Just give me the damn upset.
Just give the Bucs a damn loss.
Just give Mike Alstott some damn stickum.
Damn, it's fun to say damn. If Keyshawn Johnson could play football as well as he jabbers, he might be as damn good as Wayne Chrebet. He might still be damn undefeated. He might not be so damn embarrassed.
Chrebet, the pint-sized "mascot," shined his "flashlight" in Key's eyes Sunday, blinding the light from the self-proclaimed "shining star."
The Jets-Bucs game lived up to its billing only in the final two minutes, but a fourth straight win for the Jets is huge, if only because the New York papers will have two weeks to gloat back at Keyshawn since the Jets are off next week.
| Week 4 NFL Recap |
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| Lions 21 (3-1), Bears 14 (0-4) |
Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
2.8: Average yards per carry for the Lions, with only 8 rushing yards on 29 carries. |
| Player of the Game |
| Kurt Schulz, FS, Detroit: Recorded three tackles and picked off three passes. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Lions are likely the most surprising 3-1 team, considering their lack of offensive production. Charlie Batch completed 20 of 37 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw one interception and was sacked three times. The Bears outgained the Lions by 127 yards (401-274), but five turnovers killed Chicago's hopes. James Stewart gained 71 yards on 23 carries with one touchdown, and has now carried 73 times for 227 yards on the season for a subpar 3.1 yards per carry. Detroit has crucial games at home the next two weeks against division foes Minnesota and Green Bay. |
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| Eagles 21 (2-2), Saints 7 (1-3) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
5: Sacks surrendered by the Saints, who have now allowed 12 sacks in four games. |
| Player of the Game |
| Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia: Completed 20-of-32 for 222 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 23 yards on seven carries. |
CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Eagles struggled running the ball for the third consecutive week after looking so great against the Cowboys in Week 1. Duce Staley carried 18 times but gained only 44 yards against a Saints defense that was giving up 98.7 yards per game. Philadelphia was much more successful on third downs than New Orleans, converting on 7-of-15 while holding the Saints to only 4-of-15.
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| 49ers 41 (1-3), Cowboys 24 (1-3) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
73.3: Third-down completion percentage for the 49ers (11-of-15). |
| Player of the Game |
| Charlie Garner, RB, San Francisco: Ran for one touchdown and a career-high (and 49ers team record) 201 yards on 36 carries, and caught three passes for 34 yards. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Cowboys proved to be enigmatic, losing to one of the worst teams in football at home after beating the Redskins six days prior. The 49ers showed that they have enough offensive firepower to win, but that their fate will hinge on their defense. Jeff Garcia completed only 16 passes, but four of them went for touchdowns, and he also gained 43 yards on six scrambles. Jerry Rice caught the 170th and 171st touchdown passes of his Hall of Fame career, and Terrell Owens grabbed two touchdowns for San Francisco. The 49ers held Emmitt Smith to 31 yards on 11 carries, and limited the Cowboys to 49 yards rushing. Troy Aikman was sacked three times -- none hard enough to give him a 10th career concussion -- but he completed only 15 of 26 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown and one interception. |
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| Ravens 37 (3-1), Bengals 0 (0-3) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
20: Difference in first-down total for the Ravens (27) and Bengals (7). |
| Player of the Game |
| Jamal Lewis, RB, Baltimore: Ran for 116 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries, and caught two passes for 25 yards. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Ravens dominated the Bengals in every facet. Baltimore held Cincinnati to 94 total yards and only 44 offensive plays. The Ravens controlled the ball for 38:44 by rushing for 176 yards. The Bengals averaged only 0.3 yards per rush, carrying the ball 16 times for a total of 4 yards. Baltimore might have dominated the game even more if not for 10 penalties for 90 yards and a lost fumble. Cincinnati was shut out for the second consecutive game, and may have problems scoring next week against Miami's league-best scoring defense. |
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| Dolphins 10 (3-1), Patriots 3 (0-4) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
22: Total points allowed by the Dolphins in four games for a league-leading average of 5.5 per game. |
| Player of the Game |
| Trace Armstrong, DE, Miami: Recorded four tackles and two sacks, giving him 6 1/2 sacks this season and 92 1/2 in his 12-year career. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| With a defense as good as Miami's, getting into a defensive battle isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Dolphins held an opponent in single digits for the third time in four games and held the Patriots to 1.9 yards per carry. Each team had only 12 first downs, and they combined for only 452 yards of total offense. Miami travels to Cincinnati next Sunday to face a Bengals team that hasn't scored in 164 minutes, 33 seconds. |
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| Titans 23 (2-1), Steelers 20 (0-3) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
2.9: Average yards per carry for Eddie George this season, as he has rushed for 227 yards on 73 carries. |
| Player of the Game |
| Steve McNair, QB, Tennessee: Came off the bench to complete three of three passes for 55 yards and the game-winning touchdown, and ran for eight yards on two carries. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The bullpens were busy late in the game as both Neil O'Donnell and Kent Graham went down with injuries in the fourth quarter. McNair bettered Kordell Stewart in the game's final minutes to pull out the come-from-behind road victory for the Titans. Eddie George was limited to 74 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. |
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| Rams 41 (4-0), Falcons 20 (2-2) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
1,557: Passing yards for Kurt Warner through four games, putting him on pace for 6,228, which would smash Dan Marino's single-season record of 5,084 yards set in 1984. |
| Player of the Game |
| Torry Holt, WR, St. Louis: Caught three passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 19 catches for 487 yards on the season (an amazing 25.6 yards per reception). |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Rams continued their offensive explosion by piling up 395 yards and 41 points on the second-best team in their division. St. Louis has scored 41 points in three of its four games, and has put up 160 points in four games, on pace for 640 points, which would break the Vikings' record of 556 set in 1998. The Falcons did a great job defensively on Marshall Faulk, holding him to 78 yards rushing and 18 yards receiving, or 80.7 yards below his yards-per-game average. The Rams face the lowly 0-4 Chargers in St. Louis next Sunday. |
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| Packers 29 (2-2), Cardinals 3 (1-2) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
246: Advantage in total yards for the Packers (455) over the Cardinals (209). |
| Player of the Game |
| Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay: Completed 17-of-31 for 277 yards and one touchdown, and ran four times for 38 yards. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Green Bay held the football for 36:28 by running 36 times for 176 yards while limiting the Cardinals to 28 rushing yards and only 12 first downs. Darren Sharper had 10 tackles, four passes defensed and two interceptions for the Packers, who gave up only three points for the second consecutive week. Jake Plummer threw four interceptions in his worst game of the season, giving him seven picks and only four touchdowns through three games. |
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| Raiders 36 (3-1), Browns 10 (2-2) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
6: Kicks made by Sebastian Janikowski, who hit both of his field-goal attempts and all four of his extra points. |
| Player of the Game |
| William Thomas, LB, Oakland: Picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and made three tackles. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Raiders took the lead in the AFC West by frustrating Tim Couch into an ordinary game. A week after throwing for 316 yards, Couch struggled, throwing for only 141 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with three sacks. Cleveland converted only two of 11 third downs and was penalized eight times for 46 yards. Tyrone Wheatley and Napoleon Kaufman combined for 100 yards rushing on 28 carries, as the Raiders managed 113 yards on the ground, almost exactly on their average of 114. |
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| Seahawks 20 (2-2), Chargers 12 (0-4) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
303: Yards of offense for the Chargers on Sunday, after averaging only 210 yards per game through the first three. |
| Player of the Game |
| Willie Williams, CB, Seattle: Ran back an interception 69 yards for a third-quarter touchdown, and made five tackles. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Seattle's offense didn't play well, but a game against the lowly Chargers is the perfect remedy to give a struggling offense some confidence. Jon Kitna completed 11-of-21 for 196 yards and one touchdown, and ran for 22 yards on six carries. Linebacker Anthony Simmons made 14 tackles and had one of the Seahawks' two sacks. Chargers tight end Freddie Jones caught eight passes for a career-high 82 yards. Ryan Leaf hit on 16 of 26 passes for 153 yards, but his one interception pushed his season totals to one touchdown and seven interceptions, and his career totals to three touchdowns and 22 interceptions. The Seahawks tied Denver and Kansas City at 2-2 in the AFC West, with Seattle heading to Arrowhead Stadium next Monday night for a key division battle. |
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| Chiefs 23 (2-2), Broncos 22 (2-2) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
403: Rushing yards for Mike Anderson in four games, putting him on pace for 1,612 yards in his rookie season. |
| Player of the Game |
| Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City: Had the best day of his career, catching 10 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Chiefs won their third straight over the Broncos by coming from behind to shock the Broncos. Rod Smith dominated the Chiefs' secondary, catching eight passes for 134 yards, but Tony Gonzalez was Smith's equal. Gonzalez's career-best day was the offensive highlight on an otherwise sluggish day for the Kansas City offense. The Broncos outplayed the Chiefs, but were hurt by three turnovers and six penalties for 71 yards. Denver outrushed Kansas City 145-49, but the Chiefs threw for 245 yards to only 197 for the Broncos. Elvis Grbac didn't match his five-touchdown performance of last Sunday, but his two touchdowns and two interceptions were enough to get the tough road win.
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| Jets 21 (4-0), Buccaneers 17 (3-1) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
4.8: Average catches per game for Keyshawn Johnson (320 catches for 4,289 yards and 32 touchdowns in 66 games) compared to 4.4 catches per game for Wayne Chrebet (346 catches for 4,334 yards and 24 touchdowns in 79 games). |
| Player of the Game |
| Wayne Chrebet, WR, New York: Caught only two passes for 32 yards, but the game-winning touchdown grab kept the Jets perfect on the season. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Chrebet waited until late in the game to feed Johnson his humble pie. New York scored 15 points in 62 seconds of the fourth quarter, after scoring only six in the first 58 minutes. Vinny Testaverde struggled again, completing only 22-of-42 for 181 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Testaverde is only completing 49.7 percent of his passes this season (77-of-155 for 911 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions) but with the Jets still undefeated few people will argue. The Buccaneers hurt themselves with eight penalties for 75 yards, and two lost fumbles in the critical final two minutes. Mike Alstott's second fumble of the season was the turning point in the game, and his reputation as a fumbler is sure to take another hit. Alstott has now lost 17 fumbles in his five-year career. The 4-0 Jets get a week off to savor their big victory before playing host to the struggling Steelers in the Meadowlands in Week 6. |
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| Redskins 16 (2-2), Giants 6 (3-1) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
93: Rushing yard for the Giants, 70.8 yards below their season average of 163.8. |
| Player of the Game |
| Brad Johnson, QB, Washington: Completed 14-of-20 for 289 yards and two touchdowns. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Redskins bounced back into the NFC East race by shutting down the Giants' rushing attack. Tiki Barber ran 16 times for 65 yards and Ron Dayne was held to 23 yards on five carries. Johnson had his best game of the season for the Washington and Albert Connell grabbed four passes for 122 yards and one touchdown. The Redskins' quality defensive effort was led by linebacker Shawn Barber who had nine tackles and one sack. |
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| Colts 43 (2-1), Jaguars 14 (2-2) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
533: Total yards for the Colts, who held the Jaguars to only 286 yards. |
| Player of the Game |
| Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis: Completed 23 of 36 passes for a career-high and Colts record 440 yards and four touchdowns. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| The Colts dominated the Jaguars throughout, sending Jacksonville to its second loss in four games after losing only twice in 16 games all of last season. Indianapolis looked better prepared than Jacksonville, and the Colts played with a sense of urgency in trying to avoid falling to 1-2 this season. Jim Mora's team obviously used the Week 2 loss to the Raiders as a motivating factor, and the fact that the Colts were playing on Monday night for the first time in three years didn't hurt either. Jimmy Smith continued his amazing start to the season, catching nine passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 36 catches for 516 yards and six touchdowns. Smith is on pace for 2,064 yards and 24 touchdowns, which would break Jerry Rice's records of 1,848 yards set in 1995 and 22 touchdowns set in 1987. But if Jacksonville's defense continues to allow teams to beat them through the air (1,161 yards and 10 passing touchdowns in four games), Smith's run for a record may not translate into success for the Jaguars in the balanced AFC.
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