posted October 26, 2009 at 14:57 EST in NFL Articles
NFL Sunday Recap - Comebacks, Blowouts and More...
The only word to describe the Saints’ amazing comeback in their game against the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday is unbelievable. New Orleans was down 24 to 3 before a questionable timeout call by Dolphins’ coach Tony Sparano led to a Saints touchdown. That cut the lead to 24 to 10, the Saints rolled in the second half, outscoring the Fins 22 to 0 in the 4th quarter, and New Orleans won to remain undefeated and 6 and 0.
Coach Sean Payton was content on sending kicker John Carney out with barely any time left on the clock in the second quarter, but Sparano’s timeout allowed Saints’ QB Drew Brees, who had been awful for almost the entire first half, to convince Payton to go for the touchdown. The ball lied on the Dolphins 6 inch line and the Brees really believed that he could sneak it in for a touchdown.
That’s exactly what happened to lead to the 24 to 10 lead. In the third quarter, Darren Sharper returned an interception off of Miami QB Chad Henne back 42 yards for a score. All of a sudden, the Saints were behind by 7 points, 24 to 17. Then, after the third quarter ended and New Orleans was down to Miami 34 to 24, the Saints juggernaut was put into motion and New Orleans dominated the last quarter with that 22 to 0 explosion.
Not only did New Orleans win outright but they covered the football betting spread in the NFL sportsbook. How? By simply being the better team. Brees and Payton knew that if they could just keep it close, after the worst first half they had suffered in all of 2009, then their talent would overtake the Fins who were playing on emotion and adrenaline in that first half.
With Minnesota’s loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday, New Orleans is now the lone remaining undefeated team in the NFC Conference. They proved on Sunday that even on a bad day they could provide enough magic to beat a good team.
This team keeps impresses more and more each week.
Cincinnati Blows Out Chicago
Some NFL betting fans might mark the Steelers’ victory over the Vikings as the game to remember this past Sunday, but in my mind what the Bengals did to the Bears was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen all season long.
As 1 point favorites, the Bengals were supposed to win, but they weren’t supposed to destroy the Bears to the tune of 45 to 10. Running back Cedric Benson rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown in his first game against the team that drafted him. The Bears defense was supposed to be better than this but there was Benson, just ramming it down the defense’s throat. The Bengals rushed for 215 yards total and had another 233 through the air. Simply put, Cincinnati’s offense outplayed Chicago’s defense.
For the Bengals, the victory means that they aren’t going anywhere any time soon and that Pittsburgh and Baltimore, their two rivals in the NFC North, had better take them seriously. Cincy has beaten both Pittsburgh and Baltimore already this season.
For Chicago, reality set in. QB Jay Cutler, as good as he is, can’t help but push the ball when things get tough. A big problem for the Bears is that last year’s rookie sensation at running back, Matt Forte, just isn’t as good in 2009 now that teams know about him.
It could be a long year in Chicago if they can’t turn things around. The problem is that they might not have the pieces to turn things around.
Cardinals are Back and Giants Might be in Trouble
The Arizona Cardinals, the 2008 NFC Conference representative in the Super Bowl, are back. They never really went anywhere, but now they are healthy, for all intents and purposes and their defense has finally put it together.
The Cardinals marched into the Meadowlands on Sunday night and took it to the New York Giants. The Giants, who just last week were embarrassed by New Orleans, just couldn’t get over two fumbles and three Eli Manning interceptions.
Arizona, a 9 point underdog, took advantage and shocked the Giants for a 24 to 17 victory. Now, the Cardinals are in the lead in the NFC West and could get the chance to make it into another Super Bowl.
The Giants? Two losses in a row have put them into a tussle with both the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. It’s going to be another mad dash to the finish line in that traditionally competitive division.
Indianapolis is 6 and 0, But…
The Colts are 6 and 0 and yes, they are really good, but look whom they’ve played and things don’t bode well for them down the road.
Indianapolis has beaten Jacksonville, Miami, Arizona, Seattle, Tennessee, and St. Louis. They played Miami when the Dolphins were sort of shell-shocked and actually could have lost that game.
Arizona was decimated with injuries and Seattle, Tennessee and St. Louis are just bad teams.
The Colts still have to face New England, Baltimore and Denver which means that their march to the AFC Conference Title hasn’t been signed off on by the gods of football just yet.
