Super Bowl XLVII: The Night That The Lights Went Out in NOLA

I am sorry for the late post, but I have really been trying to figure out how I want to approach this last post of the 2012 NFL season. Even people who hate football watch the Super Bowl either for the commercials or the halftime show and let's be honest, there are not many girls out there who were going to miss a Beyonce/Destiny's Child  halftime show...although I was a little let down by the amount of DC time, were you? The short story of what happened during the game is this...the Ravens were winning big, Beyonce blew the lights off the place (figuratively), the lights went out (literally), the 49'ers made a huge comeback, the Ravens win anyway. What started off looking like it was going to be a blow out by the Ravens turned into a really great game that came down to the wire, it was a great way to end a drama filled season.

That's right, Mrs. Carter, it's all your fault that the lights went out.You just had to have the flames at the beginning didn't you?

It seems like so long ago that I started this little experiment of mine (remember the replacement refs). Ever since I started dating my now husband 8 years ago people have heard me joke that the best birthday present  I get is the end of football season (The Super Bowl is always on or around my birthday). But this year I definitely feel a little sad that it is over. Here are some of the things I have learned by writing this blog:

1.) As you know, part of the reason I started this blog is so that I would be a part of my husband's life during football season. I wasn't sure how well my plan had worked until a few weeks ago when my husband was at Twin Peaks (imagine Hooters with trashier uniforms) with a friend watching the playoffs and was texting me the whole time about the game. It's nice to know I was top of mind when surrounded by so many um...peaks.

I mean, seriously? If you wore that on a mountain you would die. It's not realistic.

2.) I have learned to live without Project Runway and Glee. In order to follow this sport, I really had to take inventory of the TV I was watching and get rid of the dead weight. It turns out I don't need ego-maniacal designers or mash-ups of Adele songs to entertain me. It may sound ridiculous but you have no idea how liberating it is. Auf Weidersehen yourself, Heidi Klum.

I don't even care if you're together or not!

3.) I am the only person I know who likes Cam Newton. Seriously, even the guys on ESPN hate him. Maybe I am missing something but I will always be a Cam fan

4.) My husband does not classify 10 straight hours of watching football on the couch as "laying around". The other day I just wanted to have a lazy Saturday while my husband wanted to run all over town. When I complained he said, "I can't just lay around all day!". When I pointed out that that is exactly what we had done for the last 16 Sundays I was told, "yeah, but that's football.". You can't argue with logic that incredible.

5.) I have learned that, to men, any football is better than no football. There were games when someone like the Raiders would be playing someone like the Cardinals...and even though there were complaints about how terrible the game was, it was not terrible enough to hand over the remote control so I could watch my taped episode of Pretty Little Liars. I have even caught my husband watching high school football on a Friday night. And why is it that high school football games always look like they were taped in 1985?

6.) I am the girl who signs up for 3 months of unlimited yoga, is great about going for the first month, and then starts to find any reason not to go near the place. Writing this blog showed me that when I really dedicate myself to something I have what it takes to see it through.

7.) And to go along with #6 I have learned that I really love writing. I have had more fun writing this blog the last 5 months! It has given me something to focus on outside of work and I am not really ready for it to be over. So in the off season you can look forward to periodic posts on what is going on in the NFL so you can stay in the loop and blow the guys in your life away with the little tid bits you find here.

Thanks so much to all of you who read, praised, and encouraged me. I really hope you meant it because you have inspired to me to keep going which means I will be blowing up your Facebook page for months to come! Please leave your comments and feedback and see you in the off season!

xoxo,
Gridiron For Girls (I have been waiting YEARS for a reason to use a Gossip Girl-esque sign off!)

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!