The Cleveland Browns kicker Dawson’s potential game-tying 51-yard field goal hit the upright. Then, it seemed to tap the crossbar before it bounced back onto the field. Several of the Cleveland Browns players insisted Dawson’s kick hit the curved center support behind the crossbar. The players went to the end zone, pointing at the spot where the football struck before it finally bounced back. It turned out to be true. The officials discussed the situation for about 5 minutes before ruling the kick went beyond the crossbar and through the uprights. After that, the Cleveland Browns took the kickoff in overtime and drove forty-three yards in 9 plays before Dawson kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Browns a 33-30 win.

For the Vikings, it is a matter of pick your poison. After Oakland invades the Metrodome on Sunday, Minnesota’s fan base will see 2 quarterbacks with whom they have good familiarity, and to whom they would not relish losing. The 1st one is McCown. He ripped the hearts out of the Purple Nation while with Arizona back on December 29, 2003. The 2^nd one is Daunte Culpepper, who made three Pro Bowls as a member of Minnesota from 1999 through 2005 before the departure that culminated in a trade to the Miami Dolphins prior before 2005 season.

Although both teams have denied any connection to him, a personal trainer in the Dallas area who shipped performance-enhancing drugs said he had ties to players on the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. David Jacobs pleaded guilty in United States District Court, signing a statement in which he said he was responsible for distributing 40 thousand units of anabolic steroids and several thousand units of human growth hormone.

Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt found the old magic, teaming with Marc Bulger to give previously winless Rams a surprising 37-29 victory over the Saints, who had not lost in a month. Marc Bulger finished with 302 yards and short touchdown passes to Isaac Bruce and Drew Bennett. Steven Jackson, who was recovering from a back injury, rushed for a short touchdown and threw a 2-yard halfback pass to Randy McMichael for a score.

Among NFL stories that could never be missed, one probably at the top of the list is the annual look back to the undefeated Dolphins of 1972.

Every time some club gets 6 or 7 games unbeaten into a season, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are dredged up. They have been dining out on this for thirty-five seasons and enough already.

Every generation of NFL fans wants to see history made on his watch. We want the thrills here and now, but not in the past or uncertain future. However, we get quite a few as most records are made to be broken. Apparently, some records simply cannot be surpassed because of fundamental changes in the game. Nobody can even threaten Cy Young’s 511 victories or Glenn Hall’s 502 consecutive games by a goalie. It can’t happen today and this age, and we know it and that is fine.

But what about an undefeated season? Other than those who hate the New England Patriots, for whatever reason, is there anyone who doesn’t want to see it? The legendary Jack Nicklaus’s greatness can never be diminished, but we are hoping to witness Tiger Woods winning his nineteenth major. In sports, we are waiting for a new story to witness and 19-0 New Endlang Patriots, or Tiger Woods reaching nineteen majors is a truly big story.

The whole business of the 1972 Miami Dolphins resurfaced this week after Shula, who coached the team, was quoted as churlishly suggesting an unbeaten season might require an asterisk because of the National Football League punishment for the New England Patriot rule-breaking in “Spygate” earlier this year.

Cincinnati running back Chris Perry, a potential big-player performer, who has started each of the past 2 seasons on the physically unable to perform list, returned to practice yesterday for the 1st time since last November. The Cincinnati Bengals now have 3 weeks to evaluate his progress. Chris Perry, the team’s 1st-round choice in the 2004 draft, has undergone 2 surgeries to address a dislocated ankle suffered last November during a match against the Cleveland Browns.

Just once we’d like to see Bill Belichick admit that he has been running up the score for many weeks to stick it to the people calling him out during Spygate. Just once we’d like him to comment on the notion that this New England team might be the best in the League history, might just be the 1st unbeatable team in a quarter of a century years. New England is proud to have one of the best quarterbacks in the League in Tom Brady, one of the best wide receivers in Randy Moss, and many more. We all know the players. But what they gained last Sunday might be nearly as important. It is home field advantage in a potential AFC Championship game rematch with Indianapolis.

The entire Ravens roster gathered about twenty yards onto the field yesterday night for the pregame coin toss, glaring at the Steelers and looking as if they were threatening the type of bodily harm for which they are famous. Steelers linebacker Harrison said it looked like they wanted to rumble. Harrison authored what Pittsburgh coach Tomlin termed a “spectacular” overall outing in Steelers’ dominating 38-7 win. Pittsburgh, celebrating the franchise’s 75th anniversary and seeking a measure of revenge for their 2 losses to Baltimore last season, by a combined 58-7 count, took full advantage.

There were thirteen National Football League games on Sunday, however, the only one that we cared about was played in Indianapolis. Fortunately, it did not disappoint. Brady rallied New England from ten points down in the 4th quarter to knock off Indianapolis 24-20 and keep the Patriots as the only undefeated team in the League. New England’s defense sealed the deal, recovering a Manning fumble with 2:25 to go. Taking advantage of a 55-yard pass from Brady to Moss, New England trimmed the lead to 3 on a 3-yard touchdown reception by Welker. After Indianapolis punt, the Patriots drove right down the field again, ended the drive and the game, on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Faulk with 3:15 to play.

One of the brightest moments in the San Francisco 49ers’ fading season was yesterday’s announcement that their linebacker Willis was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October. Patrick Willis took the news as just another daily stride in the learning and building process of his professional baseball career, acknowledging that this honor is justification for his hard work and great performance. The player leads the NFL in tackles per game and has seventy-three in 7 games. Willis ranks 2nd in the NFL in total tackles. He is behind Barrett Ruud from Tampa Bay’s, who has seventy-eight in 8 matches.