Week 4 of the NFL regular season will be remembered for the number of close games decided by a touchdown or less…there were nine, if you are counting.  And three of those games went into overtime.  Our next game highlight is one of those overtime contests and it featured a unique symmetry. 

The Houston Texans visited the Indianapolis Colts, looking for their first win of the season and they got it in a unique way.  If you look at the box score, you will see that the first and second half scoring were mirror images of each other.  In the first half, the Texans scored 21 points versus 10 points for the Colts.  In the second half the Colts scored 21 points versus 10 points for the Texans and the game went into overtime where both teams traded field goals before the visitors scored one final field goal to win the game.  Final score: Texans – 37 (21+10+6), Colts – 34 (10+21+3).

Since this game was played in Indiana, the Colts Cheerleaders were there to cheer on the home team.  So here are some select photos from the Colts game day gallery and if you want to see them all, click here.

 

On paper, the Cleveland Browns vs the Oakland Raiders may have seemed to have been a rather dull affair between two teams struggling to find an identity and some consistency.  And if you thought that, like I did, you would have been wrong.  This game was another high scoring, close game that went into overtime before it was decided and to top it off, there were some officiating irregularities to add to the excitement.

So to keep it brief, here were the major story lines for the game:

• Baker Mayfield get his first start for the Browns.
• Backup RB Nick Chubb rushes for 105 yards and two TDs on three carries.
• Derek Carr comes alive, throwing for 437 yards and 4 TDs for the Raiders.
• With the Browns leading and less than two minutes left in the game, the refs blow call and overturn first down run by Browns RB Carlos Hyde that might have decided the game.
• Raiders Gruden gets first win of the season and his second stint as Raiders head coach.

After the controversial call that stopped the Cleveland Browns from running out the clock, the Raiders promptly moved the ball down the field and scored the game tying touchdown on a 7 yard pass from Derek Carr to Jared Cook.  And in overtime, the Raiders kicked a field goal to end the game, final score: Raiders – 45, Browns – 42. 

With the win, the Raiders improve to 1 – 3 on the season and stayed within three games of the AFC West lead. 

So with the game summary out of the way, let’s take another look at Football’s Fabulous Females, the Oakland Raiderettes.  Click here to view the Raiders game day gallery of images.

The Cincinnati Bengals game against the Atlanta Falcons was another excitingly contest that came down to the last minute before being decided.  Down by five points with less than five minutes left in the game, Andy Dalton marched the Bengals 85 yards down the field to score the game winning touchdown with 12 second left to give Cincinnati the 37 – 36 victory.  Dalton three for 337 yards and three TDs and Giovani Bernard chipped in two rushing TDs to pace the Bengals scoring.

It was a tough loss for the Atlanta Falcons, but the news wasn’t all bad.  The Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders wore throw back uniforms for the game and that’s all good in my book.  See for yourself here.

There were a number of very close games in the NFL this week and the Eagles game against the Titans was an overtime thriller.  Ailing QB Marcus Mariota completed 30 of 43 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday’s 26-23 win over the Eagles.  He added 46 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries to defeat the defending Super Bowl champions in a game that surely pleased the hometown fans.

With the game summary completed, let’s turn our attention to the lovely Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders, who wore special country themed costumes for the game.  Click here to view the Titan’s game day gallery.

We continue our coverage of Week 4 of the NFL regular season with a visit to Southern California, where the San Francisco 49ers came calling to play the Los Angeles Chargers.  In a surprisingly tight game, the Los Angeles Chargers survived a tough match up to defeat the 49ers 29 – 27.  The 49ers were starting their back up QB C.J. Beathard after starter Jimmy Garappolo was lost for the season last week and Beathard acquitted himself well, throwing for 298 yards and 2 TDs.  But that impressive debut was not enough to hold off the Chargers, who were led my veteran signal caller Philip Rivers and RB Melvin Gordon.

It was another hot day in Southern California with temperatures nearing 90 degrees, but things were not as hot as on the sidelines where the Charger Girls were performing.  Click here to view the Chargers game day gallery of images.

 

We kick off our coverage of Week 4 of the NFL regular season with another high scoring game, this time a nationally televised Thursday night game between the visiting Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams. Considered the favorites to make the Super Bowl for the NFC, the Rams and Vikings were mirror images of each other, teams with strong defenses and dynamic offensives. Well maybe they both teams had strong offenses, but their defenses…weren’t exactly stout as they gave up a combined 1002 net yards and 69 points.

If you liked scoring, this game was for you. Rams QB Jared Goff threw for a career high 465 yards and 5 TDs, connecting on scoring strikes to four different receivers. Vikings signal caller Kirk Cousins was nearly as proficient, finishing with 422 yards and 3 TDs. And as close as this game was, the Rams were a little better. Rams win, 38 – 31.

It was throwback uniform week for the Rams and their the Rams Cheerleaders wore some colorful uniforms to celebrate the occasion. Click here to view a large gallery of images from the game.