Notes from Sunday

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So, I hate to say this until more information is available and I didn’t actually see the incident, but has Vince Young been stricken with the Madden Curse? He left today’s game with a quadriceps injury and he didn’t return. How severe it is I don’t know yet, but his loss would mean the absence of the team’s most dangerous force on offense. Kerry Collins just doesn’t have the same play-making ability, though, without a doubt, he’s a better passer.

What’s happened to Cincinnati? Seriously. They’ve lost a shootout to Cleveland this season, and today they allowed the otherwise-hapless Chiefs’ offense to put up 27 points and 354 yards of offense. Larry Johnson hit 119 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown — he had 275 yards on the season and no touchdowns prior this season — and Tony Gonzalez managed 102 yards and a pair of scores — both season highs. And I didn’t even know this, but the Bengals (1-4 this season) have lost four consecutive games and are 1-7 since being 8-5 last season.

I guess Chicago is finding out Devin Hester can’t singlehandedly win a game if the team’s defense allows 34 points. He returned a punt for an 89 yard touchdown and scored on a game-tying streak that covered 81 yards. So, what happened there? Last season they were the Monsters of the Midway. This year they can’t stop the Vikings.

On that note, wow. Big props to Adrian Peterson. 20 carries for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those numbers are stratospheric, beyond that even. That stat line was helped with a 73 yard scamper, but he tore the Chicago defense a new one. So, I’m guessing the Vikings will give him the damn ball from now on this season.

It seems St. Louis returned to their normal selves after a break from reality last weekend against Arizona. 3 points, and Gus Frerotte threw 5 interceptions to 5 different players. So that’s why Marc Bulger stayed in with a pair of cracked ribs so long…

Willis McGahee owners who were annoyed the former Buffalo running hasn’t scored a touchdown all season can all be happy this week. Well, sort of. He scored his first touchdown, but he also only managed 70 yards from scrimmage, 61 of which came on 25 attempts. How did St. Louis hold him to a 2.4 yard per carry average, 2 yards less than his average before the game? They’ve given every other runner they’ve faced a VIP pass to the endzone, and they ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed.

The NFC’s two top contenders, second and third to Dallas, of course, played a sloppy game of football today. Washington and Green Bay turned the ball over a combined 5 times and Brett Favre looked a little more like his 2005 self. He threw 2 picks and barely stayed above the 50% completion bar.

I guess if you take anything from Green Bay’s 17-14 victory, it’s that the team with the fewest mistakes wins. But neither team will stand a chance in the playoffs if they turn the ball over like they did today.

It’s laughable how inconsistent the Browns are. They have one of the league’s best offenses and the worst defense. It’s crazy. Derek Anderson looked like a premier quarterback today with 3 scores and no picks after last week’s 2 touchdown 3 interception performance against New England. Then again, Miami’s defense may have had a little to do with those opposite numbers.

At least Oakland’s defense showed up for one play so far today. Down 14-0, Thomas Howard intercepted a pass and took it to the house. Just like that the Raiders are back in it. LaDainian Tomlinson scored both of San Diego’s touchdowns and he has 89 yards.

Disgruntled MJD owners, listen up! The Jacksonville running back, who previously had 182 yards and one touchdown on the ground this season, carried for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. He also added 59 yards on four catches to lead the team in both categories. It’s still a bit annoying that he only touched the ball 16 times, but his 164 yards and 3 scores — at least 34 points in a standard scoring league — will keep owners (who started him) from cutting him for at least one more week.

The offense isn’t helping Oakland at all today. After a huge drive that could have tied the game, or at least made it 14-10 at halftime, Daunte Culpepper fumbled the ball inside the 10 with 10 seconds to go.

Only through the first half of play — not even, actually — but it looks like New England is going to win easily. It’s 21-10 right now and the Patriots have been almost unstoppable on offense while Romo and Co. haven’t hit their stride. In fact, Dallas scored it’s only touchdown on a fumble recovery returned 29 yards.

I take that back. Romo led the Cowboys on a last minute scoring drive to make it a 4 point contest — and return momentum to Dallas.

Dallas just took the lead a couple minutes ago, 24-21. Tony Romo is looking more Romo-ish and the Cowboys are playing good football on offense. Meanwhile Arizona is trying to hold on to a 10-9 lead over the Panthers.

Hey, it’s the shootout we all expected. New England just struck back with a Tom Brady touchdown pass, his 4th today.