NFL Week 4 Recap

Let's start with the two best games of the day:

Ravens at Patriots
This game lived up to the hype. Joe Flacco actually outplayed Tom Brady, but it was a dropped ball on fourth down by Mark Clayton that decided the game. Down 27-21 with time running out, the Ravens had no trouble driving the ball against the Patriots. Flacco hit Clayton right between the numbers which would have given Baltimore a first and goal.

It's safe to say that this is not your 2007 New England Patriots.

The Ravens defense has now gone 39 straight games without allowing a 100 yard rusher.

Jets at Saints
A lot has been said of New Orleans' high flying offense. But it was their defense that outscored the offense 14-10. Darren Sharper had 2 interceptions, returning one for 99 yards and putting a dagger in the Jets.

Enough with the Mark Sanchez/Joe Namath comparisons. Sanchez was awful, committing 4 turnovers. Sanchez has benefited from a solid Jets defense.

Drew Brees was held for under 200 yards for the second consecutive game.

New Orleans is for real.

Bengals at Cleveland
Cincinnati blew a 14-0 lead and were down 20-14 late the fourth quarter. Carson Palmer hit Chad OchoCinco for what seemed to be the winning touchdown. However the Browns blocked the extra point and the game went to overtime tied 20-20. You had the feeling that the Bengals were going to come up with every way imaginable to lose a game.

The Bengals are a freak play deflected pass to Brandon Stokley from being 4-0.

Cleveland has lost 10 straight games. Braylon Edwards failed to catch a pass for the first time in his career. He had gone 61 straight games with a pass reception.

Lions at Bears
Matt Stafford is actually a pretty good quarterback. Stafford was 24-36 for 296 yards and 1 TD. Not bad numbers for a rookie QB on the road against the Bears defense. Detroit can score some points, but their defense is miserable.

This game was actually tied 21-21 at half. But Johnny Knox returned the opening kickoff of the second half 101 yards to the house. Detroit could only muster 3 second half points. The Lions leading rusher was Kevin Smith. His line: 19 rushes for 30 yards and 2 TDs.

Jay Cutler is not everything the Bears hoped for. Cutler was 18-28 for 141 yards and 2 TDs. If he had actually thrown the ball his receivers instead of Green Bay's defense, the Bears could be 4-0. And let's not forget Chicago's defense biting on a play action bomb to the Packers in Week 1.

Seahawks at Colts
Yes, Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL. No Marvin Harrison, no Alex Gonzalez, no problem. Manning was 31-41 for 353 yards and 3 TDs.

Indianapolis has now won 13 straight regular season games.

Titans at Jaguars
Rumors started last week of Jacksonville moving the team to Orlando. There's been talk of their home games being blackout. But here the Jags sit at 2-2. David Garrard was a fantasy stud, 27-37 for 323 yards and 3 TDs. Who started Mike Sims-Walker (Central Florida)? MSW caught 7 passes for 91 yards and 2 TDs.

Jaguars dominated the Titans despite Maurice Jones Drew rushing the ball 6 times for 14 yards! Wow!

And what the hell happened to the Titans. Tennessee is now 0-4! after going 13-3 last year.

Giants at Chiefs
This Kansas City team could actually go 0-16. Steve Smith has emerged as a prime time performer. He's even overshadowed Carolina's Steve Smith. NY's Steve Smith caught 11 passes for 134 yards and 2 TDs. The Giants will be tough to beat. Not only has Eli Manning looked just as good as his brother, but their defense is tough and the backfield of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw is deadly.

Eli did leave the game in the second half with a non contact heel injury. David Carr is the Giants backup QB. The Manning brothers are now 8-0.

Peyton Manning 97-137, 1336 yards, 9 TD, 3 Int
Eli Manning 79-125, 1039 yards, 8 TD, 2 Int

NY Giants Steve Smith 34 receptions, 411 yards, 12.1 avg, 4TD (4 games)
Carolina's Steve Smith 15 receptions, 190 yards, 12.7 avg, 0TD (3 games)

One bright note for the Cheifs. Apparently they brought their mascot "Warpaint" back in the mix as a tribute to the 50 year anniversary of the AFL. I only saw it for a second, but after the Cheifs score a touchdown, a girl dressed up in Chief paraphernalia rides across the field on a horse. That's a pretty good idea, but the girl is definitely wearing too much clothing. She'll more likely be a rare occurrence considering just how dismal Kansas City is this year.

Raiders at Texans
Not much on this game. Oakland is flat out horrible and JaMarcus Russell doesn't seem to have the making of an NFL quarterback. Steve Slaton had 1 rushing TD and 1 receiving.

Buccaneers at Redskins
Same with this game. If there was a Toilet Bowl in the NFL, this was it. For how bad the Redskins are, they're 2-2. Hey, so are the Cowboys.

Cowboys at Broncos
I think it's safe to say that Tony Romo is the most overrated QB in the NFL. He loses Jessica Simpson, loses TO and he's still mediocre at best. Dallas came into this game averaging 193.7 yards rushing. They finished this game with 74 yards on 25 attempts.

Romo continued to go after Champ Bailey all game. Bailey intercepted Romo inside the 5 and knocked down the would be tying touchdown pass at the end of the game.

Is Denver's defense that good!? The 4-0! Broncos have only allowed 26 points through 4 games!

For Dallas, will Roy Williams please show up! After 4 games, Williams has 11 receptions for 214 yards and 1 TD.

Bills at Dolphins
Miami finally got in the win column and for now salvaged their season. It was Chad Henne's first career NFL start and the former Michigan QB looked decent, 14-22, 115 yards and 1 TD. However, when your offense rushes for 250 yards, it's kind of hard not to look good. Ronnie Brown carried the ball 20 times for 115 yards and 2 TDs. Ricky Williams had 85 yards on 16 rushes.

Trouble continues for TO. He caught just 3 passes for 60 yards. Trent Edwards threw 3 picks.

Rams at 49ers
35-0. Need I say more. The second time this season the Rams have been blanked. They were shut out by Seattle in Week 1 28-0. Mike Singletary has his defense playing his style of ball. The 49ers allowed 177 total yards including 5 sacks and scored 2 defensive touchdowns.

The 49ers are a Brett Favre miracle TD away from being 4-0.

Chargers at Steelers
This game was a route at halftime. Unfortunately no one saw the final quarter. Pittsburgh went up 28-0 in third quarter before the Chargers woke up. The Chargers got a TD on a punt where Jacob Hester ripped the ball away from the returner and took it to the house. Throw in an onside kick and San Diego had made it a 35-28 game! But the Chargers defense was atrocious and just could not stop the Steelers. Pittsburgh held on 38-28.

Rashard Mendenhall rushed 29 times for 165 yards and 2 TDs.

Misery in Missouri. The Chiefs and Rams are 0-8. Both teams look horrendous.

Cleveland's Maohamed Massaquoi (Georgia) led all NFL receivers with 148 yards.