2010 NFL Week 9 Quick Hits: AFC Dominates While NFC Disappoints

Quick Hits from Week 9

Brett Favre led the league Sunday, completing a ludicrous 76 percent for a career high 446 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Vikings are heading into Chicago this week sitting at 3-5 with a soap opera for a coach.  The Bears sneaked out of Buffalo 5-3. If Steve Johnson and Roscoe Parrish can combine for 205 yards and a touchdown against the Bears; Percy Harvin, Adrian Peterson, Vishante Shiancoe and Greg Lewis should have a field day.

Peterson rushed for 81 yards averaging 5.4 yards per carry and a rushing touchdown. AP showed why he is considered "the" top back with four receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. Peterson will have to play up to his "all day" nickname for this team to continue to contend and if Brad "chilly" Childress wants to keep his day job.

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (336 yards, one touchdown, one interception) led Rex Ryan’s squad of Neanderthals past the Detroit Lions in an overtime thriller. Sanchez put together his first 300 yard passing performance of his career.

The young quarterback led the Jets (6-2) down the field at the end of regulation with no timeouts to tie the game with a field goal; followed by Sanchez connecting with Santonio Holmes (five receptions, 114 yards) for 52 yards and the game winning field goal.

The Jets, surprisingly tied with the Patriots (6-2) for first in the division, are playing like the true favorites to win it all.

In the past three weeks, Oakland Raiders' quarterback Jason Campbell, is 3-0 completing 59 percent of his passes for 743 yards five touchdowns to one interception. Funny how Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb is 1-1 with a bye last week.  Under performing in those two games, McNabb’s thrown for 410 yards completing 54 percent of his passes with two touchdowns to three interceptions.

The Raiders (5-4) and Redskins (4-4) are both contending for a playoff spot. The lively Raiders get a rest this week; while the Redskins face the Eagle’s (5-3) with a rejuvenated Michael Vick on Monday night in Landover with big implications for the NFC East.

The Buffalo Bills are 0-8 but have shown their still an NFL team the past two weeks—losing both games by a field goal. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (1,499 yards, 60 percent completion percentage, and 13 touchdowns seven interceptions) is clearly showing quarterback Trent Edwards was a bigger problem than for scene.

The Bills remaining opponents have a combined record of 31-31, Chan Gailey, or Buffalo’s 16^th head coach in franchise history will lead Buffalo to a victory this year.

Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis was a monster on a rampage (29 carries, 184 yards, two touchdowns adding three receptions for 36 yards) marching his team to a 34-14 stomping on Belichick’s Patriots. Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy was consistent when called upon completing 73 percent his passes for 174 yards.

New England’s (6-2) at Pittsburg (5-2) on Sunday night and the Browns (3-5) have the Jets at home. The Patriots and Browns can help each other this week if both get a win; the Patriots can gain a game on the Jets and the Browns would be one step closer to knocking on the Steelers door.

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster is the NFL’s best all around back. Foster leads the league in rushing with 864 yards pulling out 127 of those yards, with two touchdowns, four receptions and 70 yards in a loss at home.

Foster is the sixth best running back in receiving yards with 245 yards on 28 receptions of 33 targets—Foster has half as many targets as Frank Gore who leads all backs in rec. yards (348). The Texans lost to the San Diego Chargers 29-23 due to the terminator of a quarterback in Phillip Rivers (295 yards four touchdowns and one interception).

The Chargers stand at 4-5 coming into their bye week meanwhile the Texans are 4-4 with a big road game against division rival Jacksonville (4-4). Foster will have another big week on the road.

Atlanta Falcons (6-2) running back Michael Turner has two straight 100 yard games (24 att. 107 yards and two touchdowns). A much needed division win over the shocking 5-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quarterback Matt Ryan had a solid game tossing for a touchdown on 235 yards. Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman (11/22, 189 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions) attempted a game wining drive; failing on fourth-one on the Atlanta two yard line with running back LaGarrett Blount stuffed for a no gain turnover.

The Falcons are rightfully in first in the NFC South but the Saint’s (6-3) are heating up heading in to their bye week.  Tampa Bay host’s a divisional matchup versus the Carolina Panthers (1-7) and the Falcons open up Thursday night football on NFL network against the Baltimore Ravens (6-2).

Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Michael Vick (17/29 218 yards and one touchdown) had a nice first game back after suffering a rib injury in week four against Washington. The Eagles pulled out a 26-24 victory with a Peyton Manning (31/52, 294 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions).  DeSean Jackson had his first 100 yard game with a score since Week 3.

The tackle on Colts wide receiver Austin Collie was not an illegal hit by any means. Collie was hit in to the Eagles safety who did not lead with his head. It is unfortunate that these events keep happening during games but people have to remember that it is FOOTBALL.  It is part of the game and always has been. 

The NFL cannot afford to change its style of play. The NFL would not be where it is today in sports without its bone crushing gut wrenching body shots. On the other side of the pancake I understand the league wants its players to be healthy.  Hits like the one Patriots' safety Brandon Meriweather put on Ravens' tight end Todd Heap a couple weeks ago is unacceptable and should be subject to fine or suspension.

Through the first nine weeks there are eight teams in the AFC with at least five wins while the NFC has only five teams.  This being said the AFC still has the Steelers and Bengals facing off tonight with Pittsburg looking for its sixth win. If the Steelers can come out with a win tonight, both the AFC and NFC will respectively have four teams with six wins.

The AFC clearly dominates the league at the moment. Meanwhile, the NFC is slowly showing who the top teams are. This second half of the season will be very interesting to see how the AFC will juggle the level playing field; and the heating up NFC hopes for a team to come out of nowhere much like the 2007 Super Bowl Champs New York Giants.

Monday Night Football Game

The 5-2 Pittsburg Steelers visit the 2-5 Cincinnati Bengals in a pivotal game for both teams. With a win the Steelers will be tied for first in the division with Ravens. The Bengals need this win badly, especially if head coach Marvin Lewis wants to keep his job another week. With a loss the Bengals will be sitting at 2-6 with all playoff hopes gone. 

The Steelers have been playing very well as a team all season while on the other hand playing like a team is something Cincinnati has lacked.

I like the Steelers by at least 10 tonight collectively as a team stomping Marvin Lewis out of a coaching job.

Steelers 34 — Bengals 24

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