Week 7 Sunday Scores & Monday Prediction

By TLarner

Another exciting week of NFL action followed with no “head shots” or “devastating hits”. Many players put up huge numbers in the stat columns. Check out the scores and see who will win big tonight.

Bowens & his Browns baffle Brees

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints lost for the second time in the past three weeks, this time to the Cleveland Browns. Brees again struggled mightily. In his previous loss to Arizona, Brees threw three interceptions. He topped that performance by throwing four to a hungry Browns’ defense. Rookie Colt McCoy made his second start for Cleveland.

Cleveland opened the game with one of many trick plays. Joshua Cribbs fielded a punt return, and took a few steps up field. The former college quarterback then threw the ball back to corner Eric Wright on the opposite side of the field, who returned the ball 62 yards, inside the Saints’ 20-yard line. The offense took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter after a Peyton Hillis touchdown run, his fifth on the year. In the beginning of the second quarter, with the offense inside the red zone, Brees threw his first interception to linebacker Scott Fujita, a former Saint. Later in the quarter, Cleveland punter Reggie Hodges ran a fake punt 68 yards to the New Orleans’ 10 yard line. The Browns settled for a field goal, taking a 13-3 lead. After the two minute warning, Brees was pressured up the middle, and with a defender draping him, threw a pick six to linebacker David Bowens. With less than 30 seconds left in the half, Brees threw another pick, this time to Wright. Neither team was able to put any points on the board in the third quarter as the Browns entered the final quarter up 20-3. Brees hit tight end David Thomas on an 11-yard pass to cut the deficit to 10. On the ensuing Cleveland drive, Coach Eric Mangini had another trick up his sleeve. On a third down, Hillis took a handoff from McCoy, then turned and threw it back to the QB for a 13-yard completion and a first down, leading to another Phil Dawson field goal. Brees then threw his fourth interception, another pick six to Bowens, this time for 66 yards. Marques Colston caught a touchdown from Brees with less than two minutes remaining in the game, but Cleveland prevailed 30-20.

Brees threw for 356 yards with the two touchdowns and four interceptions. In the Saints’ three losses, Brees has thrown nine interceptions, compared to only one in their four wins. Chris Ivory ran for 48 yards. Colston led all receivers with 10 catches for 112 yards. McCoy notches his first win as a starter, but only completed nine pass for 74 yards. Hillis ran for 69 yards. Brian Robiskie had three catches for 25 yards. Along with the four interceptions, the Browns’ defense also recorded three sacks. The Browns had 12 first downs, compared to the Saints’ 25. Cleveland had 210 total yards, and New Orleans totaled 394 yards. The Saints’ time of possession was over 10 minutes longer than Cleveland.

The Raiders pillage Denver

How about the Oakland Raiders? They won by a whopping 59-14. The 59 points set a new franchise record. The Denver Broncos looked more like a junior varsity team. Oakland running back Darren McFadden ran like he did when he was an Arkansas Razorback.

Jason Campbell, who began the season as the starting quarterback, got another chance in place of the injured Bruce Gradkowski. He made the most of his opportunity, and found tight end Zach Miller for a touchdown on the opening drive. Eight seconds later, corner Chris Johnson returned a Kyle Orton interception 30 yards, and the Raiders take a 14-0 lead. McFadden scored his first rushing touchdown in the first quarter on a four-yard run. He then took a Campbell pass 19 yards for another touchdown, followed by his third touchdown of the day on another four-yard run. The Broncos were able to score 14 unanswered points. Denver running back Knowshon Moreno caught his first touchdown pass before the half ended, then opened the third quarter with another touchdown catch from Orton. McFadden gave opportunities to other Oakland running backs, as Marcel Reece and Michael Bush each scored a rushing touchdown. McFadden finished the day with his longest run of the season, a 57-yard score, his fourth total touchdown of the day.

Campbell threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns. McFadden ran for 165 yards on 16 attempts. Bush added 52 yards on the ground, and Reece ran for 39. Miller lead the Raiders with 65 yards receiving. Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour was one of five Raiders to sack Orton. The Raiders totaled 508 total yards, with 328 yards on the ground. Orton completed a season low 12 passes for 198 yards. Moreno ran for 53 yards in addition to his 37 receiving yards. Brandon Lloyd, who is second in the league with 709 receiving yards, only caught one pass for 46 yards on Sunday.

Game of the Week Results: Minnesota 24, Green Bay 28

The Green Bay Packers won their first meeting with NFC North division rival Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers edged out Brett Favre, who ended the game broken and bruised. Many considered this game a must win for the Vikings if they planned on making the playoffs, while Green Bay recovered after losing two consecutive games. They Packers are now tied with Chicago atop the division at 4-3, and Minnesota falls to a disappointing 2-4.

Favre trotted on the field to a stadium of booing fans. On Green Bay’s first drive, Rodgers was picked off on a screen pass inside the red zone by Jared Allen. However, the Vikings’ offense was unable to respond. Packer’s running back Brandon Jackson scored the first touchdown of the game on a one-yard run.  Minnesota responded on the next drive when Percy Harvin took a Favre handoff 17 yards, and tied the game at 7-7. In the beginning of the second quarter, Rodgers found rookie tight end Andrew Quarless in the end zone. After a replay overturned a Harvin touchdown catch, Adrian Peterson punched the ball in for a score, and the Vikings again tied the game, 14 all. The Packers nearly scored on a fake field goal attempt. Backup quarterback and holder Matt Flynn threw a perfect pass to Quarless at the five-yard line, but Quarless tripped over his own feet as the ball floated toward him. Favre threw a touchdown to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, but another challenge overturned the call, and the Vikings settled for a field goal. With about a minute left in the half, Rodgers was picked off in the end zone on a pass intended for Greg Jennings. In the third quarter, Favre was picked off by linebacker A.J. Hawk, which lead to a Rodgers touchdown pass to Jennings. A minute later, Favre was again picked off, this time by Desmond Bishop for a touchdown. He responded by finding Randy Moss on a four-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-24. On his next drive, Favre was intercepted by safety Nick Collins. A false start and facemask penalty set the Minnesota offense up with a first and 30 on the Green Bay 36-yard line less than a minute left. Favre slung the first down pass into the end zone, and Percy Harvin hauled in what looked like the winning score. The play was reviewed, and Harvin’s second foot landed out of bounds. Favre’s final two pass attempts went over Moss’s head, and out of the back of the end zone.

Favre finished with 212 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. Peterson ran for 131 yards. Harvin ran for 41 yards, and caught five passes for 65 yards. Moss had only three catches for 30 yards. Rodgers threw for 295 yards, two scores, and two picks. Jackson ran for 58 yards. James Jones had a team best 107 yards receiving. While the defense only sacked Favre once, he was under constant pressure most of the night. It was reported today that Favre has a fractured ankle and is wearing a walking boot.

Remaining Scores from Sunday:

Cincinnati 32, Atlanta 39

Pittsburgh 23, Miami 22

Buffalo 34, Baltimore 37

Jacksonville 20, Kansas City 42

Washington 17, Chicago 14

San Francisco 20, Carolina 23

St. Louis 17, Tampa Bay 18

Philadelphia 19, Tennessee 37

Arizona 10, Seattle 22

New England 23, San Diego 20

Monday Night Football:

The NFC East rivalry between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys continues tonight in Texas. The Giants, with a 4-2 record, could remain one game ahead of Philadelphia and Washington with a win. The Cowboys are 1-4, and are in desperate need of a win if they plan on saving this season.

The Giants enter the game ranked ninth in yards per game (370.7) and sixth in rushing yards per game (136.6). Eli Manning has thrown for 1,479 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions through six games. He has an 86.2 passer rating. Ahmad Bradshaw is having a tremendous season. He currently has 582 yards rushing with a 5.3 yard per carry average, and three touchdowns. Brandon Jacobs has 207 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Hakeem Nicks leads the team with 36 receptions for 417 yards and six touchdowns. Steve Smith has 34 catches for 370 yards and a score. The New York defense is second in both yards allowed (264.8) and passing yards allowed (172.0). Osi Umenyiora has a team high eight sacks. Deon Grant and Terrell Thomas each have two interceptions.

The Dallas offense has had no problem adding up total yards, but have not converted those yards into points. They are third with 400 yards per game, but 18th with 20.4 points per game. Tony Romo has completed 69.4% of his passes for 1,566 yards. He has 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 93.6 passer rating. Felix Jones leads a dismal rushing attack. He has 229 yards. Marion Barber has 175 yards and the team’s only rushing touchdown. Miles Austin has 486 yards receiving with two touchdowns. Roy Williams leads the team with five touchdown catches. The defense ranks third in yards allowed (281.4), but 20th in points allowed (22.2). DeMarcus Ware has recorded seven sacks. The defense only has two interceptions.

Prediction

It is no secret that the Cowboys have faced their share of hardships this season. The Giants may be the prize in a weak NFC conference, and can prove so tonight with another win. The Giants defense should have no problem corralling Barber and Jones on the ground. New York will soften up the Cowboys with Bradshaw and Jacobs, allowing Manning to then find one of his weapons over the top. With another Giants victory, Jerry Jones will have to work  miracle to save his ‘Boys.

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