Quarterback controversies have become the chic topic of conversation across the NFL landscape. Buffalo: Doug Flutie or Rob Johnson. Pittsburgh: Kordell Stewart or Kent Graham. Seattle: Jon Kitna or Brock Huard. San Diego: Jim Harbaugh or anyone walking on the beach.
While QB-of-the-future Cade McNown chased Playmates, backup Jim Miller patiently waited for his chance to direct the Bears' offense. After a shoulder injury sidelined McNown, Miller was ready.
Miller threw for 214 yards and a touchdown as Chicago held off Indianapolis 27-24 on Sunday. It was the Bears' first victory since Week 5 and second overall. The 27 points matched their highest point total of the season.
If the Bears' offense continues to excel under Miller, McNown will need to pull a rabbit out of his hat in order to get back under center.
| Week 10 NFL Recap |
| |
| Bills 16 (5-4), Patriots 13 (2-7) OT |
Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
13: Yards rushing by Bills' Antowain Smith, who saw his first action since being benched after the Sept. 17 game against New York Jets. |
| Player of the Game |
| Steve Christie, K, Bills: Game-winning field goal in overtime was his third FG of the day. He scored 10 of Buffalo's 16 points. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| After New England QB Drew Bledsoe was forced from the game (injured right hand), the Patriots' offense struggled. Bledsoe had thrown for 50 yards on 3-of-5 passing, but New England had only 66 yards in the final 39:59. |
| |
| Eagles 16 (6-4), Cowboys 13 (3-6) OT |
Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
189: Combined penalty yardage for Dallas (12 penalties, 97 yards) and Philadelphia (7-91). |
| Player of the Game |
| Darnell Autry, RB, Philadelphia: Piled up 122 total yards (65 rushing, 57 receiving) and scored the Eagles' only touchdown. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Dallas QB Randall Cunningham returned to Veterans Stadium for the first time since 1995. He failed to capture the magic that helped lead Philly to four postseason appearances in five years (1988-90, '92). |
| |
| Buccaneers 27 (5-4), Falcons 14 (3-7) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
557: Dan Stryzinski punts without a block since Sept. 31, 1993, when he was playing for Tampa Bay against Atlanta. |
| Player of the Game |
| Shaun King QB, Tampa Bay: Threw for only 110 yards but three TDs, giving him seven in the past two games. He had six through the first seven weeks. |
CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Tampa Bay, one of eight NFC teams above .500, continues to make its way back into the NFC postseason picture. Combined record of Bucs' stretch-drive opponents: 30-30. |
| |
| Bears 27 (2-7), Colts 24 (6-3) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
0: First-half points by Indianapolis -- the first time this season the Colts failed to score in the first half. |
| Player of the Game |
| Rosevelt Colvin, LB, Chicago: Hit Colts QB Peyton Manning and forced a fumble with 1:05 remaining to preserve the victory. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Chicago ended a five-game home losing streak at Soldier Field. It was the Bears' longest home losing streak since the beginning of the 1997 season (six consecutive defeats). |
| |
| Ravens 27 (6-4), Bengals 7 (2-7) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
3: Touchdowns scored by Baltimore, most since Ravens scored four Sept. 24 against Cincinnati. |
| Player of the Game |
| Shannon Sharpe, TE, Baltimore: Seven receptions for 66 yards and two TDs as Ravens defeated Cincinnati for sixth consecutive time. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Second-year WR Brandon Stokley's second career touchdown -- a 14-yard reception from QB Trent Dilfer -- broke Baltimore's 21-quarter TD drought and was the first of three scored by the Ravens. |
| |
| Titans 9 (8-1), Steelers 7 (5-4) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
20-2: Tennessee's record against AFC Central opponents since 1998. |
| Player of the Game |
| Al Del Greco, K, Tennessee: Accounted for all Titan points, including the game-winning 29-yard field goal with four seconds remaining. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Tennessee's ball-control offense rode RB Eddie George (34 carries for 98 yards) as the Titans held the ball for 39 minutes and 30 seconds, and ground out 21 first downs. |
| |
| Giants 24 (7-2), Browns 3 (2-8) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
257: Season-high passing yards by Giants QB Kerry Collins. |
| Player of the Game |
| Amani Toomer, WR, N.Y. Giants: Two touchdown receptions matched his season total as the Giants (7-2) are off to best start since 1990 (10-0). |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Cleveland limited the NFL's No. 3 rushing team -- Ron Dayne had only 64 yards and Tiki Barber added 53 -- but could not keep up with the suddenly vaunted Giants' passing attack.
|
| |
| Dolphins 23 (7-2), Lions 8 (5-4) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
34: Consecutive games Detroit had not allowed an opening-drive touchdown. |
| Player of the Game |
| Lamar Smith, RB, Miami: Topped 100 yards rushing (125) for the third time this season and scored two TDs.
|
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Detroit allowed 14 first-quarter points for the second time this season. Tampa Bay scored 14 in Week 3 en route to a 31-14 victory. Bottom line: The Lions do not play catch-up very well. |
| |
| Saints 31 (6-3), 49ers 15 (2-8) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
5: Consecutive victories for New Orleans, matching its longest winning streak since 1993. |
| Player of the Game |
| Jeff Blake, QB, New Orleans: Three TD passes -- to three different receivers -- in the first half set the tone. Finished with 275 yards. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| New Orleans' defense continues to dominate opponents. San Francisco scored its first TD with 7:52 remaining in the third quarter -- when it was 31-0. |
| |
| Cardinals 16 (3-6), Redskins 15 (6-4) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
$331M: Proposed cost of a new Arizona stadium, which will be voted on Tuesday. |
| Player of the Game |
| Aeneas Williams, CB, Arizona: Had the second-longest fumble return for a TD (103 yards) in league history and added two tackles. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Washington should take a page from Oakland's draft book. Kansas State K Jamie Rheem should be available when the Skins' number is called in April. |
| |
| Broncos 30 (5-4), Jets 23 (6-3) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
115: Yards rushing by Denver RB Terrell Davis, his first 100-yard game since Super Bowl XXXIII. |
| Player of the Game |
| Brian Griese, QB, Denver: Completed 22 of 35 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Denver dodged a late-game bullet when Jets QB Vinny Testaverde could not complete a fourth-down pass in the end zone. With Davis' return, Broncos are primed for late-season run. |
| |
| Raiders 49 (8-1), Chiefs 31 (5-4) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
3: Consecutive victories by Oakland in the series after losing 18 of previous 20 meetings. |
| Player of the Game |
| Elvis Grbac, QB, Kansas City: Ran for one score and passed for team-record 504 yards -- fourth most passing yards in losing effort in league history -- and two TDs. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Oakland used its 'Gannonback' -- Rich Gannon: half QB, half RB -- to subdue the Chiefs. Gannon had 242 yards passing with four TDs and 33 yards rushing. The Raiders also were consistent, scoring 14, 14, 7 and 14 points in four quarters.
|
| |
| Seahawks 17 (3-7), Chargers 15 (0-9) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
270: Difference in total offensive yards between San Diego (398) and Seattle (128). |
| Player of the Game |
| Jim Harbaugh, QB, San Diego: Completed 22 of 32 passes for 236 yards and one TD. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Seahawks' Rian Lindell kicked a 48-yard field to win the game, but Seattle cannot take solace in its offensive performance: QB Jon Kitna passed for only 85 yards and RB Ricky Watters was the only runner with positive yardage (55). |
| |
| Panthers 27 (4-5), Rams 24 (7-2) |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
0: Number of total yards for Rams RB Marshall Faulk, who missed the game and will have knee surgery Monday. |
| Player of the Game |
| Trent Green, QB, St. Louis: Starting for the second consecutive week, he passed for 431 yards and two touchdowns. He has 741 yards and four TDs in two starts. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Carolina QB Steve Beurelein kept the Panthers in the game, passing for 214 yards and two TDs. He led two fourth-quarter scoring drives, and ran for a 2-point conversion to tie the game at 24. |
| |
| Packers 26 (4-5), Vikings (7-2) OT |
| Review |
Key Stat |
Game Summary and
Game Recap |
1-4-1: Packers' record against the Vikings in overtime games in the 78 meetings between the teams. |
| Player of the Game |
| Antonio Freeman, WR, Green Bay: Freeman had been invisible for most the season, but his five catches for 118 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime redeemed his lackluster season a little bit. |
| CNNSI.com's Breakdown |
| Another magical Monday night game featured the Packers' keeping their playoff hopes alive and the Vikings' continuing their struggles after a red-hot start to the season. A poor decision by punter/holder Mitch Berger cost Minnesota a shot at a second game-winning field goal attempt and Green Bay never gave up the ball in overtime after winning the coin toss. The Vikings doomed themselves with five turnover, 11 penalties and three sacks, though amazingly enough, they almost managed to overcome this sloppiness. |
