Week 13 Chargers (74) Vs: Fill & Download for Free

The Bears lost 38-24 in Week 13 on Monday Night Football, in Miami, against Dan Marino and the Dolphins.Many members of the 1972 Dolphins-- the last undefeated team, 1972 -- were on the Miami sidelines that night.What did it reveal about the Bears? If anything, it showed: 1) They were an amazing team and; 2) To handle their defense, you needed a quarterback like Marino, three above-average WRs, and a great pass-blocking line to even have a prayer.Miami was a good team -- they came into the game 8-4. But the prior season, in 1984, they'd won the AFC title (losing to the Montana Niners in the Super Bowl); quarterback Dan Marino had shattered all existing passing records in 1984, throwing for 5,084 yards and 48 TDs (the prior record had been 36 TDs; the equivalent would be someone tossing 74 TDs this season to break Peyton Manning's current mark of 55 by a similar percentage margin). They were THE high-octane, bombs-away, pass-happy team of this era (having taken that baton from the Dan Fouts Chargers).But Chicago was a rare team. The 1985 Bears ranked 1st in defense (vs points and yards), 2nd in scoring offense, first in turnover differential (+23), first in rushing (2700+ yards), first in sacks (64)... they were an awesome, complete, and violent. (1985 Chicago Bears season / 1985 Chicago Bears).The Bears were on an epic roll; they had outscored their last six opponents 196-39 heading into the MNF showdown in Miami: 1985 Chicago BearsIn their prior four games, the Bears had surrendered 13 points -- total -- and one TD. They had recorded 44-0 and 36-0 shutouts of Dallas and Atlanta in the previos two games; in the Dallas game, they sacked Cowboys quarterbacks 11 times and knocked the first and second string quarterbacks from the game with injuries.So this was a classic Offense vs. Defense matchup: Dan Marino, the unsackable quarterback (13 in 1984; 18 in 1985) and triggerman for the greatest passing offense in football ... battling the 1985 Bears, arguably the greatest pressure defense ever fielded.It was one of the most hyped regular season games ever -- here's how the broadcast opened -- you may enjoy the MNF broadcast team of Frank Gifford, Joe Namath and... yup... O.J. Simpson (that one):Steve Fuller played QB for the Bears in the game -- a lot of people forget starting QB Jim McMahon did NOT start due to injury. That was one factor. Fuller was, at best, OK: 11-21-169-1-2.The other factor was Dan Marino.Marino was 14-27-270-3-1 on the night; 197 came in the irst half; here's the box score: Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins - December 2nd, 1985But what's most interesting is this: All 14 completions went to receivers, and almost all went deep down the field or on intermediate crossing patterns. This was attack offense vs. attack defense.Marino was brilliant early, in helping Miami built a 31-10 halftime lead -- which essentially took Chicago out of its preferred, run-heavy offense (although Walter Payton went 23-121-1 on the night rushing).Miami got way ahead, and the Bears -- a run-first team (2760 rushing yards that year) -- had to play catch-up, on the road, on Monday Night Football, with their backup QB.But what made this game so memorable was this: It was the first time a team with a great quarterback and three top WRs credibly attacked the 46 defense (Buddy Ryan's legendary pressure defense in Chicago). The "X's and O's" part of this chess match was amazing.In 1985, a traditional pro offense was 2 WRs, one TE, FB, RB at the skill positions.Miami attacked the Bears with 3 WRs, a TE, and a RB -- the MOST common pro offense today, but not back then.Buddy Ryan -- the brilliant Bears defensive coordinator -- did not counter with nickel or dime personnel. He also played ZERO zone, all night. The Bears played straight man to man.This was strength vs. strength, no hedging.The gamble was: Pressure would get to Marino in time to affect throws before receivers broke open downfield.The entire premise of the 46 defense is to maximize pressure on the QB, and to make the quarterback make throws while facing free blitzers and heavy hits. It's extremely difficult for any quarterback to throw under pressure, knowing he's about to get drilled, and be consistently accurate.Worth noting: In 16 games the 1985 Bears played in the regular season, they knocked the opposing starting QB out of the game with injury -- are you ready for this? -- 11 times.The tradeoff for that added pressure is downfield coverage -- people will get open, but it's hard to throw accurately when you are about to get drilled by Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Wilbur Marshall, Otis Wilson, Fridge Perry and Mike Singletary -- all of who are coming downhill, at speed, attacking the QB.The 46 brings eight people at the QB, constantly -- the front seven, and a free blitzer -- in this game, usually one of the safeties.The corners play press, at the line of scrimmage, to disrupt timing and re-route receivers.But the risk is also clear: If protection can hold, and/or if receivers can dust man coverage by the corners, this defense can exposed.So why was Marino such a devastating weapon against the Bears?A few reasons:1) Because of his legendary "quick release," Marino could hold the ball longer than most quarterbacks and still get it out, accuartely, downfield.Marino was "The Unsackable Man." He'd been sacked just 13 times in 1984 in 560+ attempts; he was sacked just 18 times all year in 1985 (including three against the Bears).2) Marino was an exceptionally accurate passer -- his downfield accuracy remains legendary today.3) Miami had a very good offensive line in 1985 -- achored by Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson -- one of the few lines capable of at least slowing down the Bears relentless pressure.4) Miami brilliantly "spread the field" with 3 WR sets all night. TE BRuce Hardy stayed in to block -- he had no receptions. But WR Nat Moore, the 3WR (behind Clayton and Duper) went nuts, destroying Gary Fencik's man coverage all night, catching 4-75-2TDs.5) Special teams were huge for Miami. A blocked punt at the Chicago 6 yard line late in the second quarter set up a late TD to make it 31-10 at half. Then in Q3, 31-17 Miami, Kevin Butler basically whiffed on a kickoff attempt (it was not a designed fake), setting Miami up at the Bears 46 for a quick score that made it 38-17, game over.6) Luck. That TD play -- a 30 yard TD for Mark Clayton to make it 38-17 -- came off a heavily tipped Marino pass that went off the hands of All-Pro DE Dan Hampton right to Clayton, who waltzed into the end zone. Miami had Lady Luck all night.The game's first possession showed the battle, beautifully.On an early play from the Bears 33, Chicago blitzed with eight men, leaving both corners solo on Duper and Clayton, and Fencik tracking Moore. Marino hit Moore on a crossing route, he slipped Fencik's tackle, and raced 33 yards for a TD and 7-0 Miami lead.Miami attacked the Bears like that all night.Now a lot of people say "Marino lit up the Bears, and exposed the 46 defense..." That's mythology.In the six games -- including three playoff games (including the Super Bowl win) -- after the Miami game, the Bears surrendered a TOTAL of four TDs and 43 points.So if the 46 was exposed by Marino, please explain why the next six Bears opponents, including three playoff opponents, averaged 7.2 points per game against the Bears D? 1985 Chicago BearsThis defense held the Giants and Pats to 253 total yards in the NFC Title Game and Super Bowl.Not 253 yards each. 253 yards total, for two games, in title games that year.Oh, and by the way?The next year, the Bears -- with their "exposed" 46 defense, led the league and set a then-NFL record for a 16 game season with only 187 points allowed, while rolling to a 14-2 record.That 1986 teamheld 9 of its last 10 opponents under 200 passing yards -- and all of its opponents were held under 300 passing yards: 1986 Chicago BearsSo.. it isn't accurate to say this defense was exposed by Miami.It is accurate to say Marino and the 1985 Dolphins offered a glimpse of coming base-3WR trends in the passing game to attack man-coverage schemes like Chicago's and other clubs.I'm convinced if Jim McMahon had played the full game against Miami, instead of Fuller, and if Chicago's special teams hadn't had an atrocious night of self-inflcited misery, the 1985 Bears would have run the table.And I'm convinced if these teams played 10 games, all in Miami, the Bears would have won 8 or 9 of those.But on this night, Marino had their number.

This week's answer is dedicated to the late, great, Steve Sabol of NFL Films, who passed away at the age on 69 on Tuesday. Mr. Sabol was a gentleman and a giant, and the world is better for having known him, and smaller for having lost this legend. R.I.P.Onward.Cardinals 20, Pats 18. No really. That. Just. Happened. Be honest. Tell me when the Pats, down 20-18, recovered a fumble with 1:01 left on the Cards 30 yard line, you saw this one coming. Every suicide pool entrant in the USA felt that Cards had FINALLY snatched defeat on the jaws of certain victory until.. Gostowski missed from 42 yards away. As Gisele always says, "My husband cannot both throw and catch the ball and make 42 yard field goals by himself." But that is not the story. Arizona went into Foxboro, and beat up the Pats. Dockett, Campbell, Peterson, Wilson.. The Cards have some intimidating defenders all of a sudden. The Cards D won all day against a suddenly suspect Pats O-line. Clearly, the Pats have no choice now but to fire Belichick and start Ryan Mallett at QB.http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091602/2012/REG2/cardinals@patriotsGiants 41, Bucs 34. Eli haters? You've seen this movie before. Someone better check on Buc fan Noah Chestnut of Quora.. This was tough to watch for the Buc Nation. Eli Manning throws three first half INTs; the Bucs lead 27-13, late third; and the Giants rally for a 41-34 win behind 510 passing yards by Manning (seventh best all-time; second best in team history to Phil Simms 513 in a game) and 25 fourth quarter points? This just in: You know the Bucs D that gave up 494 points last year? They're back. Hakeem Nicks (10-199-1) abused Aqib Talib all day, and Victor Cruz (11-179-1) had a nice bounce back game. The Bucs O looked pretty good - Josh Freeman threw 2TDs, Vincent Jackson detonated for 5-128-1 and rookie RB Doug Martin gained 66 tough yards and a TD on 20 carries (he looks like a bell cow, for sure, through two games). Giants pass rush still isn't clicking, although JPP got his first sack in this game. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091600/2012/REG2/buccaneers@giants#menu=highlights&tab=recapNiners 27, Lions 19. SF looks like the best team in the NFC two weeks in, handling Detroit pretty easily. The Lions have no running game when they play varsity opponents; Stafford also was held to just 230 passing yards; Megatron had a mortal game 8-94-0. The Niners D is going to be special this year - even better than last season. Alex Smith has now thrown 216 straight passes without an interception, and on this team, that is a winning formula. Niners are 16-4 since the start of last season overall. They are legit. Vernon Davis (5-73-2) keeps scoring, and Frank Gore (89 rushing yards) keeps bludgeoning opponents. SF is going to be a tough out. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091613/2012/REG2/lions@49ers#menu=highlights&tab=recapEagles 24, Ravens 23. Philly is living dangerously. The Birds are 2-0, with both wins by one point, and Vick having a 3 TDP-6 INT ledger so far. Still. To come from 17-7 down, and rally at home to beat a very good Ravens team, impresses. "Is he elite?" Joe Flacco 22-42-232-1-1 never really took over this game, despite lots of chances to do so. Big missed opportunity for Baltimore here. Two things jump for me from this game: Baltimore D could not hold the lead, and Flacco could not seal the deal. Trends? We shall see. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091604/2012/REG2/ravens@eaglesRams 31, Redskins 28. Josh Morgan likely cost his team a shot at overtime by getting a 15-yard penalty for throwing the ball at arguably the NFL's dirtiest player, Cortland Finnegan, with time winding down after a catch, late fourth quarter. Easily the "idiot of the week" play. There is a slight difference between a 47 yard FG to tie and a 62 yarder, and DC learned that the hard way, thanks to Morgan. RG3 staked DC to a 21-6 lead, but Sam Bradford threw for 310 yards and 3TDs to get STL the WIN. Danny Amendola morphed into Wes Welker with a 15-160-1 game for STL. RG3 ran 11-82-2, and threw 20-29-206-1-0. OK, he has some skill. DC lost Orakpo and Carriker for the season in this game, two huge hits to the defensive front seven. Blowing a 15 point lead against the Rams tells me DC is not going to be a playoff team this season, but man, RG3 is a frightening specimen for opponents. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091609/2012/REG2/redskins@rams#menu=highlights&tab=recapChargers 38, Titans 10. Two games in, albeit against the Pats and Chargers, CJ2K has 19 carries for 21 yards, a 1.1 yard average and no scores, for an 0-2 Titans team (behind young QB Jake Locker). The Titan(ics?) have been outscored 72-23, too. TE Dante Rosario caught 3 TDs in this game for the first time ever for the Bolts. Antonio who? Rivers is 48-65 so far (74%) with 4TDs and 1INT, and hasn't missed VJax yet. If you had the Bolts and Texans as the only unbeatens in the AFC two weeks in, take a bow. Rivers: http://www.nfl.com/player/philiprivers/2506121/profile. Highlights: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091611/2012/REG2/titans@chargers#menu=highlights&tab=recapPanthers 35, Saints 27. This is big for Cam - and a big W in the division.The Panthers had three 50+ yard rushers, with 219 on the game, and forced 2 INTs of Drew Brees. The Saints D looks terrible right now - they cannot stop the run, and they cannot cover anyone. Think the Saints miss Coach Sean Payton? http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091601/2012/REG2/saints@panthers#menu=highlights&tab=recapSteelers 27, Jets 10. Mark Sanchez has taken his game to another.. Oops, never mind. In his first big road test this season, Sanchez looked impossibly small, going 10-27-138-1-0. He is now at 54 percent completion percentage two games in, which is essentially what he has been, forever. BTW, Tebow was on the field for just three ofeensive plays in this game, and still has not completed a pass, or even thrown a pass, this season. Rookie WR Stephen Hill, who opened 5-89-2 against Buffalo, went 0-0-0 against Pittsburgh. Guess what? The Steelers are still pretty good. The Steelers threw at will against a Jets secondary missing Revis, with Big Ben going 24-31-275-2-0. And late in the game, the Steelers ran it right down NYJ throat on a 10 minute plus fourth quarter, smash mouth drive that iced the game. The Jets have shown little pass rush so far this year - they had zero sacks even in the blowout win over Buffalo in Week One - keep an eye on that emerging problem for them. Highlights: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091610/2012/REG2/jets@steelers#menu=highlights&tab=recapTexans 27, Jags 7. The Texans are 2-0, having outscored opponents 57-17 so far. Arian Foster (28-110-1) and Ben Tate (12-74-2) punished Jacksonville all day, and the Texans D is for real. My preseason AFC Super Bowl pick keeps rolling. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091607/2012/REG2/texans@jaguars#menu=highlights&tab=recapSeahawks 27, Cowboys 7. If you hate Dallas, and I do, this was hilarious. (I am a Bills fan and Dallas did unspeakable things to my team in back to back Super Bowls, I have earned the right to hate them). The Boys had 10 days off after beating the Giants on the road to get ready for this game. They fumbled the opening kickoff, which led to a 3-0 hole, then had punt blocked and returned for a TD, making it 10-0. They never recovered. Marshawn Lynch ran for 122 and a score on 26 punishing carries, and rookie QB Russell Wilson picked up his first career win - over Tony Romo. Dallas did little on offense, struggling mightily to run vs. a stout Seahawks defense. But what stunned me was how Dallas was simply outhustled and outhit here. Either this was a claasic letdown game, or Dallas is a soft team. Too early to tell. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091608/2012/REG2/cowboys@seahawks#menu=highlights&tab=recapFalcons 27, Broncos 21. The Falcons dominated this game, forcing four first QUARTER turnovers, and jumping to a 20-0, then 27-7, lead, before Denver made it respectable in garbage time. The box score, turnovers aside, looks like this was a close game. It was not. Denver looked great at home, lousy on the road in its first two games. The Falcons never really got Michael Turner going in this game - keep an eye on that - but Matt Ryan threw his 100th career TD and looked awfully good for the second straight week. He might be ready to step into the elite QB class in year five - he has always been good to very good. Peyton Manning looked shaky last night - he did not look anywhere near 100 percent with his arm strength, touch and reads.http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091700/2012/REG2/broncos@falcons#menu=highlights&tab=analyzePack 23, Bears 10. Charles Woodson called it: "we don't need luck. Jay will throw us the ball." Cutler completed 11 passes, against 4 INTs and seven sacks. The Bears had a chance to bury the Packers in an 0-2 hole, and instead, wound up with QB Jay Cutler throwing a tantrum and pushing his own LT on the sidelines. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091300/2012/REG2/bears@packers#menu=highlights&tab=recapBills 35, Chiefs 17. Bills started week one down 41-7 to the Jets on the road (en route to a 48-28 loss). Then, at home in week two, Buffalo jumped out 35-3 on KC (en route to a 35-17 win). C.J. Spiller is 30-289 so far this season rushing; one suspects that he cannot sustain 9.6 per carry.. Right? The Chiefs, meanwhile, are horrible right now; for he sixth I've n seven seasons, they have started 0-2. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091605/2012/REG2/chiefs@bills#menu=highlights&tab=recapColts 23, Vikings 20. Andrew Luck picks up his first win; he is on a bad team, but he is the real deal, people. I watched this game and the Denver game (Manning) back to back; Colts may have made the right move here. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091603/2012/REG2/vikings@colts#menu=highlights&tab=recapBengals 34, Browns 27. Trent Richardson went 19-109-1 and Brandon Weeden threw two TDs for the Browns, who showed signs of life. But the Bengals are still better; Dalton threw for 318 and three scores; Cincy gets win #1, recovering for Week One's beat down in Baltimore.http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012091606/2012/REG2/browns@bengals#menu=highlights&tab=recapFinal note:BRING BACK THE REAL REFS.

It's hard to win on the road (home teams went 9-3 yesterday). Unless you are playing against Tebow in Denver (Detroit 45-10); hapless Seattle (Cincinnati 34-12); or Carolina (Minnesota 24-21).And after watching Andrew Luck vs. USC, I’m on board with any team that wants to Suck for Luck. All doubts were removed (if any still existed) after he rallied Stanford from 20-10 down, then threw a TD-INT to go down 34-27 with 3:28 left (serious adversity), then calmly marched his team down the field to tie the game in the last minute, before leading it to victory in triple-OT. Wow. Just give him the Heisman, and let’s move on to the #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/gameflash/2011/10/29/48509/).I'm also voting for Peyton Manning for his 5th MVP Award. Colts: We have seen enough. Children are getting frightened.If I were you, Bill Polian, I would call this guy -- he'd get your house in order:Don't bring that weak a** stuff up in here!!!Steelers 25, Pats 17. The formula for stopping the Pats: Get physical with receivers at the line with press-man coverage; allow no free releases; play a safety high; play 6 defensive backs. Brady (198 yards) didn't deal well with this yesterday; Ike Taylor ate Wes Welker up (6-39). On offense, the formula is: Spread the Pats out, and expose their lack of pass rush -- and throw, throw, throw. Buffalo did it (Pats other loss). Big Ben did, too, throwing 50 times for 365 yards. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103008/2011/REG8/patriots@steelers#menu=highlights&tab=recapRavens 30, Cards 27. When Arizona was up 24-3, late Q2, it seemed that between St. Louis (MLB), Stanford and Arizona, this was a helluva week for the Cardinal(s). Then they choked. Ravens, because I am here to help: When you give the team the ball on your 2, your 19, and surrender a PR for a TD, you usually lose. Baltimore (5-2) fell behind 24-3, then sucked it up BIG here and rallied for the win. Anquan Boldin 7-145 destroyed his old team; Flacco threw for 336 and Rice ran for 3 TDs. The Ravens are going to need to play much, much better in Pittsburgh (6-2) next week to have a shot; that the Steelers will be without Harrison, Farrior and Woodley is going to help Ray-Ray (Rice & Lewis) and the Ravens a lot. Don’t sleep on the Cards (1-6) in Suck for Luck sweepstakes. The Rams won this weekend; so other than Miami (0-7) and Indy (0-8), your Arizona Cardinals are right there. Unless you love Kevin Kolb. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103005/2011/REG8/cardinals@ravens#menu=highlights&tab=recapNiners 20, Browns 10. The Niners are 6-1. Frank Gore is rampaging – four straight weeks of 125+ rushing yards (http://www.nfl.com/player/frankgore/2506404/gamelogs); he passed Roger Craig for second all-time on the Niners Career Rushing list this weekend. And the schedule is friendly, too: @WAS; NYG; AZ; @BAL; STL; AZ. Niners should come out of this stretch at least 9-3, maybe better. The Niners have been outgained this season, but a +10 turnover ratio has them rolling: http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?team=SF. Cleveland (3-4) plays next three @HOU; STL; JAC; if they win these three, they are still in the playoff hunt (OK, stop laughing), but they need to get it going. I don’t see it.http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103009/2011/REG8/browns@49ers#menu=highlights&tab=recapEagles 34, Cowboys 7. Philadelphia (3-4) has outgained its seven opponents so far by 831 yards, and outrushed them by 431 yards (stats: http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?team=PHI). They’ve been killed by a -7 turnover ratio. They HAD to win last night. Assuming they get the next two (home vs. Chicago and Arizona), they’ll be 5-4 heading into a game at the Giants in Week 11, then at New England in Week 12. We’ll know who this team really is after those games. Dallas (3-4) fans shouldn’t fret too much. The schedule is about to get soft: SEA; BUFF; @WAS; MIA; @AZ. If Dallas runs the table, and they should be favored in all of these games, they are 8-4 heading to the season’s final quarter. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103011/2011/REG8/cowboys@eagles#menu=highlights&tab=recapBengals 34, Seahawks 12. Everyone is talking about Cam Newton, and he’s great. But how about rookie QB Andy Dalton and the 5-2 Bengals? The Cats went west on totally spanked Seattle; Dalton threw 2 TDs; he now has hit 62% of his passes, 9 TDs, 7 INTs through seven starts, with three games of QBR>100. Yes, the defense is the story in Cincy – it is terrific. Yes, A.J. Green is the best rookie WR we’ve seen in a while – he’s the real deal. But Dalton is a 5-2 rookie QB. Carson who?http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103010/2011/REG8/bengals@seahawks#menu=highlights&tab=recapGiants 20, Dolphins 17. Reggie Bush (15-103) celebrated the Kim and Kris bust-up (or did they? try as i might, I cannot keep up with the Kardashians.. http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/kim-kardashian-plays-down-breakup-rumors-10-30-2011) by busting out; he now has two career 100-yard rushing games; both came against the Giants (5-2). The Legend of Victor Cruz continues, as he went salsa dancing again in the end zone (great celebration) after another huge, late, game-winning TD (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103000/2011/REG8/dolphins@giants#menu=highlights&tab=recap). Giants had to have this game, because look at the schedule ahead: @NE; @SF; PHI; @NO; GB; @DAL. Yikes. Before the season, Eli Manning claimed he was elite like Tom Brady. Some suggested Manning was 31-25 TD/INT last year; Brady had thrown 114 TD passes against his last 25 INTS (so other than a little 83 TDP difference, they were dead even). But Manning is on pace for 4,800 yards, 29 TDs and 11 INTs, and a 102+ QB Rating (flawed stat, but still..). It’s early, but he’s been big late in games. Eli is also 23-5 in October, best among starting QBs in the NFL (10+ starts). Miami doesn’t have the statistical profile of an 0-8 team; they’ve been outgained by 432 yards (http://www.nfl.com/teams/statistics?team=MIA), but can’t score 9 TDs, convert on third down (23-89), or not turnover the ball (-8 turnover ratio). Remaining schedule: @KC; WAS; BUF; @DAL; OAK; PHI; @BUF; @NE; NYJ. This team will not go 0-16.Rams 31, Saints 21. Just when you thought it was safe to trust the Saints.. Steven. Jackson. Rampage. (25-159-2). http://www.nfl.com/team /statistics?team=MIA. This was a major choke by the Saints, because their schedule is about to be rough: home vs. TB; @ATL; home vs. NYG; home vs. Detroit (http://www.nfl.com/teams/schedule?team=NO). Chris Long played huge for the Rams here with three sacks - http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103004/2011/REG8/saints@rams#menu=highlights&tab=analyze.Vikings 24, Panthers 21. Cam Newton threw for 290 yards and three scores (first time in his career with three TD tosses) – he also ran for 53; Olindo Mare missed a 31 yard chippie that would have forced OT (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103003/2011/REG8/vikings@panthers#menu=highlights&tab=recap). Adrian Peterson (162 total yards, 2 TDs) was big with 21 car.-86-1, 5 rec.-76-1 for Vikes (2-6), who get a nice win here on the road for rookie QB Christian Ponder (18-28-236-1).Texans 24, Jags 14. Blaine Gabbert had a regression game 10-30-97-1-2 for the Jags (2-6); the Texans (5-3) have their best eight game start ever, and seem like a playoff lock in the weak AFC South, although the Titans (4-3) aresomehow still hanging around. Arian Foster 33-112-1 was very good again. Texans surviving on O without Andre Johnson, and on D without Super Mario Williams.. so far. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103001/2011/REG8/jaguars@texans#menu=highlights&tab=analyzeTitans 27, Colts 10. The Colts (0-8) lost to the Saints 62-7 last week. Then came out and fell behind the Titans (4-3) 20-0 this week, in a 27-10 loss. Wat to rally back, Colts! CJ2K was nowhere again – 14-34-0 rushing, 3-17-0 receiving. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103002/2011/REG8/colts@titans#menu=highlights&tab=recap Colts now have three game home stand against Atlanta, Jacksonville and Carolina. If they don’t get one of those.. they probably don’t win at New England and at Baltimore.. meaning the final three games (TEN; HOU; @JAC) could be crucial to avoiding 0-16. I think they’ll get to 3-13. I also thought they'd bounce back and win this week. Oops.Bills 23, Redskins 0. Mike Shanahan teams had never been shutout in 267 regular season and 14 playoff games. They’ve still never been shutout in the USA (this game was in Toronto). Buffalo (5-2) had a total of four sacks in six games coming into this game; they had nine sacks in this game (2.5 by rookie DE Marcell Dareus, an emerging force). The Amish Rifle, Ryan Fitzpatrick, (21-27-262-2-1) played very well, after inking a six year $59mm deal this week ($24mm guaranteed); Fred Jackson 26-120-1 (that’s now five 100+ yard games in seven 2011 starts for Action Jackson) plus 74 receiving yards continues to play like a legitimate NFL Offensive MVP candidate. Washington (3-4) seemed to quit here. 10 first downs for Washington here; zero rushing. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103007/2011/REG8/redskins@bills#menu=highlights&tab=recap Bills next four games: NYJ; @DAL; @MIA; @NYJ. We’ll know who they are by week 11.Lions 45, Broncos 10. Oh boy, did they throw a Christian to the Lions here. Rough one for Tim Tebow; 18-39-172-1-2 and 7 sacks. Denver (2-6) is a horrible team. Detroit (6-2) put it on them, before Denver’s home fans. Megatron 6-125-1 was too much for the great Champ Bailey; Matthew Stafford threw 3 more TDs and is on pace for 4300+ yards passing, 38 TDs, 8 INTs. If Green Bay (7-0) did not exist, we’d be hearing a lot more about the Lions. Can the Lions get to that level? We'll see.http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011103006/2011/REG8/lions@broncos#menu=highlights&tab=analyzeMNF:Chargers at Chiefs tonight. If the Chiefs win, they are in first. Great Googly-Moogly!Real Power Rankings:1) Green Bay2) Everyone else.Power Rankings:1) Green Bay2) San Francisco (because someone has to be second on this list, and they beat Detroit in Detroit...)3) Detroit4) Baltimore (c'mon, man!)5) Pittsburgh (welcome back)6) New England7) NY Giants (gathering storm?)8) New Orleans (c'mon, man!)9) Atlanta (ok, Edgar Alverson, point ceded)10) Buffalo/Philadelphia (gathering storm?)