THIS WEEK’S COLUMN could easily turn into Fr Ted’s victory speech from the Golden Cleric episode. There are few things I love to say more than “I told you so”.
So, I told you so!
I knew this victory was coming because I knew the Raiders had a score to settle. Two years ago, they sat and watched as Mark Sanchez and the Jets rolled into Oakland and tore them apart.
Indeed, the Jets were so comfortable in that game that, as they led 38-0 in the closing minutes, Sanchez was filmed eating a hot dog on the sidelines.
On Sunday, the Raiders got their chance for revenge and did something to the Jets that nobody has done since Rex Ryan took over two years ago: they beat them on the ground.
Darren McFadden, who is beginning to look like the elite running back he always threatened to be, had an outstanding game, running for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
The Raiders also got through an entire game without committing a turnover which meant that, despite passing for a career-high 369 yards, Mark Sanchez had very little help from his defence, something the Jets QB can usually rely on.
This was a vintage Raiders performance and thoughts of playoffs become that little bit more frequent.
Performance of the week
To play quarterback with a broken rib and a punctured lung in the NFL takes a level of bravery I’m not sure many possess.
While Tony Romo didn’t throw any touchdowns, he did move the ball well enough to ensure that Cowboys’ kicker Dan Bailey had great field position to make his six kicks and ensure victory.
On top of the broken rib, Romo had to put up with a shocking performance from his center, Phil Costa, who appeared to be playing a different game altogether. You can see highlights here.
Play of the week
It didn’t count, because of an imaginary holding call made by the referees, but this trick play by the Chicago Bears’ Devin Hester was a thing of beauty.
Hester, perhaps the greatest kick returner of all time, fooled the entire Green Bay special teams unit into thinking that the ball was coming to his side of the field, leaving Johnny Knox with a free run to the endzone.
Results
- Houston 33 @ New Orleans 40
- NY Giants 29 @ Philadelphia 16
- Jacksonville 10 @ Carolina 16
- New England 31 @ Buffalo 34
- Miami 16 @ Cleveland 17
- San Francisco 13 @ Cincinnati 8
- Denver 14 @ Tennessee 17
- Detroit 26 @ Minnesota 23
- Baltimore 37 @ St. Louis 7
- NY Jets 24 @ Oakland 34
- Kansas City 17 @ San Diego 20
- Arizona 10 @ Seattle 13
- Atlanta 13 @ Tampa Bay 16
- Green Bay 27 @ Chicago 17
- Pittsburgh 23 @ Indianapolis 20
- Washington 16 @ Dallas 18
Steven O’Rourke is the Offensive Co-ordinator of Tullamore Phoenix American Football Club, winners of the IAFL DV8s national title in 2010 and 2011. Tullamore are always recruiting new players so, if you’d like to play football and not just read about it, Steven would love to hear from you.
