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      Roddy White goes off on Bengals as Falcons’ offense finally rolls

      October 24, 2010 /
      ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons stiff arms Chinedum Ndukwe of the Cincinnati Bengals at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      After turning in their worst performance of the year, the Falcons needed a rebound game. And after nearly giving the game away in the second half after building a 24-3 halftime lead, the Falcons hung on to beat the Bengals 39-32 on Sunday.

      Roddy White had a massive day, recording 11 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a two-point conversation, although it was his fumble that gave the Bengals life in the second half. Pacman Jones stripped White, then scooped it up for a 59-yard touchdown return to give Cincinnati a brief 25-24 lead.

      But White’s 11-yard touchdown reception and two-point conversation early in the fourth quarter gave Atlanta the lead back at 32-25. Michael Turner added a 3-yard touchdown run with 4:33 left on the clock and even though the Bengals got to within one score after a Chad Ochocinco 8-yard touchdown pass with under two minutes remaining, a last-second desperation drive by Cincinnati failed.

      This is the type of performance that people expect out of the Falcons’ offense every week and really, there’s no reason why they can’t duplicate this effort most Sundays. Matt Ryan averaged 9.1 yards per pass, Turner rushed for 121 yards and seven different receivers caught passes. The deep pass made several appearances today, which is something that has been missing from the Falcons’ offense much of this year.

      The bye couldn’t have come at a better time for Atlanta, which is banged up defensively and could use the rest. In the second half, the Falcons have dates with the Bucs (twice), Ravens, Packers, Seahawks and Saints, so they better get healthy.

      External Sports, NFL

      Kenny Britt has a decent day vs. Eagles

      October 24, 2010 /
      NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 3: Kenny Britt #18 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball in warmups against the Green Bay Packers during a preseason NFL game at LP Field on September 3, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans beat the Packers 27-13. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

      If Kenny Britt plays as well every week as he did on Sunday against the Eagles, then maybe Jeff Fisher won’t mind if the young lad got into more bar fights.

      Just two days after he was accused of striking a man in a brawl, Britt hauled in seven catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns in the Titans’ 37-19 win over the Eagles. He abused Ellis Hobbs and the rest of Philly’s secondary, which had looked so good last week against the Falcons.

      Britt clearly has the talent to be a star in this league, but he needs to stay out of Fisher’s doghouse so that he can stay on the field and receive opportunities. He wasn’t charged or arrested in the fight on Friday morning, but that doesn’t mean he’ll face further punishment (he was benched at the start of the game on Sunday). Maybe his effort today will motivate him to stay out of trouble and focus his attention to football and football only.

      As for the rest of the Titans, this was an impressive win coming off a dominating effort over the Jaguars on Monday night. If they can pick up a win next Sunday at San Diego, then they can head into their bye week with a 6-2 record. That wouldn’t be a bad start.

      External Sports, NFL

      Jay Cutler makes DeAngelo Hall look like a cross between Deion Sanders and Darrell Green

      October 24, 2010 /
      CHICAGO - OCTOBER 24: Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears hits the ground after being sacked by Rocky McIntosh of the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field on October 24, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

      One would have thought that after Jay Cutler threw his second interception to DeAngelo Hall that he would stop looking the corner’s way. But apparently that’s not how Cutler rolls.

      Hall tied a NFL single-game record with four interceptions in the Redskins’ ugly 17-14 win over the Bears on Sunday. Cutler completed 26-of-40 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown, but his four picks and fumble at the goal line in the third quarter killed Chicago’s hopes for victory. One of Hall’s interceptions went for a 92-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

      This game was like a bad highlight reel of all the Bears’ problems stuck on repeat. They continue to struggle in the red zone, Cutler continues to be careless with the ball and this team can’t score on the goal line. It’s amazing. It’s almost like they have some sort of complex when they get on the one-yard line. They tense up, freak out and find a way to blow it.

      And how about this little nugget of information: the Bears still haven’t scored in the third quarter this year. Not once. Not one point. How is that even possible? How can a team head into the locker room at halftime, make adjustments and not manage a measly field goal at least? That’s a shocking stat.

      The Bears’ defense can only do so much. They started to get gashed on the ground late in the game, but they had been on the field all day and still held Washington to just 17 points. Cutler can’t continue to put his team in bad position every week and there’s no excuse for throwing four interceptions to the same defender.

      Chicago has now lost to the Seahawks and Redskins at home in back-to-back weeks. The NFC North can be had, but these are games they have to win if they want to challenge for a playoff spot.

      External Sports, NFL

      The Browns slay another Super Bowl champ, shock hapless Saints

      October 24, 2010 /
      NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 24: Peyton Hillis of the Cleveland Browns scores a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 24, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

      Here’s a fun fact for your Sunday afternoon: With their win over the Saints on Sunday, the Browns have now beaten the defending Super Bowl champion the last three years (Giants, Steelers, Saints). It’s a small consolation prize for Cleveland fans that have to put up with this team every year, but it’s a consolation prize nonetheless.

      In their 30-17 victory, the Browns never trailed despite only racking up 85 passing yards. The Saints shot themselves in the foot early and often while turning the ball over four times and committing seven penalties. Drew Brees threw four interceptions and was sacked three times as the Saints were just 2-of-4 inside the red zone.

      It’s hard to pinpoint what’s wrong with this team. A week ago they avoided mistakes and destroyed the Bucs in Tampa and one would have thought that maybe they’d start to roll. But on Sunday, their play was eerily similar to their effort a few weeks ago when the Cardinals shocked them in Arizona. The Browns are better than people think, but they’re not 30-17 better than the defending Super Bowl champions on the road. I know they’re dealing with a ton of injuries, but there’s no excuse for the Saints to get blown out by Cleveland on their home turf.

      Call it a Super Bowl hangover, an issue with injuries or a lack of discipline. It’s clear that this isn’t the same Saints team that won it all last year. I’d even venture to say that they’re pretty average and unless they get healthy fast, the losses might keep coming.

      External Sports, NFL

      Refs hose Dolphins in loss to Steelers

      October 24, 2010 /
      Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is sacked in first half action by Miami Dolphins Cameron Wake at Sun Life Stadium in Miami on October 24, 2010. UPI/Michael Bush Photo via Newscom

      The end of the Steelers-Dolphins game on Sunday is a perfect example of why referees need to allow plays to come to their completion before they move on to the next play, a challenge, or what have you.

      With the Steelers down 22-20 with less than two minutes remaining, Ben Roethlisberger fumbled the ball while diving head first into the end zone. The refs ruled the play a touchdown, then they reviewed it, determined that it was a fumble, but because none of them bothered to figure out which team recovered the ball in the end zone (it appeared that two Miami players hopped on it but the refs never made a ruling either way), they put the ball back on the 1-yard line. On fourth down, Jeff Reed converted a chip shot field goal and the Steelers went on to win, 23-22.

      Football games don’t come down to one play. The Dolphins had their opportunities throughout the day, but they continuously settled for field goals and gave the Steelers a chance to win in the end. But there’s no doubt that the refs hosed Miami. Had they bothered to do their jobs, they would have determined that the Dolphins recovered the ball in the end zone and then after they reviewed the play, they would have correctly made a ruling of a touchback. And the worse part is that all they had to do was determine which team recovered the ball. Their ruling of a touchdown was fine (wrong, but fine), but they didn’t allow the play to run through its completion and there’s no excuse for that.

      Instead, they screwed the pooch and they handed the Steelers a gift win. Granted, we don’t know what would have happened in that final minute and change. Maybe the Dolphins would have turned the ball over and the Steelers would have won anyway. Who’s to say?

      But the fact that they weren’t given that opportunity is on the refs and I wouldn’t be surprised if the NFL reviewed the situation and offered Tony Sparano an apology.

      Not that an apology replaces a loss in the standings.

      Update: Big Ben says he was holding onto the ball at the bottom of the pile. Even if that’s the case, the refs should have determined who had the ball and made the correct ruling.

      External Sports, NFL

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