Week 5 Reflections

Have you gotten your breath back? Is your heart rate back to normal? Has your voice returned?

Week 5 was saturated with everything that is great about this league and this game.

There is something very impressive about a defense that pitches a shutout in today's game so for Pittsburgh to stifle a decent Seahawks team was amazing and confirmed that the Steelers are a true threat in the AFC. Speaking of defense, Washington put on perhaps the best performance of the week by squeezing the flowing Detroit offense to a drip.

Home fields that historically have a winning aura around them had the breath knocked out of them this week. Arrowhead Stadium has traditionally been inhospitable to visiting teams, but Jacksonville showed up and had a good time dominating Kansas City. I remember when Mile High was a pot hole to opposing teams but this year (after barely beating Oakland), Jacksonville and San Diego have glided across the Bronco turf with ease. It appeared that Lambeau Field had regained its mystique after solid defeats of Philly and San Diego but Chicago came in last Sunday and slipped away like a greased pig with a W.

And, how about those game-winning field goals as time expires? This week showcased three such thrillers, and each of them were decided by 50+ long field goals. Houston's Kris Brown tied an NFL record with three field goals of 50 yards or more by nailing kicks of 54, 54, and the game-winner of 57. Carolina's John Kasay crushed a Saints comeback effort with a 52-yarder as time expired.

Which leads to the wild night in Buffalo to cap off an exhilarating and heart-stopping weekend.

The resilient Dallas Cowboys stayed undefeated by paralyzing Buffalo with a dramatic win after rookie Nick Folk drove it home from 53 yards....twice. Dallas recovered a beautifully executed on-side kick, completed two passes, and then turned it over to Folk who nailed it from 53. Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron called timeout just before the kick to rattle the youngster, but gained about 20 more gray hairs after Folk did it again.

Unbelievable.

Other notes and observations from Week 5:

• Buffalo became the 2nd team in NFL history to score on two INT returns and a kickoff return for a TD in one game.
• Vince Young is flying under the radar this year as a QB who finds ways to win. VY registered a 34.5 passer rating while throwing 3 interceptions yet beat Atlanta 20-13. Keep your eye on Tennessee.
• Carolina is 3-0 on the road and 0-2 at home. This is not a typo.
• "Invincible" (not the movie) comes to mind when I think of Indy and New England. Randy Moss is shutout of the end zone and the Patriots still roll. The Colts are without WR Marvin Harrison, RB Joseph Addai, and SS Bob Sanders and still steamroll the Buccaneers 33-14.
• What a great storyline St. Louis! Kurt Warner comes in after Matt Leinart broke his collarbone to lead the Cardinals to victory against his former team on his old playing turf.

GAMES TO KEEP AN EYE ON IN WEEK 6
NEW ENGLAND AT DALLAS, WASHINGTON AT GREEN BAY, OAKLAND AT SAN DIEGO, CAROLINA AT ARIZONA