The 2013 NFL Thread

[blackmissionary]

Love it when the elements take their toll on a game of American football. You can keep your crisp passing game in your indoor stadiums - give me rain, sleet and snow to see who can adapt and slug out a game best. Looking at the highlights of the Eagles-Lions game (which should have been the One HD game rather the Chiefs-Skins game) was fantastic, a real old school northern state NFL battle.

[blackmissionary]

Also worth checking out the final play from the Dolphins-Steelers game. Missed it by that much, as they say.

[Yarra Falls End]

WHOA GO PACK GO

Come on Ravens , now do your bit and beat those Lions.

Cannot recall a Packer comeback like that in many a year.

Dare I say No 10 > No 4.


Only joking.

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ Welcome back, YFE. I was following it but didn't believe it. Two interceptions from Romo in the last three minutes! I actually thought the Pack would struggle to hold on when Flynn didn't convert the two-point attempt after the last TD but, as they say, where there's a will, there's a way. ESPN is reporting that it equals the biggest comeback in Packer history (September 1982 against the Los Angeles Rams). Edit: For those who don't know, the Pack trailed 26:3 but ran all over Dallas in the 2nd half to win 37:36.

In other results, the Rams (!!!) beat the Saints 27:16, the Seahawks shut out the Giants, Chicago beats the Browns 38:31, the Colts pulverised Houston, 28:3, the Vikings (without Adrian Peterson) beat the Eagles 48:30, Alex Smith scored 5 TDs for the Chiefs as Kansas won 56:31 at Oakland, the Panthers beat the Jets 30:20, the Cards beat the Titans in O/T 37:34, Miami stopped the Pats 24:20, Washington lost 27:26 (with Cousins in place of RGIII) by a point after failing on a go-ahead two-point conversion against Atlanta, the 49ers held on to their wildcard spot (a game ahead of the Cards, still) with a 33:14 win over Tampa Bay and in the Sunday night game, the Steelers shocked the Bengals 30:20 (although Cincinnati is still 2 games clear at the top of the AFC north and should clinch that position with a home game against the Vikes next up).

Sadly, Jacksonville's brilliant run came to a halt against Buffalo 27:20

[Pies4shaw]

Well, Justin Tucker (God bless him) got the Ravens home against Detroit 18:16 (Tucker 6 field goals from 6 attempts, including the winning 61-yarder with 38 seconds to go) and suddenly the NFC North has come alive. Detroit snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and slipped from the outright lead of that Division to third, a game behind Chicago and half a game behind Green Bay. Since only the winner is likely to make the playoffs (two of the three are more than 2 games behind the 49ers, so it is unlikely the second-ranked team would have enough wins to qualify for a wildcard spot), this makes the last two rounds very exciting.

Chicago are away to Philadelphia (who are trying to secure a play off position of their own) and then host Green Bay in the last game. If they win both games, Chicago make the playoffs - if they lose either game they are in big trouble. Detroit have the Giants at home and are away to the Vikes in the last game. Green Bay have a re-match of their 2010 SB win over the Steelers in the next round - perhaps I shouldn't have enjoyed watching Big Ben's Boys run into form quite as much as I did yesterday!

[blackmissionary]

It's amazing how close the Lions are to throwing away the NFC North this season, especially considering the poor season by the Vikings and the injury concerns of the other two sides. The Bengals are in a similar situation as well, but still lead the AFC North by a game, and if they can win this week, and have the Ravens lose to the Pats, they'll clinch the title. Still not convinced of their playoff credentials though - and if they lose this week, it seems like it will be a final week decider against the Ravens to see who goes through.

[Pies4shaw]

[Pies4shaw]

Congratulations to Peyton Manning, who now holds the record for most TD passes in a season (51 in 15 games, with 1 still to play). Denver claimed the AFC West with their win and the Chiefs' loss to Indy.

Meanwhile, Lambeau Field is starting to look like a train-wreck, as the Steelers have put up 21 points in the 3rd. Pittsburgh leads 31:21, starting their last drive of the 3rd (9 seconds to play) at their own 38-yard line.

While Matt Flynn throws interceptions for the Pack, the nearly-great one is making the team release statements about how tough he is, even though he hasn't been on the park for 7 games: looks like No 4 casts a LONG shadow.

[Pies4shaw]

In other big results, the Panthers beat the 'Aints and have clinched a play-off berth, Dallas just got over Washington (and are still locked in an arm-wrestle with Philly for the NFC East), New England clinched the AFC East (with a Miami loss), the Bengals clinched a playoff berth with a thrashing of the Vikes and will likely take the AFC North before the day is out (New England have the Ravens down for the count 20:0).

Meanwhile, Carson Palmer has just put the Cards 5 points ahead of Seattle with a TD, 2 and a half minutes to play. This is Russell Wilson's chance to drive the Seahawks home, if he's as good as everyone says.

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ Actually, the Cards made the 2 point conversion, so they lead 17:10.

[Pies4shaw]

Oooooooooopppppsss

[Pies4shaw]

Green Bay may be back from the dead again - Starks just ran to the Pittsburgh 1 yard-line for a 1st and goal (the Pack presently trail 31:24, after Big Ben did the right thing and threw an interception earlier in the 4th).

YES!!! 31:31, 7 m, 14 s to go.

[Pies4shaw]

Troy Polamalu just forced Flynn to fumble at the Green Bay 17-yard line and recovered it for the Steelers. Big Ben has it on 1st and 10, 17 yards out with 1 m, 51 s to go. I think it's fair to say the Steelers deserve to win this.

[Yarra Falls End]

Not watching just following it on the net at work.

Were we really on the 1 yard line and Barclay false started??

I suppose all that is left to say is Go Philly.

[Pies4shaw]

Yes YFE, I am afraid so - here is ESPN's record of the penultimate play of the game:

"2nd and 1 at PIT 1 (No Huddle, Shotgun) PENALTY on GB-D.Barclay, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at PIT 1 - No Play."

I have stopped breaking furniture long enough to notice that the Eagles are beating the Bears 21:0 with 6 minutes to go to half-time. The Bears have the ball on a - ho ho ho - 3rd and 28.