Week 8 in the NFL
Believe it or not, there actually were games played outside of Green Bay this weekend.
- It came in a losing effort, but Chicago running back Matt Forte should study the effort made by Atlanta's Michael Turner last night. Turner is a different type of runner than Forte, but he showed several times that even when you run into a defender or a wave of defenders, you don't have to collapse in a heap. Turner's 151 yards on 20 carries kept the Falcons in their Monday night game at New Orleans, but Drew Brees and the out-of-this-world Saints passing attack were ultimately too much. They won 35-27.
- We can all stop wondering when it is finally going to happen. Denver finally lost Sunday, as the Broncos were routed 30-7 by Baltimore. It was a must-win for the Ravens, who at 5-3 are still alive in an AFC North where Cincinnati and Pittsburgh both look like 10-win teams. Kyle Orton, who was getting some MVP attention when the Broncos started 6-0, was the first quarterback in some time who couldn't shred the struggling Ravens secondary. Joe Flacco, who has been a bit inconsistent this year, was the better QB in this one.
- In the battle for worst QB in the league, Derek Anderson, JaMarcus Russel and company are getting some serious competition the past couple of weeks. Eli Manning of the New York Giants had another stinker in his team's 40-17 loss to Philadelphia. He's certainly not getting any help from his defense, which has gone from dominant to pathetic as the Giants have transitioned from an easy schedule to a challenging one. But when you're paid like Manning is, and you're one of the faces of not only your franchise but the entire league, you can't get away with struggling like he is quietly.
- Vince Young lives! He was steady, if not spectacular, in leading Tennessee to its first win of the year, 30-13 over Jacksonville. Young was 15-for-18 for 125 yards with a touchdown and no picks. The Titnas don't win without Chris Johnson, however. My guy on two fantasy teams rushed 24 times for 228 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It is a shame that the Titans have been so horrible, because Johnson has quietly solidified his place as one of the NFL's most exciting young backs to hit the scene in a long time.
- Speaking of winless teams getting a 'W,' the St. Louis Rams defeated the Detroit Lions 17-10 in Toilet Bowl 2009. I thought the Lions were coming around, at least a bit, earlier in the year, when they won a game and then made Chicago at least work to beat them. Injuries to rookie QB Matthew Stafford and top WR Calvin Johnson haven't helped, but losing to the Rams is not a sign of progression in Detroit.
