Andrew Luck finally comes to the party in Week 9
Monday 9 November 2015 20:07, UK
Sunday's action around the NFL was thrilling, entertaining and filled with close contests, late drama and spectacular, yet surprising performances. And there was a lot to be celebrated as headlines were made all across America in Week 9.
But the grumpy old man in me wants to have a moan first, if that's all right?
And I have to begin this column with a despicable act from Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib that highlighted one flaw in this great league.
No sending off?
I don't want to see the stars of the NFL sidelined, but when they do something really bad they should be sent off - and I have long thought that it is quite hard to get sent off in the NFL and there are not enough sending offs when compared to other sports.
On Sunday night as the Indianapolis Colts were working their way towards a massive 27-24 win over the Denver Broncos, tight end Dwayne Allen got into a handbags-at-dawn shoving match with Von Miller. While those two were having words, Denver cornerback Aqib Talib marched over and deliberately shoved two fingers into Allen's eye.
Amazingly, there was relative silence on the matter from the American commentary crew covering the game. Imagine if that had been Luis Suarez during his Premier League days? What kind of reaction would that have warranted from the media?
I understand American football is a passionate and heat-of-the-moment sport, but you simply don't go after another man's eyes. It was a dirty, classless and despicable act yet Talib was allowed to play on. And even though he will likely be fined later this week, the way to hurt players like Talib is to take them out of the game, not to hit them in the wallet.
The problem is that players like Talib feel they can get away with actions like his eye-poke on Sunday night because the punishment is relatively light. I hope the NFL throw the book at him because even after the game the deluded defender was not accepting blame for the incident.
Talib said: "I think my hand slipped there and hit his face. He acted like he got into an 18-passenger car wreck. I guess that's the type of guy he is."
A few things… first, I call "cow's waste" or words to that effect on your explanation, Aqib. You meant it and you're a nasty piece of work for going after somebody's eyes. Second, you're going to blame Dwayne Allen for reacting badly to having his eyes gouged? I would have been surprised if he didn't get angry at your attack.
I would suggest that your actions on and off the field show us what type of guy you are! The type I have no desire to watch playing in this great sport I love.
And just to finish off on this subject in case some of you think I'm purely picking on Talib, yes St. Louis defensive back LaMarcus Joyner should also have been sent off this week for a hit on defenceless Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. There is no place in the game for that kind of violence either!
Colts dig deep
I feared for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday as they opened up and then blew a 17-point lead against the undefeated Denver Broncos. I felt that this fragile and under-achieving team was about to collapse and I wondered what that capitulation would do for the employment chances of head coach Chuck Pagano.
But the Colts dug deep and were led beautifully from the front by under-fire quarterback Andrew Luck. I make no secret of being a Luck fan because he represents everything that is good and inspiring about an NFL player. But he has not played well this season and he would be the first to admit that.
I think Luck's inconsistent form has been down to injuries and is not a regression for any other reason. He said he felt fully healthy on Sunday and it showed as he threw for 252 yards, two touchdowns and, most importantly, no interceptions. This was a gut-check win for Pagano, Luck and this entire Colts team and they remain very much alive in the AFC play-off race.
Cam the man
The Green Bay Packers produced a furious comeback against the Carolina Panthers but came up just short as Ron Rivera's men recorded a 37-29 win to remain undefeated on the season.
The Packers' fight-back might take some of the attention away from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton this morning - but it shouldn't because he was tremendous and showed he is ready for the bright lights that go along with a serious run at the Super Bowl.
Cam threw three touchdown passes and ran for another and while he was not perfect in the second half, he is clearly having the best season of his career and seems to be enjoying the high stakes games that are coming thick and fast for the 8-0 Panthers.
Bills get healthy
The Buffalo Bills had high hopes coming into the 2015 season and must have been disappointed to head into their recent bye week with a 3-4 record after a heart-breaking loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.
But we saw a decimated Bills team in London as they were missing a pretty important offensive trio through injury in the form of quarterback Tyrod Taylor, running back Karlos Williams and wide receiver Sammy Watkins.
That trio returned in what is technically known as emphatic fashion on Sunday as the Bills inflicted a 33-17 hammering on the Miami Dolphins. Taylor completed 11 of 12 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown, Williams ran nine times for 110 yards and two scores and Watkins was unplayable as he caught eight passes for 168 yards and one touchdown.
If the Bills can stay healthy and keep their stars on the field, they can be that dangerous team we were excited about as the 2015 campaign kicked off back in September.
Too easy in the Big Easy?
Drew Brees may be able to get his New Orleans Saints scoring for fun each weekend, but has it become too easy for opposing teams to score points in the Big Easy?
Fresh from last week's 52-49 win over the New York Giants, the Saints were on the wrong end of another thriller as they fell to a 34-28 overtime defeat at the hands of the lowly Tennessee Titans, who had not won since opening weekend.
The Saints are exciting to watch but their defence is truly terrible and they get into high-scoring, wild games every weekend. And when that happens, there are some you're going to win and some you're going to lose. And while Brees is playing at a Super Bowl level, his team is not and they will be nowhere near the championship game come the season's end.
Peterson still the man
All of the talk heading into Sunday was centred on St Louis rookie Todd Gurley surpassing Adrian Peterson as the best running back in the NFL. It was certainly lofty talk given how Gurley only had four NFL starts to his name.
Peterson reminded everybody that he is still top dog in the NFL for now as his Vikings recorded a 21-18 overtime win over St Louis. 'All Day' rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown and the Vikings are now deservedly in a first place tie for the NFC North Division lead.
As for Gurley and the Rams, they fought hard and I still think they will make noise between now and the season's end.
