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Start off with an apology this week. Due to family trouble at my end
I was unable to produce last week's HUT!!! Hopefully it won't happen again.
Week 5 reviewed
The second week of divisional games saw two AFC teams lose their 100%
records to their nearest rivals and two NFC teams stretch their leads
at the top of their divisions to two clear games.
Ronnie and his Jets overcame a stubborn Bills side that gave their home
fans 100% but still the Jets ran out 41-21 winners. Rob Johnson led Buffalo
valiant charge with 3 touchdowns and 242 yards, while his counterpart
Foley matched the TD count and bettered in yardage. At 31-21 I'm sure
coach Martin was having a few doubting thoughts but NY pulled through
with two scores in the last quarter.
The Dolphins won a shoot out in Miami defeating the Patriots 38-32. Graham
has his team playing well and they have sneaked up on the Jets into early
play off contention with a 3-1-1 record. The pass offence behind 8-year
vet Marino is making plays and winning games for the fish.
Even in this early stage of the season I couldn't have seen the Steelers
coming back from two games back to the Oilers. So this win for Mark was
very important and showed the AFC that the Oilers can be beaten. Mark's
rush offence didn't make pretty yards but kept the ball from the Oilers'
potent offence eating up the play clock.
The Browns got off the mark with a road win over fellow struggles Cincinnati
in Bengal land. Browns' defence held their opponents to just 6 first downs
and 192 yards and fought back after the Bengals had taken a first quarter
lead. Could be win number two this week Cleveland travel to Atlanta.
Denver lose their unbeaten tag as well this week after the Chargers came
to town and went home with a 21-9 win and now only a one game gap at the
top of the west. Some great Charger goal line defence, stopping several
1st goal situations and allowing just 9 points in total, thwarted Denver's
red zone offence.
Oakland breaks their long, long losing streak with a close home win over
the Seahawks who fall to 1-3-1. The Raiders high-powered running back
trio pounded the Hawks defence for 159 yards on the ground and Gannon
was effective when needed.
In the NFC we also had a fair share of shocks and eye raising results.
The Cardinals continue their march to the NFC Eastern title with an easy
31-15 over the Giants who haven't really got going this season. Kent Graham
and his posse of fleet footed receivers proved too strong and fast for
the Giants secondary.
The Cowboys' hopes for making a start on the play off berth took a dent
when a road trip to the Redskins ended in a close 27-31 defeat moving
the Skins to 3-2 and dropping the Pokes to 1-4.Frerotte gave the Cowboys'
secondary nightmares bombing 350 yards and scoring three touchdowns -
their run attack was awful but they didn't need it. Dallas fought back
to trail by just 3 at the half but two red zone opportunities ended in
field goals instead of touchdowns.
The Packers keep hanging onto the marauding Bears' shirttails with an
excellent road in Florida over the Buccaneers. A solid performance offensively
was coupled with an outstanding performance from the front 7 of the Packers
defence. They held the Buccs to 18 yards on the ground (on 19 carries)
and sacked Dilfer and Walsh four times en route to a 24-6 win.
The Bears came to town in Minnesota and left no one in doubt that after
five weeks of the season that they are the class team in AZ at the moment.
The Bears' defence ran riot over the Vikes allowing just 199 yards, 12
first downs and sacking Culpepper 4 times in the process. Their offence
proved as relentless with McNown throwing five touchdowns and the running
game racking up 158 yards en route to a 52-0 road win.
After winning three straight the 49ers lose two in a row after another
close road defeat against a tough conference/divisional rival. This time
the Rams dealt the champs a 28-27 with a fourth quarter touchdown taking
sole possession of the lead in the NFC West. Trent Green showed enormous
maturity in his display against one of the top defences in AZ while the
Rams running backs made yards to keep the Niners honest and stopped them
keying on the Rams number 10. Again the 49ers put up their usual offensive
numbers of high average running stats ably complimented with the passing
of Brohm, though this week he was a little off form throwing more INT's
than touchdowns - result leaves Rams 4-1 and the Niners one game back
on 3-2.
San Francisco's defeat allowed the Saints to gain some ground in their
chase to get back on track and catch the West's leaders. A comfortable
home win over the hapless Falcons gained some valuable confidence going
into inter-conference week. QB Blake was back to his best with only 7
passes going to ground all day (two ended up in Falcon hands), a high
completion rate of 70%. The defence was excellent all day registering
5 sacks, 8 hurries and 3 turnovers and allowing just 161 yards as the
Saints run out winners 37-10 in Louisana.
TEAM OF THE WEEK:- ST LOUIS RAMS (TREVOR HALCROW)
Excellent win over the 49ers. Many thought the West was the Niners division
again this season, But the Rams have shocked the NFC and are leading the
division after 5 games.
OFFENSE OF THE WEEK:- CHICAGO BEARS (PAUL MACGUIRE)
Racked up 439 offensive yards against the Minnesota Vikings this week.
McNown has now thrown 15 touchdowns in 5 games only one behind AC's Kent
Graham.
DEFENSE OF THE WEEK:- PITTSBURGH STEELERS (MARK HALL)
Not the best statistically this week, but in the grand scheme a massive
win for the Steelers. Mark's defence kept the best offence power in the
conference to 14 first downs and 18 points and hurrying McNair all day
with 7 hurries.
And honorary mentions this week to PITTSBURGH, SAN DIEGO, OAKLAND,
CHICAGO AND NEW ORLEANS in team of the week. To MIAMI, PITTSBURGH,
WASHINGTON AND NEW ORLEANS for offence of the week. And defence of
the week to CLEVELAND, SAN DIEGO, GREEN BAY AND NEW ORLEANS.
Coaches writings…..
One from last week Peter Swindells coach of the Saints
Congrats on another impressive win, 4-0 makes a clear message of intent
to the rest of the league. I was actually quite pleased at first with
the way we were hanging in against the Cards' until I realised that hanging
on was in fact all we were doing as Arizona went deservedly away. Out
coached and out played the Cards are easily the best team I've played
against this season. It really makes the Atlanta encounter even more of
a 'must win' as without a victory there, the division could already be
beyond me!
Predictions.
NYJ @ GBP JETS BY 7 TBB @ BB BUCCANEERS BY 10
NEP @ CH BEARS BY 17 MV @ MD DOLPHINS BY 3
HO @ SF49 OILERS BY 5 SLR @ PS STEELERS BY 5
CL @ AF FALCONS BY 3 NOS @ CI SAINTS BY 6
SDC @ NYG CHARGERS BY 10 AC @ DB CARDINALS BY 6
SS @ DC COWBOYS BY 14 WR @ OR REDSKINS BY 10
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