Saints don't get AFC's memo

The AFC spent most of Sunday sending a powerful statement to the NFC.

By about 5:45 p.m. EST, and well into the day's second offering of games, the AFC had taken all the toss-up tilts between the rival leagues, and turned them into their own.
The Bengals had demolished the Bears, 45-10. Houston had knocked back a suddenly reeling 49ers club. Pittsburgh had played with fire, and then set ablaze Minnesota's undefeated season. Why Buffalo had even out-mediocre-d the Panthers in Carolina.

And now with its undefeated Saints being battered by middling Miami, 24-3, late in the first half, the NFC was preparing a message of surrender. But just before the white flag went up, Drew Brees' Saints put their league on their backs and picked themselves up off the Miami sod with a resounding leap.

As it turned out, Brees' gutsy TD on fourth down, and with only five seconds left in the half, ignited a 43-10 explosion that rocked Land Shark Stadium and sent the shell-shocked Dolphins players back-peddling to the safety of their locker room to ponder what in the world had just hit them.

New Orleans seemed to score from everywhere and anywhere; on offense or defense; through the air or on the ground...and Miami had no answer.

So, by the end of the day, and on behalf of the teetering NFC, the 6-0 Saints delivered the day's final rejoinder: Not so fast, baby!


Now onto a sampling of what the nation's sportswriters and columnists are saying about their football teams across every NFL city, because in the Grill Room we love the newspaper business, even if it hates itself.

(1) New Orleans 46
(16) Miami 34

• Brees leap of faith starts undefeated Saints on comeback trail.
• Miami punches out early.

(15) Cincinnati 45
(12) Chicago 10

• Brand-new Benson batters Bears then dashes talk of revenge.
• Shhhh...be careful or you might wake up hibernating Bears.
  

(17) Green Bay 31
(27) Cleveland 3

• Pack feast on the weak and get fat and happy.
• Maybe the Browns trailed throughout, but at least they can catch a cold.
  

(14) Houston 24
(13) San Francisco 21

• Kubiak passes on run to put away 49ers.
• Singletary got it half right when he went to QB Smith.
  

(19) San Diego 37
(25) Kansas City 7

• Chargers get healthy on sickly Chiefs.
• Haley's a good person, except he is a horrifically rotten coach.
  

(7) Pittsburgh 27
(3) Minnesota 17

• Steelers' defense answered the bell...
• ...and my, wasn't that Vikings' offense the generous guest.
  

(2) Indianapolis 42
(32) St. Louis 6

• With Sanders, Colts' defense is finger-licking good.
• Colts abruptly pull ladder out from underneath rising Rams.
  

(8) New England 35
(28) Tampa Bay 7

• Patriots duck in a rout around their site-seeing trip to London.
• It's time for pathetic Bucs to take 5.
  

(23) Buffalo 20
(22) Carolina 9

• Inept Panthers make local boy feel at home...
• ...and close the door on their season.
  

(20) N.Y. Jets 38
(26) Oakland 0

• Hot dog! Jets break three-game losing streak!
• Raiders stepping up, and out of another season.

(18) Dallas 37
(5) Atlanta 21

• Cowboys are Miles better without Owens.
• Falcons can't fly when they can't run.
  

(11) Arizona 24
(6) N.Y. Giants 17

• Cards' defense rises up and makes Giant strides.
• Giants better head back to drawing board to avoid another collapse.
  

(*) denotes NFL 100-proof ranking

(Associated Press photo)

Raiders give voice to past

We had just lifted our beer glasses to the sky to toast a great day of football, when an old, wonderful voice came booming across the frosty hills of Southwest Germany and through the double doors of the Grill Room.

By now, we were into the wee hours -- and many, many pils -- of this Monday morning.
It was right about the time the Raiders (The Raiders!) were putting the finishing touches on their improbable win over the heavily favored Eagles, when we heard it...

The Autumn wind is a pirate
Blustering in from sea
With a rollicking song he sweeps along
Swaggering boisterously.

His face is weatherbeaten
He wears a hooded sash
With a silver hat about his head
And a bristling black mustache.

He growls as he storms the country
A villain big and bold
And the trees all shake and quiver and quake
As he robs them of their gold.

The Autumn wind is a Raider
Pillaging just for fun
He'll knock you 'round and upside down
And laugh when he's conquered and won.

And as the late, great John Facenda's "Voice of God," from NFL Films' fame of yesteryear, recited The Autumn Wind, we rose our glasses high yet again, and toasted all that has always been good about the NFL.

Because in a season that was starting to define itself by its numbing predictability, Facenda, if only in spirit, and the Raiders, in fact, were back to remind us that on any given Sunday, anything was possible in the National Football League...


Now onto a sampling of what the nation's sportswriters and columnists are saying about their football teams across every NFL city, because in the Grill Room we love the newspaper business, even if it hates itself.

(20) Houston 28
(10) Cincinnati 17

• Kubiak throws his run-first philosophy for a loss, and wins.
• Bengals fell off the high wire and into a trap.
  

(18) Green Bay 26
(24) Detroit 0

• Sloppy Packers won't apologize for whipping a lousy Lions team, which...
• ...has plenty to apologize for.

(22) Jacksonville 23
(32) St. Louis 20 (OT)

• Jags shot themselves in the foot but limped to a win.
• Rams knock at victory's door, but are left out in the cold -- again.
  

(4) Minnesota 33
(11) Baltimore 31

• Unbeaten Vikings are good and lucky.
• Raven's kicking problems should be a secondary concern.
  

(2) New Orleans 48
(1) N.Y. Giants 27

• Saints use measuring stick to paddle Giants.
• Eli's Rebel yell might as well have been a call for surrender.

(7) Pittsburgh 27
(26) Cleveland 14

• No big talk from Big Ben after 'sub-par performance.'
• Lowly Browns are in a league of their own.
  

(23) Carolina 28
(29) Tampa Bay 21

• Panthers run to hide their quarterback.
• The bumbling Bucs should be banned in London.
  

(31) Kansas City 14
(25) Washington 6

• Columnist says, I can't believe what I just saw...
• Redskins pathetic play leaves fans speechless.
  

(30) Oakland 13
(5) Philadelphia 9

• Raiders find a new comfort zone and blitz.
• With the offense going to the dogs, why not try Vick?
  

(17) Arizona 27
(21) Seattle 3

• Rejuvenated Cardinals enjoy the sound of silence.
  
• Playoffs?! Another Mora scoffs at the idea.

(9) New England 59
(27) Tennessee 0

• Brady throws Titans, talk of demise for a loss.
• Titans go as low as they can go in snow.
  

(28) Buffalo 16
(14) N.Y. Jets 13 (OT)

• Bills take only a passing interest in Jets' running game, but win.
• At least Sanchez's post-game comments hit their Mark.
  

(6) Atlanta 21
(12) Chicago 14

• Falcons take their new show to prime time.
• A Bears team in need is far too charitable.

(*) denotes NFL 100-proof ranking