Week Five / A capsule look at Sunday’s games
Up-and-comers continue to surprise
Ryan’s Falcons get over Vick; ’Skins top Eagles
Five weeks into the season, who’s your NFL surprise team? Is it an up-and-coming young team starting to make some waves?
The Buffalo Bills? Maybe. How about (surprise) the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins. After the Michael Vick dogfighting affair, the sudden departure of coach Bobby Petrino and other misfortune, the Falcons (3-2) were due for some good news and are getting it, thanks to rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner. Atlanta went into Green Bay’s Lambeau Field on Sunday and pinned a 27-24 defeat on the Packers, never trailing.
Miami, which won on the road at New England two weeks ago, defeated the favored San Diego Chargers, 17-10, limiting LaDainian Tomlinson to 35 yards on 12 carries.
Top dog
Redskins 23, Eagles 17 Closing line: Eagles (-6). The scoop: Washington (4-1) defeated an NFC East opponent on the road for the second week in a row. . . . Clinton Portis ran for 145 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El threw a TD pass to tight end Chris Cooley for the Redskins. . . . The Eagles opened a 14-0 lead in the first 7:13 and then gave up 23 unanswered points, going nearly 30 minutes without a first down. . . . Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson returned a punt 68 yards for a TD. Play of the game: The Redskins threw Brian Westbrook for a 3-yard loss back to the 5 on third down, forcing the Eagles to settle for 23-yard David Akers field goal that made it 23-17 with 7:18 left. Quote: “I was embarrassed the last two weeks. Two teams [Chicago and Washington] that we should not have lost to.” — Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. Next: Redskins home to Rams, Eagles at 49ers.
Leaders of the pack
Titans 13, Ravens 10 Closing line: Titans (-2z). The scoop: Kerry Collins directed an 11-play, 80-yard drive ending with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler with 1:56 left for the Titans (5-0). . . . The hard-hitting game between two of the league’s best defensive teams was marred by several skirmishes, most of which resulted in personal foul penalties. . . . Tennessee managed only 210 yards total offense (just 47 rushing). Play of the game: The winning drive was aided by a questionable penalty against Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, who was flagged for a blow to Collins’ helmet — although the hit appeared to be little more than incidental contact. It came on an incomplete pass on third-and- 10 from the Tennessee 20. Quote: “If anybody can go back and show something I did illegal, then I would be happy to say I messed up and got what I deserved. We hit arms. It just goes to show the referee has too much power.” — Suggs on the crucial roughing-the-passer penalty. Next: Ravens at Colts, Titans are off.
Falcons 27, Packers 24 Closing line: Packers (-3z). The scoop: Ryan completed 16 of 26 for 194 yards and two touchdowns and newcomer Turner ran for 121 yards as the new-look Falcons handed the Packers their third straight loss. Roddy White caught eight passes for 132 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta. Play of the game: Michael Boley intercepted an Aaron Rodgers pass and returned it 16 yards to the Green Bay 19, setting up an Atlanta touchdown that made it 27-17 with 3:35 left. Quote: “I think Mike [McCarthy] wanted to look into my eyes and see if I wanted to play and I told him I wanted the ball. I want to be out there.” — Rodgers, who started and played despite a sprained shoulder suffered last week. Next: Falcons home to Bears, Packers at Seahawks.
The kennel
Panthers 34, Chiefs 0 Closing line: Panthers (-9z). The scoop: The Chiefs managed only 127 yards and eight first downs. . . . DeAngelo Williams ran for 123 yards and had three first-half touchdowns as Carolina built a 21-0 lead. . . .
Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez caught a 6-yard pass late in the first quarter to move past Shannon Sharpe for the NFL’s career lead in receiving yards among tight ends, but finished the game with only three catches for 17 yards. . . . Kansas City was shut out for the first time since a 24-0 loss to Oakland in 2002. Next: Panthers at Buccaneers, Chiefs are off.
Bears 34, Lions 7 Closing line: Bears (-3z). The scoop: The Matt Millen era is over in Detroit. The post-Matt Millen era isn’t much better. . . . Chicago’s Kyle Orton had career highs in passing yards (334), completions (24 in 34 attempts) and passer rating (121.4). Buffalo buzz: Second-year CB Corey Graham (Turner-Carroll) made his second NFL start for the Bears in place of the injured Nathan Vasher. Graham had four primary tackles among his seven stops. Next: Bears at Falcons, Lions at Vikings.
Giants 44, Seahawks 6 Closing line: Giants (-7). The scoop: The unbeaten Giants scored
on their first five possessions and held the Seahawks to 187 yards total offense. . . . Giants WR Domenik Hixon, filling in for the suspended Plaxico Burress, caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with a concussion. Brandon Jacobs carried 15 times for 136 yards and scored twice for New York. Play of the Game: Jacobs set the tone with a 44-yard run on the Giants’ first offensive series. Next: Giants at Browns on Monday night, Seahawks home to Packers.
Cowboys 31, Bengals 22 Closing line: Cowboys (-16). The scoop: Dallas, a huge favorite at home, had to fight off the winless Bengals (0-5) after letting a 17-point lead shrivel to one. The outcome was in doubt until Tony Romo hit Patrick Crayton for a 15-yard touchdown pass on a deflected ball with 1:52 left. . . . Terrell Owens caught only two passes for 67 yards for the Cowboys, but one was a 57-yard TD catch that made it 24-16 early in the fourth quarter. Play of the game: Rookie Felix Jones ran 33 yards to put the Cowboys in position for their last touchdown. Next: Cowboys at Cardinals, Bengals at Jets. Patriots 30, 49ers 21 Closing line: Patriots (-3). The scoop: New England fell behind twice in the first quarter but rallied for the franchise’s first victory ever in San Francisco. . . . Stephen Gostkowski kicked three field goals for the Patriots, who dominated possession time, 39:52 to 20:08. Play of the Game: Randy Moss beat ex- Bill Nate Clements and caught a 66-yard TD pass from Matt Cassell for New England.
Next: Patriots at Chargers, 49ers home to Eagles.
Dog of the day
Broncos 16, Buccaneers 13 Closing line: Broncos (-3). The scoop: There were only two touchdowns — one for each side — in this snoozer. . . . Denver had a 3-2 edge in the field goal duel between Matt Bryant of the Bucs and Matt Prater of the Broncos. . . . Jeff Garcia relieved the injured Brian Griese (elbow) at quarterback for the Buccaneers. Next: Broncos home to Jaguars, Buccaneers home to Panthers.
Compiled from Associated Press and News wire services.
