Owens full of tricks and treats for Bengals
Yahoo! Sports NFL writer Jason Cole is filling in for Charles Robinson for this week's Winners and Losers column. Robinson will return for the Nov. 7 edition.
Bengals WR Terrell Owens scores one of his two first-half touchdowns.
(Frank Victores/US Presswire)
There were some obvious targets for criticism in Week 8. From Dallas, where the Cowboys defense quit on head coach/defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, to Cincinnati, where Carson Palmer(notes) couldn't do anything in the second half, to the Redskins, who got hammered in Detroit and created a quarterback controversy in the process by pulling Donovan McNabb(notes).
But if you want a putrid effort from a guy who actually produced some nice stats, look no further than Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens(notes).
He may have done a nice job to catch a pair of touchdown passes in the first half, but with the game on the line for the Bengals, Owens refused to put his body on the line.
For those who defend Owens, this has been a good season, particularly over the past four games. During that stretch, Owens has five touchdowns. For the season, he has 45 catches for 629 yards. At 36, Owens is on pace for one of his best seasons with 102 catches, 1,437 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Owens has proved all the haters wrong – he can still play. But there is a difference between playing and being effective, and doing things that help win games in critical situations. Two of those situations came in a span of four plays.
The first was on an underthrown pass by Palmer when Owens was running a post route. Owens had gotten behind the defense and the defender had turned his back to the throw, simply chasing Owens. On plays like that, wide receivers are supposed to slow down and either fight for the ball or let the defender run into them for an easy pass interference call.
Owens did neither. He basically sidestepped the contact.
On the last play of the drive, Owens not only stopped on a route, allowing Miami's Sean Smith(notes) to come up with the game-ending interception, Owens didn't even turn to chase Smith after the pick, trying to save the game the way Roddy White(notes) rescued Atlanta earlier this season against San Francisco. Instead, Owens disgustedly turned to walk toward the bench and unbuckle his chinstrap.
Owens' defenders will point at his two touchdowns – particularly the second one in which he didn't give up on the play and was rewarded with a deflection and easy score – and that Palmer was worse. True, but it's one thing to play poorly – that happens to everybody at some point. It's another thing to not play hard and not hustle. At the moment of truth, Owens did neither and the Bengals lost partially as a result.
Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) celebrates his fourth-quarter TD.
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
• Detroit Lions defensive line and coordinator Gunther Cunningham
Detroit had seven sacks, including one for a game-clinching touchdown return off a fumble by backup quarterback Rex Grossman(notes). The situation was so bad that Washington pulled quarterback Donovan McNabb in the final two minutes. The key for Detroit has been the play of No. 2 overall pick Ndamukong Suh(notes) and veteran defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch(notes). Couple their play with the scheming of Cunningham and you have reason for hope in Detroit.
• Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre(notes)
OK, Favre is a diva and an attention-grabber of historic proportions. This season, his private indiscretions have made him a running gag (marked by a particularly good bit last weekend by "Saturday Night Live"). Still, you have to give Favre a lot of credit for his toughness. The stress fractures in his ankle didn't even seem to bother him as he moved around. Sadly, yet another ailment prematurely ended his outing against the Patriots.
• Buffalo Bills
Yeah, they lost again, this time in another incredibly cruel outcome. If losing in overtime for the second straight week wasn't bad enough, this time the Bills lost with no time remaining. While the 0-7 Bills are a long way from being good, they are playing really hard. They are the antithesis of the departed Owens.
• Kansas City Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop(notes)
After watching the wind pull his previous kick about seven feet to the left and outside the uprights for a miss, Succop didn't let the conditions get into his head on his game-ending kick. Instead, he did a good job adjusting his next kick to handle the conditions.
Matt Cassel passed for one touchdown in the overtime win vs. the Bills.
(John Rieger-US Presswire)
• Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel(notes)
For the better part of his first season and a half with Kansas City, Cassel has been underwhelming. But for the third straight game, Cassel has shown great progress. He has six touchdowns and zero interceptions in that time, and he engineered a last-minute drive Sunday to set up Succup's field goal.
• San Francisco 49ers quarterback Troy Smith(notes)
Give Smith credit for being prepared for this start. He threw only 19 times, but his 196 yards passing means more than 10 yards an attempt, which is stellar. Add in a nifty touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree(notes) and Smith was excellent.
• Philadelphia Eagles management
Sure, the Eagles didn't play Sunday, but the team's decision to dump McNabb is looking better by the week because McNabb is looking older and older. After Washington coach Mike Shanahan pulled McNabb against Detroit, you have to wonder how that relationship is going to end. Maybe a relocation to Arizona is still in the offing for McNabb.
• Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young(notes)
Over the years, I have taken many shots at Young's ability to throw deep. On Sunday, Young threw one of the best deep passes of his career for a touchdown to wide receiver Nate Washington(notes). It wasn't enough to help the Titans beat San Diego and Young got hurt afterward with what the broadcast team suggested could be a left Achilles' tendon injury.
• Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden(notes)
McFadden posted his fourth 100-yard game of the season and Oakland is 3-1 in those four games. It should be 4-0 if not for a missed chip shot by kicker Sebastian Janikowski(notes) against Arizona.
• Raiders wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey
He still hasn't done much for his career, but tip your cap after he compiled his first 100-yard receiving day, highlighted by a 69-yard touchdown catch.
• Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard(notes)
OK, the Cowboys quit like a tomato can boxer. But let's pay some respect to the much-maligned Garrard, who threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in a magnificent performance. It doesn't change what Garrard is, but it is one of those career games.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount(notes)
In April, Blount ran one of the ugliest 40-yard dashes in the history of the NFL scouting combine for a running back. He ran slow and looked stiff in the process. Couple that with a bad history of personal conduct at Oregon and he went undrafted. On Sunday, he cemented the starting job with the Buccaneers after scoring two touchdowns and putting on one amazing run in the final minutes to change the field.
Jerricho Cotchery misses a catch in the fourth quarter.
(Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
• New York Jets wide receivers
In particular, Jericho Cotchery was awful, dropping three passes in New York's final three possessions. Two of the drops would have been for big gains. The Jets had at least seven drops and one of quarterback Mark Sanchez's(notes) two interceptions was a play when Green Bay wrestled a ball away from one of Sanchez's receivers.
• Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber(notes)
Not only are Dallas' hopes of making the playoffs all but gone, the once-intriguing career of the ferocious running Barber has flat-lined. Over the past two games, Barber has carried 13 times for 22 yards. Like most violent runners, Barber has hit the wall, losing the explosiveness that once marked his style. Worse, Barber's decision to lose weight this offseason has made the situation worse. For the season, Barber is averaging a career-low three yards per carry. It's time to give Tashard Choice(notes) a chance.
• Miami Dolphins special teams play
OK, Dan "If I was a" Carpenter "I would build the Dolphins a new offense," was just fine as he made five field goals. However, despite firing the previous special teams coordinator, Miami continues to act as if it doesn't understand the basics. Punt returner Davone Bess(notes) botched two returns, fumbling one punt he should have stayed away from and failing to catch another one he should have grabbed.
• Vikings right tackle Phil Loadholt(notes)
He was an all-rookie selection last season. This year, he's looking like all-fraud. On Sunday, he got pushed back into the backfield on a fourth-and-goal play at the end of the first half, blowing up a possible touchdown run. Later, he was penalized for a false start, a week after his brutal facemask call in the loss to Green Bay.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, right, with his team during the fourth quarter. The Cowboys lost to the Jaguars 35-17.
(AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
• Cowboys defense and wide receiver Roy Williams
Talk about a double dose of ugly. Dallas' defense was supposed to be the strength of this team, featuring the likes of DeMarcus Ware(notes) and Jay Ratliff(notes). Yet they allow Garrard to light them up. David Garrard? Seriously? As for Williams, he contributed two dropped passes that turned into interceptions. Yuck.
• Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb
As mentioned above, he looks bad right now and the performance against Detroit was the latest example. He has seven touchdown passes and eight interceptions for the season. The Redskins have scored 18 points or fewer in five of their eight games this season.
• Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer
Palmer is one of the good guys of the league and a great quote. That doesn't make up for the fact that over the past four years, he has thrown only 18 more touchdown passes (62) than interceptions. With the addition of Owens this year, the results were supposed to be more like his strong years in 2005 and 2006. It's just not happening.
• Any Cardinals quarterback
Right now, the Cardinals probably wish they still had Matt Leinart(notes). They had two interceptions returned for touchdowns and two other picks in the fourth quarter that cost the team a chance to win. Rookie Max Hall(notes) was benched and backup Derek Anderson(notes) came in and wasn't any better.
(FIVE THINGS I LOVED AND FIVE THINGS I LOATHED)
Chris Johnson scores in the first half against the Chargers.
(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Loved: The 29-yard touchdown run by Tennessee running back Chris Johnson in the second quarter at San Diego. No human should be allowed to start, jump stop, go sideways and start again the way Johnson does. The run was Johnson at his elusive best.
Loathed: The television ad that says it's a rule of thumb that "You're not supposed to onside kick after halftime" and then shows the Saints doing it in last season's Super Bowl. I've been covering the NFL for 19 years and watching it for a lot longer than that and I never heard that supposed saying. Then again, I love the Troy Polamalu(notes) commercial where his hair grows to monstrous size.
Loved: The fact that Tampa Bay (5-2) is tied with the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons for the best record in the NFC even though the Bucs have been outscored by 27 points for the season. I know that the Bucs are due for a big letdown at some point, but they're making the best of their opportunities.
Loathed: The fact that Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, who is otherwise a pretty good coach, continues to pump his fist after every field goal. The point is to score a touchdown, that's why they say you "settle for a field goal." Unless it's a game-winner, don't celebrate mediocrity.
Loved: The moxie of the Lions to go for it on fourth-and-goal late in the game against Washington. Quarterback Matthew Stafford(notes) made it look like a great decision by hooking up with Calvin Johnson(notes) for his fourth scoring pass of the day. If the Lions can keep Stafford healthy, they're going to be really good.
Loathed: The complete lack of character, passion and leadership that the Cowboys have as a unit. This team has no clue what it takes to win and no sense of how to compete. What this team has done this year is inexcusable. Blame coach Wade Phillips as much as you want (and he deserves plenty of it), but the biggest problem the Cowboys have is in the locker room – not the coaching staff.
Loved: The fact that the three teams from Florida (Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa Bay) are a combined 9-2 on the road this season and only 4-7 at home. Given the fact that the hot weather of the early season usually works in favor of those teams, this makes absolutely no sense.
Loathed: How much people make out of irrelevant quarterback stats. For instance, Denver's Kyle Orton(notes) appeared to have another good game as he complete 28 of 40 passes for 369 yards and one touchdown. However, when it comes to really important stats, like third-down conversions, Orton and the Broncos are horrible. They were 1-of-9 Sunday and were held to 16 points, including only three in the first half. Despite Orton's big numbers this season, the Broncos have been held to 17 or fewer points in five of eight games.
Loved: The eight-man blitz that New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams ran at Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger(notes) in the first quarter. Really, it was eight guys. That's as gutsy as it gets, a tribute to Williams' roots in the Buddy Ryan 46 defense. Few coaches have Williams' courage (or lunacy, depending on how you approach it).
Loathed: The term "Super Bowl hangover" as an explanation rather than real analysis. The reason that New Orleans is off to a slow start compared to last year is that the Saints have no real running game. The Saints have no threat in the backfield, be it Pierre Thomas(notes) or Reggie Bush(notes). When opponents don't have to worry about the running back, it makes playing defense a lot easier.