FIRST GAME - HEART STOPPING THRILLER, SECOND GAME.....NOT SO MUCH
I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong, the San Francisco Forty-Niners won their playoff game over the New Orleans Saints. No one gave them anything. They harassed, hurried & hit Drew Brees. They caused 3 lost fumbles & a pair of interceptions. Justin & Aldon Smith played about as well as I've two old Mizzou Tigers play in a win or go home game. The final five minutes of this game were as exciting as one could possibly ask for, back 'n forth, back 'n forth. I have never seen Niners' QB Alex Smith throw the ball so well. He laid 4 passes into TE Vernon Davis that were as perfect as if he was standing 3-feet away. Davis caught 7-passes for 180-yards & 3 touchdowns, an NFL playoff record for tight ends.
As I sat in a packed sports bar with my new friend Sam, the last few minutes of this game was a roller coaster ride like I can't remember in a playoff game on division weekend. With 4:26 the Saints took their first lead of the day on a 44-yard catch & run by Darren Sproles. The Forty-Niners came roaring back & after a 12-men in the huddle penalty left them with a 3rd & 7 at the Saints 28, I said to Sam "they're going to get Alex Smith on the perimeter to run for the first down, they're not going to take a chance throwing the ball since they're already in field goal range." Alex Smith took the shotgun snap & set sail for the far sideline but he wasn't happy with a first down, he took it all the way for the go-ahead score with 2:11 left. A 2-point conversion failed & the Niners led 29-24.
San Francisco QB Alex Smith scores in the 4th quarter
Saints get the kickoff & after recording a first down, Drew Brees threw a strike to TE Jimmy Graham, who broke two tackles & took it all the way, 66-yards to put New Orleans back out front with 1:37 left on the clock. Brees capped the drive with a 2-point conversion pass to Sproles to lead by three, 32-29. I thought Jim Harbaugh's guys were finished. But after the kickoff, Smith hit RB Frank Gore twice for 1st downs to their 33. Then it was time for the Smith to Jackson connection once again. Smith laid in another perfect pass & Jackson roared down the far sideline before being knocked out at the Saints 20. After a 6-yard completion to Gore, Smith spiked the ball, stopping the clock at 00:12. Instead of lining up & kicking the tying field goal, Jim Harbaugh wanted to try one more shot into the endzone on 3rd down & of course it was going to be to Vernon Davis. Smith threw another perfect pass thru a tiny window & Davis caught it right at the goal line with 9-seconds left. David Akers kicked the PAT for the final score of 36-32. Harbaugh has king-sized balls. The catch by Davis reminded me of the 1998 playoff winning catch by Terrell Owens on the last play of the game to knock the Packers out of a chance at a third straight trip to the Super Bowl. Like Owens, Davis was overcome with emotion after the catch, sobbing on the sidelines.
Vernon Davis' game winning catch
I never thought Smith & the Niners could muster up 36-points in this or any other playoff game. The five New Orleans turnovers helped, but they didn't convert them into but 10-points. Aldon Smith had 3 tackles, 2 for loss, a sack & 4 QB knockdowns. Justin Smith had 3 tackles, 1 for loss, a sack & 5 QB knockdowns. This pair, along with ILB's Patrick Willis & Navarro Bowman wrecked the Saints running game & tortured Brees in the pocket all afternoon.
Can they take this act to Lambeau & win? You can bet your butt they'll be pulling for the Giants tomorrow because that outcome would mean the NFC Championship would be played in Frisco. And after everything I saw today, they just might make it all the way to Indianapolis.
The nitecap was anti-climactic to be sure. Tom Brady set an all-time NFL playoff record with 5 touchdown passes in the first half. He finished the game tying the league record with a total of six. The Denver defense was M.I.A. Von Miller & Elvis Dumervil were completely negated by the New England offensive line. Between them, they had but one tackle & no sacks. Cornerback Andre Goodman was torched repeatedly. TE Rob Gronkowski caught three of Brady's TD passes. Tim Tebow wasn't even slightly effective completing just 9 of 26 with no touchdowns & just 13-yards on 5 carries. This was a complete butt kickin' by New England, the 45-10 score isn't representative of how badly the Broncos were hammered on both sides of the ball. It looks like New England vs. Baltimore next Sunday for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Houston at Baltimore noon CST CBS
If the Texans were to win this game with T.J. Yates at quarterback, it would surprise me more than Frisco winning today. I just don't see him leading Houston to the upset. I can see some Ravens scoring on turnovers.
Baltimore 27 Houston 17
New York Giants at Green Bay 3:30PM CST FOX
This game could end up being every bit as exciting as the one we witnessed this afternoon. They played a 38-35 thriller at the Meadowlands in December. A last minute drive engineered by Aaron Rodgers put the Pack in position to win on a field goal. Today's game could be the same. It's cold, but that shouldn't effect either team. Both QB's have shown they can lead their team to whatever points are needed to win the game. It's hard to pick against the defensing champs, but one home team usually loses on division weekend & I dont see it being Baltimore. Sooooooooo I'm gonna choose........sorry, I can't do it.
Green Bay 35 New York 27
As I sat in a packed sports bar with my new friend Sam, the last few minutes of this game was a roller coaster ride like I can't remember in a playoff game on division weekend. With 4:26 the Saints took their first lead of the day on a 44-yard catch & run by Darren Sproles. The Forty-Niners came roaring back & after a 12-men in the huddle penalty left them with a 3rd & 7 at the Saints 28, I said to Sam "they're going to get Alex Smith on the perimeter to run for the first down, they're not going to take a chance throwing the ball since they're already in field goal range." Alex Smith took the shotgun snap & set sail for the far sideline but he wasn't happy with a first down, he took it all the way for the go-ahead score with 2:11 left. A 2-point conversion failed & the Niners led 29-24.
San Francisco QB Alex Smith scores in the 4th quarter
Saints get the kickoff & after recording a first down, Drew Brees threw a strike to TE Jimmy Graham, who broke two tackles & took it all the way, 66-yards to put New Orleans back out front with 1:37 left on the clock. Brees capped the drive with a 2-point conversion pass to Sproles to lead by three, 32-29. I thought Jim Harbaugh's guys were finished. But after the kickoff, Smith hit RB Frank Gore twice for 1st downs to their 33. Then it was time for the Smith to Jackson connection once again. Smith laid in another perfect pass & Jackson roared down the far sideline before being knocked out at the Saints 20. After a 6-yard completion to Gore, Smith spiked the ball, stopping the clock at 00:12. Instead of lining up & kicking the tying field goal, Jim Harbaugh wanted to try one more shot into the endzone on 3rd down & of course it was going to be to Vernon Davis. Smith threw another perfect pass thru a tiny window & Davis caught it right at the goal line with 9-seconds left. David Akers kicked the PAT for the final score of 36-32. Harbaugh has king-sized balls. The catch by Davis reminded me of the 1998 playoff winning catch by Terrell Owens on the last play of the game to knock the Packers out of a chance at a third straight trip to the Super Bowl. Like Owens, Davis was overcome with emotion after the catch, sobbing on the sidelines.
Vernon Davis' game winning catch
I never thought Smith & the Niners could muster up 36-points in this or any other playoff game. The five New Orleans turnovers helped, but they didn't convert them into but 10-points. Aldon Smith had 3 tackles, 2 for loss, a sack & 4 QB knockdowns. Justin Smith had 3 tackles, 1 for loss, a sack & 5 QB knockdowns. This pair, along with ILB's Patrick Willis & Navarro Bowman wrecked the Saints running game & tortured Brees in the pocket all afternoon.
Can they take this act to Lambeau & win? You can bet your butt they'll be pulling for the Giants tomorrow because that outcome would mean the NFC Championship would be played in Frisco. And after everything I saw today, they just might make it all the way to Indianapolis.
The nitecap was anti-climactic to be sure. Tom Brady set an all-time NFL playoff record with 5 touchdown passes in the first half. He finished the game tying the league record with a total of six. The Denver defense was M.I.A. Von Miller & Elvis Dumervil were completely negated by the New England offensive line. Between them, they had but one tackle & no sacks. Cornerback Andre Goodman was torched repeatedly. TE Rob Gronkowski caught three of Brady's TD passes. Tim Tebow wasn't even slightly effective completing just 9 of 26 with no touchdowns & just 13-yards on 5 carries. This was a complete butt kickin' by New England, the 45-10 score isn't representative of how badly the Broncos were hammered on both sides of the ball. It looks like New England vs. Baltimore next Sunday for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Houston at Baltimore noon CST CBS
If the Texans were to win this game with T.J. Yates at quarterback, it would surprise me more than Frisco winning today. I just don't see him leading Houston to the upset. I can see some Ravens scoring on turnovers.
Baltimore 27 Houston 17
New York Giants at Green Bay 3:30PM CST FOX
This game could end up being every bit as exciting as the one we witnessed this afternoon. They played a 38-35 thriller at the Meadowlands in December. A last minute drive engineered by Aaron Rodgers put the Pack in position to win on a field goal. Today's game could be the same. It's cold, but that shouldn't effect either team. Both QB's have shown they can lead their team to whatever points are needed to win the game. It's hard to pick against the defensing champs, but one home team usually loses on division weekend & I dont see it being Baltimore. Sooooooooo I'm gonna choose........sorry, I can't do it.
Green Bay 35 New York 27
The Saints-SF game was a thriller! Really kept you on the edge of your seat, especially the last few minutes. Seond game a real yawner. Giants/Pakers game should be good.
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