The Slant
Monday, November 6, 2006; Page E11
With Miami handing a juggernaut-like Bears team its first loss of the season, the comparisons to 1985 are inevitable. But those Dolphins were a good team playing at home, with a Hall of Fame quarterback. These Dolphins were 1-6, on the road, led by Joey Harrington. Which makes this result almost as befuddling as the fact that this country once thrilled to the music of Mr. Mister.
Washington 22, Dallas 19
Ya know, if Terrell Owens were as good at catching sure touchdown bombs as he is at catching Zs . . .
N.Y. Giants 14, Houston 10
  Texans quarterback David Carr goes a little over the top to score on a two-yard touchdown run against the Giants in the fourth quarter. (By Al Bello -- Getty Images)   The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Vikings' McKinnie Suspended Four Games • Texans Release Colvin |
A desultory affair, the most dramatic moment of which was David Carr's eye-opening vault into the end zone that briefly gave the Texans the lead. This from a franchise that seems to spend most of its time telling its fans to go take a flying leap.
Buffalo 24, Green Bay 10
The Packers outgained the Bills 427-184, but a bunch of turnovers made for a frustrating loss, causing cornerback Al Harris to moan, "We shot ourselves in the foot all game." Which got the Chargers' Shawne Merriman thinking, That's a great idea!
Kansas City 31, St. Louis 17
Maybe the Rams were still star-struck by a midweek visit from Denzel Washington, whose son is on their practice squad. Nevertheless, they should have remembered they weren't playing the Titans, but a team that's been on a mission since getting stomped at Pittsburgh.
Baltimore 26, Cincinnati 20
Gotta give Brian Billick credit, his Ravens have put up some numbers since he took over the play-calling. But former defensive guru Marvin Lewis has seen his squad give up 55 points the past two weeks. Look for Lewis to hire Jim Fassel tomorrow and fire him on Wednesday in a desperate bid to regain http:/
Jacksonville 37, Tennessee 7
Jags Coach Jack Del Rio already hadn't seemed in any hurry to get Byron Leftwich back from an ankle injury and into the lineup, sitting the quarterback yesterday in favor of David Garrard despite Leftwich's protestations of health. Garrard proceeded to look good against the Titans, throwing for three scores in a rout. Then after the game, Del Rio announced, "Unfortunately, Byron Leftwich will be forced to miss more time with, um, a really bad case of cooties."
Detroit 30, Atlanta 14
Once again, Lions fans bore witness to the risk of drafting wide receivers in the first round. Except this time it was the Falcons' first-round wideouts -- Ashley Lelie, Michael Jenkins and Roddy White -- who did nothing to help their team win. On the other hand, Roy Williams was simply a beast for Detroit. Matt Millen's a genius!
New Orleans 31, Tampa Bay 14
Of course, as proof that drafting is an inexact science, Millen could simply point to this year's cattle call. There was a huge uproar over sure-thing superstar Reggie Bush falling to the Saints at No. 2. New Orleans's selection of Marques Colston at No. 252 also caused a commotion -- when several tumbleweeds blew into Mel Kiper's hair.
San Francisco 9, Minnesota 3
The 49ers won by being slightly less boring than The Most Boring Team in the NFL. Seriously, the craziest the Vikings get is listing tight end Jermaine Wiggins's stats in their media guide under "Gettin' Wiggy With It." Word up.
Denver 31, Pittsburgh 20
The Steelers had no answer for the Broncos' Javon Walker. But they apparently did have an answer for "What team used up all its good fortune last year?"
San Diego 32, Cleveland 25
Gotta love the fact that Kellen Winslow Jr. got the stuffing booed out of him by the same fans who adored his father. Junior can't even crow about winning his "heavyweight" matchup with Antonio Gates over who was "the best" tight end, since Tony Gonzalez had two touchdowns yesterday for the Chiefs. Oh, yeah, and Gonzalez's and Gates's teams both won. But that's the kind of non-individual accomplishment that only appeals to lightweights, right, K-Dub?
Indianapolis 27, New England 20
This was the sixth meeting in the past four years between these rivals, and the chess match began early. Each team put 18 players on its injury report, and each listed a whopping 17 as "Questionable." But the most questionable aspect of the game had to have been John Madden's decision to celebrate the arrival of November football by jury-rigging a turducken out of Spam, beef jerky and a bag of Mallomars.
