With the NFL now telecast on Fox Sports, ESPN and on free to air thanks to One HD, there’s no excuse for Aussie NFL fans to miss out on the news and highlights around the league.
With bye weeks now upon us and most teams having already played four matches, the season is officially 25 percent of the way through.
So let’s take a look at the things that have caught my eye – from more than 12,000km away.
1) Contrasting Mannings
Whilst big brother Peyton Manning is setting records and dominating defences across the league, two-time Superbowl MVP Eli is having his worst ever stretch of his career.
Eli is currently leading the league in interceptions thrown and looks a shell of himself with the whole offensive unit in disarray.
Peyton has weapons in Wes Welker, Julius and Demariys Thomas and tight end Eric Decker who are all benefiting from Manning’s genius.
2) Trouble in the South?
Two teams expected to be in Superbowl contention have made inauspicious starts to the 2013 season.
Reigning AFC South champions the Houston Texans are 2-2 and sit a game behind divisional rivals Tennessee and Indianapolis.
Such is the disappointment at the Texans start, fans were seen setting quarterback Matt Schaub jerseys alight in Houston following the cough-up 23-20 loss to Seattle this past Sunday.
Even worse, Atlanta – with its loaded offence – are off to a 1-3 win-loss ratio following their home loss to an undermanned New England crew.
Star running back Steven Jackson has missed the past two matches and is not expected back for close to a month whilst Pro-Bowl wideout Roddy White is battling a dodgy ankle.
Veteran Tony Gonzalez only returned for this season because the Falcons convinced him they were on the brink of glory – at this stage, they are much closer to the wine cellar than trophy cabinet.
3) Saints are marching
Essendon AFL coach James Hird would be well served to make a call to New Orleans coach Sean Payton.
Superbowl-winning coach Payton suffered a 12-month ban due to the Saints bounty-gate scandal that de-railed the sustained excellence achieved in season’s gone by.
But with Payton back at the helm and Drew Brees breaking records (some he already owned) the Mercedes Benz Superdome is once again a venue to be feared for opposing teams.
Brees is among the league’s top QBs, all-purpose back Darren Sproles rejuvenated and Jimmy Graham fast-becoming the league’s premier tight end, the Saints are again marching in – maybe towards another title.
4) Steel City under construction
In American sports, it is expected that certain teams perform at a high level more often than not.
The LA Lakers in the NBA, the Yankees in baseball and among others, Pittsburgh in pro football.
Four weeks in and the Steelers are zip and four and in big trouble.
They haven’t even looked like getting a win so far and following their 34-27 loss to Minnesota at Wembley Stadium in London, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stated that his team was currently the worst in the league.
A far cry from the three conference titles (2005, 2008, 2010) and two Superbowl victories (2005 and 2008).
5) Jacksonville Jokers
Roethlisberger claimed it was his Steelers that were the worst club in the league but it’s by far and away Jacksonville who take that mantle – and quite comfortably.
In four consecutive losses, the Jaguars have only managed three touchdowns whilst their opponents have chalked up 15.
They’re dead last in the NFL for yards per game and points per contest.
It’s getting ugly in northern Florida – maybe Tim Tebow isn’t such a silly idea.
There are a million more story lines across the first quarter of the season and that’s what makes the NFL so enthralling.
Every snap of the pigskin means so much to so many.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!
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