January 29, 2010
Tasso, Barker, Tam, Nieradka
Special Guest: ESPNBoston.com, Patriots Blog
Mike Reiss
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
NFL Championship Recap: From the Ashes
by Ian Tasso
Editorial. Photos by AP News.
And after all the talk, Manning was Manning, Brees was Brees, and well, Favre was Favre.
And the Vikings with their four-man rush were a popular upset pick as well. But as they have all season, the Saints forced turnovers. And as he has all season, Adrian Peterson coughed them up. And in the end, Brees was simply too much for the Vikings defense to handle, and we have what we all wished for - the slugfest of the century.
Rocky and Apollo Creed, eat your heart out - we've got Manning versus Brees.
Here's how we got here:
Colts 30, Jets 15
Things didn't look good at the beginning. But then again, they didn't in 2006 either. Or during week 10 against the Patriots. But as we've come to expect in recent history, Peyton Manning turned the switch on.
And as us Pats fans know full well, when that happens, it usually doesn't work out for the other team. The victim this time? Mark Sanchez, that vaunted Jets defense, and Rex Ryan (finally).
To be honest, I expected the Colts to win. But I didn't expect them to put up 30 points like they did. What's even more surprising is how they did it - at times, they actually attacked Darrelle Revis, the 'best cornerback the NFL has ever seen,' according the Rex Ryan. But then again, nothing Peyton Manning does should surprise me, ever. Not after i've seen him bend the Patriots defense over time and time again.
As for the rest of the game, here's what went down…
Player of the Game:
It's unreal.
Even against the league's number one defense, Manning did it again. This time, the NFL's MVP torched New York's secondary for an amazing 377 yards and a trio of touchdowns, completing 26 of his 39 passes.
He was flawless in his delivery, flawless in his game-management, and flawless in his Oreo commercials with Eli and the Trump(s). There's really not much else you can say about the guy anymore, except that the NFL world should learn a very valuable lesson from this game.
Don't bet against Manning in that dome. It's almost like betting against the kid who uses Mario in MarioKart64. You only get burned every time, because he's usually the one who owns the game and plays every day. Because that's what Manning has become - the kid at the party who plays that one game way to much, and kicks everyone's ass at it.
And mark my words, pretty soon the NFL just won't want to play against him anymore.
Goat of the Game:
We learned Isaac Newton's law in sixth grade - for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. And Sunday afternoon, we saw it in real-time.
Meet Dwight Lowry, the rookie cornerback who was the equal and opposite reaction to Pierre Garcon's 11 catch, 151 yard action.
Lowry, a rookie cornerback who was a back-to-back All-American in 2006 and 2007, looked like exactly that out on the field - a rookie cornerback. Garcon (with a little help from Peyton Manning) ran circles around Lowry all game, who turned 24 one day before the Jets got massacred at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Happy birthday?
Key Play:
With time winding down in the first half, the Colts found themselves actually trailing New York by a fairly large margin, 17-6. But then Peyton Manning got the ball with just over two minutes remaining, and he did what he usually does - score.
Manning proved once again there is nobody better in the two-minute offense than his highness, as he pulled yet another marvelous purely-shotgun drive out of his golden behind, keyed by a 46-yard completion to Austin Collie, bringing the Colts down to the Jets 16-yard line and still over a minute left.
The pass was a beautifully threaded needle right over the head of Drew Coleman, right into the hands of Austin Collie, and right under the coverage of safety Kerry Rhodes. If Manning throws that ball one yard further, that baby's incomplete. If he throws it one yard shorter, Coleman undoubtedly picks it off. And if he unleashes it just one second later, Austin Collie is looking at a world of pain courtesy of Kerry Rhodes and his left shoulder.
But Peyton Manning has become somewhat of a perfectionist on the football field, and that throw showed it. A tightly woven spiral that painted his career in one simple arc - amazing. One play later Manning hit Collie once again, this time for 6. The result? Colts go into the half down 17-13, and not 17-6. And thats when the momentum shifted.
It Couldn't Have Been Different If…
Shonne Green didn't get knocked out of the game on the second play of the third quarter. Greene had been knocking the Colts D around pretty good in the first half, posting 41 yards on 10 carries. The yardage isn't necessarily jaw dropping, but he'd posted a 4.1 average and the Jets were able to chew up clock and keep Peyton Manning off the field.
Once Thomas Jones entered the game, he only held a 2.6 yard/carry average the rest of the half.
All post-season long, Green had been the knockout punch for the Jets, including the Divisional game where he singlehandedly ended the Chargers season (with a little help from Nate Kaeding). Unfortunately, his injury did exactly that for the Jets, who found themselves spiraling downward once Green hit the sidelines, never to return for the rest of the game.
It Was Over When...
Manning got the ball back in his hands with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Honestly, the third-and-five from the New York 25 right before that may be the most underrated third-and-five in playoff history. Had the Jets converted and possibly drove down the field to score either a field goal or a touchdown, we're talking a one score game here.
Except they didn't. Instead, they punted away, and Peyton Manning ran off five and a half minutes of clock, with Stover kicking the game icing field goal.
The Jets wouldn't get the ball back until there were just over two minutes left on the clock and trailing 30-17. Game.
This Game In a Movie:
Every Final Destination movie ever made.
Cast:
All those annoying kids - The Jets
The Death they avoided in the beginning - Cincinnati and San Diego
The Death that got them in the end - Peyton Manning
The kid who dies first - Rex Ryan
This annoying girl - Nate Kaeding
The Jets screwed up the master plan by beating the Bengals and Chargers in round one. But in the end, Fate winds up handling every single one of those Jets, just as Peyton Manning always gets what is his in due time.
Because honestly - did you really think the Jets would win? Really? Nah, and just like all those annoying teenagers in every Final Destination movie, they might think they'll live in the end - but they're dead, you know it, and you can't wait to see it happen. Sorry, Rex. You can only keep up the charades for so long...
Saints 31, Vikings 28 - OT
I'm a believer.
I've never been the kind of guy who listens to all that "destiny" talk. I've always thought that players are players and games are games - and there wasn't much else to it. But that all changed Sunday night.
Everything Saints fans dreamt of came true. Every part of the hopeful-fan's prediction book came absolutely true. Peterson fumbled. Favre threw a crucial interception. Brees got his touchdowns. The Saints runningbacks exposed the Vikings aggressive front four. And in the end, New Orleans wound up heading to the Super Bowl.
In a game where Brett Favre alone outgunned the entire Saints offense (310-257), somehow New Orleans still found a way to win. It was the perfect combination of heart, luck and the Vikings seemingly having no interest in winning at all that paved the way for the Saints.
But as they say - sometimes it's better to be lucky then good. But as the Saints have found out time and time again - it's undoubtedly better to be both.
Player of the Game:
Terrence Porter.
The man was an absolute beast all night. Not only did his interception prevent what appeared to be an imminent Saints loss on the leg of Ryan Longwell, he also caused one of the seven forced fumbles on the day.
His particular fumble came after a Bernard Berrian catch and run that brought the ball all the way to the New Orleans 18-yard line. But like the rest of the Saints defense, Porter went in punching the ball and knocked it loose, and the Saints recovered. New Orleans had a 7-point lead a the time, but in a game that eventually went into overtime, taking away a possible 3-7 points from the Vikings offense meant the world in the end.
Goat of the Game:
Brett Favre.
I don't like him, but Brad Childress coached well enough to win, his team just fumbled it away. Peterson may have fumbled three times, but he didn't lose any of them - and hit over 100 yards and three scores. Even the defense did a great job controlling the Saints, and again, this team played well enough to win. But they didn't. Why?
Because when the chips were down on the table, Favre ruined it all again. Yes, he took a beating that game, and I feel for him. He even limped off the field during the game, and some thought that was all we would hear from number four.
But by god, he came back, and you have to respect him for that. But sometimes, just toughing it out isn't enough to win - just ask Boromir from Lord of the Rings. It doesn't matter how many huge arrows you take to the chest, sometimes you're just going to die, regardless of how tough you are.
In the end, three turnovers, including one that iced the game and another that was committed inside the 10-yard line, are enough to hand you Goat of the Game honors. Congrats Favre. Can't wait to hear all about your (not-so) retirement this offseason.
Key Play:
We all knew it was coming - we just didn't know when.
With time running out in the 4th quarter, Brett Favre committed his Odysseus-like tragic flaw once again, throwing an interception to Terrance Porter inside Saints territory. Only a few yards more, and the Vikings would have trotted out Ryan Longwell, one of the NFL's premier kickers, for a decisive kick.
Instead, they went to overtime - and well, we all know how that worked out.
It Could Have Been Different If…
Favre and Peterson didn't fumble inside the Saints 10-yard line towards the end of the second half.
This game was a back-and-forth slugfest. You know going in that every point was going to matter. Both offenses can score at will, and it was going to be a very close finish.
It was, and the Vikings wound up on the wrong side of it. But had they punched in from a 2nd-and-goal at the Saints four-yard-line, this game could have been very different. Especially when you consider that the Vikings were really clamping down on the Saints offense for much of the entire game. They got the ball on the Saints ten after a Reggie Bush muffed punt, and we all know what happens when you give a team like the Saints second chances.
Just ask Tampa Bay. Or Atlanta. Or the rest of the NFL.
It Was Over When…
Garrett Hartley booted a 40-yard field goal that thanks to Roger Goodell, ended the overtime, and one of the greatest NFC Championships in history.
It was everything it was built up to be - a phenomenal game that can only be described as Avatar.
But for as great as this collision of NFC titans was, I'm sure the Super Bowl will be just as good if not better.
And it better be - because thanks again to Roger Goodell, we no longer have the Pro Bowl as a buffer incase the Super Bowl sucks. Because historically, the Pro Bowl has been the ugly chick of the NFL. And as fans, we used to be able to bank on that date with the ugly chick just incase the Super Bowl, or the dinner with the really hot one, is either really awkward or ends prematurely. Because hey - at least if she stands up, throws her napkin in your face, and the Steelers win the Super Bowl - you get to look forward with your date with Cherry, that really ugly chick across the street, but at least she loves sports so you can kill time, a few beers, and some nachos (and your pride.)
But no longer. For one year, we'll have to put all our eggs in that one Super Bowl basket. And if this date with the incredibly hot chick goes incredibly wrong - well, that's all she wrote, and you leave empty handed.
Because not all of us can be like Tiger Woods.
This Game in a Movie:
Avatar.
Cast:
The Na'vi - The Saints
The Humans - The Vikings
Jake Sully - Drew Brees
Neytiri - Darren Sharper
Colonel Miles - Brett Favre
Animals of Pandora - Saints Defense
James Cameron - God
This actually works so perfectly, you begin to think that maybe James Cameron/God made this knowing it would happen for real in the NFC Championship Game.
Early in his career, Drew Brees was literally crippled by the Chargers, their play calling, and their coaching staff. It was so bad, when he was a free-agent, not even the Miami Dolphins wanted him. They actually chose Daunte Culpepper instead.
Enter, Saints - or that weird time machine thing that gives Sully his legs back. Once in Pandora, Jake Sully is immediately badass, sort of like Drew Brees was once he started throwing for 6,000 yards a year in New Orleans. But things weren't always good in New Orleans - much like in Pandora.
Both lost their home. Disaster struck New Orleans much like the Na'vi lost their Home Tree. Jake Sully looked lost in Pandora. The Saints even struggled big-time in the NFL, finishing above .500 only once in Brees' four years the Saints. Until they got some help.
Sully's help came in the form of Neytiri, a local Na'vi, and the Saints' help came in the form of Darren Sharper. Equipped with Sharper and Neytiri's agility, quickness and knowledge of the game, both the Saints and Jake Sully were able to become a complete NFL team - a complete Na'vi citizen - and win.
Together, Brees and Sharper brought the Saints all the way to the NFC Championship game, much like Sully and Neytiri brought prosperity to the Na'vi people. Both of their stories were inspiring.
So inspiring, Sully was able to travel across Pandora to unite a previously isolated Na'vi people - recruiting thousands. Similarly, the Saints' story spread across America like wildfire, their bandwagon growing with every victory. Even now, they are backed by the greater body of the United States, pulling for the underdog that has risen from the ashes of a hurricane-shattered city.
Then the final battle came.
Colonel Favre and the Vikings fought evenly with the Saints, despite New Orleans' home field advantage. Minnesota even appeared the better prepared team, running up and down the field against the Saints all game long, much like how the Humans began to over-take the Na'vi in the battle.
But the turnovers.
Even when Colonel Miles had Jake Sully pinned at the end of the movie - just like even when Brett Favre drove his team for a winning field-goal at the end of the game - that fatal turnover came like a giant Black Panther out of the corner of the screen.
Because in the end, no matter how many different hi-tech robot suits Colonel Favre puts on - Packers colored ones, Jets colored ones or Vikings colored ones - he's still the same Brett Favre. And an interception is still an interception.
Destiny would win the day in a game so epic, it also deserves to win a Golden Globe (or two).
Creepy isn't it?
Saturday, January 23, 2010
NFL Championship Preview: Upset Special
by Tom Nieradka
Editorial. Photos by AP News
It’s the championship weekend that will decide who will be heading to the Super Bowl, and there are storylines abound.
Will the upstart Jets, led by rookie Mark Sanchez, continue a streak of upsets versus veteran Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts? It won’t be easy, as the Colts boast arguably the best quarterback in the league when facing an aggressive blitzing defense, while the Jets possess the most blitz happy defense in the NFL and the number 1 ranked pass defense.
Meanwhile, will the 40-year-old Brett Favre be able to lead the Minnesota Vikings to victory over Drew Brees and the Saints? The relentless passing and rushing attack of the Vikings are a force to be reckoned with, while the explosive Saints passing offense and playmaking secondary will be on alert. So who should you be betting on this weekend? Here we go.
NEW YORK JETS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Jets Offense vs Colts Defense
The Colts and the Jets are opposites in many facets of the game, and this side of the ball is no different. The Jets are based around a non-stop rushing attack (the best in the NFL) and trying to make rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez effective by way of short passes in favorable situations.
We know what the Jets are going to do, and that is run, run, run. Rookie Shonn Greene is primed for a big game as his legs remain fresh after Thomas Jones carried the bulk of the load during the regular season. Greene will be trying for his third consecutive 100 yard rushing game, and Sanchez will be trying to avoid turnovers. The Jets know that to win they need to avoid turning over the ball at all costs, so they will be continuing with a similar game plan to what they have been using in recent weeks.
New York has a very patient offense and won’t change their game plan if it’s not working very well. Last week against the Chargers they didn’t score any points in the first half, and they came out in the second quarter with the exact same game plan. Their running attack wears down defenses, and eventually they are usually able to break off big runs. Meanwhile, Sanchez is being used perfectly within the scheme, throwing a great deal off play action and moving outside of the pocket to complete short throws and bootlegs. He rarely throws downfield from inside the pocket, but when he does his effectiveness is mixed.
For the Colts, the goal is simple: they must stop the ground attack and prevent the big play. The Jets come in with a considerable size advantage over the Colts defense, as the Dungy days of the Colts favored small and quick linebackers and tackles, and those residual effects hurt them against the power running game. But even if they can’t stop the run very well (24th during the season), they are good at preventing the big play. Quickness does have its advantages, and as a result they are able to fly to the ball and make tackles quickly.
Now lets be serious, the Jets do not run a big play offense. But they have benefitted from long runs and the occasional deep ball, and without that they will be forced to grind it out even more than usual.
Another thing that the colts have going for them is arguably the best defensive end tandem in the NFL. Dwight Freeney (13.5 sacks) and Robert Mathis (9.5 sacks) will try to wreak havoc on poor Mark Sanchez. The Jets do have the best offensive line in football, but still pro-bowler D’Brickashaw Ferguson and former Super Bowl Champion Damien Woody will have their hands full holding these guys back when Sanchez does have to throw.
But then again, this plays into their strengths somewhat because they do not rely on pocket passing, and if Sanchez has proven adept at one part of the game it is selling the play-action and throwing on the run outside the pocket.
Colts Offense vs Jets Defense
The Colts run one of the most effective offenses in the NFL.
Peyton Manning has made a name for himself with the intermediate range passing game, and he’s damn good at it. He rarely takes a sack and releases the ball very quickly, and the man has seen every kind of blitz imaginable throughout his illustrious career. He has great weapons in wide receivers Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie, and tight end Dallas Clark is one of the best in the game. Matt Stover is a proven postseason kicker and should be able to handle the pressure.
However the Colts lack a rushing attack to speak of (last in the NFL with 81 yards/game), and this is no secret to Rex Ryan. Much like the Jets, the Colts are not going to change the way they run an offense. They are going to throw the ball consistently throughout the game, rarely even attempting to run. They don’t go looking for a big play, but instead they keep the chains moving constantly and do not put themselves into bad situations. Manning will be tough to contain, and he is very difficult to rattle or confuse.
After all that talk about the Colts offense, it may seem like they’re unstoppable - but the Jet defense is no slouch. They led the league in total defense, including the number one pass defense surrendering only 154 yards/game through the air. Perhaps even more impressive, they only gave up 8 passing touchdowns the entire season (there were 9 passing touchdowns in the Cardinals-Packers playoff game in round 1).
It’s essentially a foregone conclusion at this point that cornerback Darelle Revis will shut down whoever he is covering. Last week he jockeyed between TE Antonio Gates and WR Vincent Jackson to great effect (and an interception), and this week the Jets will probably employ a similar scheme between Clark and Wayne. However the difference may be that unlike Phillip Rivers, Peyton Manning will know to avoid Revis. The Jets will be sitting on the pass and rushing the passer like always, tringy to confuse Manning as best they can. The big Jet linebackers will be able to stuff any attempt at a run by the Colts, but there is an inherent mismatch when covering Dallas Clark. He may be the key to the entire game, and whether or not the Jets can stop him remain to be seen. However, the Jet faithful believe in Rex Ryan and his defense will be fired up as ever and will do its best to find a way.
And the Winner is… Jets 20 Colts 17
That’s right I’m taking the upset. The Jets do not give up a lot of points, and if the Colts want to win they’re going to need to score a lot early. They need to force the Jets to throw, and so far no team has done that. The Colts do not have a defense that matches up well against the Jets offense and will have some trouble stopping it. After all, the Colts ranked 24th in the league in rushing defense, four behind San Diego, whom the Jets ran all over last week.
Peyton Manning will be himself and probably won’t get sacked, but the Jets rely on complex blitzes to cause confusion. Say what you will about Rex Ryan, but the man knows how to run a defense and will adapt to the Colts offense and hold it back just enough to allow the Jets to head to the Super Bowl.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Vikings Offense vs Saints Defense
The clash of the NFC titans down in New Orleans should be an interesting battle no matter how it plays out. Brett Favre leads a Viking offense that was 5th in the NFL in total yards and 2nd in total points. Favre is having one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions. Sidney Rice has emerged as one of the NFL’s premier receivers, and rookie Percy Harvin is one of the most explosive and dangerous playmakers in the game. Favre has run the offense to perfection, at least from a passing standpoint.
On the ground, Adrian Peterson is dangerous as ever, but has regressed has the season has went on (his hasn’t hit 100 yards in 8 weeks). Last week he got stuffed for 63 yards on 26 carries against the Cowboys. This may be the game where he breaks out, and regardless of what has happened the past few weeks he still remains one of the most dangerous rushers in the game. Favre has been remarkably consistent all season long, and the old man is going to be very happy playing in a dome down in nice warm New Orleans.
The Saints defense will try to stop him, and frankly they’re going to have some problems. They Saints have the 25th ranked defense in the league, and give up 357 yards through the air and 120 on the ground per game. The strength of the Saints defense is in their playmaking secondary. Their 26 picks are third in the NFL, and safety Darren Sharper leads the team with 9 (3 went back for touchdowns). They aren’t great at getting to and pressuring the quarterback, and Favre is very comfortable in the pocket. Like Manning, Favre has seen every type of blitz that coordinators have thrown out there and can avoid it. His line is decent, and the Saints pass rush isn’t exactly terrifying.
Aside from Jonathan Vilma, their linebackers are weak, and Favre should be able to catch Harvin and TE Visanthe Shiancoe across the middle. And even if the secondary can slow down Favre, their rush defense will have issues with Peterson, ranking 21st in rushing defense in 2009. AP can go the distance on any given play, and if he can avoid fumbles those Saints are going to have their hands full with the Vikes’ offense.
Saints Offense vs Vikings Defense
If the Vikings have a great offense, the Saints have a preposterous offense. The Saints led the league in offense, including 400 pass yards/game and 31 points/game. Drew Brees is one of the best in the game, and is starting to rival even the great Peyton Manning for the title of the best active QB. He has more weapons that we can count, including receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem, tight end Jeremy Shockey, and running back Reggie Bush.
All of these guys have great hands, and they can all keep on going after the catch. Brees is pinpoint accurate, and releases the ball very quickly. The Saints have also made a conscious effort to run the ball, and backs Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell have been decently effective throughout the year. The Saints run a big play offense, and tend to throw deep and spread the field a lot. They also have finally figured out how to use Reggie Bush effectively, and he is explosive. He is one of the best return men in the league, and adds a dimension to the offense that few players can.
On the other side of the ball, the Vikings defense boasts one of the better defenses in the NFL. Their front four are terrifying: DEs Jared Allen (14.5 sacks) and Ray Edwards (8.5 sacks) are among the best in the game, and DTs Pat and Kevin Williams are nigh impossible to run through – just ask the Cowboy’s Felix Jones (148 yards vs Philly in round one, 69 vs Minnesota in round 2).
The Vikings are one of the best teams at pressuring the QB without blitzing, and as a result are able to keep more men in coverage. Still, their secondary is their weakness, with CB Antoine Winfield being the only standout player of the group. They don’t get a lot of interceptions, with most of their turnovers coming from forced fumbles (especially as a result of sacks). They will need to pressure Brees with their front four quickly, because he can get rid of that ball lighting fast.
Their success will come from either knocking Brees down, or forcing him to throw into a bad situation and make a mistake. They should be able to prevent big plays by forcing Brees to throw quickly, but they will need to adjust and make sure that they can stop the dump off passes to people like Reggie Bush, who can make them pay.
And the Winner is… Vikings 34 Saints 27
And the upset special continues with the Vikings upsetting the Saints at home. Both teams are going to score and both teams are going to do it well. I trust Favre to continue to avoid interceptions, and he will get the ball in the hands of Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin for the big plays. Peterson will break the 100 yard mark by taking advantage of a weak Saint line, and help to take some of the pressure off Favre.
Meanwhile, Brees will be able to move down the field a great deal, but he will be slowed by the relentless pass rush of the Vikings. They will have little success rushing the ball, and as a result it will fall to Brees to make all the plays - and though he is great, he will be forced to throw earlier than he wants to and as a result we should see less scoring drives and more punting than usual.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
NFL Divisional Recap: Back to Normal
by Ian Tasso
Editorial. Photos by AP News.
Now that’s more like it. Well, except if you’re from San Diego.
After a Wild Card weekend that saw two huge upsets, a playoff points record shattered and a surprisingly successful winter Cowboys team, things returned mostly to the norm in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs.
Especially if your name is Norv Turner.
As many expected, the Saints romped, the Colts trampled and the Vikings clobbered. And meanwhile, those pesky Jets continued their improbable postseason run thanks to more of what they’ve been doing all season; great defense, hard running, and a lot of Darrelle Revis.
But enough beating around the (Reggie) bush – let’s get down to business. Here’s how each Divisional game broke down this past weekend.
Saints 45, Cardinals 14
So much for the Saints not having any momentum, eh?
After last weekend’s offensive outburst in the desert, two things became apparent – one, the Cardinals can score points; and two, the Cardinals can allow points. Unfortunately for Arizona, only one of those happened against the Saints, as the caliber of defense increased largely between Green Bay and New Orleans.
We all expected Drew Brees to light it up. We even expected Darren Sharper to get at least one turnover (he had two, but one was called back). Not too many people thought Reggie Bush would be a big factor though. Well, they were wrong. Bush had arguably the best day of any Saint on the field, returning a punt for a touchdown and breaking off a 43-yard rushing touchdown a few quarters earlier. Combine that with a Kurt Warner injury, and you have our third cold-hearted blow-out of the 2009 postseason.
Key Play –
With about six minutes left in the second quarter, the Cardinals were in trouble. They were trailing the Saints by 14, and needed a spark. It was already obvious that Arizona wasn’t going to be able to stop New Orleans – but there was still hope.
That was until Kurt Warner was picked off on the Cardinals 32 yard line, giving New Orleans the ball back deep in Cardinal territory. Six plays later, Brees connected with Marques Colston for a touchdown, putting the Saints on top 35-14.
But for the Cardinals, the interception wasn’t nearly the worst part of the play.
It Could Have Been Different If…
Warner didn’t get laid out in the middle of the interception return. After throwing the pick to Will Smith (no, not that Will Smith), Warner was in pursuit, sort of, to make a tackle.
As if it wasn’t painful enough to watch 38-year old Kurt Warner attempt to chase down 282 lb. Will Smith, Saints lineman Bobby McCray had to add injury to insult – literally.
McCray absolutely blew up Warner on the return, a clean hit I might add, and Kurt was forced to leave the game. He did return much later, but without number 13 behind center, the Cardinals offense becomes a shell of its former self, and the Saints ran away with the game from there.
It Was Over When…
Reggie Bush decided it was.
With just over seven minutes left in the game and the Saints up 38-14, it appeared all was lost for the Cardinals. Key word there: appeared. After all, the Saints defense isn’t exactly a juggernaut, and the ‘Zona offense can put up points somewhat at will (see last week vs. GB).
Unfortunately, the game was officially iced when Reggie Bush took a 4th-and-two Cardinals punt 83 yards back for the touchdown. It was a glorious return, a combination of speed, quickness, and the ability to make everybody on the Cardinal return team miss at least one tackle a piece, including certain members of the Arizona coaching staff who happened to be too close to the sidelines.
We always knew he could do this. Not a bad time for him to finally do it, huh?
Colts 20, Ravens 3
This was a game that was much closer than the score indicates. In fact, had it not been for a couple of penalties and a Ray Rice fumble, we may have been looking at yet another upset.
But, as the famous Ron Burgundy once said, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
In the end, Peyton Manning was just too much Peyton Manning, and the Ravens offense was way to much Joe Flacco. Baltimore did however contain Manning for a large part of the game, something that perhaps makes this upcoming match up with the Jets something of a curious one.
Nonetheless, here’s how things went down in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Key Play –
The Baltimore Ravens incompletion on 3rd and 6 from their own 22 with just over a minute left in the half. Why? Because it caused them to punt the ball away to Peyton Manning.
At the time, the Ravens were only trailing 10-3, a position that wasn’t half bad to head into halftime in. Unfortunately, after they were unable to get a single first down after beginning the drive at the two-minute warning, Peyton Manning took over.
And there is nobody – nobody – better at the two minute offense than number 18. Case and point? Eight plays and 74 yards later, Manning nails Reggie Wayne in the end-zone for a touchdown, leaving only 3 seconds on the clock. Colts 17, Ravens 3. If you’re a Raven fan, a resident of Baltimore or even someone who’s heard the name Joe Flacco before – you could tell where this one was headed.
It Could Have Been Different If…
Ed Reed’s two interceptions didn’t get reversed.
Twice on the Indianapolis Colts third quarter drive, Ed Reed picked off a Peyton Manning pass. And twice, they were handed right back to the Colts – the first time because Reed fumbled after taking the ball 38-yards on the return, and the second because Corey Ivy was called for pass interference.
Had either of Reed’s picks stood up, Baltimore would have had great field position – either the Colts 27 or their 11 – and very possibly been able to trim the Colts lead to 17-10. That would have been a huge boost for the Ravens, especially considering the futility of their offense all game long.
Unfortunately, Reed’s interceptions were nothing but stat book footnotes, and the Colt drove all the way down the field to put a three-spot up on the board.
But the Ravens still had one last shot.
It Was Over When…
Ray Rice coughed the ball up on the Colts 28 yard line. Rice had been fairly contained all game long, but was able to break free for a 20 yard gainer early in the fourth quarter, which would have given the Ravens a great opportunity to cut the Colts lead down to 10.
But before he went to the ground, after bouncing off six or seven would be tacklers, Rice lost grip on the ball, and Clint Session recovered.
It’s tough to really blame Rice. He was fighting for every yard, in a close game, in the postseason. He had already broken countless tackles, and in no way, shape or form would you want him to go down at that point.
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. And luck would not be on the Ravens side this game. Game, set, match.
Vikings 34, Cowboys 3
The Cowboys have all the momentum. Right?
The Vikings are slipping. Right?
The Cowboys are still quarterbacked by Tony Romo and coached by Wade Phillips. Right?
Hint: Only one of those statements is true. Another hint: it’s the last one.
You could probably count on one hand the amount of people that still stood on the Vikings bandwagon minutes before Sunday’s game. But right from the start, it was clear that the Cowboys were still the Cowboys after all.
Still, the most shocking part of the lopsided Minny victory was their defense. Right from the first whistle, Winfield, Allen and co. absolutely shut down Romo and his offense. For all the flack they take, this Cowboys offense is no slouch. But the Vikings made Dallas, a team that racked up the second most yards of any NFL team in 2009, look like the worst combination of the Lions, the Browns and JaMarcus Russel.
As for the rest of the game, here’s how it shook down.
Key Play –
A few weeks back, when the Cowboys took down the undefeated Saints, the key to that game was simple – pressure on the quarterback. All week, analysts across America were talking about how Dallas must apply similar pressure to Brett Favre as they did against Drew Brees if they want to win.
What nobody was talking about however, was the pressure Jared Allen and the Vikings would put on Tony Romo. He reminded them rather quickly however.
With seven minutes left in the first half, the Cowboys were trailing the Vikings 14-3, and were desperate for some offense. But with names like Romo, Austin and Jones, an explosive play is always right around the corner for Dallas.
Unfortunately, the same goes for Minnesota’s defense, with names like Allen and Winfield. On a second and 11 from the Dallas 29, Allen ripped through the Cowboy line slamming into Tony Romo and knocking the ball lose. Ben Leber then recovered, giving the Vikings yet another possession, and a chance to pad their lead.
A few plays later, and Minny went up another three points, 17-3. Quite a difference from what could have been a slim 14-10 lead had the Cowboys pressed onto the end-zone instead of turning the ball over.
It Could Have Been Different If…
Shayne Graham wasn’t kicking for the Cowboys. Oh wait, that was Steve Suisham? Could’ve fooled me.
Following in Graham’s footsteps from last week, Suisham shanked two field goals, and though both were significantly more difficult than Graham’s chip shots, they had similar effect.
After pulling his first attempt wide left, a 48-yarder that cost Dallas a very valuable three points, Suisham converted on his second, a 33-yarder that brought Dallas to 7-6.
But his third attempt was much more similar to the first, as he pulled a 49-yarder wide left yet again, a kick that would have brought the Cowboys back within striking distance of a widening 17-3 Vikings lead. But alas, football is a team sport. It’s only as good as it’s weakest link. And on Sunday, Suisham was just one of the many Cowboy links that failed to pull its weight.
It Was Over When…
Favre hit Sidney Rice streaking down the left sideline for a 45-yard touchdown, putting Minnesota up 27-3 with seven minutes left in the game.
The pass was thrown on a 3rd-and-4, and had the Cowboys held firm, they would have given Tony Romo, Miles Austin and co. a chance to hack into a 17 point Vikings lead.
But perhaps putting themselves out of their own misery, the Cowboys surrendered yet another Favre-Rice connection, this one thoroughly nailing the coffin shut. But all is not lost Dallas - at least Wade Phillips will be back next year…
Jets 17, Chargers 14
And to think we almost made it one full weekend without an upset. Way to go, Phillip Rivers.
Honestly, if this team wasn’t so full of players I detested, I would almost feel bad for them. They were a team primed for a Super Bowl run, having won 11-straight to end the season. Many people were picking them to actually win the thing – and it was tough to argue with them.
But that was until Rex Ryan, Darrelle Revis and a bunch of players nobody’s heard of stormed into Qualcomm Stadium with something to prove.
You’ve heard it all before – teams that play hard defense and run the ball well in the winter win football games. And just when you thought the NFL was becoming a pass-happy, offense-first league, the Jets made you think again.
It started off ugly, but in the end the Jets rushing attack was simply too much for the Chargers to contain, and Phillip Rivers was unable to decipher New York’s defensive schemes.
Peyton Manning will present a whole new set of challenges for New York next week. But for now, this team that took everybody by surprise is now one game away from the Super Bowl.
Weird since they were eliminated from playoff contention about a month ago, right Rex Ryan?
Key Play –
He did it again.
As if last week wasn’t enough evidence, and the week before that, and every game this season – Darrelle Revis did it again. On a 3rd and 8 from the Jets 36, the Chargers were in a great position to expand their 7-3 lead. But instead of padding their point total, all they did was pad Darrelle Revis’ interception total, as he snagged one from mid-air, robbing Vincent Jackson of a 20-yard completion.
Not only did this give the Jets possession, it also eventually earned New York 7 points. On their ensuing drive, the Jets would drive all the way to midfield, pinning the Chargers on their own 4 after punting on 4th-and-3.
Two plays later Jim Leonhard would pick off Phillip Rivers on the San Diego 16. Two more plays later and Mark Sanchez found Dustin Keller in the end zone for a two-yard touchdown. New York 10, San Diego 7.
It Could Have Been Different If…
Nate Kaeding didn’t take a page from Shayne Graham and Shaun Suisham’s book entitled, “How to Ruin Your Team’s Post-Season.”
Three times Nate Kaeding had a chance to give the Chargers three points. And three times, he failed.
For those of you that aren’t terrific at math, that’s 9 total points. For those of you that still aren’t good at math, that’s a victory, as the Chargers only lost by 3.
Granted, his second attempt was a 57-yarder that fell short. But his first one, a 37-yarder, was inexcusable. And his third, a 40-yarder, will haunt him forever. Had he nailed the final attempt, the Chargers would have only trailed the Jets by 7. And once Phillip Rivers found pay-dirt, that baby would have been all tied up. Instead, the Chargers found themselves down by 3. And eventually, they would lose by it.
It was Over When…
Thomas Jones got the most important two yards of his life. Facing a 4th-and-1 from the San Diego 9 yard line with just over a minute remaining, Thomas Jones barreled through the Charger front line for just enough yardage to move the chains.
Had he not converted, the Chargers would have had an entire minute of play to move only about 40-yards and kick a game-tying field goal. Granted, Nate Kaeding hadn’t exactly been on a roll. But you can only miss so many times…right Kris Brown?
After Jones got the first down, quarterback Mark Sanchez would kneel on the following play, ending the game.
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