We're just minutes away from the Seattle-Chicago kickoff. There was plenty of action yesterday, be it on the gridiron or the college hardwood. It's playoff time, so let's go to the gridiron.
First, Indy's 15-6 victory over Baltimore teaches us all something. No matter who you are, do not open your mouth when it means your season unless you have complete control over the game. Ray Lewis, who had a very good game in his own right (15 tckl, 10 solo), called Indianapolis "soft". Sure, you didn't let Peyton find the endzone, but he didn't need to. Vinatieri is proving to be the second-best free agent signing with a 5-for-5 on field-goal, including a 51-yarder that needed a little love from the crossbar.
Second, the Saints continue to their nauseating story. They're not just a great story, but a very good team. The best free agent signing, Drew Brees, converted on just about every 3rd and long imaginable in the Saints 27-24 win over the Eagles. In true Pay fashion, let me point out a shady turning point when the score was 21-20, Eagles. On 2nd and 20 at around the Eagles 40-yard-line, Brees gets sacked yet the Eagles get flagged for a non-existent (as pointed out by the FOX camera crew and announcers) illegal contact call. Long story short, first down Saints, and they march on in for the touchdown. The Eagles had their chance with 2nd & 1 at the Saints 4, but failed to convert and settled for a field goal.
I'll never understand not going for it on 4th & 15 when your defense is dog-tired and Deuce McAllister is having a career night. This is why I criticize Andy Reid. The cute playaction on 3rd & inches from the Saints 4 is another reason. I can't fault Jim Johnson too much for his inability to get his defense off the field. Tackling was not the best. Lito Sheppard is invaluable to the Eagles and Billy Miller's (who?) domination in the middle of the field is a reminder of the necessary overcommitment of the defensive backs to the speedy Saints WR corps.
Looking back on the season, I'm grateful for what the Eagles were able to muster given their limitations. Jeff Garcia showed a lot of heart. If the Saints put forth a similar effort next week, they will be NFC Champions.
In addition to the football last night, there were plenty of games on the college hardwood. UCLA-USC was a classic matchup. Nick Young getting the four-point play to take the lead, only for Arron Afflalo to get off a picture-perfect release on his jump shot giving the Bruins the one-point victory.
I also want to talk about the upset of #1 North Carolina to the hands of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Don't let the 94-88 scoreline fool you. This was a drubbing. But I think it will teach the boys at Carolina a few things about humility. When it was 21-13 with Carolina leading,
the bench was all smiles as if they were coasting to victory. Not so. This is the ACC, a major conference. There are no breaks, and especially, in the early season, there are no teams who will just roll over for you. This game taught us a lot about what Tech is bringing to the table in terms of athleticism. The effort from Carolina must be noted, as they demonstrated no quit. Their next game will indicate what lessons were gleaned from this game.
First, Indy's 15-6 victory over Baltimore teaches us all something. No matter who you are, do not open your mouth when it means your season unless you have complete control over the game. Ray Lewis, who had a very good game in his own right (15 tckl, 10 solo), called Indianapolis "soft". Sure, you didn't let Peyton find the endzone, but he didn't need to. Vinatieri is proving to be the second-best free agent signing with a 5-for-5 on field-goal, including a 51-yarder that needed a little love from the crossbar.
Second, the Saints continue to their nauseating story. They're not just a great story, but a very good team. The best free agent signing, Drew Brees, converted on just about every 3rd and long imaginable in the Saints 27-24 win over the Eagles. In true Pay fashion, let me point out a shady turning point when the score was 21-20, Eagles. On 2nd and 20 at around the Eagles 40-yard-line, Brees gets sacked yet the Eagles get flagged for a non-existent (as pointed out by the FOX camera crew and announcers) illegal contact call. Long story short, first down Saints, and they march on in for the touchdown. The Eagles had their chance with 2nd & 1 at the Saints 4, but failed to convert and settled for a field goal.
I'll never understand not going for it on 4th & 15 when your defense is dog-tired and Deuce McAllister is having a career night. This is why I criticize Andy Reid. The cute playaction on 3rd & inches from the Saints 4 is another reason. I can't fault Jim Johnson too much for his inability to get his defense off the field. Tackling was not the best. Lito Sheppard is invaluable to the Eagles and Billy Miller's (who?) domination in the middle of the field is a reminder of the necessary overcommitment of the defensive backs to the speedy Saints WR corps.
Looking back on the season, I'm grateful for what the Eagles were able to muster given their limitations. Jeff Garcia showed a lot of heart. If the Saints put forth a similar effort next week, they will be NFC Champions.
In addition to the football last night, there were plenty of games on the college hardwood. UCLA-USC was a classic matchup. Nick Young getting the four-point play to take the lead, only for Arron Afflalo to get off a picture-perfect release on his jump shot giving the Bruins the one-point victory.
I also want to talk about the upset of #1 North Carolina to the hands of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Don't let the 94-88 scoreline fool you. This was a drubbing. But I think it will teach the boys at Carolina a few things about humility. When it was 21-13 with Carolina leading,
the bench was all smiles as if they were coasting to victory. Not so. This is the ACC, a major conference. There are no breaks, and especially, in the early season, there are no teams who will just roll over for you. This game taught us a lot about what Tech is bringing to the table in terms of athleticism. The effort from Carolina must be noted, as they demonstrated no quit. Their next game will indicate what lessons were gleaned from this game.
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3 comments:
Sorry about your Eagles, bro. I was rooting for the NFC East...
I'd also like to share my disgust of anything Virginia Tech related with your masses who read this blog.
In support of Deihim, let's go Bears (to the theme of "let's go Terps"), and down with the Patriots.
(Sorry Sum, I know you're from there, but the Pats and pretty boy kyoon Brady have to go)
Actually, the one team I'm not supporting is the Bears, lol. I'd love to see the overplayed theme of the Saints finally finish with the complete storybook ending. I'd love to see Penis Manning get the respect that other solid QBs, like Dan Marino and Dan Fouts, never got through winning the Super Bowl. And of course, I gotta love my hometown Patsies...they're from Boston and they share the name of the GMU Patriots...what else could you want? :-)
What do you call 1st and 20 followed by a sack when down 21-20? A first down if you're a member of the Saints. Illegal contact that wasn't. End result: game-winning touchdown on what should've an unlikely 2nd and 27 conversion from the Eagles 47-yard-line. Yup, still bitter because FOX cameras couldn't find hardly any of the "illegal contact" penalties called on the Eagles.
As for the Patsies, I picked them to win it all before the season started, but that game was more good fortune rather than luck. Sucks for Marty Ball. His players spotted the opposition 11 points in the playoffs. Belichick and Brady won't win when that happens. I don't the buy whole "if your players make bonehead decisions, then it's the responsibility of the coach" mantra. This is the NFL, not college, semi-pro, the XFL, or high school. These are grown men and they should be accountable for their fat contracts.
The Bears showed me nothing. New Orleans or Philly would've beaten Seattle by at least 14 points. Of course, last week's performances have no bearing on this weekend's games.
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