Rams 42, Dolphins 10
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
The Dolphins failed to convert inside the 10-yard line twice in the first half. A fumble by Jay Fielder and a blocked pass thwarted the pair of opportunities, while the Rams kept scoring to build a 21-10 halftime lead. |
The Rams offense, which resembled itself more Sunday than it did in the previous two games. QB Kurt Warner was 24-for-31 for 328 yards and Marshall Faulk scored three TDs. |
The Rams made the plays they needed to make and their D has improved since last season. They've got more speed, and are aggressive and hungry. Whether they're back to their Super Bowl level remains to be seen. |
UP NEXT: Rams (3-0) at Lions (0-2) | Dolphins (2-1) vs. Patriots (1-2) |
Chiefs 45, Redskins 13
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
In the second quarter. After the Redskins managed a field goal in the first quarter, the Chiefs scored four touchdowns in the second to take a 28-10 lead at the half. A depressing stat for Washington fans -- the 'Skins have been outscored 112-16 this season. |
Chiefs running back Priest Holmes, who scored three touchdowns. After gaining just 51 yards in the first two games of the season, Holmes exploded for 147 rushing yards and caught an extra 78 yards for Kansas City.
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The Redskins are playing without any emotion or enthusiasm and a total lack of confidence. If you're playing them soon, now's the time to get them. If you get them down early, they just fold the tents up like they did Sunday. |
UP NEXT: Chiefs (1-2) at Broncos (2-0) | Redskins (0-3) at Giants (2-1) |
Giants 21, Saints 13
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
The Saints were stopped at New York's 9-yard line with four seconds left to play. Like the rest of the day, the Giants had help from the officials when an offensive pass interference call ended the game. It was the 14th call against the Saints. |
The Giants' running tandem of Ron Dayne and Tiki Barker. The pair combined for 131 yards on 22 carries and two second-quarter touchdowns that gave the G-Men a solid lead. |
The Giants have improved each week, especially on defense. They went from no sacks in Week 1 to one sack in Week 2 to four on Sunday. And they stopped the run. The Giants are getting more comfortable with their defense. |
UP NEXT: Giants (2-1) vs. Redskins (0-3) | Saints (1-1) vs. Vikings (1-2) |
Packers 28, Panthers 7
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
The Packers recovered the first of two Steve Smith fumbles early in the second half. Starting from the Panthers' 38 and trailing 7-6, Green Bay needed just five plays to take the lead for good. |
Green Bay QB Brett Favre, who rebounded from a shaky start and two interceptions to lead the Packers offense to 28 unanswered points for the win. |
Right now, the Packers have it all working together. The defense is stopping the run and creating turnovers, the offense is moving the ball well. The components are in place for the Packers to make a statement. |
UP NEXT: Packers (3-0) at Bucs (1-1) | Panthers (1-2) at Niners (1-1) |
Steelers 20, Bills 3
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
Pittsburgh's Dewayne Washington returned a fumble 63 yards for a touchdown late in the first quarter. It was the Steelers' first TD of the season, getting them over a big hump. |
The Steelers defense. With its offense still working through some kinks, Pittsburgh's defense did it all Sunday. Along with the first TD, they held the Bills to just 172 yards. |
The Bills couldn't stop the run and their quarterback went out, so they really couldn't do anything offensively. Also, they've got offensive-line problems. They have no sync, no continuity on offense. |
UP NEXT: Steelers (1-1) vs. Cincinnati (2-0) | Bills (0-3) vs. Jets (1-1) |
Patriots 44, Colts 13
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
It was all over at halftime. New England scored 13 points in the last 5:50 of the second quarter to take a 20-0 lead. That's a big zero for a Colts team that averaged 33 first-half points in the previous two games. |
The Pats offense. In what Ty Law called "an almost must-win" game, New England got two field goals from Adam Vinatieri and a TD run from Antowain Smith to take an early lead. Oh, and they did it without Drew Bledsoe. |
If a good team turns the ball over and gets down early, things can snowball -- and that's what happened to the Colts. Instead of making plays, they were dropping balls and turning it over. |
UP NEXT: Patriots (1-2) at Miami (2-1) | Colts (2-1) vs. Raiders (1-1) |
Vikings 20, Buccaneers 16
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
Daunte Culpepper spinned his way into the end zone on an 8-yard run late in the fourth quarter to give the Vikings the win. The play capped an 11-play, 96-yard drive. |
Vikings QB Culpepper. Dictating a more patient style, Culpepper confused the Bucs and threw for a career-high 30 passes in 44 attempts for 322 yards. He also didn't use his usual targets, utilizing Jim Kleinsasser and Byron Chamberlain. |
The Vikings devised ways to get their receivers involved. With Carter, they got him the ball in the middle; with Moss, they ran some screen passes. They still don't have the running game. Their running game was Culpepper scrambling. |
UP NEXT: Vikings (1-2) at Saints (1-1) | Buccaneers (1-1) vs. Packers (3-0) |
Falcons 34, Cardinals 14
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
In the second half. The Falcons led 10-0 at halftime, but a fumbled a snap and three interceptions by Jake Plummer didn't give the Cardinals a chance at coming back. |
The Falcons offense. Obviously, turnovers helped Atlanta, but Chris Chandler and Maurice Smith stepped up. Chandler threw three TDs, and Smith replaced injured Jamal Anderson and scored twice. |
Jake Plummer has to step up and be the quarterback that he's being paid to be. The Cardinals also need to stop turning the ball over and coach Dave McGinnis needs time to prove if he can get the job done. |
UP NEXT: Falcons (2-1) vs. Bears (1-1) | Cardinals (0-2) at Eagles (2-1) |
Raiders 38, Seahawks 14
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
The game was done by the second quarter. It was a vintage Jerry Rice 14-yard touchdown that capped a 24-point first half for the Raiders. The Raider Nation didn't fret from there. |
The Seahawks offensive line. With so many holes, it's no wonder Seattle couldn't get anything going and Oakland had everything going for them. Also, the line allowed seven sacks. |
The Seahawks need lots of work on offense. They have no identity and no continuity. They need a healthy Ricky Watters and improvement from the receivers. Seattle also needs improvement from the offensive line. |
UP NEXT: Raiders (2-1) vs. Cowboys (0-2) | Seahawks (1-2) vs. Jaguars (2-1) |
Ravens 20, Broncos 13
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
Travis Taylor caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Elvis Grbac midway through the fourth quarter to give the Ravens the lead for good. |
As usual, the Ravens defense. After the Broncos averaged 427 yards in their previous two games, they were not allowed inside the red zone after their quick score in the game's first minute. |
This was a huge statement. The Ravens showed they could go on the road, turn the ball over early, get down 7-0 -- and then come back to win the game. They also showed something of a running game. |
UP NEXT: Ravens (2-1) vs. Titans (0-2) | Broncos (2-1) vs. Chiefs (1-2) |
Chargers 28, Bengals 14
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
LaDainian Tomlinson broke a 7-all game wide open in the third quarter, scoring two of his three total touchdowns from 4 and 2 yards out. |
LaDainian Tomlinson. The rookie RB scored touchdowns on three straight second-half possessions and finished with 107 yards on 21 carries. It was his second 100-plus game. |
Once the Chargers get the lead, LaDainian Tomlinson is the most important guy in the their offense. Up until then, Doug Flutie is very important in directing the offense. |
UP NEXT: Chargers (3-0) at Browns (2-1) | Bengals (2-1) at Steelers (1-1) |
Browns 23, Jaguars 14
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Vinny Cerrato's analysis |
Phil Dawson converted a 30-yard field goal with 5:13 left in the fourth quarter to give the Browns the lead for good. It capped an 11-play, 67-yard drive. |
Browns QB Tim Couch, who amassed 249 passing yards. Couch was also key on setting up the go-ahead drive, nailing passes to Mike Sellers (18 yards) and Quincy Morgan (22 yards). |
On defense, the Browns are opportunistic, they create turnovers and they play hard. That will give them a chance to stay in games. They don't have enough play-makers on offense to win the division. |
UP NEXT: Browns (2-1) vs. Chargers (3-0) | Jaguars (2-1) at Seahawks (1-2) |
Eagles 40, Cowboys 18
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In the second quarter, where the Eagles blew the game open with 26 points off of four fumbles and a blocked punt. Meanwhile, the Cowboys managed just one first down in the half. |
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, who went 14-of-28 for 162 yards and threw for three touchdowns. He did it all in three quarters, sitting out the fourth after Philadelphia took a 40-6 lead. |
UP NEXT: Eagles (2-1) vs. Cardinals (0-2) | Cowboys (0-3) at Raiders (2-1) |
49ers 19, Jets 17
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The 49ers covered an onside kick with under a minute remaining. Curtis Martin had scored from the 1 to make it a two-point game. |
Niners placekicker Jose Cortez, who made all four of his field-goal attempts, including a 49-yarder in the third quarter. |
UP NEXT: 49ers (2-1) vs. Panthers (1-2) | Jets (1-2) at Bills (0-3) |
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