SATELLITE NEWS SERVICE - WEEK 17

 

        1.DOLPHINS@PATS  3:06
        2. VIKES@LIONS  2:09
        3. PANTHERS@FALCONS  2:00
        4. RAIDERS@CHIEFS  2:21
        5. STEELERS@BROWNS  2:20
        6. BILLS@JETS 2:35
        7. BUCS@SAINTS  3:03
        8. BENGALS@RAVENS  3:00
        9. GIANTS@REDSKINS  3:57
        10. TITANS@COLTS  3:02
        11. CARDS@49ERS  1:51
        12. BEARS@PACKERS  3:24
        13. CHARGERS@BRONCOS  1:00
        14. JAGS@TEXANS  1:49
        15. COWBOYS@EAGLES  1:20
        16. RAMS@SEAHAWKS  3:35

        TRT:     53:17    WITH BARS

01:10:15 – MIAMI DOLPHINS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

 PATRIOTS HOSTING THE DOLPHINS.  THEY’VE ALREADY LOCKED UP A TOP OVERALL SEED IN THE AFC, LOOKING TO FINISH UNDEFEATED AT HOME ON THE SEASON.  OPENING MIAMI DRIVE, THE PLAY FAKE BY CHAD HENNE, LOOKING DOWN THE FIELD.  PASS INTENDED FOR BRANDON MARSHALL.  LOOKS LIKE HE GOT HIM BUT, NO.  DEVON MCCORDY STEPPED IN FRONT OF HIM FOR A 7TH INTERCEPTION OF THE SEASON.  GREAT FIELD POSITION FOR N.E.  MADE THEM PAY RIGHT AFTER THAT.  TOM BRADY TO ROB GRONKOWSKI FOR THE 10TH TIME THIS SEASON.  PATRIOTS GO UP 7-NOTHING.  GRONKOWSKI, THE MOST TDS. BY A ROOKIE T.E. SINCE MIKE DITKA.  AND HOW ABOUT ON THE VERY NEXT POSSESSION FOR THE PATRIOTS.  THIS IS THEIR FIRST TURNOVER SINCE WK. 9 AGAINST CLEVELAND, SNAPPING THEIR STREAK OF 7 STRAIGHT GAMES WITHOUT A TURNOVER, BUT, THEY WERE O.K. AFTER THAT.  7-NOTHING, STILL UP, AND THEN THE SWING PASS TO JULIAN EDELMAN FROM BRADY.  HE TAKES IT 40 YDS. ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 1 YD. LINE.  PATRIOTS PLAYING WITHOUT WES WELKER BUT EDELMAN SURE LOOKS A LOT LIKE HIM.  ON THEIR VERY NEXT PLAY, 1ST & GOAL FROM THE 1, BEN JARVIS GREEN-ELLIS INTO THE END ZONE.  A TD. FOR HIM.  HE HAD 80 YDS. IN THE GAME.  THEY GO UP 14 NOTHING.  THAT WAS BEN JARVIS’S 13TH TD. OF THE SEASON.  2ND QUARTER SAME SCORE.  14-NOTHING DEFICIT.  BUT RICKY WILLIAMS TAKES THE HANDOFF INSIDE AND FUMBLES THE STRIP BY ROB __.  HE GOT THE RECOVERY.  ERIC MOORE WITH THE STRIP OF RICKY.  A LONG DAY FOR THE DOLPHINS BECAUSE, AFTER THAT, THEY WERE PUNTING AND THE NEXT BIG PLAY FOR THE PATRIOTS.  JULIAN EDELMAN ALL OVER THE FIELD MAKING A COUPLE GUYS MISS.  TRYING TO FIND A SEAM UP THE MIDDLE AND HE DOES.  OH, HE’S GOT THE PUNTER TO BEAT.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  EDELMAN ABSOLUTELY GONE!  THE LONGEST PUNT RETURN IN HISTORY FOR THE PATRIOTS.  94 YDS. FOR JULIAN EDELMAN.  HAS THEM UP 24-0NOTHING AT THE HALF.  A BIG TIME GAME FOR JULIAN EDELMAN.  ALSO ON THE RECEIVING END, 72 YDS. IN THE GAME.  TOM BRADY STILL GOING TO WORK AND DOING EVEN MORE.  BRANDON TATE BREAKING OFF SOME TACKLERS RACING DOWN THE SIDELINE.  FINALLY TRIPPED UP AT THE 10 YD. LINE.  A BIG PICKUP FOR BRANDON TATE.  THEN 2 PLAYS LATER 2ND & GOAL.  TOM BRADY WORKING OUT OF THE SHOTGUN, LOOKS FOR ALGE CRUMPLER ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHO TAKES IT INTO THE END ZONE.  A 10 YD. SCORE.  IT IS A ROUTE VERY SIMILAR TO THE 1ST MEETING BETWEEN THESE TEAMS ON MONDAY NIGHT.  31-NOTHING, PATRIOTS ON TOP.  ENSUING DOLPHINS DRIVE, MORE PROBLEMS FOR MIAMI.  CHAD HENNE BROUGHT DOWN IN THE BACKFIELD BY VINCE WILFORK.  A 7 YD. LOSS AND TOM BRADY WAS DONE FOR THE DAY.  HOW ABOUT 36 TDS. AGAINST ONLY 4 PICKS ON THE SEASON?  WHAT A YEAR FOR BRADY.  THE MVP FAVORITE; AND THEN BRIAN HOYER TOOK OVER AFTER THAT.  THE MICHIGAN STATE PRODUCT BOMBED ONE TOWARDS THE END ZONE, AND THAT IS BRANDON TATE.  A 42 YD. SCORE!  PATRIOTS GO UP 38-NOTHING.  THEY ROSE TO VICTORY 38-7.  PATRIOTS FINISH 14-2.  DOLPHINS, A DISAPPOINTING 7-9.

 

01:13:31 – MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ DETROIT LIONS

NFC NORTH BATTLE TO CLOSE OUT THE REGULAR SEASON.  VIKINGS AT DETROIT.  BRETT FAVRE INACTIVE WITH A CONCUSSION.  LIKELY HIS LAST GAME OF A 20 YR. CAREER.  LESLIE FRAZIER LIKELY TO WIND UP AS THE HEAD COACH OF THE VIKINGS BUT HIS TEAM GOT OFF TO A SLOW START.  DETROIT MARCHING THE BALL ALL THE WAY DOWN THE FIELD BUT TONY SCHEFFLER FUMBLED THE BALL AT THE GOAL LINE AND IT WAS RULED A TOUCHBACK FOR MINN.  SO THEY GET THE BALL.  2 POSSESSIONS LATER, STILL SCORELESS IN THE 2ND QUARTER, VERY LOW SCORING TO START OFF THE GAME.  JOE WEBB SCRAMBLING TOWARDS HIS LEFT, THROWS ACROSS HIS BODY.  DID NOT GET ENOUGH BEHIND THE THROW.  INTERCEPTED BY __ __ FOR DETROIT.  JOE WEBB 148 YDS. PASSING AND NOT PICKED.  NO TD. PASSES IN THE GAME.  SLOW GAME FOR HIM BUT NATE BURLESON HAD A GAME.  WHEN HE WASN’T CATCHING PASSES HE WAS TAKING END-AROUND.  NICE MOVE BY HIM.  20 YD. PICKUP FOR NATE BURLESON LED TO A F.G.  DETROIT GETS ON THE BOARD UP 3-NOTHING.  THEIR NEXT POSSESSION SAME SCORE.  SHAWN HILL IMPROVISING FINDS TONY SCHEFFLER, AND THIS TIME SCHEFFLER GETS INBOUNDS AND HOLDS ONTO THE BALL.  A 1ST DOWN AT THE 12.  3 PLAYS LATER SHAWN HILL LOOKING TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND, IN TRAFFIC, NATE BURLESON WITH A MAN HANGING OFF OF HIM, MAKES THE TD. CATCH, AND THE LIONS GO UP 10-NOTHING ON THE VIKINGS AT HOME.  BURLESON WITH 83 YDS. AND A TD. IN THE GAME.  BUT, UNDER PRESSURE, SHAWN HILL MADE THE MISTAKE.  AN INTERCEPTION.  JARED ALLEN RETURNING IT ALL THE WAY FOR THE SCORE.  HIS 4TH CAREER TD.  FIRST CAREER INTERCEPTION RETURN FOR A TD., AND THAT CUT THE DEFICIT TO 6.  A CLOSE GAME.  13-10 IN THE 4TH QUARTER, SHAWN HILL LOOKING TO INCREASE THE LEAD.  A NICE DIVING GRAB BY BRIAN JOHNSON, A 23 YD. GAIN.  LESLIE FRAZIER CHALLENGED THE RULING ON THE FIELD OF A CATCH BUT THE RIGHT ELBOW DID COME DOWN SLIGHTLY INBOUNDS BEFORE HIS KNEE ROLLED OUT OF BOUNDS.  1ST DOWN AT THE 5.  THEN, THE VERY NEXT PLAY, MAURICE MORRIS, A TD. IN 3 STRAIGHT GAMES FOR THE LIONS.  THEY FINISH THE YEAR ON A 4 GAME WINNING STREAK.  WIN 20-10.  BOTH TEAMS FINISH 6-10.

 

01:15:51 – CAROLINA PANTHERS @ ATLANTA FALCONS

PANTHERS AT THE FALCONS.  THIS IS GONNA BE JOHN FOX’S LAST GAME AS HEAD COACH OF CAROLINA.  GOOD NEWS IS THEY’VE WON 5 STRAIGHT SEASON FINALES AT ATLANTA PLAYING FOR THE TOP OVERALL SEED IN THE NFC.  MATT RYAN SCRAMBLES TO HIS RIGHT SIDE ON THEIR OPENING DRIVE, AND HE PICKS UP A 1ST DOWN ON HIS OWN.  AND THEN, RIGHT AFTER THAT, HE GOES TO THE AIR SCRAMBLING AROUND ON 2ND & GOAL.  FINDS TONY GONZALEZ IN THE MIDDLE OF THE END ZONE.  A 6 YD. TD.  FALCONS GO UP 7-NOTHING EARLY AT HOME, LOOKING TO CLINCH THAT TOP OVERALL SPOT.  DAN, WHAT DO YOU KNOW, ERIC WEANS ONCE AGAIN WITH A BIG TIME PLAY FOR ATLANTA.  HAD A KICKOFF RETURN FOR A TD. AGAINST THE BUCS.  THIS TIME A PUNT RETURN FOR A TD., AND THAT PUTS THEM UP 14-NOTHING EARLY AT HOME.  THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE TOP OVERALL SEED.  ONTO THE 2ND.  SAME SCORE, A MINUTE LEFT IN THE HALF.  THE PASS TO THE SIDELINE TO RODDY WHITE.  HOW DID HE THREAD THE NEEDLE?  MATT RYAN GETS IT THERE.  A GAIN OF 14.  4 PLAYS LATER, 56 SECS. TO GO IN THE HALF.  THAT IS RODDY WHITE ONCE AGAIN IN TRAFFIC.  GOT THE BALL ACROSS THE PLANE FOR A 14 YD. SCORE.  FALCONS UP 21-NOTHING AT HALFTIME.  DOWN 24-3, JIMMY CLAUSSEN LOOKING TO GET SOMETHING GOING.  BALL WENT DOWN THE LEFT SIDELINE.  INTERCEPTED BY DANTE ROBINSON.  THAT PASS WAS INTENDED FOR DAVID GETTIS BUT ROBINSON HAD THE INSIDE POSITION.  WAS ABLE TO PULL IT DOWN FOR THE BIG INTERCEPTION; AND THEN ATLANTA MADE THEM PAY.  UP 24-3.  HEY, WHY NOT GO FOR ANOTHER TD.  THIS TIME THE PASS INTO THE END ZONE FOR BRIAN FINNERAN, FALLS INCOMPLETE…BUT, THERE’S A FLAG ON THE PLAY.  PASS INTERFERENCE ON RICHARD MARSHALL.  A 20 YD. PENALTY SET UP AN AUTOMATIC 1ST DOWN FOR ATLANTA, AND 2  P0LAYS LATER, MICHAEL TURNER, WHERE IS THE DEFENSE ON THAT ONE?  WALKING INTO THE END ZONE, FALCONS CLINCH THEIR 4TH DIVISION IN FRANCHISE HISTORY WITH THE WIN.

 

01:18:00 – OAKLAND RAIDERS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

CHIEFS LOOKING TO HOLDOUT THE COLTS FOR THE 3 SEED IN THE NFC PLAYOFFS. OFF. COORD., CHARLIE WEISS, EXPECTED TO BE NAMED FLORIDA OFF. COORD. ON MONDAY.  TOM CABLE’S COACHING FUTURE IN JEOPARDY WITH THE RAIDERS.  JASON CAMPBELL SCRAMBLING TO HIS RIGHT, IN THE 2ND QUARTER WITH HIS TEAM DOWN 3-0.  GRABS A 1ST DOWN.  A PICKUP OF 21 FOR CAMPBELL. TO THE RAIDERS 36.  7 PLAYS LATER, STILL ON THE SAME DRIVE, 11TH PLAY OF THEIR DRIVE, AND THIS IS TO JACOBY FOR THE SPEEDSTER GETS SOME BLOCKING DOWNFIELD.  CAN HE TAKE IT ALL THE WAY?  PUSHED OUT OF BOUNDS BUT NOT BEFORE PICKING UP 35 YDS. ON THE PLAY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 6.  THEN 3 PLAYS LATER 3RD & GOAL, CAMPBELL ROLLING TO HIS RIGHT, BACK OF THE END ZONE.  CHAZ SHILLINS IS THERE.  HIS FIRST TOUCHDOWN CATCH OF THE SEASON.  RAIDERS GO UP 7-3 ON THE ROAD.  JAMAL CHARLES LOOKING TO BEAT OUT ARIAN FOSTER FOR THE NFL’S RUSHING TITLE, AND THIS CERTAINLY WOULD HELP.  A 47 YD. PICKUP.  THERE’S A REASON WHY HE’S AVERAGING MORE THAN 6 YDS. PER CARRY.  HE JUST SHOWED US WHY.  DOWN TO THE 8.  3 PLAYS LATER, CHARLES, HE FINISHES OFF THE DRIVE WITH A TD. RUN.  TIES UP THE SCORE AT 10.  HE HAD 87 YDS. IN THE GAME TAKING OVER THE RUSHING LEAD FROM FOSTER.  BUT THE RAIDERS, THEY GOT A RUSHING GAME BY THEMSELVES.  MICHAEL BUSH BREAKING ONE LOOSE.  A 29 YD. TD. RUN.  HE RAN FOR 137 YDS. ON 25 CARRIES AS DARRIN MCFADDEN WAS INACTIVE.  RAIDERS GO UP 17-10, AND THE MISTAKES WOULD JUST FOLLOW.  IN THE 4TH QUARTER, MATT CASSEL ROLLING TO HIS RIGHT.  INTERCEPTED.  GREAT PLAY BY MICHAEL HALL STEPPING IN FRONT OF DEXTER MCCLUSTER.  RETURNS IT THE CHIEFS 20, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 10; AND THEN THE VERY NEXT PLAY THE RAIDERS, WITH THE REVERSE TO JACOBY ..THIS MAN WAS ALL OVER THE FIELD, AND HE SINKS IT INTO THE END ZONE FOR THE 10 YD. SCORE.  RAIDERS GO UP ON THE ROAD 24-10, LOOKING TO FINISH THE SEASON ON A POSITIVE NOTE.  ENSUING POSSESSION FOR THE CHIEFS.  A 2ND & 15.  MATT CASSEL IN ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE.  BROUGHT DOWN FOR THE 4TH TIME IN THE GAME.  SACKED BY DESMOND BRYANT FOR THE 15 YD. LOSS.  SO THAT BRINGS UP A 3RD & 30.  NOT TOO MANY PLAYS IN THE PLAYBOOK FOR THAT, AND THAT CERTAINLY WAS NOT ONE OF THEM.  STANFORD __ WITH THE INTERCEPTION RETURN FOR A TD.  RAIDERS GET THE ROAD WIN, 31-10.  CHIEFS ARE NOW 10-6.

 

01:20:31 – PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ CLEVELAND BROWNS

STEELERS LOOKING TO CLINCH THE #2 SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS.  COLT MCCOY MAKING HIS 8TH CAREER START AND TROY POLAMALU IS BACK FOR PITTS.  GOOD NEWS AFTER MISSING THE LAST 2 GAMES.  MADE HIS PRESENCE FELT EARLY IN THE GAME.  COLT MCCOY, PASS INTENDED FOR BEN WATSON, AND HOW DID TROY POLAMALU MAKE THAT INTERCEPTION?  HIS 7TH OF THE SEASON.  HE JUST HAS A NOSE FOR THE BALL.  MAKES THE DIVING GRAB.  GREAT FIELD POSITION FOR PITTS. BECAUSE ON THE VERY NEXT PLAY BEN ROETHLISBERGER GOES DEEEEP FOR MIKE WALLACE ON THE POST, AND HE IS THERE.  BURNED THE CLEVELAND BROWNS SECONDARY.  HIS LONGEST CATCH OF THE SEASON.  A 56 YD. SCORE.  WALLACE HAS 10 TDS.  STEELERS UP 7-NOTHING, AND THEY JUST KEPT IT ROLLING RIGHT AFTER THAT.  ON THE SLANT ROUTE, MIKE WALLACE AGAIN.  JUST TOO HOT TO HANDLE FOR CLEVELAND.  BROKE IT 41 YDS. ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 12.  LED TO A 1 YD. TD. RUN BY RASHARD MENDENHAHL.  STEELERS GO UP 14-NOTHING.  WALLACE WENT OVER THE CENTURY MARK.  105 YDS. ON 3 CATCHES.  ROETHLISBERGER WITH THE DUMP-OFF TO RASHARD MENDENHAHL OUT OF THE BACKFIELD.  HE PICKS UP 24 YDS.  MENDENHAHL, RIGHT AFTER THAT, ANOTHER 1 YD. TD. RUN TO CAP OFF THAT DRIVE.  STEELERS WENT UP 21-3. MENDENHAHL, 13 RUSHING TDS. ON THE SEASON BUT THE ROUGH DAY CONTINUED FOR COLT MCCOY.  THAT TIME INTERCEPTED BY RYAN CLARK.  ANOTHER DIVING INTERCEPTION FOR THE PITTS. STEELERS.  TRIPPED UP AFTER A 23 YD. RETURN AT THE 24.  COLT MCCOY BREAKING HIS HELMET IN DISGUST.  HE HAD 3 INTERCEPTIONS IN THE 1ST HALF.  HIS 2ND STRAIGHT GAME WITH 3 PICKS, AND THEN ROETHLISBERGER MADE THEM PAY ONCE AGAIN.  HIS 2ND TD. PASS OF THE GAME.  THAT TO HEATH MILLER.  STEELERS UP BIG, 31-3 AT THE HALF; AND IT ONLY CONTINUED FROM THERE.  BEN ROETHLISBERGER FINDING HEATH MILLER, AND THE STEELERS WERE JUST MUSCLING THE BROWNS AROUND ALL OVER THE FIELD.  PUSHING THEM AROUND.  HEATH MILLER 55 YDS. ON 4 CATCHES AND THE TD.  10 PLAYS LATER, A 1ST & GOAL AT THE 3.  HOW ABOUT A TRICK PLAY?  ANTOWAN RANDEL L. OFF THE PICK, AND HE FINDS HINES WARD FOR THE TD.  RANDLE L., ONLY 2 PASSES ON THE SEASON.  BOTH WENT FOR TDS.  STEELERS CLINCH A 1ST ROUND BYE AND THE 2 SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS.  BROWNS LOSE 4 STRAIGHT TO END THE YEAR.  THEY FINISH 5-11.

 

01:23:01 – BUFFALO BILLS @ NEW YORK JETS

BILLS AND THE JETS WRAPPING UP THE REGULAR SEASON.  JETS ALREADY IN THE PLAYOFFS, RESTING A LOT OF THEIR STARTERS.  MARK SANCHEZ EXPECTED TO GET SOME WORK.  BRIAN BRAUM AND THE BILLS WITH THEIR 6 STRAIGHT LOSING SEASON.  BRAUM IN AT QB.  FITZPATRICK IS HURT FOR BUFFALO, AND HE THROWS OVER THE MIDDLE TO __ JOHNSON, RACING DOWN THE SIDELINE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING EXTRA HAPPEN, WHEN HE LOSES THE FOOTBALL.  IT IS STRIPPED AND RECOVERED BY THE JETS AT THEIR OWN 11 YD. LINE.  DWIGHT LOWRY WITH THE RECOVERY FOR THE N.Y. JETS.  A BIG PLAY.  STEVE JOHNSON, A HUGE GAME-CHANGER.  HE HAD A NICE PLAY ALL THE WAY DOWN INSIDE THE RED ZONE BUT LOST THE FUMBLE.  JETS GET THE BALL BACK, AND THEY WIND UP GOING WITH BRAD SMITH ON A 3RD & 16 FROM THEIR OWN 18.  SMITH TAKES OFF RUNNING TO THE RIGHT IN AN OPTION PLAY.  FINDS SOME SPACE DOWN THE SIDELINE.  BREAKS A TACKLE ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO BUFFALO TERRITORY TO THE 42.  A 40 YD. GAIN FOR BRAD SMITH.  3 PLAYS LATER, IN AT QB ONCE AGAIN.  RUNNING THE OPTION HE IS GOING TO KEEP IT HIMSELF ALL THE WAY DOWN INSIDE THE 20.  A GAIN OF 20 YDS.  62 YDS. ON THE DRIVE FOR BRAD SMITH ON THE GROUND.  LED TO A F.G.  JETS GO UP 3-NOTHING.  ONTO THE 2ND, BILLS STILL DOWN 3-NOTHING.  A 3RD & 6 FROM THEIR 29 AND BRAUM HIT AS HE THREW.  THROWS UP A DUCK.  INTERCEPTED BY MARQUES COLE WHO TAKES IT ALL THE WAY TO THE HOUSE.  AN INTERCEPTION RETURN FOR A TD.  THE FIRST OF THE CAREER FOR MARQUES COLE.  JETS GO UP 10-NOTHING.  DERRELL REVIS INACTIVE FOR THE GAME, CHEERING ON HIS BUDDY.  MARK BRUNELL THOUGH, PLAYING QB FOR THE JETS AS THEIR BACKUP, SEEING A LOT OF TIME WITH MARK SANCHEZ.  SITTING DOWN FOR MOST OF THE GAME, MAKING A COMPLETION TO JERICHO COTCHERY AT THE 42, AND THEN INTO THE END ZONE.  THAT IS SANTONIO HOLMES WITH A 17 YD. TD.  THE FIRST TD. PASS SINCE WK. 9 OF 2006 FOR BRUNELL.  JETS GO UP 17-NOTHING AT THE HALF.  BRUNELL THOUGH DID HAVE SOME SHAKY MOMENTS.  BIG TOP THERE BY JERIS BIRD WHO RETURNS IT ALL THE WAY FOR THE TD.  SO THE BILLS MAY BE BACK IN THE BALL GAME ONLY DOWN BY 10, 17-7.  BUT THE JETS WERE JUST POUNDING THINGS OUT ON THE GROUND.  JOE MCKNIGHT GETTING HIS FIRST CAREER START, A GAIN OF 6.  HE HAD 158 YDS. IN THE GAME ON 32 CARRIES; AND THEN THE VERY NEXT PLAY MARK BRUNELL DOWN THE SIDELINE INTO DOUBLE COVERAGE.  BRAYLON EDWARDS SOMEHOW GETS ITO THE END ZONE, AND HE WINDS UP SCORING.  A 52 YD. TD.  JETS ROLLED A VICTORY, 38-7.

 

01:25:46 – TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

LET’S GO TO THE NFC SOUTH.  THE BUCCANEERS AT THE SAINTS.  JOSH FREEMAN AND HIS TEAM STILL THINKING ABOUT THAT 6TH SEED, AND DREW BREES … TOM WADDLE CALLED THIS YESTERDAY.  EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING YOU.  GO AHEAD.  BUT HE CALLED IT YESTERDAY.  HE CALLED DREW BREES TO THE ROOKIE JIMMY GRAHAM TO THE 6?  I DID NOT.  O.K.  FROM THE SHOTGUN JIMMY GRAHAM ONCE AGAIN.  USING THE T.E. ON THE BACK SHOULDER FADE.  JIMMY GRAHAM’S A HECK OF A FOOTBALL PLAYER.  I KNOW HE WAS MORE OF A BASKETBALL PLAYER AT MIAMI THAN HE WAS A BASKETBALL PLAYER.  A LITTLE TOO MUCH OF THAT HURT FUMBLE THING FOR ME.  CHRIS IVORY ON THE BENCH, LEFT FOOT INJURY.  JULIUS JONES REPLACED HIM.  JONES OFF THE LEFT SIDE.  OOHH!!  THAT’S GONNA LEAVE A MARK.  RECOVERED BY FRANK OKAM.  LOOK, THESE BUCCANEERS COME TO PLAY EVERY SUNDAY.  I GIVE RAHEEM MORRIS SO MUCH CREDIT BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK HE WAS READY TO LEAD THIS TEAM WHERE THEY’VE GOTTEN THIS YEAR.  I AGREE WITH YOU.  IT HELPS WHEN JOSH FREEMAN HAS A LITTLE FORTUITOUS BOUNCE OF THE BALL.  FORTUITOUS.  GOOD WORD.  MAURICE STOVALL.  38 YDS. FROM THE 27.  THANK YOU.  4 PLAYS LATER…THAT’S GOOD BUT YOU’RE GONNA GET A CHANCE TO MOVE THE STICKS BECAUSE SOMEBODY’S OFFSIDES.  THAT’S TRACY PORTER, SUPER BOWL HERO.  BUCCANEERS DRIVE CONTINUES.  NEXT PLAY 1ST & 10.  FREEMAN GOING ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT A PICK.  QUICKLY OUT TO PRESTON PARKER, 12 YDS. DOWN TO THE 2.  PRESTON PARKER.  FREEMAN, 25 TDS., 6 INT’S ON THE SEASON.  STAGGERING.  JOSH FREEMAN OUTPLAYED DREW BREES IN THIS GAME GUYS.  THERE’S A ROOKIE, DESMOND BRISCOE.  DESMOND BRISCOE, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER GUY’S NAME?  PRESTON PARKER.  THEY JUST FIND GUYS.  … GOES OUT WITH AN ACL INJURY LAST WEEK, AND THESE GUYS STEP IN AND THEY KEEP MOVING THE FOOTBALL.  BUCCANEERS UP 10-7.  3RD QUARTER NOW, SAINTS TRAILING 13-10.  3RD DOWN & 8 SITUATION.  BREES, HIT BY ALEX MAGEE.  FUMBLE RECOVERED BY TIM CROWDER.  THIS IS THE ONE THING THAT THE T.B. BUCS HAVE STRUGGLED WITH ALL SEASON LONG, AND THAT’S PRESSURING THE OPPOSING QB.  THEY GOT TO HIM TODAY.  SACKED DREW BREES 3 TIMES, BUT THE PASS RUSH HAS NOT BEEN GREAT THIS YEAR FOR THE BUCS.  3 PLAYS LATER, 3RD & 7.  JOSH FREEMAN GETS THE SNAP JUST AS THE PLAY CLOCK HIT 0; THEN FINDS HIS T.E. KELLEN WINSLOW.  BUCCANEERS A YD. SHORT OF THE 1ST DOWN.  K. II HAD A NICE DAY.  4TH DOWN & 1.  FREEMAN… WHY DIDN’T THE GUY MAKE A PLAY?  ANOTHER ROOKIE.  THAT’S MIKE WILLIAMS.  WOW.  BUCCANEERS ON TOP 20-10.  11TH TD. CATCH THIS SEASON.  THAT’S A TEAM RECORD.  4TH QUARTER NOW.  T.B. STILL LEADING 20-13.  FREEMAN FROM THE SHOTGUN.  LOOK AT MAURICE STOVALL.  HE’S JUST A LITTLE BIT OPEN.  54 YDS. DOWN TO THE 32.  HOW ABOUT THE BUCS HAD A ROOKIE LEADING IN RUSHING AND RECEIVING THIS YEAR?  HASN’T HAPPENED SINCE WHAT, THE 40’S I BELIEVE.  4 PLAYS LATER, 4TH & 8.  __ BART NAILS THE F.G. FROM 48 YDS. OUT AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON THE BUCCANEERS BEAT A TEAM WITH A WINNING RECORD, 23-13.

 

01:29:00 – CINCINNATI BENGALS @ BALTIMORE RAVENS

RAVENS ALREADY INTO THE PLAYOFFS.  IT’S BEEN A DISAPPOINTING SEASON FOR THE BENGALS.  JOE FLACCO LOOKING TO SEND MARVIN LEWIS HOME WITH THE LOSS IN WHAT COULD BE LEWIS’ FINAL GAME AS HEAD COACH OF CINCY.  CARSON PALMER LOOKING DOWN THE RIGHT SIDELINE ON THE OPENING DRIVE, AND GUESS WHO IS THERE TO PICKOFF THE PASS AFTER A TIPPED BALL?  ED REED OF COURSE!  HE IS ALWAYS AROUND THE FOOTBALL AND INTERCEPTS CARSON PALMER, GIVING THE RAVENS SOME GOOD FIELD POSSESSION.  AND THEN ON THE FLEA-FLICKER JOE FLACCO WITH THE DUMP-OFF, AND THAT GOES TO TODD HEAP TO THE T.E.  WHAT?!  LOOK AT ALL THAT BLOCKING DOWN THE FIELD.  HEAP STILL ON HIS FEET TAKES IT 37 YDS. ALL THE WAY DOWN INSIDE THE 10.  SET UP A BILLY CUNDIFF 25 YD. FIELD GOAL.  RAVENS GO UP 3-NOTHING.  20 SECS. LEFT TO PLAY IN THE 1ST HALF WHEN CARSON PALMER’S PASS, INTENDED FOR JORDAN SHIPLEY, PICKED OFF BY ED REED.  HOW DID HE GET THAT ONE OFF HIS SHOELACES?  AND REED, OF COURSE, NEVER EASY TO BRING DOWN.  FINALLY TACKLED JUST SHY OF THE 40 YD. LINE.  HE RETURNED IT 44 YDS.  THE RAVENS ARE UNDEFEATED WHEN ED REED HAS AT LEAST 2 PICKS IN THE BALL GAME.  HE HAD 2 INTERCEPTIONS IN THE 1ST HALF.  GOOD NEWS FOR BALT.  THEY’RE UP 6-NOTHING.  3RD QUARTER AND THERE IT IS, A BIG TURNOVER BY JEROME SIMPSON.  HE WAS WRAPPED UP BY CHRIS CARR.  HELODI NADA FALLS ON THE BALL.  IT IS THE 2ND LOST FUMBLE OF THE GAME FOR SIMPSON TURNED INTO A TD. RUN BY RAY RICE ON THEIR ENSUING POSSESSION ON A 2ND & GOAL.  RICE WITH 77 YDS. IN THE GAME.  RAVENS GO UP 13-NOTHING.  BUT, CINCY DANGEROUS IN THE 4TH QUARTER.  THAT’S WHEN THEY DID THEIR DAMAGE.  CARSON PALMER MOVING THE CHAINS IN THE PASSING GAME COMPLETE TO ANDRE CALDWELL.  A TOUGH CATCH AND A GAIN OF 15 IN THE 1ST.  THEN THE VERY NEXT PLAY CORNER OF THE END ZONE.  JEROME SIMPSON IS THERE!  THE 3RD YEAR MAN FROM COASTAL CAROLINA WITH THE 11 YD. SCORE MAKING UP FOR THAT FUMBLE LOSS EARLIER IN THE GAME.  BENGALS DOWN 13-7, TRYING TO MOVE THE BALL WITH UNDER 6 MINS. TO GO.  GOING FOR IT ON A 4TH & 1 AT THE 26.  A BIG PLAY AND THEY DID NOT GET IT.  THEY TURNED THE BALL OVER ON DOWNS.  BALT’S DEFENSE COMING UP BIG WHEN THEY NEEDED TO BUT CINCY WOULD GET THE BALL BACK.  A 3RD & 2 WITH UNDER 2 MINS. TO GO.  CARSON PALMER TRYING TO SCRAMBLE FOR THE 1ST DOWN, AND HE FUMBLES THE BALL.  RAY LEWIS JUMPED ON THE LOOSE BALL FOR THE RAVENS.  THE 5TH TURNOVER OF THE GAME FOR CINCY.  BUT BALT. PUNTED BACK TO CINCY.  THEY ARE NOT OUT OF THE GAME AND CERTAINLY NOT AFTER PLAYS LIKE THAT.  DEEP TO ANDRE CALDWELL.  CARSON PALMER MAKING THE COMPLETION.  THEN THE VERY NEXT PLAY, 38 SECS. LEFT IN THE GAME, IN SPACE TO JEROME SIMPSON, FINDING A HOLE IN THE ZONE; AND THEN THE BIG PLAY OF THE GAME.  4TH & 2 CINCY GOING FOR THE WIN.  CARSON PALMER MISFIRES OVER THE HEAD OF CEDRIC PEERMAN, AND THAT IS HOW BALT. WON THE GAME 13-7.  THEY FINISH THE YEAR 12-4.  THEY’RE THE 5 SEED IN THE AFC PLAYOFFS.

 

01:32:08 – NEW YORK GIANTS @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS

…IN PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.  WILL THE GIANTS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?  THEY HAVE THEIR DESTINY IN THEIR OWN HANDS.  LAST WEEK ALL THEY AHD TO DO WAS BEAT G.B.  THEY COULDN’T.  NOW, THEY NEED TO WIN THIS GAME IN WASH. D.C., AND SCOREBOARD WATCH WITH G.B. PLAYING THE BEARS AT THE SAME TIME IN G.B., HOPING FOR A BEARS WIN AND HOPING FOR MORE RUNS LIKE THIS BY BRANDON JACOBS IN THE 2ND POSSESSION OF THE GAME.  IT’S SCORELESS IN FEDEX FIELD.  THAT LED TO A F.G.  3-NOTHING GIANTS.  THEN, RYAN TERRAIN BEGINS RUNNING DOWNHILL FOR WASHINGTON.  3-NOTHING GIANTS.  GRAHAM GANO.  YOU CAN’T SPELL GANO WITHOUT …….OH NO!  YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.  MISSED THE F.G.  ISN’T THAT THE SAME THING THAT GOT MCNABB BENCHED?  11TH MISS OF THE SEASON.  WELL I GUESS THEY’RE NOT EVALUATING THEIR KICKERS.  I’M JUST SAYING!  AS FOR ELI MANNING, ANOTHER TIPPED PASS.  NOT ELI’S FAULT.  25TH INTERCEPTION OF THE SEASON.  TIES A TEAM RECORD.  GAVE THE REDSKINS GREAT FIELD POSITION RIGHT AT THE END OF THE 1ST QUARTER; AND THEN 3 PLAYS AFTER THAT MANNING PICK THAT WENT OFF OF MANNINGHAM’S HANDS..YOU SAID NOT REALLY ELI’S FAULT.  NO, THAT WASN’T ELI’S FAULT.  I BELIEVE IN ELI!  REX GROSSMAN DROPS BACK.  PIERRE PAUL WITH THE PICK.  GREAT STRIP BY OSI UMENYIORA FROM THE BACK SIDE!  IT’S NOT A…IT’S A FUMBLE IS REALLY WHAT IT WAS.  IT WAS AN EMPTY HAND AS OSI KNOCKED IT LOOSE FROM REX GROSSMAN, AND PIERRE PAUL RECOVERS FOR THE GIANTS.  SO THAT MANNING PICK LED TO NO POINTS, AND THEN HERE’S AN ELI MANNING TO DERRICK HAGAN CONNECTION.  ELI MANNING ON THE NEXT PLAY TO KEVIN BOSS.  NICE GRAB.  ONE-HANDED CATCH.  DOWN TO THE REDSKINS.. YOU GOTTA SEE THAT.  THAT’S A GREAT BALL PLACEMENT.  BACK SHOULDER THROW IN THE SEAM.  NEXT PLAY FROM THE 2 YD. LINE, HERE COMES BRANDON JACOBS.  COME ON BURGLAR!  THAT’S WHAT THEY NEED FROM HIM.  POWER RUNNING.  GIANTS LEAD 10-NOTHING IN A GAME THAT THEY MUST HAVE AND, AGAIN, NEED A G.B. WIN AGAINST CHICAGO AT …A CHICAGO WIN IN G.B. AT THE SAME TIME.  THEY’RE BLOCKING DOWNFIELD.  READ THAT BLOCK.  __ WILLIAMS ON THE NEXT DRIVE WITH LESS THAN 2 MINS. TO GO FOR THE REDSKINS.  23 YDS. DOWN TO THE GIANTS 4-2.  DAVIS IS IN THE END ZONE AND REX GROSSMAN RAINBOWS IT IN TO HIM.  NICE JOB BY REX KEEPING THAT ALIVE, SINKING A LITTLE BIT IN THE POCKET.  AND IT’S A 10-7 GIANTS LEAD AT HALF.  3RD QUARTER, THAT’S YOUR SCORE.  ELI MANNING DEEP IN HIS OWN END, FINDS MANNINGHAM ..RUNNING FREE.  …D. HALL YOU CANNOT TAKE A CHANCE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS?!  THE GAME IS TOO TIGHT.  PLAY THE PLAY.  92 YD. SCORE.  GIANTS UP BY 10 BUT WE’VE SEEN TEAMS COME BACK ON THE GIANTS CERTAIN IN DIVISION ..IN RECENT DAYS.  3 POSSESSIONS LATER, REX GROSSMAN ..NO HE DIDN’T.  OH, PICKED BY KEITH BULLOCK!  MCNABB!  OH, MY BAD.  2ND TURNOVER.  DIDN’T COST THEM ANYTHING AS THE GIANTS MISSED A F.G.  SO IT’S STILL JUST A 10 PT. GIANT LEAD WITH THE 4TH QUARTER’S 1ST PLAY .  ANOTHER STRIP OF REX GROSSMAN BY OSI UMENYIORA.  2 FUMBLES AND AN INTERCEPTION ON THE DAY FOR REX.  UMENYIORA 2 SACKS, 2 FORCED FUMBLES.  BUT THEY DIDN’T REALLY LEAD TO PTS. BECAUSE IT’S STILL JUST A 10 PT. GAME!  REX OVER THE MIDDLE TO TERRENCE AUSTIN FOR 28 YDS.  THE GIANTS 17.  NEXT PLAY, GROSSMAN,…FINDS SANTANA MOSS.  LOOKING FOR EXTRA YAC, EXTRA RACK, AND INSTEAD IT’S A LOOSE BALL.  GIANTS GET THE 4TH FUMBLE RECOVERY OF THE GAME; AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT, NO POINTS.  NO PTS. AGAIN.  3 POSSESSIONS LATER, REDSKINS DOWN 10.  REX FIRST PLAY OF THE DRIVE FINDS ANTHONY ARMSTRONG!  IT’S A 3 PT. GAME!  HE’S BEEN DOING THIS ALL YEAR, EVEN WHEN DONOVAN WAS PLAYING.  HE’S A BIG PLAY THREAT, ARMSTRONG.  DIDN’T WE SEE THIS FROM THE GIANTS SECONDARY A WEEK AGO?  WELL, WE SEE THE REDSKINS FORCE THE GIANTS TO PUNT.  THEY DIDN’T RETURN IT FOR A TD. BUT THEY DID DID GET THE BALL BACK.  MCNABB!  YES, AND I GUESS THAT’S THE FINISHED EVALUATION OF REX GROSSMAN, AS THE GIANTS HOLD ON TO WIN.  A MUST-WIN GAME, 17-14.

 

01:36:15 – TENNESSEE TITANS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

COLTS/TITANS.  MUCH DIFFERENT SITUATION FOR THE COLTS THIS WEEK 17.  THERE WAS NARY A SIGNING OF CURTIS PANTHER ON THE FIELD AS PEYTON MANNING AND THE COLTS NEEDING TO WIN THIS GAME TO WRAP-UP THE AFC SOUTH AGAINST THE TENN. TITANS.  THIS WAS A F.G. BATTLE FOR THE 1ST QUARTER AND A HALF.  DOMINIC RHODES BACK IN THE MIX FOR THE BANGED UP COLTS.  12 YD. GAIN, 7 PLAYS LATER.  MANNING TO BLAIR WHITE, WHO TAKES IT INSIDE THE 10 YD. LINE.  SETTING UP THE 1ST TD. OF THE GAME.  THAT BEING THE OLD RELIABLE COMBINATION:  PEYTON MANNING TO MY GUEST ON THE PODCAST THIS WEEK, REGGIE WAYNE.  NICE BUBBLE SCREEN.  EASY, 2 RECEIVERS OUT THERE BLOCKING THE MOST DANGEROUS PEOPLE.  WALK IN!  13-6, 3RD QUARTER.  KERRY COLLINS AND THE TITANS, VERY GAME.  THEY HAD IT ALL CLICKING ON OFFENSE TODAY IN A WAY THEY’RE REALLY HAVING AT IT IN THE 2ND HALF.  NATE WASHINGTON 38 YD. GAIN.   __.  3 PLAYS LATER, 3RD QUARTER, WHO WANTS VINCE IN THERE?  THE OFFENSE WASN’T LOOKING LIKE THIS.  HOW DO YOU GET THAT OPEN COACH?  IT’S EITHER A DOUBLE MOVE OR A BUSTED COVERAGE.  13-ALL, COLLINS IS FIST-PUMPING.  COLTS NEXT  POSSESSION 3RD & 7.  5TH PLAY OF THE DRIVE.  MANNING TO BLAIR WHITE.  PICKS UP THE 1ST DOWN.  NEXT PLAY, IT IS PEYTON MANNING TO PETER ___.  A LOT OF PLAY ACTION PASSES BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS LATELY HAS BEEN ON THE RUN.  BEAUTIFUL THROW TO PIERRE GARCON.  30 YD. TD.  NICE FRENCH ACCENT.  IT’S A 7 PT. LEAD AGAIN.  TITANS COMING RIGHT BACK.  3RD & 5 FOR THE COLTS 24.  KERRY COLLINS TO DAMON WILLIAMS, MOVE THE CHAINS.  2 PLAYS LATER KERRY COLLINS…TO C.J. TUKA OUT OF THE BACKFIELD.  IT’S A TIE GAME!  LOOK AT ALL THESE TDS.!  THIS IS A SLUGFEST.  HE’S GOT THIS TEAM.. JEFF FISHER’S GOT THIS TEAM STILL FIGHTING.  TIED AT 20, AND A GAME MANY PEOPLE THINK MIGHT BE JEFF FISHER’S LAST.  MINUTE 46 LEFT IN THE GAME.   PEYTON MANNING.  UH OH.  HE’S GOT THE BALL LAST BUT DOMINIC RHODES PUTS IT ON THE TURF.  MICHAEL GRIFFIN RECOVERS FOR THE TITANS!  PUT IT AWAY MIKE!  HOLD IT UP!  COULD ROB BARONAS PUT IT AWAY FOR THE TITANS?  NO, NO, NO.  THE BALL COMES LOOSE.  IT’S OUT.  IT’S OUT.  SO HERE COME THE TITANS.  2 PLAYS AFTER GETTING IT BACK.  THEY GET IT RIGHT BACK.  NO HE DIDN’T.  FUMBLED SNAP.  THAT CAN’T HAPPEN.  SO JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT MAYBE THEY’D TAKE THE CLOCK DOWN, ROB BARONAS….  HOW DO YOU FUMBLE THE SNAP IN THE NFL?  WEEK 17.  WEEK 17, IN THE 4TH QUARTER, WITH ONE OF THE VETERAN QBS STILL IN THE GAME.  AND YOU KNEW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN NOW.  THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.  OH MAN.  YOU GIVE PEYTON MANNING ANOTHER SHOT AT IT WITH LESS THAN 3 MINS. TO GO AT ALL.  THROWING TO A ROOKIE.  HE FINDS BLAIR WHITE FOR 20 YDS.  2 PLAYS LATER, 37 TICKS TO GO.  MANNING TO JACOB TAMMY OVER THE MIDDLE; AND THEY ONLY HAVE 1 OF THE MORE STONE-COLD ACCURATE PLACEKICKERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL.  WITH MERE TICKS TO GO, ADAM VINATIERI WRAPS UP THE AFC SOUTH.  FOR THE INDY COLTS, AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, THE COLTS WIN IT AGAIN…IN THE DIVISION.

 

01:39:28 – ARIZONA CARDINALS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT THE S.F. 49ERS.  JIM __ FILLING IN FOR THE FIRED MIKE SINGLETARY AS THE NINERS HEAD COACH, 1ST QUARTER.  ALEX SMITH THE QB.  PLENTY OF TIME, AND WITH TED GINN, FITS IT IN THERE BETWEEN THE CORNER AND SAFETY.  37 YD. S.F. SCORE; AND THE NINERS ON TOP 7-NOTHING.

 

2ND QUARTER, CARDINALS TRAILING 10-NOTHING.  JOHN SKELTON AT QB TO LARRY FITZGERALD.  GOES UP AND GETS IT.  IT’S 10-7.  S.F. LEAD CUT TO 3.  INTO THE 3RD QUARTER; 49ERS 1ST POSSESSION OF THE 2ND HALF.  SMITH EYEING HIS T.E. VERNON DAVIS, WIDE OPEN MIDDLE OF THE FIELD; AND HE’S NOT DONE YET.  59 YDS. LATER, 49ERS HAD ANOTHER TD. AND THE LEAD IS BACK TO 10 AT 17-7.  49ERS NEXT POSSESSION.  BRIAN WESTBROOK OFF THE RIGHT SIDE.  BIG GAP.  30 YD. GAIN DOWN TO THE ARIZONA 30.  2 PLAYS LATER ON 2ND & 6 FROM THE 26, SMITH OFF THE PLAY ACTION ROLLING LEFT TO VERNON DAVIS.  20 YDS. TO THE 6.  2 PLAYS LATER 2ND & GOAL FROM THE 6.  WESTBROOK UP THE MIDDLE.  CRAWLING.  STAYS ON HIS FEET JUST LONG ENOUGH.  WASN’T TOUCHED.  S.F. TOUCHDOWN.  THE NINERS LEADING 24-7.  WESTBROOK’S 40TH CAREER RUSHING TD.  CARDINALS FOLLOWING POSSESSION.  SKELTON TIPPED BY RAY MCDOWELL, THEN PICKED-OFF BY AHMAD BROOKS.  RETURNED 32 YDS. TO THE 8.  A COUPLE OF PLAYS LATER ON 2ND & GOAL FROM THE 6.  BRIAN WESTBROOK CONTINUING HIS BIG DAY.  UP THE MIDDLE, BREAKING TACKLES.  NINER TD. TO MAKE IT 31-7.  THE FINAL SCORE, S.F. WINNING 38-7.



 

 

01:41:28 – CHICAGO BEARS @ GREEN BAY PACKERS

MOSTLY FOR THE NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE WITH G.B. LOOKING TO CLAIM THE #6 SEED WITH A VICTORY.  AARON RODGERS LEADING THE WAY FOR THE GREEN & GOLD, AND JAY CUTLER DOING THE HONORS FOR THE BEARS.  THE BEARS ALREADY THE #2 SEED NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.  CUTLER HERE SACKED BY ERIC WALDEN.  HIS OFF. COORD. MIKE MARTZ LIVID ON THE SIDELINE.  WELL, JAY WAS SACKED 6 TIMES, AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY I THOUGHT THE BEARS WOULD NOT PLAY HIM A WHOLE LOT TODAY BUT HE PLAYED THE ENTIRE 60 MINS.  AARON RODGERS SHOWING THAT MOBILITY THROWING TO ANDREW QUELES.  CAN’T COME DOWN WITH A CATCH.  PENALTY ON THE PLAY.  JULIUS PEPPERS CAN’T DO THAT.  WELL IT’S A FOREARM.  HE DIDN’T HIT HIM WITH THE HEAD.  THAT’S JUST A POOR, I THINK A POOR CALL.  I AGREE.  I AGREE.  BUT THAT’S HOW THE LEAGUE WORKS THESE DAYS.  A COUPLE OF PLAYS LATER ON 2ND & 4.  RODGERS TO A WIDE OPEN GREG JENNINGS.  THAT’S JUST A DROP.  PACKERS FORCED TO PUNT AND TRAILING 3-NOTHING.  GIVE THE BEARS DEFENSE A TON OF CREDIT.  THEY CAME TO PLAY.  I PICKED A SHUTOUT AT HALFTIME.  3RD QUARTER, 3-NOTHING.  BALL SLIPS OUT OF JAY CUTLER’S HANDS.  WASN’T A GOOD DAY FOR JAY.  JAY COMING OFF BACK-TO-BACK 3 TD. PERFORMANCES AGAINST THE JETS AND VIKINGS.  JUST DID NOT PLAY WELL TODAY.  AND I TIP MY HAT TO THE BEARS.  BEARS WANT TO WIN THIS FOOTBALL GAME WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION.  LOOK AT THAT PICK.  CHARLES TILLMAN.  WOW.  THEY CAME TO PLAY.  I MEAN I WAS WAY OFF ON THIS.  I PREDICTED THAT THE BEARS WOULD COME OUT AND PLAY THEIR STARTERS JUST A LITTLE BIT.  THEY PLAYED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL.  THE PLAYED THEIR FIRST TEAM THE ENTIRE GAME.  AND IF THAT’S YOUR PHILOSOPHY, STICK WITH IT.  I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH IT.  I’M JUST SAYING PROBABLY WOULD’VE GONE THE OTHER DIRECTION.  AND MIKE MCCARTHY CHALLENGES SAYING TILLMAN DID NOT MAINTAIN POSSESSION AND THE BALL HIT THE GROUND.  IT WAS RULED THAT TILLMAN KEPT HIS HANDS UNDERNEATH.  THAT’S A PICK.  THE BEARS TAKE OVER ON THE PACKERS 15.  3RD & 19.  KELLER TO JOHNNY KNOX.  CHARLIE PEPPRA WITH THE PICK AND THE TOUCHBACK.  BAD THROW.  TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH THROW.  PACKERS WOULD CUT ON THAT DRIVE.  2 POSSESSIONS LATER, RODGERS TO GREG JENNINGS.  33 YDS. DOWN TO THE CHICAGO 1 YD. LINE.  BEARS STIFFEN UP IN THE RED ZONE DEFENSIVELY, CONSISTENTLY, EACH AND EVERY SUNDAY.  HUGE PLAY HERE.  3RD & GOAL.  AARON RODGERS KEEPING IT.  TOMMY HARRIS 2 YD. SACK LED TO A MASON CROSBY F.G.  THE GAME TIED AT 3.  THIS IS A BEARS DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE LAST WEEK WITH THE JETS.  JETS GAINED ALMOST 400 YDS. AND 27 OFF. POINTS.  AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHY I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEY GO OUT AND ESTABLISH THEIR IDENTITY AGAINST ONE OF THE TOP OFFENSES IN THE NFL.  HERE’S A PROBLEM HERE.  THEY, LOVIE SMITH CALLS A TIMEOUT.  BELIEVES THE CLOCK IS RUNNING OUT.  TIMEOUT, IS A 3RD & 15 THEY CONVERTED.  ALRIGHT.  SO NOW IT’S CUTLER DEEP DROP, AND A DEEP SACK BY ERIC WALDEN, 11 YD. LOSS.  THIS WAS THE FEAR IS THAT YOU’RE EXPOSING JAY CUTLER TO A VERY GOOD PACKER DEFENSE THAT RUSHES THE QB.  AND THERE’S DONALD LEE WIDE OPEN.  AARON RODGERS FINDS HIM.  EXTRA POINT MADE IT 10-3.  BEARS LOOKING TO COME BACK WITH JAY CUTLER.  PICKED.  SO JAY GOES AND THE BEARS OFFENSE, THEY GO INTO THE POST-SEASON.  GRANTED, THEY EARNED THE BYE.  BUT THEY GO INTO THE POST-SEASON HAVING SOME OFF. LINE TROUBLES AND JAY THROWING 2 PICKS AND NO TDS.  WHAT’S NEW?  DID WE NOT KNOW THAT GOING IN?  NO, NO, NO BECAUSE HE’S COMING…  IS THAT NEWS TO ANYBODY?  …AGAINST THE VIKINGS AND THE JETS, JAY WAS OUTSTANDING.

 

01:45:00 - SAN DIEGO CHARGERS @ DENVER BRONCOS

AFC WEST.  THE BRONCOS PLAYING HOST TO THE CHARGERS.  TIM TEBOW LOOKING FOR HIS 2ND CONSECUTIVE WIN AS THE BRONCOS STARTING QB.  OFF THE PLAY ACTION.  BRANDON LLOYD WIDE OPEN, 14 YD. DENVER SCORE, EXTRA POINT.  MADE IT 7-NOTHING.  2ND QUARTER, CHARGERS LOOKING TO COME BACK.  RYAN MATTHEWS CUTTING BACK, BREAKING TACKLES.  27 YD. CHARGER TD.  ALL TIED AT 7.  CHARGERS LED AT HALFTIME 16-7.  3RD QUARTER, STILL A 9 PT. LEAD FOR S.D.  BRONCOS BALL.  2ND & 11 AT THE S.D. 43.  TEBOW TO DARIUS THOMAS BUT QUINTEN JAMMER STEPS IN WITH THE PICK.  TEBOW FINISHED THE GAME 16 OUT OF 26, 205 YDS., 2 TDS. AND 2 PICKS.  RYAN MATTHEWS AGAIN, CUTTING BACK TO THE LEFT.  FIGHTING HIS WAY ACROSS THE GOAL LINE.  12 YD. SCORE.  THE CHARGERS UP 23-7 AND WOULD HOLD ON TO WIN 33-28.

 

01:46:10 – JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS @ HOUSTON TEXANS

IT WAS JUST 2 WKS. AGO JACKSONVILLE HAD A WIN AND IN SITUATION IN INDY, AND THEN GARRARD WAS HURT IN THAT GAME.  AS WE KNOW, SUBSEQUENTLY, HE HURT HIS FINGER ON TOP OF A HELMET IN THAT GAME AND ENDED UP BEING PLACED ON I.R. LAST WEEK, AND THE TEXANS GOT ARIAN FOSTER RUNNING LIKE HE DID ON THE COLTS BACK IN WK. 1.  PAY THAT MAN!  MAURICE JONES-DREW WAS NOT ACTIVE IN THIS GAME.  AND THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS ARE STILL TRYING TO GET IT DONE DOWN 10-7.  RASHARD JENNINGS RUNNING THE FOOTBALL FOR 16 YDS.  TRENT EDWARDS, THE STARTING QB FOR THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS IN THIS GAME AND RASHAWN JENNINGS FINISHES OFF THE DRIVE …START BASICALLY.  8TH PLAY, 67 YDS., ALL RUNS, AND IT’S A 10-7 GAME.  SO HERE COMES MATT SCHAUB BACK FOR THE TEXANS TO OWEN DANIELS, 27 YDS.  I LIKE THIS DUDE.  YEA, THIS WAS PLAYING OUT AS THE TITANS WERE PLAYING THE COLTS.  SO THE JAGUARS THOUGHT AT THE TIME, THEY WERE, THEY HAD A CHANCE EVEN THOUGH DERRICK WARD WAS BUSTING THEM IN THE MOUTH FOR 45 YDS.  156 YDS. TO THIS POINT SO FAR FOR WARD AND FOSTER.  IN THIS MOMENT THE TEXANS ARE UP 17-7.  IT’S 17-10.  TRENT EDWARDS TO MERCEDES LEWIS.  THIS GAME’S TIED AT 17.  AGAIN, NO MAURICE JONES-DREW AND THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS…  JACK DELRIO’S GOT THEM FIGHTING THOUGH.  THIS IS A WELL-PLAYED GAME BY BOTH TEAMS.  BUT SCHAUB PUT A 10 PLAY 97 YD. DRIVE TOGETHER.  CAPPED OFF … DANIELS TOUCHDOWN, AND THEN ARIAN FOSTER ESSENTIALLY WRAPPED UP THE RUSHING TITLE, AND THE JAGUARS SEASON, AND THE AFC SOUTH FOR INDY WITH 1 RUN.  35 YDS. OUT, HE WINS THE RUSHING TITLE 1,616 YDS.  NOT BAD FROM BEING A PRACTICE SQUAD GUY LAST YEAR.  PAY THAT MAN, PLEASE.  AND THAT’S THE WAY THE JAGUARS FINISH UP AT 500.

 

01:48:12 – DALLAS COWBOYS @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

TO PHILADELPHIA.  THE DALLAS COWBOYS AT THE EAGLES.  JASON GARRETT TRYING TO REMOVE THE INTERIM LABEL PUSHING HIS STARTING QB STEVEN MAGEE.  MICHAEL VICK HELD OUT.  KEVIN KOLB GETTING THE START FOR ANDY REID.   2ND QUARTER SCORELESS.  2ND & GOAL.  KEVIN KOLB DOING A NICE JOB OF BUYING TIME, AVOIDING THE PRESSURE, AND EVENTUALLY FINDING CHAD HALL WIDE OPEN IN THE BACK OF THE END ZONE.  EAGLES ON TOP 7-NOTHING.  NEXT PHILA. POSSESSION, ANTHONY SPENCER COMES IN AND STRIPS KOLB.  DEMARCUS WARE SCOOPS IT UP.  17 YDS. LATER THE COWBOYS HAD THEIR FIRST TD.  WARE HAD 3 SACKS AND THAT FUMBLE RECOVERY.  WE’RE ALL TIED AT 7.  3RD QUARTER, SAME SCORE.  STEVEN MAGEE, ROY WILLIAMS CAN’T CATCH IT.  4 OR 5 OPPORTUNITIES.  SO FRUSTRATED, HE WOULD THEN WHIFF ON THE ATTEMPTED PUNTS.  4TH QUARTER COWBOYS TRAILING 13-7.  BUCK 37 LEFT.  STEVEN MAGEE, JASON WITTEN CUTTING BACK.  COWBOY FIRST DOWN RUNS OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE EAGLES 11.  3 PLAYS LATER NOW INSIDE AT 1 MIN. LEFT.   3RD DOWN & 3.  MAGEE RIGHT BACK TO WITTEN.  WELL PLACED.  COWBOY TD.  EXTRA POINT MADE IT 14-13.  THERE IS YOUR FINAL.

 

01:49:44 – ST. LOUIS RAMS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

CHAMPIONS OF THE NFC WEST.  LET’S SHOW YOU HOW THEY GOT IT DONE HERE.  CHARLIE WHITEHURST GETTING THE START FOR MATT HASSELBECK OUT WITH THE HIP INJURY.  COULDN’T GO BEGINNING OF THE GAME.  IT’S WHITEHURST TO REVEL MARTIN AND DOWN 61 YDS.  BIGGEST PLAY OF THE GAME!  I LIKE HOW THEY OPEN THE GAME.  THEIR FIRST … A BUNCH OF PASSES.  THEY WERE WIDE OPEN EARLY.  WELL WHITEHURST NOW.  HE LIKES TO CHUCK THE BALL DOWNFIELD.  ON A 3RD & 10 THOUGH, THERE HE’S GOING TO BE DROPPED BY JAMES HALL FOR A 2 YD. LOSS BUT THERE’S A PENALTY ON THE PLAY ON RON BARTELL CALLED FOR DEF. HOLDING.  AND HE GETS __ __ HERE.  A LOT OF MISTAKES BY THE RAMS IN CRUCIAL SITUATIONS.  A LOT OF OFFSIDES.  THEY KEPT DRIVES ALIVE.  YOU CAN’T MAKE THAT CALL.  IT’S PLAYOFFS.  A COUPLE OF PLAYS LATER HERE BASICALLY YOU’RE RIGHT DEION.  IT WAS PLAYOFFS SUNDAY NIGHT BECAUSE THE WINNER OF THIS GAME IS IN.  WHITEHURST BACK TO MIKE WILLIAMS FOR THE 4 YD. TD.  AND CHARLIE WHITEHURST HAS THE SEAHAWKS ON TOP 7-0.  SAM BRADFORD COACH, YOU MENTIONED IT, HE JUST STRUGGLED ALL NIGHT.  IS IT LATE IN THE SEASON FOR THE ROOKIE HERE?  WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE RUSH WASN’T GETTING THERE, THEY WOULD JUMP AND PUT THEIR HANDS UP, AND THEY BATTED A LOT OF BALLS DOWN IN THIS GAME; AND, YOU KNOW WHAT?  THAT’S GOOD DEF. PLAY.  SEAHAWKS BATTED DOWN AND DEFLECTED SEVERAL PASSES.  RAMS WERE DOWN 7-3 AT THE BREAK.  3RD QUARTER 7-3.  WHITEHURST TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND HE FLIPS IT OUT TO MARSHAWN LYNCH.  BUT BARTELL WITH THE STRIP, AND JAMES LAURENITIS IS THERE TO RECOVER.  RAMS ADDED A F.G.  SO 7-6.  PETE CARROLL’S CLUB ON TOP.  4TH QUARTER, 10-6.  AND ON A 2ND & 10, IT’S WHITEHURST TO ___ FOR A 1ST DOWN.  FOR SOME REASON THE RAMS WERE PLAYING WAY OFF AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME AND I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CORNERBACK DIDN’T GET UP.  OLINDO MARE F.G.  WHAT HAPPENED HERE MICHAEL?  ___ ALEXANDER, IT JUST GOES RIGHT THROUGH HIS HANDS!  MAN THIS IS, AND THIS WAS THE 2ND BIG DROP THAT HE HAD ON THE NIGHT.  GAME-CHANGING PLAYS AND ALEXANDER, THE WAY HE WENT AFTER THAT BALL, LOOKS LIKE HE’S A GUY WITHOUT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE WHEN IT COMES TO CATCHING THE FOOTBALL.  AFTER THE SEAHAWKS WERE FORCED TO PUNT, A GREAT PLAY HERE BY WILL HARRING AND BRADFORD THROWING INTO COVERAGE.  BRADFORD STARED THAT RECEIVER DOWN THE ENTIRETY OF THE PLAY.  EASY PLAY BY THE DEFENDER.  SO ON THE ENSUING SEAHAWKS POSSESSION, 6TH PLAY OF THE DRIVE ON A 2ND & 1 FROM THE 29, MICHAEL ROBINSON APPEARS TO BE STOPPED FOR NO GAIN.  REMARKABLY THE OFFICIALS GAVE HIM A 1ST DOWN.  LOOK AT THE SPOT.  HE’S A GOOD ½ YD. SHORT.  HE’S DOWN RIGHT THERE.  ½ A YARD?!  I MEAN A YARD!!  AND SOMEHOW THEY SPOTTED A 1ST DOWN & THE RAMS DIDN’T CHALLENGE IT, AND AWAY WE GO WITH THE F.G.  UH OH, NOT SO FAST.  ON A 4TH & 3, MARIAN FOR THE F.G. BUT THERE’S A PENALTY.  THE RAMS CALL FOR ENCROACHMENT.  SO THE RAMS JUST MELTING DOWN HERE LATE IN THE GAME.  THERE WAS SOME CLOCK MGMT. ISSUES AS WELL.  …ELECTING TO LET THE CLOCK RUN DOWN INSTEAD OF USE HIS TIMEOUTS BEFORE THE 2 MIN. WARNING.  AND MARSHAWN LYNCH NOW RUNS TO THE 16 YD. LINE WHILE OMARE KNOCKS IT DOWN FROM 34 YDS. AWAY, AND THAT WRAPPED IT UP.  A 2 POSSESSION GAME WITH FEWER THAN 2 MINS. TO GO.  THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS.  PETE CARROLL IN HIS FIRST YEAR, TAKING THIS TEAM TO THE PLAYOFFS WITH A 7-9 RECORD.  THE FIRST TEAM TO DO SO SINCE THE MERGER THAT WON THEIR DIVISION AT 7-9.

 

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