Around the NFL: Week four

I saw the game, and watched the call.  M.D. Jennings caught that ball, winning the game for the Green Bay Packers.

That’s all I’ll say about the replacement referees.

It appears that Roger Goodell and the NFL owners have finally come to a tentative agreement with the “real” NFL officials, ending the replacement ref experiment after three weeks of bad calls and blunders.

But ESPN has beaten that to death already.  I’m going to talk about what we should be talking about: football.

The New Orleans Saints are 0-3.  That’s right, 0-3.  This week’s loss at home to the Kansas City Chiefs is a debilitating blow to New Orleans. Drew Brees seems more concerned with calling out referees than he is with studying film, and without Sean Payton in the locker room, I don’t think this team comes back.  Kansas City looked awful coming into this game: the Saints are in a world of trouble.

If drama is what you like, this week was for you.  Capped off by Golden Tate’s game-winning catch* as time expired against the Green Bay Packers, week three was a wild one in the NFL.  The Saints-Chiefs game I mentioned went into overtime, but that was just one of three games that required extra time to settle.

The Miami-New York Jets game was decided by an overtime field goal; or perhaps a timeout.  New York kicker Nick Folk made the game-winning 33-yard field goal, but not on his first try.  Folk’s first attempt was blocked by Miami, but Head Coach Joe Philbin elected to ice, well, his defense.

In perhaps the most thrilling game of the week, Tennessee outscored Detroit 44-41 in overtime.  The Lions made a furious comeback, scoring with 18 seconds left to get within a touchdown, then getting the onside kick.  Miraculously (and without referee assistance), Detroit WR Titus Young hauled in the 46-yard Hail Mary from backup QB Shaun Hill, sending the game to extra innings.  Unfortunately for Detroit, they botched a play deep in Titan territory that cost them the game, dropping them to 1-2 along with the Packers.

Catch that replacement ref joke?  Extra innings?

Never mind.  I said I wouldn’t talk about them anymore.

The story of the week has to be Baltimore wide receiver Torrey Smith.  Less than 24 hours removed from losing his younger brother in a tragic motorcycle accident, Smith

Charles ran wild in the Superdome

took the field against the New England Patriots and inspired.  Smith went off for 127 yards and two touchdowns: one of the most remarkable performances I’ve seen under those circumstances.

Leading rusher C.J. Spiller went down with a shoulder injury early in Buffalo’s game against Cleveland.  His diagnosis is better than originally thought, and may play this week.

Speaking of rushing, welcome back to the NFL Jamaal Charles.  One year removed from a torn ACL, Charles broke loose for 233 yards against New Orleans.  His 91-yard touchdown scamper in the second half changed the momentum of the game.

After three weeks, we are left with only three unbeaten teams: the Houston Texans (who look like the best team now since San Francisco lost to Minnesota), the Atlanta Falcons (who I picked to with their division), and the (WHAT?) Arizona Cardinals.  That’s right; Arizona shellacked Philadelphia 27-6 by playing some of the best defense in football.  The Cardinals, along with the Seahawks and 49ers, will battle for the NFC West title to the end.

The best news here is that Ed Hochuli’s guns will finally end their unemployment.  I’m sure these referees will enjoy seeing that first paycheck after getting a nice little raise today.

Plus, now they can stop paying off the replacements.

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