I don't think I've ever seen a challenge on the opening kickoff before. It worked! And assuming similar play calling by the Ravens (dangerous, I know) that saved the Steelers being down at least three. Between the Ward-Reed dustup on the first series and Ike Taylor headbutting Housh, this game could end in an actual fistfight. I don't like the Ravens throwing this much this early on because there's no need to. Especially when you have Ray Rice, who can do things like that. I'm not sure what the best part of the Cory Redding touchdown was: Everyone standing around for a good 10 seconds before Redding decided, "Hey, let's try something. I'll pick this up," or the delay between Redding getting the ball and starting to run and two of his teammates realizing what was happening and saying to themselves, "We should probably go after him just in case something goes wrong." Let's see these replays. Oh, that's a fumble. Dierdorf's called both turnovers and the challenge on the kickoff so far. It's the end of the first quarter and Tomlin's out of challenges. Who is he, Mike Martz? Polamalu completely whiffing on Rice was bizarre and rare. That was also a fumble and this is not how I expected this game to start. Going for it on 4th and 7? Still, probably better than trusting the notoriously shaky Shaun Suisham. Oh, they are going to kick it. And he MISSES. Figures. Now they absolutely need to score on this opening drive in the third. Or get a turnover immediately afterwards. Nice job punching that ball out, Clark. Aaaand we've got a game again. Interception! Tie game. Flacco has fallen apart — he's completed one pass this quarter and it was fumbled. You know who hasn't fallen apart is Terrell Suggs. Can't say the same for the rest of this defense, though, giving up 17 unanswered. All right, hang on — it's been too long since we've had an illegal block or a hold on a kick return. Yep, there we go. Tied again! But who thought it'd be 24-24 or that we'd get here the way we did? ANTONIO BROWN? REALLY? The Ravens' cornerbacks just got horribly exposed. Again. Seems like it's only a matter of time now. There it is. (Steelers 31, Ravens 24)
PROTECT THE FOOTBALL. Because that's what happens to you if you don't. I have to say, this Falcons secondary? Not really that great. The Packers are doing a little bit of the nickel-and-dime stuff that the Falcons had a lot of success with at times, but they're using a lot more shotgun than the Falcons normally do. SPECIAL TEAMS. It looked like Weems got exactly one block. The Packers are just relentlessly picking on this Owens kid. And he just got flagged to wipe out a third-down sack. B.J. Raji in the backfield? I think they're going to run. Good luck stopping it. Jenkins slipped? Can you have wet turf indoors? James Jones making up for last week there. Pick six! I understand why the Falcons went for it but that throw was Doomed To Failure. Chew on this: Tramon Williams is solely responsible for at least a 24-point swing in the span of about three minutes. He's not a Pro Bowler why again? Starks is running better here in the second half and the Falcons look absolutely shellshocked. The Falcons having all these free pass rushers and not getting to Rodgers reminds me of Mike Mamula's entire career. Kuuuuuuuuhn. This has officially gotten out of hand now. I don't see a grand comeback here. Crosby clanging that field goal off the upright is the third thing the Packers did wrong tonight. Put in Flynn! This one's gonna sting for a bit. (Packers 48, Falcons 21)
Greg Olsen! You should tell your offensive coordinator to call more plays for you because you're probably the best pass-catcher the Bears have. Oh no. How did John Carlson land on his head? This is not the same Seahawks team we saw last week. Nice work, Jon Ryan — a bad punt right to Hester, who brings it back to midfield. Cutler's making this look easy. Conversely, the Seahawks are making this look very difficult. At least the snow's slowed down somewhat. Cutler has wheels? Oh boy. I feel like we're officially at the point now where the quarterback who just stands in the pocket like a statue is an old-time relic along with the single-bar face mask. Hey, a field goal! At least they won't get shut out. I thought the bears had called off the dogs but they just hit a 40-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 1 with seven minutes left. These Seahawk scores will look nice on the stat sheet but that's about it. Not that it matters but why not kick a field goal there? Again, not that it matters. Just a curious decision. Butch: "This epidemic is so bad in the last 36 hours Ravens, Falcons and Seahawks have fallen out of the sky." (Bears 35, Seahawks 24)
It's astounding to me how quickly and decisively the Jets have usurped the title of "most despised team in football" from the Patriots and the Cowboys. No pregame fight? Shocking. What was that, Brady? Absolutely terrible throw. It looked like a shot put. So naturally the Jets come out and lose eight yards on their first two plays. There's the Nick Folk we know and love. Alge Crumpler not only still being alive, but somehow turning up in New England stunned me. How did he miss that one? He's clearly lost his touch. LDT, however, hasn't. If anyone's been more tormented by the Patriots in the playoffs during this run than LaDanian Tomlinson, I'd like to know who it is. Even Peyton beat them eventually. That's the second straight punt the Jets punter has dropped right into the end zone from inside Patriots' territory. Maybe the Jets should just start going for it. Wha... what was that? Did the Patriots really call a fake punt with 1:15 left in the half from their OWN 38? Absolutely terrible. Edwards towing two Patriots into the end zone was pretty neat. Going to the no-huddle late in the third quarter seems to have finally energized the Pats' offense. Who thought Rob Gronkowski would end up being the Pats' best deep threat in this game? Crumpler got that one. "Do something differently," Phil? The Patriots have been running that direct snap for years. Bomb to Cotchery! Holmes didn't catch that, did he? Did he get his feet down? Oh, there's the knee hitting. The Patriots need two scores and have already run the ball three times on this drive. The Pats fans are booing the playcalling, and rightly so. Andy Reid's watching this and wondering, "What's taking them so long?" Why are you talking smack, Deion Branch? You're down 10 in the fourth quarter at home and have wasted about four minutes on this drive. And then you dropped a fourth-down pass that went through your hands. Now Reid's saying to himself, "At least we eventually scored when we did that." That might be it, folks. Well, wait, the Patriots got a stop. Oh, now you decide to do nothing but pass? And only get a field goal out of it? Smooth. Onside kick. Cromartie picks it up and returns it to the 25-yard line? That was more than a little risky. Touchdown Jets! That's it! I never thought I'd say this about Rex Ryan, but he was way too modest after the game — he completely outcoached Belichick. Of course, Belichick hasn't coached a game this badly since he was in Cleveland. (Jets 28, Patriots 21)
