NFL week 4 open thread
posted at 10:00 am on October 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
I’m leaving the nation’s capital as the NFL kicks off its slate of games for its fourth week, which is probably a good idea, considering how well the Redskins have played so far this year. After last week’s loss to the Lions, a loss that ended a 19-game losing streak for Detroit, the mood here is a mix between fatalistic acceptance of another lost season to anger over incompetence, amateurism, and bungling. However, since that’s how most of the rest of us feel about Washington DC during the week, I don’t think ‘Skins fans are going to get a lot of sympathy.
Looking back over the last three weeks, I’m doing pretty good on my picks. I’m 16-3, but unfortunately two of those three losses came from the Pittsburgh Steelers. They lost last week in their division and are now looking at the backs of the Bengals and and the Baltimore Ravens, both of whom have gotten off to a better start than I thought they would. The Steelers play the San Diego Chargers in the night game at home tonight, and they have to go without Willie Parker and Troy Polamalu. I’m still going to pick Pittsburgh, who always seems to do well in night games at home. It should be close, though, perhaps 28-24.
Other notable games:
- Green Bay at Minnesota – This is a Monday Night game, which means we all get to see what happens when Brett Favre meets his old team for the first time ever as the opposing quarterback. Should be a great game, full of drama, but the unbeaten Vikings should win it, 31-21.
- Baltimore at New England – A better-than-expected Ravens team faces a weaker-than-expected Patriots squad. I’m picking the Patriots to win this one at home, though, as Tom Brady settles down and their defense picks it up against Joe Flacco. It won’t be a shootout but the Pats should eke out a 17-14 win.
- Tampa Bay at Washington – Call this the Futility Bowl. I think the Redskins win in a game no one watches, 21-14.
- Tennessee at Jacksonville – The Titans are a better team than 0-3, but I’m not sure Jacksonville is better than 1-2. I think Tennessee gets off the schneid here with a 24-10 win.
- NY Jets at New Orleans – Mark Sanchez has proven himself in three straight games as a rookie who can handle the NFL. Can the Jets defense stop the Saints, though? One of these teams has to lose its first game today, and it won’t be the Saints at home. New Orleans’ offense will overwhelm the Jets, 31-24, but expect Sanchez to continue to shine.
Blowback
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Well at least my Cardinals won’t lose this week. Thank goodness for bye weeks! Time for Whisenhunt to get the team back into playoff form.
Meanwhile the Texans are doing well against Oakland.
MeAlice on October 4, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Ha! Peyton Manning is human after all. Pick by Seattle’s Ken Lucas.
Mallard T. Drake on October 4, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Start of the 4th quarter at Indy. The Hawks look tired and the Colts look ready to finish the kill. I don’t know if I’ll make it all the way through this train wreck.
Mallard T. Drake on October 4, 2009 at 3:32 PM
An example of futility: The Seahawks are now playing in their 10th straight quarter without scoring a TD. Their last touchdown was the play after Hasselbeck got hurt in SF. Seneca Wallace threw a 2 yard flair to Julius Jones. Since then, nada. That is how valuable Hasselbeck is to the Seahawks. A decent O-line would help too.
Mallard T. Drake on October 4, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Giants have put in Carr for Eli with more than 8 minutes left. Hope that 27-9 lead is enough to just sit on it.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Wallace is hit, fumbles, Colts get it at the Seahawks’ 5 yard line, Indy scores a FG. Consider the train wrecked and I am out of here.
Go Ducks!
Mallard T. Drake on October 4, 2009 at 3:46 PM
What a wild game here in New England-second half started with the Past up 17-7. Then all hell broke loose.
Tom Brady fumbled and the Ravens recovered it for a TD. This was the first fumble for the Pats in over 600 plays. That made it 17-14 Pats.
Later Brady tossed a TD to Randy Moss, which made it 24-14 NE. That ended the 3rs. In the 4th, Flacco threw a 13 yard TD to Willis McGahee, 24-21 Pats. 7:18 left.
Pats now have the ball in the Baltimore red zone and have 4th down, but the Ravens challenged the ruling on the field.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Want to bet on that Packers-Vikings game, Ed? :-)
steveegg on October 4, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Pats just kicked a 33 yard field goal. 27-21 NE with 7:10 to go.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Baltimore left tackle Jared Gaither has movement in both arms and legs after being taken off the field on a stretcher.
Gaither was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for tests on his neck and shoulder Sunday after a collision in the backfield midway through the second quarter of the Ravens’ game with the New England Patriots.
The 6-foot-9, 340-pound Gaither was dropping back as he blocked defensive end Jarvis Green. Meanwhile, defensive end Ty Warren rushed quarterback Joe Flacco from the other side and shoved Flacco into Gaither’s back after Flacco released a short incomplete pass.
Flacco and Gaither both went down, but Flacco quickly got up.
The 23-year-old Gaither remained on his back for about 10 minutes surrounded by medical personnel. He was strapped to a board, which was lifted onto a cart that took him off the field.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Who dat gonna lose their first game this season?
Actually, nawlins’ offense is looking pretty good so far…
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Well, the G-Men march on to 4-0. Giants over KC 27-16. Until they took Eli Manning out, the game was totally lopsided, both on the ground and in the air. Eli has supposedly picked up a minor injury with a bruised heel, but it doesn’t sound too bad.
Now I’ll have to rely on Jetboy and others to update me on the big game, since CBS won’t be carrying it here. Bastages.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 4:14 PM
What, no nascar thread on SUndays, too? bummer /wink
karenhasfreedom on October 4, 2009 at 4:14 PM
That really is stoopit that you don’t get the Jets game upstate. Makes no sense. At that point, I’d seriously think of getting Dish Network or something that has all the games.
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM
The Ravens lost the ball on downs-New England couldn’t take advantage of this and had to punt the ball back. The Ravens will start at their own 20 with 3:32 left.
Meanwhile New Orleans draws first blood with a FG. 3-0.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Bears win 48-24!
lovingmyUSA on October 4, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Yeah, simplesimon tried bringing up NASCAR on the endless Sarah Palin thread in the Headlines section, but got slapped pretty quickly after I noted how many NASCAR races are held in Blue states like California and New York.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:20 PM
3-0 ‘nawlins.
:(
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Come on Ravens! Pull it out!
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Jets O tries to run the ball, gets nowhere. And Sanchez, not under even too much pressure, looking nervous.
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Wow, the Pats pull it out.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:27 PM
My bad-earlier I was pooping on Fox for not showing the Saints-Jets here in New England. They don’t have the game, C-BS does.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Well NY has the Watkins Glenn race and CA has the Sonoma road course race and also wastes 2 weekends at the Irwin Track in the LA area. :)
karenhasfreedom on October 4, 2009 at 4:32 PM
I was just gonna say…2 different stations (thought maybe I was going cuckoo…well, more cuckoo than usual)
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I blame myself for not having the proper sports coverage plan. I’m always afraid the Jets won’t do as well if I can’t watch the game and cheer for them in real time.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Da Bears!!!
I’m 6/7 so far on the Noon games.
chicagojedi on October 4, 2009 at 4:43 PM
$%@$@#$@^&#!!!!!
You really don’t wanna watch this game, Jazz.
Too heartbreaking so far.
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Sanchez of the Jets intercepted by Darren Sharper for a 99 yard TD. Saints up 10-0.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:50 PM
This sucks. Jetties officially have reawakened the curse.
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:50 PM
The Chargers are going to knock the living snot out of the Stillers. /I can dream can’t I?
Geochelone on October 4, 2009 at 4:52 PM
*facepalm*
EPIC
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Also NASCAR races in Harry Reid’s Nevada, and John Murtha’s Pennsylvania has a long tradition with the Pocono track. Joe Biden’s state of Delaware also has a major track with NASCAR races.
And the state O’bama claims to have been born in, while not having any NASCAR races, is absolutely nuts about auto racing. When I lived there in the 1960′s Raceway Park was a huge attraction, and remained in operation until 3 years ago when their lease ran out. There is a track on Maui as well.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Cowboys up 10 zip!
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Now Brees can’t get the ball into the end zone from only a couple yards out.
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 4:59 PM
LOL, the Redskins won. I would say poor Tampa Bay but I am a Saints fan.
Speaking of which, the Saints just had the ball on the NY 1 yard line-and got no points. That may come back to bite them.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 5:01 PM
That does it. I’m going to have to quit my job for the rest of the year and simply fly to every Jets game to supervise in person. There’s no other way around it.
Meanwhile, the Fins are looking surprisingly good against the Bills. Up 10-3 at the moment. I never mind seeing Buffalo lose.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 5:03 PM
I give up.
17-10 now. Ball knocked out of Sanchez’s hands in his own end zone.
Cripes!!!!!
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Gee Jazz – we have the game here in Salt Lake. Granted, you might not like the updates from this venue….
GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!
LL
Lady Logician on October 4, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Uh oh….my hubby switches over to the Denver game and NOLA scores again? You really don’t want to know how the Jets are doing my friend…..
LL
Lady Logician on October 4, 2009 at 5:07 PM
pardon me…not 17-10, 17-0…
JetBoy on October 4, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Sanchez responsible for both NO Tds
CWforFreedom on October 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Is it as bad as it look for the Jets’ defense? Are they just not stopping them at all? Because it sounded more like a huge Int. runback and mostly the O screwing up.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Well, don’t feel too bad Jetboy, Romo just coughed one up and the Broncs just scored off of it.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 5:10 PM-yep
CWforFreedom on October 4, 2009 at 5:11 PM
N.O. may have just dodged a bullet – but it’s early.
When the Saints just got stuffed on 4th down, Payton just made the EXACT series of caoching mistakes that I predicted at 10:16a.m. up thread on page 1.
Payton loses the Saints TWO games each year with that same stupid run-it-up the middle on goal-line stand, Brees can’t connect on 3rd, then stuffed on 4th idiocy, that he just did.
Payton should have taken the field goal on 4th, or better yet, quit the same stupid sequence. If I, as a fan, called it hours before the game started, you think the Jets knew what was coming????!!
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 5:12 PM
OK that was almost a great catch by Smith. Greer tipped the ball twice and Smith got his hands on the ball but it was not to be and the Jets have to settle for 3…..
LL
Lady Logician on October 4, 2009 at 5:19 PM
FG Jets
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 5:21 PM
We’ve already been behind and come back to win this season. I’m not giving up on our new fair haired child just yet. Two score game and a lot of football left to play.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 5:25 PM
The Jets-Saints game is a LOT closer than it looks – hope that with that 4th-and-goal, Payton didn’t give away the three points they may need to win. The plot thickens, now that the Jets are on the board….
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Ouch, Sanchez sacked. Just about 1/2 time.
Wow, the Rams have held SF to 7 points in the first half?
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 5:30 PM
If the Jets register their first loss for the season, I’m sure the one thing that will make us all feel better is, “Well… the game was a lot closer than the score made it look.”
*sigh* I watched the highlights of the first half during the half time show. This may be the “welcome to the NFL” moment that many of us feared Sanchez had coming to him and was probably long overdue. Then again, the kid’s got some talent. He may still engineer a comeback.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 5:37 PM
White-knuckle 2nd half coming up for Saints fans. I hate these. Jets aren’t out of it yet. Brees is having trouble.
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 5:46 PM
For anyone else not in a broadcast area, ESPN has a pretty nice box score page which refreshes every minute with the current ball location, game stats and play summaries.
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=291004018
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 5:47 PM
That Tennesse prediction – ouch.
Yeah, I thought Tennessee had a chance too. Looks like this season is over for them.
WWS on October 4, 2009 at 5:50 PM
The stats so far bear that out-almost equal across the board except for the passing yards.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Yep, bears destroyed detroit (although that wasn’t much of a prediction). now tomorrow i’ll ejoy my beer and chips and watch farve go down.
jbh45 on October 4, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Yahoo! Sports has something very similar. It has a 30-second refresh option but that’s not really needed.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Del, I haven’t looked at the stats, but just gauging how both QBs are having trouble. Brees had not been on the same page with his receivers since the first drive.
Sanchez is just trying to absorb the ear-splitting din of the ‘dome. If he adjusts, and Brees & crew don’t sort their stuff out, this could get very tense
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 5:54 PM
My bro is going to give me an earful because Brees is his fantasy football QB – and second week in a row now where he’s very average
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I myself don’t give a crap about fantasy football. I just want the W!
Hey JetBoy, [cheers] – here’s that toast I promised you earlier. Your boys are still in it.
Maalox time
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Yep, with the Saints it’s never over til it’s over.
BTW if the Saints win today it will be the first time they have started the season 4-0 since the Pappy Mora days. You remember him, the best coach the Saints ever had who never won a playoff game LOL.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:01 PM
I’m sorry, but football players wearing pink shoes is just wrong.
WannabeAnglican on October 4, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Damn-it! I can’t blame Romo for that. These receivers have their heads up their asses!
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 6:03 PM
All hope is not lost. Apparently the J-E-T-S just put one into the end zone.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Yeah, the pink shoes, gloves and sweat bands are hard to take.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 6:05 PM
TD Jets-here we go.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Reggie Bush = Wendell Tyler =
Hold the ball like a loaf of bread. Sheesh
Every time he gets the ball, all Saints fans hold their breath.
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Yeah, conservnut. From the sideline conversation, it’s clear Romo and Austin weren’t on the same page on that interception.
I don’t blame him either. And I also don’t blame him for the fumble. That was a brutal fast blindside blitz.
(And I’m usually hard on Romo.)
WannabeAnglican on October 4, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Me too, but I can’t fault him much in this game so far. Everyone else is is playing like crap though.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Payton = greedy coach.
So often he guy goes for it on 4th down and rarely makes it.
Arrgh. He should have tried the field goal or punted.
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Oops, I take it back.
I thought the ball was on the 38, not the 28.
Still, Payton goes for it too much.
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Well, the Bengals won. But I’d still prefer a good ol’fashioned ‘crush the other team’ game, please. Enough of these Malox games.
Next, the Colts. Yikes.
BTW: which team wore the most pink today? And which team wore the least? [They'd have have to pay me extra to wear pink shoes.]
CPT. Charles on October 4, 2009 at 6:20 PM
I bet San Francisco wore the most pink. ;)
WannabeAnglican on October 4, 2009 at 6:22 PM
I blame our idiot ginger OC!
Where are the short passes to the backs that were working earlier? Our receivers seem to know how to run only 1 route – straight down field. Then what happens today when they are covered, Tony has to wait, and wait, nowhere to throw – sack/fumble. His offense gets so freakin’ predictable.
With the O now sputtering, you can see the defense starting to show fatigue. Garret needs to adjust, and quick.
red winger on October 4, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Some coaches are prone to doing that. Belichick for one.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Well, 3 and out. The Cowboys defense will come back on the field fast.
WannabeAnglican on October 4, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Jazz – my husband and son (both fantasy football owners) live on the NFL.com Game Center page. They can follow all of the games they are interested in there and it is somewhat close to being real time.
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009100409/2009/REG4/jets@saints
LL
Lady Logician on October 4, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Wow, tough penalty for the Jets on 4th and 1, after icing the Saints with that time-out a split-second before the snap, then great hustle by Brees to recover the fumble. Hard to watch for both teams’ fans….
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:38 PM
And right after the D just had to pull off those great stops and 3rd and 4th down to keep Denver from putting any points on the board.
That series was pathetic. It’s times like this I hate, hate, hate Garrett.
red winger on October 4, 2009 at 6:38 PM
My son has just been insane over all the pink – but I can’t believe that he didn’t say anything about the NFL.com webpage background being pink. THAT was overkill for me.
LL
Lady Logician on October 4, 2009 at 6:38 PM
I think that losing his helmet while recovering the fumble in the pile-up woke Brees up. Bad news for Jets, I’m afraid
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Thanks, LL. I’ll check it out. This ESPN thing is working out pretty well to watch just one game at the moment, though.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Brees finally moves the ball! Can they cash in?
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Big possession coming up for New York – still time left
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:43 PM
1st and 1 at the NYJ 1?
How can they screw this up?
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
24-10 New Orleans, 6 minutes left, Jets getting the ball at their own 20
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Jazz – I just hate ESPN.com because it battles my firewall tooth and nail and it slows my computer down to nothing. I think it is the pop-up blocker but hard to say.
Another NOLA TD. The lead is back to 14.
LL
Lady Logician on October 4, 2009 at 6:45 PM
2 TD game now for the Jets to tie. 6 minutes.
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:46 PM
I will still blame our local CBS affiliate. If I’d been able to watch the game live the Nawlins defense wouldn’t have scored those 14 points early and we’d be in it.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Sanchez goes down hard under massive blitz – 3rd and 10
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:48 PM
I meant 3rd and 21.
Sharper intercepts it for N.O. – 2nd INT of day
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:49 PM
WTF how did NO get the ball back
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Agreed, he has been despicable this season and last.
conservnut on October 4, 2009 at 6:52 PM
“If I’d been able to watch the game live the Nawlins defense wouldn’t have scored those 14 points early and we’d be in it.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 6:47 PM”
—————————————–
You are probably right. Stuff works like that. Time to pay a personal visit to the affiliate!
Tough one for the Jets. Sanchez just got too much consistent pressure on him. too hard for a young QB to face that in the ‘dome, I think.
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Miami has crushed Buffalo totally. The Jets will fall to 3-1 but still hold on to first place in the AFC East. Now there’s nothing left for me but to drink heavily and watch the late game and sneer with evil spirited malice if the Steelers get into trouble.
*sigh*
Thanks for all the updates on the Jets coverage, guys.
Jazz Shaw on October 4, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Still 1:57 left with Jets coming to bat, though
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Sanchez is a gutsy QB
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:57 PM
Sanchez picked off again – had a blitz right in his face.
Nothing for him to do.
I hope an older teammate(s) takes him aside and bucks him up.
He has a lot of guts, and his offensive line just couldn’t handle the Saints.
cane_loader on October 4, 2009 at 6:58 PM
At this point in the game Sanchez’ QB rating is 37.0
Del Dolemonte on October 4, 2009 at 6:59 PM
I gotta give Wade a lot of credit today, he has the defense playing big, really big. With the time they’ve been on the field in this 2nd half, and probably feeling the effects of playing in Denver, they have been outstanding.
Now, let’s pray the offense can launch a drive to kill off this last 6 minutes and put some points up.
red winger on October 4, 2009 at 7:00 PM
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