Mattie T’s Week 5 Recap of the 2006 NFL Season

In Chicago, the Bears defense forced 5 turnovers en route to a 40-7 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo scored its only points on the day on a 5 yard J.P. Losman touchdown pass to WR Lee Evans with 1:06 remaining in the 4th quarter.

The touchdown was just the second allowed by Chicago’s defense in 5 games this season.

Bears RB Thomas Jones rushed for 109 yards on 22 carries, his first 100 yard game of the season.

RB Cedric Benson also recorded the first two rushing touchdowns of his NFL career.

The Bears are now 5-0 for the first time since 1986, one year after winning Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots.

In Charlotte, the Carolina Panthers used a huge defensive turnover to record a 20-12 win over the Cleveland Browns.

CB Richard Marshall returned a Charlie Frye interception 31 yards in the first quarter to give Carolina a 7-3 lead.

Carolina only got 1 offensive touchdown on Sunday, which was a 17 yard touchdown pass from QB Jake Delhomme to WR Keyshawn Johnson.

Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams left in the second quarter with a right ankle injury. His status for Sunday’s game at Baltimore is unknown.

Panthers RB DeShaun Foster rushed 24 times for 106 yards during the win.

In Minneapolis, the Vikings scored 23 unanswered fourth quarter points to rally to a 26-17 win over the Detroit Lions.

Detroit controlled the tempo for the first 45 minutes & 46 seconds of the game before Minnesota took over.

The Lions got 2 touchdowns (1 pass, 1 run) from QB Jon Kitna & a 53 yard field goal from K Jason Hansen to build a 17-3 heading into the fourth quarter.

Minnesota cut the deficit to 17-10 on a 3 yard touchdown pass from QB Brad Johnson to WR Travis Taylor with 14:14 remaining in the game.

58 seconds later, Vikings DT Pat Williams forced a fumble on QB Jon Kitna, that was recovered by Vikings LB Ben Leber for a touchdown, cutting Detroit’s lead to 17-16. (Vikings K Ryan Longwell missed the extra point.)

Longwell redeemed himself later by kicking a 20 yard field goal to give Minnesota the lead for good.

Minnesota added another touchdown to put the game away with LB E.J. Henderson’s 45 yard interception return off QB Jon Kitna.

Lions WR Roy Williams left the game in the first quarter with a back stinger injury.
Williams is day-to-day and it’s unsure if he will be able to play on Sunday against Buffalo.

Vikings RB Chester Taylor rushed 26 times for 123 yards.

In Foxboro, the Patriots defense recorded 3 takeaways en route to a 20-10 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Dolphins QB Joey Harrington made his first start of the season, replacing an injured Daunte Culpepper. (bruised shoulder)

Harrington finished the game completing 26 of 41 passes for 232 yards & 2 interceptions.

The game was close until Patriots QB Tom Brady tossed a 1 yard touchdown to RB Heath Evans to give New England a 20-10 lead.

Dolphins head coach Nick Saban announced on Monday that Harrington will remain the team’s starting QB while Daunte Culpepper enters a rehab-type program designed to help restore some explosive movement in his surgically rebuilt right knee.

“We’ll evaluate it on a week-to-week basis,” Saban said. “This week, we’re going to plan to play like we did last week. … We’re going to work with Daunte, improve his movement, give him some reps in practice, get Joey ready to play in the game. Now, does that make him the starter? I guess that makes him the starter.”

Saban added that Culpepper’s shoulder remains a concern, it was clear that the knee recovery issues were foremost in his decision to continue with Harrington.

The decision could change “any time,” Saban said, but no timetable for Culpepper’s return exists.

“When he’s playing and he can move laterally and quickly, not just in straight-ahead running, but in lateral movements and quick, explosive movements,” Saban said when asked what he needs to see before he’d return Culpepper to the starting role. “That’s what we’ll be looking for.”

In Green Bay, the St. Louis Rams forced 2 key defensive turnovers en route to a 23-20 win over the Green Bay Packers.

The biggest turnover came with 44 seconds left.

Rams DE Leonard Little forced a fumble from QB Brett Favre, which was recovered by DB Jerametrius Butler to end the game.

The 4-1 Rams now sit atop 1st place in the NFC West with a big divisional home game looming on Sunday against the 3-1 Seattle Seahawks.

In New Orleans, the Saints got a crucial 65 yard interception return from RB Reggie Bush to lift the hometown Saints to a 24-21 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bush’s key touchdown, plus his 11 receptions for 63 yards helped the Saints maintain a half game lead over idle Atlanta for 1st place in the NFC South.

RB Deuce McAllister ran for 123 yards on just 15 carries & scored a touchdown.

Buccaneers QB Brad Gradkowski completed 20 of 31 pass attempts for 225 yards & 2 touchdowns during his first career NFL start. He threw a 18 yard completion to Joey Galloway in the 1st quarter for his 1st NFL touchdown pass.

Saints S Roman Harper tore an ACL in his left knee during the win & will miss the remainder of the season.

In Indianapolis, the Colts rallied for two second half touchdowns to hold on to a 14-13 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee seemed ready to make a shocking upset after leading 10-0 at halftime.

Titans QB Vince Young completed a 19 yard run in the first quarter for his 1st NFL rushing touchdown, giving Tennessee a 7-0 lead.

K Rob Bironas also added a 22 yard field goal in the second quarter to give Tennessee a 10-0 lead, shocking many fans at the RCA Dome.

Indianapolis finally reached the end zone midway through the third quarter on a 13 yard touchdown pass from QB Peyton Manning to WR Marvin Harrison.

The Colts added the go-ahead touchdown with 5:10 left on a 2 yard completion from Manning to WR Reggie Wayne.

Indianapolis won their 12th straight game against a divisional opponent.

In East Rutherford, the Giants used their best defensive effort of the season to record a much-needed 19-3 win over the Washington Redskins.

After allowing 92 points (average of 30.6 PPG) in their first 3 games, the Giants held the NFL’s #3 offense to 164 net yards during their win.

The Giants have now outscored the Redskins 45-3 in their last 2 home games against them at the Meadowlands. The Giants won 36-0 last season, which was Washington’s only divisional loss.

Giants QB Eli Manning completed 23 of 33 passes for 256 yards & a touchdown.

RB Tiki Barber rushed for 123 yards on 23 carries. Barber is still looking to record his first rushing TD of the season.

Giants LB Lavar Arrington recorded a tackle & deflected a pass in his first game against his former team. Arrington spent his previous 6 seasons with Washington.

Giants TE Jeremy Shockey left the game in the fourth quarter with a foot injury. Tests on Tuesday came back negative & it’s unsure if Shockey will play on Sunday against Atlanta.

In Glendale, the Kansas City Chiefs used a fourth quarter rally to hold on for a 23-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona got off to a quick start, thanks to Matt Leinart.

The rookie QB from USC threw his first NFL touchdown pass to WR Anquan Boldin in the first quarter, a 49 yard completion to give Arizona a 7-0 lead.

He added a second touchdown pass in the quarter to WR Larry Fitzgerald, a 5 yard completion to give Arizona a 14-0 lead.

Fitzgerald left the game late in the first quarter with a right hamstring injury. The Pro Bowl WR will be sidelined for 2-5 weeks.

Chiefs QB Damon Huard completed 26 of 38 passes for 288 yards & 2 touchdowns.

The Chiefs won without getting much contribution from RB Larry Johnson, who rushed for only 36 yards on 16 carries.

Johnson also left the game with a head injury that was suffered during a facemack tackle by Cardinals CB Antrel Rolle after a 78 yard reception in the fourth quarter.

Rolle was called for a personal foul on the play.

“All I remember is trying to get back on my feet and try to move around and see if everything was working,” Johnson said. “I wanted to be safe about it and see if there was really something wrong or not.”

It is unsure if Johnson will be able to play on Sunday against Pittsburgh.

In Jacksonville, the Jaguars recorded their second shutout of the season with a 41-0 win over the New York Jets.

Jacksonville did receive a major blow on defense despite the big win, as LB Mike Peterson was injured (torn pectoral muscle) during the first half & will miss the remainder of the season.

Peterson has been the team’s leading tackler since 2003.

Jaguars RB Fred Taylor ran for 111 yards on 21 carries & scored a touchdown.

Jets RB Leon Washington ran for 101 yards on 23 carries in a losing effort.

In San Francisco, the 49ers used a 27-7 second half outburst to defeat the Oakland Raiders 34-20.

The 49ers defense forced 5 turnovers in the win, which included a pair of interceptions by both QB’s Andrew Walter & Marques Tuiasosopo.

49ers RB Frank Gore rushed 27 times for 134 yards. Gore is now tied with Rams RB Steven Jackson for the NFL rushing lead with 465 yards through the 49ers’ first 5 games of the season.

Raiders WR Randy Moss caught his 100th career touchdown reception with 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

In Philadelphia, the Eagles ruined Terrell Owens’ homecoming with a 34-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys, putting them in first place atop the NFC East.

The game looked like it would turn into a wild shootout after Dallas took a 21-17 lead at halftime.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook rushed for a 5 yard touchdown to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead.

K David Akers added an 27 yard field goal to make it 10-0.

Dallas answered back with a 2 yard touchdown run from Marion Barber III, making it 10-7 Eagles.

Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware recovered a Donovan McNabb fumble & returned it 69 yards, giving Dallas a 14-10 lead.

McNabb then ran a 1 yard touchdown in to give Philly a 17-14 lead with 9:13 left in the first half.

Cowboys QB Drew Bledsoe answered with a 7 yard touchdown run to give Dallas a 21-17 lead with 3:23 remaining.

After halftime, it was all Philly.

McNabb threw an 87 yard touchdown pass to WR Hank Baskett to give Philadelphia a 24-21 lead.

Cowboys K Mike Vanderjagt tied the game on a 39 yard field goal with 11:14 remaining at 24 all.

McNabb then added a 40 yard touchdown off a flea flicker pass to WR Reggie Brown to give Philly a 31-24 lead with 9:13 remaining.

Eagles CB Lito Sheppard put the finishing touches on the game, returning a Drew Bledsoe interception 102 yards for a touchdown, giving Philly a 38-24 lead that put the game out of hand.

Cowboys WR Terrell Owens finished the game catching 3 receptions for 45 yards in the loss.

Owens was heard on his way to the locker room yelling and asking why the Cowboys bothered signing him in the offseason, according to a stadium employee who witnessed the tirade but didn’t want to be identified because he is not authorized to talk about team matters.

A short time later, Owens could be seen talking to team owner Jerry Jones, who appeared to be encouraging the player he personally brought to Dallas.

“I’m not going to sit up here and point a finger, so you guys can create a story,” Owens said later during the press conference, refusing to blame Bledsoe for the loss. “It’s not about that.”

Owens’ return to Philadelphia dominated the headlines this week, with Philly fans planning a hostile welcome. But Owens was merely a decoy for most of the game, and those fans were too dazzled by McNabb to fixate much on the erstwhile Eagles receiver who helped them reach the Super Bowl in 2004 before last year’s bitter departure.

“It’s frustrating,” Owens said. “Opportunities were there and we didn’t make them. I’m a competitor. I do not like to lose. Maybe I need to work harder.”

Not only did Owens not score, he didn’t catch a pass until the third quarter — then dropped the next one thrown to him, much to the delight of a frenzied crowd that showered Owens with derisive chants, insults and boos.

“I was surprised Terrell didn’t have more catches. That was not our plan,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

In San Diego, the Chargers scored 16 unanswered points to record a 23-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The loss leaves Pittsburgh just a half game above the Cleveland Browns for last place in the AFC North.

After Pittsburgh built a 10-0 lead with 4:55 left in the first half, San Diego outscored them 23-3 for the remainder of the game.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger threw 2 more interceptions, bringing his season total to 7. Roethlisberger has not thrown a touchdown pass since Pittsburgh’s 34-17 win over Denver in January’s AFC Championship Game at Invesco Field.

Chargers QB Phillip Rivers completed 24 for 37 passes for a career-high 242 yards during the win.

In Denver, the Broncos scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the Baltimore Ravens 13-3 and hand Baltimore their first loss of the season.

Baltimore got on the board with a 24 yard field goal by K Matt Stover with 4:46 left in the first quarter to make it 3-0 Ravens.

Denver tied it with a 43 yard field goal by K Jason Elam with 4:54 left in the second quarter.

Elam added the go-ahead 44 yard field goal with 8:03 remaining to give the Broncos a 6-3 lead.

Denver then put the game away on a 4 yard touchdown pass from QB Jake Plummer to WR Rod Smith with 1:55 remaining.

The Broncos defense has allowed just 1 touchdown over the first 4 games & is giving up a stingy 8.5 points per game, best in the AFC.

The Chicago Bears lead the NFC, allowing just 7.2 points per game.

Until next time,
Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.bmsradio.com