THURSDAY
Ooh boy, I was excited for this one. Packers at Cowboys - the Sheriff versus the young gun (GRRR Romo). I didn't truly believe that the Packers could win this one on the road but an NFC Championship game at freezing cold Lambeau Field sure did sound like an exciting way to end the season, and would hopefully set up my ideal Super Bowl - a 1996 rematch of Patriots versus Packers. Alas, it did not quite go that way. Brett Favre got HURT. It was painful to watch him on the sidelines. His eyes were hollow and at times he couldn't even put his helmet down. One look into those eyes and you understood why this man cannot retire - he does not know what to do with himself when he isn't playing football. Aaron Rodgers came for Favre and surprised everyone who witnessed his half of a game played last year, where he looked like crap and went on to break his leg instead of assuring Packer Nation that he was the heir apparent. The kid played well and I am no longer completely concerned that the Packers will be flushed down the toilet when the Sheriff does eventually retire. He has to sometime, right? I think? Read his profile for SI's Sportsman of the Year, its fascinating.
SUNDAY
I was up late on Saturday night for a friend's birthday party but I thought, hey, I'll still set that alarm for 9:55am, and I'll lay in bed and watch the Eagles. This should be a good game, right? The Eagles played well against the Patriots, there was some hope if they could do it again and pull out a win, right? That would be a big old no. I definitely should have stayed asleep. I think its safe to say that Philadelphia's one-week love affair with AJ Feeley is officially over. When you stare down your receivers and throw continually into triple-coverage, that ball will be picked off. Multiple times. And with those picks goes the Eagles playoff hopes. The game was flat-out ugly, not helped by the vicious sleet and wind, and the play-calling was horrendous. I said to one of my friends earlier this week that Seattle had a speedy secondary, and they'd need to run the ball a lot to get anything done. Yet again, the Eagles insist on throwing entirely too much when they have one of the best runners in the game, Brian Westbrook. A couple of the Boys came up with a theory that Westbrook isn't taken seriously because Brian is too wimpy of a name for a running back. Maybe he should change it to Bryondo or something.
MONDAY
I knew I put that dang bracelet on for a reason. Something pulled me to my little silver jewelry box and I took out my little leather Brady bracelet (the leather looks like a football - its adorable) and put it on before I left my house to watch the game on Monday night. I was actually nervous not wearing my jersey. Last week I hadn't worn it for the first half, and after I left my location and went home, I put it on again just to try to change the cosmic vibes. And it did work (well, I think AJ Feeley just made a crappy play but still). Somehow we kept those cosmic vibes and some way, some how, remain undefeated, a proud 12-0! I know I sound like a greedy fan to say this but, the Pats didn't look good. They looked like crap actually. Randy Moss had 34 yards. We gave up 166 rushing yards because we could not tackle at all. The offensive line struggled and Brady got sacked several times. My friends and I prepared ourselves mentally to lose. We started talking about how it meant nothing to have one loss and that it wouldn't change our playoff stature. And then came the stupidest time out on the planet.
As a very special addition this week, I have a guest-blogger! My friend Lauren can continue on to tell us about this game, as she was in attendance. She's a Raven's fan, but we'll forgive her this once.
Tommy Can You Hear Me? Tommy Can You See Me?
For those of you who don’t know me – I’m Lisa’s good friend from college. I like to think that her passion for football started when she attended my Super Bowl party freshman year in which the Ravens played the Giants. Being from Baltimore, I have been a true Ravens fan through and through…Lisa saw me that day in probably one of my most intense moments… let’s just say I am a passionate fan. While I don’t think it’s appropriate to give myself full credit for Lisa’s love of football, I like to think I had something to do with it. So, thank you Lisa for letting me be your first guest blogger.
That said. I have to admit that this season for me has been all about the Patriots. Yes, I am admitting to being a fair weather fan or more accurately, fair weather Tom Brady fan. (I also just love how cute Tom Brady and Randy Moss are together. Boy love. Gotta love it). When my Dad told me I was invited to the Ravens/Pats game (he’s a season ticket Ravens holder) I looked at it as an opportunity to meet my future husband (the child out of wedlock – just a blip on the radar, of course).
Nothing was going to stop me from going to that game. Not 50 mph winds. Not a cold. Nothing was going to keep me in the way of my Tommy…except maybe the Ravens. At the start of the game, I informed those around me that I would be making my love for Tommy known throughout the game – the cheer I came up with is the title of this entry.
Something got in the way. The Ravens decided to show up.We had planned to leave the game at halftime – expecting the score to be 20 – 0. Now mind you, all throughout the game deep down I knew it was going to be a heartbreaker, but part of me started to think could
the impossible really be possible? Emmitt Smith had said yes on Monday NFL Countdown… maybe he was right.
WRONG.
We forgot I think… us Ravens fans… that Brian Billick is our coach.
Now, I know defensive coordinator Rex Ryan called the time out. I know we had a lot of stupid penalties (and have the most in the NFL), but in my opinion Brian Billick is the worst coach out there:
Time Management: Do I really need to elaborate on this?
Play Calling: Do I really need to elaborate on this?
Stupidity: Do I really need to elaborate on this?
The truth is if the Ravens are going to get me to leave my Tommy for good – and move on, they are going to have to let Billick go…We all Know Kyle Boller isn’t the best, but he certainly is hot… and let’s face it, he doesn’t have a child…at least that we know of.
With all that said, I would like to congratulate MY Ravens on a hard-earned effort. You fell just short of knocking off one of the best teams – and quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Can't you see why Lauren and I are friends?
The State of the Babies
I'm just going to gloat for a minute. I have to. I told everyone at the beginning of the season that I'd be good at fantasy football. Well, I AM GOOD AT FANTASY FOOTBALL. I sit at a computer and answer phones all day. I have plenty of time to be updated on everything happening in the NFL. I drafted well, I made some good pickups throughout the season and now I have made the playoffs in both of my leagues! Wooooohoooooooooooo!
Ok so now that the gloating is over, I will admit that I lost both my games this week. Oops. I was playing the number one team in the Boys' league this weekend and I was pretty sure that I'd actually win up until yesterday. This team had LT, who scored him over 30 points, but I'd gotten almost as many from Peyton. Going into Sunday night, I still had both of my running backs (Willie Parker and Willis McGahee) to play as well as the New England defense. My opposition had one player left - Ravens receiver Derrick Mason. Do you see where I am going with this? Both of us thought that Mason would do nothing, and my remaining players would each get me a bunch of points. Well as we know, it didn't quite go that way. The Ravens are just cramping my style this week.
I also lost in my Dad's league, again to someone who had LT. I just had to be playing both of these teams in the week he finally breaks out, huh. I was sure I would win, so it was a big letdown. I thought I was doomed when I got to the point where I had to start Ryan Grant and Earnest Graham, but they've been great. Ryan Grant has had a touchdown every week I've played him. Receiver was my issue yet again. I chose to not start Kevin Curtis this week and of course he had over 100 yards. Colston has been hot and he had one catch (granted it was a pretty awesome catch). Still though, I'm going to be a division winner and will get into the playoffs. My dad is winning the entire league at 9-2. He's won his leagues the last two years as well. I can't argue - he's the man.
Now if only we can make a last surge in our Family Pick-em League.
This Week's Favorite Things in the NFL:
1. Brian Billick's kisses. Please tell me you all saw this moment. Rodney Harrison makes a clutch defensive play almost directly in front of where Billick is standing on the sideline. Turns right to him afterward and says something in his face. As he turns away, Billick, so smug, looks right at him and blows him a single kiss. Then moves his mouthpiece away and gives him two more. Priceless.
2. Tom Brady's postgame interviews. Whew, man does NOT like to play badly. He was downright salty and smartass to the reporters. You could tell he was mad at himself more than anyone else out there, but not exactly beaming with pride toward his teammates. Ok, am I the only one who things the anger was kinda hot? Anyone?
3. Adrian Peterson (the good one) is unreal. Just unreal. He's also just kind of adorable, he's this beast but he's a baby.
Random Thought of the Week
STRIKE. END. PLEASE.