AFC South Review: Week 9

By Joanne Kong

Twitter: @kongfu4u  AFC South

Walter Camp, a Yale University graduate, is considered to be the father of American Football.  A combination of Rugby and association football, the game diverged with the introduction of rule changes of the line of scrimmage, of down-and-distance and the legalization of interference.  The game further developed with the expansion of game plays by collage coaches, the introduction of the forward pass, the rooting tradition of college football eventually emerging into the origins of professional football.

Before the current bible of rules and regulations we know as American Football, there was a simpler time of foam padded clothing and leather helmets.  Today, I think we can all agree that for the most part, American football is unpredictable with regard to performances on any given day, injuries and, ultimately, wins and losses.

Which brings us to the AFC South…

Indianapolis Colts (4-5)

Indianapolis Colts

Denver Broncos (24) @ Indianapolis Colts (27)

Andrew Luck is out for at least a month.

But Luck left with a bang, defeating the Denver Broncos in Indy and ruining their undefeated season.  With Luck’s unpredictable performance week-to-week, the Broncos were favored to win.  In Vegas, the line was -3 in favor of the Denver Broncos.  Who would have predicted this outcome of the game, particularly after Week 8?

First of all, Lucas Oil Field is obviously Peyton Manning’s Kryptonite.  However, that doesn’t explain why the Broncos defense played unlike themselves in the first quarter of the game, allowing the Colts to score first and ending the first quarter down 10.  The Colts scored again in the second quarter, 0-17.

But the Broncos did finally score just before the half.

Aqib Talib Poke in the Eye

The game didn’t get interesting until the last 2 minutes 35 seconds of the game.  Which is when a now infamous eye-poke from Denver cornerback Aqib Talib gave the Colts offense a new set of downs, earning him a 1 game suspension that will cost him $323,529.41.

This is where the “what if” scenario comes into play.  “If” Talib hadn’t poked Dwayne Allen in the eye and the Broncos stopped the Colts offense from converting the 3rd and long, the Colts would have settled for a field goal, going up 6 points and leaving the Broncos almost 2 minutes to go down field, score a touchdown and win the game.

After the eye-poke, the Colts missed the field goal and the Denver defense drew a penalty for holding (Danny Trevathan) and berating an official (Talib).

The “what if”…could Manning and the Broncos driven down field and won the game or at least forced overtime?

Ahh…football.  That’s why they play the game.

An amazing win for the Colts at home, moving them to 4-5 and, more importantly, making them spoilers for the Broncos’ bid for perfection.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars (23) @ New York Jets (28)

Usually, I like to hear the good news first, because you have some time to enjoy it before the hammer hits.  However, when it comes to football…sometimes the bad news isn’t so bad, but rather just expected news.

Blake Bortles

Blake Bortles

The bad news… a Bortles interception lead to a Jets offensive touchdown score.  The Jets were able to stifle the Jaguars running game (as expected), holding T.J. Yeldon to only 64 yards.  Bortles had two interceptions and was sacked six times.  The Jaguars lost by only 5-points.

The good news… the Jacksonville Jaguars were the first to score.  The Jaguars never had a lead to lose, but they made a valiant come-from-behind effort to potentially win the game.  Although, they didn’t.  Allen Hurns had a 122 yards and 1 TD.  Kicker, Jason Myers made all three field goals and two extra points.  The Jaguars lost by only 5-points.

Tennessee Titans (2-6)

Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans (34) @ New Orleans Saints (28)

It was going to be a hard game to win.  The Titans on the road, facing off against the New Orleans Saints.  The Saints were coming off a three-game win streak while the Titans were entering into week 9 with a six-game losing streak.  The Saints were 8.5 point favorites.  But, the Titans probably didn’t think about the odds against them.  They entered the Superdome looking to play the best football they could play.

Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota took the field in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints and the difference showed.  With new interim head coach Mike Mularkey taking the reins, the plays were tailored towards Mariota’s strength working outside the pocket.  But, it ultimately were some clutch Mariota scrambles that got the ball downfield and over the goal line.  Mariota threw for 371 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions and 0 sacks.  An all-time best for the rookie quarterback.  But it wasn’t just the offensive effort that got this victory for the Titans.  It was also the relentless effort of the Titans defense that kept the game within reach and bring the game to overtime.  The Titans defense prevented the Saints from scoring in the second and third quarter.  Brees was sacked four-times and was intercepted in a critical third quarter endzone pass intended for Mark Ingram.

An amazing win for the Titans.

Maybe, for once, Walter Camp won’t be embarrassed of what came out of the AFC South.

tagged with