After looking like they had buried the Chiefs early, the Colts fell to pieces in the second half, and allowed a Chiefs team that appears to be gaining something approaching momentum to beat them in a contest that has, given the Vikings’ result against the Cardinals, further solidified the opinion that the once vaunted Colts may be picking first next year in the draft.
The Colts will win games and the Chiefs may struggle to find many more as the tension ramps-up so we may see Old Blue climbing off the foot of the table as the season progresses, but unless the team believes they have a chance of challenging for the title, we might see Indianapolis trying out some new players and schemes in preparation for next year. What they really need, though is a Quarterback who is ready, willing and able to inherit Manning’s mantle that the Hall-of-Fame lock may never re-shoulder.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
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Friday, 14 October 2011
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Week 5 Highlights: Saints Vs Panthers
What looked on paper to be an absolute walk over for the Saints turned out to be a real humdinger. The never-say-die 1-4 Panthers came from 20-13 down at the half to take the lead in the fourth, forcing the Saints to get off their backsides and prove why they are regarded as playoff favourites. Trailing by 3 in the final seconds, the Panthers had a shot at winning a dramatic contest, but fell just short.
Newton was, once again, showing his worth. It is so refreshing to see a Number 1 Draft pick justifying his selection and the massive wage packet that comes with it.
By the end of the season, this Panthers team is going to have a lot to feel sore about, but equally, an awful look to take pride in. The body of work they’re putting together this season is literally unbelievable given their haplessness a year previously. As soon as they get over the hurdle and master the shutting down of top teams and gain the maturity necessary to close out games they will be a real contender, potentially for years to come.
Another candidate for worst-to-first in the competitive and unpredictable NFC South? I think so.
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Newton was, once again, showing his worth. It is so refreshing to see a Number 1 Draft pick justifying his selection and the massive wage packet that comes with it.
By the end of the season, this Panthers team is going to have a lot to feel sore about, but equally, an awful look to take pride in. The body of work they’re putting together this season is literally unbelievable given their haplessness a year previously. As soon as they get over the hurdle and master the shutting down of top teams and gain the maturity necessary to close out games they will be a real contender, potentially for years to come.
Another candidate for worst-to-first in the competitive and unpredictable NFC South? I think so.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Week 5 Highlights: Cardinals Vs Vikings
Despite finally winning, the Vikings managed to lose ANOTHER second half. They have nothing left in the tank by the time the third quarter gets underway, but thankfully, three first quarter Touchdowns from Adrian ‘All Day’ Peterson, was enough to see them home and dry.
The Cardinals – my beloved Cardinals – are really, really bad. After winning in Week 1, they have declined. I think if they played the Panthers now, that they would lose, and possibly by some way.
There are problems all over the field for the Cardinals, but I think with this team it is a general lack of confidence that lets them down. When they are flying on offense they play well in every position, so the crux of the team’s success is success at Quarterback and Kolb is not pulling his weight. Again – and I’ve said this before – I am expecting a lot from him in his first year, but only because it’s so essential to his team’s success. The Cardinals need their devastating aerial threat to be a constant force or it all breaks down. Without a competent distributor, Fitzgerald might as not be on the field, allowing the defence to narrow the field and go after the Runners.
Kolb must shape-up: losing to the Vikings is a low, low point.
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The Cardinals – my beloved Cardinals – are really, really bad. After winning in Week 1, they have declined. I think if they played the Panthers now, that they would lose, and possibly by some way.
There are problems all over the field for the Cardinals, but I think with this team it is a general lack of confidence that lets them down. When they are flying on offense they play well in every position, so the crux of the team’s success is success at Quarterback and Kolb is not pulling his weight. Again – and I’ve said this before – I am expecting a lot from him in his first year, but only because it’s so essential to his team’s success. The Cardinals need their devastating aerial threat to be a constant force or it all breaks down. Without a competent distributor, Fitzgerald might as not be on the field, allowing the defence to narrow the field and go after the Runners.
Kolb must shape-up: losing to the Vikings is a low, low point.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Week 5 Highlights: Raiders Vs Texans
I was excited about this game as soon as I saw the schedule for Week 5. These two up-and-coming teams – both bottom-dwellers now fancied to take their division crowns – have impressed in both wins and losses this season so far.
Despite the Texans being runaway favourites for suddenly weakened AFC South, they are shipping games at a time they need to be building a commanding lead. Losing to the Raiders now, though, may be a defeat from which they can draw a lot. I believe they will win the South and that the Raiders will win the West, with the pair sharing the third and fourth seeds, meaning that should they win through the playoffs they will face-off in the AFC Championship game. Oftentimes, we’ve seen playoff rematches go the other way because of what the losing coach from the regular season has learned and has been able to study the tape of the loss and modify his unit for victory, whereas the winning coach is forced to either stick with the originally winning formula or twist it to confuse the opposition but, in the process, risk fluffing the whole show.
The Raiders should take heart from this win and hopefully the success they’ve enjoyed so far will provide them with the necessary swagger to keep rolling.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
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Despite the Texans being runaway favourites for suddenly weakened AFC South, they are shipping games at a time they need to be building a commanding lead. Losing to the Raiders now, though, may be a defeat from which they can draw a lot. I believe they will win the South and that the Raiders will win the West, with the pair sharing the third and fourth seeds, meaning that should they win through the playoffs they will face-off in the AFC Championship game. Oftentimes, we’ve seen playoff rematches go the other way because of what the losing coach from the regular season has learned and has been able to study the tape of the loss and modify his unit for victory, whereas the winning coach is forced to either stick with the originally winning formula or twist it to confuse the opposition but, in the process, risk fluffing the whole show.
The Raiders should take heart from this win and hopefully the success they’ve enjoyed so far will provide them with the necessary swagger to keep rolling.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Week 5 Highlights: Titans Vs Steelers
The Steelers need to be winning games of this calibre if they hope to stay in touch with the soaring Ravens. The Titans are better than people think, but worse than their record suggests. Their true potential lies somewhere in between the two – a competitive, hard-to-read team that is more of a problem-causer than a real threat.
I liken this Tennessee team to an easy Sudoku. You know you should be able to beat it, but sometimes, if you lose focus, it can all go horribly wrong and you can find yourself chasing your tail for hours.
Thankfully, despite a slight slip in the middle phase of the game, the Steelers survived with very few signs they have anything to worry about. Their offense was motoring by the end, and the connection between Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward looks tight as ever.
The Titans might well go on a few game slide, following this heavy and demoralising defeat as they struggle to find consistency and a solid identity that will persist into next season.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
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I liken this Tennessee team to an easy Sudoku. You know you should be able to beat it, but sometimes, if you lose focus, it can all go horribly wrong and you can find yourself chasing your tail for hours.
Thankfully, despite a slight slip in the middle phase of the game, the Steelers survived with very few signs they have anything to worry about. Their offense was motoring by the end, and the connection between Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward looks tight as ever.
The Titans might well go on a few game slide, following this heavy and demoralising defeat as they struggle to find consistency and a solid identity that will persist into next season.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Week 5 Highlights: Eagles Vs Bills
When the Bills lost a close one to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, you could have been forgiven for thinking their quick start was all smoke, but there’s a fire burning in this team that could incinerate all comers.
Beating the Eagles – who are now a worrying 1-4 – is no mean feat, and a game that has righted the wrongs of the previous week for a team that has a slighter margin for error than most, given their hot division.
If you’d said a fortnight ago that the Bills would go 1-1 through their next two games, you would have nodded and thought that was not only likely, but acceptable. They now stand at 4-1 and top the division. They are doing fantastically and going in the right direction.
The Eagles, however, are not in a good place at all. Thankfully, the Giants lost this week too, which lessens the pressure in a tight, unpredictable division. But it isn’t good enough – not by a long shot. They need to go on a run and soon, nay, immediately. A five game win streak will do a lot to ease the mounting criticism, but if they lose many more they will quickly find themselves in an embarrassing and frustrating situation – too good to earn a top pick next year; too disarrayed to fulfil their potential. The Eagles threatened to tie the game up in the fourth, shutting out the Bills, who have a habit of fading late offensively. All in all, this game is a perfect snapshot of a team exceeding expectations, and another, far ‘better’ team, falling well short. It’s crunch time for both, now. Can the Bills keep going (yes, why not?), and can the Eagles recover in time to mount a challenge (here’s hoping!).
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Beating the Eagles – who are now a worrying 1-4 – is no mean feat, and a game that has righted the wrongs of the previous week for a team that has a slighter margin for error than most, given their hot division.
If you’d said a fortnight ago that the Bills would go 1-1 through their next two games, you would have nodded and thought that was not only likely, but acceptable. They now stand at 4-1 and top the division. They are doing fantastically and going in the right direction.
The Eagles, however, are not in a good place at all. Thankfully, the Giants lost this week too, which lessens the pressure in a tight, unpredictable division. But it isn’t good enough – not by a long shot. They need to go on a run and soon, nay, immediately. A five game win streak will do a lot to ease the mounting criticism, but if they lose many more they will quickly find themselves in an embarrassing and frustrating situation – too good to earn a top pick next year; too disarrayed to fulfil their potential. The Eagles threatened to tie the game up in the fourth, shutting out the Bills, who have a habit of fading late offensively. All in all, this game is a perfect snapshot of a team exceeding expectations, and another, far ‘better’ team, falling well short. It’s crunch time for both, now. Can the Bills keep going (yes, why not?), and can the Eagles recover in time to mount a challenge (here’s hoping!).
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Week 4 Highlights: Patriots Vs Raiders
The Patriots bounced back after their shocking defeat to division frontrunners, the Buffalo Bills, by beating a team that had the potential to level the Patriots record at 2-2. It took a great deal of concentration on the Patriots part not to slip-up against the up-and-coming Oakland side that are threatening to be around for a long time this season.
The Patriots scored a touchdown in every quarter (7, 7, 10, 7) showing great composure, consistency and clock management and held the Raiders to one trip to the end zone and three field goals (3, 7, 3, 6).
Not taking the foot off the pedal is one of the marks of champions. Never going to sleep against any opposition, dangerous or not, is an essential component to postseason success. Every team in the NFL is capable of pulling the rug from under your feet if you stand still too long, especially a team as loaded as Oakland. What saved the Patriots’ porous pass defence here was Oakland’s propensity to run the football and Jason Campbell’s inability to make tight throws into coverage. The Raiders’ receivers are burners – freak athletes with immense speed but not the best route running skills. By stuffing the line to prevent the run and playing a consertive mixture of zone and man-to-man, the Patriots effectively neutralised Oakland’s best assets.
Brady was back on form and protected the football well after his 4 interception horror-show against the Bills in Week 3. He threw two touchdowns and no interceptions as opposed to Campbell who was responsible for the Raiders’ lone touchdown but also for two damaging interceptions.
Both teams should make it to the playoffs - the Raiders as division champs and the Patriots as either winners of the AFC East or the top Wild Card. Should they slip to fifth seed, it seems plausible to suggest they could get the Raiders in the divisional round away in California.
And that will suit the Brady Bunch just fine.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
The Patriots scored a touchdown in every quarter (7, 7, 10, 7) showing great composure, consistency and clock management and held the Raiders to one trip to the end zone and three field goals (3, 7, 3, 6).
Not taking the foot off the pedal is one of the marks of champions. Never going to sleep against any opposition, dangerous or not, is an essential component to postseason success. Every team in the NFL is capable of pulling the rug from under your feet if you stand still too long, especially a team as loaded as Oakland. What saved the Patriots’ porous pass defence here was Oakland’s propensity to run the football and Jason Campbell’s inability to make tight throws into coverage. The Raiders’ receivers are burners – freak athletes with immense speed but not the best route running skills. By stuffing the line to prevent the run and playing a consertive mixture of zone and man-to-man, the Patriots effectively neutralised Oakland’s best assets.
Brady was back on form and protected the football well after his 4 interception horror-show against the Bills in Week 3. He threw two touchdowns and no interceptions as opposed to Campbell who was responsible for the Raiders’ lone touchdown but also for two damaging interceptions.
Both teams should make it to the playoffs - the Raiders as division champs and the Patriots as either winners of the AFC East or the top Wild Card. Should they slip to fifth seed, it seems plausible to suggest they could get the Raiders in the divisional round away in California.
And that will suit the Brady Bunch just fine.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
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