NFL Splinters | Week 11, 2009

By Paul Gotham

Keep on keeping on

The Indianapolis Colts will take whatever they get; the New Orleans Saints delivered a knockout punch. Doesn’t matter how different the approach is, the Colts and Saints remain unblemished.

Indy continued their Houdini act with a 17-15 escape….er….win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts have won their last four games by a combined total of 10 points. It makes no difference; they all count as wins. Gary Brackett’s interception with 2:42 remaining preserved the victory.  Indy’s defense held the Ravens without a touchdown. Former Raven, Matt Stover, kicked the eventual game-winner with 7:02 remaining. Peyton Manning uncharacteristically threw two interceptions but also completed 22 of 31 for 299 yards. Brackett’s pick occurred at the Indy 13 yard line. Indy travels to Houston next week before hosting Tennessee and Denver in the following weeks.

On the other hand, the Saints left the Bucs whimpering: “no mas; no mas.” Drew Brees threw three touchdowns as the Saints pounded Tampa Bay, 38-7. Brees hooked up with Robert Meacham twice and David Thomas once.  New Orleans hosts New England next weekend.

Fading fast

After week 3 of the season, the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos considered printing playoff tickets. Since then the three seem like they are playing a broken guitar. The Jets now stand at 4-6. Mark Sanchez threw four interceptions as the Jets lost for the fifth time in their last six, 31-14 to the Patriots. New England held the Jets to 34 yards and two first downs in the first half. What once appeared a promising season has to have Sanchez mumbling “my city of ruins.”

The Falcons fell to the New York Giants in OT, 34-31. With the loss, Atlanta stands at 5-5. They host Tampa next week before tilts with Philadelphia and New Orleans. The Giants won for the first time in 42 days – not like they were left in the desert without food or drink and the devil tempted at every turn or anything.

The Broncos are exactly who they thought we were. Not too long ago, the AFC West seemed a lock for Josh McDaniels and his team. Now, the Broncos will need to make up ground after falling to the division-leading San Diego Chargers, 32-3. The Giants host Denver Thanksgiving night. Any misconceptions about either of these teams could be cleared.

Blind resume

On Sunday morning, if you were told two teams would combine that afternoon for 912 yards and 75 points, which game would you have guessed? Washington at Dallas? Maybe San Fran at Green Bay? Or the Chargers/Broncos affair? But definitely not Cleveland and Detroit. Someone must have spiked the water coolers in Motown because the Browns and Lions put on a show. Matt Stafford threw for 4222 and Brady Quinn 304.

Mr. Irrelevant to the rescue

Everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame. Or was that 10 minutes? Ryan Succop’s time came Sunday. The last man chosen in the 2009 draft split the uprights in OT as Kansas City tripped Pittsburgh, 27-24.  The AFC North is up for the taking as all four fell – Pittsburgh to KC, Cleveland to Detroit, Baltimore to Indy, and Cincinnati to OFA (Oakland Free Academy). Just about the time we were all beginning to take the Bengals seriously, they fall into the Black and Silver hole. Cincy out-gained Oakland 348  to 275, but four turnovers (3 fumbles and one pick) doomed the Bengals.

The Rising

With Vince Young at the helm, the Tennessee Titans are 4-0.  Are the playoff out of the question? The Jets, Steelers, Ravens, and Broncos all falling.  The wild card is not out of reach. Tennessee plays Arizona, Indy, St. Louis, and Miami in the coming weeks.

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