The day Trent Dilfer throws more touchdown passes than Warren Moon may indeed signal a changing of the guard among NFL quarterbacks.
The Buccaneers’ quarterback, the lowest-rated passer in the league among starters, has thrown only eight touchdown passes in two years. But three of them came Sunday against the Vikings and they were three more than Moon could manage.
A youth movement is afoot among NFL arms.
Steve McNair took over for injured Chris Chandler in Houston.
Ty Detmer took over for injured Rodney Peete in Philadelphia.
Craig Erickson took over for injured Dan Marino in Miami.
Kent Graham took over for ineffective Boomer Esiason in Arizona.
Tony Banks took over for ineffective Steve Walsh in St. Louis.
Elvis Grbac is pushing injured Steve Young in San Francisco.
In Buffalo, Todd Collins looks ready to take over for ineffective Jim Kelly, who sounded like one of Collins’ biggest supporters after taking the blame for Sunday’s loss to Miami.
“Maybe you should move on to something else,” Kelly said.
The NFL, sensitive to its reputation for aging quarterbacks, pointed out that seven under-30 quarterbacks had outstanding days two weekends ago–New England’s Drew Bledsoe, Jacksonville’s Mark Brunell, Buffalo’s Collins, Green Bay’s Brett Favre, Seattle’s John Friesz, San Francisco’s Grbac and Detroit’s Scott Mitchell.
The Vikings, struggling with 10, 14 and 13 points the last three weeks, are hearing rumblings that it’s time for Brad Johnson to take over for Moon, who will turn 40 next month. Johnson played a game and a half of the Vikings’ first two victories and looked good.
All the aforementioned new quarterbacks are younger than 30. Of the quarterbacks they have replaced or are threatening, only Walsh is younger than 30.
So what quarterbacks played well last weekend?
Oakland’s Jeff Hostetler, 35, threw four touchdown passes to beat Detroit.
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The Bears’ Dave Krieg, 38 next week, threw three.
Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomczak, 34 next week and going on 24, is 5-0 for the Steelers since coach Bill Cowher turned from 25-year-old Jim Miller.
And Denver’s John Elway, 36, enjoyed his bye week atop the AFC list of touchdown passes with 11.
NFC beast back: The NFC East, once the acknowledged king of NFL divisions, suddenly appears stronger overall than the NFC Central or West.
The defending world champion Cowboys are only 3-3, but have the No. 1 defense in the league and are celebrating the return of suspended receiver Michael Irvin.
The surprising Redskins are 5-1. Critics point out their victories have come against teams with a combined record of 8-24 and they have the Colts, Bills, Eagles, 49ers and Cowboys twice still to go.
The Eagles got to 4-2 by surviving the Giants.
The Cardinals, who put up a decent fight against the Cowboys, figure to play the spoiler role.
Ex-Bear alert: Albert Fontenot and Alonzo Spellman, the Bears’ starting defensive ends, have four sacks this season. Trace Armstrong and Richard Dent, the Bears’ former defensive ends, had 3 1/2 Sunday. Armstrong had 2 1/2 against Kelly in Buffalo. Dent had one against Baltimore’s Vinny Testaverde in Indianapolis.
Speaking of sacks: Cincinnati’s Jeff Blake, a young quarterback who is getting old fast, was sacked 10 times Sunday by the Steelers after saying during the week: “We’re not intimidated by anybody. If anything, they’re intimidated by us. That’s why they’re changing their coverages. Why do you think Houston didn’t blitz? They were scared of us.”
Later, Blake said, “I wasn’t talking about Pittsburgh. I was talking about other teams.”
A week ago, Blake said he knew Houston’s defense “like the back of my hand” shortly before the Oilers gave the Bengals the backs of their hands 30-27.