[Chief Rum]

Week Five: Arizona at Dallas

This was an upsetting game, because you have to think it was very winnable. The Cards' defense came to play and limited Cowboys to just 195 yards of total offense.

The problem is that the Cards' offense wasn't too effective either, gaining just 281 yd itself, and also turned the ball over 3 times on top of it.

Nevertheless, the Cards had the lead, 10-9, deep into the fourth quarter when the Cwoboys finally broke through. Quincy Carter connected with Joey Galloway on a 6-yard scoring pass with 2:27 left in the game to finally give Dallas the lead and eventually the game.

Parsons wasn't horrible, but he wasn't really much more effective than Blake tended to be. His two int hurt the team just as much as Blake's would.

QB Parsons: 19-for-33, 179 yd, 0 td, 2 int
RB Smith: 77 yd (3.2 ypc)
WR Johnson (5 rec, 81 yd, 0 td)

The line, with Kendrick Rogers ensconched at LT in place of Anthony Clement, did better overall, with 3 sacks allowed. It's questionable how much Rodgers had to do with it, though, since he allowed 2 of them.

For the first time, McKinnon didn't lead the team in tacklea. He finished second with 5. The top tackler was SS Adrian Wilson (7 tkl).

Other Games

Home Team in CAPS

BUFFALO 17, Cincinnati 13: The Bengals took a 10-7 lead into the fourth quarter, and led 13-10 with nine minutes left after a Chuck Harwood field goal. But they were unable to keep the Bills out of the end zone in the end, with Drew Bledsoe running the ball in with just under 4 minutes left in the game. Bledsoe (30-44, 355, 1 td, 1 int) put up big numbers, considering it didn't produce many points.

PITTSBURGH 45, Cleveland 10: The Browns continue what has been an awful season so far for them. The yardage totals weren't far off (321-282), but the Browns continued to hurt themselves with turnovers, 4 for this game. Kelly Holcomb (10-18, 81 yd, 0 td, 3 int) was back in the lineup for the first time since Week Three, but it didn't do much good. He was eventually replaced again by Tim Couch. Jerome Bettis ran for 117 yd, and Tommy Maddox (14-for-17, 183 yd, 4 td, 0 int) took advantage of a poor Cleveland defense.

KANSAS CITY 31, Denver 21: The Broncos and Chiefs took turns giving up turnovers (4 each, 8 total) and put up about the same yardage. The Chiefs made their opportunities count better, though, giving them a 31-10 lead in the fourth quarter before coasting for the win. The Chiefs' attack was led by Priest Holmes (93 yd, 1 td) and Trent Green (15-25, 185 yd, 2 td, 2 int).

SAN FRANCISCO 33, Detroit 10: The Lions only broke into double digits when they got a score with less than two minutes go into the game. That should tell you how this one went. The Lions were outgained 441-307 and turned the ball over 4 times. Jeff Garcia (27-40, 302 yd, 1 td, 0 int) and Terrell Owens (10 rec, 123 yd) continue to perform at a high level.

TAMPA BAY 29, Indianapolis 23 (OT): The Colts blew 16-6 and 23-13 leads, and allowed the Buccs to tie the game down the stretch. The last lead came after a Peyton Manning to Marcus Pollard scoring pass with under four minutes left. Despite that deficit, the Buccs got within three when Thomas Jones ran in for a score from 15 yards out at 2:19, and then the Buccs got the ball back and tied it up on a 43-yard FG by Martin Gramatica with 20 seconds left. The Buccs then took that momentum and got the winning score in overtime, on an 18-yard pass to Mike Alstott. The two teams combined for 902 yards. Brad Johnson (28-39, 350 yd, 2 td, 1 int) led the Buccs' comeback. They overcame the Colts' Big Three: Edgerrin James (131 rush yd, 179 all-purpose), Manning (25-38, 312 yd, 2 td, 0 int), and Marvin Harrison (8 rec, 135 yd, 1 td).

NY GIANTS 23, Miami 14: The Dolphins did what they could to win the game, but they didn't really come close. They actually limited the Giants to just 252 yd. total offense and only turned the ball over once, but they were still pretty much out of it by half time. Go figure. Kerry Collins (17-23, 130 yd, 2 td, 0 int) led a mistake-free, if not yardage-heavy offense, which also featured Tiki Barber (115 rush yd).

ATLANTA 31, Minnesota 17: The Vikings usually outgain their opponents, and this week wasn't any different (389-296), but was has really sunk them are the turnovers. Daunte Culpepper threw 3 more int this week, and the Falcons ran with it. Michael Vick (21-31, 168 yd, 2 td, 1 int, 50 rush yd) was at his dual-threat best, and T.J. Duckett rushed for 70 yd. Culpepper threw for 309 yd, and Randy Moss (6 rec, 105 yd) and D'Wayne Bates (7 rec, 97 yd) racked up the yardage, if not the points.

CAROLINA 16, New Orleans 13: The Panthers have neen struggling, but this weke they take a small step forward. They held the Saints to 247 yd. of total offense and took a 16-6 lead early in the fourth quarter to cruise to the final. Rodney Peete (23-36, 239 yd, 0 td, 1 int) did just enough to preserve the victory.

Oakland 20, CHICAGO 13: The game ended up closer than it seems, as the Raiders built up a 20-3 lead after three quarters. They outgained the Bears, 403-265, and forced two fumbles. Charlie Garner (148 rush yd) had another fine week, and Jerry Porter (6 rec, 104 yd, 1 td) was the main man through the air.

JACKSONVILLE 31, San Diego 9: Except for a game against Indianapolis, the Jags have been rolling this season. They limited the Bolts to just 13 first downs and 245 yd of total offense. They also racked up 5 sacks and 3 int. Fred Taylor (84 yd, 2 td) continues to be the engine that drives the offense, and Bryon Leftwich (29-30, 321 yd, 1 td, 1 int) is still playing with poise beyond his years.

Seattle 30, GREEN BAY 13: You know things have fallen hard for the Packers when they can't even defend a snow-driven Lambeau Field from the Seahawks. As late as the early third quarter, the Packers and Hawks were tied 13-13, but it was all Seattle after that. Trent Dilfer (26-35, 242 yd, 2 td, 2 int) again keyed the offense for the Seahawks. Trevor Price (20-38, 161 yd, 0 td, 1 int) continued to play decently well for an undrafted rookie, but this team really needs Brett Favre to come abck from injury.

Tennessee 24, NEW ENGLAND 13: Tennessee ran it up to 17-3 by the third quarter, and then held on after that in a tough road game. McNair (18-30, 310 yd, 3 td, 0 int) had the best statistical game yet of his season to lead the Titans. His partner in crime was Derrick Mason (6 rec, 170 yd, 3 td).

Washington 25, PHILADELPHIA 19 (OT): The Eagles scored shortly after the beginning of the game, and didn't relinquish that lead until there was just over a minute left in the game. The Skins' Patrick Ramsey threw a 17-yd pass to TE Byron Chamberlain to put the Skins up by 3. The Eagles scrambled in the last seconds of regulation to tie it up, and did so on a 30-yard FG by David Akers with 21 seconds left. The Skins wouldn't give this one up, though, after coming back all game. With seven minutes left in the overtime, Ramsey secured the win with an 18-yd scoring strike to Rod Gardner. Ramsey (32-49, 339 yd, 2 td, 0 int) had his best game of the year thus far, despite being sacked 5 times. Gardner had 9 catches, for 151 yards and the game-winning score.

Injuries

Starting defensive tackle Wendell Bryant suffered a minor injury that will put him out for 2-3 weeks. Derrick Ransom will replae him in the lineup, although at this point in their careers, there will be little drop off between the two.

Duane Starks, by far the team's top corner and out since the first preseason game, looks to be ready to return to action for next week's game.

CR