OAKLAND RAIDERS 35
vs 38
BUFFALO BILLS
Ralph Wilson
Stadium... The
Raiders, scoring on 3 rushing TDs, would seem to have a commanding
advantage at halftime with a 21-3 lead, but Buffalo K Rian Lindell's
only field goal would eventually turn out to be the game winner. The
lead would change 5 times within the final 15 minutes after the Bills
responded with 3 TDs to open the 2nd half, 2 by RB Fred Jackson (15 for
117 yds, 2TD). QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (28 of 46, 264 yds, 3TD, 1 INT)
continued to battle for 35 consecutive points, and his 6-yard
TD
toss to WR David Nelson (10 for 83 yds, 1TD) would give Buffalo the
lead with 14 seconds remaining. Oakland QB Jason Campbell (23
of
33, 323 yds, 2TD, 1 INT) would contribute 2 TD tosses during the lead
changes, but his Hail Mary on the final play would be intercepted in
the end zone.
GREEN
BAY PACKERS 30
vs 23 CAROLINA
PANTHERS
Bank of America
Stadium... The
way Cam Newton (28 of 46, 432 yds, 1TD, 3 INT) is playing,
Carolina will eventually be on the winning side, but his 3
interceptions allowed Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (19 of 30, 308 yds, 2TD)
to reverse a 13 point deficit. The victory was sealed with an 84 yard
TD toss on WR Jordy Nelson's only completion, while K Mason Crosby
added 3 field goals.
KANSAS
CITY CHIEFS 3 vs 48 DETROIT
LIONS
Ford Field... Talk
about insult to injury, the shutout of the Chiefs spelled future woes
for their offense with a probable season-ending torn left ACL for
starting RB Jamaal Charles. Although too soon to be certain, Detroit QB
Matthew Stafford (23 of 39, 294 yds, 4TD, 1 INT) seems to have the
Lions offense poised for a playoff run.
CLEVELAND
BROWNS 27
vs 19 INDIANAPOLIS
COLTS
Lucas Oil Stadium...
Indy K Adam Vinatieri (4 of 4 FG, 13 pts)
would kick the Colts into an early lead, then keep them within a field
goal through 3 quarters. Replacement QB Kerry Collins (19 of 38, 191
yds, 1TD, 1 INT) would not find the end zone until just 24 seconds
remained, too late to recover from Browns QB Colt McCoy's (22 of 32,
211 yds, 1TD) 16 yard TD to TE Evan Moore, and 2 TD runs from RB Peyton
Hillis (27 for 94 yds, 2TD).
TAMPA
BAY BUCCANEERS 24 vs
20 MINNESOTA
VIKINGS
Mall of America
Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome... Again in the 2nd
week of the season, the Vikings colapse like the roof of the Metrodome.
RB Adrian Peterson (25 for 120 yds, 2TD) would lead Minnesota to a 17-0
halftime advantage, but QB Donovan McNabb (18 of 30, 228 yds) was
unable to find the end zone. QB Josh Freeman (22 of 31, 243 yds, 1TD, 1
INT) and RB LeGarrette Blount (13 for 71 yds, 2TD) spurred Tampa Bay's
2nd half recovery, and the Bucs would take their only lead with just 31
seconds remaining.
CHICAGO
BEARS 13 vs 30 NEW
ORLEANS SAINTS
Louisiana
Superdome... Following Chicago's 7-3 lead in the 1st
quarter, the Saints defense turned up the heat on QB Jay Cutler (19 of
45, 244 yds, 1TD) with 6 sacks, holding the Bears to just 60 yards
rushing, and not allowing any further trips to the end zone.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees (26 of 37, 270 yds, 3TD) took full advantage
of the momentum with a 70% completion ratio, highlighted by a 79 yard
scoring strike to WR Devery Henderson(3 for 103 yds, 1D).
JACKSONVILLE
JAGUARS 3 vs 32 NEW
YORK JETS
New Meadowlands
Stadium... QB Luke McCown (6 of 19, 59 yds, 4 INT)
was tackled for a touchback on the Jaguars first possession, then their
day went from bad to worse. QB Mark Sanchez (17 of 24, 182
yds, 2TD, 2 INT) would spread receiving duties amoung five different
Jets, with TE Dustin Keller (6 for 101 yds, 1TD) topping the list.
SEATTLE
SEAHAWKS 0 vs 24 PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
Heinz Field... Seeking
to rebound from an embarrassing Week 1, Pittsburgh made the task easy
with a defense that allowed the Seahawks just 164 total yards. The
Steelers divided rushing duties between RBs Rashard Mendenhall (19 for
66 yds, 1TD) and Isacc Redman (10 for 49 yds, 1TD). QB Ben
Rothlisberger (22 of 30, 298 yds, 1TD) had a slower start, but capped
the scoring in the 3rd quarter with a TD to WR Mike Wallace (8 for 126
yds, 1TD).
BALTIMORE
RAVENS 13 vs 26 TENNESSEE
TITANS
LP Field... Following
a 10-10 standoff at the half, RB Javon Ringer's (5 for 21, 1TD) 3rd
quarter 10 yard TD would
give Tennessee the lead for good, supported by 4 K Rob Bironas field
goals and plenty of offensive prowess from QB Matt Hasselbeck (30 of
42, 358 yds, 1TD, 1 INT). The Titan defense would stun the Ravens,
sacking QB Joe Flacco (15 of 32, 197 yds, 1TD, 2 INT) 3 times, forcing
3 turnovers and holding their rushing net yards to 45.
ARIZONA CARDINALS 21
vs 22
WASHINGTON
REDSKINS
FedEx Field... At
9:02 in the 4th the Cardinals would hold a slim 21-13 lead, but allow
Washington QB Rex Grossman (25 of 43, 291 yds, 2TD, 2 INT) to find WR
Santana Moss (5 for 61 yds, 1TD) in the end zone with an 18 yard TD
pass. The ensuing 2 point conversion attempt would fail. In the next
series, QB Kevin Kolb (17 of 30, 251 yds, 2TD, 1 INT) missed on 2 pass
attempts, forcing a punt, and the Redskins would take the final lead
with a K Graham Gano (3 for 4 FG, 10 pts) 34 yard field goal.
DALLAS COWBOYS
27
vs 24 SAN
FRANCISCO 49ers
Candlestick
Park... Despite
what was eventually determined to be a punctured lung along with two
broken ribs, Dallas QB Tony Romo (20 of 33, 345 yds, 2TD) returned to
action following 49ers QB Alex Smith's (16 of 24, 179 yds, 2TD, 1 INT)
29 yard TD pass to TE Delanie Walker (2 for 38 yds, 1TD), followed by a
55 yard David Akers (1FG, 6 pts) field goal on their next possession,
to put San Fran up 24-14. Give some credit to the defense that the
Cowboys would hold and score on their next 3 series with a Romo strike
to WR Miles Austin (9 for 143 yds, 3TD) and 2 K Dan Baily (2 for 3 FG,
9 pts) FGs.
CINCINNATI
BENGALS 22 vs 24 DENVER
BRONCOS
Invesco Field at
Mile High... Despite
the roster being riddled with injuries, enough to put 3rd backup QB Tim
Tebow in as a wide receiver, the Broncos QB Kyle Orton (15 of 25, 195
yds, 2TD), along with RB Willis McGahee (28 for 101 yds, 1TD), would
maintain a slight avantage through the entire contest. Rookie QB Andy
Dalton (27 of 41, 332 yds, 2TD) would bring the Bengals within 2 with
over 11 minutes to play, but they failed to score on their final 3
possessions.
HOUSTON
TEXANS 23
vs 13 MIAMI
DOLPHINS
Sun Life Stadium... Texans
WR Andre Johnson (7 for 93, 1TD) would put the game away on a 23 yard
catch via QB Matt Schaub (21 of 29, 230 yds, 2TD) with 10 minutes
remaining. Despite QB Curt Henne (12 of 30, 170 yds, 1TD, 1 INT)
running a no huddle offense, and inspired play by RB Daniel Thomas (18
for 107 yds)
Miami lacked enough firepower to break through a steady Houston defense.
SAN
DIEGO CHARGERS 21 vs 35 NEW
ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Gillette Stadium...While
setting another NFL record, this time for most passing yards (940) the
first two games of the season, New England QB Tom Brady (31 of 40, 423
yds, 3TD) seemed quite comfortable leading the offense, targeting the
likes of WR Deion Branch (8 for 129 yds) and TE Rob Gronkowski (4 for
86 yds, 2TD). Credit their defense as well for forcing 4 turnovers, 2
on interceptions of San Diego QB Philip Rivers (29 of 40, 378 yds, 2TD,
2 INT). Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (10 for 172 yds, 2TD) had an
outstanding showing, but the Patriots scored on their first 4
possessions and set the tempo.
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES 31 vs 35 ATLANTA
FALCONS
Georgia Dome...WR
Jeremy Maclin (13 for 171 yds, 2TD) and RB LeSean McCoy (18 for 95 yds,
2TD) had productive showings, and Philly QB Michael Vick's (19 of 28,
242 yds, 2TD, 1 INT) return as a starter in former home Atlanta went
well. It was rudely interrupted late in the 3rd quarter by a
concussion from his own lineman! The Falcons would overcome a 4th
quarter 31-21 deficit on a short QB Matt Ryan (17 of 28, 195 yds, 4TD,
2 INT) TD toss, and a 3 yard plow to the end-zone by RB Michael Turner
(21 for 114 yds, 1 TD). Veteran TE Tony Gonzalez (7 for 83 yds, 2TD)
would become 5th on the all-time list for career receptions (1,081).
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