The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-3 in the NFL...

1. Don't make a frantic call to the eye doctor, your vision isn't impaired. When you look at the AFC East standings, those are the Buffalo Bills in sole possession of 1st place. The NFL's version of the cardiac kids have now overcome 21-point and 18-point deficits the last 2-weeks. How have they done it? Running back Fred Jackson told me and Steve Torre on the Sunday Drive: "We had tremendous help from our crowd. They stayed in it. Anytime we can feed off the crowd like that, feed off each other, we'll make some plays."

2. Tom Brady's 4-interceptions Sunday equaled his total from all of last season when he was picked off 4-times in 492-pass attempts.

3. Quit whining Michael Vick. The broken right hand you suffered against the Giants had nothing to do with the officiating. Following Sunday's loss, Vick said: "Every time I throw the ball, I'm on the ground. And I don't understand why I don't get the 15-yard flags like everybody else does." The truth of the matter is Vick takes more hits than other quarterbacks, because of way he plays. He holds onto the ball until the last possible second, and does far more scrambling than every other QB in the NFL. Unless he wants to join a flag football league, Vick better get used to his weekly beatings.

4. The Eagles signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha for 60-million over 5-years this off season, but tackling apparently wasn't part of the deal. Asomugha totally whiffed on his attempt to bring down Giants receiver Victor Cruz, and instead ran into safety Kurt Coleman as Cruz raced 74-yards for a 1st quarter touchdown.

5. Along with Cruz, who finished with 3-receptions for 110-yards and 2-TD's, Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith also made an unexpected splash in his first career start. The rookie out of Maryland had gone without a catch in his first 2-games. Sunday, he had touchdown receptions of 74-yards, 41-yards and 18-yards...all in the 1st quarter.

6. Maybe it's time Brett Kern demands to be paid like a top playmaker. The Titans punter had as many rushing yards against the Broncos as Chris Johnson. Kern picked up a bad 2nd quarter snap and ran 21-yards for a 1st down. Johnson finished with 21-yards rushing on 13-carries.

7. I know it's an obscure movie reference, but watching Panthers/Jaguars in that monsoon had me thinking of the 1986 film The Best of Times. No sign of Kurt Russell as gimpy QB Reno Hightower, but nevertheless.

8. So let me get this straight...It's 4th and 1 at the Lions 17-yard line with just under 12-minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. The Vikings are up 20-17, decide to go for it, and give the ball to Toby Gerhart? No...I'm not kidding.

9. Maybe it's fitting the last time the Lions were 3-0, the number-1 song in the country was Upside Down by Diana Ross. In case you're wondering, that was 1980.

10. Minnesota blew its third straight double digit second half lead, but don't blame defensive end Jared Allen. I have the feeling Lions LT Jeff Backus will be having nightmares about Allen, who had 6-tackles and 3-sacks in the loss.

11. You want a week-3 to forget...I give you Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie. He was flagged 4-times for 46-yards, lost a fumble that led to a Raiders touchdown, and left the game with what's believed to be a bruised lung. With an assist from The Shirelles, "Mama said there'd be days like this."

12. The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Kerry Collins. The Colts QB completed just 13 of 29-passes for 93-yards before being forced out of Sunday night's loss to the Steelers with a possible concussion.

13. Repeat after me Corey Peters...watch the ball! With Tampa Bay clinging to a 3-point lead late in the 4th quarter, and facing 4th and inches at the Atlanta 44, the Falcons defensive tackle jumped offside. The penalty sealed the victory for the Buccaneers, who put a stop to their 5-game losing streak against the Falcons.

14. That's some balanced offense you've got there Mike Martz. 3-games into the season, the Bears have attempted 127-passes and 51-runs.

15. It doesn't always look pretty, but from what I've seen Browns QB Colt McCoy is a winner. After spending most of the day struggling against the Dolphins, he connected on 9 of 13-passes for 75-yards including the go ahead 14-yard TD strike to Mohamed Massaquoi with 43-seconds remaining. You can stop looking Cleveland...you've found your quarterback.