Week 5 in the NFL season certainly had some memorable games: The Chargers handing Denver its worst home loss since 1966 with a 41-3 pasting.
The Bears rallying from a 10-point deficit and winning at Lambeau Field to knock the Packers from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Last but certainly not least, the Cowboys' incredible come-from-behind win Monday night in Buffalo, one of the best endings to a game you'll ever see.
But we're here to talk about the quarterback carousel of Week 5.
First off, we start in Arizona, where a QB controversy had been brewing but now would seem to have a resolution. Matt Leinart, the starter, fractured his collarbone on a sack by St. Louis linebacker Will Witherspoon in the second quarter of Arizona's 34-31 victory against the Rams. Leinart will miss 6-8 weeks, and Kurt Warner takes over as the full-time starter.
Warner had been coming in for a few series the past few games to give defenses a different look. In fact, you can expect the Cards to run much more no-huddle with Warner in there now.
"Where I feel comfortable is when we spread 'em out and force the defense's hand," Warner said. "We've shown in the first five weeks we can be very successful that way."
There is no line yet listed on WagerWeb.com for the Cardinals' home game Sunday against Carolina because ...
Carolina lost its starting quarterback officially for the season, as Jake Delhomme will have elbow surgery.
While that wasn't a complete surprise, the problem is that backup David Carr suffered a back injury (Panters injury report) in Sunday's win against the Saints.
Carolina coach John Fox said that an update on Carr's status will come Wednesday. Carr said on Sunday that he had never experienced so much pain, and he expected to be sore for days to come. He returned to the game after taking a shot of pain-killer and other medication.
If Carr can't go, Matt Moore would get the start. Fox said he had confidence in Moore, who led the Panthers to a field goal on his only series against the Saints, should Carr be limited at Arizona.Sunday's worst-looking injury occurred when Dolphins QB Trent Green suffered a Grade 3 concussion- the most severe- while blocking against Houston.
Green is definitely out this week, and his career might even be over. Green has struggled this year, and he was traded from the Chiefs because he suffered a series concussion last year.
Cleo Lemon will start Sunday at Cleveland, with the Browns 4.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com. Lemon played most of the game Sunday in Houston in relief of Green, throwing for 151 yards with one interception in a 22-19 loss that left Miami 0-5.
"It's time for me to step up and lead this team in a manner where we can get our first win of the season," said Lemon, who is in his third season with Miami.
Rookie QB John Beck is probably only a game or two away from taking this job over.
On to Kansas City, where starter Damon Huard was injured in the Chiefs' 17-7 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday. Huard suffered what is being called a shoulder contusion against the Jaguars. Brodie Croyle, who was expected to be the starter this year until he played poorly in the preseason, came into the game in the fourth quarter and led a last-minute touchdown drive.
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said he wouldn't know until Wednesday whether Huard could go this week, but Croyle will start Sunday against the Bengals, the Kansas City Star is reporting. K.C. is a 3-point home underdog to Cincinnati on WagerWeb.com.
This is as good a time as any if they call my number," Croyle said. "You can't pick your time. If this is the week, this is the week. You can't start getting picky and start wishing we were rolling right now. It is what it is."
In Atlanta, Joey Harrington was benched in the fourth quarter of a loss to Tennessee and replaced by Byron Leftwich. Harrington was yanked after completing 16 of 31 passes for 87 yards. Leftwich was even worse, completing just 2 of 8 for 28 yards and tossing a crucial interception.
However, Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said Monday that he won't make Leftwich the starter- yet. You can bet this is only a matter of time, basically until Leftwich learns the offense. Atlanta is a 3-point home underdog on WagerWeb.com for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Finally, in New York, embattled QB Chad Pennington threw three interceptions against the Giants as the Jets fell to 1-4. Two of those fourth-quarter picks were converted into 14 points by the G-Men.
The call for backup Kellen Clemens is loud in the Big Apple, but Jets coach Eric Mangini, who has been steadfast in his public support of Pennington since Pennington came back last year from his second shoulder operation to reclaim his starting job, said, "Chad is our starting quarterback."
Again, you can bet this switch is also just a matter of time. The Jets are 3-point home underdogs to the Eagles for Sunday's game on WagerWeb.com.
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