Week 11: Recaps

Subject: Week 11: Recaps May 14th 2010, 1:47 pm

Colts 21 (7-3) - Texans 17 (5-5) Game Of The Week

The Game of Week featured two teams fighting for first place status in the AFC South. At 6-3, the Colts were hoping to remain at the top of the division, while the 5-4 Texans were hoping to climb one spot and tie for first place in their division. Games between division rivals are often competitive and this game was no different. It would come down to the final drive to determine a winner.

The first half displayed two nervous teams. Neither hoping to make a crucial mistake on offense or defense. The Texans went into halftime with a 10-7 lead of their rivals. In the third, QB Matt Shaub (14-22, 233 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) hooked up with his beast-like WR Johnson (7 rec, 1 TD, 102 yards) on a 6 yard TD pass to make the Texans lead 17-7. The Colts knew they needed to score before the end of the quarter and that's just what they did when QB Peyton Manning connected with RB Stewart for an 11-yard TD pass with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. The crucial fourth quarter was one of tentative football by both teams. It wasn't until the 1:18 mark that the Colts finished the first successful drive of the quarter. RB Stewart (17 car, 58 yards, 1 TD) scored on a 2-yard run, which proved to be the game-clinching score. The Colts now hold a one game lead over the Jaguars and a two game lead over the Texans in the AFC South. In Week 12, the Colts take on the Jags in a crucial divisional game for first place. The Texans fall to 5-5, but are far from done. In Week 12, they face the very tough Cowboys in a critical match-up.

Jets 21 (5-5) - Packers 7 (4-6)

The Jets started this season in disappointing fashion, but have changed their losing ways as of late. At 4-5, they still have a small window to remain competitive in hopes of a playoff spot. The Packers, who at 4-5 are tied with the Vikings for first place in the lowly NFC North division, hoped to to go up by one game over the Vikes with a victory over the Jets.

When talking about defense, you can't help but think of the Jets. Their marvelously talented defense showed up against the Packers in spades. They recorded 4 forced fumbles, 4 INTs (1 TD), and 3 sacks. With such defensive dominance, all the offense needed to do was play conservatively and that's exactly what they did. QB Sanchez was 9-14 for 141 with 1 TD/INT. RB Jones ran the ball 15 times for 64 yards and 1 TD. The Packers tried hard to shake off the storming Jets defense but QB Rodgers (15-30, 240 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs) just could not find the time nor the space of be successful. Despite the loss, the Packers remain tied for first place and in Week 12 they hope to get back on the winning track against the Bears. The Jets will go up against their division rivals, the Bills in a big time game were both teams are fighting for their playoff dreams.

Dolphins 55 (9-1) - Bills 14 (5-5)

Coming into this week, the Bills were at 5-4 and only one game behind the second place Pats in the AFC East. With that record, the Bills were also in a good place in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. Thus a win versus the 8-1 Dolphins was crucial, especially at home.

Despite an early interception returned 68 yards for a TD by CB Sean Smith, the Bills remained in the game in the early par of the first half. To begin the second quarter, the Bills finished their opening series with a 2-yard pass from QB Edwards to rookie RB James (9 rec, 1TD, 94 yards). Unfortunately for the Bills, from that point on it was all Miami. The Dolphins would go on to score 45 unanswered points, which included a kickoff and INT returned for TDs. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that the Bills put up another 7 points when Edwards (26-39, 266 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) connected with RB Jackson for a 8-yard TD pass. The Bills tried their best but things wouldn't come together. The coaching staff will elevate the level of practice this week and promise a better performance in Week 12.

In Week 12, the 5-5 Bills head to NY to face the 5-5 Jets in a must win. The Dolphins will host the 4-6 Vikes and hope to continue their winning ways.

Chargers 31 (7-3) - Raiders 7 (4-6)

In the AFC West, the Chargers wanted to put a bigger space between themselves and the rest of the teams. AT 6-3, they were only 2 games ahead of the Raiders, who the Chargers were hosting.

After a scoreless first quarter, the chargers broke out with 21 unanswered points, which included a 90 yard TD run by RB Darren Sproles (14 car, 1 TD, 227 yards) to finish the first half. In the second half, the Chargers he continued to outscore the Raiders 10-7, making the final score 31-7. Offensive leaders for the Chargers included QB Rivers (10-13, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 170 yards), and WR Vincent Jackson (2 rec, 2 TDs, 84 yards). The Raiders were hoping to hold off San Diego on the road but could not make things jell on either side of the ball. AT 4-6, the Raiders still find themselves in the Wild Card race, but they must come up big in big games. They will have their chance against the Chargers again in Week 14.

In Week 12, the Chargers, who have successfully put themselves way ahead i the AFC west, will host the struggling Ravens. The Raiders will take on the 3-7 Cards in a game they must win and win convincingly.

Jaguars 23 (6-4) - Broncos 6 (3-7)

On the road, the Jaguars hoped to win and keep their path to reclaiming the AFC South lead alive. At 5-4, they were tied with the Texans for second place and just one game behind the first place Colts. The Broncos hopes of earning a Wild Card birth were slim coming into this game, but they still maintained hope and were going to do their best to come out victorious.

The Jaguars will not defeat you with their aerial, but with their hard running and hard-hitting defense. That's exactly what they displayed against the Broncos. A combination of a solid defense, a punishing running game with RB MJD (25 car, 2 TDs, 95 yards) on the ground and a modest aerial game with QB Gerrard (14-19, 154 yards, 1 INT), the Jags defeated the Broncos 23-6. The Broncos' weapons of Marshall-Orton-Moreno could not find the right chemistry to lead their team to a victory. At 3-7, Denver understands it will take a miraculous turnaround to claim a Wild Card spot and hope to begin with a win over the Hawks in Week 12 . Jacksonville, on the other hand, are in solid ground. At 6-4, they are only on game behind the leading Colts, which they face in a critical Week 12 match-up.

Cowboys 41 (8-2) - Titans 31 (3-7)

This match-up consisted of two teams who find themselves on opposite ends of the league. The Cowboys come in a 7-2 and in a comfortable position, while the Titans enter this game with a 3-6 record and struggling to find the spark that will lead them to a Wild Card spot. Both team boast a spectacular running game and a solid defense. The winner of this game came down to who could score more and make the least number of turnovers.

The RBs for both teams played a major role in this game. RB Chris Johnson beat the cowboys for 132 yards and 1 TD on only 10 carries, but his performance was outdone by RB Felix Jones who posted 208 yards and 2 TDs on 24 carries. The defense for both teams kept the opposing QBs off their games. QB McNabb threw for 4 INTs, 1 TD and 215 yards on 11-22, while QB Romo was 13-17 for 23 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INTs, two of which were returned for big-time TDs. Both teams turned the ball over 4 times, and both performed well in the running game, but Dallas RB Jones' performance was something the Titans could not overcome. At 3-7, the Titans will find it very hard to get back to a playoff-contending spot. They will hope to begin their task with a win over the Giants in Week 12. The Cowboys are now 8-2 and have no worries, other than the horrible performance by Romo. Romo hopes to redeem himself in Week 12 versus the tough Texans.

Pats 20 (7-3) - Steelers 17 (1-9)

The 6-3 Pats are in a competitive fight for a AFC Wild Card spot and a game versus the 1-8 Steelers is something they will not take lightly. The Steelers know their season has been a disappointment, but they will take on the role of spoiler and try to vanquish their opponents playoff dreams.

Through two quarters, the New England held a 7-point lead over the Steelers, 10-3. The Pats increased that lead by 3 points in the third. In the fourth, the Steelers WR Holmes caught a 72 yard TD pass from QB Roethlisberger (13-24, 228 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs), which made the score 13-10 in favor of NE. With mounting pressure on the Pats, they drove down field and finished off their offensive series with a 1-yard TD run by RB Morris. In a final attempt to keep their hopes alive, the Steelers succeeded in their next offensive drive, but with only 17 seconds left on the clock, their hopes to of victory would have to wait until next week. The Steelers proved to be strong competitors for the Pats, but it's hard to win games when your QB throws three interceptions in a tight game.

In Week 12, the Pats will hope to continue their winning ways against the feisty Lions. The Steelers with host the Browns and continue their role as spoiler.

Special thanks to me, myself, and I. rabbit