Titans (3-2) 17 @ 38 Steelers (3-2)

Stats:

TEN:  Matt Hasselbeck 29/49 262 yards 1 TD, C.Johnson 14 Car/51 yards/1 TD

Pitt: Ben Roethlisberger 24/34 228 Yards 5 TD, J.Dwyer 11 Car/107 yards

Recap: Roethlisberger came into this game hobbling one leg while mendenhall was out injured; it looked like it was going to be a long day for the Steelers after Johnson 37 yard run but the Titans could only settle for a FG after multiple of penalties. It was all Steelers from here on end, with Roethlisberger throwing 3 TD with Heath Miller getting the first TD, Ward & Johnson respectfully getting other 2 TD, the defense for Pittsburgh was immense in the first with the number of injuries suffered before this game and was able to stop Hasselbeck and co especially how well they were playing entering into this game but wasn’t able to get anything done, Steelers threatened before the half but Roethlisberger was INT by Finnegan with 8 seconds remaining before the half. Second half was about the Steelers defense who looked like they found a step holding the Titans to 17 points in the second half and were able to control the run game of the Titans limiting Johnson to 51 yards with 1 TD for the game.

 What we learned:     

  • Steelers defense of the old has returned limiting the Titans to 17 points for the whole game especially with the number injuries occurring over first 5 weeks.
  • Titans fallen back to earth with the Titans offense unable to get anything going with the Steelers able to control everything down field.
  • Steelers may have found themselves a new RB in Dwyer who rushed over 100 yards.

MVP: Ben Roethlisberger, 5 Touchdowns passes with a badly hurt foot with him hobbling most of the game.

Bengals (3-2) 30 @ 20 Jaguars (1-4)

Stats:

CIN: Andy Dalton 21/33 179 yards/2 TD, AJ Green 5 Rec/ 90 yards 1 TD

Jags: Blaine Gabbert 15/28 221 Yards/1 TD, Jones Drew 19 Car/ 85 Yards 1 TD

Recap: Battle of the Rookie QBs, Dalton V Gabbert with Dalton having better start to his career in the NFL. The deciding factor in this game would be who could run the ball better, it was the Jaguars who started off better with a run with Jones Drew running down to get the first TD of the game, Bengals quickly responded with their own TD with Dalton Green connection coming good again. There wasn’t much else to report in the first half with both teams scoring 2 FG a piece before Bengals scoring a TD before the half with Dalton throwing to the TE Gresham. 3rd quarter was a quite one as both teams struggled with the wind as well as both defenses were able to control everything upfront making the rookies QB throwing it on 3rd and long but all action in the 4th quarter as Bengals scored the FG to go up 16-13 but Gabbert was able to put the Jags in front with a TD to Jason Hill with less than 5 minutes remaining Punter for the jags muffed the punting putting the ball on their own 30 yard line giving Dalton good field position and they were able to capitalize on that with Dalton able to convert 4th and 6 with Bernard Scott rushing in for the TD to put up the Bengals 23-20. Jaguars tried to marsh down the field but weren’t able to after poor snap by the Center with the Bengals recovering the ball another poor special teams play made it 30-20 Bengals.

What we learned:     

  • Andy Dalton is getting better every week and he has become the leader of this team after bringing them back to victory 2 weeks in a row and being calm about the situation.
  • Maurice Jones Drew looks like he has fully recovered from his knee injury with the offense is built around him while Gabbert continues to learn the offense.
  • Green a leading candidate for ROY after another stellar performance by him and continues to lead his team in catches.

MVP: Andy Dalton, leading his team to another victory coming from behind 30-20.

Eagles (1-4) 24 @ 31 Bills (4-1)

Stats:

PHI: Michael Vick 26/40 315 yards 2 TD, Jason Avant 9 Rec/ 139 yards

BUF: Ryan Fitzpatrick 21/27 193 yards 1 TD, Fred Jackson 26 Car/ 111 Yards 1 TD

Recap: Both teams coming into this game with a loss but was important for the Eagles to get it going early, it looked that way with them moving down the field but it was a smoke screen as Vick was picked off 3 times in the first half and the Bills were able to capitalize on all 3 plays with Nelson, Jackson Scoring TD from passes from Fitzpatrick, one of them INT was brought back to the house from Nick Barnett.  Vick was able to get one TD for the Eagles but not much else after he was being hit in the first half but the star of the show in the first half was Wilson the CB for the Bills who was all over the field making deflections and covering people. Second half didn’t start well for the Eagles as the Bills were able to get another TD with Brad Smith scoring via the wildcat. Towards end of the 3rd quarter eagles were able to get back in it with Vick 64 yard run vick before McCoy punching it in to make it 28-14. Eagles were able to get another TD to make it 21-28 but a 2 late turnovers cost the Eagles the game with the Bills to score a FG to go up by 2 scores, the play of the game was at the end with Fitzpatrick went with the hard count which the Eagle bited on giving up all but hope of getting the ball back with minute remaining in the game.

What we learned:     

  • Bills have found their no.1 RB in Jackson who again rushed over 100 yards, the CJ Spiller experiment may come to a end soon after only getting 2 carries.
  • Eagles need to be concerned about their secondary who failed to tackle players in the open allowing their opponents to get more yardages.
  • Juan Castillo experiment may come to an end soon after the defense failed to show up again and contain teams to less than 20 points and poor tackling.
  • Bills going to be a force at home with another outstanding performance with the crowd backing them.

 MVP: Bills Defense, 5 Turnovers including one returned for a TD by Nick Barnett.

Jets (2-3) 21 @ 30 Patriots (4-1)

Stats:

NYJ: Mark Sanchez 16/26 166 yards 2 TD, Shonn Greene 21 Car/83 yards 1 TD

NE: Tom Brady 22/33 321 Yards 1 TD, B.Green-Ellis 27 Car/ 136 Yards 2 TD

Review: AFC East rivals met for the first time this season, it was the Patriots who got off to a quick start with a 7-0 lead after Green-Ellis ran in for a 3 yard TD, Gostkowski hit a 44 yard FG to make 10-0. Major concern for the Jets was they were unable to convert a first down in their first 4 possessions of the game. Shonn Green capped off a 78 yard drive with a 3 yard run TD to cut the deficit to 10-7, Brady got the ball back it looked like the Jets had stopped the Patriots but Kyle Wilson was flagged for pass interference giving the NE good field position it looked like they were going to score before the half with Brady throwing to Hernandez in the end zone but the pass was deflected into the hands of Cromartie but with time expiring before the half they weren’t able to convert the INT return. It was the Patriots who got the 3rd quarter going after 72 yard pass to Wes Welker the drive was finished off with Brady to an open Branch in the end zone for a two yard TD. Jets hit back after 88 kick return, Sanchez was able to find Kerley to cut the score to 17-14. Patriots quickly went back up by 2 scores with another 3 yard run by Green-Ellis to put the Patriots up 24-14 followed by a quick FG to make it 27-14. The Jets weren’t done yet with 65 yard drive by Sanchez, finishing the drive off with a 21 yard TD pass to Holmes, but the patriots held chewing the clock for 6 minutes all but ended a comeback with a Gostkowski FG to go up 30-21.

What we learned:        

  • Patriots are still the team to beat in the AFC after victory over the Jets even with New York covering up everything up field Brady was still able to find a way to get rid of the ball.
  • Jets may have finally found a running game with Greene looking like the guy who was going to take over to become the starting RB for the Jets
  • When both TE are healthy for the Patriots it going to be hard for them to be stopped trying to cover one it will be impossible to cover both of them leaving the likes of Welker, OchoCinco open.

MVP: Ben.Green-Ellis, ran for a career high 136 yards including TD, grounded and pounded when they needed him to.

Packers (5-0) 25 @ 14 Falcons (2-3)

Stats:

GB: Aaron Rodgers 26/39 396 Yards 2 TD, James Jones 5 rec/140 yards 1 TD

ATL: Matt Ryan 18/32 167 Yards 1 TD, Michael Turner 16 Car/ 56 yards 1 TD

Recap: 3rd meeting at the Georgia Dome with the series tied 1-1 with the Packers winning all but the important one in the NFC divisional playoff game, Ryan and Co wanted revenge after packers putting up 48 points against them. It seemed it was going to be a long night for the Packers after the falcons ate up 7 minutes of the clock resulting in a TD to white. Packers were moving the ball well before Grant fumbled the ball recovered by the falcons they capitalized on the turnover with a 1 yard run by Turner making it 14-0. Packers had to overcome the injury of losing starting LT Chad Clifton in the 2nd quarter and it showed at times during the first half as the Falcons D-Line got after Rodgers with a total of 3 sacks in one half they had to settle for 2 FG but the second one was huge before the half a 56 yard FG by Crosby. In the 2nd half Packers made adjustments and you could tell it was a different team coming out in the half with McCarthy showing faith in O-Line who lost both right and left tackle. Last week it was Nelson who was Rodgers favorite target this week he went to James Jones who had 120 yards receiving, the Falcons didn’t have a answer for it  as he was able to get behind the safety. During the 3rd quarter Falcons were on course to score a TD with them able to move the chains quite easily but a deflected ball off White was caught by Peprah, Falcons had no answers in the 2nd half as the Packers scored 25 points and no answer from the Falcons. Jarrett Bush sealed the game with a INT another deflection this time from Tony Gonzalez.

What we learned:

  • Packers defense got better as the game wore on which allowed Capers to blitz more and get pressure on Matt Ryan, forcing him to make mistakes resulting in 2 INT.
  • Falcons must be concerned especially after a fast start going up 14-0 but couldn’t score after that even with Ryan was well protected.
  • Packers must feel good about the future in the OT spot with Newhouse & Sherrod Setting up especially with Newhouse starting RT then moving to LT, Sherrod not taking any snaps in training at the RT spot.

MVP: James Jones 140 yards on 5 receptions including 1 TD.