Jackson can’t carry the Rams by himself
After missing the previous four games because of a groin tear, St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson returned Sunday and led the Rams to touchdowns on each of their first two possessions against the Cleveland Browns.
It was a big change for an offense that had produced only three touchdowns and 50 points in the previous five games combined. But when Jackson began experiencing back spasms and did not have a carry after the first quarter, the Rams reverted to their old ways, failing to score another touchdown in a 27-20 loss.
“He was running like a wild beast and we matched his intensity; it just rubbed off on the whole team,” tight end Randy McMichael said. “And then he’s out and we took a step back. We can’t do that.”
Jackson said he doesn’t expect to miss any more time because the Rams are off next week.
Kicking back
Punter Chris Hanson may be the only New England Patriots player who isn’t padding his stats.
Hanson punted twice against the Washington Redskins, bringing his season total to 18 -- the fewest per game in the NFL. Of those, five have gone out of bounds, five have been fair caught, three have been downed by the Patriots, three have been touchbacks and only two have been returned.
Hanson is making a reported $595,000 this season, so if he maintains his current pace of 36 punts, that will come out to $16,527.78 per punt.
Road to imperfection
The Miami Dolphins are 0-8, but they are guaranteed not to lose next week -- it’s their bye week.
They play the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 11 in what might be one of their best chances to avoid a winless season. A Dec. 2 date with the New York Jets, a Dec. 9 rematch with the Bills and a season-ending game against Cincinnati could also do the trick.
But defensive end Jason Taylor said the bye week at the midway point of the season might be just what the team needs to make a fresh start.
“I’m going back home, and I won’t think about football until we come back and play, whoever the heck we’re playing,” he said. “We’ve got to regroup, and you’ve got to remove yourself as much as you can from the situation.”
Darling Clemens time
After weeks of calls from disgruntled Jets fans for Kellen Clemens to replace Chad Pennington at quarterback, Coach Eric Mangini finally made the move in the fourth quarter of a 13-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Clemens completed five of 12 passes for 67 yards and two interceptions. Mangini wouldn’t say whether the move was permanent.
Winning is everything
Browns receiver Braylon Edwards tied a career high with eight catches for 117 yards in the victory over the Rams, but that didn’t impress him much. “If I tie my career high, whoop-dee-doo, the big thing is we got the win,” Edwards said.
Non-favored status
The Indianapolis Colts are the defending Super Bowl champions, they are undefeated and they are playing at home next week, so how is it that oddsmakers have them as a 4 1/2 -point underdog?
The Patriots are next week’s opponent, that’s how.
Stats
The Washington Redskins’ 52-7 loss to the Patriots was their worst defeat since 1961, when the New York Giants beat them, 53-0. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia had a pass intercepted against Jacksonville, ending his streak of consecutive passes without an interception at 217. . . . The Carolina Panthers had a team-record-tying 18-play scoring drive against Indianapolis. It took more than 11 minutes, the longest this season.
Monday preview
The NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers (5-1) visit the Denver Broncos (3-3), who achieved all three of their victories on late field goals by Jason Elam.
Injury report
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher all but confirmed a foxsports.com report that he has an arthritic back. He hasn’t missed any time and did not comment any further on it other than that he will answer fans’ questions on the same website. . . . Jets receiver Laveranues Coles remained face down on the ground after his chest and head slammed to the turf. He walked off the field but did not return. He said after the game that he was all right. . . . The Minnesota Vikings lost quarterback Kelly Holcomb to a neck injury after he slammed his head on the turf while being tackled. . . . Panthers quarterback Vinny Testaverde had a flare-up of tendinitis in his right Achilles’ and did not play after halftime. . . . Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards sprained his right wrist in the third quarter against the Jets. He said X-rays were negative and the injury will be reevaluated today. . . . Houston quarterback Matt Schaub was taken to a hospital for tests after a helmet-to-helmet hit by San Diego linebacker Stephen Cooper. Test results were not immediately known.
--
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
--