Eli Manning may have been going home to New Orleans Sunday, but he’d have probably rather cancelled the trip in hindsight. New York, undefeated atop the NFC East, got crushed by an opportunistic Saints offense that rang up 315 yards of total offense and 34 points by halftime, in what ultimately wound up a 48‒27 win. It was over just barely after the opening coin toss. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees peppered the No. 1 defense in the NFL with 259 passing yards and three touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes, the Giants offense unable to come close to matching the Saints’ furious firepower. The N.O. juggernaut will be tough to derail. In the whole NFC, only Minnesota carries a chance of upending them.
Along with New Orleans, Minnesota remains unbeaten in the NFC. In Minneapolis, the Vikes lost the handle on what looked like a relatively comfortable win over Baltimore, only to see the Ravens unleash a dramatic comeback to take a 31‒30 lead with 3:34 remaining. But as anyone knows who has ever seen a game in which Brett Favre is playing, something great, perhaps something horrible, but at the very least, something dramatic is going to take place. In this instance, with just under three minutes to play, Favre, on a second-and-6 from his 24, connected with wideout Sidney Rice on a 58-yard pass play to the Ravens 18. The drive stalled but the Vikings got the three-pointer they needed to take a 33‒31 lead. Then the Minnesota defense dug in to withstand a final Baltimore attack that came down to a 44-yard field goal attempt by Baltimore kicker Steven Hauschka. The ball just barely hooked left of the left upright, and Minnesota, for the second time this season, escaped on the final play of a game with a win.
There’s not much anyone can say about the sorry state of the Tennessee Titans. When things go bad they go very badly. In a harrowing 59‒0 obliteration in Foxboro, the Titoons looked like the Keystone Cops on a slick tabletop. Accumulated in that defeat were unfathomable passing numbers posted by ’Toons QB Kerry Collins, who likely never spent a day of such ignominy at any phase of his career, college or pro: Collins completed a stat-defying two-of-12 passes for the entire afternoon—for minus -7 total passing yards. Admittedly it was in the snow, but that same snow didn’t impede New England icon Tom Brady from logging a career day, including an NFL-record five touchdown passes in the second quarter alone.
But if you thought Collins and Tennessee were bad, you may have missed the New York Jets debacle against Buffalo. With a chance to atone for an inexcusable six interceptions, Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez bobbled the snap from center in overtime on what likely would have been the game-winning field goal, and New York went on to lose later in OT. Six INTS and a bobble of the potential game-winning snap. It had to be difficult for Sanchez to find a rock anywhere in the vicinity of the Meadowlands to hide under.
Alan Ross is the author of 32 books, including Away from the Ball: The NFL’s Off-the-Field Heroes. E-mail him at:alanross_sports@yahoo.com© Sportland 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Patriots, Broncos hold off last-minute challenges
They needed the full 60 minutes, but hosts New England and Denver held off the last-ditch efforts of Baltimore and Dallas to highlight Week 4 activity in the NFL Sunday.
In a major early-season AFC confrontation, Baltimore looked a good bet to remain undefeated on its fall visit to New England but came up just short, as wide receiver Michael Clayton let quarterback Joe Flacco’s perfectly thrown fourth-down pass bounce off his chest on the Patriots’ 8-yard line with 28 seconds remaining, ending a Ravens fourth-quarter comeback from a 24‒14 deficit. Most surprising was Baltimore’s defensive lapse against the run. In its previous four games, the Ravens had not allowed a rushing touchdown. Against the Pats they gave up two scores on the ground. New England quarterback Tom Brady democratically spread 21 completions among nine different receivers in the 27‒21 win.
In Denver, malcontent wide receiver Brandon Marshall morphed into a Broncos’ hero with his broken field catch-and-run after taking a Kyle Orton pass on the Dallas 33, then zigzagging his way over foot-stumbling Cowboy defenders into the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown reception with 1:55 left to give Denver a 17‒10 lead. But it wasn’t over. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, under pressure of late, did his best Houdini imitation, evading a strong Broncos rush on fourth-and-3 at the Dallas 27 and completing a 53-yard pass to Sam Hurd to the Broncos 20 with 59 seconds to go. Six plays later, at the Denver 2, Romo’s fourth-down pass intended for Hurd was tipped away by All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey, and the Cinderella Broncos shockingly find themselves, along with Indianapolis, undefeated atop the AFC standings at 4-0.
At New Orleans, a matchup of unbeatens played out, as the visiting New York Jets incurred their first loss of the season. The key play came on the first play of the second quarter with the Jets on the move at the New Orleans 15. First-year New York QB Mark Sanchez, looking to put the Jets up 7‒3, instead threw a pick to Saints safety Darren Sharper, who returned the interception 99 yards for a touchdown and a 10‒0 New Orleans lead. A Saints recovery of a Sanchez fumble later in the same quarter for another score plus Sharper’s second interception of the game with 4:20 to play sealed the win for undefeated New Orleans, which joins Minnesota and the New York Giants atop the NFC.
ANGLING FOR THE CORNER: In an oddity, the Saints’ explosive points-generating offense behind the passing of quarterback Drew Brees was outscored by the New Orleans defense, 14-10—a noteworthy statement on the strength of the Jets’ new-and-much improved defense under first-year head coach Rex Ryan…We regret there can be no commentary on Monday night’s mega matchup between Minnesota and Green Bay, with its contingent hoopla over Brett Favre’s return against his former team, but our column deadline is Sunday night.
Alan Ross is the author of 32 books, including Away from the Ball: The NFL’s Off-the-Field Heroes. E-mail him at:alanross_sports@yahoo.com© Sportland 2009
In a major early-season AFC confrontation, Baltimore looked a good bet to remain undefeated on its fall visit to New England but came up just short, as wide receiver Michael Clayton let quarterback Joe Flacco’s perfectly thrown fourth-down pass bounce off his chest on the Patriots’ 8-yard line with 28 seconds remaining, ending a Ravens fourth-quarter comeback from a 24‒14 deficit. Most surprising was Baltimore’s defensive lapse against the run. In its previous four games, the Ravens had not allowed a rushing touchdown. Against the Pats they gave up two scores on the ground. New England quarterback Tom Brady democratically spread 21 completions among nine different receivers in the 27‒21 win.
In Denver, malcontent wide receiver Brandon Marshall morphed into a Broncos’ hero with his broken field catch-and-run after taking a Kyle Orton pass on the Dallas 33, then zigzagging his way over foot-stumbling Cowboy defenders into the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown reception with 1:55 left to give Denver a 17‒10 lead. But it wasn’t over. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, under pressure of late, did his best Houdini imitation, evading a strong Broncos rush on fourth-and-3 at the Dallas 27 and completing a 53-yard pass to Sam Hurd to the Broncos 20 with 59 seconds to go. Six plays later, at the Denver 2, Romo’s fourth-down pass intended for Hurd was tipped away by All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey, and the Cinderella Broncos shockingly find themselves, along with Indianapolis, undefeated atop the AFC standings at 4-0.
At New Orleans, a matchup of unbeatens played out, as the visiting New York Jets incurred their first loss of the season. The key play came on the first play of the second quarter with the Jets on the move at the New Orleans 15. First-year New York QB Mark Sanchez, looking to put the Jets up 7‒3, instead threw a pick to Saints safety Darren Sharper, who returned the interception 99 yards for a touchdown and a 10‒0 New Orleans lead. A Saints recovery of a Sanchez fumble later in the same quarter for another score plus Sharper’s second interception of the game with 4:20 to play sealed the win for undefeated New Orleans, which joins Minnesota and the New York Giants atop the NFC.
ANGLING FOR THE CORNER: In an oddity, the Saints’ explosive points-generating offense behind the passing of quarterback Drew Brees was outscored by the New Orleans defense, 14-10—a noteworthy statement on the strength of the Jets’ new-and-much improved defense under first-year head coach Rex Ryan…We regret there can be no commentary on Monday night’s mega matchup between Minnesota and Green Bay, with its contingent hoopla over Brett Favre’s return against his former team, but our column deadline is Sunday night.
Alan Ross is the author of 32 books, including Away from the Ball: The NFL’s Off-the-Field Heroes. E-mail him at:alanross_sports@yahoo.com© Sportland 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Lions finally snap 19-game losing streak
It had to happen eventually. Even the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went 0-26 to kick off their inglorious franchise, one day, mercifully, came to victory. It took 22 years before the game found a similar sacrificial offering to its predatory beasts. But Sunday, fans of football rejoiced in unison over the Detroit Lions’ first win in 20 games. The Motor City’s previously toothless and clawless Lions reached back for their longtime roar, putting together a solid first-half offensively, then holding on to defeat the Washington Redskins, who may now well inherit the Lions’ previous mantel of dubiousness.
On this day, first-year quarterback Matthew Stafford had his Johnsons working. Wideouts Calvin (five receptions) and Bryant (four catches, one TD) put punch into the previously anemic Lions attack, beginning with Bryant Johnson’s 21-yard first-quarter scoring reception that gave Detroit a 7‒0 lead. The Lions never trailed and closed it out at 19‒14. The key stat: Detroit converted 10 of its 18 third-down opportunities; Washington just two of 10.
And it’s obvious to all that the Tennessee Titans that went 13-3 and claimed the top seed in the 2008 AFC playoffs aren’t remotely the same team in 2009. The Titoons, committers of multiple errors against the New York Jets on Sunday, are now a ghastly 0-3 to start the season. Most egregious of Tennessee’s lapses were first-year returner Ryan Mouton’s two fumbled returns—one on a kickoff, the other a punt—that directly led to 14 New York points.
Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins connected on three of four passes, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington just 3:21 into the third quarter to give the ’Toons a 17‒14 lead. But Collins never completed another pass the rest of the way, going 0-for-13 through the remainder of the third and fourth quarters. Meanwhile, the Jets’ thanked Mouton for his second fumbled return and first-year New York quarterback Mark Sanchez hit wideout Jerricho Cotchery for 46 yards to help post 10 second-half points and send a forlorn Tennessee team back to Toontown.
ANGLING FOR THE CORNER: The Jets' Sanchez is the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win his first three games…In one of Sunday’s real noisemakers, incumbent Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh went down to its second straight defeat, this time at the hands of division rival Cincinnati, 23‒20. The Bengals waited until the final 18 seconds to complete a magnificent 16-play drive, on Carson Palmer’s short 4-yard scoring toss to Andre Caldwell. The game's key play: Trailing 13‒3, Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph returned a Ben Roethlisberger pass 30 yards for a touchdown, the Steelers’ only turnover of the game…Former Arkansas Razorbacks ‘Wild Hog’ star Darren McFadden continues to have problems making the grade in the NFL. The Oakland Raiders’ second-year back fumbled three times in the Raiders’ 23‒3 surprise loss to Denver. McFadden now has lost seven fumbles in 16 career NFL games. The Broncos, who looked like a preseason candidate to supplant Detroit as the doormat of the league, instead now stand 3-0 atop the AFC West.
Alan Ross is the author of 32 books, including Away from the Ball: The NFL’s Off-the-Field Heroes. E-mail him at:alanross_sports@yahoo.com© Sportland 2009
On this day, first-year quarterback Matthew Stafford had his Johnsons working. Wideouts Calvin (five receptions) and Bryant (four catches, one TD) put punch into the previously anemic Lions attack, beginning with Bryant Johnson’s 21-yard first-quarter scoring reception that gave Detroit a 7‒0 lead. The Lions never trailed and closed it out at 19‒14. The key stat: Detroit converted 10 of its 18 third-down opportunities; Washington just two of 10.
And it’s obvious to all that the Tennessee Titans that went 13-3 and claimed the top seed in the 2008 AFC playoffs aren’t remotely the same team in 2009. The Titoons, committers of multiple errors against the New York Jets on Sunday, are now a ghastly 0-3 to start the season. Most egregious of Tennessee’s lapses were first-year returner Ryan Mouton’s two fumbled returns—one on a kickoff, the other a punt—that directly led to 14 New York points.
Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins connected on three of four passes, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington just 3:21 into the third quarter to give the ’Toons a 17‒14 lead. But Collins never completed another pass the rest of the way, going 0-for-13 through the remainder of the third and fourth quarters. Meanwhile, the Jets’ thanked Mouton for his second fumbled return and first-year New York quarterback Mark Sanchez hit wideout Jerricho Cotchery for 46 yards to help post 10 second-half points and send a forlorn Tennessee team back to Toontown.
ANGLING FOR THE CORNER: The Jets' Sanchez is the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win his first three games…In one of Sunday’s real noisemakers, incumbent Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh went down to its second straight defeat, this time at the hands of division rival Cincinnati, 23‒20. The Bengals waited until the final 18 seconds to complete a magnificent 16-play drive, on Carson Palmer’s short 4-yard scoring toss to Andre Caldwell. The game's key play: Trailing 13‒3, Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph returned a Ben Roethlisberger pass 30 yards for a touchdown, the Steelers’ only turnover of the game…Former Arkansas Razorbacks ‘Wild Hog’ star Darren McFadden continues to have problems making the grade in the NFL. The Oakland Raiders’ second-year back fumbled three times in the Raiders’ 23‒3 surprise loss to Denver. McFadden now has lost seven fumbles in 16 career NFL games. The Broncos, who looked like a preseason candidate to supplant Detroit as the doormat of the league, instead now stand 3-0 atop the AFC West.
Alan Ross is the author of 32 books, including Away from the Ball: The NFL’s Off-the-Field Heroes. E-mail him at:alanross_sports@yahoo.com© Sportland 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
