Week 3 of the 2013 NFL season was eventful and brought some surprise results wise as well as high scoring games for us viewers to savour. We shall recap my top three games of the week and sum up the other results around the league:
Green Bay Packers 30-34 Cincinnati Bengals
(1-2) (2-1)
Terence Newman helped the Cincinnati Bengals move on to 2-1 with a 58 yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the 4th quarter to seal the comeback win over the Green Bay Packers. The Bengals got off to a flying start when Giovani Bernard put them 7-0 up within the first six minutes of the game with a spectacular dive in to the end zone for his second touchdown of the season.
The running game really helped the Bengals early on as BenJarvus Green-Ellis helped his team capitalise on the Packers' special teams fumble just moments after the home team scored their first touchdown; The Bengals put up 14 points in 12 seconds. Bernard and Green-Ellis combined for 79 yards as well as the two touchdowns that put them up 14-0 early in the first quarter.
Turnovers then cost the Bengals as four straight drives resulting in a change of possession caused them to go in at halftime down 16-14. That was a silver lining for Green Bay after tight-end Jermichael Finley left the game early with a concussion. After putting up 14 more points, 30 unanswered, in the third quarter it appeared that his one may be over but when Andy Dalton hit AJ Green for the score late in the third it brought Cincinnati right back in it.
Aaron Rodgers ended the game with two interceptions meaning it was his first game since 2010 in which he threw more than one pick and it proved costly as after the second turnover the Bengals scored quickly again to bring themselves within three points with over 10 minutes left in regulation.
Newman's touchdown return came as a result of a forced fumble when Green Bay were looking to move the chains on 4th&inches but that turnover meant they trailed the Bengals by 4 points with less than four minutes on the clock. The Packers couldn't convert on a 4th&5 play which sealed their fate and saw them move to below .500 leaving at them after 1-2 after three games for the second year running. The Packers will be in a hurry to forget this defeat and have a bye next week before hosting the Detroit Lions in week 5 as they look to get their season back as track after falling two games behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North
Meanwhile quarterback Andy Dalton more than held his own against Aaron Rodgers and played his part in this Bengals victory which saw them move to 2-1. Dalton was efficient with 20 out of 28 passes completed for 235 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Cincinnati leads the AFC North after this big win but now need to prove they can keep grounded by going out and getting a win against the Browns next week with the team hoping to win their third straight game in a row.
Atlanta Falcons 23-27 Miami Dolphins
(1-2) (3-0)
This was the potential upset on the cards that I was personally certain of happening and I even predicted the Dolphins to win 27-24! After the first quarter though Miami were down 10-0 but Lamar Miller helped the offense come alive and the team finished the half behind by just three points, 13-10, with Daniel Thomas the scorer of the Dolphins lone first-half touchdown.
The Falcons came out for the second half all guns blazing and regained their two possession lead early on in the third quarter when Matt Ryan combined with Levine Toiolo on a play-action pass at the goal-line to put Atlanta up 20-10.
With divisional rivals the New Orleans Saints looking good the Falcons needed a win but so did the Dolphins considering that their divisional rivals the Patriots were also on a roll. With high stakes on the line so early in the season somebody needed to come up big and there was a big hit on special teams by Don Jones on Falcons returner Harry Douglas which forced a fumble and gave Miami the opportunity to tie things up.
On the resulting drive Ryan Tannehill threw to the left side of the end zone on an 18 yard touchdown play to Brian Hartline which made it 20-20. That set up a tense 4th quarter and the Falcons took the lead again early on within it with a Matt Bryant field-goal putting the pressure on the Dolphins once again.
The game winning drive by Miami couldn't have been tenser but it was very well executed with the team converting three times on third down and eventually scoring the winning touchdown with less than 40 seconds to go when Tannehill lopped a throw to the big rookie tight-end Dion Sims to put the Dolphins up by four.
Matt Ryan tried his best to help the Falcons pull off a very late win but was picked off on a 2&10 play but was picked off by Jimmy Wilson sealing the game for Miami and taking them to 3-0 for the first time since 2002. With the Falcons at 1-2 they find themselves two games behind New Orleans in the NFC South and need to get their season back on track to avoid falling even further behind the resurgent Saints but week 4 won't be easy as they host the undefeated Patriots.
As for Miami well there came up big in this match despite some key injuries and on offense quarterback Ryan Tannehill has built up a good rapport with his receivers which has been on display throughout the team's first three victories; Tannehill was 24/35 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. This game against Atlanta was definitely a benchmark with the win proving they can mix it with the better teams in the league but it is a long season and that is proven by the fact that they face fellow unbeaten team the New Orleans Saints 3-0 next week on Monday Night Football in what should be a great matchup.
Indianapolis Colts 27-7 San Francisco 49ers
(2-1) (1-2)
The Indianapolis Colts came up trumps on Sunday by frustrating the 49ers offense with their quarterback Colin Kaepernick being limited to 150 passing yards. Kaepernick also completed less than 50% of his pass attempts going 13/27 with an interception thrown and was also limited on rush attempts as he only managed 20 yards from 7 attempts.
The first half was close with the Colts going in to the break 10-7 up. The highlight of the first half for Indianapolis was that new acquisition Trent Richardson scored a touchdown on his first running attempt as a Colt.
Richardson and Bradshaw ran the ball well all day for the Colts and were crucial in ensuring that the team pulled off the surprise win at Candlestick Park. It is taking away credit from this Colts team by saying it is a surprise when you consider that this roster has lots of talent and new running back Richardson could turn Indianapolis in to a potential contender.
With just over 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter there were only six points in it with the Colts up 13-7 but that is when their offense came alive with Andrew Luck running in the end zone on a 3rd&3 play in the red-zone to put them 20-7 up. Then the Niners fumbled on the resulting drive on a 3rd&10 with less than 4 minutes left which gave the Colts the ball in a red-zone situation again with Ahmad Bradshaw finishing the quick drive off on 3rd&goal to make it 27-7.
Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 95 yards from 19 carries with Trent Richardson rushing for 35 from 13 and both had one score. The ground game really helped Andrew Luck and gave him the opportunities to put the Colts in scoring positions which effectively won them the game. Luck may not have thrown a touchdown pass but his rushing score came at a time which pretty much killed the game off and the second year QB completed 17 of his 26 pass attempts.
Credit must also go to the defence for limiting a talented Niners offense to just 7 points; they have scored just 10 points in the past two weeks after being blown away by the Seahawks in week 3. Two poor results leave the Niners 1-2 after three weeks and although it is early days this is unfamiliar territory for this San Francisco team.
They face divisional rivals the Rams on Thursday night who are also 1-2 as they look to bounce back and ensure they remain within touching distance of the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. As for the Colts well they bounced back well from their week 2 loss to Miami and moved above .500 ahead of a week 4 matchup with the 0-3 Jaguars. That road trip to Florida should be well enjoyed by the Colts as it looks all but certain that they will move to 3-1 whilst piling on the misery for Jacksonville.
Other week 3 results:
(3-0) Kansas City Chiefs 26-16 Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)
(0-3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-23 New England Patriots (3-0)
(2-1) Houston Texans 9-30 Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
(0-3) New York Giants 0-38 Carolina Panthers (1-2)
(1-2) St. Louis Rams 7-31 Dallas Cowboys (2-1)
(1-2) Cleveland Browns 31-27 Minnesota Vikings (0-3)
(1-2) Arizona Cardinals 7-31 New Orleans Saints (3-0)
(1-2) San Diego Chargers 17-20 Tennessee Titans (2-1)
(2-1) Detroit Lions 27-20 Washington Redskins (0-3)
(1-2) Buffalo Bills 20-27 New York Jets (2-1)
(0-3) Jacksonville Jaguars 17-45 Seattle Seahawks (3-0)
(3-0) Chicago Bears 40-23 Pittsburgh Steelers (0-3)
(1-2) Oakland Raiders 21-37 Denver Broncos (3-0)
Showing posts with label Miami Dolphins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miami Dolphins. Show all posts
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Saturday, 7 September 2013
AFC East Preview
Since the turn of the millennium the New England Patriots have won 10 out of 13 AFC East titles. The Patriots are the team to beat and have dominated the division as well as the NFL in the early 2000's when they won three Super Bowls in four years; 2001, 2003 and 2004. In 2012 New England broke a tie with the Dolphins for most
division titles; The Patriots have won 15 division titles to Miami's 14 with the Bills on ten and the Jets on four.
To decide which team is the greatest threat to New England's throne in the AFC East is tough and we will preview all four teams by taking a look at the Patriots' chances along with how the Jets, Bills and Dolphins will do to see if anyone can topple them:
Buffalo Bills
When you think about unlucky sports teams look no further than the Buffalo Bills. The team lost 4 Super Bowls in a row in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. To add further salt to their wounds the team currently has the longest playoff drought in the league as they have not appeared in the postseason since 1999. The doom and gloom has continued as the Bills also have the longest active streak of losing seasons as they have not finished .500 or better since 2004.
So how will the Bills perform in 2013? It is their first season under new head coach Doug Marrone and the Bills will start the new season with first round draft pick E.J. Manuel as the teams quarterback so to be honest their 2013 season will be based around his production. C.J. Spiller, Marquise Goodwin and T.J. Graham are all talented players on the Buffalo offense but it is going to be hard to have a successful season especially when their defense is getting a makeover as well.
Doug Marrone will entertain the fans with a fast run offense and their unpredictability may help them throughout the season but it is hard to see this team progressing further than 6-10 record wise. The Bills' main aim will be to keep Jarius Byrd on their roster as the pro bowl safety is being linked with a host of teams including divisional rivals the New England Patriots. Kyle Williams is probably the key player on the Buffalo defense as he has the versatility to play nose tackle and defensive tackle. On offense C.J. Spiller has the ability to win them close games but the question is how many of their games will be close enough for someone to step up and put W's in their column. 2013 is hard to predict for this franchise but their best hope will be to see a productive year out of E.J. Manuel and ensure they don't finish bottom of the AFC East for a 6th successive season.
Season prediction: 5-11. 4th in AFC East.
Miami Dolphins:
Head coach Joe Philbin was hired to in an attempt to revitalize the Dolphins and hopefully end a run of three consecutive losing seasons. Despite Dan Marino's best attempts Miami missed out on the signing of future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning so instead turned to the draft where they picked up former Texas A&M man Ryan Tannehill has the 8th overall pick. Tannehill had a productive 2012 as he helped the Dolphins finish 2nd in the AFC East with a 7-9 and went on to set franchise rookie records for passing yards, attempts, and completions.
Tannehill was hurt by the team's poor offensive line with the rookie throwing 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions; it is natural to assume he will progress in 2013 but O-line issues are hard to ignore. Nevertheless the Dolphins were the biggest spenders in the 2013 off-season and regardless of some weaknesses they have improved their team on both sides of the ball although usually the big spenders don't perform too well once it actually comes to game time. Brian Hartline signed a new deal with Miami after coming of his best career season whilst the Dolphins added an explosive weapon to their offense when they signed former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Mike Wallace. Despite his talents Wallace will need time to make an impact as this team gels together and the same can be said for the defense as despite some very good acquisitions such as linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler they will need time to adjust and grow as a unit. Cornerback Brent Grimes was also a good signing for the Dolphins who joined on a one year contract.
So in 2013 the Dolphins have a chance to end their losing season woes but it will come down to if they can come out victorious in the close games a 2012 saw them lose narrowly against the Cardinals, Jets, Bills and Colts. If they can improve on their divisional matchups they would like to think they have a shot at being a wildcard team but record wise I personally feel they are set to finish at 8-8 and 2nd in the AFC East for the second year running.
Season prediction: 8-8. 2nd in AFC East.
New England Patriots
Tom Brady heads in to 2013 season without key members of a prolific offense from last year which broke the record for first downs in a season with 444 and finished third all-time in scoring, 557 points, just behind the 2011 Green Bay Packers and their own 2007 record setting season. Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Lloyd have all departed while Rob Gronkowski underwent a 3rd and 4th forearm surgery this off-season as well as back surgery so his return to the field could take up until week 6 and he looks doubtful for the season opener against the Bills tomorrow.
The Patriots offense now features many new additions with most of them being rookies but preseason alone showed that Brady seems to be making it work with the likes of Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Zach Sudfeld. 2nd round pick Dobson has lots of potential are notably during his senior season at college he did no record a single drop from the 92 times he was targeted. Josh Boyce and Thompkins put up impressive numbers during preseason so they could be valuable assets whilst undrafted rookie Zach Sudfield who stands at 6'7 has the ability to be a Gronk 2.0. Speaking of 2.0's Danny Amendola was signed in favour of retaining Wes Welker's services and the Patriots will be hoping for similar results out of Amendola with both resilient along with being quick and mobile. Amendola is also a fellow Texas Tech product and after building up a good rapport with Tom Brady it is safe to say he should fit in to the Patriots' offensive system quickly. Brady has a knack for bringing the best out of his receivers which is a skill not many quarterbacks have and if he manages to produce great results out of this unknown group and win a 4th Super Bowl ring too he may certainly cement his place as the greatest QB to ever play the game. This is backed up by the fact that he holds the league record for most touchdown passes in the regular season with 50, has the most playoff wins in NFL history with 17, has the third highest career passer rating of all-time (96.6) and after breaking Joe Montana's playoff wins record also became the first NFL quarterback in history to guide his team to 10 divisional titles; With Joe Montana he's one of only two quarterbacks in history to win the regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP as well as being one of only two QB's to lead their teams to 5 Super Bowls (3 wins) along with John Elway.
When you take the fact that this offense is led by head coach Bill Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady even when you throw an unknown group of players in with them if anything it is scarier for their opponents as without the players who departed they won't know what to expect which is what still makes the Patriots a genuine Super Bowl contender. Their running game is dangerous and will improve whereas New England's defense doesn't get enough credit for the fact that they have finished in the top 10 in points allowed for six of the past seven years. After drafting the likes of linebacker Jamie Collins in the second round from the 2013 draft and adding him to a young talented group of players that include the likes of Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower as well as defensive leaders Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes this could be one of the Patriots' most talented defensive groups in years. With Aqib Talib signing a new contract he will be a real asset in the secondary and help this underrated defense improve in an area where they have been pretty vulnerable for the past two seasons. MetLife stadium is the aim for many teams for the 2013 season but when you assess the New England Patriots it is clear to see that they are one of the frontrunners to represent the AFC at Super Bowl and clinch a fifth consecutive AFC East title.
Season prediction: 12-4. 1st in AFC East.
New York Jets
Despite a defense that ranked 8th overall in the league the New York Jets failed considerably on offense and fell from an 8-8 team in 2011 to 6-10 in 2012. Their 281 points scored was the third worst total in the league ranking them 30th and despite not improving adding any real game changers to the offense they did draft Geno Smith who entered the 2013 draft out of West Virginia hoping to go in the first round before falling to the Jets in 2nd. With a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove Smith will want to hold on to the starting job that he has gained after Mark Sanchez got hurt during preseason. For many Jets fans they would consider this a blessing in disguise, something Tim Tebow wasn't fortunate enough to receive, as now Smith will lead the team in their week one opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Although Rex Ryan may not be the best head coach he is a good defensive coordinator so the Jets know they can rely on good defense especially when Ryan can be more aggressive with his play-calling considering that their offense is usually so abysmal. Smith has nothing to lose as he takes over a low scoring offense which was being led by a guy who will probably be remembered for the 'butt fumble' wherever he goes for the rest of his life.
But that was in the past and Jets followers will feel their defense gives them a chance in 2013 which it does providing the likes of Quiton Coples, DeMario Davis and Sheldon Richardson step up to the plate. Everyone on that side of the ball must come up big especially after Darelle Revis left for Tampa Bay. Unfortunately for the Jets there isn't too much you can say without sounding harsh so to finish I shall say that providing Geno Smith stays on the field who knows what could happen but realistically Rex Ryan will need an 8-8 season to hold on to his job and that is what they'll achieve at best but in all honesty after owner Woody Johnson sacked their former general manager Mike Tannenbaum after the 2012 campaign he should have done the same to Ryan because only when you start from absolute scratch can you hope to rebuild towards a better future.
Season prediction: 6-10. 3rd in AFC East.
To decide which team is the greatest threat to New England's throne in the AFC East is tough and we will preview all four teams by taking a look at the Patriots' chances along with how the Jets, Bills and Dolphins will do to see if anyone can topple them:
Buffalo Bills
When you think about unlucky sports teams look no further than the Buffalo Bills. The team lost 4 Super Bowls in a row in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. To add further salt to their wounds the team currently has the longest playoff drought in the league as they have not appeared in the postseason since 1999. The doom and gloom has continued as the Bills also have the longest active streak of losing seasons as they have not finished .500 or better since 2004.
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| CJ Spiller is one of the Bills top talents |
So how will the Bills perform in 2013? It is their first season under new head coach Doug Marrone and the Bills will start the new season with first round draft pick E.J. Manuel as the teams quarterback so to be honest their 2013 season will be based around his production. C.J. Spiller, Marquise Goodwin and T.J. Graham are all talented players on the Buffalo offense but it is going to be hard to have a successful season especially when their defense is getting a makeover as well.
Doug Marrone will entertain the fans with a fast run offense and their unpredictability may help them throughout the season but it is hard to see this team progressing further than 6-10 record wise. The Bills' main aim will be to keep Jarius Byrd on their roster as the pro bowl safety is being linked with a host of teams including divisional rivals the New England Patriots. Kyle Williams is probably the key player on the Buffalo defense as he has the versatility to play nose tackle and defensive tackle. On offense C.J. Spiller has the ability to win them close games but the question is how many of their games will be close enough for someone to step up and put W's in their column. 2013 is hard to predict for this franchise but their best hope will be to see a productive year out of E.J. Manuel and ensure they don't finish bottom of the AFC East for a 6th successive season.
Season prediction: 5-11. 4th in AFC East.
Miami Dolphins:
Head coach Joe Philbin was hired to in an attempt to revitalize the Dolphins and hopefully end a run of three consecutive losing seasons. Despite Dan Marino's best attempts Miami missed out on the signing of future hall of fame quarterback Peyton Manning so instead turned to the draft where they picked up former Texas A&M man Ryan Tannehill has the 8th overall pick. Tannehill had a productive 2012 as he helped the Dolphins finish 2nd in the AFC East with a 7-9 and went on to set franchise rookie records for passing yards, attempts, and completions.
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| Will Tannehill & the Dolphins progress in 2013? |
Tannehill was hurt by the team's poor offensive line with the rookie throwing 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions; it is natural to assume he will progress in 2013 but O-line issues are hard to ignore. Nevertheless the Dolphins were the biggest spenders in the 2013 off-season and regardless of some weaknesses they have improved their team on both sides of the ball although usually the big spenders don't perform too well once it actually comes to game time. Brian Hartline signed a new deal with Miami after coming of his best career season whilst the Dolphins added an explosive weapon to their offense when they signed former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Mike Wallace. Despite his talents Wallace will need time to make an impact as this team gels together and the same can be said for the defense as despite some very good acquisitions such as linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler they will need time to adjust and grow as a unit. Cornerback Brent Grimes was also a good signing for the Dolphins who joined on a one year contract.
So in 2013 the Dolphins have a chance to end their losing season woes but it will come down to if they can come out victorious in the close games a 2012 saw them lose narrowly against the Cardinals, Jets, Bills and Colts. If they can improve on their divisional matchups they would like to think they have a shot at being a wildcard team but record wise I personally feel they are set to finish at 8-8 and 2nd in the AFC East for the second year running.
Season prediction: 8-8. 2nd in AFC East.
New England Patriots
Tom Brady heads in to 2013 season without key members of a prolific offense from last year which broke the record for first downs in a season with 444 and finished third all-time in scoring, 557 points, just behind the 2011 Green Bay Packers and their own 2007 record setting season. Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Danny Woodhead and Brandon Lloyd have all departed while Rob Gronkowski underwent a 3rd and 4th forearm surgery this off-season as well as back surgery so his return to the field could take up until week 6 and he looks doubtful for the season opener against the Bills tomorrow.
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| Can Brady and Belichick guide the Pats to their 4th ring? |
The Patriots offense now features many new additions with most of them being rookies but preseason alone showed that Brady seems to be making it work with the likes of Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Zach Sudfeld. 2nd round pick Dobson has lots of potential are notably during his senior season at college he did no record a single drop from the 92 times he was targeted. Josh Boyce and Thompkins put up impressive numbers during preseason so they could be valuable assets whilst undrafted rookie Zach Sudfield who stands at 6'7 has the ability to be a Gronk 2.0. Speaking of 2.0's Danny Amendola was signed in favour of retaining Wes Welker's services and the Patriots will be hoping for similar results out of Amendola with both resilient along with being quick and mobile. Amendola is also a fellow Texas Tech product and after building up a good rapport with Tom Brady it is safe to say he should fit in to the Patriots' offensive system quickly. Brady has a knack for bringing the best out of his receivers which is a skill not many quarterbacks have and if he manages to produce great results out of this unknown group and win a 4th Super Bowl ring too he may certainly cement his place as the greatest QB to ever play the game. This is backed up by the fact that he holds the league record for most touchdown passes in the regular season with 50, has the most playoff wins in NFL history with 17, has the third highest career passer rating of all-time (96.6) and after breaking Joe Montana's playoff wins record also became the first NFL quarterback in history to guide his team to 10 divisional titles; With Joe Montana he's one of only two quarterbacks in history to win the regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP as well as being one of only two QB's to lead their teams to 5 Super Bowls (3 wins) along with John Elway.
When you take the fact that this offense is led by head coach Bill Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady even when you throw an unknown group of players in with them if anything it is scarier for their opponents as without the players who departed they won't know what to expect which is what still makes the Patriots a genuine Super Bowl contender. Their running game is dangerous and will improve whereas New England's defense doesn't get enough credit for the fact that they have finished in the top 10 in points allowed for six of the past seven years. After drafting the likes of linebacker Jamie Collins in the second round from the 2013 draft and adding him to a young talented group of players that include the likes of Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower as well as defensive leaders Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes this could be one of the Patriots' most talented defensive groups in years. With Aqib Talib signing a new contract he will be a real asset in the secondary and help this underrated defense improve in an area where they have been pretty vulnerable for the past two seasons. MetLife stadium is the aim for many teams for the 2013 season but when you assess the New England Patriots it is clear to see that they are one of the frontrunners to represent the AFC at Super Bowl and clinch a fifth consecutive AFC East title.
Season prediction: 12-4. 1st in AFC East.
New York Jets
Despite a defense that ranked 8th overall in the league the New York Jets failed considerably on offense and fell from an 8-8 team in 2011 to 6-10 in 2012. Their 281 points scored was the third worst total in the league ranking them 30th and despite not improving adding any real game changers to the offense they did draft Geno Smith who entered the 2013 draft out of West Virginia hoping to go in the first round before falling to the Jets in 2nd. With a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove Smith will want to hold on to the starting job that he has gained after Mark Sanchez got hurt during preseason. For many Jets fans they would consider this a blessing in disguise, something Tim Tebow wasn't fortunate enough to receive, as now Smith will lead the team in their week one opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Although Rex Ryan may not be the best head coach he is a good defensive coordinator so the Jets know they can rely on good defense especially when Ryan can be more aggressive with his play-calling considering that their offense is usually so abysmal. Smith has nothing to lose as he takes over a low scoring offense which was being led by a guy who will probably be remembered for the 'butt fumble' wherever he goes for the rest of his life.
But that was in the past and Jets followers will feel their defense gives them a chance in 2013 which it does providing the likes of Quiton Coples, DeMario Davis and Sheldon Richardson step up to the plate. Everyone on that side of the ball must come up big especially after Darelle Revis left for Tampa Bay. Unfortunately for the Jets there isn't too much you can say without sounding harsh so to finish I shall say that providing Geno Smith stays on the field who knows what could happen but realistically Rex Ryan will need an 8-8 season to hold on to his job and that is what they'll achieve at best but in all honesty after owner Woody Johnson sacked their former general manager Mike Tannenbaum after the 2012 campaign he should have done the same to Ryan because only when you start from absolute scratch can you hope to rebuild towards a better future.
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| FUMBLE! |
Season prediction: 6-10. 3rd in AFC East.
Thursday, 8 November 2012
NFL Week 9.
Week 9 saw the NFL move in to the second half of the season. This week saw
brought us many close games with each team trying to press on and gain momentum
now that the post-season is in sight. This week we’ll take a look at some teams
that haven’t been reviewed as much in the past few weeks as I look to mix it up
a little.
Chicago Bears (7-1-0) 51-20 (3-6-0) Tennessee Titans
The Chicago Bears maintained control of the NFC North with a blowout win over the Titans. The Bears were outstanding on both sides of the ball and even led their opponents 31-5 at halftime.
Chicago hasn’t lost since their week 2 setback in Green Bay and will hope to continue this fine run of form in order to clinch the divisional crown over the Packers.
It was a long day for Tennessee from the start as literally the first play of the game saw them turn the football over when Bears cornerback Charles Tillman forced a fumble by hitting receiver Kenny Britt in the middle of the field.
Chicago’s defense was at it again early in the first quarter when Corey Wootton managed to score a defensive touchdown following a blocked punt to get the scoring rolling.
Overall the Bears defense forced five turnovers in this huge win as they showed why they are championship calibre especially when they possess the likes of Brian Urlacher who returned an interception for a touchdown in the win and Charles Tillman who forced an amazing four fumbles in the game.
When the season began everyone knew that this team’s defense could and most likely would come up big but it was on offense were questions were being asked but thankfully for all those associated with the Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his offense have helped this team rally to a 7-1 record at the halfway point of their schedule.
Cutler himself was efficient on the day as he completed 19 passes out of 26 attempts for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns in one of his best performances of the season. His buddy Brandon Marshall was the man who hauled in all three of those touchdown passes as he managed 122 receiving yards off 9 receptions.
Matt Forte also got the Bears run game going as he ran in for a score in the first quarter and racked up over 100 yards on the day.
As for the Titans well they didn’t have much to celebrate as they slumped to 3-6 meaning that their season is over in regards to the playoffs although Chris Johnson did manage to pull off a 80 yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
The defeat leaves owner Bud Adams with plenty to stew over following his team’s poor performances with many questions now being asked about the future of many of those in Tennessee.
The Titans will now travel to Sun Life Stadium to take on the Dolphins in week 10. Meanwhile the highflying Bears have a huge game at home against the Houston Texans who are also 7-1 on the season as the two match up on Sunday Night football with both needing a win as they look to try and cement the first seed in their respective conferences.
Miami Dolphins (4-4-0) 20-23 Indianapolis Colts (5-3-0)
This game saw the battle of the two rookies as Ryan Tannehill and Andrew Luck lock horns with the two bidding to move their respective teams forward in hope of reaching the playoffs.
Come the end of the this week’s games it was revealed that the winner would currently hold the 6th seed in the AFC following the first half of the campaign and it was the Colts who managed to come out on top by 3 in a very close one at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Andrew Luck put in another fantastic performance in what is turning out to be an amazing rookie year for the number one overall pick. He threw for an NFL rookie-record 433 yards as the Colts earned a 23-20 victory over the Dolphins.
Neither team was expected to be over .500 heading in to week 9 of the NFL season especially with rookie quarterbacks at the helm but both have defied the odds. The Colts are now looking to go to 6-3 when they take on AFC South rivals the Jaguars on Thursday as they look to keep up the pressure on the Texans as well as the other AFC playoff hopefuls.
Miami are not done and dusted as this loss snapped a three game winning streak so Tannehill and co will look to get back to basics and more importantly winning ways when the Dolphins take on the Titans at home in week 10.
As for this game well it will go down as one of the memorable ones of the season especially for Indianapolis if it helps give them the momentum to go on and make the post-season. Andrew Luck’s passing skills continue to improve and he completed 30 out of 48 passing attempts on the day.
Luck managed throw a pair of touchdowns and on the day completed many crucial third downs, 204 yards overall on third down plays. Along with that he made some big plays down field to his receivers with one of his touchdown passes going to T.Y. Hilton for 36 yards.
Reggie Wayne was the man who hauled in the young quarterback’s other touchdown pass as this Colts offense once again showed that they know how to get the job done. Wayne himself leads the league in receiving yards with 835 yards and Luck is in the top 5 quarterbacks for passing yards along with Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Drew Brees.
Ryan Tannehill threw for 290 yards and a touchdown but Miami literally fell short in this one as they were a yard from moving the chains on fourth down meaning that the Colts sealed the win.
It was a great day for Indianapolis who once again played with heart and determination in front of an emotional home crowd as head coach Chuck Pagano was in attendance as he continues his treatment for leukaemia.
Adam Vinatieri’s 43 yard game winning field goal means that Andrew Luck has now led five fourth quarter or overtime game-winning drives in his first 8 games as an NFL quarterback and this win means the Colts have now won 3 in a row.
Minnesota Vikings (5-4-0) 20-30 Seattle Seahawks (5-4-0)
This week 9 matchup also paired two young quarterbacks against each other as rookie Russell Wilson took on sophomore Christian Ponder with them battling it out in a close one at CenturyLink Field.
Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have performed well this season but with a top quality defense it isn’t as surprising as Minnesota’s success as they are also 5-4 after 9 games. Both teams are competing in tough NFC divisions and both will look to push on in their next 7 games as they look to try and reach the post-season.
As for this game well it was Seattle who came out on top as Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, 173 yards, to lead them to a 30-20 win at home. The Seahawks are unbeaten at home and have another game at CenturyLink Field to look forward to when they host the Jets in Week 10.
This game also saw two of the best running backs in the NFL go head to head. Adrian Peterson is back to his old self for the Vikings this year and racked up 182 yards on the day as well as two touchdowns. It was AP who got the scoring going in this one by giving Minnesota a 7-0 lead early in the first.
His second touchdown came early in the second quarter and tied the game at 14-14 following two Seattle passing touchdowns. Wilson connected with Golden Tate on a 6 yard pass and former Viking Sidney Rice on an 11 yard play.
A Blair Walsh field goal appeared to give the road team a 3 point lead at the half but with 44 seconds to go in the first half Russell Wilson connected with Tate again to give the Seahawks a 21-17 lead at the break.
On this day Marshawn Lynch may not have rushed for as many yards as Adrian Peterson but Lynch was the one on the winning team as he rushed for 124 yards and a score. His touchdown came with just over 4 minutes to go in the third and put Seattle up by 10.
A deep 55 yard field goal by Vikings rookie kicker Walsh put them within 7 but Seattle scored a field goal midway through the fourth and ended up winning this one by 10. Vikings quarterback Ponder had a disappointing day as he completed just 50% of his passes for only 63 yards and also threw a pick.
Minnesota now has a huge matchup in week 10 ahead of them as they look to bounce back from this loss when they take on the resurgent Detroit Lions in a clash between 3rd and 4th in the NFC North. Despite their standings within a very competitive division both teams have a shot at the playoffs if they can put a run together so Sunday’s matchup could be crucial come the end of the season.
Chicago Bears (7-1-0) 51-20 (3-6-0) Tennessee Titans
The Chicago Bears maintained control of the NFC North with a blowout win over the Titans. The Bears were outstanding on both sides of the ball and even led their opponents 31-5 at halftime.
Chicago hasn’t lost since their week 2 setback in Green Bay and will hope to continue this fine run of form in order to clinch the divisional crown over the Packers.
It was a long day for Tennessee from the start as literally the first play of the game saw them turn the football over when Bears cornerback Charles Tillman forced a fumble by hitting receiver Kenny Britt in the middle of the field.
Chicago’s defense was at it again early in the first quarter when Corey Wootton managed to score a defensive touchdown following a blocked punt to get the scoring rolling.
Overall the Bears defense forced five turnovers in this huge win as they showed why they are championship calibre especially when they possess the likes of Brian Urlacher who returned an interception for a touchdown in the win and Charles Tillman who forced an amazing four fumbles in the game.
When the season began everyone knew that this team’s defense could and most likely would come up big but it was on offense were questions were being asked but thankfully for all those associated with the Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his offense have helped this team rally to a 7-1 record at the halfway point of their schedule.
Cutler himself was efficient on the day as he completed 19 passes out of 26 attempts for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns in one of his best performances of the season. His buddy Brandon Marshall was the man who hauled in all three of those touchdown passes as he managed 122 receiving yards off 9 receptions.
Matt Forte also got the Bears run game going as he ran in for a score in the first quarter and racked up over 100 yards on the day.
As for the Titans well they didn’t have much to celebrate as they slumped to 3-6 meaning that their season is over in regards to the playoffs although Chris Johnson did manage to pull off a 80 yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
The defeat leaves owner Bud Adams with plenty to stew over following his team’s poor performances with many questions now being asked about the future of many of those in Tennessee.
The Titans will now travel to Sun Life Stadium to take on the Dolphins in week 10. Meanwhile the highflying Bears have a huge game at home against the Houston Texans who are also 7-1 on the season as the two match up on Sunday Night football with both needing a win as they look to try and cement the first seed in their respective conferences.
Miami Dolphins (4-4-0) 20-23 Indianapolis Colts (5-3-0)
This game saw the battle of the two rookies as Ryan Tannehill and Andrew Luck lock horns with the two bidding to move their respective teams forward in hope of reaching the playoffs.
Come the end of the this week’s games it was revealed that the winner would currently hold the 6th seed in the AFC following the first half of the campaign and it was the Colts who managed to come out on top by 3 in a very close one at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Andrew Luck put in another fantastic performance in what is turning out to be an amazing rookie year for the number one overall pick. He threw for an NFL rookie-record 433 yards as the Colts earned a 23-20 victory over the Dolphins.
Neither team was expected to be over .500 heading in to week 9 of the NFL season especially with rookie quarterbacks at the helm but both have defied the odds. The Colts are now looking to go to 6-3 when they take on AFC South rivals the Jaguars on Thursday as they look to keep up the pressure on the Texans as well as the other AFC playoff hopefuls.
Miami are not done and dusted as this loss snapped a three game winning streak so Tannehill and co will look to get back to basics and more importantly winning ways when the Dolphins take on the Titans at home in week 10.
As for this game well it will go down as one of the memorable ones of the season especially for Indianapolis if it helps give them the momentum to go on and make the post-season. Andrew Luck’s passing skills continue to improve and he completed 30 out of 48 passing attempts on the day.
Luck managed throw a pair of touchdowns and on the day completed many crucial third downs, 204 yards overall on third down plays. Along with that he made some big plays down field to his receivers with one of his touchdown passes going to T.Y. Hilton for 36 yards.
Reggie Wayne was the man who hauled in the young quarterback’s other touchdown pass as this Colts offense once again showed that they know how to get the job done. Wayne himself leads the league in receiving yards with 835 yards and Luck is in the top 5 quarterbacks for passing yards along with Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Drew Brees.
Ryan Tannehill threw for 290 yards and a touchdown but Miami literally fell short in this one as they were a yard from moving the chains on fourth down meaning that the Colts sealed the win.
It was a great day for Indianapolis who once again played with heart and determination in front of an emotional home crowd as head coach Chuck Pagano was in attendance as he continues his treatment for leukaemia.
Adam Vinatieri’s 43 yard game winning field goal means that Andrew Luck has now led five fourth quarter or overtime game-winning drives in his first 8 games as an NFL quarterback and this win means the Colts have now won 3 in a row.
Minnesota Vikings (5-4-0) 20-30 Seattle Seahawks (5-4-0)
This week 9 matchup also paired two young quarterbacks against each other as rookie Russell Wilson took on sophomore Christian Ponder with them battling it out in a close one at CenturyLink Field.
Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have performed well this season but with a top quality defense it isn’t as surprising as Minnesota’s success as they are also 5-4 after 9 games. Both teams are competing in tough NFC divisions and both will look to push on in their next 7 games as they look to try and reach the post-season.
As for this game well it was Seattle who came out on top as Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, 173 yards, to lead them to a 30-20 win at home. The Seahawks are unbeaten at home and have another game at CenturyLink Field to look forward to when they host the Jets in Week 10.
This game also saw two of the best running backs in the NFL go head to head. Adrian Peterson is back to his old self for the Vikings this year and racked up 182 yards on the day as well as two touchdowns. It was AP who got the scoring going in this one by giving Minnesota a 7-0 lead early in the first.
His second touchdown came early in the second quarter and tied the game at 14-14 following two Seattle passing touchdowns. Wilson connected with Golden Tate on a 6 yard pass and former Viking Sidney Rice on an 11 yard play.
A Blair Walsh field goal appeared to give the road team a 3 point lead at the half but with 44 seconds to go in the first half Russell Wilson connected with Tate again to give the Seahawks a 21-17 lead at the break.
On this day Marshawn Lynch may not have rushed for as many yards as Adrian Peterson but Lynch was the one on the winning team as he rushed for 124 yards and a score. His touchdown came with just over 4 minutes to go in the third and put Seattle up by 10.
A deep 55 yard field goal by Vikings rookie kicker Walsh put them within 7 but Seattle scored a field goal midway through the fourth and ended up winning this one by 10. Vikings quarterback Ponder had a disappointing day as he completed just 50% of his passes for only 63 yards and also threw a pick.
Minnesota now has a huge matchup in week 10 ahead of them as they look to bounce back from this loss when they take on the resurgent Detroit Lions in a clash between 3rd and 4th in the NFC North. Despite their standings within a very competitive division both teams have a shot at the playoffs if they can put a run together so Sunday’s matchup could be crucial come the end of the season.
Roundup of other
Week 9 games:
Kansas City Chiefs
(1-7-0) 13-31 San Diego Chargers (4-4-0) – Somehow Nov Turner’s
team are in playoff contention but then again the Chiefs have only won once
this season.
Denver Broncos
(5-3-0) 31-23 Cincinnati Bengals (3-5-0)
– Peyton Manning and the Broncos went on the road and racked up another
win. With each passing week Denver are starting to look more like a contender
in the AFC.
Baltimore Ravens (6-2-0) 25-15 Cleveland Browns (2-7-0)
– Despite the Ravens defense seemingly getting more depleted week by week they
managed to get another win under their belt and maintain control of the AFC
North.
Arizona Cardinals (4-5-0) 17-31 Green Bay Packers (6-3-0)
– The Green Bay Packers managed to keep some pressure on the Chicago Bears in
the NFC North with this win whilst the Cardinals early season form has now gone
out the window.
Buffalo Bills (3-5-0) 9-21 Houston Texans (7-1-0) – The Texans moved to 7-1 with
another win under their belts ahead of a big game on Sunday night against the
7-1 Chicago Bears.
Detroit Lions (4-4-0) 31-14 Jacksonville Jaguars (1-7-0) – This young Detroit Lions team have turned a corner
and with two wins in a row they’ve given themselves something to play for in
the second half of the season.
Carolina Panthers (2-6-0) 21-13 Washington Redskins (3-6-0) – Cam Newton topped RGIII in a close one as Carolina
managed to win just their second game of the season.
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers (4-4-0) 42-32 Oakland Raiders (3-5-0) – In this high scoring
contest the Bucs killed off the Raiders late in the fourth to win the game and
move to an equal 4-4 record.
Pittsburgh
Steelers (5-3-0) 24-20 New York Giants (6-3-0) – The Steelers rallied
back from 10 points in the fourth quarter to win by 4 leaving them just a game
behind the Ravens in the AFC North. As for the Giants well despite the lost
they are still in control at the top of the NFC East.
Dallas Cowboys (3-5-0) 13-19 Atlanta Falcons (8-0-0)
– The Falcons went on the road and beat the Cowboys. Despite the score being
close Atlanta were always in control as Matt Ryan and co won this one by six.
Philadelphia
Eagles (3-5-0) 13-28 New Orleans Saints (3-5-0) – Drew Brees continued
his record of at least one touchdown pass per game to 43 games as New Orleans
got another much needed win over the disappointing Eagles.
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