Early November's High Notes

Darren McFadden's performance versus South Carolina on Saturday night was one for the ages. Setting an SEC single game rushing record with 321 yards, D-Mac literally rolled over a Gamecock's defense that didn't prove much of a challenge at all. Sprinkle in a TD throw to Robert Johnson, and you have to believe that McFadden has played his way right back to the fringes of the '07 Heisman Trophy race. More importantly for Arkansas is a three game win streak that has reinstalled some hope in the Razorback fan base. A trip to Tennesee looms this Saturday, then it's home for Mississippi State before the finale at Baton Rouge against LSU. It's no stretch to envision Arkansas at 8-3 overall, 4-3 in the SEC by the time of the game with the Tigers. But it will likely take a Razorback road triumph in that contest to springboard the Hogs into a New Year's Day bowl, and McFadden back into serious Heisman contention.... Meanwhile, former Oklahoma Sooner tailback Adrian Petersen set an NFL single game record with a 296 yard rushing performance for the Vikings against the Chargers. Currently on pace for a 2,000 yard season, Petersen is putting together one of the greatest rookie seasons of all time. And when you consider that Minnesota (much like Arkansas) has next to no passing game to speak of, the speedy tailback's numbers are even more impressive. Already one can see that Peterson and McFadden are the likely heir apparent superstar tailbacks at the next level for years to come....

Elsewhere, the story of NFL Week 9 was New England's 24-20 come-from-behind triumph over the Indianapolis Colts. Despite getting besieged by pass interference penalties, the Patriots rallied for two touchdowns in the final nine minutes, with Tom Brady overcoming a rare two interception performance to throw three more TDs (33 on the season now, for those of you keeping track at home). Roosevelt Colvin was a beast in the win at linebacker for New England, a team that now has a realistic shot at running the regular season slate. Tough games still loom against Baltimore, Pittsburgh and the Giants, but it's no stretch to think New England can get it done.

As for the likely AFC Championship game rematch that awaits these two teams, it's going to be another good one to watch, but probably tilted even more so to New England. Sure, I realize that neither WR Marvin Harrison or left tackle Tony Ugoh played in this game for Indy, but going on the road and playing well in bad weather has never been Peyton Manning's forte, and it's all but assured that he'll have to do that now just to get back to the Super Bowl....

The new Ridley Scott-directed film American Gangster is really good, if too violent. It also takes a lot of patience, at over two and a half hours. But it's good stuff, with Denzel Washington knocking them dead (literally) as a drug kingpin. Washington is always a tour de force on the screen and it's no different here, and the same can be said for Russell Crowe, who plays the cop out to get him. An all-time great film? Absolutely not. But it's a fun start to what should be a good holiday film season. My Grade: B+

-JAB