NFL Football - Week Nine Review

In what was a surprising weekend in many regards around the NFL, the main focus is on the health of two Head Coaches as Gary Kubiak (Houston Texans) and John Fox (Denver Broncos) both suffered physical ailments, in particular Fox, who underwent heart surgery following an episode of dizziness and feeling light headed over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Kubiak nearly passed out as the Texans and Indianapolis Colts headed to the halftime locker rooms. After being taken to the hospital, he was diagnosed in good condition and should be back with the Texans soon.
That puts things in perspective regarding the game of football.
The Colts (6-2) stormed back in the second half of the game to beat the host Texans, 27-24 behind three TD passes from QB Andrew Luck. Houston held a 21-3 halftime lead but couldn't muster much in the second half. Texans' QB Case Keenum passed for 350 yards and three touchdowns, all to WR Andre Johnson, in the loss, which was the sixth in a row for Houston following a 2-0 start.

Eagles QB Nick Foles had a record day in big win.

There was also a lot of excitement on the field elsewhere as the Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) clobbered the host Oakland Raiders, 49-20 with quarterback Nick Foles, the Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Week, leading the way with SEVEN touchdown passes and 406 yards passing. It was the second time this season a QB has thrown seven TD passes in one game. Peyton Manning also did it for Denver in Week One.

The Washington Redskins (3-5) edged the San Diego Chargers, 30-24 in overtime as Darrel Young scored his third rushing touchdown of the game to win it.
Chargers' QB Philip Rivers had 341 passing yards to go with two touchdowns and two interceptions and led the 'Bolts down the field in the final two minutes, but couldn't get the touchdown to win the game as the 'Skins defense held firm, denying the go ahead score in spite of first-and-goal from inside the one-yard line with 21 seconds to go and two timeouts remaining. Instead, San Diego (4-4) had to settle for the tying field goal to force the overtime.
The New York Jets (5-4), fresh off a 49-9 blowout loss at Cincinnati last week, turned the tables and beat the visiting New Orleans Saints, 26-20 behind solid defense that included two interceptions. Jets' running back Chris Ivory gained 139 yards against his former team and scored a touchdown to help provide the difference.

Tom Brady celebrates big win over Steelers.

The New England Patriots (7-2) had their biggest offensive output this season in a 55-31 rout of the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) as QB Tom Brady threw for 432 yards and four touchdowns. The Patriots gained 610 yards in total offense, including 197 yards rushing while tight end Rob Gronkowski had nine catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. Steelers' QB Ben Roehtlisberger had 400 yards passing and four TD passes in the loss.



                                           Elsewhere around the NFL . . . . . 

The Tennessee Titans (4-4) outlasted the host St. Louis Rams, 28-21 behind 150 yards and two rushing touchdowns from running back Chris Johnson . . .  The Seattle Seahawks (8-1) survived a major scare at home, beating back the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 27-24 in OT on a 27-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka. The 'Hawks trailed 21-0 in the game but rallied behind two TD passes and a running score from QB Russell Wilson to force the overtime . . .  The Carolina Panthers (5-3) won their fourth straight game, blowing out the visiting Atlanta Falcons, 34-10 as the defense intercepted three passes, including a 38-yard return for score by Drayton Florence . . .  Kansas City (9-0) remained the NFL's only undefeated team with a 23-13 road win against the Buffalo Bills as the defense scored two touchdowns and kicker Ryan Succop kicked three field goals to lead the way . . .  The Dallas Cowboys (5-4) pulled off a late rally to win at home, 27-23 over the Minnesota Vikings as QB Tony Romo (337 pass yards) hit WR Dwayne Harris for a seven-yard scoring pass with only 35 seconds left to win the game  . . .   The Cleveland Browns (4-5) knocked off the visiting Baltimore Ravens, 24-18 behind three TD passes from QB Jason Campbell  . . .  Last Thursday, the Miami Dolphins (4-4) beat the visiting Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) with a safety in OT to win 22-20 as the defense sacked QB Andy Dalton in the end zone to win it on Halloween night . . .  The Chicago Bears (5-3) surprised the host Green Bay Packers (5-3) on Monday Night Football, 27-20 to force a three-way tie for first place (with the Detroit Lions) in the NFC North. Bears' backup QB Josh McCown threw for 272 yards and had two TD passes and RB Matt Forte' rushed for 125 yards and scored a TD while the defense recorded five QB sacks, including the one by DL Shea McClellin that broke Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers collar bone. Rodgers is out for an undetermined amount of time because of the injury.