Don't count out the Bears quite yet. Desperately needing a victory to stay in the NFC hunt, Chicago's Brian Griese connected with Muhsin Muhammad for 15-yard touchdown pass with 9 seconds left to lift the Bears to a 19-16 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. ...more

October 22, 2007

Something bad seems to happen when Tampa Bay does not see a large pirate ship or 60,000 of its screaming fans wearing pewter and red. ...more

October 22, 2007

The Bucs haven't run the ball with any kind of authority in their past two games. That trend has to stop today. As capable as quarterback Jeff Garcia may seem, the Bucs can't continue to put all the pressure to move the offense on his shoulders. They need to balance out their attack and keep defenses guessing, and the way to do that is to get the running game going. Unlike years past, this is not a problem rooted in Coach Jon Gruden's desire to throw the ball or his penchant for quickly abandoning the running game. The problem is in the execution. The Bucs simply have not done a good job of consistently opening running holes for their backs. The Lions are not an easy team to move the ball against on the ground, but if the Bucs play smart and physical they can do it. ...more

October 21, 2007

THE DIFFERENCE: Gryphons kick returner Craig Plastic made two spectacular dashes to the end zone, and was all the offense Sickles (6-2) would need in a tough 5A-6 district win against King (2-5). Plastic returned a punt 86 yards for the first touchdown of the night in the first half. In the third quarter, a Lions offside penalty resulted in the Lions having to re-do a kickoff that Plastic took 85 yards for the score. ...more

October 19, 2007

Craphonso Thorpe sat in front of his locker in the RCA Dome thanking everyone who came to mind. ...more

October 8, 2007

As the University of Florida football team came unglued in the visitor's locker room last year at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium, an assistant suggested to Coach Urban Meyer that he step in and calm his players. Meyer looked at the players, some crying, some screaming at one another, and made a decision. ...more

September 28, 2007

TITANS-SAINTS WHEN: 8:30 p.m. WHERE: The Superdome, New Orleans TV/CREW: ESPN (Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Tony Kornheiser, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya) ABOUT THE TITANS: This is Tennessee's first MNF appearance since 2004 and Coach Jeff Fisher is 3-0 vs. the Saints. Chris Brown is averaging 6.7 yards per carry and the Titans boast the NFL's No. 1 rushing attack. Rookie CB Michael Griffin is making an impact as a kick returner. ABOUT THE SAINTS: New Orleans is facing a must-win scenario in its home opener. The defending NFC South champ has been ripped for 72 points and 782 yards without posting a sack or an interception. Drew Brees averages a mere 5.32 yards per pass attempt, well off last year's 7.97 mark. KEY STAT: Vince Young of the Titans is 3-1 against NFC opponents, with five TD passes and one scoring run. KEY MATCHUP: Can DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith keep Young in the pocket, where he is far less dangerous than when he breaks containment? INJURY UPDATE: Titans: Out-TE Casey Cramer (hamstring). Questionable-CB Cortland Finnegan (hamstring), P Craig Hentrich (back). Saints: Out-S Jay Bellamy (ankle). Questionable-DT Kendrick Clancy (toe). IRA KAUFMAN'S CALL: Saints, 38-17 ...more

September 24, 2007

But for a nagging pain in WR Percy Harvin's ankle, the University of Florida football team stayed relatively injury free en route to a national title. The Gators apparently won't be so lucky this season. ...more

September 10, 2007