Miami went on to win Super Bowl VII. New York’s defense is so decimated by injuries that Jason Pierre-Paul-the freshly flipper-handed fireworks aficionado-needed to play 71 percent of their defensive snaps in his first game back from the accident which cost him approximately 2.56 fingers. Importantly though, it was his lack of interceptions that was the difference maker in this game.
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But for the first time in National Football League history, after the conclusion of week nine, there are three teams left with the chance to do the seemingly impossible. Ryan believes the Bucs have turned the corner and will continue to play good football. Me? Maybe this victory over Dallas signifies the start of a run to the play-offs for Philadelphia.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers: Green Bay is loser of two in a row but it won’t be three. They were on a bye last weekend. The Panthers jumped out to a 27-7 lead by halftime and held up against the furious comeback attempt by Aaron Rodgers and the Pack. QB Philip Rivers spoke on the team’s five-game losing streak: “When it’s like this, you kind of want to just dig a hole and hide for a little while”. The New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals are all sitting at 8-0 on the season, and should easily coast into the post season, but will one of them finish undefeated?
The division leader is still the only team from the division that would make the playoffs with the way things stand now. If the Packers aren’t careful, they could soon find themselves competing for a wildcard spot rather than a bye week and home field advantage. Take the Panthers to remain unbeaten and pick up the win here.
With how much of an improvement Tyrod Taylor is over EJ Manuel is, that could be the case.
PACKERS AT CARDINALS in Week 16: Assuming Rodgers and Green Bay emerge from their current funk, this could be a key late-season measuring stick for two of the NFC’s better teams. The last time he caught a pass thrown by someone else was in 2010, before he switched from receiver to quarterback at Texas A&M. “They do a good job of keeping their players”. If you don’t agree with where your team is ranked, just remember that I purposely ranked them lower than they should be ranked as a personal attack towards you because I don’t like your team. In the AFC, you can bank on 3 teams making the playoffs and the Wild Card race is much more open.
Most of the AFC’s divisions have seemingly crowned their champions.
The Houston Texans are 3-5 and their quarterback Brian Hoyer, undefeated against the Bengals in two starts with the Browns, has plenty of praise for this week’s opponents: “They’re a tough team, and they’re winning big games and close games”. Andy Dalton throws three more touchdowns in this one, with AJ Green, Tyler Eifert, and Gio Bernard on the receiving end of them. Four more teams – the Jaguars, Vikings, Giants and Redskins – can join them with a win in Week 10.
Minnesota Vikings at Oakland Raiders (-3) – Both teams are vastly improved over past year.
Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams (-7.5) – The Rams have a defense, but they lack the firepower on offense to justify such a high spread. The unit is ranked #9 in DVOA per Football Outsiders and #6 in terms of yardage, allowing just 329 yards per game to opposing offenses (putting them in between the Rams and Vikings for reference). The Panthers visit the 2-6 Titans.
In every season since 1987, at least one team with a. 500 or worse record through eight games reached the playoffs. The Lions’ remaining schedule does not include any of the teams now with two victories. At 6-2, Minnesota are tied for first place in the NFC North with the Green Bay Packers, a team widely considered the favourites to take the division.
Teddy Bridgewater has been a consistent force under centre this season, not producing mind blowing numbers but doing enough to secure his team wins.
Veteran running back Adrian Peterson emerged on top in the battle against rookie pretender Todd Gurley, taking his young team-mates down the field and into position for the overtime-winning field goal. The 49ers have no touchdowns in their past two games and three in five. Hopefully when the weather gets colder and the wind becomes more of a factor, the Patriots can dial up the return game.
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The Dolphins had another secret weapon in 1972: an easy schedule.
