There are no undefeated teams left in the NFL, but there are teams with just one loss. Some are 5-1 and others 4-1. We have already recapped the three 5-1 teams, so now we will recap the 4-1 teams. That includes the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals who also are attempting to finish the season without any additional losses.
The first 4-1 team is the Denver Broncos, who this past Sunday, Oct.12th 2014 as Denver (2nd AFC West) beat the New York Jets 1-5 (4th AFC East) 31-17 as Broncos QB Manning threw 3 TD passes in the win over the Jets.
At the end of the 1s quarter the Jets were leading in the game 7 -3 then in the second quarter they were scoreless, while Denver scored 2 touchdowns, thus at half time the Broncos led 17 in the game. Then the Broncos scored 7 points in the 3rd and 7 points in the 4th bringing their total to 31 points. The Jets only scored a FG for 3 points in the 3rd and a 7 point TD in the 4th bringing their game total to 17, which was not what was needed to beat the Broncos.
As with many games the statistics usually indicate the winning team, which in this game held true. The Broncos had 21 first downs with 68 total offensive plays, gaining a game total of 359 yards, with 221 passing and 138 rushing with no turnovers, but had 11 penalties for 101 yards. The Jets made 15 first downs and had 62 plays in the game while gaining 204 total yards, with 173 passing and 31 rushing yards. They were intercepted once and had fumbled once, and had only 2 penalties for 9 yards.
Individual team leaders were, for the Broncos QB Manning, who completed 22 of 33 passes for 237 yards for 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. RB’S Hillman and Thompson combined for 32 carries for 138 yards, while Receivers Thomas and Thomas had 16 receptions for a combined 175 yards while scoring 3 touchdowns. The Jets QB Smith completed 23 of 43 passes for 190 yards and 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. RBs Johnson and Smith had 5 carries for 20 yards, while Receivers Amaro and Decker combined for 16 receptions for 122 yards and each scored a TD (2).
The game had a very quick score when the Denver Broncos on their 1st offensive series saw QB Manning hit WR Thomas for 54 yards and a TD on the first play from scrimmage. With the three TD passes Manning scored in the game, he is now only two touchdowns away from tying Brett Favre for the NFL’s most TD passes in their careers.
In the third quarter the Jets trying to gain momentum scored on a TD pass from QB Smith to Receiver Decker bringing the score to Broncos 24 Jets 17, and the next time they had the ball and a chance to tie the game, QB Smith was intercepted by Broncos DB Talib who ran it back for 22 yards and a TD sealing the score and the victory for the Broncos Teams at 31-17.
The Jets 1-5 play at the New England Patriots 4-2 (1st AFC East) at 8:25 PM ET on CBS/NFL TV with the game on Thursday night Oct.16th at the Gillette Stadium. The Patriots are the early odds favorites in the game at -9 ½ with the Ov/Un 46 ½. The Broncos 4-1 play the San Francisco 49’ers 3-2 (2nd NFC West) on Sunday the 19th of Oct.2014 at the Sports Authority Field in Denver at 8:30 PM ET on NBC TV.
The 2nd NFL week 7 teams with just 1 loss and 4 wins, is the Arizona Cardinals 4-1 (1st NFC West) whom this past Sunday played the Washington Redskins 1-5 (4th in NFC East) and the Cardinals QB Palmer returns to lead Arizona in the 30-20 win over Washington. In the 1st & 2nd quarters, Arizona scored two touchdowns for 14 points while Washington managed a TD and FG in 2nd quarter bringing half-time score to Cardinals 14 Redskins 13. In the 2nd half the Redskins were only able to muster a TD in the 4th while Arizona scored a FG for 3 points in the 3rd and a TD and 2 FGs in the 4th for 14 points and the winning margin ARI 30 WSH 20. The TD in the 4th for Arizona was an interception by ARI DB Johnson, who returned same for a 28 yard TD.
In game statistics the Redskins had 21 first downs with 57 offensive plays for 407 total yards, with 335 passing and 72 rushing with 4 costly turnovers in the game. The Cardinals had 19 first downs from 68 offensive plays for 317 yards of offense, with 243 passing and 74 rushing with no turnovers in the game.
The team leaders in the game for the Redskins were QB Cousins who completed 24 of 38 passes for 354 yards with 2 touchdowns and was intercepted 3 times. RB’s Morris and Heilu had 16 carries for a combined 67 yards while Receivers Jackson and Reed had 11 receptions for combined 207 yards, with Jackson scoring a TD. The Cardinals QB Palmer, returning from injury, completed 28 of his 44 passes for 250 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. RBs Ellington and Taylor had combined 22 carries for 77 yards, while Receivers Fitzgerald and Floyd had 10 touchdowns with each scoring a TD (2).
This was not the game to be for the Redskins, as they had 4 fourth quarter turnovers losing a 4th consecutive game and 13th loss in last 14 games. The Redskins coach said after the game, “The team that makes plays usually wins. The team that doesn’t turn the ball over usually wins. We are not doing anything. It is a broken record every time I stand up here.”
The next game for the Redskins 1-5 is at home against the Tennessee Titans 2-4 (3rd AFC South) at FedEx Field, at 1PM ET on CBS TV on the Sunday the 19th Oct.2014. The Skins are early favorites in the game at -5 and the Ov/Un is 46. The Cardinals 4-1 play at the Oakland Raiders 0-5 (4th AFC West) with the game at the O.co Stadium at 4:25PM ET on Fox TV. The Cardinals are now the favorites at -3 (-125) with the Ov/Un at 43 ½ for those NFL fanatics who bet on NFL football at an online sportsbook.