6B SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY OF DARY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2007
FANTASY FOOTBALL
Saints smash 49ers, Packers battle Broncos
This weekend the NFL's first regular season game overseas was played in London. There was a lot of action going on back in America as well. Here are the highs and lows of the past NFL weekend.
HIGHS
BY KELLY BRECKUNITCH
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
KBRECKUNITCH@KANSAN.COM
QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints — Disregard what I said about Brees going into the game against San Francisco. For all the rebuilding San Francisco did to its team in the off-season, it hadn't had the results it would like. At least its defense was playing well, but a mediocre New Orleans team rolled into the bay and blew them out.
brees completed 31 of 39 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns. Maybe this New Orleans team is starting to turn it around
WR Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers — Jennings has become a steady second option in the Green Bay passing offense, especially when
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints seem to have found their offense. Brees completed 31 of 39 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tennessee's LenDale White broke out against the Raiders on Sunday. He finished with 25 carries for 133 yards.
teams shut down the number one threat in Donald Driver. Jennings had six catches for 141 yards and one touchdown in the Packers' Monday night match-up with the Broncos. He caught the game-winning pass on the first possession of overtime. The Packers keep finding ways to win and proving they're a team to watch in the NFC.
RB LenDale White, Tennessee Titans — Remember when the draft experts said White was a steal in the second round a couple years ago? Well, that pick is starting to pay off for the Titans. Against the Raiders on Sunday, White carried the Titans while Vince Young was struggling doing anything on offense. White had 25 carries for 133 yards on the ground. White is proving he can be a bruising, featured back in a power running game.
TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers — Philip Rivers had a very efficient day on Sunday. He didn't throw for many yards for the Chargers offense, but when he did he found Gates on several occasions. Gates ended the day with three catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns. The Chargers have gotten on a roll after a rough start to the season.
Detroit defense — Detroit has one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but on Sunday they were able to shut down the Chicago offense. Chicago looked better under the leadership of quarterback Brian Griese, but Griese threw four interceptions on Sunday, three of those in the end zone. The Bears put up only 255 yards of total offense on Sunday against a Lions team that was 30th in passing defense
LOWS
and 18th in rushing defense in the NFL.
Tampa Bay defense — Jacksonville capitalized on turnovers to beat Tampa Bay on Sunday. The Tampa Bay defense gave up just enough yardage to Jacksonville to shoot themselves in the foot. Tampa Bay implemented the "bend but don't break" philosophy on defense
K David Akers, Philadelphia Eagles — Akers proved he is still one of the top kickers in the league on Sunday. Akers made three of four field goal attempts and both extra points as the Eagles beat the Vikings. Akers will be relied upon more heavily as the Eagles host the mighty Cowboys next weekend.
Jennings has become a steady second option in the Green Bay passing offense, especially when teams shut down the number one threat in Donald Driver.
QB Daunte Culpepper, Oakland Raiders — Culpepper struggled in many ways on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The Raiders lost a close game on Sunday in part because of many offensive mishaps caused by Culpepper. Culpepper completed 15 of 32 passes for only 167 yards, threw one interception, was sacked five times and fumbled three times. JaMarcus Russell's first start may come in the near future after Culpepper's performance on Sunday.
RB Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins — Whatever happened to Clinton Portis? Remember when he started his career so strongly? He was supposed to be one of the best running backs to come out of the University of Miami since Edgerrin James. Then he was traded to the
WR Laveranues Coles, New York Jets — Coles had a big game against Cincinnati, but fell off as the Jets played the Bills this past weekend. Coles had only one catch for 13 yards. Coles needs to play better next weekend as the Jets have a tough match-up with the Washington Redskins.
Redskins for Champ Bailey. While Bailey has continued to be one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL in Denver, Portis has steadily declined in productivity since arriving in
Washington. On Sunday, Portis had 11 carries for only 27 yards rushing. Portis will need to improve if the Redskins want a shot at the NFC title.
TE Desmond Clark, Chicago Bears — Clark was a big part of Chicago's passing game last year, and you would think his production would go up with Brian Griese now at the helm at quarterback. However, Clark had one catch for 11 yards in the game against Detroit on Sunday. Clark can spread the field on offense. He is a versatile tight end and Chicago should use him in their passing game more often.
on Sunday, but it failed. Jacksonville was lead by backup quarterback Quinn Gray, who did just enough to beat Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay should be embarrassed.
They didn't allow a 100-yard rusher and held Gray to only 100 passing yards, but still lost the game. Does anybody want to win the NFC South division?
K Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears — Gould was shut down by his own teammate on Sunday. Brian Griese threw three interceptions in the end zone when the Bears would've had position for field goals. Gould did miss his only field goal attempt but made the Bears' only extra point, gaining him a whopping one fantasy point for the day. It's safe to say that Gould, last year's top kicker in the NFL, had an off day on Sunday.
Edited by Amelia Freidline
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