Betty White says...
Next year You-know-who, "Is Going All The Way"!
The 2011-12 NFL Season had 5 teams in the PLAYOFFS, that had not been in the playoffs the preceeding year, so ...ya just never know! Go Dawgs w00t!
NFL SEASON WEEK #21
SUPER BOWL XLVI Pregame Edition
SBO HD Issue - Heavy Duty Buzz!
Power 32
1. Patriots (15-3) Feel they are team of destiny; riding a 10-game win streak into Super Bowl.
2. Giants (12-7) Eli Manning headed to his big brother Peyton’s adopted hometown of Indy.
3. Ravens (13-5) Ray Lewis says AFC title game loss was “absolutely not” his last game.
4. 49ers (14-4) Kyle Williams’ botched punts hurt but San Fran was 1-of-13 on 3rd down.
5. Packers (15-2) Jim Irwin, radio voice of the Packers for 30 seasons, passes away at 77.
6. Saints (14-4) Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis confident free agent Drew Brees will re-sign.
7. Texans (11-7) Center Chris Myers, DE Antonio Smith added to Pro Bowl roster as alternates.
8. Broncos (9-9) Tim Tebow sings, performs on stage with country music star Brad Paisley.
9. Steelers (12-5) Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians claims he was forced out, opts to retire.
10. Lions (10-7) Cam Newton, not Matt Stafford, named Eli Manning’s Pro Bowl replacement.
11. Falcons (10-7) Hire Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator; fire DB coach Alvin Reynolds.
12. Bengals (9-8) Rookie Andy Dalton named as Tom Brady’s replacement on Pro Bowl roster.
13. Titans (9-7) Mike Munchak says Penn State’s Joe Paterno was like a “dad to all of us.”
14. Eagles (8-8) Michael Vick set to marry longtime fiance Kijafa Frank on June 20, 2012.
15. Cowboys (8-8) Jerry Jones praises Eli Manning, says Giants QB was “the huge difference.”
16. Chargers (8-8) Philip Rivers one of three finalists for Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
17. Cardinals (8-8) Assistant head coach Russ Grimm, four assistants sign contract extensions.
18. Raiders (8-8) Conduct second interview with Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
19. Dolphins (6-10) Hire Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as franchise’s 10th coach.
20. Jets (8-8) Giants-Patriots Super Bowl matchup could not be worse for Rex Ryan.
21. Seahawks (7-9) Brandon Browner completes improbable journey from CFL to Pro Bowl.
22. Panthers (6-10) Cam Newton keeps winning, headed to Honolulu to play in first Pro Bowl.
23. Chiefs (7-9) Will Shields one of two first-year modern-era finalists for Hall of Fame.
24. Bears (8-8) Brian Urlacher tells Chicago Tribune he hides concussions, uses Toradol.
25. Jaguars (5-11) Future of Blaine Gabbert murky after bad season, hiring of Mike Mularkey.
26. Redskins (5-11) Add former Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris as defensive backs coach.
27. Bills (6-10) GM Buddy Nix says contract talks with Stevie Johnson have re-opened.
28. Browns (4-12) President Mike Holmgren to be inducted into Packers Hall of Fame in July.
29. Buccaneers (4-12) Chip Kelly tempted by Bucs offer but has “unfinished business” at Oregon.
30. Vikings (3-13) Gov. Mark Dayton says stadium must be built at current Metrodome site.
31. Rams (2-14) Jeff Fisher brings in Gregg Williams as DC, Brian Schottenheimer as OC.
32. Colts (2-14) Lucas Oil Stadium set to host Super Bowl XLVI, Madonna halftime show.
>> Rewind >>
AFC-NFC Championships
Sunday, Jan. 22
New England 23 Baltimore 20
N.Y. Giants 20 San Francisco (ot) 17
Divisional Round
Saturday, Jan. 14
San Francisco 36 New Orleans 32
New England 45 Denver 10
Sunday, Jan. 15
Baltimore 20 Houston 13
N.Y. Giants 37 Green Bay 20
Wild Card Round
Saturday, Jan. 7
Houston 31 Cincinnati 10
New Orleans 45 Detroit 28
Sunday, Jan. 8
N.Y. Giants 24 Atlanta 2
Denver 29 Pittsburgh 23
>> Weekend On Tap <<
Senior Bowl
Saturday, Jan. 28, Mobile, Al
College football’s top seniors gather in Mobile for a week of intense practices and a game on Saturday in one of the most important scouting events for NFL talent evaluators. The Vikings’ Leslie Frazier will coach the North squad and Redskins’ Mike Shanahan will coach the South.
Pro Bowl
Sunday, Jan. 29, Honolulu, HI
The NFL’s annual all-star game kicks off on the island of Oahu on Sunday, when the AFC and NFC go head-to-head. There will be no Giants or Patriots in the game, which was moved to the week before the Super Bowl in 2010. But there will be plenty of Aloha spirit on both sides.
Prime Time Players
Vince Wilfork, DT, Patriots
The 325-plus-pound monster in the middle dominated the line of scrimmage during a 23–20 win over Baltimore in the AFC title game. Wilfork recorded one sack and six total tackles — including a key fourth-quarter third-down tackle for a loss on running back Ray Rice, which moved the Ravens out of field goal range, forced them to go for it on fourth down and ultimately led to a turnover on downs. Easily the most disruptive defensive player in this year’s playoffs, the eight-year veteran is now looking to add a second Super Bowl ring, after winning it all in Super Bowl XXXIX but falling short in Super Bowl XLII.
Devin Thomas, WR, Giants
The good hands man who was at the right place at the right time — twice — during New York’s 20–17 overtime win at San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game. Thomas’ two fumble recoveries led to 10 points, including the game-winning 31-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes. 49ers backup return man Kyle Williams — the son of Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams — replaced the injured Ted Ginn Jr., who sat out with a sore knee. Williams had a day to forget, muffing a punt off of his knee in the second quarter and fumbling the ball in overtime. Thomas cashed in both times, scooping up the loose balls and sparking a Giants win.
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
The Niners tight end was solid gold during the playoffs. After posting seven catches for 180 yards (25.7 ypc) and two TDs in San Francisco’s Divisional Round win over the Saints, Davis followed that effort with three catches for 112 yards (37.3 ypc) and two trips to the end zone — a highlight-reel 73-yard sprint down the sideline and a 28-yard score. Davis joined the “G.O.A.T.” Jerry Rice as the only 49ers with two TD catches in back-to-back playoff games, finishing the postseason with 10 receptions for 292 yards (29.2 ypc) and four TDs.
SBO Spotlight ON!
Game, Set, Rematch
By Nathan Rush
Athlon Sports Editor
The greatest battles in sports often produce the greatest rematches. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. All are classic rivalries with multiple spellbinding chapters.
And now, the New England Patriots and New York Giants — the last two teams left standing, as champions of the AFC and NFC, respectively — look to join those historic ranks.
The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 23–20, in a game that ended with Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff missing a 32-yard chip shot field goal that would have sent the contest into overtime.
“It’s a kick I’ve kicked a thousand times in my career,” Cundiff said, in disbelief with watery eyes following the game. “You know that Ray Lewis has poured his heart out, and you don’t know how many years he has left. To let him down is pretty tough.”
On the other side, the Giants eaked out a 20–17 overtime win on the road and in the rain against the San Francisco 49ers, following a fumbled punt by Kyle Williams, who was subbing for an injured Ted Ginn Jr. Williams’ second turnover of the game put the Giants in field goal range, allowing Lawrence Tynes the opportunity to hit the second sudden-death, game-winning, NFC title-clinching field goal of his career.
“You hate to be the last guy that had the ball, to give it away in that fashion and to lose a game of this magnitude,” said Williams, who sat dazed with cameras and microphones surrounding his usually vacant locker space after the game.
As a result of the costly mistakes made by Cundiff and Williams, Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will be a rematch of Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona, where the Giants upset the previously unbeaten Patriots, 17–14, in one of the most exciting Super Bowls of all time.
Although there are many new faces, both head coaches (New England’s Bill Belichick and New York’s Tom Coughlin) and high-profile quarterbacks (Tom Brady and Eli Manning) are back for another showdown on Super Sunday.
Brady and Manning are only the third pair of quarterbacks to play each other in multiple Super Bowls. Pittsburgh’s Terry Bradshaw beat Dallas’ Roger Staubach in Super Bowls X and XIII, while Dallas’ Troy Aikman bested Buffalo’s Jim Kelly in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII.
Obviously, Brady will look to buck that trend by becoming the first losing QB to win his Super Bowl rematch. Manning, however, will aim to recreate the magic he had on the Giants’ epic 12-play, 83-yard game-winning drive that featured three clutch third-down conversions — including the miraculous 32-yard “helmet catch” by David Tyree on 3rd-and-5 — and was capped by a 13-yard scoring strike to a wide open Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds remaining.
“You can’t write a better script,” said Manning, after winning his first Super Bowl in dramatic fashion. “There were so many big plays on that drive.”
This will also be a rematch of the Week 9 matchup between the Pats and G-Men. The Giants also won that meeting, 24–20, with Manning hitting tight end Jake Ballard for a one-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining — in a play reminiscent of Manning’s Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass to Burress as well as the incredible Tyree grab four plays earlier on the final drive.
“I’d rather be down by three with a minute-thirty than up by four with a minute-thirty with Tom Brady, with their offense on the field,” Manning echoed, with an eerily similar reaction after the Week 9 victory. “You like those situations where you have an opportunity to go win the game.”
New England has won 10 straight games since losing to New York, a team riding a five-game win streak of its own.
“We’ve had five straight single-elimination games,” said Coughlin. “Somehow, some way, we’ve found a way to scratch our way to a win.”
During that five-game winning streak, Manning has been arguably the best quarterback in football — passing for 1,494 yards, 12 TDs and two INTs in wins over the Jets, Cowboys, Falcons, Packers and 49ers. Meanwhile, the Big Blue Wrecking Crew defense has been running on all cylinders, allowing an average of 13.4 points per game, notching 20 sacks and forcing 11 turnovers along the way.
In Super Bowl XLII, Brady was dogged by the Giants’ defensive line, taking five sacks and losing a fumble. In this year’s postseason, Brady has posted day and night performances, with 363 yards and a record six TDs in a blowout of the Broncos before tossing two INTs and failing to throw a TD for the first time in 36 games in a nailbiter against the Ravens.
“I sucked pretty bad,” Brady said after the AFC Championship Game. “I’m gonna go out and try to do a better job in a couple weeks.”
The three-time Super Bowl champ and two-time Super Bowl MVP even went so far as to make a promise to Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“He said to me, ‘I promise you I’m going to play a lot better in two weeks,’ said Kraft, whose wife Myra passed away this season and whose team has worn tribute patches with her initials, “MHK” since her death.
“He’s still pretty good in my book. I’ll take him over any quarterback. I’ve been watching the NFL for a long time, and there’s no quarterback I’d rather have.”
History backs up Kraft’s opinion. Brady tied Joe Montana’s all-time playoff wins record, with 16. Just by going to the big game again Brady has tied John Elway for most Super Bowl appearances by a starting quarterback, with five. A victory over the Giants would give Brady the all-time playoff wins mark outright and tie him with Montana and Terry Bradshaw for most Super Bowl wins all-time by a starting quarterback, with four.
“It’s incredible,” said Brady. “You pinch yourself to get this opportunity. It’s really a privilege.”
SBO Fantasy Flash
- You can’t spell “elite” without Eli. Giants quarterback Eli Manning is headed to the Super Bowl for the second time in five seasons after an heroic effort in a 20–17 overtime win on the road and in the rain against the 49ers. Manning completed 32-of-58 passes — both new team records — for 316 yards, two TDs and zero INTs in victory. The Super Bowl XLII MVP was the toughest man on the field, taking six sacks and at least 20 hits from an abusive San Francisco defense. This is nothing new, however. Manning has thrown for 923 yards, eight TDs and one INT for a 103.1 rating during the Giants’ postseason run this season. Over New York’s current five-game winning streak, Manning has thrown 12 TDs and just two INTs, leading Big Blue back to the big game for a rematch with Tom Brady and the Patriots.
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