The Playoffs: Championship Sunday

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.

The Playoffs: Divisional Round

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.

The Playoffs: Wild Cards

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.

Week 16 Sunday Recap: Who's in and Who's out

Merry Christmas Eve and happy Week 16 in the NFL! I was under the impression that this was the last week of the regular season, but as luck would have it, there is one more so I will save my retrospective post on how far we have come for next week. This week it is all about who is in and who is out and as much as that may sound just like something Heidi Klum might say I was hard pressed to find one runway or sassy designer on my TV this past Sunday...sometimes things sound the same but aren't the same at all. In fact, I only wish trying to figure out who was in and out of the playoffs was as easy as Michael Kors saying yes or no. Instead we are dealing with math and the combinations of so many scenarios that make me want to bury my head in my pillow. Anyone who thinks that guys who are into sports are dumb is unbelievably wrong. It takes an very sharp analytical brain to figure this mess out. Those of you who know me know that anything to do with analytics, statistics, or anything else in the neighborhood basically drives me to drink, so here is my very dumbed down run down of who is in and who is out. On a side note I am thinking of writing to the NFL and suggest they adopt the Project Runway model of selection for next year's playoffs, I think it would make things easier for everyone.

I'm sorry Steelers that means you're out. Auf wiedersehen.

- The Pittsburgh Steelers are out. They were knocked out of playoff contention by the Cincinnati Bengals who kicked a field goal with 4 seconds remaining in the game for the win. Cincinnati sacked Roethlisberger 4 times and Pittsburgh was only able to complete 2 of 14 3rd downs. So the "used-to-be" terrible Bengals are on their way to the post season and the 2-time Super Bowl champ, Ben Roethlisberger, is on his way home to his newborn baby.

- Not only are the Ravens in the playoffs but they are the Champions of the AFC North and they got there by beating the New York Giants 14-33. The Giants still have a chance but losing against the Ravens didn't help their cause. They will need to win next week against the Eagles and then will need some other teams to help them out as well in order to make it to the post-season. Not what you would expect from the defending Super Bowl Champs or a Manning brother. Aside: Apparently Eli's big brother, Peyton Manning, gave his brother some game notes on the Ravens after he played and beat them last week with his team the Broncos. Either Eli didn't listen, or Peyton played a pretty mean Christmas joke on his little brother because Eli looked like he didn't know where he was on Sunday night.

You're in Baltimore, Eli and they are KILLING you!

- The Indianapolis Colts are in and in a big way. Rookie QB, Andrew Luck, broke Cam Newton's rookie passing yards record and led his team to a 20-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only do the colts have life in the playoffs but they will take to the field with their head coach, Chuck Pagano, back by their side. Pagano was diagnosed with cancer early in the season and has missed much of the season while undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Pagano is now in remission and you have to think that having their healthy coach back on the sidelines will fuel the Colts' fire going into the playoffs.

- The Seahawks are in as they continue their hot streak of completely killing their opposition. The Seahawks have not lost at home yet this season, and as the rain poured down in Seattle they kept the streak alive with a 13-42 win over the San Francisco 49'ers, who are thought by many to be the best team in the NFL right now. Rookie QB, Russell Wilson, threw for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns. "Impress Him" Fact: Seattle has outscored its last 3 opponents 150-30. That is incredible. If I were an NFC team I would be praying that Seattle does not win home field advantage in the playoffs.

As the Wise Man, Tim McGraw, once said "Bring on the Rain".

- The Miami and Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints both pulled off respectable victories against the Buffalo Bills and the Dallas Cowboys respectively. But wins by the Bengals and the Vikings put both teams out of playoff contention. The Cowboys HAVE to win their game against the Redskins next week in order to make it to the playoffs.

- The Green Bay Packers are in and with the 49'ers loss may have a chance to win the No. 2 seed in the playoffs with a win over the Minnesota Vikings next week. What's the big deal about being the No. 2 seed? I'm glad you asked. The No. 2 seed gets a bye the first round of the playoffs. And in case you were wondering, the No. 1 seed gets a bye AND home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

While the AFC is pretty much decided the NFC will be figured out next week. So until then here is wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Week 15: Sunday Recap

We are a nation in mourning. All of our flags are at half staff and players and coaches in the NFL are writing the names of slain children on their hats, shoes and helmets.I know that there are mixed feelings about whether or not the Sandy Hook Elementary killings should spur a political debate on gun control, but I am sure we all wish that that pyscho wasn't able to get his hands on two guns. What can you do in the face of tragedy but pick yourself up and find a way to move on. If nothing, football provides the briefest respite from an unfathomable act and Week 15 did not disappoint when we needed some entertainment the most.

- The  (not so) mighty New York Giants lost 0-34 to the Atlanta Falcons. That's right, Eli Manning and the Giants scored zero points. Nothing. Nada. Goose Egg. Their first shut out since 1996. The Falcons have only lost 2 games all season (tied for the best record in the NFL) but have still not earned the respect they think they deserve. That chip on their shoulder seemed to work in their favor today. Asante Samuel intercepted Eli Manning twice and quarterback, Matt Ryan threw for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. Not only did the Falcons shut the Giants out but it is the first time they have beat the Giants since 2004. The Falcons now sit on top of the NFC South and will have a bye the first round of the playoffs.

Victor Cruz wrote the name of one of the SHES victims on his shoes

- Rookie QB, Russell Wilson rushed for 3 touchdowns in the Seattle Seahawks 50-17 routing of the Buffalo Bills. This a week after the Seahawks shut out the Arizona Cardinals 58-0. Russell Wilson may have played 3rd fiddle to fellow rookie QBs, RG3 and Andrew Luck. But I think it is safe to say that everyone will be talking about him in the morning.

- While we are on the subject of shutouts the New Orleans Saints had one of their own, shutting out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-41. The Saints have been the center of a lot of talk this week. Paul Tagliabue, the former commissioner of the NFL, vacated the suspensions of four players. Suspensions that were handed down by current commissioner, Roger Goodell. Tagliabue basically said that players follow the directions of their coaches for fear of getting cut or benched. So the onus of the Bounty Gate scandal falls more on the coaches than it does the players. Needless to say, the Saints felt the slightest bit vindicated this week and it showed. Drew Brees overcame a 2-week rut to throw for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns. "Impress Him" Fact: The Saints still have a snowballs chance in New Orleans of making the playoffs if they win out but all of the other teams will have to lose their last 2 games. Not likely, but stranger things have happened to this team this year including their first shut-out game since 1995.

- Unfortunately for Jay Cutler, Clay Matthews was back on defense for the Green Bay Packers after missing 4 games due to a hamstring injury. You may remember that when these 2 teams met earlier this season Clay Matthews sacked Jay Cutler 3.5 times so I am guessing that Jay was hoping to catch a little break this time around. No such luck. Clay was back and looking for Jay and found him for 2 sacks in the Packers 21-13 win over NFC North rivals, the Chicago Bears. Aaron Rodgers was looking (and playing) good with 291 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Chicago continues to struggle losing 5 of their last 6 games. The bad news for all of us is that the Bears are in danger of not making the playoffs which means Jay Cutler will have extra time on his hands to make more babies with Kristen Cavallari, and no one wants that. "Impress Him" Fact: Want to really turn some heads? Tell your co-workers/husband/boyfriend that the Bears just don't have any play-makers beyond Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. On another note I just tried to google images of Jay Cutler with Kristen and his baby and there are none. There aren't even any of just him and the baby. Is Jay Cutler a dead beat dad? Incidentally, there are several pictures of Jay Cutler's head on a poor baby's body and also several of him with a pacifier in his mouth...if that tells you anything.

I don't know where Jay is, but please don't fumble that baby

- You have to give the Dallas Cowboys this, they will not go away. In fact, they are tied for 1st place in the NFC East. This team simply refuses to give up as was evident in their overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Of course, the Steelers helped out a little. A fumbled kickoff return led to the tie-ing touchdown for the Cowboys. And then Brandon Carr intercepted Roethlisberger's first pass in overtime and ran it 36 yards to the 1st yard line, setting up an easy field goal for Dan Bailey who was happy to play the hero for the second week in a row. The Steelers are one game behind the Cincinnati Bengals for a wild card spot in the playoffs. They face the Bengals in a "must win" game next week.

- Imagine you had all of the ligaments in your knee torn and reconstructed. Now imagine that 9 months later you were running down a field while giant men tried everything in their power to knock you down. And now imagine that none of that mattered because you are some kind of super human and instead of slowing down you are going to have the best season as a running back of your career and possibly of anybody's career if things keep going the way they are going. If you can imagine all of that then you will know what it is like to be Adrian Peterson. In the Minnesota Vikings' game against the St. Louis Rams Peterson ran for a season-best 212 yards giving him 1812 yards for the season...294 yards shy of the single season record set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. Oh and the Vikings beat the Rams 36-22.

- When I played tennis in high school, I always had to play against a girl who I had been playing with since I was 6 years old. I would always be pretty antsy before the match and would start off petty shaky and would get in a hole. Once I was in this hole I would kind of give up because I really liked Marcie and didn't care if she beat me, I was hungry, and I was ready to get home and see what the gang from West Beverly High was up to...oh and I probably had homework or something. And it would be at the moment that I had accepted defeat that I would start playing my best game and the match would drag out for a third set. That seems to be what is happening with the Carolina Panthers the last 2 weeks. Last week they decidedly took out the Atlanta Falcons and this week it was the San Diego Chargers' turn to be humiliated by a team who had only won 4 games coming into Sunday's game. In fact, it was the first time that the Panthers have won consecutive games since last December. Mike Tolbert, a former Charger, had 2 touchdowns against his old team and Cam Newton threw for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Panthers' 31-7 defeat of the San Diego Chargers. Of course, the Panthers are playing for nothing but pride right now but they are playing like the team everyone expected them to be at the beginning of the season. Hopefully, they can remember what worked come September.

This week I thought I would change it up with GQ Cam.

- The San Francisco 49'ers took on the New England Patriots last night in what looked like the most miserable conditions ever...cold, rainy, sleet. Barf. You would think that the Patriots would be used to this kind of weather, but it was the 49'ers who looked right at home. In fact, the Patriots have not lost on their home field in December in a decade. A decade! The 49'ers were up 31-3 when the Patriots decided to make it interesting and come back to tie the game in the 4th quarter. But this was San Francisco's game to win and they clinched the win with a 38 yard touchdown pass from Colin Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree. The 49'ers won 41-34 and are headed to the post season with some good momentum.

That does it for the big news out of Week 15. Remember to hold your little ones tight this week and every week.

Week 14: Sunday Recap

Whoever decided to schedule a Downton Abbey marathon on a Sunday when the know I am supposed to be watching football is on my list...the bad one. I know that Public Television is funded by viewers like me but you mean to tell me they couldn't do the marathon today when they know I am off work? Selfish. The good news is that, thanks to carefully observing my husband's technique, I have become a master of the remote control. I am now able to keep up with 3 football games AND the lives of post World War I English aristocrats. It's not easy, but no sacrifice is. Now on to the 14th Sunday of this NFL season.

I am so in love with this show, hopefully someone is donating money to keep it going.

-It was another emotional week in the NFL, this time for the Dallas Cowboys. Early Saturday morning a practice-squad linebacker for the Cowboys, Jerry Brown, dies in a one-car accident. His roommate and best friend, Josh Brent, was driving the car and has been arrested for intoxication manslaughter. Just like the Kansas City Chiefs were playing for much more than a W last week, this week the Cowboys were playing for their own fallen teammate. Dan Bailey kicked a game winning 40-yard field goal as time expired and the Cowboys beat the Cincinnati Bengals 19-20. 

- The Panthers may be in last place, but they have not given up. That much was certain when they took on the Atlanta Falcons who are tied for the best record in the NFL with the Houston Texans. I was at the game when these two teams played the first time and the Falcons came back to win the game and I would have said that this game would go much the same way if not worse for the Panthers. But we have all learned over the course of this football season that I really have no idea what I am talking about. Cam Newton was like a man on fire. Not only did he throw for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he also led the team in rushing with 116 rushing yards including one 72-yard run that ended in a somersault into the end-zone. The Panthers won 20-30 and I have another all-to-rare excuse to google images of Cam Newton. 

That, my friends, is how you score a touchdown. Nevermind that they are last in the league.

- The Washington Redskins pulled of an overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens. What's more impressive is that they pulled the win off with back-up quarterback, Kirk Cousins, leading the team in place of RG3 who went down with a sprained knee during the last drive of the fourth quarter. "Impress Him" Face: Kirk Cousins is also a rookie who has played in ONE GAME this season. The Redskins were down by 8 points when Cousins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon and then ran the ball in himself for a 2 point conversion to tie the game and send it into overtime. The Redskins won 28-31 and while RG3 did not tear his ACL, the Redskins are still waiting to see who their starting QB will be next week.

- The Seattle Seahawks beat the Arizona Cardinals 0-58. I don't really know if I need to say anything else about that.

- It was all about Adrian Peterson when the Minnesota Vikings took on the Chicago Bears. Peterson rushed for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Vikings 14-21 win over the Bears. "Impress Him" Fact: Peterson has 7 straight games with 100+ rushing yards. He has 1600 rushing yards this season with 3 games to play, putting him closer to the goal of a 2000 yard season. Oh and remember that he basically just had his whole knee reconstructed before this season. Man or robot? You decide. The Bears, who were already without linebacker, Brian Urlacher, also lost Jay Cutler in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. 

There are your highlights from Sunday #14! There are 2 regular season Sunday's to go and then the Playoffs start and basically everything that happened the 16 weeks before doesn't matter. Of course, Downton Abbey will also have it's season 3 premier during these "playoffs".... so when you make your donation to PBS (I would donate, but my husband hid my credit card) could you please ask them to start playing Downton Abbey on Saturdays, when I don't have anything to do? That would be great.

Week 13: Sunday Recap

When I started this blog I promised that the NFL was the best Reality TV there was. Unfortunately it got a little too real this weekend.On Saturday morning Javon Belcher, a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, shot and killed his 22-year old girlfriend. He then drove to Arrowhead Stadium, thanked his head coach, Romeo Crennel and Chiefs' General Manager Scott Pioli, for everything they had done for him and then shot himself in front of them in the stadium parking lot just as the police arrived. To make this story even more tragic, Belcher and his girlfriend were parents to a 3-month old baby girl who is now left without parents. Despite this unthinkable tragedy for the Chiefs, the team collectively decided that it would still play their Sunday afternoon game against the Carolina Panthers. Remember earlier in the season when Ravens' wide receiver, Torrey Smith, lost his brother in a motorcycle accident but still played that night and had one of the best games of his career? Well, the Kansas City Chiefs drew the same kind of strength on Sunday, beating the Panthers 21-27. Not that the Panthers tried to make it easy for them. Cam Newton threw for 232 yards and 3 touchdowns. Chiefs' QB, Brady Quinn, threw for 201 yards and his first 2 touchdown passes in 2 years! After the game Chiefs and Panthers could be seen hugging, crying, and praying together. Even as I type this I am tearing up, not only because what happened on Saturday is such a senseless tragedy that has left a 3-month old an orphan for no reason, but also because there is something about seeing a team pull together in the face of the unthinkable and seeing their opponents offer their love and support. Needless to say this has also fanned the flames of the gun-control debate and Bob Costas was quick to offer his opinions during half time of Sunday Night Football.

A group of Chiefs and Panthers pray together after the game

- On to a less upsetting game, the San Francisco 49'ers against the St. Louis Rams. Leading up to this game it was all about the quarterbacks. You might remember that starting QB for the 49'ers, Alex Smith, was knocked out a game with a concussion. The back-up, Collin Kaepernick, proved to have a "hot hand" and was kept as the starter even after Alex Smith was cleared to play. Kaepernick was the starter again this week against the Rams, a team that the 49'ers tied with a few weeks ago. "Impress Him" Fact: The tie between these 2 teams was the first tie in 4 NFL seasons. It looked like this game was headed for the same result when the teams were still tied up with less than 30 seconds left in overtime until Greg Zuerlin kicked a 54-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining to give the Rams the 16-13 win over the 49'ers. Kaeperick threw for 208 yards, no touchdowns, and also gave up a safety which game the Rams 2 points. But 49'ers Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh is sticking by his new guy and says that Kaepernick will get his 4th straight start next week against the Miami Dolphins. "Impress Him" Fact: Alex Smith has done nothing wrong to lose his starting job, except get a concussion 3 weeks ago. In fact he was leading the NFL with completing 70% of his passes for 1731 yards. Harbaugh is taking a gamble with this switch, and the pressure is on for Kaepernick to get the 49'ers to the playoffs.

- Well the New York Jets won one. But it wasn't with Mark Sanchez, he got benched. And it wasn't with Tim Tebow, he is "hurt". And it wasn't by much, they won against the Arizona Cardinals, 7-6 with 3rd string quarterback, Greg McElroy, playing quarterback. McElroy went in after Sanchez was benched late in the 3rd quarter led the jets down the field for their one and only touchdown early in the fourth. The Jets need to win all of their next games to have a shot in hell of going to the playoffs...maybe ole whats-his-face is the guy to get it done.

- I feel like I haven't talked about the Dallas Cowboys for a few weeks, mostly because I am growing tired of that pitiful look on Tony Romo's face. But last night they faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles and pulled off a much needed 33-38 win. Romo competed 22 of 27 passes for 303 yards and three second-half touchdowns. To add a cherry on top of the win, Romo's 23-yard pass to Dez Bryant broke Troy Aikman's franchise record of 165 touchdown passes. Nick Foles, the QB who replaced Michael Vick for the Philadelphia Eagles threw for 251 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn't enough and the Eagles went on to their 8th straight loss.

word on the street is that these two have been on the outs all season

It's been kind of a rough Week 13, I hope that Kansas City and the families of Javon Belcher and his girlfriend find a way to heal, move forward, and more than anything figure out the best plan for Baby Zoey. From what I can tell about how these teams operate, they will have all the support they need.