Monday, January 27, 2020

By The Pigskin Of Our Teeth: Wheeled Out

J.J. Watt's playing? The hell? He tore his pec three months ago.




I'd like to see the Bills add a bigger receiver. Allen with SPEED! 42 yards to the Texans' 20! The Bills bust out the John Brown wide receiver pass again — and this time it goes to Allen for a touchdown!




No Will Fuller for the Texans. Big run by Duke Johnson to start. Stills has done well to fill in for Fuller when necessary (which has been a lot.) Texans challenge what they think is a missed DPI.




Call stands, because of course it does. Texans punt.




Allen zips one to Duke Williams, who extends his arms to catch it for a first down. Offensive holding makes it first and 20. Bradley Roby reads Allen like a book, but somehow can't secure the interception. That would have been a touchdown. Watson throws low to Hopkins. They're gonna call him out of bounds three yards short on this sideline run. That might have been worth a challenge if O'Brien hadn't blown one on a pass interference no-call that never gets overturned. Bills blow up the pocket and Watson eventually goes down despite his best efforts. Singletary bursts through the middle for a good gain. Allen finds a wide-open Brown for 28. Allen takes off, but the ball comes out at the end! Texans have it, but all turnovers are reviewed. I think he's down. Call REVERSED. Conley gets in front of Brown and knocks the pass away. Quarterback draw fools no one. Allen looks for Brown on the sideline, but he can't stay inbounds. Hauschka makes it 10-0. Watson gets sacked for the third time today already. Pass protection is a problem for the Texans right now. Maybe running the ball would help with that. I feel like I've complained about this before fairly recently. Another good catch by Williams to convert 3rd and 8. Another good run by Singletary. Allen throws to the end zone, but Williams can't bring this one in. Hauschka makes the kick and it's 13-0 Bills. We end the half with Booger saying it's time for O'Brien to "put up or shut up" in the playoffs. Lisa Salters' report... is interrupted by what appears to be a Bills touchdown on the second-half kickoff? What the hell is going on? Carter fielded the kickoff in the back of the end zone and tossed the ball to the ref. It hit the ground, then the Bills rushed it and picked it up in the end zone. After a talk, the refs rule Carter was giving himself up and call it a touchback, AS THEY SHOULD. "Common sense prevails." Hopkins has only two targets. Another sack by the Bills. Big run by Allen. I would absolutely not punt on 4th and 5 from the Texans' 40 here. They are reeling right now. Knock them out.




Speaking of knockouts, an official gets bowled over at the goal line. Maybe don't wait until after your quarterback's been sacked five times to try to run the ball, Texans. Hopkins makes the catch, but he fumbles! Bills ball! Scuffle breaks out afterwards. Allen picks up a first down on a sneak. GORE! Watt with a sack to force another field goal. T.J. at the game. It's good and it's 16-0. Hopkins makes a catch and keeps it finally. Watson finds Hopkins on the sideline. Watson with a keeper and he bulls his way into the end zone! That's CLOSE. Call STANDS. Texans go for two. Watson runs a quarterback sweep, stretches out, and gets there!




Maybe Williams can be the big receiver the Bills don't really have yet. Allen gets sacked and fumbles. Texans ball! Third quarter's over. Stills! Fairbarn hits from 41. Hopkins beginning to assert himself. Pass to Fells and... he's NOT in. First and goal. Watson fumbles but Hyde saves it for the Texans. And is immediately rewarded with a touchdown catch! Texans lead! Two-point try is good to Hopkins.




Big catch-and-run by Singletary gets the Bills into Texans territory. Allen goes right on 3rd and 1 and gets three. Mercilus comes in untouched and wrecks Allen, who will likely also get flagged for intentional grounding here. The Bills' offense has choked on itself. Fourth and 23.




Now fourth and 27. Against a 54-yard field goal try? That's a Sophie's Choice. They go for it, but Allen gets sacked AGAIN! They're back in Bills territory! Unbelievable. And there's 1:35 left. THAT'S when you punt, you idiots! The Texans are almost in field goal range already.




Three straight runs get them to the Bills' 30. What are they doing? KICK THE FIELD GOAL, YOU ABSOLUTE MORON. Oh my God. They didn't get it. There may not be a worse game coach than O'Brien now that Mike McCarthy's out of the league. (The Cowboys hired him the Monday after wild card weekend. -Ed.) Bills take over. Allen takes off, spins, and fumbles a lateral to Knox, who luckily knocks it out of bounds. This is the worst late-game decision-making I've seen from both teams in the same game since... well, since last year's NFC championship. Kid panicked. No other explanation.




John Brown needs to see a pass on this drive. There it is, after two tries. Roby misses another interception. Pass to Beasley gets a first down. Or does it? Booth is reviewing it. Bills' field goal unit is already out there, which is smart, as it'll be fourth down if it's ruled short. Call STANDS. First down! Bills spike it to bring the offense back onto the field (smart!) with 20 seconds left. Allen takes two shots to the end zone and now Hauschka comes on. Bills haven't kicked a field goal this late in a season since the Norwood miss. It's GOOD! PLAYOFF OVERTIME.




Watson gets flushed out of the pocket (again) and Fells can't hold on to a high throw on third down. Why is the fullback 40 yards downfield? And why is Allen throwing it to him? He hits Knox underneath and he picks up the first down. He runs about 15 yards diagonally and somehow gets the ball to Singletary for 13 yards. I thought he dropped it at the end. Cody Ford gets hit with a blindside block penalty. Bills forced to punt. Watson sacked again. Shocking.




Watson finds Johnson, who picks up 3rd and 18. They've pushed back the kickoff of the next game by 10 minutes. Bold to think this shitshow will be over by then.




Watson finally gets away from a blitz and finds... Taiwan Jones? For 34 YARDS?! Get the offense off the damn field, O'Brien. THANK YOU. Fairbarn on for 29. GOOD!! Tessitore: "Great game in Houston!" No, Tess, this game sucked. (Texans 22, Bills 19, OT)




Um. Is that fog? Brady gets hit as he throws and almost gets picked. Benjamin Watson somehow catches that while being blanketed. Screen to White gets 20. Pats already desperate, and Brady overthrows the end zone. Field goal is good. Hey, Ryan Tannehill's starting a playoff game. Henry showing how he won the rushing title.




Titans moving in silence like real G's. They're in the red zone already. Touchdown! Some dude named Firkser who I've never seen before in my life. Michel with a big run. Edelman takes a pitch (?) for a touchdown. Tannehill's pass gets knocked down. Titans' defense holds against a... linebacker-turned-fullback dive? Brady's deep ball to Sanu gets broken up. Burkhead takes a short pass and gets to the Titans' 1. Brady calls time out after second down. Handoff to Michel, who goes left and gets stopped! What a stand. Field goal is good. Henry takes off! He's out at the 1! They motion A.J. Brown into the backfield and give it to Henry on a dive anyway. Touchdown! Logan Ryan drops a pick six. You can only expect so much from a Rutgers man. Hail Mary falls incomplete. 14-13 TITANS at the half. They'll get the ball to start the third. More Henry? Yes, please. Brady misses Edelman wide. The Titans lose Benjamin Watson in the zone, but an ineligible man downfield penalty wipes out a 40-yard play. Henry fumbles but the Titans hang on to it. That's a good punt. Brady with a crucial quick pass to Edelman on third down. Tannehill converts a quarterback sneak. End of 3. Bad underthrow by Tannehill and it's intercepted! Brady takes a shot deep, but it's broken up. He gets hit and his third down pass falls well short of Dorsett. And it wasn't even a good punt. Nantz wants Romo's take on Brady's future but Romo's not quite willing to bite. Dion Lewis makes the catch and collides with Gilmore. Romo says he's not sure Brady knows what he'll do yet — it depends on how the Pats go from here, and if McDaniels gets another head job (which I personally can't imagine.) Tannehill on a option keeper for four on 3rd and 2. Another first down from Henry. If I'm the Titans, I don't throw another pass tonight. Did the Titans just take two straight penalties on 4th and 4? Belichick is mad about something.







Then the PATS jump offsides. Punt finally goes off and it lands out of bounds in side the Patriots' 10. I feel like they could have just kicked the field goal?







You know why, Mike. White breaks a tackle and gets to the 31. Titans' defense holds and the Patriots punt to the Titans' 12. Tannehill goes to Firsker and he catches it for a first down! Firsker's the first Harvard player to score a touchdown in the playoffs, which makes me wonder if Ryan Fitzpatrick has even been on a playoff team. Two minutes left! Pats with one time out that they don't use yet. No gain for Henry on 2nd down and now they take it. Titans run it again and there's 25 seconds left. I punt this out of bounds. Patriots come after it, and Kern gets off a line drive. It rolls to the 1-YARD LINE. Pick-six by Logan Ryan! THE KING IS DEAD?




Titans wisely going for two here, up 20-13. Romo finally says he thinks Brady will play next year. But he doesn't say where. Henry doesn't convert. The kickoff... man, I don't know. Titans win.







And now... we wait. Happy birthday, Derrick! You've given us the best gift possible. (Titans 20, Patriots 13)




Janoris Jenkins starts out holding Diggs. Dalvin Cook back. Thielen fumbles at the end of this catch and run and the Saints have it! Vonn Bell returns it to the Vikings' 4! A replay shows he stepped out of bounds at the Vikings' 37. Now they're re-reviewing it for... some reason. They eventually put the ball at the 37 and add three seconds to the clock. Three runs equal a Saints first down. First Thomas catch of the game. First and goal. A rare Brees sack forces fourth down. Lutz hits from 29. Cook gets swarmed for a loss. The Vikings also get his backup, Maddison, back, and he catches a pass for 10 yards. Cook gets the first down on a pitch. Double reverse falls apart. Was Diggs thinking of throwing it for a moment? They survive that loss and a Bailey field goal ties the game. The Saints are only the third 13-3 team to not be a top-2 seed, and this is the second time it's been them.




Thomas with a circus catch on the sideline. Vikings doing a good job of staying in front of the Saints' other receivers. Taysom Hill takes the handoff and picks up 2nd and 5. Then he stays in at quarterback and throws deep to Dionte Harris! He's down at the Vikings' 5. Touchdown Kamara. Rudolph breaks two tackles after a catch and gets a first down. Cook speeds for 22. Then he takes a swing pass 19 yards to the Saints' 4. We come back to a grounded Skycam. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. Cook comes back in on third down. Where was he? Getting his face shield repaired, sez Chris Myers. He takes a pitch left, but loses two yards. Field goal team comes in and Bailey hits from 21. Brees deep ball goes off Smith's fingers. Two plays later, he throws deep again into double coverage and Harris picks him off. He returns it to the Saints' 48 and we're at the two-minute warning. Thielen falls down but still makes this catch on a low throw. Touchdown Cook. Harris with a 54-yard kickoff return into Vikings territory. He's All-Pro for a reason, folks. Thomas gets open and makes a touch catch at the 25. Lutz MISSES from 43! Vikings take a 13-10 lead into the locker room. Second-half kickoff is sent away from Harris. Officials can't decide where to put the ball. They settle on the 25. Brees scrambles for five. Saints lost about 30 yards thanks to that blindside block on the punt. Diggs somehow hasn't been targeted yet, and he's not thrilled about it. Cousins takes a shot, but he gets the pass off and Thielen beats Lattimore and brings it in at the Saints' 20. Vikings run a play fake and Cousins was about to run it himself before Diggs flashes open. Risky throw into traffic, but Diggs catches it. Now the Saints' defensive backs are arguing. Tensions are high. Delayed touchdown call on this Cook run. I thought he'd gotten it, but that replay makes me less sure. Call stands. 20-10 Vikings.




Saints aren't protecting Brees well. Fake punt! Taysom Hill gets the first down on a direct snap, but they weren't set and it won't count. This has to be the Vikings' formula: Run the ball, play defense, don't rely on Cousins. It's working so far. Six people move on this Vikings play, and they catch Riley Rieff. Screen to Maddison bounces around and is eventually ruled incomplete. Third quarter ends. Jared Cook with a big catch on third down. Ted Ginn lives! The Vikings are already down two corners and they've just lost Rhodes, who's had a rough last month. Brees goes to Taysom Hill for a touchdown!




Cousins just misses a big gain and the Vikings punt. Hill takes a direct snap for a first down. He takes another snap and goes down the sideline for 28 yards, trucking Harris in the process. Fumble! Vikings ball! Thielen makes the catch on third down after the Saints blitz, but he tries to make a move and Lattimore throws him back. I think it's a first down. Cook FUMBLES? TOUCHDOWN SAINTS! Oh man, Cook's down. This is coming back.




Call REVERSED. But the Vikings lose eight. Cousins gets sacked off a three-man rush. Saints get the ball and Brees starts hitting everything. Cook pushes through some tacklers for a first down. The Saints get called for an illegal shift hurrying to the line, and they run 10 seconds off the clock. I'm surprised they're kicking it now with seven seconds left. I think they have time for another play. Zimmer ices Lutz, which won't work. Drilled. 20-20. Overtime. Guess Xavier-St. John's will start on FS2 or something. Vikings win the toss. Buck says this is the first time we've had multiple overtime games in the wild card round. Slant to Diggs gets a first down. Cook runs away from the blitz and into Saints territory. THIELEN! Down at the 2! Aikman calls it the best throw of Cousins' career. Cook tries to go outside but gets tripped up. Aikman spots Rudolph split out wide up top, and Cousins hits him in the corner of the end zone! Wow. (There's no way OPI gets called here. None whatsoever.) Imagine losing an important game to Kirk Cousins. Who do the Saints think they are, the Eagles? (Vikings 26, Saints 20, OT)

Wind's up. Seahawks get the ball first. Both teams missing offensive line starters. LeBlanc stops Lockett on third down. Wentz toss gets away from Sanders, but he picks it up and throws it away. Someone ran into the punt returner. Wilson scrambles and picks up 22 yards. Cox blows up the pocket on third down. Field goal is BLOCKED. Looks like Curry got it.




NBC still using that colored zone thing. Jenkins chases Wilson out of the pocket, but he completes it to Metcalf in traffic. Graham down after Wilson completes to Lockett. We come back to Graham sitting on the bench and Wentz headed to the locker room. NBC finds the play — Clowney got him in the back of the head with his own helmet as he was going down.




Myers makes the field goal. Now what? McCown in for his first-ever playoff snap.







Sanders takes a run to the 45. OPI takes away this Hollister first down catch. Carroll challenges this incompletion to Lockett on the sideline. Yep, that's a catch. At first it looked like he only got one foot down twice. Seahawks lose yards and end up punting. This game could end 3-0 at this rate. McCown stumbles on the handoff but Scott gets 15. Sanders finds a hole on the left side. McCown guns one to Goedert, then takes off on a run of his own (to a pop, even.) Ziggy Ansah ran into his own teammate, an accurate summation of his Seahawks career. Elliott field goal ties it. Duke Riley's a captain? Home teams are 10-0 in bird-on-bird playoff violence. Metcalf with a big play down the sideline. David Moore makes the catch, breaks a tackle and picks up some blocks. He's down to the 5. Collinsworth's not sure how that worked. Barnett with a dumb late hit after a third-down incompletion. Lynch powers ahead, spins, and scores. The half ends with Sanders on the turf as the fans are still upset about an uncalled shove on McCown.




Hey, an Ertz sighting! Flowers gets flagged for interference. McCown drops the snap but still gains three yards. K.J. Wright hits him hard on third down. Field goal is good. Graham back for the Eagles. Wilson rolls out and dumps it to Lynch on 3rd and 1. Metcalf! He beats Maddox, bounces up from the ground after the catch, then drags Maddox into the end zone. That feels like the end. Scott gets 21 on 2nd and 16. Sanders back in and gets seven. Ward gets tossed out of bounds and wants a flag, but doesn't get it. Eagles might have to go for this. They do not, and Elliott hits from 38 after a high snap. Wilson rolls away from pressure, breaks a tackle, and converts 3rd and 15. Oh, look, the Eagles gave up a big play on third and long. THAT'S never happened before.




Jenkins with a sack, which forces a punt. Sanders goes for 18. McCown hits Ward for 14, then Ertz for 12. Scott only gets two yards, breaking the streak. Eagles now in field goal range but I don't think they're thinking field goal here. False starts creates 3rd and 16. McCown to Goedert for 12. Eagles go for it, but McCown to Sanders falls incomplete. That's that, I'd imagine. Eagles get a stop! Shelton Gibson draws a pass interference call! Ball's at the Seahawks' 13. McCown gets sacked. Fourth and 7 and... ah, crap. Clowney sacks McCown. That's a bitter pill.




(Seahawks 17, Eagles 9)

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)