Week Ten Review: Talking Points Galore

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Well dear reader, the NFL fan has again been spoiled for choice! From the early first ever NFL game Berlin game going to Over Time, the respective roller coaster Redzone windows to the Sunday Night Football showdown between the Chargers and Steelers, we were treated to yet another epic gameday of drama and new storylines. This week’s review will cover the Dolphins shock win over the Bills; the Patriots shading past the Bucs: and the rejuvenation of the Baltimore Ravens,

Dolphins Dumbfound Bills
This was a shock to all NFL fans. The Dolphins have been in turmoil for months … but that didn’t appear last night in Hard Rock Stadium, Florida. The Dolphins kept the Bills scoreless in three quarters: all the while adding to the score to keep their momentum going. Tua Tagovailoa, despite throwing two INTs, and De’Von Achane were stand out performers for the Dolphins offense. Achane ran for 225 yards, including two fourth quarter touchdowns, to dent the Bills defence. Tagovailoa threw two touchdowns, the same as Josh Allen, but it was the Dolphins defence that really made the difference. They troubled Allen all day: securing three sacks and three possession turnovers. Not the result we were expecting at all in Gridiron HQ!
Bills 13 Dolphins 30

Pats Topple Bucs in Shootout
Drake Maye and Treyveon Henderson helped the Pats secure their seventh straight win during this shootout with the Bucs. Baker Mayfield was in fine form, completing 273 yards and three TDs, but the Bucs’ defense was simply unable to disrupt the deadly duo of Maye and Henderson. The Rookie running back carried for 147 yards for 14 carries: including the deciding 69 yard dash for the endzone with 1:32 to go in the fourth quarter. Vrabel’s 8-2 Patriots could easily improve to 10-2 with the Jets and Bengals in their next two fixtures.
Patriots 28 Buccaneers 23

Ravens on the Rise
The Ravens have put the AFC on notice with their three game winning streak. The Ravens’ defence have returned to form: and with Lamar Jackson completing a second game on his return from injury, the Ravens have fired a warning shot that will send shivers down the spine of their rivals. The Ravens’ defence turned two JJ McCarthy INTs and recovered a fumbled kick off in the third quarter to fight back from a half-time deficit. The Ravens now 4-5, pursue 5-4 Steelers: after a 1-5 start. They were thought to have no chance of winning the AFC North because the Steelers got off to a blistering start. The AFC North leaders have the Bengals next, while the Ravens take on the Browns: what are the odds of both Ravens AND Steelers being 5-5 at the end of Week Eleven?
Ravens 27 Vikings 19

While events on the field took our minds off the working week and domestic duties for a few hours, the pre-game moments of silence (or applause in the class shown by fans in Berlin) in honour of Dallas Cowboys’ twentyfour year old DE Marshawn Kneeland brought us all to reflection. The young men on the field face all forms of trials and tribulations in their lives: and while some positions garner huge salaries and Netflix documentaries, we can lose sight of the difficulties these men may face: nor of the demons they may battle in their daily lives. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.