HELLO AND WELCOME to week two of the National Football League. We’ll be here right through to the end of tonight’s second set of games — after that, you’re on your own!
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Stick on the barbecue and get a few cold ones out of the fridge — 7-Up for us please, we’re working — it’s time for some Sunday night American football.
We’ve got 14 games to look forward to over the next 10 hours or so, and we’re here to keep you company until 12.30am or so. We’re dead sound like that.
Get comfortable; it’s about to get busy.
First things first, here’s tonight’s line-up. In case you’re still wondering, the Falcons v the Bengals and the Chiefs v the Broncos are the two live games on Sky.
What are you most looking forward to?
6pm games
- Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Washington
- Dallas Cowboys vs. Tennessee Titans
- Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Giants
- New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints vs. Cleveland Browns
- Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals
- Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers
9.05pm games
- St. Louis Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers
9.25pm games
- Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders
- New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Monday 1.30am game
- Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers
Declaration(s) of interest: I’m a Jets fan for my sins so if you’re looking for unbiased analysis of tonight’s beating by game against the Green Bay Packers, you should probably look elsewhere. Don’t worry Pats fans, I’ll try to keep it in check for the early part of the evening.
I’ve also picked the Broncos in Last Man Standing this week, so there’s that too. I find it’s best to be upfront about these things.
There are a couple of big names inactive today. Might be time to give your Fantasy Football team a quick once-over:
Alshon Jeffrey seems to be a big doubt for the Bears as well. They’re tonight’s late, late game.
Here’s the early scandal. Even without their first-choice QB, the Cardinals lead the Giants 7-0. Drew Stanton’s touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald was overruled by the replay officials with the ball spotted on the one-yard line, but Jonathan Dwyer ran it in on the very next play.
And the Vikings lead the Pats 7-0, thanks to a 25-yard pass from Matt Cassel to Matt Asiata. Good start by the Pats.
Uh oh…
That’s not looking good for RG3. His replacement, Kirk Cousins, has thrown a TD pass to Darrel Young in the meantime.
It’s going well, Cowboys fans…
Here’s the latest from around the grounds:
It’s chaos out there – be careful, folks:
Kieran Flub Fanning writes:
New to this watching NFL thing going to follow the cowboys or the raiders haven’t decided yet currently watching Detroit vs Carolina here in oz aside from the obvious Johnson for Detroit who should I be looking out for
Oh God, don’t pick the Cowboys or the Raiders – seriously! Why would you do that to yourself?
Nearing the end of the first half in most of these games – here’s how we’re looking:
- Dolphins 0 @ Bills 9
- Jaguars 0 @ Washington 21 (they’ve had two Alfred Morris TDs)
- Cowboys 10 @ Titans 0 (DeMarco Murray TD)
- Cardinals 10 @ Giants 0
- Patriots 17 @ Vikings 7 (Ridley and Edelman with a TD apiece)
- Saints 3 @ Browns 10
- Falcons 9 @ Bengals 3
- Lions 0 @ Panthers 3
Stephen Duggan writes:
What a play patriots. Blocked field goal and Chandler Jones scoops and hits the endzone. Pats!
For those of you who missed it, here it is:
Let’s get those half-time scores in:
- Dolphins 0 @ Bills 9
- Jaguars 7 @ Washington 21
- Cowboys 16 @ Titans 3
- Cardinals 10 @ Giants 7
- Patriots 24 @ Vikings 7
- Saints 10 @ Browns 16
- Falcons 3 @ Bengals 10
- Lions 0 @ Panthers 6
That’s a serious comeback by the Pats who, I might remind you, trailed 7-0 in Minnesota early on.
Washington look home and hosed and you’d suspect that the Cowboys might be as well — though with Tony Romo in the form he’s in, you’d never know.
The rest are all still very much up for grabs at this stage.
Winner. Winner. Winner.
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There’s been a slight change here as Niall Kelly has gone to the sidelines with an injury – or gone for a break, whatever.
Anyway, Steve O’Rourke stepping in with Kelly’s injury status designated as ‘likely to return’.
One player not likely to return anytime soon is RGIII after this nasty looking injury earlier on:
This is not the best play of the day, but this is our favourite play of the day. The forward fumble-pass:
So JJ Watt just caught a pass on offence for the Texans.
Can he win both offensive and defensive player of the year?#
I’d vote for him:
Let that one sink in for a minute, folks…
Alright then, proud Jets fan Niall Kelly back with you for the final stretch of these games. How are things looking?
- Seahawks 14 @ Chargers 20 (HT)
- Texans 17 @ Raiders 0 (shocker)
- Jets 21 @ Packers 3
- Jets 21 @ Packers 3 (just in case you didn’t hear me the first time)
- Chiefs 10 @ Broncos 14
- Rams 7 @ Bucs 7
That Rams v Bucs thriller has been delayed due to some bad weather on Tampa. We’ll let you know as soon as the skies clear.
I’d try to explain this for you but what’s the point?
For anyone who cares, they’re back underwray in Tampa where it’s St Louis 7-7 Bucs.
A tale of two quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins…
And RGIII…
Uh oh. Aaron Rodgers throws a short TD pass to Randall Cobb and now it’s Jets 21-16 Packers.
I may have spoken too soon…
Remember that mental James Jones double-fumble? Here it is:
You know the way the Seahawks’ secondary is basically untouchable? Well, Philip Rivers is slicing and dicing tonight.
Of course, when Antonio Gates can do this, it helps. A lot.
The Chargers lead the Seahawks 27-14.
The Seahawks are pushing to make a game of it in San Diego. They trail 27-21 with eight minutes to play against the Chargers.
Elsewhere the Raiders have scored (Darren McFadden) but they’re already well-beaten by the Texans so don’t worry about that.
The Broncos lead the Chargers 21-10 at the end of the third, the Bucs are 14-10 up at home to the Rams… and the Jets? Aaron Rodgers has just thrown the go-ahead TD to Randall Cobb and Green Bay now lead 23-21. Plenty of time left there too.
Scratch that – the Packers went for the two-point conversion and got it. It’s 24-21.
It’s still a live game in Green Bay
Ok, that’s an 80ish-yard TD from Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson. Forget about it Jets fans, it’s the hope that kills ya…
ALL OVER IN SAN DIEGO - the Chargers have beaten defending Super Bowl champions the Seattle Seahawks 30-21.
If you’re watching Sky, you’ll know that there’s a lot still riding on Chiefs-Broncos. The Broncos lead 24-17 but the Chiefs have the ball with just over two minutes to play.
Is this one going to overtime?
BIG SACK! DeMarcus Ware sacks Alex Smith and Denver come up with the ball.
That could be the game… or is it?? It looks like Smith’s arm was going forward so they’re ruling it an incomplete pass. The Chiefs are still alive!
Typical Jets…
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ALL OVER IN DENVER! The Broncos D comes up with the big stop and Denver beat the Chiefs 24-17.
Poor from the irfu and not fair on a player who has done so much good for Irish rugby.
Paddy Jackson has learned so much from him, that alone is worth his wages.
Hey Chris,
Was that you writing an article for Harpin On Rugby?
Yeah Cian it was. I think harpo is just trying to keep me quite. I am going to do one a week.
It was very good, Chris. And such balanced tone. I didn’t think you had it in you! :)
Do they have spellcheck?
Going to check that out. Cheers.
Bit of a disappointing way to go. Great player for Ulster, though. He’ll be a hard man to replace. Wish him all the best.
Could he have pledged for Ireland maybe and circumvent it that way, or can you not change once you’re capped
He was playing for the Springboks only a short while ago and has plenty of caps. There is no justifiable grounds for him to be allowed play for Ireland, and he wants to play for SA regardless. You can’t just flip flop on your nationality, when you play for a country you commit your test career to that country. He’s given a lot to Irish rugby, but that’s a bit of an extreme measure.
Seems a strange decision to allow Piutau to come yet deny Pienaar. Pienaar doesn’t appear to be blocking many young players at Ulster. Paul Marshall is the regular back up at 9 and he’s on the wrong side of 30. Whereas Piutau will be playing in a position where we already have an embarrassment of riches. Seems a tad inconsistent. As exciting as Piutau is, on balance I’d rather keep Ruan.
What’s more inexplicable for me is the decision to keep on Ludik. There are better places they could have used their project player place on, and it won’t aid the development of players like Stockdale. He’s a decent enough player, but he’s not really needed.
Piutau’s arrival allows Payne to play regularly in the centre . That suits the IRFU .
They will also be needed. It’s a long season and everyone will get plenty of game time.
Surely the summer tour proves that Payne’s best position for Ireland is full back. Would hate to see him pushed back into centre.
Ulster fan. Devastated he’s leaving, his family are based and he’s now settled here. The fella lives Ulster Rugby and I’ve been delighted to meet him a few times. However we all knew this time was coming. To be frank, I expected the IRFU to come in on this a few years ago. Needs to be sorted though, we have some poor quality NIQ lads here who are looking for a stepping stone or the big paycheck. Pienaar never struck me as that and he bought into the philosophy around Ravenhill. He’ll be missed but we have to look at his influence and be glad we had him while we did
It is not Ruan that should be leaving. That distinction should go to Nucifora who is doing all he can to wreck Irish rugby. His favourite word seems to be no. IRFU are paying him a huge salary and I have yet to see any benefits. The decision to abandon Pienaar will influence the decision of other players to come to Ireland.
What rule is stopping pienaar from staying on ?
That’s a big loss for Ulster. How come no province made an attempt to bring James Hart back? He’s still young, has plenty of experience and is Irish qualified. Maybe Hart is happy in France but he could have been tempted home.
Munster have Murray, Ulster still had Pienaar and Connacht have Marmion. Even if Murray doesn’t play that much Hart would still be second choice there. Leinster are the only ones who could have really gone after him, but they chose to get JGP instead. You always want to see good Irish players abroad to come back, but I think that Hart is nearly better off where he is.
Hart is a good swap for Pienaar , a place kicking scrum half who can stand in at 10 comfortably .Perhaps Racing will think the same , Hart’s wage in Paris would be the main stumbling block for Ulster .
James Hart (decent enough by all accounts) is however nowhere near the level of Pienaar. Hart had a decent season two years back but had a stop start one last year so to compare a seasoned Springbok to Hart is delusional.
Pienaar showed loyalty to Ulster a few years back when bigger clubs came calling and now that he’s approaching 33 the IRFU have stung him, very poor decision.
I’m not comparing Hart directly to Pienaar , but Ulster are overloaded with NIQ’s and Pienaar is the oldest and probably one of the most expensive . He still missed out on large chunks of games through his international availability up to recently . Piatau will be 100% available barring injury and is a lot younger , Ireland need another competitive 9 playing for the provinces now that Reddan and Boss are gone and Ulster need younger players in that position. Paddy Jackson should be able to stand on his own two feet now , he certainly did so this summer .
Both Murray and Marmion will miss plenty of games due to international fixtures. I think Murray only played 5/6 pro12 games for Munster last season. Even if Hart went to ulster he would be would learn plenty from Piennar for one season and then it’s up to him. There are pros and cons to every move but where ever Hart landed in Ireland he would get plenty of game time.
While I agree with you there Paul, I guess I just feel that he wouldn’t come back to Ireland and turn down the lucrative contract he was offered for what is still at the end of the day a second choice place, no matter what game time he felt he might get. But none of the provinces went for him in the end so arguing about whether or not he should have come back is kind of a moot point.
One reason that he’s not being pursued is that Hart hasnt featured in any Irish teams (under 20′s, B team etc), plus hes just signed for Racing.
Luke McGrath looked like the real deal but hasnt progressed at senior level adequately enough so far. Cooney is back up now in the West and probably not far off being capped.
As for Duncan William’s, hmmm!
The truth is that there is a real dearth of quality in the position across the board.
I’ve heard that hart was approached but no one was willing to match his French wages. He stuck with money. Not a big loss in my opinion
Ulster overloafed eith NIQs? Name them Limon.
- Anton Peikrishvili, Georgia,
- Franco van der Merwe, South Africa
- Marcel Coetzee, South Africa
- Louis Ludik, South Africa
- Wiehan Herbst, South Africa
- Charles Piautau, New Zealand
- Ruan Pienaar, South Africa
Ulster look like they are starting to bring through a lot of academy lads in the backline but even outside of that group above you have a colossal number of project players or foreigners signed with irish heritage. For example Herring, Tuohy, Black, Diack, Reidy, Payne, Ah You etc.
Thats not to discredit these people but just to highlight that there is a huge lack of starting XV players that have come through the academy. The writing was on the wall for this one for a while. Where was the forward planning when they instead secured a huge number of back three players.
Donal, that’s a bit disingenuous, Peikrishvili is a direct replacement for Herbst.
Robert, even if you discount him, they still exceed the NIQ quotas. They could probably cope without some of those NIQ’s easier than being without Pienaar, but they’re signed those guys and they payed the price.
Thomas, I don’t believe this is an issue of NIQs, this is a “succession policy” anomaly. My understanding is that Ludik is the project player and Herbst is shortly to become Irish qualified, if he isn’t already – he was signed, originally, as a project player. That means that Ulster have the requisite 4 NIQs, one of which is Peinaar.
Peikrishvili has been signed until 19 December as emergency injury cover. Franco, Coetzee, Piatau and Ruan are NIEs not NIQs. Herbst and Ludik are NIQs and will be eligible in Summer 2017. Diack and Payne were NIQs but are now full internationals. Ah You was signed by Ulster as a full international. Herring, Tuohy, Black and Reidy qualify through family and were never NIEs. As for the starting XV, 8 of them are Ulster born and bred. The huge number of back 3 players secured…Ludik and Piatau?
Thanks D
Massive loss and while I understand the need for the NIQ quotas, surely exceptions can be made for the likes of Pienaar. He has been one of the main factors in Ulster’s revival and ha been a great servant for 6 years. Maybe there is an obvious successor he is blocking from progressing or Ulster need the NIQ spot for Piatau or Coetzee but pity to see such an influential and committed players who wants to stay being forced to move to the Top14 when we are already struggling to compete with them.
Reminds me of the crap with Paul Warwick at Munster being only offered a 1 year extension. The guy lived for the provence
He lived for Connacht first
That’s a terrible decision..stupid rule..big loss to ulster and a shame for all of us interested in the pro12 that we won’t see him play here anymore..
What Ulster scrumhalves have been prevented from becoming star players by Pienaar?
How were Leinster left sign Gibson Park leaving just 2 provinces starting Irish scrum halves. McGrath and McCarthy are getting the same kick Maddigan got when they replaced Sexton
No idea how they were allowed sign him (although it does look like a great signing). Priority should really be given to the retention of the incumbent province to retain their player over another province signing a new one up. Is it something got to do with Gibson Park being a project player whereas Pienaar is totally NIQ? Perhaps if Pienaar wasn’t playing international rugby he’d have been retained.
You are assuming Park will start for Leinster.
If he plays like he did for the Hurricanes in the semi final I’d expect him to. Admittedly, it’s easy coming on as a sub, but he was an absolute live wire with all the positive play going through him. He’s an ambitious player, and with TJ Perenara ahead of him in the pecking order there was no way he was getting enough game time.
It’s amazing how foreign players can become Irish internationals through eligibility processes & yet they have a ‘succession policy’. Policies seem inconsistent with each other.
Watched Ulster on TV so many times, just watching Ruan’s play. Absolutely mesmeric, a mastery of his position that you rarely see. It’s a huge loss to Pro12
Yeah as a Leinster fan I have to admit it, if it’s the case Ruan has to leave due to Gibson-Park coming in it stinks. Great player ads to the league and I would have thought there would be a chance he’d stay on to coach after playing, which is also a huge loss to Irish rugby considering his experience
Pienarr to Connacht, Marmion to Ulster anyone?
This leaves Ulster with Paul Marshall – 31, Angus Loyd – 23 ( His first season as a pro ), and in the academy Dave Shanahan and Jonathon Stewart both uncapped for Ulster (according to their website anyway). Not really acceptable for a team of Ulster’s pedigree. The only Positive being a decision was made early and there’s plenty of time to search for a replacement. They best they can really hope for is to add some more experience, there’s not too many top quality Irish scrumhalves knocking around. Unless they unearth a granny rule player.
Ah what a shame. Ulster have nothing like a 9 with that quality.
Can someone explain the IRFU succession policy?
Essentially it’s a policy that restricts numerous renewals to contracts for foreign players & also prevents a club replacing a non-Irish playing position with another. It’s designed to prevent an overflow of foreign players in Irish teams boxing out up and coming Irish players. Personally I think it’s bullshit, with the work in the academies & development of players in the Ulster Bank league, that’s never going to happen anyway.
Thanks Jimmy, but I just don’t get it. Surely if Pienaar were to sign another extension then he would be one of the Ulster NIQ quota? Are we confusing the two i.e. NIQ quotas and “IRFU succession policy”? I agree, it’s bullshit, Pienaar has done more to promote the game in Ulster since Mike Gibson. Let’s see if they apply it across the board.
Robert as I understand it the idea is that the provinces should be using the years they have a NIQ to develop home grown options.
For example Munster had BJ Botha for the past few years. He has left and gone to Lyon and IQ John Andress and local players Stephen Archer / John Ryan / Brian Scott will be expected to suffice this season.
The IRFU want to avoid a situation where a province gets used to a foreign player and therefore has to keep signing foreign replacements. For example back a few years ago again BJ Botha was in Ireland playing for Ulster. When he left he was replaced by All Black, John Afoa. When Afoa left he has been replaced by Wian Herbst.
Munster were similarly awful for it when it came to outside centres. Tipoki replaced by Tuitupou replaced by Jean de Villiers replaced by Casey Laulala replaced by Andrew Smith replaced by Francis Saili. Thats not including the injury cover we drafted in from Will Chambers, Pat Howard and now Jaco Taute.
Donal, I get that but I’m having difficulty squaring the circle with Gibson-Park’s signing by Leinster.
I still think there’s hypocrisy in there. And inconsistency too, as happy as I am to see Isa Nacewa back for Leinster, presumably this succession rule wouldn’t have allowed him to renew a couple of years ago. I’m guessing here but they probably loopholed that by the fact he wasn’t there for a couple of seasons & it was a brand new contract. And yet a South African (Stander) is now one of Ireland’s best players. Don’t get me wrong, delighted to have him in the international squad but to open doors at international level & close them at provincial level is double standards. And now Ulster are losing one of their best players of the last number of years, a man who is settled & raising a family in Belfast and doesn’t want to leave. Like I said, bullshit.
In a nut shell Robert, there can be only one NIE/NIQ player in any one position across all 4 provinces (unless Nucifora says so) to maintain the production line and development of indigenous players.
Didn’t know that Andrew, thanks. Still think it’s a crap policy.
Perhaps something that influenced the IRFU’s decision was that Ulster have a fair few NIQ players right now. I might be sounding like I’m having a go at Ulster but I’m not. Right now the IRFU rules state that you can have four NIQ players and one project player. Ulster have Herbst, Pienaar, Piutau, Coetzee and Van Der Merwe in the NIQ spots and Ludik in the project player place, and they have just been allowed to sign Peikrishvili on a short term contract. Perhaps they felt that too many Irish player’s paths were getting blocked? I do feel a fair bit unhappy about this decision, but I can understand why it would make sense to Nucifora.
Thomas, I refer the honourable gentlemen to the answer I gave some moments ago. My understanding is Herbst IQ, Ludik, project player and Van de Merwe, Coetzee, Piatau and Pienaar the four NIQ. The Georgian prop is an emergency signing as Ah You is the only fit TH.
How is Herbst IQ though? He’s never been considered for Ireland before, which rules out qualifying through his parents, and he was signed around the same time as Ludik, so he hasn’t yet qualified through residency. You are not allowed two project players at once. I was not saying that the decision not to renew Pienaar’s contract was due to quotas, but merely that the number of NIQ’s at Ulster may have factored into the whole “succession planning” thing, given how murky the rules that govern how the whole “selection planning” works seem murky and unclear.
Sorry for making that last sentence confusing.
Superb opening sentence though
I know this has happened to other provinces (when Hines was pushed out at Leinster it really annoyed me) but I feel there should be an exception made in Pinear’s case. The guy is brilliant, has made Belfast his home and has indicated he wants to get involved in the coaching side of thigs at Ulster. I understand the IRFU arguments but Pinear is such a key figure for Ulster, has such vast experience that I do believe the IRFU should have a rethink. There are times when we need ‘foreign’ talent to bolster squads but this decision will make it more difficult to attract that talent in the future.
Would love to see Pienarr in Munster.
We constantly complain about the budgets of English and French clubs and our inability to attract big players. Is it any surprise. Teo let go. Stephen Moore not allowed sign. Pienaar now dumped!
Teo wasn’t let go ! He had an unbelievable offer from Worcester and that included getting into the England Squad straight away where he qualifies through his mother .. It’s like saying Connacht let Henshaw go ..
Ulster will be able to redirect Pienaar’s into the contract of a new scrum half . Conor Murray to Ulster ?
Redirect Pienaar’s salary
Don’ t think we are allowed to go for a NIQ scrum half.