- Can’t anyone here play this game? Injuries have plagued both offenses and it showed last night. During the third quarter, Jon Gruden pointed out the obvious: “We’re watching two terrible football teams tonight.” It was a debacle of magnificent proportions.
- The Vikings’ best plays were kickoff and punt
returns. One of the latter went for the only score they got against the G-Men
who can’t seem to cover kicks reliably. (See below for one time they DID cover
well.)
3. Unfortunately, a Viking punt return miscue also led to a Giant touchdown when the return man slipped and fell without being touched and the ball squirted loose. The Giants recovered that fumble and a short time later scored.4. Could be that Coach Schiano of Tampa was right about cutting Josh Freeman loose. He certainly didn’t himself or the Vikings any good last night. Then again, he only had one week to prepare with his new team. Was he really their best option last night?5. The best part of watching on ESPN was the halftime tribute Chris Berman paid to two men who passed away last week: Bud Adams and Bum Phillips. Adams was the owner of the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans. Phillips was the long-time coach of the Oilers and took them to two AFC Championship Game in 1978 and 1979. (They lost both games to the Pittsburgh Steelers who went on to win the Super Bowl.) Phillips also served as head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1981 through 1985. Berman quoted Phillips (a colorful character in his day) as having said something to the effect: “You may not win or succeed but you aren’t a failure until you start blaming someone else.”6. Oh yeah, Eli Manning didn’t throw an interception. (Not for lack of trying. He hit a couple of defenders right in the hands. One defender had the ball hit him in the hands and then the chest on a throw out into the left flat. That could have easily been returned for a pick-six as there was nothing but grass between him and the goal line. This was the same guy who slipped and fumbled the punt return. But, that’s why they play on defense.) And the Giants won 23-7. Coincidence? There’s no such thing as coincidence.My TV service cut out near the end of the third quarter. Thank God! I took it for a sign and went to bed
Showing posts with label Pros. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pros. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Thoughts on the Giants-Vikings Game
Sunday, December 02, 2012
If I Wrote the Rules
After watching lots and lots of both college and pro football I've come to the conclusion that the NFL needs to make a couple of changes to their game.
- Change the penalty for pass interference. Adopt the same rule as the college game. No more spot foul 30-40 yards down the field. Make it a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down.
- Change the rule for overtime. Go to a rule similar to the college game only start at the 40 yard line. Each team gets a possession. Starting with the third OT you must go for two points after a TD.
- Change the offensive holding penalty. Instead of 10 yards, make it 5 yards. The defensive holding penalty is 5 yards and automatic first down. (Actually, I'd like to see that changed in the college game too.)
- After the 2-minute warning, have the clock stop after a first down for the resetting of the chains.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Was that football?
Were you one of the few who watched the Pro Bowl last Sunday?
The Pro Bowl is the NFL's all star game. A collection of the best players from around the league--minus those getting ready to play the Super Bowl or who are nursing injuries, that is.
It's also one of the most excruciating games to watch.
Most of the players are merely going through the motions. For some it's because they are not permitted to go at full speed. For example, defensive linemen can't put on a full rush and defensive backs can't play bump-and-run on the receivers. Watch for a few minutes and you'll see tackling effort about like you'd expect in flag football. (Perhaps that's why this year the final score was AFC 59, NFC 41. Actually quite surprising since quarterbacks and receivers have less than one week to get to know one another.)
And, hey!, why not? There's precious little incentive for the players beyond a week in Hawaii. And no one wants to sustain an injury that could potentially end their already short careers.
The NHL and NBA all star games aren't a heck of a lot better. I find these are saved only by the individual skills competitions that occur in the days BEFORE the game starts. That is, they are saved if you have any interest in the sport at all. I don't. Let's not even mention soccer.
The Major League Baseball All Star game is much more exciting and meaningful. At least there, the game does result in a benefit to one side or the other, what with the winning league having gained an advantage for the World Series. That and the fact that baseball is really a duel between the pitcher and the hitter. It's one on one; Mano y Mano.
Give me the MBL All Star game any day over whatever the heck it is they do in Hawaii in the week before the Super Bowl.
The Pro Bowl is the NFL's all star game. A collection of the best players from around the league--minus those getting ready to play the Super Bowl or who are nursing injuries, that is.
It's also one of the most excruciating games to watch.
Most of the players are merely going through the motions. For some it's because they are not permitted to go at full speed. For example, defensive linemen can't put on a full rush and defensive backs can't play bump-and-run on the receivers. Watch for a few minutes and you'll see tackling effort about like you'd expect in flag football. (Perhaps that's why this year the final score was AFC 59, NFC 41. Actually quite surprising since quarterbacks and receivers have less than one week to get to know one another.)
And, hey!, why not? There's precious little incentive for the players beyond a week in Hawaii. And no one wants to sustain an injury that could potentially end their already short careers.
The NHL and NBA all star games aren't a heck of a lot better. I find these are saved only by the individual skills competitions that occur in the days BEFORE the game starts. That is, they are saved if you have any interest in the sport at all. I don't. Let's not even mention soccer.
The Major League Baseball All Star game is much more exciting and meaningful. At least there, the game does result in a benefit to one side or the other, what with the winning league having gained an advantage for the World Series. That and the fact that baseball is really a duel between the pitcher and the hitter. It's one on one; Mano y Mano.
Give me the MBL All Star game any day over whatever the heck it is they do in Hawaii in the week before the Super Bowl.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Here's hoping this puts the offense
on the offense.
At first I thought it said "Tony Soprano" which would have been alright by me. Capice? After all, Soprano's a Jersey guy. Would have ended any discord in the huddle right quick, too.
But Saprano could be a good hire, too.
Jets hire Tony Sparano as offensive coordinator
Still think that Soprano would have put the fear of God into Sanchez and the O-line, forcing them to step up their game.
But Saprano could be a good hire, too.
Jets hire Tony Sparano as offensive coordinator
Still think that Soprano would have put the fear of God into Sanchez and the O-line, forcing them to step up their game.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
UN-FREAKIN'-BELIEVABLE!
Denver beats Pittsburgh in OT: 29-23
The kid they said could throw the ball in the NFL.
All he does is go 10 of 21 for 316 yards. Passes of 40, 52, 58 and 30 for a TD and 80 for the winning TD.
WR Demaryius Thomas caught four of those ten completions including the 52, 58 and 80 yarders for 204 total yards and the winning TD.
One hell of a performance by both Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas!
The Broncos move on to face New England next weekend.
******
Oh, and the Giants beat the stuffing out of Atlanta 24-2 in the early game.
The kid they said could throw the ball in the NFL.
All he does is go 10 of 21 for 316 yards. Passes of 40, 52, 58 and 30 for a TD and 80 for the winning TD.
WR Demaryius Thomas caught four of those ten completions including the 52, 58 and 80 yarders for 204 total yards and the winning TD.
One hell of a performance by both Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas!
The Broncos move on to face New England next weekend.
******
Oh, and the Giants beat the stuffing out of Atlanta 24-2 in the early game.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
"Ya gotta believe!"
The Mets' Tug McGraw coined the phrase "Ya gotta believe!" Well, that slogan may have moved west.
Denver trailed Chicago 10-0 late in the fourth quarter.
No problem!
Tebow threw for a TD to Demaryius Thomas. Score: 10-7
THEN he lead the Broncos j-u-s-t across midfield from which Matt Prater tried--and made--a 59-yard field goal to tie it a 10 as time ran out.
The Bears got the opening kickoff in the OT period and marched down the field. While in field goal range on the Denver 34 (Robbie Gould had already made a 57-yarder), Marion Barber fumbled and Denver recovered.
Tebow and the Broncos moved up field and eventually stopped at the Chicago 33-yard line. Prater came on and kicked a 51-yarder--a chip shot--for the win.
The kid who can't do anything has now lead his team to a 7-1 record in the eight games he has started. Today he was 21 of 40 for 236 yards and a TD. He also lead the team in rushing with 49 yards on 12 carries.
Four of the seven wins came on the last play of the game. Three were in OT (@Miami 18-15, @San Diego 16-13 and now at home vs Chicago 13-10). The 38-35 win against the Vikings came on a Prater field goal as time ran out, too. The 17-13 win over the Jets was a come from behind in the fourth quarter affair, too. They beat the Jets with a 20-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds--by Tim Tebow.
Less spectacular were the 38-24 win at Oakland (although the last 14 points came in the fourth quarter) and the 17-10 win at Kansas City (they actually lead that game going into the fourth quarter 10-7).
Denver, after starting the season 1-4, now leads the AFC West with a 8-5 record.
Right now, with Tebow and Prater, the Broncos are a tough foe. Especially since it seems they're getting some help from The Big Guy Upstairs.
Denver trailed Chicago 10-0 late in the fourth quarter.
No problem!
Tebow threw for a TD to Demaryius Thomas. Score: 10-7
THEN he lead the Broncos j-u-s-t across midfield from which Matt Prater tried--and made--a 59-yard field goal to tie it a 10 as time ran out.
The Bears got the opening kickoff in the OT period and marched down the field. While in field goal range on the Denver 34 (Robbie Gould had already made a 57-yarder), Marion Barber fumbled and Denver recovered.
Tebow and the Broncos moved up field and eventually stopped at the Chicago 33-yard line. Prater came on and kicked a 51-yarder--a chip shot--for the win.
The kid who can't do anything has now lead his team to a 7-1 record in the eight games he has started. Today he was 21 of 40 for 236 yards and a TD. He also lead the team in rushing with 49 yards on 12 carries.
Four of the seven wins came on the last play of the game. Three were in OT (@Miami 18-15, @San Diego 16-13 and now at home vs Chicago 13-10). The 38-35 win against the Vikings came on a Prater field goal as time ran out, too. The 17-13 win over the Jets was a come from behind in the fourth quarter affair, too. They beat the Jets with a 20-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds--by Tim Tebow.
Less spectacular were the 38-24 win at Oakland (although the last 14 points came in the fourth quarter) and the 17-10 win at Kansas City (they actually lead that game going into the fourth quarter 10-7).
Denver, after starting the season 1-4, now leads the AFC West with a 8-5 record.
Right now, with Tebow and Prater, the Broncos are a tough foe. Especially since it seems they're getting some help from The Big Guy Upstairs.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
NFL Lessons
Three things I learned watching football today:
1: Never give up on the J-E-T-S. Trailing 16-13 going into the fourth quarter the scored 21 points in that period and won 34-19.
2: The Giants play Jekyll-Hyde football. Excellent in the first half of the season and pretty bad in the second half. Last week they were horrible against New Orleans. This week they were pretty damn good. Tying the game at 35 in the fourth quarter they made only one mistake: they left 58 seconds on the clock for Rodgers and the Packers. And it cost the G-men 38-35 on the final second of the game.
3: Tim Tebow. If you listen to the "experts" you'd think the poor kid can't do anything. Yet all he does is lead his team to wins! The Broncos are starting to believe and are playing like they don't mean to stop. Today they came from behind to take down the Minnesota Vikings. On the passing side, Tebow completed 10 of 15 attempts but got 202 yards and two third quarter TDs. Teammate Willis McGehee rushed for 111 yards and scored a fourth quarter TD after which Tebow rushed for a two-point conversion. Matt Prater kicked two late field goals to tie with 1:33 left and then win the game 35-32 as time ran out.
1: Never give up on the J-E-T-S. Trailing 16-13 going into the fourth quarter the scored 21 points in that period and won 34-19.
2: The Giants play Jekyll-Hyde football. Excellent in the first half of the season and pretty bad in the second half. Last week they were horrible against New Orleans. This week they were pretty damn good. Tying the game at 35 in the fourth quarter they made only one mistake: they left 58 seconds on the clock for Rodgers and the Packers. And it cost the G-men 38-35 on the final second of the game.
3: Tim Tebow. If you listen to the "experts" you'd think the poor kid can't do anything. Yet all he does is lead his team to wins! The Broncos are starting to believe and are playing like they don't mean to stop. Today they came from behind to take down the Minnesota Vikings. On the passing side, Tebow completed 10 of 15 attempts but got 202 yards and two third quarter TDs. Teammate Willis McGehee rushed for 111 yards and scored a fourth quarter TD after which Tebow rushed for a two-point conversion. Matt Prater kicked two late field goals to tie with 1:33 left and then win the game 35-32 as time ran out.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Aerie Report, November 13, 2011
It was a nice day here at the Aerie. The temperature got up near 60 degrees and only the farily stiff breeze--perhaps 15-20 miles an hour--that blew all day and the cloud cover that thickened late in the afternoon, made it feel cooler.
We took advantage of the nice weather to grill a steak out on the deck for Sunday dinner.
Afterwards, I took a stroll out back to see if there was any sign of the deer I've heard shuffling leaves after dark. It didn't take long to find some. There are a couple of fresh scrapes and rubs along the old logging road that cuts from the lawn, follows the edge of the back field and then heads across the slope to the southwest corner of the property. I even found that a small sumac on the edge of the lawn had been rubbed sometime over the last two nights. Lots of large tracks in the mud along the trail, too.
Since the only visuals I've had have been of females, I was happy to see signs of at least one male moving through the area. I set one of the game cameras on one of the scrapes hoping I'll get some idea of the size of any bucks that might be available when the season opens the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Based on the location of the scrapes and rubs, I may have to rethink the postion of my stand.
******
Got back in plenty of time to ensconse myself in the recliner to watch some football!
Sadly, the Cowboys won and the Giants lost. On the plus side, Washington lost and so did Philly.
Still have the Jets against The Evil Empire for the lead in the AFC East tonight.
We took advantage of the nice weather to grill a steak out on the deck for Sunday dinner.
Afterwards, I took a stroll out back to see if there was any sign of the deer I've heard shuffling leaves after dark. It didn't take long to find some. There are a couple of fresh scrapes and rubs along the old logging road that cuts from the lawn, follows the edge of the back field and then heads across the slope to the southwest corner of the property. I even found that a small sumac on the edge of the lawn had been rubbed sometime over the last two nights. Lots of large tracks in the mud along the trail, too.
Since the only visuals I've had have been of females, I was happy to see signs of at least one male moving through the area. I set one of the game cameras on one of the scrapes hoping I'll get some idea of the size of any bucks that might be available when the season opens the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Based on the location of the scrapes and rubs, I may have to rethink the postion of my stand.
******
Got back in plenty of time to ensconse myself in the recliner to watch some football!
Sadly, the Cowboys won and the Giants lost. On the plus side, Washington lost and so did Philly.
Still have the Jets against The Evil Empire for the lead in the AFC East tonight.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday Night Football
Did anybody watch Monday Night Football on ESPN this week? I did for no other reason than I wanted to get the taste of the 62-7 shellacking Indianapolis suffered at the hands of the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night out of my mouth. That and I wanted to see Baltimore's Joe Flacco and Ray Rice tear into Jacksonville. This game accomplished neither goal.
Jacksonville's defense was superb, holding Baltimore off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter and from attaining a first down until sometime in the third quarter. They forced Rice to fumble--twice. And for a guy who hadn't put the ball on the turf in over 500 carries that says a lot. (Rice finished the night with just 8 carries for 28 yards--terrible!)
Sure, the Jaguars' offense was nearly as inept as their defense was excellent, but they managed to eke out the win thanks to four field goals by Josh Scobee from 54, 54, 22, and 51 yards. I hope he got the game ball.
The first half showed three very teams on the field: the Jags' offense, the Ravens' offense and the officials. Both offenses fumbled away chances (Maurice Jones-Drew fumbled twice for the Jags including one on the 1-yard line going in), at one point Flacco put the Ravens in a fourth and 43 situation--fourth and 43!--and the officials had FOUR calls overturned after challenges--two on each side. Now that's something you don't see every week--thank goodness.
Yeah, I watched until I could stomach the comedy of errors and then switched full time to the Rangers-Cards World Series Game 5. There was more scoring and tension in that baseball game than there was in the football game.
Jacksonville's defense was superb, holding Baltimore off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter and from attaining a first down until sometime in the third quarter. They forced Rice to fumble--twice. And for a guy who hadn't put the ball on the turf in over 500 carries that says a lot. (Rice finished the night with just 8 carries for 28 yards--terrible!)
Sure, the Jaguars' offense was nearly as inept as their defense was excellent, but they managed to eke out the win thanks to four field goals by Josh Scobee from 54, 54, 22, and 51 yards. I hope he got the game ball.
The first half showed three very teams on the field: the Jags' offense, the Ravens' offense and the officials. Both offenses fumbled away chances (Maurice Jones-Drew fumbled twice for the Jags including one on the 1-yard line going in), at one point Flacco put the Ravens in a fourth and 43 situation--fourth and 43!--and the officials had FOUR calls overturned after challenges--two on each side. Now that's something you don't see every week--thank goodness.
Yeah, I watched until I could stomach the comedy of errors and then switched full time to the Rangers-Cards World Series Game 5. There was more scoring and tension in that baseball game than there was in the football game.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
College Football 2011, Preweek 2
Already there have been some shake-ups in the polls. Teams that lost have either been moved down (Oregon and TCU in particular) or completely out (Notre Dame and Georgia) of the Top 25. Even teams that just didn’t play as well as expected are out—including last year’s BCS Champs Auburn.
This week there are, again, many “safe” games for teams looking to boost their status or iron out problems before conference play begins but there is one that pits ranked teams against one another (#3 Alabama @ #23 Penn State). And four teams are already getting a week off.
******
Oh, yeah. The pros start their season this weekend, too. New Orleans @ Green Bay tee it up Thursday night with a full slate of games Sunday and a double header on Monday. (New England @ Miami at & PM and Oakland @ Denver at 10:15 PM)
Go JETS! (at home against Dallas)
Go GIANTS (at Washington)
******
Here’s this week’s match-ups for all the Top 25 college teams. The three rankings are, in order, the AP/Coaches'/CBSSports.
1/1/1 Oklahoma (1-0) The Sooners have a week off.
2/3/3 LSU (1-0) The Tigers play host to Northwestern State (1-0) Saturday night.
3/2/2 Alabama (1-0) ‘Bama heads north to Happy Valley to face the #23 Nittany Lions of Penn State (1-0) Saturday afternoon.
4/5/7 Boise State (1-0) The Broncos have the week off.
5/4/6 Florida State (1-0) The ‘Noles will host the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (0-1) Saturday evening.
6/6/9 Stanford (1-0) The Cardinal travel across country to face the Duke Blue Devils (0-1) Saturday afternoon.
7/8/10 Texas A&M (1-0) The Aggies have the weekend off.
8/9/5 Wisconsin (1-0) The Badgers play host to the Oregon State Beavers (0-1).
9/7/12 Oklahoma State (1-0) The Cowboys host the Arizona Wildcats (1-0) Thursday night. This is a rematch of last year’s Alamo Bowl won by OSU 36-10.
10/10/11 Nebraska (1-0) The Cornhuskers host the Bulldogs of Fresno State (0-1) Saturday evening.
11/11/8 Virginia Tech (1-0) The Hokies head east to face the East Carolina Pirates (0-1) Saturday.
12/12/16 South Carolina (1-0) The Gamecocks (1-0) travel to Georgia to face the Bulldogs (0-1) Saturday afternoon.
13/14/4 Oregon (0-1) The Ducks will host the Nevada Wolf Pack (0-0) Saturday afternoon.
14/13/17 Arkansas (1-0) The Razorbacks host the New Mexico Lobos (0-1) Saturday night.
15/15/14 Ohio State (1-0) The Buckeyes host the Toledo Rockets (1-0) Saturday.
16/17/22 Mississippi State (1-0) The Bulldogs will be on the road to face the Auburn Tigers (1-0) Saturday afternoon.
17/16/15 Michigan State (1-0) The Spartans will host the Owls of Florida Atlantic (0-1) Saturday afternoon.
18/18/25 Florida (1-0) The Gators host the UAB Blazers (0-0) Saturday evening.
19/24/18 West Virginia (1-0) The Mountaineers will host the Norfolk State Spartans (1-0) Saturday afternoon.
20/NR/NR Baylor (1-0) The Bears will have the week off.
21/19/24 Missouri (1-0) The Tigers will host the Arizona State Sun Devils (1-0) Friday evening.
22/NR/NR South Florida (1-0) The Bulls will host the Ball State Cardinals (1-0) Saturday afternoon.
23/20/23 Penn State (1-0) The Nittany Lions host the #3 Crimson Tide of Alabama (1-0) Saturday afternoon.
24/21/NR Texas (1-0) The Longhorns will host the BYU Cougars (1-0) Saturday evening.
25/25/13 TCU (0-1) The Horned Frogs try to get back on track at Air Force (1-0) Saturday afternoon.
NR/22/19 Auburn (1-0) The Tigers will host the #16 Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-0) Saturday afternoon.
NR/23/NR Arizona State (1-0) The Wildcats play on the road against the #21Missouri Tigers (1-0) Friday night.
NR/NR/21 Notre Dame (0-1) The Irish try to make a comeback on the road against the Michigan Wolverines (1-0) Saturday night.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Green Bay 31, Pittsburgh 25
Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers upon the winning of their fourth Super Bowl title and their 18th NFL Championship.
This is only the third time that a 6 seeded team has succeeded in going all the way.
Oh, and Coca Cola had the best single commercial. I'm speaking of the animated one shown in the first half in which Coke is used to quench the thirst and dowse the fires of a fire-breathing dragon leading a horde as it attacks a fortress. Great animation.
The Bud Lite commercial featuring the very smart dogs was also pretty good.
This is only the third time that a 6 seeded team has succeeded in going all the way.
Oh, and Coca Cola had the best single commercial. I'm speaking of the animated one shown in the first half in which Coke is used to quench the thirst and dowse the fires of a fire-breathing dragon leading a horde as it attacks a fortress. Great animation.
The Bud Lite commercial featuring the very smart dogs was also pretty good.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Jets 29, Vikings 20
and a little bit more
I hate Monday night football. And Sunday night football. And any weeknight football that starts after 7 PM Eastern. Invariably these games run very late into the night and mean it's often the nextday when the lights go out for some sleep. It's not so bad now that I'm retired and have only Terry, myself, and the cats to answer to, but back when I was teaching, those days-after-football always dragged.
Way back, when Dandy Don Merideth, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford were doing the announcing on ABC's version of MNF, I belonged to a fall bowling league that met on Monday night. We'd start bowling around 7 PM and the football game would kick-off on the lounge's TV screen at 9 PM. (They had a a later starting time back then.) If the game included either the Jets or Giants...well, it was after midnight when the game ended and some of us made our way home.
I've not seen any studies done on it, but I'm pretty sure that workers' productivity is reduced considerably in the east coast cities with strong fan bases when their teams play on one of the night games. Folks either call in sick, late or merely drag their sorry butts through the day stoking on aspirin and caffeine on a regular basis. It can't be that bad in the rest of the country. Hell, a 9 PM Eastern time start is just 6 PM on the left coast.
(Much of the above also applies to major league baseball, NBA, and NHL post season games with the added problem that they often start at 7 or 8 PM in their local time zone.
Almost makes moving to the west coast imaginable--except for all that lefty political stuff.)
******
Last night, the Jets' game was scheduled to start at 8:30 PM but thunder, lightening and hail storms in the area caused a postponement until 9 PM and then 9:10 and finally 9:30 PM. Pregame shows on TV being what they are today, I'm sorta glad I don't have ESPN, cable or satellite here at the Bolt Hole. You can only listen to so much "expert analysis" --if you know what I mean.
I followed the game on the computer via CBSSports.com and their Gametracker and the radio. (ESPN radio was available although. sometimes, I can pick up the NYC area stations.) Pretty dull first half with neither team getting into the end zone but Nick Faulk of the Jets managed to connect on three field goals of 25, 53 and 22 yards to give the Jets a 9-0 lead at the half.
The third quarter was more offensive struggle but Faulk connected on two more FGs (34 and 31 yards) which served as bookends for a Favre-to-Moss TD for the Vikings and when the quarter ended the Jets lead was 15-7.
But the fourth quarter...ah, the fourth quarter...A combined four (4) touchdowns--two by each team--on "drives" of 5, 6, 5 and 0 plays that covered distances of 65, 66, 54, and 26 yards. (The last score in that series came on a Dwight Lowery interception of a Brett Favre pass, hence "0" plays and just 26 yards.)
The first fourth-quarter TD came early in the quarter (12:47 remaining) when Percy Harvin and Brett Favre connected on 34 yard pass and made the score 15-13. A two point conversion could have tied it, but the Vikings' try failed.
Then it was the Jets' turn as Shonn Greene scored with 4:30 on the clock on a 26 yard run. Extra point by Faulk and the Jets went up 22-13.
Vikings Favre-to-Harvin combination worked again on an 11-yard TD pass with the clock reading 3:09. They kicked the extra point this time and the score was 22-20.
The Jets' offense failed to answer on the next series and they had to punt the ball away. The Vikings had no timeouts but still had a chance with less than two minutes to play.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, Brett Favre committed his third turnover of the game. He had lost two fumbles in the first half which led to Faulk field goals, but this time an errant pass ended up in the hands of Dwight Lowery who returned the ball 26 yards for a back-breaking TD at the 1:30 mark. The Faulk extra point made it 29-20.
Having pulled one out when the offense wasn't quite clicking, the Jets are now 3-1. The Vikings drop to 1-3.
It was around 12:30 AM Eastern when the game finally ended.
I still hate Monday Night Football, but I liked last night's results.
******
Now about that critter running around in the attic at 4 AM.... Don't know what it is, too big for a freakin' mouse and at that hour I do not think it would be a red squirrel. Perhaps it's a weasel wearing freakin' combat boots.
Raises a ruckus for about 15 minutes or so as it scurries over the floor boards and between the planks serving as wall sheathing--and then everything is silent again.
A weasel would explain why I haven't caught any more mice in the traps on the shelf. Or even heard one tap dancing on the collection of tins that shelf holds.
Way back, when Dandy Don Merideth, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford were doing the announcing on ABC's version of MNF, I belonged to a fall bowling league that met on Monday night. We'd start bowling around 7 PM and the football game would kick-off on the lounge's TV screen at 9 PM. (They had a a later starting time back then.) If the game included either the Jets or Giants...well, it was after midnight when the game ended and some of us made our way home.
I've not seen any studies done on it, but I'm pretty sure that workers' productivity is reduced considerably in the east coast cities with strong fan bases when their teams play on one of the night games. Folks either call in sick, late or merely drag their sorry butts through the day stoking on aspirin and caffeine on a regular basis. It can't be that bad in the rest of the country. Hell, a 9 PM Eastern time start is just 6 PM on the left coast.
(Much of the above also applies to major league baseball, NBA, and NHL post season games with the added problem that they often start at 7 or 8 PM in their local time zone.
Almost makes moving to the west coast imaginable--except for all that lefty political stuff.)
******
Last night, the Jets' game was scheduled to start at 8:30 PM but thunder, lightening and hail storms in the area caused a postponement until 9 PM and then 9:10 and finally 9:30 PM. Pregame shows on TV being what they are today, I'm sorta glad I don't have ESPN, cable or satellite here at the Bolt Hole. You can only listen to so much "expert analysis" --if you know what I mean.
I followed the game on the computer via CBSSports.com and their Gametracker and the radio. (ESPN radio was available although. sometimes, I can pick up the NYC area stations.) Pretty dull first half with neither team getting into the end zone but Nick Faulk of the Jets managed to connect on three field goals of 25, 53 and 22 yards to give the Jets a 9-0 lead at the half.
The third quarter was more offensive struggle but Faulk connected on two more FGs (34 and 31 yards) which served as bookends for a Favre-to-Moss TD for the Vikings and when the quarter ended the Jets lead was 15-7.
But the fourth quarter...ah, the fourth quarter...A combined four (4) touchdowns--two by each team--on "drives" of 5, 6, 5 and 0 plays that covered distances of 65, 66, 54, and 26 yards. (The last score in that series came on a Dwight Lowery interception of a Brett Favre pass, hence "0" plays and just 26 yards.)
The first fourth-quarter TD came early in the quarter (12:47 remaining) when Percy Harvin and Brett Favre connected on 34 yard pass and made the score 15-13. A two point conversion could have tied it, but the Vikings' try failed.
Then it was the Jets' turn as Shonn Greene scored with 4:30 on the clock on a 26 yard run. Extra point by Faulk and the Jets went up 22-13.
Vikings Favre-to-Harvin combination worked again on an 11-yard TD pass with the clock reading 3:09. They kicked the extra point this time and the score was 22-20.
The Jets' offense failed to answer on the next series and they had to punt the ball away. The Vikings had no timeouts but still had a chance with less than two minutes to play.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, Brett Favre committed his third turnover of the game. He had lost two fumbles in the first half which led to Faulk field goals, but this time an errant pass ended up in the hands of Dwight Lowery who returned the ball 26 yards for a back-breaking TD at the 1:30 mark. The Faulk extra point made it 29-20.
Having pulled one out when the offense wasn't quite clicking, the Jets are now 3-1. The Vikings drop to 1-3.
It was around 12:30 AM Eastern when the game finally ended.
I still hate Monday Night Football, but I liked last night's results.
******
Now about that critter running around in the attic at 4 AM.... Don't know what it is, too big for a freakin' mouse and at that hour I do not think it would be a red squirrel. Perhaps it's a weasel wearing freakin' combat boots.
Raises a ruckus for about 15 minutes or so as it scurries over the floor boards and between the planks serving as wall sheathing--and then everything is silent again.
A weasel would explain why I haven't caught any more mice in the traps on the shelf. Or even heard one tap dancing on the collection of tins that shelf holds.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
What the hey?
I woke up a couple times during the night to the sound of rain on the metal roof. There was lots more at 6:30 when I rolled out of bed. There wasn't any rain--as in 0% chance--in the freakin' forecast for the area when I checked on Sunday. Now the forecast is fro AM showers and 30% chance of showers for the next three days.
D*mn "lake effect" rain!
******
On a football note:
Three lousy field goals? That's all the Jets could muster against the Ravens? Really?
Defense didn't do too badly yielding just 10 points but the offense....
You should win win you give up just 10 points. But when you only score 9.... Sheesh!
D*mn "lake effect" rain!
******
On a football note:
Three lousy field goals? That's all the Jets could muster against the Ravens? Really?
Defense didn't do too badly yielding just 10 points but the offense....
You should win win you give up just 10 points. But when you only score 9.... Sheesh!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Aerie Report, September 12, 2010
It dawned overcast, gray, and drizzly with the temperature around 50 degrees here at the Aerie. What little breeze there was has pretty much disappeared and become extremely light--barely enough to move the aspen leaves. It's difficult to determine from which direction they are blowing since they swirl around the slopes. The windmills (which are not turning, BTW) indicate the last wind strong enough to orient them came out of the south.
******
I didn't get a whole lot done yesterday. The dang chainsaw started and ran for a half hour to forty-five minutes and then, after I set it down to move some of the wood I had cut, and refilled the gas tank, it would not run for more than a minute before stalling out. Perhaps the gas has something to do with it, but I wasn't going to mess with the fickled thing. The ATV behaved well enough, however, and allowed me to haul the previously cut and stacked wood out of the woods to the area next to the driveway where I will eventually split it.
******
Mark reports that one of the old outlets in the kitchen of the Bolt Hole--the one the refrigerator, modem and outside light are connected to--fried. Luckily that was all it did. Could have been a disaster if it had started a fire. The wiring to that outlet is the original canvas covered, two-wire stuff with no ground wire. Without the ground, it would not trip the circuit breaker when overloaded.
We'll have to rewire the box and, maybe put a dedicated circuit in to handle the load.
******
Which brings me to tomorrow. Terry will be home in a few hours which means I'm free to head north. I'll be taking the ATV up to the Bolt Hole then head over to Amsterdam and Alpin Haus to pick up the travel trailer. The TT goes to the Bolt Hole and that's where I'll stay for a few days--to rewire the kitchen; to haul wood out of the forest; to move already split firewood from the barn to the cabin woodshed; to apply some tar to the seam of the roof between the cabin and the woodshed in yet another feeble attempt to keep water out of the area (we'll have to rebuild that thing soon!); and do what ever else needs to be done.
******
Until then, I'll be watching the pros play football today. I won't be able to catch the Monday night games (no TV at the Bolt Hole) so I'm currently enjoying the Giants-Panthers game (Giants win 31-18 in a game with a total of 9 turnovers) and will watch the Eagles-Packers and then Cowboys-Redskins tonight.
******
I didn't get a whole lot done yesterday. The dang chainsaw started and ran for a half hour to forty-five minutes and then, after I set it down to move some of the wood I had cut, and refilled the gas tank, it would not run for more than a minute before stalling out. Perhaps the gas has something to do with it, but I wasn't going to mess with the fickled thing. The ATV behaved well enough, however, and allowed me to haul the previously cut and stacked wood out of the woods to the area next to the driveway where I will eventually split it.
******
Mark reports that one of the old outlets in the kitchen of the Bolt Hole--the one the refrigerator, modem and outside light are connected to--fried. Luckily that was all it did. Could have been a disaster if it had started a fire. The wiring to that outlet is the original canvas covered, two-wire stuff with no ground wire. Without the ground, it would not trip the circuit breaker when overloaded.
We'll have to rewire the box and, maybe put a dedicated circuit in to handle the load.
******
Which brings me to tomorrow. Terry will be home in a few hours which means I'm free to head north. I'll be taking the ATV up to the Bolt Hole then head over to Amsterdam and Alpin Haus to pick up the travel trailer. The TT goes to the Bolt Hole and that's where I'll stay for a few days--to rewire the kitchen; to haul wood out of the forest; to move already split firewood from the barn to the cabin woodshed; to apply some tar to the seam of the roof between the cabin and the woodshed in yet another feeble attempt to keep water out of the area (we'll have to rebuild that thing soon!); and do what ever else needs to be done.
******
Until then, I'll be watching the pros play football today. I won't be able to catch the Monday night games (no TV at the Bolt Hole) so I'm currently enjoying the Giants-Panthers game (Giants win 31-18 in a game with a total of 9 turnovers) and will watch the Eagles-Packers and then Cowboys-Redskins tonight.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Kurt Warner to retire
Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Kurt Warner has decided to hang up his spikes after 12 years in the NFL.
He was passed over by the NFL after his college carrier and went on to play in the Arena League and Europe. He got a second chance at the NFL when the St. Louis Rams signed him as a backup in 1998. The Rams' starter, Trent Green, got injured early in the 1999 season and Warner stepped in to lead the team to a 13-3 record and a win in the Super Bowl. He was the league and Super Bowl MVP that year.
Two years later (after losing in the first round of the playoffs in 2000), the Rams were back in the Super Bowl. The lost to New England but Warner got a second NFL MVP award.
Then came the injuries and he was cut loose by the Rams after the 2003 season, signed by the Giants, replaced by a guy named Manning nine games into the 2004, and cut loose again. The Cardinals signed him as a backup for Matt Leinart.
Leinart got injured during the 2007 season and Warner took over. He beat out Leinart for the starters role in 2008 and lead the Cardinals into the playoffs and Super Bowl (a loss to Pittsburgh).
They were back in the playoffs this year. After a thrilling 51-45 overtime wild-card victory over Green Bay on Jan. 10, the Cards took a 45-14 thumping at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. Warner, who has had some problems with concussions (2003 with the Rams) got racked in the Saints game and appeared dazed on the sidelines.
No one in NFL history reached 10,000 yards passing faster than Kurt Warner. And only Dan Marino was as fast to reach 30,000.
The top three passing performances in Super Bowl history belong to Kurt Warner. His 1,156 yards passing in the 2008 playoffs broke the NFL record of 1,063 he set with St. Louis in 1999.
The man is a bona fide Hall of Fame candidate.
He was passed over by the NFL after his college carrier and went on to play in the Arena League and Europe. He got a second chance at the NFL when the St. Louis Rams signed him as a backup in 1998. The Rams' starter, Trent Green, got injured early in the 1999 season and Warner stepped in to lead the team to a 13-3 record and a win in the Super Bowl. He was the league and Super Bowl MVP that year.
Two years later (after losing in the first round of the playoffs in 2000), the Rams were back in the Super Bowl. The lost to New England but Warner got a second NFL MVP award.
Then came the injuries and he was cut loose by the Rams after the 2003 season, signed by the Giants, replaced by a guy named Manning nine games into the 2004, and cut loose again. The Cardinals signed him as a backup for Matt Leinart.
Leinart got injured during the 2007 season and Warner took over. He beat out Leinart for the starters role in 2008 and lead the Cardinals into the playoffs and Super Bowl (a loss to Pittsburgh).
They were back in the playoffs this year. After a thrilling 51-45 overtime wild-card victory over Green Bay on Jan. 10, the Cards took a 45-14 thumping at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. Warner, who has had some problems with concussions (2003 with the Rams) got racked in the Saints game and appeared dazed on the sidelines.
No one in NFL history reached 10,000 yards passing faster than Kurt Warner. And only Dan Marino was as fast to reach 30,000.
The top three passing performances in Super Bowl history belong to Kurt Warner. His 1,156 yards passing in the 2008 playoffs broke the NFL record of 1,063 he set with St. Louis in 1999.
The man is a bona fide Hall of Fame candidate.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Colts vs Saints
Jets 17, Colts 30
Well, the Jets season came to an end. Things looked good in the first half with a couple of nice long passes by Sanchez and Smith, but the Colts managed to shut the Jets rush game down and that was all she wrote. The Colts also managed to get the Jets defensive rush under control after the break, giving Manning enough time to pick apart the pass defense.
******
Vikings 28, Saints 31 in OT
After watching the Vikings and Saints go at it yesterday I have to tell you MY ribs ache from the pounding the Brett took. He may not have gotten sacked, but he sure got mugged pretty good.
Oh, and somebody PLEASE get Adrian Peterson some stick'um for his hands. He may be able to run like the dickens, but if he don't get there with the ball in his hands what good is it? Actually, the whole damn Vikings squad experienced a severe case of the dropsies. When you turn the ball over as many times as they did, you do not deserve to win. That they managed to take it into overtime is a bloody miracle.
******
So here we are. In two weeks it will be the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints playing in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. One team (Indy) started the season 14-0 and the other (NO) 13-0. Are you ready for all the pre-game hype?
Well, the Jets season came to an end. Things looked good in the first half with a couple of nice long passes by Sanchez and Smith, but the Colts managed to shut the Jets rush game down and that was all she wrote. The Colts also managed to get the Jets defensive rush under control after the break, giving Manning enough time to pick apart the pass defense.
******
Vikings 28, Saints 31 in OT
After watching the Vikings and Saints go at it yesterday I have to tell you MY ribs ache from the pounding the Brett took. He may not have gotten sacked, but he sure got mugged pretty good.
Oh, and somebody PLEASE get Adrian Peterson some stick'um for his hands. He may be able to run like the dickens, but if he don't get there with the ball in his hands what good is it? Actually, the whole damn Vikings squad experienced a severe case of the dropsies. When you turn the ball over as many times as they did, you do not deserve to win. That they managed to take it into overtime is a bloody miracle.
******
So here we are. In two weeks it will be the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints playing in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. One team (Indy) started the season 14-0 and the other (NO) 13-0. Are you ready for all the pre-game hype?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Hoo-weee! J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!
They did it again! The Jets defense proved too much for the Chargers and the offense played just well enough and scored just enough points to win the game, 17-14.
Now the Jets get to go back to Indianapolis to play the Colts. I don't think the Colts will be pulling their starters out of this one. But then again, neither did the Bengals last week and it didn't do them any good.
Will the Jets win this one and go to the Super Bowl? They won't be favored, that's for sure. But it's one game at a time and winner take all. The Jets have a lot to prove but so do the Colts.
******
And in the NFC, the Vikings beat the snot out of the Cowboys, 34-3. Bret Favre threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns while the Viking defense sacked Tony Romo six times.
Next week the Vikings travel to New Orleans to square off against the Saints. Can the northers beat the southers? Well Vikings are known for their sea raids against rich ports. If the defense upsets Drew Brees as much as they did Romo, the Old Man (Favre) will take care of the offense and the Vikes could be back in the Super Bowl.
Now the Jets get to go back to Indianapolis to play the Colts. I don't think the Colts will be pulling their starters out of this one. But then again, neither did the Bengals last week and it didn't do them any good.
Will the Jets win this one and go to the Super Bowl? They won't be favored, that's for sure. But it's one game at a time and winner take all. The Jets have a lot to prove but so do the Colts.
******
And in the NFC, the Vikings beat the snot out of the Cowboys, 34-3. Bret Favre threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns while the Viking defense sacked Tony Romo six times.
Next week the Vikings travel to New Orleans to square off against the Saints. Can the northers beat the southers? Well Vikings are known for their sea raids against rich ports. If the defense upsets Drew Brees as much as they did Romo, the Old Man (Favre) will take care of the offense and the Vikes could be back in the Super Bowl.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Playoff Football
The Jets will be going to San Diego to face the Chargers after the Ravens dismantled the Patriots yesterday. Traditionally, the Jets (like the Mets) don't fare well on the west coast. This year, the Jets made one trip out that way and walloped the Oakland Raiders 38-0 but that's hardly a measure to trust--everyone beat up on the Raiders this year.
The Chargers' strengths are their passing offense (#4 in the NFL) and their rushing defense (#5). The Jets' strengths are their passing defense (#8 in the league) and their rushing offense (#12)--and improving after the last two weeks. With WR Vincent Jackson having an achilles problem and listed as questionable for the Chargers, it will be interesting to see who Darrelle Revis of the Jets is assigned to guard. As goes Revis, so goes the Jets' pass defense seems to be the popular wisdom, but they will also need more pressure and sacks from the front line.
******
Did you watch the Green Bay-Arizona game yesterday? This has to have been one of the most entertaining postseason games in a long while.
The Cardinals 51-45 overtime victory over the Packers set a postseason record for points as Warner and Rodgers came out slinging as they combined for 801 yards through the air. Rodgers had 422 yards and 4 TDs while Warner had 379 and 5 TDs. Yet the game was won on a defensive play. After featuring virtually only a token defense by either team resulted in a 45-45 tie during regulation, it was the Cardinals' defense that won the game with a Karlos Dansby fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. You might say that that play was the answer to the Arizona place kicker Neil Rackers' prayers after he pulled a relatively short field goal attempt with seconds on the clock.
During regulation, it seemed only a matter of time before the offensive team scored a TD. The defenses could only slow the proceedings and not prevent the result.
Best line of the day was delivered as they went into overtime the TV announcer, who was probably massaging his sore neck from having to swivel his eyes back and forth across the field so quickly to follow the plays, said something to the effect: "It's a good thing we're not playing college overtime rules or we'd be here all night." Up to that point, he was 100% correct. It didn't seem as if either side could make a stand. (Although, ironically, Green Bay did force a punt early in the fourth quarter that allowed them to score two consecutive TDs and tie the game at 35 apiece.)
The Chargers' strengths are their passing offense (#4 in the NFL) and their rushing defense (#5). The Jets' strengths are their passing defense (#8 in the league) and their rushing offense (#12)--and improving after the last two weeks. With WR Vincent Jackson having an achilles problem and listed as questionable for the Chargers, it will be interesting to see who Darrelle Revis of the Jets is assigned to guard. As goes Revis, so goes the Jets' pass defense seems to be the popular wisdom, but they will also need more pressure and sacks from the front line.
******
Did you watch the Green Bay-Arizona game yesterday? This has to have been one of the most entertaining postseason games in a long while.
The Cardinals 51-45 overtime victory over the Packers set a postseason record for points as Warner and Rodgers came out slinging as they combined for 801 yards through the air. Rodgers had 422 yards and 4 TDs while Warner had 379 and 5 TDs. Yet the game was won on a defensive play. After featuring virtually only a token defense by either team resulted in a 45-45 tie during regulation, it was the Cardinals' defense that won the game with a Karlos Dansby fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. You might say that that play was the answer to the Arizona place kicker Neil Rackers' prayers after he pulled a relatively short field goal attempt with seconds on the clock.
During regulation, it seemed only a matter of time before the offensive team scored a TD. The defenses could only slow the proceedings and not prevent the result.
Best line of the day was delivered as they went into overtime the TV announcer, who was probably massaging his sore neck from having to swivel his eyes back and forth across the field so quickly to follow the plays, said something to the effect: "It's a good thing we're not playing college overtime rules or we'd be here all night." Up to that point, he was 100% correct. It didn't seem as if either side could make a stand. (Although, ironically, Green Bay did force a punt early in the fourth quarter that allowed them to score two consecutive TDs and tie the game at 35 apiece.)
Saturday, January 09, 2010
J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!
The Jets did the job today in defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 24-14. They gave up 171 yards rushing. (169 of them went to Cedric Benson who was the one bright spot for the Bengals.) But Sanchez threw one TD to Dustin Keller sandwiched around rushing TDs by Shonn Green and Thomas Jones.
As a team, the Jets matched the Bengals with 171 yards gained on the ground. But they also had a fumble recovery and an interception
The quarteback lines were:
M. Sanchez 12 of 15 for 182 yards 1 TD 0 INT
C. Palmer 18 of 36 for 146 yards 1 TD 1 INT
Palmer got sacked three times including twice in a row to end the Bengals final drive.
******
The Jets will be in Indianapolis next week. [Or maybe San Diego?]
As a team, the Jets matched the Bengals with 171 yards gained on the ground. But they also had a fumble recovery and an interception
The quarteback lines were:
M. Sanchez 12 of 15 for 182 yards 1 TD 0 INT
C. Palmer 18 of 36 for 146 yards 1 TD 1 INT
Palmer got sacked three times including twice in a row to end the Bengals final drive.
******
The Jets will be in Indianapolis next week. [Or maybe San Diego?]
Monday, December 14, 2009
Giants vs Eagles
So. I'm watching the Giants-Eagles game last night--you know, the one where they scored a gazillion points each?--and I'm amazed at the way each team's offense can move the ball so freely up ad down the field. Heck, back in the days before the shot clock, Princeton U. would score fewer points than either of these teams--and win! The final last night was 45-38. That's the most total points scored in a game featuring these two teams ever--and they've played 105 times.
Actually, the Giants should have won this game. They had a 512-374 advantage in offensive yards. Except for giving up a 60-yard fumble return for a TD (Brandon Jacobs got stripped of the ball, Sheldon Brown carried it the distance) and a 72-yard punt return for a TD (DeSean Jackson) and a 60-yard pass play for a TD (DeSean Jackson--again), the Giants did real well. Elli Manning threw a TD pass of 68 yards to Hakeem Nicks and another of 61 yards to Domenik Hixon. Even with those three plays, the Giants still could have won the game if there had been just one guy--ONE!-- polite enough to pick up the damn ball and hand it to an official during that freak play in the second quarter.
What? You didn't see it? Heck, NBC replayed it several times. The Eagles had the ball on their own 42 yard line. McNabb dropped back to pass but the Giants rushed him hard with someone on the right side coming in from behind him and knocking the ball lose as McNabb raised his arm to throw. The ball trickled to a stop on the turf near the line of scrimmage--and sat there--all alone. Two or three Giant defenders wandered slowly past the forlorn pigskin on their way back to the line for the next play without bending over to pick it up. Finally, the Umpire had to blow his whistle to end the play. Philly got to keep the ball back where McNabb had been stripped of it--the 32 yard line and the Giant defender got credit for a sack. But if just one of those defenders had bent over to pick up the damn ball, it would have been the Giants' ball around the 42 of Philly. Of course Philly went on to score a TD on that drive. What else?
Be polite for Christ's sake! Even when you're playing football. It could win you the freakin' game!
And Eli? Next time slide feet first so when the ball gets away it won't be a fumble. Okay? (Happened in the second half.)
Oh, and play until your hear the freakin' whistle jerks!
Actually, the Giants should have won this game. They had a 512-374 advantage in offensive yards. Except for giving up a 60-yard fumble return for a TD (Brandon Jacobs got stripped of the ball, Sheldon Brown carried it the distance) and a 72-yard punt return for a TD (DeSean Jackson) and a 60-yard pass play for a TD (DeSean Jackson--again), the Giants did real well. Elli Manning threw a TD pass of 68 yards to Hakeem Nicks and another of 61 yards to Domenik Hixon. Even with those three plays, the Giants still could have won the game if there had been just one guy--ONE!-- polite enough to pick up the damn ball and hand it to an official during that freak play in the second quarter.
What? You didn't see it? Heck, NBC replayed it several times. The Eagles had the ball on their own 42 yard line. McNabb dropped back to pass but the Giants rushed him hard with someone on the right side coming in from behind him and knocking the ball lose as McNabb raised his arm to throw. The ball trickled to a stop on the turf near the line of scrimmage--and sat there--all alone. Two or three Giant defenders wandered slowly past the forlorn pigskin on their way back to the line for the next play without bending over to pick it up. Finally, the Umpire had to blow his whistle to end the play. Philly got to keep the ball back where McNabb had been stripped of it--the 32 yard line and the Giant defender got credit for a sack. But if just one of those defenders had bent over to pick up the damn ball, it would have been the Giants' ball around the 42 of Philly. Of course Philly went on to score a TD on that drive. What else?
Be polite for Christ's sake! Even when you're playing football. It could win you the freakin' game!
And Eli? Next time slide feet first so when the ball gets away it won't be a fumble. Okay? (Happened in the second half.)
Oh, and play until your hear the freakin' whistle jerks!
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