Gophers Suffer Another Big Ten Beating

Then all the life and energy the Golden Gophers were showing against Nebraska seemed to be washed away by a bizarre first-quarter play that led to the Huskers' first touchdown.

A botched option pitch wound up getting batted forward to give Nebraska a first down, and the 13th-ranked Huskers scored two plays later en route to a 41-14 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

On fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 13, the Gophers defense collapsed the line on the option dive, so Taylor Martinez pulled it and pitched it left to Aaron Green. The pitch was high and Green couldn't handle it, but he knocked the ball forward and it landed out of bounds ahead of the first down marker.

After a short conference, the officials spotted the ball there because it was a backward pass and not a fumble, therefore marking it where the ball landed out of bounds, and not where the muff occurred.

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill protested vehemently, but to no avail. Martinez hit Tyler Legate for a 10-yard TD pass two plays later to make it 10-0.

"Because it was fourth down, I'm sure everybody thought it was a fourth-down fumble ruling," referee Todd Geerlings said, referring to the rule that prevents the offense from advancing a fumble. "But for a fumble you need to have possession of the ball. ... When it touched the player on the muff, it's still a backward pass when it goes out of bounds and that's what we had."

Kill conceded after the game it was the correct call, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

"I told the official, 'How can you reward somebody for a mistake?'" Kill said. "He goes, 'You're right Coach, but that's the rules,' and he's right.

"Was that a big swing in the game? That was huge."

Kill wasn't the only coach confused about the play.

"Actually I didn't understand the rule myself," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. "I thought, probably like coach Kill did, that it was a fumble, that they were going to rule it as a fumble. But it's not. It's a backward pass."

The wheels came off for the Gophers (1-6, 0-3) from there, with Nebraska rolling to a 34-0 halftime lead.

Kenny Bell scored on an 82-yard reverse on the next drive and Austin Cassidy returned MarQueis Gray's fumble 11 yards to make it 27-0 with under 10 minutes to play in the first half.

Rex Burkhead's 4-yard touchdown dive just before the half ended made it 34-0 at the break.

"We've been hit with a lot of adversity this whole season," Minnesota cornerback Kyle Henderson said. "It's never good when things like that don't go your way."

In this new wide-open, pass-happy era of football, the Gophers are doing their best to turn the clock back, and not in a good way.

Gray was just 2 for 8 for 9 yards in the first half, and 53 of his 122 yards passing for the game came on a flea-flicker to Da'Jon McKnight in the third quarter. That set up Gray's 1-yard TD run, snapping a streak of 145 straight points for the Huskers in the series against Minnesota. They lost 56-0 in 1990 and 48-0 in 1989.

"We always seem to make good plays, then turn around and have bad plays," Gray said. "That cost us. We have to eliminate those and get better play from me, also."

McKnight finished with two catches for 77 yards and Duane Bennett rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown.

It was the first meeting in the series since 1990, and the Husker faithful took over TCF Bank Stadium. Chanting "Go Big Red!" before the opening kickoff, Huskers fans accounted for about two-thirds of the fans in attendance, and they watched their team cruise to a 15th straight win in the series.

Nebraska racked up 346 yards on the ground, including 117 and a touchdown from Burkhead. Martinez added 52 and also threw for 162 yards, though the Gophers defense was able to hold the Huskers to field goals twice in the first half after driving inside the 5.

"There were some good things out there, but they don't happen all the time. That's my fault," Kill said. "We have no room for error, and we certainly don't need to help anybody (with mistakes). We can't overcome that."

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Amid another shampoo ad, Steelers get down

Published: October 19th, 2011 | Tags: Troy Polamalu, Brett Keisel, Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Enough with the hollow chirps about the aging Steelers looking slow and clumsy on their feet.

Behind the scenes of yet another Head & Shoulders commercial spot, All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu and (furiously bearded) defensive end Brett Keisel were caught on film engaged in the cha-cha with wideout Hines Ward, the most-recent winner of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Crew members and small children wandered close, but no matter — this Steelers trio was in a dream world of their own, holding hands, giggling and spinning on their heels to the music. A delightful moment, but not one about to strike fear into the Baltimore Ravens.

Thanks to Sporting News for the heads up on this.

– Marc Sessler

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49ers 25, Lions 19: 49ers Win One Battle With Lions, Then Start Another

This is now, when a melee breaks out after the game because the coaches — the head coaches — nearly come to blows. The 49ers’ 25-19 victory over the Lions on Sunday gave the Lions (5-1) their first loss and solidified the 49ers (5-1) as one of the biggest surprises of the season. It was messy (21 penalties) and it was physical (seven sacks).

And that was before the postgame handshake, which required a tale of the tape.

Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco’s coach, and Jim Schwartz, Detroit’s coach, briefly crossed paths much earlier in their careers when both were with the Baltimore Ravens — Harbaugh as a quarterback, Schwartz as a defensive assistant. Now they are widely respected young coaches leading teams on the rise. Their shared experience apparently did not ensure that they could get through the most rudimentary part of the game without incident.

Harbaugh, who also had a handshake kerfuffle with Seattle’s Pete Carroll when both were college coaches, was gleeful about his team’s victory as he approached Schwartz. That was when he wound up for a big, roundhouse hand slap, a haymaker of a handshake.

“It was totally on me — too hard a handshake,” Harbaugh said. “It was a strong kind of slap kind of handshake.”

Schwartz, looking a little stunned, apparently did not appreciate Harbaugh’s enthusiasm because as Harbaugh turned to run off the field, Schwartz gave chase and jostled with him.

“Didn’t expect an obscenity at that point, so it was a surprise to me at the end of the game,” Schwartz said. “Obviously, you win a game like that, you’re excited and things like that, but I think there’s a protocol that goes with this league.”

The new protocol could include having a buffer zone between coaches. As players from both teams headed for the tunnel to the locker rooms, the crowd — and the anger — grew. Finally, the 49ers public-relations official Bob Lange positioned himself between the two coaches and moved Harbaugh away while a 49ers player shoved Schwartz aside.

Harbaugh said that when he saw Schwartz in the tunnel, he told him that he shook his hand too hard and that the moment was his fault. He did not apologize. The N.F.L. said it would review the incident.

Harbaugh, who had been sought after by college and professional teams alike before leaving Stanford after last season to coach the 49ers, has transformed them in his image, infusing them with a confidence and commitment that his quarterback, Alex Smith, said he had never seen in the N.F.L. They are in prime position to win the N.F.C. West, which was won last season by Carroll’s Seahawks with a losing record as the 49ers finished 6-10.

“A year ago, games like this we lost,” said tight end Delanie Walker, who caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 1 minute 51 seconds to play that gave San Francisco the lead in the fourth quarter. “That’s the turnaround. All of it comes from the coach. The way he acts. He was sure fired up. Jim Harbaugh is one of those guys who is always fired up.”

Harbaugh had plenty to be fired up about. The 49ers sacked Matthew Stafford five times and forced him into off-kilter, off-target throws throughout the game. They neutralized receiver Calvin Johnson, who had entered the game with nine touchdown catches but was kept out of the end zone Sunday.

The 49ers also had a balanced offense that gained 203 rushing yards — exposing the Lions’ biggest weakness. And Harbaugh got a rocket of a touchdown pass from Smith to Walker. That reaffirmed Harbaugh’s decision to place the team in the hands of Smith, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, even though his career had been largely left for dead by previous San Francisco coaches.

It all came together to give the 49ers their third fourth-quarter comeback victory on the road this season, prompting Harbaugh to say he feels “something special is brewing here.”

Perhaps so. This victory was a significant one for the 49ers — probably more important to them than it would have been to the Lions, who have already been accepted as legitimate contenders.

But it will be overshadowed, at least for a few days, by Harbaugh’s actions. Harbaugh was asked if his emotions might eventually undermine his coaching. A wide smile spread across his face.

“We’ll see; I don’t think I’m that emotional,” he started, before pausing. “I will say I was very emotional about our team. When you’re with a group of guys and you’re trying to do something special, to see your guys play that way — yeah, it fires you up. It fires me up. I don’t apologize for that. If that offends you or anybody else, so be it.”

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On Football: Giants Have Another Adventure in Sudden Reversals

First down on the 27, already in field-goal range, the Buffalo Bills seemed to have the Giants right where they wanted them, where they were the previous week, about to cough up a close game at home.

That’s when Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Harvard-educated quarterback, flunked the fundamental question on the deep sideline route. He underthrew his receiver, Stevie Johnson, leaving Corey Webster in prime position to turn around the game’s momentum, the disquieting mood at MetLife Stadium and maybe the Giants’ season — or at least the first half of it.

“I wanted to get inside of him,” Webster said of Johnson, whom he was chasing on the left sideline, just inside the 5, with four minutes and change left in a 24-24 game. “Hopefully you get your head turned around and go for the ball.”

Turn around and turnarounds. It was appropriate word play for a day on which the Giants’ defense began by surrendering 14 points on two plays that covered a combined 140 yards. When they remembered that defense does require tackling, the Giants reversed field and fortune in a 27-24 victory that sent them into their bye week at 4-2, thinking they had survived a brutal run of preseason injuries in pretty good shape.

“To have the bye and to be an optimist, if I might, maybe we will get some guys healthy,” said Coach Tom Coughlin, whose team was without defensive end Justin Tuck again and running back Brandon Jacobs, among others.

Coughlin hedged on the hopefulness because this is the N.F.L., where enduring parity has been achieved almost to the point of parody, where most games are as predictable as a gust and where Coach barely knows who will suit up week to week.

A week ago, against Seattle, Coughlin must have felt mighty optimistic when the Giants were driving for a potential game-winning touchdown, only to have Eli Manning’s short pass to Victor Cruz turn into a pinball and run back the other way more yards than Coughlin could bear.

Be it coincidence or karma, Webster’s fourth-quarter interception that started the Giants on a 76-yard drive resulting in a deciding 23-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes was made in the general vicinity of the previous week’s Manning-Cruz crusher.

On Sunday, Manning was mostly patient and pick-free while throwing for 292 yards. Fitzpatrick, one-time master of the Wonderlic, was perhaps left wanting to beat his own brains in for Webster’s interceptions. Especially the second one, unforgivable as it was given the circumstances. “I’ll take that matchup every time, and if I throw a good ball on that, Stevie scores and everybody is happy,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s easy to second-guess it now, but I thought it was a great call and I thought it was the right play.”

A debatable claim, to say the least. But that the Bills were even bidding for their fifth victory in six games was testimony to a crazy-quilt season that has already given us a stunning assortment of the ascendant (Lions, 49ers, Bills) and descendent (Eagles, Jets, Colts).

In a league whose current champion is the municipally owned property of Green Bay, in which Los Angeles doesn’t even rate a team, a season’s overriding success is seldom linked to size of market or sexiness of franchise. It’s the beastly nature of the game, the uncertainty of Sunday, which has turned the N.F.L. into the envy of all competing sports leagues, especially the one currently in collective bargaining limbo.

By themselves, the Giants have become a weekly soap opera. They were declared a disaster in the making after Week 1 at Washington, then a remake of “Little Giants” after they ran off three straight victories despite being patched together with sticks and glue, and a team on the brink of a nervous breakdown after the way they lost to Seattle last week.

“We talked about positive energy, because there was so much negative out there,” Coughlin said.

He was brimming with his own while praising Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw for his 104 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns, and the playmakers on defense who recovered from the unsightliness of Fred Jackson’s 80-yard touchdown run and Naaman Roosevelt’s 60-yard catch and run to the end zone about five minutes apart in the first quarter.

Especially Jason Pierre-Paul, who sacked Fitzpatrick for a 9-yard loss at the Giants’ 37 midway through the second quarter, pushing the Bills out of field-goal range. On the Bills’ next drive, he and Osi Umenyiora stuffed Jackson for no gain on third-and-1 at the Giants’ 31, forcing the Bills to settle for a field goal. In a 3-point victory, the play, though forgotten by the finish, loomed large.

“You never know what’s going to happen in this game,” Pierre-Paul said. “You give up a couple of big plays, but at the end of the day, you move on.”

You take the fourth-quarter gift from Fitzpatrick, drive the ball down the field and cringe when Manning forces a pass to Mario Manningham on third-and-5 from the Buffalo 5.

Cornerback Leodis McKelvin knocked it down, only a step from the unspeakable. “I tried to put it low and maybe squeeze it in,” Manning said. “It’s always a tough situation right there.”

Could have been worse, much worse, a turnaround to turn the stadium upside down. But this week, the football gods smiled on them. Parity rules.

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Pulverizing Packers target another victim – winless Rams at Lambeau

Pulverizing Packers target another victim – winless Rams at Lambeau » Packers Gab HomeMeet Our StaffContact UsGreen Bay Packers Schedule HomeFeaturesGame StoriesInjuriesMainNewsOpinionsRoster MovesRumors « Packers safety Morgan Burnett expects to play with broken right hand Sunday vs. Rams Pulverizing Packers target another victim – winless Rams at Lambeau October 15th, 2011 Russ Loede Posted in 2011 Regular Season, Game Previews, Video

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Injuries Force Another Shakeup on Eagles Line

Starting left tackle Jason Peters is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury he suffered in a loss to the 49ers two weeks ago, and his replacement, 6-foot-9 King Dunlap, missed a second consecutive day of practice Friday because of back spasms.

The two injuries have left the Eagles with only two healthy offensive tackles — Todd Herremans, the usual right tackle, and Winston Justice, who missed all of training camp because of offseason knee surgery and hasn't played all year.

Coach Andy Reid said after practice Friday that if Dunlap's back spasms don't abate by Sunday, Herremans will start against the Redskins at left tackle — where he hasn't played since 2005 — and Justice will make his first start since undergoing major offseason knee surgery.

"We don't," Herremans said, "have too many other options right now."

Reid said Dunlap injured his back on the final play of practice Wednesday. He's now questionable.

"We were doing a two-minute drill, non-contact," Reid said, "and he came out of his stance and it locked up on him."

Dunlap attended part of Friday's practice in the team's indoor bubble but did not participate.

Reid said if Dunlap's back spasms go away, he'll be fine to play, despite missing the last two days of practice.

"King's a smart kid, so I don't think that would necessarily be a problem," he said. "I want to make sure he feels all right before we do that, but I think he would be OK."

Herremans has four career starts at left tackle, all during 2006, his rookie year. He spent the last four years at left guard before moving to right tackle just before this year's opener.

"I know the technique, I know the steps I'm supposed to take and everything, it's just getting my body used to being on that side," Herremans said. "I got used to being over on the right again and now getting switched up. But the main thing is we want to get our five best guys out there, whatever arrangement we have, and go out there and win the game."

The Eagles (1-4) face the Redskins (3-1) Sunday at FedEx Field. No team has opened a season 1-5 and reached the playoffs since the 1975 Bengals.

Justice missed all of training camp and most of the preseason while rehabbing his knee. He started practicing on Sept. 5 but hasn't played on offense since last year's playoff game against the Packers.

"It seems like every week he's getting a little bit better and feeling more comfortable," Reid said. "He deserves the opportunity to play if that presents itself."

Justice said he's put in extra time over the past few weeks with new offensive line coach Howard Mudd, whose scheme is dramatically different than what Justice played in under former offensive line coach Juan Castillo, now the team's defensive coordinator.

"It's always a little bit uncomfortable at first to try something new," he said. "But I think I feel comfortable."

Justice has 32 career starts, 31 of them at right tackle and one at left tackle.

"He's been out there getting scout team reps for a couple weeks now, so I think he's getting more and more comfortable," Herremans said. "Running with the first team over there at right tackle (is) probably a good confidence builder for him. It looks like he's got his punch and everything still. He looks comfortable."

Reid said if Dunlap is unable to play, and either Herremans or Justice get hurt during the game, left guard Evan Mathis would move to right tackle, and Jamaal Jackson would likely move in at left guard.

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Holmes catch worth another look

Published: January 16th, 2011 | Tags: Santonio Holmes, AFC Divisional Playoffs, Kyle Arrington, Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

There’s a lesson to be learned for Kyle Arrington: sometimes, there’s just nothing you can do.

The Patriots’ cornerback found himself caught between a perfect pass from Mark Sanchez and an even better catch by Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone in Sunday’s loss to the Jets. Holmes gets his right knee down when it seems like he was completely out of room.

If it was a game-winner, it would rate among the best playoff catches of all time. Even so, the catch was eerily similar to two others made by Holmes: his game-winning touchdown in Week 11 against the Texans and the catch that NFL Films president Steve Sabol calls the best in the history of the NFL.

Holmes is making his living with these clutch catches in the back of the end zone. Take another look to enjoy the moment.

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Vikings Brett Favre Acts Like Another Guy With A White Beard

While many youngsters await the annual return of Santa Claus, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and his “little helper” Deanna Favre made a heartwarming gesture to help celebrate the holiday season this December.

The Favre’s invited a number of families in need to Winter Park on December 14th for an early Christmas party, making sure they left the training facility weighed down by generous food baskets and many Christmas presents.

The Favre family also donated $60,000 to the Salvation Army.  The donation will be used to provide food baskets to 2,000 other families this year.

“God has blessed us in so many ways, so it’s in our nature to give back,” Brett Favre said.

“Brett and I didn’t have a lot growing up,” added Deanna Favre. “We always feel that we need to reach out to the community, to help give back to all the people who give us so much. We feel like The Salvation Army is the perfect way. They are an organization that takes care of families who are working and trying to make ends meet.”

While I have been openly critical of Favre on this site for years now, it is important to note that this is an extremely generous donation that couldn’t come at a better time.  The Twin Cities Salvation Army has received assistance requests from 1,000 more families than they did last year, but have seen a decrease in donations to the tune of $420,000.

If you are interested in following the Favres’ lead on this one, you can see details about donating to the Salvation Army by clicking here.

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Ravens Coach Harbaugh Tells Fans – “Go Root For Another Team”

You had to expect that Ravens fans were not going to be happy this week following a tough defeat to the Steelers.

Sports talk radio has been flooded this week with fans who are still seething over another close defeat to the rival Steelers with playoff implications at stake. No show was immune, not even Head Coach John Harbaugh’s radio program last Tuesday night.

Some of the exchanges got heated and Harbaugh as usual defended his team. He also went one step further and delivered a message to anyone who still isn’t on board with the current regime of the Baltimore Ravens.

“I’m proud of this football team,” Harbaugh said. “I’m proud of our defense. I’m proud of our offense. We will fight our tails off to be the best team we can every single week.”

“If that’s not enough for you then go find another team to cheer for. If you’re not proud of this team then you don’t know football,” Harbaugh said.

I’d be interested to see what are readers think about these comments but let me add my own thoughts here.

Anyone who really follows this team is frustrated. I know I am. The expectations for this team for this season were elevated due to consecutive playoff runs and new additions to the offense. For some it was “Super Bowl or Bust” to be sure.

So far what we’ve seen is that the Ravens are a very good AFC team. They are 8-4 with a two game lead over the next contender for a playoff spot with four games to play. They have proven that they can play with and possibly beat any opponent in the NFL. But the team has had its struggles and last Sunday night’s game simply magnifies any doubts that fans have as to weather or not this is a championship club.

The offense has been a concern since the days this franchise began and while they have shown improvement under Cam Cameron the first two seasons, this season they are back to being a middle of the pack unit – even with more talent.

Something has to give. Is it the play-calling? Is it the coaching? Is it execution? Is it player personnel? It’s probably a bit of all these things but it’s clear something needs to change.

I don’t really take too much stock in what Harbaugh says. I was shocked that he admitted publicly that he felt the offense was subpar. It’s the first time I can remember that he’s shown that type of honesty with the media and the fans as to his feelings about his team.

He’s never really shown much regard for those that cover the team or the fan’s knowledge of the game he coaches anyway. In some respects he’s right to be testy and upset when most don’t really know what they’re talking about. But his behavior is also consistent with who he is – a bit smug and self-assured and at times treats people with less than the respect they might be due. Just ask anyone at WNST.

But you have to expect those questions and commments when you have a public radio show. Otherwise why do it if not for the some extra money.

It’s up to you coach. If you don’t want to hear it then do something to fix it. It may mean making some hard choices at the end of the season but it’s time for you to step up and lead.

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Owens wants another season with Palmer

You can’t blame Terrell Owens for wanting to return next season to the place where he’s had so much success.

It’s just that none of us guessed that place would have been Cincinnati, or that it would have happened at this point in the career of Owens, who turns 37 next week and was considered by many to  have very little left in his tank. 

Owens is having his best statistical season since 2007 and it’s paid off, earning him $1 million in bonuses. He’s on pace for 95 receptions, 1,329 yards and 12 touchdowns, which also puts him at or very close to a second tier of bonuses that kick in at 100 receptions, 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns, potentially earning $333,333 for each category.

Owens, who didn’t sign with the Bengals until right before training camp, said he can be even better if he gets another run with QB Carson Palmer.

“If you factor in what I’ve done this year, and obviously with more time and us getting to know each other, you can only imagine what would happen with this year under our belt,” Owens said.

Owens has been a model citizen this season, and it will be interesting to see what market bears for him during the offseason. Of course, if he does return to Cincinnati, there’s no guarantee Palmer will be there. As Jason La Canfora has noted, there are rumblings indicating Palmer and head coach Marvin Lewis are among the Bengals who might not be back next season.

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USF takes on another Big Three challenge

South Florida linebacker Sabbath Joseph has seen his popularity in social media soar in the past several days.

"Everybody is blowing up my Twitter and Facebook, asking me how they can get tickets," Joseph said.

The senior has a lot of requests to fill as he returns to his hometown this weekend for the Bulls' game at Miami. Joseph has already secured tickets for about 40 friends and family members and is trying to find more.

"I'm very excited about it," he said. "Getting a win would make it even better."

[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Chris O'MearaQB Jacory Harris led the Canes past the Bulls last season, throwing for two TDs with no interceptions.Beating Miami would also make up for the disappointment that South Florida felt last week. A 17-10 loss to Pittsburgh at home pushed the Bulls out of the Big East title race. The Hurricanes know that feeling well, as they fell to Virginia Tech last week and saw their chances of making the ACC title game evaporate.

It's easier to forget about those downers when there's an in-state rivalry looming the following Saturday. Joseph is one of many Bulls players who is very familiar with several Hurricanes from high school and youth football days, and USF guys grew up watching Miami dominate the Big East.

For the Bulls, this game brings another chance to prove themselves against the state's powers. They beat Florida State last year but couldn't hang with the Hurricanes at home later in the season, falling 31-10. They got their first crack at Florida this season and were competitive for more than a half before turnovers doomed them to a 38-14 loss.

"Everybody wants to be in the Big Three," Joseph said. "But in order for us to be considered the Big Four, we've got to beat them."

USF coach Skip Holtz has a slightly different take on the in-state pecking order. While Holtz says a win this week would "help our national reputation" and that the Bulls have to beat the Big Three to earn respect, he argues that the best way to be considered a state powerhouse will be to compete for the Big East title year in and year out. They haven't really done that yet, though they got close this year.

As for this week, Miami is a heavy favorite despite its disappointing 7-4 season. The Hurricanes still have elite-level athletes and a punishing defense that could make life tough on B.J. Daniels and the low-wattage South Florida offense. Daniels has been dealing with a quadriceps injury that has limited his movement and scrambling ability, a major part of his game.

At least Daniels has cut way down on his turnovers since the Florida game and other early-season calamities. The same cannot be said for Miami's quarterbacks, who have thrown more interceptions (21) than any FBS team other than Buffalo. The Bulls will likely have to hope their defense can cause some mistakes and capitalize on them.

If USF could spring the upset, it would give the team and Holtz a signature victory on the way to a bowl game. The Bulls would have a chance for an eight-win regular season. And Joseph's social-media platforms might crash from all the congratulatory messages.

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Another tough week for the Cardinals

“We’ve got to find a way,”  Derek Anderson said.  “This is getting old.”  Indeed it is and it doesn’t seem like the Cardinals have any new solutions.  There’s not much to say about the Cardinals’ latest loss, except that it was more of the same.   Arizona was easily handled on both sides of the ball as they never really bothered the Chiefs all day.

For the second straight game in a row, the Cardinals started out strong on their first offensive possession.  Arizona started on their own 31 yard line and quickly gained 17 yards on a Larry Fitzgerald (6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD) catch and run.  The Cardinals kept things moving, completing passes to Steve Breaston (5 receptions, 92 yards) and Fitzgerald again.  Arizona drove down to the Chiefs’ 18 yard line where they faced a 3rd and 8.  Derek Anderson (25/46, 295 yards, 1 TD) missed down the right sideline to Early Doucet (2 receptions, 13 yards) with a pass that probably should have been caught by Doucet as it went through his outstretched hands.  The Cards had to settle for a field goal, taking an early 3-0 lead.  They would never hold the lead again.

Surprisingly, the Arizona defense held strong all throughout the first quarter, forcing the Chiefs to punt on their only two possessions.  In the second quarter, however, Kansas City roared to life by putting up two touchdowns on consecutive possessions.  The first score came on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Matt Cassel (15/24, 193 yards, 2 TDs) to Dwayne Bowe (6 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs).  Arizona gave the Chiefs a short field and Cassel quickly went to work at the Cards’ 38 yard line.  In one play, Cassel competed a 37 yard pass to Bowe after he beat Paris Lenon, which put Kansas City on the Cards’ one yard line.  Arizona held tough for two downs, but on third down, the Chiefs hit pay dirt when Cassel went to his guy Bowe on a 1-yard completion, beating Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on a quick slant.  After another Cardinals punt, the Chiefs struck again.  This time, the Chiefs drove 78 yards on 5 plays before Thomas Jones (15 carries, 71 yards, 2 TDs) pounded it in on a 1 yard up and over.  The Chiefs took a commanding 14-3 lead and the game was never in contention after 10:14 in the second quarter.

Arizona was able to add a field goal in the third quarter and a meaningless touchdown with no time left in the game when Anderson hooked up with Fitzgerald.  The Chiefs added two more touchdowns and a field goal before it was all over making the final score 31-13.  Thomas Jones and Dwayne Bowe each picked up additional touchdowns on the ground and through the air respectively.  Bowe has been on an absolute tear for Kansas City as of late, recording 10 touchdowns in his last six games, which is a Kansas City franchise record.

Offensively, the Cardinals were doomed after their first possession.  Derek Anderson continued to show why he’s not a starting quarterback.  Although his mistakes didn’t show up in the box score, he cost the Cardinals points once again.  Anderson missed no fewer than five wide open targets by either firing the ball into the ground or sailing it way overhead.  One was on an absolutely wide open Steve Breaston who beat his defender by about four or five steps down the seem.  Anderson threw the ball about 10-15 yards over Breaston’s head.

Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells had a decent day on the ground, but they only combined for 20 carries.  Hightower gained 62 yards on just 12 carries with a 16 yard long around right end.  Wells, who made his return from knee swelling, gained 39 yards on just 8 carries with a 12 yard long up the middle.  Hightower and Wells averaged 5.2 and 4.9 yards/carry respectively, but Arizona trailed for most of the game, which made the running attack an afterthought.  It’s too bad because the running backs played quite well and Arizona proved they could run on the Chiefs.  Whenever the Cards gained some ground, though, they shot themselves in the foot whether it was a false start, a holding penalty or an errant pass from Anderson.  “Good football teams don’t do (that),” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “And right now we are not playing like a good football team…[but] I think we were pleased with what we were able to get accomplished in the run game.  If there is one area we can have a little bit of hope in I think that is it because we ran the football a little better.”

Defensively, the Cardinals weren’t able to continue on their stout first quarter effort.  Eventually the Chiefs proved to be too much for the Cardinals’ secondary to keep up with.  Dwayne Bowe time and again came wide open, usually over the middle, and poor tackling once again allowed for yards after the catch.  Matt Cassel, unlike Anderson, didn’t miss once during the game.  In addition, Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles eventually wore on the Cardinals up front.  The Chiefs finished with 352 total yards, 159 on the ground and 193 through the air.

The rest of the NFC West lost this week so the Cardinals didn’t lose any ground in relation to the rest of the division.  It seems like a moot point, though.  Arizona appears incapable of snapping its 5-game losing streak.  Unfortunately, things are really turning sour in Arizona.   “I feel this is the lowest we can go,” Steve Breaston dejectedly explained.  “You have a Monday night game, national TV, better show up there.  If you don’t show up there, we’re going to be embarrassed on national TV.”  The Monday night game is against the other bottom scrapper in the West, the 49ers.

INJURIES:

WR, Early Doucet (head) – possible concussionLB, Will Davis (ankle) – day-to-dayDE, Calais Campbell (ankle) – day-to-day

AROUND THE NFC WEST:

1 – Seattle Seahawks: 5-5, 0 GB, Last Week: L @ New Orleans, 34-192 – St. Louis Rams: 4-6, 1 GB, Last Week: L vs. Atlanta, 34-173 – San Francisco 49ers: 3-7, 2 GB, Last Week: L vs. Tampa Bay, 21-03 – Arizona Cardinals: 3-7, 2 GB, Last Week: L @ Kansas City, 31-13

NEXT WEEK:

Arizona (3-7) will host the 49ers (3-7) on Monday Night Football. It will be the two teams’ first meeting of the season.  Amazingly, if the Cardinals win and the Seahawks lose, Arizona would only be one game out of first place, though they would be 1.5 games below .500.  That’s how bad the NFC West is this year.

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Value of Texans WR Johnson could take another hit

Published: November 17th, 2010 | | Tags: Houston Texans, Andre Johnson, Matt Leinart, Dan Orlovsky, Matt Schaub, Darrelle Revis, Gary Kubiak

Texans starting QB Matt Schaub has been hospitalized with a bursa sac in his knee according to coach Gary Kubiak, according to the team’s official website. Kubiak said that he expects Schaub to be released from the hospital Wednesday, and possibly return to practice on Thursday.

“Well, he’s not here today,” Kubiak said. “I’ve got to see where he’s at tomorrow, but I’m telling you, I expect him here tomorrow. If that’s the case and he’s doing what he normally does, then you’re damn right he’ll be out there.”

Sound like somebody is worried about their job security? Either that, or he is worried about his options behind Schaub. Normally, this is where a coach would talk up his backup quarterbacks. Yet, Kubiak could not wait to say that Schaub will be back on the field, even if he is wearing a robe and a bedpan for a helmet.

Or, at least it just sounded that way to me.

The value of Texans WR Andre Johnson has taken a hit this week because of matchup against Jets CB Darrelle Revis. Dre’s value will plummet like the elevator car on Disney’s Hollywood Tower of Terror if the Texans have to turn to QBs Dan Orlovsky or Matt Leinart, who has been listed as the team’s emergency quarterback for most of the season.

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Despite another loss, Texans stand by Kubiak

Two reports surfaced this week in the wake of Sunday’s loss to the Chargers that sparked so many “get ‘em outta here” remarks from Texans fans.  From fans calling for their head coach Gary Kubiak’s firing to rookie cornerback Kareem Jackson’s benching, fans are infuriated with their team’s lackluster losses.  But through all the outside havoc, the organization is sticking to its guns.  This week Texans’ owner Bob McNair said he still supports Kubiak.  On any chance of a coaching change, McNair responded:

“That’s not how we run this ship.  Gary’s doing a good job. Replacing him doesn’t help you catch more balls.”

On the ongoing criticism of Kubiak and the Texans’ poor home record.

“You’re always going to be criticized if you don’t win every game.  That’s just part of it. If you win, the criticism goes away. I think he’s doing fine. He’s not out there making the blocks and catching the ball, and that’s what hurt us. If you replace the coach, will it be easier for the guy who missed the block to make it? I don’t think so. If he was making bad decisions, if he wasn’t managing the team and if the players weren’t playing hard, that would be cause for concern. But our players are playing hard.”

For Gary Kubiak, he was watching his young rookie cornerback’s back.  Kareem Jackson has been burnt, shook and just simply beat an awful lot this season.  However, Kubiak still has confidence in the young man.

“He’s going through some tough times, especially (Sunday), but he has been doing some good things. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him. He just needs to keep working. He’s got to start making those plays. We expect him to do that. His teammates expect him to do that.”

For the sake of arguing, Kubiak’s right.  The kid needs to keep working and he will develop.  Absent superb athleticism, it is a rarity to find a impact rookie cornerback.

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