[Chief Rum]

Week Six: Baltimore at Arizona

The difference between a 1-5 record and a 3-3 record is frighteneingly close here.

Last week, we played good enough defense to win, but we just didn't execute on offense. Now this week, we lead for most of the second half, and are up 23-16 late in the fourth quarter, when we let it slip away again.

Two touchdowns in the third quarter moved us from being behind 10-6 to up 20-10 and in control with about a quarter to go. But with 2: 27 left, Marcus Robinson caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Boller to tie the game.

In the overtime, the Ravens drove down and got in within range, and sure enough, their veteran kicker Matt Stover connected, kicking his fourth FG of the game to win it for the Ravens. The Ravens won, 26-23.

Although neither offense really did badly, neither did they click. Neither team got more than 300 yards in total offense, although they were roughly equal. The Ravens won in spite of 4 Boller interceptions.

Parsons, starting his second game, tried to keep pace with Boller, but topped out at 2 interceptions.

QB Parsons: 20-for-51, 225 yd, 2 td, 2 int
RB Smith: 54 yd. (2.4 ypc)
WR Boldin: 4 rec, 90 yd, 1 td
TE Jones: 7 rec, 41 yd.

The line played its second solid game of the year in pass protection, allowing just one sack.

McKinnon and SLB Raynoch Thompson split top defensive duties for the Cards. They both collected 10 tackles. McKinnon got a sack, and Thompson grabbed one of Boller's interceptions. The nice difference maker, though, was corner Duane Starks, playing in his first game of the year since healing up. Starks grabbed two interceptions in his debut game. Nice to have him back.

No one really stood out for the Ravens, other than Boller with his propensity to turn the ball over. Jamal Lewis ran for 47 yd and scored 1 td, and Robinson and Travis Taylor each grabbed 6 catches for 53 yards. Robinson also got a score.

Other Games

Home Team in CAPS

Atlanta 34, ST. LOUIS 28: The Falcons went into St. Louis and looked like they were going to pull out a fine conference win from a good team. But the Rams wouldn't let them go so easily. Trailing 28-18 in the final minutes of the game, the Rams scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass to TE Cameron Cleeland with just 36 seconds left, and then they recovered the ball on an onside kick. One Kurt Warner-to-Torry-Holt strike later, they were in field goal range, and Jeff Wilkins kicked in a 39-yarder to tie the game as regulation ended. The Falcons won the toss, though, and proceeded to grind out a long winning drive in overtime, ending with a 24-yard pass from Michael Vick to Brian Kozlowski. The two teams had 908 yards of total offense. Vick (29-33, 359 yd, 3 td, 0 int) was incredible in leading the Dirty Birds to victory. Peerless Price (12 rec, 134 yd) was a main weapon of his, and T.J. Duckett rushed for 99 yd, and 1 td. Kurt Warner (28-42, 399 yd, 3 td, 1 int) wasn't quite as good as Vick, although few could fault how he did. Torry Holt (9 rec, 159 yd, 1 td) continues a very strong season.

Buffalo 30, NY JETS 12: The Jets look to be horning in on the top pick at this rate. They actually outgained the Bills in a low-production offensive game for both sides, but they were done in by 3 turnovers. Drew Bledsoe (17-22, 199 yd, 1 td, 0 int) was very effective, and Eric Moulds (7 rec, 87 yd, 1 td) had another solid game.

INDIANAPOLIS 27, Carolina 9: The numbers don't look as bad as the score looks, but you don't get wins for turning the ball over less than your opponent. Both Rodney Peete and Chris Weinke tried to make it work against the Colts' benbut-don't-break D, but couldn't make it work. Peyton Manning (19-25, 269 yd, 2 td, 1 int) was very solid, and he had help from Edgerrin James (100 rush yd, 1 td), Marcus Pollard (6 rec, 90 yd), and Marvin Harrison (4 rec, 107 yd, 2 td).

NEW ORLEANS 33, Chicago 9: The Saints can't seem to stay off the roller coaster. The coaster went up this week at least. The defense held the Bears to perhaps a league-low 143 yd of offense, and forced 4 turnovers. The Bears only got 9 first downs. Aaron Brooks (17-29, 219 yd, 2 td, 0 int) had a solid, mistake-free game, and Deuce McAllister (90 rush yd, 1 td, 4 rec, 28 rec ryd, 1 rec td) was all over the place in this one.

TENNESSEE 12, Houston 7: The Titans employed a tough defense and the foot of Gary Anderson to roll to another victory. Anderson kicked 4 FG--his third game with as much this season--to supply the Titans with all their scoring offense. The defense limited the Texans to just 241 yd. of offense. Tyrone Calico and Derrick Mason combined for 16 catches and 198 yd.

Kansas City 27, Green Bay 20: The Chiefs jumped to a 14-0 lead, and eventually used it to fend off a feisty Packers' squad that is still missing Brett Favre. The final totals were very close (342 yd to 341 yd for GB, a fumble turnover each), but the Chiefs got more bang for their buck. Trent Green (22-36, 219 yd, 3 td, 0 int) played very well, leading the Chiefs' offense. Trevor Prce (23-35, 254 yd, 1 td, 0 int) had his best game yet, but it still fell short.

Miami 51, JACKSONVILLE 13: The Dolphins handed the Jags a huge wake up call in this one. The Dolphins intercepted no less than 8passes from the Jags, 5 from Bryon Leftwich and 3 from Mark Brunell in replacement of the rookie. Overall, the Dolphins had just a 333-310 offense edge, so the turnovers made all the difference. Jay Fielder (18-26, 174 yd, 2 td, 0 int) and Ricky Williams (82 yd, 3 td) did the damage in the short fields the Jags gave them. Collectively, Leftwich and Brunell went 17-42 from the field.

NEW ENGLAND 34, NY Giants 27: The score looks closer than it was, as the Giants got within seven with an Amani Toomer kickoff return for score with 1: 45 left in the game. The Pats had pretty much nailed the door shut by scoring 10 points in the previous 6 minutes. The Giants dominated the Pats in yardage (421-268), but Kerry Collins threw 4 int to give New England a big advantage, including a Rodney Harrison interception return. The Patriots were off from the very beginning, with Antowain Smith bringing back a kickoff for score off the opening kickoff. COllins (31-50, 364 yd, 2 td) was otherwise very solid, and Toomer (14 rec, 190 yd, 2 td) had probably the best day for a receiver yet this year, above and beyond his kick return score. Tom Brady (20-25, 226 yd, 2 td, 0 int) was very efficient.

Oakland 37, CLEVELAND 17: It's clear that this Raiders team is much closer to last year's than this year's version. The Browns also got off right, with an opening kickoff return for touchdown by James Jackson, but it was all downhill from there. The Raiders more than doubled the Browns yardage (498-232). Rich Gannon (31-44, 425 yd, 2 td, 0 int) had more yardage than anyone yet this season, and his main target Jerry Porter (8 rec, 160 yd, 1 td) enjoyed a banner day.

DALLAS 20, Philadelphia 17 (OT): Last week, it was interception returns. This week it's kick returns. There were two of them in this one. The Eagles' Lito Sheppard brought back the second-half opening kickoff for the Eagles, but it was Joey Galloway's fourth quarter punt return for score that put the Cowboys up. The Eagles had to scramble to tie it, with a 34-yd FG by David Akers with 1:34 left in regulation. The Cowboys won the toss in overtime and drove quickly to field goal range, winning it on a 30-yd Billy Cundiff FG. The two teams had maybe the worst offensive output for two team yet this season, with just 422 total yards between them.

Pittsburgh 34, DENVER 31: The Broncos have been losing some tough ones. I'll give you one guess how this one started off. Yup, a game opening kick return for touchdown by Denver's Jimmy Spencer. This is getting kinda creepy. This game was very back and forth. They traded touchdowns early, but then the Steelers scored three touchdowns to a field goal by the Broncos to take a 27-17 lead. The Broncos scored two unanswered touchdowns to catch Pitt, 31-27, but then in the last minutes of the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh's Dan Kreider caught a 1-yd pass for the decisive score in the game. The two teams had 961 total yards, including 545 for the Steelers. Denver didn't help themselves with 4 turnovers, 3 of them fumbles. The Steelers' offense was full of stars, particularly Tommy Maddox (22-29, 346 yd, 4 td, 1 int), Jerome Bettis (162 rush yd, 1 td), and Plaxico Burress (6 rec, 177 yd, 1 td). Clinton Portis (87 yd, 1 td) and Shannon Sharpe (7 rec, 151 yd, 1 td) led the way for the Broncos.

SEATTLE 27, San Francisco 16: Okay, is this bug? Good Lord, another kick return for touchdown, once again off of the opening kickoff! The benefactor this week was Seattle's Kerry Carter. The Niners stayed wih the Hawks for most of the game before Seattle finally put them away with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The Niners also outgained the Seahawks 364-231. Koren Robinson (8 rec, 122 yd, 2 td) was the star today.

TAMPA BAY 36, Washington 17: Okay, this has to be a bug. It's just too weird. Rod Gardner had a 102-yard kickoff return for touchdown to open this game as well. What is that, eight return touchdowns? Five to begin games? The Skins needed a lot more of it, of course, because they couldn't get much else going on today. Brad Johnson (21-29, 248 yd, 2 td, 0 int) choreographed the offense, and Thomas Jones and Michael Pittman combined for 138 rush yd.

Injuries

Wendell Bryant is still mending, but with a bye week next week, he will be ready to go in Week Eight. We suffered today without our best lineman, C Pete Kendall, as he was hurt early in the game. It is a minor injury, though, and he should be back in the lineup when we play again in two weeks.

Parsons has done poorly enough to earn Blake a return to the starting lineup, and he will also be in place in Week Eight. Starting fullback, a key contributor for this offense, is close, but is still a few weeks away. I am hoping to have him back by Week Ten.

CR