way to turn things around than by running wild against the Browns in Week 8? We can dream, can't we? ... It wouldn't hurt Shaun Alexander (19 carries, 47 yards) to make like Emeril and turn it up a notch either. He didn't get outrushed by Leonard Weaver this time, but ol' Maurice Morris (10 carries, 42 yards) wasn't far behind.GIANTS 33, 49ERS 15: The New York defense had a big game as I thought they would against Trent Dilfer and a banged-up Niners line. Frank Gore had another blah day (88 yards) - I'm really not happy with him, or how they're using him, this year. Remember, this is a guy who was the league's leading rusher last year, and he hasn't cracked 90 in a game yet. For the Giants, they do have three competent runners (Brandon Jacobs, Reuben Droughns, Derrick Ward), but make no mistake, Jacobs is the leader of the pack: 107 yards and a TD for the big guy.
TITANS 38, TEXANS 36: This was actually a pretty crazy game, with Tennessee leading 32-7 entering the fourth quarter, Houston storming back to tie it in the final minute, and Kerry Collins leading the Titans on a game-winning drive. Rob Bironas made eight FGs in this game, setting an NFL record, so congrats if you started him - if you get 26 points from your kicker, you should usually win. Collins wasn't anything special, fantasy-wise, in a spot start for Vince Young, but Sage Rosenfels (four TDs) was after he replaced Matt Schaub.
PATRIOTS 49, DOLPHINS 28: Tom Brady makes me gag. SIX TD passes for the Chosen One today. Of course he spread them out (two to Randy Moss, two to Wes Welker, one to Donte' Stallworth, one to Kyle Brady of all people). Does this dude ever stub his toe or forget to zip up his fly, or is every aspect of his life perfect? The Pats didn't have much of a running game, even with Laurence Maroney returning, but it didn't really matter. The Dolphins had three rushing TDs - by Cleo Lemon, Jesse Chatman and Patrick Cobbs, if you Ronnie Brown owners were wondering. Brown's now out for the season (more on that later) - as if things couldn't get any worse for the Fins.
BILLS 19, RAVENS 14: Willis McGahee had a succesful return to Buffalo (114 yards, first TD of the season), but it was the Bills who had the last laugh. Marshawn Lynch (84 yards, TD) almost matched him on eight more carries. Lee Evans even did something (five catches, 98 yards), but his QB, Trent Edwards, was nothing more than adequate, so I'm not exactly buying it.
COWBOYS 24, VIKINGS 14: Tony Romo was good enough (31 for 39, 277 yards, 1 TD), certainly better than Tarvaris Jackson. Patrick Crayton didn't get involved much (two catches, 19 yards), but I guess it's a trade-off, because Terrell Owens (103 yards, TD) and Jason Witten (10 catches, 86 yards) did. And Marion Barber even hit paydirt against a stiff Vikings D. Adrian Peterson (63 yards, TD) was really all the Vikes had going on offense, which doesn't say much. He only managed about a fourth of last week's yardage - still not bad though.
LIONS 23, BUCS 16: If you had to pick one Buc to have a breakout game against the Lions' D, who would you pick? Joey Galloway? Nope, a very ordinary five catches for 56 yards. Ike Hilliard? He was good like I thought he would be (92 yards, TD) against that weak passing defense. But there was somebody better: Earnest Graham. Nineteen rushes for 92 yards, and, get this, 13 catches for 99 yards. Think he wants to give up that starting job to Michael Bennett? Doesn't look like it. For Detroit, Kevin Jones (15 carries, 76 yards, TD) and T.J. Duckett (four carries, 30 yards) basically shut the door on Tatum Bell (zero carries) doing anything useful from here on out. Think he's steaming right now after not getting traded at the deadline? Oh, and Jon Kitna didn't even throw for a TD in this one. Thanks a bunch.
SAINTS 22, FALCONS 16: Drew Brees (two TDs) is back everbody! Start him next week against San Fran. Reggie Bush finally made a play, bullying his way into the end zone for a key TD and salvaging a decent fantasy day. Byron Leftwich and Joey Harrington were both just OK against a poor Saints passing D. Roddy White was the main recipient (110 yards, TD). And you started the Saints' Pierre Thomas (28 rushing yards, TD) right?
REDSKINS 21, CARDINALS 19: Kurt Warner started after all, throwing two TDs, both to Anquan Boldin. Clinton Portis bullied his way to two TDs, and Ladell Betts (three carries, 12 yards) still isn't seeing the field. Jason Campbell (12 for 18, 95 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT) really wasn't helpful at all.
BENGALS 38, JETS 31: Somebody stop Kenny Watson! He rumbled his way to 130 yards and three TDs while subbing for Rudi Johnson. Not bad - in fact, that's better than anything old Rudi's done in a long time. It's weird, I was at Penn State around the same time as this guy and I have little-to-no recollection of him as a player, let alone an NFL player, yet he's stuck around the league for six years now. ... Laveranues Coles was a rare bright spot for the Jets (eight catches, 133 yards, two TDs) - I'm kicking myself for not starting him in one of my leagues. I know the Bengals' pass D is tissue-thin, but Coles had ONE catch last week. I thought I had a better option, but I should have known better.
CHIEFS 12, RAIDERS 10: Wow, a real barnburner in this one huh? My favorable forecast for Larry Johnson was spot on: 112 yards, TD against his own personal doormat, Oakland. Priest Holmes is back, but he's not exactly scaring me if I own Johnson. Good to see the old guy still breathing though.
BEARS 19, EAGLES 16: This was a battle of field goals until the fourth quarter, with Donovan McNabb hitting Matt Schoebel for a TD and Brian Griese returning the favor, hooking up with Muhsin Muhammad for the game-winner. Is it time to take notice of Griese after another 300-yard day? Perhaps. He does get the Lions next week, which is enticing .... Cedric Benson better do something in that game, too, because my patience is wearing thin, and so is the Bears'.
Photos courtesy of The Associated Press.
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