Week 20 NFL Game Recaps
Patriots 23, Ravens 20
Of course, Cundiff shouldn't have been in that position anyway because Joe Flacco threw a game-winning touchdown to Lee Evans two plays earlier. Unfortunately for Baltimore, Evans couldn't hang on to the football, as Sterling Moore, who was on the practice squad earlier in the year, knocked the ball out of his hands. Moore saved the season for Tom Brady, who has now tied John Elway for most Super Bowl appearances (5) and Joe Montana for most playoff victories (16). If Brady wins in two weeks, it's an easy argument to say that he's the best quarterback in NFL history.
Brady will obviously need to play better in the Super Bowl because his defense isn't good enough to carry the team. If Moore doesn't knock the ball out of Evans' hands, the Patriots would have surrendered a game-winning drive to Joe freaking Flacco. That says it all.
Flacco deserves a ton of credit for this near-victory because he was handicapped by Cam Cameron's atrocious play-calling. Cameron decided to run the ball on first down on the opening three drives, putting Flacco in second-and-long each time. The Ravens consequently had to punt on all three occasions.
Cameron's play-calling would improve, but he really screwed up on the penultimate drive of the fourth quarter. He had Ray Rice run a draw on 3rd-and-3 on the New England 30 - a down in which the Ravens couldn't lose yardage no matter what. Rice was tackled three yards behind the line of scrimmage, forcing Baltimore to go for it on 4th-and-6. Flacco would throw incomplete because of pressure.
If I'm Cameron, I'm sending Cundiff a gift basket (and perhaps a suitcase full of money) because if the kicker doesn't whiff on that field goal, Cameron would have been the easy scapegoat.
Ed Dickson, meanwhile, really struggled. He had a big drop and was guilty of a crucial false start in the fourth quarter.
Giants 20, 49ers 17
Seriously, how big was Ginn's knee injury? If he's in the game, the 49ers don't muff a punt and fumble a return in overtime. You really have to feel for Kyle Williams. Unlike Billy Cundiff, Williams' main job isn't returning punts. He was in the game because Ginn was hurt. That doesn't excuse his two crucial mistakes that led to 10 New York points, but if you're comparing Williams to Cundiff, it's no contest. The kicker was more responsible.
Manning went 32-of-58 for 316 yards and two touchdowns. That's an impressive stat line considering the immense pressure he was under. He seldom had time in the pocket and took six sacks (2.5 from Ray McDonald). San Francisco's defense definitely came to play.
As for Alex Smith, he was 12-of-26 for 196 yards and two scores. He made a couple of great throws to Vernon Davis, but two things stick out to me. First, he had an open Kyle Williams downfield for a long touchdown in the second quarter, but overthrew him by about five yards. Second, Smith couldn't convert a third down to save his life. He was 1-of-13 in those situations, with the only positive result coming right at the very end of regulation when the Giants allowed him to complete a pass well short of the end zone.
I don't want you to think that Smith is a lost cause or anything. He made great strides this year, and it wouldn't be fair to dismiss him because of this loss, especially after his late-game heroics versus New Orleans. He deserves a chance with more than one weapon to throw to. Vernon Davis was a monster again (3-112, 2 TDs), but no other Niner receiver or tight end did anything. Michael Crabtree caught one ball for three
My playoff 2011 NFL Power Rankings, will be posted Monday morning.
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MatGee
12-12-2011
10:46 pm
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There is something terribly wrong with the training of NFL officials. Week after week I see game changing calls and non calls in spite of the number of them right on the field. Perhaps it's time to have overhead cameras and a single official with the ability to see multiple views of all plays, as silly as that sounds. Seriously though the refereeing is simply too inconsistent and even sometimes suspect as well. Walt, you say you want nothing more to do with college ball but I am considering the same with the entire NFL.
Andrew S
12-12-2011
07:06 pm
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Cliff Avril jumping offside wasn't "inexplicable." The ball was already on the 2 yard line and there were 9 seconds left, everyone for the Vikings was at the line ready to snap the ball. If he waits a split second he sacks Webb before he spikes the ball and the game is over. It was really close, it was a no risk/high reward play mostly because there was still 9!!! seconds on the clock. If there were like 1 or 2 then, yes I would say dumb, but it would have been a hero play had he timed it properly.
LMFAO
12-12-2011
03:37 pm
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People still blaming Flacco's mistakes on every single other person they can possibly find. It's all just too hilarious. The fact that he "threaded" a ball where the most defenders were is the whole point. He had other options that weren't being double/triple covered.
And if he didn't like any of those options... taking a knee and settling for a field goal is much better than trying to squeeze a pass into that kind of coverage and turning the ball over.
Felton
12-12-2011
02:46 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx3.18
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Tennessee's last 4 games:
17-23 23-17 23-17 17-22
LOL
12-12-2011
01:14 pm
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Jason Pierre Paul was on the Pro Bowl ballot on sunday when i checked
klunge
12-12-2011
11:29 am
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The assertion that Webb's fumble occured because he got facemasked it not true, watch the video before coming up with sweeping statements like this. The ball was already out of his hands prior to the penalty.
Regardless, the Lions have been subjected to more bogus calls & non-calls than anyone over the last couple seasons so to those who aren't inclined to forgive, that's OK because we aren't sorry.
Mike
12-12-2011
09:40 am
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Flacco's pick wasn't a bad red zone decision. It was one of the loveliest passes he's ever thrown, he threaded a tiny needle between two defenders to Boldin, but he didn't even try to catch it (took his eyes off the ball cuz he was scared of the defender over the top). If he even gets his hands on it at all it's not a pick. That one's all on Boldin's complete lack of effort. The guy has some serious alligator arms this year.
Hey Walt!
12-11-2011
08:45 pm
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Remember to breath while choking down Tebow's dick this week.
@ jack and Lou
12-09-2011
06:39 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx2.43
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You guys should know by now that it's always a fluke when Walt loses a bet.
Jack
12-09-2011
03:42 pm
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You can't be serious. McCoy got within a half a yard of the end zone and Cleveland blew an easy TD chance there, and then Massaquoi dropped a TD later in the 1st half. Pittsburgh is lucky they WON, let alone covered 14 points!
Lou
12-09-2011
01:10 pm
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Hey Walt, don't forget that McCoy should've scored a TD in that opening drive where he was down at like an inch from the goal line, so I wouldn't necessarily agree that Pitt should've covered easily.
chuckster
12-09-2011
12:27 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.200
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@Walter: Tough break on the Steelers last night. Should have covered easily. You also mistakenly have put zero loss on that game for yourself, if I'm not mistaken 2 units with a loss should come out to -$220. Hope you can turn it around this Sunday buddy. Congrats on the small winner with the Under call. UNDER was the play last night, hands down.
The Only Jags Fan
12-09-2011
11:30 am
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@Wesley C, I always tuned in every Friday expecting Link to go Roethlisberger on the Princess.
Gong Kong
12-09-2011
10:52 am
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Browns are truly a "Factory of Sadness"
WRs are trash, no RB to speak of, QB is weak armed, and coaching is absolutely pathetic. Shurmur should have never been hired and now should be fired, but it won't happen for another year. Compare him to Harbaugh or any other good young coach. Its sad. No brains, no fire, no x's and o's advantage, no crazy Martz like factor, no nothing, no advantage anywhere as a Head Coach. Sad Sad Sad Sad Sad Sad
Brandon
12-06-2011
03:07 pm
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Hey Walt, can you please stop having Greg Cox do the recaps for the 49ers games? He's boring and somehow even less knowledgeable about football than you.
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