Sunday rewind: Week 3

Every Monday throughout the season, the National Football Post’s Matt Bowen brings you a rundown of Sunday’s action in the NFL.

Another Favre Comeback

Time to give some credit to Brett Favre, and time for us to realize that he still can make plays down the field — and win a game when it counts. I thought that both Favre and Niners QB Shaun Hill showed the rest of the league they can do more for their offenses than hand off and complete short, low-risk passes that move the chains. Hill challenged the Vikings’ Tampa 2 defense, and Favre’s play during the 80-yard drive to win the game made head coach Brad Childress look real good for sticking with the drama that finally brought Brett to Minnesota this summer. It was classic Brett.

And the throw to win it was one of the best of Favre’s career.

The 3-0 Jets

APSanchez has the Jets riding high at 3-0.

QB Mark Sanchez is going to have periods in games — like he did in the second quarter against Tennessee — when he struggles. It’s natural for a rookie QB. But the key to the Jets’ wins this season has been their defense and special teams. They cause turnovers, and when their offense struggles, they always seem to step up their game and keep themselves in the ball game. Sunday, the Jets managed only 229 total yards of offense — but finished with 24 points because their defense and their special teams gave them field position. Outside of the first TD, the Jets went five plays, four plays and five plays on their next three scoring drives. That wins games — and that’s why this team is alone atop the AFC East.

The Giants’ No. 1 Receiver

The question marks about the Giants ability to find a No.1 WR for quarterback Eli Manning should be done with — because after three weeks, it isn’t a question given the way Steve Smith is playing. Last week, in the Giants’ win over Dallas, Smith hauled in 10 receptions. He added seven more Sunday in their blowout win down in Tampa. I don’t know if Smith is as talented as Plaxcio Burress was for the Giants, but the proof is always in the production. And right now, he’s leaving no doubt that he’s a legitimate No.1 WR for what I think is the best football team in the league.

Watching Peyton

APJim Caldwell may have taken over for Tony Dungy, but it's still business as usual for the Colts.

Sitting back and watching Peyton Manning run his offense is amazing. The reason the Colts win, and the reason they already have a two-game lead in the AFC South, is because of the way Manning and his offense play football with accountability. They rarely make mistakes, they pick up blitzes, and when Manning makes a check at the line of scrimmage, it’s successful. I would love to sit in a meeting with that offense just to see how they prepare for Sundays — because when they make plays, it looks easy.

Where are the big plays in Pittsburgh?

What’s alarming about the Pittsburgh Steelers is their lack of big-play ability on defense. Sunday, they gave up an early 13-point lead and allowed Carson Palmer and the Bengals to drive the ball for a winning touchdown in the final seconds. On the day: two sacks, zero forced turnovers. I understand that Tory Polamalu’s playmaking ability is missed, but as a unit, someone has to step up and make a play for this defense in the fourth quarter. Sitting at 1-2 is bad enough, but this is the second week in a row the Steelers allowed a team to come back and beat their defense for a win after Jay Cutler and the Bears did it in Week 2. Lots of corrections to make in Pittsburgh.

The Patriots’ Game Plan

I thought the way the Patriots attacked the Falcons in Foxborough was a classic example of a Bill Belichick-coached team. They took Atlanta TE Tony Gonzalez completely out of the game (one reception, 16 yards) and rode a hot Fred Taylor out of the backfield (21-105-1 TD). It’is obvious, from my perspective, that Tom Brady isn’t all the way back. His throws sailed, he was ineffective throwing down the field and he hasn’t established any sort of on the field relationship with WR Joey Galloway. But the game plan was good enough to win. The Pats controlled the clock, took away Gonzalez and played good defense up front against RB Michael Turner. A good win against a good Atlanta team.

Poor Quarterback Play

APAnother game, another bad performance from Russell.

In Oakland, Tampa and Cleveland, the quarterback play was as bad as it gets on the professional level — proving that you can’t win if you don’t get production from the quarterback position. Let’s take a look:

-- JaMarcus Russell, Oakland (12-21, 61 yards, 2 INTs)

Al Davis and Tom Cable have a serious issue on their hands with Russell right now. After last week’s 7-for-24 performance, it looks as if Russell is regressing as a pro. How many more chances does he get before they make a change?

-- Byron Leftwich, Tampa (7-16, 22 yards, 1 INT)

Atrocious numbers from a veteran quarterback, and that’s all you can really say about Leftwich against the Giants. If I’m in charge, I get Josh Freeman some reps in practice this week with the first unit — because you can live with poor numbers from a rookie.

-- Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson, Cleveland (17-27, 115 yards, 4 INTs)

Quinn got the early hook from Browns coach Eric Mangini because he just can’t move this team on offense. The answer? Anderson — and his three interceptions. Right now, the Browns can’t beat anybody.

Cutler does it — again

APCutler gives Chicago the ability to win games late.

Watching the Bears play football in the fourth quarter with Cutler at quarterback is so different than 2008 because you expect him to make a play to win. For the second straight week, Cutler led a scoring drive to bring Chicago back in the fourth quarter, and every game he wins like this, you start to see why the Bears were willing to give up so much for him. The slant pass he threw to Devin Hester for the winning score was nothing special from a scheme perspective, but he threw it between two defenders with enough velocity for Hester to make a play and run untouched to the end zone. Lots of confidence for Chicago after that one.

A Lions Winner

I thought yesterday was a glimpse of what we should expect from Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. His numbers weren’t eye opening (21-36, 241 yards, 1 TD), but he was efficient, and above all, he didn’t turn over the ball. Looking at the final numbers, it’s also apparent that Stafford is starting to become more comfortable with the offense under coordinator Scott Linehan. He completed passes to eight different receivers and used the running game of Kevin Smith to set up scoring opportunities. Breaking the 19-game losing streak was big for this franchise, but the play of Stafford moving forward will be bigger.

Vick’s Return

APVick carried the ball one time for seven yards in his debut.

I thought Michael Vick’s return was nothing special, but what should be talked about is the number of playmakers the Eagles have on offense. Can you imagine game planning for Andy Reid’s offense when Donovan McNabb returns? Reid loves to get the edge in one-on-one matchups, and DeSean Jackson (6-149-1 TD) is just one example of how Reid can exploit defenses from the sidelines. Dangerous, dangerous offense in Philly.

The Saints can play D

I loved the Saints’ game plan on defense, and it showed in the final numbers and in winning a game when QB Drew Brees didn’t light up the scoreboard. New Orleans held the Bills to 243 yards, 13 total first downs, and outside of the fake field goal Buffalo converted for a touchdown, the longest play from scrimmage the Bills had went for 18 yards. Add in the fact that New Orleans held Buffalo to 2 of 14 on third downs — a huge statistic — and this team is finding other ways to win football games besides Brees’ right arm. Watch out for the Saints.

Josh McDaniels’ Offense

The Broncos will continue to win football games when their offense can produce like it did Sunday. They ran the ball with Correll Buckhalter (108 yards) and Knowshon Moreno (91 yards), and if Brandon Marshall (5 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD) can continue to be more involved in the game plan and be part of the scheme, this offense will score points. Did you see a 3-0 start for Denver?

The Pack’s Fourth Quarter

What I liked about the Packers’ win in St. Louis was the way they played football in the fourth quarter. Coming off a tough loss at home last Sunday to the Bengals, I felt like the Packers were just grinding against the Rams. They weren’t running the ball effectively, and on defense, they were giving up too much to a St. Louis team that shouldn’t be able to match up with them. But good football teams in this league can pull away at crucial moments of the game and make a play to lock up the win. Green Bay scored 13 unanswered fourth-quarter points, and corner Charles Woodson made a key play to seal this win. No, it wasn’t anything near a perfect performance, but road victories seldom are in the NFL.

Quick Hits

*The Texans have given up 24, 34 and 31 points in three games this season. Trying to outscore teams never works in the NFL.

APAs good as Rivers is, the Chargers still need L.T. back in the lineup.

*The more I see Philip Rivers play, the more I’m impressed with his game — but the Bolts need LT back to take some of the pressure off Rivers’ shoulders.

*Miami can’t win without causing turnovers and setting up the offense — and right now the Dolphins aren’t making plays as a defense.

*The Bengals shouldn’t surprise us at 2-1 because they can physically match up with anyone right now.

*The Ravens are becoming an offensive threat because of QB Joe Flacco. His numbers are outstanding for a second-year guy.

*How much longer can we wait for Tennessee to make a play in the fourth quarter? Three close losses still equal three losses. The AFL throwbacks are the best thing going in Nashville right now.

*Are the Chiefs that bad on offense? Todd Haley has tons of work to do. This team is going south — quickly.

*Would Redskins owner Daniel Snyder fire Jim Zorn during the regular season? More important, how bad is the injury to DT Albert Haynesworth? A terrible start in D.C.

*Those lime green jerseys in Seattle don't get a passing grade.

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