NFL Week 8 News and Preview
NFL Week 8 News, Preview, Highlights
03/11/2009
Saints 35 – 27 Falcons Highlights
Panthers 34 – 21 Cardinals Highlights
Vikings 38 – 26 Packers Highlights
Titans 30 – 13 Jaguars Highlights
Chargers 24 – 16 Raiders Highlights
Young handed Titans start
Vince Young has been handed the starting quarterback’s job by the Tennessee Titans after Kerry Collins was benched following the team’s 0-6 start this season.
The move was expected after Titans owner Bud Adams said he wanted to see more action for Young in the wake of the humiliating 59-0 thrashing at New England.
Young has had his personal problems off the field but will now get the chance to put those behind him after coach Jeff Fisher announced Young would take the reins on Sunday against Jacksonville.
Collins led the team to the best record in the NFL last season after a 10-0 start, but this season he and the team have been a shadow of last year and lay stricken on 0-6.
With their season effectively over, now is the team to give Young some action ahead of veteran Collins, according to Fisher.
Last Year for Lewis
Cleveland Browns’ veteran running back Jamal Lewis says he plans to retire from the NFL at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old is in his tenth year in the NFL, but is struggling with the hapless Browns and says that he will bow out after a decade in the sport.
Lewis ran for 69 yards on 16 carries as the Browns were routed 30-6 by the Chicago Bears on Sunday, and he said after the game that it was to be his last season in the NFL.
Having already missed two games this season with injuries, Lewis is struggling to reach his usual standards and feels his time could now be up.
“When I talk, I mean what I say, and I think you all know that,” he added after making the announcement.
“It is very hard. Very. I think this is my last year. I think this is it. Honestly, the way it looks, you know, I had a good run.”
Saints in Seventh Heaven
The New Orleans Saints equalled their best start to an NFL season with a 35-27 victory over divisional rivals the Atlanta Falcons on Monday evening.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees engineered an 81-yard drive that culminated in a one-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Thomas with just over three minutes remaining to give the hosts a 35-24 cushion in the Superdome.
Atlanta kicker Jason Elam made a 40-yard field goal with 28 seconds left and the Falcons recovered an onside kick to set up a final “Hail Mary” play which was intercepted.
Brees finished with 308 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Thomas had 91 yards on the ground, including a 22-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
The unbeaten Saints (7-0) have now opened the season with seven straight wins for the first time since 1991 and hold a three-game lead over Atlanta (4-3) in the NFC South.
High-profile wideout upset with statistics so far in Buffalo
Terrell Owens arrived in Buffalo in a blaze of publicity during the off-season, but he has so far endured his worst start to a season in 13 years and produced the sort of numbers he describes as ‘pathetic’.
Owens signed a one-year deal worth $6.5 million with the Bills in March, but he has so far not come anywhere close to earning that salary.
The 35-year-old has caught just 18 passes for 242 yards and scored one touchdown, numbers which spell out his worst start since his rookie year with the 49ers in 1996.
Buffalo’s offensive line struggles have not helped by allowing 21 sacks this season, while quarterback Trent Edwards is out injured meaning Ryan Fitzpatrick has come in under centre.
Owens has still come under the microscope though, with many believing he has lost a yard as he enters his 14th NFL season, but he insists he can still turn things around.
Broncos lose unbeaten record in week eight, Rams and Titans win at Last
Brett Favre made a triumphant return to Green Bay, throwing four touchdowns to see Minnesota to a 38-26 victory.
Favre, given a hostile reception on his first appearance at Lambeau Field since a messy departure from the Packers two years ago, produced a vintage display to allow the Vikings to take control of the NFC North at 7-1.
Elsewhere in week eight, Denver suffered their first loss of the season as they were overpowered by an old-school defensive performance in Baltimore, while St Louis and Tennessee both secured their first wins.
The Rams prevailed in Detroit thanks to a late Steven Jackson touchdown to give Steve Spagnuolo his maiden success as a head coach.
In Nashville, the second coming of Vince Young helped the Titans claim the scalp of Jacksonville.
Donovan McNabb and the Eagles dominated the New York Giants in their NFC East clash and Dallas kept up their divisional hopes with a comprehensive win over the Seahawks in Texas.
Joseph Addai turned from running back to quarterback to help Indianapolis maintain their 100 percent record against a stubborn San Francisco, and Chicago eased beyond the struggling Browns.
St Louis Rams 17-10 Detroit Lions
Steven Jackson was the hero for the Rams as they finally ended their long losing streak to claim a first win of the season against an equally-hapless Detroit.
The Rams did their best to shoot themselves in the foot as James Butler intercepted Matthew Stafford but ran back inside his own end zone and was then tackled for a two-point safety for the Lions.
Kicker Josh Brown then hit Daniel Fells with a touchdown pass from a fake field goal before Stafford ran in to tie-up the game, but Jackson had the final say with a 25-yard touchdown run capping his 156-yard performance and sealing the win.
New York Giants 17-40 Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia unloaded on their NFC East rivals with a dominating 40-17 victory over the Giants despite New York having 11 minutes more of possession.
Donovan McNabb connected with three touchdown passes after full-back Leonard Weaver had trundled 41 yards for a score, as the Eagles showed their offensive prowess and the game was all-but over at half-time as they led 30-7.
Eli Manning was intercepted twice and found tight end Kevin Boss for a score but rookie LeSean McCoy produced a blistering 66-yard touchdown late on to add the gloss on the Eagles’ power-packed performance.
San Francisco 49ers 14-18 Indianapolis Colts
Joseph Addai was the unlikely hero for the Colts as the running back threw a touchdown pass for Reggie Wayne to help Indianapolis overcome a stern test from the Niners and remain unbeaten.
Frank Gore powered in a 64-yard run and Vernon Davis caught an eight-yard pass from Alex Smith as the 49ers led 14-12 after three quarters, with four Matt Stover field goals keeping the Colts close.
Peyton Manning threw for 347 yards but could not find the end zone – but running back Addai could as he took a hand-off and then threw the ball and connected with Wayne from 22 yards to win the game.
Denver Broncos 7-30 Baltimore Ravens
Denver finally lost their unbeaten record as they ran into a Ravens side looking more like their old selves with a dominating defensive showing, limiting the Broncos to just 218 total yards.
Baltimore only produced 84 more yards but they used them far more wisely as they built on a 95-yard kick-off return from Lardarious Webb that put the hosts 13-0 up at the start of the third quarter.
Rookie Knowshon Moreno ran in from a yard to get Denver back in it, but Joe Flacco found Derrick Mason and Ray Rice ran in a seven-yard score late on to put the first one in Denver’s loss column for the season.
Miami Dolphins 30-25 New York Jets
The Dolphins did the double over their divisional rivals in a game that exploded in the second half with five touchdowns in eight-and-a-half third-quarter minutes – including two kick-off returns from Ted Ginn Jr.
Ginn was benched from his starting receiver role but showed his talents with return touchdowns of 100 and 101 yards within seven minutes of each other to help put Miami in charge.
Jason Taylor also took in a 48-yard fumble return but Mark Sanchez ran for a score and threw touchdowns to Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller to keep the Jets in the game – but it was the Dolphins’ day as Chad Henne won his first road game as Miami’s quarterback.
Houston Texans 31-10 Buffalo Bills
An inspired coaching move from the Houston Texans saw them come from behind to beat Buffalo 31-10, with Ryan Moats coming off the bench to torch the Bills to the tune of 126 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
After Terrell Owens had raced in for a surprising 29-yard rushing touchdown, the Bills benched starting running back Steve Slaton after his seventh fumble of the season, and Moats came in as his deputy.
Trailing 10-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, Houston emerged with the win to go to 5-3 for the season as Moats raced in from 11, one and three yards and may have earned himself the starting spot for next week.
Seattle Seahawks 17-38 Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo’s resurgence continued as his three touchdowns and 256 yards helped blitz the Seahawks to make it three wins in a row for the ‘Boys.
Romo got all his weapons involved as he supplied three receivers with scores, starting with Sam Hurd who only caught one pass but made it count with a 36-yard score, while the much-maligned Roy Williams found pay dirt from seven yards.
Miles Austin continued his hot streak with a touchdown and 61 yards from five receptions, while Marion Barber also ran in a score as Dallas kept pace with the Eagles at 5-2 in the NFC East.
Cleveland Browns 6-30 Chicago Bears
The Bears made a bit of a meal of putting away the struggling Browns, but running back Matt Forte’s two touchdowns made sure they grabbed their expected win at Soldier Field.
Robbie Gould kicked three field goals before Forte ran in from a yard, but Derek Anderson gave the Browns by going in from a yard to make it 16-6.
Forte found the end zone again from 10 yards and Cleveland’s quarterback woes struck again with Anderson intercepted by Charles Tillman who took it to the house from 21 yards to seal the victory.
Minnesota Vikings 38-26 Green Bay Packers
All eyes were on Brett Favre at Lambeau Field and the veteran quarterback lived up to his top billing with a four-touchdown display to lead Minnesota to a 38-26 victory over Green Bay.
Favre, who spent 16 seasons with the Packers before an acrimonious exit two years ago, completed 17 of 28 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns as the Vikings improved to 7-1.
Minnesota took control in the first half with Adrian Peterson’s short-range run and Visanthe Shiancoe’s 12-yard touchdown catch helping them open a 17-3 advantage.
That was extended to 24-3 shortly after the break when Favre launched the ball into triple coverage and rookie receiver Percy Harvin came down with it and then weaved his way to the end zone to complete a 51-yard play.
But Green Bay were back within four points before the end of the third quarter, Aaron Rodgers – Favre’s successor as Packers quarterback – finding tight end Spencer Havner for a pair of quick touchdowns following a Mason Crosby field goal.
Favre, however, was not to be denied and further touchdown passes from the 40-year-old to Jeff Dugan and Bernard Berrian in the final quarter were enough to seal the win.
Jacksonville Jaguars 13-30 Tennessee Titans
A change of quarterback resulted in a change of fortune for the Tennessee Titans as they bagged their first win of the season with a 30-13 home success over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Following six straight defeats to start the season, the Titans decided during their bye week to bench veteran signal caller Kerry Collins and hand the starting job to Vince Young, the third overall selection in the 2006 draft.
Young responded with a solid display, completing 15 of 18 passes for 125 yards and a second-quarter touchdown to Nate Washington – but it was Chris Johnson’s running that stole the show.
Johnson piled up 228 yards on 24 carries, including two touchdowns, to ensure the Titans pulled clear in the second half.
Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew had produced two long-range touchdown efforts, of 80 and 79 yards respectively, either side of half-time to bring Jacksonville level at 13-13.
But Johnson matched Jones-Drew’s heroics with scores from 52 and 89 yards to give the Titans a much-needed boost.
Carolina Panthers 34-21 Arizona Cardinals
Carolina running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined to run Arizona ragged in the desert.
Williams charged for 158 yards on 23 attempts and Stewart 87 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in the Panthers’ 34-21 success.
It was a day to forget for Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who was picked off five times, including a 13-yard touchdown return by Julius Peppers just before half-time – one of three Carolina touchdowns in the second quarter.
Oakland Raiders 16-24 San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers ground out a 24-16 victory over AFC West rivals the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium.
LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for two scores and Philip Rivers found Vincent Jackson with an eight-yard pass for a touchdown as the Chargers built a 21-7 advantage with just over a minute left in the first half.
Oakland, who had got their first points via Justin Fargas’ three-yard run at the start of the second quarter, reduced their deficit to 21-16 early in the final quarter thanks to a trio of Sebastian Janikowski field goals.
But that was as close as they got, Janikowski’s opposite number Nate Kaeding icing the win for the Chargers with a 28-yard field goal.