Garcon (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

By Paul Gotham

Redemption Song

Twenty-nine days ago, Jim Caldwell, Peyton Manning and the rest of the Indianapolis Colts endured a flock of boo birds amongst their fans at Lucas Oil Stadium. With home field advantage through the playoffs safely in hand, the Colts opted to rest their starters for the second half of their game against the New York Jets. Thus the Colts forfeited the opportunity of reaching a perfect season and allowed the Jets to avoid elimination.

Luck seemed an adversary when the Colts would have to face those same Jets for the AFC Championship. The difference now was Gang Green no longer was facing elimination but walking arm in arm with momentum.

Irony looked like the tone of the day as the Jets held the Colts scoreless in the first quarter. The Colts’ troubles deepened when a drive stalled in the red zone and had to settle for a field goal. New York added to Indy’s miseries with a quick strike and a 7-3 lead.

New York would strike twice more -  a touchdown and a field goal. On the sideline, there were signs of frustration from Manning. ‘Ground and pound’  closed in on the American vernacular.

When the dust of the second stanza settled,  a 17-13 score in favor of the Jets stared the Colts in the face. Usually no deficit is too much for Manning and the Colts. Except that this deficit was to a team that had not surrendered more than fifteen points since the end of November.

Redemption Song

That was when the Colts went “forward in this generation” and earned their redemption.

The Colt offense scored 17 in the second half while the Colt defense kept the Jets out of the end zone.

With Reggie Wayne nearly suffocated in a Darrelle Revis blanket, Manning turned to Pierre Garcon, Dallas Clark and Austin Collie to pick apart the top defense in the league. Garcon grabbed a four yard pass from Manning to put the Colts ahead to stay seven minutes into the third. Garcon’s touchdown begs the question: has a D3 player ever caught a touchdown pass in an NFL Conference Championship game? During his college years, Garcon roamed the gridiron at Mount Union College.

Garcon made 11 catches on the day for 151 yards.

Clark caught a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth. Collie made seven grabs for 123 yards. Then the Colts became a ball-control team – something they scoffed at earlier this year.  Earlier this year, the Colts scored 27 points with 14:53 worth of possession. On Championship Sunday, Manning orchestrated two second-half drives that lasted longer than five minutes a piece. The second of which came midway through the fourth quarter – a 12-play, 71-yard drive that took 5:33 and all but ended the Jets’ chances.

Manning finished 26-39 for 377 yards and three touchdowns.

“But my hand was made strong, by the hand of the almighty. We go forward in this generation, triumphantly.”

Livin’ in the future

Mark Sanchez is no longer a rookie, and the New York Jets are none worse for the wear. Getting to the AFC Championship with a rookie quarterback is a testament to the balanced attack of the Jets.  If not already, AFC East opponents should take notice. Rex Ryan has created a serious contender not just some one-year wonder.

“Don’t worry darlin’, now baby don’t you fret. We’re livin’ in the future, and none of this has happened yet.”

My City of Ruins

My City Of Ruins

“With these hands, with these hands…Come on rise up! Come on rise up!”

Much has been made (as it should be) of the misfortune and ensuing struggle faced by the residents of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  To no small degree, the New Orleans Saints have played a role in boosting the morale of Gulf Coast denizens. Forced into a vagabond existence five years ago, the Saints’ triumphant return is near completion.

Garrett Hartley split the uprights in overtime to end an effort by the Saints that will be characterized more as opportunistic than precise.

Drew Brees completed 17 passes to eight different receivers for 197 yards.  Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush managed just 69 yards on 21 carries. But the only stat that matters is the final score: New Orleans 31 Minnesota 28.

Brees hooked up with Thomas in the first, Devery Henderson in the third and finally Reggie Bush in the fourth. Thomas also scored on a nine-yard run.

The Saint defense, like that port-a-potty at the family picnic, were johnny on the spot all day causing six Minnesota fumbles (three lost) and two interceptions.

“Now the sweet bells of mercy drift through the evening trees. Young men on the corner like scattered leaves. The boarded up windows, the empty streets while my brother’s down on his knees.”

The bitterest pill

The Bitterest Pill

Brad Childress and his Minnesota Vikings have the entire off-season to figure out how one team can dominate another by so much and come away with a loss.  Minnesota nearly doubled New Orleans in total yards, 475-257. The Vikes outrushed the Saints (165-68) and outpassed the Saints (310-189). Yet, in the end, all that matters is 31-28.

Many will focus on the interception thrown by Brett Favre. Fair enough, it was an ill-advised pass. But don’t forget what else happened. It’s kind of like Bill Buckner’s error. Yeah, it happened. But how about the fact that Calvin Schiraldi had a two-run lead with two outs and no one on when he got confused and thought he was tossing batting practice. That’s sort of like the Vikings getting flagged for 12 men in the huddle…AFTER a timeout! Maybe a pass would not have been needed if the Vikings had that five yards back. Favre could have run to the sideline. True. But Bob Stanley did not need to bounce the ball five feet in front of the plate allowing the winning run to move into scoring position. And that Minnesota defensive back, who shall remain nameless, could have secured the ball that tipped off the hands of  Marques Colston.

So Favre threw an interception on the last pass of his career…again. Bill Buckner let one go through the wickets. That’s all right, Favre will get his bust in Canton. Billy Buckner? This weekend he’ll be signing autographs at a card show or playing in some celebrity softball game. Somehow, life is not fair. Billy never made us endure any soap operas. I’m retired. I’m not retired. I’m retired. I’m not retired…

“The dying spark, you left your mark on me…for the bitterest pill is mine to swallow.”

I strenuously object!

McCarver trumps Aikman

Anyone else catch the exchange between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman? New Orleans got flagged for roughing the passer. On the first replay, Aikman commented that he didn’t like the call. Buck disagreed. You read that right. Buck disagreed. How many times has Tim McCarver put his foot in his mouth only to have pipsqueak smooth it over by mentioning that jello mouth caught Bob Gibson or something? Then Fox shows the replay again (remember, this is the NFL where a 60:00 game consists of about 15:00 of play, 25:00 of replays and 20:00 of watching guys stand in the hudlle or on the sideline). Aikman proceeds to explain himself at length. When he finished, Buck dismissed it: “I disagree.”  I half expected him to pull a Demi Moore and “strenuously” disagree.

Joe? You do realize you are sitting next to hall-of-famer right? Not to mention a hall-of-fame quarterback. Okay, he’s had a couple of concussions, but the guy still has his wits about him. You might want to defer to his judgment in the future.

Jaworski spot on

When Ron Jaworski makes a prediction, people should listen in the future. On the Sunday Morning Countdown, Jaws predicted that the Jets would go long on their third possession to Braylen Edwards. After the Colts made it three to nothing, the Jets took the kickoff for their third possession. First play, Sanchez dropped back and hit Edwards for an 80-yard touchdown. Now, THAT’S a prediction! Jaworski described how he had analyzed Jet tapes for a while and picked up on the tendency.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

AP Photo/Dave Martin

By Paul Gotham

Born on a bayou

Rumors of the Saints’ demise proved untrue. So too did the rumors that New Orleans lacks a defense.

Reggie Bush brought the wood. Drew Brees reminded Saints fans of what he is capable. Jeremy Shockey returned to the lineup, and the Saints’ defense made like some “old hound dog barkin.’ Chasin’ down a hoodoo there.”

Bush pounded out 217 all-purpose yards and became the first player since Charlie Taylor, in 1947, to rush for a touchdown and to return a punt for touchdown in the same post-season game. Bush led the Saints on to the field carrying a baseball bat with the inscription: “Bring the wood” – the Saints rally cry.

Brees threw for three touchdowns for the first time since a 26-23 win over Atlanta on December 13th.  He hooked up with Shockey mid-way through the first quarter and the Saints never looked back from there. The Purdue grad later connected with Devery Henderson and Marques Colston.

Those expecting this game to resemble a shootout were surprised when the Saint defense clipped the Cardinals’ wings. Arizona managed just 14 points on 359 total yards. One week after scoring 51, the Cardinals offense met a stronger force in the Saints D. Arizona’s defense surrendered 90 points in two playoff games.

Arizona added to their own misfortune with two turnovers.

New Orleans moves on for a chance to bring Cajun country its first Super Bowl appearance.

“Wish I was back on the bayou rollin’ with some Cajun Queen. Wish I were a freight train, oh just a chooglin’ on down to New Orleans.”

Call me lightning

Like New Orleans, the Colts shook off any signs of rust. Indy’s offense did just enough. Their defense did more than enough, and the offense might have made the defensive play of the game.

For 25+ minutes the Colts and Ravens stood deadlocked at three. Indy’s offense, which showed a quick strike ability all season, resorted to an old-fashioned 14-play drive that took eight minutes. The result: a ten-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Austin Collie.

Then, just when the Ravens thought they would go into halftime within striking distance, Manning and the Colts struck like lightning.

Indy grabbed a 17-3 lead at half with an eight-play, 64 -yard drive in 83 seconds culminating with a Manning to Reggie Wayne touchdown.

Baltimore looked poised for a comeback when Ed Reed picked off a Manning pass and returned the ball deep into Colts territory. It was at this point, the Colts offense made the defense play of the game. Looking more like a defensive back than a wide receiver, Pierre Garcon chopped the ball from Reed, and Indy recovered on its own 24 yard line. Reed intercepted another Manning pass on the same drive. That pick was nullified by a penalty.

Indy added an insurance field goal early in the fourth.

One week after scoring 33 points in a rout of New England, the Ravens offense managed little against the Indy defense. Ray Rice ran for 83 yards on the opening play of the New England game. Indy held the Ravens to 87 yards rushing for the game.  After their first drive of 15 plays, Baltimore longest drive consisted of just six plays as Indy frustrated the Ravens all day.

“You can’t catch me I’m as fast as can be. Call me lightning I’m as fast as can be.”

Purple haze

Dallas entered play Sunday with the league’s second-rated offense. The Cowpokes left the game thinking “lately things just don’t seem the same.”

Brett Favre threw for four touchdowns, and the Minnesota defense drowned Tony Romo in a sea or purple.

Favre connected with Sidney Rice three times as Minnesota pounded Dallas, 34-3.

The 21st century Viking defense reminded fans of the ‘Purple People Eaters’ as they sacked Romo six times, forced two fumbles, and picked off one Romo pass.

Gerald Sensabaugh might have provided the best representation of the ‘Pokes ineptitude. With a 45-yard pass from Favre hanging in the air, and the entire state of Texas yelling – “SEE THE BALL,” Sensabaugh stared at Rice, and pigskin floated over his shoulder for a catch and touchdown.

“Purple haze all in my eyes. Don’t know if it’s day or night. You’ve got me blowin’, blowin’ my mind. Is it tomorrow? Or just the end of time?”

Reason to believe

Sexy Rexy Ryan and his Gang Green crashed yet another party. With all the higher seeds holding serve,  the New York Jets earned a spot in the AFC Championship. Despite being on the road for the second week in a row the Jets found a “reason to believe.”

This despite the fact that the Jets won their final two regular season games against teams sitting out most of their starters. All that behind them, the Jets held the San Diego Chargers to half their season average of points in a 17-14 victory.

The Jets stopped the Chargers short of the goal line three times, and Nate Kaeding missed three field goals.

Mark Sanchez completed 12 of 23 passes including a two-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Keller, and Shonn Greene proved lightning can strike twice with a 53-yard tocuhdown run.

Greene had a 39-yard touchdown run against Cincinnati the week before.

“At the end of every hard earned day, people find some reason to believe.”

Your own worst enemy has come to town

Next weekend sets up the possibility of the cruelest of ironies.

In week 15, Indy pulled its starters and gave up the possibility of perfection. The New York Jets were the direct beneficiary. Without that win, the Jets would NOT have qualified for the playoffs. How will the Colts handle the dream they have given birth to?

Brett Favre led the Packers to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI. The site of that game? The New Orleans Super Dome. Next week’s game between the Vikes and Saints returns Favre to a place where he is comfortable.

“There’s a face you know. Staring back from the shop window. The condition you’re in. Now you just can’t get out of this skin.”

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel

By Paul Gotham

No Surrender

Not much was certain prior to the Jets – Bengals meeting. Were the Bengals playing possum the previous week when they fell 37-0 to the Jets? If so or if not, how would AFC North champion respond? How would rookie Mark Sanchez perform in his first playoff game?  Is the Jets’ defense for real?

No – not well – pretty well – and yes.

Rex Ryan’s Jets showed they do not know how to retreat.

The Jets managed just 48 yards on 16 plays in the game’s first quarter. Ex-Jet Laveranues Coles spotted the Bengals a lead on an 11-yard pass from Carson Palmer.

From there Mark Sanchez did what the Jets needed him to do – limit the damages. Shonn Greene scampered 39 yards to tie the score early in the second quarter. Sanchez hooked up Dustin Keller on a 45-yard pass and the Jets never looked back en route to 24-14 win.

Sanchez finished 12-15 for 182 yards, with one touchdown, and ZERO interceptions. The Jets did not turn the ball over at all.

The Jets’ defense  held the Bengals to 281 yards of total offense including 110 through the air. New York caught a break early when Coles fumbled on the Jets 30.

Chad Johnson proved himself as more hype than substance. The Bengal receiver finished with two catches for 28 yards. #85′s performance probably should not have come as any surprise. He finished with 72 catches for the year – 26th in the league – for 1,047 yards – 20th in the league. Hey Chad! His name is Darrelle Revis. How do you like him?

“Blood brothers in the stormy night with a vow to defend – No retreat no surrender.”

Under My Thumb

Six to two – that is the number of touchdowns to interceptions Tony Romo has thrown in the recent four game winning streak for the Dallas Cowboys.

Excuse me for a minute.

Yeah, sorry about that. I had a little vomit in my mouth.

78 to 30 – that is how much the Cowboys outscored the Eagles in three games this season – all victories for the Cowboys.  How did the Giants beat the Cowboys twice?

Are the Cowboys really good? Or, are the Eagles suddenly bad?  58-14 the last two weeks? Call the Eagles a bunch of wet rags. Call them old dolls. Call them pinatas. Call them whatever you like, the Cowboys threw them around.

To make things worse for the Eagles, the Cowboys actually committed more penalties 14-9.

As expected, the Eagles gained just 56 yards on the ground. Philly outgained Dallas through the air, 284-228, but four turnovers doomed the Eagles. No, two of eleven third down efficiency doomed the Eagles. No, giving up 198 yards on the ground doomed. Wait, maybe the Cowboys doomed the Eagles.

Whatever way you look at it, the Cowboys have the Eagles under their thumb.

“Down to me, the change has come…under my thumb.”

Won’t Get Fooled Again

The last time New England lost a playoff game at home, oil derricks adorned the helmets of the NFL team from Houston – a streak that covered 10 games.

Prior to Sunday, New England had never lost to Baltimore. Ever. The Pats were 5-0 against The Ravens including a 27-21 victory earlier this season.

New England was undefeated at home this season.

Baltimore showed they would not be tricked again.

All of that history was thrown out the window as easily and as quickly as Ray Rice sprinted 83 yards to day light – ON THE FIRST PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE! Little did the football world know, the game could have ceased right there. Fans of New England might have been happy if it had. Baltimore gave Tom Brady the third degree picking three of his passes, sacking him three times and knocking down the Patriot QB three more times.

“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution. Take a bow for the new revolution.”

Born To Run

In a game that saw the Green Bay Packers have more comebacks than Evander Holyfield (or that quarterback that wears #4) it was a play made just when things seemed to be going the Pack’s way that decided it.

Green Bay recovered from a 21 point second half deficit only to fall behind seven with less than five minutes to play. Not to be denied Aaron Rodgers connected with Spencer Havner for the tie.

Then things seemed to turn.

Neil Rackers missed a chip shot that would have given the Cardinals the game. Green Bay won the coin toss in overtime.

Just like that, things changed again. Michael Adams sacked Rodgers. The ball came loose. Karlos Dansby recovered it, and the Cardinals advanced.

This game will be remembered for: 96 total points – a new NFL playoff record, 1,024 combined yards, countless highlight reel clips on offense and a whole lot of running up and down the field.

On a random note – ever wonder what a graduation ceremony at the University of Phoenix is like?

“Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and stepping out over the line.”

Local Hero

Four of next weekend’s quarterbacks developed their game at small schools: Kurt Warner (Northern Iowa), Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois), Joe Flacco (Delaware) and Brett Favre (Southern Mississippi).

Looking ahead

Cardinals at Saints: What is the over / under for this game?

Ravens at Colts: Stopping Tom Brady is one thing. Stopping Peyton Manning? The Colts rushing game is last in the league.

Cowboys at Vikings: If there is such a thing as home field advantage the Metrodome is the place. Minnesota fans are still looking for revenge. Maybe Drew Pearson and Nate Wright should serve as honorary captains for this one.

Jets at Chargers: How good is that Jet defense?

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

By Paul Gotham

There’s more to the picture…

“…than meets the eye.”

Week 17 became the question of timing versus rust, or for some health versus injury.

One week after turning their back on perfection, Indy’s Colts feigned deference as did Arizona, Cincinnati and New Orleans.

New England, on the other hand, did not.

With home field advantage in hand for the playoffs, Peyton Manning stayed in the game just long enough to get Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne 100 receptions each for the season. Clark joined Tony Gonzalez as the only tight ends to reach the century mark.

From there the trio took their place on the snowy sidelines at Ralph Wilson Stadium and watched Curtis “I’m no Picasso” Painter take the ball.

I'm no quarterback.

Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two more touchdowns, and the Bills went on to a 30-7 victory.  Terrell Owens finished with four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Fred Jackson picked his own milestone passing the 1,000 yard rushing mark with 212 yards for the day.

While the Colts treated the game like a pre-season exhibition (Dwight Freeney, Joseph Addai, and Robert Mathis did not play at all), the Bills might have been going through a try out. Buddy Nix was hired just last week as the team’s new general manager.

Arizona and Green Bay both knew they had a game next week. Ken Whisenhunt opted to play possum. Mike McCarthy kept the foot on the pedal. Whisenhunt sat Kurt Wrner on the bench, and the result was the worst home loss in Whisenhunt tenure with the Cardinals, 33-7.

With Warner pickin’ splinters for the day, Matt Leinart got his big chance. “He was a big man. He never thought to do things twice.” Leinart went 13-21 for 96 yards and two interceptions. At least Leinart did better than “I’m no Picasso.” Of course, “I’m no Picasso” never won a Heisman either.

If Marvin Lewis was Bill BeliCHICK, nobody would bother with the result of yesterday’s game between the Bengals and Jets. But Marvin Lewis is NOT Bill BeliCHICK, and losing to the Jets, 37-0 is a head-scratcher. Yeah, okay so the Bengals knew they would play the Jets next week. Caution would serve the better part of valor…or something like that. There is a difference between caution and apathy. The Patriots could stem the momentum generated by the Jets yesterday. Can the Bengals?

As for the Saints…HELLO!?!? You now have a three-game losing streak! What in the love of cajun country are you thinking? You needed overtime to beat the Washington ‘No-hearts’! You beat the Falcons by three. Neither of those teams are in the playoffs. That is all you have to speak  for in the last month of the season. Now you get two weeks to dwell on that. Enjoy the friggin’ Pro Bowl!

Somewhere, there is a New England Patriot fan that wants to slap me for suggesting that the above teams should have played rather than rested their players. Here’s the thing – if there is a coach that can figure out how to recover from the loss of Wes Welker and Tom Brady’ rib injury (did I forget any), Bill BeliCHICK is the guy. Who figured out how to stop the K-Gun in Super XXV? Ding! Ding! BeliCHICK. Who schemed a way to beat “The Best Show On Turf?”  Ding! Ding! BeliCHICK.

“It’s better to burn out than it is to rust.”

Please pass the salt

If I am going to eat crow, it might as well have some taste. Okay, I have made slaggin’ the Cowpokes my job for the last…oh…decade. Make that two decades. Somehow, Jerra Jones stayed out of the way enough to let Ol’ Wade and crew get in the playoffs.

What the heck happened to the Eagles? Did they want to play in Jerra’s palace?

While I’m at it

I am going to take Tom Coughlin’s lead and make no excuses for the Giants. After watching the midgets fall behind 17-0, spending two and a half hours behind a snow blower in sub-zero wind chills seemed a better way to spend my time.  When did the Giants sign the sponsorship contract with the Hoover Vacuum Co? Because they sure do SUCK!

Before I forget, while snow blowing I popped on the IPod. Turned the volume up LOUD and listened to ‘The Rising.’ Convenient amnesia is a beautiful thing. Especially when the Giants lose 44-7.

Decisions, decisions

Has an NFL coach ever been fired after winning four consecutive games? That is the decision that new Cleveland Brown General Manager, Mike Holmgren, has to consider. Eric Mangini who has been smacked around more than a pinata at a birthday party got his guys to win the last four games of the season. The Browns rushed for 214 yards and downed the Jacksonville Jaguars, 23-17. Mangini’s guys even honored him with a Gatorade bath…in Cleveland…during the month of January. Now that is love. I think.

Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out

Jim Zorn should have been fired at halftime of the Redskins game with the Giants. There is no other response to that silly fake field goal. Has anybody figured out a rationalization yet for that play? But like some evil torture treatment, Daniel Snyder kept Zorn around for the finish. All the while Snyder was making overtures to other coaches – in particular Mike Shanahan. Man, Tiger should be happy Elin is not Snyder’s daughter. She might take that whole scorned woman thing to new heights.

Buddy Nix did not spend any time getting to know the Bills’ coaches. The new Buffalo GM sent the entire staff  ‘shuffling off from Buffalo.’

Bill Sheridan’s time as the defensive coordinator of the Giants came to an end. Hey Bill! Next time,  when coaching defense, make sure your guys can TACKLE! Geez! If Casper the friendly ghost appeared on the field, your guys would run the other way.

Get off my cloud

A record ten quarterbacks threw for 4,000 or more yards this year: Eli Manning, Old Man Favre, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo and Peyton Manning. But number one on the list belongs to none other than (drum roll please) Houston’s Matt Schaub. Schaub helped the Texans to their first winning season going 396-583 for 4,770 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Schaub’s teammate, Andre Johnson, finished third in receiving with 101 catches for 1,569 yards.

“A voice says, Hi, Hello, How are you? Well I guess I’m doing fine.”

Reason to Believe

It does not matter that the Jets scored 37 points and Mark Sanchez threw for a mere 67 yards. The Jets are in the playoffs. Just a couple of weeks ago, Rex Ryan declared his team out of the playoffs. Now Gang Green is alive.

“At the end of hard earned day, people find some reason to believe.”

Familiarity breeds contempt

Four games this weekend, and in three of those contests, the teams played each other this weekend. Ooh, this could get wild. Pun intended.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

By Paul Gotham

Roll of the dice

Much to the chagrin of all those looking to witness history, the Indianapolis Colts pulled the plug on their run to perfection. With a 9-3 lead at half, Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark …(anyone I forgot?) traded helmets on baseball caps, and the New York Jets handed Indy loss numero uno, 29-15.

Jim Caldwell went from relative anonymity to membership in the head coaching club. Congratulations coach! Welcome to a lifetime of second-guessing although it is unclear whether the decision was actually Caldwell’s. There has been some discussion suggesting that team president, Bill Polian, made the call.

Either way, the pressure is now squarely on the backs of the Colts. The only way these guys can make good on this decision is to win the Super Bowl. Anything short of a victory in Dolphin Stadium will serve as the ultimate Garbage Plate feast for Monday Morning Quarterbacks.

Dare I suggest that the Who would be an all the more appropriate half time show at the Super Bowl. In the event the Colts don’t advance, wise-crackin’ analysts will question Indy’s place in history by quoting the British Invasion band: “Who are you, who-who, who-who?”

What place in history does Curtis Painter take? Painter at least earned his spot as a trivia question of the future. Hopefully, Scott Norwood gave the Colt reserve QB a call to put everything in perspective.

“All my elevens and sevens been comin’ up sixes and nines…Been comin’ on changing times; they’re just waitin’ over rise; just another roll of the dice.”

Seeing the real you at last?

Consider this: in week 12 of the season, New Orleans soundly defeated New England, 38-17. At that point, the Saints had won nine of eleven games by double digits. Since then, the Saints are 2-2. The two wins: by three over the Washington Redskins and by three over the Atlanta Falcons.

The two losses? Losing to Dallas is understandable. But Tampa Bay? Let’s look at this one way. The Giants beat the Bucs, 24-0 in week three. A game where the Bucs did not get a first down until late in the third quarter.

Yesterday, the Bucs had 24 first downs to the Saints 23.

Have the Saints peaked? Is it possible for Drew Brees and company to rekindle the fire they had earlier this season? In the meantime, Cajun country will be crooning Bob Dylan.

“I’m hungry and I’m irritable, and I’m tired of this bag of tricks. At one time there was nothing wrong with me that you could not fix.”

Waiting in the wings

Now that the Colts and Saints have come back to earth, who will slip by the one time favorites.

San Diego dispatched a hot Tennessee Titan team, 42-17 (not that any of us would know since the game was on the NFL Network). The Titans had won six of seven. San Diego has now won 10 in a row.  Included in those victories – Philadelphia, Denver, Dallas, and Cincinnati. The Chargers have quietly made an assault on the light brigade. With Indy forfeiting momentum, is the door wide open for the Chargers?

Or, are the Patriots back in the picture? Tom Brady and Randy Moss looked pretty comfortable slicing up the Jacksonville Jaguars.

New Orleans needs a win over the resurgent Carolina Panthers to secure home-field advantage. Are NFC rivals intimidated by the Super Dome? The Saints two losses came in the heart of Cajun Country.

Philly and Arizona might have enough of a chip on the shoulder to continue the Saints’ woes.

Muddy Waters

One week remains and seven AFC teams are jockeying for two wild card spots. The Jets and Ravens hold their own destinies. Baltimore has to play the bi-polar Raiders next week. That is not good for Baltimore, as it could open the door. Denver, Houston, and Pittsburgh wait to pounce on the possible loss. Miami and Jacksonville have as much of a chance of getting into the playoffs as Tiger Woods earning the Better Homes and Garden father-of-the-year award.

The ties that bind

At one time given up for dead, the Jets are alive. A victory over the Bengals punches Mark Sanchez’s ticket to the playoffs.

“You walk cool…but can you walk the line.”

Three in a row

Don’t look now, but the Browns have not known losing since December sixth. Any day now the ius suffix will be re-attached to Mangini.

Un-comfortably numb

How else can one describe the performance of the New York Giants? With their playoff lives hanging in the balance, playing the Meadowlands swan song, the Giants  showed nothing, zilch, zippo.  Down 24-0 at half, the Giants promptly allowed the Panthers to take the second half kickoff and go 71 yards in four plays.

Somewhere along the line the Big Blue Wrecking crew forgot how to tackle, how to block, how to punt, how to run, how to pass, how to catch, and yes, they forgot how to show feeling. Did I miss anything?

Props to Carolina’s version of Steve Smith. The nine-year vet took a helmet to his left forearm, but still held on for the touchdown despite breaking his arm.

Ndamukong sweepstakes

At 1-14, the St. Louis Rams have positioned themselves for the first pick in the draft. Detroit is 2-13. Matt Millen is gone. Would the Lions pick Shu if given a chance? Are there any good wide receivers available?

Back to the Rams – Shu would join Chris Long – the team’s overall number one pick in ’08 – on the line. Long has had five sacks since November.

Monday night lights

Minnesota at Chicago – which Favre will show? The drama queen or the gun slinger? Some are still waiting for number 4 to go clunk.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

Jerome Harrison

By Paul Gotham

Big weekend for the tavern owners

Somewhere in the rank and file of the NFL must be soft spot for bar owners across the United States of America. How else can one explain the NFL Network? This whole notion that the NFL builds a following over the last 4+ decades only to now limit access is crazy. Tavern owners across the States must have been exchanging high fives as a pair of undefeateds played separate games on the elite network this weekend. Those unwilling to part with the cash necessary for the NFL Network subscriptions scampered to the local watering holes for a glimpse.

Indy did not disappoint. New Orleans did.

Indy and Jacksonville opened the season at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jacksonville failed on a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter, and Indy held on to win, 14-12. The two combined for 593 yards.

Fourteen weeks later saw a different battle but the same result. The Jaguars gained 345 and Indy 369. Peyton Manning threw four tds. David Garrard tossed three. Indy led at half, trailed late, and struck on time to win, 35-31.

Manning connected with Dallas Clark and Austin Collie in the second quarter. Chad Simpson returned a kickoff 93 yards, and the Colts led 21-17 at half.

Garrard hooked up with Mike Sims-Walker and Mike Thomas to give Jacksonville a third quarter lead, 31-28.

But as they have so many times this years, the Colts figured out a way. Manning hit Reggie Wayne on a 65-yard touchdown and the Colts improved to 14-0. With all the other accolades (consecutive regular season wins and wins in a decade) the Colts added one more.  Indy joined the ’72 Dolphins and ’07 Patriots as the only 14-0 teams in NFL history. Hey Mercury! Peyton is in the zip code.

A trusted confidant of Wade Phillips

Blind squirrel and the acorn

As the old saying goes – even a blind squirrel eventually finds an acorn. It was bound to happen that the Tony-Romo-led Dallas Cowboys would win a meaningful game in December.  The ‘Pokes ended the New Orleans quest for perfection, 24-17. Well, maybe it wasn’t exactly Tony Romo doing the leading. The ‘Poke defense gave Saint QB, Drew Brees, fits all night. As a result, the usually balanced Saint attack resorted to 45 passes in comparison to just 13 rushes. It’s only fitting that the Dallas win would happen in front of the teeniest of television audiences thanks to the NFL Network.  The situation with the NFL Network brings up one of the great philosophical questions:  If the Pokes win, and the game was covered by NFL Network, did the game actually occur?

New England by default

For a fleeting moment the AFC East had the potential of a log jam. Fleeting being the most important word in the previous statement. New England looked vulnerable last week. They entered this week having not won a game on the road this season. After one quarter at the Ralph, Buffalo held a 3-0 lead on the Pats. Okay, okay it was mildly delusional to think the Bills could pull off this one. But don’t forget, Buffalo held a lead late in the fourth quarter in Foxboro week one.  At the same time yesterday, Miami led Tennessee3-0, and the Jets took a 7-0 lead on Atlanta.

That’s where the fleeting comes into play. Tom Brady and Randy Moss reconnected. New England triumphed, 17-10.

Miami sort of held Chris Johnson in check (Tennessee’s leading rusher only gained 104 yards on the ground), overcame an 18-point deficit, forced overtime, and then lost 27-24.

Matt Ryan hooked up with Tony Gonzalez on a fourth down play with 1:38 remaining and the Falcons grounded the Jets, 10-7.

Just like that New England grabbed a two-game lead in the AFC East. Meanwhile, the AFC wild card picture – you can “pick up a flat rock and skip it across” because it resembles a Green River. Suddenly, there are eight teams within one game, battling for two spots.

Up off the deck

Gulp!

Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers looked to be KO’d. Now the Steelers will get the same reaction Clint Eastwood received in Hang ‘Em High. Having been left for dead, Eastwood’s assailants were surprised when Jed Cooper returned to town alive…with rope scars on his neck. Troy Polamalu is due back. How many teams want to see the Steelers from here on out?

Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers combined for 800+ yards in the air as the Steelers struck late to win, 37-36.

Roethlisberger found Mike Wallace in the end zone as time expired for the win. The lead changed hands five times in the game’s final nine minutes.

Roethlisberger completed 29-46 for 503 yards and three touchdowns. He joins Y.A. Tittle and Warren Moon as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 500 yards in a game with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Pittsburgh is now one of six AFC teams with a 7-7 record. The other five – Jaguars, Dolphins, Jets, Titans, and Texans. Right now, the Ravens and Broncos hold the wildcard spots at 8-6. Pittsburgh hosts Baltimore next weekend and travels to Miami the final weekend of the regular season.

Speaking of the Broncos

As if things could get any stranger with the Oakland Raiders.  It’s ‘Off”JaMarcus Russell to the rescue? The Raiders have now defeated the first-place Eagles (10-4), the first-place Bengals (9-5), the Steelers (7-7), and now the Broncos (8-6). “Just put me in a wheelchair, get me to the show, hurry, hurry, hurry before I go loco.”

Introducing Jerome Harrison

Move over Jim Brown. Cleveland has a new single-game rushing leader. Jerome Harrison carried the ball 34 times for 286 yards. Harrison scored on runs of 71, 8 and 28 yards as the Browns outscored Kansas City, 41-34.  Josh Cribbs added two dramatic moments with a pair 100-yard kickoff returns. Cribbs set an NFL record with his 7th and 8th career kickoff returns for touchdowns.

Somewhere in the frozen swamps of Jersey

Mother nature and her arctic blast delayed two games yesterday. Atlanta at the Meadowlands against the Jets was not one. Mark Sanchez showed he could “burst just like a super nova” when he hit Braylon Edwards on a 65-yard strike. Finishing 18-32 with three picks shows “It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City.”

Monday night lights.

Oh boy. The Giants’ season hangs in the balance as they visit D.C.  Washington is celebrating the end of the Vince Cerrato era. This can’t be good. Eli is going to have to do a little better than playing a broken guitar.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

Brackett

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?

Hemingway- Death In The Afternoon

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.”

The Chinchillas

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.

By Paul Gotham

Trading Places

In November, the Indianapolis Colts won four consecutive games by a combined total of 10 points. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints have lit up scoreboards to the tune of 407 points while limiting opponents to 221. For one day, at least, the two undefeated teams changed roles. Indy sprinted to a 21-3 lead, and its defense held serve as they downed the Tennessee Titans, 27-17. New Orleans needed overtime to best the Washington Redskins,  33-30.

Peyton Manning and the Colts added a couple more milestones to their resume notching their 12th victory of the season.  Indy has reached a dozen triumphs in seven consecutive seasons – adding to their own record. The win was the 113th of the decade, tying the San Francisco 49ers of the 1990s for the most wins in a decade.  The Colts also tied the Pats for the most consecutive regular season wins with 21.

Tennessee came in riding a five-game win streak and was the last team to beat the Colts in the regular season – October 27, 2008. The Titans could not manage the same result yesterday.

Joseph Addai rushed for two touchdowns. Manning completed 24 of 37 for 270. Pierre Garcon had a career day with six receptions for 136 yards. But the Indy defense made the difference. Clint Session led the defense with 12 unassisted tackles and a forced fumble. The Colts defense stiffened with a pair of goal-line stands and two fourth down stops.

For the seventh game in a row, Tennessee’s Chris Johnson rushed for over 1oo yards tying a franchise record set by Earl Campbell.

New Orleans found the elixir for their Monday night hangover just in time. Less than a week after causing the New England Patriots to surrender, the Saints pulled out all the stops to beat the 3-8 Washington Redskins.  When Washington’s Shaun Suisham missed a 23-yard field goal with 1:52 to play, Drew Brees and company got a second life. Instead of trailing by 10, the Saints needed just a touchdown to tie. A 53-yard strike to Robert Meachem tied the score. Garrett Hartley nailed the winning field goal in overtime.

But that is half of the story. New Orleans took advantage of a series of strange plays. A shanked punt turned into a 29-yard gain when Washington’s Kevin Barnes, lying on his back, was hit with the ball and the Saints recovered.  Four plays later, Washington appeared to have recovered when Kareem Moore intercepted a Brees pass. Inexplicably, Meachem grabbed the ball right out of Moore’s hands and returned it for 44-yard score.

Washington has now lost three consecutive games when leading in the fourth quarter.

Muh, muh mediocre

Is Charlie available?

Two weeks into the season, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers stood at 1-1. Many thought the two AFC powerhouses had their wakeup calls. Maybe they hit the snooze alarm.

Pittsburgh and New England have combined to lose 7 of their last 8.

The Pats have a clear case of homesickness. Other than a win over Tampa Bay in London, the Pats have a big Ofer on the road. The Pats “got it bad so bad” that the Dolphins abandoned their running attack.  Miami, the kings of the Wildcat, rushed the ball 27 times while throwing 52 passes. Can we revisit Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth down against the Colts. Do you think he knew something about his team that we didn’t – well, at least at the time? The Pats can not defend the pass. Wonder if Belichick plays euchre because he sure has shown everyone his hand.

Even New England fans are calling the Patriots mediocre.

The Super Bowl champion Steelers had fourth quarter leads of 17-13 and 24-20 before succumbing to Oakland Free Academy.  Gradowski and Janikowski sealed the victory. Gradowski found Louis Murphy in the end zone with :11 remaining. Janikowski split the uprights as the Raiders won, 27-24.  If the playoffs started next weekend, the Steelers would be watching.

19th Nervous Breakdown

The final month of the year is becoming a favorite of the Eagles, Giants, and Redskins and all their fans. The Cowpokes just can’t get out of their own way during the season of yuletide. Anyone else getting pleasure out of watching Jerry Jones squirm as the ‘Pokes implode? Hey Jerra! Good luck against the Chargers next week…and the Saints the week after that…and the Eagles two weeks after that. Maybe you should tell wonder boy Jason Garrett to run the ball a little more. 23 rushes for 45 yards? Ouch! What happened to that All Pro line?

“Oh, who’s to blame. That girl’s just insane. Nothing I do don’t seem to work. It only seems to make matters worse.”

8th on the list

LaDanian Tomlinson passed hall-of famer, Jim Brown on the all-time rushing list. Tomlinson had 20 for 64 yards and a touchdown as San Diego downed Cleveland, 30-23. Tomlinson’s touchdown was the 150th of his career – he reached that plateau faster than anyone in the history of the NFL – 137 games.

Three of the top eight rushers of all time played college football outside the major six conferences: Walter Payton (Jackson State), Eric Dickerson (SMU), and Tomlinson (TCU).

Hungry Heart

After his rookie quarterback was injured while lunging for a first down, New York Jets coach, Rex Ryan, openly criticized Mark Sanchez. C’mon coach! He was just taking one for the team. Ya know, he was willing to “lay down his money and play his part…everybody’s got a hu-hu-hungaree heart…oh oh oh.”

Monday night lights

The forecast is calling for a wintry mix. Mr. Rodgers meet Mr. Flacco. Actually, it might be more appropriate to say – Mr. Flacco meet Mr. Woodson.  GBay needs the win to keep pace with the Eagles for the final wild card spot. Baltimore needs the win keep within sniffing distance of the AFC wild card.

Got any NFL splinters? Share them here.

AP Photo/Wade Payne

By Paul Gotham

Another week; another comeback

Anyone wanting to anoint Peyton Manning and his band of brothers as drama queens of the NFL, will get no argument. For the fifth time in as many games the Indianapolis Colts trailed in the fourth quarter.  Like the previous four games, the Colts recovered in time for a 35-27 victory over the Houston Texans. Indy outscored the Texans 21-7 in the fourth.  Seconds after Indy grabbed its first lead at 21-20, Clint Session intercepted a Matt Schaub pass and returned it 27 yards for the touchdown.

Houston committed 10 penalties for 129 yards. Two second-half pass interference calls proved costly as both contributed to Indy touchdowns.

Kris Brown staked the Texans to a 17-0 lead in the second quarter with a 35-yard field goal.

Staying on the radar

With two teams maintaining undefeated records, the Minnesota Vikings might go unnoticed. Well, maybe not. The pressure of going undefeated is off them, and the Vikings might have the best lineup in the NFL.  Instead of falling apart like Humpty Dumpty, Brett Favre contniues to lead the potent Viking offense. Yesterday, the Vikes rolled up 537 total yards against the Chicago Chihuahuas…er…Bears. Favre with Adrian Peterson, and Sidney Rice are as lethal a trio as any in the league. Minnesota averages 31 points per game. New Orleans leads the league at 36.9, and Indy scores 27.6. At the same time the Vikes limit opponents to 18.5ppg. New Orleans opponents score 20 ppg. Indy’s adversaries get 16.7.

On the season, Favre has 24 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

Minnesota visits Arizona next week before an interesting showdown with Cincinnati. Speaking of the Bengals….

Break out the brooms

Cincy downed Cleveland 16-7, and with that the Bengals earned a perfect 6-0 record against its AFC North rivals. Cincy stands in first at 8-3. Pittsburgh and Baltimore trail at 6-5. The Bengals host the Detroit Lions before the aforementioned date with Minnesota.

The Chinchillas - "Something's happening"

Young love in Music City

The current list of NFL MVP candidates consists of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre. How much longer before Vince Young gets mentioned? After falling to 0-6, the Tennessee Titans seemed destined for January fourth tee times. Five games later and denizens of Tennessee can start singing: “Baby, something’s happening…”

What changed? Young went under center and the Titans are 5-6.

Yesterday, Young found Kenny Britt in the end zone as time expired, and the Titans tripped the Arizona Cardinals, 20-17.  Young threw for 387 yards for the day.

"Same as it ever was."

After the game, Matt Leinart must have been mumbling “this is not my beautiful house” because it was “same as it ever was.”

Forced to sit starting quarterback, Kurt Warner, the Cardinals turned to Leinart. Once again, Leinart was burned by a late drive orchestrated by Young. In the 2006 Rose Bowl, Young scampered eight yards for the winning touchdown to lead the Texas Longhorns over the Leinart-led USC Trojans.

“Into the blue again, after the money’s gone

Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground.”

For those keeping track at home

Three of this weekend’s top five receivers (total yards) honed their talents outside of the major six conferences of Division 1A football.  Miles Austin made seven catches (145 yards) Thursday for the Cowpokes. Austin played his college ball at Monmouth. Donald Driver (7 catches – 142 yards) played at Alcorn State. San Diego’s Antonio Gates (7/118) roamed the college grid iron at Kent State.

That’s not to mention Indy’s Pierre Garcon (5 /63 yards and a TD). The product of D3 Mount Union has four touchdowns on the season.

While we’re on the topic, four quarterbacks from winning teams also played outside the BCS schools: Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick (Harvard), San Francisco’ Alex Smith (Utah), Minnesota’s Brett Favre (Southern Mississippi), and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco (Delaware).

What difference does a coach make?

Just ask fans of the Buffalo Bills. Perry Fewell took over as interim head coach less than two weeks ago, and the Bills showed more enthusiasm yesterday than they have shown in a decade. One play can demonstrate the change in attitude on Bills Drive. With a 17-14 lead and less than 3:00 remaining, Buffalo forced a Miami punt. A couple of weeks ago, the Bills would have attempted to run off tackle twice before a third and long screen and and a return punt. Yesterday, Ryan Fitzpatrick went up top on first down and hit Terrell Owens with 51-yard bomb!!!

Thanksgiving turkeys

Call them by name: The Detroit Lions, Oakland Free Academy, and the New York football Giants. Does any fan want to hear that their team is protesting having to play on Thanksgiving?  Thank you, NFL Network. You spared me the misery of having to watch that debacle.

In case you missed dessert

‘Pomme’ Delhomme served up four more turnovers yesterday as Carolina lost to the New York Jets, 16-7. ‘Pomme’ has thrown 18 picks and 8 touchdowns on the season.

Mark Sanchez completed 13 of 17 for 154 yards as the Jets improved to 5-6. Yeah, the rookie is finding “The Ties that Bind.” Sometimes, “you sit and wonder who’s gonna stop the rain, who’ll ease the sadness, who’s gonna quiet the pain.”

Got any NFL Splinters? Share them here.

Courtesy of Backstreets.com

By Paul Gotham

Life is not meant to be lived in a straight line. Each of us gets a starting point, and ultimately there is an end. The path taken between those points should include plenty of twists, turns, hills, and valleys. It is these detours that make life worth living.

Sunday night, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band delivered the power of rock ‘n roll with a 34-song performance taking congregants on a wild romp that deviated  from any possible linear connections. Someone could calculate the total time of the set’s studio versions. But there is no need. The sum would fall far short of what Bruce and the band busted out at the tour’s finale.

A set consisting of  favorites, obscure songs, new hits, old hits, covers, and sing-alongs left the  capacity crowd drained of any and all emotions.

The complete performance of Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. proved just another example of Springsteen’s ability to play the heck out of any song. For the last two months, the E Street Band has performed a variety of complete albums -The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle, Born To Run, Darkness on the Edge of  Town, The River, and Born in the U.S.A.. But on this night Springsteen performed his 1973 release for the first time.  The album took on a new life powered by the E Street Band.

Courtesy of Backstreets.com

After a playful rendition of “Blinded By Light,” the Boss returned to old form during “Growin’ Up” with a story about first meeting Clarence Clemons. With tale completed, the two struck their Born To Run pose. Bruce followed with a stark version of ‘Mary Queen of Arkansas.’ Nils Lofgren accompanied on harp. “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?” felt like a romp in a sea side bar.

Bruce quickly changed tone as the band transitioned to “Lost in the Flood.” If not clear before, Bruce gave Nils the night off on lead guitar and ripped into a stunning end which reached epic proportions. The result left many in awe wondering where this came from, and where has it been hiding?

Prior to the show, Sparky mentioned that “The Angel” had never been performed live. Another reviewer suggested one occurrence of this haunting tune. For my money, I’m going with Sparky’s account. Roy Bittan on piano and a guest performer on viola held the intimacy of this song. A slight smile by Springsteen in its last moments gave approval.

Three decades later, Springsteen still feels the urgency of “For You.” From there things turned raucous as Charles Giordano played those familiar opening notes to “Spirit In The Night.” JD has aptly dubbed this classic as the ultimate Springsteen stomp. With a tight groove that leaves room for spontaneity “Spirit’ draws in everyone.  “It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City” closed out the album. Bruce and Little Steve Van Zandt dueled guitars.

The night opened with the spit-in-your-eye “Wrecking Ball” – “come on and take your best shot, let me see what you got.” Curt Ramm’s trumpet playing on this song lived up to its billing.

Courtesy of Backstreets.com

Bruce wasted little time launching into a pair from The River: “The Ties That Bind” and “Hungry Heart.” Yes, the 60-year old had a blast surfing on the hands of his disciples.

After Greetings, the band kicked it back into the set with “Waitin’ On A Sunny Day.” Bruce grabbed a littlun from the pit and let her sing the chorus on stage. The Boss quieted the crowd, so the girl’s voice could be clearly heard. From there, Bruce counted off and into “The Promised Land” – “Mister I ain’t boy. No, I’m a man. And I believe in the Prah-ah-ah-mised land.”

Birthday greetings were in order. Bruce dug into his bag of tricks for birthday boy-Steve’s fav: “Restless Nights” (I must have heard some bad information along the way because I thought “Fade Away” was Steve’s top of the list). The jingle-jangle melody of “Surprise Surprise” continued in honor of Steve’s day.

“Green Onions” accompanied the request section. As Bruce collected signs, I wondered if this ritual started in Rochester when the Boss took a sign during the encores and sang of a certain senorita. Feeling the yuletide spirit, the band took a moment to decide the right key before grooving into “Merry Christmas Baby” followed by “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.”  Another request left Bruce cursing a pair ‘stalkers’ intent on stumping the band. After fumbling for the words, Bruce bopped into a version of “I Don’t Wanna Hang Up My Rock’n Roll Shoes” with a “Smokin’ In The Boys’ Room” feel. Another request and more tasty licks on the ax as the Boss nailed John Lee Hooker’s, “Boom Boom Boom Boom.”

Requests finished. The band exploded into “My Love Will Not Let You Down.” Props to JD for recognizing this gem after just a couple of notes. “Love” was released as part of the Tracks compilation.  Max Weinberg and Gary Tallent pounded out the rhythm.

Steve bore his soul for “Long Walk Home” before the tone turned to a revival. Bruce led everyone through the title track from The Rising. House lights went on, and “Born To Run” thundered down upon us – “will you walk with me out on the wire. ‘Cause baby, I’m just a scared and lonely rider.”

No stopping at this point, Bruce gave the cue, and the intro started: “Is there anybody alive out there? Let me tell ya the story of the band! Teardrops on the city Bad Scooter searching for his groove.”

On to the encores - Bruce thanked his fans playing “I’ll Work For Your Love” – “Pour me a drink Theresa in one of  those glasses you dust off…”

An emotional version of “Thunder Road” followed.  Kick it up a notch, bring the band front and center and let fly “American Land.”  Then came “Dancing in the Dark” leading into “Rosalita.”

Just when everyone thought there couldn’t be any more, Bruce led into “Higher and Higher.”  Cindy Mizelle, Curtis King, and Soozie Tyrell joined Bruce at the back of the pit. Cindy took the lead on vocals for a verse.

Bruce dismissed all rumors of the band’s retirement closing with a raucous version of “Rockin’ All Over The World” – cheers to Dooley for picking up on this John Fogerty classic. Anyone in attendance could recognize that is a band happy with their existence and ready for more.

The band made their way to the front of the stage for a bow. One by one they exited – Bruce the last to leave. With guitar in hand he turned for a moment and shot a grin as if he was thinking of taking the mike for another. Then he thought better of it.

We made our way to the exits wondering what just hit us – another circuitous route courtesy of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band.

By the end of the night a sign had made its way to the stage: It’s only rock ‘n roll. But it feels like love (taken from Springsteen’s eulogy for Danny Federici). Yeah, and what a great ride. The power of of the music according to the gospel of the E Street Band. I’m a healed!!!

I like it; I like it; I like it; I like it; I la la like it la la like it; here we go-oh…