The Broncos, Seahawks, Dolphins and Jaguars didn’t have much of a problem winning Sunday, and share the lead in the race for the AFC’s best record at 3-0.
In the NFC, only the Packers and Vikings are 3-0. The 49ers, Falcons and Saints took the week off, no doubt wishing they could have kept going after winning their first two games.
Buffalo, Indianapolis, Washington, Detroit and Philadelphia–loser of Sunday night’s snooze-a-thon with Arizona–join the Bears at 0-3 and are the leaders into the first turn of the No. 2 pick sweepstakes. The league’s worst team this year will be a true loser, not even getting the No. 1 draft choice–the expansion Browns will.
THE KIDS AREN’T ALL RIGHT
And more bad news for the bad teams–getting one of the top two picks doesn’t mean a quick turnaround, either.
Peyton Manning–last year’s No. 1 pick–again struggled, throwing for 193 yards and getting intercepted twice in Indianapolis’ 44-6 loss to the New York Jets.
“The last two weeks, mistakes cost us,” Manning said. “This week we got outplayed physically. To be 0-3 is a bummer. All we can do is go back to work and try to get better.”
Ryan Leaf, the second choice last spring behind Manning, was 2-0 entering Sunday, the first rookie QB to win his first two starts since John Elway in 1983. Then he faced the Chiefs.
Leaf completed just 1 of 15 passes for 4 yards and two interceptions in the Chargers’ 23-7 loss to Kansas City. The last time a team only completed one pass was Houston against Cincinnati on Oct. 4, 1981.
With a hard rain falling, the Chargers’ first seven possessions went fumble, punt, fumble, interception, punt, fumble, interception. Leaf was guilty of every giveaway.
“I told him I love him,” San Diego linebacker Junior Seau said. “We have to take care of him. As veterans, we need to support him and protect him.”
WHO’S THE VILLAIN
Dan Marino, who was mildly criticized last week by coach Jimmy Johnson for failing to see open receivers, directed a ball-control attack, mixed his targets nicely and went 14 for 22 with one touchdown in the Dolphins’ 21-0 victory over Pittsburgh. Marino has yet to throw an interception this season.
Johnson, who worked in TV between his NFL coaching stints, said the media exaggerated his criticism.
“You guys aren’t happy unless you stir up some controversy,” he told reporters. “Dan is playing outstanding. He did a great job for us today. He could have had a big day numbers-wise if we needed that. The way the score was, we wanted to keep the ball on the ground.”
INJURY UPDATE
Rams running back Greg Hill, who was having a career day, broke his right leg in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 34-33 victory over Buffalo.
Bills defensive lineman Ted Washington, who weighs 325 pounds, fell on Hill’s leg after he was tackled for a safety with 8:19 remaining. Hill is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Hill, the former Chief who moved into the starting lineup last week after Jerald Moore fumbled three times in the opener, ran for 158 yards and two TDs on 19 carries.
The Rams’ Isaac Bruce did not play because of a hamstring injury. Bills receiver Andre Reed separated his shoulder and is expected to miss two to four weeks.
Other injuries: Bills QB Rob Johnson (mild concussion), Eagles QB Bobby Hoying (strained back), Jaguars RB James Stewart (sprained left knee), Ravens LB Ray Lewis (dislocated elbow), Seahawks WR Joey Galloway (sprained ankle), Seahawks LB Chad Brown (concussion).
YEP, THAT EXPLAINS IT
The Redskins won the battle of statistics, but came out on the short end of the score at Seattle.
The Seahawks, 24-14 winners, had 299 yards and 16 first downs while Washington had 465 yards and 27 first downs.
“Stats are stats,” Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said. “But the scoreboard is the scoreboard. That’s what it’s all about.”
