NFL Week 6: The Numbers

One number from each game that stuck out above all others.

Bears v. Falcons - 44.5 - Jerrious Norwood's kick return average. With under six minutes remaining on the game, Norwood had an 85 yard return down to the Chicago 19-yard line. As a result, following a Rashied Davis touchdown with just eleven seconds left in the game, the Bears chose to squib kick. Robbie Gould's kick went for 36 yards and a net of 26 after a ten yard return. One 26 yard pass play later and the Falcons were in position for Jason Elam's game-winning field goal.


Ravens v. Colts - 3 - Total number of plays in Colts territory for the Ravens offense until their lone scoring drive in the third quarter (Indy was up 31-0 at the time). Also, the number of Peyton Manning TD passes, a season-high. Joe Flacco also threw a season-high 3, but not TDs, for him it was interceptions.

Raiders v. Saints - 9 - Drew Brees's number and the number of players that caught a pass for each team. The biggest difference maker was the disparity between in the quarterback play. Saints QB Drew Brees had an 86.7 percent completion percentage (26/30), good enough for the 4th all-time for a single game. Brees had four incompletions the entire game but Oakland QB JaMarcus Russell had five in one drive and completed just more than one third of his passes (13/35). Brees's passes accounted for 161 more yards despite five fewer attempts.

Bengals v. Jets - 5 - New York scoring drives, all of which started in Cincinnati territory. Also, the number of three and outs for the Bengals (including their first four drives), compared to only one for the Jets. New York had four drives longer than five minutes while Cincy had zero (4:05 was the longest). It was the first time this season that Chad Ocho Cinco was the Bengals leading receiver, but with only five catches for 57 yards and 0 TDs.

Panthers v. Buccaneers - 3 - Warrick Dunn's third 100-yard rushing game against Carolina in his career, and the first rusher over 100 against the Panthers this season. Panthers P Jason Baker had his third punt blocked this season. Carolina QB Jake Delhomme had three INTs, each which hit his intended target before being picked off. The Panthers also only converted on three of their twelve 3rd down opportunities and opened the second half with three straight three and outs.

Rams v. Redskins - 14 - Quarters since Washington's last turnover before a first quarter fumble by Chris Cooley. Perhaps an omen of things to come, the Skins ended up with three lost fumbles after having no offensive turnovers all season. For the first time this season, the Rams did not allow over thirty points. Allowing only seventeen points by the Redskins was fourteen better than their previous season best of 31 (week 4 v. Bills). The win also broke the Rams eight game losing streak, dating back to week fourteen of last season. Free Safety O.J. Atogwe's 2nd quarter 75-yard fumble recovery for a TD was critical for momentum and was the Rams longest play of the season (including punt and kick returns), their first defensive score of the year, and instrumental in getting the team to 1-4 (14?).

Dolphins v. Texans - 3 - Andre Johnson had his third 100+ receiving yard game (176), becoming the third WR to catch for more than 100 in a game against the Dolphins (Fitzgerald and Boldin). His most important reception was a 23-yard catch on a 4th and Ten to extend the game-winning drive. For Miami, not even having a +3 advantage in the turnover margin and Ricky Williams's first TD in three seasons was enough to win. Just a week after allowing three heart-breaking scores in under three minutes, Texas used a three-yard QB draw with three seconds left to pull ahead by one.

Jaguars v. Broncos - 2 - Suspect calls by the officials, both benefiting the Jags. The first extended Jacksonville's final scoring drive when CB Dre Bly was called for illegal contact on 3rd and 17, but it was Bly who was flung to the turf. The second, a pass interference call on Marlon McCree despite minimal contact, came after Denver had used two of their timeouts to stop the clock and instead of 3rd and long, the Jags got another automatic first down and aided the Jaguars in running out the clock. It was also RB Maurice Jones-Drew's first game of the season with two rushing TDs and just his second 100 yard rushing game on the year. Despite having two passing TDs, this was the first game of the season where Denver QB Jay Cutler did not have at least 200 yards passing. It was the also the second straight week the Broncos did not have a 100-yard receiver after having one in their first four games. Another factor in both of the Bronco losses this season, Brandon Marshall lost fumbles with the opponent scoring TDs on the ensuing possession.

Eagles v. 49ers - 5 - straight 4th quarter scoring drives to close out the game for Philadelphia. Following San Francisco's FG with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter, they had five straight drives of exactly 3 plays (2 punts, 2 INTs, and 1 Fumble). As a result, Philly started five scoring drives in SF territory including four of those final five, with the other starting on their 45-yard line. A bad sign for Eagles fans, however, was that the three drives that they started inside the SF 35 (including two in the red zone) all resulted in FGs. Philly K David Akers attempted five FGs, making four, but the other was a 54-yard attempt that was blocked and returned for a TD on the final play of the 2nd quarter.

Packers v. Seahawks - 14 - More passing yards than penalty yards for the Seahawks (64-50). Missing their top two QBs Seattle turned to Charlie Frye, whose performance was the worst by a QB in a Seahawk uniform since Matt Hasselbeck's 62 passing yards in 2001 against the Eagles in his second start ever. With the score tied at ten, it was fourteen points on two straight third quarter drives for the Packers that gave them the lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Seahawks third quarter drives, on the other hand, totalled (-)8 yards.

Cowboys v. Cardinals - 3 - of WR Terrell Owens's four receptions that came in the first drive of the second half (think he said something at halftime?). The Cardinals had three turnovers and Tony Romo had three fumbles, only one of which was lost, as well as another that was ruled the tuck rule after a challenge. While Romo had over 300 (321) passing yards for the fourteenth time, nearly half (155) came one only three passes (70, 55, 30). And last but not least, JJ Arrington's kick return to open the game was 93 yards and the blocked punt in OT by the Cards was recovered on the three yard line and run in for a TD by Monty Beisel.

Patriots v. Chargers - 20 - margin of victory for the Chargers. Following the 25 point loss to Miami, this is the first time since 1998 that New England has lost two games in the same year, by 20 or more. 1998 was Pete Carroll's 2nd year as head coach with the Patriots. 20 was also the number of carries for LaDainian Tomlinson. He was held under 75 yards for the fourth time this year.