Trav's Thoughts

Yum-OH! When we went out for our Target shopping yesterday, we cruised by KFC and got a variety bucket for dinner and now we have lunch leftovers! Woooooo!

Give it to the Bengals...they are playing inspired football today hoping to avoid an 0-3 start. Cincy's defense has the Giants befuddled. The Bengals are in control of the game at the start of the second half.

So while we were chowing on some cold leftover chicken, the Giants defense stepped up and sacked Carson Palmer for the 5th time today and forced a punt. And the offense started to roll a bit. RB Derrick Ward rattled off a couple of good runs, including a 22 yard scamper.

But then the drive stalls and the Giants settle for a 46 yard field goal from veteran kicker John Carney to tie the game at 13-13.

Woooooooooo!!! My Raiders just got a TD on a 1 yard QB sneak from JeMarcus Russell! Russell isn't having a great day throwing the ball, but he's getting support from Michael Bush in the running game. Bush has 56 yards on 9 carries. It also helps that Buffalo isn't playing up to their 2-0 start. The Bills have turned the ball over 4 times, 3 fumbles and an interception.

Oakland also has 3 sacks of Trent Edwards. So give the Raiders credit for going east and competing. I wish I would have given them credit for being able to do that. I had to pick Buffalo based on trends and logic.

Dangit.

Hokey smokes Bulwinkle! Miami leads New England 35-13. RB Ronnie Brown is having the game of his career. He has rushed 16 times for 117 yards and 4 TDs. He also has thrown a TD on the halfback option. Chad Pennington continues to be accurate and avoid mistakes, throwing for 226 yards on 17 of 20.

Miami's defense continues to play well, holding the Patriots to 63 yards rushing and sacking the QB 3 times. They have also forced 2 turnovers on a fumble and an interception.

That Giants defense is good! They sacked Carson Palmer for the 6th time today, stuffed the run, and forced another punt.

The offense takes advantage of a couple of penalties to drive 60 yards into the red zone. On 3rd and 7, Manning throws over the middle to WR Steve Smith but comes up short of the first down. The Giants settle for another field goal to take the lead at 16-13. With the defense playing so well, that seems like the right call.

Cincinnati answers back with a strong drive of its own. The Bengals offensive line has kept the Giants at bay this time, giving Palmer enough time to throw. The drive includes a flea flicker and is capped off by a 17 yard TD pass from Palmer to TJ Houshmandzadeh.

Palmer has done a good job standing up to the pressure of the Giants front four. Although he has been sacked 6 times, he has also completed 21 of 29 passes for 210 yards and a TD. He was 7 of 7 on the drive to give his team a 20-16 lead.

RB Derrick Ward bounces to the outside for a 22 yard run, and then Manning hits Amani Toomer for 14 yards, and the Giants are threatening to score just that quickly from the Benagls 32 yard line.

After a couple of incompletions, Manning hits Smith for 15 down to the Bengals 17 yard line. And then Ward breaks loose up the middle for 15 yards to the Bengals 3 yard line.

RB Brandon Ward is tripped up for a loss, and it's 2nd and goal at the 2 minute warning.

This just in...JeMarcus Russell threw an 84 yard bomb to Johnnie Lee Higgins for a TD!!!!! Wooooooooooooooooo!!!! The Raiders lead Buffalo 23-14 with 6:23 to play.

Manning throws across the middle 4 yards to Kevin Boss for a TD to give the Giants 23-20 lead. That drive was 68 yards in 9 plays, and it took 2:49. Outstanding.

The Giants get pressure on Palmer and force an incomplete pass on 1st down. Palmer comes back to Houshmandzadeh for 20 yards, followed by a pass down the sidelines that is knocked down and incomplete.

Palmer hits Houshmandzadeh again for a short gain over the middle, then throws complete to Reggie Kelly for 12 yards and another 1st down. The Bengals get a break on an injury time out with :51 to play. The ball is on the Giants 34 yard line. Cincy needs a field goal to tie.

The Bengals get a false start penalty for a 5 yard loss. Then Palmer throws complete to Houshmandzadeh, 16 yards to the Giants 23. Palmer spikes the ball to stop the clock at :35. It's 2nd and 10.

Palmer throws again over the middle, but it's 3rd and short and the Bengals can't spike it to stop the clock on 3rd down and have to run a play to get the first down. Palmer throws complete for the 1st down inside the Giants 5 yard line.

The field goal is good to tie the game as time expires. Palmer took the Bengals 71 yards in 10 plays and 1:50.

Gotta switch over to Seattle.