NFL 2010 Week 3 Review: Vikings Pillage Lions, Cowboys Crush Texans

We pummeled the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings last week saying they needed an immediately wake up call to save their respective seasons.

The Vikings (1-2) broke into the win column with a victory over the Detroit Lions (0-3) but hardly looked like Championship caliber in the process.

The Cowboys (1-2) won the “Battle of Texas” as they rocked the Houston Texans (2-1) and handed them their first loss of the season.

Vikings Purple Jesus Runs Wild – Lions Turn Clawless – Final: 24-10

Everyone was waiting for Vikings All World running back Adrian Peterson to have “one of those days”. That day happened in Week Three as he ripped the Lions for 160 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.

After that though the Vikings looked ordinary as QB Brett Favre looks like he is still in retirement, Sydney Rice is still MIA with his hip injury and no one is stepping up to make big plays after AP. The Minnesota defense is still playing well but will have to step it up some to contend with a serious NFL offense down the road.

This was probably the most disappointing of the Lions three losses because they may have also lost super rookie RB Jahvid Best who is dealing with turf toe. It may not seem like a big deal but coming back from and then staying away from a flare up of turf toe is not easy.

QB Shaun Hill continues his mediocre climb to mediocrity as he was forced to the air 43 times. He was able to complete 29 of the passes for 237 yards and a touchdown but he also threw two inceptions.

Everyone is still waiting on Lions WR Calvin Johnson to have “one of those days” but it will be a tall order against the Packers pass defense in Week Four. The Vikings will dock the ship and try to find a fountain of youth for Favre during their Week Four Bye.

Cowboys Win The Battle Of Texas – Texans Easy Prey – Final: 27-13

We were very high on the Texans and very low on the Cowboys but the desperate team won out over the confident team in this one. The Dallas Cowboys headed south to Houston and handed the Texans their first loss of the season.

What was billed as a battle between WR Miles Austin and WR Andre Johnson failed to live up to the hype. Johnson had four catches for 64 yards and Austin was worse with just two catches for 20 yards.

Dallas QB Tony Romo (23/30 284 PY 2 TD 0 INT)  got the better of Houston QB Matt Schaub (23/32 241 PY 1 TD 2 INT) as the Texans committed three turnovers and the Cowboys played turnover free football. Roy E. Williams was the game star for the Cowboys as the veteran receiver snagged five passes for 117 and two touchdowns.

The Texans leaned on RB Arian Foster again this weekend and the sophomore is now leading the NFL in rushing with 408 yards. Foster posted a respectable 126 total yards but was held out of the en zone and lost a key fourth quarter fumble that the Cowboys turned in to field goal to put the game away.

Dallas heads into their Bye Week on a high but may be prolonging the agony as the coaching staff remains in tact for at least two more weeks with the win. That is NOT good news for the Cowboys.

The Texans meanwhile travel to the “Black Hole” in Oakland wondering what just hit them to meet the Raiders in Week 4. They better get back on track fast because the Raiders are starting to show signs of life on offense.