Following the week nine games we can now say that one half of the 2013 season has been completed. As always the season just seems to be flying by and before we know it, it will be February and there will be no football to watch.
Later in the blog I will go through my thoughts at this half way stage but for now let us get straight into the action and the what better place to start than Texas!
Later in the blog I will go through my thoughts at this half way stage but for now let us get straight into the action and the what better place to start than Texas!
On Sunday night the Houston Texans played host to the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South division clash. Heading into the game the teams records were a complete contrast with the Texans at 2 – 5 and the colts at 5 – 2. In the first quarter it would have been easy to think that the records were actually the reverse of this as Houston scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, both were touchdown passes to Andre Johnson for 62 and 41 yards respectively.
The second quarter was really no better for Indianapolis as the conceded another touchdown and only managed a field goal in reply. At halftime the Colts were down 21 – 3 and I felt extremely stupid asking our friends at nflfemale.com if they thought the Colts could push for the Superbowl!
The great thing about football though is that it truly is a game of two halves. In the second half the Colts defence found a way to stop Houston and the Colts offence managed to find their groove. The Colts went on to score 24 points in the second half courtesy of three touchdown receptions by T Y Hylton and their defence kept the Texans to just a single field goal. The Colts came away from Texas with a narrow but important 27 – 24 victory. The Colts now move onto 6 – 2 and the Texans fall back to 2 – 6. Realisticly you would have to say that the Texans are done for this year which is crazy bearing in mind they have had back to back playoff seasons, don't you just love the NFL!
Next we move onto the Eagles trip to the Raiders in Oakland, if I asked before this game will we see any quarterback records being tied today would you have honestly answered yes? Unbelievably though that is exactly what we got, more about that later.
At the start of the game it was like someone had put something in the Eagles gatorade because half way through the second quarter they were 21 – 3 up. By the end of the match the Eagles had rattled up 49 points on an Oakland team that has not exactly been playing bad football lately. If that wasn’t enough their back up quarterback Nick Foles tied and NFL record for touchdown passes thrown in a game as he recorded seven touchdown passes on the day, unbelievable right?
At the start of the game it was like someone had put something in the Eagles gatorade because half way through the second quarter they were 21 – 3 up. By the end of the match the Eagles had rattled up 49 points on an Oakland team that has not exactly been playing bad football lately. If that wasn’t enough their back up quarterback Nick Foles tied and NFL record for touchdown passes thrown in a game as he recorded seven touchdown passes on the day, unbelievable right?
Nick Foles now joins the elite club with Peyton Manning, Joe Kapp and Sid Luckman just to name a few. What surprised me more to be honest was that before this year it has been 44 years since someone has achieved this landmark and now we have two in the same season. If anyone tries to tell you that this is not a quarterback driven league, don't believe them!
Before we move on, let us take a look at all of the week nine scores:
Cincinnati 20 vs 22 Miami (OT)
Indianapolis 27 vs 24 Houston
Baltimore 18 vs 24 Cleveland
Pittsburgh 31 vs 55 New England
Philadelphia 49 vs 20 Oakland
Tampa Bay 24 vs 27 Seattle (OT)
Kansas City 23 vs 13 Buffalo
Minnesota 23 vs 27 Dallas
Tennessee 28 vs 21 St Louis
New Orleans 20 vs 26 New York Jets
San Diego 24 vs 30 Washington (OT)
Atlanta 10 vs 34 Carolina
(OT) indicates a game settled in Overtime
To be Played Monday 4th November 2013
Chicago vs Green Bay
Cincinnati 20 vs 22 Miami (OT)
Indianapolis 27 vs 24 Houston
Baltimore 18 vs 24 Cleveland
Pittsburgh 31 vs 55 New England
Philadelphia 49 vs 20 Oakland
Tampa Bay 24 vs 27 Seattle (OT)
Kansas City 23 vs 13 Buffalo
Minnesota 23 vs 27 Dallas
Tennessee 28 vs 21 St Louis
New Orleans 20 vs 26 New York Jets
San Diego 24 vs 30 Washington (OT)
Atlanta 10 vs 34 Carolina
(OT) indicates a game settled in Overtime
To be Played Monday 4th November 2013
Chicago vs Green Bay
To see how the teams now stand at the halfway point click on the picture below to be taken to the standings courtesy of espn.go.com:
You can see that in a few divisions there has been a complete turn around from last year with Kansas City who finished dead last now being the best team, record wise in the NFL. You have to give a lot of credit to Andy Reid and his coaching staff for what he has done their. I will say one thing though and that is, if Kansas City make it to the superbowl it will be on the back of their defence. Any offence that does not score a touchdown against the Bills must be struggling.
For those who listen to the podcast you will know that I said the Bills would win this one as they matched up really well against Kansas and baring two defensive scores we would have taken them down! On a plus note for Kansas fans, you became the first team to win the first nine games of the season and keep each opponent to less than 17 points. Thank you Scott Hansen and NFL Redzone for that little nugget of information.
Moving onto to other teams we have also seen a resurgence from Green Bay as they now top the NFC North despite their injury woes at wide receiver. At the start of the season I did not think they would be able to pull it back and that will learn me firstly to have more faith in Aaron Rodgers and secondly to remember the Bears and Lions always start well and then self explode!
Okay well that wraps it up from me for know but to here more of my thoughts at this halfway stage be sure to check out the podcast 'Sptball' later in the week.
Until next time football fans take care, stay safe and 'Thanks for Stopping By'.
Until next time football fans take care, stay safe and 'Thanks for Stopping By'.