Quarterbacks Stumble on a Star-Crossed Day

With Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams off, nobody was expecting anybody to throw a perfect game in Week 6.

Warner’s 158.3 passer rating against San Diego in Week 5 was the maximum possible--a rare “perfect” game.

Still, who would have expected so much imperfection?

Brett Favre--remember when he was the best quarterback in the NFL?--threw three interceptions and fumbled twice in Green Bay’s loss to Detroit.

Mark Brunell, struggling with Jacksonville’s problems at center, fumbled four snaps, lost two, threw two interceptions and was pulled for the first time in his career in a loss to Baltimore that left the Jaguars with the same record as Cleveland: 2-4.

Peyton Manning completed a career-high 31 passes for Indianapolis--but also threw three to the other guys in a loss to New England.

Those are some of the best in the game.

Among the others, Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb threw a costly interception to set up Washington’s winning field goal in the final seconds and Cade McNown threw three more interceptions in Chicago’s humiliating 31-10 loss to New Orleans.

Quarterbacks were battered all over the place.

Vinny Testaverde was injured again in the New York Jets’ loss to Pittsburgh, Rob Johnson was hurt in Buffalo’s loss to Miami and Chris Chandler was injured in Atlanta’s loss to the New York Giants--though none of the injuries appear major.

Give defenses some credit--but not all of it.

SOMEBODY HAD TO BE GOOD

Try San Francisco’s Jeff Garcia, the day’s leader in passing yardage.

He’s showing signs he can play for the 49ers after all, although the second-half performance of Oakland’s Rich Gannon helped the Raiders win the wild overtime game.

Another surprise: Pittsburgh’s Kordell Stewart looked like a quarterback in his 17-for-26 performance as the Steelers beat the Jets.

BLACK MAGIC

The Baltimore Ravens rolled up only 194 yards against Jacksonville, converted only three of 17 third-downs . . . and yet sit atop the AFC Central at 5-1.

Can you say defense?

The Ravens have allowed fewer points (65) than any team except Miami (51).

The Ravens won, 15-10, without even scoring a touchdown, as Matt Stover kicked five field goals.

WOE IS SAN DIEGO

Looking ahead on the schedule for the Chargers’ best shot at a victory.

Still searching. . . .

BLOCK THAT VIEW

Garcia, the 49er quarterback, couldn’t bear to watch Wade Richey’s 29-yard field-goal attempt in overtime against the Raiders.

Who could blame him?

There were 15 missed field goals in Sunday’s games--all from 46 yards or closer, and only three were blocked .

Garcia’s reluctance was more the suspense of the moment than a reflection of Richey, who led the NFL in accuracy last season and hadn’t missed yet this season.

But maybe he had a feeling: Richey’s kick was blocked by Anthony Dorsett, and the 49ers went on to lose on Gannon’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown.

The real shame Sunday was that two kickers who were would-be goats ended up getting off the hook because of victories.

The Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski missed attempts from 41 and 35 yards--one in overtime.

The Redskins’ Michael Husted kicked the game-winner from 24 yards with four seconds to play--despite missing from 33 and 42 yards earlier.

The other misses--excluding blocks:

Chicago’s Paul Edinger (30), Atlanta’s Morten Andersen (45), Tennessee’s Al Del Greco (33), Cincinnati’s Neil Rackers (46), San Diego’s John Carney (34), Jacksonville’s Steve Lindsey (31), Cleveland’s Phil Dawson (42), Carolina’s Joe Nedney (34).

NOTHING TO CROW ABOUT

Chicago offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, so recently a genius, is presiding over an offense averaging 14 points a game.

That doesn’t leave him on the short list for NFL jobs any more--and he might want to grab that Brigham Young opening before McNown plays too many more games.

BACK TO THE CHARGERS

Here’s the rest of the schedule--at Buffalo, open date, Oakland, at Seattle, Miami, at Denver, Kansas City, San Francisco, at Baltimore, at Carolina, Pittsburgh.

Can you find a ‘W’?