The NFL is unpredictable. Experts can make their guesses and predictions at the beginning of the year and there is a good chance something totally different will end up happening. The NFC South is an example of that this season.
This is a conference that is always in the discussion as one of the better conferences in the NFL much less the NFC. Many of those experts were prediction the New Orleans Saints were a front runner to win the NFC and make a run at the Super Bowl. That is far from what is coming to fruition so far in this once heralded conference. At the end of Week 8, the NFC South is the worst conference in football…and not just by a little bit. The Saints and Panthers are tied in first place with a below .500 record at 3-4. This is the only conference with a leader that has more losses than wins. The Falcons trail by one game at 2-6 and the Buccaneers are the worst team in the NFC with a 1-6 record. Week 8 of the season was not kind to the South with only the Saints getting a win this week. Let’s take recap the action starting with the victorious Saints.
New Orleans Saints 44 Green Bay Packers 23
There is just something about being in the Dome! It brings out the best in the Saints no matter who comes to town. The Packers came to town playing good football. They had won 4 straight games and looking to add a win tho their 5-2 record and make a run at the Lions for the NFC North lead. Everyone knows the New Orleans Saints are one of the best home teams in the game. They are also one of the worst road teams in the league. Their record clearly shows that with their only 3 wins coming at home this season.
It was good to see the offense show up again at home against the Packers. The Saints are 5th in the league in total points with a 28.4 average but had hit a rough patch on the road the past few weeks. The 44 points against the Packers is the highest point total so far this season and arguably Brees’ best game of the season gaining a season best QB-rating of 138.4. It was good to see Jimmy Graham getting back into the offense getting 5 catches for 59 yards and 1 TD. He seemed to be getting back to the old Jimmy Graham showing no signs of pain…which is great for the Saints who will need all their weapons in place to make a Playoff run.
While the Saints put up alot of offense…the Packers did as well. Aaron Rodgers took advantage of the 31st ranked passing defense in the NFL putting up 418 yards passing and 1 TD. The shining light for the Saints defense were 2 interceptions both off tipped passes from Packers receivers. The first was a Redzone pick by David Hawthorne with the Packers on the Saints 5-yard line saving what was sure to be a points saving play.
Seattle Seahawks 13 Carolina Panthers 9
It was a defensive battle in Carolina’s Bank of America Field. While the Panther’s are not known as an offensive powerhouse, they average 20.9 points per game leaving them in 24th place in the league. With Seattle coming to town with a top-10 defense it is no surprise that the Panthers offense had a hard time getting anything going. Cam Newton hasn’t been stellar this season either, but this was clearly his worst game of the season being held to 171 yards passing, 1 interception and no touchdowns.
Throughout most of this game it was the kickers and defense that were on display. Both quarterbacks were held under 200 yards passing and running backs under 100 yards. The kickers however were perfect. It all came down to the last minute of the game to decide who the victor would be. Russell Wilson took the Seahawks from their own 20-yard line to get the game winning touchdown with less than a minute to play. This was the only touchdown and enough to give the Seahawks a come from behind 13-9 victory.
Minnesota Vikings 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13
It was a wild ride for Bucs fans in this game! Things looked bleek going into the 4th quarter being down 10-0 with the offense not moving the ball well. The scoring got started with a 54-yard field goal from Patrick Murray. Their next drive resulted in another Murray field goal from 45 yards. Mike Glennon then gets the on the board again with a 7-yard TD pass to Seferian-Jenkins with just over 2 minutes left in the game.
The Vikings had one last drive which started from their own 20-yard line. Teddy Bridgewater had a series of completions to get them down the field quickly and in place to get a game tieing 38-yard field goal which he made with no problem. The 4th quarter ended on a sour note and the upcoming overtime period wasn’t any better.
The Bucs got the ball first with a chance to win the game on the opening drive, but things went terribly wrong. On the first play from scrimmage in the overtime period, Glennon completes a pass to Sefarian-Jenkins who fumbled and was scooped up by Vikings rookie linebacker Anthony Barr who took it to the house for the game winning touchdown. This gave the Bucs their 6th loss of the year keeping them at the bottom of the division in the standings
Detroit Lions 22 Atlanta Falcons 21
The Falcons and the Lions met in London, England playing in this year’s second game in the NFL International Series. It was gave us a chance to watch some early morning football which we are not accustomed to seeing…but a lot of fun to wake up to.
This game started out with the Falcons dominating the scoreboard taking a 21-0 lead into halftime. Matt Ryan threw 2 touchdown passes and Steven Jackson took another in from the goal line. Newly acquired kicker Matt Prater got the Lions on the board in the 3rd quarter and the Lions offense really took off from there. That field goal was the first of 22 unanswered points for the Lions leading to their 1-point victory. Prater hit two more field goals with the longest being from 48 yards which came with 4 seconds left to be the game winner for the Lions. Stafford threw two touchdown passes in the 4th quarter to help give the Lions the victory. It was definitely a gut-wrenching loss for the Falcons giving them a 2-6 record and a 5-game losing streak. There is one final International game to be played in London which will be the Cowboys taking on the Jaguars on November 6.
WEEK 9 SCHEDULE
Thursday Night Saints at Panthers Sunday Buccaneers at Browns Bye Week Falcons
