Sunday’s games

With 3/4ths of the action in week 4 in the AFC East now done, we find ourselves looking at a pretty awful month of September for the 3 teams not called the Patriots. The Miami Dolphins continued their molasses-like start to the 2007 season by getting blown out by the Raiders, 35-17. Adding insult to injury was the fact that former Dolphins QB Dante Culpepper accounted for all 5 touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing) against his former team, causing Phins fans everywhere to wonder “why can’t we get players like that?!?”. RB Ronnie Brown had another big day for the Dolphins, leading the team in rushing (134 yards on 15 carries) and receiving (6 catches for 73 yards) but it wasn’t enough to overcome a defense that has suddenly become little more than a turnstile for opposing teams. What was once the Dolphins absolute strength has now become its most glaring weakness.

Meanwhile, up in Buffalo the Bills were getting their first win of the season, a 17-14 upset of the Jets.Rookies played a huge role for the banged-up Bills, as QB Trent Edwards was efficient in his first start and RB Marshawn Lynch continued to show that he belongs atop the Rookie of the Year discussion. The Bills defense made big plays when they had to, and none was bigger than Terrence McGee’s interception on the Bills 31 yard line with 6 seconds remaining. The Jets were unable to generate points even with Chad Pennington completing 32 of his 39 attempts for 290 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two keys interceptions. The running game must have stayed behind in the Meadowlands as the Jets were only able to muster 60 yards on the ground all day. As big of a win as it was for Buffalo, it was just as big a loss for the Jets, who fell to 1-3 on the year.