By Paul Gotham

Trading Places

In November, the Indianapolis Colts won four consecutive games by a combined total of 10 points. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints have lit up scoreboards to the tune of 407 points while limiting opponents to 221. For one day, at least, the two undefeated teams changed roles. Indy sprinted to a 21-3 lead, and its defense held serve as they downed the Tennessee Titans, 27-17. New Orleans needed overtime to best the Washington Redskins,  33-30.

Peyton Manning and the Colts added a couple more milestones to their resume notching their 12th victory of the season.  Indy has reached a dozen triumphs in seven consecutive seasons – adding to their own record. The win was the 113th of the decade, tying the San Francisco 49ers of the 1990s for the most wins in a decade.  The Colts also tied the Pats for the most consecutive regular season wins with 21.

Tennessee came in riding a five-game win streak and was the last team to beat the Colts in the regular season – October 27, 2008. The Titans could not manage the same result yesterday.

Joseph Addai rushed for two touchdowns. Manning completed 24 of 37 for 270. Pierre Garcon had a career day with six receptions for 136 yards. But the Indy defense made the difference. Clint Session led the defense with 12 unassisted tackles and a forced fumble. The Colts defense stiffened with a pair of goal-line stands and two fourth down stops.

For the seventh game in a row, Tennessee’s Chris Johnson rushed for over 1oo yards tying a franchise record set by Earl Campbell.

New Orleans found the elixir for their Monday night hangover just in time. Less than a week after causing the New England Patriots to surrender, the Saints pulled out all the stops to beat the 3-8 Washington Redskins.  When Washington’s Shaun Suisham missed a 23-yard field goal with 1:52 to play, Drew Brees and company got a second life. Instead of trailing by 10, the Saints needed just a touchdown to tie. A 53-yard strike to Robert Meachem tied the score. Garrett Hartley nailed the winning field goal in overtime.

But that is half of the story. New Orleans took advantage of a series of strange plays. A shanked punt turned into a 29-yard gain when Washington’s Kevin Barnes, lying on his back, was hit with the ball and the Saints recovered.  Four plays later, Washington appeared to have recovered when Kareem Moore intercepted a Brees pass. Inexplicably, Meachem grabbed the ball right out of Moore’s hands and returned it for 44-yard score.

Washington has now lost three consecutive games when leading in the fourth quarter.

Muh, muh mediocre

Is Charlie available?

Two weeks into the season, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers stood at 1-1. Many thought the two AFC powerhouses had their wakeup calls. Maybe they hit the snooze alarm.

Pittsburgh and New England have combined to lose 7 of their last 8.

The Pats have a clear case of homesickness. Other than a win over Tampa Bay in London, the Pats have a big Ofer on the road. The Pats “got it bad so bad” that the Dolphins abandoned their running attack.  Miami, the kings of the Wildcat, rushed the ball 27 times while throwing 52 passes. Can we revisit Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth down against the Colts. Do you think he knew something about his team that we didn’t – well, at least at the time? The Pats can not defend the pass. Wonder if Belichick plays euchre because he sure has shown everyone his hand.

Even New England fans are calling the Patriots mediocre.

The Super Bowl champion Steelers had fourth quarter leads of 17-13 and 24-20 before succumbing to Oakland Free Academy.  Gradowski and Janikowski sealed the victory. Gradowski found Louis Murphy in the end zone with :11 remaining. Janikowski split the uprights as the Raiders won, 27-24.  If the playoffs started next weekend, the Steelers would be watching.

19th Nervous Breakdown

The final month of the year is becoming a favorite of the Eagles, Giants, and Redskins and all their fans. The Cowpokes just can’t get out of their own way during the season of yuletide. Anyone else getting pleasure out of watching Jerry Jones squirm as the ‘Pokes implode? Hey Jerra! Good luck against the Chargers next week…and the Saints the week after that…and the Eagles two weeks after that. Maybe you should tell wonder boy Jason Garrett to run the ball a little more. 23 rushes for 45 yards? Ouch! What happened to that All Pro line?

“Oh, who’s to blame. That girl’s just insane. Nothing I do don’t seem to work. It only seems to make matters worse.”

8th on the list

LaDanian Tomlinson passed hall-of famer, Jim Brown on the all-time rushing list. Tomlinson had 20 for 64 yards and a touchdown as San Diego downed Cleveland, 30-23. Tomlinson’s touchdown was the 150th of his career – he reached that plateau faster than anyone in the history of the NFL – 137 games.

Three of the top eight rushers of all time played college football outside the major six conferences: Walter Payton (Jackson State), Eric Dickerson (SMU), and Tomlinson (TCU).

Hungry Heart

After his rookie quarterback was injured while lunging for a first down, New York Jets coach, Rex Ryan, openly criticized Mark Sanchez. C’mon coach! He was just taking one for the team. Ya know, he was willing to “lay down his money and play his part…everybody’s got a hu-hu-hungaree heart…oh oh oh.”

Monday night lights

The forecast is calling for a wintry mix. Mr. Rodgers meet Mr. Flacco. Actually, it might be more appropriate to say – Mr. Flacco meet Mr. Woodson.  GBay needs the win to keep pace with the Eagles for the final wild card spot. Baltimore needs the win keep within sniffing distance of the AFC wild card.

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"I am the nothing man." AP Photo/Darron Cummings

No lead is safe…

At least when New Orleans and Indianapolis is involved, opponents can not score enough.  The Saints and Colts continued walking a thin, thin line en route to their undefeated marks. New Orleans erased an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat the Panthers 30-20. Carolina’s defense held New Orleans to just 84 yards on the ground, but the Saints have been figuring out a way to win all year. Drew Brees completed 24 of 35 for 330 yards. Robert Meachem led the way with 98 receiving yards on 5 catches.

For those keeping track at home, ‘Pomme’ DelHomme forgot to bring the dessert. The Carolina QB went an entire game without any turnovers.

The Chinchillas - "walking on a thin line"

Indy also performed their own escape routine. After Steve Slaton scored on a one-yard run , the Houston Texans led the Colts 17-13 in the fourth. Jospeh Addai answered seven minutes later with his own end zone plunge. Indy needed a little divine intervention. The Texans missed a field goal from 42 yards away as time expired.

Indy head coach, Jim Caldwell, might be considered the nothing man because “around here everybody acts the same; around here everybody acts like nothing’s changed.” Fans would be hard-pressed to remember a coach who has more quietly led his team to an 8-0 start.

Welcome to the working week

Tom ‘Terrific’ and his Pats have had plenty of pictures in the paper ‘being rhythmically admired,’  but Bill Belichick’s crew will need to ‘do it till their through it, so they better get to it.’ New England travels to Indy for a Sunday night show down with the Colts next week. After that those pesky Jets come to town. If that isn’t bad enough, the Pats geaux to N’Awlins for a Monday night soiree with the Saints.

For all those fans keeping track at home

Heisman trophy winner, Matt Leinart got into the game yesterday. He threw one pass. Leinart completed that pass…to THE WRONG TEAM. Yeah, Matt. Life is grand. “And I say this at the risk of falling from favor.”

Spirit in the night

Mark Sanchez and the Jets enjoyed a bye week. It’s been rumored that Mark “picked up Hazy Davy and Killer Joe” and headed out “to where the gypsy angels go.”

Does All State cover Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers might want to consider some insurance. The lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers sacked the Packer QB six times yesterday. At this rate Rodgers will kiss the turf 74 times this season. Ouch! Tampa Bay in those lovely creamsicle colored jerseys scored 21 fourth quarter points to win 38 -28. Tampa Bay has scored 37 combined points in the fourth quarter this year.

Cincinnati in first

Holy Kenny Anderson is it true? The Bengals clipped the Ravens 17-7 yesterday sweeping the season series from the divisional foe. The Bengals haven’t done that since 1997. Next up – the Steelers. Considering the Steelers have the Monday night game, can the Bengals take advantage?

Free falling G-Men

A clear-thinking Giant fan.

A recent article by Chas sums up my sentiments toward the Giants. In the back of my mind is always the possibility that the Giants could implode at any moment. Yesterday’s debacle could make any clear-thinking Big Blue fan scream. First and goal, and the Giants managed a field goal. Followed by the defense playing matador to Philip Rivers and the Chargers.Not that Rivers had any motivation to beat the Giants or anything.

MNF

Pittsburgh at Denver. Hey Broncos! “Is it you baby, or just a brilliant disguise?”

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