This was my last column for this year on the NFL for TheScore Television network and I thought I'd post it in here. I had a blast writing and just going back and remembering the highlights from each week and I hope you guys enjoy it too.
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Goodbye to the Circus:
The Super Bowl was the Milkshake that brought all the boys to the yard this weekend and even though there were many parrots who chirped the words "defensive struggle" beforehand, those bird-heads were no where to be found afterhand. In a Super Bowl that involved 279 countries, an Aerosmith reincarnation, a Beyonce anthem, and a Janet Jackson peep show, the only thing absent in this finale was defense. The Super Bowl has been regurgitated and analyzed more than a George Bush speech so therefore I'll close the door on the NFL season with a review of a great regular season:
Year In Review:
Week 1:
- Buffalo looks like super heroes as they feed a 31-0 donut to the New England Patriots with the help of newly acquired ex-Patriot Lawyer Milloy. The Bills fought the Law and with a good Lawyer, they won.
Week 2:
- In a classic Monday Night Football tilt, even John Madden breaks out of his monotonous voice when he sees the Dallas Cowboys blow a 23-7 lead to the New York Giants. With only 11 seconds left, Giant kicker Matt Bryant kicks the ball out of bounds on the kickoff to allow Dallas to kick a miraculous field goal and eventually win the game in overtime. By the way, Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis 30 carries, 295 YDS, 2 touchdowns, 49ers receiver Cedric Wilson forgets to get down and call timeout, and Carolina blocks 2 field goal kicks and one game-winning extra point for a an overtime win against rival Tampa Bay.
Week 3:
- Seattle asserts themselves at the top of their division (temporarily) as they show division rival St. Louis who's the boss with a 24-23 victory.
Week 4:
- Philadelphia, still without a throwing touchdown all year, and still without a win, finally got rid of one of the monkeys off their back as they beat Buffalo 23-13. Meanwhile, Cincinnati also finds win #1 in a hard fought win against inter-state rival Cleveland.
Week 5:
- Kordell Stewart, still somehow holding on to his starting job, leads Chicago back from a 19-3 deficit including 2-4th quarter touchdowns and one 48-yard game winning field goal by Paul Edinger. That was nothing compared to Dante Hall's 4th kickoff return for a touchdown in 4 consecutive games which gave Kansas City a 24-23 victory over Denver. As if that was not enough, Indianapolis rallies for 3 touchdowns with less than 4 minutes left in Tampa Bay only to win in overtime against one of the stingiest defenses around (at the time).
Week 6:
- Kansas City almost blemished their 5-0 perfect record in Green Bay but thanks to a nice bowl of Ahman Green Fumbleaya soup and an Eddie Kennison 51-YD reception, all's well, ends well.
Week 7:
- The world doesn't collapse, but somehow Cincinnati moves within one game of first place with a huge W at home against Baltimore. Simultaneously in Giant land, New York suffers and enormous collapse thanks to a special teams brain cramp and a Brian Westbrook 84-YD punt return TD. Mama Mia!
Week 8:
-Dallas proves to be a pretender as the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick Dallas out of their house with a 16-0 victory. An overtime fumble in the city that sleeps gives Carolina a 23-20 victory in New Orleans but the highlight of the week was in Arizona. Even though 'Zona kicker Tim Duncan was only 3-6 on field goals on the day, the goat was 49er kicker Owen Pochman who blew a possible game winning field goal from 35 yards which ended up costing San Fran the game, and Owen his job.
Week 9:
- Heavyweight tilt in Miami has the Indianapolis Colts coming out on top 23-17. Meanwhile on Monday Night Football New England, down by 1 point, take a shocking safety to give up the ball and 2 point to Denver. The Patriots play defense, get the ball back and drive for a game-winning touchdown on sheer guts and glory.
Week 10:
- Carolina punks Tampa Bay again, Baltimore proves to be no match for St. Louis, and Indianapolis takes a hit in Jacksonville. Monday Night Football provided another great game as Philadelphia scores what proved to be a game-winning touchdown with a mere 32 seconds on the clock. Bada-bing, bada-boom.
Week 11:
- A Cincinnati guarantee proves to be worthy as big mouthed wide receiver Chad Johnson promises a victory against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs and the Bungles deliver. During this time the once promising Buffalo Bills are enduring a month long touchdown-less struggle. Indianapolis beats the New York Jets on a fake punt run for a touchdown and Bill Belichick beats his former boss in a 12-0 victory over Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys.
Week 12:
- Baltimore beats Seattle at home as a referee blunder gives B-more an extra 40 seconds of game clock which gives them enough time to kick a game-tying field goal. Chicago shocks Denver at Investco, and St. Louis needs overtime to dispose of Arizona.
Week 13:
- Thanksgiving weeks brings us a nail-biting dog fight between Indy and New England as the Patriots use a last second goal line stand to hold off Edgerrin James and the Colts. St. Louis punishes the once 6-0 Minnesota Vikings and who can forget Doug Flutie's last second "meaningless" touchdown which allowed San Diego to cover a spread, but still lose 28-24 to Kansas City.
Week 14:
- In a battle for first place, the Cincinnati Bengal's tank appears to be on empty as the Baltimore Ravens get revenge for an earlier loss in the year to the Bengals. The theme of revenge continued as San Francisco dropped 50 on Arizona (this time with a new kicker), Denver settled the score with Kansas City with a decent 45-27 victory and Michael Vick finally showed up to help his team avenge an earlier loss in the year to Carolina. Ahhh, revenge is sweet!
Week 15:
- The Jets and Steelers total 6 points in a 60 minute football game in possibly the ugliest game of the year. In New Orleans, Joe Horn talks on a hidden cell phone after scoring a touchdown to call his mom and tell her that New Orleans won't be close to the playoffs again this year during a 45-7 beat down of the New York Giants.
Week 16:
- Within days of the passing of Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre's father, the Packers head into Oakland on Monday night where Brett puts on a heartwarming performance. He tears the Raiders to itty-bitty pieces as he goes 22-30, 399 Yards, and 4 Touchdowns
Week 17:
- To close the book on what would be a story-book season for the New England Patriots, they stomp the Buffalo Bills with the exact same score that they lost by in week 1 (31-0). Cincinnati's playoff hopes are squashed as they are forced to go home with Baltimore and 2000 yard rusher Jamal Lewis heading to the playoffs. Minnesota is also forced to go home as they suffer a tragic last second collapse in Arizona. Maybe it was the heat!
The NFL season was nothing short of fantastic but it's time for me to bounce.
Talk to you soon,
Vegas Dave
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Goodbye to the Circus:
The Super Bowl was the Milkshake that brought all the boys to the yard this weekend and even though there were many parrots who chirped the words "defensive struggle" beforehand, those bird-heads were no where to be found afterhand. In a Super Bowl that involved 279 countries, an Aerosmith reincarnation, a Beyonce anthem, and a Janet Jackson peep show, the only thing absent in this finale was defense. The Super Bowl has been regurgitated and analyzed more than a George Bush speech so therefore I'll close the door on the NFL season with a review of a great regular season:
Year In Review:
Week 1:
- Buffalo looks like super heroes as they feed a 31-0 donut to the New England Patriots with the help of newly acquired ex-Patriot Lawyer Milloy. The Bills fought the Law and with a good Lawyer, they won.
Week 2:
- In a classic Monday Night Football tilt, even John Madden breaks out of his monotonous voice when he sees the Dallas Cowboys blow a 23-7 lead to the New York Giants. With only 11 seconds left, Giant kicker Matt Bryant kicks the ball out of bounds on the kickoff to allow Dallas to kick a miraculous field goal and eventually win the game in overtime. By the way, Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis 30 carries, 295 YDS, 2 touchdowns, 49ers receiver Cedric Wilson forgets to get down and call timeout, and Carolina blocks 2 field goal kicks and one game-winning extra point for a an overtime win against rival Tampa Bay.
Week 3:
- Seattle asserts themselves at the top of their division (temporarily) as they show division rival St. Louis who's the boss with a 24-23 victory.
Week 4:
- Philadelphia, still without a throwing touchdown all year, and still without a win, finally got rid of one of the monkeys off their back as they beat Buffalo 23-13. Meanwhile, Cincinnati also finds win #1 in a hard fought win against inter-state rival Cleveland.
Week 5:
- Kordell Stewart, still somehow holding on to his starting job, leads Chicago back from a 19-3 deficit including 2-4th quarter touchdowns and one 48-yard game winning field goal by Paul Edinger. That was nothing compared to Dante Hall's 4th kickoff return for a touchdown in 4 consecutive games which gave Kansas City a 24-23 victory over Denver. As if that was not enough, Indianapolis rallies for 3 touchdowns with less than 4 minutes left in Tampa Bay only to win in overtime against one of the stingiest defenses around (at the time).
Week 6:
- Kansas City almost blemished their 5-0 perfect record in Green Bay but thanks to a nice bowl of Ahman Green Fumbleaya soup and an Eddie Kennison 51-YD reception, all's well, ends well.
Week 7:
- The world doesn't collapse, but somehow Cincinnati moves within one game of first place with a huge W at home against Baltimore. Simultaneously in Giant land, New York suffers and enormous collapse thanks to a special teams brain cramp and a Brian Westbrook 84-YD punt return TD. Mama Mia!
Week 8:
-Dallas proves to be a pretender as the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick Dallas out of their house with a 16-0 victory. An overtime fumble in the city that sleeps gives Carolina a 23-20 victory in New Orleans but the highlight of the week was in Arizona. Even though 'Zona kicker Tim Duncan was only 3-6 on field goals on the day, the goat was 49er kicker Owen Pochman who blew a possible game winning field goal from 35 yards which ended up costing San Fran the game, and Owen his job.
Week 9:
- Heavyweight tilt in Miami has the Indianapolis Colts coming out on top 23-17. Meanwhile on Monday Night Football New England, down by 1 point, take a shocking safety to give up the ball and 2 point to Denver. The Patriots play defense, get the ball back and drive for a game-winning touchdown on sheer guts and glory.
Week 10:
- Carolina punks Tampa Bay again, Baltimore proves to be no match for St. Louis, and Indianapolis takes a hit in Jacksonville. Monday Night Football provided another great game as Philadelphia scores what proved to be a game-winning touchdown with a mere 32 seconds on the clock. Bada-bing, bada-boom.
Week 11:
- A Cincinnati guarantee proves to be worthy as big mouthed wide receiver Chad Johnson promises a victory against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs and the Bungles deliver. During this time the once promising Buffalo Bills are enduring a month long touchdown-less struggle. Indianapolis beats the New York Jets on a fake punt run for a touchdown and Bill Belichick beats his former boss in a 12-0 victory over Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys.
Week 12:
- Baltimore beats Seattle at home as a referee blunder gives B-more an extra 40 seconds of game clock which gives them enough time to kick a game-tying field goal. Chicago shocks Denver at Investco, and St. Louis needs overtime to dispose of Arizona.
Week 13:
- Thanksgiving weeks brings us a nail-biting dog fight between Indy and New England as the Patriots use a last second goal line stand to hold off Edgerrin James and the Colts. St. Louis punishes the once 6-0 Minnesota Vikings and who can forget Doug Flutie's last second "meaningless" touchdown which allowed San Diego to cover a spread, but still lose 28-24 to Kansas City.
Week 14:
- In a battle for first place, the Cincinnati Bengal's tank appears to be on empty as the Baltimore Ravens get revenge for an earlier loss in the year to the Bengals. The theme of revenge continued as San Francisco dropped 50 on Arizona (this time with a new kicker), Denver settled the score with Kansas City with a decent 45-27 victory and Michael Vick finally showed up to help his team avenge an earlier loss in the year to Carolina. Ahhh, revenge is sweet!
Week 15:
- The Jets and Steelers total 6 points in a 60 minute football game in possibly the ugliest game of the year. In New Orleans, Joe Horn talks on a hidden cell phone after scoring a touchdown to call his mom and tell her that New Orleans won't be close to the playoffs again this year during a 45-7 beat down of the New York Giants.
Week 16:
- Within days of the passing of Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre's father, the Packers head into Oakland on Monday night where Brett puts on a heartwarming performance. He tears the Raiders to itty-bitty pieces as he goes 22-30, 399 Yards, and 4 Touchdowns
Week 17:
- To close the book on what would be a story-book season for the New England Patriots, they stomp the Buffalo Bills with the exact same score that they lost by in week 1 (31-0). Cincinnati's playoff hopes are squashed as they are forced to go home with Baltimore and 2000 yard rusher Jamal Lewis heading to the playoffs. Minnesota is also forced to go home as they suffer a tragic last second collapse in Arizona. Maybe it was the heat!
The NFL season was nothing short of fantastic but it's time for me to bounce.
Talk to you soon,
Vegas Dave
