IT’S A PHRASE that has been around for decades but when former NFL Commissioner Bert Bell said “on a given Sunday, any team in the NFL can beat any other team,” little did he know that it would still hold true in 2013.
Did anyone, honestly, believe that the Cleveland Browns — on a three game losing streak — would get their first win over the Baltimore Ravens since 2007? That Greg Little would suddenly remember how to catch a football? And they’d do it with their third quarterback of the season?
Did anyone, honestly, believe that Nick Foles — with only six touchdowns on the season — would suddenly figure out that you earn points for players catching the ball in the endzone? Not only that, but he’d do it seven times in one game, equalling the NFL record? And all while the Eagles failed to break 100 yards rushing between their two featured backs.
Did anyone, honestly, believe that Chris Johnson — with just 110 yards and no touchdowns in his last four games — would suddenly remember what the Tennessee Titans pay him all that money to do and rush for 150 yards and two touchdowns in one game? And all while his team were on a three game losing streak.
Did anyone, honestly, believe that Drew Brees — with just two interceptions in his previous five games — would throw two picks as the New York Jets went from six point underdogs to six points winners just a week after suffering a humiliating 40 point defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals. And did so without scoring a passing touchdown.
Did anyone, honestly, believe that Mike James — the sixth round running back only playing in his rookie season because of a serious injury to Doug Martin — would have more passing touchdowns this weekend that Robert Griffin III, Andy Dalton, Geno Smith, Alex Smith, Ryan Tannehill and Terrelle Pryor combined? And that his passing touchdown would come as his winless Buccaneers raced into a 21-0 lead against the Seattle Seahawks?
On top of all that there was the Dolphins walk-off safety overtime win — just the third in NFL history — against the Bengals, the Chargers blocking two field goals in one game, 11 years after their last blocked field goal and Darrel Young’s stat line; five carries, 12 yards and, remarkably, three touchdowns. The fourth-year Washington full back scored his only other NFL touchdown in 2011.
But that’s what’s brilliant about the NFL. Every weekend throws up surprise, drama and intrigue in a way that makes it anything but predictable. A side effect of that unpredictability is that the league can also, sadly, leave those of us who make predictions for games — based, it must be said, on the best information available to us pre-game — with egg on our faces. That said, this weekend could have been much worse.
The Buffalo Bills, on their third starting quarterback this year, matched the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs blow for blow until the fourth quarter.
The Houston Texans, who have now lost six in a row, had a 21-3 lead over the Indianapolis Colts before Andrew Luck clicked into gear in the second half to bring his side to 6-2.
That game, however, was marred by the collapse of Texans head coach Gary Kubiak at half time. Houston haven’t announced what exactly happened to Kubiak but did say he hadn’t suffered a heart attack an that the 52-year old was conscious and with his family after being brought to hospital.
Kubiak, of course, is the second NFL head coach to collapse this week with Denver’s John Fox expected to undergo heart surgery today after he was taken to hospital on Saturday following feelings of dizziness and lightheadedness while playing a round of golf during the Broncos’ bye-week.
Both collapses — coupled with the alleged bullying incidents that have led to Jonathan Martin’s decision to leave the Miami Dolphins for a time — show that as much as we love the game, as much as we want our team to win, there are much bigger battles going on every Sunday than the one measured by the win/loss column.
That shouldn’t stop us watching the games, enjoying the games, but it should put a poor performance by your fantasy team into perspective.
Week nine results
Cinncinati Bengals 20 @ 22 Miami Dolphins OT
Kansas City Chiefs 23 @ 13 Buffalo Bills
Atlanta Falcons 10 @ 34 Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints 20 @ 26 New York Jets
Minnesota Vikings 23 @ 27 Dallas Cowboys
Tennessee Titans 28 @ 21 St Louis Rams
San Diego Chargers 24 @ 30 Washington OT
Philadelphia Eagles 49 @ 20 Oakland Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 @ 27 Seattle Seahawks OT
Baltimore Ravens 18 @ 24 Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers 31 @ 55 New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts 27 @ 24 Houston Texans
