It’s almost halfway through the NFL season. There are early favorites to reach the Super Bowl. Next Sunday the top game will take place in Frankfurt.
There is one football weekend of the year when the Central European fan’s biorhythm suffers a little less than usual. On the last weekend in October, when the German clocks are already showing winter time, but the US clocks are still clinging to summer. In general, now is the time to position yourself for the play-off places: victories become a little more important, defeats a little more painful. Almost half of the NFL season is already over. What surprises are there, which favorites stumble?
The longer the NFL season lasts, the greater the impact injuries have on the course of the season. Currently, around a quarter of the quarterbacks in the entire league are injured: torn Achilles tendons here, dislocated fingers there. Last weekend, five playmakers had to go out injured. One star was hit before the season really began: Aaron Rodgers, who moved from Green Bay to New York to the Jets in the summer, tore his Achilles tendon in the first game of the season.
Quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker: These are the positions in American football 1 / 16 Back Forward
quarterback (attack) He leads the offense on the field. On every play he either hands the ball to one of the running backs or passes the ball to a receiver. He can also run with the ball himself and try to overcome the opposing defense.
Running Back (Angriff) If they receive the ball from the quarterback at the beginning of a play, it is their job to carry it into the end zone or at least run as far towards the end zone as possible before they are stopped by the opposing defense. They are also allowed to catch a pass from the quarterback. Then they act like a wide receiver.
Wide receiver (offense) It is their job to catch the quarterback’s passes and then carry the ball as far as possible towards the end zone. They specialize solely in catching passes. The fastest players on a team are often found in this position.
Tight End (Attack) This position has several requirements. The tight end, like a receiver, can catch passes from the quarterback or be used as an additional blocker on the offensive line. As a rule, a tight end is larger and heavier than the receivers, but lighter and more agile than a pure line player.
Center (attack) He stands in the middle of the offensive line and hands the ball (snap) to the quarterback at the beginning of almost all plays. Depending on the situation, he either protects the quarterback from attacking defenders or tries to create gaps in the defensive line to create space for the running game.
Guard & Tackle (attack) They are also offensive line players. Their tasks are similar to those of the center. They are designed to either hold up defenders to give the quarterback more time or create gaps in the defensive line. The players on the attack line are among the largest and heaviest on a team.
Safety (defense) They are the deepest interior defenders. As the last line of defense, their primary job is to prevent long passes.
Cornerback (defense) As outside defenders, they are further advanced than the safeties. They cover the wide receivers directly and try to prevent passes. Since they are responsible for the receivers directly in man coverage, they should be similarly quick.
Linebacker (defense) As the name suggests, they support the defensive line. Depending on the situation, they have to be active against both the running game and the passing game. In some cases, they are also tasked with putting pressure on the opponent’s quarterback.
Defensive tackle (defense) They are the interior defenders of the defensive line. Your job is to either stop opposing running backs or attack the quarterback. The defensive tackles, like their offensive counterparts, are among the most impressive players on a team.
Defensive End (defense) They occupy the outside positions of the defensive line. They should also attack the opposing quarterback or stop running backs. As a rule, they are slightly lighter and more agile than the defensive tackle.
Kicker (Special Teams) He is responsible for shooting the ball between the goal posts at the end of the field during a field goal – or extra point attempt.
Holder (Special Teams) He holds the ball in position for the kicker.
Punter (Special Teams) The punt is usually taken when a team has not managed to gain ten yards of space by a fourth attempt. During this play, the punter shoots the ball as far as possible towards the opposing team in order to prevent the opponent from gaining a favorable starting position for the following attack.
Kick/Punt Returner (Special Teams) You catch the ball after a punt or kick and try to carry it as far as possible toward the opponent’s end zone. Where the returner is brought to the ground, his team begins the next series of attacks. If he makes it to the end zone, he scores a touchdown.
Long Snapper (Special Teams) He hands the ball to the holder or punter at the beginning of a play involving these two positions. The name refers to the distance from which the ball is handed over (snap). This is wider for the long snapper than for the center.
The Miami Dolphins meet the Kansas City Chiefs in Frankfurt
Perhaps it is due to the injury misery that hardly any offensive line has been able to consistently convince so far this season. The only exceptions are the Miami Dolphins around quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, his receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle as well as the young coach Mike McDaniel, who walks somewhere between a class clown and Thomas Müller in interviews. The previous highlight was 70 points against the Denver Broncos in week three, the highest points scored by a team in 57 years.
The Kansas City Chiefs, reigning Super Bowl champions, suffered a surprising defeat against the same Broncos at the weekend. But with six wins from eight games, the team around Patrick Mahomes and Taylor Swift huddler Travis Kelce is once again a favorite for the title. And because that’s the case, Germany can look forward to a top game in Frankfurt next Sunday in the first of two NFL games on German soil this season: Because at 3:30 p.m. (RTL/DAZN), the Miami Dolphins meet the Kansas City Chiefs at Deutsche Bank Park. A week later, also at 3:30 p.m., the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts will face each other.
Usher will perform at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas
Last year’s finalists, the Philadelphia Eagles, left the most convincing impression so far. Seven wins from eight games, plus a top-three offense and the best defense against the run game make Philly the best team in the NFL at the moment. The whole truth is that the Eagles – with the exception of the Miami Dolphins – have not had to play against any top team in the league. But that’s changing now: In the next six games, the Eagles will only play against teams with a positive record.
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Among other things, against the San Francisco 49ers. After five days of play, they already looked like a sure Super Bowl participant – by the way, it takes place on February 11th in Las Vegas, with R’n’B singer Usher (“Yeah!”) taking over the halftime show. But then came several injuries and three defeats in a row. They are still among the favorites, as are the Baltimore Ravens and – somewhat surprisingly – the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Close games and lots of surprises: In the NFL, anyone can beat anyone
The teams from Arizona, Carolina and Denver have been anything but convincing so far. The latter in particular had certainly hoped for more before the season. With the tandem of coach Sean Payton, a long-time successful coach in New Orleans, and quarterback Russell Wilson, a long-time successful playmaker with the Seattle Seahawks, success should actually return to the team that last won the Super Bowl in 2016. But three wins from eight games and, at times, rough football are not enough for the demands. After all: The Broncos were recently able to celebrate two wins in a row, including against Kansas City.
And so the first half of this season shows once again: In the NFL, anyone can beat anyone. There have been five different Super Bowl winners in the past six seasons. A maximum amount for player salaries and a draft system in which the weakest team from the previous season can choose the best college player make it possible. After eight matchdays there is neither a team without a win nor a team without a defeat. Around half of the games so far this season ended with a difference of eight points or less. So games for which, as a Central European football fan, you are happy to let your biorhythm suffer.
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Video: SID
2023-11-03 11:21:23
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