NFL: Week Ten Review

San Francisco def. Chicago 10-6: A game both teams really needed. San Francisco managed to steal the W, but they were far from convincing. It's fair to say that this wasn't the greatest way for the NFL Network to begin their late-season slate of Thursday night games. Actually, it's a wonder that the crowd managed to stay awake during this snoozer. Jake Cutler threw 5 INTs on the night and could scarcely get the Bears offense rolling when he was actually able to hold onto the football. The Bears defense is a shadow of it's former self. It's almost sad to see. Lovie Smith might be in trouble in the Windy City.

Minnesota def. Detroit 27-10: A sloppy game of football, where the Vikings had given up 10 penalties midway through the third quarter, including some big ones on defense that extended Lion drives. The Vikings looked like they wanted to be anywhere but inside the Metrodome this afternoon and it showed in their execution. Even the normally excitable Brett Favre seemed bored with the football game. A win is a win, but it wasn't a victory that would be striking fear into the hearts of their opponents down the road.

Miami def. Tampa Bay 25-23: The Battle of Florida was more notable for an injury to Dolphin Ronnie Brown than for any explosive football. The Bucs couldn't back up their surprise victory - their first for the season - last week vs. Green Bay. There's plenty more pain in future for Tampa Bay fans. Dolphins faithful might be feeling something similar is Brown, a key cog in their Wildcat machine, is out for any stretch of time.

Jacksonville def. NY Jets 24-22: Just as their cross-town Giants showed promise early and are falling apart, the Jets seem to have the same disease. They lost to a not-very-good Jacksonville team today. All those who started hailing Mark Sanchez as an instant NY legend, nicknaming him "Sanchise" must feel pretty stupid, really. No one from USC is enjoying very much right now. At least there isn't the malcontent that infested the team this time last year when Eric Mangini was in charge.

Cincinnati def. Pittsburgh 18-12: If you didn't believe in the Bengals before today, I'm sorry, but there's no room left for you on the Cincy Band Wagon. We're all full - and I'm riding up the front. The Bengals have always had the talent. It's been injuries that have held them back in the past. With Carson Palmer going strong, the Bengals look a different team. Cedric Benson's injury will be closely monitored, as will Troy Polamalu's. So nice to have competition in the AFC North. Well, Mike Tomlin might not think so, but I certainly do.

New Orleans def. St Louis 28-23: New Orleans are going to lose in a stinker. I can see it happening sooner rather than later. The Saints have played bad teams and not exactly shone over the last few weeks. One day, it's going to come back and bite them. There's never an 'easy' game in the NFL. Right now, the Saints don't look as good to me as they did earlier in the year. From my vantage point, they are simply going through the motions, maybe a little complacently. They need a strong win against a good team to get the zip back. Still, a win is a win.

Tennessee def. Buffalo 41-17: Vince Young obviously makes a difference to the Titans. Okay, maybe not as much as a rampaging Chris Johnson, but the presence of the former Texas Longhorn (and Tennessee fiurst round pick) is encouraging. This football team is playing in very much a rejuvinated fashion. This is more like the team we expected to see at the start of the year. Three wins on the trot is good, but the Titans have dug themselves too deep a hole to claw out of this year. The less said about the Bills the better. It seems like Buffalo, NYJ and Miami are going out of their way to lay down and hand over the AFC East title to New England. The Patriots will take it, too.

Washington def. Denver 27-17: I thought Denver would bounce back nicely after two cosnecutive losses to good football teams, and beat a Washington Redskins outfit who will not be descrived as 'good' in Season 2009. Instead, the Broncos faltered for a third week running, and have slipped from a lofy 6-0 perch to 6-3, and suddenly they look rather vulnerable. I'll put this out there now: another Denver loss next week or the week after and it might be all over for the Broncos. Especially with San Diego hot on their heels now...

Carolina def. Atlanta 28-19: I thought Atlanta would take care of this one easily, but Jake Delhomme, who is as hot-and-cold asKaty Perry, decided to have a big day, ably backed up by DeAngelo Williams and Johnathon Stewart. That trio are probably saving John Fox's neck.

Kansas City def. Oakland 16-10: JaMarcus Russell got benched. That's certainly a blessing for Oakland fans...until you realise that your backup is crazy-looking Bruce Gradkowski. The Raiders D made Matt Cassell's offense look better than it is...and the KC defense hounded Russell until his benching. Really, a game that means little, except for some high draft picks.

San Diego def. Philadelphia 31-23: San Diego are coming and Denver should be very worried. The Chargers got out to a big lead and held on as McNabb and the Eagles stormed home, though it was to no avail in the end. The AFC West is suddenly back on, and the Chargers/Broncos showdown at Mile High on Sunday afternoon suddenly looms as crunch time for both teams.

Arizona def. Seattle 30-20: The NFC West is one of the worst divisions in the NFL and it's hard to get excited about anything when two division rivals get together to slug it out. There's a reason why these teams only ever attract the #4 broadcast crew from FOX. No one really cares. It's a shame seeing Matt Hasselbeck, once an elite QB, suffer amidst a terrible offense. Amazing to think that the Seahawks were in the Super Bowl in February of 2006. So much has changed - and gone downhill - since then!

Green Bay def. Dallas 17-7: It seems like no one wants to win the NFC East. First the Giants implode after a 5-0 start, then the Cowboys get a run, defeat Philly...and lose to a medicore Green Bay team. The Cowboys could have taken a handy lead in the division with a win today, but 5 sacks of Tony Romo, an impotent offense and problems hanging onto the football put an end to all of that. It was a real momentum sapper of a loss for Dallas, and perhaps a turning point win for the Pack, who handed Tampa Bay their first W of the season last week. Aaron Rodgers was hassled, as usual, right through the game, but he converted some big third downs and did enough to ensure he scored a win at home. Just what the doctor ordered.

Indianapolis def. New England 35-34: We've become accustomed to thrilling games when the Patriots and the Colts get on the field together. There's no doubt this rivalry is the defining one of the naughties, like the 49ers vs. Cowboys was back in the 1990's. New England and Indy always delivers a headline moment. It's a testament to Peyton Manning and the Colts offense that they managed to get back into this game, despite a poor showing early. Manning led them down the field to score points when they most needed them. Down by 17 points at one stage, the never-say-die attitude of Manning and Reggie Wayne and co ensured another grandstand finish.

Of course, they were helped by a crazy play call from Bil Belichick on a 4th & 1 with just over 2:00 to play in the game. Coach Bill should have played the field position game and punted the football away. Then he took a time-out to set up the play, and didn't have one left with which to challenge the perhaps dubious on-field ruling of New England not making the first down marker. You can't give Peyton Manning a short field and two minutes to get a score. The MVP is going to pick you apart every time.

Plenty will be written and said about Belichick's decision through the week, especially because he is normaly so tactically sound with his play calls. The time-out and the subsequent fourth down attempt were very un-Belichick in the way it all happened. Very sloppy, and not what we're used to from BB. The earlier dubious call was the ball from Brady that was nearly intercepted and taken the other way for 6. I don't know what happened, but something did, and people will be second-guessing Belichick all week.

My other question is why did Brady look for Kevin Faulk on that fourth down play? Sure, he's a pressure valve, has been for a long time and is a good and reliable receiver out of the backfield, but when Randy Moss and Wes Welker have combined for nearly 300 yards receiving on the day, you surely have to hedge your bets and throw the ball to either one of those two. I mean, it's not as if the Colts D has had much success in shutting them down for the prior 58 minutes of the football game. It makes you wonder...

An unbelievable ending to a game that New England probably deserved to win. They were the better team on the night, and the Colts defense simply couldn't stop Randy Moss and Wes Welker. You figure these two teams will meet again - perhaps in the AFC Championship Game. The important thing to note from this contest is that Indy have all but sewed up home field (should that be dome?) advantage, which will mean a lot. A dome team having to play in outdoors in the elements the winter months are always at a disadvantage. Here's hoping the sequel, if it happens, will be just as good as the original.