Washington-Dallas
One of the NFL’s most fierce rivalries will be revived this Sunday in Dallas as the Redskins take on the Cowboys. The two teams have had many memorable games over the years. In 1979, the Cowboys rallied from a 34-21 deficit to win 35-34 and knocked the Redskins out of the playoffs, while in 2005 the Redskins rallied from a 13-0 deficit late in the fourth quarter to top the Cowboys, 14-13. In 1972 and 1982 the team played for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl with Washington winning both times.
The two sides have combined to represent the NFC 13 times in the Super Bowl and have teamed up to win eight Super Bowls. Washington enters the contest coming off of a 27-17 win over Denver to snap a four-game skid. Trailing 14-7, the Redskins used a fake field goal to tie the score when punter Hunter Smith tossed a 35-yard pass to Mike Sellers to tie the score.
Down 17-14 entering the fourth quarter, Washington outscored the Broncos 13-0 to win the game. Running back Ladell Betts gave the Redskins the lead for good in the fourth quarter on a one-yard touchdown run. The Cowboys had their four-game winning streak come to a halt with a 17-7 loss in Green Bay. Despite grabbing five balls for 105 yards and a touchdown, wide receiver Roy Williams hurt the Cowboys with a fumble after a 42-yard catch and dropped a sure first down that would have gone for a big gain.
Down 10-0, Dallas recovered a fumble, but the officials ended up giving the ball to Green Bay which allowed the Packers to score on a three-yard drive to make it 17-0. The Cowboys tried to challenge the ruling, but fumble recoveries in the field of play are not reviewable. Dallas leads the all-time series 57-37-2 and have gone 12-6 this decade versus Washington.
Atlanta-New York Giants
Two 5-4 teams meet on Sunday at Giants Stadium with the winner feeling better about its hopes of making the playoffs. Atlanta, after opening 4-1, has lost three of its last four to drop to 5-4. The Falcons lost 28-19 this past Sunday to Carolina and lost their starting running back Michael Turner to an injury in the first half. Atlanta trailed 21-10 at halftime, but cut the Carolina lead to 21-19 on a touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Ryan to tight end Justin Peelle, but could not convert the two-point conversion and then Carolina put the game away with a touchdown run to make it 28-19.
The Giants, who had a bye last week, are on a four-game losing streak after starting 5-0. New York fell in its last game, 21-20, to San Diego as the Giants were unable to hold a 20-14 lead. In their first five games the Giants defense gave up just 62 points, but in the last four surrendered 133 points.
This is a series that has been dominated by the road team. Atlanta has won the last five meetings at Giants Stadium (1982, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004) and is 7-1 all-time against the Giants at either Yankee Stadium, the Yale Bowl or Giants Stadium. Conversely, New York is 8-3 in Atlanta.
Indianapolis-Baltimore
The team that represented Baltimore from 1953-83 comes to Baltimore to play the team that has represented Baltimore since 1996. The Colts played in Baltimore for 31 years, winning NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959 and winning Super Bowl V in 1970. Many great players played for the Colts during their time in Baltimore such as Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, Art Donovan and Tom Matte.
The Colts left under the cover of darkness in late March 1984 and headed to Indianapolis where the Colts have resided ever since. Baltimore would be without an NFL team until 1996 when the Ravens were established. In 2006 the two squads met in the AFC Divisional Playoff where Baltimore fans were hoping to finally have their day with the Colts, but it was not to be as Indianapolis scored a 15-6 win over Baltimore on its way to Super Bowl XLI.
Trailing 34-21 with 4:12 left, the Colts scored the last 14 points of the game in a 35-34 win over New England and improve their record to 9-0. Running back Joseph Addai cut the deficit to 34-28 with 2:23 left and then stopped the Patriots on a 4th and two at the New England 29 with two minutes remaining to get the ball back and only needed to drive 29 yards to win. The Colts scored on a pass from quarterback Peyton Manning to wide receiver Reggie Wayne with 13 seconds left to give the Colts the winning score.
Baltimore pitched a shutout on Monday Night Football, blanking Cleveland, 16-0. The Ravens scored two quick touchdowns in the third quarter to snap a 0-0 tie. Running back Ray Rice scored the first touchdown to put Baltimore up 7-0 and then 17 seconds later safety Dawan Landry picked off a pass and returned it 48 yards for a pick six to put the Ravens up 13-0. The Ravens would add a field goal to provide the final margin to improve its record to 5-4.
Indianapolis kicker Matt Stover was the Baltimore kicker from 1996-2008.
San Diego-Denver
First place in the AFC West is on the line on Sunday in Denver. Since losing to Denver, 34-23, in week six at home, the Chargers have four in a row. The Chargers come off of a 31-23 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, where San Diego won despite being outgained 462-331. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 96 yards and scored two touchdowns in the win, while quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 231 yards and two scores.
The Chargers defense, with a 14-0 lead, had a critical goal line stand in the first half that forced the Eagles to kick a field goal. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie picked off a pass on the final play of the game to seal the win. Since winning 34-23 in week six out in San Diego, the Broncos have gone 0-3 and been outscored 85-34. Denver jumped out to a 14-7 lead at Washington, but fell 27-17 to the Redskins last week.
Quarterback Kyle Orton and wide receiver Brandon Marshall connected for two touchdown passes before Orton got hurt at the end of the first half on an ankle injury and the Broncos offense sputtered in the second as quarterback Chris Simms was ineffective. In their first six games the Broncos allowed just 66 points and scored 133 points. Last year in Denver, the Broncos won a controversial 39-38 game. Down 38-31, Denver fumbled the ball and San Diego recovered but referee Ed Hochuli blew the whistle before the Chargers recovered and the Broncos kept the ball. Denver scored a touchdown and then won the game on a two-point conversion. The whistle was inadvertent, but ended the play.
Philadelphia-Chicago
Two teams which need a victory in a big way meet on Sunday night at Soldier Field. Since a 40-17 beating of the New York Giants on Nov. 1, the Eagles have lost to Dallas and San Diego. Philadelphia, despite outgaining San Diego by over 130 yards fell on Sunday, 31-23, out in San Diego. The Eagles offense sputtered in the red zone until the fourth quarter, having to settle for three short field goals by kicker David Akers until the finally broke through in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns inside the 20.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb tossed 450 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, while wide receiver Jason Avant netted 156 yards receiving. The Eagles trailed the Chargers 28-9 after three quarters.
Chicago enters the contest coming off of a frustrating 10-6 loss in San Francisco. Chicago, despite having a 350-216 advantage in yardage, was finished in by five interceptions by quarterback Jay Cutler, including one in the end zone on the final play of the game. Running back Matt Forte had 120 yards receiving and had eight catches to lead all players.
The defense, which was carved up against Arizona, responded with two sacks, one interception and held the 49ers to just 12 first downs, but it was not enough. Chicago has lost four of its last five since opening the season at 3-1. The two teams will be meeting for third straight season. The Bears have won the last two, 19-16 in 2007 at Philadelphia and chalked up a 24-20 victory in Chicago last season, stopping the Eagles on the one-yard line on a fourth down late in the game to preserve the win.
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