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It is crazy to think we are already in Week 9 of the NFL season! Time surely has flied! Division leads have grown, division leads have shrunk; a lot has happened in those weeks. Here is a look at the five biggest moments from the first half of the season:
1. Peyton Manning breaks Brett Favre’s all-time touchdown record
What record does Peyton Manning not already own? He already broke the record for most passing yards in a single season and most touchdown passes in a single season last season He added another one this season, passing Brett Favre for the most touchdown passes thrown. Manning threw numbers 508, tying the record, and 509 in a game against the San Francisco 49ers in week 7.
2. Arizona Cardinals have the best record in the league
The Cardinals have been in the shadow of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks for a few years now. Quietly, they formed a very solid team with a stingy defense, productive run game, and receivers, led by Larry Fitzgerald, who can stretch the field. Well, they are demanding attention now at 7-1. Their only loss coming against the Denver Broncos. Despite losing key players on defense, this team is still able to have a solid pass rush and force quarterbacks
3. Ben Roethlisberger and the resurgence of the Steelers passing game
Big Ben has always been good, but never seems to get the credit like other quarterbacks. After posting twelve touchdown passes in the past two weeks, I think it is time we start paying attention to Pittsburgh’s main man. Surrounded by a receiving corps that rivals any in the league, Roethlisberger has put up gaudy numbers in recent weeks. The resurgence of the Steelers passing game has made their offensive along with their running game, made up of Le’Veon Bell and LaGarette Blount has made their offense one to watch in the second half of the season.
4. Unraveling of the Seahawks
After the Seahawks crushed the Packers in week one, everyone was ready to crown them Super Bowl 49 champions. Fast forward a few weeks and this team has suffered devastating injuries and a peculiar trade of wide receiver Percy Harvin to the Jets. Rumors started flying about tension in the locker room between quarterback Russell Wilson and some other players. While everyone denied that anything was wrong, their play started to decline and the team has not looked quite as dominant since that game against Green Bay.
5. The Dallas Cowboys roller coaster season
Everyone expected the Cowboys to be a bottom-tier team this season. To EVERYONE’s surprise they have become one of the best teams in the league because of their impressive offensive line and DeMarco Murray’s running ability. Unfortunately, all of that came to a screeching halt last Monday when quarterback Tony Romo was knocked out of the game after suffering two small fractures in his back. Somehow, Romo was cleared to return to the game, but the Cowboys lost in overtime to division rival Washington. Romo was ruled out this past Sunday along with two offensive lineman and the Cowboys offensive was anemic at best. The team now has injuries mounting up all over the field and are in London looking to stop their losing streak. It is unclear if Romo will be under center this Sunday.
Lots to look forward to in the next few weeks. Stay tuned to the second half of the season!
