Team News
NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 4 Weeks To Go
Oct 3rd
We’re in October now! The NFL’s International Series 2010 Wembley game is getting closer and closer and in four weeks time (to the hour) it’ll all be done and we’ll be heading home. (Actually, we’ll probably be at The Green Man or some other nearby bar). Both teams were on early today, and with neither game blacked-out here in the UK I watched a half each of the games. How did they shape up?
Denver Broncos
I watched the second half of this game.
My fantasy match-up this week had me as 15 point dogs but with Chris Johnson on my opponent’s team projected to make 23 points. That always sounded high, but come half-time I was expecting to find out that he was injured due to the relatively small number of yards he’d put up. Like most viewers, I spent most of the second half just waiting for him to bust one out, but it never happened as the Broncos defence had him locked down.
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Who’ll Be The Last Undefeated Team In 2010?
Sep 28th
With week 4 of the NFL 2010 season upon us already, there is a surprisingly small number of teams that remain unbeaten at this point. Just three. Even more surprising is the three teams that it is: The Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears.
Who’s the most likely to keep a zero in the L column for longest?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Have Beaten: Falcons, Titans, Buccaneers
Next Three Weeks: Ravens – Bye – Browns
Kansas City Chiefs
Have Beaten: Chargers, Browns, 49ers
Next Three Weeks: Bye – at Colts – at Texans
Chicago Bears
Have Beaten: Lions, Cowboys, Packers
Next Three Weeks: at Giants, at Panthers, Seahawks
NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 5 Weeks To Go
Sep 27th
Week 3 is in the books for the two teams who’ll be gracing Wembley Stadium here in the UK later this year, so it’s time for this week’s Wembley Watch.
San Francisco
Oh dear, there is big trouble in San Fran. The Chiefs took them to school last night in an embarrassing outing. Craig fancied the Chiefs when we looked at the games last week and this turns out to have been a good move. Offensively the 49ers couldn’t get any of their playmakers involved at all and paid the price. The first 11 possessions producing only 3 points, 5 sacks allowed, untold quarterback hits – the rookie-laden line struggled all night. Very poor.
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Jimmy Clausen To Start Against The Bengals
Sep 21st
In a move surprising absolutely no-one who’s ever watched the NFL, and certainly none of us here at MacTalksNFL.co.uk John Fox has announced that second round draft pick Jimmy Clausen will replace Matt Moore as the starting quarterback.
Let’s not mince words, Moore has been terrible. He was always a gamble but his turnovers and all round poor performance have sent him to the bench for now. Clausen has already had spells in both games so far.
Clausen, then at Notre Dame
As we said back at the beginning of June, Clausen was considered the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft and his fall was one of the biggest stories. Now, aged 22 (though he’ll be 23 come the weekend), he’s a starter.
Good luck against the Bengals young man.
Image Credit: larrysphatpage
NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 6 Weeks to Go
Sep 21st
Oooh, 6 weeks!
Not long at all now until the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers run out at Wembley Stadium here in the UK as part of the NFL’s International Series. Those of you paying attention will realise that it’s less than 6 weeks by two days, but we had to wait as the 49ers were the Monday Primetime game this week.
So, it was home debuts for both teams last night with both teams 0-1 going into the weekend. Good showings from both teams, but different results…
Denver Broncos
Demaryius Thomas came in and make a big splash last night, showing the strength, speed and ability that made him a first round draft pick. Kyle Orton showed great control of the offence and the defence also turned up as the Broncos subdued the Seahawks to take the game.
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Ryan Grant – Out For The Season
Sep 15th
Ryan Grant, out for 2010
When you think of the Packers, you think firstly of Aaron Rodgers slinging the ball about before you think of their running game, but Grant has put up over 1,200 yards in each of the last two seasons and was expecting similar sorts of numbers this year.
Backup Brandon Jackson steps into the breach, and Dimitri Nance has been signed to address what was a very thing backfield before Grant went down. Brandon Jackson will get the majority of the carries. The Packers, though they won, looked shaky in their opener against the Eagles and losing such an important player could well shake them again. I still fancy them for the NFC North though.
Grant is in the 3rd year of a 4 year contract and we’ll hope that he recovers well to be back next season.
Image Credit: Rodney Buike
What I Learned From HBO’s Hard Knocks
Sep 11th
HBO’s Hard Knocks – Training Camp With The New York Jets behind-the-scenes NFL program finished this week, it’s 5 week run seeming far too short but leaving plenty of memorable moments and lessons learned. It’s not perfect, and it’s careful to present the Jets in a certain way, there are plenty of narrative shortcuts too but it gives a good look at a club with high ambitions for the 2010 NFL Season.
If you get the chance to watch it, which is admittedly difficult in the UK, then it’s definitely worth a look regardless of your personal team allegiance.
What are the key lessons that we could take from this season of the show?
1 – Rex Ryan Is Really Funny
The series pretty much opened with Rex wondering if they could win the Super Bowl without star corner (then on holdout) Darelle Revis, then stating. “I dunno, he’s pretty ****ing good.” and making me laugh from there on out.
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Matt Leinart Signed
Sep 6th
Quickly after being released, the Texans have signed him to a one year contract, likely as the backup after poor showings from the incumbent backups during the pre-season. I do like to see players getting a second chance, and always want players to do well, so fingers crossed for him.
Matt Leinart Released
Sep 4th
The Arizona Cardinals have announced today that they’ve released QB Matt Leinart.
Well I don’t know. I’ve been away on holiday and largely out of touch for the last two weeks and this is probably the biggest piece of news that I’ve seen so far when trying to catch up with what’s been a-happening.
Leinart has struggled to impress when he’s been given the chance, and there have been well reported maturity issues but there’s also a case to be made that he’s never been given a good enough chance to impress. In either case, losing the projected started in such a key position this close to the start of the season has got to hurt.
We’ll be factoring this in when we take our Final Look and make our predictions for which teams are post-season bound.
NFL International Series 2010: Wembley Watch – 10 Weeks to Go
Aug 23rd
So with just under 10 weeks until we get to see if 15 Tebow is the most visible jersey at Wembley Stadium or if the NFL’s UK fans aren’t as sold on him as most of the US.
Denver Broncos
Brandon Stokley has been showing his worth as a vet. I’ve liked him since I signed him a few years ago in a Madden franchise and he was then, and remains today, a solid 3rd down receiver. But he’s not Demaryius Thomas.
Jarvis Moss should be back soon, once his hand can have its cast removed. He might be back for the Steelers this weekend.
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