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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Tebow Time
12-05-2011
06:20 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.119
(total posts: 1)
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That 'Tebow Jerky' has the haters jaws sore as hell! The harder they chew, the more painful it gets! haha
Tebow Blows
12-05-2011
02:49 am
xxx.xxx.xxx3.15
(total posts: 1)
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Walt, did you even watch the Broncos game? Most of Tebow's passing yardage came on throw when the DB wasn't even in the frame. What happened to you, got that Tebow-fever?
Dan
12-05-2011
02:23 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.219
(total posts: 1)
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pats won 31-24
chuckster
12-02-2011
02:53 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.200
(total posts: 4)
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@Walter: Great call Walter. I stayed away from this game, though I thought Seattle with the 3 points would probably carry the day for Seattle. Again man, way to go with a 4 unit play on the Seahawks!!!!
Elisabeth Constantine
12-02-2011
10:01 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.122
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Jason
11-29-2011
12:51 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.117
(total posts: 2)
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THANK YOU SAINTS! they saved my ass from a beatdown this week.
the dude
11-28-2011
11:04 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.173
(total posts: 1)
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You forgot to acknowledge Von Miller in Denver's defensive stops. Contrary to your belief that Miller wouldn't adjust well to the 4-3, he's been exceptional. And your explanation didn't make sense in the first place since playing defensive end would be easier for an outside linebacker. Womp.
Aj
11-28-2011
09:17 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.116
(total posts: 1)
80
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Tebow did not win the game. P52 is right. n Willis McGahee is still in the league for a reason. He is more reliable and can run over more tacklers than Knowshon Moreno. Tebow doesn't turn the ball over because Jon Fox and Mr. Elway don't let him throw to anyone else but Rosario and Decker, who prevent some terrible throws from being picked off. When the Broncos face an effective offense like they did in my dumbass Lions, they get crushed. Cliff Avril is right, Tim Tebow is not a NFL quarterback.
chuckster
11-28-2011
06:52 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.200
(total posts: 4)
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@nick: if your "house" offers ten point teasers (3 teams), it might be worth a look. I can tell you that 10 point teasers in NFL, can and a lot of times do make a difference. JMO. Good luck to you.
@nick
11-28-2011
05:45 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.124
(total posts: 1)
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Front-door cover is a team that is favored and winning their game (but not enough to cover) and then kicks a last-second field goal to push their lead above the spread and cover.
Back-door cover is a team that is an underdog and losing their game (by more than the spread) but then gets a last-minute score to bump themselves up and cover the spread. The reason these are frustrating is because it can lose your bet, but rarely had any purpose or advantage in the game itself. Usually the team is either winning or losing by so much that the score is irrelevant, except to screw some people's bets. But it goes both ways and can help or hurt you.
P52 will tackle you
11-28-2011
04:32 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.248
(total posts: 1)
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Dear Tebow-thumpers:
When your team scores 13 points in regulation against a defense that really is nothing special, then your running back makes the big play in overtime to set up the winning field goal after the other team hands you great field position... YOUR QB DID NOT WIN THE GAME. The Broncos have scored more than 18 points once in six games with Tebow at the helm. Right now he's basically a bad pitcher who's getting great run support. yeah, they're winning, but is consistently scoring 17 points something you're really something to be happy about?
201
11-28-2011
04:10 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx8.77
(total posts: 1)
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i love the tebow haters. keep hating. i keep riding it to the bank week afte week. i took Denver ML yest.. and ill do it again next week. san diego is terrible, ive been saying it all year.
and tebow just finds a way. thats all that matters.
nick
11-28-2011
02:27 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.192
(total posts: 1)
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still new to the betting aspect of football- what's a front door cover and a backdoor cover?
Tom P
11-28-2011
10:31 am
xxx.xxx.xxx9.64
(total posts: 1)
169
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Greg, we don't need a play by play for every drive in the game. Please. Walt and Charlie summarize the games in 1/3 the amount of words that you do. We could watch a replay of the game in the same amount of time it takes to read your lengthy recaps.
Just highlights, stats for relevant fantasy players, and a simple analysis. You're over thinking and over doing, I'm sure Walt doesn't even want to proofread fifteen paragraphs per game. Thanks.
Dave P
11-28-2011
09:19 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.160
(total posts: 1)
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He was probably referring to the editors note.
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