Week 11 saw a big storm fly through the NFL, for once this isn’t the start of a cheap pun, there was an actual storm! The storm was so bad in Chicago that the game was delayed for about two hours, check out some of the pictures below:
Whilst we are talking about Chicago, let us start with the game between the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens. To be honest not much occurred before the storm with the players leaving the pitch after only a few minutes of play, but afterwards we were treated to a very closely fought battle between two teams struggling for consistency this season.
When the two teams emerged after the storm it was Baltimore who took an early ten point lead thanks to a one yard touchdown run by Ray Rice and a 52 yard field goal from Justin Tucker. I am not sure if it was just down to the weather but finally this season Baltimore turned to Ray Rice to move the offence down the field. Rice would finish the day with 25 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. It was great to see him being used so much; after all when he gets a lot of carries the Ravens tend to win games!
When the two teams emerged after the storm it was Baltimore who took an early ten point lead thanks to a one yard touchdown run by Ray Rice and a 52 yard field goal from Justin Tucker. I am not sure if it was just down to the weather but finally this season Baltimore turned to Ray Rice to move the offence down the field. Rice would finish the day with 25 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. It was great to see him being used so much; after all when he gets a lot of carries the Ravens tend to win games!
Okay so I digressed a little there, back to the game and the second quarter belonged to Chicago as they scored two field goals and one touchdown. The touchdown came on an intercepted Joe Flacco pass by David Bass which he took 24 yards back to the house. By halftime the score was 17 – 13 to the Baltimore Ravens and at every break the grounds men were repairing a waterlogged Soldier Field.
In the end this game was settled by a Robbie Gould field goal in overtime giving the Bears a much needed win. Chicago remains in the hunt for the NFC North title but for Baltimore the playoffs are beginning to look like a distant memory.
In the end this game was settled by a Robbie Gould field goal in overtime giving the Bears a much needed win. Chicago remains in the hunt for the NFC North title but for Baltimore the playoffs are beginning to look like a distant memory.
Next we move onto the battle of Ohio between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. The game started incredibly well for the Browns as they scored 13 unanswered points in the first quarter including a 29 yard interception return by Joe Hayden that he waltzed into the endzone.
What happened next was not good particularly if you’re a Cleveland fan, if so you may want to skip ahead to the next paragraph and don't watch the highlights ;) In the second quarter the Bengals set a franchise record for points scored in the second quarter by notching up 31 unanswered points of their own. It was crazy scoring which involved a fumble being returned for score, not to mention a blocked punt leading to another touchdown. I think it is best if you check out the highlights of this crazy game by clicking on the picture below:
Another crazy stat from this game is that Andy Dalton threw for only 93 yards on 13 completions but managed to throw three touchdowns. As the saying goes, that is cray cray!
I think it is fair to say that the game of the week in terms of what it meant to both sides was the Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas had won their first nine games and Denver had won eight of their first nine. Let us also not forget that Kansas had also kept all of their previous opponents to 17 points or less. Could they keep Peyton Manning under this total as well, let’s find out!
Denver’s first possession led to a field goal and the Kansas defence did extremely well in keeping them to three points especially when you take into account where Denver started their drive. Several punts and two fumbles later the Broncos again got on the scoreboard, this time courtesy of nine yard touchdown pass from Manning to Julius Thomas. Kansas managed to get the ball moving on their next drive and capped it off with a six yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is someone we have hardly talked about this year and that is a real shame because he is great talent at the receiver position.
Unfortunately for Kansas this touchdown by Bowe was one of only two touchdowns that they managed to score on Denver and in the end the Broncos just had too much on both sides of the ball and they came away with the win. The two sides however are due to meet again very soon!
Now it is time to catch up on all the scores from week 11 baring the Monday night game due to be played later today between the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots:
Now it is time to catch up on all the scores from week 11 baring the Monday night game due to be played later today between the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots:
Indianapolis 30 vs 27 Tennessee
Kansas City 17 vs 27 Denver
San Francisco 20 vs 23 New Orleans
Green Bay 13 vs 27 New York Giants
Minnesota 20 vs 41 Seattle
San Diego 16 vs 20 Miami
New York Jets 14v 37 Buffalo
Baltimore 20 vs 23 Chicago (OT)
Cleveland 20 vs 41 Cincinnati
Washington 16 vs 24 Philadelphia
Detroit 27 vs 37 Pittsburgh
Atlanta 28 vs 41 Tampa Bay
Arizona 27 vs 14 Jacksonville
Oakland 28 vs 23 Houston
Kansas City 17 vs 27 Denver
San Francisco 20 vs 23 New Orleans
Green Bay 13 vs 27 New York Giants
Minnesota 20 vs 41 Seattle
San Diego 16 vs 20 Miami
New York Jets 14v 37 Buffalo
Baltimore 20 vs 23 Chicago (OT)
Cleveland 20 vs 41 Cincinnati
Washington 16 vs 24 Philadelphia
Detroit 27 vs 37 Pittsburgh
Atlanta 28 vs 41 Tampa Bay
Arizona 27 vs 14 Jacksonville
Oakland 28 vs 23 Houston
This week I want to finish off by looking ahead to week 12 and some of the games that I am most looking forward to watching. First off is the late Sunday night match between Denver and New England. The two old foe’s go up against each other again in the battle of Manning vs Brady. Now unlike his brother Eli, Peyton does not have a good record of post season matches against Brady but you would have to fancy Denver’s chances in this one despite the fact it will be played in Boston.
Denver’s record speaks for itself this year but with the return of the Gronk to help out the receivers in New England it will be a close but high scoring match I feel. Personally I think we are looking at over 30 points for both teams!
Keeping on that side of the country the next one I am looking forward too is the NFC East game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys will be fresh from a bye week whilst Eli and the Giants have now won four games in a row. The NFC East has developed into the usual three / four way scrap to see who will come out on top as all four teams have had their struggles this year, who’s your money on, Eli or Romo?
The final game I want to talk about this week is the clash between Tampa Bay and Detroit. Both offences have the ability and talent to send the scoreboard into overdrive and at the same time look very shaky on defence. Detroit are at home but who do you think will win Detroit or Tampa?
Well that is it from me for another week but be sure to check out our podcast ‘Spitball’ later in the week so you can hear what has been grinding Marcus’s gears this week. Don’t forget you can also have your say about this week’s action or anything else raised in the blog by leaving a comment or by contacting us via any of the social media icons at the top of the page.
Until next time football fans, take care, stay safe and ‘Thanks for Stopping’.
Until next time football fans, take care, stay safe and ‘Thanks for Stopping’.