The Jets fell from the ranks of the unbeaten Sunday, leaving only St. Louis (off this week) and Minnesota (playing Tampa Bay on Monday night).
Overachievers this season include the Lions and Giants (both 4-2) and the Dolphins and the Ravens (both 5-1).
Only San Diego and Cincinnati have yet to win this season.
WATCH OUT FOR THAT FLAG
The NFL referee whose flag hit Cleveland’s Orlando Brown in the eye last season threw a flag that accidentally struck a Jacksonville player in the helmet, a CBS tape showed Sunday.
The network showed a tape of Jeff Triplette throwing the flag, which is weighted with sand. It hit Jaguars cornerback Aaron Beasley from about 15 yards away during a game against Pittsburgh a week ago.
Last year a flag–weighted by BBs–thrown by Triplette hit Brown, an offensive lineman, in the eye. Brown subsequently pushed Triplette and was suspended.
However, the suspension was lifted after Brown’s eye injury did not heal. He was released by the Browns this year after being placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
During the off-season, the NFL cautioned officials to be careful when throwing flags.
HAIL, BISHOP
With the ball at the Indianapolis 44-yard line and three seconds left in the first half, New England–trailing 10-3–took quarterback Drew Bledsoe out of the game.
In came Michael Bishop, the second-year player from Kansas State.
Bishop rolled to his right, dropped back to his 40-yard line and flung the ball into the right corner of the end zone.
Tony Simmons, the former St. Rita High and Wisconsin star whose 39-yard kickoff return gave New England a chance at the desperation play, outjumped defensive backs Jeff Burris and Chad Cota for the tying TD on the half’s final play.
New England went on to win 24-16.
“I have been playing football since 7th grade and I have never completed a Hail Mary in my life,” Bledsoe said.
THROW HIM THE DARN BALL
Redskins receiver Albert Connell got into a shouting match with assistant coach Terry Robiskie at the end of the first half in Philadelphia after catching just one pass for 5 yards to that point. The exchange ended with teammate James Jenkins pulling Connell away.
Connell had five receptions in the second half and finished with 83 yards as Washington edged the Eagles 17-14.
“I have a tendency to get a little frustrated, but I’m a player and he’s a coach,” Connell said. “We got the win so we need to put it behind us.”
NO DANCING THIS TIME
Terrell Owens started to run for the middle of the field after catching a touchdown pass against Oakland. Then the 49ers receiver stopped and shook his head “no” to the delight of the San Francisco crowd.
It was Owens’ first game back since a weeklong suspension for his two flamboyant touchdown celebrations against the Cowboys, when he ran to the midfield star logo at Texas Stadium and taunted the fans. Owens sat out the 49ers’ victory over Arizona after being suspended by coach Steve Mariucci.
“I wasn’t going to let everything that happened to me get me down,” he said.
STILL KICKING
Atlanta kicker Morten Andersen played in his 282nd NFL game, tying him with former Minnesota defensive end Jim Marshall for second place on the NFL career list behind Bears-Oilers-Raiders legend George Blanda’s 340. Titans lineman Bruce Matthews has played in 264, including 202 in a row, but left with an injury Sunday.
Seattle’s Ricky Watters has started 103 games in a row, the longest active streak among running backs.
DROPPING THE BALL
Jets running back Curtis Martin lost a fumble in the third period, his first in 545 touches of the ball on a rush or reception. He had fumbled two other times during the streak, dating back to a 1998 playoff game at Denver, but lost neither.
$#% “The way I feel is one of those `beep’ words,” Al Groh said after his first loss as the Jets’ head coach. “I’ll say the word if you want, but you’ll have to beep it out.”
