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Tuesday morning quarterback around the NFL

Submitted by SHNS on Tue, 11/04/2008 - 17:42

Looking back at the weekend in the NFL and ahead to this weekend.TOP THREE-- QB Kurt Warner, Cardinals: The NFL Network's Warren Sapp mentioned Sunday that he thought Warner deserves to go into the Hall of Fame, and Sapp might be right. Warner threw for 342 yards against the Rams, the 45th time he has thrown for 300 in a game. That's more than Peyton Manning, John Elway, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jim Kelly and Johnny Unitas. Warner has the Cards at 5-3.-- Vikings defense: No NFL receiver has been hotter than Houston's Andre Johnson, who had caught at least 10 passes for 141 yards in each of the past three games. But the Vikings defense limited Johnson to four catches for 62 yards. In addition, the Vikings forced three Houston turnovers.-- Bucs KR Clifton Smith: Smith makes the list for one play: a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that was only the second kickoff return for a score in Bucs history. And it might have saved the Bucs' season. With the Bucs down 24-3, Smith's return sparked the greatest comeback win in franchise history.THREE WORST-- QB Brad Johnson, Cowboys: It might be time to hang 'em up. Replacing injured QB Tony Romo, Johnson threw two interceptions and completed only five passes in a blowout loss to the Giants before being yanked at halftime. And even owner Jerry Jones questioned why Johnson started Sunday's game.-- Raiders offense: A column in Monday's San Francisco Chronicle had the following headline - "Simply put: Worst team in Raiders' history." The numbers look like a misprint. Three first downs. A total of 77 yards on offense. Time of possession: 14:45. And, of course, no points in a 24-0 stinker against the Falcons. Raiders S Gibril Wilson said the team was "damn near the laughingstock of the league.''-- QB Jay Cutler, Broncos: Throwing three interceptions, including one that went for a touchdown, was bad enough. That's plenty to get you in hot water with the fans and media. But then Cutler was slammed by one of his own receivers. Brandon Marshall, who whined after catching only two passes, ripped into Cutler for not getting him the ball more.THINGS THAT STRUCK US-- The Colts aren't quite dead: Playing at home and beating a New England team without QB Tom Brady doesn't mean the Colts are back. But at least they showed some signs of life as QB Peyton Manning tossed for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Big game Sunday in Pittsburgh._ The Cowboys are going to miss the playoffs: That is this week's bold prediction, although it's not really going out on a limb. Even if QB Tony Romo returns soon, the Cowboys look too much of a mess to climb over all the teams in front of them in the wild-card chase.TEAMS ON THE RISE-- Baltimore Ravens: Don't look now, but the Ravens have won three straight including roaring back for a 37-27 win Sunday in Cleveland. At 5-3, Baltimore is hanging right with the Steelers in the AFC North.-- Philadelphia Eagles: Hammering the dreadful Seahawks on Sunday, the Eagles have won three in a row and put themselves back in solid playoff position in the highly competitive NFC East.-- Miami Dolphins: We didn't see this coming. After last season's 1-15 nightmare, the Dolphins are at .500 after winning at Denver on Sunday. And it's not as if the Dolphins are padding their record like, say, Buffalo has. Miami's victories have come against New England, San Diego, Buffalo and Denver.THREE TEAMS ON THE DECLINE-- Denver Broncos: Most of us outside the shadow of the Rocky Mountains likely were shocked when the Broncos started the season at 3-0 and then 4-1. Now we're not surprised at all that the Broncos have come back to earth. Denver has lost three in a row, including two at home.-- Jacksonville Jaguars: That's it. We give up. Each week we keep waiting for the Jaguars to snap out of it and play like a legitimate contender. But after their 21-19 loss to previously winless Cincinnati, we're throwing in the towel.-- Buffalo Bills: After getting off to their best start since 1992 (4-0), the Bills are sputtering. They've lost two in a row and three of four, and Sunday's loss stings. For starters, it was a home game. But worse, it came against a division team (the Jets) that the Bills figure to tangle with until the end of the season for a precious playoff spot.THIS WEEK'S BIG GAMES-- Titans at Bears: The Titans stayed undefeated by knocking off one NFC North team (Packers), and now they'll try to keep perfect against another. The Bears hold a slim one-game lead over the Packers but might have to go with Rex Grossman at quarterback over the injured Kyle Orton.-- Bills at Patriots: A game between two teams tied along with the Jets for first place in the AFC East. Both teams are coming off losses and need this one to regain some confidence and stay with the pace in the division.-- Giants at Eagles: Right now, the Giants look like the best team in football. But the Eagles are coming on. A loss likely ends any hope of Philadelphia winning the NFC East, while the Giants can start to put some distance between them and the rest of the division.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)