<TABLE class=bgBdr cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=bgHdr1><TD colSpan=6>NFL Power Rankings Week 4</TD></TR><TR class=bgHdr2 align=middle><TD align=left>Rk</TD><TD align=left>Team</TD><TD noWrap align=left>Last Wk</TD><TD align=left>Rise/Fall</TD><TD align=left>High/Low</TD><TD align=left>Comment</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>1</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Colts</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>1/1</TD><TD align=left>The Colts escaped Houston with a hard-fought victory, improving to 3-0 on the 2007 season. The defending Super Bowl champs haven't lost a game in September since 2004, and have continued right where they left off in '06. The defense held the Texans to only 40 yards rushing, 100 yards less than the unit gave up in Week 2 against Tennessee. Though the Patriots, Steelers, and Cowboys have had far more impressive victories over the first three weeks of the season, Indianapolis is still number one in my book.
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Patriots</TD><TD align=middle>2</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>2/2</TD><TD align=left>Folks, I got your e-mails. All eight million of them. Trust me, no one's been as impressed with the Patriots over the first three weeks of the season as me. But until the Colts lose, the defending champs are going to be my No. 1. If there's a 1a, though, it's clearly New England. In three games, the Patriots have outscored opponents 114-35. Sunday's 38-7 blowout of the Bills looked like an All-Star team taking on a high school squad. The defense has been unreal, the offense even better. Take out your calendars and circle Nov. 4 — New England vs. Indianapolis. It's the game of the year. We're less than six weeks away.
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Steelers</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>3/14</TD><TD align=left>Mike Tomlin starts his career in Pittsburgh off 3-0, just as Bill Cowher did in his first year back in 1992. The Steelers manhandled the 49ers on Sunday, dominating the line of scrimmage and proving that Pittsburgh is truly one of the best teams in the league this season. With the 37-16 win, Pittsburgh has now outscored opponents 97-26 this season. The D was suffocating again, confusing Alex Smith and holding Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore to only 39 yards on 14 carries. The offense and the special teams are playing superb as well. Wave those Terrible Towels, folks. The Steelers are alive and well.
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Cowboys</TD><TD align=middle>6</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>4/12</TD><TD align=left>Far and away the NFC's most impressive team through three weeks of the season, the Cowboys rolled past the defending conference champion Bears 34-10 in Chicago on Sunday night. Tony Romo had his way with the highly touted Bears D, tossing for 329 yards and a touchdown in the win. More impressive than the offensive effort was the Dallas D. The Cowboys picked off Bears quarterback Rex Grossman three times and held the Bears to only 75 yards rushing. Wade Phillips has Dallas at 3-0 and in the driver's seat in the NFC East. The Cowboys take on the winless Rams next week.
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Packers</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD><TD align=middle>(+5)</TD><TD align=middle>5/22</TD><TD align=left>Green Bay silenced its early-season critics on Sunday, coming from behind and beating San Diego 31-24 in Lambeau. Brett Favre's game-sealing fourth quarter 57-yard touchdown strike to Greg Jennings both put the game on ice and put Favre on top of the career touchdown list with Dan Marino at 420. The rally marked Favre's 38th career fourth-quarter comeback. If I were asked to vote on the 2007 MVP right now, I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone other than No. 4. He looks like the No. 4 of '96, the defense looks terrific, and the fans are in a frenzy. Breakout those foam Cheesehead hats. Green Bay is now 3-0 with a trip to 1-2 Minnesota on Sunday.
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Ravens</TD><TD align=middle>8</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>5/10</TD><TD align=left>Kyle Boller filled in for an ailing Steve McNair and led the Ravens down field and in position for the game-winning Matt Stover field goal in Baltimore's 26-23 win over Arizona on Sunday. McNair looked great before exiting, going 20-27 for 198 yards, guiding the Ravens to scores on three of their first four possessions. Boller played well too, going 8-for-10 for 83 yards. For the second straight week, the Ravens nearly gave away a multi-touchdown lead, only to secure the victory in the final seconds of the game. Now 2-1, they seem to be back on track after the six-turnover performance from Week 1. The Ravens have the Browns next week.
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Titans</TD><TD align=middle>13</TD><TD align=middle>(+6)</TD><TD align=middle>7/26</TD><TD align=left>Though it was endlessly promoted as a “rematch” of the 2006 Rose Bowl, the Titans-Saints Monday night game was really a match between one of the league’s up-and-coming teams and a completely lost and confused squad on the way down. The Titans manhandled the Saints, using a combination of a suffocating defense and a balanced offensive attack to get out of New Orleans as 31-14 victors. Keith Bullock intercepted three passes, the Saints rushing attack was held to only 34 yards and Drew Brees looked flustered all game. Tennessee’s for real.
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Jaguars</TD><TD align=middle>18</TD><TD align=middle>(+10)</TD><TD align=middle>8/18</TD><TD align=left>The Jaguars put together their best performance of the season on Sunday, strutting into Denver and beating the previously undefeated Broncos 23-14. The Jags got their first score of the game after the team's longest offensive drive in team history, an 11-minute, 80-yard stomp to the end zone that was capped off with a three-yard David Garrard-to-Reggie Williams touchdown pass. After the game, Denver linebacker Ian Gold compared the drive to "being on a treadmill for a half-hour straight." The rushing game woke up, the passing game did just enough, and the defense had its second straight week of holding an opponent to 14 points or less. Jacksonville, thoroughly embarrassed by Tennessee in Week 1, seems to have turned things around.
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Broncos</TD><TD align=middle>7</TD><TD align=middle>(-2)</TD><TD align=middle>7/9</TD><TD align=left>Denver's offense, which had put up a league-leading 911 yards in the first two weeks, came back down to Earth with a 265-yard effort in a loss to the Jags. Travis Henry, who entered Sunday as the league's leading rusher, only had 35 yards on the ground. Denver had two last-second wins over a pair of teams unlikely destined for the playoffs in Weeks 1 and 2. The Jaguars — a squad with realistic postseason aspirations — had their way with the Broncos on Sunday.
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Seahawks</TD><TD align=middle>14</TD><TD align=middle>(+4)</TD><TD align=middle>6/14</TD><TD align=left>The Seahawks improved to 2-1 with a hard fought 24-21 victory over the Bengals on Sunday. A week after Cincinnati scored 45 points, the Seahawks held the Bengals to just two TDs in the 24-21 victory. Shaun Alexander was a workhorse, plowing through the Bengals defense for 14 yards on a crucial 4th-and-1 with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. The carry put the game on ice and helped Alexander eclipse the 100-yard mark. New acquisitions Brian Russell and Deon Grant played solid in the defensive backfield, with Russell coming up with a game-changing interception on a pass intended for Chad Johnson late in the third quarter. Russell and Grant were both signed for big money over the off-season but hadn't made much of an impact in Weeks 1 and 2. Grant told reporters after the game, "We haven't been doing anything. They gave us this money...but we haven't done nothing. So I said, 'Let's turn it on.' From here on out, that's what you're going to be seeing from B-Russ and myself." They'll look to continue where they left off this Sunday when the Seahawks take on the 2-1 49ers. San Francisco swept the season series in 2006.
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Texans</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD><TD align=middle>(+1)</TD><TD align=middle>11/25</TD><TD align=left>The Texans played without star wideout Andre Johnson and lost both up-and-coming rookie receiver Jacoby Jones and center Steve McKinney to injury Sunday versus the Colts. And yet, they still were in the game until the final whistle. Houston's rushing game sputtered, but the passing game continued to function despite not having its top two targets. Quarterback Matt Schaub completed 27-of-33 passes in the loss. The Texans fell to 2-1, but hung with the defending Super Bowl champions. If there's such a thing as moral victories in the NFL, this was surely one of them.
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Buccaneers</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>(+12)</TD><TD align=middle>12/30</TD><TD align=left>For the second straight week, the Buccaneers looked fabulous, dominating a conference opponent on both sides of the ball. The Bucs put the clamps on New Orleans in Week 2 and absolutely outplayed the high-flying Rams in Sunday's 24-3 victory. The Bucs D looks like the Bucs D of old, limiting Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger to a paltry 116 yards through the air, and keeping Torry Holt under 70 yards. On offense, Jeff Garcia led the way, and both Ernest Graham and Cadillac Williams produced on the ground. The Bucs, 4-12 a season ago, are now 2-1 heading into Week 4. They very well might be the "sleeper" team of '07.
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Panthers</TD><TD align=middle>16</TD><TD align=middle>(+3)</TD><TD align=middle>13/16</TD><TD align=left>The Panthers escaped Atlanta with a 27-20 comeback victory on Sunday. It wasn't easy. David Carr came in for an injured Jake Delhomme and led the Panthers to their final 10 points in the win. Carr — who signed with Carolina over the off-season — went 3-for-4 for 56 yards in relief. The Panthers' rushing game looked strong, gashing the Falcons for 124 yards, while the rush defense kept Atlanta under the century mark. The Panthers improved to 2-1 and take on the suddenly explosive Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
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Chargers</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD><TD align=middle>(-11)</TD><TD align=middle>3/14</TD><TD align=left>Though Philip Rivers had a break-out performance in the first three quarters of Sunday's game, it wasn't enough to get past the Packers in Green Bay. Rivers was magnificent, starting the game 15-for-15, tying Dan Fouts' franchise record for consecutive completions. Down three points in the fourth quarter, however, the fourth-year quarterback was intercepted by Packers linebacker Nick Barnett, sealing up the game for Green Bay. LaDainian Tomlinson was held under 100 yards for the third straight week, and was visibly frustrated on the sidelines. In three games, Tomlinson has averaged a paltry 1.9 yards per carry. The Bolts — everyone's sexy preseason pick for the Super Bowl — are now 1-2. The Norv Turner era hasn't started out exactly as A.J. Smith had planned.
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Jets</TD><TD align=middle>20</TD><TD align=middle>(+5)</TD><TD align=middle>12/20</TD><TD align=left>On a day in which Wayne Chrebet was honored at halftime, the Jets offense put on a show that personified the former New York receiver's style on Sunday: a gritty, hard-fought, no-frills win. Defense, special teams, and a sturdy offensive attack led by Chad Pennington earned the Jets their first victory of the season. Leon Washington returned a kickoff 98 yards, and the running game finally got going behind a Thomas Jones 110-yard effort. The Jets will look to improve to .500 when they take on the 0-3 Bills on Sunday.
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Bears</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD><TD align=middle>(-12)</TD><TD align=middle>4/16</TD><TD align=left>"Bad Rex" threw three interceptions, looking inept at times in the devastating 34-10 loss to Dallas. Cedric Benson fared no better. On the same day that Thomas Jones ripped up the Dolphins for 110 yards, Benson was limited to only 46 yards on 16 carries. The defense and special teams can only do so much. Ron Turner's offense needs to pick it up with Grossman or without if the Bears are to make a Super Bowl run.
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Redskins</TD><TD align=middle>15</TD><TD align=middle>(-2)</TD><TD align=middle>15/24</TD><TD align=left>Tough one for the Redskins on Sunday, giving up 21 unanswered points in the second half of a devastating 24-17 loss to the Giants. Washington had its chances down the stretch but couldn't punch the ball in the end zone in four tries from the Giants' 1-yard line with less than a minute left in regulation. Jason Campbell completed less than half of his pass attempts and the Giants' defense held the Redskins two-headed monster of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts to only 69 yards rushing. Betts was stopped on two goalline stands at the end of the game, leading him to tell reporters after the game, "It's probably going to be hard for me to go to sleep tonight when I think about it over and over." With the Redskins entering their bye week, he'll have to wait for a shot at redemption.
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Eagles</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>(+5)</TD><TD align=middle>11/23</TD><TD align=left>The Eagles' offense was worthy of a standing ovation on Sunday. Strange, because just six days earlier against Washington, they were booed off their home field. What a difference a week makes. Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and Kevin Curtis all had monster days against Detroit — McNabb throwing for 381 yards, Curtis catching 11 balls for 221 yards, and Westbrook compiling 221 yards of offense. Philadelphia found a rhythm in a must-win game. Can they keep it up? They'll look to improve to .500 against the the rival Giants on Sunday night.
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49ers</TD><TD align=middle>9</TD><TD align=middle>(-10)</TD><TD align=middle>9/19</TD><TD align=left>The Niners' offense continues to struggle, and on Sunday, Frank Gore's legs couldn't bail them out. Gore was held to only 39 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Alex Smith surpassed 200 yards, but only completed 17-of-35 passes. He also threw an interception, which was returned for a 50-yard touchdown. The 49ers have only scored four touchdowns in three games, with one of them coming in garbage time on Sunday. If San Fran's going to be considered a legitimate contender in the NFC, the offense is going to have to wake up. And it's going to have to wake up soon.
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Bengals</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD><TD align=middle>(-9)</TD><TD align=middle>7/20</TD><TD align=left>The Bengals fell to 1-2 after a grueling 24-21 loss to Seattle. Carson Palmer threw two costly interceptions and the defense couldn't come up with a stop when it needed to in the fourth quarter, forcing Cincinnati into last place in the ultra-competitive AFC North. Rudi Johnson, ineffective in three quarters of football, left the game with a hamstring injury, while the banged-up defense lost second-year LB Anthony Schlegel to back problems. With injuries all over the place, the defense is downright depleted...and it's only Week 3. Not exactly the Steel Curtain or the '85 Bears entering the season, the Bengals D is in pretty bad shape at the moment. Unless a patchwork unit comes together quickly, it could end up being a long, long year for Bengals fans.
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Cardinals</TD><TD align=middle>21</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>20/23</TD><TD align=left>Kurt Warner played the role of the veteran relief pitcher on Sunday, subbing in for a downright awful Matt Leinart and leading the Cardinals back from a 17-point deficit against the Ravens. In the end, though, Warner's heroics weren't enough, as Matt Stover hit a game-winning field goal with five seconds left in regulation. Leinart looked terrible. For all the media hoopla focused on him, Leinart still struggles and looks uncomfortable in the pocket too often. On Sunday, the second-year quarterback went 9-for-20 for 53 yards before getting yanked. Both Warner and Anquan Boldin were magnificent — but the Cardinals fell to 1-2.
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Lions</TD><TD align=middle>19</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>19/26</TD><TD align=left>The Lions defensive backfield had quietly gotten by in its first two games, facing two of the league's worst passing attacks in Oakland and Minnesota. Sunday was a different story, though, as Donovan McNabb torched Detroit for 381 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Jon Kitna and the offense had a strong enough day, but the defense was a nightmare, giving up 56 points and a total of 536 yards. Detroit's D will have to rebound if the Lions are to have any sort of legitimate shot at the playoffs this season. The Lions take on the defending NFC North champion Bears on Sunday. Detroit could be 2-2 after that one. If that's the case, you may begin hearing that old familiar phrase in the Motor City. Yep, "Fire Millen."
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Giants</TD><TD align=middle>29</TD><TD align=middle>(+6)</TD><TD align=middle>19/29</TD><TD align=left>The Giants D had given up 80 points over the first two weeks of the season. But when it mattered most, the unit put it together in crunch time against the Redskins on Sunday. Though the 'Skins had a first and goal with 58 seconds remaining, Washington couldn't score on four plays from the 1-yard line. Big Blue escaped a record-breaking crowd at Fed Ex Field with a 24-17 win, keeping the Giants from a place in the NFC East cellar at 0-3. After the gutsy comeback win, Eli Manning told reporters, "Amazing way to win a game. Give a lot of credit to our defense for hanging in tough. To get a goalline stand to win a game, you can't beat that." Scoring 21 unanswered points on the road against a division rival? Yeah, I'd say that's pretty amazing. The Giants face the Eagles Sunday night on NBC. That means lots of Tiki Barber highlights, lots of Tiki Barber talking about himself, and lots of Bob Costas asking Tiki Barber about Tiki Barber. As for the game, it should be a dandy. Philly eliminated New York from the playoffs last year.
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Chiefs</TD><TD align=middle>30</TD><TD align=middle>(+6)</TD><TD align=middle>18/30</TD><TD align=left>The Chiefs got their first win of the season on Sunday, avoiding the franchise's first 0-3 start in 27 years. With the running game doing absolutely nothing, Kansas City turned to the aerial attack, getting just enough offense to win 13-10. Larry Johnson was held to 42 yards on 24 carries, but quarterback Damon Huard completed 20-of-29 passes for 209 yards. The defense did its part to ensure the victory. With the Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers all either 2-1 or 1-2, the Chiefs are still in the mix in the crowded AFC West.
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Vikings</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>20/27</TD><TD align=left>The Vikings offense struggled for the second straight week, falling to the Chiefs 13-10 in a sloppy defensive slugfest out in Kansas City. Adrian Peterson went for 102 yards on the ground, but the passing game sputtered — a recurring theme for Minnesota this year. Kelly Holcomb played and fared no better than Tarvaris Jackson did over the past two weeks. Though the Vikings kept Kansas City to 251 total yards (only 53 in the first half), K.C. came out on top in the end. This was a game that Minnesota could have won, and quite possibly could have put out of reach at halftime if not for two poorly thrown passes in the second quarter. If the Vikings are going to do anything this year, they're going to have to get more out of their quarterback...whomever that may be.
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Raiders</TD><TD align=middle>28</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>26/32</TD><TD align=left>The Raiders snapped an 11-game losing streak that stretched back to last year with a gutsy 26-24 win over Cleveland on Sunday. Lane Kiffin took a page out of Mike Shanahan's book, icing kicker Phil Dawson with a timeout prior to Cleveland's last-second game-winning field goal attempt. The kick was ultimately blocked, giving Kiffin the first win of his career. The Oakland fans were clamoring for Daunte Culpepper, and they got their wish when quarterback Josh McCown went down with an injury in the first quarter. Culpepper went 8-for-14 for 118 yards in the win. As long as there are W's, Oakland fans will be completely fine with that. After all, they've suffered long enough. Eleven straight games is quite a bit of time.
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Saints</TD><TD align=middle>17</TD><TD align=middle>(-10)</TD><TD align=middle>4/27</TD><TD align=left>Ugh. Nothing much more you can say than that. For the third straight week, last year’s most exciting team looked dreadful. The offense was a mess, the defense even worse and the overall performance downright embarrassing. Drew Brees turned the ball over five times, the rushing attack managed just 34 yards and the questionable Titans passing attack had no problem gashing the Saints. At 0-3, it’s tempting to write off New Orleans this year. A popular preseason Super Bowl pick, the Saints have looked as bad as any team in the entire league. Luckily for them, they can’t lose next weekend. They have a bye.
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Browns</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>25/32</TD><TD align=left>A week after the shocking victory over Cincinnati, Cleveland came a last-second blocked field goal shy of improving to 2-1. The Raiders got the best of the Browns in the 26-24 loss. If there was a bright spot in the defeat, though, it was the play of return man Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs returned a kick for a score 98 yards in the second half. It was the former college quarterback's second kick return TD of the year. If he keeps it up, he'll be representing the Browns in the Pro Bowl as the AFC's return man in February.
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Rams</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>17/29</TD><TD align=left>The Rams are 0-3, with Sunday's 24-3 loss marking the team's worst performance of the young season. Already playing without injured nine-time Pro Bowler Orlando Pace, the Rams offensive line lost Mark Setterstrom to a knee injury in the fourth quarter as well. Though Steven Jackson had his first 100+ yard game, rushing for 115 yards, Marc Bulger was held to only 116 yards and the defense couldn't stop the run. For a team that was expected to compete for the NFC West title, an 0-3 start with losses to three teams that missed the playoffs in '06 has to be considered a great disappointment for Rams fans.
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Dolphins</TD><TD align=middle>31</TD><TD align=middle>(+1)</TD><TD align=middle>28/31</TD><TD align=left>The Dolphins gave the Jets a battle on Sunday, but came up short in the end, losing 31-28 in the Meadowlands. The Dolphins finally got something from their offense, with Ronnie Brown putting together his best performance of the season, rushing for 112 yards and catching six balls for 99 yards. The former first-round pick reached the end zone three times. It wasn't enough. At 0-3, Cam Cameron becomes the first Miami first-year coach to start the season winless in three attempts since George Wilson in 1966. He'll look to get his first victory against the 1-2 Raiders on Sunday. Wilson started that '66 season off 0-5. Feel free to drop that bit of useless info at the water cooler today. Your boss will be very impressed.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>31</TD><TD noWrap align=left>http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=2 Bills</TD><TD align=middle>27</TD><TD align=middle>(-4)</TD><TD align=middle>18/31</TD><TD align=left>With three starters in the defensive backfield out with injury, the Bills didn't stand much of a chance against the high-flying Patriots on Sunday. But Buffalo hung tight for a bit, leading 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. Those seven points were the only points the Bills scored all day. Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards was thrown into the fire after a first-quarter J.P. Losman injury, getting his first action of his NFL career. He went 10-for-20 for 90 yards and was intercepted once. The Bills — with arguably the toughest schedule in the league thus far — have gained only 600 yards of offense this season. That's just 115 more than the Patriots had on Sunday.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgHigh onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>32</TD><TD noWrap align=left>http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=1 Falcons</TD><TD align=middle>32</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>28/32</TD><TD align=left>Joey Harrington played arguably the best game of his career, tossing for 361 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday against Carolina. In the end, though, it wasn't enough, as the Panthers beat the Falcons 27-20 in Atlanta. DeAngelo Hall had a bad afternoon, being flagged for three different penalties on one drive that resulted in 67 yards. The penalties were costly, and to be blunt — foolish. After a 37-yard pass interference call, Hall was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul after a shot to Steve Smith's chest, and then a killer unsportsmanlike conduct call for running his mouth after a crucial third down Atlanta stop. Hall's mistakes were maddening, and Bobby Petrino admitted after the game that he considered giving the Pro Bowl corner the hook after the third penalty. Atlanta's now 0-3, off to its worst start since 1999. The Falcons were held under 100 yards rushing for the third straight game. The ground game was held under the century mark only once all last season.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Colts</TD><TD align=middle>1</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>1/1</TD><TD align=left>The Colts escaped Houston with a hard-fought victory, improving to 3-0 on the 2007 season. The defending Super Bowl champs haven't lost a game in September since 2004, and have continued right where they left off in '06. The defense held the Texans to only 40 yards rushing, 100 yards less than the unit gave up in Week 2 against Tennessee. Though the Patriots, Steelers, and Cowboys have had far more impressive victories over the first three weeks of the season, Indianapolis is still number one in my book. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>2</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Patriots</TD><TD align=middle>2</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>2/2</TD><TD align=left>Folks, I got your e-mails. All eight million of them. Trust me, no one's been as impressed with the Patriots over the first three weeks of the season as me. But until the Colts lose, the defending champs are going to be my No. 1. If there's a 1a, though, it's clearly New England. In three games, the Patriots have outscored opponents 114-35. Sunday's 38-7 blowout of the Bills looked like an All-Star team taking on a high school squad. The defense has been unreal, the offense even better. Take out your calendars and circle Nov. 4 — New England vs. Indianapolis. It's the game of the year. We're less than six weeks away. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>3</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Steelers</TD><TD align=middle>5</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>3/14</TD><TD align=left>Mike Tomlin starts his career in Pittsburgh off 3-0, just as Bill Cowher did in his first year back in 1992. The Steelers manhandled the 49ers on Sunday, dominating the line of scrimmage and proving that Pittsburgh is truly one of the best teams in the league this season. With the 37-16 win, Pittsburgh has now outscored opponents 97-26 this season. The D was suffocating again, confusing Alex Smith and holding Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore to only 39 yards on 14 carries. The offense and the special teams are playing superb as well. Wave those Terrible Towels, folks. The Steelers are alive and well. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>4</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Cowboys</TD><TD align=middle>6</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>4/12</TD><TD align=left>Far and away the NFC's most impressive team through three weeks of the season, the Cowboys rolled past the defending conference champion Bears 34-10 in Chicago on Sunday night. Tony Romo had his way with the highly touted Bears D, tossing for 329 yards and a touchdown in the win. More impressive than the offensive effort was the Dallas D. The Cowboys picked off Bears quarterback Rex Grossman three times and held the Bears to only 75 yards rushing. Wade Phillips has Dallas at 3-0 and in the driver's seat in the NFC East. The Cowboys take on the winless Rams next week.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>5</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Packers</TD><TD align=middle>10</TD><TD align=middle>(+5)</TD><TD align=middle>5/22</TD><TD align=left>Green Bay silenced its early-season critics on Sunday, coming from behind and beating San Diego 31-24 in Lambeau. Brett Favre's game-sealing fourth quarter 57-yard touchdown strike to Greg Jennings both put the game on ice and put Favre on top of the career touchdown list with Dan Marino at 420. The rally marked Favre's 38th career fourth-quarter comeback. If I were asked to vote on the 2007 MVP right now, I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone other than No. 4. He looks like the No. 4 of '96, the defense looks terrific, and the fans are in a frenzy. Breakout those foam Cheesehead hats. Green Bay is now 3-0 with a trip to 1-2 Minnesota on Sunday. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>6</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Ravens</TD><TD align=middle>8</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>5/10</TD><TD align=left>Kyle Boller filled in for an ailing Steve McNair and led the Ravens down field and in position for the game-winning Matt Stover field goal in Baltimore's 26-23 win over Arizona on Sunday. McNair looked great before exiting, going 20-27 for 198 yards, guiding the Ravens to scores on three of their first four possessions. Boller played well too, going 8-for-10 for 83 yards. For the second straight week, the Ravens nearly gave away a multi-touchdown lead, only to secure the victory in the final seconds of the game. Now 2-1, they seem to be back on track after the six-turnover performance from Week 1. The Ravens have the Browns next week.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>7</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Titans</TD><TD align=middle>13</TD><TD align=middle>(+6)</TD><TD align=middle>7/26</TD><TD align=left>Though it was endlessly promoted as a “rematch” of the 2006 Rose Bowl, the Titans-Saints Monday night game was really a match between one of the league’s up-and-coming teams and a completely lost and confused squad on the way down. The Titans manhandled the Saints, using a combination of a suffocating defense and a balanced offensive attack to get out of New Orleans as 31-14 victors. Keith Bullock intercepted three passes, the Saints rushing attack was held to only 34 yards and Drew Brees looked flustered all game. Tennessee’s for real. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>8</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Jaguars</TD><TD align=middle>18</TD><TD align=middle>(+10)</TD><TD align=middle>8/18</TD><TD align=left>The Jaguars put together their best performance of the season on Sunday, strutting into Denver and beating the previously undefeated Broncos 23-14. The Jags got their first score of the game after the team's longest offensive drive in team history, an 11-minute, 80-yard stomp to the end zone that was capped off with a three-yard David Garrard-to-Reggie Williams touchdown pass. After the game, Denver linebacker Ian Gold compared the drive to "being on a treadmill for a half-hour straight." The rushing game woke up, the passing game did just enough, and the defense had its second straight week of holding an opponent to 14 points or less. Jacksonville, thoroughly embarrassed by Tennessee in Week 1, seems to have turned things around.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>9</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Broncos</TD><TD align=middle>7</TD><TD align=middle>(-2)</TD><TD align=middle>7/9</TD><TD align=left>Denver's offense, which had put up a league-leading 911 yards in the first two weeks, came back down to Earth with a 265-yard effort in a loss to the Jags. Travis Henry, who entered Sunday as the league's leading rusher, only had 35 yards on the ground. Denver had two last-second wins over a pair of teams unlikely destined for the playoffs in Weeks 1 and 2. The Jaguars — a squad with realistic postseason aspirations — had their way with the Broncos on Sunday.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>10</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Seahawks</TD><TD align=middle>14</TD><TD align=middle>(+4)</TD><TD align=middle>6/14</TD><TD align=left>The Seahawks improved to 2-1 with a hard fought 24-21 victory over the Bengals on Sunday. A week after Cincinnati scored 45 points, the Seahawks held the Bengals to just two TDs in the 24-21 victory. Shaun Alexander was a workhorse, plowing through the Bengals defense for 14 yards on a crucial 4th-and-1 with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. The carry put the game on ice and helped Alexander eclipse the 100-yard mark. New acquisitions Brian Russell and Deon Grant played solid in the defensive backfield, with Russell coming up with a game-changing interception on a pass intended for Chad Johnson late in the third quarter. Russell and Grant were both signed for big money over the off-season but hadn't made much of an impact in Weeks 1 and 2. Grant told reporters after the game, "We haven't been doing anything. They gave us this money...but we haven't done nothing. So I said, 'Let's turn it on.' From here on out, that's what you're going to be seeing from B-Russ and myself." They'll look to continue where they left off this Sunday when the Seahawks take on the 2-1 49ers. San Francisco swept the season series in 2006. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>11</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Texans</TD><TD align=middle>12</TD><TD align=middle>(+1)</TD><TD align=middle>11/25</TD><TD align=left>The Texans played without star wideout Andre Johnson and lost both up-and-coming rookie receiver Jacoby Jones and center Steve McKinney to injury Sunday versus the Colts. And yet, they still were in the game until the final whistle. Houston's rushing game sputtered, but the passing game continued to function despite not having its top two targets. Quarterback Matt Schaub completed 27-of-33 passes in the loss. The Texans fell to 2-1, but hung with the defending Super Bowl champions. If there's such a thing as moral victories in the NFL, this was surely one of them. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>12</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Buccaneers</TD><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD align=middle>(+12)</TD><TD align=middle>12/30</TD><TD align=left>For the second straight week, the Buccaneers looked fabulous, dominating a conference opponent on both sides of the ball. The Bucs put the clamps on New Orleans in Week 2 and absolutely outplayed the high-flying Rams in Sunday's 24-3 victory. The Bucs D looks like the Bucs D of old, limiting Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger to a paltry 116 yards through the air, and keeping Torry Holt under 70 yards. On offense, Jeff Garcia led the way, and both Ernest Graham and Cadillac Williams produced on the ground. The Bucs, 4-12 a season ago, are now 2-1 heading into Week 4. They very well might be the "sleeper" team of '07. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>13</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Panthers</TD><TD align=middle>16</TD><TD align=middle>(+3)</TD><TD align=middle>13/16</TD><TD align=left>The Panthers escaped Atlanta with a 27-20 comeback victory on Sunday. It wasn't easy. David Carr came in for an injured Jake Delhomme and led the Panthers to their final 10 points in the win. Carr — who signed with Carolina over the off-season — went 3-for-4 for 56 yards in relief. The Panthers' rushing game looked strong, gashing the Falcons for 124 yards, while the rush defense kept Atlanta under the century mark. The Panthers improved to 2-1 and take on the suddenly explosive Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>14</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Chargers</TD><TD align=middle>3</TD><TD align=middle>(-11)</TD><TD align=middle>3/14</TD><TD align=left>Though Philip Rivers had a break-out performance in the first three quarters of Sunday's game, it wasn't enough to get past the Packers in Green Bay. Rivers was magnificent, starting the game 15-for-15, tying Dan Fouts' franchise record for consecutive completions. Down three points in the fourth quarter, however, the fourth-year quarterback was intercepted by Packers linebacker Nick Barnett, sealing up the game for Green Bay. LaDainian Tomlinson was held under 100 yards for the third straight week, and was visibly frustrated on the sidelines. In three games, Tomlinson has averaged a paltry 1.9 yards per carry. The Bolts — everyone's sexy preseason pick for the Super Bowl — are now 1-2. The Norv Turner era hasn't started out exactly as A.J. Smith had planned. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>15</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Jets</TD><TD align=middle>20</TD><TD align=middle>(+5)</TD><TD align=middle>12/20</TD><TD align=left>On a day in which Wayne Chrebet was honored at halftime, the Jets offense put on a show that personified the former New York receiver's style on Sunday: a gritty, hard-fought, no-frills win. Defense, special teams, and a sturdy offensive attack led by Chad Pennington earned the Jets their first victory of the season. Leon Washington returned a kickoff 98 yards, and the running game finally got going behind a Thomas Jones 110-yard effort. The Jets will look to improve to .500 when they take on the 0-3 Bills on Sunday. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>16</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Bears</TD><TD align=middle>4</TD><TD align=middle>(-12)</TD><TD align=middle>4/16</TD><TD align=left>"Bad Rex" threw three interceptions, looking inept at times in the devastating 34-10 loss to Dallas. Cedric Benson fared no better. On the same day that Thomas Jones ripped up the Dolphins for 110 yards, Benson was limited to only 46 yards on 16 carries. The defense and special teams can only do so much. Ron Turner's offense needs to pick it up with Grossman or without if the Bears are to make a Super Bowl run. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>17</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Redskins</TD><TD align=middle>15</TD><TD align=middle>(-2)</TD><TD align=middle>15/24</TD><TD align=left>Tough one for the Redskins on Sunday, giving up 21 unanswered points in the second half of a devastating 24-17 loss to the Giants. Washington had its chances down the stretch but couldn't punch the ball in the end zone in four tries from the Giants' 1-yard line with less than a minute left in regulation. Jason Campbell completed less than half of his pass attempts and the Giants' defense held the Redskins two-headed monster of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts to only 69 yards rushing. Betts was stopped on two goalline stands at the end of the game, leading him to tell reporters after the game, "It's probably going to be hard for me to go to sleep tonight when I think about it over and over." With the Redskins entering their bye week, he'll have to wait for a shot at redemption.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>18</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Eagles</TD><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD align=middle>(+5)</TD><TD align=middle>11/23</TD><TD align=left>The Eagles' offense was worthy of a standing ovation on Sunday. Strange, because just six days earlier against Washington, they were booed off their home field. What a difference a week makes. Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and Kevin Curtis all had monster days against Detroit — McNabb throwing for 381 yards, Curtis catching 11 balls for 221 yards, and Westbrook compiling 221 yards of offense. Philadelphia found a rhythm in a must-win game. Can they keep it up? They'll look to improve to .500 against the the rival Giants on Sunday night.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>19</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
49ers</TD><TD align=middle>9</TD><TD align=middle>(-10)</TD><TD align=middle>9/19</TD><TD align=left>The Niners' offense continues to struggle, and on Sunday, Frank Gore's legs couldn't bail them out. Gore was held to only 39 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Alex Smith surpassed 200 yards, but only completed 17-of-35 passes. He also threw an interception, which was returned for a 50-yard touchdown. The 49ers have only scored four touchdowns in three games, with one of them coming in garbage time on Sunday. If San Fran's going to be considered a legitimate contender in the NFC, the offense is going to have to wake up. And it's going to have to wake up soon. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>20</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Bengals</TD><TD align=middle>11</TD><TD align=middle>(-9)</TD><TD align=middle>7/20</TD><TD align=left>The Bengals fell to 1-2 after a grueling 24-21 loss to Seattle. Carson Palmer threw two costly interceptions and the defense couldn't come up with a stop when it needed to in the fourth quarter, forcing Cincinnati into last place in the ultra-competitive AFC North. Rudi Johnson, ineffective in three quarters of football, left the game with a hamstring injury, while the banged-up defense lost second-year LB Anthony Schlegel to back problems. With injuries all over the place, the defense is downright depleted...and it's only Week 3. Not exactly the Steel Curtain or the '85 Bears entering the season, the Bengals D is in pretty bad shape at the moment. Unless a patchwork unit comes together quickly, it could end up being a long, long year for Bengals fans. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>21</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Cardinals</TD><TD align=middle>21</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>20/23</TD><TD align=left>Kurt Warner played the role of the veteran relief pitcher on Sunday, subbing in for a downright awful Matt Leinart and leading the Cardinals back from a 17-point deficit against the Ravens. In the end, though, Warner's heroics weren't enough, as Matt Stover hit a game-winning field goal with five seconds left in regulation. Leinart looked terrible. For all the media hoopla focused on him, Leinart still struggles and looks uncomfortable in the pocket too often. On Sunday, the second-year quarterback went 9-for-20 for 53 yards before getting yanked. Both Warner and Anquan Boldin were magnificent — but the Cardinals fell to 1-2. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Lions</TD><TD align=middle>19</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>19/26</TD><TD align=left>The Lions defensive backfield had quietly gotten by in its first two games, facing two of the league's worst passing attacks in Oakland and Minnesota. Sunday was a different story, though, as Donovan McNabb torched Detroit for 381 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Jon Kitna and the offense had a strong enough day, but the defense was a nightmare, giving up 56 points and a total of 536 yards. Detroit's D will have to rebound if the Lions are to have any sort of legitimate shot at the playoffs this season. The Lions take on the defending NFC North champion Bears on Sunday. Detroit could be 2-2 after that one. If that's the case, you may begin hearing that old familiar phrase in the Motor City. Yep, "Fire Millen." Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>23</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Giants</TD><TD align=middle>29</TD><TD align=middle>(+6)</TD><TD align=middle>19/29</TD><TD align=left>The Giants D had given up 80 points over the first two weeks of the season. But when it mattered most, the unit put it together in crunch time against the Redskins on Sunday. Though the 'Skins had a first and goal with 58 seconds remaining, Washington couldn't score on four plays from the 1-yard line. Big Blue escaped a record-breaking crowd at Fed Ex Field with a 24-17 win, keeping the Giants from a place in the NFC East cellar at 0-3. After the gutsy comeback win, Eli Manning told reporters, "Amazing way to win a game. Give a lot of credit to our defense for hanging in tough. To get a goalline stand to win a game, you can't beat that." Scoring 21 unanswered points on the road against a division rival? Yeah, I'd say that's pretty amazing. The Giants face the Eagles Sunday night on NBC. That means lots of Tiki Barber highlights, lots of Tiki Barber talking about himself, and lots of Bob Costas asking Tiki Barber about Tiki Barber. As for the game, it should be a dandy. Philly eliminated New York from the playoffs last year. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>24</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Chiefs</TD><TD align=middle>30</TD><TD align=middle>(+6)</TD><TD align=middle>18/30</TD><TD align=left>The Chiefs got their first win of the season on Sunday, avoiding the franchise's first 0-3 start in 27 years. With the running game doing absolutely nothing, Kansas City turned to the aerial attack, getting just enough offense to win 13-10. Larry Johnson was held to 42 yards on 24 carries, but quarterback Damon Huard completed 20-of-29 passes for 209 yards. The defense did its part to ensure the victory. With the Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers all either 2-1 or 1-2, the Chiefs are still in the mix in the crowded AFC West.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Vikings</TD><TD align=middle>22</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>20/27</TD><TD align=left>The Vikings offense struggled for the second straight week, falling to the Chiefs 13-10 in a sloppy defensive slugfest out in Kansas City. Adrian Peterson went for 102 yards on the ground, but the passing game sputtered — a recurring theme for Minnesota this year. Kelly Holcomb played and fared no better than Tarvaris Jackson did over the past two weeks. Though the Vikings kept Kansas City to 251 total yards (only 53 in the first half), K.C. came out on top in the end. This was a game that Minnesota could have won, and quite possibly could have put out of reach at halftime if not for two poorly thrown passes in the second quarter. If the Vikings are going to do anything this year, they're going to have to get more out of their quarterback...whomever that may be.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Raiders</TD><TD align=middle>28</TD><TD align=middle>(+2)</TD><TD align=middle>26/32</TD><TD align=left>The Raiders snapped an 11-game losing streak that stretched back to last year with a gutsy 26-24 win over Cleveland on Sunday. Lane Kiffin took a page out of Mike Shanahan's book, icing kicker Phil Dawson with a timeout prior to Cleveland's last-second game-winning field goal attempt. The kick was ultimately blocked, giving Kiffin the first win of his career. The Oakland fans were clamoring for Daunte Culpepper, and they got their wish when quarterback Josh McCown went down with an injury in the first quarter. Culpepper went 8-for-14 for 118 yards in the win. As long as there are W's, Oakland fans will be completely fine with that. After all, they've suffered long enough. Eleven straight games is quite a bit of time. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>27</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Saints</TD><TD align=middle>17</TD><TD align=middle>(-10)</TD><TD align=middle>4/27</TD><TD align=left>Ugh. Nothing much more you can say than that. For the third straight week, last year’s most exciting team looked dreadful. The offense was a mess, the defense even worse and the overall performance downright embarrassing. Drew Brees turned the ball over five times, the rushing attack managed just 34 yards and the questionable Titans passing attack had no problem gashing the Saints. At 0-3, it’s tempting to write off New Orleans this year. A popular preseason Super Bowl pick, the Saints have looked as bad as any team in the entire league. Luckily for them, they can’t lose next weekend. They have a bye.Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>28</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Browns</TD><TD align=middle>25</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>25/32</TD><TD align=left>A week after the shocking victory over Cincinnati, Cleveland came a last-second blocked field goal shy of improving to 2-1. The Raiders got the best of the Browns in the 26-24 loss. If there was a bright spot in the defeat, though, it was the play of return man Joshua Cribbs. Cribbs returned a kick for a score 98 yards in the second half. It was the former college quarterback's second kick return TD of the year. If he keeps it up, he'll be representing the Browns in the Pro Bowl as the AFC's return man in February. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>29</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Rams</TD><TD align=middle>26</TD><TD align=middle>(-3)</TD><TD align=middle>17/29</TD><TD align=left>The Rams are 0-3, with Sunday's 24-3 loss marking the team's worst performance of the young season. Already playing without injured nine-time Pro Bowler Orlando Pace, the Rams offensive line lost Mark Setterstrom to a knee injury in the fourth quarter as well. Though Steven Jackson had his first 100+ yard game, rushing for 115 yards, Marc Bulger was held to only 116 yards and the defense couldn't stop the run. For a team that was expected to compete for the NFC West title, an 0-3 start with losses to three teams that missed the playoffs in '06 has to be considered a great disappointment for Rams fans. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>30</TD><TD noWrap align=left>
Dolphins</TD><TD align=middle>31</TD><TD align=middle>(+1)</TD><TD align=middle>28/31</TD><TD align=left>The Dolphins gave the Jets a battle on Sunday, but came up short in the end, losing 31-28 in the Meadowlands. The Dolphins finally got something from their offense, with Ronnie Brown putting together his best performance of the season, rushing for 112 yards and catching six balls for 99 yards. The former first-round pick reached the end zone three times. It wasn't enough. At 0-3, Cam Cameron becomes the first Miami first-year coach to start the season winless in three attempts since George Wilson in 1966. He'll look to get his first victory against the 1-2 Raiders on Sunday. Wilson started that '66 season off 0-5. Feel free to drop that bit of useless info at the water cooler today. Your boss will be very impressed. Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgC onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>31</TD><TD noWrap align=left>http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=2 Bills</TD><TD align=middle>27</TD><TD align=middle>(-4)</TD><TD align=middle>18/31</TD><TD align=left>With three starters in the defensive backfield out with injury, the Bills didn't stand much of a chance against the high-flying Patriots on Sunday. But Buffalo hung tight for a bit, leading 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. Those seven points were the only points the Bills scored all day. Rookie quarterback Trent Edwards was thrown into the fire after a first-quarter J.P. Losman injury, getting his first action of his NFL career. He went 10-for-20 for 90 yards and was intercepted once. The Bills — with arguably the toughest schedule in the league thus far — have gained only 600 yards of offense this season. That's just 115 more than the Patriots had on Sunday.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR><TR class=bgHigh onmouseover="this.className='bgHigh';" onmouseout="this.className='bgC';" align=middle><TD align=middle>32</TD><TD noWrap align=left>http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=1 Falcons</TD><TD align=middle>32</TD><TD align=middle>-</TD><TD align=middle>28/32</TD><TD align=left>Joey Harrington played arguably the best game of his career, tossing for 361 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday against Carolina. In the end, though, it wasn't enough, as the Panthers beat the Falcons 27-20 in Atlanta. DeAngelo Hall had a bad afternoon, being flagged for three different penalties on one drive that resulted in 67 yards. The penalties were costly, and to be blunt — foolish. After a 37-yard pass interference call, Hall was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul after a shot to Steve Smith's chest, and then a killer unsportsmanlike conduct call for running his mouth after a crucial third down Atlanta stop. Hall's mistakes were maddening, and Bobby Petrino admitted after the game that he considered giving the Pro Bowl corner the hook after the third penalty. Atlanta's now 0-3, off to its worst start since 1999. The Falcons were held under 100 yards rushing for the third straight game. The ground game was held under the century mark only once all last season.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
