The NFL is more than halfway through the season. Some teams’ fans are making plans for the playoffs, while others are already taking a look at college football to see who their team can potentially select in the NFL draft.
Week 10 began with a game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have been an inspiring story this season. Their new coach Chuck Pagano, was diagnosed with leukemia early this season, and because of the grueling treatment he had to temporarily step aside as coach. Last week, Pagano visited the team and made a speech, and the Colts have been fired up ever since and Thursday was no different. The Colts cruised by the Jaguars with a final score of 27-10.
Sunday began with some unexpected games. The favored New York Giants were unable to outscore the Cincinnati Bengals; they were only able reached the end zone once, losing 31-13.
The next game featured the Miami Dolphins (4-4). Although few would consider the Dolphins a heavy favorite over the Tennessee Titans, they were the favored team. Despite this, the Titans trampled the Dolphins 37-3.
Normalcy was restored in Minnesota, when the Vikings (5-1) beat the Detroit Lions with a final score of 34-24.
The New England Patriots showed why they were the favored team Sunday as they defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-31.
The New Orleans Saints surprised some on Sunday as they defeated the Atlanta Falcons. This loss is the lone blemish on the Falcons’ season as they were 8-0 prior to this game. The final score was 31-27.
The currently surging Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their third straight game against the San Diego Chargers. The final score was 34-24.
The Denver Broncos were able to keep up their winning ways against the Carolina Panthers. The Broncos beat the Panthers with a final score of 36-14.
The favored Baltimore Ravens showed that they perhaps should have been favored even more against the Oakland Raiders. The Ravens defeated the Raiders by 35 points. The final score was 55-20.
The Seattle Seahawks continued their undefeated record at home, 5-0 this season, against the New York Jets. The Jets were only able to score a single touchdown in the 28-7 loss.
The Philadelphia Eagles were unable to overcome the injury of their quarterback Michael Vick. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys 38-23. The Eagles are more worried however with the aforementioned injury. Vick suffered a concussion during the game and it is uncertain if he will return next Sunday.
The St. Louis Rams and the San Francisco 49ers found out that football games can end in a tie. The game ended after a scoreless overtime with a score of 24-24. Both teams had players that seemed stunned that games can end in ties. It is the first tie in a NFL game in four years. The 49ers, like the Eagles, are more worried with their concussed quarterback than the loss.
The Chicago Bears are also faced with a concussed quarterback after their loss to the Houston Texans. The Texans were able to win a turnover-filled game with a final score of 13-6.
The Steelers were able to win in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday night with a final score of 16-13, despite quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s injury. Roethlisberger sprained his shoulder and dislocated a rib after getting sacked, and doctors are concerned the rib could cut into his aorta. He will not be playing in Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The NFL is closing in on its final weeks and it isn’t clear which teams will make the playoffs and which will not. Fans will continue to speculate whether their team will make the cut, but they will still make their plans for the post season.
