CHI ball. 3rd and 4 on the CHI 42
Last Play: Jay Cutler incomplete pass intended for Desmond Clark.
KC ball. 1st and 10 on the KC 19
Last Play: Josh Scobee kicks off to the KC 9. Dantrell Savage return for 10 yards to KC 19. Tackled by Tyron Brackenridge.
Superdome
Better play over their last four games has the Carolina Panthers thinking they can get back into the playoff mix. A win over the undefeated New Orleans Saints this weekend would go a long way in validating those beliefs.
Qwest Field
It has been many suns, moons, failed draft picks, dubious coaching hires, and at least one mustachioed general manager since the Detroit Lions have won a road game in the month of November.
Giants Stadium
Although the careers of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers will be forever intertwined, the two quarterbacks have never gone head-to-head on the playing field. That will change this Sunday, when Rivers brings the surging San Diego Chargers into the Meadowlands for a tussle with a reeling New York Giants team that will be out to stop a three-game losing streak.
Candlestick Park
Chris Johnson continues to live in the shadows of Adrian Peterson as the NFL's best running back, but the league's current leading rusher has earned a few headlines of his own for the Tennessee Titans.
Lincoln Financial Field
Sole possession of first place in the NFC's East Division will be on the line when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles renew their spirited rivalry with a Sunday night showdown at Lincoln Financial Field to highlight the Week 9 schedule.
Invesco Field at Mile High
Fans in attendance at Invesco Field at Mile High to watch the Denver Broncos play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night will have the opportunity to witness something unique. Namely, how the home team responds after a defeat.
Philips Arena
Goals have been hard to come by for the Blues over their current losing streak. Facing a Thrashers club that just allowed a season-high six goals last night might help them break out of that slump.
Pepsi Center
The Avalanche didn't give their fans much to cheer about on home ice last year, but there is plenty of early-season buzz at the Pepsi Center now.
Leaders
Passing: Patrick Pinkney - 167 yds
Rushing: Ryan Williams - 179 yds
Receiving: Danny Coale - 60 yds
Tyrod Taylor rushed for a touchdown and threw for 137 yards, as the 22nd-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies beat the East Carolina Pirates, 16-3, in a non-conference matchup at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Kellen Moore - 354 yds
Rushing: Jeremy Avery - 145 yds
Receiving: Titus Young - 110 yds
Kellen Moore hit Austin Pettis for a 12-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and Jeremy Avery added a 44-yard TD scamper later on, as fifth-ranked Boise State pulled away from Louisiana Tech, 45-35, in a surprisingly close Western Athletic Conference battle.
Leaders
Passing: Jacory Harris - 232 yds
Rushing: Graig Cooper - 152 yds
Receiving: Laron Byrd - 56 yds
Jacory Harris threw for a pair of touchdowns and Thearon Collier returned a punt 60 yards for a score, as 16th-ranked Miami- Florida pounded Virginia, 52-17, at Land Shark Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Colt McCoy - 470 yds
Rushing: Jonathan Davis - 71 yds
Receiving: Jordan Shipley - 273 yds
Colt McCoy threw for a career-high 470 yards with two touchdowns, leading second-ranked Texas to a 35-3 rout of UCF at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Bill Stull - 225 yds
Rushing: Delone Carter - 143 yds
Receiving: Dorin Dickerson - 118 yds
Dion Lewis ran for 110 yards with a touchdown and Bill Stull threw for 225 yards with a score, as 14th-ranked Pittsburgh rolled to a 37-10 victory over Syracuse at Heinz Field.
Leaders
Passing: Ben Chappell - 323 yds
Rushing: John Clay - 134 yds
Receiving: Nick Toon - 123 yds
John Clay and Montee Ball each rushed for over 100 yards and combined for three touchdowns on the ground, as 24th-ranked Wisconsin held off Indiana, 31-28, at Memorial Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Ricky Stanzi - 134 yds
Rushing: Dan Persa - 67 yds
Receiving: Marvin McNutt - 91 yds
Northwestern scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns in a span of just over six minutes immediately following an injury to Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, as the Wildcats pulled off a 17-10 upset of the eighth-ranked and previously-undefeated Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Max Hall - 312 yds
Rushing: Harvey Unga - 85 yds
Receiving: McKay Jacobson - 100 yds
A near-perfect Max Hall threw four touchdown passes in less than three full quarters of action, as 25th-ranked BYU pummeled Wyoming, 52-0, at War Memorial Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Jimmy Clausen - 452 yds
Rushing: Vince Murray - 158 yds
Receiving: Michael Floyd - 141 yds
Ricky Dobbs and Vince Murray each reached the century mark in rushing with a touchdown and Navy upset 19th-ranked Notre Dame, 23-21, ending the Irish's bid for entry into a BCS postseason game.
Leaders
Passing: Riley Skinner - 263 yds
Rushing: Jonathan Dwyer - 189 yds
Receiving: Marshall Williams - 111 yds
Leaders
Passing: Terrelle Pryor - 125 yds
Rushing: Brandon Saine - 68 yds
Receiving: Graham Zug - 96 yds
Terrelle Pryor threw for two scores and ran for another, as 15th-ranked Ohio State posted a dominating 24-7 win over 11th-ranked Penn State at Beaver Stadium in a key Big Ten contest.
Leaders
Passing: Greg McElroy - 276 yds
Rushing: Mark Ingram - 144 yds
Receiving: Julio Jones - 102 yds
Greg McElroy threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a short completion that Julio Jones turned into a 73-yard game-winning score midway through the fourth, as third-ranked Alabama gutted out a crucial 24-15 win over ninth-ranked SEC rival LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Austen Arnaud - 188 yds
Rushing: Keith Toston - 206 yds
Receiving: Hubert Anyiam - 48 yds
Keith Toston had 206 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns, as 18th-ranked Oklahoma State crushed Iowa State, 34-8, at Jack Trice Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Nick Foles - 136 yds
Rushing: Matt Scott - 91 yds
Receiving: Jared Karstetter - 64 yds
Travis Cobb set the tone for Arizona, returning the game's opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, as the 21st-ranked Wildcats cruised to a 48-7 victory over Washington State.
Leaders
Passing: Jeremiah Masoli - 334 yds
Rushing: Toby Gerhart - 223 yds
Receiving: Chris Owusu - 111 yds
Toby Gerhart rushed for a school-record 223 yards and scored three times as Stanford shocked seventh-ranked Oregon, 51-42.
Leaders
Passing: Andy Dalton - 239 yds
Rushing: Matthew Tucker - 79 yds
Receiving: Ryan Christian - 106 yds
Andy Dalton threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for two more scores, as sixth-ranked TCU blew out San Diego State, 55-12, to remain undefeated.
Leaders
Passing: Jordan Wynn - 297 yds
Rushing: Eddie Wide - 145 yds
Receiving: Jereme Brooks - 135 yds
Jordan Wynn threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-28 passing, as 17th-ranked Utah routed New Mexico, 45-14, at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Sean Canfield - 342 yds
Rushing: Jacquizz Rodgers - 67 yds
Receiving: Joe Halahuni - 128 yds
Sean Canfield threw two touchdowns and ran one in, as Oregon State upended 23rd-ranked California, 31-14, in a Pac-10 battle at Memorial Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Tim Tebow - 208 yds
Rushing: Warren Norman - 65 yds
Receiving: Aaron Hernandez - 120 yds
Tim Tebow threw for 208 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score, as top-ranked Florida took a 27-3 win over Vanderbilt.
Leaders
Passing: Case Keenum - 522 yds
Rushing: G.J. Kinne - 100 yds
Receiving: Patrick Edwards - 176 yds
Matt Hogan's career-best 51-yard field goal as time expired capped a dramatic comeback and lifted 13th-ranked Houston over Tulsa, 46-45, at Chapman Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Zach Collaros - 480 yds
Rushing: Jordan Todman - 162 yds
Receiving: Mardy Gilyard - 172 yds
Zach Collaros threw for 480 yards and a score and ran for two more touchdowns, as fourth-ranked Cincinnati held on for a 47-45 win over Connecticut to stay undefeated.
Leaders
Passing: Landry Jones - 245 yds
Rushing: Roy Helu - 138 yds
Receiving: Ryan Broyles - 74 yds
Ryan Hill's one-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter proved to be the difference, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers edged the 20th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, 10-3, at Memorial Stadium.
Leaders
Passing: Brock Osweiler - 153 yds
Rushing: Joe McKnight - 78 yds
Receiving: Chris McGaha - 118 yds
The 12th-ranked USC Trojans needed just two big plays -- Will Harris' 55-yard interception return for a touchdown and Damian Williams' 75-yard score on a screen -- to hold off Arizona State, 14-9.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI | 19 | 18 | 15 | 52 | |
| DET | 23 | 20 | 11 | 54 |
Substitution: Willie Green in for Elton Brand.
Leading Scorers
PHI: Andre Iguodala 17pts
DET: Charlie Villanueva 12pts
Team Fouls
PHI: 2
DET: 3
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHO | 26 | 30 | 18 | 74 | |
| WAS | 29 | 22 | 15 | 66 |
Channing Frye with a defensive rebound.
Leading Scorers
PHO: Jason Richardson 17pts
WAS: Gilbert Arenas 16pts
Team Fouls
PHO: 4
WAS: 2
Ford Center
Orlando shoots for its third consecutive win Sunday as the Magic invade Oklahoma City to take on an improved Thunder team.
Rose Garden
Portland hopes to build on an impressive win in its last outing when it shoots for a ninth consecutive win over a reeling Minnesota Timberwolves club at the Rose Garden.
Staples Center
The reeling New Orleans Hornets kick off a tough, three- game road trip Sunday by facing the reigning NBA Champion LA Lakers at Staples Center.
ARCO Arena
A pair of Pacific Division rivals hookup in California's capital Sunday when Sacramento opens a four-game homestand by playing host to Golden State.
Seven early Sunday games. Seven teams that have a chance to either improve or fall to 4-4. Is the football half inflated or half deflated? Discuss this question and others in SB Nation's live game threads.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
Scoreboard data copyright © 2009 by STATS LLC. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC is strictly prohibited.
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From Our Editors
SubscribeConstantly updated with quick takes from the staff.
Tommie Harris: Quickest Ejection Ever?
Hat tip to FanHouse on this one: the Bears' Tommie Harris managed to get ejected four plays into the game. I haven't been able to dig up the record for quickest ejection in NFL history (yet), but if this set the record for quickest NFL ejection ever, I'd believe it. He earned it by punching the Cardinals' Deuce Lutui:
Quite a punch, but it doesn't quite stand up to my all-time favorite:
by Jon Bois • Nov 8, 2009 2:33 PM EST
Albert Haynesworth's Gameface
Here's a shot of Albert Haynesworth just before the start of the Redskins-Falcons game in the Georgia Dome today. Keep in mind, he kept this expression going for a solid ten seconds.
Is he a) reeeeeally intense and ready to kill, b) reeeeeeally constipated, c) about to murder a hapless referee, or d) really angry that he didn't sign with Atlanta this offseason? I'm going to go with that last one.
Atlanta's up 7-0 already, as the Redskins' wondrous charade of misery continues...
by Andrew Sharp • Nov 8, 2009 1:23 PM EST
Bernard Pollard Prefers To Be Treated As A Grown Man
Via PFT: Texans safety Bernard Pollard, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, says that he didn't appreciate how he was treated by Chiefs coaches. This, of course, is a theme as common as the day is long, but Pollard isn't broadcasting such common tropes as, "I wasn't given enough playing time," or, "the coaches didn't know what they were doing. This is a little different, and it makes some sense to me.
Of course, this is the NFL's culture. The common perception is that it's acceptable for a coach to berate his players as much as he sees fit, and that it's the player's responsibility to sit back and take it. But should it be? I sympathize with Pollard, after all. The millionaire football player's job description specifies a multitude of duties, none of which are to allow a coach to speak to you like you're a flippant, wayward teenager who needs a healthy dose of discipline. Like Pollard, I would probably sit back and take it if I had to, but his misgivings should be easy to understand nonetheless.
by Jon Bois • Nov 8, 2009 11:47 AM EST
The Secret To Saints' Success? $2,000 Mouthguards
The undefeated Saints have many weapons at their disposal. Could the most important one of all be the one nestled between their gums? Forty Saints are currently using the Makkar PPM (Pure Power Mouthguard), a custom-fitted mouthguard that retails for $2,000.
So what exactly does a $2K mouthpiece do that a $5 one from Sports Chalet can't?
Well there you go.
Via LA Times
by Sean Keeley • Nov 5, 2009 10:47 PM EST
Ochocinco Delivers Special Gift Baskets To Ravens Defense
Another week, another bit of Chad Ochocinco hijinks. This week, Chad sent along a gift basket full of random goodies, the most notable of which were roll-on deodorant sticks. Why? So the Ravens "don't sweat." Which, um, OK? Good one? Really got 'em there, Ocho. Chad OchoZINGo.
It's a wonder Marvin Lewis and Carson Palmer aren't in straight jackets. Those guys deserve some sort of medal.
by Eamonn Brennan • Nov 5, 2009 9:31 PM EST
Question: How Desperate Are Patriots Fans For A Running Back? Answer: They're Talking Edgerrin James
I don’t feel a whole lot of pity for fans of not one or two but three franchises that have all won titles in recent years, but still, you know the running back situation in New England is bad when you’re reading sentences like this:
I suppose it’s not the worst idea in the world, if only because James would come cheap, but still, anyone who’s seen Edge play recently knows he’s not just washed up. He’s what happens when you forget and leave your washed-up clothing in the washer for a day or two. He’s so washed-up he smells vaguely of mildew. Surely there are better options elsewhere.
by Eamonn Brennan • Nov 4, 2009 6:56 PM EST
Joey Porter Just Naturally Hates The Patriots
Joey Porter has many refined kind of hatreds. He has a lower class hate for haters, and a minor hate for green cars (because green cars are the devil and if you have to ask why you'll never know.) He has a hate for miniature ponies who dare to look the wrong way at his dogs, and he most especially has an all-caps HATE for the New England Patriots.
It's a clean, natural hate Joey Porter has, unlike you Shawn Merriman, over there injecting yourself with fake hate. USDA approved, no artificial preservatives, grass-fed hate. They could bottle it and sell this at Whole Foods for your pansy yuppie asses to shoot into your eyeballs so you could be one one-hundredths as mannish as Joey Porter. How'd it get so good with Joey Porter's hate? Real simple:
Two spleens: one for you punks, and one solely for the New England Patriots. Nature wanted him to be this way, and you can't hate on Mother Nature because she will slap you with a hurricane or something like that.
by Spencer Hall • Nov 4, 2009 5:17 PM EST
Larry Johnson Receives Not-So-Subtle Message
Larry Johnson has already been suspended by the Chiefs for two weeks. As for his long-term future with the team, well, the writing is on the wall. Literally. The newest sign in Arrowhead:
by Ryan Hudson • Nov 4, 2009 3:16 PM EST
NFL's Dirtiest Player: Hines Ward
In a poll of 296 NFL players conducted by Sports Illustrated, Steelers WR Hines Ward was named the league's dirtiest player. Rodney Harrison finished second. Just kidding, Albert Haynesworth was second, with 6% of the votes (Ward received almost 12%).
Hines Ward a dirty player? This guy, Mr. Smiles? How's that possible? Oh, right.
by Ryan Hudson • Nov 4, 2009 2:30 PM EST
Want Some Random Arena Football Junk? Good, Because It's All On Sale
Maybe you were an Arena Football League junkie. Maybe you just couldn’t get enough of the Chicago Rush. Maybe your love for the Philadelphia Soul went behind the tightness of Jon Bon Jovi’s leather pants. You, sir or madam, are in luck, because you can pretty much buy any piece of AFL memorabilia you want. It’s all for sale.
If I had enough money, I’d probably buy the league championship trophy and use it for my fantasy football league … but that’s just one idea. You are limited only by your love for the AFL, your creativity, and your willingness to spend your money on stupid stuff. Good luck!
by Eamonn Brennan • Nov 3, 2009 7:53 PM EST
Farewell, Edgerrin James
The Edgerrin James experiment in Seattle officially ended Tuesday when the Seahawks released the unproductive 31-year-old running back. Barring another desperate team coming along and picking up James in the offseason (or this year, I guess) this likely marks the end of The Edge. Anyone who watched Edgerrin James (that is, anyone but a Seattle Seahawks fan) or owned him as a fantasy player during his prime, will be slightly saddened by this news. So let’s take a moment an honor James with — what else — a YouTube highlight clip. Commence gun salute … now:
by Eamonn Brennan • Nov 3, 2009 7:40 PM EST
Dan Snyder Finally Discusses The Awful Product He's Been Peddling
Dan Snyder finally broke his public silence this afternoon by speaking to the media after unveiling a new high school football field the Redskins helped rehab. (See! Snyder can do good things.) His thoughts on the team in a surprise address to the media:
The high school marching band conveniently started playing, which cut the unplanned media session short, allowing only NBC’s Lindsay Czarniak to get any questions in. She tossed Snyder several softballs, which you can read over at The Redskins Blog. She’s a television reporter, after all, which was all part of Snyder’s big plan, you see?
This is because beat writers — you know, the people who might actually ask Snyder some real questions — do not care about charity events; they care about things that actually impact the team. But you know who DOES care about charity events? Lindsay Czarniak and other local TV news anchors.
Dan Snyder, you evil genius you. You win again! /shakes fist
by Chris Mottram • Nov 3, 2009 4:16 PM EST
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