Denver Broncos, 22 New England Patriots, 20
We have finally come full circle. Peyton Manning and an elite Denver Defense just did to Tom Brady in 2016 what Tom Brady and an elite New England Defense did to Peyton Manning in 2003. A complete switch. Now it's Brady with the awards and highlights and numbers but Manning with the win and a shot at a Super Bowl. Peyton's early career was defined by playoff losses to the Patriots but he's won the last 3 AFC Championships ('06, '13 and now '15 seasons).
Let's not throw this all on Manning's shoulders. He had two 1st half TDs to TE Owen Daniels but in the 2nd half he was a non-factor. This game was won by the Denver Defense. The tried and true cure for the Brady Blues is defensive line dominance and Broncos LB Von Miller, LB DeMarcus Ware and DT Derek Wolfe provided it. The Patriots' injured O-line stood no chance, struggling mightily the entire game.
Manning and the Offense bowed out of the 2nd half and the Denver Defense began to bend to Brady's will but not break. Down 20-12 with 10:02 remaining, Tom Brady and the Patriots would be given 3 chances to drive the field and score a Touchdown + 2pt conversion.
First, Brady led the Patriots 64 yards to the 16 but on 4th-and-1, DeMarcus Ware had a free sprint at Brady who lofted the ball to WR Julian Edelman. CB Chris Harris Jr came off his man and made the tackle.
A prompt 3-and-out from Manning & The Broncos. Punt.
Second, Brady led the Patriots 55 yards to the 14 but on 4th-and-6, Brady again backpedalling threw into triple coverage for TE Rob Gronkowski, incomplete.
A prompt 3-and-out from Manning & The Broncos. Punt.
You just don't give Tom Brady 3 chances! Brady hit Gronkowski on 4th-and-10 for 40 yards, then hit him again on a 4th-and-4 from the 4. Gronk powered through double coverage for a stunning back-of-the end zone TD with 17 seconds on the clock. Because of the missed XP, the OT relied on a 2pt Conversion.
KEY PLAY: The 2pt Conversion was failed. With no O-line Protection all day, the Patriots rolled Brady right but the Broncos were on him again. CB Aqib Talib read Brady's eyes, jumped in front of Edelman, tipped, and intercepted. I suppose you could also say K Stephen Gostkowski's missed XP was a major factor considering it was the reason or the 2pt conversation. It was his first missed XP since 2006.
MVP: LB Von Miller made himself a star today. He was the big name with the big sacks, a stunning bait and attack INT that was a stumble away from being a Touchdown and did lead to one of the Broncos TDs. Miller and Co were on the field almost the entire 4th quarter holding onto an 8 point lead and they kept Tom Brady from his 7th Super Bowl. Not very many defenses would have been able to do that.
Carolina Panthers, 49 Arizona Cardinals, 15
The stat that is going to truly capture what happened in Carolina today is 7-to-1. Cardinals-to-Panthers turnover ratio. Palmer threw four interceptions and fumbled twice, CB Patrick Peterson muffed a punt when Cardinals were down only 10. The Panthers took their 2nd chance, drove the field and effetively ended the game in the 2nd quarter with a 1 yard TD run by QB Cam Newton to go up 24-7.
Unlike Seattle last week, Arizona did not appear to have any fight in them once they were down 17, down 20, down 27, on-and-on until they lost by 34. The turnovers flowed freely, two per quarter, and the Cardinals Defense had no answer for the powerful ground game of Carolina. As it has been all season, Newton and RB Johnathan Stewart slashed through the the opposing D, worn down by the Panthers O-line. Led by C Ryan Kalil, G Trai Turner and T Michael Oher, the O-line has just not gotten enough credit for this 17-1 run. The Cardinals Defensive front lost their composure on the field in the 1st half, throwing up their hands, staring angrily into space. They were already beaten.
KEY PLAY: The 22 yard go route to WR Ted Ginn, the 86-yard catch-and-run by WR Corey Brown, the Newton 1 yard run, the Newton 12 yard run, LB Luke Kuchley's 2nd postseason Touchdown that closed the window on QB Carson Palmer's day. They all added up for the points that won this game. But the key that broke the spirit of the Cardinals was the Patrick Peterson muffed punt, the Defense didn't hold and the Cardinals never showed a spark again.
MVP: There were many great performances across both Lines, CB Josh Norman and LB Luke Kuchley led a dominating effort from the D but the Panthers would not be going to the Super Bowl without QB Cam Newton. He has just elevated his game, making the throws, he looks fast, strong and agile. The Panthers have designed an Offense with wrinkles that relies on power, and Newton is the throttle.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Peyton vs Brady Round 17
Peyton Manning & Tom Brady
Even with all the hoop-la, it's difficult to put this rivlarly in perspective because it's been such an ingrained part of the NFL for 15 years now. I was a young NFL fan, facinated by the Cowboys/49ers matchups of the early and mid 90s. Even as someone who remembers the pre-Manning/Brady days, it's hard to think of the NFL without them. There are many who will watch tomorrow with no idea of how it will feel to look back on these two All-Time QBs and remember watching them play. The way I feel about those Aikman-Young battles, but this is super sized.
This is the rivalry that Dan Marino and Joe Montana never had. The 500-TD man and the 4-time Super Bowl Captain battling every single year across 2 decades. They've held an entire Conference down since 2001. They have thrown for 144,635 yads and 1,060 TDs in regular seasons and 55 total playoff games, 6 against each other. These numbers are insane.
This is the rivalry that Dan Marino and Joe Montana never had. The 500-TD man and the 4-time Super Bowl Captain battling every single year across 2 decades. They've held an entire Conference down since 2001. They have thrown for 144,635 yads and 1,060 TDs in regular seasons and 55 total playoff games, 6 against each other. These numbers are insane.
I'm here to remind everyone to watch this game with an eye for the NFL history, that while the hype may be overblown it will fade away and the legacies that are on the line tomorrow are real. These are two players that are going to be remembered for a very long time. Tomorrow will be the last time we get to experience the thrill of the unknown in the Brady-Manning saga - the bounces, the drops, the hits and misses. It will be the last time these intertwined legacies directly effect each other, live on our TV.
Tom Brady has already surprassed Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana as the most successful QB of All-Time. Peyton Manning has already surprassed Brett Favre and Dan Marino as the Statistical King of NFL History. All that's left is to play against each other yet again in their 4th head-to-head AFC Championship.
There may be another QB who stays elite long enough to challenge Peyton's records, and there may be another QB who goes to 6 or more Super Bowls, but these two hypothetical players most certainly will not play each other 17 times over 15 seasons. This Manning vs Brady stuff has been going on forever, but it won't happen again. I can't wait.
-Miles
There may be another QB who stays elite long enough to challenge Peyton's records, and there may be another QB who goes to 6 or more Super Bowls, but these two hypothetical players most certainly will not play each other 17 times over 15 seasons. This Manning vs Brady stuff has been going on forever, but it won't happen again. I can't wait.
-Miles
Championship Weekend 2016
New England Patriots (13-4) @ Denver Broncos (13-4)
Asked about each other once again, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning stand at their respective podiums and repeat the mantra "the game is not Brady v Manning but rather Patriots v Broncos". That's fine, they have to say that. But here on this blog- we appreciate history. This is yet another match-up vital importance to these players' legacies. Will Peyton have a chance to go out like the man who brought him to Denver, GM John Elway? Or will Brady journey to his already unprecedented 7th Super Bowl and have a chance to be the first 5-time Super Bowl winning QB?But let's indulge Tom and Peyton and talk about these present day rosters. Denver is now a tough, ugly winner. The Defense is brimming with elite talent, LB Von Miller has become a star, S TJ Ward and LB Brandon Marshall are under-appreciated contributors. DE DeMarcus Ware and CB Aqib Talib big name players playing at a high level. Coach Gary Kubiak has finally got the run game working. If there is anyone who deserves to be carried to the Super Bowl by a Defense and Running Game, it is Peyton Manning. Manning gets alot of flack for failing in the playoffs but the truth is that he elevated many mediocre Colts and Broncos teams to much higher places than they ever deserved to be.
For New England, Tom Brady still has Coach Bill Belicheck, they remain the formidable foe of the AFC. The injury bug has bit the Offense this year, TE Rob Gronkowski and WR Julian Edelman have thankfully returned. Meanwhile, the Defense has performed at a higher level than any other time this decade. CB Malcom Butler has gone from an unknown nickel corner making the big play in the Super Bowl to an above-average starter.
KEYS FOR NE: The Patriots are humming along but injuries along that Offensive Line usually show themselves as a team goes deeper in the playoffs. The Denver D-line/Patriots O-line match-up is not a pretty one for the Patriots. Brady is one of the best short passers of All Time, he'll need it.
KEYS FOR DEN: It seems strange to say but QB Peyton Manning needs to throw one into the end zone. He didn't have a Touchdown against Pittsburgh and truthfully threw not convincing passes. The Defense and Running Game can win this game, but a few big plays from Peyton and New England likely will not stand a chance.
Arizona Cardinals (14-3) @ Carolina Panthers (16-1)
While the AFC has run through the Patriots, Steelers, Colts, Ravens and Broncos for almost 20 years now, the NFC has become conference of continued excitment. When QB Carson Palmer left Oakland for Arizona, nobody was predicting anything Super. The Panthers drafted QB Cam Newton with the #1 pick 5 years ago to mixed reviews, they brought a losing record into the playoffs last season and were not expected to have success this season, much less flirt with 16-0. Yet here we are, the Panthers and the Cardinals. One of these teams will earn a 2nd shot at their first Lombardi Trophy.The Panthers' have swagger, confidence, elite talent on both lines, LB Luke Kuchley, TE Greg Olsen, CB Josh Norman. QB Cam Newton is my vote for MVP. They could have rolled into this NFC Title Game with all the momentum in the world. They faltered down the stretch against Seattle and the reason was a miserably conservative 2nd half strategy. Do you think Coach Bruce Arians would have played it safe? No, this is the man who thew the ball late in his own game last week to try and end the game rather than bleed the clock down. The Cardinals come in fast but controlled, wise and powerful, DE Calais Campbell, WR Larry Fitzgerald, G Mike Iuapiti playing in his 4th NFCC Game in 5 years. Will the Carolina Swagger overwhelm the Arizona Wisdom?
KEYS FOR ARI: Palmer and his arsenal of Fitzgerald, WR John Brown and WR Michael Floyd can put up numbers with the best of them. However, Palmer's finger appeared to affect a large number of his throws last week. The one clear and obvious advantage Arizona has over Carolina is consistent playmakers in the receiving game. To consistently make plays, they need the ball. To get them the ball, Palmer must be accurate. To be accurate, Palmer's finger must be healthy. Thus, the key to Arizona's success if Carson Palmer's finger.
KEYS FOR CAR: The key for a Team that is 16-1 is to keep doing what their doing. The Panthers may have some troubling 2nd halves on their record but they still won those games. Power, speed, strength at all positions- the Panthers don't have to get cute- they just need to play smart and because of their talent across the baord, the dice will roll their way.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Sunday 1/17/16 (Divsional)
Carolina Panthers, 31 Seattle Seahawks, 24
The Seahawks have made some great comebacks, they never quit, they are absolutely relentless. In four 10am playoff games they've scored 0 points but they've won 2 and made incredible comebacks in the 2 losses (this game and the 2012 Falcons game).
The Panthers barely held on to their 31-0 halftime lead, needing an onside kick recovery to hang on 31-24. Many have said the Panthers 'choked' and it's true they did play incredibly conservative but the Panthers won this game.
How many times do you hear at Halftime "The scoreboard doesn't do it justice but So-and-So dominated this half" or "If it wasn't for ____, So-and-So could be up 24-0 instead of 14-0" or the other side "So-and-so is lucky to be in this game after the half they played, only down 10". The answer is that you hear it all the time. We heard it in both games just yesterday. It happens because teams start slow, NFL games weigh one way and then they weigh the other way.
Nobody said those things at this game for a reason. When the game weighed the Panthers way they absolutely kicked the Seahawks' teeth in. RB Jonathan Stewart broke a huge run on the first play, LB Luke Kuechly scored a pick-6 early in the game, and the Panthers did not stop. The Seahawks couldn't move the ball, and the Panthers turned turnovers into TDs. They drove the short fields for 7 points, not 3.
The Seahawks came out in the 2nd half, firing on all cylinders. They drove for a FG, forced a punt, a TD, forced a punt, Wilson hit rookie WR Tyler Lockett deep for the 2nd TD, floated another to Kearse for a 3rd TD with 6:11 remaining. Another punt for Carolina. A field goal for Seattle. All the while, the Panthers played conservative, picking up a few first downs at a time to kill some clock and punt. Their plan was to hang on, avoid a turnover, and hope the red hot Wilson couldn't put up 31 himself. He almost did.
MVP: It's tough to choose an MVP from a game with such hot and cold performances from both sides but LB Luke Kuechly was a force in the middle, and had the quick step to get that first pick-6. A back-breaking play that helped put the Seahawks in the hole early.
KEY PLAY: The Panthers may have played conservative in the 2nd half, but they were relentless in the 1st. Up 24-0 at the 19 yard line, many teams would be okay to run the ball and go up 27-0. But on a 3rd-and-14, Newton launched a perfect high corner throw to a tightly covered TE Greg Olsen for a Touchdown. Technically, the Panthers still would have won without this TD but
Denver Broncos, 23 Pittsburgh Steelers, 16
Nothing has been pretty for QB Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos this season. The depleted Steelers ran shot-for-shot with the ugly, plodding, #1 seed Broncos. Manning and the Offense were dreadful, they made Pittsburgh look like the 1970s Steel Curtain out there.
With the big markets, big names, and the Prime Sunday afternoon slot, this was one of the most-watched NFL Divisional Games of All-Time. Which really means these were the eight of the most-watched Field Goals of All-Time.
While the scoreboard and box score may look boring- the game itself was well played and well coached. It was a sharp contrast to last year's undisciplined and unfocused Broncos. Coach Mike Tomlin and Coach Gary Kubiak deserve credit for two well-oiled machines. QB Ben Rothlisberger clearly didn't have the injury he stated he did- at some point structural damage is going to decrease how far you can throw the ball. You don't just "will" it to be so. Rothlisberger's a ham, so what?
The Broncos Defense held Rothlisberger and surging WR Martavis Bryant in check long enough to force a fumble in the 4th quarter from RB Fitzgerlad Touissant, get one good drive out of the Broncos Offense and a 1-yard TD run from RB C. J Anderson.
KEY PLAY: On the TD drive, the biggest play was a Peyton Manning 31-yard wobbler to WR Bernie Fowler. Manning clearly was giving himself up on the play, the refs did not blow it dead, he got back up and hit Fowler. It wasn't Manning's finest moment but for the ugly, plodding, #1 seed Broncos, it'll do.
MVP: RB C.J Anderson is heating up in the playoffs again. 15 carries for 72 yards and a hard fought goal line TD. RB Ronnie Hillman is still get a lot of work (16 carries but only 38 yards) but when push-comes-to-shove, Anderson is out there when it matters.
The Seahawks have made some great comebacks, they never quit, they are absolutely relentless. In four 10am playoff games they've scored 0 points but they've won 2 and made incredible comebacks in the 2 losses (this game and the 2012 Falcons game).
The Panthers barely held on to their 31-0 halftime lead, needing an onside kick recovery to hang on 31-24. Many have said the Panthers 'choked' and it's true they did play incredibly conservative but the Panthers won this game.
How many times do you hear at Halftime "The scoreboard doesn't do it justice but So-and-So dominated this half" or "If it wasn't for ____, So-and-So could be up 24-0 instead of 14-0" or the other side "So-and-so is lucky to be in this game after the half they played, only down 10". The answer is that you hear it all the time. We heard it in both games just yesterday. It happens because teams start slow, NFL games weigh one way and then they weigh the other way.
Nobody said those things at this game for a reason. When the game weighed the Panthers way they absolutely kicked the Seahawks' teeth in. RB Jonathan Stewart broke a huge run on the first play, LB Luke Kuechly scored a pick-6 early in the game, and the Panthers did not stop. The Seahawks couldn't move the ball, and the Panthers turned turnovers into TDs. They drove the short fields for 7 points, not 3.
The Seahawks came out in the 2nd half, firing on all cylinders. They drove for a FG, forced a punt, a TD, forced a punt, Wilson hit rookie WR Tyler Lockett deep for the 2nd TD, floated another to Kearse for a 3rd TD with 6:11 remaining. Another punt for Carolina. A field goal for Seattle. All the while, the Panthers played conservative, picking up a few first downs at a time to kill some clock and punt. Their plan was to hang on, avoid a turnover, and hope the red hot Wilson couldn't put up 31 himself. He almost did.
MVP: It's tough to choose an MVP from a game with such hot and cold performances from both sides but LB Luke Kuechly was a force in the middle, and had the quick step to get that first pick-6. A back-breaking play that helped put the Seahawks in the hole early.
KEY PLAY: The Panthers may have played conservative in the 2nd half, but they were relentless in the 1st. Up 24-0 at the 19 yard line, many teams would be okay to run the ball and go up 27-0. But on a 3rd-and-14, Newton launched a perfect high corner throw to a tightly covered TE Greg Olsen for a Touchdown. Technically, the Panthers still would have won without this TD but
Denver Broncos, 23 Pittsburgh Steelers, 16
Nothing has been pretty for QB Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos this season. The depleted Steelers ran shot-for-shot with the ugly, plodding, #1 seed Broncos. Manning and the Offense were dreadful, they made Pittsburgh look like the 1970s Steel Curtain out there.
With the big markets, big names, and the Prime Sunday afternoon slot, this was one of the most-watched NFL Divisional Games of All-Time. Which really means these were the eight of the most-watched Field Goals of All-Time.
While the scoreboard and box score may look boring- the game itself was well played and well coached. It was a sharp contrast to last year's undisciplined and unfocused Broncos. Coach Mike Tomlin and Coach Gary Kubiak deserve credit for two well-oiled machines. QB Ben Rothlisberger clearly didn't have the injury he stated he did- at some point structural damage is going to decrease how far you can throw the ball. You don't just "will" it to be so. Rothlisberger's a ham, so what?
The Broncos Defense held Rothlisberger and surging WR Martavis Bryant in check long enough to force a fumble in the 4th quarter from RB Fitzgerlad Touissant, get one good drive out of the Broncos Offense and a 1-yard TD run from RB C. J Anderson.
KEY PLAY: On the TD drive, the biggest play was a Peyton Manning 31-yard wobbler to WR Bernie Fowler. Manning clearly was giving himself up on the play, the refs did not blow it dead, he got back up and hit Fowler. It wasn't Manning's finest moment but for the ugly, plodding, #1 seed Broncos, it'll do.
MVP: RB C.J Anderson is heating up in the playoffs again. 15 carries for 72 yards and a hard fought goal line TD. RB Ronnie Hillman is still get a lot of work (16 carries but only 38 yards) but when push-comes-to-shove, Anderson is out there when it matters.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Saturday 1/16/16 (Divisional)
New England Patriots, 27 Kansas City Chiefs, 20
The score may look close but the Chiefs were fighting an uphill battle all game. The Patriots ripped down the field on the opening drive, finishing with a Tom Brady-to-Rob Gronkowski standard issue pylon Touchdown. The Chiefs then took off 9 minutes of the 1st quarter, converting 4 straight 3rd downs to regain momentum and eventually settle for a field goal. They kept Tom Brady on the bench, most Kansas City fans were content.
As the game moved forward, it became clear that those plodding, ball-control Chiefs were the only Chiefs available. Down 21-6, they showed no urgency, Down 27-13 and needing two touchdowns with 6:29 the Chiefs huddled, audibled, and used the middle of the field to drain the clock in 17 plays to 1:18. It was inexplicable performance. The Patriots almost blew it with an arrogant 2nd-down pass that could have deflected anywhere but ended up deflecting into the unintended arms of WR Julian Edelman for a 1st down.
MVP: QB Tom Brady. I don't know how many Playoff MVPs I give Tom Brady but we cannot take what we are seeing for granted. Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw had 30 playoff wins combined, Brady's got 22 and still counting. And he's driving, yelling, screaming, spiking like some rookie fireball QB. His 302 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs controlled the game. He watched from the sideline as the Chiefs killed the clock for him.
KEY PLAY: QB Alex Smith did what he good, with his legs and with his check-downs but the most successful of check downs betrayed him. It was a 19-yard dart up the side by WR Albert Wilson to the 1-yard line. The game goes radically different if Wilson gets out of bounds. The clock went from 3:00 to 2:33 on that play, the following two plays were a run, a false start and a 4-yard check down in the middle of the field. The clock down to 1:27. It was the most abysmal clock management I have ever seen.
Arizona Cardinals, 26 Green Bay Packers, 20
Nobody expected the Defensive struggle of the first half. QB Carson Palmer was not on target and RB David Johnson didn't look as explosive as his Week 15-16 prime. QB Aaron Rodgers lost WR Randall Cobb to a bruised lung and the famed 3-WR Packer sets now relied on the 4th, 6th and 7th string Packer WRs (Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomry all out, it fell to WRs James Jones, Jared Abbrederis and the soon to be infamous Jeff Janis). After a nullified interception return by CB Patrick Peterson, halftime ended in a 7-6 stalemate.
The Packers showed life with a Touchdown Drive to start the 2nd half, and the Cardinals took a quarter and a half but they did respond with a deflection Touchdown to WR Michael Floyd with 3:50 remaining.
This is where things get strange.
The Packers, now down 17-13 go 4-and-out. The Cardinals get the ball and with a chance to run the clock down to 1:20 and kick the Field Goal they go for the win and Palmer misses a well-covered Larry Fitzgerald along the sideline and stops the clock. Instead of 1:20, the Cardinals kick the Field Goal at the 2:00 mark.
But The Packers offense again stalls, Rodgers is sacked from the 14 to the 4 by DE Dwight Freeney on 2nd down and eventually brings up a 4th-and-20 on their own 4. 96 yards from the game-tying TD, Rodgers rolls into his end zone and launches a Hail Mary to WR Jeff Janis at mid-field. Caught.
The Packers barely made it down the field to line up and run the next play with 21 seconds, an incomplete pass. The Cardinals bring pressuer on the next play, they knock Rodgers off his mark at midfield, running and falling backwards Aaron Rodgers launches a perfect, powerful lofting dart to Jeff Janis who comes down hard with the ball in front of CB Patrick Peterson. Tie game.
KEY PLAY: On the 2nd play of OT, the Cardinals nullified the Hail Marys. Palmer dropped back and the pocked collapsed, with an uncharcteristic spin move he found space to throw to the opposite end of the field to a wide open Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz than shifted into higher gears, crushing Green Bay's hopes with each chunk of yardage, finally being brought down at the 3. The next play, the Cardinals ran a unique jet sweep, with a shuffle pitch pass to Fitz trailing the play for the game-winning TD.
MVP: Larry Fitzgerald. 8 receptions. 176 yards. 1 TD.
The score may look close but the Chiefs were fighting an uphill battle all game. The Patriots ripped down the field on the opening drive, finishing with a Tom Brady-to-Rob Gronkowski standard issue pylon Touchdown. The Chiefs then took off 9 minutes of the 1st quarter, converting 4 straight 3rd downs to regain momentum and eventually settle for a field goal. They kept Tom Brady on the bench, most Kansas City fans were content.
As the game moved forward, it became clear that those plodding, ball-control Chiefs were the only Chiefs available. Down 21-6, they showed no urgency, Down 27-13 and needing two touchdowns with 6:29 the Chiefs huddled, audibled, and used the middle of the field to drain the clock in 17 plays to 1:18. It was inexplicable performance. The Patriots almost blew it with an arrogant 2nd-down pass that could have deflected anywhere but ended up deflecting into the unintended arms of WR Julian Edelman for a 1st down.
MVP: QB Tom Brady. I don't know how many Playoff MVPs I give Tom Brady but we cannot take what we are seeing for granted. Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw had 30 playoff wins combined, Brady's got 22 and still counting. And he's driving, yelling, screaming, spiking like some rookie fireball QB. His 302 yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs controlled the game. He watched from the sideline as the Chiefs killed the clock for him.
KEY PLAY: QB Alex Smith did what he good, with his legs and with his check-downs but the most successful of check downs betrayed him. It was a 19-yard dart up the side by WR Albert Wilson to the 1-yard line. The game goes radically different if Wilson gets out of bounds. The clock went from 3:00 to 2:33 on that play, the following two plays were a run, a false start and a 4-yard check down in the middle of the field. The clock down to 1:27. It was the most abysmal clock management I have ever seen.
Arizona Cardinals, 26 Green Bay Packers, 20
Nobody expected the Defensive struggle of the first half. QB Carson Palmer was not on target and RB David Johnson didn't look as explosive as his Week 15-16 prime. QB Aaron Rodgers lost WR Randall Cobb to a bruised lung and the famed 3-WR Packer sets now relied on the 4th, 6th and 7th string Packer WRs (Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomry all out, it fell to WRs James Jones, Jared Abbrederis and the soon to be infamous Jeff Janis). After a nullified interception return by CB Patrick Peterson, halftime ended in a 7-6 stalemate.
The Packers showed life with a Touchdown Drive to start the 2nd half, and the Cardinals took a quarter and a half but they did respond with a deflection Touchdown to WR Michael Floyd with 3:50 remaining.
This is where things get strange.
The Packers, now down 17-13 go 4-and-out. The Cardinals get the ball and with a chance to run the clock down to 1:20 and kick the Field Goal they go for the win and Palmer misses a well-covered Larry Fitzgerald along the sideline and stops the clock. Instead of 1:20, the Cardinals kick the Field Goal at the 2:00 mark.
But The Packers offense again stalls, Rodgers is sacked from the 14 to the 4 by DE Dwight Freeney on 2nd down and eventually brings up a 4th-and-20 on their own 4. 96 yards from the game-tying TD, Rodgers rolls into his end zone and launches a Hail Mary to WR Jeff Janis at mid-field. Caught.
The Packers barely made it down the field to line up and run the next play with 21 seconds, an incomplete pass. The Cardinals bring pressuer on the next play, they knock Rodgers off his mark at midfield, running and falling backwards Aaron Rodgers launches a perfect, powerful lofting dart to Jeff Janis who comes down hard with the ball in front of CB Patrick Peterson. Tie game.
KEY PLAY: On the 2nd play of OT, the Cardinals nullified the Hail Marys. Palmer dropped back and the pocked collapsed, with an uncharcteristic spin move he found space to throw to the opposite end of the field to a wide open Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz than shifted into higher gears, crushing Green Bay's hopes with each chunk of yardage, finally being brought down at the 3. The next play, the Cardinals ran a unique jet sweep, with a shuffle pitch pass to Fitz trailing the play for the game-winning TD.
MVP: Larry Fitzgerald. 8 receptions. 176 yards. 1 TD.
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Divisional Weekend 2016
Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) @ New England Patriots (12-4)
Historically, the Kansas City Chiefs have had trouble advancing through the playoffs. Last weekend was their first playoff victory since 1994. In that same time frame, the New England Patriots have won 24 playoff games. It is intersting how physcologically different the fanbases percieve this game; Patriot fans hoping for 2 more wins and another chance to feel the rush of winning a Super Bowl and Chiefs fans reveling in a Playoff Victory, thanking their stars, excited for the adventure to come.Although this is the first ever KC/NE Playoff Match-up, Bill Belicheck and Andy Reid have faced off many times, including Super Bowl 39. Belicheck has stated before that any Andy Reid team is going to be well-coached, and Reid has certainly done a fantastic job this year with a Defense riding high and an offense looking to continue to perform without Jamaal, and possibly without WR Jeremy Maclin. The Chiefs have won 11 in a row, but the Patriots... well they win AFC Divisional Games... it's just what they do. TE Rob Gronkowski is at full Gronk, WR Julian Edelman is back, so to some key defense pieces.
KEYS FOR KC: The Chiefs Defensive Front can win this game. They are the main hope to win this game. DE Justin Houston finished the Wildcard game, so did DE Tamba Hali, and LB Derrick Johnson made a name for himself. They look to improve.. on a Playoff Shutout last week. There has always been one key to defeating Tom Brady and the Patriots... and it's a relentless pass rush. Even thatdoesn't always work, as we saw when the Patriots played the Cowboys this year, but its still the Chiefs best shot.
KEYS FOR NE: QB Tom Brady took a hard, low hit to the ankle against the Dolphins in Week 17. How will he be able to move? The answer had better be decent because the Patriots O-line has sustained some serious injuries this season. Another variable will be WR Julian Edelman. A healthy Edelman at full speed makes the Patriots AFC favorites. To sum up, what team will be the least injured?
Green Bay Packers (11-6) @ Arizona Cardinals (13-3)
Three weeks ago, the Arizona Cardinals thoroughly demolished the Green Bay Packers 38-8. It didn't look close. The Packers' offense showed some spark midway through the Wildcard Washington game. Did that ignite the Packers back to the 6-0 juggernauts they appeared to be in October? Or was it a final flare up before a final flame out?The Cardinals have had a great year, QB Carson Palmer has stayed healthy and the weapons around him have flourished. The Cardinals' Defense can't be called elite now that they have lost S Tyron Matheiu who was playing better than any other safety in the league, but they are still an above-average unit that can certainly be enough with an Offense that puts up points.
KEYS FOR GB: QB Aaron Rodgers lit up the Cardinals in the 2009-10 Playoffs for 423 yards and 5 total TDs. This was a breakout game for Rodgers, in which he truly came out from under Favre's shadow. It certainly would be nice if Rodgers could put up those numbers again but remember those numbers were put up in vain, the Packers lost that game. What Rodgers coud really use is more help from RBs Eddie Lacy and James Starks.
KEYS FOR ARI: RB David Johnson is the answer. The Cardinals have returng RB Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington in the mix but David Johnson, when given a full gameflow was a game changer. WR Larry Fitzgerald will be in the slot, the dangerous WRs Michael Floyd and John Brown outside but a big game from David Johnson will make things much easier.
Seattle Seahawks (11-6) @ Carolina Panthers (15-1)
The Panthers thought they had already taken care of the Seahawks with a Newton-to-Olsen Week 6 dagger at CenturyLink Field that knocked the Seahawks down to 2-4 and the Panthers' to a surprising 6-0. Yet here were are, the 2-time Defending NFC Champions taking on the 15-1 #1 Seed. Side note: how is this not the Primetime Game?The Seahawks have found their swagger again, the Panthers have sustained theirs. The similarities between the teams is staggering - young, mobile QBs (Russell Wilson and Cam Newton) with surprising breakout WRs (Doug Baldwin and Ted Ginn) and returning from injury RBs (Marshawn Lynch and Jonathan Stewart). On Defense we have two of the best LBs to play the game (Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly) and two of the best corners (Richard Sherman and Josh Norman). Again, how is this not the Primetime Game?
The previous 5 match-ups have been Defensive Battles and there's no reason to believe this game will change that. The elusiveness of Russell Wilson, the power of Cam Newton- which will pull through to get their offense moving?
KEYS FOR SEA: Seattle oscillates between great offense and historically dreadful offense. There can be no quarters without first downs against the 15-1 Panthers, and who better to return that consistentcy then RB Marshawn Lynch. Will he back to top form? The Seahawks will need him to be.
KEYS FOR CAR: Focus. The Panthers came out incredibly flat in their 2013-14 Divisional Home Game against the 49ers. Just two weeks ago, they were posing for sideline group photos and celebrating their Week 17 vicotry as if it were the Super Bowl itself. The Panthers have the better team here but barely- they draw the toughest possibe match-up in their first playoff game as #1 seed.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-5) @ Denver Broncos (12-4)
Denver QB Peyton Manning is not the first Hall Of Fame Quarterback to find success with another team late in his career. Joe Montana did with Kanas City, Brett Favre did with Minnesota and Kurt Warner did with Arizona. None of those players had a playoff game against their old city. The thought of Indianapolis facing Peyton Manning in the playoffs would have been incomprehensible from 1998 to 2009. This guy was the body, hear and soul of the Colts.So why is this not the headline of the decade?
Because the Colts are over Peyton Manning. Yes, Indianapolis has moved on from indisputably one of the top QBs of all time! Why? Because they have the player with the most promising NFL future of all, the golden boy Andrew Luck. The first and likely last matchup of legacy consequence between Manning and Luck comes this weekend. In Denver though, the cards are hugely stacked in Manning's favor as his defense is now loaded with S T.J Ward, CB Chris Harris, LB Von Miller, CB Aqib Talib and DE DeMarcus Ware. Not one of which played in the Super Bowl, whether injured or on other teams. This is not the same team of 8pt fame in Super Bowl 48.
KEYS FOR PIT: CB Vontae Davis has quietly been a dominant force on an inconsistent defense. If a good corner takes away one of Peyton's options without help, we've seen how that can pay dividends across the field for the rest of the defense against Peyton's spread attack. Now, the Broncos have been a power running team lately so take advantage of Davis' game-changing ability, the Colts will need an early lead.
KEYS FOR DEN: RB C.J Anderson, the defense, the gritty, dare-I-say Seahawk style that GM John Elway has compiled and Coach John Fox has devised must continue. Manning hasn't looked like a 50 attempt, 400 yard man in a few months. But if Manning is not the strength of the team anymore, what an incredible asset to a team's strength he is.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Sunday 1/10/16 (Wildcard)
Seattle Seahawks, 10 Minnesota Vikings, 9
This was Old School Football. The cold was crippling and creaked through every player on every play. Truly, the game simply looked a little slower in -4 degree weather and this seemed to benefit the Defenses. QB Russell Wilson and QB Teddy Bridgewater combined for only 288 passing yards (148 and 142, respectively). RB Adrian Peterson had 23 attempts for 45 attempts. That's dreadful. RB Christine Michael for the Seahawks had 21 attempts for 70 yards.
In the 4th Quarter, the Vikings led 9-0. A quick combination of a Doug Baldwin TD, an Adrian Peterson fumble, and a Haushka Field Goal suddenly put the Seahawks were ahead with 8:09 remaining. The Defenses both locked back down, each team punted twice more before the end of the game. The final punt gave the Vikings 1:42 in good field position to get Blair Walsh into range. A questionable pass interference followed by a very smooth 24-yard completion to TE Kyle Rudolph, set up a chip shot 27 yard FG for K Blair Walsh... and he missed it. That's really all you can say.
MVP: DE Cliff Avril and DE Michael Bennett were in the backfield all day. The Seahawks Offense was dreadful through 3 quarters, and if not for Avril and Bennett's constant disruptions who knows if the Seahawks would have kept the game in reach.
KEY PLAY: The biggest play is easy to remember in a game with 4 field goals, 10 punts and only 1 TD. To set up Baldwin's 3 yard TD catch, Russell Wilson took a shotgun snap below his ankles, rolling about 10 yards behind him. At this point, there was Russell and about 6 Vikings on screen- he somehow eluded them. As he got toward the line of scrimmage, he somehow found a wide open rookie WR Tyler Lockett who took it towards the opposite sideline for 24 yards to the 3. It was a wacky, wild play- ultimately the only time Seattle made it into the Red Zone and the game changing moment
Green Bay Packers, 35 Washington Redskins, 18
The momentum of these teams' respective late season games carried right into this game. The Redskins were on fire through the air to TE Jordon Reed and even on the ground with RB Alfred Morris. The Packers were sluggish on Offense, scattered on Defense. QB Kirk Cousins found WR DeSean Jackson for an nice crossing TD but Jackson had no awareness of where he was. He never brought the ball to the end zone. In fact he was so unaware, he didn't even try. The play was challenged and the Packers D performed a Goal Line Stand. The score could have been 15-0 but instead it was 11-0 when the Packers returned to form.
That's right. The spark came back to QB Aaron Rodgers. The protection got a little better, and Rodgers showed why he's one of the best players in the NFL, forcing the rag-tag Packers Offense down the field 80 and 60 yard TD drives before Halftime, then for two more TD drives in the 2nd half. For Kirk Cousins, Jordon Reed (who finished with 120 yards) and the Redskins this was surely a painful loss of momentum.
MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers is the heart of the Offense and of course the MVP but it didn't hurt that RB James Starks and RB Eddie Lacy both had good, surprisingly equal games - each with 12 carries for about 60 yards and 1 TD.
KEY PLAY: It also didn't hurt that WR DaVante Adams made some plays. Adams has been a goat of the Packers' late season struggles as he has visibly struggled to get open or make plays. Near the end of the 1st half he caught a deep sideline lob for 20 yards, and then a short slant from the 10 to the End Zone, just two plays later. This halftime TD rather than a FG was crucial.
This was Old School Football. The cold was crippling and creaked through every player on every play. Truly, the game simply looked a little slower in -4 degree weather and this seemed to benefit the Defenses. QB Russell Wilson and QB Teddy Bridgewater combined for only 288 passing yards (148 and 142, respectively). RB Adrian Peterson had 23 attempts for 45 attempts. That's dreadful. RB Christine Michael for the Seahawks had 21 attempts for 70 yards.
In the 4th Quarter, the Vikings led 9-0. A quick combination of a Doug Baldwin TD, an Adrian Peterson fumble, and a Haushka Field Goal suddenly put the Seahawks were ahead with 8:09 remaining. The Defenses both locked back down, each team punted twice more before the end of the game. The final punt gave the Vikings 1:42 in good field position to get Blair Walsh into range. A questionable pass interference followed by a very smooth 24-yard completion to TE Kyle Rudolph, set up a chip shot 27 yard FG for K Blair Walsh... and he missed it. That's really all you can say.
MVP: DE Cliff Avril and DE Michael Bennett were in the backfield all day. The Seahawks Offense was dreadful through 3 quarters, and if not for Avril and Bennett's constant disruptions who knows if the Seahawks would have kept the game in reach.
KEY PLAY: The biggest play is easy to remember in a game with 4 field goals, 10 punts and only 1 TD. To set up Baldwin's 3 yard TD catch, Russell Wilson took a shotgun snap below his ankles, rolling about 10 yards behind him. At this point, there was Russell and about 6 Vikings on screen- he somehow eluded them. As he got toward the line of scrimmage, he somehow found a wide open rookie WR Tyler Lockett who took it towards the opposite sideline for 24 yards to the 3. It was a wacky, wild play- ultimately the only time Seattle made it into the Red Zone and the game changing moment
Green Bay Packers, 35 Washington Redskins, 18
The momentum of these teams' respective late season games carried right into this game. The Redskins were on fire through the air to TE Jordon Reed and even on the ground with RB Alfred Morris. The Packers were sluggish on Offense, scattered on Defense. QB Kirk Cousins found WR DeSean Jackson for an nice crossing TD but Jackson had no awareness of where he was. He never brought the ball to the end zone. In fact he was so unaware, he didn't even try. The play was challenged and the Packers D performed a Goal Line Stand. The score could have been 15-0 but instead it was 11-0 when the Packers returned to form.
That's right. The spark came back to QB Aaron Rodgers. The protection got a little better, and Rodgers showed why he's one of the best players in the NFL, forcing the rag-tag Packers Offense down the field 80 and 60 yard TD drives before Halftime, then for two more TD drives in the 2nd half. For Kirk Cousins, Jordon Reed (who finished with 120 yards) and the Redskins this was surely a painful loss of momentum.
MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers is the heart of the Offense and of course the MVP but it didn't hurt that RB James Starks and RB Eddie Lacy both had good, surprisingly equal games - each with 12 carries for about 60 yards and 1 TD.
KEY PLAY: It also didn't hurt that WR DaVante Adams made some plays. Adams has been a goat of the Packers' late season struggles as he has visibly struggled to get open or make plays. Near the end of the 1st half he caught a deep sideline lob for 20 yards, and then a short slant from the 10 to the End Zone, just two plays later. This halftime TD rather than a FG was crucial.
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