Week Seven in the NFL brought us some entertaining weirdness:
The Kansas City Chiefs are now the only unbeaten team in the NFL.
Peyton Manning is human.
And Tim Tebow is back in the news.
Here are the highs and lows from a very telling week seven in the NFL:
What’s weird here is that the Chiefs – 2-14 last year - beat the Texans - a preseason playoff favorite - despite a pretty poor performance from Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith.
If the usually steady Smith had played his usual way, the Chiefs would have won this game much more handily.
Good thing for Kansas City that it has one of the best defenses in the NFL. It isn’t just the defense, though. This is one well-rounded team.
New coach, new quarterback and a couple of important free agent signings. It just shows you what a thin line there is between the really good and the really bad in the NFL.
The Broncos had more than their weak secondary exposed by the oncoming Colts.
Manning was harassed the whole game by Indianapolis’ pass rush, exposing the Broncos suspect offensive line.
Manning was sacked four times, and hit 10 times, and all that contact threw him off his game. The long-necked QB has never been known for throwing a tight spiral, but his passes were even more wobbly than usual against the aggressive Colts.
Obviously, this is only one game in a long season and the Broncos are still up there at the top of the heap when you’re talking elite teams.
But, they have some work to do. Like finding a running game.
I’ve been a Packers believer from the first, despite their poor start and now the Pack is back in the NFC North lead after losses by the Bears and Lions.
Green Bay was missing its top two receivers, but Aaron Rodgers still threw for three touchdowns, and wide receiver Jarrett Boykin filled in well.
Green Bay will be a force this year.
Cam Newton is on a roll, but the big quarterback news is that the Rams are reported to be considering giving Tim Tebow a call.
Rams’ quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a torn ACL, just about the worst injury that can happen to a football player.
Washington has now won two games, but both wins came against teams whose starting quarterback was injured.
Don’t count on them to come raging back just because Robert Griffin III is starting to get back on track.
This is still a team with too many potholes to patch. Speaking of tracks, rookie tight end Jordan Reed is on the fast track to All-Pro.
It is tempting to mock Chip Kelly’s high-powered college offense since the Eagles scored only three points, but it’s kind of hard to criticize since both Philly’s quarterbacks are hobbling.
Dallas, on the other hand, is now in first place in the NFC East, but it isn’t like anybody should be bragging about that.
If Miami spends money this upcoming offseason on offensive linemen like they did on wide receivers and linebackers this past offseason, they’ll be in the Super Bowl next season.
Until they can get somebody to block for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, they will continue to lose to teams like the Bills. Miami has now lost three straight after winning its first three.
The 49ers have already had some pretty dramatic ups and downs this year, but they’re still 5-2 and breathing down the necks of the Seahawks in the NFC West.
Beating the Titans, a pretty good team, by this much demonstrates that San Francisco, and particularly quarterback Colin Kaepernick, will be there at the end of the season, lurking around in the shadow of the Lombardi Trophy.
I would hate to be a professional gambler forced to bet on the New England Patriots.
The Patriots are not now one of the league’s elite teams. Good for them they play in a mediocre division.
The Kansas City Chiefs are now the only unbeaten team in the NFL.
Peyton Manning is human.
And Tim Tebow is back in the news.
Here are the highs and lows from a very telling week seven in the NFL:
•Chiefs over Texans 17-16
What’s weird here is that the Chiefs – 2-14 last year - beat the Texans - a preseason playoff favorite - despite a pretty poor performance from Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith.
If the usually steady Smith had played his usual way, the Chiefs would have won this game much more handily.
Good thing for Kansas City that it has one of the best defenses in the NFL. It isn’t just the defense, though. This is one well-rounded team.
New coach, new quarterback and a couple of important free agent signings. It just shows you what a thin line there is between the really good and the really bad in the NFL.
•Colts over Broncos 39-33
The Broncos had more than their weak secondary exposed by the oncoming Colts.
Manning was harassed the whole game by Indianapolis’ pass rush, exposing the Broncos suspect offensive line.
Manning was sacked four times, and hit 10 times, and all that contact threw him off his game. The long-necked QB has never been known for throwing a tight spiral, but his passes were even more wobbly than usual against the aggressive Colts.
Obviously, this is only one game in a long season and the Broncos are still up there at the top of the heap when you’re talking elite teams.
But, they have some work to do. Like finding a running game.
•Packers over Browns 31-13
I’ve been a Packers believer from the first, despite their poor start and now the Pack is back in the NFC North lead after losses by the Bears and Lions.
Green Bay was missing its top two receivers, but Aaron Rodgers still threw for three touchdowns, and wide receiver Jarrett Boykin filled in well.
Green Bay will be a force this year.
•Panthers over Rams 30-15
Cam Newton is on a roll, but the big quarterback news is that the Rams are reported to be considering giving Tim Tebow a call.
Rams’ quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a torn ACL, just about the worst injury that can happen to a football player.
•Redskins over Bears 45-41
Washington has now won two games, but both wins came against teams whose starting quarterback was injured.
Don’t count on them to come raging back just because Robert Griffin III is starting to get back on track.
This is still a team with too many potholes to patch. Speaking of tracks, rookie tight end Jordan Reed is on the fast track to All-Pro.
•Cowboys over Eagles 17-3
It is tempting to mock Chip Kelly’s high-powered college offense since the Eagles scored only three points, but it’s kind of hard to criticize since both Philly’s quarterbacks are hobbling.
Dallas, on the other hand, is now in first place in the NFC East, but it isn’t like anybody should be bragging about that.
•Bills over Dolphins
If Miami spends money this upcoming offseason on offensive linemen like they did on wide receivers and linebackers this past offseason, they’ll be in the Super Bowl next season.
Until they can get somebody to block for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, they will continue to lose to teams like the Bills. Miami has now lost three straight after winning its first three.
•49ers over Titans 31-17
The 49ers have already had some pretty dramatic ups and downs this year, but they’re still 5-2 and breathing down the necks of the Seahawks in the NFC West.
Beating the Titans, a pretty good team, by this much demonstrates that San Francisco, and particularly quarterback Colin Kaepernick, will be there at the end of the season, lurking around in the shadow of the Lombardi Trophy.
•Jets over Patriots 30-27
I would hate to be a professional gambler forced to bet on the New England Patriots.
The Patriots are not now one of the league’s elite teams. Good for them they play in a mediocre division.
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