Backups can play, too, and a number of them proved it on Sunday. Brian Griese started the season as No. 2 to Rex Grossman, but he threw for more yards Sunday than any quarterback in the NFL not named Brady, and he engineered a spectacular 11-play, 97-yard drive with less than two minutes remaining that ended with a touchdown pass and won a critical game for the Bears.
Kerry Collins had similar results filling in for injured Vince Young in Tennessee, putting the Titans in position to beat the Texans with a 69-yard drive with less than a minute remaining. And the Texans’ quarterback, another backup, also did himself proud. Sage Rosenfels threw four fourth-quarter touchdown passes in relief of injured Matt Schaub, including two in the final two minutes. He nearly gave his team a victory after it trailed 32-7 late in the final quarter.
There was uncertainty in Buffalo about whether the Bills would stick with Trent Edwards this week or go back to J.P. Losman now that Losman is healthy. Coach Dick Jauron gave Edwards another chance, and he helped the Bills beat the favored Ravens.
A couple of backup running backs also seized the day. Kenny Watson, who probably would rank No. 4 on the Bengals’ depth chart if every back was healthy, rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns in Cincinnati’s victory over the Jets. No back in the league had a better day.
And Tampa Bay’s Earnest Graham, who was filling in for Michael Pittman and Cadillac Williams, had 92 rushing yards and 99 receiving yards.
LET’S GO TO THE TAPE
*What the Patriots do better than any team in the league is find ways to derive value from players who struggled with other teams. Bill Belichick won’t force the player into his system; he’ll mold the system around the player. The Raiders thought Randy Moss was lazy and losing his burst. In New England he is the best receiver in the game and playing probably the best football of his life.
Donte Stallworth also looks like a different player in New England than he was in New Orleans and Philadelphia, now that he has Tom Brady hitting him with perfect passes.
Kyle Brady caught a touchdown in the Patriots’ victory Sunday, and he has become an ideal role player in New England after the Jaguars let him go. Even old Junior Seau, who was let go by the Chargers and Dolphins and even announced his retirement, came through with a sack for the Patriots.
It’s all a testament to Belichick finding ways to maximize players’ strengths and minimize their weaknesses.
*Willis McGahee won the battle of Buffalo but lost the war between the Ravens and Bills.
The former Bill wanted out of Buffalo and got his wish in the off-season when he was traded to the Ravens. He subsequently trashed the fine metropolis in western New York, ripping everything from its night life to its women.
The Bills didn’t mind letting McGahee go because they were able to replace him with first-round pick Marshawn Lynch. A couple of months back, Bills general manager Marv Levy told me he thought Lynch was a more instinctive runner who made better decisions with the ball in his hands.
On the same field Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, McGahee rushed for 114 yards on 19 carries, including a 46-yard touchdown, while the rookie had 84 yards on 27 carries. The Bills upset the Ravens, however, 19-14.
GUYS I WANT ON MY TEAM
I want guys who play smart, so today’s honor goes to the two Eagles kickers who took Devin Hester out of the game as a return man. Sav Rocca normally would be berated by his coach for averaging 28 yards on his four punts, but he’ll get a slap on the back because he put the ball where Hester could not return it. His last punt pinned the Bears on their own 3 and appeared to end their hope of winning.
And David Akers gave the Bears excellent field position on his five kickoffs. Their average starting point after his kickoffs was the 33-yard line. But Hester didn’t have a single return, so Ackers did his job wonderfully.
The Eagles were the first team in Hester’s 26 NFL games that figured out a way to make him a complete and utter non-factor. And Rocca and Akers were the ones who made it happen.
GAME BALL OFFENSE
Tom Brady, Patriots
What is most amazing about Brady this year is he is making big plays while avoiding mistakes. Usually, making big plays entails taking risks. And taking risks leads to some mistakes.
But Brady is above it all. He’s playing the position as well as I’ve ever seen anyone play quarterback.
GAME BALL DEFENSE
Dewayne White, Lions
Against his former team, the Lions’ defensive end had three sacks, three quarterback hits and a tipped pass. In his four years with the Bucs, White never had more than one sack in a game. His performance helped Detroit beat Tampa Bay, and afterward White presented the game ball to coach Rod Marinelli, the former Tampa Bay assistant who brought White to Detroit.
GAME BALL SPECIAL TEAMS
Rob Bironas, Titans
By himself, the Titans’ kicker scored 26 points Sunday and outscored 16 entire teams. His eight field goals set an NFL record and his final one as time expired gave the Titans a 38-36 victory over the Texans despite the absence of injured quarterback Vince Young.
GRAB SOME BENCH
Chester Taylor, Vikings
Taylor didn’t do anything wrong. As a matter of fact, 47 yards on 10 carries is pretty good. But he needs to be benched because he’s standing in the way of Adrian Peterson. Against the Cowboys on Sunday, Peterson had only 12 carries, one reception and three kickoff returns. He is the most unstoppable ball-carrying force in the NFL at the moment. He should have had at least 20 rushes and 25 touches. If he did, the Vikings might be 3-3 now instead of 2-4.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
– The Bears might not be the only NFC team climbing back into the playoff race. Don’t look now, but the Saints have won two straight and are looking at a manageable stretch of schedule. That Week 17 game at Soldier Field between the Bears and Saints still might be meaningful.
– Priest Holmes might not have to rush for another yard to make the Chiefs a better team. All he has to do is keep breathing down Larry Johnson”s neck.
– It’s no surprise Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich went down almost as soon as he went in. One of the reasons the Jaguars gave up on Leftwich is he gets hit too much. He can’t move in the pocket and he has a slow, long delivery. That’s a bad combination.
– The Cardinals might have lost Sunday, and some people might even blame their coach for what happened on that two-point try at the end of the game, but I like what Ken Whisenhunt is doing with his team.
– The Packers don’t play this weekend, but they sure suffered a loss. Max McGee was a true legend. They don’t make them like him anymore.
– ESPN will give us the best Monday night offering to date this evening with the Jaguars hosting the Colts. The Jaguars have had success against the Colts when they’ve been able to run the ball, but running yards might not come as easily in this game because Colts safety Bob Sanders is expected to be back in the Indianapolis lineup. Prediction: Colts 20, Jaguars 17.
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dpompei@tribune.com
