1 BLACK E11 DAILY 09-15-08 MD RE E11 BLACK

The Washington Post R Monday, September 15, 2008 E11 Professional Football

LOOKING AHEAD The Slant By Desmond Bieler

Carson Palmer did absolutely nothing to make Cincinnati fans happy. It was bad enough the Southern Cal Oakland at Buffalo Titans 24, product was a constant reminder to Ohioans that their beloved Buckeyes got stomped yet again in a big Muhsin Sunday, 1 p.m. Bengals 7 game. Then Palmer went out and did his worst Mark Sanchez impression, throwing for 134 yards with two Muhammad and no . It’s a sad day when Bengals fans want more Sanchez and less Ocho Cinco. Two of the league’s prom- ising young running backs square off. The Ex-Panther-turned-ex-Bear-turned-current-Panther Muhsin Muhammad had claimed last month Chicago was Raiders feature rookie Panthers 20, where “receivers go to die.” The Bears’ Brandon Lloyd, who led all receivers with 66 yards, might take issue Darren McFadden, who Bears 17 with that, but Muhammad did chip in 59 himself, as Bank of America Stadium turned out to be where ran for 164 yards in a vic- Chicago’s hopes of starting the season 2-0 went to die. tory over Kansas City. Buffalo counters with A string of injuries to Jacksonville’s offensive line left the team with less beef than the PETA cafeteria. That Marshawn Lynch, who Bills 20, enabled the Argobills’ defense to commit cruelty to Jaguars, in particular running backs Fred Taylor and had a 59 yards and a Jaguars 17 Maurice Jones-Drew. The duo combined for 66 yards, and with their team off to an 0-2 start, the fur has only in a 20-16 win just begun to fly in J-town. against Jacksonville.

Minnesota let Indy hang around so much, could have been given a ticket for loitering, but Colts 18, eventually Manning got his team’s act together just in time to avoid a disastrous start to the season. On the Vikings 15 other hand, the way the Vikes wasted tremendous field position, a fine rushing performance by and some tough defense was a crime, not a misdemeanor. Jacksonville at Good thing for anyone who appreciates offense that Oakland’s running backs, led by rookie Darren McFadden, Sunday, 4:15 Raiders 23, had a big day (297 combined yards), because this game was to effective quarterbacking what “The Dark The Jaguars are looking Knight” is to romantic comedies. The Chiefs’ got hurt and was replaced by Tyler Thigpen, who Chiefs 8 to avoid an 0-3 start after continues to be best known as the first in Coastal Carolina history. losing to Buffalo. Jackson- ville was 2 for 11 on third Green Bay’s A-Rodg is not to be confused with the slightly more famous A-Rod; for one thing, A-Rodg has downs against the Bills. Packers 48, shown an early ability to come through under pressure. Not that there was much pressure initially, as the The Colts got their first Aaron Pack got off to a 21-0 start. But when things tightened up later, it was more significant for A-Rodg to not be Lions 25 Rodgers win of the season by rally- confused with , whose three late picks sealed Detroit’s doom and earned him many Bronx cheers. ing to beat Minnesota, 18- 15, after trailing 9-0 at Marc Bulger had a decidedly modest goal for this game: “I want to prove we’re not that bad,” the Rams halftime and 15-0 in the Giants 41, quarterback had declared. Unfortunately, even that bar was a little too lofty for his bedraggled crew. In second half. Rams 13 fairness to St. Louis, though, the Giants have apparently forgotten how to lose on the road. Gee, you’d almost think they prefer to be somewhere other than northern New Jersey.

We knew had a big arm, we just didn’t know when we’d ever see it put to good use. But what Redskins 29, better use than flinging deep to Santana Moss for a huge, game-winning play? In truth, though, Campbell was Pittsburgh at Philadelphia Saints 24 more impressive on a variety of shorter throws during the Redskins’ previous possession, when he shook off a sack to go 5 for 5 for 82 yards, on a drive that and ended in a Clinton Portis touchdown. Sunday, 4:15 p.m. WUSA-9 The battle of Pennsylva- Remember these Patriots? Jets fans sure do. Tough defense, mistake-free special teams, a conservative but nia takes place at Lincoln Patriots 19, opportunistic offense — so many of the elements familiar from so much of this decade were there. Jets fans Financial Field. The Steel- also remember LaMont Jordan running hard at the Meadowlands, but they liked it better when he did for their Jets 10 ers have a potent offense team. And Packers fans have no trouble recalling killer interceptions thrown by . with QB Ben Roethlis- berger and RB Willie Par- Prior to this game, agent/well-oiled machine Drew Rosenhaus declared his client, disgruntled Cards wideout ker. The Eagles play Dal- Cardinals 31, Anquan Boldin, “wouldn’t mind being in a Dolphins uniform.” Consider yesterday — three touchdowns and las tonight and have one Dolphins 10 140 yards receiving — a nailed audition. But the Fins, as much as they could use Boldin, won’t want to send of the best all-around Arizona a first-round pick for his services; from the way they played, that pick will be very high one, indeed. players in the league in RB Brian Westbrook. If the Raiders-Chiefs game showed the ugly side of AFC West quarterbacking, this one was a thing of beauty. Broncos 39, and Philip Rivers slung it up and down the field, accounting for 727 yards passing and seven Chargers 38 touchdowns. But the end of the game, with referee Ed Hochuli’s blown whistle, if not blown call, won’t be viewed as quite so pulchritudinous by residents of San Diego. at Green Bay 49ers 33, A game effort goes for naught for Seattle, which came into the contest thinner at than John Waters’s mustache. In the team’s version of “Desperate Living,” it even pressed backup QB Seneca Wallace Sunday, 8:15 p.m. WRC-4, WBAL-11 Seahawks 30 into wideout duty, only to see him get hurt before the game. San Fran was just glad to have Isaac Bruce, (OT) who made like a golfer and shot his age with 153 receiving yards. The teams with the two best regular season rec- ords (13-3) in the NFC The events of this week confirmed what many of us suspected: That it’s not so much the Falcons offense last season meet at histor- Buccaneers 24, “needs to be taken seriously,” as fullback Ovie Mughelli had boasted, but that the Lions defense is a complete ic . Green joke. Faced with stiffer competition, Atlanta’s newbie starters Matt Ryan and Michael Turner got a serious Falcons 9 Bay beat Detroit, 48-25, dose of reality. yesterday. The Cowboys won last season’s game at This game ended a bit of a rough stretch for Cleveland wideout Braylon Edwards. First he caught flak for Texas Stadium, 37-27, in Steelers at suggesting that LeBron James may not be completely loyal to the Cavaliers, then he received a belated which Brett Favre left Browns, Late speeding ticket for going 120 mph. Edwards’s excuse was he was just showing a friend how fast he thought with an injury and Aaron LeBron wanted to get out of town. Rodgers replaced him. — Gene Wang Kurt Warner threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns.

Week 2 Roundup

RAIDERS 60710—23 FALCONS 0333— 9 49ERS 310143 3 — 33 CHIEFS 0008— 8 Edwards Leads Buffalo BUCCANEERS 7100 7 — 24 SEAHAWKS 14 6 0 10 0 — 30 Amid escalating reports that All it took for Atlanta to dig a hole it Times appear to be changing in the NFC was in trouble with owner and To Best Start in 5 Years couldn’t escape against Tampa Bay: two West. could be dismissed almost any time, Oak- early mistakes by Matt Ryan. Joe Nedney shook off a missed field land rushed for 300 yards and handed its Associated Press BILLS 73010—20 The rookie was intercepted twice in the goal as time expired in regulation and harried young coach a victory over mis- JAGUARS 03103—16 first half and the Buccaneers’ kicked a 40-yarder 4 minutes 40 seconds Ion? take-prone Kansas City. Kiffin has only five JACKSONVILLE, Fla., turned the miscues into a touchdown and into overtime, sending San Francisco past wins in 18 games with the Raiders, but Sept. 14 — The Jacksonville that helped Tampa Bay beat its Seattle. Element? two have been at Chiefs’ expense. Jaguars had the lead, the mo- FIRST QUARTER NFC South rival. The loss left the four-time defending di- “I don’t worry about things I can’t con- mentum and the home-field Buffalo: Lynch 11 run (Lindell kick), 8:00. Ryan threw incompletions on his first vision champion 0-2 for the first time SECOND QUARTER trol. That’s not my decision whether I’ll be advantage. None of that mat- Jacksonville: FG Scobee 28, 13:22. nine passes before settling down to keep since 2002. Buy a car. here,” said Kiffin, 33. “I’m going to pre- tered to Trent Edwards. Buffalo: FG Lindell 21, 6:21. the Falcons (1-1) in the game with three The 49ers overcame eight sacks of J.T. pare my staff for the game next week.” THIRD QUARTER field goal drives that trimmed a 17-point O’Sullivan to beat the Seahawks for just Sell a crossover. The quarterback was good Jacksonville: Jones-Drew 2 run (Scobee kick), Raiders PK added early and even better later, do- 9:31. deficit to eight with five minutes to go. the third time in 11 games. It was the first three field goals, including a team-record ing just enough to lead the Jacksonville: FG Scobee 50, 6:06. The Bucs (1-1) ended any hopes that overtime game of the 19-game series be- 56-yarder. FOURTH QUARTER the third pick in this year’s draft would fin- tween the teams. to their best start Jacksonville: FG Scobee 39, 14:31. The young defense of the Chiefs gave in five years. Buffalo: Hardy 7 pass from Edwards (Lindell ish an improbable comeback when Ear- O’Sullivan was 20 of 31 for 321 yards up the third-highest rushing total in the kick), 4:10. nest Graham took a handoff, broke a and one touchdown. Seattle’s Patrick Ker- Edwards completed 20 of Buffalo: FG Lindell 45, :24. history of the franchise. , Attendance: 65,167 tackle in the backfield and barreled up the ney and rookie sacked with 90 yards rushing, personally beat the 25 passes for 239 yards and a Bills Jaguars sideline on a 68-yard touchdown run that him two times each, but the journeyman touchdown — a perfect seven- First Downs ...... 18 18 55 yards the Chiefs had as a team. Total Net Yards ...... 285 243 put the game out of reach. passer kept coming back. For the third time in three years under yard toss to James Hardy in Rushes-Yards ...... 26-75 27-98 Ryan completed 13 of 33 passes for the fourth quarter — and the Passing ...... 210 145 FIRST QUARTER , the Chiefs are 0-2, and Punt Returns ...... 3-38 2-23 158 yards. Seattle: J.Jones 27 run (Mare kick), 9:12. they have lost 11 regular season games in Bills beat the beleaguered Kickoff Returns ...... 4-78 4-95 Griese, replacing after Tam- Seattle: Terrill 10 offensive fumble return (Mare , 20-16, Interceptions Ret...... 1-0 0-0 kick), 7:47. a row. “We got embarrassed at home,” Ed- Comp-Att-Int ...... 20-25-0 17-28-1 pa Bay’s starter struggled in its opener, San Francisco: FG Nedney 26, 2:36. on a steamy Sunday. Sacked-Yards Lost ...... 3-29 2-20 wards said. Punts ...... 3-47.7 4-50.5 was 18 of 31 for 160 yards, one touch- SECOND QUARTER In using three , the Chiefs “Trent was really good, par- Fumbles-Lost ...... 1-1 2-1 down and no interceptions. San Francisco: FG Nedney 28, 7:22. ticularly when he had to be,” Penalties-Yards ...... 4-40 5-35 Seattle: FG Mare 51, 2:49. had only 65 net yards at halftime. Time Of Possession ...... 31:14 28:46 San Francisco: Johnson 3 pass from O’Sullivan (Ned- FIRST QUARTER ney kick), 1:42. Bills Coach Dick Jauron said. Tampa Bay: Gilmore 5 pass from Griese (M.Bryant FIRST QUARTER RUSHING Seattle: FG Mare 38, :00. Buffalo: kick), 12:37. Oakland: FG Janikowski 56, 5:13. “[His play] was a huge part of Lynch 19-59, Jackson 6-17, Edwards THIRD QUARTER 1-(minus 1). Oakland: FG Janikowski 25, 1:19. SECOND QUARTER San Francisco: Willis 86 return (Nedney the game. Not only did he take Jacksonville: Taylor 14-49, Garrard 6-32, Jones- Tampa Bay: Dunn 17 run (M.Bryant kick), 11:08. kick), 8:46. THIRD QUARTER Drew 7-17. Tampa Bay: FG M.Bryant 33, 9:07. Oakland: us down when he had to, but San Francisco: Gore 2 run (Nedney kick), 6:41. McFadden 19 run (Janikowski kick), 8:22. Atlanta: FG Elam 32, :12. he also took us down in the PASSING FOURTH QUARTER FOURTH QUARTER Buffalo: Edwards 20-25-0-239. THIRD QUARTER Oakland: Seattle: Duckett 1 run (Mare kick), 14:20. FG Janikowski 40, 6:53. midst of the heat. We don’t Jacksonville: Garrard 17-28-1-165. Atlanta: FG Elam 27, 1:03. Kansas City: Gonzalez 2 pass from Thigpen (Cox Seattle: FG Mare 32, 7:41. pass from Thigpen), 4:04. know how good he can be, but RECEIVING FOURTH QUARTER San Francisco: FG Nedney 28, 2:42. Buffalo: Oakland: Bush 32 run (Janikowski kick), :51. Jackson 7-83, Evans 4-77, Reed 4-36, Atlanta: FG Elam 24, 5:12. OVERTIME he gives us a chance.” Hardy 2-12, Parrish 1-12, Schouman 1-11, Attendance: 74,480 Tampa Bay: Graham 68 run (M.Bryant kick), 3:08. San Francisco: FG Nedney 40, 10:20. Lynch 1-8. Raiders Chiefs Buffalo last started 2-0 in Attendance: 63,611 Attendance: 67,951 Jacksonville: M.Jones 5-50, R.Williams 4-36, First Downs ...... 18 15 Falcons Bucs Northcutt 3-36, Jones-Drew 3-25, M.Lewis 49ers Seahawks Total Net Yards ...... 355 190 2003. The team finished 6-10 First Downs ...... 14 15 1-13, Taylor 1-5. First Downs ...... 20 22 Rushes-Yards ...... 47-300 19-55 that season, but expects much Total Net Yards ...... 234 311 Total Net Yards ...... 365 351 Passing ...... 55 135 MISSED FIELD GOALS Rushes-Yards ...... 28-105 28-164 Rushes-Yards ...... 23-93 34-169 Punt Returns ...... 6-46 3-37 different results this year. And None. Passing ...... 129 147 Passing ...... 272 182 Kickoff Returns ...... 2-75 1-21 for good reason. The Bills Punt Returns ...... 3-43 2-0 Punt Returns ...... 0-0 3-46 Interceptions Ret...... 2-36 0-0 Kickoff Returns ...... 4-84 3-61 Kickoff Returns ...... 5-136 5-120 Comp-Att-Int ...... 6-17-0 17-38-2 manhandled Seattle last week Interceptions Ret...... 0-0 2-24 Interceptions Ret...... 2-87 0-0 Sacked-Yards Lost ...... 0-0 5-38 and kept Jacksonville in check Comp-Att-Int ...... 13-33-2 18-31-0 Comp-Att-Int ...... 20-32-0 18-36-2 Punts ...... 4-44.8 8-49.4 Sacked-Yards Lost ...... 4-29 2-13 Sacked-Yards Lost ...... 8-49 1-7 Fumbles-Lost ...... 3-2 2-0 most of the game. Punts ...... 5-36.2 5-46.6 Punts ...... 4-46.3 4-29.3 Penalties-Yards ...... 9-61 5-36 The Jaguars (0-2), mean- gone. We’ve just got to re- Fumbles-Lost ...... 2-0 1-1 Fumbles-Lost ...... 2-1 2-1 202-334-6200 Time Of Possession ...... 32:31 27:29 Penalties-Yards ...... 8-60 11-94 Penalties-Yards ...... 9-60 10-75 Time Of Possession ...... 29:38 30:22 RUSHING time, are off to their worst group and get this thing Time Of Possession ...... 34:28 30:12 Oakland: McFadden 21-164, Bush 16-90, Fargas start since 2003. They fin- turned around before it gets RUSHING RUSHING GHI 9-43, Russell 1-3. Atlanta: Turner 14-42, Douglas 1-33, Norwood 6-18, San Francisco: Gore 19-61, O’Sullivan 4-32. Kansas City: L.Johnson 12-22, Huard 1-15, Charles ished 5-11 that season, and ugly.” Ryan 6-10, White 1-2. Seattle: J.Jones 26-127, Weaver 5-27, Hasselbeck 3-7, Thigpen 1-6, K.Smith 1-3, Hagans 1-2. could be in for another long Jacksonville played without Tampa Bay: Graham 15-116, Dunn 12-49, Griese 1-12, Duckett 2-3. 1-(minus 1). washingtonpost.com PASSING year now. three starting offensive line- PASSING Oakland: Russell 6-17-0-55. PASSING San Francisco: O’Sullivan 20-32-0-321. Kansas City: Thigpen 14-33-1-151, Huard 2-4-1-17, “Losing two games isn’t the men and two wide receivers. Atlanta: Ryan 13-33-2-158. Seattle: Hasselbeck 18-36-2-189. CLASSIFIEDS Hagans 1-1-0-5. Tampa Bay: Griese 18-31-0-160. end of the world,” cornerback “This is a big game for all RECEIVING RECEIVING RECEIVING San Francisco: Johnson 6-78, Gore 5-38, Bruce 4-153, Oakland: Miller 2-24, Griffith 2-11, Lelie 1-11, Drayton Florence said. “Obvi- the young guys,” Buffalo’s Lee Atlanta: White 4-59, Robinson 4-45, Douglas 2-34, Battle 4-44, Morgan 1-8. McFadden 1-9. ously, you don’t want to start Evans said. “Games like this Norwood 1-8, Mughelli 1-6, Turner 1-6. Seattle: Carlson 6-78, McMullen 3-48, J.Jones 3-14, Kansas City: Bowe 6-90, Gonzalez 5-39, K.Smith Tampa Bay: Hilliard 4-41, Dunn 3-21, Askew 3-1, Gil- Taylor 2-20, Bumpus 2-9, Payne 1-14, O.Schmitt 4-19, Charles 1-15, Darling 1-10. out 0-2. But the swagger’s not early in the season help all more 2-41, Smith 2-20, Galloway 2-18, Graham 1-6. 1-12, Clayton 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS gone, the confidence isn’t season. It is a big, big game MISSED FIELD GOALS None. MISSED FIELD GOALS San Francisco: Nedney 41 (WR). C304 A 1x8

gone, the expectations aren’t for the young guys.” None. 1 BLACK E11