Teams trying to get on track for the second half of the season

Thanks the to the uneven schedule and the Bye Weeks spread throughout the season it's hard to say when the second half begins in the season but this week is a good point to start looking closere at the standings and talking about playoff positioning. The early games started extra early with the New England Patriots hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt Germany. 

While the German fans got to see a pair of title contenders in last week's matchup of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins this week with the Patriots and the Colts they saw a pair of teams going nowhere with Patriots pulling Mac Jones from the game in the final drive for Bailey Zappe who responded with an Interception sealing the Colts win 10-6. The Patriots fall to 2-8 and the Colts move to an even 5-5. 

One interesting stat from the game is that the Patriots lost while scoring only 6 points despite averaging 4.6 yards per carry on 36 carrys. Yes their passing game is that bad.

The Houston Texans went in to the Jungle to face the Cincinnati Bengals in what turned into a shootout. The Texans win 30 to 27 to put both teams at equally surprising 5-4 records. In a duel of Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud threw for 356 yards with a TD and an INT against Joe Burrow who put up 347 yards himself with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. 

Stroud continues to put up numbers that exceed all of the prior Buckeyes to become NFL QBs. 

Another QB continues to impress as the Minnesota Vikings now are 2-0 without Starting QB Kirk Cousins as Joshua Dobbs put up another big games in leading the Vikings over the New Orleans Saints 27-19. Dobbs put up an efficent 268 yards and 1 TD in the game, supported by a big game from TE T.J. Hockenson with 11 catches for 134 yards and a TD. The win moves the Vikings to 6-4 as they continue to shake off a slow start. 

Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers continued to do what they do, win close games. The Steelers move up to 6-3 and move closer to continuing the string of non-losing seasons by Head Coach Mike Tomlin. 

Jaylen Warren carried the Steelers across the line with 101 of the Steelers 205 yards rushing. Almost 80 yards than their passing game which put up 119 yards.

Baker Mayfield continues to play well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they faced the Tennessee Titans led by rookie Will Levis who had a great debut game but failed to inspire today with 19/39 passing and a QBR of 53.3, meanwhile, Mayfield has a QBR of 102.4.

Equally concerning the Titans Dynamic Duo of Derick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins combined for only 47 yards from the line of scrimmage.

The Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens continued their history of close games with the Browns edging out the Ravens 33-31. Jerome Ford filling in for an injured Nick Chubb and the lead back did the job with 107 yards on 17 carrys. Fellow RB Kareem Hunt added a TD run and Amari Cooper pulled in 98 yards.

Finally in a return to form the San Francisco 49ers travelled to Duvall County, Florida and bested the Jacksonvile Jaguars 34-3. All of the 49ers skill players contributed and QB Brock Purdy returned to form with 296 yards passing and 3 TDs including a 66 yard strike to George Kittle. 

Both teams go to 6-3 and sit in contol of their division.