By Paul Gotham
Baker’s dozen
Whether it’s a case of finding a way to win or finding a way to not lose, the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans continue their weekly re-establishing of history. Both improved to 13-0. For the mathematicians out there, that’s make 26-0 combined. Indy downed Denver 28-16. N’awlins trimmed Atlanta 26-23.
Hard to comprehend it, but the Colts defense was the difference – this despite allowing a record day on offense for one Bronco. After jumping to a 21-0 lead Gary Brackett led the charge as the Colts stopped the Broncos on three fourth down attempts. Indy limited Denver to 6 of 17 on third down situations, and the Broncos came away with just two touchdowns in four trips to red zone. Brackett registered 10 tackles – two for a loss.
All this came on a day when Brandon Marshall wiped clean the slate – at least as far as receptions go. Marshall made 21 catches topping the old single game mark of 20 set by Terrell Owens. Unfortunately, the rest of the Bronco offense could not keep speed. Marshall accounted for 200 yards through the air. The rest of the Broncos managed 157 yards of offense.
With the win Indy grabs home-field advantage in the playoffs, establishes a new mark for consecutive regular season victories (22) and victories in a decade (114).
Last week, the Saints took advantage of a missed field goal to beat the Washington Redskins in overtime. This week, Jonathan Vilma stopped Jason Snelling one-yard short of a first down, and the Saints made good. Vilma’s stick came on fourth down with little more than a minute remaining.
Pierre Thomas gained 100 yards from scrimmage – 47 rushing and 53 receiving. Reggie Bush sealed the victory with two touchdowns on a pair of passes from Drew Brees. Reports have it that Bush did not need any teammates to push him over the goal line. 🙂
Racing in the street
Recent traffic infractions behind them, the Minnesota Vikings righted their ship with a 30-10 victory over Cincinnati. Minnesota clinched a playoff spot as Adrian Peterson rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Bernard Berrian chipped in with 4 receptions for 47 yards. Meanwhile, the Viking defense held Carson Palmer to a season-low 94 passing yards.
Last week’s 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals looks likes a pit stop for Team Viking.
Peterson and Berrian were both recently stopped for speeding. Berrian clocked in at 104 mph. Peterson bested his teammate at 109 mph.
“When the strip shuts down we run ’em in the street from the fire roads to the interstate.”
Going in opposite directions
San Diego downed Dallas 20-17. The Chargers have won eight in a row and Philip Rivers is 16-0 in the month of December. The Cowboys, on the other hand? Hee…hee….. The Pokes have lost their last two, and there is something about the month of December and futility for Jerra Jones’s team. That’s all right. Yesterday, the Cowboy organization etched their mark into NFL history as their first team to show their game in 3D on the stadium video board. Oh yeah, and in other news, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are having marital troubles…NEXT!!!!
Where is the defense?
The joke from Sunday night’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants: I went to a track meet and a football game broke out. The two combined for 886 yards of total offense! And that’s not even counting a 72 yard punt return by DeSean Jackson. Geez…what happened to Philly-Giant games past. You know…three yards and a cloud of dust? Instead, it was a case of – “up and down”…the field that is. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew has been reduced to a band of matadors searching for the ghost of Ernest Hemingway. Philly coach, Andy Reid got so caught up in the frivolities that he went for for a chest….errr…hip bump with Jackson. That alone could have earned Reid a POTW.
Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!
Prior to the season, few, if any, of us could have predicted the Cleveland Browns playing Muhammad Ali to the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers’ season. But Thursday night, the Browners delivered a knockout punch, 13-6. The glaring statistic from Thursday’s game is the eight sacks endured by Ben Roethlisberger. Eight sacks? To the Cleveland Browns? Wait…How many sacks did the Browns have going into that game? 24? That means the Browns picked up 25% of their current sack total against the defending…now definitely past tense…Super Bowl champion, Pittsburgh Steelers. I am trying to imagine the discussions in the huddle. Does anyone think Big Ben became a tad concerned with assignments? Any moments of awkward silence? What are the chances Roethlisberger was reduced to begging?
3rd Stone offered an interesting take on the Browns’ victory.
Fumbling with the blues
Okay, so this should be entitled ‘intercepting with the blues.’ It’s just that Tom Waits had something else in mind. Not that it sounds better or anything. A year ago, Matt Cassel and Jay Cutler were flying high. Cassel proved himself capable of sustaining an NFL life outside Tom Brady’s shadow. The USC grad was on his way to his first full season under center. He completed 327 of 516 for 21 TDs and just 11 picks. Yesterday, Cassel completed four passes… to the Buffalo Bills running his season totals to 13 interceptions and 13 tds.
Last year, Cutler threw 25 tds and 18 ints. Somehow, that gave him license to question Josh McDaniels. We all know the story about Cutler making a move to Chicago. Yesterday, the old boy tossed two more. The Vanderbilt alum currently has 22 picks and 19 touchdowns. How is the move looking right about now?
“And it’s hard to win when you always lose.”
Sympathy for the devil
In the past, much has been said about Buffalo Bill wide receiver, Terrell Owens – not much of it is nice. Is age mellowing T.O.? He was knocked down a peg by Brandon Marshall yesterday. Maybe Owens is coming to grips with his mortality. Maybe it’s the fact that he has burned more bridges than JFK (think Bay of Pigs/ Cuban Missile Crisis, Cold War, Jimmy Hoffa, …Marilyn Monroe). It’s just that with the Buffalo Bills air…attack? accounting for 86 yards yesterday and 96 a week ago, one would expect Terrell to have a hissy fit. At least that is what he has done in the past. He hasn’t. In fact, T.O. commented that he is considering a return to Buffalo next year. Hmph. I don’t know what to make of that.
“I shouted out, who killed the Kennedys? When after all, it was you and me.”
Monday night lights
Revenge is in the air. San Francisco opened the season on the road with 20-16 defeat of the Arizona Cardinals. The Super Bowl runner-ups are catching their stride. Nate Clements is out. Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin should provide the entertainment Oh, Oh, Oh.
Got any NFL splinters? Post them here.
To think that Josh McDaniels wanted Matt Cassel and ended up with Kyle Orton. Do you think he is regretting this? I don’t think so – both Cassel and Cutler are looking average right now. Only better offensive lines for both the Chef, errrr… Chiefs and the Bears will prove if QBs were one year wonders. Personally my money is on both QBs being better next year. Cutler has nobody to throw to and “Bad Moon Rising” Hester doesn’t count. Cassel’s best weapon, Dewayne Bowe has been suspended for the past 4 weeks.
Speaking of blocking… ex-Patriot Mike Vrabel, normally a LB for the Chiefs missed a huge block on the goal line and Matt Cassell ended up being sacked for a 10 yard loss.. And people wonder why Belichek was ready to get rid of Vrabel.
How good is DeSean Jackson. He is Donovan McNabb’s favorite target and I was wondering why Jeff Feagles kept punting to him on Sunday. Wasn’t one taken back enough? Then the Giants asked Aaron Ross to cover Jackson – result? A long TD. Coughlin looked constipated all night.
Yes, Kyle Orton is working behind a better line and he has more targets to work with – of course, in August Brandon Marshall looked like the Raiders version of Randy Moss. Is it possible Orton has worked because he had no ego to check a the door. Not saying Cassell has an ego, but he probably wanted to prove his worth. And following Pioli helped.
Another good call by BELICHICK. His judgment gets questioned in the short run, but overall? Did you catch his take on the Jaguar defensive backs criticizing Moss? Priceless. He probably deserved a POTW for that.
As far as DeSean Jackson goes – right now, Russ Francis could get open against the Giants secondary. That is not a criticism of Francis. It’s just that he is about 55 years old.
Great post, Casey! A few adds:
Probably not too early to put Joe Flacco into the slumping QB category along with Cassel, Cutler and others.
I just delight in watching Dallas totally lose it every December. Is Wade Phillips not the Bobby Bowden of the NFL??? His team is deteriorating right before our eyes (again) and he’s totally bumfuzzled as to why. Ya gotta think Jerra is gonna pull the plug on Wade soon.
If you can pick one of today’s QB’s to win a big game for you tomorrow, is it Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers … or someone else? I’m thinking it’s Brees the way he’s playing right now.
Wally – Certainly agree with you on the demise of Wade Phillips.. I think Jerry will act quickly so he doesn’t lose Mike Shanahan to the Buffalo Bills.
As for one of today’s QB.. From those 3 – I am taking Peyton Manning.. No offense Mr. Brees, Mr. Rivers and don’t forget Mr. Brady in this group – I would take Peyton Manning to start my team. It is like having your Offensive Coordinator on the field. I have never seen anyone who can command an offense like Manning.. All the other 3 are deadly when given the weapons.
Brady gets my nod before Brees and Rivers because before Moss, he was doing it with names like Troy Brown, David Givens, Deion Branch, and Jabar Gaffney. Some of those guys have moved on and have been complete busts with their new teams. Manning and Brady have proven they can win the big game.. I gotta see it from Brees to believe it.
Flacco is having no problem handing off the ball – the Ravens rushed for 308 last week. Okay, that came against the Lions, but ya can’t pick you’re opponent. You can only beat ’em
I’m going with Peyton Manning if I need a win tomorrow.
Smitty —
Does your answer for Manning still apply to winning ONE BIG GAME TOMORROW as opposed to “starting a team”?
Wally,
Flacco went 13-20 this past weekend without any interceptions. He struggled against a HOT GBay the week before that. Three weeks ago he went 23-35 with no picks in an overtime win over Pittsburgh. He’s not consistent, but I wouldn’t put him with Cutler and Cassel.