Around The NFL: Chiefs Still Perfect, Broncos Get 1st Loss, Gronk's Return Spoiled
By Danny Cox
No one could have possibly suspected some of the things that have gone on in the NFL this season. Everyone expected Rob Gronkowski to have huge numbers by now, but he's barely played. Peyton Manning received the welcome of a king in Indianapolis. Lastly, there can't possibly be anyone in the country that expected the Kansas City Chiefs to still be undefeated.
Chiefs move to 7-0 with defeat of the hapless Houston Texans
The Kansas City Chiefs have more than tripled their win total from all of last season and they owe a lot of their success to running back Jamaal Charles. He had another big game on Sunday as the Chiefs moved to 7-0 by taking down quarterback Case Keenum and the Houston Texans 17-16.
Charles ran for 86 yards and one touchdown, but finished with a total of 123 yards from scrimmage. That put Charles in good NFL company. He joined O.J. Simpson as the only players in league history with at least 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in the first seven games of a season. Simpson did it in the first nine games of 1975.
Kansas City is just playing complete game after complete game without fail, and it doesn't look as if they really have a weak spot anywhere on the team. The same can't be said for Houston who is on their third quarterback of the season and fell to 2-4.
Peyton Manning gets standing ovation in first return to Indianapolis
There was a lot of tension leading up to Peyton Manning's first return to Indianapolis as a member of the Denver Broncos, but that appeared to all go away right before the game. No matter what Colts owner Jim Irsay may have said or how Broncos coach John Fox may have interpreted it; Sunday night brought other feelings to the front.
A short video montage was played before the game as the Broncos took the field. The montage included highlights of Manning's career and was met with a standing ovation by all of those in attendance and that included former teammates Marvin Harrison, Jeff Saturday, and Edgerrin James.
The end of the video had "Thanks Peyton" posted over his number 18. As the video showed Manning, he waved, and mouthed "Thank you" and "thank you very much."
After Peyton Manning's highlight reel came to an end, the show was all about his successor, Stanford grad Andrew Luck. Luck orchestrated an offense that the Denver defense couldn't touch, and Denver's O-line really didn't give Manning a chance to orchestrate an offensive assault of his own. The Broncos fell to the Colts 33-39 for their first loss of the season.
Gronkowski's return to the Patriots spoiled in overtime by the Jets
Tight end Rob Gronkowski's return to the New England Patriots on Sunday came a lot later than anyone had expected. He had a decent game with eight receptions for 114 yards, and showed no real problems from multiple surgeries on his back and forearm, but he didn't end up with a win.
A very strange but new rule was called during overtime, and it proved to be the killer.
Nick Folk of the Jets missed a 56-yard field goal in overtime, but he was given another chance due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called against New England's Chris Jones. It appeared that Jones pushed his teammate "into the opponents' formation." Folk got another chance with a 42-yarder and hit it for the win.
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Danny Cox knows a little something about the NFL, whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft (Jim Harbaugh). He plans on bringing you the best news, previews, recaps, and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League. Danny is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
