THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

Today is my birthday. I am 39. I had a lovely dinner party with a bunch of friends last night.

Yet some things are even more important. The best birthday present I could ask for is to watch the NFL Playoffs with the guys on another great football Sunday. 32 teams were whittled down to 12, and by the end of the day, 8 remained.

Some things do not change over the years, and my burning passion for football is as strong as ever.

With that, here is the NFL 2010-2011 Wildcard Recap.

New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks–For those complaining that the 12-4 Saints are on the road against the 7-9 Seahawks, the rules are what they are. Leave it alone, since 3 of the 4 games have the road team with a better record by at least 2 games. A few years ago Tony Dungy saw his 12-4 Colts have to go on the road to the 8-8 Chargers. The Colts lost, and Dungy, ever the honorable guy, says leave it alone. Yes the Saints have to go all the way across the country on a short week, but the Saints have no excuses for losing this game. Seattle lost all 9 of its games by at least 15 points. The Saints have injuries at running back, but they are a far better team than Seattle, and a blowout win would help restore order to the league and quell the critics.

Order was restored right from the start, as the game began with the Seahawks kicking the opening kickoff out of bounds to set the Saints up at their own 40. From the Seattle 46, Drew Brees went deep to Marquis Colston for 30 yards. On 3rd and 2 from the 8, Brees fired incomplete. Garrett Hartley hit the short field goal to have the Saints up 3-0.

Sean Payton did not want any kickoff returns for touchowns, so ultra short kickoffs gave Seattle good field position early on. They began at their own 37, and on 3rd and 1, Matt Hasselbeck threw a pass that bounced off of a receiver’s hands and was intercepted. The Saints took over at the Seattle 35. On 3rd and 8 from the 22, Brees hit Reggie Bush for 10. On 3rd and 3 from the 5, defensive pass interference put the ball on the one. Brees hit Evans for the touchdown to have the Saints up 10-0.

Another short kickoff had the Seahawks starting at their own 43. Just shy of midfield, Hasselbek hit Williams and Obomanu for a pair of 10 yard gains and Marshawn Lynch gained 10 more. From the 11, Hasselbeck found Carlson for the touchdown to get the Seahawks within 10-7.

The Saints took over at their own 17, and illegal contact moved the ball to the 22. Brees hit Colston for gains of 11 and 12. Jones ran for 15 and Brees hit Meachem for 15 more. The second quarter began with the Saints facing 2nd and 15 at the Seattle 30. Brees found Jeremy Shockey for 19. On 3rd and 4 from the 6, Brees faked a pass and gave a deep handoff to Jones, as the draw play worked perfectly and had the Saints up 17-7.

Leon Washington finally got a chance to return a kickoff, and he took it 22 yards to the Seattle 30. Hasselbeck hit Obomanu for 12. From the Saints 46, Hasselbeck appeared to get hit as he threw the ball, and somehow the duck fluttered to Morrah, who took it for a 39 yard gain. On the next play Hasselbeck hit Carlson for the 7 yard touchdown to have Seattle within 17-14.

The Saints punted on their next drive, and despite Seattle clearly decking the punter without blocking the kick, no penalty was called and Seattle took over at their own 33. Seattle punted it back, and the Saints took over at their own 19. One play had Jones fumbling, and the Seahawks taking over at the Saints 18. On 3rd and 2 Lynch got stopped, and Pete Carroll opted for the short Olindo Mare field goal. Mare tied the game 17-17.

After another Saints punt, the Seahawks took over at their own 24 with 5 minutes left in the half. On 3rd and 11 Hasselbeck hit Martin hit 15. On 3rd and 1 Forsett got the yard at the 2 minute warning. On 3rd and  from the Saints 45, Hasselbeck went deep to Brandon Stokely for the touchdown as the Seahawks had the 24-17 lead. Order was definitely not restored at this point.

The Saints took over at their own 20 with 1:10 left in the half. Brees hit Devry Henderson for 40 yards and Moore for another 11 yards. On 3rd and 10 from the 29, Brees hit Moore for 15 and then spiked the ball with 30 seconds left in the half. On 3rd and 5 from the 9, Brees scrambled for 6 and again spiked the ball with 9 seconds left. Brees fired incomplete, and on 3rd and goal with 3 seconds left Sean Payton sent out the field goal team. Hartley connected, and the Saints trailed 24-20 at halftime of a game much more competitive than many thought.

The Seahawks began the second half at their own 21. Hasselbeck hit Williams for 11 and Obomanu for 18. On 3rd and 2 from the Saints 38, Hasselbeck went deep to Williams as the Seahawks were preparing a shocker for the age with a 31-20 lead.

The Saints punted again as the Seahawks took over at their own 46. Lynch gained 9 and then 2. On 3rd and 8 from the Saints 41, Hasselbeck hit Stokely for 11. On 3rd and 1 from the Saints 21, Hasselbeck threw incomplete. On 4th and 1 Pete Carroll took no chances, and Mare made the 39 yard field goal to have the Seahawks up 34-20 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Saints took over at their own 28. On 3rd and 3 Brees hit Jones, yet as he leapt in the air he was knocked back by 2 defenders short of the marker. Sean Payton gambled on 4th and 1 with the Saints at their own 37. Jones got blown up in the backfield as the Seahawks took over. On 3rd and 8 Hasselbeck threw a jump ball that fell incomplete as the Saints were lucky to avoid defensive pass interference. Before Mare could try a 53 yard field goal, a critical delay of game penalty just before the snap instead forced the Seahawks to punt.

The Saints took over at their own 13 with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. On 3rd and 10 Brees found Reggie Bush for 14. From the Saints 46, Brees hit Moore for 18 yards as the Saints began the third quarter at the Seattle 36. Seconds into the fourth quarter, a defensive personal foul moved the Saints to the Seattle 14. Jones ran it in from 4 yards out as the Saints got within 34-27 with 13 minutes left in regulation.

Seattle quickly went 3 and out and the Saints took over at their own 44. Brees hit Jones for 33 yards. Brees hit Meachem for 9 and and Jones gained 3. On 3rd and 3 from the 4, Brees hit Henderson, but only gained 1 yard. On 4th and 2 from the 3, payton decided not to gamble this time. Hartley nailed the short field goal as the Saints got to within 34-30 with 9 minutes left.

Seattle took over at their own 29. On 3rd and 8 Hasselbeck hit Stokely for 12. Seattle then went backward and punted. A penalty on the kickoff had the Saints starting at their own 5 with 5 1/2 minutes to play in the game.

The Saints would punt, and Seattle took over at their own 33. Marshawn Lynch took a routine handoff and broke tackles at the line of scrimmage. He broke another tackle after a couple yards. At midfield he gave another tackler a stiff arm. Somehow, after 6 or 7 bad tackles, Lynch had a 67 yard touchdown run. With only 3:38 to play, the Seahawks led 41-30.

Brees led a ferocious comeback from their own 30. Passes of 17 to Henderson and 22 to Thomas had the Saints at the Seahawks 22 at the 2 minute warning. Brees hit Thomas for 16 and Henderson for the 6 yard score. On the 2 point conversion try, Wynn ran up the middle and got nailed as the try failed. The Saints trailed by 5 with 90 seconds left. The onsides kick attempt was terrible, and easily recovered by the Seahawks.

The Seahawks ran out the clock. While Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception early on, he responded with 4 touchdown passes. Pete Carroll and the Seahawks had the upset of the year. Those wanting to complain about playoff seedings should get over it. The Seahawks still have a losing record at 8-9, but the defending champion Saints have now been knocked out. If ever there was a time by uber-announcer Chris Berman to chant his mantra, this was it. “That’s why they play the games.” This was why we watch the games. This was not the biggest football upset of all time, but it was one of them.  41-36 Seahawks

New York Jets @ Indianapolis Colts–The 11-5 Jets are at the 9-7 Colts, and if the Jets are ever going to beat Peyton Manning, now is the time to do it. To those with long memories, these teams met after the 2002 season in the playoffs and Chad Pennington and Herm Edwards crushed Manning and Dungy 41-0. That game was in New York. Manning has had bad games at home against physical defenses, but the Jets have not been special down the stretch. Rex Ryan is treating this as revenge for last years AFC Title Game, although in reality he just wants to build up the Colts. They are not the team from last year, and have been devastated by injuries. Jim Caldwell may not say much, but his players rallied when it counted.

The Colts began at their own 20 in the hurry up offense but Manning threw incomplete on 2nd and 1 and a 3rd and 1 run was blasted back for a 3 yard loss as the Colts punted. The Jets took over at their own 27 and Ladanian Tomlinson ran 23 yards to the halfstripe. The Jets got no further and punted. The Colts took over at their own 20, but on 3rd and 1 Manning completed a pass that somehow went for no gain as the Colts punted again. The Jets gained one first down and punted again for another touchback. For the third straight time the Colts faced 3rd and 1 at their own 29 and for the third straight time they punted as Manning threw incomplete. The Jets punted again.

The Colts took over at their own 13 and Manning hit Dominic Rhodes for 12. On 3rd and 1, the Colts faced a 4th straight drive with 3rd and 1. Rhodes banged ahead for 2 yards and jumped up passionately at the Colts finally getting something going. The going stopped quickly as the teams kept trading punts in a game only a child of Buddy Ryan could love.

The Colts would face their 5th 3rd and 1, this time at their own 40. Rhodes again banged ahead, gaining 3. Then it finally happened. Manning went deep to Pierre Garcon for a 57 yard touchdown and after nearly 25 minutes of scoreless football, the Colts led 7-0.

With one minute left in the half the Jets had their best opportunity, as Sanchez moved them from their own 21 to the Colts 19. On 3rd and 10 Sanchez fired to the end zone and was intercepted. Despite having 2 timeouts, Caldwell had Manning take a knee as the Colts went to the locker rooms leading 7-0.

The Jets began the second half at their own 37 after a 41 yard kickoff return by Antonio Cromartie. On 3rd and 2 Shonn Greene gained 5 to the midstripe. On 3rd and 3 Sanchez hit Dustin Keller for 20 yards. Tomlinson gained 11, Greene 8 more, and Tomlinson 3 and then the final 1 as the Jets had the game deadlocked 7-7.

The Colts took over at their own 26. Manning found White for 23. On 3rd and 9, a surprise run by Joseph Addai gained 14 yards. On 3rd and 1 from the Jets 28, Gang Green stepped up and dropped Rhodes for a one yard loss. Adam Vinatieri drilled the 47 yard field goal as the Colts led 10-7.

The Jets took over at their own 13. Runs and short passes had the Jets beginning the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 7 at the Colts 39. Sanchez got the ball to Tomlinson, who gained 9. On 3rd and 1 from the 21, Sanchez faked the handoff and rolled around the end for a 5 yard gain. Sanchez found Keller for 11 yards as the Jets had 1st and goal at the 3. The staggering 17 play, 87 yard drive consumed 10 minutes of clock. On 3rd and goal at the 1, Tomlinson took the handoff and walked in off right tackle as the Jets led 14-10 with 10 minutes left in regulation. This was Rex Ryan football. While it was not as big a shocker as earlier in the day, it was still another reason to love the do or die atmosphere of the NFL Playoffs.

The Colts took over at their own 19 and Caldwell and Manning were determined to stick with the running game. Addai gained 9 and 5. Manning hit Garcon for 14. On 3rd and 7 from midfield, the Colts again surprised the Jets with a run as Rhodes gained 9. On 3rd and 8 from the Jets, Manning hit Garcon for 21. On 3rd and 7 from the 15, the Colts again tried the surprise run, but this time the Jets were ready for it as Rhodes gained one yard. With 4:41 to play, Caldwell decided not to go for it on 4th and 6. He decided to trust his defense. Vinatieri connected from 32 as the Colts trailed 14-13.

Now it was time to see if the brash attitude of Rex Ryan would grind down the clock or give Manning and Vinatieri a chance to win it as they have so many times before. The Jets began at their own 20. Last year on the road they rammed it down the San Diego throats to win it. They would need the same type of drive to do it again. We all know about Manning. Now we would learn about Sanchez.

The Colts had all of their timeouts and everybody knew the Jets would run. It came down to 3rd and 5. Sanchez fired slightly high, but Homes was there. Holmes dropped it. Yet in a stunning turn of events on 4th and 5, the Colts were called for running into the kicker. 3 minutes remained and now the Colts had to start using their timeouts. Again everything came down to 3rd and 5, this time with 2:51 left. In a stunning display of bravado that backfired, Rex Ryan had Sanchez throw a bomb that was overthrown. The Jets punted, and the Colts took over at their own 20 with 2:36 to play and one timeout. The ultimate four time MVP quarterback Manning vs the vaunted Jets defense.

Manning hit Jacob Tamme for gains of 15 and 10. A handoff to Addai had the Colts at the Jets 48 at the 2 minute warning.  Vinatieri may be the greatest clutch kicker in NFL history, and one more first down would give him his chance. Manning hit White and then went conservative. The clock ran and the Colts faced 3rd and 6 at the Jets 32. The Jets took a timeout, which was very smart since they were already planning on Vinatieri making the kick. An incomplete pass had Vinatieri coming on for a 50 yarder with one minute left.

The spot was dead center. The hold was perfect. The atmosphere was indoors in a dome with no bad weather. Vinatieri was even more perfect, hitting it right down the pike. The Colts had the 2 point lead. The Jets would have one last shot with 2 timeouts left.

Yet Cromartie returned the ensuing kickoff to the Jets 46 with 45 seconds left. Sanchez had managed the game, but now he had to go win it. Sanchez fired to Braylon Edwards. In 2006 the Colts beat the Patriots in the AC Title Game when Marvin Harris caught a pass, fumbled it, and got his own fumble back. In this game Sanchez hit Braylon Edwards for 9 yards. With 3 Colts converging, Edwards fumbled it and got it back as the Jets took their second timeout. Review upheld the decision.  Nick Folk practiced on the sidelines for his chance at Jets history.

Sanchez hit Holmes for 11 yards to the Colts 34. Holmes got out of bounds with 36 seconds left. This time the roles reversed. Rex Ryan called a running play and the Colts took their final timeout. Regardless of the outcome, both coaches showed plenty of smarts. 32 seconds remained.

Instead of going conservative, Ryan again went aggressive and had Sanchez go deep to Holmes. This time Holmes made a catch every bit as great as his Super Bowl winner a couple years ago. Holmes landed inbounds after an 18 yard gain, and the Jets let the clock run down to 3 seconds left. They did not leave enough time to account for a bad snap. Everything came down to Nick Folk from 32 yards out.

The snap was fine. The hashmark was bad. The hold was goo. The kick was very close. It was also good. Lucas Oil stadium went dark as Manning hung his head and Rex Ryan pumped his fists and jumped up and down. The Jets have a showdown next week at New England.The Colts are done for the year. Rex Ryan showed why people love him. He walks big, talks big, and has his team back up every word of it. This was a  fantastic football game. 17-16 Jets

Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs–This is another game where the road team is expected to quickly dispatch the accidental home team. This seems disrespectful because while the Ravens are every bit as good as their 12-4 record, Kansas City at 10-6 is respectful. The Todd Haley tension with Charlie Weis leaving cannot help, and the Ravens know how to win on the road. They did it a decade ago to win the Super Bowl, and last year they throttled New England. John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco have made the playoffs 3 straight years, and the strong running game with Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones will have a stern test against Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata, Ed, Reed, and friends. Speaking of Ed Reed, a tragic subplot involves Ed Reed playing in this game despite his brother being missing since Friday. Obviously Reed is worried sick, and prayers can only help.

The Ravens got the ball at their own 30 and went right to work with a 14 play, 6 minute, 69 yard drive. Joe Flacco hit Anquon Boldin for 27 yards. On 3rd and 8 Flacco hit Todd Heap for 12.  On 3rd and 2 from the Chiefs 21, Flacco hit Heap for 7. Flacco hit Heap for 13 to set up 1st and goal at the 1. Willis McGahee could not get in, and Flacco threw incomplete on 3rd down. On 4th and goal at the 1, John Harbaugh decided to play it safe and take the points on the road as Billy Cundiff kicked the field goal to put the Chiefs up 3-0.

The Chiefs went 3 and out, and Flacco calmly led the Ravens from their own 15 to the Chiefs 46. With the Ravens in total control, Flacco went back to pass, and was sacked and fumbled. Flacco has been victimized more than once in the regular season, including the criticial fumble that gave Pittsburgh the 1st round bye while the Ravens are on the road. The Chiefs took over with a short field, and Jamal Charles burst up the middle for a 41 yard touchdown to have the Chiefs up 7-3.

The game turned into a slugfest until very late in the half. One Chiefs drive ended when Charles fumbled. With 6 minutes left in the half, the Ravens took over at their own 20. Flacco scrambled for 13. On 3rd and 13 from the 32, Flacco hit Heap for the 13 needed. Flacco then hit Heap for 21 yards. Flacco scrambled for 5 and found Heap yet again for 12 yards. With 25 seconds left in the half, on 3rd and 2 from the 9, Flacco found Ray Rice from the touchdown as the Ravens led 10-7 at halftime.

The third quarter began with Matt Cassel being intercepted with Nakamura. Yet Nakamura is not Ed Reed, and instead of going down he fumbled it back to the Chiefs, with Jamal Charles falling on it. The drive led to a 3rd and 2 from the Ravens 34. Thomas jones only gained one. Todd Haley decided to go for it on 4th and 1. Charles got stopped in the backfield, tried to go laterally, and got nailed for a 5 yard loss.

The Ravens took over at their own 38 and Flacco found Derrick Mason for 11 yards, with unnecessary roughness adding 15 more yards. On 3rd and 2 from the 11, Flacco threw incomplete. Cundiff made the 29 yard field goal to have the Ravens up 13-7.

The Chiefs then began to self-destruct. Cassel was sacked for a 15 yard loss. On 3d and 25 from their own 8, a pass to Dexter McCluster turned into a McClusterf*ck as he was hit and fumbled. The Ravens took over at the Chiefs 17. The defense held, and another 29 yard field goal had the Ravens up 16-7.

Cassel was then intercepted by Landry, setting the Ravens up with another short field at the Chiefs 31. McGahee picked up 3, 8, and 2. Flacco hit Heap for 13, and found Boldin in the back of the end zone for a 4 yard touchdown as the Ravens led 23-7 with less than 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Chiefs could not even get to the fourth quarter without more disasters. It looked like Flacco got belted and fumbled, with the Chiefs recovering. Yet further review resulted in a “tuck rule” calling and the Chiefs retained possession. Cassel did used to quarterback for New England.

It did not matter. For the last decade the Ravens have won games with a methodical and at times dull offense and a stifling defense. With 4 1/2 minutes elft in the game, the Ravens faced 4th and 1 from the Chiefs 25. McGahee took the handoff and broke tackles for the touchdown. This was not John Riggins, Marcus Allen, or Marshawn Lynch, but it was decisive.

The Chiefs are done for the year and now and Todd Haley has to answer questions  about Charlie Weis leaving. As for the Ravens, John Harbaugh takes his team to Pittsburgh. Get ready for World War III. That one will be a bone crusher. Football fans are already licking their chops. 30-7 Ravens

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles–The last time these teams met in the playoffs, Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb went to overtime. Favre did throw the key interception, but the Green Bay defense giving up a 4th and 26 was the key reason for the loss. Now it is Aaron Rodgers and Michael Vick lighting it up. The Packers are 9-7, while the Eagles at 10-6 backed into the playoffs with consecutive losses. A miracle finish in New York prevented 3 straight losses and elimination altogether. Walrus Lite Andy Reid has the home field advantage, and Michael Vick is expected to run wild.

The Eagles took over at their own 14 to start the game and Vick immediately got belted for a 9 yard loss. On 2nd and 19 Vick hit Avant for 18, but on 3rd and 1 Vick scrambled for no gain. Yet Green Bay fumbled the punt and the Eagles took over at the Green Bay 41. Vick scrambled for 11. Yet Vick fired incomplete on 3rd and 3 and then normally reliable David Akers fired a 41 yard field goal wide, no good.  Aaron Rodgers moved Green Bay to a 4th and 7 at the Philly 38, but Mike McCarthy decided to punt and play field position. The Eagles took over at their own 9 and would punt. Green Bay took over at their own 32.

Starks ran around the end 27 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Green Bay 36, defensive offsides meant an automatic first down. On 3rd and 7 from the 16, Rodgers hit Kuhn for 9 and Crabtree for the 7 yard touchdown to have the Packers up 7-0 on the road.

Early in the second quarter the Eagles faced 3rd and 6 at their own 35. Vick got belted for a 12 yard loss and the Eagles punted again. The Packers took over at their own 43. On 3rd and 1 Kuhn got the yard. On 3rd and 2 from the Philly 39, Rodgers hit Johnson for 4. On 2nd and 13 at the 25, Rodgers hit Jennings for 8. Rodgers then scrambled for 8 more and then hit Jones for the 9 yard touchdown to have the Packers up 14-0.

The Eagles took over at their own 26 and Vick hit Jeremy Maclin for 44 yards. On 3rd and 10 Vick scrambled for 14 more. Yet on 3rd and 7 in the red zone, the Eagles came up short and settled for a David Akers field goal to get within 14-3 with just over one minute left in the half. Rodgers would go deep to Jones for what looked like a sure touchdown but Jones dropped it.

The Packers began the second half at their own 17 and disaster struck quickly. On 3rd and 2 Rodgers was sacked and fumbled. The Eagles took over at the Green Bay 24. Vick went deep to Avant for the touchdown and just like that, the Eagles were within 14-10.

The Packers took over at their own 20. On 3rd and 5 Rodgers hit Donald Driver for 6. On 3rd and 10, Rodgers hit Driver again for 20, just past midfield. Starks took a pair of end runs 19 and 5 yards, nd Rodgers hit Kuhn for 16. On 2nd and goal from the 16, Rodgers hit Jackson for the touchdown as the Packers led 21-10. The Eagles punted, pinning Green Bay back at their own 3. The Eagles held and got the ball back at their own 46.
They went backward to 1st and 25. Then Vick hit Avant for 11. On 3rd and 14, Vick found Avant again for 21. The Eagles began the fourth quarter at the Green Bay 25. On 4th and 1 from the 16 with 13 minutes left in regulation, Andy Reid decided to play it safe and have Akers kick the 34 yarder. Stunningly, Akers missed it. Andy Reid was not a happy Walrus Lite.

The Packers took over at their own 24, and faced a critical 3rd and 1 at midfield with 9 minutes left. Kuhn got knocked back for a 3 yard loss. Mike McCarthy was not a happy Michelin man (He lacks a mustache, exempting him from the Walrus group). The Eagles took over at their own 25, and Vick hit Deshean Jackson for 19 and McCoy for 11 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Packers 40, Vick found Avant for 6. Vick then hit McCoy for 16. A 16 yard completion to Captain Morgan Brent Celek set up 1st and goal at the 3. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Vick tried the quarterback draw and was stopped just short. On 4th and goal at the 1, only 4 minutes remained.

Reid called timeout. This would be a good time for a big bruising run up the middle, but that is something the West Coast Offense, especially under Andy Reid, does not do. The 13 play, 75 yard drive that took 5 minutes ended with Vick sneaking it. It was very close, but he just got over the plane. On the 2 point conversion, Vick found Celek in the back of the end zone, but Celek stepped out of bounds before catching it. The Eagles still trailed by 5.

After the officials huddled, they ruled it was not an incomplete pass. It was a penalty for an illegal touch since Celek stepped out of bounds, but was fully inbounds when he caught it. So instead Philly got a second try at the conversion from the 7 yard line. Kudos to the officials for getting it right. The Packers came on a jailbreak and 2 of them converged on Vick, as again the 2 point try was no good.

With 2 timeouts left, Andy Reid decided to kick it deep rather than go onsides kick. It was the right call, and the Eagles needed the stop on defense. Green Bay took over at their own 22. On 2nd and 7 Starks ran for 12 and a critical 1st down as the Eagles took their final timeout with 3:48 left. On 3rd and 10 after a pair of runs, McCarthy decided to try and have Rodgers pass rather than just run and punt. Rodgers was sacked, but hung on to the ball, which allowed the clock to reach the 2 minute warning. Deshean Jackson went back to field the punt, and the entire league knows what can happen in that situation.

Deshean was waving his fingers in the “bring it on” gesture. Unfortunately for Philly, what was brought was a yellow penalty flag for the illegal block. The Eagles took over at their own 34 with 1:45 to play and 0 timeouts. Vick was limping after the 2 point conversion try, but there was no way he was coming out. Vick stared in the pocket and quickly hit Jackson, who electrified on the reception rather than the punt return for a 29 yard gain.

On the next play Vick went deep to Celek, and Celek got nailed. Ceek stayed down. Because it was an incomplete pass and the clock stopped, their was no 10 second runoff. Reid wanted a penalty, but it was a clean hit, shoulder to chest. 1:06 remained. Another incompletion set up 3rd and 10 at the Green Bay 38. Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers was bringing the house, not sitting back. Yet Vick then hit Riley Cooper for 11. Vick decoded not to spike the ball, as 44 seconds remained. Vick stepped back, and with no pressure he fired to the end zone as Riley Cooper and Tremon Williams jumped for it.

Williams intercepted it and the game was over. Aaron Rodgers had just won his first playoff game. Vick was dejected on the bench. Some may blame Akers for the 2 missed field goals, but in his 19 playoff games, this was the first time he missed 2. The first one was into the wind, although the 34 yarder was hard to defend. If he makes it the Eagles are playing for a field goal rather than a touchdown late to win it. This is the playoffs, and the Eagles finished the season with 3 straight losses. Let’s see if everyone turns on Reid and Vick. As for the Packers, they have a showdown next week at Atlanta. They played earlier this year in Atlanta, and lost on a field goal in the final seconds. The rematch should be great. 21-16 Packers

The schedule for the Divisionals is now set, with times listed PST.

Saturday, January 15th:

1:30pm: Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

5:00pm: Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons

Sunday, January 16th:

10:00am: Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

1:30pm: New York Jets @ New England Patriots

If there is a better birthday present than these NFL Football games, I cannot think of it. Thank you again for all the birthday wishes.

Let’s get ready for some more football next weekend!!!!!

Let’s get it on!!!!!!!!!!!!

eric

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 9th, 2011 at 4:00 am and is filed under SPORTS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.