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NFL Weekly Preview NFL Weekly Recap Presented by UPS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 NFL Weekly Recap

Week 9 NFL Capsules

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Tuesday November 03, 1998 01:25 AM

  Elway's Broncos are the only remaining unbeaten team, having survived the Bengals to stand at 8-0 at midseason AP

Chaos reigned in the NFL during Week 9. Just to sum things up: the Redskins and Panthers, the league's only winless teams, won. The undefeated Vikings took their first loss, and Denver nearly joined them.

How strange has this first half been? Consider that Brett Favre has more interceptions than Ryan Leaf. (Sure, Brett has 17 TDs and Ryan has two, but did you expect those two showing up in the same sentence?) The AFC East has a four-way tie for first place. Kansas City, last year's best regular-season team, is 4-4, while the Raiders, last year's second-worst team, is 6-2.

But then again, are things so strange? If you divide the league into two groups -- those with .500 records or better and those that don't -- 21 of the 30 teams are in the same group they were in at the end of last season.

There are only two AFC teams switching sides -- Buffalo and Oakland -- while there are four in the baffling NFC East as well. Arizona's already matched its four wins of last season, while the Giants have equaled their five losses of last year.

So which team has changed the most since midseason last year? The Falcons, 1-7 a year ago, are five games better at 6-2. Four teams are three games worse than where they were last year -- Carolina and the NFC East triumvirate of Washington, New York and Philadelphia.

Week 9 NFL Capsules
Teams Key Stat Key to Victory MVP
Bills 30 (5-3)
Dolphins 24 (5-3)
Doug Flutie stayed perfect as a starter this year, throwing three TDs and leading Buffalo to 16 fourth-quarter points. The Dolphins' defense sacked Flutie only once and gave up 5.5 yards a play after dominating opponents at home. Flutie threw two second-quarter touchdowns to Jay Riemersma and led Buffalo to a share of the AFC East lead.
Sta ts and recap< /A>
Patriots 21 (5-3)
Colts 16 (1-7)
Colts QB Peyton Manning attempted a career-high 52 passes but threw more than one INT for the sixth time in eight games. Two Patriots receivers -- rookie Tony Simmons and 37-year-old Henry Ellard -- combined for 161 yards and a TD. New England's Lawyer Milloy intercepted two Manning passes in the fourth quarter to seal the Patriots' victory.
Stats and recap
Jaguars 45 (6-2)
Ravens 19 (2-6)
Jacksonville had already set a team record for points in a game with 42 points in the first half. The injury-depleted Jags got four touchdowns from rookies Fred Taylor, Donovin Darius and Alvis Whitted. Jags QB Mark Brunell threw two first-quarter TDs then watched his teammates rack up 28 second-quarter points.
Stats and recap
Panthers 31 (1-7)
Saints 17 (4-4)
Saints WR Keith Poole ranks second in the NFL with an average of 24.5 yards on his 15 receptions this year. Carolina converted four Saints turnovers into 14 points in building a 24-3 lead after three quarters. Panthers QB Steve Beuerlein completed 13 of 17 passes (76 percent) with two touchdown passes.
Stats and recap
Redskins 21 (1-7)
Giants 14 (3-5)
'Skins rookie Skip Hicks, after 4 total yards in his first seven games, rushed for 65 and a touchdown on Sunday. In a game with no turnovers, the Redskins held the ball for 37:29 and converted seven of 17 third downs. Redskins QB Trent Green made no mistakes in his return as starter, throwing for one TD and running in another.
Stats and recap
Bucs 27 (4-4)
Vikings 24 (7-1)
The Bucs stayed perfect in their new stadium, moving to 4-0 after rallying for 10 points in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay set a team record with 246 rushing yards, with 100-yard games from Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott. Alstott rushed for a career-best 128 yards, including the game-winning 6-yard touchdown in the fourth.
Stats and recap
Cardinals 17 (4-4)
Lions 15 (2-6)
The Cards improved to .500 ball despite going 2-for-13 on third down and averaging 1.5 yards per carry. Lions rookie QB Charlie Batch threw three interceptions and rookie Terry Fair fumbled on his own 14-yard line. Cards QB Jake Plummer finally emerged and threw for two touchdown passes to receivers Rob Moore and Frank Sanders.
S tats and r ecap
Falcons 37 (6-2)
Rams 15 (2-6)
The Falcons improved their NFL-best time of possession (36:04 on Sunday) and totaled 434 yards on offense. Atlanta QB Chris Chandler returned to the Falcons lineup, and when he's in, the Falcons win (12 of last 16). Jamal Anderson rushed for a career-best 174 yards and set the tone with two first-quarter touchdowns.
Stats and recap
Oilers 41 (4-4)
Steelers 31 (5-3)
Steelers WR Courtney Hawkins set a team record with 14 receptions, for 147 yards and one touchdown. Oilers QB Steve McNair threw 3 TDs, while Steelers QB Kordell Stewart threw 3 INTs and was benched. Tennessee RB Eddie George carried the load, rushing 34 times for 153 yards and one touchdown in the road win.
Stats and recap
Broncos 33 (8-0)
Bengals 26 (2-6)
Cincy QB Neil O'Donnell has 12 TDs against one INT this year and has gone 209 pass attempts without a pick. The Broncos got the ball last -- the two teams combined for 34 points in the fourth -- 21 in the final five minutes. Denver's Terrell Davis padded his league lead with two more rushing touchdowns (14) and 149 yards. (1,150)
Stats and recap
Jets 20 (5-3)
Chiefs 17 (4-4)
Aaron Glenn's 62-yard kickoff return set up the game-tying score early in the fourth quarter. Jets kicker John Hall redeemed himself for missed field goals of 31 and 55 yards by hitting the game winner. Jets QB Vinny Testaverde improved to 5-0 as starter despite only 42 yards on 30 carries from Curtis Martin.
Stats and recap
Packers 36 (6-2)
49ers 22 (6-2)
After Sunday's loss, 49ers quarterback Steve Young is now 0-for-8 against the Packers as a starter. The Packers sacked Young a career-high nine times, including three from veteran defensive end Reggie White. Green Bay receiver Antonio Freeman caught two huge touchdown passes and finished with 193 receiving yards.
Stats and re cap
Raiders 31 (6-2)
Seahawks 18 (4-4)
Seattle lost four of six fumbles on Sunday, as many in one game as 12 NFL teams have lost all season. Seattle QB Warren Moon hit 16 straight passes in the first half, then had an INT returned for a TD and two fumbles. Raiders QB Donald Hollas threw for 2 TDs and 237 yards, improving to 3-0 in relief of injured QB Jeff George.
S tats and recap
Cowboys 34 (5-3)
Eagles 0 (1-7)
Dallas recorded its first ever shutout of Philadelphia (span of 78 games) and its fifth straight Monday night victory over the Eagles. Philadelphia averaged only 3.2 yards per play, 2.3 yards per pass. Cowboys QB Troy Aikman completes 14-of-26 passes for 171 yards, 2 TDs in his first game back from a broken collarbone.Stats and recap
 

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