BMEFA 2007: Gameday #2 Recaps

[RooMorgans]

Off and running as some teams hit the midpoint of their season with 2 games on Saturday in the BMEFA. Thanks to Smitty for mailing me the scoresheets so quick for the games that I wasn't around to see the end of.

Action started with a group prayer for our league brethren, Will Travers.

Then it was on and buzzing ...

MORNING KICKOFFS

Pittsburgh 28, Cleveland 0
* DeShea Townsend's interception closed the door on the Browns' best drive, and from there it was the Ben Roethlisberger show, as he went 9-of-11 for 212 yards and 4 touchdowns to four different receivers in the win. Pittsburgh outgained Cleveland, 236 to -12, as the Steelers scored a touchdown in every quarter.

Ravens 19, Lions 19
(Ravens win tiebreaker, 362 yards to 300).
* Baltimore and Detroit went back and forth but it appeared the fierce Lions had put the game well in hand on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 2 plays left. But a missed extra point left the margin at 19-12. Baltimore's Mike Anderson returned the kickoff to the Detroit 37, and Demetrius Williams took a screen pass to the house on the last play. The successful PAT secured a 19-19 tie, and a tiebreaker win for Baltimore. Baltimore QB Steve McNair ran for 148 yards, while Detroit's kick returner scampered for 181 yards on 3 tries, including a touchdown. Detroit's #35 had 7 tackles.

Cowboys 8, Bears 6
* The defending league champions coached by Adrian Baxter got all they could handle from Jimmie Elliott's Bears, who led 6-0 after Gale Sayer's 52-yard run in the first quarter. But Dallas answered on a 38-yard TD pass, got the 2-point conversion and that was all the scoring. Dallas outgained Chicago, 132-49.

Bengals 14, Bills 7
* Cincinnati won this one on a 47-yard pass from Carson Palmer to Chad Johnson in the third quarter. The Bills last-ditch run went for 25 yards, but left them 28 yards short of the end zone in a tough battle by both teams. Buffalo's quarterback, guided by Sean Carter, threw for 65 yards and ran for 30 more. Palmer was 5-for-11 for 146 yards and 2 scores.

Colts 7, Texans 7
(Colts win tiebreaker, 204 yards to 162).
* Baltimore, led by Smitty, got its first win of the season, eeking out a tiebreaker win over expansion Houston and Larry Sharpe. Houston had a pass intercepted in the end zone that could have changed the course of the game had the result been different. The Colts got 162 yards on the ground, including an 80-yard TD from Bert Jones.

Saints 10, Eagles 0
* Air Fryer, as in Larry Fryer, has struggled this year and the Saints put in a masterful defensive display under the guidance of James Martin to get the shutout. A 30-yard touchdown run and a 42-yard field goal provided the points, even though the Eagles outgained the Saints in total offense, 55-27. #18 for New Orleans had the TD run, two tackles (one for a loss), and an interception.

AFTERNOON KICKOFFS

Saints 3, Bears 0
* The Saints finish an unscored on day with a 3-0 win over Chicago. The only points came on a 36-yard field goal. Offense was at a total premium in this game, as the teams combined for -2 yards. The win moved New Orleans to .500 and in the thick of the playoff chase.

Cowboys 28, Eagles 0
* Dallas demolished Philadelphia with four big plays - touchdowns covering 31, 56, 64, and 69 yards. Defensively, Doomsday was just as dominant, sacking Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski four times for -38 yards. Charles Haley had 6 tackles, 4 for loss, and 2 sacks, while Jim Jeffcoat forced and recovered his third fumble of the season. Dallas' quarterback was 3-for-4 for 179 yards and 2 scores, as the Cowboys rolled up 252 yards of total offense on just 12 plays.

Colts 16, Bengals 0
* Whatever ailed the Colts during an 0-2 first month of the season took care of itself Saturday, as the blue and white ransacked the Bengals for a 16-0 win. Jones went yard again on a long run, this time 85 yards, and the Colts defense picked up a safety. Baltimore outgained Cincinnati, 167 to -14.

Texans 14, Bills 7
* Houston avoided another tiebreaker and got out of Buffalo with a win. A 10-yard David Carr touchdown pass late in the third quarter was the difference. Then with Buffalo trying to mount a comeback, the Texans forced a fumble and fell on it to secure the win. Both teams showed some passing prowess, combining to go 11-of-15 for nearly 200 yards. Houston's #83 caught four for 104 yards and a score.

Ravens 7, Browns 0
* A 46-yard pass from McNair to Anderson was the difference as the Ravens picked up their second win of the day over the Browns. McNair was 4-for-9 for 117 yards, and Anderson caught three of those for 104. Cleveland managed 88 yards of total offense, but couldn't find the end zone. Defensively, the Browns sacked McNair five times.

Steelers 21, Lions 20
* In the Game of the Week, the Steelers stayed unbeaten in an odd game at Detroit. The Lions roared ahead on the game's first play from scrimmage when Barry Sanders went off left tackle 59 yards for a score, making it 6-0. Pittsburgh got the lead on a 9-play, 70-yard drive, culminating in a 6-yard pass from Roethlisberger to Heath Miller. Detroit's #38 (remember him from earlier?) promptly went yard on the kickoff, but another missed PAT left it 12-7. Late in the half, the Steelers answered as Nate Washington caught a 60-yard bomb, then a 10-yard TD flick. It was 13-12 Steelers at the half. Taking the ball to start the third, the Steelers needed 6 plays to score again, on a 13-yard pass from Ben to Bettis. A two-point conversion increased Pittsburgh's margin to a comfortable 9. Did I say comfortable? Yeah right! Detroit took that kickoff back, too! A 2-pointer for them left it at 21-20 with 10 plays left.

Now, the Steelers coach knew he had no choice. Detroit couldn't get the ball back. After a sack, Pittsburgh faced 2nd-and-17 at its 27, but Bettis got open in the flat, raced past a defender and gained 42 yards. With five plays left, Ben hit Miller for 11 yards and a first down. With four downs to use and four plays left, the Steels avoided a turnover and held on, 21-20, overcoming a great effort from the Lions and their coach, Darrian Ross.

Pittsburgh ran 27 plays to Detroit's 1. The Steelers gained 270 yards (242 through the air), while Detroit's killer returner had 278 yards on 4 touches. Bettis caught four passes for 107 yards.

More info to come as the week goes on, including standings, upcoming schedules, and stat leaders.

Roo

[Raven maniac]

I played well enough to win, but my defense let me down. Ed, thank you for a great game, and I'll see you in the playoffs. To all the coaches of the BMEFA thank you for a great game day.

Darrian (Coach Ross)

[Silverhorse 228]

Wow! A lot of action...I will be following your league all season...keep posting!

[Coach K-LO]

tHANKS FOR THE RECAPS...

dID YOU GET SOME PICTURES TO GO WITH IT???

IF YOU DON'T MIND, WHO ARE COACHES AND THEIR TEAMS IN YOUR LEAGUE...

K-LO

[RooMorgans]

Hi Lo,

I know Larry Sharpe took some photos, I'm not sure if there were any others. My game with Darrian was too intense for me to snap any shots. ... Darrian played a great game and I was fortunate to do enough to win.

I'll get the coaches list together tonight when I post some of the other information.

We appreciate everyone who stops in to follow the BMEFA action.

Roo

Originally Posted by Coach K-LO

tHANKS FOR THE RECAPS...

dID YOU GET SOME PICTURES TO GO WITH IT???

IF YOU DON'T MIND, WHO ARE COACHES AND THEIR TEAMS IN YOUR LEAGUE...

K-LO

Fellas,
This was a wierd Saturday? Entirely to much going on to take any pictures, but we'll get more posted soon. Fresh new paint jobs, custom figures and new boards sent everybody into grit mode. Buffalo is gonig to farm out some things and It's going to be hot as hell in November!

[Raven maniac]

Here's the link www.leaguelineup.com/bmefa. If not PM me and I'll send it to you.

Darrian

[Coach K-LO]

thanks.......

Great recap Ed,

Even here in Germany, I'm keeping tabs on the BMEFA. The league looks great. I really miss playing with you guys. I can't wait till Nov. recap. My Oilers will be back in 2009. Auf Wiedersehen.

Keith Baker

[childslovegame]

Keith,

You know you and your Oliers aways have a spot with us! Good hearing from you!

Smitty