When I watched the game on Sunday I initially thought the kick went wide, but I think that had less to do with the position of the ball than it did with the fact that the angle we see for field goals provides no sense of depth and is frequently hard to judge. I’m always thinking successful kicks have failed and vice-versa. Re-watching it today and I could still go either way.

In the picture it looks like the ball disappears for a second, which would mean it flew in front of the goal post and was no good. But in the other angles it looks like it goes over the goalpost. I could be convinced either way.

It is strange that this story hasn’t received more attention this week.

Thanks to Brett Favre and their 4-0 start, the Minnesota Vikings are one of the most talked about teams in the NFL right now. One of the players off to a solid start is receiver Bernard Berrian, who has 16 receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown on the year. Bernard was gracious enough to chat with us about the Vikings’ big win over the Packers on Monday night, a game in which he hauled in six passes for 75 yards and a 31-yard touchdown. Among some of the topics we asked Bernard were what it’s like being in the same huddle with a legend, whether there was any truth to the rumor that there was a divide in the Vikings’ locker room following the signing of Favre, and who is the toughest cornerback he’s ever faced.

The Scores Report: Hey Bernard, how are you man?

Bernard Barrian: I’m fine, how you doing?

TSR: Good. Congratulations on the win Monday night.

BB: Thanks, appreciate it.

TSR: I felt that your touchdown in the third quarter gave you guys the momentum the rest of the way.

BB: Oh yeah I think it definitely did, or put us in position at least.

TSR: No knock on any of the other quarterbacks you’ve played with throughout your career, but you’re playing with a legend now. What’s it like being in the same huddle with Brett Favre?

BB: It’s fun really. He brings a lot of fun to the game. When you see highlights, you see emotion pouring out through different players on the field.

TSR: Who put the rocking chair in front of his locker after the win?

BB: I still haven’t found out who did that – I have no idea. But it was hilarious when I saw it sitting there. (Laughs)

TSR: (Laughs) I know it’s early, but what has he meant to the Vikings so far?

BB: Just the leadership ability that he brings and the way he approaches the game. It’s fun to watch him play because he brings a lot to the game.

TSR: Was there any truth to the rumor this offseason that there was a divide in the locker room between the players when he was signed?

BB: No, there was no truth to that. I don’t even know where that came from. There’s been nothing but unity out here.

TSR: I know the Packers bottled him up on Monday night, but talk to me about Adrian Peterson. How special is he and is his potential sky high?

BB: Oh, he’s definitely a special player. There’s no running back better than Adrian – he’s easily the best by far. He’s the best running back out there and his work ethic is insurmountable.

TSR: Can Percy Harvin be the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2009?

BB: I can definitely see that. The way things are going right now, he’s off to a great start and I only see him getting better. So yeah, that’s definitely a possibility for him.

TSR: Have you taken him under wing? Has he learned a lot so far?

BB: I think he has learned a lot just being out there and I think another thing that has helped him is having Brett out there. We’re always having conversations about what he should do and where he should be. He knows a lot of stuff on his own, which is kind of surprising when you sit down and look at things. He knows a lot himself.

TSR: You guys won the division and went to the playoffs last year. Besides adding Favre, what’s the key to you guys getting back to the postseason and not only that, but winning a playoff game?

BB: I think it’s just that little amount of extra confidence that’s the biggest difference. We thought we were a Super Bowl contender even before all the Brett Favre talk, but now that he’s here I think it’s just that little bit of added confidence that will able us to get there.

TSR: Is Brad Childress’ offense second nature to you now, Bernard?

BB: Oh yeah, it’s second nature to me now. It’s an easy offense to pick up anyway. Offenses are pretty much the same outside of different styles of offenses. You know in Chicago, we ran a different style of the West Coast Offense anyway, so the only big difference was the terminology and a couple different route structures.

TSR: Bring me back to last year when you caught your 99-yard touchdown pass against the Bears. Did you ever think that you’d have the opportunity to score on a 99-yard play, or even that a pass would be the play called in that situation since you guys were backed up against the goal line?

BB: Oh no, never. I was always lobbying for it in practice. We always work on our offense being backed up and I was always like, “Call a pass play – let it go, let it fly.” And then for them to actually call it was shocking and to even land it was even more shocking.

TSR: Was it more special because you did it against your favorite team or had that not crossed your mind?

BB: Nah, there’s no hostility towards those guys – what’s done is done. You know, once I signed with the Vikings I was a Viking and I had to let go of the Bears. What was done was done and besides that was the second game (of the series) anyway. All the emotional stuff was gone and let loose in the first game.

TSR: Who’s the top cornerback that you’ve come across in the NFL?

BB: Toughest cornerback…I’d have to go with Nnamdi (Asomugha).

TSR: Really? That’s a great choice. That division has two tough cornerbacks in Asomugha and Champ Bailey – have you faced Champ?

BB: Champ Bailey – yeah, he’s good and I have faced him but it wasn’t one of those games where he’s following you the whole game. So it wasn’t like we were going up against each other the whole time. I’ve got to face a guy for a sustained period of time before I can say I really went up against him.

TSR: Sure. You faced two good cornerbacks Monday night in Charles Woodson and Al Harris. Are those two the toughest corners in your division?

BB: Oh yeah by far I would say they’re the toughest in the division. They’re two great cornerbacks that are crafty – Charles is definitely a crafty guy and Al is a very physical, crafty guy as well. They play within their scheme very well.

TSR: Who is one Vikings player that you feel is being overlooked but is a key for the team getting to the playoffs?

BB: Ooh, that’s a great question…uh…

TSR: You can say yourself too, Bernard.

BB: Nah, I can’t include myself.

TSR: (Laughs)

BB: Hmm…

TSR: What about Sidney Rice?

BB: I don’t think he’s getting overlooked though.

TSR: That’s true. It could be a defensive guy.

BB: That’s where I think I’m going – the defensive side. I would go with Chad Greenway.

TSR: Okay, cool. What kind of impact do you think he can make throughout the course of the year?

BB: He’s always around the ball, he comes up with fumble recoveries or he causes fumbles. He’s a very athletic linebacker and talented linebacker that I’ve seen.

TSR: Is it frightening to be in the same locker room with Jared Allen?

BB: Oh no, it’s great being in the same locker room with him!

TSR: Better he be in your own locker room than in another team’s right?

BB: Yeah, definitely.

TSR: Now I know you guys lost, but what’s your most memorable experience from Super Bowl XLI with the Bears?

BB: I think just everything surrounding the Super Bowl, more so than the game. The game to me is always going to be a game, so that’s never going to change whether it’s the Super Bowl or not. But I think everything surrounding the Super Bowl…you know, I have a lot of family out there, so being able to enjoy the things I was able to enjoy.

TSR: One last question for you, if you could pay to watch any player on Sunday not a Viking, who would it be?

BB: Current?

TSR: Current.

BB: Current player…

TSR: I was talking to Junior Seau two weeks ago and he said Tom Brady, so I’m hoping you take us in another direction.

BB: Nah, I wasn’t going that way – I’m actually far from that way. I like watching somebody exciting, where every time the get the ball they can score or watching a defensive player when they get a sack or something. Uh, Ray is always an exciting player to watch.

TSR: Who’s that?

BB: Ray Lewis is always exciting to watch.

TSR: What about an offensive guy?

BB: We’ll go with Chad Johnson. He’s always exciting to watch and you never know what he’s going to do.

TSR: Very true! Well that’s definitely a good one. What about a former player?

BB: Barry Sanders.

TSR: Another good one! Do you have anything coming up that you want to get out there, Bernard? A charitable event or anything?

BB: Feeding America. We’re going to do something around Thanksgiving again this year, so keep an eye out for that.

TSR: Excellent, well I wish you the best throughout the rest of the season, Bernard, and I thank you for chatting with us.

BB: All right thank you.

Through all the offseason hoopla, the fickleness and the nauseating coverage of his every move, Brett Favre reminded people on Monday night why he’s a legend.

Favre completed 24 of 31 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings’ 30-23 win over the Packers in game that lived up to the hype. On a night where Green Bay did an excellent job containing Adrian Peterson (25 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD), Favre stepped up and delivered one of those games where you couldn’t help but shake your head in amazement about a guy his age making the plays he does.

One of the biggest questions coming into this season was whether or not Favre could step up and make enough plays in the passing game when an opponent shut down Peterson. Tonight, Brett answered that question.

Every time Minnesota faced a third and long, Favre stepped up and made a play. Granted, he faced zero pressure from Green Bay, but that shouldn’t take away from some of the bullets that he was firing into his receivers’ hands. The guy is about to turn 40 in five days and he’s still playing like he’s 25.

Favre didn’t win this game on his own, though. Jared Allen was an absolute beast, racking up 4.5 sacks and fully taking advantage of a decimated Green Bay offensive line. On the night, Minnesota produced eight sacks and constantly harassed Aaron Rodgers.

Speaking of Rodgers, he more than held his own in the battle of quarterbacks while completing 26 of 37 passes for 384 yards and two touchdowns. But he made a couple of huge mistakes that doomed Green Bay in the end. He fumbled on the opening series of the game, which led to Minnesota’s first touchdown, then threw an interception late in the first half that led to another Vikings’ score. Both turnovers came in Minnesota territory when the Packers were moving the ball with ease.

On a whole, Green Bay shot itself in the foot countless times and it wasn’t just Rodgers. Down 28-14 early in the third quarter, Mike McCarthy decided to go for it on 4th and 1 from Minnesota’s 1-yard line. Rodgers scanned the entire end zone before finding an open Donald Lee, who dropped a pass right in his breadbasket. Defensively, the Packers couldn’t generate a rush on Favre and Brett picked them apart. Dom Capers’ unit did a great job shutting down AP after the first quarter, but nobody laid a hand on Favre the entire night.

There’s nothing the Packers could do about their offensive line. They were already without Chad Clifton because of an ankle injury, and then they lost Daryn Colledge (Clifton’s replacement) in the second half due to a knee injury. The Packers’ game plan to use short, quick passes was effective in the beginning of the game, but once Minnesota adjusted McCarthy didn’t have an answer.

Back to Favre – does he tarnish his legacy in Green Bay with this victory? True Packer fans couldn’t have appreciated what they saw tonight, as Favre celebrated every touchdown like he won the Super Bowl and carried on like a woman scorned. I imagine that once he does stop playing, Packer fans will begin to love him just as they did throughout his playing days in Green Bay. But in the here and now, I wouldn’t blame Packer fans if they wanted to torch their #4 collection after what they witnessed tonight.

And don’t forget, he still has to go back to Green Bay later this year. What happens if he beats the Packers at Lambeau?

If there’s one thing that continues to ring true time and time again is that winning is a cure-all in sports.

Take Brandon Marshall and the Denver Broncos for example.

Just over a month ago, Marshall was suspended for acting like a child during a training camp practice in which he punted balls instead of handing them to a ball boy, swatted down passes instead of catching them, and was an overall distraction to his teammates.

Fast forward to the scene following the Broncos’ exciting 17-10 win over the Cowboys on Sunday in which Marshall walked up to the podium during Josh McDaniels’ post game speech and embraced the first-year head coach and you wonder what the hell is going on in Denver.

“You never heard me say anything about him coaching or what he brings to the organization,” Marshall said.

“Our team loves him, we love him and I think he loves being part of this team,” added McDaniels.

Well, aren’t we the Brady Bunch all of a sudden.

The truth of the matter is that Marshall has been on his best behavior since the suspension. He hasn’t griped about his contract (he becomes a free agent at the end of the year) or his role in the offense. In fact, until he made the spectacular 51-yard touchdown catch and run late in the fourth quarter to help Denver win, he had a modest 3-catch, 40-yard day going.

But let’s get back to this winning thing. The Broncos are 4-0 and are playing with a ton of confidence, especially on defense where they’ve held opponents to less than a touchdown per game. If they continue to win, there’s no reason to think that Marshall and McDaniels won’t have more coom-by-ya moments during press conferences.

But what happens when Marshall and the Broncos start to face adversity? Will Marshall continue to be on his best behavior or will he start to speak out like he’s done so many times in the past? Is it crazy to think that if Denver rattles off four-straight losses that the oft-disgruntled receiver won’t start to openly complain about the organization again?

The Broncos are definitely the most intriguing mystery of 2009. Nobody knows quite what to think about them right now but one thing is for sure, if they keep winning all will be right in Denver.

Following their 27-21 loss to the Patriots in Foxboro on Sunday, several Ravens players ripped the officiating, particularly two roughing the passer calls on Tom Brady.

“Without totally going off the wall here, it is embarrassing to the game,” linebacker Ray Lewis said. “[Tom] Brady is good enough to make his own plays, let him make the play. When you have two great teams that are going at it, let them go at it. Both of their touchdown drives had personal fouls that kept drives alive. Did that win or lose the game? No, but it got them 14 points.”

Asked his biggest gripe, Reed said: “It just felt like everything was kind of all over again. You hate to come into a game where you have to play against a team and the officials. Like I said, nothing to take away from their team, nothing to take away from the officials. We have to help each other out in a way to where it’s near as perfect as we can be. Like I said, it’s a game of inches. We have too much going on with this game, from where it’s come to in 2009, 2010, to say we can’t be a little bit more precise with things.”

Reed was specifically referring to Willis McGahee’s fourth-and-1 run in the fourth quarter in which he was stopped for no gain, and the Patriots’ fake field goal in the fourth quarter.

“When Willis had his fourth-down try, it probably wouldn’t have been a first [down], but it probably should have been a little closer,” he said. “The [Patriots'] spots, the guy stepped out of bounds. Even though we got the penalty on that fourth down when they faked the field goal, the guy stepped out and he reached the ball. Certain things like that. Like I said, you have to play the game.”

I hate that this needs to be said because it shouldn’t matter, but for the record I’m not a “Patriots hater.”

That said, New England has gotten some calls in the last two weeks that have been questionable at best. The two roughing the passer penalties yesterday were cheap and there was a play last week in the Patriots’ win over the Falcons where Atlanta receiver Michael Jenkins and a New England defender were both jostling in coverage and the refs called pass interference on Jenkins, which wiped out a touchdown. Brady was also able to throw a touchdown pass last week to put the game away thanks to one of his offensive lineman bear-hugging John Abraham to avoid a sack.

It appears that the refs are calling penalties based on Brady’s injury last year, which is ridiculous. Just call the game – don’t throw a flag every time a defender is within a mile of Brady’s knees.

All of these calls could have gone either way…they’ve just been going the Patriots way so far.

Midway through the third quarter of the Steelers-Chargers game on Sunday night, I started pounding away at a post dedicated to how Pittsburgh silenced its critics with a dominating victory over San Diego.

Seriously, I was finished outside of adding the final score and some stats. And it was good too. It was about how the Steelers got back to their grass roots while running the ball down the Chargers’ throats, controlling the time of possession and finally playing four quarters. At the time, Pittsburgh was up 28-0 and the game was essentially over as San Diego was on life support.

Then Jacob Hester made an incredible play early in the fourth when he stripped Stefan Logan on a punt return and raced 41 yards into the end zone to cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 28-14.

No problem I thought, a couple extra sentences ought to cover me as the Steelers answered Hester’s touchdown with one of their own to make it 35-14.

Then the journalism gods decided to punish me for writing a recap when the freaking game wasn’t even finished, because the Chargers got within one touchdown of the Steelers late in the fourth before Pittsburgh iced the game with a 46-yard Jeff Reed field goal to give the Steelers a 38-28 victory.

Annnnnnnnnddddd delete.

In reality, not much changed from the time the Steelers were up 28-0 to the time they walked away with a 38-28 win. They still dominated a hapless San Diego run defense by racking up 177 yards on the ground (Rashard Mendenhall finally strapped on the big boy pants and rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries) and kept the ball for 40 minutes and 20 seconds, compared to the Chargers’ 19 minutes and 40 seconds.

Pittsburgh dominated this game, but it can’t sit well with Mike Tomlin that his team nearly had another fourth quarter collapse. The Steelers can’t figure out a way to put their opponents away and I don’t know if that’s coaching or if the players are at fault for letting up. Either way, it’s a troubling sign so far for a defending Super Bowl champion that has split its first four games of the season and has looked rather mediocre.

Nevertheless, the Steelers earned their second victory of the year and did so by running the ball. Granted, Ben Roethlisberger looked great and the pass protection was outstanding, but this is a team that needs to run the football when the weather starts to turn and Pittsburgh did so tonight.

As for the Chargers, I applaud them for making it close in the end, but Norv Turner’s bunch didn’t show up until seven minutes left in the third when Hester gave them a spark. They were completely dominated in most phases of the game and all of a sudden they have zero running game. For a team that was supposed to walk away with the AFC West, San Diego barely looks like a .500 team right now.

It was bound to happen.

Mark Sanchez couldn’t continue to play like he was Joe Montana week after week without suffering a setback. The Saints proved to be Sancehz’s setback on Sunday by constantly harassing the rookie into three huge mistakes in the New Orleans’ 24-14 victory at the Superdome.

Sanchez’s first mistake came early in the second quarter when Darren Sharper intercepted his pass on the goal line, then returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. Two possessions later while backed up to his own end zone, Sanchez held onto the ball too long on a 2 and 7 from the 5-yard line and was sacked by Will Smith. Remi Ayodele recovered the fumble in the end zone to give the Saints a 17-0 lead early in the second.

Down 14 points with about five minutes remaining, Sanchez made his final mistake on a desperation fourth down play in which he was once again intercepted by Sharper. For as much swagger as Sanchez had played with throughout the year, he looked like a beaten rookie on Sunday.

This loss doesn’t fall squarely on the shoulders of Sanchez, though. New York offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer didn’t do the rookie any favors by failing to offer him max protection when the Saints proved early in the game that they could generate a pass rush with only their four down linemen. On multiple occasions, Charles Grant came off the edge untouched and forced Sanchez to scramble in attempt to make something happen.

It’s great that the Jets have confidence in Sanchez to make plays in the passing game, but Schottenheimer’s play-calling was atrocious and he should re-visit how he plans on protecting his quarterback in future weeks.

For the Saints, this win further proved their elite status in the NFL. Drew Brees and the passing game was held in check throughout the game, but Pierre Thomas and the Saints’ rushing attack racked up 153 yards and often kept the chains moving. Hopefully Sean Payton was paying attention to how hard Thomas ran throughout the game, so he doesn’t continue to leave the talented back on the sidelines in short-yardage situations.

The Saints defense has improved dramatically this season. Sharper has played like a man possessed and veterans like Roman Harper and Jabari Greer have stepped up in the secondary. New Orleans’ front four is as good as anyone in the league, too.

The NFC South is the Saints to lose, if not the conference.