NFL 2014

[Seamus]

Miami lit up London with a fantastic display against Oakland. Great to see the Giants returning to the form I remember from a few years ago to thump the skins and I was very impressed by the 49ers comeback against the Eagles. The Bengals and the Cardinals are now the only teams with 100% records so far this season.

[mrtz]

There seems to have been a shift in the balance of power from east to west and south to north in both conferences!

Not long ago, the AFC West was the laughing stock with an 8-8 Denver team backing into the playoffs. The NFC West didn't cause too much fuss with the QB carousel over in San Francisco and Seattle and Arizona never recovering from their Super Bowl appearances.

Meanwhile, it was all about the Pats vs. Giants in the east, with the Saints, Falcons, Colts, and Texans all proving to be contenders.

Now the balance of power has shifted. Denver, San Diego, and Kansas City are all likely to make the playoffs, while Seattle, San Francisco, and Arizona seem to be in a league of their own (though SF has some work to do). Meanwhile, the East has been a hot mess with New England struggling and Philly being ever so shaky. The Texans are a far cry from what they were, while the Bengals, Ravens, Bears, and Packers from the north looking good, while the Saints, Colts, and Falcons all face consistency problems.

Still, the beauty of the league is even if it looks like the Steelers over the Bucs is a safe bet, the Bucs can recover from a shellacking at the hands of the Falcons and beat Big Ben!

[mrtz]

Wow, how about them Cowboys?

They've always had an offense that can compete with the best of them, but their defense has always been a question mark. They went into Seattle with no fear and took it to the defending champs and beat them in hostile territory. Their match-up with Philadelphia will be all the more interesting now.

[Seamus]

Hmmm could have done without that, escpecially with us being demolished by the Eagles. It was all going so well to with 'Mr Perfect' Russell Wilson running the game early on but where did that great defence go to?!. Miami did well to take Green Bay to the last play and then screw it up - depressing week!

[mrtz]

Yeah, the Legion of Boom seems to have lost a lot of their explosiveness. They seem vulnerable to QBs with the big arm (Rivers, Romo) and can throw over their secondary with big and strong receivers (Gates/Allen/Floyd; Bryant/Williams/Witten)

[mrtz]

Peyton Manning has now taken over Brett Favre as the NFL's touchdown king, as he spanked the vaunted San Francisco 49ers last night. All he needed was 3 quarters to put them away, while Von Miller and Demarcus Ware showed that this is a revamped Broncos defense by giving Colin Kaepernick nightmares on the pass rush all game long.

[Seamus]

It was only matter of time for Peyton.

Gutted for the Giants - another defeat taking them to 3-4 and it is season over now. It was incredible looking at the rushing game between them and the Cowboys. They were just running through the Giants defence, whereas we were just hitting brick walls.

[mrtz]

It was only matter of time for Peyton.

Gutted for the Giants - another defeat taking them to 3-4 and it is season over now. It was incredible looking at the rushing game between them and the Cowboys. They were just running through the Giants defence, whereas we were just hitting brick walls.

Demarco Murray is playing at an ungodly level of football so far. That has benefitted Romo greatly as opponents are so worried about stopping the rush, that he can get the ball to his receivers with minimal fuss. The Cowboys are playing some nice, balanced football and it's been effective on both sides of the field. Defensively speaking, what a massive difference firing Kiffin has done for them.

The big question mark with them is if they can consistently do this or have enough in them to make a deep run in the playoffs. They are the best team in the NFC right now, and arguably top 4 in the league with Denver, Indianapolis, and Green Bay. They have made a habit of shooting themselves in the foot. The worst of their schedule seems to be over. They can go 10-1 (only tricky matches with Arizona at away at the Giants) before what can be seen as their last big month hurdle, facing the Eagles, Bears, Eagles, and Colts, before closing out against Washington.

Not inconceivable for them to finish 13-3 this year, but I think they'll go 11-5. I think they'll lose to the Cardinals, to the Giants, the away match against Philly, and the Colts.

[Seamus]

Miami follow up a great win against Buffalo to completely balls up a commanding lead against the Broncos . I was really impressed with their rushing game and fooled myself into believing they might actually win!. The Giants screw up against Dallas............again. Its clearly a 2 horse race between the Eagles and the Cowboys and the Broncos have a challenge on their hands with the Chargers and the Cheifs. The NFC South looks insane - one of those teams is going to go into the playoffs!.

[Seamus]

The highlight of the season so far surely

Odell showing that he is as handy catching the ball from the halfway line as his namesake is scoring from it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8pNht6Iz1k]