So, how about those Jets?
They just completed a three game stretch that looked like it might sober the fans, to say nothing of the team, up considerably. Sure, the Jets had surprised some people up to that point, sporting a 3-3 record. But then, they would have to host the division leading, and perennial powerhouse New England, then go to Cincinnati to play the red hot Bengals, before coming back home to host the New Orleans Saints, who find themselves among the favorites in the NFC.
I thought that they would do well to win even one of those games and, frankly, it was easy to imagine a scenario where they lost all three.
Instead, they managed to knock off the Patriots in the first game, after a tough, back and forth battle. Then, granted, they got humiliated by the Bengals, which seemed a wake up call. And sure enough, early on, the Saints seemed to be making quick work of the Jets, dictating the tempo of the game. Brees was throwing the ball all over the field, and it looked like the Jets would get their butts handed to them.
But then, something weird happened. The Jets fought back. They suddenly slowed Brees down, even began to pick him off. The running game began to click, as well, and the Jets were moving the ball down the field, taking advantage of opportunities.
At first, it was just to keep the game close. Then, it was to get within striking distance of the lead. Then, it was for the lead, then to expand it. Finally, towards the end, it was to clinch it, to ice the game against a mighty opponent.
And guess what? The Jets, a perennial basketcase who, going into the season, seemed to have no chance with a tough schedule to get through, suddenly find themselves at 5-4 more or less through the midway point of the season, with their toughest opponents already behind them. They won some games that, prior to the start of the season, most people would assume they would have no business winning: at Atlanta, against New England, and against New Orleans.
The rest of the schedule does not look quite so daunting, but New York gets to rest up a bit now, as they go on their bye week clearly on the up swing!
Unfortunately for them, they neither gained ground against the AFC East leading Patriots, who dismantled the reeling Steelers, 55-31, nor put some cushion between them and the Dolphins, who upended the Bengals on Thursday Night Football.
In fact, the only AFC East team to lose was the Buffalo Bills. I had picked the Bills to beat Kansas City, and I thought for good reason. Buffalo has played well for the most part, but keep losing tight games. But in a relative must win situation, and with the extra added incentive of hosting the only remaining unbeaten team in the league, it seemed that the time was ripe for the Bills to make some kind of a statement.
Early on, that appeared to be exactly what they were doing, too! They were in control of the game, driving the ball down the field, closing in on a scoring opportunity to expand their 10-3 lead, when Jeff Tuel badly misjudged on what would have been a touchdown pass for a commanding lead. Kansas City's Sean Smith was able to grab it instead, and ran it all the way back for the pick six. Instead of the Bills being up, 17-3, the Chiefs had managed to tie it on a freak play, for all intents and purposes. Those are the kinds of things that happen when you are undefeated, like the Chiefs. Or, on the flip side, those are the kinds of things that happen when you are struggling along at 3-6, like the Bills.
One way or the other, it seemed to break Buffalo's momentum, and to rejuvenate the reeling Chiefs, who had been badly outplayed to that point, but found themselves tied, despite it all.
The Chiefs did what they have done so well all season, capitalizing on the opportunity by grabbing the bull (or in this case, the Bills) by the horns and taking control. The offense never really seemed to get in gear, but the Chiefs defense was able to get more points on their end, as TJ Graham fumbled a completed pass from Tuel, which was then grabbed by Tamba Hali and returned for yet another defensive touchdown, which game Kansas City the lead for good. They wound up winning, 23-13, on a day when, by all rights, Buffalo should have celebrated a big win.
If the Giants had an awesome weekend in beating Philly and watching every other NFC East rival lsoe last weekend, they had a terrible weekend this time around, and could do nothing about it. Every team in the division that played this weekend won.
Washington won in a game that will likely remain mired in controversy, because it sure seemed that Woodhead broke the plane and scored what would have been the winning touchdown very late in the fourth quarter. Instead, it was determined that he had been stopped just short, even though the initial judgment had been that it was a touchdown, and Woodhead was able to get the ball to the pylon, which visibly moved. Under almost all other circumstances, that is a touchdown. But not if you are the road team at Washington, evidently. The Chargers were cheated out of the win in regulation, and had to settle for a tying field goal to force overtime. They never got the ball in OT, as Washington got the quick touchdown, and a crucial win.
Dallas survived a big scare at home against the lowly Minnesota Vikings. Adrian Petersen had a monster game, and managed to help the Vikings obtain a lead deep in the fourth quarter. But Tony Romo orchestrated a nine-play, 90 yard drive that culminated in a touchdown to wrestle the lead back from Minnesota, with 35 seconds left to play. The Vikings were not able to do anything offensively in the little time remaining, and Dallas secured the come from behind victory.
In Oakland, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, normally a back up) tied a league record by tossing seven touchdown passes in the game, as the Eagles crushed the Raiders, 49-20. Earlier this season, Peyton Manning had joined the elite ranks of the few men who had thrown for seven touchdown passes in an NFL game. Foles was a much less likely candidate to join the club, but he deserves a tremendous amount of credit for that, yet he remained largely humble after the game, crediting his receivers and offensive line protecting him. He seems like a real class act, actually.
The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers were dominating the powerhouse Seattle Seahawks for much of the afternoon yesterday, and that was in Seattle! Tampa built a 21-0 lead in the second quarter, and still led 24-7 in the second half. Seattle had never before overcome a 21-point deficit, but they managed to claw their way back in the game, tying it and forcing it into overtime, then clinching the victory with a field goal, thus avoiding what would have been a huge upset.
Tennessee worked it's way back into relevance with a surprising road victory against the Rams, winning 28-21, with four rushing touchdowns against their former coach, Jeff Fischer, and his Rams. The Carolina Panthers absolutely crushed the Atlanta Falcons, as Atlanta's season continues to spiral out of control. The Cleveland Browns managed to obtain sole possession of second place in the AFC North, by beating the defending champion Baltimore Ravens, 24-18. It certainly does not appear that Baltimore will be in serious contention to repeat this year.
Finally, the Colts got yet another huge victory last night, on the road in Houston. Before the season started, I had assumed (and was likely not the only one to assume this) that the Colts would not be able to win on the road against the Texans. But Indianapolis won a tight contest with a last minute field goal miss by the Texans, which preserved the victory for the now 6-2, red hot Colts. It was the sixth straight loss for Houston. But the game will be better remembered for coach Gary Kubiac collapsing on the field, and being rushed to the hospital afterward. The team denied that it was a heart attack, but more details will be forthcoming in the near future.
Bullying in NFL Ranks?
There is an ugly story emerging in Miami presently, as Jonathan Martin, a 6'5, 312 lb offensive right tackle for the Dolphins, abruptly left the team earlier this week under seemingly mysterious circumstances.
The reasons are beginning to become clearer now, as he has alleged bullying by teammates. One man in particular, Richie Incognito, a seasoned veteran at 6'3 and 319 lbs, has been suspended as a result of this case.
Details are still sketchy, but Martin apparently reached his limits earlier this week when teammates refused to sit with him during a team meal in their cafeteria. He slammed his tray down, and left the team. Now, his case alleging bullying is brewing, and this is likely to be a story that receives considerable attention, given all the focus on measures to end bullying in schools.
If a 6 foot 5, 300-plus pound professional football player can be bullied, pretty much anyone can.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/25752/
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/dolphins-suspend-guard-richie-incognito-nfl-investigates-claims-045206231--nfl.html
No comments:
Post a Comment