It may seem hard to believe, but we are halfway through the NFL's regular season. At the time of writing, we are 137 games in, with 137 remaining. The road to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX is getting closer and closer.
A Thursday night banger
If there was ever a game to stay up for this week, it is the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals defence and run game was mentioned last week as a struggling point for the team nationally, as quarterback Joe Burrow was upfront and honest about the sides need to win as many of their remaining games as possible.
Last week, the Bengals responded to Burrow’s rallying cry in the best way, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders. A team that struggled with the run game had over 120 yards from Chase Brown in a single game. At the NFL trade deadline this week, the team added former Bears running back Khalil Herbert to their roster as Zack Moss is out indefinitely due to a neck injury. Entering Week 10, the Bengals sit at 4-5 and this is a crucial matchup for not only the team, but the AFC North in general.
Baltimore impressed over the Denver Broncos this week and have bulked up their defence - showing that they are really in their 'win now mode’. The acquisition of cornerback Tre'Davious White allows the Ravens defence to reach a new level and the team now feels at its maximum level, after the additional trade for Diontae Johnson last week.
This is a fascinating game. It would be easy to say that the Ravens can and will win this game based on previous form - but there have been slip ups this season, namely against the Cleveland Browns on the road. If Burrow can enter Charm City on Thursday and win, it would be a statement entering the second half of the season.
Hey, Jude
The final international game of the season takes place this weekend at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, with the lowly Carolina Panthers facing off against the New York Giants. For Irish fans, the biggest storyline is that of Jude McAtamney. The Swatragh and South Derry native became the first Irish kicker in thirty nine years to score points in the NFL after Neil O’Donoghue in the 1980s.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that primary kicker Graham Gano was returning to the Giants roster after an injury that has kept him out for multiple weeks. RTÉ sources indicate that McAtamney will travel to Munich regardless of Gano’s game status as this could be as late as a game time decision, depending on how fit Gano is and how he performs in training. The Giants travel to Germany late Thursday night, so in a preparation sense, it is a shorter week.
Last weekend in Swatragh, the entire village was out to watch Jude in his debut. With the Giants on all screens, it was a surreal evening in Friels Bar.
Jude's hometown of Swatragh definitely enjoyed the Irishman’s first career field goal 🇮🇪 (via @Michael_NFL) https://t.co/mRePIGImXQ pic.twitter.com/uDvXQ9fEiy
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) November 3, 2024
For owner Dermot Friel, it was a big moment for the village.
"It was a fantastic evening for Jude and his family," he said. "Jude has worked hard to transfer his skills from Gaelic Football to the NFL and you can see tonight that it has paid off."
"To have the village come to support him tonight is a credit to Jude and his family."
This is a hard game to call. Both teams have been poor so far this season and while the Panthers won last weekend, they have not been consistent.
One thing that we can expect is a fantastic atmosphere - 70,000 plus people singing ‘Country Roads’, regardless of the scoreline.
Undefeated Chiefs
We may be halfway through the season, but the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are yet to lose a game. That is some going.
The hallmark of champions is a team that battles through tough situations. There have been moments this season where Mahomes has not played to the best of his ability while Travis Kelce has taken a while to get going - but the Chiefs have still found a way, sitting at 8-0 (bye week included) entering the second stretch of the season.
A real positive for the Chiefs has been the addition of DeAndre Hopkins last week. His performance in his debut on Monday Night Football was notable, with two touchdowns and over eighty yards on the night. Having Hopkins there gives the Chiefs an addition to their arsenal, especially this weekend when they aim to add further difference between themselves and AFC West rival the Denver Broncos, who struggled last week against the Baltimore Ravens.
Sunday Night
The Texans-Lions matchup on Sunday could legitimately be one of the games of the season. We all know how much the Lions have impressed on all sides of the ball in recent weeks, but it will be interesting to see how they adapt on the road in Houston. The Lions have been on a roll, with a record of 7-1, with their defence ranking fifth in scoring defence as we enter Week 10, allowing an average of 18.5 points per game this season.
One major issue could be that of Nico Collins for the Houston Texans. With Nico Collins, the Texans' passing game was ranked 12th in EPA [Expected Points Added] per dropback from
Weeks 1-5, but without Collins in the lineup, this dropped to 24th from Weeks 5-9, showing his importance to the team.
The Texans need him back. CJ Stroud needs him back. If Collins returns this week or next, the Texans could starkly improve their season's expectations.
Super Quinn
One final point this week that is not NFL related - Ireland’s Andy Quinn is expected to commit to a US college on Friday during the NFL Academy game in Munich, Germany, per RTÉ sources. The Blackrock athlete is a five-star rated recruit, with the former Leader Kicking man kicking a 53-yard field goal for the Irish National team last weekend in Ankara, Turkey.
Ireland's Andy Quinn will make his college commitment tomorrow during the NFL Academy game in Munich, per source. pic.twitter.com/PByHkTDJPc
— Michael McQuaid (@Michael_NFL) November 7, 2024
Quinn is one to watch and a major talent. His choice of college will be fascinating.
