Week 9 Game Notes

Jets over Bills

Adam

• Mark Sanchez was very efficient in this game, aided by the continuing emergence of his big target Plaxico Burress.
• Shonn Greene showed flashes of the potential and explosiveness that made many think he could be a feature back in this league.
• The Bills uncharacteristically turned the ball over a bunch, and that was essentially the difference in the game.
• I still think the Jets are limited on offense and the defense is good but not great.  This strikes me as a 9 or 10 win team that will get bounced in the first round of the playoffs, but if they get into the tournament they are always dangerous.
• Things are bunched up in the AFC East with the Jets, Bills, Pats all at 5-3.

Eric

• After a few early hiccups, this was a pretty resounding win for Gang Green.  New York handled Buffalo without much fight.
• We’ve doubted how good the Bills really are all year.  This would’ve been a huge statement win for Buffalo, but even at home they couldn’t pull it off.

Cowboys over Seahawks

Adam

• The Cowboys are a frustrating team, talent all over the board but I just have no idea what to expect from them week to week.  Beating Seattle does nothing to quell my concerns.
• DeMarco Murray looks like a gem. 
• Miles Austin has to stay on the field, because with him, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and Murray, this offense can keep pace with anyone. 
• Seattle just has no answer at quarterback, but that is just one of their many problems.  The defense lacks bite aside from a talented safety duo, the offensive line is really young, and there aren’t many playmakers on the offense.

Eric

• This was probably a little closer than it had to be—a ten-point margin despite Tarvaris Jackson throwing 3 interceptions—but the Cowboys got the win, and that’s all that matters.  In the tighter-than-it-looks-in-the-standings NFC East, every win is a big deal.

Texans over Browns

Adam

• The Texans are doing what they’ve failed to do many times in the past, win games they are supposed to.  They disassembled an inferior Browns team and took care of business at home.
• Ben Tate and Arian Foster is a downright scary duo.
• Andre Johnson, please come back soon.
• The Browns have no playmakers on offense.
• I know we always want to judge quarterbacks based on their first couple of seasons, but Colt McCoy needs to be given something to work with, some consistency, and just a little more time before we can write him off.

Eric

• Arian Foster and Ben Tate both go over 100 yards on the ground, and Houston keeps rolling.

Falcons over Colts

Adam

• Not much to this one, a pretty good Falcons team dismantles an awful Colts squad. 
• We now have a real race in the AFC South with the Falcons winning three in a row and sitting at 5-3, just a half game behind the 6-3 Saints.

Eric

• There’s the Julio Jones you gave up your draft for, Atlanta!  The rookie caught his first two touchdown passes of his career, each from deep.  First he caught a 50-yard bomb, and then he followed that up by taking another pass 80 yards for his second score.  He finished the day with 3 catches for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Dolphins over Chiefs

Adam

• Well, the Dolphins had to win sometime, and you’d figure it would be on the road since they’re terrible at home. 
• Just when it seemed as though the Chiefs were getting it together, they get stomped by four touchdowns at home against a formerly 0-7 team.  Go figure.

Eric

• Congrats, Fins; off the schnide.

Saints over Buccaneers

Adam

• I think the Bucs are a team that’s another year and a strong draft away from really competing with the league’s elite.
• Josh Freeman was better in this game but hasn’t been as spectacular as he was last year.
• The Saints are such a diverse offense with Drew Brees using all of his weapons at his disposal, but I think the combination of their turnovers and lack of an elite defense will keep this team from being a true Super Bowl contender.

Eric

• The Saints are the first team to ever have a running back (Darren Sproles) and a tight end (Jimmy Graham) each with 50 catches through nine games.

49ers over Redskins

Adam

• NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis may be the two best inside linebackers in football right now, and they’re on the same team.
• Along with those two, Justin Smith should be a lock for First Team All-Pro, and safety Dashon Goldson and corner Carlos Rogers at least deserve Pro Bowl consideration.  Rookie Aldon Smith is a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
•  All of these tremendous performers are a huge reason the Niners are 7-1 and allow a league-best 14.8 points per game.
• Alex Smith looked more in control of the offense than I’ve ever seen him.  He’s getting more and more comfortable every week, and subsequently, the offense can get more complex.  Say what you want about Smith, but he’s completing 64% of his passes, good for fifth in the NFL, his passer rating is sixth, and he’s on pace for 20 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions.
• The formula is still pretty simple, pound Frank Gore and use the short passing game, but San Fran uses more packages, shifts, and offensive wrinkles than any other team I’ve seen this year.
• David Akers, Andy Lee, Ted Ginn, and special teams coach Brad Seely continue to be huge factors in 49er wins.
• The Redskins have an impressive defense, but their offense is decimated by injuries, and the quarterback position is a mess.

Eric

• Exactly what you expect from San Francisco: Alex Smith didn’t turn it over, Frank Gore went over 100 yards for the fifth consecutive week, and the defense didn’t allow anything to John Beck.

Broncos over Raiders

Adam

• Tim Tebow supporters will say that he’s now 2-1 as a starter this year, but I don’t read anything into that.  He’s just not a good enough passer to be a long time starter in this league.
• Carson Palmer made some nice throws in this game but clearly needs more time to get comfortable in this offense.  I’m also not sure that Palmer is a very good player any more, period.  He’s been on the decline for some time now.
• Who wants to win the AFC West?  Bueller?

Eric

• Tim Tebow and Willis McGahee both went over 100 yards rushing.  That’s only the fifth time ever that a quarterback and running back both broke the century mark in the same game.

Bengals over Titans

Adam

• The young Bengals demonstrate impressive resilience to outscore the Titans 17-0 in the second half and pull off a close win. 
• Andy Dalton and AJ Green continue to play like long-time veterans.  On pace for 1,200 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, Green is a Pro Bowl candidate as a rookie, and Dalton has an incredible 85 passer rating. 
• At 6-2 the Bengals have a true shot at the postseason, and I believe with their physicality can play with either the Ravens or Steelers. 
• I think the Titans are just an average team that can compete with most but are going to end up around 7-9 or 8-8.
• The Texans are going to run away with the AFC South.

Eric

• Andy Dalton has more touchdown passes than any rookie quarterback in his team’s first eight games since the merger.

Cardinals over Rams

Adam

• Well, somebody had to win I guess, but they tried their hardest to end this one in a tie.  Eventually Arizona emerged with an overtime touchdown.

Eric

• If not for Patrick Peterson… bleh.

Giants over Patriots

Adam

• The Giants are the type of team that can really frustrate New England because they only have to rush four men to pressure Tom Brady.
• Victor Cruz has come out of nowhere to have a huge year with 588 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
• I think we take the greatness of Wes Welker for granted.  He’s a monster every single week.
• Chad Ochocinco has 136 receiving yards through 8 games.  I think it’s time to hang ‘em up, Chad.

Eric

• A pretty boring first half preceded a déjà vu-inducing fourth quarter with multiple lead changes and Ei Manning engineering a game-winning drive over Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Packers over Chargers

Adam

• This was a game a lot of people circled for the Packers’ first loss, but I never saw it.  I guess the rationale was they have to lose some time, but with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, I’ll never pick against the Pack Attack.
• Rodgers is either the second coming or an alien life form.  He’s not human.
• On pace for 5,200 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, 6 picks, and a 73% completion rate, Rodgers hands down must be unanimous league MVP.
• The Chargers are just the same team every year: up-and-down play despite tons of talent.
• I don’t get what’s going on with Philip Rivers.  He’s still in his physical prime and healthy, so it doesn’t make sense that his level of play has fallen off a cliff.

Eric

• What it always comes down to with San Diego is the mistakes.  Philip Rivers had the first three-interception game of his career (two of which were returned for scores, and the third was the Chargers’ final drive while attempting to tie the game), and San Diego couldn’t overcome.
• This is the third time Green Bay has scored 28 points in a game’s first half.  All other 31 teams combined have accomplished that feat just three times this year.

Ravens over Steelers

Adam

• Joe Flacco Roethlisbergered the Steelers, if that makes sense.  Usually both these teams play to a tight game where Big Ben makes the winning play in the final minutes.  Here, Flacco made the game-winning throw.
• Flacco threw the ball 47 times simply because they couldn't run the ball on Pittsburgh.
• In the Ravens’ six wins this year they have looked really strong, but their two losses have been abysmal. 
• Baltimore swept the Steelers on the year, which is huge, but if they meet again in the playoffs it's very hard to beat a good team three times in one year.

Eric

• This is my favorite NFL rivalry.  It’s so physical, the teams hate each other, and you can get classics like this.
• Is Joe Flacco a good quarterback yet?  We’ll take it week to week, I guess.

Bears over Eagles

Adam

• It keeps feeling like a "signature" win every time somebody beats the Eagles, like a real résumé builder for any team.  Here's a thought; maybe the Eagles just aren't that good.
• At 3-5, they would have to finish the season on a 7-1 run to have any shot at making the playoffs, and win an erratic Michael Vick at quarterback, I can't see that happening.
• As much as I've hated on the Bears the last two seasons, they continually find ways to win games.  If they keep with the Matt Forte formula—get him 25-30 touches a game—this team can compete with anyone.

Eric

• Who kidnapped Mike Martz?
• Matt Forte is absolutely tremendous (133 yards on 24 carries, 3 catches for 17), and if it weren’t for that pesky #12 in the green and gold, Forte might be your league MVP at this point.

--from @AdamHocking and @jeuneski