FOOTBALL

Before we get to the NFL action, we need to discuss Michael Vick possibly changing locations next season.  Vick was one of the main characters this NFL off-season, with everyone wondering where he would sign.  He joined the Philadelphia Eagles, but has been tremendously irrelevant there.  Now, Vick’s mentor and former Super Bowl winning coach, Tony Dungy, has said that Philadelphia is more of an adjustment period for Vick.  Next year, Dungy said, Vick could be the starting quarterback in Buffalo.  The Bills expressed serious interest in Vick during the off-season, and Vick might just be the guy to bring the Bills out of the dregs of the NFL.

Speaking of Philadelphia, they hosted the Dallas Cowboys in a match-up for the top spot in the NFC East.  The Eagles have been on fire ever since pathetically losing to the dismal Oakland Raiders, and the Cowboys have turned it around the last few weeks as well.  Well, it was a back and forth game up until the 4th quarter, when the game was tied at 13.  Then, with 8 minutes left, Tony Romo aired it out to his new favorite target, Miles Austin, for a 49-yard Touchdown.  And the Eagles just couldn’t come back.  Now, Dallas sits back on throne of an extremely competitive division.  Dallas 20, Philadelphia 16.

Elsewhere in the NFC East, the once red-hot NY Giants played host to the San Diego Chargers.  This game had multiple storylines.  1) The NY Giants started the season 5-0, but have lost their last 3 games.  They needed a win to break that horrible streak.  2) Phillip Rivers return to New York.  Rivers is now at the peak of his game, and back in 2004, the Giants passed on him in favor of drafting Eli Manning #1 overall.  To add insult to injury, Manning publicly stated that he didn’t want to and wouldn’t play in San Diego.  This was both Rivers and San Diego’s revenge game on the G-men.  But… it would be close.  The Giants led 20-14 with just 2 minutes left, but Rivers marched the Chargers down the field in just 8 plays, and with just 18 seconds left, Rivers hurled the ball to Vincent Jackson for a game winning touchdown.  Revenge accomplished.  San Diego 21, NY Giants 20.

One of the unbeaten teams, the New Orleans Saints, had to put it on the line against the Carolina Panthers.  They hoped to go 8-0 for the first time in franchise history.  The Saints fell behind 14-0, but that’s really no big deal for Drew Brees.  He came back strong throwing for 330 yards and a TD, but the true hero was Anthony Hargrove.  Late in the 4th quarter, he stripped the ball from Carolina, picked up the fumble, and ran it in for a touchdown.  That gives the Saints 7 defensive touchdowns on the season, and sent them to a perfect 8-0.  New Orleans 30, Carolina 20.

Finally, the other unbeaten team, the Indianapolis Colts, had a tough match-up against a pesky Houston Texans team.  This one wouldn’t be easy.  It stayed close the whole way, but Joseph Addai put the Colts up 20-17 mid-way through the first quarter.  But, at the end of the game, the Texans had a chance to tie the game against the mighty Colts.  It was all up to their kicker, Kris Brown.  Unfortunately, he booted the kick far left, and the Texans lost in heartbreaking fashion.  The Colts, on the other hand, remain the team to beat in the AFC at 8-0.  Indianapolis 20, Houston 17.