FANTASY FURNACE

Texans win the game- but lose another QB… 

Another winning week for the furnace! We went 4-1 for the second week in a row and are now officially on a ‘hot’ streak! Our first win of the day was Houston. The Texans beat the Jaguars 20-13  but it came with a price- another quarterback injury. The Texans are now all out of ‘Matts’, having lost Schaub and Leinart. It was their defense, however that enabled the Texans to win their fifth straight game, allowing only 255 total yards of  offense to the Jags. Question is, how many more injuries can Houston sustain on their road to the AFC south title? (Don’t be surprised if Brett Farve’s name comes up as a QB option by coach Gary Kubiak)…

3rd string Texans QB T.J. Yates hopes his #13 will be lucky...Photo: Matt Stamey/US Presswire

Jets didn’t win-The Bills lost…

In the ugliest game of our five picks, the N.Y. Jets miraculously pulled out a 28-24 win over the free-falling Buffalo Bills at Met Life Stadium. The Bills had several chances to pull off the upset but blew it each time. First on a pass to WR Brad Smith and then on a drop by WR Stevie Johnson. Mark Sanchez had four touchdown passes and at one point during the game, they actually put the following tidbit of information across the screen, “Mark Sanchez has just become the first Jets quarterback since Brett Favre to throw four touchdown passes in one game.” Really? Last time we checked, Sanchez is the ONLY qurterback to play on the Jets since Brett Favre!!

Bills WR Stevie Johnson mocks Plaxico Burress after scoring a TD. He received a 15 yard penalty and along with his dropped pass, hurt his team's chances of winning. Photo: Bill Kostroun

Colts shoulda, woulda, coulda beat the Panthers-but didn’t…

This was probably the Colts’ best chance to get their first win of the season. Even QB Curtis Painter threw for 18 more yards than QB Cam Newton, but the difference and the game, was lost because Painter had 2 interceptions and Cam had none. In fact Painter’s last pick came with the Colts on on the Panther’s 3 yard line with an excellent opportunity to force the game into overtime. But it wasn’t to be…Now the Colts have to deal with New England and Baltimore in their next two games. As Al Michaels would say, ” Do you believe in miracles?”

Colts QB Curtis Painter has that empty feeling following one of his two interceptions vs the Panthers. Photo: Brian Spurlock/US Presswire

Tim Tebow & the Broncos win in ‘Tebovertime’…

In this our fourth win of the day, we predicted that Tebow would be 5-1 as a starter this year after this game, and now he is. It wasn’t easy, as always, but he continues to amaze all the most ardent of non-believers with every game. We mentioned that RB Willis McGahee had run for 125 yards in the Broncos last meeting with the Chargers and he almost matched that with his 117 yards yesterday. Rivers and the Bolts continue their fall from grace with their sixth consecutive loss in a row and thus have virtually taken themselves out of any post season action.

Chargers QB Phillip Rivers had another mediocre day throwing for only 188 yards vs the Broncos. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel/US Presswire

Redskins end slide at six-23-17 over Seahawks…

Our only loss this week saw the usually strong defensive minded Seahawks lose on a Redskin interception by DeAngelo Hall on a Tavaris Jackson pass intended for Golden Tate (sounds like crispy potato..) with just under a minute to go in the fourth quarter. The two players we said to watch in this one did not disappoint; TE Fred Davis had 4 receptions for 58 yards and a score and on the ‘Hawks, RB Marshawn Lynch had 131 all purpose yards and a TD. The Seahawks will stay in Seattle and take on the 4-7 Eagles this week followed by the 2-9 Rams, both winable games making the loss to the ‘Skins a huge missed opportunity.

RB Marshawn Lynch had a great day vs the Redskins but it wasn't enough. Photo: Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

*Last week    4-1

**Season      34-21