Sideline Pass on NFL Week 6: The Sara Lee Week

Did you watch the absolute craziness that was the NFL this past weekend? There’s no single word to describe the bizarre, confusing play so we’ll just get started.

34 interceptions in Week 6.

“They’re talking about us.”

I didn’t count the fumbles and muffed punts but I think the INT stat alone is enough to deems this past week the “Sara Lee …”  Apple turnovers are a personal favorite, but I can’t take three of them at one time.  The same goes for the interceptions Mr. Rivers, Ryan, Dalton and Smith! It’s just too much. We recently watched Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys come unglued as he tried to salvage a game against the Chicago Bears. Romo made five (5) turnovers, not all of which were his fault, but they’ll end up on his stat line. He’s got 9 for the year so far. There was only one game played over the weekend without a QB turnover -  the Miami Dolphins vs. the St. Louis Rams. I doubt that it was one of the highest ranked contests.

On Sunday, analysts (both pro and armchair) were shocked to watch the 49ers’ Alex Smith toss 3 away to the super amped up NY Giants defense. Smith is typically efficient and workmanlike with the ball in his hands, but not this Sunday. He only had 5 takeaways in the entire 2011-12 season. The final score of 28-3 was far from the close test that most folks thought would go San Francisco’s way.

Michael Vick gave away two to the Detroit Lions and still carried a lead into the 4th quarter. The Philly defense couldn’t slow down Stafford and the Lions offense who tied it up and sent the game into OT where the Eagles looked lost. The game was lost, too.

Green Bay was madder than wet hens and took it out on the Houston Texans. Another QB known for his command of the game, Matt Schaub lost two and the Texans took an old fashioned woodshed whipping. Rodgers played an excellent game with a real big chip on his shoulders following bad calls and Andrew Luck comebacks.

Sara Lee Week – NFL Week 6

But the Sara Lee Crown goes to Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers. Peyton Manning started the party with his own interception on a ball tossed to a confused receiver who I bet won’t make that mistake ever again. The Chargers had the Broncos on the mat but the game stopped for half time. The teams appeared to switch places. The accurate, fearless Rivers who’d hit his tight end Antonio Gates for historic tandem scores disappeared. In his place popped up a shaky, scared QB who threw four (4) interceptions to quick Broncos defenders who made him pay with points. Perhaps he watched Eli toss three (3) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but his missed the last part where Eli came back to win the game with over 500+ yards.

It’ll take us all the way through Thursday night football to dissect the Sara Lee Week.  What will be most interesting will be the adjustments that the offensive coordinators will put in place in this week’s practices. Let’s get ready because there will be lots to talk about.