NFL Updates: Big Ben Bounces Back, Dallas' Despair and Close Clinchers

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Six weeks into the 2010-2011 season, the NFL's big story is on the Pittsburgh Steelers (yay Steelers!) with the return of their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger off a 4-game suspension. Big Ben threw 16/27 for 257 yards and while he was intercepted once, he made 3 touchdown passes throwing off doubts that the top-rated QB is in game-ready form.

On that same game, the Cleveland Browns debuted rookie QB Colt McCoy who fared quite well with a 23/33 completions passing for 281 yards. If not for the 2 interceptions and 4 sacks, the Heisman nominee may have had a grander welcome to the NFL. The Steelers won 28-10.

Also in week 6, America's team the Dallas Cowboys is down in the doldrums at 1 win and 4 losses. Analysts are pointing out that the Cowboys are making too many unnecessary mistakes, suffering penalties that sets them back and puts their opponents at an advantage. Last week the Cowboys lost with a heart-breaking 21-24 versus good 'ol Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. Two weeks in a row, the Cowboys were called for excessive celebrations. Last Sunday, they had 11 penalties and lost 91 yards in the process. Dallas needs to show disciplined football and stop beating themselves if they want to get back in their winning ways.

Speaking of heart-breaking losses, games determined by a single field goal is getting very common in the NFL these days. Six matches saw the winning team getting only a 3-point edge most notably the overtime win of the New England Patriots over the Baltimore Ravens courtesy of Stephen Gostkowski's winning field goal. Watch this and other stories below.

Which team do you think will make it all the way to the AFC and NFC championships?

Related articles

• NFL Week 6 Scores: 10 Biggest Surprises To Unfold (bleacherreport.com)
• Week 6 Roundup: Big Return For Steelers' Roethlisberger (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• Browns Vs Steelers: Colt McCoy Looks Good In Loss To AFC North Rival (bleacherreport.com)

Come Marching In: Will the New Orleans Saints Be Able To Defend Their Superbowl Win?

Image via Wikipedia

The New Orleans Saints won their team's first ever Superbowl in the 2009 season. NFL analysts sees their almost unchanged lineup may help Drew Brees et.al. pull off another run for the Lombardi trophy following their success in Superbowl XLIV.

Can Coach Sean Payton and the Saints build the next winningest franchise in the NFL?

Catch the Saints and other NFL teams as they prepare for the 2010 NFL Season on our video playlist.

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Saints take Superbowl XLIV

The New Orleans Saints win Superbowl XLIV with a 31-17 upset over 4-time MVP Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. This is the Saints' debut in the league championships and the first ever Superbowl title for the 43 year old NFL franchise.

Indianapolis led the Saints 10-0 in the first quarter highlighted by a Peyton Manning touchdown pass to Colts receiver Pierre Garcon. By the second quarter Saints quarterback Drew Brees led the offense twice to within 30 yards of the Colts end zone, allowing kicker Garrett Hartley to score on 40+ yard field goals. The Colts still led 10-6 at the end of the first half.

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The Saints began the third quarter with a well executed onside kick that culminated in a scoring drive sealed by a Drew Brees to Pierre Thomas 16-yard TD pass. The Colts showed composure as they also scored on their next offense bringing the tally to 13-17. The subsequent Saints field goal tore down the Colts lead to just 1 point at 16-17 by the end of the 3rd quarter.

The final quarter was all Saints as the Colts' started to succumb to the opponents' marching momentum. On Indianapolis' initial drive on the fourth, Colts kicker Matt Stover tried to salvage a botched deep pass at New Orleans' 33 yard line with a 51-yard field goal attempt. However, the kick sailed wide to the left. The following offensive drive by the Saints ended in a 2-yard touchdown pass to veteran tight end Jeremy Shockey and a 2-point conversion that was awarded to the Saints after review.

Approaching the last two minutes of the game, all hopes for the Colts were extinguished as the no-huddle offense characteristic of Peyton Manning was trounced by a perfectly-timed Tracy Porter steal that resulted in a 74-yard interception touchdown return. The Colts' final attempt at redemption fizzled out with a fourth down incomplete pass resulting in a turnover at New Orleans' 5-yard line with 44 seconds left in the game. Brees ended Superbowl XLIV a true saint kneeling down for the final ticks. Final score Saints 31, Colts 17.

I had earlier predicted a 14-point victory for the Saints. (See my Facebook post, a full 13 hours prior to the kickoff). US President Barrack Obama also made a prediction for the Colts in an AP story (read it here). With all due respect... in your face Mr. Obama! :p