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| A Word from The Writer: The Monday Analysis - 24 January 2005 We have our teams! And guess who's back in the Show? NFC Championship Game
Falcons 10 It took four times, but Philadelphia has finally stepped up to the next level. The Eagles are heading to their first Super Bowl since Super Bowl XV in 1981 where they lost on January 25th to Oakland, 27-10.
One difference maker between this Conference Championship game and the past
three losses is "We've got one more game to play," McNabb said during the trophy presentation. "Enjoy it now and we'll bring something else home." McNabb was 18 for 26 for 180 and 2 TDs. The Falcons trailed the entire game, keeping it close until late in the second half when the Eagles turned on the juice, drove a head to last until the end. Terrell Owens remained inactive with an ankle injury, but was plenty visible on the sidelines, leading the cheering sections. Michael Vick remained contained, going 11 for 24 for 136 yards, 1 INT, and 26 yards rushing on 4 carries. He had a 46.5 rating. The Falcons attempted control in the first half, commanding the ball control and time of possession, but came up short by the end of the game, holding the ball on offense only 26:45 compared to Philly's 33:15. Plus, the rushing game sided with the NFC Champs, 156 yards compared to Atlanta's 99 yards. The Falcon frustration was clear throughout the team. Head coach Jim Mora tossed his head set on the ground and stomped on it on the sidelines with five minutes to play, after the Eagle went up 27-10 to put the game away. Philadelphia would not let up. With a 14-10 lead at the half, that was all the Falcons would see of the endzone, but with three conference championship losses looming over their heads, the Eagles fought for the win, demanded it, and got it. So here it is Gridiron Junkies. A chance to see the Philadelphia Eagles in the Show. AFC Championship Game
Patriots 41 The most anticipated playoff game all year. With the most anticipated winners. Your New England Patriots are going to the the Show for the third time in four years after completely dominating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Patriots capitalized on two early Steeler turnovers, turning one into a field goal, and another for a touchdown, a 60-yard bomb from Tom Brady to Deion Branch on the first play of the drive. Suddenly the Patriots are up 10-0, and Rookie of the Year, next coming of the football gods "Big" Ben Roethlisberger looked like my cat Ben to beat the hell out of him.
Branch finished the game with four receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown,
plus (PLUS!) a 14 yard Roethlisberger played like a chump, 14-24 for 226 yards, 1 TD, and 1 BS TD at the very end of the game and 3 lovely INTs. He has a 78.1 QB rating. Big Ben looked like Little Lucy, deer in the headlights, rattled, confused. Head coach Bill "The Chin" Cowher spent most of half time trying to calm his quarterback down, and even told CBS that if he didn't improve that he'd send in back up Tommy Maddox. The running game was stiff on both sides, facing top run defenses for both teams. Corey Dillon had 24 carries for 73 yards and 1 TD. Jerome Bettis rushed 64 yards on 17 carries and 1 TD.
The Patriots led 24-3 at the half after a Rodney "Mister" Harrison 87-yard
interception for a
In the end, it was total domination by the defending champs. They were three point favorites going into the game, and destroyed another playoff team this season. One more to go! Time for a Pennsylvanian sweep!
Coaching Carousel The San Francisco 49ers hired Baltimore Raven Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan as their next head coach. While salary details remained in agreeance, Nolan has accepted the position. Nolan, 45, son of former 49ers head coach Dick Nolan, is the 15th in franchise history. Nolan joined the Ravens in 2001 as the receivers coach before moving to defensive coordinator. Prior to the Ravens, Nolan was defensive coordinator for the Jets in 2000, Washington from 1997-1999, and the Giants from 1993-1996. Nolan wasted no time finding an assistant head coach and linebackers coach, hiring Hall of Famer Mike Singletary for the positions. Singletary, 46, played 12 seasons for the Chicago Bears from 1981 - 1992, and was named top defensive player from 1985 - 1988. Former Giants head coach Jim Fassel is the new Offensive Coordinator in Baltimore. Fassel served the Ravens as a special assistant to head coach Brian Billick in 2004, but was waiting to be offered another head coaching position around the league. Only three spots were open this season, and Fassel was not interviewed for any of them. Billick also hired Rick Neuheisel as the quarterbacks coach and promoted defensive line coach Rex Ryan as defensive coordinator. Miami lured Minnesota offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to the new Dolphins coaching line up with a three-year contract. The Vikings named Steve Loney offensive coordinator in place of the lured away Linehan Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett resigned this week, and was replaced by Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. Patriots News Defensive End Richard Seymour remained inactive for Sunday's game. Signs of the Apocalypse The Terrible Towels. People of Pittsburgh: I think they are bad luck for you! Maybe you shoulod retire those idiotic things, especially when you leaving the game in the third when yor team looks to be beaten in another AFC Championship game! Notes & Quotes Bill Belichick's Post Season Record: 9-1 (.900 pct) Vince Lombardi's Post Season Record: 9-1 (.900 pct) Best Starting Quarterback's Post Season Record: Top Ten List of the Week 1. The Patriots, the domination, the greatness. 2. Nice job Philly! Finally, the enveloped is pushed! 3. Rookie QB or not. Cowher burns his players out, especially the quarterbacks. First Neil O'Donnell, then Kordell Stewart, then Tommy Maddox, and now it looks like Ben Roethlisberger is burning out, big time, but time will tell. 4. I like Bob Lobel, but why does he seem drunk on the air? Lobie, come on! Pull it together! Maybe we should hand the ball off to Steve Burton. 5. The Peter King Rant. Finally! In this column last we he said it: The Patriots are the premier team. It took way too long for you to get off the hook, dude. 6. Rumor has Romeo Crennel to Cleveland. Ugh. Romeo, I know you want a head job, and you certainly deserve it, but Cleveland? You'd better get some big bucks, brother. 7. Of all the antics Terrell Owens has done, I loved what he did today. He cheered his team louder than anyone, and that's a guy worth having on your team. 8. Deion Branch and the big plays. David Givens with the tight catches on the sideline. Amazing. 9. So, tell me, someone, 'cause I can't seem to understand this at all: Again, why is Rodney Harrison NOT in the Pro Bowl? 10. Two week until the big game! ejh24 January 2005 | ||
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The Writer
Donovan McNabb. He averaged a quarterback rating of 50 in the past three,
registering a 111.1 this year.
rushing touchdown. He had two carries for 37 yards. Tom Brady took care of the
ball, throwing 13-20 for 191 yards to seven different receivers and 2 TDs and
a 130 QB rating. No Picks!
touchdown.
No one was around him, and the Steelers started to play better in the second
half. They out scored the Patriots 14-7 in the third, but both teams clocked
10 points in the fourth, the last Steeler
touchdown inside the final 52 seconds when they were already down 21 points.
Shittsburgh was just trying to run up the points to make the loss look
cushioned, but this sucker was over long before then. Hell, it was over during
the half.