Showing posts with label Championship game. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Championship game. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Almost The Greatest Moment In College Basketball History
If that goes in.......Christian Who?.......Lorenzo Charles' what?........what's luscious about Korie?
Often we dream of seeing that unforgettable sports movie-esque ending in real life. The miracle shot to win the championship. Especially for an underdog. And tonight. Tonight. Just that close from completing a script that would make Hoosiers seem mundane.
Just that close.
Give it up for Duke, though. They won this. They earned this. This game was (shockingly) not determined by the refs. Bad calls went both ways. Good calls went both ways. You may not like Duke, and trust me, I will never like Duke and Coach K, but after watching that game, how can you not respect them? They earned it tonight. They beat a Butler team that was beyond valiant. Most had Duke in a blowout. What no one was coming was one of the greatest championship games we have ever seen.
And nearly the greatest moment college basketball as ever seen.
Butler can take solace. After the first game of the tournament, Bill Raftery proudly claimed that a valiant underdog Robert Morris squad was "only losers on the scoreboard." Tonight that team was Butler. And maybe it hurts too much to think that way now, whether you are a Butler fan or a Duke hater that wanted Butler. But instead of thinking about what could have been, think about what was, and what will forever be. No one is going to forget this night. No one is going to forget where when they screamed at the top of their lungs as they thought that maybe.....just maybe.....they were witnessing sports' greatest moment since February 22, 1980. And by default, no one will forget this run.
No one will forget the Butler Bulldogs of 2010. Maybe Hollywood will re-write a better ending someday, or maybe Brad Stevens gave that ending to the kids in the locker room. Whatever it is, no one will forget this night and that moment.
After the game, Jim Nantz told Clark Kellogg, "Partner, we just witnessed one of the greatest championship games ever played."
Like I said: Unforgettable.
Friday, January 22, 2010
AFC Championship Game Preview
What: Super Bowl III rematch
Who: The New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium
When: 3:00 PM ET
What Channel: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, SR: Steve Tasker
For the first time since Super Bowl III, the Jets are playing the Colts in a championship game, and while Lucas Oil Stadium is now Orange Bowl, it should prove to be a similar game in terms of defense and low-scoring. If you want points, that will be for the NFC game which I will post a little later in the night, but for now, here is my breakdown of what will be the first of two championship games this Sunday.
Did The Colts Put The Jets In This Position? I'll answer that one with a simple no, they did not. Yes, I am aware of what happened on Week 16 with Peyton sitting in the 2nd half, it has been beaten into our heads ad nauseum, but you've got to consider the fact that for starters, the Jets hung in during the first half when Peyton was playing. They may not have had the lead at the end of the half, but the Jets were right in that game, thus they were in a very good position to win that game once Peyton did take a seat. And secondly, the Colts did not beat the Bengals, the Bengals, and the Chargers for the Jets. The Jets did that. Yes, the Bengals put in J.T. O'Sullivan in the 2nd half of that one, but the Jets already had a firm lead, were going to win anyway, and did not need Just Turnovers to give them more points.
Then, it was game on in the playoffs and the Jets took care of the Bengals and then they went on the road in San Diego and became the only road team last week to win. And while it may have been a surprise at the beginning of the year that the Jets are in the AFC title game, it should come as no surprise now. When they survived the AFC clusterfuck and made the playoffs, I said right off the bat that they would be the team to watch out for in my podcast, and what do you know, they are here. Why? Because they are built like the teams that have had success in the last decade. They have a dominant defense and a solid ground game that really pounds the ball. Just look at the 2000 Ravens, the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2005 Steelers, among others. They all won championships without a big name QB, an incredible defense, and a powerful running game featuring Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene.. That's what the Jets have this year.
Mark Sanchez: The Jets have proven that Mark Sanchez does not need to be great in order to win football games. Sanchez has to do one thing and one thing alone, not make the big mistake. If Sanchez avoids costly mistakes and turnovers, you can bet your bottom dollar that the Jets will be in this game in the 4th quarter.
Peyton Manning And The Colts Offense: Peyton has been in championship games before, but never has he been up against a corner quite like Darrelle Revis. Revis has been a lockdown corner all post-season long and if he continues to be so, Peyton Manning could find himself struggling. That being said, this is Peyton Manning we are talking about. He is a machine and if there is anyone that is capable of solving Revis and finding ways to pick apart a good defense, it is Peyton Manning. Even with mostly young receivers such as Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon, the Colts passing game has not missed a beat, even if the running game has been close to nonexistent from Joseph Addai.
X-Factor: Special teams. In a game expected to be a defensive struggle, the team that can make the plays on special teams will certainly be at a more decisive edge. As far as who that team will be, frankly, I can't tell you, but I'm telling you, special teams will play a major role in this conference championship game.
Prediction This will not be a high-scoring thriller, but in the end, even though I think the Jets will keep it close throughout, Manning will get the job done in the 4th quarter and force Sanchez to make passes in the 4th quarter; passes that he won't be able to make. Colts 21-17.
(Coming up later tonight: NFC Championship Game Preview)
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Presenting A True Division I College Football National Champion, The Villanova Wildcats!
Andy Talley's bunch did it! They went down to rainy Chattanooga and put up over 350 yards on the ground to win a hard-fought, hard-nosed championship game, the 3rd championship game won by a Philadelphia team in the past year and a half.
The final score of the game was 23-21 Nova and while there were no real dramatics at the end (Montana got in the last 2 minutes to make the score a bit more respectible but failed to recover the onside kick eventually ending it with 1 more Nova 1st down), here are the final seconds of the game as called by Eric Collins and Brock Huard.
If you thought that call was bad, you should have heard Eric Collins' "V is for Victory and V is for Villanova" call that he did before that when he thought the game was over but there was a random stoppage holding up the final 30 seconds.
The Villanova Wildcats now join the Philadelphia Soul and the Philadelphia Phillies as Philly teams winning a championship this past year and a half. And now, it's up to the Eagles and then Jay Wright's Villanova basketball team (no longer unbeaten after losing to Big Five rival Temple) to bring home some more hardware to the City of Brotherly Love.
GO NOVA!!!
The final score of the game was 23-21 Nova and while there were no real dramatics at the end (Montana got in the last 2 minutes to make the score a bit more respectible but failed to recover the onside kick eventually ending it with 1 more Nova 1st down), here are the final seconds of the game as called by Eric Collins and Brock Huard.
If you thought that call was bad, you should have heard Eric Collins' "V is for Victory and V is for Villanova" call that he did before that when he thought the game was over but there was a random stoppage holding up the final 30 seconds.
The Villanova Wildcats now join the Philadelphia Soul and the Philadelphia Phillies as Philly teams winning a championship this past year and a half. And now, it's up to the Eagles and then Jay Wright's Villanova basketball team (no longer unbeaten after losing to Big Five rival Temple) to bring home some more hardware to the City of Brotherly Love.
GO NOVA!!!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Perhaps The Greatest Finish To A Championship Game In The History Of Professional Championship Games
I know that not everyone was watching the CFL Grey Cup championship game, but if you were, you were privileged to one of the greatest finishes that you will ever see in your life.
The Montreal Alouettes were down by 16 in the 4th quarter of tonight's Grey Cup. However they came back with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 8. They got the defensive stop, got the ball back, and scored again. However, this time they missed the 2-point conversion and it was down to the last few minutes of the game. They got the ball back with around 1-minute remaining. They were able to drive down the field and get into field range trailing by 2. A miss would mean that the Saskatchewan Roughriders would win the 97th Grey Cup. A make would mean that the Montreal Alouettes would win their 2nd Grey Cup of the decade in 5 attempts.
What happened next will never be forgotten in Saskatchewan, Montreal, Quebec, and all of Canada.
Unbelievable. The Roughriders thought they had it won but that 13th man on the field will forever haunt their dreams. I can only imagine being in the shoes of that guy that was on the field that was not supposed to be. I would seriously think about keeping an extra eye or 2 on him in the next coming days. The backlash he faces from his teammates and more importantly the fans may not be that pretty.
Also, can you imagine being a Roughrider fan watching that? If that were my Eagles losing a Super Bowl that way, I would probably be literally physically ill for a week. I'm not sure if you can blame Roughrider fans if they have the same sensation.
Congrats to the Montreal Alouettes. They never led in that game until that point and they never gave up despite how grim it looked at times for them in that 4th quarter. Simply incredible.
The Montreal Alouettes were down by 16 in the 4th quarter of tonight's Grey Cup. However they came back with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 8. They got the defensive stop, got the ball back, and scored again. However, this time they missed the 2-point conversion and it was down to the last few minutes of the game. They got the ball back with around 1-minute remaining. They were able to drive down the field and get into field range trailing by 2. A miss would mean that the Saskatchewan Roughriders would win the 97th Grey Cup. A make would mean that the Montreal Alouettes would win their 2nd Grey Cup of the decade in 5 attempts.
What happened next will never be forgotten in Saskatchewan, Montreal, Quebec, and all of Canada.
Unbelievable. The Roughriders thought they had it won but that 13th man on the field will forever haunt their dreams. I can only imagine being in the shoes of that guy that was on the field that was not supposed to be. I would seriously think about keeping an extra eye or 2 on him in the next coming days. The backlash he faces from his teammates and more importantly the fans may not be that pretty.
Also, can you imagine being a Roughrider fan watching that? If that were my Eagles losing a Super Bowl that way, I would probably be literally physically ill for a week. I'm not sure if you can blame Roughrider fans if they have the same sensation.
Congrats to the Montreal Alouettes. They never led in that game until that point and they never gave up despite how grim it looked at times for them in that 4th quarter. Simply incredible.
Friday, November 27, 2009
JP Losman Is Now A Championship Quarterback
How is that possible you ask? JP Losman, believe it or not, is the star quarterback of the Las Vegas Locomotives (abbreviated Locos). The Locos just won the first ever UFL championship.
So here it is. The game-winning Vegas field goal in overtime that gave Losman a Super Bowl ring as filmed live from a fan sitting in Sam Boyd Stadium.
IT'S GOOD!!! THE LAS VEGAS LOCOS ARE YOUR FIRST EVER UFL CHAMPIONS!!!!
And quite possibly the last. While the league considered this an experimental year, I think the horrid attendance to the games has spoken and the experiment has failed.
Besides, this league just gave JP Losman a championship ring. Forget everything else, isn't that mere fact alone enough to consider the league a failure?
So here it is. The game-winning Vegas field goal in overtime that gave Losman a Super Bowl ring as filmed live from a fan sitting in Sam Boyd Stadium.
IT'S GOOD!!! THE LAS VEGAS LOCOS ARE YOUR FIRST EVER UFL CHAMPIONS!!!!
And quite possibly the last. While the league considered this an experimental year, I think the horrid attendance to the games has spoken and the experiment has failed.
Besides, this league just gave JP Losman a championship ring. Forget everything else, isn't that mere fact alone enough to consider the league a failure?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Yankees Win The World Series!
It was not the 5-star classic that I think fans from both teams were expecting, nonetheless, with his World Series record tying 6 RBIs in a game, Hideki Matsui led the New York Yankees to a dominating Game 6 win and was MVP of their 27th World Series championship.
The Phillies gave it everything they had, but in the end, it was not enough. You can put the blame on a number of things, such as Pedro Feliz's ABs ending 4 of the 9 innings, all of which the Phillies had runner(s) on base, the Brad Lidge meltdown in Game 4, the not scoring off of A.J. Burnett in Game 2, the not taking advantage of Andy Pettitte not pitching his best games, but in the end, it all comes down to the simple fact that the Yankees outplayed and were a better team than the Phillies. The only 2 games the Phillies did win were the games that Cliff Lee started. Despite pitching well in game 2 and being more rested than Pettitte, it was Pedro who struggled in this game, giving up crucial runs when the game was still close. And like I stated before, the Phillies are not fans of giving Pedro any run support.
My props and congratulations to the New York Yankees. Anybody can buy a team, but that's only half of the battle. You have to get that team to function as an actual team and the Yankees did that this year and they have been rewarded handsomely for doing so.
Not to slight the Yankees anything, they do deserve it, but I want to spend the rest of this post talking about the Phillies.
What an incredible season.
Sure it startedo out heartbreakingly tragic with the passing of the late great Harry Kalas, but look at how this team came together over it. Hours after learning of his passing, (maybe not even that long) they played a game and they won that game. That's the kind of team they have been all year.
They constantly fought and battled back and even in this game, they tried to mount the rallies, but Yankee pitching along with tyhe fact that eventually the #7 spot in the order must come up, spelt doom for the Phillies in this game. That is nothing to be ashamed of.
After that Game 4 loss, I urged the Phillies to show heart and to care and to never give up and to never surrender, do-da, do-da. Guess what. They did that today. Sure it was a blowout, sure they did not win, but they kept trying to battle on offense. They stuck with it. Even with Rivera on the mound, they were not just randomly waving their bats to get the ordeal over with.
I'm sure you are wondering why I have yet to show the video of the Yankees winning. Frankly, there is no greater piece of evidence of this than the last out of the game. After fouling off pitch after pitch of Rivera, watch Shane Victorino after a groundball.
Never gave up. Never surrendered. Ran it out until there was nothing left. Dedicated to the end. Run it out. Don't have your head down. Be proud of what you've accomplished this year and don't wallow in any self-pity. There should be no self-pity for this team. They've accomplished so much.
Victorino has his detractors outside of Philly and while I'm sure you got a kick of him being the last out of the World Series, that was a real at bat and something he and Phillies fans can be proud of. With that last out, he represented everything this team was about and gosh darn it, watching him run it out like that, even though everyone knew what was about to happen, brought a smile on my face. He knows the game is over and even if there is an error on the throw, the chance of a rally against Rivera is still slim, but despite it all, you never know what can happen, the chance of the rally is slim, not none, and even if it's a sure fire thing, keep on running. No slow pace jog bullshit to let the other team celebrate. Keep fighting and represent your team well. That's what Victorino did.
The Phillies accomplished so much this year. They are NL champions of 2009 and they are still that. That's a title that can't be and won't be taken away from them. A flag will be raised at Citizens Bank Park on opening day commemorating that achievement. It's a proud achievement, one they should still be proud of. It's an achievement and a season that all Phillies fans should be proud of. No shame at all in what they accomplished this year and through it all, they gave us one hell of an entertaining World Series despite the end result.
RIP Harry Kalas. This tremendous season was for you.
The Phillies gave it everything they had, but in the end, it was not enough. You can put the blame on a number of things, such as Pedro Feliz's ABs ending 4 of the 9 innings, all of which the Phillies had runner(s) on base, the Brad Lidge meltdown in Game 4, the not scoring off of A.J. Burnett in Game 2, the not taking advantage of Andy Pettitte not pitching his best games, but in the end, it all comes down to the simple fact that the Yankees outplayed and were a better team than the Phillies. The only 2 games the Phillies did win were the games that Cliff Lee started. Despite pitching well in game 2 and being more rested than Pettitte, it was Pedro who struggled in this game, giving up crucial runs when the game was still close. And like I stated before, the Phillies are not fans of giving Pedro any run support.
My props and congratulations to the New York Yankees. Anybody can buy a team, but that's only half of the battle. You have to get that team to function as an actual team and the Yankees did that this year and they have been rewarded handsomely for doing so.
Not to slight the Yankees anything, they do deserve it, but I want to spend the rest of this post talking about the Phillies.
What an incredible season.
Sure it startedo out heartbreakingly tragic with the passing of the late great Harry Kalas, but look at how this team came together over it. Hours after learning of his passing, (maybe not even that long) they played a game and they won that game. That's the kind of team they have been all year.
They constantly fought and battled back and even in this game, they tried to mount the rallies, but Yankee pitching along with tyhe fact that eventually the #7 spot in the order must come up, spelt doom for the Phillies in this game. That is nothing to be ashamed of.
After that Game 4 loss, I urged the Phillies to show heart and to care and to never give up and to never surrender, do-da, do-da. Guess what. They did that today. Sure it was a blowout, sure they did not win, but they kept trying to battle on offense. They stuck with it. Even with Rivera on the mound, they were not just randomly waving their bats to get the ordeal over with.
I'm sure you are wondering why I have yet to show the video of the Yankees winning. Frankly, there is no greater piece of evidence of this than the last out of the game. After fouling off pitch after pitch of Rivera, watch Shane Victorino after a groundball.
Never gave up. Never surrendered. Ran it out until there was nothing left. Dedicated to the end. Run it out. Don't have your head down. Be proud of what you've accomplished this year and don't wallow in any self-pity. There should be no self-pity for this team. They've accomplished so much.
Victorino has his detractors outside of Philly and while I'm sure you got a kick of him being the last out of the World Series, that was a real at bat and something he and Phillies fans can be proud of. With that last out, he represented everything this team was about and gosh darn it, watching him run it out like that, even though everyone knew what was about to happen, brought a smile on my face. He knows the game is over and even if there is an error on the throw, the chance of a rally against Rivera is still slim, but despite it all, you never know what can happen, the chance of the rally is slim, not none, and even if it's a sure fire thing, keep on running. No slow pace jog bullshit to let the other team celebrate. Keep fighting and represent your team well. That's what Victorino did.
The Phillies accomplished so much this year. They are NL champions of 2009 and they are still that. That's a title that can't be and won't be taken away from them. A flag will be raised at Citizens Bank Park on opening day commemorating that achievement. It's a proud achievement, one they should still be proud of. It's an achievement and a season that all Phillies fans should be proud of. No shame at all in what they accomplished this year and through it all, they gave us one hell of an entertaining World Series despite the end result.
RIP Harry Kalas. This tremendous season was for you.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
One Shining Moment For UNC
As much as it pains me to say this.......congratulations to the 2009 National Champions of college basketball, the North Carolina Tar Heels. Well, I guess it could be worse, it could be Duke, but we all know that they are way overrated anyway, so the chances of that happening are quite slim. Anyway, here is the only video that is really worth viewing from last night's festivities. One Shining Moment. And pay special attention to what play is shown the first time that "one shining moment is sung"...
As a Nova fan, if that does not give you goose bumps then I don't know what will.
And speaking of Philadelphia connections, here's a little something for you. Wayne Ellington was born and raised in Wynnewood, PA. What's so special about that you ask? Well besides the fact, that it's where my grandfather used to live (he's since moved from there for reasons that I elect not to share) and subsequently where my dad grew up and in the county where I live when I'm not in college, Ellington is not the first basketball player to come out of that area. And neither is Gerald Henderson. I do not know how many of you know this, but former Philadelphia 76er Joe Bryant used to live in Wynnewood. And in case you might have already figured out (or know), Joe Bryant had a son. His name is Kobe and he plays currently plays basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Moral of the story other than coincidence: Don't let anyone tell you that all basketball players come out of the ghetto. Because you've got 2 of the finest college kids and arguably one of the greatest players currently in the NBA that came out of the wealthy community Wynnewood, PA.
(FYI, I know I said earlier that I was planning to live blog the Flyers tonight even though it's just a local game, but I am just too tired right now and have way too much work to do live blog (or even watch) the game tonight. Sorry for getting your hopes up......if you even got your hopes up.)
As a Nova fan, if that does not give you goose bumps then I don't know what will.
And speaking of Philadelphia connections, here's a little something for you. Wayne Ellington was born and raised in Wynnewood, PA. What's so special about that you ask? Well besides the fact, that it's where my grandfather used to live (he's since moved from there for reasons that I elect not to share) and subsequently where my dad grew up and in the county where I live when I'm not in college, Ellington is not the first basketball player to come out of that area. And neither is Gerald Henderson. I do not know how many of you know this, but former Philadelphia 76er Joe Bryant used to live in Wynnewood. And in case you might have already figured out (or know), Joe Bryant had a son. His name is Kobe and he plays currently plays basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Moral of the story other than coincidence: Don't let anyone tell you that all basketball players come out of the ghetto. Because you've got 2 of the finest college kids and arguably one of the greatest players currently in the NBA that came out of the wealthy community Wynnewood, PA.
(FYI, I know I said earlier that I was planning to live blog the Flyers tonight even though it's just a local game, but I am just too tired right now and have way too much work to do live blog (or even watch) the game tonight. Sorry for getting your hopes up......if you even got your hopes up.)
Monday, February 2, 2009
One For The (Other) Thumb
Well then, that was a fun little Super Bowl, wasn't it?
For what many people were saying would be a boring snoozefest, it turned out to be one of the most exhillerating finishes in Super Bowl history, all being capped off with one of, if not the greatest touchdown catch in Super Bowl history. Oh, and if I were a Cardinals fan I'd be a wee bit miffed at Terry McAulay. But first, courtesy of Awful Announcing and SSReporters here are a compilation of videos from the Super Bowl.
Tribute to the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 and the National Anthem (Awful Announcing)
James Harrison 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. (SSReporters)
Larry Fitzgerald's go-ahead touchdown catch (SSReporters)
Larry Fitzgerald's go-ahead touchdown catch with a special 30-seconds of porn interrupting! (Awful Announcing)
The Exciting Conclusion of Super Bowl XLIII including the Holmes TD catch and ensuing controversial finish (Awful Announcing)
What a game and a finish. But I must say, I just do not get how that last play is not reviewed. And yes I know that Al Michaels and ESPN said that the play was "reviewed", but hardly a minute of real time elapsed from the time of the Warner fumble to Big Ben taking a knee. There is no way they could have reviewed it that quick. And even if they did, how could looking at that play take a minute? It's at worst inconclusive and at best an incomplete pass. I tend to side with the latter. Having watched it several times, unless I'm seeing something that no one else is, I see Warner's arm moving forward with full possession of the ball. Plus keep in mind the physics of the play. Woodley came from the side and hit the front of the ball. How then, does the ball end up 5-yards down the field? The only logical explanation is that the ball had some forward momentum created by Warner's arm and shoulder beginning to move forward. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but something about that last play just does not sit-well with me. Now with 5-seconds left, a 50-yard hail mary is a very unlikely play, but with Warner's arm and Fitzgerald's height advantage over the Steelers secondary, with the perfect throw, you never know what kind of magic we could have seen. But alas, we'll never know.
Congrats to the Steelers for winning a fantastic Super Bowl. It was definitley a very entertaining game, and for me, a very scary game, because with less than 4-minutes left, the score was Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 16, the same score that I had predicted in my preview 24-hours before the game. Santonio Holmes' touchdown catch will be replayed over and over for years to come, much like the Tyree catch last year. Hopefully next year's game is just as exciting. Actually forget about excitement, I just hope the Eagles are in it (and win it)!
Update: Tomorrow I'll have a Keith Olbermann-esque special comment on the officating of this game. There's just no way that game should have ended like that.
For what many people were saying would be a boring snoozefest, it turned out to be one of the most exhillerating finishes in Super Bowl history, all being capped off with one of, if not the greatest touchdown catch in Super Bowl history. Oh, and if I were a Cardinals fan I'd be a wee bit miffed at Terry McAulay. But first, courtesy of Awful Announcing and SSReporters here are a compilation of videos from the Super Bowl.
Tribute to the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 and the National Anthem (Awful Announcing)
James Harrison 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. (SSReporters)
Larry Fitzgerald's go-ahead touchdown catch (SSReporters)
Larry Fitzgerald's go-ahead touchdown catch with a special 30-seconds of porn interrupting! (Awful Announcing)
The Exciting Conclusion of Super Bowl XLIII including the Holmes TD catch and ensuing controversial finish (Awful Announcing)
What a game and a finish. But I must say, I just do not get how that last play is not reviewed. And yes I know that Al Michaels and ESPN said that the play was "reviewed", but hardly a minute of real time elapsed from the time of the Warner fumble to Big Ben taking a knee. There is no way they could have reviewed it that quick. And even if they did, how could looking at that play take a minute? It's at worst inconclusive and at best an incomplete pass. I tend to side with the latter. Having watched it several times, unless I'm seeing something that no one else is, I see Warner's arm moving forward with full possession of the ball. Plus keep in mind the physics of the play. Woodley came from the side and hit the front of the ball. How then, does the ball end up 5-yards down the field? The only logical explanation is that the ball had some forward momentum created by Warner's arm and shoulder beginning to move forward. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but something about that last play just does not sit-well with me. Now with 5-seconds left, a 50-yard hail mary is a very unlikely play, but with Warner's arm and Fitzgerald's height advantage over the Steelers secondary, with the perfect throw, you never know what kind of magic we could have seen. But alas, we'll never know.
Congrats to the Steelers for winning a fantastic Super Bowl. It was definitley a very entertaining game, and for me, a very scary game, because with less than 4-minutes left, the score was Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 16, the same score that I had predicted in my preview 24-hours before the game. Santonio Holmes' touchdown catch will be replayed over and over for years to come, much like the Tyree catch last year. Hopefully next year's game is just as exciting. Actually forget about excitement, I just hope the Eagles are in it (and win it)!
Update: Tomorrow I'll have a Keith Olbermann-esque special comment on the officating of this game. There's just no way that game should have ended like that.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Your Exclusive Super Bowl XLIII Preview
What: Super Bowl XLIIIWho: The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
When: Kickoff is at 6:28
What Channel: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, John Madden, Andrea Kremer, Alex Flanagan
Announcers Talkng Point of the Game: The Arizona Flippin' Cardinals are in the Super Bowl???
Weather Forecast: 62 Degrees, Partly Cloudy
Analysis: Well then, if you said at the beginning of the season that the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers would play each other in the Super Bowl you would have been labeled stockraving mad. Hell, if on New Years day you said that the Cardinals and the Steelers would be in the Super Bowl, you would have been called certifiably insane. But alas, that's what we got. It's the Cardinals and the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII!
Larry Fitzgerald has been on fire this post-season. He has set the record for most receiving yards in a post-season. He has made sensational play after sensational play just ripping through anything the opposing team's defense has thrown at them. So the question becomes, can the Pittsburgh defense contain Fitzgerald? If the answer is yes, the Steelers should have no problem winning this game, but containing Warner-to-Fitzgerald is so much easier said than done. Then again, if there's one defense in the NFL that is capable of such a feat, it's the #1 ranked defense in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The success of the Steelers' offense comes with the running game. Ben Roethlisberger is an efficient quarterback, if he is not passing it all the time. Which is why the Steelers cannot fall behind early in this one. The Cardinal defense has been picking balls off left and right this post-season, and if it becomes obvious passing situations, the Steelers will be in trouble.
Prediction: It should be a very entertaining game, to say the least. And one in which, quite frankly, I'm not quite sure what to expect. It's not like last year's Super Bowl where it had all the appeal the network would want to the causal fan. But to someone like me who is a diehard NFL fan, it presents an interesting matchup with a guaranteed historic outcome. Either Kurt Warner will be the first quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with 2 different teams or the Pittsburgh Steelers will be the first team in NFL history to win 6 Super Bowls. As much respect as I have for the Cardinals and the fact that I've picked against them 3 times and have been wrong all 3 times, I have to go with the latter of the historic events occuring. Pittsburgh 20, Arizona 16
Monday, January 26, 2009
What They're Gonna Be Talking About at Super Bowl XLIII (UPDATED)
Believe it or not, we are only 1 day away from the showdown in Tampa. And I guess now would be as good a time as any to set the stage for a lot of the storylines that are gonna be shoved down our throats for the next 6 days.
1. Kurt Warner has earned his way into the Hall of Fame this season; and to think that he nearly retired after Boldin got KTFO in the middle of the season.
2. The Arizona Cardinals' playoff run has been an improbable story.
3. Ken Whisenhunt is a former assistant on the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, he even won a Super Bowl ring during his tenure there.
4. The Pittsburgh Steelers are going for their NFL record 6th Super Bowl ring.
5. The Steelers defense vs. The Cardinals offense.
6. Larry Fitzgerald is having one of the greatest post-seasons in NFL history.
7. The Arizona Cardinals have gone 66 years without a championship (going back to the days of the St. Louis and Chicago Cardinals), the 2nd longest streak in American major pro sports (100 years - Chicago Cubs).
8. Mike Tomlin can be the 2nd black coach in 3 years to win a Super Bowl (You know FNIA is going to run some sort of piece on this).
9. Superman wears Troy Polamalu underwear.
10. Jerome Bettis is from Detroit (Oh wait, never mind....)
And now let me introduce you to the cast that will be talking about all of this. Ladies and gentlemen, those that will be supplying us with over 9-hours of Super Bowl coverage on NBC.....
Bob Costas (Studio Host)
Al Michaels (Game Play-by-Play)
John Madden (Game Analyst)
Andrea Kremer (Sideline Repoter)
Alex Flanagan (Sideline Reporter)
Keith Olbermann (Studio co-host)
Dan Patrick (Studio co-host)
Cris Collinsworth (Studio co-host/studio analyst)
Tiki Barber (Studio Analyst)
Jerome Bettis (Studio Analyst)
Matt Millen (Guest Studio Analyst)
Mike Holmgren (Guest Studio Analyst)
Tony Dungy (Guest Studio Analyst)
Rodney Harrison (Guest Studio Analyst)
Peter King (Reporter)
Bob Neumeier (Reporter)
Tom Colicchio (Chef)
Jim Cantore (Weatherman)
Matt Lauer (Today Show Host* - Conducting Live Interview with President Obama)
Al Roker (Today Show - Hosting Pregame coverage from the NBC Super Suite)
Meredith Viera (Today Show)
Al Roker (Today Show)
Alge Rogatis (Who Knows**)
Maria Bartiroma (Who Knows***)
And unless I develop different plans, I plan watching NBC's coverage from 9 AM to end of post-game coverage. Should be a fun day!
*He's the host of the Today Show but I can't find anything that says he will actually be hosting the Today show special.
**Was mentioned by Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick on the 1/30 edition of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, yet I have no idea who he/she is and I have typed in various potential spellings of his/her name (it was only mentionned orally) and I can't find anything. If you have any information on someone whose name is pronounced like "Alge Rogatis", don't hesitate to let me know.
***What a CNBC business news anchor with no sports experience is doing in a Super Bowl pre-game show is beyond me.
Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick discuss the Super Bowl Pre-Game Roster (MSNBC)
Super Bowl XLIII Viewing Guide (Awful Announcing)
1. Kurt Warner has earned his way into the Hall of Fame this season; and to think that he nearly retired after Boldin got KTFO in the middle of the season.
2. The Arizona Cardinals' playoff run has been an improbable story.
3. Ken Whisenhunt is a former assistant on the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, he even won a Super Bowl ring during his tenure there.
4. The Pittsburgh Steelers are going for their NFL record 6th Super Bowl ring.
5. The Steelers defense vs. The Cardinals offense.
6. Larry Fitzgerald is having one of the greatest post-seasons in NFL history.
7. The Arizona Cardinals have gone 66 years without a championship (going back to the days of the St. Louis and Chicago Cardinals), the 2nd longest streak in American major pro sports (100 years - Chicago Cubs).
8. Mike Tomlin can be the 2nd black coach in 3 years to win a Super Bowl (You know FNIA is going to run some sort of piece on this).
9. Superman wears Troy Polamalu underwear.
10. Jerome Bettis is from Detroit (Oh wait, never mind....)
And now let me introduce you to the cast that will be talking about all of this. Ladies and gentlemen, those that will be supplying us with over 9-hours of Super Bowl coverage on NBC.....
Bob Costas (Studio Host)
Al Michaels (Game Play-by-Play)
John Madden (Game Analyst)
Andrea Kremer (Sideline Repoter)
Alex Flanagan (Sideline Reporter)
Keith Olbermann (Studio co-host)
Dan Patrick (Studio co-host)
Cris Collinsworth (Studio co-host/studio analyst)
Tiki Barber (Studio Analyst)
Jerome Bettis (Studio Analyst)
Matt Millen (Guest Studio Analyst)
Mike Holmgren (Guest Studio Analyst)
Tony Dungy (Guest Studio Analyst)
Rodney Harrison (Guest Studio Analyst)
Peter King (Reporter)
Bob Neumeier (Reporter)
Tom Colicchio (Chef)
Jim Cantore (Weatherman)
Matt Lauer (Today Show Host* - Conducting Live Interview with President Obama)
Al Roker (Today Show - Hosting Pregame coverage from the NBC Super Suite)
Meredith Viera (Today Show)
Al Roker (Today Show)
Alge Rogatis (Who Knows**)
Maria Bartiroma (Who Knows***)
And unless I develop different plans, I plan watching NBC's coverage from 9 AM to end of post-game coverage. Should be a fun day!
*He's the host of the Today Show but I can't find anything that says he will actually be hosting the Today show special.
**Was mentioned by Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick on the 1/30 edition of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, yet I have no idea who he/she is and I have typed in various potential spellings of his/her name (it was only mentionned orally) and I can't find anything. If you have any information on someone whose name is pronounced like "Alge Rogatis", don't hesitate to let me know.
***What a CNBC business news anchor with no sports experience is doing in a Super Bowl pre-game show is beyond me.
Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick discuss the Super Bowl Pre-Game Roster (MSNBC)
Super Bowl XLIII Viewing Guide (Awful Announcing)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Eagles Conference Title Game Recap
"One minute you're on top
The next you're not, watch it drop
Making your heart stop
Just before you hit the floor
One minute you're on top
The next you're not, missed your shot
Making your heart stop
You think you've won
And then it's all gone"
That song by Linkin Park describes exactly what happened to the Eagles last night in the desert. It looked like they may have had it won. And then they hit the floor.
DeSean Jackson had just made the catch of a lifetime to put the Eagles on top, giving them 19 straight unanswered points and a 1-point lead after trailing by 18 in the middle of the 3rd quarter. It looked like the Eagles were gonna make an improbable comeback. Hell, one the ensuing drive the Eagles had forced a 4th and inches situation. But then Hightower made it to the outside, capping a drive that may eventually put Kurt Warner in the Hall of Fame.
It was an incredible game, one for the ages in Glendale. But in the end, the Eagles just did not have enough to respond one more time after Warner's drive. The Eagles had a chance to make it interesting, but the offense just missed some plays on that final drive. However, that was to be expected. The Eagles offense looked like they did the entire post-season. Slow-start, strong finish. The big story was the defense. After beating the physical ground teams such as Minnesota and New York, the Eagles lost to the team that likes to air it out in Warner and the Cardinals. Unbelieveable.
So after all of that, repeat after me: The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. No, that's no typo. The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. One of the all-time bad franchises is going to the Super Bowl and in a somewhat ironic twist, they're facing one of the all-time great franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aspeaking of historic, let's take a moment here and reflect on the Cardinals' stadium, University of Phoenix Stadium. First of all, it's one of my favorite NFL stadiums. Unlike some stadiums/domes, it is very pleasing to look at and to watch games from. However, more importantly, it's like the big time site for dramatic post-season finishes, both in the NFL and the college ranks. This is a stadium that opened in 2006 and look at what games have already been played there.
The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl with the Boise State miracles
Super Bowl XLII and the Giants upset of the then unbeaten Patriots and the Tyree catch.
Texas' dramatic comeback win against Ohio State in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.
Last night's thrilling NFC Championship game that culminated in what some are already calling a Hall of Fame drive
And that's not even including Arizona's post season upset of Atlanta a few weeks ago, Florida's upset of Ohio State in the 07 BCS Natonal Title game, and West Virginia's upset in the '08 Fiesta Bowl of Oklahoma.
Throughout this whole post-season there has been a certain left for dead theme, especially in the NFC. At 1:00 on Week 17, no one thought the Eagles had a prayer to make the playoffs. They needed Oakland to upset Tampa Bay. There was no way that would happen, right? Then look at the Eagles playoff run. While many had them to beat the Vikings, there was no way they could handle the Giants and beat them twice in the Meadowlands, right? And then the Cardinals. People were talking about revising the playoffs system to keep mediocre teams division winners like the Cardinals out. There was no way they could beat Atlanta. Michael Turner would run all over them, right? Then came Carolina. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were going to dominate them, right? Then came the Eagles. That defense would be too much for them, right? The Cardinals had no chance, right? And now look. The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. And while if the Cardinals pull the upset, I don't think it will be considered the biggest upset in Super Bowl upset ever, but definitley the most improbable run ever. The Steelers of a few years ago, while a 6-seed, were considered a team with talent and while unprededented at the time, few were overly shocked that they made it as far as they did. Same story with 5-seeded New York last year. Again, they were a team with talent and they were never really counted out. Folks, this Arizona Cardinal team was flat out left for dead. Folks, this same Arizona Cardinal team is going to Tampa to play in the Super Bowl.
And lastly, a great big thanks to all those who joined me in the live blog of this remarkable title game. Twice you set a record for most comments on a post (The record was shattered in the 1st half thread, and you broke it again in the 2nd half). I hope everyone had as much fun as I did (despite the Eagles losins), your comments were hilarious, and even if I did not put yours in the thread, that does not mean I thought it was not funny. There was only enough time for me to copy and paste the best-of-the-best. Thanks again, and I hope that you come back soon and read more of what I have to say on various Eagles/other sports issues.
Which reminds me, seeing as the Eagles are done, I will be shifting my coverage to the football off-season in general, I'll get to you my what's sure to be God-awful mock draft, and I may even live blog a nationally televised hockey/basketball game involving the Sixers or the Flyers. While I may not post as regularly as some other bloggers, I'll get to you some of the more interesting stuff and maybe even provide you guys some links that you should check out. I also think I'll be live blogging the Phillies opener, assuming it's not being done at AA, and I will be your one-stop shop for all of the Eagles off-season moves (including my in depth coverage of the Eagles' draft). And depending on how things turn out, I may actually live blog the Super Bowl and/or Pro Bowl (Andy Reid coaching a Pro Bowl is worthy of a live blog). So just because Eagles season is over, the fun around here is just beginning. Thanks for joinng me for all of the Eagles live blogs and MNF live blogs throughout the season and I'll see you around.
"Hit the Floor" by Linkin Park lyrics (AZ Lyrics)
The next you're not, watch it drop
Making your heart stop
Just before you hit the floor
One minute you're on top
The next you're not, missed your shot
Making your heart stop
You think you've won
And then it's all gone"
That song by Linkin Park describes exactly what happened to the Eagles last night in the desert. It looked like they may have had it won. And then they hit the floor.
DeSean Jackson had just made the catch of a lifetime to put the Eagles on top, giving them 19 straight unanswered points and a 1-point lead after trailing by 18 in the middle of the 3rd quarter. It looked like the Eagles were gonna make an improbable comeback. Hell, one the ensuing drive the Eagles had forced a 4th and inches situation. But then Hightower made it to the outside, capping a drive that may eventually put Kurt Warner in the Hall of Fame.
It was an incredible game, one for the ages in Glendale. But in the end, the Eagles just did not have enough to respond one more time after Warner's drive. The Eagles had a chance to make it interesting, but the offense just missed some plays on that final drive. However, that was to be expected. The Eagles offense looked like they did the entire post-season. Slow-start, strong finish. The big story was the defense. After beating the physical ground teams such as Minnesota and New York, the Eagles lost to the team that likes to air it out in Warner and the Cardinals. Unbelieveable.
So after all of that, repeat after me: The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. No, that's no typo. The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. One of the all-time bad franchises is going to the Super Bowl and in a somewhat ironic twist, they're facing one of the all-time great franchises, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aspeaking of historic, let's take a moment here and reflect on the Cardinals' stadium, University of Phoenix Stadium. First of all, it's one of my favorite NFL stadiums. Unlike some stadiums/domes, it is very pleasing to look at and to watch games from. However, more importantly, it's like the big time site for dramatic post-season finishes, both in the NFL and the college ranks. This is a stadium that opened in 2006 and look at what games have already been played there.
The 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl with the Boise State miracles
Super Bowl XLII and the Giants upset of the then unbeaten Patriots and the Tyree catch.
Texas' dramatic comeback win against Ohio State in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.
Last night's thrilling NFC Championship game that culminated in what some are already calling a Hall of Fame drive
And that's not even including Arizona's post season upset of Atlanta a few weeks ago, Florida's upset of Ohio State in the 07 BCS Natonal Title game, and West Virginia's upset in the '08 Fiesta Bowl of Oklahoma.
Throughout this whole post-season there has been a certain left for dead theme, especially in the NFC. At 1:00 on Week 17, no one thought the Eagles had a prayer to make the playoffs. They needed Oakland to upset Tampa Bay. There was no way that would happen, right? Then look at the Eagles playoff run. While many had them to beat the Vikings, there was no way they could handle the Giants and beat them twice in the Meadowlands, right? And then the Cardinals. People were talking about revising the playoffs system to keep mediocre teams division winners like the Cardinals out. There was no way they could beat Atlanta. Michael Turner would run all over them, right? Then came Carolina. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were going to dominate them, right? Then came the Eagles. That defense would be too much for them, right? The Cardinals had no chance, right? And now look. The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. And while if the Cardinals pull the upset, I don't think it will be considered the biggest upset in Super Bowl upset ever, but definitley the most improbable run ever. The Steelers of a few years ago, while a 6-seed, were considered a team with talent and while unprededented at the time, few were overly shocked that they made it as far as they did. Same story with 5-seeded New York last year. Again, they were a team with talent and they were never really counted out. Folks, this Arizona Cardinal team was flat out left for dead. Folks, this same Arizona Cardinal team is going to Tampa to play in the Super Bowl.
And lastly, a great big thanks to all those who joined me in the live blog of this remarkable title game. Twice you set a record for most comments on a post (The record was shattered in the 1st half thread, and you broke it again in the 2nd half). I hope everyone had as much fun as I did (despite the Eagles losins), your comments were hilarious, and even if I did not put yours in the thread, that does not mean I thought it was not funny. There was only enough time for me to copy and paste the best-of-the-best. Thanks again, and I hope that you come back soon and read more of what I have to say on various Eagles/other sports issues.
Which reminds me, seeing as the Eagles are done, I will be shifting my coverage to the football off-season in general, I'll get to you my what's sure to be God-awful mock draft, and I may even live blog a nationally televised hockey/basketball game involving the Sixers or the Flyers. While I may not post as regularly as some other bloggers, I'll get to you some of the more interesting stuff and maybe even provide you guys some links that you should check out. I also think I'll be live blogging the Phillies opener, assuming it's not being done at AA, and I will be your one-stop shop for all of the Eagles off-season moves (including my in depth coverage of the Eagles' draft). And depending on how things turn out, I may actually live blog the Super Bowl and/or Pro Bowl (Andy Reid coaching a Pro Bowl is worthy of a live blog). So just because Eagles season is over, the fun around here is just beginning. Thanks for joinng me for all of the Eagles live blogs and MNF live blogs throughout the season and I'll see you around.
"Hit the Floor" by Linkin Park lyrics (AZ Lyrics)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
NFC Championship Game Eagles @ Cardinals Live Blog 2nd Half
Congrats guys on setting a Fire Andy Reid Now! comments record. Not that it's really saying much considering this blog's only been around for a few months, but nonetheless, congrats.
Second half kickoff in a few, and if the Eagles can't come back, let's hope this half is at least entertaining. Second half after the break.
Rackers kick is taken by Buckhalter who takes it to the 39. McNabb's pass is tipped at the line and incomplete. McNabb under pressure, somehow gets away and finds Klecko who gets out of the back field, down the sidelines, and he has a first down! But it will come back on the holding call and it's 2nd and 20 after all that. McNabb finds Avant who makes a nice catch for 14 yards and this is a huge 3rd down! McNabb finds Jackson and he has the first down! Westbrook gets the carry and he gets a couple. McNabb overthrows a wideopen Kevin Curtis! That would have been the play they needed!
Another 3rd down for the Eagles. McNabb is SACKED! FUMBLE! RECOVERED BY THE CARDINALS!
And executives at NBC are jumping off cliffs as we speak. James turns a loss of 2 into a gain of 4. And I'm surprised Andy Reid did not challenge that fumble.
"That's why McNabb thought he would have his backside protected." - Troy Aikman
False start on the Cards will move them back 5. Edge stumbles for a couple. Warner on 3rd down misses a wide open receiver! He missed a chance to put this one on ice permanently. Graham's punt is fair caught by Jackson at the 10.
Eagles would still have a chance if they would pull their heads out of their a$$es. The Cards will definitely let their foot off the throttle, that's just who they are. I've been subjected to a lot of their games this year. (Andy)
Best analysis of the day. Westrbook gets 7 on the carry up the middle. McNabb misses DeSean Jackson and it's 3rd down. Celek catches it on the underneath route and that's a gain of 7 and an Eagles first down. McNabb's pass is tipped and incomplete. Westbrook gets 8 on the carry.
"Good job of at least getting it into a pretty manageable 3rd down." - Troy Aikman
3rd down and 2 is more than just pretty manageable. Play action fake (Fire Andy Reid Now!) but McNabb's pass is caught by Celek for the first. Not quite sure what Reid/Mornhinweg was thinking but it worked, I guess. McNabb is SACKED FOR A LOSS OF 9! Baskett drops an easy repection and it's 3rd and 19 now for Philly.
McNabb just launches one over the middle on 3rd and long and IT'S SOMEHOW CAUGHT BY CURTIS! INSIDE THE 20! Jackson gets 4 on the catch. And wow, that catch by Curtis may have just saved the season for the time being. McNabb takes it off himself on the QB draw and he's at the 5! Eagles need more of that McNabb. As much as he wants to be a pocket passer, he is at his best when he is a threat to run the ball. Westbrook gets stuffed at the line.
2nd and goal, McNabb looks to the endzone and throws to CELEK WHO COMES DOWN WITH THE CATCH! TOUCHDOWN EAGLES! The extra point is good and it's 24-13 Arizona.
A running into the kicker penalty will in all likelhood the Cardinals will start this drive at their own 20 after a touchback (assuming the Eagles don't go with the surprise onside kick, that is).
It's amazing how many times you make a big play like that, it turns into something really positive." - Troy Aikman. (Via Secor314)
McNabb uses his legs on the run!" I prefer when he uses his elbows. (Via Rev)
Oh yeah, I forgot about the kickoff out of bounds. That's been one of the themes of the day thus far. Cards ball at the 40.
Wait, the 35? Did I miss something? Or is that a result of the penalty?
Akers funked that kick out of bounds. (Via Mal)
Joe Buck has a new word attached to his name. Warner misses his first two passes. 3rd down and KURT WARNER IS SACKED! LOSS OF 4 AND THAT'S A 3-AND-OUT!
Jackson takes the ball to the 38. Is it just me or does the Fox score graphic at the bottom of the screen that is shown before commercial look really awkward with the set up of the colors? That blue, green, red, and gray and gold do not look good together.
McNabb finds Curtis on the underneath route for a gain of 15. And this one is starting to have a different feel to it (*knocks on wood*). McNabb overthrows Curtis on the deep route. Westbrook gets the carry and picks up 4. Eagles need to convert here. McNabb finds DeSean Jackson for the first down! 10 yard completion and the Eagles are in field goal range, which is all they may need at this point. Westbrook gets 3. That little spot of sun at around the 40 yard line looks really weird, if for no other reason because the roof is closed.
Andy Reid blows his first timeout of the half. The only thing worse than Reid blowing that time out (Fire Andy Reid Now!) is that we get an extended shot of Joe "The Funk" Buck and Troy Aikman. McNabb throws it to Celek and HE MAKES THE CATCH AND RUNS INTO THE ENDZONE! TOUCHDOWN PHILADELPHIA! The extra point is NO GOOD! A bad hold from Rocca who was unable to get the laces turned around and it's 24-19 Arizona.
I guess it's just like the Eagles went for 2 and missed, as that's probably what I would have done.
As an aside, you should have seen me jump 5 feet out of my seat as Celek made the catch and score the touchdown.
Kickoff is kneeled down in the endzone by Arrington for a touchback. James picks up 3 on the carry. Warner's pass is TIPPED RIGHT BACK INTO HIS OWN HANDS! WARNER MAKES THE CATCH AND PICKS UP 3 ON THE ENSUING RUN! Scramble for the ball ensues, but the refs rule he was down.
That's the end of the 3rd quarter and I think we all need to catch our breaths, 24-19 Cards in what's shaping up to be a thriller.
"A good play was made in the hole."--Joe Buck
Not the first time he's said that, I'm sure (Via Rev)
James makes the catch out of the backfield and picks up 16 for the first down! James gets 5 on the carry. Hightower is tripped up in the backfield by Dawkins and it's another critical 3rd down. The pass for Fitzgerald is incomplete! Fair catch by Jackson on the punt at the 14.
Buckhalter makes the catch and picks up 12! McNabb's pass to Avant picks up 9. It's getting harder and harder for me to just sit still and watch this. I feel like jumping. Handoff to Westbrook and he has a first down. McNabb's looking deep......DESEAN JACKSON MAKES THE CATCH OF A LIFETIME!!!!!!!! TOUCHDOWN EAGLES!!!!! Eagles are going for 2. No good, but there's a penalty down. Holding on the Eagles. 25-24 Eagles lead the Cards.
I am officially pumped for my laryngitis diagnosis later in the week.
Did Larry Fitzgerald get traded at halftime? Did David Copperfield show up and make the wrong the man disappear? (Via Secor314)
Kickoff is taken to the 28 by Breaston. James loses a yard on the carry. Warner finds Fitzgerald for a first down at the 41. Pople makes the completion at midfield. James gets stuffed at the line and it's 3rd and short. Hightower with the carry and oh my this is going to be close.
"The line is unofficial." - Joe Buck
Drink! HIGHTOWER'S SHORT! 4th and inches! Biasness aside, if I were a coach, I'd go for it. And the Cards are! HIGHTOWER BOUNCES IT TO THE OUTSIDE, ESCAPES A TACKLE, AND HAS A FIRST DOWN!
Does this stadium have some wild post-season games or what? Edge picks up a couple. Fitzgerald makes the catch and he has a first down at the 23! Edge gets a couple. Fitzgerald makes the catch and he gets 7 yards and is just short of the marker! 3rd and short coming up. Hightower with a first down inside the 10! Edge is stood up at the line for no gain. Hightower goes nowhere and the Eagles will call a timeout. 3rd and goal coming up.
Buck: "The new series that has lying down to a science."Like Joe Buck being #31 on the top sportscasters list? (Via RJBO)
Asante Samuel showing the world his anatomical impression of the Liberty Bell on that last tackle of Fitzgerald. (Via Secor314)
You guys crack me up. 3rd and goal coming up for the Cards. Warner from the gun, pumps, screen to Hightower, HIGHTOWER BREAKS FREE AND SCORES! TOUCHDOWN ARIZONA! Cards are going to try for 2 and make it a 7-point game. WARNER CONVERTS TO PATRICK! 32-25 Cardinals!
What a game.
Buck: "The Little Engine That Could, the Arizona Cardinals, keeps on chuggin." (Via RJBO)
Buck must love children's books. Demps takes a knee in the endzone for the touchback. And here we go. Chance for the Eagles to make something happen again. McNabb's pass is off the hands of Westbrook and incomplete. 2:46 to go. 2nd and 10. McNabb finds Jackson along the sidelines for a gain of 9. 3rd and 1, we've seen this before. McNabb finds Celek for the first down! Westbrook makes the catch and has a ton of room to run and he picks up 19! 2:09 to go. Ball at the AZ 47. McNabb's pass is incomplete for Baskett.
It's worth noting that the Eagles have not had a big 4th quarter comeback win this year. Just saying. McNabb's pass is too high for DeSean Jackson! 3rd and 10. 2:01 to go. McNabb's pass is incomplete for Baskett! 2-minute warning. 4th and 10 coming up after the break.
Are we headed for OT? Will McNabb drive for a TD in the last 3 minutes? If he does someone has to explain the playoff OT rules to Donovan, I'd love to hear that conversation. "Wait a minute, but you guys told me before that there was only one OT!" (Andy)
That would truly the season coming full circle. MCNABB UNDER PRESSUER, THROWS, HAS CURTIS BUT HE DROPPED IT! INCOMPLETE! CURTIS WANTS A FLAG BUT HE WON'T GET IT AND THE CARDS ARE A FIRST DOWN AWAY FROM A TRIP TO TAMPA!
Hightower gets 7. Eagles call a timeout. That's their last. Hightower is just short of the marker.
"Hightower...keeps chugging." - Joe Buck
Short of the marker. 3rd and NFC Title Game (sorry for that channeling of Matt Vagersian). Cards will let the clock wind down and then call a timeout. 59 seconds to go. Hightower slips and he's short of the marker! And the Eagles will have a shot at a Boise State miracle.
The punt goes out of bounds at the 7. 9 seconds to go. And for once, I won't fault Andy Reid for trying something funky here. Anything has a chance in this stadium.
The Eagles go with the laterals! Jackson downs the sideline! LATERALS IT INTO THE HANDS OF DARNELL DOCKETT AND THAT'S IT! THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL! 32-25 is the final score in yet another memorable NFC title game and another crazy football postseason game in University of Phoenix Stadium.
My sincerest congrats to the Arizona Cardinals who have certainly worked for it. They weren't picked coming in, but time and time again they proved themselves in this post-season and Warner came through when they needed it the most.
32-25 Cardinals over the Eagles. The AFC title game is being live-blogged by SSR. I'll be there and I hope everyone else joins him. Thanks for all the hilarious comments today/tonight.
Second half kickoff in a few, and if the Eagles can't come back, let's hope this half is at least entertaining. Second half after the break.
Rackers kick is taken by Buckhalter who takes it to the 39. McNabb's pass is tipped at the line and incomplete. McNabb under pressure, somehow gets away and finds Klecko who gets out of the back field, down the sidelines, and he has a first down! But it will come back on the holding call and it's 2nd and 20 after all that. McNabb finds Avant who makes a nice catch for 14 yards and this is a huge 3rd down! McNabb finds Jackson and he has the first down! Westbrook gets the carry and he gets a couple. McNabb overthrows a wideopen Kevin Curtis! That would have been the play they needed!
Another 3rd down for the Eagles. McNabb is SACKED! FUMBLE! RECOVERED BY THE CARDINALS!
And executives at NBC are jumping off cliffs as we speak. James turns a loss of 2 into a gain of 4. And I'm surprised Andy Reid did not challenge that fumble.
"That's why McNabb thought he would have his backside protected." - Troy Aikman
False start on the Cards will move them back 5. Edge stumbles for a couple. Warner on 3rd down misses a wide open receiver! He missed a chance to put this one on ice permanently. Graham's punt is fair caught by Jackson at the 10.
Eagles would still have a chance if they would pull their heads out of their a$$es. The Cards will definitely let their foot off the throttle, that's just who they are. I've been subjected to a lot of their games this year. (Andy)
Best analysis of the day. Westrbook gets 7 on the carry up the middle. McNabb misses DeSean Jackson and it's 3rd down. Celek catches it on the underneath route and that's a gain of 7 and an Eagles first down. McNabb's pass is tipped and incomplete. Westbrook gets 8 on the carry.
"Good job of at least getting it into a pretty manageable 3rd down." - Troy Aikman
3rd down and 2 is more than just pretty manageable. Play action fake (Fire Andy Reid Now!) but McNabb's pass is caught by Celek for the first. Not quite sure what Reid/Mornhinweg was thinking but it worked, I guess. McNabb is SACKED FOR A LOSS OF 9! Baskett drops an easy repection and it's 3rd and 19 now for Philly.
McNabb just launches one over the middle on 3rd and long and IT'S SOMEHOW CAUGHT BY CURTIS! INSIDE THE 20! Jackson gets 4 on the catch. And wow, that catch by Curtis may have just saved the season for the time being. McNabb takes it off himself on the QB draw and he's at the 5! Eagles need more of that McNabb. As much as he wants to be a pocket passer, he is at his best when he is a threat to run the ball. Westbrook gets stuffed at the line.
2nd and goal, McNabb looks to the endzone and throws to CELEK WHO COMES DOWN WITH THE CATCH! TOUCHDOWN EAGLES! The extra point is good and it's 24-13 Arizona.
A running into the kicker penalty will in all likelhood the Cardinals will start this drive at their own 20 after a touchback (assuming the Eagles don't go with the surprise onside kick, that is).
It's amazing how many times you make a big play like that, it turns into something really positive." - Troy Aikman. (Via Secor314)
McNabb uses his legs on the run!" I prefer when he uses his elbows. (Via Rev)
Oh yeah, I forgot about the kickoff out of bounds. That's been one of the themes of the day thus far. Cards ball at the 40.
Wait, the 35? Did I miss something? Or is that a result of the penalty?
Akers funked that kick out of bounds. (Via Mal)
Joe Buck has a new word attached to his name. Warner misses his first two passes. 3rd down and KURT WARNER IS SACKED! LOSS OF 4 AND THAT'S A 3-AND-OUT!
Jackson takes the ball to the 38. Is it just me or does the Fox score graphic at the bottom of the screen that is shown before commercial look really awkward with the set up of the colors? That blue, green, red, and gray and gold do not look good together.
McNabb finds Curtis on the underneath route for a gain of 15. And this one is starting to have a different feel to it (*knocks on wood*). McNabb overthrows Curtis on the deep route. Westbrook gets the carry and picks up 4. Eagles need to convert here. McNabb finds DeSean Jackson for the first down! 10 yard completion and the Eagles are in field goal range, which is all they may need at this point. Westbrook gets 3. That little spot of sun at around the 40 yard line looks really weird, if for no other reason because the roof is closed.
Andy Reid blows his first timeout of the half. The only thing worse than Reid blowing that time out (Fire Andy Reid Now!) is that we get an extended shot of Joe "The Funk" Buck and Troy Aikman. McNabb throws it to Celek and HE MAKES THE CATCH AND RUNS INTO THE ENDZONE! TOUCHDOWN PHILADELPHIA! The extra point is NO GOOD! A bad hold from Rocca who was unable to get the laces turned around and it's 24-19 Arizona.
I guess it's just like the Eagles went for 2 and missed, as that's probably what I would have done.
As an aside, you should have seen me jump 5 feet out of my seat as Celek made the catch and score the touchdown.
Kickoff is kneeled down in the endzone by Arrington for a touchback. James picks up 3 on the carry. Warner's pass is TIPPED RIGHT BACK INTO HIS OWN HANDS! WARNER MAKES THE CATCH AND PICKS UP 3 ON THE ENSUING RUN! Scramble for the ball ensues, but the refs rule he was down.
That's the end of the 3rd quarter and I think we all need to catch our breaths, 24-19 Cards in what's shaping up to be a thriller.
"A good play was made in the hole."--Joe Buck
Not the first time he's said that, I'm sure (Via Rev)
James makes the catch out of the backfield and picks up 16 for the first down! James gets 5 on the carry. Hightower is tripped up in the backfield by Dawkins and it's another critical 3rd down. The pass for Fitzgerald is incomplete! Fair catch by Jackson on the punt at the 14.
Buckhalter makes the catch and picks up 12! McNabb's pass to Avant picks up 9. It's getting harder and harder for me to just sit still and watch this. I feel like jumping. Handoff to Westbrook and he has a first down. McNabb's looking deep......DESEAN JACKSON MAKES THE CATCH OF A LIFETIME!!!!!!!! TOUCHDOWN EAGLES!!!!! Eagles are going for 2. No good, but there's a penalty down. Holding on the Eagles. 25-24 Eagles lead the Cards.
I am officially pumped for my laryngitis diagnosis later in the week.
Did Larry Fitzgerald get traded at halftime? Did David Copperfield show up and make the wrong the man disappear? (Via Secor314)
Kickoff is taken to the 28 by Breaston. James loses a yard on the carry. Warner finds Fitzgerald for a first down at the 41. Pople makes the completion at midfield. James gets stuffed at the line and it's 3rd and short. Hightower with the carry and oh my this is going to be close.
"The line is unofficial." - Joe Buck
Drink! HIGHTOWER'S SHORT! 4th and inches! Biasness aside, if I were a coach, I'd go for it. And the Cards are! HIGHTOWER BOUNCES IT TO THE OUTSIDE, ESCAPES A TACKLE, AND HAS A FIRST DOWN!
Does this stadium have some wild post-season games or what? Edge picks up a couple. Fitzgerald makes the catch and he has a first down at the 23! Edge gets a couple. Fitzgerald makes the catch and he gets 7 yards and is just short of the marker! 3rd and short coming up. Hightower with a first down inside the 10! Edge is stood up at the line for no gain. Hightower goes nowhere and the Eagles will call a timeout. 3rd and goal coming up.
Buck: "The new series that has lying down to a science."Like Joe Buck being #31 on the top sportscasters list? (Via RJBO)
Asante Samuel showing the world his anatomical impression of the Liberty Bell on that last tackle of Fitzgerald. (Via Secor314)
You guys crack me up. 3rd and goal coming up for the Cards. Warner from the gun, pumps, screen to Hightower, HIGHTOWER BREAKS FREE AND SCORES! TOUCHDOWN ARIZONA! Cards are going to try for 2 and make it a 7-point game. WARNER CONVERTS TO PATRICK! 32-25 Cardinals!
What a game.
Buck: "The Little Engine That Could, the Arizona Cardinals, keeps on chuggin." (Via RJBO)
Buck must love children's books. Demps takes a knee in the endzone for the touchback. And here we go. Chance for the Eagles to make something happen again. McNabb's pass is off the hands of Westbrook and incomplete. 2:46 to go. 2nd and 10. McNabb finds Jackson along the sidelines for a gain of 9. 3rd and 1, we've seen this before. McNabb finds Celek for the first down! Westbrook makes the catch and has a ton of room to run and he picks up 19! 2:09 to go. Ball at the AZ 47. McNabb's pass is incomplete for Baskett.
It's worth noting that the Eagles have not had a big 4th quarter comeback win this year. Just saying. McNabb's pass is too high for DeSean Jackson! 3rd and 10. 2:01 to go. McNabb's pass is incomplete for Baskett! 2-minute warning. 4th and 10 coming up after the break.
Are we headed for OT? Will McNabb drive for a TD in the last 3 minutes? If he does someone has to explain the playoff OT rules to Donovan, I'd love to hear that conversation. "Wait a minute, but you guys told me before that there was only one OT!" (Andy)
That would truly the season coming full circle. MCNABB UNDER PRESSUER, THROWS, HAS CURTIS BUT HE DROPPED IT! INCOMPLETE! CURTIS WANTS A FLAG BUT HE WON'T GET IT AND THE CARDS ARE A FIRST DOWN AWAY FROM A TRIP TO TAMPA!
Hightower gets 7. Eagles call a timeout. That's their last. Hightower is just short of the marker.
"Hightower...keeps chugging." - Joe Buck
Short of the marker. 3rd and NFC Title Game (sorry for that channeling of Matt Vagersian). Cards will let the clock wind down and then call a timeout. 59 seconds to go. Hightower slips and he's short of the marker! And the Eagles will have a shot at a Boise State miracle.
The punt goes out of bounds at the 7. 9 seconds to go. And for once, I won't fault Andy Reid for trying something funky here. Anything has a chance in this stadium.
The Eagles go with the laterals! Jackson downs the sideline! LATERALS IT INTO THE HANDS OF DARNELL DOCKETT AND THAT'S IT! THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL! 32-25 is the final score in yet another memorable NFC title game and another crazy football postseason game in University of Phoenix Stadium.
My sincerest congrats to the Arizona Cardinals who have certainly worked for it. They weren't picked coming in, but time and time again they proved themselves in this post-season and Warner came through when they needed it the most.
32-25 Cardinals over the Eagles. The AFC title game is being live-blogged by SSR. I'll be there and I hope everyone else joins him. Thanks for all the hilarious comments today/tonight.
NFC Championship Game Eagles @ Cardinals Live Blog 1st Half
All right, it's almost time for kickoff in Glendale. Here are the picks from the people at Fox.
Frank: Cardinals
Jimmy: Eagles
Michael: Eagles
Howie: Eagles
Terry: Cardinals
And all 5 of them went with Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. And yes, Curt just confirmed that TB is flying out to Glendale. And we also get the official unveiling of Lebron's "big announcement". Yay, State Farm commercial! (Not that we didn't know that already).
Joe and Troy are coming up after the break.
"One of these teams is 4 quarters away from the Super Bowl and a trip to Tampa, Florida." - Joe Buck stating the obvious.
Not a bad rendition from Jordin Sparks. A bit over the top toward the end, but alas, we've seen worse.
When Joe Buck calls games in Arizona, the road team wins.The Giants were officially the road team in the Super Bowl.The Vikings beat Arizona.I conclude that the Eagles will win. (Via SSR)
Don't forget Philly's record with Buck the past few months. He's done the last 5 Eagles games where the Eagles have a 4-1 record and he called the Phils winning the World Series.
Akers kick is downed in the endzone by Arrington and we are underway! Edge picks up a couple on first down. Warner completes to Boldin for 7. Warner on third down finds Fitzgerald over the middle for a first down and a big gain past the 45! Boldin catches a quick pass from Warner and picks up 9. Edge pushes the pile forward for a first down.
Inside Eagle territory at the 40, Warner hands off to James who bounces it to the outside and picks up 16! James again with another carry and another first down inside the 20! Hightower picks up 4.
"How can a football blow off a tee in a dome? Maybe the noise knocked it off." - Joe Buck before the kickoff. (Via James Craven and Mal)
Kurt Warner finds Fitzgerald over the middle! Fitzgerald breaks a tackle! BREAKS ANOTHER TACKLE AND HE'S IN! TOUCHDOWN ARIZONA! The extra point is good and the Cardinals lead 7-0.
Can I get a "FIRE ANDY REID NOW!" please? (Via James Craven)
FIRE ANDY REID NOW! The kickoff goes out of bounds and the Eagles will have the ball at their own 40. How do you have a kickoff out of bounds in a dome? McNabb on first down is under pressure but he'll take off down the field for a big gain of over 20! That's the McNabb the Eagles need! Penalty was for an offsides on the Cards. Westbrook gets 4 on the carry. And yes, SSR, I think that tight end may be a traitor....
McNabb finds Celek on the completion but Celek gets walloped at the line and Joe Buck is being kind by giving him a yard on that completion. McNabb on 3rd down with all day and he finds Westbrook for 6 and a first down! Good grief! Is this an NFC title game or practice?
Toss to Westbrook gets a couple. LJ Smith catches it in the backfield and breaks a tackle and makes a nice play to turn what looked like a sure loss into a gain of 5. 3rd down and 4 becomes 3rd and 9 on the false start.
"Cardinals are coming." - Joe Buck.
Eww. McNabb has his pass batted down and that will bring up 4th come and on will come Akers to try a 45-yard and make it 18-straight post season field goals. Akers kick is up...AND GOOD! He killed that thing. 7-3 Cardinals still lead.
Joe B on Akers kick: "absolutely funked". (Via Mal
Mal, that came from Mr. Slamma Lamma Ding Dong himself (JamesCraven)
I was wondering what that second word was. Especially when I first heard it, I thought he said it was "absolutely fuc...." The kickoff is taken by Arrington to the 24.
"Eagles and Cardinals banging into each other today." - Joe Buck who clearly has his mind in the gutter today.
Handoff to James goes for a yard. Warner's pass on 2nd down is incomplete. 3rd down, and Warner finds Fitzgerald for 8. The punt by Graham goes 34 yards before going out of bounds.
McNabb can't connect with a wide-open DeSean Jackson on first down. Westbrook is stopped at the line as it seemed like Joe Buck had problems identifying the line of scrimmage. McNabb on 3rd down throws it up and it's TIPPED AND INTERCEPTED BY FRANCISCO! FRANCISCO DOWN THE SIDELINES AND HE LOSES THE BALL! EAGLES RECOVER AND HAVE A NEW SET OF DOWNS! INCREDIBLE!
McNabb on 1st down GOES DEEP FOR LEWIS WHO DROPS IT! Ex-Eagle Roderick Hood makes the play. Thanks for nothing Rod! McNabb puts the buscuit in the Baskett on 2nd down for the 1st and Kendra's happy. Westbrook busts one up the middle for a gain of 14 and into Cardinal territory! Buckhalter takes it and reverses field for a nice gain of 9. Buckhalter takes the carry and has the 1st down at the 35.
Well, that was a fun little quarter of football, wasn't it? 7-3 Arizona after 1.
"And he just tried squeeeezin' one in there." (Via David) Was that Aikman?
Troy, after the INT/Fumble: "good things happen around the football". Not really sure what that means and I don't think he does either (Via Mal)
Westbrook gets nothing. As Joe tells us the Eagles have done an incredible feat of running 4 straight running plays. McNabb's pass is incomplete. 3rd and 10 from the 35, McNabb has alld day dumps it off to Celek, tries to leap over the defender!...and gets taken down for a gain of 5.
Here comes Akers from 47-yards...NO GOOD! Akers streak is over and it's still 7-3 Arizona.
Warner on first down fires one deep down the field that is CAUGHT BY FITZGERALD WHO WALKS IN FOR THE EASY TOUCHDOWN! The penalty is roughing the passer and the PAT is good and it's 14-3 Arizona.
I'm not sure who...but somebody got absolutely funked on that play. (Via Mal)
There was definitley some funking going on on that play. And kudos to SSR for calling that play. We'd love to have you as our head coach in waiting in Philly.
Buckhalter gets 3 on the carry.
"Sold out this game in 6-minutes." - Joe Buck
That's a far cry from struggling to sell the place out for the wild card game against Atlanta. False start sends the Eagles back 5, but McNabb finds Curtis for 11. 3rd down and McNabb is SACKED! But holding on Arizona gives the Eagles a first down. McNabb finds Curtis over the middle! Curtis bounces it to the outside and he gets 47, all the way to the Cardinal 19!
Buckhalter picks up 7 on the carry up the middle. McNabb's pass for Lewis loses a couple and I have a feeling he won't be back next year. McNabb's 3rd down pass is incomplete and once again we'll see Akers.
Akers kick is up.....IT'S GOOD! No problem on that one and it's 14-6 Arizona.
Eagles may be losing, but I must say, this has been an entertaining game up to this point.
"You can bang them"-Aikman talking about what you can and can't do with the players involved in that defensive holding play. (Via Yet Another Idiot With A Music Blog)
Nice to see the NFL does not discriminate based on sexuality. Arrington takes the kick to the 27. James gets a big gain to the 47! Gain of 5 by Hightower.
"And here's Digger!" - Joe Buck
Arrington catches the pass and gets 17! From the 29, Hightower gets 3 on the carry. Pope makes the catch and he gets 15! Damn, Warner is lighting it up today. From the 14, James gets nothing.
And now a random fact that I just thought of. The Eagles have played 2-road NFC title games. Kurt Warner was the opposing QB in both of those games. Breston makes the completion for the first down by half of a football. 1st and goal from the 4, Arrington gets a yard. If there was ever time for a goal line stand, this is it. 2nd and goal, Warner's pass is incomplete but there's a flag down and that's pass interference and 1st and goal from the 1.
Warner on 1st and goal fires the FADE FOR FITZGERALD AND IT'S CAUGHT IN THE ENDZONE! TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS! The PAT is up and good and it's 21-6 Cardinals.
What on earth did Buck say after the touchdown? It sounded like "Double-Double!"
Snap it McNabb, snap it! That ball was not out of bounds! FUCK! THEY'RE CHALLENGING! (End moment of homerism)
Oh. My. God. Kickoff out of bounds is a dead ball and that's Eagle ball at the 40. What a break for Philadelphia, and as an Eagle fan, I'll admit, that's not what happened.
Oh, they rule it touched Abiamiri. Anyway, that probably should be Cardinal ball ao I'm sure the Eagles will take it regardless. Celek picks up 8 on the completion. McNabb again to Celek and that's a first down. McNabb drops back and throws it to no one and gets called for intentional grounding.
Buck: "Play over, even if the call may not be correct." Ed Hochuli agrees. (Via RJBO)
Great way to officiate. Celek gets 8 on the completion and it's 3rd and 14. McNabb tries to launch one down the field for Avant who can't come up with it. Frankly, I'm just glad that it was not picked off. There were red jersies everywhere. Good punt from Rocca and the Cardinals are pinned inside their own 20. Boldin gets 5 on the completion and there's a penalty on Demps for unnecessary roughness.
Fringe. Sounds like a bad story about the New York Giants offense. (JamesCraven)
Hilarious! Warner fires and it's TIPPED BY MIKELL AND SOMEHOW CAUGHT BY BOLDIN! That ball did hit the ground though. The booth is reviewing it and this one should come back.
The call is reversed and there's not much of a reaction from the Cardinal crowd, which tells you exactly how obvious that one was on replay. Kudos to Boldin though for actually nearly catching it. It's 2nd and 10 form the 36. Arrington loses 6 on the carry and the Eagles call time out.
"Warner and Arrington banged into each other." - Joe Buck
Thank goodness he said "into". 3rd and 15, Warner finds Urban for 18 yards and a first down! Wow. Fitzgerald all alone makes the catch for 14. Warner throws it out of bounds.
"There's some history between these 2. If you go back to 1947...." - Joe Buck
Yeah, I don't think anyone playing this game was alive then. Warner is SACKED! 3rd and 17 and we've seen this before. Warner dumps it to Boldin who gets it to the 40. And on will come Rackers to attempt a field goal and maybe a dagger if this becomes a 3-score game.
From 49-yards out, Rackers kick is up.......IT'S GOOD! That may be a dagger. 24-6 Cardinals at the half.
I'll see you guys in the 2nd half thread.
Frank: Cardinals
Jimmy: Eagles
Michael: Eagles
Howie: Eagles
Terry: Cardinals
And all 5 of them went with Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. And yes, Curt just confirmed that TB is flying out to Glendale. And we also get the official unveiling of Lebron's "big announcement". Yay, State Farm commercial! (Not that we didn't know that already).
Joe and Troy are coming up after the break.
"One of these teams is 4 quarters away from the Super Bowl and a trip to Tampa, Florida." - Joe Buck stating the obvious.
Not a bad rendition from Jordin Sparks. A bit over the top toward the end, but alas, we've seen worse.
When Joe Buck calls games in Arizona, the road team wins.The Giants were officially the road team in the Super Bowl.The Vikings beat Arizona.I conclude that the Eagles will win. (Via SSR)
Don't forget Philly's record with Buck the past few months. He's done the last 5 Eagles games where the Eagles have a 4-1 record and he called the Phils winning the World Series.
Akers kick is downed in the endzone by Arrington and we are underway! Edge picks up a couple on first down. Warner completes to Boldin for 7. Warner on third down finds Fitzgerald over the middle for a first down and a big gain past the 45! Boldin catches a quick pass from Warner and picks up 9. Edge pushes the pile forward for a first down.
Inside Eagle territory at the 40, Warner hands off to James who bounces it to the outside and picks up 16! James again with another carry and another first down inside the 20! Hightower picks up 4.
"How can a football blow off a tee in a dome? Maybe the noise knocked it off." - Joe Buck before the kickoff. (Via James Craven and Mal)
Kurt Warner finds Fitzgerald over the middle! Fitzgerald breaks a tackle! BREAKS ANOTHER TACKLE AND HE'S IN! TOUCHDOWN ARIZONA! The extra point is good and the Cardinals lead 7-0.
Can I get a "FIRE ANDY REID NOW!" please? (Via James Craven)
FIRE ANDY REID NOW! The kickoff goes out of bounds and the Eagles will have the ball at their own 40. How do you have a kickoff out of bounds in a dome? McNabb on first down is under pressure but he'll take off down the field for a big gain of over 20! That's the McNabb the Eagles need! Penalty was for an offsides on the Cards. Westbrook gets 4 on the carry. And yes, SSR, I think that tight end may be a traitor....
McNabb finds Celek on the completion but Celek gets walloped at the line and Joe Buck is being kind by giving him a yard on that completion. McNabb on 3rd down with all day and he finds Westbrook for 6 and a first down! Good grief! Is this an NFC title game or practice?
Toss to Westbrook gets a couple. LJ Smith catches it in the backfield and breaks a tackle and makes a nice play to turn what looked like a sure loss into a gain of 5. 3rd down and 4 becomes 3rd and 9 on the false start.
"Cardinals are coming." - Joe Buck.
Eww. McNabb has his pass batted down and that will bring up 4th come and on will come Akers to try a 45-yard and make it 18-straight post season field goals. Akers kick is up...AND GOOD! He killed that thing. 7-3 Cardinals still lead.
Joe B on Akers kick: "absolutely funked". (Via Mal
Mal, that came from Mr. Slamma Lamma Ding Dong himself (JamesCraven)
I was wondering what that second word was. Especially when I first heard it, I thought he said it was "absolutely fuc...." The kickoff is taken by Arrington to the 24.
"Eagles and Cardinals banging into each other today." - Joe Buck who clearly has his mind in the gutter today.
Handoff to James goes for a yard. Warner's pass on 2nd down is incomplete. 3rd down, and Warner finds Fitzgerald for 8. The punt by Graham goes 34 yards before going out of bounds.
McNabb can't connect with a wide-open DeSean Jackson on first down. Westbrook is stopped at the line as it seemed like Joe Buck had problems identifying the line of scrimmage. McNabb on 3rd down throws it up and it's TIPPED AND INTERCEPTED BY FRANCISCO! FRANCISCO DOWN THE SIDELINES AND HE LOSES THE BALL! EAGLES RECOVER AND HAVE A NEW SET OF DOWNS! INCREDIBLE!
McNabb on 1st down GOES DEEP FOR LEWIS WHO DROPS IT! Ex-Eagle Roderick Hood makes the play. Thanks for nothing Rod! McNabb puts the buscuit in the Baskett on 2nd down for the 1st and Kendra's happy. Westbrook busts one up the middle for a gain of 14 and into Cardinal territory! Buckhalter takes it and reverses field for a nice gain of 9. Buckhalter takes the carry and has the 1st down at the 35.
Well, that was a fun little quarter of football, wasn't it? 7-3 Arizona after 1.
"And he just tried squeeeezin' one in there." (Via David) Was that Aikman?
Troy, after the INT/Fumble: "good things happen around the football". Not really sure what that means and I don't think he does either (Via Mal)
Westbrook gets nothing. As Joe tells us the Eagles have done an incredible feat of running 4 straight running plays. McNabb's pass is incomplete. 3rd and 10 from the 35, McNabb has alld day dumps it off to Celek, tries to leap over the defender!...and gets taken down for a gain of 5.
Here comes Akers from 47-yards...NO GOOD! Akers streak is over and it's still 7-3 Arizona.
Warner on first down fires one deep down the field that is CAUGHT BY FITZGERALD WHO WALKS IN FOR THE EASY TOUCHDOWN! The penalty is roughing the passer and the PAT is good and it's 14-3 Arizona.
I'm not sure who...but somebody got absolutely funked on that play. (Via Mal)
There was definitley some funking going on on that play. And kudos to SSR for calling that play. We'd love to have you as our head coach in waiting in Philly.
Buckhalter gets 3 on the carry.
"Sold out this game in 6-minutes." - Joe Buck
That's a far cry from struggling to sell the place out for the wild card game against Atlanta. False start sends the Eagles back 5, but McNabb finds Curtis for 11. 3rd down and McNabb is SACKED! But holding on Arizona gives the Eagles a first down. McNabb finds Curtis over the middle! Curtis bounces it to the outside and he gets 47, all the way to the Cardinal 19!
Buckhalter picks up 7 on the carry up the middle. McNabb's pass for Lewis loses a couple and I have a feeling he won't be back next year. McNabb's 3rd down pass is incomplete and once again we'll see Akers.
Akers kick is up.....IT'S GOOD! No problem on that one and it's 14-6 Arizona.
Eagles may be losing, but I must say, this has been an entertaining game up to this point.
"You can bang them"-Aikman talking about what you can and can't do with the players involved in that defensive holding play. (Via Yet Another Idiot With A Music Blog)
Nice to see the NFL does not discriminate based on sexuality. Arrington takes the kick to the 27. James gets a big gain to the 47! Gain of 5 by Hightower.
"And here's Digger!" - Joe Buck
Arrington catches the pass and gets 17! From the 29, Hightower gets 3 on the carry. Pope makes the catch and he gets 15! Damn, Warner is lighting it up today. From the 14, James gets nothing.
And now a random fact that I just thought of. The Eagles have played 2-road NFC title games. Kurt Warner was the opposing QB in both of those games. Breston makes the completion for the first down by half of a football. 1st and goal from the 4, Arrington gets a yard. If there was ever time for a goal line stand, this is it. 2nd and goal, Warner's pass is incomplete but there's a flag down and that's pass interference and 1st and goal from the 1.
Warner on 1st and goal fires the FADE FOR FITZGERALD AND IT'S CAUGHT IN THE ENDZONE! TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS! The PAT is up and good and it's 21-6 Cardinals.
What on earth did Buck say after the touchdown? It sounded like "Double-Double!"
Snap it McNabb, snap it! That ball was not out of bounds! FUCK! THEY'RE CHALLENGING! (End moment of homerism)
Oh. My. God. Kickoff out of bounds is a dead ball and that's Eagle ball at the 40. What a break for Philadelphia, and as an Eagle fan, I'll admit, that's not what happened.
Oh, they rule it touched Abiamiri. Anyway, that probably should be Cardinal ball ao I'm sure the Eagles will take it regardless. Celek picks up 8 on the completion. McNabb again to Celek and that's a first down. McNabb drops back and throws it to no one and gets called for intentional grounding.
Buck: "Play over, even if the call may not be correct." Ed Hochuli agrees. (Via RJBO)
Great way to officiate. Celek gets 8 on the completion and it's 3rd and 14. McNabb tries to launch one down the field for Avant who can't come up with it. Frankly, I'm just glad that it was not picked off. There were red jersies everywhere. Good punt from Rocca and the Cardinals are pinned inside their own 20. Boldin gets 5 on the completion and there's a penalty on Demps for unnecessary roughness.
Fringe. Sounds like a bad story about the New York Giants offense. (JamesCraven)
Hilarious! Warner fires and it's TIPPED BY MIKELL AND SOMEHOW CAUGHT BY BOLDIN! That ball did hit the ground though. The booth is reviewing it and this one should come back.
The call is reversed and there's not much of a reaction from the Cardinal crowd, which tells you exactly how obvious that one was on replay. Kudos to Boldin though for actually nearly catching it. It's 2nd and 10 form the 36. Arrington loses 6 on the carry and the Eagles call time out.
"Warner and Arrington banged into each other." - Joe Buck
Thank goodness he said "into". 3rd and 15, Warner finds Urban for 18 yards and a first down! Wow. Fitzgerald all alone makes the catch for 14. Warner throws it out of bounds.
"There's some history between these 2. If you go back to 1947...." - Joe Buck
Yeah, I don't think anyone playing this game was alive then. Warner is SACKED! 3rd and 17 and we've seen this before. Warner dumps it to Boldin who gets it to the 40. And on will come Rackers to attempt a field goal and maybe a dagger if this becomes a 3-score game.
From 49-yards out, Rackers kick is up.......IT'S GOOD! That may be a dagger. 24-6 Cardinals at the half.
I'll see you guys in the 2nd half thread.
NFC Championship Game Live Blog Pregame
It looks more likely than not that SSR and I are splitting the live blogs with me in the afternoon cap and SSR in the night cap. That being said, use this as your pregame open thread. Post your thoughts and predictions on the game here and we'll get the live blog kicked off when Joe and Troy come on the air.
JFein's pick: Eagles 31, Cardinals 27
P.S. Yes, this is (mainly) an Eagles blog but I will be running things in an unbiased as possible manner.
JFein's pick: Eagles 31, Cardinals 27
P.S. Yes, this is (mainly) an Eagles blog but I will be running things in an unbiased as possible manner.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Site Announcement Regarding Tomorrow's Live Blogs
I'm not sure what's going on tomorrow in terms of AA tomorrow, seeing as S2N is not going to be there, but if AA does not show up SSR and myself have set up a back-up plan. If AA does not show up, I will be live blogging the Eagles-Cardinals game here and SSR will be doing the Ravens-Steelers game at his site.
I'm going to try to get in contact with AA so that we have some certainty for tomorrow.
Update: I just sent AA an email asking about the live blog. I had tried to email him earlier but I had a typo in the address and my computer did not kick it back to me until 6-hours later (If I could, I'd kill Comcast). I'll post a second update once I know for sure what's going on, whether SSR and I are splitting the live blogs, or if AA is doing them, or if something else is going on.
I'm going to try to get in contact with AA so that we have some certainty for tomorrow.
Update: I just sent AA an email asking about the live blog. I had tried to email him earlier but I had a typo in the address and my computer did not kick it back to me until 6-hours later (If I could, I'd kill Comcast). I'll post a second update once I know for sure what's going on, whether SSR and I are splitting the live blogs, or if AA is doing them, or if something else is going on.
AFC Championship Game Preview
What: A re-match of Walt Coleman's latest gaffe
Who: The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When: 6:30 EST
What Channel: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: After losing two heart breakers to the Steelers, can the Ravens finally beat the Steelers?
Weather Forecast: 60% chance of snow showers, 25 degrees
Regular Season Meetings: Week 4: Steelers 23, Ravens 20; Week 15: Steelers 13, Ravens 9
Analysis: I don't know much about Ed Reed's religion, but one thing is for sure. God worships Ed Reed. Reed is a complete beast and he is everywhere and anywhere on the football field every and any play. There's a reason the Raven defense is once again one of the best in the league and a whle heck of a lot of it has to do with the play of Reed and Ray Lewis.
Wait a minute, great defense? Well how about the Steelers? They're the #1 defense in the NFL! This game is a battle of the top 2 defenses in the NFL (the Eagles are #3) and it should be one heck of a dandy, especially if the regular season games are signs of things to come.
Well, we know that both defense are going to do their thing, so let's look at the offensive side of the ball. The Steelers are led by veteran quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, who while not having the best year of his career, has come through in the most clutch moments for the Steelers this season, with one of the most notable being Week 15 at Baltimore. The Steelers running back, Willie Parker, is the engine that makes this offense go. If the Steelers can't establish the running game, they can find themselves in trouble. However, if they can, they will definitley be in the game and most likely leading.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Raven offense is led by rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. Although nowhere near dazzling, Flacco has in no way hurt his team, something which the Ravens struggled with under Kyle Boller and Steve McNair. The rookie has done a real solid job and while his short and intermediate passes may need some work, the man knows how to throw a beautiful deep ball. The Ravens also have a running game that is the key to the offense, led by Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee. And much like the Steelers, this Ravens offense will go as the running game goes.
With two evenly matched teams, I see 2 x-factors in this game. The weather (remember, there is a chance of snow) and special teams. The team that makes the most big plays on special teams likely will come away victorious in this one.
Prediction: I subscribe to a theory that it is very difficult for a team in the NFL to go up to a team that it is evenly matched up with and beat them 3-times in a season. And that is exactly what the Steelers are up against, having beat the Ravens twice in the regular season in the final minute. However, Heinz Field in the snow is a tough place for any road team to win, regardless of time of year and stakes of the game. You know the Pittsburgh faithful are going to show up in full force and they will be determined to force Flacco and co. into false starts and making mistakes (as if the Pittsburgh defense is not enough). But in the end, I see the Ravens finally getting the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the game that means the most. Ravens 13, Steelers 10.
Friday, January 16, 2009
NFC Championship Game Preview
What: A conference championship game that no one saw coming.
Who: The Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
When: 3:00 EST
What Channel: Fox
Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman with Pam Oliver and the ubiquitous Chirs Myers working on the sidelines
Announcers' Talking Point of the Game: How will the Eagles secondary fare against these dynamic Cardinal receivers?
Weather Forecast: Sunny, 77 degrees
Regular Season Meeting: Eagles 48, Cardinals 20
Analysis: Well then! No one saw this coming a month ago. But alas, it's the Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game and the executives at Fox are jumping off cliffs as we speak. And while it is certainly a most unappealing matchup (no offense to Cardinals fans, but very few people outside of the Phoenix/Glendale/Arizona market care about this team), this actually has the potential to be a very good game.
The Philadephia Eagles are about as red hot as anyone, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Ever since the loss to the New York Giants in Week 11, this defense has played lights out. And yes, I know the Baltimore game was a blowout, but not many of those points were the sole fault of the defense. However this game will pose a different test to the Eagles' defense. The past two games it has been about the Eagles' run defense. This game will focus more on the Eagles' secondary and can they stop when of the best receivers in the NFL, Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals run game has come alive in the past few weeks thanks in large part to the re-emergence of Edgerrin James, however, the Eagles faced a lot worse the past few weeks with the Purple Jesus of Minnesota and Earth, Wind, and Fire in New York. It is worth noting that none of those teams were really threatening through the air. But what about Eli Manning, JFein? Well, it was quickly established in that game last week that Eli would not be able to throw in the wind at his own stadium. And minus a big play-making receiver on the New York side, there was just no way that Eli would beat the Eagles and Jim Johnson noticed that and spent all of his defensive resources, if you will, to stop the run.
Enough with the digression, though. Point being is that Arizona is a different animal. And it will definitley be to their advantage that this game is in the desert. Could you imagine if they played in Philly today? For those that don't know, it is currently the coldest here that it has been in years with temperatures in the single digits now, and a high that won't come close to 20. Oy, another digression. Anyway, the Kurt Warner is thanking his lucky stars that the game is Sunday in the desert (here it's going to be slightly warmer than it is now, but a chance of snow exists). And so maybe the Eagles. The Eagles play in a cold-weather city, but they are not necessarily a grind it out cold-weather team. Even though Andy Reid has been relying on the run a whole lot more than he ususally does (I'm just as shocked as you are, this maybe the best I've ever seen him with McNabb at QB). So this Eagle offense should not have any problems moving the ball. The temperature is going to be fairly comfortable, roof open or closed, the Cardinal defense is nowhere near the threat of Minnesota's and New York's defense, and oh yeah, the Eagles lit them up for 48 on Thanksgiving day to end their mid-season cold streak.
Prediction: I have picked the Cardinals to be blown out in each of the last two weeks. Look at how that's turned out for me. However, I may be stupid, but I'm doing it again. Except I don't think that this is going to be a blowout. The Eagles defense is awesome, yes, but the Cardinals have momentum and they have a fan base now that has NEVER been this excited about Cardinal football. Regardless of who wins, the winner of this game will cement themselves as one of the most unlikely Super Bowl contenders of all time, and that unlikely contender will be the Philadelphia Eagles, the same team that was left for dead at 1:00 PM on Week 17 of the NFL season, will be going to the Super Bowl, beating the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 31-27.
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