The Atlanta Falcons perfect season came to an end at the hands of their most bitter rival the New Orleans Saints last Sunday. While starting quarterbacks around the league were being knocked out left, right and centre.
First Down: “The Improbable Bengals” Last year a bunch of no names in arguably one of the toughest division overcame all the odds and made the playoffs. That team was the Cincinnati Bengals, and they had just drafted their quarteback of the future (Andy Dalton) and their big playmaker (A.J. Green). However, their defense led by coach Mike Zimmer who tinkered and got the best from his players, turned the Bengals defense into a top-5 defense. This year the expectations were higher then ever but after a terrible start to the season they are quickly behind the eight ball at (4-5). After the bye week the team has played better ball, but after a home loss against Peyton and the Broncos and a match against Eli and the Giants it seemed very doom and gloom. That was until the Bengals actually faced the Giants and beat them in every facet of the game and in the score 31-13. Dalton threw a career high four touchdown passes while Eli (who has looked brutal as of late) was held in check to just 215-yards passing and 2 interceptions. If they want any chance at a post season run they will have to beat weaker teams like Kansas City next week, even if it’s in Arrowhead.
Second Down: “Is the season over already” A few years ago the Kansas City Chiefs was everybody’s sexy pick to win the division and possibly the AFC. Oh how quickly things change. The Chiefs went from contenders to pretenders in a flash. Matt Cassel forgot how to throw the long ball and Jamaal Charles despite a strong year can not carry the team like Adrian Peterson can. The Chiefs have won one game all year against a beaten down New Orleans Saints team. Since then they have not even been a close in a game until Monday night. The Chiefs defense knocked Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out for the game and out for some time now and all of a sudden the Chiefs had a chance. Byron Leftwitch could only manage 3 points and Ryan Succop hit a game tying field goal to send it into overtime. The Chiefs won the toss and all Cassel had to do was not turnover the ball. Obviously he did on the second play and Lawrence Timmons returned the interception to the 5 yard line setting up a Shawn Suisham chip shot. The Steelers avoided a scare in a 16-13 win while the Chiefs are looking at the USC game this week against UCLA to see their future quarterback Matt Barkley in action.
Third Down: “The Baguars” Nothing has ever been right in Jacksonville since they last made the playoffs under quarterback David Garrard in 2005. Their defense was the huge issue and now that is fixed they don’t have and offense that can put up points. On Thursday they were looking to sweep the season series against the Indianiapolis Colts and Andrew Luck who was making his first primetime appearance. Luck didn’t hold anything back running in two touchdowns as his Colts won easily 27-10. After nearly upsetting the Green Bay Packers the Jaguars can only look forward to the draft to find more weapons for Blaine Gabbert. One scout said “It’s not Gabbert that is the problem it’s that he has no receivers to throw too. I have seen better receivers on college teams then on the Jaguars.” Point being whoever is the best offensive weapon in the draft, draft him. Soon enough a core of MJD, Justin Blackmon and Gabbert can once again make the Jaguars relative in the NFL.
Fourth Down: “Concussions” Last year was bad for the topic of concussions and so far this year hasn’t been so bad. That was until last week where three quarterbacks were knocked out of the game and will likely not start for some time. Alex Smith (SF) Jay Cutler (CHI) and Michael Vick (PHI) all suffered a concussion and are likely out for this week. For Cutler and Smith their teams are going at it this week but let’s be real the only thing we talk about from these teams is their defense. Arguably the best defenses in the league both teams can rely on their defense to win a game here and there but both will need their guy, come playoff time. As for the Eagles their season was already over after stinking up the joint early on but now the question of Vick’s job is in the air. If Nick Foles can somehow manage to win games then Vick and his 100 million dollar contract will both be on the way out. Vick has barely managed to stay healthy in his career and with all the expectations they are in Eagles he and Andy Ried will sure take the blame. The NFL has done a better job in protecting the quarterbacks but there is a reason only 32 men in the world have this job, it’s the toughest in all of sports. Defenses are going to try to knock the quarterback out of the game or out of rhythm and the QB’s know it. Just sometimes in the world of football something’s are not avoidable.
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