Over the next several weeks, we’re going to look at several different positions (I can’t yet promise all) to identify the best players wearing each jersey number at each position. If this goes as planned, we’ll then compile a list of the best player wearing each jersey number in the league.

If you have quibbles, or want to add someone I forgot, leave a comment and we’ll update this post. And please have patience – this is a big job.

We started this project with wide receivers in this post and then with tight ends in this post and quarterbacks in this post. Now we move to running backs, who wear numbers between 20 and 49.

20 – Thomas Jones, Jets – It was surprising to hear during this week’s Jets/Patriots game that Jones had moved into the top 30 of all-time NFL rushers. That’s an impressive accomplishment, especially for a guy who struggled as a top-10 overall pick in his first stop in Arizona. But in subsequent stops in Tampa Bay, Chicago, and now New York Jones has proven he can produce. He’s an easy choice here over young whippersnappers Steve Slaton of Houston and Darren McFadden of Oakland. Other notable 20: Justin Forsett, Seahawks

21 – LaDanian Tomlinson, Chargers – LDT is no longer the dominant force he was in his prime years, but if one of the top 10 backs of all time is playing in the league, we have to give him the number nod, even over a stud like Frank Gore of San Francisco or a long-time producer like Fred Taylor of the Patriots. Other notable 21s: Mike Bell, Saints; Ryan Moats, Texans; Javon Ringer, Titans; Melwede Moore, Steelers

22 – Matt Forte, Bears – Forte had an outstanding rookie year last year, but this year he’s been stymied by a subpar offensive line. Still, he gets the nod at this point over Julius Jones of the Seahawks and Fred Jackson of the Bills. Other notable 22s: Peyton Hillis, Broncos; Jacob Hester, Chargers; Chris Brown, Texans; Clifton Smith, Buccaneers

23 – Ronnie Brown, Dolphins – Before suffering a season-ending injury, Brown was continuing to prove himself as one of the league’s top-10 backs. Throw in the fact that he can throw it out of the Wildcat, and Brown gets the nod over Marshawn Lynch of the Bills and Pierre Thomas of the Saints. Other notable 23s: Willis McGahee, Ravens; Shonn Greene, Jets

24 – Marion Barber, Cowboys - Marion the Barbarian isn’t having a dominant year, but he’s still a really good back. We have no choice but to give him the nod over comeback story extraordinare Cadillac Williams of Tampa Bay.

25 – Ryan Grant, Packers – While Reggie Bush’s 25 is a best selling jersey not just in New Orleans but league wide, Grant has been the more consistently productive back over the past three years. So we’ll give Grant the nod over Bush. Other notable 25s: Justin Fargas, Raiders; LenDale White, Titans; Garrett Wolfe, Bears; Jamaal Charles, Chiefs

26 – Clinton Portis, Redskins – Although he’s sidelined by a concussion at the home, Portis’ long and productive career makes him an easy choice here over promising rookie Beanie Wells of Arizona.

27 – Ray Rice, Ravens – Brandon Jacobs of the Giants has a bigger profile, and Larry Johnson of the Bengals has a longer career, but Rice is the best back wearing this number right now. Rice is a threat running and receiving, and he can move the chains as well as bust the big play. So he gets the nod over Jacobs, Johnson, and rookie Knowshon Moreno of the Broncos.

28 – Adrian Peterson, Vikings – This is a close call, because Peterson and Chris Johnson of the Titans – probably the two best backs in the league – both wear the same number. We’ll stick to conventional wisdom and lean toward Peterson in this close call. Otehr notable 28s: Jonathan Stewart, Panthers, Correll Buckhalter, Broncos; Felix Jones, Cowboys; Derrick Ward, Buccaneers; Maurice Morris, Lions

29 – Joseph Addai, Colts – Addai isn’t a great back, but he’s good both as a runner and a receiver when he’s healthy. With Leon Washington of the Jets hurt, Addai is an easy choice at this number. Other notable 29s: LeSean McCoy, Eagles; Michael Bush, Raiders; Glen Coffee, 49ers, Chester Taylor, Vikings

30 – John Kuhn, Packers – Green Bay’s fullback is the only notable back currently wearing 30. Thankfully, he has gotten into the end zone often enough to make this selection look respectable.

31 – Jamal Lewis, Browns – Lewis isn’t the back he once was, but the former 2,000-yard rusher has had a terrific career. He’s the clear choice at this number over rookie Donald Brown of the Colts. Other notable 31s: Rock Cartwright, Redskins; Jason Wright, Cardinals

32 – Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars – Jones-Drew has moved seamlessly from being a part-time back to a full-time guy this year while still producing big numbers in terms of yardage and touchdowns. That gives him the nod over Cedric Benson, who is having a terrific season with the Bengals. Other notable 32: Jerious Norwood, Falcons

33 – Michael Turner, Falcons – The Burner has been incredibly productive since joining the Falcons in 2008, and that makes him the best back wearing 33 over pass-catching specialist Kevin Faulk of New England and short-yardage specialist LeRon McClain of Baltimore. Other notable 33: Justin Griffith, Seahawks

34 – Ricky Williams, Dolphins – Ricky wins the battle of the Williamses over DeAngelo Williams of Carolina based on Ricky’s longer career track record of production. Both are outstandingly talented backs. Other notable 34s: Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers; Kevin Smith, Lions; Tim Hightower, Cardinals; Ovie Mughelli, Falcons; Sammy Morris, Patriots

35 – Jerome Harrison, Browns – It’s slim pickings at this number, so we have to give the nod to Harrison, who has had a moment or two as Jamal Lewis’ backup. Other notable 35s: Owen Schmitt, Seahawks; Dan Kreider, Cardinals; Chad Simpson, Colts

36 – Brian Westbrook, Eagles – Westbrook, who has been a terrific multipurpose back for many years now, is the easy choice at this number. He’s a truly great player. Other notable 36: LaRod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals

37 – Jason McKie, Bears – McKie, the Bears’ fullback, gets the nod here over recent Bengals signee Fui Vakapuna, another fullback. Neither will make fans forget a great fullback wearing 37 – Larry Centers of the Cardinals.

38 – Samkon Gado, Rams – Gado has had a few moments in the league, so although he’s just a backup in St. Louis now, we opt for him over Vikings fullback Naufahu Tahi and injured Dolphins back Patrick Cobbs.

39 – Steven Jackson, Rams – Jackson plays for a terrible team, but he remains a terrific bellweather back for St. Louis. He gets the nod over the declining Willie Parker of Pittsburgh and the inconsistent Laurence Maroney of the Patriots. Other notable 39: Madison Hedgecock, Giants

40 – Brian Leonard, Bengals – As we get into the 40s, we’ll have a harder time finding backs wearing these numbers. Leonard, the Bengals’ do-everything back is the only notable runner wearing 40.

41 – Lorenzo Neal, Raiders – Neal has long been one of the league’s best blocking fullbacks, but his career is winding to a conclusion, which is why he’s bounced around in recent years.

42 – BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Patriots – The law firm, as Green-Ellis is called, has done a good job when called on by the Patriots. Other notable 42s: Tony Fiametta, Panthers; Mike Cox, Chiefs; DeShawn Wynn, Packers

43 – Darren Sproles, Chargers – Sproles, the mite-sized, dynamite-powered Chargers back, gets the nod here over underrated Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver.

44 – Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants – Bradshaw, once the speedy portion of the Giants’ RB trio, has emerged as the team’s best runner this season. He gets the nod over a batch of fullbacks here. Other notable 44s: Heath Evans, Saints; Luke Lawton, Raiders; Vonta Leach, Texans; Moran Norris, 49ers, Jason Snelling, Falcons; Mike Karney, Rams

45 – Mike Sellers, Redskins – In a batch of fullbacks, Washginton’s Sellers gets the nod because of his short-yardage acumen and special-teams impact. Other notable 45s: Ahmard Hall, Titans; Brad Hoover, Panthers; Jerome Felton, Lions

46 – Ladell Betts, Redskins – Betts is the only notable back wearing 46. Thankfully, he’s a solid player who has produced when he has gotten the chance to fill in for Clinton Portis.

47 – Lawrence Vickers, Browns – Vickers, a fullback, is the only notable NFL back wearing 47 right now.

48 – None – Poor Stephen Davis. (We went to the same high school.) No current back is making his former number 48 proud.

49 – Tony Richardson, Jets – Richardson has long been one of the league’s better fullbacks, and he now plies his trade with the Jets after stints in K.C. and Minnesota. He’s the only back currently wearing 49.

NFL Week 8 Analysis

Game Recaps

Texans 31 Bills 10

The Texans showed one very important thing this week: Not only can they win, but they can adapt and make a comeback. In the midst of turnover problems, Houston benched star Steve Slaton. His replacement, Ryan Moats, went on to have a career day. Matt Schaub didn’t have his best day, but the defense and the running game picked him up, and now the Texans are 5-2. The Bills continue to struggle, but their problems aren’t simple. Neither Ryan Fitzpatrick or Trent Edwards can get the job done and they have no passion on either side of the ball. Another week, another loss, and it can only get worse
Game Ball: Ryan Moats had 23 carries for 126 yards and three fourth quarter touchdowns to lead the Texan’s comeback.

Browns 6 Bears 30

There really was no reason the think that Cleveland could be competitive in this game, but at least they got Brady Quinn in the mix, even if it was for only three snaps in the fourth quarter. We could list the Browns problems, but there are too many and it would take a small army to fix them. The Bears, on the other hand, got a win when they needed to. Beating the Browns doesn’t mean much to the average person, but these games are confidence boosters for Jay Cutler… who still didn’t throw a touchdown and had one interception on the day. Sloppy play can still win against Cleveland but it won’t get the Bears very far against teams who can capitalize on their mistakes.
Game Ball: Matt Forte had 26 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks 17 Cowboys 38

Eight games into the season, the Cowboys look refreshed and their offense looks dangerous. Tony Romo is in the groove, and with so many options it’s hard to see where he could go wrong. Romo handed it off to Felix Jones and Marion Barber who combined for 92 yards and a touchdown, or he could pass it to Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton or who? Sam Hurd. The defense is starting to follow suit, showing the same explosive tendencies they did at this time last year. The Seahawks are slowly falling off of everyone’s radar, but it’s not like Matt Hasselbeck isn’t trying.  Hasselbeck went 22 for 49 with 249 and two touchdowns.
Game Ball: Tony Romo went 21 for 36 with 256 yards and three touchdowns.

Rams 17 Lions 10

St. Louis couldn’t be the new Detroit, they just couldn’t. What was special about this win was coach Steve Spagnuolo’s reaction – giving the game ball to everyone and sincerely thanking the team – but the Rams changed a lot this week.  Yes, they were playing the equally challenged Lions, but they really controlled themselves and had patience. They limited the penalties and turnovers, but we can point to one man who controlled this game: Running back Steven Jackson may be wasting his talent in St. Louis, but he is the star of the team by far. Matthew Stafford’s return problem some, but we are sure he will return to form when Calvin Johnson is back in the lineup.
Game Ball: Steven Jackson had 22 carries for 149 yards and one touchdown.

49ers 14 Colts 18

What a weird game? A win is a win in coach Jim Caldwell’s book, and the Colts remain undefeated, but they threw everything out on the field for this one. Frank Gore rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown and Vernon Davis still got the better of the Indianapolis defense, but the Colts battled back. It wasn’t a last second Peyton Manning touchdown pass this time, it was a throw from running back Joseph Addai, who also rushed for 62 yards. This is the latest in close-but-no-cigar losses for San Francisco, who had Michael Crabtree catch six passes for 80 yards but one fumble, and it seems like the team will be on the edge of greatness forever.
Game Ball: Wide receiver Reggie Wayne had a career day with 12 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Dolphins 30 Jets 25

If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Mark Sanchez plays well, the defense shuts down the wildcat, and for some reason special teams can’t make a tackle and allow two 100+ yard touchdowns to ruin their chances. Sanchez had one of his best games, going 20 for 35 with two touchdowns, and the defense limited the rushing game to 62 YARDS. The Jets even won the battle of ball control by ten minutes. Miami is just too resilient a team for New York. A fumble by Shonn Greene in the third quarter may have permanently taken the wind out of the Jets’ sails.
Game Ball: Tedd Ginn Jr. may not be able to catch a pass, but he certainly can play special teams. Ginn had two kickoff returns, one for one hundred yards, and one from 101 yards, for touchdowns.

Giants 17 Eagles 40

No matter how good either team is, these games are usually competitive. This week proved otherwise. The Giants are slowly falling apart, as this week they couldn’t score points or stop the Eagles on defense. There was no hope, especially when Eli Manning throws two interceptions. Even though the Eagles couldn’t seem to stop Brandon Jacobs, who ran for 86 yards, they shut the Giants down in every way. Donovan McNabb took care of the rest, throwing touchdown  passes to his top three receivers: DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek. The Philadelphia rushing game was equally as impressive, with rookie LeSean McCoy running for 86 and Leonard Weaver pulling in another 75.
Game Ball: Donovan McNabb was nearly perfect, completing 17 of 23 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns.

Broncos 7 Ravens 30

From the kickoff to the last second, Baltimore looked like they meant business. Undoubtedly, they were sick of losing close games to AFC opponents. The Ravens put a hurting on the Broncos, literally. Everything that looked good about the Broncos in the first six weeks turned bad: Kyle Orton looked shaky and couldn’t rebound, Knowshon Moreno fumbled and only averaged 3.9 yards per carry. The Ravens, on the other hand, were dominant. They limited the Broncos to only 66 yards rushing, and Joe Flacco handed it off to Ray Rice enough to get into a rhythm and win one of the biggest games of the season. And all this effectively without Willis McGahee.
Game Ball: Ray Rice had 23 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Jaguars 13 Titans 30

We just knew the Titans couldn’t go much longer without a win. You can point to the change at quarterback, because Vince Young played exceptionally well. Or you can point to something more obvious: the fact that Chris Johnson had over half of the Titan’s total offense. The Titans put a game plan together and it worked, even if the Jaguars had more completions to Tennessee than their own team. David Gerrard couldn’t get anything going, and anything the Jags offense did was because of Maurice Jones-Drew and his 177 yard day (including 80 yard and 79 yard touchdown runs). The rest of Tennessee’s schedule is tough from here on out, and this win may have been one of their only chances.
Game Ball: Chris Johnson averages 9.5 yards per carry, with 24 attempts for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

Raiders 16 Chargers 24

San Diego squeaked out  yet another win, but nothing they did Sunday was necessarily special. Phillip Rivers threw an interception, LaDainian Tomlinson could only manage 56 yards, and Darren Sproles was basically non-existant. The only good part of this game was the Shawne Merriman finally broke through for not one but two sacks. The Raiders can’t even manage a highlight reel of their season so far, let alone this game. The defense didn’t even perform well, which really put them in a hole seeing that JaMarcus Russell still couldn’t manage to be a real NFL quarterback.
Game Ball: Vincent Jackson had eight receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown.

Carolina 34 Cardinals 21

A week after surprising New York, the Cards couldn’t get it together. It may be that Jake Delhomme didn’t have an interception, his first game without a turnover all season, but we bet that had nothing to do with it (Delhomme could barely muster 90 yards of offense). It probably has something to do with the Panthers defense, who recovered five interceptions and a fumble from Kurt Warner. All six of Arizona’s turnovers ended well for Carolina, and that was the difference. The bright side is that Steve Smith can stop whining, he caught his touchdown pass all season.
Game Ball: DeAngelo Williams broke through for 158 yards on 23 carries.

Vikings 38 Packers 26

We guess it’s true: Brett Favre always shows up for the big games. The Vikings swept the season series against Green Bay, and this time they outperformed them in every aspect of the game. Favre threw four touchdowns to four different recievers, and Adrian Peterson added one more, while Jared Allen broke through for three sacks. Most people say Aaron Rodgers would be a better quarterback if he wasn’t on the ground half of the time, but this week it was just as easily his fault (the offensive line did no good, but Rodgers held on to the ball way longer than he should have, and he was brought down six times). Favre played his heart out on a field he used to call home, going 17 for 28 with 244 yards and four TDs.
Game Ball: Percy Harvin played his heart out. Not only did Harvin return five punts for 175 yards, but he had 84 yards on five catches for one touchdown.

Falcons 27 Saints 35

One more undefeated, but the Saint’s didn’t have it easy yet again this week. They may be 7-0, but Matt Ryan and Atlanta put up 27 points, and were one two minute drive away from ending New Orlean’s unbeaten streak. More and more we are seeing the Saints defense step up when times are tough, and this week they caught three interceptions and sacked Matt Ryan three times. There really are no downsides to the Saints that we can see so far.
Game Ball: Roddy White had only four receptions for 108 yards an a touchdown.

Week 8 Wrap Up

- Injury Report: After being sacked six times, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is reportedly suffering from not one but two sprains (one on his toe, the other reportedly on the other ankle). Coach Tom McCarthy says Rodgers may miss practice, but expects to play… Anquan Boldin reinjured his ankle against the Panthers Sunday. He will undergo tests, but says “If I can run, I will play football… Texans tight end Owen Daniels will be out the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. He underwent surgery on Monday… Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis will be out four to six weeks with a MCL tear. The Saints released that no surgery will be needed…
- Another week, another Browns story. Browns owner Randy Lerner has come out to the public, saying he is “sick” over the condition of his team. He hinted that he would need a new coach, but that Eric Mangini will not be fired during the bye week. Lerner will reportedly meet with two fans who have been urging a protest of the Browns season for their Monday Night Football game on Nov. 16.
- We’re just waiting for the press conference break down. Coach Jim Mora threatened his 2-5 team after their loss Sunday, saying he would evaluate every position with the organization in the coming weeks.
- Roger Goodell announced that he would ask Congress to respect the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement even if state laws challenge it. This all stems from an incident where New Orleans players were pardoned from steroid use because of Louisiana law.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

Yes, it was Joseph Addai who threw the game-winning touchdown, but it was Reggie Wayne who caught it. Wayne led all recievers with 147 yards, but his one touchdown kept the Colts undefeated. Weirdly enough, this wasn’t the highest posted total for Wayne this season – he had 167 yards in Week 1. Wayne is currently second in the league with overall yardage, but averages only 6 catches per game.

By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)—Lost in all the attention surrounding JaMarcus Russell’s benching in Oakland’s latest blowout loss was a historically bad performance by the Raiders’ shoddy run defense.

Shonn Greene, Thomas Jones and the New York Jets gashed the Oakland Raiders defense for 316 yards rushing in a 38-0 victory, the second-most yards any team has ever recorded on the ground against the Raiders.

“Defensively we have to be tougher than that,” defensive lineman Jay Richardson said. “We have to play better, we have to play our gaps tougher, all of us all across the board. It takes 11 guys to stop the run. We can’t just have a few guys here and there trying to run after it. It takes all of us.”

Instead, there was blame for just about everybody on the Oakland defense on a day the Raiders knew the Jets were going to rely heavily on the run. Coach Tom Cable counted 15 missed tackles, players were out of position on some plays and did a bad job of staying in their gaps.

That all led to the defensive breakdowns in the Raiders’ most lopsided home loss in history.

“I don’t think you would single out any one individual or two individuals or any one position—316 is 316,” Cable said.

That marked just the third time the Raiders had ever allowed 300 yards rushing in a game, giving up a franchise-worst 319 to Seattle in 2001 and 306 to Buffalo Bills in 1962—the year before Al Davis arrived in Oakland

The Jets came into the game vowing to run in order to take some pressure off rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Two early turnovers deep in Oakland territory set up New York for two short touchdown drives in which they gained only 8 total yards.

With the Jets leading 14-0 early, they stuck with the run all day long.

“I think we just started out in some bad situations and it just got progressively worse as the game went on,” defensive lineman Richard Seymour said. “I think it’s important for us to start fast in games and I think once we start fast we can carry it on through the game. But if we start in a hole I think some games are going to be that way and we have to be mentally tough and be able to move forward.”

Seymour said the problems are so basic—tackling and gap integrity—that they shouldn’t be difficult to fix. He said the team needs to do a better job in practice, suggesting that the Raiders may even need to “practice live”— meaning, actual tackling.

Cable said if the problems keep recurring, he would consider doing live tackling in practice, but isn’t at that point yet.

The Raiders are 30th in the league in rushing defense, allowing 169.7 yards per game. They have allowed 32 runs this season of at least 10 yards, one shy of the most in the NFL, and a league-worst 10 runs of at least 20 yards.

The one reprieve this week is Oakland’s opponent, the San Diego Chargers, has the second-worst rushing offense in the league this season at 70.5 yards per game despite having LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles. The Chargers were held to 77 yards rushing in winning the opener at Oakland 24-20 and topped the 100-yard mark for the first time all season last week in Kansas City.

“Based on what we’ve been through a couple of times now in terms of run defense, we’d be fools not to think they would try to run it,” Cable said.

The problem with run defense in Oakland dates back many years, and even a change in defensive coordinator from Rob Ryan to John Marshall this season hasn’t solved it.

Since going to the Super Bowl following the 2002 season, Oakland has had the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 143.6 yards per game on the ground and 133 touchdowns rushing. The Raiders have allowed a 100-yard rusher in more than half of their games the past three years, with nondescript backs such as Ron Dayne, Maurice Morris, Kolby Smith and now Greene all reaching the mark.

The change in coordinator and addition of Seymour and defensive end Greg Ellis this season was supposed to upgrade that facet of Oakland’s defense but the results haven’t shown through just yet.

“It’s never been an ability issue,” Richardson said. “We have all the necessary pieces it’s just about getting everybody to trust each other and do their jobs.”

It's been funny for me. Not so much for Panthers fans

There are many good things that come out of all the wretched teams in the NFL right now. Comic relief is tops on that list. I mean, you couldn’t help but laugh while watching the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. You could basically predict when Jake Delhomme was going to throw an interception. In that moment, you feel as if you have a psychic gift.

But for fantasy purposes, these bad teams are more likely to play backups. Specifically, quarterbacks. Vince Young may be replacing Kerry Collins soon. Delhomme could finally be benched. Alex Smith is the new starter in San Fran. Josh Freeman may see time as a rookie. Ryan Fitzpatrick will get another start in place of Trent Edwards.

And somehow through all of this, JaMarcus Russell is still on the field. What’s not to like about Bruce Gradkowski anyway?

But the point is that if you are having problems at QB, there should be at least some starters available in your league who you can use as a bye-week fill-in or short-term bandage. They may not be very good, but in leagues such as mine that start two quarterbacks, every starting quarterback has value.

Here are some quick thoughts I have on every game in week seven.

Packers 31, Browns 3

For the love of God, sell high on Ryan Grant. Take that predictable effort against Cleveland and sell it for all it’s worth. His fantasy playoff schedule is not favorable.

It’s sad, but Greg Jennings just isn’t an every-week starter any longer. He got more looks and catches than Donald Driver against Cleveland, but it was all short stuff.

Tight end Jermichael Finley was starting to become a nice fantasy player, but it looks like he will be out a few weeks.

You don’t want any Browns player in fantasy. And apparently, some in Cleveland don’t want Eric Mangini.

Texans 24, 49ers 21

It was the right move to name Alex Smith the starting quarterback in San Francisco. All you needed was 30 minutes to see that no matter how much of a draft bust he is, he is still better than Shaun Hill.

To that point, I have to give Vernon Davis’ value a bit of a boost. He and Smith have a clear love connection. And next time, the Texans may want to cover a tight end who runs the skinny post.

Don’t let go of Glen Coffee just yet. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him. Frank Gore did not look good against a beatable Houston defense.

The Texans should just stop running the ball. They can’t do it. It doesn’t work. Just stop. Please.

I still love Steve Slaton on those screens though.

Outside of Brees and the older Manning, there isn’t a QB I trust more in fantasy right now than Matt Schaub. That sounds weird, but the quality and quantity of weapons at his disposal is just unbelievable. It’s like the AFC edition of the New Orleans Saints. Not considering the matchup, I have no problem starting him over the likes of Brady and Rodgers.

Andre Johnson left with a bruised lung, but he should be OK. As the Arizona Cardinals can attest, Johnson is made of steel.

Chargers 37, Chiefs 7

To no one’s surprise, Larry Johnson has been told to stay away from the Chiefs. But he might have no reason to come back in a few days.

GO PICK UP JAMAAL CHARLES NOW!! Screw Shonn Greene, Alex Smith, Fred Davis, etc. Charles is the biggest pick-up this week and should be owned in all leagues. He is fast, quick and can catch passes well. He just needs to improve his ball-handling.

LaDainian Tomlinson. Ten carries inside KC’s 8-yard line. Nine times, he didn’t score and the one time he did, it was nullified by an illegal substitution penalty. He is cooked.

It’s stunning that the Chiefs are ranked just 27th against the pass. With the coverage they played, they should be ranked 35th. Yes, there is 32 teams in the league, but did they even know Vincent Jackson was on the field?

Colts 42, Rams 6

Colts: Great

Rams: Retractable

Keep an eye on injuries to Reggie Wayne and Donald Brown. It sounds like Wayne’s strained groin will be OK, but the news isn’t as optimistic with Brown.

Brown’s injury gives Joseph Addai’s value a bit of a boost, but he’s still a nice No. 2 RB. You shouldn’t really care about backups such as Mike Hart or Chad Simpson.

Steven Jackson ran hard and ran well. He’ll score one of these days, but he should be given a medal of honor for how well he is playing on this wretched team. He is really the only offensive threat on the Rams and is on pace for more than 1,800 total yards.

Sunday: Rams @ Lions. Be there!

Patriots 35, Buccaneers 7

Man, the British must be starting hunger strikes until they get an NFL team after this one. How exciting!!!

Or not.

We were all fooled again! This game taught us to never trust the Patriots’ running game (again). Everyone thought that Laurence Maroney would have a monster day. Instead, a cheap, late TD saved him from a four-point outing.

It was still better than BenJarvus Green-Ellis (seven carries, six yards).

Derrick Ward gets more carries than Cadillac Williams, but neither are very effective. Both guys should still be owned but not started unless you are completely desperate.

I’m still not buying into Antonio Bryant (two catches, 51 yards, touchdown), not with so much uncertainty at quarterback for the Bucs.

Say hello to my newest desktop wallpaper

I say that the Bucs should just keep teaching Freeman and get him ready for 2010. If they play him in this lost season, I think they run the risk of messing with his confidence. Just continue to let Josh Johnson do what he can do and move on.

Steelers, 27, Vikings 17

I know you’ve seen this 10,000 times, but it never hurts to see this again. So pretty. And I love the primal scream at the end.

But Andre Johnson’s massacre still holds the advantage for clip of the year.

Brett Favre throws the ball 50 times in a game for the first time in 2006. Absolutely horrid play-calling by the Vikings, but fantasy owners like it.

How about Adrian Peterson receiving for 60 yards!? Could that mean less of Chester Taylor on third downs?

Sidney Rice leads the week in looks (14) and now has 312 receiving yards in the past two games. He’s a top-20 fantasy WR for the rest of the season, no doubt.

The likely absence of Bernard Berrian may hurt Rice a bit though.

Rashard Mendenhall ran for only 69 yards, but had just 10 carries. I’m not worried about him. With Willie Parker getting just one touch, Mendenhall is the clear No. 1 back in Pittsburgh and a decent No. 2 RB in fantasy.

I’m also not worried about Hines Ward (one catch, three yards). That’s mighty ugly, but just a bump in the road.

Bills 20, Panthers 9

Steve Smith gets 99 yards and fantasy owners celebrate? That’s how bad it’s gotten in Carolina. Continue to try to sell him for whatever. His week seven performance will probably end up being one of his best of the season.

If Delhomme is taken out of the starting lineup, you have to ask yourself if you really think Matt Moore or A.J. Feeley will mean better things for any Panthers wide receiver down the road.

Quick answer: Well, that’s a stupid question, idiot. Absolutely not.

Who is the bigger WR disappointment: Smith or Terrell Owens? I think it’s close, but it’s probably Smith. He was still considered a stud in August while many thought that Owens was over the hill. Owens has shown that he is not only over the hill, but he is tumbling down the side.

The Bills won, but Fred Jackson has to get more than five carries. It wasn’t like Marshawn Lynch played exactly like Eric Dickerson (17 rushes, 40 yards, TD).

Jets 38, Raiders 0

I have a lot to say about what may have been the worst game of the weekend.

You’ve probably asked the question before, but I’ll say it again: Do the Raiders watch their own game tape? I mean, just look at these two quotes about JaMarcus Russell.

From head coach Tom Cable: “I thought he was, for the first time, I thought he was really out of sorts early in the game.”

First time when? First time since Thursday’s practice? Since last week’s game ? He couldn’t have possibly meant first time all season. He has a 47.2 quarterback rating, people!!

And then from Russell on taking blame for a loss: “I don’t think it’s me personally, I really don’t. It’s a bad combination of one guy doesn’t do something right one time.”

First of all, that second sentence makes NO sense. And if you look at this video from 0:56-1:00, what about that play isn’t Russell’s fault????

I hate the Raiders, but talk like this just frustrates the hell out of me. But it’s the Raiders, so I should learn to expect it.

I haven’t seen a very gruesome angle to it, but there are some who compared Leon Washington’s leg injury to the one that ended Joe Theismann’s career. Washington’s lucky he is only 27 years old. He could be a “quick” healer. Still, there may be an outside chance his career is over.

Shonn Greene made a brilliant splash onto the scene Sunday, but he doesn’t do much to affect Thomas Jones’ value because they have pretty similar styles. Greene is still a good pick-up because he’ll probably get 10-15 touches per game.

I really liked what I saw out of Justin Fargas in this game (eight rushes, 67 yards). It’s a shame that he will probably take on a much smaller role once Darren McFadden returns from injury in a few weeks. It is clear that Fargas is the best running back in Oakland right now.

Are we really going to make a big deal about Mark Sanchez eating a hot dog on the sidelines? This is the most meaningless story of the month. I’m sorry, I just don’t get it.

The honeymoon is clearly over for Braylon Edwards (one catch, 14 yards). Oh, and the judge will see you now.

Bengals 45, Bears 10

Thanks for showing up, Chicago!

I’ll give Matt Forte ANOTHER pass this week. The Bears just couldn’t afford to run the ball after halftime.

You probably think this is a good time to sell high on Carson Palmer, but don’t. He has a ton of easy matchups coming up soon. He may not have another five-TD game, but he could be a top-5 QB in the season’s final six weeks. And that should also mean good things for Esteban Ochocinco

Cedric Benson: Fantasy stud. Man, that should make you feel dirty.

That’s another three-turnover game by Jay Cutler. He is certainly not in any trouble of losing his job, but he’s now not looking like the top-10 fantasy QB we thought he was a couple of weeks ago. Jay Cutler is not who we thought he was!

Cowboys 37, Falcons 21

Which surprise WR would you rather want? Sidney Rice or Miles Austin. I think it’s Austin. He has a bit more talent running alongside him to take away some attention and he just looks unstoppable right now. Four touchdowns and 421 yards in two games??? Disgusting.

The Cowboys’ running game is a horse race. Do your homework, pick your horse and hope for the best when they come to the line. I still like Barber the most out of the three, but it’s not a solid endorsement.

Tashard Choice didn’t get a carry because he had to stay into block the Falcons’ blitz. He needs to pray for another injury to Barber or Felix Jones if he wants to get some meaningful playing time.

Seriously scary athleticism

Michael Turner was decent (18 carries, 50 yards, TD) but he continues to show how he was not worth the No. 2 pick in your draft. And he still has about five or six tough matchups left on his schedule.

Saints 46, Dolphins 34

Reggie Bush is still overrated in fantasy, but I don’t think you can make enough out of his jump to the end zone on Sunday. Kid FLEW six yards!

Lance Moore, Jeremy Shockey and Devery Henderson are fine receivers, but with so many hands available in the Saints’ passing game, they aren’t dependable. Only Marques Colston is an every-week start out of this whole group.

Pierre Thomas gets eight carries for 30 yards; Mike Bell gets 12 carries for 80 yards. I’m cautious right now, but I’ll wait one more week before completely panicking about Thomas.

With everything I am saying, it’s hard to believe the Saints won this game.

Ted Ginn is probably headed to the bench after another horrible game, which included this inexcusable gaffe.

Ronnie Brown is a must-start. But I wouldn’t mind looking out there to see what I could get for Ricky Williams after a three-touchdown game. I’m still not a believer in him, even though he handles the ball about 15-20 times a game.

Cardinals 24, Giants 17

Finally, Beanie Wells overtakes Tim Hightower. We knew at the beginning of the season that he was the better runner but injuries slowed him. Now he’s a must-add and I think he is going to have a good second half. Except for a week 13 meeting against the Vikings, the rest of his schedule is absolutely delightful.

Steve Smith got 10 targets, but only caught four balls for 69 yards. But at least Eli Manning is looking for him again after a couple of negligent games.

Before you hype out Hakeem Nicks for a great game, make sure you know that he got had a healthy dose of luck on his side.

This seems to be a little too early for Eli Manning to start his annual late-season slump. But you know that’s still coming,so I would start looking for takers

Brandon Jacobs finally scored! I still think he will score 10 touchdowns this year.

Anquan Boldin does it again. He plays hurt and still puts up some solid numbers (75 yards). He’ll probably be questionable for the rest of the season, but at least it looks like he didn’t suffer a setback.

Hang wit 'em

Eagles 27, Redskins 17

So, was Sherman Lewis responsible for the Washington Redskins’ offensive protection breakdowns, six penalties, bad snaps or dropped passes? This team is not bad because of its coaches. It just has nothing on the offensive line and Jason Campbell is too hesitant in his decision-making.

Still, he needs to be this team’s quarterback, NOT Todd Collins. I can’t stress that enough.

With the offensive line ineffective and Campbell indecisive, no one in that Redskins’ passing game should be starting in your lineup. And the most dependable guy in that air attack is now hurt. At first, it sounded as if Chris Cooley was going to be out for the season with his broken ankle. But now?

Clinton Portis is trying his best, but he is not getting much help and those bone spurs on both of his ankles are going away. Much like with the Panthers’ Steve Smith, just get a fair return for them as soon as possible.

Can someone tell Jon Gruden that DeSean Jackson is not 21 years old? He must have stressed that three times during the broadcast. Jackson is 22 and is less than two months away from being 23. Always fact check, kids.

No matter his age, Jackson had a gigantic game and should be fine after spraining his foot, but Brian Westbrook is almost guaranteed to miss at least one game. LeSean McCoy, anyone?? I love McCoy as a solid flex start in almost any week if Westbrook is out.

Thanks for reading! I think it’s clear that I do not have enough tags for this post.

Analysis of Week 7 in the NFL

Game Recaps

Colts 42 Rams 6

Peyton Manning continues to look strong as the weeks go by, and Indianapolis may be the most overlooked 6-0 team around. Yes, they faced the Rams, but the Colts looked good on both sides of the ball. It is officially scary to watch a quarterback with that much knowledge connect and feel comfortable with that many receivers, and have two running options to choose from.
Game Ball: Peyton Manning went 23 for 34 with 235 yards and three touchdowns.

Vikings 17 Steelers 27

Pittsburgh has played six weeks of ho-hum football, but Sunday they came in firing. That old Pittsburgh defense looked strong with the return of Troy Polamalu, and basically won this game. Once they shut down Adrian Peterson, they shifted to Percy Harvin and batted him around like a rag doll. Brett Favre can’t win them all, but he looked a little more like himself when he threw an interception that really lost them any chance to rally back.
Game Ball: James Farrior anchored the defense, with nine solo tackles, one sack, and one tackle for a loss.

Patriots 35 Buccaneers 7

They really couldn’t ship a more exciting game overseas? People will look at this and see a rout and a nice statistic-boosting game for the Pats, but there was just something that irked us. Tom Brady threw two interceptions, something that any other team would have capitalized on.
Game Ball: Wes Welker caught ten passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

49ers 21 Texans 24

In the battle of the “yeah, buts…” the Texans escaped a comeback for the ages. San Francisco sank to 3-3 but that was not without its bright spots. Michael Crabtree had five catches for 56 yards in his first NFL start, while Alex Smith led a 21 point second half. Matt Schaub looked solid for Houston with two more touchdowns, but a potential injury to wide receiver Andre Johnson drew a dark cloud over the win. The Niners will have to regroup before they try to recover, but they have a very unforgiving schedule going into November.
Game Ball: Alex Smith went 15 for 22 with three touchdowns in only one half of football.

Packers 31 Browns 3

Aaron Rodgers was nearly perfect in Green Bay’s rout, a game that really served as practice for Minnesota next week. Every major player showed up, from Ryan Grant who had 148 yards and one touchdown to Donald Driver who only caught two passes, but took them for 84 yards and a touchdown. Regardless, the Browns are obviously throwing this season away. Keeping Derek Anderson in when he went just 12 for 29 with an interception just to save a couple million bucks is simply pathetic.
Game Ball: Aaron Rodgers went 15 for 20 with 246 yards and three touchdowns.

Chargers 37 Chiefs 7

We’ll say it every week if we have to: for an “offensive genius” Todd Hailey’s offense sure isn’t putting up any numbers. The Chargers needed this win to gel and get their feet on the ground, but it wasnt all good. The running game was still frustrated, even though LaDainian Tomlinson had 71 yards for his best showing of the season.
Game Ball: Phillip Rivers went 18 for 30 with 268 yards and three touchdowns.

Jets 38 Oakland 0

Three bad games usually signal something had to change, and the Jets excelled this week after their offense was jump started. Even without Leon Washington, who was injured in the first half, backup Shonn Greene filled in just fine. Mark Sanchez bounced back by going nine for 15 with 143 yards and one touchdown. Finally, coach Tom Cable took JaMarcus out, even if it took two interceptions and fumble, but we bet it won’t stay out.
Game Ball: Shonne Greene put up 144 yards, for about 7.6 yards a carry, and two touchdowns.

Bills 20 Panthers 9

Every week it becomes more apparent that Jake Delhomme is on his last legs, even after three more interceptions. Maybe the Panthers don’t even notice. When your running backs and defense have all the points, you know your quarterback is inefficient. This was a sloppy game by both sides, but Buffalo took their time and capitalized on Carolina’s mistakes. Ryan Fitzpatrick was definitely not an upgrade over Trent Edwards, but they got the win and that’s what really matters.
Game Ball: Lee Evans had his best game of the season, catching five passes for 75 yards and one touchdown.

Falcons 21 Cowboys 37

We definitely thought this game would be closer than it was, but Matt Ryan can’t afford to play this poorly when his defense is stagnant on a good day. The Cowboys really looked fantastic on all sides of the ball, but Tony Romo was the cream of the crop. Romo hooked up with Miles Austin, wo had another amazing week with 117 yards and tw touchdowns.
Game Ball: Tony Romo went 21 for 29 with 311 yards and three touchdowns.

Bears 10 Bengals 45

This game really shouldn’t have been this big of a rout, but when you allow the Bengals to score on almost every possession in the first half, that’s what happens. Even scarier than the defense was Jay Cutler, who completely lot it and threw three interceptions. Cincinnati on the other hand put on a clinic – Chad Ochocinco had 118 yards and two touchdowns, while Cedric Benson ran for 189 yards and one touchdown.
Game Ball: Carson Palmer went 20 for 24 with five touchdowns and 233 yards.

Saints 46 Dolphins 34

You want excitement? Try ten touchdowns and five interceptions. New Orleans won, even though Drew Brees didn’t put up his normal numbers. The Saints remained unbeaten by not allowing the ’Phins to control the ball and the game. Miami learned an important lesson – you can’t play three quarters and think your going to win.
Game Ball: Ricky Williams had nine carries for 89 yards and three touchdowns.

Cardinals 24 Giant 17

Last week, the defense was a question for New York. They never answered, and now the entire offense should be added to the list. Eli Manning  Manning threw three interceptions, but his receivers – with the exception of Hakeem Nicks – were dropping balls constantly. Brandon Jacobs wasn’t a force and Ahmad Bradshaw was shaky and fumbled. It was a debacle, and the Giants are falling fast.
Game Ball: Beanie Wells won his job back, going 67 yards on 14 carries with his first career touchdown.

Eagles 27 Redskins 17

There just isn’t enough time to write about where the Redskins go wrong each week. There were, however, some things that the ‘Skins could build on this week. Jason Campbell got  beat up, but looked a little more awake and alert. Washington’s defense was also in the mix, holding the Eagles to only 27 points (I know… only…). The Eagles bounced back from their loss to Oakland, but they did look a little sloppy. Donovan McNabb wasn’t on his game, and the pass rush was horrendous, allowing Jason Campbell to connect for 246 yards. Both teams need time to grow, and the game left a lot of things to work on for both sides.
Game Ball: DeSean Jackson was impressive, with both a rushing and a passing touchdown. He had one carry for 67 yards and only two receptions for 69.

Week 7 Wrap Up

- Injury Report: Jets running back Leon Washington broke his leg in the first half of the Jets win on Sunday. He had surgery immediately afterwards, but will be out for the rest of the season… Texans receiver Andre Johnson left the game early and was taken to the hospital with a “bruised chest”. Houston later released that he had a bruised rib and is day to day… Bills QB Trent Edwards will reportedly sit out another week with concussion symptoms. No word if the Bills are making this up so they can start Ryan Fitzpatrick or they really want Edwards to get better… Dolphins cornerback Will Allen will be sidelined for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, as will Rams CB Bradley Fletcher… Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was removed from Sundays game following a knee injury. He will undergo tests Tuesday to see the severity…  Brian Westbrook was taken out of the Eagles victory against Washington with an injury in the first half, then showed up in street clothes ten minutes later. The Eagles announced he had a concussion. No word yet on how long he will be out…
- After an exceptional second half of football, it seems that former No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith is going to get his starting job back as quarterback of the 49ers. Smith led a 21-point comeback after he replaced Shaun Hill, but the Niners still lost. On the flip side, a couple of discouragingly bad QBs still have their job. JaMarcus Russell and Derek Anderson were both given votes of confidence by their head coaches Monday. Panthers brass are still deciding on the fate of Jake Delhomme.
- The Dallas Cowboys extended DeMarcus Ware’s contract Monday morning, totaling $80 million for six years.
- After Sunday’s that left them winless, Kansas City running back Larry Johnson took to Twitter to bash his coaches and team. After grumpily swearing at reporters after the game, he apparently went home to tweet about  coach Todd Hailey. The tweets included criticism, and Johnson even said that his own father would be better.
- Newly aquired Jets reciever Braylon Edwards was officially charged with assault after a nightclub incident that ultimately got him traded. Edwards had only one reception in the Jets 38-0 win over Oakland Sunday.

And the UDU Game Ball Goes to…

Carson Palmer was the leader in the Bengals’ biggest win so far this season. After a couple of below-average starts, he came out and led the Cincinnati offense to scoring seven times on their first seven possessions. Palmer went 20 for 24 with 233 yards and five… yes we said five… touchdowns.

By Jerry McDonald
Oakland Tribune

If JaMarcus Russell seemed puzzled about his benching in favor of Bruce Gradkowski on Sunday, he understands better the thinking of coach Tom Cable a day later.

“I think talking to him today, he’s pretty clear on what went on,” Cable said at his weekly media briefing Monday.

Gradkowski replaced Russell with 5:51 left in the first half and the Oakland Raiders trailing 21-0 and played the rest of the game in a 38-0 loss to the New York Jets.

Two Russell turnovers on a sack-plus-fumble and an interception thrown blindly under pressure set up two Jets drives at the Raiders’ 4-yard line. Both resulted in touchdowns.

Russell, who has completed only 46.3 percent of his passes (74-for-160) later threw an interception in the end zone when the Raiders had reached the New York 33. His 47.2 passer rating is ahead of only Cleveland’s Derek Anderson among NFL starters.

Russell will start again Sunday when the Raiders visit the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

After the game, Russell said he was OK with his decision-making process and wasn’t “out of sorts,” as Cable said in his postgame news conference.

Cable said the two talked Monday — Russell was not available for comment — and set their sights on the Chargers.

“If I know JaMarcus, he’ll learn from this, he’ll grow, and we’ll have a good week and he’ll go out and play like he’s supposed to and capable of (playing),” Cable said.

Cable took partial blame for the lost fumble by calling a deep pass play with four vertical patterns at the Oakland 10. But he also noted Russell had the Raiders in the wrong formation at the time.

On an interception returned 44 yards by Jim Leonhard, Cable said, “There wasn’t anybody to throw the ball to.” Regarding a pass into the end zone intended for Todd Watkins intercepted by Darrelle Revis, Cable said, “You see it on film and it’s pretty obvious that would have been a tough play for Superman.”

Tight end Zach Miller said he didn’t notice anything “out of sorts” about Russell’s composure or rhythm but said, “The turnovers were big. They were big turnovers that led to 14 points and then an interception in the end zone that could have been seven points for us if it was incomplete and we go to the next down. I think that’s why he was out of sorts.”

• There was no mystery in Cable’s eyes as to why the Raiders gave up 316 rushing yards on 54 carries or why the Jets’ Shonn Greene (144 yards on 19 carries) and Thomas Jones (121 yards on 26 carries) both went over 100 yards.

“It’s having trust in each other and belief in each other,” Cable said. “When you believe in each other, great things will happen.”

Cable counted 15 missed tackles, numerous missed alignments and improper gap control. The Raiders have given up more yards only once in their history —Seattle Seahawks gained 319 yards in 2001, a day in which Shaun Alexander gained 266 yards on 35 carries.

“They were doing a pretty good job gashing us for big gains,” defensive end Trevor Scott said.

• Discussing the low fan turnout — 39,543, the lowest since 1968 for a regular-season game in Oakland — Cable acknowledged difficult economic times but noted, “When it comes down to being a fan, a loyal fan and all that, you want to see a good team.”
• Miller, who caught two passes for 15 yards, conceded the Raiders are not built to come back after falling behind. “When we get taken out of running the ball, we’re not a very good team,” Miller said. “Our passing offense just isn’t good enough.”
• Cable said the potential availability of left guard Robert Gallery (broken fibula), running back Darren McFadden (knee), right tackle Cornell Green (calf) and wide receiver Chaz Schilens (foot) would be better measured Wednesday, when the Raiders begin preparations for San Diego. The Raiders reported no new injuries that should sideline players for the Chargers.

By Jerry McDonald
Oakland Tribune

PASSING GAME: F

JaMarcus Russell was pulled from the game after three turnovers, two which led directly to New York Jets‘ scores. Bruce Gradkowski produced a few plays but no points.

RUNNING GAME: C

Might be more appropriate to award an “incomplete” because the Oakland Raiders rushed just 19 times for 119 inconsequential yards.

PASS DEFENSE: C-

The Jets didn’t throw much, but Mark Sanchez made the most of it when they did (9-for-15, 143 yards, 1 TD, 114.0 rating).

RUN DEFENSE: F

Fifty-four carries, 316 yards, with both Shonn Greene (19 carries, 144 yards) and Thomas Jones(26 carries, 121 yards) over 100.

SPECIAL TEAMS: D

Brandon Myers‘ illegal block pinned the Raiders at the 10 before the first turnover. Punt return caught napping on Steve Weatherford run for first down.

COACHING: D-

All the enthusiasm and spirit generated against Philadelphia evaporated after first score. Not ready to play in any phase.

Each week, we dive into the stat sheets to see which weekly performers fantasy owners should applaud and which fantasy owners should write off as frauds. You can read past applaud or a fraud analyses in the category listing. And if we’re changing a past recommendation, we’ll include it here as well.

Quarterbacks

Jake Delhomme, Panthers – Delhomme threw for 325 yards, but he also threw three more interceptions. A benching is a possibility. So don’t get fooled and pick up Delhomme based on this yardage total. He’s not ownable unless all 32 starting quarterbacks are owned in your league. Verdict: A fraud

Brett Favre, Vikings – We discussed Favre in more detail in this post. We’re giving him thumbs-down as a top-12 fantasy quarterback. Verdict: A fraud

Carson Palmer, Bengals – Palmer threw five TD passes in the Bengals’ blowout of the Bears. He’s now thrown 13 TD passes on the year, which is just less than 2 per game, and has 1,608 passing yards. We’ll talk more about Palmer in a post later this week, but for now we’ll say he still falls just outside the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks. That means we have to give him a very measured thumbs-down as a starting fantasy quarterback. Verdict: A fraud

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - We discussed Roethlisberger in more detail in this post. We’re clapping for him as a top-10 fantasy quarterback. Verdict: Applaud

Alex Smith, 49ers - The 49ers pulled starter Shaun Hill at halftime and replaced him with Smith, the former No. 1 overall pick. Smith responded with a sharp performance, throwing three TD passes to Vernon Davis and going 15-for-22 for 206 yards. Note that the 49ers were down 21 when Smith came in, so he got to throw a lot more than the 49ers usually want to, but his performance will make him a starter next week at least. If you need a fill-in quarterback, Smith is now a pickup option. Verdict: Applaud

Running Backs

Justin Fargas, Raiders – Fargas had 67 yards rushing and 90 yards from scrimmage this week against the Jets, marking his second straight game with at least 90 yards. He’s the Raiders back you want, at least until Darren McFadden returns. Fargas is also a borderline fantasy No. 3 back and a possible starter given your bye week and injury situation. Verdict: Applaud

Shonn Greene, Jets – Greene, a rookie out of Iowa, busted out with 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Raiders Sunday. One of the factors was the blowout, which gave the rookie more opportunity. But the fact that Leon Washington suffered a season-ending injury is a bigger factor. Greene must be picked up this week, because he immediately assumes a fantasy role for the Jets. We’ll have to see whether that role makes him flex-position worthy going forward, but grab Greene now and figure out the rest later. Verdict: Applaud

Steven Jackson, Rams - Even on a bad team, Jackson continues to produce good yardage for fantasy owners. He had 134 yards in St. Louis’ loss to Indy and has at least 85 yards from scrimmage in each game since Week 2. The touchdowns aren’t coming, but Jackson is still a top-10 fantasy back. I’d much rather have him than LaDanian Tomlinson (see below). Verdict: Applaud

Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers – We discussed Mendenhall in more detail in this post. We’re clapping for him as a top-20 fantasy running back – but barely. Verdict: Applaud

Darren Sproles, Chargers – Sproles had a 58-yard touchdown catch along with 41 receiving yards against the Chiefs, but he had just eight total offensive touches. Now that Tomlinson is healthy, Sproles’ chances have really slipped off, and that’s a problem for fantasy owners. Sproles is worth owning, but it’s going to be hard to start him in normal-sized leagues (12 teams or less) unless Tomlinson gets hurt again. Verdict: A fraud

LaDanian Tomlinson, Chargers – At one point late in Sunday’s game, Chris Mortenson tweeted that Tomlinson had seven goal-line carries without a touchdown. That’s a bad sign for a player who once made his mark as the premier scoring machine in the league. Tomlinson has just one touchdown this year, and it looks like that stat is more of a trend than a fluke. Tomlinson had 71 rushing yards and and two receiving yards, and he can do a little better than that, but he’s no longer a top 10 fantasy back. He could fall out of the top 20 soon. It’s over, folks. Verdict: A fraud

Ricky Williams, Dolphins – Williams has quietly had a good season, and that quiet season got loud Sunday when he ran for 80 yards and three touchdowns vs. the Saints. Even as he shares time with Ronnie Brown, Williams is a borderline fantasy starter and a great flex option on a weekly basis. Don’t forget about him. Verdict: Applaud

Wide Receivers

Sam Aiken, Patriots – With Joey Galloway gone, Aiken steps into the role of the Patriots’ No. 3 receiver. He took advantage with a 54-yard touchdown in London vs. Tampa Bay, his first score in his seven-year career. Aiken, who finished with two catches for 66 yards, is still behind TE Benjamin Watson in the pecking order from a fantasy perspective, and rookie Brandon Tate (a recent activation from the physically-unable-to-perform list) could surpass his fellow UNC alum, but for now Aiken has his chance. Given how the Pats’ offense is rolling now, that makes him worth a claim in leagues of 12 teams or more just in case he turns into a regular part of the offense. Verdict: Applaud

Miles Austin, Cowboys - Austin went from a fantasy supersleeper three weeks ago to a breakout player last week to the point where he’s now a guy you must start. He may not have two touchdowns or 170-plus yards every week like he has the last couple of weeks, but he’s clearly the Cowboys’ best receiver. Right now fantasy owners should start him no matter what. Verdict: Applaud

David Clowney, Jets – Clowney has long been a receiver the Jets (and fantasy owners) thought would be good, and he finally broke out this week with 79 yards and a touchdown vs. the Raiders. Clowney has two four-catch games this year, but those are his only eight grabs of the year. He’s worth claiming in large (14 teams or more) leagues, but that’s all we can recommend with him right now. Verdict: A fraud

Michael Crabtree, 49ers - In his NFL debut, Crabtree had a nice fantasy game with 66 yards on five catches. Don’t get carried away and start Crabtree – remember, the 49ers were in comeback mode most of the game – but he’s worth picking up if he’s still available in your league. Verdict: Applaud

Donald Driver, Packers - Driver had his third touchdown of the season against Cleveland, and he now has at least 55 yards receiving in each game since Week 2. He’s the top fantasy receiver in Green Bay, not Greg Jennings, and therefore a guy you can feel comfortable starting every week. Verdict: Applaud

Malcom Floyd, Chargers - Floyd has been a fantasy afterthought, but he has emerged as the Chargers’ No. 2 wideout over Chris Chambers. He has been up and down this year, with a no-catch game and a one-catch game, but he had at least 45 yards in his other three games, and he ha his first touchdown of the season Sunday vs. the Chiefs. But he had just two catches for nine yards. He’s a name to know, but he’s not worth a waiver claim yet. Verdict: A fraud

Brian Hartline, Dolphins – The rookie out of Ohio State had three catches for 94 yards against the Saints, more than doubling his season total for receiving yards. He’s an interesting prospect, but his fantasy relevance probably will arrive in 2010, not this year. Verdict: A fraud

Chad Ochocinco, Bengals – Good ol’ 8-5 had 10 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns this week, affirming that he is back to being a No. 1 fantasy wideout. He’s a top-10 guy going forward. Verdict: Applaud

Sidney Rice, Vikings – We discussed Rice in more detail in this post. We’re clapping for him as a top-25 fantasy wide receiver and an every-week fantasy starter. Verdict: Applaud

Bobby Wade, Chiefs - Wade, the former Viking who landed with the Chiefs after the season started, has become a solid option for K.C. He had four catches for 66 yards against the Chargers, which was his second-best game of the season. Wade won’t pile up big numbers, but if you’re desperate for a receiver in a league of 14 teams or more, he’s a nice option. Otherwise, stay away. Verdict: A fraud

Mike Wallace, Steelers – We discussed Wallace in more detail in this post. We’re clapping for him as a top-40 fantasy wideout and therefore someone who is worth a roster spot. Verdict: Applaud

Tight Ends

Gary Barnidge, Panthers – The Panthers’ tight end corps is confusing. Dante Rosario and Jeff King each have touchdowns this season, and Barnidge piled up 77 yards against the Bills this week. But note that Sunday’s three catches were Barnidge’s first three of the year and that most of his yardage came on one 52-yard catch and run. Don’t get fooled by this stat line. Verdict: A fraud

Vernon Davis, 49ers - We recommended Davis last week, and he blew up this week with 7 catches for 93 yards and three TDs. It’s silly to predict that much scoring on a weekly basis, but he’s a startable tight end in any fantasy league. The potential is now production. Verdict: Applaud

By The Associated Press

SCOREBOARD

Monday, Oct. 26

Philadelphia at Washington (8:30 p.m. EDT). The Eagles look to rebound after last week’s loss to the  Raiders as they meet the turmoil-filled Redskins in an NFC East matchup.

STARS

Passing

— Brett Favre, Vikings, was 34 of 51 for 334 yards in Minnesota’s 27-17 loss to Pittsburgh, its first of the season.

— Tony Romo, Cowboys, was 21 of 29 for 311 yards and three touchdowns in Dallas’ 37-21 win over Atlanta.

— Tom Brady, Patriots, finished 23 for 32 for 308 yards and two touchdowns in New England’s 35-7 win over Tampa Bay.

— Carson Palmer, Bengals, was 20 of 24 and 233 yards and five touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 45-10 win over Chicago.

— Peyton Manning, Colts, was 23 of 34 yards for 235 yards and three touchdowns in Indianapolis’ 42-6 win over St. Louis.

Rushing

— Cedric Benson, Bengals, had 37 carries for a career-high 189 yards and a touchdown in Cincinnati’s 45-10 win over Chicago.

—Ryan Grant, Packers, had 27 carries for 148 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay’s 31-3 win over Cleveland.

— Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones, Jets. Greene ran for 144 yards and two scores, and Jones had 121 yards and a touchdown in New York’s 38-0 win over Oakland.

— Steven Jackson, Rams, finished with a season-best 134 yards in St. Louis’ 42-6 loss to Indianapolis.

Receiving

— Miles Austin, Cowboys, had six receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in Dallas’ 37-21 win over Atlanta.

— Vincent Jackson, Chargers, finished with five receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown in San Diego’s 37-7 win over Kansas City.

— Sidney Rice(notes), Vikings, had 11 catches for 136 yards in Minnesota’s 27-17 loss to Pittsburgh.

— Owen Daniels, Texans, finished with seven catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in Houston’s 24-21 win over San Francisco.

— Chad Ochocinco, Bengals, had 10 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 45-10 win over Chicago.

Special Teams

— Percy Harvin, Vikings, ran back a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown in a 27-17 loss to Pittsburgh.

— Nick Folk, Cowboys, was 3 for 3 on field goals in Dallas’ 37-21 win over Atlanta.

— Nate Kaeding, Chargers, made three field goals in San Diego’s 37-7 win

Defense

— Calvin Pace, Jets, had three sacks in New York’s 38-0 win over Oakland.

— Darren Sharper, Saints, returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in New Orleans’ 46-34 win over Miami.

— Jairus Byrd, Bills, had two interceptions in Buffalo’s 20-9 win over Carolina.

—Brandon Meriweather, Patriots, had two interceptions and ran one back 39 yards for a touchdown in New England’s 35-7 win over Tampa Bay.

STREAKS

The Colts beat the Rams 42-6 for their 15th straight regular-season victory and set a franchise record with their eighth straight road victory. The Colts are 6-0 for the fourth time in five seasons. The Rams (0-7) lost their 17th straight regular-season game. … The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also fell to 0-7 on the season and saw their losing streak extended to 11 games overall. … The Chargers won their third in a row in Kansas City for the first time since 1981. The Chiefs have lost 10 straight at home. … The Browns have scored just four offensive touchdowns and 72 points all season.

MANY FOURTH-QUARTER RETURNS

The Vikings-Steelers game was the first in NFL history to feature three return touchdowns of 75 yards or longer in a fourth quarter. All three scores— two by Pittsburgh, one by Minnesota—came in the final 6 1/2 minutes of Pittsburgh’s 27-17 victory. LaMarr Woodley returned Brett Keisel forced fumble of Brett Favre 77 yards to push the Steelers’ lead to 20-10 with 6:23 remaining. Percy Harvin answered 14 seconds later with an 88-yard kickoff return. The Steelers completed the frantic fourth quarter by scoring on linebacker Keyaron Fox 82-yard return of an interception with one minute remaining.

MILESTONES

After gaining 318 yards rushing last week, the Jets became the sixth team to top 300 in consecutive games, and first since Buffalo did it in 1975. … San Francisco’s Michael Crabtree started in his NFL debut and had five receptions for 56 yards. … Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs (7,214) moved into 18th place in career return yards, passing Bruce Harper (7,191). … Saints PK John Carney became the fourth NFL player to score 2,000 points.

STATS

The Saints overcame a 21-point deficit to beat Miami 46-34 and remained the only unbeaten team in the NFC. They are off to their best start since 1991 … The Colts’ Dwight Freeney ran his sack streak to seven straight games—three off the NFL record. … Darren Sharper has 11 career interception return touchdowns, the second-most in NFL history behind Hall of Famer Rod Woodson’s 12. Sharper has three interception return touchdowns this season. … Pittsburgh hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in its past 25 regular-season games. … Buffalo won its second straight despite being outgained 425-167 against Carolina. … The Bengals improved to 5-2 for the first time since 2005.

NO-FLY ZONE

Arizona’s 24-17 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night was just the Cardinals’ third in 18 games at the Meadowlands. It was the Cardinals’ last regular-season visit to Giants Stadium, which will be replaced by a new Meadowlands stadium next season.

SIDELINED

New York Jets running back Leon Washington broke his right leg in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders and underwent surgery after the game. Washington went down on his only carry when a defender rolled up on his right leg after a 6-yard run. Teammates said the bone broke through the skin, and it was visible on the field. Washington was helped off the field by two trainers and then taken away on a cart. He was diagnosed with a broken right fibula and underwent surgery immediately after the Jets’ 38-0 victory. The team said he would be out indefinitely. … Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson bruised his chest in the Texans’ 24-21 win over San Francisco, and coach Gary Kubiak said he was taken to a hospital to be examined. … New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was forced from the game against Miami because of a sprained right knee.

SPEAKING

“I think it’s a privilege to come over here and get to enjoy this type of experience. It will probably never happen again for us, so we’ll retire 1-0 internationally.”—Patriots QB Tom Brady, whose team beat Tampa Bay 35-7 in Wembley Stadium.

“I don’t think we could have beaten an Oakland high school team today.” Raiders defensive lineman  Richard Seymour after a 38-0 loss to the New York Jets. Earlier in the week, Seymour said the Raiders would make the playoffs.

For a while in the early part of this decade, it seemed like the Oakland Raiders ripped my heart out every year.

They beat the Jets big, they beat them small. They beat them in the regular season, they beat them in the playoffs. OK, no more Dr. Seuss-like pronouncements. But basically, the Raiders owned the Jets.

That’s why Sunday was so sweet for me, and for, I’m sure, all the Jets fans out there. Sunday, against one of the worst NFL teams I have ever seen, Gang Green beat the ever-loving stuffing out of the Raiders, 38-0.

Except for one horrible injury to Leon Washington, who suffered a broken fibula and about whom a teammate said “I could see blood spurting out. I’ve never seen anything like that before” (lovely), it was a sensational day for the Jets.

They finally did what they should’ve done last week: run, run, and run some more, and throw the ball only when absolutely necessary.

Thomas Jones looked terrific, as did rookie Shonn Greene (though, unlike the Mets’ Shawn Green, I don’t think is Jewish), who replaced Leon Washington.

Mark Sanchez did just enough, though I have no freakin’ idea why he was still in the game to take a couple of hellacious hits late in the fourth quarter. Sanchez was poised, confident, and made the throws he needed to make. And really, that’s all we should ask of the kid. These Jets fans who are ready to throw him out after a few bad games are morons. The kid has now started 23 games since high school.

The Jets defense was outstanding (welcome to the season, Calvin Pace, you of your two strip sacks), and JaMarcus Russell, God bless you for being so awful. He basically gave the Jets their first two touchdowns. I was legitimately sad when the Raiders pulled him.

Losing Leon is a huge blow; his dangerous kickoff returns alone make him a big asset. But with this win, the Jets stay a game back of New England, and have a chance at some Dolphins revenge next week.

Man, this Jets team is hard to figure after 7 weeks: Three straight wins, then three straight losses, now a resounding win. Ask me around Thanksgiving and I’ll be able to tell you if they’re any good or not.

Some other quick-hit thoughts on this NFL Sunday:

**Good God the Saints are explosive. Down 24-3, they scored 43 points in the last two quarters and the last minute of the first half. Forty-three! Couldn’t happen at a better time, against the hated Dolphins. Thanks, Drew Brees. If the 4-3 Jets can beat 2-4 Miami next week at the Meadowlands, that could just bury the ‘Fins’ playoff hopes. Lovely.

**Ah, that’s the Brett Favre I remember from last season. A fumble in the fourth quarter in the red zone against Pittsburgh, returned for a touchdown, then an INT that wasn’t his fault a few minutes later.

**So someone please tell me how JaMarcus Russell is still a starting quarterback in the NFL. If he’s an NFL quarterback, I’m Manute Bol.

**Go ahead, you figure out the Cincinnati Bengals.

**As for the New York Yankees, I of course am thrilled to see them finish off those poor-fielding Angeles of Los Angeles, 5-2 Sunday night. It seems like it’s been a lot longer than six years since the Bronx Bombers have been in the Series, but that’s probably just something obnoxious Yankee fans like me think sometimes.

Couple thoughts:

1. This will be a longer post this week, but the Yankee fans’ adoration of Alex Rodriguez is something I never thought I’d see. Much like with Bill Clinton, I’ve always been so conflicted about him, myself.

2. It amazes me what pressure can do to human beings. The Angels were a fantastic defensive team in the regular season. But in the pressure cooker of October, they melted like an egg on a sidewalk in Florida in July.

3. Also, memo to FOX baseball directors: We really don’t need to see a fan reaction shot to EVERY out. And why do we care if Giuliani’s at the game anymore? He hasn’t been the mayor since 2001.

**Finally, I was watching a Rangers game Saturday night through the NHL’s free preview of its Center Ice Package, and the telecast was a “Hockey Night in Canada” production. Always a good time. Anyway, I heard a promo for something that I couldn’t believe was real, but apparently it is.

There’s a Canadian sitcom called “Little Mosque on the Prairie.” Seriously. According to the show’s web site, it’s an internationally-acclaimed comedy about Muslims and Christians attempting to live in harmony in the small town of Mercy, Saskatchewan.

This brings to mind all kinds of jokes in my head (would Laura Ingalls Wilder ever go to Mecca?), but I’m sure many of them would be offensive.

Anyway, here’s a clip of the show, from the first episode: I found it interesting.

FIRST QUARTER
- Jets (RB)Thomas Jones rushes for a TD
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Chris Henry for a TD
- Falcons (QB)Matt Ryan passes to (WR)Roddy White for a TD
- Bills (RB)Marshawn Lynch rushes for a TD
- Jets (QB)Mark Sanchez rushes for a TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for a TD
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Chad Ochocinco for a TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for a TD

SECOND QUARTER
- Panthers(D/ST) Panthers (DT)Hollis Thomas and (DE)Tyler Brayton get safety
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (TE)John Paul Foschi for a TD
- Jets (RB)Shonn Greene rushes for a TD
- Dolphins (RB)Ronnie Brown rushes for a TD
- Cowboys (QB)Tony Romo passes to (WR)Miles Austin for a TD
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Laveranues Coles for a TD

THIRD & FOURTH QUARTER
- Bills (QB)Ryan Fitzpatrick passes to (WR)Lee Evans for a TD
- Jets (QB)Mark Sanchez passes to (WR)David Clowney for a TD
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Chad Ochocinco for a TD
- Cowboys (QB)Tony Romo passes to (WR)Patrick Crayton for a TD
- Falcons (RB)Michael Turner rushes for a TD
- Cowboys (QB)Tony Romo passes to (WR)Miles Austin for a TD
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees rushes for a TD
- Saints(D/ST) Saints (S)Darren Sharper **42 Yard Interception Return for a TD**
- Bengals (RB)Cedric Benson rushes for a TD
- Jets (RB)Shonn Greene rushes for a TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (WR)Devin Hester for a TD
- Panthers (RB)DeAngelo Williams rushes for a TD
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees passes to (WR)Marques Colston for a TD
- Cowboys(D/ST) Cowboys (WR)Patrick Crayton **73 Yard Punt Return for a TD**
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for a TD
- Saints (RB)Reggie Bush rushes for a TD
- Falcons (QB)Matt Ryan passes to (WR)Eric Weems for a TD
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees rushes for a TD
- Saints(D/ST) Saints (CB)Tracy Porter **54 Yard Interception Return for a TD**

This college football weekend is headlined with several bigtime match ups, and while most eyes will be on the Florida vs. LSU game, football fans may not realize that there is another great game in the Big Ten–yes, I said it.  The Big Ten has had some exciting games this season, too, and with a combined record of 9-1, the Michigan-Iowa game this weekend should be a good one.

College FootBlog will break down each team’s strengths, weaknesses and we will show what each team will need to do to come out of the weekend with a very important win in Big Ten play.

Iowa 

DE Adrian Clayborn will try to shut down Forcier and the Michigan offense (google images)

Strengths:  The Hawkeye defense has been very good this season, holding a veteran Penn State offense to just ten points in Happy Valley a couple weeks ago.

Adrian Clayborn and company will have to continue to play sound defense as they square off against one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country this weekend in Tate Forcier.

Key Concerns:  Although quarterback Ricky Stanzi has shown significant improvement this season, his stats are still far from stellar this season. 

With the departure of Shonn Greene, the Hawkeyes have had to rekindle the offense.  Stanzi has thrown the football with much more confidence this year, but his 58% completion percentage and 8/7 touchdown to interception ratio is not going to get him All-Big Ten recognition.  If Iowa is going to win this game, Stanzi is going to have to put up better numbers than he has so far this season.

Tate Forcier has stepped up like a seasoned veteran this season (google images)

Michigan

Strengths:  Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier has given head coach Rich Rodriguezhis trigger-man for his spread offense.  Forcier has kept the Wolverines in each game, and very nearly brought his team back against rival Michigan State last weekend.

Forcier has accounted for over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and eleven touchdowns with his feet and his arm.  More importantly, the young signal-caller thrives in big games.  Expect him to bring his A-game this weekend.

Key Concerns:  The Wolverine defense has been sliced and diced this season when playing formidable opponents.  If you take away the games against Eastern and Western Michigan, Michigan has given up 93 points in three games.

While Iowa is not an offensive juggernaut, neither is Indiana.  Even the Hoosiers racked up 467 yards and 33 points against the Big Blue.  The defense will have to play much better if they expect to come out of Iowa City with a win.

Iowa Offense vs. Michigan Defense

While Ricky Stanzi has been a little up and down this year, look for him to have a solid game in front of the home crowd at Kinnick Stadium this weekend.  Michigan’s defense is a little behind Rodriguez’ offense, and it has shown.  The lack of a shutdown defense ended up catching up with the Wolverines last weekend and nearly cost them against Indiana and Notre Dame.  Stanzi’s passing and the two talented freshmen running backs, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher should have a solid day.  EDGE:  Iowa

Michigan Offense vs. Iowa Defense

Kirk Ferentz once again has a solid defensive unit.  They have played extremely well all season, but they have not faced a dual-threat quarterback like Forcier.  The ‘Hawks should slow down the Michigan attack, but stopping Forcier all together is a tall order.  Michigan will represent the best offensive attack that Iowa has faced so far this year.  Look for Forcier to lead his team to some scores this weekend.  EDGE:  Michigan

Special Teams

Iowa’s junior kicker Daniel Murray will get to kick in the friendly confines of Kinnick, and the kick returners, Brandon Wegher and  5′9″ speedster Paul Chaney are very solid.  Michigan will counter with senior place-kicker Jason Olesnavage and two very talented return men in Greg Matthews and Martavious Odoms.   EGDE:  Push

Prediction

Lately, College FootBlog’s predictions have been the kiss of death for the predicted winner.  This game is very evenly matched, but I think Iowa’s defense and the game being in Iowa City could give the Hawkeyes the very slight edge in this one.  Score Prediction:  Iowa wins 27-24

In the preview for the Saints game, I took a look at how opponents of New Orleans had done in establishing the run.  None we successful…and we can add the Jets to that list.  The totals from the game weren’t horrible (27 carries for 132 yards) but there was never a time in the game where the Jets were consistently moving the ball up the field.  That brings me to the bad news…

The Bad News

Mark Sanchez is a rookie.  For the first time this season, he reminded us of that.  The Saints keyed in on the running game, and made Sanchez beat them, and he didn’t.  There really isn’t much more to say about this game then that.  You can’t give a team like the Saints two TD’s.  Doing that took the run out of it…I still can’t believe Leon only had 4 carries.  On the positive side, Sanchez knew he was playing an awful game, but still remained aggressive (you had to like him taking out Jonathan Vilma on Darren Sharper’s INT return, even if it was a penalty and a little cheap).  You have to like his attitude and ability to bounce back.

The Good News

Believe it or not, there are a few positives to take away from this loss.  First of all, the defense IS DOMINANT.  We went up against the best offense in the league, and won most battles, including a goal line stand that set up a Saints defensive TD. Sure the Saints were able to go on a few long drives…but the point is we kept them out of the end zone for the most part.

Another piece of good news- there was a Shonn Greene sighting and he looked pretty good on the handful of carries he got.  He could be an important part of the running game going forward.

A final thought- Eric Mangini is 0-3.

Well, I wasn’t expecting the Jets to go undefeated this season, but it didn’t make it any easier to watch this team lose this week.  Monday Night Football against the Dolphins will tell a lot about this team’s resolve, especially our rookie quarterback’s.