NFL Week 7: Three Storylines to Watch For
There's a reason the NFL is America's most popular sport. The on-field product is wildly entertaining and the intrigue every matchup generates is practically unrivaled in sports. Each and every week has juicy subplots like an episode of "Game of Thrones."
So what are the three most interesting NFL storylines in Week 7?
1. Peyton Manning chasing Brett Favre
Manning needs just two touchdown passes to tie Favre's all-time record of 508 tuddies. Manning may not have as many Super Bowl trophies as Tom Brady, but he does hold nearly every passing record imaginable. Passing Favre will only strengthen Manning's case as the greatest quarterback of all time. Manning and the Broncos, however, aren't focused on records.
""I think we've concentrated on important things; we've had two good wins coming off a bye week,'' Manning said." ... That's what I've concentrated on, kind of doing whatever it takes to win. I don't feel like it's been a distraction.''
"It's not something we talk about as an offense...we just keep playing football," tight end Julius Thomas, who leads the league in touchdown receptions with nine, said. "But I can personally say...and it just speaks to the work ethic and attention to detail he's had his entire career. We'll be extremely happy for him when it happens."
The significance of the achievement should not be lost on fans. NFL supporters have been treated to a rare display of excellence during Manning's career.
The Broncos face off against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night.
2. Jim Irsay's return
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay returns this week from a six-game suspension following a DUI arrest during the offseason. Irsay, who's presided over one of the most successful NFL franchises over the last 20 years, has had numerous personal problems come to light in recent months. Signs of drug and alcohol abuse have been seen from Irsay since the mid 1990's when "an NFL security agent suggested that Irsay seek treatment for possible addiction," wrote ESPN The Magazine's Shaun Assael.
Irsay can be thoughtful and generous, open and honest, yet blasé and detached. His personal life is filled with a litany of good deeds and strange occurrences. He's sought treatment for addiction several times yet still seems to find himself lapsing back into destructive habits.
How do the NFL, media and fans respond to his return? Has Irsay been given enough chances? Is he an irresponsible party animal or a victim of a disease and emotional pain? The time is now for Irsay to turn his life around.
3. DeMarco Murray's quest for history
Murray leads the league in rushing by a wide margin. His 785 rushing yards are 243 more than the next closest running back, the largest lead in Week 6 since Denver Broncos' Terrell Davis in 1998. Murray is tied with Hall of Famer Jim Brown as the only ball carriers to rush for at least 100 yards in their first six games of the season. Murray's current pace of 130.8 yards per game has him breaking Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards.
Murray has always been a talented runner, but injuries forced him to miss 11 games in his first three seasons, raising doubts about his reliability.
"He's done an unbelievable job," Cowboys tight end Jason Witten said of Murray. "The offensive line deserves a lot of credit but so does he. This offseason he was my workout partner and it's amazing how he's kind of prepared for this opportunity. He's big. He's strong. He's tough. He' smart. He's eager. He wants to be the best. He doesn't settle. So I think he embraces this role that he wants to be the guy that can carry it every down so he doesn't want to come off the field. He has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder and has something to prove. It's been good to see and even with his success early on I think he knows, he's quick to give others credit and he's got to continue to do it week in and week out."
Murray will have the chance to continue his historic streak this week against a New York Giants defense that just allowed over 200 rushing yards to the Philadelphia Eagles.
