FOOTBALL

Week 3 in the NFL, and we’ll start with one of the most anticipated match-ups.  The New England Patriots vs. The Buffalo Bills.  The Bills are 2-0 on the season and seem to be jelling with the ‘Nobody Believes In Us’ mantra.  Sunday, the Bills got a serious test against a Patriots offense that seems  unstoppable.  Instantly, the Pats got up to a 21-7 lead thanks to the remarkable chemistry between Tom Brady and Wes Welker.  Welker finished the day with an amazing 217 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Everybody thought the Pats had it in the bag, but they forgot to take into account the relentless spirit of this years Buffalo Bills.  Ryan Fitzpatrick and running back Fred Jackson led to them to a remarkable comeback.  Suddenly the Bills found themselves on the Patriots 1-yard line with a tie game in the closing seconds.  All they needed was an easy field goal, and… THEY GOT IT!   With this win, the Buffalo Bills, yes the Buffalo Bills, are undefeated and in first place in the AFC East.  Buffalo 34, New England 31.

Elsewhere in the NFL, another team that has a looooonnnnng history of losing was also looking to make a 3-0 start:  The Detroit Lions.  Could they do it?  They would have to succeed in front of a raucous Minnesota crowd.  Minnesota, behind Adrian Peterson and Donovan McNabb jumped out to a 20-0 lead by halftime.  It looked like they finally had their act together and would cruise toward their first win of the season.  BUT — Detroit is a team with a mission, and in the second half, their quarterback, the high-energy, never-say-die Matthew Stafford connected on 2 beautiful touchdown passes to amazing receiver Calvin Johnson.  A few field goals would tie the game, where we would head to overtime.  The Lions had all the momentum in OT, which led to a Jason Hanson 32 yard field goal to win the game.  And the Lions… are 3-0.  Detroit 26, Minnesota 23.

Finally, in Philly, the Eagles were hosting an injury-ridden NY Giants team.  Everybody wrote off the Giants for this one, thinking the Eagles would simply dominate.  Nope.  The Giants were ready and had a ferocious ground attack against the Eagles.  Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs kept the ball moving to give the Eagles fits.  Most of Eli Manning’s receivers are injured, but they found a new emerging star in Victor Cruz (out of… UMASS.  Huh?).  Cruz had 2 touchdown catches on the day as the Giants stole the road victory.  But the worst news of the day for the Eagles… Michael Vick has a broken hand.  It’s not his throwing hand, but still, playing with a broken hand is tough.  He could be out for a few weeks.  People had the Eagles in the Super Bowl in most predictions, but now, they’re 1-2.  Not a good start.  NY Giants 29, Philadelphia 16.

BASKETBALL

And in some rare NBA news, as we mentioned a few months ago, superstar dunk champion Blake Griffin is spending his lockout time not playing in Europe, but rather interning at Will Ferrell‘s Funny Or Die.  The folks over at Funny Or Die decided to do a mockumentary 24/7 account of Blake Griffin’s time at the comedy sketch company.  If you’ve got 5 minutes, it’s worth your time.