NFL Week Nine Round Up: Smyth Returns for Saints!
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What a weekend of games this week! From the Jaguars dominance on TNF to the yet-to-be-played mouthwatering MNF fixture between the Bills & Vikings, we have had sensational scores, thumping tackles and devastating defeats. The much maligned Giants are showing progress Ravens and Eagles are plummeting! … AND the trade deadline is TOMORROW! Welcome to the Week Nine review!
Make sure you listen to this week’s podcast for further detailed analysis of these games, and the other week nine results.
Packers Demolish Patriots
Fans at Gillette Stadium are used to watching near flawless performances by a QB: unfortunately for them this weekend it was the Green Bay Packers’ QB Jordan Love that was the stand out performer this weekend in MA. Love’s 4 TDs, 3 passing and a personal rushing score, were the jewel in the crown of a 372 yard game. I strongly advise you to watch the highlights in YouTube! He was brilliant: and he dragged the Packers into new realms of relevancy. THis was the first time the Packers had scored 45 points or more AND passed 450 yards of offense for the first time since 1962!
Love was aided by a Packers defense that contributed in it’s own right: forcing four turnovers from Drake Maye: including three INTs. Maye was constantly under pressure: previously throwing one INT across four games. The “MVP” chants rang around the stadium as Love produced a wonderful performance. There were cheers, early on in the game, as Tom Brady was present covering the game for FOX. Patriots fans will have to be patient with Maye: and Mike Vrabel will hope for some new recruits ahead of this Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Packers 45 Patriots 27
Sorry Ravens Stifled by Jaguars
What a Bye week for the Steelers! They remain atop the AFC North and bitter rivals the Ravens are haemorrhaging points. The Ravens are without QB sensation Lamar Jackson … AND his back up Tyler Huntley due to injuries. The Ravens played UConn rookie Joe Fagnano, and the 25 year old’s first taste of action reflected the Ravens’ current form: he completed 20 passes from 39 attempts and two interceptions! They even directly snapped the ball to Derek Henry. This is truly a season to forget for the Ravens, at 4-5, including four losses on the bounce at home. They hope that Jacoby Brisset, their fourth QB of the year joining from the Cardinals, may steady a floundering season!
The Jags, sitting atop the AFC South at 6-2, are having a phenomenal season! Following a mixed set of results in the UK, they have turned the corner. They look the most comfortable: with the Texans the closest to them at 3-5. Trevor Lawrence looked imperious: completing 242 yards passing. The Ravens will have been grateful he only threw one TD pass.
Jaguars 33 Ravens 10
Giants Hand Eagles Seventh Straight Loss
If you had told any NFL fan that the Giants would lose Jaxson Dart and sit atop the NFC East BEFORE Thanksgiving, you would have been booked in to get your sanity checked! “Despite some holes in all facets, the Eagles are just too good” may have been a reasonable response, but the NFL gods are fickle! With this game, the Giants ended 13 years of losses in Philadelphia AND condemned the Eagles to their seventh(!!) loss in a row! The Giants are 5-2-1 and the Eagles, who started the season 2-0, have slumped to 2-7!
John Harbaugh and the collective NFL fan base held a collective breath when JJ McCarthy was forced off the field during the 3rd Quarter, with the Eagles leasing 8-6. Upstepped the much maligned Jameis Winston, and the enigmatic Alabama native lead the Giants 71 yards. The threw to Isaiah Likely for the go ahead score, at 13-6. McCarthy returned following treatment and lead the team to another victory! He went 12 of 19 to lead the team to a much sought after victory: with John Harbaugh full of praise: it’s “big to fight through that kind of thing, fight through an injury, go back in, take care of it, get back out there.”
Giants 19 Eagles 11
The injuries are starting to hit rosters all over the league, and with the impending closure of the Trade window, we can expect some major movements. Seasons and whole careers hang in the balance! Who would you like to see your team move for?
We were thrilled to see Charlie Smyth return to action for the Saints this week! All here at Gaelic Gridiron would like to congratulate him and wish him all the best as he returns to the field!
Make sure to subscribe to the Gaelic Gridiron podcast to hear this week’s episode. The lads will do their best to reflect on what has been ANOTHER fantastic slate of games.