Displaced Cleveland Fan

These are stories from around the league that I thought were worth noting. You can read my recap of the Browns week 8 game here.

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Brett Favre was victorious in his highly anticipated return to Lambeau Field.

Favre’s 4 touchdown passes led the Vikings over the Packers 38-26. Minnesota is now 7-1 and has won both match-ups this season against Green Bay.

Losing like this has got to be tough to swallow for Packers fans who cheered for Favre during his 16 years as the starting quarterback in Green Bay. Surely there are many of them that are upset about the team getting rid of Favre a year and a half ago. But whether they see it now or not, the team made the right decision in choosing Aaron Rodgers over Favre for the 2008 season. Why? Two reasons:

1. Brett Favre is old. Sure, he’s still playing well. But how much longer can he continue? One or two more seasons, tops. Who knows, this season might really be his last. If the Packers still had Favre, Rodgers likely would be gone. After Favre finally really retires, what then?
2. Aaron Rodgers has proven he is a good quarterback, and he will only get better. In the loss to Minnesota, Rodgers threw for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns. After seven games thus far, he is averaging 284 yards per game, has thrown 14 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. Compare that to Brett Favre’s 240 yards per game, 16 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Rodgers is just about even with him.

So while it’s somewhat possible the Packers would be better this year with Favre, in the long term, they’ll be happy they have Rodgers under center.
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These are stories from around the league that I thought were worth noting. You can read my recap of the Browns week 6 game here.

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In a snowy game with old school uniforms in Foxborough, the New England Patriots demolished the Tennessee Titans 59-0.

I don’t know what the bigger story is - how great the Patriots played, or how awful the Titans are.

First the Patriots (mostly Tom Brady) - They scored 35 points in the 2nd quarter to go into halftime leading 45-0. Tom Brady was 29 for 34 (85.3%) for 380 yards and 6(!) touchdowns. Even when he left the game, backup QB Brian Hoyer was 9 for 11 (81.8%) for 52 yards. Laurence Maroney rushed 16 times for 123 yards (7.7 average) and a touchdown.

For the Oilers Titans - Kerry Collins. 2 for 12 (16.7%) for -7 yards, 1 interception and a 4.9 QB rating. Seriously. They turned the ball over 5 times (3 fumbles, 2 interceptions). There were two positives though. First, they rushed for 193 yards. Not bad. Of course, that’s offset by the -7 yards passing. Second, the offensive line didn’t allow a sack. That’s good, right?
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These are stories from around the league that I thought were worth noting. You can read my recap of the Browns week 2 game here.

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We had a wild one in Nashville.

The Tennessee Titans, hosting the Houston Texans, were looking to rebound at home against a supposedly inferior team after a loss last week to the Steelers. But the Texans played tough and stayed right with them all game.

This game was physical. Then it got intense. Then it got ugly. Jason Jones of the Titans was ejected for his part in a brawl on the sidelines in the 4th quarter. Watching this game, you knew something like that was going to happen. These teams kept getting closer and closer to a fight. It’s a good thing Albert Haynesworth doesn’t play for the Titans anymore, or else someone might have gotten some cleats across their face.

Finally, with less than 3 minutes to go, Houston pulled ahead on a field goal. On the next possession, Kerry Collins fumbled the ball back to the Texans who ran out the clock.

I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’m living in southern Kentucky just north of Nashville where most of the people claim the Titans as their team. But I really enjoy watching them lose. That may be awful of me, but it’s the truth.

Oh, and Houston QB Matt Schaub through for 357 yards and 4 touchdowns. What in the world?!
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