Late Game Recaps
Jaguars 24, Dolphins 10
Game Recap by: Gregg Rosenthal The Big Story
In a game with major playoff implications, fifth-year pro
David Garrard played the best game of his career while
Joey Harrington combined solid passing yardage with backbreaking mistakes. Jacksonville's two-headed monster of
Fred Taylor and
Maurice Jones-Drew unsurprisingly outshone Miami's two-headed nightmare of
Sammy Morris and
Travis Minor in a decisive Jaguars victory.
Beyond The Box Score
I've had my doubts about
David Garrard (16/22-229-2-0, 6-24-0), but Sunday proved he belonged. The Dolphins got pressure on Garrard, but he wouldn't go down. His running ability gave him time to find
Matt Jones (6-128-2) and
Reggie Williams (5-42-0) down the field. He made a number of difficult strikes, especially to Jones, who dominated Miami's man coverage. Jones looks so fluid, versatile, and explosive, it's hard to understand why more of these games haven't occurred this season.
The biggest knock on
Joey Harrington (27/42-267-1-2) throughout his career has been that he feels the pass rush. That was the case against the Jaguars. With
Marcus Stroud healthy and a weak Miami running game unable to support him, Harrington was harassed and didn't step into his throws. His interceptions came from frenzied decisions. Harrington faces a tough schedule down the stretch.
I benched
Chris Chambers (8-121-0) in our NBC league and it's going to cost our team a playoff spot (despite an 8-5 record, don't ask). Who thought Chambers would have his best day of the season against the best pass defense in the AFC? Chambers was targeted deep often for the first time in a while, although Harrington and him mostly connected on shorter throws.
Marty Booker (5-61-1) continued his steady play and was a more frequent target in the red zone than Chambers.
Maurice Jones-Drew (5-46-1) nearly had one of his quietest games of the season. But in a play that neatly summarizes his rookie year, the stocky UCLA product busted up the middle and through numerous tacklers for a 32-yard score midway through the fourth quarter. The Dolphins had Jones-Drew stopped and surrounded, but he seemingly burrowed through the trash before running to daylight.
Fred Taylor (19-76-0) was effective as usual, especially considering the opponent. The RBBC in Jacksonville won't always please fantasy owners, but it's working well.
The
Sammy Morris (12-47-0, 3-20-0) and
Travis Minor (6-22-0, 3-2-0) show was boring as expected. Look for similarly weak numbers against the Patriots next week.
Ronnie Brown probably won't be back until Week 15.
Going Forward
Jack Del Rio told the CBS crew that
Matt Jones was going to have a huge day, so the coach knew that Jones is A) fully healthy at last and B) a big part of the game plan. Jacksonville has a difficult schedule in the fantasy playoffs, starting against Indianapolis, but Jones is worth picking up for depth in all leagues.
The Colts matchup makes
Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew much stronger RB2 plays next week. They are almost must-starts if you have a flex position.
The Patriots are vulnerable through the air, so Chambers,
Marty Booker, and
Wes Welker are options next week. Miami will give up on the run early. Chambers are Booker are solid WR3s, while Welker had a big day against them early in the season.
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 3 Game Recap By: Evan Silva The Big Story
It didn't take much to beat the Bucs on Sunday afternoon.
Bruce Gradkowski (20-34-175-0-3, 6-26) was awful.
Carnell Williams (11-27, FL, 4-30) had one of his worst games as a professional.
Michael Clayton (4-57) dropped a sure score, and then sprained his MCL.
Joey Galloway (3-37) didn't make impact plays. Tampa turned the ball over four times and Pittsburgh only turned it over once. This was an easy win for the now 5-7 Steelers.
Beyond the Box Score
Gradkowski was atrocious for the second straight week. The rookie quarterback threw a key interception in the end zone that was picked by
Bryant McFadden and another right to
Clint Kriewaldt in the fourth quarter. Gradkowski shouldn't be starting in the NFL right now.
Ben Roethlisberger (12-25-198-2-1) did well to compensate without
Hines Ward. He picked on Bucs corner
Juran Bolden and hit
Nate Washington (3-78) for three big plays. Both of Big Ben's touchdowns were to tight ends. Roethlisberger didn't seem to be on the same page with
Santonio Holmes (1-18), however, as many of his passes intended for the first-round pick sailed just out of Holmes' reach.
Cadillac appeared to be working on more downs, which is the only good news we can take from his game. Special teamer
Earnest Graham (4-35) out-gained Williams on seven less carries to lead Tampa in rushing.
Michael Pittman (1-0, 1-7) was not on the field often.
Cedrick Wilson (2-26) left early with a sprained ankle and may very well be sidelined for Week 14, as the Steelers play on Thursday.
Willie Parker (22-61, 1-25) didn't have a run of longer than three yards until well into the second half. This was Parker's second consecutive game without a score.
Najeh Davenport (6-8, 2-22) did his work in garbage time.
Going Forward
We're guessing Clayton misses a week at least. He would be replaced by
Maurice Stovall at the flanker position. Stovall is worth a look in deep leagues, as his skills are suited for the red zone.
We're also guessing that Ward and Wilson won't available for Thursday night. Holmes may finally get his chance to start. However, he will be in court all week and probably won't practice at all before then. Holmes is not an especially safe WR3 play.
Use Cadillac as a flex in Week 14 at Atlanta. He'll be an easy sit from then on if he doesn't come up big.
Gradkowski needs to be replaced. Look for Jon Gruden to give either
Luke McCown (inactive) or
Tim Rattay (active, DNP) a shot at some point down the stretch. Watching Gradkowski fail over and over has not only cost the young quarterback his confidence, it's cost the team any morale it might have left. He's outmatched.
Dallas 23, N.Y. Giants 20 Game Recap by Matt Lawrence The Big Story
After their much publicized release of struggling kicker
Mike Vanderjagt earlier in the week, the Cowboys were rescued by new acquisition
Martin Gramatica, who came through with a clutch 46-yard field goal in the closing seconds. The win essentially gave the Boys the NFL East Division title over the struggling G-Men.
Beyond the Box Score
The Giants have now dropped four straight contests, while the Cowboys have wheeled off five wins in six games since
Tony Romo took over behind center. Dallas now holds a two-game lead for the division with four games remaining.
Marion Barber found the end zone two more times Sunday, increasing his touchdown total to 11 rushing and 13 total on the season. Only
Larry Johnson (15) and
LaDainian Tomlinson (26) have more. Barber scored on a one-year plunge in the first quarter and again in the fourth on a seven-yard dash to the right side.
New York held
Julius Jones to just 24 yards on the ground. He's now failed to get 100 yards in each of his past seven games and has received a season-low in carries (11) in each of the past two contests. New Orleans ranks near the bottom of the league, allowing 133.1 rushing yards per game, so consider Jones a decent RB3 or flex option. However, keep in mind – he's scored just one TD in the past nine games.
Tiki Barber rushed for 90 yards on 23 carries in the contest and added another five receptions for 53 yards through the air. He came through with a clutch 28-yard reception on a dump-off pass in New York's game-tying drive in the fourth quarter. The 10th-year back needs just four receptions to register his eighth straight 50-reception campaign.
Before the game, Barber revealed to Foxsports.com that his right thumb is broken above the knuckle, not sprained. He wore a protective plastic covering over the injury that he suffered four games ago against Chicago. He said he thought the thumb injury would end his season, and his career, when it originally happened. He's got a workman-like 199 yards rushing on 58 carries in three weeks since getting hurt, so it's not affecting his numbers a great deal.
After the contest, coach Bill Parcells said
Martin Gramatica would officially be signed the remainder of the season after nailing three field goals, including the game-winning 46-yard with one second left on the clock. Around the league, there were three games decided by field goals in the closing seconds.
Michael Strahan (foot) was on the field about two hours before game-time doing some stretching exercises. The medical staff deemed him not ready to return though. The Giants fell to 1-11 in the past 12 games he doesn't start.
The Giants wore their red home jerseys for the first and only time this season.
Going Forward
The Cowboys will be in the National spotlight next Sunday night against the Saints, in a matchup of two of the hottest quarterbacks in the game. Dallas has four rather good fantasy matchups in the final month though (NO, @ATL, PHI, DET).
With four straight losses, it's officially must-win time for the Giants. They'll travel to Carolina next week and play against the No. 6 ranked pass defense of the Panthers. Drop Manning, Burress and Shockey down a notch for this tough matchup.
Texans 23, Raiders 14 Game Recap By: Evan Silva The Big Story
Only Oakland could find a way to lose to a team that doesn't complete a pass in the entire second half of a football game. The Raiders are at their worst when given an opportunity to win.
Beyond the Box Score David Carr (7-14-32-0-0) took five sacks, fumbled three times, lost two, and had one returned for a touchdown by
Kirk Morrison. Carr looked scared.
Aaron Brooks (25-42-238-0-2, 3-13) ended his third straight game on an interception. He didn't use his legs to evade the rush like he had in his first two starts since returning from a shoulder injury. All of Brooks' completions were short. Oakland's leading receiver was fullback/committee member
ReShard Lee (6-42, 5-57).
Randal Williams (6-46) is showing up and producing but he had two huge fumbles late in the game. Williams may have lost his starting job due to the miscues.
Four catches and 44 yards is a promising effort from
Randy Moss these days. He also drew an unnecessary roughness penalty against
C.C. Brown in the second quarter to set up
Justin Fargas' three-yard touchdown run.
Fargas (14-49-1, 1-9) went nowhere after the early score.
ReShard Lee was in the game while Oakland was attempting to come back.
Zack Crockett (2-5, 2-19) saw his role diminish. I can't believe we're examining the play of these bums every week. The Raiders need help.
Nnamdi Asomugha is a top-five corner in this league. He had a blanket on
Andre Johnson (1-9). Johnson also carried twice for -4 yards.
Eric Moulds (1-3) was completely shut down.
Owen Daniels didn't have a catch.
Samkon Gado was an active DNP.
Wali Lundy (9-33-1, 2-9) started but was replaced by
Ron Dayne (18-95, 1-5) in the second half. Dayne broke off big chunks of yardage to set up four second-half field goals attempts.
Kris Brown missed one and made three.
Going Forward
Houston's running back carousel is not a fun ride. Lundy has had the most big games over the course of the season but there's a chance he'll be replaced as the starter by Dayne. Pick up Dayne if you are in a deep league or desperate. No Texans back will be of much use during the fantasy playoffs.
There might not be a person in the world more frustrated with
David Carr than Gary Kubiak. Drop Carr in fantasy leagues.
Andre Johnson only has a so-so matchup in Week 14 against Tennessee, but if there's one good thing about Carr it's that he keys on Johnson.
Bradlee Van Pelt (active, DNP) won't get a shot this season. Johnson will rebound.
Brooks isn't a fantasy option at this point. Moss is a decent WR3 in Week 14 at Cincinnati. Fargas is in a running back by committee and it's too hard to predict who will get the carries in what spots. It was nice to see him execute on the goal line, but he's a poor flex against the surging Bengals