WINNERS & LOSERS FROM A VERY BIZARRE NFL SUNDAY
It's winter time, I have a miserable cold & a large Ziplock bag full of ice on my very swollen & painful knee. I can't sleep, I hurt a lot of the time, but I think I'm more bothered by just how clueless one can be when it comes to professional football. Just when you think you have a grasp on the NFL, a day like today comes along & proves to one & all, we really don't know sh*t. As I'm writing this post, the Packers, more than a 2-touchdown underdog, are leading the Patriots in the 4th quarter. I saw last season's Pro Bowl placekicker miss 4-field goals on a dry, windless 67-degree day in Miami. I witnessed a 313-pound offensive guard return a kickoff 71-yards, an NFL record. I saw Pro Bowl WR Marques Colston drop 4 passes, 2 for 1st downs & a one that would have been a touchdown. Jacksonville, the NFL's 2nd ranked rushing team, totally abandoned the run, preferring instead to throw the ball 38 times. Their opponent, the Colts, decided to run the ball & out-rushed the Jags 155-67. The Colts also won 34-24, virtually clinching the AFC South. Tim Tebow led the Broncos in rushing, 78-yards on just 8 carries plus he scored a touchdown. I saw another week where the entire NFC West lost.......again & still have 3 teams alive for the division crown, each at least 2 games under .500. And then there was the Eagles-Giants game, wow, I would've never believed it if I hadn't seen it right before my eyes.
THE WINNERS:
Philadelphia Eagles
This wild come from behind win by the Eagles was easily the most improbable. Down 31-10, on the road, with just 8:16 remaining in the game, the Eagles went to work. Michael Vick hooked up with tight end Brent Celek for a 65-yard touchdown, Eagle WR Jeremy Maclin made it possible with a "de-cleating" block on a 250-pound Giant linebacker. Next, the Eagles catch New York totally unprepared for an onside kick after perfectly executing one, they recover & score in exactly 2-minutes. They stop the Giants on downs & with 1:16 left in the game, Vick finds Maclin for a 13-yard touchdown, tying the game at 31-all. New York fails to register a 1st down & must punt with 9-seconds left in the game. Rookie punter Matt Dodge, told by coaches to kick the ball out of bounds, kicks a line drive right down the middle of the field. After bobbling the catch, DeSean Jackson sets sail & goes 65-yards untouched for the winning score. Giants coach Tom Coughlin began chewing on Dodge, face-to-face, before Jackson even crossed the goal line. Vick ran for 130-yards & a touchdown while throwing 3 TD passes. This wrapped up the NFC East for Philly. The G-Men should still make the playoffs, but they might not get over this loss for sometime.
New York Jets
The Jets have been miserable offensively for weeks, they have but one victory over a winning team. Tho they still get untracked offensively, they won against a very tough opponent on the road. Brad Smith(just elected to the MIzzou HOF) ran the opening kickoff back 97-yards for a touchdown. It was his second of the season, whoever heard of a 6' 4" kick returner? He's not that fast but his strides are like 4-yards apiece, so he covers a lot of ground. Mark Sanchez, the much maligned Jets' QB, ran for a score on a perfectly executed bootleg but the big news for the 2nd year signal caller was, no turnovers. The biggest play of the 2nd half was a safety recorded by New York OLB Jason Taylor. It gave the Jets a 5-point lead. Ben Rothlesberger drove the Steelers 82-yards to the Jet 10 with nine-seconds remaining, but they couldn't get in as time expired. The Jets needed a statement win, they got one today.
Atlanta
Mike Smith's birds appear to have wrapped up home field advantage thruout the playoffs with their win at Seattle, 34-18. With home games against New Orleans & Carolina, I don't see Philly, Chicago, or the Saints catching Atlanta. Since they Matt Ryan became the starting QB in Atlanta, they have a 20-1 home record. Very imposing, but I'm just not sold on their defense yet. Still, clinching home field is a big deal.
Indianapolis
Like I said, to be the champs, you have to beat the champs. Jacksonville couldn't get it done today. There will be a lot of questions regarding the Jaguars' gameplan, they basically abandoned the run when they have the 2nd best rushing offense in the league. The Colts took a page from the Jacksonville playbook & ran the ball extremely well. The NFL's 32nd rated running game out rushed the 2nd ranked rushers 155-67. That in a nutshell was the game. Teams try to play keep-away from Peyton Manning but the Colts turned the tables today. Indy still has the Raiders & Tennessee left on the schedule, but they looked like champs again today.
Baltimore
My AFC Super Bowl pick looked like a team capable of getting back to the big game. The Ravens dominated the game on the ground out-rushing the Saints 208-yards to just 27. They batted down pass after pass at the line of scrimmage & harassed Drew Brees. All-Pro WR Marques Colston caught 8 passes, but dropped 4 others, 3 on crucial downs. Ray Rice & Willis McGahee combined for 286-yards running & receiving. The Saints inability to run at least a little put too much pressure on Brees. The Raven defense, which has folded in the 4th quarter a few times this season, held up well today, blanking the Saints in the final 11:30 of the game. New Orleans is still one of the 6-7 best teams in the league & Baltimore's victory today was very encouraging for their chances come the post season.
New England
The Patriots prevailed tonight despite their lackluster offensive performance. The difference for New England was a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kyle Arrington & an absurd 71-yard kickoff return by 313-pound offensive guard Dan Connolly placed the Pats at the Packer 4-yardline just before half. They scored two plays later, closing the halftime deficit to just 3-points. The win just about clinches home field advantage thruout the playoffs, all they need is one win against either Buffalo or Miami.
Detroit, Tennessee, Buffalo & Carolina
They could've just folded their tents, packed it in, made tee times for the post season. But they didn't, they kept playing hard & all four won today. The Detroit win at Tampa Bay essentially killed the Bucs' playoff hopes. It was Detroit's first road win since October of 2007, they had dropped 26-straight games away from the friendly confines of Ford Field. The Titans, beset by internal strife & a divided locker room, came to play today. They held Houston to just 30-yards rushing while rolling up a 147-yard total of their own. They hit Texan QB Matt Schaub all day long. The Bills continue to play hard Sunday after Sunday. Today they managed to beat Miami 17-14 in Miami. Chan Gailey made a brilliant move installing Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter 8 weeks ago, they are 4-4 since. It should be noted that 3 of those losses were in overtime by 3 points. Gailey has a group of players who have bought into what he's selling. Carolina won? Carolina, the 1-12 Panthers? That Carolina? Yup, they beat hapless Arizona 19-12 by out-rushing the Cards 177-43. Notice how the teams that run the ball successfully generally win? KC had 200+ & so did the Raiders, they both won. Run the ball & play good defense. That's the recipe for winning in the regular season. Playoff football must also include a reasonably successful passing game.
THE LOSERS:
NY Giants
Like I explained above, the G-Men might not get over this 4th quarter "El Foldo". At least not this season. With 8:30 to play, they were looking at a NFC Eastern Division crown & then it was gone.
Miami
How do you win 6 of 7 on the road while losing 6 of 7 at home? In 50+ years of following football, I've never seen or heard of anything like the Dolphins of 2010. Their Pro Bowl kicker, Dan Carpenter, missed 4 field goals. The Phish had been very adept at running the ball pretty much all season, but not today, just 65-yards on the ground. That puts way too much pressure on Chad Henne, a QB with numerous decision & turnover issues. I can't see how Tony Sporano survives all the disgruntled season ticket holders.
The entire NFC West
Once again, they all lost & lost big. Well, truth be told, Arizona was only beaten by 7-points, but it was by a team with a 1-12 record. The Rams & Seahawks, both 6-8 & the 5-9 Forty-Niners are all still alive for the division crown(dunce cap).
Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens & Gary Kubiak
McNabb was benched for the second time this season & despite the Redskins' loss, coach Mike Shanahan said after the game McNabb would be the 3rd QB in the last two games of the season, John Beck would be the backup to Rex Grossman. Shanahan said "Grossman played like he practiced, I wasn't surprised." Really? Two picks & a fumble are certainly typical Rex Grossman as I remember. McNabb will be somewhere else & if Shanahan doesn't create a big turnaround next season, McNabb's biggest fan, Washington owner Dan Snyder, will probably be looking for a new coach. T.O. suffered a torn meniscus today & will miss the remainder of the season. Owens recently turned 37 & there are many more teams that have no use for him & his act, so he might have a very difficult time finding employment in the NFL, hope he saved his reality show dough. Texans' owner Bob McNair has shown remarkable patience but I think it's reached the end. Coach Gary Kubiak has to go, his 36-42 record & no playoff appearances in 4+ years with Houston has fans on the verge of revolt. The overtime loss Monday night was probably the last straw, thousands of fans sat silent in their seats for up to ten minutes after Texan QB Matt Schaub threw a pick-6 to decide the game. McNair was one of those who sat quietly. I look for him to make a major offer to Bill Cowher soon after the regular season is finished.
THE WINNERS:
Philadelphia Eagles
This wild come from behind win by the Eagles was easily the most improbable. Down 31-10, on the road, with just 8:16 remaining in the game, the Eagles went to work. Michael Vick hooked up with tight end Brent Celek for a 65-yard touchdown, Eagle WR Jeremy Maclin made it possible with a "de-cleating" block on a 250-pound Giant linebacker. Next, the Eagles catch New York totally unprepared for an onside kick after perfectly executing one, they recover & score in exactly 2-minutes. They stop the Giants on downs & with 1:16 left in the game, Vick finds Maclin for a 13-yard touchdown, tying the game at 31-all. New York fails to register a 1st down & must punt with 9-seconds left in the game. Rookie punter Matt Dodge, told by coaches to kick the ball out of bounds, kicks a line drive right down the middle of the field. After bobbling the catch, DeSean Jackson sets sail & goes 65-yards untouched for the winning score. Giants coach Tom Coughlin began chewing on Dodge, face-to-face, before Jackson even crossed the goal line. Vick ran for 130-yards & a touchdown while throwing 3 TD passes. This wrapped up the NFC East for Philly. The G-Men should still make the playoffs, but they might not get over this loss for sometime.
New York Jets
The Jets have been miserable offensively for weeks, they have but one victory over a winning team. Tho they still get untracked offensively, they won against a very tough opponent on the road. Brad Smith(just elected to the MIzzou HOF) ran the opening kickoff back 97-yards for a touchdown. It was his second of the season, whoever heard of a 6' 4" kick returner? He's not that fast but his strides are like 4-yards apiece, so he covers a lot of ground. Mark Sanchez, the much maligned Jets' QB, ran for a score on a perfectly executed bootleg but the big news for the 2nd year signal caller was, no turnovers. The biggest play of the 2nd half was a safety recorded by New York OLB Jason Taylor. It gave the Jets a 5-point lead. Ben Rothlesberger drove the Steelers 82-yards to the Jet 10 with nine-seconds remaining, but they couldn't get in as time expired. The Jets needed a statement win, they got one today.
Atlanta
Mike Smith's birds appear to have wrapped up home field advantage thruout the playoffs with their win at Seattle, 34-18. With home games against New Orleans & Carolina, I don't see Philly, Chicago, or the Saints catching Atlanta. Since they Matt Ryan became the starting QB in Atlanta, they have a 20-1 home record. Very imposing, but I'm just not sold on their defense yet. Still, clinching home field is a big deal.
Indianapolis
Like I said, to be the champs, you have to beat the champs. Jacksonville couldn't get it done today. There will be a lot of questions regarding the Jaguars' gameplan, they basically abandoned the run when they have the 2nd best rushing offense in the league. The Colts took a page from the Jacksonville playbook & ran the ball extremely well. The NFL's 32nd rated running game out rushed the 2nd ranked rushers 155-67. That in a nutshell was the game. Teams try to play keep-away from Peyton Manning but the Colts turned the tables today. Indy still has the Raiders & Tennessee left on the schedule, but they looked like champs again today.
Baltimore
My AFC Super Bowl pick looked like a team capable of getting back to the big game. The Ravens dominated the game on the ground out-rushing the Saints 208-yards to just 27. They batted down pass after pass at the line of scrimmage & harassed Drew Brees. All-Pro WR Marques Colston caught 8 passes, but dropped 4 others, 3 on crucial downs. Ray Rice & Willis McGahee combined for 286-yards running & receiving. The Saints inability to run at least a little put too much pressure on Brees. The Raven defense, which has folded in the 4th quarter a few times this season, held up well today, blanking the Saints in the final 11:30 of the game. New Orleans is still one of the 6-7 best teams in the league & Baltimore's victory today was very encouraging for their chances come the post season.
New England
The Patriots prevailed tonight despite their lackluster offensive performance. The difference for New England was a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kyle Arrington & an absurd 71-yard kickoff return by 313-pound offensive guard Dan Connolly placed the Pats at the Packer 4-yardline just before half. They scored two plays later, closing the halftime deficit to just 3-points. The win just about clinches home field advantage thruout the playoffs, all they need is one win against either Buffalo or Miami.
Detroit, Tennessee, Buffalo & Carolina
They could've just folded their tents, packed it in, made tee times for the post season. But they didn't, they kept playing hard & all four won today. The Detroit win at Tampa Bay essentially killed the Bucs' playoff hopes. It was Detroit's first road win since October of 2007, they had dropped 26-straight games away from the friendly confines of Ford Field. The Titans, beset by internal strife & a divided locker room, came to play today. They held Houston to just 30-yards rushing while rolling up a 147-yard total of their own. They hit Texan QB Matt Schaub all day long. The Bills continue to play hard Sunday after Sunday. Today they managed to beat Miami 17-14 in Miami. Chan Gailey made a brilliant move installing Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter 8 weeks ago, they are 4-4 since. It should be noted that 3 of those losses were in overtime by 3 points. Gailey has a group of players who have bought into what he's selling. Carolina won? Carolina, the 1-12 Panthers? That Carolina? Yup, they beat hapless Arizona 19-12 by out-rushing the Cards 177-43. Notice how the teams that run the ball successfully generally win? KC had 200+ & so did the Raiders, they both won. Run the ball & play good defense. That's the recipe for winning in the regular season. Playoff football must also include a reasonably successful passing game.
THE LOSERS:
NY Giants
Like I explained above, the G-Men might not get over this 4th quarter "El Foldo". At least not this season. With 8:30 to play, they were looking at a NFC Eastern Division crown & then it was gone.
Miami
How do you win 6 of 7 on the road while losing 6 of 7 at home? In 50+ years of following football, I've never seen or heard of anything like the Dolphins of 2010. Their Pro Bowl kicker, Dan Carpenter, missed 4 field goals. The Phish had been very adept at running the ball pretty much all season, but not today, just 65-yards on the ground. That puts way too much pressure on Chad Henne, a QB with numerous decision & turnover issues. I can't see how Tony Sporano survives all the disgruntled season ticket holders.
The entire NFC West
Once again, they all lost & lost big. Well, truth be told, Arizona was only beaten by 7-points, but it was by a team with a 1-12 record. The Rams & Seahawks, both 6-8 & the 5-9 Forty-Niners are all still alive for the division crown(dunce cap).
Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens & Gary Kubiak
McNabb was benched for the second time this season & despite the Redskins' loss, coach Mike Shanahan said after the game McNabb would be the 3rd QB in the last two games of the season, John Beck would be the backup to Rex Grossman. Shanahan said "Grossman played like he practiced, I wasn't surprised." Really? Two picks & a fumble are certainly typical Rex Grossman as I remember. McNabb will be somewhere else & if Shanahan doesn't create a big turnaround next season, McNabb's biggest fan, Washington owner Dan Snyder, will probably be looking for a new coach. T.O. suffered a torn meniscus today & will miss the remainder of the season. Owens recently turned 37 & there are many more teams that have no use for him & his act, so he might have a very difficult time finding employment in the NFL, hope he saved his reality show dough. Texans' owner Bob McNair has shown remarkable patience but I think it's reached the end. Coach Gary Kubiak has to go, his 36-42 record & no playoff appearances in 4+ years with Houston has fans on the verge of revolt. The overtime loss Monday night was probably the last straw, thousands of fans sat silent in their seats for up to ten minutes after Texan QB Matt Schaub threw a pick-6 to decide the game. McNair was one of those who sat quietly. I look for him to make a major offer to Bill Cowher soon after the regular season is finished.
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