The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on week-5 in the NFL...

1. Never underestimate the power of emotion. Case in point...the Indianapolis Colts. No team pulled off a bigger upset Sunday. With head coach Chuck Pagano hospitalized after being diagnosed with a form of Leukemia, the Colts overcame a 21-3 halftime deficit to stun the Packers 30-27. Afterwards, veteran linebacker Dwight Freeney told me and Steve Torre on the The Sunday Drive, Pagano's medical condition had become a rallying point for the team: "Absolutely. That's some of the things he preaches. Stay together...Stay tight...Do what Chuck would want us to do."

2. Reggie Wayne was hauling in passes from future hall of famer Peyton Manning for 10-years, but it took rookie quarterback Andrew Luck for Wayne to post his career high in receiving yards. Wearing orange gloves in support of Pagano, Wayne finished with 13-receptions for 212-yards and a TD against Green Bay. What's more impressive is he played his best when it mattered most. On what proved to be the game winning drive, Wayne had 5-catches for 64-yards and the go ahead touchdown.

3. I don't think 70, 000 or even 7, 000 Chiefs' fans were cheering the injury to QB Matt Cassel. However, for those who were, it's time to get some life perspective. Right tackle Eric Winston hit the nail on the head when he called the reaction: "100 percent sickening."

4. How impressive was Chiefs' running back Jamaal Charles against the Ravens? To put his 125-yard first half in perspective, Charles had more yards on the ground in two quarters than all but three running backs finished with for the entire game in week-5.

5. Kansas City has too many issues to count, but if you're looking to pin-point why they've started the season a disappointing 1-4, look no further than turnovers. The Chiefs have given the ball away 19-times. That's the most turnovers through 5-games since the Saints had 21 in 1997.

6. Games like Sunday are why I still don't buy Joe Flacco as a big time quarterback. 13 of 27-passing for 187-yards with an interception against the Chiefs doesn't cut it. Only the Bills Ryan Fitzpatrick had thrown for fewer yards versus Kansas City this season, but that game was over in the 3rd quarter, and Fitzpatrick only had 19-attempts.

7. Speaking of QB's: The Todd Collins award of the week goes to Blaine Gabbert. The Jaguars' quarterback has reverted back to his rookie form of late. Gabbert completed just 17 of 33-passes against the Bears for 142-yards with 0-TD's and 2-INT's. Do I hear Chad Henne warming up?

8. Cam Newton's awful performance Sunday certainly had him in the running for the Todd Collins award. However, if Carolina's coaching staff used a little common sense, Newton and the Panthers may have beaten the Seahawks anyway. Trailing 16-10 with just under 4-minutes remaining, Carolina faced 4th and goal at the Seattle 1-yard line. Maybe I'm taking crazy pills, but with a guy who's listed at 6'5 245 lbs, a QB sneak would seem to make sense. Instead, Newton rolled out right and totally missed an open Ben Hartsock in the end-zone. Use a little logic next time Ron Rivera...You're out-thinking yourself.

9. Location, location, location. It's not just that the Eagles have a turnover problem this season, it's where they're giving it away. Philadelphia's 4 red zone turnovers are the most in the NFL. The latest came midway through the 1st quarter Sunday, when Michael Vick lost a fumble on 1st and goal at the Pittsburgh 3-yard line. In a game they lost by just 2-points, Vick's latest case of butter fingers loomed large.

10. The Redskins weren't able to knock off the Falcons, but that didn't diminish the outstanding play made by Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan. In the 2nd quarter of a scoreless game. Kerrigan leaped into the air to pick off a Matt Ryan attempted screen pass, then returned it 26-yards for a touchdown. Kerrigan's a combination of good instincts, and pure athleticism.

11. Does anyone think Tony Gonzalez is over the hill? The Falcons' veteran tight end had a monster game in the nation's capital with 13-catches for 123-yards and a touchdown. Gonzalez actually finished with only one fewer reception than Roddy White and Julio Jones combined. When I told him on The Sunday Drive he's supposed to be an old man, Gonzalez responded with this: "I am an old man...there's not doubt about that. But I try to keep it like a wine, and get better with age."

12. J.J. Watt is a game wrecker. The Texans' defensive end had a sack, and three more deflected passes Monday night versus the Jets, two of which came in critical situations. With the Jets driving for a potential game tying touchdown late in the 1st half, Watt tipped a pass that Brice McCain intercepted at the 5-yard line. McCain's 86-yard return set up a Houston field goal to make it 17-7. Then early in the 4th quarter, Watt got his hands on another Mark Sanchez pass on 2nd and goal at the Texans 3. New York eventually had to settle for a field goal to make it 23-17, which was the final score. Now that we're past the quarter pole of this season, it's safe to say Watt is the absolute leader for defensive player of the year.

13. I'm not sure who to blame more...the Chargers coaching staff, or Jared Gaither. San Diego's left tackle was clearly hurt, and unable to really move on the final drive Sunday night in New Orleans. He was beaten cleanly by Martez Wilson on back to back plays, the second of which resulted in a Philip Rivers' fumble that essentially ended the game. Gaither should have known he was hurting the team, but wasn't there anyone on the Chargers' sideline who saw what was going on?

14. There's only one division in which all four teams are over .500 through 5-weeks, and believe it or not it's the NFC West. Gone are the days when this was a finesse division. San Francisco, Arizona, St. Louis and Seattle are all tough defensively, and capable of playing physical nasty football.

15. Just in case they didn't have their hands full already, the Patriots' offense has given the opposition yet another thing to worry about...its rushing attack. Stevan Ridley has agone over the 100-yard mark three times this year, and Brandon Bolden has done it once. New England had just one 100-yard rushing day all of last season. Just what Tom Brady needs...more help.