Matchup
at New England 9 Cleveland 3
Whizzer said
Pats (-51 1/42). Told you it would be a close shave.
Drive-through
Adam Vinatieri (three FGs) outscores Cleveland’s two QBs.
Buffet-style
Mike Vrabel’s 3 sacks led a Pats defense that has allowed one TD and 22 points in three games. Stingy is as stingy does.
The hostess will seat you
Cleveland (3-5) replaced Tim Couch with Kelly Holcomb for the second straight game but reached Pats territory just once. That’s because the Browns managed just 203 total yards.
Matchup
at Tampa Bay 16 Dallas 0
Whizzer said
‘Boys (+61/2). So really it was Bucs 16, ‘Boys 61/2.
Drive-through
Martin Gramatica kicked FGs of 24, 26 and 50 yards.
Buffet-style
Keyshawn Johnson’s agent had complained about the receiver’s role. So Johnson gets a TD this week. Happy now?
The hostess will seat you
Tampa Bay (4-3) defense halted the Cowboys’ longest winning streak since ’94 and forced three turnovers, sacking Quincy Carter four times and holding Dallas (5-2) to just 178 yards.
Matchup
Tennessee 30 at Jacksonville 17
Whizzer said
Titans (-31/2). Easy as 1-2 -uh-oh yeah-3.
Drive-through
Eddie George had two TDs and Steve McNair (one TD pass) made 21-of-27.
Buffet-style
The Titans (6-2) hit 30 points for the fifth straight game. Jacksonville (1-6) should hit them up for a loan.
The hostess will seat you
The Titans (once the Oilers) are 7-3 in Jacksonville since 1995. Jags QB Byron Leftwich hit Jimmy Smith for a 49-yard pass. Neither remembers the Oilers.
Matchup
N.Y. Giants 29 at Minnesota 17
Whizzer said
Talk about Vikings (-51/2) funeral.
Drive-through
Kerry Collins (375 yards) threw two TDs. The Vikings
(6-1) finally lose.
Buffet-style
Tiki Barber (122 total yards) helped New York (3-4) end a three-game losing streak.
Giants were 3-4 last year and still made the playoffs.
The hostess will seat you
Daunte Culpepper threw his first two picks of the season. That works in Indiana basketball but not here. The Giants had just 26 points in the last 3 games.
Matchup
St. Louis 33 at Pittsburgh 21
Whizzer said
Rams (+11/2). Steelers are making this easy.
Drive-through
Rams third-string RB Arlen Harris scores three TDs. And he’s from Pittsburgh.
Buffet-style
Marc Bulger (375 yards) and the Rams (5-2) won their fourth in a row. It’s also only the second road win in 11 games.
The hostess will seat you
The Steelers (2-5) wasted Antwaan Randle El’s 84-yard punt return TD to drop their fourth straight. Break out the acid-washed jeans: This is the worst Steelers start since 1-6 in ’88.
Matchup
at Cincinnati 27 Seattle 24
Whizzer said
Bengals (+11/2). Yes, I do love cats.
Drive-through
Stop the presses; Bengals (3-4) have won back to back games.
Buffet-style
Bengals RB Corey Dillon got into a traffic accident on his way to the stadium. He wasn’t hurt. He was inactive. And the Seahawks are 5-2.
The hostess will seat you
Dillon wasn’t on the sideline to see his back-up
Rudi Johnson (101 yards, 1 TD) become the first Bengals running back other than Dillon to reach the 100-yard mark since ’97. Talk about a team player.
Matchup
at Baltimore 26 Denver 6
Whizzer said
Broncos (+11/2) seemed like a tough call at the time.
Drive-through
Jamal Lewis (134 yards) hit 100 for a sixth game in a row.
Buffet-style
Ray Lewis rambled 37 yards with a key fourth-quarter INT.
The hostess will seat you
Jerry Lewis did nothing except warm our hearts for the past 50 years. Matt Stover kicked 4 FGs for the Ravens (4-3) while Denver (5-3) watched third-stringer Danny Kanell throw two picks.
Matchup
Carolina 23 at N. Orleans 20 OT
Whizzer said
Saints (-2). Gave 2 points. And my soul.
Drive-through
John Kasay’s 31-yard FG wins it for the Panthers (6-1).
Buffet-style
The Saints (3-5) tied it on John Carney’s 42-yard FG. How often are both clutch kickers named John? Who cares? It’s still weird, though.
The hostess will seat you
Saints win the OT coin toss. Saints drive to the Carolina 37. Saints fumble on fourth-and-1. Stephen Davis (31 carries for 178 yards) sets up the FG with a 33-yard run.
Check and mate.
Matchup
at Arizona 16 San Fran. 13 OT
Whizzer said
49ers (-61/2)
Drive-through
Bill Gramatica’s replacement Tim Duncan hit a 39-yarder.
Buffet-style
Duncan had missed 3 of 5 attempts including a 50-yarder as the fourth quarter ended. It’s the Cardinals’ first win over the 49ers in 10 years.
The hostess will seat you
San Francisco’s Owen Pochman, who missed three FGs last week against Tampa Bay, missed two more Sunday, including a 35-yard attempt with 2:25 left in regulation. Ain’t that a kick in the head?
Matchup
at Indianapolis 30 Houston 21
Whizzer said
Colts (-13). What an ungodly spread.
Drive-through
Peyton Manning hits 22 of 30 for 269 yards, 3 TDs.
Buffet-style
On the other side, Texans QB David Carr left twice with the same ankle injury. The other ankle is getting jealous.
The hostess will seat you
Manning logged an amazing 133.9 rating for this game, and it would have been higher if he hadn’t thrown away 2 balls, seen 3 others dropped and used the salad fork on his entree late in the fourth quarter.
Matchup
at Philadelphia 24 N.Y. Jets 17
Whizzer said
Eagles (-3). Naturally.
Drive-through
Chad Pennington’s return: Not so great.
Buffet-style
Donovan McNabb threw another costly pick, but rebounded nicely to lead the Eagles (4-3) to victory.
The hostess will seat you
Ah, that revolving Eagles backfield. This time Correll Buckhalter steps up, running for 100 yards and 2 TDs. Jets (2-5) see their 2-game win streak snapped.
Matchup
at Kansas City 38 Buffalo 5
Whizzer said
Buffaloed by the Bills (+61/2).
Drive-through
One of these teams came to play. That team’s name rhymes with “Frances kitty.”
Buffet-style
Priest Holmes rushes for 3 TDs and surpasses 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the season. A reminder: It’s Week 8.
The hostess will seat you
A week after the Bills (4-4) dismantle the Redskins, they turn the ball over seven times and manage a measly 5 points, 2 from a safety on a blocked punt. Turnabout is fair play. Anyone that still questions the Chiefs (8-0) should question their own sanity.
