When the Vikings dealt Randy Moss to the Raiders, many thought Daunte Culpepper’s numbers would fall. Coming off a monster 39-TD performance last season, a repeat performance with Moss now in Oaklnad seemed unlikely. Still, nobody could’ve expected what’s happened to C-Pep and the Vikings through two games. After throwing three picks and fumbling twice in a week-one loss to the Bucs, Culpepper tossed five interceptions in an ugly 37-8 loss to the Bengals this week. Of course, Culpepper’s atrocious start hasn’t hurt as much in leagues that don’t count interceptions, but the Minnesota QB has yet to throw for a touchdown (he did run for one against the Bengals) and his complete inability to get new #1 receiver Nate Burleson involved in the offense (6 catches, 93 yards through two weeks) has Culpepper and Burleson owners sweating bullets. (And rightfully so, according to G, who says the Vikings suck.)
Not to be outdone, Detroit QB Joey Harrington matched Culpepper’s pick party by throwing five interceptions of his own while leading the Lions to an embarrassing 38-6 loss to the Bears Sunday. The Lions as a team looked pathetic in Chicago, with RB Kevin Jones managing just 22 yards on 8 carries. Roy Williams hauled in an early 51-yard touchdown pass but that was Detroit’s lone highlight. When Jeff Garcia went down with a broken leg during the preseason, many tabbed Harrington as a potential sleeper as the unchallenged starter in Detroit’s high-octane offense. Through two games, though, Harrington looks like waiver-wire fodder and the Lions look overrated.
HEADLINERS
Donovan McNabb: 342 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT
While Culpepper and Harrington were busy throwing five interceptions, McNabb, whose status was up in the air all week following last Sunday’s chest injury, hit paydirt five times en route to a 42-3 pasting of the 49ers. McNabb was extremely efficient, completing 23 of 29 passes while connecting with TE L.J. Smith nine times and Terrell Owens five more.
ALSO: Trent Dilfer (336 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT), Carson Palmer (337 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT)
Thomas Jones: 20 carries, 139 yards, 2 TD; 2 catches, 19 yards
Rookie Cedric Benson got 16 carries, but most of his work came after the Bears had opened up a big lead over the Lions. If Jones keeps running like this, Benson won’t be starting in Chicago anytime soon. As the situation currently stands, Jones looks like a solid #2 back, with his next three games coming against the Bengals, Browns and Vikings.
ALSO: Stephen Davis (25 carries, 77 yards, 3 TD), Cadillac Williams (24 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD), Willie Parker (25 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD)
Terrell Owens: 5 catches, 143 yards, 2 TD
McNabb’s favorite target was L.J. Smith but T.O. was electric Sunday, scoring first on a 68-yard play and later on a 42-yarder. Nobody’s talking about Owens’ holdout anymore and he looks ready to once again challenge Randy Moss as the top receiver in football. Still worried about McNabb and T.O.’s on-field chemistry?
ALSO: Steve Heiden (6 catches, 104 yards, 2 TD), Chad Johnson (7 catches, 139 yards, 1 TD)
FLATLINERS
Jake Delhomme: 154 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Of course, no quarterback looked worse than Culpepper or Harrington this week, but Delhomme didn’t look much better. The Panthers beat the Patriots 27-17 but Stephen Davis deserves the credit. Delhomme’s looked rather ineffective the last two weeks, making him a shaky play at this point.
ALSO: Peyton Manning (122 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT), Drew Brees (175 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT), Culpepper, Harrington
Michael Bennett: 3 carries, 36 yards
Bennett looked good early, ripping off a 23-yard run in the first quarter, but then he lost two fumbles and was benched for the second half. This could be the opportunity Mewelde Moore owners were waiting for. The Vikings were down early so they didn’t run the ball all that much but Moore still got eight carries on the day compared to Bennett’s three and one for Moe Williams. Stay tuned.
ALSO: Jamal Lewis (10 carries, 9 yards; 4 catches, 32 yards), Corey Dillon (14 carries, 36 yards), Ronnie Brown (12 carries, 35 yards), Kevin Jones
Lee Evans (2 catches, 12 yards) and Eric Moulds (1 catch, 8 yards)
The Bills faced a tough Tampa defense so the low numbers aren’t all that surprising, but Sunday’s performance by Evans and Moulds proves just how unreliable all Bills receivers will be this year as long as J.P. Losman is throwing them the ball. Losman completed just 12 of his 29 attempts for 113 yards and actually sat out a fourth-quarter series in favor of backup Kelly Holcomb. Losman returned to finish the game but unless (until?) Holcomb takes over full time, Buffalo’s receivers are all marginal plays.
ALSO: Joey Galloway (0 catches), Andre Johnson (4 catches, 20 yards), Michael Jenkins (1 catch, 22 yards)
