NFL Championship Sunday Live Blog

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NFL Wild Card Sunday Live Blog

Here's hoping today's games don't get too ugly......

Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants  1:00 (Fox - Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, SR: Pam Oliver and Chris Myers)

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos  4:30 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)

NFL Wild Card Weekend Schedule

The NFL Playoffs are back, and I guess it will be more relaxing because the Eagles are not playing.  Also, more depressing.  Anyway, here is the schedule with announcers.  No surprises, but I post this anyway because I like having this handy resource available.

Saturday, January 7

# 6 Cincinnati Bengals vs. #3 Houston Texans  4:30 (NBC - Tom Hammond and Mike Mayock, SR: Alex Flanagan)
# 6 Detroit Lions vs. #3 New Orleans Saints  8:00 (NBC - Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, SR: Michele Tafoya)

Sunday, January 8

#5 Atlanta Falcons vs. #4 New York Giants  1:00 (Fox - Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, SR: Pam Oliver and Chris Myers)
#5 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. #4 Denver Broncos  4:30 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)

Mike Florio, Graduate Of The ESPN School Of Journalism

Longtime readers of this blog certainly know of my detest of Mike Florio and his widely read website, ProFootballTalk.com, now affiliated with NBC.  While there have been numerous other instances since the last time he did something that was bothersome, I refrained from sounding like a broken record.  But when Florio decides to take the ESPN route in (not) covering a story, I just can't help but mention something.

Last night I made note that Andy Reid and the Eagles coaching staff may or may not have had access to the conclusive angle that showed Kelvin Hayden had not in fact made the interception the officials had given credit for.  Well it turns out, my suspicions were right, Andy Reid gets messages on what to challenge from coaches from the booth and the coaches get their information from, the NBC broadcast.  This was confirmed through an apology today from NBC to Andy Reid.  But if your only source for football news is Pro Football Talk, you would not know about this happened.  One would think that a broadcast network admitting a fuck up that had a big impact on the game would be enough to make it on a site that collects news and notes from around the NFL at a ridiculous note.  But it's not there.  Strange.

Instant Update:  Seven hours after Les Bowen's first blog post on the matter linked above and three hours after Jeff McLane obtained quotes from NBC producer Fred Gaudelli, but PFT finally has something up, though   And it just so happens to have come up right when as Monday Night Football has started and the football watching world's focus is on something else oh how strange.  Mike Florio, journalist*.

*In this case "journalist" is a synonym for "hack."

Eagles Dominate Falcons; Lose 35-31

A few brief bullet points.

• There were mistakes.  There were miscues.  There were moments of brilliance.  There were moments of magic.  There were moments of frustration.  There were moments of shameful cheap shots from Dunta Robinson.  There was a moment of questionable partiality on NBC's part.  There was a freak accident that likely cost the Eagles a close game that should have never been close to being with.
• Did the Eagles coaching staff have access to every possible angle of that Falcons interception that should not have been an interception?  We will never know for sure as even if they did not, the Eagles as an organization are not ones to make a ruckus with the league over something like this.  
• If Vick stayed in the game, I do not know what would have happened.  You can't say they the Eagles would have won.  You can't say the Falcons would have won.  It is a counter-factual argument.  Mike  Vick is a better QB than Mike Kafka, but Vick in the game changes the game completely, and who knows how it would have ended otherwise.  Vick may have turned the ball over 3 more times.  He may have scored 3 more touchdowns.  Who knows.  I can't say.  And neither can you.
• Dunta Robinson should be given a heavy fine AND suspension.  Last year he laid out DeSean Jackson with a dirty hit.  Tonight, he delivered a questionable hit to Celek and knocked Maclin out with a hit dirtier than anything he had done to the Eagles before.  He should have been ejected.  He was not ejected, but a fine and suspension must surely be coming.  For a hit like that, there is no point where Goddell's punishment could possibly be deemed too much.  Just a complete disgrace to football.
• Mike Vick has a concussion.  His return date is obviously unknown at this point.  
• Mike Kafka is not Mike Vick.  This is obvious.
• Casey Matthews did not have a terrible game by any stretch of the imagination.  Jamar Chaney, on the other hand......
• Apparently Nnamdi was supposed to be in charge of Tony Gonzalez but Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie getting nicked up caused a change of plans.  That would explain how he was consistently open.
• The Falcons are who I thought they were.  Overrated.  Tonight's game does nothing to deter my beliefs of that. They needed lucky breaks, NBC intervention, dirty hits, and an unfortunate injury to beat the Eagles.  Color me unimpressed.  It's sports.  Guess what?   Sometimes the lesser team wins, even if it is painfully obvious during the game they are the lesser team.  With Vick healthy, the Eagles are top tier team in the NFC along side the likes of Green Bay and New Orleans.  At best, the Falcons are a 2nd tier NFC team.
• If the Eagles losing a Week 2 game to Atlanta is what it takes to tell me that with a healthy Mike Vick, the Eagles are head and shoulders better than one of the 2nd tier teams in the NFC, I am okay with that.  No team has gone 19-0.
• Matt Ryan will get credited for a "gritty" win.  The color of his skin may or may not have anything to do with this compliment.
• Jeremy Maclin after the game:  "We're a better team than they are.  Period."  He's not wrong.

NFL Week 2 Live Blog

Immediately following the conclusion of Manchester United vs. Chelsea, I will pack my belongings and drive back up to school after having the past week off due to a water shortage caused by flooding from when Tropical Storm Lee blew through.  I should be around by the start of San Diego-New England and will be with you through the night and will comment through Mike Vick's Homecoming in Atlanta.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE LIVE BLOG!

NFL Week 2 Schedule

Well that was a fun week of football.  Well for the most part.  If you've used brain bleach to erase everything that was that 2nd Monday Night Football game disaster, which I assume all who have stayed up have at this point.  Who played in that game, again? (games I get are in bold)

Map of who gets what games Sunday afternoon.

Fox games

Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints  1:00 (Fox - Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, SR: Pam Oliver)
Seattle Seahawks vs. Pittsburgh Steelers  1:00 (Fox - Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, SA: Tony Siragusa)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings  1:00 (Fox - Dick Stockton and John Lynch)
Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers  1:00 (Fox - Ron Pitts and Jim Mora, Jr.)
Arizona Cardinals vs. Washington Redskins  1:00 (Fox - Chris Myers and Tim Ryan)

Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers  4:05 (Fox - Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick, SR: Laura Okmin)

CBS early games

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets  1:00 (CBS - Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf)
Cleveland Browns vs. Indianapolis Colts  1:00 (CBS - Marv Albert and Rich Gannon)
Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills  1:00 (CBS - Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots)
Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans  1:00 (CBS - Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Detroit Lions  1:00 (CBS - Don Criqui and Randy Cross)

CBS late games

San Diego Chargers vs. New England Patriots  4:15 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)
Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins  4:15 (CBS - Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts)
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos  4:15 (CBS - Spero Dedes and Steve Beuerlein)

Sunday Night Football

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons  8:20 (NBC - Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, SR: Michele Tafoya)

Monday Night Football

St. Louis Rams vs. New York Giants  8:30 (ESPN - Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden, SR: Suzy Kolber)

2011 NFL Playoffs Divisional Saturday Live Blog

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE LIVE BLOG!

Eagles Week 6 Recap: Injuries, Historically Bad Day For Akers, And Falcons No Match For Eagles

 Onto the bullet points.

• Trade Vick.  Trade Vick now.  Kevin Kolb is finally getting into a rhythm and establishing himself as a real NFL QB.  Stick with Kolb and trade Vick.  Vick's value has never been higher than it is now, and it will probably never be this high again.  Naming Vick the starter in the 1st place was a a dumb idea, and Reid needs to recognize it, even if he is still contending that Vick is his QB if he is able to go next week.
• As far as back-up QB goes, the Eagles can always pick up washed up veteran on the scrap heap (so long as his name is not JaMarcus) to play ahead of future back-up Mike Kafka.  But the fact of the matter is, the Eagles picked Vick up out of prison, transformed him back into a starting caliber QB, and can reap the benefits while sticking with the guy who should be QBing this team, Kevin Kolb.  Trade Michael Vick.
• DeSean Jackson is the next Eagle to go down with a concussion after taking an awful and dirty hit from Dunta Robinson.  For those that disagree about its dirtiness, watch this and listen to this.  It's a textbook illegal hit.
• The Eagles played the entire 2nd half with only 3 eligible WRs: Jeremy Maclin (who had a career day), Jason Avant, and Chad Hall, a rookie out of Air Force who was put on the practice squad to start the season.  Seeing as Jackson is unlikely to play next week given the NFL's strict concussion recovery program in place, I would be willing to bet that someone is getting added to the squad this week.
• Matt Ryan was a local boy returning home.  He'll be glad when he leaves.  The Eagles defense ate him alive today.
• Trent Cole and Darryl Tapp are beasts.  That is all.
• Shady McCoy did not have a great game, 21 carries for only 64 yards.  Jerome Harrison was inactive, as it takes more than 48 hours to learn an offense.
• David Akers missed his 1st 3 field goals of the game before connecting on the 4th.  This marks the 1st time in his great career that Akers missed 3 field goals in one day.  I guess if ever there is a good game to miss 3 field goals, it is a game where your team wins 31-17 where the game is even more of a blowout than the score indicates.
• Andy Reid takes a lot of heat from me with his play-calling, but he had a great game today.  No egregious timeout mismanagement, no dumb challenge, no bad clock management, and further more, the scheme both offensively and defensively was very successful and worked like a charm for a full 60 minutes of football.  You can't ask for anything more than that.
• Writing these recaps is a lot harder in an easy blowout win and there is not a whole heck of a lot to complain about.
• Jeremy Maclin's numbers:  7 receptions, 159 yards, 2 TDs.  I've mentioned this numerous times, but I loved watching Maclin at Mizzou, and I am loving him more and more as a NFL WR.  The guy is the real deal and will likely be around for quite some time in this league.
• Michael Turner's numbers:  15 carries, 45 yards.  Yeah.
• Lastly, the win probability graph. (advancednflstats.com)

2010 NFL Season Week 6 Live Blog/MLB Playoffs Day 10 Live Blog

Game 2: Giants vs. Phillies 8:00 (Fox - Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, SR: Ken Rosenthal)

NFL Week 6 Schedule

Week 6 already? Damn, the NFL season flies by when Favre is outed for possibly revealing too much of himself and Andy Reid is claiming out right that so-and-so is his starting QB for the foreseeable future even though that may or may not actually be the case. (all times eastern; games I get are in bold)

Map of who gets what CBS game.

Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots 1:00 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)
Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers 1:00 (CBS - Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts)
Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 (CBS - Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans 1:00 (CBS - Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker)
San Diego Chargers vs. St. Louis Rams 1:00 (CBS - Don Criqui and Steve Beuerlein)

New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos 4:05 (CBS - Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf)
Oakland Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers 4:05 (CBS - Bill Macatee and Rich Gannon)

Map of who gets what Fox early game.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles 1:00 (Fox - Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants 1:00 (Fox - Dick Stockton and Charles Davis)
Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears 1:00 (Fox - Chris Myers and Brian Billick)
New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1:00 (Fox - Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan)

Map of who gets the Fox late game.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings 4:15 (Fox - Thom Brennaman and Troy Aikman)

Sunday Night Football

Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Redskins 8:20 (NBC - Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)

Monday Night Football

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 8:30 (ESPN - Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden)

Expect lots of comments about Awful Announcing during this Sunday's live blog.........

The Vick Bowl That Actually Starred Mike Vick!

This game will long be remembered as the Vick Bowl not just because Vick played in Atlanta for the first time since the dogfighting scandal broke, but because the game actually starred Michael Vick getting 2 TDs, 1 on the ground and then a passing TD. Here is what they looked like live on Fox with Kenny, Moose, and Goose on the call.




And here are the highlights of the game starring The Great Merrill Reese!



It's amazingly how moralless those fans can be, cheering on the evil Michael Vick like that. Simply disgusting. (/obvious sarcasm) (//JC'd)

Good for Michael Vick and good for the Eagles to stick with him and make sure he got in the endzone today. You could tell by the way they were setting it up that this is what Reid, McNabb, and everyone else wanted to happen today and it certainly did.

And just as a little post-script, instead of keeping the ball of the TD run, his first TD since coming back, Michael Vick instead elected to throw the ball into the stands. A sincerely very classy gesture by Vick. Sadly, his execution was not there and it got caught up in the net. However, Vick's effort was not in vain as Leonard Weaver, who did seemingly everything today, picked up the ball and threw it back in the stands where some lucky fan is currently in possession of perhaps the biggest and most important touchdown in the career of Michael Vick.

And another post-script, despite the early boos, there were very audible chants during that game of "WE WANT MIKE! WE WANT MIKE! WE WANT MIKE!" directed at Michael Vick. Vick went on to say that this was one of the best days of his life. I for one could not be happier for him. He deserves this.

NFL Week 13, BCS Selection Show, And Villanova-Maryland Live Blog

Your Week 13 NFL Schedule (UPDATED)

Editor's note: After hours of searching and inquiring, it does appear that no longer are Barry Tompkins and Eddie George doing a game thanks to the fact that a game that Fox had was flexed to SNF (Minny-Arizona). I had assumed that Brennaman and Billick were on the BCS Selection Show but after reading the press release on the show, no where were they mentioned, therefore, they must have been originally planned to do said Vikes-Cards game. While the initial release did not reflect these changes, they have now been made and as you'll see below, Pitts and Lynch have been moved from Lions-Bengals to Bucs-Panthers and Brennaman and Billick have since been added to Lions-Bengals.

It's Week 13 and you know what that means. If you were not sick of the playoff picture graphics and scenarios now, then you most certainly will be after this week as this is the time you will really see them continue to pop up. Transitioning to announcers, after only getting them once in the 1st 11 weeks, the Eagles once again will be paid by Kenny, Moose, and Goose. Are you ready? Here we go! (all times eastern; games I get are in bold)

Thursday Night Football
New York Jets @ Buffalo Toronto Bills 8:20 (NFL-Network - Bob Papa and Matt Millen)

Map of who gets what CBS game

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins 1:00 (CBS - Jim Nantz and Phil Simms)
Oakland Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 (CBS - Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf)
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 (CBS - Dick Enberg and Dan Fouts)
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 (CBS - Gus Johnson and Steve Tasker)
Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts 1:00 (CBS - Ian Eagle and Rich Gannon)

San Diego Chargers @ Cleveland Browns 4:05 (CBS - Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots)

Map of who gets what Fox early game

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons 1:00 (Fox - Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa)
New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins 1:00 (Fox - Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan)
St. Louis Rams @ Chicago Bears 1:00 (Fox - Dick Stockton and Trent Green)
Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 (Fox - Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers 1:00 (Fox - Ron Pitts and John Lynch)

Map of who gets what Fox late game

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants 4:15 (Fox - Joe Buck and Troy Aikman)
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks 4:15 (Fox - Chris Myers and Ross Tucker)

Sunday Night Football
Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals 8:20 (NBC - Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth)

Monday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers 8:30 (ESPN - Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden)

Ross Tucker of SI is doing an NFL game with Chris Myers. Those of you that watch RedZone or actually that game and then actually do the unthinkable and watch it will have to tell me how he is with Myers. And by that, I mean the stories of hilarious awfulness.

2009 NFL Preview: Atlanta Falcons

By JFein:

Last year, the Atlanta Falcons were a big surprise team, qualifying for the playoffs when nobody thought that they had a chance only to be surprised themselves in the first round of the playoffs when they lost to the future NFC Champion, Arizona Cardinals. This year, the Falcons look to repeat as NFC South champions and make a return trip to the post-season. and if you ask me, I say they have a darn good chance of that happening.

The Return of Matty Ice: Matt Ryan is returning for his 2nd NFL year and 2nd year as the QB for the Atlanta Falcons. Essentially the replacement for Michael Vick, Matt Ryan showed his stuff last year and went from being booed at the draft by Falcon fans to being one of the faces of the franchise that everyone loved in Hot-lanta. This year, assuming he stays away from injury, it is thought that he can only be better than last year. But at the same time, one has to beware of the sophomore slump....

Michael Turner The Burner: Michael Turner has been exactly that for the Falcons, putting up career numbers last season. And while we are talking about a different situation, for the Falcons sake, they are certainly hopeful that he does not come down with Ryan Grant Syndrome. But like I said, it was a different situation and he showed what he can do in San Diego, so we should not be surprised that he did so well last year for the Dirty Birds.

Falcon Wideouts: Troy Bergeron of the Georgia Force is an Atlanta Falcon? Holy cow. Onto the more meaningful receivers for this team, while they do not have one huge name, last year they were really solid as a unit, from Roddy White to Michael Jenkins to Brian Finneran. The Falcons are a dangerous team all around offensively, and with a defense that can get the job done, this team can be tough to beat.

Schedule: Even though they have a rather easy division, the Atlanta Falcons are not getting cut any breaks by playing both the NFC East and AFC East this year, as well as the improved Bears and 49ers. Oh, and you might want to mark the date on December 6. Michael Vick returns to the Georgia Dome.

Video: Matt Ryan highlights to the song "Leave The Memories Alone" by Fuel



Prediction: 11-5, 1st place NFC South. 49er16 and I disagree on this one. Even at 11-5, I think that this race is even going to be close. Jake Delhomme is way too much of a hindrance for the Panthers (I don't even have them in 2nd), the Saints are too one dimensional with Brees (not to mention Reggie Bush is pretty much a bust), and the Bucs, well, they'll completely suck this year.

Two Teams Possibly Interested In Michael Vick

There is little doubt in my mind that even though it won't be with Atlanta, Michael Vick will be in the NFL this season and he will be a starter. And as it turns out, I'm not even that far off with where I think he will end up. The reports have been going around that the San Francisco 49ers would be interested in the services of Vick, but I thought that the Vikings would think about making a run at him as well, and as it turns out, that might actually be true. Via NBC Sports

San Francisco coach Mike Singletary said Vick deserves the chance to play in the league, and believes he will be successful if he returns. He wouldn’t say if the 49ers would pursue him.

“He’s still under contract, you can’t really talk to him or have any contact with him,” Singletary said. “Right now, we’re just going to look at the quarterbacks we have and go from there.” .....

Minnesota coach Brad Childress said the Vikings are looking for someone to challenge Tarvaris Jackson, and are willing to make moves to ensure that it happens.

“We need to put somebody in place that will push him and compete with him,” Childress said. “I think competition is the nature of the game.”

Childress wouldn’t confirm or deny interest in Vick.

“I really don’t get into hypotheticals because I think there’s too much water that’s got to happen. I’d cross that bridge when I come to it.”

I know there are several people who do not want to see Michael Vick back in the league (I'm looking at you, PETA), but my belief is that everybody deserves a second chance. Vick did his crime, did his time, and there is no reason that, assuming he keeps his criminal record clean once out of jail, that he should not be under contract in the NFL. Now how effective will he be after spending nearly 2 years in the pokey is something that will be seen, but he definitley deserves a chance, and whether it ends up being with Minnesota, San Francisco, or somewhere else, in all likelihood he'll get that chance.

Wildcard Preview Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals

What: The start of the 2008-09 NFL playoffs
Who: Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
When: Saturday at 4:30 PM EST
What Channel: NBC
Weather Forecast (Assuming roof will be open, as of 12/30): 40% Chance of showers, high of 60 degrees
Announcers: Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth with Tiki Barber serving as a Sideline Reporter
Announcers Talking Point of the game: Should the NFL playoffs be amended in order to prevent mediocre division winners such as the Cardinals to have a home playoff game?

After what was seemingly a decade of underachieving, the Arizona Cardinals have made the playoffs. Oh wait, that's only because the rest of the NFC West sucks.

Nonetheless the Cards are in the postseason and they are the home team. In this game, you really have two contrasting styles. You have the Cardinals who have become more or less a very finesse team and the Falcons who love to pound the ball with Michael Turner. Already it looks like a mismatch for the Cardinals, and we haven't even begin to talk about Matt Ryan. The rookie has had an absolute sensational year and is definitley a lock for rookie of the year. The Falcons were a team that was left in shambles when the Vick Dogfighting Scandal broke, but Ryan after being booed on draft day by the Falcons fans, is now more or less a cult hero and he has played like it.

The Cards offense does have the potential to strike though. While the running game this year has for the most part been ineffective, there's a reason the Cards quickly emerged as the best of the worst in the NFC West and that reason is Kurt Warner. He still has an arm and he can still make plays. Will it be enough to beat the Falcons though? That I highly doubt.

However, we must consider the venue. Yes, University of Phoenix Stadium. In 3 football postseason games played there (college and the NFL) the underdog has won every game. Boise State in the 07 Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma, West Virginia over OU in the 08 Fiesta Bowl, and who will ever forget Super Bowl XLII when the Giants made the Pats 18-1. Will the underdog make it 4 for 4? If past trends mean anything, we'll be in for a surprisingly wild ride.

But, what is this but a mere coincidence? You can see it as you like but in this particular case, I'm going on the side of odd coincidence (I'm currently growing an Eagles' playoff beard and I wore Phillies' color tee-shirts everyday during the NLCS and World Series, so I'm not totally a coincidence person). Therefore, I will take the Falcons in this one 31-10 over the Cardinals.