NFL

It was quite a Sunday in the NFL, as two teams remained perfect in some regard.

The Tennessee Titans entered their game against the Chicago Bears 8-0, but many felt that this is where they would fall.  The Bears have a good all around team (defense, running, and passing attack), packed full of ingredients to beat a team like the Titans.  The interesting thing about Tennessee, however, is that they too have a total package, BUT, they never turn it all on at once.  Their star defensive back, Albert Haynesworth, said that if all their parts ever jell at once, it’s going to be scary.  In this game, the Titans normally dominant running game was less than impressive, with their star Running Backs LenDale White and Chris Johnson running for a combined 22 yards.  But, all of the sudden, their normally dormant passing game sprung to life.  Kerry Collins passed for over 200 yards for the first time this season, and threw 2 TDs as well.  That… was enough to edge the Bears, and the Titans move to 9-0.  If the Bears can’t do it, who can?  We might just have another 16-0 team this season.  Tennessee 21, Chicago 14.

The other perfect record belongs to the Detroit Lions who moved to a winless 0-9.  They were clobbered by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who up until this game were struggling big time.  However, against the Lions, they looked as good as they did last season, with David Garrard throwing for 238 yards and 2 TDs, and running back, Maurice Jones-Drew (aka Mighty Mouse) rushing for a whopping 3 TDs.  The Lions looked worse than they have in past weeks, with newly added QB, Daunte Culpepper, throwing for a pathetic 104 yards and 1 TD.  Apparently, the Lions are best used to improve the self-esteem of an NFL franchise on any given Sunday.  Jacksonville 38, Detroit 14.

Elsewhere, even though the Patriots thought their season was done when they lost Tom Brady in week one, they have quietly accumulated an impressive winning record at 6-3.  They beat the ailing Buffalo Bills, captained by an impressive performance by back-up to the back-up running back, BenJarvus Green-Ellis.  He rushed for a surprising 105 yards and a touchdown.  He’s probably available in your fantasy league, so you should pick him up if you need help at the running back position.  New England 20, Buffalo 10.

And finally, the New York Giants improved to 8-1 with a hard fought win against Philadelphia.  New York proved that they had the league’s best rushing attack, as ‘The Big Man’ Brandon Jacobs rushed for 126 yards and 2 TDs.  But the Giants also have a quick, small-guy rusher in Derrick Ward.  He ran for 53 yards as well.  Between the two of them, they are able to steadily move the ball, and maintain long periods of ball possession, which tires out opposing defenses.  In this game, the Giants had the ball for 39 MINUTES!! Eagles QB Donovan McNabb still had a good game with 3 TD passes, but it just wasn’t enough.  NY Giants 36, Philadelphia 31.

The consensus Super Bowl prediction right now is definitely Tennessee v. NY Giants, but absolutely NOTHING is guaranteed in the NFL.  That’s why they play the games.