NFL

Week 9 didn’t disappoint, there were great games and great performances. This week wasn’t without surprise Cincinnati got there first win of the year and Tennessee remained perfect to this point. Some teams had some injuries that will effect the remainder of there season and its officially time to make a run at the playoffs. We are starting to see big divisional races form and the second half of the season should be as fun as the first.

AFC East – How the times have changed, a couple weeks ago it looked as if the Bills were in complete control of this division and now it is wide open. The Patriots and Bills lost in week 9 and the Jets and Dolphins won, making the division the closest in all of football. The Jets, Bills and Patriots are all tied at 5 – 3, while the Dolphins are 4 – 4.  This sets up a huge match up in week 10, Bills vs Patriots, that will feel like a must win for both teams. Both teams are coming off losses and will look to bounce back on Sunday. Miami has a home game vs Seattle and the Jets are home as well against the Rams, you have to expect both teams to win. Right now it looks like 10 -6 might get you into the playoffs in the AFC, therefore only two of these teams can make it. I think this division will stay close all year long and you should look for big match ups in the last week of the season.

The Brady Quinn era will get under way in week 10. The Browns announced that Anderson has been benched in favor of the 1st round pick and popular Quinn.

Ben Roethlisberger - It was only a matter of time, Ben Roethlisberger missed the second half on Mondays game with a shoulder injury. “Big Ben” gets sacked more then any quarterback in the league and has had a sore shoulder since early in the season. Steelers fans should be concerned without Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh becomes an ordinary team that might struggle for wins. They do have a suitable back up in Byron Leftwich, that is capable of playing a solid QB for this team. Fantasy players should keep an eye on the news to find out more about Ben and his status in week 10.

Daunte Culpepper signs a 2 year deal with the Detroit Lions. I had a feeling Culpepper wouldn’t stay retired for long and hopefully he can still play at a high level. No doubt he is an upgrade for the still winless Lions, and should add some stability to there offense. Culpepper is only 31 years old and if he returns to near the form he had prior to his injuries he can lead the Lions to a victory or two.

Donte Whitner , the Bill safety, suffered a separated shoulder in week 9’s game against the Jets. Whitner has become a reliable safety for the Bills and is one of there leaders on defense and in the locker room. His status is unclear for next weeks match up against the Patriots, but its likely he will be out. This is a big blow to the Bills, who are already struggling in the middle of this season.

Second Half Favorites - We are approx. half way through this season and it is time to take a look at who the favorites might be to compete for a Super Bowl at season end. We are only half way through the year and a lot of things are going to change, but there are some clear cut favorites emerging. In the NFC the New York Giants look like the heavy favorites to return to the Super Bowl this season. The Giants boast the 2nd raked offense to go along with there 4th ranked defense, and they have proved they can beat teams in a variety of ways. Its unclear who the true competition for Giants will be in the NFC, but the Carolina Panthers are looking good at 6 – 2 and I think the Philadelphia Eagles are going to step it up in the second half. The AFC has become a bit more foggy in the past couple weeks, but the perfect Tennessee Titans look like they will continue to role. The Titans are starting to remind me of the Super Bowl winning Ravens who won there title with all defense. The question will be whether or not the Titans are ready to perform on the big stage, and I personally look for the Pittsburgh Steelers to give them a run in the second half. Pittsburgh looks like the Steelers of old, but a lot will depend on the health of Ben Roethlisberger. The Patriots and Colts are still hanging around and with big second halves can get into the discussion, because they have been there before. My mid season prediction is a New York Giants vs Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl.

The Detroit Lions looked like they might get there first win of the season in week 9, but 14 unanswered second half points led the Bears to victory. The final score was 27 – 23 and had to be disappointing to the fans and management of the Lions.  The Lions have a tough schedule remaining and there best chance to win might be next week against the Jaguars. After that they might have to hope in week 17 that the Packers rest some players getting ready for the playoffs, and they can steal a win from a better team.

We are about half way through the year and things are starting to get  interesting. Here’s some storylines to watch for in the coming weeks, can the Bills rebound, can the Colts fight for a playoff spot, can the Lions win and can the Titans remain perfect. Enjoy the upcoming weeks of NFL football and the run for the Super Bowl.