Baltimore Ravens, 24 Indianapolis Colts, 9
Thursday, future 1st-ballot Hall Of Famer LB Ray Lewis announced this would be his final season. This forced the media to literally rip themselves in half between the feel good ChuckStrong loveable underdogs and the glorious curtain-call-for-a-legend narratives. Their panic was evident all pre game and postgame. Either way, we seem to have forgotten to talk about football.
As always, a kickoff ensued and a football game followed. The action on the field? This was a rough debut for QB Andrew Luck. The experienced Ravens defeated him with just that, expierence. Luck was forced to throw the ball 54 times, but completed only half and none in the red zone.
On the other side of the ball, the Ravens offense was slow to put up points. Flacco and Co seemed to finally straighten out right before halftime and hit full stride in the 3rd quarter. It was the same decade-old Ravens formula; Lewis, S Ed Reed and LB Terrell Suggs kept the game close, until the offense could get moving. Even two lost fumbles by RB Ray Rice did nothing to swing the Colts in the right direction.
KEY PLAY: With 1:08 left in the half, Ray Rice supplied the big play to finally spark the Ravens offense. A 47 yard screen to the 2 that led to FB Vonta Leach's pounding touchdown. On the play were excellent adjustments by Rice, QB Joe Flacco and the first of two big time blocks by WR Torrey Smith
MVP: WR Anquan Boldin made all the big plays that needed to be made: catches of 50, 46 and a dagger touchdown in the 4th. He overpowered the Colts secondary and provided all the offense the Ravens would need.
Seattle Seahawks, 24 Washington Redskins, 14
It will be unfortunate if the injury to QB Robert Griffin III and its lasting impact upon his career lives as the memorable aspect to this game in NFL legend & lore. The Redskins jumped out to a 14-0 lead on the back of RB Alfred Morris, leading two of the most dominant ground drives of their already successful rushing season. It was the ability of the Seattle D to lift up to that physical tempo and remarkably not allow another semblance of success on offense from Washington for the rest of the game. Morris tallied 49 yards on the first two drives, and 31 yards in the rest of the game.
RG3's knee injury continued to get worse, by the 2nd half he was effectively at 1/4 of his normal speed. QB Russell Wilson, RB Marshawn Lynch ran the read-option game plan to perfection and Washington's defense looked uncertain and lacked confidence Seattle methodically put up the 24 points needed to win.
KEY PLAY: RG3's brutal knee injury and the resulting crucial fumble loss are sure to recieve replays all week. However, my pick was an unsung 3rd and 12 in the 2nd quarter. The Seahawks were vulnerable to a door slamming 3 and out, down 14. TE Zach Miller made a shoestring catch and pounded 6 hard yards to convert. It was a game changer, the rest, in retrospect, seemed almost inevitable.
MVP: RB Marshawn Lynch may have lost a fumble at the goal line but he also he more than made up for it with a crucial fumble scooping conversion and willed the ball forward for a 26 yard TD run that put the Seahawks ahead for good. He has been the workhorse that gives the Seattle D, rookie Wilson and weapons around room to shine.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Saturday 1/5/13 (Wildcard)
Houston Texans, 19 Cincinnati Bengals, 13
The Texans dominated this game. However, the offense was unable to convert opportunities to touchdowns. The first half score was the most unrepresentative score I have even seen. The Texans leading only 9-7. The Bengals' sole TD a result of a staggeringly poor decision by QB Matt Schaub and the awesome ball skills of CB Leon Hall.
In the 3rd quarter, the Texans put together yet another solid drive and were finally able to punch it into the end zone with RB Arian Foster. They were unable to repeat the feat, but they luckily would not need to.
For the Bengals, A.J Green was shut out in the 1st half but showed his ability to take over a game in the 2nd. If QB Andy Dalton hadn't overthrown two clear touchdown opportunities, we would likely be talking about the most inexplicable Texans loss in their short history.
Overall, the game impressed most fans as a lose-to-New England-or-Denver contest. Missed opportunities, drops and poor red zone execution from both teams left a very lackluster flavor in fans' mouths. A competition to lose in the next round.
KEY PLAY: The 1 yard Foster run for the only Texan touchdown of the game. 420 yards of total offense and 1 TD has to worry a team going into New England. At least they can point to at least this one example of red zone execution.
MVP: RB Arian Foster was the difference, his 174 total yards kept the Houston D rested, his touchdown kept the scoreboard in Houston's favor.
Green Bay Packers, 24 Minnesota Vikings, 10
This game was a shame. The Vikings without a QB, the game was already decided before it began. NBC begrudgingly capped the first day of playoff football with a dull, non-competitive game that didn't even showcase the two divisional rivals' strengths. The Vikings could not run the ball with 8-9 in the box waiting for Peterson while the Packers had no need for massive aerial attack they are staffed for.
It's a shame for RB Adrian Peterson, who turned in one of the greatest rushing seasons of all time, that the Vikings season-long starting QB Christian Ponder cold not play in this game. "QB" Joe Webb who was exposed as nothing more than an emergency QB option, certainly not even an NFL back-up quality starter.
(29 Green Bay rushing attempts? 30 Joe Webb passing attempts? This is not what NBC signed up for).
Who was it not a shame for? Well, that would be Qb Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The defense handled Peterson by devoting entirely to stop him as it became apparent Webb could not make the NFL throws. Yes, the Packers have to listen to sports media declare this a hollow victory, but I think they'll be fine- there are no hollow victories in the NFL playoffs. This was huge.
KEY PLAY: The 9-yard TD from Rodgers to FB John Kuhn was the dagger, not just for the play but for the statement that the 2nd half would be just as like the 1st, capping 6-minute drive to open the 3rd quarter and put the Packers up 21pts. The tone of a long, slow close-out.
MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers. He did not have to put up big numbers. In fact, Green Bay tried to run the ball and eat up clock but found Rodgers' arm, legs, decision making and plethora of weapons (he connected with 10 different receivers, a playoff record) were actually more of a game management tool than the running game. Rodgers is a dark horse in this playoff. We've heard much more about Brady, Manning, Rg3, Luck, Ryan, even Wilson and Kaepernick, but Rodgers could change that with a few more successful performances like this one.
The Texans dominated this game. However, the offense was unable to convert opportunities to touchdowns. The first half score was the most unrepresentative score I have even seen. The Texans leading only 9-7. The Bengals' sole TD a result of a staggeringly poor decision by QB Matt Schaub and the awesome ball skills of CB Leon Hall.
In the 3rd quarter, the Texans put together yet another solid drive and were finally able to punch it into the end zone with RB Arian Foster. They were unable to repeat the feat, but they luckily would not need to.
For the Bengals, A.J Green was shut out in the 1st half but showed his ability to take over a game in the 2nd. If QB Andy Dalton hadn't overthrown two clear touchdown opportunities, we would likely be talking about the most inexplicable Texans loss in their short history.
Overall, the game impressed most fans as a lose-to-New England-or-Denver contest. Missed opportunities, drops and poor red zone execution from both teams left a very lackluster flavor in fans' mouths. A competition to lose in the next round.
KEY PLAY: The 1 yard Foster run for the only Texan touchdown of the game. 420 yards of total offense and 1 TD has to worry a team going into New England. At least they can point to at least this one example of red zone execution.
MVP: RB Arian Foster was the difference, his 174 total yards kept the Houston D rested, his touchdown kept the scoreboard in Houston's favor.
Green Bay Packers, 24 Minnesota Vikings, 10
This game was a shame. The Vikings without a QB, the game was already decided before it began. NBC begrudgingly capped the first day of playoff football with a dull, non-competitive game that didn't even showcase the two divisional rivals' strengths. The Vikings could not run the ball with 8-9 in the box waiting for Peterson while the Packers had no need for massive aerial attack they are staffed for.
It's a shame for RB Adrian Peterson, who turned in one of the greatest rushing seasons of all time, that the Vikings season-long starting QB Christian Ponder cold not play in this game. "QB" Joe Webb who was exposed as nothing more than an emergency QB option, certainly not even an NFL back-up quality starter.
(29 Green Bay rushing attempts? 30 Joe Webb passing attempts? This is not what NBC signed up for).
Who was it not a shame for? Well, that would be Qb Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The defense handled Peterson by devoting entirely to stop him as it became apparent Webb could not make the NFL throws. Yes, the Packers have to listen to sports media declare this a hollow victory, but I think they'll be fine- there are no hollow victories in the NFL playoffs. This was huge.
KEY PLAY: The 9-yard TD from Rodgers to FB John Kuhn was the dagger, not just for the play but for the statement that the 2nd half would be just as like the 1st, capping 6-minute drive to open the 3rd quarter and put the Packers up 21pts. The tone of a long, slow close-out.
MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers. He did not have to put up big numbers. In fact, Green Bay tried to run the ball and eat up clock but found Rodgers' arm, legs, decision making and plethora of weapons (he connected with 10 different receivers, a playoff record) were actually more of a game management tool than the running game. Rodgers is a dark horse in this playoff. We've heard much more about Brady, Manning, Rg3, Luck, Ryan, even Wilson and Kaepernick, but Rodgers could change that with a few more successful performances like this one.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Wild Card Weekend 2013
Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) @ Houston Texans (12-4)
For as good as the Texans were during the season to position themselves as massive favorites for the #1 seed after 14 games, they were just as terrible dropping their final two games to the Vikings and Colts. Not only did they lose the #1 seed, but they lost the bye, finishing as the 3rd seed. Fair or not, our collective conscience remembers the 2012 Texans by this collapse, and by the prime time drubbings delivered by the Packers (24-42, week 7) and Patriots (14-42, week 14). Four extremely concerning and memorable losses. Nobody is talking much about the Texans' 12 wins.The Texans hoped to be watching and waiting from home this weekend but instead they face a young, hungry Bengals team, now a year older, with a fair amount of playoff experience. Bengals QB Andy Dalton is starting his 2nd playoff game in his two years. Meanwhile, this will be the playoff debut for 9-year veteran Texans QB Matt Schaub.
KEYS FOR CIN: WR A.J Green is the kind of game-changing weapon perfect for a road playoff game. A fast start by Green and solid production out of RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis is feasible recipe for the Bengals to move on.
KEYS FOR HOU: Coach Gary Kubiak should have no time for storylines but they are there, "The Texans can't beat good teams", "The Texans have talent but not focus". When the whistle blows, Houston will have a chance to re-write those headlines.
Minnesota Vikings (10-6) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Vikings QB Christian Ponder (or Joe Webb) is handed a handicap (Packers terrible pass defense) for his duel with last year's MVP QB Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings also have to be pleased to have Adrian Peterson in the backfield facing off on a Green Bay defense that he has shredded for 409 yards in 2 games, including 199 last week.The Packers D must be sick of tackling A.P in what has really been his greatest season. (I consider him the NFL MVP) but that is where the Vikings advantage ends. The Packers have enough talent on offense to win this game, When Aaron Rodgers gets hot on the frozen tundra the game will be out of reach. The Packers boast frightening array of weapons this season; WR Greg Jennings, TE Jermichael Finley, WR Jordy Nelson and breakout WRs Randall Cobb and James Jones. All healthy for the first time together now. Green Bay's great ball-controlling passing game can get hot and win any game.
KEYS FOR MIN: It will be very cold in Green Bay and the Vikings are preaching a punishing run game with the best running back in the NFL. Historical convention would seem to lean towards Minnesota on the unforgiving winter tundra.
KEYS FOR GB: Just light it up, Mr. Rodgers. The Vikings can only win a slugfest. If the Packers can put points on the board early (and we know they can) the Vikings will not come back. It would help if the defense could contain Peterson, but an early lead will work just the same.
Indianapolis Colts (11-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
The Colts and Ravens have an old world story-line. March 29, 1984 the Baltimore Colts loaded into a convoy of 18-wheelers and bolted town, sneaking out under cover darkness in the middle of the night. Baltimore was left a heartbroken and bitter city, without an NFL franchise until 1996.Most of this connection has fizzled over time. Both franchises have won Super Bowls this decade, 76 of the active 120 players were not even born in 1984!
Coach Chuck Pagano and his cancer treatments, inspiring words, and the Colts' turnaround have supplied a heartwarming story, but shall we talk some football? Ravens RB Ray Rice and QB Joe Flacco didn't take that next step into consistency this year and the offense seems to fluctuate between ignoring, or relying too much on, Rice. Which Ravens we will get, we have no idea. Strangely, it is rookie quarterback QB Andrew Luck and the previously 2-14 Colts who provide consistency, Luck is the real deal and the extra boost of their coach's inspiring story is unlikely to fade on this massive playoff stage.
KEYS FOR IND: Stopping Ray Rice has got to be the priority, Andrew Luck will not be able to do that, if there's any burst from the Ravens offense - this is still a Colts D that can seriously struggle.
KEYS FOR BAL: Joe Flacco isn't the only wildly inconsistent quarterback in the league brimming on greatness. Jay Cutler, Tony Romo, and Philip Rivers come to my mind. It's time for Flacco to get out of that grouping.
Seattle Seahawks (11-5) @ Washington Redskins (10-6)
The Washington Redskins have faced Seattle in their last two playoff appearance in 2005 and 2007. They lost both appearances. The Redskins aren't those Redskins anymore, or any Redskins, anymore. QB Robert Griffin III-mania has swept the nation's capital. He has brought a dynamic, exciting aspect to Redskin football that, even in the 80s glory days, has rarely existed.The Seahawks are coming off a 5-game winning streak in which they out-scored their opponents 193-60. They are converting in the red zone, winning on the road, and QB Russell Wilson is getting better and better. In a battle of exciting, dynamic rookie QBs, Wilson happens to be the healthiest.
KEYS FOR SEA: RB Marshawn Lynch can control a game and the Redskins defense is not top-tier. It's hard to imagine a circumstance in which the patchy, muddy field will not make this a slugfest. Lynch and Wilson are guys you want on your side. Their other advantage lies in their secondary as CB Richard Sherman has been the most under-rated player in the NFL, alongside Pro Bowler S Earl Thomas and returning CB Brandon Browner.
KEYS FOR WASH: RGIII just isn't in top form, his injury late in the season has clearly hampered him. He has proven he is no simpleton scrambler but physically he's hurting. RB Alfred Morris is the latest Shanahan monster. They will need big plays outside of RGIII to win this game, Morris did it in the de facto playoff game against Dallas weekend, they'll call on him again.
The Farewell 20 (2012)
Every season (this being the third) I take a little time to remember the fallen 20 that we won't be talking about for the next month. A quick look at our long lost and departed teams. Fear not, they shall return for the NFL draft. Pick #1? Kansas City Chiefs!
AFC
MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-9)
It wasn't the diaster that the majority assumed. The defense led by LB Cameron Wake, and a better-than-expected QB Ryan Tannehill showed spirit.There has been fight in Miami ever since their 1-15 2007 debacle, when will that next gear catch?
BUFFALO BILLS (6-10)
Plenty are calling for Coach Chan Gailey's head to roll, RB C.J Spiller is becoming a star, everyone but the Buffalo coaching staff can see that. The real question is, despite DE Mario Williams, why did the Bills struggle yet again? There is a good pool of talent here.
NEW YORK JETS (6-10)
They pretended they had a plan for QB Tim Tebow, they pretended he was the #2 quarterback while QB Mark Sanchez made himself the joke of the league. Coach Rex Ryan's fourth consecutive Super Bowl confidence thwarted by rational thought and games played.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-11)
There aren't a lot of "QB Brandon Weeden is going to save the Cleveland Browns" sentences uttered. RB Trent Richardson and a solid D started the season strong and then gained CB Joe Haden mid-season, still, the wins did not come. Another long, cold year in Cleveland.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-8)
If O-Co Todd Hailey and QB Ben Rothlisberger truly do disagree on offensive styles, I would say Ben would be vindicated by this season. The offense didn't know how to use WR Mike Wallace and that defense isn't aging anymore, it's aged.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-14)
Another debacale in Jacksonville. Hopefully these duldrum seasons can stay out of the playoffs and off prime time television. This is the least watchable team, with the least passionate fanbase. They literally may be even un-blurb worthy. I am adding a sentence just to fill the blurb!
TENNESSEE TITANS (6-10)
RB Chris Johnson showed impressive burst, and then maddening hesitancy all season long. The cliche' book says the Titans "lack identity", but watching the games they just are mediocre in many areas talent-wise, this would be a general manager issue.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-9)
Coach Norv Turner is a great offensive coordinator, but when your most consistent weapon is WR Malcom Floyd, the same receiver who used to be your 3rd or 4th best weapon in his prime... you can blame GM A.J Smith. Over-confidence in his personnel scouting, letting the big names go, this is how we can explain such a lackluster product on the field.
OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-12)
Oakland fans, once the cocksure braggarts of the NFL have seen misery and pitiful decisions doom their once proud franchise. The last of which, last year's firing of their first good coach since the early 2000s, led directly to this season. RB Darren McFadden and QB Carson Palmer are the typical flawed heros Oakland can hang their annual losing seasons on.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-14)
RB Jamaal Charles continues to flash briliance. The Chiefs opt to take him out anywhere near the end zone though, lessening his impact. Kansas City was historically bad this season, unexpected for sure, and they played almost the entire season from behind. The NFL misses Kansas City (and Oakland too) and hopes turnarounds loom on the horizon.
NFC
NEW YORK GIANTS (9-7)
It is starting to get ridiculous how consistent the Giants' November meltdown is. It happens every year, even 2007 and 2011, when they rebounded to win Super Bowls. QB Eli Manning was subpar as WR Hakeem Nicks battled injuries and WR Victor Cruz slumped. DE Jason Pierre Paul played well but only had 6 sacks. DE Jusin Tuck was again irrelevant.
DALLAS COWBOYS (8-8)
QB Tony Romo continues to be defended in mainstream media. In fact, I see so many articles defending Tony Romo against the "media onslaught" I start to wonder the existance of the onslaught itself. The facts: despite above-average talent at WR, TE, and on D, Tony Romo puts up the big numbers when it doesn't matter and throws interceptions when it does.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-12)
For years, the knock on the Coach Andy Reid's Eagles was that if they had better skill position (RB/WR/CB) players, they'd be Super. The Eagles have some of the best in the league now, and have turned it into two awful years. Skill position talent is only part of the game, the Eagles are proof of that.
DETROIT LIONS (4-12)
WR Calvin Johnson had 1964 yards, a record. It not translate into touchdowns (5) or wins (4). There are fingers pointing in a lot of directions but this team continues to be penalized, focus tends to wane QB Matthew Stafford continues to show incredible arm strength but is only using it to bail him out from lack of footwork. This is still an undisciplined team.
CHICAGO BEARS (10-6)
QB Jay Cutler, WR Brandon Marshall, RB Matt Forte were a productive and frightening trio for the first half of the season, backed by an ageless ballhawking D. It may have been age that caught up with LB Brian Urlacher, DE Julius Peppers and LB Lance Briggs. As for what happened to Cutler and the offense, that I do not know.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-9)
Rookie RB Doug Martin and key addition WR Vincent Jackson upgraded the offense, and the defense improved. The Bucs were legitimate wildcard contenders, than they lost 5 straight. So what happened? Pass defense. And this decade of NFL, that's the last thing you want to be terrible at.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-9)
QB Cam Newton fell prey to the obligatory sophmore slump, but he fueled a red hot 5-1 finish from the Panthers who finally seem to be on the brink of success. With Newton overcoming that adversity, including a number of heartbreaking last second losses, the Panthers are the latest hot finishing team to make a losing season feel like progress.
ST LOUIS RAMS (7-8-1)
Coach Jeff Fisher makes a huge difference in St. Louis, they slugged it out with the top teams in the NFL. The Rams have achieved the oft-mentioned "culture change" so many losing franchises desire. they were the 49ers krytonite and almost knocked the red-hot Seahawks off at home in Week 17. The future is suddenly so bright.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-11)
The sad, darkly comic, fact about this season for the Cardinals is that without their four game winning streak to start the season, they would have likely had the 1st pick. I don't think very many people in November or December would have argued the Cardinals are the worst team in football. Arizona should be ashamed of wasting so much of WR Larry Fitzgerald's prime.
AFC
MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-9)It wasn't the diaster that the majority assumed. The defense led by LB Cameron Wake, and a better-than-expected QB Ryan Tannehill showed spirit.There has been fight in Miami ever since their 1-15 2007 debacle, when will that next gear catch?
BUFFALO BILLS (6-10)Plenty are calling for Coach Chan Gailey's head to roll, RB C.J Spiller is becoming a star, everyone but the Buffalo coaching staff can see that. The real question is, despite DE Mario Williams, why did the Bills struggle yet again? There is a good pool of talent here.
NEW YORK JETS (6-10)They pretended they had a plan for QB Tim Tebow, they pretended he was the #2 quarterback while QB Mark Sanchez made himself the joke of the league. Coach Rex Ryan's fourth consecutive Super Bowl confidence thwarted by rational thought and games played.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-11)There aren't a lot of "QB Brandon Weeden is going to save the Cleveland Browns" sentences uttered. RB Trent Richardson and a solid D started the season strong and then gained CB Joe Haden mid-season, still, the wins did not come. Another long, cold year in Cleveland.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-8)If O-Co Todd Hailey and QB Ben Rothlisberger truly do disagree on offensive styles, I would say Ben would be vindicated by this season. The offense didn't know how to use WR Mike Wallace and that defense isn't aging anymore, it's aged.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-14)Another debacale in Jacksonville. Hopefully these duldrum seasons can stay out of the playoffs and off prime time television. This is the least watchable team, with the least passionate fanbase. They literally may be even un-blurb worthy. I am adding a sentence just to fill the blurb!
TENNESSEE TITANS (6-10)RB Chris Johnson showed impressive burst, and then maddening hesitancy all season long. The cliche' book says the Titans "lack identity", but watching the games they just are mediocre in many areas talent-wise, this would be a general manager issue.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-9)Coach Norv Turner is a great offensive coordinator, but when your most consistent weapon is WR Malcom Floyd, the same receiver who used to be your 3rd or 4th best weapon in his prime... you can blame GM A.J Smith. Over-confidence in his personnel scouting, letting the big names go, this is how we can explain such a lackluster product on the field.
OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-12)Oakland fans, once the cocksure braggarts of the NFL have seen misery and pitiful decisions doom their once proud franchise. The last of which, last year's firing of their first good coach since the early 2000s, led directly to this season. RB Darren McFadden and QB Carson Palmer are the typical flawed heros Oakland can hang their annual losing seasons on.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-14)RB Jamaal Charles continues to flash briliance. The Chiefs opt to take him out anywhere near the end zone though, lessening his impact. Kansas City was historically bad this season, unexpected for sure, and they played almost the entire season from behind. The NFL misses Kansas City (and Oakland too) and hopes turnarounds loom on the horizon.
NFC
NEW YORK GIANTS (9-7)It is starting to get ridiculous how consistent the Giants' November meltdown is. It happens every year, even 2007 and 2011, when they rebounded to win Super Bowls. QB Eli Manning was subpar as WR Hakeem Nicks battled injuries and WR Victor Cruz slumped. DE Jason Pierre Paul played well but only had 6 sacks. DE Jusin Tuck was again irrelevant.
DALLAS COWBOYS (8-8)QB Tony Romo continues to be defended in mainstream media. In fact, I see so many articles defending Tony Romo against the "media onslaught" I start to wonder the existance of the onslaught itself. The facts: despite above-average talent at WR, TE, and on D, Tony Romo puts up the big numbers when it doesn't matter and throws interceptions when it does.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-12)For years, the knock on the Coach Andy Reid's Eagles was that if they had better skill position (RB/WR/CB) players, they'd be Super. The Eagles have some of the best in the league now, and have turned it into two awful years. Skill position talent is only part of the game, the Eagles are proof of that.
DETROIT LIONS (4-12)WR Calvin Johnson had 1964 yards, a record. It not translate into touchdowns (5) or wins (4). There are fingers pointing in a lot of directions but this team continues to be penalized, focus tends to wane QB Matthew Stafford continues to show incredible arm strength but is only using it to bail him out from lack of footwork. This is still an undisciplined team.
CHICAGO BEARS (10-6)QB Jay Cutler, WR Brandon Marshall, RB Matt Forte were a productive and frightening trio for the first half of the season, backed by an ageless ballhawking D. It may have been age that caught up with LB Brian Urlacher, DE Julius Peppers and LB Lance Briggs. As for what happened to Cutler and the offense, that I do not know.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (7-9)Rookie RB Doug Martin and key addition WR Vincent Jackson upgraded the offense, and the defense improved. The Bucs were legitimate wildcard contenders, than they lost 5 straight. So what happened? Pass defense. And this decade of NFL, that's the last thing you want to be terrible at.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-9)QB Cam Newton fell prey to the obligatory sophmore slump, but he fueled a red hot 5-1 finish from the Panthers who finally seem to be on the brink of success. With Newton overcoming that adversity, including a number of heartbreaking last second losses, the Panthers are the latest hot finishing team to make a losing season feel like progress.
ST LOUIS RAMS (7-8-1)Coach Jeff Fisher makes a huge difference in St. Louis, they slugged it out with the top teams in the NFL. The Rams have achieved the oft-mentioned "culture change" so many losing franchises desire. they were the 49ers krytonite and almost knocked the red-hot Seahawks off at home in Week 17. The future is suddenly so bright.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-11)The sad, darkly comic, fact about this season for the Cardinals is that without their four game winning streak to start the season, they would have likely had the 1st pick. I don't think very many people in November or December would have argued the Cardinals are the worst team in football. Arizona should be ashamed of wasting so much of WR Larry Fitzgerald's prime.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Outrage Difference
The outrage over Seahawks-Packers Monday Night Football has bordered on hysteria. “Is The NFL irrelevant?” says ESPN, “Seahawks/Packers should have an asterisk” says Bleacher Report. All the way up to President Obama, the condemnation has been swift and sound, it's taken on a frightening downhill roll of rage 'enough is enough' and why? Because this call, unlike any of the other botched calls in NFL history, can have resolution, a small taste of redemption, by removing the admittedly awful replacement refs and never seeing them again.As somebody who has followed the NFL since the 1993 Super Bowl at the age of 7, I’ve noticed the media are pretty in sync week-to-week. We will talk about concussions when it’s time, we will discus Tebow’s faith when it’s time, James Harrison’s fines, Bret Favre’s retirements, is Tony Romo mad at Jessica Simpson?
Hey- do Steve Young and Joe Montana like each other? Is Randy Moss poisoning the locker room? What does it mean for this coach to beat his old team? I mean- what does it really mean? Anything to get out of talking about football it seems. Now, it’s time to talk about the replacement refs. This call is different because there is that added storyline, and there is a scenario to build to. (That being the return of the actual refs).
Have we seen worse calls? Yes. But not this exact day.
Was the call botched? Yes. But only because Golden Tate had a blatantly obvious pass interference right before the catch and the game should have ended. Ho-hum, seen that kind of pass interference controversy a million times to the reward/disgust of all 32 teams.
The actual possession of the ball is in dispute, it’s not clearly a Green Bay interception like the media thinks. Watch it over and over and over, Tate has BOTH hands on the ball when they hit the ground, one over the ball and body of Jennings that the cameras can see and one under his body and on the ball that you can’t see.
Can you conclusively say Jennings had full control of the ball while in the air? On the replay you can see Tate has his right hand on it. Jennings “has the ball and is bringing it in” says Gruden, who does think it is an interception. He does not bring it in, he tries to bring it in, he is bringing it in, but he does not bring it in. Watch that ball kind of shift down in Jennings' hands while the players are in the air. Remember the control of the ball has be DEFINITIVELY proven on a replay. (Look at the picture above, you can see Tate's left hand that he supposedly didn't get on the ball until later on, he's got the full bottom of the ball.)
Once they hit the ground Tate has both hands on it, albeit one hand obscured from camera view. It’s close, very very close and could go either way and I really would not have been surprised to see it go Green Bay's way but it is not NFL-ruining obvious. It was not doomsday, just a tough call.There was barely this reaction outside of Detroit after Calvin Johnson’s TD call was clearly botched in week 1 of 2011 season. The reaction is usually limited to the losing fanbase, why this time is it 31 against 1? Because something can actually be done. We can have the replacement ref's heads. If this was just about the call, few outside of Green Bay would even comment on it by midweek.
Remember before replay, Packers? Do you remember Jerry Rice clearly fumbling in the 1999 Wild Card game and it being called down before the 49ers threw the game-winning TD to Owens? Remember in 2001, Jacksonville -vs- Cleveland when the Browns converted a 4th-and-2, spiked the ball, and then the replay officials challenged the play anyways, even though you can’t challenge a play after the next play has been run? They reversed the 4th-and-2 completely and illegally gave the win to Jacksonville. Only eye-rolls and vicious home team rage, today there is something much different than the days after those calls.Do you remember when Detroit and Pittsburgh met at the start of OT for the coin-flip for who would get the ball first, Jerome Bettis called “tails”, the ref saw tails and awarded the choice to the wrong team and the Steelers lost? Why don’t these games deserve asterisks? Why only this one? Because this is the one that happened this week.
(I won't even begin to speak about Super Bowl XL and the lack of outrage that generated, seriously ESPN... go watch that game, watch Rothlisberger’s “touchdown”, watch it be reviewed, and then talk to me about Golden Tate).We do not remember these plays, because they did not happen this week. We have relegated the Ravens highly questionable Field Goal two days ago as a hazy footnote to the replacement referee outrage. It is time to talk about the replacement refs, it’s time to win the battle of extremity! Hang the refs! Cancel the season! Cancel all of the NFL! I’m sure it’s all out there. This call has something that can be done to remedy, something can happen, these refs can be booted, kicked to the curb, so we are seeing a pile-on unlike any before.
It is a bad call, a terribly refereed game, but the point is, every fan in Seattle would take the Super Bowl XLV calls or the Testaverde 4-yard run for a 5-yard TD that cost us the playoffs (Dec 1998, the play that brought back instant replay) and call for an asterisk as well.There just is no perspective in sportswriting. It’s frustrating to watch the media hyperventilate over this like they should have over Super Bowl XLV, but nothing could be done about the Super Bowl and... just like Steelers fans have said time and time again - “you still could have won” and that will always remain true. Did the refs sack reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers 8 times and hold him to 0 TDs? No. Did the refs make the Packers DB Jennings try to intercept the ball when even Middle School players know to bat a hail mary down, bat a hail mary down, bat a hail mary down!
With this situation though, the media and fans are salivating over the prospect of an actual goal, something can actually be achieved by this, the real refs can come back. They can use this leverage and get their pensions and come back. That is what sets this call apart, but “worst call in NFL history”? No way.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
SUPER BOWL 46
New York Giants, 21 New England Patriots, 17
5-time Super Bowl QB Tom Brady's first pass in this game was an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone resulting in a safety. Shortly after, the Patriots' defense squandered a red zone fumble recovery for having 12 men on the field. It was that kind of day for New England.
In the end, it was another stone cold Super Bowl-winning drive by the inexplicably elite QB Eli Manning. A sick, twisted, reoccurring nightmare for the old Patriot guard. In place of the infamous Tyree catch in 2008, the final drive saw the Patriots burned by an amazing fade route against the sideline by Giants WR Mario Manningham, a receiver universally admonished by scouts and commentators for his inability to do just that. In fact, Chris Collinsworth had been commentating on Manningham's unawareness of the sideline just a few drives before after Maningham had inexplicably faded his deep route out of bounds for no reason,
The Patriot's quarrel with lady luck aside, the Giants controlled this game. They had no business scoring only 9 points in the first half. Eli moved the ball well with RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Hakeem Nicks and WR Victor Cruz clicking masterfully with QB Eli Manning until, that is, the red zone. The Giants' D couldn't hold forever, the final four minutes of the 1st half they were steamrolled for a 'Brady-to-Woodhead' fueled 14 play, 4 minute, 96 yard drive to put the Pats up 10-9.
The Giants Subway-sponsered vaunted defense was again slaughtered for a similar touchdown drive to start the 2nd half. Luckily for the over-rated Giants pass-rushers (undeniable coverage sacks aside), Eli Manning moved the ball the entire game with ease. If not for continually poor red zone efficiency, the Giants should have had blowout on their hands. Instead, they found themselves down in the 3rd quarter. (Albeit with a red-hot quarterback having no trouble driving the field the entire game.)
Helping Manning out: the bounces (dictated by the stars, Football Gods, what-have-you). In a down-the-seam jump ball situation between career backup LB Chase Blackburn and 20-touchdown 6'7" TE Rob Gronkowski, the ball somehow fell to Blackburn. The following play, Ahmad Bradshaw lost yet another fumble, bouncing over 7 yards away from him right to a trailing Giants offensive linemen.
Still, the Giants were only able to add field goals closing in 15-17 by the start of the 4th quarter. The Patriots had a chance to seal the game, touchdown-minded and driving, it was the ball slipping through WR Wes Welker's 122-catch hands on a crucial 3rd down giving the ball back to Eli & Co with 4 minutes remaining.
In the end, it was Eli again moving through the Patriots D with buttery ease, an assist from the aforesaid Manningham sideline catch, and finally culminating in their first touchdown of the game with 1:04 left. The Patriots appeared to purposefully allow Bradshaw to score so as to give Brady that full minute, Bradshaw tried to stop at the 1 but his momentum carried him in for the ugliest, most unwilling, game winning Super Bowl touchdown of all time.
A few key drops by TE Aaron Hernandez and WR Deon Branch made the Patriots' desperate 1 minute drive harder than it had to be. It came down to a catchable Hail Mary that fell to the floor, mercifully for New York and heartbreakingly for New England, reliving their 2007 nightmare. The Giants defeated the Patriots, again.
KEY PLAY: The close game came down to Welker not catching his chance to convert to 1st down with 4:06 left, and Manningham catching his chance to keep the final drive alive.
MVP: QB Eli Manning. That is crystal clear. Without his routine 296 yards, the Giants (down 29 of the 30 2nd half minutes) might have panicked. Instead, it seemed inevitable.
5-time Super Bowl QB Tom Brady's first pass in this game was an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone resulting in a safety. Shortly after, the Patriots' defense squandered a red zone fumble recovery for having 12 men on the field. It was that kind of day for New England.
In the end, it was another stone cold Super Bowl-winning drive by the inexplicably elite QB Eli Manning. A sick, twisted, reoccurring nightmare for the old Patriot guard. In place of the infamous Tyree catch in 2008, the final drive saw the Patriots burned by an amazing fade route against the sideline by Giants WR Mario Manningham, a receiver universally admonished by scouts and commentators for his inability to do just that. In fact, Chris Collinsworth had been commentating on Manningham's unawareness of the sideline just a few drives before after Maningham had inexplicably faded his deep route out of bounds for no reason,
The Patriot's quarrel with lady luck aside, the Giants controlled this game. They had no business scoring only 9 points in the first half. Eli moved the ball well with RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Hakeem Nicks and WR Victor Cruz clicking masterfully with QB Eli Manning until, that is, the red zone. The Giants' D couldn't hold forever, the final four minutes of the 1st half they were steamrolled for a 'Brady-to-Woodhead' fueled 14 play, 4 minute, 96 yard drive to put the Pats up 10-9.
The Giants Subway-sponsered vaunted defense was again slaughtered for a similar touchdown drive to start the 2nd half. Luckily for the over-rated Giants pass-rushers (undeniable coverage sacks aside), Eli Manning moved the ball the entire game with ease. If not for continually poor red zone efficiency, the Giants should have had blowout on their hands. Instead, they found themselves down in the 3rd quarter. (Albeit with a red-hot quarterback having no trouble driving the field the entire game.)
Helping Manning out: the bounces (dictated by the stars, Football Gods, what-have-you). In a down-the-seam jump ball situation between career backup LB Chase Blackburn and 20-touchdown 6'7" TE Rob Gronkowski, the ball somehow fell to Blackburn. The following play, Ahmad Bradshaw lost yet another fumble, bouncing over 7 yards away from him right to a trailing Giants offensive linemen.
Still, the Giants were only able to add field goals closing in 15-17 by the start of the 4th quarter. The Patriots had a chance to seal the game, touchdown-minded and driving, it was the ball slipping through WR Wes Welker's 122-catch hands on a crucial 3rd down giving the ball back to Eli & Co with 4 minutes remaining.
In the end, it was Eli again moving through the Patriots D with buttery ease, an assist from the aforesaid Manningham sideline catch, and finally culminating in their first touchdown of the game with 1:04 left. The Patriots appeared to purposefully allow Bradshaw to score so as to give Brady that full minute, Bradshaw tried to stop at the 1 but his momentum carried him in for the ugliest, most unwilling, game winning Super Bowl touchdown of all time.
A few key drops by TE Aaron Hernandez and WR Deon Branch made the Patriots' desperate 1 minute drive harder than it had to be. It came down to a catchable Hail Mary that fell to the floor, mercifully for New York and heartbreakingly for New England, reliving their 2007 nightmare. The Giants defeated the Patriots, again.
KEY PLAY: The close game came down to Welker not catching his chance to convert to 1st down with 4:06 left, and Manningham catching his chance to keep the final drive alive.
MVP: QB Eli Manning. That is crystal clear. Without his routine 296 yards, the Giants (down 29 of the 30 2nd half minutes) might have panicked. Instead, it seemed inevitable.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
SB Weekend 2012
New York Giants (12-7) vs- New England Patriots (15-3)
Most of America is less than enthused that it will be New York and Boston, two championship-rich cities, batteling to add another Super Bowl ring (both have 3 championships). QB Tom Brady and QB Eli Manning don't have the folk followings outside of their cities like Brees, Rodgers, Peyton and others do. Much of the media is telling us these are not even the two best teams in the Super Bowl. Well, they are the two best. You want to see a Super Bowl of the two teams playing their best football in late January and this is New York, and this is New England.Much is made of Tom Brady not dominating the AFC Championship and now having to face that "relentless" Giants pash rush. I didn't see 49ers Alex Smith too flustered in the NFC Chamoionship. In the Divisional Round, Aaron Rodgers was done in by the many drops and uncharcterstic overthrows. The one-week-sports-media seems not to remember that Rodgers ran for many key first downs? Is that becauuse the Giants' D-line was just too good to stop him?
No there aren't the sympathetic underdogs, or even any loveable legends to root for but this a high-powered New England offense and a red-hot New York Giants team. We have two flash-in-the-pan running games that often dissappear completely. We have two high powered aerial attacks with elite recievers and tight ends. It will at least make for good television.
HOW NYG GOT HERE: After two straight years of sliding from week 5 elite Super Bowl contenders to watching the playoffs from home, the Giants scratched the starting-strong theory, and appear to have elected instead to start slow and sneak into the playoffs late, just as they did in 2007. The 2007 New York Giants have been a bit of a conversation point among the media but this is a more explosive team, with a less constricting defense
They have again caught fire and ran through playoff opponents who handled them easily in the regular season. WR Victor Cruz has been the additional playmaker they have needed, his emergence is a huge reason for the turnaround. WR Hakeem Nicks has also been insturmental, stepping up to combine with Cruz for Eli Manning's most dangerous weaponry of his career.
HOW NE GOT HERE: New England's defense had a substantial amount of injury issues throughout the season but they are finally healthy up front, LB Brandon Spikes, LB Jarod Mayo and DT Vince Wilfork will be in full health. Meanwhile, QB Tom Brady, WR Wes Welker, TE Rob Gronkowski have generated historic numbers to make up for the D, though it's been lost in the shadows of the Saints (Brady also broke Marino's record for passing yards this year!) and Packers MVP Rodgers, over 5,000 yards and Gronkowski has broken all kinds of records for tight ends.
Why then, is nobody quite sure about the Patriots? The defense gave the most passing yards this year, scratch that, of ANY year by ANY team. As Brady and his weapons have found out, there is no such thing as a safe lead. Though to be fair, the Patriots secondary game up big in the Ravens game.
KEYS FOR NE: Rebuilding their defense from the glory of 2001-2007 has been a rough road. While QB Tom Brady has blossomed from a gritty champion to a high-flying leader of the passing game revolution, the Patriots had lost their big game touch. This likely has to do with defense. They lucked out with Tebow and Flacco comprising their road to the Super Bowl but stopping Eli will not be easy. Tebow and Flacco just don't make those same 3rd-and-long conversions that Eli maddens defensive coordinators with.
KEYS FOR NYG: Basically the exact same thing. They must have an elite passing game because while everyone is predicting a repeat of 2007 and Brady on his back and Justin Tuck throwing up Subway gift cards, I don't see how Coach Bill Bellicheck allows this two to happen in yet another Super Bowl. Brady and Bellicheck, surefire Hall of Famers, are helpless against the spokesman for Subway and DE Jason Pierre-Paul? Throw in the towel? No, the Patriots offense will likely do fine. It is up to that Giants passing game to keep them in the game.
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