This week was one of last-second thrillers, as more than one third of the 14 games played were won within the last 2 minutes of play. The closest of these tight games was an overtime victory by the Jacksonville Jaguars against the New York Jets, setting the Jets record to an unimpressive 1-2. However, the worst news for the Jets this week was the season-ending rotator cuff injury to starting quarterback Chad Pennington, and then soon after another injury to veteran backup QB Jay Fiedler. The loss of Pennington has spurred the Jets to resigning 41 year-old Vinny Testaverde, who started at quarterback for six seasons with the jets before losing his starting job to young Pennington. Testaverde is likely to start in next weeks game against the Baltimore Ravens.
More news in the AFC East, as the World Champion New England Patriots mustered a fourth quarter victory reminiscent of the past few seasons against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that has become a fierce rival. It was an intense match-up between the two physical and emotional teams as their young and impressive quarterbacks (Tom Brady of NE and Ben Roethlisberger of PI) played a difficult game that could end up deciding home field advantage in the playoffs.
It was a close game once again, as Roethlisberger and the Steelers tied it up with under two minutes left in the game, after which Brady lead his team down the field without a single dropped pass, setting up yet another Adam Vinatieri game-winning field goal. The victory was made especially difficult by injuries, with the Patriots losing two members of their already battered secondary (including Pro-Bowl safety Rodney Harrison who is out for the season with a knee injury) and starting left tackle Matt Light. The Patriots are left at 2-1, alongside the Miami Dolphins who with seconds left defeated the dangerous Carolina Panthers.
At the end of week three only three teams are left undefeated: the Cincinnati Bengals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and not surprisingly, the Indianapolis Colts. Although it isnt shocking to see the Colts still without a loss, what is unexpected is that Peyton Manning, who broke Dan Marinos record for single season touchdown passes last year, won once again without throwing for a single score. Peyton had two touchdown passes this season, the same amount as his younger brother Eli of the New York Giants, who probably didnt have the best day Sunday, when his team was crushed by the San Diego Chargers, and he was constantly booed by the fans of the team he was originally drafted by before being traded to the Giants.
While the teams that are still undefeated celebrate, Packers fans mourn as their team has gone 0-3 for the first time in 17 years. Part of the loss was the play of Carnell “Cadillac Williams, running back for the Buccaneers, who rushed for 158 yards on 37 carries, and is emerging as one of the best young backs in the league. Another part of the loss came at the hands of QB Brett Favre, who, although he managed to throw for two scores, was also intercepted three times.
Week four proves to be exciting as the Patriots look to continue winning with one of the easiest games of their early schedule against the 1-2 San Diego Chargers. Also, the Denver Broncos will be looking to prove themselves against the Jaguars, and there will be a game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers, which could be said to be the deciding game for the worst team in the league, especially after the Texans managed not to lose this week (even if only because they had a bye).
