4th and 1 with Adrian Arciuli
7 News Sport Journalist Adrian Arciuli reviews Week 8 of the NFL and looks forward to Week 9 action on 7mate.
CHANGE OF PACE FOR HAYNE
Well what a week it’s been for Jarryd Hayne.
On Saturday, first choice running back Carlos Hyde was ruled out with a foot injury and it seemed certain Hayne was going to play against the St Louis Rams.
But that wasn’t the case – I woke up on Sunday morning to the news he had been waived by the 49ers.
Like many of us across Australia and in the United States, I was shocked and stunned.
Yes he had fumbled the ball three times in six games but there was plenty of encouraging signs for Hayne, who let’s remember, has only been playing the sport for less than a year.
Despite cutting him and giving the other 31 NFL teams the chance to sign him to their 53-man roster, it seemed the 49ers always planned on putting Hayne onto their practice squad.
And that’s how the process would unfold with no teams willing to take a punt on Hayne, with the former Eels star quickly brought back by the 49ers after clearing waivers.
Yes it is demotion but this is far from a huge blow for Hayne’s NFL career.
Please spare me all the talk of his dream being over.
The stint on the practice squad will do big things for his development as he looks to establish himself as an NFL running back.
If another team had claimed him it could have set him back a year as he would have had to learn a whole new playbook and system.
I can’t understand why the 49ers weren’t wiling to let Hayne develop on the 53-man roster this season.
They are a total mess at the moment and their season is over after falling to 2-6.
Reggie Bush is out for the season with a serious knee injury; Mike Davis has a fractured hand while Carlos Hyde continues to battle a foot injury.
Instead of giving Hayne a shot they’ve opted for experience signing veterans Pierre Thomas and Shaun Draughn.
That will see the 49ers run a backfield of Thomas, Draughn and Kendall Gaskins, the man who replaced Hayne.
Hayne’s season isn’t exactly over with the 49ers having the option of bringing him back onto their 53-man roster if they need to use him in a game during the remainder of 2015.
OTHER NOTES FROM WEEK 8
- The Denver Broncos proved they are indeed the real deal with a resounding victory over the Green Bay Packers. Peyton Manning continues to prove his doubters wrong and Denver’s defence is the best in the NFL.
- For the first time in NFL history there are four unbeaten teams – Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers.
- The Patriots are unstoppable at the moment while everyone continues to wait for the Bengals to start struggling but it looks like they’ve turned the corner.
AUSSIE WATCH
BRAD WING – It was a crazy game in New Orleans with the Saints winning a shootout over the New York Giants 52-49.
It was a penalty against Wing that would allow the Saints to kick the match winning field goal as time expired.
Wing punted the ball in the dying seconds but grabbed the returner’s facemask near the halfway line.
That gifted the Saints an extra 15 yards allowing them to seal a dramatic victory.
Wing had four punts for 212 yards with a longest of 62 yards.
JORDAN BERRY – A solid day out for Berry in the Steelers 16-10 loss to the Bengals.
He had six punts for 213 yards downing the ball inside the 20-yard line three times.
WEEK 9
GREEN BAY PACKERS at CAROLINA PANTHERS
LIVE AND FREE ON 7MATE FROM 5AM AEDT
The Packers will be looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they take on the unbeaten Panthers.
Carolina was lucky to remain undefeated after edging past the Colts in overtime.
The Panthers need to limit turnovers on offence because they can’t afford to gift the ball to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
It’s Carolina’s biggest test of the season and this game will provide a big marker for where they are.
Tip – Packers by 3
DENVER BRONCOS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
LIVE AND FREE ON 7MATE FROM 8.30AM AEDT
Peyton Manning comes up against the team where he became a household name.
The Colts are in desperate need of a win after slipping to 3-5.
Quarterback Andrew Luck has been a turnover machine recently and now he comes up against the league’s best defence.
The Colts need to jump out to an early lead if they are to be any chance of winning this encounter.
Tip – Broncos by 3
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at DALLAS COWBOYS
LIVE AND FREE ON 7MATE FROM 12.30PM AEDT
It must be really hard to be a Cowboys fan at the moment – they’ve lost five games in a row and every one of those defeats has been tough to take.
Their offence just isn’t scoring enough points and it will continue to be that way until quarterback Tony Romo returns.
A win here would put the Cowboys right back in the NFC East title race.
The Eagles had the bye last weekend and running back DeMarco Murray will be out for a big game against his former team.
Tip – Cowboys by 3
THE REST:
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
Tip – Bengals by 13
Washington Redskins at New England Patriots
Tip – Patriots by 14
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
Tip – Saints by 10
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Tip – Dolphins by 3
St Louis Rams at Minnesota Vikings
Tip – Rams by 6
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets
Tip – Jets by 10
Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
Tip – Steelers by 7
Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
Tip – Falcons by 10
Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers
Tip – Chargers by 7