving. Wideout Irving Fryar was the last Eagles player to score four TDs in 1996.
“We needed this game. It was a little vindication for my offensive line. We did a great job,” Westbrook said.
The Eagles (6-5-1) desperately needed to win to maintain their slim playoff hopes.
They’ll have a few extra days to prepare for the New York Giants (10-1) on Dec. 7.
The Cardinals (7-5) will clinch their first division title in 33 years if San Francisco loses at Buffalo on Sunday.
“It sure seemed like we came out flat,” Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “I don’t know if we were mentally prepared. We played hard, but obviously made too many mistakes. We weren’t as crisp as we had been.”
Kurt Warner had 235 yards passing, three TDs and three interceptions.
“It’s not the game we wanted to play,” Warner said. “I came out and forced one early. We just didn’t have our game today and it was across the board.”
Right from the start, McNabb looked like the guy who led the Eagles to four straight NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. He was 5-for-5 for 38 yards on the opening drive, capping it with a 5-yard TD pass to Westbrook. Whoever was calling the plays — Reid or offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg — finally mixed it up instead of relying heavily on the pass. The running backs carried six times during the 12-play drive.
“Anytime you get a good mix, the defense has to play both,” Reid said.
When Kyle Eckel ran for a first down on third-and-1 to keep the drive going, fans gave the Eagles a standing ovation. That’s because they had passed unsuccessfully on their four previous third-and-1 attempts over the past two games. Also, Kolb threw an interception on second down from inside the 1 that was returned an NFL-record 108 yards by Ed Reed.
Joselio Hanson, starting for the injured Asante Samuel, set up the next score with his first career interception and a 13-yard return to the Arizona 41. Warner’s pass into tight coverage was tipped by Stewart Bradley. Westbrook ran four straight plays, scoring from the 1 to make it 14-0.
Quintin Mikell intercepted Warner on the next series, but the Eagles went three-and-out. They went right down the field on their following possession and Westbrook caught a 2-yard TD pass for a 21-0 lead. Hank Baskett made a diving catch for a 20-yard gain and DeSean Jackson had a 14-yard reception to set up the score.
Warner tossed a 1-yard TD pass to Larry Fitzgerald to cut it to 21-7 late in the second quarter. It was his 20th straight game with a TD pass, breaking Neil Lomax’s franchise record.
Westbrook had a 9-yard TD run in the third quarter to put Philadelphia ahead 31-7. McNabb connected with Jackson for 24 yards on third-and-23 one play earlier.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Cowboys rout Seahawks, 34-9, in last Thanksgiving Day game in Texas Stadium.
November 28, 2008
The Dallas Cowboys are ready for December.
On the verge of collapse just a few weeks ago, Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys guaranteed they will be a team to watch in the final month by crushing the Seattle Seahawks 34-9 Thursday for their third straight victory.
Romo got it rolling with touchdowns on the first three drives and points on the first four, then the defense took care of the rest. They racked up seven sacks — three by Ware, giving him an NFL-best 15 — and each was punctuated by a gobbling turkey version of the Chicken Dance, the kind of giddiness expected from a team playing the way Dallas (8-4) has been lately.
The Cowboys have wiped away the bitterness of a 2-4 rut and surged near the top of the NFC wild-card race. The turnaround began with Romo returning from a broken pinkie finger, albeit with a splint on his passing hand, and now he’s expected to be back to full strength for the next game. Dallas also will get cornerback-punt returner Adam “Pacman” Jones back from a suspension.
Yet the Cowboys aren’t getting too carried away with their good fortune. They realize they’ve padded their confidence with consecutive blowouts over bad teams and now they’re going to play three straight tough foes: Pittsburgh, the New York Giants and Baltimore. Another stumbling block is their woeful recent history in Decembers — no winning records in the month since 2001.
“We had a rough patch and we’re still not out of it,” Romo said. “We’ve still got to go forward and keep putting together wins to get in the playoffs. Our confidence level is that on any given Sunday we can compete with the best of anybody. It’ll be interesting to see how we do going forward.”
About the only tense moments Thursday came in the third quarter, and they had nothing to do with the score. It was Marion Barber going out with a dislocated right pinkie toe, then Ware limping off with an aching left knee. Ware felt good enough that no exams were immediately done, but will still have an X-ray and an MRI to make sure everything is OK.
“At this moment, I feel good about both of those players,” team owner Jerry Jones said.
The Seahawks lost their fifth straight game and fell to 2-10. It matches the most losses outgoing coach Mike Holmgren has had in his 17 years in the NFL, and there are four games left.
Seattle was within a touchdown of winning its past three games, but this one was never close after former Dallas running back Julius Jones fumbled on the Seahawks’ first possession. The Cowboys wound up driving for a touchdown that made it 14-0; it was 24-3 midway through the second quarter.
“Coach told us we had to be close to perfect to beat these guys,” Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “We haven’t played been close to playing like that all season. If they keep playing the way they are, they have a chance to win it all. There was a time when we were that talented bunch with no injuries. It hasn’t been like that for us this season.”
Hasselbeck was 22-of-38 for a season-high 287 yards. He threw one interception and endured the most sacks (seven) the Cowboys defense has collected since getting nine on Nov. 9, 1997.
Jones was held to 37 yards on 11 carries in his return to Texas Stadium. Dallas fans booed every time he got the ball.
“It’s a term of endearment to me,” Jones said. “It just means they respect you.”
Romo started 12-of-14 for 198 yards and two touchdowns, with Barber scoring once in between. It was the first time all season the Cowboys scored touchdowns on three straight drives. And it was the first time they’d started a game that way since Oct. 9, 1994, according to Stats Inc.
Another indication of how easy it was: Dallas gained first downs on 17 of their first 23 plays.
“T.O. will tell you I’m playing at a ridiculously high level,” Romo said, smirking.
Romo finished 22-of-33 for 331 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. Jason Witten was a big part of the offense for the first time since breaking a rib, catching nine passes for 115 yards (both season highs) and a touchdown.
Terrell Owens had five catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. He blew his chance for a second straight 100-yard game by dropping a wide-open slant in the fourth quarter.
“Obviously, this helps out a lot but I think somebody in the locker room said last week, if the season ended today, we’re still left out (of the playoffs),” Witten said. “You’ve got to have that mentality and understand the challenges that are ahead. It’s still going to be even tougher as December rolls around.”
Hookscenter.com wire report.
Lions suffer worst Thankgiving Day defeat, lose 47-10 to Titans.
November 28, 2008
The Tennessee Titans wanted to re-establish the run to get back on track after losing for the first time.
The Detroit Lions were very accommodating.
Chris Johnson ran for 125 yards and scored twice in the first quarter and LenDale White had two touchdowns in the second and finished with 106 yards rushing, setting up Tennessee for a 47-10 win over Detroit on Thursday.
“It’s nice to be able to do what you set out to do,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “Both backs got a lot of yards on their own, but they got a lot of help up front.”
Johnson was untouched on a short run to the outside and a long gain up the middle.
The two plays were symbolic of the canyon-like gap between the once-beaten Titans and the winless Lions.
Tennessee (11-1) bounced back from its 21-point loss at home to the New York Jets quickly, surging to a 28-3 lead early in the second quarter.
“We hit the first punch and they fell,” White said.
With a 34-point lead midway through the fourth, quarterback Vince Young played for the first time since spraining his left knee in the opener. He skipped a scheduled MRI exam a day later, then prompted a police search when he panicked someone by taking off hours later without his cell phone.
“I’m good,” Young said as he walked away from reporters. “I’ll talk about it Monday.”
The Lions (0-12) moved a step closer to becoming the NFL’s first 0-16 team, losing by a franchise-worst 37 points and giving up a franchise-record 47 points in their 69th game on Thanksgiving.
“We only confirmed what everybody was thinking about us as far as outside of Detroit and in Detroit,” kicker Jason Hanson said. “I know everybody in here feels embarrassed that we did that on national TV.”
Coach Rod Marinelli refused to acknowledge he was embarrassed, insisting the Lions were only beaten.
“We got handled in all areas — coaches, players, offense, defense, special teams,” Marinelli said.
The Lions fell to 10-34 in nearly three seasons under Marinelli and lost for the 19th time in 20 games, leading to more questions about whether he deserves to keep his job.
Marinelli said he doesn’t expect to be fired.
“The record doesn’t show it, but I have great belief in myself,” Marinelli insisted.
Six teams have lost at least their first 12 games since Tampa Bay finished 0-14 in 1976 and the Lions have done it twice. They started 0-12 in 2001 before beating the Minnesota Vikings, who play Dec. 7 at Detroit.
The Lions finish at Indianapolis, against New Orleans and at Green Bay.
“We are desperate for a win,” said quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was benched for the third time in four games.
It was a rare nationally televised game for both teams and it didn’t take long for the nation to witness why Tennessee is terrific and Detroit is awful.
Did the Titans prove anything to their doubters?
“No, because people are going to say, ‘It was just Detroit,”‘ cornerback Nick Harper said.
The game was essentially over in the opening minutes.
Wide receiver ShaunMcDonald fumbled on Detroit’s second play from scrimmage and Tennessee needed just two snaps to take the lead. Two plays later, Johnson had so much room on a 6-yard run to the left that pulling guard Eugene Amano didn’t have anybody to block.
“When I got to the outside, there was no one there,” Amano said. “I had to turn around to find somebody to hit.”
Johnson took a handoff up the middle on the fourth play of Tennessee’s next drive, ran through a huge hole and sprinted past helpless safety Dwight Smith to make it 14-3.
Backup defensive tackle Dave Ball got in on the fun by returning an interception 15 yards for a score, capping it by leaping over the goal line and flapping his arms like a turkey.
“The last time I scored a touchdown was my junior year in high school, so I’m not exactly a frequent visitor to the end zone,” Ball said.
The Lions continued to hurt themselves on the ensuing possession, getting called for delay of game after calling a timeout.
White added TD runs of 6 and 2 yards to make it 35-3 late in the first half.
Tennessee’s Kerry Collins made a rare mistake, fumbling as he dropped back to pass to set up Detroit’s only touchdown.
Young helped Rob Bironas get in position for his fourth field goal by tossing a short pass to fullback Ahmard Hall and watching him outrace defenders as if he was an Olympic sprinter for a 54-yard gain.
Culpepper was 13-of-26 for 134 yards with a TD and an interception.
Drew Henson replaced him late in the fourth quarter, playing for the first time since his appearance with the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in 2004 and becoming Detroit’s fifth quarterback to take a snap during its miserable season.
Hookscenter.com wire report.
2008 NFL Thanksgiving game preview - Seahawks vs Cowboys.
November 27, 2008
With Tony Romo returning to form and getting in sync with Terrell Owens, the Dallas Cowboys appear to be putting their mid-season slump long behind them.
Romo and Owens look to lead the Cowboys to their third straight victory and boost their playoff hopes when they host the stumbling Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving.
Dallas (7-4) got off to a strong start with impressive wins in its first three games, but then things went wrong. The Cowboys dropped four of their next six, and Romo broke the pinkie finger on his throwing hand in an overtime loss to Arizona on Oct. 12. Dallas went 1-2 in his absence.
The Cowboys appeared to be falling apart, but Romo returned on Nov. 16, and threw a 25-yard TD pass to rookie Martellus Bennett with 10 1/2 minutes left in a 14-10 win over Washington.
Romo still looked tentative against the Redskins - throwing for 198 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions - but once again resembled a Pro Bowl quarterback in Sunday’s 35-22 win over San Francisco.
The quarterback completed 23-of-39 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns and was finally able to get Owens involved in the offense.
Owens had seven catches for 213 yards and one score after he had five straight games of 38 yards or less - a stretch that included three games without Romo.
“They unleashed me today,” Owens said.
Romo and Owens hope to build off Sunday’s performance against a Seahawks’ defense that is second-worst in the league against the pass (259.2 yards per game).
Romo has worn a splint protecting the broken pinkie the last two games, and he’ll likely need to wear it again Thursday.
“It’s getting a lot better. … I feel like I could probably get to a point where (I could be) playing without the splint this week,” said Romo, who is tied for third in the NFC with 18 touchdown passes. “I don’t know if the trainers and doctors are going to let me, but I’m getting pretty close.
“I can definitely put (the ball) where I want to on the field. It’s just a matter of, with the splint on, every once in a blue moon, it’ll pop up and affect the throw a little bit. But other than that, it’s been good.”
Dallas is tied with Washington for second place in the NFC East as part of a crowded field of teams contending for wild-card spots.
Romo is 9-3 as a starter at Texas Stadium, and has led the Cowboys to victories in their last two Thanksgiving Day games. Dallas has won those games by an average of 29.5 points with the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback throwing for 501 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
While Romo has had success playing in front of a national television audience on Thanksgiving, he would probably like to forget about the last time he faced the Seahawks (2-9).
In a 2006 wild-card game in Seattle, Romo bobbled a snap on a 19-yard field-goal attempt with 1:19 remaining. He then tried to scramble, but was tackled on the 2-yard line - a yard short of a first down - and the Cowboys lost 21-20.
In the last regular season meeting between these two teams on Oct. 23, 2005, the Seahawks won 13-10.
While Romo has helped revive the Cowboys’ season, Matt Hasselbeck has been unable to do the same for Seattle.
Hasselbeck missed five games with back and nerve problems, and has looked shaky in his two games back. After going 17-of-29 for 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in Seattle’s 26-20 loss to Arizona on Nov. 16, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed 12-of-24 passes for 103 yards, two TDs and two picks in Sunday’s 20-17 loss to Washington.
The Seahawks, who are 31st in the league in total offense (263.9 ypg), have gained just 424 total yards in the two games with Hasselbeck. The four-time defending NFC West champions are off to their worst start since the 1992 team went 2-14, and are in the midst of their first four-game skid since losing five in a row Oct. 2-29, 2000.
“To be honest, I can’t wait to play another football game, because (Sunday) was not my best effort,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m not playing up to the level that I am capable of. I’ve got to fix it quick.”
Hasselbeck will be handing off to former Cowboy Julius Jones, who will get the start Thursday four days after being benched.
Maurice Morris rushed for a season-high 103 yards on just 14 carries against the Redskins, but Seattle coach Mike Holmgren says he expects Jones to be motivated to play against his former team.
Jones, who was dumped by Dallas last season before he became a free agent, had only two carries for 21 yards last week. He has rushed for 325 yards and no scores on 80 attempts in his last eight games after running for 312 yards and two touchdowns on 61 carries in his first three with his new team.
He’ll likely have a tough time finding running room on Thursday, though, as the Cowboys limited the 49ers to just 26 rushing yards on 15 attempts last week, and are 10th in the league versus the run (98.4 ypg).
Hookscenter.com wire report.