This is it, people. What the whole season is about. Who is going to the Super Bowl?! It was all decided on Sunday and the winners are.... Aside: Watching The Bachelor is seriously one of the most uncomfortable experiences that I continue to put myself through season after season. What is the matter with these girls?!
- The San Francisco 49'ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 28-24 to win the NFC Championship and earn a spot in the Super Bowl. I am more than a little bummed about this loss for the Falcons. You might remember that I had the chance to go to a Falcons game early on in the season and it was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had (it was like the opposite of watching The Bachelor). And in the beginning it looked like the Falcons might run away with it. They took an early 17-0 lead with Julio Jones racking up over 100 receiving yards in the first half and making touchdowns look easy. But then the Falcons did what they do best, blow leads. Only this time they couldn't comeback against the 49'ers and Colin Kaepernick...the quarterback who replaced Alex Smith mid-season. A decision that is making Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh, look like a genius right about now.
- Speaking of Harbaughs, after Jim made sure his team was headed to the Super Bowl it was his big brother, John Harbaugh's turn to do the same for the Baltimore Ravens. Another Aside: Okay I know this is supposed to be about football, but I just watched the part of The Bachelor when Kasey tries to clue Sean into the drama that the other girls are having. I think it is fair to say that Kasey is a lethal combination of stupid, desperate, and crazy. I mean, she has been on this show before (first red flag) shouldn't she know that ratting out the other girls never goes over well with the guy you are all fighting over?? Okay...I'm done...oh wait someone just fell down the stairs. Her name is Tierra...give me a break. Back to football. What I was saying is that when the Baltimore Ravens kicked off against the New England Patriots there was a very good chance that the Super Bowl would feature two brothers coaching against each other. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING! Can you tell I am excited?! Not only do I love the Ravens but nothing makes me happier than seeing Tom Brady and Bill Belichek lose football games, let alone this football game! The Patriots had never lost an AFC Championship game at home, Tom Brady was 67-0 at home when they are leading at the half, but all of that history was no match for the Ravens who shut the Patriots down 28-13. So now Ray Lewis will end his 17 year long career...all spent with the Ravens...at a Super Bowl. That's quite a story.
It looks like he beat up a 12 year old boy and stole his outfit
The stage is set for Super Bowl XLVII (any one have any clue how many that is...my brain is too fried by mindless television to try and figure it out). And what a story it will be: The first time in Super Bowl history that 2 brothers will be coaching against each other, the end of Ray Lewis' iconic career...and of course the Destiny's Child reunion concert. Fun Fact: Jim and John Harbaugh are only 15 months apart. Also their parents names are Jack and Jackie and they have a sister, Joanie. Do you see where I am going with this? Jack, Jackie, Jim, John, and Joanie. Say that 5 times fast. For the first time in a long time I am so excited for more than just the commercials and half time entertainment when it comes to this Super Bowl. What do y'all, think? are you excited for Harbaugh Bowl? Does it concern you that there are people out there who would name their child, Tierra? No matter what, there is only one game left in this NFL season and then I have to figure out another hobby. Bowling for Broads, anyone?
Thank God they have to wear those hats or things would get very confusing on Super Bowl Sunday.
But wait...I need to say a proper good bye to Tom Brady....
A cowboy hat, belt buckle, AND chaps? What do you think he is thinking about?
Wear all the glasses you want, you will never be as cool as Lebron.
I started the season with this gem...seems fitting that I should end with it.
I think the most important way for me to start this week's (late) post is to let all of you know that as I write this NFL blog, my husband is watching The Bachelor and getting mad at me for not paying attention. How's that for irony? I have used The Bachelor as a metaphor for football before in this blog so in honor of my hubby I will bring it back for Round 2 of the playoffs, otherwise known as the Divisional Round. Anyone who has watched The Bachelor knows that nothing is feared more than the dreaded 2-on-1 date. That's where two girls go on a date with our bachelor and only one comes back. Well imagine an episode made up of four 2-on-1 dates and that would be the Divisional Round of the playoffs, 8 teams go in, only 4 come out. Below is a snapshot of where we are after this weekend's games...you know in case you dont feel like reading my witty recaps.
- It's official, I am a Ravens fan. I love Ray Lewis and want to see him end his career with a Super Bowl win. I love Torrey Smith, I think he has the kindest face of anyone I have ever seen. And I love that this is a team that just will not go away. After beating the Colts last week, the Ravens travelled to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos who have been on somewhat of a hot streak. Well nothing was hot in Denver on Saturday....no seriously the windchill factor was -2 degrees. To make a long game short, here is what you need to know: Joe Flacco and Jacoby Jones saved the day for the Ravens. After trading scores all game, the Broncos were up by a touchdown with 31 seconds left in the game when Joe Flacco threw a 70 yard Hail Mary pass to Jacoby Jones to tie the game and send it to two overtimes and winning the game 38-35. It should also be noted that Peyton Manning was not his best self. Maybe the cold air was too much for his Louisiana blood, but he accounted for all 3 of Denver's turnovers to help the Ravens on to the AFC Championship.
I am trying to think of something funny to say but all I can think of is "bahaha!" Go home, Peyton.
- The news was not as great for one of my other favorite teams, the Green Bay Packers as they took on the San Francisco 49'ers. Colin Kaepernick, who became the starting quarterback for the 49'ers during the last 3rd of the regular season, certainly made a statement in his first playoff appearance. Not only did he throw for 26 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he also rushed for a record 181 yards and 2 touchdowns to give the 49'ers the 31-45 over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
Bless him. Hey Rodgers! Call me, maybe.
- One of the perks of my job is that I get to go to market in Atlanta and shop for beautiful home furnishings and accessories with someone else's credit card. If that is not living the dream, I am not sure what is. I was so excited to get to market on Sunday that I almost forgot about the Atlanta Falcons kicked off against the Seattle Seahawks at 1:00. That is until we started looking for a parking place and were surrounded by Falcons jerseys. I finally found a $30 parking spot in the middle of a Falcons tailgate and definitely felt a little jealous that I wasn't there to be part of the football fun...and believe me it would have been fun. The Falcons blew a 20 point lead and were down by 1-point in the 4th quarter with 31 seconds left to play. But as we have seen all season the Falcons have, more often than not, found a way to win; and after 2 long passes by Matt Ryan and 8 seconds remaining, Matt Bryant kicked a 49 yard field goal to give the Falcons their first post-season win since 2004. The Falcons will face the San Francisco 49'ers in the NFC Championship next week.
- The last game of the Divisional Round was between the Houston Texans and our old friends the New England Patriots (y'all got the sarcasm there, right?). Apparently all Tom Brady knows how to do is win playoff games, and unfortunately for the Texans Sunday afternoon was no exception. Brady threw for 344 yards and 3 touchdowns to solidly beat the Texans, 28-41. The Patriots will face my real friends, the Ravens next week in the AFC Championship. I am so upset about Tom Brady getting another shot at going to the Super Bowl that I am almost too depressed to google ridiculous pictures of him...almost.
Name one thing you have to cry about, Tom. ONE.
I was going to save this one, but I couldn't wait. Nice hair.
Next week we have the AFC and NFC Championships that will decide who goes to the Super Bowl. It's like the final date of The Bachelor except this time the final date is a football game that is sure to be overshadowed by the Destiny's Child reunion concert at halftime. I mean, I can think of no better reward for my 18 weeks of football watching than the girls back together again! What do you think they will open with? Say My Name? Too predictable? Oh gosh, my head might explode just thinking of all the possibilities, it's going to be just like that last scene in Dreamgirls!
Yes girls, I think I am finally ready for this jelly.
Happy New Year and yes, I did take Week 17 off. There was way to much Holiday Spirit going around for me to sit down and blog. But it is a new year and with 2013 comes the beginning of the NFL Playoffs which will take us all the way to the Super Bowl on February 3rd. The first round of the playoffs is known as the Wild Card Round. Basically in this round the #6 seed (the Wild Card team) plays the #3 seed and the #5 seed (The Wild Card team) plays the #4 seed. If you want to learn more about what it means to be a Wild Card team in the NFL you can click here.In case you were wondering here is a snapshot of who is in the playoffs.
AFC teams are on the left, NFC on the right and they meet in the middle for the Super Bowl
- It should be noted that 3 out of 5 rookie quarterbacks have made it to the post season: Russell Wilson for the Seattle Seahawks, Andrew Luck for the Indianapolis Colts, and RG3 for the Washington Redskins.
- Texans quarterback, Matt Schaub, not only finally got to play in his first playoff game, but he managed to win his first playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals (the Wild Card team). The Texans started off the season tied for the best record in the NFL only to see their star fade at the end of the season when they went from being a potential #1 seed with a bye week to the #3 seed who needed to get past the Bengals to keep their post season alive. Schaub had some help from running back, Arian Foster, who rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown. Maybe more importantly, Foster was able to help his team hold possession of the ball for 38 minutes and 49 seconds. The Texans beat the Bengals 19-13 and face a real challenge when they take on the New England Patriots next week.
- The Minnesota Vikings (the Wild Card team) may have the bionic man on their side in Adrian Peterson, but it wasn't enough to take down the Green Bay Packers who they had played (and beat) just one week before. This week Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers were on their home field and they were ready for the Vikings. To top it all off, the Vikings starting QB Christian Ponder was inured and they had to start their back-up, Joe Webb, who had seen one snap back in Week 5 against the Titans. The Packers won 24-10 and go on to face the San Francisco 49'ers next week.
-What I really love about the NFL are the stories off the field that make what happens on the field that much more exciting. And it was an emotional one when the Indianapolis Colts (the Wild Card team) travelled to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. A few months ago the Ravens' emotional center, Ray Lewis, went out with what was thought to be a season ending triceps injury. Well, it would take much more that that to end Ray Lewis' time on the field and he was back on the defense this week but only after announcing earlier this week that he would be retiring after this season after 17 years with not only the NFL, but the Baltimore Ravens. All that means that this game against the Ravens would be the last home game for Ray Lewis and it was a memorable one. The famed Baltimore defense, led by Lewis, held Andrew Luck and the Colts to just 9 points and walked away with the 9-24 win. Not only was Ray Lewis' storyline an emotional one but there was also the issue of Indianapolis Head Coach, Chuck Pagano. Pagano, who missed much of the season to undergo treatment for Leukemia, spent 4 years as an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens. After the game Ravens players could be seen lining up to give their old coach a hug. Actually Pagano got a sideline hug while the game was still going on by Ravens' defender Terrell Suggs. The Ravens head to Denver next week to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos.
- With Andrew Luck out of the playoffs, there were 2 rookie quarterbacks left in the race and they faced off against each other with Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks (the Wild Card team) taking on RG3 and the Washington Redskins. All eyes were on RG3 who missed last weeks game with a knee injury and it was thought by many that he was not ready to play today. Those "many" were right. Despite a quick score on their first drive, RG3 did not look like his old agile self and in the 4th quarter RG3 fumbled a ball and went down again on that bad knee. The Seahawks recovered the fumble and walked away with the 24-14 win, their first road playoff win since 1983. The Seahawks head to Atlanta next week to take on the #1 seed Atlanta Falcons.
I'll be back next week with a recap of the Divisional Round of the playoffs. In the meantime, please let me know how you have liked the blog this season. What can I do more of? What can I do less of? Should I bother doing this again at all? I want to know! Hope everyone has a good week back at work...I don't know about y'all but it feels like years since I put in a full week, this one is going to be a doozy.
