There has been no shortage of high-scoring affairs, a few defensive slugfests and several last-minute stunners. What was the best game of the first half of the 2011 season?
Tom Brady shredded the Bills and came damn near throwing for four touchdowns and 300 yards in the first half, then started throwing picks and didn't really stop. Fred Jackson had another coming out party. The game also retriggered contract talks between the Bills and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and could end up being a critical tiebreaker in the AFC.
It was a wild game with plenty of twists and turns. When I read this question, it was the game that leaped out at me. Saints-Texans was a lot of fun to watch, too.
Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees set the stage for their incredible seasons, as did Darren Sproles, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson and so on. Despite the offensive explosion, though, the most memorable moment came when Green Bay's defense, which was on the ropes, sold out to stop Ingram. That was a gut check -- a somebody-make-a-play moment. Love that.
The intensity, hitting and competitiveness were all high for an early season game. Not to mention … it was Michael Vick's first start back in Atlanta.
The Browns-Seahawks 6-3 gem is close, but I'll go with the Bills' win over the Pats. Tom Brady and New England look pretty mortal after losses to Pittsburgh and the Giants, but remember: they were undefeated and seemingly unstoppable until that day in Buffalo. Unfortunately for Bills fans, that win may prove to be the high-water mark of the season as their feel-good story fizzles in the second half of 2011.
Looking ahead, Packers at Lions and Niners at Ravens in a couple Thursdays give us a couple holiday games to be thankful for -- and, of course, it'll be fun to watch Green Bay complete their 19-0 season in February. And yes, that's gonna happen.
